vow Argalia was with anger so ore'come To heare these speeches arrogant and prowde As to his horse he in a rage doth runne Threatning he speakes he knowth not what alowde So fast it coms out of his roling tongue He drawes his sworde and fiercely towards him bowde Forgetting to his coste his golden launee Which at the Pine tree he had left by chaunce Both storming thus they meet with sworde in hand And each doth other turne from off his steed Stronger then these the world cannot commaund Nor liues there that in valour them exceed Did here Orlando or Rinaldo stand Yet who would proue most valiant doubt t' would breed As by the sequell of the second song You heare shall for this first hath bin too long THE SECOND BOOKE of Orlando Inamorato THE ARGVMENT Angelica from combate takes her flight Whilst Ferraw with her brother doth contend Who followeth after her on Courser light Ferraw Rinaldo and Orlando wend To finde her on t with all theire force and might And her to seeke in vaine their labour spend Charles I ousts begin where Pagans passing braue Cary themselues the â—oile the Christians haue HOnour and Loue together here do fight Argalia his faire sister to defend Ferraw for sweet Angelica his might Doth shew gainst Loue for loue he doth contend Of valour n'er was seene so rare a sight Thrise happie they that so their liues do end None honours loues his Mistris more then I Yet I cashierd am most disdainfully I honour her and tender her good name More then the dearest apples of mine eine So much I loue her as her loue to gaine Gladly I woulde dispend this life of mine Yet she my chaste request quits with disdaine Shewing of pittie not so much as signe My heart she seekes to tyranize and kill Shee borne to punish I to suffer still Before I tolde you how our Champions were Buckling together with despight and ire Argalia doth reuenge on Ferraw sweare And Ferraw burns gainst him with like desire The one enchaunted armour strong doth beare The others death by wound none can conspire Saue in one place with steele that couered was As hardly any weapon through could passe Who hath two Lions seene combat in Wood When they together meet most furiously Or who two thundercraks to heare hath stood Which flashing lightning doth before descrie Comparde to this strange fight see nothing sâ—ud So desperat are they whilst their force they trie Heauen seemes to burne and all the worlde to quake Whenas their sparkling blades encounter make They lay on load with blowes themselues to smother Frowning with sdainfull lookes and collor great Th' one thinking to be stronger then the other Trembles for rage and doth with labour sweat And now Argalia ore his foe doth houer And on his naked head his sworde doth seat Thinking that with that stroke he him had giuen His soule from out his bodie he had driuen But when he sawe vpon his sworde most plaine No blood to be he was amazed so As haire on head vpright gan to remaine It seemde to him to be so strange a show But Ferraw meanes to shew to him like game Thinking to cleaue his armour braue as tho Crying to Macon now I thee commende For with this blow I thee to him will send And saying so his force he gathereth round With both his hands at him he hard doth strike As had it beene a rocke of diamond He at that stroke in twaine had cleude it quite The well wrought Helme that was enchaunted found Was cause withouten hurt it there did light If Ferraw thereat wondered iudge but you He was so mazde scarce what he did he knew But after they had breathed for a space Pawsing a while withouten striking stroke One wondring at the other in this case For not one word as yet tweene them was spoke Argalia first to Ferraw turnes his face Baron quoth he for now he silence broke This armour which I weare I will thou know Is by enchauntment made from top to toe Then leaue off with me more thy force to trie For nought hereby but danger thou canst haue So helpe me Macon as I doe not lie Saith Ferraw I no armour neede to saue My selfe for what thou seest on me with eye I cary but for shew and flourish braue And not for need for I vnto the bone All ore am woundlesse saue one side alone Therefore Let me this councell to thee giue For for thy good I now speake as a friend Seeke not as wilfull death when thou maist liue For if thou wilt this quarrell soone shall end Thy sister graunt to me for whom I grieue Else thee the world from death cannot defend But if thou shalt be found so kinde to me I shall be bound for euer vnto thee Couragious Baron then Argalia sayd Thy oft mou'de motion well I vnderstand I for thy loue not feare am well apaid To haue with thee a friendly kinsmans band But I will know before I further wade If with her liking good this bargaine stand Els I 'le doe naught Ferraw replies Content Goe talke with her to know if shee 'le consent Ferraw though young hard fauoured was not faire With morphew tand his speech was full of pride A countenance grim and terrible he bare His eyelids quicke and like a Ferret eyde To keepe his body cleane he ne're did care For on his face great store of dust did bide His head like to a sugar loafe was sharpe His heare cole-blacke by nature curld not Art Angelica mislikes him