those of his Empire being very warlike people The left going somewhat foremost ledde Torismundo Prince of Spaine Before than all went Priams valiant heire backt with some Spanish Galleyes to succour those in most daunger On the Pagans side in no lesse good order had Bembo disposed his battel in forme of a halfe Moone an vsual custome to fight among them in which manner they approached our Nauie at the sound of many thousand militarie Instruments Beeing readie to giue the oâ—â—â—t the famous Generall from this Admiral spake thus Where valiant Knights there is so many Princes and such great experience in warre I should haue little néed to aduertise you that Fortune hath ministred vnto vs occasion foreuer to perpetuate our fame Sure may we account the victorie for beeing as valiant as our aduersaries we excéed them in numbers and may if me list two or thrée at once assayle euery one of his enemies As for my selfe loosing my life in the office you haue giuen me I satisfie the dutie of a knight and vow to be your generall friend till death And therevppon displayed a bloodie flaÌ„gge crossebarde with blacke a signe that none should take his foe prisoner but shut the doores against all mercie So closing his beauer lead after him the best soldiers in the Fléets and leaning vnder the arches the mightie Brauorant and Brusaldoro his competitor those two puissant Fléetes began to come within shot one of another Where oh Apollo who may without thy helpe relate such a famous conflict whose successe well deseruing a new Booke it cannot haue lesse then another Chapter CHAP. XXI How the most cruell fight betweene both the Nauies began and the admirable successes that in the processe thereof happened THis is the time béeing incompassed with so many enemies that I dare not faire diuine Ladie passe one foote further without your speciall fauor Blacke and fatall was the day to many tasting in it the sower cup of death But to those whom fortune was bent to please reseruing their liues to sée the dismall bloodie losse of others some comfort was it to them the hearing of so many drummes and trumpets eccho in the ayre resounding in the déepe reioycing a so many displayed flagges and bannerets as daunced with the winds the waighing of anchors and hoysting vp of sayles the noyse which the poore slaues haue on the waters beating them with their oares the clamorous cries of euery Captaine incouraging those whom feare had alreadie daunted the glistring shine of armour and the confounding numbers of braue Knights and fierce Gyants that on the hatches of euerie vessell did expect their enemies these and such like sights amazed and admired the beholders Neptune would not this day shew himselfe cruell nor Eolus let foorth more then one gentle breath that did with swelling pride blowe big the Pagans sayles Who taking aduantage of the good occasion with redoubled courage offered to grapple accounting the conquest theirs Oh who is he able to describe the manner of so many deaths that there were giuen So great was the smoke issuing from their shottes that they neither heard nor sawe one another which being past and the welking clearing ouer head Oh Mercury would thou wert in middest of this battell in apt eloquence to modell foorth the merits of euery particular woorth But first the hideous cries of slaughtered bodies the noyse of warriours the shrikes of the wounded could not but be a cruell spectacle for they were all betwéene two of the cruellest oppressed elements that were fire and water Quickly fomed the seas with bloodie froth and on it floated the dead carkasses of sometime liuing creatures Excéeding great was the slaughter that the Christians made with wilde fire and balles of burning pitch and rozen And as they vsed all possible celeritie in casting it and the winde that played with their running wings a little strong by that meanes was the destruction which they made infinit for neither striking of sayles remoouing cabbins and casting ouerboord all necessarie tackle auayled to auoyde the mercilesse deuouring fire which left neither mast nor sayle vnconsumed Oh cruell Soldan of Nyquea that doest delight to sée the thing that would haue moued Nero to some pittie Straunge waies for deathes were there séene for some flying the fire perished in the waters nor is there a friend that will helpe the other The father in such hurlebourly knowes not his deare sonne nor he remembers his sire to pay him the debt he owes him for life and nurture Only euery one procures to liue and when he cannot scape to die not to depart vnreuenged This satisfaction was the sole comfort to them that with cruell wounds flung at their enemies and stumbling on their owne guttes embraced a willing death togither with their aduersaries Some haÌ„ging by their strong hands ouerboord sawe the cruell axe descend and cut them from his holde and he reioyced with such a death rather then to be hewen in péeces by an Infidel Others embraced like good friends sought their endes in the lowest déepes glad to kill being killed The proper life is heere had but in equall estimation with his aduersaries death Others that to themselues complained towards the heauens against Fortune and their happes sawe their friends come stumbling without armes and legges vppon them Such was the confusion among them that no order could be obserued although therin the Greek got some aduantage because their vessels were lighter and better prouided The gallant Spanish Captaine with aduise of his Lieftenant generall Countie of Medyna appointed some small boates well furnished who with all necessarie diligence closely pearced through tenne of the Pagans greatest ships the which with such furie leaked that on the suddaine not knowing which way they were suncke with an infinit number of men chéefely Gyants whose waights did soonest ouerwhelme them Then preuailed not outcries of Pilots nor the hastie calling for boats because the Rowers fearing the fires which the Spaniards hurled rather striued to saue themselues then their friends whom they sawe smothered in those vnquenchable flames and beeing vp to the chin in water yet séemed to burne aliue Peace they iudged the two contrarie elements had made séeing the aboundance of water could not frée them from the fire nor the fire for feare of it kéepe the waters from ouerwhelming them From side to side some were thrust and these exclaimed not for beeing wounded but for want of company to comfort them in their funerall obsequies Well do the Gréekes defend themselues offending on this side where the Spaniards brauely cried S. Iames. And although they were confronted thrée to one they gallantly stucke to it seeing how victoriously the Thessalians had assayled their enemies Wonders performed the Troyan with his beloued Sarmatia against the Pagan but what auuales it when for one they kil there came twentie in his place and so on either side the battell was at one stay whose fiercenes may be forgot remembring what
to forbid it nor to breake their order This was the famous Abstrusios Nauie then who vpon the seas was neuer any more skilfuller and bringing with him so many men well furnished vesselles with an ifinit number of braue Knights aduancing aloft the Gréeke armes hee passed through his enemies with winde-blowne sayles and oares in mosthorrible manner crying Grecia and his countrey He kept such good order that ere he lost it he made mortall destruction on his enemies for his smaller barkes entring where greater could dot did nought but cast wilde fire melted pitch and scalding Leade which was present death to those that onely defended themselues with the sword Armed like Parthians were Abstrusios followers with bowes and arrowes wherewith before they fell to handy blowes they bereft a number numberlesse of liues Which horror of shafts being past it was admirable to sée with what brauerie they betooke themselues to their weapons They were all expert and exercised in warre because they liued in it continually against theyr neigbouring Ilanders Wherefore the Sea began a newe to floate with dead trunckes of men with such horrible outcries of the wounded because they could not before death reuenge themselues that there is no heart so stony and remorcelesse but would haue bene mooued to pittie Sylla that wished to sée riuers of purple goare had here bene satisfied with sight of seas of blood The mightie generall Abstrusio did set himselfe vpon the hatches of his galeon doing what Mars durst not imagine on either hand Lysart did accompany him with his sonne Florisart desiring to make manifest their affection to the Gréeke The Gyants that were appointed to guarde the fayre Serynda were cyzed like tall high mastes clad all in steele with Iron Maces in their hands A better defended vessell was not in all that Fléete for not dreading any thing it went forwards sinking all it met The furious Bembo hauing séene the mercilesse destruction of his men and Gallies had commaunded his to be vngrapled from the Gréeke Emperors to send succour where it most néeded He was straight espied by Abstrusio that presently sent those that followed him to boord her leauing way for his encounter The beake of whose Galleon was all of Iron fastened euen downe to her kéele which made him presume on more then was lawfull on the seas So séeing how well his Gallies had assailed his aduersaries not omitting his intent Abstrusio entered with his running with such force against the side of his aduersaries that he split her cleane in two and had almost endangered himselfe for trusting to his strength he would haue leaped into her when shee began to sinke and they within her cryed out for boates to saue themselues Oh Bembo here diddest thou shew thy selfe to be whom thou art for leaping into a small Barge he opposed himselfe against Abstrusio as if he were in as good a Galleon as his The Pagan laughed at his folly and noting him more narrowly by his colours he knew him to be his enemies Generall It gladded him thinking to haue taken him prisoner But the haughtie Louer that had his life reserued to endure greater troubles made his valour there knowne to the vttermost and how in déeds of armes he would be second vnto none for though he was beset on all parts he so bestirred himselfe that neither his aduerse Generall nor Lysarte with his sonnes power could enforce him from his standing Presently was he succoured and taken into Lindauros Admirall dyed in blood and so inraged that he would speake to none nor any durst looke on him To be in such vnaccustomed brunts amazed him and more not able to learne nor gesse whom his aduersary was that making such destruction of his had succoured the Gréekes From this imagination was he put hearing the entry of the other Fléete nothing inferior to the first Diuers were the voyces heard for some cryed Babylon and Persia some Antioche others Croatia and all at once Grecia and then let flie such volleyes of shaftes that no lesse hauocke they made then Abstrusio Whose arriuall vtterly vanquished that wing of the Pagans And Sacridoros Admirall where Oristoldo was past close by the Tower which none else had done It astonied both Father and Sonne to looke vpon the two Competitors Bramarant and Brufaldoro who with their ponderous blades suffered none to approach the Arches to doo the like arriued Bembo making himselfe strong betwéene the Pillers that sustained the Tower where he animated himselfe with gazing on the Ladie he most affected that opening the Casements then knowing none of them had set her selfe to behold the battell She appeared like the Sunne of Maye in all his glorie chasing away the duskie Clouds from about him that would obscure his brightnesse There was none in all the Fléetes but turned their eyes to gaze on her bewtie Many knew her whereof one was Oristoldo who thus said to his Father This is the season wherein we must procure to liberate you Ladies thence For the fayrest of them is Lyriana whose carrying from Nyquea cost our friend Rosabel and me so much blood and more labor And beléeue me not dread Lord and Father if these knights haue not purposely takē their standings there that none might proue the ascending to the Tower As they were thus talking they descried two knights of rare disposition comming in seueral Barkes The one was presently knowne to be Don Eleno of Dacia whome being departed from Pollidolpho Nabato had guided thither Of his helpe there was no néed for the Pagans had then the worst yet he entred as he was accustomed couering the frothy waues with dead carkasses He assaulted no particular knights but the fierce Gyants Quickly was Rosamond aduertised of his comming whereat she straight commaunded her Royall Galley to waft her where he was she met him Her Armor was well knowne of euery one and so her beloued Dacian also knew her He leapt into her Galley imbracing one another with intyre loue It was no time for long discourses so hauing kist the Emperors handes the two Louers began to performe such déeds as were incredible but not to those that to their cost beheld them The other knight clad all in Rose colour Armour none as then knew but approaching neare the Tower and viewing his Lady he conceiued such content that he suspended his fight til he had well noted the possessor of his heart He became so fierce with that sole sight as he iudged nothing the subduing of both Armies Casting his shield behind him and taking Hectors sword twixt both hands at fewe blowes he was known to be Rosabel to the excéeding content of all his friends In this inchaunted Boate he flung to the Arches of the Tower but he found them so wel defenced that neither his friend Aristoldos helpe nor his owne strength could make his way to them For the thrée famous warriors being in a rancke with such brauery behaued themselues that euery one iudged the
happie presence I neuer haue séene tokens of a perfecter Louer in my life said Claridiano and as I am a Knight if it lie in mee to helpe him I will doo it to the daunger of my life Of this and more is the Louer worthie of answered his vncle but I would not haue had you bound your selfe vnto so much wherby you should omit your iourney to Constantinople the which would gréeue my very soule especially loosing your company To doo so would increase my sorrow in the highest degrée said the Prince because our loue bindes vs to gréeue at others absence yet will not I remit to procure his coÌ„tent that know how to loue so intierly and it may be I shall this way find some measure for my torments knowing that her sight Commandresse of my soule will but augment my paines by being in disgrace and what great glorie it were to bee imbraced in her grace But go we to him that learned to loue and not feare the plague of absence for neuer yet did any féele it but iudged it woorse then death Let vs go replied the frée youth for it is charitie to helpe him in al thinges Wherevpon they made a little noyse that the carelesse shepheard might heare their going With some alteration he did rise supposing some other matter But when by Mooneshine hee fawe those two knight the riches of their armour and so gallant disposition hée went to méete them beeing no lesse courteous then any and saide What is it you this way séeke braue knights for although Fortune hath brought me to the last poynt to make me dispaire of my selfe so I may in any thing worke your contents beléeue mee I will be glad shee should for that time lengthen my despised life then which I could not be more plagued Whereto Claridiano made answere Wee come this knight and my selfe to offer our persons to procure your content courteous sheppheard if your necessities requires them the which we shal hazard with more will then you to imploy them There is no satisfaction nor yet gratefulnesse sufficient to ballance your most kinde offer gallant Knights replied the shepheard but in doing it you haue made known the valor and magnanimitie of your heroicke minds whereto by bountie you were bound Oh may Loue recompence it if it hath not bene possible to denie his soueraigntie with more ioyes then I at his hands haue receiued but now any comfort whatsoeuer will but augment my gréefe the which hath so far extended it selfe that no remedy nor salue can cure it Then Claramant tooke occasion thus But althogh phisicke doth not alwaies whole cure the inueterated Mallady yet many oftentimes it preuents and expelles many dangerous accidents that would else excéedingly aggrauate the infirmitie and so for all it may not now please you to communicate it to those that will féele your sorrow it will be some consolation to sée theÌ„ pittie it were it but to be answered with take comfort for others haue bene vsed with like crueltie and you are not alone despised in the world It is euen so said the amorous shéepheard for amongst all the greatest consolations inuented to mittigate the paines in loue to communicate them is the cheefest yet in me to discouer them it is an offence against the partie I loue But to tell the torments I haue endured and what happinesse they had obtained and my extreame fall from that high felicitie were to wrong my selfe in the recitall for it will be but an argument of little sufferance in me séeing that the least of my suffered paines was sufficient to withstand a thousand deathes But now to consider they haue let me suruiue oh there is no euill comparable to it nor none can I deuise worse For had I then bene depriued of my abhorred life I shuld not haue bene so familiar with sower gréefe yet to sée that after the loosing of that soueraigne good my life doth still persecute me with woes that death fearing to come neare them flyes from me when I most do call him oh there is no patient that can endure this nor I haue power to tollerate it but with millions of continuall teares to bewaile this losse and my misfortunes Farther hée could not proceede for his teares interrupted him which so mooued the tender hearted Prince that they intreated him to make them pertakers of his gréefs that they might iudge whether he haue reason so to gréefe Then the shéepheard said I am sure it is good to relate the tenor and processe of my woes vnto such Knights yet my distressed soule refuseth to refresh the memorie with so many euilles but that you may know how small this my languishment is sit you down and you shall heare the greatest iniustice that euer was vsed towards any he being assured of my faith that doth reward it not as it deserues but according to his pleasure as a Tyrant They all sate them downe vnder the couert of a spreading Oake where the Gréekes put off their Helmes whose bewties admyred the shéepheard who with some sighes moouing them to silence he began Since you be pleased Sir knights to haue me recount the Pilgrimage of my oppressed life and who I am so that séeming to receiue content thereby I shall not néed to intreate you to yéeld me that attencion my manifold sorrowes do deserue Know therefore most Noble warriors how that imperiall power that doth command both Gods and men pardoning none of no kinde I meane Loue soueraigne of all soueraignes hath inforced me into this disguised habit And yet when I ponder how extreamely the blinde Goddesse is bent against me I finde my selfe not secure therein for I haue ere this bene honored and as a Prince acknowledged vntill my â—â—arre-crost loues exilde me through the world This heart-infecting Deitie gallant Knights when in greatest pompe and iollitie I liued in Apulia whereof the Heauens allotted me Prince sent and conducted thither those whose tongues were tuned with the dulced notes of the gallantnesse and bewtie of the Princesse of Lucania With such déepe roote did her faire name insert it self within my frée thoghts that it is now impossible to leaue to loue her in that both she and I haue by a hidden grace accorded in one thing But I doubt it is the nature of our climate or they that breathe therein by custome to bee subiect to like misfortunes What shall I remember Hanniball who had hee not knowne Apulia then had hee not beene insnared in this passion but béene Lord of Rome and not through loue ouerthrow his eternall honour wonne with such losse of his owne blood Yet was not this example of any force to diuert me from my new imaginations but rather in greatest haste I prepared my iourney towards Lucania whither I went onely with a Page my horse and Armour soly to sée Pollinarda and if her perfections equalled the fame of her bewtie I arriued in time when it most florished because the
