their desired Loues and Oliuia séemed thus to say Thine is Alphebo mine is Rosicleer Thine match to mine mine thy Alpheboes peer They receiued great content to sée these two Ladies especially when they knew who they were and what stout Husbands they had In the same quadrant was the worthie Arguisilora armed against the brauest Knight in the World with her beauer vp the knight séeming to speake thus Beautie once Conqu'ror In vaine is Valor The knight séemed so beauteous that the Princesse by his Figures sight entertained amorous affections and asked of the wise man who they were Hee answered I am vnwilling faire Daughter to tell ye yet I will satisfie your request This Ladie is the worthie Queene of Lydia beeing in the Field shee will combate with Mars himselfe and you shall haue no better experience of her valor than to sée her in Fight with this Knight of Tinacria whom I most feare It was oyle to the valiant Ladies fire to heare the Lydian Quéene so much praised Then began to worke in her thought a thousand amorous conceipts procéeding from that sight and shee prooued the most perfect Louer in the world as shall be héereafter declared I am gréeued said the wise man for you Floralisa to sée how you are entred into Loues sea where faire weather is painfull the tempest perpetuall calmnes continuing with a thousand doubtfull hopes and yet for all thys thou néedest not feare drowning though the Nauigation prooue more violent than death Oh poore Ladie y t neither thy owne beautie tender age nor strong heart can winne thée to leaue loue but carelesly thou admittest entraunce to thy owne care Thou hast desire to loue wilt gréeue that the reward will not be correspondent to thy entire affections but be contented such are the variable effects of furious Loue. Oh that I could fauour and helpe thee in thy insuing paine and gréefe I doo foresée it so much and sorrow doth so increase in mee to vtter it that I must of necessitie passe from this place to the next roome where I will shew you another excellent figure of a faire Shepheardesse This the wise man did not for that the Ladie should loose her new thought but that her Brother should beare her companie So passing to the last wall they did sée so beautifull a Figure of the faire Rosaluria in the habite of a Shepheardesse that the tender yong Prince Celindo at that sight made her owner of his hart in such sort as death alone was able to take awaye the thought thereâ—f At her féete was this saying Lowly habite hides not beautie Loue in Kings and Clownes doth raigne To win loue and shew his dutie Phoebus was a Shepheards Swaiue You may well beléeue that this new louer did reade it with a thousand coulours changing in his tender face at first rather desirous to be iealous then fearefull if he attained sight of his welbeloued but before he can liue with his ioye with feare to loose her he shal sée much of his blood spilt make his eyes cléere fountaines hoping for a remedy at her handes that neuer accustomed to regard complaints With this new imagination they came vnto the last Lady which was called Lindabthdes who was figured within the inchanted tower and at the gate a stout and strong knight assaying to open it on which gate was this inscription Loue that liueth here obscured To these paines hath me inured The wise man did declare vnto them all the inchantment and that the knight was Alphebo wherat they receiued new passion and griefe but not in such sort that it did take away that which they had before conceaued So they went out of that pallace with lesse liberty then when they entred Now they receaued content to be alone that before thought it death to be seperated They loue solitarinesse wherein they finde ease to meditate of absent beauty which but by figure they neuer saw where we will leaue them till their fit time for that we haue a large course to runne What happened to the Dacian Prince Don Heleno in France Cap. 4. WE left the Dacian Prince in the forrest of Ardenia nigh the fountaine called the Disamorous because it chaungeth louers thoughtes He sate vppon the stocke of a winde broken trée tossing a thousand imaginations in his minde For his Florisdama he nowe lamented not neither did Lydias beauty any whit disturbe his thoughts but a fiery high kindled resolution lifted vp the noble heart of this long distressed Dacian and of his solitary life he was excéedingly ashamed Now he determines to visite the courts of Princes that before frequented forsaken caues he purposeth now to continue in peopled Cities that not long since loued the inhabitable deserts Hereto he was encouraged by infinite waighty and necessary considerations first the long absence from his countrey the disgrace he liued in with his friends his rash and vnaduised abuse of the inuincible Emperour his Unckle Trebatio which most of all he séemed to lament Bréefely our Dacian was vnlike the old Eleno that made trées brookes beastes foules fountaines secretaries of his vnséene griefes but as one that had long bin captiue hauing brokeÌ„ his bonds conquered his cruell master maketh his voice the mirthfull expressor of his hearts ioy that in his bondage had often manifested the moanings of his soule so this Dacian that had long béene Loues prisoner hauing now got fréedome tooke his Lute his Lute that many times had yéelded sad sounds to the wofull accents of his voice and finding his musike in another key he carroled out this ditty in Loues disgrace Let him that longs to know where loue doth dwell What God he is what Lordly soueraigne Attend to me who hauing learnt can tell His slightes his shifts his smiles and his disdaine His habitation is the fondlings thought His godhead forged and his power weake Fled he will follow flie when he is sought His praise alone doe fooles and madmen speake They that adore him most yet terme him boy But I conclude Loue is an idle toy As he was laying downe his Lute he saw a Damsell making great complaint who hasted as fast as her palphrey could runne The Prince purposed to stay her being desirous to know her griefe promising to helpe her in all that was néedfull So he went to méete her on his inchanted horse and when shee came nigh him hee saâ—de Damsell as you would that fortune should fauour you tell me part of your euill for I promise you I will put my life in hazard to doe you any pleasure you shall lawfully desire Sir Knight I giue you great thankes said the wofull Damsel for your gentle offer for any of lâ—sse courage then so noble a person as you séeme to be cannot help me my griefe is so great that whatsoeuer narration must be made in séeking remedy it more and more aggrauateth it for that my heauy lot hath determined the time so short that
hands of the best Knight in all y e world and he which hath most done for the honour of France and to serue him all the dayes of my life shall be my glory and I will thinke all my trauell ease If this Knight had his Ladie héere said the Hollandesse he had little néed for to watch hauing so earnest a Frend for him as you he may liue without care of the great woe that those are woont to haue which he touched with this passion I perceiue by this said the French Ladie you know well this euill by experience for that ther is none that can cast these doubts but they that haue felt Loues gréefe Things are known ladie said Grisanea without experience for we may iudge of them by report Not touching the euill that Louers do suffer said Orosia for that it neuer commeth to a certayne and limitted end for when the Louer thinketh his pain is pittied after he hath spent his life therein he is still abhorred I beléeue Madame said Grisanea you that haue bin such a seruant to Loue can tell all the troubles thereof Faire Princesse answered the Sauoyan Lady I hope also to sée the time that you may talke by costly experience and not be beléeued so easely as you beléeued me without knowing my glorie or gréefe And in recompence hereof in the behalfe of these Ladies I doo request you to let vs bee pertakers of your voyce for according as it is héere sayd there is not the like to bee heard in this Countrey You shall sée Madam said Grisanea I will obey you in all I may but I shall now put you out of all doubt my voyce is not so good as it is reported And there with she tooke a harpe and began to tune it with so excellent order and agréement that her gracing the gracious concord began new discords in the princely Tartarian who prepared his hart to giue in recompence for faire Grisaneas musique Pittie it was to sée the amorous Princes new passion but on these greéefes t is bootlesse to shew compassion for the beloued onely can giue ease The faire Ladie began making the heauens a witnes who reioycing at her musick did with their influence inspire the harts of all that were present kindling in them new cares of loue more than all the rest the gentle Tartarian was rauished his magical armour not being sufficient to withstand it but her diuine voyce penetrated his soule Line you secure that I doo liue secured From Loues allures his witchings and his woe I to his guiles will neuer be inured Ne doo I long his needlesse lawes to know Downe downe I sing hey downe as merely As Louers sigh and mone incessantly Loue is a ioy ymixt with endlesse sorrow A clowdie heauen a bright tormenting hell To day content but quite vndone to morrow A flowring banke that harbors serpents fell Downe downe I sing hey downe as merily As Louers sigh and mone incessantly Thus scorning Loues sad weeping weladay I sit secure and smile at others greefe And cheerly chaunt a gladsome roundelay While they wring hands and beg refusde releefe Downe downe I sing hey downe as merily As louers sigh and mone incessantly This frée Ladie had scarce concluded to make show of her libertie being shortly after taken by the gallant Tartarian when as the faire Grisalinda said Wee liue not héere gallant Princesse with so much fréedome nor in our Court doo we estrange the contents of loue for wee sée with how much sharpnes those are chastised that do declare themselues for rebells against imperious loue but though we be not snared we feare the time and so maye you shortly for all your disdaine We haue had manie amongst vs that haue to day abhorred loues lawes and to morrow repented it accusing their rashnes and acknowledging the same as to a Prince to whom now they pay iust tribute And for that I doo desire it I should reioyce to sée you begin to loose some what of your strangenes for that I am perswaded with some new meanes Loue pretendeth to demaund accompt of the time you haue spent from vnder his banner and seruice Let vs not put her in so much feare said the faire Orosia for that in flying from it she may finde a partie whereon to imploy her thought and not finding him hold her selfe happie if shee had neuer knowen so much libertie Then said Alcisa wil I reioyce to sée how that is admitted which now so earnestly she condemneth and taking the harpe out of her hand shee gaue it vnto the Princesse Grisalinda who tooke it saying I know not faire Cousin whether in behalfe of Louers I can say anie thing with an instrument tuned with so frée hands The thrée Knights attended hir song and verie earnest was the Tartarian who said vnto his Frends I doo not meruaile that in France there bee so valiaunt Knights for that there be Ladies to animate those whom they loue and kill them that they scorne In this sort said the Dacian ther is vantage in louing if from thence procéedeth to be valiant And perceiuing some new passion had hapned to him in hearing them sing hee said Come nigher let vs heare what they will say in fauour of Louers The Tartarian if it had not béene for discouering them would haue exclaimed against loue because yet his wound was gréene but so it festred that at length he prooued the truest louer of his time The Spaniard was so desirous to heare his Ladie that he scarce heard what past betwéene them yet hee and the Moore at last went verye nigh the window When she began to play shee gaue a heauie sigh as a request to beg attention of him whom she little thought to be so néere her Where Loue lackes can be no life But an endlesse dying paine Compassed with care and strife Idle bootlesse wretched vaine Loue is heauenly Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly Loue combynes two hearts in one By sweet Loue all ioyes increase Whence Loue dwells departeth mone At his sight doth sorrow cease Loue is heauenly Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly To be free and not to loue Sauage freedome I it hold Yet Loues fier Beasts doth moue Taming Tygers fierce and bold Therefore say I Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly I sing this swéet Cousin said the Princesse for that y◠shall vnderstand as I told you how reuerently wee doo estéeme of Loue. It well appeareth answered the Hollandesse that you acknowledge an Owner if it be so let me know it for vnto mee you may disclose the secretes of your heart God deliuer me said Orosia that I should impart my thoughts vnto so frée a Ladie for she neither knoweth how to ease gréefe nor rightly to pittie the grieued When I see faire Grisanea said the French Princesse that the absence of your Louer dooth paine and gréeue you then shal you finde me a
