the knight that slew him they were all very desirous to know him and so some of theÌ„ dyd â—…oyne themselues together and did desire him to tell theÌ„ his â—…ame for that they were desirous to know what hée was â—…hat had done so great benefit and good vnto all that Countrie Then hée surrendred vnto them great thankes for the â—…reat ayde and succour hée had receiued at their hands and â—…uld vnto them that hée was called the Knight of Cupid and that he could not at that time giue them any farther to vnderstand 〈◊〉 that those Knights did cease from troubling him any farther but alwaies had in â—…elofie that hée should be the Knight of the Chariot for that in all things he did resemble him very much So when that the knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro departed from that place certaine of the knights which were ther considering the great contentment and pleasâ—…e that the Emperour and all his court would receiue for the death of that Giant Euen dead as he was they tooke him laid him ouerthwart vpon a horse in the saddle but by reason of his great length his head and féet did traile vpon y e ground and in that sort they carried him vnto Constantinople hauing great ioy pleasure and no lesse wonder vnto all theÌ„ that did sée him And wheÌ„ they came vnto Constantinople they made representation of him vnto the Emperour declared vnto him all the manner how and in want order the Knight of Cupide had staine him how was not a little amazed séemed vnto him that the Knight which had done that acte could not bée but of great excéeding valour for that the giant was of great strength and force and that there was not one of so great name fame amongst all the Ilands of the Terreno sea So the Emperour had great desire to sée know him for that by the signes tokens which hée vnderstood of him it gaue him in his minde that hée should bée the Knight of the Sun Whom hée had a great desire to see very much marueled that hée came not thether according vnto his promise So in this sort the fame of the knight of Cupid began to be knowen throughout all y e whole Empire of Greece And after that the Gyant was slayne the Knight of Cupid neither the king Sacridoro wold not enter into Constantinople till such time as the Knight of the Chariot did returne to defend the beauty of the Princesse Lindabrides but trauailed in that Countrie certaine daies in the which they dyd many déedes of great Chiualrie whereby their fame did increase in such sort that there was no other communication but of them likewise there was great contencion growne amongst many which of the two Knights hée of Cupid or he of the Chariot should be the best proporcioned and strongest Knight and all in generall had great desire to sée them both together in battaile the one against the other And did béeléeue very certainely that they two were the best Knights that were in all the world How the Knight of the Chariot returned to defend the beautie of the Princesse Lindabrides in the mightie Citie of Constantinople whereas happened very strange things Chap. 31. AT such tyme as was accomplished the Mooneth that the Emperour had commanded the triumphs and feasts to cease for the death of his Son Rosicleer Straight way y e great citie of Constantinople began againe to be furnished w t al sorts of worthy vaâ—…aliant knights as well strangers of their natiue countrie who had trauailed throughout that countrie to passe away the time of the Emperours commandement So for to prooue the aduentures with the knight of the Chariot and other some to sée his mighty Knighthood So y e first day that the knight of y e Chariot entred into y e place hée ouerthrew more theÌ„ twenty knights such as were very famous came from far countries for to proue themselues with him The Emperour and y e Empresse were in the windowes of theyr great â—…allaice with so sad and sorrowfull semblant y t it did well appeare in them y e great griefe which they receiued for the â—…eath of their sonne And béeing in this Iust there entred â—…nto the place thrée worthy Knights of a strong and big proportion and armed with very rich armour wrought and â—…rauen with great cost The which were straight wayes â—…nowen by the Knight of the Chariot in the deuice which â—…ey brought And were ioyfull of their comming for that â—…ese thrée knights were the two valiant princes Brandizel Clauerindo his friend Florinaldos who were come in the demaund of the knight of the Sun And when they heard the great report and fame of the knight of the Chariot they came thether to prooue themselues with him and so they entered into the great place and Florinaldus was the first that put himselfe against the knight of the Chariot And at such time as hée should make his encounter the knight dyd lift vp the point of his speare because hee would not strike Florinaldus but yet Florinaldus made his encouÌ„ter w t so great strength y t he shéeuered his speare al to péeces either of them passed the one by the other without any moouing So then they returned to make the second encounter and looke as the knight of the Chariot did the first encouÌ„ter so hée did now likewise againe because he would not hurt him which was the occasion that Florinaldus did plainely vnderstand that his aduersary would not encounter against him and ther with he did a part himselfe from y e place of iust meruailing very much at the great curtesie which y e knight of the Chariot did vse with him So straight way entered into the iust that stout and valiant Brandizel but to conclude it happened with him as with the prince Clauerindo as it happened with Florinaldus so that they were constrained to withdraw themselues all thrée halfe abashed for the little profit that did procéed oâ—… their encounters and no lesse meruailed at the great curtesie wich the knight of the Chariot did vse with them for thâ—… which they conceiued within themselues that hée should bâ—… their great friend the knight of the Sunne for that in his deâ—… meanour in all points hée did resemble him very much and againe that setting him a part that there was not in al thâ—… world a knight of so great power and strength At that timâ—… that the great place was al couered with people and armeâ—… knights on the one side thereof they saw enter in a mightâ—… knight of his body and mounted vpon a very faire greaâ—… Horse and was armed with so precious and rich armour that amongst all the knights there was not the like excepâ—… the armour of the Knight of the Chariot hée brought wiâ—… him thrée Damsells all mounted vpon their palfrayes aâ—… brought with them certaine fardels Likewise a very foule ill
