came thether the Page of the Dacian with his French Damsell who receiued great contentment in beholding the valour of her Knight and reioyced that shee carried in her companie so good a warrant in the right of her Mistres Grisalinda The new and valiant Louer Torismundo being at libertie came vnto the Chariot whereas their Pages had fréeed all that were therein of their vngentle bands and pulling off his helme his face being by reason of the heat somewhat inflamed hee showed himselfe to be one of the fairest knights that was to be found and verie yong for as before it was said his beard did not yet appeare Comming to the Chariot hee knéeled downe before the Ladie saying Pardon faire Ladie my delay in gréeting you for I could do no more than was in my power the offence arises not from want of good will vouchsafe therefore to receiue this small seruice of him that is readie to put his life in anie aduenture that redoundeth to your content and to accompt it as his owne The Ladie did well vnderstand the affection wherewith he spoke it but being restrained by the vnseperable yoake of marriage with the Prince of Geneua who was present she answered The heauens reward you worthy knight one of the most valiant you are that euer I haue séene what you haue done for my husband and mee heauen will requite It is sufficient ioy to vs that you haue shewed your selfe so valiant that we may thankfully attribute the reward only to your worthines as a thing admirable vnto vs. It cannot be imagined what gréef this passioned youth receiued in séeing his remedie impossible whereby hee perfectly vnderstood the true sayings of the wise man that he should sée himself in excessiue troubles accounting this at this present to be one of the greatest aduersities that might chance him yet notwithstanding because he would not giue them knowledge thereof he dissembled his griefe and answered It were vnequall glory vnto me gallant Lady to attribute vnto my Arme that which with so great reason is dewe to this stout warrior vnto whome with greater right you ought to giue the thankes for your ayde and succour as vnto one of the mightiest Knightes that euer bore armor And at this instant the Dacian Prince was with them but with his helme on because they should not know him for that it séemed vnto him he had before séene the Prince spouse to the faire Dutches of Sauoy called Orosia and greatly maruelled at the beauty and worthinesse of the Prince of Spaine So after there had passed many reasons with those Ladies they did importune him much for to discouer himselfe which he refused to doe for that he said he had giuen his word vnto the Damsell not for to disarme himselfe neither to enter into any publique enterveiw with any till such time as he had finished an aduenture whereon he then went Without impeach of this promise Sir knight said the faire Dutches I hope it will not bee out of your way to beare vs company vnto the citty of Paris Then aunswered Don Heleno I doe sweare vnto your beautie worthy Ladie that it is not in my power for I haue put my libertie into the handes of this Damsell that commeth with me Wel séeing it is so answered the Prince of Geneua wee shall receiue great content if that at your comming to Paris wee may chaunce to sée you that in some parte wea may gratifie the greate good which you haue done for vs which will be ioyfull vnto vs all The like was promised by the worthie Torismundo who was greatly affectioned to the gentle disposition of the Dacian and would haue remained with him to haue knowen who he was Afterwards inquiring of one of the Prisoners who his Lord should bée He said that it was the furious Tilmon Sonne vnto the mightie Brandafuriel whome Clauerindo the Prince of France slew and left this but a verie yong Youth but when hee grew great and bigge in yeares he receaued the order of knighthood and became the most hardiest knight in all that Countrey liuing in such valiant sort that he was estéemed for a more worthy man than his father Which Tilmon purposing to be reuenged for his Fathers death came from the Towred Iland whereof he was Lord and brought those Giants in his companie the better at his ease to séeke reuengement And after we had disimbarked our selues on shoare wee went through the Countrey in secret till yesterdaye wee met with this Chariot which was going towards Paris and vnderstanding the gréefe that the king would receiue for the imprisonment of his Nephewes as both the prince of Geneua and his Wife were hee did apprehend them to procure some occasion through sorrow to kil y e French king I giue great thankes vnto God and vnto these worthie knights said the faire Orosia that your euill pretence took no effect So for that it waxed late they tooke their leaue of the knights and iournied towards Paris where they arriued the next day and were receiued with great ioye and content by the king vnto whom they declared what had happened vnto them by the way and how they were set at libertie by two alone knightes whereat the king greatly meruailed and could not imagine who they shuld be of so great power and strength that alone durst giue battell vnto so manie together and against such deformed Giants He was somwhat comforted to sée his welbeloued Neuewes yet not in such sort but that he felt in his soule the griefe concerning his daughter which in conclusion he was constrayned to make the Dukes pertakers thereof who although it were a griefe vnto them as it was reason yet they studyed to dissemble it and to comforte their Unkle in all that was possible and determined that the Prince of Geneua should goe disguised and séeke those valiant Knights and to giue them vnderstanding of all that passed that they might frustrate that greate euill which was raysed against the Infant Grisalinda The which Knightes after they were departed from the Chariot entred into the thicke grouie Countrey till they came vnto a fayre Fountaine whereas they lighted and the Spaniard cast his armes vpon the Prince said Sir Knight showe not me so much iniurye as you did vnto that precious Lady in not declaring to me your name for in doing so I shall remaine without gratifying of the ayde and succour you did vnto me Worthye Knight aunswered the discréete Dacian I should be very ill aduised if I should not acknowledge the great good which is gotten in making him pertaker of my thoughts that is of such desert and so desirous and if I did vse my strength it was not for that you were in necessitie therof but the affection which I receiued did constrain me to ioyne with the breuitie of the time that I might if it were not a griefe vnto you demaund what you were and likwise aduertise you of the most secret things
