he spake and watrie eies My sonne thou shalt not vnreuenged go And while in bed secure Zerbino lyes Not thinking he had bene betrayed so With armed men his lodging was beset He naked tane as is byrd in uet 39 With as great crueltie as could be showne His princely armes were piniond last behind him And to a dungeon deepe he straight was throwne And that vile place to bide in was assignd him Vntill the sentence of his death were knowne In fine Anselmus so did passion blind him Her likely tale his wrath so rashly leading Condemned him and neuer heard him pleading 40 Thus was this worthy Prince without all cause Condemnd to die such is the wo full being Where hests of lawlesse lords must stand for laws Though from all lawes and reason dilagreeing Now neare and neare his execution drawes And gazing people greedie still of seeing In clusters march and follow all confused On horse on foot as at â—uch time is vsed 41 But loe how God that euer doth defend Those innocents that put in him their trust A helpe vnlooked for did thither send And freed him from this doome of death vniust Orlando did eu'n then the hill ascend Orlando is the man that saue him must And at that time there did with him remaine The daughter of Galego king of Spaine 42 This was that Isabell whom he of late Recouerd from the outlawes in the caue And hauing brought her out of that ill state Yet still he promist care of her to haue And whatsoeuer danger or debate To him befell yet her still did saue Orlando all that great assemblie saw That did the knight to execution draw 43 He thither went and aske of him the cause Why he was drawne vnto a death so cruell Forsooth Zerbino said against all lawes I am condemn'd if you the matter knew well Anselmus rage that will admit no pause Vnto this flame doth kindle all the fewell Beleeuing falsely that I flue his sonne Whereas by me God knowes it was not done 44 Thus Zerbin said and said it in such sorr As made Orlando vow him to releeue For verie apt he was each ill report Of any of Maganza to beleeue Each house still thought to cut the the other short Each house still sought the other how to greeue Each house long time had tane a pride and pleasure To worke the tother danger and displeasure 45 Vnloose the knight ye caitiues straight he cride Else looke for death to be your due reward What man is this quoth one that gapes so wideâ— And speakes to soolishly without regard Were he of steele of strength and temper tride And we of straw his sute might hap be hard This said he taketh vp a mighty launce And runnes against the Palladine of Fraunce 46 Orlando ran at him with couched speare And though his armour were both good and sure As namely that Zerbino erst did weare Yet was the stroke too grieuous to endure For though the beauer did it stifly beare Yet did the blow a greater hurt procure For on the cheeke it gaue him such a checke That though it pierced not it brake his necke 47 Nor at that course did all his furie cease Six other of that speare the force then felt Then with his sword among the thickest prease Such store of thrusts and deadly blowes he delt That many in the place did straight decease And eu'n as snow against the Sunne doth melt So melted they and fainted in his fight That in an houre he put them all to flight 48 When they were fled he set Zerbino free Who would haue kist the ground whereon he trod And done him reuerence humbly on his knee But that the Earle such courtsie him forbod But yet he thank him in the high'st degree As one he honourd most excepting God Then did he put his armor on againe Which late was worne by him that there was slaine 49 Now while Zerbino there a little staid Preparing with Orlando to go hence Behold faire Isabell that princely maid That all the while had staid a little thence And sees no farther cause to be affraid Game neare brought greatioy and great offence By diuers passions bred of one desire Some cold as ice and some as hot as fire 50 For where before Zerbino thought her drownd Now certaine he reioyced very much To see her in his presence safe and found And that her misaduenture was not such But weying in whose hand he had her sound A iealous feare forthwith his heart doth tuch And inwardly a greater anguish bred Then late it had to heare that she was ded 51 To see her in the hands of such a knight It greatly did him anger and displease From whom to offer her to take by might It were no honestie now haply ease But for Orlandos sake he ought of right All passions both of loue and wrath appease To whom in thankfulnesse it were but meete To lay his hands vnder Orlandos feete 52 Wherefore he makes no words but on he goth In silent sort till comming to a well To drinke they lighted being thirstie both And each his drought with water doth expell But when the damsell saw and knew for troth That was Zerbino whom she lon'd so well For when to drinke his beuer he vntide Straight she her loue had through his beuer spide 53 With open armes she runs him to embrace And hangs about his necke a pleasant yoke And speechlesse she remaind a pretie space And with her cristall teares before she spoke Surprisd with ioy she all bedewd his face And long it was ere into speech she broke By which the noble Earle did plainly see That this could no man but Zerbino be 54 Now when she had againe her vitall sprites And that she able was her mind to show First she Orlandos great desarts recites That rescude her from place of shame and wo Commending him aboue all other knights That vndefiled had preserud her so And prayd her deare when she had made recitall Of his good deeds to make him some requitall 55 Great thanks were giu'n and profers great there were Of recompence and seruice on each â—â—de But lo a hap that made them speech forbeare For why an armed knight they had espide T was Mandricardo that arriued there Who as you heard these many dayes did ride To seeke this Earle till meeting by the way Faire Doralice a while it made him stay 56 You heard how Mandricard sought out the tracke Mou'd thereunto by enuie and disdaine Of this fierce knight appareld all in blacke By whom the king of Tremysen was slaine And those Noritians all so put to wracke As few of them vnwounded did remaine And now he found him as it came to passe Yet knew he not that this Orlando was 57 But marking well the signes and tokens like To those he heard of such as thence were fled You are quoth he the selfe same man I seeke By
might But yet for all his hast it would not be The wind did for his purpose serue so slacke More then an houre too late it kept him backe 144 So that eu'n much about that time he came When as Orlando had that conquest wonne In which vnto his euerlasting same Two Turkish Princes vnto death were donne Yet was some sorrow mingled with the same Both for the death of Monodantés sonne And Oliueros hurt of which he found Such griefe he could not set his foote to ground 145 Now as the Earle Renaldo did imbrace He could not chuse but shed a streame of teares When as he show'd him in the present place Good Brandimart to whom such loue he beares Lye newly slaine with pale and liuelesse face Likewise to weepe Renaldo not forbeares To see his death and eke his cosins bruse So griâ—uous that his foote he could not vse 146 Renaldo comforts them in all he may Although himselfe of comfort tasted least And chiefe to thinke by his vnluckie stay He was come tardie to so great a feast This while the wofull seruants did conuay Their masters coarses to the towne distrest I meane Bisetta where they made it knowne Which side preuaild and which was ouerthrowne 147 Of this same conquest that Orlando wonne Astolso and stout Sansonet were glad Yet ioyd they not so as they would haue donne If Brandimart his death then had not had The fall of noble Monodantés sonne Strake them into a dumpe and made them sad But who shall now impart to Fiordeliege The wofull losse of her deare Lord and liege 148 Her selfe had dreamt a strange dreame ouernight Which did her minde in fearfull sort dismay She dreamt the bases of her loued knight Which she imbrodred blacke this other day With spots of red were powdred all in sight And on the same like storme of haylstones lay That she had done it so she sure beleeued And with the thought thereof was greatly greeued 149 She further thought that to her selfe she sed Did not my Lord command me blacke to make it What ment I then to mixt it so with red And in so strange a manner to mistake it And ill presage in her this fancie bred And for an euill token she did take it Then came these newes which none imparted with her Till th' English Duke and Sansonet came thither 150 When they came in and that she well had heeded Their count'nances in such a conquest sad No further newes no further notice needed To make her know they brought her tidings bad Forthwith her griefe and sorrow so exceeded Scarse any powre her vitall spirits had But presently in pale and deadly sound She fell in wofull trance vpon the ground 151 But when that life came to his course againe Her tender checkes and her sayre haire she tare Oft calling on his loued name in vaine Whose losse had bred in her such wofull care She screeches and cries out with griefe and paine Like those with deuils that possessed are Or as the Menades with sound of home In furious manner all about were borne 152 This man and that to lend she doth intreat A knife wherewith her selfe she murder may Straight to the hau'n she runnes with furie great There where the bodies of the dead kings lay With minde to mangle them and bruse and beat Then to the sea she will there is no nay And passe to Lippaduse and there abide And end her life by Brandimarts deare side 153 Ah Brandimart my loued Lord she said What meant I without me to let thee part Ay me vnluckie wretch in that I staid And was not present there to take thy part Mine eye might vnto thee haue bene an aid My voyce might haue assisted thee in part And if Gradasso thee behind had stricken One cry of mine might thee both warne quicken 154 Or else perhaps so well I might haue sped me As to haue stept the blow and thee betweene If thou hadst scapt although it did behed me I would haue said that it had happie bene Now dye I will though death no whit can sted me And though I know my death is fruitlesse cleene Whereas if I had dyde in thy defence My death had profit bred and not offence 155 And if the heau'ns had bene so hard in this That I could not haue holpe thee in the place At least my last farewell and solemne kisse I should haue giu'n thee and thy louely face Bedewd with teares and ere to heau'nly blisse They soule had flowne I should haue had the space To say depart from hence in peace my deare And know I haue not long to tarrie heare 156 Is this deare Brandimart is this thy raigne Of Damagyre whose scepter I should take Is this the dowre thou doest to me or daine Is this the royall seat of which you spake Ah fortune hard how friuolous and vaine Dost thou my hopes and my designements make Ah why cease I sith so great good is rest me To cast away what euer else is left me 157 With this againe so great her furie grew She made vpon her selfe a fresh assalt And her faire haire she rent and tare anew As if her haire had bene in all the falt Eu'n from her tender cheeks the bloud she drew Still dewing them with watrie teares and salt But let her here awhile lament and mourne For to Orlando I must now retourne 158 Who with his kinsman that did now require Some cunning Leach his grieuous wound to cure And for to Brandimar he did desire To giue an honorable sepulture To that hill went that doth the night with fire Make cleare and doth the day with smoke obscure And so the winde did fauour his intent In twentie houres he came to Agringent 159 Here when they were downe from their ships alighted The Sunne eu'n then preparing to go downe They sent abroad and in great hast inuited The chiefe Nobilitie of all the towne Straight at the shore of torches store was lighted And many men of honour and renowne When as Orlando to the shore retourned Went with him to the corps and with him mourned 160 There Bardyn stood a man well stricke in yeares And in such sort to wayle he did perseuer That with aboundant shedding of his teares Men thought he would haue lost his eyes for euer To blame the heu'ns and starres he not for beares But roaring like a Lyon in a feauer Tare his gray haire and all about it sprinkled And spared not his aged skin and wrinkled 161 When as the Palladine approched neare Straight doubled was the mourning noise and crye Each striu'd who should most sorrowfull appeare And eu'rie one lift vp his voice on hye Orlando with more heauy heart then cheare Still keeping fixed on the beare his eye When silence first by signes procur'd he had Pronounc't these words with mourning voyce sad 162 O stout ô deare champion mine and frend That here art dead
heard it told How she that doth another man embrace Beside her husband be she yong or old Must die except within two fortnights space She find a champion stout that will vphold That vnto her no punishment is due But he that doth accuse her is vntrue 68 The King of crime that thinkes Geneura cleare Makes offer her to wed to any knight That will in armes defend his daughter deare And proue her innocent in open fight Yet for all this no champion doth appeare Such feare they haue of this Lurcanios might One gazeth on another as they stand But none of them the combat takes in hand 69 And further by ill fortune and mischance Her brother Zerbin now is absent thence And gone to Spaine I thinke or else to France Who were he here she could not want defence Or if perhap so luckie were her chance To send him notice of her need from hence Had she the presence of her noble brother She should not need the aide of any other 70 The King that meanes to make a certaine triall If faire Geneura guiltie be or no For still she stiffly stood in the deniall Of this that wrought her vndeserued wo Examines all her maids but they reply all That of the matter nothing they did know Which made me seeke for to preuent the danger The Duke and I might haue about the stranger 71 And thus for him more then my selfe afraid So faithfull loue to this false Duke I bare I gaue him notice of these things and said That he had need for both of vs beware He praisd my constant loue and farther praid That I would credit him and take no care He points two men but both to me vnknowne To bring me to a castle of his owne 72 Now sir I thinke you find by this effect How soundly I did loue him from my hart And how I prou'd by plaine course and direct My meaning was not any wayes to start Now marke if he to me bare like respect And marke if he requited my desart Alas how shall a silly wench attaine By louing true to be true lou'd againe 73 This wicked Duke vngratefull and periured Beginneth now of me to haue mistrust His guiltie conscience could not be assured How to conceale his wicked acts vniust Except my death though causlesse be procured So hard his heart so lawlesse was his lust He said he would me to his castle send But that same castle should haue bene mine end 74 He wild my guides when they were past that hill And to the thicke a little way descended That there to quite my loue they should me kill Which as you say they to haue done intended Had not your happie comming stop their will That God and you be thankt I was defended This tale Dalinda to Renaldo told And all the while their iourney on they hold 75 This strange aduenture luckily befell To good Renaldo for that now he found By this Dalinda that this tale did tell Geneuras mind vnspotted cleare and sound And now his courage was confirmed well That wanted erst a true and certaine ground For though before for her he meant to fight Yet rather now for to defend the right 76 To great S. Andrews towne he maketh hast Whereas the King was set with â—ll his traine Most carefull waiting for the trumpets blast That must pronounce his daughters ioy or paine But now Renaldo spurred had so fast He was arriu'd within a mile or twaine And through the village as he then was riding He met a page that brought them fresher tiding 77 How there was come a warriour all disguised That meant to proue Lurcanio said vntrew His colours and his armour well deuised In manner and in making very new And though that sundry sundrily surmised Yet who it was for certaine no man knew His page demaunded of his masters name Did sweare he neuer heard it since he came 78 Now came Renaldo to the citie wall And at the gate but little time he staid The porter was so readie at his call But poore Dalinda now grew sore afraid Renaldo bids her not to feare at all For why he would her pardon beg he said So thrusting in among the thickest rout He saw them stand on scaffolds all about 79 It straight was told him by the standers by How there was thither come a stranger knight That meant Geneuras innocence to try And that already was begun the fight And how the greene that next the wall did lie Was raild about of purpose for the sight This newes did make Renaldo hasten in And leaue behind Dalinda at her Inne 80 He told her he would come againe ere long And spurs his horse that made an open lane He pierced in the thickest preasse among Whereas these valiant knights had giu'n and tane Full many strokes with sturdy hand and strong Lurcanio thinks to bring Geneuras bane The tother meanes the Ladie to defend Whom though vnknowne they fauor commend 81 There was Duke Polynesso brauely mounted Vpon a courâ—er of an exc'lent race Sixe knights among the better sort accounted On foote in armes do marshall well the place The Duke by office all the rest surmounted High Constable as alwayes in such case Who of Geneuras danger was as glad As all the rest were sorrowfull and sad 82 Now had Renaldo made an open way And was arriued there in luckie howre To cause the combatto surcease and stay Which these two knights applide with al their powre Renaldo in the court appeard that day Of noble chiualrie the very flowre For first the Princes audience he praid Then with great expectation thus he said 83 Send noble Prince quoth he send by and by And cause forthwith that they surcease the fight For know that which so ere of these doth die It certaine is he dies against all right One thinks he tels the truth and tels a lie And is deceiu'd by error in his sight And looke what cause his brothers death procured That very same hath him to fight allured 84 The tother of a nature good and kind Not knowing if he hold the right or no To die or to defend her hath assignd Left so rare beautie should he spilled so I harmelesse hope to saue the faultlesse mind And those that mischiefe mind to worke them wo But first ô Prince to stay the fight giue order Before my speech proceedeth any farder 85 Renaldos person with the tale he told Mou'd so the king that straight without delay The knights were bidden both their hands to hold The combat for a time was causd to stay Then he againe with voice and courage bold The secret of the matter doth bewray Declaring plaine how Polynessos lecherie Had first contriu'd and now betrayd his trecherie 86 And proffreth of this speech to make a proofe By combat hand to hand with sword and speare The Duke was cald that stood nor farre aloofe And scantly able to conceale his feare He first
