of those vnhappie men Whom erst you slue was husband vnto ten 68 So that for those same nine that you haue slaine Nine times ten women seeke reuenge to take Wherefore I wish that you and all your traine Within my roofe this night abode do make For so perhap from wrong they will abstaine If not for right at least for reuerence sake I le take your offer sir Marfisa saith So that hereof to me you giue your faith 69 That as in fight you shew your valew great As I haue proued in this present place So I may find your words without deceat Lest falshood should your noble deeds deface I will accept your lodging and your meat And will perswade my fellows in like case But rather then for feare you should it thinke Le ts fight it out by light of torch and linke 70 And thus in fine they all of them agreed That vnto him that night they would be guest Straight to a sumptuous pallace they proceed By torch light brought to chambers richly drest But when that each put off their warlike weed Then each of them with wonder was possest She that the knight did by his face appeare To be a boy of age but eighteene yeare 71 And he when by her haire her sex he knew Wonderd to see a woman of such might As namely that in sight nine tall men slew And after had with him prolongd the fight And either pleased the others vew Behold the one the other with delight Then each desir'd the others name to learne As in th' ensuing booke you shall discearne In the first staffe of this Canto is an excellent morall of the proâ—fe of frends which my father many yeares since did translate almost word for word as I haue set it downe applying it to his master the worthie Lord Admirall Seymor and because the verse was my fathers I count I may without vsurpation claime it by inheritance He applied it to that noble peere verie aptly diuers wayes both for his life and for his death but specially which I count worthy the noting for his seruants who loued him so dearely that euen in remembrance of his honorable kindnesse they loued one another exceedingly and my father I remember but a weeke before he died which was in the yeare 1582. wrote with his owne hand the names of those were then liuing of the old Admiraltiâ— so he called them that had bâ—ne my Lords men and there were then xxxiiij of them liuing of which many were knights and men of more reuenew then himselfe and some were but meane men as armorers artificers keepers and farmers and yet the memorie of his seruice was such a band among them all of kindnesse as the best of them disdained not the poorest and the meaner had recourse to the greatest for their countenance and ayd in their honest causes and many of them are euen now liuing and yet it wants little of fortie yeares since that noble man was put to death His picture my father gaue after to the Queenes Maiestie that now is with a prettie verse written on it and it hangs now in the gallerie at Somerset house That there were Amazons I thinke no man doubreth that hath read of Alexanders conquests In Angelicas wedding of Medore I gather this Allegorie Angelica is taken for honor which braue men hunt after by blood and battels and many hardy feats and misse it but a good seruant with faith and gratefulnesse to his Lord gets it Cloridan and Medore allude to Eurialus and Nisus in Virgils Aeneads The end of the notes of the xix booke THE TVVENTITH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT With Guidon all his worthie guests agree To breake from th' Amazons the morrow morne Astolfo doubting lest it would not be Doth driue them thence and scares them with his horne Zerbino laughs Gabrina gay to see Marfisa seemes to take it in great scorne And gainst his will commits her to his guiding By whom he hears of Isabella tiding 1 RIght wódrous deeds by diuers dames were donne In times of old as well by sword as pen Whereby their glorie shined like the sunne And famous was both far and neare as then The fame Harpalice in battell wonne Camillas worth is eke well knowne to men Corinnas praise and Saphos are discerned Aboue the rest because they both were lerned 2 What art so deepe what science is so hie But worthy women haue thereto attayned Who list in stories old to looke may trie And find my speech herein not false nor fained And though of late they seeme not to come nie The praise their sexe in former times haue gained No doubt the fault is either in backbiters Or want of skill and iudgement in the writers 3 For sure I see in this our present age Such vertuous parts in their sweet sexe to grow The young so sober and the rest so sage And all so chast as writers shall I know Haue worke enough to fill full many a page With their great praise that from their worth will flow To win the fame their ancestors did leese And passe Marfisa not in few degrees 4 But now â—o turne my speech to her againe I say that when the knight did aske her name She made him answer and did not disdaine To tell both what she was and whence she came Yet as her fashion was both briefe and plaine She saith thus to the knight I called am Marfisa and she need to say no more For all the world had heard the rest before 5 The tother when his turne to speake came in First making long and farther circumstance In such like manner doth his tale begin And sighing deepe you all haue heard perchance Both of my fathers house and of my kin Of fame in Italie in Spaine and France Forsure I am the house of Clarimount In all the world is knowne and of account 6 He that Charello and Mambrino slew And did their kingdoms ruine and deface Out of one stocke with me together grew Although we were not all borne in one place For why at lster flood to tell you trew My father me begat and in that case My mother great with childe he left behind And went to France by helpe of saile and wind 7 Thus seu'nteene yeares I liu'd like one exild Vntill I able was to breake a launce And for that place me seemd too base and vild I meane to seeke my frends and kin in Fraunce They name me Guidon sauage of a child As yet I could not much my name aduance For hither by a tempest I was borne As you were now with ship and tackle torne 8 Here first Argillon with nine meâ— I killed A leau'n months since and that same day at night The office of an husband I fulfilled Vnto ten Amazons in flesh delight This done to take my choise then was I willed Of any ten that pleased best my sight And these remaine my wiues
