they vnderstood of all y t had passed with the Empâ—… rour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana But when Lyâ—… mandro did vnderstand and know the good fortune of 〈◊〉 sister hée did therewith mittigate the great sorrow that 〈◊〉 suffered for the newes hée brought And hauing a great 〈◊〉 sire to sée the Empresse and to know the Emperour thâ—… all thrée accorded together to goe vnto Constantinople Aâ—… in that time y e fame was so great in all parts of the knigâ—… of the Chariot that in what place wheresoeuer they caâ—… â—…her was no other communication but of him of his great prowesse of the knightes that euery day he did ouerthrow to the ground And by reason that this was the occasion to bring vnto their remembraunce the high bountie of their friend the knight of Cupid they could doe no other thing but wéepe sigh with great sorrow saying to themselues that if they had him in their company they might get honour in Constantinople for that the knight of the chariot could not be of so high a courage and force but that he would vnhorse him and get the victorie So when they were come vnto Constantinople they did one day enter into the great place at such time as it was full of knights as well straungers as of their owne country And the knight of the Chariot had ouerthrowen the worthiest best knights that wer ther. So these three princes did proue themselues with the knight of the chariot but he ouerthrew them all to the ground But first they had broken with him ech of them thrée two speares which was vnto theÌ„ no small honour for that vntill that time there was not one knight that had fastened themselues to breake two speares and it was the occasion that they were well estéemed of all the beholders And so without any more staying they went to make themselues knowen vnto the Emperour to the Empresse who were very desirous to know who they were But wheÌ„ the empresse did know hir brother the Emperour was informed who they all thrée were I cannot expresse the great ioy pleasure which they receiued at their comming thether according there vnto they gaue them entertainment For â—…hat the desire which the empresse had to heare newes of hir brother was very great béecause shée loued him excéeding well likewise to know somewhat of hir sonne Rosicleer â—…or that they two were very great friends And as it is a â—…hing naturall that when a person is most at his contented â—…oy and pleasure in this life sodainly they are mixed with â—…reat sorrow and bitter heauinesse And it now fell out for â—…hat these thrée Princes did not know that Rosicleer was son vnto the Emperour the Empresse Baiana at such time as both parties were in the chiefest of their delight â—… receiued great contentment Liriamandro did declare all that happened vnto them by Rosicleer of his great strength worthinesse of all that which he had done for them being vnknowen but in the end he told of his strange dolorous losse in what sort the king Sacridoro did throw himselfe after him was sâ—…ke downe into the depth of that fountaine When the Empresse vnderstood this of hir sonne Rosicleer she thought verily to haue died presently with the great sorrow which she receiued and ther with she fell downe to the ground in a sound Then the mightie emperour who did verie well vnderstand the occasion did vse all diligence to coÌ„fort hir for that those newes were a corsie vnto his heart likewise but yet dissembling his sorrow with great courage he toke the empresse in his armes did comfort hir all that euer he could And when these newes were published through out all the citie they began to make great lamentation in such sort that the feasts iusts did cease stay for certaine daies Likewise the thrée princes were very sad sorrowfull that they had brought such heauie newes their great sadnesse 〈◊〉 paine did increase more then before when they vnderstood that their perfect friend Rosicleer was sonne vnto so high mighty parents as also so nigh kinsman vnto Bargandel Liriamandro So they remained there certaine daies whereas the Emperour the Empresse did them much honour were with them very royally entertained and for that the two princes Bargandell Liriamandro had great desire to sée their loues Rodasilua Siluerina in one night very secretly they departed out of Constantinople and taking the way towards England they trauailed till they came vnto a part of the Ocean sea which was in Rone ther they dyd ship themselues came into England wher they were very well receiued of the King Oliuerio béeing asked for theyr friend Rosicleer they gaue him to vnderstand of the sorrowfull lesse of him for whom the king receiued great griefe 〈◊〉 sorrow for that he loued him very well But wheÌ„ the newes caâ—… vnto the vnderstanding of the Princesse Oliuia there could be no sorrow equall vnto hirs neither any tongue so eloquent for to expresse the halfe part therof for that the did loue Rosicleer more then hir owne selfe and at that present death had ben more welcome vnto hir then such sorrowfull newes so that at the sodaine hearing thereof she remained one whole houre without any remembrance in such sort y t she séemed rather to be dead then aliue And when she came vnto hâ—…r selfe hir sorrow did double increase and in a more deadlie traunce then before she fell downe vpon hir bedde wheras she lay the most part of all the day without speaking any word till such time as a damsell that was with hir fearing that she had ben dead ran told the king who straight way went vnto his chamber accoÌ„panied with many knights And being very much amazed to sée his daughter in y t case he procured for hir many remedies by which this faire princesse did come againe vnto hir selfe although hir desire was rather to die then to liue And séeing hir selfe in the presence of hir father of so many knights she could not manifest the great griefe which she felt in hir hart which was the occasion that hir paine was the more And it is to be beeléeued that at that present she had died if God had not preserued hir for a farther benefit more then she did hope for or thinke off And because that all this great sorrow griefe of the princes was for hir more glory pleasure in time to come The History doth leaue to speak any more of hir till occasion serue sheweth of other things which happened in the meane time How Florinaldus came into the kingdome of Fraunce where hee was taken prisoner at a bridge how by two knights that came thether hee was set at libertie whom hee knew to bee the knights of the flower de luces which he sought Chapter 29. THe good Lnight Florinaldus
him with his sword which when he had done he did repent it veryâ—… much for that when the Bull was loose he séemed to be more terrible then he was before retyring backward to fetch his course he ran against him with great fury strength that the Knight had inough to do to cléere himselfe from his terrible mightie blowes And although he did strike him very strongly with his sword yet hée dyd the Bull no more harme then if hée had beene made of steele and his sword of woode and after that he had proued many times with his sword and saw that it dyd not profit at all but rather brought himselfe in great daunger euery time that the Bull came against him hée determined to tourne vnto his first contention and to trauayle all that euer might â—…ee to ouerthrow him to the ground And so hee did that when the Bull came against him with his head low is strike him with his hornes bée layde fast holde vpon him and a new began their wrastling continuing a great while â—…n this contention the one forcing the other with all their strength and power they hadde vp and downe the Court This conflict endured so long that in the end the bull waxed somewhat weary at which time the Knight when he perceiued it he crossed his armes wrong the Bulls head on the one side thrust him forwards with so great strength that he ouerthrew him on his backe to the ground Upon a sodaine the Bull being ouercome the Sunne was all darkned the heauens in such sort that the court was as darke as it had bene at midnight and vpon the same there was great thunderings and lightnings as it seemed that al that mighty worke would sinke or be ouerthrowen and sure it would haue bene a thing verie dreadfull vnto any other that had not his hart so stout and couragious as the Knight of Cupid but this did not indure long for likewise vpon a sodaine this great tempests of lightning and thunder dyd end and vanish away and the day turned to be very fayre and cléere At which time there appeared vnto the Knight of Cupid a new and straunge and vnlooked for daunger which was that in the time that the tempest did indure this fierce bull which lay a long vpon the ground his bowels were opened in the middest all a long his belly and straight way there came foorth a darke and thicke mist the which did indure a while till such time as by little and little it dyd consume away and hee saw in the same mist in the middest of the court a blacke lumpe that after the mist was gone appeared to be a great and fearefull dragon who shaking hir selfe did stretch out hir wings which did couer a great part of that court likewise she stretched forth hir sinued legges and pawes and shewed hir sharpe clawes and opening hir deformed mouth she shewed forth hir tuskes which were like vnto Elephants teeth and out of hir nose and eyes she threw forth great flames of fiere accompanied with blacke and thicke smoake which made hir séeme the more horrible and when she had streched forth hir selfe a great while as one that awaked out of a sound sléepe shée arose vpon hir feete and gaue terrible and great shrikes that she séemed to bée some infernall monster and straight wayes went towards the Knight according to hir gâ—…at sâ—…ercenesse and lightnesse hée had néede of a stout and couragious heart that would abide and withstand hir fury but the sonne of Trebatio who was desperate with loue did not alonely estéeme a little this horrible and terrible Dragon but this present danger which was agréeable vnto his misfortune and with a valiant courage hée dyd abide hir comming And when the Dragon would haue caught him in hir deformed mouth and haue fastned vpon his shoulders hir cruell and sharp nayles hée put himselfe on the one side with great lightnesse and hauing the Dragon on his right side hée stroke hir with all his strength a terrible blow vppon the head that he thought verily therewith to haue parted it in the middest but the sword dyd no more harme on hir then if hee had stroke vpon a hard Diamond and beeing very much amazed thereat hée said within himselfe that all those things were infernall and fantasticall but hee had not so soone made an ende of striking the blow when as this horrible dragon returned vpon him and hauing no tyme to cleere himselfe from hir shee put hir strong legges vpon his shoulders and clasped hir cruell nailes on his back and gryped him with so great strength that shée had passed through all his bowells if the force of his magicall and fine armour had not made defence against hir and by reason that his armour was made by that art the hardnesse and sharpnesse of hir cruell nayles were not sufficient to pearce theÌ„ through yet notwithstanding this valiant Knight dyd feele himselfe very sore troubled as well with the fier and smoke which shee threw from hir as with the great strength wherewith shee dyd gripe him and although hée thrust at hir with the poynt of his sword vnder hir belly yet hée dyd hir no more harme then if hée had stroke vppon a Rock in this sort the stout Knight had the worst of this contencion and was put in great perill and daunger but his noble and stout courage could not suffer to see himselfe so embraced with that infernall beast wherefore letting his sword fall out of his hand with his fist hée strake hir such a blow vpon the head with so great courage and strength that hee made all hâ—… téeth to chatter together the one with the other and béeing therewith somewhat astonyed she withdrew hir selfe from him and hee then beeing at lybertye and hauing more roome to profit himselfe with his strong rygorous arme hee straight way vppon the same with his close armed fist which I may resemble vnto a Mase of yron stroke the dragon the second blow in the same place wheras he had stroke the other and what with the great fury wherewith it was stroke and the amazement of the first blow the scull of that monster which was as hard as flynt was beaten broken downe into the braynes yet at this present the dragon was not slayne but rather dyd seeme more horrible and diuellish then beefore for beating of hir wyngs and rysing vp in the ayre shee made a dreadfull noyse and with hir terrible and long tayle she beate the pauement in such sort that all the court and the galleries round about it did shake the Knight was greatly amazed to sée hir fiercenesse and infernall fury and stoode still to sée what would come thereof and by reason that all which the Dragon did was with the pangs of death in a small tyme after shée fell downe dead and oâ—… a sodayne the floore dyd open and the Bull and the Dragon fell both
went vnto the prince Don Siluerio touched his shéeld with his speare straight waies the prince came foorth mounted vpon his mightie horse very gallant couragious ioyning in their encounter although the french king was very valiant yet the prince was of far greater strength by reason wherof he gaue him and his horse a great fall vnto the ground Wherat the king all those that did behold it receiued meruailous great contentment of the prince Don Siluerio So y e most part of the day was passed away wherein the knights of Lusitania had ouerthrowen vnto the ground more theâ—… fiue hundreth other knights the prince Don Siluerio in alâ—… that time receiued no foile that was any thing to his reproch for the which he was very glad ioyfull thought that iâ—… all the world at that present there was not one like vntâ—… him who imagined that the princesse Oliuia receiued greaâ—… contentment therat who had hir vnderstanding occupied iâ—… other matters and had hir mind so occupied vpon Rosicleeâ—… that she had no regard vnto any thing that was done in 〈◊〉 the great court and hauing continually before hir eyes thâ—… great reproch which should be done vnto hir that night shâ—… was so full of feare that many times hir hart did faile hiâ—… but by reason of hir shamefastnes for that all people verâ—… much beheld hir great beautie she did couer hide a 〈◊〉 part of hir sorrow At this time because the knights of 〈◊〉 had ouerthrowen so many in the field ther was not knight in all the court séene to proue their aduentures of the which Don Siluerio with great pleasure said vnto the king I beleeue that for the knights of England this day the knights of Lusitania cannot loose their custome to haue the better in feats of armes At which words of the prince Don Siluerio ther were diuers knights in company with the king that receiued great griefe especially two ancient knights kinsmen vnto the king Oliuerio who in their time were valiaunt knights because age would not agrée that they should put on armour they were like to burst with anger in séeing how the knights of Lusitania would disgrace the knights of England Then vpon a sodaine ther were amongst the country-men of the country a great rumor which seemed to bée of some sodaine ioy looking what it should be they saw entering on the one side of the great place a knight of a very big stature armed with rich armour mounted vpon a great horse who by his gallant disposition séemed they knew to be Brandamarte the best knight which at that time was in all the court he was borne in England a yong man verye valiant since the small time that he was an armed knight by his mightie prowesse he hath got very much honour And all those of the country had great hope in him that he wold defend the honour of his Country against those knights of Lusitania The King likewise was very desirous that his Knights might not receyue any reproch When Brandamarte came vnto the Tents he touched one of the shields with his speare and straight waies the owner therof came forth mounted vpon a mightie horse and comming vnto the iust because the knight of Lusitania was very valiaunt yet Brandamarte was much more and ouerthrew the other vnto the ground and without any farther delay hée touched other sixe sheeldes and at the first encounters he ouerthrew the owners of them to the ground which gave great contentment vnto the king Oliuerio and vnto all those of the Country for that hee defended so valianutlie the honour of their country But their ioy endured not long for that after that Brandamarte had touched the shield of Bramides of Lusitania with his speare he came straight wayes foorth for that they were both of them very good valiant knights they made their encounter very strongly in such sort that Bramides of Lusitania lost his stirrups and passed his course forwardes on without receiuing any other harme And Brandamarte with his horse who was somewhat weary was constrained of very â—…orce to fall vnto the ground at which fall ther was few in all that great place but was very sorie the wore for that after that he was euerthrowen for the space of a good houre there was not one Knight y t durst enter into the great court And the knights of Lusitania with great prid was aduansing praising themselues But in especiall Bramides who with a loude voice that all the people might heare him he said Come foorth come foorth you knights of England that you may vnderstand and know how valiant of great strength the knights of Lusitania are TheÌ„ the prince Don Siluerio who was in his tent hard by the place wheras the king was with great pride contentment that he had of the honour which his knights had got he said vnto the king Now mightie king you shall vnderstand that not without great cause the knights of Lusitania are estéemed for the best knightes in all the world for that in any place whersoeuer they beecome they neuer loose but alwaies get honor And I doo beléeue haue it for a certainty that with these first thousand knights that I haue heere with mee of Lusitania that I am not able alone to make war against the emperour Trebatio but also to conquer the most part of all the world At these wordes of the prince vnto the king not one which was with him receiued any contentment But in especial those two ancient knights the one of them was called Adriano who could not suffer to heare y e great reproch but with very anger he said My Lord prince of truth I may speake it that the bountie force of all the world doth not consist in the knights of Lusitania for that I haue seene in this country such that if they were héere now at this present that all your knights would get by them but litle honor Then the prince said I would that god were so pleased that those knights were héere now at this time for that I my knights would very quickly bring you out of this doubt So at this time some of the knights of Lusitania were very ioyfull for the honour victory which they had receiued other some as sad sorrowfull for the reproch shame happened vnto them by the knights of the country at which time vpon a sodaine vnlooked for they saw two knights which entred into that mightie place of so gallant gentle disposition well armed as euer they saw in all their liues of the which one of them vpon his mightie horse did put himselfe right ouer against the great pallas the other went vnto the tents of the knights of Lusitania and touched one of the knights shields with his speare and straight way the owner therof came foorth And this strange venterous knight
did first take reuengement for the iniurie done vnto his Knightes and for that it waxâ—…d late againe there were no knights left for to iust there béegan straight waies a great noise of sounding of Triumpets and other instrumentes of musick which was done in such sort that all the whole Citie dyd ring thereof and héere with the iusts were made an end the Tents taken out of that great place and the Prince Don Siluerio with great honour accompanied with many Princes and knights was brought vnto the mightie pallace wheras hée was very well receiued by the king â—… was carried into a Chamber which was on the one side of the great hall wheras he was vnarmed The Princesse Oliuia beefore this time knew Rosicleer for Fidelia when shee saw him aduertised hir wherat shee receiued great contentment dyd esteeme all hir trauailes sorrows which shee had receiued well bestowed although when she remembred y e great hurly burly that shuld bée that night hir hart was very much out of quyet and full of anguish and could not by any meanes bée merry but with great sighs and bitter teares she desired God to deliuer hir well out of all those daungers How that at such time as the King Oliuerio and the mightie Princes and knights of the Court were ioyned together that the Princesse Oliuia and the Prince Don Siluerio should take handes Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro entered into the mightie pallace and what happened therin Chapter 60. AFter that Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro were departed out of the place whereas the iusts were made they both put theÌ„selues into a Forrest which ioyned nigh vnto the Citie whereas they remayned till the night was come béeing fully determyned what they should doo for that they had left their ship at the coast all in a redinesse very wel appointed considering in what great peril danger they did put themselues they praied vnto god with all their harts for to deliuer theÌ„ well out of that great reproch hauing a very good hope y t god wold aide succour them for that which they went about was in a iust right cause for to set frée the great wrong harme done vnto the Princesse The day béeing past and the night come they issued out of the forrest and entered into the citie for that ther were so many knights as well strangers as Countrie men they could not be perceiued for the stréets were full of them likewise the night being darke theyr armour could not be discouered neither was ther any account made therof for that it was a time void of suspition so they drew nigh vnto the pallace at such time as the Princesse Oliuia the Prince Don Siluerio should ioyne hands together vowing matrimonie the pallace being cléere light with the great number of torches and candles that were ther lighted that it seemed to bée mid day and there were so great a number of people that they could scarce mooue by one another All this time went Fidelia very diligently vp and downe the pallace and when shée saw the houre draw néere that theyr pretence should be put in execution she went out of the pallace and taking with hir a bundle of things necessarie for the princesse she went towards the sea side and put hir selfe in the ship abiding the time to sée what fortune would doo for hir Lady and mistres and for those worthy and valiant Knights and was in so great feare that for any thing shée would not bée put in the like againe All this time was the Princesse Oliuia so full of anguish and alteration that shée knew not whether shée were aliue or dead and béeing in a quadran nigh vnto the great hall accompanied with all hir Ladies damsels readie to bée taken foorth to ioyne hands with the Prince shée many times fell in a sound and béeing very much comforted by the Princesses Rodasilua Siluerina yet all that euer they could doo did profit very little neyther could shée recouer any force nor receiue any comfort for that the houre was come that she shuld passe that great affliction and in remembraunce thereof shée thought verily that hir hart would haue leapt out of hir dody At this present time Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro came vnto the pallace and by a false doore which Rosicleer knew very well they entered into a chamber wheras the princesse was leauing their Horses with a Page of the kings who put them vnder a portall where they could not bee séene of the people so they went vp a narrow payre of stayres till they came into the great hall whereas they found the King Oliuerio with all those mighty Princes and knights in a fayre Quadran in company with the prince Don Siluerio abiding the comming of the Princesse Oliuia to take hir to his spouse Lykewise on the other side of the hall in another Quadran was the Princesse Oliuia accompanied with all hir Ladies and Damsels and with the Princesse Rodasilua and Siluerina who had hir in the midst beetwixt them and when they would haue gone whereas the King was the Princesse Oliuia could not step one foot forwards but fell in a sound in the armes of the other Princesses Then when these two valiant knights saw it was time they entered both together into the quadran and the king Sacridoro carryed his Swoord drawen in his hand and his shéeld on his arme the which put a great teare amongst all the Ladyes and Damsels and Rosicleer went straight vnto the Princesse Oliuia his Lady and tooke hir in his armes lifting hir from the ground all which time shée was in a sound and by reason at theyr entering in all those Ladyes and damsells gaue great shrikes and out cryes there came presently to that place many Knights and béeing without armour they drew out theyr Swoords and doubled theyr cloakes about theyr armes and went to rescue and take away the Princesse from Rosicleer who carried hir in his armes but for that the good King Sacridoro was at hand in a redinesse with foure blows which hée gaue hée ouerthrew foure Knights dead to the ground of them that first approched wher they were the which did put so great feare in all the rest that they durst not come nigh him so that Rosicleer had roome to come vnto the narrow stayres which descended downe to the false doore Then the King Sacridoro put himselfe in the face of all the people and dyd so much that Rosicleer came vnto the place whereas his horse was and findeing none for to disturbe him hée mounted forthwith vpon his Horse and tooke the Princesse in his armes béefore him and hée had the Page to tarrie for his Lord and setting spurres vnto his good horse Rodarte which hée had of the Gyant Mandroco and one of the strongest and lightest that was in all the world within a short time hée found himselfe out of the Citie and with so great
