Florisbella DOn Bellianis béeing departed from the Prince of Phenicia arriued in the Citie when two partes of the night was past and went till hee came to the Soldanes Palace not staying any where though hée greatly desired to know of his Companions And thinking to finde all the people quiet hée founde them otherwise busied and the Pallace guarded with tenne thousande men with manie light Torches But hée closely passing betwéene them had nothing sayde to him thinking that hée was some of the Princesse Auroraes or Perfianaes Gentlewomen and going vp the Tower required the watch to let him in to visite the Knight of the golden Image they thinking hée was a a woman let him in demaunding why shee had béene all daye abroade the knight béeing so sore wounded I coulde doo no otherwise replied Don Bellianis and thereupon entred his Chamber where Floriana and her fellowe stayed for him who séeing him come Persiana ranne to embrace him so did Floriana who casting a Mantie ouer her did rise out of the bed Don Bellianis seeing it sayde It behooues not fayre Ladies you shoulde bestowe such fauours on so meane a knight speciallie in so suspicious a place There is no place to be suspected where such a knight is deseruing greater fauours then these euen at thâ— hands of the faâ—â—est Princesse liuing But leauing this let vs cure you nowe that you may tell vs all that befell you abroade and so making him vnreadie layde him in a bed and by their handes dressed him Which done they gaue him his Supper who eate it with a good stomacke hauing tasted no foode in a day and a halfe before and when they woulde haue left him hee woulde not let them go because hee coulde not sléepe and so tolde them all his aduenture from his departing And when hee spake of Don Contumeliano they coulde not stande for laughter I am much glad of your successe sayde Floriana because you shall not thinke vs fooles in what wée haue sayde of your beautie whereby you may imagine the greatnesse of our Ladie the Princesse Florisbella and nowe you maye render to vs her counterfeite for you no more néede it Let mee yet kéepe it gracious Damozell forthat I haue not coated it with that I haue in my Shéelde to sée which is more naturall for the meaning I knowe is all one And tell mée the reason why the Soldane did commaunde the Prince Perianeo to depart his Dominions which the Princesse Aurora was the other day telling mée but she was interrupted by a suddaine occasion and since I haue had no time to knowe it Wee haue not effectually learned it sayde shée but it is thought the Souldane imagined that hée was in loue with the Princesse and least hée shoulde attempt anie thing agaynst her honour commaunded him to leaue his Kingdome beeing the valiantest knight then knowen in the whole vniuersall world What losse had there béene sayde Don Bellianis if hée had béene married to her béeing so good a knight and so great a Prince In faith none replied shée if for possessions or anie thing else shée shoulde haue béene giuen to anie he well deserued her But we thought that according to her excellencie and beautie some of our Gods would descende the heauens to enioy her on earth And if hee had demaunded her of the Soldane our Lorde wée thinke hee woulde not haue denied her him but he neuer woulde declare his name which was knowen after the warres of Antioch This they tolde Don Bellianis who was greatly discomforted to heare of the loue betwixt the Knight and the Princesse as also to heare that euerie where the wonders of the knight of the Images sounded in his eares béeing so highly estéemed in his Ladies Countrey and so purposed neuer to rest till hée met with him supposing he should neuer be fauoured of his Mistresse vnlesse hee should remooue that knight out of her sight and so said to the Damzels Hath there béene no newes of him since his departing or did he so soone forget the Princesse No said they for it was said he euerie day came into the court with seuerall horse and armour and then writ diuerse letters to her beseeching her to receiue him as her knight letting her knowe he was Prince of this land The letter was deliuered to vs and we fearing some euill to insue thereby durst not giue it her But what answer made you said Don Bellianis to him that gaue you the letter None other answered the Damzell saue that the Princesse would not answere it Yet might you haue giuen her it There is none for their liues that durst haue done so for besides that she doth iniurie herselfe being but seldome séene and abhorring such matters extreamly shee hateth this Prince greatly because he was the cause that the Princesse Aurora lost her kingdome with her fathers life which was Uncle to our Ladie Princesse and brother to her mother With that Don Bellianis rested somewhat comforted and to giue place to his thoughts praied the Damzels to go to bed because he would sléepe which they did and being withdrawne they reasoned that the knight of the golden Image should bée in loue with their Ladie Beléeue not said Beriana if since you named the Princesse Florisbella he hath not béene captiuated with her prayses else why should hee so particularly inquire for her Will you know it certainly said Floriana Let vs rise softly and hearken what he sayes for it is not possible but hée shoulde vtter the aboundance of his heart and so rose in their smocks to heare him who to himself complained and now and then groned and sighed so bitterly as if his heart would break But at last with a soft voyce he burst into these passions Ay mée vnfortunate Knight of the golden Image and moste vnhappie Prince what accursed Starres voyde of all pitie haue conducted thée to Persepolis to receiue so distastrous a death Ah wretch that I am whome the power of hearts-penetrating loue contenteth not with such crueltie to torment thée but telleth thée thou art not woorthie to serue whome thou desyrest But thrise happie art thou Knight of the Images for if thou doost suffer anie passions and heartes languishment for the diuined beautie of the excellentest Princesse that euer was borne yet are thy thoughts made knowne to her where thou mayest immortallize thy selfe and call thée the onelie blessed of all mortall men But aye me more vnhappie farre then thou art happie that muste heare the intollerable burthen of my greeuaunces without comforte without helpe and without hope For though my soules true paine were knowne where are the merittes to reape the benefite of so large a guerdon But let Fortune doo her woorst yet will not I leaue till I see howe long my despised life will labour in the Laborinth of misfortune And if I do méete with the Knight of the Images I doo protest by the sacred order I haue receiued to make it knowen vppon his stéeled
Armes in that battell Speake no more of this said Don Bellianis for it is euident if any honour I haue or any thing performed therein it onely procéedes from you Wherefore it is I that am onely bound to you all Marry if that were so replied Don Brianell I had there lost my life being vnable to defend it The Prince Arfileo and the Princesses disturbed this conference comming to gréete Don Bellianis where they renewed their thankes Which done their men hauing ransackt their enemies campe the two Kings the Princesses Don Bellianis with the Prince Arfileo the Phenician Prince and the venterous Knight directed their way towards Bollera by the same discoursing of many things Don Bellianis being of opinion they should returne and sacke Persepolis which they might easily haue don being left without any Garrison But the Princesse Persiana with the other Princes put himselfe from it alleadging their men to be weake and weary of their last trauell And so at last arriued in the Citie where well ordering their troupes and other businesse went to the Dukes Pallace to repose themselues where their woundes were dressed The Prince Don Contumeliano lodged with Don Bellianis at his intreatie who greatly ioyed with his company being a Knight of pleasant discourse Where we leaue them till we haue set downe what the Souldans men did after they were ouerthrowne and put to flight CHAP. XXXI What the Souldanes men did after the battell And howe they carried newes of their discomfiture to the Souldan THe battel being ended in maner aforesaid part of the Soldans men I suruiued tooke their way to Persepolis and hid themselues in the woods and some that were more hardie closely mingled themselues with their aduersaries hauing left behind them those things that might discouer them who heard Don Contume lianos discourse how the Knight of the golden Image was he that had slaine the fearefull King of Cyprus These Knights hauing closely hid themselues expected the darke nights approach and the closest that they might departed thence hauing not entred into the Citie and by the pale reflect of the shining Moone looking about the field for the bodies of Coroliano and Boraldo to carry them to Persepolis did at last finde them Coroliano being in perfect sence but Beraldo yet laie in his traunce being piteously wounded and extreame faint with the losse of much more blood then his brother and setting them on horsebacke with two Knights behind to guide them came the next day to Persepolis where incomparable was the lamentable griefe generally of all all participating of the present losse and certainly according to their greeued clamours and languishing cries their aduersaries had they come vpon them might easily haue taken and sacked the Cittie for being ouerwhelmed in bloodie teares breaking from their hearts that they knew not one another But aboue all the rest the distressed Souldane of Persia with madding rage renting his cloathes tearing the auncient haires off his graue beard and blaspheming and defying his Goddes with hideous shrikes cryed out Oh vnhappie Souldane of Persia Is it possible the Goddes should honour thée with so large an Empire to disgrace thy glorie with this shame and that thou arâ— not able to reuenge thée on thy rebellious subiect that hath slaine thy sonne in lawe and in despight of thée stolne thy onely daughter But thrise happie are you Coroliano and Boraldo that haue in defence of your deare Prince and Countrey wrastled with all conquering death leauing your liues for an immortall trophy of your true loyaltie And vnhappie am I that is not able to die when and where my fame and glorie is drowned in the lasting Center of blacke obliuion But let Fortune doo her worst as she alreadie hath in times past For I vowe by the immortall Gods neuer to cease till I haue put to vtter desolation he and his accomplices that hath bene cause of al these my euils Thus as hee was most bitterly raging and erâ—layming against his cruell hate there entred the hall gate the horses that as it is said brought his Cousens who though piteously wounded as may be beléeued spake vnto the Souldane that somewhat comforted himselfe to sée them not altogither dead and commaunded them to be laid in a bed in his owne Chamber where they were cured And the other knight beginning to discrye their ouerthrowe said that hauing almost vtterly defeated their enemies there arriued the Prince Contumeliano of Phenicia with foure thousand men with whome after a bloody conflict we rested thus vanquished and defeated Oh me disgraced that I am said the Souldane and was that diuellish Knight there that slue the mightie King of Cyptus I doo not now thinke much of your defeature seeing he and the knight of the Golden Image were against you yet I assure you I reioyce to knowe they are both there that our reuenge may be greater We haue béene greatly deceiued herein dread souereigne said the knights for that Knight that depriued the King of Cyprus of his life is not the Prince of Phenicia bâ—t is the inuincible Knight of the Golden Image that onely for the same effect came forth of prison disguised in habit of one of his Damzels and repeated all Contumelianoâ— report Is it possible Oh immortall Gods that such a thing should bee which I yet dare not beléeue and surely there was not in the world a man blynder to knowe him then I. For séeing him so wounded and bléeding through his armour shuld haue imagined it could be none but he But tell me what is Don Contumeliano Which should be no bad knight seeing the knight of the Golden Image tooke his name and Armes One of the valiantest knights in that whole Campe is that Prince sayde they for at two blowes did hee bring your Cousin Boraldo to this passe you sée with many other worthy déedes that in the battell he performed These newes much discomforted the Souldane in which state he continued eight daies till he was altogither well of his fall in which time he heard by report of many Knights of the aduenture that was not farre from the Citie Who greatly desiring to see went thither accompanied with many Knights Where being come and reading the Letters of the Piller diuers would proue it but in a little space as many as did were ouercome and yet could sée no bodie I haue many yeares ago heard of this aduenture said the Souldan and how it was here and I know that in the Souldan my graund-fathers time many auncient Knights proued it And so from that time it was published abroad that many wandring knights from diuers places came to prooue themselues in it The Souldane after this returned to the Citie and caused his commaund to be proclaimed throughout his large Empire that euery one able to beare Armes should within two moneths be at Persepolis Whereby he beganne to order the mightiest and strongest Army by lande that vntill that time was euer séene in
