another name am called the solitarie Knight because I possesse nothing that better agrées with my conditions then to wander through solitarie and vnknowne places shunning the habitation of populated Cities and townes thinking therby that the blind God of Loue should haue no power ouer me and therefore would I not this night lie in Persepolis but he hath at his pleasure reuenged himselfe on me with your gracious sight whose speedie remedie if I want will leaue me altogither breathlesse The hearing of your state most noble Prince hath highly contented mee saide Don Be 〈…〉 I discontent suffring the like torments that you through such a passion for procuring to auoyde the cause of such effect haue béen this night so plagued with Loues all conquering power that now I féele the force of his tributarie paines In this chat they spent the better two parts of the night which don Bellianis séeing resolued to demaunde of the Prince what he wanted for the combat desiring that by no meanes his Companions should know his intent for he durst not trust them with a battell of such import hoping also to obtain his request said I do desire you most honored prince that you will performe the promise you made me which is this I left not farre hence a Knight in an extreame daungerous aduenture destitute of an armour weapons and horse to performe a most notable combat and were it not sir knight that I also promised to procure it him I would not now presume so much to iniurie you as to request them But beléeue me if I liue I will to your content gratifie this good turne For at this time can I not do otherwise béeing requested by that knight to get him them And séeing it hath béene my happe to méete with you I do beséech you to make me so happie by your gracious graunt promising if I reuiue to morrow at this time to returne them and this is my boone and your promise The knight was verie ioyfull to haue occasion to pleasure his mistresse especially expecting so great a benefite as she promised cared not whether he neuer should haue them although they were the richest in the world sauing don Bellianis They were of colour yellow rarely ingrauen with curious workes and set with rich Orient Pearles whose inestimable woorth cannot be vallued In his shéeld was pictured a mightie mountaine with a knight lying vnder an Oke with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon the sheeld staring and gazing on the cruell god of Loue sitting on the top with his bow arrowes drawne so naturally that euery looker on might easily beléeue it to be aliue And he said to don Bellianis Faire mistresse séeing all my heart is yours what néed you more saue command all I else possesse as your owne for my aâ—mor and 〈◊〉 rest Tr 〈…〉 at your desposing more desiring to vndertake that combat vnder your seruice then with my armor to pleasure you But séeing you will haue it so stay while I call my page that is not farre hence knowing I would not go into the Citie this night whereupon he sounded a horne whose value was more then might be thought The force of which blast was heard through all the citie wherewith he made a certaine signe at which the page straight came who séeing his maister accompanied with that lady greatly maruelled knowing it to be against his condition and alighting off his palfray said What wonder is this sir to sée you in such a place with so faire a Goddesse in your companie I feare she hath of purpose descended the heauens to penetrate the flintie wars of your adamant heart séeing on earth there is none that could do it It greatly pleased the knight to heare his page praise his mistresse so highly and commanded him saying Giue me my other apparell Bruneo for this Goddesse thou speakest off staieth for me Whereupon the page drew forth of a male the richest suite of apparell that euer Don Bellianis sawe It was all of a Rubie colour imbrodered with many of those stones and other of vnualued price and vnbuckling his armour gaue them him and put on those garments Don Bellianis admired and highly commended the knights gallant liberalitie and the more that deceitfull loue should make him so kind desirous to requite his bountie said Most noble and renowmed Prince I do accept the gift of your lent armor for the same do promise ere 20. dayes do passe to remedie your gréefe to your great profit so require no more of me For this promise the prince knéeled to kisse his hands Don Bellianis wold not suffer it taking him vp in his arms embraced him kindly which excéedingly gladded his hart And therwith did help him to mouÌ„t on his horse saying You may swéet mistresse sit without feare for though my horse séemeth as hee doth yet is he so gentle and tractable as may be desired I beléeue no lesse my good lord replied don Bellianis and taking his armor bound in a cloath before him don Contumelianos sword in his hand who tooke his pages saide I intreate you to enter the Citie to day where you shall sée your armour vsed and after follow the Knight for you shall find me in this place and so taking leaue departed through the thicke Groaue leauing him as a man that firmely gazeth on some woonder and rapt with admiring contemplation thereof suddainlie looseth the sight of his delightfull obiect So rested Don Contumeliano who not knowing what to doo lay him downe to sleepe till it shoulde bée time to enter the Cittie which hée did mounted on his Pages Horse in which Cittie hée neuer had béene where taking his Inne expected the houre to go to Court where we leaue him to returne to Don Bellianis trauailing through the wood as aforesaid CHAP. XXIIII What happened to Don Bellianis in the Court armed in Don Contumelias armour How he accepted the battell His talke with the Princesse Persiana before the fight and what befell him in the same DOn Bellianis going through the wood as is said came at last to a Caue where in Winter the Shepheardes vsed to withdrawe themselues which hée seeing to fitte his turne alighted more easier then Don Contumeliano did mount him a horsebacke and so went in and straight put off Florianaes garments and armed him as well as hee might hauing no helpe which done hee hid his female Robes couering them with some bowes which he cut with his sword that none that there should arriue might thinke them otherwise and so tooke his way towards Persepolis at such time as the giuer of all light began with his resplendent rayes to cleare the duskie â—â—â—e and chase the darkened cloudes from the ayrie Region when the chirping birdes with their melodious harmonie saluted the mornings vprise whose varying notes and pleasing musick strook such thoughts into the passionate Prince of his contemplatiue mistresse that he regarded not his way nor knew not where he
Burgonet that none but I deserue the fruition of such thoughtes though hee more largely do possesse the fauour of time smiling chance which I will obtaine vnlesse my tributarie death denie me passage to effect my will that hardly will bee maintained with these oppressing tormentors where with manie grones and sighes drowned in a flood of teares wetted all his bed Oh God sayde Floriana did you euer heare such a complaint of a Knight in so short a time not hauiug séene her whome hée loues And I beleeue vnlesse hee bee remedied hée will hardly scape with his life béeing thus déepelie wounded I knowe not what to say replied her fellow Periana for it is the straungest thing I haue séene that the loue of a Ladie should so wound the heart of a Knight agaynst whome neither the furie of hell-bred beasts nor the strength of mightie Giants can preuaile and whome wee haue séene do such déedes that scarce our selues can beléeue and this is the greatest of all that so strong a Competitor in Loue is offered at this present to the Persian Prince The Knight of the golden Image is not so great as you estéeme him sayde Floriana for I well knowe the high déedes and great state of the other and though he be nowe disgraced by the Soldan he may be reconciled All this knowe I sayde the other yet is not hée like to this if hée should bée compared And this Knight may bee some great Prince since knowing the other sueth for her hee determineth the like And as for his beautie you sée the worlde cannot equall it and also for his valour we our selues are good witnesses And for my part though I were sure to die I woulde procure all meanes to effect his desire seeing the daunger hée freed vs from and the loue wée bare him and hee vs deserueth all our endeuour in this case In this they continued while they fell a sléepe till the next morning that they againe dressed him And trulie the great desire he had to see himselfe out of that Cittie greatly helped his woundes that the Damzels sayde he would bee well within ten dayes and able to trauell which greatly ioyed him hoping to be quickly in the great Citie of Babylon there to possesse the sight of his heauenly Princesse CHAP. XXVIII Howe betweene the Princes Don Bryanell and Arfileo with the two kings it was determined in what maner the Duke Alfiron and the Knight of the golden Image should be set at libertic And howe the Princesse Aurora spake with about it him by whose counsell she departed from the Soldans Court. THe prince Arfileo knowing how the Soldan gouerned himselfe with a distâ—mpered passion of an vnbrideled rage resolued with the two kings his friends whoÌ„ this matter also concerned because the Sophi had with them broken promise to procure the end of these affaires and therevpon coucluded that séeing the Soldan would not frée the Knight of the golden Image and the Duke by intreatiue meanes to make it knowne vnto Don Bellianis and to this ende the Princesse Aurora shoulde visite him in Prison and béeing there found him conuersing with the Damzelles about the Princesse Florisbella who knowing his passion alwayes deuised discorsiue matter vpon theyr Ladie which some time both pleased and displeased him as the spéeches accorded with his humour or delighted his waxe-mollified heart apt for any impression of that qualitie Nowe when the Princesse entered the Ladies rose to receyue her with that obeysaunce that befitted her state and the Prince Don Bellianis about to doo the lyke was stayed by her who so soone stepped to him that hee could not doo it to whome shée woulde haue knéeled but hee not permitting it embraced her betweene his armes with more affection then thitherto hée had because of his conceyued loue of the Princesse Florisbella that so dearely loued this Ladie hoping by her meanes through the helpe hée shoulde imploy in her seruice to obtaine his Mistresse fauour The Princesse Aurora sitting by him demaunded how he felt himselfe of his daungerous wounds Well deare Ladie replied he that séeing I am in such companie there is no cause to demaund of me that for if that fortune should lend her force to my harme her power is so weakened hereby that she cannot I gladly â—â—y therein answered she and yet you are not content to haue hitherto yéelded no satisfaction for your cure but that you will with words ieast at vs. Then were it good we require it said Persiana least he thinke to pay vs with conceyts I can not satisfie you replied the Prince according to your merits or the great fauour I haue receiued for if I coulde you should not kéep me in prison for it as you do What prison said they if the Soldan would set you at libertie you should not be staied by vs. If I could so soone frée my selfe of that gaole I meane replied Don Bellianis as I can of this the Soldanes the griefe I sustaine should not thus torment me Let vs leaue this talke said the Princesse for the time will come that you shall be frée of all your prisons and these Ladies also satisfied to their content wherein if you shall disagrée I as vmpere will moderate the strife betwéene you though I now it will not be requisite But to the purpose I will tell you the effect of my comming You alreadie know how the Soldan hauing béene intreated and importuned about it hath alwayes refused to graunt you libertie with the Duke Alfiron denying it also to the Kings of Armenia and Tessifantie that greatly laboured your deliuerie And the last answere he gaue them was they should no more immortune him therein for if they did it should not a little disadauntage them that if they became of your faction he would also apprehend them as traytors to his state and person New they haue determined to end this matter one way or other forthwith because the venturous knight may not stay within the Citie beeing commaunded to the contrarie by the Soldan who knoweth no otherwise but that hee is come yet will not they conclude any thing without your aduise What power haue they said Don Bellianis They haue replyed shée eyght thousand men well appointed and heere they gaue me your sword to bring you which I did as secretely as I could tying it vnder my gowne and so gaue it him Don Bellianis tooke it and more reioyced therewith then if hee had beene presented with a kingdome The Damzells greatly wondred to sée the great riches therof which was vnualuable Tell those knights most excellent Princesse that sixe dayes hence they prepare and haue then in readinesse al their men and that in the euening they suddenly assault the Soldans pallace procuring nought else but the libertie of the Duke Alsiron and in any case they take with them the Princesse Persiana for it must néeds bee so and you deare Lady shall take your leaue of the Soldan saying
