reu'rence this according to our vse Duke Leonell Lord generall doth it ow A famous man in time of warre and truce And nephew deare vnto the King my master Who gaue to him the Duke dorne of Lancaster 64 This banner that stands next vnto the kings With glittring shew that shakes the rest among And beares in azure field three argent wings To 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwicke doth belong This man the Duke of Glosters banner brings 〈◊〉 head except my guesse be wrong The sierbrand the Duke of Clarence is Thence the Duke of Yorke doth claime for his 65 The launce into three sundry peeces rent Belongs vnto the worthy Duke of Norfolke The lightning longs vnto the Earle of Kent The â—â—phin longs vnto the Earle of Pembroke The ballance eu'n by which iust doome is ment Belongs vnto the noble Duke of Suffolke The Dragon to the valiant Earle of Cumberland The garland is the braue Earls of Northumberland 66 The Earle of Arundell a ship halfe drownd The Marquesse Barkly giues an argent hill The gallant Earle of Essex hath the hound The bay tree Darby that doth flourish still The wheele hath Dorset euer running round The Earle of March his banner all doth fill With Caâ—dar trees the Duke of Somerset A broken chaire doth in his ensigne set 67 The Faulcon houering vpon her nest The Earle of Deu'nshire doth in banner beare And brings a sturdy crew from out the West The Earle of Oxenford doth giue the Beare The banner all with blacke and yellow drest Belongs vnto the Earle of Winchester He that the cristall crosse in banner hath Is sent from the rich Bishop of the Bath 68 The archers on horse with other armed men Are two and fortie thousand more or lesse The other â—ootmens number doubles them Or wants thereof but little as I guesse The banners shew their captains noble stem A crosse a wreath an azure bat a fesse 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Edward bold and Harry Vnder their guide the footmen all do carry 69 The Duke of Buckingham that first appeares The next to him the Earle of Salibury Burgaâ— next a man well stricke in yeares And Edward next the Earle of Shrewsbury Now 〈◊〉 about and to the Scottish peares Braue men and well appointed you shall see Where 〈◊〉 sonne vnto the Scottish king Vnto the field doth thirtie thousand bring 70 All chosen men from many a shire and towne All ready to resist assaile inuade Their standerd is the beast of most renowne That in his paw doth hold a glittring blade This is the heire apparant to the crowne This is the goodly impe whom nature made To shew her chiefest workmanship and skill And aâ—ter brake the mould against her will 71 The Earle of Otton commeth after him That in his banner beares the golden barre The spotted Leopard that looks so grim That is the ensigne of the Duke of Marre Not far from him there commeth Alcubrin A man of mightie strength and fierce in warre No Duke nor Earle nor Marquesse as men say But of the sauages he beares the sway 72 The Duke of Trafford beares in ensigne bright The bird whose yong ones stare in Phoebus face Lurcanio Lord of Angus valiant knight Doth giue a Bull whom two dogs hold in chase The Duke of Albanie giue blue and white Since he obtained faire Geneuras grace Earle Bohune in his stately banner beares A Vulture that with clawes a Dragon teares 73 Their horsemen are with iacks for most part clad Their horses are both swift of course and strong They run on horseback with a slender gad And like aspeare but that it is more long Their people are of warre then peace more glad More apt to offer then to suffer wrong These are the succors out of Scotland sent That with the noble Prince Zerbino went 74 Then come the Irish men of valiant harts And actiue limbs in personages tall They naked vse to go in many parts But with a mantle yet they couer all Short swords they vse to carry and long darts To fight both neare and farre aloofe withall And of these bands the Lords and leaders are The noble Earles of Ormond and Kildare 75 Some sixteene thousand men or thereabout Out of the Irish I le at this time went Beside the other Ilands thereabout Sweueland and Island other succors sent To good king Charles for why they stood in doubt If he were conquerd they should all repent And still their numbers daily did increase Of those that better like of warre then peace 76 Now while Rogero learnes the armes and name Of euery Brittish Lord behold a rout Of citizens and folke of all sorts came Some with delight and some with dread and doubt To see a beast so strange so strong so tame And wondring much they compast him about They thought it was a strange and monstrous thing To see a horse that had a Grissons wing 77 Wherefore to make the people maruell more And as it were to sport himselfe and play He spurd his beast who straight aloft did soare And bare his master Westward quite away And straight he was beyond our English shore And meanes to passe the Irish seas that day Saint George his channell in a little while He past and after saw the Irish I le 78 Where men do tell strange tales that long ago Saint Patricke built a solitary caue Into the which they that deuoutly go By purging of their sinnes their soules may saue Now whether this report be true or no I not affirme and yet I not depraue But crossing from hence to Island ward he found Angelica vnto the rocke fast bound 79 Both nakt and bound at this same I le of wo For I le of wo it may be iustly called Where peerlesse peeces are abused so By monster vile to be deuourd and thralled Where pyrats still by land and sea do go Assaulting forts that are but weakly walled And whom they take by flattry or by force They giue a monster quite without remorce 80 I did declare not many books before If you the same in memory do keepe How certaine pyrats tooke her at a shore Where that chast hermit lay by her asleepe And how at last for want of other store Although their hearts did melt and eyes did weepe Mou'd with a helplesse and a vaine compassion Perforce they bound her on this wofull fashion 81 And thus the caitiues left her all forlorne With nothing but the rocks and seas in sight As naked as of nature she was borne And void of succor and all comfort quite No vaile of lawne as then by her was worne To shade the damask rose and lillies white Whose colours were so mixt in euery member Like fragrant both in Iuly and December 82 Rogero at the first had surely thought She was some image made of alla blaster Or of white marble curiously wrought To shew the skilfull hand of some great master But vewing nearer he was quickly taught She had some parts
Bradamant I bend my time Who with her fall was yet of heauie cheare And had bene taught a gamball for the nonce To giue her death and buriall at once 7 Now when she came vnto her selfe againe And had recouerd memorie and sence She gets her on her feete although with paine In mind to seeke some way to get fro thence When loe before her face she seeth plaine A stately portall built with great expence And next behind the same she might descrie A larger roome and fairer to the eye 8 This was a church most solemne and deuout That stands on marble pillars small and round And raisd by art on arches all about That made ech voyce to yeeld a double sound A lightsome lampe that neuer goeth out Did burne on altar standing in the ground That though the rooms were large wide in space The lampe did serue to lighten all the place 9 The noble damsell full of reu'rent feare When as her selfe in sacred place she sees As one that still a godly minde did beare Begins to pray to him vpon her knees Whose holy side was perst with cruell speare And who to saue our liues his owne did leese And while she stayes deuoutly at her prayre The sage Melissa doth to her repaire 10 Her gowne vngyrt her haire about her hed Much like a priest or prophetesse arraid And in her booke a little while she red And after thus vnto the damsell said O thou by Gods appointment hither led O Bradamant most wise and worthy maid I long haue looked here for this thy comming Foretold thereof by prophet Merlines cunning 11 Here is the tombe that Merline erst did make By force of secret