as three nights But this I submit to the iudgement of learned Diuines The colour and embrodery of Bradamants bases in the 47. staffe betokening desperation is there shewed I need not long to stand vpon for as for those hidden misteries of colours with their applications of blue to constancie twanie forsaken white to virginitie and the rest they are very well knowne to all our gallant Gentlemen who often haue more cost in their clothes and wit in their colours then coyne in their coffers or learning in their heads Of the Island Queene that sent the shield of gold to France which Bradamant thought would but breed quarrels Fornarius noteth that mine Author did therein couertly allude to a matter betweene England and France for Ariosto liued in Henry the eight his time and maketh very honorable mention of him But thus it was After the death of Lewes of France Marie the younger sister of K. Henrie the eight remaining his Dowager our King sent for his sister to come into England but Francis the first loth she should go out of France in respect of the great dower she should carry with her which by the custome of that country was a third part of the reuenue of the Crowne and yet fearing to have warres with king Henrie made this offer that if he would send some braue man at armes that could win her in the field he should haue her our King made no dainties to accept the offer and making it knowne to his Court Sir Charles Brandon tooke the matter on him and in fine ouercomming foure French men with the franke consent of both Kings married the Queene Dowager and was here in England as we all know made Duke of Suffolk of whose offspring there remaine yet some most worthy branches but the like to him for armes and cauallary as we terme it is my noble good Lord the Lord Strange whose value and vertue need not this my barren and briefe testimonie The end of the annotations vpon the xxxij booke THE XXXIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant sees grau'n by passing art The future wars of France vpon a screene Bayardos flight the combat fierce doth part Renaldo and the Serican beweene Astolso hauing past the greater part Of all the world and many countries seene Vnto Senapos kingdome last arriues And from his boord the foule Harpias driues 1 TYmagoras Parrhasius Polignote Timant Protogenes Apollodore With Zewces one for skill of special note Apelles eke plast all the rest before Whose skill in drawing all the world doth note And talke of still to writers thanks therefore Whose works and bodies time and death did wast Yet spite of time and death their fames doth last 2 With others that in these our later dayes Haue liu'd as Leonard and Iohn Belline And he that carues and drawes with equall praise Michell more then a man Angell diuine And Flores whom the Flemmings greatly praise And Raphael and Titian passing fine With diuers others that by due desart Do ment in this praise to haue a part 3 Yet all these cunning drawers with their skill Could not attaine by picture to expresse What strange euents should happen well or ill In future times no not so much as guesse This art is proper vnto Magike still Or to a Prophet or a Prophetesse By this rare art the Brittish Merlin painted Strange things with which our age hath bin acquainted 4 He made by Magike art that stately hall And by the selfe same art he could to be Strange histories ingraued on the wall Which as I said the guests desir'd to see Now when they were from supper risen all The pages lighted torches two or three Making the roome to shine as bright as day When to his guests the owner thus did say 5 I would quoth he my guests that you should know That these same stories that here painted are Of future warres the sequels sad do show That shall to Italie bring wo and care Whereas the French full many a bloodie blow Shall take while others they to harme prepare As Merlin here hath layd downe being sent From English Arthur chiefe for this intent 6 King Feramont that was the first that past The streame of Rhine with armie great of France And being in possession quiet plast Of all those parts sturd with so luckie chance Straight in ambitious thought began to cast His rule and scepter higher to aduance Which that he might to passe the better bring He made a league with Arthur English king 7 Informing him how that his meaning was Of Italie the rule and crowne to get And askt his ayd to bring the same to passe Which neuer had atchieued bin as yet Now Merlin that did all men far surpasse In Magike art his purpose sought to let For Merlin had with Arthur so great credit He thought all Gospell was if once he sed it 8 This Merlin then did first to Arthur show And then by Arthur was of purpose sent To Fieramont of France to let him know The cause why he misliked his intent As namely many mischiefs that would grow To all that now or that hereafter ment The like attempt aduising him abstaine From certaine trouble for vncertaine gaine 9 And that he might his courage more appall And quite remoue him from this enterprise He made by Magicke this so stately hall Adorned as you see in sumptuous wise And drew these histories vpon the wall That what he saw in mind they might with eyes And thereby know that in Italian ground The Flour de luce can near take root profound 10 And how as often as the French shall come As frends to aid and free them from distresse So oft they shall their foes all ouercome And fight with honor great and good successe But be they sure to haue that place their toome If so they come their freedome to oppresse Thus much the owner of the house them told And so went on the storie to vntold 11 Lo first how Sigisbert in hope of gaine And promises of Emperour Mauricius Doth passe the mountaines with a mightie traine With mind to Lombardie to be pernicious But Ewtar driues him backe by force againe When he of such attempt is least suspicious So that his enterprise is quite reuersed Himselfe doth flie and leaue his men dispersed 12 Next after him the proud Clodoueus went And had with him one hundred thousand men But him doth meet the Duke of Beneuent With searse for eu'rie hundred souldiers ten Who doth intrap him in an ambushment So as the French might well be lik'ned then While Lombard wines too greedily they tooke To fish beguiled with a baited hooke 13 Straight Childibertus with a mightie host Doth come with mind to wipe away this blot But of his gainings he may make small bost For of his purpose he preuailed not His enterprise by heau'nly sword is croft The plague doth grow among his men so hot What with the
him stand aboue and hold it fast And by the same intending to descend Vpon her armes her whole waight she doth cast But he that to destroy her did â—ntend Doth aske if she would learne to leape a cast And laughing loosd his hands that were together And wisht that all the race of them were with her 76 Yet great good hap the gentle damsell found As well deseru'd a miâ—d so innocent For why the polâ— strake first vpon the ground And though by force it shiuerd all and rent Yet were her limbes and life kept safe and sound For all his vile and traiterous intent Sore was the damsell mazed with the fall As in another booke declare I shall In thiâ— second booke in the combat betweene Renaldo and Sacrapant we may obserue how the passion of loue together with the termes that men stand vpon for their reputation credit are oftentimes occasions of bitter quarels and in their sodaâ—â—e parting and great perplexitie that both of them were stricken into by the false tale that the spirit told them of Orlando we may gather how very apt ielousie is to conceiue and beleeue euery false report By Renaldos obedience to Charles in going on embassage notwithstanding all his priuat affaires and affections we may take example of dutiful obedience to our lawfull Prince And in that Pinnabel seekes to betray Bradamant and to kill her by letting her fall into the caue into the which she trusted he would haue let her downe safely and friendly we may note two speciall things one that it is good to be warie into whose hands we commit the sauegard of our liues and state the other that base minded men being wickedly set on reuenge care not by what treason or villanie they worke the ouerthrow of their enemies For the Historie of this Canto I will not affirme too precisely for I find not in any credible author of Renaldos embassage into England neither is it very likely if the King of England were then in Paris as in another place of this worke is affirmed that a Peere of France should be sent hither and not rather some English noble man sent from the King to his other subiects in England with directions and instructions from him That Paris and Charles himselfe were in some distresse about that time is not vnprobable and that the Turkes at their first arriuall preuailed very farre against the Christians though it lasted but a while As for Rogero whom he toucheth in this booke and that is so much spoken of in this wâ—â—le worke as Aeneas is in Virgil though in both rather in fabulous and in Allegoricall sence then plainly and historicaly yet I find it in very good Authors that a man of that name was indeed the chiefe raiser of the house of Este the now Dukes of Perrara For the Allegorie as I noted in the first booke of Bayardo so the same is still continued or rather repeated namely that the horse by which is meant mans feruent and furious appetite which is more plainly signified where it is said of the horse His going onely was to this intent To shew his master where the damsell went So that still this vnbridled desire figured by Bayardo leades Renaldo on foote whereby is vnderstood sensualitie to pursue Angelica with a base desire of the most base pleasure In the shield whose light amazed the lookers on and made them fall downe astonied may be Allegorically meant the great pompes of the world that make shining shewes in the bleared eyes of vaine people and blind them and make them to admire and fall downe before them hauing indeed nothing but shining titles without vertue like painted sheaths with leaden weapons or like straw without the graine either else may be meant the flaring beauties of some gorgeous women that astonish the eyes of weake minded men apt to receiue such louing impressions as Atlantas shield did amaze their senses that beheld it For the Allegorie of the horse what is meant thereby I reserue to another place where I will follow it more at large then this little space will giue me leaue and in that booke where he is more treated of The Allusion to which this flying horse is referred and from whence it is taken is from Pegasus the flying horse that Pindar writes of bred of the bloud of Medusa on which beast Bellerophon was wont to ride flying the false accusation of Pretus wife Also the shield it selfe seemes to allude to the fable of Medusas head that turned men into stones THE THIRD BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant was falne in Marlins caue Melissa meetes her there her ancient friend And there to her she perfite notice gaue Of such braue men as should from her descend She told her where she should Rogero haue Whom old Atlanta had in prison pend And from Brunello how to take the ring That vnto libertie her deere might bring 1 OH that my head were so well storde with skill Of such a noble subiect fit to treat Oh that my wits were equall to my will To frame a phrase fit for so high conceat Ye muses that do hold the sacred hill Inspire my heart with flame of learned heat While I presume in base and lowly verse The names of glorious Princes to reherse 2 Such Princes as excell all Princes far In all the gifts of bodie and of mind Temprat in peace victorious eake in war Themselues most noble come of noble kind And such except my guesse do greatly arre As are by heau'ns eternall doome assignd In wealth in fame in rule and in prosperitie To liue themselues their children and posteritie 3 Nor can I now their seuerall actes most rare Atcheeud by eu'rie one of them recite No though my verse with Virgils might compare Or I as well as Homer could endite With their great praise great volumes filled are With large discourse by them that stories write I onely meane to show what was foreshowne Long er their persons or their deeds were knowne 4 But first of Pinnabel a word to speake Who as you heard with traiterous intent The bonds of all humanitie did break For which er long himselfe was after shent Thus while base minds their wroÌ„gs do basely wreak They do that once that often they repent And curse that time a thousand times too late When they pursude their vnreuenged hate 5 With fainting heart for sin is full of feare By stealing steps from hence he doth depart And as he goes he prieth here and there His fearefull looke bewrayes his guiltie hart Not yet his dread doth moue him to forbeare To heape more sin vpon this ill desart Appald with feare but toucht with no remorse Supposing she was slaine he takes her horse 6 But let him go vntill another time For I do meane hereafter you shall heare How he was dealt with when his double crime In secret wrought most open did appeare Now vnto
Bradamant I bend my time Who with her fall was yet of heauie cheare And had bene taught a gamball for the nonce To giue her death and buriall at once 7 Now when she came vnto her selfe againe And had recouerd memorie and sence She gets her on her feete although with paine In mind to seeke some way to get fro thence When loe before her face she seeth plaine A stately portall built with great expence And next behind the same she might descrie A larger roome and fairer to the eye 8 This was a church most solemne and deuout That stands on marble pillars small and round And raisd by art on arches all about That made ech voyce to yeeld a double sound A lightsome lampe that neuer goeth out Did burne on altar standing in the ground That though the rooms were large wide in space The lampe did serue to lighten all the place 9 The noble damsell full of reu'rent feare When as her selfe in sacred place she sees As one that still a godly minde did beare Begins to pray to him vpon her knees Whose holy side was perst with cruell speare And who to saue our liues his owne did leese And while she stayes deuoutly at her prayre The sage Melissa doth to her repaire 10 Her gowne vngyrt her haire about her hed Much like a priest or prophetesse arraid And in her booke a little while she red And after thus vnto the damsell said O thou by Gods appointment hither led O Bradamant most wise and worthy maid I long haue looked here for this thy comming Foretold thereof by prophet Merlines cunning 11 Here is the tombe that Merline erst did make By force of secret skill and hidden art In which sometimes the Ladie of the lake That with her beautie had bewitcht his hart Did make him enter fondly for her sake From whence he neuer after could depart And he was by a woman ouer reached That vnto others prophesied and preached 12 His carkas dead within this stone is bound But with dead corse the liuing soule doth dwell And shall vntill it here the trumpet sound That brings reward of doing ill or well His voyce doth liue and answer and expound And things both present past and future tell Resoluing men of eu'rie doubtfull case That for his counsell come vnto this place 13 About a month or little more or lesse It is since I repaird to Merlins graue Of him about the studie I professe Some precepts and instructions to haue And for I willing was I must confesse To meete you at your comming to this caueâ— For which he did prefixe this certaine day This moued me of purpose here to stay 14 Duke Ammons daughter silent stands and still The while the wise Melyssa to her spake Astonished at this vnusuall skill And doubting if she were a sleepe or wake A modest shame with grace her eyes doth fill With which downe cast this answer she doth make Alas what good or merite is in me That prophets should my comming so foresee 15 And glad of this aduenture vnexpected She followeth her guide with great delight And straight she saw the stately toombe erected Of marble pure that held his bones and sprite And that which one would little haue suspected The verie