and faine I would without offending your office make you know how ill informed you come But men haue patience with those which bring a message The Duke of Thebes tooke the defiance and with a high voyce read it that all might vnderstand it which was thus The defiance Constantius Emperour of Rome Lord of all the MediterraneaÌ„ and Brunduso Prince of Gibia and of the confines of the Indian sea with the mightie Arsiano Prince of Almaine the rest of the Kings Friends and Vassals to the prince of Dacia greeting For that in feare thou maist see the cruell vengeance which I meane to take of thee and of those which haue declared themselues for thy partakers in requitall of the breach of thy word not as a Knight giuen to my deare daughter to be her husband a thing although thou hadst entreated it had bene very well for thee and hauing done so guiding thy selfe not with reason as was requisite but with passion it is told me that thou art married whereat I am nothing sory but should haue bene to haue had so faithlesse a sonne This shall serue for a warning to thee seeing the reuenge which the heauens will giue me vpon thee which graunt thee life AS all Gréece daily expected the comming of so mighty a Prince as the Soldan of Niquea so was there no man troubled with this defiance except the Prince of Dacia whose colour waxing as red as a liue coale said Well did I imagine Knight that with your prowd ambassade there should come some Knight which should not weigh whether iustice were on his side or not for although that now there be no time to make excuses admitting the defiance I say that all that wherewith thou doest charge mee is false for although that I tried the adueÌ„ture of Bruto in the name of that Princesse yet there was neuer any speach of her part that I should be hers and in prouoking such Princes against me they haue done it disloyally séeing in persoÌ„ they might haue come and requested mée this that without any other occasion they will trouble the world led by their blind passion as for the rest I hope that the life which they wish me to sée their reuenge but I beléeue I shall sée it first on them and to the end it shall not happen I with my parents and friends will séeke them at home in their owne countryes He said no more for he well remembred that he had bene more cholericke then is vsuall with Embassadours But the faire Rosamundi could not dissemble her griefe séeing her louer defied of whom she had vnderstood all that which had passed at Rome and taking occasion of what Coriander had said she said Me thinketh Knight you haue offended many with your presumptuous maner of procéeding in scoffing in disdaine at the Gréeke Ladies for to value the Dacian Prince to be of lesse worth for being in our company Hereby the iustnesse of the cause for which you come is the more plainely to be perceiued and because you shall vnderstand that the comming from Kings doth not warrant you when you haue receyued your answere I wil make you know that there are Ladies in Gréece whose coÌ„panie yéeldeth honour to Knights which frequent the same There will not waÌ„t those which will maintaine the challenge quoth the faire Archisilora burning with anger for such a disgrace as this shall not passe vnpunished For a mediator answered the gallaÌ„t Empresse Claridiana here is mine arme which in fauour of the Ladies shall shew their equitie In so iust a cause sayd the faire Sarmatia there is none that will refuse the combate against any of the fiue I would I had Mars his strength quoth the faire Liriana to let these Knights know that it had bene better for them to haue taken some other course Let not that offend you sayd the faire Rosamundi for I as most iniuried doe in challenge defie this Knight and one of his companions to the ende they may sée how little they are estéemed All which was done with such a sudden that the Emperour although hee would yet he could not haue enter medled therein Somewhat milder than before the furious Coriandro answered Faire Ladies where the victorie is so apparantly due to your beauties the Knights of Gibea do not vse to enter into battels but against sterne Knights where the valour of the persons may appeare I am very sorie the whereas so many Knights are they haue yéelded to the Ladies to maintaine the honour of Grecia This did somewhat nettle the Greeke Princes that together arose thrée which well shewed what they were They were no lesse then Rosabel the warlike Claramante and the furious Dacian who being armed without all doubt would haue had them by the eares But to auoid the hurly burly the old King of Macedonia arose willing the Ambassadours to goe with him while the Greekes gaue answere a thousand times was Bembo about to deâ—e Rosabel in his Mistresse quarrel and had done it but that he saw it would cause him to stay longer then Lupercio had appointed All was left to the field battell where wanted no occasion and euery man had his handes full as you shall heare The defiance being accepted they dispatched the Messengers which did not a little wonder at the Ladies and much more at the great Nauie which they saw at sea and the innumerable armie which they saw on land and because that in the Citie there was not roome enough the Captaine generall had commanded many tents to be erected compassed about with deepe trenches which seemed another Citie Some dayes they stayed because that thither came the wise Lord of Achaia who before he would goe forth of Gréece desired to be informed of the state of his enemies but finding many contrarieties he much doubted of the good successe according to most mens opinion seeing the great and mightie armies leuied against the Gréekes The foure Ladies were so displeased with the Pagans answere that in the night with their Armes they went to séeke them They were quickly mist and for feare that any disgrace should happen vnto them armed at all pieces with most assured Armes there went after them Don Heleno and Rosabel with Captaine Arâ—â—toldo and the mightie Bransiniano the valorous Brandafidel was none of the last and the gentle Teâ—feo with his Uncle Bramidoâ—o in company of the noble Alphebo onely Rosacler stayed behind for that euening he felt himselfe not well and the trauaile of the faire Oliuia did much trouble him which that night was deliuered of a daughter no lesse faire then her mother neither did she cost lesse blood as with the fauour of the Muses I will declare in the fourth part of this Historie where her loues shal be described the beginning whereof shall be declared in this fourth booke The new enamored Claramante with his most rich and assured armes would goe alone and notwithstanding that he knew not the country
