fortune had coÌ„passion of your griafe Thou hadst reason diuine Floriana to remaine doubtfull of séeing me at thy departure How ofteÌ„ didst thou vrge me with my plighted faith the which I will kéepe till such time as I am in thy estate without any feare to loose thée but to sée thée with these eies wherwith I now doe celebrate thy death Oh most happy land of Cantabria in times past pittifull to my lamentations how maiest thou from this day forwards begin to mourne for the lacke of such a Lady and Mistresse Now my louing father may you liue content with my fortune to see me liue without my Floriana who was so odious in your eies for that I loued her I am vexed still that you doe noâ— conceaue it was life to me to loue her and a swéete ease to suffer for her Nowe here I sweare by my high thoughts not to returne to Spaine but to destroy it once againe if any therein were the occasion of the death of my loues life although it were my naturall father Oh my Floriana what can I doe to liue content or who is able to giue it me but death onely the which if I suffer for thy sake I will receaue it gladly And hauing a desperate wil he pulled out his sword saying O happy sword being the sword of my Goddes with thée at her hands I receiued the order of knighthood I sweare by her beauty that none shal be able to disturbe me til this vnhappy body doth accompany her in death that did giue it so excellent a life At that instant he would haue lifted vp the skirt of his shirt of male to haue thrust his sword in thereat If the discréet Arsilo had not thrown himselfe before him and pulled it out of his murdring hands Then this grieued youth came to himselfe and saide Oh my Arsilo is this the loue you beare me to hinder me that I go not to accompany in death that which neuer departed from me liuing my friend permit it as thou wouldest the heauens to be more fauourable to thée then they haue béene vnto the sorrowfull Torismundo Worthy Prince and my Lord answered the discréete page I should offend much therein in the duety that I owe vnto you and your generous father and you offende more your owne discretion for that you cannot suffer that which the heauen doth ordaine the faire Dutchesse was not for you for that the commaunder of all beauty had chose her for himselfe Amongst worthy persons there is nothing more to be praised then to know how to beare and suffer the disgraces of fortune with such courage as they doe her fauours consider how little ease it should be to your griefe in killing your selfe Doest thou call it little said the grieued Knight that alone is sufficient to succour me wherewith should I end so many deaths which waited on me but in giuing my selfe one for the conclusion of all thys did euill agrée vnto the seruice that thou owest mee sith to die is onelye profitable At this time answered the page I will die ere you shed one droppe of bloud Heare me a little my beloued Lorde that I may set before your eies examples for your comfort The Phrigians had excéeding cause to bewaile the death of valiant Hector and they did fill the ayre with immeasurable lamentations yet not one of them no not his Andromache though being deare to all to him she was most deare not one of them I say despairingly slewe himselfe but armed their resolutions against their enemies Who could waile a louers losse more than Venus her swéete Adonis whom she found discoloured and dead his faire body rent by a foule Boare yet she despaired not amidst her lamentations Sorrow for seperated friends I deny not is necessary but to die because they die is diuelish and damnabâ—e Despaire depriueth al grace doubteth of immortality and let not your excellence wrong Floriana so much to make quâ—stion of her immortall being Suppose her gone vnto a Princely habitation hauing enioyned you to perfourme aduentures for her loue Let your little short span of life be the progresse to that house your iourny done you shall enioy her sight Therefore consider worthy Prince and besides these reasons remember the royall bloud from whence you descend and the harme you should doe to many by your death who haue néed of that life that you so little estéeme Celebrate the death of your Mistresse and let me be the first in death if it may be any comfort vnto you But I am sure that it is rather an anger to Floriana who enioyeth a better estate than ours Therefore returne vnto your reasonable senses beloued Prince and conâ—ider that it is the ordinance of heauen for that you against the will of your father woulde loue her and might haue sought an other equall vnto your estate This grieued youth receaued great comfort by the discreete reasons of his page but not in such sort that it caused him to forget the griefe he felt The page séeing that he was somewhat quieted and eased drew foorth a letter saying This is the last worke that came from the hands of your Lady This worthy Spaniard did take it 〈◊〉 kissed it a thousand times and bedewing it with teares he opened it and read as followeth The letter of Floriana the Dutches of Cantabria to Torismundo Prince of Spaine VNderstand from me welbeloued Prince that I draw nigh vnto a new estate being appointed by the heauens and remembring with what truth you answered my firmenesse almost life scarce suffering mee to write these fewe lines I tooke strength to write vnto thée only for to desire thée by the faith which thou plightedst to bee mine to passe thy life in my absence with discretion as is required and Torismundo let not my death bee occasion of thy indiscréet dealing I would welbeloued Prince that I might in this worlde call thee my owne but to thy comfort in the other world I will thither goeth thy beloued Floriana hoping to sée thée when as the powers of heauen will stande our friend I can say no more for that my senses faile To God I leaue my beloued Torismundo Dying Floriana This afflicted Gallant concluded the reading of the letter giuing a harty sigh saying Oh chance and is it possible that now should be shewed vnto me so much euill and that she commaunds me to liue and I must performe it Oh my deare Mistresse how can I liue who liued onely with your presence Oh Fortune with how much discontent doest thou giue a little contentment Oh vnhappy heart so cruelly vsed in the beginning of thy age and tormented with thy excessiue torments Ah Floriana to remaine with life will be death vnto me but séeing that you receaue content therein I will liue imploying the rest of my life to loue in absence in the â—ame degrée as when I triumphed in your soueraigne beautye Now you may worthy Spaniard saide the Page
