came to the head or sping of a gallant Christall Fountaine which was vnder certaine myrtle trées and there they alighted and let their horses taste of the water of that swéet and cléere spring and the gréen grasse that was there Then did their Pages bring forth such victuall as they brought from the doubtfull Castle making on the gréene grasse a more daintie Table than they had in Grecia and they passed Dinner with as great content if that Meridian had not disturbed it with the remembrance of the losse of his wife although he was somwhat eased with the confidence in Brandafidell and they all no lesse reioyced at the swéet musike which the birds made in the shadow than of that which they were wont to haue in the Royall Pallaces but the one and the other they did leaue for to heare a delicate voice which at the sound of a Harpe they did heare not far off and considering what it should be they heard that it began with a prosound sygh in this sort Though I be scornd yet will I not disdaine But bend my thoughts faire beauty to adore What though she smile when I sigh and complaine It is I know to try my faith the more For she is faire and fairenes is regarded And I am firme firme loue will be rewarded Suppose I loue and languish to my end And she my plaints my sighes my prayers dispise O t is enough when Fates for me doe send If she vouchsafe to close my dying eyes Which if she doe and chance to drop a teare From life to death that balme will me vpreare With an other sygh no lesse than the first did the wofull voice conclude which gaue occasion to the frée Troyan to arise and taking his shield he desired them to tarie for that hee would know who hee was that with so great griefe did publish his sorrow and went directly thether whereas the voice was and vnder a high and great pine trée he saw lying along a knight armed in armor all plated siluer like ful of gréen Roses without his helm which lay by him and a shield of the colour of his armor in the middest of the field in place of the flower was this Posie Nor frownes nor scornes preuaile Resolued loue to quaile The knight was very yong one of the fairest that euer he saw his eyes were swollen with wéeping The Troyan had great desire to know who he should be but stayed for that he saw he would return to his doleful song in this manner Let heauen and earth let Gods and men conspire To adde more griefe vnto my greeued minde So my faire Saint doe know my true desire I haue enough content therein I finde Loues bonds are heauen dull freedome is a hell Come all worlds woe yet loue can make it well This louing Youth intended onely to make the ayre pertaker of his gréefe so turning himself vpon the gréen grasse he said Oh Loue why in the beginning of my â—eÌ„der yeres hast thou made me place my felicitie in a person that hates mée Ah swéete Mistres I doo acknowledge your desert and giue my gréefe to witnes it yet if I may say it without offence as you are rare in beautie so I am a Phoenix in loue Oh that it pleased the heauens I might shew you my louing heart there should you sée how faith sustaineth the same against the extremitie of all your crueltie This afflicted Youth could procéed no further for that he was disturbed by the Troyan who desirous to know what he was in this sort saluted him I would fain faire Knight know what hath brought you into this estate if you stand in néed of my person I will imploy it in your helpe I néed not your companie said this disturbed Louer much lesse your helpe depart I pray you for your presence doth me wrong Thou art vncurteous answered the Kinsman of Hector so to reply vnto my Knightly offer Nay then I perceiue said the Youth you are ignorant what pleasure solitarines bringeth to the passionated Louer I answered the Troyan and hope euer to be ignorant of such pleasing sorrow O heauens how hast thou liued said the Youth art not amorous Now God defend me said Oristides from that madnes O generous thoughts of mine replied the Youth is it possible that Rosabel should liue and heare Loue slandered tarrie thou false Knight for with thy blood I trust to write vpon these trées the glorie of them that be Louers And therewith like a viper trodden on he arose vp to lace on his helme sodainly cast a thrust at y e Troian that hee made him retire backe thrée or foure paces almost past memorie Ere hee recouered the Youth strooke him so on the Uisor that hee made him sée starres in his darke helme and doubled another vpoÌ„ his shoulder that shrewdly pained him By this the Troyan did plainly sée that the Knight with whom hée dealt was aswell Mars his sonne as Cupids seruant and therefore rowsing himselfe he smit him such a blow vpon the shield that he made him put one knée vpon the ground The Youth was cunning and at the discharge of y e blow hurt the Troyan so on the legs that his red blood distained the gréene meadow With excéeding furie tooke Oristides his sword in both his hands and doubled two such extreame blowes that the young Knight knew not where he was but quickly recouering himselfe he retourned a double paiment A thousand thoughts came vnto the Troian in imagining who this valiant Youth might bée yet so he dealt with him that he made him sweat drops of blood At the noyse of this rigorous battell came the two Princes at which instant the Youth had feld