And fau'd thee from the Biskins wicked will First hauing thee preseru'd from salt sea waue Liue then my deare and trust in him aboue And while you liue be mindfull of my loue 69 These latter words his lips had scantly past When death vnto his heart was softly crept And as the lampe go'th out when oyle doth wast So quietly the noble Zerbin slept What tongue can tell how sore she was agast How she lamented wailed mournd and wept To her owne eyes and faire haire doing force When as she saw her deare a senslesse corse 70 And griefe had set her in so great a rage With Zerbins sword she thinks an end to make Of her owne life her sorrow to asswage Neglecting those last words Zerbino spake But lo a certaine saintlike personage That sword from hand that thought from hart doth take A certaine godly hermit and deuout That was by hap abiding thereabout 71 Who came and said oh damsell leaue despaire Mans nature weake and womens sex is fraile Feare him that rules both heau'n and earth and aire Who saith the word and his word cannot faile That those that vnto him for helpe repaire And put their trust in him shall neuer quaile Then shewd he her to proue his saying true Examples out of Scriptures old and new 72 Of saintlike women that in time of old Their liues and prayre in chastitie had spent And further to the damsell faire he told And prou'd and shewd by reasons euident That worldly things are vaine and haue no hold Alone in God is ioy and true content In fine he makes to her this godly motion Her future life to spend in true deuotion 73 His godly speech by helpe of heau'nly grace Pourd in her heart by hie diuine infusion Wrought such effect and found so great a place She ceast to seeke or worke her owne confusion But leauing the profession of her race Profest her selfe a Christen in conclusion She gaue her selfe to prayre and pure diuinitie And vowd to God her life and her virginitie 74 Yet did she not remoue out of her thought The feruent loue Zerbino had her borne But by the hermits helpe the corse she brought And thinks it sin to leaue it so forlorne And in some village thereabout she bought Sweet balmes to fill the flesh all cut and torne Then in a Cypres coffin she doth close it Not being yet resolu'd where to dispose it 75 That aged fire though being wise and staid Yet would not trust in his owne stay so well To carry such a faire and goodly maid To soiourne with him in his little cell T were perill great thus to himselfe he said That fire and straw should nie together dwell Wherefore he meanes to Prouince her to carie And there to place her in a monestarie 76 But as he thitherward with Isbell went And by the way deuoutly did her teach All things vnto religion pertinent And of the same most learnedly did preach Behold a Pagan fierce with soule intent This purpose and their iourney doth impeach As I shall shew more largely afterward Now back I must returne to Mandricard 77 Who hauing ended that same cruell fight In which the worthist Prince aliue was slaine Soone after by a shadie banke did light And turnd his horse a grazing on the plaine Dame Doralice in whom he tooke delight Alone with him in that place did remaine When looking sodainly by chance aside An armed knight come toward them she spide 78 She guest but yet she knew not by the view Who it might be vntill she spide her page That came with him then certainly she knew T was Rodomont full of reuenge and rage Wherefore vnto her knight she nearer drew And said my Lord mine honour I dare gage That yon is Rodomont mine ancient louer Who thinks by fight from you me to recouer 79 Looke how the Falcon in the aire doth mount When she espies a Bittor or a Herne So when this Prince espied Rodomount And by his hast his furie did discerne Like one that made of conquest full account He starteth vp with visage grim and sterne Straight armd and horst he is his foe to meete In hand the raynes in sterops are his feete 80 When as the tone the tother came so neare As each might harken what the tother sed Fierce Rodomont spake lowd as he might heare With threatning gesture both of hand and hed And sayd be sure I le make thee buy it deare That with a short vaine pleasure hast bene led To do to one so foule and open wrong That can and will it wreake on thee er long 81 The Tartar Prince that for him little cared Made answer thus in vaine you me do threat Poore boyes with words or women may be scared Not I that fight as willingly as eat Proue when you please I am not vnprepared At any time for any warlike feat On horse on foote in field or in the list I shal be readie trie me when you list 82 Thus words bred wrath and wrath engendred blowes And blowes encreast their sharpe auenging will Eu'n as the wind that first but calmely blowes But after more and more increasing still At last it trees and houses ouerthrowes And seas and lands with tempest it doth fill So cruell grew the fight them two betweene Whose match might hardly in the world be seene 83 Their hearts were stout so were their bodies strong Desire to win in both a like was great One doth maintain tother would venge his wrong And loue their furie equally doth whet In equall paise the fight endured long Nor each of tother any gaine could get But each of them so firmely kept his ground As if each inch thereof had cost a pound 84 Among an hundred blowes the Tartar smit Of which small hurt to Rodomont did rise Yet one at last so heauily did hit Vpon his helmet ouer both his eyes His senses all were so amazd with it He thought he saw more starres then are in skies And almost downe he was eu'n in her fight For whom he first began this cruell fight 85 But as a strong and iustly temperd bow Of Pymount steele the more you do it bend Vpon recoile doth giue the bigger blow And doth with greater force the quarrell send Eu'n so the Sarzan king that stoupt so low As highly to reuenge it doth intend And to acquite himselfe of this disgrace He striketh at the Tartar Princes face 86 So fierce he strake in this so furious mood An inch or little more aboue his fight That saue those armes of Hector were so good No doubt that blow had finisht all the fight But so astond therewith the Tartar stood He could not tell if it were noone or night And while in this amazment he abode The tother ceaseth not to lay on lode 87 The Tartars horse that saw the glittering blade That Rodomont about his head so tost Did start aside and with a
licencious liuers Treasurers and other great officers of the common wealth with graue counsellers whose wise heads are the pillars of the state he affirmeth generally to be robbers and peelers of the realme and priuie traitors that sell their Princes fauours and rob wel-deseruing seruitors of their reward I omit as his peccadilia how he nicknameth priests saying for the most part they are hypocrites lawiers saying they are all theeues phisitians saying they are many of them murtherers so as I thinke it were a good motion and would easily passe by the consent of the three estates that this mans authoritie should be vtterly adâ—ihilated that dealeth so hardly and vniustly with all sorts of professions But for the reiecting of his writings I refer it to others that haue power to do it and to condemne him for a generall libeller but for that he writeth against Poetrie I meane to speake a word or two in refuting thereof And first for lying I might if I list excuse it by the rule of Poetica licentia and claime a priueledge giuen to Poetrie whose art is but an imitation as Aristotle calleth it and therefore are allowed to faine what they list according to that old verse Iuridicis Erebo fisco fas viuere rapto Militibus medicis tortori occidere Ludo est Mentiri Astronomis pictoribus atque Poetis Which because I count it without reason I will English it without rime Lawyers Hell and the Checquer are allowed to liue on spoile Souldiers Phisitians and hangmen make a sport of murther Astronomers Painters and Poets may lye by authoritie Thus you see that Poets may lye if they list Cum priuilegio but what if they lye least of all other men what if they lye not at all then I thinke