marble was so cleare and bright That though the sunne no light vnto it gaue The toombe it selfe did lighten all the caue 16 For whether be the nature of some stone A darke some place with lightsomnes to fill Or were it done by magike art alone Or else by helpe of Mathematike skill To make transparencies to meete in one And so conuey the sunne beames where you will But sure it was most curious to behold Set forth with carued workes and guilt with gold 17 Now when the damsell was approched nyre To this strange toombe where Merlins bones were plast Forth of the stones that shine like flaming fire His liuely voyce such speeches out doth cast Let fortune euer fauour thy desire O Bradamant thou noble maid and chast From out whose wombe an issue shall proceed That all the world in glorie shall exceed 18 The noble blood that came of ancient Troy By two cleare springs in thee togither mixt Shall breed the flowre the iewell and the ioy Of all on whom the sunne his beames hath fixt Twixt those that heat and those that cold annoy From Tage to Inde Danub and Nile betwixt Emp'rors and kings and dukes and lords for ay Of this thy linage carrie shall the sway 19 And many a Captaine braue and worthy Knight Shall issue from this stocke that shall restore By warlike feates the glorie shining bright That Italy possessed heretofore And magistrates to maintaine peace and right As Numa and Augustus did before To cherish vertue vice so to asswage As shall to vs bring backe the golden age 20 Wherefore sith God hath by predestination Appointed thee to be Rogeros wife And means to blesse thine heirs and generation With all the graces granted in this life Persist thou firme in thy determination And stoutly ouercome each storme of strife And worke his worthy punishment and paine That doth thy liues delight from thee detaine 21 This said the prophet Merline holds his peace And giues Melissa time to worke her will Who when she did perceiue the voice to cease She purposeth by practise of her skill To shew the damsell part of that increase That should with fame the world hereafter fill And for this end she calls a great assemble Ofsprights that might their persons all resemble 22 Who straight by words of secret vertue bound In numbers great vnto the caue repaire Of whence I know not whether vnder ground Or else of those that wander in the aire Then thrise she drawes about a circle round And thrise she hallowes it with secret praire Then opens she a triple clasped booke And softly whispering in it she doth looke 23 This done she takes the damsell by the hand Exhorting her she should not be afraid And in a circle causeth her to stand And for her more securitie and aid And as it were for more assured band Vpon her head some characters she laid Then hauing done her due and solemne rites She doth beginne to call vpon the sprites 24 Behold a crew of them come rushing in In sundrie shapes with persons great and tall And now they filled all the roome within So readily they came vnto her call When Bradamant to feare did straight begin Her heart was cold her colour waxed pall But yet the circle kept her like a wall So that she needed not to feare at all 25 Howbeit Melyssa caused them be gone From thence vnto the next adioyning caue And thence to come before them one by one The better notice of their names to haue That at more leysure they may talke thereon When as occasion so may seeme to craue Although quoth she this short time cannot serue To speake of eu'rie
this the certaine sure But this I say it ought to remitted Much rather then she should distresse endure I further say they were but meanly witted That did so straight a statute first procure I also say this law they ought recall In place thereof a better to enstall 53 Sith like desire the fancies doth possesse Both of the male and of the female gender To do that thing that fooles count great excesse And quench the flame that Cupid doth engender To grant the men more scope the women lesse Is law for which no reason we can render Men vsing many neuer are ashamed But women vsing one or two are blamed 54 This law I say is partiall and naught And doth to women plaine annd open wrong I trust in God they shall be better taught And that this law shall be reuokt ere long The Abbot and his Monks in word and thought Allowd Renaldos speech both old and yong They all condemne the law and partly blame The king that may and mendeth not the same 55 Next morning when Renaldo doth perceaue The Sunne appeare and starres their heads to hide He thanks them for his cheare and taketh leaue And takes a target-bearer for his guide For feare left vnknowne paths should him deceaue Himselfe all armed doth on Bayard ride And to the Scottish court he goes a stranger For to defend the damsell faire from danger 56 And for they thought to take a way more nie They leaue the common way a mile or twaine When suddenly they heard a piteous crie Well like to one that feared to be slaine In hast they spurre their horses by and by Along the vale and looking downe the plaine A maide betweene two murderers they saw That meant to take her life against all law 57 The caitises put the damsell in great feare And shewd that they were come to end her dayes Which made her weepe and shed full many a teare To moue their minds she trieth many wayes And though the fact a while they did forbeare Yet now they had remoued all delayes When as Renaldo came vnto her aid And made the malefactors fore afraid 58 Away they sled and left the wench alone For dread of death appald and fore affrighted Who all her cause of danger and of mone Vnto Renaldo straight would haue recited But so great haft he maketh to be gone He gaue no eare nor from his horse alighted But to ensue the iourney first assignd him He causd the guide to take her vp behind him 59 And now on horsebacke marking well her face And marking more her gesture and behauiour Her pleasing speech and modest sober grace She now hath wonne a great deale more his fauour And after he had rode a little space To tell her hard aduenture he would haue her And she began with humble voice and low As more at large hereafter I will show In this fourth booke whereas dissembling is praised we may note in what sort and with what persons it is allowable seeing generally in it selfe it is a most vnnoble and vnworthy qualitie In that Bradamant by the ring doth discouer Atlantas inchantments and frustrate all his purpose we nay note how reason tempered with courage prevailes to the overthrow of all deceits and subtill practices In Rogero that was caried away vnawares by the winged horse we haue an example to make vs take heed of rash vnaduised enterprises In Renaldos speech condemning the rigor of the law that adultery was punished by death in women rather then in men as we may with him instly mislike such partialitie in lawes so we may note the manner and phrase of speech of yong gentlemen as Renaldo was that make so light of their sweet sinne of lechery as they call it not regarding how sower heauy punishment hangs over it and what a foule reprâ—ch it is to both sexes And so much for the Morall For the Historie of this booke little is to be said of the time of Charles the great because the booke digresseth to other matters but whereas mention is made of Calledon forrest in Scotland and of King Arthur his knights I thought it not amisse as in the former booke I told you what I thought of Merlin that was Arthurs great counseller so now somewhat to touch as the space will permit the reports that are true and probable of king Arthur It is generally written and beleeued that this Arthur was a notable valiant and religious Prince and that he governed this Iland in that rude age with great love of his people and honour of forraine nations he instituted an order of the knights of the round table onely as it seemes of some meriment of hunting or some pleasant exercises He was himself of stature very tall as appeares by the proportion of him left as they say here in our countrey of Somerset in a doore of a Church by the famous Abbey of Glassenbury in which Abbey his wife Queene Gueneuer was buried and within our memory taken vp in a coffin with her body and face in shew plainly to be discerned saue the very tip of her nose as diuers dwelling there about haue reported But what manner of death king Arthur himselfe died it is doubtfull and that which they report seemes meerly fabulous namely that he was caried away in a barge from a bridge called Pomperles neare the said Glassenbury and so conueyed by â—â—â—noâ—ne persons or by the Ladie of the Lake with promise to bring him backe againe one day vpon which it seems the foolish people grounded their vaine saying King Arthur comes againe For my part I confesse my selfe to haue bin more inquisitiue of such trifles then a wiser man would and viewing that bridge and all that countrey about Glassenbury I see good reason to guesse that all that countrie which now we call our moores and is reduced to profitable and fertill ground was sometime recouered from the sea and might be nauigable vp to Glassenbury in those times and so I suppose the said King being drowned there by some mishap and being well beloued of the people some fained to content their minds that he was but gone a little way and would come again as the Senate of Rome hauing killed Romulus for his tyrannie deuised a tale of I know not what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make the people beleeue he was turned to a god M. Camden the best antiquarie of our time writeth that king Arthurs body was taken vp at the foresaid Glassenbury in the time of king Henrie the second which indeed is most credible as he there proueth But this I conclude that this Prince was so worthy a man in his time as not onely true histories haue greatly recommended to the posteritie but almost all Poeticall writers that haue bin since haue mentioned this famous Prince Arthur of England as a person of whom no notable exploit was incredible And thus much for king Arthur For the Allegorie
Ariodant should in some danger go Or that he sought as all desirous are The counsels of his dearest friend to know Close out of sight by secret steps and ware Hard at his heeles his brother followd so Till he was nearer come by fiftie paces And there againe himselfe he newly places 49 But I that thought no ill securely came Vnto the open window as I said For once or twice before I did the same And had no hurt which made me lesse afraid I cannot boast except I boast of shame When in her robes I had my selfe araid Me thought before I was not much vnlike her But certaine now I seemed very like her 50 〈…〉 that stood so farre aloofe Was more deceiu'd by distance of the place Aâ—d strâ—ght beleeu'd against his owne behoofe Seeing her clothes that he had seene her face Now â—et those iudge that partly know by proofe The wofull plight of Ariodantes case When Poâ—â—nessâ— came by faithlesse frend In both their sights the ladder to ascend 51 I that his comming willingly did wait And he once come thought nothing went amisse Embrac'd him kindly at the first receit His lips his cheeks and all his face did kisse And he the more to colour his deceit Did vse me kinder then he had ere this This sight much care to Ariodante brought Thinking Geneura with the Duke was nought 52 The griefe and sorrow sinketh so profound Into his heart he straight resolues to die He puts the pummell of his sword on ground And meanes himselfe vpon the point to lie Which when Iurâ—anio saw and plainly found That all this while was closely standing by And Pâ—â—messos comming did discerne Though who it was he neuer yet could learne 53 He held his brother for the present time That else himselfe for griefe had surely slaine Who had he not stood night and come betime His words and speeches had bene all in vaine What shall quoth he a faithlesse womans crime Cause you to die or put your selfe to paine Nay let them go and curst be all their kind Ay borne like clouds with eu'ry blast of wind 54 You rather should some iust reuenge deuise As she deserues to bring her to confusion Sith we haue plainly seene with both our eyes Her filthy fact appeare without collusion Loue those that loue againe if you be wise For of my counsell this is the conclusion Put vp your sword against your selfe prepared And let her sinne be to the king declared 55 His brothers words in Ariodantes mind Seeme for the time to make some small impression But still the carelesse wound remaind behind Despare had of his heart the full possession And though he knew the thing he had assignd Contrary to Christend knights profession Yet here on earth he torment felt so sore In hell it selfe he thought there was no more 56 Anâ—'eeming now after a little pause Vnto his brothers counsell to consent He froâ— the court next day himselfe withdrawes And makes not one priuie to his intent His brother and the Duke both knew the cause But neither knew the place whereto he went Diuers thereof most diuersly did iudge Some by good will perswaded some by grudge 57 Seu'n dayes entire about for him they sought Seu'n dayes entire no newes of him was found The eight a peasant to Geneura brought These newes that in the sea he saw him drownd Not that the waters were with tempest wrought Nor that his ship was stricken on the ground How then Forsooth quoth he and therewith wept Downe from a rocke into the sea he lept 58 And further he vnto Geneura told How he met Ariodant vpon the way Who made him go with him for to behold The wofull act that he would do that day And charged him the matter to vnfold And to his Princes daughter thus to say Had he bene blind he had full happie beene His death should shew that he too much had seene 59 There stands a rocke against the Irish I le From thence into the sea himselfe he cast I stood and looked after him a while The height and steepnesse made me sore agast I thence haue traueld hither many a mile To shew you plainly how the matter past When as the clowne this tale had told and verifide Geneuras heart was not a little terrifide 60 O Lord what wofull words by her were spoken Laid all alone vpon her restlesse bed Oft did she strike her guiltlesse brest in token Of that great griefe that inwardly was bred Her golden tresses all were rent and broken Recounting still those wofull words he sed How that the cause his cruell death was such Was onely this that he had seene too much 61 The rumor of his death spred farre and neare And how for sorrow he himselfe had killed The King was sad the court of heauy cheare By Lords and Ladies many teares were spilled His brother most as louing him most deare Had so his mind with sorrow ouerfilled That he was scantly able to refraine With his owne hands himselfe for to haue slaine 62 And oftentimes repeating in his thought The filthy fact he saw the other night Which as you heard the Duke and I had wrought I little looking it would come to light And that the same his brothers death had brought On faire Geneura he doth wreake his spight Not caring so did wrath him ouerwhelme To leese the kings good will and all his realmâ— 63 The king and nobles sitting in the hall Right pensiue all for Ariodants destruction Lurcanio vndertakes before them all To giue them perfect notice and instruction Who was the cause of Ariodantes fall And hauing made some little introduction He said it was vnchast Geneuras crime That made him kill himselfe before his time 64 What should I seeke to hide his good intent His loue was such as greater none could be He hop'd to haue your highnesse free assent When you his value and his worth should see But while a plaine and honest way he went Behold he saw another climbe the tree And in the midst of all his hope and sute Another tooke the pleasure and the frute 65 He further said not that he had surmised But that his eyes had seene Geneura stand And at a window as they had deuised Let downe a ladder to her louers hand But in such sort he had himselfe disguised That who it was he could not vnderstand And for due proofe of this his accusation He bids the combat straight by proclamation 66 How sore the king was grieu'd to heare these newes I leaue it as a thing not hard to guesse Lurcanio plaine his daughter doth accuse Of whom the King did looke for nothing lesse And this the more his feare and care renewes That on this point the lawes are so expresse Except by combat it be prou'd a lie Needs must Geneura be condemnd to die 67 How hard the Scottish law is in this case I do not doubt but you haue