the Troyan to the ground whence quickly recouering and with his sword seeking to reuenge the Princes stept betwéene them saying Part Knights it is not iust to permit this battell to come to an end without knowing the cause It is sayd the Youth because this Knight counteth a Louers life vnhappie which occasion is not so small but if I liue with his life he shall answere it Sir Knight said Meridian let not this flight quarrell hinder our important busines the matter being no more but you thinke Loues bondage swéet and he in libertie findes his content But that you shall perceiue doubt of his ablenes is no cause of this I will warrant that within these ten dayes either here or where els soeuer you will appoint this Knight shall ende the battell I am content aunswered the yong Knight for that your gentle disposition doth more binde mee than this Knights arrogancie therefore let the battell be here where onely accompanied with my solitarie thoughts I will attend you Stand aside said the valiant Troyan in cases that concerne my owne honour I am more bound than to wait on strangers therefore there is no reason to disturbe vs till the battell be ended It cannot be said Rosicleer
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
Those that were present did verie much extoll the fortitude of the pagan in that he could so long indure against the Prince for that they knewe by experience how farre the strength of his armes extended And the Prince vnto himselfe sought by what meanes he might ouercome hys Enemie without killing him for that he séemed to be one of the most valiantest that euer he prooued and still hee thought that he excéeded the dexteritie of the mighty Gran Campeon that was slaine in the Warres of Greece by the hand of the said Prince Likewise he remembred the manie and great affaires hee had to doo in other Partes but that which gréeued him most was that so long time he had not heard of his beloued Oliuia The which thought kindled in him such cholar that like vnto lightening hee went to the Pagan first demaunding whether he would yéeld himselfe for ouercome and leaue the Battell in the state it was But this blasphemous King with a voyce that feared them all said Uile creature is it possible that the Gods will consent being armed in the fielde so poore a Knight as thou for pure sorrow and gréefe should desire to leaue off the battell and yet wish me to yéeld as ouercome I do now perceiue that all your deities are vile and that your power is but small that one alone Knight dare attempt to doe this Come downe you théeues from those celestial houses that you haue stolen and vsurped and I will giue you to vnderstand that I am Fangomadan And therwith raging like a Tiger hee assalted that warlike Prince and gaue him such a violent blow vpon his helme that he made him stoope and put his handes to the grounde and doubling the same he stroke him ouerthwart that it descended on his left shoulder which the Prince felt verie gréeuous séeing himselfe so intreated considering withall that the force of his aduersarie was increased he beganne to hammer blowes on him in such sorte that hee made him séeme all bathed in bloud puffing and blowing like a bayted bull The Pagan would haue giuen him a down right blow purposing therewith to conclude the battle But the Prince beeing warned by that which before had passed made shewe as though hee woulde abide it yet when it did descend with all the lightnes in the world he auoided and made him strike vppon the stones so furiouslie that when the swoorde fell it broke off a great péece This louer of Oliuia was not iole on so good occasion but stroke the Giant such a blow and with such good order on his shoulder that he did not onely disarme the place but also made therein a great wound out of which began to flowe a great quantitie of blacke bloud And this victorious Gréeke withdrew himself when he saw the wound he had giuen him It cannot be imagined what great anger possessed the Giant for like vnto a wounded Lyon although somewhat wearie hee assalted Rosicleer who had no care to strike him but to delay him with his lightnes for that he knew well it would shortly tyre him And so vsing his wonted dexterity he onely auoided the blowes of his enimy Those that were beholders hereof did well perceiue the intention of this baptised knight but yet he could not still so auoide it but that the giant seazed on him such a blowe that he made him somewhat to loose his memorie and to voide bloud out at his mouth the which Rosicleer tooke to be perilous and let flie thrée or foure blowes on high to amaze his contrary and therewith thrust at him with his sword in such sort that hee hit him on the thigh and the point passed to the bone The Moore did not thinke it to be great till such time as assaying to follow him he fell-downe vpon his handes but he was not so soone downe as with the quicknesse of his thought he was a foote againe florishing with his vnmeasurable sword This valiant brother to the Knight of the sunne could very well haue ouercome him in thus detaining him but he sodainely conceaued it to bee cowardise and therefore determined to put the state of the battell in one blow and as the giant was striking at him a mighty stroke he entered within him thinking to ouerthrow him but he found him like a rocke