handes that hee was faine to set him downe not being able to stand on his legges looking like a man readie to breathe his last Don Bellianis thinking his woundes were the cause of it sat him downe lamenting that vnhappie chaunce loosing their blood so fast that it had made two Chanells as if they proceeded from two rising springs and ouertaken by the darksome night were put into so great feare that they dispaired of remedie Especially Don Bellianis doubting thereby his fathers life who because the suddaine amazement more troubled him then the daunger of his woundes quickly recouered himselfe and imbracing the Prince his sonne said Oh deare sonne tell me I pray you why come you armed in the Armour of the Knight of Fortune Did he peraduenture diâ— by your hands or how is it for I cannot expresse the alteration I suffer till I know it I weare the Armes of Sabian of Trebento and no others for those of the Persian Prince your selfe weares I haue not chaunged mine said the Emperour But tel me what hath befallen you since you lest me for surely we haue bn wondrously deceiued Don Bellianis tolde it him Whereupon the Emperour spake Surely Prince we haue bene inchaunted and yet cannot deuise by what meanes but this is the straungest case I euer heard of that both should séeme to weare one kinde of armour and not perceiue it each of vs imagining the other to be the Persian Prince And it may bee that Lady that cryed to you for helpe was she that so deceiued vs. But let vs part from hence for we loose much blood When they were vppon going they espied comming towards them an auncient Matrone conducted by foure monstrous Gyants before them was carried a Piller of fire which lighted them their way they came with such haste that ere they could rise she was vpon them whom presently the Gyants tooke from her Palfray and knéeling before the Emperour she required his royall hands to kisse them The Emperour refusing to do it tooke her vp and she vnmasking her selfe was straight knowne of Don Bellianis to be the sage Bellona his deare friend Whereat conceiuing as much pleasure as before displeasure and accounting all his daunger none imbracing her said What chaunce hath brought you hither my good friend at such a time which is not without some speciall cause The great loue I beare you and the Emperour your father replied she is the cause thereof But for you incurre great perill through your wounds eate this which I will giue you for with the like medicine you were afore cured They did so and were therewith presently so well as if they had had no ill at all and their armour returned vnto their former colour and deuises The Emperour imbracing her said For Gods sake Ladie tell me this aduenture for it doth more amaze me then any thing in all my life I will replyed shée and hardly shall you know it of any but of me You well remember the Combatte you had agreed with the Persian Prince now know he hath to his friend a great Magician in that Art the skilfullest in all the world this man knowing the great daunger his friend should passe with the Prince your sonne did ordaine all that which you haue séene changing both your armours that you might staie one another each of you thinking you fought with the valourous Prince Perianeo And trust me his desire had taken effect had it not bene for Don Bellianis sword which for that purpose the wise Medea many yeares before kept in the Caue where Don Bellianis woune it being the man she wished might haue it alwayes desiring to benefit the house of Greece as often heretofore she hath done For so was it written where your sonne found the sword if he doth remember the words I doo well remember them replied Don Bellianis for thus they said This Prophecie is mentioned in the seeond Chapter and here explained with effect That with this Sword the liuing should be lost and the dead put in possession of the recouered and they restored to their royall blood with knowledge of their possessors You see now how it hath come to passe and moreouer they said this should be At the time when the fiercenesse of the couragious Lyons which are you two by the greatnesse of his skill which is that of the wise man called Fristone that in knowledge equals her because he hath all her â—ookes should be put in greater feare but this know not he for he did not looke whether thâ— Sword were wonne or no or whether the valorous Prince your sonne did weare it Then the liuing which were lost that arâ— you two that being liuing were lost by the alteration of your Armour and supposing you alreadie dead which would haue happened if the fight had bene ended with the blowe of this Sword that cut the laces of your Helme were put in possession of your recouered selues being restored to your royall bloods which was at the point vtterly to haue bene lost And the true possessors knowne which are both you taking one another for the Persian Prince Now I hope you vnderstand the aduenture you haue past which not without cause you haue accounted straunge Greatly wondred the knights at these Ladies words who againe said But for another cause hath my comming bene which is to haue with me the Prince Don Bellianis your deare sonne whome I must presently vse in a deare imploy that ne lesse concernes him then his life Take vs both with you saide the Emperour I would willingly doo it replied shée but that the braue Duke Alsiron greatly néedeth your helpe and therefore it is no reason to leaue him alone and your sonne shall quickly returne againe And here doo as I counsell you for I well knew this woulde happen which made me write vnto you that you should by no meanes depart from the Cittie of Constantinople but you would not do it wherein it had not bene much if you had lost your life I will not go against your counsell replied the Emperour but tell me if my sonne shall quickly returne He shal said she and therefore go to the Citie the soonest that you may and so making Don Bellianis mount on horseback who had taken the Emperours blessing which with many teares did giue it him departed as swift as the winde leauing the Emperour so occupied with imaginations whither his sonne might be carried that he knew not how to resolue himselfe CHAP. XXXVIII How the Emperour returned to the Cittie of Bollera and what happened him in the Souldanes Campe before hee entred into the Citie THe Emperour remembring the Sages words tooke his Launce and mounted on horsbacke approching the Cittie of Bollera almost by breake of day which he founde begyt with so many multitudes that he greatly wondred at their suddaine arriuall and not knowing on which side the Duke laie intrenched because the Citie was round about besieged he rushed among those Tentes
dayes in the Damzels caue till the Prince was able to trauaile who gréeuing much for the sorrowe the Emperour and Empresse would sustaine and acknowledging how much bound he was to that Ladie determined to depart yet greatly desired to know the end of that aduenture Wherefore the prince Arsileo a day before their departure intreated her to declare vnto them the whole occasion of her being in the Caue and what she would require them to do in her seruice although they néeded not make many offers being as they were so bouÌ„d to her for so many fauors that at her coÌ„mand without intreaty they ought to do euen with the hazard of their liues The damzell with a sorowfull countenance as one that remembred her forepassed misfortunes could not withhold her teares but with watry chéeks eies like flowing springs with ruÌ„ning streams at last thus began I cannot excellent Princes so intirely expresse vnto you the cause of my griefe as I could desire for the great sorrow my gréeued heart sustaines suddenly suppressing me breaking into a salt shower of brinish teares will not giue place vnto the exact vtterance of my wordes yet as I may I will do it I was most noble Princes daughter vnto Pompeiano not long since king of Antioch and am called Aurora that being at the Soldan of Babylons court accompanying his daughter the most beautifull Florisbella whose perfected beauty absolute vertues so far surpasseth al other of her time as doth y e sun al lesser stars To this court came a knight whose name for a long time was not knowne sauing by certaine Images in his shéeld was called the knight of the thrée images who shewed himselfe so valiant that there was no ten knights in the whole Court so strong and hardie as durst maintaine the field against him This Knight throughout the Soldanes Empire performed such déedes of haughtie prowesse that in generall among all men he was accounted a second Mars and the Soldane did no lesse esteeme of him alwayes hauing him in his companie whereby he thought himselfe worthie of greater dignities and so became amorous of the diuine Florisbella for whose loue a long time he suffered great gréefe and much solitude not daring to manifest it to any at length seeing nothing preuaile to expell that desire when one day the Soldane with all his Court was gone a hunting he remained alone in the Pallace and after some pleasant discourses discouered vnto me the secrets of his loue intreating me that in his name I would intreate the princesse to accept him for her knight wherwith shée finding her selfe agreeued aunswered that by no meanes she would do it commanding him no more to imagine any such madnesse least the Soldane her father should by chaunce heare thereof which if he did it might cost him little lesse then his life But he nothing weighing this her answere found meanes that the Princesse might know the extreame anguish of his perplexed heart inthralled by her beautie so that I thinking that some harme might thereby insue declared it to the Soldane who thereupon commaunded him to depart his Empire but he not knowing the occasion very heauily before his departure told him that what he did was against reason in commanding him to leaue his Dominions for he was a prince able to shew him that such as he ought not to be so vsed And departing the Court towards the Soldane of Siconia called the great Sophi of Persia where suspecting I was cause of his exile beganne with fire and sword to enter the king my fathers territories in such sort wasting and spoyling them that slaying the king he tooke possession of the whole Kingdome giuing it to the knight of the kindred called the Prince Don Galaneo reputed a man of great vallor In which time not knowing of his successe I went from the Soldanes Court home to my fathers fearing to fall in their hands by counsell of a wise woman called Bellona entred in a boate with these Damsels you here sée togither with the sayde woman and by hir direction arriued in this countrey and was by her conducted to this caue where she bad me remain for I should quickly be deliuered by the Prince of Greece and his cosin of Hungarie foretelling me euery thing that hitherto hath happened and moreouer she bad me giue you armor and horses which here she left wherwith you shall be knighted by a strange aduenture but what it it was she would not tell Thus haue I declared the occasion of my being here and the fearefull Beare the wise woman here left was hither to bring the Prince Arfileo as you sawe and the mightie Giant which you slew remayned keeper of the caue who might not be slaine with any weapon but the sword which you drewe out of the Piller that hee guarded So that great Lord the remedie of my misfortune resteth in your handes and our departure may be when and so soone as you shall think good I am content answered he wonderous amazed at the Damsels discourse but I would willingly take with me an hoast of men that you may more easily recouer your kingdome I attend here no other hope but yours sayd she and as for any other I was informed we shall not néede Whereat the Prince séeing that was her will commanded straight prouision to be made for his departure so al necessaries being ready they mounted a horsback the damsels on their palfraies accompanied with the two ancieÌ„t knights that carried y t armor that the princesse Auroâ—a had spoken of which they séeing tooke it forth of y e cases which were as appertained to nouel knights The prince Don Belianis armor was of colour Orange-tawny with a sea waue so big that it séemed to ouerwhelme a ship there figured In his sheeld was pourtraide the picture of a most beautifull Lady with a knight knéeling before her as if he craued mercie at her hands from whom she turned her face in anger with an inscription to this effect Let him die for so departing At our first and sudden meeting Leauing thereby my deare sight dim Of his when I desired to see him Which was written in Arabian letters that the Prince well vnderstood The prince Arfileos wer murry in y e midst wherof was fighting a griffon with a most terible dragon which were parted by a damsel that made peace betwéen them which when they saw so faire became desirous to put them on causing the princesse and damsel to stay were armed with them which so wel fitted them as if of purpose they had béene forged for them wherwith being armed set forwards on their iourny hauing gone not far from the caue spied before theÌ„ a faire Castle which til then they had not séene nor yet when they entred the caue The princesse the Ladies masked themselues because y e heate of the sun was great the rest were disguised that they might not be knowne approaching the
owne Thinke not so much on the end replied Don Bellianis if you sée the matter happily begunne for there is nothing so surely grounded but the beginning will require great labour especially such enterprises as these Wherefore my opinion is seeing our time is so short that you send halfe of your men to attend our comming in the way we must take some ten miles hence taking with them double horsing that when we arriue with ours tired being ther forced to fight we may find fresh horses And this done 1000. chosen men wil serue to fetch her hence so that they perfectly kaow the way The duke liked well of this counsel where they broke of being aduertised how the Soldan the princesse Persiana with all the chief nobilitie except don Gallaneo that remained about another matter which straight shalbe declared came to visit him wherfore the duke hearing it wēt to méet him yet for al his hast he found him comming vp the staires talking with the princes Arfileo don Brianell Aurora that went forth to receiue them who when they saw the duke go towards thē the princesse Persiana said I feare great duke you are alreadie assured of the victorie of the iousts being in companie of such valiant knights which makes you thus kéepe your Chamber at this time a day notwithstanding I can tell you you haue many aduersaries therefore aduise your selfe and looke well what you haue to do and must in your own defence performe The duke knéeling before her demanded her beautious hands to kisse them for that fauor she did him by her good counsel that none might heare replied if your diuine fauor most excellent Lady doth not forsake me I may securely rest fearlesse of all dangers but I doubt I shall with your absence remaine altogither vnable thereto hauing lost the fruition of your diuine fauor possessed by a stranger in my sight The princesse made him rise and that she might more at her pleasure talke with him tooke him by the hand and that euery one might heare said Séeing you haue thus long bin idle I meane now to task you for your labor for you shalbe this day my gardian for that the aduenturous knight may not be both the princesses and mine therfore wil I renounce him hauing so soone forgotten me Then belike my selfe being desirous said don Brianell to obtaine both your fauors must now feare to loose all yet am I content that my Lord the duke may haue the inheritāce of my place Thus chatting they arriued at don Bellianis lodging who wold haue risen to receiue thē but the Soldan wold not suffer it And going to his beds side demaunded how he felt himselfe wherunto he replied I cannot but be well most dread Lord resting so bound to your imperiall maiestie that I know not how I may acknowledge satisfaction for y e Lest of these your royall fauors which forceth in me no lesse paine then the grief of my late receiued wounds While they were all earnestly talking the Princesse Persiana saide to the Duke What pretend you to do against to morrows turnamēt or will you not be there I will do no more answered he then you will cōmand me for I came with no other intent Then she said séeing you leaue it to my dispose I think because the knight of the golden image by reason of his woūds cannot be there that you faile not for you shall reap greater fauor at my hands then don Galleano in tokē wherof I present you this flag set it on the top of your creast which with my hands I wrought vnknowē to any which that none did see she tooke it out of her pocket and gaue it him The duke receiued