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
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
Pallaice and the Emperour Trebatio carryed the Pastora vnto her graundmother committing her vnto her custodie for to make much of her And hée tooke the king of Trapobana by the hande and rendered vnto him verie much courtesie and therewith entered into a fayre hall whereas they found the Tables couered and sate downe to supper whereas they were with great ioy and pleasure such as neuer was séene the like in the Court The Emperour the two Kings were set together then the Emperour Alphebo and the Empresses and by them Claridiano and the Pastora who was beheld of all them that were there present much meruailing at her great beautie Coridon did serue them at y e table very much delighted with that he had séene The Supper indured so long that Diana did extende her beames at this time they tooke vp the tables and Galtenor with a loude voyce sayd One of the high glories of my Esclarisido sonne Claridiano shall appeare in this great Citie before the day doo come He had no sooner made an ende of these words when that the heauens beganne to waxe darke with a very thicke clowde and it came with great thunderings and lightenings with so terrible a noyse as though the earth would haue sunke and the longer it indured the more was the fury thereof in such sorte that they all fell vpon their knées and with great humilitie they desired god to deliuer them from the fury of that great tempest So with this sodaine chaunce they passed away the night till y e morning and although the tempest in some part ceased yet the heauens remained all cloudie When the morning was come there appeared before the pallaice nigh vnto y e inchantment of Lindabrides a very strange aduenture which made them all to meruaile and straight way they gaue the Emperour to vnderstand thereof who went out of the Pallayce with all his Knightes with great desire to knowe what it was so likewise went foorth his sonnes and nephewes And when they came into the Courte they sawe that there was fiâ—ed foure pillers euery one of a very fine Rubie vppon the which was placed a Sepulchar of Christall and within the sepulchâ—r there séemed to be a verye faire Ladye her breast pearced thorough with a sword and vpon the Sâ—pulcher there â—aye a man all a long with his face looking vp to the heauens and apparailed with robes of estate with a Crowne of golde vpon his head And vnder the Sepulcher was there spread abroad a great Carpet a cloth of gold and vpon it two pillowes of the same and vpon them lay a knight armed with verie rich armour and his sword laie at his féete his eyes were shut and out of them distilled verie great teares at euerie piller there was a Gentlewoman which séemed to be without anie remembraunce although they wept verie bitterly and nigh vnto the Sepulcher there â—aie a terrible great beast of the verie same making of that which Claridiano slew for to set at libertye the king of Arabia Lapetra This was the spectacle y t Claridiano sawe comming in the aire The Sepulcher was coÌ„passed round about with a strong wall with foure gates for to enter in thereat the gates were after the manner and coulour of fine Diamonds néere vnto the gate which was ouer against the Pallaice was there a Marble piller at the which hung a Bugle horne and an Epitaph written with red Letters the which the Prince Rodolpho did reade with a high voice that all that were there might heare him and it said as followeth At such time as the crueltie of the king of Arabia Lepetra shall be at liberiie and the valour of that worthye Claridiano knowen then they which hath not ben wounded w t loue shall know both the reason the rage of loue for the which cause I doe aduise him that doth not know what loue is not to proue this aduenture if he will not fall into greate misfortune for that cause he must passe by pure force all the force that Claridiano made plaine And this shall indure till such time as the bastard Lyon sonne vnto the Emperiall lion be borne of the rauening Ounce Then he who hath loue in his brest and passed through that vnhappie Ladie daughter vnto the king of Arabia shall sée the great rage without reason of loue The Emperour when he heard that it were things which touched his nephew sayd Oh excellent aduenture of my Claridiano this daie is shewed vnto vs his great valour Galtenor told vnto those knights all that had passed in y e aduenture vntil that day which caused in them great admiration and more at the making of that strange beast who they did behold very atentiuely with this they passed away all that day the Pastora did chaunge her accustomed apparell into robes of silke cloth of gold shewing y e great estate beautie in all points which was in her All the whole court receiued great pleasure sauing onely the Princesse Oliuia who for the absence of her Rosicleer all things did séeme coÌ„trarie vnto her farre different from the iudgementeâ— of all other So the time drew on for to go to rest Then Galtenor tooke Claridiano by the hand and lead him a part on the one side of the hall and sayd vnto him I will carrie thée with me into a place whereas thy heart a new shall be wounded and shall forget the loue which before thou hast had and therwith he commaunded him to arme himselfe in great secret y e successe of the same shall be tolde you héereafter The next daie in the morning when they were all readie to go to heare seruice with the Emperour there entered into the hall a knight of a great stature and proportion of his members and was armed with verie rich armour his face and his handes were vnarmed and shewed by his demeanour a great maiestie and seuere countenance he was of his face somewhat browne of coulour but the proportion thereof was verie well fauoured his beard began to bud he brought after him thrée squires and Pages the one of them brought his Speare which was bigge and short and the other brought his healme the third brought his shéeld with an Emperiall deuice straight waie it was knowen wherefore his comming was and although conformable to reason we haue not spoken anie thing of the faire matrone the quéene of Lyra who with prosperous weather and great pleasure did nauigate by the sea holpen by the furie of Borias which with a fresh winde did continually fill those stiffe sailes and cutting the seas with that sharp steme leauing behinde them the token of their great swift way by the froth of the water and in short time discouering land they tooke port vpon the shore of Almaine wheras this faire Ladie went a land and with her two Nymphes tooke theyr iourney towardes the Court of Almaine So she trauailed two daies and nothing chaunced worth
the midst among them a verye faire Damsell who was very heauie and sorrowfull leaning her chéeke vpon her hand The Pagan being nothing afraid of the Giants did kéepe his way till such time as hée came whereas the Giants were laid and he came so nigh that he might sée the face of the Damsell which séemed not to be any humane creature by reason of her excellent beautie with hir golde yeolow haire dispersed all vpon her backe and her Lilly white hand whereon she leaned her chéeke discouering her faire face with her eyes shut which showed her well set browes from vnder which distilled many toares which séemed to be orientall pearles dispersed vpon her faire and white face and sundry times giuing déep and sorrowfull sighes which declared the great paine and griefe that she did suffer The Pagan when he saw her great beautie and fairnesse vpon a sodaine his hart wounded with the cruell dart of Cupide in such sort and with so great fury that nothing could giue him ease thereof but onely death wherewith hée straight remembred that which of late he heard the Nimph to sing and considered within himselfe how her words and threatenings chaunced to fall out true which caused him to giue a terrible sigh whereat one of the Giants did awake setting himselfe vppon the grounde he sayd How hast thou bene so hardie that thou darest to put thy selfe before vs without any feare of our great strength thou â—ast shewed signes and tokens of loue At these words which the Giant spake this Lady did open her eyes and when she saw y e Pagan she coulde not refraine