skill and hidden art In which sometimes the Ladie of the lake That with her beautie had bewitcht his hart Did make him enter fondly for her sake From whence he neuer after could depart And he was by a woman ouer reached That vnto others prophesied and preached 12 His carkas dead within this stone is bound But with dead corse the liuing soule doth dwell And shall vntill it here the trumpet sound That brings reward of doing ill or well His voyce doth liue and answer and expound And things both present past and future tell Resoluing men of eu'rie doubtfull case That for his counsell come vnto this place 13 About a month or little more or lesse It is since I repaird to Merlins graue Of him about the studie I professe Some precepts and instructions to haue And for I willing was I must confesse To meete you at your comming to this caueâ— For which he did prefixe this certaine day This moued me of purpose here to stay 14 Duke Ammons daughter silent stands and still The while the wise Melyssa to her spake Astonished at this vnusuall skill And doubting if she were a sleepe or wake A modest shame with grace her eyes doth fill With which downe cast this answer she doth make Alas what good or merite is in me That prophets should my comming so foresee 15 And glad of this aduenture vnexpected She followeth her guide with great delight And straight she saw the stately toombe erected Of marble pure that held his bones and sprite And that which one would little haue suspected The verie marble was so cleare and bright That though the sunne no light vnto it gaue The toombe it selfe did lighten all the caue 16 For whether be the nature of some stone A darke some place with lightsomnes to fill Or were it done by magike art alone Or else by helpe of Mathematike skill To make transparencies to meete in one And so conuey the sunne beames where you will But sure it was most curious to behold Set forth with carued workes and guilt with gold 17 Now when the damsell was approched nyre To this strange toombe where Merlins bones were plast Forth of the stones that shine like flaming fire His liuely voyce such speeches out doth cast Let fortune euer fauour thy desire O Bradamant thou noble maid and chast From out whose wombe an issue shall proceed That all the world in glorie shall exceed 18 The noble blood that came of ancient Troy By two cleare springs in thee togither mixt Shall breed the flowre the iewell and the ioy Of all on whom the sunne his beames hath fixt Twixt those that heat and those that cold annoy From Tage to Inde Danub and Nile betwixt Emp'rors and kings and dukes and lords for ay Of this thy linage carrie shall the sway 19 And many a Captaine braue and worthy Knight Shall issue from this stocke that shall restore By warlike feates the glorie shining bright That Italy possessed heretofore And magistrates to maintaine peace and right As Numa and Augustus did before To cherish vertue vice so to asswage As shall to vs bring backe the golden age 20 Wherefore sith God hath by predestination Appointed thee to be Rogeros wife And means to blesse thine heirs and generation With all the graces granted in this life Persist thou firme in thy determination And stoutly ouercome each storme of strife And worke his worthy punishment and paine That doth thy liues delight from thee detaine 21 This said the prophet Merline holds his peace And giues Melissa time to worke her will Who when she did perceiue the voice to cease She purposeth by practise of her skill To shew the damsell part of that increase That should with fame the world hereafter fill And for this end she calls a great assemble Ofsprights that might their persons all resemble 22 Who straight by words of secret vertue bound In numbers great vnto the caue repaire Of whence I know not whether vnder ground Or else of those that wander in the aire Then thrise she drawes about a circle round And thrise she hallowes it with secret praire Then opens she a triple clasped booke And softly whispering in it she doth looke 23 This done she takes the damsell by the hand Exhorting her she should not be afraid And in a circle causeth her to stand And for her more securitie and aid And as it were for more assured band Vpon her head some characters she laid Then hauing done her due and solemne rites She doth beginne to call vpon the sprites 24 Behold a crew of them come rushing in In sundrie shapes with persons great and tall And now they filled all the roome within So readily they came vnto her call When Bradamant to feare did straight begin Her heart was cold her colour waxed pall But yet the circle kept her like a wall So that she needed not to feare at all 25 Howbeit Melyssa caused them be gone From thence vnto the next adioyning caue And thence to come before them one by one The better notice of their names to haue That at more leysure they may talke thereon When as occasion so may seeme to craue Although quoth she this short time cannot serue To speake of eu'rie
saith he be contented to lay their so delicate and daintily preserued morsels in such lothsome dishes to be daily smackt slauered binding themselues to suffer such a penance God knowes how long only to satisfie those humors of coueteousnesse and pride staruing to their griefe the third humour if they be so vertuous that is by some thought the predominant humor in that sex and many times dwels vnder the same roofe with the other two Yet surely I could rather commend his curtesan that he writes of in his Decameron who hauing bargained with a Dutchman one M. Bruffaldo for seuen dayes boord and lodging at a great rate hauing found him for one or two nights to be but an vnsauorie bed fellow she chose rather to leese those two nights hire then to endure fiue more at so painful a price But I doubt I grow too tedious while I shoot out such blots out of a Boccas Now to go forward in the morall You may note in Polynesso an enuious and trecherous mind in Ariodant the hurt of a credulous ielousie in Lurcanio the vehemencie of a wrong surmise In Polynessos intent to kill Dalinda you may obserue how wicked men often bewray their owne misdeeds with seeking to hide them In Geneuras accusation and deliuerie how God euer defends the innocent And lastly in Polynessos death how wickednesse ruines it seife For the historie of this booke either the whole is a historie or there is no matter historicall in it to be stood on Allegorie there is none in this booke at all Allusion there is in this tale of Geneura vnto a storie writteÌ„ in Alciats duello of a matron in France accused in such sort by two men and a certaine souldier of Barcellona came with a companion of his and tooke vpon them the defence of the woman and being fighting the companion of the souldier fled not withstanding he of Barcellona with his courage and vertue gat the victorie of the other two and so in strange attire went home to his country vnknowne to which Ariodant seems to allude Some others affirme that this very matter though set downe here by other names happened in Fâ—rrara to a kinsewoman of the Dukes which is here figured vnder the name of Geneura and that indeed such a practise was vsed against her by a great Lord and discouered by a damsell as is here set downe Howsoeuer it was sure the tale is a prettie comicall matter and ha â—bene written in English verse some few years past learnedly and with good grace though in â—erse of another kind by M. George Turberuil The rocke from which Ariodant leapt into the sea aliudeth to to the rocke of Lewcade where men that were mad for loue leapt into the water and washed away 〈◊〉 they thought that fancie Strabo calleth it faltus amatorius THE SIXT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Geneurafaire to Ariodant is giuen And he a Duke is made that verie day Rogero with the Griffeth horse is driuen Unto Alcynas ile and there doth stay Amirtle in the middle strangly riuen Alcinas frauds doth unto him bewray Of which enformd he thence would haue departed But by the way he finds his purpose thwarted 1 Most wretched he that thinks by doing ill His euill deedes long to conceale and hide For though the voice and