with thy aunswere I woulde put in order that which I haue to doo concerning this my miserable life I doo well know my Lord and Emperour that this my bolde discouering of my selfe hath bene too much and beyond all reason but if at any time thou hast loued and doost know the great griefe that loue doth cause thou wilt not blame me nor put me in any fault I would y t I could show thée my woūded hart y t in séeing it so sore afflicted thou mightst take some compassion of me that which doth most torment me is that I haue yéelded my selfe vnto one y t hath so little pitie on me Who hath euer heard y t women shuld wooe require of men to loue them But I most vnfortunate Quéene haue broken that lawe and custome O immortal Gods what haue you conceiued against me Is not y e apparant which you vsed against my sister now wil you vse it also w t me I shuld be requested of Emperours Kings and now I come to request one that maketh no account of me neither dooth my present destruction mooue him to any pittie Go too Emperour make an ende and aunswere me that therewith I may receiue either life or death Héere may you which haue knowen what loue is iudge what the Emperour Trebatio might conceiue in himselfe in this cruell case One way he did consider the great loyaltie that he ought vnto the Empres his wife and this constrained him to deny her Another way the great desire that hée had to see himselfe at libertie and the great loue that he did know Garrofilea bare him caused his hart somewhat to yéeld Notwithstanding he did procure with faire and swéete wordes to sée if he could cause her to chaunge her thought and purpose saying Lady I doo sée very well that the force of loue is so cruell that whosoeuer he doth wound he leueth them in a manner without remedye except it come from them on whō they haue fixed their heart I doo not deny but that your amorous desire is such as he hath ordained it who spareth no creature But considering your highnesse and great estate the honour that all such as you are shoulde haue by your royall marriages I doo more reioyce that you suffer payne then you should take your ease with that vnto which sensuall loue doth constraine you Most souereigne Quéene héere I doo desire you to bridle your affection and restrayne your appetite that you fall not into that infamie which will bée the onely blemish of your estate séeing it appertaineth so much vnto your honour The quéene séeing y t his reasons did not incline vnto that which she desired shortened his talk said Emperour all that which thou hast sayde and all besides that thou canst tell me I doo already vnderstand and there is nothing that may be spoken héerein but I haue before this time considered of it Notwithstanding loue hath more force then any regard or consideration I should haue vnto my honour Therefore I am héere come fully determined to make a second sacrifice vnto my gods which afterwards shall be lamented by thée And in saying those words she tooke out the sworde which she brought in secret vnder her roabes and with great hast she set the pommell thereof vnto the ground and would haue throwen her self vpon the poynt thereof The worthy Trebatio seeing her in this desperate minde leapt quickly out of his bed and with a mightie courage caught holde of her and tooke the sword out of her hand saying Oh blinde quéene what diuelish determination is this The Lady answered Unlouing Lord◠〈◊〉 other thing but to ease my selfe by death for that I 〈◊〉 not longer liue as one dying And saying these words she fell in a sound in the armes of the Emperour Heere coulde not the stoutnesse of the Greeke heart make such resistance but that with great loue he tooke her and cast her vppon the bed shedding many teares with much compassion and considering the firmnesse of the loue that the Queene hadde showed him he was confoūded in his owne thought and inforced to haue done that which hee neuer thought to haue done and so purposed to giue her all her whole contentment and so ioyning his mouth to hers he remained kissing her till such time as this sorrowfull Lady came againe to her selfe But when she perceiued she was of him so louinglye imbraced being the thing she onely desired she straight-way recouered all the strength that she had lost and cast her armes about his necke with excéeding loue which grieued not the Emperour any thing at all in such sort they vsed themselues that the Queene was made Lady with great cōtentment vnto them both So with like sport they passed the rest of the night in great ioye and pleasure The Quéene Garrofilea when she saw that it was day returned vnto her chamber very pleasant merrie vntill such time as it was her accustomed houre of 〈◊〉 which was somewhat early y t day for that the two 〈◊〉 made very great hast that they might enter into the Citie the which was straight waye done And the Quéene brought with her the Emperour and made him to sweare to be her true prisoner and not to depart from thence without her will and leaue So the quéene tooke the Emperour by the hand in this order they went out of the Pallaice The Earle of Modique when he sawe this could not choose but receiue great griefe but he did dissemble it for that he considered that in such extremitie so valiant a Knight was néedfull and so altogether they entered into the Citie The Quéene was very gallant and pleasaunt whereat all her subiects receiued great delight and in the chiefe stréete of the Citie there was erected the Images of two Knights made all of stone of a maruelous good proportion and they had ouer them a couer like a Tabernacle very rich and well wrought because the water shoulde not fall vpon thē nor any other thing to hurt them As soone as the Emperour saw those figures he knew that the one was the Image of his sonne without reading of the supercription but when he came nigh vnto it he read the same which sayd This is the great Prince of Grecia called the Knight of the Sunne restorer of the auncient kingdome of Tinacria the abater and breaker of the strength of the most strongest Giants in all the world And going a little farther he sawe vpon the other Knight this title Prince Eleno of Dacia cousin vnto the most valiant sonnes of Trebatio the well-spring of all our quietnesse Upon this he looked with great affection and earnest desire to sée his perfect personage The Quéene did well vnderstand the great ioye that the Emperour receiued in beholding the figure of his sonne and of his brothers sonne for which cause she commanded that to be told publikely which was spoken in secret then entred into
the Emperour straight weie entered into a Foyst that was there readie with sixe oares on a side and hoysing sayles they made such waie that in a small time they had lost the sight of the Citie This faire Damosell was verie gladde and did exercise her selfe in no other thing but in seruing the Emperour In this sort they sayled all that daie and all the night till the next morning this noble Emperour saie in the poope of the Galley and by him sate this faire Ladie on the one side of whome hee asked the cause why shée brought him out of Constantinople Unto whome with manie teares distilling from her christaline eyes and with greate sighes that proceeded from her dolorous heart she said I haue tolde you noble Emperour that the force of loue hath brought mée to this extremitie wherein you nowe sée me Also I tolde you that I am Lidia daughter vnto the king of Lidia and was meruailously and daintely brought vp and much set by of my parents and now all alone with no other companie then you doo sée I goe subiect vnto this miserie The great fame of this my surmounted beautie was so spred abroade that it was the occasion that manye knightes of straunge Countryes resorted vnto the Court of the King my Father and amongest them all there was one that came from a farre whose name was called Brenio of the Countrie of Lusitania beeing of a meruailous beautie and no lesse valiauncie which did so surmount that in all the Countrie hath neuer bene séene the like and cruell Cupide I knowe not whether it was to vse his accustomed pollicies or whether he was enuious of his beautie hée stroke mée with his poisoned arrowe in such sort that I was constrained