dayes in the Damzels caue till the Prince was able to trauaile who gréeuing much for the sorrowe the Emperour and Empresse would sustaine and acknowledging how much bound he was to that Ladie determined to depart yet greatly desired to know the end of that aduenture Wherefore the prince Arsileo a day before their departure intreated her to declare vnto them the whole occasion of her being in the Caue and what she would require them to do in her seruice although they néeded not make many offers being as they were so bouÌ„d to her for so many fauors that at her coÌ„mand without intreaty they ought to do euen with the hazard of their liues The damzell with a sorowfull countenance as one that remembred her forepassed misfortunes could not withhold her teares but with watry chéeks eies like flowing springs with ruÌ„ning streams at last thus began I cannot excellent Princes so intirely expresse vnto you the cause of my griefe as I could desire for the great sorrow my gréeued heart sustaines suddenly suppressing me breaking into a salt shower of brinish teares will not giue place vnto the exact vtterance of my wordes yet as I may I will do it I was most noble Princes daughter vnto Pompeiano not long since king of Antioch and am called Aurora that being at the Soldan of Babylons court accompanying his daughter the most beautifull Florisbella whose perfected beauty absolute vertues so far surpasseth al other of her time as doth y e sun al lesser stars To this court came a knight whose name for a long time was not knowne sauing by certaine Images in his shéeld was called the knight of the thrée images who shewed himselfe so valiant that there was no ten knights in the whole Court so strong and hardie as durst maintaine the field against him This Knight throughout the Soldanes Empire performed such déedes of haughtie prowesse that in generall among all men he was accounted a second Mars and the Soldane did no lesse esteeme of him alwayes hauing him in his companie whereby he thought himselfe worthie of greater dignities and so became amorous of the diuine Florisbella for whose loue a long time he suffered great gréefe and much solitude not daring to manifest it to any at length seeing nothing preuaile to expell that desire when one day the Soldane with all his Court was gone a hunting he remained alone in the Pallace and after some pleasant discourses discouered vnto me the secrets of his loue intreating me that in his name I would intreate the princesse to accept him for her knight wherwith shée finding her selfe agreeued aunswered that by no meanes she would do it commanding him no more to imagine any such madnesse least the Soldane her father should by chaunce heare thereof which if he did it might cost him little lesse then his life But he nothing weighing this her answere found meanes that the Princesse might know the extreame anguish of his perplexed heart inthralled by her beautie so that I thinking that some harme might thereby insue declared it to the Soldane who thereupon commaunded him to depart his Empire but he not knowing the occasion very heauily before his departure told him that what he did was against reason in commanding him to leaue his Dominions for he was a prince able to shew him that such as he ought not to be so vsed And departing the Court towards the Soldane of Siconia called the great Sophi of Persia where suspecting I was cause of his exile beganne with fire and sword to enter the king my fathers territories in such sort wasting and spoyling them that slaying the king he tooke possession of the whole Kingdome giuing it to the knight of the kindred called the Prince Don Galaneo reputed a man of great vallor In which time not knowing of his successe I went from the Soldanes Court home to my fathers fearing to fall in their hands by counsell of a wise woman called Bellona entred in a boate with these Damsels you here sée togither with the sayde woman and by hir direction arriued in this countrey and was by her conducted to this caue where she bad me remain for I should quickly be deliuered by the Prince of Greece and his cosin of Hungarie foretelling me euery thing that hitherto hath happened and moreouer she bad me giue you armor and horses which here she left wherwith you shall be knighted by a strange aduenture but what it it was she would not tell Thus haue I declared the occasion of my being here and the fearefull Beare the wise woman here left was hither to bring the Prince Arfileo as you sawe and the mightie Giant which you slew remayned keeper of the caue who might not be slaine with any weapon but the sword which you drewe out of the Piller that hee guarded So that great Lord the remedie of my misfortune resteth in your handes and our departure may be when and so soone as you shall think good I am content answered he wonderous amazed at the Damsels discourse but I would willingly take with me an hoast of men that you may more easily recouer your kingdome I attend here no other hope but yours sayd she and as for any other I was informed we shall not néede Whereat the Prince séeing that was her will commanded straight prouision to be made for his departure so al necessaries being ready they mounted a horsback the damsels on their palfraies accompanied with the two ancieÌ„t knights that carried y t armor that the princesse Auroâ—a had spoken of which they séeing tooke it forth of y e cases which were as appertained to nouel knights The prince Don Belianis armor was of colour Orange-tawny with a sea waue so big that it séemed to ouerwhelme a ship there figured In his sheeld was pourtraide the picture of a most beautifull Lady with a knight knéeling before her as if he craued mercie at her hands from whom she turned her face in anger with an inscription to this effect Let him die for so departing At our first and sudden meeting Leauing thereby my deare sight dim Of his when I desired to see him Which was written in Arabian letters that the Prince well vnderstood The prince Arfileos wer murry in y e midst wherof was fighting a griffon with a most terible dragon which were parted by a damsel that made peace betwéen them which when they saw so faire became desirous to put them on causing the princesse and damsel to stay were armed with them which so wel fitted them as if of purpose they had béene forged for them wherwith being armed set forwards on their iourny hauing gone not far from the caue spied before theÌ„ a faire Castle which til then they had not séene nor yet when they entred the caue The princesse the Ladies masked themselues because y e heate of the sun was great the rest were disguised that they might not be knowne approaching the
somewhat long or they set foorth And in their way we leaue them till we haue shewen what in the meane season befell the Emperour and the Princes CHAP. VII The ende of the fight betweene the Emperour and Princes against Don Gallaneo and his men AS soone as the Emperour had dispatched the Messenger to Constantinople he determined to ayde the Knights that maintained a terrible battell with the Giants and their troupes beeing most cruellie wounded by reson of the remorcelesie forces of those pitilesse flends the Prince Don Bellaneo séeing his Knightes were deceyued with great outcries vncouering his face called to them who when they heard his voice saw his face straight knew him greatly amazed at such a chaunce and leauing their fight against the Princes ranne to imbrace him not knowing the cause why that Knight should be then armed with his arrnour And though the Emperour sée him go towardes them yet could he not stay him And Don Gallaneo séeing that oportunitie which Fortune offered him and not minding to spende his time in spéeches with his men sayde Nowe is it requisite oh Knights that you reuenge mee on him that weareth my armour For knowe if you take him or slay him our enterprice therewith is ended for he is the Emperour of Constantinople whom we came from far Countries to seeke béeing hée that hath slaine my Knights and tooke mee prisoner vsing me as you haue séene The Knights that aymed at no other marke togither in a troupe