replied I knowing I will till death obey your commaund Shee answered Why then we shall not so ill disagrée as I thought the thing therefore I would knowe is thou must tell me if thy Lady be heere or no and her name withall without delay and circumstance for I shall thereby receiue the greatest pleasure in the world and with the contrary excéeding discontent which will bee immerited and no iust guerdon for what I meane to do for thée You may easily conceiue valiant Knights what conflicts I might indure of contrarious thoughts not knowing the successe that might ensue if by telling troth I did condiscend vnto her demaunde Somewhat amazed stoode I a while in so much that shee saide you must not deuise excuses for it will fall out woorse if you offend me so I answered None did I deuise diuine Pollinarda but I rather began to incourage my selfe to passe my life in your disgrace for nought else can redowne heereby but kindle your fléeping wrath Bee it what it will saide shee for I am pleased with the knowledge Why then replied I know soueraigne Princesse shée is in this Cittie and of the selfe same name that you are of in which repitition I offend her Shee procéeded further saying And haue you neuer spoken with her now did I tremble with feare and then imagined a thousand deuises yet in the end I replied Soueraigne Ladie your excellency so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot steppe from hence fearing to méete with death vnlesse you seeke his lifes ouerthrow that was borne to serue you She replied I wil haue you tel me all for I wil take it as one that procures your good as you haue partly séene Whereto I answered falling on my knées Presuming on your Royall word and fauours sacred Ladie I cannot deny but I am yours imploring pardon for this fault if it be any worthie of worse punishment then death It did not gréeue her to heare me say she was the Quéene my heart had chosen to imperate ouer it and my soule but rather taking holde by my King the marke of my slauery which for my pleasure I often put on shée raised me saying Very plainely hast thou Florisiano exprest thou louest me and if thy constancie wherewith thou doest it be as thou saiest so I may enioy a heart so sincere and second to none I giue thée leaue to do so stil regarding the secrecy due to my honor vntil the heauens shall minister those meanes wherewith I may asswage thy griefes I required her hands I could doo no lesse to kisse them more glad then had I bene inuested sole Emperor of the wide world and yet that had not so pleased me She commanded me to take off my King séeing Fortune had now fauoured me wherto I replied Oh let not your excellency commaund me to put off that thing wherewith the heauens haue begun to worke my ioy lest Fortune enemy to all content séeing me no more a slaue should tryumph ouer my glory And though I be a king in louing and the most glorious and frée in being beloued let me kéepe this as a memoriall I am and wil be yours while my life shall endure the which loosing it in your seruice will be the happiest and richest losse in this terrene Orbe If it be so weare it replied the Mistresse of my life and yet the taking it off should nothing impaire my affection which now is only imployed in your Loue. Thus was the Soueraigne of my soule weauing this swéete webbe of my life on the delicate Loome of both our contents when blinde Fortune Mistresse of mischaunce being weary and angry that she had helped me that litle moment of time brought it about I know not by what meanes that our Loues till then became suspitious in Court nay further procéeds my woes Oh I cannot without teares say more it came to the Kings eares who desirous to be assured of so dishonourable a déede as to be beloued of the Princesse he had hidde himselfe in that roome vnknowne to me that very night and séeing by experience what he had suspected he issued forth inraged like a mad mā I yet was on my knées when he came forth and finding me in that manner he tooke me by the collor and drawing my ponyard said Oh infamous miscreant Turkish dogge hast thou thus wronged the trust reposed in thée The punishment inflicted on thée shall bee a sufficient example to all others such disloyall wretches as thy owne selfe I had no eyes to looke him in the face nor tongue to answere him though I wanted not hands to shead his blóod had not my Ladyes and my friend Lysanders displeasure and discontent thereby stayed me Hée snatched at her so furiously that shee almost fell vpon her face saying I had not thought Minion thy wanton boldnesse would so haue made thée passe the limits of shame and grace as to bestowe thy affection on a slaue He cried to those that awaighted without whereat foure knights rushed in who straight conueied me to prison where I thoght they would closely murther me the which I had gladly receiued so shee were not hardly handled that had so bountifully fauoured mee The king did commit her but knowing our affection had beene no other then he had séene hee straight for hee loued her dearely forgaue her turning all his rage vpon poore Florisiano Oh magnanimious Knights with how many millions of brinish teares did I bewayle that losse it was beléeue me the greatest in the world for none in so short time could bee so happie as I nor none againe so vnhappie Nothing I did but exclaime lamenting and with woes tormenting my afflicted selfe At length being so many some pierced the high heauens moouing the immortall Gods to pittie and comiseration appointing a meanes on earth to redéeme me for the Noble Lysander being mooued at my disgrace by pollicy procured my Gailors to release me of my Irons and boltes that I might escape through a window and saue my life I gréeued no lesse to depart from Pollinarda at that time though in her grace and fauour then at first when like an enemie I ran from her Yea more then this did my friend sollicit in my behalfe for hee went to his sister and discouered to her the whole secret of my affaires telling her I was the Knight in yealowe and hee that slewe her Agesilao then louing her more then now I neuer would tell any who else I was because I vowed it from the beginning onely to procure her fauour or disfauour without that regard and respect wherein I might bee hadde beeing knowne to bee Prince of Apulia and had not your valour and curtesies bound me thereto none should haue knowne it The Lady did not gréeue at this swéete complot of Loue but rather it kindled in her some new affection So was I visited in prison from her which reuiued my hopes and added new life to my dying powers To pleasure
deseruer of that courtesie But Fortune now alreadie wearie and angrie the earth should longer containe them ordained Alcino should sée the imbracement who not knowing his brother by reason he was armed set spurres to his horse being also in armes The Louer closed his Vizor séeing the other come in that manner and mounting on his horse stept to him saying What séeke you in such haste sir knight Onely replied the second brother to let you know the little reason you had to offer violence vnto that Ladie Inraged as well indéed he might became the vnwary youth and not supposing he was his brother turned about his Courser and saide Why then staie bolde knight for this shall chastise thy rude rashe intention Alcino cowched his Launce making their incounters with as much noyse as if two shippes had met Of mightie forces were the youthes and so they prosecuted their battle with as much strength as crueltie that the Ladie which beheld them could not but pittie the blowes which Larsinio receiued with some teares for the loue she bore his brother forced her to shead them The second brother closed with Larsinio striking away at one stroke the halfe of his shield wounding him sorely on the arme which was occasiō they cast eithers armes about the other with such power that both fell from their Saddles to the ground Striuing vp and downe they tumbled on the grasse bespringling the earth with their blood When the haughtie Celio arriued who séeing the battle not perceiuing the Ladie there lept from his horse and drawing forth his sword went towards them and said In courtesie sir knights cease a while your fights which causelesse séemes to be so fierce Either was so flesht against the other thinking the Lady offended by eithers action that vnwilling to obey their elder brother that being also in rich abillements of warre was not knowne Alcino made reply Doo not you sir knight séeke to part our Combat whose cause we haue adiudged too sufficient Notwithstanding said Celio for my sake and intreatie I hope you will leaue it It will be then answered the youngest to make you confesse you are discourteous in wishing peace where none is desired And so he being got betwéene them and they both angred togither they discharged two such blowes vpon him that he repented to haue vndertaken that demaund but being of incomparable strength quickly setled himselfe among them beginning one of the fiercest fights in the world Aboue two houres they continued hacking and without pittie cruelly cutting their armes and fleshe that euery one had aboue eight wounds The Ladie feared some vnhappie chaunce whose heart was so deliberated with feare to sée Larsinio so wounded for the others shée knew not that she could not rise nor with her voyce giue notice shée was there so we gaue occasion vnto the lamentablest and most vnluckie act that euer was acted For Celio weary of so long delay defending himselfe of the second brother with a cruell thrust to his thinking bereaft poore Larsinio of his life whose death so extreamly gréeued Alcino as if he had knowne him that dispairing of life did cast his shield to the ground and closed with his brother who doing the like so long wrasled that both fell to the earth where drawing foorth their daggers with equall blowes either stabbed in the others bodie togither at once loosing their vitall breathing to the Ladies so great sorrow that she thought to burst She rose bewayling that accursed happe and went to Larsinio tooke off his Helme and séeing him like one dead she became more then dead Néedes would shée know the others which was cause of greater euil for their Helmes being off and knowne who they were a thousande lamentations did shée breathe into the aire banning her misfortune Shée fell in a traunce and twise or thrise lost the motion of her mouing powers and at length recouering her selfe and seeing the thrée Princes for her sake with such remorselesse sauadgenesse slaine tearing the golden tramels of her amber haire whose bewtie eclipsed Apollos light thus she began her lament Oh cruel heauens wherein haue I deserued this mortal plague Or how haue I offended you should so much maligne my hopes to oppose your happie influences with such dire euent against the springing of my ioyes Had you suffered me to kéepe my life within the limits of my solitary walks these Princes had not séene me and so not viewing my ill bestowed bewtie they had not desired what soly was due to one Oh deare Princes you should haue bene contented to see your brother beloued and your selues for his sake affected to desist the procurement of your pleasure with his and your owne deaths Oh chaste Goddesse why didst thou suffer so execrable a fact hatefull abhorred and detestable were my life vnto the world should I desire to liue that sawe the timelesse end of your vnripe yeares For this oh this vaine momentary fading bewtie How oh how may she valiant Princes recompence this déed this deare and amorous déed but to immitate you in death that did Idolatrize me in life Reason had Tysbe to suffer for her Louer and Hero rather to taste of the bitter waters of death then of the actiue fire of loue that in her entrailes burned None had such reason to die as I and in speaking it to prolong my despised life I doo offend which though I might I will not enioy in absence of those thrée that did so dearly loue me Thrée liues wold I haue heroike Princes to bestow on either one being debter vnto you for thrée but since I cannot to thée swéete Celio my soule and heart I doo bequeath my good will and affection to Alcyno and Larsinio and my poore chaste life with my immaculate and vnspotted thoughts to thée most sacred Goddesse do I I sacrifice in extenuation of my fault Wherevpon with mortall fury she drew Celios sword and setting her brest to the sharpe point she offered her life to deaths tryumphing spoiles Which no sooner was effected but the blew heauens with thicke fogs and mysts was clowded with thundring and lightning and innumerable horrible voyces that strooke deadly terror in the harmelesse people who with their flockes and heards of cattle perished Their bodies were neuer found nor if is not knowne what is become of them more then that their liues and deaths with the maner and occasion was found carued in carrecters vpon some Okes there adioyning where some shepheards haue often séene a Caue from whence issues such flames and smoake that it consumed the Trées neare to it and it is many yeares since none dares through feare let their flocks féed thereabouts This is sir knight what you haue demaunded and of so many reports the truest where the shepheard ended Naturally was the Prince couragious and desirous of such aduentures and so very earnest did he inquire for the Caue determining to enter and see what it contained The shepheards shewed it him
giuing it the shadow and her heart the substance which being so tender and vnacquainted with change tooke such impression that neuer Lady yéelded more to loue then Eufronisa Now she desires to speake to him then feares she Already becomes she suspicious that neuer learned to loue Before she knew who he was she became so skilfull in the Art that she feared whether he loued whether he could loue or acknowledge anies soueraigntie Now she that staines the blushing of the mornings Sunne becomes enuious of her owne thoughts and doth distrust her owne worths séeking new deuises and inuented meanes to be beloued deseruing for her owne bewtie Ioues immortal worship Oh Cupids blind snares happinesse in misery a plague in pleasure and grief without remedy found vnsought for and yet a torment that contains a most swéete life By her amazednesse perceiued the damzel her Ladies maladie wherefore she merily said Let vs awake this knight and try whether his bewtie haue more force waking or sléeping Doo what you wil replied she although it be no modestie considering who we be Rather waighing that I thinke it best to do it said the wittie Selia to sée what he is that hath such power ouer Ladies for if his merits equals all other parts requisite in a good knight he may call himselfe one of the happiest in the world So long continued the Ladies in their amourous chat that the Prince awaked with these words Oh fortune how doest thou flatter my hopes for if thou giuest me any good t is only dreaming that when I wake to see it I finde it but an illusion He said no more for the Ladies sight staied him both from the publishing his woes as of the cause of them He rose admiring the Ladies bewtie who first spake thus You should séeme to haue fewe enemies sir knight séeing so carelesly you lye and sléepe in passages so open that any by you offended may at his pleasure right himselfe He answered So crosse and austere hath my fortune alwaies bene most bewteous Ladie that it did neuer let me knowe the state wherin I might say I had a friend for euen my owne thoughts doo most within my brest make warre against my rest wherefore hauing none to trust vnto forceth me to set my selfe in the hands of euery one that one in this generalitie would shewe the office of a friend by taking away my despised life then as such a one I should account him for by the déed giuing me one death he riddes me of a thousand that I suffer in continuall languishment and it might I wel call life for he liues well that féeles no more pain Great is your griefe answered the Ladie and of force to drawe commiseration from the hardest heart and greater it is séeing that none pities you were it but with a counterfeit remedie noting the waight of your complaints In faith faire Ladie said the Prince so mightie are my oppressions that although I know them and the paine I endure by them yet I must suffer them for if I liue it is by liuing in paine so that should I but neuer so litle ease this paine it would be séene in the want of my health If it doth so please you replied the Ladie vniustly you complaine and I thinke you greatly wrong your Ladie terming her cruel My complaints most soueraigne Ladie are not so much ment against my lifes directnesse as against my vnhappie starres that make me infortunate in fauours but not in my imployment for neuer was any better but in such a place where my griefs be scorned Some reason you haue said the Lady hauing this occasion to bewaile for where sorrow is not regarded there is a double griefe and gladly would I know who you are and where borne for you séeme a straunger in these parts I cannot but obey your soueraigne commaund most excellent Lady answered the Gréeke I was borne in the farthest Confines of great Tartaria and am called Corolano cast by fowle weather and tempest of the sea on this Countrey passing so many troubles that had I not receiued such vnexpected comfort with your faire sight no doubt but that my soule séeing the bodie drenched in misery and as vnworthie to containe it had it forsaken me but to enioy within it the view of your happie sight gaue life to her liuelesse habitation And that I may commit no error for it is impossible but I haue incurred some suffer my prayers by your admittance to make me deseruer to know the name of the land so happie in the possession of such admirable brauery Quickly doo you require a payment for the discouery of your name Sir knight replied Selia for the Princesse could not busied in her new and painfull businesse but because you shall not altogither iudge your selfe vnfortunate in your pretences know this land is called Sylepsia whereof this Lady is Princesse and going on hunting we lost our company and our selues yet wee haue not hunted ill hauing founde the amourousest knight in the world and so according to your showes none like you haue better assuraunce of the Louers Tent whose aduenture was newly brought into this Cittie and the proofe thereof shall within these foure daies be begunne and little shall you not please vs to hazard your person in the tryall I am so ill prouided of Armor and other necessaries faire damzell answered the tender Prince that though I were vnwilling to do it yet to content your bewties with them I would try it assured that for louing and being vnfortunate to me the glory is onely due This want shall not hinder you said Eufronisa for I will furnish you with the best armor that euer you saw earst belonging to the first king that raigned in this countrey named Tersio equall in soueraigntie of Fortitude and Wisedome strengthened by Art and skill wherewith he forged them and neuer were séene by any These I le send you by this damzell first swearing you shall not absent your selfe from this Kingdome without my leaue and in our Pallace shall you be cherished The amorous Lady spake so plainly as the Prince could perceiue Loues new wound There is none so destitute of iudgement but wold haue weighed what he obtained to be beloued of so faire a dame for if the Prince had euer séene pure bewtie she was the perfect stampe therof in whose creation Nature the olde Mars of liuing forme had shewed the vtmost of her skill modeling her liniaments more absolute then thought could wish Among so fewe yeares as they both had was neuer seene completer excellencies so he answered Who dares most soueraigne Lady shew himselfe so vngratefull to the fauours imparted by your rare bewty as to commit a fault so hainous to depart from you without your license I am so long since captiue to anothers wil as now to acknowledge it anew is no pain but rather chéefest happines knowing to whom I owe seruice Why then said she we may be gon
