him There was a lackie that came with them which when he sawe this great destruction of the knights tooke the horse of one of them that was slaine and in great hast he gallopped with him towards the pallace crieng with a loude voice Armour armour come knightes quickly and helpe for that there is slaine the Earle of Modique his sonne and all the rest that were with him the quéene and Ladie of that Countrie when she heard that great noise she looked out of her closet and asked who had done that murther to whome the Lackie answered that one onely knight vnarmed whom they found a slape at the marble fountaine hath slaine them These wordes caused great alteration amongest all them in the pallace and in great hast they called for theyr armour to arme themselues but this faire quéene asked farther of the Lackie what was the occasion which these eight knightes offered to cause that knight to attempt so hard an enterprise who tolde and declared vnto her all that you haue hearde and when shée vnderstoode the whole circumstaunce she commaunded straight that vproare to cease and that there should other eight knights goe and procure to take and bring him prisoner without dooing him anie harme for that she was desirous to know what hee should be that was of so valiaunt courage and so greate a strength So straight waie at the commaundement of the quéene these eight knights were readie and armed and went to the place whereas they were still in battaile and at such time as they approched there was but two left of the eyght that were first against him And when those two sawe the other eight knightes comming they stepped on the one side with a loude voice cried Knightes kill this diuell kill this diuell who in this sort hath intreated vs. When the Emperour sawe that there came other eight armed knightes against him he could not but iudge himself to be in great danger of death for that he was vnarmed and without anie defence yet for all that his accustomed courage did not fayle him one â—ot but he put himselfe in defence with so great hardinesse as though he had ben armed with all his accustomed armour Then one of the eight armed knights who would shew himselfe to be of a more courage then the rest pressed forwards with his swoord in his hand and his shéelde on his arme making shewe as though he woulde strike him the Emperour did ward that blow on his swoord wheron it fell and with his left hand he tooke so fast holde on his shéeld and with so great strength that he pulled it from 〈◊〉 arme and with great speede he couered himselfe therewith and with a valiaunt stomacke sayd Doo not thinke you disloyall and cowardly knightes to take me prisoner or doo me anie outrage first I hope to put you all to the point of any sword or to die in my iust defence but by reason that he spake to them in the Greeke tongue they coulde not vnderstande him one word wherefore forgetting that which the quéene had commanded them they striued with all their strength to kil him the Emperour by reason of the fountaine had his backe defended so that they were constrained to fight with him face to face but he which by his hardinesse did seeme to prease forwards more then the other was straight sâ—aine or verie sore hurt Amongst these knights there was another which was of a more hardier courage then any of the rest who manye times did prease forwards had hurt this valiant Trebatio in two places although the wounds were not very great yet it caused his aduersaries to haue the better stomack to assault him This knight which had hurt the Emperour sawe well y t if euery one of the rest had done as much as he y t this vnarmed knight had ben sâ—aine with a loud voice he said O ye Knights of Tinacria how is it possible that one only knight without armour hath brought vs into this ieopardie and great extremitie the which wordes he spake in the Tuscan tongue and so with great hardinesse mightie courage he pressed forwards but the Emperour who well vnderstoode his wordes stepped forwardes to receiue him two steps more theÌ„ he did before the which was done with great lightnesse and followed his blow so hard that y e knight was constrained to receiue the blow vpon his healme the which was giuen with so much strength and furie that iâ— parted it in twaine with the head before that he could returne back againe into his standing they hurt him in two or thrée places but it was not much but the Emperour as he recoiled stroke two of them that with so much furie that they fell dead to the ground the rest of the Knightes which remained were meruailously afraid for that they had felt his mightie blowes and â—gaine with the sight of those that were sâ—aine before the â—herefore they withdrew themselues backe so y t his blows might not reach them The Emperour séeing himselfe at more quietnesse retired to the place where hée fiâ—st was by the fountaine and there he remained in more safety beeing better able to make his defence so there was left of all those sixtéene Knights but seauen of the which thrée of them were more importunate then the rest and dealte with him euen as a companie of small spaniels with a great mastiefe who with their barking runne round about him both before and behinde yet not daring to touch anie haire but when they come before him the mastiefe maketh theÌ„ afraid and forceth them to runne awaie so in the same sorte was the Emperour amongst his enimies and béeing in this conflict they heard a great noise in the citie of making hast vnto armour and anon they perceiued how y e olde Earle did know of the death of his sonne who by reason of the great sorrow passion that he receiued was almost beside himselfe commaunded to bring him his armour and his horse on whom he mounted and tooke in his hande a greate and mightie Speare and rode foorth towardes the Fountaine whereas the Emperour was and after this olde Earle issued out manie of the people of the Citie as well knightes as other Citizens The quéene vnderstanding all this vproare tumult fearing that by force of all those people there should be slaine that knight who amongst all other was worthie to liue for his great valour and knighthood she determined to goe forth accompanied with all the nobilitie of her court with many faire Ladies and Damsells to aide and deliuer him from perill but before the quéene could come thether the olde Earle was there whereas the Emperour was but when he saw so many men there dead and all by the force of one vnarmed knight if it had not bene for griefe to sée his sonne lie slaine amongst the rest and also the fatherly loue which did prouoke him to wrath I
him such a terrible blow vpon the creast of his helme that hée made him cleane to loose his feeling for a greate while The Moores horse by reason of his wearinesse was readie to fall downe on euerie side This valyaunt Sardenian séeing him in that case and remembring in what order he had before left the knight of the Sunne without anie more tarrying tourned about his swift and light horse and with as much swiftnesse as might bee possible he returned vnto the place where as he had left the knight of the Sun and when hée came vnto the place wheras the battaile was fought betwéen the two warriours he found not the knight of the Sunne there but retourning backe againe he tooke his waie towardes the Sea side following the foote steppes of them and theyr horses and in a small time hee came vnto the place whereas he sawe a barke which was at an anker fast vpon the shoare and comming nigh vnto it he knew it to bée the verie same which had brought them thether and for to knowe of certaintie whether the knight of the Sunne were there or not he called with a loude voice vnto them which were in the Barke vnto whome the Greeke made aunswere and when he saw that it was his friend Tefereo that had called he was verie gladde and likewise Tefereo did greatly reioyce to sée him and therewith he entered into the Barke and when hée was entered therein he heard one with a lowde voyce which sayde Tarrie tarrie thou cowardly villaine and doe not thinke to escape mée without thy due punishment At which greate noise the Knight of the Sunne looked about and saw that it was the King of Mauritania which with verie greate hast came towardes them The Prince wold haue gone out to him if y t the Barke had not ben so far in the sea as it was for the which he was very sad not a little disquieted yet for all the anger which the Prince had he could not choose but saie that the king was a good knight and of as much might as Bramarant and somewhat more valiaunt and politike and meruailed with himselfe whether he were his sonne or no. So when the Pagan sawe that he coulde not execute his furie and rage hée beganne to roare lyke a Bull and although he was not purposed anie more to imbarke himselfe to sea yet at that time hée was constrayned to chaunge his pretence and finding opportunitie by reason of certaine Merchauntes which were fraighting of a shippe to Grecia hée determined to goe into her There hée imbarked himselfe and the winde béeing verie prosperous they departed and in a verie short time they ariued at a hauen in Grecia where as hée went a lande and trauailed in the Countrie certaine dayes So it happened one daie that hée founde by a house of pleasure a great companie of Knightes Ladyes and Damosells which were recreating of themselues What they were and what the king did in following the Storie you shall vnderstande and I will nowe leaue him for to tell you of the heroycall sonne of Trebatio who for the space of sixe dayes sayled on the Sea with greate pleasure often talking of the great strength and force of the Moore the seauenth daye he ariued in a verye faire hauen or port which was nigh vnto a verie sumptuous Citie the which was furnished with greate shippes and Gallyes and other small Barkes and Foystes Amongest all these they passed verie quicklye without the interruption of anie person till such time as the Barke was fast a grounde and perceiuing that it was there conuenient that they shoulde disimbarke themselues they leapt a shoare and lykewise tooke out theyr horses and straight waye they leapt on theyr backes and tooke the waye which lead them vnto the Citie wherein they discouered on the one parte a verie fayre and greate armie of men and lykewise all the fielde was pitched with verie rich Tentes and as they looked aboute straight wayes they sawe come foorth of the Citie fiue mightie and strong Knightes and a verie greate and strong Gyaunt and in the other parte of the armie one onely knight whose armour séemed to bée of a passing fine Rubie all to bée spotted with starres of golde and set with Pearles This sight did lyke them so well that they were looking on that one Knight a greate while verie earnestly and tooke greate pleasure to sée his good demenour The Knight of the Sunne was imagining with himselfe what knight that shoulde bée that was of so gentle disposition and proportion beléeuing certainely that it coulde bée none but some of his lignage This knight passed harde by those two friendes who did beholde them verie much yet hée made no staying but without speaking anie worde he passed on forwardes and when hée was come into that place of the fielde that was appointed for the battaile he put his speare in his reast at the which token one of the sixe knightes came foorth to make resistaunce whome the knight of the Sunne did knowe But nowe for that the historie goeth in order it is néedfull to leaue them in this order till time shall serue and to returne againe and tell you of the Emperour of Grecia that came to the port of Cimarra and there did disimbarke himselfe ¶ How the Greeke Emperour did disimbarke himselfe at the Citie of Cimarra and what happened vnto him there Cap. 25. YOU haue heard before how that the Emperour ariued at the Port of Cimarra which was gouerned by the Father of that vnfortunate Herea where when hée hadde put in order his inchaunted Barke hée leapte a lande and going on foote armed with that rich armour which Garrofilea had giuen vnto him carrying his right hande vpon the reast which was in his armour and his left hande voon the pomell of his swoorde and his helme close which couered his face and hanging at his necke his gallaunt and rich shéelde with a comelye and graue countenaunce he went towardes the Citie and of the first that hée met withall he asked what lande or Countrie that was for that hée was ignoraunt thereof and straight waie it was tolde him in the Sarasin language that hée was in the kingdome of Cimarra whereat hée was not a little delighted and considering the knowledge of the wise Lyrgandeo he went forwardes on his waie without staying till he entered into the gates of the Citie and all they which met with him did verie much beholde him greatly meruailing at his grauitie good disposition and wonderfull stature There were sundrye that aduertised the King thereof as soone as hée was come a shoare howe that there was a knight which did disimbarke himselfe at the Port or Hauen which came without gouernement béeing armed with verie rich and costly armour and one that was of an excellent stature and good disposition The auncient King of the Countrie who was aduertised thereof before by the wise Lyrgandeo did straight waie knowe that
conference it hath not bene for any conceiued feare but the onely griefe of my conscience which is not a little afflicted with sorrowe to sée so worthy a personage as thou art so impiously to lead thy life admonishing thée friendlye to forsake thy former wickednesse and to reuoke the abhominable sentence of thy frowarde will séeing I haue both answered thy demaund thou vnderstandest my desire I would faine be certified whether thou wilt accepte mée for thy friend or defie me as thy foe that either by thy subuersion we may fauourably conclude or by thy persisting procéede to the combat for although for thy sake I chiefly wish for peace yet for mine owne part I am indifferent Great is the ioye aunswered the Giant that I conceiue at the sight of thée whose worthinesse is so much wondred at throughout the world and to the ende I may both trye thy famous strength and thou feele my renowmed force I accept y e battaile with this condition that if by thée I be now vanquished I will not onely in my armour blaze forth the honour of my conquerour but for euer héerafter I wil submit my selfe willingly to thy commaundement and if my Fortune be so friendly that I subdue thée thou shalt in satisfactioÌ„ leaue vnto me the thing thou most likest which is my life aunswered this noble Prince as a due rewarde for my weakenesse That were much more then I would willingly request replyed the Giant but if which indéede is doubtfull thou escape my handes thy horse shall suffice me if likewise hée féele not my furie in that as I suppose he is of so singular properties If thou obtaine the victorie aunswered the Prince I promise thée my horse which I will héere in safeâ—ye leaue both for that if thou winne him thou shalt be sure to inioy him and also for that I neuer vse in anye battell to fight with aduantage Wherewith with no lesse agilitie then courage he lefte the saddle and drawing out his sword couragiously he sayd Giant prepare for thy defence for beholde me readie to beginne the fight and therewithall hée gaue him so furious an ouerthwart blowe vppon the waste that the sparkes of fire fell burning to the grounde and the strength of the stroke constrained the Giant to stagger side-warde thrée or foure steppes deceiuing him for that time of the daungerous blowe which with his peysaunt clubbe he had prouided to indaunger the Prince But when he felte this course intertainment his cholar double increasing hée lyghtlye recouered and lifting his clubbe aboue his head he determined to repaye the Prince with such vnresonable interest that at that one blowe hée woulde ende the battayle which in déede if in the descending it hadde lighted on the Gréeke it hadde not a little indaungered him But the noble Prnce béeing of no lesse prowesse then experience and nothing vnacquainted with such skirmishes hauing an eye to the maine by the nimblenesse of his bodie made waye for the blowe which without harming him fell to the grounde with such terrible furye that it caused a resounding Eccho in the woodes and mountaynes there adioyning The valyaunt Knight of the Sunne greatlye misliking so monstrous a weapon as that â—lubbe was determined with as much spéede as possiblye he might to delyuer himselfe from the daunger thereof and before the Gyaunt coulde recouer another blowe with the same he strake againe at his handes with so great force and incredible furie that he cut his heauie clubbe a sunder and moreouer if he had followed his blowe both clubbe and handes had â—allen to the ground Then when the Giant remained with no more then a yeard of his club in his hand much meruailing thereat he threw the rest at him with such rage that it whisteled in the ayre but the knight perceiuing the tronchoâ— to approch stepped aside and let it passe by and closing with him with the strength of his Herculine arme he stroke him such a blowe vpon the thigh that the harnesse brake all to péeces although they were excéeding strong and wounded him vppon the thigh which wounde although it were not much yet the