loue 72 And sith the way betweene was large and wide And void of fruits for sustenance of man They do good store of bread and wine prouide With needfull things as for the time they can And on the giants shoulders them they tide Who like a sumpter horse them after ran And on this sort with most deuour intent Like pilgrims to Ierusalem they went 73 Sixe dayes they traueld in their weary way Nor seeing man nor beast nor bird aliue The seuenth immediat after breake of day In that most blessed citie they arriue Then visit they the tombe where Iesus lay When with his death he did vs dead reuiue And brought hell sinne and death into subiection With suffring dying and his resurrection 74 Now while the tombe with great heed they behold Bare head and feet in shew of meek submission And with more inward ioy then can be told Yet ioyned with a deepe and sad contrition That strake their hearts in awe and made them cold With true remorse deuoid of superstition And with themselues they still continued musing Each one himselfe in such like words accusing 75 Why then where thou deare Lord didst for our sake With water and with blood the ground distaine Shall not mine eyes some small amends to make Shed teares in memory of so great paine Oh drowsie heart that dost not now awake Oh frozen heart that meltest not in raine Oh stony heart that dost not now relent Lament thee now or else for ay lament 76 Thus with an humble and repentant sprite They tarride at the tombe no little space When so the priest appeared in their sight Whose office was to keepe the holy place Who seeing them so lowly and contrite He doth impart to them this speciall grace Sith to amendment they were now resolued Them of their sinnes forepassed he absolued 77 This done they went about and viewd the towne Held in those happy dayes by Christen hands Who striuing now to keepe each other downe With causlesse warres do trouble sea and lands Or leesing or neglecting that renowne In which Gods honour and their safetie stands But letting this great enemy increase By their seeld making neuer keeping peace 78 A gallant knight whom Sansonet they call This citie gouernd vnder Charles the great Who then intended to repaire the wall And make the towne a strong and stately seat Astolfo gaue to him the Giant tall For strength and stature fit for such a feat To serue his present purpose for the nonce Vnto the walls to carry heauy stones 79 And Sansonet doth eke on him bestow A curious belt and hangers for a blade And spurs of gold in substance rich and show That for that knight were thought to haue bin made That slue the Dragon with a deadly blow Which did the Ladie chast and faire inuade Thus gifts both giu'n and tane on either part Each from the other friendly doth depart 80 Now going from Ierusalem behold They met a Greekish pilgrim by the way That such ill newes to good Griffino told As made him out of temper all the day It was his euill fortune deare to hold And giue his heart vnto her for a pray That had a pleasing hew and faire smooth skin But false vnchast and trecherous within 81 Her name was Origilla whom of late He left at Constans of an Agew sicke And hoping now to find her in good state He heares she hath him seru'd a sluttish tricke As namely she had got a newfound mate Not caring if that he were dead or quicke She thought that for her yong yeares t was no reason To lie alone in that sweet pleasant season 82 This newes his mind doth gripe his heart doth bite He mournes by day by night he takes no rest That breeds him paine that others breeds delight And this torments him more then all the rest He shames and shuns to haue it come to light What was his griefe that did him so molest And this to keepe it close the rather made him Because from her his brother did disswade him 83 But all in vaine for he was wholy bent To follow her although he knew her nought Yet to himselfe he keepeth his intent That secretly his going may be wrought He vowes to makes th' adulterer repent Who now to Antiochia her had brought But in another booke I will expresse Of his departure what was the successe In the beginning of this booke was an excellent morall if you obserued it shewing how hurtfull it is for a captain to be prodigall of his men and rash or headlong in his attempts the former of which faults that worthy and valiant gentleman sir Iohn Smith hath very grauely and iustly reproued in some captains of our time in that treatise that he wrote in defence of the vse of long bowes and indeed it cannot be denied but bloudy conquests are no praise to the conquerour In token whereof the Lacedemonians appointed that he that wan a bloody victory should sacrifice a cocke but he that ouercame by policie without bloudshed an oxe so much they preferred wisedome that is peculiar to man before strength that is common to beasts In Charles is to be noted the prouidence of a wise and valiant Prince In Astolfo that by the power of his horne rids the country of theeues and malefactors we may learne to apply the talents are giuen vs to good vses In Griffin that after all his deuotion at Ierusalem comes againe to Origilla we may note the frailtie of flesh and withall that outward holinesse without inward zeale auaileth nothing The historie set downe here in maner of a prophecie of the prosperous raigne of Charles the fift is too long to stand vpon in this place but Iouius Guycciardin Vlloa Surius and Sleydan himselfe though his enemy do witnes his great conquests his happie discouery of the Indies his notable captains and the great felicitie of his whole life of which authors because two are already in English I imagine there be few that are like to reade this but haue read the one of them and consequently know as much to be true as I do here set downe And for the Indian voyages we need not so much admire the captains of forren nations hauing two of our owne nation that haue both as forwardly aduentured and as fortunatly performed them namely sir Francis Drake whom I touched before and yong Master Candish In that Logestilla giueth Astolfo at his departing a booke to instruct him and a horne to breed terror to his enemies by the booke is signified wisedome whereby all charmes and toyes are discouered and by the horne is vnderstood iustice that indeed brings terror to all misdoers and driues them out of the country Further whereas Logestilla sends Andronica and Sophrosina to safe conduct Astolfo least Aleyna should attempt any new matter against him it is to be vnderstood allegorically that fortitude and temperance are the two most notable guides that
But here I cease to talke of Origill And of her mate with her as fitly met As knauish iacke could be for whorish gill Vnchast and false as euer water wet To flatter and dissemble passing skill And all was fish that came into her net Now here I leaue good Griffin in her armes And turne me to the Turkish men of armes 16 I left where Agramant assaulted hard A gate which he had hoped to haue found But weake and feeble naked vnprepard And easie to be beaten to the ground I told you how king Charles the place did gard Inuirond with selected souldiers round As namely Guydons strong and Angilero With Oton stout Ouolyo Berlingero 17 Thus either band in sight of either king Doth fight in hope of great reward and praise And thinks such honour backe that day to bring As should themselues and all their ofspring raise But such great store of darts the Christns fling As still the Turkes are foiled many wayes They die and by their deaths do others teach How hurtfull t is to roue beyond their reach 18 But ' Rodemont whose men consumd with fire Do fill their masters mind with double rage Yet to auenge theirs deaths doth so desire As nought but blood his thirst of blood can swage He spares not in the passion of his ire Nor men nor women order sex nor age Away do runne the silly people crying And leaue their children frends and wiues a dying 19 They happie were whose feet did serue them best The surie of this cruell Turke to shunne For some were killed in the flight the rest Vnto the Churches or strong houses runne And locke the gates against so fierce a guest That in the streetes had so great mischiefe done And of them all that had bene slaine in chase Not one of them was wounded in the face 20 But as the Tyger kills the fearfull Doe That but by flight cannot it selfe defend Or as the Wolues do spoile the sheepe eu'n so This cruell Turke their guiltlesse blood doth spend They neither know to strike nor ward a blo To hurt their foe nor yet to help their frend Thus past the Pagan to S. Michels bridge And none there was his passage to abridge 21 He kills alike the sinner and the good The reuerend father and the harmelesse child He spils alike the young and aged blood With widowes wiues and virgines vndefild And though that all did yeeld and none withstood Yet mercie from his mind was so exild He shewd to such as things can truly valew Great signes of crueltie but none of valew 22 Nor doth the cruell rage and fury cease With seeing of so many people slaine But rather still it growes and doth increase Against those other that aliue remaine Nor graunts he to the Churches any peace But eu'n as though the walls could suffer paine He maketh furious warres against the walls And flings against them store of firie balls 23 Their houses all were built in Paris then Of timber and I iudge this present houre Of bricke and stone there are not sixe of ten Which made the Pagan then to bend his powre To burne the houses hauing kild the men And though that fire do of it selfe deuoure Yet he doth helpe the fire and ouerthrew them And those that lurkt within he spoyld and flue them 24 Had Agramant had like successe without As had within this wicked Rodomount The walls of Paris had not kept him out On which so oft he did assay to mount But now this while the Angell brought about Renaldo stout the flowre of Clarimount Both with the English and the Scots supplies As secretly as Silence could deuise 25 And that they might them more vnwares assaile They cast a bridge a league aboue the towne And passe the riuer to their best auaile And so in battle order comming downe Not doubting if their footing do not faile To get that day great glorie and renowne And still among the rankes Renaldo rides And for things needfull euermore prouides 26 Two thousand horse in good Duke Edmonds guide And thrise two thousand archers he doth send To get to Paris on the tother side To helpe within the citie to defend The cariages and other lets beside To leaue behind a while he doth intend These succors greatly helpe the towne within And at Saint Dennis gate they let them in 27 Renaldo takes the conduct of the rest Appointing each his office and his place As in his skill and iudgement seemeth best Seu'ring each band from other with a space And seeing eu'ry one was prone and prest As was to be required in such case He calleth all the Lords and Leaders chiefe And vsd to them this pithy speech and briefe 28 My Lords quoth he I need not to repeate Your weightie bisnesse vnto you at large I onely say you haue iust cause and great To giue God thankes your duties to discharge That here hath sent you where with little sweat But giuing on our foes one valiant charge You may obtaine true fame and glorie more Then all your auncestors obtaind before 29 God onely God that giues and guides good chance Hath offerd vnto you this good occasion Your names and glories highly to aduance Which is in noble minds a strong perswasion Behold the Kings of England and of France Endangerd greatly by the Turks inuasion Shut vp in trenches and in wals with shame You may set free to your immortall fame 30 The very law of nature and humanitie Wils noble hearts to helpe the weake distressed But more the lawes and state of Christianitie Without your helpe now like to be oppressed And right Religion turnd to Turkish vanitie Of which what harms wil grow may soon be guessed Our temples faire with their foule idols filled Our virgins chast by vow deflourd and killed 31 No meane no stay no end will be of slaughter Of rapes and rapines wicked and vniust No man shall keepe his sister wife or daughter From out the reach of their vnruly lust But now if you these sorrowes turne to laughter And raise their honor troden in the dust They must ow you the freedomes and the liues Of them their friends their children and their wiues 32 In auncient times a laurell Ciuick crowne To him that sau'd one citizen they gaue If then they had such honor and renowne How many crownes shall you deserue to haue If not a townsman but a noble towne And thousand innocents therein you saueâ— In you it lies them to preserue and cherish That but for you in wo should pine and perish 33 Which if they should as God forbid they should By these vile Saracens be ouerrunne Then were the Romaine Empire bought and sold The holy Church were spoyld and quite vndone In you it is these huge harmes to withhold By you alone must this exploit be done Tread then this path of praise so large and ample I le leade the way follow but mine example
