with Princely pallaces very sumptuous to behold likewise they discouered from the Hill a fayre fountaine wrought all of marble like vnto a Pillâ—r out of which did proceede foure spoutes running with water which fell into a great Cesterne and comming to it they washed their handes and refâ—eshed their faces and so departed After they looked round about them on euery side and toward their right handes they espied amongst a company of gréene trées a small Tent of blacke cloth towards which these yong Princes directed their courses with an easie pace but when they had entred the Tent and sawe no bodie therin they remained silent a while harkning if they could heare any sturing but they could neither see nor heare any thing but onely they found the print of certain little féete vpon the same which caused them more earnestly to desire to know whose foote steps they were for that they séemed to be of some Ladies or Damsels so finding the trace they followed theÌ„ and the more the knights followed the more the Ladies séemed to hast so long they persued after the trace that at the end they approached a little mountain wheras they found scattered about certaine lockes of yellow haire which séemed to be thrids of golde and stooping to gather them vp they perceiued that some of them were wet with spots of blood whereby they wel vnderstood that in great anger they were pulled from some Ladies head lik wise they saw in diuers places how the earth was spotted with droppes of crimson blood then with a more desire then they had before they went vp to the top of that litle mountaine and hauing lost the footesteps they recouered it againe by gathering vp the hayre where they had not traueled far vp the mountaine but towards the waters side they heard a gréeuous complaint which séemed to be the voice of a woman in great distresse and the woordes which the knights did vnderstand were these O loue now shalt thou no more reioyce nor haue any longer dominion ouer me for death I sée is ready to cut my thrid of life and finish these my sorowful lamentations how often haue I askt reuengement at the powers of heauen against that wicked wretch that hath bene the causer of my banishment but yet they will not hear my request how ofte haue I made my sad complaints to hell yet hath the fatall furies stopt their eares against my woful cryes And with this she held her peace giuing a sorowful sighe which being done the thrée christian knights turned their eyes to the place from whence they heard this complaint and discouered amongst certaine gréene trées a Lady who was endued with singuler beautie being so excellent that it almost depriued them of their harts captiuated their sences in the snares of loue which libertie as yet they neuer lost she had her haire about her eares which hung defusedly downe her comely sholders through the violence she vsed against her selfe and leaning her chéeke vpon her delicate white hand that was all to be spotted with blood which was constraind by the scratching of her nailes vpon her Rosie colored face by her stood another damsel which they coniectured to be her daughter for she was clad in virgin colored silk mor whiter then the Lillyes of the fields and as pleasante to beholde as the glistring Moone in a cleare winters fréezing night yet for all this delectable sight the thrée princly knights wold not discouer theÌ„selues but stood closely behinde the thrée pine trées which grew néere vnto the mountaine to heare the euent of this accident but as they stoode cloaked in silence they heard her thus to confer with her beautiful daughter Oh my Rosana quoth she the vnhappie figure of him that without pitty hath wounded my heart and left me comfortles with the greatest cruelty that euer knight or gentleman left Lady how hath it béen possible that I haue had the force to bring vp the child of such a father which hath bereaud me of my libertie O you soueraigne gods of heauen grant y t I may establish in my minde the remembrance of the loue of thy adulterous father oh girle borne to a further griefe héere doe I desire the guider of thy fortunes that thy glistring beautie may haue such force and power whereby the shining beames thereof may take reuengement of the dishonor of thy mother giue eare deare childe I say vnto thy dying mother thou that art born in the dishonor of thy generation by the losse of my virginity héere doe I charge thée vpon my blessing euen at my houre of death swear thée by the omnipotent God of heauen neuer to suffer thy beauty to be enioyd by any one vntill thy disloyal fathers head bee offered vp in a sacrifice vnto my graue thereby somewhat to appease the furie of my discontented soule and recouer part of my former glorie These and such like words spake this afflicted quéene to the wonderfull amazement of the thrée yong Knightes which as yet intended not to discouer themselues but to marke the euent for they coniectured that her woful complaintes were the induction of some strange accedent Thus as they stoode obscurely behinde the trées they sawe the young and beautifull Damsell giue vnto her dying mother paper penne and Inke the which shée pulled from her Iuorie bosome wherewith the gréeued quéene subscribed certain sorrowful lines vnto him y t was the causer of her banishment and making an end of her writing they heard her with a dying breath speake vnto her daughter these sorrowfull words following Come daughter quoth shee beholde thy Mother at her latest gaspe and imprint my dying request in thy heart as a table of brasse that it neuer may be forgotten time will not giue me longer respit that with wordes I might shewe vnto thée my déepe affâ—ctions for that I féele my death approaching and the fatall sisters ready to cut my thrid of life a sunder betwéene the edges of their shieres insomuch that I moste miserable creature do féele my soule trembling in my flesh and my heart quiuering at this my last and fatal houre but one thing my swéet and tender child doe I desire of thée before I dye which is that thou wouldest procure that this letter may bee giuen to that cruell knight thy disloyall father giuing him to vnderstand of this my troublesome death the occasion whereof was his vnreasonable crueltie and making an end of saying this the miserable Quéene fell downe not hauing any more strength to sit vp but let the letter fall out of her hand the which her sorrowfull daughter presently tooke vp and falling vpon her mothers brest she replyed in this sorrowfull manner O my swéete mother tell me not that you will dye for it ads a torment more gréeuous vnto my soule then the punishments which Danaus daughters féele in hell I would rather be torne in péeces by the fury of some merciles monster or to
illusion that caused him so cruelly to séeke her death And the breaking out into this hurly burly grew first to head in this maner following Two yeres after the Kings departure these Deputies gouerned the publike State in great peace and with prudent policie til after no tidings of the King could be heard notwithstanding so manie messengers as were in euerie quarter of the world sent to enquire of him and then did Ambition kindle in all their hears each striuing to wrest into his hand the sole possession of the Babylonian Kingdome To this end did they all make seuerall frends for this had they contended in manie Fights and now lastly they intended to set all their hopes vpon this maine chaunce of warre intending to fight all till thrée fell and one remained victor ouer the rest whose head should bee beautifyed with a crowne But of traitors and treason the end is sodaine shamefull for no sooner had Saint George placing himselfe betwéene the Battells in a bréefe Oration shewed y e aduentures of the King and he himselfe to the people discouered his reuerend face but they all shouted for ioye and haled the Usurpers presently to death and reinsialled in his ancient dignitie their true lawfull and long lookt for King The King being thus restored married Fidela for her faithfulnes and after the nuptiall Feasts the Champions at the earnest request of Saint Anthonie departed towards Italy where in Rome the Emperour spared no cost honourably and most sumptuously to entertaine those neuer daunted Knightes the famous Wonders of Christendome At that time of the yeare when the Summers Quéen had beautefied the Earth with interchaungeable ornaments Saint George in companie of the Emperour with the rest of the Champions chanced to walke along by the side of the Riuer