by loue for which cause and for that she would at some time take ease of her sorrowe and paine she doth commaund vs to sing our louing and amorous songs who doth solempnise our swéet and loiung vearses with teares distilling from her sorrowfull eies Then Eleno asked of them who was the occasion that the quéene without hauing anie power to remedie her selfe should suffer such like torment The shepheard did declare vnto him all that hath bene tolde you in the storie past of the Emperour Trebatio and of all that passed with the Quéene Tarido who of all this had no care but onely to the féeding of his cattell did breake off this conuersation in rising vp to put abroad his Cattel into the gréene medowes the other shepheardes that were in companie with Tarido desired that the night wer come for to returne and to reioyce themselues in hearing the swéet and well consorted musicke of the Prince so they made agréement to returne to y e same place but it fell not out as they had determined for that vppon a sodaine and vnawares Eleno heard a verie dolorous sigh towards his left hand which was so terrible heauy and bitter that it made him giue attentiue eare to sée if he coulde vnderstand what it should be and with the quiet eare that he gaue he might discerne that the occasion of all that euill was loue which caused him to say Oh almightie God I suppose that this is the place wher in olde time they reported to bée planted the dwelling of the Goddesse Venus for that since my comming hether to take my rest I haue hearde no other thing but lamentations and so with making the least noise possible he arose vp and began to goe towards the place whereas he might sée what it was and there hée behelde a knight verie well armed which thou didde alight from his horse vnder a fayre and gréene Myrtle trée his armour was all russet and full of barres of blacke stéele which shewed to be a verie sadde sorrowfull and heauie enamelling hée was somewhat of a bigge stature of bodie and well proportioned and there séemed by his disposition to bée in him greate vertue and with sorrowfull sighes hée laide himselfe downe on the gréene grasse and with sadde and heauy words he sayd Ah heauie and peruerse fortune why doost thou consent that so naughtie and euill a man as I am doe liue so long Oh my Lidia with how much reason maist thou complaine of the cruell outrage that thou receiuedst at the handes of Brenio béeing nothing of him considered O Brenio Brenio whereon was thy thought vnderstanding which did induce thée to commit so great euill in leauing all alone and without comfort the thing of whome thou wert most beloued in the world giuing and leauing her vnto the will of the wilde and furious beasts It is possible indéede that they will haue more compassion on thee my Lidia then he who had more reason to comfort and loue thée Oh cruell and without all faith thou wert born into this world for thy own torment when with thy selfe thou didst consent to commit so greate treason Where was thy vnderstanding that thou couldest not remember thy selfe take pitie on her that did forsake her affinitie and Countrey for thée and thy loue O Lidia who made me to forget all the great paines and trauaile which thou tookest in wandring by lande alone lamenting and sometimes by sea sorrowing and all for to set at libertie him who lefte thée prisoner amongst the wilde beastes Oh happy beast is he that chaunceth to bury thée in his belly and woe be vnto me traitor without any knowledge of vertue or pittie What doth it now profite me to fill y e aire with my lamentations séeing that the harme and euill is alreadie past and without all remedy or hope of comfort héerewith he gaue a terrible and grieuous sigh so held his peace Don Eleno by those heauie and sorrowfull wéepings together with his reasons which he heard knewe him to bée that Brenio whom so long time he had laboured to séeke and find out with so great trauaile and knew him to be the causer of the death of his Lady and Mistresse the paine and sorowe was so extreame the which he felt that he was constrained without anie féeling to fall down to the ground but yet the furie of his couragious heart woulde not giue place that he should so remaine long but straight wayes with the great anguish that he had he arose vp againe on foote with great desire to fight with Brenio but calling to remēbrance all that which was commanded him he would first performe the same in giuing him the letter and then when hée hadde made an ende of reading the same to demaunde of him battaile So with this thought and determination he went vnto the place whereas Brenio was who when he heard the noyse straight wayes on his féete then Eleno did salute him with a voyce somewhat heauie And Brenio did return vnto him his salutation with no lesse showe of griefe Then this amorous Eleno tooke forth the letter out of the place whereas so long time he had kept it and taking it into his hand he sayd Is it possible that thou art y e forgetful and disloyall Brenio the which left Lidia with so great paine and sorrow all alone in the power of the wilde beasts Brenio when he heard him to saye these words he began to behold him although his eyes were all to be blubbered and wearie with wéepings he aunswered him and sayd I will not deny thée gentle Knight that which the high heauens doth cōplaine of Thou shalt vnderstand that I am the same Brenio whom thou hast demaunded for Tell me what is your will and what it is that you would haue Eleno aunswered him Oh ingratefull Knight without all knowledge and vnderstanding what diuel was that which put in thy thought to commit so great villanie take héere vnto thée and reade this letter the last worke of the faire and white hand of Lidia The prince was so troubled in his thought and so much grieued that it was almost the occasion to dissolue the soule from his body This penitent and sorrowfull Lusitanian put foorth his hand somewhat trembling in such sort that béeing constrained by force to take the letter the same force by weary meanes did constraine him to sit downe on the ground without any farther power to the contrarie whē he opened the letter he knew it to be written by his Lidia who with great alteration of heart and minde did read it the which was as héereafter follolloweth The Letter THe infortunate Lidia and thy mortall enimie Brenio doeth send thée health although of her part there is no power to giue it thée neither able to moue her selfe for that in thy respect she hath it not neither hath she any hope thereof Oh Brenio wherefore didst thou consent that so
himselfe with this â—oung Claridiano by the hande and sayd O good and bountiful king héere I do present thée a prâ—sâ—ntâ— y e greatest that euer was presenteâ— vnto any king 〈…〉 thée this childe looke vnto him as thou wouldest looke vnto thy owne person for you shal vnderstand that this is he that shall restore you into your kingdome and shall set you at lybertie from this subiection in the which you now are in and shall put me in my kingdome taking it out of that tyrantes handes who doeth now inioye it therefore O king doo not forget to doe this which I haue tolde thée for if wée dooe lacke or loose this remedie all the hope that wée haue in this the restoring of our kingdomes is lost The king which in the wordes of the Gyaunt had great confidence giuing vnto him great credite tooke the childe by the hand and set him vpâ—n his knée and kissing his faire face hée sayde Ah my good friend where hath béene séene a thing of so great beautie and of so fayre and perfect proportion it is not possible that amongest humane creatures shoulde be anie such but rather some of the Gods hath descended from aboue and hath ingendered him And héere I doe sweare by that which I doe owe vnto the deseruing of the mightie Apollo to haue him in possession and to intreate intertaine him as though he were my owne proper and naturall Lord and thinke my selfe in this dooing to be the most happiest king in all the worlde and thou my friend in the meane time procure to kéepe thy person from the most cruell dogge whome I dooe thinke is feared of the high throne of the supernal Gods one thing there is which onely doth gréeue me put me in greate feare which is that I would not we should bring vp so tender and faire a youngling as this childe is for to be a praye héereafter vnto so cruell and monstrous a beast as he Then the Gyant answered and sayd O king put thy selfe out of all doubt for hée shall not onelye abate the courage and furie of this great and sauage tyraunt but also in hearing him named all the countrie shall be in a feare quake trauaile therefore in no other thing but to bring him vp with all the maiestie that thou maist for thou shalt vnderstand that he is sonne vnto the most valiauntest Prince in all the worlde at which wordes the childe was in a great dumpe and blushed in such sorte that his face séemed to bée a Rubie so the Gyant tooke leaue of the king not without great sorrowe to a part himselfe from that young Prince The king tourned and gaue the childe againe to Formisa his Nurse vntill such time as he came to the bignesse and stature to exercise himselfe in learning and in feates of armes the which hée didde in so short time that it put them in great admiration that did teach him for that in lesse then the spare of thrée yeares he was so experte in both of them that they neuer hearde in times past of anie lyke vnto him Moreouer in speaking of all manner of languages hée was so perefect that it séemed how that all his lyfe time hée had béene brought vp in the place where eyther of all the languages were spoken His vnderstanding and pollycie was such in all manner of thinges that not onely the king but all others were perswaded that hée was the sonne of some of the Gods by reason whereof they did vse him with such reuerence as though hee hadde béene a thing sent vnto them front heauen And when he came to be twelue yeares olde hâ—e was of such greatnesse that hee seemed to bée twentie yeares olde his height was according vnto the mightinesse of his members which were excéeding well proportioned perticularly he shewed in his countenance a great grauâ—â—ie and sober disposition verie little talke but when hée spake it was with great discreation and his wordes verye well placed verie full of humilitie and if at anie time hée were angrie as verie seldome hée was it was in such sort that béeing blinded therewith he respected nothing The wise Artemidoro sayth that if this anger doeth procéede of base things it were a great vice and that it woulde ouershadowe and darken all other vertues that a man was indued withall but he sayth that it did not come vnto him but by too much force of the heart and that it was alwayes accompanied with reason which did nothing at all hurtâ— him but rather did the more exalt his déedes and if it did chaunce at anie time that hée were angrie in looking on them that were present he put them in greate feare Besides this hée was verye pittifull for that manye times hearing talke of anie terrible cruelties he woulde weepe for the compassion he had thereof The king which euerie daie did see his mightinesse and vertues more more increase thought himselfe verie happie to haue in his power so precious a iewell Manie other things I coulde tell you héere of the noblenesse of this Prince according as the wise Artemidoro doth discouer but the successe of his worthie father doth cause me to change my stile to tell you of his high and mightie deedes ¶ Of the great paine that the Prince did sustaine for the absence of his cosin and how he had battaile with a certaine knight that was verie dolorous through loue of all that which chaunced heerein Chap. 17. THE griefe was verie great which the Grecian Prince receiued for the sodaine absence of his cosin but he did comfort himselfe for that hée vnderstoode that the vessell was gouerned by the art of Lyrgandeo and perswaded himselfe that it was conuenient for that which should succéede and so dissembling his sorrowe in the best wise he could he went onwardes his voyage verie desirous to sée land purposing that if he went alande béeing on firme lande not as then to goe anie more to Sea and béeing still in this determination hee sailed forwardes two dayes The next daie following when that the Sunne had runne a greate parte of his course they sawe comming towardes them a greate Boate or Galley of which the winde with his blustering gale did fill theyr sayles and also it was roweâ— with foure Oares on a side and hadde the Sea lykewise fauourable vnto them and the Princes shippe lost her waie for that the winde was against her and therefore they stroke their sailes and made a staie intending to sée what was in the other Shippe drawing nigh them they hearde the sounde of a Harpe which made a meruailous sweete and pleasunt noise in the eares of all the hearers And beholding with good aduisement they sawe that within their boat they brought hanging at the mast an image which séemed to be of siluer of a meruailous great beautie with this title written thereon Floriana the daughter of the Duke of Cantabria Ladie of all the beautie of the