time great lords and knights repaired thither Allured by the same of such a feast I told you from the holy citie hither Was fiue or sixe dayes iourney at the least But all the townes about both small and great Are not like this for state and fruitfull seat 13 For first beside the cleare and temprat aire Not noid with sommers heat nor winters cold There are great store of buildings large and faire Of carued stone most stately to behold The streetes all pau'd where is their most repaire And all the ground is of so fruitfull mold That all the yeare their spring doth seeme to last And brings them store of fruites of daintie tast 14 Aboue the Citie lies a little hill That shades the morning sunne in erly houres Of waters sweet which here we vse to still They make such store with spice and iuyce of flowrs As for the quantitie might driue a mill Their gardens haue faire walkes and shady bowrs But that which chiefe maintaineth all the sweets Two christall streames do runne a mid the streets 15 Such was the natiue beautie of the towne But now because they looke for great resort Of Princes and of Lords of great renowne They decke their citie in another sort Each Ladie putteth on her richest gowne Each house with Arras hang'd in stately port The noble youths do stand vpon comparison Whose horse doth best who weares the best caparisâ— 16 Thus Griffin and his mates come to this place And first they view these shows with great delight And after they had rode a little space A curteous squire perswades them to alight And praieth them to do his house that grace To eate and take their lodgings there that night They thanke him for his kind an friendly offer And straight accept the courtsie he doth profer 17 They had set downe before them costly meat Of sundrie wines there was no little store Of precious fruits the plentie was so great As they had seldome seene the like before The while their host doth vnto them repeat The cause of all this feasting and wherefore The king appointed all these solemne sports To draw togither knights of sundrie sorts 18 But Griffin though he came not for this end For praise and brauerie at tilt to runne But came to find his fleeting female frend Yet was his courage such he would not shunne In these braue sports some little time to spend Where of well doing honor might be wonne He promist straight though little were his leasure Before he go to see and shew some pleasure 19 And first he asketh farther of the feast If it were new ordaind or else of old His host replieth thus my worthie guest I shall in briefe to you this thing vnfold Our Prince the greatest Prince in all the East Hath newly pointed this great feast to hold This is the first but all of his retinew Mind ech fourth month this custome to continew 20 In token of great gladnes and great ioy By all the citie is the feast begunne In token of the danger and annoy That Norandin our king did lately shunne Lockt vp foure months where he could not enioy The vse of earth of water aire nor sunne Yet at the four months end by hap he scaped The death with yawning mouth on him that gaped 21 But plaine to shew you whence did come the seed Of which this danger seemed first to grow Loue did to Norandin this danger breed The king of Cypres daughter pleasd him so Because her beautie did the rest exceed To see her needs in person he would go He saw he likt he woode he wun he marrid her And homward then by ship he would haue carid her 22 But lo a wind and tempest rose so sore As three dayes space they looked to be drownd And made them land vpon an vnknowne shore Where straight we pitcht our tents vpon the ground And for of trees and grasse there was good store The King in hope some venson to haue found Into the next adioyning wood doth goe Two pages beare his quiuer and his boe 23 His meaning was some stag or buck to kill We wait his comming in the tent at ease When suddenly such noise our eares doth fill As winds in woods and waues do make in seas And ay more nie vs it approched till We plaine might see vnto our sore disease A monster huge that ran along the sand Destroying all that in the way did stand 24 This Orke for so men do the monster call Directed straight his course vpon our tent His eyes were out how ere it did befall But yet he was so quicke and sharpe of sent As all his blindnesse holpe not vs at all He hunteth like a spaniell by the vent His sent is such as none can hope to shunne him His pace is such as no man can outrunne him 25 Thus whether they prepar'd to fight or fly Or whether feare both sight and flight did let He takes them as his prisners by and by Of fortie ten scarce to the ship could get Among the other prisners tane was I Whilst I our Queene in safetie would haue set But all in vaine to flie it did not boote He was so quicke of sent aud swift of foote 26 As shepheards hang a wallet at their wast So at his gudle hangs a mightie sacke In which the better sort of vs he plast The rest he bound together in a packe And to his caue that was most huge and vast He beares vs hopelesse euer to come backe A comely matron in this den he had Maids faire and foule some poore some richly clad 27 Beside this female family of his He hath a caue wherein he keepes his flocke That caue in length and largenesse passeth this Made all by hand out of the stonie rocke And for mans flesh his chiefest daintie is Into the caue he safely doth vs locke The while he leades abroade his goates and sheepe Which in the fields adioyning he doth keepe 28 The King not knowing this returned backe The silence that he found some feare did breed But when he found his wife and men were lacke He then to sea did hast him with great speed He sees plaine signes of hast of spoyle of wracke Yet knowes he not the author of this deed Vntill he had his ship by hap recouered Then by his men the fact was plaine discouered 29 When he had heard at last the wofull newes How greatly was his heart surprysd with griefe What gods what fortune did he not accuse For all his losses but Lucyna chiefe But dangers all and death he first will chuse Ere he then leaue his loue without reliefe He either will her libertie procure Or else he will like chance with her endure 30 He leaues his ship and goes by land apace There where the monster had his loue conuaid And often wailes her hard and wofull case Desiring and despairing of her aid Now came he in the kenning of
retier 100 Thus eu'ry one do clammer vp the wall For value some and other some for feare And some are slaine and some are made to fall Repenting late that euer they came there Fierce Rodomont alone contemning all No paine no place for perill doth forbeare But rusheth on more despratly then stoâ—tly Blaspheming God while others pray denoutly 101 A paire of curats passing hard he ware Made of an vgly Dragons scaly skin This armour his great auncestor first bare He that to build Babel did first begin A towre whose height shold with the clouds coÌ„pare And thought from God the rule of heau'n to win And to the same effect likewise he made Of passing proofe an helmet shield and blade 102 Thus Rodomont that came of Nimrods kind As proud and irreligious as was he Regardeth not a passage safe to find Or where the wall might weakest guarded be But with a heart to mischiefe all inclind Where he the same defended best doth see Protected with his shield he makes no bones To go through fire and water darts and stones 103 When once vpon the battlement he was Where all the wall was broade and largely paued How did he slay the Christens then alas How fierce he vnto them himselfe behaued His blade doth pierce their plates of steele and bras Al were not priests whose crowns that day were shaued He kild alone so many as their blood Did cause the ditch to fill with crimson flood 104 Beside the baser sort these men of name At this same first conflict by him were slanie Orgetto Duke that late from Flanders came Arnold and Hugo two of Charles his traine And Lews that gouernd Prouence with great fame Walter and Denis Hawnce of Satallaine Some were thrust through some had past all releefe Their helmets and their heads clou'n to the teeth 105 And some by force from off the wall he caft Among the which was one Moschino hight That by his will would neuer water tast But still in wine did put his whole delighâ— But lo his lucke was to be drownd at last Within this dirtie dish for further spite And he that neuer water could abide In all his life now here in water dide 106 Thus while that Rodomont did kill and slay All that he found vpon the vtmost wall His band of men the while had found the way To passe the ditch and so the wall to scale But now within another dike there lay The sight whereof their courage did appall For why the Christens sent such store of shot As this same place did seeme to them too hot 107 The dike was drie the bottome eu'n and plaine Both sides were steep but steepest next the towne At this the souldiers curtesie do straine Which of them first shall venter to go downe Within the citizens had made a traine With about great and cost of many a crowne That when the ditch with armed men was filled Wâ—hâ—eat and smother they should all be killed 108 It cubits had in bredth thrise ten and more And in the bottome there were closely plast Barrels of pitch brimstone and oyle good store All matter quicke to kindle long to last The captaine led them all the way before And thousand souldiers followd them as fast But Rodomont as though he had had wings Quite ore the dike like to a grewnd he springs 109 And being placed on the inner side Armd and vnarmed men to him are like No steele there was his forces could abide Death followth eu'rie blow that he doth strike Which when a while to their great cost they tride They do of force abandon quite the dike He follows slaying without all remorse So sharpe his sword so furious is his force 110 But when the souldiers thought the banke to mount With scaling ladders as they did the wall They found themselues deceiu'd of their account For straight the fier works were kindled all Whose sudden flames the clouds theÌ„selues surmount Which sight the Pagans greatly did appall And to increase their terror and their wonder It made a noise like to continuall thunder 111 The Christens do reioyce at this reliefe To see their practise had succeeded well The Pagans plagu'd with heat and smother chiefe In great dispaire do rore alowd and yell Thus twixt the noise of fier and cries of griefe They make an harmonie most meete for hell And here I meane to leaue them in the fire For to repose my selfe I now desire In Mandricardo that after his great exploites atchieued in other countries is still ready to hazard his person for more honor may be obserued that ambition is as vnsatiable as any other humour of man In his woing of Doralice we may see how loue makes men many times not onely valiant but eloquent In the assaulting and defending of Paris is set downe what sundry accidents happen when such populous cities come to so great extremitie In Charles that first makes his praiers to God and after makes all prouident preparation for defence of the towne we see a liuely patterne of an excellent and worthy Prince both for deuotion and policie Concerning the historie I haue quoted many things in the margent as the straightnesse of roome would permit that the simplest reader may vnderstand what is meant by the fourth staffe here onely I will ad a word of Rauenna referring the reader that is desirous to be better informed hereof to Guicciardin who sets it downe at large Rauenna was besieged by the French vnder the conduct of one Fois a notable captaine of so young a man The Spaniards and Pope Iulio tooke vpon them to defend it but in the heat of that assault Fois was slaine yet the souldiers either by force or by parlee gat into the towne and being within they committed the notablest outrages that haue bene heard of neither abstaining from rapes nor sacriledge Concerning the Catalyns whoÌ„ he nameth formost in the musters they are the chiefe house in all Spaine and it is to be noted that Spaine is deuided into fiue kingdomes Nauar Castill Catalogna which is now called Aragon Portugall and Granata For Gallicia is counted none because it had a king but a while The rest of the strange names you may find in the table In the description of Discord and Fraud and finding Silence in the house of sleep being long since banished from philosophers and diuines the allegorie is so plain as it were time lost to spend time to expound it because it expounds it selfe so plainly only I will obserue one thing in which mine Author is thought to keep an excellent decorum For making Discord and Fraud of the feminine gender he still makes Silence the masculine as the like pretie conceit is in our Cambridge Comedie Pedantius at which I remember the noble Earle of Essex that now is was present where the Pedantius himselfe examining the Gramaticall instruction of this verse Caedant arma togae concedat laurea linguae vpon speciall