therefore being together he gaue place to the Moore to benefit himselfe of time and occasion But the giant leauing his greate fauchion seazed on the Prince with his heauie armes rescused him in such sort that it séemed he would breake all his members so that they must needs returne againe to a perilous wrastling in so much that with the heate of the battell and with wearinesse they fell both on the grounde and inforcing one to get the other vnder they both lacked breath and the giant bloud through which faintnesse they both sounded the vnhappy giant neuer againe reuiuing And this is alwaies to be looked for of those who liued as hée did making his owne content a God and worshipping his onely pleasure All that were aboue woulde haue descended to them but there was none that could forsake the place where as they were For that incontinent the heauen was couered with a thicke and blacke cloude with such thundrings and lightnings that it seemed that all the firmament would fall to the earth in the which was hearde the bleating of beastes and other heauy groanes in the saide courte for the space of one houre till such time as the storme was past and the heauens became cleare as they were before Nowe looking for the warriours they onely sawe the Prince as one amazed new come to himselfe and as though his aduersary had béen before him he gaue assault till such time as he was wholy in his remembrance and saw not the giant But that which grieued him most was that he lacked his good sword which he woon with so deare experience as was said in the first booke And looking about for the giant he sawe on the one side of the court a sumptuous edifice like to a sepulcher which was sustained with foure deformed Lyons made of alablaster the Sepulcher it selfe was all of Christall so cleare that all might be very well séene which was within and marking it well he knewe that it was the bodies of the giants and their mother who laie as though they had beene aliue with their eies open and euery one a very long scrole or writing in their handes which declared the cause of their deathes but that which made the inuincible Prince Rosicleer most to maruell was to sée his good sword sent from Quéene Iulia smitten quite through one of the foure pillers that sustayned the couering of the sepulcher which piller séemed to be of very fine Iaspar stone And hauing desire with great ioy to pull it out hee no sooner layd hand on it but there came foorth so great a flame that it séemed to haue burned him till such time
your sake I am content if this knight be so pleased I am not pleased said the yong knight to haue the battell cease I will exclaime on you said the Damsell if you doo procéede to be a false knight and recreant of your word For you promised me when I guided you to the Caue of y e wise Artidon where you demaunded the ende of your loue and whose Sonne you were that you would neuer deny me a lawfull request and this is most iust for it requisite that betwéene you there be eternall frendship and héere I am certaine it must begin And in ending these words shee vanished away leauing them much amazed Both of the knights put vp their swords and the Grecian thus began Most valiant knight it séemeth this Damsell knoweth more of our estate than we our selues and séeing she saith we must be frends for my part I offer it you with most intire affection being likewise heretoo mooued with certain inward motions which I cannot expresse Inuincible knight answered the faire Youth great is my benefit to haue frendship with the best knight in the World and I may well say they told me true that certefied me my best good should méete me in Lacedemonia And heere looke I for as much good as I haue in Grecia thogh there remain my Souereigne Oliuia whom you for then had the yong Knight tooke off his helme so much represent as were it not that I know she is not giuen to armes I should beléeue it were her selfe therefore faire Sir resolue my suspitious heart of whence you are What my selfe knows I will acquaint you with replide the Youth The Soldan of Niquea brought mee vp in companie of Doriano hys Sonne and Liriana my diuine Mistres his matchlesse Daughter Till I was of age to beare armes I tooke the Soldan for my Father who then knighting me thus said Rosabel thy Parents are to me vnknowen for a lionesse brought thée to mée an infant and by a white Rose on thy breast thou hadst thy name a Scroll shee brought in her mouth which said thou shouldst be my greatest enemie till the Swan put peace betwéene vs. Though it somwhat gréeued me to be of vnknowen Parents yet my hope to enioy Liriana possessed me with ioy and she a little cherished my hope till on a sodaine shee forbad mee to sollâ—cite her with loue and with her coynesse banished me the Countrey So discontent I imbarked my selfe for Russia purposing there at the Caue of the wise Artidon to enquire touching my birth but I was driuen by tempest on this Coast where I was no sooner landed but I heard a voyce that said Welcome the glorie of Greece and honour of great Britaine the greatest Frend your Father hath sends you this armour and willeth you to leaue off that you weare And séeing no bodie this armour was laid by mée which you sée fitteth my bodie as it had béen made for me While I was arming mee therewith a Dwarffe