set vpon the Emperour and Don Brianell of Macedon that was with him But when Don Bellianis and Arfileo heald that he was the Emperour his Father greatly grieued for what with him befell them and with eager furie they set vpon those traiterous Knights But those damned Giants that came before the rest opposed themselues against them striking strong and mightie blowes And one of them raysing aloft a huge iron mace betwéene his handes strooke the Emperour therewith that if hee had not warded it on his shéelde it had shiuered his head in péeces yet it rested not there but descenced on his horses necke felling him deade to the ground with his matster on his backe The Emperour for all this strooke him on both his armes that he threwe them to the earth with the mace betwéene them Nowe heere was the Emperour in great daunger of his life For when his horse fell he tooke one of his legges vnder him and don Gallaneo that had alreadie put on one of the dead Knightes armour comming thither at that time with two other Giants all the thrée alighted from theyr Horses intending there to strike off his head The Prince don Bellianis that sawe his father in that extremitie dismounting in all haste went to succour him but ere hee came don Gallaneo as hee whome his death woulde highlie aduauntage wounded him on the head and the two Giants with their Maces raised aloft with mightie strength woulde discharge them on his heade so that he for that time not able to drawe him from vnder his horse with one blow ouerthâ—â—we don Gallaneo cutting asunder his shéeld and helme and gréeuously wounded him on the head And being about to auoyde those Giants blowes could by no meanes shunne them but both discharging their hellish furie on his heade made him bowe to the earth and so staggard him that hee coulde scarce stande And though the spacious worlde contained not his like for admirable strength yet with séeing his Father in that case and himselfe so handled by such infernall Monsters glorying in nothing but in bloudie crueltie abhorring all good and decent order of equall Martiall discipline so doubled his vndaunted courage in himselfe stroke at one of the Giants heades who thinking to defende it by crossing his Mace ouer his Helme had it cutte cleane in two hard by the handle and the furious Sword lighted on the horse gyrts that lay on the Emperour that cutting them of on both sides hee gaue his Father libertie to drawe his legge away pushing the Horse from him quickelie arose yet verie wearie And seeing howe Don Bellianis with one side howe hee reached one of the deformed Giants with great strength vpon his shigh he felled him to the ground and howe with an other hee maintained a hote fight And hee also sawe that Don Brianell and Arsileo with eight Knights that came out of the Castell to succour them were in a fierce battell with the other Giant and Knights And that Arfileo beeing busied with the Giant the other Knightes béeing in number greatlie inferiour to their enemies were by them put to the woorse wherefore the Emperour went to ayde them but ere he arriued the Giant and Arsileo hauing closed dismounted each other that the Giant leauing his feete in the stirrop Arfileo spurred his Horse backewarde making him runne away and dragge his master after him who within a while breathed his last And so he turned with the Emperour couragiously to helpe their companions and arriued when their aduersaries were little able to make them longer resistaunce specially because don Bellianis had slaine the other Giant At which instant arriuing where he was scarce tenne of them remained with life which to saue themselues fledde into the wooddes Whereupon they alighted not minding to pursue them to binde their woundes But scant had the Emperour time to render due thankes for their great helpe much admiring theyr exceeding valour when the rest of don Gallineos Knightes issued from the thickest of the Groue who being aduertised of the successe of their enterprise and not of their losse came in great haste to participate of the glorie they should obtaine by the Emperours death Before them came those sterne and vgly Giants with their lannces seeming huge pine trees with such tempeâ—â—ous furie that they had not leysure to bind their déepe wounds Great was the sorrow the Emperour hereby sustained séeing the stay of the King of Hungarie But as neither hee nor the other Knights could by death-seeming terror be daunted with a couragious heart thus he saide Now is the time braue knights that you must shew y e magnanimitie of your inuincible minds since in your first aduenture fortune hath so directed you that the glorie of the forepassed worthies by the victorie of this one battell shall be ertinguished though herein we yéeld the tribute of our liues to al-conquering death which being naturall to all men should least be feared But in the omnipotent powers of him that this circled vniuerse did frame do I trust he will not permit the valour of such Knights in such short time to perish but so stregthen them that the perpetuall fame of their royall acts may remaine eternized to all succeeding ages Little néede we to be incouraged to suffer the fearefull strooke of death replied Arfileo for where the person of so victorious an emperor is indangered ours can be but the least of all most little losses I thought no lesse answered the Emperour but
cause of them which shée by great importunitie declared which was no small comfort to her after woes But here wee leaue them till their time with the Soldane greatly doubting whether this was the Prince of Persia which hée confirmed to bee because he would not discouer himselfe But his Lords perswaded him to the contrarie saying This Knight better became his armour then he But now the storie turnes vnto the Prince don Brianell whom we left in his iourney towards Antioch CHAP. XLV What don Brianell did after hee was gone from Bollera and how he was informed of the state of Antioch WIth great desire to procure the good successe of his Ladies commaund deparded don Brianell to Antioche thinking that to effect so waightie a matter as that his foundation was weake But continuing his voyage meeting with no aduenture woorthie the rehearsall at length arriued at a Citie not aboue twelue miles from Antioch called Miriana where hee resolued to stay and learne the stâ—te of the kingdome And alighting at a house of good credit was verie well 〈…〉 by the owner of the house that was one of the best Knights in that Countrey So supper ended discoursing alone with him of diuerse matters he demaunded who was King of that Countrey â—eeing then troubled with ciuill mutâ—â—eâ— The hoasâ— with teares in his eyes thus answered You shall knowe siâ— Knight that after the King Pompeiano ouâ— soueraigne was siaâ—â— by the men of the Persian Soldan a kinsman of his called Don Gallaneo became our King who gouerned vs in peace maintaining law and iustice with all vprightnesse But since we haue vnderstood he was â—lame at Persepolis by soâ—â—e of the same Soldans subiects and in whâ—se absence there gouerned vs as Viceroy a noble man named Damartyno who with great wisdom and diâ—â—â—â—tion kept vs in quiet concord till a brother of the King of P 〈…〉 a by name the fearefull Tremolcano knowing y t in reuenge of the death of don Callaneo of Antioch the king of Cyrus with two more brethreÌ„ of his were slaine in Persia calling vs traâ—tors and rebâ—â—â— with a great power came vpon vs sâ—â—uâ—â—ng the Country Gariano which is a great Lord in his Countrey tooke our Gouernor saying he would haue rebelled with the land and hath imprisoned him in a castell taking possession of the whole kingdome saying Don Gallaneo hath no nigher allie then he and so executeth daily such tyrannies on the afflicted people that we desire rather to die then liue This is sir the truth of your demaund But tell me sayde Don Brianell left your King Pompeiano no issue to inherite his kingdome after him He did replied his hoast one daughter called the Princesse Aurora whome we thinke to bée dead for wée haue neuer since heard of her But if she be not dead sayde Don Brianell