many I am sure haue read With what sharpe checks I in my selfe am shent When into reasons recknings I do go And by such counts my selfe a bankrout know Of all those goods which heau'n to me hath lent Vnable quite to pay eu'n natures rent Which vnto it by birthright I did ow And which is worse no good excuse can show But that my wealth I haue most idly spent My youth doth wast my knowledge brings forth toyes My wit doth striue tho'e passions to defend With my reward spoyled with vaine annoyes I find my course to loose it selfe doth bend I see yet do no greater sorrow take Then that I leese no more for Stellas sake And this much of this matter of love In the conflict at Paris gate in presence of both Princes we may note how the Generall eye is a great encouragement to the souldier In Renaldos oration we may obserue that eloquence and learning is not onely a great ornament but sometime a great aid to a Captaine And for the speech it selfe it is both pithy and methodicall For being as they terme it of the deliberatiue kind it layes downe though briefly yet plainly if you mark it the facilitie the commendation the vtilitie and the necessitie of that to which he perswades them For historicall matter there is litle in this booke only where he touches the weake buildings of Paris being built so high and so sleight it is euident they are so at this day and doubtlesse it is a great blot in a magnificent citie to see browne paper houses which were a matter easily redressed in one age as Augustus Caesar did at Rome forbidding them to build but with stone and making great prouision for stuffe and cariage for such as would build at a reasonable price as Suetonius setteth downe at large but this is not much to the purpose Whereas Silence is said to be sent by God with an Angell to conduct the Christian succors to Paris by the Angell is meant allegorically Gods assistance and grace without which no victories can be obtained and by Silence is vnderstood wise secretnesse to conceale our intent from our enemies which is a great furtherance in warre For the Allusion of Martano I referre it to the next booke where his cowardize is more largely touched The end of the Annotations of the sixteenth Booke THE SEVENTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Fierce Rodomont leaue Paris is constraind Martano at Damasco tilts most vyly Stout Griffin thinks his running thereby staind And goes fro thence the while Martano slyly Doth steale his coat and horse and so obtaind Great guifts and of the king is graced highly But Griffin taken in Martanos clothing Receiues disgrace each one his presence lothing 1 THe most iust God when once mans sins do grow Beyond the boúds of pardon and of grace Because that mé his iudgements iust may know No lesse then loue to rule on earth doth place Vile Monsters such as tyrannize vs so With wrong the right with lust they lawes deface For this same câ—use were Sylla sent and Marius The Nerons both and filthie minded Varius 2 For this Domician held in Rome the raigne And Antoninus of that name the last And Massimin a base vnworthie swaine To plague mankind in Princely throne was plast For this in Thebs did cruell Creon raigne With other tyrants more in ages past For this of late hath Italie beene wonne By men of Lumbardie of Goth and Hunne 3 What should I of vniust Attyla speake Of Esselin and of an hundred more Whom God doth send his anger iust to wreake On vs that still neglect his sacred lore The times forepast long since the present cake Of such examples yeelds vs wofull store How we vnthankfull and vnfruitfull sheepe Are giu'n to hungrie rau'ning Wolues to keepe 4 Such Wolues as would not onely by their wills Seaze all our goods and substance as their pray But also send beyond the Alps high hills For other Wolues more hunger staru'd then thay The bones of men that Thrasimeno fills The fights of Treb and Cannas are but play If with our bloodie slaughters they compare Of Adda Mela Ronco and of Tare 5 No doubt God in heau'nly throne that sits And thence our deeds and thoughts doth plainly see Vs to be spoild and conquerd thus permits By those that are perhaps as ill as we But if to please him we would bend our wits Then from these foes he soone would set vs free And we should see their punishment er long That vs oppresse by villanie and wrong 6 But now to turne from whence I did digresse I told you how when Charles the news had hard Of houses burnd and men in great distresse By him that doth nor God nor man regard Vnto their aid he doth himselfe addresse And chuse some speciall men to be his guard And meeting such as fled their course he staid And these or such like words to them he said 7 O simple fooles what meane you hence to runne Turne backe for shame turne backe and do not fly You chuse the greater ill the lesse to shunne To liue with shame and may with honor dy What citie haue you left when this is wonne What hope is left a fortune new to try Shall one vile Pagan bost another day That he alone bath dâ—u'n you all away 8 This said he came vnto the pallace gate Where now the Pagan Prince triumphant stood Most like a serpent fierce that hath of late His old skin cast and left it in the wood Reioycing now of his renewed state Of his fresh strength of young and lustie blood He shewes his forked tongue and comes apace And eu'rie beast that sees him giues him place 9 Thus scornfull and thus proud the Pagan stands With threats to spoile the Pallace and deface And not a man that once his force withstands Vntill king Charles appeared in the place Who looking on his old victorious hands Said thus and is now alterd so the case That these my hands that wonted were to win To yeeld and to be faint should now begin 10 Why should the strength the vigor and the might That I was wont in you to feele now faile Shall this same Panim dogge eu'n in my sight My people slay my dwelling house assaile No first on me a thousand deaths alight No death can make a princely heart to quaile And with that word with couched speare in rest He runnes and smites the Pagan on the brest 11 And straight the other of the chosen crew On eu'rie side the Pagan do beset But how he scapt and what did then ensew Another time I le tell but not as yet For first some matters past I must renew And namely Griffin I may not forget And craftie Origilla with the tother That was her bedfellow and not her brother 12 These three vnto Damasco came togither The fair'st and richest towne of all the East What
and must vntill One come that me with other nine can kill 9 Vnto the knights this seemd a maru'lous storie And much they wonderd at this gouernment They maruell that so great a territorie For want of men was not consum'd and spent They thought no lesse the women would be sorie For want of men to liue so continent T was strange one man sufficed ten of thease Sith one with vs can scant one woman please 10 And straight they were inquisitiue to know When first this foolish order there began And vpon what occasion it did grow That women in that countrie ruled man Then Guidon answerd thus I shall you show The whole discourse as briefely as I can According as my selfe haue heard the same Since by mishap into this realme I came 11 When as the Greekes had quite defaced Troy And after twise ten yeares returned home For ten whole years in danger and annoy Of surging seas they vp and downe did rome They found their wiues that had but little ioy So long a time to liue and lye alone Each one a lustie louer to haue chosen Lest with the cold they might be staru'd and frozen 12 Their houses full of bastard brats they see In fine they purpose after consultation To pardon all their wiues and let them free But for these boyes that bred some altercation To driue them out a doore they do agree And make them seeke a forraine habitation It was contrarie much to their desiers That others brats should warme thé at their fiers 13 Thus some thrown out some close their mothers keep In corners from their angrie husbands sight And when as elder years on them do creepe Each one betakes him to his most delight Some plow some get them heards of goats sheep Some sciences and some do learne to fight Thus eu'rie one betooke him to some trade As he assignes that all the world hath made 14 Among the rest that Art of war ensue Phalanto sonne of Clytemnestra Queene But eighteene yeares of age and â—resh of hue And in the floure of youths well pleasing greene This one to him an hundred gallants drue And getting ships and things that needfull beene With writs of Mart a thing that breeds much sorow He gets him to the sea in mind to borow 15 Now while Phalanto with his cursed fleet Abode at sea with that more cursed traine It fortund at that time that they of Creet Had Idumeo driu'n out of his raigne Wherfore for better strength they thought it meet Phalanto and his men to entertaine They giue to him great hire and great reward The citie of Ditea for to guard 16 Ditea was a towne of great estate Rich and frequented with no small resort And yeelds in plentie large betimes and late Of sundrie kinds of pleasures and of sport And as they all men vsd so in like rate They vsd their souldiers in so friendly sort As though they had agreed by sound accords To make them all their masters and their Lords 17 But chiefe they found with women so great grace As they wan most of them vnto their lure But when the warres were ended in short space And that their pay no longer did endure They all prepar'd to leaue this pleasant place Which to the damsels did great griefe procure To leese their husbands brother or their father Then these new louers eu'rie one had rather 18 And when they saw they could not make them stay By no deuice of theirs nor no request They do agree with them to steale away And take such things as were of value best Thus came these damsels loden with their pray And thence to sea and were now gone at left An hundred leagues with these new lawles louers Before Ditea this their flight discouers 19 The wind so good then for their purpose blew Phalanto quickly landed in this cost And here the amorous and wanton crew Vnto their loues of this their lewdnesse bost But now that saying was confirmed trew That pleasant things do often cloy the most And there can be a greater clog to no man Then to be wearie of a wanton woman 20 Wherefore like men that were and had bene euer Of gaine most greedie sparing of expence They secretly consulting do endeuer To take the goods and then to steale from thence Thus while the women still in loue perseuer They that regard not pleasure more then pence Lode with their wealth of which there was good store Stale to the sea left them on the shore 21 Sore were the damsels daunted and dismayd When once they saw their loues had the forsaken For what more spite can be then be betraid Of him to whom one hath her selfe betaken And fith they find that weeping doth nâ—t ayd They meane betime some order shal be taken What they shall do and how heareafter liue And eu'rie one doth straight her verdit giue 22 One home to turne againe doth thinke it best And to their kin and friends them to submit And with repentance pardon to request And vow the like fault neuer to commit Another that good motion doth detest And sweares it shewd the mouer had no wit And that with greater honestie or ease They might go drowne them headlong in the seas 23 Among the rest one Orontea hight That lineally of Mynos was descended And past the rest in beautie and good sprite And had lesse grieuously then they offended For to Phalanto she her troth did plight And to haue bene his honest spouse intended This one declareth thus her resolution And makes the rest put it in execution 24 She wishes them to tary in this land That had both fruitfull earth and pleasant aire And fountaines sweet and woods on eu'ry hand And medowes greene and pastures fresh and faire Beside large hau'us where ships at ease might stand To which the merchants often made repaire By tempest driuen well loden with good trafficke Of things that come from Egipt and from Affricke 25 Wherefore this place she minds not to forsake But that they may as chiefly they desire A sharpe reuenge on men for euer take They vow to put to sacke to sword and fire Such ships as to their hauen repaire do make And kill the men and this they all conspire And still when any come this trade they vse Nor left a man aliue to carry newes 26 But when this cruell law some yeares had lasted Which they had meant to haue confirmd for ay They find that they so fast consumd and wasted That this their barren kingdome would decay Except to find some remedy they hasted And hauing long consulted on the way They meane of this their law to bate some rigor Yet leaue the substance still in strength and vigor 27 And thus they do they chuse among such men As tempests driue to this their wicked nation Some few as were so lustie as with ten They could performe the act of generation All in one night
three warriers had ado not small To keepe him now from killing in the place Not that they car'd to haue his life preserued But vnto greater paines they him reserued 92 They gaue him bound vnto that woman aged That erst vpon Drusilla did attend And to those three whose minds were yet inraged Whom whipt and stript he lately thence did send These with sharp goads and kniues his body gaged And to torment him all their wits did bend Now some cast stones and some with needels pricke him Some scratch some bite with feet some spurn kick him 93 Eu'n as a brooke new swolne with rage of raine Or with a sodaine thaw of melting snow Ort bears down rocks and trees with force so maine As heards do'h drowne and houses ouerthrow A drouth doth come and then that brooke againe Abates his pride and is at last so low A woman yea a child with small adoe May passe the same and neuer wet their shoe 94 So Marganor that erst in pompe and pride Made hearts of men to quake when he was named To lowest ebb now turned sees his tyde His combe now cut his furie now is tamed Now kennel-rakers scorne him and deride To looke men in the face he is ashamed Small children yea the babes be not afteard To pill away his haire from head and beard 95 The while Rogero with those champions twaine The castle summond that did gladly yeeld Here Vllanie recouered againe Which lately she had lost her golden shield Here met they those three kings which to their pain Dame Bradamant had twise ou'rthrowne in field At the same castle where before I told She wan their lodging and made them lie cold 96 Since which on foote vnarmd they vowd to go Which want faire Vllanie from death did saue For all that went with armd men garded so Were sacrificed on Tanacros graue Yet better of the twaine it was to show The parts that modestie conceald would haue For why both this and eu'ry other shame Is halfe excusd if force procure the same 97 Marfisa straight a Parlament did call Of all the towne and made them take an oth Of high and low rich poore and great and small Although they were content or else were loth That to their wiues they should be subiect all That in their houses and the Citie both The women should haue