and my horse I do not doubt to fetch thee backe by force 6 And first he lets the faulcon take her flight But Rabican as fast as she did flie Then from his horse the faulkner doth alight His horse flue like an arrow by and by Then went the dogge who was of course so light As is the wind that bloweth in the skie And last of all himselfe ran with such shift It seem'd the lightnings flame was not so swift 7 Rogero thinketh it a foule disgrace That any man should thinke he fled for feare And more because he now was had in chase Wherefore he doth a while the flight for beare And manfully to them he turnes his face And seeing no man but the faulkner there And that no weapon in his hand he saw He much disdaind on him his sword to draw 8 But straight the dog doth bite his horses heeles The hauke his head amazed with her wings When Rabycan such strange foes forces feeles He riseth vp before behinde he flings Rogero thought the world had run on wheeles And Balisarda out at once he brings But they it seemd so well were seene in fence That all his blowes to them brought no offence 9 Both loth to stay resolued not to yeeld He takes his target from his saddle bow And with the dazling light of that same sheeld Whose force Melyssa lately made him know He made them fall as if their eies were seeld So that no farther let from them did grow But hauing vanquisht them this wise with ease He now may ride at leasure where he please 10 These foes once foild their forces ouercome Alcyna straight had notice of his flight For of the watchmen one to her was come That while these things were done did stand in sight This made her stand like one halfe dead or dumme And after put her into such a fright That forthwith for auoiding further harme Through all the towne she made them crie alarme 11 And calling oft her selfe a foolish beast Because Rogero so from her was slipt Somtime she beates her head her face and breast Sometime in rage her garments all the ript She calleth all her men from most to least A part of whom vnto the sea she shipt And of the rest she makes a mightie band To fetch Rogero backe againe by land 12 All were so busie to this seruice bent That none remaind the pallace faire to gard Which greatly helpt Melyssas good intent Which chiefly was as you before haue hard To set at large poore prisners so long pent Which now to do she absent was not hard Dissoluing all her circles and her knots And stroying all her figures and her lots 13 And thus in fields in houses and in woods She set at large as many as she found That had bene turnd to trees to stones and floods And in that state by magicke art fast bound Likewise to them she rendred all their goods Who when they saw themselues so cleare vnbound Departing thence with all the hast they might To Logestilia they arriuâ—d that night 14 And first of all and chiefe of all the rest The English Duke came to himselfe againe Because Rogero lou'd and wisht him best And lends the ring that makes inchantments vaine But good Melyssa could by no meanes rest Vntil she could his armour eke regaine And that same famous worthie guilded launce That had to him such honor done in Fraunce 15 With which Argalia got no little fame Who vsed oft the same in fight to beare Now when Melyssa to the castle came She found his other armour with the speare And this atcheeu'd the sage and frendly dame Mounts on the Griffith horse without all feare And Duke Astolfo mounting on his crupper To Logestillas came that night to supper 16 Now was Rogero with no small a do Tiring himselfe amid those craggie wayes And striuing all that he with paine may do To cut of all those lothsome long delayes That hindred him for sooner comming to That Ladie faire whose vertues merit praise Till neare the Southerne sea with mickle paine He came vnto a sandy desert plaine 17 Here was he plagu'd with thirst and parching heat And with the sunne reflecting on the sand Which from the South vpon the banke did beat Enflaming still the aire on either hand But leauing now Rogero in this sweat That still I may not in one matter stand To Scotland now I will returne againe And of Renaldo talke a word or twaine 18 Great was his entertainment and his cheare Made by the king and people of the land Which feasts once done the worthie valiant peare As was his charge doth let them vnderstand How Charles the great whose state doth touch them neare In no small need of their good aid did stand And how for this he sent him to their nation And to this tale he ads an exhortation 19 Then was it answerd him without delay That for king Charles and for the Empires sake They all were readie to do all they may And would for this behoofe short order take And oftred him to shew if he would stay What store of horse and footmen he could make Namely the king himselfe would be right glad To go in person but his age forbad 20 Nor yet should age with him so much haue done As make him from the battell to abide Saue that he had a wise and valiant sonne Well able such a band of men to guide Whose value had alreadie praises wonne And of his youth was now in floure and pride This noble toward impe he doth intend As captaine of his armed men to send 21 Wherefore about his realme forthwith he sent To get of horses and of men good store With ships and things to war most pertinent As needfull meate and mony needfull more The while Renaldo into England went The king to Barwicke companie him bore And men report that when they should depart The king was seene to weepe for tender hart 22 Renaldo went with faire and prosprous wind And past along vpon the English coast Vntill he hapt the noble Tems to find Of which all London iustly make their boast Here he tooke land as first he had assign'd And in twelue houres iourney riding post Vnto the Prince of Wales he was conducted Whom of these matters fully he instructed 23 The Prince that was Vicegerent to the King That Oton hight who soiournd now in France From whom Renaldo did commission bring To take vp horse and men and ordinance When he had once true knowledge of that thing Which of all other he would most aduance He marshald men of armes without delay And points them meet at Callice by a day 24 But here I must a while from hence digresse Lest to one tale my pen should still be bound As good musitians do their skill expresse By playing on the strings of diuers sound While Renald here is cheard with great excesse As euer in the English
reu'rence this according to our vse Duke Leonell Lord generall doth it ow A famous man in time of warre and truce And nephew deare vnto the King my master Who gaue to him the Duke dorne of Lancaster 64 This banner that stands next vnto the kings With glittring shew that shakes the rest among And beares in azure field three argent wings To 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwicke doth belong This man the Duke of Glosters banner brings 〈◊〉 head except my guesse be wrong The sierbrand the Duke of Clarence is Thence the Duke of Yorke doth claime for his 65 The launce into three sundry peeces rent Belongs vnto the worthy Duke of Norfolke The lightning longs vnto the Earle of Kent The â—â—phin longs vnto the Earle of Pembroke The ballance eu'n by which iust doome is ment Belongs vnto the noble Duke of Suffolke The Dragon to the valiant Earle of Cumberland The garland is the braue Earls of Northumberland 66 The Earle of Arundell a ship halfe drownd The Marquesse Barkly giues an argent hill The gallant Earle of Essex hath the hound The bay tree Darby that doth flourish still The wheele hath Dorset euer running round The Earle of March his banner all doth fill With Caâ—dar trees the Duke of Somerset A broken chaire doth in his ensigne set 67 The Faulcon houering vpon her nest The Earle of Deu'nshire doth in banner beare And brings a sturdy crew from out the West The Earle of Oxenford doth giue the Beare The banner all with blacke and yellow drest Belongs vnto the Earle of Winchester He that the cristall crosse in banner hath Is sent from the rich Bishop of the Bath 68 The archers on horse with other armed men Are two and fortie thousand more or lesse The other â—ootmens number doubles them Or wants thereof but little as I guesse The banners shew their captains noble stem A crosse a wreath an azure bat a fesse 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Edward bold and Harry Vnder their guide the footmen all do carry 69 The Duke of Buckingham that first appeares The next to him the Earle of Salibury Burgaâ— next a man well stricke in yeares And Edward next the Earle of Shrewsbury Now 〈◊〉 about and to the Scottish peares Braue men and well appointed you shall see Where 〈◊〉 sonne vnto the Scottish king Vnto the field doth thirtie thousand bring 70 All chosen men from many a shire and towne All ready to resist assaile inuade Their standerd is the beast of most renowne That in his paw doth hold a glittring blade This is the heire apparant to the crowne This is the goodly impe whom nature made To shew her chiefest workmanship and skill And aâ—ter brake the mould against her will 71 The Earle of Otton commeth after him That in his banner beares the golden barre The spotted Leopard that looks so grim That is the ensigne of the Duke of Marre Not far from him there commeth Alcubrin A man of mightie strength and fierce in warre No Duke nor Earle nor Marquesse as men say But of the sauages he beares the sway 72 The Duke of Trafford beares in ensigne bright The bird whose yong ones stare in Phoebus face Lurcanio Lord of Angus valiant knight Doth giue a Bull whom two dogs hold in chase The Duke of Albanie giue blue and white Since he obtained faire Geneuras grace Earle Bohune in his stately banner beares A Vulture that with clawes a Dragon teares 73 Their horsemen are with iacks for most part clad Their horses are both swift of course and strong They run on horseback with a slender gad And like aspeare but that it is more long Their people are of warre then peace more glad More apt to offer then to suffer wrong These are the succors out of Scotland sent That with the noble Prince Zerbino went 74 Then come the Irish men of valiant harts And actiue limbs in personages tall They naked vse to go in many parts But with a mantle yet they couer all Short swords they vse to carry and long darts To fight both neare and farre aloofe withall And of these bands the Lords and leaders are The noble Earles of Ormond and Kildare 75 Some sixteene thousand men or thereabout Out of the Irish I le at this time went Beside the other Ilands thereabout Sweueland and Island other succors sent To good king Charles for why they stood in doubt If he were conquerd they should all repent And still their numbers daily did increase Of those that better like of warre then peace 76 Now while Rogero learnes the armes and name Of euery Brittish Lord behold a rout Of citizens and folke of all sorts came Some with delight and some with dread and doubt To see a beast so strange so strong so tame And wondring much they compast him about They thought it was a strange and monstrous thing To see a horse that had a Grissons wing 77 Wherefore to make the people maruell more And as it were to sport himselfe and play He spurd his beast who straight aloft did soare And bare his master Westward quite away And straight he was beyond our English shore And meanes to passe the Irish seas that day Saint George his channell in a little while He past and after saw the Irish I le 78 Where men do tell strange tales that long ago Saint Patricke built a solitary caue Into the which they that deuoutly go By purging of their sinnes their soules may saue Now whether this report be true or no I not affirme and yet I not depraue But crossing from hence to Island ward he found Angelica vnto the rocke fast bound 79 Both nakt and bound at this same I le of wo For I le of wo it may be iustly called Where peerlesse peeces are abused so By monster vile to be deuourd and thralled Where pyrats still by land and sea do go Assaulting forts that are but weakly walled And whom they take by flattry or by force They giue a monster quite without remorce 80 I did declare not many books before If you the same in memory do keepe How certaine pyrats tooke her at a shore Where that chast hermit lay by her asleepe And how at last for want of other store Although their hearts did melt and eyes did weepe Mou'd with a helplesse and a vaine compassion Perforce they bound her on this wofull fashion 81 And thus the caitiues left her all forlorne With nothing but the rocks and seas in sight As naked as of nature she was borne And void of succor and all comfort quite No vaile of lawne as then by her was worne To shade the damask rose and lillies white Whose colours were so mixt in euery member Like fragrant both in Iuly and December 82 Rogero at the first had surely thought She was some image made of alla blaster Or of white marble curiously wrought To shew the skilfull hand of some great master But vewing nearer he was quickly taught She had some parts
strong and able And beares vpon his neck the ankers cable 33 And as a sauage Bull that vnaware About his hornes hath now a cord fast bound Doth striue in vaine to breake the hunters snare And skips and leaps and flings and runneth round So though Orlando with his strength so rare Assaid to draw him nearer to the ground Yet doth he fetch an hundred frisks and more Ere he could draw him vp vpon the shore 34 His wounded bowels shed such store of blood They call that sea the red sea to this howre Sometime he breathed such a sudden flood As made the clearest weather seeme to lowre The hideous noise fild eu'ry caue and wood So that god Proteus doubting his owne powre Fled straight fro thence himself in corners hiding Not daring longer here to make abiding 35 And all the gods that dwell in surging waues With this same tumult grow in such a feare They hid themselues in rocks and hollow caues Left that Orlando should haue found them there Neptune with triple mace by flight him saues His charret drawne with dolphins doth him beare Nor yet behind Glaucus or Triton taried For feare in these new broiles to haue miscaried 36 Those Ilanders that all this while attended And saw the monster drawne to land and tane With superstition moued much condemned This godly worke for wicked and profane As though that Proteus would be new offended That had before and now might worke their bane They doubt he wold thus fools their good haps consters Send to their land his flock of vgly monsters 37 And therefore Proteus anger to appease They meane to drowne Orlando if they can Whose deed they deemd his godhead did displeaseâ— And eu'n as fire doth creepe from bran to bran Vntill the pile of wood it wholy cease So doth this fury grow from man to man That they concluded all vpon the matter To throw Orlando bound into the water 38 One takes a sling another takes a bow This with a sword is armd he with a speare And some afore and some behind him go Some neare approch some stand aloofe for feare He museth much what his vngratefull so Should meane for benefits such mind to beare And inwardly he was displeasd and sory To find such wrong where he deserued glory 39 As little curres that barke at greatest Beare Yet cannot cause him once his way to shunne No more doth he these curlike creatures feare That like a sort of mad men on him runne And for they saw he did no armor weare They thought the feat would haue bin easly done They knew not that his skin from head to foote Was such to strike on it it was no boote 40 But when that he his Durindana drew He layd there with about him in such sort That straight their faintnes and his force they knew They found to fight with him it was no sport Thrise ten of them at blowes but ten he slew Their fellowes fled that saw them cut so short Which foes thus foild Orlando now intended T' vnloose the Ladie whom he had defended 41 But now this while behold