Griffino vnto whom I gaue them He shall be pleasd I hope and not to haue them 59 I will him recompence some other way And giue him gifts of as great worth or more Thanks to your highnesse Griffin straight doth say Preserue me in your grace I aske no more But when Marfisa saw that eu'ry way They honord her she chang'd her mind before To shew magnificence she vsd this drift That he must take this armor as her gift 60 And thus good friends all turned back againe And then with double ioy the feast they hold In which chiefe praise did Sansonet obtaine The other foure did then themselues withhold Wishing the praise should vnto him remaine And then with greater cheare then can be told By Norandino they were nobly feasted And there themselues they well repos'd and rested 61 Seu'n dayes or eight the King them entertained And those once past of him their leaue they take The which with gifts and honor great obtained Vnto the towne of Tripoly they make And in one companie these fiue remained And mind not one the other to forsake As long as one of them was left aliue Vntill in France they safely should arriue 62 And straight they get a vessell for their hire A merchants ship new laden from the West The master of the ship an auncient fire Consented to their wils with small request The wind as then seru'd fit for their desire And blowes a gentle gale all from the East So that with filled sailes in little while They came as farre as Cypres Venus I le 63 Here eu'ry place was full of odours sweet Of gardens faire of spice of pleasant tast The people lustfull for dame Venus meet From tender yeares to doting age do last With wanton damsels walking in each street Inuiting men to pleasure and repast From hence againe they loosed at what time Don Phaebus charret vnto th' East did clime 64 The weather still was temperat and cleare A pleasant gale their swelling sailes did fill No signe of storme or tempest did appeare To such as in the weather had best skill But loe the weather oft doth change her cheare Eu n as a woman oft doth change her will For sodainly they had such stormes of wether As if that heau'n and earth would come together 65 The aire doth on the sodaine grow obscure But lightned oft with lightnings dreadfull light And saue their houreglasse kept them reckning sure T was hard for to discerne the day from night The desprat marriners do all endure As men inured to the waters spight The heau'ns aboue the waues beneath do rore Yet are not they dismaid one whit therefore 66 One with a whistle hang'd about his necke Showes by the sound which cord must be vndone And straight the shipboy readie at a becke Vnto the tops with nimble sleight doth runne The other marriners vpon the decke Or at the steere the comming waues do shunne And then by turnes they pumpe the water out By paine and care preuenting eu'rie doubt 67 Now while this noble crew with tempest tost Went in the sea as winde and weather draue And looke each minute to be drownd and lost The Christians with a fresh assault and braue Set on the Pagans sorely to their cost Who now began the worser side to haue But chiefly then their courage gan to quaile When noble Dardanellos life did faile 68 Renaldo him had noted from the rest Full proud of slaughter of so many foes And to himselfe he said t is surely best To crop this weed before it higher growes Therewith he sets his fatall speare in rest And cries to Dardanello as he goes Alas poore boy much wo to thee they bred That left to thee that sheild of white and red 69 He trie if you defend those colours well He saith which if with me you cannot do Against Orlando fierce I can you tell For to defend them will be great adoe Thus said Renald and noble Dardanell In valiant wise thus answerd thereunto Know this quoth he that these my colours I Will brauely here defend or brauely die 70 With that he spurr'd his horse as this he spake And with great force Renaldo did assaile But loe the staffe vpon his armor brake So as his blow but little did auaile But straight Renaldos speare a way did make And pierce the double folds of plate and maile And went so deepe into the tender skin The life went out there where the staffe went in 71 Looke how a purple flowre doth fade and drie That painefull plowman cutteth vp with sheare Or as the Poppeys heads a side do lie When it the bodie cannot longer beare So did the noble Dardanello die And with his death fild all his men with feare As waters runne abrode that breake their bay So fled his souldiers breaking their array 72 They flie vnto their tents with full perswasion That of the field the masterie was lost Wherefore to fortifie against inuasion They spare no time no trauell nor no cost Now Charles by forhead meanes to take Occasion And follows them full close with all his host And comming to their tents so brauely venterd That he with them themselues almost had enterd 73 Had not his valiant attempt bene staid By ouer hastie comming of the night So that of force as then it was delaid And either side was driu'n to leaue the fight But with this difference all the Turks dismaid And newly gatherd from their fearfull flight The Christians on the tother side pursewing And day by day their hope and powre renewing 74 The number of the Turks that day were slaine Was more then fourscore thousand as they say Their bloud did fat the ground of all that plaine And makes the ground more fertile to this day Among the dead some men halfe dead remaine Left there for theeues and robbers as a pray Within the Pagan campe great mone they make Some for their friends some for their kinsfolks sake 75 Two youths there were among so many more Whose friendship fast and firme whose faithful harts Deserued to be plast the rest before And to be praised for their good desarts Their names were Cloridano and Medore Both borne farre hence about the Ester parts Their parents poore and not of our beleefe Yet for true loue they may be praised chiefe 76 The elder of the two hight Cloridan An hunter wilde in all his life had beene Of actiue limbs and eke an hardie man As in a thousand men might well be seene Medoro was but yong and now began To enter too of youth the pleasant greene Faire skind black eyd and yellow curled heare That hangd in louely locks by either eare 77 These two among the rest kept watch that night And while the time in sundry speech they spent Medoro oftentime most sadly sight His masters death did cause him so lament Oh said Medoro what a wofull spight What cruell scourge to me