meruailed at the other knight that câ—…me with y e three princes for that they saw the great slaughter which hee made amongst his enimies with his sword in his hand and wheÌ„ these soure Knights saw the gates of the Citie opened they did retire by little little vpon the bridge vntill such time as their enimies dyd leaue off following them as well for the mortall blowes they gaue them as for the great harme they receiued by them which were vppon the walles of the Citie so that they had time at their pleasure to enter into the Cittie and when they were within they shut the gates and receiued them with great ioye and carried them beefore the Queene whose ioy was so great for the returne of these three Princes that I am not able to expresse it for that hir comfort and hope that shee had in them was very much and theyr imprisonment was a grieuous corsie vnto hir heart So there they did repose rest themselues all that day and all the next following with a great deale more ioy then at any time beefore The next day béeing come the knight of Cupide and the thrée Princes commaunded that all such people as they thought could doe any thing to arme themselues vnto the battaile and so in very good order they went forth into the field against their enimies and ouercame and brake the Campe and slew the King and the most part of those that were with him and the rest ranne theyr way so that those of Lusitania remained with the victorie and pursued theyr enimies till such time as the night dyd withdraw them backe and made them to retire and it was a thing to be wondered at to see the great feates and deeds of armes that the knight of Cupide did that day for it may bee sayde that hee alone was the occasion of breaking vp of the Camp of their enimies and the destruction of all the whole armie of the king of Balachia so that on the one part as wâ—… as one the other they verie much meruayled of the incridyble déedes which they saw done in that battaile Noâ—… when the night was come the knight of Cupide seeing that there was no more néede of his help hée determined to depart very secretlie for that hée saw by the determination of the thrée Princes that it was a thing imposible to kéepe himselfe close long but that hee must bee knowen by them Therefore hee called a knight of the Citie a side and sayde vnto him that at such time as the people were gathered together and entered into the Citie hée shuld tel the Quéene and those thrée strange knightâ—… that hee was departed and gone about certaine businesse that dyd importune him verie much and that they should not by any meanes follow him neither hope of his returne for that hee knew not whether hee should euer returne againe or no and so hée departed ont of the Camp and with a trotting pace trauayled all that euer he could that night very sorrowfull in his hart for that hée could not reioyce himselfe in the company of his verie friends who with so louing and perfect friendship went to seeke him With these sorrowfull thoughts that night hée trauailed so long that hée came vnto the sea the next day in the morning hée entered into a Ship of merchandise which ariued at that place to refresh themselues with fresh water and were bound vnto Alexandria Now to returne vnto the thrée Princes the Historie saith that at such time as they had gathered theyr people together and would haue entered into the Citie they found wanting the knight of Cupide and béeing very sorrowfull for his absence they went séeking him and asking for him of all that they met till such time as they came to the knight with whom the knight of Cupide had talked and he tolde vnto them his â—…mbassage and all that hee had sayd vnto him And when the â—…hree Princes vnderstoode of his departure they were verie â—…orrowfull for the same and remembring the valiant déedes â—…at they saw him doo and the great boud in the which they â—…ere bound vnto him they were verie desirous to haue â—…owen him and to haue had him in their companie and â—…ery one of them thought in his minde that hée should bée â—…osicleer for that they were fully resolued amongest themâ—…ues that there was not a knight in all the world y t was â—…le to doo for them that which hee did but onely Rosicleer but straight way they put this thought from them in saying that if it were Rosicleer there was no occasion wherfore he should keepe himself from them not be knowen seeing that hée vnderstood that they went in his demaund Thus with a great desire which they had to know who this knight shuld bee all y t night they would not enter into the citie but sent vnto the quéene requesting hir to pardon them they straight way departed to go seeke out the knight of Cupid the next day in the morning they came vnto the sea side vnto the Port whereas hée did ship himselfe there they had newes of him by the tokens that they gaue So from thence they departed in his demaund in an other ship that the Quéens Lauinia