for this cause For she did loue the Flaxen yellowish heare And to Argalia saith when he did pause Kinde Brother well I know you hold me deare Yet first I 'le cast my selfe in swallowing iawes Of these deepe waters or begge euery wheare Then take for husband such a man as he Better be dead then with a madman be Therefore I pray thee for God Macon sake That thou be pleasde although I can not like Once more thy weapons gainst that Baron take Meane while by magicke Art I 'le worke the slight My selfe to be conuayed home to make Follow me after thou mayst by some fained flight I by Ardennas wood will take my way And there for thee vntill thou come will stay To th' end we both may glad our auncient Sire Who longes for vs but if within three dayes You come not to me as I you require I through the windes as then will goe my wayes Through helpe of coniuring Booke of that Dogde Squire Who for he would haue rauisht me deere payes And after you may come by land with ease To me the way you know if so you please Argalia backe comes nor to tell doth misse How he his Sister cannot make consent Ferraw giue ouer will not for all this But stil to combat with him is he bent To winne her or to die his minde it is And whilst to hold him still in fight he ment The Maid
this scarce on his horse could sit He was so chaft and thus to him doth call By heauen if better speech thou dost not giue I le make the to repent whilst thou shalt liue Astolfo to these words lends little heede But vseth him in termes most spightfully As one that wronged was in very deed Though not the rest thereof could right descrie At last comes in treacherous Anselmo slie Whose sight in Astolff doth fresh coller breed The English Dukt no sooner doth him see But that he with his blade at him doth flee And doubtlesse with that blow he had beene slaine Had not he saude bin by the Emperur But euery one doth now Astolfo blame And apprehended is he for this stur To prison by the furious rowt he 's tane Since he Charles Roiall anger durst incur There for his rashnes did he dearely pay Kept longer then he thought by many a day Where wee will leaue him since he liueth well And better 's then those wretched Louers are Which for Angelica feele second hell And night and day to finde her trauell far Each tooke his seuerallway by chance as fell And now be to Ardenna come with care The first that there ariude was Aymons sonne Thankes to his spurres Baiardo well did run No sooner was this Baron in the wood But he about him looketh euery where Where he espies a Groue that shadowed stood Enuiron'd with a Cristall Riuer cleare The sight whereof to him did mickle good And therefore to the same he enters neere Where in the midst he found a fountaine faire As neuer wit of man framde one so rare This Fountaine more then wondrous for delight Was carude with Alabaster passing fine Set out with gold adorning it so bright As all the Meadow Sun-like made to shine MERLIN it built a famous coniuring Wight Because worthie Sir Tristram at that time Drinking thereof should leaue that louely Queene Who was in th' end his vtter ruine seene But luckelesse Tristram his chaunce was so badde Ne're to that Fountaine could ariue alas Though oft to finde it he did venture sadde And bout the Countrie for the same did passe Now this same Fountaine such strange Nature had That whatsoeuer Knight ennamored was Drinking thereof should Loue from thought exile Forcing him hate whom he had loude ere while The Sunne was at the highest the day was hot When Prince Rinaldo hyes vnto this place Sweating through trauell and great thirst had got When as longing to drinke in such a case He lightes from horse and drinking t' is his lot His Loue and drynesse both away to chase For when he tasted had this water cold He straight forgate the Dame he loude of old And now he thinkes what base a thing it is A woman vaine to follow and esteeme Nor now that Beautie countes he such a Blisse Which whilom more then humane he did deeme He doth Recant his minde is farre from this Such force in this so wondrous Water 's seene And now his Thoughts so changed are of late He worse then Toade Angelica doth hate Forth of this Wood he coms with s'dainfull mind Shaming to thinke vpon his Follies past Whilst musing thus a Riuer he doth finde Whose cristall Streame runnes smoothly trickling fast Alongst whose bankes all flowers by Natures kinde As if the Spring had beene in prime were plast And o're the Foorde for shadow there was seene The Beechen tree the Pine and Oliue greene This Riuer called was the BROOKE of LOVE Merlin had not inchaunted this as yet Who drinkes hereof to Loue it doth him moue His Heart must subiect be to Fancies fit Many braue Knightes unstaking this did proue And many haue beene quite vndone with it Rinaldo tasted not of this for why He at the other Fountaine dranke before being dry Yet he so well this pleasant place doth like As here a while he meaneth to repose From horse he lightes and him vnbridles quite And for to feede Bayardo lettes him lose Meane time in thickest shade this wearied Knight Not thinking any thing to slumber goes Sleepe doth our Baron and doth take a nappe But now behold what Fortune did him happe After