88 I should too long in this one matter dwell If all that past betweene them two at large When he departed I to you should tell Stil itterating that his former charge Now on his way he goes God speed him well The griefe was great that dâ—d his heart surcharge But thus they part her eyes all full of teares His minde of iealousies and thousand feares 89 This while Adonio looking pale and wan As earst I told and ouer growne with heare To trauell to his country-ward began In hope that no man now would know him theare He trauels in the secretst sort he can Vnseene vnknowne till he arriued wheare He rescude had the snake seu'n yeares before That by the clowne pursued was so sore 90 Arriuing at this place by breake of day He saw a Ladie walking neare the lake Who though she seemd attyrd in strange array Yet for some great estate one would her take Her count'nance did such maiestie bewray She toward him with stately gate did make And looking on him with a gracious cheare She spake these words so loud as he might heare 91 Gentleman though you do not know my face Yet am I bound to you and am your frend I am your cosin and of Cadmus race Our royall stocke doth lineally descend I am that Manto that in yond same place To build that towne did first begin and end And Mantua according to my name T is cald as you perhaps haue heard by fame 92 I am a Fayrie and to make you know To be a Fayrie what it doth import We cannot dye how old so ere we grow Of paine and harmes of eu'rie other sort We tast but yet no death we nature ow But which is worse then if our liues were short Each seu'nth day we constrained are to take Vpon our selues the person of a snake 93 To be transformd to Serpents vgly hew That creepeth still and on his bellie goth Is such a griefe to vs to tell you true Not one of vs but then to liue doth loth Now that I further may declare to you From whence this kindnesse that I spake of groth Know this what day we haue this cursed shape We hardly dangers infinite escape 94 No liuing thing is lothed more then they So that no sooner one of vs is spyde But we are chast and hunted out straight way And if we finde no place our selues to hyde They lay on load and beat vs so that day That we the paine thereof long after byde And who would not rather one death haue chused Then beaten euermore to be and brused 95 Now Sir the benefit that I confesse I haue receiu'd in which your merit stands Was this some seu'n yeares since or not much lesse As you did wander ou'r these woods and lands You saued me from danger and distresse I should haue sufferd at a villens hands Who though he could not slay me neare the latter Did seeke with cudgill me to bruse and batter 96 For why those dayes that we be snakes she saith And creeping groueling bellies on the ground The heau'ns that other times our hest obay'th Denyes their aid in vs no force is found Sometimes the Sun at our command'ment stay'th The stedie earth doth moue and runneth round And we can by our powre cause in a trise I se turne to flame and fire congeale to Ise. 97 Now heare I come your courtsie to require Which seau'n yeares since I to me done did note Now to reward you I haue powre and might While I am free from serpents cursed cote Three times your fathers wealth you shall ere night Possesse and I will set you so aflote You neuer shal be poore to your liues end But euer haue the more the more you spend 98 And for I know that in your former knot In which loue bound you first you still are tide I will direct you so by wayes I wot Your sute shall not be vnto you denide Now that the iealous Iudge at home is not Go thither straight and I will be your guide She now isâ—t her husbands countrie village Attending there good huswifrie and tillage 99 She further doth at large to him deuise How he shall go in what apparell clad How he shall tempt her in what manner wise And how to grant his suit she should be glad Then told she how she would herselfe disguise For why for euer in her powre she had Except the dayes in which she was a snake What shape she lift vpon herselfe to take 100 Thus she disguish him like a Pilgrime poore That on his shoulders doth a wallet beare And doth for Gods sake beg from doore to doore A gowne of Fryers gray she made him weare A strange apparell for a gallant woer Into an Island dog with shagged heare As white as Ermin and the pretiest else That euer nature made she changd herselfe 101 And thus vnto Argias they resort First to some vtter roomes in which were byding The Hinds and Laborers of meaner sort Heare he with certaine pypes of his prouiding His dog made dance and make such prettie sport That glad was he could bring his mistres tyding Who needs would see as much as they had seene Such was the Doctors destinie I weene 102 Adonio to her presence thus admitted Commands the dog which in all points obayd His turnes his dances and his gestures fitted So due and iust to all the Pilgrime sayd They musd to see a dog so rarely witted And marking still the qualities he playd In seeing them they take great mirth pleasure And praysd the little dog beyond all measure 103 Much wonder first but after much desier Bred in the Iudges wife the dog to get She bids the nurse the dog to buy or hier And try what price the man thereof would set Dame said the Pilgrime had your mistres by her In coyned gold as much as euer yet A womans thought did wish it would not boot Of this same dog of mine to buy on foot 104 And plaine to shew that that was true he sayd And that it rather better was then worse He tooke her straight aside with him and prayd The dog to giue two duckats to the nurse The dog but shooke his eares and out he layd The gold there take and put it in thy purse Adonio saith and thinke what price is able To buy a dog that is so profitable 105 What ere I aske this dog to me will bring Embroderd gownes and kittles cloth of gold A chaine of pearle a iewell or a ring In shorter time then it can well be told Yet tell my Lady this she hath a thing For which alone my Spaniell can be sold To pay me gold or coyne I count it dodging But I will sell it her for one nights lodging 106 This said he sent by her as for a token A gem of passing price then newly made The nurse rewarded thus and fairely spoken And vsd perhaps to trafficke in
Ariodant should in some danger go Or that he sought as all desirous are The counsels of his dearest friend to know Close out of sight by secret steps and ware Hard at his heeles his brother followd so Till he was nearer come by fiftie paces And there againe himselfe he newly places 49 But I that thought no ill securely came Vnto the open window as I said For once or twice before I did the same And had no hurt which made me lesse afraid I cannot boast except I boast of shame When in her robes I had my selfe araid Me thought before I was not much vnlike her But certaine now I seemed very like her 50 〈…〉 that stood so farre aloofe Was more deceiu'd by distance of the place Aâ—d strâ—ght beleeu'd against his owne behoofe Seeing her clothes that he had seene her face Now â—et those iudge that partly know by proofe The wofull plight of Ariodantes case When Poâ—â—nessâ— came by faithlesse frend In both their sights the ladder to ascend 51 I that his comming willingly did wait And he once come thought nothing went amisse Embrac'd him kindly at the first receit His lips his cheeks and all his face did kisse And he the more to colour his deceit Did vse me kinder then he had ere this This sight much care to Ariodante brought Thinking Geneura with the Duke was nought 52 The griefe and sorrow sinketh so profound Into his heart he straight resolues to die He puts the pummell of his sword on ground And meanes himselfe vpon the point to lie Which when Iurâ—anio saw and plainly found That all this while was closely standing by And Pâ—â—messos comming did discerne Though who it was he neuer yet could learne 53 He held his brother for the present time That else himselfe for griefe had surely slaine Who had he not stood night and come betime His words and speeches had bene all in vaine What shall quoth he a faithlesse womans crime Cause you to die or put your selfe to paine Nay let them go and curst be all their kind Ay borne like clouds with eu'ry blast of wind 54 You rather should some iust reuenge deuise As she deserues to bring her to confusion Sith we haue plainly seene with both our eyes Her filthy fact appeare without collusion Loue those that loue againe if you be wise For of my counsell this is the conclusion Put vp your sword against your selfe prepared And let her sinne be to the king declared 55 His brothers words in Ariodantes mind Seeme for the time to make some small impression But still the carelesse wound remaind behind Despare had of his heart the full possession And though he knew the thing he had assignd Contrary to Christend knights profession Yet here on earth he torment felt so sore In hell it selfe he thought there was no more 56 Anâ—'eeming now after a little pause Vnto his brothers counsell to consent He froâ— the court next day himselfe withdrawes And makes not one priuie to his intent His brother and the Duke both knew the cause But neither knew the place whereto he went Diuers thereof most diuersly did iudge Some by good will perswaded some by grudge 57 Seu'n dayes entire about for him they sought Seu'n dayes entire no newes of him was found The eight a peasant to Geneura brought These newes that in the sea he saw him drownd Not that the waters were with tempest wrought Nor that his ship was stricken on the ground How then Forsooth quoth he and therewith wept Downe from a rocke into the sea he lept 58 And further he vnto Geneura told How he met Ariodant vpon the way Who made him go with him for to behold The wofull act that he would do that day And charged him the matter to vnfold And to his Princes daughter thus to say Had he bene blind he had full happie beene His death should shew that he too much had seene 59 There stands a rocke against the Irish I le From thence into the sea himselfe he cast I stood and looked after him a while The height and steepnesse made me sore agast I thence haue traueld hither many a mile To shew you plainly how the matter past When as the clowne this tale had told and verifide Geneuras heart was not a little terrifide 60 O Lord what wofull words by her were spoken Laid all alone vpon her restlesse bed Oft did she strike her guiltlesse brest in token Of that great griefe that inwardly was bred Her golden tresses all were rent and broken Recounting still those wofull words he sed How that the cause his cruell death was such Was onely this that he had seene too much 61 The rumor of his death spred farre and neare And how for sorrow he himselfe had killed The King was sad the court of heauy cheare By Lords and Ladies many teares were spilled His brother most as louing him most deare Had so his mind with sorrow ouerfilled That he was scantly able to refraine With his owne hands himselfe for to haue slaine 62 And oftentimes repeating in his thought The filthy fact he saw the other night Which as you heard the Duke and I had wrought I little looking it would come to light And that the same his brothers death had brought On faire Geneura he doth wreake his spight Not caring so did wrath him ouerwhelme To leese the kings good will and all his realmâ— 63 The king and nobles sitting in the hall Right pensiue all for Ariodants destruction Lurcanio vndertakes before them all To giue them perfect notice and instruction Who was the cause of Ariodantes fall And hauing made some little introduction He said it was vnchast Geneuras crime That made him kill himselfe before his time 64 What should I seeke to hide his good intent His loue was such as greater none could be He hop'd to haue your highnesse free assent When you his value and his worth should see But while a plaine and honest way he went Behold he saw another climbe the tree And in the midst of all his hope and sute Another tooke the pleasure and the frute 65 He further said not that he had surmised But that his eyes had seene Geneura stand And at a window as they had deuised Let downe a ladder to her louers hand But in such sort he had himselfe disguised That who it was he could not vnderstand And for due proofe of this his accusation He bids the combat straight by proclamation 66 How sore the king was grieu'd to heare these newes I leaue it as a thing not hard to guesse Lurcanio plaine his daughter doth accuse Of whom the King did looke for nothing lesse And this the more his feare and care renewes That on this point the lawes are so expresse Except by combat it be prou'd a lie Needs must Geneura be condemnd to die 67 How hard the Scottish law is in this case I do not doubt but you haue
saith he be contented to lay their so delicate and daintily preserued morsels in such lothsome dishes to be daily smackt slauered binding themselues to suffer such a penance God knowes how long only to satisfie those humors of coueteousnesse and pride staruing to their griefe the third humour if they be so vertuous that is by some thought the predominant humor in that sex and many times dwels vnder the same roofe with the other two Yet surely I could rather commend his curtesan that he writes of in his Decameron who hauing bargained with a Dutchman one M. Bruffaldo for seuen dayes boord and lodging at a great rate hauing found him for one or two nights to be but an vnsauorie bed fellow she chose rather to leese those two nights hire then to endure fiue more at so painful a price But I doubt I grow too tedious while I shoot out such blots out of a Boccas Now to go forward in the morall You may note in Polynesso an enuious and trecherous mind in Ariodant the hurt of a credulous ielousie in Lurcanio the vehemencie of a wrong surmise In Polynessos intent to kill Dalinda you may obserue how wicked men often bewray their owne misdeeds with seeking to hide them In Geneuras accusation and deliuerie how God euer defends the innocent And lastly in Polynessos death how wickednesse ruines it seife For the historie of this booke either the whole is a historie or there is no matter historicall in it to be stood on Allegorie there is none in this booke at all Allusion there is in this tale of Geneura vnto a storie writteÌ„ in Alciats duello of a matron in France accused in such sort by two men and a certaine souldier of Barcellona came with a companion of his and tooke vpon them the defence of the woman and being fighting the companion of the souldier fled not withstanding he of Barcellona with his courage and vertue gat the victorie of the other two and so in strange attire went home to his country vnknowne to which Ariodant seems to allude Some others affirme that this very matter though set downe here by other names happened in Fâ—rrara to a kinsewoman of the Dukes which is here figured vnder the name of Geneura and that indeed such a practise was vsed against her by a great Lord and discouered by a damsell as is here set downe Howsoeuer it was sure the tale is a prettie comicall matter and ha â—bene written in English verse some few years past learnedly and with good grace though in â—erse of another kind by M. George Turberuil The rocke from which Ariodant leapt into the sea aliudeth to to the rocke of Lewcade where men that were mad for loue leapt into the water and washed away 〈◊〉 they thought that fancie Strabo calleth it faltus amatorius THE SIXT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Geneurafaire to Ariodant is giuen And he a Duke is made that verie day Rogero with the Griffeth horse is driuen Unto Alcynas ile and there doth stay Amirtle in the middle strangly riuen Alcinas frauds doth unto him bewray Of which enformd he thence would haue departed But by the way he finds his purpose thwarted 1 Most wretched he that thinks by doing ill His euill deedes long to conceale and hide For though the voice and tongues of men be still By foules or beasts his sin shal be discride And God oft worketh by his secret will That sinne it selfe the sinner so doth guide That of his owne accord without request He makes his wicked doings manifest 2 The gracelesse wight Duke Polinesso thought His former fault should sure haue bin concealed If that Dalinda vnto death were brought By whom alone the same could be reuealed Thus making worse the thing before was nought He hurt the wound which time perhaps had healed And weening with more sinne the lesse to mend He hastned on his well deserued end 3 And lost at once his life his state and frends And honour to a losse as great or more Now as I sayd that vnknowne knight entends Sith euerie one to know him sought so sore And sith the king did promise large amends To shew his face which they saw oft before And Ariodant most louely did appeare Whom they thought dead as you before did heare 4 He whom Geneura wofully did waile He whom Lurcanio deemed to be dead He whom the king and court did so bewaile He that to all the realme such care had bred Doth liue the clownes report in this did faile On which false ground the rumor false was spred And yet in this the peasant did not mocke He saw him leape downe headlong from the rock 5 But as we see men oft with rash intent Are desperate and do resolue to die And straight do change that fancie and repent When vnto death they do approch more nie So Ariodant to drowne himselfe that ment Now plung'd in sea repented by and by And being of his limbes able and strong Vnto the shore he swam againe erre long 6 And much dispraising in his inward thought This fond conceit that late his minde poslest At last a blind and narrow path him brought All tyrd and wet to be an hermits guest With whom to stay in secretsort he sought Both that he might his former griefe digest And learne the truth if this same clownes report Were by Geneura tane in griefe or sport 7 There first he heard how she conceiu'd such griefeâ— As almost brought her life to wofull end He found of her they had so good beleefe They thought she would not in such sort offend He further heard except she had releefe By one that would her innocence defend It was great doubt Lurcanios acculation Would bring her to a speedie condemnation 8 And looke how loue before his heart enraged So now did wrath enflame and though he knew wel To wreake his harme his brothers life was gaged He nathles thought his act so foule and cruell That this his anger could not be asâ—waged Vnto his flame loue found such store of fewel And this the more increast his wrath begun To heare how euâ—rie one the fight did shun 9 For why Lurcanio was so stout and wise Except it were for to defend the truth Men thought he would not so the king despise And hazard life to bring Geneuras ruth Which caused euerie one his friend aduise To shunne the fight that must maintaine vntruth But Ariodant after long disputation Meanes to withstand his brothers accusation 10 Alas quoth he Ineuer shall abide Her through my cause to die in wo and paine For danger or for death what eare betide Be she once dead my life cannot remaine She is my saint in her my blisse doth bide Her golden rayes my eies light still maintaine Fall backe fall edge and be it wrong or right In her defence I am resolu'd to fight 11 I take the wrong but yet I le take the wrong And die I shall
face He prayes of all good fellowship to shoe Or where she is or whither she did goe 5 When light apporcht and day began to breake By day he seekes her in the host of Turkes His passions strong do make his reason weake Yeeld to the fit that in his fancie workes Some helpe it was he could their language speake By which the safer he among them lurkes His words his weeds so like to theirs were seene As though that bred in Tripoly he had beene 6 But when he saw his staying was for nought At three dayes end away from thence he flang He left no towne of France and Spaine vnsought Ne yet this paine could ought asswage that pang Him Autumne first this wandring humor brought When frutes do fade his fruitlesse loue first sprang And lasted still his force and rage renuing Both all the spring and summer next ensuing 7 Now hauing traueld as his custome was From realme to realme he came vpon a day Where as the riuer cleare sometime as glasse That twixt the Britans and the Normans lay Was growne so high as now he could not passe The snow and raine had borne so great a sway By force wherof the bridge was ouerthrwowne The passage stopt the foords were ouerflowne 8 And looking round about the shore at large Deuising how to passe to th' other side He saw a little way from thence a barge That seemed toward him the course to guide Of which a certaine damsell had the charge To whom with voice aloud Orlando cride Intreating her because his hast was great Within the barge him to affoord a seat 9 The maid affirm'd no price the barge could hire And to command it he had no commission But promist she would grant him his desire Vpon a certaine cou'nant and condition Which was to vndertake by sword and fire For to destroy an Ile without remission A cruell I le Ebuda cald by name The wickedst place where euer creature came 10 For know quoth she beyond the Irish land There lies among the rest this gracelesse I le That yearely sends of wicked wights a band To rob to spoile to fraud and to beguile All women kinde that happen in their hand They giue for food vnto a monster vile A monster vile that vseth euerie day To haue a maid or woman for his pray 11 Of merchants and of pyrates that do come They get them store and of the fairest most Now guesse by one a day how great a somme Of women kinde within this I le are lost If then of loue you euer tasted cromme Make one within the king of Irelands host That make them readie shortly to proceed To take a faire reuenge of this foule deed 12 No sooner had Orlando heard her out But vowd to be as forward as the first To ioyne himselfe with that same worthie rout And now for loue doth euer cast the worst Within himselfe begins to cast this doubt Least that this wicked monster and accurst Had got his Ladie for a daintie bit Because he heard no newes of her aâ— yet 13 And this conceit his minde so much possest And in his heart made such a deepe impression For both in nature he did still detest All such as vnto others do oppression And much he fear'd his loue among the rest Might fall into the monsters vile possession That straight he shipt and by their due account Within three dayes he past saint Michels mount 14 But hauing passed now the milke white sand Of which the Ile of Albion takes his name The wind that in the South before did stand With â—o great furie to the Northwest came In vaine it was against the same to stand And therefore to retire it was no shame Backe in one night the tempest draue them more Then they had sayl'd three dayes and nights before 15 For when they saw it was no boote to striue Against the furie of so fearce a winde They went euen as the weather did them driue Vntill the streame of Antwerpe they did finde Where they to land with safetie did arriue There loe an aged man with yeares halfe blinde Who deemd Orlando of that crew the chiefe To this effect vtterd to him his griefe 16 How that a certaine dame of noble blood Of vertue verie great of beautie rare Of sober cheare and of behauiour good Though now opprest with miserie and care Requested him except his hast withstood That she to him a matter might declare In which to aske his wise aduice she ment To which Orlando quickly did consent 17 The Ladies pallace stood within the land To which the Earle conducted was with speed Where at the entrie did the Ladie stand In mourning shew and sorrowfull in deed Who brought Orlando sadly by the hand Into a chamber hang'd with mournfull weed First him by her to sit she doth beseech And then in ruefull sort she vs'd this speech 18 First worthy knight I would you vnderstood I was the Earle of Hollands daughter deare Who was to me so tender and so good That though my brothers both were him as neare Yet my desire in nothing he withstood Nor spake the word that I was loth to heare Thus whiles in state most stedie I did stand A certaine Duke arriued in this land 19 The Duke of Zeland and his arrant was To Bisky there against the Moores to fight His age and beautie that did others passe Moou'd me that had not tafted loues delight Nor arm'd against his darts with steele or brasse To yeeld my selfe his prisner without fight Beleeuing then as still I do and shall That he to me doth carrie loue not small 20 For while the windes contrarie here him stay Though naught for his yet exc'lent for my drift What time me seem'd each weeke was but a day The pleasant houres did slide away so swift We kept our selues togither day by day Till at the last we made vs so good shift That er we parted we had so procured Each was to other man and wise assured 21 Byreno was from hence but newly gone So is my deare beloued husbands name But that a great Ambassador anon Directly â—om the king of Friseland came To treat a certaine marriage vpon With other of that nation of good fame That to my Sire from Holland did repaire That I might marrie with his sonne and haire 22 But I in whom faith tooke so deepe a roote I could not change my new made choise and tho I would to striue with loue it was no boote That wounded me so lately with his bow To stop the motions newly set on foote Before they might to farther matter grow I would not go I flatly told my father That I to die a thousand deaths had rather 23 My louing sire that chiefest care did take That all he did might me his daughter please Agreeing to my will and for my sake My griefe so new conceiued to appease Straightway the motion of this marriage brake