tongues of men be still By foules or beasts his sin shal be discride And God oft worketh by his secret will That sinne it selfe the sinner so doth guide That of his owne accord without request He makes his wicked doings manifest 2 The gracelesse wight Duke Polinesso thought His former fault should sure haue bin concealed If that Dalinda vnto death were brought By whom alone the same could be reuealed Thus making worse the thing before was nought He hurt the wound which time perhaps had healed And weening with more sinne the lesse to mend He hastned on his well deserued end 3 And lost at once his life his state and frends And honour to a losse as great or more Now as I sayd that vnknowne knight entends Sith euerie one to know him sought so sore And sith the king did promise large amends To shew his face which they saw oft before And Ariodant most louely did appeare Whom they thought dead as you before did heare 4 He whom Geneura wofully did waile He whom Lurcanio deemed to be dead He whom the king and court did so bewaile He that to all the realme such care had bred Doth liue the clownes report in this did faile On which false ground the rumor false was spred And yet in this the peasant did not mocke He saw him leape downe headlong from the rock 5 But as we see men oft with rash intent Are desperate and do resolue to die And straight do change that fancie and repent When vnto death they do approch more nie So Ariodant to drowne himselfe that ment Now plung'd in sea repented by and by And being of his limbes able and strong Vnto the shore he swam againe erre long 6 And much dispraising in his inward thought This fond conceit that late his minde poslest At last a blind and narrow path him brought All tyrd and wet to be an hermits guest With whom to stay in secretsort he sought Both that he might his former griefe digest And learne the truth if this same clownes report Were by Geneura tane in griefe or sport 7 There first he heard how she conceiu'd such griefeâ— As almost brought her life to wofull end He found of her they had so good beleefe They thought she would not in such sort offend He further heard except she had releefe By one that would her innocence defend It was great doubt Lurcanios acculation Would bring her to a speedie condemnation 8 And looke how loue before his heart enraged So now did wrath enflame and though he knew wel To wreake his harme his brothers life was gaged He nathles thought his act so foule and cruell That this his anger could not be asâ—waged Vnto his flame loue found such store of fewel And this the more increast his wrath begun To heare how euâ—rie one the fight did shun 9 For why Lurcanio was so stout and wise Except it were for to defend the truth Men thought he would not so the king despise And hazard life to bring Geneuras ruth Which caused euerie one his friend aduise To shunne the fight that must maintaine vntruth But Ariodant after long disputation Meanes to withstand his brothers accusation 10 Alas quoth he Ineuer shall abide Her through my cause to die in wo and paine For danger or for death what eare betide Be she once dead my life cannot remaine She is my saint in her my blisse doth bide Her golden rayes my eies light still maintaine Fall backe fall edge and be it wrong or right In her defence I am resolu'd to fight 11 I take the wrong but yet I le take the wrong And die I shall
Akorns rich of gold So didst thou breake the â—â— yellow staffe and red So didst thou then the Flowre de luce vphold When as the captaine was in battel dead For which the Laurell crowne they ware of old By iust desert belongeth to thy head And Ciuill crowne no lesse in honor precious For sauing vnto Rome her owne Fabricius 5 Colonna nam'd a collum true indeed Vnto the state of Rome and Romane name Whom you by value tooke and sau'd by meed By which more honor true and worthy fame Vnto your selfe you did procure and breed Then in the ouercomming all that came Fom Aragon from Castill and Nauar For all their speares and new deuised car 6 Now though we all our liues and safeties ow To you that this great conquest did atchieue Yet our side did receiue so great a blow As scarce that ioy this sorrow did relieue And that the dames of France most plainly show Whom this so bloudie triumph still doth grieue Witnesse their widdows in their mourning gownes And watry eyes in villages and townes 7 King Lews of France had need in time prepare For captains new to these vnruly bands That wickedly without all feare or care Of lawes of God of nature or of lands No sort nor sex nor age nor order spare From force of their vnchast and bloudie hands Christs bodie in the sacrament they tare it To beare away the siluer plate that bare it 8 Wretched Rauenna better had it beene That thou the French shouldst not at all resist Thou mightst by Bresey haue bene warnd I weene Now thou a warning art for such as list To shun like losse by thy mishaps foreseene Not stubburnly in folly to persist So Riminy and Faens were preserued By marking in what sort thou hadst bene serued 9 As now king Lews I say had need to send New captains to supply their roomes were dead So then the Pagan Princes did intend To see their men from sundry countries led And all disorders and defects to mend To point them captains that do lacke a head First then Marsilio all his souldiers veweth And Agramant next after him enseweth 10 The chiefe of those are of Marsilios traine Are first the Catalins men of great land And of the best and noblest blood of Spaine The next that do to them in order stand Are of Nauar whose King was lately slaine At Burdels by Renaldos valiant hand Marsilio sore laments the sory case And pointeth Isolir supply his place 11 Bulligant gouerneth those of Lion Grandomus for thâ— Algarbys doth prouide Marsilios brother called Falsiron Doth those of lesser Castile rule and guide Those of Mallaga do attend vpon Madrasso so doth Ciuill all beside There where as Beus water so abounds As all about it makes them fruitfull grounds 12 Tâ—ssora Bariâ—end and Stordilan Vnto the field do bring their forces in Granado this Maiâ—rick he hath rane The first to rule in Lisbon doth begin Where Larbin late was brought vnto his bane Tessyra vnto Larbin next of kin Those of Gallicia Serpentine doth guide Since valiant Maricold in battell dide 13 Those of Toledo and of Calatraue Whom Synagon did leade not long ago Now Matalist their gouernment must haue Because that he was slaine by Christen so Then Pisardin a man in battell braue With all the band of Salamance doth go With many other souldiers of Pagenza Of Auila Zamorra and Palenza 14 Those of the court and of Marsilios traine With those of Saragose Ferraw doth guide The chiefest flowre and the chiefe host of Spaine Well armd well horst well furnished beside With whom two kings that late had lost their raine Morgant and Malsatise did there abide And in the state of priuate men remained And were by him most friendly entertained 15 The name of many a Duke and Lord and Knight For breuitie I purpose to omit Such as were stout and hardie men in fight Such as were wise and politike in wit With th' Earle of Sagunt Archidant that hight Langiran Ammirant and Malagit There was great Fulliron Marsilios bastard That in that fight did shew himselfe no dastard 16 After the Spanish hoast was viewd and past Before king Agramant the next that came Was one that all the rest in stature past The gouernor and king of great Orane Then came a band whose leader small time past At Burdels field was brought vnto his bane Lamenting that the king of Garamant Was conquerd by the Ladie Bradamant 17 Then came the third and that a headlesse crew Whose captaine Argust was in battell slaine To this the second and the fourth a new King Agramant doth leaders fresh ordaine But few there were that for these roomes did sew So few sufficient men there did remaine Buraldo and Argonio for the best And Ormida he chose among the rest 18 Then came Brunello with a chearlesse face And looke for shame still fixed on the ground For late he fell in Agramants disgrace Who doubted that his faith had not bene sound Ere since he went vnto