and comming hither will you not receyue her We will all die in her bâ—halâ—e replyed hee But these traytour are so stronglie fortifiâ—â— that wée shoulde hardly effect anie good vnlesse there were some to incourege the people of the Countrey and for this none better then she Gouernour Damartyno but that his imprisonment forbiddes it for euer Is his guard so great sayd Don Brianell that you thinke he may not be liberated The guarde replied he is not so great but that the Cittie is so nigh vnto the Castell that vpon the giuing of the watch-worde aboue thirtie thousand men would arme themselues And within the Castell there is a Mine that reacheth vnto the King Tramolcanos Pallace How know you this said don Brianell Because you seeme a man on whom I may repose greater trust I will tell you answered the hoast I was Lieutenant of the castell vnder Damartyno thrée yeares and then knew I it and that way went I often to speake with him which makes me the more pittie his imprisonment Don Brionell liked well of his hoasts wordes and perceiuing hée wished well to the affayres of the Princesse Aurora sayde Can you tell mée howe I might get vnto that Mine to go into the Castell I do replied hée but what dooth it concerne you that you will vndertake so daungerous an enterprise I am his nigh Aâ—â—â—â— sayde don Brianell and woulde willinglie put my selfe in hazarde to set him at libertie Although it seemes impossible to scape with life in this enterprize sayde the hoast because there is within a Cousen of the Giantes with tenne Knightes I will notwithstanding doe it and helpe herein while I liue and therefore will goe with you to Morrowe to Antioche béeing an honour to loose my life in companie of such a Knight Don Brianell thanked him for it promising that if their enterprize had a good successe his paynes shoulde bée well quitted The deedes doo bring with them theyr recompence sayde the hoast and more then this am I bounde to doo for Damartyno The next morning saying that hée must goe about certaine affayres to Antioche clad himselfe all in Armour For though he were poore yet was hee one of the valiantest Knights of that Countrey all his life trained vp in chiualdrous designes Which don Brianell séeing wondered at it not knowing hée was a Knight and so departed towards Antioch CHAP. XLVI What don Brianell and Palineo of the venture did arriuing at Antioch and the daunger they were in WIth intention aforesaid trauailed these two Knights till they came within sight of the citties of Antioch which was one of the best and well peopled Citie of the world for there was within aboue a hundred thousand great housholds Don Brianell highly admyred the Turrets and Towers of the same which were numberlesse and the Sunne reuerberating on them made the Citie séeme of a burning flame What thinke you sir of this noble Citie demaunded the hoast Well replied don Brianell for I haue not séene a more fayrer and that better contented me Not without reason doo you say so sayde his hoast for I assure you there is but thrée fayrer at this present which are Babylon Memphis and Constantinople which notwithstanding scant in fayrenesse equals this I pray you tell me your name said don Brianell for I greatly desire to know it séeing we shall be better acquainted hereafter My name is sayde he Palineo of the Venture and seeing this occasion requires it I woulde gladlie knowe yours before wee come to Antioche I am called the aduenturous Knight answered don Brianell and do beléeue you neuer heard me named hauing neuer trauelled this way before I haue no doubt of it sir replied Palineo but you must now chaunge that name here for it is said a knight so called was present at the King of Cyprus death Thus went they till they met a Knight sore wounded going in great haste Don Brianell staying him demaunded the cause of his hastie iourney in that manner You shall know sir replied the knight that the Countie Gariano to exercise his knights order yesterday a tourney of a thousande on each side so
that vtterly subuerting those aduerse strengths leauing no man with life they sent Ambassadors to Antioche to make them know these euents so happily brought to ende which greatlie gladded them sending thither Gouernours to order those vprores till all thinges else were otherwise concluded By this time the wounded Knights were through well except Palineo that beeing woorse wounded was longer in healing But one day being altogither in Councell it was determined that Damartyno as before should sway the gouernment of the whole Kingdome and did sweare all the people to obey him And though hée refused it alledging he was farre in yeares and therefore it better became him to withdrawe vnto a priuate life leauing the variable chaunces of the giddie worlde yet in the â—â—de he was forced to doo it at the intreaties of all the Nobilitie of the lande that highlie estéemed them And don Bellianis hauing vnderstood of his cousen don Brianell the great toyle and daungers that the pollitike Palineo had in those businesses sustained called him before all the greatest Peeres saying thus If the merits that your valour and your worthy person do deserue should accordingly be recompenced valiant politike warriour all this kingdom were insufficient to counterpoise your high deserts being by your onely means recouered for it is manifest that you were the cause of the restitution therof as also of Damertynos libertie the glorie of all which things deseruedly shoulde to your selfe be attributed Which notwithstanding I intreat you not regarding the smalnesse of the gift but she good will of the giuer and as a token of your farther deseruings to accept as your owne the whole estate and Lands belonging to the County Gariano wishing it were in a better time that I might expresse my loue towards you with larger effects according to the vsance of my minde Yet will I procure the Princesse Aurora to confirme you this with promise of a greater recompence All those Lordes that were there present highly allowed and commended what Don Bellianis had especially the Princes Don Bryanell and Clarianeo To whom Palineo thus made answere Excellent Prince and most heroyicke for so may I with reason though I do not know you call you hauing on me extended the magnificence of your royall minde by the bountie of your liberall hand which in no lesse a person then I speake of can be seene hauing â—one nothing that might deserue so much as the company of such famous knights but the greatnesse of your largenesse passing al compare bindeth me to this And so doo I receiue these fauours onely to imploy the same togither with my life in your seruice the Princesse Aurora my soueraigne Lady beseeching the immortall gods that when I do forget this dutie that then I may be made an example of the like ingratitude to all in the vniuersall orbe And therevpon prostrating himself vpon his knées desired to kisse his hande But Don Bellianis refusing it imbraced him with great affâ—â—â—iâ—n The like did all the other knights calling him thereafter Count Gariano hauing deserued it by the vertue and valour of his minde possessing nothing of his ancestors but a horse and armor weapons Don Bellianis hauing finished this action commanded all his army spéedily to ship themselues charging all the leaders and Captaines to bend their voyage to Persia and attend his comming or order from him at Persepolis making them knâ—we the danger wherein he had left the Emperor there They with a good winde departed leauing don Bellianis alone with onely his brothers and don Bryanell that determined to méete them by land After all this they continued eight daies in Antioch which being pacified and quieted they resolued the insuing day to depart The Count Gariano aâ—â— the Gouernor Damartyno greatly sorrowing for their a 〈…〉 t before they went they so much intreated them to 〈…〉 themselues that don Bellanis not able to deny it â—â—â—d them what â—heâ— were taking their words they should not disâ—lâ—se it to â—ny who rested amazed yet very glad that these affaires were concludes by so great a prince and giuing theÌ„ guides to 〈…〉 their way to Persia they at length departed In which iourney 〈…〉 them the Hystorie here endeth this first part â—â—â—â—ng h 〈…〉 ten barke in the doubtfull surges of 〈…〉 on the quiet shoare of 〈…〉 tie and patronagâ—â—g fauours FINIS
