spacious worlde hath known we knew him straight to bee the Emperour Alphebo of Trebizond for treacherous Lupersio had conducted him thither to end his desire Whom Brauorant knowing to haue beene on the Grecians side and remembring the waight of his cruel blowes did on the instant challenge him and for this slight occasion they so batter and mangle one an others Armor and flesh No longer stayed Claridiano but vnderstanding that knight to bee his father drew forth his sworde and stepped betwéene them with these words Withholde braue Knights for so fierce a quarrell is not lawfull on so small occasion since the losse of eyther wil be a noted want vnto the world Whereat the courteous Emperor leauing replied In faith braue Knight were it but onely in respect of your gentle spéech I would haue done it how much the more when I winne thereby wanting an equall estimation with this knights valour How milde the Pagā was being mildly vsed how tractable is alreadie exprest who now hearing his aduersaries gentle words did accordingly make his answer to the Emperor So greatly haue your frendly words inchayned me to your obeysance most mightie Lord that thogh this knight had not requested it I would haue desisted from the combat especially it being my aduantage considering how Fame throgh euerie mouth blazoneth your woorth and my vnwoorthinesse As Claridianas Lord would haue aunswered Claramant intercepted him thus If most valiant knights the greatest part of your rigorous battel hath béene to manifest vnto the world the rarenesse of your vnmatched strength wherewith the heauens hath armed you then go with vs where there is occasion offered whereon you may more securely imploy your redoubted valors in lawful attempts of brauest armes which may be vndertaken with more sufficient reasons then you began this your slender quarrell For know that at the end of this Forrest in the middest of a faire plaine we found a Fortresse which we iudge to bee the strongest on the earth and reading certaine letters insculped in a Table we perceiued it to be the inchauntment of the Princesse Roselia daughter to the Emperor of this land and more that none but fiue knights togither whose fame the world should report to be admirable should prooue the aduenture Wherefore since you be they according to the conditions required it were vniust we should neglect the libertie of so great a Princesse And although my companions merits and mine owne be not in the least degrée such as the aduenture challengeth it shal satisfie vs to march vnder the shadow of such woorthies to end a more harder enterprise Whereto Alphebo replied I am content to offer my person to the proofe although in me there bée nothing meriting your praise but the controuersie had with this knight hath béen ynough to teach mee to imitate his valor I to haue stolne some part thereof from him to incourage me to this attempt It shall not be left for me said Don Celindo for in the company of such knights the hardest is the easiest to be atchiued Then Brauorant it is not lawfull the libertie of so great a Ladie should be remitted through my meanes although my fame nothing deserues your estimation Then let vs no longer delay the triall of so happie a proofe said Claridiano who presently spurred his swift Courser leading the way vnto the braue inchauntment Followed he was by the flower of armes that altogither in short space arriued at the déepe mote where they admired the greatnesse and exquisit workmanship of the Castle whose like they accorded the world contained not especially when Alphebo saide it excelled that of Lindaraza where he disinchanted his father as in the first of the first part of this great Historie No sooner were these valiant warriors arriued when the draw-bridge that yet stood on high was let downe which hauing past they stept to the Piller whereon the hornes hung The ingrauen scrowle of the Table they thus read When the fiue warriours the aduenture doth require shall bee here togither if they be of such daring hearts as to prooue it let each of them hang one of these hornes about his necke and winding them the Castle gates shall be opened and they may enter In performance thereof these mightie Princes were nothing slow but euery one louingly imbraced one another they each of them presented themselues before either of the Castles whose gates presently flew open at the shrill founding of the hornes the eccho whereof was also heard within the Citie of Rome Throgh the doore that befel vnto the inuincible Alphebo issued a deformed vgly big Gyant mounted on a lustie Courser with a strong knottie lance in his hand hauing a pike of well tempered stéele aboue two handfuls in length Him Alphebo receiued with the swiftest running of his horse the like did the Gyant with such furie as the earth could scarce beare them They met so strongly that the gyants big lance flew in péeces against the inpenetrable shield of the knight of the Sunne whose shiuers hissing through the ayre mounted higher then the proude toppe of the inchantment The Gyants mightie speare was not of strength to pearce Alphebos thield the which was resisted by the magicke spelles wherewith Lyrgandeo had forged it yet was hee cast backwards ouer his saddle bowe loosing the raines out of his hand I know not to what I shall compare the Emperour of Trebezounds incounter for hitting the gyant in middest of his shield he pearced it togither with the plates of stéele and priuie coate whose inchaunted power vnable to defend the lance guided by so braue an arme he ran it through his left side mortally wounding him directly on his heart against which the strong speare bending he broke it and leauing a péece in the wound the rest flew into the middle region of the ayre So passing forward they met with such a shocke that it deserues eternall memorie for as the two warriors incountred shield against shield and bodie with bodie the haughtie knight of the Sunne first ranne against the Gyant vpon the speares trunchion which hee so vehemently thrust through his bodie that it cleft into his miserable heart yet he scapt not so frée but felt himselfe so brused on his Corneryno that the poore horse was driuen to strike his buttockes on the ground along whose backe his Maister fel in such amazement that he knew not whether he was in heauen or on earth But recouering himself and iudging it cowardise he set spurres vnto his horse which made him fetch light carreirs vppon the ground And looking after his aduersarie he sawe him lie vpon the earth voyding his blood as through a riuer by him lay his horse with his shoulder broken and both at one instant accompanied each other in death A little reioyced not the courteous Emperor at his spéedie good successe and after his due thankes to God for his victorie would not procéede vntill the end of Brouorants battell whom hee
that the alterations of time reuoluing chaunces may any way preuaile against vs. I knowe not whether I may call most happie you or your subiects for if they haue Pollidelpho for their Lord you haue a people that amongst neighbours of most woorth had got the honour of themselues by so glorious a déed the which may hee that hath begunne it blesse and to eternall posterities so propagate as we desire Wherevpon they embraced as they had but then séen one another doing the like by the beautious Venus confirming her daughters name And Laissa séeing her husband a Christian would not longer continue Pagan For eight daies during the feastes of those solemnities the Princes delayed their going in the end whereof the Greeke Prince with onely his Squire Pallisandro departed from his friends His company required the Dacian but Lesbio his Dwarffe would not saying it behooued Claridiano to goe alone where forrowing the waued boosome of Neptunes region we leaue them a while to relate what else happened in Constantinople CHAP. VIII The preparations the mightie Emperour Trebatio made knowing all Asia and Affrica did rise in armes against him And how Archysibora departed from the Court. SO many and so certaine were she newes that euery day were broght of the Nyquean Soldans mightie preparations and of the aydes helpes hee demanded of his bordering neighbour kings that although it were not giuen out gainst whom such hostile assemblies of Pagan Infidelles were pressed yet would not the carefull Christian Emperour séeme carelesse of his necessarie affaires but rather commaunded Oristides the newe Thessalian king with al expedition to vnite with new supplies to strēgthen al his scattered troupes and with them to march away along the nearest of their enemies neighbouring holds that their diligence might stay their haste He obeyed accompanied with his Sarmatia and executed his office so well that in fewe daies he reparted on thrée frontiers to the number of two thousand men And leauing the Empire sure that way he withdrew himselfe with fortie thousand men towards Nyquea to sée if the enemie would assault any place on the sudden He performed it all with such happie spéede that his good diligence was to no small effect for that is it which ouercomes the most labourous toyle The Troyans quicke expedition was no meanes to make the Emperour be ydle but rather to shewe his great care For of Macedonians and Greecians he gathered a well furnisht armie wherewith he accounted himself secure Of the last nor of those that séemed remisse in these broils was Torismundo none but being aduertised of the affaires he shipt himselfe towards Spaine where hee prouided all the gallies of Naples and Sicely with those of Portugall whose direction Don Siluerio commaunded them to obey On the seas was not a more discréeter knight séene better to order and reprehend a battell With fiue hundreth sayles he began to plough the Western Ocean which contained the powers of Spaine France and Portugall whereof sixtie hundred thousand were Spaniards with whose valor he doubted not to confront the proudest enemie Of Portugalles 40. thousand whose skill on the sea excelled the skilfullest The French king with consent of the Prince Clauerindo sent vnder the Spanish Ensignes 90. thousand well armed knights Of all these men he had made his Lieftenant Generall his valiant son Corselio About the end of Aprill with all these powers the furious Torismundo found himselfe on the vtmost confines of his land in sight of Lauering where ouerviewing all his Fléete from the hatches of his Gallie all in sanguine armor raising his Beuer and on a bloody Launce he thus spake I shall not néed most valiant knights to explicate in words what great rewards a wel fought battle doth yéeld nor what neuer dying honor is therby obtained where rather a man must be foūd dead holding his sword within his hand then for feare to haue it said he did force it But since we wade within such danger of our liues I will no more remember saue the auncient blood from whence we do descend since it was neuer said of a French man that killing he did flie I will not particularize the déeds of Spaine where Fame these waste seas can memorise more then what is reported that her ordinance in millitarie discipline is able to attempt the hardiest enterprise The which since wee haue sufficient conioyned with such strength let vs imploy it all for with so mightie forces it were an easie matter to ruinate the whole world The which that it may be done with more courage I do denoūce this war with fire and sword to be executed yet intreating that none to shew himselfe valiant become barbarously cruell for nothing so much as it doth blemish the deserued reputation of a souldier Where ending the Admirall discharged thrée péeces of ordinance as a signe that euery one should be ready against the mornings Sun vprise with outspread sayles to recommend their Fortunes to the fauours of the windes and waues A great encouragement to all the men were the Generalles animating words whereat to expresse how feruently they were addicted to the warres they all vnsheathed their swords proclaiming the obedient faith due to their Prince who with a merrie gale of winde set towards Grecia aduertising the Emperor of his comming who was not a little glad of his ayde He entered the wide Hauen of Constaninople discharging all his grose Artillerie with such noise that heauen and earth séemed to méet al the Castles answered them with the like There was none but came to the shore to see the entrance of the Spanish Fléet No lesse gallant on land then a good souldier on Sea would hee shewe himselfe landing all the Spaniards in good order brauely attired and euery one with a gréene scarfe a crosse his breast to distinguish them from the Frenchmen that wore theirs read and the Portugals russet In this maner he landed 50000. Spaniards 30. thousand Portugals and fiftie thousand French leauing the rest to guard and defend his Gallies It excéedingly gladded the Emperor to sée so well furnished men and chiefly with father and sonne whom hauing neuer before séene in his very soule he reioyced to sée their excellent disposition By land was alreadie arriued his deare Grisanda whose companie was most welcome to the Gréeke Ladies The immeasurable ioy cannot be expressed which the Spaniards cōceiued séeing the Dames of Greece and as in warre no amorous thoughts were euer troublesome to a souldier so the dread command of angrie Mars could not hinder them from the procurement of some swéet sure rest in whose name they might imploy the valor of their persons This pleasing life did little last for the Emperour hauing true notice that his friends were comming to succor him resolued to go séek his enemies know gainst whō such inumerable powers were assēbled On the other side the absence of his deare sonnes much troubled him for he had onely with him his