all his euill déedes and workes and without tarrying for an aunswere he lifte vp his sword all to be bathed with the bloud of the dead Gyant and stroke at him so terrible a blowe that hée gaue him to vnderstand very well the strength of his mightie arme The Giant who felt the blowe to be very strong drew out from his side a broad and heauie sword and stroke at him such a blow that almost it brought him to y e ground if it had not bene for the great force which he put in firming himselfe in his stiroppes which was the occasion that in a trice he setled himselfe againe in the saddle séeing himselfe so euill intreated he pressed towards him and began to laye on him so sharpe and strong blowes that he made the sparks of fire flie out of his armour and although he was meruailously occupied in striking of the Gyant yet did he not forget to haue alwayes an eie vnto Chariot wheras the captiue Ladies were to sée if they did procure by anie meanes to do them harme or damage and he sawe that they went about to take them out of the waggen and to put them a land for to imbarke them which made him to make more hast in his battaile and knowing the strong enimie that he had before him and inraged with that sodaine sight to sée them imbarking and that if they should carry them to sea then by no meanes he could neither fauour nor succour them he receiued so great wrath that he threw his shield at his backe and tooke his cutting sword in both his hands and went vnto the Giant on his left side and firming himselfe in his stirrops he stroke him so terrible a blow that he made him to â—ull vppon his beastes necke without anye remembraunce and to void at his mouth and nose great abundance of bloud and without anie tarrying he spurred his horse and in great hast he went towards those knights that had those Ladies in kéeping began to sturre himselfe amongst theÌ„ in such sort that when they remembred themselues to make resistance there was thrée of them slaine then all the rest ioyned themselues together put backe to backe made a round circle with their swords in their hands to make their defence At this time the prince Eleno had forgot the great vertue which his horse had but because he wold not y t they shuld kill him he alighted from him the which was the occasion that he put himselfe in great trauaile and perill notwithstanding with the great anger which he had he pressed in amongst them stroke wounded them on euery side without taking anie rest y t it was a wonder to sée and he so besturred tossed his cutting sword vpon them that made resistaunce y t he made them to know and féele his great strength although that they were chosen valiant knights they did not let to intreate him very euill in such sort that many times they made him to stoope féele the griefe of their blowes notwithstanding the courage strength of Eleno was such y t in a very short time he brought twelue of them to the ground before him The marriners which sawe the great furie that was in that one knight in great hast put of their barke from the waters side and with the feare which they had likewise to be there slaine retourned vnto their shippe forcing their barke with the great strength of their armes striking in the water with their oares and when they came to the ship they called aloud giuing making a great noise vnto the rest of the knightes that were in the ship which was to the number of twentie that they shoulde come and giue aide and succour to those which were a land for that some of them were slaine some verie sore hurt and other some standing stil in their defence In the meane time this furious Dacian did so behaue himselfe amongst them in such sort that quickly he had cléered himselfe of all those if at y e present time y e Gyant which was before astonied beside himselfe had not come wheras they were for being come againe vnto himselfe and sawe y e great perill wherein he was brought I cannot nor am not able to declare héere the great and vnmeasurable furie the which hée had and it did the more increase in him when he saw so many knights slaine and dead onely by the power and strength of that one knight his wrath was so greate that he began to cry out against his Gods and alighted from his beast toke his sword into his hand and with a furious pace hée went towards whereas the Prince was but when the valiant Eleno sawe him he could not but thinke that he shoulde passe great trouble with him notwithstanding for that he sawe no other thing but death amongest those barbarous and rude people he did determine to sell his life verie déere had good regard vnto the blows which the Gyant shuld strike at him and in the best wise he could he cléered himselfe from them In this sort went this valiant knight maintaining his quarrell damnifieng his enimies when opportunitie did serue and alwayes had a good hope to cléere himselfe of that battaile although that there were come a land thrée and twenty other knights against whom he made his defence at his plesure for that they feared his terrible blowes and had hurt wounded them in many parts although the wounds wer not very great for that he could neuer fasten on them one blow to his contentment At this time there came another Gyant a shore out of the barke which had remained in the ship and with him came other twentie knights and thirtie men with hatchets and other weapons which made great hast to come a land At such time as this warlyke Dacian was intangled in battaile with the other this gyant came before all y e rest and stroke this knight behinde him so terrible a blow that it made him to bow both his knées to the ground but his mightie courage which in such like chaunces alwaies recouered strength with great hast a valiaunt heart he put himselfe a foote againe and looking about him to sée who it was that so tormented him he sawe that it was a mightie and terrible Gyaunt who with a greate clubbe was readie to giue him the second blowe the Prince with good aduisement did put himselfe a part from the force thereof and made him to spend his blowe in vaine and tooke his sworde in his handes and pressed vnto the Gyant before he could defend himselfe and stroke him such a terryble blowe vpon the right knée that he cut it a sunder in the middest and the heauie and fierce Gyant fell dead to the ground At this time all those that came out of the ship pressed on him for to kill him that by reason of their thicke and
fortifie themselues in such sort that all agréement notwithstanding we should neuer retourne to Lyra againe And so vnderstanding their imbassage I determined to come to this Court whereas I doo vnderstand is all the prowesse and flower of Knighthoode in the world So héere I present my selfe noble Emperour before you and all your Knights in asking fauour and requesting helpe to reuenge vs of so great wrong as we haue receiued and thus she finished hir talke and with great wéeping she held her peace This noble Emperor receiued very great sorow griefe to heare this lamentable tale that the Ladie tolde and to see that faire young Damzel so dispossessed of her right by such extreame tyrannie and with a milde countenaunce he aunswered Noble Dutchesse since that thy good fortune though the efficient cause thereof be to too badde hath brought thée there where with all good will ye shall receiue succour and comfort I request you to take your rest and be quyet and leaue of this your mourning And although ther be knights in this my court that are able to comprehend such enterprises by their great prowesse and strength yet I do looke euery day for them to whom I may commend greater affayres to be done then these wherfore rest you a while till two doo come of whom I haue more dominion ouer to them will I commit this charge There were many knightes present that would very faine haue offered themselues to this enterprise but hearing the pretence of the Emperour they durst not in anie wise attempt it but kept silence Then this dutchesse began to tell them of all the successe that happened vnto her knightes by the knight of Cupide Unto whome the Emperour sayde that knight is one of them to whome I will commit the charge of your combat and I am right gladde that the seruice he shall doe you in this enterprise shall bée the occasion that you shall forget this anger that you haue against him So with these and like reasons they drew néere the Citie whereas straight waie they began to prepare all things in a readinesse for the departing of the Emperour Alicandro and in a short time all things béeing prouided this Emperour béeing also readie with a verie good will entered the ship and carrying with him the Prince Meridiano and his welbeloued spouse and the Troyan Oristedes he taking leaue of the Emperour with a better countenaunce then his heart would consent vnto committed the sailes vnto the winde and with a prosperous voyage they went a land at Tenedon whereas we will leaue them for to tell you what chaunced vnto the Empresse Claridiana who was verie sadde for the absence of her spouse and likewise to sée her selfe so great with childe although in the great hall she continually shewed a merrie countenaunce So it happened one daie being in conuersation with the Empresse and the quéene Lira there entered into the great hall the worthie Prince Clauerindo all armed with his accustomed harnesse and leading by the hande a verie faire Damosell all apparelled in blacke veluet and after her there came other nine faire Damosells all apparelled after the same manner This Damosell if you doo remember is shée whose kéeper Rosicleer did kill which was the Prince of Mesopotamia y e knight which came to her at her complaint sorrow was Clauerindo who in greate secret followed the knight of the Sunne and because of the great confidence that he