aboundaunce of bloud that ranne from it did greatly trouble him The Giant séeing himselfe so ill intreated with a wonderfull and outragious furie gaue terrible fearfull shrikes and out of his helmet issued foorth a thicke smoake and therewith he drew out his huge broadâ— swoord and shrouded himselfe vnder his strong shéelde and began with great furie to redouble his strokes vppon the knight the which the noble Prince with greate nimblenesse defended him from Now héere began y e brauest best fought battaile that euer was séene betwéene two knightes there might you beholde the whole strength and valiantnesse of giants there might you perceiue all the prowesse of knighthood with euery policy vsed in armes ther might you sée how these two knights pressed one vpon another and procured one to hurt another and also to warde the cruell blowes y t the one bestowed on the other there might you view the sparks of fire like lightening flash from their terrible strokes and the péeces of harnesse flying in the aire hauing no compassion the one of the others paines but each one séeking to haue the vauntage of his enimie trauesing grounde from one place to another that it was right wonderfull to beholde and howe lyke two ramping Lyons they endured for the space of two houres without receiuing anie rest neither could it be perceiued that anie of them both did faint but rather the longer they fought the more their furie kindled and their strength augmented of the which the Gyant much meruailed and féeling the great force of his aduersarie which was before him was not a little amazed but that which most gréeued him was that he could not fasten one blowe to his contentment vpon his enimie for which cause hée beganne to exclaime agaynst his Gods but especiallye agaynst Mars for thaâ— hée was perswaded that hée was descended from Heauen to make that combat with him whereby to worke his destruction And therewith his furie double increasing with an infernall anger he multiplied his blowes with so great hast and strength that he caused the Gréeke to bestur himselfe from one place to another to make his defence but he as one which was not idle but by these means the more inflamed letting slip the bridle of all patience his valiant heroycall courage double increased and his strength lightnesse did surmount in such sort that vnder his harnesse in more then ten places he hurt the Giaunt and although the wounds were not great yet the bloud that issued out was very much Then the Giant séeing himselfe in such a pickle threw his shielde from him to the ground and with both his handes tooke his great cutting sword heauing it aloft he let it fall with such wonderfull furie that it was verye straunge to beholde But this politike Prince séeing on
couered and out of the wagon there issued a Ladie who lead a maiden childe by the hande all couered with mourning apparell which did represent great sorrowe and of so meruailous beautie as it was to bée wondered at This Ladie when shée vnderstoode which was the Emperour shée knéeled downe at his feete and with sundrie sorrowfull sighes shée lamentably sayd Considering that all distressed women and oppressed damzells forasmuch as they are women and of the weaker sort doo finde in thée Oh souereigne Emperour succour and defence what shoulde those that descende from noble and royall estate hope for at thy gracious handes Among which number this which doth present her selfe before thée is neyther the least in birth though nowe one in most miserie for redresse whereof she craueth thy aide and defence Thou shalt vnderstand O souereigne Emperour that this childe is right heire apparant vnto all the kingdome of Lyra of which she hath béen dispossessed by meruailous great violence The Emperour when he heard that this was the Quéene of Lira he did reuerence her and tooke her by the hande and caused her to stand vp and embraced her with excéeding shewe of loue offred vnto her his person and all his power at commaundement for her helpe succour Then the Lady would haue kissed his hands but the Emperour would not consent therevnto by anie meanes but tooke his horse to procéede forwards on his iourney for curtesies sake tooke vp the young quéene behinde him on horse backe and the Emperour Alicandro tooke also the other Ladie In this guise they returned vnto the Citie for to put in order all thinges for the departing of the Emperour Alicandro riding by the way the emperour Trebatio demaunded of the Ladie the cause of her coÌ„ming to the court the which she did declare vnto him not letting in her tale to shew by shedding of salt teares from her eies the sorrow that in heart she conceiued and in this wise she answered High mightie Emperour in the kingdome of Lyra not long time since raigned the father of this young Quéene in so greate prosperitie and fame that he was not onely honoured of his owne subiectes but also feared of the borderers thereabout Nigh vnto this kingdome there is an Iland called Rocaâ—or which beareth this name for the great strength it hath as well in the buildings with Castells and townes as by the inhabitaunts of the same who are verye strong of the which Iland was Lord and gouernour a Gyant of a meruailous huge and mightie bignesse beeing also proude and of verie ill conditions who hath a son of a more greater stature and fiercenesse then himselfe such a one as I beléeue hath not his like in all the world and for that he had this vauntage ouer and aboue all other it seemed vnto his Father that there was none so conuenient in marriage for his sonne as was this Damzell daughter vnto this aforenamed king and heire vnto the kingdome And thus béeing wholy determined he sent messengers vnto the king to demaund his daughter in marriage for his sonne but the king made them answere verie rigorously and although the Giants are greatly feared yet the power of this king was such that he didde estéeme them but little But when the Gyaunts Bulfar and Mandroco for so were they called did perceiue with what disdaine the king aunswered them they were readie to burst with anger neuerthelesse Mandroco gaue counsell vnto his Father saying That he alone was constrained héerein to returne for his honour and no other and that it touched him to make aunswere vnto them and that he woulde neuer be accounted to be his sonne if he did not wholy reuenge himselfe Then Bulfar who well knewe the greate strength of his sonne verie much reioyced to heare those his reasons which he vttered commaunded straight waies that it should be put in vre and so with fâ—ll determination in as secret manner as they possiblie might they gathered together fiue hundred of y e most valiantest knightes y t were in all the Iland which were almost all of their affinitie with y t which knights verie secretly they ariued vnknowen in the land of Lyra and verie closely in the beginning of the night two miles from the citie they put themselues into a little groue that was nigh at hand whereas they remained vnespied two parts of the night then vpon a sodeine when y e people were all at rest and little suspecting anie such sodeine misfortune they entered the citie neuer rested till such time as they came to the kings pallace at which entrie first encounter the king himselfe was slaine by a cruell blowe that Mandroco stroke him on his head as you may beholde héere where the bodie lyeth on a Beere within the wagon This Bulfar made such destruction in the entering of the pallace that in a small time he possessed it for his and so descending through the citie by reason y t those knights which he brought with him were of great power and strength And againe that those of the citie were vnprouided of all defence with verie little a do he ouercame them all and brought them vnder his subiection by compelling them to yéeld So I a miserable woman more then halfe dead in beholding so great damage dâ—nâ— by a false doore that belonged to y e pallace I went out whereas escaped also many of the kings knights y t were taken on a sodeine so I tooke my way forwards and came to Hircania for that the king therof was my brothers sonne cosin vnto this Princesse who receiued vs verie well was not a little sorrowfull for our misfortune From which place we sent to demaunde of the Gyaunt to surrender vnto vs that which with great violence he hadde vsurped and aunswere was retourned that they woulde not dooe it except this young Quéene shoulde first marrie with Mandroco to the which we woulde not consent for that he was so deformed So séeing his determined purpose wée sent once agayne demaunding whether he woulde giue vs the bodie of the dead king to the which they did straight wayes graunt And Mandroco sent vs worde that forsomuch as wée woulde not consent vnto that which he did require vs tending to our owne quietnesse to the ende we shoulde vnderstand how little it was that hée did estéeme of vs hee swore with a solempne oath neuer to depart out of the Kingdome for the space of two yeares with condition that in this time we should seeke two Knights who by their great force and chiualrie should ouercome his father and him in the fielde and then they would depart the lande and retourne to their owne Countrie And contrariwise if we did not procure to bring these two knightes to the battaile or els to delyuer vnto them this Ladie within that prefixed time that Mandroco might mary with hir that then they would fully possesse themselues of all the kingdome and
vnderstood that there he should goe aland wherefore he descended out of the barke and after him came his good horse and to the ende he would trauell in more safetie he mounted on his backe and looked round about him if hée coulde discouer any waye or path But not farre from the place whereas he was he beheld very faire and sumptuous buildings wherewith he tooke the way that led him thether and being nigh thervnto he saw y t it was old ancient building And as he went round about it a while for to beholde the same he saw y t ouer the principall gate was this superscription written This is the famous and auncient Temple of the goddes Venus from whence the noble Paris of Troy stole the faire Queene Helena this is the Iland of the mother of that cruell Cupide the greatest sower of discord in all the world This valiant Knight did very much content himselfe in beholding that olde and sumptuous Temple the name whereof was spred through all the world and lefte not any thing neither without nor within but behelde it fully to his contentment After that he had spent a little time in perusing this he put himselfe in a straight waye which was not farre from a foote path thereby whereas he sawe a man that was cutting of woode of whome he asked what countrie it was and who was Lord of it This man perceiuing that hée demaunded somwhat of him was not able to answere him but made signes vnto him that he was dumbe moreouer y t he should returne backe againe giuing him to vnderstande that if he did procéede forwards he should finde great peril This noble Rosicleer sayd then to himselfe I doo not know what shall chaunce or happen me notwithstanding if a thousand that had their tongues should tell me yet would I not doo it nor leaue off to follow this my pretended purpose much more thou whom I cannot vnderstand And so without any more tarrying he retourned vnto his new begun iourney and at the going vp of a hill he beheld a Castle of a mightie and straunge bignesse which was edified vpon another hills side He was a good myle from it when he discouered it and so iournying thetherward he hadde not trauailed farre when he found himselfe in a faire broad smooth way whereinto when he entred he sawe certaine footings of horses which appeared not to be made long before but that lately they had passed that way the which footings he followed although he found other fayre wayes and as much occupied as that wherein he was yet for all that because he would sée what footings they wer he would follow that way and none other so not very farre from that place where he was he heard although it was somwhat distaunt from him to his séeming a great rushing of harnesse and the more he trauailed forwards the more plainer his eares wer occupied with this martiall musicke Till in y e end drawing néerer he perceiued it was a notable well fought battaile for which cause he pricked his horse onwardes the faster in such sort y t at y t going down from a mountain into a faire broad plaine he behelde at the foot of the castle very much people and amongst them Giaunts all which were in battaile against one onely Knight of a maruailous great wel proportioned stature all armed in russet harnes without any other deuise thereon who with his swoord in both his hands made a meruailous and cruell slaughter for that at his féete there lay many of the knightes dead and also of the Gyants notwithstanding they did trouble him verie much so that hee was brought to a verie ill passe for he had hewing and striking on him more then â—ortie knights and two great gyants it was a thing of great admiration to sée how the knight did besturre himselfe beholding himselfe so beset yet for all that there was nothing looked for of him but death Somewhat on the one side a little distaunt from the battell he sawe a Damzell of a meruailous excellent beautie who with great sorrowe complained her selfe This valiaunt warriour seeing what this knight did for his defence and by his mightye prowesse appâ—ared to bee of high estate he descended and lefte hâ—s horse with a quick pace he proceeded forwards wiâ—h his swoord in his hand pretending to aide and helpe that one knight seeing he had such néede thereof Before I procéede anie farther in this battaile I will although it be somewhat troublesome to the reader declare the rest of the terrible battaile that was betwéene the two gyants in the great hall of the Court of the Emperour You haue heard how we lefte these two Gyaunts Bustrafo and Bramidoro in great coÌ„tention of the battell each one of them indeuouring themselues to winne the victory although of each parte they denyed to either other the same He that séemed to be most troubled in this battaile was the Sardenian King and with the thicke breath that proceeded from his vnpacient heart his face was inflamed with the heate thereof The which his aduersarie perceiued and like a terrible and outragious Tiger he lifte vp his mightie sword letting it fall w t such furie as though fire hadde fallen from heauen The King séeing that by no meanes he could escape it lifte vp likewise his sworde to ward that terrible blow but by reason that that of the Giaunt Bustrafos was of better stéele and of more strength hée cut the sword of the Kings in two péeces and the blowe descended vpon his shoulder and did a little hurt him When this King sawe that his sword was in two péeces hée was somewhat amazed yet for all that he lost not his knightlye courage but with a valiant heart pressed to his enimie and with that â—â—tle that remained of his sword he stroke Bustrafo vpon his helme such a blowe that if it had bene with the whole sword he had cleared himselfe at that time of this daunger yet it was not of so small force but it cut off one of his eares and carried away a péece of the iawe bone This Gyant Bustrafo féeling himselfe so sore hurt with this terrible blowe pretended to repaye him with double interest the which if it had chaunced to take effect it had made an ende of his dayes but this newe conuerted Knight ranne in vnder the blowe of Bustrafo saieng O Iesus kéepe and defend this thy newe conuerted seruaunt And so ioyning together they imbraced one another whereas began a maruailous strong wrastling wherein they continued a good while prouing their strengths and procuring the victorie the one ouer the other till at the last both being not a little wearie they fell downe to the ground tumbling héere and there from one place to another without loosing their holde in this striâ—e Bustrafo his helme fell from his head by reason that she laces wherewith it was made fast were cut in péeces