Ariodant should in some danger go Or that he sought as all desirous are The counsels of his dearest friend to know Close out of sight by secret steps and ware Hard at his heeles his brother followd so Till he was nearer come by fiftie paces And there againe himselfe he newly places 49 But I that thought no ill securely came Vnto the open window as I said For once or twice before I did the same And had no hurt which made me lesse afraid I cannot boast except I boast of shame When in her robes I had my selfe araid Me thought before I was not much vnlike her But certaine now I seemed very like her 50 〈…〉 that stood so farre aloofe Was more deceiu'd by distance of the place Aâ—d strâ—ght beleeu'd against his owne behoofe Seeing her clothes that he had seene her face Now â—et those iudge that partly know by proofe The wofull plight of Ariodantes case When Poâ—â—nessâ— came by faithlesse frend In both their sights the ladder to ascend 51 I that his comming willingly did wait And he once come thought nothing went amisse Embrac'd him kindly at the first receit His lips his cheeks and all his face did kisse And he the more to colour his deceit Did vse me kinder then he had ere this This sight much care to Ariodante brought Thinking Geneura with the Duke was nought 52 The griefe and sorrow sinketh so profound Into his heart he straight resolues to die He puts the pummell of his sword on ground And meanes himselfe vpon the point to lie Which when Iurâ—anio saw and plainly found That all this while was closely standing by And Pâ—â—messos comming did discerne Though who it was he neuer yet could learne 53 He held his brother for the present time That else himselfe for griefe had surely slaine Who had he not stood night and come betime His words and speeches had bene all in vaine What shall quoth he a faithlesse womans crime Cause you to die or put your selfe to paine Nay let them go and curst be all their kind Ay borne like clouds with eu'ry blast of wind 54 You rather should some iust reuenge deuise As she deserues to bring her to confusion Sith we haue plainly seene with both our eyes Her filthy fact appeare without collusion Loue those that loue againe if you be wise For of my counsell this is the conclusion Put vp your sword against your selfe prepared And let her sinne be to the king declared 55 His brothers words in Ariodantes mind Seeme for the time to make some small impression But still the carelesse wound remaind behind Despare had of his heart the full possession And though he knew the thing he had assignd Contrary to Christend knights profession Yet here on earth he torment felt so sore In hell it selfe he thought there was no more 56 Anâ—'eeming now after a little pause Vnto his brothers counsell to consent He froâ— the court next day himselfe withdrawes And makes not one priuie to his intent His brother and the Duke both knew the cause But neither knew the place whereto he went Diuers thereof most diuersly did iudge Some by good will perswaded some by grudge 57 Seu'n dayes entire about for him they sought Seu'n dayes entire no newes of him was found The eight a peasant to Geneura brought These newes that in the sea he saw him drownd Not that the waters were with tempest wrought Nor that his ship was stricken on the ground How then Forsooth quoth he and therewith wept Downe from a rocke into the sea he lept 58 And further he vnto Geneura told How he met Ariodant vpon the way Who made him go with him for to behold The wofull act that he would do that day And charged him the matter to vnfold And to his Princes daughter thus to say Had he bene blind he had full happie beene His death should shew that he too much had seene 59 There stands a rocke against the Irish I le From thence into the sea himselfe he cast I stood and looked after him a while The height and steepnesse made me sore agast I thence haue traueld hither many a mile To shew you plainly how the matter past When as the clowne this tale had told and verifide Geneuras heart was not a little terrifide 60 O Lord what wofull words by her were spoken Laid all alone vpon her restlesse bed Oft did she strike her guiltlesse brest in token Of that great griefe that inwardly was bred Her golden tresses all were rent and broken Recounting still those wofull words he sed How that the cause his cruell death was such Was onely this that he had seene too much 61 The rumor of his death spred farre and neare And how for sorrow he himselfe had killed The King was sad the court of heauy cheare By Lords and Ladies many teares were spilled His brother most as louing him most deare Had so his mind with sorrow ouerfilled That he was scantly able to refraine With his owne hands himselfe for to haue slaine 62 And oftentimes repeating in his thought The filthy fact he saw the other night Which as you heard the Duke and I had wrought I little looking it would come to light And that the same his brothers death had brought On faire Geneura he doth wreake his spight Not caring so did wrath him ouerwhelme To leese the kings good will and all his realmâ— 63 The king and nobles sitting in the hall Right pensiue all for Ariodants destruction Lurcanio vndertakes before them all To giue them perfect notice and instruction Who was the cause of Ariodantes fall And hauing made some little introduction He said it was vnchast Geneuras crime That made him kill himselfe before his time 64 What should I seeke to hide his good intent His loue was such as greater none could be He hop'd to haue your highnesse free assent When you his value and his worth should see But while a plaine and honest way he went Behold he saw another climbe the tree And in the midst of all his hope and sute Another tooke the pleasure and the frute 65 He further said not that he had surmised But that his eyes had seene Geneura stand And at a window as they had deuised Let downe a ladder to her louers hand But in such sort he had himselfe disguised That who it was he could not vnderstand And for due proofe of this his accusation He bids the combat straight by proclamation 66 How sore the king was grieu'd to heare these newes I leaue it as a thing not hard to guesse Lurcanio plaine his daughter doth accuse Of whom the King did looke for nothing lesse And this the more his feare and care renewes That on this point the lawes are so expresse Except by combat it be prou'd a lie Needs must Geneura be condemnd to die 67 How hard the Scottish law is in this case I do not doubt but you haue
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
loue 72 And sith the way betweene was large and wide And void of fruits for sustenance of man They do good store of bread and wine prouide With needfull things as for the time they can And on the giants shoulders them they tide Who like a sumpter horse them after ran And on this sort with most deuour intent Like pilgrims to Ierusalem they went 73 Sixe dayes they traueld in their weary way Nor seeing man nor beast nor bird aliue The seuenth immediat after breake of day In that most blessed citie they arriue Then visit they the tombe where Iesus lay When with his death he did vs dead reuiue And brought hell sinne and death into subiection With suffring dying and his resurrection 74 Now while the tombe with great heed they behold Bare head and feet in shew of meek submission And with more inward ioy then can be told Yet ioyned with a deepe and sad contrition That strake their hearts in awe and made them cold With true remorse deuoid of superstition And with themselues they still continued musing Each one himselfe in such like words accusing 75 Why then where thou deare Lord didst for our sake With water and with blood the ground distaine Shall not mine eyes some small amends to make Shed teares in memory of so great paine Oh drowsie heart that dost not now awake Oh frozen heart that meltest not in raine Oh stony heart that dost not now relent Lament thee now or else for ay lament 76 Thus with an humble and repentant sprite They tarride at the tombe no little space When so the priest appeared in their sight Whose office was to keepe the holy place Who