that he made him to fall forwards with his hands vpon y e earth he had not so soone giuen him that blow but straight way he gaue him the second vpon his helme that without féeling he made him to fall againe vpon his hands with both his knées to the ground The Princes swoord was not so fine strong to suffer so great strokes but broke in péeces with those terrible blowes which was the occasion that as then the battel was not finished So the Prince when he saw himselfe without his swoord thought it best to withdrawe himselfe backe and the Arginarian king when he beheld himselfe so vsed giuing terrible rorings he arose vp so that he made all y e earth to shake and when he was on â—oote he lift vp the visor of his helme for to take aire likewise he lift vp his gâ—eaâ— mase and went towards the Prince for to strike him this inuincible knight when he sawe himselfe without anie weapon for to make his defence against so terrible an aduersarie who had lifted vp his armes aboue his head with his mase in his handes alâ—â—t for to strike him and for that he knewe verye well that the small péece of his sword which did remayne in his hande was but little auaileable hée determined straight wayes to throwe it at him and in the throwing of it his fortune was so good that before thy Gyaunt coulde let his armes descende with that furious blowe be stroke him on the visour which a little before he had lift vp to take the aire that it all to plaistred his face and nose whereof he receiued so much paine and griefe that he had no strength to execute his heauie blow When the Gyaunt felt this great harme he let loose his holde from the mase with his left hand and clapped it vnto his face The new knight who receiued no griefe at his extremitie but waying the necessitie into which he was driuen for lacke of a weapon but seeing the Gyant occupyed in feeling of his face and wringing his bodie at the griefe thereof he did procure to winne from him his mase and giuing a contrarie leap as the Ounce doth when she is oppressed by the hunter layed hoâ—â—â— on the mase and pulled it giuing so strong and wilie a turne being done with so great swiftnesse that he was constrained to let it loose out of his hand The Gyant when he saw that he had lost his mase and that it was in the power of his enimie pressed vnto him for to catch him betwéene his armes but this new knight who was nothing desirous of such imbrasing defended himselfe from the same by putting himselfe on y e one side and as the Gyant passed by he stroke him with that furious mase so terrible a blow on the backe that he made him to go forwards spite of his téeth which made him forget to desire anie more to come to wrastle So when the Gyant had stretched himselfe vpright he drew out his broad and sharpe sword and with a gallant demeanour his sword all aloft he pressed vnto the new knight who was with his mase readie at his standing abiding his comming The new knight did first discharge his blow for that he might strike him a farre of and chaunced with one of the balls to hit him vpon the left arme with so strong a blowe that the bone of the wrist he brake in péeces which made the Gyant to loose his furious blowe Who were nowe able to declare the greate furye and outragiousnesse of this fierce Gyant there was neuer furie so fierce nor the swift wind of Aâ—olus in the close and narrowe caues of the mountaines as the Gyant was at that time without hauing anie regarde vnto the dammage which a lyttle before hée had receiued but flourishing aloft with his great sword he sayd O vile knight I tell thée that ther is no Gods in the heauen no on the earth or sea that shall haue anie power to deliuer thée froÌ„ me This warlike knight answered Thou vncurteous and vnreasonable Gyant hold thy peace and speake no such blasphemies but do what thou canst and then thou shalt sée how little thou art worth and of what small estimation and therewith he lift vp his mace and returned vnto his former and furious battaile Héere I doe now lacke a sharpe and prompt vnderstanding for to set forth at large and with swéete and delicate reasons that it might be delightfull vnto the readers the great courage and strength which that strong warriour did shew and the great hast and spéed he vsed against his furious enimie laying on him with that great mace which alwaies oppressed him with those great and heauie blowes in such sort that it hurt and wounded him verie much And héere I 〈◊〉 giue you to vnderstand that the fiercenesse and furie of this battaile was such that the author durst not declare at large thâ— great valiantnesse therein vsed for that he stood in doubt of his owne vnderstanding to declare it effectually as it passed therefore he doth omit the declaring â—hereof but that these two strong and stout warriours were two houres together striking and hurâ—ing the one the other and each of them shewing y e greate stouâ—nesse strength and courage of their hearts and wer â—oth kindled in so much wrath and ire that more by strength then by policie they defended themselues either of them procuring to ouercome his aduersarie So at this time the fierce Gyant stroke his enimie such a terrible blow which chanced glanceing vpon his healme and descended downe with so greate a sound vpon his left shoulder â—hat if it had not bene by â—he greate vertue which his armour had beeing made by y e wise inchaunter the hardnesse of the steele would lyttle haue profitâ—d but that he shoulde haue cut him with all that parte of the bodie downe to the wast neuerthelesse the strength of the blowe was such and put him to so much paine that the Prince felte himselfe to bee verie euill thereof insomuch that it did depriue him at that time of his 〈◊〉 that hee could not lift vp the heauie mase for to strike the king of Arginaria His paine and griefe was such that his aduersarie did perceiue his weaknesse which caused him to make more hast in striking of the Prince with such furious blowes that it made this new knight to retire from him drawing after him that heauie mase with his right hand Who at this time shoulde haue séene the countenaunce of the king of Arginaria and the king Delfo would well haue iudged theyr greate trouble of mindes This warlike knight was verie much troubled with that great griefe insomuch that many times he thought to haue imbraced with the Gyaunt and wrastled with him which certainely he would haue done if the griefe had continued but he felt that the paine decreased which was the occasion that he went dalying with the gyant who with hastie and terrible blowes followed
he shoulde haue vnto such as she was but blasphemed against heauen and tearing her clothes all to péeces he stripped her starke naked and with the raines of the bridle of his palfraie hée all to be whipped and scourged her white and tender backe that it was full of viewe spottes with such horrible crueltie that it was a verie greeuous and sorrowfull â—ight to beholde And yet thâ—â— did proâ—it him nothing at all hee séeing that this damosell did still perseuer and continue in her defence hée straight wayes lyke a bloudie monster heaped crueltie vppon crueltie and tooke and bounde her well proportioned and christalline armes and legges with cordes and made them fast verie strongly vnto a trée saying O cruell and more cruell then euer anie woman in all the worlde hath béene wherefore hast thou béene the occasion to bring thy selfe to bée thus so euill and mischieuously intreated and onely for not giuing consent vnto him which alwayes woulde haue procured thy ease What dooest thou thinke is it better to suffer to be thus martyred then to liue a most louing sweeâ—e and contented lyfe Then this euill intreated Ladie with a hoarse voyce aunswered and sayde vnto him Oh wicked traytour more harde hearted then euer knight hath béene wherefore dooest thou make anie delaye tell mée thou enimie to the Gods why dooest thou not finish thy crueltie and take the soule from this my miserable and wofull bodie Doest thou not doo it because it shall not goe and complaine whereas thou shalt receiue the rewarde of this thy mercilesse inhumanitie O you Gods denie mée not my right iustice against this false and traiterous king Let not to be true executioners