séeke for continually with great sorrowe Therefore I doo desire thée O soueraigne Emperour if at any time thou hast passed the paines of loue that thou woldest pitie them that are so sore afflicted and vnfortunate and doo not denie me thy aide helpe for if I were the daughter of base parents yet in respect I am a woman thou arte bound to succour and aide me Much more for that I am Lidia the daughter of the King of Lidia who for the loue of that liberall Brenio of Lusitania I am coÌ„strained to proâ—ure his libertie and for the perfourmance thereof your highnes shall not denie me a promise or boone that I will demaund in so dooing thou shalt performe all that is due vnto thy Estate and by duetie thou doost owe vnto such as I am The Emperour who was meruailous attentiue vnto all that this faire Ladie had sayd very much beholding hir great beautie he aunswered and sayd Of my faith faire Lady I will not let to remedye this thy sorrowe much more then I am bound to doo by my high estate and will procure by all meanes to ease this thy afflicted euill Therefore now aske what thou séemest best for thy purpose for I am héere ready to performe all that by thée shall be demaunded of me The Ladie sayd I looked for no other thing but this of thy Emperiall dignitie Therfore â—ouereign Emperour it is requisite that alone without any other companie you goe with me to giue me this remedye The Emperour although hée sawe that it was a haynous thing at that time to leaue his whole Court and estate yet did he not showe any such countenance but with a valiant courage he called for his armor the which was straight way brought vnto him being all of russet colour and the shield of the same colour and ther was portrayed in it the picture of leane Death with a sharp flesh hooke in his hand All the Kings and Lords that were present at that time would haue disswaded him from this his enterprise but specially and aboue all the rest the auncient Prince of Clarencia sayde Soueraigne Lorde it is not conuenient nor agréeable vnto your high estate to venture your selfe in that which appertaineth vnto trauayling and vâ—ntrous Knights behold Lord Princes although they be liberall in promising yet they ought to moderate themselues in performing neither shuld Princes be so bountifull of themselues for many times by procuring to exâ—oll their fame they abate the worthinesse of their estate And againe he that hath not to whom to giue reckoning but vnto himselfe to him alone doth Fortune faile Notwithstanding thou O souereigne Emperour art more bounde to looke and haue a care vnto your owne subiects more then to your owne person And a good Prince ought rather to subiect his will to the fauouring of his people then to please his owne appetite For which cause honourable Lord you must pardon vs for that we will not willingly consent that onely for desire of this pompous same that you doo pretende we should loose your person Tell me noble Emperour if that Forâ—une shoulde as she was woont to doo tourne hir whéele and kéepe your honour from vs it would not onelye make an ende of you but also depriue vs of the most noblest and worthiest Lord vnder the Sunne All those that were there present and heard these reasons which the Prince vttered did greatly praise and allowe his discréete saieng So this honourable Emperour without shewing any alteration aunswered and sayd Noble Kings and Princes and my very friends I giue you great thankes for the good will you doo showe mée in that you would not that I shuld be absent from you likewise you shall vnderstande that it dooth as much grieue me to seperate my selfe from your companyes and I doo thinke my selfe blessed to haue such noble Knights as you bée vnto my subiects notwithstanding you must consider that as you doo loue the bodie and person of your Prince so likewise you should desire and procure his fame and honour for you knowe you haue many meates that are verye sauourie to the taste of anie man and yet to the contrarye verye hurtfull to the stomacke It is a verye good thing to liue vnder compasse and that gouerning is good by the which fame and honour is not diminished as this for that he that is bounde must procure perfourme and maintayne his promise For if I of my owne frée will and to féede myne owne appetite hadde procured and mooued this iourney you had had great reason for to haue disswaded mée but béeing sought for and procured héereto by this noble and distressed Damosell for hir defence then what reason is it that I shoulde abandon my faith Tell mée I praie you if now I should falsifie my promise what hope of confidence heereafter shoulde remaine in you of my vertue Of truth I saie vnto you that Prince which doth not keepe and maintaine his faith which hee hath promised in giuing his wordâ— hée is vnworthie of lyfe And séeing that I haue graunted this iourney although you be displeased therewith I beséech you comfort your selues for that by iustice I am constrained to goe trusting in almightie God to retourne againe vnto you with greate honour and renowne What woulde the worlde saie when that for feare of humane thinges I leaue to mainetaine iustice and righteousnesse and the obseruation and kéeping of my worde Surely they woulde report me for a Prince of small vertue déeme you so perswading mée not worthie of a good Prince for y â— many times God doth shew his power whereas the weaknesse of humane thinges be without all hope Therefore I doo desire you all my friendes that you will not withdrawe mée from this my pretended purpose for if I were not willing therevnto you were all bound to complaine of mée And making an ende of these his reasons he began to arme himselfe The Empresse that of all this thing was ignoraunt when shée vnderstood therof by some of them that were present with the Emperour shée came with shedding of manye teares for to hinder and withdrawe him from his iourney the Emperours heart was somewhat gréeued to heare hir sorrowfull words but with an heroycall courage he commaunded her to returne vnto her closet and willed all those that were present to goe and beare her companie and would that none should remaine with him but Brandimardo vnto whom the Emperour in greate secret sayd That when Rosicleer or the knight of the Sun should returne to the court that hee shoulde tell them that he was gone to Lidia at the instaunt of the Ladye for to restore her againe to her kingdome With this he did charge him verie much and that they shoulde straight wayes and without anie delaye departe for that place Brandimardo thought greate friendshippe in this which the Emperour commaunded and gaue him greate thankes with faythfull promise to accomplish the same and taking his leaue
full of great ioy he fell vppon Rosicleer his necke and sayd Oh my sonne I did well vnderstand that in the time of my greatest necessitie that thou wouldest neuer deceiue me with greate reason I may call thée my fortunate sonne not for that thou wert borne in a good daie but also that loue did cause so greate affection to thy mother of whome hath procéeded such finite as thou and thy brother Nowe of this worthie Prince what shall I saye that with verie ioye he was almost beside himselfe when he heard his Father the Emperour speake for by the sounde of his voyce he did know him So straight waye the Emperour pulled of his helme wherewith this valiaunt Rosicleer was fully resolued and without all doubt When he sawe the maiestie of his regall countenaunce and his bearde adorned with some royall white haires his face somewhat high coloured by reson of the great trauaile he receiued in his late battailes in the which he showed his great power and the prowesse of the progenie from whence he did procéede his sonne bowed downe his knées to the earth and lifted vp the visour of his healme and kissed the Emperours hands bathing them with the teares that fell from his eyes which was forced by his heart for the great ioye which he receiued The Emperour tooke him by the hand raysed him from the ground with great loue If I should héere declare the rest of the extremities that passed in this their ioyfull méeting it should be very tedious vnto the hearers therfore I doo remit it vnto such a father whose lot it is to haue good children therwith their like helpe in necessitie So without making any more delay the Emperour would haue deliuered out of prison the Knight of this faire Lidia the which being vnderstoode by them of the Castle they straight waye brought him before the Emperour with many other moe which were pertakers with him in the succour of the Lady These Knightes altogether gaue great thankes vnto the Emperour for y e friendship he had shewed them in helping them out of this theyr terrible imprisonment And thus they remained in great ioy and pleasure as well the Emperour for the sight of his son as also all those which were prisoners for the good successe that they had but especially and aboue all the rest was the ioye of Lidia which with the contentment that she receiued to sée hir Brenio in hir companie so that she was almost rauished of hir wits but in the countenaunce of the Knight it appeared by his outward showe that he receiued no pleasure the which being vnderstoode by this faire Lidia not knowing the cause whereof it should procéede to mooue him therevnto all hir great ioye and delight was tourned into despaire Then the Emperour commaunded those of the Castle that they should giue him somewhat to eate and likewise to all the rest which were taken out of prison vnto him for the great trauaile which he had passed in this battaile and vnto the rest for that they had great néed thereof So it was straight way made ready and that in very good order and they all sate downe together at the Emperours table So when they had almost dined and that they were well refreshed the Emperour tolde vnto Rosicleer who that King was which he had séene in the waggon the occasion thereof for the which he desired him that no other aduenture should be the occasion to let him but to goe straight vnto Constantinople and to take in companie with him Brandimardo and procure that the Lady might be restored againe vnto her kingdome vsing all your diligence to giue hir him to wife for that the noble Prince is worthye of no small honour And héere my sonne I doo professe vnto thée that a more beautifull Ladie in all my life I haue not séene but onely the Empresse Claridiana Also if that fortune doo so serue that thy brother the Knight of the Sunne come to those parts thou shalt will him that he doo not mooue nor depart from those parts for any kinde of aduenture that shall succéede till such time as I doo retourne for that nowe at this present I cannot retourne for that I haue sworne and giuen my word So there he tolde vnto them all the historie of that infortunate Herea at the which all they present receiued great sorrowe sauing onely Brenio which séemed that he receiued neither pleasure nor ioy So when the boord was voyded Rosicleer tooke his leaue of the Emperour his father and leaped vp on his horse and tooke the way which led him whereas he left his boate He was no sooner entred into it but it began to make way and sailed with so great swiftnesse that the third day he arriued at Constantinople whereas at this present we will leaue him ¶ How the Ladie Lidia talked with her Knight Brenio who was verie sad demaunding of him the cause of his discōtentment of other accidents Cap. 14. HEere you haue heard of the great discontentment that Brenio did showe at such time as he came out of the prison and in how short time the ioye that Lidia receyued was tourned into sorrowe and sadnes and that she could not demaund to knowe the occasion by reason of the company that was there so she was driuen to passe all that daye with bitter sorrowes and anguish of minde and without all comfort till such time as the night approched thinking y t when she was alone with him whom she loued more then her selfe to aske of him the occasion of all his paine Thus hir desire being brought to passe this false Brenio did vncloath himselfe and the time that he was making vnreadie he neuer lefte wéeping till such time as he was layd in his bed This faire Ladie leaning with hir brest vpon the bolster ioyned her hands with his and said My swéete Brenio what thing hath caused thée thus against the firme loue that I haue towards thée to shewe thy selfe so sad as it doth appeare by thy heauie chéere turne my loue and showe a ioyfull face and giue me some comfort with thy smiling countenaunce let my troubled hart receiue some ease of that vnmeasurable sorrowe which I haue sustained during the time that these vnknowen and traiterous people haue kept thée in prison and absent from my sorowfull sight What is this my swéete Brenio hast thou seene in me any occasion to dissolue this faithfull loue which I beare thee Let the great trauaile sighs sorrowes mooue the which I receiued to finde out the Emperour and bring him to set thee at libertie and if this be not sufficient consider with what great loue I haue passed many sorrowfull wayes and terrible stormes for to attaine thy presence as now I doo And héere I doo sweare vnto thée by the true faithfull loue which caused me so sorowfully to wéepe being on the déepe sea that if I the infortunate Lidia be not
he put the children and also their nourse for that the children did crie pitifully for their nourse and the nourse likewise shed many teares and began to torment her selfe when they should be carried awaye and so béeing in the Chariot they trauailed and left behind them Armenia and the faire and white Albania the great Sea of Caspro and likewise Marmantina the Gran Tartaria with his surmounted seas which is seperated from the great sea they passed likewise by Armenia the great and came vnto the head spring of Euphrates which doth begin a hundred miles from Damasco is compassed about with two faire cities y â— one of them to the Eastward called Ierosolima the other is scituated to the Ponents called Sabiosca Héere he caused his waggon to descend for to ease themselues and that the children should take some refreshing the which was done to the great contentment of them all and being somewhat wearie of their iourney the Gyant fell a sléepe and so likewise the nourse who was called Formisa with Claridiano in her armes who also was a sléepe but Rosaluira was awake and being apparailed with very rich apparell of white Damaske all spotted full of Iewells of golde and pearles shée descended out of the Waggon and with her faire yelowe haire which séemed to be golde wiers all hanging down behinde on her back gardished about with very rich iewells without all feare she went vnto the riuers side the which was beset on euery side with very faire Orchards and gardeines and all the fields garnished with diuers kindes of swéete flowers and gréene hearbes which serued for the feeding of many shéepe that were nigh at hand féeding by the riuers side And she receiued such contentment in these swéet delights that before she was aware she was very far from the place whereas her brother and the rest were a sléepe There was nigh that place a shepheard which kepte certaine shéepe with that exercise he passed his lyfe although with great miserie and in a very poore and little cottage who séeing that Infant all alone and so gallantlye adorned with rich apparell he drew néere the place whereas she was and looked round about him towardes all parts to sée if there were any that came after her to séeke her or if shée had any kéeper but when he sawe that there was no body he tooke her by the hand and the childe followed him with a verye good will alwaies looking him in the face The Shepheard spake vnto her in the Tartarian tongue and the childe spake vnto him in the Chaldean tongue and asked of him somewhat to eate with a smiling countenance this shepheard did partly vnderstand her lead her vnto his house and gaue her a dish of milke and sops of bread and the childe being a hungred did eate it with a very good will The shepheards wife who was somewhat discréete séeing the great riches that this infant Rosaluira had about her sayde Husband I do beléeue that this child is of some high lignage as it doth appeare by her apparell and surmounted beautie It shall be verye well that we doo kéepe her héere till such time as we doo know what she is For in kéeping and making much of such a faire creature cannot choose but redound vnto vs great profite And if it so fall out that we cannot learne nor know what she is with this ritches y t she hath about her we may bring our selues out of all trouble and be more richer then any shepheard in all this Countrey This shepheard receiued great ioye with the finding this childe acknowledging all that which his wife had sayd vnto him to be very good and well spoken and so in great secret they kept her eight dayes maintaining her in the best wise they could with such meates as they were accustomed to eate alwayes hauing a great care at all times when he went to Ieroshlima to demaund if there were any inquirie for such a childe although he beléeued for a certaintie that she was of some straunge Countrey by reason of her apparaile and different language which was an occasion that they put in practise their determined purpose and laing all feare apart they tooke from her her rich apparrell and put on shepheards apparell as was accustomed amongest them wherewith this childe was as well content as with the other and vnder that course raiment she did discouer so great and surpassing fairenesse y t Diana was almost ashamed to extend her siluer beames whereas this young feminine shepheard did walke who alwayes carried in her hande a litle shepheards crooke and following the shéepe whereas they did féed many times with her golden haire about hir shoulders being of so great beautie that the glistering beames of Appollo passing thorough appeared to haue no vauntage of it The olde sheapheardes wife did verie well intrate her and made as much of her as she could for that those iewells was the occasion of their great wealth And againe this sheapheard was wise for when he sawe himselfe rich of money yet would he not begin to vse his wealth too spéedely because he woulde not giue anie to vnderstand of his sodaine riches but by little and little he did imploie it in buying more sheepe in such sorte that he came to be the richest shepheard in all that Prouince accounting and esteeming of that childe more then if she had ben their owne daughter Now let vs returne vnto the Gyaunt that we left sleeping who when he awaked and found missing the infant was verie sadde and tooke a booke and beganne to make his accustomed coniurations to knowe where shée was become but hee could not come to the knowledge of her nor anie thing touching her and when he sawe that he had not so much learning to knowe where this infant was hée called to remembraunce the wise Lyâ—gandeo and Artemidoro beléeuing surely that one of them had carried her awaie and beeing in this beleeâ—e hée straight wayes without anâ—â— more tarrying went into his Wagon and beganne againe to trauaile but the greate sorrowe and lamentation that Claridiano made for the absence of his sister was verie gréenous to heare Likewise the Nurse Formisa did beare him companie with manie teares and sorrowful sighs but the Gyaunt caused them to holde their peace and did comfort them in the best manner he could and so trauailing he left behinde him the riuer Euphrates the kingdâ—me of Syria and of Babylonia the greate kingdome of Media the Gran Tartaria and the high mountaine Masarpicoronas in the which Alexander did shut vp the Centaures Likewise hee passed other greate mountaines riuers and kingdomes which I doo héere omit for to auoide tediousnesse So long they trauailed till they came to the kingdome of Tigliafa and passed the Port of Palato and left behinde them Sina and put his wagan in the pleasant Iland of Trapobana within the Pallaâ—ce of the king of Delso before whome hée did present