rule such powre such graces As men are wont to haue in other places 98 She further made this notable decree That lodging meate and drinke should be forbode To trauellers of whatsoere degree Admit they go on foote or that they rode Within that towne except they first agree To sweare by some great Saint or else by God That they should euermore be womens frends And foe vnto their foes to their liues ends 99 And whatsoever stranger there arriues Must further sweare before they go their way If or they haue or meane to marry wiues That euermore they shall their wils obay This must they keepe on perill of their liues For why she vowes to come ere twelue-months day And if she find her law broke in that Citie To lacke and burne the same without all pitie 100 This done the warriers three did hasten hence But yet their going they so long deferred Vntil Drusillas corse was tane from thence Where as it seemd it was but homely berred And order tane with cost and good expence Her spouse and she might nobly be interred With Epitaphs by which was signified In how great honour they both liu'd and died 101 Marfisa made her law in marble faire Vpon a pillar to be written downe And then Rogero with the warlike paire Of damsels tooke their leaues of all the towne But Vllanie her garments doth repaire And stayes to make some new and costly gowne She thinks to come to Court were great dishoner Except she had some sumptuous clothing on her 102 Therefore she staid behind and in her powre Was Marganor by those same warriers giuen Who had new torments taught him eu'ry howre And was at last by his sharpe iudges driuen To leape downe headlong from a mightie towre Where all his bones and flesh were broke and riuen Of him nor these I haue no more to say But of those three that went the tother way 103 The rest of that same day together riding And halfe the next in companie they spent Vntill they found a way in twaine diuiding One to the campe tother to Arlie went Here oft they take their leaues yet still abiding For euer parting makes friends ill content In fine the knight the way to Arlie tooke They to the campe and thus I end this booke In this xxxv ij booke the praises of women are set downe to the encouragement of all vertuous minded yong Ladies and likewise the miserable end of Marganor and his two sonnes for their vnbridled lust and crueltie to the terrifying of all great men that dispose themselues to lawlesse and tyrannous behauiour Lastly in the law made for women we may see that that sex is capable of rule and gouernement and not to be excluded from the highest degree thereof as a noble learned and learned noble man hath most amply and excellently proued in a discourse of his which I happened by fortune to light vpon though as yet I thinke imparted to few Concerning the historie of this booke first it should seeme that the whole booke it selfe was incerted into the rest of the worke by mine author to take occasion thereby to speake in praise of women and specially of the Ladie Vittoria wife to the famous Francis of Pescard but concerning the famous women by him briefly touched I will here set downe as briefly as I can their storie Arpalice or Harpalice a woman of Thrace whose father being taken prisoner by the Geties a nation of Scythia with great courage and expedition recovered him from their hands of whom Virgil speakes in his Aeneads Vel qualis equos Threissa fatgat Harpalice volucremâ— suga prâ—euertitur Haebrum Tomeris Queene of the Massagetians Cyrus became a suter to her to marry her but she thinking as it was most likely he wooed not her but her kingdome refused him hereupon Cyrus made warre on her Tomeris sent her son against him who was taken by Cyrus with an ambushment and slaine But she faining as though she fled for feare drew Cyrus to the straits of the hils where they write she slue his whole army being two hundred thousand men and left not a man aliue to carry newes and after in reuenge of her son she put Cyrus head into a great boule of bloud vsing that wel knowne speech Satia te sanguine quisanguinem sitijsti Fill thy selfe with bloud that didst thirst for bloud In the 5. staffe With those that did Turnios and Hector ayd Those two were Camilla and Pentheselea of both which Virgil writes in the Aeneads Pentheselea surens medijsque in millibus ardet Bellatrix ardétque viris
rest and ease him 51 But if you will vnto my counsell harke And that you haue as you pretend such hast I will appoint for you a little barke That shall with oares conuey you safe and fast There may you sleepe the while you find it darke And when your stomake serues you take repast Thus may you downe the streame in safety sliding Win one whole night saue a whole daies riding 52 Renaldo this good offer doth accept And gaue him heartie thankes then tooke his barge He found his host with him had promise kept And makes of needfull things prouision large No sooner was he setled but he slept But yet before he gaue the stearman charge If that to sleepe too long it did befall him When he came neare Ferrara then to call him 53 Now did the knight of France in quiet sleepe And past by diuers townes of count the whiles And still the barge a pace most swift doth keepe Vpon that hand where Poe make diuers Iles And now the Rosie colour gan to creepe To th'Esterne skie when hauing past some miles Bandano then the stearsman wakt Renaldo When they discouerd both rocks of Tealdo 54 Whereon when as the knight his eye had fixt He saith O happie place that I behold Of which by vew of wandring starres and fixt My cosin Malagigis oft foretold How that by heau'nly doome it was prefixt On thee to lay such blessings manifold As that thy glorie to such height should rise Of Italie to hold the chiefest prise 55 Thus good Renaldo spake the while his bote Downe that same streame did swim or rather fly And when the knight came nearer he did note The place that seemed then all wast to ly And with a moorish water all on flote Yet did he much reioice thereof for why He knew that that same towne in future time Ordained was to great renowne to clime 56 His cosin Malagige and he whileare Had past that way what time his cosin told That when the Ram had tane the golden spheare That fourth is plast in height seau'n hundred fold Then should there be the brauest Iland theare That euer sea or streame or lake did hold So well replenished that none should dare With this Nausicas Iland to compare 57 And that it should for building faire disgrace Tiberius I le that Capry they do call And that th'Helperides should giue it place For passing fruits and sundrie sorts with all Beside more store of beasts for vse or chase Then Circes erst did keepe in field or stall That Venus with her sonne and all the Graces Should chuse this seat and leaue all other places 58 And that a certaine Prince should this fulfill So prouident so stout so wise so stayd As hauing powre vnited to his will Should with strong Rampires fence the town he said That foes should haue no force to worke her ill Nor she should neuer need of forraine aid And that the man by whom this must be donne Should be both Hercles Site and Hercles sonne 59 Thus while the knight of France with great delight Did call to mind what should another day Vpon that happie Citie there alight His water-men did giue so lustie way That of the place he soone had left the sight And keeping on the right hand all the way They went beyond Saint Georges in an howre And passed by Giabanas ditch and Towre 60 And now Renaldo as doth oft befall That one conceipt another out doth driue Began the knight to memorie to call That last did him kind entertainment giue That had iust cause this City more then all To hate and should haue still while he did liue The cursed cup he further cald to minde In which men may their spouses falshood finde 61 And last of his hosts later speech he thought Concerning that same cup and how they sped I meane his guests that that same triall sought Into their bosoms still the liquor shed Now he doth halfe repent he mist the draught Yet was he glad thereof for why he sed Had it falne well what had I got thereby If not in what a case had then benel 62 I now beleeue so well as hauing tried With good successe beleeue I better should not So that I might haue well bene damnified But by my triall mend my state I could not But what griefe had it bene if I had spied By my most deare Clarice that I would not Much may they leese but gains get small or none That will in play a thousand lay to one 63 These later words so lowd and plaine he â—pake Though to himselfe that he that steard the bote Who to his speech and gestures heed did take The words and meaning of his words did note Wherefore a further cause of speech to make As one that though he ware a hu'rie cote Yet was well spoken and of good bold sprite He straight doth fall to reason with the knight 64 In fine the summe of all their argument Was that his wit was much to be controld That sought to make too great experiment Of womens truths more then their force can hold For she that can with chast and firme intent Maintaine her truth against assault of gold Might eu'n as easilie defend the same Against a thousand swords in midst of flame 65 To this the Bargeman said you sure may sweare it They must not be assayld with darts so fierce For their solt brests too tender are to beare it Sith coats of sounder proofe such shot will pierce And sure a prettie tale if you would heare it I could saith he to this effect rehearse Of one who though his wife had sore offended By her in greater sinne was apprehended 66 I meane the tale of that Adonio which The great grift gaue vnto the Iudges wife A little dogge that made his owner rich A thing that in these parts is knowne so rife The knight replide mine eares to heare it ich For neuer yet I heard it in my life Then if it please you heare it now you shall The stears-man said and thus began his tale 67 There was a learned Lawyer cald by name Anselmus borne here in our neighbour towne That so long studied Vlpian till he came To be a Iudge and weare a scarlet gowne And hauing won great wealth he woo'd a dame For bewtie and for state of great renowne They wedded were for better and for worse So he her person lik't so she his purse 68 Her qualities and hauiour past the rest She seemed all of louelynes composed Not fit indeed for him that was to rest And to his bookes more then to sports disposed Wherefore foule iealous thoughts his mind possest And that his wife plaid false he still supposed Yet cause was none of her so to misdeeme Saue that too faire and wittie she did seeme 69 Now in the selfe same Citie dwelt a knight Too neare a neighbour to this man of law That was
such trade Went backe there with and hauing fitly broken The matter first her mistres doth perswade To buy the dog and said she might archieue it With such a price as is no losse to giue it 107 At first the fayre Argia backward drew As partly being loth to breake her faith And partly doubting all could not be trew The which the tatling nurse before her laith But she with othes doth her first tale renew And that such offers seldome come the saith In fine she wan her mistres to agree Next day more priuatly the dog to see 108 Adonios next apparance in the place Became the Doctors ruine and confusion Such duckets such spur Ryals in like case Such gems he shewd indeed or by illusion He mollifi'd thereby my Ladies grace And mou'd her make the bargaine in conclusion And this did then perhaps the rather moue her When as she knew he was her ancient louer 109 Thus her true louers presence and his prayer The comforts of her nurse that whorish drudge The great rewards he presently did pay her The absence long of that same iealous Iudge And lastly hope that sure none would bewray her Wipt from her conscience scruple all and grudge So that she tooke his dog and for his laber Gane him free leaue to play vpon her taber 110 Thus now Adonio frankly reapt the fruit Of that faire Ladies loue that he had wonne The which he followd still with sweet pursuit Vnto their likings both this while the Sun Before the Iudge full ended had his suit Through twise six signes his yearely course had run And home he came at last suspecting sore That which th' Astronomer had told before 111 But ere vnto his owne house he would go First of th' Astronomer to aske he ment If so his wife had taryd chast or no Since he from home on his Ambassage went The cunning man that meant the troth to show Doth calculate to see how starres were bent And when that he the planets well had vewd That she had plaid the quean he doth conclude 112 And that it was befalne as he foreshowed How she with mightie gifts and bribes allured Her selfe vpon another had bestowed The wretched Iudge with no small griefe indured To heare these newes though too true he trowed The same yet seeking to be more assured He cals the nurse aside at his home comming And seekes to sist her with no little cunning 113 With diuers circumquâ—ques and deuises He seeketh of the nurse to finde the trace But she in speech so warie and so nice is As one be like well studied in the case That all his cunning speech her not intices But that she still denide with shamelesse face That which the knew and whereof her perswasion Had bene in part though not the chiefe occasion 114 When as the iealous Iudge long time in vaine Had tempted her with promises and gifts And that he saw for all his search and paine He found lesse certentie the more he sifts He doth expect to try a further traine As one not vnacquainted with such drifts He watcht a time when they should fall to bralling As still where women are is oft befalling 115 And as he thought indeed so fell it out The testie nurse one day