peace afford Arme arme he cries straight he armes him round And by his side he hangs his trustie sword And in his countenance he lookes so grim Scarse Doralyce her selfe dares speake to him 45 And armed at all pieces vp in hast He gets and that same courser he bestrides That was that Christen champions in time past Who now doth runne his wit and sence besides And thus he comes vnto the lists at last The place that all such quarrels still decides The king and all his court soone after came And now ere long begins the bloudie game 46 Now on their heads their helmets are made fast Now are the Lances put into their hands Now was the token giu'n by trumpets blast Which both the horse and horseman vnderstands Now in a full carryre they gallop fast And either strongly to his tackle stands Now with such force the tone the tother strake As though that heau'n did fall and earth did shake 47 The Argent Eagle comes on either side With wings displaid on either captaines sheeld The bird which Ioue men say was seene to ride Though better wingd ou'r the Thessalian feeld As for their mightie strength and courage tride Their massie speares sufficient witnesse yeeld Nor strud they more with those t̄epestuous knocks Then wind sturs towres or waues do stur the rocks 48 The splinters of the spears flew to the skie As Turpin writeth that was present there And were on fire by hauing bin so nie Vnto the scorching of the fierie Spheare The champions out their swords draw by and by As those that neither sword nor fire did feare And either thrusteth at the tothers face And seekes by force the tother to displace 49 They neuer sought to hurt each others steed Not that they made together such accord But that they deemd it an vnworthie deed Not worthie of a worthie knight or Lord Of base reuenge they count that act proceed And meet of noble minds to be abhord So that in those dayes none were knowne to kill A horse except it were against his will 50 Vpon their vizers both do strike at once And though the same were firme and plated double As being made of proofe and for the nonce Yet did the force of such fell strokes them trouble And still they lay on lode as thicke as stones Of haile that often turne the corne to stubble I thinke it needlesse further to alledge It they haue strength or if their swords haue edge 51 Yet long they fought together in that field Ere any signe of any blow was left Such wary heed each tooke himselfe to shield But Durindan at last fell with such hest Full on the circle of Rogeros shield That halfe way throught the argent bird it cleft And pierst the coate of male that was within And found a passage to the very skin 52 The cruell blow made many hearts full cold Of such as wisht well to Rogeros part For most of those that stood by to behold Rogeros fauourd in their mind and hart So that afore to say one might be bold If fortune follow would the greater part Fierce Mandricard were slaine or else should yeeld So that this blow offended halfe the field 53 But surely some good Angell I beleue The force of this so fearfull stroke abated Rogero though the wound him somewhat grieue Yet was his mind therewith no whit amated Great vsury he mindeth him to giue And that the strife may quickly be debated He frankly strikes with his whole force and might Full on the helmet of the Tartar knight 54 With so great force and furie came the blow As to the teeth no doubt had clou'n his head Sauing by what mishap I do not know But want of heed that too much hast had bred It lighted flatling on him else I trow That stroke alone had him most surely sped But as it was it made his head so idle He opend both his hands and loosd his bridle 55 Good Brigliadore that felt the slacked raine I thinke still mourning for his masters change Ran vp and downe at randon on the plaine His senslesse rider suffring him to range Who when he came vnto himselfe againe And saw his 〈◊〉 to run a course so strange A spurned Viper hath not so much wrath Nor wounded Lion as the Tartar hath 56 He claps the spurs to Brigliadoros side And on his stirrops he himselfe aduances And to his so with furie he doth ride And vp on hie his right arme he inhances To strike a blow but when Rogero spide His arme lie ope as oft in fight it chances He chopt his swords point vnder tothers arme And puld it out with blood both wet and warme 57 By which he did not onely maime his so By letting blood vpon so large a vaine But bated much the furie of the blo Which notwithstanding fell with force so maine As made Rogero stagger to and fro And mazd his head and dazd his eyes with paine And much it was that time for his behoose To haue his helmet of so good a proofe 58 But hauing now againe recouerd force And as it were new wakned from his dreame Vpon the Tartar Prince he turnd his horse And on his thigh he strikes with strength extreame That through the steele he did the sword enforce Out spins the blood in pure vermilion streame Nought could auaile inchanted Hectors armes Against this sword with stronger temperd charmes 59 The Tartar feeling to his great disease His body wounded as he litle thought Did rage as terrible as do the seas With highest winds and strongest tempests wrought He curleth heau'ns his smarting pangs to ease The shield that had the bird for which he fought Away he hurleth from him for the nonce And to his sword he lets both hands at once 60 Ah quoth Rogero too plaine triall this is That to that Eagle thou no title hast That first didst with thy sword cut mine in peeces And now thine owne away from thee dost cast Thus much said he but whatsoeuer he sees He must the force of Durindana tast Which fell vpon his forehead with such might A mountaine might haue seemd to fall as light 61 I say the blow vpon his forehead fell But yet his beauer sau'd it from his face It happend at that time for him full well That in the hollow there was so much spaces Yet harmlesse quite to scape him not besell For why the sword that euer cuts apace Did pierce his plated sadle and beside An inch did enter into Rogeros side 62 Thus each with crimson had his armor dide And bloud did streame from both a double way Yet hitherto it could not be descride On whether side would chances ballance sway At last Rogero did that doubt decide With that same sword that euer home doth pay And where the tothers target wants there iust Rogero payes him with a speeding thrust 63 The blade gainst which preuailes no Magick are His
wit was theare But yet ere backe their iourny they disposed The holy Prophet brought Astolfo wheare A pallace seldome seene by mortall man Was plast by which a thicke darke riuer ran 87 Each roome therein was full of diuers fleesis Of woll of lint of silke or else of cotten An aged woman spun the diuers peecis Whole looke and hew did shew her old and rotten Not much vnlike vnto that labour this is By which in Sommer new made silke is gotten Where frō the silke worme his fine garment taking They reaue him of the clothes of his owne making 88 For first in one large roome a woman span Threds infinite of diuers stuffe and hew Another doth with all the speed she can With other stuffe the distanes still renew The third in feature like and pale and wan Doth seuer faire from foule and old from new Now who be these the Duke demands his guide These be the fatall sisters he replide 89 The Parcees that the thred of life do spin To mortall men hence death and nature know When life must end and when it must begin Now she that doth deuide them and bestow The course from finer and the thicke from thin To that end works that those that finest grow For ornaments in Paradise may dwell The course are curst to be consum'd in hell 90 The Duke did further in the place behold That when the threds were spent that had bin spun Their names in brasse in siluer or in gold Were wrote and so into great heaps were donn From which a man that seemed wondrous old With whole loads of those names away did run And turn'd againe as fast the way he went Nor neuer wearie was not euer spent 91 This aged man did hold his pase so swift As though to runne he onely had bin borne Or had it giu'n him as a speciall gift And in the lappet of his cloke were borne The names of men with which he made such shift But now a while I craue to be forborne For in the booke ensewing shal be showed How this old sire his cariage ill bestowed In this xxxiiij booke is to be noted in the tale of Lydia the punishment of ingratitude and what an odious sin the same is in the sight of God and the world also here are to be obserued many kinds of ingratitudes as first of her despising of Alcestes long seruice and approued good will and secondly of the fathers ingrate recompences for his great deserts by seruices in the wars in which kind it is not onely slanderous but dangerous for a Prince to show a niggardly mind and much more a contemptuous disposition For though indeed no subiect rightly considering his duety ought to be moued by any ingratitude or iniury of his seueraigne to forget his allegeance yet seeing the nature of most men and specially of braue and resolute minded men is subiect to the passion of reuenge and can hardly bridle the same when they shall find themselues as they thinke disdained or their seruices not well regarded therefore the wisest and safest way and sittest for the Maiestie of a Prince is to be liberall in rewarding or at least thankfull in accepting such mens seruices and to consider that loue and bountie are stronger bands of allegeance then feare and dutie Concerning the Historie of this booke I have quoted some briefly by the side and some is so plaine it expounds it selfe onely I meane to ad a word or two what at I have read concerning that which is here deliuered by mine author about the Assumption of S. Iohn First how far the Scripture toucheth the same in the Gospell euerie one knoweth and how vpon the speech of our Sauiour if I will be tary till I come what is that to thee it was noysed among the Disciples that that Disciple should neuer see death After this as other of good credit haue deliuered S. Iohn liued till he was an hundred yeare old and then made himselfe a tombe and entred thereinto aliue in presense of many and on the sodaine a light shone all about the place and tooke the tombe for the time quite from their sights but the light being gone the coffin was found empty and the body of that Saint was no more seene vpon the earth Whereupon it was certainly thoughtthat he was taken vp into heauen or Paradise as Enoch and Elias were Though this of S. Iohn be not recorded in the Scripture nor no more is the