past he would haue weapt with great sorrowe for the hurt which he had done he hadde one custome which was verie diuellish béeing no small blemish vnto all the rest of his good qualities that he woulde neuer pardon them of whome he had receiued iniurie So when this Pagan was come into the pallaice and in the Quéenes presence with a graue countenaunce and hardie voice he declared his embassage and by reason that at that time the quéene had not her heart at libertie she gaue him for answere without tarrying to take anie farther counsaile that her intent was not as yet to marrie for that she was verie young wherwith this Pagan departed and did returne to giue this answere vnto his brother Bramarandus at which he was verie irefull commaunded to make sacrifices vnto Mahomet praying vnto him for to chaunge the will of the Queene that shée might marrie with him Then there was made aunswere vnto him by the Diuell which hadde entered into that infernall Image of Mahomet that hée shoulde not tarrie for anye other hope to obtaine her but by force of armes and that hee shoulde procure with all his strength and power for to marrie her adding that from her shoulde procéede an infant at whose valyauntnesse and strength halfe the world shoulde tremble and stande in feare This false God did well diuine and prognosticate but yet he did deceiue the wretched Bramarandus in saying that of his séede shoulde procéed such a child when he heard y e answere of this accursed Mahomet he commanded y t withall diligence should bée ioyned together fiue hundred of the most valiantest knights that might be chosen not onely in Mauritania but also in Numidia and Garamantes for that not one King of all these countryes would deny him any thing with pretence with them and himselfe in person to win by force that which by faire meanes he could not obtaine and imbarking themselues with a prosperous winde they came in a small time vnto Tinacria and before they would goe alaâ—d they did send their Ambassador a shore to sée if they did finde her first purpose altered The which message was committed to a mightie strong Moore called Forimon who did declare it vnto the Quéene with proud and obstinate words threatening them with cruel warres if to the contrary they would not conâ—ent vnto the marriage There was present at this Embassage the Earle of Modique and the Earle of Modeli and the Earle Farlera and the Marques of Aposto and many other valiant Knights and although they made an outward showe that they did not estéeme of it nor made any reckoning thereof yet they were in great feare The good Earle of Modique with a sad voyce said Oh mightie Iupiter how well thou hast payed thy selfe for the great curtesie which thou hast showed vs in giuing vs for our Ladyes and gouernours the fairest damosels in the world For not long since we did behold one of theÌ„ w t her own hands to thrust a sword through her brest which was a pitifull sight to sée now y e other is euen at y e poynt to doo y e lyke Notwithstanding now shall my life perish for to maintain my honor in y e seruice of my Lady and Quéene And with this they did all determine rather to haue warres with honour then peace with shame waying the little good will the Quéene had to marrie with him to take him for hir husband And with this determination they gaue him for aunswere that the Queene was not intended to marrie as yet so that if hée pleased to tarrie the time he might if not he might doo as he thought best and that they would not let but defende the honour of their Lady and Quéene The messenger not well pleased with the aunswere retourned to declare it vnto his Lord. And when he was gone all the Quéenes Knights determined to fortifie themselues in the Citie and make all things very strong and so they gaue the Quéene to vnderstand thereof whereof she was verye well content séeing them so well incouraged for her defence The daye following they commaunded to call together all the best Knights of y e land that they might come to her aide and succour for that there were verye manye in that Iland But that same night Venus would haue wrought one of her accustomed cruelties if she had not bene hindered as héerafter you shall heare in the chapter following ¶ How the Queene beeing kindeled with the fire of loue and seeing that the Emperour would giue her no remedie of her paine wold haue stroke her selfe with a sword to the heart wherewith to haue finished her life and how the Emperour was coÌ„strained to consent vnto her will Cap. 21. IN the meane time that they were putting all things in good order as you haue heard Cupide did not cease but continuallye tormented the Quéene so that euery daye she did not let to trouble the Emperor with hir louing and amorous complaints prouoking him in what she might vnto her will who alwayes with great discretion did delay the same vntill the last night that they were determined to leaue the Pallaice and to enter into the Citie Then this faire Ladye indured verye greate paine vntill such time as the cleare Diana with the fairnes of her beames had passed the halfe part of her iourney when that all the people were at their accustomed and naturall rest Then this faire Garrofilea arose vp from her bed with a desperate determination which the force of loue inforced her to practise and couering her selfe with a very rich robe she tooke a sword which had bene the King her Fathers and put it vnder her lefte arme and in her right hande shée carried a light that she might the better finde the dore the which she opened as softly as was possible at such time as the Emperor was very fast a sléepe and when she saw that he did not heare her entering in she went vnto the beddes side with the light in her hand that she might contemplate her selfe in beholding the graue and faire face of the Emperour and vnto her it séemed that in all the world there was not such another nor that there could be any greater thing to be desired then that which her heart did require In this sort she was beholding him a great while vntill such time as the sorrowfull sighes Garrofilea set caused the Emperor to awake and when he saw the Quéene he was very much amazed and would haue risen vp whereto y e Quéene would not consent but caused him to lye still and setting the light vpon a table which was in the chamber she came and sate her downe vpon the bed by the Emperour and shedding many teares of perfect and true loue she sayd My Lord I wold very faine know what thou dost pretend towards me most vnfortunate Quéene wounded with the darte of Cupide onely by the sight of thy excéeding personage For knowing it
one side of his helme which was verye fine mettall that he made it sound like a bell which caused him to turne vp the white of the eye and he was almost beside himselfe He had scarce giuen him this blowe when likewise y â— Earle of Modique gaue him another that made him to decline his head to his breast wherewith Fabinio gaue him also another blowe which bereâ—te him cleane of his remembrance insomuch that his horse caried him round about the field euen as one dead with his armes hanging downe The knightes of Tinacria with greate furie did followe him to sée if they coulde make an ende of this theyr battaile but straight waie hée came to himselfe and séeing how they had compassed him about and considering into what greatâ— perill they had brought him he recouered againe his sword the which hung by the wrist bande and tourning about his horse hee roared like a wilde Bull which had bene bayted and pressed vnto Fabinio and stroke him so furious a blowe that hée carryed awaie both his shéelde and healme with a greate parte of his head and hée fell downe dead to the earth Then the Earle of Modique forthwith stroke the Mauritanian such a blowe on his armes y t both of them were wounded but most of all the right arme for that the force of the blow was more on that side then on the other wherewith this furious African séeing him within his reach with his lefte fist hee stroke him vpon the visour of his healme so greate a blowe that without anie remembraunce hée made him to fall backwards vpon the crouper of his horse Then the Earle stroke at him an ouerthwart blowe vppon his healme with so greate force that hée made the sparkes of fire to flye out the which did gréeue him verie much and as one desperate hée lifte vp his swoorde with greate furie to strike the Earle who with verie much nimblenesse put himselfe on the one side and caused him to loose his blowe at the which he was verie angrie and flourishing with his swoord hée chaunced to light vppon the wast of one of them and cutting him in two péeces hée fell downe dead to the ground and not resting with this but continuing his furie he lyfted vp his sharpe and cutting sword and stroke another a blow vppon the left shoulder whome he diuided downe to the girdle At this verie same time the valyaunt Rubio of Yscla was come to himselfe and recouering his horse he leapt vppon his backe with excéeding great lightnesse and ioyned himselfe with the foure knightes which remayned of all the rest and there he beganne with greate furie striking on the Pagan in sundrie places and the Earle of Modique Mondeli likewise did multiplie their blowes in great hast At the which the Pagan was so furious that without all patience he beganne to redouble his strokes and stroke the Earle of Mondeli vpon his healme that hee made him fall to the ground verie sore hurt and voiding bloud out of his mouth yet this blowe was not giuen so much at his ease but hée must needes receiue for it foure blowes which had almost depriued him of his wits Heere Rubio of Yscla beganne to multiplie his blowes with so great hast and therewithall so mightily that he put the Pagan into great extremitie This furious king tourned for to strike him a blowe at his pleasure but the nimblenesse of this Tinacrian was such that many times he made him to loose his blowes at the which this Pagan was verie much amazed but because he coulde not strike him at his will as he intended hée determined to leaue him and to returne vnto the rest and at two blowes he ouerthrew two knights the one starke dead and the other verie sore wouÌ„ded so ther remained no more but he of Modique Rubio of Ysola the earle which turned again to horsback so like desperate meÌ„ without hope to escape they stroke at the furious Moore but hée seeing himselfe more at libertie began to worke wonders vpon them cutting them on the right hand and on the left in this order they trauailed more then two houres that the strength and valiauntnesse of the Moore was not sufficient to subiect them Then this Pagan seeing such resistaunce he firmed himselfe in his stiroppes and lifting vp his swoorde on high hee stroke such a blowe at him of Modique that without anie remembrance he made him fall vppon his horse crouper and woulde haue doubled that blowe for to haue made an ende of him but Rubio did disturbe him giuing him such a side blowe vppon his helme that hee made him to loose that which hée was striking causing his swoorde to faâ—â— out of his hande that he coulde not execute it and the Earle séeing him in that plight straight wayes retourned another on his lefte shoulder which gréeued the Pagan verie sore In this time the Earle of Modique was come againe vnto himselfe and setteled himselfe againe in his saddle and being firmed against the Pagan hée stroke him such a blowe that glauncing he gaue him a little wound whereout issued bloud The Moore féeling himselfe hurt retourned against him of Mâ—dique but this light Rubio was with him him at a pinch and stroke him another blowe on his shoulder that he made him shrinke in all his bodie of which hee made little account but desired onely to goe vnto him which had drawen his bloud who lykewise with greate courage did attend his comming hauing both his handes on his swoorde so they discharged theyr blowes both together which were verie mightie and strong wherewith he of Modique all his healme béeing bathed in bloud fell without anie remembraunce to the ground and the furiour Pagan in spite of his heart declined his head to the horse necke Then the valiant Tinacrian quickly turned to strike him and before that he could rayse vp himselfe againe hee stroke him so strong a blowe that without all remembrance he made him to stagger vpon his horse y t hée lacked verie little to fall to the ground The Tinacrian séeing him in this traunce neuer lefte striking him vntill such time as he did see that hee beganne to come againe to himselfe and knowing that hes power was not sufficient to make resistaunce hée tourned his horse head and with all hast rode towardes the Citie in such sorte that when the Moore was wholye come againe vnto himselfe the Tinacrian was in safetie wherein he did wiselie for if he had tarryed it coulde not haue fallen out otherwise but that hée must needes haue dyed by the handes of the cruell Pagan Then the Morisco king séeing all the field cléere and without trouble hée felte himselfe to bée verie sore vexed with the spéedie blowes which the Tinacrians had bestowed vpon him and commanded to carrie those knightes which were aliue from the rest vnto the tent whereas hée should 〈◊〉 and he likewise went to take his rest and ease