the Irish band Arriued neare vnto their chiefest citie Who had no sooner set their foote on land But that forthwith they put apart all pittie And slue all sorts that came vnto their hand The fierce the faint the foolish and the wittie Thus were 't iust doome or were it cruell rage They spar'd of neither sexe nor neither age 42 Thus th'lle of wo is made a wofull I le And for the peoples sake they plague the place Orlando sets the Lady free the while That there was bound in that vnseemly case To haue bin giuen vnto the monster vile And viewing well he cald to mind her face And that it should Olympia be he guessed But t was Olympia that had thus bin dressed 43 Distrest Olympia thus vnkindly serued Whom loue and fortune made a double scorne For first of him of whom she best deserued She was forsaken quite and left forlorne And next by pyrats taken and reserued Of monster vile to be in peeces torne And in this case the good Orlando found her And then with great compassion he vnbound her 44 And thus he said now tell what strange annoy Or euill hap hath hurt thy happie raigne Whom late I left in solace and in ioy Why do I find in danger and in paine How is the blisse that thou didst then enioy So chang'd and turnd to misery againe And she in wofull maner thus replied When shame her cheeks with crimson first had died 45 I know not if my chance or else my choice If fortune or my folly be in blame Shall I lament or shall I now reioyce That liue in wo and should haue did in shameâ— And as she spake the teares did stop her voice But when againe vnto her selfe she came She told him all the wofull story weeping How false Byreno had betraid her sleeping 46 And how from that same I le where he betrayd her A crew of cursed pyrats did her take And to this wicked Iland had conuayd her For that same foule and vgly monsters sake Where now it was Orlandos hap to ayd her She walked naked when these words she spakeâ— Looke how Diana painted is in tables Among the rest of Ouids pleasant fables 47 Of whose sharpe doome the Poet there doth tell How she with hornes Actaeon did inuest Because he saw her naked at the well So stands Olympia faire with face and brest And sides and thighes to be discerned well And legs and feet but yet she hides the rest And as they two were talking thus together Oberto king of Irish Ile came thither 48 Who being moued at the strange report That one alone the monster should assaile And gag him with an anker in such sort To make his strength and life and all to faile Then draw him to the shore as ship to port Is towd with ropes without or oares or saile This made him go to find Orlando out The while his souldiers spoiled all about 49 Now when the King this worthy Knight did see Though all with bloud and water foule distained Yet straight he guest it should Orlando be For in his youth in France he had remained And knew the Lords and Knights of best degree In Charles his court a page of honor trained Their old acquaintance cauld at this new meeting They had a louing and a friendly greâ—ting 50 And then Orlando told the Irish king How and by whom Olympia was abused By one whom out of danger great to bring She had no paine nor death it selfe refused How he himselfe was witnesse of the thing While they thus talke Oberto her perused Whose sorrows past renewd with present feares Did fill her louely eyes with watry teares 51 Such colour had her face as when the Sunne Doth thine on watry cloud in pleasant spring And eu'n as when the sommer is begunne The Nightingales in boughes
Akorns rich of gold So didst thou breake the â—â— yellow staffe and red So didst thou then the Flowre de luce vphold When as the captaine was in battel dead For which the Laurell crowne they ware of old By iust desert belongeth to thy head And Ciuill crowne no lesse in honor precious For sauing vnto Rome her owne Fabricius 5 Colonna nam'd a collum true indeed Vnto the state of Rome and Romane name Whom you by value tooke and sau'd by meed By which more honor true and worthy fame Vnto your selfe you did procure and breed Then in the ouercomming all that came Fom Aragon from Castill and Nauar For all their speares and new deuised car 6 Now though we all our liues and safeties ow To you that this great conquest did atchieue Yet our side did receiue so great a blow As scarce that ioy this sorrow did relieue And that the dames of France most plainly show Whom this so bloudie triumph still doth grieue Witnesse their widdows in their mourning gownes And watry eyes in villages and townes 7 King Lews of France had need in time prepare For captains new to these vnruly bands That wickedly without all feare or care Of lawes of God of nature or of lands No sort nor sex nor age nor order spare From force of their vnchast and bloudie hands Christs bodie in the sacrament they tare it To beare away the siluer plate that bare it 8 Wretched Rauenna better had it beene That thou the French shouldst not at all resist Thou mightst by Bresey haue bene warnd I weene Now thou a warning art for such as list To shun like losse by thy mishaps foreseene Not stubburnly in folly to persist So Riminy and Faens were preserued By marking in what sort thou hadst bene serued 9 As now king Lews I say had need to send New captains to supply their roomes were dead So then the Pagan Princes did intend To see their men from sundry countries led And all disorders and defects to mend To point them captains that do lacke a head First then Marsilio all his souldiers veweth And Agramant next after him enseweth 10 The chiefe of those are of Marsilios traine Are first the Catalins men of great land And of the best and noblest blood of Spaine The next that do to them in order stand Are of Nauar whose King was lately slaine At Burdels by Renaldos valiant hand Marsilio sore laments the sory case And pointeth Isolir supply his place 11 Bulligant gouerneth those of Lion Grandomus for thâ— Algarbys doth prouide Marsilios brother called Falsiron Doth those of lesser Castile rule and guide Those of Mallaga do attend vpon Madrasso so doth Ciuill all beside There where as Beus water so abounds As all about it makes them fruitfull grounds 12 Tâ—ssora Bariâ—end and Stordilan Vnto the field do bring their forces in Granado this Maiâ—rick he hath rane The first to rule in Lisbon doth begin Where Larbin late was brought vnto his bane Tessyra vnto Larbin next of kin Those of Gallicia Serpentine doth guide Since valiant Maricold in battell dide 13 Those of Toledo and of Calatraue Whom Synagon did leade not long ago Now Matalist their gouernment must haue Because that he was slaine by Christen so Then Pisardin a man in battell braue With all the band of Salamance doth go With many other souldiers of Pagenza Of Auila Zamorra and Palenza 14 Those of the court and of Marsilios traine With those of Saragose Ferraw doth guide The chiefest flowre and the chiefe host of Spaine Well armd well horst well furnished beside With whom two kings that late had lost their raine Morgant and Malsatise did there abide And in the state of priuate men remained And were by him most friendly entertained 15 The name of many a Duke and Lord and Knight For breuitie I purpose to omit Such as were stout and hardie men in fight Such as were wise and politike in wit With th' Earle of Sagunt Archidant that hight Langiran Ammirant and Malagit There was great Fulliron Marsilios bastard That in that fight did shew himselfe no dastard 16 After the Spanish hoast was viewd and past Before king Agramant the next that came Was one that all the rest in stature past The gouernor and king of great Orane Then came a band whose leader small time past At Burdels field was brought vnto his bane Lamenting that the king of Garamant Was conquerd by the Ladie Bradamant 17 Then came the third and that a headlesse crew Whose captaine Argust was in battell slaine To this the second and the fourth a new King Agramant doth leaders fresh ordaine But few there were that for these roomes did sew So few sufficient men there did remaine Buraldo and Argonio for the best And Ormida he chose among the rest 18 Then came Brunello with a chearlesse face And looke for shame still fixed on the ground For late he fell in Agramants disgrace Who doubted that his faith had not bene sound Ere since he went vnto th'inchanted place Where to a tree dame Bradamant him bound Because he lost his ring whose losse so greeued him That though he told him true he not beleeued him 19 But Isolir the brother of Ferraw That was the first that found him and vntide him Auoucht to Agramant the thing he saw How there by force some enemie had tide him So as the King his anger did withdraw Although he neuer after well could bide him But swore the next offence that he committed An halter should vnto his necke be fitted 20 With those of Esperie came Soridano And Dâ—ribon did come with those of set With those of Nasomanie Prusiano King Agricalt Amonios charge did get Malabusers came with them of Fisano The rest doth Pinadure in order set Ballastro those that followd erst Tardocco Those of Canaria and of Morocco 21 From Mulga and Arsilla others came The first their former captaine still doth hold Vnto the next the King a new doth name One Corineus a trustie man and bold Then Baliuesse a man of euill fame Clarindo next of whom great deeds arâ— old Sobrino next a man of elder age In all the campe was none more wise and sage 22 Those of Getulia came with Rimedont With Maribaldo those of Bolga went And those of Cosâ—a came with Balnifront Their former Lord his life in battell spent Then came the king of Algier Rodomont That lately into Turkie had bene sent To bring some new supplies of horse and men And backe againe was new returnd as then 23 In all the campe was not a man more stout In all the campe was not a man more strong Nor one of whom the French stood more in doubt Was there the Turkish armie all among In Agramants nor in Marsilios rout Nor all the followers did to them belong Beside he was which made them dred him chiefe The greatest enemie to our beliefe 24
fild He might haue better staid at home in Spaine Then come abroad to be in battell kild But thus we see they get but losse and paine That deale in that in which they be not skild I wish musitions meddle with their songs And pray the souldiers to reuenge their wrongs 54 Ferraw that saw ten thousand slaine before Without or fetching sigh or shedding teare With this his minions death was grieu'd so sore As scarce he could eu'n then to weepe forbeare But he that kild him shall abuy therefore By Macon and Lanfusa he doth sweare And straight performd it to the knights great paine For with his pollax out he dasht his braine 55 Nor so content he runs among the presse And in his rage so many Scots he slew That their late forwardnesse he did represse And causd that they in hast themselues withdrew Then to the tents was sent the king of Fefte To make resistance to the Irish crew That spoild their lodgings hauing robd the best And went about to set on fire the rest 56 Then when the stout King Agramant espide The danger great he and his men were in And how these new supplies on eu'ry side Made his retire and ground of them did win To saue his owne in time he doth prouide And lets alone the wals and them within Himselfe with Lords and other Princes store Came where Ferraw was entred late before 57 And in such strength they do their forces linke And with such fury they restore the fight That now the Scots began to faile and shrinke Saue that Renaldo came eu'n then in sight And cride O worthy Scots and do you thinke To saue your selues by so vnworthy flight Will you so leese the honor late you wonne Care you no more to saue your masters sonne 58 Do you regard no more your reputation By you in sundry bloudy battels got To leâ—ue the flowre and iewell of your nation Amid his foes as if you lou'd him not Ye shame your selues and all your generation If you distaine you with so foule a blot Turne turne I say and take some heart of grace And meet and smite these Panims in the face 59 They that before were sore with feare possest Were now so heartned that with honest shame Each one doth seeme his safetie to detest Each one his mind with anger doth inflame And where they left their captaine halfe distrest With this so forward guide as fast they came So Zerbin rescude was from Turkish forces And mounted straight one of the emptie horses 60 Renaldo that did euer take delight To set on those that were most strong and stoâ—t When once king Agramant was come in sight Him fro the rest forthwith he singles out But when betweene them was begun the fight They sundred were by those that stood about I meane the Turks who their chief Prince defended Who else perhap his raigne eu'n then had ended 61 Now while without the wals the battell so On either side with fury was renewd Fierce Rodomont within did worke such wo More rufull sight with eye was neuer vewd To wracke profane the holy temples go He setteth fire on all and to conclude He did alone so spoile the goodly citie As might haue mou'd a stony heart to pitie 62 And while King Charles that was farre off from thence Did entertaine the new come English host The which Renaldo sent for their defence Behold there came a messenger in post That lookt like one bestraught of wit and sence His voice with hast and feare was welnigh lost And when his broken words were plâ—â—â—ly hard Ah well away he cries we all are mard 63 Some fiâ—nd of hell for sure a fiend of hell It is that doth our citie so destroy Is sent from Belzebub with vs to dwell To worke our vtter ruine and annoy This day we must bid all good dayes farewell This day must be the last day of our ioy Lo yonder how our sacred temples smoke Nor one in their defence dares strike a stroke 64 Looke how a man would be amazd to heare A noise confusd of backward ringing bels And after find when he approcheth neare New set on fire his house wherein he dwels In such amazement and in such a feare Was Charles to heare the tale this poore man tels And as he thither nearer came and nearer He sees the buildings clearer burne and clearer 65 Of hardie Squires he culs a gallant crew And meanes to driue away this wicked wight If man it be or spright with humane hew That doth vnto the towne this soule despight Now came he where he plaine might see in vew Men murdred houses burnd a wofull sight But now although perhap my storie please you To pawse a little may refresh and ease you In the person of Griffino is described a yong man besotted with loue and affection of a vile strumpet so as she easily perswades him that he that indeed kept her so openly as all the world spake of it was her brother or her cosingerman or some such matter as easily blinded his eyes being bleared afore with affection and in this kind though I meane to touch none by name yet I doubt not but many will feele themselues touched of both sorts such as Griffino that place their loue in vnworthy persons and such as Martano that vnder the name of kinred are most vile and filthy adulterers which how common it is now a dayes this saying shewes turned now almost to a prouerbe The nearer of kin the sooner in and that verse of Ouid translated or pretily turned by a pleasant Gentleman to this purpose Tuta frequénsque via est sub amici fallere nomen Tuta frequénsque licet sit via crimen habet A safe and common way it is by kinred to deceaue But safe and common though it be t is knau'ry by your leaue The great aphorisme or maxime set downe in the two last verses of the second staffe of this booke was imitated by a Gentleman of our countrey in his yonger dayes though a man euer of great wit and worth his verse was this He that hath plast his heart on hie Must not lament although he die To which purpose all that haue written of this common place of loue and chiefly Petrark in his infinite sonets in the middâ—st of all his lamentation still had this comfort that his loue was placed on a worthy Ladie and our English Petrarke Sir Philip Sidney or as Sir Walter Raulegh in his Epitaph worthily calleth him the Scipio and the Petrarke of our time often comforting himselfe in the sonets of Stella though despairing to attaine his desire and though that tyrant honâ—â—â— still refused yet the nobilitie the beautie the worth the graciousnesse and those her other perfections as made him both count her and call her inestimable rich makes him in the midst of those his mones reioyce euen in his owne greatest losses as in his eighteenth sonet which