not farre from thence that reached to another lodging of the same making that don Bellianis was in so curiously wrought and of so rare woorkmanshippe that the Ladyes greatly admired it and entering in another roome they founde the Prince Don Bryanell walking alone alreadie healed of his woundes yet hauing lost much bloud hee looked verie pale and wanne for the sage Matron greatly commiserating his daunger prouiuided as heretofore is specified For when shee went to cure the Emperour shee made one of her Damsels to enter another way vnséeue and fetching him thence brought him thither in a traunce and for all he was healed with the drinke that Bellona gaue him yet knewe hee not in what place nor in whose power hee was neither knewe hee whether he was in prison or at libertie nor in what state the battell remained in which hee lost the Emperour and séeing his woundes whole was in such a wonder that almost hee perswaded himselfe waking out of a dreame and séeing no bodye with whome hee might speake walked vp and downe the Chamber séeking and deuising howe by some meanes he might resolue his confused thoughts and when he sawe the Princesse Aurora and her Damsels with the olde woman leading her by the hande hee straight knewe her garments for as is sayde hee sawe her before hee and Arfileo hadde begunne theyr Combatte with whose sight hee thought that hee and the Emperour were imprisoned by the knights with whom they had commenced their battell and yet knew he not how that might be hauing after séene them ayded by the Emperour against Don Gallaneos knights but seeing them so nigh him thought that though hee were in the prison as he imagined yet ought he vse that behauiour that his state required and séeing they were Ladyes approached with that courtesie which might beséeme one accompanied with such knights And she hauing learned of the olde woman who he was humbled hir selfe at his féete which he vnable to disturbe did the like desiring her to graunt him her faire handes that he might kisse them but they so long striued to surpasse each other in courtesie that Bellona commanded them to rise for their state forbad such ceremonies betwéene them which they did though not so frée as at first for they rested greatly affectionate either of other and don Bryanell at last thus brake silence I do so wonder at the maruellous things y t since yesterday haue happened me that I know not if any such haue bin or no for being with the Emperour my soueraigne in battell wherein I remained sore wounded and not knowing the ende thereof I find my selfe at this present well and strong and in this rich and sumptuous chamber with whose like the whole world cannot cōpare nor yet knew whether I be at libertie or captiue though vnder y e power of such kéepers I shuld imagine such restraint a greater comfort to my greefe then any I can desire Wherefore excellent Ladie I intreate you if you bee in the same case my selfe am in as one that I suppose was present at all that befell you would declare it me and that I may also with your fauour knowe the true successe of the battell and what is become of those most haughtie knights that accompanied you whose mighty strength I am sure the whole earth cannot equall and for what cause am I here kept whether with or without your will Whilst he vttered these words the Princesse earnestly viewed him and remained so greatly satisfied with his good disposition being a verie gallant knight and séeing reason willed her to answere all his demaunds thus replyed Not without cause may you be confounded in your own imaginations excellent Prince for I assure you if now you enioy your life it is by your being héere and though the battell was fought nigh Constantinople at this instant you are not so neare it as to the Ryphean mountaines ioyning vppon the great Cittie of Persepolis for all which you may thanke this graue Matron that here is with me seeing by her great knowledge you hither were conducted The knights with whom you in the beginning combatted and came in my companie are the Prince Arfileo that with you fought the other whose battell was with the Emperour is his sonne Don Bellianis Is it possible oh God sayd Don Bryanell that den Bellianis should with such glorie principate his haughtie deeds of Chiualrie Account these the least sayde Bellona for I tell you neither the Emperour his father nor any knight this day liuing may with him compare Certainely I thinke no lesse replied don Bryanell and more then you say dare I beleeue of that couragious Prince hauing séene him performe such surpassing wonders in that one fight But I beséech you let me know the ende thereof and how the Emperour and hee do The Emperour is well sayd she and the Princes both be in this house where you are though sore wounded Now I assure you answered don Bryanell I account my selfe most happie that after so many troubles I heare the most contentedst newes that my perplexed soule could wish after the tempestous passage of a boysterous storme with the calme approach of the al-comforting sunne Wherfore lette vs without longer stay go visit them and there may I knowe what else happened in this aduenture Euen when you please sayde Bellona for I know they will no lesse ioy with your sight then you with theirs So taking him betweene them they returned the way they came to the chamber where they left the Princes and entering it they found them talking togither of their last aduenture But when the Princes saw don Bryanell they would rise to reuerence him but hee running to don Bellianis beds side bended his knee to the grounde crauing he might kisse his hands The Prince tooke him vp and imbracing so held him a while and said I do greatly reioyce renowmed Prince to sée you so well though according to your great déedes in the battell whereby you got many dangerous wounds I thought we should not so soone sée you For which let vs thanke this Lady that with you comes seeing she tooke such care of our safetie which with all our states we cannot sufficiently recompence hauing next vnto God by her meanes recouered our lost times Therefore I thinke it reason said Don Bryanell séeing she is the instrumentall cause wee reposesse them we in her seruice to the death vse them that at least thereby we may seeme to satisfie some part of her many deserts and so do intreat her to commaund them as her owne Whereunto she thus answered It sufficeth me great Lords to haue done some seruice to such Princes which doth surpasse all satisfaction whatsoeuer I may of you receiue how much the more that will not be so little which you must vndertake in behalfe of this disinherited Princesse my Coozin wherewith this resteth fully recompenced which they againe replied with great courtesie and then Don Bryanell went to Arfileo