goe and séeke thée to giue thée to vnderstand that my furie is more then thy power And when he had concluded with this he went foorth of the chamber and with a terrible noise he called for his armour the which was straight waie brought vnto him and without tarrying to bée made knight he commaunded to arme him with armour that was all white made by art Magick thē he commanded a ship to be made readie furnished entred into it with intent to go to Grecia and there to aske the order of knighthoode of the Emperour when he had receiued it to defie him to mortall battaile but it chaunced not vnto him as he thought it would for y e the sea with some of his accustomed torments carried him vnto the coast of France by reason of his small patience once béeing a land he would not retourne to imbarke himselfe in his ship but remained with onely two lackeyes and commaunded the vessell to returne backe againe and so went traueling whether his fortune would carrie him two dayes The third day very early in the morning he heard a great rushing of armour amongst a company of trées going towards the same noise he saw a Knight of a very good proportion agaynst a great◠number of other Knights in a very fierce and vnreasonable battaile And for to tell you who it was it is requisite that we begin another chapter in the which I will declare the whole matter vnto you ¶ How that the Knight of the Sunne would haue tarried for Tefereo in the place whereas he appointed him and how he lost himselfe in a thick mountaine and of all that happened vnto him after that Cap. 24. THe knight of the Sunne who was purposed to tarrie for Tefereo whereas he appointed him put himselfe into the wildernes of Ardenia with a reasonable quicke pace but because of the great thicknesse of trées bushes being amongst them and againe troubled with thoughts wherewith his minde was occupied hée lost his way and in such sorte that although he tourned his horse euery way from one place to another yet could he not finde any way but rather did so intangle himself that when the night came he found himselfe so far from the place wher as he thought to haue remained that he was in doubt to recouer his waye and his company he knewe not when for the which he receiued great griefe which was the occasion that he died very euill words against himselfe So beeing in this cholar the night drew on which constrayned him to alight from his horse and sate him downe vnder a greene tree hauing set his horse to feede in the gréene grasse of the which there was abundaunce at hande and so in the best wise he could he laid him downe vpon the ground to take some rest for a while and towards his right hand he hard a great noyse of the running of water and being very drye he was constrayned to arise againe And so he went féeling following that pittering sound of water vntill such time as he found a little fountaine of very faire and cléere water and by reason of the great drought that he had without any more tarrying he knéeled downe to drinke thereof till such time as he had mitigated his great thirst and remayned there a while to refresh himselfe for that the place was very pleasaunt so after a while he returned vnto the place whereas he was before and layd himselfe downe to rest He had not remained there long but he felt the water to begin to worke in him For you shall vnderstand that this was one of the fountaines of Marlin which he made in that wildernesse and brought the water from the high mountayne of Olympo But this fountaine whereof the Knight of the Sunne did drinke was that of Disamore or without loue In such sort it did worke in him that he did not onely loose and forget the loue which he had to Lindabrides but also if it had not bene for the great force of matrimonye and for the pawne that he receiued of Claridiana he hadde likewise forgot her and had brought her as far out of remembrance as he did the Lady of Tartaria And this water did not onely cause forgetfulnesse but also it forced him to reprehende himselfe saieng Oh foole without any vnderstanding that so long hast had thy heart subiected vnto a Ladye that is a straunger vnto thy Religion intreating thée not as a man that dooth procéede from a high and noble generation but lyke the most basest and vilest wretch in al the world Tel me thou lost man who hath bene affectioned vnto a Moore without faith but onely thy selfe Who would haue left his naturall wife for to loue a stranger Barbarian but thou Who would giue so many sighes in vaine but I most miserable giuing occasion of euerlasting death and damnation vnto my soule Oh base and grose vnderstanding in what didst thou set thy loue What beautie didst thou see in her that thou wouldst follow her as one lost for her loue What blindnesse hath constrained thée considering the great valour of the royall Empresse and with what liberalitie she hath surrendred all her Kingdomes and her owne person into thy hands These and other like complaints he made against himselfe without taking any sleepe or rest but was sore troubled with this thought till such time as the morning came and that Phoebus with his golden beames couered all the earth then hée tooke his horse with a more lighter heart and cléerer of all thoughts then at the time he came thether for that he had as cleane forgot Lindabrides as though he had neuer séene her So all that daye he trauelled in that wildernesse not knowing which way to take and had eaten nothing neither had he any thing to eate the which did trouble him very much So when night drewe on he discouered a heard of cattell which were there féeding in the wildernesse and determined to goe towards that place whereas the heard men were who receiued him very well This Knight did aske of them if they had any thing to giue him to eate for that hée was very hungrie the heard men bad him that he should alight and that they would giue him of such as they had for themselues So he alighted did eate with a very good will and so good a stomacke as one which had not his heart nor minde occupied with the cares of loue and there with those heard men he passed all that night till it was morning So when it was daye one of the heard men did bring him into a very great occupied way to whom he gaue great thanks Then the Knight tooke that waye forwards which led him towards Prouince intending to sée if he could méet with his friend and did determine to trauaile thereabouts to sée if Fortune would bring him that waye he had not trauailed farre when that he discouered
of my armes I hope to cut off this wretched head from thy accursed shoulders And it was very true which was spoken for when she went away from the company of the Ladies she went to arme her selfe with purpose to demaund battaile of the Empresse Claridiana but when she came forth she founde them as you haue alreadye heard The Pagan could be no more angry and wrathfull then he was and without speaking any word he turned stroke very strongly at the Quéene who with no lesse fury defended her selfe and returned his blowes with both her hands that it made a meruailous noyse At this present time approched the two lights of all knighthood the Emperour of Grecia and his sonne and with them the Giaunt and the rest of the Princes that came with them You shall vnderstande that these were the two knights that in the high waye they founde in cruell battaile and meruailing verye much at the power that was in the two warriours they stayed to behold them not knowing who they were The Knight of the Sunne who had his eyes more fixed on them then the rest did knowe the Pagan as one which had first proued his furious force turning vnto y e Emperor his father he told him all that which had hapned vnto him in the fierce battaile which he hadde fought before with him in Fraunce Then they estéemed much the knight with the Lilies to sée how well and how valiauntly he did behaue himselfe not onely in this subtill defence which against his aduersarie he made but also his pollicie he made in offending his enimie So the knight of the Sunne with the greate desire that hée had to reuenge himselfe on the Pagan mooued his horse towardes him At which time there came forth of the village a Knight with white armour all full of Garlands of golde made by subtill art Likewise his shéelde was white and there was painted on it an Emperiall head which shewed as though it had béene cut off with a cruell knife the throat all so bée rayed with bloud verie artificially wrought and when hée sawe the battaile hée put himselfe to behold them at such time as the valyaunt Gréeke approched vnto the two knightes that were in battaile for to speake vnto them and hée sayd Worthie knight with the Lyllyes for curtesies sake if this battayle be of small importaunce that thou wouldest let me alone with this Pagan for that I haue a iust quarrell against him This excellent Ladie looking vppon the knight of the Sunne as one which had neuer séene him meruailing much at his fayre disposition and replyed saying I woulde be verie gladde sir Knight for your great curtesie and gentle demeanour to leaue to you the battaile if the occasion were not of so greate waight Therefore I dooe desire you that you would stand aside for if my successe fall out vnfortunatly there will time inough remaine for to execute your anger The Moore did well vnderstand the demaunde of the Knight of the Sunne and knewe him verye well to bée the same that gaue him the order of Knighthood and when hée sawe him hée roared lyke a furious Lyon saying Oh vile and base Knight to whome Mahomet hath giuen more power and strength then hée hath himselfe come come and bring with thée in companie all these that bée there with thée for of all you together I dooe estéeme nothing at all and in saying these wordes hée pressed vnto the Knight of the Sunne verie fiercely and with greate courage the knight of the Sunne met him in the waye and put himselfe before the Quéene but this excellent Ladie with great lightnesse returned and did recouer her standing and said vnto him Knight bée not so farre out of measure to giue ease and helpe vnto them that giue thée no thankes for it But the Prince who was then burning with wrath retourâ—ed againe by the lefte side to put himselfe before her and gaue the Pagan so terrible a blowe that he made all his bodye to shake The knight with the Lillyes did put himselfe againe before and sayde In an euill houre doest thou vse this greate vncurtesie with one that thou doest not knowe The fearce Pagan in all this time was not idle but at such time as the Quéene did crosse the waye for to take her roome the Pagan stroke her so stronglye that it lacked but a little that shée fell not from her horse to the ground The knight with the Emperiall head when he sawe that set his spurres to his horse and sayd O men of small estimation come hether to mée one of you and dooe not occupie your selues in such controuersies And with saying these and such lyke wordes hée stroke the Quéene such a blowe that he made her téeth to chatter in her head in such sorte that shée had almost lost her féeling but hée had no cause to boast himselfe verie much of that blowe for that quickly she retourned his salutation with so great strength that shée gaue him well to vnderstand her cauragious force Nowe there beganne a rigorous battayle and the Knight of the Sun remained alone with the Pagan Oh wise and warrelyke Eliza giue mée to drinke of that water which the nine sisters did discouer that by the helpe of that swéet liquor I may make sharpe my rude tongue so that mixing the spéech of Mercurie with the prowesse of Mars I maye vnfolde this furious battayle which these foure knightes made who with excéeding and wonderfull blowes stroke one another without anie casing that they made them whether they woulde or no to incline their bodyes to theyr horse head without anie féeling In this sorte continued these valyaunt and warlyke knightes a good space till such time as the Empresse Claridiana came in great hast running with her light horse and making a great noise without anie consideration but onely to bée reâ—enged on the Pagan and sayd Giue roome giue roome for this battaile dooth belong vnto mée to make an ende thereof And without anie more speaking shée put her selfe before the knight of the Sunne and beganne to laye on the Pagan with her furious blowes The Pagan was nothing abashed at that but as one which had strength and courage inough he receiued them Then the knight of the Sunne with greate anger sayde Tell mée knight what is the cause which hath mooued thée to offer such lyke villanie This womanly warriour retourned vnto him and straight waye shée did knowe him to bée the Knight of the Sunne Héere all you true louers may iudge the greate ioye that shée receiued when shée beheld before her him who with so great loue she loued and the greate desire she had to heare of him So shée replyed with verie amorous wordes and sayde My déere and welbeloued Lord séeing that fortune hath brought you hether at this instaunt procure ioyntly with your reuengement to work mine against this Pagan Then the knight of the Sunne did knowe that it was his
Fathers name was Cosdros he was one of them that was slaine by the handes of Bramarandus whom afterwardes the Emperour Trebatio slew in battaile So I remained all alone very much made off well beloued of the widdowe my mother and we kepte our selues in a very faire castle of ours not far from this place whereas we did passe our solitary liues So I was required of loue of a Gentleman more richer in goodes and landes than in linage or vertue and I vnderstanding his litle estimation did alwayes esteeme him as little and neuer made any reckoning of his messages the which was the occasion that his desire was the more stronger in such sorte that he séeing himselfe by me not estéemed but put off with the great griefe that he receiued for my loue he dyed and at the houre of his death he neuer left naming of Felina the cause of all my harme At such time as he dyed there was a brother of his present and hearing him to declare the causer of his death there kindeled in him so much anger and wrath that he bare vnto me a perpetuall hatred and did procure to haue amends for the death of his brother So it hapned on a time that I went out of the Castle without any mistrust in the company of other two damsells at which time I was stole away by him and other foure Knightes who broughte me vnto this place which is to my great sorrow and gréefe whereas they bound me in that sort as thou hast found me gentle Knight and not content héerewith but for my more paine and sorrow they left me naked with greater desire to die then to liue This Ladye coulde not let but to associaâ—â— her tale with great lamentations wherein this Dacian did beare her company and sayd Of truth sorowfull Lady fortune hath vsed with me great liberalitie to bring me hether in this time for to set you at libertie from this great captiuitie and to make reuengement of thy honour and héere I doo offer my selfe and doo giue vnto thée my fayth of knighthood to perfourme it or to loose my lyfe This faire Ladye was somewhat comforted with the offer of the Knight and gaue him great thanks for the fauor which he did offer her In this sort they passed the rest of the night that remained till such time as the Sunne of Tona did shew his glistering face spreading all abroad his golden beames accompanyed with y e swéet and rosalyke Aurora at which time they were all readie a foote for to goe onwards on their waie straight wayes they heard amongest the thickest of those trées a still sound The Prince being verie desirous to knowe what it was and comming thether he saw that it was his horse the which was brought thether by the order of the wise Lyrgandeo from the place whereas he lefte him at such time as hée did imbarke himselfe The Prince receiued great delight at the sight of him and taking him by the bridle he leaped on his back and went to séeke the Ladyes Palfraie which was let loose amongst those thicke trées and they found him feeding in a faire and gréene medowe adorned with many fresh and swéete flowers So his page leapt on his backe tooke the Ladie behinde him and trauailed through a narow and well beaten path which brought them into a broad waie that carried them into a verie great and large plaine at 〈◊〉 the ende thereof there was a verie faire Castell and in the middest of the plaine they sawe foure knightes which came towards them and when they were nigh together the one of them sayd Tell me knight who made thée so bolde as for to vnloose this Ladie from thée place whereas she was made fast What is this that thou askest sayd Eleno is it possible that thou art hée that forgetting all the honour that thou doest owe vnto the order of knighthood madest fast this Ladie The knight anâ—wered sayd I am he that did it hée that will take awaie thy life from thée in recompence of thy great boldnesse to vnloose her So without anie more tarrying the Prince Eleno turned about his horse towards him When this sorrowful Ladie â—awe him y t was the occasion of all her euill she leapt downe from her Palfray began with a new sorow her gréeuous lamentation Those foure knights came all against y e prince some with their speares he y t had none came w t his swoord in his hand with great furie one of the foure who thought himselfe to be more valiant theÌ„ all y e rest came formost with his sword in his hand all a high stroke him a mightie blow vpon his helme with all his strength but this Dacian Prince made little account thereof and passing by he stroke him a blow vpon his shield and for that his blow could extend no farther he remained with his life otherwise it had cost him the price thereof for it parted his shield in two péeces The Knight returned and gaue him another blow that it made the sparks of fire to fly out of his healme Then the Dacian full of yre let goe his shield and clasped fast his sword in both his hands and stroke him so terrible a blow vpon his helme that he cut helme and heade in two péeces and he fell down dead to the earth The other seeing their companion dead all thrée together set vpon him but this valiant Dacian who in such like aduentures neuer had any feare did receiue them with his accustomed furye striking on them both on the right and lefte hand with mortall blowes In the meane time this afflicted Lady when she sawe the Knight dead which caused her dishonour lyke a furious Lionesse she went towards him and sayd Oh howe the gods haue giuen thée thy paiment for the dishonor which thou hast done me yet she said O heauie Felina what doth this reuengement profite thy honour being lost it were very great riches vnto me that by the death of him which hath robbed me of it it might be restored me again Oh my gods I am in no falt in the loosing of my chastitie for that it was violently taken from me in the thicke forrest There shall be none able to disturbe but that I will execute my fury vppon my selfe although I doo not deserue the same and in saying these words she tooke the sword of that dead knight and put the poynt to her breast and threw her selfe thereon in such sort that Fabio could not succour her although with great hast he would haue done it The Dacian Knight casting his head on the one side and saw the harme done he pressed forwards with great furie and yrefull wrath and lifte vp his sword and stroke such a blow at one of them vppon his right arme that arme and sworde together fell to the ground and strayght tourned vnto another and with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke him on the making