â—ignes and the Ladies sadnes gessed she had some wrong therefore taking his swoord in his hand and his shield on his arme he called saying â—ady if you be distrest speake and I wil deliuer you knight said the Giant you are more forward than you need if the Lady wanted help t is like the would demaund it And then artmore vncurteous than thou needst answered Lisarte for if she be not disâ—rest yet I deserue thanks for my good will that shalt thou know if thou darest abide O howe full of furie was Brandafidell with a fearefull voyce hee commaunded the ships to be grapled The faire Floralinda was notable to disturbe the battaile for she saw the Giant so angry that shee durst not come nigh him He quickely put on his helme and tooke a great heauy mace at whose point did hung other sixe bullets of stéele and with a furious aspect taried for his enemy The warlike Tharsian came against him but was receiued with such a blow as had almost cost him his life But returning to himselfe he repayed it so on the helme that it made him stagger on the one side two or thrée paces and entring with the swiftnes of an Eagle with a stiffe arme he gaue him such a thrust vpon the brest that he made him recoyle back two or thrée paces and with this would haue entred the bark with a light leape but although the blow was great yet it did not take away sence from the Giant he put his left leg forwards and inlarging his arme with a close fist he stroke the Tharsian such a blowe vppon the brest he ouer threw him on his backe in the middest of his barke and with the quicknes of a thought he put himselfe in the same order as he was before abiding his enemie who full of anger returned and betwéen them continued a gréeuous fight for more then thrée houres but Lisarte was likely not to get much for that the place was narrow and the Giants weapon vnreasonable The gentle Tharsian was a shamed to acknowledge the vauntage that his enemy had in the strâ—â—itnes of his place and would haue giuen halfe his kingdome to end the battaile wyth him vpon firme land In this time the curteous Brandafidel was not 〈◊〉 hauing a desire to conclude the battel and that the Princesse shuld vnderstand what a good kéeper she had he whirlâ—d his weapon about ouer his head making shew as â—â—ough he would strike him The gentle Lisarte did abide him till he saw it comming making an internall noise ratling the one with the other and in passing be would haue stroken a â—hwart blowe at his armes but the giant was so politick that in giuing an other turne helping it with some what yéelding his body he forced two bullets into his shield with so deuilish a furie that it pulled it out of his hands and threw it a great way off and left him so astonished that he thought verily hee had also away his arme The furious Lisarte like a serpent returned bearing his body low fearing the second blow and with both his hands seazed a blow hard by the Giants elbowes and although hee did not cut him by reason of the finenes of the armor yet he tormented them in such sort y e his diuelish weapon fell from him The curteous Giant had thought his armes had béen off but the excessiue gréef being past putting backe his left leg he drew out his fauchion no lesse feareful then the mace for that was by Lirgandeo warranted you may well vnderstand the ioy that the Tharsian receiued when that fierce weapon was gone and so firming his foote he ioyned with him where began so sightly a battell that it amazed the beholders till the Sunne declined they fought and then with loud voyces they called for lights but the soueraigne Lord knowing what those knightes should doe in the augmenting of his faith apparted the battaile with equall honor vnto theÌ„ both for at the bringing forth of lightes they were all put out with a easterly wind which rushing betwéene the barkes did part them a good way the one from the other in such sort that by no meanes they could ioyne the Giant cryed out that he would tarrie and the other that he did abide him yet at the rising of the Moone they were sixe miles the one from the other with so great griefe vnto the Tharsian that he would not beléeue but that he had lost honor with his enemy so there was not any that durst speake vnto him no not his Son But the faire Roselia did bolden her selfe and said Ualiant Prince abate your Ire and be fully certified that if your coÌ„trary hath got any honor it was not with any losse of yours but rather as I imagine had the battel bin on land we should haue remained w t the palm of victorie So without anger they supped with great content praising the brauery of the Giant The gallant aduenture that hapned vnto the Princes about the libertie of a Knight Chap. 19. WE left the faire Florisarte ioyfull of the picture when he knew not the person with inward sighs begaÌ„ to say Ah tender yeres that so truly are brought vnder the yoke of Cupid With how much reason may the world complaine of mee to sée me yéelded without knowing who is my owner Ah Princesse Flora your sorrowfull Son desireth loue and hath put his libertie he knoweth not where and hath giuen it to one absent and suffereth mortal grief without any hope of ease Who could euer be a perfect louer if he had not fed and contented his eyes on his beloued Oh cruell discretion to loue I know not whom and therewith with no lesse grace than he that brought stones to be molified in hearing his song he began to sing in this sort Pigmalion like I loue a senseles thing In hope the substance one day will appeare Of this sweet shape which I do hold so deare Which sight content vnto my heart will bring And rid my soule of sad dispairing feare O happy then I happy should be named But I beleeue her like was neuer framed She was not far that should remedy him might haue done it with louing him yet she entred into the chamber dissembling her griefe and with a louing boldnes said I wold not Prince of Argentaria y e the picture which I gaue you should be the occasion of your vnquietnes there is no doubt 〈◊〉 with me your sorrow must be departed séeing it is so dangerous for vs both it were better to loose the memory of the lady theÌ„ to haue for her absence such discoÌ„fort I say that this worthy Prince that you might inforce your courage for that these woundes of Loue many times doe so earnestly treade downe the strength and reason of the Louer that when he returnes to himselfe he hath no force for the same and this doth happen vnto them that feareth to be loued but vnto
giuen by thy Oliuia thou wilt now pay her so euill reioycing to goe to shed her bloud This gaue him a greater desire to know who the youth should be and could not imagine that it should be his Sonne for then he thought Oliuia would haue tolde him of it In this doubt the night ouertooke him not far from a shéephouse where hearing noise he went thether and asked part of their poore sustentation to whom they gaue it with great good wil for that he was of a gallant proportion wel armed He sate down with them to supper and when hee pulled off his helme they receiued great content to sée him so faire and Maiesticall being at Supper the chéefest said vnto an other Shepheard haue you séene one so like the knight that was héere yesterday The Prince did well vnderstand them for that hee could speake the language and asked them where he might find that knight they talked of It may be said the shepheard y t he wil be here to night for he told vs yesterday that he must remaine hereabout a few dayes Can you tell me said he whom he is No answered the Shepheard onely somewhat of his valor wee can tell For one day being here at dinner there came a chased Liones who would haue run vppon vs and without doubt haue slaine vs if he had not béen here who arose vp and at one blow cut her in two péeces sat downe as though he had done nothing Wee carried the Liones for a present to our holy Temple and at our returne we saw him ouerthrow two Knights at one Encounter the one with his launce the other with his armed fist without more tarrying he put himselfe into the thickest of the Wood. The prince reioyced at that he heard imagining him to be his Brothers Sonne So passing away a good part of the night he parted from the Shepheards leauing his horse with them and went a good way off putting his shield vnder his head he fell asléepe till Cynthia gessing the yong knight who lay not farre off to bee Endimion shined with more than ordinarie brightnes and with her light beames awaked both the knights at once the yong knight bidding sléepe farewell with a great sigh Then taking a Harpe he began to sing so swéetly that y e Greek prince with héedfull attention hearkened to his song Of Loues great power eternall be my Song His praise be still the subiect of my verse And as I sing let me the praise reherse Of my harts Souereigne though she worke my wrong Be still my â—ung thou speakest blasphemie Wrong is not offered by her Deitie She looketh strange because I should intreat For it is reason mortalls suppliant bee To Saints indude with heauenly Maiestie And such is Liriana or more great Therefore I must not count it iniurie What seeming harme so ere she offers mee The amorous Youth with new sighes concluded hys swéet song and then thus complained Ah Liriana what hath Rosabel deserued that thus he must liue a dying life banished from your presence If it be that hereby you desire to haue your beauties fame spred by my hearts affection let me be a little comforted by knowing that I am affected Now would the Nephew of Achilles haue gone vnto him but was againe stayed by his swéete and delicate voyce that sounded in this manner Let be my greefes why doo you mee assaile In vaine in vaine my death you doo intend My thoughts alone my feeble life defend And cheere my dying heart when it would quaile Then Greefe auoyd since thou canst not preuaile For why my thoughts my absent Ladie see And that conceit alone giues life to mee It giues me