So Griffin did with deadly strokes him plie At last he left him stom'd on the plaine Straightway two valiant brothers standing by That at Griffino tooke no small disdaine The tone Corimbo tother Tirse hight These two forthwith do challenge him to fight 69 Successiuely them both he ouerthrew And now men thought that he the prise would win But Salintern that saw them downe in vew To enuie good Griffino doth begin This man the stoutst of all the courtly crew Doth take a speare in hand and enters in And to the combat Griffin straight defies And scornes to haue a stranger win the prize 70 But Griffin chose one staffe among the rest The biggest and the strongest of a score And with the same he pierceth backe and brest That downe he fell and neuer stirred more The King that loued and esteemd him best Laments his death and maketh mone therefore But yet the common sort were faine and glad That knew his mind and manners were but bad 71 Next after him two others he doth meat Ermofilo the captaine of his guard And Carmond Admirall of all his fleet With these a while he had a conflict hard The first vnhorst was left vpon his feet The other with a blow was almost mard Thus of eight challengers remaind but one The rest were quite subdude by him alone 72 This one was he of whom at first I spake Lord of Seleucia a valiant man This one to Griffin did resistance make And long it was ere ought of him he wan But one blow on his head so fierce he strake As he likewise to stagger now began Had not the King made them to haue bene parted Sure Griffin had him kild ere he had parted 73 Thus all those eight that all the world defide By one alone were vanquished and slaine So as the King was forced to prouide An order new for those that do remaine By parting runners some on either side For yet was spent not past an houre or twaine Lest this his triumph should haue end too soone He makes them spend therein the afternoone 74 But Griffin full of wrath and discontent Backe to his host with his companion came The praise he wan did him not so content As he was grieu'd at his companions shame Wherefore to leaue the towne they do consent While men were busie looking on the game And to a little towne fast by he goes And meanes himselfe a while for to repose 75 The trauell sore he had before endured So great a wearinesse in him had bred And such desire of sleepe withall procured As straight he gat him to his naked bed The while Martano to all fraud inured And vsing aid of her mischieuous head as he did soundly sleepe deuisd the while A stratageme most strange him to beguise 76 They do conclude to take Griffinos steed And cote and eu'ry warlike implement And that Martano in Griffinos steed Himselfe to Norandino shall present This they deuisd this they performd in deed And boldly backe againe Martano went In Griffins armor stoutly stepping in As did the Asse that ware the Lions skin 77 He rusheth in among the thickest presse An houre before the setting of the sunne The King and all the rest straightway do guesse That this was he that had such honor wonne And straight great honour they to him addresse And cause the like by others to be done And his base name not worthy to be named About the towne with honor was proclamed 78 Fast by the King he rideth cheeke by cheeke And in his praise they songs and verses make In Hebrew tongue in Latin and in Greeke And now this while did Griffin hap to wake And seeing that his armour was to seeke He first begins some small mistrust to take Yet hardly could it sinke into his reason That she had giu'n consent to such a treason 79 In feare and doubt no little time he houered But when his host the truth had plaine declard And that he saw the falshood plaine disouered By which she had in follies bands him snard Thē truth shewd plain that loue before had couered And to reuenge this wrong he straight prepard But wanting other furniture perforce He tooke Martanos armor and his horse 80 And backe vnto Damasco he doth ride Arriuing there within an houre of night And entring at the gate vpon the side The pallace of the King stood plaine in sight Where then the King a banket did prouide For many a Duke and Lord and valiant Knight And Griffin boldly sate among the rest Forgetting that he ware the scorned crest 81 And taken for the man whose coate he ware His presence did the better sort offend Of which when vile Martano was aware That of the table sate at th'vpper end And sees that to disgrace him they forbare And thinke him his companion and his frend His friendship and acquaintance he renounced And this hard doom of him he straight pronounced 82 Sir King quoth he it seems that for my sake You graciously forbeare to do him shame That of his basenesse shamefull proofe did make This day and now againe confirmes the same But you the matter and the man mistake I know not him his nation nor his name By chance I met him onely on the way I neuer saw him I till yesterday 83 Wherefore might I herein your grace aduise You should a sample make him for the rest That here presents vnto your princely eies Himselfe vnworthy and vnwelcome guest Let him tormented be in cruell wise This is my doome let him be hangd at least And vnreuenged let him not be borne That knighthood should receiue so great a scorne 84 Thus much the vile and base Martano seth And Origilla soothd it with as much And wisht an halter stop the villains breth Nay quoth the King the sinne is nothing such As is in law or reason worthy death His life or yet his libertie to tuch This for examples sake I thinke it meet To do him some disgrace in open street 85 And straight he rounds a Sergeant in his care And secretly appoints him what to do Who came forthwith vnto the table where Griffino sate and made no more ado But leadeth him that no such thing did feare A secret prison and a sure vnto And for that night he clapt him vp in fetters Where theeues do vse to lie and euill debters 86 Next day Martano that did greatly dread Lest this his foule deuice would come to light If Griffin should be heard his cause to pleade Therefore as soone as Phoebus shined bright Pretending businesse away he sped And leaues Griffino in this wofull plight But ere he goes the King to him imparts No small rewards for his not his desarts 87 But let him go his wayes and do not doubt That this vnknowne and vnreuengd shall be Straight was Griffino from the iayle put out And carted so as all men might him see Tide hand and foot and people all
are often ouermastered with loue The speech of Isabella to Zerbino wishing to die at the same instant with him alludes to the wish of good Baweis and Philemon Quomam concordes egimus annos Auferat hor a duos eadem nec coniugis vnquam Busta meae videam nee sim tumulandus ab illa Here end the notes of the xxiiij booke THE XXV BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Rogero saueth to his fame and glorie His spouses brother that had else bene ded Who doth recount to him the wofull storie That so great danger vnto him had bred His cousin cheares them though himselfe were sorie Next morne they arme them all from foote to hed Good Malagige and Vivian to releeue Whose thraldome did their kinsmen greatly greeue 1 THe strife is great that grows in youthfull minde When honor falls at variance with affection Nor could it yet be known or well definde Which passion keeps the tother in subiection For both allure both do our iudgements blinde And both corrupt the heart with strong infection Yet lo sometimes these hurts procure our weale Eu'n as one poyson doth another heale 2 For here you see these princes that of late Straue fiercely tone the tother to subdew Agreed to respit this their sharpe debate And to repaire vnto the Turkish crew To succour Agramants distressed state To whom thâ—y ought in dutie to be trew And vet herein loue claimeth halfe the praise For she commanded them to go their wayes 3 And on they went without more disagreeing Faire Doralice with these her seruants twaine The tone in suit one in possession being And yet as then in concord they remaine At last they came vnto a place where seeing Foure knights themselues did solace on a plaine Or which two were vnarmd two armour bare With them a Ladie was of beautie rare 4 With these a while they staid but who these weare And what they did and whither then they went A little while to tell I do forbeare For to Rogero now my tale is ment Who would no more the shield enchanted beare But in the well did drowne it with intent That men might know his valiant deeds of armes Were done by force of vertue not of charmes 5 He scant had gone a mile or little more From this same well but that he met a post From Agramant of which there went good store The Captaines to recall vnto the host He told him how the king besieged sore And like if succour come not to be lost Commanded him as his true Lord and leege To come without delay to raise the seege 6 Much was Rogero with the message moued And diuers passions straue within his minde He faine would haue his Princes seege remoued Yet loth he was to leaue his loue behinde But be his doing praised or reproued He was so to the present cause enclinde First with his guide he goes to stay the slaughter Of him that had deflowrd Marsilios daughter 7 They came vnto the place an houre er night Where this same execution should be done A castle that belongd to Charles of right But late the Spanish king the same had wonne And kept it in the mids of France by might By count'nance of the great Trainos sonne Rogero commeth in and none denyde him Because they knew the damsell that did guide him 8 There first he saw prepard a flaming fire In which they meant to burne the wofull youth He thought so small a sinne did not require Such punishment no more it doth in truth But when he markt his face and his attire And heard and saw the manner of his ruth Now sure I know quoth he I am not I Or this is Bradamant that here should die 9 T is certaine she I see which way it went Belike while I at yonder castle staid She hither came afore me with intent To bring vnto the prisner here some aid For which poore soule her self should now be shent Yet I am glad and very well apaid That I am hither come in so good season To saue her that should die against all reason 10 And euen with that most furiously he files With naked sword vpon the gazing rout Who ouer standeth in his way he dies With so great force he hurles his blade about Then straight the prisners fetters he vnties Nor was there one so hardie or so stout That once durst make resistance or forbid it No not so much as aske him why he did it 11 As fearfull fowle that in the sunshine bright Sit pruning of themselues vpon a banke When as a Faulcon doth among them light Flie without care of order or of ranke So when these caitiues saw this noble Knight Forthwith they from his manly presence shranke So did their fearfull hearts and courage faile them When as they felt Rogero once assaile them 12 No maruell tho for why Rogeros force Was not as mens that now borne later are The strength of Lion Beare or bull or horse Were nothing if with his they do compare And chiefe sith now he doth himselfe inforce To do as much as he or can or dare Hereby from danger thinking to recouer Her vnto whom he was professed louer 13 Now when the youth from danger quite was freed And all that sought his death away were fled He thanks the author of this worthy deed And thanketh her that had him thither led Then when of helpe he stood in greatest need When otherwise he doubtlesse had bin dead And executed like a malefactor Agnizing him his Lord and benefactor 14 And furthermore he doth Rogero pray To let him vnderstand his name and nation Rogero musing to himselfe doth say What meaneth this so strange congratulation In face in shape in gesture in array This is my loue I see no alteration Yet strange it is her voice should be so changed More strange that she from me is so estranged 15 It doubtlesse is not she for if it were Could she within three houres my name forget Wherefore to tell his name he doth forbeare Vntill he may more perfect notice get And thus he said I haue I know not where Seene you ere this and I bethinke me yet Where it might be for sure I know your face Though now I haue forgot the time and place 16 Most noble sir said tother I agree You may haue seene me though I know not when I rather iudge it should my sister be That fights and carries armes as well as men My mother at one birth bare her and me And we be both so like that now and then Our seruants yea our father and our mother Haue tane vs in exchange the tone for tother 17 Chiefly since in her head she had a wound For which she was constraind to cut her haire T were long the circumstances to expound How she was hurt and heald by whom and where Since that betweene vs diffrence none is found Saue sex and names that from our birth we beare She
was well whose horse could swiftest runne Small count they make of amble or of trot The tone side leaue their gold on asses loden The tother of their captiues are forboden 22 The noble vanquishers do seize the pray Which was both rich and sumptuous to behold Of Flanders worke an hanging rich and gay To hang a stately roome of silke and gold They also found rich clothing and array That should haue bene vnto Lanfusa fold And namely mong the rest a gallant gowne Embroderd round with cost of many a crowne 23 They further found good vittels and good store Wine bottels coole and fresh and good of tast With which not hauing eate that day before They do agree to baite and breake their fast And eu'ry one prepares himselfe therefore And to that end their curats they vnlast Now when Marfisa had put off her beauer To be a woman eu'ry one perceaue her 24 Her golden haire trust vp with carelesse art Her forehead faire and full of stately grace Her eye her lip and eu'ry other part So suting to her comely shape and face As bred eu'n then in each beholders hart A reu'rend loue and wonder in like case And straight they askt her name the which she told them And with as great delight she doth behold them 25 But she her selfe farre more then all the rest Rogeros shape and person doth regard His vallew great his vnappalled brest Before the others all she much prefard To him alone her speeches she addrest Of him alone she would her speech were hard Thus she in him and he delighted in her The while the other had prepard their dinner 26 The place they din'd in was a pleasant caue And one of foure that famous Merlin wrought Where he in milke white marble did ingâ—ave Strange stories which things future strangely taught The very images seemd life to haue And sauing they were dumb you weld haue thought Both by their lookes and by their heely features That they had mou'd and had bene liuing creatures 27 From out a desert wood an vgly beast There seemd to come whose shape was thus defined An asles cares a wolte in head and breil A carkas all with pinching 〈◊〉 pined A Lions grizly raw but all the test To fox like shape did seeme to be inclined In England France in Italy and Spaine Yea all the world this monster seemd to raigne 28 Where ere this cruell monster set his foote He kild and spoild of eury sort and state No height of birth or state with him did boote He conquerd kings and clownes all in a rate Yea this beasts powre had tane so deepe a roote It enterd in Christs vicars sacred gate And vexed Cardinals and Bishops chiefe And bred a scandall eu'n in our beliefe 29 Vnto this beast men seemd to bow and bend This beast brake through each wall and eu'ry sence No citie could itselfe there from defend Strong castels made from it but weake defence In fine her powre did seeme so farre extend That many were so fond and void of fence To thinke and to beleeue this monster fell Had powre of all things both in heau'n and hell 30 But when this beast had rang'd a while behold One wearing on his head a lawrell crowne With three that wore the