the Castle and all the Inchauntment made in the vanishing strooke him in a traunce on the ground and was no lesse then if heauen and earth should haue met with fierce incounters An houre and more lasted the tempestuous noyse in the end wherof the skies cleared and Claramant found himself neare to the Fountaine of the thrée Pipes from whence Claridiano ranne to imbrace him and ioyfull to sée him safe said taking off his Helme How doo you féele your selfe most valiant Knight for I am sure considering the outragious cries I heard you haue not bene idle I haue vndergone all things easily sir Knight replied his vncle only by hoping of your sight which hath lessened all my troubles if any be sustained So sitting downe at the Fountaine he related to him all his successes wherat his cousin remained no lesse amazed then content iudging the knight to be the sonne of vallour of whome Claridiano intreated he might know who he was Were it for nothing else Sir Knight replied Claramant but to satisfie your content I should haue thought my selfe most happie if Fortune would haue let me tell you who I am But hauing so fauoured me with your deare sight and acquaintance no maruel if this pleasure so sauour of some discontent as in not being able to reueale my parentage to you because indéed I knowe not who I am more then that I haue some yeares bene nourished in this Groue being made excéeding much of yet not knowing by whom nor for what cause it is incredible Sometimes to comfort me in my solitarinesse they told me I was of Greece and of Noble parents There is no ioy comparable to Claridianos hearing he was a Gréeke perswading himselfe certainly he was his kinsman Againe he imbraced him gratulating his being of that Countrey and his Countrey man Claramant requested also to know him since the friendship vowed betwéene them might allow no secret from the other To please him Claridiano did it The kissing of his hands intreated his faire vncle saying The not knowing you soueraigne Prince hath made me commit so manifest an error wherefore in signe of inpenetrated pardon graunt me your victorious hands that I may thereon expiate the offering of my innocency on them due to your worthinesse His tender Cousin imbraced him and said Most valiant Knight this is not tollerable yours being of such deserts meriting the dutie of all the world And trust me you are too blame to vse me with such ceremonies that am your professed friend and wil be til the death All that day they rested there in pleasant conuersation passing away the time where Palisandro reioyced in his very soule that his Lord had found so mightie a friend So many things did the Prince discourse to him of Grecia which so contented Claramant that he intreated him to returne and accompany him thither The which Archisiloras Louer graunted purposing to discouer himselfe to none arriued in Crecia and so he praied his vncle In the afternoone the two Heroicke warriors tooke their way towards the Sea At their departure from the Fountaine on the Piller that contained the former words they reade these The intricate Laborinth and vanquishment of Theseus the most ingratefullest of all Louers was ended by the mightie Kinght of the Lyons in presence of his greatest friend and kinsman by whom he first receiued his libertie And so both ended the famousest aduenture in the world The suspitious words to be neare Allies could not more augment the Louers amitie betwéene the two haughtie youthes although they increased new ioy hoping in the end that Prophecie would issue true Thus they arriued at the sea shore where they founde their inchaunted Barke richly prouided with all necessaries for the Gréeke Princes Who being shipt therein with more fury then doth a Commet crosse the azure skies it launched into the déepe Where of force we must leaue them returning to Greece CHAP. XX. How Lysarte King of Tharsis and his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria arriued with their Fleete within sight of the Maruellous Tower and what else happened ALthough I am constrained altogither vnwillingly to leaue treating of Loue and Loues discourses yet wil I not leaue to implore your fauours bewteous Ladies to march vnder the displayed Ensigne of sterne and bloodie Mars For if it he wel considered this is an amorous warre procéeding of affection wherein the chéefest and valiantest thereof imparts no blowe vpon their enemies but is guided by Cupid Some fight here to please their Ladies others to giue her libertie inclosed in the Tower whose loue many prosecuted but only by one is obtained And others to become Louers choose this warre as their best meanes for it which indéed sorted not in vaine because many sacrificed their liberties to vnknowne Ladies especially in Greece where the blinde God kept the greatest part of his treasure wherewith he captiuates the strongest hearts So that diuine Ladies while I follow Mars his Drumme I doo not forget the footing of Cupids daunces And this opinion is wel confirmed by the gallant Florisarte Prince of Argentaria who neither Armes nor the being among so many bloods could extinguish the remembrance of his Loue not knowing who it was saue only to maintaine his word ingaged to disguised Artinio that for Arbolindas sake the faire Princesse of Scotland had so laide that plot heretofore recited whose memorie and absence made him within his Helme drowne his eyes in teares It is common excellent Ladies among amourous Gallants alwaies to bewaile their greatest euil although many other present daungers doo incompasse them In this perplexitie the valiant youth in his fathers company with all his Fléete nauigated the Gréeke sea with prosperous winde With such great desire came the Argentarians and men of Tharsis to fight that they thought they should neuer sée the occasion to shew their kings how greatly they desired to haue them Ten dayes they sayled on the Vast seas méeting with nothing that might hinder their voyage bearing the Gréeke armes in middest of their Cullours The eleuenth day early in the morne they discryed a mightie Nauie of ships and Gallies houering vp and downe vpon the calme waters They were aboue seuen hundreth sayles So not knowing what they were nor of whose part they strook alarm séeing the great aduantage they had ouer them both in winde and lightnesse of vesselles The Fléete of the Tharsian Prince in good order began to cast about in manner of a halfe Moone discharging two péeces of ordinance in signe of battle setting forwards against their aduersaries Who as it séemed trusting to their strength of multitudes made ready their well furnished ships and answered thē in like manner aduancing on their Admirall their royall armes and thus they approached one an other séeming to couer the seas Foure of the Agentarian Gallies rowed forth without spread sayles to discouer their aduersaries ensignes which to their content they discried for being in sight of them they saw the imperiall
thought he was able with them to subdue all the world For most of the Princes were accompanied with furious Giants and many Sagitaries especially the Soldane of Egypt because his country affoorded most With such noyse they arriued at the Tower as if heauen and earth had met Yet for all this did not the two Combattants desist from the cruell sight vntill the strange knight saw how great a Fléete made thitherward and then thinking it no wit longer to stay with a cruel point thrust the sturdie Brauorant from him and turning his barke put foorth into the sea leauing the inraged Pagan so furious that hee was about to follow him Hée was nothing daunted with the sight of so huge a Nauie but rather wished they would assault him that hee might execute on them the wrath that the knight had put him in who was none other but the bewtious Archysilora who séeing the flames came to the Tower Within sight she stood and so did the sixe Gallies to sée what order they tooke With soueraigne prayses did Lupersio extoll the merits of the Knight of the Tower so euery one called him They all reioyced knowing whose sonne he was and how he would take their part He aduertised his friend Bembo to honour him for in him consisted the sure hopes of that doubtfull victorie The Prince did so sending a Galley to salute him in his name A little did not the Pagan estéeme the account that was made of him much honoured Bembo being acquainted with him By Lupercios counsell the thrée most mightie Pagans Bembo Brauorant and Brufaldoro his competitor placed themselues before the Arches for he â—…red what after did insue and there had it not beene in respect of Bembo would Brauorant haue had assaulted the Mauritanian There was neuer a Prince in all the Fléet but went to know him all whom he receiued with singular courtesie But how he tendred Floraliza requires a new storie hers was the third voyce in counsel of war for that dignitie had Lupercio procured her by whose direction all the armie was gouerned Neuerthelesse greatly sorrowed the Soldane of Nyquea for his sonnes absence thinking his presence would haue assured his hopes Scarce had that mightie Nauie cast about the Tower when another no lesse puissant then it appeared Eastward froÌ„ the coast of Grecia the which but stripping the windes purposed to get the aduantage of his enemies It was the Emperour Trebatios that with fiue hundreth shippes and galleyes made towards the highst part of the Tower somewhat a farre off and from the toppes of their masts they could descrie the Fléete at the Tower which they iudged to be their enemies Neuer did Neptune on the seas behold a thing more stupendious for both armies seemed two populous Citties In the royall Admiral all the Princes were met to consult on the giuing of the battel The Emperor brought with him the best men in all his Empire and in his guard his sonne Rosicler the warlike Rosamond with famous Brandafidel and the stout Bramidoro king of CerdenaÌ„ For the Ladie perswading her selfe that in so renowmed an enterprise her beloued Dacian would surely be would not stay in Grecia but rather clad in her rich armour was one that wonne most honour both on sea and land With him also came the sonnes of the mightie Croanto Lord of the Carmenian Iles knights whose like the world contained fewe No lesse guarded was the Emperor Alphebos Admiral within which there was besides himselfe his deare Empresse Teffereo and the two valiant Spanish brothers for his more safetie he had with him twelue Gyants his neighbours then who in all the aduerse armie there was none valianter nor that with more trust and care defended their Prince The Spanish Admirall was one of the brauest and best furnisht shippe in eithers Fleet for therein would Torismundo shewe his magnifisence with his brother in lawe Clauerindo and both their sonnes that were in her and at their guard fiftie Spanish knights that against Mars neither of them would refuse the combat The new King of Thessaly would néeds manifest how much he was bound vnto the Greekes to whom with his Sarmatia the first onset was committed and to be seconded by the Spanish and French as meÌ„ most hardiest at the first assaults The Emperor Trebatio like a wise Captaine shewed himselfe in sanguine coloured armor for this deuice pleased him best and mounted the hatches of his ship that euery one might sée him With him came the two wise men Lyrgandeo Aâ—tomidoro who as yet knew not the end of the aduenture for it was in Medeas bookes and he that had them was their friend Nabato that in a Cloude houered ouer the Tower for his deare Don Elenos sake least Lupercio with his exercismes might deuise some newe treason against the Lady enchaunted there The counsell was ended with resolution straight to begin the battel although there wanted the Kings of Antioch Babylon and Persia whose presence was greatly missed Euery Prince and commaunder passed to his owne ship to order theyr necessarie affaires And while the quiet waues with gentle calme hore their vesselles the great Emperour of Greece leaped into a Frigat wtth his Helme off on the one side went his sonne Rosicler and on the other Don Elenos faire Lady and hauing gone round about his Nauy encouraging his souldiers set himselfe in middest of them all and thus began Come is the time most valiant knights wherein déeds will be more requiset then words hauing such multitudes of strong enemies to cope withall if I be mooued to speake thus beléeue me it is but to renew the memorie of the royall blood from whence we descend the glory the our predecessors froÌ„ age to age haue maintained eternizing their fames therby to all posterities intreating you as friends that none would fight otherwise then to make their enemies confesse the worth of their persons not for desire of spoyle or gaine and to expresse his duty loue fidelitie towards his God Prince and country for this nothing but this will assure his victorie And let not their ouermatching numbers daunt our couragious mindes but still vphold our woonted valor wherewith in despite of foes we made our names to be feared There can be no greater honor then with glory here like good knights to die if sates haue so appointed And since euery one of you knowes the right and iustice of our cause let vs confidently trusting thereto make them know how vniustly they haue topsey-turuey turned the world Here ended the braue Emperour and with amiable Maiestie commaunded his frigate to his former place leauing his souldiers so animated with his words that they thought euery minute long till they met with their enemies Straight he ordered his battels diuiding his Fléete into thrée parts The middle most he himselfe conducted being all the Gréekes and Macedones whose Generall was Meridian The right squadron guided the Emperour Alphebo with all