lodge in his pallace vntill the battell were paste The King easily condiscended thereto hauing already purposed that if he remayned victor of the fight to require the Soldan to pardon his daughter and giue her him with the kingdome of Antioche as his right being next Heire to Don Gallaneo for which cause hée remained there where the Soldan greatly honored him The Prince Arfileo Don Bryanell with the Kinges Dukes and Earles returned to the Dukes Pallace to tell Don Bellianis the order taken and entring where hee was they founde him nowe somewhat better then they before had left him to whome they then declared all that had passed betwéene them and the Soldon and how the day of battell was assigned and that the Duke had in Champion for himselfe and how they had accepted the combatte no his and the Princesse Persianis name expressing also the great fiercenes of the Gyants particularly descrybing y e deformed mishapen features of the King of Cyprus protesting they had neuer seene the like Don Belhanis conceiued an extreame rage hearing that discourse how the Soldane would not permit him to the combate at such time wherein hee was reputed a traytor wherewith beeing almoste besides himselfe with vnrestrained fary saide What thinkes the Soldane this shall be suffered that hee hath ordayned and that with so greate maliciousnâ—s against the law of armes his desire shall bée fulfilled No the powers diuine will not permit it And therewithall hee rose and sat vppon his bedde and in all haste called for his cloathes The Damsels séeing him thus determined intreated him not to doe it which hee would not but in all haste made himselfe ready resisting al their requestes also the Princesse Auroras and commanding that none should accompany him saue the Princes there present that led him by the armes least hée should fall But a little after the Princesse Florisbellas Damzells followed him in which manner they went through the Cittie vntill they came vnto the Soldanes Pallace who béeing séene and knowne by the common people said one to another viewing him so fainte and weake Beholde heere the knight which ouercame the knights of the vnhappybridge and that tooke the Dukes parte in the last turney Many followed him to knowe the cause of his so going in such ill disposition who being at the Pallace gate sent the Soldane word hee was come to speake with him WheÌ„ it was so told the Sophy he was at table accompanyed with the King of Cyprus his brothers who vnderstanding hée was there commaunded hee should bee admitted to his presence Is this the Knight of the golden Image demaunded the King whom I come both to accuse and challenge for the treachery he committed by the deathes of my deare Cosins This is he replyed the Soldan and doe assure you that his peere the sunne shines not on to equall him in strength and valour That may bee saide the King mong such as himselfe and it were a blotte to my honour to make any account of 100. such as hee You wrong your selfe to thinke so answered the Soldan for if hee should enter in the fight I would not for the world assure you of the victorie and therefore I ordered what I did Now you haue told me so said the Gyant it behoues me in any wise to craue the combatte against him for if I should not doe it I am for euer dishonoured I wil haue no more wordes héereon sayde the Sophy for in dooing otherwise I should not bee reuenged on him and the Duke as I desire The king disdainfully laughed at his wordes and said If the others that in this battell shallenter were as you make him yet should my will be accompliwed But since you wil haue it otherwise I yéelde vnto you Thereon sayde the Soldane giue mee your hand and word not to accept at this time any battell against him I promised you so to doe said y e Gyant though it bée to my lasting blame CHAP. XXII What speeches passed betweene the Knight of the golden Image and the Soldan and how hee was stayed in the Pallace till the end of the battell DON Bellianis beeing before the Sophies presence shewing no kinde of dutie thinking that one of his state and pretending such a challenge shuld rather seeme sterne and fierce theÌ„ humble and milde though his weakenes through the gréenousnes of his wounds was so great that no Knight vnder the cope of heauen was able with such patience to endure half the paine y t he perforce sustained which notwithstanding with a cleare voice that he might bee heard of all the assembly dissembling his sorrowe as much as he could said I am most mightie Lord forced to come to your presence in this manner that you sée by hearing certaine things that here haue bin debated in preiudice of my honor and reputation which most excéedingly haue augmented the pain and grief of my great sicknesse for which cause I feare I shall not be able to vtter the imaginations of my pensiue hart with so great decoram and reuereÌ„ce as appertaineth to so high a personage And I protest I had not hither come but presuming on y e equalnesse of thy iustice The Soldan séeing him in such distresse coÌ„manded him ere he further procéeded to sit downe a chaire being brought him he humbling himselfe for the courtesie sat him downe being in such case that he had like a thousand times to haue sounded as he stood through y e great debilitie of his bodie But drawing strength from his neuer fainting courage séeing Filistone that fierce gazed on him resting astonished at his great monstruositie turned to the Souldane with these words If according to the iustice of my cause most mightie lord committed to the administration of those men to that ende placed by the immortall gods on this terrestriall ball promising such large guerdons in their future life of euerlasting happinesse if with equitie and right they execute the function of so high commanding powers whereunto the spacious territories of your vaste Empery bindes you you looke into this whole matter searching y e true ground therof not suffering the vnbridled passion of base parcialitie to blinde the eyes of your admiring iudgement which most often is woont to obscure and vtterly with ignominy besmeares the magnanimitie of the Noblest mindes Then I cannot but greatlye meruaile for what reasons you haue so farre procéeded in my affaires séeing my selfe indeuoured with the vtmost of my strength to shewe my prostrate seruice to your highnesse whose gentle regarde might haue bene the cause that the least reason procéeding from your royall selfe should haue contentedly satisfied mee at your command And I vow by the high immortal gods no reproach shuld haue scandalizde your mightinesse nor any iniurious infamy stained the honour of your estate if my selfe had béene first heard and my consent graunted to the assigned Combatte For in my iudgement it is against all naturall reason that I béeing
Burgonet that none but I deserue the fruition of such thoughtes though hee more largely do possesse the fauour of time smiling chance which I will obtaine vnlesse my tributarie death denie me passage to effect my will that hardly will bee maintained with these oppressing tormentors where with manie grones and sighes drowned in a flood of teares wetted all his bed Oh God sayde Floriana did you euer heare such a complaint of a Knight in so short a time not hauiug séene her whome hée loues And I beleeue vnlesse hee bee remedied hée will hardly scape with his life béeing thus déepelie wounded I knowe not what to say replied her fellow Periana for it is the straungest thing I haue séene that the loue of a Ladie should so wound the heart of a Knight agaynst whome neither the furie of hell-bred beasts nor the strength of mightie Giants can preuaile and whome wee haue séene do such déedes that scarce our selues can beléeue and this is the greatest of all that so strong a Competitor in Loue is offered at this present to the Persian Prince The Knight of the golden Image is not so great as you estéeme him sayde Floriana for I well knowe the high déedes and great state of the other and though he be nowe disgraced by the Soldan he may be reconciled All this knowe I sayde the other yet is not hée like to this if hée should bée compared And this Knight may bee some great Prince since knowing the other sueth for her hee determineth the like And as for his beautie you sée the worlde cannot equall it and also for his valour we our selues are good witnesses And for my part though I were sure to die I woulde procure all meanes to effect his desire seeing the daunger hée freed vs from and the loue wée bare him and hee vs deserueth all our endeuour in this case In this they continued while they fell a sléepe till the next morning that they againe dressed him And trulie the great desire he had to see himselfe out of that Cittie greatly helped his woundes that the Damzels sayde he would bee well within ten dayes and able to trauell which greatly ioyed him hoping to be quickly in the great Citie of Babylon there to possesse the sight of his heauenly Princesse CHAP. XXVIII Howe betweene the Princes Don Bryanell and Arfileo with the two kings it was determined in what maner the Duke Alfiron and the Knight of the golden Image should be set at libertic And howe the Princesse Aurora spake with about it him by whose counsell she departed from the Soldans