assumption of the blessed virgin and consequently no man is bound to beleeue it as an article of our Creed Yet for mine owne opinion I thinke it may be verie true and I would in such cases beleeue a great deale more then I need rather then anything lesse them I ought for the tone if it be a sinne is surely pardonable but the other doubtles is verye damnable But I will briefly note the Allegorie that is meant hereby First whereas Astolfo washeth himselfe in a christ all well of cleare water before he can fly vp to Paradise it signifieth that after a man shall by remorse and deuout consideration weigh and behold the filthinesse of his sinne he must then wash himselfe with the cleare spring water of prayer and repentance and then and not before be may mount to Paradise which may here be vnderstood the comfortable peace of conscience the onely true Paradise of this world And whereas Astolfo commeth to S. Iohn whose name signifieth grace to receiue by his helpe Orlandos lost witts for so it is set downe that that was the secret cause why he was guided thither though vnawares to himselfe thereby it is to be vnderstood that no hope nor means is left for any man that hath lost his wit with following the vanities and pleasures of this world as diners carelesse christians do in forgetting and omitting their duties to God which is the verie highest point of follie I say there is no meane for them to recouer their wit againe but onely by the helpe of this S. Iohn that is this grace of God which can miraculously restore it againe In the description of S. Iohns apparell His gowne was white but yet his Iacket red The tone was snow the tother lookr as blood c by the red is signified charitie which burneth with Zeale and seruentinesse of loue by the white is meant virginitie and purenesse of life All those things that he saines to have beene showed Astolfo in the circle of the Moone are but similitudes and likenesse of such follies as he that will marke them well shall easily discerne The old man that ran away so fast with the Printed names of men and flang them in the darke streame figureth time as in the next booke mine author verie artificially explanet bit affirming in the person of S. Iohn as if it were as our prouerbe faith as true as the Gospell that the onely defence against the malice of time is the pen of
licencious liuers Treasurers and other great officers of the common wealth with graue counsellers whose wise heads are the pillars of the state he affirmeth generally to be robbers and peelers of the realme and priuie traitors that sell their Princes fauours and rob wel-deseruing seruitors of their reward I omit as his peccadilia how he nicknameth priests saying for the most part they are hypocrites lawiers saying they are all theeues phisitians saying they are many of them murtherers so as I thinke it were a good motion and would easily passe by the consent of the three estates that this mans authoritie should be vtterly adâ—ihilated that dealeth so hardly and vniustly with all sorts of professions But for the reiecting of his writings I refer it to others that haue power to do it and to condemne him for a generall libeller but for that he writeth against Poetrie I meane to speake a word or two in refuting thereof And first for lying I might if I list excuse it by the rule of Poetica licentia and claime a priueledge giuen to Poetrie whose art is but an imitation as Aristotle calleth it and therefore are allowed to faine what they list according to that old verse Iuridicis Erebo fisco fas viuere rapto Militibus medicis tortori occidere Ludo est Mentiri Astronomis pictoribus atque Poetis Which because I count it without reason I will English it without rime Lawyers Hell and the Checquer are allowed to liue on spoile Souldiers Phisitians and hangmen make a sport of murther Astronomers Painters and Poets may lye by authoritie Thus you see that Poets may lye if they list Cum priuilegio but what if they lye least of all other men what if they lye not at all then I thinke that great slaunder is verie vniustly raised vpon them For in my opinion they are said properly to lye that affirme that to be true that is false and how other arts can free themselues from this blame let them look that professe them but Poets neuer affirming any for true but presenting them to vs as fables and imitations cannot lye though they would and because this obiection of lyes is the chiefest and that vpon which the rest be grounded I wil stand the longer vpon the clearing thereof The ancient Poets haue indeed wrapped as it were in their writings diuers and sundrie meanings which they call the sences or mysteries thereof First of all for the literall sence as it were the vtmost barke or ryne they set downe in manner of an historie the acts and notable exploits of some persons worthie memorie then in the same fiction as a second rine and somewhat more fine as it were nearer to the pith and marrow they place the Morall sence profitable for the actiue life of manâ— approuing vertuous actions and condemning the contrarie Manie times also vnder the selfesame words they comprehend some true vnderstanding of naturall PhilosophÃe or sometime of politike gouernement and now and then of diuinitie and these same sences that comprehend so excellent knowledge we call the Allegorie which Plutarch defineth to be when one thing is told and by that another is vnderstood Now let any man iudge if it be a matter of meane art or wit to containe in one historicall narration either true or fained so many so diuerse and so deepe conceits but for making the matter more plaine I will alledge an example thereof Perseus sonne of Iupiter is fained by the Poets to haue slaine Gorgon and after that conquest atchieued to haue flowen vp to heauen The Historicall sence is this Perseus the sonne of Iupiter by the participation of Iupiters vertues that were in him or rather comming of the stock of one of the kings of Creet or Athens so called slue Gorgon a tyrant in that countrey Gorgon in greeke signifieth earth and was for his vertuous parts exalted by men vp into heauen Morally it signifieth thus much Perseus a wise man sonne of Iupiter endewed with vertue from aboue slayeth sinne and vice a thing base and earthly signified by Gorgon and so mounteth to the skie of vertue It signifies in one kinde of Allegorie thus much the mind of man being gotten by God and so the childe of God killing and vanquishing the earthlinesse of this Gorgonicall nature ascendeth vp to the vnderstanding of heauenly things of high things of eternall things in which contemplation consisteth the perfection of man this is the naturall allegorie because man one of the chiefe works of nature It hath also a more high and heauenly Allegorie that the heauenly nature daughter of Iupiter procuring with her continuall motion corruption and mortalitie in the interiour bodies seuered it selfe at last from these earthly bodies and flew vp on high and there remaineth for euer It hath also another Theologicall Allegorie that the angelicall nature daughter of the most high God the creator of all things killing and ouercomming all bodily substance signified by Gorgon ascended into heauen the like infinite Allegories I could picke out of other Poeticall fictions saue that I would auoid tediousnesse It sufficeth me therefore to note this that the men of greatest learning and highest wit in the auncient times did of purpose conceale these deepe mysteries of learning and as it were couer them with the veile of fables and verse for sundrie causes one cause was that they might not be rashly abused by prophane wits in whom science is corrupted like good wine in a bad vessell another cause why they wrote in verse was conseruation of the memorie of their precepts as we see yet the generall rules almost of euerie art not so much as husbandrie but they are ofâ—ner recited and better remembred in verse then in prose another and a principall cause of all is to be able with one kinde of meate and one dish as I may so call it to feed diuers-tastes For the weaker capacities will feed themselues with the pleasantnesse of the historie and sweetnes of the verse some that haue stronger stomackes will as it were take a further tast of the Moralisence a third sort more high conceited then they will digest the Allegorie so as indeed it hath bene thought by men of verie good iudgement such manner of Poeticall writing was an excellent way to preserue all kinde of learning from that corruption which now it is come to since they left that mysticall writing of verse Now though I know the example and authoritie of Aristotle and Plato be still vrged against this who tooke to themselues another manner of writing first I may say indeed that lawes were made for poore men and not for Princes for these two great Princes of Philosophie brake that former allowed manner of writing yet Plato still preserued the fable but refused the verse Aristotle though reiecting both yet retained still a kinde of obscuritie insomuch he answered Alexander who reprooued him in a sort for publishing the sacred secrets of Philosophie that he