had in the friendship of Zoylo he promised her fauour succour for the which this faire Ladie who was daughter vnto the king of Tiglia came in this order as you shall heare In the meane time that all this happened there chaunced a thing of verie greate admiration which was that the Tartarian béeing at that time in the hall as the Damzell entered hée made a great noise without anie more tarrieng neither was there anie that could stay him were he neuer so strong but running forwardes as a man distraught hée went out of the Pallaice The sorrowfull Ladie séeing this fell downe to the grounde as though shée had béene dead And Clauerindo beholding the ingratitude of this Tartarian woulde haue followed him but the wise Lyrgandeo stayed him and woulde not suffer him to goe saying They should let him alone for that all they shoulde procure to followe him should bée in vaine And so retourning vnto the Ladie he practised such remedyes that verie quickly shee retourned to her selfe againe and then promised her such remedies as shoulde in the ende restore her to rest And when the Barbarian Ladie did knowe who he was she did meruailouslie reioyce So this Tartarian went to the sea side and with great diligence imbarked himselfe in a shippe that was there readie fraughted for Spaine which he did in such great hast and diligence that before Bargandel and Lyriamandro could tourne themselues the shippe had hoised saile and yéelded her selfe vnto the winde the which was the occasion that these two did the like in taking another ship who sailed after the first with determined purpose with all their powers to procure that this Tartarian should returne againe whome we will leaue now sayling on their voyage for it is necessarie for our historie to relate other matters in this Chapter Let vs returne therefore to the Emperours court The Empresse Claridiana séeing her time at hand to be deliuered with childe was verie sadde and knew not what to doe but in the ende of many thoughts she determined to decypher all her secret vnto a maide she had who was called Arcana to whō she did disclose all the secrets of her heart This Arcana séeing the great friendship and curtesie that the princesse shewed her in opening her secrets more to her then to anie other and had a more trust in her then in the rest kissed her roiall hands and promised her to be no lesse secret then dilligent in all her affaires So they determined betwéene themselues and did prouide as it was best for their purpose to bée continuallye alone and without anie companie but that which did most trouble and gaue greatest care vnto the Empresse Claridiana was for that shée did not knowe to whome to giue the charge of nursing that which shoulde be borne of her yet the maiden who was verie wise subtil and discréet had ordained all things in good order for she had in great secret disclosed it vnto a verie honest matrone of the citie saieng that she was the partie that should be deliuered and gaue vnto her verye largely of gifts and iewells with promises of a farther benefite for to keepe her counsell therein It was not long after when that with great paine and griefe this noble Princesse was deliuered of a verie faire sonne daughter béeing of so great beautie that it was wonderfull to bée séene The sonne had vnder his left side a meruailous verie strange marke which was a speare of such a firie prospect that it made
acceptable in thy heart Onely for that I will not displease thâ—â— I will with myne owne proper handes open this my louing brest and sprinkle the bloud therof round about these thy ingratefull feete Oh what paine and sorrow was in the heart of this faire Lidia when she spake these wordes vnto her ingratefull Brenio and yet not one of all hir sorrowes was sufficient to cause him to shewe anie kinde of comforte vnto her With these and such like extremities the night passed away and when the lightnesse of the daye had entred in at the windowes of the chamber he arose from his bed and likewise this sorrowfull Ladie which had passed all the night with heauie wéepings and sorrowfull sighes without putting of hir clothes in such sort she went out and followed him The Emperour was then risen and readie and was putting all things in order that was necessarye to pacifie and make quiet the people of the countrie the which was done with great ease when it was knowen that their Lords wer dead whom they did without all measure hate for that they were so great tyrants and foure great Cities beside manye other faire townes and villages did yéelde and surrender themselues vnder his iurisdiction The Emperour caused them to sweare to receiue Rosicleer as their true Lord and they to be his faithfull subiects and with them likewise all the whole dominion the which they did with a verye good will and the Emperour appoynted a gouernour amongest them to gouerne all the land All this béeing finished and that the Ilande was in peace and quietnesse he commanded to make readie two galleyes the one for the faire Lidia and hir Brenio and the other for his owne person for that hée would depart for Africa So all things was prouided presently in good order and being readie the Emperour commaunded the faire Lidia to imbarke hir selfe and to carrye with hir hir Knight who straight waye went aboorde the galley and commaunded the marriners to take their course towards Spaine Likewise the Emperour did take his leaue of all them of the Castle who for his noble customes and valiaunt Knighthoode after that they knewe who he was they both feared and loued him with all their hearts And when he was imbarked in the galley he commaunded the marriners to take the way towards Africa What is he that could signifie by any reason the small contentment and ioye that the faire Lidia receiued in beholding the lad and melancholike countenaunce that hir Brenio continually shewed who without speaking any word sayled on till they found themselues in the Ponticke sea wheras continuallye it is accustomed with his furie to terrifie those which doo nauigate that way So there arose a mightie and great tempest which was such that it caused y e gâ—â—ley to tumble and tosse from the one parte to the other in great perill and daunger Thus they remained three dayes three nights in this great danger the fourth day they wer driuen a land at a small Ilande vninhabited that was called Rees This Ilande was hid in the sea very farre from anye lande and was poynted with very great rockes Ther they came to an anker with their galley and for to refresh and ease themselues of their great trauaile which they had passed they went a lande and commaunded to raise vp a fayre Tent which they brought with them and therein they made a bed whereon Brenio laye downe to ease himselfe and this faire Lidia leaned on the bed side by him and was somwhat in quiet for that she sawe that the sadnesse of her Knight was a little abated And by reason of the great paine and dolor that she had receiued and the vnquietnesse in the tempest and againe for the contentment she had to sée her Knight in better quiet her wearied body required some rest in such sort that as she was leaning on the beddes side she fell a sléepe This false Brenio when he sawe her at rest and in a sound sleepe in great secret he arose from the bedde and went vnto the waters side whereas he had lefte the galley and entering therein he commaunded all those that were alande to imbarke themselues and to hayse vp the sayles and wold not by any meanes tarry til that the seas were calme but rather did put himselfe in y e peril of these furious waues then to inioye the swéetnesse of this faire Damosell and lefte her all alone in this desolate and vnpeopled Ilande Oh Neptune that gouernest â—he seas let loose thy furious outragious waues and sinke so vnnaturall and inhumaine a Knight and suffer him not to liue that vncourteously did leaue this louing Lady in this distresse who for his deliuerie had put her selfe in all this trouble This sorrowfull ladie still sléeping dreamed that there was a great and fierce wilde man which stood before her with a very sharpe sword in his hande making as though he would kill her and shée was so troubled with the great feare that she receiued that she gaue great shrilâ—es and called vnto her Brenio for aide succour and as she thought with his handes he stopped his eares for that he would not heare her and séemed that hée would not mooue himselfe in any respect This dreaming ladie seeing this determined to make her owne defence so well as she could it séemed vnto her that there appeared before her a Centaure which said feare not faire damsell for I am come hether to aide succour thée yet for all that this wilde man did not let to strike her vpon the breast and as it séemed to her her breast was all open and how that the Centaure put his hand into the wound and pulled out hir heart and threw it at the wilde man and sayd Take vnto thée this heart y t without all consideration loued a man which with such ingratitude hath rewarded her So straight at the same instant there appeared a Knight which likewise layd holde on the heart with the wild man and they two striued greatly betwéene themselues with much contention who shoulde pull the heart out of the others handes but in the end each of them remained with his péece in his hand and the hearte parted in two So the péece which remained in the power of the wilde man tourned into a harde stone and that péece which remained in the power of the knight tourned into red bloud and being in this great perplexitie this sorrowfull ladie did awake thinking to haue tolde this terrible dreame vnto her beloued Brenio but she found him not in place and tourning her face to the other part to sée if she coulde sée him but she could neither behold him nor any other person of whome she might enquire Wherewith she leaped from the bed and with a loud voyce she began to call for hir Brenio but all was in vaine So with a swift pace she went down to the waters side thinking to haue found him there But
