it againe but through the which proceeded from the galant English lady who with a new fauor fauored her louer The couragious Bariandell with his saddle betwéene his legges with all his gyrtes broken went to the grounde and drawing foorth his sworde demaunded battell therewith I desire not Sir Knight said Clarindo with you to haue newe quarrels this that Fortune hath giuen me fully contenteth me I am not vanquisht aunswered Bariandell and so may require my battell with the sworde That must be said the other as the Iudges please who seeing the controuersie went to them and adiudged the aduenturer vanquished Whereupon the shrill sound of Trumpets was so great that the one could not heare the other The smoke that issued from the Ordinance darkened the splendour of the Sunnes brightnesse that in the middest of his course stoode to beholde the Ioustes The pleasure of the Ladies cannot be expressed to see how brauely the Frenchman behaued himselfe To him went the Persian and intreated him awhile to giue him leaue which courteously he did For between them was such friendship as amōg their fathers The gallant youth prepared himselfe greatly contenting the Ladies with his presence iudging he woulde continue to the ende as his friends had happily begunne yet found they themselues agreeued with his libertie esteming themselues of little worth that any one should enter the listes without the name of alienated The which the great Matrone of Trabisound well noted therefore saide In faith braue Ladyes it greeues me to see the libertie of yonder Knight the looke to this window will not much lesse to your beauties Considering our nyce cōditions strāgenesse replyed the beauteous Archisilora I do not maruel at yonder Knights Not farre from her was Claridiano the afflictedst youth in the worlde seeing with what rigour his Lady vsed him depriuing him of that which by no meanes almost shee could deny for which cause he was so passionate pensatiue that none in the vniuerse could be more And seeing the good occasion to speak vnto his Lady he said I am glad soueraigne Queene of Lyra that you haue graunted what my Lady mother hath noted which is no small comfort to those that pyne to knowe that all the fault is not in the gallants but some also in their Ladies disfauours or disgrace It is not so great replyed the sharpe Quéene as it is iust towards those Knightes that without consideration place their hopes on that which yeeldeth soonest cause of dispaire And then this is rather a fauour for which Ladies ought to be gratified when so plainly they leaue their louer hopelesse that after they call it not a deceipt seeing their faith loue and loyaltie so ill repaide and so ought their complaints to be pittied and excused had not our strangenesse at first diswaded them Wherefore couragious Prince if any Ladye hath had more power ouer you then all we on the Prince of Percia thinke that your disfauours proceeds from this The wofull louer had not the strength to aunswere her seeing how openly she would not shewe him no hope of fauour From thence he went to his chamber ad vttering a thousand exclaims he cast him selfe vpon his bed cursing his Fortune that so was opposed against his content He durst not tarrie long because he knewe his mother would send for him so he returned placed himselfe next to Oliuea that loued him as her selfe this was at such time as through the place entred two Knights armed in Russet with barres of black that euery one enuyed their disposition but seeing they loued according to their deuises that it was in some high place it grieued them to know they liued vnbeloued Yet that was not the cause thereof but the losse of their deare Ladies For these were the valiant Princes of Celandia that hauing taken their leaues of Rosabell tooke their way towards Grecia Their deuise was a fierie Chariot wherin their Ladies were caried away they looking after them with this Motto For such a famous losse Still may we burne in fire Equall to our desire With great grace they passed forwarde but yet their strength was not so great as the Persians who taking a bigg launce incounted the one so rigorously that though on his feete he made him touch the ground he lost his stirrops for fewe blowes like that he had receiued and passed forwards Against him setled himselfe the elder brother This Knight was of more strength and so with more might they incountred shiuering their Launces in a thousand pieces The aduenturer lost one stirrope yet was it scarse discerned With new Launces they returned but in this second carrier the Celandian got but little for his length on the earth he left with the fall The Persian lost his raynes and the horse with the force of the incounter strucke his buttockes on the ground but spurring him he made him passe forwards prawnsing as he went The Instruments began their accustomed Musick with such harmonie that it seemed sent from heauen The Galleys discharged their ordinance with such noyes that the rebounding Eccho made all the Citie quake What say you now deare Lady saide Rosaluira to our Knights high deedes I beleeue our fauours giuen so willingly is that which so animates them Rightly haue you spoken said the Queene of Lyra but in the listes to shewe the freenesse of his hart this Knight deserued not so manifest a fauour She spake it to let Claridiano vnderstand that she desired to haue him Ioust but not seeing him there she straight supposed that her sharpe aunswere had driuen him thence It gréeued her for shee loued him dearer then her selfe But her grauitie was so great that she would by no meanes haue him imagine any such thing of her yet if to dissemble were to loue this Lady may be eternized for a famous louer and the greatest that euer was But at this time there entred some to proue themselues against the Persian to their cost for in short space he ouerthrew aboue 50 Knights None durst enter within the listes seeing how little there was to be got So that towardes the houre of foure through the place past two Knights of good semblance cladd in yallow that no small laughter caused the Ladies to see their dispayring deuise on their sheeldes had they a thousand distrustes all making against them they there pictured with this inscription T' is a vertue to distrust To him that will not Loue For feare of Ioyes remoue The Motto the ladyes entertained as was their custome when therein they will shewe their disdain equall to the cruelty that they show vnto their gallants The one of the yellow knights sett him selfe right against the couragious Persian who with his incountre laide him on the grounde the like he did by the second resting so brused by their strokes that he could scarce keepe a horse backe for those were the strongest incounters he had all that daie receaued The
heard amōg the bushes brake of his exclaimes he rose to sée what it was saw his dere squire Palisandro that in great hast came towards him who leapt from his horse and sayd Did you thinke souerainge Prince that you shold wander alone so lāguishing in paine through parts so remoted frō your Coūtry Parents friends wtout company of whom doth féele thy greife far more thē his proper sorow These causes are the tuch-stones to try your valour shewing it against fortunes disorders who to change her lowring countenāce requires nothing but the resistance of her frownes seming more coragious whē she is most fiercest Far more out of fauour was your Father yet neuer did hee loose the raignes of his patience which hath not a little grieued your Tutor Galtenor who brought me hither to waite vppon you which was the thing I only desired cōmanding me to tell you you should not for any thing diminish the haughtines of your mind for al wold be the more to eternize your glory Such hopes were neuer giuē to any louer therfore I wil but anger him longer to continue in these extremes for t is good since Archisilora must be yours you shold obtain the happines of hauing her with a more rigorous harm thē any you haue suffred that according to your pains you shold after esteme your glorious tryūphs And with no lesse griefe takes she your absēce thē you hers for nothing els procured I to know but this while I was there vntil your tutor saw how necessary my cōming to you was Is it possible friend Palisandro said the Prince that my lady gréeues to see me absent I cannot beléeue it for so great a good brings with it an incredulitie He imbrast him for neuer had any Prince a more discréeter squyre except Allirio that was borne according to Rosabells humor A thousand things demaunded he of the Court whose presence did adorne it Some griefe was to him hearing that all his kinsfolkes were there missing not knowing the cause therof Great comfort did hee conceaue by seeing him hee had made the Consistorie within whose secrecie he recorded his soules thoughts imagining his companie would be a lessening of his paines but that which most did mittigate it was the care his Foster-father Galtenor had to succour him By this it was time to trauaile so getting a horse-backe tooke their next way to the famouse Citie of Zantho aduertising Palisandro he should by no meanes discouer what they were more then that he was called the persecuted knight discourse they did of