of iustice in reuenging so dampnable a deede And thus beeing wearâ—ed with the cruell and terrible torments shée held her peace and sayde no more But for all this the king did not let to prosecute his crueltie and with great anger he looked on her hauing his accursed eyes fixed in such sorte that he coulde not withdrawe them backe Then this tormented Ladie séeing him and béeing verie desirous of the death with a furious voyce she sayde What dooest thou thinke thou traitour the greatest traitour that euer was in the world wherein dost thou contemplate thy selfe thou fleshly Butcher thou vnmercifull Tyger thou lecherous hogge and dishonourer of the royall crowne make an ende of these thy tormentes for it is nowe too late to repent thée giue mée the death and sende mée into the bosome of Diana This vnpittifull king seeing the stedfastnesse that shee hadde in the defence of her honour with a cruell and infernall heart hée tooke a towell which this Damosell had girded at her wast and with a brutall anger doubled it about hir neck and pinched it so straight that the soule departed from the bodie O thou knight that by thy prowesse doest come to read this Harchment consider the greate constancie and chastitye of this vnfortunate Damosell and let the griefe thereof moue thee to take vengeaunce of this greate crueltie shewed without anie desert So when this infernall king sawe that shée was dead hee tooke his horse and returned from whence hee came and in a short time he ouertooke his companie and looked with so furious and irefull a countenaunce that there was not one that wae so hardie to aske him where my daughter was but one of the knightes of my Court which I sent to beare companie with my daughter hauing a suspition by the great alteration that appeared in the king and béeing verie desirous to knowe what was become of the Princesse for that he came alone without bringing her with him neither coulde he haue anie sight of her hee then presentlye withdrewe himselfe backe and following the footings of the horse he ceased not vntill he came vnto the place whereas this crueltie was wrought whereas hée found this miserable Ladie lie dead in the same sorte as I haue declared at the viewe whereof he remained almost beside himselfe in such sorte that he had almost fallen to the grounde This Knight remained a good while before he could speake so when he was come againe to himselfe hée beganne with a dolorous complaint crying out against the Gods and fortune because they had suffered so greate crueltie to bée committed vnto this damosell and making this sorrowfull complaint hée vnloosed her from the trée and layde her vppon parte of her apparell and couered her with the rest and sayde on this wise O cruell handes what an infernall heart was that which did beare thée companie to doe this vncharitable sacrifice Was it not sufficient that this surmounted beautie should haue mooued thée to more pittie So with these and other lyke sorrowfull wordes that this knight spake vnto the dead corps he cut downe braunches from the trées for to couer the bodie and left it lying so that it séemed to be a mountaine of gréene trées then determined with himselfe in the best manner that he coulde to dissemble the knowledge of this fact done hée tooke his horse and went the waie towardes the Citie which lead to the kings Court in which he rode so fast that he ouertooke the king and his companie at the entering into the Citie whereas the king alighted and without speaking to anie person he entered into his closeâ— by reason whereof this my knight had time to declare vnto the Quéene all that he had seene and the dolorous ende of the Damosell Herea her sister The sodayne and vnlooked for sorrowe mixed with great anger and wrath was such in this quéene that she commaunded the knight not to depart the court vntill such time as more occasion did serue and she her selfe remained making meruailous and great lamentations to her selfe all in secret for that she woulde not be perceiued yet with a soft voice she sayd O vnfortunate queene and borne in a sorrowfull houre oh vnhappie destinie which madest me to be subiect vnto the most cruellest king amongst all kings I suppose y â— fortune cannot be so much against me but y t she will procure to take reuengement of thee Oh immortall Gods reueÌ„gâ—◠〈◊〉 this so great and horrible an homicide and if not I 〈◊〉 â—eare vnto you that I will with my owne hands put in practise such an enterprise that you looking downe from the heauens shall tremble for the feare thereof What doo ye you deafe Gods altogether without iustice will you not hearken vnto this my gréeuous complaint wel séeing you regard me not I wil sée if y t you haue power to withdrawe me from executing of mine own will This saying she â—ooke in her hand a dagger of the kings and in her armes her youngest sonne saying I do not wish so much euill vnto the world y t I will leaue the sonne of so wicked a father to soiourne in it in this order she entered into the chamber wheras the king was and there she founde him tumbling vppon his bedde from the
be in this sort so euill intreated This Knight did very much and with great sorrow behold her white skin and backe all to be spotted with her red bloud And taking a cloke from one of the mariners he threw it vpon her for to couer her body and tooke her in his arms and commaunded Macedonio for to vnlose her This vnhappie Lady neuer felt nor knew what was done vnto her till such time as she was vnbound out of those bands and in the Knights armes and giuing a terrible sigh she thought that she had bene in the armes of that furious Giaunt saying Oh Brufaldoro my Lord and husband The Knight hearing those wordes was fully certified that it was he with whom he had had battaile and so it was true as hath bene tolde you This new Knight would haue aunswered her but hée was disturbed by hearing of a great noyse of a horse which séemed to be in the wood amongst the trées and for to sée what it should be he left the Ladie lieng along vpon the grounde in the kéeping of his Page and the marriners and went towards that place whereas he heard that rushing noyse and sawe y t it was a mightie great monstrous Giant mounted vpon a great beast the which was Marmoraton who returned to see if the Lady were aliue for to torment her a new And when he came vnto the piller and saw not the Ladye with an irefull looke he cast his eyes looking about on euerye side and at last he saw the Knight who was comming towardes him with a reasonable and quiet pace and how that the Lady was vntyed making her sorrowfull complaint And séeing them in this order with great fury vpon his terrible beast he came towardes them and when he was nigh them he staid and did behold the great proportion and gentle disposition of the Knight hnd asked him saying Art thou by fortune the King of Mauritania that traiterously hath slaine in the field my brother and his children I am not he that thou dost aske for sayd the Tinacrian but rather I do giue thée to vnderstande that he is the Knight that I dâ—e most hate and I am a knight that at the sorrowfull complaynt of this Ladye am come hether and seeing her to bee a verye fayre woman and without anye deserte to be thus so euill intreated it mooueth mee to put my person in aduenture against them that will séeme farther to misuse her In the meane time whiles the Knight was saying these words the Gyant was beholding him very preciselye and knit his browes with the great anger he receiued to heare these words and with great fury he spurred his monstrous beast that he made him giue so mightie a leape that he reached vnto the place whereas the knight was and it lacked little that he had not fallen vpon this new knight who with great lightnesse did apart himselfe from him and drewe out his sword and would haue stroke him but the beast passed by with so great fury that he could not reach him The Giant straight way returned his great beast with his broade â—auchon in his hand he came against the Prince and would haue stroke at him This inuincible Tinacrian did abide his comming and at the discharging of the Giaunts blowe he stepped on the one side towards his left hand and stroke an ouerthwart blow with so great