him stand aboue and hold it fast And by the same intending to descend Vpon her armes her whole waight she doth cast But he that to destroy her did â—ntend Doth aske if she would learne to leape a cast And laughing loosd his hands that were together And wisht that all the race of them were with her 76 Yet great good hap the gentle damsell found As well deseru'd a miâ—d so innocent For why the polâ— strake first vpon the ground And though by force it shiuerd all and rent Yet were her limbes and life kept safe and sound For all his vile and traiterous intent Sore was the damsell mazed with the fall As in another booke declare I shall In thiâ— second booke in the combat betweene Renaldo and Sacrapant we may obserue how the passion of loue together with the termes that men stand vpon for their reputation credit are oftentimes occasions of bitter quarels and in their sodaâ—â—e parting and great perplexitie that both of them were stricken into by the false tale that the spirit told them of Orlando we may gather how very apt ielousie is to conceiue and beleeue euery false report By Renaldos obedience to Charles in going on embassage notwithstanding all his priuat affaires and affections we may take example of dutiful obedience to our lawfull Prince And in that Pinnabel seekes to betray Bradamant and to kill her by letting her fall into the caue into the which she trusted he would haue let her downe safely and friendly we may note two speciall things one that it is good to be warie into whose hands we commit the sauegard of our liues and state the other that base minded men being wickedly set on reuenge care not by what treason or villanie they worke the ouerthrow of their enemies For the Historie of this Canto I will not affirme too precisely for I find not in any credible author of Renaldos embassage into England neither is it very likely if the King of England were then in Paris as in another place of this worke is affirmed that a Peere of France should be sent hither and not rather some English noble man sent from the King to his other subiects in England with directions and instructions from him That Paris and Charles himselfe were in some distresse about that time is not vnprobable and that the Turkes at their first arriuall preuailed very farre against the Christians though it lasted but a while As for Rogero whom he toucheth in this booke and that is so much spoken of in this wâ—â—le worke as Aeneas is in Virgil though in both rather in fabulous and in Allegoricall sence then plainly and historicaly yet I find it in very good Authors that a man of that name was indeed the chiefe raiser of the house of Este the now Dukes of Perrara For the Allegorie as I noted in the first booke of Bayardo so the same is still continued or rather repeated namely that the horse by which is meant mans feruent and furious appetite which is more plainly signified where it is said of the horse His going onely was to this intent To shew his master where the damsell went So that still this vnbridled desire figured by Bayardo leades Renaldo on foote whereby is vnderstood sensualitie to pursue Angelica with a base desire of the most base pleasure In the shield whose light amazed the lookers on and made them fall downe astonied may be Allegorically meant the great pompes of the world that make shining shewes in the bleared eyes of vaine people and blind them and make them to admire and fall downe before them hauing indeed nothing but shining titles without vertue like painted sheaths with leaden weapons or like straw without the graine either else may be meant the flaring beauties of some gorgeous women that astonish the eyes of weake minded men apt to receiue such louing impressions as Atlantas shield did amaze their senses that beheld it For the Allegorie of the horse what is meant thereby I reserue to another place where I will follow it more at large then this little space will giue me leaue and in that booke where he is more treated of The Allusion to which this flying horse is referred and from whence it is taken is from Pegasus the flying horse that Pindar writes of bred of the bloud of Medusa on which beast Bellerophon was wont to ride flying the false accusation of Pretus wife Also the shield it selfe seemes to allude to the fable of Medusas head that turned men into stones THE THIRD BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant was falne in Marlins caue Melissa meetes her there her ancient friend And there to her she perfite notice gaue Of such braue men as should from her descend She told her where she should Rogero haue Whom old Atlanta had in prison pend And from Brunello how to take the ring That vnto libertie her deere might bring 1 OH that my head were so well storde with skill Of such a noble subiect fit to treat Oh that my wits were equall to my will To frame a phrase fit for so high conceat Ye muses that do hold the sacred hill Inspire my heart with flame of learned heat While I presume in base and lowly verse The names of glorious Princes to reherse 2 Such Princes as excell all Princes far In all the gifts of bodie and of mind Temprat in peace victorious eake in war Themselues most noble come of noble kind And such except my guesse do greatly arre As are by heau'ns eternall doome assignd In wealth in fame in rule and in prosperitie To liue themselues their children and posteritie 3 Nor can I now their seuerall actes most rare Atcheeud by eu'rie one of them recite No though my verse with Virgils might compare Or I as well as Homer could endite With their great praise great volumes filled are With large discourse by them that stories write I onely meane to show what was foreshowne Long er their persons or their deeds were knowne 4 But first of Pinnabel a word to speake Who as you heard with traiterous intent The bonds of all humanitie did break For which er long himselfe was after shent Thus while base minds their wroÌ„gs do basely wreak They do that once that often they repent And curse that time a thousand times too late When they pursude their vnreuenged hate 5 With fainting heart for sin is full of feare By stealing steps from hence he doth depart And as he goes he prieth here and there His fearefull looke bewrayes his guiltie hart Not yet his dread doth moue him to forbeare To heape more sin vpon this ill desart Appald with feare but toucht with no remorse Supposing she was slaine he takes her horse 6 But let him go vntill another time For I do meane hereafter you shall heare How he was dealt with when his double crime In secret wrought most open did appeare Now vnto
true and fast At Charles his humble prayer and desire With helpe from heau'n releeu'd them at the last And sent such raine to aide the noble Prince As feld was seene before and neuer since 63 Now lay Orlando on his restlesse bed And thinks with sleepe to rest his troubled sprite But still a thousand thoughts possest his head Troubling his mind and sleepe expelling quite As circles in a water cleare are spread When sunnâ— doth shine by day and moone by night Succeeding one another in a ranke Till all by one and one do touch the banke 64 So when his mistris enterd in his thought Aâ— lightly she was neuer thence away The thought of her in him such circles wrought Aâ— kept him waking euer night and day To thinke how he from India had her brought And that she should thus on the sodaine stray Noâ— that he could of her true notice know Since Charles at Burdels had the ouerthrow 65 The griefe hereof did him most nearely tuch And causd him often to himselfe to say What beast would haue bin ouerruld so much That when I might haue made her with me stay For why her loue and zeale to me was such That in her life she neuer said me nay Yet I must suffer Namus for to guard her As though my selfe but little did regard her 66 I sâ—ould to Charles my selfe haue rather scused And as I did haue kept the damsell still Or if excuses all had bin refused I might in stead of reason pleaded will And rather then haue bin so much abused All tho'e that should resist me slay and kill At least I might haue got her safer keeping And not haue let her thus be lost with sleeping 67 Where bidest thou where wanderst thou my deare So yong so louely and so faire of â—ew Euen like a lambe when starres do first appeare Her dâ—me and shepheard being out of vew â—leateth aloud to make the shepheard heare And in her kind her euill hap doth rew Vntill the wolfe doth find her to her paine The silly shepherd seeking her in vaine 68 Where is my loue my ioy my lifes delight Wanderst thou stillâ— do not the wolues offâ—nd thee Or needst not thou the seruice of thy knight And keepest thou the flowre did so commend thee That flowre that me may make a happie wight That flowre for which I euer did defend thee That I forbare to please thy mind too chast Is not that flowre alas now gone and past 69 O most vnfortunate and wretched I If they haue tane that sweet and precious floure What can I do in such a case but die Yea I would kill my selfe this present houre I would this world and that to come defie Earth fiâ—st my coarse and hell my soule deuoure And this vnto himselfe Orlando said With care and sorrowes being ouerlaid 70 Now was the time when man and bird and beast Giues to his traueld bodie due repose When some on beds and some on boords do rest Sleepe making them forget both friends and foes But cares do thee Orlando so molest That scarce thou canst thine eyes a little close And yet that fugitiue and little slumber With dreames vnpleaâ—ant thee doth vex and cumber 71 He dreamt that standing by a pleasant greene Vpon a bank with fragrant flowres all painted He saw the fairest sight that erst was seene I meane that face with which he was acquainted And those two stars that Cupid fits between Whence came that shaft whose head his heart hath tainted The sight whereof did breed in him that pleasure That he preferd before all worldly treasure 72 He thought himselfe the fortunatest wight That euer was and eke the blessedst louer But lo a storme destroyd the flowers quite And all the pleasant banke with haile did couer Then suddenly departed his delight Which he remaind all hopelesse to recouer She being of this tempest so afraid That in the wood to saue her selfe she straid 73 And there vnhappie wretch against his will He lost his Ladie in vnluckie howre But her to find againe he traueld still Employing to her safetie all his powre The woods and deserts he with plaints doth fill And cride alas turnd is my sweet to sowre And while these same and such like words he said He thought he heard her voice demaunding aid 74 At this same voice well knowne a while he staid Then followd as the sound him guided most With this mischance his mind was much dismaid His body sore with toâ—le and trauell tost When straight he heard another voice that said Now hope no more for all thy hope is lost And of the sodaine waking with the sound His eies all full of watry teares he found 75 So sore he was affrighted at this vision That eu'n as though it had bene so indeed And not a fancie vaine or apparition Thinking his Lady â—â—ood of him in need In secretfoâ—t he getteth all prouision To make repaire vnto her aid with speed And for he would not willingly be knowne He tooke nor man nor armor of his owne 76 His coate of armes of colour white and red He lest behind for doubt of ill successe That if it fortund he but euill sped At least the losse and â—oile should be the lesse Vpon his armor cypresse blacke he spred With colour sad his sorrow to expresse And thus disguild in sad and mourning hue He parts and biddeth not his friends adue 77 Not of king Charles whose kinsman he is neare Nor taketh he his leaue of Brandimart Nor yet to kinsman kind or friend most deare Doth he his meaning open or impart Nor vntill day did all abrode appeare Was Charles aduised that he did depart But in great rage and choler when he knew it He sware and vowd Orlando sore should rue it 78 Aâ— which good Brandimart was greatly greeued As one that deem'd it was without deâ—art And that his frend by him might be releeued To find him out from thence he straight doth part For by his words he certainly beleeued That he could ease his frend Orlandos smart But this to Fiordeledge he not imparted For feare that she his purpose would haue thwarted 79 This Fiordeledge of him was dearely loued A Lady of great beautie and cleare fame Of parents good of manners vnreproued Both wealthie wise and modest to the same Yet taketh he no leaue of his beloued But early in the morning from her came To turne that night was his determination But was deceiued of his expectation 80 And when she waited had a month or more Expecting his returne and all in vaine For loue of him she was inflam'd so sore Alone she goes to finde him out againe And manie sorrie haps she bid therefore As in the storie shal be showed plaine For of Orlando now I haue to say That is of more importance then both thay 81 Who hauing chang'd the armes he late did we are Directly to the Citie gate he went And told