there at hand they sate downe and did eate of such as the Damosell had brought with her So in this sort they passed the time till they thought it to be the houre to goe vnto the defence pretended so when the time drew nigh they perused their armour in all pointes and armed themselues and leapt on horse backe Tefereo if it had not séemed vnto him to bée a point of cowardlinesse wold haue procured to haue disturbed this battaile for they against whome he shoulde fight were his kinsefolkes but yet he thought that he was more bound by the order of knighthoode to kéepe companie with him with whom he came and to resist such like wronges in the defence of truth and iustice then to haue anie respect to his kindred and especially in such like false accusations Hee therefore determined to dissemble it and say nothing so with these and such like thoughtes they went forwardes till they came into the citie vnto the place appointed for this battell whereas they found the Princesse set vpon a scaffolde all couered with mourning robes of great sadnesse which did declare and shew her great sorrowe and vndeserued trouble So likewise all the whole scaffolde and all the Ladyes and Damosells that came with the Princesse were couered and apparelled correspondent vnto her attire The king was at a windowe of his Pallaice with no lesse sorrowe and sadnesse to sée his honour put vnto that blemish as it was And that which gréeued him most was that not one knight in all his Court durst giue the enterprise yet was there present all the whole companie of the knightes of his Court. So these two Gyaunts and the other knightes came armed into the place with verie fayre and strong armour and mounted vpon greate and mightie strong horses sauing the greatest of the Gyauntes for that there was not any horse that coulde sustayne so mightie and huge a waight wherefore he was mounted vpon an Elephant So looking round about the Prince sawe on the other side of the fielde the Knight with the gréene armour which he had fought with all in the Barke béeing at the Sea as I haue tolde you who was in a readynesse to make the battaile in defence of the Princesse This knight there by had hanged vpon a péece of timber all the Images that he brought with him in such sorte as they were hanged in his Barke the which when the Prince saw that the Image of the Dutchesse was aboue that of the empresse his anger did so increase that he had cleane forgotte wherefore he came thether and spurred Cornerino his horse with so much furie that by his force he made the grounde whereas he came to tremble and shake And when he came vnto the place whereas the Images were hanging he with his strong arme laide holde vppon the deuice and brake the chaines wherewith they were made fast and swinged it about his head with such greate strength that hée made them flye to the highest partes of all the Pallaice the which was done in such great hast that when the knight with the greene armour was come to disturbe him it was too late for that his Ladye was â—lowen vp into the ayre whereat he receyued so much anger that without anie more adoe he threwe his shéelde at his backe and with both his handes he layde hoâ—de on his sworde and stroke the Prince such a terrible blowe that he made him to fal backwards on his horse crouper without anie remembraunce and with the great strength wherewith he stroke him he made his horse to stoope vnder him Cornerino being somewhat amased at this terrible blowe carried his master rounde about the field but before that the knight with the gréene armor could double to strike him againe the Prince was come vnto himselfe and setling himselfe vppon his horse backe being firmed in his stirrops with greate furie he threw his shéelde to the grounde and tooke his swoorde in both his handes and pricked Cornerino towardes the place whereas his aduersarie was who was likewise in a readinesse to discharge his blowe so both of them together discharged each vppon the others helme with such furie and force that the Prince of the Sunne was constrained to fall vpon his horse necke as though hée hadde bene dead for that neuer blowe that euer he receiued before that time did bring him to the like perplexitie but onely one the which he receiued at the hands of Rosicleer when he had battaile with him Lykewise the knight with the gréene armour did nothing aduance himselfe of his déede for the blow which he receiued was so terrible that he fell from his horse to the ground and the bloud issued out at his month and nose with great abundaunce and he stretched his armes and legs vpon the sandie ground as though he hadde bene altogether dead The king and all that were with him were very much amased to sée that so cruell and sodaine a battell should happen without knowing the occasion wherfore And more they did meruaile imagining a little by the tokens of the horse who that knight should bée which hauing his enimie for so valiant a knight in so short time had brought him into such extremitie Now when Tefereo did sée the Prince thus put to his shiftes and in such great necessitie and howe that hée laie vpon his horse necke without anie remembrance hée began to crie out vppon fortune and with great furie he drew out his swoorde and went against the defenders of the euill accusation and called them traytours although they were his brothers children Héere you may sée what great force and strength the truth hath that although they were his brothers childen yet he did procure their deaths for that they came out of their owne Countrie into a straunge and forreine lande to defende treason The sonne of the Earle of Prouince was y e first that did offer to put himselfe forwards to whome Tefereo gaue such terrible and strong blowes vpon his helme that without remembraunce hée made him fall to the ground as one that were dead The Gyants when they sawe themselues so ill intreated both of them set spurs vnto theyr beastes and drawing out their great and sharpe cutting swoords they did procure to hurt him with theyr heauie and terrible blowes In this contention the valiaunt Sardenian did shewe his mightie and strong courage with greate pollicie and cunning nowe striking at the one and then at the other and alwayes prouiding to let their blowes slippe aside without receiuing anie harme and such was his pollicie and lightnesse that in a great while they coulde not fasten one full blowe vppon him Nowe was the knight of Prouince come to himselfe and séeing himselfe on the grounde and his enimie so couragious betwéene these two mightie Gyauntes he approched vppon the one side whereas Tefereo coulde not sée him and cut off one of the hinder legges of his horse the horse when hée felte himselfe
went about the field The Moore had well thought that the Emperour had bene dead and stoode still and sayd Well I doe beleeue Emperour that thy promise shall be in vaine and mine shall fal out true At that time the Pagan spoke the truth for that the Emperours promise did not fall out true so straight way he came againe to himselfe and saw that he was so ill intâ—â—ated with one blow alone he turned and recouered his sword with great ire and wrath he threw his sheeld at his backe foamed at the visour of his helme with verie wrath that he had euen as an arow driueÌ„ out of a â—ow by y e hands of a Sirian so he pressed himselfe vnto the More sayd Tarrie thou diuellish Pagan tarrie for héere I doo promise thée that by one blow alone I will take awaie thy life for that thou with one blow didst depriue me of my vnderstanding And thus my rude pen waxing wearie and verie desirous to take his ease as also my hand being gouerned by that Nymph Caliope causeth me to make an end of this first parte for that in the second part hauing refreshed my selfe and gotten newe courage I may goe tearing of the skies and the troublesome waues not resting till I come into those concauits where as Vulcan doth commaund the Cyclopes hammers for to giue a new aduise vnto this workman which neuer will be wearie and that he be in a readinesse ioyntly with fierce Mars to assist me to declare the new deeds and acts of knighthood contained in the second booke of this part The end of the first booke of the second part of the Mirrour of Knighthood The second Booke of the second part of the Mirrour of Knighthood Of the Prince Claridiano how the king of Arginaria sent his brother to the king of Taprobana and of all that happened to the messenger with the Prince Chap. 1. AT that time as the warlike Moore in the supremacie of his triumph and power had blased his famous feates of warres most worthie of memorie and causing that actiue Vulcan onely for his contentment shoulde double the Smithly rumour of his forge for to animate his artificers with his rough and hastie callings that they might with more furie moue and strike those restlesse hammers vpon the laboured and well beaten Anfield At that time did the mightie prudent Pallas spread abroade her streamers with a peaceable blast holpen by the fresh Fauonio or west winde ouer the great and renowmed Iland of Trapobana the heroycall sonne of that renowmed Alfebo or knight of the Sunne nephew vnto the magnanimous Emperour Trebatio being in the same as it was told you in the first part of this historie who was nourished and brought vp vnder the power of the king Delfo excelling in all beautie and fayrenesse so much as euer nature bestowed on anie humane creature there lacked nothing in him but onely the knowledge of Iesus Christ for in that hée was brought vp amongest Pagans he knew him not Hée was so indued with vertue and mightinesse of courage that the wise Lyrgandeo thought it best to holde his peace and to bée in quiet referring himselfe vnto his workes as in the processe heereof you shall vnderstand therefore he will saie little at this time but onely he was one that God had indued with many graces and good gifts that the Pagans did account him to be one of their Gods The king Delfo did make so much of him that he woulde not at anie time let him departe one minute from him He brought him vp with greate maiestie vntill he came to fouretéene yéeres of age and at that time whosoeuer had looked on him wold haue iudged him to haue ben of more yéeres according vnto the high stature of his bodie for there was no knight although he had bene a gyant that could be equall with him not only in his height but also he was so well set and knit double membred conformable At which time this great Giant vsurper of y e great Arginaria when he sawe himselfe so mightie a Lord his pride so much increased that he was not consent with that Ilande which with so great peace quietnesse he did possesse but coâ—eâ—â—â—snesse increased so much in him that he likewise would be Lord ruler ouer other kings Princes whose countries were adiacent wherfore he determined 〈◊〉 take into his power the Iland of Trapobana had no sooner thought thereon when straight waies he woulde put his desire in practise taking for his quarrell y t he had denied their tribute which they were wont to pay him and so without anie more counsell he commaunded to call vnto him a brother of his a mightie giant although nothing so strong as he himselfe and when hee came before him with a proude and terrible voice and with a great maiestie he sayd Bruno take vnto thée two galleyes let them be meruailously well furnished go thou by force of winde smiting the sailes likewise by good gouernment that they may make the better diligence for thy nauegation being holpen w t those knottie oares to cut by force those deep waters not taking anie rest till such time as thou art a land at Trapobana or wheresoeuer the king Delfo is vnto whom without anie humilitie thou shalt say from me That seeing his hardinesse hath bene such to denie me that which the Gods if they did reigne or dwell on the earth were bound â—o giue me if he doe not now send it me with a new confirmation of his subiection that by the omnipotent Iupiter I doe sweare to giue him such correction that when it is hearde throughout the worlde they shall all tremble shake This Pagan and youthfull gyant without anie more tarrieng prepared for this his departure Of all this that had past was Galtenor aduertised by his learning hauing wel vnderstood the whole secret it moued him in great hast to cause a cloud to descend out of the aire into the which he did put himselfe wherein he was carried in verie short time to the Citie of Trapobana and without giuing knowledge to anie person he went vp into the kings Pallaice whereas he founde the king and the Prince walking vp and downe in the hall talking of matters of pleasure who with the good entering of Galtenor hadde their ioye and delight doubled The king shewing greate mirth and pleasure did aske him saying What is the occasion of this your comming my good friend vnthought or vnlooked for it cannot be without some newe and straunge thing In the meane time whilest the King was speaking these and such lyke wordes Galtenor had the Prince in his armes who receiued such ioy to see his great beautie fayre bodie and good disposition that â—ee was blinded therewith and hauing the Prince Claridiano in his armes he forgot himselfe that hee was before the king and the king seeing him in that traunce procured to