comforter and I will giue you knowledge of that little loue I haue and I am so certain that it will be shortly that I shall not erre ere long to say God giue you ioy of your alteration Meane while let vs depart for feare we be too long mist. They gone the Tartare stood confounded at the grace of Grisanea at length he said vnto his Frends Of truth worthie Princes although I had verie earnestly iniurde you yet you could not haue taken better reuengement than to bring me to a place where I haue lost my libertie not knowing who hath tooke mee captiue The harme is so common sir Knight answered the Spaniard that it is estéemed as the most certainest thing among Gallants which professe the seruice of Ladies But it is so strange to me answered the Tartarian that I cannot iudge thereof but according to y e gréefe which it causeth Thus conferring and on the death of the Phrigian Lord they tarried the retourne of the Damsell who likewise gréeued that the Princes were forced to giue so long attendance At last they came both in their petticoates vnto y e window the princely Ladie trembling to sée her selfe before her beloued Knight imagining what offence she did vnto her fame in comming in such sort but the amorous passion did ouercome all so that they came vnto the window without feare and made a little noyse for a signe So the prince came vnto the window which was somwhat low and hauing no power to speake a word he knéeled on his knées demaunding her hands to kisse They both remained silent which thing is common betwéene them that loue well for when they méete their eyes onely speake their tungs are mute The Ladie séeing his dumbe passion making strength of weaknes said I would not sir Knight that my comming hether at so vnfit an hower should cause you to iudge it rather rashnes than the bond wherein I stand bound to you for the good you haue done me Besides Alcisaes perswasion is the greatest cause of this boldnes Deuine Princesse answered the fearefull Youth I sée well that your excellence intendeth euerlastingly to binde mee more and more by your manie fauours That I should conceiue either rashnes or lightnes in this your humble visitation of mee were agaynst my soule irreligious sacriledge and against your deuine curtesie vnpardonable blasphemie I rather blesse my Fates that haue reserued me to this happie hower honor your pittie that hath respected my passions and acknowledge my dutie to Alcisa for solliciting my sute so effectually Your owne deserts sir knight said Alcisa was onely the solliciter in your loues sute I for my life and precious honours preseruation am till my death your bounden hand maid And though vppon my soule I durst vndertake that neuer anie disloyall thought will enter into your couragious breast yet is my Mistres charie of thys loue bargaine for gentle knight manie knights haue dealt vngently with gentle Ladies Therefore ye must protest déeply ere she will beléeue and kéepe religiouslye what you doo protest Ah gentle Damsell said the Spanish Prince to myne harts sorrow your eyes haue béen the witnes And if yee doubt me I sweare by the religion of true knighthood by all the vnstained honour of rightfull armes by the famous remembrance of my thrice reuerent Predecessors if Grisalinda will be gracious to her vowed knight of a more constant seruant should no Lady in the whole world boast I doo confesse sir knight said the princesse that I am infinitely bound vnto you and your vowes I verely beléeue for true but you shall pardon me for setting my affection much more for plighting my faith to a knight whom I know not Souereigne princesse said the Spaniard after I had séene you and that this Damsell declared vnto mée your worthines I haue procured things that redound vnto your honour séeking the certainest meanes to performe the same and I haue not found any thing with more content than to put my life in your seruice and desire no other paiment but your acceptance Touching my birth I assure you I am the Sonne of a most royall king and sole Heire of a rich and populous kingdome all which hopes with my true hearts spotlesse loue I humbly offer at your féete The Princesse held her peace awhile pondering the weightines of the cause but the discréet Alcisa said vnto her You néed not Madam make anie stay hereat but performe his sute although it be the greatest curtesie y t may be granted I will be his suretie he will be thankfull and neuer contradict your pleasure séeing with what plainnes you doo accept him And therewithall perforce shee tooke her hands and gaue them vnto the Prince who inclosed them in his not hauing anie power to speake till y e princesse said At my pleasure I make no question but I shal be reuenged for so manifest wrong done thus against my will The prince séeing her somewhat angrie sayd Faire Ladie if the righting of these wrongs must bee satisfied with my death let me now receiue it and I will account it welcomer than death And therefore answered the princesse will I not this time with deserued death punish you Doo not procéed anie farther said the Damsell but pardon vs and therewith