not pleased well Came vnto him at their next falling out And of her owne accord the truth doth tell Thinke you when as the Iudge had heard her out How he did chafe and fret and fume and swell So neare vnto his heart and braine it sits It little wanted to haue reau'd his wits 116 And in this agonie resolu'd to dye And finish both his owne dayes and his wiues And so his griefe and her great shame thereby To wipe away with ending both their liues He turneth to the Citie by and by As that same desperat desire him driues And thence a trustie seruant with instruction He sends of purpose for his wiues destruction 117 He bids him tell Argia in his name That on the sodaine he was falne so sicke That but to him without delay she came The doubt was great she should not find him quickâ— Wherefore her iourney with more speed to frame To ryde behinde this man who in a thicke That was right in the way vnto the Citie Had charge to kill her there without all pitie 118 And straight accordingly the seruant went To say and do as much as he was bidden But she foretold of that their fell intent For nothing from her little dogge was hidden And taught withall the same how to preuent Away with this sauie seruant she is ridden And in few howres arriued at the wood Where he was purposd to haue shed her blood 119 Then did he tell to her his masters will And drew his sword a speedie death to giue her He onely offerd ere he would her kill To grant her time to pray God to forgiue her I cannot tell you by what manner skill She did her selfe forth of his hands deliuer But gone she was he seeking all about And for his life he could not find her out 120 Backe went the fellow with astonied face With trembling heart and courage all dismayd And made his master at the wondrous case No lesse then he had bene afore afrayd He knew not how by Faery Mantos grace His wife could when she list haue helpe and ayd For why the nurse that did the rest vnfold I knew not why but this she neuer told 121 The Doctour now was plagu'd with griefe extreame Far more then euer he had felt before What erst was but a mote is now a beame Nor he one iot reuenged is the more His shame will now be blazd ou'r all the Reame And all men now will laugh at him therefore The former errour might haue bene concealed But this to all the world wil be reuealed 122 He thinks that sure vpon this plaine detection Of his fellonious mind of which I spake She will to keepe her out of his subiection To some great Lord forthwith her selfe betake And liue in spite of him with such protection And so a mocking stocke of him to make But most he doubts least to some man she goth As is a leacher and a ruffian both 123 Wherefore so soule a mischiefe to preuent He spares no paine no trauell nor no cost To eu'rie towne in Lombardie he sent With letters and with messages in post And further he himselfe in person went To seeke his wife that was so strangely lost But all in vaine for why other abiding No inckling he could heare nor any tyding 124 And to conclude at last he cald his man That man that made to him the strange report And bids him show the place and if he can Where his lewd mistres vanisht in such sort The seruant straight to leade the way began And to the place together they resort But which was strange where erst he left a wood A wondrous stately Pallace now there stood 125 The
wood there is a caue Whose entrance is with Iuie ouerspread They haue no light within nor none they craue Here Sleepe doth couch his euer drowsie head And Slouth lies by that seems the gout to haue And Idlenesse not so well taught as fed They point Forgetfulnesse the gate to keepe That none come in nor out to hinder Sleepe 82 She knowes no names of men nor none will learne Their messages she list not vnderstand She knowes no businesse doth her concerne There sentinell is Silence to this band And vnto those he comming doth discerne To come no neare he beckens with his hand He treadeth soft his shoes are made of felt His garment short and girded with a belt 83 To him the Angell go'th and in his eare He tels him thus Iehouah bids you guide Renaldo with the succors he doth beare To Paris walls so as they be not spide Nor let the Pagans once suspect or feare Their comming nor for it at all prouide And let them heare no incling of these foes Vntill they find their force and feele their bloes 84 No answer Silence made but with his head He made a signe as who should say he would And with the Angell straight himselfe he sped In greater hast then can be thought or told To Picardie from whence the Angell led That present day the bands of souldiers bold To Paris walls an hundred miles asunder Yet no man was aware it was a wonder 85 And Silence still surueyeth all the rout Before beside behind with great regard And with a cloud doth compaste them about No man of them was seene no noise was heard Then walketh he among the Pagans â—cour And vnto them that kept their watch and ward And brought them somewhat what I do not find That made them for the time both deafe and blind 86 Now while Renaldo came with so great hast As well it seemd an Angell did him guide And as he went with so great silence past As by his foes his comming was not spide King Agramant had now his footmen plast By Paris walls fast by the ditches side He meanes the citie to assaile that day On eu'ry side by all the meanes he may 87 He that would take vpon him to declare Of Agramant host the certaine number That to destroy this Citie did prepare Shall seeme himselfe as frutelesly to cumber As if he told what flowres in Hyble are What fish in sea what water drops in Humber What starres in skie at midnight when it couers The vnchast acts of close and secret louers 88 The larum bell in eu'ry place doth ring About the towne with strange disorderd sound In Churches Mattens they do say and sing Some kneeling down some groueling in the ground If gold were vnto God so gratefull thing As fond men think no doubt there would be found Enough in this extremitie that would Make all the saints new images of gold 89 There might you see godly old men and iust Lamenting that their liues so long did last And call them happie that were laid in dust And buried many yeares and ages past But gallant youths deuoid of all mistrust Not with these perils any whit agast Whom enemies nor engines none appalls Go to defend right manfully the walls 90 Bold Barons Earles and Dukes of great degree With souldiers forreiners and of the towne Did come to Charles and praid him to agree To let them out and let the drawbridge downe Glad was king Charles their forward minds to see To fight for Christs religion and his crowne But yet as then he doth not thinke it best In this one point to grant them their request 91 He rather thinks it better them to place The forces of the fierce assault to breake With distant bands a great or little space According as the wall was strong or weake Himselfe with chearfull vigor in his face Vnto them all most curteously doth speake These he doth comfort them he doth encourage And fill the stout with hope the faint with courage 92 Faire Parislieth in a pleasant plaine Eu'n in the nauell rather in the hart Of France the riuer cuts the same in twaine And makes an Iland of the better part The rest that doth in greatnesse more containe A ditch and wall doth from the plaine depart King Agramant assaults the Westerne side As hauing Westward gotten all beside 93 Marsilio with the warlike bands of Spaine He points to keepe the field in armed ranks Sabrino sage and those with him remaine Are placed vpon Sequans fruitfull banks Himselfe with an innumerable traine With ladders bridges fagots barres and planks Doth thinke to fill the ditch and make it leuell And at the walles do keepe vnruly reuell 94 What should I speake of Rodomont most fell Blaspheming God not onely scorning men That knew to vse a glittring blade so well As I so well know not to vse my pen His deeds alone would aske a day to tell That in few houres he did performe as then As for the rest they came like swarmes of flies And fild the aire with shouts and hideous cries 95 And they no lesse prouided are within With rampers bulwarks and with double dikes And where their foes to climbe do once begin They push them down with bils with staues pikes If one be kild another steppeth in No man his place for feare of hurt mislikes Some throw down bricks some stones some scalding water And grieue them much with all most with the later 96 Some throw among them newly slacked lime That burneth most when most it seems to quench With pots of brimstone pitch and turpentine Annoying them with heate and smoke and stench The rest are still employd and leese no time With wreathed stakes to fortifie the trench Thus all within were busie all without On both sides fortune standing still in doubt 97 The while the king of Sarza brought about His owne and men of diuers other lands Himselfe to shew his might and courage stout That made him counted valiant of his hands From Cupidâ— campe was not excluded out But rather soly subiect to such bands A Lion geuls he giues in loftie banner A Ladie bridling him in lowly manner 98 So by the beast he meant his owne fierce mind And by the dame his mistris faire was ment The bridle was to shew how loue could bind His loftie heart and bow it to her bent He little knew that shewd himselfe so kind How of his purchase others tooke the rent He knew not Mandricard did pleade possession Of her to whom he makes this kind profession 99 Straight to the wals are thousand ladders plast With double ranks that two may climbe at once And vp the souldiers get on them in hast One shoulders vp another for the nonce He that goes slow and he that climbes too fast Are each in perill of a broken sconce Their enemies assailing still the hier Their captains those that linger or
strake About he seekes and gropeth as he goes And in the dust to find his head doth take And finding it he takes it by the nose Or by the locks nor more ado doth make But sets it on as if it were but glewed And fights as if his forces were renewed 54 Stout Griffin at a blow cuts off his arme And takes it vp and flings it in the brooke But he like one that had receiu'd no harme Doth diue the same within the streame to looke Which found he ioynes I know notw t what charm Vnto the place it late before forsooke Two dames stood by in white and blacke attire The combat being fought at their desire 55 These were the courteous dames that with great care Had brought them vp eu'n froÌ„ their swathing bands For theâ—e two brothers did by fortune rate In their first childhood chance into their hands These two to Oliuer Gysmonda bare Though straight they were conuaid to forren lands Where these two Ladies kept them as their owne I need not tell at large a tale so knowne 56 Now was the time that neare approcht the night That makes each thing with shadow shew obscure So that not want of force but want of light Did cause the combat could no longer dure The Ladies clad in garments blacke and bright That as I said this conflict did procure On this condition did them all dismisse That to returne next day they do not missâ— 57 But when that English Duke both saw and knew The valiant youths Griffin and Aquilant Not onely by their armes he saw in vew But by their blowes of which they were not scant He doth acquaintance old with them renew And they no point of courtesie do want For straightway by the Ladies he was led To take with them a supper and a bed 58 Then in a garden sweet they did prouide Great store of daintie meats and costly wine Fast by a coole and pleasant fountaines side As best agreeth with the sommer time The while the giant with strong chaines they tide Vnto the bodie of an auncient Pine Lest he might hap to trouble and molest them While they determind to refresh and rest them 59 The boord with rich and costly fare was filled And yet their smallest pleasure was their meat The Knights in languages and learning skilled Talke of Oryllo and the wonder great To see one wounded so and yet not killed It seemd to them a dreame and strange conceat And eu'n the wisest and most learnd did wonder How he reioynd his members cut in sunder 60 Astolfo onely in his booke had read That booke that taught all charmes to ouerthrow How this Oryllo neuer could be dead While in his head one fatall haire did grow But hauing puld this haire from off his head He should be subiect vnto eu'ry blow Thus said the booke but precept there was none Among so many haires to find that one 61 Astolfo ioyfull of this good instruction Not doubting but by this to make him die First makes some circumstance of introduction And prayes the brothers giue him leaue to trie If he could bring Oryllo to destruction And they this friendly sure do not denie Not doubting he alone would striue in vaine With him that late resisted had them twaine 62 Now had the Sunne remou'd the nights darke vaile When as Oryllo turned to the field And then the English Duke did him assaile Both fought on horseback both with spear shield Eu'n then Oryllo felt his heart to faile A hap to him that hapned had but feeld Eu'n then some strange presage did him offend That shewd his dayes drew shortly to their end 63 Their speares now broke their naked swords they drew Astolfo layes on blowes on him a maine About the field Oryllos members flew But he together gathers them againe And straight his fight and forces doth renew The English Duke dismembring him in vaine Vntill at length one blow so luckie sped That by his shoulders he cut off his hed 64 And hauing headed him so eu'n and iust Straight with his head on horsebacke he doth mount And rides away Orillo in the dust Doth grope to find the same as he was wont But missing it