th'inchanted place Where to a tree dame Bradamant him bound Because he lost his ring whose losse so greeued him That though he told him true he not beleeued him 19 But Isolir the brother of Ferraw That was the first that found him and vntide him Auoucht to Agramant the thing he saw How there by force some enemie had tide him So as the King his anger did withdraw Although he neuer after well could bide him But swore the next offence that he committed An halter should vnto his necke be fitted 20 With those of Esperie came Soridano And Dâ—ribon did come with those of set With those of Nasomanie Prusiano King Agricalt Amonios charge did get Malabusers came with them of Fisano The rest doth Pinadure in order set Ballastro those that followd erst Tardocco Those of Canaria and of Morocco 21 From Mulga and Arsilla others came The first their former captaine still doth hold Vnto the next the King a new doth name One Corineus a trustie man and bold Then Baliuesse a man of euill fame Clarindo next of whom great deeds arâ— old Sobrino next a man of elder age In all the campe was none more wise and sage 22 Those of Getulia came with Rimedont With Maribaldo those of Bolga went And those of Cosâ—a came with Balnifront Their former Lord his life in battell spent Then came the king of Algier Rodomont That lately into Turkie had bene sent To bring some new supplies of horse and men And backe againe was new returnd as then 23 In all the campe was not a man more stout In all the campe was not a man more strong Nor one of whom the French stood more in doubt Was there the Turkish armie all among In Agramants nor in Marsilios rout Nor all the followers did to them belong Beside he was which made them dred him chiefe The greatest enemie to our beliefe 24
So Griffin did with deadly strokes him plie At last he left him stom'd on the plaine Straightway two valiant brothers standing by That at Griffino tooke no small disdaine The tone Corimbo tother Tirse hight These two forthwith do challenge him to fight 69 Successiuely them both he ouerthrew And now men thought that he the prise would win But Salintern that saw them downe in vew To enuie good Griffino doth begin This man the stoutst of all the courtly crew Doth take a speare in hand and enters in And to the combat Griffin straight defies And scornes to haue a stranger win the prize 70 But Griffin chose one staffe among the rest The biggest and the strongest of a score And with the same he pierceth backe and brest That downe he fell and neuer stirred more The King that loued and esteemd him best Laments his death and maketh mone therefore But yet the common sort were faine and glad That knew his mind and manners were but bad 71 Next after him two others he doth meat Ermofilo the captaine of his guard And Carmond Admirall of all his fleet With these a while he had a conflict hard The first vnhorst was left vpon his feet The other with a blow was almost mard Thus of eight challengers remaind but one The rest were quite subdude by him alone 72 This one was he of whom at first I spake Lord of Seleucia a valiant man This one to Griffin did resistance make And long it was ere ought of him he wan But one blow on his head so fierce he strake As he likewise to stagger now began Had not the King made them to haue bene parted Sure Griffin had him kild ere he had parted 73 Thus all those eight that all the world defide By one alone were vanquished and slaine So as the King was forced to prouide An order new for those that do remaine By parting runners some on either side For yet was spent not past an houre or twaine Lest this his triumph should haue end too soone He makes them spend therein the afternoone 74 But Griffin full of wrath and discontent Backe to his host with his companion came The praise he wan did him not so content As he was grieu'd at his companions shame Wherefore to leaue the towne they do consent While men were busie looking on the game And to a little towne fast by he goes And meanes himselfe a while for to repose 75 The trauell sore he had before endured So great a wearinesse in him had bred And such desire of sleepe withall procured As straight he gat him to his naked bed The while Martano to all fraud inured And vsing aid of her mischieuous head as he did soundly sleepe deuisd the while A stratageme most strange him to beguise 76 They do conclude to take Griffinos steed And cote and eu'ry warlike implement And that Martano in Griffinos steed Himselfe to Norandino shall present This they deuisd this they performd in deed And boldly backe againe Martano went In Griffins armor stoutly stepping in As did the Asse that ware the Lions skin 77 He rusheth in among the thickest presse An houre before the setting of the sunne The King and all the rest straightway do guesse That this was he that had such honor wonne And straight great honour they to him addresse And cause the like by others to be done And his base name not worthy to be named About the towne with honor was proclamed 78 Fast by the King he rideth cheeke by cheeke And in his praise they songs and verses make In Hebrew tongue in Latin and in Greeke And now this while did Griffin hap to wake And seeing that his armour was to seeke He first begins some small mistrust to take Yet hardly could it sinke into his reason That she had giu'n consent to such a treason 79 In feare and doubt no little time he houered But when his host the truth had plaine declard And that he saw the falshood plaine disouered By which she had in follies bands him snard Thē truth shewd plain that loue before had couered And to reuenge this wrong he straight prepard But wanting other furniture perforce He tooke Martanos armor and his horse 80 And backe vnto Damasco he doth ride Arriuing there within an houre of night And entring at the gate vpon the side The pallace of the King stood plaine in sight Where then the King a banket did prouide For many a Duke and Lord and valiant Knight And Griffin boldly sate among the rest Forgetting that he ware the scorned crest 81 And taken for the man whose coate he ware His presence did the better sort offend Of which when vile Martano was aware That of the table sate at th'vpper end And sees that to disgrace him they forbare And thinke him his companion and his frend His friendship and acquaintance he renounced And this hard doom of him he straight pronounced 82 Sir King quoth he it seems that for my sake You graciously forbeare to do him shame That of his basenesse shamefull proofe did make This day and now againe confirmes the same But you the matter and the man mistake I know not him his nation nor his name By chance I met him onely on the way I neuer saw him I till yesterday 83 Wherefore might I herein your grace aduise You should a sample make him for the rest That here presents vnto your princely eies Himselfe vnworthy and vnwelcome guest Let him tormented be in cruell wise This is my doome let him be hangd at least And vnreuenged let him not be borne That knighthood should receiue so great a scorne 84 Thus much the vile and base Martano seth And Origilla soothd it with as much And wisht an halter stop the villains breth Nay quoth the King the sinne is nothing such As is in law or reason worthy death His life or yet his libertie to tuch This for examples sake I thinke it meet To do him some disgrace in open street 85 And straight he rounds a Sergeant in his care And secretly appoints him what to do Who came forthwith vnto the table where Griffino sate and made no more ado But leadeth him that no such thing did feare A secret prison and a sure vnto And for that night he clapt him vp in fetters Where theeues do vse to lie and euill debters 86 Next day Martano that did greatly dread Lest this his foule deuice would come to light If Griffin should be heard his cause to pleade Therefore as soone as Phoebus shined bright Pretending businesse away he sped And leaues Griffino in this wofull plight But ere he goes the King to him imparts No small rewards for his not his desarts 87 But let him go his wayes and do not doubt That this vnknowne and vnreuengd shall be Straight was Griffino from the iayle put out And carted so as all men might him see Tide hand and foot and people all