consideration of the two last words taught his scholler Parillus that laurea lingua sunt vtraque foemininae generis sed lingua potissimum and so consequently silence might not by any meanes haue bene of the feminine gender In Mandricardos rape of Doralice he alludes euidently to a notable villany in the like kind done by Caesar Borgia son to Pope Alexander the sixt For one Caraccio a captaine of Venice hauing bene lately contracted to a gentlewoman of good account she came with an honorable train neare to a citie called Cesenna in Romagna here Borgia with a band of men set vpon her company and took her away by force and neither by threats nor intreatie of the Venecian Ambassador would restore her again the allusion holds in many parts as first where he saith in the 29. staff That Marsilio had giuen Mandricardo an horse Of colour bay but blacke the taile and maine Of Frizland was the mare that did him breed The sier was a villan braue of Spaine This notes Borgia whose father was a Spaniard his mother a Flemming and he a mungrel bastard In the one an thirtith staffe in the simile of the Wolfe he noteth his crueltie in the eight and fortith staffe where he saith If state may stand insteed who can denie Onely to God our homage doth belong In that he alludes plainly to the Pope that is reputed Christs Vicar on earth THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Paris is assaild on eur'ie part By those of Affricke and by those of Spaine From Logestill ' Astolfo doth depart And takes Calligorant in his owne traine Then slew Orillo that by Magicke art Reuiu'd when by the brothers he was slaine Stout Sansonet Astolfo kind doth vse But Gryphin of his mistres beares ill news 1 TO winne the field against our armed foes Is counted honorable anie wayes Although it be with policie or blowes Yet bloodie coÌ„quests stain the Captaines praise But chiefest honour doth belong to those Whom Fortune to such height of hap doth raise To haue their foe supprest and ouerthrowne With little losse and damage of their owne 2 Such was the victorie that you then gaind O stout Hyppolito you conquerd so When the Venetian Nauie had obtaind With armed vessels all the streame of Poe Your policie and vallue them constraind With losse inestimable thence to go Their marriners and souldiers all destroying Our marriners and souldiers not annoying 3 The Pagan ' Rodomont did want this skill That forst ten thousand men the trench to enter By his commandment sore against their will Vpon so perillous a place to venter Where straight the smother doth their bodies kill And send their sinfull soules beneath the center Himselfe in safetie sees them there a dying Still swearing cursing heau'n it selfe defying 4 Now Agramant an hot assault and fearce Gaue where he thought the same was lest exspected He striues the wals to batter break and pearce With engins strong and rams thereto erected Those kings whose names I did before rehearse Brought men some stout some with fear infected And such as rather wish to stand aloofe Then weare a corslet of the surest proofe 5 But Agramant herein was much deceaued For where he thought them weake and vnprepard He found that manfully he was receaued And that the king himselfe the place did guard With thousands more readie to be bereaued Of life and limbe and such as nought regard Before that they would take so great disgrace As in their masters sight to leese their place 6 But here I cease vntill another time To tell of these assaults the hard successe Of damage like to both sides now my rime Vnto the English Duke I must addresse Astolfo sonne of Oton whom sometime Alcynas witchcraft held in great distresse Who like another Cyrce men transformed To trees to beasts and soules of shapes deformed 7 You heard before how all her strange deceits Melyssa sage did with the ring discouer And how she gaue them also good receits As made them all their former shapes recouer How after hauing scaped all their sleights They did no longer in such fancies houer But to be surely able to resist her They fled vnto her vertuous elder sister 8 Where when they had with comfort great remained Desirous to their countries to retire They asked leaue of her and leaue obtained Of her that neuer hinders iust desire But er they went she frendly them constrained With precious gifts to be endowed by her Such gilts as were of precious price indeed And all their liues should stand them all in steed 9 But chiefly to this English Duke she gaue Of secret skill a little written booke Containing many a precept wise and graue The which of her most thankfully he tooke These teach a man from charmes himselfe to saue That in the same aduisedly doth looke And that to find them out he may be able The booke had in the end a perfit table 10 Beside this booke on him she doth bestow Another gift of as great price and more A horne in which if he do once but blow The noise thereof shall trouble men so sore That all both stout and faint shall flie therefro So strange a noise was neuer heard before When to the Duke these rare gifts were imparted He humblie tooke his leaue and thence departed 11 And least Alâ—â—na should by force attempt To bring him backe or worke him some disease Andronica was with a nauie sent To waste him sate till he were past those seas And vertuous Soâ—hrosina with him went To see him passe with safetie and with ease So good a condâ—cter so sure a guide As was not found in all the world beside 12 And thus she saild along that Indian shore And sees and â—eeâ—eth sight of sundrie Iles Those called fortunate and others more That distant are some few some many miles And for he neuer heard of them before He askt his guide some questions others whiles As whether from those Indian seas perchance A ship may saile to England Spaine and France 13 She answerd thus to put you out of doubt First know the earth itselfe it like an Iland In â—toned with waters round about That compasse in on eu'ry side their drie land And though to this day no man hath found out Nor thinks there can be any way but by land Because they iudge the lands length there is such That it the other Hemispher doth tuch 14 Yet I foresee et many ages passe Nâ—w in 〈◊〉 and masters new shall rise That shall find out that erst so hidden was And that discouer where the passage lies And all the men that went before surpasse To find new lands new starres new seas new skies And â—asse about the earth as doth the Sunne To search what with Antipodes is done 15 Behold I see the signe of holy crosse A signe within these quarters seene but seeld I see where ten a thousand put to
losse And to th' imperiall banner all do yeeld I see in spite of eu'rie thwart and crosse The house of Aragon still wins the feeld I see that fortune is disposd to lift Vp vnto heau'n the name of Charles the fift 16 It pleaseth God to keepe the wayes vnknowne Vnto these parts as they haue bene and are Vntill seuen hundred yeares be ouerblowne What time he meanes to raise an Emp'ror rare That shall both finde and make them all his owne And one that shall most worthily compare In warre for courage and in peace for iustice With Traian with Aurelius or Augustus 17 I see the will of heau'n doth so incline The house of Austria and of Arragon Shall linke togither in a happie line And be by match vnited both in one I see a braunch grow by the banke of Ryne Out of this house as like there hath bene none Whose match thus much to say I dare be bold May not be found in writers new or old 18 By him againe Astrea shall be brought And be restored from her long exile And vertues that haue long bene set at nought Shall raigne and banish fraud deceit and guile For which great works by him so nobly wrought God meanes to grant him all this earthly I le And vnder this wise Prince his deare annointed One shepheard and one flocke he hath appointed 19 Which that it may the better be effected He giues them Captaines both by sea and land That shall win places neuer yet detected And none shall dare their forces to withstand Cortese first by whom shall be erected The Emp'rors banner in the Indian sand Who by his valiant hand and wise direction Shall win and keepe those Indies in subiection 20 Loe with the noble Marques of Pescare Prosper Colonna prosperous in fight Loc him that may with both of them compare Or be preferred if you do him right I meane the Marques Vast whose vallew rare In tender youthfull yeares shall shine most bright Like to a horse that running swiftest pace Doth last set out and first doth win the race 21 In him shall faith and courage be so mixt That when his years shal seeme but young tēder As passing not the twentie yeare and fixt Yet shall his fame and forces not be slender On him shall eyes and hearts of men be fixt To him shall townes and forts and castels render As to a Captaine with such worth endewed As he alone the world might haue subdewed 22 What should I speake of famous Andrew D'Orie That to the pyrats so much terror breeds As Pompey so much praisd in Latin storie This Andrew either matches or exceeds What nobler name can be what greater glorie Then to roote out such hurtfull cursed weeds So as men may with safetie and with ease From Italy to Nylus passe the seas 23 By his assistance furtherance and his aide In Italy Caesar a crowne obtaines For which good seruice though he be well paid Yet for himselfe thereby he nothing gaines The paine is his ò noble mind well staid The profit to his country sole remaines And whereas some to rule their country sought By him his countries freedome shall be wrought 24 This loue by