Fathers name was Cosdros he was one of them that was slaine by the handes of Bramarandus whom afterwardes the Emperour Trebatio slew in battaile So I remained all alone very much made off well beloued of the widdowe my mother and we kepte our selues in a very faire castle of ours not far from this place whereas we did passe our solitary liues So I was required of loue of a Gentleman more richer in goodes and landes than in linage or vertue and I vnderstanding his litle estimation did alwayes esteeme him as little and neuer made any reckoning of his messages the which was the occasion that his desire was the more stronger in such sorte that he séeing himselfe by me not estéemed but put off with the great griefe that he receiued for my loue he dyed and at the houre of his death he neuer left naming of Felina the cause of all my harme At such time as he dyed there was a brother of his present and hearing him to declare the causer of his death there kindeled in him so much anger and wrath that he bare vnto me a perpetuall hatred and did procure to haue amends for the death of his brother So it hapned on a time that I went out of the Castle without any mistrust in the company of other two damsells at which time I was stole away by him and other foure Knightes who broughte me vnto this place which is to my great sorrow and gréefe whereas they bound me in that sort as thou hast found me gentle Knight and not content héerewith but for my more paine and sorrow they left me naked with greater desire to die then to liue This Ladye coulde not let but to associaâ—â— her tale with great lamentations wherein this Dacian did beare her company and sayd Of truth sorowfull Lady fortune hath vsed with me great liberalitie to bring me hether in this time for to set you at libertie from this great captiuitie and to make reuengement of thy honour and héere I doo offer my selfe and doo giue vnto thée my fayth of knighthood to perfourme it or to loose my lyfe This faire Ladye was somewhat comforted with the offer of the Knight and gaue him great thanks for the fauor which he did offer her In this sort they passed the rest of the night that remained till such time as the Sunne of Tona did shew his glistering face spreading all abroad his golden beames accompanyed with y e swéet and rosalyke Aurora at which time they were all readie a foote for to goe onwards on their waie straight wayes they heard amongest the thickest of those trées a still sound The Prince being verie desirous to knowe what it was and comming thether he saw that it was his horse the which was brought thether by the order of the wise Lyrgandeo from the place whereas he lefte him at such time as hée did imbarke himselfe The Prince receiued great delight at the sight of him and taking him by the bridle he leaped on his back and went to séeke the Ladyes Palfraie which was let loose amongst those thicke trées and they found him feeding in a faire and gréene medowe adorned with many fresh and swéete flowers So his page leapt on his backe tooke the Ladie behinde him and trauailed through a narow and well beaten path which brought them into a broad waie that carried them into a verie great and large plaine at 〈◊〉 the ende thereof there was a verie faire Castell and in the middest of the plaine they sawe foure knightes which came towards them and when they were nigh together the one of them sayd Tell me knight who made thée so bolde as for to vnloose this Ladie from thée place whereas she was made fast What is this that thou askest sayd Eleno is it possible that thou art hée that forgetting all the honour that thou doest owe vnto the order of knighthood madest fast this Ladie The knight anâ—wered sayd I am he that did it hée that will take awaie thy life from thée in recompence of thy great boldnesse to vnloose her So without anie more tarrying the Prince Eleno turned about his horse towards him When this sorrowful Ladie â—awe him y t was the occasion of all her euill she leapt downe from her Palfray began with a new sorow her gréeuous lamentation Those foure knights came all against y e prince some with their speares he y t had none came w t his swoord in his hand with great furie one of the foure who thought himselfe to be more valiant theÌ„ all y e rest came formost with his sword in his hand all a high stroke him a mightie blow vpon his helme with all his strength but this Dacian Prince made little account thereof and passing by he stroke him a blow vpon his shield and for that his blow could extend no farther he remained with his life otherwise it had cost him the price thereof for it parted his shield in two péeces The Knight returned and gaue him another blow that it made the sparks of fire to fly out of his healme Then the Dacian full of yre let goe his shield and clasped fast his sword in both his hands and stroke him so terrible a blow vpon his helme that he cut helme and heade in two péeces and he fell down dead to the earth The other seeing their companion dead all thrée together set vpon him but this valiant Dacian who in such like aduentures neuer had any feare did receiue them with his accustomed furye striking on them both on the right and lefte hand with mortall blowes In the meane time this afflicted Lady when she sawe the Knight dead which caused her dishonour lyke a furious Lionesse she went towards him and sayd Oh howe the gods haue giuen thée thy paiment for the dishonor which thou hast done me yet she said O heauie Felina what doth this reuengement profite thy honour being lost it were very great riches vnto me that by the death of him which hath robbed me of it it might be restored me again Oh my gods I am in no falt in the loosing of my chastitie for that it was violently taken from me in the thicke forrest There shall be none able to disturbe but that I will execute my fury vppon my selfe although I doo not deserue the same and in saying these words she tooke the sword of that dead knight and put the poynt to her breast and threw her selfe thereon in such sort that Fabio could not succour her although with great hast he would haue done it The Dacian Knight casting his head on the one side and saw the harme done he pressed forwards with great furie and yrefull wrath and lifte vp his sword and stroke such a blow at one of them vppon his right arme that arme and sworde together fell to the ground and strayght tourned vnto another and with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke him on the making
sea side whereout many times for my recreation I issued in companie with many Ladyes and Damsells which were with me to beare me companie so it chaunced one day when I was abroad in my accustomed recreation sport I was beset with this infernall companie who carried me into their mightie and strong shippe in this order as you doe sée me whereas I did no other thing but lament and bewaile my sadde and heauie misfortune So the first Gyaunt which you did kill séeing me make so great lameÌ„tation with louing and amorous wordes did procure to comfort me and did offer me that all which was my will to be done he wold fulfill the same and I séeing his greate curtesie and agayne that my remedie was so farre from me vpon a sodaine ther came a thought into my minde which I supposed to be verie good and requisite for to redresse my harme griefe and I desired of him to graunt me a boone this gyant did graunt me my request and the rest did promise to fulfill all that I would aske them and my demaund was that they shoulde carrie me vnto Grecia vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio and that they should for the space of twentie dayes defend my beautie and fairenesse making a challenge agaynst all other These Gyants by reason of theyr great pride didde thinke it good to accomplish my request the which they did graunt vnto me in such sort y t no other thing coulde disturbe them And straight waie commaunded them of the shippe to take the way towards Grecia wheras fortune hath brought vs and this morning we did disimbarke our selues at the point of a land which is héere at hande and for that they did seeme verie wearie and ouertrauailed by sea they did deâ—erminâ— to carrie me all the rest of y e waie by land till we shuld come vnto Constantinople but now whether it was my good fortune or their great pride I know not that wold not consent that they should come thether but first they should heere end their dayes And being in this discourse they saw a great number of people comming towardes them which séemed to be householde seruants or such like who came with all theyr beastes laden with victualls and other necessaries who were all seruants vnto those Gyaunts and when they came nigh the place and sawe that wonderful spectacle of their masters euen as you sée the small birdes howe they will hide themselues amongest the bushes briers and thicke trées from the sight of anie rauenous foule euen so did all these seruants of those vile Gyaunts hide themselues in the thickest of the woods and mountaines of the Forrest fearing the like intertainment This valiant Moore when he sawe the sodaine flying of them without hauing anie care of them and making little reckoning he tooke that gentle Ladie in his armes and set her vpon her palfraie and he himselfe without putting foot in his stirop leapt vpon his horse backe with great lightnes and tooke their iourney towards the place whereas y e others had left their ship into the which he entered with great spéed verie ioyfull of his good hap straight waie he commanded to hoise vp their sailes to take the waie towards Mauritania whereas we will leaue them for to tell you the great discontentment that the valiant knight Claridiano had by reason of his long tarrying in the Iland of Trapobana O omnipotent God I doe desire thée to giue me wisdome discretion to declare the great worthinesse of this young knight for without thy helpe I do not finde my selfe able for to set forth so many and so meruailous feates of armes as was done by this worthie knight as in this chapter following and in all the rest shall be declared ¶ How Claridiano was verie sad and sorrowfull to see that he was an armed Knight onely for to doo one worthie feate of armes and what pollicie he did vse for to absent himselfe from the king Delfo Chap. 8. LOng time haue wée forgotten to speake of that valiant Prince Claridiano sonne vnto that famous Emperour Alphebo and of the excellent Claridiana who in the Ilande of Trapobana we left somwhat troubled which was the occasion that his couragious heart did finde it selfe greatly oppressed and especially for that his valyant déeds should be kept close and not come to light and be spread abroad in y e world for to show his mightie strength and worthy courage the occasion of his let was the greate perswasion of the king Delfo who would not loose his companie putting before him for excuse his young and tender age procuring him to tarrie and not to trie himselfe in aduentures till such time as he should haue the full age of eightéene yeares This young knight thought the time to be verie long which was the occasion that he