from their wounds the which maketh our knight take the condition of a Lyon assayling and retyring like an Eagle in swiftnesse but the more hee toyles the more doth it augment force in his aduersaries for their inchanment lies in tumbling downe the way Claramant ascended Long endured not this strife for the Prince séeming to feare them gaue a litle backe wherat they eagerly followed him which he well noting set on him that came foremost and méeting him right against the ladder he turned about his axe with such fury that with it he feld the Giant ouer who was neuer more séene The Gréeke was of pregnant and sharp vnderstanding so he straight perceiuing the cause which made him auoiding a blow of the suruiuer close with him suddenly hoysting him aloft tumbled him the same way his companion went If all the frame of heauen and earth had fell it could not haue caused more feare then what surprysed the hearts of euery one by the Gyants death So wearie remained Claramant that to ease himselfe he raised his Beauer to breathe a while and so he looked out at a window on the battle reioycing to sée so many of his enemies vessels to burne with fire Long stood he not so because the wise Nabato in company of the Ladyes issued out of an other fayre Gallery The Gréeke had not till then since his enchantment séene any woman which made him admire these fayres iudging none might equall the cheefest of them So the wise man approached saying Most excellent knight you may account your selfe in more then I may well expresse hauing ended such an aduenture as this onely reserued for the valour of your person and vertue of those armes the which vntill this instant haue cost you most deare yet must you more indure sustaining many dangers about them and therefore henceforth begin to take courage And as for what you haue done for these Ladies because in part it concernes your selfe they shall not néed to thanke you And more in this matter I am not permitted to say till you shall loose your libertie recouering then both father mother friends and wife And while I liue will I assist you to my power for my Lyons sake that is among you whom I account as my sonne So for this time ceasing I commit vnto your victorious hands Lyriana the faire princesse of Nyquea espoused vnto the valiant Gréek Prince Rosabell that belowe expected her brauely backing you with your deare friend Hauing thus said he vanished Claramant taking the Lady by the hand fairer then the sun he ledde her downe the steps at the noise of such swéete musicke that it much delighted both fléetes Thither repaired most of the valiantest Pagans imagining the aduenture ended Oh Bembo it touches thée more thē any so more then humane deeds doest thou perform yet all auaile not against thy contrarious fates for the Gréeke Emperor séeing the aduentures end cōmanded certaine Gyants to rowe him there with more furie to breake through his enemies with whom went most of the warlike Knights He that best deserued in that exigent discharging the hopes of him expected was the braue Tartarian Zoylo being high treasurer of all the fleete who desirous to shew how much he was indebted to Rosabell chose out eight of the best furnished Gallies both of sayle and munition and with them in a rancke he set himselfe along the Arches that way to hinder his aduersaries approach although all their fléete made thitherwards and so ioyning with Oristoldo and his valiant father in his ship with Abstrusios barke which was the strongest on all the sea they brauely resisted the Pagans furie that then seemed reuenous Nothing helped them for then Claramant descended with his Beauer closed because he would not be knowne by any With a loude voice he demanded for Rosabell Farre from him was not the glad youth most ioyfull séeing his Lady sure from his enemies She was deliuered to him with these words I doo so much desire your content most valiant Prince that to procure it I haue indeuoured to doo thus much and so in signe that I will euer be your friend while life indures I present you with the spoiles onely due to your vallour Whereto the Prince replied Braue knight I doo not so much estéeme the good you haue done me by liberating my espowse although my life depended thereon as the generositie and magnanimitie wherewith you doo it which is so great that I cannot requite saue by perpetually acknowledging the debt you haue bound vs all in and referre the satisfaction to your owne merits from whence this memorable act procéeds The great hurleburly brake off their farther spéeches whereat he returned for the other Ladies and Rosabel with his in his armes was conducted to the Christians Imperiall Admirall where the Gréeke Emperour receiued them with the greatest ioy in the worlde Presently was victorie proclaimed for the Gréekes who being assured thereof fought fiercer then at first The sunne with his absence parted that more then wondrous Battle and so the Pagans fearing their vtter ouerthrow sounded retrait leauing the third part of their vesselles swallowed by the sea with infinit number of Knights and Gyants They entred into counsell to sée what befitted them Voyces were giuen altogither to ende the battle but in the end they resolued the contrary because their aduersaries held Fortune by the hand and thereuppon withdrew towards Nyquea from whence with fresh supplies and new hostes to turne vpon Grecia they resolued Some comfort was this to those that were like to burst with fury Bembo would not be cured til the Souldan himselfe intreated him So madde was Brauorant that none durst looke him on the face The wise man consolated and animated them saying he did finde by his Art that if there doo not come more supplies to Grecia they should surely conquere it for their partie would be far augmented by the vniting of many more Princes much wronged by the Gréekes With this they were appeased although destitute of consolation Nothing so were the Gréekes that all the night spent in ioy and pleasure not missing their lost men though they were very many The Emperor with all his sons wold néeds passe into Abstrusios great and strong Galleon to doo him that fauour Who requested the kissing of his handes but the Emperor would not and imbracing him said If I had knowne we had bene all souldiers vnto so braue a Captaine I had with better hopes expected the happie successe of this conflict What I did in what degrée soeuer most mightie Monarche he replied was through imagination of the great content I hoped would haue redowned by my seruice the which I assure eternally vnto your Crowne All the warlike Ladies assembled togither where Archysilora made her selfe knowne The Emperour tooke her in his armes saying In faith beléeue me faire Quéene our victorie hath bene too small since procured by such hands Rosamonde reioyced in her hart with
it amazed the world hauing farre greater forces then his father Bramarante So when hee sawe himselfe with armes and knewe the Greekes had slaine his Grandfather hee solemnely protested on the hilts of his sword to holde perpetuall enmitie with them Although presently arriued other sorrowfull newes of his fathers death and how the Gréeke Princes with their owne hands intombde him vowing to defend his armour against any that would presume to take them This somewhat pacified his rage yet not to estéeme them his friends It gréeued his verie soule to heare that the king of Mauritania had dared to take away the armour of his deare father that hee would stay no longer thinking hee wronged his honour in the deferring of his iust reuenge This aboue all the valiantest hee had that hee was courteous and gentle and without sufficient cause would neuer vndertake nor of any euer demaunde the combatte Arriuing in Grecia hee became more milder not by méeting any that ouermatcht or equalled him in fight but with the sole sight of the Gréekish Ladies gallantnesse Hée was prone to loue and in pursuite thereof performed no mean aduentures Finally betwéene him and the furious Bembo was all the strength of Paganisme diuided Hee tooke his leaue of his subiects for then he none was euermore beloued of any with whom hee left commaundement that straight vpon report of warre against Greece they should with the greatest power they could assemble séeke him there who onely with the son of the Gouernour of his kingdome called Artanio left the confines of Scythia where he raigned purposing to imploy himselfe in nothing till he met the Mauritanian Brufaldoro and to take from him the armes of his so deare and valiant father calling himselfe vnfortunafe in that he had not known him His ship being rigged and of all munition and tackling well prouided within one moneth hee entred the vaste Greeke Ocean which not a little gladded him to be in his enemies countrie On the fourth day of his Nauigation hauing thitherto met with no aduenture woorthie a Historie he descried making towards him a shippe whereat he reioyced excéedingly hoping to knowe newes of his demaund The shippes in their méeting came so neare that Brauorant might well discerne vpon the hatches of this strangers shippe two knights of gallant disposition clad in rich and strong Armor with whose sight he rested highly contented for in all his life he had not séene better accomplisht Gentlemen They wore their Helmets off to take the freshnesse of the aire and séeing he ioyned his to their shippe they put them on And he approaching said Sir Knights I shal be highly fauoured to know neare what land we are and how farre we be from the nighest Eleuated in contemplation were the two séeing so stout a youth for hauing his vyzor raised they sawe his beard did not as then spring foorth The one replied you now do nauigate sir knight in the Gréekish sea and are not aboue thrée daies sailing from Constantinople for so many is it since we thence departed In curtesie then tell me required the sturdie youth whether he that slew the Gran Campeon Bradaman be now in that Citie for it greatly concernes me to méete with him And I cannot beléeue nor is it possible that onely one to one he should ouercome him whom all the Orientall Regions feared The other answered That Prince is in Greece Knight and if you proue your selfe with him you shall finde that was nothing he then did so great is his valiantnesse and vnmatched strength whereto the heauens ioyned all their influences to make it incomparable To heare the Gréeke so praised did excéedingly vexe the youth So the Pagan replied saying Surely if all in Greece be as valiant in fight as they are singular in their Princes praises they cannot be lesse estéemed then for the wonders of Chiualry and in the world soly excellent for déeds in armes So are they indéed replied the knight and he that dares gaine say it I here defie him to mortall battell Defie me answered he Oh heauens is this tollerable I heare that before I sée the countrie of my enemies there should bee any to dare me and challenge me therefore no longer would the inraged Pagan stay but commaunding his barke to be grappled close with his aduersaries hee drewe foorth his furious blade Against Mars would not the other refuse the combat but in this gets he little for being with triall assured of the Pagans strength hée straight imagined what small honour hee should get in that attempt For the raging Scythian raising his Merculean arme as that was the first blowe so would he make it notable which indéed was such a one that lighting on the top of his helme hee slised away the one half with part of the neck-péece and descended on his shoulder with such waight that he thought a Tower had fallen thereon which made him fall vnto the ground vpon his handes loosing a péece of his vanbrace Another seconded the new Mars lessening the former with the furie of the latter lighting on him as he rose in the middle of his strōg shield which as if it had béene made of a thin plate was cleane cut from the one to the other end and the blowe fearcely falling on his sight astonished felled him al along vpon the barke voyding much blood throgh his nose and mouth An Eagle in lightnesse was the Pagan so would he follow leaping after him but the supreme guider of the Orbes did otherwise appoint it moouing his companion to succour him with incredible seleritie making the Scythians of none effect by giuing him a venturous thrust on the sturdie breast making him recoyle backewards for had he lept into their shippe both had left their liues in the handes of the angrie Pagan who like a furious Basseliske offered againe the daungerous leape but to prohibit him stood the amorous Florisarte for it was he and his father with the disguised Princesses that were there who departing from Greece were brought to that passe that they accounted themselues surely vanquished so fierce séemed the Scythian By this was the father risen reioycing at the good ayde his sonne had giuen him Againe reioyned the two barkes and their beeing both togither increased their hopes of victorie The haughtie youth refused them not but rather ioyed thereat iudging them Knights of estimation and since so valiant tokens they shewed thereof he thought that vanquishing them some honour he might atchieue by the conquest He was inraged against the some for disturbing him from winning the enterance of their ship and so suffering a mightie blow that had he not bene Brauorant that receiued it no other could haue the heart to endure the second At his pleasure did he reache the beloued Florisarte on the one side of his shield Farre did not the sword enter for the Scythian staied his arm but all that it reached which was the shield it snatcht frō his hands