name and behalfe of those things which you loue best in the world to tell me your name and of what countrey you are for I am of opinion that I shall yet loue you better for some other reason then for all that you haue now done for mee Well did this yong gallant vnderstand her and so desiring throughly to satisfie her hee said Worthy Lady the Gods do beare me record how great ioy I conceiue for my comming into your Kingdome in time to do you some seruice and know that my Countrey is Tinacria and I am sonne to the Emperour Trebacius and hee among all my whole kindred whom I loue best is the Prince of the great Britany Afresh returned the most faire Eufronisa to embrace him saying Now valorous Prince I say that I wil not rest beholding vnto you séeing that in giuing me life it hath béen to the ende I should encrease my loue towards that cruell Prince whom you say you loue so much And as we leâ—t speaking streames of teares flowed froÌ„ her faire eies she considered her ouersight saying Maruell not noble Prince to sée the many shewes of my indiscretion for the â—eruent affection wherewith Rosabel is beloued in this Countrey is such and the crueltie which hee sheweth towards me is so rigorous that it forceth me to complaine of him séeing I haue so déerely loued him I would not for any thing in the world most worthy Lady answered the Prince that I should giue you any cause of discontent for I receyue so much herein that I know not ought that may frée me thereof although that if it may be held for an excuse that he haue not equalled your affection his being elsewhere deuoted yet a sufficient reason it yéeldeth to cause you to shew your selfe lesse passionate I neuer desired most valiant Knight that he should wholy requite my loue séeing it impossible for him to doe I onely desired that he should consider that I loued him and how swéet a life I held it and how much I ioyed to bee his But Oh extreme dolor it appeareth that if I did liue but to loue him he in good earnest tooke pleasure to abhorre me Here did I furnish him with horse and armes and here did I shew him the most faithfull sincere affection that euer was contained in any humane brest In my Palace did I cure him of his wounds hoping that that would haue moued him to haue cured those which he had giuen me but to my greater griefe I sent him hence whole and sound and he left me here so as you sée me Let it not noble Prince offend you to heare my passionate complaint for I would not haue spoken it to any man in the world but to such a one as were so néere a kinseman and deare friend as are you to that cruell Knight and know that my constancie shall serue for an example to the world for first shall my soule forsake my body before I leaue to be his Behold and sée vnto what estate affection hath brought me for in hope to sée him it doth not grieue me to sée my father in the behalfe of the Souldan of Niquea to goe against him And I beseech you valorous Prince séeing you meane to serue in those famous wars to remember some day to tell him that Eufronisa is in the Campe not in shew of an enemy but as a tributarie Much did the crueltie of his kinseman grieue the Prince of Tinacria wherefore to comfort this noble Ladie he said Be not dismaide noble Lady for I promise you on my faith and as I am a Knight that I will so bring it to passe that in Grecia the prince Rosabel shall visit you and acknowledge the fauor which in this countrie he hath receiued at your hands I desire no greater ioy for my whole life time answered the Ladie but only to sée him and that that with some acknowledgement he may vnderstaÌ„d how much I haue loued him and herewith let vs go for that Ladie staieth for vs who is a witnesse of what I endure Upon the dead Princesse horse the Tinacrian set the Ladie and himselfe mounted vpon his own they returneâ— so pleasant and merry that but for the remembrance of the losse of her sonnes nothing could yéeld her so great ioy of loue was all their discourse although this Youth had small skill therein But fortune determined to prepare him with those shewes of loue meaning shortly to subiect him thereto holding it for base séeing he was not yet subdued Some horsemen they met vpon the way of her gard which in a great troope came galloping fearing that they had lost the Kings daughter Here would the Prince haue taken his leaue without comming to the Citie of Goltuerg where the King made preparation for his departure but at the instant request of the Princesse and the discreet Silia he could not refuse to goe with them vpon condition that by no meanes they should discouer who he was Being ariued at the Citie it nothing amazed him to sée it in armes and the great number of Knights which hourely ariued there among which were many most fierce Gyants neither the great abundance of warlike instruments which were prepared in that Citie for well hee knew in what readinesse his father would be Eight dayes remained hee there with the greatest entertainement in the world for the king knowing in what maner he had rescued his daughter knew not how to requite it him At the end of which time with a determination to goe into Tinacria and there to leuie the mighttest Armie that possibly he should be able in the behalfe of his father hee tooke his leaue of that gallant Ladie with such a farewell as made him sorrowfull She likewise within