by that force to loue this vnhappie knight and therwith constrained to forget the roiall estate from whence I descended I did exercise my selfe in no other thing but thinking on his loue and determined to giue him vnderstanding thereof in as secrete wise as I could so long it lasted that I waxed blinde in loue feared that he would not vnderstand y t I loued him wherefore I did plainly declare it to him which gréeued him nothing at all but rather vnto my seeming he was verie well pleased therewith so by all meanes possible I did procure to speake with him and imagining which shoulde be the best waie I thought it good to ordaine a hunting thinking there to haue opportunitie to be alone in the thickest of the Forrest and there to ease and lighten my selfe somewhat of that heauie loue which by sorrow I receiued in giuing him to vnderstand the whole effect of my determined minde so this hunting I put in vre and tooke the mountaines and woodes and the hunts men prouided the â—ame béeing a great Hart which Hart was as in the end it proued accursed in my sight yea more worse then the shéeld of Pallas in the eyes of Medusa which made all people to desire to followe her so the hunts men followed their game with such hast that there I was left alone remaining only in my companie this knight who was halfe perswaded of my determination so I had scant well framed my eyes to content mée in beholding of his christalline countenaunce when that vppon a sodeine we were beset and betrayed of a great and furious gyaunt and with him eight knightes more in such sorte that my Brenio had not time to defend vs nor I to call for helpe and succour so that we were theyr prisoners and they carried vs and put vs into their théeuish Galley whereas straight waye they hoised saile and carryed vs to sea wée béeing without all hope of succour and there was I with greate trauaile deliuered from the hands of a vile théefe that would haue dishonoured mée And so hauing the winde prosperous to their desire wée ariued verie shortly after at an Ilande called Otono which is adioyning vnto one parte of your Kingdome whereas wée went a lande Noble Prince I did not féele so much force by my imprisonment neyther did I receiue so much griefe for mine own sorrow as I did for my best beloued Brenio who was so laden w t yrons chaines that my heart coulde not by anie meanes suffer it but I beganne to call them traitours and that they were no Knightes but théeues and robbers saying that ouer one â—lone an vnarmed Knight they haue strength to work such violence but not able to make anie resistaunce against armed Knightes And the Gyaunt aunswered Oh how simple doest thou shewe thy selfe in thinking that there is anie who is able to resist our strength and for that thou shalt vnderstande and see howe little wée doe estéeme the strength of men yea the strength of the Gods wée make no reckoning of take this Gallie and all thinges that shall bee necessarie for thy voyage and take with thée one of these my Pages and goe and séeke the Emperour Trebatio or eyther of his two sonnes whose fames are spread throughout the worlde and bring them hether and sée whether theyr strength is sufficient for to deliuer this thy knight out of prison So I put this iourny straight in practise departed and in the voyage I escaped with greate daunger to be robbed at sea by rouers and théeues so in the ende I came and presented my selfe before your highnesse The Emperour who was verie attentiue to all this which the sorrowfull Ladie had tolde him and vnderstanding the cause of all her trouble he answered Oh happie venterous knight to whoÌ„ loue hath shewed so much fauour to cause so nâ—ble as Damsell as thou art with thy trauaile to procure his libertie how much is he bound vnto thée faire Ladie seeing that thou doest deserue the praise of all other women that hath béene wounded with loue these thy déeds to be registred for a perpetuall memorie for an example to all other ladies Noble Lidia of truth I tell thee y t my departure from Constantinople was with some sorrow to leaue my Empire and subiects but now I am voide thereof am glad y t I am come to procure thy remedie the death shal be vnto me a happie death receiuing it for a ladie that is so loiall These such like reason of a perfect louer y â— Emperour expressed when vpon a sodaine they were constrained to leaue the waye they tooke by force of y â— wind which came with such gales that they were faine to take another waie which carried them vnto a desolate Iland wher by force of wether they entered into a port y t was knowen by the marriners there let fall their ankor The Emperour who was mooued with much compassion of the great trauaile of this Ladie and somewhat to refresh hir in the aire he caused hir to goe a lande and taking hir by the hande he did helpe hir out of the Gallie and they rested themselues vpon a little mountaine from which
for that it was verie necessarie néedfull and was quickly cured of that small wound which he receiued And as for them of Tinacria he willed y t they should pronounce their healths with many remedies intreat them honourablye for that he knewe verie well what they were Rubio when he came into the Citie without anye tarrying went vnto the Pallaice to declare vnto the quéene her vnhappie successe The quéene with great seueritie not showing anie sorrowfull countenaunce aunswered that he should goe and take his rest and cure his wounds saying that shée had such confidence in her Gods that they would remedie all these euills and without anie more tarrying she arose from the place whereas she was set and went vnto the Emperors chamber told vnto him all that had passed of that which happened in the next chapter I will declare ¶ How the Emperour went into the fielde with the Pagan and of all that happened in the battaile betweene them Chap. 22. WHen the quéene came where the Emperour was she tolde him all that had happened in the battaile as I haue before sayde of the which the Emperour receiued no griefe but rather he was verie well content therewith yet not shewing anie signe thereof vnto the Quéene he sayde Ladie take no griefe at this which is past and gone for that God will vndoubtedly prouide that which shall bée requisite for thy defence Commaund that I may be prouided of verie good and strong armour for that I haue so great a confidence in my God to abate the great pride of this Pagan This shall be done with a verie good will aunswered the Quéene for I will giue thée such that no strength shall bée able to pearce it the which did belong vnto the king my Father and straight wayes at the houre appointed shée commaunded them to be brought the which were of the coulour of a verie fine Rubie all to be spangled with verie delicate and glistering stars of gold and all the grauings were garnished with rich orientall pearles wrought with greate subtiltie The shéeld was of the same coulour and the fielde therof was a mightie great starre which couered all y e whole shield they were such that no Prince or Lord euer had y â— like The Emperour when he saw them he would straight of his owne good will haue armed himselfe and haue gone out into the field but the queene would not consent vnto it but they passed that night together with great ioy and pleasure which was so much that I dare not héere with my pen declare it but of this I am sure that when the Quéene departed from the Emperour she remained with child as héereafter you shal heare So when the morning was come the Emperour arose vp with great desire to goe out to the battaile and straight waies there were called certaine knights onely for to arme him with those rich armes and the faire Quéene Garrofilea did helpe to arme him and when he was armed he went out of the pallaice and at the foote of the stayres he found a very faire and strong horse who was verie richly barbed and wel shodde and calling for a horne he hung it about his neck and tooke his leaue of the Quéene and so without putting his foot into the stiroppe he leaped vpon this mightie horse and then béeing accompanied with a companie of noble Knightes he went out of the Citie not without great griefe vnto them all which praâ—ed earnestly for his returne And