life a wearie wearie life Come therefore greefe thou maist at last haue gaine For my heart faints afflicted by disdaine Sad hope yeelds vp vnto the murdring knife Of blacke despaire whose terrors still are rife And driue all ioy from wretched wretched mee Because my thoughts no smiles but frownes doo see But Griefe away againe I bid adieu No more no more I will thee intertaine I will embrace my freedome once againe No more will I desire her face to view Whose wrongs so long I bootlesly did rue But liue I will contemning louers life Wherein all good is geason wrong is rife O impious blasphemer sodainly cride out this youth shall Rosabell euer presume againe to sée the Sunne that against Loues power hath so blaspheamed Repent thée Rosabel repent thée wherewith he againe thus sung Sweete Loue shew pittie shew pittie For I haue thee offended I doo disclaime my hatefull dittie Which I so rudely ended Thou art almightie Loue alone Life without thee there is none The Louer of Oliuia would no longer stay but pacing swiftly to the Youth counterfetting his voyce somewhat like the Troyan thus said Up Knight and defend thy louing life for I am come without my companie because I would not be parted til I haue proued libertie the swéetest life I doo much estéeme of you sir Knight said the vnknowne Nephew of Trebatio not onely for comming but for comming thus vnto mee alone and therewith lacing on his helme hee assailed the Gréeke Prince in such sort that at thrée resistlesse blowes hee ouerthrew him to the ground O infernall Furies to which of you shall I compare our Prince when he saw himselfe by one alone Knight so handled for rising againe at two blowes hee left him almost senselesse but recouering there began the greatest battell in the world Witnesses they wanted not anie for the Forrest Nymphes and Satyres beasts tame and wylde were their beholders the Shepheards also awaked with the noyse of their strokes stood wondring at their furious fight Foure howers the faire Moone gaue light to their heauy blowes and then leauing the worlds charge to her amorous brâ—ther she left for pittie the â—ight of that pittilesse battell the contenders beeing so wearie that they were forced to breath themselues the couragious yong Knight imagining that except some diuell had possest him it could not be the knight with whom he combatted the night before touching true loue free libertie So thought the Gréeke prince himselfe for neuer anie but his brother brought him to that estate With this conceit his choller so increased that without speaking any word he went against his Enemie whom he found not vnprouided and together they stroke such blows that they both stooped on their knées Foure howers they thus continued much wearied but nothing discouraged And in the midst of this contention the wise Lyrgandeos Damsell came foorth of the Forrest and put her selfe betwéen theÌ„ saying Stay Knights awhile and heare me speake for hauing done yee both seruice I am come to aske a boon of you Both the Knights knew her and presently granted it Leaue off your battell then said she and though it be my request yet is it for both your benefits Rosicleer was somwhat mooued yet at last hee said Damsell for
midst of the Court and wondred at the gallant building at last he rose and came to a gate of stéele that had thereon this writing Whosoeuer wil win the Armour of the beloued Iason let him knocke with the pomell of his sword and he shall find the entrance dangerous Celindo for all the threatning knocked presently and the gate opened but on either side stood two deformed Sagittaries with hatchets of stéele in their hands readie to strike hauing their armes aloft At which sight the Prince was somewhat amazed but taking courage he ran vnder one of the Sagittaries armes which did not onely cause the Sagittarie to loose his blow but both hys hands for his fellâ—w ouer-reaching to hit the Prince pared them away by the wrists while the prince giuing the Sagittary on the further side a blow on the thigh that almost parted the bone rusht into the hall whether the one handlesse the other halfe leglesse followed him both whoÌ„ at two deadly thrusts he left dead and stopped to a Table whereon lay the richest armour y e was euer séene which before he could well touch there issued a Ladie with two faire Children to him saying It repenteth mee not that this armour made for the faithlesse Iason that forsooke me and these two children fitteth such a knight I charge you to be confident in seruice of Ladies especially your owne Ladie and let my example which I will in this ditty decypher bee to you a looking glasse With which word excellent musique sounded and the Lady thus sung I was of Colchos the admired Wherein the fleece of gold desired Of many knights their liues that lost Remaind vntucht the seekers crost With bloody death till I did see The face that won my libertie O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my hearts distresse Old Aesons snone whom I reuiued Of life and beauty me depriued The Dragons fierce for him I quaild Against the keepers he preuaild All my deere Countrey I forsooke And him for all I gladly tooke O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my hearts distresse For when I thought I was beloued And for his good my Arte had proued To Creufa he his sauour lent And falsly from Medea went Who iustly moou'd with kindled yre Slew these two Babes burnt her in fire O my fortune fortunelesse To loue so soone my harts distresse Then discoursed she to him all the storie of Iasons loue to her for shee was the inchaunted Medea and remember said she the Ladie you shal loue is of Grecia To the Prince of Scythia haue respect for by Nature you are thertoo bound and how euer by Gelasio you are charged to the contrarie yet loue the Grecian princes and much good fortune follow you Herewith she and the Children vanished and he ascended armed vp vnto his Sister who thoght long of his comming but at his sight was excéeding ioyfull especially embracing him for performing the Aduenture When either had sufficiently delighted themselues in saluting other they returned to the Castle not entring by the ordinarie gate but by the Fountaine Court where were the precious Daggers which Floralisa woon for all her Companions by the death of a Sea monster that assailed her as she passed by the Fountaine The wise Gelasio brought all the princes for by then Clarisel Argante and Torisiano wer returned from hunting into the chamber where the pictures were where Floralisa fixed her eyes vpon the Image of the Tinacrian Poliphebo Clarisell gazed on her and Celindo on Rosaluiras Counterfet Who knowing his loue was of Grecia determined to trauell thether and to this the Wise-man agréeâ—d for that they should defie the princes Clarisel went alone full of passion and solitarines best fitted his disquieted thoughts The Brother and Sister went the next day and the daye after their departure Argante and Torisiano followed hauing first vowed eternall frendship Them will we now leaue till time giue vs leaue to talke of them and return to the faire Roselia and Arbolinda of Scotland that followed Heleno prince of Dacia apparelled like pages What chaunced Roselia and Arbolinda in seeking Heleno Prince of Dacia Cap. 18. YOu are not ignorant I am sure that of all gréefes none equalleth the sorrow we receiue to be seperated from those we do affect nor anye paine is easier ouerpassed than the trauell to follow them whom we desire to sée Roselias example and Arbolinda her kinde Frends may serue for proofe for they pursued the Dacian through all dangers of sea and land Roselia led by loue of him and Arbolinda by affection to her One day the Dolphins dauncing on the vntroubled waters there came a ship hulling along by the barke wherein these boy-like Ladies sayled in which ship were Lisarte prince of Tharsus and Florisarte his Sonne who beholding the beautie of the two pages for so they tooke the princesses to bée caused their ship to stay and Lisarte thus said Faire pages doo this yong Knight and me so much fauour as to tell vs to what Knights you doo belong and in what Countrey you were borne Arbolinda who at the sight of yong Florisarte was enamoured thus answered Faire sir wee haue no Masters but were borne in Thracia and are now going toward Scotland to certayne Triumphs where we hope if good Fortune prouide not better for vs before to finde some famous Knights that shal be our Lords I would said Florisarte with an affectionated sigh that my Father the King of Tharsus Florisarte his sonne were so happie to entertaine ye Arbolinda noting the affection the prince spake with replied We shal be happie to be entertained of such royall Masters Lisarte like one ouerioyed embraced them both and discharging the Marriners they tooke the Princesses aboord their ships and demaunded their names Mine said Arbolinda is Artimio and this my fellowes is Roselio Lisarte tooke Roselio for his Page and Florisarte entertained Arbolinda in whome hee so delighted that he wholy to her surrendred his heart not knowing whome hee loued yet promised he to loue none but whom Artimio his page appointed Who therof excéeding ioyfull gaue him her own picture in a table whereon he dayly contemplated Lisarte ioyed no lesse though farre in other sense in his Page and as they sate swéetly conferring the Dacian passed swiftly by in his inchanted boate to whom Roselia cryed Knight stay for them that follow thée Arbolinda séeing her faynt and the Princes wondred at her sodaine change cherished her vp first and told Lisarte that the Knight in the russet armour had done his fellow and him much wrong Artimio said Lisarte I will not liue if I reuenge not your wrong Roselia greeuing to heare the Dacian threatned said many haue said much and failed in the enterprize And while they were in this conference came by the gentle Brandafidell who was going with Floralinda into Gréece the Princesse sitting aboue hatch somewhat discontent being grieued at her long being at Sea Lisarte noting the Giants