came vnto me and said Take courage Rosabel for you shall in this armour méete one of the valiantest knights in the world and him shalt thou assaile with bitter hate beeing most bound to yéeld him loue After the Dwarffe departed came the Damsell that parted our battell saying to me Rosabel grant me a boon and I wil bring you to the wise Artidon This being the thing I most desired I promised her anie iust thing whereupon immediately shee brought me thether Being there the wise man vnto my demaund thus answered That it was not conuenient as yet to know my parents but he said they were such as in Grecia most flourished for armes that my loue should in the ende after manie sorrowes prooue succesfull And for a token of the truth hee said that I should méete in Lacedemonia the Knight that discouâ—red the Caue whom verily I gesse to be your selfe and desire thereof to be resolued for of my selfe I haue said all I know With great affâ—ction the Gréeke Prince answered Were the discouerie death faire Knight yet would I satisfie you in that yée aske Know then that I am Rosicleer Brother to Alphebo Emperour of Trapisond and he that discouered the Caue of Artidon when once I departed discontent out of Great Britaine from Oliuia the Princesse thereof now my beloued Wife The content that Rosabel receiued excéeded and in his ioyfull passion he brake out O that Fortune so fauoured me right worthie Prince that I might call you Father in the meane time let me honour ys as my Lord. And therewith would haue kissed his hands but Rosicleer kissing his chéek said Were I blessed with such a Sonne I would thinke the heauens on earth had giuen me all happines But I will intreat you to go into Greece with me where of Oliuia we shall be resolued and I will afterwards with all my Frends goe with you to Niquea whence if she consent we will bring the Ladie you so much loue Oh with what content remained Rosabel he could not but embrace his suspected Father who with like affection infolded him As they sate thus ioyously together Meridian and Oristides came to y e place who wondred to sée the Grecian so familiar with y e young Knight But Rosicleer resolued them of his suspitions began to perswade the Troyan that he should not offer to procéed with the battell in defence of frée life for sayth hée I perswade me this Knight will put the matter into my hands So will he too doubt ye not said Meridian for Oâ—istides is alreadie Loues sworne Champion Therewith alighting and all fitting together the gentle Scythian discoursed from poynt to poynt the whole manner of the Combat betwéene the changed Troyan and the faire Sarmacia whereat Rosicleer excéedingly laughed but Rosabel rose vp and embracing the Troyan said Being Frend to this worthie Gréeke Prince I am bound to you in dutie but being a true Conuertiâ—e in recanting the heresie you held yesterday and becomming Loues seruant my loue to you is more increased As the Troyan began to reply he was disturbed by the swift comming of a verie well proportioned Knight in blacke armour who being néere them said Worthie Knights by your armour I sée you are the same that yesterday in the Pallace of Lira wrought meruailes Farre off is my natiue Country where that I might iustly report I haue dealt with such a Knight my desire is to proue my self with him that made the last battell The Troyan stept foorth and said I am the Knight ye looke for It séemes you are indéed said the blacke Knight therefore mount you and defend this that you shall heare You did not in the Combat yesterday the part of a Defendant ye should haue forced your aduersarie to confesse the wrong done to the accused and not haue so delayed the time to make an end without victorie Doo you know sir Knight said the Troyan who was my contrarie A woman said the other Knight but that is not
for rescue nor if they had cried could they haue béen heard the noyse and tumult was so great for the Ladies that waited on them sent out shrill cryes able to haue pierced the clowds but the heauie groanes of dying men deadly brayings of wounded horses so filled the place that â—ootlesse were all their lamentations For now Rosabel was mounted and Liriana before him the two Bretheren had her two Kinswomen and Lisarte their Sister Before them rid Oristoldo and Florisarte filling the iawes of death wyth heapes of dying men that fondly sought to hinder theyr swift escape For Marcello had commanded the chaynes that serued for pales to the place of Tornay to bee taken downe that all the Cittie being armed might enter and inclose the Knights strangers to reuenge the death of the Egyptian SoldaÌ„ the gates indéed it was folly to close because a great wal was ouerthrowne to ioyne the field adioyning to the Pallace gréene that the Court for Tornay might be more spacious Through this place passed our sixe Princes all men making meanes to giue them way but not one so mad to follow them And quickly comming to the place where they left their knights and pages there they set downe their amazed Ladies who began lamentably to complaine But when they knew what Knights they were their feare was turned vnto ioy and Liriana aboue the rest reioyced in her Rosabel Neuerthelesse considering the danger wherein the Souldan her Father was it was thought necessarie that Rosabel Florisarte Oristoldo should