when he was in the field wheras he might be heard he lifted vp the visour of his helme and set the horne vnto his mouth and began to make a fearefull sound and after that he hadde done with a high voyce he sayd Thou fierce Pagan that with so greate â—ase lyest in thy bedde and boastest thy selfe that there is none in the world that can bring downe thy proud stomack take vnto thée thy armour and doo thy best to driue mée out of the fielde for I doubt not but before thou doe it thou shalt finde in me some resistance and with this he held his peace This stout Pagan which at that time was at his rest was sore troubled and could not imagine who that knight might be which was so arrogant that he durst alone call him into the fielde and desiring to knowe what he was that was so hardie he caused to bée brought before him the Earle of Mondeli the Earles sonne of Modique and with an irefull voice said Did you heare with what great pride that knight hath spoken and challenged me The Earles answered yea then he sayde Who haue you in Tinacria that is so hardie to call me to battaile with such vpprobious wordes I cannot beléeue that he is of this kingdome but if hee bée it seemeth he should be some vaineglorious foole and one of little vnderstanding The Earle of Modique aunswered I dooe sweare vnto thée O king by the souereigne Gods that I am in the same doubt but it may be that it is a knight which a fewe daies past béeing verie ill intreated by the tempests of the sea was driuen into this Ilande and béeing without armour he made such a battaile with certaine knights with so great furie and strength that béeing as I haue sayd without armour he did meruailous and heroyâ—all feats of armes where he slew many knights and amongst them he slewe a brother which I had and it may be that the Quéene béeing desirous of his libertie hath giuen this enterprise vnto him and therefore I thinke that this is he that hath spoken these arrogant wordes Well let it be who it shall be replied the king for héere I doe sweare vnto thée by Mahomet that I will make him déerely to paie this his follie and hardinesse and speaking this he heard him sound his horne againe with much more furie then at the first and sayd O vile Pagan coward and of an euill nation thou king of little estimation what makest thou wherfore doest thou tarrie why commest thou not out to take reuengement of these my wordes dispatch and come forth or else vnderstand that I will come and séeke thée in what place so euer thou abidest Oh mightie and vnmercifull wrath how is it that thou hast so much power ouer this proude African who with a hoarse voice and terrible wordes called for his armour and because it was not brought him straight waie he did intreat them all very ill which were nigh him so y t there was not one of all his knights but at y â— time would haue ben glad to haue ben far from y e place where the king was when he was armed he leaped vpon his horse with a reasonable pace hée pricked towards the place whereas the Emperour abode who when he saw him come he threw his horne from him and let fall the visour of his healme and tooke a greate Speare in his hande wherewith he flourished meruailous strongly about
her selfe to be quicke with childe at the which she receyued double paine for that it was impossible to couer or hide it séeing her selfe in this caâ—e like a womaÌ„ hated abhorred she determined to discouer her selfe vnto her subiects publikely and to deliuer her bodie vnto them to sacrifice it vnto their Gods and with this determination one daie she caused certaine of the nobles to be called before her who straight way came at her commaundement Amongest the rest there came the Earle of Modique and his sonne and the Earle of Mondeli the valiant Rubio and many other knights and Gentlemen of honour when that the Quéene sawe them altogether about her couering her selfe with a rich roabe shée sate vp in her bedde beeing so leane that all them that saw her had great compassion béeing all set round about the bed and kéeping silence she sayd Our Gods would make vs so sâ—biect vnto time that onely they doe not bring vs vnder their malitious yoake but also altogether submit vs vnder their hands to the end that they may liberally dooe whatsoeuer it pleaseth them and as their mallice is more then their vertue hauing vs so yeelded at their commaundement they dooe intreate vs lyke vnto publike slaues And so much honour is obteyned by him which is altogether vnfortunate as may be gotten by anie kinde of worthinesse Oh what base and vile things doe they cause them to doe whom they get vnder theyr winges if it were lawfull for me to speake it I might tell you many examples of them of the olde time where as fortune vsing her accustomed déedes did get vnto her self many and diuers names according vnto her strange effects Some called her Fortune venture or chance some honoured her as a Goddesse for her liberalitie others despised her as a â—iuell for her mutabilitie But what shall I say to you of her my good friends for that I cannot tell by what tearmes to name my selfe neither dooe I knowe whether she were the beginning of all my euill or that blinde Cupide who hath so cruelly handled me well which of them so euer it was they caused me to put my heart into the power of another onely for the remedie of this my Countrie for whose weale alasse I haue lost the libertie of my heart with all my wonted ioy and now indure perpetuall paine and an euer pining death I haue lost my honour and recouered shame and infamie To conclude I haue lost the libertie of a Quéene and remaine in continuall captiuitie and yet of all this I my selfe am onely in fault Therefore without making anie excuse héere I doo surrender my selfe into your powers for that you may as an euill Quéene dooe sacrifice with mée as also that which I haue in my womb For now my friends you shall vnderstand that the knight who with his mightie strong arme slew Bramarando was the Emperour Trebatio father vnto him whome you nowe honour as a God This is hée that robbed me of my honor but with my good will I must confesse and left me for a testimonie of this my euill déede bigge with child And with this she made an ende of her lamentable spéech and without anie more strength to sit vp shée fell downe againe in her bedde So when these Earles and noble knightes that were present vnderstoode all that the Quéene had sayde vnto them they were all of them greatly amazed and chaunged theyr coulours looking one vpon another without speaking any word but printing in their heartes the fault done by their quéene yet not without consideration that there remained fruite of that surmounted trée euen that Grecian which gaue vnto them great ioye and mirth in such sorte that this worthie fame had in them more force then the blot that their quéene and Ladie had receiued in her honour And with this 〈◊〉 the Earle of Modique rose vp and aunswered for all that were present saying Souereigne Ladie there is not one of vs that canno denie but that there was a fault and that you are worthie of blame for committing this fact not respecting your royall estate for the which we cannot but receiue great griefe in our heartes neither canne we denie but that in reseruing the fruit of him which hath béene the occasion of this dishonour will bring vnto vs a perticular ioye and cause great contentment vnto all your subiectes so that 〈◊〉 shall easily forget the losse of your honour and honourable virginitie Therefore waying equally the fault with the profit which shall redound vnto all Tinacria in recouering such a successour we doe finde that thou art worthie of no paine therfore souereigne Ladie looke not vpon the errour for that â—erily it was so ordained by the Gods that at that instaunt and without looking for this Gréeke Emperour came for the defence of our kingdome and for thy restoring and hath left vs this good successour which we hope shall bee deliuered out of thy wombe who shall be a defender of these thy Kingdomes and a maintainer of vs thy subiectes And héere we do desire thée to put awaie all these imaginations griefes from thy heart and to forget it and renue thy former ioye and pleasure in making sacrifices vnto