Tyber and to delight themselues with the pleasurable meades and beauteous prospect of the Countrey Before they had walked halfe a myle from the Cittie they approached an ancient Nunnerie which was right faire and of a stately building and likewise incompassed about with christall streames and gréene meddowes furnished with all manner of beauteous trées and fragrant flowers This Nunnerie was consecrated to Diana the Quéene of Chastitie and none were suffered to liue therein but such chast Ladies and Uirgins as had vowed themselues to a single life and to kéepe their Uirginities for euer vnspotted In this place the Emperours onely Daughter liued a professed Nunne and exempted her selfe from all companie except it were the fellowship of chast and Religious Uirgins This vertuous Lucina for so was shee called hauing intelligence before by the ouerséeers of the Nunnerie how that the Emperour her Father with manie other Knights were comming to visite their religious Habitation against their approach shee attyred her selfe in a gowne of white satten all layd ouer with gold lace also hauing her golden lockes of haire somewhat laid foorth and vpon her head was knit a garland of swéete smelling flowers which made her séeme celestiall and of a diuine creation Her bâ—autie was so excellent that it might haue quailed the heart of Cupide and her brauerie excéeded the Paphian Quéenes Neuer could Circes with al her cunning frame so much beautie in anie creature as was vpon her face nor neuer could the flattering Syrens more beguile the trauellers then did her bright countenaunce inchant the English Champion for at his first entrance into the Nunnerie he was so rauished with her sight that he was not able to withdrawe his eyes from her beauty but stoodszigag vppon her Rosie culloured chéekes like one bewitched with Me-dusaes shadowes but to bee shorte her beauty séemed so Angellicall and the burning flames of loue so fieres his heart that he must either inioy her companye or giue ende to his life by some vntimely meanes Saint George beeing wounded thus with the darte of loue dissembled his griefe and not reuealed it to any one but departed with the Emperor back againe to the Citie leauing his heart behinde him cloased in the stonye Monastery with his louely Lucina All that ensuing night he could not enioy the benifit of sléepe but did contemplate vpon the diuine beautye of his Lady and fraughted his minde with a thousand seuerall cogitations how hee might attaine to her loue beeing a chaste virgin and a professed Nun. In this manner spent hee away the night and no sooner appéered the mornings brightnesse in at his chamber window but he arose from his restlesse bed and attyred him selfe in watchet veluet to signifie his true loue and wandred all alone vnto the Monastery wher he reuealed his déepe affection vnto his Ladye who was as farre from graunting to his requests as heauen is from earth or the déepest seas from the highest Elements for shee protested while life remayned within her bodye neuer to yeild her loue in the way of mariage to anye one but to remaine a pure virgin and one of Dianaes traine No other resolution could Sa. George get of the chaste Nun which caused him to departe in great discontent intending to séeke by some other meanes to obtaine her loue so comming to the rest of the Christian Champions he reuealed to them the truth of all things that had hapned who in this maner counsailed him that hee should prouide a multitude of armed Knightes euery one bearing in their handes a sword ready drawen and to enter the Monastery at such a time as she little mistrusted and first with faire promises and flattering speeches to entice her to loue then if she yéelded not to fill her eares with cruell threatnings protesting that if she will not graunt to requite his loue with like affection he would not leaue standing one stone of that Monastery vppon an other and likewise to make her a bloudy offering vppe to Diana This pollicy liked wel Saint George though he intended not to prosecute such cruelty so the next morning by break of day he went vnto the nunnery in company of no other but the christian champions armed in bright armour with their glistering swordes ready drawen the which they caried vnder their side cloakes to prâ—uent suspition But when they came to the Monastery and had entered into the chamber of Lucina whom they found knéeling vpon the bare ground at her ceremonious orasons Saint George first proffered kindnes by faire promises and afterward made knowne his vnmercifull pretended cruelty and therewithall shaking their bright swordes against her vertuous brest they protested though contrary to their mindes that except he would yéeld vnto Saint George her vnconquered loue they would bathe their weapone in her dearest bloud At which wordes the distressed Uirgin being ouercharged with feare sunke down presently to the ground and lay for a time in a dead agony but in the ende recouering her selfe she lifted vp her angelicall face shrowded vnder a cloude of pale sorrow and in this maner declared her minde Most renowned and well approoued Knights said she it is as difficult
cloddes of earth and turffes of grasse seauen yeares we haue continued in great extreamitie sustaining our hungers with the fruites of trées and quenching our thirstes with the dewe of heauen that falleth nightly vpon fragrant flowers héere in stéede of Princely attyre imbrothered garments and damaske vestures we haue béene constrained to cladde our selues in flowers the which we haue cunningly wouen vp together Héere insteade of musicke that had wont each morning to delight our eares we haue the whistling windes resounding in the woods our clockes to tell the minutes of the wandring nights are snakes and toades that sléep in rootes of rotten trées our cannopeies to couer vs are not wrought of Median silke the which the Indian Uirgins weaue vppon their siluer loombes but the sable cloudes of heauen when as the chéerefull day hath clos'd her christall windows â—p Thus in this manner continued wee in this soletary wildernes making both birds and beastes our chiefe companions till these mercilesse Moores whose hateful beâ—sts you haue made like watry fountaines to water the parched earth with streames of blood who came into our cell or simple cabinet thinking to haue found some store of treasure But casting their gazing eyes vpon my beutie they were presently inchaunted with a lustfull desire onely to crop the swéete bud of my virginitie Then with a furious and dismall countenaunce more blacke than than the sable garments of sad Melpomine when wyth her strawberie quill she writes of bloodie tragedies or with a heart more crueller than was Neroes the tyrannous Romane Emperour when he beheld the entrailes of his naturall Mother layde open by his inhumane and mercilesse commaundement or when he stood vpon the highest toppe of a mightie mountayne to sée that famous and Imperiall Cittie of Roome set on fire by the remorselesse handes of his vnrelenting Ministers that added vnhallowed flames to his vnholie furie These mercilesse and wicked minded Negroes with violent handes tooke my aged Father and most cruellye bound him to the blasted bodie of a wythered oake standing before the entrie of his Cell where neither the reuerent honor of his siluer haires that glistered like the frozen ysicles vpon the Northerne Mountaines nor the strayned sighes of his breast wherein the pledge of wisedome was inthronized nor all my teares or exclamations could anie whit abate their cruelties but like grim dogs of Barbarie they left my Father fast bound vnto the trée and like egregious vipers tooke me by the tramells of my golden haire and dragd me like a silly Lambe vnto this slaughtering place intending to satisfie their lustes with the flower of my chastitie Here I made my humble supplication to the Maiestye of Heauen to bee reuenged vppon their cruelties I reported to them the rewards of bloodie rauishments by the example of Tereus that lustfull King of Thrace and hys furious Wife that in reuenge of her Sisters rauishment caused her Husband to eate the flesh of his owne Sonne Likewise to preserue my vndefiled honor I told them that for the Rape of Lucrece the Romane Matron Tarquinius and his name was for euer banished out of Rome with manie other examples like the Nightingale whose doleful tunes as yet recordeth nothing but rape and murther Yet neither the frownes of heauen nor the terrible threates of hell could