29. AFter that the knight of the Sunne had slaine that diuellish Fauno till such time as the Princesse Claridiana came vnto thé solitarie Ilande there was two moneths betwéene as saith the wise Lyâ—gandeo in which time he passed his life with sorrowes and complaints sighs and sobs all the daie long in the night time to sléepe vpon the hard ground although for to withdrawe himselfe in the time of water and raine and from the heate of the Sunne he made a cottage couered with boughs compassed round about with a fountaine scituated vnder a companie of thick trées this place was a great waie separated from that wheras the â—auno was slaine so that by reason that the Princesse was a foot as yet she was not come vnto that place but in all the time that this good knight was there he neuer eate anie other thing but such wilde 〈◊〉 and rootes as he found in the Iland so that with great hâ—â—â—nesse he did sustaine his liâ—e by which meanes as also for the greâ—t heauinesse and griefe which hee had taken in his heart he was brought verie loâ—â—e wared leaue and 〈◊〉 such sort that whosoeuer had seene him shuld not haue knowen him all the which he 〈◊〉 with great patience and determined in that sorte to ende his daies hâ—e was brought verie weake and feeble and could not long haue â—ndyred if remedie had not come in time neither could 〈…〉 to straight and wearie a 〈…〉 condition and strong of nature There was not in all the Iland anie person for to comfort him neither 〈…〉 thing to recreate his understanding but 〈…〉 which many times came that 〈…〉 him who one waie gaue him some comâ—ort when hee sawe him and another waie he did double his 〈◊〉 in calling to râ—membrance the great and worthie 〈…〉 that he did with him Likewise the 〈◊〉 of his friends turned him to great sorrow as â—he Emperour â—â—cbatio his father and the roiall Empresse 〈◊〉 his mother his good brother Rosicleer and of all the rest of his friends and he found himselfe verie solitarie without their companie but by reason that the griefe was much more which he printed in his heart in considering the misliking and euil loue of the Princesse Claridiana there was nothing sufficient neither that raging and solitarie life which hée suffered for to cause him once to change his minde for to departs from that place for that many times he said vnto himselfe séeing that the Princesse Claridiana desired his death and that she procured to giue it him with her owne handes hée desired to liue no longer in this world at least waies not in place where he might be séene of people Thus in the end of all this time that hée was there it chaunced the finall daie of all his troubles to bée verie hot and soultering and being passed a great parte of the same hée went forth of the cottage whereas hée was and went and put himselfe vnder the shadow of a companie of thicke trées whereas the water of the fountaine passed by with a swift course the place was verie pleasant and delectable and béeing sitten downe vpon the gréene grasse and the pittering leaues vpon those gréene trées béeing moued with a most swéete and peaceable winde ioyntlie with the cleere water of that fountaine running out betwéene the stones made so pleasant and delightfull a noise that the knight of the Sunne being ouerwatched with his continuall care fell asléepe and béeing in this order asléepe lying a longe vpon the gréene hearbes it chaunced to be the verie same daie that the Princesse Claridiana went to séeke him with great sorrowe and griefe because shée could not finde him neither aliue nor dead and by reason that shée went a foote and the daie verie hot shée waxed somewhat wearie for in all the other daie past and in that daie shée neuer ceased séeking of him round about in all partes yet notwithstanding her great wearinesse the greate care that shée had at her heart was the occasion that shée rested not till such time as fortune brought her whereas the knight of the Sunne laie vnder the trées in the shadow all along a sléepe but when shee found him whereas hée laie in that order vppon the ground and knew him there was no humane pleasure that might bée compared vnto that which shée receiued at that instant for shée remained a good space as if it had bene one transported into a new world without anie remembrance and it séemed verilie that it had not bene possible so greate ioy and pleasure should haue entred into her brest although to the contrarie when as she sawe that good knight the flower of all the knighthoode in the worlde to be so leaâ—e and wanne and put into so asper and straight life shee shedde great abundaunce of teares which ranne downe her faire face wherwith she was so bathed that when she came nigh vnto him she remained a pretie while as in contemplation and could not satisfie her selfe in beholding him for although hee was vnarmed and laie along vpon the harde ground yet dyd hée shew forth that soueraigne maiestie and graue semblance wherewith hée was adorned hee was apparelled in a doublet of cloth of golde somewhat worne out and his faire yeolow haire which séemed to bée â—kaines of golde was spread vppon the gréene grasse and his seuere countenance although it were leane and wanne did shew forth the gallant perfection wrought therein by nature For as the wise Lyrgandeo sayth and as it hath beene declared in many places of this Hystorie the proportion of his bodie hée saith that he had a long visage almost a spanae and a halfe long besides his beard which at this time was somewhat growen a broade forehead and bigge eies his eye browes compassing like an arke and almost a hande breadth from point to point his nose was somewhat sharpe a lyttle mouth and his lippes verie redde hee was of a gallant stature which was about eight foâ—te long and is sufficient for a Gyant and all his members so well proportioned that it séemed Nature dyd straine her selfe and indued him with all graces Therefore because hee was so bigge and well made in euerie part with that greate maiestie in his countenaunce as hée laie along vppon the grasse that sure it was a straunge thing to beholde and the Princesse dyd neuer vntil that daie sée him in apparaile that it better please her and giue her greater contentment which was the occasion that shée remained there a good while beholding of him as one greatlie astonished and it séemed vnto her that his shape dyd verie farre surpasse all humane vnderstanding and she sayd within her selfe that God had not created that knight of so good a disposition for to liue in the deserts and how that she deserued all euill for that she was the occasion of his sorrowe and troubles In the meane time that shée thus debated with himselfe the good knight began
remembrance with great furie he saâ—d vnto himselfe God forbidde that the sword wherewith I did strike so high and soueraigne a Ladie should now be defiled in the bloud of so foule infernall a monster And in saying these wordes with great furie and force he laide holde with both his handes vpon a great and knotted branch of one of those Okes and tore it from the bodie of the trée and trimming it in the best manner he could he laid it vpon his shoulder the which was so great and heauie that many other knightes should lacke strength to lift it vp from the ground And as he trauailed in this sort he thought within himselfe that if hée should be slaine in that battaile that then his good swoorde should remaine in the fielde and then afterward it might so fall out that in time that Iland might againe bée peopled then â—oulde it not be other wise but that sworde must come to the hand of some knight wherewith he might shed the bloud of others and for that he would not doe so greate iniurie vnto so precious a Ladie hée determined first for to break it all to péeces in such sort that afterward none might profit himselfe therewith Then considering how in what manner he might execute his determination to breake thâ— sword in péeces he sawe by him a little rocke the height of 〈…〉 although it were farre bigger and of very hard stone and thinking thereon to break it to péeces he drew out that â—â—ne sword laide vpon that rocke so many strong blowes that it séemed to burne with the great quantitie of fire that flew out thereof but by reason of his great goodnesse for that it was one of the best that was to be found in all the world all the strength that he had neither the hardnesse of the rocke was sufficient to breake it it was the sword the which he had of the Prince Meridian whereat this worthie Prince was in so great furie and wrath that with double strength he assaulted againe the rocke and in a short space he did cut and breake it all to péeces and the swoorde neuer the worse In this saith the wise Lyrgandeo that this knight had the greatest force strength that euer humane creature had before or after him and an euident token to consider y â— in so smal time he should cut breake to péeces such a rocke as that was the which no humane force was able to doe it but he onlie then this good knight séeing that all that euer he could doe was not sufficient to breake that sword although he made it many times to double bow the point vnto the hilt he determined to leaue it there and for that afterward it shuld be the better estéemed of him whose fortune it should be to finde it in the highest part of peaâ—e of that rocke that remained with the point of his sword hee engraued in Gréeke vearse these wordes following IF héereafter in anie time it chanceth anie knight to finde this sword you shal vnderstand that it is the knight of the Suns sonne vnto the Emperour â—â—rebatio who comming to this Iland in the demaund séeking out of the diuellish Fauno for to battaile with him because he would not haue the said sword defiled on him he left it wold not carrie it with him for that after his death he would it should not come into the power of anie other he did procure to breake it vpon this rocke the which was cut and broken therewith in such sort as you finde it and yet the sword could not be broken therefore I desire thée whose fortune it is to find it neuer to strike or wound anie therewith because his owner in the time of his greatest necessitie did leaue the same in consideration that he stroke therewith the most highest and soueraigntest Ladie and Damsell that euer was borne amongst humane creatures 〈◊〉 Thus when the knight of the Sun had engrauen these wordes he put the sword into the â—ich scabbard hanged it girdle all of gold vpon the â—aid rocke and tooke his knotted club vpon his shoulder began to go forwards his way a good pace his horse followed after him a good waie off In this sort the knight trauailed did discouer from a far the fire that procéeded out at the mouth of this diuellish Fauno wherby he might discerne where he was So halfe an houre after that he departed from the rocke with the large pace in his going he came within an arow shâ—t of the place whereas the Fanno was from whence he discouered the wonderful mishapen figure of that monsâ—er whose force furiousnesse no humane creature was able to discerne but that which made this knight meruaile most was to sée come forth at the mouth of this beast with the fire smoake so infinit a compaine of diuels in the shape of armed men y t it 〈◊〉 all the diuels in hell to be ioyned theâ—e together of them he sawe comming towards him a bushment which seemed to the number of two hundreth making so great a noise as though the whole Iland would haue sunke his good horse Cornerino till that time did follow him but at that great noise he returned backe againe like vnto a whirle winde vnto the place from whence he came although y â— infernal companie came against him with so great force yet this valiant and couragious knight did dismaie nothing thereâ—t but with an irefull semblance he larged his pace towards them for to worke his furie on them who when they came vnto him did first assalt him with infernall visions then did laie vpon him with their shod clubs yron mases so thicke terrible blowes y â— it séemed to be the forge of Vulcan but this valiant knight taking his club in both his hands began with so great furie to besturre himselfe amongst them that all that euer was before him he ouerthrew to the ground by reason that they did ouerpresse him very much with their thick terrible blowes he waxed verie wâ—athfull did redouble his furious blowes in such sort y â— in a short time y â— infernal companie began to flie returne vnto the place froÌ„ whence they came making such houllings shrikes y â— it would haue feared anie man to haue heard them This infernall companie had scarce returned when there came forth at his mouth another legion of diuels such as y â— first were all armedâ— with mases of yron in 〈…〉 did resemble giants came towards the good knight making a greater noise than it doth when it thundieth throweth out some thunderbâ—lt when they came vnto him they assalted compassed him 〈◊〉 about charged him with so many heauie terrible blowes that thrée times they made him to stoup with knées hands downe to the ground but commending himselfe vnto almightie God with his heart he
slashing and cutting all that euer they could reach and some they cloue from the head downe vnto the girdell with the which their aduersaries receiued so great feare that they fled before them as sheepe before wolues on the contrarie part the two brethren dyd such maruailes and wonders vpon the Paganes that their déedes were to be noted that day therewithal the first two battailes were ioyned together which was as gallant a sight to be séene as euer was the brauerie of the knightes was such for that in the forefront came the twelue kinges Giantes with the two thousand that came with them from their Ilands against whome there went to receiue them twelue knights of the Godos who séeing them so great and huge vpon the Elephants made their encounter in such sort that the one and the other were ouerthrowen to the ground likewise all y e rest made their encounters so that in a moment there were more then ten thousand ouerthrowen and their horses roming about the fielde fighting one with an other so that betwixt them there was a new battaile begunne here in this conflict did the knights of Spaine show their great valour for that there was none that did make their resistance with so great force against those Gyants killing some of them and recâ—uing their owne deathes with great courage In this battaile Don Claros slew one of the twelue knights of Bradaman with a speare that he thrust through and through his bodie with a forcible and strong encounter And Arcalus slewe an other with the strength of his arme in tormenting him with his terrible blowes vppon the head which was the occasion that they were in great perill of death if that the valiaunt knights of Spaine had not come in time to haue succored them for that a great number of those monsters had compassed them about who were mightie and verie strong so that those two valiant bretheren should euill haue escaped their hands but being ioyned together their battaile was more equall then before and better fought yet all dyd profit verye little the Christians for the getting of the field for that the bushment of those Orientall Gyants made so great slaughter amongst them that they were not able to make any resistance but to receiue cruel death On the other side was those infernal pagans father sonne Bradaman and Bramarant killing and slaying with great crueltie all that euer they could reach with their swords they made so great destruction that it séemed there were not people enough in y e campe for to hold them play that daye which was the occasion that within halfe an houre after that the battaile was begon the Christians began to lose ground and to retyre towards their armie and in some place they were not content to retyre little and little but turned their backes and ranne away all that euer they could in especial there whereas was Bradaman and Bramarant and the rest of the other Gyants who were sufficient for to destroy a whole armie Then when that Don Siluario sawe that the Christians lost ground he straight waies commaunded y â— all those of his charge should march forwards who straight waies with great fiercenesse put themselues into the battaile at whose entre many of the Pagans lost their liues and the Christians began to get ground againe but straight waies that mightie knight Rodaran and the king of Media and the other kings that were with him put themselues â—orwards with their people and when they came vnto the battaile by reason that they were so many and their captaines so valiant they did make great slaughter vpon their came in the enimies and to conclude the power of their enimies was so great that they made the Christians to runne awaye almost round about the fielde in such sort that the valiant knights of spaine could not succour them for that they were enclosed in battailing with the Gyants and had enough to doe to defende themselues from them Then straight vpon that came in the knig hts of Hungaria at whose entrie the battale was renewed and began to get ground and had put them to the foyle if that the third armie of the Pagans had not stepped forwards in the which came that worthie prince Meridian and the stout knight Brandimardo who entred into y e battaile with so great furie that that day was wonderfull vnto the Christians and knew not how and in what sort the Emperour Trebatio should haue so great a power of knights and gyants except they should come out of Persia for that they knew and vnderstoode that all that countrie were in great friendship with the knight of the Sunne and manie there were that repented themselues of their comming into Grecia in especiall Don Siluerio when he saw so great destruction amongst his men and the field so full of dead bodies the teares fell from his eyes with the great sorow griefe which he receiued at his heart and accused himselfe of the euill counsell which he gaue vnto the king Oliuero When that two howers was passed since the beginning of the battaile all the people of his part began to retire for that they could not suffer the great furie of the Pagans so that of verie force and necessitie it did accomplish the king Oliuerio to enter into battaile with all those knights that remained on his charge who were manie in number and verie good And although the Pagans were Lordes of the field yet at their comming they lost all that euer they had got before and the battaile renewed and better fought and the field so full of dead bodies that the liuing could scarce passe for them Here was to be noted the diuelishnesse of Bramarant and his father and the high knighthood of Meridian and of Brandimardo and of that stout knight Rodaran and of the king of Media that it might be saide they were sepulchres vnto the Christians which was not a litle griefe vnto Rosicleer who from that little hill did behold all that passed for to sée so much Christian bloud so spilt and shed with those heathenish Pagans although he thought all might be well suffered for to eschue a greater inconuenience that vnto the contrarie might happen vnto Christendome To conclude the day passed awaie and there remained no more but one houre of the Sunne setting when that the battaile was in equall sorte and the one got no ground of the other but followed their entresse the one killing the other without all pittie at which time the fourth armie of the Pagans entred which were many in number and entred with so great furie into the battaile that those of the king Oliuerio not being able to suffer their force began to loose ground The which being perceiued by Rosicleer that by no meanes they could not but be ouercome and dispersed as one that was a good knight verie pittifull would vse charitie with them for that the king Oliuerio was Father vnto the princesse Oliuia