that great slaunder is verie vniustly raised vpon them For in my opinion they are said properly to lye that affirme that to be true that is false and how other arts can free themselues from this blame let them look that professe them but Poets neuer affirming any for true but presenting them to vs as fables and imitations cannot lye though they would and because this obiection of lyes is the chiefest and that vpon which the rest be grounded I wil stand the longer vpon the clearing thereof The ancient Poets haue indeed wrapped as it were in their writings diuers and sundrie meanings which they call the sences or mysteries thereof First of all for the literall sence as it were the vtmost barke or ryne they set downe in manner of an historie the acts and notable exploits of some persons worthie memorie then in the same fiction as a second rine and somewhat more fine as it were nearer to the pith and marrow they place the Morall sence profitable for the actiue life of manâ— approuing vertuous actions and condemning the contrarie Manie times also vnder the selfesame words they comprehend some true vnderstanding of naturall PhilosophÃe or sometime of politike gouernement and now and then of diuinitie and these same sences that comprehend so excellent knowledge we call the Allegorie which Plutarch defineth to be when one thing is told and by that another is vnderstood Now let any man iudge if it be a matter of meane art or wit to containe in one historicall narration either true or fained so many so diuerse and so deepe conceits but for making the matter more plaine I will alledge an example thereof Perseus sonne of Iupiter is fained by the Poets to haue slaine Gorgon and after that conquest atchieued to haue flowen vp to heauen The Historicall sence is this Perseus the sonne of Iupiter by the participation of Iupiters vertues that were in him or rather comming of the stock of one of the kings of Creet or Athens so called slue Gorgon a tyrant in that countrey Gorgon in greeke signifieth earth and was for his vertuous parts exalted by men vp into heauen Morally it signifieth thus much Perseus a wise man sonne of Iupiter endewed with vertue from aboue slayeth sinne and vice a thing base and earthly signified by Gorgon and so mounteth to the skie of vertue It signifies in one kinde of Allegorie thus much the mind of man being gotten by God and so the childe of God killing and vanquishing the earthlinesse of this Gorgonicall nature ascendeth vp to the vnderstanding of heauenly things of high things of eternall things in which contemplation consisteth the perfection of man this is the naturall allegorie because man one of the chiefe works of nature It hath also a more high and heauenly Allegorie that the heauenly nature daughter of Iupiter procuring with her continuall motion corruption and mortalitie in the interiour bodies seuered it selfe at last from these earthly bodies and flew vp on high and there remaineth for euer It hath also another Theologicall Allegorie that the angelicall nature daughter of the most high God the creator of all things killing and ouercomming all bodily substance signified by Gorgon ascended into heauen the like infinite Allegories I could picke out of other Poeticall fictions saue that I would auoid tediousnesse It sufficeth me therefore to note this that the men of greatest learning and highest wit in the auncient times did of purpose conceale these deepe mysteries of learning and as it were couer them with the veile of fables and verse for sundrie causes one cause was that they might not be rashly abused by prophane wits in whom science is corrupted like good wine in a bad vessell another cause why they wrote in verse was conseruation of the memorie of their precepts as we see yet the generall rules almost of euerie art not so much as husbandrie but they are ofâ—ner recited and better remembred in verse then in prose another and a principall cause of all is to be able with one kinde of meate and one dish as I may so call it to feed diuers-tastes For the weaker capacities will feed themselues with the pleasantnesse of the historie and sweetnes of the verse some that haue stronger stomackes will as it were take a further tast of the Moralisence a third sort more high conceited then they will digest the Allegorie so as indeed it hath bene thought by men of verie good iudgement such manner of Poeticall writing was an excellent way to preserue all kinde of learning from that corruption which now it is come to since they left that mysticall writing of verse Now though I know the example and authoritie of Aristotle and Plato be still vrged against this who tooke to themselues another manner of writing first I may say indeed that lawes were made for poore men and not for Princes for these two great Princes of Philosophie brake that former allowed manner of writing yet Plato still preserued the fable but refused the verse Aristotle though reiecting both yet retained still a kinde of obscuritie insomuch he answered Alexander who reprooued him in a sort for publishing the sacred secrets of Philosophie that he
Griffino vnto whom I gaue them He shall be pleasd I hope and not to haue them 59 I will him recompence some other way And giue him gifts of as great worth or more Thanks to your highnesse Griffin straight doth say Preserue me in your grace I aske no more But when Marfisa saw that eu'ry way They honord her she chang'd her mind before To shew magnificence she vsd this drift That he must take this armor as her gift 60 And thus good friends all turned back againe And then with double ioy the feast they hold In which chiefe praise did Sansonet obtaine The other foure did then themselues withhold Wishing the praise should vnto him remaine And then with greater cheare then can be told By Norandino they were nobly feasted And there themselues they well repos'd and rested 61 Seu'n dayes or eight the King them entertained And those once past of him their leaue they take The which with gifts and honor great obtained Vnto the towne of Tripoly they make And in one companie these fiue remained And mind not one the other to forsake As long as one of them was left aliue Vntill in France they safely should arriue 62 And straight they get a vessell for their hire A merchants ship new laden from the West The master of the ship an auncient fire Consented to their wils with small request The wind as then seru'd fit for their desire And blowes a gentle gale all from the East So that with filled sailes in little while They came as farre as Cypres Venus I le 63 Here eu'ry place was full of odours sweet Of gardens faire of spice of pleasant tast The people lustfull for dame Venus meet From tender yeares to doting age do last With wanton damsels walking in each street Inuiting men to pleasure and repast From hence againe they loosed at what time Don Phaebus charret vnto th' East did clime 64 The weather still was temperat and cleare A pleasant gale their swelling sailes did fill No signe of storme or tempest did appeare To such as in the weather had best skill But loe the weather oft doth change her cheare Eu n as a woman oft doth change her will For sodainly they had such stormes of wether As if that heau'n and earth would come together 65 The aire doth on the sodaine grow obscure But lightned oft with lightnings dreadfull light And saue their houreglasse kept them reckning sure T was hard for to discerne the day from night The desprat marriners do all endure As men inured to the waters spight The heau'ns aboue the waues beneath do rore Yet are not they dismaid one whit therefore 66 One with a whistle hang'd about his necke Showes by the sound which cord must be vndone And straight the shipboy readie at a becke Vnto the tops with nimble sleight doth runne The other marriners vpon the decke Or at the steere the comming waues do shunne And then by turnes they pumpe the water out By paine and care preuenting eu'rie doubt 67 Now while this noble crew with tempest tost Went in the sea as winde and weather draue And looke each minute to be drownd and lost The