suffer Don Bellianis to enter in the combatte alleaging hee might better to his content bee reuenged that way for all his treacheries CHAP. XXIII How Don Bellianis disguised issued out of the Tower What happened him with Don Contumeliano of Phaenicia and how hee returned vnknowne into the Cittie ALl necessarie preparations béeing ordered against the day of the famous battell tenne dayes were paste of the appointed time and yet the Duke had not nor could finde any that would in his behalfe vndertake that combatte which extreamely gréeued him yet the magnanimitie of his coragious heart permitted no outward shewe thereof No lesse was the sorrowe of theÌ„ beauteous Persiana sustained continually beseeching her Gods not to suffer her honors wracke nor the downefall of her maidens fame through want of a Champion to maintaine the iustice of her cause On the otherside the greate anguish of minde that Don Bellianis conceiued cannot be exprest which was so gréeuous that his Damsels could by no meanes diminish nor himselfe could finde no comforte for his troubled fantasies but at length hée so recouered his weake strength that hee was able to walke about his chamber féeling himselfe in disposition to buckle on his armour And certainly had hée but it and his sword hée had broke foorth among the strongest watch that guarded him which in the day time were aboue 30. men and in the night that number was doubled In the meane time he vsed to send one of the Damsels to know if the duke had got any to sight in his quarrell wheÌ„ he heard of â—â—ne â—n whom he durst trust â—o weighty a charge though he had many good valiant knights by reason of the fiercenesse of the king of Cyprus and his brothers his gréeuous passions were redoubled One of his damsels y t accompanied him by name Floriana daughter to the duke of Tursia being Lord of many countries vnder the Soldan of Babylon which was the chiefest and best beloued of the Princesse Florisbella The other was daughter to the Earle of Cellanea named Persiana But the first said to Don Bellianis the sorrowe of my greeued hart is such renowmed sir to sée the course of these things that I cannot in words shew it as also seeing you cannot vse your valour to remedie them wheren your life honor doth depeÌ„d Wherfore reuoluing many things in my troubled thoughts haue in y e end affying on the rare courage of your admirable streÌ„gth thogh now made weak by trecherous desines and sinister occasions deuised this as the last refuge to redresse these wrongs and this it is You know that we oftentimes go forth vnsuspected or mistrusted of the guard Now may you disguised and attired in the apparell of one of vs hauing no haire on your face get abroad where you may easily procure horse and Armor do what you else think best returning vnknown vnto the pallace there vndertake the Combat and in meane time I will remaine in bed faining to be you suffering none to speak with me saying I am extreame sick Don Bellianis was so ioyfull with this vnlooked and vnthought remedie as hardly it may be expressed hoping therby not onely to assure his owne life but also his companions in that manifest danger though he nothing doubted their valour imbracing the damsel sayd Pray vnto the gods my good fréend Floriana that these troubles may haue their desired end and then I promise you this great care shall be fully gratefied to your content There is no reason replied she why you should binde your selfe to any such gratificatioÌ„ without desert séeing my dutie bindeth me to your perpetual seruice and so thinke not much of this I couÌ„seld you And I intreat you to gouerne your selfe well abroad for being yet weak you might fall in some other greater danger Wherupon séeing the night approched he put on Florianas apparel wherwith he became so faire that the damzels not a little wondred to sée him so beautifull that Persiana cryed out Is it possible oh gods such beautie should be on earth you had bin better reserued it to glorifie your imperial thrones vnlesse heere you will inhabit to manifest your great powers among vs. And truely Sir knight such beauty was neuer séene but in the Princesse Florisbella our Lady Mistresse And well is it for all knights you are not of our sexe else so many would by you perish as by the Princesse our Mistresse whose onely sight killeth though not outright yet with liuing death like the murthering eyes of a slaying base iske Is her beautie so admirable to cause such alterations in men demanded hee you cannot beleeue nor wee set downe saide Floriana the greatnesse therof And because you may know I beare with me so greate a beauty as yours I will shewe it you which I continually carry with mee And so shee drewe it out of her pocket and gaue it him which hee straight knewe to bee the same that was portrayed on his shield though his was more liuely and for all hee viewed it continually did neuer aske whose it was imagining no such perfection could bée on the earth and that Bellona had onely set it there for a shewe Then suddenly was hée wounded to the heart with the vnresisted darte of all conquering Loue and not able to withstand it was inflamed with the fyre that lasted all the dayes of his life surprysed with so great desire to sée the substance of that shaddowe that straight hee would departe thither leauing al thinges hée then had in hand vnfinished In this newe accident was hée a good whyle not knowing how to resolue himselfe saue in fixing his longing eyes on that dainty picture hauing no more colour then in a dead man which the Damzels séeing and thinking his rysing had caused that alteration held him by the armes least hée should fall hee recouering and feeling himselfe touched through shamefacestnes dyed his face with such a vermilion blush y t hee redoubled his fairenesse to whom they sayd What extraordinary passion did you feele Which made vs feare some newe perill had befallen you in that strange chance Whereto hee replyed A suddaine gréefe surprysed me on my left side so strongly that it almost benumbd my vaines and reast mée of my vitall sences If any wound be the cause therof said they vncloath your self and we will see it It shall not néede answered Don Bellianis for I shall stay too long But I pray you giue me this picture that so much resembles another I haue It is at your command replyed the Ladies but take heede you loose it not for if you doo it shall cost you yours Then he taking his leaue of them leauing Floriana a bed in his stead went out of the Chamber to descend the Tower and by the way he met the Kings of Armenia and Tessifanty that came to visit the Knight of the golden Image whom he knowing said in presence of most of the guard Your Maiesties may
brest and so redoubled his most furious courage that if there had beene â—oure such Knights as the Persian Prince before him hee thought that in short time to reduce them all to the mercie of his mortall Blade With which betwixt both hands he wâ—nt against his louâ—-crossing aduersarie which did the like also and raysing his Median Sworde aloft to descend it with a more furie there appeared before him a Lady altogither like to her whose Picture had with cruell yoake subiugated his commaunding heart which said vnto him What doo you hâ—â—re renowmed Prince of Greece knewe you not your loue that is towards mee cannot take any effect if first you free mee not from this danger And therewith hee thought hee sawe foure monstrous Gyants like a whyrle-winde snatch her thence and that one dragged her amber guided hayre with such barbarous sauagenesse that his vnconquered heart resolu'd to liquid blood at the cruel yet a pittiful â—ight and moreouer an other following theÌ„ cried out let me alone with that vilde wretch for she must dye by my hand Which that valiant Prince Don Bellianis seeing not respecting the fight pursued that illusion that he sawe which tooke the way downe the Valley Héereupon his fine Armor with deuise of the imperiall Crownes lost their hewe becomming like those that the Prince Perianeo did weare at the Jousts in Bollera The Persian Prince that nothing of that had séen thinking his aduersary had left the battel for some other reason began to follow him but sodainly his raines were taken out of his haÌ„ds and looking about to sée who should do so sawe before him the dearest fréend he had the Sage Fristone who thus saide vnto him What is the matter deare Prince of Persia that you follow whom you know not nor whether it bee your aduantage so to doo Take my counsaile returne to Ballero for I haue laide such a snare for him that you shall be fully reuenged on your enemies and therefore follow not that knight So this said he vanished away The Persian Prince was greatly amazed hereat and so great was his hate against the valiant knight of the imperiall Crownes that he was about to follow him yet notwithstanding resoluing the contrary returned to his fathers Campe where arriuing he found the battell still to indure very fierce through which he thrust himselfe to helpe his men Where we leaue him till we haue exprest what happened to Don Bellianis pursuing those inchantments CHAP. XXXVII How Don Bellianis following the Sage Fristones inchantments Combatted with the Emperour his father in the Valley of three Fountaines and how Don Bellianis was led away by the wise Bellona to ende a certaine aduenture THe Prince Don Bellianis as is said pursued those Gyants whom he thought carried prisoner the Princesse Florisbella in which pursuite he had remained inchanted by the sage Fristone had it not béene for his sword yet was hee by him deceiued seeming otherwise theÌ„ he was which was all the Magician could do And thus going aloÌ„g he espied before him a knight armed as he thought in the Persian Princes armor with whom he not long before fought with And so soone as they approached togither all those inchantments vanished away wherat like one amazed wakened out of some dreame stood still But the knight that came vp the valley was his father had by Fristones deuice his Armour also chaÌ„ged For that of Don Bellianis séemed like the knights of Fortune and the Emperors nothing differed from the same Who séeing him come with such haste and without Launce left his owne and drawing forth his sword went to méete him with it raised aloft Don Bellianis doing the like there began betwéen them the cruellest fight that in al that day was fought making their heads bowe to the saddle pummell with their terrible strokes so fast redoubling blow vpon blow that the mightinesse of them strooke fire out of their armour and made them often loose the sight of one another Don Bellianis at this time thinking his aduersaries strength increased more and more more furious then a furious Beare hauing lost none of former rage strooke at him so huge a blowe that cutting his shield in two it tumbled to y e ground with a péece of his helme But the Emperour strooke at him below his shield that cutting his armor it also pierced his coate of male wounding him two fingers déepe in his right side and entring within him with a furious thrust penetrated all his armor to the flesh forcing him to giue backe two or thrée steppes and séeing that was the time wherin he should shew the vtmost of his mightie forces letting fall the remnant of his shield would haue with both his hands strooke him on the head But Don Bellianis séeing the cutting sword descend with such furie spurred his horse forwards and closing with him ere he could discharge his blowe tooke him twixt his strong armes and lifting him out of his saddle shaking the stirropes from his owne feete he lept with him on the ground where he opened both armour and flesh with one mightie blow But ouercome with rage both at one time raysed their slicing swords which falling with such strength the Emperour had the buckles of his helme cut which fell on the earth and the sword descending on his left arme it made him there a gréeuous wound But don Bellianis was so ouerladen with the Emperours blow that he was forced to set both knées and hands on the ground And the Emperour séeing himselfe without the helme strooke his aduersary so suddeinly againe with such strength that he sorely wounded him on y e left shoulder and the sword ran thrée handfuls into the earth But Don Bellianis neuer loosing any sparke of his admirable courage at any sinister accident raised himselfe vpon his féete and turned vpon the Emperour ere he had time to drawe his sword from the ground At this instant was y e Emperors life in wondrous daunger being without shield and helme and not able to helpe himselfe with his sword so quickly as hee should And Don Bellianis being on foote with his sword raised with both hands and readie to discharge it did suddeinly knowe him and with the greatest wonder that euer before hée was in cried out Oh Almightie God in whome I doo beléeue is it possible my handes should commit so hainous treachery And therewith staied his hand The Emperour hearing these words said Know you me knight Or what is the reason you end not your fight Whervnto Don Bellianis replied I doo most humbly beséech you my verie deare Lord and Emperour euen by that Lord that hath permitted we should not die by so great deceits that you omit and pardon this my errour wherein I am guiltie of no fault committed against you And hauing saide so vnlaced his helme whereat the Emperour straight knewe him which strooke him into so great an anguish to sée his deare sonne so cruelly wounded by his
weares them can not bée molested by anie inchauntment whatsoeuer nor be knowne vnlesse he will himselfe You haue tolde mée wonders sayde Don Bellianis and is this mans skill so great that hée may force the Princesse Florisbella agaynst her will and giue her to the Prince of Persia Doubt it not replyed Bellona for more then this can hee performe and beléeue mée you shall sustaine for this cause great trauaile and therefore let vs not deferre the passing time Héere I commit you to God leauing you to the valour of your heart to finish what you haue to do and take this way which will bring you to the place for I must goe no further with you Don Bellianis taking his leaue of her descended downe that way in such haste that hée quickely sawe before him a strong and well towred Castell and looking about coulde finde no Porche nor Portall to enter into it But going to the other side of it hée espyed a little mouth of an obscure Caue and looking downe into it hee thought that it descended to the infernall Pitte And also before it he sawe a greate Piller of fine Christall so transparaunt that it séemed to take his light from the sunnes owne light that then shined on it were set certain letters made with rich Rubies to this effect The inscription of the first Piller The straunge lodgings of Brandezar in remembrance of Nycaons great euenge chief in the Magicke Ault shalbe conceaâ—ed â—rom all men till the strâ—ngest Lyon conducted by the litâ—le wolâ—e shal wiâ—h extreame nâ—cestitie in search of my skill h 〈…〉 her arriue Whose valâ—ur must excell the foâ—ce of my monstrouâ— guardiants leauing all his fine tempered armor at the entrance of my caue if he be adorned with Vertue and Fortitude And thou couragious knight that â—iâ—t this aduenture try must arme thy self with nought but the war like vertue of thy magnanimious hart Don Bellianis hauing read the letters made no other account then if he had séene none but animating his resolution drewe forth his sword and would haue entred the caue but ere he was aware it vanished from his sight Oh God saide hee what strange things be these Is it possible I must without Armour passe through so fearefull a place And thinking it cowardize to lingur so long presently vnarmed himself resting in his hose and doublet and hauing his sword in his hand kist it and laid it downe and recommended his safetie to the Almightie as a man that had beene going to buckle with death And considering with himselfe that in the accomplishment of that aduenture consisted the vtter losse or lasting libertie of his Lady fearelesse hee cast himselfe into the Caue wherein he scant had set his feete but hee thought he descended into the most lowest Center of the earth sometimes stryking his head sometimes his féete against the sides thereof that hee was so bruised he felt not himselfe and when he came to the bottome he lighted with so great a fall that hee verily thought hee was beaten all to peeces And rysing with no small paine thereof looked to sée where he was but could deserue no more then if he were in the darkest night closed within an obscure Dungeon and searching on all sides for light at last he espied a little hole from whence there issued so very little that he could not almost see his hands But he was srant at it when hee felt himselfe drawne backwards with such force that hee had almost tumbled with his shoulders on the earth and turning to see who pluckt him backe sawe him to be a mightie giant hauing in his hand a most sharpe and puissant battell-axe whith him came two Centaures on eyther side each of them led a Lyon the fiercest that euer he saw They all came towards him to discharge their puissant blowes vppon his head but hee stepping backe escaped them all Héereuppon the Centaures vnchained theyr Lyons which presently ranne vppon him and one thinking to rent his body with his sharp pawes leapt at him But he stretching forth his strong armes catcht him by the necke