seeing them so lowly and contrite He doth impart to them this speciall grace Sith to amendment they were now resolued Them of their sinnes forepassed he absolued 77 This done they went about and viewd the towne Held in those happy dayes by Christen hands Who striuing now to keepe each other downe With causlesse warres do trouble sea and lands Or leesing or neglecting that renowne In which Gods honour and their safetie stands But letting this great enemy increase By their seeld making neuer keeping peace 78 A gallant knight whom Sansonet they call This citie gouernd vnder Charles the great Who then intended to repaire the wall And make the towne a strong and stately seat Astolfo gaue to him the Giant tall For strength and stature fit for such a feat To serue his present purpose for the nonce Vnto the walls to carry heauy stones 79 And Sansonet doth eke on him bestow A curious belt and hangers for a blade And spurs of gold in substance rich and show That for that knight were thought to haue bin made That slue the Dragon with a deadly blow Which did the Ladie chast and faire inuade Thus gifts both giu'n and tane on either part Each from the other friendly doth depart 80 Now going from Ierusalem behold They met a Greekish pilgrim by the way That such ill newes to good Griffino told As made him out of temper all the day It was his euill fortune deare to hold And giue his heart vnto her for a pray That had a pleasing hew and faire smooth skin But false vnchast and trecherous within 81 Her name was Origilla whom of late He left at Constans of an Agew sicke And hoping now to find her in good state He heares she hath him seru'd a sluttish tricke As namely she had got a newfound mate Not caring if that he were dead or quicke She thought that for her yong yeares t was no reason To lie alone in that sweet pleasant season 82 This newes his mind doth gripe his heart doth bite He mournes by day by night he takes no rest That breeds him paine that others breeds delight And this torments him more then all the rest He shames and shuns to haue it come to light What was his griefe that did him so molest And this to keepe it close the rather made him Because from her his brother did disswade him 83 But all in vaine for he was wholy bent To follow her although he knew her nought Yet to himselfe he keepeth his intent That secretly his going may be wrought He vowes to makes th' adulterer repent Who now to Antiochia her had brought But in another booke I will expresse Of his departure what was the successe In the beginning of this booke was an excellent morall if you obserued it shewing how hurtfull it is for a captain to be prodigall of his men and rash or headlong in his attempts the former of which faults that worthy and valiant gentleman sir Iohn Smith hath very grauely and iustly reproued in some captains of our time in that treatise that he wrote in defence of the vse of long bowes and indeed it cannot be denied but bloudy conquests are no praise to the conquerour In token whereof the Lacedemonians appointed that he that wan a bloody victory should sacrifice a cocke but he that ouercame by policie without bloudshed an oxe so much they preferred wisedome that is peculiar to man before strength that is common to beasts In Charles is to be noted the prouidence of a wise and valiant Prince In Astolfo that by the power of his horne rids the country of theeues and malefactors we may learne to apply the talents are giuen vs to good vses In Griffin that after all his deuotion at Ierusalem comes againe to Origilla we may note the frailtie of flesh and withall that outward holinesse without inward zeale auaileth nothing The historie set downe here in maner of a prophecie of the prosperous raigne of Charles the fift is too long to stand vpon in this place but Iouius Guycciardin Vlloa Surius and Sleydan himselfe though his enemy do witnes his great conquests his happie discouery of the Indies his notable captains and the great felicitie of his whole life of which authors because two are already in English I imagine there be few that are like to reade this but haue read the one of them and consequently know as much to be true as I do here set downe And for the Indian voyages we need not so much admire the captains of forren nations hauing two of our owne nation that haue both as forwardly aduentured and as fortunatly performed them namely sir Francis Drake whom I touched before and yong Master Candish In that Logestilla giueth Astolfo at his departing a booke to instruct him and a horne to breed terror to his enemies by the booke is signified wisedome whereby all charmes and toyes are discouered and by the horne is vnderstood iustice that indeed brings terror to all misdoers and driues them out of the country Further whereas Logestilla sends Andronica and Sophrosina to safe conduct Astolfo least Aleyna should attempt any new matter against him it is to be vnderstood allegorically that fortitude and temperance are the two most notable guides that
strength and swiftnes of his pase At last he came where as a knight did guard The passage of a bridge and by the place Had built a towre of no small worke and charge As shal be showd hereafter more at large 13 Now must I tell what hap Zerbino had Who with faire Isabell togither rode A long that place where this good Earle fell mad But by the way these two made some abode Where they beheld two men in armor clad That driue a horse that bare a wofull lode A knight a prisner to Zerbino knowne That had beene once a seruant of his owne 14 This prisner Oderik of Biskie hight In whom the Prince had put so great a trust He made chiefe choice of him as of a knight That of his promise would be firme and iust But he fond beast esteeming small delight And fruitlesie hope of his vnbridled lust Aboue his sacred oth and promist fealtie Would haue defloured her against all lealtie 15 Faire Isabell by hap eu'n then was telling How in the boat she desperatly was saued And hauing scapt the stormie seas and swelling How trecherouslie this wretch himselfe behaued That had not outlawes thereabout bene dwelling He would haue forst her vnto that he craued And eu'n as these or some such words she sed She saw the man she spake of captiue led 16 Those two that led the wicked O'drik tide Knew well their Lord when as they came in vew Both by the Lady that was by his side And by the rampant Lyon red of hew Borne by the Prince not for a shew of pride But his as from his predecesors dew They light and with a courtsie to the ground And cap in hand salute their Lord thus found 17 Zerbino knew and cald them both by name Corebo tone Almonio tother hight Which two with Isabell from Bayon came In conduct of that most vnworthy wight And straight Almonio thus his speech doth frame My Lord said he I shall to you recite Some little part of that vnpleasant story That till this houre had made my heart full sory 18 Sith thankt be God this Lady here doth liue Who felt these storms and therein chiefly smarted I know that she thereof could notice giue And hath er this to you the same imparted I onely shall declare what did me grieue And what had hapned since from her I parted What time by this vile wretches lewd intent For horse and men to Rochell I was sent 19 