Court. THe prince Arfileo knowing how the Soldan gouerned himselfe with a distâ—mpered passion of an vnbrideled rage resolued with the two kings his friends whoÌ„ this matter also concerned because the Sophi had with them broken promise to procure the end of these affaires and therevpon coucluded that séeing the Soldan would not frée the Knight of the golden Image and the Duke by intreatiue meanes to make it knowne vnto Don Bellianis and to this ende the Princesse Aurora shoulde visite him in Prison and béeing there found him conuersing with the Damzelles about the Princesse Florisbella who knowing his passion alwayes deuised discorsiue matter vpon theyr Ladie which some time both pleased and displeased him as the spéeches accorded with his humour or delighted his waxe-mollified heart apt for any impression of that qualitie Nowe when the Princesse entered the Ladies rose to receyue her with that obeysaunce that befitted her state and the Prince Don Bellianis about to doo the lyke was stayed by her who so soone stepped to him that hee could not doo it to whome shée woulde haue knéeled but hee not permitting it embraced her betweene his armes with more affection then thitherto hée had because of his conceyued loue of the Princesse Florisbella that so dearely loued this Ladie hoping by her meanes through the helpe hée shoulde imploy in her seruice to obtaine his Mistresse fauour The Princesse Aurora sitting by him demaunded how he felt himselfe of his daungerous wounds Well deare Ladie replied he that séeing I am in such companie there is no cause to demaund of me that for if that fortune should lend her force to my harme her power is so weakened hereby that she cannot I gladly â—â—y therein answered she and yet you are not content to haue hitherto yéelded no satisfaction for your cure but that you will with words ieast at vs. Then were it good we require it said Persiana least he thinke to pay vs with conceyts I can not satisfie you replied the Prince according to your merits or the great fauour I haue receiued for if I coulde you should not kéep me in prison for it as you do What prison said they if the Soldan would set you at libertie you should not be staied by vs. If I could so soone frée my selfe of that gaole I meane replied Don Bellianis as I can of this the Soldanes the griefe I sustaine should not thus torment me Let vs leaue this talke said the Princesse for the time will come that you shall be frée of all your prisons and these Ladies also satisfied to their content wherein if you shall disagrée I as vmpere will moderate the strife betwéene you though I now it will not be requisite But to the purpose I will tell you the effect of my comming You alreadie know how the Soldan hauing béene intreated and importuned about it hath alwayes refused to graunt you libertie with the Duke Alfiron denying it also to the Kings of Armenia and Tessifantie that greatly laboured your deliuerie And the last answere he gaue them was they should no more immortune him therein for if they did it should not a little disadauntage them that if they became of your faction he would also apprehend them as traytors to his state and person New they haue determined to end this matter one way or other forthwith because the venturous knight may not stay within the Citie beeing commaunded to the contrarie by the Soldan who knoweth no otherwise but that hee is come yet will not they conclude any thing without your aduise What power haue they said Don Bellianis They haue replyed shée eyght thousand men well appointed and heere they gaue me your sword to bring you which I did as secretely as I could tying it vnder my gowne and so gaue it him Don Bellianis tooke it and more reioyced therewith then if hee had beene presented with a kingdome The Damzells greatly wondred to sée the great riches therof which was vnualuable Tell those knights most excellent Princesse that sixe dayes hence they prepare and haue then in readinesse al their men and that in the euening they suddenly assault the Soldans pallace procuring nought else but the libertie of the Duke Alsiron and in any case they take with them the Princesse Persiana for it must néeds bee so and you deare Lady shall take your leaue of the Soldan saying
the Emperour lying vnder a trée But taking another way stayed at a place throgh which the knight must of necessitic passe if he came whose coÌ„ming he attended walking on his Horse and reuolued with himselfe what he had to do remembring that knight loued his Ladie hée thought therein he stood disgraced which so mooued his desires to incounter him that he iudged himselfe so infortunate that the same Prince would rather breake his promise then come Wherein he greatly was deceiued for he rather would haue induced a thousand deathes then in the least degrée falsilie his ingaged word For the day before he marched from Persepolis with all his troupes containing aboue thrée hundred thousand Horsemen besides Footemen that couered all the mountaines and plaines they passed by and hee so set foorth with the manner of his march that none could scape to aduertize his aduersaries thereof on whom hée arriued with such a suddaine furie that it had not béene much if they had taken the Cittie at their first assault but that those valiant Knights were within whose strength supplyed the want of a competent Armie to resist their â—oes and issuing foorth in the citties defences begun so fierce and bloody a battell as euer was any séene The Princesse Arfileo Contumeliano and the Kinges of Armenia wiâ—h the Duke Alfiron went out of the Cittie into their Campes through a secrete doore accompanied with all the rest of the chiefest Knights which they founde in seme danger by the aduerse multitudes with whose comming on al sides their beganne such cruell massacring of their men that with in a whyle the earth was dyed with humaine blood and coucred with dead bodies slaine by their furious armes which the Prince Perianeo seeing thought he could haue no better occasion to depart secretly to the valley of the 3. fountains wher he know the knight of the Crewnes expected him to end their former quarrell and that he might the better passe vnknowen hée had put on a sanguine armour without any deuise in his shield in which manner he went till he came to the place wher Don Bellianis stayd whem he thought did then but come seeing him walke about and very glad cryed out he should there stay for it was a place conuenient for their combatte Don Bellianis turning about and séeing him so altered in his Armour knâ—w him not but that he thus said I am the knight that hath established this combat with you this day for which we are now in a good place where none shall disturbe vs. You came so disguised replied Don Bellianis that I knew you not But I am right glad we are so well met to ende our commenced enterprise But first tell me said the Persian Prince since one or both of vs shall here remaine what you are and how you are called And I promise to do the like It doth not please me replied the valiant prince Don Bellianis for I well know you are the renowmed Perianeo Prince of Persia Then if not so answered Persian Prince satisfie me with knowing the cause why you beare portraied the picture of that diuine Ladie in your shéeld It is the shadow replied Don Bellianis of that câ—listial substance that imperates my heart and soule and therfore â—o I continually bear it with me Oh vnhappy knight shall in the worlde liue any to dare say such a thing in thy presence and with a fierie choller that gnawde his heart hee turned his horse to take his full carreare on the field The like did Don Bellianis méeting in the middle of their course with such admirable force lightnesse that they séemed more to fly then on the ground to run Oh who would not haue desired to sée this fight betwixt the flower of the worldes Chiualrie here opposed one against the other For the Prince Perianeo had not his like on the vniuerse except Don Bellianis his father and yet his father had Princes his brothers though they were knighted had not yet thitherto vsed their Armes But to returne to our former