mollifie their bloodie mindes but they protested to perseuer in that wickednes vowd that if all the leaues of the Trées that grew within the Wood were turned into Indian Pearle made as wealthie as the golden Streames of pactolus where Mydas washt his golden Wish away yet shuld they not redéeme my chastitie from the staine of their insatiable and lustfull desires This being said they bound mee with the tramells of myne owne haire to this Orenge trée and at the very instant they proffered to defile my vnspotted bodie but by the mercifull working of God you happily approached not only redéemed me from their tyrannous desires but quit the world from thrée of the wickedest creatures that euer nature framed For which most noble and inuincible Knights if euer Uirgins prayers may obtaine fauor at the Maiestie of Heauen humbly will I make my supplications that you may proue as valiant champions as euer put on helmet and that your fames may ring to euerie Princes eare as far as bright Hiperion showes hys golden face This tragicall tale was no sooner ended but the thrée Knights whose remorcefull hearts sobbed with sighes imbraced the sorrowfull Maiden betwixt their armes earnestlye requested her to conduct them vnto the place whereas she left her father bound vnto the withered oke To which shee willingly consented and thanked them highly for their kindnes but before they approched to the olde mans presence what for the griefe of his banishment and the violent vsage of his Daughter he was forced to yéeld vp his miserable life to the mercies of vnauoydable death When Saint Georges valiant Sonnes in companie of this sorrowful Maiden came to the trée and contrarie to their expectations found her Father cold and stiffe both deuoyd of sense and féeling also finding his hands face couered with greene mosse which they supposed to be done by the Roben red-breast and other little birds who naturally couer the bare parts of anie bodie which they finde dead in the 〈◊〉 they fell into a new confused extremitie of griefe But especially his Daughter séeming to haue lost all ioy and comfort in this World made both heauen earth to resound with her excéeding lamentations and mourned without comfort like wéeping Niobe that was turned into a rocke of stone her griefe so abounded for the losse of her children but when the thrée young Knights perceiued the comfortless sorrow of the Uirgin and how she had vowd neuer to depart from those solitary groues but to spend the remnant of her daies in company of his deadly body they curteously assisted her to burie him vnder a ches-nut trée where they left her continually bathing his senceles graue with her teares and returned backe to their horses where they left them at the entry of the Forrest tied vnto a lofty pine so departed on their Iorney There we will leaue them for a time and speak of the seauen Champions of Christendome that were gone on Pilgrimage to the Cittie of Ierusalem and what strange aduentures happened to them in their trauels CHA. IIII. Of the Aduenture of the Golden Fountaine in Damasco how sixe of the Christian Champions were taken prisoners by a mightie Giant and after how they were deliuered by Saint George and also how he redeemed fourteene Iewes out of prison with diuers other strange accidents that happened LET vs now speake of the fauourable clemencie that smiling Fortune shewd to y e Christian Champions in their trauells to Ierusalem For after they were departed from England and had iourneied in their Pilgrimes attire thorough manie strange Countreys at last they arriued vpon the Confines of Damasco
with mine owne blood the which my faintfull tongue is not able to reueale and thereupon hee pulled from his bossome a golden couered booke with siluer claspes and requested Saint George to read it to the rest of the kinghts to which he willingly condescended so sitting downe amongst the other Champions vpon the gréene springing grasse hee opened the bloudy written booke and read ouer the contents which contained these sorrowful wordes following CHAP. VI. What hapned to the Champions after they haâ— found an Image of fine Cristaâ—l in the forme of a murthered Mayden where Saint Gâ—orge had a golden Booke giuen him wherein was written in blood the true Tragedâ—es of two Sisters and likewise how the Champions intended a speedy reuenge vpon the Knight of the blacke Castle for the deaths of the two Ladies IN former times whilste Fortune smilde vpon me I was a welthye Shéepheard dwelling in this vnhappye Countrye not onely held in great estimation for my welth but also for two faire Daughters which nature had mad most excellent in beautie in whome I tooke such excéeding ioy delight that I accounted them my chiefest happinesse but yet in the end that which I thought should most content me was the occasion of this my endles sorrowes My two Daughters as I said before were endued with wonderfull beauty and accompanyed with no lesse honestie the fame of whose virtues was so blazed into many partes of the worlde by reason whereof there repayred to my Shéepheards Cottage diuers strange and worthye Knights with greate desire to marrie with my Daughters But aboue them all there was one named Leoger the knight of the blacke Castle wherein he now remayneth beeing in distance from this place some two hundreth leagues in an Island incompassed with the sea This Leoger I say being so entrapped with the beautye of my Daughters that he desired me to giue him one of them in mariage but â— little mistrusting his treason and crueltie that after followed but rather considering the greate honor that might râ—dounde thereof for that he was a woorthy knight and of much fortitude I quickly fulfilled his desire and graunted to him my eldest Daughter in mariage where after that Hâ—meus holy rites were solemnized in great pomp and state she was conducted in company of her new wedded Lord to the blacke Castle more liâ—â—r a Princâ—sse in estate then a shéepheards daughter of such degrée But yet still I retained in my company the youngest beeing of farre more beautie then her elder Sister of which this trayterous and vnnaturall knight was informed and her surpassing beauty so extolled that in a small time he forgot his new maried wife and swéet companion and wholly surrendred himselfe to her loue without consideration that he had maried her other sister So this disordinate and lustful loue kindled and increased in him euery day more and more and hee was so troubled with this new desire that he dayly deuised with himselfe by what meanes he might obtaine her and kéepe her in dispite of all the World in the end he vsed this policie and deceipt to get her home into his Castle for when the time grewe on that my eldest daughter his wife should bee deliuered hee came in great pompe with a stately traine of followers to my cottage and certified me that his wife was deliuered of a goodly â—oy and thereupon requestest me with very faire and louing wordes that I woulde let my daughter goe vnto her sister to giue her that contentment which she desired for shee did loue her more déer 〈◊〉 then her owne soule Thus his craftie and subtil perswations so much preuailed that I coulde not frame any excuse to the contrarie but muste néedes consent to his demaund so straight way when hee had in his power that which his soule so much desired hee presently departed giuing me to vnderstand that hee would carry her to hys wife for whose sight she had so much desired and at whose comming she would receiue great ioy and contentment her sodaine departure bred such sorrow in my heart â—eing the onely comfort and stay of my declyned age that the fountaines of my eyes rained downe a shewer of Salt teares vpon my aged brest so deare is the loue of a father vnto his child but to be short when this lustfull minded catiffe with his pompious traine came in sight of his Castle he commaunded his companie to ride forwards that with my daughter hee might secretly conferre of serious matters and so staide lingring behinde till hee sawe his company almost out of sight and they two alone together he found oportunitie to accomplish his lustful desires and so rode into a little groue which was hard at hande close by a riuers side where without any more tarying he caried her into the thickest part thereof where he thought it most conuenient to performe so wicked a déede When he behelde the branches of the thicke trées to withholde the light of heauen from them and that it séemed a place ouerspred with the sable