thy helpe and for this requested thy good will But for all I am denied all I wil till death persist in this my pure loue and hope for no remedie euermore cōplaining alike of my self as of thy most inhumane barbarous cueltie And therwith flung out of the chāber bathing her chéekes in water of her eyes Shee sent him by Selia some Iuncates of her owne making to refresh him with for she knew he had eaten nothing all that day She intreated him to be answerable to the Princesse loue though it were but fained for according to the gréefe that hath possest her I doubt she will not liue till morning and consider what by her death wil be imputed to you when you shall bee called the murtherer of so faire a Lady I would to God gentle Damzel said he it were in my power to redresse the Princesse griefe but you know being heretofore sworne anothers it is impossible I should pleasure her without committing the greatest fault that euer knight hath none I wil no more importune you said the damzell for I shuld think my selfe much iniuried with your disdaine how much then a Princesse so faire and honourable That is it replied the Gréeke which hinders me for should I do what she requires it were but to satisfie her will against mine which were the greatest wrong that might bee done her for hauing pawned my faith vnto another I cannot violate it to pleasure her The damzel returned to her Ladie leauing the Prince the most perplexed in the world séeing himselfe in place where he could not vse his valor Selia found the beauteous Eufronisa tumbling on her bed drowned in teares What sayest thou my deare Selia said she to her to the tyrannie wherewith that cruel knight doth vse me what meanes may I vse I my selfe know it not nor doo thinke there is any and to desist to loue him thou séest is impossible for neither my affection will permit nor am I able to let it Shee spied neare her the Crownes shée had wonne and with a sigh that séemed to end her life said Oh glorious rewards to increase my harmes you were the sole cause of my vnhappinesse Now that she thought the Gréeke to bee in bed not able to bee quiet shee went alone vnto his chamber whose sight made the Prince offer quickly to rise shee stayed him saying I le not haue thée vse me with any of these ceremonious courtesies nor is my comming for them thou cruellest knight that euer the heauens did create but onely do I come not to intreat of thée what thou shouldest of thy selfe procure hadst thou thy perfect iudgement saue to demand of thée two things for with either of them shal I receiue some comfort and beléeue me they bee not to thy preiudice for were they I would not require them Most woorthie Princesse I nothing more desire of Fortune answered he then to haue that occasion offered wherein I might indanger my life in your seruice and would to God by loosing it I might cure your woes then should you sée with what willingnesse I would cast it on a squadron of deaths darts therefore demaund faire Ladie what you will for I wil at the instant accomplish it beeing with the conditions you propounded Without them most cruell Knight said she who durst require any thing of thee séeing thy straungenesse and barbarous disdaine so extreame against me The first thing therefore that for me thou must do is to tell me who thou art and the Ladies name to whom thou hast rendred that fréely will of thine The second thing I le demaund this being knowne for séeing I must be disdained and forlorne I wil know whom I loue and for whom I am not loued Your excellencie sacred Princesse so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot thinke replied Rosabell why you wil know the thing that being knowne I am sure wil but augment your woes They cannot be greater then them I haue alreadie did she answere and therefore you must not breake with me vnlesse you wil be as disloyal as cruel I am content to do it said he though sure I am of your hate when you know me but that I may giue some ease vnto your gréefes I will kéepe promise Know therefore diuine Ladie I am Rosabel of Brittaine son to the Gréeke Prince Rosicle◠and his Princesse Oliuia espoused vnto Lyriana Princesse of Nyquea and he that in nothing wil take more felicitie then to procure your content But will you not excellent Princesse force mee beeing so inraged to breake that faith I vowed on her hands to be true Louer And now may you sée what reason mooued me to bee so obdurate finding that any remedie from me can but dishonour you And is it possible knight said she that you are sonne to the famous knight of Cupid whose woorthie déeds and loues haue with immortal fame filled all the world Wel had I no other cause but that you are sonne to such a father it were sufficient to make mee loue you till death I only intreat your leaue being alone opprest with these extream passions I may disburthen my cares by séeing the vnhappie Eufronisa is yours for so I shall receiue some rest Whereto he answered Most soueraigne Ladie Princesse of Sylepsia you sée what litle power is in me to graunt you that license for hauing no interest in my selfe I cannot without her will graunt any such thing Then saide shée tell mée where she kéepes for I le send to her for it So enuious hath fortune béene to my content that yet that I cannot say not knowing it because she rest her from my hands Well well replied the Ladie chopping her words in the middle and drowning them with teares because I aske I sée it is impossible I should knowe it least I might receiue some little comfort thereby And since the earth cannot affoord me any the second thing that you for me must do since you haue promised it and vowed by the faith of a knight is that with this dagger you bereaue me of my despised life séeing your sight gaue me so many deaths do not denie it for you haue promised it and if you do be sure I le trauell through the world proclaiming your disloyaltie And so she drew foorth a dagger from vnder her gowne and with manly courage she put it in his hands saying Through my breast hewe foorth a passage for my soule most cruell knight and yet I will not haue you make the wound vpon my heart least you should hurt your selfe modelde in the middest thereof The Gréeke tooke it so amazed that he knew not where he was But the resolute Ladie immediately discouered her brests the purest work that euer nature wroght Make an end thou fellon-stealer of my libertie to giue me som content by this expected death and stain with blood this constant obiect of thine eyes Oh rare force of loue faire Ladies whose power consisting on extreames makes all things
once shewen him séeing my death was not to be auoyded and that I might leaue the world contently he should procure the deliuerie of a letter from me to my Ladie for it would be my latest happinesse He had before that noble knights heard mee complaine and vtter my true harts sorrow togither with the cause thereof which made him bid me write for he would with his owne hand conuey it to hers and also get me an aunswere To which courtesie I replied Had I much more done for you then I haue sir knight this your kind offer is a sufficient satisfaction for the same binding me anew ouer and aboue your loue to procure your content in any thing I may to effect which desire oh would I had a long life that a déed so rare and in such distresse offered and performed might with sufficient recompence bee guerdoned Thus animated I writ my letter whose coppie I haue about mee the which though it may séeme troublesome to you I wil read togither with the answere and then you will say I haue reason to complaine He drew his letter and opening it with a sigh hee reade it thus Florisianos Letter to Pollinarda NOt without fear most soueraigne Princesse of Lucania euen at the last moment of my life do I presume to write not intreating that I may liue for that nor the intiernesse of my Loue to your seruice will permit it nor yet can I perswade my selfe it would sort to any good effect because I am the petitioner for although it sometimes passed throgh my pensiue thoughts to demaund it to imploy the same to your content It presently vanisheth like ayre with remembrance of the vnhappie successe of your distressed Louers vntimely fall And although my fault may haue some hope of pardon beeing committed through the aboundance of pure Loue yet is it crost because it was against thee when I onely should haue dissembled my paine and not procuring to asswage it increase thine in the highest degree But I am resolued to die seeing you and my misfortunes will haue and haue ordained it so I do not offend beseeching thee that with thy leaue I may intreat to be carried to the place of execution along by thy windowe for the sight of thy presence wil much abate my greefe and tertor of so sharpe a death It shall be a fauour that with content wil license my departure when this haplesse bodie trodde downe with woes shal be dispossest of life The immortall Gods preserue thine as they can and he wishes that expects the approaching of the expiring minute of his Hauing done to the Court did the Iaylor sir knights high him He was a man in whom the King and al the Nobilitie reposed much trust so might he enter vncontrowlde into fair Pollinardas chamber whom as he tolde me he found clad all in mourning still continuing her laments By little and litle in their discourses hee forced her by occasion to demand for me whereto he replied I was one that momentarily expected his death from whom I tooke this letter finding it on his Deske and séeing it was directed to your Highnesse I heere bring it to be burnt least it import some further euil He did so cunningly deliuer it and skilfully perswade the reading that she thought him ignorant of the tenor Shee tooke and perused it from whence redounded the procéeding of the greatest crueltie euer heard of From Medea and Progne hath Pollinarda taken their names of cruell for her aunswere denotes her much more inhumane the which I do intreate you to attend that you may be assured what power a womans rage is of to execute her will The contents of her reply be these Pollinardas answere to Florisiano COnfounded was I twixt two extreames by thy Letter most bloodie knight and the cruellest that was euer borne the one increased my paine thinking on thy presumption and my ignorance in receiuing thy lewd scribled paper because it came from him that bereaft mee of my life murthering that vnhappie Prince The other which I account woorse then hell to be constrained to answere thee because to dissemble with thy letter were to giue ayme to thy boldnesse with occasion that thou mightest think it pleased me by my silence to graunt thy request admitting thy least euill the which my selfe denying it and adding tenne times more tortures to thy deserued punishment it would be termed no new crueltie proceeding from mee so exceedingly wronged and offended My sight thou hast no need to desire if it shall any thing auayle for thy content for hee that spoyled mee of my ioy hath no reason to demaund any And since thou murderedst his life that did not merit it thou hast merited the cruellest death that may be deuised the which I will hasten to execution I cannot wish thee life to ende mine because I doo procure thy death to comforte mee He hath reason noble Knights saide the Prince hauing ended to pine to languish to trauell without ioy and content that liued to sée so kinde a letter as mine aunswered with such disdaine and rigor Who hath euer heard of such crueltie as this I had no tongue to complaine of her nor power to banne my luckelesse starres For considering how I did offend her I thought this course of wrath too little But I desired so dearely did I loue Pollinarda it should bee saide of her shee had with greatest bountie and noblenesse forgiuen the greatest enemie of her content and sole spoyler of her ioy for that had béene a manifest token of selfe-conquest ouer her owne anger and reuenging thirst which is the sole glorie aboue all others to eternize an honourable minde because it is generally accorded that to bee a greater triumph obtained ouer our proper selues then to vanquish either heauen or earth Onely for this is that Ladie much bound to me that I neuer desired nor imagined any thing but to the aduancement of her honor and fame My gentle Kéeper greatly comforted me knowing how intierly I loued He performed an act the which hauing since without affection often déeply wondred with my selfe yet could I neuer resolue mee of the cause more then the motion of a vertuous inclination to comiserate a haplesse chance It was that being throughly gréeued to sée I should the next day be openly beheaded against which execution my deare friend Lycanders intercessions nothing preuailed that entring my chamber with a courage resolue he thus spake vnto me You sée sir knight what the king hath determined on your affaires it doth so gréeue my very soule that to saue your life I would gladly loose mine and hazard my credit with his Maiestie wronging his reposed confidence in me and will giue you libertie through this Tower for it is impossible you should scape by this Gate by reason of the strong guard that kéepes you And gréeue not thus to discontent your Ladie for the processe of time will lessen her concealed sorrowe for Agesilaos death
at one selfe same birth O haughtie Tynacrian thinke not but it is a blot to thy immortall fame to shewe thy selfe cruel vnkind gainst him whom hath yéelded soule thoughts to thée It is a tyrannie altogither vnbeséeming whom thou art and what thou diddest protest at our departure The sterne fierce Pagan would not interrupt him but astonied to heare what he said hearkened vnable to resolue whether man or woman he was All the night past they away one in his laments and the other in his newe doubts vntil the appearing of Auroras shine began to giue warning of the morning Sunnes vprise And then leauing his stand went towards the Knight that séeing it was day had laced on his helme fearing to be knowne The knightly Gyant séeing him with excéeding courtesie that most adorned him he beganne to speake You haue inforced me sir Knight to passe this night so disquietted by hearing you publish your griefe that in recompence thereof I intreate you I may knowe the cause and if the hazarding of my person to woorke your content may bee a seruice accepted I shall rest happie to bee so imployed The Ladie well noted him thinking she had neuer séene a brauer nor better armed knight and his ciuill demenour bound her to a milde answere but she was in such an amorous rage that not considering the end replied Why then woorse will the day be to me then was the night to you knowing that you haue heard what the verie soule dares not trust it selfe withall and I know not what lawe of armes admits it Your fauour I refuse for hauing committed such an offence as to require the knowledge of a strangers deare hearts secret against his will that loues which if I declare how should I thinke it could be conceald by you So may you returne for the gréefe that mée torments is pleasant onely in concealement I had not thought replied the Pagan that through intreating thée with what amongst good knights is vsed should haue put thée in that arrogant confidence as to néede none others ayde beeing a thing so contrarie to reason If thou knewest the lawe of Loue replied the Knight thou should knowe there is no happinesse therein but to loue with secrecie for that is it that assureth any doubtfull hope But to recount my cares to one that cānot redresse them with more then a dolefull I am sorrie we sigh more in hauing a straungers companie then for discret circumspectnesse It cannot be exprest what rage the Pagan conceiued for being insolently bolde he was onely noted of immoderate rashnesse and so answered Then that thou mayest know that to haue told it me was thy aduantage I ingage thée to the battell that by taking away thy puling life the paines whereof thou doest complaine may also end Mars was not more fierce then the Louer beeing angered and so without longer stay drew foorth one of the worlds best blades Mightie hee was but hee met with that strength whereto Mylos forces neuer reacht through conceiued rage he was quicker in executing his blow discharging it on the shield of which to the ground hee threwe a péece beating the rest so heauily on his heade that it almost astonished him He stept in with his right foote and with a steddie strong thrust he forst him with staggering paces backwards he wold not yet leaue the chase for turning his sword vnderhand let it flie at his right thigh making his aduersaries flesh féele the cutting of his sharpe blade Neuer was Serpent in the desert Libia more rigorous then the Pagan now did returne vpon the knight and where he thought his blow would be of more effect thither hee strucke the other raised his shield but it was of no defence for although hee did not cut it through the finesse of the temper yet it so charged him that hee set his hands on the ground and ere hee rose hee felt another which made him thinke hee sawe the starrie firmament The blood congealed in his mouth and fréezed in his bodie séeing the fiercenesse of the Pagan which hee thought farre to excéede the Gréeke Princes He rose vp for hee was couragious minding to vse his nimblenesse but as therein the Scythian excéeded the swiftnesse of any Hart it auaild him not from receiuing most cruell blowes kissing the earth sometimes with his knées and sometimes with his handes Neuer felt he himselfe so persecuted nor at the poynt to loose the fame he had obtained for valour and therefore did hee redouble his blowes so strong and thicke that the Pagan was forced to deuise newe defensiue wards Excéedingly he reioyced to sée what braue knights he met in his iourney towards the parts of Grecia déeming him of that countrie where the Authors of his life were intombde This remembrance so vext him that hee supposed it cowardise to continue in single combat so long so letting a blowe flie aloft hee discharged the seconde with such mightie strength on his aduersaries helme that it rezounded like a bell and not able to penetrate it so heauily it waighed on one side that breaking all the laces buckles and riuets it strucke it from his head making the knight vpholde himselfe with his handes but at his rising Apollos beautie séemed not so faire that day as Floralizas great Alicandros Néece that wandring throgh straunge lands in search of her Poliphebo had arriued there In all his life did not the Pagan receiue such a blowe as with her sight for in all the same he forgot not the memorie of that day hee stayed his sword and stepping foorth vnlaced his helme setting to view his sturdie visage more faire then swartie yet with many wrinkled checkes and one great mole on his front approoued tokens of his excessiue strength his shield he cast away and taking his sword by the poynt through the newe tuch of loue hee spake with more ciuilitie then the most amorous Admired Goddesse I beséech you pardon my mad presumption although I féele alreadie the punishment thereof for the not knowing you forced me to it yet I repute it well if it redownde not to your farther displeasure which will be to me a more vnhappier death in that I haue séene the excellencie of beautie and valour and so intreate you as deseruer of farre more honour you will accept my sword in signe of victorie and I le defend that all the world doth owe it you It greatly delighted the Ladie to sée the knights courtesie and imagining he was of estéeme replied I will not sir knight haue you in all things take the better of the fight for the victorie is yours leauing not thereby indebted to your content Her handes to kisse then required the newe Mars thinking no greater good might bee expected then the present Shée drew them from him demanding who he was So yoaked was the Pagan that he could not denie it nor through contemplation say any thing yet thus he spake There was no reason diuine Goddesse