he offered to kisse her hands Then she told him the next day she should goe to a house of pleasure charging him not to leaue France without her licēse Thus parted they he returning to his Frends the ioyfulst man liuing and so his passion led him that hee spake not to them till they came to their pages The princes markt it wel and laughed thereat and the Dacian though he were somwhat drowsie requested to be partner in his ioy He would haue answered but their desire to sléepe with another accident that happened which shall be handeled in the next chapter brake off his pleasant discourse at that time What chanced to the Princes by Brandarte King of Cyprus and his Knights and how they deliuered out of his power all the Queenes and Princesses that he had taken prisoners Chap. 9. THe worthie Torismundo rauished with ioy to sée himselfe so fauoured intended to pertake his ioy with two frends who being wearie were laid to sléepe and hée hauing as much néede meant to beare them companie but they wer scant asléep when a noyse of horses did disturb them yet they let them passe till by and by there followed others which disquieted thē in such sort that they prepared to take horse and followe them but on a sodain the Damsel who before had broght them their armour came foorth with a fardle and making her selfe knowen vnto them she said The Wiseman my master commendeth him to you and biddeth you to weare this armour to day and to you valiant Tartare for the ayde and helpe that one daye the Empire of Grecia shall haue of you he doth send these armes for with them shall happen the greatest first content
eares Then passing forwards hee came vnto the two Moores said Away with the ladies you like while my fellowes kéepe these diuelish Knights busied So the king of Cyprus his Cousin and the Giant went vnto the Chariot and tooke each of them a ladie lamenting could not auaile them Yet in this hast the king of Cyprus tooke not his beloued Dutches but the princesse of France with whom like an Eagle spurring his furious horse he went directly towards the sea side The mightie Giant tooke for his lot her whom Apollo would haue chosen for himselfe for with him he carried the beauteous princesse of Holland and his Cousin the faire Orosia at whose shrikes the Tartar recouering his sense followed the Giant as fast as his horse could runne thorough a bushie way vnto a great plain where he ouertooke him two howers before day and ere the Giant could â—et down â—he Ladie he smit him so rash a blow that the princesse was in perill to be troden vnder the horse féete and the Giant remained without sense Andronio gaue a second blowe that wounded the Giant in the necke which caused hym to come to himselfe and like an infernall furie with hys dreadfull fawchion he came against the Tartar and both together stroke such blowes vpon their helmes that they quickly made show of their great force The noyse was such that it caused the trembling Ladie to come the sooner to her selfe and beholding the battell shee perceiued the Knight fought for her libertie against that monstrous Giant wherfore on her knées she desired the giuer of streÌ„gth to strengthen him When the Tartarian saw the pearly teares distill from her sun-bright eyes with the poynt of his sword hee went against the furious Giant who wyth his fawchion aloft came towards him but by reason of the swiftnes of his horse he thrust his sword into the Giaunts bodie and drawing it backe drew â—oorth his life withall the Giant falling to the ground with so fearfull a crie that the princesse trembled though she were fréeed by the Giants death With no smal ioy the prince alighted comforted her when he beheld it was his beloued Ladie and pulling off his helme he discouered his faâ—e beeing high coloured with the heate of the battell No lesse ioyfull was the faire princesse in séeing him so well proportioned a Knight who when he came vnto her kneeled downe said Receiue faire princesse this smal seruice with more intire good wil than my tung can expresse Then answered the affected Ladie Ualiant Knight so much haue ye done that I can no way reward ye but by publishing â—our force which is the mightiest that I haue séene for that I should estéeme tell mee your name and withall carrie me where the Quéene my Mother is whom I beléeue remaineth sorrowfull for my absence Madam answered the ioyfull Tartar I haue no will but to accomplish your will and receiue great ioy that you wil imploy me in any thing I am Andronio the Prince of Tartarie and in telling you this I doo discharge my promise to you yesterday when I left my dagger in pawne and receiued this rich iewell in place thereof which because it hath been on that faire necke added abilitie to my weake strength and boldens me to request ye that I may wear it as your knight in whose name I wil execute all my dooings The Lady was verie ioyous in séeing him she loued to bée the Knight that succoured her said I craue pardon worthie prince in that I haue not intreated you according to your desert but I am excusable by reason I knew you not All is satisfied said the Prince if you accept me into your seruice You aske quicke payment replied the Princesse but lest you should condemne me of ingratitude let it be according to your wish This ioyfull Youth did perforce kisse her hands washing them with teares through the content he receiued which nothing gréeued the Princesse when she saw with what affection he did it accompting her self happie to be beloued of such a prince The which this couragious Youth perceiuing and incited by their solitarie béeing he said vnto her halfe trembling Faire princesse after all this happines it would gréeue me if Fortune enuying â—ny good should tread downe my glorie and bestow it on another you might if you please time and place so fitting assure mee of happines and