mantles of night he alighted from his horse and willed my welbeloued daughter that shee should likewise alight shee in whose heart raigned no kinde of suspition presently alighted and sate her downe by the riuers side and washed her faire white handes in the streames and refreshed her mouth with the christall waters Then this dessembling Traitor coulde no longer refraine but with a countenance like the lustfull King of Thrace when hee intended the rauishment of Progne or like Tarquinius of Roame when he defloured Lucrecia he let her vnderstand by some outward shewes and darke sentences the kindled fire of loue that burned in his hart and in the end he did wholy declare his deuilish pretence and determined purpose So my louing daughter being troubled in minde with his lustfull assaylements beganne in manner to reprehend him will you said she defile my sisters bedde and staine the honor of your house with lust will you bereaue me of that precious Iewell the which I holde more déerer then my life and blot my true Uirginitie with your false desires brought you me from the comfortable sight of my Father to bee a ioy vnto my Sister and will you florish in the spoile of my true chastitie looke looke imoderate Knight I will not call thée brother looke I say how the heauens doe blush at thy attempts and see how chaste Diana sits vpon the winged firmaments and threatens vengeance for her Uirgins sake washe from thy heart these lustfull thoughts with shewers of thy repentant teares and séeke not thus to wrong thy mariage bed the which thou oughst not to violate for all the kingdomes in the World Then this accursed Knight séeing the chaste and vertuous maiden to stand so boldely in the defence of her Uirginitie with his rigorus hand hee tooke fast holde by her necke and with a wrathfull countenance hee deliuered these words do not think stubbern damsel to preserue thy honor from
vpon the forehead with his keene edged fauchion that he cut his head halfe in sunder and his braines in great aboundance ran downe his deformed bodie so that amazed hee fell to the ground and presently dyed His fall seemed to make the ground to shake as though a stony tower had béene ouerturnd for as he lay vpon the earth he seemed to be a great oake blowne vp by the rootes with a tempestious whirlwinde At that instant the rest of the champions came to that place with as much ioy at that present as before they were sad and sorrowfull But when Saint Denis with the other knights did sée the greatnes of the Giant and the deformity of his body they aduanced his valor beyond immagination and déemed him the fortunatest Champion that euer nature framed holding that aduenture in as high honour as the Grecians held Iasons prize when he turned from Colchos with Medeas golden Fléese and with as great daunger accomplished as the twelue fearfull labours of Hercules but after some fewe speaches passed Saint George desired the rest of the Champions to goe and sée what store of victuals the Giant had prepared for them Upon this they concluded and so generally entred the Giants house which was in the maner of a great Barne cut out of the hard stone and wrought out of the Rocke therein they found a mightie copper Chauldron standing vppon a treauet of stéele the féet and supporters thereof were as bigge as great Iron pillers vnder the same burned such a huge flaming fire that it sparkeled like the fierye Furnace in burning Acharon Within the Chaldron were boyling the fleshe of two fâ—tte Bullockes prepared onely for the Giants dinner the sight of this ensuing banquet gaue them such comfort that eueryone fell to worke hoping for their trauel to eat parte of the meate one turned the béefe in the Chaldron another increased the fire and some pulled out the coales so that there was not anye idle in hope of the benefite to come The hunger they had and their desire to eate caused them to fall to their meate before it was halfe readye as though that it had béene ouer-sodden but the two knights of Wales and Ireland not intending to dine without bread and drinke searched in a secret hollow caue wheras they found two great loaues of bread as bigge in compasse as the circle of a well and two great Flagons full of the best Béere that euer they tasted the which with great ioye and pleasure they brought from the caue to the great and excéeding contentment of the other Champions In stead of a knife to cut their victuals Saint George vsed his Curtulaxe which lately had béene stayned with the hatefull Giants deâ—ested blood and that had béene imbrewed with his loathsome braynes Thus and after this manner qualified they the pinching paines and torments of hunger whereof they tooke as ioyfull a repast as if they had banqueted in the richest Kings Pallace in the world So giuing thankes to heauen for their good and happy fortunes Saint George requested the Chompiens to take horsse and mounted himselfe vpon his palfrey and so trauelled from thence thorowe a narrowe path which séemed to be vsed by the Giant and so with great diligence they trauelled all the rest of that day till night had closed in the beautye of the heauens at which time they had got to the top of a high mountaine from whence a little before night they did discouer meruaylous great and playnes the which were inhabited with fayre Cities and townes at which sight these Christian Champions receiuâ—d great contentment and ioy and so without any staying they made hast onwards on their iorney till such time as they came to a lowe valley lying betwixt two running riuers where in the midst of the way they found an Image of fine Cristall the picture liuely forme of a beautiful Uirgin which séemed to be wrought by the hands of some moste excellent worke-man all to be spotted with blood And it appeared by the woundes that were cunningly formed in the same picture that it was the image of some Lady that had suffred torments aswell with terrible cufâ—ings of yrons as with cruel whippings the Ladies legs and armes did seeme as though they had béene martyred and wrunge with cordes and about the necke as though shee had béene forceablye strangled with a napkin or towell the cristall Picture laye vppon a rich adorned bed of blacke cloathes vnder an arbor of purple Roses by the curious faire formed Image sate a goodly aged man in a chaire of cipresse wood his attire was after the manner of the Arcadian sheap-heards not curious but comely yet of a blacke and sâ—ble colour as a sure signe of some deadly discontent his hayre hung downe belowe his shoulders like vntwisted silke in whitenes like downe of thistles his beard ouer growne dangling downe as it were frozen Isickles vpon a hauthorne tree his face wrinkled and ouerworn with age and his eyes almost blind in bewraying the greefes and sorrows of his heart Which strange and woful spectacle when the christian champions vigilantly behelde they coulde not by any manner of meanes refraine from shedding some sorrowfull teares in seeing before them that a woman of suche excellent beautie should be opprest with cruelty But the pittifull English Knight had the greatest compassion when he behelde the counterfeit of this tormented creature who taking truce with his sorrowfull heart he curteously desired the olde Father sitting by this spectacle the cause of his sorrow and the true discourse of that maidens passed fortunes for whose sake hee seemed to spend his daies in that solitary order to whome the olde man with a number of sighes thus kindly replyed braue knightes for so you séeme by your curtesies and behauiours to tell the storie of my bitter woes and the causer of my endles sorrows will constraine a spring of teares to trickle from the Conduits of my aged eyes and make the mansion of my heart to riue in twaine in remembring of my vndeserued miseries as many drops of bloud hath fallen from my heart as there be siluer haires vpon my head and as many sighes haue I strained from my brest as there be minutes in a yéere for thrice seuen hundred times the mornings dew hath wet my siluer hayres and thrise seuen hundred times the winters frosts hath nipt the mountaine tops since first I made these ruful lamentations during all which time I haue set before this christall Image howerly praying that some curteous Knight would be so kinde as to ayde me in my vowed reuenge and now fortune I sée hath smild vpon me in sending you hether to work a iust ceuenge for the inhumane murther of my daughter whose perfect Image lyeth here carued in fine Christall as the continuall obiecte of my griefe and because you shall vnderstand the true discourse of her timeles Tragidie I haue writte that downe in a paper booke