her selfe so much to holde her peace but that she must néedes giue a sigh wherat this fierce Moore was fully certified that she was forced by those Gyants and with that thought he sayd Gyaunt my déedes shall beare witnesse of these thy proud words therefore for that the time shall not passe away and be spent in reasonings one thing I doo demaund of thée whether this sorrowfull and wéeping Lady goeth with you of her owne proper good will or els constrained by your force and violence The Gyaunt with greate pride put himselfe on foote and in lacing and making fast his helme he sayd My sword shall wholly and fully certifie thée of all that which thou dost demaund and in speaking these words the one pressed towards the other But the Pagan for that he would not that he should kill his horse was constrained to put himselfe somewhat on the one side and lighting from the saddle he lefte his horse alone and layde hold vppon his sword wherewith his enimie stroke at him a mightie terrible blow who with a strange lightnesse caused it to be stroken in vaine in stepping on the one side and therewith hée closed with the Giant and threw at his breast so terrible strong a foyne that his armour was not sufficient for to make resistaunce but that the fury thereof must be executed and pearced him thorough vnto the backe wherewith y e Giant gaue a terrible fal to the ground at which noyse y e other thrée Giants did awake and one of them put himself quickly on foote and without tarrying for to put on his healme or to take his shield but blaspheming against his Gods he ran against the Pagan who abode his comming with such like courage as his presumption did require The Giaunt with both his hands stroke at him so monstrous a blow that if it had chaunced on him it would haue put his life in great ieopardie But this valiant Brufaldoro with his accustomed pollicie did cléere himselfe from the same The great broad sword of y e Giant had not so soone passed downe when y e Pagan pressed vnto the Giant before he had any leasure to lift it vp again with an ouerthwart blow he stroke him with so great strength vpon the head that all from the eares vpwardes he brought vnto the earth wherewith the Gyaunt fell downe dead to the ground whose fall was so terrible and made so great a noyse that it séemed a mightye towre had tumbled downe whosoeuer at that time hadde some that faire Ladie might verie wellâ—haue discouered the great ioy that her heart receiued to sée two of those of her enimes dead before her and did not let to praie vnto her Gods for the accomplishment of the whole victorie against y e other two which remained And therewith the other Gyant lyke a furious Lyon blaspheming against his cursed Gods not tarrying to arme himselfe with more armour then at that present he had for that there they were all with their healmes vnlased and from their heads he tooke holde of a great heauie club that was there with both his hands and pressed forwards with a large pace against the Pagan with determination to take reuengement of the others death but this young furious Brufaldoro did tarrie and receiue him with his accustomed courage and valiauntnesse the fearefull Gyaunt did strike at him so terrible a blow with his club that swinging with it in the aire it made a fearefull sounde but the Pagan who without all feare did abide the comming of the blowe determined with himselfe to let it passe in vaine as hee hadde all the rest before and so it fell out that when he sawe the blowe descend he stepped on the one side in such sort that the club fell to the ground with so terrible a waight strength that the blowe made all the trées that were nigh at hande to tremble This terrible blowe was no sooner passed to y e earth when that this valiant Mauritanian stroke a blowe at his armes which was with so great strength that he cut them both off by the wristes and his hands béeing fast to y e club they fell all to y e ground The Gyant who felt himselfe wounded lame would haue imbraced with the Pagan thinking by his great strength to haue crushed him to death but this Mauritanian with great valiantnesse did put himselfe before him his sword in his hand with the point forwardes so that the Gyant with the great paine that he felt of his wounds and the great anger he had in his heart without anie consideration he pressed himselfe forwardes the Pagan followed in his determination in such sort that the sword entered into the Gyants bodie vp to the hard hilts falling downe dead to the ground with no lesse noise then the rest Then y e fourth Gyant which remained did put himselfe on foote who was of a greater and huger stature and bignesse then the other which were dead and taking in his hand a great and mighty speare which laie on the ground by him with a terrible and fearefull voice he sayd O thou infernall diuell for that thou canst not be other séeing thou hast slaine my three companions for I tell thée that the Gods in the heauens did tremble for feare of them Héere I doe promise
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
that I might enioye thy friendship Then the valiant Knight of the Sunne did cut off their talke to the ende he might declare vnto them all that happened with the other Giaunt Which when Tefereo heard he was sore abashed and with great sobrietie he saide Well séeing it is so that the flower of all Knighthood and the glorie of armes is possessed by you and your kinred I vowe that from this daye forwards I will not remain any longer my owne but nominate my selfe as onely yours and in deliuering these spéeches in the best manner be might he arose vp from the ground and with great loue imbraced them both And after salutations ended they entered altogether into the Pallaice whereas they remained all y â— night for to repose themselues considering the greate trauaile and paine which they had passed The next day in the morning although they hadde more néede to haue taken greater rest yet there altogether they mounted on their horse backs and tooke the way that lead them to Saragosa pretending to enter within the Citie and there with all humilite to craue pardon for all the iniurie that was past but their trauayle was all in vaine for that before time they of the towne hauing had sufficient triall of Tefereos crueltie would not by any meanes open the gates alwayes beleeuing the lamentable spectacle before their eyes and therefore fearing that they would deceiue them So that when these noble knights perceiued it was labour lost to stand long in contention these people though then causelesse being so incredible they returned backe againe towards the Castle and all the way they went being almost by the sea side these two Cousins sawe their ship comming towardes them in great hast and staieng their horses they saw that she was fast at y e waters side The knight of the Sunne perceiuing well that hir comming thether was for no other cause but to inuite them to come aboord hir which Eleno and Tefereo condescending vnto they presently did and sent word by a page of Tefereos to commaund all those of Sardenna that they should set at libertie all the Countrie and without farther delaye retourne vnto their owne houses These worthie Knights were no sooner entred into their Shippe but she beganne presentlye to spread her Sayles and shoouing from shoare in great hast shée launched in to the maine Sea wherein with prosperous windes they sailed two dayes but the thirde daye verie earlye in the morning they discouered a Galley gouerned with sixe Oares on a side which came rowing towardes them and béeing ioyned together they behelde that ther was in the same a verie faire Ladie whose haire of hir head was dispersed abroad and hir selfe very ill intreated by an vncourteous Knight This sad and distressed Lady with a sorrowfull voyce and pitifull lamentation cryed out for succour vnto the heauens at whose complaintes and vncourteous handling these Princes receiued great anger The valiant Dacian Don Eleno being in all poyntes prepared to fight layd fast holde on his sword and with great lightnesse leaped into the galley into the which he was not so soone entered but that these two vessells were loose and voyded the one from the other so that not one of his other friends had time to