the Gods that they may giue strength to thy person whereby thou mayst haue good deliueraunce of that which thou goest with which vnto vs will bée most acceptable Great was the ioye which the Quéene receiued at these comfortable wordes which her subiectes hadde spoken and giuing them greate thankes shée requested them to departe tilâ— such time as shée shoulde be brought a bedde So the time béeing néere approched she was deliuered of a verie fayre â—onne and lykewise of a daughter of a wonderfull beautie for the which there was made great ioy throughout all the kingdome they called the sonnes name Polifebo and the other young infant Rosalâ—ira The great beautie and fairenesse that was in these two infants was such that in all the kingdome they esteemed theÌ„ for diuine creatures they were nourished and brought vp with great care and honour but for all this the Quéene conceiued in her heart a meruailous hatred against the Emperour and many times she would goe vp into a towre which was towards the sea to sée if that shée looking towardes the parts of Grecia might receiue anie comfort or take any plesure but al was in vaine for the greatest pleasure comfort y t she receiued was to see these infants to be children vnto such a Father and indowed with such surpassing beautie sometimes she would sit and talke to them saying Oh figures of him who without all pittie wounded my heart left me coÌ„fortlesse with the greatest crueltie that euer woman was left withall by anie knight or Gentleman how is it possible y â— I haue the force to bring vp children of that Father who hath bereaued me of my libertie Oh souereigne Gods that with your powers haue sowed in
into the great gate of the Pallaice he saw the Serpent and the heads of the Gyants and when the King perceiued that he did beholde them he sayd This remembraunce good knight I commaunded to be put here in thy name for to be a perpetuall memorie of thy high and mightie Chiualrie The Prince there at would not aunswere making as though he did not esteme it much for that he had with himselfe no pryde And therewith they assendid vp into the great hall where as they were maruailously wel receiued of the Ladies and damsells And leauing Antemisca and Belia with the Bryde and with the Quéene hir mother in lawe he retourned and went with the King wheras they dyd intreate him with great maiestie So he remained eight dayes in company with the King in his courte for to take his ease in which tyme the most part of the kings princes and knightes were departed and the King of Silicia with the dead bodie of his brother These eight dayes past this Gréeke prince dyd take his leaue of the King for that y e time to make defence in the quarrell of the Princesse drawe on the which he had great care thereof It grieued the king very much for his departure but seing that he was constrained therevnto he would not hinder him but offered him verye great and rich giftes but the prince would not receiue any Lykewise he toke his leaue of the Quéene and of the Dutches and hir daughter who with great sorow dyd solemnise his departure The King brought him vnto the foote of the stayre whereas Fidelio was tarying for him with a mightie and rich Horse one of the furious that was to be founde in all the countrie He was a Rone coulored without any kinde of marke and trapped with very rich trapping of Golde and precious stones of great price There came foorth of the â—orse mouth two tuskes lyke vnto an Elophant his nosethrills were very large and great his head very little his breast very broade well pitched and so hard that no sword were it neuer so sharp was able to enter in thereat So whan he came vnto the foote of the stayres without letting foote in his stirrup he leaped vpon the best Horse that euer was The horse was called Zefiro for his great lightnesse When he had taken his leaue of all they departed determining â—ot to staye in any place till they came vnto Ierosolima so straight way to Mesopotamia for y t it was all one way Then they folowed on theyr iourney till they had passed all the kingedome of Nabatea without any aduenture worth the telling Likewise they passed all the mount Libano where as they founde many great and fayre Cities Also they passed ouer the riuer Iordan leauing behinde them part of Siria trauailing a longst by part of the edge of Pallestina which bordereth vpon Arabia And passed through Fenicia without any question or demaund asked of them So they came vnto y e populus riuer of Eufrates and trauailed a longst y e riuers syde till such time as they were constrained to go vpon a high mightie mountayne from whence they might discouer Ierosolima All these couÌ„tries aforesaid they passed trauailed in little more then two monethes and at that tyme ther lacked little more then two monethes vnto y e time appointed for Antemisca to make hir defence In all this iourney there chaunsed some aduentures but for that they were not of any great importance I let them passe make no mencion of them Although y e fame of his heroycall déedes was hard into Grecia And for y t my author will not seme to be tedious he doth let passe many although they are worthy to be hard and to giue good example vnto all those that doe weare armour to make them hardy couragious in their déedes ¶ How the heroycall Greke was taken prisoner by the dart of Cupide in beholding the beautie of a very fayre Pastora and of the greate anguish and griefe that he sustained Cap. 15. THat adultresse Venus the key of all libertie not hauing forgotten hir olde mischife and ill will which she toke vpon the mountaine Citareo came to take counsaile of hir sonne Cupide to determine what order she might vse for to subiect bring vnder hir amorous yoke the stiffe neck of that stoute vntamed Greke And the better for to forge to bring to passe to hir content y e worke which she had ordained she showed hir self very friendly louingly vnto y e glistering Apollo for y t at hir request he should with more clerenesse spred abrode his bright beams ouer the grene feldes nigh vnto the riuer Eufrates Who being moued by the disceitfull words of Venus did disperse abrode his burning beames showing forth maruelous enamelled coulours vpon y e flowred harbes being filled with y e clere dew such as seldome hath bene sene in the féelde And the mightie riuer w t milde quiet running did passe his accustomed iourney making a fine noise w t y e delicate breaking of his stremes Then this false crafty Cupide seing oportunitie by y e good disposition of y e place being aduertised by his disceitful mother toke his way with his accustomed lightnesse vnto the riuer wher as y e mightie Claridiano was refreshing himself vnder a company of very faire grene Mertil trées with the rest of his company tarying the comming of the night wher as w t out all feare they reioysed sported themselues y e faire peasable quiet day And for to be more at his ease he pulled of his strong helme slacked y e buckles of his armour And for that the damseâ—ls might y e better recreate themselues he put him selfe out of y e way somewhat apart from them for y t he was very curteous honest And aparting himselfe he came into a place wher as he heard the noise of a Flute which did sound very swetly for that it was very pleasant and gaue him great contentment in y e hearing y e better to delight himselfe he drew néere wher as it was in such sorte y t he might delight himself of the song musicke without being spyde of any He approched so nigh y t he might wel discern who it was that made that Flute so swéetly to sound And he saw that it was a sheperd which lay a longst vnder a grene willow trée who being wery in playing on the Flute layde it downe by him toke a Rebick began to play on it with very swete harmonie accoÌ„panying it with delicate amorous songs At the which the Prince receued great conteÌ„tment being attentiue he heard him sing as followeth SInce by thy sight O Pastora so sweete My former freedome and my lyfe doth fayle Repay me loue for that it is most meete And let not rigor in thy heart preuaile Behold myne eyes with flouds of teares that flow Forst by the griefe that from my