till the morning with great sorrow and paine lamenting much his vnhappy lot in a place whereas he could not be discouerd or heard not for any feare that was in him but onely to haue time to lament weepe bewaile his vnhappy fortune Then at such time as the bright Apollo did spred abroade his golden beames ouer all the fields and cragged mountaines he did perceiue that those which did lodge themselues nigh vnto the place wheras he was did procure to depart he let them goe without any desire to know who they were but rather being still did let them passe forwards on their way procuring to put in execution his former intent But first of all he caused to vnarme Brenio of his armour the which was according vnto his passion in colour and all things and as strong as a Diamond made by Arte Magicke with great lamentation he armed himselfe with them and tooke also his shield which was all of a russet field and in the midst therof was put Cupide with two faces the one was very faire and bound with a cloath about his eyes and the other was made meruailous fierce and furious He continued and was so long in arming himselfe that he heard a great number of Knights which passed along by the sides of the forrest and amongst them there was a dolorous lamentation which séemed to be of Ladyes and Damsels and it séemed that they were forced and constrained against their wills which moued the courage of this Dacian to desire to know what it was And leaping vpon his horse his Page tooke the horse of Brenio which was very good with as little noyse as was possible they went out of the forrest into the high waye whereas they might sée all that which in the chapter following shall be told you ¶ How that Eleno went out of the forrest to see the aduenture of those Knightes which passed by the forrest and how he incountered with them and of the battaile that happened therevppon Cap. 5. AT such time as the cléere Apollo had passed one part of his iourney y e Dacian prince issued out of the forrest to sée what it shuld be that made all that noyse vnder the forrest side And there he discouered thirtie Knights which rode before a chariot that was drawen with foure horses and therein a companye of Ladies and damsels apparailed with meruailous rich robes making great lamentation and sorrowe and in the midst amongst them ther was a very faire Lady who had before her two childre◠and before the Chariot rode a Giant of a fierce and furious countenaunce mounted on a wonderful beast and after the same went another giant not altogether so furious as the first that was mounted on a mightie horse these made great hast to trauaile forwards When this valiant Dacian saw this aduenture he was in a great confusion for that he found himselfe so leane and weake yet for all that the great valour of his person and courage of his hart would not suffer anye sluggishnesse but determined to set them at libertie and to punish so great outrage or els to die in the demaunde And with this determination he said Let life suffer the paine and let not the honour be blotted with cowardnesse and perusing well his armour he committed himselfe vnto God and issued out of the forrest with a swift pace at such time as the Chariot with the great hast that it made had passed by a good space and setting spurres vnto his horse he made him to flye lyke the winde and with a high voyce he bad them tarrie At which calling the Giant that was hindermost looked backe and when he sawe that it was a Knight that called him and that he came running towards him with great swiftnesse he said vnto those that gouerned the Chariot Goe and kéepe on your waye and let me alone to sée what that vnhappie creature would haue and he turned about his horse at such time as that warlike Dacian was come nigh vnto him the Gyant sayd vnto him Knight what hast is this that thou makest The Dacian answered It is to amend if I maye this outrage which I suppose thou dost vnto those Ladyes which thou dost carrie away with thée in the waggon The Giant smiling and as it wer séeming to haue him in derision disdainfully sayd I doo tell thée of a truth knight that if I did not beléeue that folly doth make thée to speake that which thou hast vttered thou mightest well take me to be the vilest person in the world to haue so small courage to put my selfe before one alone Knight in this demand The Dacian did well perceiue that these words proceeded of great pride presumption and without giuing him any aunswere he drew out his sharpe sworde and then without anye more tarrying he stroke him vpon his helme so great a blowe that it sounded like a bell and made him to decline his head downe to his breast But straight way he had his payment for the same for that the Gyant layd hold on his great and cutting sword with straunge swiftnesse he stroke him vppon the fine and harde helme that he almost made him to loose his féeling By which blow this couragious Eleno perceiued that it stoode him in hand not to be idle and hauing great feare that in y e meane time while they made their battaile the rest would go away with their pray and then all his labour and trauayle should be in vaine he let his shield hang at his backe and clasped his sword fast with both his hands stroke him so furious a blow vpon his helme that the strength therof did litle profit him for that it was not able to make any defence but it was cut in péeces with the head and the Giant fell dead to the ground without any more tarying he followed after the waggon and did procure to disturbe them that they should not goe forwards on their way So all those y t went with the waggon were alighted from their horses ready to imbarke themselues into a small barke which they tarried for to carry them vnto a great and faire shippe which was there a litle farther from the shore This Dacian called with a loud voice said Tarrie tarrie do not thinke so much at your ease to carry away your praye for that I hope first to take away your liues or els to be slaine in their defence And when they saw and knew that it was the Knight that remained with the Giaunt and séeing him come in such order they were all meruailously astonied The other Giaunt which was yet still vpon his beast and was not alighted returned against him more furious than a Tiger and vttering a thousand varieties he asked where he remained that made battaile with him Don Eleno sayd Put at libertye these Ladyes which thou dost carry away by force and aske not for him for he wanting life hath finished
sea side whereout many times for my recreation I issued in companie with many Ladyes and Damsells which were with me to beare me companie so it chaunced one day when I was abroad in my accustomed recreation sport I was beset with this infernall companie who carried me into their mightie and strong shippe in this order as you doe sée me whereas I did no other thing but lament and bewaile my sadde and heauie misfortune So the first Gyaunt which you did kill séeing me make so great lameÌ„tation with louing and amorous wordes did procure to comfort me and did offer me that all which was my will to be done he wold fulfill the same and I séeing his greate curtesie and agayne that my remedie was so farre from me vpon a sodaine ther came a thought into my minde which I supposed to be verie good and requisite for to redresse my harme griefe and I desired of him to graunt me a boone this gyant did graunt me my request and the rest did promise to fulfill all that I would aske them and my demaund was that they shoulde carrie me vnto Grecia vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio and that they should for the space of twentie dayes defend my beautie and fairenesse making a challenge agaynst all other These Gyants by reason of theyr great pride didde thinke it good to accomplish my request the which they did graunt vnto me in such sort y t no other thing coulde disturbe them And straight waie commaunded them of the shippe to take the way towards Grecia wheras fortune hath brought vs and this morning we did disimbarke our selues at the point of a land which is héere at hande and for that they did seeme verie wearie and ouertrauailed by sea they did deâ—erminâ— to carrie me all the rest of y e waie by land till we shuld come vnto Constantinople but now whether it was my good fortune or their great pride I know not that wold not consent that they should come thether but first they should heere end their dayes And being in this discourse they saw a great number of people comming towardes them which séemed to be householde seruants or such like who came with all theyr beastes laden with victualls and other necessaries who were all seruants vnto those Gyaunts and when they came nigh the place and sawe that wonderful spectacle of their masters euen as you sée the small birdes howe they will hide themselues amongest the bushes briers and thicke trées from the sight of anie rauenous foule euen so did all these seruants of those vile Gyaunts hide themselues in the thickest of the woods and mountaines of the Forrest fearing the like intertainment This valiant Moore when he sawe the sodaine flying of them without hauing anie care of them and making little reckoning he tooke that gentle Ladie in his armes and set her vpon her palfraie and he himselfe without putting foot in his stirop leapt vpon his horse backe with great lightnes and tooke their iourney towards the place whereas y e others had left their ship into the which he entered with great spéed verie ioyfull of his good hap straight waie he commanded to hoise vp their sailes to take the waie towards Mauritania whereas we will leaue them for to tell you the great discontentment that the valiant knight Claridiano had by reason of his long tarrying in the Iland of Trapobana O omnipotent God I doe desire thée to giue me wisdome discretion to declare the great worthinesse of this young knight for without thy helpe I do not finde my selfe able for to set forth so many and so meruailous feates of armes as was done by this worthie knight as in this chapter following and in all the rest shall be declared ¶ How Claridiano was verie sad and sorrowfull to see that he was an armed Knight onely for to doo one worthie feate of armes and what pollicie he did vse for to absent himselfe from the king Delfo Chap. 8. LOng time haue wée forgotten to speake of that valiant Prince Claridiano sonne vnto that famous Emperour Alphebo and of the excellent Claridiana who in the Ilande of Trapobana we left somwhat troubled which was the occasion that his couragious heart did finde it selfe greatly oppressed and especially for that his valyant déeds should be kept close and not come to light and be spread abroad in y e world for to show his mightie strength and worthy courage the occasion of his let was the greate perswasion of the king Delfo who would not loose his companie putting before him for excuse his young and tender age procuring him to tarrie and not to trie himselfe in aduentures till such time as he should haue the full age of eightéene yeares This young knight thought the time to be verie long which was the occasion that he was verie sadde and sorrowfull in such sort that his fayre and beautifull face had lost part of his naturall and liuely coulour and dayly hée did exercise himselfe in no other thing but to goe to the sea side and there to set himselfe vpon a rocke hauing no other contemplation but to beholde how the water with greate furie and force did strike and beate vpon the sayd rocke So after long time vsing this disport it chanced on a daie at such time as the Sunne had made an ende of his iourney hée saw at the foote of that Rocke a Dwarfe who with an outragious and irefull voyce sayde Don Claridiano of Grecia what doest thou thinke that the hardnesse of that Rocke is sufficient to blaze thy fame and to get vnto thée honour No of verye truth but with thy armour and trauailing through the worlde thou shalt obtaine valour as thy predecessours haue done before thée it had béene better thou haddest neuer bene an armed Knight if that onely in one valyaunt déede of armes thou doest imploye thy time Therefore I saye aryse vp O Greeke and procure to finde out thy royall bloud and generation from whence thou doest procéede and let not thy descent lye hidde neyther thy prowesse vnknowen Hée had no sooner made an ende of his spéeches but that vppon a sodaine hée vanished cleane awaie and was not anie more séene The sorrowe and heauinesse was verie much which the Prince then felt in himselfe in hearing the wordes and reasons of the Dwarfe and the more when that hée vnderstoode that hée was not sonne vnto him whome he alwaies thought he had béene the which caused his courage greatly to alter within him and made him to saie Unfortunate that I am what doe I make héere amongest those which are not of my lignage I had thought for certainetie that I had beene with my Father and kindred and nowe I doe sée that it is to the contrarie and that I am kept in this Ilande lyke a weake and sillie woman O Galtenor séeing that it was thy pleasure that by my handes thou shouldest bée restored vnto
and mightie clubbe hée pressed towardes this couragious knight who when hée sawe him comming did abide him w t such courage as his valiant heart did constraine him and hauing his sword in his hand he commaunded the damsells to put themselues a part on the one side This furious diuel hauing his club in the aire fast with both his hands he did discharge the same at the prince who with great lightnesse did cléere himselfe from the furie thereof and caused it in vaine to fall vppon the grounde which was with so greate strength that it made the Prince and all the ground there aabouts to tremble like an Earthquake but in this time the Prince did not sleepe but séeing himselfe cléere from y e blow pressed vnto that monster on the one side stroke him such an ouerâ—hwart blow vpon his knée in the very ioynt that he cut it cleane a sunder with so great ease as though it had bene a Glasâ—ie or such like wherewith the monstrous Gyaunt fell downe to the ground with so great strength and weight as though it had béene a mightie tower he was not so fallen downe but the knight put the point of his sworde into his mouth the Gyant séeing him so nigh he tooke holde vpon the skirt of his shirt of maile with so great strength y t he made him perforce to come néere him and as he had his sword fixed in the Gyants mouth what with the strength that the gyant vsed to pull him towardes him and likewise y e strength which the knight forced it caused the sword to passe through his throate in such sort that straight waie he remained dead and voyded a great streame of bloud Oh that I were héere able to declare vnto you the great ioye that those Damosels receiued when they sawe that greate diuell dead and with chéeréfull countenances they went and receiued the knight although the great feare which remained in that naked damsell would not let her wholy to inioye and reioyce in her lybertie who sayd vnto the Prince Valiant knight and our succour now doth it stand vs in hand to make the more hast before the sonne of this great diuell come vnto vs for that he is more terrible of more strength then his Father is to whome this couragious knight sayd Feare not faire Ladie for that the Gods will helpe and succour vs in such sort that his great furie and force shall little auaile him These words he spake with a chéerfull countenance lifting vp his helme did shew his great seueritie So he tooke them by the hand and went their waie towards the place where they left their squires kéeping of their horses and at his comming thether he straight waie mounted the two damsells vpon their Palfrâ—ies and he and the rest vpon their other horses and began to trauaile their former iourney they had not trauailed verie farre when as they heard a great rushing which séemed to be of many people amongst those thicke trees which caused them to staie to sée what it should be as you shall vnderstand in the next chapter following ¶ Of the battaile that Claridiano had with the fierce and timerous Gyant sonne vnto the other Gyant which he had slaine and of all that happened in the battaile Chap. 9. THE great noise which the valiant Knight heard was no lesse then that which Fauonio made in the Antartike sea nigh vunto y e Tartarian coast which is all replenished with high and mightie trées of Pine apples so the Prince and all the rest staied to sée what it was that caused all that noise and rushing and they sawe that it was a furious fierce and terrible Gyaunt that came from the thickest of the woode hée was thirtéene cubites of height all full of rough and thicke haire and hée had in his hande a greate and heauie club which séemed to bée the mâ—st of a mightie shippe but whosoeuer had séene the faces of the Damsells at that time woulde haue iudged their alteration to be lyke vnto the Sunne when he is eclipsed with y e Moone at noone dayes but this inuincible Claridiano made no signe of anie mutation but rather did make himselfe readie vnto the battaile séeing that the Gyant did make towards him the great blaring noise which the Gyant made was so terrible that it caused great feare in all them that heard it sauing onely in him who put himselfe in defence and tarrying for the comming of the enimie the great pride which this Gyant did vse hauing his club in the aire comming towards the knight was much more then that which Belona vsed when she sate in her armed chariot being gouerned with â—urious Dragons ouer all the fields the horse whereon the Prince rode séeing so straunge and seldome seene a monster before him raged in such sorte that this couragious warriour hedde not so much strength to gouerne him but that by pure force he cast himselfe about in the ayre flying from the presence of that vglie beast but the valyaunt Prince fearing the greate peryll which might happen vnto those Damoselles with greate lightnesse leapt from his horse leauing the saddle and béeing on foote he quickly tourned towardes the Gyaunt and sawe that at one blowe he had broke all to péeces one of the Ladyes Squires whereat the Prince tooke greate griefe to sée so great an outrage done and without all reason and with an irefull voice he sayd Thou furious beast without lawe or reason come to me for I am he which hath bene the occasion of thy anger if thou hast anie This infernall monster went towardes Claridiano with his club all aloft and with great furie he did assault him Oh almightie God saue kéepe and deliuer thy knight from this infernall furie and doe not permit that he dye in the hands of so cruell an enimie but first he knowe that thou art his true and perfect God This valiant Greeke stoode still when he saw that terrible blow comming till such time as he beganne to discharge it at which time with a straunge lightnesse he made him to loose the furie thereof and with his swoord in both his handes he stroke at the Gyaunt a mightie blowe which chaunced vppon his clubbe with so great force that he cut it a sunder in the middle this furious diuell when he sawe that he had erred his blowe with much more furie and double strength hée lift vp his mightie clubbe againe and discharged it at the Gréeke who in the same sorte as before he cléered himselfe from the force thereof making him to strike in vaine that terrible blowe vpon the ground and with the great strength wherewith it was stroke the rest of the clubbe which remained did breake in péeces at which time the Prince was not idle but with greate lightnesse he entered in to him and with both his handes he stroke him a terrible blowe vppon the wast which made his armour to faile but by reason of the