followe him the swiftnesse was such in the departure that in a small time either of them lost the sight of the other By reason of many accidents which are to be accounted in this historie it is conuenient I imitate the good musition who to content all those which attend to heare his melodie chaungeth into many tunes therefore now we will leaue these thrée knights and retourne vnto the Emperour to declare such things as chaunced in his Court. ¶ By what aduenture Floramonte was deliuered from the perill he was in and how the Princesse Claridiana was deliuered of childe and howe shee was comforted in all hir trouble by the wise Artemidoro Chapter 8. WIth great ioye and contentment departed the Pagans that carryed away the Inâ—ant Floramonte vnderstanding that Fortune hadde greatly fauoured them to bestowe on them so good a price Wherefore with great hast they got themselues to the Sea Wherein they had not trauayled long but that vppon a sodaine they discouered a shippe which was comming towards them all blacke and out of it procéeded verie fearefull and wonderfull lightenings accompanied lykewise with terrible Thunder seeming by the force thereof that the heauen opened and when the shippe drew nigh vnto the Gallie of the Pagans it was presently couered with the thicke and terrible lightenings in such sort that it depriued all them that were therein of their sight and with the great feare that they receiued they fell flat downe vppon the floore in the Gallie And when they came againe to themselues they looked about to sée if they coulde perceiue what it should be And then they coulde not finde the infant Floramonte for whose losse they lamented greatly You shall vnderstand that the wise Lyrgandeo by his learning had deliuered the infant from them to kéepe him close and in secret for that he vnderstood by his art of y e great warres that was pretended and made redie for in Grecia in the which warres shoulde be slaine the flower of all knighthoode and that it should be in greate daunger to be lost and vtterly destroied Also he did comprehend by his learning to knowe how this infant and one other that was then begotten but not yet borne should be the greatest help chiefe of this victorie comming by chaunce to the end of the conquest likewise he did knowe that if this childe should at anie time before this aduenture vse armour that he should be put in great perill of death This was the onely occasion that hée set him at libertie as you haue heard and did inchaunt him in such sorte that none other could cléere him of it but onely he which should be his companion and aide in the greate necessitie of these warres which was the sonne of the heroicall knight of the Sunne and of the Empresse Claridiana of whome thou shalt heare héereafter Thus this wise Lyrgandeo hauing deliuered this childe that none in all the Court knewe of it retourned thether againe and from that daye forwardes kept it secrete to himselfe not suffering anie to vnderstande thereof nor of anie other thing that hée foreknew in his heart by learning All those of the Court were verye sadde for that the Emperour was so sorrowfull forasmuch as hée coulde heare no newes of his sonnes as I haue before tolde you determined after hée hadde ended the hunting to retourne backe againe to the Citie And in the way as they shuld go they discouered comming towardes them a Wagon which did represent much dolor and this was that which Rosicleer did finde and there they remained to sée what it shoulde bée and when the Wagon drewe néere where the Emperour was they lyfted vp a cloth wherewith the wagon was
for that they did so trouble him In this time Zoilo had somewhat recouered his strength and was well eased of his wearynesse and séeing the valiauntnesse of his defender he went towards y e place where he was skirmishing with his sword in both his handes he beganne to make greate destruction amongst his enimies that the slaughter was so great and their enimies not able to make anie resistaunce but like miserable people determined rather to submit themselues to y e mercie of that newe come knight then to the force of theyr owne armes and falling all downe at the feete of Rosicleer they craued pardon of him for theyr offence and mercie for their liues the which he straight waye graunted and sayde It is great curtesie yea and no little charitie shewed toward the euill man in punishing him if that he pretende to goe forwardes and perseuer in his naughtie lyfe Neuerthelesse if you will promise me that from this daâ—e forwardes you will amend your liues and leaue this naughtinesse that you shall not alonely finde in me this which you doo aske but also true and perfect friendshippe at all times and in all things that you haue néede of to the which they did all willinglye sweare they woulde performe This béeing finished the Prince and the Tartarian embraced one another with great loue and friendshippe and Rosicleer asked of the Tartarian what was the occasion that brought him into so great perill and daunger of death The Tartarian sayde that by force of an aduenture he departed the Emperours Court but he did not declare the effect and how comming in that small shippe hée was taken with those rouers who brought him into that greate distresse that he had found him in Then Rosicleer againe threw his armes about his necke and with great loue he sayd Fortune dealt but frowardly to bring thée out of Constantinople in such a time for to leade thée vnto this perill and so beganne to tell him of all that he had passed in the Countrie of Greece And when he heard him name the Ladie Tetigliasa he shaked like the leaues of a trée and sayde Oh for Gods sake my Lorde let not my cares heare the name of that thing which my heart dooth so much abhorre and detest For heare I dooe sweare vnto thée that liuing I will burie my selfe in this Sea rather then to abide that speech At the which wordes the Prince was verie sore troubled but a certaine aduenture which chaunced him at that verie same time caused him to forgette this his troubled minde ¶ How the king of Tire gaue an assault to robbe the shippe where the Prince was and how the same king was ouercome Chap. 10. SOdeinly amongest the knightes of those rouers that had escaped from the handes of the Prince there arose a greate tumult and showting with terrible shrikes calling vppon their Gods for aide and succour and the Marriners in greate hast beganne to vngrapple and loose their shippes the one from the other and with as great hast as they coulde they hoised vp their sailes for to flye awaie and escape from the perill which they behelde verie néere at hande But when Rosicleer sawe this tumulteous crie with a verie angrie voyce he sayde What noyse is this amongest you captiue people What sodaine feare is this that is come vppon you that with so great hast you prepare your selues to runne awaye Lorde aunswered one of them greate reason wée haue to make all this hast which wée dooe for you shall vnderstand that there approcheth nigh vnto vs either dreadfull death or cruell imprisonment This noble and valyaunt Prince looked about on euerie side to sée what the occasion shoulde bée that shoulde cause them to worke this fact and straight wayes he discouered a verie faire and rich Gallie which came towardes the place where as they abode with theyr Sayles alofte and a prosperous winde so that the Gallie in a manner séemed to flye vppon the water Rosicleer without anie alteration asked them saieng Tell mée who is it that commeth in yonder Gallie that hath put you in so much feare Ualyaunt Knight sayde they there commeth in yonder Gallie the king of Tire a mightie and strong gyant being a rouer we are not able fullie to certifie you of his great strength and deformitie but of this wée are assured y t the verie Gods in heauen doo feare him his life custome is to rob all that euer he doth meete and if it so fall out that anie doe make resistaunce against him he straight commaundeth them to the point of the swoord with extreme crueltie so heere gentle knight iudge whether we haue cause or not to doo our indeauour for to auoide this great daunger The Prince hearing all this which they of the ship told him began to make himselfe readie to the battaile and laced on his helme and