to intreate what by commaunding makes me happie in obedience I am called Brauorant sonne to that famous Bramarant which in Greece was deathes man to himselfe and Nephewe to that Campeon which lost his life by the hands of a Gréeke Prince although I cannot beléeue it and therefore haue I left my countrie of purpose to be reuenged on the Gréeks and the Mauritanian king whose land we now tread because hee tooke away my fathers armour and also I come to know the Prince Meridian whose vassaile I am and greatest friend in respect of the loue that he and the mightie Midinaro his Grandfather did beare vnto my kindred And this is all I can say praying the like not in regard of my relation but that I may know my Soueraigne bound thereto was the Ladie replying thus I greatly desire to knowe my stocke and whom I am that I might therein satisfie your content braue Brauorant and I assure you that the most I knowe is that I knowe not whom I am more then that a brother of mine and my selfe were brought vppe togither in a wood without other conuersation then of a wise man that did instruct vs in all vertues whom wee reputed our father till hee assured vs the contrarie and through the accidents befallen some haue tolde vs wee are the children of that so loued Prince Meridian More I knowe not I beléeue no lesse but that those which are the earths chief lights aunswered the amorous Scythian deriue their diuine discent from the heauens whence your sacred Grandfather procéeds As they were in this conuersation they sawe him comming whom they soght mounted on a mightie Courser he wore not then the armour of that Mars and mightie Bramarant kéeping them onely to weare in Grecia the more to despight her Princes The Ladie knewe him and tolde it the fierce Pagan that cried out for ioy saying This aduenture excellent Ladie admits comparison solely with that of your knowledge Now am I certaine of all good fortune since the heauens haue set before mine eyes with so smal toyle the thing I most desired He arose with angrie paces and called for his fierce horse The like did the Ladie lightly vawting into the saddle The Scythian was nothing enuious thereat for in lightnesse the Orientall nations affoorded not his péere and brandishing his lance made against the Mauritanian but what happeneth describeth the next Chapter CHAP. III. What befell vnto the mightie Bramorant with the warrelike Brufaldoro the most cruell battell betweene them and how they were parted by Floraliza SOme content may the angrie aspect of the two warrtours mooue that representing Mars either to the other approached The Mauritanian with his accustomed pride spake first saying What vnexpected motion of suddaine alteration knights hath my comming sturde in yée If you stand in any néede speake for in the vttering consists the remiede Of nothing haue we néede replied Campeons fierce Nephew for if any had wrongd vs we haue hands not to remit our remedie to others That which hath mooued this knight and my selfe with hastie paces to méete you is onely to know what cause the Mauritanian king had to take away the armes of that glorious Bramarant knowing how thereby he angred the Gréeke Princes yet no matter for this I séeke not their contents but thou shouldst imagine that a senne of his liuing greater was the wrong to take them since they were his right guiding thy selfe thereto more by insolencie then the dutie of a knight Neuer did the barbarous Sarazin nation know a more prouder Pagan then the king of Mauritania and supposing him like to others he had tried with a fearefull voyce hee replied What cowarde knight thinkest thou that méeting with those armes I would through feare leaue them although I did incense the heauens and anger euery one the earth contained Oh I wish I had them here to weare them in triumph of my valours victorie making the powers of heauen knowe to thy cost no terrene merits better deserues to weare them then Brufaldoro Milde in the beginning was the Scythian but being mooued to rage no Basseliske is like to him so roring like a bull and turning his horse casting his eyes vp to the skie said Is it possible that I liuing sole sonne to Bramarant should suffer this and that any other but he should threaten me permitting sithens thou haste his armour and detaines them not to procure them or loose my life in the enterprise So great was their rage that the one could neither prosecute his spéech nor the other make reply leauing to their handes what their tongues could not vtter Now would I here but I know not how I may againe implore your sacred helps admired Ladies of vnspotted purities but the importunate tōgue euermore tuned with this one vocal note dasht my thoghts in their expected hopes I dare oh I dare not presume least I should waken your slumbering displeasures they are woorse then then thousand wo-languishing deaths to pray the comfort of a smile the soules nourishment and hearts incourager to tread the difficultie of Dedalus inextricable laborinth or as Hercules to vndergo so many labors But being repulst in selfe conceit shall I flie to those chaste diuine Nimphs of that euerflowing fountaine of tongue inspiring musicke that some one not busied in the laies of loue would inchaunt my rusticke penne with a delicious method according to the two mightie warriours deserts They did refuse my plaints referring my Orizons to your desiding doom submitting their wils to your greater cōmanding powers whose fauours in my behalf they promised to solicit With trembling feare doo I once againe awaite your censures Oh in regard of their immaculate triple trinitie graunt it be it but vnder the couert of a fained smile whose obtained imagination swifter then the winde brought the sterne combattants to incounter with more noyse then Vulcans thunderboltes do rent the clowdie ayre amidst their furious passage or fiercer then the tempesteous waues raised by the vnbridled rage of a sea-oreturning whirlewinde beate on the flintie rockes yet was it nothing in respect of the horrour that these two rare in armes committed with their launces Of knottie Oake were they but arriuing at the brest brake as they were of weake cane or small reedes either past by the other without motion although the Moore at his turning about throgh the astonishment of the shocke lost his right stirrope Aloft with their swords raised togither they discharged them on their helms with more force then doth a waterie current descending from a stéepie hill breake through a riuers locke Venturous was the Mauritanians blowe for it lighted on the toppe of his plumed crest striking away all the stéeled circuite with part of the maled gorget on his shoulder praide the furious sword falling so heauily that he bowed belowe his horse necke On the shield did the fierce youth strike the Mauritanian it is no defence against the rigorous arme for the
halfe it tooke away making him shake like an Aspen leafe They were both most skilfull so turned they to second others and the Affricanian let flie a poynt which the youth surely felt who reacht him ere he could fetch home his arme with a crosse counterbuffe on the side of his helme that all that part he left disarmed ouerturning him more then hee willingly would on his left stirrope it was no occasion to be lost so assalting with his sword inwards before he could ward it did giue another no lesse dangerous on his sight so mightie that the blood gusht from his nose Neuer was troden Serpent more rigorous then now the Affrican returned that seeing himselfe so handled crushing one tooth with another with his blade mounted on high executed on his helme such a blowe that it almost strooke him sencelesse Hee well perceiued his alteration so tooke he the aduantage entring with a cruell thrust had not his armes béene as they were there had the battell ended but they were so strong that the sword could not enter them so sliding thence it lighted twixt the buckles of his brest cutting down his strong male and he was happie to shrinke his bodie to himselfe else hee had béene mortally wounded He past his carrier so swiftly that the Scythian could not strike him when he wold With such nimblenes returned the haughtie Affrican that his courage amazed the inuincible youth But now was hee at the vtmost of his rage and willing to make it known casting his shield at his backe let driue at him a most mightie blowe Ward it with his sword and the remnant of his shielde would the Affrican it was of no defence for from one to the other end it was clean diuided in two and méeting with his sword both made so cruell a stroke on his helme that though it contained two fingers in thicknesse he gaue him a perilous wound on his left side The Mauritanian would not deserre his payment for closing his sword firmly and séeing him without shield discharged the puissance of his armes on his sure helme it was it saued his life and his head from cleauing neuerthelesse it was so heauie that it strooke him along vpon his coursers backe redoubling another vppon his broad breast that it almost stopt the passage of his breath Admirable was the sight of the more then cruell fight for Apollo hauing made his course vnto the middest of the vaultie heauens there stayed to gaze vpon their warre glad to sée the warriours that without signe of aduantage had foure houres maintained their fierce combat Yet something better sped the Scythian by reason of his inpenitrable armes that kept his bodie from cutting Which was not so with the Mauritanian for in some places was he sore hurt but yet was no cause to make him shewe any faintnesse it rather increased his courage to sée his blood inamell the earth Amazed stood the gallant Ladie to viewe the Pagans battel iudging the worlds whole strength was twixt these two reparted Greatly she desired to giue order in parting them imagining that with the death of any Greece she lost one of the valiantest and greatest enemies she had This toucht her verie soule yet would she not séeme to disgrace the mightie Brauorant so shee againe regazed on the fight thinking in the end he would get the better seeming most Maister thereof He gaue the other a blowe ere she could terminate her presumption vppon his helme that in a trance hee strooke him on his horse crupper A while was he carried so about the field yet not so long that he might second another ere hee recouered himselfe Who like a Hercanian Tiger with his sword twixt both handes executed his rage vpon his shield so mightily did it ioyne with his head that it astonisht him and with another almost ouerthrewe him The raging mountain Lyonesse wanting her whelps is like a milde lambe compared with the puissant matchlesse Scythian that renouncing his Gods with execrable blasphemies spurd against the Moore and so eager was he in his carrier that he closed so neare hee could not execute his blowe more then cast his armes about him with such power that he snatcht him from his saddle whose waight forest him to leaue his stirropes leape after him falling both on the hard ground with more strength they imbraced then doth the tender Iuie incompasse about the sturdie Oake A good while tumbled they vp and downe the earth till séeing neither could so vanquish his aduersarie at once they parted repairing to their weapons whose sight once more might satisfie any minde of the like desire for if the Mauritanian be nimble the Scythian is a Roe in swiftnesse Here might Mars himselfe learne as in a schoole and with militarie principles gorge his sight For being a foote on ground it was admirable to note the dexteritie wherewith they assaulted and skilful manner of retires More noyse made they then Vulcans Cyclopean workemen Thrée houres of the afternoone were past and they without feare of any losse redoubled their blowes as in the beginning More vsed to armes was the Moore but the youth was borne with his stéeled coate finding ease amiddest the greatest warre so beganne hee to vaunt of his aduantage to the Mauritanians coste that beeing wounded beganne to faint yet not so plainly but would diuers times put his battell in hazard By this would Tytans shining beames obscure his splendor drenching it in the Spanish Ocean when the Ladie apparantly sawe the aduantage on Brauorants partie and iudged him sufficiently honored therewith leapt from her horse and stepping betwéene them said Apart apart braue warriours for it is no reason about a trifle of so small importance you should make the world Orphant of your persons Captiuated was the Pagan in the giues of his Ladies gallantnesse that he replied thus Heroicke Knight though in some respect I be herein wronged I wil not worke your discontent and do leaue the battle in this estate I take vpon me valiant knight said he the wrong offered you if it be any to leaue the fight and I doubt not but this knight wil take it well to cease it at this time Well perceiued the Mauritanian he might be fully perswaded now to haue the worst so he answered he was content and they should not want another time to ende it Thankfull vnto him for it was Floraliza and offering him her friendship the Moore departed bearing with him inough to talke off in his Citie of the Scythians courage They sat them downe and the youth tooke off his helme the like did the Ladie discoursing of Brufaldoros brauery This vertue among the rest greatly adorned Brauorant that he neuer tooke from any the merites that he thought him worthie of So was he first in giuing a beginning to Brufaldoros praises No better medicine could come to the lustie youth then the sight of that humane Goddesse whose bewtie had so inchaunted his sences that