encounter with the other Kinge who was called Leopardo and dyd so valiantlie herein that he dyd verie well make apparant the high progenitie from whence he dyd descend for being verie strongly encountered with that Giant which made him to loose the raines of his bridle and his stirruppes and to embrace him selfe with his horse necke yet dyd he make his iust with so great force and strength that he ouerthrew him and his Elephant downe to the ground one vpon an other and by reason of the great waight of the fall which dyd bruse him so â—ore that he could neuer arise but dyed presentlye in the place whereas he laye Now at such time as these encounters were made betwéene the fire knights the two first battailes were ioyned together whereas was so great a number slaine on the one part and on the other that the liuing could not passe but vpon the dead bodies and by reason of the great dust that dyd arise amongst them they could scarce see any other thing but the great number of horses and Elephant that ranne loose out from the thickest of the pâ—eace And sure it was a most pitifull and lamentable thing to heare the great shrickes and cryes of those that were hurt and maymed for without all doubt manie a thousand of them might haue bene cured and haue liued if they could haue bene by anie meanes holpen to arise and come forth but by reason of the great preace and multitude they dyed a miserable death vnder the horse feete But who so euer hadde séene at that present the knight of the Sunne in presence of his mistresse the princes Claridiana how y â— in a smal time he ouerthrew â—â—ew more then thirtie of those giant knights that came with Bramarant some of them he cutte off their armes other he cloue their heads and othersome he cloue down to their breasts in such sort that in so small time there was neuer séene so great a slaughter done by one alone knight And the royall Princes with Oristedes who followed him many times did with draw themselues from fighting for to beholde the meruaiuailous actes that he dyd and the sight thereof dyd so alter them that the bloud within their bodies séemed to ware colde to see the terrible and mortal blowes which he stroke and although they for their parts dyd kill and ouerthrow all that came before them yet had they enough to doe to â—olow him his furie was so great wherewith he put himselfe amongst his enimies and his souldiers that dyd behold the wonders which those thrée dyd tooke meruailous courage themselues in such sorte that in a little time the battaile had bene ouer come if it had noâ— bene for that strong and stout Bramarant who played y â— diuell amongst the Gréekes killing all that euer he could reach with his long broade cutting sword against the which they could make no more resistance then against a thunder bolte This daye was the death of the Gran Campion vnto many verie deare and sorowfull for that his sonne for to make cruell reuengement for the same with furious wrath and mortall anger doth destroy ouerthrow all that commeth before him wherewith he doth increase the streames of bloud in the fielde that it flowed with great aboundance The kings likewise of the Oriental Ilands such as remained dyd healpe him verie much in this slaughter for that they were great Gyants and deformed the people fled away before them as from the diuell of hell Likewise all the rest of the people that came with the gran Campion from those Ilands by reason that they dyd surmount in stature and bignesse the people oâ— Grecia and more in number dyd kill and destroy manie oâ— them and in that place whereas they went they had the better hand so that y â— battaile was in ballance for that on the one side the Grâ—â—kes 〈◊〉 and on the other side the Pagans lost and had the worst In this sort the battaile mingled together and on both parts was done great slaughter till such time as they ioyned with the second battiles But these worthie knightes séeing howe their people were ouercome and fled before their enimies and the great destruction that was done vppon them they turned about their horses for to rescue them and the knight of the Sunne procured to come to that place whereas Bramarant was and when that he came thether one of those Gyants that was with him stroke so terrible a blowe at the Princesse Claridiana vpon her helme y â— it made her eies to sparkle with fire and againe if that she had not embraced her selfe about her horse necke she had falne to the ground But this Pagan dyd not aduaunce himselfe of that blow for that béeing séene by the knight of the Sunne who was all kindled in ire with a mightie courage he raised himselfe in his stirops and stroke him such a blowe vppon his left shoulder with so great furie and force that he cloue him downe to the saddle bow in such sorte that hee fell downe to the ground in two péeces with so great wonder vnto all them that sawe that terrible blow that they could not perswade with themselues that he shuld be a humane knight and the royall Princesse who verie well sawe the execution of that blow was verie glad and ioyfull at her heart for that shée had so nigh her so valiant aide and succour and being almost ashamed to sée her selfe so euill intreated before him she tooke her sword in both her hands and stroke such a blow at another of the Gyants who had his sword in the aire all aloft readie for to discharge it vpon her that she cut both his armes a sunder that his hands sword and all fell to the ground and the gyant ranne awaie and put himselfe in the middest of the battaile roaring and houling like a Bull. From that time the worthie Alphebo and the roiall Princesse so behaued themselues in the thickest amongst their enimies that what with killing and wounding all that euer they could reach in such sort that they were greatlie feared of their aduersaries At this time the good Troian was not idle but all to be raied with the bloud of them that he had slaine and at one terrible thrust which he threw at one of the Gyant kings hée passed his sword through his bodie so that hée fell downe dead to the ground But when that Bramarant sawe the great destruction the which these thrée knightes made amongst his people he rowled his eies in his head as though fire would flie out of them and with great wrath he came towardes the knight of the Sun for that it séemed vnto him that he was the knight that stroke the mortallest blowes of all the rest and when hée came vnto him he stroke him such a terrible and ouerthwart blowe vppon his healme that he made the sparkes of fire to flie out a great waie off and with the
another and did him no more harme but that which he receiued by the heat of the fire for as he carried him nigh vnto his mouth he thought verilie to haue bene burned but y â— which the knight of y â— Sun was most grieued at was that he helde him so fast betwixt his armes that he had no power to put forth his armes neither to vse his own strength In this sort the monster caried him vp down a good while till at the last the knight felt that he might firme his féet on the ground at which time he stretched his legs made so strong resistance against the Fauno that he made him somwhat to recoile whereat giuing a hastie strong turne hée wrong himselfe out of his clawes with great lightnesse tooke againe his club the which was fallen from him as the Fauno with great impetuositie returned vpon him hée was in a readinenesse with his bat in both his hands abiding his coÌ„ming but before he approched nigh him he stroke him so terrible a blow with his club vpon his head that although his scull was more harder than a stith yet he made him to tumble on the earth more than halfe amazed before he could recouer himselfe for to rise vp he redoubled another blow and stroke him in the same place that he made him to ioyne both head breast vnto the ground cleane out of remembrance at which time there was so timerous a noise of shrikings howlings which those infernall diuells made comming forth of his mouth shewing such ill fauoured figures mishapen visions that no humane creature y â— shuld behold it but would haue receiued great feare dreade but this knight the flower of all other if all hel had risen against him with the fauour of almightie God vpon whom he did call would not haue feared them so that he was not onelie without dreade but also with a greater force and strength than before he lift vp his heauie knotted club and at such time as this infernall Fauno would haue risen vp he with all his force dyd strike him such a blow vpon the head that by reason that before his scull was crazed he now did beate it into his braines and made them to runne abrode wherewith this diuellish Fauno fell altogether to the ground and shaked with all his bodie and scrawling with hands féetâ— he made the earth to flie from him a great waie with the pangs of death This monster was not so soone fallen down but all that infernall crue that were within his bellie began to come forth at his mouth with so great quantitie of fire that they séemed all to burne therewith and vpon a sodaine the Sunne which shined as then verie cléere was as though it had ben couered with a cloude and all the heauen was so darkned that throughout all that Iland it séemed as though it had ben night and therewithall it thundred and lightned in such terrible sort as though heauen and earth would haue sunke and ther appeared vnto this good knight many infernal visions in as horrible maner as might be all full of fire in such sort y â— although it was as darke as night yet there appeared a meruailous and an innumerable number of theÌ„ so light as firebrands that he thought verily that all the diuels of hell had ben there ioyned together In this sort they continued a while and then vpon a sodaine he saw together a mightie legion of diuells in a bushment who brought in the midst amoÌ„gst them a naked woman whom they tormented in as cruell sort as might bée imagined she gaue great and pittifull shrikes and complained in such sort that the knight well vnderstood she should be the wise Artimaga who was brought thether by those diuells whereas her sonne laie dead and as they carried her round about the place some of them did strike her with sâ—rebrandes that euerie blowe séemed to burne her vnto the guts and other some dyd whip her so cruellie that euerie gyrke dyd make the bloud to spring out of her bodie and she with greate shrikes and cryes that seemed to bée heard vnto the heauens sayd Oh Artimaga cursed be the daie hour that thy father 〈◊〉 begot thée and the day wherein thou wert borne cursed be that day wherein the diuel did deceiue thee and the day that first thou didst put thy trust and confideÌ„ce in him these be his promises and this infernal fruite is that which he promised thée this is he that I so much desired by whom I and all this Iland should be so much spoken of all hath fallen out to be true for that the sonne which was borne of mée did proue to be such that the remembraunce of him shall not be forgotten so long as the world endureth These and other such words vttered this Artimaga in the time that these diuells carryed her round about where as her sonne lay with continual torments of her that it moued the good knight that did beholde all this vnto great compassion So after a while that this endured it began to lighten and thunder much more then before in which terrible noyse all this infernal companie began to vanish away and all those diuells that brought Artimaga likewise returned neuer ceasing in tormenting hir one minute of an houre So when they were all vanished and departed the day began to cléere vp the Sunne to shine as bright as before and was nothing séene in all the Iland but this good knight standing by the Fauno who was altogether starke dead but Cornerino his good horse being scared with that great noyse of thunder ranne and put himselfe into the sea wheras he remained swimming vp and downe till all was past and gon and then he came a land againe after that all this was finished the knight of the Sunne knéeled downe vpon the ground and gaue great thankes vnto almightie God for the 〈◊〉 which he had giuen vnto him and finding himselfe all sowltering hot with the fire of the Fauno he pulled of his armour and with the water of the brooke he did refresh himselfe in drinking thereof and washing his bodie this being done he returned to behold the Fauno whereas he lay dead and in séeing him he began a new to meruaile at his wonderful and mishapen forme thought it a thing impossible that nature should bring foorth to monstrous a creature Then after that he had vewed him a while he went and vewed all the Iland and founde it to be solitarie and not one left in all the whole compasse wheras before it was meruailously replenished with all maner of beastes and as then not one remaining for that this infernall Fauno had eaten destroied them Likewise he found y â— all the edifices and buildings were ouâ—â—throwen with weather and broken downe which seemed before time to be meruailously well peopled where at he receiued great griefe and moued vnto great
yet more famous was that valiant and worthie Febatio who with one hundreth Gallies and thirtie great shippes was serued by all the kings of the Leuant and was feared of all them that dwelt towards the Ponients yet in the ende he was taken prisoner by king Cirus and in one houre he had his reward for all the euills that he had done in all his time The rouer Militas with Curreo which were both in y â— time of the first Dionisius the Siracusian the one destroyed Sicilia and thâ— other did rob spoyle all Asia but after y â— they had vsed this trade y â— space of xxx yéeres by sea in y â— end the rouer Militas was taken prisoner by them of the Rodes and when that he was brought into the place of execution he did aduaunce and reioyce in himselfe for that with his owne proper hands he hadde cut of the heads of fiue hundreth men and threw fortie into the Sea and thirtie thousande were slaine in battaile with his Galliâ—s and in the ende was executed by them of the Rodes according vnto his deserts This and many other moe which I could rehearse were famous rouers yet when their houâ—e was come of their sorowfull destinie they were rewarded for their sinne and wickednesse and neuer inioyed the ritches that they had stollen Therefore I doe beleeue Cleonidas that thou in all thy actions being so conformable that the Iustice which happened vnto them cannot be lacking vnto thée Consider from whence thou commest and what thou hast bene and then I hope in God that thou wilt leaue of to be a rouer or else thou wilt goe to receiue the reward of all the harmes which thou hast done in this world vnto the diuel of hell who is author and guide of such as thou art Then Clâ—onidas hearing y â— princes Claâ—idiana vtter these wordes with so great boldnesse and courage burst out in a great laughter and saide Now of my faith knight I tell thée that I neuer knew a more foolish man then thou arte that in this sort doest threaten Cleonidas and telleth him Histories of Rouers as though that he were lesse in force and strength then Dionedes and thy selfe of more power then euer was Alexander Stay a while and I will make thée to vnderstand and know who I am and likewise will teach thée to know to whome thou speakest and in saying these words he drew out his swoord went against Claridiana then there began betwéene them a very fierce cruel battaile they layed the one vpon the other such strong heauie blowes that in short space their shields were hewed broken in péeces all those that beheld theÌ„ were greatly amazed at their great force stoutnesse and it séemed vnto them that they were two of y â— brauest strongest knights that euer before they had séene This battaile was so rigorous that in a short space Cleonides began to féele know the high bountie of his aduersarie as he that neuer in all his life met with anie that did charge him so strongly neither brought him into the like extremitie and the more he strined against her the more he felte the waight and furie of her blowes This battaile endured betwixte them more then a whole houre from the beginning at which time the royall Empresse Claridiana was more fresher fought more stronger then at the beginning and Cleonidas began to wax werie and faint and would very faine haue had the ayde succour of his knighte but the Empresse perceiuing it fearing all that might happen did so inforce her selfe y â— striking thrée mightie blowes at him on his healme all in one place in great hast the one after the other she made him to fall forward vpon his hands to the ground and before that he had any time to recouer himselfe againe she stroke him so terrible a blow betwéene the gorget and his helme that she stroke cut of his head cleane from the bodie so that they fell boâ—h together downe to the ground Then the knights of Cleonidas which were to the number of ten when they sawe their Captaine headlesse they altogether assaulted Claridiana charging her with thicke and strong blowes but she receiued them in so gallant and valiant sort that in a short space she slew â—iue of them and the other séeing her mortall blowes dyd yéeld themselues and craued pardon for their liues In this sort did this famous rouer end his daies God permitting that he should be without the aide and succour of the rest of thâ— Nauie for that hée whom all the coasts of the sea feared shuld receiue his death and be slaine by the handes of a Damsell Thus he being dead and his knightes yéelded straight waies Claridiana commaunded to be set at libertie all those prisoners that hée had taken the which being done there came before her presenting themselues a damsel who was very faire brought by a principall knight that was taken prisoner at that instant by Cleonidas and both of them gaue her great thankes for the worthinesse the vsed in â—laying of their enimie and meruailed verie much at her great bountie and valiantnes The Empresse receiued them verie curteouslie and asked of them who they were and of what Countrie Wherevnto the damsell answered saying You shall vnderstand worthie knight that this Knight and I are both of the confines of Sarmasia and I am Ladie ouer sixe Castles of mine owne the which be verie strong and good all scituated in one great and fresh valley and this knight is Lord ouer other thrée Castles round about mine and being ouercome with my beautie fell in loue with mée and would haue taken me for his wife I liked wel of him but there was one thing that did disturbe me and hindered the accomplishing of his desire which was that I had some suspition that he bare great good wil and loue vnto a Damsell that is verie faire and Ladie ouer another little valley which is verie faire and pleasant and till such time as I was fullie certefied of this doubt I wold neuer consent vnto his request for the which séeing that there was no order howe and which waie I might entirelie satisâ—â—te my selfe There was a conclusion conserted betwixt vs both that we should goe together into the kingdome of Rusia vnto the caue of the wise Artidon who doth answere a full conclusion vnto all that is demanded of him and doth knowe the secret of all heartes and what they doe desire although they doe dissemble and kéepe it neuer so secret So this séeming vnto vs the best remedie wée straight waies gaue order for the same the which being in a readinesse wée embarked our selues in this shippe and departed bringing with vs to the number of twelue knightes to bears vs companie and béeing by fortune put into this port our mishappe woulde that wée shoulde méete with this rouer Cleonidas who straight waies with his knights
the citie the which being perceiued by the captains they did incourage and animate them all that euer they could for to holde their owne and to remaine in the field but they respecting the two Paganes and saw that they were the onely occasion of their retyring and signe of destruction the two Princes Radamarte and Rodafeo toke to them two bigge and strong staues and setting spurres to their Horses with so great furie as possible was the one made his encouÌ„ter against Bradaman and the other against Bramarant who although they were on foote yet for all that by reason of the greatnesse and mightinesse of their persons were séene aboue all the rest but it fell not out well with these two Princes for although they made their encounter verie strongly and brake their staues yet did they them no harme neither made any motion of mouing thereat but passing by they strok either of theÌ„ such a blow at his enimie with so great furie on their wastes that they ouerthrew theÌ„ to the earth and if their armour had not bene verie good they had parted them a sunder in the middest Forthwith these furious PagaÌ„s passed forwards for to put themselues in the thickest of the Gréekes who fled meruailously before them in which time the two Princes had space for to recouer againe their horses and with great anger and griefe for that misfortune that happened vnto them they put themselues amongst the Pagans requiting on them the iniurie done by the other two determining not to return anie more to proue themselues vpon the two Pagans that had ouerthrowen them because they sawe that they coulde get but little honour at their hands In this time the Greekes retired backe all that euer they could and lost a great part of the field so that the rest of the Pagan fleete had roome and space inough for to diseâ—barke themselues so y â— all the fields were peopled with the Pagan host The which the Emperour â—rebatio perceiuing he straight waies commanded the Prince of Dardania and the king of Esclauonia y â— they with twentie thousand knights should issue out into the battaile and do so much that by force they might make the Pagans for to retire onelie for that they should not thinke Grecia so be so ill prouided of knights and defence Then these two Captaines who were verie valiant and stout knights with those knights that the Emperour had commanded departed out of the citie and passing two great fields that were betwéene the Pagan host and them they came vnto the battaile and séeing that the Grecians retired and were like to lose the victorie with all the force and furie possible they entred all together into the battaile and slew many of their enimies and got againe the field the which before they had lost made the Pagans to retire vnto y â— sea side although they were a great number more then there were of the Gréekes and continually did disembarke more and more all alongst the coast some armed and other some tarrying for theyr armour and horse yet for all this it dyd well appeare that those which came from the citie a fresh had not felt the great power and infernall furie of these braue Pagans the father the sonne who with great ease did battayle with the rest but quickly they felt their mortall and wonderfull blowes which caused them to loose a great part of their brauerie semed that those two were sufficient for to destroy them all who with verie broade and heauie fauchins dyd put themselues amongst the Gréekes some they cut a sunder by the wastes and othersome they cloue down to their breastes and othersome vnto the saddle and made great slaughter in such sort that amongst the Gréekes ther was not one knight although he were neuer so valiant stoute that durst abyde before them but ranne away from tâ—e place whereas they saw them come thinking them to be more like diuels of bell then knights At this time y â— Emperour Alicandro was come a shore and moâ—ted vpon a triumphant Chariot such a one as the princesse Lindabrides brought out of the which he did behold all that passed in the battaile and was verie ioyfull for to sée the great wonders which Bradaman Campion and his sonne dyd and semed vnto him that they two alone were sufficient for to destroy a whole armie and he saw that by their force the Gréekes began to loose ground although euerie one of them did verie wel by the great incouraging of their captaines At this time the good knight Rosicleer finding himselfe agreued would not detaine himselfe any longer in the citie seing that the battaile was meruailously moued he armed himselfe with his strong rich and glistering armour And although the Princesse Oliuia and the Emprisse Briana his mother did all that they could for to disturbe his going yet dyd it profit theÌ„ very little for that in taking lisence of the Emperour his father he issued out of the citie accompanied with those valiant knights the Troian Oristedes the Tartarian Zoylo the two princes Bargandel and Liriamandro and the king Alamades all these sixe together without carrying any other people in their companie but onely certaine squires for to carrie their speares In this sort went towards the battaile a gallope with their horse and according as they were of gallant proporcions and very well armed they gaue contentment vnto all that dyd behold them and the eâ—tring of these knights into the battaile fell out euel vnto a great number for that in this day a great number of the pagans lost their liues by their hands With great furie entred these sixe worthie knights into the battaile and so valiaÌ„tly besturred themselues that vnto the rest of the Gréekes they gaue new force and courage to returne vnto the fight and great wonder vnto the Pagans to sée their brauerie with great anger they put themselues amongst their enimies ouerthrowing and killing all that euer was in their waies in such sort that they left all the field whereas they went full of dead bodies there was not one although he were neuer so stout that durst abyde before them but in especiall that worthie Rosicleer who had the forehand dyd charge his enimies with so great and furious blowes that the Emperour Alicandio other Pagan kniges that dyd behold them out of the triumphant Chariot did think verely y â— it was the knight of the Sunne for that in his gallant proporcion and mightinesse of bodie he did resemble him verie much And their bloud waxed colde in their bodies to see how he did cut their knights asunder in the middest and some cloue downe vnto the gerdelsted likewise they were greatly amazed at the stoute Troyan that rode by him who ouerthrew slew with his sword all that euer he could reach and dyd in this day make aparant vnto all people the valiant discent from whence he did procéede Also that valiant Tartarian