no other thing but to rob Ladyes and Gentlewomen with no lesse perâ—…ll then paynes and yet all this time haue I not met with one that so much doth content mée as this Lady and in deliuering these words he approched vn to the Emperour and sayde Tell mee thou vnhappy Knight by what euill fortune art thou come hether vnto this place The Emperour who at that time was very angry to heare his diuellish words and againe to see the Princesse so changed with a stout courage and wrathfull countenaunce answered him Tell mée thou brute beast wherfore doest thou in this manner extoll and prayse thy selfe of so euill and diuellish a custome knowing that there is a God in heauen that will punish thée for these thy euill workes which thou doest vse The Gyant was excéeding wrathfull when the Emperour speake thus so that he made no reckoning to answere him but giuing a terrible hoarse cry he threw that great and big Boare Speare which hée brought at the Emperour with so great strength in such sort that if it had chanced a right with the broad end and steely point I doubt whether his Magicall armour had béene sufficient to haue made resistance but it would haue pearced thorough his body but the Emperour foreséeing that perlilous blow mith great lightnesse cléered hmiselfe from the fury thereof by leaping on the one side so that the Boare speare stroke the ground and with the great strength wehrewith it was throwen it entered more then halfe the length therof into the earth Which when the valiaunt and couragious Emperour saw and finding himselfe to bee so nigh vnto daunger the Gyaunt béeing on horsebacke and considering the great aduantage which hee hadde straight wayes layde holde vppon the bridle of the Horse and with his strong armed fist stroke the horse such a vlow vpon the head that he made the braynes flye out hée fell to the ground master and all The Gyant seeing that with great hast cléered himselfe from his horse being on soote drew out a mightie broad faulchon which hung at his girdle and approched vnto the Emperour striking him so great and mightye a blow vppon his healme that he could not otherwise choose but that hée was constrained to stoope with both his knees to the ground which did somewhat trouble his remembraunce but this mightie Emperour quickly bée thought himselfe agayne and tooke his sharpe sword in both his hands and stroke the Giant such a blow vpon his thigh that although his armour was a finger thicke of hard Stéele besides a skirt of maile which he had hanging downe neuerthelesse he cut all a sunder entered through the flesh vnto the hard bone wher he made a sore wound from whence great abundance of bloud ran out The Gyant féeling himselfe thus wounded seeing so great resistaunce to be made with one alone Knight reared as though it had béene a Lyon At which noise together with the rushing of theyr harneys and the sound of theyr mighty blowes there appeared out of the windowes of the Rocke another Gyant which vnto his seeming was no lesse furious and vglie of semblaunce then the other who seeing that mighty and well foughten battaile betwéene the Emperour his brother 〈◊〉 as great hast as was possible for him he went and armed himselfe In the meane time the other Gyant and the Emperour made theyr battale with so great and heauie blowes that the noyse thereof did sound throughout all those mountaynes And the more that this Gyaunt did force himselfe to strike the Emperour so much the more did the Emperour prouide to cléere himselfe with great lightnesse from his terrible strokes for that hée knew very well it would be very perâ—…llous if hée should fasten on him but one full blow neuerthelesse the Emperour at all times did wounde him at his pleasure in such sort that what with the strength of the Giaunt and the great pollicie and lightnesse of the Emperour the battayle was brought into great doubt although the Gyaunt had lost very much bloud by these woundes which the Emperour had giuen him For when hée saw his bloud in such sort scattered vpon the ground hee was more furious then béefore and with great wrath hée béesturred himselfe with his Fauchon cursing himselfe and blaspheming against his Gods in that hée could not in any wise fasten one full blow vpon his enimie and that one Knight should bring him into so great a perplexitie All this while the Empresse and hir Gentlewomen did very well behold that wonderfull battayle had great feare to sée the hugenesse of the Gyant and perill in which the Emperour was and so amazed they were that they could not mooue themselues out of the place whereas they abode but euery one of them on their knées very earnestly prayed vnto God with many teares to deliuer them from that great agonie wherein they were And being in this agonie they heard within the Rocke â—… great noyse rushing of armour wherewith they looked about saw descending downe the stayres another Giant all armed of no lesse bignesse dreadfull countenance then the other who came downe in great hast with a mightie maâ—…e of Stéele in his hand When the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen saw him they were more afraid then at the first yéelded themselues vnto destruction therwith gaue meruaylous grieuous shrikes cries which was the cause that the Emperour was in a great feare of some misfortune and looking about him to sée what it might be he perceiued another monstrous Gyaunt that discended downe his stayres with his mase in his hand although hée did sée the great danger and perill at hand yet did not his hart faile him one â—…ot but with a noble and stout stomacke his strength the more increased so that forgetting all the traâ—…ayle against that Gyant with new strength hee strâ—…k the Gyaunt with both his hands such a blow ouerthwart the wast that the thicke armour and skirt of maile had not sufficient strength to make defence against his mightie and strong arme but that the sharp cutting sword must needes execute his fury which diuiding both armour and bones entered into the bowells wherewith the Gyant with grieuous pangs of death straight waies â—…ell downe to the ground and with his fall made all the earth to shake At which time the other Gyaunt was come downe the stayres and seeing that terrible and cruell stroke hee lyft vp his eyes to heauen and with à loude voyce hée saide Oh cruell and cursed Gods in whome I béeléeue and worship which of all you is it that hath coÌ„sented vnto the death of my brother Argentaria in what sort or how shall I bee reuenged of so great an outrage done vnto mee you béeing aboue in the heauens and I héere vpon the earth And in saying these and such lyke wordes hee came towards the Emperour with his mightie mase raysed in the ayre in such
was fully certified vnderstoode hir great crueltie hée sell into a mortall sickenesse being without all hope of remedy of the Quéene hée determined to reuenge himself on hir before he dyed So on a night by his great learning he tooke the Quéene out of hir bed brought hir vnto his caue that night there was thundring lightning that with the great noise therof they thought verely the whole world would haue sonke But in the morning when they saw that the Quane was gone could not finde hir they sought for hir in all parts but all was in vayne for that chauncing to come this way reading that which is there grauen in the Rocke they straight wayes vnderstoode that the wise Artidon had brought hir thether in reuenge of the great cruelty that she vsed to him Whervpon ther was diuers Knights that would proue the entrie into the caue and it fell out with them as you shall beare All such Knights as were in loue dyd enter in thorough the fier without receyuing any hurt but within a while after they were put back throwen out againe some â—…arke dead and other some very sore hurt and ill intreated And when it was demaunded of them what they saw within the caue and what happened vnto them they sayde â—…hat at the entry thereof ther was a great Bull which dyd â—…efend the entry and at the first encounter he stroke them with his hornes and dorue them out of the caue and this Bull was of so great and wonderfull bignesse and fierceâ—…esse that the like hath not béene séene his hornes were â—… so great hardnesse that they séemed to be stéele all such Knights as did not loue at the hoore that they gaue the enterprise they felt so great heate torment that they were constrayned to returne back again so y t they could not come vnto the knowledge of the Quéene neyther vnto this day hath ther bene any that hath had so much prowesse to come vnto the knowledge of hir although there haue come many Knights out of diuers and sundry countryes to proue this aduenture and it is now a great time past since any enterprise hath ben giuen and yet all the people of this Country do liue in hope that their Quéene shall be deliuered out of this inchantment so that euer since the time of hir inchanting this Kingdome hath ben ruled by gouernours and not one hether to hath borne the name of King but at such time as any doe enter into this ground they are sworne to deliuer the Kingdome vnto the quéene Artidea at such time as she is deliuered out of that inchaunted caue At this present he y t is gouernour of this country is a yong knight of great vertue wisdome whose name is Luziro and diuers then be y t be cunning in Art magicke that haue told him y t in the time of his gouernment the quéene shall be set at libertyâ—… from the Inchantment of Artidon so y t they doe looke for hir deliuery daily This is sir Knight that which I haue heard declared and spoken by ancient men and héere I do tell you of a truth that the kéepers of that caue haue caused so great seare in all this country that of long time there hath benâ—… no Knight so hardy to giue the enterprise vnto the caue â—… I doe not thinke him to be a wise man that will put himselfe to proue this aduenture for that hether to ther hath not bell a Knight of so much prowes as to conquer the first kéeper it is to be beleeued that the caue is not kept by that alone bull but y t ther is some other keeper as ill or worse then heâ—… The Knight of Cupid was glad and did very much reioyce at this good newes which the shepheard had told him of this aduenture giuing him great thanks for the same he said that for any thing he would not let but giue the en ter prise thereto if the day were come Whereat the shep heardes were greatlie amazed and did request him aâ—… that they might to leaue and giuâ—… ouer this determination and not to put himselfe into such perill for y t by no meanes he could escape the death or els to be very sore hurt At this time theyr poore supper was ready and set vpon the gréene grasse wheras they sate downe to supper together when they had supped the Shepheards went and tooke their rests slept the Knight of Cupid did solitarily put himself a part and sate downe vpon the grasse vnder a trée there passed that night with great desire to proue the entry of the caue thought the night a thousand yeere til that day was come How the Knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened there Chap. 5. SO the next day in the morning when the Sunne began to shew himselfe ouer all the earth the worthy Knight of Cupid arose vp and looked for the shepheards and saw them where they lay all a long vppon the gréene grasse and were all a sléepe very soundly without all care as those that were not troubled with any kind of sorrow for to disturbe them of their rest and calling to remembrance the great number of nights y t he had passed wholy without any sléepe or taking any rest of his great â—…ares and profound thoughts that did not all onely bannish â—…way all sleepe in y e night but also in y e day time it brought â—…im into excéeding admiration which did sore trouble his â—…houghts caused him to lift vp his eyes to heauen say Oh Fortune how little are we bound vnto thée all we whom thou hast brought into this world with dignitye â—…nd honour and caused vs to exercise and vse all military Knighthood it had béene much better for vs and with greaâ—…er ease quiet rest void of all care â—…to passe our times in â—… meane and a base estate héere in these gréene and flouriâ—…ing fieldes whereas is all the quietnesse in the world And not with so much pleasure in the courts of Kings and Princes whereas we doe see make captiue our owne liberties and venture our liues and honours euery houre agayne if it be not with losse of bloud and great perils he is not worthy of honour nor to beare the name of a Knight but doth greatly defame the order of Knighthoode wharas they sléepe passe the sweet nights with great quietnesse receiue no infamie nor rebuke but doe comfort and reioyce themselues all night long with the peceable freshnes of the aire wheras is all quietnesse of the wild beasts the silence of the birds the pittering noyse of the running of waters y e great freshnesse of the trees the swéet odoriferous smels of all flowers which I say is vnto the soule hart a continuall peace concord in the breake of the day a
and as it is a common thing the fame in especiall of such not able iusts doe flie abroad into all parts It happened at that time ther dwelt in a litle Iland in y e Ocean sea néere vnto Normadie a Gyant called Brandafuriel of a very great stature deformed with whom the King Oristeo was glad to hold friendship peace for the great damage and harme which he did vpon the sea at all times when it pleased him And for that this Iland was compassed with high mightye Rockes which made it so strong that all his power wer not sufficient for to doe him anye harme hée beeing within when the fame of these two Knights which were in Paris came vnto the Gyants eares and of the rich Tent that was prepared for the prise of this Iust it strayght wayes gaue him a desire to goe thether as one that was certaine that ten such Knights as they were were not sufficient to defend the Tent but that by his prowesse he must bring it away And to execute his determination he strayght way departed from the citie of Paris caryed in his company to the number of ten Knights and came thether one day before that the two moneths of the Iusts did end wheras the two Princes were doing of meruailous deedes of armes And as the great place was full of Knights as well straungers as those naturally borne in that Kingdome at which time the great furious Gyaunt entred in amongst them bidding them to make him way with a loud terible voice And when they saw him so great ill fauored they al feared him made him a large brode way that he might passe forwards And when the Ciaunt saw the rich Tent where it was hee went towards it and did behold it with great admiration and it 〈◊〉 onto him to be very rich and straunge and after 〈◊〉 he â—…ad satisfied himselfe with the sight thereof hee said which bee the Knights which doth defende this Tent. The Prince Clauerindo who was nighest vnto him sayd I am hee that doth defend it with an other Knight my companion therefore say what thy pleasure is That which I will say said the Gyant is That where you are but two Knights for to defend it I would you were twentie together For winning of it it will be vnto me more honor to win it of twentie then of two alone Knights But séeing that you are no more come on let vs goe vnto the battayle and come both of you against mée For that with one alone blow I will hoyse you both out of your saddles the one of you with my laâ—…ce anâ—… for other I will take him vnder my arme The Prince Clanerindo was very much offended and angry at 〈◊〉 pride of the Gyaunt answered him saying It is alwaies the custome of you Giants to abound in to â—…h arogancie and pride which maketh mée not verie much to maruaile of any thing that thou hast saide Therefore take vnto thée thy speare and I alone will defend the tent from thee And if thou dost ouerthrow mee from my horse the Tent shall bée thine without any deniall of mee or my companion The Gyaunt when hee saw him-selfe so little estemed of one Knight he was so full of fury and wrath that hée could not refraine his yre but drew out a mighty great and broud fauchon which was hanging at his girdell and went to strike the Prince Clauerindo vppon the healme thincking there-with to cleaue him downe vnto the wast But the Prince who was a very stout and pollitike Knight and in many things dyd resemble his friend the Knight of the Sunne béefore that the Faulchin could execute the Gyaunts determination hee gaue a great leap with his horse on the one side that the Gyaunt lost his blow and it was sticke in vaine And by reason that the blow descended right downe hee stroke his owne horse vpon the head that hée cloue it in two peeces and hee fell downe dead to the ground with his maister so that the Gyant could not rise vp againe without great paine and griefe for that the horse in his fall caught the Gyaunts leg vnder him The King and all that dyd behold them fell in a laughter and had great pleasure in that which the Gyant had done Although his comming thether was a great griefe vnto manie For according vnto the great fame which he had in those parts they thought verely that the two Knights could not haue sufficient force and might for to defend the Tent but that hee would win it and carrie it away When the Gyaunt saw himselfe without a horse with great yre hee arose vp and went towardes the Prince who with a trice leaped from his horse back for that hee would haue no aduantage of him drew out his sword and did abide his comming so that beetwixt theÌ„ there began â—… very angry and well foughten battaile striking on euery â—…e that it was strange wonderful to beehold The prince Clauerindo was mighty of person well proportioned light and strong beesides all this hee had his aâ—…monr made and tempered by art magicke which was giuen him by the wise Lirgandeo of the which hée was sure that whatsoeuer blow his aduersary dyd fasten vppon him it should not hurt him which was the occasion that although the Gyaunt were of much more force yet hée should maintayne himselfe verie wel against him and make him to abate his great arrogansie and pride And by reason that the Gyant was bigge and heauy the Prince did strike him at all times at his pleasure and many times hée did cut his armour and flesh whereat issued out great abundance of blood The King and all those that did béeholde the battaile greatly maruailed at the prowesse of that Knight but aboue all his vnckle Armineo was very glad and ioyfull that hée made his partie so good in the battaile said within himselfe that it hée dyd perseuer and bring it vnto a good ende that with great honour the Prince might discouer him selfe vnto his Parents and dyd pray to God with all his hart to aide and help him in that battaile for that it continewed still very dangerous and full of perill For that thiâ—… great and furious Gyaunt when hée saw that his Fauchon could not enter nor deminish the armour of his aduersarie Hee dyd procure all that euer hée could for to strike him vppon the healme to astonish him for that hee neuer chansed to strike him vppon the Healme but that hee made him sometimes to bow his knées to the ground and other times to stoope with his hand to keepe himselfe from falling in such sort that the battaile was in ballance very doubtfull for more then an houre that there was knowen no vauntage béetwixt them but onely that the Gyant was wounded and the Prince not It was a great incouraging vnto the prince Clauerindo to sée himselfe in presence of his Parentes
oportunitie where they might imploy their force strength to doe mischiefe And to conclude he came away with them carying with him ten of his Knights who were very big of stature of great strength with whom he durst giue the enterprise against a thousand Knights And when they came vnto the blacke wood Egion dyd chuse other ten Knightes of the best and strongest that hee had So béeing ioyned together they dyd depart and tooke theyr way towards the Monestarie of the Riuer and entring into Hungaria they went three and three to gether because ther should grow no suspicion and the most of their trauayle was by night In this order they trauayled that at length they came to the Monestary of the Ryuer and were not suspected of any whereby theâ—… might haue occasion to follow them to see what they pretended So tarying the one for the other they ioyned all together and being in good order vpon a very fayre and cleare moneshine night they set vpon the monestary brake the doores entred in and tooke the Quéene with all hir Gentlewomen out of theyr chambers at whose great shrickes and cryes the Knightes which were of their gard beeing lodged in certaine houses out of the monestary did awake being all amased they began to arme themselues in such great hast that ther wer ioyned together more then fortye who went vnto the place where as the no se was so that beetwixt the Knightes and the Gyant began a great conflict but it fell out very euill with them for that the most part of them were armed with out light and vpon a sodayne so that they lacked many peâ—… ces of their armour And more the power of the Giant with Egion and Farmonte was so strong that they alone had beene sufficient to destroy them all so that in a small time there was the most part of them slayne and the rest that remained did hide themselues for the great feare that they had Insomuch that they had time and space to take the Quéene and many of hir gentlewomen into their power And for that purpose they brought with them a Coach with foure whéeles drawen with six mightie Horsses and very swift such as in a short space wold cary them a great way into the which coach they put the Queene and hir gentlewomen whose lamentacions were so loude that they might bee heard a great way Then they all together placed themselues round about the coach and stroke the horse in great hast they beegan to trauaile towards theyr countrie vyry glad and ioyfull for the rich pray which they had obtayned And continually as the Knights which were of the garde and keeping of the Queene came thether at theyr great shreckes they dyd not cease to follow the coach and had battayle with the Gyant and their Knights in the way but the Gyaunt did intreate them all in such sort that some dead and other some very sore hurt hee left them lying along the way whereas they went This was the great noyse of râ—…mour the cryes which dyd wake the Knight of the Sunne out of his sleepe in the Forrest thinking vpon that great trauaâ—…e which hee had with the Knights of the King Tiberio in the Citie oâ—… Ratisbona and in the verie same night dyd this wrong happen vnto the Quéene and the coach dyd draw neere the place whereas hée was a sleepe And as this good Knight awaked vppon a sodayne almost amased and beaâ—…d a far of the great shrikes of the Gentlewomen hee straight way laâ—…d on his Helme and went to seeke his horse who was feeding on the greene grasse and brideled him leapt into the saddle at which time the Gyaunt and the Knights came right against him wheras hée was And by reason that the moone dyd shine very bright hee saw them comming in this order Beefore the coach went the Gyant Barbario mounted vpon a mightie Horse all armed with a great Iron Mase in his hand all bloody with the great companie of Knights which he had slaine that night and according vnto his furious and dreadfull countenaunce there were few Knights that durst abâ—…e beefore him And on both sides of the Coach rode the two valiant knights Egion and Farmonte with ech of them a battaile axe in their hands And their furious and fearse semblaunce which they showed was no lesse to bée feared by reason of the greatnes of their bodies then the Gyants And after the coach ther followed to the number of fiftéene knights which remayned of twentie that they brought foorth all on horsebacke and well armed who went kéeping of the Gentlewomen that they should not fall out of the coach All this the Knight of the Sunne stayed to béehold and by the shricks which the gentlewomen gaue and by the words which they spake hée dyd well vnderstand that the Gyant and those Knights dyd carrie theÌ„ away by force And although it séemed to bée an vnequall match and verie terrible that one alone Knight should thinck to set them at lybertie yet this mightie and valyant Gréeke made no stay but with a valyant courage set spurres vnto his Horse and issued out of the forrest whereas hée abode and came into the high way and put himselfe béefore the Gyant and sayde these words Tell me Gyaunt what is the occasion that thou dost carry these gentele women perforce against their wils When this great Barbario in that sort saw the Knight béefore him and the great hardinesse wherewith hée spake vnto him without making any answere hée lift vp his great mase of Iron and went against him to haue stroke him vpoâ—… the head with a right downe blow but the Knight of the Sunne had his sword drawen in his hand â—…et spurs vnto his Horse side and made him giue a great and a light leape on the one side wherewith hée cleared himselfe from that terrible blow and the mase fell downe to the ground and with the great force and strength where with it was stroken it lackt little that the Gyaunt had not fallen to the ground after the mase for that hée stoped with all his body forwards vpon the saddle bow And before hée had any time to settle himselfe againe the Knight of the Sunne entred in with him and raysing vp himselfe in his Styrops hée stroke with both his hands so furious and terrible a blow at his waâ—… that by reason the ioynts of his armour was in that place in a maner broken with his former conflicts hée cut the body in two péeces in such sort that the one halfe remained in the Saddle and the other halfe from the wast vpward fell downe to the ground and it was so quicklie done that when Egion and that mightie Farmonte béehelde the battaile with that wonderfull and terrible blow saw the halfe body of the Gyant fell vnto the earth And béeholding the knight which had done that déede with his sword in his hand all bloody