who gaue him no longer time for this consideration for the two that on horsebacke remained returned to ouerthrow him Hee could not defend himself for the course was short and so headlong they ouerturned him Ere he could rise Celio stept to him with the greatest blow he had in al his life receiued for it had almost strooke him sencelesse laying him all along vpon the earth All this was no meanes to put the Dacian from his skilfull procéeding for ere he could second another like a furious Lyon he rose on his féet resolued to expect them Hee sawe himselfe in daunger of death for the two that remained on horsebacke with quicke and suddaine carriers so opprest him as he lost his hope with honour to issue out of that enterprise Among the horses he setled himselfe strongly A thing worthie his valour he did for his shield forwards he expected Larsinio that to incounter him had aduanced himselfe but no more he mooued him then if he had runne against a rock whom with his horse staggering back the Dacian forced to fall whereat the Prince was glad knowing that on foote he could better deale with them So he stept aside letting Alcino passe and as he went gaue him such a thrust which was it that assured him the victorie making him therewith maugre his strength to leaue his saddle For all this he had no cause to boast of the blowe for the inraged Celio ranne to him with both hands laying on his rich helme the temper gaue him his life else had his head downe to his necke béene diuided yet made he the blood in great abundance gush through his nose By this were the other two vp with their swords in hand It was a combat most worthie Cupids sight for the thrée are mightie and the Dacian the same he was woont and a foote stronger then Mars hée shewed himselfe like a cunning fencer setting forth at length his shield and sword to intice them to make offer Herein hee preuailed for most blowes he receiued on his shield which being inpenetrable they did not so much as race it In this manner a while he behaued himselfe but hee iudged it cowardise so to end the battell wherefore brauely he rusht among them well couering himselfe with his shield and as hee past he gaue the second brother such a counterbuffe on the helme striking away a great part of his vizor that it was aduenture he had not done so by his head Downe along the breast descended the sword making there a long daungerous wound with another he would haue ended that battell had the other two let him But the haughtie Celio with impoysoned rage entred so much inwards that at his pleasure hee could discharge his furie on the toppe of the inchaunted shield not able to cut it yet so waightie was the blow that thrée or foure steppes staggering backwards it forced him Larsinio was not ydle for with a strong point he thrust at his brest He felt the blow for it depriued him of his breaths passage The two brothers had not discharged their blowes when the wounded Alcyno returned and with both hands gaue him a most mightie stroke Rezound with Eccho did the gréene fields by the warriors sterne stupendious blowes And the angrie Iudge was astonished to sée with what crueltie they assayled each other Aduantage had the warrelike Dacian in his armour for though he was tired yet they had no scarre Otherwise was it with the brothers for the fielde was besprinkled with their blood Don Elenos celeritie much auailed him else he had not got the victorie so cheape but it and the surenesse of his armes makes it certaine Thrée houres haue they fought making no shewe of fainting in the end of which was the Dacian alreadie at the extreamest of his rage thinking he had the worst of the fight so casting his shield at his backe and with his sword twixt both hands began to brandish it among them quicker then the Cyclopian Smithes doo their crooked hammers and as he could not misse them he gaue no blowe but fetcht blood In the selfe same Coyne doo they paie him for the thrée more fiercer then Alcydes assayled him so brauely that if he giues he receiues and in greater quantitie with equall quallitie Now skill and dexteritie preuailes not with him all he remits to blowes wherewith he rents cuts and in péeces shiuers their armor priuy coates and shields He would first dispatch Celio which most troubled him so getting from the two entered to him and in his assault with a downright blowe he cut away his shield with al his vanbrace and a great péece of his shoulder Scarce had he done it whē with a point he turned against the second thrusting thrée parts of his sword vnder his arme pit where had he put foorth his arme as he mought for euer had he there laine Vpon Larsinos waste he discharged his furie so fiercely that it was a wonder he had not in two diuided him The heauens preserued him to paie his iealousie although against the Dacian Prince he lost thereby In his very soule was Celio vext to sée with what rygor that one knight handled them that taking his sword strongly in his fist aymed aloft giuing Alcyno time to giue him a dangerous blow on the thigh for falling betwéene a ioynt it made him a wound outwards so great was the paine as he could not stand on that legge which the brothers perceiuing and assuring themselues the victory began to oppresse him so vehemently as they depriued him of breathing Eager herein séemed the third brother and would make some shewe of his valour but it rezulted to his deare cost For Don Eleno noting his intent gaue back as fearing the rest and so let the third enter who being within his reach with incredible force laide him on the head he cut away most of his Helme with a great péece of his head tumbling him at his féete helping him thereto with another no lesse strong The other two closed with him lamenting the successe He could not refuse the wrasle He entred thereto aduisedly first drawing foorth his dagger quickly they fell on the ground where they tumbled a good while It was aduantage for the Dacian to be so for stretching foorth his arme in that place where before Alcyno was wounded on the front there againe Don Eleno strooke him making him loose his hold with the pangs of death Then he turned on the first whom for his valour he had affected but at that instant forgetting it let flie at his brest a most cruell stabbe wherewith he ended the brauest aduenture euer in that kingdome knowne The noyse which the haughtie edefice made vanishing away was heard through all the Citie of Xantho To Cupids Throne was the Ladie conueyed in that manner as she witnessed her brothers deaths whom the God of loue thanked for her amorous act in giuing her selfe the mortall stroke of death only mooued through zealous
He inquired of the Damzell the cause why with such spéede shee hasted his departure For none other sir knight replied the Damzell but to see one of the fairest Ladies in the greatest daunger in the world and knowing that onely in your presence rests her remedie and in the least delay the greatest death that euer befell to any is sure on her For know most valiant Knight that in the kingdome of Tentoria there is a Lady no lesse beautifull then adorned with all good quallities and graces of the minde Shee was and is beloued of all her subiects because they know that chastitie beautie holds in her one equall degrée of soueraigntie Through the onely fame of her perfections with her the mightie Dardario fell in loue who was said to be the valiantest Gyant in the vniuerse Hee with a puissant hoast came vnto her land though peaceably with him hee brought a sonne vnknighted for his yeares did not allow it who became farre mightier then his father He sent his Ambassadors to our Quéene to let her know of his comming and demaund which was to marrie her A thousand times was my Lady about to stay her selfe to auoyde a match so vnequall She called a Councell of her Nobilitie who resolued to withstand him with fierce warre by reason there were many valiant knights that would loose their liues to defend their Quéen and countries safetie for although they sawe the Gyant come with signes of peace yet doubttng the woorst had gathered a great armie of men because they would not be suddainly surprised There were many voyces among them that the Quéen should marrie him being Lord of al the Isles in the Adriaticke Sea But in the ende most part agréed they should rather die with honour in fielde then for feare suffer such a marriage Eight daies respite had the Gyants giuen them for their aunswere In which time the beauteous Syrinda commending her affaires vnto the Gods and her wit she resolued on the greatest déed that euer Ladie did imagine Shee acquainted it with her Captaines and Councell of warre which are the shiefest Lords in her land and this it was That she would séeme to consent to his desire and that she durst vndertake in the night of her wedding day to giue the Gyants head vnto her Knights who should be in readinesse to issue vpon their enemies whose vanquishment would be easie being with the Feasts carelesse and vnarmed Almost all the Councell approoued my Ladies deuise and praying the immortall Gods to giue her good successe therein they aduertised the Gyants thereof that with extreame ioy was almost besides himselfe All his subiects laying by their armes with gallant shewes welcommed her answere Two daies after the proude Dardaria entred the Cittie with his soonne Abstrusio whom hee begot on a strong Gyantesse and so issued like his Parents He onely carried his bigge Cemitor at his side accōpanied with two Knights richly adorned and himself in robes of inestimable valor with a triple crowne on his head woorth a kingdome with Princely brauerie was he entertained by the dissembling Syrinda whom the fierce pagan imbraced with the greatest content in the world thinking himselfe in heauen séeing the Ladies excéeding beautie who with a thousand fained loue toyes inueigled the disarmed Gyant The desired night being come which was eternall to the Pagan and supper ended hee was most sumptuously brought to his bedde where the Lady faining some modest shame to be séene naked so long deferred her going to bedde that the force of the many meates and wine forced him into a sound sléepe Hee neuer more awaked for the Lady seeing her aduantage drew foorth a sharpe two edged Dagger which she thrice stabbed in his brutish breast pearcing his heart therewith Now that the couragious Dame was assured of his death she brauely cut off his head and presently gaue it to those knights shée had appoynted to expect it They tooke it extreamely ouerioyed and conueyed the Quéene and Ladies out of the Pallace for feare of some danger that might happen the next day With great desire they expected his comming whereon scarce had the Sunne sent foorth his messengers of morne when an alarme was sounded through all the Citie they of the Campe without thinking it was in honour of the Nuptialls replyed with all their millitary Instruments In an instant were aboue fiftie thousand men Armed whereof fiue thousand assaulted the Pallace leauing none aliue that with Dardario came except his haughtie sonne that hearing the noyse ranne foorth with one of the bedde postes making such pittiful slaughter that none durst assault him He got some weapons of those that were slaine wherewith his déeds are incredible But being alone and by so many thousands assaulted his death was certaine which the sturdie youth perceiuing got vnto the Camp where being come he found it so disordered and so many sayle and the rest so affrighted that he could scant méete with any that might tell him the cause of so great euil in the ende hee came to knowe it with such great griefe as he was about to kil himselfe his fathers Armour he put on and the first he met guirded him his sword The fury that possest the youth when he sawe his fathers head pearched on a pole vppon the highest Turret of the Citie cannot most valiant Knight be credited Hée went foorth into the fielde roaring like a Bull and killing without mercy but his force was to small purpose for all his Army was discomfited and the Quéenes subiects behaued themselues so well that ere the day was halfe spent they had put the better thrée parts of their foes to the sword and gaue chase to the rest euen to their shippes wherein sore wounded as many as could imbarke themselues and among them the mightie Abstrutio purposing with newe powers to returne and with fire and sword to destroy our kingdome In his he arriued where his intent he presently put in execution not without griefe to sée that of fortie thousande men his father had carried with him he had returned backe againe scarce fiue thousand The Paganne spoyles left all our lande excéeding rich and our Quéene with the greatest Honour that euer Lady obtained Notwithstanding the great tryumphes made for so happie victorie yet would they not liue carelesse of their safetie but euery day mustred trained their souldiers and strengthning all their garrisons with the best men in the land because they would not loose what was obtained for want of diissipline béeing assured the sonne would come to reuenge the fathers death whose body was cast out for foode vnto the byrdes and beasts But now Magnanimious Knight returning to our purpose the murthered Gyant had in his owne Pallace my Ladies liuely counterfeite which he had caused to be made when hee first became enamoured of her This being left at home came to his sonnes hands which daily frequenting and the helpe of his tender yeares with continuall consideration