fresh bloud and each of them a scrole shewing their names On the first was writ Don Celthdo the hidden And the figure of the faire Floralisa séemed the most excellent in the world and by the gallant haire which was more yellow then that of Apollo they perceaued and knew her to be a woman and for her name she had onely these letters F. and L. But betwéene them both there was a scutchen whereon was this written To change the sea is not sufficient But the greene earth shall streame with purple gore When the three brethren fierce and violent Intend their slaughters on the sea and shore As this gallant and gentle Assirian was beholding this warlike Princesse there increased within him a thousand thoughts and that alone sight caused that to succéed which séemed impossible I meane the subiection of a hart more frée then euer yet was knowne in the Assirian nation And with great affection he asked of the wise man who that deuine Lady should be To whom Gelasio answered laughing Loued sonne it is not conuenient to know who she is at this present to auoide the knowledge of death before you see the cause thereof But the time wil come that you shal sweare in her hands my reuengement and vow to be hers although first it will cost you full deare A little more forwardes from those gallant youthes they sawe painted vpon a sea stained with bloude this writing which the Phoenecian Prince read Mars ore the new world giues me victory And sweares no strength shall passe my chiualry With a gallant demeanor said the Phoenecian Prince of truth discréet father there must be more experience of our persons ere we be exercised in the sight of such rigorous figures as these be Let not this grieue you answered Gelasio for he that did paint it did not ground his painting vpon the worke but vpon the déeds which vnto these three as a fauour from heauen granted them shal be attributed being so many that the seas vast spaciousnes shal be filled with wonder yet euery one for his part must enamell it with some of his owne bloud And when this shal happen the braue Torisiano shall loose his liberty At the end of all he shewed a rough youth one of the bâ—â—t proportioned in all that quadrant although the last with this deuice his féete were setled vppon a world like vnto a gloaâ—e all embrued in bloude as a victor thereof and in his left hand a banner where in was this written Mars ore the new world giue me victory And sweares no strength shall passe my chiualry In his right hand he had a sharpe dagger turned with the point against his owne heart with this writing What doth auaile my purâ—hast soueraignty When of my selfe my selfe shall butcher be With a hearty sigh did the wise man solemnize the leauing of these Emblemes saying Louing sonnes this is he of whom I tremble in my hidden dwelling This is he that together with his brethren shall not care to giue battaile to all the Pagan countrey this is he whom I feare to whom destiny at his birth did promise triumph and victory of the vniuersall world This is he whom the world shall feare till such time as the little tame lambe shut vp in the inchaÌ„ted tower for that she had him in his armes being a childe he do acknowledge her for his owner swearing at her first sight that he is the same that so long time past was promised vnto her So of this furious youth I can say no more All the Princes exceedingly reioyced to behold so faire figures and thought the time long to sée themselues armed Knights to goe foorth into the world to séek out such valiant Youths as were there shown to prooue themselues with them And so being dinner time they went into an Arbour and Gelasio commanded their meate to be broght thether in such princely manner as though they had béen in their Fathers Pallaces Dinner beeing done they there passed away the day till their wonted time of walking Gelasio not suffring them to sée the pallace where as the Brother and Sister were for that the two Princes Torisiano and Don Argente of Phoenicia should vndertake shortly a great Aduenture NOw am I carried with a swift course to the two gallant Youths the Brother and the Sister who after the great roaring they heard let slippe theyr greyhounds and with their blades in their handes they passâ—d thorough a great thicket and came into a Playne nigh the sea side whereas they saw two deformed Satyres who had slaine a Knight that came thether in a a Barke at which déed the monsters taking great content made those horrible out-cryes and detested roarings These two Princes verie much mused to sée people of that shape for that they had neuer beheld other but the Wise-man and their Pages yet not forgetting the generositie of their couragious hearts with their swords in their hands they went against those diuelish monsters as though they had béene verie well armed and long exercised to their weapons Now want I excellence of Art to describe the heroike resolution of this yong Princesse O happie Satyre that deserueth to receiue blowes of so glorious a Damosell The swift Chariot Driuer of the Sunne sometimes the Shepâ—ard of Admetus in his course the better to beholde this battle The deformed beast would haue caught her in his armes But this Scithian Ladie would not giue him that fauour which Iupiter himselfe hardly deserued but put her swoord betwéene them and hit him in the brest such a furious blow that there issued great aboundance and flakes of bloud It séemed not strange vnto the Amazonian warrier equalling in strength the auncient Bellona to sée that great wound which would haue caused a thousand faire Ladies to haue sowned But shee who was borne to giue it did second another with such swiftnes that the Satyre was not able to defend it but she haue him â— wonderfull wound vpon the thigh which done she retyred with the swifnes of an Eagle leauing her enemy very sore hurt So rauished am I with declaring the déedes of this excellent Floralisa that I remembred not the new fearce Mars her brother Don Celindo whose battell was worthy to be recorded by the deuine Pierides or by some if any such could bee more excellent Poet that sense rauishing Homer With an admirable swiftnes did hee encounter the other mightie Satyre who with a knotty oake stroke at him a wonderfull blowe and this hardy youth without experience abode the same with such gallant semblance that Mars in his glorious Orbe had enuie at it and at the fall of that mightie clubbe with a light leape on the one side closing with him he stroke him with his short swoord on his right wriste that he cut it cleane a sunder and the mizerable Satyres deformed ryght hande and hys great and mightie Clubbe fell both to the ground together The worthie Gentleman séeing the
fortune had coÌ„passion of your griafe Thou hadst reason diuine Floriana to remaine doubtfull of séeing me at thy departure How ofteÌ„ didst thou vrge me with my plighted faith the which I will kéepe till such time as I am in thy estate without any feare to loose thée but to sée thée with these eies wherwith I now doe celebrate thy death Oh most happy land of Cantabria in times past pittifull to my lamentations how maiest thou from this day forwards begin to mourne for the lacke of such a Lady and Mistresse Now my louing father may you liue content with my fortune to see me liue without my Floriana who was so odious in your eies for that I loued her I am vexed still that you doe noâ— conceaue it was life to me to loue her and a swéete ease to suffer for her Nowe here I sweare by my high thoughts not to returne to Spaine but to destroy it once againe if any therein were the occasion of the death of my loues life although it were my naturall father Oh my Floriana what can I doe to liue content or who is able to giue it me but death onely the which if I suffer for thy sake I will receaue it gladly And hauing a desperate wil he pulled out his sword saying O happy sword being the sword of my Goddes with thée at her hands I receiued the order of knighthood I sweare by her beauty that none shal be able to disturbe me til this vnhappy body doth accompany her in death that did giue it so excellent a life At that instant he would haue lifted vp the skirt of his shirt of male to haue thrust his sword in thereat If the discréet Arsilo had not thrown himselfe before him and pulled it out of his murdring hands Then this grieued youth came to himselfe and saide Oh my Arsilo is this the loue you beare me to hinder me that I go not to accompany in death that which neuer departed from me liuing my friend permit it as thou wouldest the heauens to be more fauourable to thée then they haue béene vnto the sorrowfull Torismundo Worthy Prince and my Lord answered the discréete page I should offend much therein in the duety that I owe vnto you and your generous father and you offende more your owne discretion for that you cannot suffer that which the heauen doth ordaine the faire Dutchesse was not for you for that the commaunder of all beauty had chose her for himselfe Amongst worthy persons there is nothing more to be praised then to know how to beare and suffer the disgraces of fortune with such courage as they doe her fauours consider how little ease it should be to your griefe in killing your selfe Doest thou call it little said the grieued Knight that alone is sufficient to succour me wherewith should I end so many deaths which waited on me but in giuing my selfe one for the conclusion of all thys did euill agrée vnto the seruice that thou owest mee sith to die is onelye profitable At this time answered the page I will die ere you shed one droppe of bloud Heare me a little my beloued Lorde that I may set before your eies examples for your comfort The Phrigians had excéeding cause to bewaile the death of valiant Hector and they did fill the ayre with immeasurable lamentations yet not one of them no not his Andromache though being deare to all to him she was most deare not one of them I say despairingly slewe himselfe but armed their resolutions against their enemies Who could waile a louers losse more than Venus her swéete Adonis whom she found discoloured and dead his faire body rent by a foule Boare yet she despaired not amidst her lamentations Sorrow for seperated friends I deny not is necessary but to die because they die is diuelish and damnabâ—e Despaire depriueth al grace doubteth of immortality and let not your excellence wrong Floriana so much to make quâ—stion of her immortall being Suppose her gone vnto a Princely habitation hauing enioyned you to perfourme aduentures for her loue Let your little short span of life be the progresse to that house your iourny done you shall enioy her sight Therefore consider worthy Prince and besides these reasons remember the royall bloud from whence you descend and the harme you should doe to many by your death who haue néed of that life that you so little estéeme Celebrate the death of your Mistresse and let me be the first in death if it may be any comfort vnto you But I am sure that it is rather an anger to Floriana who enioyeth a better estate than ours Therefore returne vnto your reasonable senses beloued Prince and conâ—ider that it is the ordinance of heauen for that you against the will of your father woulde loue her and might haue sought an other equall vnto your estate This grieued youth receaued great comfort by the discreete reasons of his page but not in such sort that it caused him to forget the griefe he felt The page séeing that he was somewhat quieted and eased drew foorth a letter saying This is the last worke that came from the hands of your Lady This worthy Spaniard did take it 〈◊〉 kissed it a thousand times and bedewing it with teares he opened it and read as followeth The letter of Floriana the Dutches of Cantabria to Torismundo Prince of Spaine VNderstand from me welbeloued Prince that I draw nigh vnto a new estate being appointed by the heauens and remembring with what truth you answered my firmenesse almost life scarce suffering mee to write these fewe lines I tooke strength to write vnto thée only for to desire thée by the faith which thou plightedst to bee mine to passe thy life in my absence with discretion as is required and Torismundo let not my death bee occasion of thy indiscréet dealing I would welbeloued Prince that I might in this worlde call thee my owne but to thy comfort in the other world I will thither goeth thy beloued Floriana hoping to sée thée when as the powers of heauen will stande our friend I can say no more for that my senses faile To God I leaue my beloued Torismundo Dying Floriana This afflicted Gallant concluded the reading of the letter giuing a harty sigh saying Oh chance and is it possible that now should be shewed vnto me so much euill and that she commaunds me to liue and I must performe it Oh my deare Mistresse how can I liue who liued onely with your presence Oh Fortune with how much discontent doest thou giue a little contentment Oh vnhappy heart so cruelly vsed in the beginning of thy age and tormented with thy excessiue torments Ah Floriana to remaine with life will be death vnto me but séeing that you receaue content therein I will liue imploying the rest of my life to loue in absence in the â—ame degrée as when I triumphed in your soueraigne beautye Now you may worthy Spaniard saide the Page