for a farthing Secondly in Filandro we may note a speciall good nature and inclination that would rather abandon a place which he liked very well then either breake the lawes of frendship and hospitalitie or accuse the wife to her husband In his killing Argeo and all the tragicall proceedings of the wicked Gabrina we may note the mōstrous effects of an vnbridled affectiō in a mischieuous woman that killed both her husbands and lastly the Phisition and stil continued working fresh mischief til her death as after foloweth Orestes whom he spake of in the 55. staffe of this 21. booke was sonne of Agamemnon who being slaine by the trecherie of his wife Clytemnestra Orestes in reuenge there of killed his mother and after that was himselfe tormented with furies or rather with his conscience for so horrible an act and so fell mad and was healed againe and after that notable accident of Pilades and him fell out Simon Fornarie affirmeth that in this tale of Gabrina my authour doth allude to a woman of like lewdnesse liuing in his time and by Argeo and Filandro to be ment two Gentlemen of Naples but the truth is the tale is almost verbatim taken out of Apuleius golden Asse Specially for that part of the Phisition Sed vxor quae iampridem nomen vxoris cum fide perdiderat medicum conuenit quendam norae persidie qui iam multarum palmarum spectatus praelijs magna dextrae suae trophoea numerabit as I before noted on the 57. staffe The end of the notes vpon the xxj booke THE XXII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Astolfo doth dissolue the charmed place And spite of Atlant sets his prisners free Then Bradamant doth see Rogeros face To helpe an unknowne knight they craued be But by the way Rogero in short space Subdewd foure knights of worth and good degree That were by Pinabell in prison hild Whom Bradamant with iust reuengment kild 1 YE courtly dames that are both kind and true Vnto your loues if kinde and true be any As sure I am in all your louely crue Of so chast minde there are not ouer many Be not displeasd with this that doth ensue For neither must I leaue it neither can I And beare with me for that I said before When on Gabrina I did raile so sore 2 Mine ernest words nor yet her great offence Cannot obscure in honour and cleare fame Those few whose spotlesse liues want no defence Whom hate nor enuie no way can defame He that his master sold for thirtie pence To Iohn nor Peter breeds no blot nor blame Nor men of Hipermestra worse haue thought Although her sisters were vnchast and nought 3 For one that in this verse I shall dispraise As driu'n by course of this my present storie Whole hundreds are whom I intend to praise And magnifie their well deserued glorie If this then be offensiue any wayes To all or any I can be but sorie Now of the Scottish Prince a word or two That heard a noise and went forthwith thereto 4 Betweene two mountaines in a shadie dale He doth descend that way the noise him led But when he came he saw vpon the vale A Baron lately slaine and newly ded But er I enter further in this tale I first must tell you how Astolfo sped Whom late I left in that most cursed cittie Where women murther men without all pittie 5 I told you how his horne with mightie blast Not onely all his foes had driuen away But also made his friends so sore agast As not the stowtest of them there durst stay Wherefore I said he was constraind at last Alone to get him homward on his way Forthwith on Rabicano he doth mount An horse of which he makes no small account 6 His horne that serues him still at all assayes He carries with him and his learned booke First by Armenia he goes his wayes Then Brusia and the way of Thrase he tooke So that within the space of twentie dayes The streame Danubio he quite forsooke Then from Boemia ward he doth decline Vnto Franconia and the streame of Rhyne 7 Then through Ardennas wood to Aquis graue And thence to Flanders where he shipping found What time a Northeast winde did blow to braue As set him soone in sight of English ground So that no whit annoyd with winde nor waue His natiue soile receiu'd him safe and sound He taketh horse and er the Sunne was downe At London he arriu'd the chiefest towne 8 Here at his first arriuall straight he heares How that the Turkes faire Paris did beseege And how his sire a man well stroke in yeares Was there and sent for ayd to raise the seege And how of late the Lords and chiefest peares Were gone with new supplies to helpe their leege But little stay he makes these words once hard But taketh ship againe to Callice ward 9 And for the winde seru'd then not very well They were by force thereof borne quite aside So that the master scant himselfe could tell What course he held they were borne downe so wide Yet at the last so luckie it besell Within a kenning they some land had spide And drawing neare they found the towne of Roan Where presently the Duke tooke land alone 10 And crossing through a wood when time drew neare That neither day could well be cald nor night He hapt to finde a christall spring and cleare And by the side thereof he did alight With mind to quench his thirst and rest him heare As in a place of pleasure and delight He ties his horse vnto a tree and thinketh To have him tarrie safe there while he drinketh 11 Strange things may fall betweene the lip and cup For scant Astolfo yet had wet his lip But from a bush a villaine started vp Vntide the horse and on his backe doth skip The Duke that scant had tasted yet a sup And finds himselfe thus tane in such a trip Forgets to drinke and followes in a rage For wrath not water doth his thirst asswage 12 The little villaine that the horse had got Like one that did in knauish pranks delight Although he might haue run yet did it not Because Astolfo should not leese his sight But with false gallop or a gentle trot He leads the Duke vnto that place aright Where many knights and Lords of high degree Without a prison more then prisners be 13 Astolfo though his armour doth him cumber Yet fearing least he might arriue too late In following the villaine doth nor slumber Vntill he came within the pallace gate Where as I said of Lords no little number Were wandring vp and downe in strange estate Astolfo of their presence doth not force But runneth vp and downe to finde his horse 14 The craftie villaine was in no place found Though many a homely place for him was sought Yet still the Duke doth search the pallace round And for his beast he takes no little thought
as three nights But this I submit to the iudgement of learned Diuines The colour and embrodery of Bradamants bases in the 47. staffe betokening desperation is there shewed I need not long to stand vpon for as for those hidden misteries of colours with their applications of blue to constancie twanie forsaken white to virginitie and the rest they are very well knowne to all our gallant Gentlemen who often haue more cost in their clothes and wit in their colours then coyne in their coffers or learning in their heads Of the Island Queene that sent the shield of gold to France which Bradamant thought would but breed quarrels Fornarius noteth that mine Author did therein couertly allude to a matter betweene England and France for Ariosto liued in Henry the eight his time and maketh very honorable mention of him But thus it was After the death of Lewes of France Marie the younger sister of K. Henrie the eight remaining his Dowager our King sent for his sister to come into England but Francis the first loth she should go out of France in respect of the great dower she should carry with her which by the custome of that country was a third part of the reuenue of the Crowne and yet fearing to have warres with king Henrie made this offer that if he would send some braue man at armes that could win her in the field he should haue her our King made no dainties to accept the offer and making it knowne to his Court Sir Charles Brandon tooke the matter on him and in fine ouercomming foure French men with the franke consent of both Kings married the Queene Dowager and was