in handling my affaires you make me your euerlasting friend I know not why I should not openly reueale my secrets to you though to my cost for it wil not discontent him who hath placed all felicitie so faithfully to loue And to this end it wil be good the Prince of Dacia should goe to the suspitious knights lodging that he may at large know what hereaway hath happened To morrow I wil send him one of my Damzels to shewe it him For it behoues the Gréeke Prince to returne to prison least he be mist Whereto the Dacian answered With whatsoeuer your soueraigne bewtie shall commaund will I rest most contented For here now we only wil procure yours although therein I hazard my life I hoped no lesse of such a knight said she for such as you in defending I receiue no wrong ought to shewe they be knights And hereupon they departed appointing that with his Page and Dwarffe he should go to the groue of Louers whither they would aduise him by Fausta the next day what shall be done and surely making the doore fast she tooke the Gréeke Prince by the hand saying I am sorie renowned Prince to haue put you in so many daungers in my behalfe but I trust in the diuine powers I shall one day shewe my selfe not vngratefull he answered Small is not the wrong I receiue by those words your soueraigne beautie being assured that if I haue or shall haue any content it is onely to procure yours and beléeue me of little desert is the hazard of my life in so necessarie daunger and so much the more knowing that in Venus seruice any perill is a pastime I le suffer my self to be flattered herein said she that my beautie hath obtained so good credit And because I thinke it is reason you returne to the Tower heere put off your armour for these will I kéepe with me to put me in remēbrance how much I am indebted to their Maister With such grace she disarmed him that she disgraced Cynthia in her pride though then she séemed more faire then when shee visited Endymion Hee tooke his leaue of the Ladie and going through the Caue they mounted the staires where in his chamber hee found his trustie Polisandro with the discréet Fausta that expected him with some feare of his long tarrying although they had not gréeued had he a little longer stayed for the damzels wittie chat had attracted the Pages affection and were they wise they had not deferde the execution of their desires since so good opportunitie the Gréeke had giuen them with his absence Galtenor doth not expresse it onely saith that when the Prince of Croacia went to ayde Greece and carried Venus and Fausta with him that she séeing Polisandro there knighted was contented to bee made a Ladie a manifest token for any suspected minde to thinke they had contracted it From thence went the damzell accompanied with Polisandro to Venus chamber and returned to the Prince closed the Caue after him of whom he vnderstood the Dacian was the knight that helpt him Who being out of the garden mounted on his swift Tirio and alighted in the Forrest he was appoynted whither he was directed as one that well knew it by the dwarffe that with him and his Page in pleasant chat past away most part of the night glad to haue occasion wherein he might helpe his cousin So the time to take some rest being come he stept aside from them and lying along the gréen grasse with his head on his helme he slept the greatest part of the night and taking his shield straight went towards that place and comming to a spacious plaine at the farther end thereof he could discerne some shepheards that attended their flockes They were talking of their common-wealth affaires entermingling them with matters of Loue. The haughtie Dacian arriued and assuring them from the feare they conceiued by his comming said Feare not gentle shepheards for my comming is not to discontent you saue onely throughly to heare your discourses of amorous cares One of them that séemed to commaund the rest aunswered Wee very much estéeme sir Knight of the good opinion you haue of the Esclauonian shepheards and beléeue me there is no reason to conceiue the contrarie especially of those that féede their flockes in the groue of Louers for here with most efficacie doth Loue manifest his power vnto vs because true loue should neuer bee wanting from among these spreading mirtles on whose leaues and growing barkes is the life of those Louers written to incourage him that languisheth séeing what they suffered whose deathes with their names named this Groue Great occasion gallant shepheards hath the hearing of this Groue béene replied the Dacian to bring me hither from my farre remoted countrie to knowe the aduenture thereof The shepheards did rest affected to him séeing his behauiour and some more precisely noting him hauing that day béene in the Cittie knew him to bee one of the Knights that had with such honour ended the battell so made aunswere To no place sir knight could you haue come to haue more truer information of the thing you desire then this for beeing so long since we haue kept our flockes heerein we haue learned of our elders why this valley is called of the Louers Whereto the Dacian saide Why then should I impute it a fauor if it bee no trouble to relate it me wherein you shall perpetually binde me In much more then this replied the discréet shepheard desire we to content yon for your déeds this day done in Alantho deserue farre much more So sat he downe among them where the shepheard began his storie in this manner When here arriued the Author and builder of this great Cittie and first King of this countrie there inhabited on the highest toppe of this mountaine a people whose quiet and pleasing dwelling through their excellent gouernment and care brought it to bee the gallantest most pleasantest Town in althis kingdom Lord of this soyle was a knight Celio by name the valiantest and of rarest constitution then knowne in all the vniuerse insomuch that he was called the Oracle of his age He had two brothers the second named Alcyno and the third Larsinio they had a sister yonger then thēselues but elder in beautie which was such that frō many places strangers came only to sée her perfeéeions on whom some lost their liues at the very first sight This Ladie called Laissa their Parents did consecrate to this Groue dedicated to Diana to administer to her rites in companie of her other vowesses they brought her there so young and she so much delighted in that solitude giuing her selfe solely to hunt that shee became so excéedingly obliuious of her Parents and kindred that she procured by all meanes possible to occult her selfe from them and all humane creatures it was easie to be done by reason of the thicknesse and intricate passages of the same which was no little ioy
who gaue him no longer time for this consideration for the two that on horsebacke remained returned to ouerthrow him Hee could not defend himself for the course was short and so headlong they ouerturned him Ere he could rise Celio stept to him with the greatest blow he had in al his life receiued for it had almost strooke him sencelesse laying him all along vpon the earth All this was no meanes to put the Dacian from his skilfull procéeding for ere he could second another like a furious Lyon he rose on his féet resolued to expect them Hee sawe himselfe in daunger of death for the two that remained on horsebacke with quicke and suddaine carriers so opprest him as he lost his hope with honour to issue out of that enterprise Among the horses he setled himselfe strongly A thing worthie his valour he did for his shield forwards he expected Larsinio that to incounter him had aduanced himselfe but no more he mooued him then if he had runne against a rock whom with his horse staggering back the Dacian forced to fall whereat the Prince was glad knowing that on foote he could better deale with them So he stept aside letting Alcino passe and as he went gaue him such a thrust which was it that assured him the victorie making him therewith maugre his strength to leaue his saddle For all this he had no cause to boast of the blowe for the inraged Celio ranne to him with both hands laying on his rich helme the temper gaue him his life else had his head downe to his necke béene diuided yet made he the blood in great abundance gush through his nose By this were the other two vp with their swords in hand It was a combat most worthie Cupids sight for the thrée are mightie and the Dacian the same he was woont and a foote stronger then Mars hée shewed himselfe like a cunning fencer setting forth at length his shield and sword to intice them to make offer Herein hee preuailed for most blowes he receiued on his shield which being inpenetrable they did not so much as race it In this manner a while he behaued himselfe but hee iudged it cowardise so to end the battell wherefore brauely he rusht among them well couering himselfe with his shield and as hee past he gaue the second brother such a counterbuffe on the helme striking away a great part of his vizor that it was aduenture he had not done so by his head Downe along the breast descended the sword making there a long daungerous wound with another he would haue ended that battell had the other two let him But the haughtie Celio with impoysoned rage entred so much inwards that at his pleasure hee could discharge his furie on the toppe of the inchaunted shield not able to cut it yet so waightie was the blow that thrée or foure steppes staggering backwards it forced him Larsinio was not ydle for with a strong point he thrust at his brest He felt the blow for it depriued him of his breaths passage The two brothers had not discharged their blowes when the wounded Alcyno returned and with both hands gaue him a most mightie stroke Rezound with Eccho did the gréene fields by the warriors sterne stupendious blowes And the angrie Iudge was astonished to sée with what crueltie they assayled each other Aduantage had the warrelike Dacian in his armour for though he was tired yet they had no scarre Otherwise was it with the brothers for the fielde was besprinkled with their blood Don Elenos celeritie much auailed him else he had not got the victorie so cheape but it and the surenesse of his armes makes it certaine Thrée houres haue they fought making no shewe of fainting in the end of which was the Dacian alreadie at the extreamest of his rage thinking he had the worst of the fight so casting his shield at his backe and with his sword twixt both hands began to brandish it among them quicker then the Cyclopian Smithes doo their crooked hammers and as he could not misse them he gaue no blowe but fetcht blood In the selfe same Coyne doo they paie him for the thrée more fiercer then Alcydes assayled him so brauely that if he giues he receiues and in greater quantitie with equall quallitie Now skill and dexteritie preuailes not with him all he remits to blowes wherewith he rents cuts and in péeces shiuers their armor priuy coates and shields He would first dispatch Celio which most troubled him so getting from the two entered to him and in his assault with a downright blowe he cut away his shield with al his vanbrace and a great péece of his shoulder Scarce had he done it whē with a point he turned against the second thrusting thrée parts of his sword vnder his arme pit where had he put foorth his arme as he mought for euer had he there laine Vpon Larsinos waste he discharged his furie so fiercely that it was a wonder he had not in two diuided him The heauens preserued him to paie his iealousie although against the Dacian Prince he lost thereby In his very soule was Celio vext to sée with what rygor that one knight handled them that taking his sword strongly in his fist aymed aloft giuing Alcyno time to giue him a dangerous blow on the thigh for falling betwéene a ioynt it made him a wound outwards so great was the paine as he could not stand on that legge which the brothers perceiuing and assuring themselues the victory began to oppresse him so vehemently as they depriued him of breathing Eager herein séemed the third brother and would make some shewe of his valour but it rezulted to his deare cost For Don Eleno noting his intent gaue back as fearing the rest and so let the third enter who being within his reach with incredible force laide him on the head he cut away most of his Helme with a great péece of his head tumbling him at his féete helping him thereto with another no lesse strong The other two closed with him lamenting the successe He could not refuse the wrasle He entred thereto aduisedly first drawing foorth his dagger quickly they fell on the ground where they tumbled a good while It was aduantage for the Dacian to be so for stretching foorth his arme in that place where before Alcyno was wounded on the front there againe Don Eleno strooke him making him loose his hold with the pangs of death Then he turned on the first whom for his valour he had affected but at that instant forgetting it let flie at his brest a most cruell stabbe wherewith he ended the brauest aduenture euer in that kingdome knowne The noyse which the haughtie edefice made vanishing away was heard through all the Citie of Xantho To Cupids Throne was the Ladie conueyed in that manner as she witnessed her brothers deaths whom the God of loue thanked for her amorous act in giuing her selfe the mortall stroke of death only mooued through zealous
hauing taken so vniust reuenge guiding thy selfe thereto by a blinde selfe voluntarie passion and not by royal wise and discréet reason And least thou shouldest hereafter pretend ignorance knowe thou haste iniuried such Princes that will straightly call thée to strickt account of all these wrongs Of whence or what you be and of your pride and insolencie we néede not care to know said the king for it manifestly appeares in your last committed faults And that you may sée how little I respect your haughtie menaces I commaund you on paine of death to depart my kingdome within these foure daies if not I le séek till the death pursue you with an hoste of armed men Before this had wee determined our departure replied Pollidolpho abhorring longer to abide in Court whose king so little doth respect true iustice and so do I hope to sée the time thou shalt thy selfe confesse the euil committed to be ruled by the opinion of self passionate men whom fortune hath rewarded according to their malicious intent Plainly vnderstood Lindaura it was ment by him but vrgent necessitie was betwéene them that he durst not speake They departed from the king leauing him readie to burst with rage and Lindaura in the same manner that had no other comfort but to thinke his estate sufficient to warre against the whole world He required since all matters were quietted to be married to the Princesse Venus The Father could not denie it being pleased therewith nor the Lady might not recall her word giuen to obey him although she deferred the day alleadging she and her damzels were working certaine things against that time which forced her to deferre it eight or tenne daies for séeing they were assured of her graunt that terme was little Her father reioyced and much more the dishonoured Louer of Liconia to sée that for all his troubles and vnhappie chances he obtained his Venus Who altogither of a contrary desire sought meanes how to aduertise the Prince and to conferre with them of her resolution The Gréeke well knew it who being without the Cittie taking some rest at the fountaine although it was some to be at libertie and in the company of such friends as those on whom for their valors a greater matter then that and difficulter might be reposed He expressed his determination thus So great is my soules ioy mightie Princes of Dacia and Babylon that my tongue cannot expresse it in that it pleased the reuoluing Mistresse of vnconstant time to order your commings hither for otherwise what the Prince of Grecia promised without your handes had béene impossible for him to atchiue Before the king imprisoned mee my helpe was craued by his daughter against the force her father would commit to match her with a husband she disliked to whom I offered my person so did this warlike Prince of Croatia louing as her beautie doth deserue no lesse the faire Venus and of himselfe he made her sole Empresse I well perceieud it presuming more then my strength could beare promising to set her in his handes in despight of the Syconian Sophy to whom she is assured by the king because hée is so great a Lord. In prison talking with her and telling her my opinion she altogither yéelded thereto and that shee would in nothing contradict me So must I now go to her presence and resolue her of my intent that according to our time limitted wee may vse the most conuenientest remedie I do therefore intreate your aduise and counsell in these waightie affaires The Dacian thus replied