was verie sadde and sorrowfull in such sort that his fayre and beautifull face had lost part of his naturall and liuely coulour and dayly hée did exercise himselfe in no other thing but to goe to the sea side and there to set himselfe vpon a rocke hauing no other contemplation but to beholde how the water with greate furie and force did strike and beate vpon the sayd rocke So after long time vsing this disport it chanced on a daie at such time as the Sunne had made an ende of his iourney hée saw at the foote of that Rocke a Dwarfe who with an outragious and irefull voyce sayde Don Claridiano of Grecia what doest thou thinke that the hardnesse of that Rocke is sufficient to blaze thy fame and to get vnto thée honour No of verye truth but with thy armour and trauailing through the worlde thou shalt obtaine valour as thy predecessours haue done before thée it had béene better thou haddest neuer bene an armed Knight if that onely in one valyaunt déede of armes thou doest imploye thy time Therefore I saye aryse vp O Greeke and procure to finde out thy royall bloud and generation from whence thou doest procéede and let not thy descent lye hidde neyther thy prowesse vnknowen Hée had no sooner made an ende of his spéeches but that vppon a sodaine hée vanished cleane awaie and was not anie more séene The sorrowe and heauinesse was verie much which the Prince then felt in himselfe in hearing the wordes and reasons of the Dwarfe and the more when that hée vnderstoode that hée was not sonne vnto him whome he alwaies thought he had béene the which caused his courage greatly to alter within him and made him to saie Unfortunate that I am what doe I make héere amongest those which are not of my lignage I had thought for certainetie that I had beene with my Father and kindred and nowe I doe sée that it is to the contrarie and that I am kept in this Ilande lyke a weake and sillie woman O Galtenor séeing that it was thy pleasure that by my handes thou shouldest bée restored vnto
in a short time it brought them to the waters side And being a land he saw that it was an Iland and very fragrant for that towards the Occident there appeared but little playne ground and towards the Orient a verye high sharpe Mountaine So when the Barcke had fyxed it selfe a shore he vnderstode that there he must go a land and taking his horse with great lightnesse he leapt into the saddle and Argolio folowed him And they trauailed into a narrow way which led them vp vnto that croked Mountaine followed that way till they came to the height thereof whereas they alighted for to refresh themselues with that which the squire brought And for that I haue great néede of fauour helpe to go forwardes with this historie here I doe desire the Muses to graunt it vnto me that I may with more courage declare that which followeth in the other Chapter ¶ How that Rosicleer founde in that Iland the sonne of Aliâ—andro leading a troublesome lyfe with his faire and welbeloued wyfe who was set at libertie by Rosicleer Cap. 16. AFter the noble Rosicleer had somewhat refreâ—hed himselfe he toke his horse and by little and little he began to go vp that fragrant hill till such time as night came vpon them and for the great darknesse therof they wer constrained to stay not to trauaile any farther But in a little plain place that they found they alighted whereas they found a caue and in it the manner of a bedde declaring that some body had bene ther so ther they remained all y e night till y e morning The day being come they retourned to prosecute their new begun iourney neuer rested till such time as they came to the top of the mountaine from wheÌ„ce they did discouer a very great delectable plaine in y â— midst therof ther was two great an high Pine trées towards which place they went But they had not gon far wher they saw a pillar in the which was grauen certain letters which said The glory of Fangamadan vpon the subiection of the Prince sonne vnto the mightie Emperor of the Scitas of the couragious Troyan Let none be so hardie as to loke vpon it for that for so doing he shal lose his lyfe Rosicleer was in a great coÌ„fusion not vnderstaÌ„ding what shold be ment there-by but trauailing in y e path forwards he had scaÌ„t passed y e place when y t he hard a terrible fearful shryke of a beast such that his horse was scared began to struggle in such sort y t he was constrained to retourne againe and to lyght on foot gaue him vnto Argolio the knight did prosecute his way on foote Within a small while after he heard y t they tourned gaue such an other shrike y t it made him for to stay And as you do sée y e feareful Hart when he doth heare the noyse of the hunters doth hold vp his head deuising on euery side to heare from which part the noyse should come euen so dyd this knight but he coulde not deuise nor sée any creature but went forwardes on his way in the same path till he came vnto a little mountaine whereas he founde an other piller such a one as the same before in the which was written a tytle w t these words He who doth fynde himselfe of so great courage strength doth procure to passe forwards for to deliuer the worthy Meridian the mighty Troyan vnderstaÌ„d that in payment of his folly hardinesse he shall lose his lyfe Let ther chaunce what will happen sayde Rosicleer for this feare shall not cause me to staye the vsing of all my power strength for so high a prince And so without any staying he went forwards He had not gon far wheÌ„ he came to y e sight of a thing of great coÌ„passion grief wher as was done the greatest crueltie y t euer was hard done to any person which was that in y e middest of y e plaine ther was two high mightie trées a little distaÌ„ce the one from y e other in the midst betwen them ther was hanged a man hauing each arme tyed vnto one of the trees by the wrystes and the cords wherwith he was bouÌ„d was two long small serpeÌ„ts the which did not onely serue for to tye his wrists but also w t their heads they reached vnto his neck breasts whereas they dyd byte him in such sort y t they made him ful of holes His féete likwise was tyed vnto those trées w t other two serpents who entreated him as y e others did Likewise ther was vpon one of those trées a Uulter who at sundry times desceÌ„ded down w t hir sharp hard bill she picked his belly opened it vnto y e guts whereon she fed which was y e occasion y t this vnhappy man gaue this terrible shrikes w t out resting At the foote of those trées ther was a fierce serpent w t wings who was the keper of y e tormented man The which serpent was of more then .xv. foote of leÌ„gth had but two féete which was in y e midst of hir body eche foote had fiue clawes which were great sharp She had on hir head two great hornes sharp gored with them as a Bull doth out of hir mouth she had two great tusks hir wings shewed hir to be of great lightnesse And about .xxx. paces froÌ„ hir was an armed knight of a large high stature he lacked no armour from the head vnto y e foote He had hanging at his neck by a string of gold a very rich and wel garnished sword who when he saw Rosicleer with a hasty large pase he came towards him and when he came nigh him he sayde Tell me gentle knight what doest thou séeke here in this place of great harme and daunger therefore retourne backe againe for that thou canst not finde here any other thinge but death Rosicleer in the meane tyme that he was saying these wordes he was beholding his face for by reason that he brought the visor of his Helme vp he might well perceiue and dyd playnely sée and perfectly know him to be the couragious Prince Oristedes and Rosicleer aunswered him sayde Thy words are not agreable vnto thy person and estate worthy Troyan neither is it for such a knight as thou arte to perswade me to â—ake this counsell and to leaue to show my selfe of what lynage and bloud I doe defend likewise what I am bound by order of Knighthood to doe The feare of death shall not cause me to moue backe one foote This Troyan dyd laugh at that which Rosicleer dyd saye sayde well seing that thou dost esteme thy selfe of so great valoure procure to ouercome me And in saying these wordes with great lightnesse this Troyan leapt in with Rosicleer and with his strong armes he clasped him about the
had left her shéepe in a gréen place féeding she went and sate downe in a place not very farre from thence where Filipensio and his company were and when she was set downe she pulled off a knit caule from her head where in was wrapped her haire letting it fall and dispearse it self all abroad her backe and taking out from her white christalline breast a combe she began to kembe her haire her hands and fingers séeming to be of white yuorie All this did this vnknowen Filipensio beholde and was in that perplexitie that he did occupie his vnderstanding on no other thing but in beholding of her The discréete Pastora Galismena did well perceiue it for that he was in a dumpe said neuer a word Then she with her hands stroke him vppon the breast to call him to remembraunce and sayd Gentle shepheard hearken and giue attentiue eare vnto the swéete verses which the amorous shepheards will sing and let not this new sight so trouble thée And therewith Coridon tooke his Rebecke and began to play very swéetely and song these verses as followeth Faire Pastora cease off delay with speed declare the certaintie Whether thou wilt my loue repay if not then know that I must die I Wish for life that I might thee adore and largely show the loue to thee I beare And if that thou offended seeme therefore with speede by speach let it to me appeare Which done then know that for a certaintie thy sentence giuen I am preparde to die Thou well dost see or plainly maist perceiue that long time since I had thee in regard Frame not thy lips thy louer to deceiue with scoffes and scornes returne not thy reward Which if thou doo I neuer will replye But meekely yeeld as readie prest to dye And héerewith he made an ende of his sorrowfull and grieuous song and then another Shepheard began to sing with a meruaylous and swéet voyce those verses following Reward not him that loues thee with disdaine Least Loue at length repay the like againe EXtend not force against the yeelded wight shun not his sight that seeketh thee to serue Thy willer well reward not with despight forget him not that fauour doth deserue Neither triumph in his tormenting paine Least as thou meatst Loue measure thee againe Redresse my paines O Pastora full faire the heauens my hart thy sight may them perceiue Let not my hope be dashed with despaire for then thou wilt my corps of life bereaue Offend not Loue by laughing at my paine Least like for like he render thee againe With great griefe this sorrowfull Menalcas made an end of his song and after him there were other shepheards that sung many songs full of swéete amorous vearses y t which for y t I will not séeme tedious I do let passe but y e last shepheard of all called Alphesiueo sung these verses following WHat needeth threats gainst him that is a thrall O rurall Nymph whose rigor doth excell Ponder my fault and thou shalt finde it small Yea nought but this that I doo loue thee well Hard breasts they say doo tender hearts inclose I know it true and finde it to my smart Ah Pastora thy selfe art none of those thy breasts are soft but stonie is thy hart The shepheardes did well vnderstand◠for that alwayes Alphesiueo was the last of all the companye that did sing that the Musicke was whollye