her companie but the Ladies that were with Claridiano made great laughter for that they were certified of the valour of their knight what he was but Fidelio when he heard the excuses of his master thought verilie that he did it for feare and for this cause hée was verie heauie and sadde and the Ladies perceiuing had thereat greate pleasure and sport So trauailing forwards they came vnto a bridge which was ouer the riuer Tygris on the other side there was a Tent armed which was verie rich wherein was a knight armed which did defend that passage and there were set vp against a trée a greate number of Speares and when the dutchesse with all her knights companie entered the bridge there appeared vnto them a knight of a gentle disposition who with great lightnesse leapt vpon his horse and sent a Squire vnto them to tell them that they could not passe that waie but first they should confesse themselues to be ouercome by the best knight of all the world but if they will stand vnto the iust he that receiueth the foyle to loose both his horse and armour so in a trice they put themselues in order at which time the Prince Claridiano came vnto that place and when he sawe that they did make readie and addresse themselues vnto the iust hee stayed on the one side whereas he might verie well at his pleasure see them It so fell out that in twentie iusts all these twentie knights were ouerthrowen and fayled at which the Dutchesse receiued great sorrow and griefe and sent the same damsel which the other had sent before vnto the Prince and when she came vnto him she sayd Knight enimie vnto iusts and trauaile my Ladie the dutchesse of the valley doth desire thée for that it was not thy pleasure for her knights to shew thy bounty that now at her request thou wouldest make frée this passage do that which her knights could not Friend sayd Claridiano goe and tell vnto thy Ladie the Dutchesse that I will procure to make the way sure for me and my companie and will her highnesse likewise to bring knights that can defende her as well as they can with theyr scoffes knowe how to make a iest at one they know not The damsell said Cursed be the reasons excuses of so euill a knight that neither for Ladie of estimation nor knight of prowesse will bée moued to vertue and héerewith she returned to giue her Lady the aunswere So straight way came forth many men for to pull off the armour of those ouercome Knights the which when Claridiano saw he spurred forwardes his horse with his speare in his hand ready at all assayes to the iust and went towards the Dutchesse saying Lady now will I shew vnto you whether I can better kéepe my whole armor then your Knights their broken and therewith he called vnto that Knight which kept the passage that he should make himselfe ready come to him and being both set in their places they mooued their horses the one against the other with great fury and in the middest of theyr course they met together and neither of them did misse his blow but met with so greate force that the speare of the Knight of the Passage was shiuered all to péeces and made the Prince to encline his body vpon the saddle but y e Knight of y e Passage receiued y e blow in such sort y t neither his shield nor his armour could make any resistance but y t the head of y e speare showed it selfe at his back wherewith he fell from his horse dead to y e grouÌ„d The Dutchesse when she saw it receiued great ioy although the folly of her Knights was a griefe vnto her in such sorte y t she sayd Oh what doo they deserue y t without knowing y e valour of a person wil haue him in derision for we may wel consider that the Gods can bestow their giftes on persons of small valour at the least on them y t haue small capacitie for to vse it for héere you may see this knight y t those knights which did beare me companie déemed y t he did refuse y e iust with theÌ„ of verie cowardnesse yet he is y e partie y t deliuereth them that they might not altogether be shamed Oh disordinate pride enimie to all vertue such is it that doth remaine in our estates that altogether it doth make vs to forget all goodnes yet in our subiects meaner persons we may learne that which is requisite for our commoditie and honour and yet we doe thinke that all which the Gods doth giue vs we doe deserue and yet we finde not our selues satisfied At which reasons of the Dutchesse Claridiano was verie attentiue thought wel of her repentance for that which her knightes had done against him and was verie well content had her in reputation to be verie honourable drawing nigh vnto her he said Faire Ladie héere you doe sée y t with great reason the horse armour of these your knights is mine doth pertaine vnto me for y t their experience was such to be lanched out of their saddles as also to mock and iest at trauailing and venterous knights therefore your pleasure may be to commaund them to be deliuered vnto me for y t they knew not how to defend them The Dutchesse was cut off from her answere by reason of the comming of a knight with great pride that sayde The horse and armour is none of thine first I do giue thee to vnderstand y t we will defend them with the losse of thy life And in saying these words he drew out his sword before that the Prince could make anie resistance he cut off one of his horse legs and the Prince perceiuing it before his horse did fall with great lightnesse he cléered himselfe from y e saddle and like vnto the winde he went against that vncourteous Knight with his sword in his hande he stroke him such a blow vpon the head that he cut it in two parts and he fel dead to the earth The rest of the Knights which saw this came vnto him with their swords in their hands and for all the crying out of the Dutchesse her daughter to withdraw them they did compasse him about altogether striking him with terrible blowes on euery side but yet they found him not so weake and without courage as they thought but rather with a valiant hart he made his defence did intreate them in such sort that afterward it grieued theÌ„ to haue begâ—n that enterprise for the Prince so behaued himself that at thrée blowes he brought three of them dead to the ground and for that they were all chosen knightes for the losse of those that were slaine they would not leaue to perseuer against y e mightie warriour The Prince when he perceiued that they dyd still procure to intreate him euill with great ire and wrath he beganne a
man with him to bée his guide he tooke his leaue of the Princesse did commend Fidelio vnto her kéeping So he departed out of the Citie without any tarrieng till he came vnto the principall house of the Kings cattell whereas he was receiued of all the shepheardes that were there present who showed him great courtesie and the basenesse of the apparayle wherewith he was clad was not sufficient to take away the iealousie that they had in him to be of some noble bloud as appeared by his person stature and graue countenaunce and although they had not bene commaunded by the Princesse to respect him yet they coulde not but doo all reuerence and curtesie vnto him This new shepheard after that he had giuen them thankes for the entertainment which they gaue him he went foorth all alone ranging the fields and in his hand a shepheards crooke Also hée carried with him a little lute which he vsed at times for to ease and recreate himselfe This new shepheard neuer tooke anye rest till such time as he came vnto the cléere running riuer Where vnder a great and mightie Myrtle trée he laid himselfe downe and remembring his welbeloued Pastora he lifted vp his eyes towards the heauens and giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh Venus séeing that it is thy pleasure that this thy new vassaile should take his first sitting place vnder a Myrtle trée so much of thée estéemed and made of let thy sweete voyce so occupy the eares of thy sonne Cupid that he may vnderstand how that in his blindnesse he had litle respect vnto the highnes of my person in causing me to place my affection so baselye Oh Gods is it possible that any base attempt should come vnto light but with the authoritie that belongeth vnto your highnesse vpon you I doo call and vnto you I doo offer this my wounded breast that you make sacrifice thereof for this my boldnesse if therein I haue offended and therwith he leaned his backe vnto the Myrtle trée and tooke his Lute and began to play as swéetely as euer did Orpheus when with his lute he made the infernall furyes to sleepe Claridiano with his lute did not onely bring the furies but also the Queene Proserpina and the auncient Pluto he brought into a greate perplexitie So likewise at times he vttered his swéete voice that they which did heare it did iudge it to be some celestiall thing and not terrenal and by reason that his songs did procéede from his heart it did in double wise séeme the better This newe shephearde thought no body had hearde him but there were other two shepheards who were very attentiue and hearde that he sung this song which héereafter followeth O Yeelded heart how free and voyde of care wert thou of late from this oppressing paine What lucklesse fate allotted thee this share that hopelesse thou dost voyde of helpe remaine Yea so past hope that might may naught auaile The burning flames of Cupides coales to quaile But fie fond foole thou dost complaine of ease and faultlesse Fortune thou beginst to blame Venus her selfe doth seeke thy heart to please in that she mooues thee loue so rare a Dame Oh Pastora if I enioye thy sight My very death will bring to me delight Disdaine not then beloued for to be of him that needes thy beautie must adore So long as Fates affoord my life to me which ended once I can lament no more And then will chaunce a ioyfull death to me If so I hap to die by hand of thee And when he had made an end of his song he helde his peace for that his wery voyce could not giue him any more time but he let his lute fall out of his handes and crossing his fingers the one with the other he was very pensiue till such time as he heard a shepheards voyce accompanied with a Rebecke sweetely sounding whom he heard sing this song as followeth WIthin this vale there doth a Pastor dwell that bringeth vp a Pastora full braue Which from her breast doth loue all times expell she no regard of louers paines will haue Nature her like as yet did neuer forme Venus her selfe is dashed at her view Hir breast like snow throwne downe by Hiems storme her hart stone hard for all her gallant hiew Great is his griefe that vnto her is thrall and hard his hap that sues to win her grace Gainst him she vseth greatest hate of all for as I said loue hath in her no place Cupide himselfe within his snare is caught yet voyd of helpe for all hir subtill shifts His words his wyles his wrath auaile him naught she scornes his darts and all his double drifts And thus she shuns the thing that sundry seeke and scapes vnscorcht where others burned be Her beautie showes her humble milde and meeke but yet her heart is stainde with crueltie This new shepheard was very attentiue vnto that gracious song of the other shepheard and when he hearde that he helde his peace he would haue returned and sung againe but he was disturbed by hearing a noyse of people This gentle shepheard when he heard it arose vp vpon his féete and went out from vnder the shadowe of the Tree farther into the Sunne and sawe that it was a shephearde and a Pastora which were comming into the place whereas hée was and when they came vnto him they did salute him very courteously So they sate downe altogether and put the new shepheard in the midst very much meruayling at his gracious countenaunce and with a very good grace gentle disposition the Pastora began first to speake and sayde Your swéete Musicke brother shepheard did awake me and my brother Coridon out of our sléep and we doo rather choose to lose our naturall rest then thy conuersation accompanied with thy delicate song We doo not know whether that the faire beautie of Cayserlinga a Pastora brought vp by this delightfull riuer hath bene the occasion thereof or any other griefe which doth raigne in thy heart but if it be so gentle shepheard that your eyes haue not behelde nor séene y e beautie of our Pastora doo you procure not to sée her that your hart be not taken captiue with the sight of her for you shal vnderstand y t there is nothing to be hoped for at her hands but death her disdaine is such This sorrowfull brother of mine one day did sing before her with his Rebecke and remained so imprisoned with her as euer was shepheard with Pastora And if it be thy Fortune to abide long time in these partes thou shalt knowe the greate power that her face and countenaunce hath and the greate crueltye that she vseth Thou shalt see no other thing alongst all this riuer but shepheardes who haue forgot to gouerne and feede theyr shéepe sitting vnder trées wounded with her greate beautie and fayrenesse and hauing more care to make their Rebeckes fayre and trimme then to call together their cattle and to