rid nice of all doubt Your spéech is strange to meâ— said the vexed princesse to my reason it séemeth conuenient being intertained wyth this gentlenes you should consent your selfe Nothing is more certaine faire Ladie answered this fearefull Youth than the curtesie which you alreadie haue shewed me in receiuing me for the knight of your seruice is sufâ—icient reward for more than all my worth yet to assure my good make me happie by a husbands name Sir Knight said she you are too forward and if I thought anie misbehauiour in me caused this boldnes in you I would let out that lightnes with my life These words and the sharpenes of their deliuerie so wounded the Tartarian that he fell sensles on the princesses lap who séeing him in y e case was readie to beare him companie but with teares cryings she recalled him and he reuiuing said Ah haplesse Tartarie twice bereft of thy natural Lord who by disdaine in France is seazed on by death Oh my valiant and new Frends no more shall I contentedly reioyce wyth you And you cruell Ladie may triumph in his death that hath defended your honor and life Ah worthie knight said she God knowes what sorrow I suffer for that with my honour I cannot worke your content there being such difference in our Religions yet rather than you shal thus afflict your self sweare to me to be bapâ—isde and I do yéeld my whole estate into your hands Expresse I cannot the Tartarians ioy he vowd to be baptisde possest his wish and with his betrothed wife rid toward the house of pleasure and on the way she told him how the Giants first set vpon them by the riuers side We will leaue these Louers on the way and declare the end of the battell betwéene the two princes the Giants who held them so hard that they could not preuent the carrying away of the Ladie The valiant Dacian to conclude the battell stroke the Giant such a blow that it tooke away his sight and at that time had the Spaniard made his aduersarie stoop on his saddle bow And beeing nigh the Dacian he stroke him so surely on the buckling of the helme that head and all fell to the ground and then with two blowes they both together dispatched the other Giant Then without any stay they folowed those that carried away the Princesses and ouertaking them at the edge of the mountaine they cried False Knights leaue your pray the same will cost you your heads And therewithall they smit two such blowes that they made them leaue their Ladies
midst of the Court and wondred at the gallant building at last he rose and came to a gate of stéele that had thereon this writing Whosoeuer wil win the Armour of the beloued Iason let him knocke with the pomell of his sword and he shall find the entrance dangerous Celindo for all the threatning knocked presently and the gate opened but on either side stood two deformed Sagittaries with hatchets of stéele in their hands readie to strike hauing their armes aloft At which sight the Prince was somewhat amazed but taking courage he ran vnder one of the Sagittaries armes which did not onely cause the Sagittarie to loose his blow but both hys hands for his fellâ—w ouer-reaching to hit the Prince pared them away by the wrists while the prince giuing the Sagittary on the further side a blow on the thigh that almost parted the bone rusht into the hall whether the one handlesse the other halfe leglesse followed him both whoÌ„ at two deadly thrusts he left dead and stopped to a Table whereon lay the richest armour y e was euer séene which before he could well touch there issued a Ladie with two faire Children to him saying It repenteth mee not that this armour made for the faithlesse Iason that forsooke me and these two children fitteth such a knight I charge you to be confident in seruice of Ladies especially your owne Ladie and let my example which I will in this ditty decypher bee to you a looking glasse With which word excellent musique sounded and the Lady thus sung I was of Colchos the admired Wherein the fleece of gold desired Of many knights their liues that lost Remaind vntucht the seekers crost With bloody death till I did see The face that won my libertie O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my hearts distresse Old Aesons snone whom I reuiued Of life and beauty me depriued The Dragons fierce for him I quaild Against the keepers he preuaild All my deere Countrey I forsooke And him for all I gladly tooke O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my hearts distresse For when I thought I was beloued And for his good my Arte had proued To Creufa he his sauour lent And falsly from Medea went Who iustly moou'd with kindled yre Slew these two Babes burnt her in fire O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my harts distresse Then discoursed she to him all the storie of Iasons loue to her for shee was the inchaunted Medea and remember said she the Ladie you shal loue is of Grecia To the Prince of Scythia haue respect for by Nature you are thertoo bound and how euer by Gelasio you are charged to the contrarie yet loue the Grecian princes and much good fortune follow you Herewith she and the Children vanished and he ascended armed vp vnto his Sister who thoght long of his comming but at his sight was excéeding ioyfull especially embracing him for performing the Aduenture When either had sufficiently delighted themselues in saluting other they returned to the Castle not entring by the ordinarie gate but by the Fountaine Court where were the precious Daggers which Floralisa woon for all her Companions by the death of a Sea monster that assailed her as she passed by the Fountaine The wise Gelasio brought all the princes for by then Clarisel Argante and Torisiano wer returned from hunting into the chamber where the pictures were where Floralisa fixed her eyes vpon the Image of the Tinacrian Poliphebo Clarisell gazed on her