him vnto his country showne In honor true shall more his name aduance Then both the Caesars victories well knowne In England Spaine in Italy and France For thought their enemies were ouerthrowne By valour oft and oftentimes by chance Yet this did blot their praise and make it lesse That both their countries freedome did oppresse 25 Wherefore let them and others all beside That tyrannize their countries be ashamed And hanging downe their heads their faces hide When they shall heare this noble Andrew named By whose rare temperate and happie guide His countries peace and freedome shall be framed And thus Andronica the Duke foretold What men in future ages come there shold 26 The while with prosprous winds the vessels driued Came first within the view of Persian shore And then from thence their way they so contriued They past the gulfe so called long before And there to land so happily arriued Misdoubting of Alcynas might no more He thanks these guides the all the way defended him And humbly to their Ladie recommended him 27 More woods then one more fields then one he past More then one valley more then one high hill He meeteth the eues by night by dayes as fast That lie in wait poore trauellers to kill Of beasts of serpents huge he was agast That with their terror those wild deserts fill But when he blew his horne they fled away No man nor beast durst in the hearing stay 28 He trauels through the happie Arabie So called for the store of spices sweet There where the bird that burnes and doth not die To dwell of all the world hath thought most meet Thence went he to the sea that once was drie Which Iacobs sons went through vpon their feet Proud Pharao following them vnto his cost Himselfe and all his charets drownd and lost 29 Fast by the banks of Traians streame he rides There where as Nylus doth receiue the same An horse of passing swiftnesse he bestrides That was ingendred twixt the wind and flame Not such a beast in all the world besides And Rabycano is this horses name Now as along the riuers banke he past He saw a boate make toward him in hast 30 A simple hermit did the vessell steare Whose beard with age was ouergrowne and gray And when he came so nie that he might heare These words to him he fatherly doth say My sonne if you do hold your safetie deare Except you meane to die this present day Proceed no farther in the way you ride But terme ouer to the other side 31 For if you do that fatall way proceed You shall within a mile a giant meet Whole stature other men doth farre exceed For why his height is counted fourteene feet He makes a sport of eu'ry cruell deed The flesh of man vnto his tast is sweet He eateth some aliue and some he slayeth He quarters some and other some he slayeth 32 Amid this crueltie he hath great sport To vse the seruice of a certaine net Which in the common way in secret sort With dust and grauell couerd he doth set And then when strangers do that way resort First if he may behind them he doth get And then with hideous outcries he them scares Vntill they fall into his net vnwares 33 But hauing caught them once in such a cage Of birth or merit he hath no respect Of wealth nor sex of country nor of age No priuiledge from him can them protect Their carkases his hunger must asswage Their sculs like monuments he doth erect In posts and windowes hanging them on pins His chambers all are hanged with their skins 34 Take then my sonne take then this other way Where with more ease and safetie you may go
far and neare may carie the report Of these great triumphs vnto eu'rie cost This tale the courteous host did tell his guest Of him that first ordaind the sumptuous feast 50 In this and such like talke they spend the night And then they sleepe vpon their beds of downe But when that once it shined cleare and light The trumpets sounded ouer all the towne And Griffin straight puts on his armor bright Aspiring after same and high renowne His leud companion likewise doth the same To shew a hope as well as he of fame 51 All armed thus they came vnto the field And view the warlike troupes as they did passe Where some had painted on their crest and shield Or some deuice that there described was What hope or doubt his loue to him did yeeld They all were Christens then but now alas They all are Turks vnto the endlesse shame Of those that may and do not mend the same 52 For where they should employ their sword and lance Against the Infidels our publike foes Gods word and true religion to aduance They to poore Christens worke perpetuall woes To you I write ye kings of Spaine and France Let these alone and turne your force on those And vnto you also I write as much Ye nations fierce Zwizzers I meane and Dutch 53 Lo tone of Christen kings vsurps a name Another Catholike will needs be called Why do not both your deeds declare the same Why are Christs people slaine by you and thralled Get backe againe Ierusalem for shame That now the Turke hath tane from you and walled Constantinople get that famous towne That erst belonged to th' Imperiall crowne 54 Dost not thou Spaine confront with Affrike shore That more then Italy hath thee offended Yet to her hart thou leauest that before Against the Infidels thou hadst intended O Italy a slaue for euermore In such sort mard as neuer can be mended A slaue to slaues and made of sinne a sinke And lotted sleepe like men orecome with drinke 55 Ye Swizzers fierce if feare of famine driue you To come to Lombardie to seeke some food Are not the Turks as neare why should it grieue you To spill your foes and spare your brothers blood They haue the gold and riches to relieue you Enrich your selues with lawfull gotten good So shall all Europe be to you beholding For driuing them from these parts and withholding 56 Thou Lion stout that holdst of heau'n the kayes A waightie charge see that from drowsie sleepe Thou wake our realme and bring her ioyfull dayes And from these forren wolues it safely keepe God doth thee to this height of honor raise That thou mayst feed and well defend thy sheepe That with a roring voice and mighty arme Thou mayst withhold thy flock from eu'ry harme 57 But whither roues my rudely rolling peâ— That waxe so sawcie to reproue such peeres I said before that in Damasco then They Christend were as in records appeares So that the armor of their horse and men Was like to ours though changd of later yeares And Ladies fild their galleries and towrs To see the iusts as they did here in ours 58 Each striues in shew his fellow to exceed And to be gallant in his mistris sight To see each one manage his stately steed Was to the standers by a great delight Some praise vnto themselues some shame do breed By shewing horses doings wrong or right The chiefest prize that should be of this tilt An armor was rich set with stone and gilt 59 By hap a merchant of Armenia found This armour and to Norandin it sold Who had he knowne how good it was and sound Would not haue left it sure for any gold The circumstance I cannot now expound I meane ere long it shall to you be told Now must I tell of Griffin that came in Iust when the sport and tilting did begin 60 Eight valiant knights the chalenge did sustaine Against all commers that would runne that day These eight were of the Princes priuate traine Of noble blood and noble eu'ry way They fight in sport but some in sport were slaine For why as hotly they did fight in play As deadly foes do fight in battell ray Saue that the King may when he list them stay 61 Now Griffins fellow was Martano named Who though he were a coward and a beast Like bold blind Bayard he was not ashamed To enter like a knight among the rest His countenance likewise in shew he framed As though he were as forward as the best And thus he stood and viewd a bitter fight Between a Baron and another Knight 62 Lord of Seleucia the tone they call And one of eight that did maintaine the iust The Knight Ombruno hight of person tall Who in his vizer tooke so great a thrust That from his horse astonied he did fall And with his liuely blood distaind the dust This sight amazd Martano in such sort He was afraid to leese his life in sport 63 Soone after this so fierce conflict was done Another challenger straight steppeth out With whom Martano was requird to runne But he whose heart was euer full of doubt With fond excuses sought the same to shunne And shewd himselfe a faint and dastard lout Till Griffin egd him on and blam'd his feare As men do set a mastiue on a Beare 64 Then tooke he heart of grace and on did ride And makes a little florish with his speare But in the middle way he stept aside For feare the blow would be too big to beare Yet one that would seeke this disgrace to hide Might in this point impure it not to feare But rather that his horse not good and redie Did shun the tilt and ranne not eu'n nor stedie 65 But after with his sword he dealt so ill Demosthenes him could not haue defended He shewd both want of courage and of skill So as the lookers on were all oftended And straight with hissing and with voices shrill The conflict cowardly begun was ended In his behalfe was Griffin sore ashamed His heart thereto with double heate inflamed 66 For now he sees how much on him it stands With double value to wipe out the blot And shew himselfe the more stout of his hands Sith his companion shewd himselfe a sot His fame or shame must flie to forren lands And if he now should faile one little iot The same wold seem a foule and huge transgression His mate had fild their minds with such impression 67 The first he met Lord of Sidona hight And towards him he runs with massie speare And gaue a blow that did so heauie light As to the ground it did him backward beare Then came of Laodice another knight On him the staffe in peeces three did teare Yet was the counterbuffe thereof so great The knight had much ado to keepe his seate 68 But when they came with naked swords to trie Which should the honor and the prise obtaine