on such a lot And seeke it selfe in thickest brackes to hide And thinkes each noise the wind or aire doth cause It selfe in danger of the tygers clawes 35 That day and night she wandred here and there And halfe the other day that did ensue Vntil at last she was arriued where A fine yong groue with pleasant shadow grew Neare to the which two little riuers were Whose moisture did the tender herbes renew And make a sweete and very pleasing sound By running on the sand and stonie ground 36 Here she at last her selfe in safetie thought As being from Renaldo many a mile Tyr'd with annoy the heate and trauell brought She thinkes it best with sleepe the time beguile And hauing first a place conuenient sought She lets her horse refresh his limbes the while Who sed vpon the bankes well cloth'd with grasse And dranke the riuer water cleere as glasse 37 Hard by the brooke an arbor she descride Wherein grew faire and very fragrant floures With roses sweet and other trees beside Wherewith the place adornes the natiue boures So fenced in with shades on either side Safe from the heate of late or early houres The boughes aud leaues so cunningly were mixt No sunne no light could enter them betwixt 38 Within the tender herbes a bed do make Inuiting folke to take their rest and ease Here meanes this Ladie faire a nap to take And fals to sleepe the place so well doth please Not long she lay but her a noise did wake The trampling of a horse did her disease And looking out as secret as she might To come all arm'd she saw a comely knight 39 She knowes not yet if he be foe or friend Twixt hope and feare she doubtfully doth stand And what he meanes to do she doth attend And who it was she faine would vnderstand The knight did to the riuer side descend And resting downe his head vpon his hand All in a muse he sitteth still alone Like one transform'd into a marble stone 40 He tarri'd in this muse an houre and more With looke cast downe in sad and heauie guise At last he did lament his hap so sore Yet in so sweete and comely mournefull wise So hard a heart no tyger euer bore But would haue heard such plaints with watrish eies His heart did seeme a mountaine full of flame His cheekes a streame of teares to quench the same 41 Alas said he what meanes this diuers passion I burne as fire and yet as frost I freese I still lament and yet I moue compassion I come too late and all my labour leese I had but words and lookes for shew and fashion Put others get the game and gainefull fees If neither fruite nor floure come to my part Why should her loue consume my carefull hart 42 Like to the rose I count the virgine pure That grow'th on natiue stem in garden faire Which while it stands with wals enuirond sure Where heardmen with their heards cannot repaire To fauor it it seemeth to allure The morning deaw the heate the earth the aire Yong gallant men and louely dames delight In their sweet sent and in their pleasing sight 43 But when at once t is gathered and gone From proper stalke where late before it grew The loue the liking little is or none Both fauour grace and beautie all adew So when a virgin grants to one alone The precious floure for which so many sew Well he that getteth it may loue her best But she forgoes the loue of all the rest 44 She may deserue his loue but others hate To whom of loue she shewd her selfe so scant Oh then my cruell fortune or my fate Others haue store but I am staru'd with want Then leaue to loue this ladie so vngrate Nay hue to loue behold I soone recant Yea first let life from these my limbs be rent Ere 1 to change my loue shall giue consent 45 If some perhaps desirous are to know What wight it was with sorow so opprest T was Sacrapant that was afflicted so And loue had bred this torment in his brest That trickling wound that flattring cruell foe Most happie they that know and haue it least The loue of her I say procur'd his woe And she had heard and knew it long ago 46 Her loue allur'd him from the Ester land Vnto the Westerne shores where sets the Sunne And here he heard how by Orlandos hand A passage safe from th' Indies she had wonne Her sequestration he did vnderstand That Charles had made and how the same was done To make the knights more venterous and bold In fighting for the Floure de luce of gold 47 And furthermore himselfe had present bene When Charles his men were ouerthrowne and slaine Since then he traueld farre to find this Queene But hitherto it hath bene all in vaine Now much despaire and little hope betweene So rufully thereof he doth complaine And with such wailing words his woes rehearst As might the hardest stonie heart haue pearst 48 And while in this most dolefull state he bides And sighes full oft and sheddeth many a teare And speakes these same and many words besides Which I to tell for want of time forbeare His noble fortune so for him prouides That all this came vnto his mistresse eare And in one moment he preuailed more Then he had done in many yeares before 49 Angelica with great attention hard The mâ—iâ—e and plaint that him tormented sore Who long had loued her with great regard As she had triall many yeares before Yet as a marble pillaâ— cold and hard She not incline to pittie him the more Like one that all the world doth much disdaine And deemeth none worthie her loue againe 50 But being now with danger compast round She thought it best to take him for her guide For one that were in water almost drownd Were verie stout if for no helpe he cryde If â—he let passe the fortune now she found She thinkes to want the like another tyde And furthermore for certaine this she knew That Sacrapant had beene her louer true 51 Ne meant she tho to quench the raging fires That ay consum'd his faithfull louing heart Ne yet with that a louer most desires T aâ—lwage the paine in all or yet in part She meanes he first shall pull her from the briers And feed him then with words and womens art To make him first of all to serue her turne That doue to wonted coynesse to returne 52 Vnto the riuer side she doth descend And toward him most goddesse like she came And â—â—id all peace to thee my dearest frend With modest looke and cald him by his name And further said the Gods and you defend My chastitie mine honor and my fame And neuer grant by their diuine permission That I giue cause of any such suspicion 53 With how great ioy a mothers minde is fild To see a sonne for whom she long had mourned Whom she hard