foure dayes after tooke her way towards Grecia with her fathers Armie with so great a desire to bee there that she imagined that the heauens could yéeld her no greater content The words of the Tinacrian did much hearten her who in a well rigd Galley directed his course towards his Countrey with his aforesaid determination But the third day after his being at sea the sea began to worke in such sort that he lost his voyage casting him by diuine prouidence into a streight of the Mediterranean sea where he wandred 3. daies the fourth tooke land in the most swéet and pleasant countrey that euer he had séene in his life Hée leapt ashore desirous to know in what countrey he was ariued commanding the Marriners there to attend him and with his Squire onely he began to enter a most pleasant shadow of Poplar trées where hee tooke pleasure in the fresh ayre thereof séeming vnto him that there industrious nature had taken great care to excéed all humane arte When hee had trauailed about a mile therein busying his eyes in beholding the stately Poplars and lofty Cedars at the end of this wood in the midst of a fayre field he beheld the stateliest Palace
for my libertie which onely may be estéemed a thing whereof there resteth for mée no hope to make any requitall which the heauens reward you in your greatest necessitie The great displeasure which I conceyued against this Knight for departing out of my prison without my leaue was the occasion of my ouersight For many errors worthy Lady this onely were a sufficient excuse if there had beene any such how much more then where there was none committed Much time they spent in entertaining with these swéete discourses To entertaine in such maner worthy Ladyes is no error which I leaue to your discréete considerations omitting therewith the tediousnesse wherewith I should procéed The long absence of the Prince of Apulia had giuen no occasion to lose any part of the affection which shée bare vnto him when hee was present her stedfast beholding him did manifest as much All this did but encrease the Gréeke louers paine to see himselfe so infortunate and absent from his Lady and with such disgrace banished and not to returne into Grecia without licence bearing the name of Claridiano It did somewhat grieue the Prince of Apulia to sée the discontentment of the knight of Crueltie he was generally so called of al men for that was his deuice in his shield The gentle conuersation of the Princesse did much comfort him whom these princes entreated to declare the cause of her imprisonment I can tel you none valorous Knights but that being one day in a gardeÌ„ vpon the Stronds side to recreate my selfe in company of these foure Damsels this accursed Gyant by chance with the furie of the winde came to ariue at the gardens bancke side he with those Knights entred and comming through the thickest they ariued at certaine fountaines where we were solacing our selues To small purpose serued the callings and outcries which wee made calling for helpe that they should not carrie vs away to their Galley It was yesterday twelue dayes he told me by the way that he was of the squadron of Ocho vassal to the Prince of Almayne in whose seruice hee went to the warres against the Gréekes in company of the Emperour of the Romanes and to the same effect my Father is vpon parting with the king of Carthage which are to ioyne with the Souldan of Niquea whom as they say this warre doth principally concerne for the theft which a Prince of the Gréekes committed in stealing one of his Daughters they purpose to ruinate the whole Empire according to the great numbers of men which they leuie This is all that I can say concerning my imprisonment And séeing I shal not finde the King my Father at Argel for by this time hee is gone I should be very glad if you would take me with you for being in company with such Knights for the present nothing in the world could yeeld mee the like content You shall doe vs answered Florisiano great fauour to take vs with you for Knights of your gard Whereto the Gréek agréed dissembling the griefe hee conceiued to heare how great troopes of men were leuied to warre against his parents hee determined with himselfe to take his way towards Grecia disguised with new armes secretly without acquainting any man therewith except the Knight of the Lions who was the gentle Claramant The Princes often times discoursed concerning the successe of the Prince of Apâ—lia and sware that it should be kept secret without discouering to any man who he was With faire weather they sayled sixe dayes and on the seuenth they discouered the land of Lucania with such alteration of the Prince of Apâ—lia that standing aloft to beholde it the Ladie said vnto him You shall do ill to goe ashore in this land which wee haue discouered valorous Prince séeing that you wil land therein with so sad and heauie countenance Some things haue happened vnto me to my liking answered the Prince but the most ordinary and that which maketh me to absent my selfe from my Countrey and friends is that which carieth me after the currant of my hard happes Loue most noble Prince is not so swéet to bee endured nor so easie to be concealed but that howsoeuer a man will goe about to dissemble the matter hiding the griefe of his soule yet hée will giue signes and certaine notice thereof The Prince of Gréece was of opinion plainely to discouer it for in his soule hee was grieued for it was a matter to touch a man for her beautie did deserue that the Prince of Apulia should loue her but he dissembled offering himselfe to any danger that might yéeld content to Florisiano They attributed it to the great generositie of his minde desiring much that occasion might be offered to requite the same They leapt to shore and he of Apâ—lia tooke the Armes of one of the Gyants Knights which best fitted him and a mightie horse which was the dead Gyants other foure they tooke for the Ladies which were with the Princesse They gaue commandement to the Mariners of the Galley to