and choked him At this time receiued he two such cruel blowes that he was constrained to set his knees on the grouÌ„d shedding much blood And hee séeing the Gyant hard by him closed within him to wring his are out of his hands whereon he cast his mightie strength the Gyant perceiuing his intent did also laye fast hold on him héere the Centaures incempassed him procuring both to drawe him from the Gyant where there was seene the most vnequallest wrastling that euer was heard of Don Bellianis still persisting in his purpose was so oppressed with their seuerall inchaunted forces that he often lost his breath and they making the caue to tremble cuen with the whorse eccho of their resounding Clamors But heere the Prince setting the vtmost of his sirength wrencht the Fawchen out of his hand with whith goâ—â—g to strike the centaures he sawe them all at that instant vaâ—tsh from his sight which more amazed him then anything else and seeing a little pain of stayres before him mounted vp with as great courage hauing that Fawchen as if with all his Armour he had béene Armed And hauing ascended the stayres he sawe a faire Hall so which he should passe by so straight a way that vnarmed hee could haroly go through it where there was many Armed Knights that kept the passâ—ge with their naked swords These were of thosâ— knights that were inchanted with Brandezar being of the strongest then â—uing whom Nycaon left for the Emperors guarde with no other thought then to loose their liues ere he should be taken away or kild him that there wold enter Which Don Bellianis seeing and that he must â—éeds of necessitie pâ—sse through with an inuincible heart with the fawthen in his hand cast himselfe among them where hee no sooner came but two of them sâ—tting thâ—ir shoulders against him most branely made him go three or foure steps back weunding him greeuously on the leg on his head and beeing vnarmed had almost kild him Don Bellianis feeling the strength of the Knights to be so great determined to bâ—haue himselfe otherwise with him and returning againe to the doore strooke at them diuers times thinking they wold giue back but they had no other care but to offend and defend not stirring any way Hereat the Prince warding their blowes with his Fawchen drewe one of them vnto him by his sheeld with such haughtie strength made him headlong tumble at his feete and tooke his sheelde from him and with it about his arme he rusht among all these Knights in such a cruell fight leaping on all sides to shâ—n their blewes In this manner lasted their fight aboue three houres that in the end the Prince so bâ—haued himselfe that he ouercame them all which were aboue thirtie leauing them all breathlesse in the Hall He entred into another lodging that was nert that being wounded in
they drowned the Eccho of theyr owne voyces A while after from that side the Empresse sâ—t there issued foorth a Lion and a Beare with so swift a course that though they would haue hidde themselues they could not find anie place The Lion ranne straight against the Prince who although it somewhat scarde him did not therefore feare him but with an vndaunted heart set himselfe before him with his sworde in hande which at his side he wore But the Lion ioyned with him so suddainlie that he wounded him sorelie in the foreheade and griping him betwéene his armes thrust one of his pawes into his flesh making a déepe wounde but the Prince not dismaied thereat nor loosing his couragious minde gaue such a thrust from his armes downewardes right to his heart that the Lion through extreame paine left him Then looking towardes the Empresse sawe that the Beare with diuelish furie hauing ouerthrowne the Prince his Coosen agaynst which his great strength nought preuailing dragged ouer the Mountaine toppes which hée seeing although grieuouslie wounded and the Lion not styrring straight tooke his horse and with all speede sollowed the way the Beare had taken not respecting the many Knights that want in his rescue nor the Empresse outcries forbidding his enterprise fearing hee shoulde faint through the murh blood hée had lost by his woundes but counterpoysing all these thinges with the great loue hée bare his Coosen stayed not but in all haste thrust himselfe into those greate and thicke Groaues through which hee left groat quantitie of his blood that it was no little ease vnto him beeing on foote For the way was so thicke and naught that it was vnpossible for him to ride therein For else the running of his Horse woulde haue putte him in extreame daunger But continuing his way through that fearefull Groaue following the noyse of a lamentable and pittifull crie which hée hearde and beeing vnable to passe further through wearie fayntnesse set him downe and seeing howe much bloud hee had lost by his woundes and the daunger which hee knewe his louing Coosen to bée in put him into a melancholie sorrowe But long was he not so by reason of a great noyse that suddanly arose out of the Thicket thereby whereat hee faintlie beganne to rise And looking what might bée the cause thereof sawe the most horrible and fearefull Beare hasting to the place where hee was but hee setting himselfe before him to hinder his further hurting his Coosen The Beare espying him furiouslie ranne to assault him but by the Lions experience hée cast himselfe aside and so let him passe with his diuelish furie and turning about to strike him perceyued the Beare to runne in a Caue that was at the foote of a stéepie Mountaine there adioyning whereat verie ioyfull of such a mischaunce went to his coâ—sen who amazed at that hée had séene was likewise comming to him with great loue embracing him and séeing his wounds bléede verie fast said without doubt good c 〈…〉 you are sore wounded wherefore I pray you rest here while I seek out our companie and sée your wounds dressed I am no 〈…〉 s present replied Don Belianis in such necessitie but may accompanie you yet would I gladlie knowe what straunge aduenture is in you hollowe Caue For as God shall helpe me we hither are not come without some speciall secret It behooues not you now sayd Arsileo for your wounds will not suffer you to knowe the ende of this straunge aduenture For in the lingring of your cure you may endaunger your selfe greatly Neuer may it be said replied Don Belianis that I hence part and not know it Whereupon hand in hand they went till they came to the Caue whose obscure darknesse was able to baunt the stoutest heart But those hautie Princes arriued there fearlesse of any thing and had scarce entred the same ten paces but Don Arsileo vnable to passe further was mauger his strength thrust forth and though hee assayed to reenter yet could hee not but was with greater force still rebated backe which extreamly gréeued him séeing he could not enter to helpe his coosen Meanewhile hee heard within a rumour of great blowes as if many Knights were in fight togither For after the Prince parted from his coosen he went forwards through the Caue beating his head against the walles on euery side till he had passed that great darknesse that hee founde himselfe in a Hall where he sawe a huge Piller with certaine Arabian letters which hee going to reade by the light that procéeded from a Window thereby was forbidden it by a most deformed Giant that séeing himselfe before hauing in his hande bounde with a mightie Chaine the monstrous Beare causer of his comming thither with a terrible ecchoing sound of his hearse voyce thus spake Thou art not permitted poore captiue donzell to reade the Letters of the brazen Piller for I will hinder thée thereof béeing héere placed for the same purpose vntill the Prophecie bee fulfilled which it containeth The Prince rested greatly amazed to sée so misshapen a Monster that hee supposed him some infernall shadowe sooner then a mortall substaunce But hee with a neuer daunted minde made this replie I maye not enter battell with thée thou fearefull beast hauing not yet receyued the order of Knighthoode which if I had although thou shouldest neuer so much gainesay it yet I woulde not go hence vntil such time as I had read them No reason shall serue thee replied the Giant to kéepe thée from death by my handes for here was I set for that purpose to welcome him with it that shoulde presume to enter this my forbidden habitation And so ending his spéech hée let loose the furious Beare which with his diuelish pawes ranne agaynst the Prince and the Giant laying hand to a great smiter hanging at his side did the like and beeing nigh him reached him a mightie blowe on the heade but hee that feared more the Giants Smiter then the Beares strength though bigge and ougly got betwéene the Giants armes that hee coulde not hurt him making the blowe vaine and the Smyter with the swifte force it carried lighted on the grounde and flewe out of hande Meanewhile the Prince strooke the Gyant vppon the thigh that no more hurt him then had it fallen on an Adamant which hee perceyuing turned to the Beare yet coulde no more wounde him then the Gyant which vered him to the heart and â—seeing the Giant returned vppon him got behinde the Piller whereon the Letters were vsing it as a Shéelde But the Giant at this time suddainly came vppon him that hee coulde scarce effect it who raysing his steeled Smyter with both his handes gaue such a mightie blowe on the heade that hee thought it parted in two yet it did him no harme saue that the strength thereof forced him backewardes two or thrée steppes At this time the Beare looke holde of his arme with his pawes that renting his hunting Jacket wounded
and imbracing him said We now haue time noble Prince to know the cause that mooued you without my leaue to enter within this place I am not so wearie of the last demaunde replied hee but that I may satisfie you now in this though your selfe be well and séeing that the last aduenture cost so deare it were no reason to leaue you in this vnsatisfied In these and such like spéeches continued they till supper time which come they all did eate togither because of the wounded Princes Héere they stayed fiftéene dayes till the Princes were well able to trauaile in which time and daye Bellona taking don Bellianis a part she said vnto him walking through those roomes I doo well knowe most excellent Prince and so iudge my selfe altogither vnwoorthy and it not necessarye to giue you counsaile concerning your most great actions Yet because you are a stranger in an vnknowne countrey and in a place where euerie one would wish your downfall with extreamest death and so many néedsome aduertisements I presume to tell you that though faithfully in heart and with good reason you obserue and vnfainedly keepe the lawe and religion of your profession yet must you conceale it and by no meanes manifest it for if in the least respect you doo it may cost you your dearest life And moreouer after that by the vertue of your inuincible arme you haue safely established the Princesse Aurora in her vsurped royaltyes you must procure and endeuour to arriue at the Soldane of Babilons Court where you must sustaine your neuer fainting heart with your accustomed courage for you shall there see your selfe in so many great perils that you shall a thousand times wish for death as a remedie for them But heereof take no thought for they are things ordained by the supremest powers yet alwayes beare on your sheeld the same deuise that you nowe haue though for her sake you shall be putte in great and suffer many and tedious passions yet shall you bee thereby knowne and your immortall fame blazed ouer the whole earths continent which you shall still weare till I aduertise you to the contrarie Wherewith she ended and the Prince thus replyed I will not render to you such thanks as this care and great courtesies deserue for euerie thing I possesse beeing at your commaund it is reason you guard and protect them as your owne Herewith they returned to theyr companie and don Brianell hauing séene them both together said I would not haue you be so long together neither that you should learn any thing wherby you might further excell vs in fight which if it be so it were no reason that I whose merites bee so inferiour to yours should learne them You may well doo it replied don Bellianis hauing in the last conflict reaped the profite fearelesse of any thing that might haue happened vnto vs. In all things you will seeme to yeelde vnto mee the vantage answered Don Bryanell though there be nothing in me that may any way please you or the Prince Arfileo since as you shewe you would haue mée hadde that carefull feare of you as well not knowing as knowing you yet doo not I knowe why I should feare you beeing accompanied with the diuine beautie of this most fayre and excellent Princesse You doo well to iest with vs all replyed shee yet is it no matter since your words expresse what small parte I haue thereof hauing beene vnable to expell the doubt you had of the Princes being here Don Bryanell beeing of nature pleasant and courteous kept them in pleasing chat the rest of the time of theyr beeing there which was some eight dayes which expired they béeing desirous to depart thence hadde an armour presented to each of them by Bellona the richest and fayrest that euer was seene That which Don Bellianis had was of a tawny colour with such naturall workes imbossed with pearles so bright that they yeelded as much light as tenne burning Torches in any darke place but cheefely the shéelde hauing the verie selfe same image it hadde before which was drawne with such perfection and curiositie of arte that if they had euer séene the substance they woulde haue iudged it the counterfeit or portrature of Florisbella the Soldane of Babilons Daughter which although the Princesse Aurora knewe yet sayde nothing imagining the wise woman had not without speciall cause set it there About it was written the aforesaide Motto so perfectly made with great Orient pearle that it forced admiration in each beholder Hee had also a scabbard giuen him for his sword made of massie gold with letters drawne thereon declaring the manner of the winning thereof Arfileos were like them hee hadde in the caue and Don Brianels were of diuers colours whose workmanship was woorth a great treasurie Did not I say I should in all things haue the aduantage that for a white armor of no value which I did weare in the battell haue giuen mee now so rich and faire It is not giuen you as a gift for your olde saide Arfileo but that you should pay for them Use not the office of a Marchant replied Don Brianell for who hath giuen me my armour vseth not to sell any If it be so sayd Arfile how payed you that which you weare Striue not about so small matter saide Don Bellianis for I will pay for all hauing greatest cause for it Then straight were they with them armed and taking leaue of the sage Matrone she sayd You will by the way néed Pages to attend on you therefore will I giue you thrée of mine and so presented them thrée dwarffes so little that they greatly delighted to sée their smalnesse specially that of Don Bellianis whose shortnesse reached not to the others middle though they were wonderfull lowe Where inhabite and are ingendred such gentle people as these sayd Don Brianell I should long remaine among them if I should stay there to be accounted nothing as euerie one of them is else where You shall not bée accounted nothing saide Don Bellianis dwarffe called Ordino for they would al so persecute you that séeing your bignesse to theirs they would wanting ground tread on you in steade of it That were woorse then the other replied Don Brianell But least we further procéede in talke it were good we set forwarde in our iourney Wherewith with most kinde courtesie taking their farewell of the Ladie of the Caue set forth of the same And béeing without hée seeing the Princesse and Ladies all cloathed in most rich cloath of Golde sayd with great laughter Let vs sirs make more haste for the destruction that these Damzels haue made will cause some vnséene wanderer demaund it at our handes But all that is left is yours said the Princesse therefore feare not If it bée so replied he I haue no lesse right to that which you carrie therefore were it not amisse you giue it mee The Prince Don Bellianis will not not suffer it answered shée hée being