retourne to the storie that is past whereas if you doo remember that the Prince Eleno of Dacia entered into that barke wherein the Knight was which would haue forced a Ladye and how that vpon a sodaine their gallyes did seperate themselues so that he lost the sight of his Cousin the Knight of the Sunne and of Tefereo and béeing entered he woulde haue made resistaunce against his aduersarie for to disturbe him that he should not commit the vyolence that he had offered But vppon a sodaine they were all vanished so that he sawe neyther Knight nor Ladye nor Marriners nor yet anye other person but onely himselfe in the Barke with his inchaunted Horse neither could he sée who brought him thether and thinking to reâ—ourne again into the galley whereas his cousin was he could not finde him but looking about he discerned no other thing but the Element the water When the Prince Eleno sawe himselfe absent from his beloued cousin his sorow was very great that he receiued and began to curse all the wise inchaunters and all those that doo permit suffer them for that they were the occasion that in the world ther was so much euill done When this Prince Eleno sawe himselfe all alone and not one with whom he might passe away the time there came vnto his minde his Florisdama which was the occasion that he tourned to his accustomed sadnesse and imagining that he was in her presence he said Oh cruell Ladie which dost now reioyce thy selfe and art at ease in the Kingdome of Dacia art thou fully pleased with these my paines Art thou now pacified y t thou hast brought me into this extremitie and trouble wherein I am in the power of I know not whom and doo nauigate I cannot tell vpon what Thy cruell heart I am sure is now content séeing that without desert for thée I doo suffer so many troubles which as yet I am not certaine whether thou hast pretended or procured it shuld be so or no. Oh cursed inchaunters how many euills haue you wrought by the help of diuells so that by reason of your inchauntments many worthye Knights are brought into such like troubles as I am Héere you may sée into what extremitie this Magicall arte hath brought me so y t I can by no meanes profite my selfe of the strength of these my young armes but am héere in the power of a diuel who wil ouerthrow this barke but that which doth most gréeue me is y t I am brought into a place to dye where of my death shall be lefte no memorie but must die disdained of that cruell Lady So with great sorrowe and trouble he passed thrée dayes in the end of which he discouered a very small Iland which was in the middest of the sea The barke made thether with great switnesse so that in a small time he was fast a ground vpon the sande It was not long after that the Prince leapt a shore when he found himselfe out of the barke he looked rounde aboute him on euery side And towards his right hand amongst a company of greene trees he sawe a small tent armed Toward which the prince directed his way with an easie pace and entring into the Tent he sawe no bodye although hee remayned a while and hearkened if he coulde heere any sâ—irring but he could neither heare nor see any thing but onely he found the print of a lyttle foote vpon the sand and hée had a great desire to know whose footesteps they were for that they seemed to be of some Lady or Damsell and finding the trace he followed them and the more he went it seemed vnto him that the more hast they made whosoeuer it was that had lefte that signe which made him more earnest in his desire to see the ende thereof So long he followed that trace that in the ende he came vnto a little mountaine whereas he found scattered about yeolow haire which seemed to be threds of golde and stooping for to gather them vp he perceiued that some of them were wet with spots of bloud whereby he well vnderstoode the great anger where with they were pulled of from the head Likewise he saw in diuers places how the earth was spotted with drops of liuely bloud Then with a more desire then he had before hée went vp to the top of that little mountaine and hauing lost the footsteps he recouered it by gathering vp y â— golden haire he had not trauailed farre vp the mountaine when that towards the water side he heard a great complaint which séemed to be the voice of a woman and by the faint sound ther of he might well perceiue that they waxed wearie for that a while they would rest and be still and straight way wold returne vnto their accustomed sorrow and complaint And the words which the Prince did well vnderstande were these Oh loue now shalt thou no more reioyce neither haue any longer dominion ouer me for that gentle death wil shew me so much fauour as to finish these my sorrowfull passioÌ„s and therewith vnloose and frustrate this string of loue with the which thou hast bounde me hauing a desire to aske reuengement of him which hath bene the occasion of all this euill I haue asked the same reuengement but it hath not pleased the Gods to heare my request nay rather they haue stopped their eares agaynst these my continual complaynts and with this she helde her peace giuing a very sorrowfull and terrrible sigh The Prince Eleno tourning his eyes towards that place from whence he heard this comylaint discouered amongst certaine gréene trées a Lady who was indued with maruailous great beautie It was so excellent that it depriued him of his heart which he neuer thought againe to haue lost She was with her haire all about her eares and meruailously ill intreated by the violence that she vsed against her selfe and leaning her chéeke vpon her delicate and white hand which was all to be spotted w t bloud in many places which was constrained by the scratching of her nayles The spots was the occasion to dissolue the great passion which the Prince did féele for his Florisdama representing in his heart the figure of this heauie and sorrowful Lady who seeing her of so great beautie and in such affliction was ouertaken and wounded with the demeanour of her faire face and gréeued to sée her so euill intreated in such sort that in a sound he leaned to a gréene trée amongst many other which were vpon that mountaine cleane without any remembraunce Oh Cupide thou béeing but a boye why doost thou vse these cruell kinde of feates Who hath taught thée to vse such deceits which is the occasion of great and endlesse vnquietnes Thou dost show thy selfe to be blind and yet thou art more quicke of sight then a Hawke How is it possible that thou doost make vs beléeue that without séeing thou canst hit so right with thy arrowes and that with so
the colde earth With no lesse complaint this excellent Queene did celebrate that of the Emperour And if at that present she had seene that which afterwarde she did see as shall be tolde you in the third booke of this historie much more she woulde haue complained Then she went vnto the other side of the hall to knowe the occasion of that grieuous complaint she saw likewise y t they mourned ouer other two knights plainely she did know one of them to be Rosicleer but the other she did not know for that it was the king Sacridoro whom she had neuer seene for at such time as the queene came to Grecia he was gone to his owne kingdome to take his ease and the chiefe of those which did lament mourne ouer Rosicleer she knew to be his mother the Empresse of Grecia who with deadly griefe and anguish sayd Oh my sonne the cause of all this my bitter torment thou my sonne art in continuall rest and hast left thy sorrowfull mother in continuall lamentation Oh wounded heart what sorrowfull and bitter dayes shalt thou passe without anie contentment ah my Rosicleer wherefore wâ—rt thou so cruel that thou wouldest not call me thy sorrowfull mother that in this tâ—aunce she might haue borne thee companie The valiaunt Queene felt no lesse sorrowe and griefe to see this second companie then at the sight of the first but the lamentable and sorrowful words which the Empresse vttered did moue her to beare her companie if that at that time shée had not séene come forth at a doore which was in the hall a Ladie séeming to bée of great authoritie accompanyed with two faire Nymphs all apparelled in russet Satten pinked cut and lined with gréene Satten which coulours were verie pleasant and greatly delighted the