attend them there and licensing the Gyants galley to depart they tooke the most direct and beaten way that they saw all the Ladies ware skarfes which they cast ouer their faces to goe the more vnknowne There was neuer séene a fairer company for the Ladies were all yong maides and the others enamoured so as there was no discourse of any thing betwéene theÌ„ but of loue From the one side to the other rode thâ—se valiant warriours managing their horses with so great a grace as Mars himselfe the Ladie taking great pleasure therein accounting it a pleasure to trauell all the world ouer in company of such Knights their valour assuring her from al danger By the same way that they went they saw eight Knights comming towards them very richly armed to whom at their méeting the Gréeke in their owne language said for he could speake any in the world We shall take it for fauour Sir Knights to know of you what Countrey this is and how farre it is to any Towne Well pleased with his good spéeches and behauiour The Countrey Sir Knights wherein you are answered one who séemed to be Captaine of all the rest is the populous Lucania very néere vnto the famous Citie of Troba it would yéelde you great delight to sée the maruellous stately buildings thereof but now all the Countrey is so troubled with these warres which are a beginning that there is no pleasure or contentment especially now by reason of the importunacie of Asternio Prince of Calabria who hath declared himselfe for a great louer suiter vnto the Princesse Polinarda although it is imagined that she admitteth none of his seruices But the King hath so effectually dealt in the matter that she is promised vnto him for his wife in stead of his brother whom they put to death through her occasion Greatly was the Prince of Apulia moued with the words of these knights although he past it ouer holding the matter as concerning
houres which they past seemed a thousand to goe to the place appointed where hauing taken order for all that was to be caried the Ladie leauing a letter for her father contayning a thousand amorous excuses reciting to him all the whole course of their loue past she stayed in company of the faire Solersia who would not part without speaking to the valiant Florisiano Without the inclosure remained the faire Troyla and the rest of the Ladies with Palisander and the two Princes he of Apulia helping the Gréeke who in a moment gat vp to the top of the wall and giuing his hand to Florisiano they leapt into the garden where the louers could not speake the one to the other a common thing in the law of loue But the pleasant Solersia imbracing the Prince of Apulia said I would not valiant Prince that that Ladie had told vs the discouerie of Iaroe for it had beene to put vs in new griefe to loue you not as the Carthagonian but as the Lord of Apulia I was assured worthie Princesse answered the Prince that shée who then did me fauour would now worthily accomplish it with that generositie wherewith you are endued Your sight and new acquaintance quoth shée is for so small a time that I cannot suffer this Ladie to enioy the same to whome your absence hath béene so grieuous that shée could hardly bee comforted But seeing that the heauens will that you come together there is nothing to bee done but to giue thankes therefore and wee are all glad thereof Those true louers imbraced each other with so much ioy as cannot bee imagined it sufficeth to beléeue that it was the greatest in the world being purchased with so much troubles which doe season the good when it commeth to bee enioyed About an houre they stoode talking giuing many thankes to the Greeke for that which hee had done for them admiring his beautie and few yeeres Much it grieued the Ladies to depart but séeing that it was requisite giuing in charge to Solersia to procure her Fathers good will and excuse the Prince of Apulia with his beloued Lisander giuing strickt imbracemeÌ„ts they tooke their leaue the Ladie returned to her lodging without being perceiued The Princes in their armes receiued the Kings daughter which went away very feareful of her Fathers displeasure it was good hap that shée lost not her sences for sorrow but Lisander and his beloued Solersia tooke so good order that they did not onely satisfie him but also procured him to pardon them séeing shee was so well maried as with the Prince of Apulia who with his beloued Polinarda with the rest of the Princes tooke the way towardes Apulia with determination to leuie the greatest forces that hee should be able and goe to the succour of Grecia for the much that he was bounden vnto the Prince thereof And so in a short space he armed twentie thousand Knights entreating the Prince Claridiano to goe into Gréece with him who yéelded thereto but vpon condition that he should neuer speake to any man of him for no lesse then his life depended thereon And so they tooke their course towards the great port of Grecia where they arriued in happie time not without many great suddaine passions of the Gréeke louer to know himselfe so néere to her whome he carried in his soule they tooke land the Emperour receiuing them with such grauitie as appertained But the Gréeke louer would neuer discouer his name neither would hee see her which was Ladie of his life and therefore tooke his leaue of the Ladies promising the Emperour that he would not depart out of Grecia before the warres were ended which was then euen at their doores the enemies comming being most certaine with his Squire Palisander alone accompanied with a thousand passions of loue hee tooke his way into a wood which was called The wood of Willowes purposing to change his armes and so vnknowne to giue aide to his Grand-father Hee greatly reioyced to sée the great good preparation in a readinesse being of opinion that with so great armies and so well armed the land might be defended against all the rest of the world Foure daies he wandred in that wood without any aduenture worthie of memorie vntill the fifth in the euening he