a small mountaine he saw a castle which seemed vnto him to be very fayre and hauing great desire to repose himselfe and to eate some thing hée determined to goe thether And before hée came to it as far as a man might throw a stone he saw come forth of the castell gate a Gentlewoman running giuing great shrikes and after hir followed two knights armed with their swords drawen in their handes threatning hir that if she would not tarry they would kill hir In this sort they all thrée came running towards the place wheras the Knight of the Sun was by reason that the knights wer armed they could not ouertake hir till such time as she came wheras he was And when the Gentlewoman saw him so mighty so well proportioned she lyft vp hir voice said Succour me gentle Knight deliuer me from these traitours who pretend to rauish mée The Gentlewoman had no soner said these wordes but that the Knight of the Sunne alyghted from his horse put himselfe before theÌ„ with his sword drawen in his hand and sayd what meane you gentle Knights that you both follow one alone Gentlewoman They who were full of mallice very proud without answering one word they assalted him and stroke each of them a blow at him with their swords but hard was their happe for that they knew not what they did neyther did they know him which with so great meekenesse spake vnto them He then seeing their great discourtesie and little respect which they had he stroke the one of them such a blow vppon the head that hée cloue it in two peeces and hée fell downe dead vnto the ground and finding the other on his right side he stroke at him an ouerthwart blow that he cut of his sword arme hard by the shoulder and when he saw his companion dead and himselfe with out an arme making very dolorous and greeuous complaints he ran about the field and had all his life time after to repent himselfe for that wrong which he would haue done vnto that gentlewoman Who when she saw hir selfe at libertie from those two knights and in so short a space being very much amased at the might of that Knight She came vnto him and with wéeping said Oh good and gentle Knight séeing that God had giuen you so much bounty strength succour and help my father and two brotheren which are in that castell which you sée before you are at the poynt to be slayne by certain traâ—…terous knights that do pretend to kill them And when the knight of the Sun heard this with a trise he went vnto the Castell as he entred in therat he heard great rushing of armour in the galleries about the court And going vp hee saw y t it was foure armed Knighâ—…s at the entrie of a dore who did striue to come in therat and in the inside ther was an ancient man with two well proportioned yâ—…ng men vnarmed hauing but onely their swords in their hands who did defend the entrie And when the Knight of the Sun came where as the foure Knights was the first that he met with all he stroke him so terrible a blow that he ouerthrew him dead at the féete of his companions Who being verye much amazed at that sodaine mischiefe tourned themselues about to see who it should be that had done that harme And when they saw the Knight of the Sunne all alone with his sword in his hand they left them with whom they had the battaile at the dore went against him and with great fury began to lay vppon him but this their brauery did not indure long for that in a short time with very few blowes he gaue them to vnderstand who he was for that hée ouerthrew one of them to the ground and the other two béeing very sore wounded ranne away and left him alone till such time as the ancient man and the two yong men that were with in the dore came forth who when they saw what the Knight of the Sunne had done in so short a space they greatly meruailed although they straight way knew him by the deuise hée had of the Sunne for that they were present at such time as hée had battaile with Aridon of the blacke woode and no lesse musing at his ariuall thether they went towards him and demaunded his hands to kisse them for the great friendship which hée shewed vnto them And hée receiued them with great courtesie and said My friendes I pray you tell mee what was the occasion that these Knights would haue slayne you and other two Knights which followed a Gentlewoman out of this castellwâ—…o I haue also deliuered from them and she will be héere straight way Then the auncient old man who seemed by his grauitie to bee honourable beeing very ioyfull for that hee heard his daughter was at libertie answered him and sayd as followeth Oh worthy knight I doe verely béeléeue that thou art sent of God to defend and maintayne the feeble and weake persons to chastise the proude and arrogaâ—…t For that I was present at such time as thou wert brought vnto the citie of Ratisbona for to make battaile with Aridon of the blacke woode and now at this present art come for to set mée at liberty from this great outrage which these knights would haue done vnto me so that I verely beléeue that by great mistery thou art sent for our aid help therfore gentle Knight thou shalt vnderstand that the occasion wherfore these traiterous Knights would haue slaine vs was for that the one of them many dayes past dyd demaund of mée for wife my daughter whom you haue deliuered out of their power And for that I did know he was an euill malicious a traiterous knight a very coward I would neuer graunt vnto the same neyther wold my daughter consent ther vnto And for to reuenge themselues thereof this morning at such time as the gate of the Castell was open wée béeing without all feare suspection vppon a sodaine the sixe Knights which you haue séene entred in amongst them came the same Knights which I haue tolde you of And because I did perceiue their determination was to kill vs to carry away my daughter with violence and parforce which certainly without all doubt had happened in this order if it had not pleased God that thou shouldest haue come hether to giue vs aide and succour So at such time as this auncient man hadde made an end in saying these wordes the Gentlewoman his daughter whom the Knight of the Sunne had deliuered from the two Knights came whereas they were For whose comming the father and hir bretheren receiued double ioy the no lesse ioyfull for that she found them cleere from the outrage which they would haue done vnto them So that neyther of them dyd know in what sort they might gratifie the Knight of the Sunne for the great benefit which
great danger yet by 〈◊〉 mighty courage he was without all feare put himselfe amongst them in such sort that in a short space he sleâ—… â—… uerthrew very sore wounded to the ground the most par of them the rest which remained returned went forth â—… the same dore whereby they entred in spite of Florinaldâ—… that did kéepe it among them that went forth the Knighâ—… of the Sunne did likewise goe forth the first that â—…e mâ—… withall was Florinaldus which séemed vnto him to be â—…o of all the rest as well by the rich armour that he wore â—… by keeping the rest that they should not flye he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a blow vpon his healme that he made him sâ—…oup boâ—… his knée to the ground as the History hath told you 〈◊〉 naldus was very proud of hart of great strength neuâ—… lacked courage to attempt any thing against the 〈◊〉 the Sunne seeing himselfe at that time in so great extrem tie he would proue his fortune against him 〈◊〉 stroke him so strong and mightie a blow vppon his 〈◊〉 that the Knight of the Sunne did féele the paine 〈◊〉 of verâ—… grieuous and ther with he stroke Florinaldus another in 〈◊〉 compence of that which he hadde 〈◊〉 with mucâ—… more strength that hée made him féele his great suâ—…y anâ—… nothing dismaying thereat hée pressed vnto him and 〈◊〉 tempted a braue furious battaile for that his 〈◊〉 was very good and made by art magicke which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occasion at the first although the 〈◊〉 of the Knâ—…ght the Sunne were very strong and terrible they 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 much harme but as this valiant and sâ—…out gréekes anger fury increased more more you might haue seene how that the proud knight sometimes he stouped with his knées to the greund and sometimes with his hands that he hadde inough to defend himselfe and to arise vp so that he had no time to strike at his aduersary but was almost out of his wittes with anger and thought vnto himselfe that hée had all the force of the world against him and when he saw that his life could not long endure but néedes he must haue patience vnto fortune that his power and strength was not sufficient to goe through with his intention he determined to yeeld himselfe vnto the mercy of him whom God good fortune was fauourable vnto and to root out from his hart that euill intent which he alwaieâ—… pretended against him therwith he pulled off his Healme put himself before him saying Oh worthie and valiaunt Knight the best that euer was girt with sword héere I doe acknowledge and confâ—…sse my great offence and that I doe deserue a worser punishment then death for that which I haue conspired against thee and my euill determination hath increased euery day more and more fince the time that I was ouerthrowen by thée at the passâ—…ge of a bridge which I kept Now heere I doe pray and desire thée that thou wouldest pardon and forgiue mée all that is past and receiue mée into thy friendship which I shall more esteeme of then any thing in all the world When Florinaldus hadde sayde these wordes and that the Knight of the Sunne didde know him all the blowes that he receiued that night did not trouble him as that did penitrate into his hart and abate his great courage and ire for that hée did not onely pardon him with a very good will but did also forgiue all the harme that euer he had done vnto him or vnto any other of his parents or friendes for that hée didde acknowledge the same and was very sorry and repented himselfe not withstanding for to proue whether that which he had said were but dissembled because he saw himselfe in that great extremitie he said Of a truth Florinaldus I doe not pretend by any meanes to receue thee into my company friendship lesse will I put any confidence or trust in thee till such time as thou dost accom plish one thing which I will tell thee In this I shall thinke my selfe most happie said Florinaldus that you would commaund me to doe the thing wherein I may shew the great desire that I haue of your friendship conuersation That which I will you shall do said the knight of the Sun is that out of hand you doe depart hence and take your iourney throughout as many Countries as you can but especiallye through the countrie of Fraunce in the demaund of a Knight which hath a Flower de luce for his deuise whose name is Clauerindo when you haue found him do my commendations vnto him tell him that I doe goe straight vnto Constantinople how I doe meane to tarry ther till such time as I doe heare some newes from him With all this I am very well contented said Florinaldus then these two dyd embrace one another from that day forwards they were perfect friendes as more at large shall bée told you in this Historie So the Knight of the Sun with his Pages departed from this Castle towards the Empire of Grecia and Florinaldus in the demaund of the Knight with the Flower de Luce. And héere this Historie doeth leaue them till time doth serue â—… returneth to tell you of the noble knight of Cupid wheras we left him in the Kingdome of Russia How the Knight of Cupid departed from the Kingdome of Russia and of all that happened vnto him in his iourney Chap. 17. CErtaine dayes the Knight of Cupid remayned in the court of King Luziro by the earnest request of him and the Quéene who did honour and loue him and had him in prise aboue all the Knights of the world in such sort that they would he should haue remayned with them in their company alwaies neuer depart from thence but for that he could neuer be in quiet neither take pleasure or comfort in the honour which they did vnto him after that he had heard the newes of the Princesse Oliuia certaine daies passed he tooke his leaue of the king Queene who did offer vnto him very largely at all times whensoeuer he should haue any neede of them or of their estate And being departed from the Court hée determined with himselfe what was best he should doe thought that it should be good to passe into Grecia there to know his father the mighty Emperour Trebatio to giue him to vnderstand that the mightie valiant Knight of the Sun was his sonne likewise his brother whom he had a very great desire to sée calling to remembrance that which he did for him in the Iland of Candramarte receiued great ioy contentment in himself to haue such a valiant worthy knight vnto his brother to be sonnes vnto so noble a father also the great remedye that was had for the sorrowfull losse of the Princesse Briana his mother But as he did delight himselfe
the same high way where hée went a great number of Knights which seemed vnto him that they were in battaile they so beesturred themselues and therewith hée did amend his pace to know what it should meane and when he came nigh vnto them hée saw that it was more them twentie knights who had compassed about one alone Knight who was a of a very big stature and armed with blackarmour who made battaile with them all and did defend himself verie stoutly and strongly and had ouerthrowen wounded to the ground sixe of them so that hée séemed to bée a valyant Knight and of good estimation When the Knight of Cupide had well marked him and saw him so valiantly defend himselfe he receiued great contentment and determined to succor him in that conflict perswading him that the truth and right was on his part for that there was so manie against one and without any more tarrying hée set spurres to his Horse sides and with his Sword in his hand hée put himselfe in the middest of them that had compassed him about and before that hee stroke any blow hée sayd Knights holde your handes and bee in quyet a while and let mée vnderstand what is the occasion of this battaile that so manie Knights are against one All of them did well heare and vnderstand what he sayd but the answere which they made vnto him was that they all stroke at him as they which made no reckoning of him which was a sorrowfull houre for some of them for that when the knight of Cupid dyd sée their villanie his anger dyd presently increase and he lift vp his strong arme and stroke one of them vpon y e healme that â—…e cloue his head downe to his shoulders so that he fel from â—…is horse dead to the earth he was scarce downe when the stroke another vpon y e shoulder so that hée cloue him to the breast and besturred himselfe amongst them with so great fury that béefore they did perceiue their losse and harme hée had ouerthrowen halfe of them to the ground When this mightie knight who first made battaile with them all saw himselfe succoured and aided in that time as hee thought his life to bée lost hée receiued great ioy and contentment and was very much amazed to sée the straunge curtesie of that Knight and the furious strokes which hee gaue vnto his contraries the which was such that if hée had not seene it with his owne eyes hee would neuer haue beeléeued it and with that new and vnlooked for aide succour his strength and courage did so increase that he stroke such a blow vpon the arme of one of them that was next him that hee cut it cleane a sunder and it fell to the ground holding his shéelde fast and hée stroke another vpon the head that hée cloue it to the eyes and ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground so that afterward they could not strike any more blows for that the rest of the Knights séeing the great slaughter and effusion of blood which those two Knights made thought their liues in small securitie and fled away with all the hast they could béeing to the number of sixe or seauen knights so that these two valiaunt knights were left alone when the knight with the black armour saw himselfe cléere from his contraries hée lift vp his beauer and went vnto the knight of Cupide saying O gentle knight the best that euer was séene for I beleeue that in all the world is not thy like wherewith she bée able to greatifie this good turne which you haue done vnto mée I cannot surely with lesse then to offer my life so that next vnto God by you I haue my life at least wayt deliuered mée that I was not carried away prisoner whiâ—… would haue béene vnto mée more grieuous then my deaâ—… Sir knight saide Rosicleer your great valour doth deserâ—… far more then this and I doo account my selfe verie wâ—… satisfied for that I haue done dooing it for so worthie knight as you neuerthelesse I desire you to tell mée if yâ—… are of this Country what is the occasion that you had this battaile against so many knights To whom this Knight replied This question which you doe demannd of me doth require long time to declare and for that these Knights belongeth vnto the King of this Countrie whom we haue had this controuersie with I doe beleeue that when these that be run away shall come before him he will send a number more of knights after vs therefore me thinkes it shall doe well that we apart our selues out of this way goe vp towards the mountaine there we shall be sure not to meete with them and riding by the way I will declare vnto you the whole effect of this that you doe demaund These words which he spake liked well the Knight of Cupid therewith they departed from that place and went towards certaine mountaines which were towardes the right hand then the knight with the blacke armour began to make relation vnto the knight of Cupid and said Sir Knight you shall vnderstand that I am called Sacridoro not long since was King of Antiochia as rich and prosperous as any other king could bée but Fortune hath pursued me in such sort shewed hir selfe so rigorous vnto me that in a very short time I haue lost my Kingdome and am left all alone bannished from a great number of very good knights which I had continually with me some of them â—…e dead slaine other some in prison the occasion of all this hath bâ—…n that the king Polidarco lord of this country hath a daughter whose name is Oriselua a very faire damsell endurd with many good graces Princelike conditions to whom I did do at this present beare great loue which was the occasion that I did demaund hir in mariage of the king hir father who would not giue hir vnto me in consideration that in times past he had certaine controuersies with the king my Father for which cause I did moue wars with him thinking by force to get that which by â—…he way of request I could not obtaine Wherevpon either of vs did ioyne and gather together the greatest armie that possible we could so that in the end we ioyned in battaile wheras my cruell fortune destinie would that all my campe was broken destroyed I escaped out of the field by great aduenture by reason that I had no people knights nor souldiers for to defend my kingdome in few daies they made a conquest of all without leauing me either towne or village wherein I might rest my selfe yea although I doe sée my selfe so destroyed ouerthrowen yet the loue is so great that I haue vnto the princesse Oriselua that I cannot goe out of this country for that I would euery day heare some newes of hir although I haue procured to goe in all the
theÌ„ vpon their tamed Lions and finding the knights with their backes towards them for that their horses did cast themselues about they stroke them with their knottie clubbes two such blowes vpon their fiue and stéelie healmes with so great strength that they made them stoupe forwardes with theyr breasts vpon the saddle bowes béeing somewhat amazed And béefore that they could come well againe to themselues these sauages stroke them other two blowes that brought them out of their remembraunces and therewith they tooke them in their armes from theyr horses and carryed them into the thickest of that forrest and they had not borne them far but they came vnto a verie great fountayne which séemed to bée in the manner of a cesterne and the water was as cleere as Christal but it was of so great depth that it seemed to haue no bottome When they were come thether these wilde men dyd lay the two knights vppon the ground without any remembraunce as they were beefore and alighting from their lyons they made them fast vnto two Trées there by and straight way they béegan to giue terrible and mightie blaringes and shrikes such as might bée heard a great way at which noise in a short time there was gathered together about that Fountaine more then twentie sauages such as they were some riding vpon Wolues and other some vpon other wilde beasts some of them which came nigh vnto the knights whereas they lay dyd labour and trauaile all that euer they could to vnarme them for that they were not expert in the vse of armour they dyd nothing but tumble them vp and downe from the one side to the other and could not finde which way to get of theyr armour And in tumbling of them in this sort the knight of Cupid came vnto himselfe and hée séeing in what state hée was in spight of all those that were vnarming him hée rose vp from the ground whereas hée lay and drew out his fine cutting Swoord which was giuen him by the Quéene â—…ulia and with great fury and inflamed wrath hée stroke the first that hee found next him such a terrible blow vppon the wast that hée cut him in two péeces ouerthrew him dead to the ground and so he serued the second and the third when all the rest of these wilde men saw what had passed they were in a great feare yet for all that they tooke vnto them their great knotted clubbes and all together assaulted him and wheÌ„ they had compassed him round about on euery side they laid vpon him so strongly that the knight of Cupide was put to great trauayle for that with theyr strong heauy blows they all to brused his flesh and bones but seeing that hee had no other thing to deliuer him from that reproch but onely his sword hee so béehaued himselfe therewith béesturring him from the one side to the other that the effusion of blood was so great amongst those sauage people that the cléere and christall water of that fountaine was dyed red with the blood of them and the battaile béetwixt them was very terrile and bloody and if this battaile had endured long this good and valyaunt knight had sound himselfe in great peril and daunger for that there was no humâ—…ne creature able to suffer the mightie blowes which those sauage people did strike with their clubs béeing strok so thick as commonly a smith doth strike vpon his anfield but his valiaunt and stout courage was such and his force and fury that in a small time hee made such destruction amongst them that of more then twentie which were there of them there remained aliue but three who ran away with all the hast they might and put themselues into the thickest of the Forrest and all the rest lay along vpon the ground some their armes cut off and some theyr heads clouen in péeces and some their shoulders clouen to their breasts and other some cut cleane a sunder in the middest that whosoeuer had séene so great â—…estruction amongst such barbaroâ—…s people and furious sauages as they were would certainely béeléeue that there had beene no humane power strength able to haue done it and when this battaile was finished this worthie knight remained so wearie and brused of his body that hee could not stand vpon his feete and beeing very drie hée went vnto the Fountaine and pulled of his helme and whereas the water was most cléerest troubled with the blood the same for to drincke and drinking thereof hée had not well staunched his great thirst when hée fâ—…ldowne vnto the ground without any feeling or remembrance And at the same time that hée was drincking the good King Sacridoro was come to himselfe and when hée saw that great slaughter that was vppon the ground and the knight of Cupid a foote a drinking he remained as one amazed and béeside himselfe and could neyther arise vp nor speake one word séeing that which séemed vnto him to bée a thing the most straungest and wonderfull that euer was seene or could bée imagined at that time that the knight of Cupide did fall downe to the ground in a sound at the same instant there came forth of the profound depth of that Fountaine a Monster of the Sea very great and of bodie verie horrible and wonderfull to béehould who had the face of a maide with hir haire hanging downe halfe hir bodie so soone as shée was out of the fountaine shée went vnto the knight of Cupide who lay along vpon the ground and tooke him in hir armes and returned vnto the fountaine and dyued downe to the bottome thereof with the Knight in such sort that they could not bee seene neither was ther any signe of them When this good king Sacridoro saw his very friend so conuaied into the water and carried away by that Monster whether as bee could not imagine to the contrarie but euen to bee made hir foode I cannot héere declare the great griefe and anguish that hee felt in his hart in such sort that if hiâ—… death at that present had béene presented vnto him it could not haue grieued him more and all times when hée dyd remember the losse of his friend the most worthiest Prince in his opinion that was in all the world and againe the great remedie that hée had conceiued in his hart to haue recoueâ—…ed by his aide and help hée could not by any mâ—…anes suffer so great sorrow but fel downe vnto the ground as one that were gaspâ—…ng for life tumbling himself vpon the earth giuing very grieuous sighes and grones lamenting much his misfortune with words of great sorâ—…ow and lamentation in this sort be passed away all the rest of the day which remained and likewise the whole night following till the second day was come in the which happened as shall bée tolde you in this next chapter following How the three Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo came vnto the fountaine whereas
himselfe vpon his stirops and with both his hands he stroke the knight of the Sunne such a terrible blow vpon his magicall 〈◊〉 that hee made all the teeth in his head to chatter one against the other and to decline his head downe to his breast who considering himselfe againe gratified his salutation with another blow so furious that he brought him out of all remembraunce and his horse carried him throughout all the field as though hee had beene dead The Knight of the Sunne at that time did stand still and not mooue himselfe but abode still till such time as hée should recouer The Prince as soone as he was come againe vnto himselfe tooke his Swoord in both his handes and with great fury made towards the knight of the Sunne who seeing him comming towards him dyd the lyke and in the middest of their course they met together and raysing theÌ„selues both together vpon their stirrops they stroke two such terrible and mightie blowes vpon their healmes that the Knight of the Sunne ouerthrew the Prince Meridian to the ground so bolde of féeling that he moued neither hand nor foote but lay as one that had beene dead Likewise the blow which the Prince gaue vnto the knight of the Sunne was with so great force and strength that hée made him bow with all his body forwards downe to his horse necke and also hee stroke his healme from his head Wherewith he remained vnarmed and shewed to al the people his falâ—…e and seuere countenaunce full of royall maiestie And by reason that hee was chafed in the battaile his coulour was the more liuelie and amorous and in such sort that there was no feminine heart of so great force that could make any resistaunce against that terrible and sodaine blow of naturall beautie So that when the Princesse Lyndabrides dyd sée him neyther the maiestie of hir high estate nor th valoure of his couragious heart was sufficient to resist but that shée must néedes bee taken prisoner with his beautie and loue in such sort that many dayes after passed béefore they could finde remedie for to minister a salue to the cruell sore of Cupid which hir hart receiued at that sodaine and vnlooked for ioy Likewise when he saw hir brother lying a â—…ng vpon the ground as though he had ben dead She ther lost hir fresh liuelie coulour fell in a sound in the armes of hir Ladies gentlewomen then the knight of the Sun alighted from his horse went vnto the Prince pulled his healme from his head and saw that all his face was swollen that he voided much blood at his mouth for which he was very sorrowfull for he thought he had ben dead the which he would should not haue happened for all the goods in the world for that his sister the Princesse Lindabrides should conceiue no displeasure against him And againe hée had him in great estimation for that he was a knight of such valour prowesse but he was quickely cléered of that sorrow for that after he had giuen him some aire he straght way by little little came vnto himselfe So when he was wholie in his perfect remembrance saw himselfe vnarmed and in the armes of his aduersary with a mightie courage he embraced patience yéelded himselfe vnto that his present misfortune in béeing so ouercome with a chéerefull and seuere countenance he spake vnto the knight of the Sun and said Ualiaunt and worthie knight séeing that the deuine Gods hath permitted me by you to bée ouercome and that I haue lost the victorie I doe verily béeléeue that it is a thing agreed and determined in their diuine counsell that you must be successour in the sacred Empire of the Tartarians and to haue to wife the Princesse Lindabrides my sister for according vnto your great valour and desert you are that Greeke knight of whom there hath beene so many and very high matters prognosticated by the wise men of Tartaria and such as are expert in art magicke And for that you haue all their fauour on your side doe not delaie â—…ut prosecute your good fortune and goe with my sister vnâ—…o the Court of the Emperoor Trebatio wherat you must â—…efend and maintaine hir beautie for the space of two moneths and this time being finished you may with great honour accompany my sister vnto the Empire of Tartaria and ther at your comming all that hath béene promised shall bée performed without diminishing any parcell thereof For w t a knight of great worthinesse both in courage curtesie the Emperour my father all his subiects will be very well content When the Prince had made an end of saying these words the knight of the Sun did aunswere thus Oh high and soueraigne Prince the great furie of your blowes the perill daunger wherin I found my selfe in this our battaile hath shewed fully certified me of your great force strength how that the deuine Gods haue ben fauourable vnto me in defending keeping me from the furie and force of your mightie arme And as touching these words which you haue said vnto me yuor princelie seuere countenance doe fuilie assure me that your bountie is much more then any other humane creatures that your great vertue cannot but proceede from the high progenie of the heauens And as touching this curtesie which you doe promise me I doe thinke my selfe vnworthie to receiue it béeing the greatest honour that anie humane hart can haue And heere I doe request your highnesse that you would returne sit downe againe in your seat prosecute your begun iourney I promise you that heereafter I will neuer demaund any right or title that I haue in this aduenture And againe for that this soueraigne Princesse Lindabride shall not loose y e right of hir victorie let it be deuided in this manner betwixt you hir part that high mightie estatâ—… of the Emperour Alicandro for seeing hee is Lord ouer sâ—… many lands there will be sufficient for both of you Then the Prince Meridiaan who was endued with aâ—… vertue and courtesie embracing the Knight of the Sunnâ—… said Worthie Knight your great bountie doeth deserâ—… all that is giuen vnto you and much more And there no reason although you doe excuse you selfe but that you should inioy that which you haue got by your great noble promesse And of all the good fortune that doth happen vnto the Princesse Lindabrides my sister I doe make reckoning to haue my part And I doe receiue as much delight that shee doth succeede in the empire of Tartaria as though I did succeede therin my selfe and especially for that you shall be hir husband by whom it hath bene prognosticated in our estate shall be increased all goodnesse honor And in concluding these words the prince Meridian dyd take the knight of the Sun by the hand did carrie him vnto the faire Lindabrides who as soone as