him with in the secrete of her heart but for feare to displease her father durst say nothing yet thought she by the riches of his armour it should bee hée stood and viewed him very attentiuely and séeing how the enraged knights with puisant force incountred each other in such sort that their Launces brake in a thousand shâ—uers and méeting with their horses shieldes and helmes both fell to the ground but if Don Brianells horse had beene so good as his aduersaries hee had passed without a fall which hée had seant done wheÌ„ the men of the Castle closed to vnarme him But the Prince Arfileo desirous to auoyde it with great choller entred the bridge so did another of the aduerse parte with such swiftnes as doth an arrow shotte from a bowe flye through the Ayre or a thunderbolt breaking from some swelling cloude with such mightynes incountred on the bridge that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a peece of y e launce sticking in his body If it procéedes as it begins said the Duke wée shall fréely passe So shall it bée answered don Bellianis for with your auspicious fauour they may bee brought to our wished ende The Sophy was astonished to sée the strong incounters of the knights and speaking to Don Gallaneo said I neuer thought there could bée better knights then those of the bridge but now I sée what aduantage these haue ouer them Wonder not thereat said don Gallaneo for in the battell wée had with the Emperour there was in his ayde one nouell knight whom hée there knighted that performed such haughtie deedes in armes that neither Hector nor Achilles euer did the like For beleeue me hée no more estéemed to bée assaulted by foure or by two Gyants then with one knight and with his owne handes in the battell hée slewe aboue 12. Gyants and 50 knights of mine But as for the Emperour I haue told you what happened mée with him in the Castle he béeing vnarmed so that you neede not wonder what these doe though any of them doe end this aduenture which I cannot beleeue and if they doe I will acknowledge it the greatest acte that euer I heard of by reason their swordfighting will bée so vnequall Which hauing said the eldest the greatest of the brethren came against Arfileo intending to reuenge his Brothers death whose incounters were so furious that their launces were made in little peeces and in such sorte met with their bodyes that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a great wound on his side And Arfilleos horse with the strong stroke recoyled backe thrée or four paces that at laste vnable to stay him with admirable lightnesse hée leapt from his backe beeing a little wounded on the breast The seruants of the castle went to him to doe as they would haue don with don Bryanell but the first that arryued for his boldnes lost his head For Arfileo thinking hee should not bee iudged ouerthrowne layd hand on his sword to defend himselfe wherewith hee would haue made them knowe his valour extended farther then thitherto hee had showen But the two brothers that Don Bryanell had vnhorsed arryued with their drawne swords the like did the Gyants And on the otherside Don Bellianis and the Duke did so that in short time among them all there began a terryble and fearefull battell For all the Dukes knights would passe ouer the Bridge But the Sophy the Princesse Persiana and Don Gallaneo went and parted them and demaunded the cause why they were so mingled togither did not proceede with their combate as they had begun which eyther they should doe or let them passe Wee are content to doe eyther said Don Bellianis but this knight fell not seeing by anothers strength hee left not the saddle and therefore ought not to loose his horse vntill the ioustes bee ended He may no more mount said they Who shall iudge it demaunded Don Bellianis Wee neede no iudge said they for it is our custome but if any must be let it bee the Souldan our Lord heere present Be it so said the Duke Then said the Sophy I awarde that since the knight was not by another vnhorsed hee loose not his horse nor armour but that hee bee vanquished séeing hee forsooke his horse so that hee may ioust no more Great profite doe they get by this sentence sayd a proude knight that on the Souldan attended and was a neere Alley to the Gyants that defended the Bridge It is well indged said Don Bellianis and beleeue me had not the Souldan done it no lesse wrong receiued wee then they But what art thou that shouldst not a little count thy selfe beeing more prouder then vallyant to speake against the Souldan thy Lords iudgement The knight inraged with desire to reuenge those words answered Let vs set aside the Souldans iudgement as a matter impertinent to vs But if thou wilt vppon whither of the knightes be ouercome accept this my gage I giue it thee I accept it aunswered don Bellianis on condition wee may not passe the bridge vnlesse by force wee doe it You deferre it too long said the knight and our fight will be voide if you meane to winne the bridge by strength for these knights earnestly desire your armour beeing so rich But I giue thee leaue to helpe them aunswered don Bellianis whereby thou shalt see howe little I account what thou so much esteemest All the beholders admired him to see with what courage hee spake but chiefly the Princesse Persiana that going to the Duke Alfiron whom shee did not know beeing among the knights and not knowing what end that enterprize would haue did not discouer himselfe and said I pray thee good knight tell mee who bee these knightes for I greatly desire to knowe it The Duke softly that none might heare answered No maruell most beautious Princesse and Lady of my heart you at this time knowe me not hauing imployed my seruice in your behalfe to so little regarde But if deare Lady you had determined I should by your crueltie dye why did you not commaund mee to bee my owne executioner and not permit my eyes to see the sight of my liuing death The Princesse by his speech straight knewe him whereuppon for very greefe her eyes flowed with pearled teares but dissembling least it should bee discerned replyed The Gods knowe great Duke my gréefe for this marryage my Father intendes is no lesse than yours and therefore must wee perforce haue patience The Duke would haue answered her but that he perceiued don Bellianis had ended the accepting of the battell against the proude knight that they of the bridge had graunted them the combate therin condicionally that if don Bellianis were ouercome his horse and armour should be theirs who greatly gréeued for their brothers death and more that they could not bée reuenged on him that had slaine him CHAP. XII What happened Don Bellianis in the battell with the Knights
don Bellianis so sawe him hee suddainely alighted from his horse so did many of don Gallaneos Knights to helpe theyr maister Then arriued the Duke Alfiron with foure thousand knights and sette so furiously vppon them that maugre their force hee made them retyre back In which time Don Bellianis wounded him againe wherewith the sword fell out of his hand And the duke séeing him on foot that to be the time for his reuenge ranne against his horse and ouerturned him flatte on the ground trampled twise or thrise on him with his horses féete making him breath his last Which the Souldane séeing cryed out commanding him he shuld not hurt him but the Duke made as though he heard him not Whereupon the Souldane séeing the little account was made of him like to burst with extreame gréefe descended still more and more renewing his laments for Don Gallaneos death crying kill kill the traytors that so villainously in my presence murthered my sonne All the people at the Souldanes commaund set on the Duke and don Belliani whence the Jouâ—â—s beganne for tryumphe and pleasure were turned to death and distruction that the fieldes flowed with bloud The kings of Armenia and Persia that sawe the battell so hot and cruell went to the Souldane and said to him Suffer not dread Souereign all this company to perish séeing you know the Duke hath as much power to defend as you to offend him Therefore commaund the fight to cease for if the Duke be guiltie of Don Gallaneos death you may by lawe conuict him The Souldane knowing it to be so and that before the Duke dyed by that meanes none would remaine with life tooke this counsaile and commaunding the battell there to end said thus to the Duke Get you out of my Persepolis Duke vnlesse you will heere dye vnhearde and vnexcused The Prince Don Bellianis beeing with him bad him obey the Souldanes commaunde assuring himselfe their purpose could not but haue a good end The Duke taking his counsaile very ioyfully commaunded the retrayt to be sounded whereat the knights as well of the one as of the other partie left their fight returning euery one to their Captaine attending his commaund Who were here able to expresse what great gladnesse the Princesse Persiana conceiued with Don Gallaneos death which least it might be discerned called out vpon all the knights of her garâ— to imprison and bring before her y e Duke and the Knight that committed that trecherie The guarde replyed they might not because the Souldane was there who returned extreame sorrowfull and so furious with rage that very fire séemed to sparkle from his eyes that all which behold were astonied at his sterne lookes And although the Kings of Tessiffanty intreated him to returne to his pallace yet hee could like no counsaile saue what sauoured of reuenge But turning to the dead bodye sawe his Daughter bewayle his vntimely death and knowing she alwaies refused willingly to marry him and now seeing her gréeuous laments for his decease suspected it was done by her appointment and not regarding his Fathers loue but gouerned with rage tooke her from the ground and said It bootes thée not nowe Princesse to dissemble for I am sure don Gallaneo was slaine with your consent and since you would not obeye mee when I would I will now punish you as you deserue Whereuppon hee commaunded her to bee shut vppe in a Tower and surelye guarded not hearing her speak And going thence commaunded all the people of the Cittie to arme them intending to imprison the Duke in his house imagining don Gallaneos death had bin with his consent greatly gréeued because hee coulde not knowe that Knight that so indaungered him in the battell not thinking on don Bellianis hauing left him sore wouuded CHAP. XVIII What happened to don Bellianis without Persepolis How he deliuered two damsels from certain knights wheÌ„ce they were and how he slew the dragon of the Riphean wood THe Duke séeing his purpose thitherto sort as he wished with don Gallaneos death resolued altogither to follow the counsaile of the knight of the golden image Wherupon he returned to his pallace and the night hauing darkened the world don Bellianis left him in the plaine fielde faining to goe out of the Citie though all the knights there indured to stay him desiring to know him ere he went But getting from them all escaped out of the Citie the better in that obscuritie to returne vnknowne to his lodging and he had not gone far but his wounds began extreamely to gréeue him insomuch he could not stay himselfe on horsebacke for with their new bléeding they opened making him séeme a fountain with so many springs seeing himself so ill he thought he shuld not be able to return to Persepolis vnlesse his wouÌ„ds were bound vp And so alighting from his horse hee sawe two damsels come towards him ryding in such haste as he thought they did rather fly then on their palfrayes swiftly runne Don Bellianis putting himselfe afore them said What is the cause fayre Ladies that maketh you ryde so fast Oh for Gods sake staye vs not but if you will saue your life followe vs and by the waye wee will declare the whole circumstance vnto you Heere will it be better said he and among these trées you may hide your selues So they taking his counsaile followed his aduice beginning to discouer their adueÌ„ture loe they perceiued through those trees a terrible Dragon so fearfull in sight that it struck amazement in the beholders and although the night were very dark yet such light issued froÌ„ him through the great abundance of fire procéeding from his iawes that it seemed hâ—ls mouth opened to swallow them at that instant The Ladies being ouercome with feare betooke theÌ„selues about the knight of the golden Image hauing lost the power of their pretended flight But he séeing it was no time to be idle rose froÌ„ the grouÌ„d with his sword in hand and made against that hellish monster at that time wishing rather to haue his armor giueÌ„ him by Bellona buckled about his body theÌ„ be inuested Emperor of a larger Empyre then his fathers At this instant the dragoÌ„ with an infernal fury flying against him ouerthrâ—w him with his brest returning to catch him with his taleÌ„ts to pluck him in péeces He whoÌ„ feare neuer could blind lept aside but with great difficulty for being ouerreached the cruel beast w t one of his pawes drew him to him pearst both armor and flesh euen to y e bones with his deadly claws but the knight forsaking his sword stabd his dagger 4. or 5. times into his heart vnder his wings The fearful beast through extremitie of pain left him stretching himselfe labouring in the pangs of death He was of such a wonderful greatnes that he was aboue 25. foot loÌ„g in bignes biger then a great bull whose like was neuer séene by any After the knight