will be to trye And how your heart wil faile and hand wil tremble When you shall go about to make one dye That shall Rogeros shape so right resemble But in this case you may not trust your eye But all your sprites and forces all assemble For this assure you if you let him go You worke your owne and your Rogeros wo. 47 The Prouerbe faith one that is warn'd is armd The which old saw doth proue by due construction That they that after warning had are harmd Did ill regard or follow good instruction Now Bradamant rides to the place so charmd And vowd that old Magicians destruction And that they may the tedious way beguile They spend the time in pleasant talke the while 48 And oft Melissa doth to her repeat The names of those that should be her posteritie That should in force and deeds of armes be great But greater in Religion and sinceritie Atchiuing many a strange and worthy feat And vse both head and hand with great dexteritie In ruling iust and bountifull in giuing Cesars in fight and saints in godly liuing 49 Now when Melissa sage such things did show The noble Lady modestly replide Sith God quoth she doth giue you skill to know The things that shall in future times betide And meanes on me vnworthy to bestow An issue such as few shall haue beside Tell me among so many men of name Shall there no woman be of worthy fame 50 Yes many a one said she both chast and wife Mothers to such as beare imperiall crownes Pillars and staves of roiall families Owners of realmes of countries and of townes Out of thy blessed offpring must arise Such as shal be eu'n in their sober gownes For chastitie and modestie as glorious As shall their husbands be in warre victorious 51 Nor can I well or do I now intend To take vpon me all their names to tell For then my speech would neuer haue an end I finde so many that deserue so well Onely I meane a word or two to spend Of one or two that do the rest excell Had you but talkt hereof in Merlins caue You should haue seen the shapes that they shal haue 52 Shall I begin with her whose vertue rare Shall with her husband liue in happie strife Whether his valiant actions may compare Or be preferd before her honest life He fights abroad against king Charles at Tare She staid at home a chast and sober wife Penelope in spending chast her dayes As worthie as Vlysses was of praise 53 Then next dame Beatrice the wife sometime Of â—â—dwickeSforze surnamed eke the More Wise and discreet and knowne without all crime Of fortunes gifts and natures hauing store Her husband liu'd most happie all her time And in such state as few haue liu'd before But after fell from being Duke of Millen To be a captiue fetterd like a villen 54 To passe the famous house I should be sorie Of Aragon and that most worthie queene Whose match in neither greeke nor latine storie Or any writer else hath euer beene And full to perfite her most worthy glorie Three worthie children shall of her be seene Of whom the heauens haue pointed her the mother Istell by name Alfonso and his brother 55 As siluer is to tinne as gold to brasse As roses are to flowres and herbs more base As diamonds and rubyes are to glasse As cedars are to sallows in like case Shall famous Leonora others passe In vertue beautie modestie and grace But aboue all in this she shall excell In bringing vp her children passing well 56 For as the vesseil euer beares a tast Of that same iuyce wherwith it first was filled And as in fruitfull ground the seed growes fast That first is sowne when as the same is tilled So looke what lore in youthfull yeares is plast By that they grow the worse or better willed When as they come to manly age and stature Sith education is another nature 57 Then next her neece a faire and famous dame That hight Renata I may not forget Daughter to Lews the xij king of that name Whom of the Britten Dutches he did get Whose vertue great shall merite lasting fame While fier shal be warme and water wet While wind shall blow earth stand firm sound And heau'nly sphears shall run their courses round 58 I passe all those that passe all these some deale Whose soules aspiring to an higher praise Despising pompe and ease and worldly weale In sacred rytes shall spend their blessed dayes Whose hearts and holy loue and godly zeale To heau'nly ioyes from earthly thoughts shall raise That to good workes to prayre and pure diuinitie Shall consecrate their liues and their virginitie 59 Thus doth Melyssa vnto her discourse Of those should come hereafter of her seed And while they talked oft by entercourse They in their iourney onward do proceed And oftentimes Melyssa hath recourse To will her of Atlanta take great heed And least she should with faint and foolish kindnes Be led vnwares in error and in blindnes 60 Now when they neare approched to the place Then Bradamant departed from her guide And after she had rode a little space She saw one brought with hands togither tide Exceeding like Rogero in the face In voice in stature haire and all beside Bound fast with chaines betweene two gyants led That threttend him er long he should be ded 61 But when the damsell saw within her vew The lamentable state and hard condicion Of him whose face she certaine thought she knew She changeth straight her trust into suspicion Doubting Melyssa of some malice new Or hidden hate had giu'n her such commission To make Rogero for a greater spite Be slaine by her in whom he doth delight 62 Is not this he thus to her selfe she spake Whom stil mine heart and now mine eies do see If my Rogero I can so mistake I neuer shall haue knowledge which is he I either dreame and am not now awake Or else no doubt it can none other be Melyssa what may not Melyssa lye Shall I beleeue her tale and not mine eye 63 Now while that thus she thought and thus she said And in this vnwise doubt did thus perseuer She thought she heard him speake and aske for aid Saying my loue assist me now or neuer What shall I in thy fight be so betraid Doest thou forsake me then farewell for euer These vnkind words her heart so greatly daunted She followes him into the house inchaunted 64 No sooner was she enterd in the gate But that the common error her possest Wandring about the house betimes and late Nor night nor day she taketh any rest The strange inchantment brought her in that state That though she saw the man that lou'd her best And spake with him and met him eu'rie howre To know the tone the tother had no powre 65 But let not now the reader be displeased Although I