so big and againe the great waight of his armour which was more and béeing on Horseback hée had a mightie great big speare in his hand of so great waight that a Knight had inough to doo to lift it froÌ„ the ground therwith he put himselfe right against the knight of Cupid in the presence of many Knights y t were gathered together to sée what should passe béetwixt them So both of tham did broch theyr horses with their spurs with so great fury that it séemed the ground wold sincke wheras theyr horsses ran So they met together and made theyr encounter which was with so great strength that their mightie great and bigge speares dyd flie into the aire all in shéeuers and the Gyant lost his saddle and had a great fall vnto the ground but the Knight of Cupid kept his course forwards on somwhat astonied with the force of that incounter which made all the Knights of the gyant those which were ther gathered together to sée that contention and all those which had séene the worthie knight of y e Chariot said that without all doubt it was hée and that hée had gone abroad with other armor béecause hée would not bée knowen to proue himselfe with the Gyant for that in his gentle disposition and great force strength in his incounter hée did resemble him very much So when this mightie Gyaunt saw himselfe ouerthrowen to the ground hée knew not whether it was a dreame or truth which hée saw hée was so amazed and séemed that it was not possible that hée should bée ouerthrowen and his enimie remaine in his saddle whom hée saw returning back againe on Horsback and when hee came vnto him hée sayd It is great right and reason Gyant that thou possessest the same order and condition that thou diddest ordaine for them with whom thou hast iusted which is that hée who so euer is ouer throwen to the ground to loose his Horse and to bée his oâ—… whom he receiued the incounter that did ouerthrow him Then the Gyant did looke vpon him with a very fierce and furious countenance that it séemed ther flew out of his eyes great lightning and sparckles of fire and â—…ayde Héere I doo giue and yéelde vnto thée my Horse for that â—…hou â—…ast won him but I wil so handle thée that liuing thou â—…hal not inoy him although all the gods doo come downe froÌ„â—…eauen to aide help thée And in saying these words hée aâ—…ose from the ground and drew out a very great and heauy â—…auchon that he had at his side went towards the knight â—…f Cupide with it in his hands who would not abide him â—…n Horsback but with great lightnesse hée leapt foorthwith 〈◊〉 his Horse-backe and drew out his sine cutting â—…woord which hée had wonne béefore of Candramarte that was of the Quéene Iulia and went forth with the same in his hand to receiue the Gyant and as they met to strike both to gether at one time the Knight of Cupid did stay his sword in the aire and tarrteâ—… till such time as the Gyaunt had discharged first his blow and at such time as his great Fauchon did descend hée leaped on the one side with great lightnesse that his blow could not fasten vppon him and beeing downe hee entered into him with a stout and couragious stomacke and giue him such an ouerthwart blow vpon the thigh that hee cut both armour and flesh vnto the hard bone out of the which wound there issued great abundance of blood The Gyant did complaine very much of this wound and beegan with a great noise to cry out against the heauens and with great ire and courage hée turned againe and uâ—…t vp his curting fauchon and beecause hée would not misse his blow hée stroke the Knight of Cupid ouerthwart his wast with so great fury that if his armour had not béen made by the great wisdome of Artemidoro hée had cut and parted him in two peeces And therewith hée made him to flie on the one side more then six paces and thought verily that all his bones had béene broken and béefore that hée could settle himselfe for to returne against him to giue him his paâ—…ment this great and mighty Gyant was vpon him and lift vp his mighty fauchon and would haue stroke him a right downe blow but this valâ—…ant and good Knight seeing himselfe in so great extremity with soueraigne courage and with a valiant hart strength hee let loose the sword out of his hand and before that the Gyant could execute his blow for that hee had his armes all a high hee entered in with him and embraced him with his strong armâ—…s abouâ—… his wast that hee made him to loose the force of his blow and with so great strength hée charged him vpon that thigâ—… which was wounded that sore against his will hee ouerâ—… threw him to the ground who fell in such order that it sée med a great wall had fallen downe The Gyant when hâ—… saw himselfe vnder foote hee did force himselfe all that eueâ—… hee could for to â—…se vp againe and thrust with his strong armes at the knight of Cupid for to get him froÌ„ ouer him but he did vse so great policie that hée did recouer his sword againe which dyd hang by the wrist band and putting the point therof to his visor of his helme hée thrust it in therat in such sort that hée thrust it through and through his head so that ther was slaine that great and famous Giant Mandroco with so great wonder vnto them which dyd sée him slaine as though he had béene an immortal man for that no humane strength had béen sufficient to haue slaine him And when his knights did sée him lying a long vpon the ground and dead beeing very desirious to reuenge the death of their Lord they all together did assault the worthy knight of Cupid did compasse him round about for to kill him So wheÌ„ the valiant king Sacridoro saw his very friend in that great extremity he stroke his horse with his spurs and put himself amâ—…gst the thickest of them and the knight of Cupid began to strike vpon his enimies in such sort that euery blow that hée â—…oke was with so great fury that either hée slew one or ouerthrew one to the ground And the king Sacridoro did hâ—…lp him with so great strength that more then six he ouerthrew dead to y e earth at which time the knights that were there gathered together for to sée the battell when they saw the giant dead and the high bounty of the two knights more then twenty of them returned in their behalfe so that in a little time after that they came to help them the knights of the Gyant were all slaine and all those receiued great contentment and pleasure at the death of the Gyant for that they were all amazed had great feare of him And séeing the high mighty prowesse of
Empresse Briana receiued when they met together in the monestarie of the Riuer after long time that the Emperour was absent So with this soueraigne ioy the Empresse did not remember the knight of the Sunne till such time as Rosicleer said May it please your highnesse to speake vnto my brother the Knight of the Sun to acknowledge him for the best son that euer was borne of mother Then the Empresse all astonyed amazed as one awaked out of hir sléepe vpon a sodaine she left Rosicleer went vnto the knight of the Sun who was still in his shirt at the opening of his shirt béefore she did sée the signe of the Sunne that was on his brest wherat she receiued so great ioy pleasure that if the Emperour had not ben who did sustaine hir she had fallen down vnto the ground Then the knight of the Sun did knéele down before hir toke hir hands kissed them very often till such time as she being rauished with ioy threw hir armes about his neck fell downe vpon him and kissing him on that faire face with a terrible sigh of great loue she said Oh Knight of the Sunne the loyall and perfect friend of my Lord the emperour Trebatio how shall I now reioyce my selfe in this great benefit which my Lord God hath shewed vnto mée to haue the knowledge of so worthie a sonne if the feare which I haue of Fortune doe not disturbe me in remembring the solitary life which I lead and reloycing my selfe in your childhood and with what sodayne chaunge Fortune did carrye you away from me Likewise the great sorrow and griefe which I receiued for your loue was such that as yet I am not perfect in my selfe neither can I beléeue that in one who was inuironed with so great sorrow bitter anguish should receiue so great mirth and ioy so that in the remembrance of all troubles past if it should not be reioyced with this present ioy to mitigate the fury therof my feminine force strength were not iufficient to suffer the fury of this great pleasure the which is come vnto me in acknowledging such a valiant worthy knight to be my sonne Oh how now doe I giue great thanks vnto my God for the trauailes troubles which your losse the absence of my Lord the Emperour hath caused vnto me seeing that I am now paied with so high a gift ioyfull reward Saying these many other words the Empresse Briana had the knight of the Sun so fast imbraced in hir armes with hir face ioyning vnto his that hee had no power to make any answere And for that these two bretheren were still in their shirts the pages which were nigh them in the quadran had belonging vnto them two mantels wherwith they did couer themselues the Knight of Cupid with the greatest pleasure that euer he felt in all his life went kneeled down before the Emperour said Let it please your soueraigne highnesse to know mée the Knight of Cupid who hath not receiued small trauaile for your absence for the losse of my brother the Knight of the Sun in séeking of you both in strange Countries very far aparted froÌ„ these countries although it was not in so ample maner as was requisite to the seruice of my Lord the Emperour Trebatio for that at that time we had him rather for an enimie then for a Father but for the accomplishment of that which I was bound vnto my Lady the Empresse And for to know who was the occasion that my Lady the Empresse should lead so straight solitary a life which she maintained in the monestarie of the Riuer which was a thing that touched me very much But now knowing the occasion ground therof I doe not meruaile so much but onely how she could sustain hir self liue one moment without his presence And againe if she had not said that he was called the prince Edward I doe beleeue that she wold not haue ben deceined being innocent she did not mistrust any such deceit So vath no lesse ioy and pleasure then vnto the knight of the Sun the Emperour did imbrace him made him to arise from the ground said Oh my son Rosicleer how it seemeth vnto me that you were not content neither receiued any pleasure at this deceit or pollicy as you doe say I vsed with the Empresse your mother but in consideration of the fruit that I receiued in doing the same I may compare it vnto your loâ—… suffering being quiet delating of the time that I could not receiue the great ioy pleasure that I should in the acknowledging of such a Sun Tell me for Gods loue what hath béene the occasion that you haue refrayned your selfe so long time delated to giue me this soueraigne ioy which now I do receiue if it befor the deceit pollicy which I vsed with the Empresse your mother The fruit which procéeded therof is sufficient to excuse that errour done if it had ben of greater importaunce but what reason haue I to excuse my selfe from the occasion that made me to doe it Then Rosicleer not a little abashed at that which the Emperour had said vnto him answered If the ouer-plus oâ—… the reason which I haue to reioyce mee in the acknowledging of such a father I had to incourage mée to publike my selfe for his sonne Then had your highnesse reason to blame mee in the detayning my selfe so long héerein And because I doe find my selfe not worthy to deserue so great a benefâ—… I did make detraction thereof till this time should supply the great lacke which was in my valour So that your highnesse may of truth vnderstand that all that which happened vnto me by the Knight of the Sunne my brother had beene done by some other Knight First I would haue consented to the death then with so great shame to haue acknowledged my selfe to bée sonne vnto such parents The Emperour would very â—…ayne haue aunswered Rosicleer but that the Empresse and the knight of the Sun came vnto them altogether they did a new embrace each other in such sort that they had no time for to speake the ioy pleasure was so much in the Empresse Briana that shée was almost from hir selfe could not well satisfie hir eies in the beholding of hir sonnes shewed vnto the emperour the signes tokens which they had vpon their brests brought them into the world at their birth So that betwixt them there passed a great discourse of many things which did greatly augment their ioy pleasure of all that had happened vnto theÌ„ that if I should héere make perticuler relation I should neuer make an end therfore to auoide tediousnesse I doe let it passe it is sufficient that the readers heere of doe vnderstand the great reason as well of the parents as of the children for to recoice themselues of this new sodaine
the ground so cleane void of all memory as though he had stroke against a mighty rocke he broching his horse with the spurs passed ouer the Prince who was so euill intreated that he could not arise till such time as Rodaran returned with his horse alighted from him toke his sword from his girdell his healme of his head did help to raise him from the ground And when he was come vnto himselfe he toke him by the hand and lead him to the Quéene Carmania who when she knew who he was shée receiued him very well said Gentle knight what doe you thinke of my Lord Rodaran be all the other Knights of Grecia like vnto him Lady and Quéene answered Rodamarte if this contention doth long endure the knights of Grecia will séeme vnto you to be other maner of knights then Rodaran Well said she for that you shall sée how much you are deceiued héere you shall remaine with vs till such time as the best knights of the Emperours court be brought hether to beare you coÌ„pany Then Rodaran did cause him to be vnarmed to bée put at his foot a great chaine commanded him to be put into a déepe and darke dungeon whereas he was certaine daies with more sorrow griefe to loose the victory in that demand then to be ouercome as he was Then his page which came with him departed from thence and returned vnto Constantinople with a sorrowfull hart And one day at such time as the Emperour with his sons and all the knights in the court were in great pastimes and pleasures sporting themselues with dauncing in companie with the Empresse hir Ladies gentlewomen the princes Lindabrides Claridiana with them The page entred into the court with so great sorow griefe that he was scarce able to speake for to tell the heauy newes of the prince Rodamarte yet as well as he could he gaue them to vnderstand of all that he had passed with Rodaran at the which they did all meruaile very much for that Rodamarte was had in reputation for one of the best knights that was in all the empire of Greece the emperour receiued great griefe that it fell so out that by one alone knight hée should bée ouercome Then straight way that valiant estéemed prince Rodafeo who was the second by lot to go forth without speaking any word departed out of the great hall the emperour séeing his determination did commend him vnto god so did the rest that were ther present but especially his lady the princesse who when she saw him depart hir hart was ready to part a sunder When this valiant prince came vnto his lodging hée armed himselfe with very strong rich armour commanded his horse to be trapped with cloth of gold which did signifie vnto all men his 〈◊〉 high estate and so departed out of Constantinople with one alone squier when he came vnto the bridge the like happened vnto him by Rodaran as happened vnto Rodamarte and was put prisoner with him in the same dungion whereas they receyued so great sorrow and griefe to bée in such a demaund ouercome that rather they desired to dye then to liue So when the valtaunt Rodaran saw that hée had two prisoners and both princes oâ—… so great valour and estimation hée was so proude and high minded that it was straâ—…nge and beeléeued of a certaintie that those two were the best knightes that were in all the Emperours Court and was as pleasaunt and idyfull with the quéene as though he had ouercome theÌ„ all And was very sorrowfull because that this victory did not passe in the great citie of Constantinople thinking that ther better then in any other place he might reioyce himselfe of his great pride vain glory did very much reprehend the queene for that ther was so much time lost in Carmania in making that yron net for that they had no néede therof The Quéene séeing that he had great reason so to say helde hir peace answered nothing ther vnto When the prince Rodafeo was ouercome prisoner his squier returned backe againe vnto Constantinople and watching the time that the Emperour all his Knights were together he entered into the court declared all that which happened vnto the prince at the which they were greatly amazed from that day forwards they had the valiant Rodaran in much more estimation séeing that he had ouercome two of the best knights that the Emperour had although at that present the emperour receiued for them great sorow griefe suspecting that these two princes should be ill intreated in the power of Rodaran yet because he was fully certified that ther remained behinde such knights for to combat with him that very shortly would not ouely set them at liberty but also bring Rodaran prisoner vnto him So for that the third lot did fall vnto the mighty valiant prince Brandizel to take this enterprise demaund straight way as soone as the squier of Rodafeo had told the newes of his Lords imprisonment he arose vp from the place wheras he was set nigh vnto the knight of the Sun and put himselfe before the Emperour asked lisence for to goe and combat with Rodaran who did graunt it vnto him and said I am very sorrowfull mightye and valiaunt Prince that you were not the first that went in this demaund for if you had I doe beléeue of a certaintie that Rodaran should not haue had any occasion to boast himselfe of the victorye of any knights of my Court. And therewith the Prince doing his duety vnto the Emperour departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging for to arme himselfe the knight of the Sun said vnto the emperour This may your highnesse with great reason speake vnto the prince Brandizel for y t in the great wars of Persia I haue the best knights that were in all Asia agÌ„ainst the babâ—…lonians I could not sée one that in armes prowesse could match with him And againe if by the diuine prouidence ther had not ben remedy put in the acknowledging the one the other his high mighty bounty had bene to me full déere in a battaile which wée had at the sea without knowing one another the which battaile endured betwixt vs more then sixe houres So ther the knight of y e Sun did declare vnto the emperour all that hapned betwéene them two what he had seene him doe against his knights at the sea Likewise some part of his valiantnes the Prince Claueryndo had told him of and done in his presence company At the which all those that were ther present meruayled very much And the Emperour answered his precious gentle proportion doth cause me to beléeue much more then he is able to doe And with this they all departed abiding the newes of all that shall passe with this valiant prince ¶ How the
Prince Brandizell went to combat with Rodaran and of the strong and rigorous battaile hee had with him Cap. 40. AFter that the valiant Prince of Persia was armed with very rich glistering armour and mounted ou a mightie courser which did shew forth his great magnifisence and conformable vnto his estate with one alone Squier for to carry his speare and healme hée departed out of the great citie of Constantinople and tooke his way towardes the bridge of Iaspe not without great griefe and sorrow in finding himselfe absent from the presence of that faire Clarinea although he receiued great comfort in being in company with the knight of the Sun And with the great desire that hée had for to bring Rodaran prisoner vnto the Emperour hee trauailed so much that in a short time he came vnto the bridge of Iaspe At which time Rodaran the queene Carmania were both sitting in a windowe of the tower of the same bridge saw him comming Who séemed vnto him to be a Knight of great bounty estimation by the big mighty proportion of his body At whose sight Rodaran did arme himselfe being mounted vpon his courser the quéene commanded that the gates should be opened vnto the prince who entred in therat but in any wise they would not suffer his squier to enter in with him being entred into the first tower the gates were shut very fast at the commandement of the Quéene so that his squier remained without And when he came vnto the place whereas Rodaran was armed mounted vpon his horse the prince saluted him made reuerence vnto the quéene like a curteous knight as he was Unto whom Rodaran with far more pride than câ—…rtsiee returned his saluation and said Sir Knight if thy déedes be conformable vnto the presence of thy person then hath the Emperour Trebatio done verse well to let thée be one of the first to come combat with me for that by ouercomming thée this contention shall straight way cease for that I am perswaded ther shall not remaine a knight in all his court that shall be able to resist my demaund But yet I doe desire that first before thou dost enter into battaile with me that thou wilt tell me who thou art for that I doe very much muse meruaile within my selfe that in this country I should finde a knight being naturally borne therin so mighty of person of good gentle disposition as thou art Unto whom this valiaunt couragious prince w t great â—…éekenesse did answere him in this maner Not in the mightinesse of personages neither in the abundance of words doth consist the bounty force of knightes but in the great vertue valiantnesse of a couragious hart And héere I say vnto thée although I am more bigger of personage then any other that doth remaine in the court of the emperour yet after such time as I am by thée ouercome the Emperour Trebatio hath such knightes remaining with him that the victory of them shall séeme vnto thée very doubtfull although at this present thou art very certaine to ouercome me And in that thou dost aske of me who I am héere I giue thée to vnderstand that I am a Knight of the emperour Trebatios a very friend vnto he knight of the Sunne the which is a thing at this present that I haue in great estimation And in saying these words the prince did turne about his furious horse and Rodaran did like who when hée saw the Quéene whereas she sat in hir accustomed place at the second tower with hir face very pale and wan halfe dismayed for that the prince did seeme vnto hir to be a valiant knight hée said vnto hir Lady pacifie your selfe you shall sée that at this encounter with my speare I will cause you to forget the feare which you haue of this monster And therewith these two valiaunt Knights with the great fury of theyr Horses and with their great and long speares in their handes in the middest of their swift course they made their terrible encounter in such sort that vpon their shields their mightye Speares were shéeuered all to péeces neither of them at that terrible encounter made any semblaunce of mouing in their saddles and at such time as they did ioyne méete together with all the force of their bodies it was with so great force and strength that neither of them could procéed forwards but that Horse man came all vnto the ground and made so great a noise with rushing of the harneyes together by reason that it was with so great strength that it séemed as though a great péece of ordinace had shot off At which time the Squyer of the Prince Brandizel who remayned without the gates dyd not let to pray vnto his Gods for the victorie of his Lord after that hée heard the noise of that terrible encounter which made him verie much to meruaile but much more did Rodaran meruayle at a thing which séemed vnto him very straunge to sée himselfe ouerthrowen to the ground by the encounter of one alone knight whereas béefore hée thought that there was not one Knight in all the world that was able to doo it vnto him Likewise hée was greatly ashamed to see himselfe vnhorsed béefore the presence of his Lady Quéene which caused to increase in him great anger and furie for to reuenge himselfe of that iniurie and drew out his Swoord the which was very great and broade and went agaynst the Prince who was not a little amazed to sée him come against him with so great furie and force and séeing his determination did likewise draw out his Swoord and met him and both of them stroke together with so great furie and force that at the first blowes theyr shéelds were cut asunder and theyr swoords descended vpon theyr Healmes with so great strength that it made both of them to decline theyr heads downe vnto theyr breasts and made each other of them féele and acknowledge the force and strength of his aduersarie and from that time these two warriors dyd strike such mightie and furious blowes the one vpon the other with so great strength that it was wonderfull to béeholde alwaies procuring where to strike his aduersarie for to doo him most harme and although theyr armour were of so straunge and excellent mixture that there was neuer force nor strength of man neyther any Swoord so fine that could cut or perish them which was the occasion that it did saue them from wounding one another yet for all that they dyd strike their blowes so thicke and in such great hast that at such time as they dyd fasten a right and sure blow they did greatlie bruse one anothers flesh and bones so that either of them dyd procure the best hée could to defend himselfe from the terrible blowes of his enimie At this time was passed a good houre from the time that they first béegan their battaile