And as I went so backe I turnd in hast With men and horse as good as I could get To seeke them out mine eies about I cast But yet mine eyes on them I could not set Their tracke I found and following that full fast It brought me to a wood where as I met My fellow Coreb panting then and groning This caitife cursing and himselfe bemoning 20 He told me how he fighting in defence Of Isabella was so sorely wounded That from that place he had not sturred sence And how with bleeding much he oft had sounded At which report I tooke so great offence That in my wits I was welnie confounded And to reuenge my heart so sharpe was whet That Corebs danger quite I did forget 21 But when in vaine this wretch I long had sought To Coreb I returned backe againe Who was so weake and low by bleeding brought That scant the life did in his limbs remaine For which his wofull state I tooke great thought As one that deemd it fitter to ordaine Some Priests and Friers buriall to procure him Then Surgeons or Phisitions that might cure him 22 Yet him vnto the towne at last I caried Where by such helpe our friendly host procured It pleased God Corebo not miscaried But of his grieuous hurts was soundly cured Which done no longer in those parts we taried But being there by sundry men assured That Odrick in Alfonsos court was biding We thither went to heare of him some tiding 23 And there I challengd Odrick face to face And by the noble iustice of the King And chiefly as I deeme by Gods great grace That onely rules and gouernes eu'ry thing I tooke him prisner in the present place From whence aliue I did him hither bring For why that king that heard his great offence Did graunt vs libertie to bring him thence 24 I might haue staine him as he well deserued But yet I chused rather of the twaine Vnto your doome to haue his life reserued That you might point him death with worthy paine And much I ioy that lucke so well hath serued That we so safe haue found your grace againe And much more I reioyce if much more may be At health and welfare of this noble Ladie 25 Thus much Almonio said and then did cease Expecting what Zerbino would reply Who all the while stood still and held his peace And viewd the prisner with an heedfull eye And much it did his griefe of mind increase To think a friend could stray so farre awry Then sighing deepe what Odrick is this true Wherewith quoth he Almonio chargeth you 26 The caitiue humbly prostrate on the ground Forgiue my Lord said he your seruants crime What wight on earth can voyd of fault be found What Saint is such as doth not sinne sometime Tweene good and bad this difference sole is found That good men sin but seeld and mend betime The bad man making scruple none nor question Yeelds wilfully to eu'ry leud suggestion 27 If you to me some fortresse had committed And I the same had wittingly betraid I graunt such fault were not to be remitted But if I had with force bene ouerlaid Then sure I am my case would haue bene pittyd At least no sinne should to my charge be laid For when the enemy is once the stronger T is vaine to make resistance any longer 28 Eu'n so my Lord my faith I ought to guard No other then a fortresse or a hold Put in my charge with carefull watch and ward As long as strength will serue me it to hold And so I kept my faith with due regard Nor was I any way to be controld Vntill at last I was so strong assailed That faith gaue place and fancie then preuailed 29 Thus Odricke said and what he said beside I doubt it somewhat tedious were to tell As namely none so great assault could bide That loue all other passions doth excell But sure if it were euer plainly tride That humble speech doth often wrath expell Now Odricke found of lowly words the fruit That holp him to obtaine so hard a suit 30 Zerbino stood a while in mind confused To punish or to pardon his offence Sometime his thoughts all clemencie refused Sometime the loue and seruice done long since Asswagd his wrath and rothers fault excused And mou'd him with his folly to dispence And still as rage did kindle fire of wrath To quench it mercie store of water
Queene 59 When at all peeces she was armed round She vauteth nimbly vp into her seate And twise or thrise she makes her horse to bound To bate a little of his furious heate And makes a turne or two aboue the ground Then turnes she to her so to do her seate Such was â—iudge Pentheseleas fight Against Achilles famous Greekish knight 60 Thus each themselues vpon their horse aduances And with their couched speares forthwith they run Vp in a thousand splinters flies the lances But vnto them no hurt at all is done The Pagan greatly maruels how it chances That she should scape and curses Moone and Sun And she with her successe as ill content Blasphemeth eke the heau'ns and firmament 61 Then they assayd with swords most dreadfull dint To wound the tone the tother and to kill Their strokes were such as might haue pierst the flint And to their force was ioyned passing skill They lay on lode amaine and do not stint The sound doth all the place with eccho fill But neuer was it more for their behoose To haue their armour of to passing proofe 62 But while they now did most apply the fray Fierce Rodomont doth step them both betwixt And blames him much for making such delay Of that which late by him was firmely fixt And then with courteous speech he her doth pray With lowly words and lostie quaintly mixt That she would helpe to aid Traianos sonne Whose tents were in much danger to be wonne 63 To this request Marfisa doth assent As well to helpe king Agramant thereby As for she came to France with that intent The forces of the Palladines to try This while Rogero wroth and malcontent After the stealer of his horse doth hie And hauing found of him the perfect tracke He sends againe his guide Hippalca backe 64 And for he thought that none could do it better The messenger he makes her of his mind And sends by her his lately written letter Protesting he will still continue kind And that he doth himselfe acknowledge debter And would himselfe to her for euer bind He onely prayes her for a time excuse His absence which he would not might he chuse 65 With this dispatch Hippalca went her way And came to mount Albano that same night Rogero made but very little stay Vntill he had Frontino in his sight Which seen and known forthwith there was no way But he will haue his horse againe or fight With him that had with so vnnoble force The damsell robbed of the gallant horse 66 And straight in shew of warre he coucht his speare And to his face the Pagan he deside But Rodomont doth patiently forbeare Eu'n as a Iob and all his words abide Not that of him he had one sparke of feare For his great value often had bin tride But that the danger of his Lord and King Weyd more with him then any other thing 67 Wherefore he gently tels him for what cause He may not fight and him exhorted to What all diuine and what all humane lawes Vnto his Prince commands a man to do I said Rogero am content to pawse In this respect and make a truce with you So that this horse againe to me you render Which so to take your reason was but slender 68 Now while these two herein do square and braue The Tartar king doth vnto them approch And when he saw what armes Rogero gaue