Angelica away did flie Where Ferraw with her Brother fought at furst She on this Riuer chaunst and being drie Did light and dranke thereof to staunch her thurst But now sweete Ladies marke how worthilie LOVE tamed that proude hart of hers so curst No sooner she this Knight sawe on the grasse But that ennamored straight of him she was Her Palfrie white she to the Pine doth raine And to Rinaldo stealing commeth neere Gazing on him whose sight did breede her paine Nor hath she power one foote from thence to steere Within this Meadow did there store remaine Of Lillies and of Roses euery where These with her snowie handes she plucks apace Flinging them all vpon Mount Albons face Wherewith he wakes and she perceiuing this Smiling salutes him in most louely wise Yet he her thanketh not nor her doth kisse But takes his horse and quickly from her flies Her wooing wordes deserued fauour misse Shee him intreats to stay but he dentes As he were madde he flings from out the Wood And after him she spurres with gallop good She followeth him and after him doth crie Ah stay sweete Knight a little while but stay Why dost thou from me who thee followeth flie Ah doe not her that holdes thee deere thus slay I am not Ginamon of Baion I VVho thee to kill in Forrest did assay No Gano nor Macario false that bee Them and their Race I hate so loue I thee More then my soule I sweare that I thee loue Yet do sthou flie from me with skornefull hate Looke but once backe may be I may thee moue See if my face can thee so fearefull make To hurt thy selfe through furie doe not proue This VVood is dangerous and thou harme maist take Ah if thou loue me goe a little safter And thee to please I 'le not so fast come after For 〈◊〉 to thee any mischaunce should come Whilst thus thou headlong rid'st or to thy Steede Small should I ioy my life as then were done And for thy hurt my heart to death would bleede Turne backe at last my sight still doe not shunne Thinke whome I am I merrit better meede My Beautie 's such as none ought for to flee Rather if I fledde thou shouldst follow me Thou hast not slept enough then light on growne And for thee I 'le prouide a Princely Bedde My daintie Corse shall be thy Cowch of downe My Skinne shall serue for finest sheetes in stedde Where thou o're eares thy selte with ioy mayst drowne My softe Breastes pillowes shall be for thy head Whilst Nymphes and Graces shall about thee keepe With heauenly Musicke lulling thee asleepe With such sweete sugred wordes the Maid entreates Running still after him but all in vaine Bayardo swift the way like wind forth breakes Carrying his Master out from Woddie plaine The
by signes those traiterous Peeres Amongst themselues doe scoffe and iest at him For that as they he is not halfe so trim These Magansesi were noble House And next to Charles mong'st Peeres the chiefst of all Yet were they Cowards base and timerous Traitors and pickthankes enuious full of gall Fewe was there of them counted vallerous Or held for courage-worthy Knightes and tall Yet Charles them more then they deseru'd held deere Because of kinne to him so nigh they were 〈…〉 he did smile Concealing inwardly his wrath in showe But to himselfe he said Base Rascals vile Ere long your Betters I will make you knowe I le see how you can fitte your horse the while I charge against you as your deadly foe For I not doubt though now so proud you are found When we shall meete to make you kisse the ground King Balugant who saw his collour oft To come and goe his meaning did diuine And therefore by a Trunchman of him sought If that in Courte mongst Christians Chiefe and prime Men were for wealth or merite raisde aloft Because he being a stranger at that time Desirde to know the custome least he swerue In honouring any as they should deserue Rinaldo smiles and with a cheerefull looke To Balugant his Messenger thus saide Friend tell thy Maister since that he can brooke Christians by him with Honor should be paide Base Gulls at table Queanes in bedde are tooke For sporte oft mongst vs and are much of made But where we come our valour for to trie Each one receaues his Honor orderly Whilst thus this Message is deliuered Sweete musicke soundes throughout the royall Hall The Emperour wils each Boord be furnished With daintie Cates to feast these Barrons tall Carowsing vnto them whilst that they fed In cuppes of gold wrought richly ouer all Each oue he honoureth with this Gift or that Shewing thereby he them hath not forgot They frolicke and are merrie as may be Discoursing mongst themselues in voice but lowe King Pippins sonne that now himselfe doth see Attended on with such a royall Showe Of Kings of Dukes of Knightes in their degree The Pagans steemes as dust that wind doth blow But see a chaunce vnlookt for did appeare That made both him and all the rest to feare For on the sodaine did appeare in sight Foure Giants great and strong of limme and bone And in the midst of them a Damsell bright Attended on with one sole Knight alone A starre she seemde so glorious was this Wight Like her no flowre on earth hath euer growne In briefe the trueth to tell she all did passe Neuer before her like for Beautie was Yet was sweete Galerana in that