commanded to bée giuen them and héere the history doth leaue them trauailing by sea and returneth vnto the knight of Cupide who departed and went béefore them How the knight of Cupid ariued in the kingdome of Phenicia whereas hee deliuered from the death a knight who afterward was a very great friend of his Chap. 18. THE great sorrow and griefe which the worthie knight of Cupide sustained in his hart cannot bée héere expressed as well for the louing of his déere friends in those couÌ„tries not making himselfe knowen vnto them as for the newes which was giuen him to vnderstand in the caue of the wise Artydon concerning the princesse Oliuia and béeing sore afflicted with thâ—… thoughts they sailed sixe daies with a prosperous winde but the seuenth day they were taken with a mightie great anâ—… perillous torment which made them loose their way werâ—… constrained by the furious force thereof to take port in thâ—… kingdome of Phenicia whereas the merchants determinâ—… to goe a land and there to rest themselues certaine dayeâ—… for that they were verie wearie and Sea sick by reason â—… the great storme the which they had past When the knighâ—… of Cupid was a land and saw that the countrie séemed but him to bée very fruitfull fresh and pleasant hée determined with himself to see the countrie in the meane time that the marriners did trim their ship make prouision of all that was necessarie and so hée tooke his horse went alone from the port taking the way which led him vnto a mighty great Citie that was but sixe miles from that port And when he had trauailed two miles froÌ„ the port hee saw a far of from him in
forme that it was most dreadfull to béeholde but this valyaunt Greeke whose strength was nothing inferiour vnto his predecessors the mightie Achilles Pyrrhus and Molosso for when hée saw the Gyaunt comming towards him in that terrible sort and so fiercely in great hast hée went whereas the Boare Speare stuck and with excéeding strength hée pulled it out of the ground and tooke it fast in his hand about the middest of the staffe and therwith hée stayed and abode the comming of the Gyaunt who as soone as hée was come within eyght or nine paces of him euen as one would throw a dart at a â—…aighted Bull so dyd this mightie Emperour lyft vp his rygorous arme and with great strength threw that Boare Speare at the Gyaunt and stroke him in the middest of the breast with so great strength that passing through armour and flesh the broad and Stéely poynt of the Boare Speare appéered at his back all bloody And the staffe thereof by reason of the great streangth wherewith it was throwen dyd shake in the Gyants body till such time as hée fell downe dead to the ground The force of this strong and mightie blow gaue great contentment vnto the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen and also on the other side those men that came with the Gyant were no les amazed when they saw their Lords dead whom they thought to bee the mightiest and strongest in all the world and although they were many in number yet had they no courage to withstand the fury of the Emperour and despayring in themselues of theyr securitie they all left their prisoners and euerie one of them procured to saue himselfe by running away and hiding them in the thickest of that Mountayne Then the Emperour séeing that there was no more to bée done but that all was finished with that blow hée reioyced very much and went vnto the Princesse whereas shee stoode who had lost the Roseall coulour of hir face and with a gladde and chéerefull countenaunce hée sayde vnto hir thus Lady now assure your selfe that these people shall no more trouble you Then the Princesse who was almost in an extasie with the great pleasure shée receiued when shée saw the Emperour returne vnto hir without any wound or hurt and the wonderfull strength that shée saw in him with great pleasure and delyght shée saw in him in hir armes and sayd My Lord I haue great cause to confesse this my security hauing so strong and mightie a Knight in my companie but for all that my heart could not but receiue great feare to sée you in such daunger with those terrible and vglie Monsters and I assure you that many dayes will passe beefore I shall bée able to clâ—…re my selfe of the great feare which by them I haue conceiued so that these and many other lyke amorous words passed béetwixt the Emperour and the Princesse Then the Emperour remembred himselfe of the prisoners that they brought with them and left the Princesse and went towardes them and dyd vnloose them of the bondes wherewith they were fast bound and saw that the two Ladyes were very fayre and meruailous richlie apparayled and the two Knights very well armed and of a good proportion although theyr armour in many places was broken and cut and they themselues sore wounded whereby issued from them very much blood These Knights and Ladyes dyd béehold all that passed and saw with what valoure the Emperour dyd deale with those Gyaunts and were greatly astonyed meruayling who it should bée that beeing but one alone Knight hée should by his great myght and force ouercome two so mightie Gyaunts as those were and in so short time as that And séeing themselues set at libertie by the noble and valyaunt prowesse of this Knight they knew not how to gratifie that great benefit which they had receiued of him but onely in gieuing him ceaselesse thanckes for the same The Emperour commaunded the Ladyes to bynde vp the wounds of the two Knights that they myght loose no more blood who dyd it with a very good will for that they were theyr Husbands And the Emperour asked of then who they were and what was the occasion that the Gyaunt brought them prisoners in that sort Then one of the Knights sayd vnto him Sir you shall vnderstand