as he let it goe againe and then the griefe went away and he saw hanging at it a parchment wherein was written letters of bloud which he could not stand to read for that they did all descend and receiued him and asked him how hee did féele himselfe But the excellent and fayre Infant with a gallant and soueraigne behauiour said If you should haue hoped worthie Prince for my helpe as you in descending to the battell told me I feare me the Fight had béen more dangerous but thanks be to the powers of heauen it was concluded by your owne excellent force Nay rather Madame said Rosicleer next to the heauens haue your distresse and beauty praise for this vnexpected Uictorie for by them was powerfull abilitie added to my weake strength to defend the one and reléeue the other Let vs leaue this talke said Floralinda and goe we to see the sepulcher for I beléeue you haue lost something therein for that it séemeth the fire doth defend it Then said the Knight of Cupide were the losse verie much I should thinke it paide hauing finished this aduenture for the liberty of the Prince your spouse although it was not little gréefe that my swoord should bee taken away Such déedes haue you done therewith saide the Ladie that I meruaile they did not take away your life although I beléeue to sée you accompanied with so manie they durst not They all laughed at that the Infant had said yet they did gréeue at heart for the losse of the Princes Sword And so they went with a great desire to sée where it was and beheld a maruellous Aduenture for they saw in the Piller fiue pommells of swords euery one with his scroll hanging thereat which declared whose it was The swordes being one aboue the other on the highest part was that of the Prince Rosicleer whose scrole was written in this maner This was the sword of the Prince of Constantinople Rosicleer the which he lost at the defended Iland putting to death with it Fangomadan and his sons and shall here remaine till such time as the braue Tyger with the vntamed Lyones doth ouercome the guarders keepers of my Castell getting without armes or order of knighthoode the entrie thereof for himselfe the two swords neerest swearing to reuenge the death of the vnhappy king They remained all amazed to sée the boldnesse of the writing and reading downe lower the second was thus None be so hardy or bold with order of knighthood or being a man to touch the sword of the worthy Camilla for that he shall remaine in perpetuall prison till such time as the rigorous Lyones doth take him out swearing in the handes of the furious Tyger the reuengement They were much more amazed at the second writing in séeing that alone a woman and without armes was granted the sword Whereon sodaine passions came vnto â—he faire infant Floralinda for her lost infants doubting whether they spoke of them or not But dissembling her griefe they read the third which said The sword of the famous Telarmonio shal be graunted vnto none till such time as the hid and vnknowne Basiliske doth descend from my dwelling place and get the sworde without armes and sweare the like It could not but grieue the Gréeke Prince in seeing that all those must be accompted with the other enemies but animating himselfe he said few armours they haue left me who against me hath sought so many but there shall not lacke other to supply that of the first And for all that they did importune him to take his ease they could not persuade him but to read on the other scroles which said VVhen the swift leopard goeth foorth of my delightful dwelling and winneth the key of my Castell then shal be graunted him the sworde of Astrusia King of the Medes swearing in the clawes of the Ownce to procure my reuengement It séemeth vnto me said the warlike Troian that according as the wise man doth shewe there remaineth yet more warres for vs to end then those that are past for that he putteth fiue for one alone offender It is not to be marueiled at said Meridian that when one alone is able to offend and defend himselfe the aduersary séeketh many to assault him but there shall not lacke other two to shut vp the number with vs and to count vs so many as our enemies It séemeth that me alone he doth threaten said Rosicleer and therfore I wil sée the fift sword that shal smite me and reading it said VVhen that the sword of the famous and feared Milon shal come into the hands of the hid youth who in my dwelling was nourished with the furious ownce she not knowing therof then shall rest the great wise man Gelasio Lord of the couered Iland hauing for certaine the reuengement of his beloued sister and friends that suffered by the handes of the cruell greeke And thou worthy youth doe not forget to respect the couetous ownce although it be to thy cost for it will be the more for thy glory They coulde not vnderstand any more what the writings did signifie And so with great griefe vnto y e Prince for his good sword they departed Although he was coÌ„forted to sée that it should come to the hands of one that should pull it out or els die in change thereof All were ioyfull to sée the aduenture ended they set at liberty yet y e wounds of the Prince was a griefe vnto the faire Floralinda who cured them iointly with her spouse with whom he passed the time as you shall heare in the second Chapter The Prince Rosicleer was healed of his wounds and gaue liberty to Brandafidell the sonne of Fangomadan Floralinda declared to her spouse the losse of her sons they all returned towards Greece Chap. 2. WIth zealous care the faire Princes of Macedonia did cure the wounded gréeke and comforted the weakenesse of her beloued spouse with her presence and would not absent her selfe til she saw him whole and sound She greatly reioyced to sée the knight of Cupide vnto whom that she might shew her selfe thankefull she cured him with her owne hands and neuer would consent that any other should do it for all his often modest desires to the contrary Sometimes they would al thrée descend and sée that faire castell and passe away the time in the fresh gardens that were there and often behold the superbious edifice and curious sepulcher which the pagan had It so fell out that one day he being altogether recouered of strength the prince Meridian calling vnto him his spouse the Troian Oristides caried them to the chamber of the Prince who was then vp and walked although not out of his chamber for that he was somewhat leane He seeing them comming receaued them with that gallant grace with the which aboue all the rest he was indewed and said vnto the faire Prince It well appeareth worthy Lady that you take liking not to come very often