armes and other their heads in such sort that who soeuer had sene him with that impetious furie they could not haue iudged him but to be either his sonne Rosicleer or y â— knight of the Sunne and in his mightie déedes he did demonstrate that there was not a Christian prince that with more reason did deserue to beare the name to be father of so excelent sonnes He did not content himselfe to kil destroy meane knights but did séeke out the principall captaines knowing them by the richnesse of their armour he would assalt them making rekoning that in ouercomming them he ouerlayed the whole state and force of the battaile and there with he met with the king of the Seras and knowing him by a riche crowne of Gold and precious stones which he had vpon his helme he tooke a speare from one of his knights and ranne at him therewith making his encounter in the middest of his brest that the speare pearsed through his bodie and he fell dead to the ground this being done he made an other encounter against the king of the Balibotros who receiued little benefit of his thirtie thousand knights and eight thousand Elephants which he brought out of his countrie for that at one thrust with a speare his heart was clouen a sunder and the head appeared all bloudie at his backe and he tumbled to the ground likewise with another blowâ— with his sword he cloue the head of another king of the Nidias which had his healme more furnished with golde and precious stones than of strength In this sort he passed into the battaile doing such meruailes that whereas he passed they all made him roome and gaue waie Then the Emperour Alicandâ—o who saw all that passed from his triumphant Chariot sayd vnto many kings that were with him Without all doubt this is the knight of the Sun and new come into the battaile and of truth his power is verie great and he would giue â—s the repulse if there were not so infinit a number of knights in this my armie to make resistaunce Tarrie a while sayd the olde king of Gedrosia for that is not the knight of the Sun as you do saie but it is the Emperour Trebatio his Father who when that he himselfe in the middest betwixt his sonnes and accompanied with that bushments of knights which now are with him he wil not feare all the whole world if they were all together against him At this time who so had séene the great slaughter which that valiant Florion his sonne Brandizel did as also the Prince Clauerindo with the Tartarian Zoylo and all the other precious and worthie knights surely they would haue saide that by experience of the great slaughter which they did they had ben sufficient to haue destroied a great armie that although the Pagans were almost twice so many as they were yet by their occasioÌ„ they lost continually ground and if there had not béene amongst them one Bradaman and one Bramarant that did incourage them they shoulde haue had inough to doe to haue defended themselues from them with whom they were so earnest in battaile withal for that it was good two houres since they first began fight and at that time there was no more aduantage to be knowen than at their first beginning at the which these braue Pagans were so furious that it séemed that they threw out smoake from the beauers of their healmes and béeing verie desirous to satisfie their hungrie wrath with the bloud of the others Bramarant dyd leaue Rosicleer with whome he dyd combat and like a diuell of hell hée put himselfe into the battaile destroying and killing all that euer hee met with so that before him hée made a broade lane and sayd within himselfe that Rosicleer was verie valiant and strong and could not beléeue that the knight of the Sunne had so much strength but yet if that he might haue him in place whereas they might haue more roome and time for to finish their combat hée would be wholie reuenged of him according vnto his will and desire Likewise at that time Bradaman his Father with his sword in both his hands stroke so strong a blow at the good Troyan vpon his helme that béeing all amazed and from himselfe his horse carried him round about the field and turning himselfe about hée stroke another blow at the king Sacridoro that hée fell backwardes vpon his horse crouper and had fallen to the ground if that he had not béene succoured by the Gréekes and without making anie more account of them hée put himselfe into the battaile after his sonne and béeing both together they made so great slaughter that all did flie from that part whereas they went It dyd not much grieue Rosicleer nor his companions to sée themselues separated from those diuells yet with great furie they put themselues into the battaile killing and ouerthrowing all that euer came into their waie in such sorte that it went euill with a great number for that they were separated from the battaile which they had with those stout Pagans At this time the Emperour Trebatio met with that strong knight Rodaran king of Arabia and knowing him by the deuice of his armour with great anger that hée had against him for the treason hée vsed hée made towardes him and for that Rodaran was one of the valiantest Pagans that was in all the whole armie it was the occasion that betwixt them there began a stout and braue battaile that many had inough to doe to behold them and the rest of the daie was almost spent before that they were parted asunder and for because there were at that present in the battayle few principall Knightes in parte of the Pagans and on the Emperour Trebatio his side there were a great number and it séemed vnto the Pagans that the Gréekes got much ground on them The Emperour Alâ—candro straight waies commaunded the two thousand Gyantes of Bradaman for to enter into the battaile who obeied his commandement with so great impetuositie and furie that many of their aduersaries they â—â—ew and ouerthrew vnto the ground At this present were to be séene the great meruailes done by Rosicleer and by all the other worthie Princes and knightes who being ioyned together with the number of one thousand of their knightes did put themselues to make resistance against all those Gyants and with their strong and worthy armes did resist that impetuous companie who were sufficient to put them all to flight Héere did the stout Oristedes verie well shew his manhoode and the valiant worthie Clauerindo the Tartarian Zoilo and the king Sacridoro the Prince Don Lucindo Liriamandro Bargandel the king Alamades Rodamarte Rodafeo euerie one of these did so much that the reader thereof may coniecture of their great bountie but yet in the end by reason that the Pagans were double as many as they and againe those two diuells the Father and the sonne against whom
it was so great and imagining what it should bée shée went that waie but when she came there shée was straunglie amazed to sée the infernall figure of that mishapen beast and yet more horrible and wonderfull it was than héeretofore it hath beene tolde you for that there was no vnderstanding of man that was sufficient to imagine the great deformitie of this beast beeing dead as hée was but the good Princesse had not much time to pervse the great vglinesse of this beast for when shée salve all the armour of the knight of the Sunne there laide vppon the stone and knew them verie well by the straunge and rich worke that was in them her heart was readie to breake with dolour and griefe and almost from her selfelshe fell from her horse downe to the grounde whereas she laie a good while vpon the gréene grasse in a sound and coulde not speake anie one worde but laie as though shée hadde bene dead but within a while after shée came againe vnto her selfe and arose vp and went forthwith vnto the armour and embracing her selfe with them shée vttered these wordes with so great sorrowe and griefe that shée would haue moued anie man to compassion to haue heard her but in especiall when that shée hadde read that which was written vppon the Stone which was in this manner following This is the diuellish Fauno sonne vnto the diuell begotten of Artimaga who was slaine by the knight of the Sunne Prince of Grecia who being determined to leaue the world would conclude and end his daies in this solitarie Iland this was his armour the which he doth leaue héerâ— in signe of the last victorie that hée concluded in his life time When the Princesse had concluded the reading of these lines shée lacked but a little to conclude her ende for that by those wordes shée conceiued that the knight of the Sun was dead especiallie when shée looked about on euerie side and could sée no other signe nor token of him shée conieâ—â—ured euill in â—er owne imagination and hauing net so much force and strength for to suffer that mortall griefe in great rage and anguish of her heart she embraced her self with the armour and sayd OH good knight what is become of thée that in this sort thou hast left thy excellent and precious armour God hath created thée of so great magnamitie aboue all other knightes in the worlde for to leade thy life in the desarts like vnto brute beasts and if it bée so that I am in â—ault and haue béene the occasion of all this euill héere I doe promise and make a vowe vnto thee neuer to depart from hence alone except it be in thy companie héere will I end my sorrowfull dayes héere will I for euer make my bedde on this hard ground and neuer laie my head vpon anie other thing than the harde stones for that with the hardnesse of them I may molliâ—iâ— my harde heart that was so hardned against thâ—e my sustenaunce shall bée no other thing but griefes and sighes and that which I will drinke shall be the teares that distilleth from the fountaines of my eyes and I will not haue anie other companie but alonelie this armour the which so many times and oft hath béene vppon the worthie bodie of that good Knight and defended him from my raging and mortall blowes These shall bée onelie my comfort and the myrrour whereon I will looke for that the memorie of them shall euerie moment increaâ—e my heauie dolour I will wander all alone in these desarts lyke the Turtle doue that hath lost her louing mate and giue shrikes in this wildernesse lyke vnto Narhâ—o to see if thou wilt aunswere mée as the Nymph Eco dyd aunswere him These and many other thinges spake the Princesse tormenting her selfe with exceeding greate anguish and griefe Then in the end of halfe an houre that she was there shee remembred how that the wise Artidon had tolde her that she should finde him in that Iland yet she doubted verie much of his life to see all that she hadde seene before although by that remembrance thee 〈◊〉 some hope Likewise shee called vnto her remembrance that hee sayde that shée should make hast in his demaund for that it might so fall out that his comfort might come to late by reason that he was brought into so great 〈◊〉 and daunger of his lyfe which doubt brought her 〈◊〉 so greate conâ—â—sion that hee heart sayled her and it 〈◊〉 that thee had neyther force nor strength sufficient for to 〈◊〉 anie farther forwardes but as ended dyd verie well beholâ—e that diuellishe and infernall Fauno to see how that râ—gorous battaile was 〈◊〉 shee sawe the greate and wonderfull horne that was broken off from his head and his scull broken all to péeces and his great and mightie clubbe lying thereby whereby she dyd vnderstand howe and after what manner he was slaine and giuing a greate and deepe sigh the sayde as followeth Oh excellent knight howe worthie are thy déedes to bee published throughout all the worlde and with great reason the déedes of all other knightes ought to bee put to silence and neuer more to bée spoken of for the worthinesse of thy deeds being so excellent as they are so manie and of so great admiration and dispearsed abroade in so many Countries that they cannot be séene neither be hearde of and those which doth not sée them how can they beléeue them Héere I doe desire the vniuersall creator that now neyther in the times to come they may not bée forgotten After that this royall Princesse had sayde these wordes in the praise of her knight shée departed from thence and began to goe and to séeke him and for that shée could not finde him there aboutes she woulde haue mounted vppon her horse to séeke farther into the Iland but it fell out whether it was with the feare of the Fauno or for to goe with the horse Cornerino by anie meanes shée could not take her horse but he fled from that place with so great swiftnesse that in a short space the Princesse lost the sight of him for the which shée receiued great griefe so by force shée was constrained a foote to goe and séeke her knight the which she dyd on euerie side but coulde finde no mention of him which caused in her great suspition to thinke verilie that he was dead so that many times she staied and was so troubled thâ—â— shée thought verilie shée should haue dyed with sorrowe In this 〈◊〉 shée passed all the daie and all the night till the next daie in the morning and neuer coulde finde the knight of the Sunne with so great sorrow and griefe as though her soule would depart from her bodie And for to tell you what passed with him the Hystorie doth leaue her till time doth serue The life which the knight of the Sunne lead in the solitarie Iland and how hee was found by his Ladie the Princesse Claridiana Chapter
with although hée lacked but one finger bredth of eight foote high which was a gallant stature yet before the Gran Campâ—on he seemed nothing for that he was almost fiftene foote high neuerthelesse the blowes of the one and of the other was equall in furiousnesse for that Rosicleer did so charge with his furious blowes Bradaman that although he could not cut his armour yet dyd he all to torment and bruse his flesh and bones and with more lightnesse then was comprehended in him he made him to besturre himselfe and turne about on the one side and on the other the like dyd Bradaman vnto him for although that Rosicleer dyd saue and defend himselfe from the most parte of his blowes by his great nimblenesse and lightnesse yet for all that when he fastened a blow vpon him he made him to stoope both with knées and hands to the grounde and the armour of Rosicleer dyd make such a sound as though it had bene a bell and out of both their armours there flewe so great quantitie of sparks of fier as though they should be burned in them In this sorte the battaile betwixt them continued more then two houres in which time some of those Ladies that dyd behold them from the mightie pallace of the Emperor Trebatio were not much at quiet and ease at theâ—â— hearts for that the Princesse Oliuia séeing her spouse and loyall louer to combat so terriblie with that furious Pagan and monster her face began to be wan and pale and the bloud waxed colde within her bodie so that fell downe in a sound amongst the Ladies in the like perplexitie was the royall Empresse Briana for her husband and sonne and the faire Princes Lindaraza for her louing and faithfull spouse Clauerindo and the like hadde that faire Ladies Arquirosa for Don Siluerio Furthermore you shall vnderstand that after two houres was passed from the firste béeginning of the battaile and that there was not one of those worthie champions that hadde anie will or desire as it séemed to rest themselues then the good Emperour Trebatio béeing very desirous to make a final ende conclusion of his battaile with the vttermost of all his force he raysed himselfe in his styrrups with his sword in both his hands therewith stroke so strong and terrible a blow vpon the healme of the stout pagan Rodaran the which by reason that it was somewhat crazed with that battaile as also with other battailes before he altogether vnbuckled from his head and breaking his skull by the force thereof all to péeces he ouerthrew him from his horse dead to the ground and sayd Now shal it be séene if thou canst deliuer thy selfe from my handes and what can profit thée the subteltie desceit of the quéene of Carmania The which being concluded he withdrew him selfe a part and did behold the battaile of the other knights whereat all that were on his part receiued great pleasure and contentment but in especiall the Empres Briana who knew not where she was with the great ioye and pleasure she receiued But the sorow and griefe of the Pagans was very great but in especial the Emperour Alicandro who had Rodaran in great estimation for that he was one of the strongest knights that was in all the whole Paganisme as of trueth he was so But yet the griefe of his heart did not herein ende for that the worthie prince Brandizel at that instant ouerthrew at his féete the Gyant with whome hée had his battaile who was the eldest of the sixe brethren wherewith he vnlased his healme and cut of his head And it was not long after when that the two valiant brethren Don Claros and Arcalus did the lyke with their aduersaries which were the second and third brothers and were the most fiercest and strongest of them all and they withdrew themselues apart and dyd behold the battaile of them that remained Then straight wayes Bargandel dyd ouercome the valiant King of Taprobana and Liriamandro made for to yelde the Prince of Cambray and within a little while Don Siluerio dyd cut of the head of the stoute king of the Gandatâ—s and not long after the king Sacridoro and the Tartarian Zoylo ouerthrew theyr aduersaries to the earth who were the fourth and fift bretheren of the Gyaunts who as the other before did cut off their handes of all the which the Emperour Alycandro receiued great sorrow and griefe and the like did all the Pagans and they repented them verie much in making of that challenge Then Rodamarte tooke the Prince of Aegypt prisoner for being verie wearie and féeble of his owne good will he did yéeld himself to be prisoner so likewise the valiant knight Flamides dyd force so much vpon the youngest brother the Gyant that in the end he was slaine as the rest so that all the generation of the gran Thiteon was slaine in that batâ—aile It was not long after that the king Florion ouerthrew the king of Media at his féete and pulled off his healme helping him to arise from the grounde he tooke him prisoner and put themselues on the one side and dyd beholde the battaile of the other thrée that remained the which at that time were so entangled and furious that all those that dyd beholde them were put in great admiration meruailing greatlie how they could suffer so great long trauaile and make anie defence from so terrible and cruell blowes which were giuen of all partes Those which remained were those precious and valiant knights Meridian and Claueryndo aâ—d the mightie Troian and Brandimardo who in force and deâ—teritie were so equall that almost there was not anie one that could know anie aduauntage to bée of either parte and being nowe more than three houres since they first beganne the battaile and both partes agreeing therevnto they ceased for to take breath and to ease themselues in the which time they dyd beholde the great contention that was betwixt that valiant and worthie knight Rosicleer and the stout Pagan Bradaman the which was condigne and worthie to be séene for that without al order and measure they stroke their blowes with so great force that all the fields and the mightie Citie rong with the great noise of their battaile All this time did the faire and precious Princesse Lyndabrides from her triumphant Chariot beholde Rosicleer and the Emperour Trebatio and for that both of them did resemble verie much the knight of the Sunne shée reioyced greatlie to sée them although another waie her heart was verie sadde and sorrowfull for that she did not sée the knight of the Sunne amongst them and shée imagined within her selfe that hée should be in Trapisond with the princesse Claridiana which went vnto her verie heart and other waies she did argué within her selfe that hée should not bée in Trapisond for if he should bée there it were not possible but that hée shoulde vnderstand the great necessitie that his Father had of him and hauing knowledge