put all thinges in verie good order and when that all was readie he sayde vnto them that were with him O you people of little courage small strength I sée well you are all base minded and that there is no hardinesse in you but onely for vile matters get you downe and hide you in the pumpe of the shippe for I will not consent that anie of you shall runne awaie neither shal your cries excuse me of this battaile and so with a lowde voice he commaunded to beare vp the helme that the ship might runne right vpon the Gallie The Tartarian séeing that they pretended to giue the enterprise commaunded those that were with him straight waies to put his vessell in verie good order of the which it had greate néede so with as great hast and swiftnesse of saile as was possible they procured that the Shippe and Gallie might ioyne both together and in verie short time they were come so nigh each to other that anie man might well discouer and perceiue all that was in the Gallie of their aduersarie This valiaunt and worthie Rosicleer sawe the greate Gyaunt where hée sate in the middest of the poope of the Gallie in a Chaire where they verie plainely sawe his countenaunce was so terrible and his bodie so greate that all those which were present with Rosicleer were afraide to beholde him And when the Gyaunt vnderstoode that those which were in the ship would not alonely defend themselues but also offend their enimies his rage was such that in great hast he arose and with a mightie voice he called for his armour vttering these words O you people most vnfortunate froÌ„ whence hath come this hardinesse vnto you to offend the King of Tyre vnderstanding and knowing that I am not onely feared of men but also the Gods in the high heauens doo tremble at my name and desire to haue my friendship Then Rosicleer aunswered and sayd Make thy reckoning that thou hast sayd euen as much as nothing for of my selfe I speake that I am none of the Gods thou namest neither know I thée by
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
his wordes and that verie much so straight waie came to her remembraunce the furious battaile of the Pagan and likewise shée considered of the furie of the knight of the Emperiall head and séeing that shée coulde not ouercome them she remained verie sorrowfull and lyfting vp her eyes vnto heauen with great ire she blasphemed against her Gods and blamed much the wise Lyrgandeo for his negligence but when shée called to remembraunce the wordes of Lyrgandeo and what hée had sayde shée altered her minde and chaunged her thoughtes and beganne a new to consider of the sharpe cutting swoord of the Mauritanian which more entered into her heart then the wilde Boares tooth in the daintie bodie of the fayre Adonis In this manner this solitarie Quéene of Lyra dyd nauigate foure dayes and was so pensiue in thought that she forgot and had no remembraunce to refresh her selfe in eating but the wise Lyrgandeo had alwayes a greate care that shée should be serued verie daintely not knowing who did serue her So the fifte daie verie early in the morning shée discouered lande towardes her left hande and the Barke in greate hast and with verie much swiftnesse made her wayâ— thether She went so fast that almost she hadde no time to arme her selfe before that the Barke came vnto the shoare where shée might most at ease disimbarke her selfe according vnto the will of the wise man So when they were at the shoare shée tooke her horse by the bridle and went a lande and without putting her foote into the stiroppe shée leaped into the Saddle and guided her selfe into a narrowe waie all garnished with trées of diuerse sortes whereas the chirping Birdes did make theyr accustomed songes without feare of anie man to molest them Amongest the which trées there did not lacke the Sallowes nourished by Alciades nor the gréene Lawrell so much estéemed of glistering Appollo nor the swéete Myrtle trée hallowed by Venus nor the high Cypres so much regarded of Cupide nor the harde Oake so much desired of Mars nor the Pine apple tree which Iupiter dooeth cause to flourish Of all the which this mightie Quéene did féele and had great delight iudgeing it to bée the habitation of the Gods for that the Sunne with his glistering beames did passe through those gréene and pleasaunt trées without anie let or hinderaunce of the heauens by reason of theyr cléerenesse with a verie softâ—â—nd pittering winde shaking all those gréene leaues which did make so swéete a noyse that it seemed rather celestiall then terrestriall and a thousand little Brookes which ranne vpon the enamelled grounde making sundrie fine workes and deuises by theyr crooked runninges and tourninges and ioyning one water with another with a verie gentle méeting not making anie greate noise This fayre Ladye béeing rauished at the sight of this celestiall habitation had not anye regarde at all whether that her horse went in the right way or not And trauailing in this sorte shée went forwardes till shée came into a meruaifous greate and wide medowe béeing of so greate fayrenesse that I am not with my pen able to paint out the excellencie thereof Whereas was féeding both wilde and tame Hartes adorned with their great and cragged hornes Likewise the furious wilde Boare the simple Connies and the enuious Beare with the fierce Lyon altogether were féeding with so greate friendshippe as to the contrarie by Nature they are enimies The Ladie was in such a dumpe to sée and beholde the great difference that was and the greate loue betwéene these wild and tame beasts which were there present that she did not cast vp her eyes to beholde a verie fayre and sumptuous Pallaice which was in the middest of the medowe and vppon that sodayne sight shée fell in a musing and dumpe as commonly the husband man doeth when he goeth into the wilde fieldes and cragged mountaines to séeke his simple shéepe which he hath lost or as one finding himselfe in a royall citie all garnished with rich citizens of excéeding good behauiour staieth at euerie doore corner of the stréets musing at their strange apparell being different from that which hée hath séene before in his owne countrie euen so was this Quéene ouercome in her owne conceite and amazed in her imagination to see so straunge loue cleane contrarie vnto nature The wise Lyrgandeo doth write for that he would not put the reader in admiration he wold not tell all which he might of this straunge workmanship but part thereof which is requisite to this our historie Towards that part of the principall gate and right before the pallace there appeared twelue Pinacles of so great and mightie height that the pyramides of Aegypt were verie lowe in comparison to them in such sort that whosoeuer would looke on them was scant able with his sight to comprehend the height and they were all made of different coulours of stone downe below vnder the towre there was an arch with a gate which séemed to be of Diamond and all was compassed about with a great moat being of so great deapth that they thought it to reach to the middest of the earth and it was almost two hundreth paces broade and euerie gate had his drawne bridge all made of boords verie red which séemed as though they had bene all bathed in bloud and on the vtter parts of all this there was a piller of Iasper stone at the which there hanged a horne which séemed to bée of a Diamond all wrought full of precious stones of a strange worke the which was of great valour and garnished with chaines of gold that were made fast vnto it whereat hung a Parchment as white as the Snow wherein was written certaine Gréeke Letters which were all red and reading of them shée sawe that the wordes were these At such time as the great matrone increasing with her excellencie the fame of the Greeke bloud with a furious sound that blowing of this horne he shall be accepted with greate contentment of the Aegyptian but with braiding and reuiling at one time or other And giuing hope of that which is certaine he shall come to inioy of the future time to his perpetuall fame Lyrgandeo for to explane the mysterie of this spéech put in euerie demaund the exposition declaring what it was with the title in the Gréeke tongue and for that the reader maye the better vnderstand it he hath declared them in the vulgar tongue So when the excellent Ladie had read it she stayed to beholde the excellencie of the workmanship of the horne and the great riches thereof and taking of it in her hand she sawe that round about it there were certaine letters which béeing read she found to be thus In sounding of me the gate shall be opened to thee The which when shee vnderstoode without anie more carrieng she tooke that rich horne and set it vnto her mouth and began to sound it the which sounde was verie thrill to be heard she had scarce