Christians with a fresh assault and braue Set on the Pagans sorely to their cost Who now began the worser side to haue But chiefly then their courage gan to quaile When noble Dardanellos life did faile 68 Renaldo him had noted from the rest Full proud of slaughter of so many foes And to himselfe he said t is surely best To crop this weed before it higher growes Therewith he sets his fatall speare in rest And cries to Dardanello as he goes Alas poore boy much wo to thee they bred That left to thee that sheild of white and red 69 He trie if you defend those colours well He saith which if with me you cannot do Against Orlando fierce I can you tell For to defend them will be great adoe Thus said Renald and noble Dardanell In valiant wise thus answerd thereunto Know this quoth he that these my colours I Will brauely here defend or brauely die 70 With that he spurr'd his horse as this he spake And with great force Renaldo did assaile But loe the staffe vpon his armor brake So as his blow but little did auaile But straight Renaldos speare a way did make And pierce the double folds of plate and maile And went so deepe into the tender skin The life went out there where the staffe went in 71 Looke how a purple flowre doth fade and drie That painefull plowman cutteth vp with sheare Or as the Poppeys heads a side do lie When it the bodie cannot longer beare So did the noble Dardanello die And with his death fild all his men with feare As waters runne abrode that breake their bay So fled his souldiers breaking their array 72 They flie vnto their tents with full perswasion That of the field the masterie was lost Wherefore to fortifie against inuasion They spare no time no trauell nor no cost Now Charles by forhead meanes to take Occasion And follows them full close with all his host And comming to their tents so brauely venterd That he with them themselues almost had enterd 73 Had not his valiant attempt bene staid By ouer hastie comming of the night So that of force as then it was delaid And either side was driu'n to leaue the fight But with this difference all the Turks dismaid And newly gatherd from their fearfull flight The Christians on the tother side pursewing And day by day their hope and powre renewing 74 The number of the Turks that day were slaine Was more then fourscore thousand as they say Their bloud did fat the ground of all that plaine And makes the ground more fertile to this day Among the dead some men halfe dead remaine Left there for theeues and robbers as a pray Within the Pagan campe great mone they make Some for their friends some for their kinsfolks sake 75 Two youths there were among so many more Whose friendship fast and firme whose faithful harts Deserued to be plast the rest before And to be praised for their good desarts Their names were Cloridano and Medore Both borne farre hence about the Ester parts Their parents poore and not of our beleefe Yet for true loue they may be praised chiefe 76 The elder of the two hight Cloridan An hunter wilde in all his life had beene Of actiue limbs and eke an hardie man As in a thousand men might well be seene Medoro was but yong and now began To enter too of youth the pleasant greene Faire skind black eyd and yellow curled heare That hangd in louely locks by either eare 77 These two among the rest kept watch that night And while the time in sundry speech they spent Medoro oftentime most sadly sight His masters death did cause him so lament Oh said Medoro what a wofull spight What cruell scourge to me
pen can paint and speech aspire That thy iust praises may be plaine exprest To future times Go soule to heauen or hyer And if my verse can graunt to thee this chartir Thou shalt be cald of chastitie the Martir 30 At this her deed so strange and admirable He that aboue all heau'ns doth ay remaine Lookt downe and said it was more commendable Then hers for whom Tarquinio lost his raigne And straight an ordinance inuiolable Ay to be kept on earth he doth ordaine And thus he said eu'n by my selfe I sweare Whose powre heau'n earth sprites men and Angels feare 31 That for her sake that dide of this name last Who euer shall hereafter beare that name Shall be both wise and continent and chast Of faultlesse manners and of spotlesse fame Let writers striue to make their glòrie last And oft in prose and verse record the same Let Hellicon Pindus Parnassus hill Sound Isabella Isabella still 32 Thus said the Hy'st and then there did ensew A wondrous calme in waters and in aire The chast soule vp into the third heau'n flew Where Zerbin was to that the did repaire Now when the beastly Turke saw plaine in vew How he had prou'd himselfe a womanslayre When once his drunken furfet was digested He blam'd himselfe and his owne deed detested 33 In part to satisfie for this offence And to appease her ghost as t were in part Although he thought no pardon could dispence Not punishment suffice for such desart He vowes a monument of great expence Of costly workmanship and cunning art To raise for her nor minds he to go furder Then that selfe church where he had done the murder 34 Of that selfe place he minds her tombe to make And for that cause he gets of workmen store For loue for mony and for terrors sake Six thousand men he set to worke and more From out the mountaines massie stones they take With which wel wrought hewd squard therfore With hie and stately arch that church he couers And in the midst intombs the blessed louers 35 And ouer this was raisd with curious sleight A Pyramid a huge and stately towre Which towre an hundred cubit had in heighâ— By measure from the top vnto the flowre It seemd a worke of as great charge and weight As Adrian made to bost his wealth and powre Of goodly stones all raisd in seemly ranks Vpon the edge of stately Tybris banks 36 Now when this goodly worke was once begunne He makes a bridge vpon the water by That of great depth and force did euer tunne In former time a ferrie there did lye For such as would a further circuit shunne And passe this way more easie and more nye The Pagan takes away the ancient ferrie And leaues for passengers not bote not wherrio 37 But makes a bridge where men to row are wont And though the same were stroÌ„g of great length Yet might two horses hardly meet a front Nor had the sides a raile or any strength Who comes this way he meanes shall bide a bront Except he haue both corage good and strength For with the armes of all that this way come He means to bewtifie faire Isbels toome 38 A thousand braue Atchieuments he doth vow Where with he will adorne this stately worke From whom he taketh all these spoiles or how He cares not whether Christian or Turke Now was the bridge full finished and now His watchmen on each side in corners lurke To make him know when any one coms neare For all that come he means shall buy it deare 39 And further his fantastike braine doth thinke That sith by drinking wine he did that sin In lieu thereof he now would water drinke As oft as by mishap he should fall in For when he should vnto the bottome sinke The top would be an ell aboue his clun As who should say for eu'rie euill action That wine procures were water satisfaction 40 Ful many there arriued in few days Some men as in the way from Spaine to France Some others fondly thirsting after prayse In hope by this exploit their names t' aduance But Rodomont doth meet them both the ways And such his vallew was so good his chance That still as many men as there arriues Lost all of them their arms and some their liues 41 Among the many prisners that he tooke All those were Christians to Algyre he sent And willd his men safely to them to looke Because ere long himselfe to come he ment The rest saue that their armors they forsooke All harmelesse backe into their countries went Now while such feats were by the Pagan wrought Orlando thither came of wits bestraught 42 At that same instant that Orlando came Was Rodomont all armed saue his hed The naked Earle with wits quite out of frame Leaps ou'r the bar and went as folly led To passe the bridge the Pagan him doth blame For his presumption and