sorrowful newes vnto all them especiallie when they vnderstoode of the death of the Gran Campion and how that their valiant and worthie knightes did euerie daie decrease and waxe fewer in number on their part and how that on the part of the Emperour â—rebatio they dyd increase euâ—rie daie more more yet was all this nothing in comparison vnto that griefe which the fayre Princesse Lyndabrides felt when she vnderstoode how that the knight of the Sunne in companie with the Princesse Claridiana was come into Constantinople vnderstanding verilie that he was continuallie with her in presenceâ— all the time that he was absent out of Grecia and how that he had taken her to be his wife It cannot bée heere rehearsed the greaâ— griefe and exceeding anguish the which the felt within her selfe in such sort that many times shée was readie to die therewith and putting her selfe in a closet by it selfe in her tent she dyd nothing but wéep complaining against her selfe and fortune and after that many contrarie thoughtes had occupied her minde and senses fighting one against an other without finding anie comfort or case in thinking of them with great wrath and anguish of heart shée tooke paper and Inke and with her owne hand shée wrote a Letter vnto the knight of the Sunne the contents were as followeth A Letter written by the Princesse Lyndabrides vnto the knight of the Sunne IF the diuine Gods and my cruell destinie had permitted that as I am constrained to loue thée I might I 〈◊〉 had so much libertie for to forget thée then had not I returned againe into Grecia neither had consented that the Emperor my Father with so infinite a number of people had enterâ—d into this Countrie for to be reuenged of thée for that it had béene a sufficient reuengement and satisfaction vnto mée for to leaue thée and not to thinke that I was shée that was of thée forgotten but to leaue thée as one â—nworthie of my great beautie not deseruing to inioy my emperiall and consecrated estate But oh my euill fortune and mishap which caused mée so firmlie to loue and beare thée good will that there remaineth no part within mee but it is yeelded to bée all thine neither haue I so much power as for to put thée one moment out of my remembrance I knowe not what cruell and vniust lawe is this of Loue for the more that thou diddest vnderstand and know that I did loue thée thou haddest the greater libertie for to forget mée and the more that thou wert cruell and forgetfull of mée the more did my loue and good will increase towardes thée I am aduertised that thou and the Empresse Claridiana are come together to Constantinople the companie of so worthie a Damsell is not to be left neither is there anie reason to speake euill of her but for her that doth loue thée as I doe it cannot bée without suspition for that my sorrowfull heart hath deuined it and mine eyes doth now sée that thou doest desire her to bee thy wife and shée is not displeased therewith but when that I doe imagine with my selfe what thou hast bâ—ne and consider lykewise what thou nowe art I cannot thinke anie other thing but that there are two knightes called of the Sunne in this world and that thou art another and not the same that was wont to bee all at my commaundement Is it possible that thou art hee who at the first time that thou diddest beholde mée in my triâ—mphant Chariot â—ert troubled in such sort that if thou haddest not been succoured by thy Page and my Damsell thâ—u haddest follen from thy horse vnto the ground Art thâ—u by fortune that same knight of the Sunne that for to defende my iustice thou tookest vpon thée that strong and perilloâ—s contention with the Prince Meridian 〈◊〉 brother 〈…〉 not bee that thou shouldest bee that knight of 〈◊〉 Chariot that diddest so long time defend the great and singular beautie of the Princesse Lyndadrides in the Court of the Emperour Trebatio Of truth it must néedes bée some other that did shew so great and entire loue vnto mée and so absolutlie dyd publish himselfe to bée all and whâ—lie at my commaundement What is become of those amorous and swéete wordes that thou wert wont to vtter and speak vnto mée and those deepe and profound sighes with the which thou gauest mee to vnderstand the greate griefe that thou receiuedst for my loue Is it possible that thou hast forgot thy selfe or hast thou lost thy wits and memorie With what great ioy and contentment thou wentest in my companie towards the gran Tartaria hoping at thy comming thether to be married vnto me and how many times I was required of thée in that iourney Hast thou forgotten that for the celebrating of our nuptials thou diddest cause in the gran Catâ—ya to bée ioyned together all the kings and mightie Lords almost all the Pagans how that my father the Emperour Alyâ—andro had receiued thée for his sonne and all his subiects for their Lorde Of truth I doe verilie beléeue that all this thou hast forgotten and doest not remember anie of these things of the which I doe not greatlie meruaile for that hee who did forget the lawe of the diuine Gods and doth renounce the same it is not much that hée doe forget and denie all this that betwixt him and mée hath passed My verie heart doth cleaue and part a sunder and my soule is readie to depart my bodie with great griefe when that I doe thinke thereof and the great abundance of water that dailie distilleth from my eyes doth declare and testifie that it cannot indure long but that my life will likewise distill and consume awaie the which I do beséech the immortall Gods that it might shortlie come to passe for it shall bée vnto me a great glorie to lacke lyfe rather than to féele such excéeding great anguish and mortall paine I woulde write vnto thée more at large for according vnto the great reason the which I haue to complaine my selfe of 〈◊〉 although I dydde nothing else in two dayes yet should I haue matter inough against 〈…〉 thinges which doth withdrawe my handes and my will not to consent that I shall doe it the one is that they who haue borne thée so much good will and loued thée as I haue done it is not good for to inlarge much with anger for that vttering with passion causeth for to saie that which after doth repent them the other for whereas doth lack loue and good will many times briefe reasons doth séeme large and prolixious the third is for that I doe know that all whatsoeuer I shall write vnto thée thou wilt stoppe thy eares thereat so that all my writing shall bée in vaine and therefore I am determined to bée quiet and holde my peace and conclude with this that either the bones of this sorrowfull and vnfortunate Princesse Lyndabrides shall remaine in Grecia or else
with him who went forth and met with them a good mile off The manner which they vsed for to giue his sepulchre with more honour according vnto the vse of their Countrie was that they laide the dead corse vpon a verie broade and smooth marble stone all white whereas they burned and consumed the bodie all to ashes and in the meane time that hée was a burning all the principallest of the whole armie were placed round about the fire all couered with robes of Sackcloth so long that it trailed vppon the ground and made great sorrow and lamentation and praied vnto their Gods to receiue him into their companie in which time all the praiers which his sonne Bramarant made was no other but blaspheming against all the Elements and against nature for that they had power for to consume and burne the bodie of the Gran Campion his Father Thus when that the bodie was all consuned and burned the ashes remaining vpon the Marble stone the which was taken and put in verie rich vessells of golde wherevnto they put water and stirred it together and put the vessells vpon a faire Table Then the Emperour Alycandro the more to honour the Gran Campion beganne first for to drinke of the same mixture and after him Bramarant and after them in order all those Kings Princes and worthie Knightes that were in the Campe till such time as they left no mention of the water and ashes so the mightiest Lords that were in all the Paganisine made their bodies the sepulchre of that mighty Pagan and this they had amongst them for the most honorablest burying that could be With these and many other thinges moe which the Emperour Alycandro commaunded to bee done for the Gran Campion making great lamentation for his death Bramarant was somewhat appeased and lost great part of that outragious furie and wrath which he had conceiued and vnderstoode and procured no other thing but onelie how and by what meanes he might make terrible and cruell reuengement for the death of his welbeloued Father Then after certaine daies were past of the truce which was taken with the Gréekes they beganne of all partes to prepare and make themselues in a readinesse against the battaile that was determined and was thought to be of both partes the brauest and most cruellest and bloudie that euer was séene vpon the earth for that the Emperour Alycandro had commaunded that the first daie that the Gréekes should come forth for to giue them battaile that all the people of their Campe shoulde procéede against them for that they wold at once conclude that enterprise and not to leaue their aduersaries anie force and strength at all for to return againe vnto the fielde for although there were many battailes betwixt them as the Hystorie hath shewed you yet there went not forth the third parte of the people that was there with them which were so many in number that there might well bée made of them thrée mightie armies and of truth there was neuer séene in all Asia nor buropa so many and so valyant stout and worthie knightes gathered together as were at that present in the fields of Constantinople Now let vs leaue the Pagans in readinesse for the battaile to come and let vs veturne vnto the Gréeks that were in the mightie Citie of Constantinople What the Greekes did and how the king Liseo and the faire Queene Radamira came to aide the Emperour Trebatio and what happened besides Chap. 37. IT was a thing of great wonder vnto the Gréekes to sée themselues closed within the Citie and so compassed about in their owne fields for their enimies were so great and infinit a number of Pagans that it might well be sayd that they had against them all the whole force of the world for there were in the field an infinite number of barbarous people of different and diuerse Nations and the most part proude and terrible Gyants that the like were neuer seene in all the world but God of his goodnesse created such heartes in that mightie Emperour Trebatio and in his worthie proicnie as also in those high Princes and stout worthie valiant knights that were in his companie that not onelie they were without all feare and dreade but also had great force and courage for to destroie and ouercome all those that had compassed them about and there were few or none amongst them but receiued great contentment to be there at that present for that the Emperour Trebatio séeing with him his sons and so many worthie Princes knights receiued so great ioy and pleasure that he thought himselfe to be the most happiest and fortunatest Prince in all the world And of the knight of the Sun of the faire and soueraigne Empresse of Trapisonda it may wel be said that ther was neuer sâ—â—ne two hearts with so great contentment for that hauing one the other in presence either of them thought themselues in paradise although you must vnderstand that in all this time the knight of the Sun could neuer bring to effect his desire with the roiall Princesse for she was of so high a courage y â— the knight of the Sun neuer durst in heart cause her to receiue anie anger neither woulde shée consent to anie thing that was against her honour the which she had alwaies before her eies more than anie damsell in her time With no lesse ioy than they liued those two faithfull and perfect louers the faire Princesse Oliâ—ia and Rosicleer who being in presence together thought themselues cléere of all sorrowes and griefes the which the one had sustained for the other whereat the king Oliuerio receiued no small glorie and contentment for y â— it séemed vnto him y â— with no other Prince in all the world he could not haue married his Daughter so highlie and worthilie as he had married her neither coulde she haue bene exalted to no higher estate So that he all those that came with him from great Britaine were wonderfullie amazed to sée the mightinesse of the Emperor Trebatio the highnesse of his Court so furnished with a greate number of worthie Princes and valiant knightes as also with so many faire and precious damsells that of truth it might be spoken that there was neuer seene so great highnesse and maiestie in the court of anie Prince before y â— time And the Pagans that came forth of Persia with the king Florion meruailed greatlie to see the orders of the Court of Grecia for by the sacrifices ceremonies of the Christians for that they did see and behold them euerie daie to be done with great iumptuousnesse reuerence they were partlie inclined to thinke well of the lawe and faith of Iesu Christ true God and man and trucâ—â—e although there were many that died for this loue which the knight of the Sunne had wich the 〈◊〉 Lyndabâ—â—les yet grew there not so little effect 〈◊〉 of these famous wars but that by occasion of 〈…〉
all order and with so great furie that if they had béene two Rockes they hadde broke them all to péeces and the anger and courage of eyther of them was so great because they could haue no victorie that they left one another and put themselues into the battaile whereas they slew and ouerthrew to the ground and couered the fields with dead bodies as the Mower with his Sith couereth the sorrowes with corne The knight of the Sunne put himselfe amongst those monstrous Gyants of the Orientall Indias and made so great slaughter amongest them that those which were liuing although they were fierce and rough people did flie before him he put himselfe with so great furie amongst them that the stout Oristedes remâ—ined behinde him and could not followe but yet with the great desire that he had to kéepe him companie hée did strange exploits and of great wonder Then the knight of the Sunne looking backe and seeing him all alone did tarrie his comming making a breade waie in euerie place whereas hee went at which time came forth against him a rough and 〈…〉 named Othibeâ—â— and was Lord ouer the Iland of 〈◊〉 his armour was edged round about with golde and precious stones of great price who stroke so strong a 〈◊〉 at the knight of the Sunne vppon his helme that he somewhat aâ—â—â—med him But this proude Pagan departed aduancing himselfe thereof but was rewarded for his boldnesse with his head clouen asunder to his breast so that he fell downe dead to the ground yet ther lacked not another more hardie than wise that thought to make reuengement for the same There was a king called Armelion who hauing a great confidence in his strength and in the excellencie of his armour wherewith hee was armed and was verie good went towards him and stroke him a mightie blowe vpon one of his shoulders but he that had receiued so many of that furious Bramarant receiued that of him as nothing but in paiment of his great follie the sonne of Trebatio stroke him such another vppon his head that both helme and skull he stroke into his braines the which being done he staied not but procéeded forwards on not finding anie that did disturbe him in his waie and alwaies he had an eie vnto such as séemed vnto him to bée the principall of his enimies so it chanced he discouered two mightie great and deformed Gyants that were both together with mightie mases in their handes and made great slaughter and destruction vpon the Gréekes these Gyantes were two brethren and Lords ouer an Iland in the Indian sea The one was called Zario and the other Drago and in all the whole hoast was not to bée found two Gyants more mightier and fuller of pride than they were But as this gallant louer of the royall Empresse Claridiana hadde séene them without anie consideration that they were two and hée all aloneâ— hée tooke a Speare from a Pagan that was next him and seâ— spurres to his good horse Cornerino and with so great fuâ—ie that hée séemed a whirle winde he went towards those Gyants who were séene aboue all the rest more than two â—ubites and in sight of all the people he encountered witâ— one of them in the middest of the breast in such sort that â—â—though his armour was twelue plates thick yet did he thrâ—st his Speare a good yard through his bodie that the sharpe point of his Speare appeared at his backe and this great Gyant fell downe dead to the ground and made so great noise as though a tower had fallen downe and at such time as this good knight dyd passe alongst in his course the other Gyant that did abide his comming with his yroâ— mase in his hand all alofte hee discharged such a right downe blowe at him that if hee had chaunced to fasten the same it had not gone well with him but the great furie and swiftnesse of his horse Cornerino was such that before hée coulde discharge the same hée was passed by with his Maister so that the blowe fell downe to the ground and entred into the earth thrée spans and as yet hée had not lift vp his mase when that the knight of the Sunne tourned about his horse with great lightnesse and ioyning himselfe with the Gyant hée cast a thrust at him with the point of his sword in the middest of his bellâ—e and put so great force and strength ther vnto that without anie staying it passed through his double and thicke armour and entered into his guts vp to the hard hiltes and pulling his sworde out his guttes followed after And therwithall the Gyant with an infernall furie stroke such a terrible blowe with his mace on his backe that hée hadde ouerthrowen him to the ground if that he had not embraced himselfe with his horse necke But so soone as this blowe was giuen the mightie Gyant fell downe dead to the earth and the knight of the Sunne doing theâ—e and many other great meruailes passed forwardes on discoueringâ—through all the whole battaile beholding the mightie deedes greate meruailes and highe knighthood which was done by the famous knightes on his part vnto whome it seemed that they alone were a sheelde and defence vnto all his people for without them they had beene all ouercome and dispearsed for that in comparison there were a great number more on the paâ—t of the Pagans than there was on theirs Hee lykewise looked about for Rosicleer and sawe where hee was all alone so berayed and bathed in bloud that scarce hée could bee knowen from another knight but onelie by the incredible deedes which he did and seeing him in that sorte all alone without anie of his confortes that could come vnto him for to succour him hee fell greatlie in loue with him and his estimation and praied vnto God with all his heart to saue and defend him from all perill and daunger Likewise hee sawe in another place the good Emperour his father in the middest betwixt the two Spanish knights who went all three together with equall courage and magnanimitie and made exceeding great slaughter amongst the Pagans At this time the good knight would not staie anie longer to beholde them but thrust himselfe into the middest of the battaile and went from one place vnto another ayding and helping there whereas hee sawe was the greatest perill At this time the daie was wel spent for it was past noone and the knight of the Sun â—éeling the wether to be hot as he that had trauailed more than the rest for to refresh himselfe and to take some aire as also to sée in what estate the battaile was went out of the camp stood vnder a little wood side that was there hard by the Campe and alighted from his horse and pulled off his helme and dyd from that place beholde all that passed and sawe that on euerie side all the whole fields was full of people and by reason of the greate multitude he could not knowe those