willing to defend the truth whereof my owne heart onelye can beare witnesse another altogither ignorant thereof shoulde in my cause indaunger his swéete life Touching which I cannot sée nor yet conceiue on what foundation you shoulde builde your rash decrée to suffer the accusation of the Duke and the Princesse your Daughter who in no respect could bee partakers nor councellours in what is past For if I slewe Don Galfeo I did it because hee treacherously woulde haue doone the like by mée that was then altogither suspicionlesse of any such treason which fact made mee after verifie my suspicion séeing in what perill of theyr liues Don Galfeo indaungered my companions in the Turney that forced mee to shedde his bloud as hee woulde haue doone theyrs Of which action I should then rather haue hoped for a more larger guerdon for this good déede then nowe to procure newe Combattes For it were high dishonour to your high name that such as hee inuried to treasons treacheries and villanies shoulde be accounted the sonne of so great a Monarch Hauing not only vsed such as loue practises against strangers as the Emperour Don Bellaneo but also against his owne fréends Wherefore you maye most certainlye beléeue my selfe béeing nowe informed of the truth I haue vnderstoode that hee leâ—t all his Knights in the same fight whereby they were all â—laine whilest hee most cowardlye fledde with his Coozin Don Galfeo And moreouer hee was a Traytour against your selfe and dignitie in thus perswading you that the Emperour was dead or by him mortally wounded that hee coulde by no meanes escape death whom at this present both liueth and is in perfect health whereof fearing to be accused by me and my companions that were hereof assured by a certaine aduenture he procured our deathes mine in the Dukes Pallace by Don Galfeo while he so did of my companions in the Turnyes where if he receiued his condigne deserts through so pittilesse death his be the losse wherefore since there is none can better bear testimonie of this troath then my selfe not onely against the Knights heere present accusing me but also against all those which shall challenge me hereof I will tenne daies hence answere it them in fielde and approoue it on their steele plumed burgonetâ—es neyther will I héereupon whatsoeuer may befall me denie them the Combat wherein I will make them knowe the great trecheries which they would haue vsed against me And when you shuld refuse to doo me this iustice assure your selfe I am a man able more stricktly to require it at your hands For the eternall powers of the heauenly and earthly orbes haue not infused so litle courage in my vncoloured heart that any feare but theirs should daunt my minde where he ended his spéech not able to procéede any further The Souldane all this while stoode gazing on him with great admiratioÌ„ in his doubtful brest reuoluing many things saying to himselfe that his like for courage he neuer heard of and greatly woondred who he shuld be that in such open terms durst presume to defie him to his face and in his owne land But as a man not able to restraine the reignes of his passion wanting the chéefest thing well and iustly to iudge of matters shaped him this vnbeséeming answere holding the King of Cyrus by the hande that willingly woulde haue first replyed Thinke not Knight of the golden Image that in what is done you haue receiued any dishonour For it is not lawfull you should enter Combat in your proper cause For were it good or bad you would howsoeuer it might happen procure the good successe of your pretencion for I am perswaded you fight by inchantment séeing the knights of the vnhappy bridge were not able to indaunger you And therefore is it reason none be admitted in battell against you and concerning the rest of your threats you shal doo what you may if the time wil permit you For in vaine the Gods haue made me Arch-ruler ouer so many territories if I should not accomplish the vtmost of my will In which season I will haue you remaine in my Pallace vntill the good or bad successe of the Combat be by triall knowne that according thereunto my pleasure may be fulfilled to the full But the King of Cyprus being very big swolen with such extreame pride that he was readie to burst said to Don Bellianis with so hideous voice as he would swallowe him downe aliue Great is thy desperate madnesse Knight of the Golden Image that I know not where thou shouldest be borne For with my onely sight I was woont to terrifie others both mightier and in courage hardier then thou And now thinkest thou to escape vnpunished I assure thée that if the end of the battel consisted in nought else but with the first encounter of my Launce to bring thée to such extremitie that thou neuer shouldest be more able to enter any other fight whereby also wee should after eschew the Souldanes iudgement in this case thou shouldest thereunto be admitted But because thou being conuicted with the treasons thou hast committed hée determineth otherwise to chastice thy insolencie and so hath suspended thée from the battell I haue no great néede to attempt it replied Don Bellianis for I am sure thou shalt hauâ— to doo with such Knights that when the Combatte is ended it shall bâ—e publicklye seene that I am not of condition lyke thy treacherous Cozins But I desired with my owne person to rid thée of the great doubt that thou art in And after to require account of the outrage thou offeredst to two damzels of my companie vppon whom thou didest shewe part of thy Consanguinitie with the Traytor Don Gallaneo All this Don Bellianis vttered the more to inrage the inraged Gyant to make him accept the combatte with him though hee néeded not to spurre a forwarde horse For hée was impatient to sée himselfe vpbrayded with such opprobrious tauntes in presence of that royall assembly but hee had as is afore mentioned promised the Soldan to the contrarie who fearing they should attempt more then wordes said to Don Bellianis Héereon knight talke no more for what is decreed shalbe executed Bée it as you haue said answered hée but by the way remember the greate iniustice you offer mée The furious Soldan would not answere him but by his commaundement hée was committed to a strange Tower and most surely guarded leauing with him the Damzels of the Princesse Florisbella to cure his woundes Arfileo Don Bryanell fearing by their spéeches to adde fewell to the kindled fyer said nothing but desiring the day of combatte were come returned to their lodgings sending straight wayes for the knights they before had sent to the wood whose helpe did afterwardes greatly auayle them The Soldan remained in his pallace very glad thinking to execute both the Duke and the knight of the golden Image and likewise quieted the king of Cyprus that much importuned him to
incurre great daunger being taken vnawares but at that instant the watchfull Prince Don Bellianiâ— perceiuing it being not farre from the King disturbed that his purpose pushing him on his breast so strongly that he recoyled backe thrée or foure steppes wherby they renewed their fight more fiercely and braue then in the whole day before But Don Bellianis perceiuing that if the Combatte long continued he was like to faint through the infinit blâ—â—d he had lost aduentured himselfe to receiue a blowe of the Gyant Which when he sawe descended on him commending himselfe from the bottome of his heart vnto the Almightie to deliuer him from that daunger and thrust at the Giant so brauely vnder his arme that being there vnarmed and with such excessiue force performed that the sworde ranne into his flesh vp to the hilts piercing his heart in the middle wherewith he fell downe dead But he was by the Gyant cruelly wounded on the head that he also fell downe in a trance which greeued euery one chiefly the Princesse Aurora that was forced to cry out Oh immortall Gods why haue you suffered so great an euill for without doubt the best knight that euer gyrded sword is sâ—aine But her sorrowe was turned to a generall gladnesse seeing him amazedly rise and was going to aide his companions if he had not séeue Arfileo at one blowe cut off one of the Gyants legges and with an other his head The like did Don Brianell not regarding the Souldanes cryes requiring him that hee woulde not do it for he yéelded him vanquished Which done they in theyr hearts rendred immortall thankes vnto the Almightie for their victorious deliuerie from so vnspeakeable perill and with great loue imbraced the Knight in the yelowe Armour whome they imagined to bee Don Contumeliano yéelding to him all the honor of the victorie Whereupon not expecting the Soldans commaund the generall assembly shouted out for ioy sounding a number numberlesse of all manner of military instruments running about the field for gladnesse which cut the Soldane to the heart hauing no patience to endure it CHAP. XXV What the Knight of the Golden Image did after the battell ended And how the Soldan commanded the duke to be borne to prison SO soone as the Princesse Persiana did see the battell ended with such ioy as euery one may iudge descended the scaffold and going to the knights that yet were talking togither shee woulde haue knéeled before don Bellianis but he preuented it by dooing so himselfe very courteously saying You haue no cause most excellent Lady to thanke me being bound to doo more then this for the Duke Alfiron But if you will then royall Princesse gratifie these knights whose valour hath so wel defended your right and iâ—stice for my seruice is of no woorth but while it bee shadowed vnder their haughtie déedes I will not famous knight saide the Princesse extoll the honour you haue woon in this battel with such déere losse of your blood besides the ouerthrâ—we of such great treacherie as was ordained against vs being more then any hundred knights might attaine And since you will not haue me rest your debtor for this vncomparable fauour speake to him for whom you vndertooke the Combat who is no lesse bound to you then I So leauing him with the Duke and the princesse Aurora she imbraced the other knight vsing betwixt them words of great kindnesse according to their high estate Don Bellianis leauing the Duke whent to the Sophy that was returning to the Pallace hauing commanded his daughter and the duke to be returned to prison and being nigh hâ—â— and followed by many knights said vnto him â—â—ince mightie Lord the truth cannot be more cleare and manifest I beseecâ—e your highnesse coÌ„mand that the Princesse Persiana the knight of the golden image and the Duke Alfâ—â—on may beset at libâ—â—tie their innocencie being saued and confirmed by the happie successe of this battell which intreat to be forthwith respâ—â—ting the great necessitie we haue of â—are for our most daungerous wounds The Sophy that minded no such thing replied I do beléeue you know Sir knight I am not bound to what you said for if they be cleared of Don Gallaneos death as you wil haue it the Duke notwithstanding is not freed of his trespasse committed against mee hauing resisted my wil with hostile arms which being so plaine I had no cause to put it in trial of battel but reserue vnto my self the punishmeÌ„t of that fault according as it deserues therefore talke to me no more thereof for I will doo nothing more then I haue said Whereto Don Bellianis answered We expected no such vsage at the hands of so great a lord I vndertooke the fight for all matters concerning the Duke and if hee be cleare of Don Galleanos death it followes then that he is frâ—e of all other things whatsoeuer Replie no more said the Souldan for I will haue it so Whereuppon he commanded the Duke to be returned to prison who straight was there conducted himself going to his Pallace and would heare none speak wherat Don Bellianis was like to burst through rage Don Brâ—anell and Arâ—â—lâ—o disguised him to go with theÌ„ to their lodging to be cured to whom he aunswered I haue no néede of cure since the Duke remaineth imprisoned and so I humbly take my lâ—â—ue for I will departe â—ut of the Citâ—ie Wherewith he lâ—â—t them 〈◊〉 taking his way to the wood onely followed by don Contumeliano The knights and the Princesse Aurora returned to their lodging reasoning on nothing but on the Sollitarie knight whome they thought neuer enough praysed hauing by him receiued so great helpe in the battell I should not haue beléeued said Arfileo that the world contained such a knight as the Prince of Phenicia You did not sée his déedes so well as I replied don Brianell because you were busie in Combat and beléeue me he no more feared being without sword then if he had béene confronted with no foes which if it had not broken he néeded none of our helpe Thus talking togither they laide themselues in their seuerall beds where they were cured hauing many and dangerous wounds The Princesse Aurora leauing them went well accompanied to the pallace to sée what was done in the Dukes libertie where shee founde the Princesse Persiana that for the words spoken by the knight of the Golden Image was sette free who receiued each other as theyr great loue testified and after sent to sée what the Souldane did who brought them word he commaunded the Dukes guarde to bée doubled and that also he hadde sent the aduenterous knight word commaunding him that since he would not at his intreaties spare the King of Cyprus brothers life he should forthwith depart his Land or else his life should pay the forfit of his staye The Ladies greatly gréeued hearing this demaunded his aunswere which was that hee was contented to obey him within thrée daies but he should regarde that hee
the Piller and tooke the letter which opening hee read to this effect To thee Supreme and excellent Prince of Greece The sage Bellona thy greate friend saluteth thee Knowing by my Arte and skill which I continually vse for thy fake the great and mortall duanger which through thy meanes should befall the Solitary knight also thy sorrow and languishment therefore mooued me to make thee know the manner of his recouerie Wherefore I send this letter by a messenger of mine that the Piller of wonders might be manifested to thee Within this Piller thou seest shalt thou finde his remedy and therefore leaue it not vntried Alwaies remembring what I told thee in my lodging as briefly as I could for therein all thy labour is assured thee I say no more but so rest thine as thy selfe mayst testifiing Don Bellianis hauing read the letter reioyced to see there was yet remedy for the distressed Prince and so resolutely was casting himselfe into the huge fyre to sée what therein he could finde But before he could effect his purpose there came towards him foure valiant knights against whom preparing himselfe there also at that time assaultes him foure Lyons big and fierce who with their wyde mouthes as though they cast fire imbraced him maugre all his strength and drew him into the same Hee séeing himselfe in such perill letting fall his axe would haue drawne his dagger which at his backe he had but his arme was held so faste that hee could not sturre it and turning to sée what did it saw it was a most beauteous Lady whereupon the Lyons and knightes vanshed Oh God said Don Bellianis is this possible I sée Maruell not knight at what you see replyed the Ladie letting go his arme for this is called the Piller of wonders though it be a long time since any thing hath beene seene wherein many haue founde remedy for their dispairing loue yet neuer ending the aduenture Wherefore with more reason it might bee named the dispaire of Loue. And so was it true as in the end of the second parte of this Historie shall bée seene for whose cause many dyed not tormented with that deadly wounde And séeing for your companyons remedy you heere haue entred though it could not bee séene but by a third person with you you notwithstanding enioy the secrete thereof and taking him by the hand went where Contumeliano lay at the laste poynt of life the Lady carryed a kindled cole of the same fyre of the Piller which she cast vpon the breast of the Phenician Prince wherwith hee straight returned out of his trance somewhat agaste to sée himselfe in that case and going to ryse Don Bellianis with much gladnesse imbraced him saying What is the matter excellent Prince for your infirmitie hath greatly gréeued vs My euill hath beene nothing in refpect of the greate gladnesse replyed he I conceiue in knowing you and since I am frée of the laste deceit I intreate you of your speciall fauour to manyfest it mée not