I knowe none here excellent Prince that will deny his ayde vnto so mightie a Lord as the Prince of Croatia and therefore there is no reason but we all hazard our liues to woorke his content and moreouer it behooues me to take from hence the bewteous Laissa for hauing bought her libertie at so beare a rate I wil not leaue her in a straungers power for I intende to intreate the Prince of Persia to carry her vnto his Empire til I otherwise doo purpose and the company of so braue a Lady will be gréeuous to none And since we be héere togither I I am of opinion that the Prince of Greece goe to night to knowe the Ladies resolution and against when they will bee readie to depart thence Whereto the Croatian Lord thus said I cannot most excellent Warriours and soueraigne Princes protest nor binde my selfe to more then I haue alreadie only this I can within two dayes haue heere twelue thousande men that expect my comming to the sea that til I commaund them the contrary wil not depart from thence And within the Citie I haue fiftie knights and two Gyants to helpe vs if we shall néede their aide And we may safely vnséene go to our lodging in the Citie and there order our businesse Euery one was glad that the Prince was so well prouided and lest longer delaie should prooue more harmefull they straight mounted and tooke their way backe towards the Citie They entred vnto their lodging vnséene of any through the obscuritie of the night From thence they sent two of the chiefest of the fiftie knights to poste to the Sea side to commaund the Captaines and Leaders of the souldiers that euery Commaunder should leade the most and best of their charge vnto the Valley of the Louers and that the rest should be in vigilant readinesse guarding the Gallies The knights obeyed most willingly as they that intirely loued their Prince being also of his subiects so affected The Gréeke Prince leauing them onely with his sword and the strong priuie Coate that Venus gaue him he left his Chamber taking the next way to the Garden which was the place he thought to meete the Lady at which indéed was so For accompanied with Fausta and Laissa whom she had made partaker of her Loues and also how she estéemed the Persian Prince were both determined to go with them being assured what great Princes they were if that meanes might debarre that vniust marriage Claridiano comming to the doore gaue his signall which Fausta knowing opened saying In faith sir knight I now sée you cannot but be happie in your owne Loues being so carefull of anothers The Prince thereto answered This is my vnhappinesse to sée by experience anothers faith well guerdoned and liue my selfe in the greatest dispaire that euer knight in the world did It may be answered said she you are onely euil conditioned for by all your other parts you deserue the wide worlds admiration That is not so much said the gallant Prince as my misfortune is great that guides it this way Well leaue we this replied she and go we where my Lady and the faire Laissa doo expect you and haue patience for this is but the touchstone whereon the Ladie by true proofe makes triall of the Louer By this came the two Ladies fairer then Apollo and Venus stepping foorth said I did so greatly feare dispairing knight that séeing your selfe at libertie
sonne Rosuler that at Oliuas intreaties did stay Also the furious Brandafidel was with him on whose strength he reposed much hope The Gréeke Alphebo had no néed of aduertisement for the generallitie of the warres was come vnto his eares and so with the greatest power he could vnite withdrew himselfe to Tribizound accompanied with Braminoro and Tefereo who most gréeued at the Princes absence was the beautious Archisilora attributing the lacke of Claridianos presence to her owne strangenesse her sorrow was easily discerned by her outward semblance No lesse was Rosamondes to sée her so knowing the cause it so tormented her that for feare it should be perceiued she resolued to absent her selfe for commanding the Gouernors of her kingdome should with all conuenient spéede conduct the greatest power of well prouided men they could select â—ut of her Kingdome to Constantinople and there to rest vnder the Emperours gouernment They accomplisht their Quéens beheft for then she no Princesse was more with loue respected of subiects sending when time serued fiftie thousand of well armed men The day before her departure shee tooke her leaue of Rosamond with no fewe teares for neuer betwéene two Ladies was such simpathie of true amitie Very importunately she offered her coÌ„pany but as any good societie wold but aggrauate the Quéenes euill shee would not admit it saying shee might not leaue Greece and the Emperour in such necessitie Then her armes being the best the world contained she presented her Them shee also refused for Lirgandeo had prouided her with such as were requisit for safegard of her person which were of the same colour as Claridianos sauing that the sable barres were filled with flames of fire on her shield was a gallant deuise for out of a field full of odoriferous flowers a Ladie séemed to go in search of a knight after whom she in great haste ascended vp a craggie rocke from whence she looked after the content she lost and the Motto betwéene them thus Little hope of ioyes abide That leaue knowne ioyes for ioyes vntride Alone would the warlike warriour néeds go thinking her gréefe a sufficient company all the Court sorrowed for her absence but Lirgandeo assuring them of her safetie their discontent was lessened mounted on a lustie Courser shee crost the woods of Greecia thinking on her Lord calling her selfe a thousand times most cruell for that in being so shee had lost him and by the losse obtained so great torments Shee shipt her selfe in a barke bound for Alexandria resolute to trauell the whole world in pennance of her folly One night among the rest while the warriours slept she walked as she vsed on the hatches with her lameÌ„ts to make the watrie dwellers partakers of her gréefes at such time that another barke sayled by hers from whence might be heard some entermingled grones with sighes She could not knowe what it was so swift it went away After it with all possible spéede with ores and sayles she commaunded hers should followe it was done with such diligence till shee ouertooke the barke wherein shee sawe a Knight complaine of Loue and Fortune thus Ay me vnfortunate Prince said the knight is it possible there should be no euill but the extreamest sower it containes my perplexed soule shuld féele Why should I hope for any good when with mine eyes I sée it flie from me There is no inconuenience but haunts me except death with whom I cannot be acquainted Oh Gréekish Prince how happily mayest thou call thy selfe happie by being in thy infancie brought vp with the soueraigne of my life and hearts direction since that was an occasion for the obtaining of those rights solely due to to me Oh Liriano thy name being sufficient to asswage the gréefe that me torments who might by sacrificing my life into thy hands assure thée in faith thy Louer deserue not comparison with me To you to you Sea-Gods do I complaine Oh you I pray that séeing her celestiall habitation is in your vaste confused watrie kingdome a little intreate her for the vnhappie Bembo Oh Loue how rigorously hast thou in all things shewen thy crueltie against me Wherein haue I offended thée when disobeyd I thy commands when violated I thy lawes abolished thy rights or when did my painfull thoughts harbor or conceiue the least imagination against thy honour or deitie If this be so and not vnknown to thée why doest thou wound him with tyrannie that is orborne with weaknesse and thy disastrous chaunces Oh how many any pardon me faire Ladies be hereafter confident on your perfections your crueltie being as great as your beauties are incomparable if you reward him that can loue like him that onely liues to hate No more could the Ladie heare for the barke was guided by Lupertio but what she heard was ynough to increase her paine and raise some doubt that the named Prince was he whom she loued Oh generall plague said the gréeued Lady none canst thou forgiue shewing thy care in most tormenting them that are most carelesse of thée A shower of infinit teares rained the Quéene downe her pearled théekes procéeding from the extremitie of loue hauing so done séeing her selfe comfortlesse and not knowing whom to aske for hauing no notice of the Gréekes deuise she began to giue vent vnto her swelling thoughts singing these verses My heart will burst except it be discharg'd Of his huge load that doth oppresse it so Streames stopt oreflow the bankes if not enlarg'd And fire supprest doth much more fiercer grow Great woes ript vp but halfe the woe remaines But paines concealde doth aggrauate the paines Sing then my soule the storie of my losse Forme in sweete words the anguish of my minde Yet doo not singing ill becomes a crosse Rather sigh out how hard Loues yoke I finde Loue is a sicknesse singing a ioy And pleasure is no pack horse for annoy And must I then knowing Loue a disease That fils our soules with strang calamities Spite of my heart enforc'd my selfe to please And in mine owne armes hug my miseries And seeing still my state waxe worse and worse Must I of force embrace and kisse my curse I must I must Cupid hath sworne I must And t' is in vaine and bootlesse to resist Then be not Loue oh be not too vniust I yeeld me to thy rule rule how thou list For my reclaim'd rebellion shall bring foorth A treble dutie to thy glorious woorth Oh Loue sweete Loue oh high and heauenly Loue The Court of pleasure Paradice of rest Without whose circuit all things bitter prooue Within whose centure euery wretch is blest Oh graunt me pardon sacred deitie I do recant my former heresie And thou the gearest Idoll of my thought Whom loue I did and do and alwaies will Oh pardon what my coy disdaine hath wrought My coy disdaine the author of this ill And for the pride that I haue shew'd before By Loue I sweare I le loue thee ten times more Hast thou
thing procéeding from you gentle Lady I le accept as a fauour answered the Gréeke being assured that since you know my will you will not be against my content which I shall estéeme most great to worke yours And they arriued at the Ladies lodging where they were forced to silence least they should be heard and the Prince tooke off the armor from his legs So went they euen where Eufronisa did expect him fairer then Diana yet so abashed and fearefull that though she saw him yet could not speake But from her weakenesse she drew strength to say embracing him now Loue began to helpe her I would not valiant knight haue you attribute this my boldnesse to more then to requite what I am indebted to you hauing this day to your high honour most noblely honoured our court where my selfe also had part through your valour of the glorious end of the aduenture In eternall records of liuing memorie to succéeding ages shall this remaine togither with this my wanton déed if it be knowne Hee replied There nothing happened this day most soueraigne Princesse but was atchieued vnder the name of your excellent bewtie And therfore vndergoing it as yours what difficultie could happen which I might not vanquish to enternize your glories Ay me strange Coriolano were I assured thereof what torment were so great which I should not account a pleasure and most swéete But oh cruell griefe it is thou that hast conspired with my malignant starres to make mee explaine my will before I know how it will be accepted Excéedingly content rested I séeing you at the Fountaine and conceiued such delight that therewith I liue and euer shall possesse this mancion of my life but if you knew or would vnderstand with what paines gréefes it was intermixed there were no heart of Diamond walled with Adamant but would pittie my distresse She there ended raining downe her christall rubie chéekes such a shewer of liquid pearle as it expressed her soules sorrow It was not vnconsidered by the Brittaine youth for he was M. of Loues schoole A thousand times cursed he himselfe complaining against the blinde guidresse of vnhappinesse reuoluing many inconueniences the least whereof were woorse then death for if he yéeld to the Ladies will hee sées the wrong he offers to his Lyriana and if he do it not hee feares she is resolued for aye to kéepe him there Both things hee ponderated wisely in his minde yet could not chuse which he might do or how to excuse himselfe Notwithstanding of these euils hee tooke the lesse yet greatest chusing rather to suffer a liuing death then to offend his deare Lyriana and so hee aunswered contrarie to her expectation thus I cannot but confesse most excellent Princesse how much you desire to fauor me altogither immeritable of your benefits and if ending the aduenture in your name may be thought any seruice for euer bee it happie for bringing me to this estate wherein if my woorthlesse life sacrificed to confirme your content may be any signe of thankfulnesse behold me here readie to yéeld it With a heauie sigh the Lady answered Woe be to thée vnfortunate Eufronisa since in thy tendrest years thou haste begunne to feele the bitter chaunges of inconstant Fortune Sure sure I am I shall remaine an example to all posterities through this vnséemly act made woorse by thy vnciuill vsage I do not require you cruell knight nor will not haue you hazard your life in now daungers of new enterprises onely I request séeing I loue oh Gods that I should say so you would do the like Most faire of fairest Ladies replied the afflicted youth I am yours and as such a one dispose of me for none with more will shall procure your content But yet doe not bestow your sacred faithfull loue on so meane a knight as I both in conditions blood and estate the which neither your Princely honour fame nor dignitie doth allow nor my selfe séeing and knowing your loosing choise bound by deserts vnto your worthinesse may permit without infringing the constant lawes of faith hospitallitie and thankfulnesse The which rather then I will commit these my hands will I staine with my owne blood for where there is such inequallitie of deserts I should be hated and abhorred of all men so to accomplish your languishing desire and therefore haue patience beauteous Princesse for there is nothing better then it to tollerate these hastie accidents in Loue. Oh inhumane crueltie said the wéeping Ladie how much doest thou extend thy power against me what auailes it thée hard hearted knight to procure my honour by giuing me a most vntimely death So shalt thou rather be called an homecide then a man seruitor of Ladies wel well I wot that my ouer liberall giuing thée my heart mooues thée to this strangenesse knowing there is no reason in that breft wher Loue commaundeth which were it in me I could not but see the increase of my honour by being silent but with such vehemencie was my paine augmented as I could no longer conceale it And if thou knowest what it is to loue this canst thou not iudge straunge when true affection could neuer yet be limitted and mine excéeding all others forceth me to say I onely liue to loue thée Héere she pawsed vnable to procéede further nor the Prince to replie the one intercepted by the gréefe the poore soule indured and the other to sée he caused it by being so obstinate and vnrelenting to her requests In the greatest confusion of the world was the Prince in to sée the Lady so determined and amorous and he himselfe be reaft of possibilitie to helpe her I hope most beauteous Eufronisa saide the Gréeke this conceiued anger against mee will bee pacified knowing how long since and afore this time Tyrant Loue had made mée his tributarie vassall delighting from mine infancie with those that were toucht with this euill and if the consideration hereof may mooue you knowing my weaknesse to satisfie your desire I hope you will desist from making your selfe guiltie of dishonour Ayme cruell knight answered she now I le not so much complaine of thy disdaine as of my owne lightnesse séeing what a capitall and hainous crime I haue therby committed not onely gainst me yet that is no matter but against all Ladies in the world besides that onely for the name deserue to bee sued and intreated But I ay mee that I as ill accounting of that name as of my pure honour haue yéelded to Loues triumph rather become a suter then reserue my selfe to bee sued vnto And yet doo not you thinke but I perceiue your minde is still busied imagining on an others absence this and many other things I knowe by experience since I first and last sawe you at the fountaine I do confesse it all and also my reputations wracke but a resolued mind in constancie cannot leaue lo loue nor will I otherwise though it treble my sorrowes eternally For this I did intreat