far and neare may carie the report Of these great triumphs vnto eu'rie cost This tale the courteous host did tell his guest Of him that first ordaind the sumptuous feast 50 In this and such like talke they spend the night And then they sleepe vpon their beds of downe But when that once it shined cleare and light The trumpets sounded ouer all the towne And Griffin straight puts on his armor bright Aspiring after same and high renowne His leud companion likewise doth the same To shew a hope as well as he of fame 51 All armed thus they came vnto the field And view the warlike troupes as they did passe Where some had painted on their crest and shield Or some deuice that there described was What hope or doubt his loue to him did yeeld They all were Christens then but now alas They all are Turks vnto the endlesse shame Of those that may and do not mend the same 52 For where they should employ their sword and lance Against the Infidels our publike foes Gods word and true religion to aduance They to poore Christens worke perpetuall woes To you I write ye kings of Spaine and France Let these alone and turne your force on those And vnto you also I write as much Ye nations fierce Zwizzers I meane and Dutch 53 Lo tone of Christen kings vsurps a name Another Catholike will needs be called Why do not both your deeds declare the same Why are Christs people slaine by you and thralled Get backe againe Ierusalem for shame That now the Turke hath tane from you and walled Constantinople get that famous towne That erst belonged to th' Imperiall crowne 54 Dost not thou Spaine confront with Affrike shore That more then Italy hath thee offended Yet to her hart thou leauest that before Against the Infidels thou hadst intended O Italy a slaue for euermore In such sort mard as neuer can be mended A slaue to slaues and made of sinne a sinke And lotted sleepe like men orecome with drinke 55 Ye Swizzers fierce if feare of famine driue you To come to Lombardie to seeke some food Are not the Turks as neare why should it grieue you To spill your foes and spare your brothers blood They haue the gold and riches to relieue you Enrich your selues with lawfull gotten good So shall all Europe be to you beholding For driuing them from these parts and withholding 56 Thou Lion stout that holdst of heau'n the kayes A waightie charge see that from drowsie sleepe Thou wake our realme and bring her ioyfull dayes And from these forren wolues it safely keepe God doth thee to this height of honor raise That thou mayst feed and well defend thy sheepe That with a roring voice and mighty arme Thou mayst withhold thy flock from eu'ry harme 57 But whither roues my rudely rolling peâ— That waxe so sawcie to reproue such peeres I said before that in Damasco then They Christend were as in records appeares So that the armor of their horse and men Was like to ours though changd of later yeares And Ladies fild their galleries and towrs To see the iusts as they did here in ours 58 Each striues in shew his fellow to exceed And to be gallant in his mistris sight To see each one manage his stately steed Was to the standers by a great delight Some praise vnto themselues some shame do breed By shewing horses doings wrong or right The chiefest prize that should be of this tilt An armor was rich set with stone and gilt 59 By hap a merchant of Armenia found This armour and to Norandin it sold Who had he knowne how good it was and sound Would not haue left it sure for any gold The circumstance I cannot now expound I meane ere long it shall to you be told Now must I tell of Griffin that came in Iust when the sport and tilting did begin 60 Eight valiant knights the chalenge did sustaine Against all commers that would runne that day These eight were of the Princes priuate traine Of noble blood and noble eu'ry way They fight in sport but some in sport were slaine For why as hotly they did fight in play As deadly foes do fight in battell ray Saue that the King may when he list them stay 61 Now Griffins fellow was Martano named Who though he were a coward and a beast Like bold blind Bayard he was not ashamed To enter like a knight among the rest His countenance likewise in shew he framed As though he were as forward as the best And thus he stood and viewd a bitter fight Between a Baron and another Knight 62 Lord of Seleucia the tone they call And one of eight that did maintaine the iust The Knight Ombruno hight of person tall Who in his vizer tooke so great a thrust That from his horse astonied he did fall And with his liuely blood distaind the dust This sight amazd Martano in such sort He was afraid to leese his life in sport 63 Soone after this so fierce conflict was done Another challenger straight steppeth out With whom Martano was requird to runne But he whose heart was euer full of doubt With fond excuses sought the same to shunne And shewd himselfe a faint and dastard lout Till Griffin egd him on and blam'd his feare As men do set a mastiue on a Beare 64 Then tooke he heart of grace and on did ride And makes a little florish with his speare But in the middle way he stept aside For feare the blow would be too big to beare Yet one that would seeke this disgrace to hide Might in this point impure it not to feare But rather that his horse not good and redie Did shun the tilt and ranne not eu'n nor stedie 65 But after with his sword he dealt so ill Demosthenes him could not haue defended He shewd both want of courage and of skill So as the lookers on were all oftended And straight with hissing and with voices shrill The conflict cowardly begun was ended In his behalfe was Griffin sore ashamed His heart thereto with double heate inflamed 66 For now he sees how much on him it stands With double value to wipe out the blot And shew himselfe the more stout of his hands Sith his companion shewd himselfe a sot His fame or shame must flie to forren lands And if he now should faile one little iot The same wold seem a foule and huge transgression His mate had fild their minds with such impression 67 The first he met Lord of Sidona hight And towards him he runs with massie speare And gaue a blow that did so heauie light As to the ground it did him backward beare Then came of Laodice another knight On him the staffe in peeces three did teare Yet was the counterbuffe thereof so great The knight had much ado to keepe his seate 68 But when they came with naked swords to trie Which should the honor and the prise obtaine