ended But yet the slower of all shepheardes had not vsed his amorous exercise but so soone as Alphesineo had made an end of his song Filipensio tooke his Lute and plaide so swéeltly on it that all the shepheardes of the riuer were amazed not knowing who it should be that newly was come to wrastle with Cupide and when they heard him plaie they all resorted vnto that place where he was and put themselues round about him for to heare the better Caiserlinga had straight waie in her eares that new and vnaccustomed musicke who turning her selfe vnto Galismena said Me thinks that to be a new shepheard that doth begin to plaie It is truth sayd the Pastora for that yester night somewhat a parte whereas hée was we heard him plaie and the better for to reioyce our selues of his swéete melodie my brother and I went vnto y e place wher he was taking his rest but if at his musicke you haue admiration you will much more meruaile at his gentle disposition and graue countenaunce I neither know nor can declare it vnto you faire Pastora but the Gods haue vsed in his bodie and proportion all their knowledge and power Whereat the faire Pastora arose vp and taking Galismena by the hand she sayd Come sister and let vs goe and recreate our selues at his musicke and faire countenaunce and so they both together went whereas this new Shepheard was the other shepheards when they sawe her come they all arose and put themselues a parte and gaue her place with so great reuerence as vnto a diuine creature This new shepheard at that time had néede of all his force to vpholde him and not to leaue his begun musicke the which when he saw the Pastora was much increased in delicate swéetnesse and they being in this conuersation there chaunced so high matters as well in Tinacria as in Grecia that I am constrained to leaue the pleasures of Venus and tourne vnto the furious force of Mars ¶ How that Polifebo because his mother the Queene of Tinacria would not giue him the order of knighthoode went secretly from the court and of all that happened in his iourney Chap. 23. THE valiaunt Eleno wée lefte in Tinacria with greate ioye to haue set at libertie so excellent a Quéene and with no lesse sorrowe for the sodaine departure of his cosin who did no more but put Brenio in his Sepulcher in such sorte as in the third part of this historie shall bée tolde you So straight waie hée entered into a Barke the which in short time was put into the maine and wide sea whereas they were sodainly taken with a storme and by the force thereof they were driuen vppon the coast of Fraunce where he was constrained to take land and taking a narow and straight path which he sawe he followed the same which brought him into the wildernesse of Ardenia nigh vnto the fountaine Disamore who séeing the cléerenesse of the water alighted from his inchaunted horse and washed his hands and refreshed his face with that water and dronke thereof till such time as he had satisfied his desire and when he had dronke and well refreshed himselfe he sate downe vpon an olde roote of a trée that had bene cut downe and felt within his breast an alteration of new desires as shall be tolde you héereafter and for that I am constrained to returne vnto Tinacria I do leaue him in this order Poliphebo seeing himselfe a man of sixtéene yéeres of age with so stout an heart and manly a courage requested his mother that shée woulde commaund
same héere I do deny al your powers I do determine to honor y e God my father doth who wil not reward me so ill as you do and I doe acknowledge and confesse him to be the true God and you all full of mockings liberall in promising and slow in giuing from this daie forwards be assured y t I will not aske you of anie thing neither wil I accept any thing from your vile hands These and such like wordes sayd this new knight was in such anger that neither Page nor Marriners durst speake vnto him but to giue him contentment they rowed a pace towards y e bark whereas that dolorous woman went So in this â—ort they trauailed all the rest of the night that remained till such time as the daie began to be cléere and straight waie they discried land to which place with great hast they rowed till such time as the barke was a ground so this angrie young knight presently leapt a shore Masedonio carried his healme but hée tooke neither speare nor shéeld with him the Marriners folfowed him carried such victualls as they had they found no vsed way but one narow path the which they kept and it brought them vnto a mightie greate déepe riuer wheras he sate downe did refresh himselfe washed his hands face called for to eate of that which they had brought when he had eaten without anie more tarrying he begaÌ„ to trauaile alongst the riuer side he had not trauailed long when y â— they met with a poore countrie man with a great hatchet in his hand he was going to cut fire woode from those high mightie trées of whom they asked what countrie land it was he told them y t it was the land of Almania but yet sir knight thou must pardon me for y t I doe request thée to returne againe procéed no farther this way if thou dost estéeme thy life for in going on this way there is nothing to be had but death for y t the Lord of this riuer is a furious giant is called Marmoraton the riuers name is Ospriz this giant is y e most furious in all the world is of such might y t our Emperour doth feare him he hath also two sons who are no lesse furious then he is although they are now very sad for certaine news which were brought them how y t a brother of his who was Lord of an Iland in Spaine called Corsa was destroied and all his people slaine by sword none left aliue by force of cruell warre and in part of reuengement of all this harme done no longer then yesterdaye he brought hether a Ladie prisoner and they say that she was the occasion of the death of them all as I haue tolde you and straight way wheÌ„ he came a shore with a diuelish crueltie he did all to bewhip and beate her that it was very pitifull to beholde swearing that euery day he would so torment her till such time as her life and body did make their seperation and he hath all his Castle compassed round about with mightie strong and armed Knights and with them his two sonnes who doth kéep watch and ward for to defend the Castle for that they saye that the King of Mauritania doth followe and pursue them in a galley for to cléere and set at libertie this Lady This new Knight was very attentiue vnto the words which the countriman told him and although he spake in the Tuscan tongue yet he did vnderstand him for that he was broughte vp to vnderstand and speake all languages and thought verely that he with whom he had battaile in the galley was the King of Mruritania and thinking thereon it caused him to be more furious in his heart for that as you haue hearde he had the experience of his force and strength and thought by him he was ouercome and without saying anye word he followed on his way and did determine that if fortune did so fauour him to rescue and set at libertie this Ladie not for to let her passe till such time as the King did come in her demaund and if it were he with whom he had the battaile he would not deliuer her but with mortall battaile So trauailing with this thought the night came on it was so darke that he was constrained to seâ—ke some place to take his rest and laying himselfe downe vnder a mightie Pine trée he passed that night speaking a thousande blasphemies against the Gods Artemidoro declaring the acts and déeds of this Knight saith that he was the most furious in all the world and a very friend to aide and succour all those that could doo little for themselues and if he chaunced at any time to begin an enterprise that he could not wel compasse with double force he would prosecute it In such sort that many times he made resistaunce against inchantments for y t he had more strength and force than euer Knight or Giant had at any time before and did surmount very much his bretheren and Cousins He made no reckoning of loue in his youth by which he was iudged to be the Emperours sonne as in the third parte of this booke shall be tolde you So when y e morning was come this young Mars was not slothfull but arose vp and followed his iourney and his Page followed him with his helme he had not trauailed scarce halfe a mile when that he heard a pitifull lamentation of a woman who by reason of her great wéeping her voyce was very hoarce So he stayed to heare from whence that lamentable noyse should come and went towards that place whereas it was and saw a far off a high piller of stone out of the which there came foorthe a spoute of very faire and cléere water and thereat was bound a woman all naked her backe fastened to the piller and her armes backward imbracing the piller and there her handes fast bound Her skin was so faire and white that if it had not bene that he heard her lamentation he would haue iudged her to haue bene an image made artificially of Alabaster ioyned vnto the piller This warlike young Knight laced on his helme and came vnto the place whereas she was and when he saw her he thought verely that it was the Quéene of Mauritania of whom the countrey man told him and by reason of the coldnesse of the darke night and with her great lamentation and wéepings she was so full of sorow and affliction that she could scarce speake Likewise the Knightes heart so yerned at the sight of that vnhappie Lady that almost he could not looke on her for wéeping but with a sorrowfull sigh he sayd O cruell hands is it possible that there should remaine in you so much mischiefe that whereas there is â—o great beautie and fairenesse you should vse such basenes and villanie she doth more deserue to be beloued and serued then to