fortune had coÌ„passion of your griafe Thou hadst reason diuine Floriana to remaine doubtfull of séeing me at thy departure How ofteÌ„ didst thou vrge me with my plighted faith the which I will kéepe till such time as I am in thy estate without any feare to loose thée but to sée thée with these eies wherwith I now doe celebrate thy death Oh most happy land of Cantabria in times past pittifull to my lamentations how maiest thou from this day forwards begin to mourne for the lacke of such a Lady and Mistresse Now my louing father may you liue content with my fortune to see me liue without my Floriana who was so odious in your eies for that I loued her I am vexed still that you doe noâ— conceaue it was life to me to loue her and a swéete ease to suffer for her Nowe here I sweare by my high thoughts not to returne to Spaine but to destroy it once againe if any therein were the occasion of the death of my loues life although it were my naturall father Oh my Floriana what can I doe to liue content or who is able to giue it me but death onely the which if I suffer for thy sake I will receaue it gladly And hauing a desperate wil he pulled out his sword saying O happy sword being the sword of my Goddes with thée at her hands I receiued the order of knighthood I sweare by her beauty that none shal be able to disturbe me til this vnhappy body doth accompany her in death that did giue it so excellent a life At that instant he would haue lifted vp the skirt of his shirt of male to haue thrust his sword in thereat If the discréet Arsilo had not thrown himselfe before him and pulled it out of his murdring hands Then this grieued youth came to himselfe and saide Oh my Arsilo is this the loue you beare me to hinder me that I go not to accompany in death that which neuer departed from me liuing my friend permit it as thou wouldest the heauens to be more fauourable to thée then they haue béene vnto the sorrowfull Torismundo Worthy Prince and my Lord answered the discréete page I should offend much therein in the duety that I owe vnto you and your generous father and you offende more your owne discretion for that you cannot suffer that which the heauen doth ordaine the faire Dutchesse was not for you for that the commaunder of all beauty had chose her for himselfe Amongst worthy persons there is nothing more to be praised then to know how to beare and suffer the disgraces of fortune with such courage as they doe her fauours consider how little ease it should be to your griefe in killing your selfe Doest thou call it little said the grieued Knight that alone is sufficient to succour me wherewith should I end so many deaths which waited on me but in giuing my selfe one for the conclusion of all thys did euill agrée vnto the seruice that thou owest mee sith to die is onelye profitable At this time answered the page I will die ere you shed one droppe of bloud Heare me a little my beloued Lorde that I may set before your eies examples for your comfort The Phrigians had excéeding cause to bewaile the death of valiant Hector and they did fill the ayre with immeasurable lamentations yet not one of them no not his Andromache though being deare to all to him she was most deare not one of them I say despairingly slewe himselfe but armed their resolutions against their enemies Who could waile a louers losse more than Venus her swéete Adonis whom she found discoloured and dead his faire body rent by a foule Boare yet she despaired not amidst her lamentations Sorrow for seperated friends I deny not is necessary but to die because they die is diuelish and damnabâ—e Despaire depriueth al grace doubteth of immortality and let not your excellence wrong Floriana so much to make quâ—stion of her immortall being Suppose her gone vnto a Princely habitation hauing enioyned you to perfourme aduentures for her loue Let your little short span of life be the progresse to that house your iourny done you shall enioy her sight Therefore consider worthy Prince and besides these reasons remember the royall bloud from whence you descend and the harme you should doe to many by your death who haue néed of that life that you so little estéeme Celebrate the death of your Mistresse and let me be the first in death if it may be any comfort vnto you But I am sure that it is rather an anger to Floriana who enioyeth a better estate than ours Therefore returne vnto your reasonable senses beloued Prince and conâ—ider that it is the ordinance of heauen for that you against the will of your father woulde loue her and might haue sought an other equall vnto your estate This grieued youth receaued great comfort by the discreete reasons of his page but not in such sort that it caused him to forget the griefe he felt The page séeing that he was somewhat quieted and eased drew foorth a letter saying This is the last worke that came from the hands of your Lady This worthy Spaniard did take it 〈◊〉 kissed it a thousand times and bedewing it with teares he opened it and read as followeth The letter of Floriana the Dutches of Cantabria to Torismundo Prince of Spaine VNderstand from me welbeloued Prince that I draw nigh vnto a new estate being appointed by the heauens and remembring with what truth you answered my firmenesse almost life scarce suffering mee to write these fewe lines I tooke strength to write vnto thée only for to desire thée by the faith which thou plightedst to bee mine to passe thy life in my absence with discretion as is required and Torismundo let not my death bee occasion of thy indiscréet dealing I would welbeloued Prince that I might in this worlde call thee my owne but to thy comfort in the other world I will thither goeth thy beloued Floriana hoping to sée thée when as the powers of heauen will stande our friend I can say no more for that my senses faile To God I leaue my beloued Torismundo Dying Floriana This afflicted Gallant concluded the reading of the letter giuing a harty sigh saying Oh chance and is it possible that now should be shewed vnto me so much euill and that she commaunds me to liue and I must performe it Oh my deare Mistresse how can I liue who liued onely with your presence Oh Fortune with how much discontent doest thou giue a little contentment Oh vnhappy heart so cruelly vsed in the beginning of thy age and tormented with thy excessiue torments Ah Floriana to remaine with life will be death vnto me but séeing that you receaue content therein I will liue imploying the rest of my life to loue in absence in the â—ame degrée as when I triumphed in your soueraigne beautye Now you may worthy Spaniard saide the Page