and Celindo on Rosaluiras Counterfet Who knowing his loue was of Grecia determined to trauell thether and to this the Wise-man agréeâ—d for that they should defie the princes Clarisel went alone full of passion and solitarines best fitted his disquieted thoughts The Brother and Sister went the next day and the daye after their departure Argante and Torisiano followed hauing first vowed eternall frendship Them will we now leaue till time giue vs leaue to talke of them and return to the faire Roselia and Arbolinda of Scotland that followed Heleno prince of Dacia apparelled like pages What chaunced Roselia and Arbolinda in seeking Heleno Prince of Dacia Cap. 18. YOu are not ignorant I am sure that of all gréefes none equalleth the sorrow we receiue to be seperated from those we do affect nor anye paine is easier ouerpassed than the trauell to follow them whom we desire to sée Roselias example and Arbolinda her kinde Frends may serue for proofe for they pursued the Dacian through all dangers of sea and land Roselia led by loue of him and Arbolinda by affection to her One day the Dolphins dauncing on the vntroubled waters there came a ship hulling along by the barke wherein these boy-like Ladies sayled in which ship were Lisarte prince of Tharsus and Florisarte his Sonne who beholding the beautie of the two pages for so they tooke the princesses to bée caused their ship to stay and Lisarte thus said Faire pages doo this yong Knight and me so much fauour as to tell vs to what Knights you doo belong and in what Countrey you were borne Arbolinda who at the sight of yong Florisarte was enamoured thus answered Faire sir wee haue no Masters but were borne in Thracia and are now going toward Scotland to certayne Triumphs where we hope if good Fortune prouide not better for vs before to finde some famous Knights that shal be our Lords I would said Florisarte with an affectionated sigh that my Father the King of Tharsus Florisarte his sonne were so happie to entertaine ye Arbolinda noting the affection the prince spake with replied We shal be happie to be entertained of such royall Masters Lisarte like one ouerioyed embraced them both and discharging the Marriners they tooke the Princesses aboord their ships and demaunded their names Mine said Arbolinda is Artimio and this my fellowes is Roselio Lisarte tooke Roselio for his Page and Florisarte entertained Arbolinda in whome hee so delighted that he wholy to her surrendred his heart not knowing whome hee loued yet promised he to loue none but whom Artimio his page appointed Who therof excéeding ioyfull gaue him her own picture in a table whereon he dayly contemplated Lisarte ioyed no lesse though farre in other sense in his Page and as they sate swéetly conferring the Dacian passed swiftly by in his inchanted boate to whom Roselia cryed Knight stay for them that follow thée Arbolinda séeing her faynt and the Princes wondred at her sodaine change cherished her vp first and told Lisarte that the Knight in the russet armour had done his fellow and him much wrong Artimio said Lisarte I will not liue if I reuenge not your wrong Roselia greeuing to heare the Dacian threatned said many haue said much and failed in the enterprize And while they were in this conference came by the gentle Brandafidell who was going with Floralinda into Gréece the Princesse sitting aboue hatch somewhat discontent being grieued at her long being at Sea Lisarte noting the Giants
not for that loue did giue them alwaies abundance of assured hopes easing therein and lightning the excessiue paine which the disdained Louer doth receiue But the accustomable conceipt raigning among beloued ladies is self opinion of their own worth a souereigne desire to be faithfully serued a glorie and pride in their Knights valor but when the full payment of his deserts as a true fée for Knights seruice is requyred then is the Ladies beautie muffled with clowdy discontent If she speake she checkes his audaciousnes if she looke she darts vengeance from her eyes and all the reward the Louer hath is this that others pittie him and are eye-witnesses of his true seruice which she wil scarce vouchsafe to acknowledge This gréeueth mee more than the rest sayd the gracious French Ladie to sée how you are vtterly falne out with loue in that you cannot obtaine to be the onely chéefe in account for the seruice of Ladies Tell mee I praye you is it not a high reward for a Louer to haue one gracious looke from his beloued Ladie nay is it not a salue for manie sustained sorrowes if hee but once attaine her desired sight Yes it were well aunswered the Prince and excellently for a Louers contentment to passe the heate of the day priuately in such contemplation where the Gallant may without let salute his Mistres but when such audacious entrie is made without the ladies special license I doo iudge it to be one of the most errours which is committed in the ordinarie erring Schoole of Loue. But let vs reckon the best méede the Louer hath for all his mone Doth shee bestow a smile Oh then hee is a happie man that one false sunshine is a sufficient comfort against manie bitter showers but if shee vouchsafe a kinde word a gentle touch or some little idle conference our kind yong louer is transported beyond all compasse hee writes pure Castalian walkes no where but in Tempe dwells with the Muses sings with Apollo Io Paeans in Loues praise Anone in the midst of all this iollitie on goes his Ladies frowning kercher and then his Eulogies are turnde to Elegies his mirthes to moane an vncouth caue couers his disgraced head a darke and queachie groue his pleasant garden the aire his counsellour Eccho his scoffer teares his drinke care his food and such a deale of foolerie vâ—xes this louing foole that I must néeds conclude him to be either desperately mad or questionlesse a verie Ideot