me into his hands to get 43 Wherefore he set a hard and cruell law Except Byreno could in twelue months space Find meanes by fraud or forces me to draw To yeeld my selfe a prisner in his place Such Princes are that haue of God no aw Then die he should without all hope of grace So that to saue his life my death alone Must be the meanes for other can be none 44 All that by paine or cost procure I could With diligence I haue already done Sixe castles faire in Flanders I haue sold The mony spent and yet no profit wonne I sought to bribe those that him kept in hold But they my craft with greater craft did shunne I also mou'd our neighbours neare and farre English and Dutch on him to make sharpe warre 45 But those I sent when they long time had staid I thinke they would not or they could not speed They brought me many words but little aid My store decreast but greater grew my need And now the thought whereof makes me afraid That time drawes nie when neither force nor meed As soone as full expired is the yeare From cruell death can safe preserue my deare 46 For him my father and his sonnes were slaine For him my state and liuing all is lost For him those little goods that did remaine I haue consum'd to my great care and cost For him with hearts disease and bodies paine With troublous waues of fortune I am tost Now last of all I must lay downe my life To saue my spouse from blow of bloudy knife 47 And finding that my fortune is so bad I must to saue his life lay downe mine owne To leese mine owne I shall be faine and glad Where sorrow springs of seeds that loue had sowne This onely feare and doubt doth make me sad Because I know not how it may be knowne If I shall sure release Byrenos bands By yeelding me into the tyrants hands 48 I feare when he hath shut me in this cage If all the torments I shall then endure His fury to Byreno may asswage Whose libertie I study to procure I rather feare least following his rage When he shall find he hath vs both so sure He will not care his oath and vow to breake Vpon vs both at once his wrath to wreake 49 Behold the cause why I did long so sore To speake with you demaunding your aduice As I haue oft of others done before Yet found I none so hardy nor so wise That would assure his freedome to restore Whose loue doth me to hate my selfe intice The cause no doubt is this they stand in feare Of those his guns whose force no steele can beare 50 But if your vertue do not disagree With this your comely shape and manly show Let me request you sir to go with me Where I my selfe in prison shall bestow And promise me to set Byreno free If so the tyrant from his promise go For I shall die with great content and ioy If by my death Byreno scape annoy 51 Her dolefull tale the damsell here did end Which oft was interrupted with her teares Orlando louing not the time to spend In idle talke all answers long forbeares But in his mind he fully doth intend To foile her foes and rid her of her feares He briefly said that she should him commaund To do much more then she did him demaund 52 He meanes not tho that she her selfe should yeeld Vnto the cruell tyrant as a pledge Except his sword that failed him but seeld Had on the sodaine lost his force and edge He meanes like common birders in the field To catch the birds and neuer hurt the hedge And thus resolu'd to do this worthy deed From Flanders now by sea they go with speed 53 The skilfull Pilot doth the vessell steare Sometime on th' one sometime on th' other side The Iles of Zeland some before appeare And some behind as fast themselues do hide And straight to Holland they approched neare Orlando went to land but bids her bide His meaning is that she shall vnderstand The tyrants death before she come on land 54 Himselfe forthwith was mounted on a steed A darke browne bay with white starre in his face Both large and strongly limbd like Flemish breed But not so full of life nor swift of pace Yet good enough to serue him at his need When as his Briliador was not in place And thus he came to Dordreck where he found With men of armes the gates enuirond round 55 The wayes the wals with arm'd men watched were For tyrants still are most of such condition And chiefly new that ay they stand in feare And further now some newes had bred suspition How that an armie great approched neare Well stor'd with men and stuffed with munition The which they said Byrenos cosin brought By force his kinsmans freedome to haue wrought 56 Orlando wils a watchman carry word Vnto their King how that a wandring knight Desires to proue his force with speare and sword Whom if the King could ouercome in fight Then he should haue the Ladie by accord That slue Arbante on his wedding night For he had taken her into protection And could deliuer her to his subiection 57 But craued eke the King should bounden be By promise firme if he were ouercome To let his prisner cald Byreno free And of his message this was all the summe And this was told vnto the King but he That of true vertue neuer tasted câ—umme Bent all his will and wit against all reason To falshood foule to false deceit and treason 58 He makes account if he this knight can stay The which to do he meanes great meanes to make That then the Ladie quickly get he may And make him yeeld her for his safetie sake He sendeth thirtie men a priuie way Him to inclose about and prisner take Who fetching compasse to auoid suspition At last arriued where they had commission 59 In this meane time with words he foded out The worthy Earle vntill he saw his men According as he bad them come about Enclosing all the way behind and then Out of the gates he rusheth with a rout Of men on horse and foot of three times ten As hunters do inclose the beasts in woods Or fishers do inclose the fish in floods 60 So doth the king Cymosco care and striue To stop the wayes with all foresight and heed And meaneth sure to haue him tane aliue And thinks the same is such an easie deed That of those guns with which he did depriue So many liues he thinks there is no need For such a weapon serueth very ill Where he did meane to take and not to kill 61 As cunning fowlers do the birds reserue That first they take in hope of greater pray And makes them for a bait and stale to serue To take the rest by sport and pretie play So meanes the king aliue him to preserue But vnto this Orlandos force
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
the place And stands twixt halfe amazd and halfe afraid At last he enters loue expelling feare When by good hap the monster was not there 31 His wife was there who with compassion moued Admonisht him to make but little stay But hasten thence if so his life he loued Lest that her husband find him in the way Yet from his purpose this him not remoued But to the sober matron he doth say In vaine you seeke to driue me hence by terror Desire hath hither brought me and not error 32 By my ill hap while I abroade was riding The Orko bare away my dearest wife I hither come of her to heare some tiding Or hauing lost my loue to leese my life I care not I if she in life be biding If she be dead my death shall end this strife Loue in this point so resolute hath made me You should but leese your labour to distwade me 33 The gentle matron in this sort replies Know this thy wife in safetie doth remaine But hard it is to compasse or deuise Which way to get her from his hand againe His want of fight his passing sent supplies To striue with him by force it were but vaine He spoileth men but women do not die Saue onely such as striue away to flie 34 But those he finds his companie to shunne With hatred grâ—â—â—e doth for ay pursew Some he doth hang ail naked in the sunne And day by day their torments doth renew And some immediatly to death are done Both yong and old both foule or faire of hew So that to seeke to set Lucyna free May harme her much and little profit thee 35 Wherefore my sonne depart the while thou may The matron saith Lucyna shall not die For hither shortly he will her conuay Where she shall fare no worse then these and I Depart quoth he nay here I mind to stay And fall what shall I will my fortune trie And if my hap be such I cannot free her At least I meane before I die to see her 36 The matrons mind with much compassion moued To see his louing and most constant mind That from his purpose would not be remoued To bring him aid and comfort was inclind And then she told him how it him behoued If so to see his wife he had assignd To vse some such deuice as she would tel him That when the Ork should come be might not smel him 37 She had that hanged in the houses roofe The hairie skins of many a bearded goate And knowing best what was for his behoofe Of one of them she makes him make a coate And with goates suet for a further proofe To noint his body from the foote to throate And in this sort his shape and sauour hiding He commeth to the place where we were biding 38 Now night drew neare his horne the Orke doth blow And all his heards came backe vnto his sold And Norandin among the goates doth go And enters in loue maketh him so bold The Orko shuts the doore and leaues vs so Shut vp as safe as in a towre or hold Then doth the king at large vnto his louer His comming and the meanes thereof discouer 39 〈◊〉 doth not onely not reioyce To see her husband come thus strangely clad But with most lamentable mournfull voyce She blamd him that such perill venterd had And sweares that if she might haue had her choyce She would alone haue felt this fortune bad And that before it somewhat easd her paine To thinke that he in safetie did remaine 40 Thus said Lucina faire with watred eies As seeming now more dolefull then before But Norandino in this sort replies Thinkst thou my deare I loued thee no more Yes sure and will eu'n now a meane deuise Both thee and these to freedome to restore And to deliuer from this seruile slauery By helpe of this same skin and grease vnsauery 41 And straight he taught vs as himselfe had tride Each one to kill a goate and take the skin And outwardly to weare the hairy hide And to be nointed with the grease within Thus eu'ry one doth for himselfe prouide Before the sunne did yet to shine begin Then came the Orke and mou'd away the stone And out the bearded goates came one and one 42 The smelling Orko at the doore doth stand We past like goates and make no noise nor speech Yet oft he groped with his hideous hand But poore Lucina could not chuse but skreech Or that he hapt to touch her with his wand Or else too roughly pawd her by the breech So back he puts her straight and locks her vp And sweares that she should drinke a sory cup. 43 Himselfe driues out his flocke as wont he was And we like goates among the goates do keepe And when as they were feeding on the grasse The monstrous heardman laid him downe to sleepe Thus we escapt but our good King alas That mist his loue doth nought but waile weep And saue that still he hopt of her reliefe He would no doubt haue dide of very griefe 44 At night he turneth back with like desire As he before had come to set her sree And he conceales himselfe with like attire From him that wants his instrument to see The Orke inflam'd with cruell rage and ire And finds himselfe deceiued thus to be This recompence he points her for her paines Vpon that hill to hang each day in chaines 45 A cruell doome but who could it resist Away went we each for himselfe afraid But Noranaino euer doth persist In his first purpose of procuring aid Lamenting that so narrowly he mist To â—â—â—g her out among the goates he staid And like a goate forgetting his estate He go'th out early and returneth late 46 She sees him go and come but all in vaine She maketh signes to him to haue him part He constantly resolueth to remaine The loue of her possesseth so his hart Despising danger and enduring paine He hopeth hopelesse still to ease her smart At foure â—onths end good fortune so prepard Gradasso inâ—â—er came and Mandricard 47 And for her father was their louing frend They gaue this bold attempt to set her free And to her father straight they do her send Who was full glad and ioyfull her to see And that her daungers had this happie end But Norandino was more glad then he Who with the goats no longer now did stay But â—hile the Orko slept he stale away 48 And now for ioy of this great perill past In which he stayd so wofull and forlorne And that the memorie therof may last To those that shal be and are yet vnborne For neuer Prince before such wo did tast Nor stayd so long in miserie and scorne And it shal be iust sixteene weeks tomorow That he remained in this wo and sorow 49 Therfore I say the king prepares this sport With verie great magnificence and bost Inuiting hither men of eu'rie sort Such as in chiualrie excell the most That
Griffino vnto whom I gaue them He shall be pleasd I hope and not to haue them 59 I will him recompence some other way And giue him gifts of as great worth or more Thanks to your highnesse Griffin straight doth say Preserue me in your grace I aske no more But when Marfisa saw that eu'ry way They honord her she chang'd her mind before To shew magnificence she vsd this drift That he must take this armor as her gift 60 And thus good friends all turned back againe And then with double ioy the feast they hold In which chiefe praise did Sansonet obtaine The other foure did then themselues withhold Wishing the praise should vnto him remaine And then with greater cheare then can be told By Norandino they were nobly feasted And there themselues they well repos'd and rested 61 Seu'n dayes or eight the King them entertained And those once past of him their leaue they take The which with gifts and honor great obtained Vnto the towne of Tripoly they make And in one companie these fiue remained And mind not one the other to forsake As long as one of them was left aliue Vntill in France they safely should arriue 62 And straight they get a vessell for their hire A merchants ship new laden from the West The master of the ship an auncient fire Consented to their wils with small request The wind as then seru'd fit for their desire And blowes a gentle gale all from the East So that with filled sailes in little while They came as farre as Cypres Venus I le 63 Here eu'ry place was full of odours sweet Of gardens faire of spice of pleasant tast The people lustfull for dame Venus meet From tender yeares to doting age do last With wanton damsels walking in each street Inuiting men to pleasure and repast From hence againe they loosed at what time Don Phaebus charret vnto th' East did clime 64 The weather still was temperat and cleare A pleasant gale their swelling sailes did fill No signe of storme or tempest did appeare To such as in the weather had best skill But loe the weather oft doth change her cheare Eu n as a woman oft doth change her will For sodainly they had such stormes of wether As if that heau'n and earth would come together 65 The aire doth on the sodaine grow obscure But lightned oft with lightnings dreadfull light And saue their houreglasse kept them reckning sure T was hard for to discerne the day from night The desprat marriners do all endure As men inured to the waters spight The heau'ns aboue the waues beneath do rore Yet are not they dismaid one whit therefore 66 One with a whistle hang'd about his necke Showes by the sound which cord must be vndone And straight the shipboy readie at a becke Vnto the tops with nimble sleight doth runne The other marriners vpon the decke Or at the steere the comming waues do shunne And then by turnes they pumpe the water out By paine and care preuenting eu'rie doubt 67 Now while this noble crew with tempest tost Went in the sea as winde and weather draue And looke each minute to be drownd and lost The Christians with a fresh assault and braue Set on the Pagans sorely to their cost Who now began the worser side to haue But chiefly then their courage gan to quaile When noble Dardanellos life did faile 68 Renaldo him had noted from the rest Full proud of slaughter of so many foes And to himselfe he said t is surely best To crop this weed before it higher growes Therewith he sets his fatall speare in rest And cries to Dardanello as he goes Alas poore boy much wo to thee they bred That left to thee that sheild of white and red 69 He trie if you defend those colours well He saith which if with me you cannot do Against Orlando fierce I can you tell For to defend them will be great adoe Thus said Renald and noble Dardanell In valiant wise thus answerd thereunto Know this quoth he that these my colours I Will brauely here defend or brauely die 70 With that he spurr'd his horse as this he spake And with great force Renaldo did assaile But loe the staffe vpon his armor brake So as his blow but little did auaile But straight Renaldos speare a way did make And pierce the double folds of plate and maile And went so deepe into the tender skin The life went out there where the staffe went in 71 Looke how a purple flowre doth fade and drie That painefull plowman cutteth vp with sheare Or as the Poppeys heads a side do lie When it the bodie cannot longer beare So did the noble Dardanello die And with his death fild all his men with feare As waters runne abrode that breake their bay So fled his souldiers breaking their array 72 They flie vnto their tents with full perswasion That of the field the masterie was lost Wherefore to fortifie against inuasion They spare no time no trauell nor no cost Now Charles by forhead meanes to take Occasion And follows them full close with all his host And comming to their tents so brauely venterd That he with them themselues almost had enterd 73 Had not his valiant attempt bene staid By ouer hastie comming of the night So that of force as then it was delaid And either side was driu'n to leaue the fight But with this difference all the Turks dismaid And newly gatherd from their fearfull flight The Christians on the tother side pursewing And day by day their hope and powre renewing 74 The number of the Turks that day were slaine Was more then fourscore thousand as they say Their bloud did fat the ground of all that plaine And makes the ground more fertile to this day Among the dead some men halfe dead remaine Left there for theeues and robbers as a pray Within the Pagan campe great mone they make Some for their friends some for their kinsfolks sake 75 Two youths there were among so many more Whose friendship fast and firme whose faithful harts Deserued to be plast the rest before And to be praised for their good desarts Their names were Cloridano and Medore Both borne farre hence about the Ester parts Their parents poore and not of our beleefe Yet for true loue they may be praised chiefe 76 The elder of the two hight Cloridan An hunter wilde in all his life had beene Of actiue limbs and eke an hardie man As in a thousand men might well be seene Medoro was but yong and now began To enter too of youth the pleasant greene Faire skind black eyd and yellow curled heare That hangd in louely locks by either eare 77 These two among the rest kept watch that night And while the time in sundry speech they spent Medoro oftentime most sadly sight His masters death did cause him so lament Oh said Medoro what a wofull spight What cruell scourge to me