I doe beléeue said Alcisa that at these new triumphes they being Knights and desirous of honor first they will shewe their valiantnes in the Court before they will depart out of the Countrie whereas I know they haue found some remedie for the griefe they brought Then they are amorrous answered the ielous Princesse No said the Damsell but I heard them praise a Ladie much and said they should neuer forget her if memorie did not faile them to remember the good which by her they had receiued But séeing it groweth somewhat late it shall be good that we depart whereby the Ladies do not conceiue any thing of our long being heere for it will be no small occasion of suspition So they departed leauing the two frends in obscure darkenes séeing her absent that with her presence did ease those inward desires which the Spaniard suffered although he was greatly content to haue séene by experience the loue which the Princesse did beare him that without knowing who he was or any farther consideration she was so wholy surrendred to him and feared hee would not omit her faith Then the worthy Dacian said Lord Torismunde we may now goe with great securitie worke some meanes to comfort your Lady and it shall bee some ease to your griefe in reuiuing her to morrow we will be at the fountaine against the Damsell come and of her wee shall vnderstand the order that wee must vse in this our busines for by her helpe wee shall make the way easie to take her from France carrying her for Spaine considering with whome she is her father will easily pardon her and if it doe not chance to your content they shal cut in péeces the Dacian Prince before they shal haue her from our power With this they turned out of the garden and went towards their lodging where as their Pages tarried for them with great griefe for their long absence but when they saw them they were glad and slept quietly the rest of the night that remained but at the breake of the day couering their armor because they would not be known they went into the Forrest where as the Damsell should come to giue thē knowledge what had passed in the court Who in the morning being masked went foorth vpon her Palfrey right vnto the place appointed but missing a little the way in wandring amongst the trées foure knights met with her who séeing her beautie and disposition they would haue vnhorsed her but she vsing the vsual weapon of women cryed out and the Princes did heare her who were hard by The braue Spaniard finding himselfe fullest armed a foote as he was went vnto them they were all alighted with the poore Damsell who cryed out for succour And when he came thether hee knew her not but being choloricke he put himselfe amongst them with his sword in his hand saying Away vile Knights and laye no handes on the Damsell if you doe you shall dye for it and reaching the first vpon the head in reward of his folly he cut it downe to the shoulders The thrée which remained séeing the death of their companions and that he was but one onely drew their swoords and went to him But this warlike youth so behaued himselfe amongst them that he stroke the second such a blow vpon the arme that arms and swoord fell both to the ground who séeing himselfe lamed he beganne to cry out and runne into the forrest whereas within a while after he yéelded vp the ghost the other two purposing to be reuenged they assalted him He séeing their ouermuch contempt payed them in such sort that at two blowes he made them beare the first company with great content to the Damsell for that she saw it was her knight And taking off her maske she went vnto the Knight with her armes open saying I did well know Sir knight that if any succour did come vnto me it should be from this mightie arme Happy Alcisa that hath come to knowe the best amonst knightes in her behalfe This amorous Torismunde reioyced in his soule when hee sawe the Damsell and knewe her and said vnto her with great content those false Knights faire Damsell did not so much estéeme you as I doe that so against your honor and my content would haue displeased you Thankes be to God Sir Knight and your strength said shée which gaue them their payment as they deserued and according to my will which shall bee alwaies ready in whatsoeuer for your content At this time came the worthy Dacian with his swoord in his hand whereat they did not a little laugh and the Damsell said vnto him It well appeareth sir knight who hath most care to doe mee frendship for if I should haue tarried for you I beléeue mine honor had bin lost now I say that the lacke of care in the seruice of Ladies is verie euill for at such time as it may bee lacked that after it cānot be remedied with life the which I would haue dispatched if these false knights had gon forwards with their rigorous intent but séeing that betwéen you two there is so great frendship it seemeth that being remedied by your companion I am bound to serue you both which I wil do to my power And therwith she declared why she came to seeke them and gaue them to vnderstand of all that passed in the Court and what the Prince of Phrigia purposed in loue towards Grisalinda At which the Spaniard was so angry that he said I vow that I wil no more put on armour if this go forwards and foorthwith I will go paie him the reward of his boldnes The Dacian when hee saw him so determined said that hee should quiet himselfe for that in these matters hast is not profitable This knight is in France and he cannot be so strong to resist vs and séeing you haue not gone forth to the Iuste you may goe thether and deale with him This Irefull Youth was somewhat appeased but not in such sort but that the Damsell plainly saw the good will which he had vnto the Princesse and séeing it would not be taken in euill part she said What is it to you gentle knight that the prince doth imploie his thoughts vpon Grisalinda The Prince answered to sée the euill he doth to an other in procuring to loue where he deserueth not And how are you certaine answered the Damsell of this euill which he doeth My poore armes giueth testimonie thereof answered the Spaniard Then sir knight you are he that excéedeth the prince of Phrigia in loue Not him alone answered the youthful prince but all the world and vpon this I wil enter into the field with all the world Nowe am I glad answered the Damsell for that you shal haue néed of Alcisa And how is it y t he must haue néed said the Dacian what are you so much in fauour with the Princesse touching this knight it is due to our desire in procuring her cōtent