he alone with his person will defend it And if so be that your highnesse will not dooe this right and Iustice he is determined to doo vnto you all the harme and damage that hée maye And to conclude in defence of this right he dooth defie thy Emperiall Crowne and all thy royall estate and the better to satisfie thy minde he will deliuer vnto thée Candisea for that of her thou shalt vnderstand all the whole truth of the matter with condition that she receiue no hurt nor harme vnto her person for that she hath repented her selfe of the fact done The Emperour who was very attentiue and hearkened vnto the Embassage sent with so great pride was in a maze and greatly meruailed in such sort that he could not speake but when he came vnto himselfe he sayd Oh God and what may this be that ther is so much power and strength in this one Knight that within my kingdome yea within my pallaice he doth these actes without feare and with this yre hée tooke Florisarte by the hande and entred into his chamber whereas betwixt them there was very much a doo with hold and keepe So when he was wel aduertised who the knight and the Lady were he was fully determined to set at libertie Clarentina and Macedonio and to send them vnto the Knight ioyntly with the Lady that Florisarte shuld beare them company till such time as they had deliuered them vnto the Knight and that they shuld of his part request him to remaine in the Court for that therewith he shoulde receiue great contentment so according vnto the Emperours commaundement Florisarte went and in his company Laurentino who when he saw his sister cléere of so great euill was very ioyfufull So they stayed not in anye place till such time as they came vnto the passage whereas they found that inuincible knight who when he saw them he was right ioyfull and receiued meruailous delight and much more when they tolde him that Clarentina was at her libertie and whē he heard the message of the Emperour in requesting him to remaine in his Court he surrendred vnto him great thanks for the same and sent to request him to pardon and forgiue Candisea There Florisarte and Laurentino did promise him on their parts to importunate the Emperour therevnto and heerewith they tooke their leaue the one of the other the Tinacrian did passe ouer the riuer and the rest returned vnto the Citie with the knights aunswere the which 〈…〉 vnto the Emperour and when he saw that he 〈◊〉 not tarry and remaine with him he was very sorrowfull Laurentino when he saw the Emperours sorrow sayd High mightie Lord he was by vs very much perswaded who doeth kisse your highnesse hands and sayd that he could not in any wise staye longer for that he had other great matters in charge which néedes must be accomplished and doeth most heartely request your highnesse to make reckoning of him as of your owne wher and in whatsoeuer your highnes wil or shall commaund him and for a recompence of the same he doth request your highnesse for to pardon forgiue Candisea all her fault offence for that she was blinded by loue and againe her fault doth deserue pardon for that she sought remedy against that false accusation Likewise we doo pray and desire your highnesse of our part to performe the same The Emperour did straight graunt vnto all their request as the yre and wrath did loose their superioritie ouer him he showed himselfe to be very sorrowfull to haue lost out of his court so valiant a Knight Then Laurentino did importunate his sister for to aske license of the Emperour for to returne vnto Tirol the which was graunted them so they carried in their companye the Bauiero and passing through Augusta they came vnto Minique whereas they remained a time with great feasts and triumphs And when they saw that it was time to depart they tooke their way to Espruch a Citie of the Earledome of Tirol and passing ouer the Alpes they were taken prisoners by a mightie Giaunt and twentie armed knights vpon such a sodaine that they could not make any defence but all their company were slaine the rest prisoners as the two knights Florisarte and Laurentino and the Lady his sister The Gyant and his companye tooke their way through the mountaines towards the land of Esguizaros but the third day of their captiuitie and imprisonment they sawe comming downe by the Riuers side a knight armed with very rich armour his stature was such that he seemed to be a very good Knight and in his companie he had two very faire Ladies This Knight came all readye to the battaile his shield in good order and his speare in his hand put vpon his right thigh with a very good grace and demeanour But before I doo tell you who this Knight is I must first show you of all that happened vnto the Tinacrian after that he departed from the Emperour ¶ How the Emperour Alphebo would haue perswaded the Princesse Tigliafa to leaue that lamentable life and how she refused to doo it and went from them how the two Knights departed and of all that happened vnto them in their igurney Cap. 27. THis valiant Tinacrian trauailed so fast ouer the Mountaines that in a short space he left them behinde him So likewise he did thorough Hungaria Samaria and passed thorough Thracia Misia Dardenia and Macedonia and came vnto the principall parte of all Grecia vnto Constantinople This Tinacrian chaunced vpon many aduentures in this his iourney as recompencing of griefes and rightening of wrongs and setting at libertie of compulsions as well vnto knights as vnto Ladies and Gentlewomen but in especiall against Giaunts in battaile killing and destroying In such sorte that the fame of the Knight of the Braunch was in all partes and especially amongst the Knights of Grecia insomuch that they did not talke of any actes and déeds past of Emperours and Princes but all was of this valiant Tinacrian Likewise y e fame of the Purple Knight was there amongst them which was no lesse then that of the Tinacrian And if it be so that I do tell you no more of this good Tinacrian it is not for y e Artemidoro hath not declared it but considering the great antiquitie of the time it was because he y t did write this could not read it therfore he doth declare that which he could read This Historie sayth that when this Tinacrian came within a mile of Constantinople the night came vppon them he did determine to passe it away in a thicke Orcharde that was there nigh the high waye and hanged his shielde vppon the bough of a tree and by reason of the wearinesse of his iourney he slept as one that was without all care The Lady put her selfe farther into the orchard and in this sort they passed away the night till the morning came At which time there chaunced
maiestie as though he had known whose sonne he was This painefull weried lady did aske hir fathers hands to kisse them but neither the king nor his daughter could speake any word more They remained so a great while til such time as the king constraining his princely courage sayde I know not what wil fal out for that I sée before me y t which of long time I haue desired yet I do not know it to be myne The lady vnderstode y e words of hir father gathered stomack vnto hir selfe said I am Antemisca your welbeloued daughter although at this time I am abhorred I am she who vniustly hath gone wandring paying such debts as I neuer made for that I did neuer let but to be y e lady I ought to be I am she that by y e valour of this mightie worthy warriour do liue and not by the compassion that thou hast had of thyne owne proper daughter And I do thank my Gods that they haue so much fauoured me in giuing me his mightie strong arme for to defend my truth and for to punish that euill the which that traytour Brandemoran hath layde and raysed vpon me The braue Palestina who was present at the words which the Princes sayde was so full of pryde and yre that without any respect vnto the kings highnesse he sayde Oh false adulteresse wherfore wilt thou deny y t the prince of Chaldea had thy virginitie and that with thy consent And what knight is he that is so hardie hath so much courage to saye vnto the contrary The Greke dyd very much beholde the PalestiniaÌ„ perceuing by his wordes that to be he that had procured all this harm against Antemisca And although his proud words dyd moue his pacience yet would he not make any outward show neither aunswere vnto him but rather with great seueritie he tourned vnto the King and sayde High and mightie Lorde in this controuersie there is no neede of disputation neither farther rehearsal But may it please your highnesse to commaund that the Prince of Chaldea may come in presence and to know of him if he be content to referre all his right into my handes The King who was considering and beholding his mightie prowesse in the demonstration of his person straight wayes commaunded to be brought thether y e Chaldean with sufficient kéepers with him which was straight wayes done And when he came in presence the King sayde vnto him prince Gelerosio my daughter hath brought hether this knight for to defend hir and thy right if thou haue any Here would I know of thée if that thou art content to referre all thy right and iustice into his handes The prince Gelerosio somewhat heauy aunswered the king and sayd Unto the soueraigne Goddes and vnto him I doe commit all my right although I had rather with y e strength of myne own armes make my defence and tourning vnto the Gréeke he sayde And for that gentle Knight thou shalt be certified that thou defende the truth Here I doe sweare vnto thée by the high mightie Iupiter that the Prince of Chaldea did neuer commit y t which with great falsehood he is accused Then Brandemoran dyd replye and sayde All that euer thou doest saye I will suffer for that I doe thinke before the Sunne hath made an ende of his accustomed course to haue satisfaction And likewise to punishe the pryde of this foole who by ignoraunce or rather foolish hardienesse commeth to seeke his owne death This valiaunt and couragious Gréeke coulde no longer suffer his proude and slaunderous speaches but sayde vnto him Iupiter hath power to giue the death vnto whome he pleaseth and I doe thinke that which thou doest pretende vnto me will fall vpon thy selfe for to punish thée for this thy false and surmised treason which thou most dispightfully hast raysed against this noble Princes who is guiltlesse of this crime And for that this muste be concluded by armes and not by words se that thou dost make no tarying but arme thy selfe and come forth vnto the battaile then thou shalt see how I will make thee to vnderstand in the field that I am none of them of whome thou hast hetherto gotten honour I will not make thee any aunswere sayde Brandemoran for that I think very quickly to reuenge my selfe of thée and to pluck out y e tongue which hath bene so bolde to speake these words vnto me And therwith he went straight out of the pallace and went vnto his lodging for to arme himself vnto the battaile The Gréeke at his answere was somewhat yrefull but retourning vnto the king he sayde mightie king and Lorde I doe desyre your highnesse that you would commaund that your daughter may be set in a place where as she may well sée the restoring of hir honour The King sayde this shalbe done with a very good wil without any tarying The Greke dyd take his leaue of the King and of the Ladyes that were in the great hall And went downe the stayres where as he left his page and his horse and without the helpe of his stirrup he leapt into the saddle hauing his healme on and his speare in his hand he commaunded his page to tary and not to go with him So he went straight vnto the place appointed for the battaile with so gentle a grace and good disposition that all who dyd behold him receiued great contentment Ther was appointed a scaffold for two Iudges for to Iudge the right of this controuersie and dyd appoint the place conuenient for their battaile They taryed not long when that Bâ—â—ndemoran entered y e place accompanied w t many knights at whicâ— tyme the Iudges put them-selues on their Scaffold And being all readie and the people in quiet ther was commaunded a Trompet to be sownded to giue them to vnderstand that they must prepare themselues to the battaile At which sound they moued their courâ—â—â—s the one againste the other with so great swiftnesse 〈…〉 y t they flew in the Ayre whereas I will leaue 〈…〉 time doe serue for that at the same present the wynde Borias dyd blowe in my eaâ—e consâ—rayning me to speake of the mightie déedes of that valiant Rosicleer You doo well remember that for to succour his Horse he leapt into his barke was not so soone therein but that it sailed and made such waye as the arrow which is forced out of y e bowe And one of the two knights which entred the barke leapt into the Sea for feare and the other remained and yeelded himselfe vnto the mercie of the Knight which afterward did serue him for Squire and very faithfully vsed his office who was called Argolio Rosicleer went trauailing to sea-wards in his Barcke very heauy and sorowfull for that he was departed from his cosin so quickly In this sort they trauailed syxe dayes the seuenth they discouered lande very far of but the swiftnesse of the Barcke was such that