turne he made Rescude his master sore to his owne cost Downe with the blow fals this vnluckie iade And with his starting he his life hath lost To ward his head he wanted Hectors shield And therefore dead he tumbleth on the field 88 Now came his master to himselfe againe Inflamd with greater anger then before To see his horse so pitifully slaine But Rodomont forbeares him neare the more But spurrs on him and thinks with furie maine To beare him downe but he so strongly bore The push and thrust withall Frontino backe He made his master glad to leaue his backe 89 Thus now with minds more aliend from all peace In eager sort the combat is renewed To strike to thrust each other doth not cease In hope with blood their swords to haue embrewed Fell rancor wrath and pride do still increase And death of one or both must haue ensewed Er either of them would from thence haue started Had not a certaine messenger them parted 90 One that had traueld all about the cost To seeke them out to aske their helpe and aid To raise the siege that by the Christen host Vnto the campe of Agramant was laid Yet though he came in peace and cake in post To speake to them at first he was affraid And though his office were sufficient warrant Yet to themselues he dares not do his arrant 91 But seeing Doralice to her he told How Agramant Marsilio Stordylan And others more like men pent vp in hold Were in great danger to be kild or tane Wherefore he wisheth her for to vnfold Thus much to them that sought each others bane And to perswade them to so good accord As they might go to helpe their soueraigne Lord. 92 She that a woman was of passing sprite And knew that neither of them would offend her Stept them between and chargd them stay the fight As they their honour and her loue did tender And helpe their king that is in wofull plight And end this fray begun of cause so slender At least defer so long to trie this quarrell Till Agramant their king were out of perrell 93 When she thus much to them declared had Then doth the messenger declare the rest And other strong perswasions he doth ad And doth expound to them their kings request Alledging that their absence made him sad That but they helpe the campe would be distrest And that if they to rescue him neglected A present ruine were to be expected 94 With his report and with her strong perswasion The hardie knights the combat do defar Till Agramant be freed from this inuasion And all the Christen forces moued ar Thus of this friendly truce she is occasion That first was causer of their deadly war To her they binde themselues by solemne oth That vntill then they will be quiet both 95 There Discord was and Pride and what they may They do this league to interrupt and breake But at that time Loue bare so great a sway That to withstand him they were both to weake In vaine it was to argue and gainsay When once dame Doralice the word did speake By her perswasion firmely they agreed Like friends vpon their iourney to proceed 96 One onely want there was that let them sore Which was that Mandricardos horse was ded But loe eu'n then came thither Brygliadore That since his masters madnes there had fed Full glad the Prince of Tartar was therefore Of such a horse so quickly to be sped But least my tale with tediousnes molest you I wish you lay aside the booke and rest you In the great offence of Oderike and the notable clemencie of Zerbino in pardoning the same we may note in the one the great frailtie of men in offending specially in this kinde of fleshly concupiscene in the other a notable magnanimitie as well as mercie in forgiuing him For that indeed is true clemencie in a Prince to forgiue that offence that is committed against his priuat as they call it that is against his owne person rather then that which is done against the law for that is rather parcialitie and iniustice then clemencie Secondly we may obserue both in Zerbino and Isabella a notable example of gratitude toward Orlando first in gathering his dispersed armour next in that Zerbino fought with Mandricardo in defence of Orlandos sword in which conflict he receives his deaths wound and though indeed all that is told of this couple tendeth to a tragicall end yet is it withall set downe by my author in a sort to moue so great compassion that it seemes all that read it are as it were in loue with them and lament their so vnfortunate end which hath made me say sometimes in sport to some of mine honorable frends that if I could without wronging mine author I would surely have saned their liues or giuen them a more fortunate end though to say true sith an end is of necessitie due to all mankind what more honorable death can a Prince have then by a wound in fight specially for a good quarrell what more sweet death then in her beloued armes whom he was bethrothed to and intended to marrie what more happie reward then same and loue in this world and heaven in the next Further though Isabella were after slain by Rodomont in hâ—â— drunkennues as is noted in the xxix booke yet that notable title that is there given her the martir of chastitie makes her so famous and her vertue so admirable as she could never have wisht a better end if she had lived as long as Hecuba Wherefore if it be true that Ouid said of Cadmus Scilicet vltima semper Expect and a dies homini dicique beatus Anteobitum nemo supremaque funera debet In English thus Our onely dying day and end doth show If that a man haue happie beene or no. Then I say by the death of these two though in shew vnfortunate yet in deed most glorious they may be called happie Lastly for the end of this morall we may take one speciall obseruation of great integritie in the religious man that converted her to the faith and yet afterward would not trust himselfe alone with her for in the fleshly conflicts and temptations the onely way to conquer is to play the coward and runne away and thus much for the morall The examples of the vertuous women that are praised by the hermit though not named in the 72. Staffe of this booke are many recited in the Scripture it selfe as namely the blessed virgin Marie Anne and Magdalen all which be tooke themselues most deuoutly to the seruice of God and therefore are worthy to be canonized for examples of chastitie and zeale of religion In the sodaine parting of the fray betweene the two famous riuals onely vpon the commandement of Doralice with whom they were both exceedingly in loue thus allegorically is supposed to be meant that the strongest passions that are as anger and revenge or what else soeuer
are often ouermastered with loue The speech of Isabella to Zerbino wishing to die at the same instant with him alludes to the wish of good Baweis and Philemon Quomam concordes egimus annos Auferat hor a duos eadem nec coniugis vnquam Busta meae videam nee sim tumulandus ab illa Here end the notes of the xxiiij booke THE XXV BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Rogero saueth to his fame and glorie His spouses brother that had else bene ded Who doth recount to him the wofull storie That so great danger vnto him had bred His cousin cheares them though himselfe were sorie Next morne they arme them all from foote to hed Good Malagige and Vivian to releeue Whose thraldome did their kinsmen greatly greeue 1 THe strife is great that grows in youthfull minde When honor falls at variance with affection Nor could it yet be known or well definde Which passion keeps the tother in subiection For both allure both do our iudgements blinde And both corrupt the heart with strong infection Yet lo sometimes these hurts procure our weale Eu'n as one poyson doth another heale 2 For here you see these princes that of late Straue fiercely tone the tother to subdew Agreed to respit this their sharpe debate And to repaire vnto the Turkish crew To succour Agramants distressed state To whom thâ—y ought in dutie to be trew And vet herein loue claimeth halfe the praise For she commanded them to go their wayes 3 And on they went without more disagreeing Faire Doralice with these her seruants twaine The tone in suit one in possession being And yet as then in concord they remaine At last they came vnto a place where seeing Foure knights themselues did solace on a plaine Or which two were vnarmd two armour bare With them a Ladie was of beautie rare 4 With these a while they staid but who these weare And what they did and whither then they went A little while to tell I do forbeare For to Rogero now my tale is ment Who would no more the shield enchanted beare But in the well did drowne it with intent That men might know his valiant deeds of armes Were done by force of vertue not of charmes 5 He scant had gone a mile or little more From this same well but that he met a post From Agramant of which there went good store The Captaines to recall vnto the host He told him how the king besieged sore And like if succour come not to be lost Commanded him as his true Lord and leege To come without delay to raise the seege 6 Much was Rogero with the message moued And diuers passions straue within his minde He faine would haue his Princes seege remoued Yet loth he was to leaue his loue behinde But be his doing praised or reproued He was so to the present cause enclinde First with his guide he goes to stay the slaughter Of him that had deflowrd Marsilios daughter 7 They came vnto the place an houre er night Where this same execution should be done A castle that belongd to Charles of right But late the Spanish king the same had wonne And kept it in the mids of France by might By count'nance of the great Trainos sonne Rogero commeth in and none denyde him Because they knew the damsell that did guide him 8 There first he saw prepard a flaming fire In which they meant to burne the wofull youth He thought so small a sinne did not require Such punishment no more it doth in truth But when he markt his face and his attire And heard and saw the manner of his ruth Now sure I know quoth he I am not I Or this is Bradamant that here should die 9 T is certaine she I see which way it went Belike while I at yonder castle staid She hither came afore me with intent To bring vnto the prisner here some aid For which poore soule her self should now be shent Yet I am glad and very well apaid That I am hither come in so good season To saue her that should die against all reason 10 And euen with that most furiously he files With naked sword vpon the gazing rout Who ouer standeth in his way he dies With so great force he hurles his blade about Then straight the prisners fetters he vnties Nor was there one so hardie or so stout That once durst make resistance or forbid it No not so much as aske him why he did it 11 As fearfull fowle that in the sunshine bright Sit pruning of themselues vpon a banke When as a Faulcon doth among them light Flie without care of order or of ranke So when these caitiues saw this noble Knight Forthwith they from his manly presence shranke So did their fearfull hearts and courage faile them When as they felt Rogero once assaile them 12 No maruell tho for why Rogeros force Was not as mens that now borne later are The strength of Lion Beare or bull or horse Were nothing if with his they do compare And chiefe sith now he doth himselfe inforce To do as much as he or can or dare Hereby from danger thinking to recouer Her vnto whom he was professed louer 13 Now when the youth from danger quite was freed And all that sought his death away were fled He thanks the author of this worthy deed And thanketh her that had him thither led Then when of helpe he stood in greatest need When otherwise he doubtlesse had bin dead And executed like a malefactor Agnizing him his Lord and benefactor 14 And furthermore he doth Rogero pray To let him vnderstand his name and nation Rogero musing to himselfe doth say What meaneth this so strange congratulation In face in shape in gesture in array This is my loue I see no alteration Yet strange it is her voice should be so changed More strange that she from me is so estranged 15 It doubtlesse is not she for if it were Could she within three houres my name forget Wherefore to tell his name he doth forbeare Vntill he may more perfect notice get And thus he said I haue I know not where Seene you ere this and I bethinke me yet Where it might be for sure I know your face Though now I haue forgot the time and place 16 Most noble sir said tother I agree You may haue seene me though I know not when I rather iudge it should my sister be That fights and carries armes as well as men My mother at one birth bare her and me And we be both so like that now and then Our seruants yea our father and our mother Haue tane vs in exchange the tone for tother 17 Chiefly since in her head she had a wound For which she was constraind to cut her haire T were long the circumstances to expound How she was hurt and heald by whom and where Since that betweene vs diffrence none is found Saue sex and names that from our birth we beare She
his absence to endure Yea when his dayes of promise quite were spent Yet still she lookt for him you may be sure And many a time that way she came and went Till by the way at last such news she hard That all the hope she had before was mard 28 For she by chance did meet a Cascoigne knight That in the warres of Africa was caught One that was taken captiue in that fight Then when fore Paris the great field was fought What she requires to know he could recite But carelesse of the other news he brought Of her Rogero chiefly she enquires To heare of him is all that she desires 29 Of whom the knight could let her vnderstand For in that Court he late his life had led How Mandricard and he fought hand to hand And how much blood on either part was shed And though by wounds himselfe in perrill stand That he subdewd his foe and left him ded Now if with this his storie he had ended Rogeros scuse had verie well bin mended 30 But he proceeds to tell how one was theare A Ladie hight Marfisa in the feeld Whose fame for martiall acts did shine most cleare Whose beautie rare to few or none did yeeld Rogero her she held Rogero deare They neuer were asunder or but seeld And that they two as eu'rie one there saith The tone the tother plighted haue their faith 31 And if Rogero once were whole and sound Their wedding should be celebrate with speed That such a paire as yet was neuer found And happie they should come of such a seed How much it ioy'd the Pagan Princes round To thinke vpon the race they two should breed Which likely were all others to excell In feats of arms that erst on earth did dwell 32 The Gascoigne knight of all that he had sed Himselfe had reason to beleeue was sooth So generall a fame thereof was spred There were but few but had it in their mouth Some little kindnesse she did vse had fed Their foolish humors of this false vntrowth Still fame will grow if once abrode it flie Although the ground be troth or be a lye 33 They came indeed together to this fight And many times together they were seene For he was warlike stout and worthy knight And she a gallant faire and daintie Queene By which suspition neuer iudging right Did gather straight they had assured beene And specially because when she departed To visite him she was so soone reuerted 34 Of iust suspect their reason was put slènder If they had weighed well their vertues rate Though of his wounds she seemd to be so tender And of his danger had so great a care Against bad tongues no goodnes can defend her For those most free from faults they least wil spare But prate of them whom they haue scantly knowne And iudge their humors to be like their owne 35 Now when the knight auowd the tale he told And yet in truth you know t' was but a tale The damsels heart was toucht with shiuering cold The little hope she had away it stale Almost in sound her seate she scarce could hold With mourning cheare and face both wan and pale She said no more but mad with griefe and ire Her horse she turnd and homeward did retire 36 And all in armour on her bed she lyes She wisht a thousand times she now were ded She bytes the sheets to dampe her sobs and cries The Gascoigns news still bearing in her hed Her heart is swolne and blubberd be her eyes With trickling teares bedewed is her bed When griefe would be no longer holden in Needs out it must and thus it doth begin 37 Ah wretched me whom might a maiden finde In whom she might be bold to put her trust Since you Rogero mine become vnkinde And tread your faith and promise in the durst You only you mine eye so farre did blinde I still esteemd you faithfull true and iust Ah neuer wench that loued so sincerely Was in requitall punisht so seuerely 38 Why my Rogero why do you forget Sith you in beautie passe each other knight And do in feats of armes such honor get As none can match your chiualrie in fight This golden vertue with the rest to set By which your glorious name wil shine more bright If as in other graces you abound So in your promise constancie were found 39 This is the vertue breeds most estimation By which all other vertues shew more cleare As things most faire do loose their commendation Which by the want of light can not appeare What glorie was it by false protestation Her to deceiue whose Saint and God you were Whom your fair speeches might haue made beleeue That water would be carride in a seeue 40 From any haynous act wouldst thou restraine That murdrest her who beares thee so good will How wouldst thou vse thy foe that thus in paine Dost let thy frend to be tormented still Thou that with breach of faith thy heart dost staine No doubt thou dost not care for doing ill Well this I know that God is euer iust He will er long reuenge my wrongs I trust 41 For why vnthankfulnesse is that great sin Which made the Diuell and his angels fall Lost him and them the ioyes that they were in And now in hell detaines them bound and thrall Then marke the guerdon thou art like to win For why like faults like punishment do call In being thus vnthankfull vnto me That alwayes was so faithfull vnto thee 42 Besides of theft thy selfe thou canst not quit If theft it be to take that is not thine The keeping of my heart no that 's not it That thou shouldst haue it I do not repine Thy selfe thou stalst which I can not remit Thy selfe thou knowst thou art or shouldst be mine Thou knowst damnation doth to them belong That do keepe backe anothers right by wrong 43 Though thou Rogero do forsake me so I can not will nor chuse but loue thee still And since there is no measure of my wo Death is the only way to end mine ill But thus to cut of life and thou my fo It makes me do it with a worser will Yet had I dyde when best I did thee please I should haue counted death no death but ease 44 When with these words she was resolu'd to dy She tooke her sword in hand for that intent And forst her selfe vpon the point to ly Her armour then her purpose did preuent A better spirit checkt her by and by And in her heart this secret reason went O noble Ladie borne to so great same Wilt thou thus end thy dayes with so great shame 45 Nay rather if thou beest resolu'd to dy Vnto the campe why dost thou not repaire Where bodies of braue knights in heaps do ly Lo there to honor the directest staire The losse of life with glorie thou mayst buy To die in thy Rogeros sight were faire And happily by him thou
them sends And some of them doth burn and some doth drown Lo fickle fortune once againe intends To change her cheare and on the French to frowne With agews not with swords they all are slaine Scarce of an hundred one turnes home againe 52 These and such stories had the stately hall In marble rich ingraued on the skreene As were too tedious to recite them all Though then by them they were perusd and seene Their wonder great their pleasure was not small And oft they read the writings were betweene That in faire Roman letters all of gold The circumstance of eu'ry picture told 53 Now when the Ladies faire and all the rest Had seene and askt as much as they desired Their host doth bring them to their roomes of rest Where sleepe renews the strength of bodies tired Onely Duke Ammons daughter could not rest Though bed were soft room warm and wel attired Yet still she tost from left side to the right And could not sleepe one winke all that same night 54 With much ado her eyes at last she closed Not much afore the dawning of the day And as she slept she in her sleepe supposed Rogero present was and thus did say My deare what ailes thee to be thus disposed That false beleefe in thee doth beare such sway First shall the riuers to the mountaines clime Ere I will guiltie be of such a crime 55 Beside she thought she heard him thus to say Lo I am come to be baptizd my loue And that I seemd my comming to delay Another wound and not a wound of loue Hath bene the cause of my constrained stay Suspitions vaine and causlesse feare remoue With this the damsell wakt and vp she started But found her dreame and louer both departed 56 Then freshly she doth her complaints renew And in her mind thus to her selfe she spake Lo what I like are dreames vaine and vntrue And in a moment me do quite forsake But ah what me offends is to to true I dreame of good but none I find awake How are mine eyes alas in so ill taking That closd see good and nought but euill waking 57 Sweet dreame did promise me a quiet peace But bitter waking turneth all to warre Sweet dreame deluded me and soone did cease But bitter waking plagues and doth not arre If falshood ease and truth my paines increase I wish my selfe from truth I still might barre If dreames breed ioy and waking cause my paine Ay might I dreame and neuer wake againe 58 Oh happie wights whom sleepe doth so possesse As in six months you neuer open eye For sure such sleepe is like to death I guesse But waking thus is not like life thinke I How strange are then the pangs that me oppresse That sleeping seeme to liue and waking die But if such sleepe resemblance be of death Come death and close mine eies and stop my breath 59 Now were those Easter parts of heau'n madered Where Phoehus beames do first begin appeare And all the thicke and rainie clouds were fled And promised a morning faire and cleare When Bradamant forsooke her restlesse bed And giuing for her lodging and good cheare Right curteous thanks vnto her noble host She leaues his house and minds to part in post 60 But first she found how that the damsell faire The messenger that supt with her last night Was gone before with purpose to repaire To those three knights that lately felt her might When she did cause them caper in the aire Driu'n without stirrops from their steeds to light She found they had all night to their great paine Abid the wind the tempest and the raine 61 And that which greatly did increase their griefe Was that while those within had cheare great store They and their horse lackt lodging and reliefe But that which did offend their stomacks more And was indeed of all their sorrows chiefe Was least the maid of whom I spake before Would tell their mistresse of their hard mischance They had at their arriuall first in France 62 And hauing full resolued and designd To die or venge the foile receau'd last night To th' end the messenger might change her mind The messenger that Vilania hight Who thought their force and valew farre behind The vaunts that they had made of their great might Therefore as soone as Bradamant they spied Straight each of them to combat her defied 63 Not thinking though she should a damsell be For of a damsell gesture none she vsed The Ladie gently spake vnto them three And thought her hast the fight might haue excused But they did vrge her still so farre that she Without disgrace could not haue it refused Wherefore she coucht the golden headed launce And from their saddles made them all to daunce 64 And for that time thus ended was that fray For she sets spurs to horse and rode so post That ere they rose she quite was gone away They that their seats had twise togither lost Were so ashamd they knew not what to say For why they wonted were to make their bost No knight of France should able be to stand Against the worst of them with speare in hand 65 But Vllania further them to taunt That Bradamant a Ladie was them told Now sirs said she you that were wont to vaunt From Pālladins to win the shield of gold Lo how a womans forces can you daunt Now is I hope your loftie courage cold Sure for those knights you be too weake a match When one poore damsell you can ouermatch 66 What need said she be furder triall had You haue alreadie that for which you came Except that any of you be so mad To ioyne a future losse to present shame Or if perhaps ye would be faine and glad To end your liues by men of worthy fame Trow you that vanquisht are by womans hand Renaldo or Orlando to withstand 67 Now when as Vllanie declared had How that a damsell them had ouerthrowne With griefe and with disdaine they were so mad That scarse their wits and senses were their own Each one himselfe of armour all vnclad Their horse turnd loose their swords away were throwne And vowd for penance of so great disgrace To tuch no armour in a twelue-months space 68 They further vow they ne're will ride againe No not when that same yeare should be expired Although the way were mountany or plaine And though the way were grauelly or myred Vntill they could by force of arms regaine Such horses as for seruice are required And furniture for three such champions meet Till then they vowd to trauell on their feet 69 Thus wilfully they walkt while others rode But Bradamant went on and that same night She at a castle maketh her abode Neare to the way that leads to Paris right Heare by her host the Ladie faire was showd How Agramant was vanquisht in the fight Good meat good lodging and good news she had Yet eat she not nor slept nor