hyding any of your actes I am content answered Don Bellianis to please you therein but thanke this Ladie for your liues libertie Which hee going to doe she returned suddenly through that fier leauing euery thing as afore What is this my good Lord demanded don Contumeliano Whereuppon Don Bellianis discoursed that aduenture and how hee being ready to breathe his last it appeared called the desperation of Loue and how he proued it with what else happened And procéeding said I knowe not soueraigne Prince the occasion of your extreame passion Let vs talke no more hereof replyed hee for I assure you assoone as I felt the cole of fyre sette vpon mee I loste all that vehement dolour and agony yet not so but that I shall alwayes remember the deceit done me hard by the Cittie of Persepolis And so was it true for still after when hee sawe the knight of the golden Image his pulses and spirits would beate with alteration like one strooke with an vncoueth feare And I pray you let me knowe your name with the causes of your other aduenture My name replyed Don Bellianis is the knight of the golden Image which I am sure you neuer heard and so recounted the rest how hee came out of prison in a Ladies garments to vndertake that combatte as is afore saide Don Contumeliano greatly wondred when he knew that was the knight of the golden Image of whom passing through the vnhappy bridge hee heard such wonders of and greatly reioycing to haue met with such a knight said I doe new sir knight of the golden Image altogether beléeue and confirme the high déedes published of you and dee render infinit thanks to our immortall Gods that haue brought mee to enioy the fruition of your company and so very leuingly imbraced together knitting twixt them the inuiolable knot of friendship which all their life lasted as the Historie mentioneth Don Bellionis was vnarmed by Contumelianos Page and his woundes by him dressed and attired in Florianaes garments which refreshed the dying flames in the heart of the amourous Prince and agréed togither that don Contumeliano should stay for it in a strong citie fortie miles from Persepolis belonging to the Duke Alfiron called Bollera appointing to be with him within thirtie dayes wherefore embracing againe each other and taking their leaues they went to sée the piller to read the letters thereon which by the light of the fire there don Bellianis thus read The Piller of the wonders for remedie of the dispairers in Loue shalbe henceforth manifested where euerie one shal be remedied according to their meede And if in Loue he neuer haue erred or in armes beene ouercome by the gardians here placed by the sage Medea hee that so hath not beene shall not proue himselfe therein Well might I haue hoped for remedie said don Contumeliano of the gard you here saw if you had not béene here But I desire to sée the end of so great an aduenture and howe it may be brought thereto for I thinke the letters do not shewe it A little lower I thinke it doth expresse the maner how answered Don Bellianis by him that through dispaire shall hither come Then good cause haue I to proue it replied don Contumeliano for I neuer hope for remedie Don Bellianis greatly laughed at what the Prince said And so taking leaue one of another departed Don Contumeliano putting on his owne armor taking the Giants Curtelax instead of his sword tooke his next way to Bollen where he found all the people verie sorrowfull for the Duke their Lordes imprisonment who was of them greatly loued Hee recounted to them what had happened in the battell and how the duke their Lord was alreadie at libertie whereat they were much ioyed and highlie honoured him who remained there till don Bellianis came as hereafter shall be expressed CHAP. XXVII How Don Bellianis returned to prison and what past betweene him and the Ladies of the Princesse
yeeld did make him violate his royall word a thing so odious in any Prince which made him feare doubt his safetie in his owne kingdome and Pallace and among his subiects and not be able to punish them And also his Daughter that though at that present shee desired not his death yet sought she the ouerthrowe of his content like a mortall and Capitall foe This nowe was the state of the Siconian Souldane and great Emperour of the Persian Monarchy who to compasse and bring to passe the foolish and madde opinion of a vaine intent estéemed not the valour of such great Princes and hardie knights Wherefore if he escaped with his life in recompence of his ingratitudes he may account it no little good But leauing this we will returne to our former purpose as in the Chapter following shal be declared CHAP. VI. The braue and dangerous battell fought in Persepolis betweene the Princes and knights with the Soldans power about the libertie of the Duke Alfiron with the whole successe thereof AS soone as the bright splendor of heauens alâ—persing eye had ended his diarnal course about the compasse of the orbed earth some heart impouerisht Knightes through dismaying feare pale timerous cowardise dispaired as in such cases often hapneth of their sure successe whilest the Princes Don Brianell and Arfileo accompanied with the kings of Armenia and Tessifanty commaunded all their knights to mount on their horses expecting farther order Don Brianell caused Don Bellianis Dwarffes to conuey his Armour where the Princesse Aurora staied And charging all their troupes vpon their assault to cry alloude Phenicia Phenicia they issued forth as closely as they could And for that all the citie was vp in armes that day there was no regard taken of them thinking they went to gard the pallace whither being come and finding the guard aforesaid they began crying Phenicia 〈◊〉 assaâ—lt them with such furie that they vâ—horsed aboue two thousand at the first incounter But they perceiuing the deceâ—â— gathered themselues togither in such sort that the â—ight on both parties waâ—ed most bloodie with the death of an infinit nuÌ„ber of men though through the nights obscurity it could not be discâ—rned yeâ— by these cryes knew they one an other for the Souldanes men had their watchwords among them whereby the battell still continued very fiecce defendiâ—â— so couragiously the entry that for all Don Brianell Arfileo performed woonders yet their men could win no aduantage whereuppon they determined to alight on fâ—â—te to doo it more easily when suddainly there was brought so many lights that one might well know the other The Prince Don Bellianis no sooner heard the outcryes but casting his mantle about his arme drew his sword and descended the stayres but â—re he was at the foote of them the guarde beset him especially the Captaine that would haue giuen him a daungerous blowe on the head to haue clâ—aued it in twaine had not he taken it vpon his sword wherewith he cut his legge in two but â—re hee fell on the ground Don Bellianis defending himselfe of the other knights blowes drew the Captaine to him by the shéelde that he tooke it from him and stepping backe buckled it about his arme and with them he began so braue and so â—ruell a fight as if as great a number were with him but the place being somewhat narrow hee tooke all their blowes vppon his sworde and shéelde his being so deadly that in litle time he hadde throwne downe dead aboue thirtie knights whose huge and monstrous wounds woulde make any afraide to sée them and so opprest the others that their clamour and outâ—ryes séemed to â—uerwhelme the Pallace The Knights being with the feare of death dismaid and not able to abide the fâ—riâ— of the knight of the Golden Image turned their backs and fled Don Bellianis letting them goe armed himselfe with one of the dead knights Armour and not longer staying entred the pallace wherein in the great hall hee espied the Souldane at the light of torches that were there who with a troupe of chosen knights was going to succour the pallace which he heard was assaulted by the Prince of Phenicia for so they thought by their aduersaries clamours Whome séeing he conceiued such rage against him that aloude he said I haue thée now in time false Souldane of Persia violater of thy royall faith and word that thou shalt see how little thou shalt get by my imprisonment for knowe I am the knight of the Golden Image who is able to set downe the extreame feare that surprised the Souldane at those words iudging himselfe at that instant vtterly destroyed The Knights put themselues before the Souldane to defend him which Don Bellianis séeing redoubled his rage and maugre their force set so furiously vpon them that as a wolfe among a troupe of shéepe he beat them downe togither who not able to resist him made him large way to passe by them which he did to reuenge himselfe at full on the Sâ—uldane Who séeing him so determinate come against him retyred to a windowe falling ouer a garden through which for his best sauegarde he cast himselfe downe that according to the fall it was a great woonder he beat not out his braines Yet it brused all his body and disâ—oynted both armes and legges the like befell to aboue thirtie Knights following him flying from the knight as from the touche of a very death-stinging Basiliske The Prince Don Bellianis woulde haue done so such was his hate against the Souldane but determined first to ende the battell thinking afterward to haue some time to execute his will and so turning to the knights sawe them run headlong out of the Pallace and thrusting himselfe in among them founde his companions that hadde forced the Soldans meÌ„ to retyre back to the stayres which they defended like them that expected the fearefull stroake of death so that Don Bellianis assayling them at their backs made such desolation of them that they thought so great a number behinde as before which so bereft them of their sences that how to resolue they knew till the death gining wound piearst their daunted hearts that most of them rested wounded and dead The Dukes souldiers séeing this began to sacke and robbe the pallace the ransaking of whose treasurie was their cheefest hope of gaines Don Bellianis and Arfileo in the meane time rusht into the Princesse Persianaes Chamber who before her seemed very gréeued and being by the Prince séene he aloude saide It behooues thee Priâ—cesse Persiana to goe with mee in recompence of the wroâ—gs and imprisonment your father put mee in against law and iustice and thereupon tooke her betwixt his armes and some oâ—her knights did so by two or three of her ladies whose lamentable shrikes made the Pallace eccho with the noise And so carrying them were met by the aduenturous Knight that was comming for her hauing set at libertie the Duke that came with him who with
souldiers commaunding them to spare none of their liues that had committed such rebellious treason And so passing along he met the Duke Alfiron who discharged vpon one another the fury of their cutting swords that Boraldo receiued a litle wound on the head and the Duke fell in a traunce and had fallen had he not held by his Horses necke Boraldo not staying there passed forwards proud of the blow that he gaue At this time the Soldanes men recouered and began to winne much ground insomuch that Don Bellianis nor the aduenterous Knight being not able with their valour to stay their men they beganne to retire backe which when the Knight of the golden Image sawe like a chased Lyon wanting his praie he thrust himselfe among the thickest of his aduersaries that vnhappie was he whom his blewes reached in such maner beating and ouerthrowing Knights with their Horses that his Armour was all couered and his sword réeked with blood which forced euery one to flie his fury as doth the fearefull Partridge flie from the deadly pursuit of a towring Fawlkon For there was no Knight that he met how valiant soeuer but with one blow he strooke downe from his Horse And passing thus along where Arfileo and Coroliano were fiercely in â—ight tâ—gither both which had such piteous wounds that it moued the Prince to compassion Here then arriued Boraldo and séeing his brother in such case and to haue the worst raised himselfe in his â—â—yrrâ—pes and vnable to be râ—sisted by Don Bellianis that in great hast priâ—ked towards him gaue him so mightie a blowe backwards on the head that cutting his Helme it made a gréeuous wounde and had like to haue fallen hauing altogither lâ—st his sâ—nces Which so inraged the hâ—art of Don Bellianis that very blood séemed to runne downe his eyes to sée him so vsed in his presence And in this fury he strooke at Coroliano that was discharging another blowe on Arfileo which fell with such huge strength that lighting on his shield it diuided it in two and the sâ—â—ord descending on the Horses necke it also cut it off falling on the earth with Coroliano and his Horse But Boraldo at this instant wounded Don Bellianis on the one side that pearâ—ing his Armour it pitteously opened his flesh and so swiftly redoubled another on his Helme that it cut all his buckles leauing his head disarmed Neuer was there any Basiliske more inuironed nor Lyon more eager of his praie then Don Bellianis was now burning in fury of reuenge And turning vppon Boraldo with one blowe tumbled his shielde in two togither with himselfe sore wounded to the ground Coroliano that by this had risen knowing him by his Armour to be the haughtie Knight of the golden Image on whose ouerthrâ—w consisted the good successe of his enterprise thrust his Horse into the belly that he fell dead with his maister on his backe Which Don Bellianis séeing leapt from him with great celeritie which he had scant done but he was asâ—aulted by aboue 2000. Knights that came to aide Coroliano yet this helpe litle helped him for Don Bellianis strooke him out of his sences and looking â—or Arfilio saw him in great danger fighting with Boraldo in whose behalfe many there arriuâ—d but he ioyning with his cousin hauing laced his Helme wounded so furiously on all sides that they had incompassed themselues with carkasses of â—laughtred men Yet for all this they were so opprest with freshe multitudes that by no meanes they could mount on horsâ—ack which Don Bellianis perceiuing doubling his anger laid about him that in despight of them he mounted on a Horse on which he somewhat easier laboured in the fight till Arfilio had done thâ— like where with they brake their passage through the thickest of them who also mounted Boraldo that was sorely wounded and carried Coroliano out of battell which grew more cruell then all the day before Don Bellianis by meere forced valour making his way through the sharpe printed speares and swordes came where the kings of Armenia and Tessifantie were on foote and like to be taken prisoners and had they béen knowne they had there loste their liues who by his arryuall got freshlie mountings and together renewed the fight more fiercer then at first The battell béeing at this stay the 2000. Knights that Coroliano had sent assaulted the corner of the hill where the Princes were But the 500. Knights which were the valiantest of the Dukes whole troupes left not their charge but in their places began so fierce a skirmidge that many fell downe dead on both sides But the Soldans men beeing many more in number brake through them spoyling their order whereat the two Ladies the Princesse Persiana and Aurora seemed more dead then aliue But at this time from the other side of the valley there appeared the number of 4000. Knights well appointed which made towardes that place from whence there was a knight sent to know on whose behalf they came who a farre of discerned him to be the couragious Prince Don Contumeliano of Phenicia whose armor they very well knewe as is said Which greatly gréeued the Soldans men iudging that of necessitie hee would bee against them and on the contrarie the Duke Alfirons troupes were very glad thereof whose approach reuiued the sorrowfull Ladies And the Duke aloude cryed courage courage braue Knights and animate your fainting forces against your feare-frighted aduersaries for the admired honor of time-wondering Chiualrie commeth in your ayde Which hee nothing missaide for in the whole Campe there was none that excelled him except him that in disguised habit had subiugated his heart with great courtesie and bountie which is the true honour of all braue knights Hée now béeing come to the dangerous skirmidge brauelie ouerthrewe a Knight and drawing him aparte informed himselfe by him of all that hee desired to knowe and turning to his followers that were all subicts vnto the Duke Alfiron of whom at Don Contumeliano commaund a great multitude had before gone to Persepolis from Bollera to ayde the Duke if their helpe hée should néed who hauing héere met the 4000. aforesaid vnyted themselues together so brauelie assaulting them that in the corner of the Hill were fighting that not daring longer to stay turned their backes and fled towards their other companie where the furious battell still continued entring by that side where Don Bellianis was killing his horse vnder him he bruzed with the great fall rose vp in extreame danger of his life for meÌ„ began to giue backe which forced him with méere strength and sole labour of his valour to withstand the aduersaries furie laying on all sides to get a horse But his enemies seeing him to be their onely distruction rusht in multitudes vpon him no more fearing his death-giuing-sword then if hée had that day hurt none Whereby though many dyed by him yet was he sorelie wounded both with swords and launces for though they were not great by