withall he sed Stay sawcy villen proud and vndiscreet For such as thee this passage is not meet 43 For Lords and knights and squyres of good estate This bridge was built and not for thee thou beast He that no sence had in his idle pate Not heeding what was said still onward prest I must the Pagan thinks this fools pride bate It seems belike he thinks I am in iest And thereupon he makes the madman towards And minds to drowne him sith he was so frowards 44 He little lookt to find a match so hard Now while they two together gan to striue Behold a gallant dame of great regard At that same bridge by fortune did arriue Faire Fiordeliege that late before had hard How loue did of his witts this Earle deprius She hither came to seeke out Brandimart That now in Pari was with pensiue hart 45 And thus this Ladie as before I told Came at that season to this dangerous place And knew this Earle when she did him behold And wonderd much to see him in such case Now held Orlando with his foe hard hold In vaine the Pagan striues him to displace And grinning to himselfe he said at length Who could haue thought a foole had such strength 46 And stretting that he had his purpose mist He doth by sleight the madmans force assay Sometime he puts his hand below his twist Sometime aboue sometime another way Orlando stands vnmou'd do what he list The Pagan seemd to do by him that day ' As doth the Beare that would dâ—g vp the tree From whence she fell but fees it will not be 47 Orlando full of force though void of sence About the middle tooke the Pagan fast And heaues him vp from ground so from thence Into the streame himselfe he backward cast Vnto the bottome both do sinke from whence Each one was glad to get him in great hast Orlando nakt and light swam like a fish So that he soone gat out as he would wish 48 And being out away
peace afford Arme arme he cries straight he armes him round And by his side he hangs his trustie sword And in his countenance he lookes so grim Scarse Doralyce her selfe dares speake to him 45 And armed at all pieces vp in hast He gets and that same courser he bestrides That was that Christen champions in time past Who now doth runne his wit and sence besides And thus he comes vnto the lists at last The place that all such quarrels still decides The king and all his court soone after came And now ere long begins the bloudie game 46 Now on their heads their helmets are made fast Now are the Lances put into their hands Now was the token giu'n by trumpets blast Which both the horse and horseman vnderstands Now in a full carryre they gallop fast And either strongly to his tackle stands Now with such force the tone the tother strake As though that heau'n did fall and earth did shake 47 The Argent Eagle comes on either side With wings displaid on either captaines sheeld The bird which Ioue men say was seene to ride Though better wingd ou'r the Thessalian feeld As for their mightie strength and courage tride Their massie speares sufficient witnesse yeeld Nor strud they more with those t̄epestuous knocks Then wind sturs towres or waues do stur the rocks 48 The splinters of the spears flew to the skie As Turpin writeth that was present there And were on fire by hauing bin so nie Vnto the scorching of the fierie Spheare The champions out their swords draw by and by As those that neither sword nor fire did feare And either thrusteth at the tothers face And seekes by force the tother to displace 49 They neuer sought to hurt each others steed Not that they made together such accord But that they deemd it an vnworthie deed Not worthie of a worthie knight or Lord Of base reuenge they count that act proceed And meet of noble minds to be abhord So that in those dayes none were knowne to kill A horse except it were against his will 50 Vpon their vizers both do strike at once And though the same were firme and plated double As being made of proofe and for the nonce Yet did the force of such fell strokes them trouble And still they lay on lode as thicke as stones Of haile that often turne the corne to stubble I thinke it needlesse further to alledge It they haue strength or if their swords haue edge 51 Yet long they fought together in that field Ere any signe of any blow was left Such wary heed each tooke himselfe to shield But Durindan at last fell with such hest Full on the circle of Rogeros shield That halfe way throught the argent bird it cleft And pierst the coate of male that was within And found a passage to the very skin 52 The cruell blow made many hearts full cold Of such as wisht well to Rogeros part For most of those that stood by to behold Rogeros fauourd in their mind and hart So that afore to say one might be bold If fortune follow would the greater part Fierce Mandricard were slaine or else should yeeld So that this blow offended halfe the field 53 But surely some good Angell I beleue The force of this so fearfull stroke abated Rogero though the wound him somewhat grieue Yet was his mind therewith no whit amated Great vsury he mindeth him to giue And that the strife may quickly be debated He frankly strikes with his whole force and might Full on the helmet of the Tartar knight 54 With so great force and furie came the blow As to the teeth no doubt had clou'n his head Sauing by what mishap I do not know But want of heed that too much hast had bred It lighted flatling on him else I trow That stroke alone had him most surely sped But as it was it made his head so idle He opend both his hands and loosd his bridle 55 Good Brigliadore that felt the slacked raine I thinke still mourning for his masters change Ran vp and downe at randon on the plaine His senslesse rider suffring him to range Who when he came vnto himselfe againe And saw his 〈◊〉 to run a course so strange A spurned Viper hath not so much wrath Nor wounded Lion as the Tartar hath 56 He claps the spurs to Brigliadoros side And on his stirrops he himselfe aduances And to his so with furie he doth ride And vp on hie his right arme he inhances To strike a blow but when Rogero spide His arme lie ope as oft in fight it chances He chopt his swords point vnder tothers arme And puld it out with blood both wet and warme 57 By which he did not onely maime his so By letting blood vpon so large a vaine But bated much the furie of the blo Which notwithstanding fell with force so maine As made Rogero stagger to and fro And mazd his head and dazd his eyes with paine And much it was that time for his behoose To haue his helmet of so good a proofe 58 But hauing now againe recouerd force And as it were new wakned from his dreame Vpon the Tartar Prince he turnd his horse And on his thigh he strikes with strength extreame That through the steele he did the sword enforce Out spins the blood in pure vermilion streame Nought could auaile inchanted Hectors armes Against this sword with stronger temperd charmes 59 The Tartar feeling to his great disease His body wounded as he litle thought Did rage as terrible as do the seas With highest winds and strongest tempests wrought He curleth heau'ns his smarting pangs to ease The shield that had the bird for which he fought Away he hurleth from him for the nonce And to his sword he lets both hands at once 60 Ah quoth Rogero too plaine triall this is That to that Eagle thou no title hast That first didst with thy sword cut mine in peeces And now thine owne away from thee dost cast Thus much said he but whatsoeuer he sees He must the force of Durindana tast Which fell vpon his forehead with such might A mountaine might haue seemd to fall as light 61 I say the blow vpon his forehead fell But yet his beauer sau'd it from his face It happend at that time for him full well That in the hollow there was so much spaces Yet harmlesse quite to scape him not besell For why the sword that euer cuts apace Did pierce his plated sadle and beside An inch did enter into Rogeros side 62 Thus each with crimson had his armor dide And bloud did streame from both a double way Yet hitherto it could not be descride On whether side would chances ballance sway At last Rogero did that doubt decide With that same sword that euer home doth pay And where the tothers target wants there iust Rogero payes him with a speeding thrust 63 The blade gainst which preuailes no Magick are His