in countenance with bashfull grace And oft his heart shot blood into his face 14 Yea feare inuaded him not feare of danger For force he feared not of any wight Of Turke nor Christen countryman or stranger The very cause of this his dolefull plight Was loue for loue feares nothing more then anger He doubts least she conceiu'd not of him right Thus wauing thoughts his mind do both waies cary If so he better were to go or tary 15 The while Marfisa that was present there And euer had a forward will to iust Could now no longer from the same forbeare Though seeing some before her lie on dust For all their fals did breed in her no feare So much in her great value she did trust Wherefore least good Rogero might preuent her First she rides forth and in the lists doth enter 16 And mounted on her horse came swiftly running Vnto the place where Bradamant did stay With panting heart to wait Rogeros comming With mind to take him prisner if she may She thinks how she might guide her staffe with cunning As with her stroke do him least hurt she may Thus commeth out Marfisa nothing fearing Vpon her loftie crest the Phenix bearing 17 Or that thereby to bost her strength she ment Of her rare strength of which the tooke some pride Or else thereby to note her chast intent She had a warlike virgine still to bide But Bradamant who first to meet her went And not to be Rogero now espide Did aske her name and by her name she knew That this was she that made her loue vntrew 18 Or to say better whom she did surmise To be the sole withholder of her deare Her whom she hates gainst whom her blood doth rise And minding now to make her buy it deare With furie great and rage at her she flies And that she may make all suspitions cleare With couched speare she fiercely runneth on her And meanes to kill her or to die vpon her 19 Marfisa was constrained with the stroke To kisse the ground as those before her had Which to such rage her courage did prouoke That with disdaine she seemd as one halfe mad Nor knowing how so great a foile to cloke She drawes her sword with an intention bad But Bradamant cry'th out with lostie hart What dost thou traitor thou my prisner art 20 And though I vsed curtsie to the rest To vse it vnto thee I am not tide Whosemind as I haue heard is eu'n a nest Wherein is bred all villanie and pride Looke how great waters rage and do not rest When as the winds do striue against the tide So rag'd Marfisa rather more then lesse And for meere spite could not a word expresse 21 But hurles about her blade with all her force Not caring what she strikes nor where nor how Vpon the horseman or vpon the horse Her rage in her no reason did allow And Bradamant as void of all remorse With mind to breake that that refuld to bow Ranne at her with the speare that would not misse And made her once againe the ground to kisse 22 But once againe vpon her feet she getteth And with her sword reuengement she intends Each fall she hath her furie sharper whetteth Yet still she fals and can haue none amends Nor goldelance his wonted force forgetteth For all it touches to the ground it sends Had not the speare bene as it was inchaunted It could not so Marfisas force haue daunted 23 Some of our men were hither come the while I meane some of the Christen host that lay Encamped neare the towne within a mile So as the wals of Arlie see they may And thinking for her sex did them beguile Some knight of theirs maintaind so great a fray They thither came with will and with delight To see so fierce and well maintaind a fight 24 Whom when as Agramant from far espide And thinks they came to bring their knight assistance He thought it best in wisedome to prouide If they should offer force to make resistance Wherefore he pointed some that of their side May stand from that same place a little distance Of this last crew Rogero was the first With whom the damsell so to fight did thirst 25 And seeing now how fierce the combat gro'th Betwixt these two to whom he wisht none ill Although in sundry kinds he fauord both For tone was loue the tother bare good will To suffer them to fight he was full loth Although for honors sake he must be still Else sure he could haue found it in his hart To step betweene them and the fray to part 26 But they that with him from the citie came And saw the Christen champion was so strong Stept in betwixt her and the tother dame And so withdrew Marfisa them among Which act the other Christens did inflame So that with mind to venge so foule a wrong They stept in to thus both sides cride alarme And soone the skirmish waxed fresh and warme 27 Such as before were armed out do runne They that vnarmed were their armor take And some runne out on foot on horseback some Each to his standerd doth himselfe betake The diuers sound of trumpet and of drum That doth the horsemen this the footmen wake But Bradamant is malcontent and wrath To thinke Marfisa thus escaped hath 28 Then lookt she wishly all about the place To find out him that caused all her care At last she knew him though not by his face Yet by the argent â—agle that he bare And viewing well his person and good grace His goodly stature and his feature rare She rag'd to thinke another should possesse it And in these secret words she doth expresse it 29 Shall any other then that sweetlip kisse And I in loue thereof stil mourne and pine Shall any other then possesse my blisse Shalt thou anothers be if none of mine No certes rather then to suffer this Thou by my hand shalt die or I by thine If in this life we shall be ioyned neuer Death onely be the meane to ioyne vs euer 30 Although that thou shouldst fortune me to kill Thy death by right should pacifie my spirit For lawes appoint who guiltlesse blood do spill Shall for reward the doome of death inherit Yet still I shall sustaine the greater ill For I should guiltlesse die but thou by merit I killing thee kill one that hates me meerly Thou killing me kilst one that loues thee deerly 31 Why shouldst not thou my hand be strong and bold That by thy stroke his hard heart may be riuen Who vnto me sharpe wounds and manifold In time of loues sweet peace and truce hath giuen And doth eu'a now with stonie heart behold The wofull state to which poore I am driuen Heart now be stout to take thy iust reuenge Let this one death thy thousand deaths auenge 32 With that at him she runs but first aloud Defend thy selfe Rogero false she said And think
discourse to this they all agreed And she then on her tale did thus proceed 35 This Marganor that makes full many weepe Was bloodie from his buth by disposition But yet a while he did dislemble deepe That of the same there was but some suspition His sonnes did make him it the closer keepe Because they were of contrarie condition Both bouÌ„teous frank curteous of good qualitie Of strangers louers and of hospitalitie 36 Faire dames and knights that hapt to passe this way Were still by them so frendly entertained That by such kind of curteous vâ—age thay The loue and praise of eu'rie one had gained Their honors also farther to display The sacred right of knighthood they obtained Both stout both strong comly and of good stature Not wanting ornaments of art or nature 37 Cylandro and Tanacro nam'd they are And long they liu'd with no dishonor stained And longer had if they had bene so ware As not in Cupids snares to haue bene trained This foolish passion foyld all their welfare The passion men call loue this them constrained To change the worthie course they had begonne And do that by the which they were vndonne 38 It happend that there thither came a knight Belonging to this Emperour of Greece Who brought with him a Ladie faire and bright Of good behauour and a louely peece With whom Cylandro fell in loue that night And fully bent of her to haue a fleece He thought her beautie so possest his hart That he should surely dye if she depart 39 And for he deemd it labour lost to pray To open force he doth himselfe dispose And secretly all armd vnto the way Where tother needs must passe asore he goes And seeing him he would no longer stay But trusting to his manhood comes to bloes Not seeking vantage but with lance to lance He minds to trie of fight the doubtfull chance 40 Not thinking though but with his suer running To beat him downe and beare away his wife But this same knight that in this art was cunning Did pierce his shield and rest him of his life The newes hereof vnto his father comming Fild all the court with plaints and sorows rife At last when long the time had bene deferred By his great ancestors they him inteâ—ed 41 Nor did this foule mishap and ill successe Make Marganor to minish ought his port Tanacro still did courtesie professe To strangers all and vsd them in good sort But loe it chanc't within a yeare and lesse A noble Baron thither did resort A comely man of personage to see With him a Ladie faire as faire might be 42 And to her beautie her behauour fitted Her looks are modest manners sober are Her words are ware and shew her sharply witted Likewise her Lord himselfe most comely bare As fit to whom the charge should be committed Of one in shape and qualities so rare He hight Olindro Lord of Longauilla The louely Lady named was Drusilla 43 No lesse Tenacro doted on this Dame Then had his brother done on that before But that foule end to which his brother came Made him more warie though not honest more By former good report that bred him fame And all his passed praise he sets no store Be fame be vertue troden in the dust So he may but fulfill his present lust 44 Thus caring onely to auoyd the danger In which he saw before his brother dyde He secretly that night way-laid the stranger There as he knew next day he needs must ride Not meaning his owne person to endanger In fine the Baron that to saue his bride Did stoutly giue and take full many a wound At last they left foule murderd on the ground 45 Drusilla se'ing her deare Olindro ded In deadly sound vnto the ground she sanke But thence in curteous sort the men her led WhoÌ„ to haue kild her she would giue more thanke But griefe in her such will to die had bred That wilfully she leapt downe from a banke To kill her selfe but poore soule could not dy But all her head and face was brusd thereby 46 Tanacro gets some surgeons and Phisicions To looke vnto her health and hurts to cure He causeth her to heare most rare musicions To cheare her heart and solace to procure He maks great brags of her so chast conditions With mind by marriage to make her sure He thinks a woman of so vertuous life Must not be termd a lemman but a wife 47 To marrie her he inwardly intends This outwardly in shew he doth make knowne And euermore he highly her commends And though her griefe was by his doings growne He saith he will for this make large amends And that he will her loue and be her owne But still the more that on that point he grateth The more in heart she him detests and hateth 48 But yet her hate did not so blind her wit But that to keepe it close she tooke good heed She knew full well she must dissemble it If she will be reuengd of him indeed Wherefore vntill the time may serue her fit She seemes vnto his meaning halfe agreed And did in shew the same so smoothly carrie That lastly the consented him to matrie 49 Sweet peace and loue were written in her eyes Reuenge and hate were in her heart engraued To kill him in her thought she doth deuise When with most kindnesse she her selfe behaued He needs must die needs die in any wise But eu'n thus long to liue of God she craued How can I better end my life she seth Then in reuenging my deare husbands deth 50 Thus seeming to forget all former wrong She chearfully expects the wedding day As though that she did for this marriage long And so she did although another way She shortens all that might the time prolong And paints her selfe and tricks her trim and gay She onely crau'd thus much for Christ his passion She might be marry'd of her country fashion 51 Not that her speech herein indeed was trew That such the custome was as she pretended But she doth mind to forge a custome new With trust assuredly to be reuenged On him that her beloued husband slew Reuenge reuenge was all that she intended She pray'th she might obserue her countrie guise Which in this sort she doth to them deuise 52 The widdow that to marrie new intends According as our countrie law allows Must first appease the ghost whom she offends I meane saith she that of her former spouse And make vnto his spirit some amends By Dirges trentals masles pray'rs and vows In that same Church whereas his bones be resting Then may she marrie new without molesting 53 But when of her new spouse she takes the ring The Priest in sight of all that stand about Of hallowd wine a bottle then must bring And in the Challice he must powre it out Then ouer it he must both say and sing Effectual prayrs and Psalmes and hymnes deuout Then must the woman take it of
the Vicker And drinke vnto her spouse the blessed licker 54 Tanacro liketh well of this her motion Respecting little how much it imported To let her marrie with so strange deuotion He onely wisht to haue the season shorted And not mistrusting that same hallowd potion To cut of all delays he her exhorted Each makes like hast though sundry in cōstruction He to her wedding she to his destruction 55 Among her women seruants that were theare Drusilla had one old ilfauord trot She calleth her and bad her in her eare That some strong sodaine poyson may be got You know said the to get it how and wheare Conuay it safe into some pretie pot For I quoth she haue found the way and skill The wicked sonne of Marganor to kill 56 And doubt not I know how to saue vs both As I will let thee know at better leasure The woman doth the feat though seeming loth Saue onely that it was her mistres pleasure Then for a cup of Candie wine she goth And mingles this and that in so due measure As made it with but little alteration Not sowre in tast yet sure in operation 57 Now came Drusilla on the wedding day With gorgeous gowns and costly iewels dect There where Olindros corps intombed lay Raisd high on collumns as she did direct The Priest began the solemne Masse to say To which came great resort without suspect And Marganor himselfe now most contenting Came with his son and frends the place frequenting 58 When all the solemne rites to end were brought Then in a cup of massie gold and fine The Priest powrd out as she before had taught The cursed poyson with the blessed wine She soberly drinks a conuenient draught Inough to do the feat she did designe Then to Tanacro with a louely cheare She gaue it who supt vp the challice cleare 59 And rendring then the challice to the Frire He thought in open arms her to embrace But then she sodainly began retire Then her sweet looks and words so full of grace Were gone her eyes did seeme to flame like fire Then wrath and spite were written in her face She cries with grisly looke and voice vnpleasant Anaunt and touch not me thou traitor peasant 60 Thoughtst thou of me solace to haue and sport And bring me cause of torment teares and woe No now I trow that I haue cut thee short That drinke was poyson if you do not know But ah this death is of too gentle sort And I too noble hangman am I trow A hangman ought with halter stop thy breath This was for thee too honorable death 61 My onely sorrow is that ere I dyde My sacrifice was not in full perfection And that thy wicked sire and more beside Did not with thee tast of that strong confection But pardon me my deare dead spouse she cride If I haue fayld for fault of good direction If I perhaps haue not done all I should do Yet sure I haue performed all I could do 62 And looke what I do want in all or part In working him torture condigne and shame I hope the world to come with greater smart Will pay it him and I shall see the same Thus much she said and then with chearfull hart Still calling on her former spouses name Take here in worth said she this sacrifice That thy poore wife did for thy sake deuise 63 And of our Lord for me a place obtaine In Paradise with thy most blessed spirit And if he say that none must there remaine But they that by good works the same inherit Tell him I haue a cruell tyrant slaine Of tyrants death I bring with me the merit To kill a tyrant what can be more glorious Or in the sight of God more meritorious 64 Thus much she said and fell dead therewithall And being dead she kept a chearfull looke And sure to her the comfort was not small That for her spouse so sharpe reuenge she tooke I know not if Tanacro in his fall Did follow her or else her ouertooke He ouertooke her sure as may be thought That dranke the bottome and the greater draught 65 Fell Marganor that heard his sonnes last grone And seeing him lie dead past all reliefe Made at the first so great and grieuous mone As though he would haue dide of very griefe Two sons he had of late now hath he none Two women had hereof bin causes chiefe One mou'd the first to hazard life the tother With her owne hands gaue poison to his brother 66 Loue pitie griefe disdaine and hate and wrath Desire of death and of reuenge together The dolefull parent so inraged hath Like to the roring seas in fowlest wether Faine to Drusilla he would do some scath But she was dead before yet goes he thether As blinded hate did him still forward pricke He seeks to harme the corse that was not quicke 67 Eu'n as a snake whom speate to ground doth naile Doth bite the steele and wood that sense hath none Or as a dog that doth a man asfaile If one do fling at him a sticke or stone Doth runne and bite the same without auaile Till he that hurled it is past and gone So Marganor more fierce then dog or snake Seeks on the senslesse corse reuenge to take 68 And when that harrying it and all to tearing Could not in any part his wrath asswage Eu'n in the Church on vs no such thing fearing He drawes his sword and in his senslesse rage Doth hew and mangle women none forbearing For dignitie for beautie nor for age While we cried out and at his furie wondred He thirtie kild and hurt and maimd an hundred 69 So sorely of his people he is dreaded That no man dare against his acts oppose him Vnto his will he is so firmely wedded That for the time starke mad ye would suppose him Who would reforme him hangd shall be headed For guerdon of his paine when once he knows him His seruants do as doth the prouerbe say When furie runs le ts furie haue her sway 70 But when at last himselfe was almost tired With killing vs though voyd of all remorce Then by his friends request he was desired And as it were constraind by honest force And to his castle he himselfe retired Appointing there this law of our diuorce And clemencie forsooth he doth it call In that he did forbeare to kill vs all 71 Thus whether they obeyd or else repined Men are from wiues babes frō their dames deuided And hither all the women be confined This towne of purpose is for vs prouided Where if that any man to loue inclined And by a good and kind affection guided Come but to see his wife and thereby show it Wo be to him if Marganor may know it 72 And worse then this he hath ordaind an order Such one I thinke was neuer heard before All women that are tane within his border Must first be whipt with rods till they