many things and the most of Archisilora when about two of the clocke after midday the rayes of the reuerberating sunne vpon the stony walles of the Cittie guilded their plumed toppes whose stupendious buildings made them amazed with admiration On the north side it hath Panonia on the west Istria on the East Mysia the greater and on the south the Adriaticke sea The wall was round moted with an arme of the famous Gersian riuer where it is beléeued that Iupiter first fell in Loue and therefore did the Kings heere neuer want most beautifull daughters as this now was accoumpted the worlds machlesse Paragon for gallantnes and beautie The path which they hadde taken brought them vnto the bridge whose passage the Siconians Son with his bretheren did defend It was admirable in workmanshippe for in the middest therof was edified a stately pallaice where the prince and his brothers lodged It reached vnto the Cittie wall ending with a large and great plaine payled in for the battailes which the Siconian had cōmanded there to be made because that way stood the Kings pallaice from whose windows might the second Venus behold all the cōbates though not with such affection as the warlike Lindauro so was the Prince named could wish because he was of himselfe proud and insolent being so mighty which is the chiefest thinge the Ladies doe abhorre A tumult there was in the place for the Gréeke heard the noise of blowes hee hastened his horse so did his Page to arriue in time to sée the cause Which was for that the Prince of Croatia with his two gyants had entred the bridge before him desirous to reuenge his Couzens disgrace with such fury did Claridiano crosse the same that euery one beholding the fight was moued to laughter seing him with so mornefull deuise Thrée of the brothers had Pollidolpho Prince of Croatia ouerthrowne returning against the fourth he encountred him so brauely that the launce slyding from his shielde to the right side which beeing of a knotty Oake ere it broke thrée pats thereof appeared at the other side tumbling his enemie dead at his féete to his Brothers extreme griefe There was none there but cōmended the azure knight for of this colour was his deuise who like an angry Lyon made towards the haughty Lindauro They met with more ferrocity then the roaring of raging waters beating within the cauers of hollow rocks Valiant were the louers but both were vnhorst Of the two falls the better was the Croatians because he held the bridle in his hāds Recouer would he his seate to end the rest of the battles but the Iudges on Lindauros behalfe did put him from it saying he was vanquisht Not I replyed the youth since we both fel on our féet That 's al one said they for you to wyn were bound not to leaue your saddle though your aduersary dyd loose his To that passe came the matter that the Prince of Croatias gyants stept among them saying that he in the azure was not ouercome but that he might prosecute his battle that they would maintayne it gainst all the world Least any dangerous tumult should happen the King descended to whom the Iudgement of the combate was remitted verie neere approched the Gréeke determined to take the Croatians part thought it shold cost him his life for his valor shewen in the Iustes had drawen his affection So did the Kinge greatly affect Lindauro because he was so great a Prince and so néere neighbour to him it had moued him in secret to giue him hope of his Daughter Venus that none but he shold haue her although the lady one day her father talked with hir about it made answere contrary to her sires expectations Neuerthelesse he would not openly disgrace the stranger but onely that hee could not procéede farther in fight loosing his horse and shield Forward came the angry Gréeke with furious rage shaking like an aspen leafe lifting vp his Beuer sayd Notwithstanding that against what so wise a king hath decréede nothing ought to be sayd neuerthelesse sauing the respect honor due to your imperiall Crowne state in my opinion the knight may continue his battailes to the end for this being the last it is certaine it went at al aduenture either procuring the maintenance of his owne fame If there any wanted to Iust yet were there in this difficulty resting in the thrée
the fauor of your mightie arme I maye recouer that felicitie that my teares and your valour shall purchase I would it were no more but so deare Rosabell replyed the Prince of Antioch for it should more easier be accomplisht then the busines wee goe about And because I thinke it fitte we returne to the Kings that so well ayded vs we may set forwards in our way and let me not see you no more so passionate for you will but grieue me And more torments and more paines indured your father in his louing pilgrimage yet neuer had the like fauour that yesterday you possest neuerthelesse he did not desist with content to prosecute his Chiualries let therefore his magnanimitie no lesse shine in the Sunne nor in mee no lesse loue and true amitie then my Fathers towards yours till in your behalfe I sacrifice my soules life to winne your happines But let vs goe for now your sorrow wil be iniust hauing one so to mittigate it and let vs take all aduantage in these affaires admitting no battle one without another though we both demand it we must suffer so many to vndertake yt on their part For this Souldan is verie subtle hauing many Gyants his frends certainly it is like he wil to some of them commit that battaile so his intent might be accomplished supposing that none wil dare to attempt it For the Kings through feare of them Thus discoursed these two deare friends till they approched so nigh the citie of Nyquea that her gates winked vpon them on the bank of whose riuer they alighted to passe the tediousnesse of the night in pleasing chat of that peerelesse Lady and of the great desire they had to passe into Grecia There he recompted the battaile he had with his Father in Lacedemonia vnknowen whereby he vnderstood he was his sonne In this prattle continued they till it was time to sleepe and so departing one a little from the other they made their shields their pillowes and so rested the greatest part of the night Whē they awaked togither either full of carefull thoughtes for the others griefe For therin is ciphered the true patterne of perfect friendship And seeing thus pensiuely they heard the grones of some Knight that complained togither they rose and taking their shieldes and Helmes without any worde they went softly to heare what he saide And being nigh him they saw by the reflecting light of Cinthias beames a well proportioned Knight clad all in blacke armour who lying vnder a bigg growen Oake complained against the skyes loue and Fortune Oh heauens said the afflicted More how long will you suffer him to liue from whome death doth fly Why giue ye me life that nothing thanke you for it because t is hatefull to me Why permitted ye my ofspring to be from thence if on the earth I shall liue dying Oh suffer not Bembo Prince of Achaya to liue with so many passions when you may end it with one gentle death that neuer better welcome may come then now Oh soueraigne Princesse of Niquea how iustly maist thou complain of me that louing thee so deerely haue bene so remisse to visite thee Oh forgetfull louer if thou didst liue in Achaya louing why didst thou then so long proroge thy comming knowing that Liriana was in Niquea whereby thy delay is the cause thou must dye not seeing her being thy only desire as the most happiest life and now Prince of misfortune behooues it thee to pilgrimage throughout the worlds vast continents to know her habitation which thou hadst saued comming in time then who would haue bene able or somuch as presumed to thinke in his trembling harte to take her from thy hāds Oh hawtie and presumptuous Knight who may know what thou art that I might make thee acknowledge the wrong thou hast done me taking what only to my worthinesse was due How maie I call my selfe Nephew to that mighty Bembo the scourge terror of all Greece suffering another to inioy whome thou dost loue neuer more would I haue put on armour if I did not make him confesse this fowle iniurie And yet there is no reason why for seing Liriana was of beautie Angelical it was like others would loue her and if fortune did fauour him to carry her away I haue no cause to lament bewaile but my slow hart and sluggish thoughts that spurd me not afore this to visit her Oh my friend Nicandro how maie I complaine of thee bycause it is thy fault for hadst thou by thy skill aduertized me of this successe who would haue deferd such a voiage though it had coste him a thousand liues and come were it only but to see her whom to me thou didst canonize for beautie as the sole meritor of my faith So pensiue rested the braue greeke Rosabell seing what that Knight did and hearing what he said against his reputation affecting that Ladie that more then his proper life he loued that he knew not how to resolue himselfe till Oristoldo perceauing his alteration stept to him saying Valiant Prince seing by delaie the Kings doe incurre so great danger it is not lawfull you should procure now new battels and especially he knowing they are prisoners about the stealing of