at which time Rodaran séeing that although hée dyd his best in executing his furie that there was no vauntage to bée séene of neither of theyr parts hée was verie much amazed at the great force and strength of his aduersarie and béegan somwhat to acknowledge the great reason that the olde King of Gedrosia had in praysing and extolling the high and mightie déedes of the Knights of Greece moreouer hée sayde vnto himselfe that that knight alone was sufficient for to destroy halfe the armie of the Emperour Alycandro and by reason that his pride was very great and hée himselfe of a valyaunt and stout courage although the victorie should bée very late yet hee supposed that the fury of the Prince Brandizel could not endure long against him and béeing fullie perswaded in his thought he made so great hast in striking of the Prince that hée made him very much to meruaile at his stout and valyant courage béecause it troubled him very much and brought him into that perplexitie that hée was driuen to béesturre himselfe from the one side of the Bridge vnto the other for to cleere himselfe from some of his great blowes which to the contrarie hée should haue receiued and made him to vse more lightnesse then the bigge proportion of his body could well indure and for that their sheelds were all cut and broken in péeces in such sort that there was no defence in them the whole state of the battaile was in the great and mightie force in striking on another executting their blowes with theyr swoords in both theyr hands in such furious sort that the one had great feare of the other their bones and flesh were all brused with the mightie force of their blowes and their bodies so wearied that if it were not for the great valour of theyr hearts and courage and againe the losse of victorie so shamefull and reprobrious ther was neither of them but with a very good will would haue throwen himselfe along vppon the ground to haue taken some rest but by reason that they were so valyaunt Knights and very few in all the whole world that were able to haue any vauntage of them would not shew one a nother the great necessitie in the which they wer brought Rodaran for that hée was in the presence of the quéene who was very sad and heauie in hir semblance and no lesse meruailed to sée the cruell battayle that was béetwéene them Likewise the Prince Brandizel with the remembraunce of the faire princesse Clarinea and of the Emperour Trebatio and all the rest of the knights of his court he thought it better to die ther a thousand deaths then to returne back vnto the court and loose the victory at which thoughts they recouered so great courage gathered so great strength from theyr valiant harts that eyther of them looked as well for death as victorie At which time there had passed more then thrée houres from the béeginning of their battell all which time they neuer rested themselues nor ceased not to oppresse the one the other all that in them was possible Which was the occasion that the mightie and couragious stomacke of that valiaunt Rodaran was not sufficient neyther the presence of the quéene of Carmania but that his great pride did abate which béefore was neuer brought in subiection and of pure necessitie and force by reason of his great wearinesse withdrew himselfe on the one side and with the great griefe thereof hée béegan to speake vnto the prince and said Knight hold thy hands and let vs rest our selues a while for that there doth continue time inough to finish our battell Likewise the Prince Brandizel at that time was brought into so great necessitie of rest that without answering him any word hée did likewise withdraw himselfe leaned vpon the pâ—…mell of his sword for to take some ease and immagined vpon the great strength and courage of Rodaran And it séemed vnto him that in all his life time hée neuer combatted with any knight or giant that euer dyd charge him with so great and terrible blows neither that euer did endure so long battayle with him without taking some rest but onely that most worthie and valyaunt Knight of the Sunne And hée thought verily within himselfe that if the force of Rodaran did long endure it could not bée otherwise but that he should bée ouercome and loose the victory and yet considering what a great shamd and rebuke it would bée vnto him to come béefore the Emperour Trebatio and the rest of his great friends the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Clauerindo hée did fully determine with himselfe to loose his life fiting on foote and not to bée ouerthrowen from his Horse to the ground and to loose the victorie At this present time likewise Rodaran was leaning vppon his swoord to breath himselfe and called vnto his remembrance the words that the olde king of Gedrosia had sayde vnto him and séemed that they would proue to bee true and did verie much commend his great wisdome and knowledge and dyd reprehend his owne gpeat pride and would with a very good will haue giuen the greatest part of his estate vpon coÌ„dition that he had not put himselfe in this demaund and contention béecause hée found himselfe to bée so wearie and that in so long time they had battaile and combat together there was no vantage to bée iudged on either part hée thought of a certaintie that it could not bée otherwise ibut hée must bée ouercome and loose the victory And as hée was béeholding of the Prince and very much meruailing at his great force and bountie it séemed vnto him that according vnto the mightinesse of his person and the richnesse of his armour that hée should bée some Knight of high estate So after a while that hée had well breathed and refreshed himselfe hée saide Wherefore haue not wée great care ouer our selues and wish that wée had not knowen one another for that according vnto that which hath passed béetwixt vs in this first battell and againe that which wée doo looke for in the second battell cannot bée but that eyther of vs will sooner consent to die then to bée ouer come and loose the victory Therefore I doo desire thée by the vertue of that thing that in all the world thou doost best loue that thou doost tell mée who thou art for that according vnto thy mightie stature and great bountie I cannot béeléeue that thou 〈◊〉 â—…ee a Knight of the Empire of Greece Héere the Prince Brandizel could not by any meanes let but certifie him of his demaund hauing coniured him in that sort and therefore sayde Rodaran béecause thou hast so great desire to know who I am I will giue thée to vnderstand although it dooth grieue mée very much to tell thée Thou shalt vnderstand that I am Brandizel prince and right heire vnto the whole Countrie of Persia and sonne vnto the king Florion and of the Quéene
saying that it were better that he should perish then so many noble knights But all was spoken in vaine and nothing would serue for that the knight of the Sun would depart with them in their company leaue of his first owne demaund So strayght way without any longer tarrying in company with y e king quéene they toke their ieurney towards Lidia the king said vnto the quéene that he was the most vertuous knight that euer he saw in all the world how that the great fame that went of him was with â—…ust reason So in this sort thâ—…y trauailed till they came vnto a little castell wher as they determined to â—…ary for that the night was come vpon them and there resting themselues very earely in the morning they arose did prosecute their iourney And they had not â—…rauailed long when that out of the same castell they saw â—…ome forth sixe armed knights who likewise soiourned ther â—…ll that night following them they did ouertake them 〈◊〉 the entry of a great vally when they drew niâ—…h one of â—…he knights said Sir knights you vnderstand that your horse 〈◊〉 armour doth giue great contentment vnto these my comâ—… I for my part doth all onely desire this Lady for 〈◊〉 she seemeth to be very faire to be of high estate therâ—… out of hand it doth accomplish you to leaue them except 〈◊〉 will dye in our hands Then the knight of the Sun who 〈◊〉 the first was with them very méeke sufferable with 〈◊〉 dissimulation he said Sir knight if we doe giue and 〈◊〉 vnto you our armour our horse will you not be â—…ntent to leaue with vs this Lady No of truth sayde the 〈◊〉 for that I â—…ad rather lye and take my ease with hir 〈◊〉 night then to haue all the horse and armour that is in 〈◊〉 the world Then the knight of the Sun who could no longer suffer so great villany nor outrage to passe before the presence of the king finding himselfe very nigh vnto the knight he lift vp his fist stroke him with his armed hand such a blow vpon the helme that he buckled it vnto the skull in such sort that he broke it all to peeces he fell from his horse dead to the ground The rest of the knights his compaâ—…ions when they saw thâ—…t terrible blow they were very much amazed for y t neuer in all their liues they saw the like done and with sâ—… great strength wished that they had not put themselues in that demaund and enterprise But yet 〈◊〉 themselues for that they were many they drew forth their swords and wâ—…nt against him did assauâ—…t him with mighty terrible blowes Yet â—…or all that the knight of the Sun made litle accompt of them would not drâ—…w his swoord but stroke aâ—… other of them such a terrible blow with his armed fist that likewise he ouerthrew him from his horse dead to y e ground said god forbide that I should drawout my swoord to defile it vpon so vile people as these be that without all shame doth demaund our 〈◊〉 armour yet not content buâ—… 〈◊〉 so would haâ—…e thâ—… queene for to defile hir Then the king Liseo who was one of the 〈◊〉 knights in the world being very much amazed at the great bounty strength of thâ—… knight of the Sun could no longer forbeare himselfe but 〈◊〉 his sword drawen in his haâ—…d he assaulted the knights thaâ—… remained And the first that hee mette with all hée cut of 〈◊〉 arme with a trise he stroke at another wounded him 〈◊〉 ry fore ouer threw him from his horse to the ground Anâ—… the knight of the Sun at that time stroke an other with 〈◊〉 armed fiâ—…t that he all to be brused his helme skull oueâ—… threw him dead to the ground so that ther remained of 〈◊〉 sixe but one aliue and seeing himselfe all alone thought no 〈◊〉 to tary but set spurs vnto his horse and ran 〈◊〉 with all the hast he could â—…o that these two valiant knights remayned all 〈◊〉 with great content to see themselues cléere of those discourteous knights as alsâ—… to see the proâ—…e of the great valiantnes of either of them so they returned onwards on their iourney had great pleasure pastime at the demaund of those vncourteous knightes they trauailed till such time as they came vnto the sea coast vnto the paâ—…t wheras they found the ship out of the which the king quéene had disembarked themselues into the which they entred found the winde very prosperous and so great that within thrée daies after their departure they ariued at a port or hauen of Asia wher as they went a land toâ—…e their way towardes Lidia alwaies trauailing in great hast for that they would come to the citie at the time that the king Liseo had appointed and promised vnto the knights but yet for all the hast that euer they could make their time was accomplished ouer and aboue more then ten daies at the end of the which one day in the after noone at such time as night drew on they had sight of their enemies who had thâ—…ir camp still pitched compassed round about the citie And that day they assalted the citie made a meruaileus great skirmish in such sort that they lacked very litle to eâ—…ter into the citie the most part of the knights that made their defence were slaine who did defend the citie with great force and like good and loyall vassalle alwaies determined first to dye the death then for 〈◊〉 vp the citie Although they were all that remained so weake and so feeble that if they had returned to giue a new â—…sault by reason of their great wearinesse wounds they must néedes haue yéelded vnto the death were all very much amazed that the king Liseo was not returned againe according vnto his promisâ—… for that they had him in estimation for one of the best knightes that was in all those parts they feared very much least some ill fortune or misâ—… should haue happened vnto him So when these two Knightes came within the sight of the campe wher their enemies wâ—…re the king Liseo said my very friend and Lord what doe you think is best for vs to do for to enter into the citie that we may giue some comfort vnto those sorrowfull and afflieted knights You doe best know worthy king what is best to be done in this case said the knight of the Sun therfore if it wer possible before y t I doe enter I would very faine know how far the force and strength of these knights doth extend therefore if it please you to take the queene behind you vpon your horse and procure in all that euer you may for to get vnto the gates of the citie cause your Knights to kéepe y e gates open for that
I will bee ther very quickly Doe all things according vnto your pleasure said the king I pray God to giue vnto you such victory that our enemies might vnderstand know that as yet the king Liseo is neither dead nor ouercome So when the night waxed dark the king in the best maner hee could he toke the qâ—…eene behind him on his horse embrased the knight of the Sunne shedding many teares he toke his leaue with the queene departed by a narrow lane which he knew very well went towards the citie although he met by the way with diuers yet for all that hauing no feare by reason that he spake the language very well they made litle reckoning of him did not mistrust y t he should be any of their enemies Then the knight of the Sun when he supposed that the king had passed the campe he toke his speare in his hand dreâ—… nigh vnto his enemies when he saw them that they were with out watch or care of any euill that might â—…appen vnto them â—…e committed himselfe vnto God put himselfe amongst his enemies with his speare he began to kill to destroy so many of the knights other souldiers that his great force strength was quickly knowen by the number thâ—…t lay dead in the field For that in a short space he had flame more then fiftie of them at the noisâ—… of whom with a triâ—…e all the whole camp was in an vproâ—… and cried vnto armour And after that this valiant knight had broken his 〈◊〉 with his swoord in his hands he pressed still forwardes amongst them in such sort that he seemed to be some infernal creature And without finding any great resistaunce he approched vnto the tents that were in the field which were very many rich wheras he found in them very many that seemed to be valiant Knights who at the noyse vprâ—…are of the souldiers wer all armed in their company many great and deformed giants that séemed to be great towers who when they saw all the people run away saw not their enemies follow them being greatly amazed therat they stood still knew not which way to depart but when the valiant knights drew nigh vnto them the first knight that he met withall he stroke him such a blow vpon his helme that cléeuing it his head downe vnto the breast he ouerthrew him dead to the ground turning himselfe about he stroke another vpon the wast that he cut him a sunder in the midst ouerthrew him from his horse likewise dead to the ground which made all the knights that wer ther not a litle to meruaile for that this valiant worthy knight would not at that time tary any longer he set spurs vnto his furious horse passed through the camp with so great fury that ther was not one knight that could get before him being seene by one of the most valiantest giants amongst the rest with a great mase in his hand he followed him pretending to strike him with the same The knight of the Sun perceiuing it tourned about with his horse before that the giant could execute his mighty blow with his mase he stroke him so terrible a blow vpon the wast that his sharp cutting sword entred into his bowels that he fell down from his horse dead to the ground and then without any stayinâ—… he put himselfe in the middest of the whole campe and made so great a spoile amongst his enemies that hée whom hee found in his way might well thinke himselfe vnhappy So that they all fledde and ran béefore him as from some infernall creature that according vnto the great destruction that he made amongest them they thought him to be no other In this sort this valiant knight went throughout the whole camp without finding one that was so hardy to disturbe him slew w t his own hands more they two hundreth knights being all embrued in blood he came vnto the gates of the citie wheras he found the king Liseo who being knowen by his knights subiects did open the gates did abide his comming And when they saw the knight of the Sun to come all to be raied with blood the knig straight waies did imagine what had passed with him embraced him saying Oh my good perfect friend now I am fully perswaded that it hath pleased god to give mée full remedy set at liberty all my kingdome onely in that I haue your valiant person héere with me At this time the most principallest of all the knights of the citie came vnto them with great contentment ioy to sée their Lord and king they entred into the citie commanded the gates to be shut very strongly excéeding good watch ward to bée kept they altogether went vnto the pallace wheras they were of the quéene meruailously well receiued entertained and did vnarme the knight of the Sun with hir own hands and there they did repose rest themselues that night not without great care complaints vnto their king to see themselues in such great affliction almost all the people in their Country lost Likewise also was the valiant knight of the Sun sore troubled with his amorous thoughts of the faire princes Lindabrides and of the princesse Claridiana which thoughts were more troublesome vnto him then the furious battaile which he should haue with his enemies the next day following But when he remembred his brother and the rest of his friends that were prisoners with Rodaran he receiued so great sorrow griefe that he thought long till the day was come had a good trust and confidence in God that very shortly he should sée himself cléere from his enemies for to haue time to returne vnto the bridge of the iaspe to conclude his pretence to combat with Rodaran Likewise at this time all those that were in the campe of the king of Arcadia did not take their rest in perfect quietnesse but when they remembred that which dyd passe with the beginning of the night they all trembled with theyr great feare which they receiued of that worthy valiaunt knight And when they had made relation of all that had hapned vnto the king of Arcadia he began to blaspheme against his gods for that it was not his fortune to méet with him they were all amazed because they could not vnderstand know who that valiant Knight should bée And againe they were fully perswaded that it could not be the king Liseo for that he was not a knight of so great valour for to make such destruction amongst them for that they had combatted with him diuers sundry times likewyse others had ben so ventrous as to enter into their camp but neuer did shew so great force the King being very desirous to know who he should be to sée him he passed away all that
made theyr encounter in such sort that the valiant pagan shéeuered his great Speare all in small shéeuers but at such time as hée thought all had béene finished hée found himselfe from his Horse vppon the ground by the great encounter of his enemy in such sort that hée was constrained to leaue his saddle and the Knight of the Sunne passed forwards as though hée had done nothing at all and this valiaunt Pagan was not so soone ouerthrowen but presently hée arose vp againe and drew out his swoord thinking that the Knight of the Sunne would haue returned againe vpon him but hée making litle account of him did blow his horne againe Then the king of Arcadia who from his Tent did béeholde all that passed béeing greatly amazed to sée his brother ouerthrowen sent another knight called Rufier who was a great Lord in Arcadia and one of the most brauest that hée had in all the camp who being mounted on a mighty courser went out of the camp with so great pride arrogancie that hée thought verely to reuenge the iniurie done vnto Momfriero but his expectation fell out cleane contrarie for when hée came to make his encounter with the Knight of the Sun hée gaue him such a blow with his speare that he pearced him quite through that hée ouerthrew him dead vnto the ground and breaking his speare therewith hée drew out his great and sharp cutting swoord and in his companie the King Lyseo they put themselues into the presse of the Campe whereas they made great slaughter killing and ouerthrowing as though they had béen all naked without armour Oh how ioyfull were all those of the Citie when they saw the great meruailes of their Captaines and theyr great bountie and surmounted strength and to the contrarie how the King of Arcadia was amazed when that hée saw two alone knights for to doo so great murther and destruction in his mightie and puissant armie and sayde with himselfe that if all the world should haue tould him the lyke hée could not haue béeléeued it except hée had séene it with his owne eyes and for that hée would sée more of theyr wonderfull déedes hée dyd not procure to arme himselfe neither would hée mooue froÌ„ the place whereas hée was but stoode still béeholding the two valiant knights how they dyd beehaue themselues amongest their enimies who without finding anie thing that dyd disturbe them in theyr wayâ—… they went throughout the whole armie killing and wounding all that they met withall in such sort that they were all to bee raâ—…ed with blood and the field lay full of dead bodies and whereas it was beefore all dust it was now turned into durt At this time was well perceiued the mighti and valyaunt courage of the Knight of the Sunne who was so furious and fierce in his battaile that whereas the King Lyseo did kill or wound one hee for his part did kill foure so that they slew béetwixt them that day more then three hundreth Knights and in the ende there went foorth to make resistance against them two great and stout Gyants and with their mightie mases in their hands they went towards the place whereas the Knights were Then the Knight of the Sunne béecause they should not take so great paines as to come vnto them whereas they were but seeing them a far off to come towards them hee went foorth to méete them and scarcely they could haue so much leasure as to life vp theyr mases for to strike them when that the Knight of the Sunne with great lightnesse stroke one of those Gyants with his swoord in both his hands so terrible a blow vpon his right shoulder that hee cut him downe to his bowells in such sort that the fore quarter with his right arme did part from his body and he fell from his horse dead to the ground Then the other Gyaunt who saw the ill successe of his companion beeganne to roare and to discharge his heauie clubbe vpon the Knights head but this couragious knight perceiuing the same set spurres vnto his horse who springing forwards did cléere his maister from that terrible blow so that his mase fell downe vnto the ground at which time the good King Lyseo dyd finde himselfe nigh vnto the Gyant and stroke him so terrible a blow vppon his arme that hée cut his armour and flesh vnto the hard bone At which time the Knight of the Sunne was embraced with other Knights and the Gyaunt lyft vp his mase againe and stroke the King Lyseo so strong a blow vpon his hard and rich helme that hee made him fall backwards vppon his saddle bow without any remembraunce with his head vpon the horse neck his armes hanging on both sides as though hée had béen dead and voâ—…did out of the beauer of his healme great abundaunce of blood Then the knight of the Sunne who at the noise of that terrible blow dyd looke about him to sée what it should bée and when hée saw the King in that great perplexitie as though hée had beene dead his sorrow and griefe was such that neuer in all his lyfe hée receiued the lyke and wished that hée had not brought him out that day vnto the battaile but seeing that it was then requisit to reuenge the same with more furie and wrath then euer hée receiued hée went towards the giant who was readie to strike the king Lyseo another blow and raysing himselfe in his stirrops with the force of both his hands hée stroke the Gyant such a blow vpon his head as though hee had no armour vpon him he cloue him downe vnto the breast the Gyant fell downe dead to the ground then the King of Arcadia and all those that were with him wondered greatlie when they saw that terrible and mortall blow stroken theyr blood waxed colde in theyr bodies and all theyr bones did shake and receiued such feare that there was not one that was so hardie almost scarce to looke vpon him much lesse to assault him and the King of Arcadia â—…ayd vnto himselfe Oh immortall Gods who could haue beeléeued that your power dooth so farre extend to make a â—…ortall man so mightie that at two blowes hée hath slaine â—…wo of the most valyauntest Gyaunts that were in all the â—…orld and hée alone sufficient to make resistaunce agaynst â—…wentie thousand Knights the flower of all the Pagan Countrie And I doo verily béeléeue séeing that you doo force â—…ée to speake it that the force and strength of this knight 〈◊〉 much more then yours and if it were possible for him to â—…oe vp into the heauens as he is héere on the earth he wold 〈◊〉 destroy you all At this time all those which were 〈◊〉 the Citie when they saw the disgrace of the King Lyseo all the great ioy and pleasure which they receiued toÌ„ sée the wonderfull meruayles of those two Knights was tourned into great sorrow and heauinesse and béegan amongst them grieuous lamentations but especially