concurrere virgo She that in compasse of buls hide c. That was Dido The storie is well knowne of Pigmalions crueltie in mardering Sycheus for hope of his money but Dido warned in a dreame by the gift of Sycheus tooke away all the gold and fled with diuers confederates to Lybia in Affrik and there bargained to buy as much ground as she could compasse with a buls hide which bargain being made she cut the hide into an infinit company of smal thongs and so built the famous city of Carthage within that coÌ„passe as Virgil noteth Mercatique locum facti de nomine Birsen Taurino quantum poterant circundare tergo Zenobia Queene of the Palmirens widow or as we call it dowager of Odenatus She rebelled against the Romaine Empire and fought many battels very prosperously but afterward by Aurelianus she was besieged in the citie of Palmira and in her flight from thence she was taken and brought to Rome in Triumph She that lnde and Assure frayd this was Symiramis wife of Nynus who was a notable warrier had not her vnbridled lust of the flesh stained the honour of her other vertues which as it became her owne destruction so it hath left a notable example to all other Princes of her sex to take heed and eschew the like infamie and specially though they be aboue all positiue lawes yet not to pollute the laws of nature In that it is said Marfisa and Bradamant put off their bases therewith to hide the priuities of the damsels it may thereby be vnderstood that the vertues of some excellent women are so great as not onely serue themselues to make them famous and most honorable but also extend themselues so farre as to serue to hide and couer the deformitie of others not so well apparelled with the garments of honor and so as it were with works of supererogation beautifie those that had defects of their owne Concerning the great praise mine author ascribeth to Madam Vittoria Whose learned pen such priuiledge can giue As it can cause those that are dead to liue And for that cause preferreth her before Porcia wife of Brutus and a diuers others that died voluntarie soone after their husbands it was because she wrote some verses in manner of an Epitaph vpon her husband after his decease In which kind that honorable Ladie widow of the late Lord Iohn Russell deserueth no lesse commendation hauing done as much for two husbands And whereas my author maketh so great bost onely of our learned woman in Italie I may compare besides one aboue all comparison that I haue noted in the twentith booke three or foure in England out of one family and namely the sisters of that learned Ladie as witnesse that verse written by the meanest of the foure to the Ladie Burlie which I doubt if Cambridge or Oxford can mend Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti Tu bona tu melior tu mihi sola â—oror Sin malè ceslando retines trans mare mittis Tu mala tu peior ta mihi nulla soror Is si Cornubiam tibi pax sit omnia laeta Sin mare Ciciliae nuncio bella Vale. In the 14 staffe And if the great Macedon enuie bare Vnto Achilles for Meonian lyre c. This place M. Alexander Neuell imitated in his verses vpon Sir Philip Sidneys funerals with farre sharper conceit then mine author here vseth it For whereas the now King of Scotland had written among that pretie Epitaph of the foresand Knight Vidit vt extinctum nuper Citherea Philippum Fleuit hunc Martem credidit esse suum Abripuit digitis gemmas collóque monile Martriterum nunquam seu placitura foret Mortuus humana qui lusit imagine diuam Quid faceret iam sivideret ille rogo To this effect in English When Venus saw the noble Sidney dying She thought it her beloued Mars had beene And with the thought thereof she fell a crying And cast away her rings and carknet cleene He that in death a goddesse mockt and grieued What had he done trow you if he had liued The verse hath a fine conceipt and perhaps better then it showes for Now as I say M. Neuell praising Sir Philip Sidney in the like manner vseth the like application as mine author doth in this place preferring his fortunatenesse in this kinde before his whom Alexander enuieth for he saith as I remember Plectra canant alios cecinerunt sceptra Philippum Ista coronatis sunt carmina digna cothurnis Harps other praise a scepter his doth sing Of crowned Poet and of Laureat king Concerning the tale of Drusilla it is taken out of Plutarke and thought a true Story it is both in the Courtier of Castaglion and in Apuleius but somewhat amplified by mine author The end of the annotations vpon the 37. booke THE XXXVIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Marfisa doth present her selfe before King Charles and in his presence is baptized Astolfo doth Senapos sight restore By whom such hardie feats are enterprised That Agramant therewith molested sore Is by Sobrino finally aduised To make a challenge on Rogeros hed To end the troubles that the warre had bred 1 FAire Ladies you with gracious eare that heare My present storie now me seemes I see By this vnwóted changing of your cheare That with Rogero you offended be For thus againe departing from his deare And that you take the same as ill as she As though you thought and durst affirme it boldly That fire of loue in him did burne but coldly 2 And sure had he bin moued hereunto By any other cause then that I told No though thereby he had attained to Rich Crassus wealth or richer Cresus gold Yet would I thinke as now it seemes ye do Loues darts in him had tane but shallow hold For so sweet ioy as this was to be thought With gold nor siluer neuer could be bought 3 But when ones honour shall thereon depend Then should it merit not excuse but praise And chiefe when one so truly may pretend He cannot saue his honor otherwayes And that same woman that herselfe should bend To stop the same by prayre or by delayes Should giue iust cause to eu'rie one to guesse Her loue were little or her wit were lesse 4 For if a woman should of him she loues Esteeme the life and safetie as her owne I speake of such whose choice no change remoues And whose affections are not rashly growne Then sure much more in reason it behoues That of his honour should more care be showne By how much more it should in due account Both pleasures all and life it selfe surmount 5 In following of his Lord so faithfully Rogero did but eu'n as he was bound And if he should haue left him then thinke I He should haue done it but on slender ground What though Almonti made his father die On Agramant that fault could not redound Who had for all his ancestors offences
to haue the vpper hand By this deuice and herein follow me Put all the quarrels triall if you can To one and let Rogero be the man 63 I know and you do know and so we all Do know that our Rogero hath such might No Christen can so sturdie be or tall As hand to hand to conquer him in fight But if you meane to make warre generall Though he in strength far passe each other knight Yet in the fight he but for one can stand And what is one against a mightie band 64 I thinke it best if so you thinke it good To offer this to Charles that if he will If with his worthie courage so it stood For sauing those whom you on both sides kill And shunning of the shedding guiltlesse blood Which both of you on each side dayly spill Each side to chuse one champion at whose parrell To make a full conclusion of the quarrell 65 Prouided first that which so ere of these Shall dye his Prince shall pay the tother tribute I know this motion will not Charles displease For all his Lords will there-vnto contribute And this would worke our safetie and our ease For to Rogero so much I attribute That such his vallew is this cause so iusâ— Were Mars Antagonist yet yeeld heâ—â—â—st 66 These words Sobrino spake with such effect As Agramant thereto gaue his consent And then Interpreters he did direct Who straight to Charles with such a challenge went Charles meanes not such occasion to neglect He thinks the combat wonne incontinent He had such store of champions nere the latter Vnto Renaldo he commits the matter 67 Glad were both armies of this new accord Henceforth to liue in quiet they intend And either part doth praise his soueraigne Lord That of these broyles would make so speedie end Each one in mind these foolish bralls abhord That made them thus in warres their dayes to spend Each man could say and no man then denyd it That warre is sweet to those that haue not tryd it 68 Renaldo he in mind doth much reioyse To thinke his Prince had done him such a grace To make of him aboue so many choyse For triall of â—o great importing case And though Rogero were by common voyce The chiefe man deemd of all the Turkish race And hand to hand had killed Mandricard Renaldo this but little did regard 69 But good Rogero he was nothing glad Though of so many gallant men and stout His king to his great praise him chosen had Aboue all other knights and pikt him out His heart was heauie and his looke was sad Not that in mind he ought did dread or doubt Renaldos forces or Orlandos either No scarse and if they had beene both togither 70 But this procur'd his griefe because he knew Renaldo brother was vnto his deare Who did her plaints with letters oft renew And charged him so deepe as toucht him neare Now if he should to old wrongs adde this new To kill Renaldo then the case is cleare She should haue so great reason to reproue him He doubts she neuer will hereafter loue him 71 Now if Rogero do in silent sort Lament this combat tane against his will No doubt his spouse which heard this sad report Was worse appaid then he at least as ill She beats her brest and breakes her tresses short And many teares with sorrow she did spill And calls Rogero oftentimes vngrate And curseth euermore her cruell fate 72 It needs must turne vnto her griefe and paine Who ere is ouercome who euer win She dare not thinke Rogero can be slaine Her heart such anguish doth conceiue therein And if it pleased Christ so to ordaine For chastising his wretched peoples sin That man should dye that of her house was chiefe Besides his death that brought a further griefe 73 A griefe that was indeed beyond all measure To thinke she neuer might henceforth for shame Go to her spouse without the flat displeasure Of all her kin and house of whence she came And when she weigh'd the case at better leasure Each thing to her seemd worse and worse to frame For why she knew her tongue that knot had tyde That while she liu'd might neuer loose nor slide 74 But that deare frend of hers that neuer faild To helpe at chiefest needs the noble maid I meane the sage Melissa so preuaild That Bradamantés griefe was part alaid For when she knew the cause and what she aild Against the time she promised her aid And vndertooke that of that bloudy quarrell To her nor hers there should ariâ—e no parrell 75 This while the gallant knights against the fight Themselues and eke their weapons do prouide The choise whereof did appertaine in right Vnto the champion of the Christen side Who as a man that tooke but small delight Since he had lost his famous horse to ride Did chuse to fight on foot and in this sort All arm'd with axes long and daggers short 76 Or were it chance or were it in regard That Malagige aduised him thereto Because he knew the force of Balysard Or powre all charms of armour to vndoe Of whose sharpe edge you haue ere this time hard But this they did appoint betweene then two About the place likewise they do agree A plaine neare Arlie walls the same to be 77 Now when Aurora left the lothed bed Oâ— Tytan vnto whom she hath no list To th' end that no disorder may be bred On either side the marshalls partâ— he list At end whereof were rich pauillions spred Where nothing that belongs to stare was mist And distant from each tent a little space On either side they did an altar place 78 Not long time after this in battell ray The Turkish armie with their king came out Glistring in gold and stately rich aray In show with all Barbarian pompe set out A swift Arabian horse of colour bay He rode and by his side Rogero stout Rode cheeke by cheeke and to his greater same On him to wait Marsilio thought no shame 79 His helmet for the which the Tartar dyde Slaine by Rogero as I did rehearse Which since a thousand yeares and more beside Was celebrated in more stately verse Marsilio carrid by Rogeros side Well mounted on a Spanish genet fearce His arms and all that did thereto belong Some other states deuided them among 80 On tother side came worthie Charlemayne From out his tents strongly intrencht anone And all his bands of men he did ordayne So as if to battell he should then haue gone About him was of Peers a noble trayne Renaldo in the mids with armour on That onely helmet erst from Mambryn tane Was by Vggero borne the noble Dane 81 Two axes both alike in each respect Salemon and Duke Namus beare before The Chieftaines on each side their men direct To keepe within their limits euermore And in the midst was left a large prospect Betweene each company and roome good store
there with much a do are glad and faine To catch some burning boord and being loth To dye of either death they dye of both 84 Some one for feare of sword or axe or pike Doth all in vaine vnto the sea betake him For why some stone or arrow or such like Ere he be farre from thence doth ouertake him But least the reader haply may mislike My too long tale this motion I would make him That to another season he defarre To heare the sequell of this bloudy warre In Rogeros irresolute fighting may be noted how necessary it is for a man before he go to fight to put on a good and firme resolution and chiefly of the goodnes of his cause In Agramants breach of the oth and promise we may see how odious a thing it is before God and man to be Foedifragi Truce-breakers which maketh them indeed to be forsaken of their frends prosecuted with great malice of their enemies lothed detested and scorned of their owne subiects and in the end breeds their vtter confusion In that Agramants souldiers do mutine against him and reuile him secretly and he notwithstanding thinkes himselfe to be well beloued of them and well thought of we may see in what a lamentable case those Princes are that as is said of them Neuer see lookes but fawningly disguised Neuer heare words but fayningly deuised Of the Historie of this booke first for Sileno that was Virgils Schoolemaster it is written of him he was one day laid to sleep after he had bene made drunke with wine and his schollers merily bound him wherupon he waking said that verse Soluite me pueri satis est potuisse videri Concerning this great battell at Arlie certaine it is as diuers Historiographers haue noted it that there remaine to this home great heapes of bones betokening some great slaughter of men in that place but when it should be done I cannot precisely affirme In that Mehsla by the helpe of the deuill taking vpon her a false image of Rodomont moued Agramant to breake truce the Allegorie thereof is that they be diuels or diuellish persons that will moue Princes to breake their word and their promise Of Orlandos restoring to his wit which indeed is the chiefe Allegorie of all the booke and where-upon the booke taketh thâ— name Orlando Furioso this in briefe is the meaning thereof Orlando a man of noble birth Erle of Auglant nephew to Charles the great falls so farre in loue with Angelica by which as I haue often noted is meant pleasure or honor that he leeseth his wits and becomes mad by which may be meant any sâ—lly that young men fall into with loue with prodigalitie with ambition or vaine studies which are at large recited in the 34. booke Astolfo with the receit he had of S. Iohn makes him wise againe that is by the grace of God and by the Gospell which teacheth vs how to despise all these worldly things and either quite leaue them or turne them to our good and benefite The sea fight which is in the later end of this booke described is like that which Lucan sets forth in the ciuil wars between Caesar and Pompey or rather indeed to that he speaks of in the next book of Cardinal Hippolito against the Venetians Here end the annotations vpon the 39. booke THE XL. BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Great Agramant doth fly and in his flight Would kill himselfe but Sobrin him forbode Biserta being fir'd a wofull sight At last they meet Gradasso in a rode They send a challenge three to three to fight Vnto Orlando where he then abode Rogero fights with Dudon to set free Seu'n kings whom bound in chaines he chaunst to see 1 T Were long my Lord to tell of all that fought In that sea fight and certes all the while That I should tell it you I should be thought To beare pots as they say to Samos I le Where earthen vessels in great store are wrought Or Owles to Athens Crocodils to Nyle For more then can of this by me be told Your selfe haue caused many to behold 2 Your faithfull people had a long prospect When all a day vpon the streame of Poe Your men as your great vallew did direct The shipping of your foes assaulted so That with their blood the streame they did infect And brought vpon them all a world of woe Then both your selfe and others plaine did see How sundry deaths in fights of sea there be 3 It was not then indeed my hap to see 't Sent then to Rome six dayes before in post To craue then at the holy fathers feet Reliefe and aid against so great an host And in that time your grace with them did meet In such a sort so sorely to their cost And so you par'd the Lyons teeth and pawes That since that time to feare we had no cause 4 But Aifonsin and Mâ—ore that saw the same Aâ—sranio Anniball and Lerbinet Albert and Baygn and three that beare my name Declar'd to me the conquest you did get Also their banners monuments of fame Which offerd in the Churches you did set With fifteene Gallies tane a thousand botes Of that rich conquest giue vs open notes 5 He that had seene the fire and wondrous wreake That at that time was wrought vpon your foes When for your few their many were too weake He might describe the deaths and diuers woes Of Agramantés host of which I speake And of their great and grieuous ouerthrowes Then when amids the surging waues and salt Stout Dudon in the night did them assault 6 When first the fight began the night was darke But when the flame vpon the pitch tooke hold The fire gaue light and did so clearly sparke That Agramant might plainly now behold His enemies and their great number marke Incredible if any had it told Wherefore in season to preuent the worst He changd the course he had intended furst 7 And chusing out a vessell swift of sayle And placing there his things of greatest price With Brigliadore sith all hope now doth fayle To steale from thence he closlie doth deuise And while that Dudon doth his men assayle In all the hast he can away he flyes His men the sword the sea the fire destroyes And he is fled that caused their annoyes 8 And in that Barke with him Sobrino fled Who much complaind and was not little greeued That that which he before so truly sed Yet then by Agramant was not beleeued But tell we now how good Astolfo sped And what exploits Orlando had atcheeued Who counseld so to raze Biserta towne That it might neuer noy th' Imperiall crowne 9 And so it was in publicke sort proclaymd That the third day th' assault they should expect Astolfo had some ships before ordaynd For Dudon had not all for this effect And these same ships with Sansonet remaynd A man that could by sea and land direct Who rode at