haue my heart parted in twaine by the handes of him that is my greatest enemie then to remaine without your companie swéete mother let these my youthfull yéeres and this my gréene budding beauty incourage you still to reuiue and not to leaue me comfortles like an exile in the world but if the gloomy fates doe triumph in your death and abridge your breathing ayre of life and that your soule must néedes goe wander in the Elizian shades with Trufas shaddowe and with Didoes ghost héere doe I protest by the greate and tender loue I beare you and by the due obedience that I owe vnto your age either to deliuer this your letter into the hands of my vnkinde father or with these my ruthful fingers rent my heart in sunder and before I will forget my vow the siluer streamed Tygris shall forsake her course the sea her tides and the glistering Quéene of night her vsuall changes neither shal any forgetfulnes be an occasion to withdraw my minde from performing your dying requestes Then this weak Quéene whose power and strength was wholie decaied and that her houre of death drew néere at hand with a féeble voice she said O you sacred immortal Gods and all you bright celestiall powers of heauen iâ—to your deuine bosomes now do I commend my dying soule asking no other reuengmeÌ„t against y e causer of my death but that he may die like mée for want of loue After this the dead Quéene neuer spake word more for at that instant the cruell destinies gaue end vnto her life but when Rosana perceiued her to be dead and she left to the world deuoide of comfort shée began to teare the golden tramels from her head and most furiouslye to beat her white and yuorie brest filling the emptie ayre with clamors of her mones and making the skies like an eccho to resound her lamentations and at last taking her mothers letter in her hands washing it with flouds of teares and putting it next vnto her naked brest she said héer lye thou neare adioining to my bléeding heart neuer to be remoued vntil I haue performd my mothers dying testiment O work and the last worke of those her white and yuorie hands heere doe I sweare by the honor of true Uirgins not to part it from my bléeding bosom vntil such time as loue hath rent the disloyall heart of my vnkinde father and in speaking this shée kissed it a thousand times breathing forth millions of sighes and straight with a blushing countenance as radient as Auroras glistring beames she arose said what is this Rosana dost thou thinke to recall thy mothers life with ceremonious complaints and not performe that which by her was commanded thée arise arise I say gather vnto thy selfe strength and courage and wander vp and downe the world till thou hast found thy disloyal Father as thy true heart hath promised to doe These words being no sooner finished but Saint Georges Sonnes like men whose hearts were almost ouercome with griefe came from the pine trees and discouered themselues to the Damsell and curteously requested her to discourse the storie of all her passed mizeries and as they were true christian knights they promised her if it lay in their powers to release her sorrows and to giue end vnto her mizeries This Rosana when shée behelde these curteous and well dâ—meanur'd knights which in her conceit caried relenting mindes and how kindly they desired to be partners in her griefes she stood not vpon curious tearmes nor vpon vaine â—xceptions but most willingly condescended to their requests so when they had prepared their eares to entertaine her sad and sorrowfull discourse with a sober countenance shee began in this manner Lately I was quoth she whilst fortune smild vpon me the onely childe and daughter of this liueles Quéene that you beholde héer lying dead and she before my birth whilst heauen graunted her prosperitie was the maiden Quéene of a Countrie called Armenia adioyning neare vnto this vnhappie Iland whome in her yong yéeres when her beautie began to florish and her high renowne to mount vpon the wings of fame she was intrapped with the golden baite of blind Cupid so intangled with the loue of a disloyall knight cal'd the Knight of the black Castle who after he had florisht in the spoyle of her Uirginitie and had left his fruitful seede springing in her womb grew wearie of his loue and most discurteously left her as a shame vnto her Countrie and a staine vnto her kindred and after gaue himself to such lustfull and lasciuious manner of life that hee vnlawfullie maried a shepheards daughter in a forraine land and likewise rauished her own sister and after committed her most in humane slaughter in a solitarie woode this being done he fortified himselfe in his blacke Castle onely consorted with a cunning Nigromancer whose skill in magick is so excellent that al the knights in the world can neuer conquere the Castle where euer since hee hath remained in despight of the whole earth But now speake I of the tragical storie of my vnhappy mother when as I her vnfortunate babe beganne first to strugle in her womb wherin I wold I had bene strangled she heard newes of her knights ill demeanure and how he had wholly giuen himself to the spoile of virginitie and had for euer left her loue neuer intending to returne again the grief wherof so troubled her mind that she could not in any wise desemble it for vpoÌ„ a time being amongst her Ladies calling to remembrance her spotted Uirginitie and the séede of dishonor planted in her wombe she felt into a wonderfull and strange traunce as though she had béen oppressed with sodain death which when her Ladies and damsels beheld they presently determined to vnbrace her rich ornaments and to carrie her vnto her bed but she made signes with her handes that they should depart and leaue her alone whose commaundement they strait way obayed not without great sorrow of them all their loues were so déere This afflicted Quéen when she saw that she was alone began to exclaime against her fortune reuealing the fates with bitter exclamations O vnconstant Quéene of chance said shee thou that hast warped such strange webs in my kingdom thou that gauest my honor to that tirants lust which without al remorse hath left me comfortles t is thou that didst constraine me to set my life to sale to sel my honor as it were with the crier compelling me to do that which hath spotted my Princely estate and stain'd my bright honor with blacke infamie woe is me for my virginity y t which my parents gaue me charge to haue respect vnto but I haue carelessely kept it smally regarded iâ— I will therefore so chastice my body for thus forgetting of my selfe and be so reuenged for the little regarde that I haue made of my honour that it shall be an example to all noble Ladyes and Princes of high estate
armor and to search about the Castle to sée if hee might finde the place that harbored the Knight that made such sorrowfull lamentation So going vp and downe she by corners of the Castle all the latter part of the night without finding the aduenture of this strange voice or disturbance by any other meanes but that he was hindred from his naturall and quiet sléepes but by the breake of day when the darke night bâ—gan to withdraw her sable curtaines and to giue Aurora libertie to explayne her purple brightnesse he entred into a foure square parlor hunge rounde about with blacke cloth and other mournfull habiliments where on the one side of the same he sawe a tombe all couered likewise with blacke and vppon it there lay a man with a pale colour who at certaine times gaue moste meruelous and gréeuous sighes caused by the burning flames that procéeded from vnder the tombe being such that it séemed that his body therewith should bee conuerted into coales the flame thereof was so stincking that it made Saint George somewhat to retyre himselfe from the place where hee sawe that horrible and fearefull spectacle He which lay vpon the tombe casting his eyes aside espied Saint George and knowing him to be a humane creature with an inflicted voyce he said Who art thou Sir Knight that art come into this place of sorrow where nothing is heard but clamors of feare and terror But tell me said Saint George who art thou that with so much griefe dast demaund of me that which I stand in doubt to reueale to thée I am the King of Babilon answered hee which without all consideration with my cruell hand did pearce through the white