He graciously entertained her yet was hee verie impatient to heare of the death of Zoylo inquiring of Andronio about the circumstances who hauing tolde them Rosicleer vowed reuenge wheretoo Meridian Oristides promised their helpe But the Gréeke princes sorrow being perceiued by the Troyan he altred their communication and incited them to know of the knights that were prisoners who was that mightie pyrate and likewise who faire Grisanea was Of the last Andronio resolued them in manner as you haue heard certefying them beside of the prince Don Heleno whereat the Gréek did not a little reioyce for that since they left Tinacria hée neuer heard of him Now touching the Rouer a Knight that was prisoner and one that séemed a principall in that Crue sayd Understand worthie Knights that the dead Knight and Owner of these ships and diuers other that range this Coast was the furious Bruncaldo a great Rouer and feared of all these Ilands for that he was Lord of one hereby although a little one yet the strongest of them al for the difficultie of the entrie hauing at the port one of the strongest Castles in the earth called the Doubtfull Castle the Iland also taking name thereof To kéepe which when he goeth abroad he leaueth two fierce Giants that married his Sisters and in that Castle he hath manie miserable prisoners The Princes pittying the estate of the Iland intended to frée it and the prisoners and in theyr procéedings were thus aduised by the Knight The best meanes to take the Iland sir Knights is to haue your ship towed as if she were taken and to put out at our tops the common Ensigne of victorie which is a Flag with the Sunne in a blacke field for otherwise the entrie will be verie difficult by reason of a chaine that crosseth from one rocke to another I being knowen will tell the warders Bruncaldo is in his bed wounded in taking the Prize Of all wayes this is the surest to this I aduise you aswell for the reuerence I beare to your worthines as the compassion I haue of manie Knights and Ladies that remain there prisoners They all liked his aduice and caused the Tartarians Knights to enter the two ships and hang out their Ensigne of victorie towing the princes ship after them The next morning they came within sight of the Castle which was seated vpon a rocke hauing a waye no broader than for two to passe cut out of the same rocke At the entrie it had two towers in which the Giants lay and more inward was the lodging of Bruncaldo gallantly built with stones of diuers colours and betwéene these thrée towers was a large paued court wherin fiftie Knights might combat on horsebacke So soone as they had sounded victorie they were answered from both the towers with excellent instruments for ioy to receiue their Lord and to warne them that kept the chaine to open it which was presently done whereat the princes greatly reioyced and thanked the Knight who lifâ—ing vp his visor told them on the shore that their lord was sore wounded With this they landed ascending vp by two and two first Briano the Knight of the Castle and the valiant Grecian after them the princesse and Damsells and so the rest in order In this sort they ascended the steps making as if they reioyced in their bootie till such time as they were in the highest part of the Castle vnsuspected When they came there the two deformed giants vnarmed did receiue them verie ioyfull that their brother in law was come although gréeued that hee was so sore wounded neuertheles said they wee will present this Ladie to the wife of Bruncaldo But said the greatest Giant I had rather deale with him that had so much power to wound my Lord and Brother Briano aunswered He paid his boldnes with his life and lost his Wife that is this Ladie vnto whom my Lord commaundeth great honour should be done for her beautie sake and to bee in companie with his Wife till he commeth foorth of y e ship The disguised knights receiued great ioy to sée with what discretion Briano procéeded in his busines and estéemed him as indéed he was to be a perfect good man and a iust Knight The Grecian prince made a signe vnto Oristides and Meridian that each of them with foure of those Knights should as though they went for some other matter take the gates of the two towers while he and the Tartarian with the two Giants the discréete Briano went vnto the higher tower leading the princesse and her damsels as if they had been prisoners to the great contentment of the Giants Heere might the two couragious princes haue concluded this aduenture without anie molestation but they accompted it base and voyde of Knighthood to assaile them without armour therefore they passed forwards with all their companie till they entered into the great Court at whose rich workmanship they all wondred There they saw painted manie ancient pictures the which did beautifie more that sumptuous Court There were excellently wrought of Iasper stone two paire of staires one right against another The princes gazed not at anie thing least the Gyants shuld suspect them who gaped so on the princesses beauty that they put her in great feare with their vgly countenaÌ„ces Then they entred into the hall which séemed to bee fit for an Emperour the céeling being full of gold stones of rich price The Wife of Bruncaldo being ther moued not when she missed her Lord but as full of pride as tyrannie said I would excuse your comming Woman so that my husband were vnhurt but as hee was reuenged on your husband so will I reuenge me on you And therwith she tooke foorth a great bunch of keyes and gaue theÌ„ to a woman to carrie the Ladie to prison The anger was so great that Andronio receiued to sée his Ladie thorough feare change colour that without farther consideration he pulled the keyes from the woman and throwing them at Bruncaldos wife he droue two or thrée of them into her forhead and slew her where she sate This chance much gréeued the Grecian but it could not be remedied and séeing all was discouered he put the Ladies behinde him drew his sword The wrathfull Tartarian was determined to assaile the Giants who séeing the death of their sister and how they were betraid came towards the princes with their fawchions aloft To whom the Grecian said Stand false Knightes for wee are not accustomed to fight with vnarmed men put on your armour for the worthie arme that tooke away your brothers life will also take away yours Oh vile creatures said the Giant will you delay my reuenge while I put on armour I would Mars and all the Gods were before mee and thou shouldst sée I had no néed of armour for them how much lesse then for you And in saying this he stroke a blow at the Tartarâ— vnawares that it was meruaile hée had not cut