flowre de luce of gold Embroderd richly on their purple gowne And with these three a stately Lion bold Did ioyne his force to put the monster downe The titles and the names that them concerned Might in their garments plainly be discerned 31 One that with sword the beast thrusts in the paunch Was he whose praise no time shall euer smother Francis the first of that name king of France Of Austria Maximullen is another Then Charles the fist that with a mightie launce Smites through the beast froÌ„ tone side to the tother The fourth that in the brest with arrow wounds him Was Henrie th' eight the writing to expounds him 32 Leo the tenth the Lion fierce is called Who chast him and fast caught him by the eare And in the chase the beast so tyrd and galled As others tooke him while he held him there By this the world seemd freed that erst was thralled By this men seemd secure and void of feare Seing that beast whose look late made them tremble Stroyd by the powre of this so braue assemble 33 This story so set forth as I haue told With costly workmanship great pleasure bred In all their minds that did the same behold And on this sight more then their meat they fed And chiefe Marfisa wisht to heare it told What men these were if men already dead Or else a prophecie of things ensuing 〈◊〉 â—â—dden skill laid ope to each mans vewing 34 The Malagigi was by them requested As one in Mathematikes seene right well And had the method thereof so digested As he all hidden mysteries could tell To shew what monster thus the world molested And who be these that him froÌ„ earth expell For though they saw their names they did not know them But he they knew by his great skil could show them 35 Know then quoth he that these whose names appeare In marble pure did neuer liue as yet But long time hence after six hundred yeare To their great praise in princely throne shall sit Merlin the English prophet plast them here In Arthurs time and by his passing wit Set here as yet their vuperformed deeds And noted all their names vpon their weeds 36 This beast you saw had first her habitation Beneath amongst the wicked fiends of hell And staid there till that wicked generation I meane the iron age on earth did dwell When none durst trust without an obligation When fraud first came tween them that buy and sel And when the mightie to their great reproch First on the poore mens liuings did incroch 37 Then first this monster cruell got abrode And euer since her powre doth still increase And wheresoere she maketh her abode There is no friendship firme nor godly peace Conscience and iustice vnder foote are trod Good gouernment and wholsome lawes do cease That Python Phoebus kild with thousand darts Was monster lesse then this by thousand parts 38 Thus Malagigi said and then he told Who those should be that should the monster kill That should come then when as the world were old That should renew each good and mend each ill Whose names in sacred stile to be inrold Deserue and to be praisd aud honourd still That should in time to come as he did conster With bountie kill that miserable monster 39 Those fiue I nam'd and more by fiue times fiue Mine author names that holpe to slay the beast Rogero and the rest the time did driue In such like talke during the present feast And ere they rose behold there did arriue Vnto this caue vnwares another guest By name that maid from whom of late by force Fierce Rodomont had tane Rogeros
chance He first doth mind to end the cause in hand And rescue Paris and the king of France Wherefore he makes his men all quiet stand Till night what time himselfe will leade the dance And then betweene the fourth and second watch He meanes at once the matter to dispatch 44 He makes his men lie close for all that day By way of Ambuscado in a wood And ease themselues and horses all they may And take the sustenance of rest and food The place within three leagues of Paris lay And when the Sunne was set he thought it good What time the world doth vse his lesser lampe To Paris ward to moue his silent campe 45 And as he purposd he performd in deed For straight himselfe with that same gallant grew Set out by night as first they had decreed In silent sort suspition to eschew Now came the time that they must do the deed Now neare vnto the Turkish campe they drew When first the heedlesse Sentinels intrapping They kild them al because they took them napping 46 The watch once slaine they are no longer dumme But after stout Renaldo soone they came They sound the trumpet and strike vp the drumme And calling still vpon that noble name That often had the Pagans ouercome I meane Renaldos house of Montalbane Which crie he cauld both his owne men to quicken And that the Turks might in more feare be stricken 47 Himselfe well mounted on his famous horse Doth presse amidst the Pagan Princes tents And with his owne and with his horses force He treds them downe and all in peeces rents Vnarmd or armd he kils without remorse Who euer commeth in his way repents The drowsie men halfe armd make poore resistance Against so braue a man with such assistance 48 For why beside those men I nam'd before Whose vertue and whole value oft were showne Renaldo had sixe hundred men and more All perfect traind of strength and courage knowne Which about Clarimont he kept in store For his owne vse and causes of his owne Though at this need his Princes turne to furnish He soone agreed his owne townes to vnfurnish 49 And though Renaldo had no great reuenue The which chiefe sinews vnto warre affords Yet kept he still six hundred in rennue What with good vsage and with gentle words That all of them did still with him continue At his commaund with launces horse and swords Nor was there any that from him away went Though diuers others offerd greater payment 50 Now thinke when this braue crue the Turks assailed At vnawares halfe wake or halfe asleepe How that same name and that same noise them quailed How here they fled and there with hold and keepe But smally flight and lesse their fight preuailed But euen as Goates from Lions or as sheepe FroÌ„ Wolues make small defence such in comparison These Pagans made against Renaldos garison 51 On tother side king Charles that by espiall Had notice of Renaldos comming hither With all that crue so noble and so loyall That to his aid combined were togither With diuers Lords came forth in person royall And all his men of armes likewise came thither Eke Brandimart rich Monodontes heire Did with king Charles vnto the field repaire 52 Whom when his spouse that neare about did hoâ—er Had found out by his standard and his armes And plainly saw it was her dearest louer She rusheth in among the men of armes And vnto him herselfe she doth discouer Who straight embraced her in open armes And leauing then the battell drew apart That each to other might their minds impart 53 And after sweet embracing oftentimes They did conferre together of their state Overtue of those vnsuspicious times When Ladies early wander might and late And yet be faultlesse deemd and free of crimes Where now each small suspect turnes loue to hate Yea eu'n for all their watching and safe keeping They doubt their wiues do wake while they are sleeping 54 Among the conference this couple had The Ladie did vnto her spouse vnfold How his good friend Orlando was falne mad How she herselfe his madnes did behold His running naked carelesse and vnclad Not credible had any else it told But credible it was now she had sed it For in far greater things he gaue her credit 55 She further did to Brandimart recount How she had seene the bridge the Pagan made I meane the cruell Pagan Rodomount Vpon the streame so deepe as none could wade Where he the passengers of best account Did from each side with furie great inuade And with the spoiles of those he kild and tooke Did beautifie a tombe made by the brooke 56 And last she told how with his strength extreame Orlando heau'd the Turke armd from the ground And so with him fell backward in the streame With perill great there to haue both bene drownd From whence Orlando went about the Reame Where his mad parts wold make him soon be found This tale in Brandimart did breed such sorrow He staid not for the next ensuing morrow 57 But taking for his guide faire Fiordeliege And being readie armd as then he was He go'th to seeke that foresaid parlous bridge In mind what euer hap the same to passe Where many men their liues line did abridge As in such dangers soone it comes to passe No sooner came he to the vtmost ward But Rodomont had notice by his guard 58 He greatly did to heare such newes reioyce And straight he cometh forth with warlike gesture And bids him with a loud and scornfull voyce Vnto the tombe to yeeld his armes and vesture Or threatens him if he refuse this choyce To make him drinke beyond all good disgesture But Brandimart his threats did nothing feare And makes no answer but with couched speare 59 Then straight to horses side he sets the spurs The horse he rode vpon Batoldo hight The horse though good yet snores and starts sturs Much scar'd with narrow bridge and waters sight Eke Rodomont his good Frontino spurs Who neuer starts as vsed to this fight Although the bridge did shake all vnder feet When in the middle way these kinghts did meet 60 Their speares that were of firme well seasond wood With so great force vpon their armour strake That though their horses were both strong good Yet both fell from the bridge into the lake Quite ouerwhelmd with water and with mood Yet neither horseman did his horse forsake Long taried they within the streame below To search if any Nymph dwelt there I trow 61 This had not bin the first time nor the fift That from this bridge the Turke had bene throwne downe Wherefore his horse and he could better shift For neither horse nor he did doubt to drowne For where the streame was most profound and swift He often had bene plung'd aboue his crowne Which made his horse and him the more audacious Amid the streame although profound and spacious 62 He knew by proofe for
his courser flying And of the ayre he more and more doth win Affecting heau'n all earthly thoughts defying As fishes cut the liquid streame with fin So curreth he the ayre and doth not stop Till he was come vnto that mountaines top 50 This hill nigh toucht the circle of the Moone The top was all a fruitfull pleasant feeld And light at night as ours is here at noone The sweetest place that euer man beheeld There would I dwell if God gaue me my boone The soyle thereof most fragrant flowres did yeeld Like Rubies Gold Pearles Saphyrs Topas stones Crisolits Diamonds Iacints for the nones 51 The trees that there did grow were euer greene The fruits that thereon grew were neuer fading The sundry colourd birds did sit betweene And sing most sweet the fruitfull boughs them shading The riuers cleare as crystall to be seene The fragrant smell the sense and soule inuading With ayre so temperate and so delightsome As all the place beside was cleare and lightsome 52 Amid the plaine a pallace passing faire There stood aboue conceit of mortall men Built of great height into the clearest aire And was in circuit twentie mile and ten To this faire place the Duke did straight repaire And vewing all that goodly country then He thought this world compared with that pallace A dunghill vile or prison voyd of sollace 53 But when as nearer to the place he came He was amazed at the wondrous fight The wall was all one precious stone the same And then the carbuncle more sanguine bright O workman rare ô most stupendious frame What Dedalus of this had ouersight Peace ye that wont to praise the wonders seau'n Those earthly kings made this the King of heau'n 54 Now while the Duke his eyes with wonder fed Behold a faire old man in th' entrie stood Whose gowne was white but yet his iacket red The tone as snow the tother lokt as blood His beard was long and white so was his head His countnance was so graue his grace so good A man thereby might at first sight suspect He was a Saint and one of Gods elect 55 He comming to the Duke with chearfull face Who now alighted was for reu'rence sake Bold Baron said the Saint by speciall grace That sufferd wast this voyage strange to make And to arriue at this most blessed place Not knowing why thou didst this iourny take Yet know that not without the will celestiall Thou commest here to Paradise terrestiall 56 The cause you come a iourney of such length Is here of me to learne what must be done That Charles and holy Church may now at length Be fréed that erst were welnigh ouerrunne Wherefore impute it not to thine owne strength Nor to thy courage nor thy wit my sonne For neither could thy horne nor winged steed Without Gods helpe stand thee in any steed 57 But at more leisure hereof we will reason And more at large I mind with you to speake Now with some meate refresh you as is reason Left fasting long may make your stomack weake Our fruits said he be neuer out of season The â—uke reioyced much and marueld eke Then chiefe when by his speeches and his cote He knew was he that the fourth Gospell wrote 58 That holy Iohn whom Christ did hold so deare That others thought he death should neuer see Though in the Gospell it appeares not cleare But thus he said What if it pleased me O Peter that thy fellow tarry here Vntill my comming what is that to thee So though our Sauiour not directly spake it Yet sure it was so eu'ry one did take it 59 He here assumed was in happie houre Whereas before Enoch the Patriark was And where the Prophet bides of mightie powre That in the firie coach did thither passe These three in that so happie sacred bowre In high felicitie their dayes did passe Where in such sort to stand they are allowd Till Christ returne vpon the burning clowd 60 These saints him welcome to that sacred seate And to a stately lodging him they brought And for his horse likewise ordained meate And then the Duke himselfe by them was taught The daintie fruites of Paradise to eate So delicate in tast as sure he thought Our first two parents were to be excused That for such fruit obedience they refused 61 Now when the Duke had nature satisfide With meate and drinke and with his due repose For there were lodings faire and all beside That needfull for mans vse man can suppose He gets vp early in the morning tide What time with vs alow the Sunne arose But ere that he from out his lodging moued Came that disciple whom our Sauiour loued 62 And by the hand the Duke abroade he led And said some things to him I may not name But in the end I thinke my sonne he sed Although that you from France so lately came You little know how those in France haue sped There your Orlando quite is out of frame For God his sinne most sharply now rewardeth Who most doth punish whom he most regardeth 63 Know that the champion your Orlando whom God so great strength and so great courage gaue And so rare grace that from his mothers wome By force of steele his skin no hurt might haue To th' end that he might fight for his owne home And those that hold the Christian faith to saue As Sampson erst enabled was to stand Against Philistins for the Hebrew land 64 This your Orlando hath bin so vngrate For so great grace receau'd vnto his maker That when his country was in weakest state And needed succor most he did forsake her For loue O wofull loue that breeds Gods hate To woo a Pagan wench with mind to take her And to such sinne this loue did him intise He would haue kild his kinsman once or twise 65 For this same cause doth mightie God permit Him mad to runne with belly bare and breast And so to daze his reason and his wit He knowes not others and himselfe knowes least So in times past our Lord did deeme it fit To turne the king of Babel to a beast In which estate he seu'n whole yeares did passe And like an oxe did feed on hay and grasse 66 But for the Palladins offence is not So great as was the King of Babels crime The mightie Lord of mercie doth allot Vnto his punishment a shorter time Twelue weeks in all he must remaine a sot And for this cause you sufferd were to clime To this high place that here you may be tought How to his wits Orlando may be brought 67 Here you shall learne to worke the feate I warrant But yet before you can be fully sped Of this your great but not forethought on arrant You must with me a more strange way be led Vp to the Planet that of all starrs errant Is nearest vs when she comes ouer head Then will I bring you where the medcine lies That you