the damsell had made an end of saying these words she returned back went out of the great hall without any tarrying returned vnto Rodaran leauing the emperour all his knightes that were with him in great admiration 〈◊〉 sorrow beléeuing that the knight of the Sun was also priâ—… as men halfe amazed they looked one vpon another â—…new not what to say ther was not one of them that could â—…eléeue that such knights as went forth for to combat with Rodaran could bée taken prisoners except it were by some â—…reat treason Then the valiant Clauerindo who could no â—…onger suffer his couragious hart so swelled but asking liâ—…ence of the emperour he departed towardes the bridge of y e 〈◊〉 more with pretence to vnderstand if ther were vsed aâ—… treason for to be prisoner with his friends then for any â—…ope hée had to conclude that which the knight of the Sun â—…osicleer could not doo And when this valiant prince came 〈◊〉 y â— bridge the battaile that was betwéene him Rodaâ—… was so well foughten that they were more then halfe day in great contention and could not get the victory 〈◊〉 of another neither was there any vauntage knowen of â—…ther side but in the end Rodaran féeling himselfe weary 〈◊〉 the night drew on hée began to vse his accustomed remedy and did retire backwards this valiaunt prince with great courage did follow him till such time as they were vnder the 〈◊〉 of the second tower Then the quéene did pul the cord 〈◊〉 let the yron net to fall downe vpon those knights in â—…uch â—…ort that they were both prisoners straight way they pulled of the princes helme toke a way his swood and when his hands were bound they tooke him out of the net did cary him prisoner vnto the other knights Great was the sorrow griefe which these good knights receiued when they saw themselues together prisoners by so great treason And seeing that they were in place whereas they could not profit themselues of their force strength but to haue patience to suffer that terrible blow of fortune they committed themselues vnto God till such time as it pleased him to dispose of them to his pleasure So when this valiant prince was likewise prisoner with the rest Rodaran sent the damsell againe vnto the emperour for to giue him to vnderstaÌ„d how that the knight which he sent last was also prisoner that he should send other knights of great bounty in armes But when the emperour did â—…eare that message without speaking vnto the damsell or 〈◊〉 any other that was ther present he arose vp wenâ—… all alone into his closet And kneeling downe vpon the ground shedding many salt and bitter teares from his eies he began to complaine himselfe saying Oh high mightie Lord the creator of all things without whose good will permission nothing can be done Heere I 〈◊〉 acknowledge that the great pride presumtion of all morâ—… tall men is such and being by thée abhorred many times iâ—… the occasion y t being by thee forgotten they fall into greaâ—… troubles necessitie by the which we may vnderstand thaâ—… all our great force strength high estates and all goodneâ—… which we doo receiue doth procéede come wholly and onelâ—… from thee by thy will permission lacking thy aid anâ—… help we are of our selues nothing at all And I a mortaâ—… man at such time as I thought to be most highest in estatâ—… most 〈◊〉 est with the new acknowledging of my worthy valiant sons with the high mighty knighthood of my court with whom I did beleeue to be sufficient for to conquer the whole world Forgetting with my great pride presumption to giue thée thanks for so great benefite which by thee I haue obtained now is the occasion that I am by thee for gotten voide of thy mightie hand power And in a short time I do sée my sons all my knights which was y e flower of all the world in the power of one pagan prisoners I my selfe in danger to be with them Héere I doo humbly desire thee my Lord good seeing that I doo acknowledge my fault that I alone may receiue the punishment And doo not permit that so many good knights to perish decay In saying these other like lamentable woords the good emperour all that day he would not goe foorth of his closet but when night was come he armed himselfe very secretly with his strong rich armour tooke a mightie great light horse and with one squâ—…er he departed out of the citie tooke his way towardes the bridge of the Iaspe leauing order that they should say that he was in his chamber very sick that he commanded that none should enter in vnto him for that if they did know of his departure all knights of the Court would follow aftâ—…r him which was contrary to his desire So in this sort went this worthy emperour with so great desire to finde himselfe with Rodaran that he thought euery hower to bée a whole day But yet hee made so great hast that the fist day after his departure he ariued at the bridge of the Iaspe without finding any aduenture by the way worth the telling And at his comming vnto the bridge 〈◊〉 knocked at the gate and straight way it was open and the Emperour entred in ther at and hiâ—… squier would hauâ—… entred in with him but those that were at the gate woulâ—…â—…ot let him to go in so that the squier did striue with theâ—… and did stand in contention and one of the men tooke vp 〈◊〉 â—…ogell and stroke the squier that it greeued him very sorâ—… â—…t which noyse the Emperour looked beehind him and saw â—…is squier to bée so misused hée drew out his sword and 〈◊〉 that man such a terrible blow that hee euerthrew him dead to the ground the rest seeing their companion slain they began altogether to buckle with the emperour but he vsed himselfe so with them that in a small time of ten which were of them he slew eight the other two ran away for to tell their lord what had passed the gate remained with oâ—…t any kéepers so that the emperour entred the bridge and his 〈◊〉 with him he had not wel passed halfe the bridge when Rodaran armed with strong armour mounted on his furious horse with his speare in his hand be came â—…orth and met him with presumptuous and proud words he saide Knight thou séemest to be some innocent variable person thou comming to combat with me thou â—…ast made contention with my men Heere I sweare vnto thee by the high godâ—… that thy life shall make me recompence for theirs but first I will that thou tell mée whether thou art the Emperour Trebatio or some of his court for that hetherto thoâ—…e which hath come hether haue
not ben so vncourteous as thou 〈◊〉 ben Then he said thou shalt vnderstand Rodaran that I am the emperour whom thou â—…oost speak of not beleâ—…uing thaâ—… thy strength is sufficient to ouercome and take prisoners so good knights as thou hast in thy power I am come hether 〈◊〉 combat with thee for to know by experience that which 〈◊〉 many times hath ben told me of thée therfore looke vnto thâ—… self for thou shalt haue 〈◊〉 to doe heerein let passe thâ—… death of thy keepers And in saying these words the good 〈◊〉 perour turned about his horse likewise Rodaran no lesse 〈◊〉 full as much meruailing to see the emperour ther turned 〈◊〉 bout his horse and being both in place to begin their coursâ—… they both of them together set spurs vnto their horses 〈◊〉 the midst of the bridge they made their encounter and 〈◊〉 each other with their speares in such sort that they were 〈◊〉 broken in péeces and passed by one another without 〈◊〉 any more harme and tourned their horses about 〈◊〉 with their Swoords drawen and their shieldes on 〈◊〉 shoulders they assauited the one the other verye 〈◊〉 lye and the one of them stroke the other with so 〈◊〉 force strenzth that the noise ran all alongst the riuer Rodaran did so much oâ—…presse the Emperour with his mightye blowes that he gaue him to vnderstand that he was a knight of great bounty Likewise he receiued such blowes of the emperour that Rodaran did very well féele vnderstand him to be so good a knight as any of the other knights that came before him many times he said vnto himselfe that with great reason those valiant knights did serue the Emperour Trebatio for that he was of his owne person the most worthiest prince that euer â—…e saw or â—…elt seemed vnto him that forsomuch as he was come thether vnto the combat ther remained in the court no other knight that was of any accouÌ„t or estimation which was the occasion that he did animate force himselfe very much for to onerâ—…ome him did charge him with great mighty blowes but he had to doo with the emperour Ttebatio father vnto the knight of the Sun vnto Rosicleer such a one for his person that setting his sons a part ther was not a more valiant worthie knight in all the world who with the great sorrow griefe which he receiued for the imprisonment of his knights did so charge Rodaran with his mightie blowes that although his strong fine armour did saue him â—…rom death yet many times hée brought him out of his remembrance that his horse caried him round about the bridge In this sort the battaile enâ—…ured more then thrée heures could neither of them ouercome the other but in the end because their horses waxed weary they concluded together to leaue them to make their battaile on foot for that they might then more at their ease bestur themselues to execute their terrible blowes the battaile at that time séemed to be more furious well foughten for their sheelds wer all broken in péeces with the strength of both their hands they stroke the one vpon the others â—…elme that it made them to sound like bels and their â—…ares were so full with the noyse therof that it was straunge And many times these stoâ—…t Knightes with the mightye strength of theyr blowes were constrained to vowe their heades downe vnto their breasts and stoupe with their knées to the ground and likewise with their handes to staye them from falling all together yet with a trise they recouered themselues againe abated nothing of their couragious striking one of another although they were all to shaken with the force of theyr blowes yet the one had not so soone discharged his blow as the other had his swoord aloft for to recompence the same if at one time the emperour did bow his knées to the grouÌ„d straight waies the mighty Rodaran did stoup with his hands because he would not altogether fall downe sometimes he fell vpon his face as halfe amazed At this time was Rodaran very much amazed at the great and high bounty of the Emperour Ttebatio thought verily vnto himselfe that it was not possible for him to get the victory of that rigorous battaile if he did not profit himselfe of his wonted remedy treason yet was he meruailous desirous to ouercome that Magnanime valiant emperour in battaile for that he had taken all the other Knights prisoners by that treason hée would not if it were possible but ouercome the emperour by force of armes which was the occasion that he did very much enforce himselfe to augment his blowes but by reason of the great fury of the emperour the mortall troublesome blowes which he stroke brought him into great féeblenesse to be weary the emperour was not cleane void but by reason of the long endurance of the battaile he waxed likewise weary so that both of them had great néede for to rest theÌ„selues some what of the great trauaile which they had passed and did withdraw themselurs both together tested themselues vpon the 〈◊〉 of their rich swoords without speaking any word the one vnto the other they remained so a good space till such time as the Emperour féeling himselfe somewhat refreshed said Tell mee Rodaran what is the occasion that thou béeing such a knight as thou art so mighty a prince king of Arabia hast left thine owne country come into these strange countries so far from thine whereas wee are all contrarye vnto you in customes and lawes Well said Rodaran séeing that you so liberally haue shewen vnto me who you were I will straight way giue you to vnderstand of your demand You shall vnderstand that on a time I being in the court of the mightie Emperour of Tar taria which is the gran Cataya by the mouth of the king Gedrosia who is an old man very well seene in the art of nigromancy I heard him say that the knights of Greece béefore many yeares did passe shall destroy all the Tartarians pagans bring vnto destruction the most mightiest kings and Lords that are in all those countries ouerthrow all their Iâ—…ols downe vnto the ground in despite of our Gods for that the words of that king did make the emperour all the kings noble men that were ther present greatly to meruaile I in the midst amongst them did arise bp gaue my word promise in their presence for to come into these parts by mine owne hands for to take carry away prisouers all the knights of Greece for that they all did make a ieast thereat and thought it a thing impossible I straight waies departed out of the court toke in my company the quéene of Carmania my spouse wife am come hether and done as is apparant vnto you And
to séeke the Emperour very sorrowfull and without all comfort béecause they knew not which way to go seeke Rodaran some of them embarked themselues to the sea and other some went trauailing into the land to go and seeke him but the Princesse finding in a port which was nigh vnto the place whereas they were a ship reaâ—…ie in all points shée embarked hir selfe therein all alone with hir Damsels it séemed vnto hir that séeing that Rodaran dyd carry with him so rich a pray that it did not beehooue him to stay in the countrie So shée put hir selfe vnto the sea without knowing any certaine way whether to trauayle but onely committed hir selfe vnto Fortune So they naâ—…igated fiue dayes at the Sea without finding any aduenture worthie the telling in the ende whereof verie earlie in the morning they discouered land nigh vnto them which was pleasant and wel furnished with all maner of gréene trées and hauing great desire to goe a shore they commaunded to hoise out their â—…oat So the Princes and hir damsels went a land and shée mounting vpon hir horse and hir Damsels vpon their Palfraies they béegan to trauaile by a very narow and small vsed path which went through a Ualley which was garnished full of very swéet Roses and other odoriferous flowers and hearbs and they had scarce trauailed therein one mile wheÌ„ they saw comming against them a damsel vpon a palfray so fast as hee could runne and men running threatning to kill hir if shée would not stay but wheÌ„ shée found hir self nigh vnto the princesse shee said Oh knight defend mée froÌ„ these traytors for they haue committed the greatest treason that euer you heard Then the princesse hauing hir helme on she put hir selfe before these men béecause they should not come vnto the damsell who would not withdraw themselues but perforce would haue layde holde vpon the Damsell wherewith the Princesse with hir Speare stroke one of them therewith that shée gored him cleane through and 〈◊〉 fell downe dead vnto the ground Then one of the other offered to strike at the princes with a great fauchon that he had in his hand who perceiuing it spurred hir horse ouer him who tore him all to péeces vnder his feete and slew him and offering to strike the other with hir speare hée tooke his legges and ran so fast as euer hee could the way hee came Then the Damsell béeing at libertie the Princesse demanded of hir what was the occasion that those men did follow and pursue hir Ah sir sayd the Damsell doo you returne with all spéede backe againe the way you came and make no longer tarriaunce in this place for if you bée taken it is not possible that you should liue any longer Tell mée first the occasion why sayde the Princesse then afterward I will doo that which séemeth best vnto mee Sir knight said the damsell héere béefore goeth a giant the greatest and most furious that euer was séene by men who with more then twentie knights in his company doth carrie prisoner the Queene of Hiberia with the Princesse Theophilia hir daughter and 〈◊〉 more Ladies and Damsells of hirs who by force this infernall Gyant did take away from the King Hiberia and more then fortie Knights of his who were passing away the time abroad in a verie delightfull forrest this Gyaunt did put vs all together into a Ship of his and hath brought vs hether prisoners carrying vs into a Castle which is there a little béefore from whence I came running away and it séemeth vnto mée better to dye in the handes of them that shall follow mée then to bée prisoner in the power of that infernall Gyant The Damsell finishing these woords shee receyued so great feare that the Princesse could not stay hir but more by force then with hir good will shée caused hir to returne againe in hir companie the way which shée came in which they had not trauayled verie farrâ—… when they saw comming towards them tenne Knights as fast as their horses could runne who beeing aduertised by him that ran away they came in the demaund of the Knight which had slayne the other two men And when they saw them by the signes and tokens that the man had giuen them they vnderstood that it should bee the Princesse then all together with theyr swoords in theyr hands they ranne against hir but shée receiued them in such sort that shee receiued no harme of their encounters but she stroke one of them so right that y e poynt of hir speare came foorth at his back and fell downe dead to the ground and breaking hir speare with that encounter shée drew out hir swoord and béegan to combat with them and dyd so béehaue hir selfe that in a short time shée had slaine the one halfe of them and although those Knights did charge hir verie much with their strong blowes yet by reason that hir armour was so good shée was in great security not to receiue any wound by reason whereof without all feare shée put hir selfe amongst them striking such mortall blowes that it was wonderfull to beholde and neuer rested till shee had slaine all saue two who seeing the great force strength of the Princesse durst not tarrie any longer but returned the way they came as fast as theyr Horsses could râ—…nne The Damsell at this time would verie fayne haue had the Princesse returne backe againe and not haue gone any farther but hir couragious and valyaunt stomacke would not consent therevnto but followed the other in that way they went After they had trauayled in that way a small space they discouered vpon the top of a high Rocke a Castle very great and full of towers and compassed about with a very strong wall and comming nigh vnto the same they saw come foorth of the gate a Gyant the greatest and tallest that euer they saw in all theyr liues and mounted vpon a great and mightie courser in his companie more then ten Knights who came that way wherein the Princesse trauayled but as soone as the Damsell of the Quéene had spyed them shee had no desire to stay but returned back againe the way she came as fast aâ—… hir palfray could runne but the Princesse who receiued no feare of the Gyaunt nor of his Knights kept 〈◊〉 hir way towards them and when the Gyaunt came nigh vnto hir with a hoarse and hollow voyce hée sayd Oh foolish and vnhappie knight how is it knowing that I am Orbion and hauing slaine my knights thou durst be so bold and haue so great courage to tarry and abide my comming it dooth gréeue mee for the anger which thou hast giuen mée for that it will bée vnto thee a great honour to bée slaine at my hands and I smally satisfied for the death of my Knights in taking away thy lyfe Far more foolish and vnhappie maist thou account thy selfe Gyant saide the Princesse if thou didst know thy selfe knowing that god is in the heauens
receiued when he saw that terrible and wonderfull blow for that his cosin was very rich a knight that was best beloued aboue all other knights that he had and also for that he conceiued within his mind that if that knight should endure long that hée would not leaue one knight aliue in all the whole camp that is of any reputation So with the great griefe which the losse of his knights caused him to haue with a trise he caused himselfe to be armed with his strong armour which was a finger thick of very fine stéele and so good as any was in all the world and being mounted on a strong light horse he went out of the camp with his speare in his hand saying Oh that my fortune wer so good that as I go against this valiant knight I might make battaile against all my false gods in whom I haue beleeued put my confidence for if they were all against me they were knights in this world I think verily to ouercome them all make them to know vnderstand that the power strength of this knight is much more then theirs The king had not fully concluded in saying these words when the valiant Pirro with one blow that the knight of the Sun gaue him with his swoord fell from his horse as though hée had béene dead but when the King saw that with wonderfull force he went towards him with a great broad fauchon in his hand he stroke the knight of the Sun vpon the helme that it tooke way the sight of his eyes depriued him of his vnderstanding and his horse caried him a while about the field for you shall vnderstand that y e king of Arcadia was so stout couragious a knight that neuer any knight with whom he did make battaile with could endure with him a whole day in the field was of great fame and feared amongst the pagans but yet he did not goe away boasting himselfe of this blow for the knight of the Sun before the king could strike him the second returned came again to himself set spurs vnto his horse came running against the king like a whirle wind with his swoord in both his hands he stroke him such a blow vpon his healme that hée made him to fall forwards vpon his horse necke the blood ran out both at his mouth nose and his horse carried him round about the field out of his remembrance as though he had ben dead at which time Alberro was come againe to himselfe and he and Gruto together did terribly assault the knight of the Sunne chargeing him with great and heauye blowes the which he felt and grieued him very much for though his armour did defend him from wounding yet for all that it could not excuse him but that his flesh must haue béene very fore brused with those mighty strong blowes and it had beene better for him to haue contended agaynst the whole armie then against those foure knights for that béeing embraced with a great number the valiant knights could neuer haue so good opportunity to execuse their mightie blowes vpon him but in such sort these valyaunt Pagans did so charge him that hée felt himselfe sore troubled but yet for all this not faynting nor loosing one point of his courage but rather increasing more and more did so béehaue himselfe with those two stout Pagans that in a small time hée had ouercome them if the king of Arcadia had not come againe to himselfe and Pirro mounted againe vpon his Horse who séeing themselues so euill intreated with great fury and courage they went to help theyr companyons which was the occasion that at that time their battell was more kindled and better foughten then it was in all the day béefore for when these stout Pagans saw themselues all foure together theyr courage and force did the more increase and héerein the knight of the Sunne was nothing behinde them for the more they did charge him the more his strength increased At this time it was more then three houres since their battaile béegan without taking any rest either of them and those that beeheld them waxed wearie and likewise the Pagans meruailously tormented with the mightie blowes which they had receiued and the knight of the Sunne more angrie wrathfull then hée was all the day beefore and his anger did so far exceede and his force so much increase y t at one blow he ouerthrew the stout Gruto to the ground and with an other blow he ouerthrew Pirro but the valiant Berro stroke him so strong a blow vpon his helme that hée made him to stoupe decline his head to his horse neck but he made no brags therof for that the knight of the Sunne returned his payment with so great furie and force that buckling his helme breaking therewith all to â—…éeces the skull of his head hée ouerthrew him dead to the ground and with a trise hee turned vpon the king of Arcadia who was comming against him to strike him and strok him such an ouerthwart blow on the one side that he ouerthrew him on the other side Then this valiant and worthy knight without any longer staying amongst them but with as great fury as a whirle wind he put himselfe in the midst of the whole armie and wounded slew so many that al the way wheras hée went hée left it full of dead bodies so that ther was not one in all the camp that durst make resistance against him but passed through amongst them as commonly the bayted Bull beeing well pricked with darts dooth passe through a coÌ„pany of men At this time the day passed away and night came on and this valiant Knight somwhat wearie with wounding and killing of Pagans all to bée brued with blood hée departed out of the Camp and without any following him he came vnto the gates of the citie the which were straight wais opened and hée found at the entrie in therat the king Lyseo all armed in a readinesse to goe foorth in his aide and help if hée were driuen to any necessitie of whom hée was receiued with great ioy pleasure and the gates béeing shut they went vnto the pallace whereas with great mirth and ioy they were receiued by the quéene and supped together with great ioy and pleasure and tooke their ease all that night and the knight of the Sunne determined not to goe foorth other two daies to the battaile How Rodaran came to land and by great aduenture hee came vnto the kingdome of Lidia Chapter 49. WIth great pride did this Pagan Rodaran nauigate by sea with his rich pray of the prisoners which hee carryed for to present them béefore the Emperour of Tartaria who was no lesse endued with wisedome patience theÌ„ with force and strength for to suffer that terrible and cruell blow of Fortune alwaies abiding the good houre that fortune would vse vpon them and
Arcadia stroke the knight of the Sun so terrible a blow that his eares were tormented with the sound therof lost the sight of his eies remained astonied a good while although it was not so long that the King had space to strike him another but it was in an euill houre for him for when the knight of the Sun came againe vnto himselfe all kindled in wrath with more fury then a thunder-bolt he assaulted the king with both his hands he stroke him so strong a blow vpon his helme that as one that were dead hée ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground voiding great abundaunce of blood out of his eares nose at which time the knight of the Sun had scarce withdrawen himselfe from giuing of that blow when Rodaran came againe vnto himselfe and went against him with both his hands he gaue him such a mighty blow that it was heard a great way off the knight of the Sun to keepe himselfe from falling was constrained to embrace his armes about the horse neck felt by force of that great blow that Rodaran was both strong stout but for so much as at that instaunt all ire and wrath did remaine in him with one alone blow hée pretended to make an end of that battayle for that hee thought the time very long till hée knâ—…w some newes of those prisoners his deere friendes and therewith taking his swoord in both his hands raysing himselfe in his stirroppes changing his white coulour into perfect red like vnto the braue ramping lion that followeth the fearefull Deere euen so went this wrathfull knight against Rodaran stroke him a blow ouerthwart his helme that out of all remembraunce he threw him as dead at his horse feete leauing these two Pagans in such sort that all men iudged they had beene dead with no lesse fury then a whirle wind he put himselfe in the camp amongst his enemies killing wounding all that euer he found in his way so that ther was none that made any resistance against him but they all ranne away before him that he found noâ—…e with whom to fight except he did follow them to ouertake them hee thought himselfe most happiest that was farthest of from him In this sort this valiant knight pressed into the camp went so far that at the last all embrued with blood of them which hée had flaine hee came vnto the Tent of the king of Arcadia wheras he was put in great perplexitie trouble for that there was ioyned together many stout and strong knights who altogether did assault him very strongly but he féeling the great resistance that ther was made against him did double his blowes with mortall fury that his force did appeare to he more at that time then it was in all the day before All this time of the battaile from the beginning that the knight of the Sun went out of the citie vnto that instaunt the royall princesse Claridiana was beholding the same for that this was the contention of the thrée knights that she staied to behold at such time as the history did leaue hir which was the knight of the Sun combatting with Rodaran and the king Then the Princesse drawing more nigher did straight way know him as well by his armour horse as by the mightie singuler disposition of his body the better for to behold his high knighthood shée staâ—…ed stoode still meruailed very much at that which she saw and although she did sée it before hir eies yet she could not beléeue it and said It is not possible that although there were héere those two captaines of the mightie Affrica Scipion with them Hercules the mightie Sampson that all they together were not sufficient to doo that which this alone Knight doth on his enemies Of truth I haue great reason for to loue him as the highest most precious knight in all the world And in saying these wordes seeing that he was compassed round about w t so great a multitude of knights she stroke hir horse with the spurs with so great fury put hir selfe in the midst of the camp neuer staied till such time as she came wheras the knight of the Sun was began to deale such blowes that she made his enimies to run away At which sight the knight of the Sun was put in great admiration could not imagine who that valiant Knight should bee being verie ioyfull of so good aid succour he put himselfe amongst his enemies killing ouerthrowing so many that they all ran away before him as from the death and with great fauour that he had of the princes and the valiantnesse that she vsed he left hir at the doore of the tent alighted from his horse and entred in stroke such mortall blowes at them that he met that he made them all to retire backwardes to put themselues into another roome in the Tent whereas they thought better to defend themselues but the knight of the Sun with terrible furye followed after them and with a few blowes hée slew sixe or seauen of them in presence of the Emperour and all the rest of the prisoners that were with him who were greatly amazed at such a sodaine chaunce not knowing what it should be and very much meruayled beholding the great wonders the which he did in theyr presence but when in beholding they knew him very well by his armour by the mightinesse of his person although hee was all bathed in blood I cannot heere rehearse the great ioy pleasure which they receiued seeing themselues in that great necessitie vpon a sodaine in that time vnâ—…oo ked for so great succour surely they did beléeue that he was 〈◊〉 thether by the power of almightie God And as yet this good Knight had not seene them for that he was occupied in disimbarking himselfe with them that he had before him vpon whom he stroke such mortall blowes that some of them he cut a sunder in the midst and other some he cloue down to y e teeth others to their brests with such mortall destruction that in a smal time ther remained not one of all their enemies aliue in the tent for that the princes Claridiana did worthely defend the entry in wounding killing all those that came nigh vnto hir At this time because the king Liseo had seene all that the knight of the Sun had done how farre hée had put himselfe in amongst his enemies hauing great desire either to be slaine or else to sée an end of his liberty all such as were within the citie able to weare armour went forth to aid the knight of the sun if néede so required they put themselues amongst their euemies defending that none should come giue succour vnto the king who still with Rodaran were in a sound from themselues as they came al forth with desire to