that this Knight which you sée héere and I are bretherin and Lords ouer the seauen valleyes if at any time you haue heard speaking of them And they are scituated béetwixt Danubia and Transiluania and are vnder the subiection of the mightie King of Hungarie and these Gentlewomen which are with vs are our wyues and are lykewyse two sisters And as wee were for our recreation passing away the tyme with pleasure and delyght in the company of many Knights and Gentlewomen in one of the sayd valleys high adioyning vnto this Mountayne Sarpedo béeing in the shadow vnder a Forrest side hauing least care vpon any daunger or trouble vpon a sodaine wee were beeset with this Gyant that you first slew and with his men we defended our selues against theÌ„ as well as wée could but in the ende hée slew the most part of the Knights that were in our company and the rest fled so that wée remayned all alone and not beeing able to make any longer resistaunce against him hée tooke vs ioyntly with these two Gentlewomen and brought vs in this sort as you haue séen And this is not the first robberie that these Gyaunts haue committed For that of long time they haue done great harme throughout all the Prouinces that are adioyning vnto this Mountayne And as I haue heard reported of them the meate which doth most content them is humane flesh which doth make vs to béeléeue verely that if your soueraigne bountie had not succoured vs in this great extremitie in a short space wée had béene eaten vp by these two Gyants and his people and they vse most commonly to haue their habitation and dwelling in this Rocke which you sée héere for when they are within it if all the world should come against them they are able to make a long resistance And the Knight concluding with these words the Emperour was very glad and ioyfull that hée had rescewed and â—…t them at libertie from so great a danger for they séemed 〈◊〉 him to be persons of no small estimation giuing great 〈◊〉 to almightie God for that hée had taken away the 〈◊〉 of so great an euill from that land And therewith they went all together vnto the Princeâ—… who receiued them very curâ—…eously And straight wayes shée was knowen by the Knights for that many times before they had séene hir where at béeing very much amazed they looked one vpon the other not knowing what to say When the Emperour perceiued that those Knights dyd know the Princesse in bréefe wordes bee gaue them to vnderstand how hée was the Emperour Trebatio and how the Princesse was his wife and that they were going towards the Grecian Empire and came vnto
round about there came many people for to sée him as a thing of great admiration in the time that hée there remainâ—…d for to place the Queene Arguirosa in full possession of all hir landes and that all hir vasalls and subiectes were quieted and setled in good order For by reason that he was on the Quéenes side in few dayes they were all in peace and quyet Now when hée saw that there was no more to bée done hée was very desirous to go vnto some other place wheras in recompence of the great honour and seruice done vnto him hee might bee in some solytarie desart to béewayle his misâ—…ortune Then remembring himselfe hee determined to take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa who bare him great good will and dyd loue him as hir selfe And if shée had not perceiued that his heart was prisoner in some other place shée would with a verie good will haue chosen him Lord of hirs and receiued him for hir husband without any desire to bée informed farther of his estate and discent for she rested wholely satisfied in that which shee saw by experience of his royall worthinesse and bountie And when the Knight of Cupido dyd declare vnto hir his desire to depart and craued licence for the same she receiued so great sorrow therat that in a long space she could not make him any aunswere So after a whyle that shée had remained in that traunce distilling from hir christaline eyes abundaunce of teares which ran downe vpon hir faire and lyllie white chéekes lyke vnto orientall pearles shée vttered vnto him these words Worthie Knight this thy departure which thou dost pretend is vnto mee so great a griefe that I hartely wish I had not knowen you although it had cost mée a great part of this my Kingdome For considering how much I am bound vnto you and remembring the great desert and baâ—…our of your person I doo not thinck neither can I wel béeâ—…éeue that there is any thing in all the world able to make me merry or minister vnto me any pleasure or contentment but onely your presence Oh I would God if hee were so pleased that I might know your hart at libertie 〈◊〉 therby â—…ée able to repay you part of the great benefit whicâ—… you â—…aue showed vnto mée in making you Lord ouer all this â—…ingdome and there-with I should accompt my selfe the happiest Gentlewoman in all the world but séeing it is so that another hath possessed that place before mée and deserued to bee Lady of your libertie this one thing I doo desire of thee that wheresoeuer you become to remember mée and this my Countrie and Kingdome the which you may take as your owne at all tymes when occasion shall serue for that there cannot bée a greater pleasure vnto mée then for you to commaund mée in any thing that is requisit And if at any tyme Fortune bring you into this countrie with more delight then at this time you séeme to be indued with all I shall thinck my selfe most happie that as I haue râ—…ceiued at your hands this kingdome so I may lykewise obtaine a husband at your appoyntment for receiuing him at the hands of so worthy a Knight it cannot be but very conformable vnto my honour and conuenient for my estate All this the Quéene spake for the great loue shée bare vnto Rosicleer giuing him