heard a great noyse as though it had béene of Knights fighting he mended his pace making towards the place where he heard the noyse but he had ridden but a little way when an old man leaning vpon a great Rush tooke his horse by the Reines saying Hold thée Prince of Greece for it behoueth thée not in any case to goe any further forwards for to goe to say the truth it is to goe to the house of death What art thou honourable auncient old man answered the Prince beeing much abashed therewith which knowing me hast bound me vnto thee for the aduertising of me of the danger wherein I went He valorous Prince which many yéeres hath procured your good as hee which most dearely loueth youâ— and therefore alight for without my helpe you shall not come to the battell whereof you haue heard so much neither shall you serue in the warres in the field without being knowne to your parents and friends which will bee little for your ease and somewhat hard for you to endure The valorous young man with a skip was on foote verie desirous to know who this olde man was which knew so much of his life Hee had hardly set his féete to the ground when the olde man with his armes displayed in his owne likenesse of Gualtenor came to imbrace him saying Doe not thinke my beloued sonne that I take so little care for your contentment but that I procure it more effectually then if it were for my selfe and séeing I perceiue your desire to returne into Grecia â—and the disgrace wherein you are with your Mistresse and the néede that there is of your helpe I haue enforced my selfe to come to yéeld remedie to all aduertising you first to the end that you may with contentment endure this long warre that if you loue you are beloued in good earnest and with the soule but the high heauens haue so ordained that you shall not liue assured from this vntill that these warlike hands haue shed the bloud of that person whome you best loue in the world your sorrowes being then grown to the highest which you shall not be able to passe and then will come the ioy which you desire which your destinies haue prepared for you the most acceptable in the world and because you shall goe vnknowne I haue brought you here certaine armours which I began to forge long before you were borne and onely against this warre they are such as no other Master is worthie thereof but the Prince of the two Empires there are onely three which equall them in value for that that the temper of them all was giuen vnder one planet with these and this Iewell you may goe in
she ran with her Courser more swift then a starre falling betwéene the cloudes there were those which bare record of this encounter for the gods of the woods leauing their habitation with their Nimphes and Tritons came into the gréene field at the very instant that that famous Quéene made the brauest encounter that euer was séene in Gréece for hitting the Pagan in the middest of the strong shield it auailed him not that it was of stéele neither the doubles which it had for through it and the brest-plate being a handfull thicke it past cléere yeelding an armes length of the launce thorough his beastly shoulders the swiftnesse wherewith her Courser came made him to misse the shocke shée past forwards with so good a grace as would haue intangled Mars the countenaÌ„ce of Archisilora onely was sufficient to haue made him to yéeld his soule captiuâ— and to make the god of Loue himselfe in loue to behold her Shée returned and with a soft pace came to the Ladies which were very glad of the good encounter which shée had made onely she wished that her Gréeke louer had bene there The valorous Empresse of Trapisonda would stay no longer but mounting vpon Cornerino her horse came sorth as swift as an arrowe which is shot by a nimble Sorian at a certaine marke she did nothing enuie the last encounters for although that in that which she receyued she lost one of her stirrops yet that which she gaue was so rigorous that shée therewith sent the Giant to the ground wounded in his brest and but that her launce brake not striking somewhat acrosse it had cost him his life The two famous warriours Bembo and the great Brauorante séeing the valour which the thrée had shewen and the signes that the fourth had giuen to be no lesse then the rest it was euen so as they imagined for the faire Sarmatia with her furious horse charged the third Gyant with such force and doxteritie that shee laid him though it much grieued him in the gréene field forth shee rode and recouered both her stirrops which in the encounter she had lost forwards went the gallant Rosamundi hauing taken vp the dead Gyants launce and said vnto those which remained on horsebacke I would very gladly Sir Knights that wee were in number equall vnto you to the end that with equalitie the Iusts might haue béene ended But now me thinketh that you séeking reuenge for that which is done to your companions we beeing but foure of force you must beginne againe with me The last Gyant which was the most valiant of al made no longer delay but whorling a ships mast which he bare in stead of a launce about his head tooke his carriere against the Ladie she gaue spurres to her horse as swift as thought encountred the Pagan and did better this time then the last for his strong plancks of stéele could nothing profite him but that shee smote him cleane thorow from side to side the horses came to the shocke and made greater noise then if two rocks had met but as the Ladies horse had not his like in that land so he ouerthrew the Gyant horse and man spreading them vpon the gréene field and her horse set him on his buttocks being vnable to goe any further The valorous Dame fearing some ill successe as light as an Eagle leapt to the ground séeing her good horse recouer with another iumpe shee leapt into her saddle The most strong Pagan Brauorante blaspheming against heauen would haue taken his course when the Ladie said vnto him Hold Sir Knight for there is time enough for our encounter for I would speake with this Knight in