The giant stood did behold him very much with a fearful countenance his eies turned into a sanguin coulour laughing or smiling in manner of mocking he said I sée without anie outward proofe but onely by thy foolish wordes that thou art but a young and new made knight as such a one I wil estéeme intreate thée if my comming hether were not more for a messenger then for a warriour for this thy boldnesse which thou dost shew I would vse thée in such sort y t thy answere shuld little auaile thée yet I should remaine satisfied of all y e anger which thou hast caused me to haue The prince Claridiano when he heard that with so great disdaine he was rauiled with as much anger he went towards him and with an altered voice he sayd By all the Gods that are in heauen I sweare vnto thée if I did not consider respect the curtesie which is due and ought to be shewed to Embassadours I would bereaue thée of this thy brauerie in such sort y t when thou art before such a king as now thou art thou shouldest bridle thy tongue euer after haue in remembraunce y e punishment y t I would giue thée but not respecting thy follie but onely my estate I will stay my selfe from correcting of this thy ouermuch pride The wrath of this Gyant was so much wheÌ„ he heard himself so reuiled y t he could not by anie meanes refraine himselfe but layd hand on his sword and went towards the Prince Claridiano and threatened him with a very mightie and strong blow striking at his head The prince when he saw the blow comming retired with a light leape which was y e occasion y t he failed of his blowe by reâ—son of the great strength wherwith it was stroke the sword fell out of his hands and flew along the floore of the great hall the Prince without drawing his sworde with a trice ioyned with him entering in at his left side with his fist he stroke him so strong and mightie a blow vpon y e mouth that if his hand had ben armed it had ben the last which the Gyant should haue receiued yet for all that it did so much harme that his téeth fell out leauing his mouth all bloudie with the great strength of the blow it made him to fall backwards on his backe and with the great paine which he felt he scantly knew where he was The Prince when hée sawe this stayed without doing anie more harme for y t hée would not disgrace the king but put himself on the one side the king did shew himselfe verie much gréeued for y t he was an Embassadour for if it had not ben done by him which did it who so euer els should haue done it would hardly haue escaped w tout punishment And for to appease y e messenger he arose out of his seat and did helpe to take vp the Gyaunt looking toward Claridiano he sayd Brother I would y t this thing had not chaunced by thy hands for that all this harme which you haue done vnto Bruno is done vnto me not vnto him TheÌ„ this valiant Prince sayd Hold your peace my Lord for those vâ—â—urteous messengers such as do digresse goe from that which they are commaunded should not alonely be intreated in this sort but also loose their liues and haue their tongues cut out Bruno did complaine him verie much of the griefe seeing himselfe without téeth and so dishonoured he blasphemed against his Gods but this inuinsible Gréeke made little account of any such thing but turned himselfe toward Bruno sayd Now maist thou returne in the diuells name tel thy brother the Prince of pride that he doth commaund to plaister and cure thy téeth for that from hence thou goest well cured of thy great folly Also thou shalt tell him of my parte that as I haue hurt thée with the strength of my fist so I will vse him with the sharpe edge of my sworde gouerned with the selfe same arme that vnto thée hath done this damage And I doe héere hope in such sort to search that proude bodie of his that all the worlde may take an ensample by him and his pride Bruno who was at the point of death with the great paine he felt vnderstood all that was spoken and without making anie aunswere hee went out of the kings Pallaice and returned vnto his Galleyes where hée was cured and put his Sailes into the power of the winde and in a verie short time he ariued at Arginaria and went a shoare carrying all his face wrapt and bound with bondes and rowles of linnen cloth and his mouth all to be plaistred In this sorte he went and presented himselfe before his brother and sayd I haue giuen thy Embassage vnto king Delfo as thou hast commaunded me and to giue me aunswere there arose vp a new and young knight whom I doe beleeue and as I haue proued the same that he hath in his bodie all the infernall strength and in his fistes all the Legyons of diuells that are in hell as it did appeare by the greate furye wherewith he hurt mée that he did not onely strike out my téeth but also threw me to the ground as though I had bene a child This proud Gyant the king of Arginaria when hée heard all that his brother had sayd with a terrible blaring noise that he made all the Pallaice to shake sayde O vile coward and is it possible that with fistes lyke a vile vilaine he made thée to fall in such sorte that thou diddest kisse the ground with thy mouth Bruno answered Brother I dooe sweare vnto thée by the high Iupiter that if thou hadst proued as I haue done the strength of his â—istes thou wouldest not reuile me in this sort And héere I do giue thée to vnderstand that he sayd and bad me in his parte to tell thée that if from me he hath taken awaie my fore téeth that he will not onelye take awaie thine but also thy double téeth and thy life But when this Arginarian king heard this hee arose vp and went from him with so much wrath and anger that he séemed rather a Diuell then a man and without taking anie farther counsell he commaunded to assemble all his people together and that they should bée called with all the spéed that possible might bée and when they were come all together he found that there were two thousand horse men and sixe thousand foote men made Captaine generall ouer them two Gyants brothers y t were Lordes of one Iland ioyning vnto his Iland called Bisperia And he commaunded them to imbarke themselues with great furie and when they wer all imbarked he commanded to hoyse vp anker and to commit their sayles vnto the winde y t which they found prosperous and brought them vnto the Iland of Trapobana and without any impediment or disturbaunce
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
she did ordayn and how that she commaunded a faithfull damsell of hers to carry a letter vnto the Emperour of Grecia who made so much hast that shée ariued at Constantinople at such time as the battel betwéen the Emperour and the king of the Garamantes began And when she saw the vnhappy ende of the King she receiued great griefe being informed of the occasion of all the battell and wherefore it was made So with this griefe for that night she went and tooke her lodging whereas she remained till y e next day in y e morning at such time as y e Emperour was with the Empresse and many other Knights in great ioy pastimes talking of the occasion of the battaile that was y e day before At that time entred the quéenes damsel with a seuere countenance and without making any reuerence she went vnto the Emperour said Emperour much more valiant and mightie than loyall and faithfull the vnhappy quéene of Tinacria doth send me vnto thée that thou maist read this letter and thereby vnderstand the great tyranny without all reason that thou didst vse against her The Emperour with an amorous smiling did receiue it sayd Thou art welcome and for the letter of the quéene the receipt thereof doth giue me great delight to know and vnderstand of her highnes And therewith he opened the letter and reading it found that that therein