So Griffin did with deadly strokes him plie At last he left him stom'd on the plaine Straightway two valiant brothers standing by That at Griffino tooke no small disdaine The tone Corimbo tother Tirse hight These two forthwith do challenge him to fight 69 Successiuely them both he ouerthrew And now men thought that he the prise would win But Salintern that saw them downe in vew To enuie good Griffino doth begin This man the stoutst of all the courtly crew Doth take a speare in hand and enters in And to the combat Griffin straight defies And scornes to haue a stranger win the prize 70 But Griffin chose one staffe among the rest The biggest and the strongest of a score And with the same he pierceth backe and brest That downe he fell and neuer stirred more The King that loued and esteemd him best Laments his death and maketh mone therefore But yet the common sort were faine and glad That knew his mind and manners were but bad 71 Next after him two others he doth meat Ermofilo the captaine of his guard And Carmond Admirall of all his fleet With these a while he had a conflict hard The first vnhorst was left vpon his feet The other with a blow was almost mard Thus of eight challengers remaind but one The rest were quite subdude by him alone 72 This one was he of whom at first I spake Lord of Seleucia a valiant man This one to Griffin did resistance make And long it was ere ought of him he wan But one blow on his head so fierce he strake As he likewise to stagger now began Had not the King made them to haue bene parted Sure Griffin had him kild ere he had parted 73 Thus all those eight that all the world defide By one alone were vanquished and slaine So as the King was forced to prouide An order new for those that do remaine By parting runners some on either side For yet was spent not past an houre or twaine Lest this his triumph should haue end too soone He makes them spend therein the afternoone 74 But Griffin full of wrath and discontent Backe to his host with his companion came The praise he wan did him not so content As he was grieu'd at his companions shame Wherefore to leaue the towne they do consent While men were busie looking on the game And to a little towne fast by he goes And meanes himselfe a while for to repose 75 The trauell sore he had before endured So great a wearinesse in him had bred And such desire of sleepe withall procured As straight he gat him to his naked bed The while Martano to all fraud inured And vsing aid of her mischieuous head as he did soundly sleepe deuisd the while A stratageme most strange him to beguise 76 They do conclude to take Griffinos steed And cote and eu'ry warlike implement And that Martano in Griffinos steed Himselfe to Norandino shall present This they deuisd this they performd in deed And boldly backe againe Martano went In Griffins armor stoutly stepping in As did the Asse that ware the Lions skin 77 He rusheth in among the thickest presse An houre before the setting of the sunne The King and all the rest straightway do guesse That this was he that had such honor wonne And straight great honour they to him addresse And cause the like by others to be done And his base name not worthy to be named About the towne with honor was proclamed 78 Fast by the King he rideth cheeke by cheeke And in his praise they songs and verses make In Hebrew tongue in Latin and in Greeke And now this while did Griffin hap to wake And seeing that his armour was to seeke He first begins some small mistrust to take Yet hardly could it sinke into his reason That she had giu'n consent to such a treason 79 In feare and doubt no little time he houered But when his host the truth had plaine declard And that he saw the falshood plaine disouered By which she had in follies bands him snard Thē truth shewd plain that loue before had couered And to reuenge this wrong he straight prepard But wanting other furniture perforce He tooke Martanos armor and his horse 80 And backe vnto Damasco he doth ride Arriuing there within an houre of night And entring at the gate vpon the side The pallace of the King stood plaine in sight Where then the King a banket did prouide For many a Duke and Lord and valiant Knight And Griffin boldly sate among the rest Forgetting that he ware the scorned crest 81 And taken for the man whose coate he ware His presence did the better sort offend Of which when vile Martano was aware That of the table sate at th'vpper end And sees that to disgrace him they forbare And thinke him his companion and his frend His friendship and acquaintance he renounced And this hard doom of him he straight pronounced 82 Sir King quoth he it seems that for my sake You graciously forbeare to do him shame That of his basenesse shamefull proofe did make This day and now againe confirmes the same But you the matter and the man mistake I know not him his nation nor his name By chance I met him onely on the way I neuer saw him I till yesterday 83 Wherefore might I herein your grace aduise You should a sample make him for the rest That here presents vnto your princely eies Himselfe vnworthy and vnwelcome guest Let him tormented be in cruell wise This is my doome let him be hangd at least And vnreuenged let him not be borne That knighthood should receiue so great a scorne 84 Thus much the vile and base Martano seth And Origilla soothd it with as much And wisht an halter stop the villains breth Nay quoth the King the sinne is nothing such As is in law or reason worthy death His life or yet his libertie to tuch This for examples sake I thinke it meet To do him some disgrace in open street 85 And straight he rounds a Sergeant in his care And secretly appoints him what to do Who came forthwith vnto the table where Griffino sate and made no more ado But leadeth him that no such thing did feare A secret prison and a sure vnto And for that night he clapt him vp in fetters Where theeues do vse to lie and euill debters 86 Next day Martano that did greatly dread Lest this his foule deuice would come to light If Griffin should be heard his cause to pleade Therefore as soone as Phoebus shined bright Pretending businesse away he sped And leaues Griffino in this wofull plight But ere he goes the King to him imparts No small rewards for his not his desarts 87 But let him go his wayes and do not doubt That this vnknowne and vnreuengd shall be Straight was Griffino from the iayle put out And carted so as all men might him see Tide hand and foot and people all