same héere I do deny al your powers I do determine to honor y e God my father doth who wil not reward me so ill as you do and I doe acknowledge and confesse him to be the true God and you all full of mockings liberall in promising and slow in giuing from this daie forwards be assured y t I will not aske you of anie thing neither wil I accept any thing from your vile hands These and such like wordes sayd this new knight was in such anger that neither Page nor Marriners durst speake vnto him but to giue him contentment they rowed a pace towards y e bark whereas that dolorous woman went So in this â—ort they trauailed all the rest of the night that remained till such time as the daie began to be cléere and straight waie they discried land to which place with great hast they rowed till such time as the barke was a ground so this angrie young knight presently leapt a shore Masedonio carried his healme but hée tooke neither speare nor shéeld with him the Marriners folfowed him carried such victualls as they had they found no vsed way but one narow path the which they kept and it brought them vnto a mightie greate déepe riuer wheras he sate downe did refresh himselfe washed his hands face called for to eate of that which they had brought when he had eaten without anie more tarrying he begaÌ„ to trauaile alongst the riuer side he had not trauailed long when y â— they met with a poore countrie man with a great hatchet in his hand he was going to cut fire woode from those high mightie trées of whom they asked what countrie land it was he told them y t it was the land of Almania but yet sir knight thou must pardon me for y t I doe request thée to returne againe procéed no farther this way if thou dost estéeme thy life for in going on this way there is nothing to be had but death for y t the Lord of this riuer is a furious giant is called Marmoraton the riuers name is Ospriz this giant is y e most furious in all the world is of such might y t our Emperour doth feare him he hath also two sons who are no lesse furious then he is although they are now very sad for certaine news which were brought them how y t a brother of his who was Lord of an Iland in Spaine called Corsa was destroied and all his people slaine by sword none left aliue by force of cruell warre and in part of reuengement of all this harme done no longer then yesterdaye he brought hether a Ladie prisoner and they say that she was the occasion of the death of them all as I haue tolde you and straight way wheÌ„ he came a shore with a diuelish crueltie he did all to bewhip and beate her that it was very pitifull to beholde swearing that euery day he would so torment her till such time as her life and body did make their seperation and he hath all his Castle compassed round about with mightie strong and armed Knights and with them his two sonnes who doth kéep watch and ward for to defend the Castle for that they saye that the King of Mauritania doth followe and pursue them in a galley for to cléere and set at libertie this Lady This new Knight was very attentiue vnto the words which the countriman told him and although he spake in the Tuscan tongue yet he did vnderstand him for that he was broughte vp to vnderstand and speake all languages and thought verely that he with whom he had battaile in the galley was the King of Mruritania and thinking thereon it caused him to be more furious in his heart for that as you haue hearde he had the experience of his force and strength and thought by him he was ouercome and without saying anye word he followed on his way and did determine that if fortune did so fauour him to rescue and set at libertie this Ladie not for to let her passe till such time as the King did come in her demaund and if it were he with whom he had the battaile he would not deliuer her but with mortall battaile So trauailing with this thought the night came on it was so darke that he was constrained to seâ—ke some place to take his rest and laying himselfe downe vnder a mightie Pine trée he passed that night speaking a thousande blasphemies against the Gods Artemidoro declaring the acts and déeds of this Knight saith that he was the most furious in all the world and a very friend to aide and succour all those that could doo little for themselues and if he chaunced at any time to begin an enterprise that he could not wel compasse with double force he would prosecute it In such sort that many times he made resistaunce against inchantments for y t he had more strength and force than euer Knight or Giant had at any time before and did surmount very much his bretheren and Cousins He made no reckoning of loue in his youth by which he was iudged to be the Emperours sonne as in the third parte of this booke shall be tolde you So when y e morning was come this young Mars was not slothfull but arose vp and followed his iourney and his Page followed him with his helme he had not trauailed scarce halfe a mile when that he heard a pitifull lamentation of a woman who by reason of her great wéeping her voyce was very hoarce So he stayed to heare from whence that lamentable noyse should come and went towards that place whereas it was and saw a far off a high piller of stone out of the which there came foorthe a spoute of very faire and cléere water and thereat was bound a woman all naked her backe fastened to the piller and her armes backward imbracing the piller and there her handes fast bound Her skin was so faire and white that if it had not bene that he heard her lamentation he would haue iudged her to haue bene an image made artificially of Alabaster ioyned vnto the piller This warlike young Knight laced on his helme and came vnto the place whereas she was and when he saw her he thought verely that it was the Quéene of Mauritania of whom the countrey man told him and by reason of the coldnesse of the darke night and with her great lamentation and wéepings she was so full of sorow and affliction that she could scarce speake Likewise the Knightes heart so yerned at the sight of that vnhappie Lady that almost he could not looke on her for wéeping but with a sorrowfull sigh he sayd O cruell hands is it possible that there should remaine in you so much mischiefe that whereas there is â—o great beautie and fairenesse you should vse such basenes and villanie she doth more deserue to be beloued and serued then to
greate hast they called for the barke looking round about them to sée if they could espie their enimie they sawe him on the other side of the riuer vnto whom with a loude voice they called did defie him to mortall battell the knight of the braunch when he heard them call he made himselfe readie entering into the barke he said Tarry ther I will come ouer to sée if you do séeke me or not and therwith he made great hast with the barke wheÌ„ he came nigh vnto the shore he mounted vpon his mightie beast with a light leap he was a land Then one of those knights with an high voice sayd Now sir traitor thou shalt pay y e great offeÌ„ce which thou didst vnto me before y e Emperour for thou shalt vnderstand y t I am Rodelando this other is my cosin Firidefonte When y e Tinacrian heard this without tarrying for any more words he set hand vnto his sword said Oh traitors how your faults hath brought you to receiue y e paiment for your treason at my hands now in place wher your tresons shal not profit you and in saying these words he stroke Rodelando such a blow y t he made him to fal backwards vpoÌ„ the horse crouper Then Firidefonte entered in to him on the one side stroke the Tinacrian such a blow vpon the helme that it made a sound as though he had stroke vpon a bell made him decline his head vnto his brest but quickly he setled himselfe againe lift vp his rigorous arme stroke him such a blow vpon his shulder y t it made him to shrink in his bodie with the great paine he felt at y e time Rodelando was come vnto himselfe setled againe verie much troubled at y e great valor of y e knight throwing his shield vnto y e ground he stroke the knight such a blow on the one side of his helme y t he made him to decline his head vpon his beasts neck who being scarred with y e blow gaue a great leap from theÌ„ which did not a little vantage the Tinacrian for y t Firidefonte came to discharge his blow vpon him by reason y t the beast did leap on the one side he could not execute that blow in which time w tout receiuing any other blow the prince setled himself againe in his saddle found nigh vnto him Firidefonte who followed to strike him to whom he gaue such an ouerthwart blow vpon his bâ—uer y t with the sparkles of fire which flewe out thereof he singed his browes eye lids made him to fall backwards vpon his horse crouper without any remembrance therewith Rodelando pressed vnto the Tinacrian whereas began a great perillous battell this Tinacrian w t great lightnesse entered in out with his enimies without receiuing any harme stroke them with so great furie y t they wist not what to doe it could not be chosen but y t he must néeds receiue some harme for y t he dealt with two of the best knights in al Almaine In this sort they endured two houres he had brought these two knights into great wearinesse all their bodies were couered with bloud and feeling themselues so troubled Firidefonte hallowed with a loude voice At which call there came forth out of a little groue ten armed knights with their speres on their rests and made their way against the Tinacrian who séeing them comming was nothing afraid but pricking his great beast with the spurres he put himselfe betwixt the two cousins which was the occasion that these ten Knights could not execute ther furious blowes The Tinacrian did throw his shield at his backe tooke his sword fast in both his hands and firmed himselfe in his stirrops and stroke Feridefonte such a blowe vppon the helme that although it had bene of a fine Diamond he had broken it all to peeces for the furie of his blowe was such that he cloue the heaâ—me and head of that furious Firidefonte down to the breast so that he fell downe dead to y e ground and hauing done this he founde himselfe compassed about with all the other knightes vppon whom he began to strike meruailous great and furious blowes in such sort that in a small time he brought sixe of them to the ground Rodelando hauing opportunitie with both his handes stroke him so terrible a blow that he made him with his beauer to touch the eares of his beast theÌ„ all the rest laid vpon him but they did no more harme then if they had stroke vpon an Anfield but when the Tinacrian was come vnto himself finding Rodelando by him who without all pittie laide vppon him hée tuâ—ned his sword about his head stroke him such a blowe vpon his left arme his sword being gouerned by the force of his worthy hand y t he brake the steely armour and cut flesh bone with so great fury that the head with the right shoulder blade was deuided from the body and he fell down dead to the ground Then all the rest which remained when they sawe so great slaughter trusting more vnto the lightnesse of theyr Horses then vnto the strength of their armes determined to flye But the Knight of the Braunch perceiuing it and hauing a very light beast put himselfe betwixt them and theyr waye saying If you will not receiue the death staye and doo that which I will tell you and I will let you goe at libertie and they séeing y t if they did it not with a good will they should doo it spite of their heartes they did strayghte waye consent vnto whatsoeuer he would commaund and returning them all he did commaund them to take the bodies of Feridefonte and Rodelando and to put them vppon two horses and that from him they should carrye them vnto the Emperour and tell him all that which he shoulde saye vnto them So they did accomplish his commaundement and they came vnto the Courte at such time as the night began to appeare These were the two dead bodies which the Emperour sawe brought into the Court at such time as they had little care of anye such matter So they that brought these dead bodies went vp into the great hall and when they wer before the Emperour they sayde High and mightie Emperour the Knight of the Braunch doth sende vnto your highnesse two furious Knights Rodelando and Feâ—â—â—efonte in this sorte as you doo sée them desiring your â—â—ghnesse to sende vnto him his Ladye and his Page and lykewise to cléere and delyuer out of prison his companion and that fayre Clarentina for that it is very apparaunt that she was falsely accused as hée and the Dukes sonne of Bauiero doo well knowe of whome your Highnesse maye very well certefie your selfe Likewise if there be anye Knight in all your Courte that will stande in contention and defende the contrarie béeing one or tenne that
an aduenture which for to declare in order I must returne vnto the Knight of the Sunne whereas wee lefte him and as you haue hearde he was beholding the ceremonies of the Princes Tigliafa which she vsed ouer the body of Zoylo vpon her knées with a sorrowfull lamentation The Knight of the Sunne the better to vnderstand what she sayd pulled off his helme and then he heard that she said as followeth I doo not know wherfore I doo loose so much time in this sorrowfull lamentation for that it is not sufficient for to deliuer me from the sorrow and griefe which continuallye I am afflicted with Uery heauie I am for thée my Zoylo being without thy company I knewe not how I liue It were better for me at once to ende my sorrow procuring w t my owne hands to goe and beare thée company Oh sorrowfull Lady how dost thou liue without thy welbeloued How dost thou sustaine thy self without thy life That day in the which thou didst lose him that daye it had happened well vnto thee if thou hadst lost thine owne life but in the end wil come an end that thou shalt goe to séeke him in giuing thy selfe cruell death And with this she made an ende of her lamentation for that lifting vp her eyes she saw how the two knights were very attentiue vnto that which she said And giuing a terrible and grieuous sigh she arose vp in great hast and entered into the chamber whereas she came foorth and with greate wrath she shut the doore making within the chamber meruailous lamentations The Emperour Alphebo went thether to see if he coulde open the doore but he found it verye fast shut as one who had the Fortresse made by the wise Lyrgandeo and so likewise did he bring that monster for to keepe her that she might be troubled of no body The Emperour Alphebo séeing that his calling was in vaine departed and went out w t his company and mounting vppon theyr Beastes they did prosecute theyr iourney So all the rest of the daye almost they trauayled in the same Forrest And when it was towards night they founde themselues in the broad and beaten way of Pyreo which went vnto Constantinople of the which they were very ioyfull and he did determine to goe vnto the Emperour his father for to kisse his hands and so they directed their waye vnto Constantinople They had not ridden long when that they hearde a great noyse of hunters which followed their game and they came towards the place where as they wer for that the night drew on and they vnderstood by some of the huntsmen that the Emperour was in that hunt who for his recreation at that time came forth and had in his company the Empresse and the faire Oliuia who was very sorrowful for the absence of Rosicleer When the Emperour Alphebo knew that they were there he went vnto their tents and there did not lack them which did aduertise the Emperour and the Empresse who with much ioye went out to receiue him as he would haue entred And when Alphebo was before her he fel down vpon his knées then the Empresse with teares of great ioy did imbrace him and spake words of maternall loue Then was he receiued of the faire Oliuia and of all the Princes Ladyes that were there Likewise they receiued and gaue great intertainment vnto the King of Sardenia for that hée was welbeloued of them al from the time that he made battaile with the Giant in the Emperiall Pallaice And being in this pleasure the Emperour came with as much spéede as he could and there beganne a newe the welcomming of Alphebo and the king with so much ioye and pleasure vnto al that I cannot expresse it So there they passed that night till the morning and when all things was put in order they heard diuine seruice and went to breakfast with pretence to retourne againe vnto their hunting So when they were a taking vp of the tables they heard a great rumour of Seruaunts and of the running and coursing of horses The Emperour Alphebo arose from the Table and putting on his helme he went out of the Tent whereas he found in a readinesse his horse and with great lightnesse he mounted on him and rode towards the place from whence y e noyse came and vpon a sodaine he sawe come riding two knightes and after them followed one knight of a meruailous disposition with Purple armour all to be spotted with starres of golde likewise his shéeld was purple vpon the which was put for the deuice a knight who séemed to haue the same deuice his eyes shut by reason that certaine Sunne beames did strike on them the which séemed to procéede out of the face of another knight This Purple knight brought his sword in his hand all naked in manner as though he would strike y e other two which ranne awaie The Emperour Alfebo did reprehend the two knights for their running awaie and put himselfe before them At this instant we must leaue the Emperour and his knights for to returne vnto the Pastor Claridiano whom we left with his swéete musicke and his Lute in his hand compassed round about with a companie of shepheards hauing her before him whose beautie did make him to disguise himselfe in that base apparell and she was set vppon the gréene grasse whereas she might with good attention heare the delicate swéetnesse of this new shepheards musicke Also all the rest of the shepheards had no small admiration as well therat as at the sweet melodie he vsed in singing and at sundrie-times he sent forth déepe sighs so that it made all the shepheards hearts to melt and the verie birdes which did flie in the forrest did staye were astonied at his swéete musicke So when he was wearie of playing singing the amorous sight of the Pastora did graunt him no farther lisence but that with a fewe teares he cast downe his humbled eies and began to wring his hands The Pastora did very much behold him it séemed vnto her that in all her life she had not séene so much fairenesse in a man imagining with her selfe that he was some worthie knight So straight way she tooke Galismena by the hand and arose vp from the place whereas she was set and did â—ooke vpon the shepheard giuing him to vnderstand that her sight shoulde be vnto him more at commaundement then to all the rest of y e shepheards there a long the riuer and with great maiestie she turned her back as though she had perfectly known whose daughter she had bene leauing all them in a greate confusion at the first who did separate themselues euerie one to his waie for wheÌ„ they sawe that they could haue no longer sight of that fayre Pastora â—hey all departed and none remained but Filepensio Coridon and Alphesiuio This Filepensio was brought into that perplexitie that although he had the vauntage of all the campanie in brauery