strength vpon his knée that by reason his armour was not very good he cut it a sunder so that leg and all fell downe to the grounde and the monstrous Giant fell on the other side likewise to the earth and with great roaring began to blaspheme against the heauens for this his sodaine mishap There was a man that came with the Gyant who when he saw all that had passed with great feare returned the way from whence he came The Prince when he saw that with so great ease he was cleare of the Giant with a loude voyce he said Oh God whom the Christians doo worship I doo giue thée thankes and I doo acknowledge that all this my good successe doth procéede from thee and héere I doo promise and vowe that once comming vnto my father to accomplysh and performe all that I am bounde to doo for to be a true Christian. The great beast whereon the Gyaunt latelye rode did very well please and gaue great contentment vnto the Knight for that he was of a bigge stature and of a very good haire because the halfe parte forwardes was was of the colour of a Wolfe and the other halfe was all blacke sauing that héere and there it was spotted with little white spots His feete were clouen so that he néeded not at anie time to be shooed his necke was somewhat long and a little head with great cares hanging down like a hound his pace was with great maiestie and he doubled his necke that his mouth touched his breast there came foorth of his mouth two great tusks and he did exceed all beasts in the world in lightnesse and did runne with a verie good grace The young knight receiued so great delight in him that he did determine to take and kéepe him for himselfe not to vse anie other horse so long as this beast would indure and without the helpe of stirop or anie other thing he leapt into the saddle and commaunded his Page and the Marriners that in the thickest of the forrest they shoulde abide his comming and to haue great care of that Ladie and not to remoue from thence till such time as they dyd heare the sound of his horne and when he had aduertised theÌ„ what they should doe he tooke the narrow path by which the Gyant came in the which he had not trauailed long when that vpon a sodaine not knowing what it should be there came a damsell and put her selfe before him who brought vnto him a shéeld verie rich in the which was painted a trée the one halfe was of siluer and had a braunch broken which hung downe out of the which ranne streames of red bloud and the other haâ—â—e was of golde and by it a knight who did contend to breake one of the braunches and on the shéeld were certaine letters which sayd Contention oft times doth ouercome fortune Then the damsell sayd Poliphebo they which doe wish and desire all good vnto thee doeth sende thee this sheeld with the deuice which thou doest sée vnderstand that thou hast thereof great néed I desire thee to note well â—he deuice which it hath for that in the time as y e braue bastard Lyon with his surmounted contention shal ouercome all inchantments in tearing the golden braunch although it is not ordained for him The sonne of Garrofilea shall loose all his libertie And in saying these wordes she put the shéeld about his necke and without anie more tarrying shée vanished awaie without béeing anie more séeke at the which this new knight was verie much amazed and troubled
Priest told vnto the Knight of the Sunne his Cousin but the great sorrow that he receiued in the hearing of so great crueltie constrained a fewe salt teares to fall from his eyes from the which he could not refraine And procéeding forwardes in hir talke she said You shall vnderstand sir Knight that I am a Damosell belonging to the Countesse of Modica who is nowe in companie with the vertuous Quéene Garofilea in the Citie of Sarragosa héere in the lande of Tinacria by whom I was sent about certaine businesse and came nowe from thence Uerely the hearing of this terrible and heauie historie did verie much cause this noble Knight to lament compelled his hart to earne although on y e coÌ„trarie he did reioyce very much for that now in the beginning of his knighthoode he might imploie himselfe and his valiant courage in such terrible conflictes whereby he might winne to himselfe a renowmed name and reporte if so it please God that he may goe forward with this enterprise So he determined with himselfe to loose his lyfe in this quarrell or else to set the same Citie at libertie although hée gaue not the Damosell to vnderstand anie thing concerning this his intent who in the end of many good reasons and pittifull perswasions that shée vsed in counâ—ailing and perswading this worthy knight Don Eleno for to haue very great care and to looke well vnto himselfe that he did not fall into the handes of this cruell Giant she tooke hir palfray and departed hir way towards the Citie to the ende that she might enter in at the gates before the daye did breake whereby shee might not be discouered of the enimie So this Damosell departed and lefte the Knight in great anguish and sorâ—â—wâ— of minde as well in thinking of the crueltie of this vncharitable Giant as also for that the night was so long that he could not put his determined purpose in vre but in the end the gladsome daye appeared at which time this worthye Knight perused his armour and surely armed himselfe and lased on his helme and taking his horse he rode the waye which led towards the Citie béeing the same waye which the Damosell went He had not ridden farre when he discouered the Citie which was meruailously adorned with Towers and fortresses but yet round about it was to be séene a meruailous and dolorous spectacle of dead men and women torne in péeces and others hanged by the necke vppon Iybbets hard by the walls and some vpon trées which were in the field nigh at hand which caused the Prince to stay and to sigh with great sorrow and teares in the beholding of so inhumane crueltie and in bitternesse of heart he said O Lord how wonderfull be thy secrets y t thou sufferest this Knight to vse so great crueltie without punishing of him it cannot be without some great mysterie which thy diuine Maiestie doth pretend I beseech thée O Lorde to giue me so much grace and strength that I may cause this great crueltye to be taken away and vtterly to cease O noble Citie I cannot iudge what anger fortune should receiue of thée in y t she consenteth thou shouldest be subiect vnto such vnmercifull people so much without pitie and compassion Well I maye say that as Grecia may brag hir selfe of most excellent wise learned men which it hath brought vp euen so maist thou complaine that against thée hath bene fostered two terrible and abhominable tyrants And in saieng these wordes hee drew nigh the gates of the Citie which for feare of the crueltie of the Giant they kept shut taking hold at the ring therof he began to knock which he had not so soone done but y e lifting vp his eyes he beheld to descend from aboue out of a bulwarke a great frée stone which was cast downe by the hands of a Gentlewoman which came so sodainly that he almost had no time to deliuer himselfe from receiuing the fall theâ—â—of and if the lightnes of his horse had not ben the quicker he must néedes haue taken the blowe on his head which would not haue fallen out well with him But when this Gentlewoman sawe that the stone fell downe without doing anie harme with a gréeuous and terrible sigh that procéeded from her heart she sayd Art thou that cursed Tefereo through whose cause the most part of the mournfull matrones of this distressed Citie are made widowes and with great affliction are inforced to bewaile the losse of their louing husbandes and welbeloued sonnes Art thou he that doth not onely content thy selfe to kill them and teare them in péeces but also hangest them before our eyes and garnishest the walls of this our vnhappie Citie with the bodies of them Art thou that sonne of the diuell which without all feare of the Gods hath put our Citie in this extreame necessitie Oh cruell tyrant open the eyes of thy vnderstanding and let some sparke of pittie reigne in thy heart and suffer not that for thy cause onely so worthie a Countrie as this is should be destroied Let it suffice thée y t thou hast alreadie bene the occasion