the Emperour lying vnder a trée But taking another way stayed at a place throgh which the knight must of necessitic passe if he came whose coÌ„ming he attended walking on his Horse and reuolued with himselfe what he had to do remembring that knight loued his Ladie hée thought therein he stood disgraced which so mooued his desires to incounter him that he iudged himselfe so infortunate that the same Prince would rather breake his promise then come Wherein he greatly was deceiued for he rather would haue induced a thousand deathes then in the least degrée falsilie his ingaged word For the day before he marched from Persepolis with all his troupes containing aboue thrée hundred thousand Horsemen besides Footemen that couered all the mountaines and plaines they passed by and hee so set foorth with the manner of his march that none could scape to aduertize his aduersaries thereof on whom hée arriued with such a suddaine furie that it had not béene much if they had taken the Cittie at their first assault but that those valiant Knights were within whose strength supplyed the want of a competent Armie to resist their â—oes and issuing foorth in the citties defences begun so fierce and bloody a battell as euer was any séene The Princesse Arfileo Contumeliano and the Kinges of Armenia wiâ—h the Duke Alfiron went out of the Cittie into their Campes through a secrete doore accompanied with all the rest of the chiefest Knights which they founde in seme danger by the aduerse multitudes with whose comming on al sides their beganne such cruell massacring of their men that with in a whyle the earth was dyed with humaine blood and coucred with dead bodies slaine by their furious armes which the Prince Perianeo seeing thought he could haue no better occasion to depart secretly to the valley of the 3. fountains wher he know the knight of the Crewnes expected him to end their former quarrell and that he might the better passe vnknowen hée had put on a sanguine armour without any deuise in his shield in which manner he went till he came to the place wher Don Bellianis stayd whem he thought did then but come seeing him walke about and very glad cryed out he should there stay for it was a place conuenient for their combatte Don Bellianis turning about and séeing him so altered in his Armour knâ—w him not but that he thus said I am the knight that hath established this combat with you this day for which we are now in a good place where none shall disturbe vs. You came so disguised replied Don Bellianis that I knew you not But I am right glad we are so well met to ende our commenced enterprise But first tell me said the Persian Prince since one or both of vs shall here remaine what you are and how you are called And I promise to do the like It doth not please me replied the valiant prince Don Bellianis for I well know you are the renowmed Perianeo Prince of Persia Then if not so answered Persian Prince satisfie me with knowing the cause why you beare portraied the picture of that diuine Ladie in your shéeld It is the shadow replied Don Bellianis of that câ—listial substance that imperates my heart and soule and therfore â—o I continually bear it with me Oh vnhappy knight shall in the worlde liue any to dare say such a thing in thy presence and with a fierie choller that gnawde his heart hee turned his horse to take his full carreare on the field The like did Don Bellianis méeting in the middle of their course with such admirable force lightnesse that they séemed more to fly then on the ground to run Oh who would not haue desired to sée this fight betwixt the flower of the worldes Chiualrie here opposed one against the other For the Prince Perianeo had not his like on the vniuerse except Don Bellianis his father and yet his father had Princes his brothers though they were knighted had not yet thitherto vsed their Armes But to returne to our former discourse The two Combattants encountred each other with such impâ—tous and sodaine strength that their Launces being big and knottie their forses without coÌ„pare all their defensiue armor was pierced and their launces past betwéen their left sides and armes and meeting body with body sheelds helmes togither made so huge a noise as if two towers had met Don Bellianis lost both his surrops But the Prince Perianeo if he had not very quickly got hold by his horses necke he had surely gon to the ground making many signes of falling yet gouerned with inplacable rage he brauely recouered his stirrops turning towards Don Bellianis that also made against him and regréeting one another with such rigorous blowes that all the Valley did resound with the noise so monstrous were they and where theyr swordes lighted from thence it carried armour and flesh and laid so thicke vpon one another that they had no time toward any blow with their shéeldes In this manner laboured they aboue foure houres being so wounded that it would haue made any adamantiue brest to pittie them and not speaking any word withdrew apart to breathe The Prince Perianeo thus with himselfe began Is it possible that the enuious starres that gouerned the fatall houre of my birth should make me thus vnhappy to heare a knight in my presence say he loues thy Lady and that thou art not able to satisfie that proud fault with y e dearest blood of his stout hart but suffer him to bring thée to such a point as to wish the pittilesse stroake of an impartial cruell death eyther this knight is inchanted or I am deceiued if his forces be not now far greater then the other time I tried them and neyther toyle nor labour doth diminish them But oh Imperious Gouernesse of my afflicted soule What is he shall tel thée that this thy knight dyeth coÌ„fessing y e immooueable faith he owes thée hauing left no hope euermore to sée the glorious splendour of thy diuine beautie But let the reuoluing heauens dispose the resolucion of my destined Fates as they please yet one of vs ere we dye shall confesse the other most worthy of thy seruice On the other side Don Bellianis walking considering with himselfe the valour of his aduersarie imagining he neuer felt crueller blowes but of his father and that his forces more and more increased and recording the cause of his fight thus of himselfe complained Oh Don Bellianis vnwoorthie to bee called knight and louer of so Diuine a Princesse to suffer an other knight thus to let thee blood and not to make his tributary life doo homage to thy sword whereby thou hast lost both the honour and tylle of a Knight vn 〈…〉 thou recouerest it by making his deaths passage through his life With the ende of which words hee became so inraged that his heart séemed to burne in the fierie coales of his irefull
as if he had bene one of the Centinels and thus he went till he came vnto a great pauilion which he thought to be the Generals of those troopes and looking into it he sawe many knights talking with another that lay in his bed whom he iudged according to his manner and conditions to be the Sophy and hard by him he spied armed without his helme the Prince of Persia that had bene cured after by the same meanes that he was their conference was that it would be good to giue another assault vnto the Citie for if it were but only to affright them within it would not be amisse And the Emperour being busily harkoning to this there came vnto him a knight that was Collonell of y e Court of guard and saide What doo you here you are not in your quarters I was walking about said the Emperour and here I staied to looke vpon this Tent. And therfore shall you goe to prison replied the other seeing you haue no more care The Emperour said let vs go whither you will Here vpon the Collonell turned to foure knightes and charged them to conuay that knight to his Tent. Which they going to doo the Emperor sorely wounded ouerthrew them one after an other to the ground with his lance and about to do the like by the Colonel he thrust himself among the Tents calling out for help But the Emperour that hereat became furious reached his launce at the Souldan that laie a bed with such force raising himself on his stirrops which if it had gone straight he had no more néede to make warre yet it missed him so little that the Launce past betwixt his arme and left side and ranne through all the bedding nayling it aboue a handfull in the grounde Which the Knights séeing that were talking with him gathered about him thinking he had bene slaine and some went out to sée what he was that had bene so hardie to do such a déed among whom was the Prince Perianeo But the Emperour thinking it no wisedome to oppose himselfe against so many closely thrust among those knights that were come thither and so past till he came to the farther side of the Campe at such time that the Sunne beganne to appeare and fearing some might méete and know him and so frustrate his intent he rushed with great violence vppon the guard on that side and maugre their force he passed through the middest of them leauing aboue twentie pitteously wounded on the earth And at length arriued in his owne Camp where being straight knowne was with great gladnesse receiued and so entered the Cittie where the Duke and all the rest ioyfully welcommed him and being demaunded for the valiant Knight of the golden Image he replied he departed from him at the Valley of the thrée Fountaines and woulde quickly returne So leauing them he went to rest himselfe for he greatly néeded it The Prince Perianeo being come foorth of the Tent thinking his father had bene slaine inquiring for him that had done it came to the place where the Emperour had made that slaughter there he founde some dead some gréeuously wounded and some in such case as they could hardly liue long and demannding who had so handled them they replied they knewe not saue that a diuellish Knight clad in Armour bearing certaine Crownes vpon his shield had done those wonders and in despight of vs all hath entred the Citie of Bollera By this the Prince knewe the Knight that woulde haue slaine his Father was hée with whome hée did Combatte though he much doubled it because his deare frined the wise Fristone had tolde him he would set him in place where hee should leaue both honour and life yet discontented and amazed he returned to the Tent where he found the Souldan vp whereat he greatly reioyced and with no little gladnesse demanded how he felt himselfe and whether the launce had done him any harme None replied the Souldan but what I conceiued with feare of death and I assuredly thinke that was the knight of the golden Image for none else could haue the heart to do it So great is the bountie of this knight replied y e prince that none might do it but he In these words you shall sée it answered the Souldane for he that doth not sée his déedes will hardly beléeue them my self hauing séene him performe so hautie acts of Chiualry which else none should haue perswaded me that any humane creature could atchiue them for he being wounded slue the horrible Dragon of the Ryphean desart and the King of Cyprus assuring you that when he entered with him in the listes the blood issued twixt the ioynts of his Armour from his olde woundes He also discouered the aduenture of the Dispaire in Loue with many other things which of him you haue heard I long to try replied the Prince how farre his valour dooth extend For I know not whether it be a Knight that did disturbe me from ending a certaine Combat and if it be he I doo protest to procure all meanes til I méete with him It is no wisedome said the Souldan to hazard your person â—â— so certaine daunger séeing with our souldiers you haue here we shall easily be reuenged on them all I will neuer leaue such a battell answered the Prince for if he be such a knight as he that hurld his Lance at you he ought with reason to be estéemed Do you know him said the Souldan Yes replied the Prince for yesterday I did Combat with him in the valley of the thrée Fountains But how did you with him said y e soldan My friend the Sage Fristone did part vs answered Perianeo In such talke continued they till the ensuing morrow aduertizing a whole Camp to be in readines against y e next assalt The duke Alfiron and the Kings séeing the knight of the golden Image came not they altogither very sorrowfully intreated the Emperor to vndertake the generall charge ouer them all which he did though vnwillingly And hauing heard his enemies intent taking with him the prince Arfileo Sabian of Trebento he mustred all his men diuiding them into 5. squadrons The first he committed to the leading of the Phenician prince with him his valiant cosen Florispiano with 20. thousand well appointed knights The second he committed to the duke Alfiron with al his men which were as many The third led the kings of Armenia Tessifantie The fourth conducted Sabian of Trebento And the fift gouerned a brother of the Dukes called Sallatell of the valley And for himselfe he wold haue none The Prince Perianeo diuided his troopes in sire battalions and euery one of 50. thousand knights and gaue order that other fiftie thousand with all the footemen should assault the Citie which were aboue fortie thousand with so manie millitarie engines that they made sure account to lay it leuell with the ground with vtter desolation of all the knights at their first incounter CHAP.