sight And when shée came nigh vnto the quéene she sayd Knight whosoeuer thou art and doest shew thy selfe to be so furious why doest thou hearken and giue eare vnto this lamentation tell mée out of hande without anie farther delaie who thou art wherefore thou commest hether for that thou shalt vnderstand that this place is prohibited to all knightes except he first bring with him some signe or token of the braunch of y e trée wheras he who was murtherer to his owne daughter is inchanted so y t if it hath ben thy fortune to atchieue y e cutting either of the braunch of gold or siluer shew it me forthwith if not vnderstand that thou shalt die a terrible death This worthie Quéene who with a sober countenaunce gaue eare vnto the sayings of the Ladie and beholding much her great sobrietie likewise the beautie of those which bare her companie held vp the braunch of siluer in her hande and with a high voyce she sayd Ladie I woulde not haue ben so bolde to haue approched hether except I had brought with me the token which you speake off therefore I ought not to incurre the paine prouided beholde is this it which you sée and therwith shée shewed her braunch The Ladie when she knew that to be the braunch of the trée that she spake of did abate her anger that she before had and shewed a merrie countenaunce and taking her right hand from the shoulder of the Nymph she laide holde on the armed hand of the quéene and holding it verie fast she sayd Excellent Ladie many dayes past I was giuen to vnderstand of thy great worthinesse and that thou shouldest giue some contentment vnto y e afflicted hearts wherefore come with me and I will shew thée my habitation for that vnto thée the sight hath bene graunted and not vnto anie other come on Ladie and reioyce the selfe in the sight of that which héereafter shall come to passe without all doubt And in saying these wordes she carried her in at the same doore whereas shée came forth in great hast for that shée did knowe the tendernesse of her heart which was mooued by the lamentation shée heard and there shewed vnto her greate riches and verie faire buildinges but especiallye shée carryed her into a verie faire and foure square Court which had at euerie corner foure pillers and vpon the toppe of eyther of them an Image meruailously wrought and euerie one of them had his title written what it did signifie and shée tolde her that those which shée had shewed her were kings and Princes and famous Lordes that were there inchaunted And how that all that should be made frustrate by one of the best knightes in all the world who shall bring for his deuice blased on his shéelde a braunch of golde signifieng the same which she sawe in the first Court in the which was inchaunted the Emperour of Aegypt Likewise he shall deliuer the daughter of the sayd Emperour whome hée supposeth he hath murthered and shée was the fayrest Damosell in the whole world And for that in the end of the third booke of this historie shall be declared the rest where you shall receiue more contentment in the reading Lyrgandeo will now goe no farther héerein And telling vnto her these and many other thinges they went farther and passed through verie manie and fayre halls the which were adorned with the stories of the notable actes of worthie knights but in one hall in the middest of a Cloth shée sawe the Picture of a knight of a greate stature who was nine foote in height and armed with Purple armour and his shéelde of the same coulour without hauing anie deuice and his face was verie fayre The Quéene coulde not by any meanes but by sight thereof staie a while and beholde his greate beautie and felt within her heart a new and strange wrastling of loue which tourned afterwarde into an amorous fire This Ladie did well perceiue her newe imaginations and with a gracious smiling shée tooke her by the hande and carried her out of that Chamber although shée coulde not bring her out of her newe conceit shée went out so troubled that all which the Ladie shewed her afterwardes shée little respected and when she thought least shée found her selfe out of the Pallaice betweene the déepe Moate and the fayre and rich walles euen as one that had béene newe awaked out of his sléepe and tourning her selfe vnto the Ladie dissembling her newe paine she sayde Ladie I dooe not desire héere to haue gotten more honour then in that I haue obtayned the knowledge and secreate of so notable a thing as this which you haue discouered vnto mée and more to haue atchieued the desert of this braunch so that by you it be graunted that I maye carrye it with mée So the Ladie tooke the siluer braunch in her hande and made it verie small to the bignesse of a sâ—anne in length and put it vppon her healme and made it so fast and firme as though it had bene wrought in by force of workmanshippe and made it to extend the siluer leaues on the one side and on the other with great subtiltâ—e that it
was a thing to be wondered at And when she had done this she sayd Worthie and fayre Ladie the braunch is yours for that you haue wonne it and in token of thy desert thou doest carrie it vpon thy healme where it shall remaine till such time as by the hands of a fierce Lyon it shall be throwen downe leauing his heart wounded and he remaining vnto thée submitted And for to doâ— thée pleasure Ladie héere I doe present thée these two Nymphes for to bée at thy commaundement And so taking her by the hande without anie more communication shée brought her ouer the bridge to the other side of the Moat they were not so soone ouer when this Ladie did vanish awaie lykâ— the winde and the Bridge was drawen vp and shée heard within the pallaice a celestiall musicke and looking that waye whereas shée founded the horne and towardes that gate wherein she had entered shée sawe vppon the pillar that was there a Nymph of golde which seemed to bée verie subtillye wrought And presently without anie more tarrying she leapt vppon her horse which was brought thether for her likewise the two Nimphes vpon two white Palfraies which was likewise brought for them and so they tooke their waye towards the sea without any remembraunce of all that which shée had séene neither did she thinke of it till such time as she didde sée the perfect figure of that Knight which she sawe in y e hal as shall be tolde you héerafter So in great hast this quéene and her Nimphes trauayled till they were all imbarked in their Barke whereas they found in the one part thereof very rich roaâ—es The making and fashion of them and all the rest that happened shall be tolde you when time serueth and let vs now returne vnto the restâ—â—ng of the kingdome of Lira which cost the Prince Brandimardo full déere ¶ How the famous Rosicleâ—â— and Brandimardo went to the kingdome of â—ara and of all that had passed in the battaile they had with the Giaunts Cap. 29. YOu doo well remember how that the worthy Rosicleer and that gallant and newe Louer Brandimardo trauayled by sea towards the kingdome of Lira to make battaile with the Gyants that had vsurped the kingdome The time winde was so prosperous vnto them that in a short space they arriued toke land in the hauen of the great citie of Lira without any contradiction And when they were a lande they determined to sende a Page to demaund safeconduct of the Giants giuing them to vnderstand of their comming This gallant louer would néedes be the messenger and therewith mounting vpon a very faire horse he entered into the Citie and stayed not till he came vnto the Pallayce of the Gyants but went asking where there abiding was And strayght way they were giuen to vnderstande thereof by a Knight which sayde that there was a strange knight which did demaund after them comming before them without showing anye humilitie or stooping downe his head he sayd Giants ther are two knights come into the hauen of Lira to defend the right of the Quéene Archisilora and they doe send vnto you to aske safeconducte for that they may not be disturbed by any person in these kingdomes but only your selues who doo pretend by might to make you to acknowledge your euill and naughtinesse Then Mandroco who had lesse patience then the other said I doe not know wherefore these vnfortunate