and full of new mistrust To ouertake him yet he makes account He rideâ— and would haue cride ho tarrie tarrie But in his hand the Duke his tongue doth carrie 65 But though his head were lost he finds his heeles To â—purre and pricke he neuer doth forbeare The headlesse body neuer stirs nor reeles Put sits as sure as if the head were there The while the skull Astolfo puls and peeles Among such store to find th'inchanted haire For in the haires no diffrence was in sight To know if he did take the wrong or right 66 But sith to make sure worke he thought it best He makes his sword serue for a barbers knife To shaue the skull therewith he doth not rest Vntill he finisht had the bloudy strife He cuts that haire by chance among the rest That haue that hâ—ld Orillo in his life The face looks pale deuoid of liuely heate The body backward fals out of the seate 67 This done the Duke brought in his hand the head Returning to the companie againe And shewd them where he left the carkas dead Which when they saw with certain signes and plaine A kind of enuious ioy in them it bred For glad they were their enemie was slaine But inwardly they were displeasd and sorie That this saine Duke had got from them the glorie 68 The women also were not well content That he had slaine Orillo in the fight Because 〈◊〉 had their first intent Which was to stay these youths al means they might In hope thereby some mischiefes to preuent Which thâ—y foresaw should vnto them alight Straight all that country was with rumor filled How th' English Duke Orillo fierce had killed 69 For as in all those cities they dovse The keeper of the next adioyning fort Sent by a Doue a letter of the newes From Damiat vnto the nearest port By which deuice most rare they cannot chuse But heare and send with speed each true report And thus in eu'ry country and in towne They do extoll this English Dukes renowne 70 The worthy Duke the brothers doth perswade From thence their courses into France to bend To do the dutie for which man was made Gods honour and their countries to defend Which now the Turks and Pamims did inuade And neare had brought the same to wofull end Which counsell from so great a Prince proceeding They follow straight with forwardnesse exceeding 71 The women now with teares in watry eies Bid them farewell and so they parted thence And for they heard the holy citie lies Not passing sixe or seu'n dayes iourney thence To take it in their way they do deuise To see the place where for humane offence True God true man descending from aboue Did die for vs vnworthy of such
the rest into a den They cast and kill them in most cruell fashion And build vnto reuenge a solemne alter And ouer this they make them stretch a halter 28 Such men as liue are to this order sworne To kill all such as hither shall repaire And all men children that to them are borne They sell or change as in an open faire So when some die with age and weaknesse worne Then other women do the want repaire Their powre and number thus doth still increase Their wealth pomp augmented with long peace 29 But after many yeares it thus befell Elbanio one of Hercles noble race A comely tall strong man and fauord well And in his speech and manners passing grace Arriued where these homicids do dwell And ere he knew the fashion of the place The cruell sergeants tooke him as they found him And like a fellon hand and foote they bound him 30 It fortund as they carrid him to slaughter Among the rest that did the same behold Was Alessandra Oronteas daughter A fine yong girle about twise eight yeare old Elbanio humbly as he went besought her To be a meane this foule death to withhold That like a man he might be kild at least And not be drawne to slaughter like a beast 31 To beg my life quoth he it were a vanitie Which in your seruice I would gladly spend Where humane hearts be voyd of all humanitie But all the sute that I to make intend Which to denie were too too much immanitie Is this that thus my life I may not end But with my sword in hand to fight with men With seu'n at once or eight or nine or ten 32 This he to her thus she to him replies Though to mankind we all professe hostilitie Yet thinke not this she spake with watrie eyes That all our hearts are void of all gentilitie What Progne or Medea could despise Your passing beautie courage and nobilitie And were my fellowes all so ill inclind Yet I my selfe would beare a better mind 33 Aud though the rigor of our law be such That no man can obtaine a pardon free And eu'n this small you aske to graunt is much If our law strictly should obserued bee Yet such remorse I feele my heart doth tuch To graunt thy sute if others will agree Although I feare thou wilt in such a strife Prolong thy paine and not preserue thy life 34 Oh said Elbanio blest were such a day That in the field my manhood I might trie Could but your credit carry such a sway Not ten but ten times ten I would defie This said she causd the execution stay And to her mother goes she by and by With thousand stings of Cupid in her brest And vnto her expoundeth his request 35 Straight Orontea doth her counsell call And in such sort thereof to them she spake In guarding of our hau'n and citie wall T is good that of the strongest men we take Therefore to know who be most stout and tall I thinke it very good some proofe to make For else we shall vnto our selues do wrong To saue the weaker men and kill the strong 36 And who can wish to make a better triall Then for one man to fight with fiue and fiue And if he vanquish them and make them die all T were certes meet he should be kept aliue Thus Orontea said and they replie all That in this point with her they cannot striue Saue old Artemia carren witherd iade Mislikt the motion and this answer made 37 The cause that first we did some men admit Was not to keepe our hau'ns or citie wall For we our selues haue strength enough and wit To keepe our towne I trust and euer shall Were we as well for procreation fit Without mans helpe not one should liue at all Now for necessitie some few we spare Such as most able for that seruice are 38 This motion quite gainsaith our auncient law To keepe one man as strong as halfe a score How many women would he keepe in aw Had we ten such we should beare rule no more And further t is an old and certaine saw Both vsed and proued many yeares before That they that giue a weapon to their stronger Are like themselues to carry rule no longer 39 But put the case this one by our consent And his good hap ten of the others kill How shall an hundred widowes then lament That long must he alone against their will If he an hundred women would content Then him to saue I should not thinke it â—ll Then were he to be lou'd admir'd and wonderd If he alone could satisfie an hunderd 40 This cruell speech did all the rest displease And loth they were Elbanio should be slaine His comely shap their sharpnesse did appease And chiefly she that ouer all did raigne Doth seeke herein her daughters mind to please With many reasons answring her againe And point by point did all her speech confute And in the end obtaind her daughters sute 41 Thus to Elbanio pardon they impart Prouided if he ouercome the men And after brauely play the husbands part Not with an hundred women but with ten Elbanio thanketh them with chearfull hart Then was he freely loosed from the den In fine when all things ready were ordained In both exploits the conquest he obtained 42 Then Allessandra in whose tender mind Loue had alreadie made so deepe impression With other nine were vnto him assignd And princely mace was put in his possession But first by solemne vow they do him bind To hold this law for euer by succession To sacrifice all men saue such as trie To kill ten men and with ten women lie 43 And though that many haue in ages past Attempted both yet few haue had successe To scape the first exploit and trie the last In which to faile the danger were no lesse But he that both performes forthwith is plast In princely seate and free from all distresse And this their law as by records appeares Alreadie lasted hath two thousand yeares 44 The last but I that held this cursed place Argillon hight whom I in combat killed And him and his thereby I did displace And then their roomes with me and mine I filled Where we haue tarrid now a tweluemoneths space Among these wights of goodnesse all vnskilled And leade a life full of disdaine and scorne As better had bene neuer to be borne 45 For why these dallyings and wanton toyes That wonted are to please our foolish youth With costly fare gay clothes and Venus ioyes Of which repentance is the frute ensewth Doth breed to me but anguish and annoyes And pensiue cares and euer during ruth And chiefly when vnto my mind I call My libertie is lost and I a thrall 46 To loose my lustie time in this vile place Remou'd from kin and friends and countrey farre A wofull and remedilesse disgrace Mou'd by some ill aspect of angry starre Eu'n as
as common harlots been 79 Surely the man on whom your tale you father Cannot himselfe nor other men excuse Who still to take an vnknowne peece had rather Although there owne were better far to chuse But if themselues were wood I surely gather Such courtesies they neuer would refuse But rather straine themselues beyond their might Such kindnes with more kindnes to requite 80 But be 't some woman breaks chast wedlocks laws And leaues her husband and becomes vnchast Yet commonly it is not without cause She sees her man in sin his substance wast She feels that he his loue from her withdraws And hath on some perhap lesse worthie plast Who striks with sword the scabberd theÌ„ may strike And sure loue craueth loue like asketh like 81 Indeed in their behalfe agree would I That all wiues that adulterie do commit Should by a law condemned be to die If so their husbands guiltles be of it But if that men vnpunisht walke awry Doubtles in sence and reason t is not fit The weaker sex should for this sin be vext Do as you would be done to saith the text 82 Yet when a man is bent to speake his worst That in despite he can of women say He cals them but incontinent and curst No greater fault he to their charge can lay To rob to spoile houses to breake and burst Whole Cities townes and countries to betray Vsuâ—e murder all such sinnes appeare Proper to men women of them are cleare 83 This said this graue wise man and would haue told Some storie to the same his speech to verifie Of women that had liu'd till they were old Chastlie and vertuouslie and with sinceritie But that the cruell Turke did him behold With so grim looke as did the poore man terrifie And made him hold his peace with threats terror Yet hating inwardly the Pagans error 84 These brables ended night on them did creep To rest they went hauing their bodies fed But Rodomont scant all the night could sleep For cares that ran still in his troubled hed His vnkind mistres him doth waking keep She troubles him whether he lye on bed Whether he go or ride or sit or stand Whether it be by water or by land 85 But though himselfe could take but little rest Yet of his horse he takes no little care Both that he should be diligently drest And haue good prouander to mend his fare To go by water now he thought it best Himselfe to ease and his good horse to spare That horse he gat as he might iustlie vant Spite of Rogero and of Sacrapant 86 He takes a barke and downe the pleasant streame Of Sonna he doth passe with winde and ore Great hast he makes to get to his owne Reame But changing place doth helpe him neare the more In sleepe of her vnkindnes he doth dreame A wake he sighs and still renews the sore To talke was best and yet not much the better Say what he list yet cannot he forget her 87 Anoyd by bote againe he taking land Vienna Lions and Valenza past All which then were in Agramantes hand His late good hap had so them all agast To Aquamort he turns on his right hand And thence he will to Algier turne in hast And in his way his iourney to abridge He past Auignon at the sumptuous bridge 88 Not far from Mompelier a towne he saw Of Bacchus and of Ceres well beloued Though then so spoild by souldiers that for aw The dwellers all themselues â—ro thence remoued Also there was a Church for Christen law But yet the Priests in this to be reproued To saue theÌ„selues their Church had quite forsaken So as the same by Rodomont was taken 89 This seat this place did so the Pagan please That here he mind to make his firme abode For of the tone side he might see the seas On tother side the ground with corne well lode Here all prouisions he might finde with ease Here he doth cause his men his stuffe vnlode And makes that Church oh horrible abute Serue him to his profane vngodly vse 90 Now standing pensiue in this pleasing place As still he vsd he saw a Ladie faire Though mourning yet most ful of pleasing grace Who with a Frire made thither her repaire A goodly horse they led a soft flow pace And as they went he taught her many a praire That horse did beare a coffin on his backe All ouerspred in mourning sort with blacke 91 Me thinke by this description you may guesse Who this same Frire and who this damtell is Yet for more plainesse sake I will expresse Her name lest any may the matter misse T was Isabella who did late professe That state that leadeth strait to heau'nlie blisse He was the Frire that to that mind conuerted her When as dispaire had almost quite subuerted her 92 Within the mourning coffin was enclosed His corse whom she so lou'd aliue and dead And though to griefe she seemed all disposed Though all in blacke she went from foot to head Yet in that wofull shew there was disclosed So worthie grace as in the Pagan bred A fancie mouing such an alteration As made him change his first determination 93 For where before he did dispraise and scorne All women now againe he doth commend That sex that doth indeed the world adorne His second loue to place he doth intend On this sith that his first hath him forlorne Here now he hopeth all his wo to end And with this passion to driue out the tother As men do driue out one naile with another 94 And straight in mildest manner that he can Saluting her he askt what cauld her paine And she the wofull tale to tell began How her true loue by Mandricard was slaine For whose sake she would neuer marrie man But serue God all her life that doth remaine The Pagan laughs at that the damsell faith As one that knows no God and hath no faith 95 And greatly he her good intent controld Affirming her to merit as great blame As doth the miser that hoords vp his gold And neither doth himselfe imploy the same And yet from those that would doth it withhold So shut not vp your selfe quoth he for shame Fierce Lions Bears and serpents that haue stings Should be shut vp not faire and harmlesse things 96 The godly Frire that tooke no little care Lest this ill speech might turne her to small good With new exhortings bad her to be ware That such intisements strongly be withstood And for that end forthwith he doth prepare A sumptuous messe of ghostly inward food But this vile Pagan did no sooner tast it But vp againe his squemish stomacke cast it 97 And seeing that the speeches of this Frire WhoÌ„ he could make by no means hold his peace Seemd greatly to contrarie his desire Wrath kindled and at last did so increase That this poore priest gat but a forie hire But