worthie knightes his friendes from the other but the most that he could discouer was that those which were of his part got ground on their enimies Now let vs leaue him in the place where he is who for a greater destruction vnto his enimies is refreshing himselfe and taking aire and let vs returne to tell of them that remaine in the battaile where are so many of renewmed worthie and famous knights dooing and executing so great wonders and meruailous déedes that for to tell them perticularlie it were needfull of another great Hystorie On the other parte goeth the Emperour Alycandro accompanied with those kings his vassals and his deformed Gyantes that it is great lamentation and griefe to behold the slaughter that they doe Againe what is to bée sayde of those two valiant Pagans Meridian and Brandimardo of truth not one that beareth good will vnto the Emperour Trebatio would see it On thâ— other side goeth that mightie king Balardo and the king â—â—hiderio ouerthrowing to the ground all that commeth before them but yet for their euill were they séene by the 〈◊〉 Princes Clauervndo and Brandizel being together for they went against them so that betwixt them began a rigorous and furious battaile but yet in the end the two Gyants were slaine and the two Princes procéede forwards doing great meruailes in the middest of the battaile As much as that doth the Tartarian Zoilo and the king Sacridoro who in séeking of Rosicleer doth put themselues in the middest of the battaile making brode waies whereas they went till such time as they met with two strong and stout Pagans who staied them a while they had inough to doe for to cléere themselues from them All this while was not idle but did their partes in ample manner Bargandel and Lyriamandro and the king Alamades Flamides and Florinaldus and the Prince Don Siluerio Rodomarte Rodofeo all these together did wonderfull things aiding and helping whereas was most necessitie yet was there none that was with Rosicleer for he was all alone and did verie well cleere the waie whereas he would goe and dyd so much on euerie side that in the ende he came whereas the Emperour his Father was and sawe that hee alone with those two Spanish knightes were in combat with the fiue Gyants of the king Balardo and waxed verie faint and wearie but when that he sawe it lyke a hungrie Lion he went towards them and when he came whereas they were he stroke such a blowe at the first vpon his shoulder that he cloue him downe to the breast and ouerthrew him to the earth and straight waies tourned vnto another whome he slew with another blowe stroke off his arme wherewith he hâ—ld his sword and as he was turning for to strike another that did charge much the Emperour he saw that the Emperour at one blow ouerthrewe him to the earth for that he stroke him ouerthwart the wast in such sort that his sword entered into his bowels that hée fell downe dead And when he sawe the good succour that he had of his sonne in the tune of so great extremitie he was verie glad and ioyfull Likewise at this time the two valiant brethren Don Claâ—â— and Arcâ—lus had so wounded the other two Gyants that in the end they ouerthrew them to the ground Then Rosicleer seeing that the Emperour was meruailouslie accompanied for that the other Princes were come vnto him set spurres to his horse and put himselfe in the thickest amongst his enimies and neuer rested till he came whereas the stout Pagan Brandimardo was and séeing the greate slaughter that he and Meridian made he went towardes them and at his approching betwéen them was dealt mightie strong and terrible blowes in such sort that Brandimardo thought verilie within himselfe that his aduersarie should be the knight of the Sunne with whom he did combat in the wildernesse of Grecia for that he supposed Rosicleer was not of so great strength although many times hée heard him greatlie praised and spoken of which gaue him great good will to proue himselfe with him And for that at that present Brandimardo did shew the vttermost of all his force and strength it gaue Rosicleer to vnderstand that hée was one of the strongest knights that euer he had proued he was so valiant and full of dexteritie You may well beléeue that in all this time was not that furious Pagan Bramarant vnoccupied but with inâ—ernall furie he destroyeth and ouerthroweth all that commeth before him who when he sawe that the most part of the daie was past and sawe that there was no aduantage gotten on their part but rather they had lost ground thought verilie that there was no other occasion thereof but onelie the worthie famous and valiant knights that were of the Greekes part and it séemed that it did profit verie little for to kil and sâ—aie so many of the common people before that first he had ouercome the principall knightes So this infernall and diuellâ—â—h Pagan hauing his mind occupied theâ—ewith he presentlie left off the slaughter which he made before tooke a mightie great and big Speare from one of his men and setting spurres vnto his furious horse he put himselfe into the thickest of the battaile looking round about where hée might â—ee anie knight of valour and prowesse and vppon a sodaine he saw the king Oristedes who at that present concluded and slew the king of the Paâ—tos with one blowe wherewith he cloue his head asunder in the middest Bramarant raâ—ne against him and made his encounter on the one side in â—uch sorte that he ouerthrew him on the other side of his horse with his saddle betwixt his legges and hadde with that blowe slaine him if that his inchanted armour had not resisted his furie so that he departed from thence and wenâ— whereas hée found the Tartarian Zoylo and the king Sacridoro and ouerthrew them both to the ground in iusting and passing forwardes on hée sawe the stout king Florion who at that instant slew a mightie Gyant and making his encounter against him hée thrust both horse man to the earth This mightie and furious Pagan stayed not in this place but passed forwards and came whereas he found the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo making their combat with the king Balardo and his companion at which time they obtained the victorie with the death of those two Gyantes hée came vpon them vnbewares and one of them hée ouerthrew with the iust of his Speare in such sort that his valyant strength and courage coulde not profite him anie thing at all and the other he iustled him with his horse who ranne with so excéeding greate furie that hée ouerthrew him to the ground and as hée procéeded forwardes on in the battayle looking round about him he sawe a farre off the worthie Emperour Trebatio accompanied with a great number of Princes and valyant knightes who dyd great meruailes and wonders vppon their enimies and
contrarie vnto that which they lookâ—â— for For if you doe call vnto your remembrance the knight of the Sunne where wée left him vpon a lyttle baâ—ke vnder the woode side beholding the battayle as hée cast his eie aside towardes that place hée sawe those people comming out of the Forestâ— whereat hée was greatlie amazed and if dyd not a little molest and grieue him for that hee sawe they were Pagans and in so great exeremitie for to enter into the battayle But committing himselfe vnto almightie God desiring him if it were his pleasure to graunt the victorie vnto the Christians And therewithall descended from the place whereas hee was and put himselfe in the plaine whereas that most dreadfull Organte with his people should passe and béeing there with his speare in his hande abiding his comming he sawe comming towards him a bigge knight and verie well made whose proportion dyd giue him great contentment hée was mounted vppon aâ—mightie great horse and was armed with armour brodered about with golde and precious stones so fresh and bright that it seemed thereby that it should be the first time that hee was armed with them and béeing verie much delyghted in his gallant disposition hée was desirous for to knowe who he was but hée hadde no time for to informe himselfe thereof for that at the same verie instant approched that dreadfull Organte who came a good space before his people and was mounted vppon a mightie and straunge beast not inferiour vnto the bignesse of an Elephant verie strong and as light and swift as anie horse and by reason that hée was so mightie and huge of his person béeing on horse backe hee séemed lyke vnto a Tower his countenaunce and expectation was so terrible and grim that it was sufficient for to put feare and dreade in anie knight how heroycall and valyant so euer hée were But this flower and mirrour of all Knighthood who neuer made anie other account but vnto that which reason and honour did binde him without anie feare and dreade came vnto him and sayd Gyant tell me whether thou doest goe with so great hast Then the Gyant verie wrathfull and angrie at that demand beholding him with a fierce countenance answered and said As thou art one if thou were one hundreth I would make the answere to be verie déere vnto thée but yet whether is it that I shoulde goe but to make mightie riuers of the Gréekish bloud bloud Then the knight of the Sunne sayde first before that thou doest attempt that enterprise thou must combat with mée for I doe tell thâ—e that before thou canst make great riuers thou must first make littâ—e brookes Then with great furie throwing out smoake from his â—ealme this dreadfull Organte tourneth about his mightie beast and sayd in this manner Oh Iupiter how hast thou giuen vnto one alone knight so great hardinesse that being armed in the field he durst challenge and dosâ—e the dreadfull Organte And when he had taken of the field so much as he thought sufficient for his course with his Speare in his hand which séemed to bee a high and mightie Puâ—e tree he came against the knight of the Sunne who so fast as his Cornerâ—no could â—unne came against him and according vnto the great furie that eyther of them brought it séemed that the earth dyd thunder and quake but whâ—n they ioyned to make their encounter the Speaâ—â— of the Gyant was 〈◊〉 all to pâ—â—es vppon the 〈…〉 of the knight of the Sunne and considering the 〈◊〉 thereof and with what force and furie it was broken it had beene sufficient to haue ouerthrowen a wall for that it made so great a noise as though a thunderbolt had fallen from heauen and yet for all this it made no more 〈…〉 that good knight than if it had ben but a small 〈…〉 but he made his encounter 〈…〉 in the middest of his 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 that he thriâ—â—â— through and through not spâ—â—â—ing his thicke and 〈◊〉 of make but with the force thereof he made the point of his Spears to 〈◊〉 all bloudâ— at 〈…〉 wherewith he ouerthrâ—w 〈◊〉 and his beastâ— the 〈…〉 that some Castle had 〈…〉 Lâ—kewise 〈◊〉 worthinâ—sse ofâ— that 〈…〉 was sufficâ—ent for 〈…〉 he was verie desirous to know who he was she came thether in that sort out of the Citie for to sée the estate of all the whole campe vpon that littâ—e mountaine whereas the knight of the Sunne was as he had done before whose generous heart hauing no power to kéepe her selfe in 〈◊〉 anie longer being in presence of him whom she so much â—â—ned and knowing him receiued great contentment 〈…〉 that worthie encounter â—he went vnto him and sayd 〈…〉 them vpon them my good friend and leaue not one of them a liue But when the knight of the Sun knew her it could not bée expressed the great ioy that he receiued But by reasâ—n that the people of Organte drow nigh vnto him he had no time to make her answere according vnto his 〈◊〉 desire but onelie he sayd My good Ladie hauing 〈◊〉 good 〈◊〉 and succour as I haue of you I haue no reason for to feare all these people although they were many more than they be Thus they both together went towards the battaile and gathered many people that were scattered abrode from the fight In the meane time that they were doing this the people of Organte came vnto the place whereas their Captain was slaine and were verie strangelie amazed for to sée him in that case with so terrible and mortall a thrust and could not imagine that anie mortall man could giue it and being all of them verie desirous for to be reuenged of his death they went towards the campe and with a great noise and shouting they put themselues into the middest of the battaile in such sort that by reason at that present thâ— battaile was in ballance and that to enter in a fresh was the occasion that the Gréekes receiued great damage and the whole battaile like to haue bene lost for that the Emperour and the rest of the principall knightes were detained and a foote as you haue heard But at this instant the knight of the Sunne and the most excellent and roiall Princesse Claridianâ— with more than thréeâ—thousand knightes such as were dispearsed and gone abroade and by them gathered together pressed themselues into the battaile with great fuâ—ie and force making great and mightie slaughter in such 〈…〉 was more filled with bloâ—d and all those of their parte recouered force and strength and to the contrarie parte the Pagans séeing so great slaughter and destruction of their people beganne to giue waie and to loose grounde Now at this time might bée séene verie well accomplished the Prophesie of the olde king of Gedrosis for that according vnto the great destruction that the knight of the Sun and the royall Princesse made on their enimies it séemed that there were not people inough in all the whole campe
their terrible blowes all that euer they could At which time Bramarant thought not that the Emperour Alycandro had bene spoiled and lost the victorie but rather suspected that the Greekes had lost the field but verie quicklie hée was put out of that doubt for that by reason of the great noise which they made in their battaile the Emperour Trebatio and all those worthie Princes that were on his part came thether whereas they were for as then they were all ioyned together put themselues round about these two warriours with determination for to part them from that contension but this valiant and worthie pagan when he saw them in that sort and knew them hee was greatly amazed and straight waies suspected that they had got the victorie who as then with a hoarse voyce and proude semblant sayd Oh fortune how is it that thou hast had so great power for to shew thy selfe so contrarie against the pagans who is that mightie and valiant prince that hath had so great force for to ouerthrow the mightie Alicandro and the gran Campion my father who was sufficient to set fier on all the whole worlde To whome Rosicleer answered and said if thou wilt know him it is easie to bee vnderstood for I doe giue thée to vnderstand that all which is here done commeth alonely of him that dyd create and make all things and hath power ouer all men and at his will is gouerned both nature and fortune And this is Iesus Christ true God and man in whome all christians doe beleeue and worship and it hath bene his pleasure to giue vs the victorie against so many thousands of Pagans by the which thou maist vnderstand how false and deceiuable be your Gods who were not able for to ayde and succour the Emperour Alicandro who presumeth to desend from the race and stocke Then this proude Pagan replyed and sayde I neuer beleeued in any gods neither am I now determined to beleeue in any for that both their gods thyne and all the rest I holde them for my enimies and I will spoyle them all where soeuer I may finde or méete with them And in saying these words he raysed himselfe in his stirrups and with his sword in both his hands he stroke so strong a blow at Rosicleer vppon his inchaunted healme that it séemed a Thunderbolt to haue fallen from heauen the noyse was so great which made him somewhat astonished But when this Pagan sawe that he was compassed about with so much people that it was night he thought it not good to abide there anie longer but set spurres vnto his horse and rushed thorough the thickest of them ouer threw to the ground all them that was in his way lyke a whirle winde he runneth through those fields and neuer stayed till he came into the wildernesse of Grecia with intension not to depart from thence till such time as he hadde very well and to his contentment reuenged the death of his father Rosicleer would verie faine haue followed him for that he hadde a great desire for to conclude and giue ende vnto that battaile but the Emperour his father and those that were with him dyd distrube him Then when they sawe themselues together and missed the knight of the Sunne they were greatly amazed and seperated themselues some one way and some an other waye and went into all places for to séeke him but when that in all the whole field they could not finde him they could not immagine where hée should bée for the which they were all very sad and sorrowfull but in especiall the royall princes Claridiana for that she thought euery hower a yéere till she hadde spoken with him and trauailed from one place to an other with great care in his demaund but could not finde him nor haue anie newes of him till in the ende of great enquirie it was tolde her by a souldier that he dyd sée him embarke himselfe in a shippe and all that he procured was for to know some newes of the Emperour Alicandro When she heard this she was somewhat quieted in her selfe and went and informed the Emperour Trebatio thereof who with all the rest of the other princes receued great ioye and began at that instant to celebrate and reioyce the laâ—e victorie wonne and in very good order retourned to the Citie of Constantinople where as they were in the armes of those Ladies with such ioye as the reader may iudge yet I must néedes say that if the absence of the knight of the Sunne had not mittigated somewhat the extremitie of their pleasure there had neuer bene in Grecia the like ioye and triumph Let vs now leaue them in all their pastimes for that I am sure this long chapter hath somewhat wearied you and let vs retourne to tell you of other thinges wherein you shall receiue pleasure and delight ¶ How that the Emperour Alicandro sayling by sea was through a tempest by the which he was driuen vnto the strong Iland whereas they were taken prisoners he and the princes Lindabrides with all her Ladies by the Gyant Roboan and his sonnes ¶ Chap. 39. WIth great sorrow and heauinesse of heart dyd the Emperour Alicandro nauigate the Sea with the faire and precious Princes Lindabrides in companie with a small number of Knightes that entred into the ship with him who when they considered with what great pomp and force they entred into the Empire of Grecia with what disgrace they departed from thence their hearts were readie to breake with sorrrw for that they saw no other thing of so great a number of thousands of people that they brought with them out of their countries but onely the water of the Sea couered with bloud and a few other shippes full of people that had escaped from the furie of the Gréekes some one way and some an other without any order but whether soeuer the wynde fortune would carrie them The night was very dark so that the ship of the Emperor was all alone fortune who would shew her selfe more contrarie for to giue â—im to 〈…〉 what small trust there was in her it happen that in the night there arose a great â—â—mpest that dyd not onelie hinder them of their iourney but also dyd put the shippe many times in great daunger to be drowned so that the marriners and such as were in the shippe had enough to doe for to voyde and cast out the water that was forced in by that tempest and the faire princesse Lindabrides with all her ladies and gentlewomen receiued so great feare that they all amased remained as dead persons although vnto this faire princesse the griefe was not so much in beholding before her eyes that great perill of death in the which they were brought as to sée her selfe in that sorte for to depart from Grecia where as remained the knight of the Sunne and againe to consider how euell her purpose and desire was brought to passe so