here in England as we all know made Duke of Suffolk of whose offspring there remaine yet some most worthy branches but the like to him for armes and cauallary as we terme it is my noble good Lord the Lord Strange whose value and vertue need not this my barren and briefe testimonie The end of the annotations vpon the xxxij booke THE XXXIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant sees grau'n by passing art The future wars of France vpon a screene Bayardos flight the combat fierce doth part Renaldo and the Serican beweene Astolso hauing past the greater part Of all the world and many countries seene Vnto Senapos kingdome last arriues And from his boord the foule Harpias driues 1 TYmagoras Parrhasius Polignote Timant Protogenes Apollodore With Zewces one for skill of special note Apelles eke plast all the rest before Whose skill in drawing all the world doth note And talke of still to writers thanks therefore Whose works and bodies time and death did wast Yet spite of time and death their fames doth last 2 With others that in these our later dayes Haue liu'd as Leonard and Iohn Belline And he that carues and drawes with equall praise Michell more then a man Angell diuine And Flores whom the Flemmings greatly praise And Raphael and Titian passing fine With diuers others that by due desart Do ment in this praise to haue a part 3 Yet all these cunning drawers with their skill Could not attaine by picture to expresse What strange euents should happen well or ill In future times no not so much as guesse This art is proper vnto Magike still Or to a Prophet or a Prophetesse By this rare art the Brittish Merlin painted Strange things with which our age hath bin acquainted 4 He made by Magike art that stately hall And by the selfe same art he could to be Strange histories ingraued on the wall Which as I said the guests desir'd to see Now when they were from supper risen all The pages lighted torches two or three Making the roome to shine as bright as day When to his guests the owner thus did say 5 I would quoth he my guests that you should know That these same stories that here painted are Of future warres the sequels sad do show That shall to Italie bring wo and care Whereas the French full many a bloodie blow Shall take while others they to harme prepare As Merlin here hath layd downe being sent From English Arthur chiefe for this intent 6 King Feramont that was the first that past The streame of Rhine with armie great of France And being in possession quiet plast Of all those parts sturd with so luckie chance Straight in ambitious thought began to cast His rule and scepter higher to aduance Which that he might to passe the better bring He made a league with Arthur English king 7 Informing him how that his meaning was Of Italie the rule and crowne to get And askt his ayd to bring the same to passe Which neuer had atchieued bin as yet Now Merlin that did all men far surpasse In Magike art his purpose sought to let For Merlin had with Arthur so great credit He thought all Gospell was if once he sed it 8 This Merlin then did first to Arthur show And then by Arthur was of purpose sent To Fieramont of France to let him know The cause why he misliked his intent As namely many mischiefs that would grow To all that now or that hereafter ment The like attempt aduising him abstaine From certaine trouble for vncertaine gaine 9 And that he might his courage more appall And quite remoue him from this enterprise He made by Magicke this so stately hall Adorned as you see in sumptuous wise And drew these histories vpon the wall That what he saw in mind they might with eyes And thereby know that in Italian ground The Flour de luce can near take root profound 10 And how as often as the French shall come As frends to aid and free them from distresse So oft they shall their foes all ouercome And fight with honor great and good successe But be they sure to haue that place their toome If so they come their freedome to oppresse Thus much the owner of the house them told And so went on the storie to vntold 11 Lo first how Sigisbert in hope of gaine And promises of Emperour Mauricius Doth passe the mountaines with a mightie traine With mind to Lombardie to be pernicious But Ewtar driues him backe by force againe When he of such attempt is least suspicious So that his enterprise is quite reuersed Himselfe doth flie and leaue his men dispersed 12 Next after him the proud Clodoueus went And had with him one hundred thousand men But him doth meet the Duke of Beneuent With searse for eu'rie hundred souldiers ten Who doth intrap him in an ambushment So as the French might well be lik'ned then While Lombard wines too greedily they tooke To fish beguiled with a baited hooke 13 Straight Childibertus with a mightie host Doth come with mind to wipe away this blot But of his gainings he may make small bost For of his purpose he preuailed not His enterprise by heau'nly sword is croft The plague doth grow among his men so hot What with the
burning feauer and the flixe Of sixtie men there scant returneth sixe 14 Another picture liuely doth expresse How that king Pepin and king Charles his sonne Fought both in Italie with good successe Not with intent that Realme to ouerrunne But to set free Pope Steu'n from sharpe distresse And wrongs that by Astolso were him done One tames Astolso that was Steu'ns oppressor To ther takes Desiderius his successor 15 Behold another Pepin yet an youth Not like his father doth that Realme inuade And thinking to procure their wofull ruth Of ships and boats a mightie bridge he made But marke what ill successe to him ensuth Ear he through his great enterprise could wade A tempest did his massie worke consound His bridge was broken and his souldiers drownd 16 Lo Lews of Burgundie descending theare Where as it seemes he taken is and bound And he that takes him maketh him to sweare That he shall neare beare arms gainst Latian ground Lo how he breakes his oth without all feare Lo how againe his foes do him confound And like a moldwarpe make him loose his eyes A iust reward for such as oths despise 17 See here how Hugh of Arly doth great fears Driuing the Beringars from natiue soile Forcing them twise or thrise to change their feats And cause the Hunnes and Bauiers backe recoile But greater force at last his acts defeats First he compounds and after all his toile He dies not after long his heire doth tane But yeeldeth vp his crowne to Beringarie 18 Lo heare another Charles that by perswasion Of euill shepherd sets on fire the fold And kills two kings in this his fierce inuasion Manfred and Corradin which makes him bold But his owne faults of his fall gaue occasion His crueltie was such so vncontrold That he and his were all kild as they tell Eu'n at the ringing of an eu'niong bell 19 Now after these about one hundred yeares For so the space betweene did seeme to say From France one shall inuade those famous peeres The Vicount Galeasses and shall lay Siege vnto Alexandria as appeares By those that here do stand in battell ray Lo how the Duke preuenting eu'rie doubt Prouideth strength within deceipt without 20 And with this warie policie proceeding He doth the Frenchmen at aduantage take Not finding his ambushment and not heeding Together with the Lord of Arminake Who dieth of his hurts with ouerbleeding Lo how the streame of bloud there spilt doth make A sanguin colour in the streame of Poe By meanes Tanarus into it doth goe 21 After all these one comes that Maria hight And three that do of Aniow houle proceed All these to those of Naples do much spite Yet none of these can brag of their good speed For though to French they ioyne some Latiā might Of greedie sort that with their crownes they feed Yet still for all their paine and their expence Alfonso and Ferdinando driue them thence 22 Lo Charles the eight descending like a thunder Downe from the Alps with all the floure of France And conqu'ring all to all mens passing wonder Not drawing once a sword nor breaking lance Except that rocke that Typheus lyeth vnder While he to high himselfe straue to aduance This I le and castle both that Iskia hight Defended