that all these noble matrones of this Citie haue lost their rest forgot their estate and are nowe become as scowtes in the warres and frame themselues to weare armour This gentle knight of Dacia would not suffer her to procéede anie farther but cut off her tale and with greate sobernesse he sayd Gentlewoman I am not he that you take me for but I come hether rather if so bée I maie by some meanes to procure your rest deliuer you from this outrage that is offered you Then this gentlewoman with much more anger answered O traitour doest thou thinke that by thy treasons and subtiltyes to increase our care more then hetherto thou hast done Get thée hence traitor for thou art the most falle cruell man in all the world for thy naughtinesse we doo well vnderstand and to all the world it is knowen O immortall Gods you doe well knowe that on the earth there is no strength sufficient to roote out this diuell and cursed tyrant from amongest vs why do not one of you come down from heauen and confound him with your deitie The good will which hath brought mée hether gentle mistresse aunswered Don Eleno doeth not deserue to be thus ill intreated of you who for to procure your libertie will put his life in aduenture I suppose I doe deserue better enterteinement at your handes Well let it be what it will bée sayd this Gentlewoman but touching thy comming into the Citie it is laboure lost to speake neuerthelesse if thou art not that cruell knight whom I did take thée for turne thée about and looke towards the corner of yonder towre which standeth amongest the gréene trees and there thou shalt finde him whom I doe beleeue without séeking for thou bringest with thée so without anie more speaking this Gentlewoman went from the wall and
vnderstood that there he should goe aland wherefore he descended out of the barke and after him came his good horse and to the ende he would trauell in more safetie he mounted on his backe and looked round about him if hée coulde discouer any waye or path But not farre from the place whereas he was he beheld very faire and sumptuous buildings wherewith he tooke the way that led him thether and being nigh thervnto he saw y t it was old ancient building And as he went round about it a while for to beholde the same he saw y t ouer the principall gate was this superscription written This is the famous and auncient Temple of the goddes Venus from whence the noble Paris of Troy stole the faire Queene Helena this is the Iland of the mother of that cruell Cupide the greatest sower of discord in all the world This valiant Knight did very much content himselfe in beholding that olde and sumptuous Temple the name whereof was spred through all the world and lefte not any thing neither without nor within but behelde it fully to his contentment After that he had spent a little time in perusing this he put himselfe in a straight waye which was not farre from a foote path thereby whereas he sawe a man that was cutting of woode of whome he asked what countrie it was and who was Lord of it This man perceiuing that hée demaunded somwhat of him was not able to answere him but made signes vnto him that he was dumbe moreouer y t he should returne backe againe giuing him to vnderstande that if he did procéede forwards he should finde great peril This noble Rosicleer sayd then to himselfe I doo not know what shall chaunce or happen me notwithstanding if a thousand that had their tongues should tell me yet would I not doo it nor leaue off to follow this my pretended purpose much more thou whom I cannot vnderstand And so without any more tarrying he retourned vnto his new begun iourney and at the going vp of a hill he beheld a Castle of a mightie and straunge bignesse which was edified vpon another hills side He was a good myle from it when he discouered it and so iournying thetherward he hadde not trauailed farre when he found himselfe in a faire broad smooth way whereinto when he entred he sawe certaine footings of horses which appeared not to be made long before but that lately they had passed that way the which footings he followed although he found other fayre wayes and as much occupied as that wherein he was yet for all that because he would sée what footings they wer he would follow that way and none other so not very farre from that place where he was he heard although it was somwhat distaunt from him to his séeming a great rushing of harnesse and the more he trauailed forwards the more plainer his eares wer occupied with this martiall musicke Till in y e end drawing néerer he perceiued it was a notable well fought battaile for which cause he pricked his horse onwardes the faster in such sort y t at y t going down from a mountain into a faire broad plaine he behelde at the foot of the castle very much people and amongst them Giaunts all which were in battaile against one onely Knight of a maruailous great wel proportioned stature all armed in russet harnes without any other deuise thereon who with his swoord in both his hands made a meruailous and cruell slaughter for that at his féete there lay many of the knightes dead and also of the Gyants notwithstanding they did trouble him verie much so that hee was brought to a verie ill passe for he had hewing and striking on him more then â—ortie knights and two great gyants it was a thing of great admiration to sée how the knight did besturre himselfe beholding himselfe so beset yet for all that there was nothing looked for of him but death Somewhat on the one side a little distaunt from the battell he sawe a Damzell of a meruailous excellent beautie who with great sorrowe complained her selfe This valiaunt warriour seeing what this knight did for his defence and by his mightye prowesse appâ—ared to bee of high estate he descended and lefte hâ—s horse with a quick pace he proceeded forwards wiâ—h his swoord in his hand pretending to aide and helpe that one knight seeing he had such néede thereof Before I procéede anie farther in this battaile I will although it be somewhat troublesome to the reader declare the rest of the terrible battaile that was betwéene the two gyants in the great hall of the Court of the Emperour You haue heard how we lefte these two Gyaunts Bustrafo and Bramidoro in great coÌ„tention of the battell each one of them indeuouring themselues to winne the victory although of each parte they denyed to either other the same He that séemed to be most troubled in this battaile was the Sardenian King and with the thicke breath that proceeded from his vnpacient heart his face was inflamed with the heate thereof The which his aduersarie perceiued and like a terrible and outragious Tiger he lifte vp his mightie sword letting it fall w t such furie as though fire hadde fallen from heauen The King séeing that by no meanes he could escape it lifte vp likewise his sworde to ward that terrible blow but by reason that that of the Giaunt Bustrafos was of better stéele and of more strength hée cut the sword of the Kings in two péeces and the blowe descended vpon his shoulder and did a little hurt him When this King sawe that his sword was in two péeces hée was somewhat amazed yet for all that he lost not his knightlye courage but with a valiant heart pressed to his enimie and with that â—â—tle that remained of his sword he stroke Bustrafo vpon his helme such a blowe that if it had bene with the whole sword he had cleared himselfe at that time of this daunger yet it was not of so small force but it cut off one of his eares and carried away a péece of the iawe bone This Gyant Bustrafo féeling himselfe so sore hurt with this terrible blowe pretended to repaye him with double interest the which if it had chaunced to take effect it had made an ende of his dayes but this newe conuerted Knight ranne in vnder the blowe of Bustrafo saieng O Iesus kéepe and defend this thy newe conuerted seruaunt And so ioyning together they imbraced one another whereas began a maruailous strong wrastling wherein they continued a good while prouing their strengths and procuring the victorie the one ouer the other till at the last both being not a little wearie they fell downe to the ground tumbling héere and there from one place to another without loosing their holde in this striâ—e Bustrafo his helme fell from his head by reason that she laces wherewith it was made fast were cut in péeces