your sake I am content if this knight be so pleased I am not pleased said the yong knight to haue the battell cease I will exclaime on you said the Damsell if you doo procéede to be a false knight and recreant of your word For you promised me when I guided you to the Caue of y e wise Artidon where you demaunded the ende of your loue and whose Sonne you were that you would neuer deny me a lawfull request and this is most iust for it requisite that betwéene you there be eternall frendship and héere I am certaine it must begin And in ending these words shee vanished away leauing them much amazed Both of the knights put vp their swords and the Grecian thus began Most valiant knight it séemeth this Damsell knoweth more of our estate than we our selues and séeing she saith we must be frends for my part I offer it you with most intire affection being likewise heretoo mooued with certain inward motions which I cannot expresse Inuincible knight answered the faire Youth great is my benefit to haue frendship with the best knight in the World and I may well say they told me true that certefied me my best good should méete me in Lacedemonia And heere looke I for as much good as I haue in Grecia thogh there remain my Souereigne Oliuia whom you for then had the yong Knight tooke off his helme so much represent as were it not that I know she is not giuen to armes I should beléeue it were her selfe therefore faire Sir resolue my suspitious heart of whence you are What my selfe knows I will acquaint you with replide the Youth The Soldan of Niquea brought mee vp in companie of Doriano hys Sonne and Liriana my diuine Mistres his matchlesse Daughter Till I was of age to beare armes I tooke the Soldan for my Father who then knighting me thus said Rosabel thy Parents are to me vnknowen for a lionesse brought thée to mée an infant and by a white Rose on thy breast thou hadst thy name a Scroll shee brought in her mouth which said thou shouldst be my greatest enemie till the Swan put peace betwéene vs. Though it somwhat gréeued me to be of vnknowen Parents yet my hope to enioy Liriana possessed me with ioy and she a little cherished my hope till on a sodaine shee forbad mee to sollâ—cite her with loue and with her coynesse banished me the Countrey So discontent I imbarked my selfe for Russia purposing there at the Caue of the wise Artidon to enquire touching my birth but I was driuen by tempest on this Coast where I was no sooner landed but I heard a voyce that said Welcome the glorie of Greece and honour of great Britaine the greatest Frend your Father hath sends you this armour and willeth you to leaue off that you weare And séeing no bodie this armour was laid by mée which you sée fitteth my bodie as it had béen made for me While I was arming mee therewith a Dwarffe came vnto me and said Take courage Rosabel for you shall in this armour méete one of the valiantest knights in the world and him shalt thou assaile with bitter hate beeing most bound to yéeld him loue After the Dwarffe departed came the Damsell that parted our battell saying to me Rosabel grant me a boon and I wil bring you to the wise Artidon This being the thing I most desired I promised her anie iust thing whereupon immediately shee brought me thether Being there the wise man vnto my demaund thus answered That it was not conuenient as yet to know my parents but he said they were such as in Grecia most flourished for armes that my loue should in the ende after manie sorrowes prooue succesfull And for a token of the truth hee said that I should méete in Lacedemonia the Knight that discouâ—red the Caue whom verily I gesse to be your selfe and desire thereof to be resolued for of my selfe I haue said all I know With great affâ—ction the Gréeke Prince answered Were the discouerie death faire Knight yet would I satisfie you in that yée aske Know then that I am Rosicleer Brother to Alphebo Emperour of Trapisond and he that discouered the Caue of Artidon when once I departed discontent out of Great Britaine from Oliuia the Princesse thereof now my beloued Wife The content that Rosabel receiued excéeded and in his ioyfull passion he brake out O that Fortune so fauoured me right worthie Prince that I might call you Father in the meane time let me honour ys as my Lord. And therewith would haue kissed his hands but Rosicleer kissing his chéek said Were I blessed with such a Sonne I would thinke the heauens on earth had giuen me all happines But I will intreat you to go into Greece with me where of Oliuia we shall be resolued and I will afterwards with all my Frends goe with you to Niquea whence if she consent we will bring the Ladie you so much loue Oh with what content remained Rosabel he could not but embrace his suspected Father who with like affection infolded him As they sate thus ioyously together Meridian and Oristides came to y e place who wondred to sée the Grecian so familiar with y e young Knight But Rosicleer resolued them of his suspitions began to perswade the Troyan that he should not offer to procéed with the battell in defence of frée life for sayth hée I perswade me this Knight will put the matter into my hands So will he too doubt ye not said Meridian for Oâ—istides is alreadie Loues sworne Champion Therewith alighting and all fitting together the gentle Scythian discoursed from poynt to poynt the whole manner of the Combat betwéene the changed Troyan and the faire Sarmacia whereat Rosicleer excéedingly laughed but Rosabel rose vp and embracing the Troyan said Being Frend to this worthie Gréeke Prince I am bound to you in dutie but being a true Conuertiâ—e in recanting the heresie you held yesterday and becomming Loues seruant my loue to you is more increased As the Troyan began to reply he was disturbed by the swift comming of a verie well proportioned Knight in blacke armour who being néere them said Worthie Knights by your armour I sée you are the same that yesterday in the Pallace of Lira wrought meruailes Farre off is my natiue Country where that I might iustly report I haue dealt with such a Knight my desire is to proue my self with him that made the last battell The Troyan stept foorth and said I am the Knight ye looke for It séemes you are indéed said the blacke Knight therefore mount you and defend this that you shall heare You did not in the Combat yesterday the part of a Defendant ye should haue forced your aduersarie to confesse the wrong done to the accused and not haue so delayed the time to make an end without victorie Doo you know sir Knight said the Troyan who was my contrarie A woman said the other Knight but that is not