it with wonderful content and kis◠her hand resting the ioyfullest man aliue Think not much of that I do for my father doth force it I would put my self in danger to auoid it and I haue greatly reioiced that you haue brought with you such valiant warriers as at the vnhappie bridge I saw For if the knight of the golden image were not as he is I would haue intreated him to procure to dissolue this match done contrarie to my hearts intent He and I haue cōferred about this matter saide the Duke yet speake you with him about it that he may knowe this to be with your consent whereupon she then went to his beds side while the Souldane talked apart with Arfileo whom he highly estéemed knowing him to be so great a Prince as Don Bellianis had sayde The princesse Persiana séeing so good occasion demaunding how he felt himself with his great wounds as much gréeuing for them as though he were the Prince her brother and the more being in time wherein she so much néeded the helpe of his vnconquered strength to the subuerting of her enemies whereto he answered I do féele my selfe most excellent Princesse verie wel especially to accomplish any thing appertaining to your high seruice wherefore assuredly commaund and imploy mee anie way wherein my worthinesse may preuaile for your behoofe It is no small promise replied she you offer me for as I do greatly neede it so shall I haue cause to employ the greatest part of your valour And therfore most glorious knight know as you alreadie haue vnderstood of the Duke that the Soldane my father hath determined to marrie me to the Prince Don Gallaneo which doth so torment my passion-broken heart that I here vow if al other meanes of my desired remedie do faile me my proper hand shall finish the tragicke scene of my afflicted life ere I will consent to this vnfortunate wedding though many nobles haue solicited my father to the contrarie yet will he not be satisfied answering them woordes vnbeséeming both his maiestie and their estates Wherefore if I haue cause so to complaine of my soule-consuming greefes if euer you felt the like you may easily iudge And to conclude I haue determined to marrie none but the Duke Alfyron the Courteous For when I sawe your high admired déedes in the battell I then assured my self of help But now through your gréeuous wounds it hath since so increased that had I not discouered my discontent vnto you I had to morrow wedded me to death rather then to him I so abhorre Therefore this onely I intreate you that commiserating the state of me the most vnhappiest Princesse liuing you would procure some redresse to terminate my woes that I may not fall in his hands whom mortally I hate I meane Don Gallaneo wherein you shall commit no error against my father whose decaying honour with his life will be augmented by his death For Don Gallaneo is not the man that merits his Daughter being a knight of the least faith at this time liuing And I cannot be perswaded that so famous and glorious a Prince as the Emperour of Greece could by him be assaulted vnlesse it were with treason and such like And the greatest corasiue
to my hart is I cannot in some night steal out of the Pallace and so depart with the Duke wheresoeuer he would conuey me which my father suspecting kéepeth mee with a great gard Thus haue I sir knight disclosed the tenor of my gréefes beséeching you that if any hope of remedie hang in the angry skies for my release you would let me know it assuring your selfe I will refuse no daunger and will vndergo al perils accounting them as greatest pleasures so therby I may frustrate this detested match Don Bellianis all this while rested much amazed to sée how passionately the Princesse greeued and with what confidence she had manifested vnto him her minde and without longer deliberating on the matter as if he had resolued thereon with consent of his Companion replied Great is the pleasure I haue receyued most excellent Princesse with the knowledge of this your resolue hauing thereon ere this conferred with the Duke and so I only expected this your high commaund and also hoping you would bind me to your perpetuall obseruation by your visitation I remained thus in bed by which occasion I more conueniently might know the resolution of your minde which now being assured of you shall néed no more then commit the execution of all vnto my charge your selfe séeming to know nothing for I protest and promise you neuer more after to put on armour if this marriage be effected with Don Gallaneo And doubt not but with the helpe of the immortall Gods it shall be as I say But least we should force suspition by our long discourse I will not any longer stay you With which conclusion she rested the contentedst Ladie in the worlde séeing howe well those afâ—â—â—res would procéed according to her desire onely for that the knight of the golden Image had so coÌ„fidently vndertaken so waightie a charge And so after some ceremonics betwéene them shée fell in discourse with the other Knights and Ladies while the Soldan was taking his leaue of don Bellianis and the Princesse Aurora and the like did his Daughter Which done and both parties resting content they departed towards the Pallace and with them the Princesse Arsileo and Don Brianell with the Duke who leauing them there returned to their lodgings to order the determined purposes whereupon they straight commaunded that two thousand Knights should that night depart and attend their comming at Dianas groue And themselues prepared howe and in what manner they would méete in the tourney the insuing day and so expecting the next morrow with hope to execute their determination CHAP. XV. What conference passed betweene the Prince Don Gallaneo and his cosen Don Galfeo the vnknown and how they resolued to kill the knight of the golden Image and his Companions MAny and great were the thoughts that troubled Don Gallaneo séeing that the Knight of the Golden Image had ended the aduenture of the Bridge which made him imagin he should know him by comparing the haughtie déedes hee then had done in that battell to equall those he saw him do in the conflict of Constantinople where he ayded the Emperour Don Bellaneo wherefore taking a part his Coosen don Galfeo the vnknowen brake into these spéeches I cannot tell good Cooseâ— whether you haue marked what I haue and knowne that which gréeues me to the heart yet notwithstanding know for certaintie and I am so perswaded that the Knight of the golden Image is he that sought against vs at Constantinople in the battle of the Emperour don Bellaneo whom if he be then commes he only to procure our vtter ouerthrow with vntimely death For though the Emperour should be liuing yet I so feare them that vntill I haue the Princesse in my power I shall not rest through extremitie of passions of those disturbing thoughts which haue so bereft me of my senses that I know not what course to take Don Galfeo hereat amazed did replie Either I haue beene blinde or not in my selfe in not â—â—ting those Knights as you haue yet assure your selfe for so do I that the Emperour is himselfe come disguised with them For in the conflict with him there was but two and now there are thrée which doth confirme it else could no knight in the worlde performe such admirable déedes against the Knights of the bridge but the Emperour Therefore determine what you will haue done with them since wee haue them at our pleasure in the Dukes Pallace None of them is the Emperour for I knowe him verie well said don Gallaneo But know I thinke it best that to morrowe when the iousts begins the Duke béeing Generall of all the aduenturers and I of the Courtiers you shall take fiue hundred chosen Knights and with them march to the Dukes lodging which you shall finde without my gard There go vp to the Chamber the Knight lieth in sore wounded where you may easily depriue him of his life and the like will I do by his companions in the field All this approoued don Galfeo being as false a traitour as his coosen and that night they prepared those men they thought méete for that enterprise determining to put the princes to death before their malice were knowne CHAP. XVI Howe the iourney began and in what anger the aduenturous knight and Arfileo were put by Don Gallaneos Knights NO sooner had the resplendent Sunne expelling the obscure darkenesse from the gloomie skies clearing the morne with his bright light on that in euerie place so celebrated day of S. Iohn but with vnspeakable and long hoped ioyes there began in the Citie of Persepolis such ecchoing noise of military instruments as if it had béene like to be subuerted by furie of some terrible assault of forraine foes Through the stréetes were nothing séene but most sumptuous and rich furnitures and manie and diuerse rare inuentions for all maner of new deuised pastimes All the people prepared themselues as appertained to the celebration of so mightie a Princesse nuptials The knights on the other side though they apparelled themselues with rich triumphant roabs yet had they speciall care of their armor and horse which in the afternoone they should vse The Prince Don Gallaneo after he had agréed with his coosen that towards the euening he should be in readinesse to execute their appointment did superbiously adorne himselfe and accompanied with manie Knights Lords in nuÌ„ber 2000. he went to the pallace where by the way he met the kings of Arminea and Tessifanty with many other strangers amongst whom were aboue 30. dukes and Earles and with the sound of innumerable trumpets and al other sort of harmonious instruments whose far resounding noise made all the vallies there adioining eccho with the sound till they arriued at the pallace where they attended their returne while the excellent and fayre Princesse Persiana issued forth with such admiring beautie that it more increased the Duke Alfirons greefe Her gowne was of white Saten cut vpon cloath of golde
don Bellianis so sawe him hee suddainely alighted from his horse so did many of don Gallaneos Knights to helpe theyr maister Then arriued the Duke Alfiron with foure thousand knights and sette so furiously vppon them that maugre their force hee made them retyre back In which time Don Bellianis wounded him againe wherewith the sword fell out of his hand And the duke séeing him on foot that to be the time for his reuenge ranne against his horse and ouerturned him flatte on the ground trampled twise or thrise on him with his horses féete making him breath his last Which the Souldane séeing cryed out commanding him he shuld not hurt him but the Duke made as though he heard him not Whereupon the Souldane séeing the little account was made of him like to burst with extreame gréefe descended still more and more renewing his laments for Don Gallaneos death crying kill kill the traytors that so villainously in my presence murthered my sonne All the people at the Souldanes commaund set on the Duke and don Belliani whence the Jouâ—â—s beganne for tryumphe and pleasure were turned to death and distruction that the fieldes flowed with bloud The kings of Armenia and Persia that sawe the battell so hot and cruell went to the Souldane and said to him Suffer not dread Souereign all this company to perish séeing you know the Duke hath as much power to defend as you to offend him Therefore commaund the fight to cease for if the Duke be guiltie of Don Gallaneos death you may by lawe conuict him The Souldane knowing it to be so and that before the Duke dyed by that meanes none would remaine with life tooke this counsaile and commaunding the battell there to end said thus to the Duke Get you out of my Persepolis Duke vnlesse you will heere dye vnhearde and vnexcused The Prince Don Bellianis beeing with him bad him obey the Souldanes commaunde assuring himselfe their purpose could not but haue a good end The Duke taking his counsaile very ioyfully commaunded the retrayt to be sounded whereat the knights as well of the one as of the other partie left their fight returning euery one to their Captaine attending his commaund Who were here able to expresse what great gladnesse the Princesse Persiana conceiued with Don Gallaneos death which least it might be discerned called out vpon all the knights of her garâ— to imprison and bring before her y e Duke and the Knight that committed that trecherie The guarde replyed they might not because the Souldane was there who returned extreame sorrowfull and so furious with rage that very fire séemed to sparkle from his eyes that all which behold were astonied at his sterne lookes And although the Kings of Tessiffanty intreated him to returne to his pallace yet hee could like no counsaile saue what sauoured of reuenge But turning to the dead bodye sawe his Daughter bewayle his vntimely death and knowing she alwaies refused willingly to marry him and now seeing her gréeuous laments for his decease suspected it was done by her appointment and not regarding his Fathers loue but gouerned with rage tooke her from the ground and said It bootes thée not nowe Princesse to dissemble for I am sure don Gallaneo was slaine with your consent and since you would not obeye mee when I would I will now punish you as you deserue Whereuppon hee commaunded her to bee shut vppe in a Tower and surelye guarded not hearing her speak And going thence commaunded all the people of the Cittie to arme them intending to imprison the Duke in his house imagining don Gallaneos death had bin with his consent greatly gréeued because hee coulde not knowe that Knight that so indaungered him in the battell not thinking on don Bellianis hauing left him sore wouuded CHAP. XVIII What happened to don Bellianis without Persepolis How he deliuered two damsels from certain knights wheÌ„ce they were and how he slew the dragon of the Riphean wood THe Duke séeing his purpose thitherto sort as he wished with don Gallaneos death resolued altogither to follow the counsaile of the knight of the golden image Wherupon he returned to his pallace and the night hauing darkened the world don Bellianis left him in the plaine fielde faining to goe out of the Citie though all the knights there indured to stay him desiring to know him ere he went But getting from them all escaped out of the Citie the better in that obscuritie to returne vnknowne to his lodging and he had not gone far but his wounds began extreamely to gréeue him insomuch he could not stay himselfe on horsebacke for with their new bléeding they opened making him séeme a fountain with so many springs seeing himself so ill he thought he shuld not be able to return to Persepolis vnlesse his wouÌ„ds were bound vp And so alighting from his horse hee sawe two damsels come towards him ryding in such haste as he thought they did rather fly then on their palfrayes swiftly runne Don Bellianis putting himselfe afore them said What is the cause fayre Ladies that maketh you ryde so fast Oh for Gods sake staye vs not but if you will saue your life followe vs and by the waye wee will declare the whole circumstance vnto you Heere will it be better said he and among these trées you may hide your selues So they taking his counsaile followed his aduice beginning to discouer their adueÌ„ture loe they perceiued through those trees a terrible Dragon so fearfull in sight that it struck amazement in the beholders and although the night were very dark yet such light issued froÌ„ him through the great abundance of fire procéeding from his iawes that it seemed hâ—ls mouth opened to swallow them at that instant The Ladies being ouercome with feare betooke theÌ„selues about the knight of the golden Image hauing lost the power of their pretended flight But he séeing it was no time to be idle rose froÌ„ the grouÌ„d with his sword in hand and made against that hellish monster at that time wishing rather to haue his armor giueÌ„ him by Bellona buckled about his body theÌ„ be inuested Emperor of a larger Empyre then his fathers At this instant the dragoÌ„ with an infernal fury flying against him ouerthrâ—w him with his brest returning to catch him with his taleÌ„ts to pluck him in péeces He whoÌ„ feare neuer could blind lept aside but with great difficulty for being ouerreached the cruel beast w t one of his pawes drew him to him pearst both armor and flesh euen to y e bones with his deadly claws but the knight forsaking his sword stabd his dagger 4. or 5. times into his heart vnder his wings The fearful beast through extremitie of pain left him stretching himselfe labouring in the pangs of death He was of such a wonderful greatnes that he was aboue 25. foot loÌ„g in bignes biger then a great bull whose like was neuer séene by any After the knight