and must vntill One come that me with other nine can kill 9 Vnto the knights this seemd a maru'lous storie And much they wonderd at this gouernment They maruell that so great a territorie For want of men was not consum'd and spent They thought no lesse the women would be sorie For want of men to liue so continent T was strange one man sufficed ten of thease Sith one with vs can scant one woman please 10 And straight they were inquisitiue to know When first this foolish order there began And vpon what occasion it did grow That women in that countrie ruled man Then Guidon answerd thus I shall you show The whole discourse as briefely as I can According as my selfe haue heard the same Since by mishap into this realme I came 11 When as the Greekes had quite defaced Troy And after twise ten yeares returned home For ten whole years in danger and annoy Of surging seas they vp and downe did rome They found their wiues that had but little ioy So long a time to liue and lye alone Each one a lustie louer to haue chosen Lest with the cold they might be staru'd and frozen 12 Their houses full of bastard brats they see In fine they purpose after consultation To pardon all their wiues and let them free But for these boyes that bred some altercation To driue them out a doore they do agree And make them seeke a forraine habitation It was contrarie much to their desiers That others brats should warme thé at their fiers 13 Thus some thrown out some close their mothers keep In corners from their angrie husbands sight And when as elder years on them do creepe Each one betakes him to his most delight Some plow some get them heards of goats sheep Some sciences and some do learne to fight Thus eu'rie one betooke him to some trade As he assignes that all the world hath made 14 Among the rest that Art of war ensue Phalanto sonne of Clytemnestra Queene But eighteene yeares of age and â—resh of hue And in the floure of youths well pleasing greene This one to him an hundred gallants drue And getting ships and things that needfull beene With writs of Mart a thing that breeds much sorow He gets him to the sea in mind to borow 15 Now while Phalanto with his cursed fleet Abode at sea with that more cursed traine It fortund at that time that they of Creet Had Idumeo driu'n out of his raigne Wherfore for better strength they thought it meet Phalanto and his men to entertaine They giue to him great hire and great reward The citie of Ditea for to guard 16 Ditea was a towne of great estate Rich and frequented with no small resort And yeelds in plentie large betimes and late Of sundrie kinds of pleasures and of sport And as they all men vsd so in like rate They vsd their souldiers in so friendly sort As though they had agreed by sound accords To make them all their masters and their Lords 17 But chiefe they found with women so great grace As they wan most of them vnto their lure But when the warres were ended in short space And that their pay no longer did endure They all prepar'd to leaue this pleasant place Which to the damsels did great griefe procure To leese their husbands brother or their father Then these new louers eu'rie one had rather 18 And when they saw they could not make them stay By no deuice of theirs nor no request They do agree with them to steale away And take such things as were of value best Thus came these damsels loden with their pray And thence to sea and were now gone at left An hundred leagues with these new lawles louers Before Ditea this their flight discouers 19 The wind so good then for their purpose blew Phalanto quickly landed in this cost And here the amorous and wanton crew Vnto their loues of this their lewdnesse bost But now that saying was confirmed trew That pleasant things do often cloy the most And there can be a greater clog to no man Then to be wearie of a wanton woman 20 Wherefore like men that were and had bene euer Of gaine most greedie sparing of expence They secretly consulting do endeuer To take the goods and then to steale from thence Thus while the women still in loue perseuer They that regard not pleasure more then pence Lode with their wealth of which there was good store Stale to the sea left them on the shore 21 Sore were the damsels daunted and dismayd When once they saw their loues had the forsaken For what more spite can be then be betraid Of him to whom one hath her selfe betaken And fith they find that weeping doth nâ—t ayd They meane betime some order shal be taken What they shall do and how heareafter liue And eu'rie one doth straight her verdit giue 22 One home to turne againe doth thinke it best And to their kin and friends them to submit And with repentance pardon to request And vow the like fault neuer to commit Another that good motion doth detest And sweares it shewd the mouer had no wit And that with greater honestie or ease They might go drowne them headlong in the seas 23 Among the rest one Orontea hight That lineally of Mynos was descended And past the rest in beautie and good sprite And had lesse grieuously then they offended For to Phalanto she her troth did plight And to haue bene his honest spouse intended This one declareth thus her resolution And makes the rest put it in execution 24 She wishes them to tary in this land That had both fruitfull earth and pleasant aire And fountaines sweet and woods on eu'ry hand And medowes greene and pastures fresh and faire Beside large hau'us where ships at ease might stand To which the merchants often made repaire By tempest driuen well loden with good trafficke Of things that come from Egipt and from Affricke 25 Wherefore this place she minds not to forsake But that they may as chiefly they desire A sharpe reuenge on men for euer take They vow to put to sacke to sword and fire Such ships as to their hauen repaire do make And kill the men and this they all conspire And still when any come this trade they vse Nor left a man aliue to carry newes 26 But when this cruell law some yeares had lasted Which they had meant to haue confirmd for ay They find that they so fast consumd and wasted That this their barren kingdome would decay Except to find some remedy they hasted And hauing long consulted on the way They meane of this their law to bate some rigor Yet leaue the substance still in strength and vigor 27 And thus they do they chuse among such men As tempests driue to this their wicked nation Some few as were so lustie as with ten They could performe the act of generation All in one night