of my hart Sir Knight said Terismondo I giue you great thanks for that you haue said as for the rest it is very apparant my necessity néeded your strength and to both we may attribute the raunsome of those Ladies for my name I answer you as you do me it is not iustice to denie a thing to him that hath so much desire to make me pertaker who hee is Know then that I am Torosmondo Prince of Spayne whome fortune that neuer ceaseth to be mutable hath brought as vanished into this country being tormented with amorous fyre and there he declared vnto him all his life and amorous dealings wherewith the Dacian was bound to declare vnto him of his loues and the great troubles that he receiued At the which the Spaniard remained greatly contented and they were maruelous affectioned the one vnto the other and the friendship that was betwéene them did so farre extend that it indured to the death which was the alonely meane able to seperate their loue and not the rigorous battels which they performed as shall bee tolde you were not sufficient but that they were the greatest friendes in all the world for that in one age and in one Countrie and at one selfe time fortune had giuen them remedy of their griefe With this the Dacian told him the lamentable occasion wherefore he went to Paris at the which the Spanish Prince reioyced at the heart for that he should once again sée the gallant Dutchesse who was no lesse delighted with his great beautie thâ—n hee was rauished and enamoured with hers They passed all that night one declaring to the other their former Loues till such time as the Spaniard did tell him of the great affection he had to the Dutchesse but the Dacian séeing that it was not good for him shee béeing a married Ladie did cause him to leaue it off Which was no small matter for that a new passion if once it be grapled to the heart will sooner make an ende of one than leaue him but for that the remedie was at hand it was easie to be forgotten At which conceipt they did not a little laugh both of them knowing the wonderfull effect of the fountaine The Damsell that vnderheard some of their amorous discourses said vnto them Of truth faire knights it was no small gréefe which the wise man did to disdainefull Ladies which found so good a remedie against their strangenes Of my selfe I say that if I were beloued I would not vse as commonly it is séene now among Ladies to dissemble so much that it causeth wings to be added vnto knights thoughtes to séeke out so vnsauerie a Fountaine for that it feemeth to me by the knowen vertue of this place it will fall out that she shall remaine forsaken by her dissembling and her gallant knight shal liue content to see her iust paine gréefe a worthie reward for proud statelines For if a Ladie loue wherefore doth she dissemble and if she hate wherefore doth shee not make it knowne But wee women are so strange of condition that we thinke that it is sufficient to be women that all the world may serue vs. This is a thing too vsuall which ought not to bee accepted amongst discréet people although it may séeme that she onely is discréet who often doth vse this false dissimulation Considering that hee who loueth and is not dissembled with doth not deserue the name of a Louer This hath place with them that are strange and giue not part of ioy to mitigate the griefe of the heart which loueth them and I hold that Knight careles who may bee remedied if hee will vrge it and yet simply bearing wrong reioyceth in his griefe beeing content to bee dissembled with Oh faire Ladie answered the tender Spaniard how sweete should a Louers life bée if all were of your opinion and how manie gréefes might they daily auoyd for that Ladies doo dissemble the affection which they beare their Louers and vniustly intreate them to whome they haue giuen their hearts Hencefoorth let all Ladies deale with me so sayd the Dacian Peace Cynicke said the Spaniard let me goe forward It is good a Lady should be circumspectâ—â— yeilding her honour on any tearmes and to estéeme it when all the world doth know that she is faire but to vse it in such sort to make her Louer suffâ—r griefe she her selfe beeing passioned and yet makes rigorous showes Faire Damsell I take this to be one of the greatest tyranyes that may be vsed either to Knightes or against themselues considering Knights to gratefie their Ladies euery moment put their liues at deathes doore And should the Lady then be coye in his loue whome she loueth with all her heart if so shée deale who can condemne him truly that leaueth to know her for her owne frowardnes is cause of her forgetfulnes You haue great reason on your side answered the gracious Damsell but these so costly hopes I like not of that when they come they are with pure hope loathed for to my iudgement and I beléeue all those that try shall find that the best of all hope in loue is bought for more then it is worth In these reasoninges they passed away a great part of the night till such time as the two newe friendes being wearie they layed their heades vpon their helmets to take rest so likewise did the Damsell and their Pages The Iusting which Don Heleno and Torismundo had at their entring into Parris and what more chaunced vnto them Chap. 5. APollo had scarse shewed himselfe at his golden window beholding the large Circle that he had to runne when as the two valiant friends did arme themselues with their stronge and inchaunted armour and mounted vppon better horses then those which the amorous shepparde did shew and began to trauell towards Paris with great desire to be reuenged for the Infant Grisalinda In this sort they trauelled till after a little more then two miles they came vnto a great and faire bridge for to passe the mightie Riuer of Some nigh vnto the high walles which compassed the Citty There they saw many Knights staying for to haue passed and some of them were in battaile These furious friendes pricked forwardes for to sée the good Iusting that was there And asking of one wherefore those Iustes were it was tolde them that the valiant Alsino did make the Iustes defending the beautie of a Lady that a little before was come vnto the Court This was the Dutches of Sauoy and hee was the Nephew of the redoubted King Partomio that accused the Princesse who séeing that there lacked but one day did think to carry her away with him and the proude Alsino the Dutches. The Dacian whose bountie was well knowne did very earnestly require Torismundo that they would let him frée the bridge The Spaniard did it with a very euill will for that it gaue him great griefe whan as it was told him Alsino was in loue with the Sauoyan
put not on my armes for that I iudged how that onelye in beholding me thou wouldst gladly leaue off thy enterprise Thy pride is not small aunswered the Dacian in hoping to doo that without armour which is impossible for thée to perfourme beeing armed and at thy best aduauntage Thou maist well talke here said the pagan vntill the hower of thy death approach I wish of all my Gods that you were more that I might giue ye your payments together The cholerick Spaniard could not indure anie longer but as one wholly and iustly incensed with wrath he thus said Those who haue little faith as thou hast doo inuade knights with aduantage and not they which doo gouerne themselues with reason and because thou art vniust and reasonlesse thou doost imagine my companion will suffer mée to helpe him But thus much on his part I let thée vnderstand that before thou partest with him thou wilt rather wish for help than desire to haue anie more aduersaries Nigh vnto Partomio was the bold and stout Alsino who with a deuelish furie would haue laide hand on his sword saying By high Iupiter I sweare to thee thou babling knight if I did not assure my selfe that the king my Unkle is sufficient for thée and this cowardly knight I would neuer put on armor Thou maist well goe and put it on thou vnmannerly knight vnworthie of a knights name said the Spaniar◠and hereupon I defie thée forthwith that thou maist help thy Unckle in whom thou puttest too great trust with a gallant and souereigne iesture he presently shut down his visor Then the diuelish Alsino tooke hold of the Princes skirt of mayle and pulled so strongly that he drew the Prince after him saying It is honor enough that Fortune hath permitted thée to defie and challenge him that will not refuse to combat with Mars The Dacian was nigh vnto them who séeing his discurtesie would not remit his paiment till the battell but lifting vp his fist he stroke him such a blow vpon the forehead that he ouerthrew him at the Kings féete saying Uncourteous knight before the King doost thou vse thys boldnes Did not I foorthwith stay for the battell I wold giue thée the paiment that thy folly doth deserue The wrathfull king when he saw his welbeloued Nephew lye along the ground like a furie went against the Dacian with his sword in his hand The Spanish Prince was nothing dismayed at his diuelish rage but with two light leapes he put himselfe by his well affectioned and new frend leauing all that were present greatly amazed at his dexteritie Then the King of France came betwéene them which was the cause that this furious Giant did not there ende his life and king Oristeo commaunded Partomio foorthwith to bee armed and his Nephew also who was then come to himselfe and séeing himselfe in that case there was no Hircane Tigers furie to bee compared vnto hys but that foorthwith reuengement should be made as hee thought he went with his vnckle Then the King commaunded the Princesse to come before them for to giue the knights thanks and accept them for her Champions wherewith the poore Ladie apparelled all in blacke appeared yet was not she able with her sad lookes to couer and hide some part of her great beautie which was such that the couragious Spaniard had not power to resist the entrie thereof into the secret part of his heart and it was of such effect that he accused hymselfe and said it was lost time that he spent without louing of his Grisalinda whom he worships and acknowledgeth her for his liues owner This was such a wound that neither water nor the wisedome of Merlin was sufficient to heale The gracious Princesse in few words yet excellently couched gaue power to these knights to become her champions against the false accusing king and his fierce Cousin The Princes humbled themselues with such grace somewhat inclining so that easily might bee séene theyr gallant disposition and demeanor but especially y e Spaniard who was the gallantest knight in the world Long communication they would not abide till such time as for the victorie they had done their best therefore they descended into the court whereas they viewed their armour because no ouersight should appeare in them When thys was done without putting their foote in stirrop they leaped on their well prepared horses making them gyue a thousand coruettoes with so gallant a grace that all sayd they were knights of great worth and the eyes of the people wer set vpon them with great content but the incounter with so valiant Enemies they that had best hope somwhat doubted The worthie Spaniard did first enter into the Lystes and séeing that their Contraries were not come hee wyth a lowd voyce sayd What doo they not come that wished we were more it séemeth to mee that their workes are not agréeable to their proud words and I beléeue they wil not doo what they speake and if