another name am called the solitarie Knight because I possesse nothing that better agrées with my conditions then to wander through solitarie and vnknowne places shunning the habitation of populated Cities and townes thinking therby that the blind God of Loue should haue no power ouer me and therefore would I not this night lie in Persepolis but he hath at his pleasure reuenged himselfe on me with your gracious sight whose speedie remedie if I want will leaue me altogither breathlesse The hearing of your state most noble Prince hath highly contented mee saide Don Be 〈…〉 I discontent suffring the like torments that you through such a passion for procuring to auoyde the cause of such effect haue béen this night so plagued with Loues all conquering power that now I féele the force of his tributarie paines In this chat they spent the better two parts of the night which don Bellianis séeing resolued to demaunde of the Prince what he wanted for the combat desiring that by no meanes his Companions should know his intent for he durst not trust them with a battell of such import hoping also to obtain his request said I do desire you most honored prince that you will performe the promise you made me which is this I left not farre hence a Knight in an extreame daungerous aduenture destitute of an armour weapons and horse to performe a most notable combat and were it not sir knight that I also promised to procure it him I would not now presume so much to iniurie you as to request them But beléeue me if I liue I will to your content gratifie this good turne For at this time can I not do otherwise béeing requested by that knight to get him them And séeing it hath béene my happe to méete with you I do beséech you to make me so happie by your gracious graunt promising if I reuiue to morrow at this time to returne them and this is my boone and your promise The knight was verie ioyfull to haue occasion to pleasure his mistresse especially expecting so great a benefite as she promised cared not whether he neuer should haue them although they were the richest in the world sauing don Bellianis They were of colour yellow rarely ingrauen with curious workes and set with rich Orient Pearles whose inestimable woorth cannot be vallued In his shéeld was pictured a mightie mountaine with a knight lying vnder an Oke with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon the sheeld staring and gazing on the cruell god of Loue sitting on the top with his bow arrowes drawne so naturally that euery looker on might easily beléeue it to be aliue And he said to don Bellianis Faire mistresse séeing all my heart is yours what néed you more saue command all I else possesse as your owne for my aâ—mor and 〈◊〉 rest Tr 〈…〉 at your desposing more desiring to vndertake that combat vnder your seruice then with my armor to pleasure you But séeing you will haue it so stay while I call my page that is not farre hence knowing I would not go into the Citie this night whereupon he sounded a horne whose value was more then might be thought The force of which blast was heard through all the citie wherewith he made a certaine signe at which the page straight came who séeing his maister accompanied with that lady greatly maruelled knowing it to be against his condition and alighting off his palfray said What wonder is this sir to sée you in such a place with so faire a Goddesse in your companie I feare she hath of purpose descended the heauens to penetrate the flintie wars of your adamant heart séeing on earth there is none that could do it It greatly pleased the knight to heare his page praise his mistresse so highly and commanded him saying Giue me my other apparell Bruneo for this Goddesse thou speakest off staieth for me Whereupon the page drew forth of a male the richest suite of apparell that euer Don Bellianis sawe It was all of a Rubie colour imbrodered with many of those stones and other of vnualued price and vnbuckling his armour gaue them him and put on those garments Don Bellianis admired and highly commended the knights gallant liberalitie and the more that deceitfull loue should make him so kind desirous to requite his bountie said Most noble and renowmed Prince I do accept the gift of your lent armor for the same do promise ere 20. dayes do passe to remedie your gréefe to your great profit so require no more of me For this promise the prince knéeled to kisse his hands Don Bellianis wold not suffer it taking him vp in his arms embraced him kindly which excéedingly gladded his hart And therwith did help him to mouÌ„t on his horse saying You may swéet mistresse sit without feare for though my horse séemeth as hee doth yet is he so gentle and tractable as may be desired I beléeue no lesse my good lord replied don Bellianis and taking his armor bound in a cloath before him don Contumelianos sword in his hand who tooke his pages saide I intreate you to enter the Citie to day where you shall sée your armour vsed and after follow the Knight for you shall find me in this place and so taking leaue departed through the thicke Groaue leauing him as a man that firmely gazeth on some woonder and rapt with admiring contemplation thereof suddainlie looseth the sight of his delightfull obiect So rested Don Contumeliano who not knowing what to doo lay him downe to sleepe till it shoulde bée time to enter the Cittie which hée did mounted on his Pages Horse in which Cittie hée neuer had béene where taking his Inne expected the houre to go to Court where we leaue him to returne to Don Bellianis trauailing through the wood as aforesaid CHAP. XXIIII What happened to Don Bellianis in the Court armed in Don Contumelias armour How he accepted the battell His talke with the Princesse Persiana before the fight and what befell him in the same DOn Bellianis going through the wood as is said came at last to a Caue where in Winter the Shepheardes vsed to withdrawe themselues which hée seeing to fitte his turne alighted more easier then Don Contumeliano did mount him a horsebacke and so went in and straight put off Florianaes garments and armed him as well as hee might hauing no helpe which done hee hid his female Robes couering them with some bowes which he cut with his sword that none that there should arriue might thinke them otherwise and so tooke his way towards Persepolis at such time as the giuer of all light began with his resplendent rayes to cleare the duskie â—â—â—e and chase the darkened cloudes from the ayrie Region when the chirping birdes with their melodious harmonie saluted the mornings vprise whose varying notes and pleasing musick strook such thoughts into the passionate Prince of his contemplatiue mistresse that he regarded not his way nor knew not where he
was till he found himselfe at the citie gate which entring he came to the lodging that Don Contumeliano had taken who being at the doore presently knew each other yet spake neuer a worde whereupon he tooke another horse and followed Don Bellianis to the Pallace to know the ende of that aduenture and by the way were greatly admyred of all men the one for the richnesse of his armour and the other for the sumptuousnesse of his apparell as afore is mentioned Don Bellianis lighted at the Court gate and hauing none to hold his horse Don Contumeliano said giue your horse to my Page who shall looke vnto him For though you know me not yet am I bound to do you any seruice Don Bellianis requiting his courtesie did as he requested and sayde Such fauours sir Knight cannot but presage a happie successe to my enterprise And taking him by the hand passed into a long Gallery where they sent the Soldane word of their comming crauing accesse to his presence which graunted they entred and found him talking with the King of Cyprus who then with his brothers began to arme themselues for the fight highly reioycing imagining their enterprize ended assuring themselues that fiue huÌ„dred good knights were not able to withstande them in field And when they sawe those Knights enter in so royall armour and apparell with such gallant disposition they much praysed them They being before the Soldan knéeled on the ground demaunding his princely hands to kisse them who courteously tooke them vp and imbraced them and saide they might vtter what they would and what they came for whereto don Bellianis replied Commaund dread Lord the duke Alfiron to be sent for and then you shall know what we require The Soldan sent for him straight who came garded with a thousand armed men And not knowing the cause of his sending for was verie sorrowfull séeing that day to bee the last of his prefixed time for the tryall of his cause and that he had got no Champion to defend his right by fight Don Bellianis séeing him with an audible voice that al might heare him said Most mightie Sophy of Syconia and imperious Soldane of this great Persian Monarchie know I am called the Solitarie knight if my name haue euer penetrated your eares sonne vnto the king of Phenicia who wandring about the worlde in search of strange aduentures haue by chance arriued in this your kingdome where I heard the occasion that the King of Cyprus otherwise named the Giant Filistone the fierce hath made agaynst duke Alfiron the courteous and other Knights of his company as also against thy daughter the beautious Persiana touching the death of the prince of Antioch who he saith they trechâ—rously â—â—ue I do well know the duke Alfiron although his memorie doth not comprehend any remembrance of his fauors towards me am assured he wold do nothing against the lawes and duties of a good knight But to be briefe I am resolued to vndertake fight the coÌ„bat for him if he hath none to do it I intreat him to grant it me For though I deserue not he should trust me with so great a charge yet my indeuor and his iustice herein shall supply my want The whole assembly much admired him iudging he was of no little valor that durst coÌ„bat with so terrible and deformed Giants though they mightilie doubted his victorie The Soldan was sore gréeued thinking eueâ—â—â— small let to be great according to his desire to sée y â— matter ended as he wold willingly wold he giue that citie to be fully reuenged of the duke Yet dissembling his inward thoughts said You may trie sir knight whether the duke will grant you the fight then do what you therin best may Notwithstanding I know not why you shuld procure this coÌ„bat getting nothing but the losing of your life Al shalbe as pleaseth the gods replied don Bellianis The duke hearing these spéeches said I cannot hitherto call to mind most excellent prince wherein my deserts should so bind you to succor me in this my greatest néed But I do assuredly beléeue the immortall gods hath sent you because they will not suffer so great villanie procéede further And with this as an auspicious tokeÌ„ assuring me of your victory through your incomparable countesie and more valor I grant you the fight and perswade your selfe that all right and iustice you this day defend I am so perswaded answered don Bellianis and therefore say no more But who is your accuser The king of Cyprus stepped forth saying I am he Wherfore sée if still thou be so resolued More assuredly will I now maintaine it then at first said don Bellianis for thy presence sheweth there can bee no reasou nor iustice in any thing thou attemptest The Giant inraged with these words séeming through choller to spit fire in treated the Soldan to command the prisoner to be brought into the field for being all armed they had nothing to stay for Hereat don Bellianis was somwhat moued thinking it would be knoweÌ„ he was not in y e tower Many of those knights went for the prisoners entring don Bellianis lodging they â—ound Floriana a bed in his place but her felow was vp had closed the curtains so close that none could sée who was a bed Who when she saw the gard come in said very softly to them Go no further good knights for the knight of the golded Image lyeth in the extream paine of his life The Sophy said they hath sent vs for him to cary him to the field See said she where he lieth but I beséech you stir him not I will go with you to the Soldan and sée what he will command Wherupon they went to the Sophy with her who declared vnto him in what case don Bellianis was The Soldan coÌ„manded he should not be molested and that she should sée him want nothing He now néedeth nothing but this said she and séeing the knight y t had vndertaken the coÌ„bat she knew him to be don Bellianis by his gallant demeanor and the talnesse of his body and wondred to sée him fâ—rnished with so rich armor and returning to the tower told it Floriana who with her greatly râ—ioyced assuring themselues that don Bellianis would obtaine the victorie reasoning together that he séemed to be yoked in the amorous bonds of their Ladie by that which beâ—ell him when they named her At this time was the Princesse and the Duke conducted to the field séeming verie pleasant The Princes don Brianel and Arfileo were aduertised how the duke had gotten a champion They were glad therof because the imprisoned knights might rest more contented and secure of their good succâ—sse and so they mounted on their horses The King of Arminia did beare Don Brianels shéeld and Arfileos was borne by the king of Tessifantie The Duke Gariano did beare one helme and the Prince of Brandalia the other and in this maner they were