returne to the battaile whereuppon determining they changed their horses helmes and shéelds because they would not be knowen and posted to Niquea with all spéed In the meane time the pleasant Celandian princesse to chéere vp Liarana that drooped for the absence of Rosabel carrolled out this swéete dittie in praise of Fortune When Tyrants will had neere constraind Our Virgins state to haplesse stay And in our hearts we all were paind With thinking on the wedding day Then Fortune turned our distresse To endlesse ioy and happinesse The hatefull obiects of our harts Plumde in their pride did threat the skie And them we liked for deserts As exiles forced were to flie Yet Fortune that our griefes did see Prouided vs of remedie She sent our frends that quaild our foes She gaue vs life when death was nigh To ioy she turned all our woes Downe cast with greefe she raisd vs high Her Godhead therefore we adore And praise sweet Fortune euermore By this the thrée princes entred the Battell finding the Soldan vnhorsed defending himselfe against two giants whom Rosabel at two strokes cut in sunder With this y e King of Garamantia approched saying Soldan retyre thy knights and if I or my fellow kings bee guiltie of this daies tumult or thy daughters rape let vs die He speaketh reason said Rosabel heare him great prince For your desert I will said the Soldan on that condition and therewith he caused retreat to be sounded And so the kings submitting themselues to bee tryed that they were innocent of conuaying the Princesses away they were deliuered vnto an aged Prince to kéep and the thrée Princes with swift spéed returned to their Loues where in the middest of their delight a crosse accident barred their pleasure as shall bee expressed in the next Chapter How the Princesse Liriana and her companions sweetly conuersing with their loues and brethren were sodainly surprized by the wise Lupercio and inchaunted Chap. 22. THis vaine world wherein pleasures are gotten with much paine giueth no certaine continuance of the good wee toyle for but rather an houres storme of euil snatcheth from vs all the content that in a whole age with care we haue gathered Experience of this these Princes sodaine griefes shal be who had scarcely obtained a breathing time of ioy but a world of sorrow was heaped on their heads If you be remembred in the beginning of this historie where Brandafidel described the estate of FangomadaÌ„ and the cause of the inchauntment to Rosicleer Meridian and Oristides after y e death of his Brother he telleth theÌ„ of one Lupercio a wise man in Egipt that was master of his Unkle Gelasio and taught him his deuilish Artes. This Lupercio being acquainted with the successe of all things at Niquea by his Arte and knowing also where the Princes and Princesses were put himselfe into an inchanted Chariot drawen with foure furious Griffons and departing from his deuilish habitation came néere the pleasant place where these Princes fearelesse of such execrable euil were delighting themselues with amorous conuersation Neither did this Lupercio hate them for any other thing than because his scholler Gelasio was by them so crossed imprisoned It was about the houre of twelue at midnight when after long toyle the Knights intended to take rest the Ladies offering to watch be their kéepers Liriana begun a ditty to bring them all a sléep in whose vndersong Roselia Arbolinda the Soldans néeces and the Princesse of Celandia assisted her with voice and musique Sleep while we sit and be your Guard Your tyred lims rest in our laps Your endlesse faith be our reward Then care we not for after haps Lyke you lay Mars on Venus knee While she did sing her Lullabee Lullaby Lulla Lullaby So sweetly Warre with Loue doth lye Thou wert the substance of my griefe But art the ground worke of my ioy Thy absence causd my sorrow cheefe But now thy sight exiles annoy I mournd for thee thou weptst for mee Yet sing I now ioyes Lullabee Lullaby Lulla Lullaby So sweetly Warre with Loue doth lye The Knights had not closed their eyes nor the musique fully closed in due straines with the conclusion of the Ladies song when sodainly a fierie chariot drawen by â—oure Griffons descended and out of the chariot issued two fearfull Centaures that snatching vnder either arme a Lady carried away to the Chariot Liriana her two Cosins and the Princesse of Celandia with such swiftnes that the Princes were not able to rise ere the Chariot was mounted in the ayre the Ladies making such lamentation as the senselesse trees assisted by the whistling of the winde among their leaues séemed to sigh for their sorrow Liriana being heard alowd to cry Oh Rosabel why am I taken from thée when in thée was all my ioy And with this the chariot and Ladies were out of sight O tragicke Sister that beutifiest thy writings with griefe-discoursing lines a little lend me thy all able help that in concluding this booke I may straine teares from the pittying eyes of the Readers when they shal conceiue the sorrow that the princes conceiued at this sodaine accident All of them so gréeued as the dull earth drunke with their teares sent foorth from her pierced bosome salt and brackish springs that yet remaine in the forrests of Niquea as endlesse testimonies of that sad midnights misaduenture the chast Moone clouded her bright