the learned and that same out lasteth and out styeth all things as the well learned Gentleman and my very good frend M. Henrie Constable wrate in his Sonnet to the now king of Scotland Where others hooded with blind loue do fly A low on ground with buzzard Cupids wings A heau'nly loue from loue to loue thee brings And makes thy Muse to mount aboue the sky Young Muses be not woont to fly so hy Age taught by time such sober dittie sings But thy youth flyes from loue of youthfull things And so the wings of time doth ouerfly Thus thou disdainst all wordly wings as slow Because thy Muse with Angels wings doth leaue Times wings behind and Cupids wings below But take thou heed least Fames wings thee deceaue With all thy speed from Fame thou canst not slee But more thou flees the more it followes thee For the punishment of Lidy as ingratitude by hanging in the eternall smoke makes me call to minde a story of the Emperour Seuerus as I remember who hearing that a fauorite of his accustomed to promise many men great furtherancein their suits by his favour with the Prince and having taken their reward his promise vanished into the aire like a vapour and left the poore suters nothing but his vaine breathed words the iust Emperour caused him to be smothered to death with smoke saying Fumo percat qnifumum vendidit Let sume him choake that selleth smoke Here end the annotations vpon the xxxiiij booke THE XXXV BOOE THE ARGVMENT Saint Iohn the praise of writers doth recount Bradamant doth with good successe recouer The prisners that were tane by Rodomount This done she sends a challenge to her louer And sends withall an horse of good account Which makes Rogero long in doubt to houer The while before his face the fall he saw Of Serpentine Grandonio and Ferraw 1 FAire mistresse who for me to heau'n shall fly To bring again frō thence my wandring wit Which I still loose since from that piercing ey The dart came forth that first my heart did hit Nor of my losse at al complaine would I. Might I but keepe that which remaineth yet But if it still decrease within short space I doubt I shall be in Orlandos case 2 Yet well I wot where to recouer mine Though not in Paradise nor Cynthias spheare Yet doubtlesse in a place no lesse diuine In that sweet face of yours in that faire heare That rubie lip in those two starlike cyne There is my wit I know it wanders there And with my lips if you would giue me leaue I there would search I thence would it receaue 3 But to returne vnto that English Prince Whom if you do remember with S. Iohn By vgly streame I left a little since The fatall sister spinners looking on Who sometime do prolong and sometime mince Our threed of life I say he saw anon Among a million more one passing fleece More sine then that that Iason brought to Greece 4 So shone the thred that from that fleece out came No gold nor Orient perle could looke so bright Astolfo much desir'd to know his name And time of birth that to that thred had right Straightways this answer vnto him doth frame He that the darke Apocalips did write The number of his birth shall noted be When twentie shal be tane from M and D. 5 And as the fleece which here so faire doth show In finest substance pasteth all the rest So shall the person that the same doth ow Make that same age in which be liueth blest For all the gifts that nature can bestow Or with which studie can a man inuest Shall powred be on him with large proportion Assigned from aboue to be his portion 6 There stands said he neare to the bankes of Poe A village now of small or none account Whose moorish seat the streame doth ouerflow But in that time that I to you recount Vnto a Citie of such state shall grow As all the neighbour townes it shall surmount Nor sole in walls and buildings fayre and stately But in good arts of old found out or lately 7 Nor thinke you this preferment to proceed By peraduenture or as it were by chance But eu'n as a thing by God himselfe decreed For one mans sake his natiue soile t' aduance As still we see those that good fruits will breed Do grasse the stocke and prune pike the branch Or as the goldsmith pollisheth the mettell In which he minds a gemme of price to settell 8 For nere shall soule that shall to earth descend With mortall garment be more comely clad Neuer did God a soule from hence downe send That more choise gifts nor more rare vertues had Then this which vnto him he doth intend That shall his country and his friends make glad Hippolito of Est his name shall be To whom the heau'ns such fauours do decree 9 For all those vertues great that wonted are To set forth diuers diuersly deuided Shall ioyned be in this same man most rare Vnto such place by heau'ns appointment guided Maintaind shall studies be by his great care All quarrels cease and broyls shall be decided Whose vertues all if I to tell prolong Orlando should expect his wit too long 10 Thus much the follower of Iesus spake The while Astolfo those same webs doth vew From whence our liues end and beginning take One spun one cut the third doth stuffe renew Then came they to the foule and lothsome lake Darke deepe and mirie of a deadly hew Where was the aged man that neuer stinted To carry bundels of the names imprinted 11 This was the man whom as I told before Both vse and nature so swift pac't had made He neuer rested but ranne euermore And with his running he did vse this trade A heape of names within his cloke he bore And in the riuer did them all vnlade Or plaine to speake away he cast them all Into this streame which Lethee we do call 12 This prodigall old wretch no sooner came Vnto this cursed riuers barren banke But despratly without all feare of blame Or caring to deserue reward or thanke He hurld therein full many a precious name Where millions soone into the bottome sanke And scant in eu'ry thousand one was found That was not in the gulfe quite lost and drownd 13 Yet all about great store of birds there flew As vultures carren crowes and chattring pies And many more of sundry kinds and hew That made leud harmonie with their lowd cries These when the carelesse wretch the tresor threw Into that streame did all they could deuise What with their talents some and some with beake To saue some names but find themselues too weake 14 For euer as they sought themselues to raise To beare away those names of great renowne The weight of them so heauie downeward wayes They in the stream were driu'n to cast them downe Onely two swans sustaind so great a praise
anker neare Biserta shore But distant from the hau'n a myle and more 10 The Brittish Duke and valiant Palladine That like good Christens vsed euermore To pray to God for grace and aide deuine Proclaymed in the campe three dayes before That to assault the towne they did assigne By fast and publicke prayre Christ to adore And craue his aid against that wicked towne That they might raze it quite and beat it downe 11 And hauing ended that their solemne fast And made their vowes accustomd in such case Then frendly they together take repast And each his frend and parent doth embrace And spake as if those words should be their last The kindly teares oft trickling downe their face And eu'rie one resolued by and by Either to win the towne or in the place to dy 12 Also the wretched Priests within the towne With sayned show of foolish superstition Pray vnto Macon that he do not frowne On them and vow to him on that condition Great Holocausts with cost of many a crowne Of him they seeke to haue their sinnes remission And as if he the fates could mend or alter They offer sacrifices on his alter 13 Then when they were by their great Cady blest They went but faintly to their Citie wall Yet did the fayre Aurora take her rest And scarce the Esterne coast yet looked pale When Sansonet Astolfo and the rest That had the needfull things prouided all The noble enterprise did take in hand And did assault the towne by sea and land 14 Biserta hath this manner situation Two parts thereof with water are enclosed Two parts with goodly wall of ancient fashion But not so strong as one would haue supposed And though to make new strength and reparation The king Bransardo all the towne disposed His time and warning were so short and small He could do little good or none at all 15 Astolfo did appoint the Nubian king Such wise to noy the keepers of the wall With darts and Turkish bowes and many a sling That from the battlements he draue them all That now he might both horse and footmen bring Vpon the ditch in perill none or small And each according to his powre and skill Brought matter wherewithall the ditch to fill 16 Some fagots brought some brought store of helme Some heauy stones some light planks and boords And lest the stream their worke might ouerwhelme They turned it away by other foords Great store of wood there grew in that same Realme The which to them great store of stuffe affoords And now that Prouerbe see performd you might That many hands make heauie works but light 17 The Nubians fierce impatient of all stay And by desire of gaine all headlong led The perill great and danger do not way But each man clapps his target on his hed And then their battrie to the walls they lay With rammes and engines strongly furnished With which to shake the walls they do begin Nor were they all vnfurnished within 18 Darts stones and planks yea eu'n their houses tyle They flang down on thē whē they drew more neare By which they brake and pierced otherwhile Their engines huge so as it might appeare Dame Fortune seemd at first on Turks to smilé But after soone againe she changd her cheare No sooner night was gone and Sun once vp But that they tasted of another cup. 19 Then on each side they had so hot a charge As hardly they were able to sustaine Sansonet of the shipping had the charge And he by sea assaults them to their paine And for their powre was great and place was large Each Captaine tooke with him a seuerall traine Thereby the more to trouble all their foes And of their vertue to make larger shoes 20 And for that speciall cause they do deuide Their mightie host into foure seu'rall parts To th' end that by that meanes it might be spide Which men had stout and which had fainting harts Great towres on mightie wheeles did seeme to ride Drawne with great force like ordinary carts And Elephants did carrie towres so tall As did in height surpasse the Citie wall 21 A scaling ladder Brandimart doth beare And clymes himselfe and causeth others clyme For what man hauing such a guide could feare Each man to stay doth thinke it haynous crime The ladders strength was weighd by no man there Each roung a man and some beares two sometime Now Brandimart to conquest wholy bent Gets to the top and winnes a battlement 22 With hand and foote he clammerd in such sort He wan a batlement and did it keepe Then with his sword he made them all such sport As causd the lookers on not laugh but weepe The ladder now chargd with too great resort Standing aslope and not vpright and steepe Brake in the midst so that saue Brandimart All of them fell vnto their paine and smart 23 Their Captaine though with this no whit dismayd Keepes still his place though he the hap did marke Although he saw his men him could not ayd Though he alone were all their shooting marke His men below cryde out to him and prayd Him to retire but he no whit could harke But boldly from the wall into the towne Which was thrise ten foote deepe he leaped downe 24 As if the pau'ment had bene straw not stone So lept he downe so nimble and so light And being there layd so about alone He made them all giue place vnto his might Of those that fought he killed many a one The rest thought best to saue themselues by flight But they that saw him leape downe from without Within their minds were full of dread and doubt 25 Straightwayes about the campe a rumor spred From mouth to mouth man to man doth come And same doth fly and flying gathers hed Of that hard feat that Brandimart had done And comes at last whereas Orlando led His band and after to king Otons sonne And then to Oliuero neuer ceasing But in her going still her tale increasing 26 All these but chiefe Orlando all among That Brandimart in minde did dearely loue An◠hearing it from thence they tarrid long It would be hard his danger to remoue Vnto the walls set scaling ladders strong Resolued now their vtmost force to proue And vp they mount with looks so grim and bold As scant their enemies durst them behold 27 As when the seas are wrought with sturdie wind The ventrous vessell tost with many a waue Is sometime smote before sometime behind And each surge striues a passage free to haue The fearfull Pilot with astonisht mind Knowes not which way himselfe he should behaue Till at the last one surge the whole possesseth And to both Pilot ship and all oppresseth 28 So when those three of whom before I spake Had got the wall they did the souldiers teach To follow them and so large path did make As thousands of them now the wall did reach