the Princes it cannot be but he will offer himselfe in that demaund and thē in their defence will your combate be more iustified thē at this instant for though he loues whome you do the extremity of contrarie passions may excuse you but being assured of her loue towards you great reasō haue you to forgiue him Great is the wrong heerein I doe my Lade replyed Rosabell but your will be fulfilled for I am determined altogether to follow your coūsaile All that Oristoldo had said was true for Bembo was then thither come for no other purpose but to maintaine that the prisoners were consenting to the Princesse stealing And had not Rosabell and Oristoldo staied to defend it there had byn none able from him to beare away the victorie because he was one of the worthies of the world and he that most persecuted Greece in the great warres He was verie yong and the most courteous of all his Nation He would not suffer his subiects to crown him King till he had traueld the worlde and so created he gouernors ouer his kingdome and accompanied with his valour onely he departed from Achaya with that mornfull deuise that many thought it signified more then it did He was the amorousest that euer woman brought foorth and he that was most loyall to Liriana for after he knew her to be married he still doted on her alleaging that he did loue and had referd the guerdon of his loyaltie to the graciousnes of his Lady but if she reiected his true loue passions yet he would not forget her for it were to iniurie his faith that from the beginning he had consecrated to her beautie And had fortune but a little fauoured him he had bene one of
of the Princesse whose aduantage in not small by the exchange None in kindnesse went beyond Bembo and therefore made this reply Most Heroyke Knight the Gods defend that through my meanes you loose the merits deserued by your person and worthy to these Knights for if I must attend on the Ladies it shal bee as your friend in your companie or otherwise I will returne the way I came Wee will not haue you sayd one of the Spanyards to vanquish vs in all thinges and since the condition was ours there is no cause why we should not suffer it and so le ts speake to the Ladies for t is time they were going Be it as you wil haue it sir Knight answered Bembo seing I must not diobay Already approched the Charriote with the Princesses who in respect of the Knights séemed sorrowfull though the beauteous Rosiluera was the ioyfullest in the world seing how wel the Knight in the blacke had defended himselfe so she spake I beléeue Knights we must impute to our small merits and lesse good fortune the cause of our changing new guard which being so henceforth sir Knight begin to execute your new charge which I feare you will thinke painefull procuring better lucke now then our kéepers had before Abashed were the vanquished with Rosilueras words who accompted him in the blacke the sole owner of her hart who made her this reply I doe rather remaine so fearefull of my Crosse fortune most excellent Princesse that seeing howe aduerse she hath still shewen her selfe will now with newe paynes discharge her selfe of this my present so I feare momentary good which last if it be equall to the former no hart is able to indure the griefe though mine hath had the power to promise it selfe to be yours vntill the latest minute O God how great was the ioy the Lady receaued with the answere thinking t is common amongst them that loue he vttered it with the firmenesse of his soules truth and not as words of course tending on the ceremonious dutie that her kindnes bound him too They toke their way to the purling of a clere bubling brooke that sprung somewhat more within the thicket minding there to passe the heate of the afternoone where the Princesse séemed the ioyfullest in the world seeing him goe close to her stirrop whom shee had pictured in her hart whose silence she thus brake How fare you Sir Knight with your new office I am in doubt it makes you already repent to haue it vndertaken T were so most soueraigne Lady replyed the gallant Achayan Did I not cōsider the supremacie of the high glorie wherin my thoughts haue placed me combinde thereto stopping al passage to my imagination of hoping other happines loosing the present I do enioy Hereupon the beauteous Artemisa tooke occasion thus We would not sir Knight you shold so soone haue acknowledgd it onely passing with the imagined glory of the Princesse commaund he made answere As my hart beauteous Lady hath alwaies byn full of continuall miseries torments now feling it selfe discharged of his heauy oppressing loade it straight iudged that fortune prepared greater paines yeilding mee this present extenuation in middest of which thought to expell the worse from remēbrance made me breake into that passion I call it so for though I séeme being not continuall as such a one but litle to féele it publishing it with such rudenesse how should I doe were it perpetuall but oh inconstant chance why name I a perpetuitie when I know this good more then felicity is but the prologue to an vnterminate end of greater paines by bringing me to the accōplishing of your commaund whose greatnes excéeds all worth of happines cōpared here Artemisa replyed Why sir Knight we required not to know more thē the princesse demanded for whosoeuer doth guard our chariot must haue his hart so exempt of imaginary thoughts that his care may be only busied on the present obiect of his eie with these and such like spéeches they arriued to the fount where the ladies descended ioying to refresh their heated beauties in the coolenes of the water or to speake more aptly to purifie it with their presence The like did the foure Princes the Achayan discouering his louely countenance Newe amorous launces to pierce the tender brest of the all wounded Lady though not knowing who he was she would not disclose it to any willing rather to suffer liue with her maidē honor but with paine then to blemish it by other meanes yet the eyes wherewith she gazed on him with such particuler care were euident ynough of her affection had the Prince noted it Together hand in hand the two Ladies walked into the thicket alone to enioy the freshnes of the aire which was so pleasant that it made them go further then they would and being thicke without pathes they could not when they would returne which not a little grieued thē Wherupon the Princesse said What shall become of vs Lady if we shold remaine in this remoted place great hath béen our carelessenes to part so far without the companie of our Knights for we might vnhappily miscarrie if any wilde beast should yssue out of these woods I maye goe secure replyed Artemisa for seeing you I shal be left to repaire vnto the fayrest Hay me sayd she I pray thee saye not so for my flesh trembles to heare it In these Feminine feares were they busied when frō the wood there came a mighty bigge Knight in bignes like a gyant all in armor with foure Knights with him of no lesse force then the Maister who was Lord of the famous Isle of Rhodes situate in the Carpatian Sea not far disioynd from the Frōtiers of Egypt and Lycia he was called Valdanio the stronge who inamored by heare say of Rosiluera came to Trebizoūd with 16 Knights whome hee disperst foure seuerall wayes for this intent which was by anye meanes to steale her away for once in safety set in his Isle gainst all the vniuerse he would defend her In seing the Ladies he knew whom he loued and with extreame ioy hee cryed out Oh Ioue may it be thou hast kept for me such good fortune I wil acknowledge it with rich sacrifices vntil the death He would not deferre it supposing there might bee thereabouts her attendance so went he to the Ladies that séemed more like dead coarses then liuing creatures She whome he loued did she barbarous Gyant take in his armes a better prize neuer any made had Fortune fauored him to the end The English Lady had more courage so she ran into the thicket whether the Knights would not followe her but seing their good occasion spurring with greatest spéede their horses toke their way to the Sea coast where their Galley expected thē with her sayles ready spread This while had Artemisa time to send her clamors through the emptie aire kéeping on her slight whose eccho broght her where their knights expected thē to whom