the gréene skarfe pointing to Coriandro which was the man whom she had ouerthrowne who hauing recouered breath was mounted on horsebacke but without speare or shield The like had the other two Giants done to whom the Ladie said I am very sory Sir Knight for your ill hap but I was more sory to sée the few maners which you shewed in Grecia for you should haue had more respect to the great princes which were in the hall wherein you grieued many Ladies being in your prowd behauiour farre more arrogant then valiant if that might not haue moued you it had bene sufficient for you to haue noted the courtesie and good carriage of these Knights in the blacke who made shew to be hartily sory for your prowd demeanour which deserued that reuenge which you now haue experimented and because you may sée the hands which haue wrought it and may say the in Grecia as Knights vse Iusts and Tournaments so like wise Ladies also séeke reuenge which peraduenture may serue for a warning for you Romanes that they come with lesse pride then their Ambassadours haue done and so although your pride deserue it not yet we will do you this fauour to tell you who we are to the end that being well assured you may be glad to haue left your armes in the kéeping of such ladies together with your honor at that instant they tooke off their caskes appearing by reasoÌ„ of the heate of their encouÌ„ters sarâ—e more faire theÌ„ Apollo in the midst of his iourny because you may vnderstaÌ„d Knights said the Lady that in Gréece there is no misse of gallants to serue Ladies yet there is not so great néed of their Armes but the the heauens haue imparted some valour among the Ladies so as they may make some chaleÌ„ge thereto and as for you valorous Knights hauing no occasion but what these Knights haue giueÌ„ we refuse to iust with you doubting to lose therin what we herein haue gotteÌ„ Neuer a one of those which were ouercome could answere thei were so asham'd holding it the greatest disgrace that could happeÌ„ to be ouerthrown by the hands of teÌ„der delicate Ladies Bembo steps forth with a grace being in a maze said Ualorous dames this Knight and I were very sorry for the displeasure which is taken through that which these Knights sayd although being sent they might be somewhat excused if excuse may be admitted for errour committed against such beautie But it séemeth as it doth appeare that who can so well take offence can as well take reuenge without néed of any offer to be made by any your gallants against whom rather then against your daintinesse the challenge was made But it is past in such sort that you rest reuenged making vs beeing bounden vnto you for your courtesie to giue ouer the right which we had to the Iusts for your chalenge was to all That which you do valorous Knight is not of so small account but may deserue requitall at our hands which shall be to leaue vs in greater doubt then before The famous Prince would haue answered when as not farre from them there came along by a woods side the â—lower of all humane valour Claridiano and Claramante who as I haue said before hauing receyued the rich armes of his
the Citie the Emperour much estéemed this course of importance The valorous Astrusio taking his leaue of the Princes with many imbracements returned to the sea setting his hurt men ashore to be cured hee came to the mouth of the Hauen for feare of a tempest verie ioyfull of the victorie the Captaine generall by land séeing his enemies therein began to shew the worthinesse of his person as shall bee declared in the next Chapter CHAP. XV. Of the encounter which the Captaines souldiers had with the enemie about pitching of their Campe. THere is nothing most excellent Prince that giueth the assurance in the wars as discretion that maketh easie that which is most difficult the braue sonne of Sacridoro making benefit thereof ended great battels as shall appeare in this famous and large Historie This famous Captaine was the first man shewing in all things not onely his valour but the excellencie of his wit also for the golden Apollo had scarcely lookt out at his fayre baye window spreading abroad his golden lockes bathed in the Spanish Seas when comming foorth of Constantinople with all his royall Cauallarie hee called the Spaniards and Antiochians to whome for their much experience hee had shewne much affection with him went the flowre of Cheualrie ClaramaÌ„te Claridiano and the faire Archisilora with him also went the warlike Giants Brandafidel Bramidoro and the strong Tifereo Few of the principall but did accompanie the Generall who in few words told them whereabout he went and how much it did import after and séeing in what case the Moore had left him before that he had space to draw his broad sword the Ladie was come and with hers shée suddenly tooke him crosse the Helmet cutting away a great part of the visor and withall made him réele in his Saddle shée holpe him forwards with a thrust so as his thicke armour auailed not for shée hurt him sore in the middest of the brest his bloud gaue testimonie of his dangerous hurt Like one of the wild beastes of Hircania the Paynim set vpon the gallant Ladie who séeing the furie where with he came gathering her selfe vnder her shield for shée had no more roome shée receiued the terrible blow it made the bloud come forth at her eares and to her brest did shée bend downe her head astonished with the blow and but that her dexterity stood her in stead he had striken her againe which had béene no great matter to doe shée was so ill of the last for the Moore was verie strong but reyning her horse shée put her selfe somewhat from him the force of the blow made the strong Pagan to turn about and fall vpon the pummell of his Saddle and his horse being prickt with the Spurres brought him hard by Claridiano who was glad in his soule for a thousand times he was about to leaue the battell to come although there were no néede to aide the Quéene of his life Seeing the good occasion putting the Achaian from him with a verie