discourse The two Combattants encountred each other with such impâ—tous and sodaine strength that their Launces being big and knottie their forses without coÌ„pare all their defensiue armor was pierced and their launces past betwéen their left sides and armes and meeting body with body sheelds helmes togither made so huge a noise as if two towers had met Don Bellianis lost both his surrops But the Prince Perianeo if he had not very quickly got hold by his horses necke he had surely gon to the ground making many signes of falling yet gouerned with inplacable rage he brauely recouered his stirrops turning towards Don Bellianis that also made against him and regréeting one another with such rigorous blowes that all the Valley did resound with the noise so monstrous were they and where theyr swordes lighted from thence it carried armour and flesh and laid so thicke vpon one another that they had no time toward any blow with their shéeldes In this manner laboured they aboue foure houres being so wounded that it would haue made any adamantiue brest to pittie them and not speaking any word withdrew apart to breathe The Prince Perianeo thus with himselfe began Is it possible that the enuious starres that gouerned the fatall houre of my birth should make me thus vnhappy to heare a knight in my presence say he loues thy Lady and that thou art not able to satisfie that proud fault with y e dearest blood of his stout hart but suffer him to bring thée to such a point as to wish the pittilesse stroake of an impartial cruell death eyther this knight is inchanted or I am deceiued if his forces be not now far greater then the other time I tried them and neyther toyle nor labour doth diminish them But oh Imperious Gouernesse of my afflicted soule What is he shall tel thée that this thy knight dyeth coÌ„fessing y e immooueable faith he owes thée hauing left no hope euermore to sée the glorious splendour of thy diuine beautie But let the reuoluing heauens dispose the resolucion of my destined Fates as they please yet one of vs ere we dye shall confesse the other most worthy of thy seruice On the other side Don Bellianis walking considering with himselfe the valour of his aduersarie imagining he neuer felt crueller blowes but of his father and that his forces more and more increased and recording the cause of his fight thus of himselfe complained Oh Don Bellianis vnwoorthie to bee called knight and louer of so Diuine a Princesse to suffer an other knight thus to let thee blood and not to make his tributary life doo homage to thy sword whereby thou hast lost both the honour and tylle of a Knight vn 〈…〉 thou recouerest it by making his deaths passage through his life With the ende of which words hee became so inraged that his heart séemed to burne in the fierie coales of his irefull
handes that hee was faine to set him downe not being able to stand on his legges looking like a man readie to breathe his last Don Bellianis thinking his woundes were the cause of it sat him downe lamenting that vnhappie chaunce loosing their blood so fast that it had made two Chanells as if they proceeded from two rising springs and ouertaken by the darksome night were put into so great feare that they dispaired of remedie Especially Don Bellianis doubting thereby his fathers life who because the suddaine amazement more troubled him then the daunger of his woundes quickly recouered himselfe and imbracing the Prince his sonne said Oh deare sonne tell me I pray you why come you armed in the Armour of the Knight of Fortune Did he peraduenture diâ— by your hands or how is it for I cannot expresse the alteration I suffer till I know it I weare the Armes of Sabian of Trebento and no others for those of the Persian Prince your selfe weares I haue not chaunged mine said the Emperour But tel me what hath befallen you since you lest me for surely we haue bn wondrously deceiued Don Bellianis tolde it him Whereupon the Emperour spake Surely Prince we haue bene inchaunted and yet cannot deuise by what meanes but this is the straungest case I euer heard of that both should séeme to weare one kinde of armour and not perceiue it each of vs imagining the other to be the Persian Prince And it may bee that Lady that cryed to you for helpe was she that so deceiued vs. But let vs part from hence for we loose much blood When they were vppon going they espied comming towards them an auncient Matrone conducted by foure monstrous Gyants before them was carried a Piller of fire which lighted them their way they came with such haste that ere they could rise she was vpon them whom presently the Gyants tooke from her Palfray and knéeling before the Emperour she required his royall hands to kisse them The Emperour refusing to do it tooke her vp and she vnmasking her selfe was straight knowne of Don Bellianis to be the sage Bellona his deare friend Whereat conceiuing as much pleasure as before displeasure and accounting all his daunger none imbracing her said What chaunce hath brought you hither my good friend at such a time which is not without some speciall cause The great loue I beare you and the Emperour your father replied she is the cause thereof But for you incurre great perill through your wounds eate this which I will giue you for with the like medicine you were afore cured They did so and were therewith presently so well as if they had had no ill at all and their armour returned vnto their former colour and deuises The Emperour imbracing her said For Gods sake Ladie tell me this aduenture for it doth more amaze me then any thing in all my life I will replyed shée and hardly shall you know it of any but of me You well remember the Combatte you had agreed with the Persian Prince now know he hath to his friend a great Magician in that Art the skilfullest in all the world this man knowing the great daunger his friend should passe with the Prince your sonne did ordaine all that which you haue séene changing both your armours that you might staie one another each of you thinking you fought with the valourous Prince Perianeo And trust me his desire had taken effect had it not bene for Don Bellianis sword which for that purpose the wise Medea many yeares before kept in the Caue where Don Bellianis woune it being the man she wished might haue it alwayes desiring to benefit the house of Greece as often heretofore she hath done For so was it written where your sonne found the sword if he doth remember the words I doo well remember them replied Don Bellianis for thus they said This Prophecie is mentioned in the seeond Chapter and here explained with effect That with this Sword the liuing should be lost and the dead put in possession of the recouered and they restored to their royall blood with knowledge of their possessors You see now how it hath come to passe and moreouer they said this should be At the time when the fiercenesse of the couragious Lyons which are you two by the greatnesse of his skill which is that of the wise man called Fristone that in knowledge equals her because he hath all her â—ookes should be put in greater feare but this know not he for he did not looke whether thâ— Sword were wonne or no or whether the valorous Prince your sonne did weare it Then the liuing which were lost that arâ— you two that being liuing were lost by the alteration of your Armour and supposing you alreadie dead which would haue happened if the fight had bene ended with the blowe of this Sword that cut the laces of your Helme were put in possession of your recouered selues being restored to your royall bloods which was at the point vtterly to haue bene lost And the true possessors knowne which are both you taking one another for the Persian Prince Now I hope you vnderstand the aduenture you haue past which not without cause you haue accounted straunge Greatly wondred the knights at these Ladies words who againe said But for another cause hath my comming bene which is to haue with me the Prince Don Bellianis your deare sonne whome I must presently vse in a deare imploy that ne lesse concernes him then his life Take vs both with you saide the Emperour I would willingly