was before his deare Quéene of Lyra he replyed Much am I behoulding to my griefe most excellent Princesse since it is the cause that causeth me to acknowledge an eternall duety to your high seruice for this kinde remembrance the which being immerited by a Knight so vnfortunate as my selfe stopps me from binding my selfe any more then that I heretofore do owe nor can I beléeue there shold be strength to aduance mee in any thinge more then I haue promised Neuerthelesse of my life maye your beauteous selfe dispose which to lose wil be a happines perpetual procuring yours thereby to your content the which to mee would be excéeding to knowe what waye you found hither to bring you No other hath it béen replyed she but the desire I was to sée you at libertie ioyned with the griefe I cōceaued imagining howe greatly yours would be with my Fathers offerred wronges For this daye walking to take the ayre into my Garden with this my Damosell amonge certaine bushes wee founde a Caue that hitherto arriues I lost all feare with the will I had to haue you from hence that I past the same till wee mette with this dore deferring our comming against this time and we heard you so bitterly complaine that I knowe not what to saye of the Quéene of Lyra whether she be in fault or the Prince of Grecia It ioyes mee to sée you so well bestowed though to ill repayd Stormes are they to the Laberithian Seas of Louers incident still pretending a more happy calme If therefore in the meane time that your content is absent you will receaue it by hearing to whom these wrongs are done we will tell it Greatly disconted rested the Prince hearing that the Ladye knewe him but hee dissembled it replying Well doe you expresse the greatnes of your Nobilitie moste gracious Princesse hauing procured lyfe to him that incertaine hadde it your owne affaires haue you therein done for it shall not lesse be employed then in your seruice though to deserue so great an aduenture as you this day haue discouered a higher person should haue béen knowen to celebrate with her due honour that it merits Touching the rest highlye shall I rest satisfied in reuealing my name and estate to none the which I haue tould onelye to my friende the Prince Pollidolpho of Croatia which is hee that is in prison and yet that were pleasant hadde hee but promise of some remedy not of libertie but of comfort patiently to beare the bondes wherein your perfections haue inthrald him More liuelyer colours then the blushing Rose possest in her chiefe pride be-paynted the deuine heauen of the beauteous Lady hearing what the Prince had sayde shee would not displease him through want of hope and therefore thus replyed I would not haue had you despayring Knight that with such despaire and to my cost tell me the ametie twixt you and that Prince But because you shall not saye that in Esclauonia there raigneth crueltie equall to that in Greece let vs order your libertie for after it shall not want for your friende for I will neither nowe nor at anye time gaine-saie what you shall appoint mee because a Knight of your valour and qualitie will not procure but what may most glorifie my honour The ioyfullest in the worlde would the Prince kisse her hands accompting Pollidolpho the happyest in the vniuerse hauing with so fewe soules tormentes and heart oppressing passions of a despayring Melancholie loue obtayned the most rarest Iewell on the earth the purest fayrest and most immaculte You sée valyant Prince fayde the Ladies what the Kinge my Father hath ordayned and the danger that your lyfe incurres yf for all the weakenes and debilitie you now are in you will vndertake the battle to morrow at this time I will prouide you with the best armour that my Fathers whole Kingdome doth containe neuer of any séene and the rest I refer to your discretion and that you may not be mist I had imagined that Fausta my damozell should remayne in bed in your stéede for in more then this doth shee desire to pleasure you and we will giue forth that you lye at the point of death because the King my Father may not send for you neyther for the challenge nor to sée the battaile Now consider whether this counsell likes you if not we will seeke some other better There is none deare Princesse answered the Prince farr more estéeming her for her wit discretion why then sayd she take rest and courage for to morrowe we will be with you and commaunde your Squire to publish what I said of your infirmitie for I haue vnderstood that by your valour you haue obtayned manye friendes in Court that will helpe you with the vtmost of their powers and I will procure that your friend shall commit his title right of the battaile to your good fortune And thereupon she imbrast him which Ioue had thought a happier lyfe had it béene done to him then to bee God of Gods and returned with her belooued Fausta to her Chamber where they past the night with repetition of Knights qualities and courtesies The next daye Palizandro published with manye teares though fayned the great infirmitie of hys Maister the despairing Knight and how he would not be spoken to by any by reason he was on the exteamest moment of his life Some there were that greatly bewailed his supposed end Others blinded with a fawning flattery at euery slight occasion to shew it séemed then to insinuate with the Kinge by ioyning with his vniust acte cause of the others ruine But the Heroyke Prince reserued to accomplish more difficult attēps reioyced at their follies when hee knewe what credit was giuē to his counterfeiting squire neuer suffitiently praysing the excellent perfections of the Princesse Venus iudging the Fate to none other but to her selfe due Who with the greatest care possible past the day imagining in what imminent perrill she had put the Prince though the confidence she reposed in his valour made her more assured then the cause required When they sawe tyme the twoo Ladyes by little and little conuayed the armour into the Garden that the Prince might there arme him and also his swoord which she had demaunded of her Vncle onely that she desired to behould the brightnesse that being drawen it yéelded he gaue it her not thinking on the good hee did for had it béene with any other he could not but hardly escape in the battaile They ascended to the toppe of the tower where the lustie youth expected them in his apparell and so strong that in all his life he knew not when better he felt himselfe so great was his desire he had to be reuenged on those Traitors The Ladie embraced him with these words Sir Knight I so feared yeaster-days combate because I was armour-lesse that I durst not come vnto the second wtout them though in your presence mine will but little preuaile Wherefore I will
was their sole auaile Not a little did the gallant Rosamond grieue to see her deare Prince in the battaile not for the daunger thereof for she well sawe the aduantage he had ouer his enemie but the true louer doth onely waigh the present ill of the thing loued admitting no entrance to the hope of any future good So resolued to accompany him in al things cloasing her Beuer with the best sword that the world contained she went towards Torisiano with these words It ill beseemes vs to see our friends in such egar warre and our selues in peace Neuer did the gallant youth see a more accomplished Knight then the Lady did represent being armed for which in many places shee was reputed to be Claridiano Notwithstanding accepting the combate for with Ioue he would not haue refused it he began to prepare himselfe Easely did the Dacian Prince heare the sweete name of friend which augmented such courage in his amorous brest that he began with fresh strength to bestow such him selfe receiuing mightie blowes that the Ladie clearely saw his aduantage But quickly were they put from this turning to gaze vpon the Knight with the white armour on whome his excellent disposition did drawe their affection This was our Knightly Lady that meeting with her enemie togither they laide on each other so puissant blowes that with their hands they were faine to sustaine themselues Of greater strength was the Lady for which cause shee rose soonest and with her good sword shee gaue him such a blowe on the Helme that shee made him see millions of starres shee seconded it somewhat lower which had it bene in the same place he could not but haue incurred mightie danger yet made she the blood flye through his eyes and nostrels which was but making the youth more furious who going towards her seemed to awaight her stroke which shee with eagernesse to bestowe regarded not his intent For in the discharge he stept to his left side fustrating her blowe at which time hauing opportunitie for taking her without shield there vnder her right arme he strucke with such strength that the Lady greatly felt the waight of her aduerse sword for it made her giue backe with such a stagger that shee had almost fell ouer-board And the haughtie Torisiano seeing her amaze would haue lept after her but she returned with such speede that she incountred him in his leaping and so thrust him that it was an admirable wonder how he fell not in the Sea yet he fell with a sore fall in the middle of his Barke Gladly would the Lady haue done what her Lord did but shee thought it would onely hinder him because the shippe was little So she stayed for his comming who returned like a rauenous Tyger renuing so fiercely their fight that it seemed of an hundred Knightes together so great was their noyse For the Lady reputed it to be dishonour to her reputation that her aduersary should indure so long against her specially in her Princes sight that being her first battaile With like immagination was her enemie troubled and so agreeing in one desire discharged on each other the mightie strēgth of their furious armes with such puisance that the Eccho of their sounding blowes made the valleyes in the firme land many myles off séeme to tremble with the shrill noyze By the force of the blow the royall Lady lost her Helme couering her white armour with thousand tressed tramels of hairie gold resting with some alteration through a litle blood that issued