He set another brabble straight abroch Mine are quoth he these armes that now you haue How dare you on my titles thus incroch They cause why Mandricardo spake these words Was that Rogero gaue the King of burds 69 An Eagle argent in a field of blew Rogero gaue whilom the crest of Troy As one that thence deriu'd his pedegrew And did by due descent the same enioy But hereof Mandricardo nothing knew Or nought beleeu'd and calld it but a toy And tooke it as an iniury and scorne To see the same by any other worne 70 For he himselfe did giue as for his cote That bird that barevp Ganimed on hie Ere since he wan as I before did note Don Hectors armes and wan such praise thereby The good successe hereof makes him aflote So that he did Rogero straight defie I shall quoth he some better manners teach thee Then in such sawcie sort to ouer reach thee 71 As wood well dride will quickly fall on fire If so a man a little do it blow So was Rogero kindled now in ire To heare the Pagan reprehend him so Thou thinkst quoth he to haue thy fond desire By charging me now with a double so But know that I my partie good will make From him mine horse from thee mine arms to take 72 Did not we two about this matter boord And then to take thy life I did abstaine Because that by your side I saw no sword But now sith you begin this brawle againe This shall be fight in deed that was but word And that your crest shall turne you to much paine Which vnto me descent and propagation Hath left but you do hold by viurpation 73 Nay thou vsurpst the tother straight doth say And with that word he Durindana drew That sword that erst Orlando flang away And then a cruell fray was like ensew But straight the tother two did cause them stay And chiefly Rodomont did seeme to rew That Mandricard of lightnesse shewd such token That twise by him his promise had bin broken 74 First when to get Marfisa he had thought He had conflicted more then twise or thrise And now with tother quarrelled for nought About a bird or some such fond deuise Nay then quoth he if needs you wold haue fought We two should trie the title of our prise Which by consent should stand still vndecided Vntill our Princes safetie were prouided 75 Wherefore for shame do as you haue agreed And let vs cease and lay all quarrels by And when our Prince from danger shall be freed Then first betweene vs two the matter trie And after if you hue you may proceed To fight it out with him and so will I Though well I wot when I haue done with you But little will remaine for him to do 76 Tush saith the Tartar Prince for him nor thee Nor all the world beside I passe one straw For though you fight or though you do agree Of neither of you both I stand in aw As water in a spring so strength in me Shall still supply much more then you can draw I hope by that time I haue done my feate From head to foot with blood â—le make you sweate 77 Thus one ill word another doth draw on And wrathfull Mandricard them both defier Rodomont would haue peace but they would none If this speake sharpe then that more sharpe replies If one strife be compounded yet anon Another strife as bad or worse doth rise In vaine Marfisa labours to compound them For more and more vntoward still she found
his courser flying And of the ayre he more and more doth win Affecting heau'n all earthly thoughts defying As fishes cut the liquid streame with fin So curreth he the ayre and doth not stop Till he was come vnto that mountaines top 50 This hill nigh toucht the circle of the Moone The top was all a fruitfull pleasant feeld And light at night as ours is here at noone The sweetest place that euer man beheeld There would I dwell if God gaue me my boone The soyle thereof most fragrant flowres did yeeld Like Rubies Gold Pearles Saphyrs Topas stones Crisolits Diamonds Iacints for the nones 51 The trees that there did grow were euer greene The fruits that thereon grew were neuer fading The sundry colourd birds did sit betweene And sing most sweet the fruitfull boughs them shading The riuers cleare as crystall to be seene The fragrant smell the sense and soule inuading With ayre so temperate and so delightsome As all the place beside was cleare and lightsome 52 Amid the plaine a pallace passing faire There stood aboue conceit of mortall men Built of great height into the clearest aire And was in circuit twentie mile and ten To this faire place the Duke did straight repaire And vewing all that goodly country then He thought this world compared with that pallace A dunghill vile or prison voyd of sollace 53 But when as nearer to the place he came He was amazed at the wondrous fight The wall was all one precious stone the same And then the carbuncle more sanguine bright O workman rare ô most stupendious frame What Dedalus of this had ouersight Peace ye that wont to praise the wonders seau'n Those earthly kings made this the King of heau'n 54 Now while the Duke his eyes with wonder fed Behold a faire old man in th' entrie stood Whose gowne was white but yet his iacket red The tone as snow the tother lokt as blood His beard was long and white so was his head His countnance was so graue his grace so good A man thereby might at first sight suspect He was a Saint and one of Gods elect 55 He comming to the Duke with chearfull face Who now alighted was for reu'rence sake Bold Baron said the Saint by speciall grace That sufferd wast this voyage strange to make And to arriue at this most blessed place Not knowing why thou didst this iourny take Yet know that not without the will celestiall Thou commest here to Paradise terrestiall 56 The cause you come a iourney of such length Is here of me to learne what must be done That Charles and holy Church may now at length Be fréed that erst were welnigh ouerrunne Wherefore impute it not to thine owne strength Nor to thy courage nor thy wit my sonne For neither could thy horne nor winged steed Without Gods helpe stand thee in any steed 57 But at more leisure hereof we will reason And more at large I mind with you to speake Now with some meate refresh you as is reason Left fasting long may make your stomack weake Our fruits said he be neuer out of season The â—uke reioyced much and marueld eke Then chiefe when by his speeches and his cote He knew was he that the fourth Gospell wrote 58 That holy Iohn whom Christ did hold so deare That others thought he death should neuer see Though in the Gospell it appeares not cleare But thus he said What if it pleased me O Peter that thy fellow tarry here Vntill my comming what is that to thee So though our Sauiour not directly spake it Yet sure it was so eu'ry one did take it 59 He here assumed was in happie houre Whereas before Enoch the Patriark was And where the Prophet bides of mightie powre That in the firie coach did thither passe These three in that so happie sacred bowre In high felicitie their dayes did passe Where in such sort to stand they are allowd Till Christ returne vpon the burning clowd 60 These saints him welcome to that sacred seate And to a stately lodging him they brought And for his horse likewise ordained meate And then the Duke himselfe by them was taught The daintie fruites of Paradise to eate So delicate in tast as sure he thought Our first two parents were to be excused That for