valiantest Moore in all the worlde and by the hands of the best Knight that euer was The King was very glad to sée himselfe a Knight and gaue great thankes vnto the Prince for the same requesting him very earnestly that hee woulde tell him his name for that he might know at whose hands he receiued the order of Knighthood the which the Prince with a good will declared And when he knew that he was sonne vnto the Emperor Trebatio whom he accounted for his mortall enemie altering his voyce he sayd Oh Mahomet thou vile God and full of all treasons thou hast not lefâ— to persecute me euen vnto this present time for thou hast brought me to receiue the order of Knighthoode which was the thing that I most desired at the hands of him which is sonne vnto my mortall enimie Héere I doo say vnto thée valyant prince that I would it had cost me my kingdome that I had not receiued knighthood at thy hand for that thou art sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio the falâ—est traytor that euer hath bene séene The prince somewhat angry aunswered him saying King it is not séemely in such as thou art to speak words which be so false It is very true that the Emperour is my father and the mightiest Prince in the vniuersall worlde And not as thou doest account him a traytour For the which cause I doo tell thée that thou doost falsly lye like the most vilest Pagan in all thy kingdome and in the defence thereof I will driue thée out of the field and depriue thée of this order which I haue giuen thée that thou shalte not excercise it by taking from thée thy life This miserable Pagan who straight way was subiect vnto his furye with great alteration sayd Oh wretched and vnfortunate knight doost thou thinke that I am one of those Knights that will be tamed by the strength of thy arme I wish thée not to beléeue it For if thou doost proue my strength thou shalt bée sure to finde another manner of rigor and force then thou hast found in those with whom thou hast got thy honour the prince whose patience could not suffer such great pride but as wrathfull as a Lyon replyed Thou proud Pagan arme thy head and prepare thée to the battaile for by God I doo sweare that I will doo my best to cut of such an enimie from the Emperour my father The Pagan without any more replying caused his helme to be â—ased on and layd hande on his sworde And the Prince likewise was readie to discharge his blowe who raysing himselfe vp in his stirrops stroke so strong a blowe vpon the pagans helme that the sound was heard a great way in the fieldes and it inforced him whether he would or not to make reuerence to holde downe his head béeing so astonyed that it séemed a great tower had fallen vpon him and as he woulde haue setteled himselfe againe in his saddle he stroke him such another vpon his shield that he droue it vnto his head which made him to tourne vp the white of his eyes with the great griefe which he receiued and to kéepe himselfe vp from falling both he and his horse staggered on the one side which made the Prince to loose many a blow notwithstanding he pressed on him so fast that he had no time to tourne him to strike againe This Moore was verye much amazed at his great force and strength and strake at the prince so furious and strong a blow that he made him to loose his vnderstanding and almost to stoope with all his body vpon his horse necke The prince came straight way to himselfe and returned vnto y e Moore with so much furie striking such a blow vpon his shield which although it séemed to be as hard as a Diamond yet for all that he cut it in two péeces and the blow descended vpon his sholder with such a great waight that the mountaines eckoed with the noyse which made the pagan for feare of falling to hold himselfe fast by the Horse mane very much marueling y t in one Knight there shuld be so much strength Then he threw from him the rest of his shield which was left and tooke his broad sword in both his hands and droue such a blowe at the Prince that lighting vpon his visor it depriued him of his sight forced him to fall vpon his horse necke without any remembrance This stout Pagan would haue retourned to strike him again but he could not for that his horse béeing skarred with y e blow lept on y e one side which saued him froÌ„ it Yet y e pagan folowed to accomplish his will which he could not doo so spéedely but that the Prince did settle himselfe in his saddle and recouered againe his sword and committing himselfe to God as he alwayes was accustomed to doo he sayd Oh holy Iesu for thy names sake ayde and helpe me And therwith he spurred his Cornerino with great furie that he made him runne like the winde and in his course he sayd Tarry tarry thou man without faith and doo not thinke that thy blowes hath done any other thing on me but onely caused my yre anger to increase the more for to procure to bring thée to thy ende and to sende that excommunicated soule of thine to the diuell and in the running of his horse when he drew nigh him he threatened him with his sword shaking of it in such sort that he gaue him to vnderstand that at the next blowe he would make an ende of the battaile and therewith he stroke him such a blow on his helme that the bloud ranne out at the visor thereof and he fell downe backwards vpon his horse crouper almost dead The great force that the Prince gaue to strike him was the cause that he brake the lether of his right stirrop and therewith he fell to y e ground from his horse But strayght way with great lightnesse he arose vp againe and in the best manner he could he made it fast and leaping into the saddle he retourned towardes his enemie who was with great trouble setling himselfe in his saddle and looking vp to the heauen he showed a pittifull countenaunce as though he had bene very sore hurte as in truth he was And when he sawe himselfe so ill intreated and all his head bathed in bloud he beganne to crye out agaynst Mahomet saying Oh Mahomet thou art the falsest God amongst all the Gods cursed be all they that doo trust in thée and beléeue in thée And of this be thou sure that I doo not beléeue now in thée neither will I so long as I liue and this I doo promise thée that wheresoeuer I finde anye Temple or Image of thine to breake them downe with the strength of mine owne hande and furious arme And with this anger he lifte vp his sword alofte going towards the Prince who was tarrying for him in the same manner and with like furie
refresh himselfe he pulled off his healme and tooke water with his handes and washed his face and dronke thereof refreshing himselfe and as he found himselfe all alone there came vnto him manye thoughts amongst all he was greatly gréeued at the remembraunce of that which had past and the more for that a woman was the cause of all that harme and with great anger giuing terrible sighs he began to curse not alone the houre of his birth but also the quéene of Tinacria accounting women to be all the occasion therof lykewise he considered the great trauaile and sorrow that most knights doe passe for their respects At that time Phoebus began to withdrawe himselfe into his accustomed lodging and hiding himselfe in the occidentall partes and therewith drewe on the darke and tenebrous night which was the occasion that his paine did the more increase and caused him to saie Oh cruell and vile women the causers and authors of all euill what doo you sée in your selues that you doe make so much thereof I sée that you are good for no other thing but to cause murthers and great treasons It is possible that you doe estéeme so of your selues and the occasion of your high lookes is for that wée men be borne of you if you doe well consideâ— thereof for the verie same occasion you shoulde abate your greate pride and pranking iestures for that we doe plainely sée and perfectly know that from and out of an vnprofitable pricking â—â—â—lke doth spring and grow a faire and plesant rose Also from that venimous Basiliske doe they not take a stone of 〈◊〉 innumerable value and this beléeue of a certeintie that the euyllest men doth all procéede from you Oh wretches when you