Therefore of Loue and Louers this is my absolute iudgement Loue is a busie troublous foolishnes Those that commend it mad and reasonles With this amorous conuersation they traueled toward Paris when vpon the right hand of the Forrest they heard the swift running of a horse who came in such hast that before the Prince could put on his inchaunted helmet the furious Rider was in sight who séemed rather a Diuell than a Knight The occasion thereof was the reflection of the Sunne vppon his armour which was of shining stéele and colored blacke and so was his horse who made no show of steps vpon the grasse whereas he trode by reason of his swiftnesse The gallant demeanor which this Knight showed did giue great content vnto the Dacian Prince And here we thinke it good to leaue him with earnest desire to knowe what that Knight was and wee will get before him to Paris where we lefâ— the couragious Knight of the Images Torismondo Prince of Spaine who was healed of his wounds but not of the gréefe he receiued in the battel with the mightie Alpbebo This Torismond went out of Paris with purpose to séek some of his owne people and till he met them to trauaile a few dayes in those mountaines and to conclude manye aduentures so that in Paris there was no other talke but of the Knight of the Images As he trauelled he oftentimes sent vnto the Court to know and learne some newes of his Ladie by the Postes that came from Spaine and oftentimes he tarried for hys Pages returne at the Fountaine of Merlin being the resting place for Knights aduenturers trauelling in that Forrest One day as he was expecting newes from Spaine hee saw his Page comming with a countenance different from that he was wont to haue for that he came making of great lamentation which caused some suspition in the amorous Spaniard For alwayes a timerous heart touching a mans owne euill doth prophecie as it were insuing mischiefe as to affrighted Torismond at this time it prooued who gazing stedfastly on Arsilo thus questioned him What meaneth thy sadnes Arsilo haue the heauens depriued me of all my good and left poore Torismond to â—ament his Ladies absence This youth did confirme his suspition in that he did not answere one word The Prince as one wholy beside him selfe said ah fortune thou hast now shewed thy selfe who thou art nowe I feare not thy strength for that which I most feared with all thy malice is certainly befalne me Conclude Arsilo declare vnto me these newes that must redowne vnto my death What should I say soueraigne Prince answered the page but that it is as you suspect death pale meager death hath seazed oâ— your soules content This amorous and afflicted youth did not heare the rest for that he fel vpon the grasse without any sense or féeling til such time as his page brought him to himselfe againe Who in recompence said vnto him Oh vnfaithfull why hast thou called me from my ease what doest thou imagine that there is strength in me to liue without the life of her whom rigorous death hath taken from me I cannot nor I will not although I may liue being without that good which was my comfort How can he liue that only did sustaine his life in yéelding it into the handes of her who did receaue it with equal comfort Oh my chiefe good because I should know the despight of fortune she hath taken thée from me Oh déere déere loue how I doe number my wants excéeding all number with the onely lacke of thy soueraigne beauty Oh mournfull earth wherfore beginst thou not to lament thy lost ornament for my losse reacheth farther then the griefe of vnhappy Torismondo Oh warlike Spaine how maiest thou from this time forwards leaue off thy glorious name for that she who was the cause of al your courage is now conquered by al deuouring death Oh worthy knightes with what reason may you from this day forwards liue without courage since she who with her beauty did recreate you all faire heauen hath tooke away that heauen might be onely faire Oh deuine Floriana thou art a creature ordained to extoll the cunning worke of humane nature but the dieties enuying that earth should beare such perfect excellence found meanes for to vndoe so perfect a figure carrying with it all the grace beauty and perfection of the worlde ioyntly with the soule of this vnhappy body You ladies that were enuious at the brauery of mine
him in péeces but he arose againe brused with the fal he gaue him on his backe and was striking at the Giant but the Grecian put the poynt of his sword betwéene and stayed the execution thereof And for that the Sonne oâ— Trebatio would not haue of them anie vantage he again said take your armour furious beasts for therewith you shall haue enough to doo to deliuer your selues out of our hands Yet ceased they not to strike and they with great lightnes auoyded till one of the Giaunts with a hoarce voyce said Stay foolish Knights and you shal sée me stay longer in arming my self thaÌ„ in taking away your liues So they descended the staires making a great noyse and at their comming into the Court they met foure or fiue of the Tartarians knights and slew them offring as much to the princes at the gates who letting slip their blowes entred within them and with their armed fists feld them to the ground wold haue cut off their heads At which the Grecian came downe hauing left the Tartarian aboue to keepe the tower and would in no case let them be smitten vnarmed commaunding a Page of the Castle to fetch their armour and in the meane time they came to themselues And considering they were by two knights ouerthrowne they blasphemed their Gods and hasting to arme one another the eldest said Tarrie a little ye captiue people and you shall sée how déere I will make you buy this treason When they were armed shaking their bright fawchions they came against them all Rosicleer was a Knight of great patience but the prowd