such fruit obedience they refused 61 Now when the Duke had nature satisfide With meate and drinke and with his due repose For there were lodings faire and all beside That needfull for mans vse man can suppose He gets vp early in the morning tide What time with vs alow the Sunne arose But ere that he from out his lodging moued Came that disciple whom our Sauiour loued 62 And by the hand the Duke abroade he led And said some things to him I may not name But in the end I thinke my sonne he sed Although that you from France so lately came You little know how those in France haue sped There your Orlando quite is out of frame For God his sinne most sharply now rewardeth Who most doth punish whom he most regardeth 63 Know that the champion your Orlando whom God so great strength and so great courage gaue And so rare grace that from his mothers wome By force of steele his skin no hurt might haue To th' end that he might fight for his owne home And those that hold the Christian faith to saue As Sampson erst enabled was to stand Against Philistins for the Hebrew land 64 This your Orlando hath bin so vngrate For so great grace receau'd vnto his maker That when his country was in weakest state And needed succor most he did forsake her For loue O wofull loue that breeds Gods hate To woo a Pagan wench with mind to take her And to such sinne this loue did him intise He would haue kild his kinsman once or twise 65 For this same cause doth mightie God permit Him mad to runne with belly bare and breast And so to daze his reason and his wit He knowes not others and himselfe knowes least So in times past our Lord did deeme it fit To turne the king of Babel to a beast In which estate he seu'n whole yeares did passe And like an oxe did feed on hay and grasse 66 But for the Palladins offence is not So great as was the King of Babels crime The mightie Lord of mercie doth allot Vnto his punishment a shorter time Twelue weeks in all he must remaine a sot And for this cause you sufferd were to clime To this high place that here you may be tought How to his wits Orlando may be brought 67 Here you shall learne to worke the feate I warrant But yet before you can be fully sped Of this your great but not forethought on arrant You must with me a more strange way be led Vp to the Planet that of all starrs errant Is nearest vs when she comes ouer head Then will I bring you where the medcine lies That you
must haue to make Orlando wise 68 Thus all that day they spent in diuers talke With solace great as neuer wanteth there But when the Sunne began this earth to balke And passe into the tother hemispheare Then they prepard to fetch a further walke And straight the firie charret that did beare Elias when he vp to heau'n was carrid Was ready in a trice and for them tarrid 69 Foure horses fierce as red as flaming fire Th' Apostle doth into the charret set Which when he framed had to his desire Astolfo in the carre by him he set Then vp they went and still ascending hire Aboue the firie region they did get Whose nature so th' Apostle then did turne That though they went through fire they did not burne 70 I say although the fire were wondrous hot Yet in their passage they no heate did feele So that it burnd them nor offends them not Thence to the Moon he guides the running wheele The Moone was like a glasse all voyd of spot Or like a peece of purely burnisht steele And lookt although to vs it seemd so small Welnigh as big as earth and sea and all 71 Here had Astolfo cause of double wonder One that that region seemeth there so wide That vnto vs that are so farre asunder Seems but a little circle and beside That to behold the ground that him lay vnder A man had need to haue bin sharply eide And bend his browes and mark eu'n all they might It seemd so small now chiefly wanting light 72 T were infinite to tell what wondrous things He saw that passed ours not few degrees What towns what hils what riuers and what springs What dales what pallaces what goodly trees But to be short at last his guide him brings Vnto a goodly valley where he sees A mightie masse of things strangely confused Things that on earth were lost or were abused 73 A store-house strange that what on earth is lost By fault by time by fortune there is found And like a merchandize is there ingrost In stranger fort then I can well expound Not speake I sole of wealth or things of cost In which blind fortunes powre doth most abound But eu'n of things quite out of fortunes powre Which wilfully we wast each day and houre 74 The precious time that fooles mis-spend in play The vaine attempts that neuer take effect The vowes that sinners make and neuer pay The counsels wise that carelesse men neglect The fond desires that leade vs oft astray The praises that with pride the heart insect And all we loose with folly and mis-spending May there be found vnto this place ascending 75 Now as Astolfo by those regions past He asked many questions of his guide And as he on tone side his eye did cast A wondrous hill of bladders he espide And he was told they had bin in time past The pompous crownes and scepters full of pride Of monarks of Assiria and of Greece Of which now scantly there is left a peece 76 He saw great store of baited hookes with gold And those were gifts that foolish men prefard To giue to Princes couetous and old With fondest hope of future vaine reward Then were there ropes all in sweet garlands rold And those were all false flatteries he hard Then heard he crickets songs like to the verses The seruant in his masters praise reherses 77 There did he see fond loues that men pursew To looke like golden giues with stones all set Then things like Eagles talents he did vew Those offices that fauorites do get Then saw he bellows large that much wind blew Large promises that Lords make and forget Vnto their Ganimeds in flowre of youth But after nought but beggery enfewth 78 He saw great Cities seated in faire places That ouerthrowne quite topsie turuie stood He askt and learnd the cause of their defaces Was treason that doth neuer turne to good He saw fowle serpents with faire womens faces Of coyners and of thieues the cursed brood He saw fine glasses all in peeces broken Of seruice lost in court a wofull token 79 Of mingled broth he saw a mightie masse That to no vse all spilt on ground did lye He askt his teacher and he heard it was The frutlesse almes that men giue when they dye Then by a faire greene mountaine he did passe That once smelt sweet but now it stinks perdye This was that gift be 't said without offence That Constantin gaue Silvester long since 80 Of birdlymd rodds he saw no little store And these O Ladyes sayre your bewties be I do omit ten thousand things and more Like vnto these that there the Duke did see For all that here is lost there euermore Is kept and thither in a trise doth flee Howbeit more nor lesse there was no folly For still that here with vs remaineth wholly 81 He saw some of his owne lost time and deeds But yet he knew them not to be his owne They seemd to him disguisd in so strange weeds Till his instructer made them better knowne But last the thing which no man thinks he needs Yet each man needeth most to him was showne By name mans wit which here we leese so fast As that one