vppon the King was vnawars surprysed by his brother that hee ouerthrâ—we who gaue him so cruell a blâ—we on his Hâ—lme that it made him to bowe to the grounde which made the rage to kindle in the Knightes breast that very â—yer sparkled from his eyes and like a hotte chafed Boare or hungrye Lyan bent to his praye wounded the Gyant that had strooke him with so puissant a bâ—â—we on the Hâ—lme that hee cut it in two as if it had beene of paper sorely wounding his head that hee was like to fall yet with the force of the blowe his semitor fell out of his handes resting so astonished that hee knewe not whether he were aliue or dead But the knights sword flewe in two péeces that onely the hiltes remained in his handes to defend himselfe in such extreame danger and of so puisant enemies as those Who at that time had beheld the two Princesse Persiana and Aurora with the good Duke Alfiron and the towreâ— Dâ—mzâ—ls of the beauteous Princesse Floriâ—bellâ— that thence beheld the fight had no néede to seeke else where the proall colour of timerous death For in their fâ—câ—s was it so perfect to be seene that no Painter euer did better drawe it in varity of colours which sight did so terrifie the dolorous Ladies that they desired no longer life then it might bee guarded by the knight of the golden Images safetie But the good Prince of Phaenicia was there like to dye for very sorrow and anguish of minde seeing all that euill had happened through the weaknesse of his defectiue sworde and cursing of himselfe thought his Mistresse would for euer abhorre him for that cause which would bee the losse of the best knight that euer put on armour Yet hitherto Don Bryanell could by no meanes get his foote loose but with the strength that he set drewe his horse vppon all his legge that the very paine thereof had almost killed him onely the Soldan reioyced at this dissastrous accident thinking hereby to effect his desire The Cyprus king was so highly glad that hoysting his axe aloâ—te cryed aloude this blowe shall execute my will The Prince Arfileo that in such state sawe his companions would haue gone to helpe them but his aduersarie perceiuing it let fall his semitor and slung himselfe vppon him whereat vnable to shunne it did the like stryuing with their excessiue strength to ouerthrowe one another Don Bellianis though hée saw himselfe without sworde and not able to helpe him with one arme was not therefore daunted with the fearefull sight of present death that hee before him sawe but séeing the most fierce Gyant come towardes him flung with all his strength the péece of sword remaining in his hande that lighting on his helme the force thereof threwe him backwardes to the grounde and before his brother could remedie it with admirable quicknesse which the present danger did augment he tooke vp the semitor that he let fall as is already said leauing the fight at that stay stâ—pped to Don Brianell and cutting the horse girts set him on his féete The â—ierce â—ing that then came vpon him gaue him a blow on the head which if it had not bin giuen him vnaduisedly it had clouen it in the middle but not staying there it descended on the sheeld cutting it all ouerthwart falling on his thigh parting all the Armour â—â— opened his flesh most â—itâ—ously Don Bellianiâ— féeling his wound strooke the King sideling with the heauie semitor y t if he had not warded y â— blow with his sheeld it had cleane cut of his leg yet it threw the sheeld in two peeces to the ground togither with his hand and being close one to another the King would haue cast his armes vppon him but the Knight leapt aside vnwilling to wrastle whereupon they wounded themselues most greeuously that with their mightiâ— stroakes they sometime bowed their heades to theyr breast sometime they bended theyr knées and sette their haâ—ds to the ground and the King wanting his left arme it made him to rore like a chased Bull that hee scantly felt any of the knights blowes Don Brianell séeing himselfe rid from his horse drew his sworde making against the king but he was stayed by his brâ—ther whâ— met him with a heauie Mace which he had on his saddle pummel vsing it in stead of his loose semitor and so piteously wounded one another that the vnterous knight was fain to helpe himself with his â—imblenesse to auoide the gyants intollerable blowes hauing wounded him in many places The like did â—he Prince Arfileo who hauing let loose his aduersarie layde close to it with their sharpe swordes with such admiration of the beholders as if the vniuersall iudgement consisted in the victorie of that battell and none durst vtter one word but with amazed gaze stared in one anothers faces to to sée those knights escaped that great danger who a little before they accounted dead by the meere courage and valour of the knight of the golden Image might not compare for haughty déeds of honoured Chiualrie and whome they so much estéemed And returning to the gréeued Princesse they knâ—w not what to say through conceiued gladnesse and had much to do to dissemble it in time of sorrow no lesse glad were the Ladies of the Princesse Florisbella who for ioy embraced each other especially Floriana that with teares in her eyes said Oh most vnhappie maiden that I am for I neuer gaue woorse counsaile in all my life to any then I did to this knight if hee héere had dyed But his death should not haue béene without company For in the instant my eyes had seene such a thing I would headlong haue tumbled my selfe from of this Tower that it might be knowne with what sinceritie and faithfulnesse I counpelled him Peace said the other for we shall sée him straight victoriously tryumphe ouer his enemies and therefore lette vs procure all necessaries for to cure his wounds At this time all the knights and Gyants were besmeared in their owne blood that where they sette their féete they left theyr signes printed with the same and so tyred with wearinesse hauing fought almost fiue houres that they couldâ—â—â—arce hold their swordes in their hands The feareful Filâ—ston almost with sweatie furie choaked and tyred withdrâ—we himselfe a part to breathe which gréeued not Don Bellianis who dooing so drew forth the péece of speare from his arme that embrued in his blood it stucke so fast that it put him in extream paine and walking vppe and downe because their woundes should coole they looked on their fellowes and sawe the venterous knight reduoble his strength throgh anger of the pause wherewith he had brought the Gyant with whom he fought hauing a mortall wounde giuen him before by the Solitarie Knight to such passe that hee coulde not long defend himselfe Which when the king of Cyprus did sée he woulde with his Courâ—leaâ—e wound the knight that then he might
the Piller and tooke the letter which opening hee read to this effect To thee Supreme and excellent Prince of Greece The sage Bellona thy greate friend saluteth thee Knowing by my Arte and skill which I continually vse for thy fake the great and mortall duanger which through thy meanes should befall the Solitary knight also thy sorrow and languishment therefore mooued me to make thee know the manner of his recouerie Wherefore I send this letter by a messenger of mine that the Piller of wonders might be manifested to thee Within this Piller thou seest shalt thou finde his remedy and therefore leaue it not vntried Alwaies remembring what I told thee in my lodging as briefly as I could for therein all thy labour is assured thee I say no more but so rest thine as thy selfe mayst testifiing Don Bellianis hauing read the letter reioyced to see there was yet remedy for the distressed Prince and so resolutely was casting himselfe into the huge fyre to sée what therein he could finde But before he could effect his purpose there came towards him foure valiant knights against whom preparing himselfe there also at that time assaultes him foure Lyons big and fierce who with their wyde mouthes as though they cast fire imbraced him maugre all his strength and drew him into the same Hee séeing himselfe in such perill letting fall his axe would haue drawne his dagger which at his backe he had but his arme was held so faste that hee could not sturre it and turning to sée what did it saw it was a most beauteous Lady whereupon the Lyons and knightes vanshed Oh God said Don Bellianis is this possible I sée Maruell not knight at what you see replyed the Ladie letting go his arme for this is called the Piller of wonders though it be a long time since any thing hath beene seene wherein many haue founde remedy for their dispairing loue yet neuer ending the aduenture Wherefore with more reason it might bee named the dispaire of Loue. And so was it true as in the end of the second parte of this Historie shall bée seene for whose cause many dyed not tormented with that deadly wounde And séeing for your companyons remedy you heere haue entred though it could not bee séene but by a third person with you you notwithstanding enioy the secrete thereof and taking him by the hand went where Contumeliano lay at the laste poynt of life the Lady carryed a kindled cole of the same fyre of the Piller which she cast vpon the breast of the Phenician Prince wherwith hee straight returned out of his trance somewhat agaste to sée himselfe in that case and going to ryse Don Bellianis with much gladnesse imbraced him saying What is the matter excellent Prince for your infirmitie hath greatly gréeued vs My euill hath beene nothing in refpect of the greate gladnesse replyed he I conceiue in knowing you and since I am frée of the laste deceit I intreate you of your speciall fauour to manyfest it mée not hyding any of your actes I am content answered Don Bellianis to please you therein but thanke this Ladie for your liues libertie Which hee going to doe she returned suddenly through that fier leauing euery thing as afore What is this my good Lord demanded don Contumeliano Whereuppon Don Bellianis discoursed that aduenture and how hee being ready to breathe his last it appeared called the desperation of Loue and how he proued it with what else happened And procéeding said I knowe not soueraigne Prince the occasion of your extreame passion Let vs talke no more hereof replyed hee for I assure you assoone as I felt the cole of fyre sette vpon mee I loste all that vehement dolour and agony yet not so but that I shall alwayes remember the deceit done me hard by the Cittie of Persepolis And so was it true for still after when hee sawe the knight of the golden Image his pulses and spirits would beate with alteration like one strooke with an vncoueth feare And I pray you let me knowe your name with the causes of your other aduenture My name replyed Don Bellianis is the knight of the golden Image which I am sure you neuer heard and so recounted the rest how hee came out of prison in a Ladies garments to vndertake that combatte as is afore saide Don Contumeliano greatly wondred when he knew that was the knight of the golden Image of whom passing through the vnhappy bridge hee heard such wonders of and greatly reioycing to haue met with such a knight said I doe new sir knight of the golden Image altogether beléeue and confirme the high déedes published of you and dee render infinit thanks to our immortall Gods that haue brought mee to enioy the fruition of your company and so very leuingly imbraced together knitting twixt them the inuiolable knot of friendship which all their life lasted as the Historie mentioneth Don Bellionis was vnarmed by Contumelianos Page and his woundes by him dressed and attired in Florianaes garments which refreshed the dying flames in the heart of the amourous Prince and agréed togither that don Contumeliano should stay for it in a strong citie fortie miles from Persepolis belonging to the Duke Alfiron called Bollera appointing to be with him within thirtie dayes wherefore embracing againe each other and taking their leaues they went to sée the piller to read the letters thereon which by the light of the fire there don Bellianis thus read The Piller of the wonders for remedie of the dispairers in Loue shalbe henceforth manifested where euerie one shal be remedied according to their meede And if in Loue he neuer haue erred or in armes beene ouercome by the gardians here placed by the sage Medea hee that so hath not beene shall not proue himselfe therein Well might I haue hoped for remedie said don Contumeliano of the gard you here saw if you had not béene here But I desire to sée the end of so great an aduenture and howe it may be brought thereto for I thinke the letters do not shewe it A little lower I thinke it doth expresse the maner how answered Don Bellianis by him that through dispaire shall hither come Then good cause haue I to proue it replied don Contumeliano for I neuer hope for remedie Don Bellianis greatly laughed at what the Prince said And so taking leaue one of another departed Don Contumeliano putting on his owne armor taking the Giants Curtelax instead of his sword tooke his next way to Bollen where he found all the people verie sorrowfull for the Duke their Lordes imprisonment who was of them greatly loued Hee recounted to them what had happened in the battell and how the duke their Lord was alreadie at libertie whereat they were much ioyed and highlie honoured him who remained there till don Bellianis came as hereafter shall be expressed CHAP. XXVII How Don Bellianis returned to prison and what past betweene him and the Ladies of the Princesse