honestly to vnderstand that if it were his pleasure to receiue hir for his wife shée was very wel content therwith but Rosicleere who had his thoughts very far from hir purpose would not aunswere any thing wherby shée might take any hold yet gaue hir great thanks for hir curteous proffer made vnto him and promised hir alwayes to haue hir in remembrance and to serue hir in all that euer hée could And although at that time â—…e dyd excuse himselfe as much as hee might to cléere himselfe of that charge in prouiding hir a Husband of his owne choyce yet time did serue that Rosicleer had opportunitie 〈◊〉 dyd estéeme it very much hée dyd pacifie very great and troublesome controuersies hatreds and discords by which shée might haue receiued great damage harme as in this History shall bée shewed vnto you So in the ende of many curtesies béetwéene them Rosicleer tooke his leaue of thâ—… Quéene and would receiue nothing of hir but onely a good horse which she commanded to bée giuen him so hée departed out of the Citie and in few dayes after out of the kingdome and in passing through Dardania and Dacia hée trauayled many dayes in the which there chaunced sundry aduentures that I omit to come vnto the effect of this historie And béeing foorth of the Realme of Dacia the history sayth that hée entered into the kingdome of Russia wheras it was told him there were great and meruaylous aduentures So it happened that the third day in the morning he entered into that Countrie and came vnto a plaine mountaine so fresh and delectable as might be posâ—…ible and he trauayled so long therein till at the last his way dyd part in twaine the one way was more vsed then the other and by reason that his minde was troubled in thincking vppon his Lady the Princesse Oliuia hée was so far from his remembrance that hée respected not which way hée tooke but followed that way which his horse voluntarily went who entered into that which was lesse vsed hée trauailed forwards in that way the most part of all that day and béeing tormented with his loue he remembred not to eate neither had hée mynde of any other thing til such tyme as his horse for very hunger stayed and would goe no farther but striued to eate of the gréene grasse which was in the way And by this occasion the Knight of Cupide came vnto himselfe and saw that hee had lost his way and was entered into that path and considering the most part of the day was already past hee quickened vp his spirits and trauayled with better remembrance then béefore hée had done making great hast to come vnto some place where hée might haue somwhat to eate and not suffer himselfe to dye desperately with hunger So hée followed that euill accustomed way till such time as it was almost night and it brought him vnto the sight of very high and mightie Rocks which were in the middest of that wildernesse vnder the which he saw a thing that dyd put him in great admiration which was that out of the mouth of a caue vnder those Rocks there came foorth great flames of fyer accompanied with darke and thick smoake which seemed to bée some infernall den the mouth of the Caue was so great that a Knight on Horsebacke myght well enter in thereat and béeing â—…rous to know what it should bée hée drew nigh vnto it but his horse was so fearefull that hée could not come so nigh as the Knights will was but was constrayned to alight from his back and made him fast vnto a
to séeke the Emperour very sorrowfull and without all comfort béecause they knew not which way to go seeke Rodaran some of them embarked themselues to the sea and other some went trauailing into the land to go and seeke him but the Princesse finding in a port which was nigh vnto the place whereas they were a ship reaâ—…ie in all points shée embarked hir selfe therein all alone with hir Damsels it séemed vnto hir that séeing that Rodaran dyd carry with him so rich a pray that it did not beehooue him to stay in the countrie So shée put hir selfe vnto the sea without knowing any certaine way whether to trauayle but onely committed hir selfe vnto Fortune So they naâ—…igated fiue dayes at the Sea without finding any aduenture worthie the telling in the ende whereof verie earlie in the morning they discouered land nigh vnto them which was pleasant and wel furnished with all maner of gréene trées and hauing great desire to goe a shore they commaunded to hoise out their â—…oat So the Princes and hir damsels went a land and shée mounting vpon hir horse and hir Damsels vpon their Palfraies they béegan to trauaile by a very narow and small vsed path which went through a Ualley which was garnished full of very swéet Roses and other odoriferous flowers and hearbs and they had scarce trauailed therein one mile wheÌ„ they saw comming against them a damsel vpon a palfray so fast as hee could runne and men running threatning to kill hir if shée would not stay but wheÌ„ shée found hir self nigh vnto the princesse shee said Oh knight defend mée froÌ„ these traytors for they haue committed the greatest treason that euer you heard Then the princesse hauing hir helme on she put hir selfe before these men béecause they should not come vnto the damsell who would not withdraw themselues but perforce would haue layde holde vpon the Damsell wherewith the Princesse with hir Speare stroke one of them therewith that shée gored him cleane through and 〈◊〉 fell downe dead vnto the ground Then one of the other offered to strike at the princes with a great fauchon that he had in his hand who perceiuing it spurred hir horse ouer him who tore him all to péeces vnder his feete and slew him and offering to strike the other with hir speare hée tooke his legges and ran so fast as euer hee could the way hee came Then the Damsell béeing at libertie the Princesse demanded