hands and so I am sure you wil considering my necessitie protect it in liew whereof I vow obedience to all your commaunds It fittes so ill faire Syrinda with my conditions spake the Gréeke to guard Ladies as the experience I haue of my owne misfortunes enforceth mee refuse this charge leauing it in the hands of this mightie knight protesting that if I had a sister and with her many kingdomes I would commit her to none other And séeing you haue so plainly heard my will I expect your reply according to yours that hereafter I may serue Ladies after a new manner I knowe not whether of the two were more ioyed with the Princes words but the Ladie with the accustomed bashfulnesse in such cases thus replied It well appeares sir knight you would by all good waies procure my good will to accomplish yours But that you may sée there is in me no lesse acknowledgement of your deserts then in this knight for what on my behalfe you haue performed I once againe submit my selfe to your order to dispose of him at your content assured that a knight of your worth wil regard my pure honour as your owne for hauing put my selfe in your hands the lawes of knighthood binds mée to it The Gréeke did highly as reason would estéeme what the Ladie did and vnwilling to deferre the happie content which the Pagan might receiue did presently espouse them on the top of that hill with more ioy then if they were in their rich royall pallace Witnesses they did not want for at the contract there were present the beauteous Nimphes Oreades and Hamadryades with many hairie Siluan Gods The Gréeke by telling them who hee was did very much please the new betrothed couple There they past away the remnant of the night in pleasant chat for the Pagan with gladnesse felt not his wounds and the Gréeke not willing to disturbe their content dissembled his own But when Apollos light expelled Cynthias darknesse from the heauen all thrée tooke their next way to the Cittie where hearing what had befallen they had armed aboue twentie thousand men the which seuerall waies diuided in many troupes went to séeke their king Many of them they met that greatly reioyced séeing him well who gaue order for the recalling of the rest backe againe which was so well followed that before noone they all returned In honour of the Nuptials throughout the Cittie and all the Kingdome many triumphs and Iousts were ordained therein the Gréeke shewed the incomparable valor of his person Hee continued there in the cure of his wounds aboue a month so tendred and honored as in Greece he could be no more So thankfull did the Ladie shew her selfe by her tender care and carefull attendance that the Greeke accounted all his paines well bestowed for her At length thinking it time he tolde the Prince how necessarie his departure was It extreamely gréeued them for they loued him as a brother They intreated him to stay one eight dayes more till the ending of an armour which the Lady had caused to be made hee was constrained to stay because he would not go without them I well appeared by their riches the good will they beare to him they likewise gaue him a lustie strong Courser wherewith and with the armes the Prince was well pleased He tooke his leaue of braue Abstrusio and not without many teares from Syrindas faire eyes They remained so affected vnto him that when the Gréeke warres were knowne this was one brought great ayde thither dooing the Gréekes such good seruice that thereby they sufficiently paide the Prince who with some gréefe for their absence in a well rigged ship Nauigated towards Nyquea thinking he shuld sooner there then in any other place heare of his Lady On the fift Nauigation Fortune already beeing weary of her stay would shew him one of her fiercest changes for obtaining Neptunes fauour she conspired with Eolus topsey turuey to ouerturne the seas raising such tempestuous stormes that the Prince saw himselfe a thousand times in the hands of death sometimes mounted aloft vpon the deuouring rigges of a waue as high as a heauens wéeping face and then tumbling downe as lowe as the lowest Center of the déepe thinking himselfe and shippe ouerwhelmed in those mercilesse waters accompanying the watery dwellers in their Cauerns Then would he pittie his weake ouermatched vessell to sée it striue against two such mightie Elementall foes for hauing lost by furie of the raging windes all her sayles her masses and tackels aboue was belowe so cruelly assaulted with the seas remorselesse surges that beating at her belly and sides had hewed their passage through her ribbes entring her breaches so without all pitie that neither by pumping nor any other means her leakes were vnable to be stenched that the poore Marriners tyred with labour amazed at the tempests fiercenesse and confounded with death submitted to the pittilesse mercie of windes and waters whose pittious woful clamors piercing the roaring noyse of their opposed enemies ascended the high heauens The casting ouerboord of goods anchors and tables nothing doth auaile and what in haste they cannot hurle ouerboorde the furious winde doth blowe away and that it leaues an enuious surge doth wash into the sea Thus hopelesse of all remedie tossed vp and downe for the vnbrideled rage of violent fighting windes being vnchained from the earthes obscure concauities blew frō euery corner nothing but consuming wrath death and distructiō tying their force vpon the smal weak vessell which they had torne in many places Foure dayes fought they thus against the vnceasing dismal tempests in the end whereof the poore death-fainting saylers séeming to foresée an vnlooked for calme a sudden furious Southerne blast opened the torne Barke leauing the distressed louer grapling at a planke vpon the whistling Billowes and yet with his sword in his mouth for without it pittifull Ladies he would not die With such violence blew the windes that violently on a flintie Rocke they hurled him to whose top with the strength of his armes he got From whence he looked to sée what would become of the ship and marriners where he saw the lamentable spectacle the poore Maister ryding on the waters vpon a Chest whereon he set all his hope till a deuouring waue came and bereft him of both it and life The grones hee heard of the rest that perished séeing the fardels packes trusses caper on the dauncing billowes and foming waues No courage preuailed with them nor their continuall liuing on the seas for euery one as it is wont it buried in her watery bowels So extreame sorrowfull remained the Prince of great Britaine at the lamentable spectacle that with teares in his eyes he burst forth into this passion Oh supreame high heauens how no man in this miserable world may iustly call himselfe sure or happie There is no state no dignitie nor office how high soeuer it be aduanced but is by Fortune subiect to the greatest and
Galtenor saith the Ladie forgot her paines enioying many daies the fruition of the Gréeke Louers bedde vnder that deuise telling him that a wise man her great friend had for some time fetcht her out of the inchantment to accompany him in that distresse Much bound did the Prince thinke himselfe to him for so good a turne So farre wrought the vertue of the Crowne that all the time shee enioyed him by that deceit the Gréeke could comprehend no more but tooke what Fortune offered him At length Eufronisa iudging it reason to let him go féeling her selfe with childe conferred with Selia that approoued it Shee tooke off the Crown kissing it a thousand times for hauing enioyed by it her harts content She had no sooner set it by the other when it was presently taken away not knowing by whose hands A voyce shée heard which thus comforted her Haue patience Ladie for the heauens will haue it so and till you knowe the fruite that by this deceit shall rise neuer looke to sée it more So soone as it was taken away the Gréek thought all that he had past but a dreame hauing scarce the remembrance thereof What time hée had so spent he knew not but stayed for the Ladies comming to giue her his answere which shee determined to refuse because shee would not be bound vnto him for it She entred his chamber with her damzell thus speaking How are you determined most cruell knight of the Flowers that according to your resolution she may liue that loues you He answered I am sure excellent Princesse you haue had time to consider the wrong you do me to inforce me breake my word yet I am yours and will bee till the death and so may you dispose of mee at your pleasure Whereto she thus returned Euer since most glorious Prince of Greece that Fortune or the powers of Loue made my heart obedient to your will I onely procured but a graunt from your mouthe by so many meanes as you haue séene solely deuised to affect you and that you might knowe I loue you And since you are assured thereof and now to comfort my sorrowes in your absence I wil haue you leaue with me some remembrance and let it be your dagger for which you shal haue mine that wherewith I intreated you to end my life which now I le kéepe to imploy it in your loue and beléeue me braue Prince while this soule shal haue power to breath this affection shall neuer decay And therewith with excéeding ioy she embraced him and taking his ponyard she gaue him hers bidding him prepare his departure against the next morning The Prince did so somewhat abashed to haue béen so importuned Hee tooke his leaue of the Ladies not without many teares for trust mee hee was beloued in the highest degrée that euer knight was A verie rich Iewell the Ladie gaue him at his departure All armed in precious armour and mounted on a lustie Courser giuen him by Eufronisa hee went out of the famous Cittie of Golthuerge whose departure she tooke most heauily yet some comfort she conceiued to be big with childe by him Straight the two Ladies beganne to deuise how they might kéepe close Eufronisas trauell who being a straunger to such matters gréeued thereat Onely this consolation she tooke to looke from the toppe of a high turret towards Grecia whither her ioy was gone calling it a heauie land to bring forth such fruite Thus this bewtious Lady passed away the season vntill her time of deliuerie which being the first she felt extreamely She was deliuered of two boyes the fairest that the heauens created for he which was first brought forth had on the face of a Lady fairer then the sunnes Splendor in his pride The other a heart thrust through with a dagger with the wound so fresh as it séemed then to bléed Selia shewed them her saying Reioyce faire Princesse with the issue sprung from that deceit which is such that it frées you from any fault The tender mother embraced and kist them saying Oh may the powerfull heauens deare children of my heart let you liue to know your warlike father for though he vsed me with all crueltie yet are you his sonnes Blesse you may the Gods make you as happie as I am vnhappie although I may now call my selfe the happiest on the earth onely by being your mother So carefull Selia tooke them away and through a secret doore in the garden she gaue them to the old ancient knight to see them nursed in some Village At their carriage away a thousand kisses and blessings did the louing mother giue them as diuining the long time shee should be ere againe she saw them With much care did the olde knight carrie them to a Village where he had prepared a nurse for them That hee might passe more couertly he cros◠the Forrest bearing the children in two baskets on a litle Asse by the way hee rested and tooke downe the boyes to quiet them from crying Scarce had he done when a chased Lyon ran thitherward being hunted by shéepheards with their dogs The knights age and the Lyons sight put him in such feare as he fell downe in a trance As then the cruel beast ment not to take any pray but to escape his pursuers In this manner lay the old man and the children crying for hunger when by great chaunce a mightie Lord dwelling on the confines of Sylepsia past that way with his wife that had bene at the Cittie to to sée the tryumphes there With them was an auncient Lady lately deliuered of a childe that dyed in Golthuerge So soone as the Lords wife saw the children and hauing none her selfe tooke such affection on the babes séeing theyr woonderfull bewtie that she commaunded the other Lady carefully to nurse and bring them vp In this manner were these two Infants carried by this Lord and tendered as his owne He that had the Ladies face they named Clarabell And the other with the wounded heart Leobello Who so grew in yeares and bewtie that they were accounted children of the Godds Where we will leaue them nourished by the good Knight Sergio for so was hee called omitting also their afflicted mothers sorrow for theyr losse and a while must remember the mightie dispayring knight Claridiano of the Sphere already departed from Croatia CHAP. XVII What aduenture the Prince Claridiano met in the I le of Creet where he disinchaunted his Vnckle Claramant FOr a while faire Ladies I am constrained to leaue Loues amorous discourses and trust mee with some gréefe but hauing to treate of many things I must describe them with diuers styles And now the warlike Gréeke with an Adamantiue power attrackts me to lighten him from the darke center of obliuion who departing from the most bewteous Venus and gallant Laysa lanched into the Adriaticke sea downe the which hee Nauigated foure dayes and the fift hee crossed into the Affrican and happening on no aduenture deseruing memorie