Galtenor saith the Ladie forgot her paines enioying many daies the fruition of the Gréeke Louers bedde vnder that deuise telling him that a wise man her great friend had for some time fetcht her out of the inchantment to accompany him in that distresse Much bound did the Prince thinke himselfe to him for so good a turne So farre wrought the vertue of the Crowne that all the time shee enioyed him by that deceit the Gréeke could comprehend no more but tooke what Fortune offered him At length Eufronisa iudging it reason to let him go féeling her selfe with childe conferred with Selia that approoued it Shee tooke off the Crown kissing it a thousand times for hauing enioyed by it her harts content She had no sooner set it by the other when it was presently taken away not knowing by whose hands A voyce shée heard which thus comforted her Haue patience Ladie for the heauens will haue it so and till you knowe the fruite that by this deceit shall rise neuer looke to sée it more So soone as it was taken away the Gréek thought all that he had past but a dreame hauing scarce the remembrance thereof What time hée had so spent he knew not but stayed for the Ladies comming to giue her his answere which shee determined to refuse because shee would not be bound vnto him for it She entred his chamber with her damzell thus speaking How are you determined most cruell knight of the Flowers that according to your resolution she may liue that loues you He answered I am sure excellent Princesse you haue had time to consider the wrong you do me to inforce me breake my word yet I am yours and will bee till the death and so may you dispose of mee at your pleasure Whereto she thus returned Euer since most glorious Prince of Greece that Fortune or the powers of Loue made my heart obedient to your will I onely procured but a graunt from your mouthe by so many meanes as you haue séene solely deuised to affect you and that you might knowe I loue you And since you are assured thereof and now to comfort my sorrowes in your absence I wil haue you leaue with me some remembrance and let it be your dagger for which you shal haue mine that wherewith I intreated you to end my life which now I le kéepe to imploy it in your loue and beléeue me braue Prince while this soule shal haue power to breath this affection shall neuer decay And therewith with excéeding ioy she embraced him and taking his ponyard she gaue him hers bidding him prepare his departure against the next morning The Prince did so somewhat abashed to haue béen so importuned Hee tooke his leaue of the Ladies not without many teares for trust mee hee was beloued in the highest degrée that euer knight was A verie rich Iewell the Ladie gaue him at his departure All armed in precious armour and mounted on a lustie Courser giuen him by Eufronisa hee went out of the famous Cittie of Golthuerge whose departure she tooke most heauily yet some comfort she conceiued to be big with childe by him Straight the two Ladies beganne to deuise how they might kéepe close Eufronisas trauell who being a straunger to such matters gréeued thereat Onely this consolation she tooke to looke from the toppe of a high turret towards Grecia whither her ioy was gone calling it a heauie land to bring forth such fruite Thus this bewtious Lady passed away the season vntill her time of deliuerie which being the first she felt extreamely She was deliuered of two boyes the fairest that the heauens created for he which was first brought forth had on the face of a Lady fairer then the sunnes Splendor in his pride The other a heart thrust through with a dagger with the wound so fresh as it séemed then to bléed Selia shewed them her saying Reioyce faire Princesse with the issue sprung from that deceit which is such that it frées you from any fault The tender mother embraced and kist them saying Oh may the powerfull heauens deare children of my heart let you liue to know your warlike father for though he vsed me with all crueltie yet are you his sonnes Blesse you may the Gods make you as happie as I am vnhappie although I may now call my selfe the happiest on the earth onely by being your mother So carefull Selia tooke them away and through a secret doore in the garden she gaue them to the old ancient knight to see them nursed in some Village At their carriage away a thousand kisses and blessings did the louing mother giue them as diuining the long time shee should be ere againe she saw them With much care did the olde knight carrie them to a Village where he had prepared a nurse for them That hee might passe more couertly he cros◠the Forrest bearing the children in two baskets on a litle Asse by the way hee rested and tooke downe the boyes to quiet them from crying Scarce had he done when a chased Lyon ran thitherward being hunted by shéepheards with their dogs The knights age and the Lyons sight put him in such feare as he fell downe in a trance As then the cruel beast ment not to take any pray but to escape his pursuers In this manner lay the old man and the children crying for hunger when by great chaunce a mightie Lord dwelling on the confines of Sylepsia past that way with his wife that had bene at the Cittie to to sée the tryumphes there With them was an auncient Lady lately deliuered of a childe that dyed in Golthuerge So soone as the Lords wife saw the children and hauing none her selfe tooke such affection on the babes séeing theyr woonderfull bewtie that she commaunded the other Lady carefully to nurse and bring them vp In this manner were these two Infants carried by this Lord and tendered as his owne He that had the Ladies face they named Clarabell And the other with the wounded heart Leobello Who so grew in yeares and bewtie that they were accounted children of the Godds Where we will leaue them nourished by the good Knight Sergio for so was hee called omitting also their afflicted mothers sorrow for theyr losse and a while must remember the mightie dispayring knight Claridiano of the Sphere already departed from Croatia CHAP. XVII What aduenture the Prince Claridiano met in the I le of Creet where he disinchaunted his Vnckle Claramant FOr a while faire Ladies I am constrained to leaue Loues amorous discourses and trust mee with some gréefe but hauing to treate of many things I must describe them with diuers styles And now the warlike Gréeke with an Adamantiue power attrackts me to lighten him from the darke center of obliuion who departing from the most bewteous Venus and gallant Laysa lanched into the Adriaticke sea downe the which hee Nauigated foure dayes and the fift hee crossed into the Affrican and happening on no aduenture deseruing memorie
gallant Ladies beauties ornaments but that neither the excellencies of your perfections whose powerfull vertue can onely with the sight commaund the greatest heart nor yet the tender pittie attending on your sexe will not with timerous feare appall your gentle minds reading these fierce accidents of sterne Mars And then I hope you will not conceiue lesse pleasure with the bloodie battels wherein I am intangled then at Cupids amorous discourses But where they seem offensiue passe them ouer though loue haue ordained them and yet respecting the cause I know you will not condemne the effect For although now you sée the Gréeke Prince busied with cruell warres too soone he will be ledde where he shall confesse there is no good where the little blind God doth not raigne and this euen when ayded with nothing but his strength hee shall set frée the faire Princesse of the Scythians from her strong inchauntment But before that happens attend and you shall heare what him befell entring the blinde Laborinth His axe he carrid afore and with vnremoouing steppes hee entred the way-confused habitation where he so often turned and returned comming backe when as he thought himselfe to go forward and crossing such by-waies at euery second pace that when he iudged to be at the end he found himselfe at the doore Sometime he heard not without great amazement the noyse of voyces crying The rich armor thou haste wonne bolde knight shall not auaile thée to get from our dwelling in recompence of thy presumption to disquiet vs and then felt hée such mightie blowes that often made him set his hands and knées vppon the ground but considering how litle he had done by winning the armor and how the other valiant knight expected him so animated him to indure those huge strokes which none but he could haue suffered Wearie and tired he at last came where he sawe a little light that issued frō a high cranny of the wal It gladded him for by it he found a way that brought him vnto a faire large yard about whose wals were many pictures and stories so naturally drawne that they somewhat eased his paine By them he vnderstood Pasiphaes beastly accesse vnto the Bull. It so disliked him that he turned away his eyes being offended not with the pictures but with what it represented Hee sawe Theseus cladde in those armes he won of him enter the Laborinth with the thread tied to his arme and at the doore the two beautifull sisters that with feare did stay for him The cause was they loued and where that passion is none can liue secure fearing also the good it enioyeth A little beyond he sawe how ill repayed Ariadne was being left to the mercie of the windes among wilde beasts To such pittie was he mooued towards the Ladie that casting vp his eyes to heauen he said Oh cruell knight vnwoorthie the name of Theseus imploying so ill those partes the heauens hath adorned thee with but especially against a weake tender Ladie whom if reason had béen thy guide thou shouldest haue helped although thy life were hazarded A new battell were it possible would I haue with thée vppon this to make thée confesse thy crueltie and ingratitude He vowed to himselfe to helpe all Ladies though hee indaungered his life which he performed so well that many vnder that name onely durst trauell alone and euerie one called him the knight of the Ladies His owne image sawe hee a little further and his battell fought with Theseus togither with those which Claridiano made about his libertie He reioyced to see the haughtie déeds of his new friend Being about to go to the other side of the yard to view those pictures there as he turned he espied two knights all in armor comming towardes him with their shields and swords readie for the fight Their gallant semblance and brauerie much pleased the Gréeke beeing neare him one said Thou haste béene much ouerséene knight not acknowledging Loues soueraigntie to enter a place so prohibited where be sure thou shalt be called to strickt accounts They stayed for no answere but ere he could sway his axe about they gaue him two mightie blowes one on his shoulder and the other on his helme Both he greatly felt especially so cowardly to be assaulted With an Eagles swiftnes he got frō betwéen them into the middest of the broad yard the better to vse his daungerous axe He stretcht it out at length awaiting for his aduersaries that nothing fearing followed him With the poynt he hit one almost beheading him for with the blade he sorely wounded his throate hée drew backe his axe and winding it about layed on his shield the which he strooke to the ground and his Maister headlong at his féete His companion was not carelesse but comming behind gaue him so strong a blowe vppon his helme that though he cut it not yet hee bended it to his breast Like a furious Lyon turned the Gréeke against him whom hée found so neare that to hit him he was faine to draw back his armes and with a fierce incounter he ranne his shield through and wounded him on the breast making him stagger backwards and to helpe him downe hee raised his axe and discharging it on the side of his helme he cut away all that part with a great peece of his inchaunted gorget He felled him at his féete and was so eager to end with him that hee forgot his other aduersarie who assayling him at his backe gaue him so fierce a blowe vpon his middle that his companion executing ano ther in the same place they had almost felled him Neuer was Beare nor Tiger more fierce then now the Prince became against his enemies raising aloft his axe He could not misse his blowe for they were before him So with all his strength he hit one on the shoulders the blowe was so mightie that all the blade he hid within his breast splitting his heart in two Scarce had he finished this when he laide vppon his other enemie who was so skilful that ere the axe descended he got vnder his armes running at his breast with a thrust This blow much gréeued the Gréeke for it stopt the passage of his breath and hee seemed to awaite the axe but for all the haste he made to ward the blowe it first crowned him with death for falling on his head diuided in two he sent him to accompany his friend The hideous noyse which hee heard in the next roome would let him take no rest but rather leaning on his axe he stayed more warily to sée what it was When presently with admiration he was amazed seeing the feareful Minotaure so vgly and deformed His face was like a mans although farre bigger his eyes glowed like a furnace of kindled fire On his large front hee had two mightie hornes whose poynts were harder then any Diamond his necke short and thicke So big and broad a breast he had that the very fight witnessed his strength
Eagle with two crowned heads the selfesame they had In signe of peace and message the Tharsians hung out a white flagge So they were suffered to passe among their ships whose numbers of men and fierce Gyants amazed them They boorded the Admirall from whence two ancient Knights of Argentaria were in a Barge conducted to the royall Galleon where they deliuered their embassage vnto a mightie knight that little wanted of a Gyants heigth telling him how in their fléete were the kings of Tharsis and Argentaria from whom hauing séene their armes they came to know whether they were on the part of Grecia vnder whose standard they also fought These newes excéedingly gladded the gallant youth being no lesse then valiant Abstrusio who would néeds expresse his thankfulnesse for what Rosabell had done for him hauing through his valour and strength obtained his faire Syrinda who knowing that her Abstrusio went to Grecia would not stay without him dreading the want of his presence And so to conduct her with more safetie hee had mustered togither from both kingdomes and all the Ilands he had conquered by his valour 300. thousand Combattants the skilfullest in Nauigation in all the wide world besides and he himselfe excelling all others therein because with aduantage to giue a battell on the seas hée seemed to haue bene onely borne thereto hee brought with him 500. puissant giants his friends that to please him with many of their knights accompanied him in that voyage And in his ship to guard his deare lady were twentie proportioned like to plesse pynes Now séeing the Nauie he had reputed to be against him came on the â—ehalfe of his honoured Prince he declared who he was and how he reioyced to haue met such friends vnto the Gréekes and Rosabell Presently they sounded in signe of peace yet many of Abstrusios followers and Argentarians gréeued thereat because they first desired to haue made tryall of theyr persons but long was it not after that they had occasion to do it By this was it knowne to Lysart who his reputed enemie was and so to shew him extraordinarie courtesie he and his sonne with foâ—â—e Lords of estimation went to visit him whereof Abstrusio being aduertised expected their comming on the hatches of his Galleon commanding as they passed by they should be welcommed with a generall peale of Ordinance from all his ships which was performed in such good sort that the haughtie Lysart much commended their good entertainment who with all his company went aboordâ— of the Galleon and most kindly the two lustie warriers embraced one an other And so being knowne how they were all voyagers for one enterprise and eyther relating how much they were bound to Rosabell the mightie Abstrusio burst forth into these words Oh Ioue now I am fully assured how effectually thou dost impart thy fauours to the Gréekes and I nothing wonder at the lamentable desolation of ruined Troy since al the good aduentures of the world are soly reserued for theÌ„ as due to their worths And your Maiestie hath reason mightie king of Tharsis to shewe the office of a friend vnto so braue a Prince and as for me were I not he I am shuld I denie what I owe since through him I enioy my life possesse my kingdome and that which is more and I most estéeme is the happie fruition of my deare wife And then he told him all that hapned with him to Rosabels immortall glory So Lysarte requited his discourse with an other of his Loues and that therefore hee brought that Nauy to ayde them It is no more then due said Abstrusio to helpe him that helpes so many to obtaine their ioyes in whose pursute let vs spend our liues to make him happie in content And so ioyning both fléetes togither by the Tharsians direction they set forwards for Lysarte was best acquainted with those seas and knew where the enchauntment stood hauing bene at it when he freed Rosabell from it Who desirous to honor the Pagan with more then ordinarie courtesie commanded to be proclaimed throughout his Fléete that euery one should obey the mightie Abstrusio as their Captaine Generall Who taking some offence thereat said Since our amitie must be of such force and continuance I wold not mightie Prince you wold vse these ceremonies with me I do but what I know you deserue and is your due Braue Prince replyed Lysarte and therefore do but commaund and we will all obey for now and at all times we entend to be your souldiers and so hée intreated him to passe into his Galley but not able to obtaine it hee and his sonne were faine to stay in that Galleon With the noise of many instruments the two puissant Nauies began to shape their course towards Nyquea They had such faire weather and prosperous winde that on the fourth day of their Nauigation they discried the flames of fire that issued from the Tower Thither they turned their course sending forth sixe swift sayling Gallies to discouer their way The which were so neare the Tower that they sawe a most daungerous battell fought betwéene the Arches The reason was for that the mightie Brauorant making his abode there would suffer none to prooue the ascending vp Some about it had lost their liues and many their honors They so long tarried that from the South they discried before they went away such an infinit number of sayles that it amazed their iudgements déeming them to be aboue 4000. vesselles of Ships Barkes and Gallies Neuer did Xerses sée at once so many sayles togither This fléete was the mightie Soldans of Nyquea with whom all his friends beeing ioyned came thitherward couering all the sea of Greece In the Admirall was the two Soldanes of Nyquea and Egypt being a brother of his whom Rosabell slew Who séeing himselfe so mightie resolued with all his strength to reuenge his brothers death and his was the greatest part of that power With them ioyned the Prince of Syconia Venus Louer the Sophy the mightie King of Assyria with the Phenician who hoping there to sée their sonnes as Lupercio tolde them agreed to ayde the Souldan of Nyquea Also very strongly came braue Epirabio with proude Brufaldoro Brauoâ—â—…nts great enemie Many men brought not Bembo Prince of Achaya but without doubt the valiantest and most expert in warre Enuious Lupersio so well pleaded for this braue knight that he caused him to be created Lord Generall both by sea and land hee accepted the honor iudging his streÌ„gth to be sufficient to discharge a greater charge He named for his Lieftenant and Substitute by sea the discreet king of Assyria because he had rather fight by Land that he might order and dispose of the Shippes and gallies least their numbers breaking into disorder might hazard their victorie which otherwise they had assured Euery one highly estéemed him séeing his gallant behauiour and knowing how he was honoured throughout the world So many hundred thousands of men they brought that he