was contained that which followeth The vnhappy and vnfortunate Quéene of Tinacria vnto the disloyall Emperour of Grecia can send nor wish no saâ—utation for hauing no health my selfe I cannot send it vnto him that so much without loue by crueltie hath forgotten me I cannot but lament and complain me of thée vnto the Gods considering that without any refuge thou camst vnto my kingdome whereas thou hadst no other hope but of death and I procured to delyuer thée from it and sought it for my selfe what occasion hadst thou O Emperor that thou wouldest not retourne to sée me In me thou foundest so much fidelitie that I did furnish thée with armour and horse that with them thou shouldst delyuer me from those which did séeke to haue me against my will But I with my good will did yéeld my selfe I say my selfe vnto him which now doth séeke my death Ah Emperour remember that I sawe thée depriued of all helpe an vnhappy day for me for y t in making much of thée and giuing thée ioye I bereaued my selfe of all and lost the possession of my libertie and honour and although thou hadst not estéemed nor tooke any care of the sorrowfull Quéene of Tinacria yet thou shouldest not haue moued thy selfe to haue made a mocke of the perfecte loue which I did shew thée and the great desire that I had to serue thée Thou shouldest haue had some care and griefe séeing that I defended thée from all my Nobles Knights who sought thy death thou hauing depriued so manye of my knights of their liues thou shouldest haue had pitie of theÌ„ that had pitie on thée O loue that so quickly diddest make me blinde depriuedst me of the knowledge which I should haue had vnto my royall highnesse O Emperour of Grecia I being blinde with the loue of thée did deny my honestie which I ought to haue kepte If thou hadst pretended to mocke me thou shouldst haue put me out of all doubt and not haue suffered me to loose so much as I haue lost for thy sake but haue procured that I might haue eschewed all this harme whereof thou hast bene the occasion Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my will y t I might haue opened my white breast with that sharpe sword it had ben better for me to haue dyed then than now for now liuing for thée I dayly dye Remember thy selfe Emperour and behold the harme that will come héerof and doo not vse so much crueltie with them that haue not deserued it at thy handes Haue thou a care vnto the pawn which thou didst leaue behinde thée let it be an occasion that thou dost retourne to sée me Do not giue an occasioÌ„ y t my children remain motherles in y e power of them for thou doest not knowe what my subiects will doo O Emperour of Grecia I doo still tarry looke for thée y t which hope doth cause me to suffer this cruell paine if thou dost send my trustie messenger without it I shall be driuen to do y t of which thou hadst ben better thou hadst not disturbed me at the first But now it shal be in this manner that if thou dost giue ease vnto me I will procure thine in such sort as possibly I may So that Emperour I doo tarie thy comming or els answere of my death And doo not iudge this which I doo to be of great boldenesse for that Loue doth commaund it By her which without all regard or any foresight did yeeld vnto thee her libertie When he had made an ende of reading y e letter he could not haue so much sufferance with himselfe but with y e teares which distilled from his eyes he must néedes shewe the paine which his hearte indured for the sorrowfull complaintes which that lamentable and complaining Letter did vtter The Damosell which brought the Letter all the time that the Emperour was reading of it she neuer withdrewe her eyes from looking on him and when she sawe that he had made an ende of reading it she sayde Wherefore wilt thou giue me to vnderstand O cruell Trebatio that thou doest receiue great sorrow of that which wheÌ„ thou mightest haue redressed thou wouldest not and doe not make me beléeue that these outward shewes do procéed from thy heart Dost thou thinke that it is sufficient to excuse thee from the paine that is pretended to be giuen thée Dost thou not sée that when thou couldest giue remedie thou wouldest not vnto them who now are without all hope and tarryeth for no other satisfaction but w t thy head O false Emperour diddest thou not sée that she was not a ladie to be thus mocked and deceiued Surely thou hast recouered to thy selfe a verie good name for the exalting of thy lygnage Thy sonne whom we honour there for a God may well praise himselfe for his descent in hauing thée for his father O false and cruell is this the inheritaunce which thou diddest inherit of thy most famous bloud Is this the great loyaltie which thou doest shew vnto thy sonnes O vile Greeke how doe the Gods consent that so disloyall a knight should liue in the world Is it not possible that these sorrowfull continuall complaints of Tinacria doe not open your eares and cause you to sende downe punishment for this greate offence O ingratefull Gods receiue the sacrifice of my chastitie in paiment of the reuengement which from your high heauens I hope shall bée done vpon this counterfait without all fayth and make that my bloud héere shed vpon this
perfect true loue which I bare to thée shuld bée accounted vaine and wouldest not performe the faith which without asking in a verie short time thou diddest grant vnto me oh cruell Brenio oh hard heart is this the firme loue that so fainedly thou diddest professe to me what is he that hath ben more vnmercifull then thou hast bene There is no furious beast Tiger nor Lyon vnto whom at theyr will thou diddest deliuer me that with theyr vnmercifull nailes they might cruellye intreat my flesh but would haue accompanied me with more pittie and haue holpen me to lament my cruell destinie Ah Brenio the great paine which I suffer will not consent to declare the vnreasonable torments troubles and sorrowes the which for thée I haue passed so that I néede not to referre it vnto them who doth know it very well but of one thing alone I will giue thée to vnderstand that in the ende when thou diddest leaue all alone and at my waking I could not finde thée my dolorous paine was so great y t I did not think to escape with my life But my mishap which hath bene alwaies vnto me contrarie and the more to increase my paine was such that my lamentation was heard by a knight who béeing moued with compassion did aske of me the occasion of all this my harme and griefe and when y t I had told him whether it was by motion of loue the which I had wholy giuen vnto thée or by the ouermuch compassion which he had of my paine he brought me out of that solitarie place wheras thou diddest leaue me and carried me wheras I made an end of all my great paines and passions Ah Brenio when I wrote these few lines my body was almost colde and without all strength redie to yéeld vp my soule which is I know to thée great contentment and for that thou shouldest bée satisfied of thy desire I did determine to aduertise thée in giuing thée to vnderstand of my desired death thou béeing the onely occasion thereof Oh Brenio now are the Faâ—es cutting of the thrid of my life asunder I can giue thee knowledge of no more But yet I doo desire thée by the true loue which I bare thée y t thou wilt read these fewe lines w t some sorrow héere of y e Gods I do desire y t they do make thée to passe the â—ame euill which thou hast ben the occasion of vnto me till such time as it bringeth thée to die the like death that for thée I now die And if thou doest desire to know any farther of this matter he which bringeth thee this can informe thée of the whole state thereof for that now I haue no more time neither my strength will consent vnto it The teares were in so great abundance which this sad heauy knight did shed in the time that he was a reading this dolorous letter that he all to wet the same y e messenger likewise did not let to beare him companie and to solempne his heauinesse with so many more teares distilling froÌ„ his eyes The great sorrow lamentation was such so much that in a great space the one could not speake vnto the other but afterward their paine being somewhat appeased Brenio began to speake say Oh messenger from her with the remeÌ„brance of whose wrong my