of hir what was the occasion that those men did follow and pursue hir Ah sir sayd the Damsell doo you returne with all spéede backe againe the way you came and make no longer tarriaunce in this place for if you bée taken it is not possible that you should liue any longer Tell mée first the occasion why sayde the Princesse then afterward I will doo that which séemeth best vnto mee Sir knight said the damsell héere béefore goeth a giant the greatest and most furious that euer was séene by men who with more then twentie knights in his company doth carrie prisoner the Queene of Hiberia with the Princesse Theophilia hir daughter and 〈◊〉 more Ladies and Damsells of hirs who by force this infernall Gyant did take away from the King Hiberia and more then fortie Knights of his who were passing away the time abroad in a verie delightfull forrest this Gyaunt did put vs all together into a Ship of his and hath brought vs hether prisoners carrying vs into a Castle which is there a little béefore from whence I came running away and it séemeth vnto mée better to dye in the handes of them that shall follow mée then to bée prisoner in the power of that infernall Gyant The Damsell finishing these woords shee receyued so great feare that the Princesse could not stay hir but more by force then with hir good will shée caused hir to returne againe in hir companie the way which shée came in which they had not trauayled verie farrâ—… when they saw comming towards them tenne Knights as fast as their horses could runne who beeing aduertised by him that ran away they came in the demaund of the Knight which had slayne the other two men And when they saw them by the signes and tokens that the man had giuen them they vnderstood that it should bee the Princesse then all together with theyr swoords in theyr hands they ranne against hir but shée receiued them in such sort that shee receiued no harme of their encounters but she stroke one of them so right that y e poynt of hir speare came foorth at his back and fell downe dead to the ground and breaking hir speare with that encounter shée drew out hir swoord and béegan to combat with them and dyd so béehaue hir selfe that in a short time shée had slaine the one halfe of them and although those Knights did charge hir verie much with their strong blowes yet by reason that hir armour was so good shée was in great security not to receiue any wound by reason whereof without all feare shée put hir selfe amongst them striking such mortall blowes that it was wonderfull to beholde and neuer rested till shee had slaine all saue two who seeing the great force strength of the Princesse durst not tarrie any longer but returned the way they came as fast as theyr Horsses could râ—…nne The Damsell at this time would verie fayne haue had the Princesse returne backe againe and not haue gone any farther but hir couragious and valyaunt stomacke would not consent therevnto but followed the other in that way they went After they had trauayled in that way a small space they discouered vpon the top of a high Rocke a Castle very great and full of towers and compassed about with a very strong wall and comming nigh vnto the same they saw come foorth of the gate a Gyant the greatest and tallest that euer they saw in all theyr liues and mounted vpon a great and mightie courser in his companie more then ten Knights who came that way wherein the Princesse trauayled but as soone as the Damsell of the Quéene had spyed them shee had no desire to stay but returned back againe the way she came as fast aâ—… hir palfray could runne but the Princesse who receiued no feare of the Gyaunt nor of his Knights kept 〈◊〉 hir way towards them and when the Gyaunt came nigh vnto hir with a hoarse and hollow voyce hée sayd Oh foolish and vnhappie knight how is it knowing that I am Orbion and hauing slaine my knights thou durst be so bold and haue so great courage to tarry and abide my comming it dooth gréeue mee for the anger which thou hast giuen mée for that it will bée vnto thee a great honour to bée slaine at my hands and I smally satisfied for the death of my Knights in taking away thy lyfe Far more foolish and vnhappie maist thou account thy selfe Gyant saide the Princesse if thou didst know thy selfe knowing that god is in the heauens
expectation What will you giue remedy vnto your sorrow and griefe with that which will redound much to my barme Will you first serue your owne turne accomplish your owne desire without any consideration of my highnesse honestie the which if you did beare good wil loue as you doo publish you would neuer procure so great harme vnto me for it should be more griefe vnto thée the sorrow that I shuld receiue then thy own griefe neither shuld you receiue any ioy in that which shuld cause in me griefe 〈◊〉 and knight of the Sunne that I hauâ—… not my selfe in so little estimation that you should thinke that my loue were so base to cause such desires nor the desires so mortall that should cause vnto you paine but rather I doo think that things aboue nature doo cause ne paine vnto men hauing want therof So likewise my high royall estate accompanied with soueraigne beautie should bée to you holden as a thing aboue nature so by that meanes you should not haue the paine griefe which you publish neither for to séeke procure such vnséemely remedy I will not inlarge any farther héerein for that I am angry with anger ought little to be spoken especially with friendes It is sufficient good knight of the Sun that I doo loue you more then my selfe and when time doth serue I will dooe that which loue reason doth bind me that shall be at such time as we shall come vnto the gran Tartaria by the Emperour my father all those mightie kings and lords of his court with great 〈◊〉 equall vnto your