knights will occupy themselues in profering to defend that which manye other would haue done and yet were neuer able Goe thy wayes and tell them that they make no tarying to come and receiue their death Brandimatdo who well behelde theyr fierce disposition sawe that it was no time to spend wordes in wast but to put in practise the execution of y t which they came for and without any replying vnto their words he returned vnto the place whereas he lefte the Prince vnto whom he declared all that had past So without any more a doe Rosicleer leaped vpon his mightie horse and they laceâ— and made fast their helmes and hanged their shieldes about their neckes and tooke each of them a great speare in theyr hands and put themselues into the Citie and rested not till they came into the broad place which was right against the Pallayce Their comming thether was at such time as Bulfar and Mandroco came forth of the Pallaice all ready and prepared for the battaile and brought in their companye a great number of Knights At that time the place was very full of people who desired secretly in their hearts that the straunge Knights might winne the victory that they might be cleare and at libertie from that great subiection in the which the Gyaunts helde them the which they thought to be almost impossible considering the great worthinesse and strength that was in the giants And when they wer altogether in y e place Mandroco with a milde voice sayd Miserable knights at such time as you offred your persoÌ„s vnto y e quéene Archisilora with whom did you thinke to haue battaile that you gaue credite supposing your selues to haue sufficient force to execute your wils Wherfore if you doo now thinke your selues deceiued we shall be héere content to set you at libertie of your former promise with condition that you shall goe and tell her that she ought to send Knghts of great prowesse and strength and not such as you are Then Rosicleer sayd Thou art very much deceiued Giant in y t thou saist for we did very well knowe with whome we shoulde haue battayle and were fully informed thereof and purpose to take the head from thy body in satisfaction of these treasons which thou dost vse The anger and yre of the Giant was such that without any more tarrying with great fury he turned about his horse and his father did the like y e two Knights also did the same And when they were right the one against the other at the sound of sundry instruments of warres they ranne the one against the other in such sorte that not one of them missed his blowe but made the shiuers of the speares to flye in very small péeces in the aire without receiuing any griefe So they altogether returned with their swords in their handes Rosicleer encountered with Bulfar for that he found him next at hand and pressing vnto him he stroke at him very great and heauie blowes and the Gyant rendered him the like With no lesse furie pressed Brandimardo against his enimie making a very furious well foughten battaile At this time the fierce Bulfar séeing the great resistance of his aduersarie threw his shéeld at his backe and his sonne Mandroco did the like both together they stroke such blowes at the knights that without féeling it caused the horse of Rosicleer to giue a tourne in the place and the like happened vnto Brandimardo Héere his vnhappy fortune would that his horse should carrie him thether whereas Bulfar was who
entred into a faire large court were by the Lord of y e Castle receiued w t great loue wheÌ„ he saw y t Claridiano was of so goodly proportioÌ„ he greatly meruailed To whom Libernio sayd Lord friend from this daie forwards thou shalt not need to haue anie feare of this thy enâ—mie for that he will no more returne to trouble you for this knight whom thou seest before thée hath slain him made an end of his daies not this giant alone but also those furious gyants Tartaros Oh souereigne Gods sayd the olde knight of the Castell is this possible to be true which I doe heare and that my fortune is so good to receiue into my house the Knight that hath done so valyaunt actes We shall quickly sée whether it be true or not for y e euerie night this diuell commeth giuing terrible shrikes for that he should quickly depart I doo command to throw him prouision out at y e highest window of this Castle and yet he is not content therewith by reason of his great pride but he is so euill inclined that if he méet anie of our people he pardoneth none but killeth them You may from hence forth cease your feare sayd Claridiano for I promise you that he will neuer more trouble nor gréeâ—e you So with such reasonings they went vp into y e castle where they wer meruailously well receiued by a Gentlewoman wife vnto the knight of the Castle whose name was Marmariton likewise of two sons which he had proper young men So straight way the â—able was commaunded to be couered and that they should sitte downe to supper whereas they were serued very abundantly for the Knight of the Castle was a very rich man none richer in all the kingdome of Nabatea who could not satisfie himselfe in beholding the great grauitie and seuere countenaunce of the Prince and his faire and well proportioned body So when they had made an end of their supper for to passe away the time till they should goe to take theyr rest The Prince sayd vnto the Ladie which he released out of prison It shall be good faire Ladie now that you are at liberty and out of all daunger that you doe tell vs the occasion of your imprisonment and how it hath bene if so be that the declaring doth not trouble you The Damsell aunswered Of truth my Lord this will I doe with a verie good will and if it were but onely for to giue you contentment and it is great reason and iustice for that you did put your person in greate daunger for my deliueraunce You shall vnderstand gentle knight that along the huge and mightie riuer of Euphrates towards the Orientall partes there is a mightie Citie called Ierosolima the which is not far from the head of the said riuer on the other side of the riuer towards the Sunne setting is there another Citie called Sabiosa of these and of other cities and townes there about my Father is king and Lorde euer The Gods who were so pleased for to inrich mée not onely of goods but also of beautie fairenesse more then anie other in all the kingdome or in a great part there abouts the fame of my great beautie was published in all places which was the occasion that there repaired vnto my fathers Court many Lords knights of great estimation amongst whome there came one young knight and a straunger who was naturall of the kingdome of Tigliafa and Lord of the Citye of Zina and he béeing in loue with me and I lykewise of him and before that eyther of vs could manifest our loue the one vnto the other ther passed a long time but onely by our outwards showes we did declare each to other the abundance of our hearts and signes of loue the which indured many daies So it happened vpon a daie going to recreate my selfe in a Forrest there by amongest the swéete hearbes and odoriferous flowers harde by the riuer side of Euphrates which caused in my minde all kinde of amorous thoughts and I carrieng my yeolow golde haire all dispearsed behinde my cares couering my backe vpon a sodaine amongest the thicke trées I sawe a verie faire Pastora which was combing of her haire sitting vnder a faire and gréene Myrtlâ— trée And héere my Lord I doe certifie you of a truth that in all the worlde hath not bene séene the lyke she hadde féeding by hâ—r a fewe shéepe by her lay her shepheards hooke and her bagge hung vpon the Myrtle trée I know not what to saye but that the trées and hearbes did reioyce to sée her beautie I coulde not but staie and reioyce my selfe in beholding so goodly a creature with her yeolow golden haire dispearsed all abroade which did reach vnto her féet for that she was set down her golden haire did couer all the swéet hearbs there about her by reason of the great heat of the Sun she had her neckenger turned downe vpon her shoulders whereout did appeare her verie white and christalline necke my Ladyes and damsells were no lesse amazed to sée her great beautie beléeuing that she should be daughter vnto the