sée your opportunitie what is the knight that canne make resistaunce but is straight ouercome by you so vile and base creatures héere I doe sweare to you by all the Gods that I do not honour you neyther wil I reuerence you although that Mahomet doe commaund me for that I haue him in estimation as vile and base and of no value and for the great hatred which I doe beare vnto you if I did thinke that my heart should be subiect vnto you I woulde pull it out of my bodie with great crueltie to punish my selfe and it for committing so great foolishnesse The sighs of this Moore were so great terrible that all the woodes and mountaines did sound thereof O thou outragious and hardie Pagan how strong and stout doest thou shew thy selfe thou shalt quickly know and haue thy payment for these thy reuiling wordes in subiecting thy selfe vnto them that nowe thou doest publish for false O Ladyes and Damsells aske reuengement of so cruell an enimie that with so many reasons doth reuile you all to naught So with these lamentations the which I haue tolde you the Pagan passed awaie the night till the morning that Apollo began with his glistering beames to couer all the earth the which béeing séene by the Pagan with a trise he arose vp and tooke his horse for to prosecute his iourney begun and lifting vp his eyes towardes the heauens he did discouer hanging vpon a high and mightie pine apple trée which was nigh him the armour of Bramarant which was put there for a remembraunce as hath bene tolde you in the first part of this historie The armour had all lost their coulour yet for all that it did shewe the great value of them and looking about he sawe the Epitaph which the two bretheren had made there And vnderstanding the reason thereof it gaue him a farther desire to take them downe without respecting the harme that might thereof procéed not making anie reckoning of y e words that were there manifested And for that he might the better bring to passe his pretence he vnarmed himselfe and climbed vpon the trée and tooke them from the place where they wer and brought them downe and when he was below and saw the armour to be so good he armed himselfe with them and when he lacked no more to put on but his healme he hearde y e voyce of a knight which sayd Be not so hardie thou knight as to vndoo this Tropheo erected by the Gréeke Princes and looke well to thy selfe for thou shalt die for the same The Moore at the noise which he made east his head on the one side and sawe that he that spake those words was a well set and armed knight but for all this he did not let to make an ende of arming himselfe and without setting his foote into the stirop he leapt into the saddle and setteling himselfe therein hée went towards the demaunder with his sword in his hande You shall vnderstand that he which did threaten him was the Tartarian Zoylo who if you do remeÌ„ber departed in great hast from the amorous Tigliafa and vnawares entered into this wildernesse and by reason of his wearinesse in making so great hast in his trauaile it caused him to be verie drie and hauing great desire to drinke he crossed héere and ther in the forrest at last there appeared before him a verie auncient old man who had his beard and haire all white with age who did succour him with water and gaue him a great cup full with the great thirst that Zoylo had he dranke well thereof till such time as he felt himselfe satisfied and returned the cup againe vnto him and when he thought to haue giuen thanks for his curtesie shewed he was vanished cleane out of his sight so that he sawe him no more For you shall vnderstand that it was y e wise Lirgandeo which brought y e cup ful of water from y e fountain of Merlin who vnderstanding by his inchantments y e thirst Zoilo had brought him of y e water for so mitigate his drinesse increasing in him a new desire to the loue of Tigliafa He had scant made an ende of drinking when that he felt in himselfe a new thought of loue and repenting himselfe of all hatred past béeing ouercome by y e water and fixed in that new loue he determined to retourne againe vnto Constantinople and craue pardon of the Princesse but that cruell Atropos who had his blow readie wold not graunt vnto him anie time for the same neither was the wise Lyrgandeo able to deliuer him from the death And so it fell out that when he woulde haue made his retourne to Constantinople he chaunced to come to that place whereas Bramarant did kill himselfe and whereas Brufaldoro did disarme himselfe and armed himselfe againe with the armour of the Tropheo And the valiaunt Tartarian knowing the great harme that would procéede vnto them which did procure to come vnto the Tropheo he woulde giue aduisement vnto him that was so bolde to giue the attempt y t hée might vnderstand that it would be demaunded at his hand And so he did aduise Brufaldoro in that sort as you haue heard who without anie aunswering came against him
huge and long haire which he had vpon his bodie he coulde not hurt his flesh which made y e Gréeke verie much to meruaile at it but séeing that the Gyant was discharging at him another blow it made him to step aside and although the club was cut and broken yet there remained a greate tronchon thereof in his handes Héere you might sée begin so terrible and furious battaile that it séemed that all the warryours of Mars were there assembled together in fight This valiant and couragious Knight had heere great neâ—de of all his force and lightnesse to make his defence against his enimie â—â—re might you sée the valiantnesse of Gyaunts and their infernal force and furie likewise the incomperable force of the Gréekish bloud of chieualrie héere might you sée the great hast that the one made vnto the other in doubling of their blows and procuring the one to hurt the other trauaising grounde and moouing from place and place séeking whereas most aduauntage might be found In this sorte they trauailed for â—he space of two houres not knowing betwéene them anye aduauntage But who should haue séene there the great lightnesse and prowesse of this young knight would haue iudged him to be one of the best knightes of all the worlde for that in all the time of the battaile and all the terrible blowes which the giant did strike at him yet he neuer brake maile nor hurt anie part of his armour and yet he hurt his contrarie in more then tenne places although they were not verye greate yet did they trouble him and it was by reason of the greate hast he made in the striking of his blowes but when the Gyaunt sawe himselfe to be so euill intreated he beganne to puffe bluster and blowe much lyke vnto a bayted Bull and doubled his blowes with so greate hast that the Prince coulde not haue anie time of aduauntage to hurt him but had inough to doe for to cléere and defend himselfe from his furie And béeing in this greate extremitie he hearde those two Damosells which he had brought with him crie out making a greate noyse aduertising him to tâ—ke heede and looke vnto himselfe and beeing verie desirous to knowe the occasion thereof he sawe that it was that fierce and vglye woman which he hadde lefte before in the caue without anie remembraunce and for dead who came with her Bowe bent in her hande shot at him with her sharpe and vnmercifull arrows the which he was constrained to beare off with his armour for with his shield he could litle profit himselfe and by reason y t his armor was made by art of inchauntment it did profit him much for so soone as the arrow did strike on it it recoyled backe againe a great waie at this present time did the knight finde himselfe in greate perill and daunger for that he must make his defence against that infernall monster and likewise against that diuellysh and furious woman who continually assaulted him with her arrowes and then he could not profit himselfe of his force and strength but onely of his great lightnesse shunning the furie of his mighthie blowes so by little and little he drew nigh vnto the place whereas the Gyauntesse was who hauing spent all her arrowes she tooke in her hande a mightie clubbe and came towards her furious husband to helpe him This valyaunt Gréeke founde himselfe in greate extremitie and with the greate anger which he had