from her mouth But hers in a more lamentable sort had put the gallant Torisiano for with a great fall with blood bursting through his eyes she tumbled him at the enemies feete of her deare Knight who at the noyse with more care then the Princely Eagle gardeth her yonglings turned about and seeing his soules life in that amazment and without Helme thought her to be sore wounded that with a rigorous blowe driuing his enemie from him with a leape he returned to his owne shippe to know what danger she was in With great applause was this care of Don Eleno celebrated by the towred Ladies highly estimating the doubtfull regard he shewed of his Ladie Well did the louers heare it so she receiued him with these wordes It is no time now braue Prince to lose what with so much blood you haue wonne And seeing my daunger hath bene the cause thereof I will put on no Helme vntill my arme hath againe assured you what you vallour had obtained So ending her speech more nimbler then an Ounce shee lept into her aduersaries shipp at what time they had recouered them selues with more furie then angry Lyons hunted by their foes Betweene them fearelesse of her head did the Lady cast her selfe in her entrance meeting first with Don Argante vpon his shoulder shee grounded the waight of her furious rage whose paine was so extreame that he thought that side was opened to his middle and reaching Torisiano with a thrust she made his shield ioyne with his brest and himselfe almost loose his breath But this time was the inraged Dacian entred the barke florishing his rich sword whereby they could not but incur great perrill had not the most beauteous Princesse of Nyquea foreséen it who much pittying the twoo companions thus spake So admirable is the losse that this spacious Orbe will receiue with any of your deathes valiant and couragious Knights that it constraynes me to entreate you yf in you there be so much courtesie as courage for this time to giue ouer this combate for which these Ladies and I will worthely extoll your bounties The Princesse Rosamond enuious of so rich a sight quickly thus replyed first admyred Lady yt doth so aduance the honor of wādring knights that none can be more greater then to obay the commanded seruice of all Ladies insomuch that they accompt it a deuine felicitie to haue such occasions to shew it Wherefore I say that for the incredidle desire inexplicable wil I haue to serue them I doe on my behalfe giue ouer the fight not onely for this tyme but for euer because the Knight doth leaue so waued to my cost by this that I thinke it best to craue an assurance against all future accidents All the Princes greatly smyled at her spéech because they knew her to bee a woman by her hayre when shee lost her helme whereupon Lyriano replyed Brauely haue you defended your beauty most valerous Ladye bynding thereby all Knights to your perpetuall seruice And wee wish wee were them that you might know if we can intreate it is because we onely indeuored to be your dutyfull seruitors Notwithstanding we hope and so I doe beléeue there is no Knight but will do it soly to pleasure you to obtaine your fauour though our intreaties ceassed in that case With no lesse courtesie then valour were the Princes indewed and so the Phenician replyed when on our side the victorie were most
of thought not himselfe secure None séemed to haue any colour for the mighty stroake had suÌ„moned all the blood vnto their fearefull trembling hart Two well furnisht Gallies met not with such horror as did the warriors for breaking their launces without farther motion they gallantly past by each other the like did they by the second but at the third eyther of them wearie of delay with more furie then bayted Bulles they mette in middest of the place The maintainers blowe was venturous and that which gaue him the victorie which otherwise more deerer it hadd cost him for he chanced on the others visor which though it was not dangerous yet did it cause that the others was not as yt might haue been Notwithstanding they mâ—â—t with their shields and helmes that their horses iogging one another the maintayners fell downe dead and as hee was in better sence hauing receaued no hurtfull blow ere he fell he cast himselfe aside from him falling on his handes so amazed that on féete he knewe not where he was worse befell vnto the disgraced Astorildo of Callidonia that in search of his Sister Rosamond did goe as is afore mentioned who fell ouer his horse through the paine of his forehead Such noise and clamours of Instruments and people was heard that none knewe what the other sayde Sorrowfull departed the Prince of Callidonia thinking that the vnlucky blow had made him loose the Iust Little stayed the maintayner on foote for the Ladies sent him twentie Pages with so many horses brauely furnished and a messuage that a weake cripple with it would haue become more fierce then a hunted Lyon for one sayde The Gréeke Princesses braue Knight coÌ„mends theÌ„ to you intreating you since you labor in their seruices you would accept these horses which you shall not want requiring more seing your valour deedes far more do merit Good page tell those Ladies that on this messuage sent you replied the Prince that it well seemes they will attribute the good fortune of the Iustes onely to their beauties which seing they deserue so they may tryumph in their owne wishes and that it may bee so I will loose my life and a thousand if so many I had A retraite they were about to sound when in the place there entred a Knight of bodie bigge and great and well proportioned armed in gréene armour with many strawberries about theÌ„ his on shield there was an imperiall head cut off as if it freshly bléeded with this Motto Her beauty doth deserue it Though Mauors head it were And more yf t' were more deare Verie few Knights were there in the place but by the deuise knew for what the Knight came The Prine of Nyquea did not ignore it for remembring what he had promised Rosabell seing him approch vnto the Theater knowing his demaunde left his pauillion and went thither And the other being there come lifting vp his Beuer demaunded that euery one might heare Who is here the Emperor Tribatio for among so many no maruell if I know him not I am hee sir Knight replyed the Emperor therefore saye on what you require For what I come Emperor I am sure wil gretly grieue thée for only thy head hath brought me hither froÌ„ far countries which I must haue because thou wel knowest how thou hast wronged Garrofilea Quéene of Tynacria the which being so notorious thou hast no more to stay but fetch thy armor for here in her behalfe to mortall battle I defie thée Truly knight thou sayest well answered the Emperour for thy demaunde doth grieue me and verie verie much not to refuse the battaile for that shall straight bee perfourmed but because it is in time of such pleasures He that hath so manye enemies replyed the proude Pagan ought with feare to looke for none other Before him stepte the moste couragious Lyndoriano whoe praying lycense of the Emperour and obtayned turned to the Pagan with these woordes It ill beséemes thée Knight were it onely for the Ladies sakes at this time to come with such a demaunde which cannot but greatlye discontent them And so in their names I say you haue ill done and that you are vnworthie of what you doe procure vpon all which I doe defie you Like to an Hircanian Tyger the forayner replyed Were I not so sure of reueng I could not but rest displeased with thy discourteous wordes Thy battle I accept hauing finished the Emperours Why how now proude and insolent Knight sayd Lindoriano thinkest thou to vanquish him whom Iupiter dares not in Heauen confront our battle must bee straight for after thou shalt haue time for that vnlesse that hatefull of thy owne lyfe wilt presently loose it Be it as thou wilt answered the fierce Pagan for being so neare the fielde wee may eschewe vain ayrie wordes Returne they would into the listes but the Emperour commaunded the combate should be left till the morowe So they all departed leading their maintayner out of the place with great honour no lesse trayne who seing it to be time returned to his pauillion expecting the Sunnes vprise where what happened the next Chapter shall recompt CHAP. X. The cruell battaile that past betweene the Prince Linderiano and Asmaell King of Norwege THe dawning of the péeping day began the Royall Gallies on the Sea to welcome and the chirping birds to celebrate the approch of bright Auroras shining when in the middle of the great place of Constantinople the most valiant Prince of Nyquea Lindoriano presented himselfe clad in his rich glittering armour vpon his swift light Stéed expecting the Emperors coÌ„ming who about Ten of the Clocke yssued from his Royall pallace with all those Soueraigne Princesses and Ladies which no lesse séemed then a troope of so many heauenly Angels marching on the earth For those that yesterday were seene in gréene this day to assure their gallants hopes appeared all in red and the rest of the Ladies were so gorgiously attyred with so manye inestimable Iewells adorned that with reason it might well bee called the Paradice of deuine rarieties The warlike Quéene of Lyra came all armed desirous to breake some Launces and so would not mount on the Theater Her armour was no lesse wonderfull then her beautie adorned with many Carnation flowers of gold that so well semed as euery one blest her with many millions of benedictions so did the afflicted Claridiano that the sorrowfullest in the world did set himselfe where none might see him the better to ponder on the immaginarie causes of his griefe occasioned by her that ouer-ruled his desires There stayed he in silence sighing foorth his passions while his Ladie did the like but her feare was so great that it made her forget both her comforts by not succoring the distressed amorous youth with a pityfull remedie There was no Ladie in the place but desired a famous victory vnto the Princesses Knight so was he called by them all and yet not without great and excéeding feare