strong thrust with all his whole power hee smote him vpon the Helme it was a verie fortunate blow for lighting vpon the cannon of the Feathers it pluckt it from his head leauing it disarmed throwing it at his horse héeles and but for feare of the ioyning of the two battels he had followed him for séeing into what case he had broght his Lady it made him deadly angry Then came the Lady pursuing him and séeing what reuenge was taken of him euen enforced thereto to her selfe shée said O flowre of Cheualrie how vniustly doth thy Ladie suffer thée to beare this deuice being worthie to bee beloued by the most excellent I beléeue that but that shée loued Claridiano so extremely shée had sure giuen passage to Cupids forces who sought by a thousand meanes to make her tributarie but shee was so constant in her loue to the Gréeke Prince that the Knight with the Ladies inioyed onely good will shee would requite him for his blow giuing Bembo another with both hands of no lesse force then what of him she had receyued she made him lay his head in his bosome and before that hee againe came to himselfe she gaue the Pagan such a thrust as did much grieue him In this hurry came the Captaine generall and the most strong Mauritanian being some what out of breath for hauing buckled together there mist but a little that the Antiochian had not bene ouercome for the Moore was so strong that few could match him they came before the Greeke who stood beholding his beloued Archisilora and suddenly the Pagan smote the sonne of Oriselua on the side of the Shield it was great hap that he had not stricken it out of his hand and his arme therewithall he made him so dizzie that he could not tell whether he were afoote or on horsebacke he would haue giuen him a second and had stretched out his arme to giue it but the valiant young man opposed himselfe saying Hold thee thou ill taught Pagan know that it is no valour to strike him which cannot defend himselfe He stayd for no answere for in such cases it is excusable but hurling his sword about his head with Mars his strength hee smote him vpon the strong armes which he had lifted vp and made him to lose his blow and also his sword out of his hand which before he could recouer againe hee gaue him another and within a little layd him at his horses féete With the noyse about turneth Claramante who was in a terrible fight with the Scithian neither the one nor other could passe any farther forwards for the two armies came to ioyne with such a noyse that it séemed that the heauens were vnhung and should come downe to the earth with a fayre encounter they repayred wherein aboue twentie thousand lost their saddles It was a fearfull spectacle to see the diuers kinds of deaths which were giuen some falling from their horses were troden to death others being thrust thorow so ended their iournie others séeking reueÌ„ge desired to kill dying As the place was narrow and the people infinite no man lâ—st his saddle that could euer againe recouer it The horses not féeling their riders ran out of the troup leauing any more to trouble the troups At the first charge they lighted on the famous Brundusio who escaping without hurt with a new Helmet would néeds returne to the battell desiring rather to die in coÌ„pany of his Knights then to liue any where else He entred reuenging himselfe vpon that poore people among which he did excâ—eding much hurt Yet the Greekes did as great among them so as some of their Colours began to retire to the passage where they first came into the field but there they found the braue Sacridoro who did not onely stay theÌ„ but made a great slaughter among them so as the Moores were beaten on either side for neither the force of their Captaines neither their great number of people could defend them from
them that he made them retire a great way out of the plaine On that side where the Duke of Thebes was the Emperour of the Romanes charged with the Prince of the Almaines and the valorous Brundusio who desâ—rous to meete with some of the Greekes made the battels to ioyne together with such a noyse as if the skyes had fallen The mighty Epirabio tooke charge of the assaulting of the Citie and so with all the instruments and engines requisite for such an exployte with all the Assyrians the power of the Parthians they drew néere to the walls with many timber Castles with which they thought so enter the great Citie 3. clarions were souÌ„ded in the Castle of Venus froÌ„ wheÌ„ce the Ladies beheld the cruel warre All the Gréeke Princes knew what it meant The Emperour Trebatius was very sorry fearing some ill hap for he saw all the troupes of Niquea in aboue sixty rankes marching towards the fountaynes to charge at their backes He lifted vp his eyes to heauen saying Into thy hands O mightie God I commit my cause and the equitie of this persecuted Empire He turned to Rosacler saying I doe beléeue that this day will neuer be forgotten I beséech the Lord to looke vpon his people Hee offered to come to fight with the Moores but that was not their meaning for they deferred it for a better occasion but onely to crosse the fields to recouer a hill which was hard by the walles where they meant to fortifie It was wonderfull to sée for the Captaine Aristoldo had already taken it A better coÌ„maunder the world neuer knew and truly to haue gotten the hill had bene continually readie to enter the Citie The discréet Captayne returned within the valley with all the Spanyards and made such haste that they tooke it beforehand The Pagan brought much valiant people and hee was so of his person but he met with those which he thought not of which were the flower of Knighthood no lesse then Uncle and Nephew Claridiano and Claramante with the faire Archisilora These were sufficient to fight with their whole armie The Captaine of the Moores came to an ill market for he met with Lindabrides her louer who smote him sencelesse vpon his saddle bowe he was so quick with him that before that he could recouer himself he laid him on the hard