yeeld did make him violate his royall word a thing so odious in any Prince which made him feare doubt his safetie in his owne kingdome and Pallace and among his subiects and not be able to punish them And also his Daughter that though at that present shee desired not his death yet sought she the ouerthrowe of his content like a mortall and Capitall foe This nowe was the state of the Siconian Souldane and great Emperour of the Persian Monarchy who to compasse and bring to passe the foolish and madde opinion of a vaine intent estéemed not the valour of such great Princes and hardie knights Wherefore if he escaped with his life in recompence of his ingratitudes he may account it no little good But leauing this we will returne to our former purpose as in the Chapter following shal be declared CHAP. VI. The braue and dangerous battell fought in Persepolis betweene the Princes and knights with the Soldans power about the libertie of the Duke Alfiron with the whole successe thereof AS soone as the bright splendor of heauens alâ—persing eye had ended his diarnal course about the compasse of the orbed earth some heart impouerisht Knightes through dismaying feare pale timerous cowardise dispaired as in such cases often hapneth of their sure successe whilest the Princes Don Brianell and Arfileo accompanied with the kings of Armenia and Tessifanty commaunded all their knights to mount on their horses expecting farther order Don Brianell caused Don Bellianis Dwarffes to conuey his Armour where the Princesse Aurora staied And charging all their troupes vpon their assault to cry alloude Phenicia Phenicia they issued forth as closely as they could And for that all the citie was vp in armes that day there was no regard taken of them thinking they went to gard the pallace whither being come and finding the guard aforesaid they began crying Phenicia 〈◊〉 assaâ—lt them with such furie that they vâ—horsed aboue two thousand at the first incounter But they perceiuing the deceâ—â— gathered themselues togither in such sort that the â—ight on both parties waâ—ed most bloodie with the death of an infinit nuÌ„ber of men though through the nights obscurity it could not be discâ—rned yeâ— by these cryes knew they one an other for the Souldanes men had their watchwords among them whereby the battell still continued very fiecce defendiâ—â— so couragiously the entry that for all Don Brianell Arfileo performed woonders yet their men could win no aduantage whereuppon they determined to alight on fâ—â—te to doo it more easily when suddainly there was brought so many lights that one might well know the other The Prince Don Bellianis no sooner heard the outcryes but casting his mantle about his arme drew his sword and descended the stayres but â—re he was at the foote of them the guarde beset him especially the Captaine that would haue giuen him a daungerous blowe on the head to haue clâ—aued it in twaine had not he taken it vpon his sword wherewith he cut his legge in two but â—re hee fell on the ground Don Bellianis defending himselfe of the other knights blowes drew the Captaine to him by the shéelde that he tooke it from him and stepping backe buckled it about his arme and with them he began so braue and so â—ruell a fight as if as great a number were with him but the place being somewhat narrow hee tooke all their blowes vppon his sworde and shéelde his being so deadly that in litle time he hadde throwne downe dead aboue thirtie knights whose huge and monstrous wounds woulde make any afraide to sée them and so opprest the others that their clamour and outâ—ryes séemed to â—uerwhelme the Pallace The Knights being with the feare of death dismaid and not able to abide the fâ—riâ— of the knight of the Golden Image turned their backs and fled Don Bellianis letting them goe armed himselfe with one of the dead knights Armour and not longer staying entred the pallace wherein in the great hall hee espied the Souldane at the light of torches that were there who with a troupe of chosen knights was going to succour the pallace which he heard was assaulted by the Prince of Phenicia for so they thought by their aduersaries clamours Whome séeing he conceiued such rage against him that aloude he said I haue thée now in time false Souldane of Persia violater of thy royall faith and word that thou shalt see how little thou shalt get by my imprisonment for knowe I am the knight of the Golden Image who is able to set downe the extreame feare that surprised the Souldane at those words iudging himselfe at that instant vtterly destroyed The Knights put themselues before the Souldane to defend him which Don Bellianis séeing redoubled his rage and maugre their force set so furiously vpon them that as a wolfe among a troupe of shéepe he beat them downe togither who not able to resist him made him large way to passe by them which he did to reuenge himselfe at full on the Sâ—uldane Who séeing him so determinate come against him retyred to a windowe falling ouer a garden through which for his best sauegarde he cast himselfe downe that according to the fall it was a great woonder he beat not out his braines Yet it brused all his body and disâ—oynted both armes and legges the like befell to aboue thirtie Knights following him flying from the knight as from the touche of a very death-stinging Basiliske The Prince Don Bellianis woulde haue done so such was his hate against the Souldane but determined first to ende the battell thinking afterward to haue some time to execute his will and so turning to the knights sawe them run headlong out of the Pallace and thrusting himselfe in among them founde his companions that hadde forced the Soldans meÌ„ to retyre back to the stayres which they defended like them that expected the fearefull stroake of death so that Don Bellianis assayling them at their backs made such desolation of them that they thought so great a number behinde as before which so bereft them of their sences that how to resolue they knew till the death gining wound piearst their daunted hearts that most of them rested wounded and dead The Dukes souldiers séeing this began to sacke and robbe the pallace the ransaking of whose treasurie was their cheefest hope of gaines Don Bellianis and Arfileo in the meane time rusht into the Princesse Persianaes Chamber who before her seemed very gréeued and being by the Prince séene he aloude saide It behooues thee Priâ—cesse Persiana to goe with mee in recompence of the wroâ—gs and imprisonment your father put mee in against law and iustice and thereupon tooke her betwixt his armes and some oâ—her knights did so by two or three of her ladies whose lamentable shrikes made the Pallace eccho with the noise And so carrying them were met by the aduenturous Knight that was comming for her hauing set at libertie the Duke that came with him who with
souldiers commaunding them to spare none of their liues that had committed such rebellious treason And so passing along he met the Duke Alfiron who discharged vpon one another the fury of their cutting swords that Boraldo receiued a litle wound on the head and the Duke fell in a traunce and had fallen had he not held by his Horses necke Boraldo not staying there passed forwards proud of the blow that he gaue At this time the Soldanes men recouered and began to winne much ground insomuch that Don Bellianis nor the aduenterous Knight being not able with their valour to stay their men they beganne to retire backe which when the Knight of the golden Image sawe like a chased Lyon wanting his praie he thrust himselfe among the thickest of his aduersaries that vnhappie was he whom his blewes reached in such maner beating and ouerthrowing Knights with their Horses that his Armour was all couered and his sword réeked with blood which forced euery one to flie his fury as doth the fearefull Partridge flie from the deadly pursuit of a towring Fawlkon For there was no Knight that he met how valiant soeuer but with one blow he strooke downe from his Horse And passing thus along where Arfileo and Coroliano were fiercely in â—ight tâ—gither both which had such piteous wounds that it moued the Prince to compassion Here then arriued Boraldo and séeing his brother in such case and to haue the worst raised himselfe in his â—â—yrrâ—pes and vnable to be râ—sisted by Don Bellianis that in great hast priâ—ked towards him gaue him so mightie a blowe backwards on the head that cutting his Helme it made a gréeuous wounde and had like to haue fallen hauing altogither lâ—st his sâ—nces Which so inraged the hâ—art of Don Bellianis that very blood séemed to runne downe his eyes to sée him so vsed in his presence And in this fury he strooke at Coroliano that was discharging another blowe on Arfileo which fell with such huge strength that lighting on his shield it diuided it in two and the sâ—â—ord descending on the Horses necke it also cut it off falling on the earth with Coroliano and his Horse But Boraldo at this instant wounded Don Bellianis on the one side that pearâ—ing his Armour it pitteously opened his flesh and so swiftly redoubled another on his Helme that it cut all his buckles leauing his head disarmed Neuer was there any Basiliske more inuironed nor Lyon more eager of his praie then Don Bellianis was now burning in fury of reuenge And turning vppon Boraldo with one blowe tumbled his shielde in two togither with himselfe sore wounded to the ground Coroliano that by this had risen knowing him by his Armour to be the haughtie Knight of the golden Image on whose ouerthrâ—w consisted the good successe of his enterprise thrust his Horse into the belly that he fell dead with his maister on his backe Which Don Bellianis séeing leapt from him with great celeritie which he had scant done but he was asâ—aulted by aboue 2000. Knights that came to aide Coroliano yet this helpe litle helped him for Don Bellianis strooke him out of his sences and looking â—or Arfilio saw him in great danger fighting with Boraldo in whose behalfe many there arriuâ—d but he ioyning with his cousin hauing laced his Helme wounded so furiously on all sides that they had incompassed themselues with carkasses of â—laughtred men Yet for all this they were so opprest with freshe multitudes that by no meanes they could mount on horsâ—ack which Don Bellianis perceiuing doubling his anger laid about him that in despight of them he mounted on a Horse on which he somewhat easier laboured in the fight till Arfilio had done thâ— like where with they brake their passage through the thickest of them who also mounted Boraldo that was sorely wounded and carried Coroliano out of battell which grew more cruell then all the day before Don Bellianis by meere forced valour making his way through the sharpe printed speares and swordes came where the kings of Armenia and Tessifantie were on foote and like to be taken prisoners and had they béen knowne they had there loste their liues who by his arryuall got freshlie mountings and together renewed the fight more fiercer then at first The battell béeing at this stay the 2000. Knights that Coroliano had sent assaulted the corner of the hill where the Princes were But the 500. Knights which were the valiantest of the Dukes whole troupes left not their charge but in their places began so fierce a skirmidge that many fell downe dead on both sides But the Soldans men beeing many more in number brake through them spoyling their order whereat the two Ladies the Princesse Persiana and Aurora seemed more dead then aliue But at this time from the other side of the valley there appeared the number of 4000. Knights well appointed which made towardes that place from whence there was a knight sent to know on whose behalf they came who a farre of discerned him to be the couragious Prince Don Contumeliano of Phenicia whose armor they very well knewe as is said Which greatly gréeued the Soldans men iudging that of necessitie hee would bee against them and on the contrarie the Duke Alfirons troupes were very glad thereof whose approach reuiued the sorrowfull Ladies And the Duke aloude cryed courage courage braue Knights and animate your fainting forces against your feare-frighted aduersaries for the admired honor of time-wondering Chiualrie commeth in your ayde Which hee nothing missaide for in the whole Campe there was none that excelled him except him that in disguised habit had subiugated his heart with great courtesie and bountie which is the true honour of all braue knights Hée now béeing come to the dangerous skirmidge brauelie ouerthrewe a Knight and drawing him aparte informed himselfe by him of all that hee desired to knowe and turning to his followers that were all subicts vnto the Duke Alfiron of whom at Don Contumeliano commaund a great multitude had before gone to Persepolis from Bollera to ayde the Duke if their helpe hée should néed who hauing héere met the 4000. aforesaid vnyted themselues together so brauelie assaulting them that in the corner of the Hill were fighting that not daring longer to stay turned their backes and fled towards their other companie where the furious battell still continued entring by that side where Don Bellianis was killing his horse vnder him he bruzed with the great fall rose vp in extreame danger of his life for meÌ„ began to giue backe which forced him with méere strength and sole labour of his valour to withstand the aduersaries furie laying on all sides to get a horse But his enemies seeing him to be their onely distruction rusht in multitudes vpon him no more fearing his death-giuing-sword then if hée had that day hurt none Whereby though many dyed by him yet was he sorelie wounded both with swords and launces for though they were not great by
another with piteous blowes that at last the Prince of Phenicia fell to the earth from his horse The knight of Fortune passed forward though with mightie trouble for in all his life he not receiued so strong incounters At this time the Prince Alfileo ready to burst with anger tooke the biggest lance he could find and spurred against the knight of Fortune that also came against him with incredible furic that both brake their Launces in the middle of their shields so brauely that only the handles remained in their hands making the rest â—he in a thousand shiuers higher then the region of the ayre the like they did by the second but at the third time burning in choller that the one could not ouerthrow the other they met with such vehement rigour staying themselues in their stirrops and in such anger incountred that the prince Arfileo came to the ground ouer his horse crupper receining a monstrous fall and the knight of Fortune lost both his stirrops and with much a doo got hold by his horse mane staying himselfe most couragiously rather desiring to die then to fall in that place The Prince Arfileo rose greatly ashamed of his chance before that companie Straight were al the shéelds of the aduenturers taken away and in their places were onely set those of the thrée challengers for so commanded the Knight of the golden Image who séeing him of Fortune remained sole maintainer in great haste began to arme himselfe commanding his horse to be brought him CHAP. XXXIII The ende of the Iousts WHile things were thus vncertaine there entred the yarde two Knights both armed in one kinde of white armour engrauen with many Imperiall crownes whose braue presence highly delighted all the beholders who comming within the Tilt-yard one of them spurred his Courser with such gallantnesse that arriuing to the scaffold where the Ladies and Princes were hée made his horse bend both his knées vnto the ground making him passe forward like to a deadly bullet shot from a Canons furious month The other went to the place where the knight of the golden Image was and as if he knew him were ioyful of their méeting said thus vnto him If you giue vs leaue sir knight we will trie our fortune with yonder knight that séemeth to expect the iousts desiring to saue you the labour of arming your selfe where we be I repute it as a high fauor worthy sir replied don Bellianis besides euery one hath libertie to ioust especially your selfe whose courage I doubt not but will attempt farre higher matters The knight humbling himselfe for that courtesie said I beseech you sir knight in courtesie to fauor me with your shéeld seeing mine cannot defend any incounter It greatly pleaseth me replied don Bellianis in lue whereof you shall leaue me yours The knight gaue him his which was pierst in aboue ten places by y e incounters of lances though it was of a most sine temperâ— and taking don Bellianis went to the knight of Fortune and thus began How shall our fight be sir knight for I haue alwaies séen the victorie knowne onely by the strength of armes whereby none may bee called vanquished but by default of his owne valor which is seldome found in iousting for often thâ—ron do knâ—ghts miscarie through the weaknesse of their horses and not of their force Belike you craue the combat at my handes sayde the Knight of Fortune and not the iousting You haue vnderstoode mee right saide the knight of the Crownes for that is it I seeke for The Knight of Fortune séeing the picture on his aduersaries shéeld so highly to resemble another which he had ingrauen in his heart so greatly desired the combatte with him that hée thought long till he began it with a loude