from my bouldnes It is reason sir Knight sayd she that Ladies should be rather loued and wooed then gallants by thē sued too for so they should disparage their fame though not with desire they shew oftentimes some disfauour but for that cause must the louer be discréete which is what in him is first required that he may note the one and take the other in good part attributing it to her feare and not to her desire and this consideration swéetenesse what is most sower Thus spunne they the webbe of their amorous liues whē the Damsell here cut off their discourse saying with some anger You Knight of the branch seeme to haue forgotten your promise and seing the night approcheth there is no more to doe but straight with me you enter in your Barke without any companie it behooues vs to goe Vnderstanding swéete damsell sayde Polliphebo that wee shoulde so manye dayes together Nauigate by Sea thought you woulde let mee enioy some on land but seeing it must bee so let ts away though great is the wronge you doo mee Greater is that which is suffered by whom néedeth and sent me for your person hauing power to request others that with more willingnesse would haue done it for though our stay here hath been but little not so small is the stayne that thereby your fame receaueth and my necessitie increaseth with a sorrowfull looke the Prince turned to the Ladie saying You see deare Lady my vnhappie chance expelling mee from inioying your swéete conuersation for which all my life I shall lead in griefe hauing not some assurance of hope to resee you againe for till thē the anguish I shall suffer wil be so great as to debarre me from alpleasure for I onely haue and shall haue in being yours Valiant Knight replyed she no lesse doe I féele it seing you thus to depart from me and my brother which is yonder Knight and as for the rest you may liue assured I tender you as my owne soule And if this picture may be any cause of your cōtēt take it for I will haue your coūterfeite for the same The gladdest on the earth he tooke it and falling on his knées a Thousand times kissing her handes hee intreated her to take him for her Knight The Ladye denied it not for loue had made her liberall and none did it euer touch but made him become an Alexander vpō paine of not knowing how to loue seing that one of the chiefest condition that yf requires is Magnanimetie And so seing with how great the Ladie had fauoured him he againe kist her handes and taking his leaue of them knowing who they were they entred the Barke which swifter then a towring Eagle ingulffed it selfe in the swelling Ocean Straight did they loose his sight leauing Floraliza greatly discontented the which her brother nothing demaunded the cause and relating it she ended with a sigh saying I greatly feare deare brother that this Knight will put me in mortall dangers for I iudge his libertie to be great and being Sonne and Brother to our deadly foes it will be difficult for him to consider if any pyne for him Let not the grieue you good Sister replyed Don Cellindo for if he loues he will easily doe it how much the more in my iudgement he departed captiue enough So thought I answered she but here is my vnhappinesse that trauelling through strāge countries he may see some one fayrer and being toucht with this infirmitie he will be apt to decline and so must be faine to wander in his search Let the feasts first passe sayd Don Cellindo and so I hope will this humor chang into cōtent Thus determined they stayed till the next mornings Suns vprising who knowing that Rosamond the Dacian should méete hastened his shining presence to see what happened in the next related CHAP. XII How the Prince Don Eleno of Dacia met with his deare Rosamond and what more befell them in their way towards the Cittie WIth as many teares as hast departed the Dacian louer from his beloued cozen of Tynacria entring within the Forrest where ouertaken with the night he past it with extreame anguish of his soule seeing the ympossibilitie of his content hauing it onely with the presence of his Ladie His foode was soly the fruit of those wilde trées and some of what Fabio had prouided but his conuersation was it which most pleased this woefull louer For memorating the troubles he had vndergone and the passions and violent sorrowes he had resisted animated him to tollerate this present accident Most part of the night spent they in this intermingling it with diuersity of matter to make him diuert from his pensiuenesse till yf was time to rest which made either part aside to sleepe yet small was the while that the Prince reposed Neuer yeilded this infirmitie any quiet till throughly possest Well may many speake it by experience though with a newe estate they be remoued from it with a Thousand sighes began the Dacian Lord to sing for onely in that he thought he founde pleasure And I my selfe neuer founde him otherwise while alone he trauelled with this passion If a remedie for loue be dayly to liue instrife come death and end my lyfe by my sweete ioyes remoue My payne and hard mischance makes fearelesse any death so I might loose my breath vntreading my woes daunce Whilst a remedie for loue is dayly to liue in strife come death and end my life from this my ioyes remoue The soule with paine opprest canne nere obtaine renowne come loue and treade it downe while t is in woes vnrest I tell thee t is no loue which dayly liues in strife come death and end his life that sees his ioyes remoue With some small comfort ended the Prince caused with his song and being day broade mounting vpon the earths best horse hee began to leaue that thicket delighting hys eares with Philomelas complaints making him a witnes of Tereus rape crueltie against her committed no lesse ioyed he with the others conceipts for though the Musitions were naturall yet kept they a wonderfull harmonie of an vnnaturall consort In this maner wondered he till about Nine a clocke of the Morning at the end of the groue hee sawe a Knight come toward him brauely mounted hee coulde not see his armour for ouer thē he wore a blewe coate ouer his shield a case of the same coulor Presently the disguised knight knew Don Eleno and hauing purposed what he ment to do vnbuckled but tooke not of his helme with extreme ioye to see him for no lesse had he suffered in his looking him arriuing sayd Sir knight my Lady hath tane my oath the méeting in Grecia with anye Knight that shoulde denie her beautie to be the greatest in the vniuerse I should defie him to the battle but this prouided that you bee in loue though your deuise sheweth the contrarie and therefore to mortall fight I challenge you for with
more strength was all in armor quartered in gréene and azure with many stones that marueilously adorned it In the middle of his shield was set the picture of Amitie as in antient times she was paynted in forme of thrée Ladies her in the middle all naked and shee on the right side halfe couered and the other altogether with this word Against this sacred trinitie No death did ere preuaile To massaker this dietie To be no lesse gallant then amiable did the Knight manifest himselfe for hee was that Gracious Oristoldo Prince of Annoch the other was the valiant Tartarian Zoylo whose armes were of an Indian colour with starres of gold and on his shield the Image of distrust with this Motto After a tedious griefe Commeth a sweete reliefe That all distrust abandones They went vnto the Ladies standing giuing the lysts to the flower of armes and beautie Rosabell and the faire Archisilora Quéene of Lyra. The hawghtie youth had on the best armor of the world of cleane fine tempered stéele grauen with flowers of diuers colours made with precious stones in such artificiall manner that no hart could more desire In azure field vpon his shield was portrayed a fierie Chariot and within it a Ladie who carried away perforce stretched foorth her arme vnto a Knight that stood on a bancke vppon the Sea Coast that he should succour her with this inscription on his behalfe Onely fortune may remoue thee From this hart that thee adores which in darknesse now still oâ—es Wanting the Sun-shine of thy beautie The warlyke Matrone was in Carnation and gréene armour with many gallant workes In the middle of her shielde was onely a faire white hand wrapt in this word This onely canne discouer The cause of loues remouer And when it listes giue fauor To the