other straid Orlando falls starke mad with sorrow taken To heare his mistres hath him quite forsaken 1 LEt eu'rie one do all the good they can For seldom cometh harme of doing well Though iust reward it wāteth now and than Yet shame and euill death it doth expell But he that mischieueth another man Doth seldome carrie it to heau'n or hell Men say it and we see it come to passe Good turns in sand shrewd turns are writ in brasse 2 Seeld mountains meet but men may often meet The Prouerbe saith and who so sets a trap May catch himselfe as here you plainly se e't In him that thought this dame in woes to wrap But hurts himselfe a punishment most meet God still defending her from all mishap God her preseru'd and will all those preserue As shunne all vice and him sincerely serue 3 It little did auaile to Pinnabell To be amid his kinsfolke and his frends And neare the castle where his fire did dwell Where eu'rie one him honours and attends Loe here the end of him doth plainly tell How wicked liues haue often wretched ends But to proceed I said when he was slaine The noble damsell sought her way againe 4 Which when she saw she could by no meanes know But more and more vncertainly did roue And sees the sunne was now declining low She meanes that night to rest her in the groue And sleepe sometime or else sometime I trow To looke on Mars on Saturne or on Ioue But chiefly whether she awakes or sleepes Rogeros image in her heart she keepes 5 Oft times she fretting to her selfe would say Loe hare with me farre more preuailed hath Then loue could do that now haue lost my way And left my comfort to auenge my wrath Nor had my wit so much forecast or stay To take some marke of my foretrodden path I did quoth she as fooles are wont to do Take one shrewd turne to do another two 6 These words and many like to these she spake To passe the rest of that her restlesse night Till starres gan vanish and the dawning brake And all the Easter parts were full of light Then at aduenture she her way doth take Not knowing yet if it were wrong or right And hauing traueld in that way some miles By hap Astolfo came that way the whiles 7 He rides the winged horse but in his hand He leades the famous Rabican behinde And eu'n as then in great doubt he did stand Where to bestow a beast of so good kind She knowing him went to him out of hand With words with showes and with embracements kind And ioyd to find this kinsman of her owne And vnto him her selfe she maketh knowne 8 Astolfo much reioyst at this their meeting Then one the other askt of their well fare And after their long talke and friendly greeting In which each shewd of other louing care Sith I quoth he intend hence to be fleeting To see what sights in forren countries are This horse of me I shall request you take Till I returne and keepe him for my sake 9 Also he said this corslet and this speare With you I leaue till I returne againe This speare the sonne of Galafren did beare Whom as you heard before Ferraw had slaine With head whereof if any touched were Straight wayes to fall to ground they must be faine All these he left behind to make him light Before that he begins to take his flight 10 Thus leaue once tane away the Duke doth sore First low and after still more hye and hye Till at the length she could him see no mores So doth the Pylot first with watchfull eye Guide out his vessell softlie by the shore While he doth thinke the rocks and shallowes nye But after when he dreads no more such doubts He sayles apace and claps on all his clouts 11 Now when the Duke was from the damsell gone What she might do she mused in her minde And carefully she meditates thereon How she may take the iourney first assignd And not neglect her kinsmans charge anon A wandring peasant t was her hap to finde To him she doth betake the horses spare Though of the wayes they both vnskilfull are 12 Her meaning was to go to Vallumbrose As first her loue and she concluded had Whom there to finde she certaine doth suppose Whom there to find she would haue bene full glad But loe a quite contrarie course she goes And sees a sight that made her then full sad Her fathers house Montalbanie she spide In which as then her mother did abide 13 If she shall forward go approching nire She shal be stayed there she stands in doubt If she stand still or backward do retire She feares to meet acquaintance there about If she be staid she feeles such burning fire Of longing loue as cannot be put out She chaunst amid these thoughts and many other To meet Alardo there her younger brother 14 This meeting in her minde bred much vexation When as she found her brother her had spide And made her alter her determination Which that she might from him the better hide She vsd some common words of salutation And to Montalban with him she doth ride Where as her mother full of care and feare Had wisht and wayted for her comming there 15 But all those kind embracings and those kisses She had of parent kinsmen kinde and friends She deems of little vallue to those blisses That she had lost and thought them small amends But sith to meet Rogero now she misles To send a messenger she now intends Some such to whom she may commit the charge To tell her mind vnto her loue at large 16 And if neede were to pray him in her name As he had promist her to be baptised And to excu'e that thither she not came As they togither had before deuised Besides his horse Frontino by the same She sent a horse of goodnes nor despised No horse in France or Spaine esteemed more Bayardo sole except and Brigliadore 17 Rogero if you call it well to minde What time the Griffith horse he first did take That soard away as swift as western winde And forst him quickly Europe to forsake That gallant beast Frontino left behind Whom Bradamant then for his masters sake Tooke home and with much care and costly feeding Made him by this time faire and fat exceeding 18 And straight her mayds and women seruants all That skilfull were to few to weaue and knit She doth to worke in hast togither call And she her selfe among them all doth sit To worke a net of art and cost not small For his caparison to make it fit When this was done and finisht straight way after She calls her nurse Callitrifeas daughter 19 This mayd knew best her minde of all the rest And off had heard her praising to the skyes Rogeros comly shape aud valiant brest His sugred speech sweet face
with fancie she was ouerseene To marry with a page of meane desarts Thus loue quoth he will haue his godhead seene In famous Queens and highest Princes harts This said to end the tale he shewd the iewell That she had giu'n him which Orlando knew well 95 This tale and chiefly this same last conclusion Was eu'n a hatchet to cut of all hope When loue had after many a vaine collusion Now for his farewell lent him such a rope To hang himselfe and drowne him in confusion Yet faine he would denie his sorrow scope And though a while to shew it he forbeares It breaketh out at last in sighs and teares 96 And as it were inforst he giues the raine To raging griefe vpon his bed alone His eyes do shed a very showre of raine With many a scalding sigh and bitter grone He slept as much as if he had then laine Vpon a bed of thornes and stuft with stone And as he lay thereon and could not rest him The bed itselfe gaue matter to molest him 97 Ah wretch I am thus to himselfe he sed Shall I once hope to take repose and rest me In that same house yea eu'n in that same bed Where my vngratefull loue so leudly drest me Nay let me first an hundred times be ded First wolues deuoure and vultures shall digest me Straight vp he starts and on he puts his clothes And leaues the house so much the bed he lothes 98 He leaues his host nor once doth take his leaue He far'd so ill he bids them not farewell He leaues the towne his seruants he doth leaue He rides but where he rides he cannot tell And when alone himselfe he doth perceaue To weepe and waile nay eu'n to houle and yell He doth not cease to giue his griefe a vent That inwardly so sore did him torment 99 The day the night to him were both aleeke Abroade vpon the cold bare earth he lies No sleepe no food he takes nor none would seeke All sustenance he to himselfe denies Thus he began and ended halfe the weeke And he himselfe doth maruell whence his eyes Are fed so long with such a spring of water And to himselfe thus reasons on the matter 100 No no these be no teares that now I shed These be no teares nor can teares run so rife But fire of frenzie drawth vp to my head My vitall humor that should keepe my life This streame will neuer cease till I be dead Then welcome death and end my fatall strife No comfort in this life my wo can minish But thou who canst both life and sorrow finish 101 These are not sighs for sighs some respite haue My gripes my pangs no respite do permit The blindfold boy made me a seeing slaue When from her eyes my heart he first did hit Now all inflam'd I burne I rage and raue And in the midst of flame consume no whit Loue sitting in my heart a master crewell Blowes with his wings feeds with his will the fewel 102 I am not I the man that earst I was Orlando he is buried and dead His most vngratefull loue ah foolish lasse Hath kild Orlando and cut off his head I am his ghost that vp and downe must passe In this tormenting hell for euer led To be a fearfull sample and a iust To all such fooles as put in loue their trust 103 Thus wandring still in wayes that haue no way He hapt againe to light vpon the caue Where in remembrance of their pleasant play Medoro did that epigram ingraue To see the stones againe his woes display And her ill name and his ill hap depraue Did on the sudden all his sence inrage With hate with fury with reuenge and rage 104 Straightways he draweth forth his fatall blade And hewes the stones to heau'n the shiuers flee Accursed was that fountaine caue and shade The arbor and the flowres and eu'ry tree Orlando of all places hauocke made Where he those names together ioynd may see Yea to the spring he did perpetuall hurt By filling it with leaues boughs stones and durt 105 And hauing done this foolish franticke feate He layes him downe all weary on the ground Distemperd in his bodie with much heate In mind with paines that no tongue can expound Three dayes he doth not sleepe nor drinke nor eate But lay with open eyes as in a sound The fourth with rage and not with reason waked He rents his clothes and runs about starke naked 106 His helmet here he flings his poulderns theare He casts away his curats and his shield His sword he throws away he cares not wheare He scatters all his armor in the field No ragge about his bodie he doth beare As might frō cold or might from shame him shield And saue he left behind this fatall blade No doubt he had therwith great hauocke made 107 But his surpassing force did so exceed All common men that neither sword nor bill Nor any other weapon he did need Meere strength suffisd him to do what he will He rootes vp trees as one would root a weed And eu'n as birders laying nets with skill Pare slender thornes away with easie strokes So he did play with ashes elmes and okes 108 The heardmen and the shepheards that did heare The hideous noise and vnacquainted sound With feare and wonder great approched neare To see and know what was hereof the ground But now I must cut off this treatise heare Lest this my booke do grow beyond his bound And if you take some pleasure in this text I will go forward with it in the next In Bradamants sorow for want of Rogero we may note how it falleth out many times that ouer great desire of reuenge worketh to our selues as great displeasure as we wished to our enemies In Rodomont that would not take the horse from Hippalca till he knew that a braue chāpion was the owner thereof we may note that though wrong be in deed a thing reprouable to whom soeuer it is done yet it is far more tollerable or at least excusable to be done to ones equal then to poore or inferior persons In Zerbinos happie deliuerance from a shameful death by Orlandos meanes we may obserue that which can neuer be too much obserued namely how diuine prouidence neuer failes the innocent In all the proceedings of Zerbino and Isabella a patterne might be taken of gratitude of constantnesse and of noble and princely inclination Of Hercules and Antheus though the originall it selfe seeme but fabulous yet thus it is written that they two wrastling Hercules perceiued that Antheus strength increased by falling to the ground and therefore to take him from his force he tooke him vp in his armes and so held him from the ground till he had vtterly vanquished him Plutarke in the life of Sertorius saith this Antheus was threescore cubits high In Astolfo that put off his armor and gaue away his spare horse and