With those two brothers nam'd the black and white And Sansonet vntill by craft and guile They were surprised as you heard last night And made against their wils to wait a while For maintenance of lawes vniust and bad That wicked Pinnabell deuised had 25 Now when as noble Guidon certaine knew That this Renaldo was whom he before Desired long to see he much did rew That he had done and did lament it sore A blind man would not be more glad to vew The light he doubted he should nere see more Then Guidon in his mind was well apaid To see this knight and thus to him he said 26 What stranger mishap what sinister aduenter Hath bred this fault in me my noble Lord That I with you into this strife should enter With whom I ought to haue all kind accord I am your fathers sonne not by one venter I euer haue your name and stock adord Guidon I hight Constanza was my mother Borne beyond Euxin seas and yet your brother 27 Wherefore I pray pardon my fond offence That haue in steed of dutie offerd wrong And tell me wherein I may recompence This ouersight and I will do ere long Renaldo that had heard of him long since And to haue seene him did not little long Embrast him and not onely did forgiue him But commendation great and praise did giue him 28 He said his valew was a perfect signe To shew himselfe in fight so fierce and stout That he was truly come of that same line Whose noble brute was blowne the world about For if your manners did to peace incline Then had there bene said he more cause of doubt The fearfull Hart comes not of Lions seed Nor doth a silly Doue a Faulcon breed 29 Thus fell they two acquainted on the way And talkt together friendly as they went But neither did their talke the iourney stay Nor did their riding make their speech relent Vntill they came where all their brothers lay When as a great part of the night was spent Who with great ioy and pleasure did behold them And chiefe when who this was Renaldo told them 30 For though he must to them no doubt haue euer Bene verie welcome as a brother deare Yet could he be to them more welcome neuer Then now what time as you before did heare They all did mind to do their best indeuer To rescue Charles that was of heauie cheare Wherefore for this one cause aboue the rest He was vnto them all a welcome guest 31 Thus now the day ensuing on went Guidon Ioyning himselfe vnto Renaldos crew And as to Paris walls they forward ride on They met two valiant youths that well him knew Further with them conferring they descride one A Ladie richly clad and faire of hew These warlike youths had Gismond to their mother White Griffiin and blacke Aquilant his brother 32 Now Guidon knew them and to them was knowne As hauing bene together many dayes By whom they were vnto Renaldo showne And praisd for gallant men at all assayes As in your iudgement likewise in mine owne Renaldo said these youths do merit praise For they haue oft bene prou'd two perfect warriers As well in spite as sport at tilt and barriers 33 Renaldo did by their apparell know them Tone euer wearing white the tother blacke And friendly countenance he now did show them Chiefly because the King did succour lacke Wherefore into his band he doth bestow them That band that to the Turks must bring much wracke And they do ioyne them to Renaldos banner Forgetting all old iarres in louing manner 34 Betweene the house of Ammon and these twins About one Truffaldin a iarre there fell The matter at the first not worth two pins Wherefore the circumstance I will not tell But now Renaldo their affection wins By vsing them so curteously and well For curteous speech and vsage mild and kind Wipes malice out of eu'ry noble mind 35 Now after these another knight there came Hight Sansonet a man of great account Who welcom'd was and tooke it for no shame Of stout Renaldos band himselfe to count While this thus past behold the gallant dame That knew this noble Lord of Clarimount For she was one that all the French Lords knew Told him a tale that made him greatly rew 36 My Lord saiâ— she I bring you sory tiding He whom the Church and Empire held so deare Runs all about in no one place abiding Of sence and argument depriued cleare He naked goes not natures secrets hiding Which me to tell and you must grieue to heare Orlando that same light and lampe of France Hath lost his wits God knowes by what mischance 37 His armes and sword that he away had throwne As things by him left and forsaken clearly I saw a curteous knight to me vnknowne But one it seemd that lou'd Orlando dearly Them gather where they scattered were and sowne And eu'n of charitie as seemed mearly In triumph wise on tree he hangd the same And vnderneath he grau'd Orlandos name 38 But straight the sword that hanged on the tree With force and scornfull speech away was tane As I can witnesse well that did it see By Mandricard the sonne of Agricane Thinke you what hurt this will to Europe be That once againe the Turks haue Durindane The gentle knight straue long with him to saue it But in the end was forst to let him haue it 39 I saw Orlando late in monstrous guise To runne about vncouth and all vnclad With strangest clamours and most hideous cries In fine I do conclude that he is mad And saue I saw it so with these mine eyes I would not trust if any told it had She further told how she had seene him later With Rodomont to tumble in the water 40 And last of all she told him she had heard How that about this sword there grew some strife Betweene Gradasso stout and Mandricard And how the Tartar hauing lost his life The sword was giuen Gradasso afterward As ouer all the Pagan campe was rife And hauing ended this so sad narration Thereto she addeth this short exhortation 41 That he and eu'ry one that were not foe To stout Orlando would take so much paine In Paris or elsewhere him to bestow Till he had purged his distemperd braine Mine husband Brandimart said she I know To do him any good himselfe would straine Thus Fiordeliege spake the louing wife Of Brandimart that lou'd her as his life 42 At this strange tale and wofull accident Such inward griefe the good Renaldo felt That with the thought his heart incontinent Did seeme like snow against the Sunne to melt And with all speed he might to go he ment And by all meanes he might so to haue delt To seeke Orlando whom if he can find He hopes to bring him to a better mind 43 But sith he now had thither brought his band Or wer 't the will of God or were it