poore distressed louer They turned about prawnsing till they came vnder the windowes where the Prince Rosicler with his deare Oliuia sat to whom at what time they bewailed the losse of their Sonne they made a lowe obeysance and the Sonne to his Father thus began So little it is since our company hath arryued in his Countrey most excellent Prince that it knowes not the conditions of the Iustes And so for that I haue farre froÌ„ hence seene you and so long acknowledged you for my Lord vnto the death I doe beséech you to tell vs what herein is wonne or lost The voice that was impressed in his soule the Gréeke séemed to remember therefore with some alteration he made answere These tryumphes gracious Knight are to please the Ladies for their gallants doe delight to hazarde their liues in of celebrating their gallantnesse And so may you Iust though I am sure your valour will want matter to extend it selfe vpon intreating you that ere you depart you will speake vnto mee for I beléeue we haue in some place been alone with some content He bowed his head signe that he would obay and so returned with his companioÌ„ leauing the Prince telling his Lady what had happened with him who with infinit sobs and sighes prayed God he might be their lost Sonne What befell the next Chapter shall relate for I feare in this I shal be condemned of prolixitie CHAP. XVI The cruell battle betweene Rosabell and Archisilora with the two hawghtie Louers The end thereof with the knowledge of them all ALthough the Rodiant heauenly harnest téeme had almost ended his dayly goldeÌ„ progresse in the West yet to enioy the battle of the foure most famousest in arms he staied his fiery horses turning their proud vnbridled heads towardes the place of Greece which at this time according to the ecchoing noise therein it semed some generall battle was fought for the vulgar comunalty affecting the new adueÌ„turers with confused voyces made doubtfull the combates successe I shall not néede swéete Ladies to pray your attentioÌ„ for this war being for beauty I shold not perswade you to it yet being néedy in witt and hauing none but with laborious toyle What 's drawen froÌ„ the flowing current of your fauors I must still implore it without which in a swéet pleasant stile ill canne I paynt forthwith wordes such amorous though rigorous blowes as heere were giuen The two warlike louers opposed themselues in their Carrier while the Mirror of beauty her coÌ„panion did the like They prickt forth swifter then an aierie thought None mist the incounters for rather they were made with more horror then the roaring Baseliskes do make They passe shiuering their launces in a thousand pieces by each other with such grace that loue himselfe they inamored setting downe also principles of war for the mighty God of battles which he semed not to disdaine euen in his fift throne They turned about but with such fury that the farthest remooued looker on trembled at the view They drewe foorth the best blades in the world the two louers closed to wound each other but there swords froÌ„ their armor rebouÌ„ded vpwards Their dexteritie inwards disliked them supposing it impaired their valour so they seconded their blows with such wrath that their heads kist their saddle bowes Longer had the Dacian vsed his weapons and was by nature couragious but the gallant Britanian youth admits no comparatiue for al the place admired his ligeritie Againe they ioyned astonished that their swords did not cut Aloft offered the Greeke his blow hauing an eye still at his ayme as his strength was exceeding in the middest of his race he stayed turning it inwards and discharging it he made him sée a number numberlesse of stars doubling him vpon his horse back At large on his brest he gaue him another that had not Brutus armor defended him hee had inlarged his imprisoned soule A rauening Tygre nor angred Lyon depriued of his pray was neuer seen more furious then the Dacian did become and finding his enemie neere hee let flie at him twoo thrustes one after another that they left him breathlesse they guyrded hym so sorylie hee had not executed them when casting aside his shielde on the side of his helme hee gaue him such a counterbuffe that it made him turne his head more then he willingly woulde haue done Of a long time had not Greece been witnesse to a fiercer combate for the hastening of their blowes their warding assaulting and retires a larger Chapter doe require Giue me leaue swéete Ladies to tell you what passed betweene the twoo Matrones who like mountaine Lyonesses the one against the other returned with their raised swords Little gets the Quéene of Lyra for Rosamond weares the best arms weapoÌ„s in the vniuerse for which cause she cut away al her plumed top with halfe of her stéeled circuit and a peece of her shielde Better did she not speed with the blowe she receaued for voyding much blood through her visor she cast her ouer her horse crooper she seconded another when she would rise with no lesse force she had no other remedie but outwards to put
for it hath not a litle greued me this tumult shold haue befallen on this day which I hoped for my gretest content vnder your royall woord I will doe it replied Claridiano trusting that if I haue any excuse it shall auaile me Feare not that sir knight said Venus Vncle for on my perill here shal you not receaue any more wrong To him comaunded the King he and Pollidolpho should deliuer their swords who through his wounds was not able to stirre Of him had the Kings brother in law charge to the Princes extreame sorrow thinking his sundring from the Greeke would be his vntimely death Hee was deceaued for the Ladie had as much care of him as if he were in her chamber shewing her Vncle manifest tokens that shée loued the Croatian which nothing displeased him thinking he was a knight of great accompt excéedingly reioyced when afterwards he knew how great a Prince hee was The Greeke they committed to a strong tower not farre from the Ladies lodging whose custodie a Couzen of the Kings had that like a good knight caused him to be well cured though he was so weake of his lost blood that he could not arize from his bed yet his anger and rage more tormented him then his wounds arryuing a thowsand times at the point of death only for that he could not come to be reuenged on the trecherous Lindauro Who for all he was wounded thought it well imployed imagining they could not from thence escape without death or euerlasting infamie For which intent he one day secretly sent for the King of the Cremonian Isle the mightiest Pagan that was knowen on the earth for with one sonne whome a little before he had knighted he had vanquished twoo great Hoasts He was in peace and had contracted league with them and aduertising them the necessitie he had of their helpes with foure Knights of their kindred they came thether in poast and sending Lindauro word of their arryuall they did what the ensuing Chapter doth relate CHAP. XXIIII How the Princes were by some strange Knights challenged to the battaile and what about it happened SVch is the power sole wonders of heauens beauties and onely admirations of earthly miracles of an amorous passion rooted in the tender soule of a blind louer that it forceth him respecting no respect of proper honour to attempt those things manifestly against it for once fully possest of the louer it tramples with disdaine on the gouernment of reason guiding the affection with the loose raignes of a selfe-will the which hauing obtayned an vncontrolled regiment doth commaund as absolute Empresse of the minde this is that which only guides Lindauro who because hee was a louer in presence of hys Lady to sée himselfe wounded his thrée Brothers slayne yet vnreuenged conceaued so great a passionate desire of vēgeance that not regarding the laws of Knight-hood he procured against thē his Royal reputation an vniust reuenge vpon the Gréeke louer a thing that redounded to his euerlasting shame and dishonour eternall He conferred it with the King who being determined to obserue and by Iustice and right to determine that controuersie inclyned to his indiscréete sonne in lawes perswasions animated thereto by the arryuall of the two Gyants on whose valour the prince so firmely builded because he thought none wold dare to enter combate with them Being thus determined one daye dissembling his knowledge they entred the great hall clad in resplending rich abilliments of warre There was none but only with their sight did tremble for though they were not of deformed proportion yet were they of so stronge composed ioynts and bigge timbered sinewes that plainely they demonstrated the strength of their armes The Father raysing his visor with a hollowe voyce thus sayd Mighty Potentate of Esclauonia in our Land of Syconia we heard of some brawles thou hast had with certaine strange Knights and this daye was it toulde vs their insolence committed in thy presence killing some of thy Nobilitie and wounding our Prince Lindauro and moreouer howe thou hast promised to deale with them by lawe agaynst offendors to Princes states no such respecte is due but to execute the power of consuming wrath vppon them And so vppon the one and the other wee defie two Knights