pen can paint and speech aspire That thy iust praises may be plaine exprest To future times Go soule to heauen or hyer And if my verse can graunt to thee this chartir Thou shalt be cald of chastitie the Martir 30 At this her deed so strange and admirable He that aboue all heau'ns doth ay remaine Lookt downe and said it was more commendable Then hers for whom Tarquinio lost his raigne And straight an ordinance inuiolable Ay to be kept on earth he doth ordaine And thus he said eu'n by my selfe I sweare Whose powre heau'n earth sprites men and Angels feare 31 That for her sake that dide of this name last Who euer shall hereafter beare that name Shall be both wise and continent and chast Of faultlesse manners and of spotlesse fame Let writers striue to make their glòrie last And oft in prose and verse record the same Let Hellicon Pindus Parnassus hill Sound Isabella Isabella still 32 Thus said the Hy'st and then there did ensew A wondrous calme in waters and in aire The chast soule vp into the third heau'n flew Where Zerbin was to that the did repaire Now when the beastly Turke saw plaine in vew How he had prou'd himselfe a womanslayre When once his drunken furfet was digested He blam'd himselfe and his owne deed detested 33 In part to satisfie for this offence And to appease her ghost as t were in part Although he thought no pardon could dispence Not punishment suffice for such desart He vowes a monument of great expence Of costly workmanship and cunning art To raise for her nor minds he to go furder Then that selfe church where he had done the murder 34 Of that selfe place he minds her tombe to make And for that cause he gets of workmen store For loue for mony and for terrors sake Six thousand men he set to worke and more From out the mountaines massie stones they take With which wel wrought hewd squard therfore With hie and stately arch that church he couers And in the midst intombs the blessed louers 35 And ouer this was raisd with curious sleight A Pyramid a huge and stately towre Which towre an hundred cubit had in heighâ— By measure from the top vnto the flowre It seemd a worke of as great charge and weight As Adrian made to bost his wealth and powre Of goodly stones all raisd in seemly ranks Vpon the edge of stately Tybris banks 36 Now when this goodly worke was once begunne He makes a bridge vpon the water by That of great depth and force did euer tunne In former time a ferrie there did lye For such as would a further circuit shunne And passe this way more easie and more nye The Pagan takes away the ancient ferrie And leaues for passengers not bote not wherrio 37 But makes a bridge where men to row are wont And though the same were stroÌ„g of great length Yet might two horses hardly meet a front Nor had the sides a raile or any strength Who comes this way he meanes shall bide a bront Except he haue both corage good and strength For with the armes of all that this way come He means to bewtifie faire Isbels toome 38 A thousand braue Atchieuments he doth vow Where with he will adorne this stately worke From whom he taketh all these spoiles or how He cares not whether Christian or Turke Now was the bridge full finished and now His watchmen on each side in corners lurke To make him know when any one coms neare For all that come he means shall buy it deare 39 And further his fantastike braine doth thinke That sith by drinking wine he did that sin In lieu thereof he now would water drinke As oft as by mishap he should fall in For when he should vnto the bottome sinke The top would be an ell aboue his clun As who should say for eu'rie euill action That wine procures were water satisfaction 40 Ful many there arriued in few days Some men as in the way from Spaine to France Some others fondly thirsting after prayse In hope by this exploit their names t' aduance But Rodomont doth meet them both the ways And such his vallew was so good his chance That still as many men as there arriues Lost all of them their arms and some their liues 41 Among the many prisners that he tooke All those were Christians to Algyre he sent And willd his men safely to them to looke Because ere long himselfe to come he ment The rest saue that their armors they forsooke All harmelesse backe into their countries went Now while such feats were by the Pagan wrought Orlando thither came of wits bestraught 42 At that same instant that Orlando came Was Rodomont all armed saue his hed The naked Earle with wits quite out of frame Leaps ou'r the bar and went as folly led To passe the bridge the Pagan him doth blame For his presumption and withall he sed Stay sawcy villen proud and vndiscreet For such as thee this passage is not meet 43 For Lords and knights and squyres of good estate This bridge was built and not for thee thou beast He that no sence had in his idle pate Not heeding what was said still onward prest I must the Pagan thinks this fools pride bate It seems belike he thinks I am in iest And thereupon he makes the madman towards And minds to drowne him sith he was so frowards 44 He little lookt to find a match so hard Now while they two together gan to striue Behold a gallant dame of great regard At that same bridge by fortune did arriue Faire Fiordeliege that late before had hard How loue did of his witts this Earle deprius She hither came to seeke out Brandimart That now in Pari was with pensiue hart 45 And thus this Ladie as before I told Came at that season to this dangerous place And knew this Earle when she did him behold And wonderd much to see him in such case Now held Orlando with his foe hard hold In vaine the Pagan striues him to displace And grinning to himselfe he said at length Who could haue thought a foole had such strength 46 And stretting that he had his purpose mist He doth by sleight the madmans force assay Sometime he puts his hand below his twist Sometime aboue sometime another way Orlando stands vnmou'd do what he list The Pagan seemd to do by him that day ' As doth the Beare that would dâ—g vp the tree From whence she fell but fees it will not be 47 Orlando full of force though void of sence About the middle tooke the Pagan fast And heaues him vp from ground so from thence Into the streame himselfe he backward cast Vnto the bottome both do sinke from whence Each one was glad to get him in great hast Orlando nakt and light swam like a fish So that he soone gat out as he would wish 48 And being out away
his muster masters deceiued him in the number of his men but howsoeuer it was sure it is this Prince was a most worthy man and wanted no quality of an excellent king valiant and bountifull and such a fauourer of learned men that the Italians termed him Padre e madre the father and mother of learning and liberall sciences In the xlix staffe he toucheth the sacke of Rome which the Duke of Burbon was ring leader of though himselfe was at the verie first assault slaine with a harguebush shot in the head but the other Captaines sacked the towne and in fine draue the Pope to his ransome And thus much for the storie of this booke now I come to the Allegorie Diuers excellent good Allegories may be taken out of this prettie fiction of Prester Iannie called Senapos One is as I partly touched in the morall when men through wealth and honor grow proud and despisers of God and religion whose state is damnable and incurable except a flying knight come downe from heauen I meane some Angell of God or speciall grace of God to remoue these monsters and monstrous opinions out of their minds The punishment of blindnesse laid vpon him for that his presumptuous assaulting Paradice shewes that no men are in deed more blind then those that thinke they see so much more then other men specially when they enter into that wilfull blindnesse of not seeing the way to their owne saluation Italie had bin noted long to haue had many irreligious men in it and no maruel for our old English prouerbe is the nearer the Church the furder from God yet surely those despisers of religion are themselues dispised of many in so much as it is growne for a by word among them when they speake of such a man they will say Oh he is grown a profound wise mā he begins now not to beleeue in Christ therby Ironically noting his passing folly I would stand longer in applying al the particulars of this Allegorie but that I doubt I am somewhat to tedious in these notes already In the Harpias that snatch away the meate from the mouth of this king he alludes as himselfe expoundeth plainly in the beginning of the next booke to the Swizzers and other strangers that spoile Italie But a like storie which this may seeme to allude vnto is told of Calai and Zet sonnes of Orithya daughter to Erictheus king of Athens who are sayd to haue deliuered Phineus king of Thrace from the Harpias in such a like sort Here end the annotations vpon the xxxiiij booke THE XXXIIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Astolfo heares of Lydias plague in hell Vntill the smoke annoyd and fould him so That he was faine to wash him at a well Which done to Paradise he straight doth go Where he doth