it changed his eyes into sanguine coulour and was determined to cléere himselfe of that infernall woman and with that purpose he tourned towardes her and letting her blowe to passe by he stepped in to her on the left side and thrust so terrible a foine at her brest that his swoord entered in vp to the hard hiltes and she fell downe dead to the ground The Gyaunt who at that instaunt was not idle stroke the Gréeke such a monstrous blowe vppon his backe that hée ouerthrewe him to the grounde as dear without anie remembraunce or token of moouing the Gyant seeing him in this case threw from him his clubbe and tooke the knight in his furious nayles and with the greate rage and wrath which hée had he woulde haue eaten him vp at y e instaunt but it fell not out with him as he thought it would for that hée found the armour which hée had on was verye harde and when the Gyaunt sawe that his sharpe téeth did lyttle profite him hee beganne to tumble and toosse him vp and downe from one place to another and by reason that he was not expert in the lacinges and buckeling of armour hée did nothing but tumble and tosse him héere and there to sée if hée coulde finde a place where hée might beginne to teare him in péeces Whosoeuer should at that instaunt haue seene the greate affliction of those two Damosells might verye well haue iudged in himselfe the anguish and sorrowe which they receiued iudging themselues to be wholly lost destroyed But the Princesse Antemisca lifted vp her eyes vnto heauen and sayd I doo sée O Iupiter that thou art very well pleased that I doo suffer this grieuous pain and sorow Ah Fortune it is now great reason to leaue me and not to persecute me any farther and if it be so that as yet thou hast not accomplished thy whole desire Oh Iupiter make sharpe thy cutting sword and therewith take awaye my life Oh Mars behold that now thy strength doth faile if thou dost permit that this Knight doo perish O what woman amongst all women hath bene so infortunate as I Oh Gods I doo not know wherefore you doo thus persecute me for y t I haue bene alwayes obedient vnto you and now séeing that you had giuen me a Knight for to be my defence against y t vniust cause which was laid against me you shoulde likewise haue suffered me to giue testimonie of my truth and theyr false accusation Oh thou chast Goddesse be fauourable vnto me séeing that Iupiter hath forgotten me turne and take my cause vpon thée and be fauourable for that I neuer offended thée These and such like complaintes vttered this afflicted Princesse and hauing concluded the Prince was come again to himselfe and recouered his memorie and séeing himselfe in that perplexitie he did procure by all meanes and pollicie to cléere himselfe out of the Gyants clawes and béeing cléere hée put himselfe on foote and recouered againe his swoord blaspheming against the smal power of his Gods and was meruailously kindled with wrath and anger the Gyant likewise recouered his mightie club and stroke at the Prince a mightie blow who séeing it comming did procure to cléere himselfe from the furie thereof and letting it passe he stepped in to the Gyant and stroke at him so terrible a blowe on the wast that it little did profit anie defence that he had but that his mightie sword must needs cut him a sunder in the middest of his body and he fell a
man with him to bée his guide he tooke his leaue of the Princesse did commend Fidelio vnto her kéeping So he departed out of the Citie without any tarrieng till he came vnto the principall house of the Kings cattell whereas he was receiued of all the shepheardes that were there present who showed him great courtesie and the basenesse of the apparayle wherewith he was clad was not sufficient to take away the iealousie that they had in him to be of some noble bloud as appeared by his person stature and graue countenaunce and although they had not bene commaunded by the Princesse to respect him yet they coulde not but doo all reuerence and curtesie vnto him This new shepheard after that he had giuen them thankes for the entertainment which they gaue him he went foorth all alone ranging the fields and in his hand a shepheards crooke Also hée carried with him a little lute which he vsed at times for to ease and recreate himselfe This new shepheard neuer tooke anye rest till such time as he came vnto the cléere running riuer Where vnder a great and mightie Myrtle trée he laid himselfe downe and remembring his welbeloued Pastora he lifted vp his eyes towards the heauens and giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh Venus séeing that it is thy pleasure that this thy new vassaile should take his first sitting place vnder a Myrtle trée so much of thée estéemed and made of let thy sweete voyce so occupy the eares of thy sonne Cupid that he may vnderstand how that in his blindnesse he had litle respect vnto the highnes of my person in causing me to place my affection so baselye Oh Gods is it possible that any base attempt should come vnto light but with the authoritie that belongeth vnto your highnesse vpon you I doo call and vnto you I doo offer this my wounded breast that you make sacrifice thereof for this my boldnesse if therein I haue offended and therwith he leaned his backe vnto the Myrtle trée and tooke his Lute and began to play as swéetely as euer did Orpheus when with his lute he made the infernall furyes to sleepe Claridiano with his lute did not onely bring the furies but also the Queene Proserpina and the auncient Pluto he brought into a greate perplexitie So likewise at times he vttered his swéete voice that they which did heare it did iudge it to be some celestiall thing and not terrenal and by reason that his songs did procéede from his heart it did in double wise séeme the better This newe shephearde thought no body had hearde him but there were other two shepheards who were very attentiue and hearde that he sung this song which héereafter followeth O Yeelded heart how free and voyde of care wert thou of late from this oppressing paine What lucklesse fate allotted thee this share that hopelesse thou dost voyde of helpe remaine Yea so past hope that might may naught auaile The burning flames of Cupides coales to quaile But fie fond foole thou dost complaine of ease and faultlesse Fortune thou beginst to blame Venus her selfe doth seeke thy heart to please in that she mooues thee loue so rare a Dame Oh Pastora if I enioye thy sight My very death will bring to me delight Disdaine not then beloued for to be of him that needes thy beautie must adore So long as Fates affoord my life to me which ended once I can lament no more And then will chaunce a ioyfull death to me If so I hap to die by hand of thee And when he had made an end of his song he helde his peace for that his wery voyce could not giue him any more time but he let his lute fall out of his handes and crossing his fingers the one with the other he was very pensiue till such time as he heard a shepheards voyce accompanied with a Rebecke sweetely sounding whom he heard sing this song as followeth WIthin this vale there doth a Pastor dwell that bringeth vp a Pastora full braue Which from her breast doth loue all times expell she no regard of louers paines will haue Nature her like as yet did neuer forme Venus her selfe is dashed at her view Hir breast like snow throwne downe by Hiems storme her hart stone hard for all her gallant hiew Great is his griefe that vnto her is thrall and hard his hap that sues to win her grace Gainst him she vseth greatest hate of all for as I said loue hath in her no place Cupide himselfe within his snare is caught yet voyd of helpe for all hir subtill shifts His words his wyles his wrath auaile him naught she scornes his darts and all his double drifts And thus she shuns the thing that sundry seeke and scapes vnscorcht where others burned be Her beautie showes her humble milde and meeke but yet her heart is stainde with crueltie This new shepheard was very attentiue vnto that gracious song of the other shepheard and when he hearde that he helde his peace he would haue returned and sung againe but he was disturbed by hearing a noyse of people This gentle shepheard when he heard it arose vp vpon his féete and went out