as remained aliue which was but the third parte of those which came from the gran Tartaria fled and ranne awaie towards the sea coast whereas they embarked themselues so that there remained but certaine kings and nobles such as were knowen and were prisoners vnto the Gréekes At which time the Emperour Trebatio with all his nobles hauing a great good will to celebrate with triumph the great and ioyfull victorie which God had giuen them were greatlie disturbed by the absence of the knight of the Sunne for without him it seemed that they could not reioyce nor take anie ioy or pleasure for which occasion at that instant departed many knights from the Court in the demaund and seeking of him amongest whom Rosideer was one who departed al alone from Constantinople and in such sorte that he was not knowen neither would he carrie anie bodie with him for that hee had great desire for to méete with Bramarant and to conclude with him the battaile before that anie knight be present for to separate or part them and comming vnto the sea side whereas he could not heare anie newes of him he straight waies there embarked himselfe into a ship whereas we wil leaue him and all the rest in Constantinople for to tell you of the knight of the Sunne who being verie desirous for to ouertake the Emperour Alycandâ—o and the Princesse Lyndabrides naâ—â—gating by Sea was lykewise the same night constrained with the torment that tooke the Emperour for to loose his waie But whether it was by the will of God it should so fall out for that the end thereof was verie good or else by the arte of the wise Lyâ—gandeo or else by good fortune that gouerned his shippe in such sorte the worthie knight of the Sunne was throwen by force of the sayde storme and tempest into the porte of the strong Ilande the which béeing perceiued and knowen by the Mariners they would straight wayes haue departed from thence hauing that quiet pâ—rte farre more perillous than to bée at the Sea with that great storme and tempest whose great feare béeing manifest vnto the Knight of the Sunne hee was verie desirous to knowe the occasion thereof and they declared the cause verie much extolling the force and strength of Roboan and of his sonnes as also of the great crueltie that was vsed there with such knights and damsells as they did take And although the knight of the Sun would first haue accomplished his voyage in following of the Emperour Alycandro and haue left that enterprise vntill some other time yet for all that séeing that it woulde lyttle profite for to returne vnto the Sea by reason that the waues were greatlie increased with the force of the storme hée determined with himselfe to go a land and in the meane time till it pleased God to appease the rage of the weather he would put in practise to sée if hée could doe anie thing against those people for to cause them to breake that euill and diuellish custome and as hée was determined within himselfe hée put it in vre but the marriners would not enter into the Port nor boord their ship aland with a good will but he did so threaten them that he made them by force to doe all that he commanded When that hée was a land and had not well mounted vpon his horse which was that which hée wonne from the king of the Gandaros in the battaile there came forth against him ten knightes on horsebacke and as many on foote all armed with their hatchets of armes in their hands and bad him to yéeld to them as prisoner and some of them approched to laie hands on his horse bridle But this good knight answered not one worde vnto these villanous people but hauing his Speare in his hande stroke one of them such a blowe therewith that his strong armour dyd not profite him but hée ouerthrew him backwardes starke dead vnto the ground and as one that as then was not to learne to shedde the bloud of such vnhappie wretches in a short time hée made such slaughter amongest them that there escaped no more aliue but thrée of them who fledde and ranne with all hast possible vnto the Castle which was vppon the little mountaine whereas were the two oldest bretheren Langereon and Andricardo with Roboan their Father for that after that they had carried prisoner vnto the Castell the Emperour Alycandro and his companie vntill that time they had not descended vnto their Towers whereas they were wont to bée continuallie which was the occasion that the knight of the Sunne was not assaulted but by their Knightes and footmen who remayned belowe in the Towers for to kéepe and defend them for that all the rest were gone into the Castell with their riche praie But when the knight of the Sunne sawe himselfe cléere of all those that came forth against him and that there came no more people out of the Towers hee imagined within himselfe that the Gyantes shoulde bée in that highe Castle which hée sawe before him somewhat a farre off which caused him to take the waie thetherwardes and it seemed vnto him to bee one of the most fayrest and strongest that euer before hee had séene and as yet hée was not come vnto the plaine that was before the entrie which was in manner of a Court when that hee sawe come forth of the Castle by a false doore one of the Gyantes all armed with thicke plates of stéele and mounted vppon a mightie great and strong horse with a great cutting hatchet of Steele in his handes who seemed vnto the knight of the Sunne to bée one of the best furnished and well made and proportioned Gyants that euer hee saw in all his lyfe And this was Langereon the eldest and most valyantest of all the foure brethren who béeing aduertised by one of them that ranne awaie of the great slaughter and destruction that that alone knight had made amongst his people he issued out to séeke him for to take reuengement of the same and at such time as the knight of the Sunne came into the plaine ground by the Castell the Gyant approched nigh vnto him and lyfte vp the beauer of his healme But when hée sawe him of so bigge and gallant proportion and considered the newes which his men had declared vnto him hée helde him straight wayes in reputation and thought him to bée a knight of a most singular and valyant courage but making no account of him he said By thy vnaduised ariuall and comming hether Sir Knight I doe vnderstand that thou knowest not who is Lord of this Iland neither the vse and custome that is héere maintained for if thou haddest béene aduertised thereof then wouldest thou not haue come hether to séeke him whom thou hast so much grieued and angered in the slaying of his knightes With as little feare and gallant semblaunce as hée spake the knight of the Sunne aunswered him and sayd Gyant I doe verie well
hard and euell to be healed if that the wisedome of Lirgandeo and Artimidoro with others more auncienter then they had not put remedie in the same for that the valour of this precious princesse was such that the knight of the Sunne in her presence could neuer haue his frée libertie And being in this maze Andricardo the second brother came forth out at the castell gate all armed with very thick armour of hardened stéele and mounted vpon a mightie horse who was of no lesse stature and bignesse then the first but when that the knight of the Sunne did sée him he saide within himselfe that neuer in all his life he saw giants of so gallant proporcion nor of so great force strength as Langereon seemed to haue But when that Andricardo approched and saw his brother lye along vpon the earth thinking that he had bene dead it could not be immagined the great sorrow and griefe he receiued which caused him with so great furie and lightnesse as the arrow that is forced out of abowe to throw at the knight of the Sunne a mightie great boare speare which he brought in his hands that if his armour had not bene that of Meridian it had passed his bodie through and through to the other side for that it stroke him in the middest of his breast with so great strength that it made him to double his bodie backwards vpon his horse crouper and for that the stéelie pointe could not enter into his armour it doubled recoiled backe againe and the shéeuers flew into the aire making a greate noise but this good knight with great lightnesse did settle himselfe againe in his saddle and remembred that the faire Princesse Lyndabrides did behold him and therewith went against Andricandro with his hatchet in both his handes stroke him so mightie a blow vpon his healme that if it had chanced to be a full blow he had clouen him downe vnto the wast but it chanced somewhat aside in such sort that it cut awaie a péece of the helme with one of his cares and from thence descended his fine cutting hatchet along his breast cutting all that was before it till it came to the saddle bow the which it cloue asunder and cut his horse almost in two péeces so that he fell downe dead to the ground with his master and caught one of his legges vnder him in such sorte that what with the wound that hée had on his breast and the doubling of his legge hée could not by anie meanes arise but was the greatest amazed man in all the worlde to see that terrible and wonderfull blowe the which he had receiued and it séemed to bée done by a knight of the biggest force that was to bée found in anie parte of the vniuersall world Then Roboan who was all armed and at a windowe beholding the battaile when that he sawe his sonnes ouercome and in that perplexitie it coulde not be expressed the great sorow and griefe which he receiued for that he thought it a thing impossible that ten of the best knightes that were to be found in all the world were not able to do that which was there done and thinking in a short space to be reuenged for the same he mounted vpon a mightie horse and tooke a great speare in his hand and went forth at the Castle gate with so furious and terrible a semblance that the knight of the Sunne did verie well perceiue that he was of no lesse force and strength than his two sonnes for that he was higher of person and bigger of members and when that he came nigh vnto the knight of the Sunne with a hoarse terrible voice he sayd Knight tell me who art thou of such courage and hardinesse that hauing slaine my two sonnes darest abide mée in the field I am a knight said he that in the name of Iesus Christ in whom I doe beléeue and worship doe hope to destroie thée and all those that are obedient vnto thy lawe for that the diuine iustice beeing angrie at the great sinnes and euils by thée done in this Iland is now come to punish thée according vnto thy deserts in the déepest partes of hell Oh Goddesse the creator of all Gyantes and the bringer forth of all the fruites vppon the earth answered Roboan how canst thou suffer that one alone knight shall saie that he will destroie thy lawe and maketh a mocking stocke thereat In saying these wordes he spurred forwardes with his horse and stroke him such a blowe with his speare in the middest of his breast that he would haue sworne that the point with halfe the staffe would haue appeared at his back but it fell not out according vnto his thought for at the force thereof he made no more mention nor mouing thereat than if he had stroke against a tower but with his mightie hatchet he repaied him in such sort that a mightie great and thick shéeld that he had wherewith he would haue warded that blow he cut in two péeces and the blowe descended vppon his healme cutting the same and also a steele cap which hee had vnder it and made a cruell wound in his head and as they ioyned with their bodies verie nigh the one the other the Gyant laide holde with his armes about his necke thinking by his great force and strength to hoise him out of the saddie but he that was indued with no lesse strength than he and with more dexteritie laide hold on him by the wast held him so fast y â— by reason their horses pressed forwards they both â—ell to the ground and let go their holds rose vp vpon their feet The knight of the Sun drew out his sword the gyant a great fauchon so that they began the battaile a foot made so great noise y â— they were heard throughout the whole Iland and it séemed that there were in battaile together more then one hundreth knights Here was to be séene the great fortitude and strength of Roboan who dyd combat in such sort with the knight of the Sunne that he troubled him very much and many times his vnmeasurable blowes did put him in great perill and had brought him into much more danger if that the great strength and goodnesse of his armour and his great lightnesse had not holpen him There was also an other thing that dyd profit him verie much which was y â— great furie of his temerous blowes which made the Gyant to besturre himselfe from one part vnto an other for to cléere himselfe from the furie of them with more lightnesse then his bigge and great bodie required So that after halfe an houre that the battaile was begonne his vnwildy bodie not being able to indure anie longer waxed weake feeble by reason of certaine wounds which he had receiued out of the which issued verie much bloud in so great aboundance that all the ground was stained there with At which time the knight of the
Sunne considering that if the battaile shold goe forwards it wold not be well with Roboan and againe for that he had him and his sonnes in respect of strong and valiant knights for such would estéeme them if that he might cause them to leaue this great errour the which they had maintained a long time he there with all withdrew himselfe aback and lifting vp the beauer of his healme he said Heare mée a little what I will say vnto thée Roboan first before that this our battaile be finished thou shalt vnderstand that I doe estéeme thee and thy sonnes verie much as wel for the great valiantnesse that is in you as also you doe séeme vnto mee to be good and courteous knights my will and desire is that this our battaile betwixt vs may cease and that remedie be put in the curing these thy wounds and the wounds of thy sonnes in case that thou wilt leaue this law Gentilica wherewith thou hast bene so much deceiued and from this day forwardes not to obserue nor maintaine the euell and most cruell custome as hetherto thou hast For that if thou wilt sée and behold with the eyes of thy vnderstanding and consider of the law in the which thou doest liue thou shalt cléerely sée and perceiue the great errour and deceit wherein thou art wrapped Tell mee I pray thee Roboan who ought to be honored and worshipped for God but he alonely that created and made all things both ceâ—estiall and terrestriall and hath power ouer all things for to punish the wicked and to gratifie and reward the good and iust Well then if he alone that hath all this power ought to be estéemed honoured and worshipped for God what reason is there for to beleue that the Moone is the Goddesse Thou shalt vnderstand for her to shine and giue light hath neede of the cléerenesse and brighnesse of the Sunne without the which of her selfe she is verie darke and obscure and cannot be séene God created the high couloured Rubies the gréene Emeralds the blew Saphires the white Pearles the shining beams of the Sunne that giueth light vnto the Moone the Starres the gréene trées on the earth and her Plants the quietnesse of the heauens the roundnesse of the world and the meruailous course of the celestial mouings not for that we should occupie our wits and vnderstandings in these things but by the great beautie and sight of them our spirits may be moued vnto the beautie and loue of the creator and maker of all them from whom like as from a fountaine procedeth all that is faire and delectable vnto the sight of man In the meane time that the knight of the Sunne was saying these words Roboan was very attentiue taking as great pleasure at that he sayde as at his great force and strength and looking vpon himselfe he sawe that he was berayed with bloud and his armour broken in many places and his aduersarie not to haue receiued any wound but rather was more stronger and lighter then at the beginning which was vnto him apparant either to be slaine or to loose the victorie Likewise he well vnderstood to what ende the knight of the Sunne had spoken those words which did procéede more of vertue good will towards them then for any feare or dread he had in the conclusion of the battaile but by reason that he saw his sonnes lying a long on the ground in the field the eyes of his vnderstanding were so blinded that he could not sée the great profit which might come vnto him in leauing of his law and custome And said vnto the knight of the Sun that he should not speake any thing more therof vnto him for that he was determined to follow and take his fortune whether it were good or bad against him or with him And therewith they both retourned againe vnto the battaile for that they had somewhat breathed rested themselues it was then a thing worthie to be seene the strong and terrible blowes which the one stroke at the other For as I haue said Roboan was a stout and strong giant and sufficient of himselfe to destroye and kill one hundreth knights that should contend against him altogether in battaile The knight of the Sunne had great desire quickly to conclude and make an ende of that contension to sée what the Emperour Alicandro and the Princesse Lindabrides dyd in the castell who being greatly amazed at his great force and strength could not immagine who it should be except it were the sonne of Trebatio he who had done great marnailes in his presence And he that should at this instant haue certified the faire princesse how that it was the knight of the Sunne you may well beleeue that he should haue caused her to receiue greater ioye and contentment then if they had giuen her all the whole world for a present as she who should not receiue so great griefe if her soule should depart from her bodie as she should receiue in departing from the countrie whereas doth remaine her knight of the Sunne who dyd so much against Roboan that in the ende of one houre that the battaele was begun he fell downe a long at his féete so séeble and weake by reason of the great quantitie of bloud that he had lost that till such time as the knight of the Sunne did pull of his healme and gaue him ayre he could not come againe vnto himselfe But when that he was in his remembraunce the knight of the Sunne florishing with his sworde aboue his head sayde with this sword will I seperate thy head and bodie a sunder if that thou wilt not amend thy lyfe and apart thy selfe from the law wherein thou hast liued hetherto The feare of death sayd Roboan shall not make mée to doe any thing that is against my honour but thy great vertue and force doth make mée to beléeue that thy law and faith is better then this the which I haue hetherto maintained in the which I doe confesse greatly to haue erred and bene deceiued And here I doe promise thée in the faith of whome I am and by the high bloud from whence I doe descend neuer to maintaine any longer this euill custome but will esteeme and worshippe for my God all the dayes of my life him whome thou hast tolde mée off who vniuersally did create all things Then the knight of the Sunne who was very glad and ioyfull for to heare him so say dyd healp him to arise from the ground and embrasing him with great loue they went both together vnto Andricardo and Langereon whom they found both a liue and without perill but that they were verie weake and féeble with the great quantitie of bloud the which they had lost but when the sonnes had vnderstood all that which had passed with their Father God had inspired his holy spirit within them in such sort that they were very well content therewith and premised him that from that day forwards
friend euer after for that he saw them sore hurt he caused them to be cured laid in their heds whereas we wil leaue them to declare of other things that happened in this time is néedfull in this Hystorie for the accomplishing of the Prophesies past What happened vnto Rosicleer after his departure out of Constantinople Chap. 41. IN the beginning of the Chapter past it was told you how Rosicleer was departed from Constantinople as well to séeke the knight of the Sun his brother that was departed from the battaile past as also for to méete with Bramarant for that he had great desire for to combat with him for that he séemed to be the most strongest and mightiest Pagan that was to be found in all the Paganisme Now the Hystorie saith that after he was gone to sea in a little ship that he found in the port the passed storme and tempest did carrie them so farre that they were in sight of the strong Iland and béeing discouered the Mariners did declare vnto him whose it was and the euill custome that was there maintained Which when he heard it did giue him a great good will for to goe thether when that he came nigh vnto the Iland within a bow shoote hée sawe vpon the tops â—â—certaine mightie rockes amongst the cliffes a damsell which made great hast in running awaie giuing great shrikes and cries and following after her two mightie great and deformed Gyants with great desire to ouertake her the which when he sawe with great good will for to succour her he caused the small ship to bee carried to the shore whereas this worthie knight leaped a land and began a foote to climbe vpon those rockes with all the spéed possible he could not respecâ—ing the manifest perill that was ordained with them whome hée went to séeke but onelie that wherevnto hée was bound by iustice and honour And when that hée was thus ariued at the top of those rockes hee sawe come forth from amongest those cliffes the two Gyanted who brought betwixt them the Damsell that before hee sowâ— giuing great shrikes and lamentations because that shee was carried prisoner after that sorte These two Gyants were Rubero and Acorante the two younger sonnes vnto Roboan who ariuing at the Ilande had seene the damsell vpon the top of the rockes looking out if she could discouer anie ship wherein she might haue saued her selfe This damsell was the Quéene Iulia and damsell vnto the Princesse Lyndabrides who for to deliuer her selfe from the prison whether as they carried her mistres did fall into another daunger as ill whereas all her wisedome and cunning could not deliuer her although she dyd deuine and prophesie of the same who when the Gyants did sée her and that she séemed to be verie faire and well proportioned as of truth she was they straight waies followed after her and tooke her prisoner and carrying her in that sort as you haue heard Rosicleer did put himself before them and said What is the occasion that you doe carrie this Damsell prisoner in this sorte Then the Gyants who had not séene him before he spake vnto them did verie much behold him and séeing him of so gallant a proportion and so well armed the elder of the twaine called Rubero went against him and said Thou shalt be prisoner with her and when the time doth serue thou shalt haue 〈◊〉 answere of this thy bolde demand with the sacrifice that shall be done with both of you And as he would haue taken him in his armes Rosicleer stroke him with his close fist such a blow vppon the stomacke that he all to buckled the plaies of stéele wherwith he was armed without breath ouerthrew him backwards to the ground whose fall was so great that his brother Acorante thought verilie he had bene dead who like a rauening Lyon giuing a great shrike went against Rosicleer and with a great fauchon that he had hée stroke so strong a blowe vpon his shéeld that hée cut it cleane asunder in the middest and the fauchon descended downe vpon his helme and hauing no power against the inchauntment thereof it made him to stoupe with his knées to the ground Then Rosicleer drew out his sworde which was the same of so great value forged by the Quéene Iulia who was present wherewith he made him aunswere in such sorte that hée cloue his shéeld asunder that he had on his left arme and also his thicke and strong armour with the flesh vnto the hard bone Then betwixt them two began a braue and stout battaile striking the one the other so great and furious blowes that they were heard throughout all the whole Iland in such sorte that the Emperour Alycandro and those that were with him in the high Castle of Roboan were greatlie amazed and could not imagine what it should bée After this sort their combat endured betwixt them more than a quarter of an houre in the end whereof the fine cutting sword of the Quéene Iulia being flourished by the furious arme of Rosicleer brought the stâ—ut Acorante into that perplexitie that he was all berayed in bloud with the great number of wounds that was giuen him on all parts that if he had not bene so stout and couragious of so great force he could not haue sustained himselfe vpon his féete the which was to the contrarie in Rosicleer that although the blowes of the Gyant were verie strong and caused him many times to stoupe with his hands and knees to the ground and gaue him great paine and griefe whereas he dyd fasten anie blowe yet for all that his excellent armour dyd assure him from wounds and his great lightnesse did make him to strike many of his blowes in vaine Thus in the meane time that Acorante was so feeble and saint with the losse of bloud and waxed wearie Rubeo the other brother was come vnto himselfe againe and remembring what had passed him and seeing the greate perill whereinto his brother was nowe brought with a trice hée arose vp from the ground and taking his sworde in his hande hée began to laie vppon Rosicleer such greate and mightie blowes that by reason hee entered in a fresh and the other béeing samewhat wearie hée put him into great extremitie so that all his valour and worthinesse was verie néedfull at that instant Then when the Quéene Iulia saw how that that knight did all alone combat for her against the two Gyantes she straight waies called to remembrance that which many daies before she had prophesied and beholding the swoorde which the knight had she knew it to bee the same which she had forged with her owne hands and then she thought all her â—rauaâ—le to be well bestowed hauing great hope that the knight should haue the victorie against those Gyantes for that she sawe him verie nimble and light and that hée wounded the Gyants in many places of their bodies and all the ground was beraied with the bloud