of that same stocke descended right That had their ofspring from the serpents iaw From whence the Fairy eake that Manto hight And built our Citie doth her lynage draw This knight that was Adonio cald by name Was much enamord on the louely dame 70 And that he might attaine this Ladies loue He doth begin to spend beyond all measure In clothes in feasts his calling far aboue In showes in playes to do his mistres pleasure To beare the charge thereof it would behoue To haue that Emperour Tiberius treasure So as I weene ere winters twaine were past His lands were quite consum'd he spent so fast 71 Wherefore compeld to strike his loftie sayles He sodainly surceast his stately port The house now that the Lords reuenue fayles Stood solitarie quite without resort There were no Feasants Partriges nor Quayles His pittance now was growne but bare and short And he that earst was king of all this feasting Playd least in sight now doubting of arresting 72 And therefore lothing to be knowne or seen He purposd in this place not long to tarrie But with a minde to leaue his country cleen He stale away fro thence all solitarie Her onely loue that of his heart was Queen In all his woes he still with him doth carrie But lo when as his Ebb did seeme most low Good fortune made his tyde most high to flow 73 For as he wanderd here and there abroad He saw how that a sturdie clowne and stout With sturdie staffe layd on no little load Vpon a bush still beating there about Adonio in the place makes some aboad And ask the cause of that same country lout Who told him that a monstrous snake and huge Had taken that same bush for a refuge 74 And told him further he that stir did make With minde to finde and kill it ere he part Adonio for his crest did giue the Snake And therefore lou'd and fauord Snakes in hart As from whose kinde he did his gentrie take Wherefore vnto the clowne he doth impart His minde so farre at last he him perswaded To let alone the Snake he so inuaded 75 This done he went as he was bent before Farre from his country where he was vnknown And so indur'd till seu'n whole yeares and more Of woe and want quite ore his head were blown But that great loue he to his mistres bore Him forst though now all out of fashion grown With bushie beard leane cheekes ragged cloths To turne vnto the place that most he lothes 76 In this meane time our towne had cause to send Some sage Ambassadour vnto the Pope That must vpon his Holynes attend And for his suit to take a whole yeare scope The Iudge by lot was chosen to that end O cursed lot that killed all his hope To shunne this office he tryes many shifts By scuses promises by prai'rs and gifts 77 But finding that he straue against the streame At last against his will he takes the place Though to depart into another Reame It seemed vnto him a grieuous case His iealousie there with grew most extreame Misdoubting his wiues truth so long a space Yet nath'les her in graue and frendlesse speech To haue great care thereof he doth beseech 78 He saith a woman cannot take vpon her With bewtie riches nor with high Nobillitie To clayme the true diserued prayse of honer If chastitie do faile by her fragillitie This is the vertue that defends her owner And now she may he saith with great facillitie Attaine great praise and show thereof great proofe While he is forst to stay so farre aloofe 79 These words he spake and many such as thease Thereby to moue her to continue true And she poore soule yet free from such disease His parting thence did much lament and rue She swears that sooner men should draine the seas Then draw her mind so to forget her due Yea first she will eu'n dye the death she saith Much rather then to falsifie her faith 80 The Iudge appeased with this her protestation Began to haue of her the lesse mistrust But yet his fond and iealous inclination So moues him that search further needs he must He had a friend that could by coniuration Foretell of future matters true and iust That were it skill in Magicke or in starres His guesse was such as that it seldome arres 81 He speaketh to that friend to this effect That he his wiues natiuitie would cast To learne if he did right or wrong suspect That she would in his absence liue vnchast The man thus praid the figure doth erect And in their place the Planets all he plast Anselmus leaues him busie and next day Doth come to heare him what he hath to say 82 T was long before th' Astronomer would speake As loth to speake that would the Iudge offend With many scuses friuolous and weake He shifts him off but vrged by his frend He told him flatly she would wedlocke breake And that she would to him proue false in th' end Not mou'd by bewty not by suit desired But eu'n for lucres sake directly hyred 83 Now when Anselmus former bad beleefe Was newly reconfirmd by Spheares supernall It doubtlesse did so much augment his greefe I thinke his torture past the paines infernall And more then all the rest this greeu'd him cheefe And to his heart a corsiue was eternall To thinke that Auarice should her entise Vpon her chastitie to set a price 84 Yet to preuent all that such minde might breed Most earnestly he bendeth all his powre For as they say man is compeld by need To rob the Church and hallow'd things deuowre His iewells plate and stocke that did exceed He put all in her hands that present howre And made it all her owne by deed of gift And told her plaine what was herein his drift 85 He saith he giues it her on this condition Not that she should striue to increase or mend it For why he said she should haue free commission To sell to giue cast it away and spend it But onely that she should auoyd suspisition Of wedlocke breach and by no meanes offend it On this condition all he then bequeaths her That he may find her such as now he leaues her 86 He further doth her earnestly exhort That presently when he is gone away She should for more eschuing of resort Not any longer in the Citie stay But at his countrey house where in good sort Till his returne the season passe she may Belike he thought in tillers of the ground And country swaines entisements none are found 87 His louely wife Argia all this space Still hanging on his necke while he did speake With kindly teares bedewed all his face And much it greeu'd her to be iudgd so weake And to be deemed so deuoyd of grace That in his absence she would wedlocke breake Her manners haue not bene so light and vicious She saith to moue him to be thus suspitious
wise so stout Well shapt as eye can see or heart desire Well borne well qualited of sober carriage They nought esteeme all these in case of marriage 49 Well saith Rogero if that Ammon needs Will make an Empresse of his daughter deare At least this hast he makes is more then needs Let him yet giue me respite but one yeare And if in that same yeare I do such deeds That both the sonne and sire I vanquish cleare When both their crowns I conquerd I haue wonne Then I may worthy be to be his soune 50 But if he straight the marriage do effect With Constantinos heire in so great hast And will Renaldos promise quite neglect And eke his Cosens which so few dayes past Before that blessed man of Gods elect And that good Marquesse they did bind so fast If they shall wrong me so what then shall I What can I do in such a case but die 51 What should I do shall I then be auenged Of him that me contraries in this wise Let me be blamed herein or commended Let me therein be deemd a foole or wise But would my state alas be then amended By th' old mans death no no far otherwise I doubt this would not worke my more content But rather contrarie my first intent 52 My first intention was and yet is still That Bradamant should beare me loue not hate Now then if I her father here should kill Or ought attempt against her brothers state Had she not cause of me to thinke then ill And to refuse me for her spouse and mate What shall I do alas then shall I beare it Ah no perdy first I will dye I sweare it 53 And yet I will not die but I le destroy That Leon that procur'd my harme and wo And is desturber of my chiefest ioy Him and his father I will kill also Faire Helen to the louer lewed of Troy Not cost so deare nor longer far ago Proserpin cost Perythous price so hye As I will cause them this my griefe to buy 54 But were it possible my deare that thou Canst leaue thine owne Rogero for this Greeke Yea though that all thy brothers did allow This match which Ammon doth so fondly seeke Yes yes I feare that thine owne minde doth bow To his desire and could far better leeke When with thy selfe thou dost these offers scan To haue a Caesar then a priuate man 55 Can then the dignitie and glorious name Of pompous shewes and of imperiall seat The noble heart of Bradamant so frame Her vallew rare and vertue to defeat And go from her first promise to her shame Which me she made with many vowes and great No sure I know she will them all forsake Much rather then vnsay that once she spake 56 These words Rogero spake and many such And oftentimes he spake them in such sort That diuers ouerhard him in so much That they were told by more then one report To Bradamant whom they did chiefly tuch Who tooke them not you may be sure in sport But as her priuate griefe was great before So this report of him did grieue her more 57 But most it grieu'd her and aboue the rest That he mistrusted she would him forsake At any mans commandment or request And specially for this same Grecians sake Wherefore to moue this scruple from his brest And this foule error from his minde to take She gate her pen and inke one night full late And to Rogero such like words she wrate 58 My deare as erst I was I still will bide While life shall dure yea eu'n when life is past Though toward me loue shew his grace or pride Or fortune raise me vp or downward cast My stable faith shall neuer faile nor slide For calme nor storme but as a Rocke stand fast Against the surging waues still vnremoueable So shall my faith stand firme and vnreproueable 59 First shall a file or knife of drossie lead The Dyamond to sundrie figures carue Ere any chance by Fortunes frailtie bred Or powre of loue shall cause my course to swarue First shall the streames runne backe vnto their hed Ere I will iustly such a blame desarue Or ere I shall for chances good or ill Giue my consent to change my setled will 60 To thee Rogero mine a good while since Of me and of my heart I gaue dominion I should my selfe of lightnes great conuince If I so sodainly could change opinion As for my true allegeance sure no Prince Is faithfuller belou'd of dearest minnion For me you need no fortresse nor no towre To be defences against forren powre 61 You need no bands of men to entertaine To keepe this fortres strength enough haue I For riches make on me assault but vaine So base a price no gentle heart can buy Nor noble birth nor name of crowne or raigne Which oft doth dase the common peoples eye Nor beautie to the which light minds incline Though greater see I neuer shall then thine 62 No feare not no man powre shall euer haue My heart to other figure to transforme Loue did your shape therein so deepe ingraue As now it can receiue none other forme My heart is not of wax for why Loue gaue When to his worke he did it first conforme An hunderd strokes with cheessell and with male Ere he could fetch therefrom one little scale 63 Pure Iuorie gemmes and eu'rie hardest stone That most withstandeth steele a man may burst But other figure yet receiue they none Then that to which they formed were at furst My heart is not vnlike a precious stone Or Adamant or what so cutteth worst Loue sooner shall it breake in thousand splints Ere other beauties bring it to new prints 64 These words she wrote and many more to these That him with faith with loue with hope so fed Of force to cure each desperate disease Or rather to reuiue him being ded But when they thought them safest from the seas And in the hau'n securely harbored A new and sodaine tempest rose so sore As draue them backe to sea from sight of shore 65 For worthy Bradamant that had assignd To shew her meaning plaine was and direct And calling wonted courage to her minde And quite reiecting womanly respect Came vnto Charles and spake in such a kind My Leige if ere my seruice did effect Ought worth your highnes thanks at your cōmand Let not your grace denie me one demand 66 But promise me vpon your Princely faith And royall word which I may surely trust To grant one suit what ere your handmaid praith And I will promise that it shall be iust Beloued worthy mayd the Emp'ror saith Your many seruices confesse I must Deserue no lesse and frankly here I vow it If of my Realme you aske part I le allow it 67 My suit is that your highnes will not yeeld That I said she may any husband haue That shall not first of all with speare and sheeld Or
another should possesse his wife 1 LOoke how much higher Fortune doth erect The clyming wight on her vnstable wheele So much the nigher may a man expect To see his head where late he saw his heele Polycrates hath prou'd it in effect And Dionysius that too true did feele Who long were luld on high in Fortunes lap And fell downe sodainely to great mishap 2 On tother side the more a man is pressed And vtterly ou'rthrowne by Fortunes lowre The sooner comes his state to be redressed When wheele shal turne and bring the happy houre Some from the blocke haue grown to be so blessed Whole realmes haue bene subiected to their powre As Marius and Ventidius sample is In former age and Lews of France in this 3 That Lews of France the storie well is knowne That to Alfonsos sonne did giue his daughter Who was at Saint Albinos ouerthrowne And eu'n with much adoe escaped slaughter A like misfortune by like danger growne Coruino scaped but a little after And hauing past that moment by good chance One ruled Hungarie the tother France 4 T is manifest in stories new and old That good and ill each other do succeed And worldly blisse hath but a slender hold Wherefore a man of wisedome will take heed And on his fortune neuer be too bold Although his state and riches farre exceed Nor yet in fortune ill dispaire or doubt For euermore her wheele doth turne about 5 Rogero as I lately did repeat Now hauing both repulst the sonne and fire Grew to such pride therewith and such conceat Ambition euermore aspiring hire He thinkes by fortune and his force so great To kill Don Leon which was his chiefe desire And for that purpose aid he asketh none But thinketh sure to do the fear alone 6 But she that cannot suffer nor abide That any long should of her fauour bost Now in the midst of all his praise and pride When in her fauour he affied most Did cause him of this knight to be discride Who went vnto Vngardo straight in post And told him how that man that put to flight The Greekish host would lie in towne that night 7 He said t was happend eu'n as one could wish If so they mard not all by ill contriuing That he was taken now as is a fish That to the net approcheth without driuing Or rather layes it selfe into the dish And makes resistance none nor any striuing Much did the Captaine at these newes reioyce And shewd the same by gesture and by voyce 8 And presently prouision such he made That good Rogero taken was that night And kept as prisner now in Nouengrade For so the towne where he was taken hight What should he do when arm'd men did inuade Him naked and a sleepe with so great might Vngardo straight doth send this ioyfull tyding To Constantin at Beltrich now abyding 9 For since his forces late were beaten downe He thought it safest quickly to withdraw Vnto some strength or to some walled towne For of the Bulgars now he had such aw He doubted they would hazard eu'n his crowne Now hauing such a guide as erst he saw And this same towne was strong and did pertaine To him whose sonne was by Rogero slaine 10 But when this message of their Captains taking By letters and by Post was brought to him He was therewith in such a ioyfull taking He thought he now in seas of milke did swim His face that pale his heart that earst was quaking Vpon this newes it chearfull was and trim The Bulgars now he counts as ouerthrowne The victorie he iudgeth sure his owne 11 As doth the father ioy so doth the sonne Of this good hap though for a further end He hopeth this braue knight may now be wonne By curtesie to be his faithfull frend He needeth not enuie if that were donne King Charles the great he thinks but eu'n contend Both with his Palladines â—nd all his garrison For flowre of Chiualrie to make comparison 12 But Theodora was of other minde Don Leons Ant whose sonne Rogero slew For she with choller carri'd headlong blinde And for his losse whose death she most did rew To Constantin her Lord and brother kinde She went and at his feete herselfe she threw And when she first had made a piteous plaint She with her suit this wise did him acquaint 13 I will not rise from these your feete she seth My liege vntill you grant me powre to wreake My selfe on him that brought my sonne to deth And did with cruell speare his bowels breake Besides he was your nephew while his breth Did dure you saw his loue and seruice eake Your highnes knowes it were too great a wrong To let his death be vnreuenged long 14 You further see that God of goodnes meare Had causd that wretch the campe thus to forsake And come like bird to bayt the case is cleare Whereas Vngardo did him prisner take Because my onely sonne I lou'd so deare Might not go vnreueng'd to Stigian lake Then giue me him my Lord and be content I swage my griefe with his sharpe punishment 15 Her plaints and mone so well she doth deuise So forcibly and heartily she prayd Nor would not sturre from thence in any wise Although the noble Emp'ror did and sayd Eu'n all he could to make her thence arise That sith she would by no meanes be denayd But still renewd her suit with piteous weeping He granteth her the prisner in her keeping 16 And thus at last to make the matter short He sendeth for the knight of th'Vnicorne And gaue him her whose chiefe delight and sport Was to deuise to worke him woe and scorne All common deaths were of too milde a sort To haue him hangd and all in peeces torne And on each gate to set a quartred lim She thought it was not plague enough for him 17 Chaind hands and feete and uecke she lockt him vp In dungeon voide of light but full of stinke With mouldie bread she made him dine and sup And gaue him puddle water for his drinke She shortly meanes that he a sorrie cup Shall tast but till she may herselfe be thinke The kinde of death she giueth him a keeper Whose rancor was as deepe as hers or deeper 18 Oh had Duke Ammons noble daughter knowne Of her Rogeros now distressed state Or if it had bene to Marfisa showne Who lou'd him deare though in another rate Both tone and tother thither would haue flowne And would not cease to ride be times and late To rescue good Rogero and assist Let Ammon and his wife say what they list 19 Now Charles the great began to call to minde His promise by the which himselfe was bound That husband none should euer be assinde To Bradamant but he in fight were found Her match and as kings vse in such a kinde He published the same by trumpets found Ou'r all his Empire sending proclamations That soone the same did flye to forren
prisner whom she keeps in chaines And means to kil with torture all she might Reseruing him aliue for greater paines Came to the eare of Caesars sonne one night And put into his heart to saue and cherish And not to suffer so great vallew perish 39 The noble Leon that Rogero loues Not knowing tho that this Rogero was Whom his rare vertue and great vallew moues Which he did thinke all humane farre to passe Deuising sundry wayes this one he proues And by the same he brought the feate to passe So that his cruell Ant could not espy him Nor once complaine that she was wronged by him 40 He speaketh in the secretst sort he can Vnto the bloudy wretch that kept the kayes And prayth him show him the condemned man For why he must examaine him he sayes A knight a valiant man that was his man He takes with him fit for all bold assayes The cruell layler that no fraud suspected In all points did as Leon him directed 41 He leads him secretly vnto the den Where good Rogero was in prison pent Nor tooke he with him any of his men But as their guide the formost of them went Who when they saw the time best serued then No longer to defer th' occasion ment But vnawares they at aduantage catch him And with a sodaine stab they do dispatch him 42 Then open they the trap doore out of hand And downe they let the ladder that was by And Leon with a lanterne in his hand Of light conceald went where the knight did ly Fast bound vpon a grate with bitter band Not in the water but thereto so ny The very dampe was such that one might guesse That â—ole would kill him in a month or lesse 43 With great compassion Leon him imbraced And sayd sir knight the vertue you haue showne With sured knots my loue hath knit and laced To you since first the same to me was knowne So as my heart and thoughts are wholly placed To seeke your fafetie rather then mine owne Ventring your welfare and your loue to win To leese my fires good will and all my kin 44 To tell you true the Emp'rours sonne I am Leon by name as yet to you a stranger To set you free of purpose now I came And put my person and my state in danger That both my father greatly me may blame And looke vpon me euermore with anger The losse at Belgrade which you wrought him late Makes him to beare to you so sharpe an hate 45 These sugred words and many more beside Which were for me too tedious to repeat He spake and then his bands he all vntyde And secretly he causd him moue his seat Rogero in this wise to him replyde Your curtesie is such your gift so great To giue me life that you shall ay command it When euer it shall please you demand it 46 Thus Leon in this secret sort vnknowne Rogero from the prison doth conuay And sent him to a castle of his owne Whereas he might secure in silence stay Vntill this tumult all were ouerblowne And till againe for him regaine he may His armes and gallant horse and famous blade Kept by Vngardo Lord of Nouengâ—ade 47 The keeper slaine the next ensuing morne The prison gates from off the hinges heaued The chaines and manicles in peeces torne Each man might see but none by whom perceaued All thought that Leon had him hatred borne Wherefore of him they no mistrust conceaued The cause he had of hate each man doth know By name his late receaued ouerthrow 48 At this great curtesie that Leon vsed Rogero wonders much and thinks it strange And sore he was in minde and thought confused And sodainly he feeles a wondrous change His heart relented and all hate refused And turnde it all to loue by sweet exchange What earst malicious cruell was and hatefull Is turned now to kinde and milde and gratefull 49 So deepe into his head and heart it sinkes That it possessed all his soule and sence On this he studies when he wakes or winkes How he may do to him some recompence To spend eu'n all his future dayes he thinkes Sole in his seruice and in his defence Could not requite no scarce the twentith part Of so great curtsie and so great desart 50 In this meane while the newes was come from France Which Charles had notifide to many a nation Of her that would be woo'd by sword and lance In single fight so said the proclamation Don Leon was quite out of countenance To heare of this her strange determination And as a man that well his owne strength knowes Himselfe too weake for her he doth suppose 51 And long debating how he might supply His want of force and courage by his wit In fine he purposd with himselfe to try This new made fréd whose name he knows not yet Although he well could witnesse with his eye That for no braue exploit he was vnfit He hopeth by his manhood and his aid To conquer and to haue that hardie maid 52 But two things he must do before he goes One is the minde of this same vnknowne knight Vnto this hardie enterprise dispose The tother is to bring him to the fight So secretly as none might it disclose And all that while to keepe himselfe from fight First then in earnest sort he doth intreat Rogero take on him this hardie feat 53 Much might the Greeke preuaile by eloquence The which he vsd to leade him thereunto But more preuayld the bond of recompence So firme as no time euer could vndo That though the motion bred him great offence And seemd a thing vnpossible to do With gladder looke then heart he doth reply Deare sir I nothing may to you deny 54 Though he no sooner had this word pronounced But that he felt such griefe did gripe his hart As if damnation were to him denounced Such pangs he had such torture and such smart But yet his promise giu'n he not renounced Nor from the same once purposd to depart For first a thousand deaths he ment to chuse Then one request of Leons to refuse 55 Dye sure he shall he thinks for if he leaue His loue he knowes he cannot byde aliue For either sorrow will of life him reaue Or if that nature shall with sorrow striue Of his owne hands he will his death receaue And so his soule from hated harbor driue Each other thing on earth to him seems possible But missing her to liue he thinks impossible 56 Then die he must onely he doubts what kinde Of death were for his state and fancie best Once this conceit did come into his minde To lay in fight his naked open brest Might she him slay he deemeth in his minde That such a death in death might make him blest But then he sees what follow would of this That noble Leon should his purpose misse 57 And then himselfe of promise eke should fayle Which was not to dissemble but indeuer That