whatsoeuer that will vndertake the battaile by the same will I defende they worthely deserue a cruell death Hee made them sit downe knowing who they were saying I would not braue Gyants for any thinge haue it sayd that in my Court Iustice is lesse obserued then in anye other of the vniuerse and therfore did I referre this cause vnto my Counsell but séeing you haue challenged them there is no more but to admitte your challenge aduertising them thereof Well did Alanio the Princesse Vncle vnderstoode the drift and by whome that complotte was ordayned gréeuing that so great iniustice shoulde bee permitted The beauteous Venus did nothing but wéepe purposing wyth her owne handes rather to sacrifice her life then to wedde so false a Knight At length came the twoo Princes so weake and faint that they were not able to stande verye fewe there were in the Hall but greatly did pittie them Straight was it toulde them the cause why they were sent for and what those Knights demaunded Somewhat was the Prince mooued with their sight but that being past as long it lasted not hee sayde with his accustomed animositie that it pleased him straight without any further delaye to enter the battaile affying onelye on his Iustice That maye not bee aunswered the Kinges counsell who all were agréed against him for there is an inuiolate law in this Kingdome since Xantho the first King thereof was challenged that none challenged maye combate his propper cause but present his Champion within the limitted time prefixt to finde him that he for him may right him or else fayling in eyther or in both to remayne subiect to the Lawes inflicting punishment But we being strangers of such remoted Countries sayde the inraged Gréeke and the finding a friend to hazard for vs his life being so difficult great is the wronge herein you doe vs and on both I will enter the battaile Afore him stept the furious King of Cremania with these wordes Well doest thou knowe Knight howe impossible it is for thy sake to vyolate the lawes for the common good established and so because thou shalt not bee permitted to it makes thée so vehemently insist in thy request That mooues mee not to it replyed the angry Gréeke but onely to sée the insolēt pride that hither hath brought thée not like a Knight but a barking rauening Curre of Assyria that liue by howling against the splendor of the bright Moone So furious was the Pagan that hee would haue flung at him which had not gréeued the Prince for hee so spake purposelye to vexe him Betwene thē stept the King commanding them to be conuayed to prison first lymiting them a Moneth to séeke their
defendors So furious rested the Pagan that thorowe his mouth hee foamed lyke a Boare a thousand times intreating the King to permit the battaile to the Knight but hee so feared the Prince that by no meanes hee woulde agrée thereto perswading himselfe he had his reuenge more surer that way Neuer was gelded Bull nor mountaine Lyonesse nor hee himselfe in all his lyfe more madde then Claridiano was at that instant to sée himselfe inclosed within a stonye wall which made him roare like a chaffed Beare Lirgandeo saith that as hee hadde afore béene a Pagan hee so let his tongue passe the limittes of reason that forgetting his profession hee let slippe some blasphemies Galtenor no other mentioneth saue that he would not that night sup nor go to bed for all what the Phisitions and Chirurgions vrged it so behooued for his health All the night walked he imagining what remedie he might deuise to yssue foorth to be reuenged on those villaines he was about to cast himselfe downe the Tower but it was timeritie considering the heighth In no lesse anguish was Pollidolpho yet something more comforted with Alanios kindnes that reputed him a person both of valour and high estéeme In nothing could he better shew it then in that extremitie But the beauteous Venus a thousand plottes deuised mooued with pure loue to sée if anye woulde preuayle None was good nothing pleased her saue solitude that was her comfort and if merily she looked on her Father it was with dissembling her inward gréefe which was the greatest that euer Ladie did indure With Fausta her gentlewoman shee disburdened her heart for Thousand doubts perswaded her she should suffer some danger which she thought could be but little how great soeuer happening for remedie release of those Princes for whom she would hazard lyfe and honour Sixe dayes of the thirtie were past and no Knight appeared to accept the battle nor none in the Court durst doe it iudging madnesse to vndertake it against the Father and Sonne Verie fewe were in the Court but lamented the lamentable certaine death of the Knightes and aboue all Alanio not knowing what meanes to deuise to eschewe it because the King still insisted in his rygorous obstinacie vrged therto with continuall perswasions of that trecherous Lindauro of Syconia Her griefe did the fayre Venus smother outwardly but alone she shed more teares thē the first of that name did whē she bewayled the obsequies of her deare Adonis One after-noone with her discréete Fausta shee walked into a Garden where none but she and her Damozells vsed to sport them in tyme of solace to giue her thoughtes the lybertie of their vnbrydled pensiuenesse which by so manye wayes was assayled It was their good Fortune by the Fates appointed that those Princes should not so iniustly dye to leade them to a place where they satte downe hard by certaine thicke growen bushes and as Fausta pluckt vppe some of the rooted braunches to sit vpon she spyed a great hole like to a Caues mouth She was astonished thereat supposing some beast or Adder to bee in it that might hurt them the cause thereof demaunded the afflicted Venus and being tould yt the amorous Ladye sayd Oh I would to loue it were so that by taking away my lyfe it would end so many deaths which I indure for there is no hart longer able to tollerate so much She rose with more courage then her tendernesse allowed taking away the bushes to sée what it was they espied a Caue that towards the Pallace bended of such widenes that twoo armed men might easilie passe through it She expected no other resolution for couragiously and with great bouldnes for in the end she was in Loue she entred it commaunding Fausta to followe her for though shee lost her life shee would know what was in it and find the end therof your beautie will vnder-goe too great a bouldnes said she and I would not for any thing we should be spied There is no danger to bee feared nor yet that wee should be seene sayde Venus for considering the safetie of the Garden it is impossible that any should haue come hither They had not gone Fiftiepaces when they founde themselues at the foote of a stone wall yt was so darke that verie litle light they could sée but yet they felt what it was They went about hand in hand for let go they durst not to sée if they could finde any steps or stayres in the wall because the Caue there ended At length they met with their desire but it was so narrowe that one could scarce goe vp They put of their Pantoffles to doe it better the Princesse began to mount trembling like an Aspen leafe so did Fausta who though she helde her Mistres be her sléeue yet was not able to goe vpp a step which were aboue Fortie and with extreme feare hauing ascended them whē they came to the top they were so wearie they could not stirre They sate thē downe awhile to breath speaking so softly that they themselues could not almost heare one another what shall wée doe faire Princesse said Fausta if in the Pallaice our absence shal be found no doubt but it will be noted and iudged I feare for wantōnesse That the Caue would bring vs replied Venus to the tower of the despairing knight then would I not care what the world should say for he being set at libertie the same would he procure to vs all Such goodnes will not our hap abode vs said Fausta to let it be so for then who with a more iust title could bragge of felicitie let vs rize said Venus for my hart is passing light and let vs sée where we shall arriue They went softly féeling fearing to be heard till they met of the same stone one of the fashion of a doore that arteficially was set in the wall they were not able to stir it because it was to be opened on the inside of the tower though many hūdred yeres t was it had not bin opened the was the reason none of the Court neither knew it nor any such thing euer imagined Lirgandeo saith it was made by a Persian king that fell in loue with Licida daughter of Xātho who being lodged in the tower and séeing her walke in that garden with the force of his armes brake downe the wall till he came to the earth where with more facilitie he prosecuted his amorous intent making then that Caue as they found it by which meanes he obtayned the Ladies will bringing her that way vnto his chamber till he found time to steale her and conuay her to his Kingdome To this rape doth Astildo attribute the cause of Persias desolation by the Father of the stolen Ladie This was the dore that now the Ladies found where attentiuely hearkening because it was very nigh to the bedde of the despayring knight they might heare him with Millions of sighes complaine him in this manner O Quéene of