earnestly he now repents them both And calls to God for mercie and in token Of true contrition voweth out of hand To be baptizd if ere he come to land 49 And that he would renownce all Turkish lawes Nor gainst a Christen Prince once weapon carrie But serue king Charles and aid the Churches cause And from the same hereafter not to varie And neuer seeke delay or farther pause His vertuous spouse Dame Brandamant to marrie T was strange no sooner he this vow had ended But that his strength increast swimming mended 50 And where before he greatly was affrayd That those same surging waters him would drowne He thinketh now they do his swimming ayd And sometime rising sometime going downe He passeth on with courage vndismayd And scarce he seemed once to wet his crowne That so with cunning part and part with strength He reached to the little I le at length 51 The rest of all his company was drownd Nor euer was a man of them seene more But by Gods onely grace Rogero found This little Ile and clammerd vp the shore And finding it a small and barren ground A new feare rose no lesse then that before Least in a place of needfull things too seant He should be staru'd with penurie and want 52 But yet with constant mind and vnappald Resolu'd to suffer all that God would send Vpon the rocke with much a do he crald And gat vpon the leuell ground in th' end When lo an aged man whose head was bald And beard below his girdle did descend That was an Hermit that did there inhabit Came forth to him in godly reu'rent habit 53 And comming neare he cride ô Saul ô Saul Why persecutest thou my people so As erst our Sauiour spake vnto Saint Paul Then when he gaue to him that blessed blow Behold how God when pleaseth him can call From sea from land from places high and low When you did weene him farthest he was nighest So strong an arme so long reach hath the highest 54 Thus spake this Hermit so deuout and old Who by an Angell in his sleepe that night Of good Rogeros comming was foretold And of all chances should on him allight With all his valiant actions manifold That he had done and should performe in fight And of his death and of his noble race That should succeed him after in his place 55 Now as I said this wise this Hermit spoke And part doth comfort him and part doth checke He blameth him that in that pleasant yoke He had so long deferd to put his necke But did to wrath his maker still prouoke And did not come at his first call and becke But still did hide himselfe away from God Vntill he saw him comming with his rod. 56 Then did he comfort him and make him know That grace is nere denide to such as aske As do the workmen of the Gospell show Receiuing pay alike for diuers taske Prouided that our prayre of zeale do grow And serue not as a viser or a maske This did the man of God Rogero tell And so from thence he led him to his cell 57 The cell a chappell had on th' Easterne side Vpon the Wester side a groue or berie Forth of the which he did his food prouide Smal chear God wot wherwith to make folk merie Yet fortie yeare he had that liuing tride And yet thereof it seemd he was not werie But eating berries drinking water cleare He had in strength and health liu'd fourscore yeare 58 Now kindled had the man of God some woed And on his boord he set a little frute The youth to drie his cloths not farre of stood For why to change he hath no other sute Then he by th' old mans teaching vnderstood The faith and how to Christ he must impute The pardon of his sinnes yet neare the later He told him he must be baptizd in water 59 And so he was the next ensuing day And afterward he rested in that place A while and with the man of God did stay Resoluing him of eu'rie doubtfull case Sometime of heau'n and of the later day Sometime of earth and of his noble race That should in time to come hold mightie Reames As was reueald to him in former dreames 60 And further vnto him he doth repeat How his chiefe house should be sirnamed Esté Because in time to come king Charles the great Should say to them in Latin words Hic este Which is as much to say be here the seat In which you shall hereafter euer rest ye And many future things to him he told Which were too long for me now to vnfold 61 This while Orlando and king Brandimart With Marquesse Oliuero as I told Met with those three of the contrarie part Young Agramanté and Gradasso bold With good Sobrino who for valiant hart Giues place to few of them though being old Each spurrres his horse that ran a wondrous pace And of their blowes resounded all the place 62 In this same course each plaid his part so well That vp to heau'n flew shiuerd eu'rie lance The hideous noise did cause the seas to swell And some report t was heard as farre as France Gradasso and Orlando as befell Did meet together were it choice or chance The match seemd eu'n saue that their horses differ And made Gradasso seeme to runne the stiffer 63 The weaker horse on which Orlando rode Was brused so with this so fearfull shocke As now he could no longer beare his lode But sinking downe lay senslesse with the knocke Orlando then did make but small abode His courser lying senslesse like a stocke Sith that with neither raines nor spurres he sturd He left his saddle and drew forth his sword 64 With Agramant the Marquesse hand to hand Did most betweene them equall went the game Sobrino was by Brandimartés hand Cast from his horse I know not how it came But at that time it could not well be scand If so the horse or horseman were to blame But whether beast or rider wanted force Sobrino certaine downe was from his horse 65 King Brandimart nere offerd once to tuch Sobrino when he saw him downe in vew But to Gradasso that had done as much Vnto Orlando in great hast he flew The Marquesse fight with Agramant was such As which side had the vantage no man knew For when their staues were shiuerd all and rent Their axes then they vsd incontinent 66 Orlando who by hap a horse did lacke And saw Gradasso bent another way Whom Brandimart did hold so hardly tacke That he enforced him thereby to stay I say the Palladine then looking backe Saw old Sobrino standing in his way And toward him he go'th with looke so fierce As though his eye as well as sword could pierce 67 Sobrino gainst the force of such a man Sought with his surest ward himselfe to saue And as a Pilot doth the best he can To shunne the
for Orlando being a known and approved warrior giues a more terrible deuice yet referring the honor to God in most Christian manner of striking down and confounding his enemies with lightning Oliuero whose deuice is the spaniell or lyam hound couching with the word fin che vegna doth with great modestie shew therby that the spaniell or hound that is at commandement waiteth till the fowle or deare he stricken and then boldly leapeth into the water or draweth after it by land so he being yet a young man waited for an occasion to shew his valew which being come he would no longer couch but shew the same In this kind we haue had many in our time as the happie 17. day of Nouember can witnesse that haue excelled for excellencie of deuice of which if I should speake at large it would aske a volume by it selfe My selfe have chosen this of Oliuero for mine owne partly liking the modestie thereof partly for I am not ashamed to confesse it because I fancie the spaniell so much whose picture is in the deuice and if any make merrie at it as I doubt not but some will I shall not be sorrie for it for one end of my trauell in this worke is to make my frends merrie and besides I can alledge many examples of wise men and some verie great men that haue not onely taken pictures but built cities in remembrance of seruiceable beasts And as for dogges Doctor Caynes a learned Phisition and a good man wrote a treatise in praise of them and the Scripture it selfe hath voutchsafed to commend Tobias dogge Here end the annotations of the 41. booke THE