place And Alda wife vnto Orlando bould Clarice and Armelina faire in face And diuers other Ladies left vntold Who beauteous were and full of louely grace Beauteous indeede framde right in Natures mould But when mongst them appeard this Flower so gay The prize of Beautie straight she reft away Each Barron braue and Prince of Christendome On that rare Obiect doe their eyes still cast The barbarous Pagans rise from ground and runne To honour her who makes them all agast Whilst with so sweete a smile shines this cleare Sunne As she is able a stony heart at last To melt for loue and to her selfe to winne And thus to speake she smiling doth beginne Most mightie Lord thy vertue more then great And wondrous valour of thy Peeres of fame Whose prowesse so far throughout the world doth beat As any seas their vtmost bounds containe Giue me some hope the trauel and the sweat Of vs poore Pilgrimes shall not be in vaine Since both thy Court and thee we comen are To honour from the worlde his ende afaire And that I may not holde thee ouer long Know this the reason is I came to thee This is Vberto surnamde Leo strong A Noble borne and Knight of chiualrie Expulst from out his kingdome by much wrong Wronged like him could neuer any be And I that was banisht with him that day His sister am and calld Angelica From hence 200 daies iournie at least At Tana where our Countrie is we haue Heard much of this thy royall Ioustes and Feast And of th' assembly of these Gallants braue And that who best deserues is not possest Of golde or pearle gifts for a seruile slaue But to enhance his vertuous honour more The Conquerour a crowne of roses wore This is the cause Vberto brother mine Meanes for to trie his force and valour heere Mongst all the flower of Barrons of this time All will be trie although he buy it deere Be he a Christen or a Saracin Without the Cittie gates he will appeare Hard at the Pine within the meddow greene Which Merlins tombe is called as I weene But yet with this condition will he ioust As I le repeate that all may know the same Who shall vnhorst be and from saddle thrust No more shall runne his honour to regaine But yeelde himselfe as prisner to him must And who Vberto layes on sandie plaine My person shall enioy to him for praye And he with Giants his shall wend their waye Thus hauing saide fore Charles she kneels on ground Expecting his short answere speedily Her feature rare doth make them all astound And chiefly stout Orlando who drawes nie To her with trembling heart through Loues deepe wound Although it to conceale he had an eie Casting his lookes oft times on th' earth belowe As one ashamde thereof he well did showe Alas fond man he to him selfe then saide Why giu'st thou so large raine vnto thy will Perceiu'st thou not in errors thou dost wade And gainst thy God as peruerse sinnest still Ah how am I by Fortune ouerlaide I see my fault â—e cannot mend this ill I that the worldes great'st force did set at naught Am by a seelly girle orecome and caught To part from her sweet face I haue no powre My life vppon her louely lookes doth stay Withouten her I languish eu'ry houre And soule from out this body wends her way Now see I well no force nor frowning showre Can loue withstand whom I must now obay Wisedome helpes not nor good aduise to chuse What 's best I know yet best I doe refuse She is a Heathen I a Christen borne Nor know I if she me will euer like May be shee 'le other loue and me will scorne And yet for him she is that best can fight I know not if my fortune be forlorne Yet for her sake I le trie her brothers might My hop's that soone shall ended be this strife Either I le win her or I le lose my life Thus to himselfe laments this Barron bolde Of his new Loue vncertaine of her grace The like Duke Namo did though he were olde Wood old and drie burnes soon in such a case Hee shakes as one troubled with agew colde And all his blood doth run from out his face In briefe her pleasing beautie rare
all his amourous heat on sudaine dies Neuâ—â— before was heard of such a chaunce For downe he falls on ground and there he lies Yet he not scarce so soone had toucht the grasse But that he strait reuiude and lusty was Loue heat of youth the nature of some man Hath many oft through too much ire orethrowne And Ferraw louing much as many can Was yong and prowd and ouer hastie growne And who with such conuerse in danger stan He on his friend for nothing would haue flowne He was so froward and of so sauadge mind As for a fether to fight you should him find Anger and shame soone made him rise from ground He gets him vp and now reuengde he 'le be Forgot he hath how he by oath is bound To yeeld himselfe his sworde now draweth he And towards Argalia running comes he round Who when to breake his worde he doth him see Saith thus to him thou art my prisonar And both thy selfe and me wrongst thus to iarre Ferraw heares not what he to him doth say But meanes by force therwith for to dispence Which when the Giants see hard by that stay They all come towardes Argalia for defence And forth so great a crie aloud they braye As if it were some thunders violence So great a cry these roaring Giants make As two miles off the ground was found to