was by Vasto gallant knight 23 Now as the master of the castle told And pointed out each storie in his place It came into his fancy to vnfold The worthy praise of Aluas noble race Which as for certaintie they all did hold Wise Merlin propheside who had the grace To shew before hand both with tongue and pen What accidents should hap and where and when 24 And namely that this knight whom here you see Defending so the castle and the rocke As though he feard not those same fires that flee As far as Fare but them did scorne and mocke From this same knight there shal descend quoth he Out of the root of this most worthie stocke A knight shall win such fame and reputation As all the world shall hold in admiration 25 Though Nereus were faire Achilles strong Though Ladas swift though Nestor was most wise That knew so much and liued had so long Though bold Vilsses could both well deuise And execute what doth to warre belong Though Caesar bountie praisd be to the skies Yet place to giue all these may thinke no scorne To one that shall in Iskia I le be borne 26 And if that ancient Creta may be prowe Because that Celus nephew sprang therein If Thebs of Bacchus birth doth vant so lowd And Hercules If Delus of their twin Then may that I le no lesse be well allowd To vant it selfe that hath so happie bin To haue that Marquesse borne within that place On whom the heau'ns shall powre so great a grace 27 Thus Merlin vsd to tell and oft repeat How he should be for such a time reserued When Roman Empires high and stately seat At lowest eb should be and welnigh starued That his rare parts againe might make it great And that by him it might be safe preserued Which that you may see plainly to his glorie Marke in this table the ensuing storie 28 Lo here said he how Lodwicke doth repent That he had thither brought king Charles the eight Which at the first he did but with intent To weaken not to presse with so hard weight His ancient foe for now gainst Charles he went Making new leagues according to his sleight He thinks to take him prisner by the way But Charles by force through thē doth make his way 29 But yet the souldiers that behinde him staid Had not the like good fortune nor successe For Ferdinando grew by Mantuan aid So strong that soone he did the French distresse To whose great griefe this Marquesse was betraid By Gypsen vile when he fear'd nothing lesse Which doth in Ferdinand so great griefe breed As doth his ioy of victorie exceed 30 Next after these he shews them Lews the twelfth That puls out Lodwicke Storse with mightie hand And gets by force what he had got by stelth And plants the Flour de luce in Millen land Yet he no long time there in quiet dwelth The great Consaluo with a Spanish band His Captaines and Lieutenants oft repulses And in the end from Millen quite expulses 31 Lo here which I forgat before to show How Lodwickes frends and his own men betray him One sells his castell neuer striking blow The Swizzers eke that might away conuay him And had his pay and did him seruice ow For filthie lucres sake they do bewray him Whereby without once breaking of a lance Two victories came to the king of France 32 Lo how by fauour of his mightie king The bastard Caesar Borgia grew full great And doth the necks of many nobles wring Of Italie that had most ancient seat Lo how this king doth eke the
it hath beene receiued so long for a truth that Penelope was a chast and vertuous wife I will not take vpon me by S. Iohn to write the contrarie though mine authour make S. Iohn to cast a doubt of it Of the Allegorie I haue not much to say because mine authour himselfe expounds it so plainly onely I'pray you mark how rightly and with what decorum he likens Promotors and Parasites to vultures carren crowes and chattring pyes as likewise in the beginning of the 34 booke he likeneth them to Harpias The sustenance that should for food haue serued For widowes poore and orphanes innocent These filthie monsters do consume and wast it Olt at one meale before the owners tast it As if one would say the gifts and rewards that belong to old seruitours and well deseruing souldiers are catched at the volise by these rauenou birds and neuer come to the ground or if they do they make so false a bound that a man shall make a fault in offring at them and many times hazard both game and set for them Bradamant a woman ouercomming Rodomont a most terrible Turke alludes to the notable History of Iudith that cut off Holofernes head which story the Lord Du Bertas and rare French Poet continued into an excellent Poemâ— in French and the same is translated into a verie good and sweet English verse by one M. Thomas Hudson which worke I the rather mention because in the 6. booke of the vice of surfetting which I reproued afore in the Morall it is not ably described and with all sharply rebuked as followeth O plague O poyson to the warriour state Thou makst the noble hearts effeminate While Rome was rulde by Curioes and Fabrices Who fed on rootes and fought not for delices And when the onely Cresson was the food Most delicate to Persia then they stood c. Here end the annotations vpon the xxxv booke THE XXXVI BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Duke Ammons daughter with reuenge full hart Doth meet Marfisa minding her to kill Untill the battels ioynd on either part And so did sunder them against their will Bradamant and Rogero talke apart Marfisa gets of both great euill will By troubling them but when she knew her brother She reconciled is to tone and tother 1 T Is meete a gentle heart should euer show By curtesie the fruites of true gentilitie Which will by practise to an habite grow And make men do the same with great facilitie Likewise the dunghil blood a man shall know By churlish parts and acts of inciuilitie Whose nature apt to take each lewd infection Custome confirmes and makes ill in perfection 2 Of courteous acts old stories he that reeds In auncient times shall find there hath bene store But in our dayes of bloudy cruell deeds Is greater plentie then hath bene before For charitie brings forth but barren seeds And hatred still is sowd in so great store That when the fruits of both come to be reaped The tone is scarce the tother ouer heaped 3 What fierce Barbarian Tartar Moore or Turke Could vse more crueltie then now of late In Latin land Venetian force did worke Not by consent of the wise men of state But by the filthy nature that did lurke In wicked hirelings and a hidden hate I speake not of the damage and defaces They did by fire in all our pleasant places 4 Though that reuenge was foule and to to cruell And chiefe against Hippolito who late When Caesar sieged Padoa as they knew well And brought it to low ebbe and wofull state He both withdrew the matter all and fewell And quencht the fires kindled by deadly hate Preseruing many a Church and many a village By his rare clemencie from fire and pillage 5 Not those I meane nor many actions more That cannot be excused or defended But such an act as stones might weepe therefore As oft as it is talkt of or reinembred Then when my Lord his houshold sent before There where his foes were secretly assembled And left their vessels on the saltish land While in ambushment close they lay on land 6 As Hector and Aeneas did by fire Assault the Greekish fleet with hardie fight So saw I two whose hearts to fame aspire One Alexander tother Hercles hight Assault their foes and driue them to retire Vnto their trenches nay within them quite But one of them returned thence full hard The tother of returning cleane was bard 7 For Ferussine scapt Cantelmo stayd O Duke of Sore what sore griefe didst thou find To see thy noble sonne lo soule betrayd Among a thousand blades left there behind His naked necke on side of gally layd And chopped off now surely in my mind When that same bloudie stroke his necke smit off You felt like stroke eu'n with the fight thereof 8 Slauonian vile where didst thou learne to know Such lawes of warre within what Scuthian land Vse men to kill a prisner taken so That yeelds and hath no weapon in his hand Or was it such a grieuous sinne you trow The foes of his deare