and dilicate brest of my beloued daughter woe be to me and woe vnto my soule therefore for shee at once did pay her offence by death but I a most mizerable wretch with many tormentes doe dye lyuing When this worthy Champion Saint George was about to answere him he saw come foorth from vnder the tombe a damsell who had her hayre of a yellow and wan colour hanging downe about her shoulders and by her face she séemed that she should be verie strangely afflicted with tormentes and with a sorrowfull voyce shee said Oh vnfortunate Knight what doest thou séeke in this infernall lodging where cannot be giuen thée any other pleasure but mortall torment and there is but one thing that can cleare thée from them and this cannot be tolde thée by any other but by me yet I will not expresse it except thou wilt graunt mee one thing that I will aske of thée The English Champion that with a sad countenaunce stood beholding of the sorrowful damsel and being greatly amazed at the sight which he had séene answered and said The Gods which are gouernours of my liberty wil doe their pleasures but touching the graunt of thy request I neuer denied any lawfull thing to either Lady or Gentle woman but with all my power and strength I was ready to fulfill the same therefore demaunde what thy pleasure is for I am readie in all thinges that toucheth thy remedie And with that the damsell threw her selfe into that sepulcher and with a gréeuous voice she said Nowe moste curteous Knight performe thy promise strike but thrée stroakes vpon this fatall tombe and thou shalt deliuer vs from a world of mizeries and likewise make an ende of our continuall torments Then the inuincible knight replyed in this order whether you be humane creatures said he plaâ—st in this sepulcher by inchauntment or furies raisd from fiery Acheron to worke my confusion or no I know not and there is so little truth in this infernall Castle that I stand in doubt whether I may beléeue thy words or not but yet discourse vnto me the truth of all your passed fortunes and by what â—â—anes you were brought into this place and as I am a true Christian Knight and one that fights in the quarrell of Christ I vow to accomplish whatsoeuer lyeth in my power Then the Damsel began with a gréeuous and sorrowfull lamentation to declare as strange a tragedie as euer was told And lying in the fatall Sepulcher vnséene of Saint George that stood leaning his backe agaynst the wall to heare her discourse and lamentable Storie with a hollow voice like a murthered Ladie whose bléeding soule as yet did féele the terrible stroke at her death shée repeated this pittifull tale following CHAP. XI Of a tragicall Discourse pronounced by a Ladie in a Toombe and hovv her Inchauntment vvas finished by saint George vvith other straunge accidents that hapned to the other Christian Knights IN famous Babylon somtimes reigned a King although a Heathen yet adorned with noble and vertuous customes and had onely one Daughter that was verie faire whose name was Angelica humble wise and chast who was beloued of a mightie Duke a man man wonderfull cunning in the Blacke arte This Magitian had a seuere graue countenance and one that for wisedome better deserued y e gouernment than anie other in the kingdome and was verie well estéemed throughout all Babylon almost equally with the king for the which there ingendred in the kings heart a secret rancour and hatred towards him Thys Magitian cast his loue vppon the yong Princesse Angelica and it was the Gods will that shee should repaye him wyth the same affection so that both theyr hearts beeing wounded with loue the one to the other in such sorte that the fire kindled dayly more and more and neither of them had any other imagination but onelye to loue and not knowing how to manifest their griefes they indured sundry great passions Then loue which continually séeketh occasions did on a time set before this Magician a wayting maid of Angelicaes named Fidela the which thing séemed to be wrought by the immortall power of the Goddesse Venus oh what feare this Magitian was in to discouer vnto her all his heart and to bewray the secrets of his louesicke soule but in the end by the great industrie and diligence of the waighting Maid whose name was answerable vnto her minde there was order giuen that these two louers shuld méete together This faire Angelica for that she could not at her ease enioy her true Louer she did determine to leaue her own naturall Countrey and Father and with this intention being one night with her Loue she cast her armes about his necke and said Oh my swéete and welbeloued Frend séeing that the soueraigne Gods haue béen so kinde to me as to haue my heart linked in thy breast let me not finde in thée ingratitude for that I cannot passe my time except continually I enioye thy sight and doo not muse my Lord at these my words for the entyre loue that I beare to you dooth constraine me to make it manifest And this beléeue of a certaintie that if thy sight be absent from mée it will bée an occasion that my heart will lacke his vitall recreation
dissolue his soule from his bodie and therewithal putting forth his hand somewhat trembling he tooke the Letter set him verie sorrowfully downe vpon the gréene grasse without anie power to the contrarie his gréefe so abounded the bounds of reason No sooner did he open the letter but he presently knew it to be written by the hands of his wronged Ladie y e Armenian Quéene who with great alteration both of hart minde he read the sorrowfull lines the which contayned these words following The Queene of Armenia her Letter TO thée thou disloyall Knight of the Blacke Castle the vnfortunate Quéene of Armenia can neither send nor wish salutations for hauing no health my selfe I cannot send it vnto him whose cruel mind hath quite forgotten my true loue I cannot but lament continuallye and complain vnto the Gods incessantly considering that my fortune is conuerted from a crowned Quéene to a miserable and banished caytiue where the sauage beasts are my chiefe companions the mournfull biâ—ds my best solliciters Oh Leoger Leoger why didst thou leaue me comfortlesse without all cause as did Aeneas his vnfortunate Dido what second loue hath bereaued me of thy sight and made thée forget her that euer shall remember thée Oh Leoger remember the day when first I saw thy face which day bee fatall euermore and counted for a dismal day in time to come both heauy blacke and full of foule mischances for it was vnhappie vnto me for in giuing thée ioy I bereaued my selfe of all and lost the possession of my libertie and honour althogh thou hast not estéemed nor tooke care of my sorrowfull fortunes yet thou shouldst not haue mockt my perfect loue and disdained the feruent affâ—ction that I haue borne thée in that I haue yéelded to thée that precious iewell y e which hath béen denied to manie a noble King Oh Loue cruel and spitefull Loue that so quickly didst make mee blinde and depriuedst mee of the knowledge that belonged vnto my royall Highnesse Oh vncurteous Knight beeing blinded with thy loue the Quéene of Armenia denied her honestie which shee ought to haue kept and preserued it from the biting canker of disloyall lâ—ue Hadst thou pretended to mocke me thou shouldst not haue suffred me to haue lost so much as is forgone for thy sake Tell me why didst not thou suffer mee to execute my will that I might haue opened my white brest with a pearcing swoord and sent my soule to the shady banke of swéete Elizium Then had it béene better for me to haue died than to liue still and dayly die Remember thy selfe Leoger and behold the harm that will come héereof haue thou a care vnto the pawn which thou leftst sealed in my wombe and let it bee an occasion that thou doost after all thy violent wronges retourne to sée me sléeping in my tombe that my childe may not remaine fatherlesse in the power of wilde beastes whose hearts be fraughted with nothing but with crueltie Doe not consent that this perfecte loue which I beare thée should be counted vaine but rather performe the promise the which thou hast denied me O vnkinde Leoger O cruell and heard heart is alshoode the firme loue that so faindedly thou didst professe to me what is he that hath béene more vnmercifull then thou hast béene There is no furious beast nor lurking Lion in the deserts of Libia whose vnmercifull pawes are all besmearde in bloud that is so cruell harted as thy self els wouldst thou not leaue me comfortles spending my dayes in solitarie