countenance and swéet Venus in her spheare lookt more discoloured than when the son of Mirrha was murdred by a sauage Boare and the Day-Starre refused to lead backe the hoast of heauen to giue way to the next daies morning but mourned in the skies euen as when Ceyx his sonne was drenched in the Seas But if all these Planets Earth Springes and Princes sorrowed y e grief and rage of Rosabel so much excéeded all as neither the fortunelesse Mother of those fourtéene Sons and Daughters slaine by the son and Daughter of Latona could with her griefe equall his sorrow nor the wrath of Alcides wheÌ„ he sacrificed himselfe on the mountaine of Oeta be compared to this yong princes rage And surely had not the wisedome of Lisarte preuailed he had desperatly ended his life who perswading him and the other princes that by the words on the Christaline piller which supported the tower where Rosabel was inchanted it was very likely they were borne thether and therwith combining themselues neuer to cease trauel til they had found them out both Rosabel and the other princes were somewhat quiet So parting themselues two and two Rosabel Oristoldo went backe to Niquea to answere for the imprisoned kings and there to hearken if they might heare of the Ladies the two princes of Celandia sent home their ships and knights and onely with two pages followed this aduenture so did Lisarte his son another way accompanied onely with the two disguised Ladies their pages And séeing their heauy parting hath tyred my wearied spirits I wil end this book after that for your better memory I haue collected the places together where we left our knights and Ladies The gallant Torismundo prince of Spaine we left reioycing with Grisalinda the princesse of France his yong son the valiant Tartarian with Grisanea princesse of Holland and their sonne trauelling to his country from the doubtfull Iland where Rosicleer made Lord after the death of Bruncaldo the Rouer and his brethren the Giants the discreet knight Briano giuing him to wife the imprisoned Damsel daughter to Rosicleers old frends the Lord Lady of the valley of the mouÌ„taines Rosicleer Meridian and the new Louer Oristides we leaue going to Sea from Lacedemonia ful of sorrow for the losse of Rosabel The faire Sarmacia ful of iealous passion we left in y e forrests of Grecia and not farre off Brandafidel and Floralinda in the Castle they had gotten from Friston the inchanter Gelasio inprisoned by Lyrgandeo Liriana her Cousins and the Celandian princesse borne away in the Chariot How Rosabel and his frends parted you heard before onely wee haue not béen copious enough in expressing Roselias sorrow for the Dacians absence whom she last saw passing by Lisartes ship in his inchanted boat where also wee last left him And heere will wee leaue off intending with him to begin our next Booke FINIS
who as though he had done nothing threw himselfe ouer the Pomell of his swoord and so backt his horse that came vnto him which was estéemed of all for high noblenes After he had a while beheld the place where his Goddesse was a thousand imaginations working vpon the newe forge of his thought hee returned to sée his companion who at this time with his swoorde in his hand very ioyous to sée the gallantnes of the new louer went against the redoubted Moore who vnsheathing his great fauchion and blaspheming his Gods they settled such blowes on their inchanted helmets that all the compasse did sound thereof They were some what amazed but the Moore had the worst by reason that the inchantment of the Dacians good swoord was of more antiquitie better than that of the Pagan so that the magical temperature of his helmet doing him little good his sword must néeds enter in therat more thaÌ„ two fingers wherat Partomio was greatly amazed but remitting to the force of his arme what lacked on the helm they began to strike in such sort that their armor sâ—emed a new forge for Vulcan approouing each of them with costly experience to shew his enemy his force strength In this the King seazed on the heroycall Dacian such an vntoward blow with so great force that he made him decline his head to the horse neck renewing the blow he seconded another that if it had hit right it would not haue gone well with him but it serued onely to inflame cholar in the Prince made him more quickly to come vnto him selfe wherwith he assailed the Moore raising himselfe in his stirrops with his swoord aloft with so gallant demeanor that it caused the stout heart of the Pagan to feare the blow and to put his shield before for his defence although it were but little helpe for that the furie of the Dacian was so great that hitting it he cut it in two péeces and descending down by his brest to his shield hand hand shield and reines of his horse came all to the ground and his horse with feare not féeling the bridle striued to goe forth of the impalementâ— if the lame rider had not giuen him such a blow on the head that he cleue it in péeces faling with him to the ground hard by y e spaniard who at the noise of the fall came to himselfe being before in an extasie with beholding the faire Lady They might well haue killed him although with great lightnes hee went from his horse and at the same instant the proud Alsino with the help of his cosin was cléere from vnder his horse