country to withstand Why hast thou Sunne so long on this age shinde That breeds of Atrews and Thiestes kinde 9 Barbarian vile that kild so sweet a youth To satisfie thy rancor and thy rage So rare a youth as to confesse the truth His match could not be found in this our age Whose beautie might haue bred sufficient ruth Fierce Poliphemus anger to asswage But not fierce thee more cruell and more fell Then any monsters that in deserts dwell 10 The valiant men did studie in time past With clemencie their honors to increase And hate no longer then the fight did last With victorie reuenge did euer cease So Bradamant of whom I told you last The prisners she had tane did still release And staid their horses when themselues were downe And sent them backe againe into the towne 11 And praid them but her challenge to deliuer Vnto Rogero and to call him out Who meant with speare in rest her answer giue her Vnto her challenge that she sent so stout Now when the other knights were all togither In presence of the kings they cast a doubt Who this should be and then they aske Ferraw That talkt with her and her bare visage saw 12 Sure said Ferraw it is not tone nor tother Of those on whom before your thoughts were set I tooke it first it was Renaldos brother Who is in yeares a very youth as yet But now I rather iudge it is another For so much force is not in ' Richardet I thinke it is his sister by her vsage Who I haue heard is like him much in visage 13 She hath ere this of value had great fame Renaldo and the Palladins among I must confesse I found it to my shame Her then her brothers to be farre more strong Rogero when he heard them her to name Was guiltie straight that he had done her wrong And blusht
still in his hand that pot or Iarre That should againe make wise the mased hed Of that same Palladin well seene in warre Likewise the Saint vnto Astolfo sed Assoone as they allighted from the carre That with an herbe of which there grew great store He should againe Sonapos sight restore 26 For which and for his former great desart He should haue men t' assault Biserta land He teacheth him those people vnexpart He should so traine to make them to his hand He further learned him the way and art How he might safely passe th'vnstable sand And plainly thus S. Iohn from point to point What th' English Duke should do did him appoint 27 Then did Astolfo take his winged steed And of the Saint deuoutly tooke his leaue And soaring downe he makes no little speed To do that which in charge he did receaue So farre by Nylus bankes he doth proceed Vntill that Nubia he did plaine perceaue And following the course of that same streame Came to Senapo head of that same Reame 28 Great was the pleasure triumph and the ioy Senapo tooke when he thereof had woord Remembring well the trouble and annoy The foule Harpias brought him at his booâ—d But when he made him eke his sight enioy And did so rare a grace to him affoord That by his meanes his eye sight was restord him He worshipt him and like a God adord him 29 Nor onely did he giue him souldiers then Wherewith he might Biserta towne inuade But for each one he askt he gaue him ten That soone two hundred thousand men he made Scarce had the fields roome for so many men But footmen all â—â—o is that countryes trade For horses in that Region are but dentie But Elephants and Camells they haue plentie 30 Now that same day that went before the day In which the men of Nubia made account To march on forward some part of their way Astolfo on his Griffith horse doth mount And Southward he doth passe and doth not stay Vntill he came neare to a mightie mount At foote whereof a vast caue he doth finde Which was the lodging of the Sotherne winde 31 The mightie caue had but a narrow mouth At which the Duke as Christs Apostle taught Did watch so long vntill the wind of South Came home to ease his spirits ouerwrought To enter in Astolfo him allowth But when anone to haue come out he thought Within a leather sacke the Duke had plast At that caues mouth he caught and tyde him fast 32 The Palladin full proud of such a pray Returnes to Nubia ward before t was night And to the Negros then he showd the way Appointing them how they should trauell right He victualls doth and cariages conuay All safe vnto that hill that Atlas hight Quite ore those fields where many haue bene found With wind for want of water more then drownd 33 And being come vnto the mountaines side There where he might discouer all the plaine He doth his bands and companies deuide And chuseth those that are most apt to traine And those he parts and putteth them aside And orders for the rest he doth ordaine Then he in fight of all the hill ascendeth And lookt like one that some great feat intendeth 34 And kneeling downe as one that did beleeue His prayre should granted be as well as hard He prayd his master their great want releeue Then casting stones that were before prepard What cannot firme beleefe in Christ atcheeue The very stones a thing to credit hard Did grow and hue and moue by hidden cause And had both bellyes legges and necks and iawes 35 And naying lowd fild all the place with sound Of horse some bay some roane some daple gray And of all them were readie horses found The spurre the wand the leg and voyce t' obay To stop to start to passe carier to bound To gallop straight or round or any way Thus were the men well horst with little paines For eu'rie horse had saddle bit and raines 36 Thus by this vertuous Duke within one houre Were fourscore thousand footmen horsemen made With which so great and vnexpected powre Full fiercely he all Affrike did inuade And burnt and spoild full many a towne and towre All giuing way to his victorious blade Vntill three Princes Agramants vicegerents Made head against the Duke with their adherents 37 The king of Aldyzer and he of Ferse With stout Bransardo all three mightie kings That find their enemies to grow so fierce Do send their Lord by sea word of these things A little fricket straight the waues doth pierce And of these euill newes quicke notice brings To Agramant that lay that time in Arlie Besieged by an armie strong and warlie 38 Who hearing of his countries wofull case And by his absence what did them betide He cald his Lords and Princes to the place Consulting how for this harme to prouide And looking once or twice with stately grace Now on the tone then on the tother side But on Marsilio and Sobrino chiefe In such like words he told to them his griefe 39 Although I wot it worst beseemes of all A Generall to say I had not thought Yet so say I for when a harme doth fall Beyond the reach of humane sence or thought Then sure the blame is either none or small And in this compasse may my fault be brought My fault it was Affricke to leaue vnarmed If of the Nubians now they could be harmed 40 But who could thinke but God that vnderstands The things to come as well as those are past So great an host could passe to many lands That were from vs so great a distance plast Twixt whom and vs lies those vnstable sands That dangerously are mou'd with Southerne blast Yet are they come and haue so farre preuailed Byserta selfe is now by them assailed 41 Now on this point your consels here I craue If so I shall all fruitlesse hence retire Or trie before I go if I can haue The crowne of France to which I do aspire Or how I may at home my country saue And this destroy which is my most desire If any know the meane then speake he to it To th' end that we may know the best and do it 42 Thus much the sonne of great Traiano spake And on Marsilio fixt his eyes that he As chiefe in place thereby might notice take That first by him he would aduised be Who when he had stood vp for reu'rence sake And bowd his bodie and withall his knee Downe sate him in his honorable seate And spake such words as I shall here repeate 43 What euer fame doth bring of good or ill To make it greater it doth euer vse Wherefore my soueraigne Lord I neuer will Be bold or basht with hearing flying newes But moue such doubt and such assurance still As though I would not all reports refuse Yet would I thinke the truth of other sort Then as so