he put into the Carpachian and Egeum seas where sayling some fiftéene dayes his enchaunted Barke ran it selfe on land in the I le of Creete now Candy the happiest and fertilest in all those partes because Ioue was borne and raigned there A shore leaped he and Palisandro his Squire and landed theyr horses The commonest way that they could iudge they tooke and did ride aboue an houre méeting with none to learne in what land they were Vnder a high Pyne they dismounted to rest and passe the heate of the afternoone eating of such prouision as Palisandro had carried from the Barke The pleasantnesse of the countrey much delighted the Prince although it was such little comfort to the paines he suffered that were it not for Palisandros consolations hee had without doubt run into excessiue dangers As he sat downe certaine shéepheards came that way driuing their flocks to féed on the downes belowe a hillocke neare to that place They told him how he was in the famous I le of Creet of which hee had heard so many things It much pleased him to heare the shéepheards name the aduenture of the thrée Pypes for though hee had heard thereof he neuer knew it to be in Creete to bee assured thereof he demanded of them thus Can you tell me discréete shéepheards the beginning of this aduenture who made it and for whom That which now is said thereof Syr Knight is that not many yeares since this aduenture appeared here where it is said there is onely one of the famousest Princes of the world inchaunted whose strength is also giuen out farre to excéede Theseus so celebrated in this I le for killing of the Minotaure So difficult is the entrance to the Fountaine called of the thrée Pypes that none though many mightie knights procured it haue arriued thither Onely there is one entrance so surely guarded as it is thought impossible to passe that way by force of armes all the rest is immured with so high a wall of stones cut so smoothe that there is no ascending nor entrance but through the difficult passage which is a little beneath your hill I do greatly thanke you kind shéepheards for your courteous relation and will requite it in any thing I may So they went away leauing him conferring with his squire about the proouing thereof for he much desired to know the Prince that was within The squire would not gainsay it knowing his valor sufficient for greater matters Then hauing a while rested they followed the shéepheards direction within a little time they came in sight of the stupendious Edefice Neuer before had the Prince séene a thing more worthy admiration then it for it séemed to checke the most highest Clowdes The passage to it was along a faire Valley a stones cast in length whose entrance was through a Lane of mightie trées whose innumerable thicke branches ioyning togither did well declare the difficult passage Without any feare Trebatios haughtie Nephew arriued thither not far fro the Groue that leaded to the Fountaine of which the aduenture tooke his name The breadth of the way that the Prince went would suffer but sir knights to go it togither the which as one prepared to the fight the mightie youth traced So comming to the end of the Lane where the Vallies entrance began he was not so amazed with the battell he had against the hellish beast at Merlins sepulchre as séeing here one of the fearefullest winged Serpents that might be He stayed himselfe to bethinke him by what meanes hee might combat with the vgly monster In the end he resolued to be best on foote the better to vse his nimblenesse and weapons so did he dismount giuing Palisandro his horse and taking his Lance in his hand and with his heart in heauen he marched towards the infernall monster the which séeing him come stretched her self on the ground and raising halfe her body hissing fearfully crept against the Gréeke who with that discréetnesse he vsed in all his affaires setling himselfe strongly on his left leg hurled his Launce at her Vpon her inpenitrable scales wherewith she was armed it fell rebounding backe as if it had lighted vpon a Rocke Neuerthelesse it made her bend her head as lowe as the ground With a nimble leape he got within the beasts Cabbin where there began such hideous outcries that he was about a thousand times to turne backe but iudging it base cowardise with his sword drawne he expected the serpents comming Neuer was that I le witnesse of a more brauer Combat In it the Gréekes dexteritie auailes him for the edge of his sword can make no impression in her He found it when at his first assault he gaue her a mightie blowe on the scales Whipping the earth with her taile came the furious Serpent against the Gréeke youth and being neare him with her mouth he would haue hoysed him aloft he defended himselfe stepping aside so scaping her clawes but not her taile wherewith shee gaue him such ayerke that she floong him farre without the entrance he had woon More furious then shee rysed the Gréeke Hercules bruised with the fall and with hastie paces hee ranne againe vnto the entrance but there hee founde the Serpent Fearelesse the valiant Gréeke approached to her holding his sword sure betwéene his hands He had scarce made an offer when the diuellish furious Serpent snatcht at his shield with one of her fangs dragging him thereby within her inchaunted pale vntill she brake the girts It gréeued not the Prince to be there nor yet to haue lost his shield but with his sword in both hands stayed for her that furiously came flying to him she stretcht forth her paw to take him with her sharpe clawes With much héed the Prince expected her and being neare with a flourish he gaue her a most strong blowe It was venturous and that which gaue him the victorie For discharging it very neare her breast where the scales were not so hard it mortally wounded her No hellish furie is now comparable to her being wounded for striking the earth she flew to the Gréeke whose courage and strength could not now defend him from her tayle for therewith she strook him to the ground where also he could not scape her tallents His armor saued his life though some of the ioynts ran into his flesh The Gréeke in this extremitie forgot not his dagger which drawing forth with his left hand he stabbed it thrise vnder her necke with which wounds she let him go But she had no sooner done it when she returned vpon him opening wide her infernall mouth He strongly held his left arme and holding the point of his dagger vpwards he ran it into her mouth whereon she thinking to pray twixt her iawes shee thrust it into her braines With some trouble the Gréeke drew it forth glad of the good successe yet before he got cleare or that she fell with her taile she gaue him the last yerke in such manner
those of his Empire being very warlike people The left going somewhat foremost ledde Torismundo Prince of Spaine Before than all went Priams valiant heire backt with some Spanish Galleyes to succour those in most daunger On the Pagans side in no lesse good order had Bembo disposed his battel in forme of a halfe Moone an vsual custome to fight among them in which manner they approached our Nauie at the sound of many thousand militarie Instruments Beeing readie to giue the oâ—â—â—t the famous Generall from this Admiral spake thus Where valiant Knights there is so many Princes and such great experience in warre I should haue little néed to aduertise you that Fortune hath ministred vnto vs occasion foreuer to perpetuate our fame Sure may we account the victorie for beeing as valiant as our aduersaries we excéed them in numbers and may if me list two or thrée at once assayle euery one of his enemies As for my selfe loosing my life in the office you haue giuen me I satisfie the dutie of a knight and vow to be your generall friend till death And therevppon displayed a bloodie flaÌ„gge crossebarde with blacke a signe that none should take his foe prisoner but shut the doores against all mercie So closing his beauer lead after him the best soldiers in the Fléets and leaning vnder the arches the mightie Brauorant and Brusaldoro his competitor those two puissant Fléetes began to come within shot one of another Where oh Apollo who may without thy helpe relate such a famous conflict whose successe well deseruing a new Booke it cannot haue lesse then another Chapter CHAP. XXI How the most cruell fight betweene both the Nauies began and the admirable successes that in the processe thereof happened THis is the time béeing incompassed with so many enemies that I dare not faire diuine Ladie passe one foote further without your speciall fauor Blacke and fatall was the day to many tasting in it the sower cup of death But to those whom fortune was bent to please reseruing their liues to sée the dismall bloodie losse of others some comfort was it to them the hearing of so many drummes and trumpets eccho in the ayre resounding in the déepe reioycing a so many displayed flagges and bannerets as daunced with the winds the waighing of anchors and hoysting vp of sayles the noyse which the poore slaues haue on the waters beating them with their oares the clamorous cries of euery Captaine incouraging those whom feare had alreadie daunted the glistring shine of armour and the confounding numbers of braue Knights and fierce Gyants that on the hatches of euerie vessell did expect their enemies these and such like sights amazed and admired the beholders Neptune would not this day shew himselfe cruell nor Eolus let foorth more then one gentle breath that did with swelling pride blowe big the Pagans sayles Who taking aduantage of the good occasion with redoubled courage offered to grapple accounting the conquest theirs Oh who is he able to describe the manner of so many deaths that there were giuen So great was the smoke issuing from their shottes that they neither heard nor sawe one another which being past and the welking clearing ouer head Oh Mercury would thou wert in middest of this battell in apt eloquence to modell foorth the merits of euery particular woorth But first the hideous cries of slaughtered bodies the noyse of warriours the shrikes of the wounded could not but be a cruell spectacle for they were all betwéene two of the cruellest oppressed elements that were fire and water Quickly fomed the seas with bloodie froth and on it floated the dead carkasses of sometime liuing creatures Excéeding great was the slaughter that the Christians made with wilde fire and balles of burning pitch and rozen And as they vsed all possible celeritie in casting it and the winde that played with their running wings a little strong by that meanes was the destruction which they made infinit for neither striking of sayles remoouing cabbins and casting ouerboord all necessarie tackle auayled to auoyde the mercilesse deuouring fire which left neither mast nor sayle vnconsumed Oh cruell Soldan of Nyquea that doest delight to sée the thing that would haue moued Nero to some pittie Straunge waies for deathes were there séene for some flying the fire perished in the waters nor is there a friend that will helpe the other The father in such hurlebourly knowes not his deare sonne nor he remembers his sire to pay him the debt he owes him for life and nurture Only euery one procures to liue and when he cannot scape to die not to depart vnreuenged This satisfaction was the sole comfort to them that with cruell wounds flung at their enemies and stumbling on their owne guttes embraced a willing death togither with their aduersaries Some haÌ„ging by their strong hands ouerboord sawe the cruell axe descend and cut them from his holde and he reioyced with such a death rather then to be hewen in péeces by an Infidel Others embraced like good friends sought their endes in the lowest déepes glad to kill being killed The proper life is heere had but in equall estimation with his aduersaries death Others that to themselues complained towards the heauens against Fortune and their happes sawe their friends come stumbling without armes and legges vppon them Such was the confusion among them that no order could be obserued although therin the Greek got some aduantage because their vessels were lighter and better prouided The gallant Spanish Captaine with aduise of his Lieftenant generall Countie of Medyna appointed some small boates well furnished who with all necessarie diligence closely pearced through tenne of the Pagans greatest ships the which with such furie leaked that on the suddaine not knowing which way they were suncke with an infinit number of men chéefely Gyants whose waights did soonest ouerwhelme them Then preuailed not outcries of Pilots nor the hastie calling for boats because the Rowers fearing the fires which the Spaniards hurled rather striued to saue themselues then their friends whom they sawe smothered in those vnquenchable flames and beeing vp to the chin in water yet séemed to burne aliue Peace they iudged the two contrarie elements had made séeing the aboundance of water could not frée them from the fire nor the fire for feare of it kéepe the waters from ouerwhelming them From side to side some were thrust and these exclaimed not for beeing wounded but for want of company to comfort them in their funerall obsequies Well do the Gréekes defend themselues offending on this side where the Spaniards brauely cried S. Iames. And although they were confronted thrée to one they gallantly stucke to it seeing how victoriously the Thessalians had assayled their enemies Wonders performed the Troyan with his beloued Sarmatia against the Pagan but what auuales it when for one they kil there came twentie in his place and so on either side the battell was at one stay whose fiercenes may be forgot remembring what