Prince I doe most hartelye desire you to tell me who these valiant knights be and from whence so excellent a companye should come Then presentlie the knight of the Sunne who did esteeme verye much of him declared vnto him who they were and by what aduenture he had found them there At this time the Emperour and all the rest of the Princes and knights had taken off their â—…elmes and the king Liseo was the gladdest man in all the world and went to kisse the emperours hands saying May it please your soueraigne highnesse to giue your handes to kisse them for that through you I am restored vnto my lost kingdome This high and worthy Emperour did embrace him with great loue so likewise did all the other Princes knights ther passed betwixt theÌ„ many curtâ—…ous words yet for all this was not the royall princesse Claridiana knowen And being desired by the emperour all the other princes knights to giue them vnderstanding who what hée was she straight way pulled off hir helme wheras he dyd discouer hir yeolow haire which was bound vp with a net of gold very richly wonderfullye wrought by reason of hir great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which she receiued in the passed battaile hir colour was somewhat mooued wherwith she shewed so perfect singuler beauty that verily she séemed vnto them all to be rather some diuine creature then any humane person ther was neuer a one there but she séemed vnto them to bee some celestiall thing Then the Emperour and all the rest of the knights that did know hir being as much amazed at hir beauty as to see hir ther at that instant went all vnto hir did welcome hir with great curtesie And the emperour said My Lady mistres this liberty the which I and all these princes knights haue receiued it cannot bee but by the hands of so high a damsell as you are I pray God that we may be able to gratifie you for the same Unto the knight of the Sunne said the Princesse ought you to surrender and giue these thankes for that for him is ordayned and kept the atchiuing of all good aduentures and to giue the finall conclusion of y â— same What might heere be thought of the great ioy and pleasure which this amorous and valiant knight conceiued when that in that time and place hée found himselfe in the presencé of his Lady and mistres hauing seene what shee had done for him beefore hee knew hir Truely this mirth and gladnesse was so much that hée thought all his vnderstanding to bee transported into a celestiall glory whereas the chosen doth remaine and going towards hir he said Your soueraigne beauty may please to giue vnto mee your seâ—…re hands that I may kisse them in acknowledging of the great curtesie which all wee haue receyued by your soueraigne aide and succour and for that all enterprises which I doe take in hand may haue credit it shall be done in your seruice and prayse as I am bound and likewise all good and valyaunt Knights in the world Then the Princesse who receiued great contentment at his words layd hir armes vpon his shoulders and sayd Worthie Prince your politike dealings and excellent bountie sooth so far excell that it is not needefull for mée to expresse the same neyther any other but onely to béehold what is done by your valiant hands heere in this Camp and vnto this there is good witnesse who is the king Liseo and all his knights And passing beetwixt them many other amorous words the Knight of the Sunne dyd tell them all how and by what aduenture hée came thether and all that happened with him after hee departed out of Greece The like dyd the Princesse Claridiana so that all the whole companie vnderstood by what order they were there assembled and ioyned In the meane time that they were in this acknowledging one another those of Lidia were not idle for they minded no other thing but to robbe and destroy all that were in the Tents and Campe of the King of Arcadia and finding there great store of riches and treasure which the king had brought euery one of them did so lade themselues that euer after they remayned very rich and thought their long and great trauaile to bee well employed the end fell out so prosperous vnto them Then the Emperour Trebatio out of hand commaunded that the Quéene Carmania should bée brought béefore him for there should bée no harme done vnto hir who when shée thought verily that Rodaran had béene slayne tare hir haire and dyd such iustice on hir selfe that they thought verily it would bee hir death And asking of them whether the king of Arcadia and Rodaran were aliue or dead they went straight wayes vnto the place whereas they lay a long vppon the ground and commaunded that theyr Healmes should bée pulled off and fresh water to bee throwen vpon their face to refresh them straight wayes they came agayne vnto themselues and when they vnderstood in what estate and perplexity they were all this time their sorrow and griefe was such that they thought it had béene better for them to haue beene slaine then to suffer so great misfortune but when the King of Arcadia dyd lookâ—… about him for his armie and could sée neuer a Knight on his part but those that were slayne and lay in the field with very sorrow and griefe hée thought verely his heart would haue burst Likewise when Rodaran saw all his prisoners at libertie and hée ouercome by one alone Knight the great sorrow and griefe which he receiued could not bée héere expressed and if hee had had his helme and his swoord and on horsebacke hee would haue tarryed there no longer Then strayght wayes the King Lyseo dyd desire all these worthie warriers to repaire vnto the Citie for to refresh themselues and to take their ease who consented vnto his request and went towards the citie and carryed with them theyr prisoners whereas they were receiued of all the Citizens and nobles of all the kingdome that were there present with so great ioy and triumphes that the whole Citie seemed to bée on 〈◊〉 with the great bonefiers other lights which were made in euery streete of the Citie not remembring any of their troubles past So when they came vnto the Queenes pallace who was very wyse and discréete shée receiued them with such courtesie as was requisit to so noble persons whereas they were all vnarmed and recreated with verie swéet waters and oyntments requisit for such hurts and bruses as they had receiued For although theyr armour dyd defend them from wounding yet could not their flesh bée free from bruses by the force of such terrible blowes as they receiued And in especiall the knight of the Sunne in the battaile which hée had with Rodaran and the King of Arcadia although hee estéemed it in nothing with the great contentment and pleasure which hee receiued in seeing
with his mightie furious blowes So these two worthy knights endured in their battayle more then one houre without ceasing or taking any breath but breaking their shields tearing of their shirts â—…f maile that was so fine sustaining the terrible blowes ofâ—…th other by reason of the great goodnes finenesse of theyr armour helmes their furious swoords could not execute any wound yet for all that their flesh bones were all 〈◊〉 and many times they brought each other out of all râ—…membrance seeing that their battaile endured very long without acknowledging any aduantage betwéene them The princesse Lindabrides was very much amazed likewise all the ladies the damsels giants that were with hir 〈◊〉 Oâ—…istedes for an extreame valiant knight that so long did sustaine himselfe against the furie of the knight of the Sun Now was it almost two houres that these two valiaunt knights were in their battaile when that the knight of the Sun with very much shame anger for that the battayle endured so long béefore the princesse and with one alone knight with both his hands he stroke such a blow at Oristedes vpon his fine and inchanted helme that the â—…ound thereof was heard throughout all that valley and forrest and endured a good space and made him to fall forwardes vpon his saddle bow out of all remembrance and his horse carried him along the bridge till he came vnto the Castle gate wheras hee stayed till such time as Oristedes came againe vnto himselfe very much tormented with the force of that mightie blow and all his face béerayed with blood and ranne out at his nose and mouth and when hée saw himselfe in that case with more furie then euer hee was in all his life hee set spurs vnto his horse and made him to run towards he Knight of the Sunne with more fury then his wearinesse would well consent and with his sword in both his hands hee stroke him such a terrible blow vpon his fine inchanted helme in such sort that if his swerd had not somwhat glaunced vpon his shoulder it would haue put him in great perill for that the fury of that blow was such that the knight of the Sun had fallen from his horse to the ground if he had not embraced himselfe about his horse neck and was so greatly amazed at the great force strength oâ—… Oristedes that hee sayd vnto himselfe Oh valyaunt and famous Gréekes such as were ioyned together at the siege of this great Citie of Troy with how great reason aboue all things the which dooth happen in this world ought you to bée honoured and praysed for that you dyd not alone resist the great force of the Sonnes of Priamus but also you dyd destroy and ouerthrow all his generation with all the whole power of the Troyans Oh Achilles that Captayne of Greece with what reason can I name my selfe and say that I dooe procéede of the noble blood froÌ„ whence my father the Emperour dooth descend for that it was not vnto thée so much reproch the blows of that stout warrior the first begotten of Priamus as are vnto me the blows of this knight who doth descend of his linage And of truth I doo say that if of this reproch I doo not reuenge my selfe I doo pretend neuer héerafter to name my selfe for a Breeke And in saying these words the fury which hée had was so great that hee hasted with great spéede towards the valiaunt Oristedes who béeing not very well experienced with such lyke force dyd abide his comming and with both his hands hée stroke him such an ouerthwart blow vpon his strong and inchaunted healme that hée made it to flye of his head and so vnarmed hée fel from his horse to the ground so far out of remembraunce and from himselfe that hée could not arise vp againe till such time as the Knight of the Sunne did alight from his horse and did help him And when that hée had receiued aire hée came againe vnto himselfe and the Knight of the Sun tooke vp his helme and gaue it vnto the knight saying Gentill knight take vnto you armour and doo not loose by their â—…ack that which your great bounty doth assure you Then Oristedes when hée saw the great curtesie of the Knight of the Sun hée threw his sword vnto the ground and sayd My gods will not consent for so much as I doo lacke Fortune for to defend my selfe that I doo let to acknowledge that I am by you ouercome It is sufficient gentill knight that you haue ouercome mee in battell of armes and not now to ouercome mée in courtesie Then the valyant and worthy Knight of the Sunne whâ—… had no good will to combat with him any more béeing very ioyfull hée went vnto him saying Happy art thou gentill knight that your deedes doo giue to vnderstand of your discent from that noble and valiant Knight Hector For as there doth remaine in you force and strength of armes so is ther no lack of vertue in you I am hée that is ouercome and he hath the victory that will not that our battell should procéede any further And in saying these words the two knights did embrace one another And the knight of the Sun at the request of Oristedes did tel him who he was â—… knowing the same at that time he did discemble a maruailous dolour and griefe the which hée receiued at his hart And dyd complaine very much against his gods for that they séemed to bee so fauorable vnto the Greeks against the Troyans So likewise when that hée did know who the Princesse Lindabrides was he went vnto hir making a great reuerence he would haue kissed hir hands for that he did know hir in the court of the Emperour hir father was two yéeres in the same court wheras he did so high feats of knighthood that he was esteemed to bée one of the best knighâ—…s in all his owne countrie and likewise in the gran Tartaria and for that hée was so great a friend vnto the Prince Meridian he did not combat with him about his demaund and if that Oristedes would haue remained and abode in the court of the Emperour Alicandro hee would haue made him a mightie Lord but vnderstanding the death of his father and for to mayntayne that custome hée returned vnto Troy whereas hard by the bridge there was a little Citie to the number of two thousand households and inhabited by the descent of such as remained at the destruction of the great citie of the Troians and likewise vnto such Gieekes whom the countrie did like well Now to returne vnto the purpose then did the Princesse receiue Oristedes with great loue and said Is it true my friend will you thus intreate vs in your owne Countrie wée would not vse you in this sort in Tartaria if we had you there Soueraigne Princesse said Oristedes may it please your highnesse to pardon forgiue mée this
made his encounter with so great strength that in the middest of that great place hee ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground his heeles vpwards so far from himself as though he had ben dead Then straight waies came forth an other who with great lightnes he shoued him out of the saddle so that he was taken in mens armes caried him into the tent for that all y e bones of his body were shaken brused with that strongs encounter And without any long tarying hee ouerthrew other ten knights of them entreting them in such sort that not one of them all could arise from the ground of himselfe but that they were caried in other mens armes into their tents At the which the king Oliuerio all that were there present were greatly amazed and could not learne by any meanes to know who those two valiant knights should bée Then all thâ—…se of England receiued great ioy and contentment for that they saw that the knights of Lusitania there pride and ioy did abate And Adriano said vnto the king I beléeue that the Prince Don Siluerio is not well pleased with this knight Let him alone said the king for I haue a good hope that his knights will cary away but litle honour of that which is past Then Bramides of Lusitania came foorth mounted vpon a myghtye great horse with a big speare in his hand he gaue a turne about the place shewing great prid thinking certainly that at the first encounter he would ouerthrow y e valiant knight but it fell not out according vnto his expectation for that they made their incounter with such force that Bramides vpon the shéeld of the strange knight shéeuered his speare all to shéeuers but the knight made no shew of moouing in his saddle but he made his encounter so strongly against Bramides that heauing him right out of his sadle he caried him a good way off from his horse with his head to the ground and his héeles vpwards was so astonied with that terrible blow that hée could not arise from the ground till such time as some of his companions tooke him vp caried him into their tent Oh how great was the griefe that the prince Don Siluerio conceiued when he saw his knights receiue so great reproch the knights of England with so great ioy pleasure because they saw that strange knight defend their honors so valiantly The king and the two ancient knights that were with him desired very much to know who that knight should be and likewise his companion who as it séemed vnto them was as one amazed beholding that mightie pallace in his semblance proportion seemed to be no lesse valiant theÌ„ his companion as it was of truth for that it was that valiant Rosicleer who had not so much gouernment of himselfe for to saffer but néedes he must come foorth into that great place with the king Sacridoro for to behold that day the princesse Oliuia but that he saw the princes in hir royall estate shewing foorth hir soueraigne countenance with so singuler beauty he was as one astonied amazed not knowing whether he were in Heauen or on Earth and the great glory thâ—… which he felt within himselfe when that he had before him that precious sight so long of him desired that forgetting himselfe hée remained in one place without any power for to mooue himselfe but as one depriued of his wits And the other was that stout strong king Sacridoro who seeing the great mischance of his companion would make some shew of his great bountie and by reason that he was of so great bountie in lesse then one houre he ouerthrew vnto y e ground all those fiftie knights all very euill intreated ill beestead with the force of the mighty fals which they had receiued the great pleasure the which Adriano receiued héereat was such that he could not let but say vnto the prince Don Siluerio how doo you like this my lord now you may well see that the bountie of all the world doth not consist onelye in the knights of Lusitania By God I doo sweare that according vnto the vsing which these knights haue receiued the emperor Trebatio shall bée in great securitye of them for anye harme he shall receiue at their hands The prince was so full of sorow so angry for that which hapned vnto his knights that without making any answer vnto Adriano with great fury he mounted vpon his great horse tooke a speare in his hand put himselfe ready at a point for to reuenge the inâ—…urie done vnto his knights At whith time the valiant Zoylo for that he was a great friend vnto the prince fearing that ther should happen some reproch vnto him saide vnto the king Truely my lord if it please your highnes I would very much that the prince Don Siluerio might excuse the iusting at this time with that straunge ventrous knight for that he hath gotten this day very much honour I would not that now he should loose it againe Surely said the king Oliuerio I should be very sorrowfull and I would that all might well be excused and they seperated if there were any good meane for the same I will goe and part them sayd the â—…artarian Zoylo And therwith he arose vp from the place wher he sate by the king descended downe the court mounting vpon a horse very gallantly richly trapped which was brought vnto him he went vnto the king Sacridoro and said Sir knight by the way of curtesie I doo hartely desire you that this day you would cease your high valiant deedes for you haue done inough to giue testimonie of great bounty at this time to depart for that the king Oliuerio shall receiue great contentment courtesie in so doing Then the king Sacridoro who knew him very well since the time that he saw him at the fountaine of the sauages hauing great desire to shew him plesure answered him said Sir knight not onely in this but in all other things whatsoeuer your pleasure is to commaund mée with all my hart power I will doo it to doo you pleasure So after that the valiaunt Zoylo dad gratified him with great thanks for his curtesie the king Sacridoro departed went vnto the place wheras Rosicleer was as one amazed astonied beholding the great beauty of the princes Oliuia shaking him by the hand hée said Come let vs now depart from heuce for we haue taried héere very long Then Rosicleer comming to himselfe as one which did awake out of a dead sléepe set spurs to his light horse and went with the king Sacridoro put themselues in a by way out of that great place in such sort that in a short space they were out of sight and the prince Don Siluerio ramained very furious and full of anger for that the knight was departed from thence before hée
iury that it séemed a Thunder-bolt or whirle winde hée tooke his course throughout those fields with so great swiftnesse that the grasse whereon his horse trode séemed as though it mooued not This valyaunt Rosicleer trauayled with so great ioy and contentment for that rich pray which hée carryed that hée could scarce béeléeue hee had so great a Iewell with him At which time the Princesse Oliuia was in a sound without any sence of knowledge who carryed hir away and by reason of the great care of the people in the which the king Sacridoro remayned troubled so much Rosicleer that it was the occasion hée forced his Horse with so great spéed that in a short time hée came vnto the sea coast and strayght wayes hée entered into a Shippe and layde the Princesse vppon a bed and kissed hir and left hir in the companie of Fidelia hir damsell and hée went a shoare and mounted vpon his horse and with as great spéede hée returned back agayne to séeke out his perfect friend the King Sacridoro who in all this time had done meruaylous déedes but by reason that the King and all the other Princes and Knights that were in the Quadran at the great shrikes and outcries of the damsels were come thether they had so coÌ„passed him round about that hée could not mooue himselfe neyther on the one part nor on the other but for that they were all vnarmed hée quickly made such a slaughter amongs them that the rest durst not come night him so that hée had tyme to descend the stayres and comming vnder the porch wheaeas his Page was with his horse although that a great number descended the stayres after him yet in spight of them all hée mounted vppon his Horse and by reason that the number was great béeing on Horsebacke hée slew many of them then the page mounted vppon his Horse and broching them furyousâ—…ie with theyr Spurres of pure force they went out of the Pallace In the meane time the Prince Don Siluerio séeing what had happened was the most furious angriest Knight in the world and entered into his chamber and armed himselfe with hie rich and glistering armour and the like did many other Princes and knights as well those which were borne in England as of those which hée brought with him out of Lusitania and béeing armed hée came vnto the place whereas hee left the king and when hee saw that they were gone in great bast they calied for their horses and mounting on them they follow their enimies with so great fury that many of theyr horses burst in their running and in pursuing of them they met with many that tolde them newes of the King Sacridoro and they forced so much their horses in following after them that the Prince Don Siluerio â—…uertooke the King Sacridoro a myle out of the Citie who when hée saw him come alone dyd abide his comming and when hée came vnto him with an outragious fury hée stroke the King such a blow vpon his helme that hée made him to decling his head downe to the brest but the King returned such another vnpon his helme that hée had ouerthrowen him to the ground if hée had not embraced himselfe about his horse necke but the Prince receiued so great griefe for the carrying away of the Princesse that hee feared not the perill of the battell but with great fury and courage hée béeganne to strike at the King charging him with very furious and terrible blowes but all that dyd profit him very little for that the king was a great deale more stronger then hée was so that it could not haue fallen out well with him if the battayle had endured long but at this time there were ioyned togeâ—…her with him more then one hundreth Knights the which â—…yd compasse the good and valyaunt King round about and â—…harged him with very great and thicke blowes but hée who was very valyaunt and couragious dyd verie little â—…stéeme his life for that it was in the quarrell and his duâ—…ie which hée did owne vnto his perfect friend Rosicleer and 〈◊〉 such sort hée dyd animate himselfe that in a small time â—…ée had slayne more then twentie knights and if there had not béene so many of them hée would by the help of almightie God and his great strength quickly haue cléered himself of them but by reason that there were so many and more and more they encreased that hée found himselfe in great perill and at the point to be slayne But at this time that valyaunt Rosicleer who séemed to come lyke vnto a whirle winde vppon his great and swift Horse when that hée came vnto the place whereas they made that cruell and perillous battell and séeing in what great danger and perill they had brought his friend hée strayght way put himselfe amongst the thickest of them lyke vnto a rauishing Lyon some hée cloue their heads a sunder and some hée cut of theyr armes and other some hée cut a sunder by the wast and did so héehaue himselfe amongst them that in a small time hée had ouerthrowen the halfe of them dead to the ground Then when the king Sacridoro knew the great aide and succour which hée had with a new fore hée charged so his enimies that béetwixt theÌ„ both they dyd so much that there was not a knight in all the field that durst abide them but onely the Prince Don Siluerio who béeing wounded with mortallâ—…sorrow griefe for the carrying away of the Princesse Oliuia with more courage then strength or force hée dyd combat with both of them charging them with very great and heauie blowes Then Rosicleer who séeing that that one Knight dyd disturbe them of theyr iourney without knowing him hée stroke him so terrible a blow vpon his sine healme that all amazed and astonied from himselfe hée fell from his horse to the ground That béeing done these two good and perfect friends would not make any long staying but set Spurs vnto theyr surions horses and ran witâ—… so great lightnesse that there was none that could ouertakâ—… them till such time as they came vnto the sea side Now aâ—… this time came the king Oliuerio out of the citie with morâ—… then tenne thousand knights as well straungers as of hiâ—… owne Countrie and followed the pursute of their enimies And when they came vnto the place where-as the battall was fought they were greatly amazed to sée that greaâ—… slaughter and eâ—…usion of blood and could not béeléeue that any humane Knight should haue so much force and strength for to make so great slaughter as there was done and helping vp the Prince Don Siluerio from the ground who lay a long vpon the earth as though hee had béene dead without moouing of hand nor foote they all together in an ambushment followed the pursuite of their enimies those two Knights but for all the great hast which they made in their running at such time as they came vnto the Sea