they durst I hardly imagine their furie being so great they would thus slack their presence Thereby was a Knight no lesse huge of bodie than Alsino and something a kin to him but at least his especiall great frend with whom he did communicate of his loues or better to terme it his foolish desires who sayd Proceed not so forward thou ill aduised Knight for that shortly thou shalt thinke this place too little for thée when as thy hands must be thy defence and not thy tung Well for that thou shalt vnderstand my little feare aunswered the valiant Spaniard goe and take thy armour for I do giue thée license to help thy cousin the prince of pride and then thou shalt sée who shall think the place too little and therewith he cast his gauntlet in token of defiance But all that were in the place thought it folly knowing with whom they should haue to doo and yet so boldly giue them a companion The Dacian was nothing agréeued thereat for that he knew the new passion of his frend and did intend to helpe him to the death During the time that they staied for this so much doubted Moore this new Louer could not finde anie better exercise than contemplation on his Goddesse fixing the end of his speare vpon the ground and his eyes whereas his heart was The Dutches of Sauoy stood in a round tower all couered with blacke with her the Princesse who séemed no lesse faire than heauie and sad And while the prince was beholding them ther issued the deformed kinsmen richly armed the Kings armour was Lion colour with suns of gold on his shield Reuenge with this posie Reuenge gainst one is insufficient One death cannot my rage content Hee was mounted on a furious horse coloured dapple gray and all his trappings sutable hee had vnder his armour a shirt of mayle and was appointed in such sort that it caused a cold feare in all the beholders to sée with what brauerie the Pagan did
read it as followeth The letter froÌ„ the Infant Flora of Argentaria to the Prince Lisarte of Tharsis WElbeloued Prince if my absence hath caused in thee any firmnes towardes her that so long since professed her selfe to be thine neuer can there be greater occasion to shew it thaÌ„ now fortune making me néed help when I began to loue thée did liue without care of any chaunge thinking my selfe most frée and making a iest of my hearts strange imprisonment assured in all good being thine But proude fortune enuious of this my quietnes which was the greatest felicitie I had hath giuen me rigorous experience of her turning wheele and so ordered that the proud King of Cilicia hath beseidged my Citty with purpose to carry away the spoiles of my small beautie that is due to you and now seeing in what necessitie she remaineth whome you called the owner of your heart according to the promise you once gaue me there is no néed of perswasion I hope but that you will come for now beeing a woman I put my confidence in your strength as when I was a child I trusted in your promis And although it be somewhat out of the way receiue the order of Knighthood by the hands of the King of Mauritania for that according to the fame as is heere reported hée is the floure of Knighthood among the Pagans and till you come to me let none girt on your swoord The Gods be your guide and giue mee life to imploye it in your loue Flora the Princesse of Argentaria You may well vnderstand worthy kinghts said the louing Pagan that I haue reason to loue her who when I thought she did abhorre me hath certified me of her affection with so louing a style iudge it not pride in me to defend her worthines whichin al y e world is a thing worthy to be known And I do hope though I am in defiance wyth this knight it is no let that hee should helpe to raise the seidge of my Lady I warrant you answered the worthy Greeke although I defend the valor and beautie of Ladies yet shall not my arme be the last in so iust an ayde And I did hope no lesse of you said the beloued Lizarte but that your valor should be equal to the noblenes of your mind and yet being wel coÌ„sidred it is not worthy much thanks for that you do only what a knight is bound vnto with this such like they trauelled and passed away the loathsome and wearie nauigation till the fourth day that the Barke arriued at a fresh and delightfull Countrie which gaue great content vnto the Princes for that they were wearied with the sea Forthwith they disimbarked their horses and a palfry for the Damsell who was very ioyfull to goe in companie with such knights She went with her face couered and the knightes with their visors open vppon their mightie horses they being so gallant and the Sunne shining on their rich armour it was a heauenly thing to behold them and the sight thereof did dasell the eyes of the Beholders They commanded them that had the gouernment of their barke to stay for them so they began to trauell receiuing great content to sée the freshnes of the Countrie The furious Pagan if any occasion should bee offered of assalt for himselfe broke downe halfe an oake and laying it vpon his shoulder hee beganne to trauell with it that it greatly delighted them to behold him as they rid they passed away the time with him with swéete and amorous conuersation for that he was so good a seruant to Cupide till such time as they came into a great plaine where as they saw more then fortie knightes in a troope trauelling by the way and in the middest amongst them was some on horse-backe without armour which gaue them great desire to knowe what they were And when they came more nigher they saw that they were two knightes the one of middle age the other somewhat entred in yéeres which had their hands bound behinde them which caused in the Pagan great compassion for that he was by nature vertuous who with his oake came vnto one that went somewhat behinde and said Sir knight if it be not much griefe vnto you my companions and I shal receiue great content that you would giue vs to vnderstand what countrey this is and what people they are that thus trauaile The curteous demaund of the Tharsian did binde the knight to answere who said sir Knight this is the mighty kingdome of Argentaria a fruitfull country And those knights that are Prisoners are Unkle and Cosin to the Princesse Flora whom the fearefull Arlante Lord of the Cilicia doth demaund in marriage and for that her father did deny it he hath made war against him had it beâ—ne ended but that the King of Tharsis came with a mightie power to ayde the King of this Country and yesterday was the first battaile that was giuen in the which was many of our people slaine for that the Tharsians did shewe themselues what they were yet for al this foure Giants that hee brought with him at the retiring of the people apprehended the Kings brother Unkle vnto the Princesse and his Sonne for the which our Arlante reioyced much but he would not put them to death because he would not anger his Lady knowing that in the end they should doe by force that which now they will not doe being so much desired Oh infernall furies I beléeue the rage is little among you to be coÌ„pared with that which entred into the affectioned youth for that without any more speaking he lift vp his fyst and stroke him such a blowe that hee made both braines and eyes to flye out of his head and spurred his horse with so great spéed as might be deuised And ouertaking theÌ„ in the middest of that plaine the syth doth not so swiftly enter into the tender grasse as this diuelish youth entred with his knottie oake ouerthrowing both horse and knights with such quicknes that it was a pleasure to behold him whose beautie caused great affection in the princes Then the noble troyan the more to satisfie the Moore of his worthynes pressed foorth his furious horse and entred among them in such sort that they séemed wolues amongst shéep In the meane time that these two were occupied for to dispatch this bloudy war their Pages did vntye the hands of the prisoners who were astonied to see the great force of those knights who the one with his swoord and the other with his oake so handled these miserable people till onely twoo remained who thinking to find more helpe in their horse than in their force began to flye with as much spéede as they could but the wrath of the Tharsian was such in that extremitie that he followed after them without admitting any mercy the which he otherwise much estéemed but for that it was in busines which touched his beloued Flora and that she
for them and the gallant Flora. The heroycal Tharsian was imagining what to doo doubted he had done litle in her seruice that night in that he had left him aliue that iudged himselfe worthie to deserue her yet for al this he encouraged himselfe and purposed not to be knowne till hee had ouercome that furious Giant and presented his head to his Ladie The King receiued them with great thankes for that in al respects he was a good Knight and frendly to honor such as came vnto him and verie thankfully gratulated the succor they offered had made to him and vnto his daughter yet would not they suffer themselues to be knowen although the Princesse did desire them verie much There was appointed for them a lodging where they should take theyr rest where they were serued with manie dainties which the Princesse sent them who imagined that her Prince was amongst them These foure Companions supped with great contentment and for to please the Moore all the supper time they talked of Flora declaring the reason he had to loue her for that she was so faire And they were not deceiued for she was one of the comeliest in the vniuersall world and for her sake the Tharsian put himselfe in great daungers as shal be told you When they had done they went to rest but sent that night order vnto the Kings that early in the morning all his people should be armed By and by it was noysed abroad in the Citie what aid and succour there was come for the which all the night great fier lights were made for ioy and accompted the warres to be ended hauing those foure Knights The ende of the Battell betweene the Tharsian and his Companions against their aduersaries Chap. VII THe Louer of Daphne had begun to renue his light ouer the world with his hote presence when as those foure Frends mounted and armed went vnto the pallace leading after them all the people of the Cittie voluntarily who séeing them so gracious said The Gods haue well ordained that for foure Diuells haue sent vs foure Angels to deliuer vs from their hands Then they came vnto the Pallace wheras the kings and the princesse were tarrying for them verie ioyfull to sée their gallant demeanor Whereas foorthwith because they would loose no time they agreed that the Grecian Prince of Tharsus should goe foorth into the Campe and that the rest should be aloofe off to yéeld their helpe when néed required They all reioyced at the agréement wherewith the common people began to place themselues vpon the wals of the Cittie the better for to sée what these knightes did The like did the princesse her damosells from that part of the pallace that looked towards the Campe there they tarried the comming of the two Frends her heart working with excéeding ioy and desire to behold the battell as one that had no small interest in the action These two passed through the stréetes so pleasantlye that which way soeuer they went the Ladies gaue them a thousand blessings and the people with high voices gaue testimonie of that they desired The Tharsian was moūted on his mightie horse and at the pommell of his saddle did hang that bloodie Mace that he won the night before with a speare that séemed to