substance all the other past 82 It seemd to be a body moyst and soft And apt to mount by eu'ry exhalation And when it hither mounted was aloft It there was kept in pots of such a fashion As we call Iarrs where oyle is kept in oft The Duke beheld with no small admiration The Iarrs of wit amongst which one had writ Vpon the side thereof Orlandos wit 83 This vessell bigger was then all the rest And eu'ry vessell had ingrau'n with art His name that erst the wit therein possest There of his owne the Duke did finde a part And much he musd and much himselfe he blest To see some names of men of great desart That thinke they haue great store of wit and bost it And here it playne appeard they quite had lost it 84 Some loose their wit with loue some with ambition Some running to the sea great wealth to get Some following Lords and men of high condition And some in sayre iewells rich and costly set One hath desire to proue a rare Magicion And some with Poetrie their wit forget Another thinks to be an Alcumist Till all be spent and he his number mist. 85 Astolfo takes his owne before he goes For so th'Euangelist did him permit He set the vessels mouth but to his nose And to his place he snuft vp all his wit Long after wise he liu'd as Turpin shows Vntill one fault he after did commit By name the loue of one fayre Northerne lasse Sent vp his wit vnto the place it was 86 The vessell where Orlandos wit was closed Astolfo tooke and thence with him did beare It was far heauier then he had supposed So great a quantitie of
discourse to this they all agreed And she then on her tale did thus proceed 35 This Marganor that makes full many weepe Was bloodie from his buth by disposition But yet a while he did dislemble deepe That of the same there was but some suspition His sonnes did make him it the closer keepe Because they were of contrarie condition Both bouÌ„teous frank curteous of good qualitie Of strangers louers and of hospitalitie 36 Faire dames and knights that hapt to passe this way Were still by them so frendly entertained That by such kind of curteous vâ—age thay The loue and praise of eu'rie one had gained Their honors also farther to display The sacred right of knighthood they obtained Both stout both strong comly and of good stature Not wanting ornaments of art or nature 37 Cylandro and Tanacro nam'd they are And long they liu'd with no dishonor stained And longer had if they had bene so ware As not in Cupids snares to haue bene trained This foolish passion foyld all their welfare The passion men call loue this them constrained To change the worthie course they had begonne And do that by the which they were vndonne 38 It happend that there thither came a knight Belonging to this Emperour of Greece Who brought with him a Ladie faire and bright Of good behauour and a louely peece With whom Cylandro fell in loue that night And fully bent of her to haue a fleece He thought her beautie so possest his hart That he should surely dye if she depart 39 And for he deemd it labour lost to pray To open force he doth himselfe dispose And secretly all armd vnto the way Where tother needs must passe asore he goes And seeing him he would no longer stay But trusting to his manhood comes to bloes Not seeking vantage but with lance to lance He minds to trie of fight the doubtfull chance 40 Not thinking though but with his suer running To beat him downe and beare away his wife But this same knight that in this art was cunning Did pierce his shield and rest him of his life The newes hereof vnto his father comming Fild all the court with plaints and sorows rife At last when long the time had bene deferred By his great ancestors they him inteâ—ed 41 Nor did this foule mishap and ill successe Make Marganor to minish ought his port Tanacro still did courtesie professe To strangers all and vsd them in good sort But loe it chanc't within a yeare and lesse A noble Baron thither did resort A comely man of personage to see With him a Ladie faire as faire might be 42 And to her beautie her behauour fitted Her looks are modest manners sober are Her words are ware and shew her sharply witted Likewise her Lord himselfe most comely bare As fit to whom the charge should be committed Of one in shape and qualities so rare He hight Olindro Lord of Longauilla The louely Lady named was Drusilla 43 No lesse Tenacro doted on this Dame Then had his brother done on that before But that foule end to which his brother came Made him more warie though not honest more By former good report that bred him fame And all his passed praise he sets no store Be fame be vertue troden in the dust So he may but fulfill his present lust 44 Thus caring onely to auoyd the danger In which he saw before his brother dyde He secretly that night way-laid the stranger There as he knew next day he needs must ride Not meaning his owne person to endanger In fine the Baron that to saue his bride Did stoutly giue and take full many a wound At last they left foule murderd on the ground 45 Drusilla se'ing her deare Olindro ded In deadly sound vnto the ground she sanke But thence in curteous sort the men her led WhoÌ„ to haue kild her she would giue more thanke But griefe in her such will to die had bred That wilfully she leapt downe from a banke To kill her selfe but poore soule could not dy But all her head and face was brusd thereby 46 Tanacro gets some surgeons and Phisicions To looke vnto her health and hurts to cure He causeth her to heare most rare musicions To cheare her heart and solace to procure He maks great brags of her so chast conditions With mind by marriage to make her sure He thinks a woman of so vertuous life Must not be termd a lemman but a wife 47 To marrie her he inwardly intends This outwardly in shew he doth make knowne And euermore he highly her commends And though her griefe was by his doings growne He saith he will for this make large amends And that he will her loue and be her owne But still the more that on that point he grateth The more in heart she him detests and hateth 48 But yet her hate did not so blind her wit But that to keepe it close she tooke good heed She knew full well she must dissemble it If she will be reuengd of him indeed Wherefore vntill the time may serue her fit She seemes vnto his meaning halfe agreed And did in shew the same so smoothly carrie That lastly the consented him to matrie 49 Sweet peace and loue were written in her eyes Reuenge and hate were in her heart engraued To kill him in her thought she doth deuise When with most kindnesse she her selfe behaued He needs must die needs die in any wise But eu'n thus long to liue of God she craued How can I better end my life she seth Then in reuenging my deare husbands deth 50 Thus seeming to forget all former wrong She chearfully expects the wedding day As though that she did for this marriage long And so she did although another way She shortens all that might the time prolong And paints her selfe and tricks her trim and gay She onely crau'd thus much for Christ his passion She might be marry'd of her country fashion 51 Not that her speech herein indeed was trew That such the custome was as she pretended But she doth mind to forge a custome new With trust assuredly to be reuenged On him that her beloued husband slew Reuenge reuenge was all that she intended She pray'th she might obserue her countrie guise Which in this sort she doth to them deuise 52 The widdow that to marrie new intends According as our countrie law allows Must first appease the ghost whom she offends I meane saith she that of her former spouse And make vnto his spirit some amends By Dirges trentals masles pray'rs and vows In that same Church whereas his bones be resting Then may she marrie new without molesting 53 But when of her new spouse she takes the ring The Priest in sight of all that stand about Of hallowd wine a bottle then must bring And in the Challice he must powre it out Then ouer it he must both say and sing Effectual prayrs and Psalmes and hymnes deuout Then must the woman take it of