words of the Giant had so earnestly angred him that it made him say thus For that you shal vnderstand how I estéeme ye come both ioyntly to me and you shall finde my déeds differ from my words and therwith he let flye thrée or foure blowes aloft which made them séeke defence for theyr heads When he saw them looke aside he gaue the yonger Giant such an ouerthwart blow on his thigh that hee cut him to the boane but the other Giaunt reached hym with the poynt of his fawchion vpon his shoulder that it made him stoop with his hands to the ground The principall hall was toward the court so that from thence the Tartarian and his Wife saw the valour of the Grecian who at this time was more couraâ—ius thaÌ„ if he had fought with one alone Knight The Tartarian being amazed to sée his valiantnes could not chuse but say Uerely it séemeth all the Gods did ioyne together at the birth of thys inuincible Warrier and put in him more strength than remaineth in them all A happie country is it y e eniâ—â—th such Lords happie Zoylo that amongst such frends hast found a sepulcher and happie Andronio that hath séene with his eyes what els he would not haue beléeued Of truth worthy husband said Grisanea I would gladlye some of those Knights would helpe the Grecian Prince not that his valor hath néed thereof but that we should be the sooner rid of thâ—se people for I am not yet frée of the feare I receiued Oristides had no néed to be intreated for with a light leape hee stept in receiued on his shield the second blow that the Giant Tembloso stroke at the Grecian which made him bow to the ground As he arose to reuenge it the Grecian said vnto him Stand away Oristides and staine not your sword in so euill blood And in so saying he gaue a thrust at the furious Tembloso and returned vnto the other Giant striking him so mightie a blow vpon the helme that hee made him almost senslesse At the same time had the Troyan stroke such a blowe at his hands that almost he had parted them asunder which made him giue a fearfull shréeke where with his Brother stroke the Gréeke Prince such a blow on the helme that if Artemidoroes vertue had not béâ—n therein his lyfe had béen in great perill The Giant was nimble and would not loose any occasion therefore hee entred desirous for to strike him another blow but the Troyan did breake the execution thereof which gaue the Grecian time to recouer himselfe The other Giant by reason of the first wound Rosicleer gaue him fell vppon his knées blaspheming hys Goâ—s The Ladies of the Princesse receiued great content to sée him fall and said It séemeth to vs that one of them doth come by little and little to the ground The gentle Troyan did verie well heare those words went against the hurt Giant but comming nigh him the Gâ—ant with his left hand laid hold on the skirt of his habâ—reâ—on and drew him within his armes The Troyan knew well in what perill he was and to be more at libertie and the better to helpe himselfe he let his shield fall from hys arme The Giant séeing that so crushed him that â—e verely thought his armour would haue entred into his flâ—sh his gréefe was so much yet for all that hee did not forgâ—t his dagger which he thrice stabbed into the Giant and as often drew it foorth with his blood and the fourth time he thrust it in vnder the skirt of his habergion vpwards with so much force that the murdring blade came to his heart Which caused the Giant with y e pangs of death to squéeze him so strongly that if it should long haue indured it had not béen possible but hee should haue béen in great perill but his breath failing him he opened his armes and committed his soule to the diuell and his bodie to the senslesse earth the Troyan being so faint and wearie that he was forced in great hast to pull off his helme to take the benefite of the coole ayre and sate him downe vppon the dead bodie of the Giant with great contentment vnto them al. And being a little refresht hee busied his eyâ—s in beholding the battell betwéene the inuincible Rosicleer and the furious Tembloso which séemed but then to begin Yet the Giant shewed himselfe to be somwhat â—eaâ—â—e by reason of the weight of his strong armour the great lightnes of the Prince who entring in and out made him verie wearie which was the occasion that the Prince assaulted him the oftner wounding him so on the legs that all the Court was stained with his brutall blood Our valiant Grecian séeing his aduersarie began to faint layd hold vâ—on his shield with so great strength that he pulled him perforce vnto the ground with so great a fall that hée was almost without sense or moouing and before hee had anie memorâ—e to recouer himself he stept to him with his left hand pulled off his helme and cloaue his head to the necke Then he sat down to rest himselfe and asked the Troyan how he fared Well said he though almost out of breath but let vs méete the Tartarian and his Wife who are comming to visit vs. With that the faire Princesse came and said Thus farre worthie Princes extendeth the