be a beame of an oake trée a gallant horne at his necke that became him well They all meruailed at the furious countenance they both shewed for although the Grecian was not so great beeing about thrée fingers lesse than the prince of Tharsus yet he was altogether as well set and rid in such sort that all did estéeme him for a stout knight when they saw his gallant disposition Foorthwith they went foorth into the Campe when they had passed the bridge a bow shot the Tharsian lift vp his visor and began to blow his horne with so great force that he made it to be heard throughout all the Camp and said O furious and fierce Pagan is it possible that hee who would haue the faire Flora for wife should be so carelesse his enemy being in the field Come if thou wilt haue the weapon that thou didst loose yesternight and bee reuenged for héere I doe tarry for thée The Princesse did verie well from the place whereas shee was heare what the Knight said being very ioyous that so good help was come vnto her The Tharsian séeing that he came not blewe his horne againe and said O vile Moore wherefore dost thou stay and not come foorth into the field thy Lady being there Come come for it is now time for to make shew that thou dost loue and the effect of all thy force The Pagan tarried not long but put himselfe at the doore of his Tent mounted on a proud and mightie horse armed in blacke armour full of red knots which caused feare to them that did behold them There were two Giants that would not agrée that he should goe forth and for that they were armed and mounted vpon great beastes they sayd to him stay mighty Arlante for wée will goe and bring vnto thée those vncurteous knights disturbers of our quietnes for it is no right to giue them so honorable a death as to die by your hands So pulling downe their visors they went without company from the bridge whereas they caused more to bee in a readines when it was néedful It did not gréeue these two frends to sée them come in that sorte being so big that they séemed great Pine trées At their comming the biggest of them who was called Fermonte said what is it that you would haue Knights that so early haue risen for to disquiet the King Arlante our Lord if you come to séeke your death for the offence which you committed yesternight hee doth not come to giue it you for that he will not giue you so much honor The Tharsian tooke in hand to answere him and said thou vncurteous beast if the tyrant haue anie anger against vs and so much delighteth to make warre wyth them that neuer did him wrong it were better for him to take reuenge himselfe or else peraduenture he meaneth to take vengeance of his wrath and your deaths together So without anie more words they turned their horses made their incounter in the middest of their carréere with such a noyse that it séemed foure furious rockes had met together their incounters were such The valiant Tharsian séeing that it was the first lance that he ran with in all his life and beeing also before hys faire Mistres hee commended himselfe to Mahomet for helpe and incountred the fierce Giant with such a blow that with a truncheon of the launce in his breast he made him fall to the ground so that hee mooued neither hand or foote with so great wonder vnto them that were present that they forgot the wondrous blowe that was giuen by the warlike Grecian who as though the faire Oliuia had béen present encountred the Giant
imaginations he answered And thou knight indued more with pride than good manners doost not thou sée vs that are héere and aske license for to come in The Moore would not indure that answere euen of Mars himselfe and therwith layed hand on his sword as also did thrée or foure of his knights that came with him But when the Dacian did sée that all the mirth was turned vpside downe he quickly made a large way for that at two blowes he ouerthrew two dead to the ground and recouered the doore because they should not be compassed about The Spaniard who was verie desirous the Carthaginian reached him a little blow on the head which was the occasion that all the kings Guard were in an vproare The which these two Frends séeing with a trice they were in the Court yard and making so good shift as they could they left sixe dead and so went towards their lodging til such time as the people in the pallace were in quiet The King straight waies commaunded search to bee made who it should be that were the doers br but reason there were so many it could not bee knowne who they should be The tumult was only that night for that from that time forwards there should none enter into the Pallace with armour noâ— without license on any day that daunces were admitted The Spanish and Dacian Knights as they were yong men and that their bloud wrought more in them thaÌ„ sléep would not goe to rest till they had gone round about the Pallace and for that it butted vpon so gallant and delightfull gardens they might there passe away the time till the night were farther spent and drew nigh to that quarter whereas the Ladies were which butted towards the gardens The Prince of Spaine knew it for that hee was there before and comming more nigher they heard a deuine voyce which at the recording of a Base did sound verie swéetly which gaue great comfort vnto the Princes they were verie light and giuing the one the other their hands they leapt into the Garden being within they went by little and little till they came so nigh the windows that they might discerne who played which were thrée Ladies that stoode at an Iron grate window in the Moone-light the one of them had a Lute and beginning a new to sing they came so nigh y t not onely they heard the musicke but also what they did talke and they heard one of them say Faire Grisalinda if the Knight with the blacke armour were so fully certified how you loue him as we are of your voyce there should not néed any other helpe but his presence for you to ease your sorrowfull life The Princesse answered Ah Orosia I am so fortuneles that I beléeue none is able to certifie what my soule requireth or what my heart doth suffer for as yet I know not whome to loue it may be the Empresse of Trapisonde or the péerelesse Quéene of Lira who hath taken that armour and pittying my necessitie hath taken vpon them the battell Of this you may liue well assured said the Damsell Alcisa for they are men although in grace and beauty they may be compared with these worthy Ladies Well if it be so answered the afflicted Ladie how can they liue who so truelie loue and haue so little hope or none at all of remedie for by his absence it appeareth hee hath a mistresse to whome he doth pay the true tribute of his thought and this is the cause that I onely in the world am fortunelesse I am perswaded answered the other Lady that he respecteth something in this Pallace for that if you remember at such time as he looked towards the place whereas you were he was intranced in his imagination which is a plaine shewe that there is something that causeth his griefe in our company I beséech God said the Princesse that it proue sâ— then shall I liue in hope to sée him but in the meane time giue mée that instrument for I will make these trées witnesses of my griefe and the birdes that build in them with this she playde like a second Orphens and to the instrument she song this song with an Angellicall voice If Mars vnbinde these bands of Venus Sonne Wherein the boy intangled hath my thought Ioy and delight vnto my heart will come Els valors sight I haue too deerely bought And ceaseles I compelled must complaine Loue layd the plot to kill me with disdaine Or if braue knight thou twist thee in these bands That me insnare and nere will be vntwinde I le yeeld mine honor to thy princely hands Or dye distrest if thou doe prooue vnkinde And Swanlike sing vpon my dying day Of life and loue no more no more away This Lady concluded her song with 〈◊〉 earnest sigh so that I know not any but would haue béen moued thereat and after a small pause shee said Oh Princesse of France how is it that in thy tender age thou beginnest to féele loues lawes Little but cruel God why hast thou made me subiect I know not to whom Ah nowe I perceiue my life is but short séeing in the beginning thereof so much griefe hath béene reserued for me If thou delight proud Loue to haue me serue thée why hast thou bound mee to one whom I knowe not where to find What triumph hast thou in such my affliction Ah faire Orosia help me to ban this false bewitching boy this théefe of hearts but all is vaine he will bewitch and wée must honor him all our exclaimes are idle and bootlesse passions Then taking the Lute she againe sung as followeth Gentle Loue commaundeth me To his hests I must agree Though my loue I neuer see Yet must I his louer be Sweet loue from this rigour stay No no no no thou must obay If I yeeld how can I tell Where my wandring loue doth dwell His regard would please me well His disdaine prooue worâ—e than hell Loue then from this rigor stay No no no no thou must obay If I yeeld I thee inioyne By thy Psiches gentle eyne And thy beauteous Mothers shrine That my loued may be mine Els thy cruell rigor stay No no no no thou must obay She ceasing this swéete and amorous song they heard the other Lady sayd Hope faire Grisalinda in thy good fortune what comfort your griefe with courage seeke helpe of the beloued which must remedie you of all paine other hopes but illusiue If this werr so answered the Infant that I knewe where to séeke reamedy my griefe should not hurt me It is not so vncertaine answered Alcisa for I will tomorrow séeke these Knights and if occasion be offered I will certifie your Knight the paine that for his sake you suffer Ah my Acilsa said the Princesse if you doe so you may reuiue soule for now liuing I dye hauing surrendred my wil haue no power but to loue there is no end set for this tempesttuous trauaile of my thought