meet Saint Iohn who doth him tell Strange things and as strange things to him doth show And there Orlandos with the doth receaue And sees the fatall threeds the sisters weaue 1 OH foule Harpias greedie hunger starued Whom wrath diuine for inst reuenge hath sent To blinded Italy that hath deserued For sins both old and late so to be shent The sustenance that shold for food haue serued For widowes poore and orphans innocent These filthy monsters do consume and wast it Oft at one meale before the owners tast it 2 He doubtlesse guiltie is of grieuous sin That first set open that long closed caue From which all filth and greedines came in To Italie and it infected haue Then ended good then did bad dayes begin And discord foule so farre off all peace draue That now in warres in pouertie and paine It long hath taride and shall long remaine 3 Vntill she can her slouthfull sonnes awake From drowsie sleepe that now themselues forget And say to them for shame example take Let others valiant deeds your courage whet Why should not you the like acts vndertake As in time past did Calai and Zet That erst like aid to Phineas did bring As did Astolfo th' Ethiopian king 4 Who hauing driu'n away these monsters fell From blind Senapos boond as erst I told And chased them so farre vntill they fell Into the caue most fearfull to behold That fearfull caue that was the mouth of hell To hearken at the same he waxed bold And heard most wofull mourning plaints and cries Such as from hell were likely to arise 5 Astolfo minds into the place to enter And visit those that haue forgone this light And pierce the earth eu'nto the middle center To see if ought may there be worth the sight For why he thought what need I seare to venter That haue this horne with which I can affright Foule Sathan Cerberus with trebble chaps And safely keepe my selfe from all mishaps◠6 He ties his flying beast fast by the raines With mind to hell it selfe to bid defiance His horne fast tide about his necke remaines In which much more then sword he puts affiance But at his very entrance he complaines Of that same smoke that bred him much annoyance That sauourd strong of brimstone and of pitch Yet still Astolfo goeth thorough stitch 7 But still the farder that he forward goes He feeles the smoke more noisome and more thick That in himselfe he gan now to suppose If furder he should wade he should be sicke When lo a shadow seemed to disclose It selfe to him of somewhat that was quicke And to his thinking hither wau'd and thether Much like a carcasse hanged long in wether 8 The English Duke that had desire to know If so he saw a bodie or a vision Strake with his sword thereat so fierce a blow As would indeed thereof haue made diuision If it had bin as it did seeme in show But when he saw his sword made no incision He guessed that it was by that blows giuing A passed spirit not a bodie liuing 9 Then heard he how thus wofully it said Oh you that to these lower parts descend Bring vs no hurt though you can bring no aid And be not so to those whom none can frend The Duke amazd both hands and footsteps staid And said vnto the ghost so God thee send Some speedie ease of this thy painfull smart As thou wilt deine to tell me who thou art 10 And if to worke your good lay in my lot Aboue or here I should be glad to do it Ah said the ghost my plague with such a knot Is tide as mortall strength cannot vndo it Yet your request denie you will I knot Because you haue so great a mind vnto it I will declare to you my stock and name And eke the cause why to this place I came 11 My name is Lydia borne of princely birth And bred in pompe and solaces delightfull Though now in place excluded from all mirth I lie condemnd by Gods high doome and rightfull Because while I did liue aboue on earth Vnto my loue I shewd my selfe so spightfull And many more be
seeke his masters carkas to burie it 143. kils many Christians asleepe ibid. carries his maisters corse and is pursued by Scots 144. hurt by a Scot against Zerbinos will 147. found by Angelica and healed wooed and married by Angelica 147. his Epigramme 148. escapes Orlando hardly 239. made king of East India 242. Melyssa showeth Bradamant all Rogeros posteritie 19. 20. instructeth her how to take the ring from Brunello 21. goeth to deliuer Rogero 52. her speech to Rogero 53. comforts Bradamant 322. in Rodomonts likenes breaks the truce 326. meeteth Leon and showes him Rogero 395. bringeth the rich Pauillion by Nigromancie 399. is at Bradamants mariage 402. Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt neare to which the huge Pyramides were made Merlins Fountain 208. his hall in Sir Tristrams lodge and the stories thereof 258. the English Prophet of him you shall reade in the notes of the third booke pag 22. Morgana a passing witch much spoken of in Boyardos booke of Orlando Inamorato N Nercus sonne of Caropeius and Aglaia a passing beautifull young man witnes Homer one of those that came against Troy 269. Nestor is said to haue liued three ages which some count 90. yeares some 300. Nilus the famous riuer of Egypt so called of king Nilus or as some will haue it of the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is new slime for with the slime thereof it inricheth all Egypt some doubt whether it haue any head at all but runnes out of the great lake it fals deuided into the sea in seuen branches wherefore Ouid cals it in the 1. Met. Septemfluus Norandino looke in the tales makes a great feast 129. receiueth Griffin into fauour 139. O Odericke is sent by Zerbino for Isabella 9â— would haue rauisht her 98. woundeth Corebo ibidem is brought by Almonio to Zerbino lib. 24. staffe 16. is pardoned by him ib. staffe 35. breaketh promise and is hanged ib. staff 38. Oberto king of Ireland comes to Ebuda and meetes Orlando there 85. fals in loue with Olimpia 86. marries her ibidem Olimpia looke tales she is deliuered by Orlando and maried to Bireno 71. betrayed by him and left on the shore 75. is found by Orlando at the I le of Ebuda and her beautie described she deliuered 85. Oberto fals in loue with her 86 marries her ibdem. Oliuero sent prisoner to Biserta set free by Astolfo 328. assaults Biserta 335. slue Bucifar 336. is one of the three in the challenge 338. hath Rogeros armour giuen him 344. his impreyse a lymehound with the word till he commeth ibid. he is hurt by his horse fall 348. is healed by the Hermit 372. comes into France with Orlando and Rogero 376. is at Bradamants mariage 402. Origille a strumpet loued by Griffin 119. is found with Martano excuseth it 122. Orillo a Nigromancer looke tales 116. Orlando comes from the East Indies with Angelica and hath her taken from him pag. 1. troubled in his sleepe by a dreame 62. he leaues Paris 63. comes vpon the Pagans campe 65. passeth into Britanie and is put backe to Antwerpe 66. heares the state of Olimpia ibid. challengeth Cimosco 69. kills him 70. flings the harquebush into the sea 71. comes to Ebuda 84. kils an Orke ibid. sets free Olimpia againe 85. goeth backe to Britanie 87. illuded with the likeness of Angelica 89. pursues Angelica 91. fights with Ferraw 92. lost his helmet ibid. foyld two bands of Pagans 93. findes Isabella 94. deliuers her 98. hangs the outlawes ibid. deliuers Zerbino 180. fights with Mandricard 181. is parted 182. hears newes of Angelica 183. fals starke mad 185. some mad parts of his 193. wrastles with Rodomont 237. meetes Angelica and almost catcheth her 239. comes to Biserta 242. troubles Astolfos armie in his madnes 329. is bound made wise by Astolfo 330. assaults Biserta 334. rescues Brandimart at Biserta 336. sackes the towne 338. accepts Agramants chalenge ibid. findes Ballisard in a voyde ship 344. fights the combat three to three 348. kils Gradasso and Agramant 352. meetes Renaldo 369. comes to Sicilie 370. he makes Brandimarts funerall 371. his Oration ibid. comes to the Hermit and meetes Rogero there 372. goeth backe into France with him 376. is at Bradamants mariage 402. Orke a monstrous fish P Paris sonne to Priamus louer of Helena Paris fiered by Agramant and quenced by rayne from heauen 61. assaulted by Agramant 110. entred by Rodomont and set on fire 111. Paule the first Hermit or Anchorit it is said of him that a crow brought him euerie day halfe a loafe of bread and that Anthonie a deuout man going to see him the crow brought him that day a whole loafe Penelope wife of Vlysses famous for her chastitie in the long absence of her husband hauing many importunate sutors in her husbands absence she prayd them to respite her till she had ended a web which she had begunne to weaue and that being granted looke what she woue all day she vndid at night Pegasus a horse that had wings this horse is sayd to be bred of the blood of Medusa and that Bellerophon thinking to ride him vp to heauen fell from him but the horse held on his course still and was made a starre Phoebus or Apollo taken for the Sunne Pinnabell son of Anselmus of Maganza meets with Bradamant 12. lets Bradamant fall into Merlins pit 14. steales her horse 17. ouerthrowne by Marfisa 158. takes Griffin Aquilant Guidon Sauage Sansonet prisoners 172. makes them sweare to his law ibid. is met and killed by Bradamant 173. Polinesso Duke of Albany betrayeth Genewra by Dalindas meanes 35. is killed by Renaldo 38. Polidorus son of Priamus killed by Polimnestor for couetousnes of the gold that Priamus sent with him Pollux looke Castor Prasildo a Christen Captaine Progue killed her sonne Itis and is fained to haue bin turned into a swallow Proteus counted a God of the sea called Vertumnus because he is said to turne himselfe into all shapes Proteus king of Egypt spoken of in the. 46. booke Puliano a king musters afore Agramant 105. slaine by Renaldo 154. Pyramides certaine towers of incredible height built by the Princes of Egypt of this looke in the seuen wonders of the world R Rabican Astolfos horse 54. Renaldo fell out with Orlando for Angelica 2. lost his horse in seeking of him found Angelica ibid. fought with Ferraw ibidem rides behind him 3. parts from him and finds his horse ibid. he finds Angelica againe 7. fights with Sacrapant 10. is parted by the illusion of an Hermit ibidem he takes his horse againe ibidem he goeth to Paris 11. is sent in Embassage ibid. arriues in Scotland 28. goeth toward the Coâ—â—t ibidem is intertained by an Abbot and his Monks ibidem heare 's of Genewras danger ibid. is guided to the Court. 29. meetes with Dalinda ibid. heares the tale of Genewrae 32.33.34.35.36 fights with Polinesso and kils him 38. sues for ayd to the Scottish king 58. goeth by