from their wounds the which maketh our knight take the condition of a Lyon assayling and retyring like an Eagle in swiftnesse but the more hee toyles the more doth it augment force in his aduersaries for their inchanment lies in tumbling downe the way Claramant ascended Long endured not this strife for the Prince séeming to feare them gaue a litle backe wherat they eagerly followed him which he well noting set on him that came foremost and méeting him right against the ladder he turned about his axe with such fury that with it he feld the Giant ouer who was neuer more séene The Gréeke was of pregnant and sharp vnderstanding so he straight perceiuing the cause which made him auoiding a blow of the suruiuer close with him suddenly hoysting him aloft tumbled him the same way his companion went If all the frame of heauen and earth had fell it could not haue caused more feare then what surprysed the hearts of euery one by the Gyants death So wearie remained Claramant that to ease himselfe he raised his Beauer to breathe a while and so he looked out at a window on the battle reioycing to sée so many of his enemies vessels to burne with fire Long stood he not so because the wise Nabato in company of the Ladyes issued out of an other fayre Gallery The Gréeke had not till then since his enchantment séene any woman which made him admire these fayres iudging none might equall the cheefest of them So the wise man approached saying Most excellent knight you may account your selfe in more then I may well expresse hauing ended such an aduenture as this onely reserued for the valour of your person and vertue of those armes the which vntill this instant haue cost you most deare yet must you more indure sustaining many dangers about them and therefore henceforth begin to take courage And as for what you haue done for these Ladies because in part it concernes your selfe they shall not néed to thanke you And more in this matter I am not permitted to say till you shall loose your libertie recouering then both father mother friends and wife And while I liue will I assist you to my power for my Lyons sake that is among you whom I account as my sonne So for this time ceasing I commit vnto your victorious hands Lyriana the faire princesse of Nyquea espoused vnto the valiant Gréek Prince Rosabell that belowe expected her brauely backing you with your deare friend Hauing thus said he vanished Claramant taking the Lady by the hand fairer then the sun he ledde her downe the steps at the noise of such swéete musicke that it much delighted both fléetes Thither repaired most of the valiantest Pagans imagining the aduenture ended Oh Bembo it touches thée more thē any so more then humane deeds doest thou perform yet all auaile not against thy contrarious fates for the Gréeke Emperor séeing the aduentures end cōmanded certaine Gyants to rowe him there with more furie to breake through his enemies with whom went most of the warlike Knights He that best deserued in that exigent discharging the hopes of him expected was the braue Tartarian Zoylo being high treasurer of all the fleete who desirous to shew how much he was indebted to Rosabell chose out eight of the best furnished Gallies both of sayle and munition and with them in a rancke he set himselfe along the Arches that way to hinder his aduersaries approach although all their fléete made thitherwards and so ioyning with Oristoldo and his valiant father in his ship with Abstrusios barke which was the strongest on all the sea they brauely resisted the Pagans furie that then seemed reuenous Nothing helped them for then Claramant descended with his Beauer closed because he would not be knowne by any With a loude voice he demanded for Rosabell Farre from him was not the glad youth most ioyfull séeing his Lady sure from his enemies She was deliuered to him with these words I doo so much desire your content most valiant Prince that to procure it I haue indeuoured to doo thus much and so in signe that I will euer be your friend while life indures I present you with the spoiles onely due to your vallour Whereto the Prince replied Braue knight I doo not so much estéeme the good you haue done me by liberating my espowse although my life depended thereon as the generositie and magnanimitie wherewith you doo it which is so great that I cannot requite saue by perpetually acknowledging the debt you haue bound vs all in and referre the satisfaction to your owne merits from whence this memorable act procéeds The great hurleburly brake off their farther spéeches whereat he returned for the other Ladies and Rosabel with his in his armes was conducted to the Christians Imperiall Admirall where the Gréeke Emperour receiued them with the greatest ioy in the worlde Presently was victorie proclaimed for the Gréekes who being assured thereof fought fiercer then at first The sunne with his absence parted that more then wondrous Battle and so the Pagans fearing their vtter ouerthrow sounded retrait leauing the third part of their vesselles swallowed by the sea with infinit number of Knights and Gyants They entred into counsell to sée what befitted them Voyces were giuen altogither to ende the battle but in the end they resolued the contrary because their aduersaries held Fortune by the hand and thereuppon withdrew towards Nyquea from whence with fresh supplies and new hostes to turne vpon Grecia they resolued Some comfort was this to those that were like to burst with fury Bembo would not be cured til the Souldan himselfe intreated him So madde was Brauorant that none durst looke him on the face The wise man consolated and animated them saying he did finde by his Art that if there doo not come more supplies to Grecia they should surely conquere it for their partie would be far augmented by the vniting of many more Princes much wronged by the Gréekes With this they were appeased although destitute of consolation Nothing so were the Gréekes that all the night spent in ioy and pleasure not missing their lost men though they were very many The Emperor with all his sons wold néeds passe into Abstrusios great and strong Galleon to doo him that fauour Who requested the kissing of his handes but the Emperor would not and imbracing him said If I had knowne we had bene all souldiers vnto so braue a Captaine I had with better hopes expected the happie successe of this conflict What I did in what degrée soeuer most mightie Monarche he replied was through imagination of the great content I hoped would haue redowned by my seruice the which I assure eternally vnto your Crowne All the warlike Ladies assembled togither where Archysilora made her selfe knowne The Emperour tooke her in his armes saying In faith beléeue me faire Quéene our victorie hath bene too small since procured by such hands Rosamonde reioyced in her hart with
at her horred fiercenesse misdoubting humane strength against so terrible a monster But his heroicke brest beeing vnacquainted with any feare recommended his safetie to the supreme King of Kings and with his sword strooke the vgly beast on her defensiue scales whereat with hellish horror she awaked Against her went he when she being on her féete with her scaly tayle she strooke him so fierce a blowe on his body that the Gréeke staggering had like to haue fallen but that his backe stumbled at the Piller where he stayed This much inraged the Emperor who like a Bazeliske awaighted her he auoiding an other stroke wherewith she approached him and then he discharged his blade in all possible haste vpon her ribbes but it happened not as he thought for the sword rebounded backe vnable to batter her scales at whose strength he much wondred and being about to second a poynt shee entered vpon him raising aloft her armes Carelesse was not the warrior and misliking her embracements wreathed aside his body and as she would haue closed he turned his sword and therewith cut away her hinder legges making her fall flat on her buttockes howling at the paine of her wound And lifting vp her truncke on her armes swoong about her tayle and hitting him on the shoulders she felde him on his handes and as hee rose got holde of his Armour with her nailes and furious with paine rent away halfe of his armor and had not he bene warie to looke to himselfe with her téeth shée had made an ende of him But he séeing halfe his body disarmed and fearing a disastrous death shooke himselfe from her hauing two péeces of his armor sticking in her iawes imbrued in his purple blood that issued from the wounds she had made him There is no furie of Hyrcania like to Claridianas Louer séeing the yarde besprinckled with his blood and himselfe vnarmed that taking his sword in both hands on the Serpents backe he executed the brauest blowe that euer knight performed for happening in the middest of her body and the strong scales vnable to resist the sharpesse of the blade guided by the best arme in the world she was parted in two and the gates of her life opened to entertaine the fréezing ayre of colde death Infinit deserued thankes rendered the Gréek to his Creator for the victorie and taking off his torne Armour hee went to the bubling Fountaine and being vexed with thirst drunke of the Christaline water remaining as well and lustie as if he were neither wounded nor had fought blessing the water and he that made it But looking on the armes hee sawe them to bee the richest hee had euer before séene They were of russet colour full of white and redde stars made of Dyamonds and Rubies inchained one by an other with knots of Golde The shéeld did nothing differ from them In middest of it was the picture of a Knight naturally resembling the knight of the Sunne when he maintained the bewtie of Lyndabrides vnder the tytle of the knight of the Chariot as the first part of this Historie remembred Hee was also mounted on a horse the counterfeyt of Corneryno The motto thus His power cannot be withstood That hath horse armes and cause so good Slowe was not he to arme himselfe with these armes and hauing in mind the libertie of Roselia like a whirle-winde he passed through a doore he found in the yarde All this while the furious Brauorant was not idle for hauing ended his first battle he entered the gate from whence the Gyant came forth Through Lymbo he thought he walked so excéeding darke was his way A great while did he grope about the wall on eyther side to find and issue from that dwelling vntill he found a doore the which althogh it was of strongest steele yet he quickly battered it with the pummell of his sword Forward he passed and in the end he found himselfe to be at the gate of a faire hall in middest whereof there stoode the confused picture of a mightie Gyant made of Brasse with a sword in one hand and in the other a bigge shéeld and as the stoute Scythian would enter in the Fantasmo made against him No whit at all was Cmpeons nephew afraid yet stood in great cōfusion not knowing in what maner to make his battle First arriued the Fantasmo and with incredible force executed his blowe on Brauorant Helme who hauing no shéeld to ward it was constrained to set his knées and one hand to the ground A poynt was seconded with so strong a thrust that hitting him as he was disordered it laid him along vpon his backe Vpon him went the Fantasmo yet mist of his intent For the strong Scythian did cast his armes about his necke felling him to the floore and in the fal being within his reach he gaue him such a blow on the mishapen face with his fist that therewith he rowled him along the ground and rayfing himselfe went against the vgly shape that being vp did the like but hee auoyding a blowe with a floorish on high he descended his cutting blade paring away some of the shoulder and halfe his arme Which no sooner was done but that part turned into an vgly Gyant who hauing a Mace of Iron in his hand said Thinke not fierce knight thy strength able to end the aduenture for all the vnited power of the vniuerse shall not frée thée from my hands Much amazed was the sterue sonne of Bramarant séeing the Gyant before him yet with most inuincible courage hee prepared himselfe for the Combat and so comming towards him offered to strike at his head which made him lift his Clubbe to defend it But Brauorant withdrawing backe his strong arme stepped in with his right legge and ranne at him with a mightie thrust It cut all his Armour and mortally wounded him on the belly Vnrecompenced went hee not away for the Gyant swaying his Mace about hee strooke him therewith on the breast and felde him to the earth but hee quickly rose ready to burst with rage blaspheming against himselfe from which passion he was put by the approach of the Phantasmo that came to wound him But he scaping it would turne his edge vpon him but with the backe of his sword he strooke him on the helme that it made him stagger a good way from thence and then swifter then an Eagle receiuing the Gyants blow on his blade it cut his Mace of Iron cleane in two Which when Floralizas Louer spied he closed with him and crossing his legges with the others he brauely tript him downe felling him on his backe and then he stabde his dagger into his brutish breast making him belch forth his soule to him that long before that expected it Now could not the vallerous youth so cleanly go away with this good hap but that he was hit on the helme a heauy blow by the Phantasmo the fine temper thereof saued his life yet was he in a traunce laid along
tushes and rising on foote would haue pluckt by the Princes skirt but that he saued it with his shield through which as if it had bene of some composed clay he thrust his clawes into it The haughtie warriour did let it go and raising his right hand letting his sword hang by the Chain the which he had alreadie drawn from the Monsters mouth he would néedes make the Magitian witnesse his vnequalled strength for closing his armed fist he gaue the deformed Monster such a buffet as he strewed all his face with his owne braines making his eyes flie from the head and he himselfe bellowing fall dead at his féete to the Princes excéeding ioy though not to the Magitians that woulde not any longer staie in the Windowe Whereat the victorious youth without farther delaie fearing to be outgone by the rest past the doore he had so dearely discouered Admirable were these battles of the second Castles that hapned to Alphebo Brauorant and Claridiano yet nothing inferior to them was heroicke Claramants for hauing done with the first he stepped through the Gate receiuing innumerable blowes not knowing by whom they were giuen making him set his hands and knées vnto the ground neyther his shield nor terrible Axe auailed not séeing his aduersary This so tormented our seconde Mars that he beganne with all his strength to strike on either side still kéeping his way forwarde along a fayre Gallery and béeing neare to the end thereof the blowes ceast at the opening of the wall whence came foorth a wilde Sauadge In either hand he did leade a Centaure bounde with a Chaine bearing in their hands long Cemitors The haughtie Warrior not fearing them with his shielde about his arme and raising his Axe with the other went towards them At first the Sauadge met him with an iron bat leauing the Centaures behinde him and at the Princes Helme he let driue a terrible blowe Claramant lifted his shield to take it thereon the which was driuen with such fury to his head that he could scarce keepe himselfe from falling With admired spéede the Centaures aymed theyr Semitors at him And then he brauely turned his Axe striking one vpon his brest felling him in a sound and with a counterbuffe he cut away the others arme with his Semitor Vnrepaid could not Bryanas sonne scape for the Sauadge séeing his Centaures so intreated discharged his bat vpon his shoulder with such monstrous strength that maugre his vallour it strooke him down falling vpon the astonished Centaure that then would rise who séeing him so neare did cast his strong armes about crushing him so hard that he could not stirre giuing the Sauadge occasion againe to raise his bat discharging it directly vpon the Princes head But he séeing it descend with the vtmost of his strength on the sudden got from betwéene them some halfe yarde away and so auoyded the Batte striking the Centaure so venturous a blowe on the breast that he opened the Portall of his heart with hideous horror to vent forth his liuing breath Incomparable was Claramants content of this great good successe yet was it not sufficient to expell his wonderfull excéeding rage which made him as nimble and swift as a Roe get on his legges euen when the Sauadge séeing the ill hap of his stroke did discharge another Lightly did Claramant shunne it and so the Batte finding no resistance ranne one halfe of it into the grounde and before he could fetche it out againe the Prince with a downeright blowe easily cut asunder both his armes and turning againe vppon the Centaure with another mightie blowe he claue him from the head to the brest And so leauing him dead and the wilde Monster roaring with paine he would haue passed to enter the breach the beasts had made in the wall but he saw it close not knowing by what meanes and ignoring the cause with raging furie returned on the Sauadge with his axe wounded him in the middle parting his brutish body in two at the instant the wall opened whereat thanking his Gods hee went thorowe the doore fearing his stay might yéelde some aduantage to his companions the which he would not acknowledge Mars to haue ouer him No lesse strong then venturous was Don Celindos Combat for when he saw the Gyants disgrace hee valiantly put himselfe through a Caue and being at the end thereof comming to a great gate he did tread in a hole falling yet happily as it fell out For before the gate there was a Vault couered with a boorde made lesse then the mouth thereof and fastened to a round pole whose endes crossed the hole at one side and so treading harde on the boorde it ouerweighed the one side downewards whereby he fell in but the holes mouth béeing narrowe and his sword hanging by his side in the fall it crost vpon the hole and so he hung thereat ouer knées in water This vnthought mischance daunted Meridians sonne yet recommending himselfe vnto his Gods he lifted vp his armes and raysing his body cast it flat ouer the boorde and as light as he could with much adoo he got out of the hellish place thinking himselfe now to haue new risen from death He had scarce gone thence when he heard the voyces of certaine men and listening he heard them say Come come let vs goe apace and wee shall sée how well the Rat canne swim A while stood the youth still desirous of reuenge It was not long deferred him for through the same gate that opened into a garden there issued sixe swaines euery one with his Bill in his hand More destruction makes not the hungrie woolf among the tender lambs then Floralizas brother of those villaines saying Sée here you villaines the Rat scaped from your trappe defend your selues from him By this he had already cleft one to the waste and ran an other through the body and heart Amazed were they to sée that the knight had scaped thir trap and so trusting to their aduantage they made him sometime kisse the ground with his hands and then with his head yet all did but increase his rage For Alycandros Nephew being abashed to let them hold out so long so swoong his sword among them that hée felde one dead an other with shoulder cut an other without legges and the last armelesse and all wanting their soules hee sent them poste vnto hell finishing with theyr liues the ende of the enterance of the second Castle and staying no longer there he entered into the Garden Now is the time admired Ladies Goddesses of those soules that adore you to lend me a little pittie the ornament of your sexe equalling your magnificent bountie with your rare and diuine bewties suffering the sunnie rayes of your swéete fauours so to strengthen my harsh quill although immeritable that I may expresse the fiercest battell that euer Mortalles heard of worthy to bee atchieued by none but the mightie Alphebo deseruer of the worlds greatest Trophies Who hauing put on the