highnes our marriage shall be 〈◊〉 in the meane time haue patience bridle your owne 〈◊〉 affections doo not loose the glory of your great mightie déeds in being vanquished by your owne affection for as the victory is greater that a man doth get of himselfe so much greater is the victory when he doth ouercome his own will for to that which reason doth deny a greater shame when that by a base knight he is ouercome for that the first is for the lack which is of vertue and of the person for so much as they did not lacke force strength for to make resistance secondly the lack was in nature for that it gaue him no more strength for to defend himselfe And héerewith the princes made an end of hir reasoning being somwhat moâ—…ed hir redicond colour apeered signifying that pure anger was the occasion therof Whose words toke so great effect in the knight of the Sun that one way it dyd grieue him very much for that hée had declared vnto hir his desâ—…re otherwise the great maiesty highnesse of the princesse was so augmented in his loue that he didde loue hir much more from that day forwards then before asking pardon of hir he kissed hir hands perforce At this time Arcadia was not so farre of but that shee did vnderstand part of their communication for that at all times when she saw the knight of the Sun the princes Lindabrides all alone she straight waies procured to put hir selfe in place wheras she might heare what passed betwéene them hauing very well vnderstood what passed it did grieue bir very much for the great sorrow which the princesse Claridiana would receiue when she should vnderstand the truth therof especially seeing it is a thing that may be held for that according as she did vnderstand that they two had great good will to be married at such time as they came vnto the gran Tartaria and so dissembling hir griefe in the best wise she could she tarried and did abide the time that fortune would ordaine therein So at this time béeing thrée daies after their departure towards the port wheras they did imbarke themselues they did ariue at the port of â—…enedon hard by that place wheras ther was wont to be the great Citie of Troy where they went a land by hir gyants were taken out of the ship of the triumphant chariot placing themselues in order with soueraigne maiestie as before they began to take their iourney by land they had not well â—…rauailed full two houres when that they saw béefore them a very high and well â—…owred Castle scituated at the foote of a Bridge So when they came nigh vnto it they saw that the Riuer was so déepe that of force they must passe ouer the Bridge with the Chariot which hadde breadth inough for the same And as yet the Unicornes were scarce entered vppon the Bridge when that there came foorth out of the Castle a Knight armed with very rich and substantiall armour and mounted vppon a great horse who was so great and so well made that in all theyr lines they haddâ—… not 〈◊〉 so great well proportioned a knight Who when he came nigh vnto them he lifted vp his beuer said Lords you shall vnderstand that the passage ouer the bridge is defended by me against all knights that presumeth to passe this way except first they doo leaue héere their shields and their names written thervpon in confessing themselues to be ouer come by the troyan Oristedes And seeing the great maiestie of your comming it doth giue me occasion to giue you better entertainment then I accustome to doo For that you shall vnderstand the ancient custome of this bridge likewise the bondage wherin I am bound for the defence keeping heere of is that I must show no curtesie to any knight that héere passeth The knight of the Sun was very much troubled as well at the good dispositioÌ„ of Oristedes as at his gentle speech and great courtesie being very desirous to know more of him he said Sir knight I doo giue you great thanks for your good will courtesie shewed vnto vs for that you shall not break any custome that hath ben so long kept at this bridge I will doo what doth lie in mée for to make the passage â—…ree for vs. And when I can do no more then will I doe that the which I am constrained vnto by force But yet of courtesie I require you sir knight tell me what is the occasion that you doo call your selfe troyan wherfore doo you kéepe defend the custome at this bridge For that according vnto the long time that is past since that this citie of Troy was destroied by the gréeks I doo beléeue that ther is no knight that doth remaine that is of the troians blood I will tell you said Oristedes for that you haue so great desire to know it And I dooe meruayle that you cannot béeléeue this which I haue sayde for that all those that hath not béene accustomed to come this wayes are likewise deceyued for that the ancient writers neuer wrot of that which I will shew you You shall vnderstand gentle Knight that at such time as this great citie of Troy was besâ—…eged by the gréekes there came