depart for so Bellona would haue him do but perceiuing the Souldane comming towards him he thought it discurtesie to part without speaking staid and séeing he was come nigh him setting his hand on his saddle alighted with admirable lightnesse and prostrating himselfe demanded his hands to 〈…〉 sse them The Soldan against all intreaties did also dismount shewing the like curtesie that the knight did for he was a prince absolute in all Courtly behauiour had not Don Bellianis staied to whom the Souldan thus saide I cannot comprehend the cause excellent knight that hauing broght to end the greatest and no lesse strange aduenture hitherio seene liberating vs from such daunger you should depart bereauing vs of your defined conuersatioÌ„ by so sedain departure from our court which I would vnwillingly haue you do though you were newly put in as great daunger as the last you vndertooke in our behalfes which notwithstanding the Gods defend And farther I say if at my request you deny to do it withstanding my authoritie you shal be conuicted by her for whose remedie our immortall Gods I thinke brought you hither Where he imbraced him with loue as the benefit receiued bound him to Don Bellianis was strooke into such an amaze that he knew not how to be resolued thinking if he did not obey the Souldan the vnkindnesse would be greater then the seruice he had done him And on the other side he considered that he might incurre no lesse daunger by discouering himself not knowing Bellonaes intent in so concealing him But to salue all the best he might made this reply It doth not a litle gréeue me most mightie Lord that I cannot do you the seruice my heart desires because it lyeth not in my power being hither brought by yonder Lady that you sée without whose leaue I may dispose of nothing but binding my dutie to your seruice for euer as the person that most honour on the earth deserueth While they were thus talking the Sage Bellona came to them and with her the two sole excellencies of beautie the Princesses Florisbella and Matarosa with such rare brightnesse that it would obscure the midday Sun in all his pride shining in the middle heauen where he dwelles The aboue all fairest the faire Princesse Florisbella sole diuine perfection of an earthly obiect came with such a gallant semblance that no humane heart could haue bene so obdurate but would haue melted at her sight she was cladde in a white sattiâ— gowne with a peticoate of the same all cut vppon most rich cleth of Golde and euery cut tacked with a great Orient Pearle which were so many and so well set that they made so straunge a worke that the curiousnesse thereof could not be discerned the sléeues were long and large hanging to the ground closed with wyer of massiue gold set with the same Pearles and lyned with the same cloth of golde hung out with many vnualuable Jewels her Amber haire disheuelled ouer her shoulders hung backwards gathered togither behinde her eares vppon which shée had a Coronet garnished with Dyamonds Rubies Saffyres and pearles of more woorth then that whole Cittie before on her Carkanet pended a Carbunckle as bigge as two Walnuttes that yeelded so much light as foure great Torches burning in the darke Her Gorget was so open that plainly might be discerned the rare excellency of the Creator of all thinges in the pure wonder of the Sunne-out clearing whitenesse of her brest adorned with inâ—stimable Gemmes And although she thus came attired more beautie did glorifie her garments from the diuine naturall of her face then was hir beautie graced by the brightnesse of those stones such sole supremacie did make her absolute for no artificiall woorke could diminish nor augment her fauour The stately passage of her féete no more séemed to moue then the gentle blast of the milde blowing winde The Princesse Matarosa was attired in that maner whose perfection had no equall in the absence of her faire Cosin In this maner arriued they where the Souldan was talking with the Princesse don Bellianis who seeing the excellency of his Lady that farre excelled the portrayture of his shield rested so confounded with admiration that his braue heart vnable to resist so fierce an assault all couered with a cold sweat as if that were the last moment of his life lost his sences that had not the Souldane who thought some mortall wounde had caused it held him fast about the necke he had fallen to the ground yet notwithstanding he was in such a traunce that he felt nothing that was done vnto him Whereat the Princesse Florisbella being verie sorrowfull stepped to him to vnlace his helme But the Sage Bellona quickly running thither cryed out she should not doo it and imbracing the Prince said that euery one heard What is the matter knight that in time that we most néede your helpe you shewe such weaknesse The Prince at her words recouered himselfe and greatly ashamed at the accident replied You know deare Lady that I came no otherwise seeing the hand of cruell death knocked at my heart vnlesse I be succoured with present remedie Our immortall Gods will not permit it Sir Knight said Florisbella that we hauing receiued so absolute remedie by the helpe of your vallourous arme your life should be bereâ—t you to depart vngratified for your deare merits Whereto he answered In all humble dutie lower then lowly earth I kisse your beauteous handes sole excellent Princesse for the vndeserued fauour of your words whose power hath only power to cure my decaying life dispairing of â—ll remedie and deare comfort in the whole vniuerse but by this While they were thus talking the Soldan knew Bellona whom with great ioy he imbraced she would haue kissed his and the Empresse hands but the Soldan wold not suffer it saying Why haue your deare friend kept your selfe away so long time not visiting vs for I know no cause you had for it but now shal you pay for al not departing so easily as you thinke And I pray you tell who is this valorous knight y t comes with you for I am sure you knew of our distresse séeing you came in so great time of need The wise woman made this reply You say true dread Lord for knowing your danger and that surely you had lost the princesse your daughter I vndertooke this iourny imposing so great a danger vpon this knight as he vnderwent by our comming And beléeue me his equall liues not this day in the world and without him my comming had bene in vaine and hitherto I did not visit you because you had no néed of me I beléeue it replied the Souldane and now that our ioy may be compleat I pray you make this knight vnlace his helme and remaine here some fewe dayes for it would greatly vex me if such a knight shuld go from my Court vnknowne This must be pardoned said she for he must depart vnknown and therfore I pray you
a horsbacke not setting his foote in the stirrope as was his custome and very gallantly managing him he made him bende his knées vnto the earth and bending downe his owne head in signe of his dutie departed in maner as he came with vnspeakable ioy to haue so happily finished that aduenture before his Lady to his immortall glorie which were it not tempered with griefe of his departure it had bene inough to kill him But here we leaue him till farther accidents shall refresh his remembrance CHAP. XLIIII What the Princesse Florisbella did after the Knight of the golden Image was departed Of her Laments and Conference with the Infant Maturosa her Cousin THe Princesse Florisbella remained so amazed with the suddaine departure of the new Louer that so quickly had made a praie of her tender hart that all her imaginations were on nought but of Don Bellianis and till he went cleane out of the field she accompanied him with her sight so stedfastly fixing her eyes after him that had not her cousin called her away to follow the Souldane and Empresse that were returning to the Court there she had staied forgetfull of her selfe The Infant Matarosa said vnto her by the way What say you faire Cousin to that great knight did you euer sée in all your life a man of more valor And trust me I thinke it be he I told you of a iltle before his comming I greatly desire to see the fairnesse of his complexion whether it accorded with the constitution of his bodie and gallant behauiour I know not what I should say replied the Princesse for he hath not séemed so well in my eyes and though his valour haue freed me from the daunger you sawe great is his presumption notwithstanding to beare my picture with him about the world and his discurtesie is no lesse to depart vnknowne vnto the Souldan my father and nothing respecting our intreaties leauing mee so discontented and I had not taken his ring had not my father coÌ„manded and you perswaded me vnto it You haue no reason to blame him for it said her Cousiin for he could do no otherwise being bound vnto the contrarie by the sage Bellona and I know not what Princesse or greater Lady woulde haue refused so deare a seruice as this knight offered you so liberally which you séemed to accept most vnwillingly Speake not of it answered the princesse for I had like to haue shewed my selfe as vnthankefull in taking it as he discourteous in not doing what I intreated him But if returne hee shall knowe the discontent hee did me Assure you said her pleasant Cousiin if he would be my knight I would not hammer on these doubts If he returnes hée shall be answered the Princesse I will yéelde vnto it saide the Infant if you obtaine it without such cercâ—â—uie as you make It may bée I shall at his returne the Princesse made answere and therefore rest contented I perceiued no such intent in him replied the Infant In such like discourse went they with the Soldane and Empresse till they arryued to the Pallace where the Princesse saying shée felt her selfe distempered left her Cousen and her Ladyes withdrawing alone vnto her Chamber to consider at more leysure of him that had so displeased her And shutting the dooâ—e after her with a pensiue heart vnable to resist her passions shee cast her selfe vppon her bedde and with teares trickling down her Cheekes with sighes that interrupted the cleare passage of the speech shée sayde with a soft voyce Oh vnhappie Princesse Florisbella what vuluckie houre was that wherein thou diddest goe to sée that cursed aduenture that hath béene the cause of these thy torments and anguishe of heart making thée héereafter bondslaue to griefe and in the ende gaine thy fréedome by death Ah deceytfull Ladies fatall was the moment wherein I graunted you the boone you craued to gaine for my good will so manie paynes Oh sage Bellona if from one daunger you haue liberated mée in a greater you haue intrapped mée And I doo beséech the Goddes to terminate these woes with my vntimelie death For what auayles it mée to bée commaundresse ouer so manie Kings Princes Lordes and Signiories if the fatall destinies of my vnhappie chaunce haue tied the libertie of my heart vnto a Knight vnknowne of whom I sawe but armour and his horse neither knowe I what hee is denying to discouer his face Oh immortall Goddes if this you haue ordered in the heauenly Synode of your decrées why did you not also summon mée to appeare before your celestiall Thrones to heare your cruell sentence giuen against mée But what say I disgraced that I am For it may bee that Knight is one of our Goddes For who coulde else haue had the power to do what he did in such a short time And so inthrall the quiet peace of my heart Oh Prince howe haue the Goddes reuenged thée because I neuer regarded thy high merits punishing my contempt by that knight that would not show me his face whom peraduenture you may be he that would not diselose your selfe being displeased by my rather But aye me thou art noâ— he for thy wordes neuer so penetâ—ated my heart nor the sâ—ge Bellona they great enimie by reason her 〈…〉 e Princesse Aurora had not brought thée in her 〈…〉 But aye me distressed soule bee it as it will onlie I 〈…〉 laugâ—â—sh in perpetuall torments and in the ende hope â—o 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 While the Princesse thus complained her Cousen Matarosa that by her 〈◊〉 withdrawing did suspect what it might bee that came through a secret doore where she was and staid to ouer-heare her but could vnderstand nothing what she said and greatly wondring at this noueltie she went away and came to her Chamber doore and knocked which awaked the Princesse out of her lauient who brying her eyes ordering her selfe she best she could opened the doore and let her in But her Cousen seeing her in that case dissembled what she thought and said How now Cousen doth the feare of the last aduenture last so long that iâ— so troubles you Or is it because you did no more good therein thâ—n I Or is it the discontent you conceiued of the discourteous knight If the last tell me it and wee will procure him to redresse the wrong The Princesse couering her face with a blush like the moâ—â—ings Suaâ—e rising in the East aunswered Do not put me in more daunger then there was the last deare Cousen for you make me thinke you knowe that Knight making me imagine that by your meanes I am snared in the deceyte of yonder inchauntment In this manner past these Ladies many dayes discoursing on nothing but the déeds of the knight of the Basâ—lâ—sks for so they called him by reason of the armour heed id weare and the Princesse Florisbella euerie day with longing desire expecting his returne still continued in her vsuall laments wherein her Cousen one day taking her woulde néedes knowe the