séeing himselfe aâ—oote he pulled out his mightie swoord and came against the Spanish Prince who receiued them all thrée through the great corage he had whilest the Prince his friend did alight from his horse and although it were done in great hast yet could he not come so quickely but that the Spaniard had assalted the feared Partomio for that he should not goe before he had first proued the sharp edge of his swoord And for that he had no shield he at his ease stroke him such a blowe vpon his arme that the force of his armor coulde not râ—sist his swoord but it must néeds cut his infidel flesh and charged him so sore that it made him put both handes and knées to the ground and he said Now thou shalt vnderstand furious Pagan what I said to thee That thou shouldest sée thy selfe in that extremit ythat thou shouldest haue néed of helpe At this time approched his couragious Friend and almost enuious at that the new louer had done intending to requite him with the like he assailed Alsino that was on the one side and lifting vp his swoorde with both his handes hee stroke him such a side blowe vppon his helme that he little enioyed his standing but hee ouerthrewe him side-longs with a great fall so that all that were in the place began to say long liue so good friends that know how to reuenge the dishonor of our Princesse The King did verie well heare it and although hee commaunded them to holde their peace it did little profit Therefore turning to the Prince of Sauoy hee said Of truth if these two be not the Gréeke Princes I cannot imagine who they should be that haue so great force Let not your highnes maruell answered the Prince for as I tolde you I sawe them against the Giants deale such blowes that if I had not behâ—lde it I could not haue beléeued it and I doe perswade me that the blacke Knight is none of the Princes of Gréece for that he is verie yong and so I beléeue is his companion Then it came to the Kings imagination that it should be the Prince of Spaine but that thought left him for that he did sée him ouercome at one blowe in the same place And turning to beholde the battaile they sawe the blacke Knight come vppon the Pagans cosin and strike him such a sound blow that he made him to stacker backward three or foure réeling paces and following the same stroke him another on the helme in such sort that he gaue him a déepe wounde wherewith the stoute Alsino gaue the Spaniard such a blowe that he made him stoope with one of his knées but it was little for his good for that with a light leape hee fréeed himsefe from betwéene them and séeing how the Dacian did deale with the Giant he began to florish with his swoord and to part them from the place where they twoo made their battaile and this expert youth awayting his time closed with the cosin of Alsino and thrust him thorow to the backe and ouerthrew him on the hard ground sauing himselfe with a light leape so that Alsino could not reach him if the Princesse reioyced at this I néed not perswade the reder that hath had any experience of the swéete wound of loue This louing Ladie could not dissemble but turning to the faire Orosia of Sauoy she said It seemeth vnto me gentle cosin that your comming hether hath begun all my good fortune by the force of that Knight which as I beléeue doth all this in your seruice It is not to be doubted answered the Lady being satisfied of your beautie that he doth this for you hauing alreadie done as much for mee to set me at libertie Happie Dutches of Sauoy answered the Princesse that you obtained such a Knight for your defence and much more happy may the Princesse of Fraunce be to obtaine such knights to defend her honor being indued with such excellencie And as they thus conferred being young and kinswomen their new change appeared and it was no griefe vnto them to fauour the knight with the blacke armor in in that they were bound vnto it so looking into the combate place by reason of a great noise that was amongst the people which said From the Heauens descend the reward of such a knight that so
doth honor the French court They perceiued that the valiant Dacian at one irefull blowe had ouerthrowen the King vpon the earth and cut off his head at that time that the cholorick Spaniard had done the like to Alâ—ino and rouled them out of the place with great contentment vnto the King Then the Spaniard went vnto the Dacian who vpon his knées gaue him thankes that with so great honour had holpen him The gentle Spaniard did the like and cast his armes vpon his necke saying Pardon me my entyre frend in that you haue séene my follies Whereto the Dacian aunswered Whatsoeuer errour hath béene committed it bringeth a pardon with it selfe and whatsoeuer you haue done hath béen to mée great content for that I perceiue your Ladie doth receiue the like pleasure And from this time forth let vs intreate of your matters with such wisedome as is required in such a case as this is and if it bee requisite to carrie her out of France I profer my selfe in your seruice Torismundo did much esteeme this ayd promised binding himselfe to more than to venter his life for him And comming vnto the Damsell they said For that she had done them so great frendship and kept them so good companie that whatsoeuer she would willingly should be done shee should expresse it The