Leon in his wooing might preuayle And make dame Bradamant his owne for euer Thus though that diuers thoughts his minde assayle Yet wholy in that thought he doth perseuer That moueth him most plaine to deale and trew And to all other thoughts he bids adew 58 This while Don Leon with his fathers leaue With such retinue as his state required Of knights and squyres his natiue soyle did leaue And went to see the dame he so desired Rogero did of him before receaue His armes and horse and in strange clothes attired Day after day they so their iorney frame That it the last to Paris walls they came 59 Don Leon to the Citie would not go But neare vnto the same he pitcht a tent And by Ambassage made the king to know How he was come and vnto what intent King Charles was glad and did his gladnes show With gifts and vnto him in person went Don Leon tels what did his comming breed And prayes he may dispatched be with speed 60 And that King Charles that noble maid would cause To come the day ensuing to the feeld That would against all common wedlocks lawes Be wood and wonne with onely sword and sheeld King Charles her cals and she that askt no pause Vnto the motion willingly did yeeld And so accordingly next day she came Vnto the lists prepared for the same 61 That day that went before the day of fight Rogero passed with as great content As doth a man condemned spend the night The which before his execution went He chusd to fight all clad in armour bright Because as then to be vnknowne he ment And for to hurt her was not his pretence Saue sword he vsd no weapon of offence 62 Lance he would none not that he feard the lance Which first Argalia then Astolfo bare Which forced men beside their seat to dance And vnto many men procurde great care For neither he that vsde it first in France Nor any of those other was aware How all those fears were by inchantment donne Saue that same king that gaue it to his sonne 63 Likewise Astolfo and the Dordon dame That with that speare full many did vnhorse Thought not that it from Nigromancy came But from their fleight and their owne proper force They thought with any speare to do the same But now Rogero did both speare and horse Refuse because if he had vsde his owne He thought it would by Bradamant be knowne 64 Needs must the damsell call to minde the steed For why she kept him long at Clarimount And vsed him with her owne hands to feed And made of him a speciall deare account Wherefore Rogero that tooke speciall heed To go vnknowne refusd on horse to mount Or any other thing by which he may Vnto his dearest loue himselfe bewray 65 He further needs another sword would take For well he knew against his Ballisard No steele nor armor none defence could make Whose edge so keene whose mettall was so hard Of that new sword likewise he for her sake Rebates the edge so great was his regard And thus himselfe both weakning and disguising He came into the field at Phebus rising 66 And that each one for Leon might him note Vntill the controuersie were discided He wears vpon his backe Don Leons cote The golden Eagle with the head deuided Their making both was like from foot to throte Thus when all things were readily prouided The tone presents him in the open greene The tother kept him close and was not seene 67 But Bradamant now farre in other rate Herselfe in readines for fight doth set And if the knight do his swords edge rebate As fast the damsell her swords edge doth whet She wisheth with a heart most full of hate Her sword a passage to the quicke would get Yea comfort her it would and do her good If she with eu'rie blow could draw the blood 68 Eu'n as a Barbrye horse that runnes a race And for the signe thereof hath long expected Against his will doth stay his running pace With swelling nostrils and with eares erected Eu'n so the noble damsell in like case That of Rogeros presence naught suspected Did swell with wrath and burnes like flaming fier Vnto the combat such was her desier 69 And as ofttimes vpon some fearfull clap Of thunder straight a hurlewinde doth arise And lifts the waues aloft from Thetys lap Eu'n in a moment vp vnto the skyes The Herdman doubting of some great mishap About some tree or caue close hidden lyes So Bradamant with rage of anger driuen Aslayld Rogero when the signe was giuen 70 But neuer did a stiffe and aged oke Against the Northerne blast more firmely stand Nor better doth a rocke indure the stroke Of surging waues still wallowing to the land Then good Rogero guarded in the cloke Of Hectors armes her forces did withstand Though she still layd on loade with spite and hate Vpon his armes his sides his brest and pate 71 Sometimes she giues a blow sometime a thrust According as her vantage most she spide And still she watcht if she could hit him iust Betweene the plates or where the same were tide T was well the core was such as one might trust For she doth search it still on eu'rie side And inwardly she fretteth in her minde That nought fell out of that she had assignd 72 So shall you see some men besiege a towne Wel walld and strongly flankt with rampiers mayne Assault it oft and striue to batter downe Some towres or gates with perill great and payne And wast their time and spending many a crowne To loose their men about the same in vayne No more the damsels force did now preuayle To pierce a plate or to vnriuet nayle 73 Sometime foorth of his helmet and his sheeld She made the sparks of fire fly out in sight Still smiting him with blowes not soft nor seeld Sometime at rear demaine and oft downe right As thicke as haylstones that vpon the feeld Or on the tyled houses do alight But still Rogero close lyes to his ward And not to hurt her still he hath regard 74 Oft standing still now turning then retiring He makes his foote accompanie his fist With sword with shield with slip cause so requiring He wards the blowes or shunnes them as him lift And euer not to damage her desiring When he might hit of purpose still he mist Yet in such wife that she her selfe was ware And all the rest that he the same forbare 75 But Bradamant when she her selfe bethought What was containd in th' Emperors Edict That whosoeu'r with her a whole day fought Should haue her at the end of such conflict With all her force endeuord still and sought To gall her aduersarie and afflict And now the more she troubled was in minde To see the Sun to West so low declinde 76 And as her hope still lesse and lesser grew So her desire increast still more and more Her
For had you known it straight you woulst haue flown Of purpose hither combat to haue tride Thou sure art tane or slaine for third is none It may be Leon that thy praise enuide Hath like a traytor set for thee a trap And thou art tane therein by some mishap 96 I gat this grace of Charles to marry none But one that were in fight for me too hard A slured thou shouldst be that onely one For no mans force but thine I did regard I thought none else could vanquish me alone But loe how God doth this my pride reward That he that neuer erst in all his life Did manly deed hath wonne me for his wife 97 If I be wonne and vanquished because He matched still my force at all assayes But Charles doth not iudge rightly of the cause And therefore I must seeke some new delayes Ah if I now put in some caffling clause I shall be cald vnconstant all my dayes But ficklenes in maids is seldome wonderd Nor am I first that vide it by an hunderd 98 Suffiseth me that in the being trew Vnto my loue I others all excell And passe the patterns either old or new Or neare or far eu'n wherefon't they dwell Then will I bid that constancie adew That may be hindrance to my doing well So I and Leon may not match together Let me be deemd as wau'ring as the wether 99 This Bradamant vnto her selfe doth say And olt she breaks her speech with sighs and tears And that night that ensu'd that lucklesse day To sleepe or close her eye lids she for beares But when Apollos beames had driu'n away Nocturnus shades then lo supernall spheares By which all humane actions are directed Brought helpe to her when least it was expected 100 For why Marfisa that braue minded dame The next day came and sowd new seeds of strife Alledging that it was great wrong and shame A forrener should haue her brothers wife And swears her selfe could not endure the same And that she would by combat gage her life According as the law of armes allows To proue Rogero was her lawfull spouse 101 And if dame Bradamant would it deny She faith she will it to her face auer As hauing witnes bene with eare and eye That good Rogero was aslur'd to her With words as folkes in mariages apply And adding she would vnto law refer If so the damsell to her noble brother Affianced might iustly take another 102 Now whether this she spake were false or trew I know not but she spake it with intent To stop the mariage likely to ensew With Leon which she studi'd to preuent Some thought perhaps that Bradamant it knew And that t was done in part by her consent As hauing no more safe nor honest way Vnto her left to lay Don Leon nay 103 In euill part these newes the Emp'ror tooke And called for the damsell by and by And told her what Marfisa vndertooke And loe by hap Duke Ammon then stood by She fixed on the ground her silent looke And to the question said nor no nor I That by her gesture eu'rie one did take That that was true that earst Marfisa spake 104 This made Orlando and Renaldo glad In hope that this might proue a lawfull meane To make the match which they forepromist had And hinder this new match and dash it cleane For sith Duke Ammon those first banes for bad And vnto Leons side did wholy leane To vse pretence of law they both had rather Then take by force the damsell from her father 105 For if that this pretence may stand for good The necke of Leons match it then would breake And moue no cause of warre or shedding blood But Ammon in great wrath thus wise doth speake This is a tale indeed of Robinhood Which to beleeue might show my wits but weake But thinke not that I will be so belotted Though this were true that you haue vainly plotted 106 For presuppose which yet I not confesse My daughter was by folly so alluted And that they are which none of wit could guesse Each vnto other man and wife assured I pray you yet the time more plaine expresse When this was done how long it hath indured This sure I am t is but a tale deuised Except it were before he was baptised 107 And if t were done before his Christen state To stand vnto the same I am not tyde Wherefore this caueat is put in too late Her owne desire she hath not had denyde Now t is not fit a Prince of such estate As for her sake aduenterd to haue dyde Should your Emp'rours promise be deluded And by such craft be from his right excluded 108 You should haue spoken then of this contract Before our king had sent his proclamation I meane not thus to haue my credit crackt For more then so I weigh my reputation Thus pleaded he against that precontract The which to breake was his determination To either part his eare the Emperor lends Yet partially to neither side he bends 109 Looke what a murmure winds do make in woods When Zephyrus mild blasts among them are Or when one heats from far the saltish floods When Eolus and Neptune are at square So did the common people in their moods Talke of these matters and the same compare And as the manner is for nine dayes space This was the newes and talke in eu'rie place 110 This man Rogero Leon that defends According to the fancies of the men But yet it seemd Rogero had most frends Scarse had the stranger one for tothers ten But as I said the king to no side bends And hauing duly weighd the matter then He points the mariage day to be deferred The case vnto his Parliament referred 111 Next day Marfisa made another offer Sith that none could during her brothers life Wed Bradamant and be assured of her Her brother should for ending of the strife To Leon hand to hand the combat proffer So she might be the last suruiuers wife And he that tother could in battell kill Enioy her might alone at his owne will 112 Charles vnto Leon doth impart these newes As he before the other did impart That offer Leon ment not to refuse But saith he take it would with all his hart He minds againe the matter so to vse The knight of th'Vnicorne should play his part He little knew that in great care and anguish The noble knight did now consume and languish 113 But missing him he quickly did repent That he accepted had that stout defiance And therefore straight to seeke the knight he sent In whose tryde force he put his whole affiance Him to Rogero to oppose he ment And all his frends and all his strong alliance Wherefore to shun both danger great and scorne He sent to seeke the knight of th'Vnicorne 114 To all the Cities and the the townes he sends And all the villages were there about And mounting on his horse himselfe intends To go