them a long oration concerning the hard seruitude which they were fréed of by the losse of the Giants And that hée would make them a Lord and a gouernour by his owne handes and told them who hee was the more to reioyce them And with the consent of them all they maried the discréet knight Briano with the daughter of Linerua and caused them to sweare him for their Lord. They all receiued content with that the Prince ordained and the new maried couple were verie ioyful to sée the liberalitie of the Prince although time dyd come when it was gratified and payde They were foure dayes in the doubtful Castle In the end of which the Princes did take their leaue of those of the Iland commending them vnto peace The like did the thrée frendes vnto the Tartarian which was no small griefe vnto the faire Grisanea and the Tartarian but séeing it could be no otherwise they tooke it forwell So they set their course towards Tartaria whereas they were receiued with all content possible worthy of a Prince so well beloued as was Andronio of whome in the third and fourth part shall bee made large mention where as we will leaue them for to declare of the Princes What succeeded the three Princes that went with the Damsell into Lacedemonia Chap. 11. THe thrée couragious warriers ingulfed in the Sea went towardes Lacedemonia talking of the Tartare their new frend of the gallant and braue discretion of his Lady So leauing on the one hand the Ausonian Sea the eyght day early in the Morning they entred the Port of the Citty of Archina for so Strabo doth call it whereat the Damsell receiued no small content and said that from that place to the great Cittie of Lyra was two dayes iourney There they disimbarked themselues and went a Land with their deuises changed leauing their ancient and knowen shields in their inchaunted boate they had al a like for in a gréen field this alone was written If against Loue we doe not fight We doe not feare our tryed might The Damsell reioyced at that Poste it came to good purpose for her busines and said vnto them Knightes oâ— reuengement so we wil now call ye I pray God that the end bee conformable vnto the Posâ—e and the iustice which we haue If you haue Iustice answered the Grecian account your busines done for that is able to giue vs forces more than we enioy Your strength doth well assure use gentle knightes said shee although it were for a matter more difficult but wee women haue this condition where we loue we are not in quiet but when we see them secure and I beléeue that it is generall for all that loue neuer to be assured of the good while they liue in hope the like we haue in our anger for that there was neuer woman that hath béene vexed but would procure at cost of their liues to recompence their griefe and rather yéelde vnto death then want reuengement God deliuer me said the gentle Troyan vnto the Damsell from falling into your wrath if you be so froward and therefore I say hee liueth a merrie and swéet life that hath neither ioye nor griefe caused by women For first for to get ioy he must serue a world of time and when he commeth to receiue a fauour it is with such trouble that ere hee féele it by and by with the turne of an eye all is turned to his disgrace But I beleeue women are of the opinion that griefe at their hands is an ease to a Louers heart It may bée gentle Knight sayd the Damsell that he that pondreth not the content that the Louer receiueth if the Lady beloued be estéemed being busied in easie things but doth remit the content onely to the odedience promised by loue and to receiue discontent for glory and for great content the griefe ordained by the Ladye and rigorous thornes for tender flowers comming from her handes Of truth Damsell answered the Troyan if this be all the fauour that Ladies doe giue and thereby no other daintie to comfort their Louers from this time I say he that liueth of this doth not knowe what is good She said It séemeth that your companions bee of your false league or els they will make shewe to defend my profound opinion and for this battaile I wil none of your ayde except ye be Louers There will not lacke answerers for you faire Damsell said Rosicleer for I doe know some that did liue in sorrow in respect of them that gaue it for it is a swéete discharge for them that loue to suffer if the minde be constrained by the fairenes of the beloued and this certaine imagination can doe so much that when sorrow commeth it is not felt the reason is for that the sences are found occupied with so excessiue content as commeth of a faire sight that it is not sufficient to vnlodge it out of the minde But there be some of so little heart that at the first encounter they yéeld without considering the grief that is procured to the beutie of his Lady giuing to vnderstand that he is not able to anymate his heart against the assalting griefe Who if he knewe howe to loue would contend and depart glorious from this battaile if hée estéeme this tryumph for most honorable Then answered the Troyan somewhat touched if an other should haue spoken it his swoord should haue defended it This is when as the Lady is correspondent vnto her louer with daintie fauours and sorrowfull for his griefe and receiueth it as her owne then is it no griefe that he doth suffer being certaine of his doubt Then said Meridian not one Lord Oristides being grieued did marke the discharge of his griefe for that it should not be meritorious before the Lady being certaine what he would haue and to lay before it the reward This doth exclude reason from perfect loue which is the notablenes of minde where with good is desired for the beloued and doth procure it with trouble and hath the reward not of that which is hoped for but of the acte wherewith it is done leauing the reward of his content vnto the generositie of the Ladie then is it giuen more liberally and more earnestly than when the Louer doth binde her in declaring what he did suffer Nowe you doe vnderstand Sir Knight said the Damsell to the Troyan the truth of my opinion and ye doe wrong to withstand it being so reprooued of all And I hope that before you depart from Lacedemonia you will change your iudgement according to the curiositie wherewith this truth is declared In this communication they spent the morning till it was high time to go to dinner in a fresh and gréen groue they dined recreating their sight with the pearlye Fountaines and swéet Medowes and their earâ—s wyth the swéet songs of the little birdes who flying the heate were there in the shadowe declaring their griefes with tunable chirpings The Princes
a whit materiall the right of the battell thou performedst not and thereupon growes my defiance which if thou be a iust Knight thou wilt answere Els sayd the Troyan let Sarmacias faire eyes neuer giue end to the begun sorrow of my heart if thou be not answered and chastised also for thy presumption And therewith the furious Troian mounted his horse and assailed his Contrarie vsing all able violence hee could both with sword and speare But this blacke Knight vsed the like curtesie with him as he had done vnto the faire Sarmacia for indéede it was she and neither with point of speare nor edge of sword did she returne him blow but onely for foure howers defended her selfe against his fierce assaults and then finding opportunitie she cloased with him saying Be not so hastie warlike Knight I come not to vâ—x you but quit your kindnes shewed me yesterday at my Fathers Court. At this the Troyan sodainly retyred and the Ladie vnarming her head sayd Now am I out of your debt And out of yours shall I neuer be said Oristides trembling with feare of her indignation but pardon me diuine princesse and receiue my sword that hath offended you and with it the Owners heart I receiue it said the Ladie and giue you mine in pawne till wee méete againe as méete wee will and in saying this shee returned as swift as winde leauing the princes not a little wondring and reioycing but especially Rosabel who highly delighted in the Troians change And as they were bidding God giue him ioy of his sword they discouered a Barke that came swiftlye towards them and from vnder the hatches appeared a Damsell resembling her that parted their battell y e said Worthie Princes the wise Lyrgandeo néedeth your help and desireth you to enter this Bark Rosabel was néerest who with his horse presently leapt in saying I will bee the first to shew my dutie to your Lord. He was no sooner entred but the boat remooued from land and the damsell cryed alowd to them Now Rosicleer will thy mortal enemie Gelasio worke that vengeance on thy Sonne and Oliuias which on thée he could not in the Iland of Fangomadan and thou Troyan looke to haue all thy content turned into lamentation and with this y e boate all departed out of sight leauing the Princes so gréeued that if the true messenger of Artemidoro had not comforted them their perill had béen great Heere must we awhile leaue them to tell you what hapned to the prince of Dacia Of the aduenture which hapned to the Prince of Dacia on the Sea Cha. 14. THe worthy Dacian glad of the happy fortunes of Torismund and Andronio his new frends sayled in his inchaunted boate from France with great swiftnesse till comming where he might behold part of Sauoy and Spaine his barke made some small stay that his kinde eyes might gratifie with their louing lookes the Countries of the faire Dutchesse whom in France he rescued and his kind Torismund hee so much loued And being ready to breake foorth in passion to praise their happie Princes hee was disturbed by a violent whirling of the water from the middest thereof arose a Sea-nymph sitting on a Dolphin who said The content is great gentle Knight which the fight of these daintie Countries doe giue you but I tell you their best fortune shall be when the great Lyon of Spaine shal send his déer and hidden Tyger who till then shal be nourished in base clothes for a scurge to his beloued Countrie filling the Ausonian lake with strange bloud This shal be he who in his tender yéeres shall conclude things that shall be more estéemed than those that are past and so farre he shall extend his arme that the destinies with pure enuie shall triumph ouer him to triumph of the victory due vnto him attributing to his power that which the rigorous Tyger had got And this shall not be the last good which the heauens doth promise vnto Spaine neither doe they so much forget Sauoy for the most and the best good of Spaine shal come vnto Sauoy and that land shall bee equall with the most aduantaged and may theÌ„ be called the fresh flower of Spaine her good comming by curteous vsing of the venterous Lyon who being retyred into his little Caue shall reioyce in the tender little Lambe who with his méekenes doth subiect the vntamed nations This said the Nimph tuning a harpe began to sing as followeth Not those faire three in Ida that contended To win the Ball the Shepheard Venus gaue Whereat the other two became offended In all their worths faire Catalinas haue For it is she alone and none but shee Excelles the graces of those gracious three Hauing finished her song she said by this beautie shal Spaine bee blessed and you shall shortly loose your fréedome Wherewith the Nymph vanished and the inchanted Barke kept course into the Italian Sea the Dacian sailing somwhat troubled though neuer perswaded again he should be a louer The fourth day of his nauigation the swift Barke ran a shore in Italy and the Dacian for that he was wearie of the seal foorthwith caused his inchaunted horse Tirio to be taken foorth With this the warlike Youth armed himselfe and mounted vppon his horse desirous to méet some people to be informed what country it was With this desire he passed till it was mid day following the current of a brooke till such time as he came to the head spring there he washed and refreshed himselfe of the heate and did eate of that which Fabio brought with him then returning to his begun Iorney he heard not far off blowes of a combate then he tooke his Launce with a light pace followed the way from whence hee heard the noise till such time as hee sawe amongst the trées two knights in battaile and néere them a Damsell bound vnto a knotty Ashe making great lamentation Not with a little griefe came the pittifull Prince vnto the Damsell who séeing him so well proportioned said Ah Sir knight if there bee in you the strength which your person sheweth deliuer me from thâ—se two false knights who are in controuersie which shall defile me The Prince was so angry that without remembring to vnloose her he returned against them saying Backe Knights for so vniust a cause you should not make battaile more iustly eyther of you should help women and not séeke to dishonor them Much lesse care hast thou of her they answered that with out any more consideration leauest her to the mercy of our swoords and without any more respect they both returned against the Dacian mallice making theÌ„ quickly frends The Dacian wold not with the point of his Speare take reuengement of such people but with the end hee had in his hand he stroke one such a blow vpon his harnes that he buckled it to his brest in such sort that it tooke away his vitall breath where with he fell dead to the ground and returning