voyce sayde Then sir Knight bée our battell as you will for I am readie for all things And so taking a strong Launce from his Page with a sharpe and strong steeled Pike came out of the listes into a broad field thereby the like did the knight of the Crowne But while they were thus talking the other knight of the Crownes demanded of the other knights of the Eagles if they would breake their launces with him They that nothing else desired yéelded thereto and so parted one from the other beginning the gallantest ioust that in all that day was séene For the Knights of the Eagles were of the best within a great way of them yet both were ouerthrowne from their horses for hardly in the worlde was a better knight then hee of the Crownes whose seemelie bountie was of all much admyred But at this time the two heroicke warriours the knightes of the Crownes and of Fortune spurred theyr fierie Coursers agaynst each other that with their furious noyse the earth seemed to tremble and shake vnder them and mette like the furie of two tempestuous Currents breaking through the earth to runne into the deuouring Ocean and on their Sheeldes staying theyr Launces pierced them togither with their armour and coates of male both resting wounded on their breasts The péeces of their lances mounted higher then the clouds themselues méeting with their horses bodies sheelds and helmes in such manner that both horses fell downe dead vnder them and their masters séemed but in little better case then they in such a trance they fell that euery one iudged them dead Ohimmortall Gods cryed out the valiant knight of the golden Image what terrible incounters were these Dead without doubt are the best knights this day liuing and within himselfe greatly maruelled to sée his shéeld pierced which till then coulde neuer bee penetrated with any Iron But this effect worke the armour of the braue Knight of Fortune against which no inchantment preuailed béeing forged by the arte of the wise Friston as hereafter shall bee showen And béeing about to discend to sée if the Knights were dead sawe both rise togither who séeing the state wherein they were more furious then the furious Tygres of Hireania came one agaynst the other with drawne swordes in their hands with whese flising edges they wounded one another with the puissant force of their vntamed armes that they forced their heads oftentimes to touch their knées by bending and at last to stay their bodies set their hands on the ground and so raising themselues began the cruellest combat and most dangerous fight whose like the beholders till then neuer sawe These Combattants were so inraged agaynst one another that they shoulde so resist their cutting blades which neuer befell them before But the couragious Knight of Fortune that greatlie hastened the end of the fight warding a blowe of his braue aduersarie with his shéeld ranne within him and gaue him such and so great a blow that he cut his armour with a péece of his flesh from which wound there issued an aboundant streame of blood and quickly stepping backe thrust at him with his sword that it pierced all his defensiue armes making him féele the
XXXIX The cruell battell fought betweene the Dukes campe and the Soldanes troupes and what therein happened with the straunge actes the Emperour Don Bellaneo performed and the terrible assaults giuen to the Citie THe cold gloomy winter being ouerblowne with the warm approch of the wanton spring wherein the amourous passions in the hearts of loue-oppressed knights beganne to stirre vp the almost extinguished flames and chieflie in them that hoped of little remedie for their gréefe continuallie contemplating in the perpetuall captiuitie of theyr alienated ioyes when Perianeo the Persian Prince desiring spéedily to terminate these warres in strong battailions drewe foorth all his men in fielde which were so gallant and séemely as anie that euer were séene in those partes with such diuersitie of deuises Scutchions Ancients and Flagges worne about their Speares which displayed in the ayre made a most gallant shewe togither with the brightnesse of theyr armour that with the Sunne beames reuerberating on them séemed so manie Christaline Glasses and the clamourous noise of such multitudes béeing so diuerse required a Captaine of no lesse valour then his they had Where though they were verie quiet yet the neighing and trampling of their horses and theyr Maisters noyse guiding them raising such a rebounding eccho that they coulde not heare one another The Emperour Don Bellaneo like the man that had béene in farre more daungerous enterprises then those taking with him the Prince Arfileo the better to range about the battell drewe in fielde his furious Squadrons and perceyuing that the Sunne when hée rose shined agaynst his enemies faces dazeling theyr eyes with his brightnesse Which falling out well to his aduauntage and desiring to loose no good occasion passing to the foremost Squadron commaunded that with a violent furie they shoulde set vppon them kéeping themselues togither vnited least theyr aduersaryes breaking through them shoulde disorder theyr rankes And therevppon cowching theyr Launces encountred their enemies that were so blinded with the Sunne that they sawe them not come But the Emperours men so brauely gaue the onsette that theyr aduersaryes coulde not breake their filâ—s on no side wherevppon theyr slaughter was so great that in lesse then halfe an houre that Squadron was vanquished and altogither ouercome leauing behinde aboue thirtie thousande slaine and wounded The valiant actes that the Emperour in the meane time performed are hard to beleeue He with such valiancie brake through the middle of those rankes as the Reapers vsâ—d in the Moneth of Julie to reape the Haruest of their ripened graine so he left on the ground so manie head by head that none durst confront him and sometimes he so turned his battell that he forced them to fight through whome hée woulde with such courage breake that neither the Princes Arfileo nor Contumeliano nor the valiant Florispiano were able to followe him but letting him so farre go before them that they often left him out of sight At this time the Prince Perianeo séeing the disorder of his men tooke with him Don Fermosell and the two brothers Crisalaneo and Gramalis of Thrace with thirtie monstrous Giants and past to his second Squadron with which gathering the remnant of the dispersed men encountred the Emperor commaunding all his troups togither to assault the ether side of the battell But the Emperor that was more politike in militarie discipline theÌ„ Perianeo quickly perceiued his meaning wherfore calling Florispiano sent him to tell the Duke Alfiron hée should commaund the whole battell to vnite it selfe with him giuing no time to their aduersaries to recouer the aduauntage they had ouer them and that it shoulde bee with the greatest speede possible for therein consisted that dayes victorie ere the Sunne mounted aloft Which was done so suddenly that they almost met theyr enemies The Persian Prince perceiuing what his aduersaries had done fearing to bée put to fight commaunded all his Squadrons to doo so and spying Sauian of Trebento which then entred in the battell thinking him to be the Knight of the golden Image because hée did weare his armour cowched his Launce agaynst him who did the like méeting with such force that they were forced to holde by their horses neckes When vnawares ere hée could remedie it two firece Giants that gyrded Perianeo wounded Sauiano so rigorouslie that hée tumbled from his horse Perianeo alighted to kill him but Sabiano that was alreadie on his féet gaue him so great a blowe that he staggered him foure steps backwards yet so manie layd upon him with such boystrous blowes that though he valiantly defended himselfe yet hardly had he scaped with life if that the noyse had not thither brought the Emperour with the Princes Contumeliano and Arfileo Florispiano the Duke Alfiron and the King of Armenia with many other chosen knights On the other side there arriued the Soldan with twentie Giants in his companie with him also came Coroliano and Doraldo where there began so great a fight that all the other battel was nothing in comparison of that But the couragious Emperour seeing his deare Sabiano in such perill in despight of them all went where hée was fighting and not knowing what Perianeo was ouerthrew him to the ground with his horse brest and also tumbling downe a Giant tooke his horse and gaue it Sabeano saying Mount vpon this horse knight if you meane to liue Which he did verie lightly though he were sore wounded and with their mortall blowes they quickly cut their passage through their enemes The Prince Perianeo with extreame rage foming like chaffed boare taking a horse turned against him whom had ouerthrowne him but ere he did it the Souldan and the Duke Alfiron méeting and knowing each other discharged two such blowes vpon themselues that their heads were both wounded from whence there ran much blood The duke here had incurred great danger if the Emperor had not arriued with his companie who knowing the Soldane came so nigh that raising his sworde to strike him being so close vnto him did no otherwise but with the hiltes throw him off his horse and going after to kill him was ouer-reached backwardes by the Prince Periance with so cruell a stroke that he had fallen downe Coroliano wounded him also vppon the shoulder that hee felt the sworde rase his flesh Wherevpon there began so cruell a fight betwéene them that one side to take the Soldane and another to defende him aboue foure thousande knights lost their liues through theyr obstinacie On this side where the Emperour was his men hâ—lde out couragiously though the Sunne were high and they wearie with long fighting But one the other side the Emperours men lost their aduauntage vnable to resist their aduersaries At this time the assault giuen to the citie was so fierce that on either side infinite numbers died that currents of blood ranne through the field and beeing fewe within to defende the Citie it easily might haue béene taken When there came a knight to
twentie places and thinking it no wisdome to goe through such a place disarmed turned backe and buckled about him one of those dead knights atmor and so proceeding forwards till he came to an other staire and asâ—â—nding it he sawe on the toppe there of an vgly and infernall Monster which made against him and with such force came vppon him that he tumbled downe those steppes he had gone vppe with so great a fal that in all that day he had not felt such paine resting so feeble that he scarce had strength to stand vp But burning in the flames of ire for that which befell him mounted vp againe with more aduised resolution least the like might happen to him againe And being at the starre head he saw the fearefull monster accompanied with a horrible dragon which would also haue throwen him downe but he leaning his backe against the wall set the pummell of his sword to his breast and with the point towards the Dragon expected his incounter which was so mightie that his owne force gaue him his death for running vpon the sharpe sword it piersed all his body side through side But the fierce encounters he receiued of both those beasts so bereft him of strength and sences that hee was faine to sit downe vppon the stayres Where returning vnto his remembrance found himselfe in fayre large greene yarde in midst whereof was erected a gallant Piller like that he saw at the Caues mouth whereon there was written these words in Caldean letters The inscription of the second Piller What haughtie Knight soeuer whose high valor hath hither brought by the supreme courage of his hear â—let him enter by that dore where he shall finde the end of his demand if he exceâ—â— in strength he mightie Emperor Bâ—aÌ„dâ—zer whose pulslant forces neuer any in ancient ages equalled Don Bellianis that longed with desire to terminate with a happie end that aduenture went to the portall that the letters shewed him CHAP. XLI The cruel battel fough the ween Don Bellianis the Emperor Brandezar with whose death the aduenture was ended THrough the which he was scant entred but he heard the pittâ—fulest laâ—â—ents that euer he heard proceeding from a a Knight that suffered some greate torments and harkening from whence the voyce might come he past forwards entring into a chambâ—r where he sawe a Knight aâ—med in a fierie armour that seemed to burne him Round about him were many snakes and adders with many other venemous wormes that now and then bit all his body euer and these holding him fast there came two mightie Bassâ—liskes which woulde cast vpon him all the poyion and blood in their body Yet sawe not Don Bellianis who with fieric buttons seared his flesh which penetrated the verie boane the intollerable paine whereof made him breath foorth those lamentabic cryes and then begyn to complaine in this manner Oh vnhappie Brandezar the most vnfortunatest that euer breathed on the orbed earth May it bée that the lâ—uish giuer of vnconstant hapinesse the blinde Guydresse of the round reuoluing whéeled chunce for thy greater vnhappinesse and perpetuitie of languishing paines and plaguing gréefe should subiugate vnder thy commaunde the vaste Empiers of Babylon Persia and â—rebisond knitting thy ioyntes with mightier forces then any in the vniuersall world to giue thée new so high a fall ouerwhelming thee in this present euerlasting miserie and put thee in such continuall tormenis by the handes of thy greatest enemie and that death hath not the power to vanquish thee Oh is it pessible that hee that for a God was on earth adored should now tollerate such hellish painâ—â— Oh 〈…〉 uell death why commest thou not to craue possession of thy â—ue tribute Oh life why docst thou haunt mee beeing haunted with such contrarious starres of maligning and vnhappie â—â—rtune And with these and other wordes renewing his olde laments so molified the Princes tender heart that he fell in a déepe consideration of the mutâ—biletiâ—s of Fortune with â—ememberance of the high Maiestie of that Emperour beeing the puissantest both in possessione of Kingdon s and countries as of propper strength that in his age liued none to equa 〈…〉 whose life and Chiualries hee had read beeing a child But recording that was he whem he must conquer stopped forward whereat the two Bassiliskes that lay by Brandezar leapt about him and so faste held him that he could not sturre the like did all the other scrpents which so cruelly bitte him that they 〈…〉 e his boanes shrinke within his armour Don Bel 〈…〉 began to strike on all sides but it was in vaine for all his strokes wounded but the aire which he perceiuing procured with meere strength to passe away Here was his labour doubled to no great purpose yet with often falling and rysing hée so toyled that at length he arriued to the Chayre where the Emperour sat which somewhat eased him for all those cruell beastes left him But Brandezar that by him saw that knight thinking it was his mortall foâ— the king Nycaon he tooke hun so brauclie betwixt his armes that he easilie drew him to him Don Bellianis letting fall his Fawchon got also holde on the Emperour though he more willingly would haue with â—râ—wne from him because of the extreame heate that proceeded from his armour and so continuâ—d in their wrastling till they ouerthâ—â—we the Emperours Chayre and so parting from one an other Brandezar drewe foorth his sooord and the Prâ—â—ce tooke his fawchon and began so dangerous a fight s the like in no age was seene in short time so mangling their shields that they had no vse of them aboundantly shedding their blood Don Bellianis at this time was in extreame perill for that the Emperours strength was incomparable and himselfe fore wounden which he perceiuing awaited a blowe of the Emperour which threwe the remnant of his shielde to the ground and wounded him on the arme but he gaue him so terrible a blowe on the legge that Brandezar could no longer stand thereon But loosing none of his courage defended himselfe vppon his knees that made Don Bellianis discharge his blow s so faste that at length thinking to end the contention with one stroake on his head the Emperour warded it with his sword and so brauelie thrust at him that had it taken him full he might haue called it the laste that should haue ended his life yet the furâ—cus sword ran through his right side renting the flesh with the greatest wound he had receiued all that day Don Bellianis foming through the mouth for anger of the terrible wound strooke at the Emperour with both hands that he cut his thigh in sunder where at he fell downe where within a whyle he dyed With whose death there began so hortible a noyse in all the Castle with so monstrous an earthquake that Don Bellianis fell in a traunce who recouering his sences felt himselfe well and lustie without any wound seeing neither signe nor memorie of