Giu'n to Rogero many recompences 6 He did but well in going to his Lord And she as well it cannot be denied In that she thereto granted her accord Which she might hap haue stopt had she replied That from the same her liking had abhord What now she wants henceforth may be supplied But if that honor haue one minuts slaine An hundred yeares scant can it cleanse againe 7 Now while â—Rogero vnto Arly went As dutie bound him to Traianos haire Vnto the Christen campe incontinent Rogeros spouse and sister noble paire As louing frends and coâ—ns now they went And vnto Charles his tent they did repaire Who minds by siege or battels doubtfull chance To driue these tedious troubles out of France 8 When in the campe it was made knowne and bruted That Bradamant was come her noblest brothers Came forth to her and kindly her saluted With Guidon though they came of sundry mothers And she as for her sexe and calling suted Did resalute both them and diuers others By kissing some and speaking to the best And making frendly gestures to the rest 9 But when Marfisas name was heard and knowne Whose noble acts eu'n from Catay to Spaine And ouer all the world beside were blowne To looke on her all were so glad and faine With presse and thrust not few were ouerthrowne And scarse aman could in the tents remaine But heauing shouing hither-ward and thither To see so braue a paire as these togither 10 Now when to Charles his presence come they be Vpon her knee Marfisa did decline And as Turpino writes no man did see Her knee to touch the ground before that time To none of anie calling or degree Not vnto Christen Prince or Sarazine She onely doth esteeme king Pepins sonne As worthie whom such honor should be donne 11 But Charles arose and met her halfe the way And in kinde stately sort did her embrace And set her by his side that present day Aboue the Princes all and gaue her place Then voided was the roome that none might stay But Lords and knights well worthie so great grace Excluding all the sawcie baser sort And then Marfisa spake in such like sort 12 Most mightie Caesar high renownd and glorious That from our Indies to Tyrinthian shore From Scythia frosen full with breath of Boreas To Aethiopia scorching euermore Makst thy white crosse so famous and victorious By value much but by thy iustice more Thy praise O Prince and thy renowned name Were cause from countries farre I hither came 13 And to say troth flat enuie mou'd me chiefe Because thy powre to reach so farre I saw I must confesse I tooke disdaine and griefe That any Prince that fauord not our law And was to vs of contrarie beliefe Should grow so great to keepe vs all in aw Wherefore I came with mind to haue destroid thee Or by all meanes I could to haue annoyd thee 14 For this I came for this I stayd in France To seeke your ruin and your ouerthrow When lo a chance if such a thing can chance Made me a frend and subiect or a so I will not stay to tell each circumstance But this in substance it did make me know That I your bloodie enemie Marfisa Was daughter to Rogero late of Ryla 15 He by my wicked vncles was betraid And left my wofull mother big with child Who neare to Syrté downe her bellie laid As strangely sau'd as wrongfully exild She brought a twin a man child and a maid We fosterd were seuen yeares in forrest wild By one that had in Magicke art great skill But I was stolne from him against his will 16 For some Arabians sold me for a slaue Vnto a Persian king whom growne in yeares Because he my virginitie would haue I killed him and all his Lords and Peeres And then such hap God and good fortune gaue I gat his crowne and armes as yet appeares And ere I fully was twise ten yeare old Seuen crownes I gat beside which yet I hold 17 And being enuious of your endlesse fame As erâ—t I told I came with firme intent By all the meanes I could to quaile the same And haply might haue done the hurt I ment But now a better minde that minde doth tame Now of my malice I do much repent Since by good hap I lately vnderstood That I was neare allide to you in blood 18 And sith I know my father was your man I meane no lesse then he did you to serue As for the hate and enuie I began To beare you I now the same reserue For Agramant and all the harme I can To all his kin that do the same deserue Because I now do know and am assured His ancestors my parents death procured 19 This said Marfisa and withall did adde That she would be baptized out of hand And when that Agramant she vanquisht had Returne if Charles to pleasd to her owne land And Christen them and farther would be glad Against all those that would Christs law withstand Ay to beare armes with vow that all her gaine To Charles and holy Church should ay remaine 20 The noble Charles of tongue as eloquent As wise in head as valorous in heart Did much extoll the Ladie excellent And all her kin and sire by iust desart And of her former speech incontinent Most graciouslie he answerd eu'rie part Concluding that he would for euer after Accept her as his cousin and his daughter 21 And her againe he did embrace of new And kilt her forhead as his child indeed It long would be to tell how braue a crew From Clarimount and Mongrane did proceed To welcome her or when Renaldo knew Marfisas name what ioy in him did breed He calls to mind what force in her he found Then when Albracca he besieged round 22 It long would be to tell of Guidons ioy With Griffin Aquilant and Sansonet That leapt with her their land that do destroy Those men that in their Realme they hap to get No lesse did Malagige and Vinian ioy Remembring how she ioynd with Richardet To rescue them as long before I told When vnto Bertolage they had bene sold. 23 Now was prepard against th' ensuing day A place as was by Charles himselfe deuised Set stately forth and hangd with rich aray Where this most worthy dame should be baptised Then Bishops were employd by whom she may Be taught the Christen faith and Catechised And all that day a learned Clarke and Preacher The principles of Christen faith did teach her 24 Then Turpin Archbishop of chiefe account In his robes pontificiall doth baptise her Charles with great reu'rence standeth by the fount And what to answer he did still aduise her But now t is time that to the Moone I mount For that receit must make Orlando wiser From whence the Duke descending by strange byas Came with S. Iohn in charret of Elyas 25 And by his guide he backe againe was led And keeps
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