I rusht vpon him saying The time and place doeth now fit discourteous Prince that the death of one of vs shall testifie the vallor of the other I being alone and himselfe accompanied with two made them the bolder all thrée to assaile me I refused them not but valiantly put my selfe among them I mortally wounded one which gaue me way the sooner to méet with the vnhappie Prince who so litle liued to enioy his louing hopes for driuing him before me til he was vnder his Mistresse window with a strong thrust I ranne him through where the blinde Goddesse of Chaunce séemed yet to fauour him as to be stucke to his Ladies wall At the last grone wherewith he yéelded his soule I heard another the fearfullest that euer before or since I heard because it procéeded from Pollinarda It so daunted me that I had like to haue bene taken all the knights guard with others being thither come As secretly as I might I shrunke away til I had time to set my safetie on my féete getting to my Lodging saying nothing of what had happened vnto my friend yet had he questioned me about it he could not but haue perceiued it What else befel the next Chapter shall rehearse CHAP. XXVIII How the Prince of Apulia with much pitie continued the discourse of his life vnto the Greeke Princes TO proue how many daungers and perillous inconueniences the disordinate passion of inconsiderate Loue doth cause there shall néede no arguments nor preambles of large discourses to auerre it for the experience that euery one sustaines by paines and griefes thereof togither with the opinion of that famous Philosopher that said If this disordered Motiue of intemperate and furious motions had not bene indengered in the breasts of mortalls as some plague and scourge for euils infinit and Capitall deadly crimes had neuer bene committed nor imagined Well is this saying confirmed by the vnhappy death of the Calabrian prince at the hands of the Apulian Florisiano who with equal grace and griefe prosecuted the tenor of his woes thus The bitter exclamatios that sounded in the Pallace braue knights and the hurliburly of the Citie séemed no lesse then had it bene round begirt with enemies Dead as he was he was carried to the Lady so she gaue in charge for louing him so dearly in his life she would not in his death forsake him She did lamentably bewaile ouer the murthered Corpes when I disguised came thither for I could not but go and sée her of whose sorrow I had bene the causer Oh cruell heauens said the wofull Ladie with what barbarous immanitie haue you extended your rygorous power on me more then on any Ladie else Oh Sauadge and inhumane wretch murtherer of my soule may it be there shall want Iustice where such bloodie déedes haue abounded Ay me vnfortunate Prince how cruelly in thy tender yeares art thou by an vntimely death persecuted A thousand times did she sound vpon the deceased Truncke holding it in her lappe So extreame were my passions Syr knights that to sée him in that manner I almost became iealous iudging I had fauoured him by so sheading of his blood that in death were it not sencelesse to enioy so swéete a fauour Considering my great intyer loue my state for his I would haue chaunged By little and little I approached so neare her that lifting vp her eyes she met with him that was cause of all her sorrowe shée supposing it cried out aloude and saide Why doo you suffer the bloodie murtherer with such presumption to appeare thus before the murthered Oh Gods sufficient strength did I then desire sufficiently to be reuenged Some of the dead Princies Allyes did suddainly arise which forced me without farther regard to shewe my selfe guiltie of the fact by drawing my weapons Aboue fortie swords did presently flie about mine eares The Pillers of the yarde whither I was got following Pollinarda defended my backe whereby hauing slaine thrée or foure the rest with feare retired giuing me leaue to returne vnto the place where the Ladie continued her laments There I said I would yeelde both my selfe and my weapons into the Princesse hand So ioyfully I resolued to accompany the dead prince to please the Ladie and therevpon taking my sword by the point prostrated on my knées I said Most excellent Ladie if any offence hath bene committed it hath beene with this wherewith you may take what reuenge you will on mée that was the executioner thereof Beléeue me heroicke knights there is no crueltie like to that kindled within the breast of an angry woman peremptorily resolued for so she may haue her will no life she doth respect She tooke the sword and with inraged courage she offered to execute what I had accounted my happinesse so she were contented but her strength fayled her in the execution of the blow falling after the blade in a traunce whose point scratching my Front did let foorth my blood And though greater wounds then that I had not felt yet that I noted when the Lady returning to her selfe I spied my deare blood on her face as the spoyles of her intent A sufficient marke was that braue knights to asswage the greatest paine Millions of thankes gaue I Fortune for it attributing that hap to her for being so rare it could not but procéed from such a blinde distributresse of vnexpected benefits I had no power to defend me from those that assailed me being weaponlesse who had giuē me a thousand deaths much more one but that my friend and faithfull Lysander arriued at the instant who drawing his sword approued his friendship to be great by shielding me from a shamefull death though not from a rygorous prison where the King commaunded me that night to be cast in shewing himselfe to be most excéedingly angry and gréeued You may easily suppose woorthie Syrs what I might féele being in that sort imprisoned especially when the next day I was adiudged in the open place to bee beheaded I did not so much sorrowe to be ledde to die as to depart in my Ladies disgrace Who moste like an eager Tyger of Hyrcania stil cryed and yelled out for reuenge But it pleased my inconstant chance from whence I gather I was reserued to suffer greater paines that I should knowe my Iaylor being a knight both gentle and kinde whom by deserts I had bound to pleasure me for in former times I had no lesse saued him then his life defending it from them that would haue spilt it Hee much encouraged me saying he would for my sake vndertake any perill béeing thereto long since indebted His kindnesse did much comfort me although I neuer imagined to steale from prison for all he would haue set mee at libertie for I was resolued to die louing her by that meanes working my Ladies content that she might sée I suffered the deserued punishment on me inflicted for so displeasing her I onely intreated him by the amitie and loue I had
Knights I remembred the things she did most loue and hate she shewed no whit of alteration but returning my ponyard said Little néed had you Florisiano to alter your name for any such feare knowing that onely for it the first of the same had bene forgiuen Farther shee did not procéede nor more openly bewray her affection I dissembled my ioy sharing it with Iaroe whom now me thoght began to bee forgot I would therein recompence him for his former kindnesse towards Florisiano The time would no longer permit vs to chat for the houre of my departure being come I was constrained to tell her so She was content aduising me to be secret because shee would that way often visit me I imagine Sir Knights that you thinke both tongue and soule swore a solemne performance of her deare commaund and if you so thinke I assure you your thoughts deceiue you not for my soule that still hanged vpon her lips receiued her command with no lesse sentēce of the Delphian Oracle then rising with a pleasant smiling she said I pray Lord Florisiano let vs entreate your Turkeship Christianly to conduct vs to our lodging and then wée le license your departure All rauished with ioy not able to speake a word I went with her to her chamber doore and then falling on my knées and kissing her hand desiring her to account me hers I tooke my leaue leauing my soule in her bosome and returned to my Lords lodging where we prepared our selues for our walke He did an act that I iudged most kinde for he gaue me a garment that had bene mine saying Hold Iaroe for since Fortune robbed mee of his owner none hath better deserued it I put it on and greatly wondred how he knew me not Away we went arriuing to the window where his Lady expected him I stayed to guarde the passage with such resolution that all the world yea Florisiano of Apulia had not passed there with the first and with the fauoured last was Iaroe now in disgrace séeing the alteration of his fortunes So if with patience you will attend me the next Chapter shall vnfolde what else happened CHAP. XXIX How the Prince of Apulia ended the discourse of his amourous life to the Greeke Princes and how Claridiano pittying his estate departed with him WHat strong residence the power of Loues affection hath within an amorous brest faire Ladies the beawteous Pollinardas suddain and vnexpected change which Agesilao bought full dearely doth amply shew for not remembring how greatly she had loued him how bitterly she had taken his death and with what rigor she procured his reuenge she recanted and without consideration of her honours blemish doted on a slaue A iust guerdon that séeing she would not affect the Knight that with such firme proofes had approoued himselfe to be hers and by his déeds worthy of her estimate she now beheld the subiect of her ioyes with slauish markes and that her blinde and vaine passion might so far excéed as to say that for the second Florisianos sake the first had bene pardoned There is none that may safely build his assurance on such effects if once he haue opened his doores to Loues flatteries In pensiue imaginations had the Louer put the Gréekes with his amorous Historie that they would not so soone haue it end But the youth that aggrauated his woes with repetition of his former gréefes abreuiated saying There stayed I Heroicke knights gazing on the vesture that belonged to the Apulian till that my Lord Lysander hauing excused himselfe to his lady of certaine obiections layd against him I thinke it was but some iealous imagination they would assure all inconueniences by an espousall contraction especially befitting them both So hee came for me to be a witnesse thereto but ere he discouered himselfe he would néeds try the vygor of my armes comming an other way disguised for the purpose and being neare me he drew saying What madnesse hath brought thée to so suspitious a place where thy boldnesse shall reape no other againe then a remorcelesse death I was so carefull to let none passe nor to disclose who I was that without more ado or other answere I set vpon my dearest friend In faith I reioyced to sée how wel he behaued himselfe although I knew him not but I being throughly incensed I began to follow him in such sort that I droue him among the hedges of the Orchard faithfully discharging my dutie It behooued him to speake least some danger had happened so he raysed his voice miscalling me therewith which more gréeued me then if he had mortally wounded me for séeing me with eager furie presse to take aduantage at full to hit him he said Oh Turkish dog what doest thou I knew my Lord Lysanders voyce and beléeue me Noble warriors I was neuer more vexed but that I tendered him as my soule Iaore had surely kept him from enioying his loues yet I stayed my hand considering his friendship towards the Prince of Apulia So I tooke my sword by the poynt and intreated him to pardon me for my not knowing him had forced mee to commit that fault The faith answered he wherewith friend Iaroe thou backest thy Maister brings with it thy excuse for neuer had any knight a better seruant thē I But that thou mayest know how I estéeme thée come for I will haue thée be a witnesse to the faith I will plight vnto Solecia to bee her firme Louer Hee bounde mee eternally by the act And the Moone then shyning bright it shyned iust in the middest of the Ladies windowe where she stayed and credit mee shee séemed bewtifull Shee had so affected Florisiano Prince of Apulia that séeing mee with his owne garments shee could not but pittie him calling mee to memorie With my hatte in hand as a seruant ought I stood still but she called me saying Come thée hither friend Iaroe for I will haue this assurance passe in thy presence and my ioyes should I account compleate were the owner of thy apparell in thy place Oh if that were so my deare espouse sayde my tender-hearted fréende what greater content could wee more desire Towards whom might the blinde Goddesse shewe her selfe more fauourable then to vs had she now sent vs that valiant knight crost with so many troubles Some teares did I espie in their eyes which so greatly moued me that I could no longer dissemble and going more neare them I thus spake My very soule would ioy most soueraigne Princes although I lost this good to sée that knight here who is the happiest in the worlde to be beloued of such Princes for then should fortune neither bereaue Iaroe of this content oh Gods I could scarce make an end nor yet should the dispairing Knight be so persecuted by her as not to enioy your happie presence by experience sée with what faith he is affected And if you regard him behold me here for more troubles yet reserued And since I am eye
else séeme madnesse being compared to it Oh who would not be mooued séeing the Greeke holding the dagger in his hand sitting on his bedde yet ranging with his thoughts on Lyriana and the Ladie vrging him to hasten the deadly stroke Oh cruell inexecable knight said shee wilt thou yet in this torment me make an end at once with one swéete death to end the many I suffer Rosabell being the sole cause In not doing this most Princelesse Ladie I neither commit disloyaltie said the Prince nor breake my word for I le rather loose my life then spill yours So excéeding great was the gréef that suddainly surprised her that stopping her breath and benumming all her artires and vsuall powers she fell on the Gréekes brests The greatest proofe of constancie was this that euer knight was tried withall and had hee continued it no doubt but the example of it selfe had béene a sufficient memorating marble to record a déed so famous I do not wonder if he beganne something to yéeld and ioyne his face to hers fairer then Apollos halfe resolued to accomplish her request Ere he was fully determined which wanted but little shee recouered her selfe and séeing she was so vsed conceiued an vnhoped ioy féeling the heate of his chéekes on hers neuerthelesse with many sighes shee said How is it possible tell me knight thou shouldest still harbour such crueltie as suffer me to languish in such paine which thou mayest remedie by taking away the life I abhorre That thou wert cruel and inexorable farre more then Hyrcanian beasts poore haplesse Eufronisa knowes it long sithence by experience But that thou wantest loyaltie and faith to obserue thy word who can beléeue it of so mightie a Prince I do confesse faire Princesse answered he I do offend my selfe not doing it yet the offence is greater against both and woorthily I then deserue the title of a cruell homecide but that you may not longer complaine of me grant time till to morrow to be resolued in those extreames and then I will reply to your content It pleaseth me aunswered she although one daies stay will I feare kill me outright with this vehement and cruell griefe But I must suffer being borne to doo it and you disloyall and faithlesse knight consider well what you determine for séeing you haue denied me death these hands shall be guiltie of it in your sight when your preuention shall want spéede to stay my execution And thervpon she went away where had shee stayed and once againe vrged it no longer then that instant had béen ynough to answere for the Gréeke resembled his Grandfather in these affaires he had alreadie pondred the Ladies beautie and her woorthes in such sort that some of her distilling teares mollifying his obdured heart with such tendernesse that he forgot Lyriana His light vanished with her absence With many wishes hee desired the happie appointed night Little did he striue with his thoughts how to be resolued for ere she went away was the haughtie Brittaine in minde agréed With more rest stéepes Eufronisa then Rosabell Accidents be these ordered by the blinde God vnderstood of none but him although the soule suffers them and yet cannot he nor will conceiue by whose appoyntment it happens a iust reward for his disloyaltie since nothing should haue béene able to make him erre against his deare Lyriana that with such generositie receiued him for her espowse her Lord and husband The Ladie returned glad with the hope of her expected good to Selia and tolde her euerie thing that happened With some content they entertained the expectation of her ioy By chance and it was a happie chance the Ladie tooke one of the crowns that she had wonne in the Tent and set it on her head it was that which Belisa gaue her to comfort her in her distresse Hauing it on she séemed farre more beautifull and somewhat elder The vertue of the Crowne beganne his operation Selia was amazed and plucking her by the arme said Bee still Madame for sée the fairest aduenture in the world for this Crowne hath power to disguise the face and beléeue me you are not like Eufronisa Peace foole said the Ladie it is but Loues deuise and thy wittes conceits Then do not credit me replied Selia but the euidence wherewith I prooue it So she fetcht her a looking-glasse and setting it before her said Here Madame may you sée the Crownes effect She could not but laugh séeing her countenance altered and betwéene them both they iarred whether she so were fairest or not Then she remembred Belisas words in the Tent that there she should finde remedie in her greatest necessitie Shee could not imagine whose semblance she represented They would no longer deferre the knowledge of so happie businesse so hand in hand they went into a gallerie called the Ladies Treasurie because therein were the pictures of most in the world This was a curiositie the king for his pleasure had made Many they sawe most faire and they were those that in Grecia then flourished but passing further they perceiued their deceit finding Lyriana whose beautie she possest They read the title which tolde them she was Princesse of Nyquea to the greatest ioy that euer Eufronisa did conceiue Shee embraced Selia saying Oh my Selia the heauens now will take my part for knowe the Lady that hath captiuated this knight is she whom I represent hauing on this Crowne and by this deuise meane I nothing thanking him to fulfill my desire although he haue promised me an answere to morrow And if I can with this deceit I le craue no answere séeing it must come with so many paines and grones And sée my Selia how my suspition at the fountaine is verified that he was not him hee said for he is son vnto the famous knight of Cupid and betrothed to this Princesse and so I thinke I may stand excused for this my boldenesse Well knew she it that in the inchanted Tent tolde me that though therby I should obtain greatest good yet would it be intermixt with infinite troubles Ioyfully returned the two Ladies vnto their chamber expecting the next morne to deceiue him that was alreadie deceiued repenting him of the disdaine hee shewed The newe crowned Ladie entred his lodging to giue him the good time of the day The Gréeke had scarce séene her when falling in the deceipt he tooke her to bee Lyriana and with great tendernesse he ran to her saying May it be deare Ladie that in time of such sorrow you would be pleased to glad my heart with your presence How ill should I requite your loue deare Lord saide the mistaken Ladie if I did not procure your content being able as at this time and though I be with you yet none knowes of it The Gréeke Louer embraced her thinking he enioyed his Lyrianas companie which made Eufronisa most glad to sée the effect of the pleasant deceit What happened by this méeting is left to honest consideration Onely