soule is wounded being vndeseruedly of me euill rewarded Tell me for Gods loue if thou doest know where she is shew vnto me her abiding place that I may go thether giue a discharge of this my great fault in yéelding my selfe to death Oh cruell without all loue answered Don Eleno what discharge canst thou giue vnto her y t already through thy crueltie is dead buried thou shalt do much better to arise take vnto thée thy armor defend thy selfe from him that will procure thy death to make satisfaction of the debt y t she without anie dutie did pay Is it possible answered Brenio that Lidia is dead it is possible answered Eleno and she is dead by the occasion of such a forsworne knight as thou art This penitent pained knight when he vnderstood the certaintie of all this euill with a sodaine and hastie furie stroke himselfe on the breast a great stroke with his fist and lifting his eyes vnto the heauens in manner of exclamation against his Gods giuing déepe and sorrowfull sighes he threw himselfe to the ground and tumbled wallowed from the one part vnto the other without taking anie ease or hauing anie power or strength to declare his inwarde paine and griefe the which at that time he felte but with an inward lamentatioÌ„ which did torment his hart he called continually vpon Lidia and with that diuellish fury wherin he was he drew out his dagger and lifting vp the skirte of his shirt of mayle he thrust it into his body and giuing himself this vnhappy death with calling vpon Lidia he finished his life The Dacian knight remained in a great confusion to see this sodayne chaunce and that in such sort that he could put no remedy therein but with the great heauines and sorrow that he receiued he fell downe in a sounde without any remembraunce of himselfe The Page which Eleno brought with him did then procure all remedies that were possible for to bring him againe vnto his remembrance and laboured to doe it with great loue but yet for all y t he could do or procure ther was no possibilitie of his recouery til such time as Phoebus had made an end of his iourney that Diana had begun hir gouernment theÌ„ he began to come a litle to himselfe looking on the one side and sawe that Brenio lay dead by his side with a dolorous voice he said vnto his page Ah Fabio wherefore hast thou procured to put remedy vnto my bodye and consented that it shoulde indure so terrible paine and euill thou shouldest haue sufferd me to haue dyed and not to haue ben the occasion that now I liue dying and hauing no more power to speake he held his peace At this time he had great néede of the force and strength of his christian courage for to assist him that he did not that which should cause him to beare company with this dead Brenio His Page Fabio did very much comfort him and did procure by all meanes to giue him ease but all that euer he could doo did profit very little or giue any contentment vnto his paine till such time as he hearde a greate noyse of armed knights which was the occasion that he came vnto himselfe and for that he would not be discouered he put him selfe into the thickest of the bushes with the helpe of Fabio he carryed Brenio drawing him from the place wher he was and couered him with boughes and leaues till such time as they might haue opportunitie to burie him as héereafter you shall vnderstand So there he continued all that night
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
of Euphrates this knight trauailed with great sorrow for the small newes that he heard of his Pastora and the anger was verie great of the Prince for that he was so carelesse in such sorte that neither Coridon nor Fidelio durst speake a worde vnto him and diuerse times lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen with an heauie voice he said Oh high and mightie God Iupiter how is it possible that I hauing done my duetie vnto thy Deitie in all respects and almost vsing a quotidian sacrifice thou doest yet suffer thy power to bée contrarie vnto me in this giue me now some light to happe on that waie by which that traitour and disloyall knight doth carrie the Goddesse of all shepheardes that I maye deliuer her that shee be not scorned nor ill intreated of that false knight Oh Diana chast Goddesse hide thy breast and send some kéeper of thine to defende her let that reuenger Camilia be her garde and with her Bowe send a sharpe arrowe to passe through the heart of him that doth all this euill In this sorte with greate anger the Prince trauailed and the thirde daie of his iourney somewhat early in the morning he sawe vppon a rocke a verie faire and great castell which séemed to be verie strong The Prince determined to goe thether he had not trauailed long when he came into another greate and broade waie in the which there was a man which came towardes them when he drew nigh they asked of him if he coulde tell anie newes of the Pastora The man lift vp his eies and séeing the proportion of him that demaunded the question he saide For thy profit sir knight for that thou séemest vnto me to be of estimation I will not tell thée thy demaund The valiant knight with more humilitie then his passionate heart would abide desired him to giue him to vnderstand if he knew anie thing of her The man said Sir knight I knowe not wherefore you will know of that thing that by séeking of remedie for her deliuerie will procure thy selfe death Notwithstanding séeing that with so great courtesie you doe request me I will tell you although it were better for you not to knowe it neuerthelesse you shall vnderstande that yesternight a knight brought her vnto yonder Castell which you sée before you put her vnder so strong kéeping that there is no power able to deliuer her except the power of the high Gods The contentment was great that the Prince receiued when he heard newes of her the which he so much desired and giuing great thankes vnto the man he went towards the Castle when he came thether he found the drawe bridge downe and the gate open and no gard there to kéepe it And without all feare he entered in at the gate and left Coridon and Fidelio without And being within he came into a very great and broad Court the which was paued with very faire and wel wrought stones and the walls were full of windowes with yron grates very faire but he saw no body and discouering a broad and well made paire of staires he alighted from his horse and went vp and being halfe waye vp ther was a dore open and looking in thereat he sawe it was a greate Hall and that verye darke sauing at the farther ende thereof there was a little louer hole which gaue a small light wher by he perceiued a little dore which séemed to be at the foote of a payre of winding staires at which dore the knight entered and went vp the staires And when he came aloft hée entred into very great and broad chambers all furnished w t beds and it séemed to be a place for the houshold seruaunts and going from thence he entred into a very faire hall in the which was a well wrought windowe and looking out therat he sawe that it was ouer the gate of that ill kept Castle by which he entered and looking for Coridon and Fidelio he could not sée them but beléeued that they had put themselues apart in some place because they would not be séene Then this valiant knight looking downe againe to the gate sawe a mightie great Gyant of a huge stature who called with a great loude voice and sayde Runne quickly and séeke out that bolde knight who without anie lisence entered into the Castell and put him into the most cruellest prison in all the house These wordes caused little feare in the knight but rather going from the windowe he went out of the hall where was a payre of stayres and as he beganne to descend downe by them he sawe comming vp thereat in great hast fiue armed knightes and after them eight clownes who séing him to be the knight they sought with theyr swordes drawne verie rigorously they did assault him This valyant warriour drew out his sword and stroke two of them two such terrible blowes y t he made their heads to tumble downe the stayres and in the fall of them they chaunced to hit two of the clownes that they made them to fall backwards vpon the stayres but his furie stayed not in this but he stroke another knight such a blowe that he