language mighty king Captayne or Champyon and was Lord ouer the Iland Serpentaria which is the most biggest and principallest amongst all the Orientall Ilands The wise Artemidoro sayth that this was hée that dyd compile the mightie déedes of he Knight of the Sunne in those parts whereas this Bradaman dwelt was the most mightiest and valyauntest Gyaunt that euer was seene and hee who had most power ouer all the Gyaunts of the Orient all Ilands for that by reason of the great fiercenesse of that nation there was neuer any that had so much power as to bring them into subiection but in the time of this Bradaman Campeon they were constrayned to bée subiect vnto him in such sort that in onely hearing him named they did tremble and quake and in respect of him they did not onely take him to bée theyr Lord but did also serue and obey all such kings as were put in by him into any of those Ilands and would not suffer any for to raigne longer then it was his will and pleasure This great Campeon seeing his strong companyons so ouerthrowen and loose the victorie hée receiued thereat neyther sorrow nor griefe but was rather very glad and ioyfull to sée the great valour of that knight for that as he hoped to to ouercome him he might theÌ„ the better shew foorth his great bountie although it seemed vnto him to get verie little honour in ouercomming of him considering the great encounters and iusts which hée had made béefore with so many Gyants and Knights and approching vnto the knight of the Sunne vpon his mighty Elophant which seemed to bée a great tower hée sayde Sir Knight thou oughtest to haue thy selfe in great estimation for that thou hast with so great lightnesse ouerthrowen my companions which are the most strongest Gyants in all my Kingdomes and for that thou shalt not deceiue thy selfe of thy victorie the which thou hast got of them neyther thy bountie to make thée so hardie for to enter with mée alone into contention I will giue thée to vnderstand that I am Bradaman Campeon Lord ouer the Orientall Ilands hée that if all the Knights in the world were ioyned together in the 〈◊〉 agaynst him hée dooth thinke to put them vnto the sword first beefore they should ouercome him by armes Likewise â—…or that I would not that the reproch of my companions should bée left vnreuenged I will giue thée this libertie for to choose fiftie knights of the best that thou canst find in all this company and that you come all together to combat with mee and not to let mée take any rest till such time as I doo kill and vanquish you all The great brauerie of the Gyant for all that dyd not put any feare into this worthy knight although he séemed vnto him to be one of the most deformedst of stature that euer he saw in all his life yet his valyant courage was such that with the help of god he hoped to abate his pride with that confidence he answered said I do giue thée great thanks Bramadan for this tale which y u hast tolde vnto mee although for to giue occasion to haue thée in greater estimation it had been better that an other had giuen mee to vnderstand of thy great fame and not told me by thy selfe For that there can nothing be wel done wheÌ„ that it is aduanced and set foorth by the dâ—…er thereof but must néedes loose a great part of the â—…ertue and touching that whereas thou sayst that I should choose vnto mée fifty Knights for to help mée I giue thée no thanckes for the same for that I am fullie perswaded that thou doost it for vaine-glorie and to boast thy selfe more than for any honour or profit thou doost meane towards mée therefore take vnto thée thy weapon and come forth against mée for with the fauour and help of God one of lesser stature then thou art although his better seruant did quell a Gyant as thou art so likewise may I ouercome thee for that thou mayst the better know the great miracles of god and how mighty they are Bradaman who very well vnderstood what the Knight of the Sunne had sayd makeing a great laughter hée sayd Knight if béefore I had thée in reputatioâ—… of valyaunt I now accompt thée for simple and foolish for that thou wilt attempt things that are béeyond nature and vnpossible so that I doo accompt it rather to folly then to any manhoode or strength take into thy companie the Knights which I doo will thee otherwise it will bée a great reproch to mée when it shall bée knowen in my Countrie that I doo take a speare to iust with one alone Knight Then the Knight of the Sunne sayd it is more honour to ouercome one knight than to bée ouercome by one hundreth And if in thy Countrie it bée a great shame for to iust agaynst one alone Knight so lykewise 〈◊〉 my countrie a great dishonour wheÌ„ it shall bee knowen that for to combat with thée I séeke companie and help therefore I will combate with thee alone if thou wilt if not make thy returne backe agayne from whence thou camst and let other good Knights come vnto the Iust who dooth thincke long for the Same Bradaman at these words was very angrie and lykewise for the Knight of the Sunne beecause hée would continue with him alone and as one amazed hee remayned not knowing what to dooe one way séeming to bée great necessitie in him to combate with him alone and an other way great reproach and shame to leaue his companions quarrell vnreuenged The Emperour and all those thâ—…t were with him dyd well heare and vnderstand all that passed beetwixt them not a little wondering at the fiercenesse of that monstrous and valiant Gyant and dyd greatly feare his strength and vnreasonable stature séeming vnto them vnpossible that anie humane Knight should ouercome him Now when Bradaman saw that his brauenesse nor importunations dyd little preuayle him to perswade the Knight of the Sunne not to enter into battayle with him alone with great furie hée tourned the raynes of his mightie Elephant and broching him with his spurrs hée 〈◊〉 Well séeing that thy follie hath so disquieted mée if all the Gods in the Heauens should ioyne together with tâ—…eyr powers for to succour and aide thée yet shall they not bee sufficient for to deliuer thee out of my hands and more hee sâ—…yd Oâ—… 〈◊〉 and reprochfull Bradaman at the mensioning of whose name all the whole earth almost doth tremble and now one alone knight so valiuant and hardie that hee dare put himselfe in the field against mee how and which way might I take reuengement of this so great oâ—…trage And in saying these words with a mightie great speare in his hand which seemed to bee as bigge as a Pine Tree and as faâ—…t as his Elephant could runne hée went agaynst the Knight of the Sunne who calling vpon God for hâ—…s ayde and