from vnder the shadowe of the Tree farther into the Sunne and sawe that it was a shephearde and a Pastora which were comming into the place whereas hée was and when they came vnto him they did salute him very courteously So they sate downe altogether and put the new shepheard in the midst very much meruayling at his gracious countenaunce and with a very good grace gentle disposition the Pastora began first to speake and sayde Your swéete Musicke brother shepheard did awake me and my brother Coridon out of our sléep and we doo rather choose to lose our naturall rest then thy conuersation accompanied with thy delicate song We doo not know whether that the faire beautie of Cayserlinga a Pastora brought vp by this delightfull riuer hath bene the occasion thereof or any other griefe which doth raigne in thy heart but if it be so gentle shepheard that your eyes haue not behelde nor séene y e beautie of our Pastora doo you procure not to sée her that your hart be not taken captiue with the sight of her for you shal vnderstand y t there is nothing to be hoped for at her hands but death her disdaine is such This sorrowfull brother of mine one day did sing before her with his Rebecke and remained so imprisoned with her as euer was shepheard with Pastora And if it be thy Fortune to abide long time in these partes thou shalt knowe the greate power that her face and countenaunce hath and the greate crueltye that she vseth Thou shalt see no other thing alongst all this riuer but shepheardes who haue forgot to gouerne and feede theyr shéepe sitting vnder trées wounded with her greate beautie and fayrenesse and hauing more care to make their Rebeckes fayre and trimme then to call together their cattle and to
people that were fallen and went vnto the place whereas Macedonio did abide his comming with his great beast with strange lightnes he lept vpon his back and rode into the great court whereas he was assaulted of very much people for that the Emperour at the windowes cryed out vppon them to take him The knight of the branch when he found himself moūted vpon his great and light beast then he feared nothing and pricking him with the spurres incouraging him with a showte he passed downe the stréete and neuer stayd till he came vnto the riuers side and passed in the barke vnto the other side and determined not to depart from thence till such time as he had séene an end of that which touched the iustice of Clarentina and also to recouer againe his Lady the quéene who with great affliction as a woman all alone put her self out of the prease of Knightes and abode in a corner of the great Hall to kéepe her selfe from harme The people of the Emperour which followed the Knight of the Branch when they sawe him passe with his great beast so swiftly they retourned backe againe whereas the Emperour was whome they found verie much amazed at the great prowesse of this knight The Earle of Maguntia who likewise followed the knight at his returning againe he found Macedonio tooke him and carryed him before the Emperour and said This is Page vnto that diuell who to our cost and spite of our téeth is gone awaye The Emperour did beholde him and sawe that he was of a good disposition had a faire face he asked of him and said Tell me my friend howe doest thou call thy Lord is he by fortune some diuell for that according as hée hath shewed himselfe vnto vs it cannot be but that he is some infernall creature This young Gentleman with great deliberation sayd My Lord is a humane creature and sonne vnto a humane man and more mightier then your highnesse for you shall vnderstand that he is sonne vnto the Emperor Trebatio Emperour of Grecia and his mother is the quéene Garrofilea Quéene of Tinacria and your highnesse shall vnderstand that he is a knight that will reward and that verye well all the harme and griefe which is done vnto him with whatsoeuer knight he be in all the world the Ladie which he brought with him is of high estate for you shall vnderstand that she is a great Ladie and a quéene The Emperour whē he heard this he looked about for her and sawe her in a corner of the hall verie sore afflicted and commaunded that shée should be carried with great honour and reuerence whereas y e Empres was with great anger he returned vnto Macedonio and said I will sée how farre the power will extend of this diuell for that he shall not haue thée neither his Ladie till such time as I haue him in my power All that the Emperour sayd was heard by a brother of Clarentinas who was called Laurentino that came vnto the court that present day being verie much moued he said Your highnesse doth very ill in intreating my sister so euill is this the rewarde for the great seruice which I my father haue done for you to procure for to destroy kill him who respecting our honour doth put his person in aduenture to deliuer my sister from that false accusation laide against her and the other which came in his companie thou hast put in prison and not content héerewith but dost kéepe in thy power from him a Ladie and his Page it shoulde suffice thée to knowe who they are and the highnesse of their linage and not in such sort to doe them wrong my Lord moderate your selfe and doe iustice for that hetherto you haue bene a friend in dooing iustice and right doe not blemish this daie with thy great pride the high fame which in so manie yeares thou hast gotten The Emperour who was blind ouercome with anger verie wrathfull he sayd Get thée hence in an euill houre vnto thy lodging for that thy sister shall neither winne nor loose for thy speach This valiant young man did answere For that you are my Emperour Lord you may intreat me in this order but if that reason did now gouerne your breast you would do more iustice then by your outward shewe you doe meane to doe therefore now I doe saie let them take héede who is in the fault for that with my person and goods I doe determine to make my defence and to aide and succour him who for my sister doth put his life in aduēture And in saying these words he departed out of the great hall leauing the Emperour full of cholar and wrath who commaunded to burie the dead bodies and Polio with great honour His death was verie sore lamented of many for that he was wel beloued of all y e court Then they gaue the Emperour to vnderstand how that the knight whom he had in prison was sonne vnto the Duke of Bauiera for the which he receiued great griefe for that he was sonne vnto one of the mightyest Lordes that was in all Almaine his power was so greate that hée and the power of Laurentino were able to maintaine warres agaynst the Emperour So considering all things the Emperour in his owne person went and tooke the Knight out of prison of whome he vnderstoode all that happened in the Castell of the Rocke and likewise the truth of the treason of Firidefonte and béeing in this communication they hearde in the Court a greate rumour and going to sée what was the occasion thereof they sawe that there was brought two dead Knightes vppon two horses and hadde on eyther of them a meruailous greate and cruell wound◠which was as it appeared the occasion of their deaths whereas we wil leaue them for that the furie of this Tinacrian doth compell me to declare the end of this conflict as in the Chapter following you shall vnderstand ¶ How the Tinacrian was tarrying to see if anie would come forth against him for that which was past and howe that Rodelando and his cosin made battaile with him and how he ouercame them both Chap. 26. EUen as the furious Faunus in the mountaines of Tartarie doth couer his great brutall members with the braunches of y e mightie Pine trées working pollicies to get his praie for y t he cannot finde wheron to execute his anger for to satisfie his capitall enimie hunger euen so rather more furious was this Tinacrian abiding the comming of Macedonio or anie other y t peraduenture might follow him he blasphemed against the Gods looked vp vnto the heauens said So long as I beléeue in them there will nothing prosper with me nor in anie thing will my honour increase And being in this spéech he sawe cōming y e waie which he came two well proportioned knights mounted vpon two mightie horses who when the came vnto the waters side in