the Emperour lying vnder a trée But taking another way stayed at a place throgh which the knight must of necessitic passe if he came whose coÌ„ming he attended walking on his Horse and reuolued with himselfe what he had to do remembring that knight loued his Ladie hée thought therein he stood disgraced which so mooued his desires to incounter him that he iudged himselfe so infortunate that the same Prince would rather breake his promise then come Wherein he greatly was deceiued for he rather would haue induced a thousand deathes then in the least degrée falsilie his ingaged word For the day before he marched from Persepolis with all his troupes containing aboue thrée hundred thousand Horsemen besides Footemen that couered all the mountaines and plaines they passed by and hee so set foorth with the manner of his march that none could scape to aduertize his aduersaries thereof on whom hée arriued with such a suddaine furie that it had not béene much if they had taken the Cittie at their first assault but that those valiant Knights were within whose strength supplyed the want of a competent Armie to resist their â—oes and issuing foorth in the citties defences begun so fierce and bloody a battell as euer was any séene The Princesse Arfileo Contumeliano and the Kinges of Armenia wiâ—h the Duke Alfiron went out of the Cittie into their Campes through a secrete doore accompanied with all the rest of the chiefest Knights which they founde in seme danger by the aduerse multitudes with whose comming on al sides their beganne such cruell massacring of their men that with in a whyle the earth was dyed with humaine blood and coucred with dead bodies slaine by their furious armes which the Prince Perianeo seeing thought he could haue no better occasion to depart secretly to the valley of the 3. fountains wher he know the knight of the Crewnes expected him to end their former quarrell and that he might the better passe vnknowen hée had put on a sanguine armour without any deuise in his shield in which manner he went till he came to the place wher Don Bellianis stayd whem he thought did then but come seeing him walke about and very glad cryed out he should there stay for it was a place conuenient for their combatte Don Bellianis turning about and séeing him so altered in his Armour knâ—w him not but that he thus said I am the knight that hath established this combat with you this day for which we are now in a good place where none shall disturbe vs. You came so disguised replied Don Bellianis that I knew you not But I am right glad we are so well met to ende our commenced enterprise But first tell me said the Persian Prince since one or both of vs shall here remaine what you are and how you are called And I promise to do the like It doth not please me replied the valiant prince Don Bellianis for I well know you are the renowmed Perianeo Prince of Persia Then if not so answered Persian Prince satisfie me with knowing the cause why you beare portraied the picture of that diuine Ladie in your shéeld It is the shadow replied Don Bellianis of that câ—listial substance that imperates my heart and soule and therfore â—o I continually bear it with me Oh vnhappy knight shall in the worlde liue any to dare say such a thing in thy presence and with a fierie choller that gnawde his heart hee turned his horse to take his full carreare on the field The like did Don Bellianis méeting in the middle of their course with such admirable force lightnesse that they séemed more to fly then on the ground to run Oh who would not haue desired to sée this fight betwixt the flower of the worldes Chiualrie here opposed one against the other For the Prince Perianeo had not his like on the vniuerse except Don Bellianis his father and yet his father had Princes his brothers though they were knighted had not yet thitherto vsed their Armes But to returne to our former discourse The two Combattants encountred each other with such impâ—tous and sodaine strength that their Launces being big and knottie their forses without coÌ„pare all their defensiue armor was pierced and their launces past betwéen their left sides and armes and meeting body with body sheelds helmes togither made so huge a noise as if two towers had met Don Bellianis lost both his surrops But the Prince Perianeo if he had not very quickly got hold by his horses necke he had surely gon to the ground making many signes of falling yet gouerned with inplacable rage he brauely recouered his stirrops turning towards Don Bellianis that also made against him and regréeting one another with such rigorous blowes that all the Valley did resound with the noise so monstrous were they and where theyr swordes lighted from thence it carried armour and flesh and laid so thicke vpon one another that they had no time toward any blow with their shéeldes In this manner laboured they aboue foure houres being so wounded that it would haue made any adamantiue brest to pittie them and not speaking any word withdrew apart to breathe The Prince Perianeo thus with himselfe began Is it possible that the enuious starres that gouerned the fatall houre of my birth should make me thus vnhappy to heare a knight in my presence say he loues thy Lady and that thou art not able to satisfie that proud fault with y e dearest blood of his stout hart but suffer him to bring thée to such a point as to wish the pittilesse stroake of an impartial cruell death eyther this knight is inchanted or I am deceiued if his forces be not now far greater then the other time I tried them and neyther toyle nor labour doth diminish them But oh Imperious Gouernesse of my afflicted soule What is he shall tel thée that this thy knight dyeth coÌ„fessing y e immooueable faith he owes thée hauing left no hope euermore to sée the glorious splendour of thy diuine beautie But let the reuoluing heauens dispose the resolucion of my destined Fates as they please yet one of vs ere we dye shall confesse the other most worthy of thy seruice On the other side Don Bellianis walking considering with himselfe the valour of his aduersarie imagining he neuer felt crueller blowes but of his father and that his forces more and more increased and recording the cause of his fight thus of himselfe complained Oh Don Bellianis vnwoorthie to bee called knight and louer of so Diuine a Princesse to suffer an other knight thus to let thee blood and not to make his tributary life doo homage to thy sword whereby thou hast lost both the honour and tylle of a Knight vn 〈…〉 thou recouerest it by making his deaths passage through his life With the ende of which words hee became so inraged that his heart séemed to burne in the fierie coales of his irefull
brest and so redoubled his most furious courage that if there had beene â—oure such Knights as the Persian Prince before him hee thought that in short time to reduce them all to the mercie of his mortall Blade With which betwixt both hands he wâ—nt against his louâ—-crossing aduersarie which did the like also and raysing his Median Sworde aloft to descend it with a more furie there appeared before him a Lady altogither like to her whose Picture had with cruell yoake subiugated his commaunding heart which said vnto him What doo you hâ—â—re renowmed Prince of Greece knewe you not your loue that is towards mee cannot take any effect if first you free mee not from this danger And therewith hee thought hee sawe foure monstrous Gyants like a whyrle-winde snatch her thence and that one dragged her amber guided hayre with such barbarous sauagenesse that his vnconquered heart resolu'd to liquid blood at the cruel yet a pittiful â—ight and moreouer an other following theÌ„ cried out let me alone with that vilde wretch for she must dye by my hand Which that valiant Prince Don Bellianis seeing not respecting the fight pursued that illusion that he sawe which tooke the way downe the Valley Héereupon his fine Armor with deuise of the imperiall Crownes lost their hewe becomming like those that the Prince Perianeo did weare at the Jousts in Bollera The Persian Prince that nothing of that had séen thinking his aduersary had left the battel for some other reason began to follow him but sodainly his raines were taken out of his haÌ„ds and looking about to sée who should do so sawe before him the dearest fréend he had the Sage Fristone who thus saide vnto him What is the matter deare Prince of Persia that you follow whom you know not nor whether it bee your aduantage so to doo Take my counsaile returne to Ballero for I haue laide such a snare for him that you shall be fully reuenged on your enemies and therefore follow not that knight So this said he vanished away The Persian Prince was greatly amazed hereat and so great was his hate against the valiant knight of the imperiall Crownes that he was about to follow him yet notwithstanding resoluing the contrary returned to his fathers Campe where arriuing he found the battell still to indure very fierce through which he thrust himselfe to helpe his men Where we leaue him till we haue exprest what happened to Don Bellianis pursuing those inchantments CHAP. XXXVII How Don Bellianis following the Sage Fristones inchantments Combatted with the Emperour his father in the Valley of three Fountaines and how Don Bellianis was led away by the wise Bellona to ende a certaine aduenture THe Prince Don Bellianis as is said pursued those Gyants whom he thought carried prisoner the Princesse Florisbella in which pursuite he had remained inchanted by the sage Fristone had it not béene for his sword yet was hee by him deceiued seeming otherwise theÌ„ he was which was all the Magician could do And thus going aloÌ„g he espied before him a knight armed as he thought in the Persian Princes armor with whom he not long before fought with And so soone as they approached togither all those inchantments vanished away wherat like one amazed wakened out of some dreame stood still But the knight that came vp the valley was his father had by Fristones deuice his Armour also chaÌ„ged For that of Don Bellianis séemed like the knights of Fortune and the Emperors nothing differed from the same Who séeing him come with such haste and without Launce left his owne and drawing forth his sword went to méete him with it raised aloft Don Bellianis doing the like there began betwéen them the cruellest fight that in al that day was fought making their heads bowe to the saddle pummell with their terrible strokes so fast redoubling blow vpon blow that the mightinesse of them strooke fire out of their armour and made them often loose the sight of one another Don Bellianis at this time thinking his aduersaries strength increased more and more more furious then a furious Beare hauing lost none of former rage strooke at him so huge a blowe that cutting his shield in two it tumbled to y e ground with a péece of his helme But the Emperour strooke at him below his shield that cutting his armor it also pierced his coate of male wounding him two fingers déepe in his right side and entring within him with a furious thrust penetrated all his armor to the flesh forcing him to giue backe two or thrée steppes and séeing that was the time wherin he should shew the vtmost of his mightie forces letting fall the remnant of his shield would haue with both his hands strooke him on the head But Don Bellianis séeing the cutting sword descend with such furie spurred his horse forwards and closing with him ere he could discharge his blowe tooke him twixt his strong armes and lifting him out of his saddle shaking the stirropes from his owne feete he lept with him on the ground where he opened both armour and flesh with one mightie blow But ouercome with rage both at one time raysed their slicing swords which falling with such strength the Emperour had the buckles of his helme cut which fell on the earth and the sword descending on his left arme it made him there a gréeuous wound But don Bellianis was so ouerladen with the Emperours blow that he was forced to set both knées and hands on the ground And the Emperour séeing himselfe without the helme strooke his aduersary so suddeinly againe with such strength that he sorely wounded him on y e left shoulder and the sword ran thrée handfuls into the earth But Don Bellianis neuer loosing any sparke of his admirable courage at any sinister accident raised himselfe vpon his féete and turned vpon the Emperour ere he had time to drawe his sword from the ground At this instant was y e Emperors life in wondrous daunger being without shield and helme and not able to helpe himselfe with his sword so quickly as hee should And Don Bellianis being on foote with his sword raised with both hands and readie to discharge it did suddeinly knowe him and with the greatest wonder that euer before hée was in cried out Oh Almightie God in whome I doo beléeue is it possible my handes should commit so hainous treachery And therewith staied his hand The Emperour hearing these words said Know you me knight Or what is the reason you end not your fight Whervnto Don Bellianis replied I doo most humbly beséech you my verie deare Lord and Emperour euen by that Lord that hath permitted we should not die by so great deceits that you omit and pardon this my errour wherein I am guiltie of no fault committed against you And hauing saide so vnlaced his helme whereat the Emperour straight knewe him which strooke him into so great an anguish to sée his deare sonne so cruelly wounded by his