shake This made Ferraw looke backe but not to feare Argosto was the Gyant first that came Monstrous in growth Lampordo did appeare Next clept Velluto so was his surname Because his bodie 's all ore'growne with heaâ—e Vrgano was the third for strength of fame Turlone was the fourth who was in heigâ—… Iust thirtie foote when he stood bolt vpâ—â—â—… Lampordo first did greet him with a dart And had't not bene his body woundlesse was By Dest'nie struck he had beene at the hart With such great force it on his breast did paâ—â— But neuer plaide aâ—ray-hound swifter part Nor whirle-winde whiskes in troubled seas with 〈◊〉 Nor thunderbolte comes halfe so soone from heauen As Ferraw for reuenge sought to be euen He hittes Lampordo on the rightest side And pates him off in midst hard at the thies The mortall wound cutts through his Nauell wide Nor thinkes he this braue blowe must him suffice His sworde each where about him he doth glide For th' other three beset him in sore wise Worthy Argalia vantage will not take But looketh on to see what end they 'le make Ferraw leapes vp full twentie feet at least To reach to the Grants who were monstrous hie His sworde by chance is on Vrgano seast Cleaueing his head to 's teeth most furiously But whilst he bids them to this bitter feast Argosto doth his yron club let flie And such a dangerous blow he doth him giue As blood from forth his nose and mouth doth driue This made him fiercer then he was before As one that nothing fearde in such a case So as with strokes that Giant downe he bore Cutting his shoulders off to 'th girdling place But now he grew to be in danger sore For Turbon who was strongest of that race Caught him within his armes though he did striue Meaning to cary him away aliue But was it force or fortune of the Knight I know not which but soone from him he got The Gyant then with iron Club doth fight And Ferraw with his sworde who weyes him not Seldome they misse hitting each other right And now the Fray begins afresh most hot And each of other now his handes full hath Striuing to giue each other harme and skath No dallying is there twixt themselues as now The Gyant with all force that he can make Striking the Barons helmet off doth wound his brow Disarming quite his head he makes him quake But Ferraw makes him like an Oxe to low So great a blow he doth him rightly take Vpon the legges though they in male were shutte As off from bodie his he them doth cutte Th' one dying th' other falling in a sound Both at one instant fell as dead they were Argalia lightes from horse and from the ground The Knight doth to the Spring most kindly bere And with fresh water which did there abound He him reuiues againe and doth him chere That done he leade him would vnto his Tent But Ferraw to be prisoner nill consent For what care I saith he though Th' emperor Promisde that such Conditions firme should stand Am I his Vassall or his Seruitor That he vnto my losse may me command I came to fight for Loue like Conqueror With thee thy Sister faire for to haue gaind And her I 'le haue or els I here will die Lesse I haue lost my wonted Chiualrie Astolfo hearing such a noyse and dyn Begun out of his heauie sleepe to come Besides the Gyants showte had waked him Whose Eccho to his eares from Meade did runne And seeing these two Champions to begin A fresh to brawle which he would haue them shunne Sought all the meanes as friendes to make them gree But Ferraw to it would not perswaded bee Alas poore man said then Argalia Perceiust thou not howe thou vnarmed art Perhaps thou thinkst thy Helmet still doth stay Vpon thy head which broke's in many a part Then chuse if Prisoner thou wilt be or slay I shall thee though to doe so grieues my heart For if thou fightst and nothing hast on head Thou canst not scape but soone thou must be dead Ferraw replide and yet my minde me tels Withouten helmet armour or with sword I shall thee conquer though I nought haue els Naked with thee to fight I can afford For my deere Loue despite of charming Spels Thus braude this Baron not one foote thence sturd For Loue had him so heated with desire He would for her haue leapt into the fire Argalia now began to sweare and stare Seeing so basely he of him did steeme As being nakte to combat durst him dare And that being twise o'recome before doth seeme Still prowder nor for him at all doth care But better then at first his strength doth deeme Well Knight quoth he I see thou seekst thy Bane And since thou dost I l'e soone giue thee the same Now doe thy worst and quickly take thy horse For I haue vsde thee too too ouer-well Nor thinke once more in me to finde remorse For Helmet lost which from thy head late fell Th' ast offered wrong and find shalt hardest force Pittie to thankelesse men I will not fell Looke to thy selfe and that full warily No way there is but one thou needes must dye Hereat did Ferraw smile his wordes he waide As nothing but to his horse himselfe did take That done Sr Knight a word with you he said Giue me thy sister faire and for her sake Commaund me and thou shalt be straight obaid I will be friendes with thee and handes will shake But if to graunt this thou denie me now I l'e send thee to another world I make a