Giu'n to Rogero many recompences 6 He did but well in going to his Lord And she as well it cannot be denied In that she thereto granted her accord Which she might hap haue stopt had she replied That from the same her liking had abhord What now she wants henceforth may be supplied But if that honor haue one minuts slaine An hundred yeares scant can it cleanse againe 7 Now while â—Rogero vnto Arly went As dutie bound him to Traianos haire Vnto the Christen campe incontinent Rogeros spouse and sister noble paire As louing frends and coâ—ns now they went And vnto Charles his tent they did repaire Who minds by siege or battels doubtfull chance To driue these tedious troubles out of France 8 When in the campe it was made knowne and bruted That Bradamant was come her noblest brothers Came forth to her and kindly her saluted With Guidon though they came of sundry mothers And she as for her sexe and calling suted Did resalute both them and diuers others By kissing some and speaking to the best And making frendly gestures to the rest 9 But when Marfisas name was heard and knowne Whose noble acts eu'n from Catay to Spaine And ouer all the world beside were blowne To looke on her all were so glad and faine With presse and thrust not few were ouerthrowne And scarse aman could in the tents remaine But heauing shouing hither-ward and thither To see so braue a paire as these togither 10 Now when to Charles his presence come they be Vpon her knee Marfisa did decline And as Turpino writes no man did see Her knee to touch the ground before that time To none of anie calling or degree Not vnto Christen Prince or Sarazine She onely doth esteeme king Pepins sonne As worthie whom such honor should be donne 11 But Charles arose and met her halfe the way And in kinde stately sort did her embrace And set her by his side that present day Aboue the Princes all and gaue her place Then voided was the roome that none might stay But Lords and knights well worthie so great grace Excluding all the sawcie baser sort And then Marfisa spake in such like sort 12 Most mightie Caesar high renownd and glorious That from our Indies to Tyrinthian shore From Scythia frosen full with breath of Boreas To Aethiopia scorching euermore Makst thy white crosse so famous and victorious By value much but by thy iustice more Thy praise O Prince and thy renowned name Were cause from countries farre I hither came 13 And to say troth flat enuie mou'd me chiefe Because thy powre to reach so farre I saw I must confesse I tooke disdaine and griefe That any Prince that fauord not our law And was to vs of contrarie beliefe Should grow so great to keepe vs all in aw Wherefore I came with mind to haue destroid thee Or by all meanes I could to haue annoyd thee 14 For this I came for this I stayd in France To seeke your ruin and your ouerthrow When lo a chance if such a thing can chance Made me a frend and subiect or a so I will not stay to tell each circumstance But this in substance it did make me know That I your bloodie enemie Marfisa Was daughter to Rogero late of Ryla 15 He by my wicked vncles was betraid And left my wofull mother big with child Who neare to Syrté downe her bellie laid As strangely sau'd as wrongfully exild She brought a twin a man child and a maid We fosterd were seuen yeares in forrest wild By one that had in Magicke art great skill But I was stolne from him against his will 16 For some Arabians sold me for a slaue Vnto a Persian king whom growne in yeares Because he my virginitie would haue I killed him and all his Lords and Peeres And then such hap God and good fortune gaue I gat his crowne and armes as yet appeares And ere I fully was twise ten yeare old Seuen crownes I gat beside which yet I hold 17 And being enuious of your endlesse fame As erâ—t I told I came with firme intent By all the meanes I could to quaile the same And haply might haue done the hurt I ment But now a better minde that minde doth tame Now of my malice I do much repent Since by good hap I lately vnderstood That I was neare allide to you in blood 18 And sith I know my father was your man I meane no lesse then he did you to serue As for the hate and enuie I began To beare you I now the same reserue For Agramant and all the harme I can To all his kin that do the same deserue Because I now do know and am assured His ancestors my parents death procured 19 This said Marfisa and withall did adde That she would be baptized out of hand And when that Agramant she vanquisht had Returne if Charles to pleasd to her owne land And Christen them and farther would be glad Against all those that would Christs law withstand Ay to beare armes with vow that all her gaine To Charles and holy Church should ay remaine 20 The noble Charles of tongue as eloquent As wise in head as valorous in heart Did much extoll the Ladie excellent And all her kin and sire by iust desart And of her former speech incontinent Most graciouslie he answerd eu'rie part Concluding that he would for euer after Accept her as his cousin and his daughter 21 And her againe he did embrace of new And kilt her forhead as his child indeed It long would be to tell how braue a crew From Clarimount and Mongrane did proceed To welcome her or when Renaldo knew Marfisas name what ioy in him did breed He calls to mind what force in her he found Then when Albracca he besieged round 22 It long would be to tell of Guidons ioy With Griffin Aquilant and Sansonet That leapt with her their land that do destroy Those men that in their Realme they hap to get No lesse did Malagige and Vinian ioy Remembring how she ioynd with Richardet To rescue them as long before I told When vnto Bertolage they had bene sold. 23 Now was prepard against th' ensuing day A place as was by Charles himselfe deuised Set stately forth and hangd with rich aray Where this most worthy dame should be baptised Then Bishops were employd by whom she may Be taught the Christen faith and Catechised And all that day a learned Clarke and Preacher The principles of Christen faith did teach her 24 Then Turpin Archbishop of chiefe account In his robes pontificiall doth baptise her Charles with great reu'rence standeth by the fount And what to answer he did still aduise her But now t is time that to the Moone I mount For that receit must make Orlando wiser From whence the Duke descending by strange byas Came with S. Iohn in charret of Elyas 25 And by his guide he backe againe was led And keeps
still in his hand that pot or Iarre That should againe make wise the mased hed Of that same Palladin well seene in warre Likewise the Saint vnto Astolfo sed Assoone as they allighted from the carre That with an herbe of which there grew great store He should againe Sonapos sight restore 26 For which and for his former great desart He should haue men t' assault Biserta land He teacheth him those people vnexpart He should so traine to make them to his hand He further learned him the way and art How he might safely passe th'vnstable sand And plainly thus S. Iohn from point to point What th' English Duke should do did him appoint 27 Then did Astolfo take his winged steed And of the Saint deuoutly tooke his leaue And soaring downe he makes no little speed To do that which in charge he did receaue So farre by Nylus bankes he doth proceed Vntill that Nubia he did plaine perceaue And following the course of that same streame Came to Senapo head of that same Reame 28 Great was the pleasure triumph and the ioy Senapo tooke when he thereof had woord Remembring well the trouble and annoy The foule Harpias brought him at his booâ—d But when he made him eke his sight enioy And did so rare a grace to him affoord That by his meanes his eye sight was restord him He worshipt him and like a God adord him 29 Nor onely did he giue him souldiers then Wherewith he might Biserta towne inuade But for each one he askt he gaue him ten That soone two hundred thousand men he made Scarce had the fields roome for so many men But footmen all â—â—o is that countryes trade For horses in that Region are but dentie But Elephants and Camells they haue plentie 30 Now that same day that went before the day In which the men of Nubia made account To march on forward some part of their way Astolfo on his Griffith horse doth mount And Southward he doth passe and doth not stay Vntill he came neare to a mightie mount At foote whereof a vast caue he doth finde Which was the lodging of the Sotherne winde 31 The mightie caue had but a narrow mouth At which the Duke as Christs Apostle taught Did watch so long vntill the wind of South Came home to ease his spirits ouerwrought To enter in Astolfo him allowth But when anone to haue come out he thought Within a leather sacke the Duke had plast At that caues mouth he caught and tyde him fast 32 The Palladin full proud of such a pray Returnes to Nubia ward before t was night And to the Negros then he showd the way Appointing them how they should trauell right He victualls doth and cariages conuay All safe vnto that hill that Atlas hight Quite ore those fields where many haue bene found With wind for want of water more then drownd 33 And being come vnto the mountaines side There where he might discouer all the plaine He doth his bands and companies deuide And chuseth those that are most apt to traine And those he parts and putteth them aside And orders for the rest he doth ordaine Then he in fight of all the hill ascendeth And lookt like one that some great feat intendeth 34 And kneeling downe as one that did beleeue His prayre should granted be as well as hard He prayd his master their great want releeue Then casting stones that were before prepard What cannot firme beleefe in Christ atcheeue The very stones a thing to credit hard Did grow and hue and moue by hidden cause And had both bellyes legges and necks and iawes 35 And naying lowd fild all the place with sound Of horse some bay some roane some daple gray And of all them were readie horses found The spurre the wand the leg and voyce t' obay To stop to start to passe carier to bound To gallop straight or round or any way Thus were the men well horst with little paines For eu'rie horse had saddle bit and raines 36 Thus by this vertuous Duke within one houre Were fourscore thousand footmen horsemen made With which so great and vnexpected powre Full fiercely he all Affrike did inuade And burnt and spoild full many a towne and towre All giuing way to his victorious blade Vntill three Princes Agramants vicegerents Made head against the Duke with their adherents 37 The king of Aldyzer and he of Ferse With stout Bransardo all three mightie kings That find their enemies to grow so fierce Do send their Lord by sea word of these things A little fricket straight the waues doth pierce And of these euill newes quicke notice brings To Agramant that lay that time in Arlie Besieged by an armie strong and warlie 38 Who hearing of his countries wofull case And by his absence what did them betide He cald his Lords and Princes to the place Consulting how for this harme to prouide And looking once or twice with stately grace Now on the tone then on the tother side But on Marsilio and Sobrino chiefe In such like words he told to them his griefe 39 Although I wot it worst beseemes of all A Generall to say I had not thought Yet so say I for when a harme doth fall Beyond the reach of humane sence or thought Then sure the blame is either none or small And in this compasse may my fault be brought My fault it was Affricke to leaue vnarmed If of the Nubians now they could be harmed 40 But who could thinke but God that vnderstands The things to come as well as those are past So great an host could passe to many lands That were from vs so great a distance plast Twixt whom and vs lies those vnstable sands That dangerously are mou'd with Southerne blast Yet are they come and haue so farre preuailed Byserta selfe is now by them assailed 41 Now on this point your consels here I craue If so I shall all fruitlesse hence retire Or trie before I go if I can haue The crowne of France to which I do aspire Or how I may at home my country saue And this destroy which is my most desire If any know the meane then speake he to it To th' end that we may know the best and do it 42 Thus much the sonne of great Traiano spake And on Marsilio fixt his eyes that he As chiefe in place thereby might notice take That first by him he would aduised be Who when he had stood vp for reu'rence sake And bowd his bodie and withall his knee Downe sate him in his honorable seate And spake such words as I shall here repeate 43 What euer fame doth bring of good or ill To make it greater it doth euer vse Wherefore my soueraigne Lord I neuer will Be bold or basht with hearing flying newes But moue such doubt and such assurance still As though I would not all reports refuse Yet would I thinke the truth of other sort Then as so
there with much a do are glad and faine To catch some burning boord and being loth To dye of either death they dye of both 84 Some one for feare of sword or axe or pike Doth all in vaine vnto the sea betake him For why some stone or arrow or such like Ere he be farre from thence doth ouertake him But least the reader haply may mislike My too long tale this motion I would make him That to another season he defarre To heare the sequell of this bloudy warre In Rogeros irresolute fighting may be noted how necessary it is for a man before he go to fight to put on a good and firme resolution and chiefly of the goodnes of his cause In Agramants breach of the oth and promise we may see how odious a thing it is before God and man to be Foedifragi Truce-breakers which maketh them indeed to be forsaken of their frends prosecuted with great malice of their enemies lothed detested and scorned of their owne subiects and in the end breeds their vtter confusion In that Agramants souldiers do mutine against him and reuile him secretly and he notwithstanding thinkes himselfe to be well beloued of them and well thought of we may see in what a lamentable case those Princes are that as is said of them Neuer see lookes but fawningly disguised Neuer heare words but fayningly deuised Of the Historie of this booke first for Sileno that was Virgils Schoolemaster it is written of him he was one day laid to sleep after he had bene made drunke with wine and his schollers merily bound him wherupon he waking said that verse Soluite me pueri satis est potuisse videri Concerning this great battell at Arlie certaine it is as diuers Historiographers haue noted it that there remaine to this home great heapes of bones betokening some great slaughter of men in that place but when it should be done I cannot precisely affirme In that Mehsla by the helpe of the deuill taking vpon her a false image of Rodomont moued Agramant to breake truce the Allegorie thereof is that they be diuels or diuellish persons that will moue Princes to breake their word and their promise Of Orlandos restoring to his wit which indeed is the chiefe Allegorie of all the booke and where-upon the booke taketh thâ— name Orlando Furioso this in briefe is the meaning thereof Orlando a man of noble birth Erle of Auglant nephew to Charles the great falls so farre in loue with Angelica by which as I haue often noted is meant pleasure or honor that he leeseth his wits and becomes mad by which may be meant any sâ—lly that young men fall into with loue with prodigalitie with ambition or vaine studies which are at large recited in the 34. booke Astolfo with the receit he had of S. Iohn makes him wise againe that is by the grace of God and by the Gospell which teacheth vs how to despise all these worldly things and either quite leaue them or turne them to our good and benefite The sea fight which is in the later end of this booke described is like that which Lucan sets forth in the ciuil wars between Caesar and Pompey or rather indeed to that he speaks of in the next book of Cardinal Hippolito against the Venetians Here end