arise a great storme at the sea and at midnight the winde began to blow so terrible and the Sea to worke so far out of all order that sometimes they thought that the waues carryed the ship vp into the cloudes and other tymes they thought the Ship to fall downe to the deapth thereof and the Ship receiued such a leake that whatsoeuer the marriners could doo with the Pompe and otherwise yet might they goe vp to the knees in water aboue the balest for the which cause these two good knights made no other reckoning but to bée lost which caused them with all theyr harts to praye vnto God to haue mercie on them and to forgiue them theyr sinnes and also if it were his diuine pleasure to delyuer them out of that great torment When the day was come those boysterous windes dyd so beate the Ship tumbling and tossing it from one part to another in such fort that it could no longer indure but opened a sunder in the midest so that these two Knights had no other refuge but eyther of them to take holde of the first planke that came vnto theyr hands Then God who dyd reserue them for a greater effect did deliuer them that they were not drowned in that torment for that they had not fully halfe an houre sustained themselues vpon their planks in the water when that those mightie high and great waues dyd carrye them vpon the shoare The Prince Brandizel in Polonia and the Prince Clauerindo vpon an Iland that séemed to bée full of thick and gréene trées who when hée was vpon the shoare and saw himself cléere of that great torment he gaue great thanckes vnto almightie God for his wonderfull benefits shewed vnto him in that his deliuerance dyd very much lament the losse of his friend Brandizel not knowing what was béecome of him And béeing very desirous to know in what Countrie hée was finding a narrow and small vsed way hée followed the same and trauayling therein a mile hée meruayled very much that hée could sée no people neyther anie towne or inhabitaunce the Countrie béeing so fresh and full of Trées that it séemed vnto him neuer in all his lyfe to haue séene a Countrie so delightsome So after a great while that hée had trauayled by that narrow path at such time as the Sun béegan to waxe hot and found himselfe out from amongst those trées hee entered into a great and wide plaine in the midst of the which hée saw a mightie high and well towred Castle the which was of Lyndaraza the sight wherof put him in great admiration and it séemed vnto him y t it could not bee wrought by any humane hands and beeing very desirous to know who it shuld be that was Lord of that meruaylous Castle hée hasted his pace more then béefore and went towards the same and the nigher hee came to it the more hée meruayled So when hée came and saw that wide and déepe ditch and that there was no other entrie into the Castell but onelie by the bridge hée went thether and found that the gate was shut and hauing at the ring thereof a very fayre and rich horne of Iuorie with a scroule vpon it which sayde Thou Knight whose fortune hath brought thée hether if thou art determined to know anie thing of this great and strong Castle blow this horne and thou shalt not lacke one to make thee aunswere and haue a great care in defending thy selfe from the Porter for that hee will put thy lyfe in great perill The Prince heereat was very much amazed and could not imagine what it should bee but hauing a great desire to know what should bée within without any longer tarrying and with a valiant courage hée tooke the horne and put it to his mouth béegan to sound it with so great strength that the sound was heard throughout all the Castell and hée had not scarce pulled the Horne from his mouth when that with a great rushing and noyse the gates were open and there issued out at the gate a furious beast called Brama and the most horrible and euill fauouredst that euer was séene formed by nature for that his body was as big as two good horses and his legges more bigger then a buls legge and each legge had fiue clawes and the least of them was a span long and as bigge as a mans finger and his mouth so bigge that a man might well goe in thereat and was all furnished with very big tuskes and as sharp as a rasour and hée threw out at his mouth great abundaunce of fire and smoake in such sort that it séemed to bée Hell mouth and hée came foorth with so great brauenesse that there was no man but onely at the sight of hir would haue receiued great feare And as soone as this Brama was come foorth it went strayght wayes towards the Prince and in his hastynesse hée would haue gored him with his sharp tuskes but the Prince who was polytike and very lyght gaue a leape on the one side and cléered himselfe from the fury thereof and passing by him with his swoord hée thrust so terrible a foyne at that monster that chancing béetwéene two ribs it entered into his body vp to the hilts and pulling the sword out there followed great abundance of blood out at the wound Then when the furious Brama felt himselfe hurt with as great fury as euer was séene he returned vnto the Prince who bearing his head very lowe in such sort that by no meanes hee could defende himselfe but must of force abide his fury who stroke him with his tuskes so terrible a blow that hee threw him from the ground tenne paces from him backwards so that if his armour had not béene made by that wise man Lyrgandeo at that blow hée had parted him a sunder in the midst yet for all that the Prince was so euill intreated with the mightie fall that if hée had not béene of so valiant a courage it had not béene possible for him to haue risen agayne from the ground but by reason that hée was one of the most valiantest Knights in all the world with a trise hée arose vp agayne and at such time as this furious Brama camē towards him againe for to claspe him béetwixt his cruell and sharp clawes hée firmed himselfe sure vpon his féete and tooke his sword in both his hands and determined to put his lyfe in aduenture in striking of one blow and so hee dyd for at such time as this Brama came vnto him hée stroke him so stronge a blow with both his hands vppon his monstrous head and for that his Swoord was very good and sharpe and stroke with so good a will of the Prince that it cloue it cleane asunder and the sword entered into the ground a good span so that the monstrous beast fell downe dead to the ground beefore the Prince who praysed God greatly for that victorie which hee had and remayned a good
Princesse Lindabrides receiued cannot be expressed for that the day approched nigh in the which hir welbeloued knight shall be giuen hir to husband so that ther were no ioy nor pleasure that might be compared vnto hirs â—…or that as then she was voide of all feare in great security of that great doubt which the presence of the princesse Claridiana did put hir in So the dext day was come in the which the great triumphs feasts should be celebrated for that the next day following they should be maried in which day the emperour in a fresh gréene garden which was ioyning vnto the pallace did inuite all those mighty kings princes estéemed knights that were ther present for to dine with him the which was done with great solempnitie and great store of musick of diuers sorts The dinner was ended somwhat betimes all those knights which would enter into the 〈◊〉 went to arme themselues the â—…mperour put himselfe in his royall place appointed to bée holde all that should passe accompanied with such ancient kings knights that for their age they could not weare armour nor â—…ust And straight waiâ—…s the faire princes Lindabrides who was so brauely richly apparailed as neuer the like was seene came foorth accompanied with more then two hundreth of ladies damsels which were very faire of high estate anâ—… lignage and were carried vnto a place of estate that was very richâ—…y hanged and was appointed for them on the one side of that mighty court So when that all the windows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all other places were â—…urnished with people knights began to apeare in the court a great number Then the knight of the Sun being armed with his rich armour that he had of Meridian mounted vpon his light horse hée came foorth into the place all to he trapped with cloth of filuâ—…r wrought with beaten gold set full of precious stones 〈◊〉 which was worth a whole â—…ingdome He likewise had a 〈◊〉 of blew silk wrâ—…ught with gold which the princes Lindâ—…brides did giue him did become him meruailously well for that he came foorth accompanied with many princes knights with the sound of many instruments it gaue him so great maiestie that it well seemed that he was the most highest prince in all the world And all men receiued great contentment of his mighty proporcion for that he was the best made knight the comeliest both on horsbacke en foote armed vâ—…armed that was â—…o be found amongst all 〈◊〉 pagans And the most excellentest painâ—…ers in Grecia did send his picture for a mâ—…ruaile into all y e worâ—…d and was no lesâ—…e wondred at of all 〈◊〉 that did see it So when the knight of the Sun was entâ—…ed into the great place he rode round about the same being done he put himselfe at his 〈◊〉 with a mightie great speare in his hand 〈◊〉 pulled downe â—…is beuer straight waies they began to 〈◊〉 vnto the Iust. It was not long after when ther came foorth against him a pagan knight and prince of Cambray a young man very desirous to get honor who was armed with 〈◊〉 ry rich armour mounted vpon a great Horse who 〈◊〉 against the knight of the Sun who likewise came foorth 〈◊〉 receiue him and made their encounter with so great force 〈◊〉 strength that the prince of Cambray all to bée shiuered hiâ—… speare vpon the strong armoâ—…r of the knight of the Sun with out doing him any oâ—…her harme but he made his 〈◊〉 with so great force y t as though he had ben a child he 〈◊〉 him out of the sadle vnto the ground he passed 〈◊〉 on as thouâ—…h he had done nothing And for that they had the prince in estimation of a valiant knight they were all very much amazed to see him so quickly ouer throwen TheÌ„ straight waies after him came foorth Bracazar king of the Sandalos with a crowne of gold vpon his helme which did signifie him to be a king who was very proud and a knight very much feared amongst the pagans comming against the knight of the Sun they made their encounters in such sort that when the pride of Bracazar did mast increase he found himselfe ouerthrowen vnto the ground vnto his great reproch the knight of the Sun without any moouing with great furie of his horse did passe forwardes on without receiuing any harme So straight waies ther came foorth another pagan vnto the encounter called Gebreo king of the Teras one of the principalest in all y e court of the emperour who thought at the first encounter to ouer throw the knight of the Sunne with great fury went against him strok him such a blow with his speare that he made him somwhat to decline backwards vpon his saddle But the knight of the Sun made his encounter with so great strength that he ouer threw him his horse vnto the ground Then without any further tarying ther came foorâ—…h other three strong and valiant pagans whom he ouerthrew at their first encounters to the ground 〈◊〉 so great wonder vnto the emperour vnto all those that did bâ—…hold him that they could not beléeue that in any humane knight should remaine so great force or the like were able for to doo But much more they were amazed wheÌ„ that the most part of the day he passed away in that sorâ—… had 〈◊〉 to the ground more then one hundreth of pagaâ—… knights of kings other mightie lords without any shew of wearinesse in him or receiuing any damage at all but as one that â—…ad done nothing Then the 〈◊〉 Oristedes who was néerâ—… vnto the â—…mperour saâ—…d Of truth I cannot beleeue but all the Gods in the heauens did ioâ—…ne to gether at the making and â—…ngendring of this knigâ—…t and did vse him in all their powers and strengthe for that comming bether to be lord ouer all these thy countries kingdomes ioueraigne Emperour to be equall with them Then the emperour saide I doo verâ—…ly beleeue the same for as the high gods hath brought me hether this knight for to marie him with my daughter to be lord ouer this my high estate euen so had they great care consideration for to make him of so gâ—…eat courage aboue all them that are in the world And I so glad for to receiue him to be my son that ther is no other ioy that I doo dâ—…sire nor looke for So whilest that the emperour the Troian Onstedes was talking haereof there entered into the great place twelue giants all together of so huge bignes that they seemed to be towers all mounted vpon mighty elephants armed with armour made of scalles bones bordered with with fine gold precious stones with crownes of siluer very curiously wrought vpon their helmes their elophants were couered with skins lined with very fine white 〈◊〉 which did become them very
well And ther entred in after them twelue dwarffes of the Pigmeres which were their pages and all mounted vpon Elophants who carried theyr speares shields which were of so great hugenes that they were all together hid vnder them that no part of them could be perseued in such sort that beholding the mightie hugenes of the one the small stature of the other might very well be considered the great contrarietie that is in the operation of nature Then so soone as they were entred in the emperour straight waies sent word to know what they were it was giuen to vnderstand that they were the kings of the orientall Ilands which were very many very aboundant full of gold siluer precious stones wheras all the whole nation as well women as men were giants Although not far from them was the country of pigmeres for that these kings did vnderstand of these great feasts triumphs they were agreed altogether to 〈◊〉 see them ech of them beleeuing that twenty of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that might be ioyned together were not able to equall themselues vnto his great force strengeth And to say the truth they were the greatest valiantest in all the world for that they were of the naturall generation of giants for others ther be abroad in countries that although they séeme to be as big as they be â—…et are they not of the nation that they be of When these twelue Gâ—…ants were entred into the great mightie place all the whole company wondered greatly for they were the greatest that euer they had séene and beeing mounted vpon these Elophants they séemed an vnusuall thing to â—…ust with no knight would iust with them for that twentie knights together were not sufficient once to mooue them So straight waies one of them put himselfe right against the knight of the Sun with a speare in his hand of so huge bignes that it séemed to be the mast of a ship who shaked it with such vnusuall force of his arme that all men mused at it seeing him so great fearefull ther were few in all that place but were very sorry to sée him put himself against the knight of the Sun but especially the Emperour Alicandro and much more the princesse his daughter who could not abide to sée hir knight put in that great perill but sodaiâ—…ly lost hir coulour fell in a sound in the armes of hir ladies damsels who had very much to do before they could bring hir againe vnto hir selfe But this worthy couragious knight who made no wonder at the hugenes of the Gianâ—… but choosing the greatest and strongest speare that was 〈◊〉 a great number that were ther and setting spurs vnto his swift horse and with so great â—…ury that it seemed like a whirle winde he went towardes that mightie Gyant who so fast as the Elophant could runne came against him and ioyning together in the middest of the 〈◊〉 the speares point of the Giant did pearce through the shield of the knight of the Sunne and by reason that his armour wâ—…s the finest and the strongest that was in all the world the speare could not pearce it but glanced on the one side so that the speare apeered at the back of the knight of the Sun with his shield vpon the point for that the buckles thereof were broken and vpon a sodaine in that place was there a gâ—…eat rumor shriks amongst the people thinking that he had ben slaine but the valâ—…ant knight who had not his equall in all the world determined ther to shew his bountye made his enter in such sort vpon the broad breast of that dreadfull Giant by reason that the speare was great strong béefore it did breake he ouerthrew him his Elephant to the ground whose fall made so great a noise as though a whole tower had fallen downe he procéeded forwards on his furious course as though he had receiued no encounter at all which made all those that were present to wonder at that mightie blow Then the valiant Oristedes said vnto the emperour I doo beléeue that if the ancestors of this knight the gréekes and mine of the â—…roians which were together at the siege of Troy were now aliue not one of them should get any honour by this knight neither could they doo such meruailes in knighthood for that if this we haue séene should be related vnto vs in histories are giuen vs to vnderstand by others the most part therof we neuer should nor could bee leeue but rather iudge it to be a thing impossible Of a truth said the emperour your troian ancestors were very good singuler knights but yet I dooe beléeue that this knight is better then euer they were being in this coÌ„munication the second giant came foorth to iust with the knight of the Sun who taking another shield as fast as his horse could run moued against him so mightely they made their encounter that the speare of the giant by reason that it was big and chanced a full blow on the knight of the Sun y t it made him to decline backewards somewhat brake not but glanced vpwards without dooing any other harme so that hee setteled himselfe but he made his encounter with the Gyaunt so strongly that vnhorsing him from his Elephant he threw him to the ground and the good Knight passed forwards leauing the giant with so great anger that the smoke câ—…me out at his beauer as from a chimney with fire Then straight waies came foorth the third Gyant whom this valyaunt knight dyd ouerthrow vnto the ground in the same order as hee dyd the other in â—…uch sort hee perseuered in his valiaunt bounty that the first part of the day lacked to conclude when that of the twelue giants hee had ouerthroweâ—… a leauen of them to ground without once moouing in his Saddle at the encounter of any of them putting so great wonder in all them which beeheld him that seeing it beefore their eies they thought it a thing impossible to bee béeleeued And the faire Princesse Lindabrides seeing hir knight cléere from so mightie encounters was no lesse ioyfull as to sée him so far absent from the presence of the fayre Princesse Claridiana although shée was not in full securitie in séeing the last Gyaunt which remayned who séemed vnto hir to bée the best and most wonderfull and so it was of truth for that this was the most brauest strongest of them all aâ—…d although they were all Kings euery one of them ouer his Iland yet by reason of his great brauenesse and mightie force they were all subiect vnto this and they estéemed him for theyr Lord and principall amongst them and in signe and token thereof this had his crowne of fine golde meruailous richly wrought with precious stones and the other were all of siluer and hee was called Bradaman Campeon which was as much to say in theyr
â—…uccour lykewyse ranne agaynst him with so great swiftnesse that heauen and earth seemed to tremble so that the lookers on had great feare to beehold him â—…arrying to see the successe of that rigorous encounter the which was such and with so great force and strength that theyr speares although they were very big were sheeuered all to péeces without any moouing either of them in theyr saddles till such time as they came to méete together with theyr bodyes and horses Then the good Horse Cornerino with his sharpe and hard horne broched the Elâ—…phaunt in the middest of the breast in such sort that wounding hâ—…m very sâ—…re hee ouerthrew him dead to the ground with his master Bramadan vpon him who gaue such a blow vppon the earth with his fall that it séemed a mightie Tower to haue fallen hée made so great noyse Likewise the Knight of the Sunne with his Horse béeing tormented with the mightie encounter of Bradaman and his Elephaunt almost astonied they came both to the ground yet with a tryse this couragious knight rose vp vpon his feete with his swoord deawen in his hand and his shéeld on his arme hée went agaynst Bradaman who greatly amazed at that stronge encounter was vpon his feete with a great bat of yron in both his hands at the ende whereof was hanged by strong chaines of pron foure great peliets of the same mettall the which hée â—…long about his head flourishing with such â—…urie to see himselfe ouerthrowen at the first encounter by one alone Knight that hée wished all the whole place to bee fuâ—…l of Knights and agaynst him that hee might the better execute his fury and comming nigh vnto the Knight of the Sunne with great fury and forcâ—… hee let driâ—…e at him so terrible a blow that the bigge pellets on his bat whirled in the ayre and made so great a noyse that there was none in all the place but onely in seeing of him so fierce and outragious but were meruailously afraide But this mighty and valiant knight seeing so terrible and mortall a blow comming vpon him with great discretion made shew as though hee would abide the fury thereof but yet at such time as hée would discharge the same by reason that the Graunt was â—…rry hâ—…gh and the bloâ—… stroke ouerthwart hee with great 〈◊〉 stâ—…oped downe to the ground in such sort that the blow went ouer him without touching him any thing at all And with the great fury of the bat and the pellets it made the Gyant to turne twise about with all his body In the meane time this valiaunt knight did strike him such a blow vpon his leg that what with the great strength wherewith it was stroken and the finenesse of his swoord it cut his armour and the flesh vnto the hard bone whereat issued very much blood that the earth was all to bée sprinkled therewith But when that Bradaman felt himselfe wounded and saw his aduersarie béefore â—…im with so great courage his wrath anger and mortall courage was such that hée might bée compared vnto one of the infernall furies for that ther came foorth at his visor so much smoake and sparkles of fyer as though it had beene full of gunne pouder and Brimstone And with so great brauenesse that he put great feare in all them that dyd béehould him with both his hands hée béegan to throw that great and heauie bat about his head with so great force and swiftnesse that it séemed to make a round cerkle and the waighty pellets of yron that hung thereat made a whirling noyse in the ayre And so with this dreadfull semblance he went agaynst the knight of the Sun béeing very certayne and sure that if any of those pellets should fasten vpon him that it would breake him all to péeces But hée who in the lyke extremities his hart neuer fayleâ—… him séeing that it dyd accomplish him to 〈◊〉 from his aduersarie or else to abide that daungerous blow from the which it was not possible to escape the death if any of those pellets did chance to hit him At such time as hée came nigh him that the pellets had passed once about whiâ—…ling hard by his vâ—…sar of his helmr béefore that hee could come about againe with great lightnesse hee put himselfe within the force of the blow and â—…oyned with the Gyant in such sort that when hee came about with his swelling blow agayne the pellets missed their purpose but with the hand end of the club hée stroke the Knight of the Sun with so great strength that hée thought verely that all his armour and bones had béene broke a sunder in the midst and by reson of the greaâ—… strength and swiftnesse wherewith the pellets flew about was the occasion that the bat flew out of the Giants hands and â—…ell a great way from him on the ground The which when the good Knight saw beeing very glad hée cleered himselfe from him and said I promise thee from this time forwards thou shalt not profit thy selfe any more of this thy dreadfull weapon against mee Then the Gyaunt who made no reckoning thereof drew out a great broade fauchon the which hée had hanging at his â—…ide and saide knight doo not incourage the selfe any more for this that if all the heauens and 〈◊〉 were ioyned together in thy faâ—…our yet should they not be sufficient for to deliuer thy life out of my hands And in saying these words hée went vnto the Knight of the Sunne for to strike him a blow vppon his head the which was done so quickly that the Knight had no leasure for to cléere himselfe but warding it with his swoord and shéelde in the best wise hée could and chauncing vnder his swoord hée â—…loue his shéeld a sunder in the middest and the force of the blow descended downe vpon his Healme with so great strength that it made him to stoup with his knées hands downe to the ground and if his healme had not béene wonâ—…erfull good at that same blow hée had clouen him downe vnto the girdle yet for all this that valyaunt knight faynted nothing at all but with great lightnesse hée arose vp aâ—…ayne and by reason that the Gyaunt was of great height hée could not procure to wound him froÌ„ the wast vpwards â—…herefore hée tooke his Swoord in both his hands and stroke â—…im such an ouerthwart blow vpon the left leg that hée cut 〈◊〉 harneys and flesh to the hard bone and made a greaâ—… wound then the other béefore whereout there issued veâ—… much blood whereat Bradaman recouered so great outâ—…agious fury that hée wished that all the great place were â—…ll of knights to contend against him wheron he might the 〈◊〉 execute his blow for that the Knight of the Sunne â—…ith his great lightnesse and force dyd cleere himselfe from 〈◊〉 in such sort that it was a great meruayle for him to 〈◊〉 one sure blow vpon him which was the occasion that the