doo it replied shée but that the braue Duke Alsiron greatly néedeth your helpe and therefore it is no reason to leaue him alone and your sonne shall quickly returne againe And here doo as I counsell you for I well knew this woulde happen which made me write vnto you that you should by no meanes depart from the Cittie of Constantinople but you would not do it wherein it had not bene much if you had lost your life I will not go against your counsell replied the Emperour but tell me if my sonne shall quickly returne He shal said she and therefore go to the Citie the soonest that you may and so making Don Bellianis mount on horseback who had taken the Emperours blessing which with many teares did giue it him departed as swift as the winde leauing the Emperour so occupied with imaginations whither his sonne might be carried that he knew not how to resolue himselfe CHAP. XXXVIII How the Emperour returned to the Cittie of Bollera and what happened him in the Souldanes Campe before hee entred into the Citie THe Emperour remembring the Sages words tooke his Launce and mounted on horsbacke approching the Cittie of Bollera almost by breake of day which he founde begyt with so many multitudes that he greatly wondred at their suddaine arriuall and not knowing on which side the Duke laie intrenched because the Citie was round about besieged he rushed among those Tentes
a horsbacke not setting his foote in the stirrope as was his custome and very gallantly managing him he made him bende his knées vnto the earth and bending downe his owne head in signe of his dutie departed in maner as he came with vnspeakable ioy to haue so happily finished that aduenture before his Lady to his immortall glorie which were it not tempered with griefe of his departure it had bene inough to kill him But here we leaue him till farther accidents shall refresh his remembrance CHAP. XLIIII What the Princesse Florisbella did after the Knight of the golden Image was departed Of her Laments and Conference with the Infant Maturosa her Cousin THe Princesse Florisbella remained so amazed with the suddaine departure of the new Louer that so quickly had made a praie of her tender hart that all her imaginations were on nought but of Don Bellianis and till he went cleane out of the field she accompanied him with her sight so stedfastly fixing her eyes after him that had not her cousin called her away to follow the Souldane and Empresse that were returning to the Court there she had staied forgetfull of her selfe The Infant Matarosa said vnto her by the way What say you faire Cousin to that great knight did you euer sée in all your life a man of more valor And trust me I thinke it be he I told you of a iltle before his comming I greatly desire to see the fairnesse of his complexion whether it accorded with the constitution of his bodie and gallant behauiour I know not what I should say replied the Princesse for he hath not séemed so well in my eyes and though his valour haue freed me from the daunger you sawe great is his presumption notwithstanding to beare my picture with him about the world and his discurtesie is no lesse to depart vnknowne vnto the Souldan my father and nothing respecting our intreaties leauing mee so discontented and I had not taken his ring had not my father coÌ„manded and you perswaded me vnto it You haue no reason to blame him for it said her Cousiin for he could do no otherwise being bound vnto the contrarie by the sage Bellona and I know not what Princesse or greater Lady woulde haue refused so deare a seruice as this knight offered you so liberally which you séemed to accept most vnwillingly Speake not of it answered the princesse for I had like to haue shewed my selfe as vnthankefull in taking it as he discourteous in not doing what I intreated him But if returne hee shall knowe the discontent hee did me Assure you said her pleasant Cousiin if he would be my knight I would not hammer on these doubts If he returnes hée shall be answered the Princesse I will yéelde vnto it saide the Infant if you obtaine it without such cercâ—â—uie as you make It may bée I shall at his returne the Princesse made answere and therefore rest contented I perceiued no such intent in him replied the Infant In such like discourse went they with the Soldane and Empresse till they arryued to the Pallace where the Princesse saying shée felt her selfe distempered left her Cousen and her Ladyes withdrawing alone vnto her Chamber to consider at more leysure of him that had so displeased her And shutting the dooâ—e after her with a pensiue heart vnable to resist her passions shee cast her selfe vppon her bedde and with teares trickling down her Cheekes with sighes that interrupted the cleare passage of the speech shée sayde with a soft voyce Oh vnhappie Princesse Florisbella what vuluckie houre was that wherein thou diddest goe to sée that cursed aduenture that hath béene the cause of these thy torments and anguishe of heart making thée héereafter bondslaue to griefe and in the ende gaine thy fréedome by death Ah deceytfull Ladies fatall was the moment wherein I graunted you the boone you craued to gaine for my good will so manie paynes Oh sage Bellona if from one daunger you haue liberated mée in a greater you haue intrapped mée And I doo beséech the Goddes to terminate these woes with my vntimelie death For what auayles it mée to bée commaundresse ouer so manie Kings Princes Lordes and Signiories if the fatall destinies of my vnhappie chaunce haue tied the libertie of my heart vnto a Knight vnknowne of whom I sawe but armour and his horse neither knowe I what hee is denying to discouer his face Oh immortall Goddes if this you haue ordered in the heauenly Synode of your decrées why did you not also summon mée to appeare before your celestiall Thrones to heare your cruell sentence giuen against mée But what say I disgraced that I am For it may bee that Knight is one of our Goddes For who coulde else haue had the power to do what he did in such a short time And so inthrall the quiet peace of my heart Oh Prince howe haue the Goddes reuenged thée because I neuer regarded thy high merits punishing my contempt by that knight that would not show me his face whom peraduenture you may be he that would not diselose your selfe being displeased by my rather But aye me thou art noâ— he for thy wordes neuer so penetâ—ated my heart nor the sâ—ge Bellona they great enimie by reason her 〈…〉 e Princesse Aurora had not brought thée in her 〈…〉 But aye me distressed soule bee it as it will onlie I 〈…〉 laugâ—â—sh in perpetuall torments and in the ende hope â—o 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 While the Princesse thus complained her Cousen Matarosa that by her 〈◊〉 withdrawing did suspect what it might bee that came through a secret doore where she was and staid to ouer-heare her but could vnderstand nothing what she said and greatly wondring at this noueltie she went away and came to her Chamber doore and knocked which awaked the Princesse out of her lauient who brying her eyes ordering her selfe she best she could opened the doore and let her in But her Cousen seeing her in that case dissembled what she thought and said How now Cousen doth the feare of the last aduenture last so long that iâ— so troubles you Or is it because you did no more good therein thâ—n I Or is it the discontent you conceiued of the discourteous knight If the last tell me it and wee will procure him to redresse the wrong The Princesse couering her face with a blush like the moâ—â—ings Suaâ—e rising in the East aunswered Do not put me in more daunger then there was the last deare Cousen for you make me thinke you knowe that Knight making me imagine that by your meanes I am snared in the deceyte of yonder inchauntment In this manner past these Ladies many dayes discoursing on nothing but the déeds of the knight of the Basâ—lâ—sks for so they called him by reason of the armour heed id weare and the Princesse Florisbella euerie day with longing desire expecting his returne still continued in her vsuall laments wherein her Cousen one day taking her woulde néedes knowe the