ouerthrewe him deade the same waye the other two knightes which remained séeing that slaughter so quickly done they put themselues the one on the one side of the stayres and the other on the other and hauing theyr shéeldes before them they layde on the Knight with great and thicke blowes but by reason of the desire which the knight had to sée his Pastora and being very much troubled therewith hée determined with spéede to cléere himselfe of those two knightes and therewith he stroke at each of them a mightie blow and sent them with the rest downe the stayres the like did he vnto foure of the clownes that were so hardie as to assault him the other with a great noise ranne downe the stayres this valyant knight hasted downe the stayres after them till he came into a great court whereas he found the Gyant vnarmed with a shéelde on his arme and a great broade fauchen in his hande The knight made shew vnto him that he woulde not fight nor strike him but put his sworde vp into his sheath and said Holde thy hand Gyaunt and strike not but put on thy armour for to make thy defence for this vnderstande of a truth that I will not drawe out my sword so long as thou art vnarmed The Giaunt when he sawe howe lyttle hée did estéeme him stoode still and did beholde him and noted the greate riches of his armour and by the deuice of his shéelde he knewe him to be the knight that wonne the prise and honour in the iustes at Nabatea for you shall vnderstande that all these Gyauntes were of the kingdome of Cilicia and the king thereof if you remember was the first with whome the knight did iust which in that triumph was ouerthrowen when that to reuenge that quarrell came forth a brother of his
At this time the battaile began a new to be very terrible increasing double their fury and likewise augmenting their blowes in such sort that with the least blow that was stroken it séemed to haue cut the other all to péeces which made all them that did behold the battaile very much to meruaile At this time there appeared to come foorth out of the Forrest a Knight all armed in white armor edged and wrought about with an excellent worke of fine golde his healme on his head and his shield at his necke and gyrte with a veryâ— ritch sword and of so gentle a disposition that ther was none equall vnto him and séeing the battaile betwixte the two Knights he did stand and behold them and straight waies he knew the Emperour but he could not iudge who y e other should be but greatly meruailed at their strength and with the great desire he had to know who it was he demaunded of an old Knight that stood by him the occasion of their controuersie and who the Knights were The olde Knight for that he seemed to be a Knighte of high estate sayde The name of one of them I can tell thée the which is the knight with the straunge and rich armour who is the excellent and mightie Emperour Alphebo of Trapisond but the Knight with the Sunne héere is not one that doth know him This Knight began the controuersie first with certaine knights of Grecia who killing of some of them and other some verye sore wounded and following other two which ranne away the Emperour put himself before him for to know the occasion of his great furye and that Knight did aunswere him with great pride and arrogancie which was the occasion of this their controuersie and it is more then sixe houres since they haue bene martring one anothers flesh without all pitie and this is all which I can tell you of that which you haue demaunded of me The Knight with the white armor was very much amazed when he knew that the controuersie indured so long and could not iudge who it should be of so great power and strength that was able to resist the fury of the mightie Alphebo In all this time these two valiant warriours were not idle but still their battaile went forwards in such sort that either of them did doubt of the victorye finding their aduersarie so mightie and strong So in this extremitie they indured more then sixe houres not resting one moment but still plagning the due the other making of their bodies euen Anfields which continually are beaten on with hammers and as the trauaile was great and could not be chosen but that they must 〈…〉 be weary and show some kinde of faintnesse vpon a sodaine both at one time did withdrawe themselues to take some rest either of them very much meruailing at the great power and strength of his aduersarie This inuincible Emperour could not by any meanes iudge who the Knight should be that had brought him into that extremitie for vntill that daye was there neuer knight that euer before that time did the like and being full of yre wrath he sayd What is now become of thée Alphebo Where is now thy great valour that hath bene so much spoken of in all the worlâ— What is become of thy surmounted strength wherewith thou didsâ— quaile the power of Lindaraza and that with which thou didst breake those inchaunted helmes What is become of thy terrible yre wherewith thou diddest subdue mountaines newe in sunder Diamond armour and brought all thing vnder thy subiection nowe I sée that all is forgotten and nothing worth for that one alone knight and a Pagan hath brought thée inâ—o this extremitie O holy God to thée I inuocate and desire thée to helpe me doe not permit that my fame be robbed and taken away by a Pagan and an enemie vnto our Christian lawe These and such like reasons pronounced this â—holarick Mars and neither more nor lesse the mightie and strong Prince casting vp his eyes and looking vnto the heuens and reprehending his Gods he said Why are you so contrary vnto me for that as yet I neuer had victorie but it hath bene by the strength of mine owne armes What recompence haue I receiued for all y t I haue done as yet I neuer had any fauour at your hands for my owne power hethertoo hath bene valuable vnto me and not yours for that I do beléeue is nothing as it doth appeare very plainly in the little fauour that you shew me against this furious Christian. What are you angrie that I am come into this Countrey and are anie of you come downe to take reuengement of me therefore Well séeing it is so let it be Iupiter or Mars or whosoeuer it be of you be it a God or a Diuell first before I receiue the death I will make you to call for aide of all the rest of the Gods and if it be a diuel to call likewie for aide of the rest of the diuells And without any more tarrying he retourned againe vnto the battailâ— the like did the Emperour made their assault with so great furie that they onelyâ—punc which did behold them were not a little amazed but also the heauen and earth did meruaile at their force the Eccho was weary in answering of their terrible blowes so that there was almost no hope of remedy in their controuersie for that each one feared his aduersarie there was not anie aduauntage of either part This conflict continued so long betwéene them that they were almost out of breath at y e time bath together they lyfted vp theyr HerculiaÌ„ armes hauing them aloft they ioyned together w t such fury that their horses met and stroke their heads the one against the other in such sort that although they were both good yet they fell downe to the ground with their Knights but they were not so soone fallen as they wer straight on foote again without receiuing any harme and there began betwixt them a new contention There was shewed the greate lyghtnesse of the Prince and likewise that of the Emperour was apparant in that either of them did so valiauntly defend himselfe from his contrarie although at that time their strong armes were more gouerned with ire and wrath then with pollicie or experience which was the occasion that the battaile was the more perillous terrible This mightie Alphebo thought much that in the presence of the Emperour his Father the battaile shuld so long indure and that with one alone knight and not béeing his brother The like did the Prince consider of that by reason that the great reuerence and respect that the people had he knew that there shuld be present the Emperour of Grecia who tooke him for his graundfather as the furie of Merlin had tolde him All these considerations dyd cause betwixt the two warriours the more wrath yet for all that they which did beholde them could iudge no