XLII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Orlando of his conquest takes small ioy Which caused him his dearest frend to want Loues diuers passions breed no small annoy To stout Renaldo and good Bradamant She wishing her Rogero to enioy He th' Indian Queene but soone he did recant Taught by disdaine at last in Latian ground The Palladine kind entertainment found 1 WHat iron band or what sharpe hard mouthd bit What chaine of diamond if such might be Can bridle wrathfulnesse and conquer it And keep it in his bounds and due degree When one to vs in bonds of frendship knit And dearly lou'd before our face we see By violence or fraud to suffer wrong By one for him too craftie or too strong 2 And if before we can such pang digest We swarue sometime from law and run astray It may be well excusd sith in ones brest Pure reason at such time beares little sway Achilles when with counterfaited crest He saw Patroclus bleeding all the way To kill his killer was not satisfide Except he hal'd and tare him all beside 3 So now a little since when in his brow Alfonso wounded was with cursed stone And all his men and souldiers thought that now His soule from earth to heau'n had bene vp flone They kild and spoild they car'd whom nor how Strong rampiers walls to them defence were none But in that furie they put all to wracke Both old and young and all the towne to sacke 4 Our men were so enraged with this fall To thinke they had their Captaine lost for ay That to the sword they put both great and small That happend then to come within their way And so their fortune did preuaile withall That they the Castle did regaine that day In fewer houres to their great fame and praise Then had the Spaniards got it erst in dayes 5 It may be God ordained as I guesse That he that time should wounded be so sore To punish that same sinne and foule excesse His foes committed had a while before When Vestidell forlorne and in distresse Did yeeld and should haue had his life thereforâ— Yet was he kild when they had him surprised By men whose greater part were circumcised 6 Wherefore I iustly may conclude thus much That nothing can more hotly kindle wrath Then if one shall the life and honor tuch Of our deare frend or do him wrong or scath Now as I said Orlandos griefe is such And such occasion of iust griefe he hath He sees his frend for lacke of better heeding Lye flat on ground and almost dead with bleeding 7 As the Nomadian Shepherd that a Snake Along the grasse and herbes hath slyding seene Which late before with tooth most poysond strake His little sonne that plaid vpon the greene Doth bruse and beat and kill him with a stake So goes this Earle with blade most sharpe and keene And yet far more with wrath an choller whet And Agramant was then the first he met 8 Vnhappie he that in his passage stood His sword was gone as I declard before Himselfe besmeared all with his owne blood Braue Brandimart had wounded him so sore Orlando comes and in his wrathfull mood With Ballisard that payes home euermore He strikes by fortune were it or by art Iust where the shoulders from the head do part 9 Loosd was his helmet as I erst did tell That like a Poppie quite fell off his hed The carkas of the Lybian Monarke fell Downe to the ground and lay a long starke ded His soule by Charon ferrie-man of hell To Plutâ—s house or Stigian lake was led Orlando staid no whit but straight prepard To finde Gradasso eke with Ballisard 10 But when Gradasso plaine beheld and saw Of Agramant the wofull end and fall He felt and vnaccustomd dread and aw Who neuer wonted was to feare at all And eu'n as if his owne fate he foresaw He made the Palladine resistance small Feare had so maz'd his head and daz'd his sence That for the blow he quite forgat his sence 11 Orlando thrust Gradasso in the side About the ribs as he before him stood The sword came forth a span on tother side And to the hilt was varnisht all with blood By that same thrust alone it might be tride That he that gaue it was a warriour good That with one thrust did vanquish and subdew The stoutest champion of the Turkish crew 12 Orlando of this conquest nothing glad Doth from his saddle in great hast alight And with a heauie heart and count'nance sad He runnes vnto his deare beloued knight He sees his helmet cut as if it had Bene clouen quite with axe a wofull sight And eu'n as if it had bene made of glasse And not of steele and plated well with brasse 13 The Palladine his helmet then vnties And finds the scull clou'n downe vnto the chin And sees the braine all cut before his eyes Yet so much breath and life remaind within That he is able yet before he dyes To call to God for mercie for his sinne And pray Orlando ioyne with him in praying And vfe to him this comfortable saying 14 My deare Orlando see that to our Lord Thou in thy good deuotions me commend Likewise to thee commend I my deare Fiorde And liege he would haue sayd but there did end Straight Angels voyces with
88 I should too long in this one matter dwell If all that past betweene them two at large When he departed I to you should tell Stil itterating that his former charge Now on his way he goes God speed him well The griefe was great that dâ—d his heart surcharge But thus they part her eyes all full of teares His minde of iealousies and thousand feares 89 This while Adonio looking pale and wan As earst I told and ouer growne with heare To trauell to his country-ward began In hope that no man now would know him theare He trauels in the secretst sort he can Vnseene vnknowne till he arriued wheare He rescude had the snake seu'n yeares before That by the clowne pursued was so sore 90 Arriuing at this place by breake of day He saw a Ladie walking neare the lake Who though she seemd attyrd in strange array Yet for some great estate one would her take Her count'nance did such maiestie bewray She toward him with stately gate did make And looking on him with a gracious cheare She spake these words so loud as he might heare 91 Gentleman though you do not know my face Yet am I bound to you and am your frend I am your cosin and of Cadmus race Our royall stocke doth lineally descend I am that Manto that in yond same place To build that towne did first begin and end And Mantua according to my name T is cald as you perhaps haue heard by fame 92 I am a Fayrie and to make you know To be a Fayrie what it doth import We cannot dye how old so ere we grow Of paine and harmes of eu'rie other sort We tast but yet no death we nature ow But which is worse then if our liues were short Each seu'nth day we constrained are to take Vpon our selues the person of a snake 93 To be transformd to Serpents vgly hew That creepeth still and on his bellie goth Is such a griefe to vs to tell you true Not one of vs but then to liue doth loth Now that I further may declare to you From whence this kindnesse that I spake of groth Know this what day we haue this cursed shape We hardly dangers infinite escape 94 No liuing thing is lothed more then they So that no sooner one of vs is spyde But we are chast and hunted out straight way And if we finde no place our selues to hyde They lay on load and beat vs so that day That we the paine thereof long after byde And who would not rather one death haue chused Then beaten euermore to be and brused 95 Now Sir the benefit that I confesse I haue receiu'd in which your merit stands Was this some seu'n yeares since or not much lesse As you did wander ou'r these woods and lands You saued me from danger and distresse I should haue sufferd at a villens hands Who though he could not slay me neare the latter Did seeke with cudgill me to bruse and batter 96 For why those dayes that we be snakes she saith And creeping groueling bellies on the ground The heau'ns that other times our hest obay'th Denyes their aid in vs no force is found Sometimes the Sun at our command'ment stay'th The stedie earth doth moue and runneth round And we can by our powre cause in a trise I se turne to flame and fire congeale to Ise. 97 Now heare I come your courtsie to require Which seau'n yeares since I to me done did note Now to reward you