in their armes for that he was very sore wounded And it fell out in this sort that as those that were in the castell did heare the great noyse that was made in the battaile with clittering of their armour Roboan and his sonnes were in their beddes very sore hurt and could not aryse but the knight of the Sunne being very desirous to know what it should bée for that it séemed vnto him to be some contension or cumbat fought by valiant and worthie knights he went foorth of the castell and all alone on horsebacke he rode that way whereas Rosicleer and the giants should come And when that he saw them comming a farre of he straight waies vnderstoode that they should be the sonnes of Roboan that came from the Sea brought with them some prise but when that he came nigher vnto them he was greatly amazed to sée those Gyants so sore wounded could not immagine who should doe the same till such time as he asked of one that came formost with whome they had had battaile but they were all so sad and sorowfull that they would not aunswere him any word but passed forwardes on without making anie reckoning of him for the which the knight of the Sunne being somwhat angâ—ie tooke one of them by the horse bridle and sayde that hée should not depart thence till such time as he had tolde him Then this knight who was more proude than curteous without speaking anie worde drew out his sword and stroke the knight of the Sunne a mightie blâ—we vppon his helme thinking therewith to haue parted his head in two péeces but it had ben much better for him not to haue begun that contention with him whome he did not know and to haue answered him to his demand it would haue hindered him nothing at all But the knight of the Sunne being verie angrie at his great villanie stroke him such a blowe with his armed fiâ—t vpon his armed head that he buckeled his healme to his scull that his braines flew out and he fell from his horse dead vnto the ground so that it cost him his life because hée woulde not speake but vse villanie And the rest which were of his companie when they sawe their companion thus ouerthrowen straight waies beganne to make contention with the knight of the Sunne in drawing out their swordes and charging him with their blowes on euerie side but before that they could fall in the reckoning of the great errour the which they had committed the most part of them were slaine and ouerthrowen to the ground and not one of them had remained aliue if that at this instant had not come Rosicleer who was behinde all the rest who when hée sawe the great slaughter that the Knight of the Sunne had done in so short a time hée was greatlie amazed and for that hée could not knowe who hée was and was verie desirous to proue himselfe with him for to bée reuenged for the death of those knightes he caused the other for to aparte themselues and with his sworde in his hande he assaulted him charging him with those strong and heauie blowes which he was wont to vse and the knight of the Sunne not knowing him but beleeuing within himselfe that he had bene one of the companie of the other knightes of the Gyantes dyd receiue him after such manner that in a short space the wrath and anger both of the one the other was greatly increased as mortall enimies they layde the one vpon the other making so great a noyse that it séemed al y â— who le Iland would haue sunke where at the Emperour Alicandro and the princesse Lindabrides did put themselues at the windowes of the castell and were greatle amazed when that they sawe the battaile betweene the two knights not knowing who he shold be of so great â—orce and strength that could endure so long the blowes of the knight of the Sunne a good halfe houre in this sorte they endured charging one the other with their thicke blowes and had no time to breath themselues and séemed to be all in burning â—ier with the great quantitie of sparkes that flewe out of their armour Either of them were greatly amazed at the great force and strength of his aduersarie as they who neuer had seene themselues in so terrible and furious battaile for that although they dyd combat together in the great court of Constantinople at that time they had not their force and strength so perfect neither were they so bigge growen in parsonage And now if it were not for that neither of them would seme to be the first they wold both haue withdrawen themselues for to haue knowen eche others contrarie before they would haue proceeded in executing their furious battaile but this point of honour was the occasion that they would not withdraw themselues but procured to ouerpresse each his aduersarie all that euer he could with their mightie and furious blowes Amongst a great number that was strooke Rosicleer seâ—led one blow at the knight of the Sun with his sword in both his hands ouerthwart his healme that it depriued him of all his sences that he was as one dead till such time as he redoubled an other blow on him whose force was of such strength and might that it made him to come againe vnto himselfe so amazed that he knew not where he was Then he foorthwith setled himself firmely in his Saddel very furious full of courage he gaue him his paiment in such sort that Rosicleer in all his life before receiued not so mightie and terrible a blow except it were that the which concluded their contencioâ—s battaile in Grecia His nose gushed out with bloud and he fell forwards vpon the pomel of his saddle and his armes hanging downe as though hée had bene dead and his horse tourned round about twise in the field with him in which time the knight of the Sunne would not strike him till such time as he was come againe vnto himselfe Rosicleer called vpon God for his aide succour as he who found himselfe in so great extremitie that he thought it vnpossible to escape from death if he should receiue such an other blow equal vnto that he had receiued He then setled himselfe againe in his saddle and prepared himselfe to be reuenged on his aduersarie and dyd abyde his comming with his sword in his hande with terrible furious semblaunt In the meane time whilest they were recouering of more furie and courage for to charge the one the other it so fell out that the Quéene Iulia being very desirous to know who those knights should be that semed vnto her to be the most biggest of proporcion and most valiantest that euer she had séene in all her lyfe tooke out a litle quadrangel the which continually she carried in her bosome wherewith she did vse to make her cuniurations and thereby she found that these knights should be both sonnes vnto the Emperour
in this Chapter following How that Rosicleer and Liriamandro and the gentle Lusâ—ano had battaile with the Duke Robertâ— and his companions Chap. 45. AFter that the Damsel of the Dutches was departed from Rosicleer and Liriamandro she went straight waies into the place appointed for the battaile whereas she kept her selfe verie close till such time as the Duke and his companions came foorth all foure together and armed with rich and glittering armor mounted vpon a great and gallant horse had with them so gallant semblance that they semed to be knights of great valour worthinesse as well in their armour as in their gallant proporcion In this â—ort they ridde about the place and when that the king Tiberio and the Quéene Augusta with all the principallest of the court were set in their places at the windowes of the mightie pallace then straight waies came farther the gentle Lusiano all armed in blew armour garnished about with golde and rich stoones which was conformable vnto his estate and was mounted vpon a mightie horse trapped with blewe veluet and bordered with gold and was in all things of so gallant and gentle disposition that ther was not one in all the place but when they saw him did receue great sorrow and griefe in such sorte that there was amongst them a great sound in maner of a lamentation for that they made rekoning that he was a dead man and there were fewe amongst them but would haue giuen a good part of their goods vpon condicion that the gentle Lusiano might cleere himselfe of that enterprise in especial the king and the Queene who loued him almost as well as though he had bene their owne sonne and would haue bene verie glad if y â— the prince 〈◊〉 would giue ouer that demaund for that they beleued y â— the Duke Roberto had reason on his side and again as it was likely they thought it impossible that he should escape from that battaile with his life Then the king commaunded that the Dutches should be brought foorth for to see and behold the battaile that was ordained for her sake who very much against her will was brought vnto a window of the pallas but when she saw her gentle spouse her heart was all couered with sorrow and griefe and as dead she fell down to the ground whereas her life had bene in great perill if that within a short space she had not bene comforted with the comming of the two knights So soone as the damsell saw that it was houre time with a trice she went vnto the In whereas she had left Rosicleere and Liriamandro and giuing them to vnderstand of that which had passed and how that they were readie to goe to battaile They straight waies mounted vpon their horses and with all the spéede possible came vnto the place at such time as the Iudges did part the Sunne and the field vnto the knight readie to leaue them to their battaile And as they pressed to enter into the place all the people dyd make them large and broade way for to passe as well to cleere themselues from the furie of their great hast as also for that they sawe them to be armed with so precious and rich armour and of so gallant proporcioÌ„ that straight waies they thought they came vpon some set purpose and determination When they came vnto the place whereas the knights were without speaking euer a woord they plased theÌ„selues the one on the one side and the other on the other side of the Prince with their speares in their hands readie for to goe vnto the battaile Then the Damsel who was well knowne went vnto the king and saide You shall vnderstand worthy and mightie king Tâ—berio that I this daye going forth of this citie because I would not see the death of the priâ—ce Lusiano by my good fortune I met with these two knights who wheÌ„ as they vnderstood by mée the occasioÌ„ of my sorow and griefe hauing no other occasion but as they are bound by reason and Iustice are come hether with mée and will defend the cause on the part and behalfe of my Ladie the Dutches. Therefore on their parts I am come vnto your highnesse to request you to graunt theÌ„ licence for the same for so much as they be strangers and would not erre in any thing that is dewtifull vnto your seruice The king who all this time dyd verie well behold the two knights and lyked them meruailously well was very glad and ioyefull at the words of the Damsell and hauing some hope more then before of the deliuerie of the Prince by the ayde of those two knights aunswered and sayde that the Duke and his companions were foure so that Lusiano might likewise take vnto him other thrée companions and that there was no reason in him for to denie them therefore the knights might doe what their pleasure was and that he should be well content therewith The Duke and his companions when that they sawe how that Lusiano had companions made no rekoning theroff for that if they were tenne of them they hoped before an houre were ended they would bring them vnto their endes But the Prince when that he sawe himselfe in the middest betwixt two such knights receiued no small contentment for that they séemed to be of high estate great renowme as well in their rich armour as of their gallant and stoute proporcions But in especiall Rosicleer for that there was not a knight in all that place but he had foure fingers vauntage of him in height so that it séemed vnto him that in all his life he had not séene a knight of a gallanter disposition And hauing no time for to speak vnto them he bowed downe his head in token of humilitie giuing them thankes for the great courtesie which they shewed vnto him At this time the houre was come and the trumpets began to sownde making a great noyse whereat the Duke his companions with their speares in their hands set spurs vnto their horses running with al furie possible The other thrée knights sâ—acked no time to runne and receiue them so great furie that it séemed a whirle winde and made their encouÌ„ters the one against the other in this sort The Duke Roberto and the gentle Lusiano made their encounters together all alone in such â—ort that by reason they were both â—rong and valiant knights they brake and sheuered their spâ—ares all to péeces but iustling together with their horse and bodies they both fell downe vnto the ground who with great lightnesse arose vpon their feete anâ— as mortall enimies made battaile together with their swords Liriamandro made his encounter with Ricardo who was a gallant knight And now whether it was for that he was in presence of his parents or by his great bountie and worthinesse Liriamandro ouerthrew the stout Ricardo horse and man to the ground And although by the force thereof he lost his stirrups yet lyke a good knight
for to satisfie their furious appetite and there was not 〈◊〉 one in all the whole armie that was in perfect securitie from their furious and bloudie handes Within a while the knight of the Sunne came into the place whereas was the good Emperour his Father a foote and so weary that almost he could not lyft vp his arme to his head hée and the two Spanish knightes although they had done greate and meruailous 〈◊〉 and incredible wonders yet were they at the point to haue béen slaine for that they were charged and assaulted by the king of the Gandaros and with two mightie great and deformed Gyants with an infinite number of other people who brought them into a meruailous perplexitie But quicklie they were rescued and their enimies deceiued of their praiâ— for when the knight of the Sunne knew him to bée his Father with a new force more than of a knight hée strâ—ke one of these Gyantes such a blowe vnder the gorge of â—is healme that hée cut his head cleanâ— from his bodie The which béeing done with great lyghtnesse hée turned himselfe about and with both his handes hée stroke such an ouerthwart at the other vpon his wast that almost 〈◊〉 vnto his saddle bowe hée parted him in two péeces and the royall Princesse stroke such another blowe vppon the healme of the king of the Gandaros that with the increâ—ible force thereof shée cloue his head quite downe vnto hâ—s téeth and ouerthrew him dead at his féete The bloud waxed colde within their bodies and theyr members shaked of all them that did sée these mortall and deformed blowes in especiall those Pagans that were ther nigh at hande who had compassed about the Emperour and the other two Princes so that it was not néedfull of anie other occasion for to cause them to depart thence for that they gaue them such entertainment that they all fledde awaie and put themselues into the battaile and thought not themselues in anie securitie wheresoeuer they shoulde become And although the good Emperour Trebatio had time and space inough for to mount vppon his horse yet hee was so wearie that he had no force for to doe it Likewise the two Spanish knightes were readie for to lie downe with wearinesse The which beeing séene and perceiued by that good Knight with a trice he alighted from his horse 〈◊〉 and tooke the Emperour his Father in his armes and with his owne strength he put him into the saddle and gaue vnto the two bretheren other two horses and with his owne handes he mounted them The which béeing done in spite of all those that were against them hée tooke vnto himselfe the horse of the king of Gandaros which was both strong and swift and with great lightnesse he leaped into the saddle and passed forwardes on leauing the Emperour Trebatio no lesse amazed than ioyfull and content to see the wonderfull déâ—des of his sonne who with new force and strength the which hee recouered with that sodaine ioy and pleasure pressed forwardes into the battaile being in the middest betwixt the two Spanish knightes and dyd such 〈◊〉 acts that it seemed he had but as then entered into the battaile Then the knight of the Sunne came vnto the place with the Princesse Claridiana whereas they found on foote the princes Bargandel and Lyriamandro Rodomarte Rodoâ—eo Flâ—â—ndes and Florinaldus by whose comming they were quicklie set at libertie and had space for to mount them selues on horsback the which being done he did the like vnto the Tartarian Zoilo the king Sacridoro neuer staied til he 〈◊〉 whereas the stout Oristedes was which was a strange thing to beholde to sée the great number of dead bodies at his féete round about him but by reason that hée was ouerpressed with so many against him hée was verie wearie and almost out of breath which being perceiued by the knight of the Sunne with a great good will he did succour him slaying and ouerthrowing to the ground all those that he found against him and of the thrée kings of the Indias the royall Princesse ouerthrew two of them dead to the ground and the third ranne awaie for if he had tarried his golden crowne the which he had on his head would little haue auailed him Then the good Troyan being verie glad of that aduantaged succour tooke vnto him a verie good horse and mounting vpon him they all together thrust themselues into the battaile and neuer staied till they came whereas the two Princes Brandizel and Claueryndo who were compassed round about with those gyantine knights but quicklie they were deliuered out of their hands and â—â—â—unted vpon other horses At this time were ioyned together the Emperour Trebatio with all the rest of the worthie and valiant knights with the knight of the Sunne and the royall Princesse Claridiana and all was néedfull for that the Emperour Alycandro accompanied with those Gyants his gard and with the most principallest kings of their hoast came vnto that place of the camp making such destruction and slaughter that they alone had béene sufficient to haue got the whole victorie of the field But being discouered by this generous companie they all together moued towardes them whose encounter was a thing worthie to haue bene séene for that the knight of the Sunne the royall Princesse with the mightie Emperour Trebatio Don Claros and Arcalus the two princes Brandizel and Claueryndo the king Florion and the king Sacridoro with the Tartarian Zoilo All the together made their encounter against the ten Gyants of the Gard of the Emperour and that which séemed not to be beléeued and impossible to bée executed amongest all them that were in the whole armie fell out nâ—we deane vnto the contrarie for that euerie one of these worthie Princes missed not but ouerthrew his aduersarie to the earth either starke dead or sore wounded and although some of them of the Emperour Trebatios part were vnhorsed yet quicklie and with a trice they were mounted againe And of other twelue kings that were mightie and stout and of great valour that came in companie with the Emperour Alycandro there remained but two of them but all the rest were ouerthrowen and slaine by Baâ—gandel and Lyriamandro Rodomarte and Rodofeo Flamides and Florinaldus the sonnes of the gran Torcato and the stout Rogelio When these Pagan kings were slaine and ouercome although the number of Pagans were infinit yet they beganne to loose ground for that they had no other Captaines for to gouerne them but onelie that mightie Pagan Bramarant who was deteined in battaile with Rosicleer and the two worthie knights Meridian and Brandimardo if there had bâ—ne many in the campe lyke vnto them before the Pagans would haue yeelded anie ground there had bene greater destruction and bloud shed more than there was but by reason that they were but two onelie they were not sufficient for to gouerne and rule them although they did make so greate slaughter that they