the knight hee saw him splitted on his owne rapyer for séeing himselfe deadly wounded and that hee could not escape with life chose rather to bee his owne executioner then the Prince should tryumphe ouer his death at his hands Ioying at the victorie of so daungerous a Combat hee prosecuted his way No aduantage had Claramant ouer Don Celindo who ended his fight as soone as he for hauing slaine the swaynes and passed the Garden hee came vnto a greene Meade where a knight gallantly mounted expected the battle not farre from him there stood a Piller whereto a luftie courser was tyed the which Alicandros Nephew imagining to be for him he did quickly back and taking a strong knottie Launce that he also there found eyther parted from the other to take his carreire and valiantly made their strong encounters In middest of the shéelde did Don Celindo hit the Knight and clearely piercing it thrust him so strongly that breaking his saddle gyrtes he tumbled him from his horse The knight strooke Don Celindo on his Beauer which so astonished him that he let goe his horse bridle who féeling his head at libertie eleuated himselfe so high that both fell downe yet Don Celindo perceiuing it before the fall did quickly leape from his backe With shields about their armes and swords on high the two braue warriors met With a furious thrust did Don Celindo first wound his aduersary which made him giue backe thrée steppes But he presently returned and gaue him such a blow on the helme that he thoght himselfe in heauen so many starres he sawe about his head and with a counterbuffe on the shoulder he had almost felde him Like a rauening Lyon became Floralindas sonne and offering to strike him on the head the knight repaired thither with his shield It was the cause of his ouerthrow for Don Celindo not minding it with a point wounded him mortally on the brest pearcing all his Armor and then with mightie strength turning his sword to the others head he cut away halfe his helme with a péece of his scull Howling and shriking with the wound the knight turned his backe and fled through a faire Gallery After him went Don Celindo ouertaking him in a great plaine where he sawe foure great Arches inchaste with precious stones held vp with eight mightie Christal Pillers There did Don Celindo assaile the knight euen when a bewteous Lady most richly attyred confronted him He was astonished at her sight thinking he sawe his deare Rosiluera Stay your hand braue knight said the Lady and doo not execute your wrath on him that yéelds you the victorie I cannot most soueraigne Princesse replied he amazed to sée her there but satisfie your content obeying what ere you shall impose on me as he only borne to do your seruice yet is my poore soule tormented with griefe that this commaund is no greater It is too much answered she for her that hath showne you no kindnesse and so the craftie Damzel taking him by the hande placed him vnder the last Arche leauing him there inchaunted without iudgement or vnderstanding sauing how to accomplish her wil who leauing him there said Here must you remaine Syr knight and defend the entrance gainst all the world if all the worlde shall come Be assured Lady I wil replied the inchaunted youth and first I le leaue to breathe then desist from defending the Arche Away went the Lady along the Arches when the furious Brauorant came thitherward hauing put on his Armour He stept backe as one in a traunce imagining he behelde his Floraliza into that shape she had transmuted her selfe The Pagan so admyred her sight as he was strooke dumbe but she reuiued him thus Come with me braue knight for we greatly néede your strength He did not refuse it saying Leade the way diuine Ladie replied he for it is my felicitie to loose my life for your bewtie Leading him by the hand the deceitfull Ladie left him inchaunted vnder the third Arche saying Courteous Knight this Arche must you defend with the vtmost of your vallor He made answer Leaue that care to me for wil at least shall not want if strength forsakes me not At another Gate by this appeared Archysiloras Louer to him she went representing the Quéen of Lyra. Whom to be short she also inchaunted in the second and in the first did the like by Claramant hauing on the presence and countenance of the famous Lyndabrides whom he by report alreadie began to fancie Then like the winde she vanisht away yet ere she went she commuunded them on their liues they should not go out of the Arches vnlesse they would imbrace theyr deaths And so leauing a scroll vpon a Piller she left them CHAP. XXVI How the Emperour Alphebo ended the famous Inchauntment of Roselia and what else happened SO great was the care that those wise men Lyrgandeo Artemidoro and Nabato had ouer the Gréekes and theyr Empire that by theyr Arte had reached to the knowledge how that memorable Monarchy would be brought to the point of an vtter ouerthrow and perpetuall desolation wherefore so entierly affecting her Princes as this great Historie hath amply mentioned for their Loues they reuolued their bookes to know the cause and causer of such bloodie warres which they found to be the two Princesses Lyriana of Nyquea and Roselia of Rome whereupon they resolued to Inchaunt them beginning first with Lyriana within the sea Tower as hath bene related And séeing that the Romane Princesse was left they ioyned themselues togither in the making of this Inchantment the strongest euer séene for while she was so kept her Father should not knowe what had happened betwéene her and Don Eleno of Dacia nor should she at his hands require reuenge against him As they did determine it so did the wise Magitians performe it making it far stronger then Lyrianas for they intended to kéepe her long time there vntil some good order were taken about the Gréekes affaires Againe they resolued to haue Lyriana disinchaunted and her Nuptialls with the Brytaine Prince solemnized hoping it wold be a means to reconcile the Souldan of Nyquea giuing him so great a Prince as Rosabel to be his sonne in lawe They would not do so by Roselia because she could not be wedded with whome she had imprinted in her heart But the peruerse Selagio by meanes of Lupercio hunting after reuenge for the death of Fangomadon whom Rosicler flew as in the first Chapter of the first booke of this third part is exprest would néeds procure the libertie of this Lady with Arbolinda of Scotland that accompanied her for which purpose in a Barke he drew Brauorant and Don Celindo from the Fléete doing the like by Alphebo directing also Claridiano and Claramant thither where all of them performed such déeds in armes as is specified and worthie of such great Princes slaying all the kéepers of the Castles But the wise men fearing the two Ladies libertie as the last refuge of
replied I knowing I will till death obey your commaund Shee answered Why then we shall not so ill disagrée as I thought the thing therefore I would knowe is thou must tell me if thy Lady be heere or no and her name withall without delay and circumstance for I shall thereby receiue the greatest pleasure in the world and with the contrary excéeding discontent which will bee immerited and no iust guerdon for what I meane to do for thée You may easily conceiue valiant Knights what conflicts I might indure of contrarious thoughts not knowing the successe that might ensue if by telling troth I did condiscend vnto her demaunde Somewhat amazed stoode I a while in so much that shee saide you must not deuise excuses for it will fall out woorse if you offend me so I answered None did I deuise diuine Pollinarda but I rather began to incourage my selfe to passe my life in your disgrace for nought else can redowne heereby but kindle your fléeping wrath Bee it what it will saide shee for I am pleased with the knowledge Why then replied I know soueraigne Princesse shée is in this Cittie and of the selfe same name that you are of in which repitition I offend her Shee procéeded further saying And haue you neuer spoken with her now did I tremble with feare and then imagined a thousand deuises yet in the end I replied Soueraigne Ladie your excellency so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot steppe from hence fearing to méete with death vnlesse you seeke his lifes ouerthrow that was borne to serue you She replied I wil haue you tel me all for I wil take it as one that procures your good as you haue partly séene Whereto I answered falling on my knées Presuming on your Royall word and fauours sacred Ladie I cannot deny but I am yours imploring pardon for this fault if it be any worthie of worse punishment then death It did not gréeue her to heare me say she was the Quéene my heart had chosen to imperate ouer it and my soule but rather taking holde by my King the marke of my slauery which for my pleasure I often put on shée raised me saying Very plainely hast thou Florisiano exprest thou louest me and if thy constancie wherewith thou doest it be as thou saiest so I may enioy a heart so sincere and second to none I giue thée leaue to do so stil regarding the secrecy due to my honor vntil the heauens shall minister those meanes wherewith I may asswage thy griefes I required her hands I could doo no lesse to kisse them more glad then had I bene inuested sole Emperor of the wide world and yet that had not so pleased me She commanded me to take off my King séeing Fortune had now fauoured me wherto I replied Oh let not your excellency commaund me to put off that thing wherewith the heauens haue begun to worke my ioy lest Fortune enemy to all content séeing me no more a slaue should tryumph ouer my glory And though I be a king in louing and the most glorious and frée in being beloued let me kéepe this as a memoriall I am and wil be yours while my life shall endure the which loosing it in your seruice will be the happiest and richest losse in this terrene Orbe If it be so weare it replied the Mistresse of my life and yet the taking it off should nothing impaire my affection which now is only imployed in your Loue. Thus was the Soueraigne of my soule weauing this swéete webbe of my life on the delicate Loome of both our contents when blinde Fortune Mistresse of mischaunce being weary and angry that she had helped me that litle moment of time brought it about I know not by what meanes that our Loues till then became suspitious in Court nay further procéeds my woes Oh I cannot without teares say more it came to the Kings eares who desirous to be assured of so dishonourable a déede as to be beloued of the Princesse he had hidde himselfe in that roome vnknowne to me that very night and séeing by experience what he had suspected he issued forth inraged like a mad mā I yet was on my knées when he came forth and finding me in that manner he tooke me by the collor and drawing my ponyard said Oh infamous miscreant Turkish dogge hast thou thus wronged the trust reposed in thée The punishment inflicted on thée shall bee a sufficient example to all others such disloyall wretches as thy owne selfe I had no eyes to looke him in the face nor tongue to answere him though I wanted not hands to shead his blóod had not my Ladyes and my friend Lysanders displeasure and discontent thereby stayed me Hée snatched at her so furiously that shee almost fell vpon her face saying I had not thought Minion thy wanton boldnesse would so haue made thée passe the limits of shame and grace as to bestowe thy affection on a slaue He cried to those that awaighted without whereat foure knights rushed in who straight conueied me to prison where I thoght they would closely murther me the which I had gladly receiued so shee were not hardly handled that had so bountifully fauoured mee The king did commit her but knowing our affection had beene no other then he had séene hee straight for hee loued her dearely forgaue her turning all his rage vpon poore Florisiano Oh magnanimious Knights with how many millions of brinish teares did I bewayle that losse it was beléeue me the greatest in the world for none in so short time could bee so happie as I nor none againe so vnhappie Nothing I did but exclaime lamenting and with woes tormenting my afflicted selfe At length being so many some pierced the high heauens moouing the immortall Gods to pittie and comiseration appointing a meanes on earth to redéeme me for the Noble Lysander being mooued at my disgrace by pollicy procured my Gailors to release me of my Irons and boltes that I might escape through a window and saue my life I gréeued no lesse to depart from Pollinarda at that time though in her grace and fauour then at first when like an enemie I ran from her Yea more then this did my friend sollicit in my behalfe for hee went to his sister and discouered to her the whole secret of my affaires telling her I was the Knight in yealowe and hee that slewe her Agesilao then louing her more then now I neuer would tell any who else I was because I vowed it from the beginning onely to procure her fauour or disfauour without that regard and respect wherein I might bee hadde beeing knowne to bee Prince of Apulia and had not your valour and curtesies bound me thereto none should haue knowne it The Lady did not gréeue at this swéete complot of Loue but rather it kindled in her some new affection So was I visited in prison from her which reuiued my hopes and added new life to my dying powers To pleasure