a whit materiall the right of the battell thou performedst not and thereupon growes my defiance which if thou be a iust Knight thou wilt answere Els sayd the Troyan let Sarmacias faire eyes neuer giue end to the begun sorrow of my heart if thou be not answered and chastised also for thy presumption And therewith the furious Troian mounted his horse and assailed his Contrarie vsing all able violence hee could both with sword and speare But this blacke Knight vsed the like curtesie with him as he had done vnto the faire Sarmacia for indéede it was she and neither with point of speare nor edge of sword did she returne him blow but onely for foure howers defended her selfe against his fierce assaults and then finding opportunitie she cloased with him saying Be not so hastie warlike Knight I come not to vâ—x you but quit your kindnes shewed me yesterday at my Fathers Court. At this the Troyan sodainly retyred and the Ladie vnarming her head sayd Now am I out of your debt And out of yours shall I neuer be said Oristides trembling with feare of her indignation but pardon me diuine princesse and receiue my sword that hath offended you and with it the Owners heart I receiue it said the Ladie and giue you mine in pawne till wee méete againe as méete wee will and in saying this shee returned as swift as winde leauing the princes not a little wondring and reioycing but especially Rosabel who highly delighted in the Troians change And as they were bidding God giue him ioy of his sword they discouered a Barke that came swiftlye towards them and from vnder the hatches appeared a Damsell resembling her that parted their battell y e said Worthie Princes the wise Lyrgandeo néedeth your help and desireth you to enter this Bark Rosabel was néerest who with his horse presently leapt in saying I will bee the first to shew my dutie to your Lord. He was no sooner entred but the boat remooued from land and the damsell cryed alowd to them Now Rosicleer will thy mortal enemie Gelasio worke that vengeance on thy Sonne and Oliuias which on thée he could not in the Iland of Fangomadan and thou Troyan looke to haue all thy content turned into lamentation and with this y e boate all departed out of sight leauing the Princes so gréeued that if the true messenger of Artemidoro had not comforted them their perill had béen great Heere must we awhile leaue them to tell you what hapned to the prince of Dacia Of the aduenture which hapned to the Prince of Dacia on the Sea Cha. 14. THe worthy Dacian glad of the happy fortunes of Torismund and Andronio his new frends sayled in his inchaunted boate from France with great swiftnesse till comming where he might behold part of Sauoy and Spaine his barke made some small stay that his kinde eyes might gratifie with their louing lookes the Countries of the faire Dutchesse whom in France he rescued and his kind Torismund hee so much loued And being ready to breake foorth in passion to praise their happie Princes hee was disturbed by a violent whirling of the water from the middest thereof arose a Sea-nymph sitting on a Dolphin who said The content is great gentle Knight which the fight of these daintie Countries doe giue you but I tell you their best fortune shall be when the great Lyon of Spaine shal send his déer and hidden Tyger who till then shal be nourished in base clothes for a scurge to his beloued Countrie filling the Ausonian lake with strange bloud This shal be he who in his tender yéeres shall conclude things that shall be more estéemed than those that are past and so farre he shall extend his arme that the destinies with pure enuie shall triumph ouer him to triumph of the victory due vnto him attributing to his power that which the rigorous Tyger had got And this shall not be the last good which the heauens doth promise vnto Spaine neither doe they so much forget Sauoy for the most and the best good of Spaine shal come vnto Sauoy and that land shall bee equall with the most aduantaged and may theÌ„ be called the fresh flower of Spaine her good comming by curteous vsing of the venterous Lyon who being retyred into his little Caue shall reioyce in the tender little Lambe who with his méekenes doth subiect the vntamed nations This said the Nimph tuning a harpe began to sing as followeth Not those faire three in Ida that contended To win the Ball the Shepheard Venus gaue Whereat the other two became offended In all their worths faire Catalinas haue For it is she alone and none but shee Excelles the graces of those gracious three Hauing finished her song she said by this beautie shal Spaine bee blessed and you shall shortly loose your fréedome Wherewith the Nymph vanished and the inchanted Barke kept course into the Italian Sea the Dacian sailing somwhat troubled though neuer perswaded again he should be a louer The fourth day of his nauigation the swift Barke ran a shore in Italy and the Dacian for that he was wearie of the seal foorthwith caused his inchaunted horse Tirio to be taken foorth With this the warlike Youth armed himselfe and mounted vppon his horse desirous to méet some people to be informed what country it was With this desire he passed till it was mid day following the current of a brooke till such time as he came to the head spring there he washed and refreshed himselfe of the heate and did eate of that which Fabio brought with him then returning to his begun Iorney he heard not far off blowes of a combate then he tooke his Launce with a light pace followed the way from whence hee heard the noise till such time as hee sawe amongst the trées two knights in battaile and néere them a Damsell bound vnto a knotty Ashe making great lamentation Not with a little griefe came the pittifull Prince vnto the Damsell who séeing him so well proportioned said Ah Sir knight if there bee in you the strength which your person sheweth deliuer me from thâ—se two false knights who are in controuersie which shall defile me The Prince was so angry that without remembring to vnloose her he returned against them saying Backe Knights for so vniust a cause you should not make battaile more iustly eyther of you should help women and not séeke to dishonor them Much lesse care hast thou of her they answered that with out any more consideration leauest her to the mercy of our swoords and without any more respect they both returned against the Dacian mallice making theÌ„ quickly frends The Dacian wold not with the point of his Speare take reuengement of such people but with the end hee had in his hand he stroke one such a blow vpon his harnes that he buckled it to his brest in such sort that it tooke away his vitall breath where with he fell dead to the ground and returning