For present death it was if any venter Saue those two champions in the list to enter 82 When second choise of weapon as was fit Was giu'n Rogero to auoid suspect Two Priests before the rest came forth to wit Of each side one and one of either sect Each had a booke ours had Christs holy writ Theirs Alcoran with errours foule infect With ours came forth the Christen Prince deuout With that of theirs the king of Turks came out 83 Now first king Charles neare to his altar stands And this great protestation there did make And lifts to heauen both heart and eyes and hands O God O Christ that suffredst for our sake O blessed Ladie that in swathing bands Heldst him that mortall flesh of thee did take And didst nine months inclose that high diuinitie In sacred wombe still keeping true virginitie 84 Be witnesses that here I make it knowne And promise faithfully for me and mine To Agramant and who so ere shall owne The crowne of Affrike in ensuing time That if my champion shall be ouerthrowne To pay to them each yeare of gold most fine Ten horslode and forthwith the warres to cease And euermore hereafter to haue peace 85 And if I fayle then let the fearfull wrath Of both on me at once this folly wreake And worke vnto my sect all wo and seath That all insuing ages plaine may speake Loe what a plague and iust reward he hath That durst his oth to you and promise breake This said his hand he laid vpon the booke And vp on heauen he fixt his stedfast looke 86 When this was done then all departed thence There where the Turks had with much superstition Adornd their altar with no small expence And their king Agramant with like condition Vowd neuer after this to do offence To Charles but passe the seas with expedition And ay keepe peace and equail tribute pay If that Rogero vanquisht were that day 87 And in like sort he did protest alowd And cald on Mahomet his Idol great And by that booke that his Priest held he vowd To keepe most duly all he did repeat This done to part from thence were all allowd And either Prince retired to his seat Then in like sort they sweare the champions both And thus much in effect containd their oth 88 Rogero promiseth that if the fight By Agramant shall be disturbd or parted That neuer after he will be his knight But serue king Charles and be to him true harted Renaldo in like sort his faith doth plight That if to him Charles any aid imparted Before that one of them were ouercome That then himselfe to Agramant would come 89 Now when these ceremonies all were ended Then eu'rie man departed to his side And then the warriours onely now attended The trumpets sound that battell signifide Which when both heard then each of theÌ„ intended To show the vtmost of his vallew tride Now sounds the steele with blows not few nor soft Now they themselues strike low and now aloft 90 Sometime they would beguile the tone the tother With mind vnto their strength to ad their art They profer at one place and strike another Inuading still the least defended part But good Rogero that against the brother Of her did fight that did possesse his hart Did oft bestow his blows with such regard Most thought Renaldo was for him too hard 91 He seemed readier to ward then strike For he himselfe well knew not what he ment To kill Renaldo that he did not like To dy himselfe that was not his intent But now I hope that none will it mislike Sith in this booke so much time hath bene spent And least my tediousnesse may some molest In this ensuing booke to heare the rest In the beginning of this booke is set downe how great a regard a man ought to haue of true honor indeed namely to do nothing â— herein it may be iustly touched not as our young gallants in these dayes that stand vpon their puntos in tristing matters hauing neither honor in their hearts nor truth in their mouths No doubt but to a noble nature and disposition honor in the tenderest thing that may be And therefore it may well of them be said Ma al honor chimancha in vn momento Non puo in cento annisatisfar ne in cento But if that honor haue one minutes staine An hundred yeares scant can it clense againe But as in Religion the true vsage thereof us most necessary to the good of the soule but heresies and superstition be most damnable so in this desire of worldy reputation the good and considerat regard thereof is the most worthy and Gentlemanly thing that can be but the vaine and friuolous maintenance thereof is as ridiculous and to be scorned For example imagine some man so chast as Caesar was called omnium mulierum vir or to vse our homely English phrase as the towne Bull of the Parish so true of his word as he that Heywood writes of that kept all the commandements and namely that concerning false witnesse With witnesse false thou hurtest none for why Each word thou spakest each man doth know a ly So temperat in eating and drinking that he surfets but once a weeke vidz from Saterday to Saterday and endewed with other magnificall qualities as swearing and gaming and now and then of the gentlenes of his nature not scorning a Pandars occupation Can you maruell I say if such â—â—an stand somewhat nycely vpon his honor if he be touched therein but the true honorable person indeed will neither giue iust cause of offence nor beare any wrong or disgrace and whosoeuer sailes either in the first of these for want of stayd gouernment or faints in the later of these for want of true courage let him know his honor goeth lame on one legge onely the first of these two mayms may be cured but the tother is called a priuie maimâ— and is vtterly incurable Concerning the Orations of Agramant Marsilio and Sobrino a man might make a long not vnnecessary discourse of the matter but that I haue taken vpon me to note and not to discourse First therefore in Agramant we may obserue how young couragious Princes such as he is described to have bin are egged on by their grand minions to whom peace is a penance to warre vpon other mens countryes and many times leaue their owne vnguarded In which kind fooles sometimes giue wiser counsell then they As in the time of that good king of France Francis the first they report that when he inuaded Italy he consulted with his counsell where he were best to enter Lombardy some aduising one way some another a foole standing by and hearing their consultation came in amongst them and sware that they were all fooles for saith he here is euerie man that aduiseth the king how to enter into Italy but none of you takes care how he shall get out againe this though accounted as it was but