seemed not to be anie humane creatures But now was the time come of the good fortune and destinie promised vnto the Emperour Trebatio to shewe it selfe fauourable and the Prophesie before sayde by the olde king of Gedrosia to worke effect and accomplish the truth thereof in confirming of the same for that the Pagans began to retire and night drew on and it wared darke they receiued great feare in such sorte that they put themselues vnto flight and ranne awaie with great shame so that a little before the shutting of the euening the Pagans put themselues in such feare and hast in running that there was no force of resistance in them but to be all slaine by the Gréekes who followed them at their héeles And the Emperour Alycandro when that he sawe himselfe left alone without his strong gard and mightie kings his vassals that were wont to kéepe and beare him companie and all his people to run awaie before him ouercome and cleane without anie hope of victorie he larged the raines vnto his horse and ranne about the field complaining verie much against the Gods whome he tooke to bée his parents and kinsfolke as also against Fortune for shewing her selfe so contrarie against him but most he complained against himselfe for putting so great confidence and trust in his owne power in that hée would not giue anie credit vnto the good and true counsailes of the olde king of Gedrosia and going in this sort he came vnto his Tents and taking the faire Princesse Lyndabrides and the rest of the Ladies and Damsels that were with her with other such things as conueniently he could hée fled downe vnto the sea side whereas was all his whole Fléete whereof the Christians had burnt a great part of them such as were at the Sea for although the saide ships of the Christians were but few in number yet when that they sawe the great destruction that was made on the land they recouered great courage â—or to assault them that were at the Sea in such sorte that they set fire on manye shippes that were in the Fléete in spite of them that were there for that they found small resistance Thus as I haue saide before when the Emperour came vnto the Sea side there was so great hast of embarking that with great trauaile hée embarked himselfe into a shippe with those that came with him and being embarked yet he thought not himselfe in anie securitie but in great hast caused the Sailes to bée spread abroade and launched themselues into the Sea leauing all this troupe and power ouerthrowen in Grecia Then the Prince Meridian and Brandimardo when that they sawe how that the people were dispearsed and that by no meanes possible they coulde not staie them from flying and running awaie Then went they from one place vnto another séeking of the Emperour Alycandro but could not finde him till such time as they came vnto the Sea side whereas it was tolde them how that hée was embarked into a shippe and departed with the Princesse Lyndabrides and the other Ladies and Gentlewomen that were in her companie amongst whome was the faire Princesse Floralinda spouse vnto the Prince Meridian who when that hée vnderstoode of their departure dyd straight wayes embarke himselfe in another shippe and followed after them In all this while the Gréekes vnderstoode in no other thing but in killing and slaying of Pagans as they ranne awaie and made such slaughter as in all the daie before was not the lyke at which time all the water in the Tirreno sea from the â—geo vnto the Euxino was redde and turned into the coulour of bloud with the great quantitie that were slaine as well on the sea as on the land which was a thing of great terrour and wonder to beholde But the knight of the Sunne when he sawe that the battaile was dispearsed and how that the Pagans sledde before them hée made no farther account of them but went and sought for the Emperour Alycandro and the Princesse Lyndabrides fearing that in the moouing and running of the people they should receiue some damage or harme The which he would not that it should so fall out for anie thing in all the world for that hée considered verie well in his minde how much he was bound vnto them for the great loue which they bare vnto him And when he came vnto the Tents he went from one vnto another enquiring for the Emperour and it was tolde him how they were fled and gone wherewith he gallopped his horse till hée came vnto the sea side whereas hée sawe the Pagans making great hast for to embarke themselues and many of them did swimme aboord because they would not abide the furie of the Greekes a land Then the Knight of the Sunne came vnto one of those Pagans and put the point of his sword to his face and sayd that hee would kill him if hée dyd not tell him newes of the Emperour Alycandro Then the Pagan who sawe him depart for feare of death tolde him how that he was departed from thence in a ship with the princesse Lyndabrides and all her Ladies and gentlewomen Whereat when the knight of the Sunne heard of their departure he was verie sorrowfull as well for the perill in the which they put themselues as also for that hée would haue done vnto them the honourâ— and seruice that they deserued and for that his valiant courage could not suffer that they should depart in such sorte with a setled purpose and determination full of vertue he put himselfe into a Boate and caused the Marriners to rowe him vnto a good ship that was there at hande whereas he found certaine knights that did resist him at his entrie whom he slew and threatned the Maister and Marriners that he woulde lykewise kill them if they did not gouerne the ship right that waie which the Emperour Alycandro was departed and gone Then they who sawe the great destruction that hée had made in so short a time being greatlie amazed thereat and with great feaâ—e did obey all that he commanded so that in companie with the other ships they hoised saile and departed through that bloudie sea whereas we wil leaue them in their iourney and returne vnto them that were left in the field At this time the good Emperour Trebatio when he saw the night come on a pace and that it waxed darke being verie wearie he all his companie in killing of pagans began to blow and sound his rich horne which lyke a good Captaiâ—e he carried alwaies about his necke and he dyd sound it iâ— such sort that in all those broade and wide fields it was heard at which sound all his people dyd obey his commandement and gathered themselues together But yet in all this time the battaile betwixt Rosicleer and Bramarant neuer ceased but rather as then was more furious and kindled in wrath and they did no other thing but procure to charge the one the other with
they would hold him for their Lord and verie friend and requested him to tell them who he was how he was called Unto whome he saide that they should goe vnto the castell and there in the presence and before his prisoners he would giue them to vnderstand And therwith they went all foure together vnto the castel and being within they mounted vp vnto the battelments whereas the Emperour and faire princesse with her damsells were And when they came vnto them the knight of the Sunne pulled of his healme and kneeled downe before the Emperor the princesse y â— were together aparted from the rest with that graue merrie countenaÌ„ce y â— he was wont to haue he spake these words If the errors don by the knight of y e Sun could moue the generositie of your hearts to come with so great wrath accompanied with so mightie a number of knights into Grecia for to take reuengement of me alone behold mée here now vnder your obedieÌ„ce for that with this sword straight waies you giue mée my reward as my desort doth deserue for greater force to this effecte hath the greate loue and good will which alwaies I beare vnto you then all the great and mightie armies which you ordained to passe the Seas for that to counteruaile them an other force equall is sufficient for to destroy them but against the good will which alwayes I had for to serue you there is no force nor peruerse fortune sufficient for to oppresse the same and if hetherto my Lords I haue séemed vnto you to vse the contrarie for that I made resistance against your in these battailes passed it was not for to excuse mee to be yours but to withstand that the Emperour of Grecia were not wholly destroyed and againe that they should not suffer abide the smart that were nothing in the fault hereof In the meane time that the knight of the Sunne was saying these words the faire Princesse did beholde him as though she had bene transported or from her selfe with the soueraigne ioye and pleasure which preseÌ„tly she receiued to sée before her with so great humilitie him whome she loued much more then her owne selfe and his fight so greatly wished desired for But when that the Emperour Alicandro dyd know the knight of the Sunne and had well vnderstoode his humble and courteous words who could immagine or coniecture the great admiration and wonder that he receiued in his heart with the varietie of diuers things that occupied his minde and vnderstanding at one instant For one waye he called to remembrance that once he thought that this knight should haue bene his sonne and how that he gaue vnto him his daughter Empire and high estate Likewise he remembred to the contrarie how that for to be reuenged on him he left his owne countries and departed with a great number of people into Grecia whereas happened vnto him all his ill fortunes and ouerthrowes he remembred also how that he sawe him in the fielde against him with so great furie and fiercenesse that hée alone did make to quake all his great and mightie armie and how that by his rigorous arme the most principallest kings and Lordes of all his hoast were destroyed and hewen to péeces and now likewise he sawe him vppon his knées before his presence with so great humilitie that more coulde not be done by his sonne Meridian if at that present he had béene there In this sort was his minde troubled and tossed withall these thoughts which was the occasion that he stood and did beholde him without speaking of anie word a good space till such time as comming vnto himselfe and remembring that he was the Myrrour of all Princes and knights in the world and as then thought him to bée equall vnto the eternall Gods and that his great valour estate would not suffer that he should continue in that sort before him he determined to consent and to suffer with patience all that was ordained by fortune and to accept and receiue the lybertie of his imprisonment at the handes of him who hath béene the occasion of all his euill but in especiall the necessitie in the which he was brought woulde not giue waie vnto anie other thing so that he went vnto him and did embrase him and kissed his chéeke and in shedding of many teares that ranne downe his chéekes hée vttered these wordes WOrthie Prince and welbeloued sonne I am he that alonelie haue erred most worthelie doth deserue the punishment for the great quantitie of bloud which I haue caused to bee shedde of those that were without fault or blame for I may well knowe and vnderstand that whome the Gods dyd make of so great magnanimitie aboue all others in the whole worlde it cannot bee but Fortune must bée fauourable vnto him and vnto mee the contrarie for that I will maintaine against him the warre and contention yea and besides all this the destiniâ—s hath béene fauourable vnto thée in that by thy greate force and strength wée shall be set al libertis out of this prison in the which wée were committed therefore I will acknowledge the greatâ— subiection and submission I owe vnto fortune and giue her thankes that although in the one she hath bene vnto mee contrarie yet héerein hath she bene fauourable in bringing you hether into my presence in this great néede and necessitie Therefore I will if you be contented therewith returne with you vnto Constantinople for to conclude an entire and euerlasting friendship with the Emperour Trebatio your Father and to do that now by peace which I could not before conclude or finish by warres Héere did the knight of the Sunne take great pleasure and contentment in that the Emperour Alycandro would returne into Grecia for the which he offered to kisse his hands but yet the ioy and pleasure was much more that the faire Princesse Lyndabrides receiued in that the iourney should be such that she might not so quicklie depart out of the presence of the knight of the Sunne And more it is to be considered of them that in the like operations hath had experience for to giue iudgement of the imagination of those two when they sawe themselues together before the Emperour Alycandro whereas they coulde not manifest anie part of that which they thought within their hearts At this time approched vnto them Roboan and his sonnes when they vnderstoode who they were that were their prisoners and also the knight of the Sunne they fell downe vppon their knées at their féete for to kisse their handes and craued pardon of them for all that was past Then the knight of the Sunne sayd vnto the Emperour My Lord may it please your Highnesse for to honour these knights for that they doe deserue it for the great bountie and curtesie that is in them Then did the Emperour embrace them caused them to arise from the ground offered himselfe to be their
that ranne out of their wounds but by reason that they were so boistrous and so stout they so doubled their blowes with so great furie vpon Rosicleer that it had bene sufficient to haue hewen a rocke in péeces so that in a short time they made him verie faint and wearie brusing his flesh and bones although their swordes could not enter nor cut his inchanted armor And of truth if that this battaile had endured long hée had béene brought into the greatest perill that euer he saw himselfe in in all his life for that these two Gyants were young-men and the most strongest that were to be found amongst all Gyants But yet at this instant Acorante was so weak and féeble by the losse of much bloud that he coulde not stand on his féete but fell downe to the ground as though he had béene dead Then he finding himselfe alone with Rubero the battaile was more indifferent the one did charge the other verie stronglie striking whereas they thought they should doe most harme each to his aduersarie but Rubero for the death of his brother was so full of wrath and ire that he made little account of the blowes that Rosicleer did strike him although his â—ine cutting sworde had so sore wounded him in many partes that his death could not bée long dilated by reason of the great quantitie of bloud that ranne out of them These Gyantes had certaine knightes which alwayes went with them who at this verie instant came vnto the same place whereas they made their battaile but yet in anie manner of wise they durst not helpe their Lordes for that many times before they had plagued them and giuen them warning that whensoeuer they were in battaile with equall knightes that none of them shoulde aide or succour them for which occasion they stoode still and were in quiet till such time as they sawe one of their Lordes lie along vpon the ground as though he had bene dead and the other so sore wounded that he could not long indure neither could they anie longer refraine themselues but all together who were more than fifteene all wel armed went against Rosicleer and began to charge him with verie thicke and strong blowes but Rubero when he sawe this did put himselfe before them and cried out that they should departe and let him alone but they would not retire but still pressed on all that euer they coulde Then he returned against them with his sword and did so much that against their will hee made them to retire Then would he haue returned againe vnto the battaile but Rosicleer liâ—t vp the vizor of his heâ—me and sayd God forbid that I should be ouercome at thy hands more than at one time for this which at this time thou hast vsed with me hath rendered mee so much that I will put my selfe wholie into thy power â—or to doe with mée according to thy pleasure vpon this condition that you giue vnto this Damsell free and whole libertie who was the occasion of this battaile which hath béen begun and continued betwixt vs. You shall vnderstand that all the sonnes of Roboan were by nature well conditioned and this Rubero the third sonne was the best of them all who acknowledging the greate vantage that Rosicleer had of him although all the knights had hâ—lpen him and how that his wordes which hee hadde spoken proceeded of great vertue hée then vnlaced his healme and sayd Let not my fortune permit that against him who hath so great vauntage on me as well in vertue as in strength that I make anie more contention or farther 〈◊〉 for that in the ende both in the one and in the other I cannot choose but néedes must bée ouercome and loose the victorie This damsell is thine and thou hast wonne her and nowe looke what is thy pleasure to be done with vs for that all shall be accomplished as you wil command Then Rosicleer did embrace him with great loue and both of them together went to helpe vp Acorante who was so féeble that he could not moue himselfe but when that they had pulled off his healme and giuen him aire hée began to come better vnto himselfe and gather some strength Then the Quéene Iulia with a péece of a vaile which she had bound vp his wounds and stanched the bloud by vertue of a stone which she had in a ring as one that in all things was a damsell verie wise and of great discretion When all this was done the Quéene sayd vnto Rosicleer Happie and fortunate knight if you doe well remember the condition wherewith you got this sword that you now possesse in great Britaine it was that you should combat with two Gyants together for the deliuerie of a Damsell When Rosicleer heard these wordes being greatlie amazed how she should come to the knowledge thereof he said I doe well remember the same Well then said she now may you well vnderstand and sée how that the condition is well accomplished for that you haue had the battaile with these two Gyants for to deliuer me that am the Quéene Iulia she who with her owne handes did forge the sword that you now haue at your girdle hauing experience before how much it should profit you in this battaile for my deliuerie Good Ladie saide Rosicleer what fortune hath brought so wise and high a Damsell in this sorte into this Countrie That fortune sayd the Quéene that could ouerthrowe the mightie Alycandro from the high throne wherevnto he was exalted and bring him to bée prisoner â—oyntlie with the Princesse Lyndabrides his daughter in the power of two Gyants who carryed them yesterdaie vnto the high Castle that standeth vppon yonder mountaine This is shée that no force nor humane wisedome is able for to deliuer from the subiection of her tumbling and tourning whéele And as I came with the Princesse thinking for to escape from the prison whether as they carryed her I ran away secretly and put my selfe amongst these Rocks but yet in the ende I chaunced to fall into a daunger no lesse perillous then that out of the which I thought to haue escaped At which words Rosicleer was greatly amazed and saide is it possible to be true that the Emperour Alicandro and the Princesse Lindabrides are prisoners It is of trueth sayde the Quéene for that two Gyants did carrie them vnto yonder castell Well then let vs goe thether out of hand sayd Rosicleer for with a verie good will I will aduenture my life for to â—et at libertie so high personages It shall not be nedefull said Rubero for that those two who did carrie theÌ„ be our bretheren and sonnes vnto Roboan our Father therefore let vs go straight waies thether for by your intercession they and all those that be prisoners in the castell shal be set at libertie Rosicleer receiued great contentment at that which Rubero had sayde and gratifying him they all together went towards the castell and their knights did carrie Acorante