Gods no earthly creature but fortune who is so mutable would not suffer me to inioy long so beautifull and ioyfull a sight but being without feare in this sort as I haue tolde you vppon a sodaine there came behinde me y e Prince of Nicea before y t I could make any meanes for to disturbe him in great hast he tooke me fast by the arme and with a trice he lift me vp and set me before him on the saddle bowe of his horse and in great hast he put himselfe into the thickest of the Forrest my Gentlewomen and maidens remained giuing great shrikes but it little profited for that the prince of Nicea made such diligent hast that in a verie short time he entered with me into a barke in the riuer of Euphrates who carried vs so far as we came wheras he ioyned vnto the riuer Tygris wheras we went a land and crossed ouer the mountaines of Libanos wheras we wer taken of that furious Gyant which was first slaine at one terrible blow he slew the Prince and me he carried vnto y e prison whereas you gentle knight did finde me heerewith she helde her peace giuing a great sigh in remembring her euill fortune and all the rest remained wich great sorrow griefe to heare this lamentable discourse but Claridiano was more attentiue vnto the report of the fairenesse beautie of the Pastora then vnto all the rest At this time was y e houre of the gyants comming past which made the Lord of the castle beléeue the death of his cruell enimie to be true receiuing great contentment thereat he declared vnto them of meruailous and great feasts triumphes y t were preparing to be made in the citie of Nabatea at the marriage of y e prince of Nabatea with
countenance and said Héere thou hast before thée they whom thou dost demaund for beholde vs well and let not thy youthfull courage deceiue thée giuing enterprise vpon that of which the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio would make doubtfull therefore looke what thou doest determine and giue vs our aunswere and that quicklye The Knight of the Braunch in the meane time that Rodelando was saying these wordes did verie much beholde and viewe him and it séemed vnto him that hée was a Knight of greate valour but yet for all that his strong members did not dismaie him but with a graue spéech and seuere countenaunce he aunswered If thou hast so much haste to knowe my determination héere I doe saye that in the accusation that thou hast put against Clarentina thou doest lye lyke a false Knight and that thy cosin lyke a cruell murtherer doth deserue the death for killing of his owne Brother committed by his owne handes who was more worthie in all respects then he is Then Firidefonte with great fury answered and sayd O vile ribalde howe can I suffer so greate euill to bée charged with that which that naughtie woman hath committed and caused to be done if thou wert not before the Emperour it should cost thâ—e full déere and out of hand thou shouldest haue thy payment for this great lie but yet I doe comfort my selfe for that verie quickly I will bée reuenged on thée I cannot declare the great anger which the knight of the Braunch receiued for that he tourned vp the white of his eyes and all his face waxed wanne and blacke and trembling with very anger moouing his pace he sayd I doe promise thée thou traitour that I will make thée with thy owne mouth confesse this great treason which thou hast committed and if it were not but that I am before so high an Emperour héere in this place without going anie farther with my fists like a vile traitour I would make thée to confesse it Héere Firidefonte had no patience to heare these things spoken to his face but like a tyger he leapt vnto him and wrapped his cloake about his arme and drew out his sword and went against the knight of the Braunch This worthy warriour thereat made no kinde of mouing but did abide his coÌ„ming making an outward shewe of the greate valour of his heart Firidefonte did strike at him with his sworde but the knight of the Braunch stepped on the one side and made him to loose his blow so that his sword stroke on the ground and like vnto the winde he closed with him and stroke him with his hands on the breast with so great furie and strength that without hauing anie power to saue himselfe he gaue a great fall backwards to the ground Rodelando séeing that on the best side entered to him and did imbrace him and held him verie strongly betwéene his armes Then this gentle knight drew out his swoorde and hauing his arme aloft he stroke a blowe the which chaunced vpon a young man called Polio of Velduque sonne vnto the Duke of Velduque and that cruell sword did light vppon his head and cutting it in two parts the young man fell downe dead to the ground Nowe was it not requisite that the Tinacrian should remaine in the armes of Rodelando but with great strength he did ruste him selfe threw him from him At y t time the whole Court was in a tumult for the death of Polio and euerie one drewe out his sworde and did verie sore assalt the knight of y e Branch but he with his sworde made such a slaughter amongest them that they did verie well feele and vnderstand the valiantnesse of his heart the great noise crieng out of the Emperour neither his emperiall presence was sufficient to appease them At this time the Emperours gard came into the hall who were coÌ„manded that with their halberts they shuld indeuour to part them then the Emperour went to lay hand on Firidefonte the beginner of all this tumult but he putting himselfe in defence went forth of the hall so likewise did Rodelando y e Emperour séeing that laide hand on the Bauiero who with great humilitie did obey his Lord he would haue done y t like vnto Poliphebo but he put the point of his sword before him said Kéepe your highnesse backe for that I am none of them that so lightly wil be taken prisoner take put in prison thy owne vassalles such as hath had little respect vnto thy presence let not them which are not of thy kingdome pay for this thy anger The emperour very angry said If my vassalls are in the fault they shall haue theyr punishment thou also if thou dost deserue it therfore yéeld thy self to prison if not vnderstand that it wil be to thy cost I know not what will fall out héerein said the Tinacrian but w t my good will neither you nor all yours shall triumph of my imprisonment before that this doth come to passe I wil make more then one thousand of them that do pretend to take me prisoner loose their liues Then the Emperour with a loude voice commaunded to fake him at which wordes all the whole gard together pressed at him but this valiaunt knight did determine that in spite of them all he woulde cléere and set himselfe at libertie there did he begin to doe wonderfull feates of armes breaking and cutting a sunder those sharpe Halberts and killing and wounding that it was terrible to beholde All the people feeling and séeing the effect of his rigorous arme did giue him waye and let him goe tyll hée came to the stayres there they beganne to assault him a newe with verye much people and amongest them some armed knightes The Knight when he sawe that he coulde not passe in quiet he was cleane without anye patience and not fearing death but forgetting pollicie he firmed himselfe and throwing his shield at his backe he tooke his sword in both his hands and layd about him on euerye side lyke vnto a furious Lion he pressed amongst the people cutting killing and wounding for to haue way to descend y e staires At that time was the Knight in great perill for that those which were before him did persecute him with the sharpe poynts of their halberds and likewise those which were behinde him did the like in such sorte that the Knight béeing on the staires could not tourne himselfe at his pleasure but yet all that euer they did did little auaile or profite them for that with the great furie which he had he pressed vpon them that were before him and what with killing and wounding he forced them to giue him way to descend downe y e staires where hée founde many people fallen downe with the great hast they had to flye from him And when he saw that hée could not passe by reason of the people he gaue a great leap with wonderfull lightnesse he passed ouer the