I haue powre and might While I am free from serpents cursed cote Three times your fathers wealth you shall ere night Possesse and I will set you so aflote You neuer shal be poore to your liues end But euer haue the more the more you spend 98 And for I know that in your former knot In which loue bound you first you still are tide I will direct you so by wayes I wot Your sute shall not be vnto you denide Now that the iealous Iudge at home is not Go thither straight and I will be your guide She now isâ—t her husbands countrie village Attending there good huswifrie and tillage 99 She further doth at large to him deuise How he shall go in what apparell clad How he shall tempt her in what manner wise And how to grant his suit she should be glad Then told she how she would herselfe disguise For why for euer in her powre she had Except the dayes in which she was a snake What shape she lift vpon herselfe to take 100 Thus she disguish him like a Pilgrime poore That on his shoulders doth a wallet beare And doth for Gods sake beg from doore to doore A gowne of Fryers gray she made him weare A strange apparell for a gallant woer Into an Island dog with shagged heare As white as Ermin and the pretiest else That euer nature made she changd herselfe 101 And thus vnto Argias they resort First to some vtter roomes in which were byding The Hinds and Laborers of meaner sort Heare he with certaine pypes of his prouiding His dog made dance and make such prettie sport That glad was he could bring his mistres tyding Who needs would see as much as they had seene Such was the Doctors destinie I weene 102 Adonio to her presence thus admitted Commands the dog which in all points obayd His turnes his dances and his gestures fitted So due and iust to all the Pilgrime sayd They musd to see a dog so rarely witted And marking still the qualities he playd In seeing them they take great mirth pleasure And praysd the little dog beyond all measure 103 Much wonder first but after much desier Bred in the Iudges wife the dog to get She bids the nurse the dog to buy or hier And try what price the man thereof would set Dame said the Pilgrime had your mistres by her In coyned gold as much as euer yet A womans thought did wish it would not boot Of this same dog of mine to buy on foot 104 And plaine to shew that that was true he sayd And that it rather better was then worse He tooke her straight aside with him and prayd The dog to giue two duckats to the nurse The dog but shooke his eares and out he layd The gold there take and put it in thy purse Adonio saith and thinke what price is able To buy a dog that is so profitable 105 What ere I aske this dog to me will bring Embroderd gownes and kittles cloth of gold A chaine of pearle a iewell or a ring In shorter time then it can well be told Yet tell my Lady this she hath a thing For which alone my Spaniell can be sold To pay me gold or coyne I count it dodging But I will sell it her for one nights lodging 106 This said he sent by her as for a token A gem of passing price then newly made The nurse rewarded thus and fairely spoken And vsd perhaps to trafficke in
infant and adore Also the king Coruyno wonders when He saw in him both wit and iudgement more In those his tender childish yeares and greene Then many times in older men had beene 72 One doth endeuour in his childish hand Of the Strigonian Realme to put to the mace But euermore the tender youth doth stand So high in that same noble Princes grace That if he warre in manly Almans land Or in the Turkes or any other place Hippolito is euer by his side And learneth vertue vnder such a guide 73 Another place shewes how he doth dispence His youthfull time in Discipline and art Fusco instructs him in the hidden sence Of ancient writs and precepts doth impart What actions praise what actions breed offence What be reward of good and ill desart All which the picture did so well expresse That at the meaning eu'rie one might guesse 74 Loe where as yet a boy in Vatican Among the grauest Card'nals he doth sit And speakes so wisely that they all began To wonder at his towardnes and wit What manner man if once he were a man Would this man proue for Peters chaire how fit They seeme to say oh if he thither clime What holy age were that what happie time 75 Within another part described were His youthfull sports when he more strong did grow Oft in the mountaines he doth meet a Beare Oft-times a Bore in marrish grounds and low He rides his Genet fierce and void of feare He chaseth oft the Buck the Hart and Roe And by his horse swift pace doth ouer-ride them And then doth with his sword in twaine deuide them 76 Of Poets then and of Philosophars About him you should see a worthy band To make him know the course of wandring starres How heau'n doth moue why the earth doth stand Or reading of Elegies or verse of warres Fine Epigrams Odes hard to vnderstand Or sometime instruments of Musicke hearing In all his acts a speciall grace appearing 77 Then on another part was to bevewd His vertues each one by it selfe distinct First Prudence Temperance and Fortitude And Iustice and afift vnto them linkt So nye that who with it is not indewd The rest may seeme or blotted or extinct Good bountie shewd in giuing and in spending A speciall grace to all the other lending 78 This one place shewes be aids vnluckie Sforse Him euermore most faithfully assisting Sometime with policie sometime with force Him helping and his enemies resisting Of fortunes change he doth but little force In woe and weale in one faith still persisting He comforts him when euill haps do grieue him In dangers he doth saue in want relieue him 79 Then stands he studying at another season And for his countries safetie taking care He searcheth and he finds by depth of reason And finding to his brother doth declare Their most vnnaturall and filthy treason That some of his owne blood for him prepare By which he doth deserue such name to haue As Rome yet free to tamous Tully gaue 80 Fast by he stands all clad in armour bright And to relieue the Church he runnes in post With sodaine souldiers raw and armed light Against a setled and well ordred host Yet did his onely presence so affright The aduerse part that one may rightly bost It quencht the fire ere it to burne began So he may say I came I saw I wan 81 Here stands he by his natiue riuer side And straight encounters with the strongest fleete That euer yet Venetians did prouide Gainst Greeke or Turke but he doth boldly meet And vanquisht them and tooke them at one tide And though the bootie and the gaine was sweet All saue the praise he left vnto his brother For onely that cannot be giu'n another 82 Thus this Pauillion as before I told The which Melissa brought so farre from thence Did please the knights and dames that did behold The goodly imag'rie and rich expence Although they had not any to vnfold The meaning of the same and hidden sence But yet by good Melissas wise instruction Dame Bradamant did know their whole costruction 83 Rogero markt likewise with great attention Those goodly figures calling to his minde That oft his vnckle of that Prince made mention Hippolito the flowre of all his kinde But now king Charles whose care is and intention To giue to all men entertainment kinde Made playes and feasts with sundry sports and great And euermore the tables fild with meat 84 There men might plainly see and vnderstand The courage and the strength of eu'rie knight Sometimes in single wise now band to band In iusts and turnaments resembling fight But still Rogero had the vpper hand In all his exercise of day and night In leaping running wrastling and in dancing All men him far aboue the rest aduancing 85 But on the last of these dayes festiuall Then when to take away they did prouide What time king Charles was set amid them all Eu'n iust betweene the Bridgrome and the Bride Behold they saw a goodly man and tall That seemd directly toward them to ride Most proudly mounted on a coursers backe But yet his horse and he all clad in blacke 86 This was fierce Rodomont king of Algyre Who at his late receiued foile