giuen by thy Oliuia thou wilt now pay her so euill reioycing to goe to shed her bloud This gaue him a greater desire to know who the youth should be and could not imagine that it should be his Sonne for then he thought Oliuia would haue tolde him of it In this doubt the night ouertooke him not far from a shéephouse where hearing noise he went thether and asked part of their poore sustentation to whom they gaue it with great good wil for that he was of a gallant proportion wel armed He sate down with them to supper and when hee pulled off his helme they receiued great content to sée him so faire and Maiesticall being at Supper the chéefest said vnto an other Shepheard haue you séene one so like the knight that was héere yesterday The Prince did well vnderstand them for that hee could speake the language and asked them where he might find that knight they talked of It may be said the shepheard y t he wil be here to night for he told vs yesterday that he must remaine hereabout a few dayes Can you tell me said he whom he is No answered the Shepheard onely somewhat of his valor wee can tell For one day being here at dinner there came a chased Liones who would haue run vppon vs and without doubt haue slaine vs if he had not béen here who arose vp and at one blow cut her in two péeces sat downe as though he had done nothing Wee carried the Liones for a present to our holy Temple and at our returne we saw him ouerthrow two Knights at one Encounter the one with his launce the other with his armed fist without more tarrying he put himselfe into the thickest of the Wood. The prince reioyced at that he heard imagining him to be his Brothers Sonne So passing away a good part of the night he parted from the Shepheards leauing his horse with them and went a good way off putting his shield vnder his head he fell asléepe till Cynthia gessing the yong knight who lay not farre off to bee Endimion shined with more than ordinarie brightnes and with her light beames awaked both the knights at once the yong knight bidding sléepe farewell with a great sigh Then taking a Harpe he began to sing so swéetly that y e Greek prince with héedfull attention hearkened to his song Of Loues great power eternall be my Song His praise be still the subiect of my verse And as I sing let me the praise reherse Of my harts Souereigne though she worke my wrong Be still my â—ung thou speakest blasphemie Wrong is not offered by her Deitie She looketh strange because I should intreat For it is reason mortalls suppliant bee To Saints indude with heauenly Maiestie And such is Liriana or more great Therefore I must not count it iniurie What seeming harme so ere she offers mee The amorous Youth with new sighes concluded hys swéet song and then thus complained Ah Liriana what hath Rosabel deserued that thus he must liue a dying life banished from your presence If it be that hereby you desire to haue your beauties fame spred by my hearts affection let me be a little comforted by knowing that I am affected Now would the Nephew of Achilles haue gone vnto him but was againe stayed by his swéete and delicate voyce that sounded in this manner Let be my greefes why doo you mee assaile In vaine in vaine my death you doo intend My thoughts alone my feeble life defend And cheere my dying heart when it would quaile Then Greefe auoyd since thou canst not preuaile For why my thoughts my absent Ladie see And that conceit alone giues life to mee It giues me life a wearie wearie life Come therefore greefe thou maist at last haue gaine For my heart faints afflicted by disdaine Sad hope yeelds vp vnto the murdring knife Of blacke despaire whose terrors still are rife And driue all ioy from wretched wretched mee Because my thoughts no smiles but frownes doo see But Griefe away againe I bid adieu No more no more I will thee intertaine I will embrace my freedome once againe No more will I desire her face to view Whose wrongs so long I bootlesly did rue But liue I will contemning louers life Wherein all good is geason wrong is rife O impious blasphemer sodainly cride out this youth shall Rosabell euer presume againe to sée the Sunne that against Loues power hath so blaspheamed Repent thée Rosabel repent thée wherewith he againe thus sung Sweete Loue shew pittie shew pittie For I haue thee offended I doo disclaime my hatefull dittie Which I so rudely ended Thou art almightie Loue alone Life without thee there is none The Louer of Oliuia would no longer stay but pacing swiftly to the Youth counterfetting his voyce somewhat like the Troyan thus said Up Knight and defend thy louing life for I am come without my companie because I would not be parted til I haue proued libertie the swéetest life I doo much estéeme of you sir Knight said the vnknowne Nephew of Trebatio not onely for comming but for comming thus vnto mee alone and therewith lacing on his helme hee assailed the Gréeke Prince in such sort that at thrée resistlesse blowes hee ouerthrew him to the ground O infernall Furies to which of you shall I compare our Prince when he saw himselfe by one alone Knight so handled for rising againe at two blowes hee left him almost senselesse but recouering there began the greatest battell in the world Witnesses they wanted not anie for the Forrest Nymphes and Satyres beasts tame and wylde were their beholders the Shepheards also awaked with the noyse of their strokes stood wondring at their furious fight Foure howers the faire Moone gaue light to their heauy blowes and then leauing the worlds charge to her amorous brâ—ther she left for pittie the â—ight of that pittilesse battell the contenders beeing so wearie that they were forced to breath themselues the couragious yong Knight imagining that except some diuell had possest him it could not be the knight with whom he combatted the night before touching true loue free libertie So thought the Gréeke prince himselfe for neuer anie but his brother brought him to that estate With this conceit his choller so increased that without speaking any word he went against his Enemie whom he found not vnprouided and together they stroke such blows that they both stooped on their knées Foure howers they thus continued much wearied but nothing discouraged And in the midst of this contention the wise Lyrgandeos Damsell came foorth of the Forrest and put her selfe betwéen theÌ„ saying Stay Knights awhile and heare me speake for hauing done yee both seruice I am come to aske a boon of you Both the Knights knew her and presently granted it Leaue off your battell then said she and though it be my request yet is it for both your benefits Rosicleer was somwhat mooued yet at last hee said Damsell for