louing aduersarie to subdew That she had fought with all the day before As laborers whose worke by taske was dew That loyterd haue and now are sad therefore When night drawes on bestur their lasie bones Vntill their strength and light fayle both at once 77 Alas good Bradamant if thou didst know The man to whom thou wishest so much ill That in this fight hath bene thy frendly foe And winneth thee perhaps against his will Thou wouldest first haue kild thy selfe I trow Then of his blood one little drop to spill Thou that distst now so curse him and beshrow him Wouldst neither of them do if thou didst know him 78 But Charles and all his Lords with full perswasion That this so valiant champion Leon was To praise him highly now they take occasion And sith his strength did hers so greatly passe They thinke for her there now was no cuasion The matter brought to such a narrow passe Each man esteems this match for her most fit Each man allowes each man commendeth it 79 Now gan Don Phebus dip his golden rayes To swage their burning in the Westerne seas When Charls himselfe comes to them both prays The damsell now her furie to appease And giueth sentence that without delayes Don Leon may her marrie when he please Rogero doth himselfe no whit diâ—close But armed full backe to the tent he goes 80 Don Leon brotherly doth him imbrace And then he holpe him to vntie his beauer And with great kindnes kissed all his face And said that he was bound to him for euer And that no time such merit could deface Which to reward he would for aye indeuer Affirming frankly of his owne meere motion That all he had should be at his deuotion 81 I neuer can such curtesie requite Scant in this life he saith or in the next No though I should surrender all my right Vnto my crowne and all thereto annext Rogero that in speech tooke small delight And was with inward passion so perplext Restord to him his armes that he had worne And tooke againe his sheeld of th'Vnicorne 82 Pretending as he truly might pretend He wearie was and would himselfe repose And therefore to his tent vnto that end All pâ—iuat vnaccompanyd he goes At midnight horse to take he doth intend At midnight priuily from bed he rose And armd and mounted thence away departed But why nor whither he to none imparted 83 And thus away he secretly doth ride And giues Frontino leaue to chuse the way Now neare a wood then by the riuer side He neuer looking to what coast it lay He faine would die and still come death he cride He thought death onely could his paine allay He onely wished death to end his griefe That while he liues is sure past all reliefe 84 Ah wretch said he of whom can I complaine For sodain reauing me of all my blisse Shall I so great an iniurie sustaine Of whom else shall I be â—ueng'd for this I did the fault and now I feele the paine Nor can I say but iust the torment is For punishment doth properly belong To him that is the author of the wrong 85 But had I done my selfe the wrong alone I might perhap forgiue my selfe the same Though surely cause nor reason there is none To pardon such a fact so worthie blame But now I haue to her bene cause of mone To suffer that it were perpetuall shame So though I should no iust reuengement take For mine owne cause yetmust I for her sake 86 This wrong reuenge I may I will I must By onely death sith this offence was such To dye I soone shall finde the way I trust The care thereof my minde no whit doth tuch Oh that I had long since bene layd in dust Ere that I iniured my deare so much I would I had bene put to death before When I was prisner vnto Theodore 87 If I had then bene martyrd and tormented With all the plagues her mallice could deuise At least my deare my death would haue lamented With teares from out her christ all streaming eyes Now when she knows that I haue thus consented To Leon to betray her in this wise My part of her vnto a stranger giuing She will haue cause to hate me dead and liuing 88 Now while the knight did thus lament and plaine The Easter parts of heau'n with light were cleared And Phebus from his golden house againe Lift vp his head wherewith all creatures cheared Betake them to their ordinarie paine And then vnto Rogero it appeared That he was in a wood a most fit place For one of such a minde in such a case 89 He lights and off he takes Frontinos sadle And giues him libertie and thus he sayes My gallant beast so good so seruiceable As I haue found thee still at all assayes Go heare I set thee free and were I able As I am willing to set forth thy prayse Thou doubtlesse shouldst not need that horse enuie That was tane vp from earth vnto the skye 90 Nor should Arions prayses make thee sory Nor Cillarus that Castor did bestryde Nor any praisd in Greeke or Latin story For why thy shape and readines beside Of all these famous steeds not one can glorie As thou maist do it cannot be denide Of them none passeth thee in commendation Nor iustly challenge can such reputation 91 Thou hast bene cherished and loued deere By such a Nymph so faire and so diuine As all the world can hardly show her peere She hath thee fed with that fayre hand and fine I meane my loue but ah why liue I heere Sith now I may no longer call her mine No longer mine she is ah cruell word Why end not I my dayes by mine owne sword 92 Now if Rogero thus himselfe tormented And cauld the birds and beasts to mone his plaint For none but birds and beasts the place frequented Whom he with his great sorrow might acquaint No doubt the damsell was as ill contented And made a greater or as great complaint Sith for her selfe she nothing hath to say Why she to Leon longer should say nay 93 Yet all meanes possible she meanes to trye Before that she will her Rogero leaue And make king Charles and all his Lords to lye And Leon of his promise to deceaue Or if the worst shall hap she meanes to dye And with her hands of life her selfe bereaue For present death she rather ment to chuse Then her belou'd Rogero to refuse 94 How commeth it to passe said she my deare That at this time thou art so farre from hence How can a thing which all the world did heare So strangely be concealed from thy sence If thou hadst heard it sure thou wouldst appeare For that my drift that was my sole pretence Ah my ill fortune euermore accurst What can I deeme but eu'n the very worst 95 Why then Rogero mine can you alone Not know that all the world doth know beside
of brotherly loue Catalynes the chiefest familie of Spaine of the house of Arragon and are often put by myne author for the whole state of Spaine 104. Ceres called the Goddesse of come mother of Proserpina Charlemaine sonne of Pipin gathers his forces together against the Turkes pag. 1. takes vp the quarrell about Angelica pag. 2. is ouerthrowne by the Turkes ib. Charles besieged in Paris sends Renaldo into England pag. 11. He expectes the assault and maketh publicke prayers vnto God 107 his owne prayer ibidem receiues the English succours into Parish 125. heares newes of the spoyles Rodomont did 126. his Oration 128. 129. he sets on Rodomont ibidem driues him away out of Paris 138. is discomfited againe by Ferraw and made retire ibid. is rescued by Renaldo 254. Christened Marfisa 318. takes an oth of truce 323. welcomes Rogero into France 376. makes a Proclamation at request of Bradamant 385 his vprightnesse in iudging the controuersies 392. he makes a sumptuous feast at the mariage of Bradamant 398. Cimosco king of Freezeland slaine by Orlando 70. Circe a notable inchantresle daughter of the Sunne and a Nymph called Perses she turned Vlysses men into beasts Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt being feasted by Anthonie bad him to a banket and dissoluing one huge pearle in vinegar she dranke it and it was thought in that respect a banket of in estimable cost Clyteâ—â—stra wife of Agamemnon plaid the whore in his absence and killed him at his retuine it is said the had a Musician plaid chast tunes to her and so long the continued honest but when he dyed Aegistus corrupted her her sonne Orestes in reuenge of his fathers death flue her Cloridan a companion of Medore goes to seeke the carkasse of Dardanello 143. kils diuers Christians ibid. kils two Scots 146. is kild 146. Corebo one of Zerbins men hurt in defence of Isabella 97. is saued 194. D Dalinda Genewras maid saued from killing by Renaldo 29 discouers Polynessos trecherie 32 is pardoned and goes to a Nunrie 42. Danae daughter of Acrisius mother to Perseus she being lockt vp in a tower by her father that none might accompanie her it is said that Iupiter rayned a shower of gold through the tyles of the house into her lap with helpe of which shower he gather with child Danubius the greatest riuer of Europe farre North begins in Germanie and in long running it is called Istar 60 riuers fall into it and hate of them nauigable Dardanello son of Almont musters afore Agramant 105. hurteth Lurcanio 138. is killed by Renaldo 142. foud dead by Medore 143. is buried by him and the helpe of Angelica 147. Dido Queene of Carthage famous for the fabulous loue of Aeneas Discord sought by the Angell Michaell 108. found in an Abbey ibid sent to the Pagans camp ibidem beaten and sent againe 217. Doralice comming from Spaine is taken by Mandricard 106. sends priuily to Rodomont ibidem agrees well with Mandricard 107. parts Zerbino and Mandricard 193. parts Rodomont and Mandricard Lib. 24. staffe 92. borne away by a spirit in her horse 213. reiects Rodomont chuseth Mandricard 221. her speech to disswade him from fight 243. her lightnes 246. Drusillae looke tales of Marganor 308. Dudon released by Astolfos meanes and made Admirall 328. discomfireth Agramant by sea 32. fights with Rogero on land 339. giueth him seuen kings 342. comes into Paris 376. is at Bradamants mariage 402. Durindane Orlandos sword taken by Mandricard 24. booke 49. staffe wonne for Gradasso 246. lost by Gradasso in battaile with Orlando 352. giuen to Rogero by Orlando 375. E Ebuda I finde no such Ile but Ebude belles in our Brittish sea Encelladus the greatest of all the Giants that rebelled against Iupiter for this cause they faine that he was laid vnder mount Aetua and that the cause of the earthquaks there is when he sturres to change sides Erichtonius sonne of Vulcan had feete like a Serpent and deuised a coach to hide them 307. Euadne wife of Capaneus kild with lightnight at the assault of Thebes his bodie being burned as the manner of buriall was in those dayes his wife leapt into the fire with it and dyes 307. F Ferraw a Spanish knight fights with Renaldo for Angelica pag. 2. lost his helmet in the water ibidem takes Renaldo vp behind him 3. meets with the ghost of Argalia ibidem vowes to winne Orlandos helmet ibid. is in Atlants Pallace 90. freed by Angelica 91. fights with Orlando 92. pursues Angelica and sees her ibidem gets Orlandos helmet ibid. musters his band of the king of Spaines guard 104. restores the battaile lost 138. his Oration ibid ouerthrowne by Bradamant 295. Fiordeliege wife of Brandimart goeth to seeke him 63 heares of Orlandos madnesse Lib. 24. staffe 46. sees the battaile betweene Mandricard and Zerbin goeth toward Paris ibid. staffe 59. comes to Rodomonts bridge 227. tels Renaldo of Orlandos madnesse 253. finds Brandimart 254. sees him ouerthrowne and taken ib. meets Bradamant and showes her Rodomonts bridge 293. deliuers Rogero a chalenge from Bradamant 294. meetes Bardino and goeth with him to Affrica 329. finds Brandimart ibid. sees Orlando and deseries him ibidem she makes a blacke Caparison for Brandimart 344. her dreame and speech 370. her death 371. Fiametta looke tales Fiordespina looke tales Frontino the name of Rogers horse is kept by Bradamant 28. sent by her to Rogero 178. is taken by Rodomont 179. recouered by Bradamant 293. sent againe to Rogero 294 found by Orlando in a ship 344. restored to Rogero 375. his praise 389. Fusberta Renaldos sword 10. G Gabrina looke tales the flyes froÌ„ Orlando 99. meets Marfisa 158. is committed to Zerbinos protection 159. robs Pinnabels corse 179. betrayes and accuses Zerbino 180. flyes and is misused by Mandricard 182. is pardoned of life by Zerbino 194 committed to Ordickes protection and by him hanged Lib. 24. staffe 38. Ganimed is fayned by the Poets to be Iupiters cup-bearer and to haue bene caryed vp by an Eagle it is taken generally in the worst part for Bardassos Genewra looke tales Gibbellius looke Guelfs Gradasso king of Serycane taken by Atlant into the inchanted Castle 13. is deliuered by Bradamant 27. is in Atlants Palace 90. freed by Astolfo 170. come to aide Agramant 216 helps to arme Mandricard 218. fals out with him ibid. receiues Durindane of Rogero 246. fights with Renaldo 255 fights againe 273 parted and finds Bayardo 274. ships at Arlie 274. meets Agramant in great distresse 337. is one of the chalenge three to three and kils Brandimart 349. is killed by Orlando 352. Grandonio the gouernour of the Algarbies which dwell in promontorie cald Celticum Promontorium 104. Griffin fights with Orillo 117. is in loue with Origilla 118. goeth with Astolfo to the holy land ibid. heare 's of Origilla 119. he finds her 121. goeth to Damasco 129. heares his hostes tales 130. winnes the prize there 133. departs thence ibid. is betrayed by Origill and Martano ibidem is carted
host 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 plague 〈◊〉 Astolso was 〈◊〉 prowd 〈◊〉 of Lambarâ— This happened as the siege of Realto an Iland near Venice where he wold have made the bridge Lews of Burgendie and 〈◊〉 eye 〈◊〉 cut for his 〈◊〉 Hugo of Arly ouerâ—â—rowne by the Beringars Looke of this in the historie is This man that inuedeth the Galeasses was the Erle of Armâ—â—ake Looke at Maria in the historie Charles the eight looke in the historie This is spoken in praise of the Louse of Alua. Of these 〈◊〉 in the Table Iupiter nephew to Celus Lodowicke Sâ—orse the notablest dissembler and 〈◊〉 that euer was though before Alathia 〈◊〉 time Looke the Historie Looke in the Historie of 〈◊〉 Of Lews the 〈◊〉 looke the 〈◊〉 Sforse 〈…〉 common 〈◊〉 apparrell 〈◊〉 Swizzer 〈◊〉 betrayed Caesar Borgia Duke 〈◊〉 a notable 〈◊〉 man By the 〈…〉 who gave 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 This battel 〈◊〉 Geriadad 〈◊〉 the distressed state of 〈◊〉 looke in the Historie Of this he 〈◊〉 before 〈…〉 booke 〈◊〉 the first 〈…〉 of Millen 〈◊〉 cruelty 〈◊〉 called the 〈◊〉 of the sea Francis inuasion of Italie with two armies Fortune King Francis ouerthrowne 〈◊〉 Pauia deceased by his mustermasters in the number of his soldiers Francis taken prisoner Simile Meaning the king of England The sack of Rome by Bourbou who was the first man that was killed This pestilous mortaliâ—â— grew by potsoning a water neare to Naples and then stopping the course of it made â—â— overflow all the marrish grounds and so infected the aire that Lautreck and all hâ—â— men died of us Bradamanti dreame of Rogero 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 againe in 〈◊〉 booke the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes to â—â—radamant in 〈◊〉 35. booke 31. 〈◊〉 Gradasso and Renaldo fight Their parting Looke on the Morall He 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 booke 43 〈…〉 〈◊〉 begins the 〈◊〉 of Senapo 〈◊〉 Herpia◠〈◊〉 Matthew 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 because 〈◊〉 Gospell he 〈◊〉 be shall 〈…〉 you with 〈…〉 holy ghost there ◠〈◊〉 they vse to 〈◊〉 the signe 〈◊〉 Crosse into 〈◊〉 parâ— of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some think 〈◊〉 that was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Giau 〈◊〉 is to say in 〈◊〉 language 〈◊〉 because 〈◊〉 commaunds 〈◊〉 kings Virgil Polluitore dipes Looke in the Allegorâ— Ouid of Aeneas comming to Sâ—billa Templa tibi statuam tribuaÌ„tib◠〈◊〉 honores but this 〈◊〉 spoken more Christian like Also Sibiâ—as â—â—swer is not vnlike thu Neo dea suÌ„certè nec sacri thurâ— honore Humanum dignare capus ne 〈◊〉 erres The description of the Harpias Astolfo 〈◊〉 after the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 nobilitie 〈◊〉 George Morall Historie Timagoras Parrhasius Polignotus Timant. Protogenes Apollodore Zewces Appelles Leon. Vinci Andr. Mant. Gian Belline Michael Agnolo M. Hilliard 12. staffe 18. staffe 21. staffe 28. staffe 29 staffe 33. staffe 37. staffe 44. staffe 49. staffe Allegorie Allusion Nere begins the tale of Lydia Anaxarite for loue of whoÌ„ I phiâ— hanged himselfe in the I le of Cyprus Daphne in the first book of Ouids Metamorphosis ‖ Theseus for sook Anadne Iason for sooke Hipsiphile and after Medea * Aentas for sook Dido 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 de floured Thaâ—ar and after despised her put her away for which he was slain by Absâ—â—â—â— Look in the â—all of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Simile â—verbe vsed 〈◊〉 Hercules labors appossed by his Aunt Iuno and Euristeus his half brother Simile The 〈◊〉 tale Looke to the Allegoria Sumile 〈◊〉 description â—ad sc. He saith your Orlando because he was his cosin Sentence The Moons the lowest Planet This 〈◊〉 greeing 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 we vses thâ— wits are beâ— the Mâ—â— they have â—â— vp things â— circle of the Moone Looke in the Allegun Pride of Prâ— and 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 Gifts gives Princes 〈◊〉 of reâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 words Great 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 â—courturs 〈◊〉 gift in understood the 〈◊〉 of Rome â—â—h Constanâ—â—â— Pope â—â—ster which â—ur now â—â—ursinnes â—â— because of â—â— â—◠〈◊〉 kept 〈◊〉 like oyl This is written in the fourth booke of the five Cantos aided to Ariosto which many thinke were 〈◊〉 of his doing and are veris vnperfect Simile Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion The golden fleece Perrâ—â— Simile Simile The exposition of the former Allegoris The Asse with beare any thing the Porke â—edâ— himselfe 〈◊〉 Câ—â—aatount on 〈◊〉 of Par 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Muses Sentence This is 〈◊〉 such as 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 He 〈◊〉 Astolfo 〈◊〉 38 booâ—â— â—â— staffe Canto xxâ— staffe 69. 〈◊〉 He comes not to 〈◊〉 the later end of the last 〈◊〉 where Rogers killeth him Brandimart soâ— to Monodants He speaks no more of Sacrapaâ—â— â—sout is a 〈◊〉 thaâ—â—â— is toâ—â—â—â—se to cast â—selues forâ— theâ—â— heels their head Morall Historie Staffe 26. Allegorie Allusion Against cruelty Sentence Looke in the History of this book concerning this crueltie he complaines of The first 〈◊〉 this bâ—â—k◠〈◊〉 tenth staffe 〈◊〉 â—â— were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 P◠〈◊〉 both 〈…〉 Cantelâ—â—◠〈◊〉 carried 〈◊〉 danger 〈◊〉 his will 〈◊〉 be repr◠〈◊〉 crueltie th◠〈◊〉 bâ— to 〈…〉 â—ing it 〈◊〉 Iâ—sigâ— D◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The deuice of the Phenix may be applied either to pride or shastesie Simile Bradâ— compâ—nt 〈…〉 Poss◠〈◊〉 sp 〈◊〉 Nâ—◠〈◊〉 quâ—â—spandâ— She 〈◊〉 perp◠〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 Diss◠〈…〉 perfiaâ— poss◠〈◊〉 Simile These two cities he names charsly because by means of the store of learned men they had many notable deuices presented on their stages and Theaters The like in Vâ—â—gil of Polidorus Germatum lectwymabulis vox cuditiar tumulu vox redita sertur ad aures Sentence 〈◊〉 he whoÌ„ 〈…〉 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 was killed 〈◊〉 Vâ—sseâ— of this 〈◊〉 the Storie 〈◊〉 Allusion 〈◊〉 called 〈…〉 of Mars In this narration my Author follows not any true story but a work intitled Almoâ—e which not withstanding has to some credits though â—ot mucâ— Risa is a citie of good importance in the country of Rbâ—gium â—â—are mounts Appenâ—â—râ— Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion The praise of 〈◊〉 Lâ—â—ke 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eâ—ui 〈◊〉 Achilles beâ—â—se be had such 〈◊〉 asset of 〈◊〉 He makes them cosins though vâ—ry far of which we count indeed the noblest tinred though not the kindest Ericthonian son of Vulcan deuised a coach to Inde 〈◊〉 redlegges which were like surpaÌ„â—â— Aglaurs looke the Table Peslus gardens are at a Castle so called in Lucaâ—â—s and beare rosâ—s 〈◊〉 iniâ—â— yeare Looke in the Alligorie of the application of 〈◊〉 Here begins the tale of Marganor that made the law against women Iasons men were called Argonausâ— because they â—ost in a ship called Argo Drâ—sillas 〈◊〉 at hâ—â— death 〈◊〉 the death 〈…〉 â—word 〈…〉 Marganors law against woman Sentence 〈◊〉 Simile â—word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mafisas law for women Ouid de â—â—istibus Sape uale dicto rursus suns multa loguutus Morall Lord Harris Howard Historie Allegorie Allusion The four daughters of Sir Anthonie Cooke Ladie Burke Ladie Ruâ—tâ—ll Ladie Bacon Blistris Kelly grew She wrote to 〈◊〉 Ladie Bobe to send a 〈…〉 of her 〈…〉 wall