woods where as the Tigers mourne at my distresses and chirping birdes in their kindes grieue at my lamentations the vnreasonable torments and sorrowes of my soule are so many that if my penne were made of Lidian stéele and my Inke the purple Ocean yet could not I write the number of woes But nowe I determine to aduertise thée of my desired death for in writing this my latest testament the fates are cutting a sunder my thrid of life and I can giue thée knowledge of no more but yet I desire thée by the true loue which I beare thée that thou wilt read with some sorrow these fewe lines and héere of the powers of heauen I do desire that thou maist dye the like death that for thée I now dye And so I ende By her vvhich did yeeld vnto thee her life Loue Honor Fame and Liberty WHen this sad and heauie knight had made an end of reading this dolorous letter hee could not restraine his eyes from distilling salte teares so great was the griefe that his hart sustaned Rosana did likewise beare him company to solemnize his heauines with as manye teares trickling from the Conduite of her eyes The greate sorrowe and lamentation was such and so much in both their hartes that in a great space the one coulde not speake vnto the other but afterwardes their griefes being somewhat appeased Leoger began to say Oh Messenger from her with the remembrance of whose wronge my soule is wounded being vndeseruedly of me euill rewarded tell me euen by the nature of true loue if thou dost knowe where she is showe vnto me her abiding place that I may goe thither and giue a discharge of this my great fault by yeilding vnto death Oh cruell and without loue answered Rosana what discharge canst thou giue vnto her that alreadye thorow thy crueltie is dead and buryed onely by the occasion of such a forsworne knight This penitent and payned knight when he vnderstood the certaintie of her death with a sodaine and hastie fury he strooke him selfe on the 〈◊〉 with his fist and lifting his eyes vnto the heauens in manner of exclamation against the Gods giuing déepe and sorrowfull sighes he threwe him selfe to the ground tumbling and wallowing from the one part vnto the other without taking any ease or hauing anye power or strength to declare his inward griefe which at that time he felt but with lamentations which did torment his hart he called continually on the Armenian Quéen and in that deuilish furye wherein he was dreâ— out his dagger and lifting vp the skirt of his shirt of 〈◊〉 he thrust it into his body and giuing himself this vnhappy death with calling vpon his wroÌ„ged Lady he finished his life and fell to the ground This sad and heauie Ladie when she beheld him so desperately to gorge his martiall breast and to fall liuelesse to the earth she greatly repented her selfe that she had not discouered her name and reuealed to him how that shee was his vnfortunate Daughâ—er whose face before that time he neuer had beheld and as a Lion though all too late who seeing before her eyes her yong Lionâ—sse euil intreated of the Huâ—ter euen so she ran vnto her welâ—eloued Father and with great spéed pulled off his helme froÌ„ his wounded head and vnbraced his armour the which was in colour according to his passion but as strong as anie Diamond made by Magicke arte Also she tooke away his
Knights that were present at this vnhappie mischance so great it was that the walles of the Monasterie ecchoed and their pittifull shrikes ascended to the heauens But none was more gréened in mind than the afflicted English Champion who like a man distraught of sense in great furie rushed amongst the people throwing them downe on euerie side till he ascended vpon the scaffold approaching the dead bodie of Lucina hee tooke her vp in his armes and with a sorrowfull and passionate voyce he said O my beloued ioy and late my only hearts delight is this the Sacrifice wherein through thy desperatenes thou hast deceiued me who loued thée more than my selfe is this the respite that thou requiredst for seauen dayes wherein thou hast concluded thy own death and my vtter confusion Oh noble Lucina and my beloued Ladie if this were thy intent why didst not thou first sacrifice mee thy Seruant and Loue wholly subiected vnto thy deuine beautie Woe be vnto mee and woe bee vnto my vnhappie enterprise for by it is she lost who was made souereigne Ladie of my heart Oh Diana accursed by this chaunce because thou hast consented to so bloodie a tragedie by the eternall powers of heauen that neuer more thou shalt be worshipped but in euerie Countrey where the English Champion commeth Lucina in thy stead shall be adored For euermore will he séek to diminish thy name and blot it from the golroll of heauen yea and vtterly extinguish it in eternitie so that there shall neuer more memorie remaine of thée for this thy bloodie Tyrannie in suffering so lamentable a Sacrifice No sooner had he deliuered these speaches but incensed with furie he drew out his sword and parted the image of Diana in two péeces protesting to ruinate the Monasterie within whose walls the deuice of this bloodie Sacrifice was concluded The sorrow and extreame gréefe of the Romane Emperour so excéeded for the murther of his Daughter that he fell to the câ—rth in a senselesse swâ—und and was carried halfe dead with gréefe by some of his knights home to his Pallace where he remained spéechles by the space of thirtie dayes The Emperour had a Sonne as valiant in armes as anie borne Italian except Saint Anthonie This young Prince whose name was Lucius seeing his sisters timeles death and by what meanes it was committed he presently intended with a traine of a hundred armed Knightes which continually attended vpon his person to assaile the discontented Champions and by force of armes to reuenge his sisters death This resolution so incouraged the Romaine Knyghtes but especially the Emperors sonne that betwixt these two companies began as terrible a battle as euer was fought by any knights the fearcenes of their blowes so excéeded the one side against the other that they did resounde ecchoes and they yeelded a terrible noyse in the great woods This battell did continue betwixt them both sharp and fierce for the space of two houres by which time the valor of the encensed Champions so preuailed that most of the Romaine knights were discomfited and slaine some had their handes pared from their shoulders some had their armes and legs lopped off and some lay breathles wâ—ltring in their owne blouds in which incounter many a Romaine Ladie lost her husband many a widowe was bereaud of her Sonne and many a childe was left fatherles to the great sorrow of the whole country But when the valiant young Prince of Roome sawe his knightes discomfited and hee lefte alone to withstand so many noble Champions he presently set spurs to his horse and fled from them like to a heape of oust forced by a whirlewinde After whom the Champions would not persue accountting it no glory to their names to triumph in the ouerthrow of a single knigâ—â— but remained still by the scaffolde where they buried the sacrificed Uirgin vnder a marble stone close by the monasterie wall The which being done to their contentments Saint George ingraued this Epitaph vppon the same stone with the point of his dagger which was in this wise following Vnder this marble stone interd doth lye Luckles Lucina of beautie bright Who to maintaine her spotles chastitie Against the assailment of an English Knight Vpon a blade her tender breast she cast A bloodie offering to Diana chast SO when hee had written this Epitaph the Christian Champions mounted vpon their swift foote stéedes bad adieu to the vnhappie Confines of Italy hoping to finde better fortune in other Countries In which trauell wee will leaue them for a time and speake of the Prince of Rome who after the discomfiture of the Romane knights fled in such hast from the furies of the warlike Champions After which hee like a starued Lion trauersed along by the Riuer of Tybris filling all places with his melancholy passions vntill such time as hee entred into a thicke groue wherein he purposed to rest hys wearie limbes and lament his misfortunes After he had in this solitarie place vnlaced his Helmet and huried it scornfully against the ground the infernal Furies began to visite him and to sting his breast with motions of fierie reuenge In the end he cast vp his wretched eyes vnto heauen and said Oh you fatall torches of the elements why are you not clad in mournâ—full abiliments to cloake my