and I corne Of Bradamant inflamd with spight and ire All vse of horse and armor had forsworne Till one whole yeare one month one day expire But liue that while an Hermit all forlorne For so the knights were wont in ancient times Of their owne selues to punish their owne crimes 87 And though this while he oft had notice how King Agramant and how king Charles had sped Yet nathelesse for not breaking of his vow Forth of the doores he neuer put his hed But when the yeare and month were ended now And day beside himselfe he furnished With armor new new horse new sword new lance And came therewith vnto the court of France 88 Not once alighting nor so much as rising For reu'rence sake to bow his head or knee He bare the count'nance of a man despising Both Charles and all those Peeres of great degree At this each man amazed stands deuising What proud and sawcy fellow this might be From talking and from eating each man stayes To hearken what this lofire warrior layes 89 Now when he was to th'Emp'ror come so nye That he Rogero fully did confront With stately voice and with disdainfull crie He saith I am the king of Sarza Rodomont That thee Rogero flatly here defie And ere the Sunne go downe make full account To proue thou hast bene false vnto thy Prince And openly of treason thee conuince 90 For though thy treachery be knowne so cleare In being Christend thou canst not deny it Yet that to all the world it may appeare I offer here in single fight to trie it Or if thy courage faile if any here Will take on them thy quarrell to supply
how my author in the 55. staffe of this Canto hath deliuered to vs that Beatrice the mother of Bradamant would neuer be wonneto accept Rogero for her sonne in-law neither for his gentrie nor his personage nor his vallew nor his wit no nor yet her daughters owne choice and affection till she heard he was chosen a king with which aspiring humour of women it seemed how that neuer too much praised Sir Philip Sidney was well acquainted with making in his Arcadia not onely the stately Pamela to reiect the naked vertue of Musidorus till she found it well clothed with the title to a seepter but euen Mistres Mopsa when she sate hooded in the tree to beg a boone of Apollo to aske nothing but to haue a king to her husband and a lusty one to and when her pitiful father Dametas for want of a better plaid Apollos part and told her she should haue husbands enough she praid donoutly they might be all kings and thus much for the Morall Aegeus king of Athens hauing no issue went to the Oracle of Apolio to know how he might do to haue a sone and receiuing a doubtfull answer asked counsell of Pythe◠〈◊〉 of Troezenes that was in those dayes counted a deepe wise man who scanning the meaning of the obscure verse which was this O time vir non ante pedem dissolueris vtri Exsertum claras quam tu remearis Athenas Good sir take heed how ear it falls what vessell you do broch Before vnto the cittie walls of Athens you approch I say Pytheus found out such a mysterie in these verses that he perswaded him ear he parted thence to take the paines or I might haue said the pleasure to lie with his daughter Ethra Aegeus hauing done the feat and being belike as many men are sorie when he had done tooke his leaue to be gone but ear he went he tooke Ethra aside and shewed her where he had hidden his sword and his shoes vnder a hollow stone of great weight charging her that if she bare a sonne so soone as he were of strength to remoue that stone she should send him with those tokens to him as priuily as may be In fine she bare that famous Theseus who comming to Athens as a stranger Medea then wise of Aegeus perswaded her husband to poyson him at a banquet to which the old man assented but while Theseus was readie to drinke Aegues saw the swors handle and calling it to mind ouerthrew the cup and saued the life of his sonne of which who so please better to enforme himselfe may reade more at large in the life of Theseus written by Plutarke In that mine author brings in for the conclusion of his whole worke that Rogero immediatly vpon his mariage to Bradamant killeth Rodomont this is the Allegoricall sence thereof that Rodomont which is to be vnderstood the vnbridled heat and courage of youth for in all Rodomonts actions you shall finde him described euer most furious hastie and impacient Rodomont I say is killed and quite vanquished by marriage and howsoeuer the vnrulinesse of youth is excusable in diners kinds yet after that holy state of matrimonie is entred into all youthfull wildnes of all kinds must be cast axay which the common saying doth proue distinquishing in ordinarie speech a bacheler from a married man by these names a good fellow and an honest man In Rodomonts punishing of himself by forswearing the vse of armor a yeare a month and a day he alludes I think to one Bucycaldo a Frenchman gouernor of Geneua who being a goodly tall man of personage was ouerthrowne and vanquished by Galeazzo Gonzaga a little man of stature but of great spirit and for that cause he vowed neuer to beare armes againe but in the death of Rodomont to shew himselfe a perfect imitator of Virgil he endethiust as Virgil ends his Aeneads with the death of Tumus Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub vmbras Here end the notes of the 45. and last Canto of Orlando Furioso A BRIEFE AND SVMMARIE ALLEGORIE OF ORLANDO FVRIOSO NOT VNPLEASANT NOR VNPROFITABLE for those that haue read the former Poeme WHen I had finished this translation of Orlando Furioso and being almost proud in mine owne conceit that I had in these my young yeares employed my idle houres to the good liking of many those of the better sort I happened to reade in a graue and godly booke these words So diuines do hold for examples sake that the glory of S. Paule is increased dayly in heauen and shal be to the worlds end by reason of them that dayly do profue by his writing and rare examplar life upon earth as also on the contrarie part that the torments of Arius Sabellius and other wicked heretickes are continually augmented by the numbers of them who from time to time are corrupted with their seditious and pestilent writings If it had stayed there it would neuer haue troubled me but immediatly followes The like they hold of dissolute Poets and other loose writers which haue lost behind them lasciuious wanton and carnall deuices as also of negligent parents masters teachers c. This saying gentle Reader was such a cooling card to me and did so cut the combe of that pleasing conceit of mine that I could not tel whether I should repent me or not of my former taken paine For this was not a malicious taunt of a wry-looking Zoylus but a graue reprehension and commination of a deuout and diuine writer Now though the Epithetons of Dissolute and Loose make me partly presume that mine author is out of the foresaid danger whose worke cannot iustly be deemed lasciuious wanton nor carnal and though I haue spoken as I thinke sufficiendy in my Apologie to satisfie all indifferent readers both for mine authors defence and mine owne excuse yet because I know in mine owne conscience that all the verses in this worke be not so full weight but if they shal be tryed in so seuere a ballance some will be found many graines too light I would endeuour all I might to supply that detect with the more weightie and sober consideration of the Allegorie which as I haue partly touched in euery seuerall booke so now I intend to present to your consideration the whole bodie of the same to make as it were a rehearsal Oration of it which I haue placed in the latter end and as it were for a farewell as men do at a great dinner in which they haue almost surfetted vpon sundrie sorts of meats more delicate then wholsome yet in the end close vp their stomakes with a peece of a Quince or strengthen and helpe their digestion with a cuppe of Sacke whereas to a temperate feeder vpon wholsome meats both of them are supersfluous Also I do the rather place it in the end of my booke because commonly that which men reade last stickes best in their memories and so I wish