French Damsell being somwhat abashed sayd I am sorrie sir Knights that you doo renue in me that whereunto I am so much bound but the dutie that hath wanted in mée my Mistres will performe in such measure as is reason Faire Damsell sayd the Spaniard this alone is sufficient to leaue me in euerlasting bondage to you if you procure your Ladie finding my heart true to be intreated to yéeld such pittie as true loue requireth and when ye would speake with vs you may alwaies come vnto the Forrest whereas wee dined to day She said she would doo so At that they could not talke anie more for that the King came in companie with all those mightie Princes and Knights that were wyth him And when he approached as these two frends were knéeling down to kisse his hands he raised them imbraced them saying I will not sir knights that you suppose my comming is to reward that which you haue done for I cannot pay so great a debt my onely desire is that yee would commaund my person and estate in anie thing yée please and I will procure it as if it were for Clauerindo my déere Sonne Wee doo well know couragious prince said the Spaniard that whom God hath indued with so much vertue he wil not leaue him without so much grace but that all the world shal desire to serue him our reward is sufficient in that ye haue admitted vs for your knights in this cause wherefore in all other things I and my companion are at your commaundement And now séeing there is no more to be done giue vs leaue wee pray you to depart You will not deale so vncurteously with me sir knights said the king to take from vs the bond wherein wee are so much bound as to goe away and not to take your rest and ease your selues in this our pallace I doo assure you worthie king answered the Dacian that wee cannot tell you who we are neither can we tarrie with ye without breach of our honour and this we hope you will not permit only for the desire we haue to imploy our liues in your seruice For my part said the king you shal not be importuned onely my desire is that you pull off your helmes and speake vnto the princesse for it is shee who is most bound for this déed The Spaniard answered faining his voyce for that he wold not be knowen We may as ill yéeld to this as to the other by the order of knighthood which we haue receiued and verie much shall we be blamed if we make so long tariance as to speake wyth the princesse but hauing opportunitie wee will returne and serue you in all that you will command vs. The king answered With this I remaine content although I shal not forget the wrong till such time as you performe that which you haue last promised and taking them by the hands he lead them thether whereas the princesse was her welbeloued Mother who could not satisfie her selfe in imbracing her as if shee had béene new risen from death And when they came thether the King said Daughter I cannot intreate these Knights to remain in our Court that they might receiue the graces and thankes for that which they haue done for you I would faine sée if the request of Damsels were of more effect than that of Kings It is not possible welbeloued Father answered the vnacquainted Lady that they will loose the debt wherein they haue bound vs in going away without telling vs who they are Most faire Princesse answered the Dacian for that the Spaniard was not able to mooue himselfe The heauens doe know what griefe my selfe and my companion doe féele in that we cannot receiue the curtesie of so high a Princesse in remaining in this Court but it would bee an occasion for vs to falsify our promise if wee delay any longer time Touching our names we are of far Countryes and of so little fame that if we should tell you onely it would be cause for vs to loose somwhat of that which we haue gotten Touching your father and Court wee haue not deserued any thing but occasion being offered heere we giue you our faithes to returne and serue you I wil be surety for this your promise said the faire Dutches. I am content therwith answered he in the black armor making strength of weaknes and sée wel that our faith receiues no wrong although we goe secure that you will haue compassion theron So making their obeisance vnto the Ladies they tooke their leaue and descended much against the wil of the Spaniard And mounting vpon their horse they tooke their leaue of the Damsel who made her selfe to be known vnto the King and the Princesse wherof they receiued high and great content asked her who they were but she tolde them what they had concluded but neuer would say what they were where as wee will leaue them in their suspitioÌ„ for to speake of the thrée princes whom we left in the way toward Gréece Of the aduenture that happened vnto the Princes Rosieleer Meridian and Oristides the Troyan nauigating by Sea Chap. 6. THese thrée stout warriers were farre ingulfed into the Sea on the way towards the Grecian Empire full of gréefes the Troyan for his Country the knight of Cupid for his faire Oliuia and the mightie Prince of the Scythians not alone for his faire Floralinda but for his welbeloued children not knowing when he should see them again but somewhat comforted for that there remained in their companie and as their kéeper their new friend Brandafidel who made him promise that so soone as the strong inchauntment was finished to