wandring steps in eternall darknes shall I be made a scorne in Rome for my cowardise or shall I return and accompanie my Romane frends in death whose bloodes me thinkes I sée sprinkled about the fields of Italy Mee thinks I heare their bléeding soules fill each corner of the earth with my base flight therefore will I not liue to bée tearmed a fearfull coward but dye couragiously by mine owne hands wherby those accursed Champions shall not obtaine the conquest of my death nor triumph in my fall This being said he drew out his dagger and ryued hys heart in sunder The newes of whose desperate death after it was bruted to his Fathers eares hée interred hys bodie with his Sister Lucinaes and erected ouer them a stately Chappell wherein the Nunnes and ceremonious Monkes during all their liues sung Dirges for his Childrens soules After this the Emperour made proclamation through all his Dominions that if anie Knight were so hardie as trauell in pursute after the English Champion by force of armes bring him backe and deliuer his head vnto the Emperour he should not onely be held in great estimation through the Land but receaue the gouernment of the Empire after his decease Which rich proffer so encouraged the mindes of diuers aduenterous Knightes that they went from sundry Prouinces in the pursute of Saint George but their attempts were all in vaine CHAP. XIIII Of the triumphs tilts and turnaments that were solemnly held in Constantinople by the Grecian Emperour and of the honorable aduentures that wer there atchiued by the christian champions with other strange accidents that happened IN the Easterne Parts of the world the fame
Thou furious and proude beast thou scorne of nature and enemy of true knighthood thinkest thou for to entrap me trecherously and to gore me at vnawarâ—s like to a sauage boare Now as I am a christian knight if my knotty speare haue good successe I will reuenge me of thy cruelty And in saying this hee stroke him so furiously on the brest that his speare passed through the giants body and appeared foorth at his backe whereby hee fell presently downe dead to the ground and yéelded his life to the conquest of the fatall sisters All that were present were very much amazed thereat and wondred greatly at the strength and force of saint George accompting him the fortunatest knight that euer wéelded launce and the very patterne of true nobility At this time the golden sun had finished his course hauing nothing aboue the orizon but his glistering beames whereby the Iudgâ—s of the turniments commanded with sound of trumpets that the Iustes should cease and make an end of the day So the Emperour descended from his imperial throne into the tilting place with all his knightes and Gentlemen at armes for to receaue the noble champion of England and desired him that he would go with them into his pallace there to receaue al honors due vnto a knight of such desart to the which he could not make any denial but most vnwillingly consented after this the Emperors daughter in company of many courtly virgins likewise descended their places wher Alcida bestowed vpon saint George hir gloue the which he wore for her fauour many a day after in his burgonet The six other christian champions although they merited no honour by this turniment because they did not try their aduentures therein yet obtained they such good liking among the Grecian Ladies that euery one had his mistresse and in their presence they long time fixed their chiefe delightes nowe must we leaue the champions in the Emperours courte for a time surfeiting in pleasures and returne to Saint Georges sons traueiling the world to seeke out aduentures CHAP. XV. How a Knight with two heads tormented a beautifull Maiden that had betroathed her selfe to the Emperors Sonne of Constantinople and how she was rescued by Saint Georges Sonnes and after how they were brought by a strange Aduenture into the companie of the Christian Champions with other things that hapned in the same trauells THis renowmed Emperour within whose Court y e Christian champions made their aboades of late yeares had a Sonne named Pollemus in all vertues and knightlye demeanours equall with anie liuing This young prince in the spring time of his youth through the pearcing dartes of blinde Cu pide fell in loue with a Maiden of a meane parentage-but in beautie and other precious gifts of Nature most excellent This Dulcippa for so was she called being but daughter to a Countrey Gentleman was restrained from the Emperours Court and denied the sight of her beloued Pollemus and he forbidden to set his affection so lâ—w vpon the displeasure of the Emperour his Father for he being the Sonne of so mightie a Potentate and she the daughter of so meane a Gentleman was thought to be a match vnfit and disagréeable to the lawes of the Countrey and therefore they could not be suffered to manifest their loues as they would but were constrained by stealth to enioye each others most beloued and heartely desired companies So vpon a time these two Louers concluded to méete together in a vally betwixt two hills in distance from the Emperours Court some thrée miles wheras they might in sâ—cret deuoyd of all suspition vnite and tye both theyr hearts in one knot of true loue and to preuent the determination of their Parentes that so vnkindlye sought to crosse them But when the appoynted day drew on Dulcippa arose from her restlesse bed and attired her self in rich and costly apparell as though she had béen going to performe her nuptiall ceremonies In this manner entred she the Ualley at such time as the Sunne began to appeare out of his golden Horizon to shewe himselfe vppon the face of the Earth glistering with his bright beames vppon the siluer floating Riuers Likewise the calmie westerne windes did verie swéetely blow vpon the gréene leaues and made a delicate harmonie at such time as the fairest Dulcippa accompanyed with high thoughts approched the place of their appointed méeting But when shee found not Prince Pollimus present she determined to spend y e time away till he came in trimming of her golden haire and decking her delicate bodie and such like delightful plesures for her contentment and recreation So sitting downe vpon a gréene banke vnder the shaddow of a myrtle trée she pulled a golden cawle from her head wherein her haire was wrapped letting it fall and dispearse it selfe all abroad her backe and taking out from her christalline breast an yuorie comb she began to kemb her haire her hands and fingers séeming to be of white alablaster her face staining the beautie of roses and lyllies mixed together and the rest of her bodie comparable to Hyrens vpon whose loue and beautie Mahomet did sometime doate But now marke gentle Reader how frowning Fortune crossed her desiros and changed her wished ioyes into vnexpected sorrowes For as she sate in this deuine and angelicall likenes there fortuned to come wandring by an inhumane tyrant surnamed the Knight with 2. heads who was a rauisher of virgins an oppressor of infants an vtter enemie to vertuous Ladies and strange trauelling Knights This tyrant was bodied like vnto a man but couered all ouer with lockes of haire Hee had two heads two mouthes and foure eyes but all as red as blood Which deformed creature presently ranne vnto the Uirgin and caught her vp vnder his arme and carried her away ouer the mountains into another Countrey where hee intended to torment her as you shall heare more at large hereafter But now returne we to Prince Pollemus who at the time appointed likewise repaired to méete his betroathed Louer but comming to the place he found nothing but a silken scarffe the which Dulcippa had let fall through the fearfull frighting she tooke at the sight of the thrée headed Knight No sooner found he the scarffe but he was oppressed extreamly with sorrow fearing Dulcippa was murthered by some inhumane meanes and had left her scarffe as a token that she infringed not her promise but perfourmed ii to the losse of her owne life Therefore taking it vp putting it next his heart he breathd foorth this wofull lamentation Héere rest thou néere vnto my bléeding heart thou precious token and remembraunce of my déerest Ladie neuer to bee hence remooued till such time as my eyes maye either behold her bodie or my eares heare perfect newes of her vntimely death that I may in death consort wyth her Frowne you accursed Lampes of heauen that gaue first light vnto this fatall morning for by your dismall light the pride of