the annotations vpon the 39. booke THE XL. BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Great Agramant doth fly and in his flight Would kill himselfe but Sobrin him forbode Biserta being fir'd a wofull sight At last they meet Gradasso in a rode They send a challenge three to three to fight Vnto Orlando where he then abode Rogero fights with Dudon to set free Seu'n kings whom bound in chaines he chaunst to see 1 T Were long my Lord to tell of all that fought In that sea fight and certes all the while That I should tell it you I should be thought To beare pots as they say to Samos I le Where earthen vessels in great store are wrought Or Owles to Athens Crocodils to Nyle For more then can of this by me be told Your selfe haue caused many to behold 2 Your faithfull people had a long prospect When all a day vpon the streame of Poe Your men as your great vallew did direct The shipping of your foes assaulted so That with their blood the streame they did infect And brought vpon them all a world of woe Then both your selfe and others plaine did see How sundry deaths in fights of sea there be 3 It was not then indeed my hap to see 't Sent then to Rome six dayes before in post To craue then at the holy fathers feet Reliefe and aid against so great an host And in that time your grace with them did meet In such a sort so sorely to their cost And so you par'd the Lyons teeth and pawes That since that time to feare we had no cause 4 But Aifonsin and Mâ—ore that saw the same Aâ—sranio Anniball and Lerbinet Albert and Baygn and three that beare my name Declar'd to me the conquest you did get Also their banners monuments of fame Which offerd in the Churches you did set With fifteene Gallies tane a thousand botes Of that rich conquest giue vs open notes 5 He that had seene the fire and wondrous wreake That at that time was wrought vpon your foes When for your few their many were too weake He might describe the deaths and diuers woes Of Agramantés host of which I speake And of their great and grieuous ouerthrowes Then when amids the surging waues and salt Stout Dudon in the night did them assault 6 When first the fight began the night was darke But when the flame vpon the pitch tooke hold The fire gaue light and did so clearly sparke That Agramant might plainly now behold His enemies and their great number marke Incredible if any had it told Wherefore in season to preuent the worst He changd the course he had intended furst 7 And chusing out a vessell swift of sayle And placing there his things of greatest price With Brigliadore sith all hope now doth fayle To steale from thence he closlie doth deuise And while that Dudon doth his men assayle In all the hast he can away he flyes His men the sword the sea the fire destroyes And he is fled that caused their annoyes 8 And in that Barke with him Sobrino fled Who much complaind and was not little greeued That that which he before so truly sed Yet then by Agramant was not beleeued But tell we now how good Astolfo sped And what exploits Orlando had atcheeued Who counseld so to raze Biserta towne That it might neuer noy th' Imperiall crowne 9 And so it was in publicke sort proclaymd That the third day th' assault they should expect Astolfo had some ships before ordaynd For Dudon had not all for this effect And these same ships with Sansonet remaynd A man that could by sea and land direct Who rode at
might But yet for all his hast it would not be The wind did for his purpose serue so slacke More then an houre too late it kept him backe 144 So that eu'n much about that time he came When as Orlando had that conquest wonne In which vnto his euerlasting same Two Turkish Princes vnto death were donne Yet was some sorrow mingled with the same Both for the death of Monodantés sonne And Oliueros hurt of which he found Such griefe he could not set his foote to ground 145 Now as the Earle Renaldo did imbrace He could not chuse but shed a streame of teares When as he show'd him in the present place Good Brandimart to whom such loue he beares Lye newly slaine with pale and liuelesse face Likewise to weepe Renaldo not forbeares To see his death and eke his cosins bruse So griâ—uous that his foote he could not vse 146 Renaldo comforts them in all he may Although himselfe of comfort tasted least And chiefe to thinke by his vnluckie stay He was come tardie to so great a feast This while the wofull seruants did conuay Their masters coarses to the towne distrest I meane Bisetta where they made it knowne Which side preuaild and which was ouerthrowne 147 Of this same conquest that Orlando wonne Astolso and stout Sansonet were glad Yet ioyd they not so as they would haue donne If Brandimart his death then had not had The fall of noble Monodantés sonne Strake them into a dumpe and made them sad But who shall now impart to Fiordeliege The wofull losse of her deare Lord and liege 148 Her selfe had dreamt a strange dreame ouernight Which did her minde in fearfull sort dismay She dreamt the bases of her loued knight Which she imbrodred blacke this other day With spots of red were powdred all in sight And on the same like storme of haylstones lay That she had done it so she sure beleeued And with the thought thereof was greatly greeued 149 She further thought that to her selfe she sed Did not my Lord command me blacke to make it What ment I then to mixt it so with red And in so strange a manner to mistake it And ill presage in her this fancie bred And for an euill token she did take it Then came these newes which none imparted with her Till th' English Duke and Sansonet came thither 150 When they came in and that she well had heeded Their count'nances in such a conquest sad No further newes no further notice needed To make her know they brought her tidings bad Forthwith her griefe and sorrow so exceeded Scarse any powre her vitall spirits had But presently in pale and deadly sound She fell in wofull trance vpon the ground 151 But when that life came to his course againe Her tender checkes and her sayre haire she tare Oft calling on his loued name in vaine Whose losse had bred in her such wofull care She screeches and cries out with griefe and paine Like those with deuils that possessed are Or as the Menades with sound of home In furious manner all about were borne 152 This man and that to lend she doth intreat A knife wherewith her selfe she murder may Straight to the hau'n she runnes with furie great There where the bodies of the dead kings lay With minde to mangle them and bruse and beat Then to the sea she will there is no nay And passe to Lippaduse and there abide And end her life by Brandimarts deare side 153 Ah Brandimart my loued Lord she said What meant I without me to let thee part Ay me vnluckie wretch in that I staid And was not present there to take thy part Mine eye might vnto thee haue bene an aid My voyce might haue assisted thee in part And if Gradasso thee behind had stricken One cry of mine might thee both warne quicken 154 Or else perhaps so well I might haue sped me As to haue stept the blow and thee betweene If thou hadst scapt although it did behed me I would haue said that it had happie bene Now dye I will though death no whit can sted me And though I know my death is fruitlesse cleene Whereas if I had dyde in thy defence My death had profit bred and not offence 155 And if the heau'ns had bene so hard in this That I could not haue holpe thee in the place At least my last farewell and solemne kisse I should haue giu'n thee and thy louely face Bedewd with teares and ere to heau'nly blisse They soule had flowne I should haue had the space To say depart from hence in peace my deare And know I haue not long to tarrie heare 156 Is this deare Brandimart is this thy raigne Of Damagyre whose scepter I should take Is this the dowre thou doest to me or daine Is this the royall seat of which you spake Ah fortune hard how friuolous and vaine Dost thou my hopes and my designements make Ah why cease I sith so great good is rest me To cast away what euer else is left me 157 With this againe so great her furie grew She made vpon her selfe a fresh assalt And her faire haire she rent and tare anew As if her haire had bene in all the falt Eu'n from her tender cheeks the bloud she drew Still dewing them with watrie teares and salt But let her here awhile lament and mourne For to Orlando I must now retourne 158 Who with his kinsman that did now require Some cunning Leach his grieuous wound to cure And for to Brandimar he did desire To giue an honorable sepulture To that hill went that doth the night with fire Make cleare and doth the day with smoke obscure And so the winde did fauour his intent In twentie houres he came to Agringent 159 Here when they were downe from their ships alighted The Sunne eu'n then preparing to go downe They sent abroad and in great hast inuited The chiefe Nobilitie of all the towne Straight at the shore of torches store was lighted And many men of honour and renowne When as Orlando to the shore retourned Went with him to the corps and with him mourned 160 There Bardyn stood a man well stricke in yeares And in such sort to wayle he did perseuer That with aboundant shedding of his teares Men thought he would haue lost his eyes for euer To blame the heu'ns and starres he not for beares But roaring like a Lyon in a feauer Tare his gray haire and all about it sprinkled And spared not his aged skin and wrinkled 161 When as the Palladine approched neare Straight doubled was the mourning noise and crye Each striu'd who should most sorrowfull appeare And eu'rie one lift vp his voice on hye Orlando with more heauy heart then cheare Still keeping fixed on the beare his eye When silence first by signes procur'd he had Pronounc't these words with mourning voyce sad 162 O stout ô deare champion mine and frend That here art dead
louing aduersarie to subdew That she had fought with all the day before As laborers whose worke by taske was dew That loyterd haue and now are sad therefore When night drawes on bestur their lasie bones Vntill their strength and light fayle both at once 77 Alas good Bradamant if thou didst know The man to whom thou wishest so much ill That in this fight hath bene thy frendly foe And winneth thee perhaps against his will Thou wouldest first haue kild thy selfe I trow Then of his blood one little drop to spill Thou that distst now so curse him and beshrow him Wouldst neither of them do if thou didst know him 78 But Charles and all his Lords with full perswasion That this so valiant champion Leon was To praise him highly now they take occasion And sith his strength did hers so greatly passe They thinke for her there now was no cuasion The matter brought to such a narrow passe Each man esteems this match for her most fit Each man allowes each man commendeth it 79 Now gan Don Phebus dip his golden rayes To swage their burning in the Westerne seas When Charls himselfe comes to them both prays The damsell now her furie to appease And giueth sentence that without delayes Don Leon may her marrie when he please Rogero doth himselfe no whit diâ—close But armed full backe to the tent he goes 80 Don Leon brotherly doth him imbrace And then he holpe him to vntie his beauer And with great kindnes kissed all his face And said that he was bound to him for euer And that no time such merit could deface Which to reward he would for aye indeuer Affirming frankly of his owne meere motion That all he had should be at his deuotion 81 I neuer can such curtesie requite Scant in this life he saith or in the next No though I should surrender all my right Vnto my crowne and all thereto annext Rogero that in speech tooke small delight And was with inward passion so perplext Restord to him his armes that he had worne And tooke againe his sheeld of th'Vnicorne 82 Pretending as he truly might pretend He wearie was and would himselfe repose And therefore to his tent vnto that end All pâ—iuat vnaccompanyd he goes At midnight horse to take he doth intend At midnight priuily from bed he rose And armd and mounted thence away departed But why nor whither he to none imparted 83 And thus away he secretly doth ride And giues Frontino leaue to chuse the way Now neare a wood then by the riuer side He neuer looking to what coast it lay He faine would die and still come death he cride He thought death onely could his paine allay He onely wished death to end his griefe That while he liues is sure past all reliefe 84 Ah wretch said he of whom can I complaine For sodain reauing me of all my blisse Shall I so great an iniurie sustaine Of whom else shall I be â—ueng'd for this I did the fault and now I feele the paine Nor can I say but iust the torment is For punishment doth properly belong To him that is the author of the wrong 85 But had I done my selfe the wrong alone I might perhap forgiue my selfe the same Though surely cause nor reason there is none To pardon such a fact so worthie blame But now I haue to her bene cause of mone To suffer that it were perpetuall shame So though I should no iust reuengement take For mine owne cause yetmust I for her sake 86 This wrong reuenge I may I will I must By onely death sith this offence was such To dye I soone shall finde the way I trust The care thereof my minde no whit doth tuch Oh that I had long since bene layd in dust Ere that I iniured my deare so much I would I had bene put to death before When I was prisner vnto Theodore 87 If I had then bene martyrd and tormented With all the plagues her mallice could deuise At least my deare my death would haue lamented With teares from out her christ all streaming eyes Now when she knows that I haue thus consented To Leon to betray her in this wise My part of her vnto a stranger giuing She will haue cause to hate me dead and liuing 88 Now while the knight did thus lament and plaine The Easter parts of heau'n with light were cleared And Phebus from his golden house againe Lift vp his head wherewith all creatures cheared Betake them to their ordinarie paine And then vnto Rogero it appeared That he was in a wood a most fit place For one of such a minde in such a case 89 He lights and off he takes Frontinos sadle And giues him libertie and thus he sayes My gallant beast so good so seruiceable As I haue found thee still at all assayes Go heare I set thee free and were I able As I am willing to set forth thy prayse Thou doubtlesse shouldst not need that horse enuie That was tane vp from earth vnto the skye 90 Nor should Arions prayses make thee sory Nor Cillarus that Castor did bestryde Nor any praisd in Greeke or Latin story For why thy shape and readines beside Of all these famous steeds not one can glorie As thou maist do it cannot be denide Of them none passeth thee in commendation Nor iustly challenge can such reputation 91 Thou hast bene cherished and loued deere By such a Nymph so faire and so diuine As all the world can hardly show her peere She hath thee fed with that fayre hand and fine I meane my loue but ah why liue I heere Sith now I may no longer call her mine No longer mine she is ah cruell word Why end not I my dayes by mine owne sword 92 Now if Rogero thus himselfe tormented And cauld the birds and beasts to mone his plaint For none but birds and beasts the place frequented Whom he with his great sorrow might acquaint No doubt the damsell was as ill contented And made a greater or as great complaint Sith for her selfe she nothing hath to say Why she to Leon longer should say nay 93 Yet all meanes possible she meanes to trye Before that she will her Rogero leaue And make king Charles and all his Lords to lye And Leon of his promise to deceaue Or if the worst shall hap she meanes to dye And with her hands of life her selfe bereaue For present death she rather ment to chuse Then her belou'd Rogero to refuse 94 How commeth it to passe said she my deare That at this time thou art so farre from hence How can a thing which all the world did heare So strangely be concealed from thy sence If thou hadst heard it sure thou wouldst appeare For that my drift that was my sole pretence Ah my ill fortune euermore accurst What can I deeme but eu'n the very worst 95 Why then Rogero mine can you alone Not know that all the world doth know beside