the Chariot forbad it and vnto the Dacian the Damsell thus said Roselia the Emperors Daughter being the Ladie in gréene accompanied with the Princesses of Scotland in red desireth to know your name and that you would accompanie her to the Emperours pallace The Daâ—ian being nigh the Coach shewed his faire face and at his eyes drew to his heart her fairnes both being enamoured either of other at length with verie great reuerence he said Souereigne Ladies pardon I beseech you the vnwilling gréef I haue giuen vnto these knights the fauors are this Damsells that fauoured meâ— with hers and where your Excellencie askes my name and commaudeth my vnworthie attendance this is humbly my answere I am bound from both till I haue finished an aduenture which ended I will both answere and attend on you On that condition said the princesse we are this fauor giuing him a iewell and bee as spéedie as you may for I will expect your returne The Dacian boowing himselfe promised his attendance and so parting he put himselfe into the thickest of the wooâ— they wondring at his worthines returned toward the Cittie Our Dacian being in the wood and alighted could not forget the beautie of Roselia yet loath to entertaine loue thoughts he tooke his Lutâ— and to the sound thereof sung in thys manner Fond affection hence and leaue mee Trie no more for to deceaue mee Long agoe thou didst perplex mee Now againe seeke not to vex mee For since thou leftst off to assaile mee Power nor passion could not quaâ—le mee As the Lambe the Wolfe I flye thee As my foe Loue I defie thee Wend a way I care not for thee Childish tyrant I abhor thee For I know thou wilt deceaue mee Hence away therefore and leaue mee Till euening in contrarie imaginations he rested and was then disturbed with the noyse of two Giants foure knights who were come so néere him that he might easily heare one of the Giants say Are you sure our princes of Gibia are acquainted with our comming They are said the other Giant but will not bee séene till wee haue tane away the Ladies Then said the first Giant let vs hast to the pallace for as I get the Scottish Ladies for our princes so will I haue the Emperours daughter Roselia for my Sonne and in this talke they poasted toward the Cittie Our Dacian glad of this occasion was not farre behind but at the entring of the gate rushed among them To whom one of the Giants said For thy hast fond hardie knight either tell vs what thou meanst to make such speed or leaue with vs thy horse for thy presumption My horse I will neither leaue said he nor tell ye my busines But thou shalt said the other Giant tel me and as he was laying hold on the princes arme with the great end of his speare he ouerthrew him to the ground and with a light leape cléered the gate for his page and himselfe stepping aside to sée which way they tooke The Giants thought him some diuell and by reason of their busines would not follow him but being guided by a knight that knew the way they went directly to the pallace Orchard and mouÌ„ted the wall sending their horses to a place appointed Alwaies the prince was within the hearing leauing his horse with Fabio followed them ouer the wall by which time they had reared a ladder vp to the Princesse chamber window and one of the Giants beeing almost at the top the nimble Dacian ran and ouerthrew the ladder so that with the fall the Giant brake both his legs making such a crie that the Court was straight in an vprroare Our Gallant in this time was not idle for that betwéene him the other Giant began a rigorous battell which hee had quickly ended but that the foure knights who were verie strong greatly troubled him but he soone dispatched two of them and in the seconds fall the Giant smit the prince so rudely on the helme y t made him to kisse the earth but it was little for his good for as he thought to catch him in his armes the Prince arose with y e point of his sword vpright which vnder the skir of his armour passed through his heart As he was falling the other cripple Giant ful of mallice came créeping to doo a mischiefe but the prince quikly deuided his head from his body wherat y e knights vainly sought to flée for the heroicke Eleno stept before them and parted one to the breast the other falling at his féete he tooke to mercie because he shuld reueale the treason to the Emperour before whom and the prince of Almaine who were now with twenty armed knights come and before the Ladies that from the windowes beheld the battell all was by the knight confessed and the manner of the princes following them by himselfe told Whereat the Emperour standing amazed y e Dacian knéeled down and to the Prince of Almaine he said Receiue worthie Prince this little seruice for the gréef I put ye too yesterday When the Prince perceiued it was the Knight that ouerthrew him he imbraced him saying valorous knight vse to me no such curtesie for I am infinitely bound vnto you for this seruice done vnto my Lord the Emperour The Emperour hauing heard of him before and beheld the mightie strokes on the dead giants and knights could not speake for ioy but taking him by the hand led him to his Daughters chamber and finding her with the two Princesses of Scotland he said Daughter I haue broght you this knight prisoner kéepe him safe but vse him well for I know you are not ignorant of his desert And turning to the Dacian he said Where my best ioy is ther I leaue you and I deâ—â—re ye to tell me your name I am of Tartarie and called the Knight without loue My small desert most royall Emperour meriteth not this gracious fauour but your kindnesses are euerlasting bonds to binde me to your seruice The Emperour left him to his rest his lodging being appointed hard by the princesses but neyther he nor she possessed their wonted rests Merlins water hauing now in his breast lost the operation and Dianaes rules beginning to dye in hers Arbolinda the Scottish Princesse was Roselias coÌ„forter but our Heleno was alone till carefull Fabio maruelling at his masters long stay knockt alowd at the Court gate and made earnest enquirie for his master The Emperour had vnderstanding thereof who caused him to be conueied to his master that was not a little ioyfull of his comming Being in the chamber and suspecting no hearkners to be nigh Fabio said the Prince in anie case confesse not that I am Heleno Sonne to the King of Dacia but call me the Knight with out loue of Tartarie for so to y e Emperor haue I named my selfe for betwéene his Maiestie my Father was a great quarrell when they were Knights Aduenturers which is not yet ended The