ground with a knock with his axe Hee would not trouble himselfe any longer with him leauing him for dead but withdrew himselfe some what from his companions for not to be troubled with his battel-axe for therewith hee made more roome There was nothing better worth the séeing in all those warres There was neuer any hired labourer in the countrey which shaking the Chestnut trée threw down more Chestnuts then the sonne of Trebatius threw downe Knights with his terrible battell-axe Sometimes with thrée blowes hee felled fixe Knights and sometime with a strong thrust hee pluckt Knights out of their saddles filed vpon his axe as papers vpon a thred He neuer gaue blow which made not the noble company to looke about and wonder at the strength of his armes The vnknowne Louer gaue good account of himselfe for hee sought not out particular Knights but the grimme Giants among which hee rushed without any signe of feare Their comming to the rescue was to so great effect that they made the Moores to retire out of the field to Bembo his squadron who by this time was within sight for he had intelligence that there was a supply of men landed in the port of Antona He made hast in hope to ouercome for he saw that by their hastie going his people gat the aduantage of the field Wel did the strong Breton sée that for that he was on the left wing where he plaid the deuil as that ground was somwhat higher those which tooke land might well possesse it which ranging themselues into a strong Battalion he saw tooke their way towards the field Hee called the Prince of Argentaria and sayd vnto him Now is the time come valorous Knight to shew what hath bene hoped for at your hands and therefore if you will be my conuoy it behoueth me to passe by all these Tents to goe to know what people that is which is newly arryued for if they bee not enemy we shall get the field Doe herein valorous Prince sayd the noble Florisarte what shall please you which to effect with the losse of my life I shall be well content The valiant Rosabel for he had no time to stay casting his shield at his backe and in his hand his sword gaue his horse the reynes who as swift as a thunderbolt parted froÌ„ his squadron towards the sea side The Prince of Tharsis had inough to doe to followe him hee went with such fury and swiftnesse Both campes beheld him The Gréeks knew him by the blew scarfe which Liâ—iana had giuen him Some followed him the first whereof were Claramante Claridiano and the fayrâ— Archisilora because they saw that Aristoldo made all haste getting ground vpon his enemie for Epirabio being missing whom sore hurt they had carried out of the battell in a maner turning their backes they made towards their campe notwithstanding that the Moores in that place had the worst of the fight in most places else they cryed Uictorie for Bembo reinforcing his squadron had brought to his ayd a hundred thousand Assyrians with which hee gaue so fierce a charge on the squadron of the Thessalonians that hee made them retire aboue a bow shot The Gréekes were in better case on that side where Florisiano with the gentle Polidolpho with the people of Lira Apulia and Croatia had entred they were somewhat of kinne and for that cause they alwaies kept company They were of opinion that the Sargeant Maior generall had reserued them and their people fresh onely for that dayes seruice They were very confident in their valour through that occasion they vndertooke great enterprises and fell on that side from whence Rosabel went who with the strong Floriâ—arte being to go crosse the tents had put theÌ„ in disorder They came in good time for the people of that countrey beeing but a fewe left had retired to backe themselues with a little hill whither came the two famous Captaines with al the horsemen which gaue so sudden a charge vpon their enemies as did greatly annoy them but the best was to recouer the ground which they had lost They both did greatly encourage the people shewing them what honour they wanne that day seing it might well be sayd that they had restored Grecia being almost lost These couragious speaches wrought such effect that euerie one fought for two no man was afeard of danger so great was the hope of victory All was but neede for the Emperour of Rome did so busie the Duke of Thebes and the Souldan of Egypt charged on the right wing so as the Greekes had their hands full on euery side for with the
and so strong that it behooued them to doe more then they did The inuincible Alphebus with his valorous company came to their aid who knowing them for his friends and néere kinsmen kept such a stir that in despite of them they made way to follow on their iourney leauing aboue 40. of those Pine trees stretched all along vpon the ground The mighty Trapisondan followed them not thinking that they went about some matter of importance but rather assembling the sonnes of Tituan he begaÌ„ afresh to charge the Giants The King of Giant land had long desired to méete with Alphebus and now seeing him present he went to him saying Now the time is come Greek Prince that with thy head shal be restored the damage done to my bloud Hee which meant to preuaile with déeds answered him not with words for hee had scarcely said this but with a Partisane hee smote him ouer the rich Helmet The Emperor of Trapisonda was euen at deaths dore for the Pagan gaue him another which made the bloud gush out at his Beuer. Ther was neuer any Uiper but might be accouÌ„ted gentle in respect of Alphebus for before that the Moore could againe lift vp his cruel club he was come close to him and with both his handes smote him vpon the crowne of gold which hee ware he smote it in peeces and a great part of the Helmet hee cut from it leauing him both sore wounded and disarmed hee came againe with another which did wholly perfect the victorie for hitting him there where hee was disarmed the one halfe of his head hee smote to the ground leauing him dead and on horsebacke Thither came so many for reuenge that the noble Gréeke had beene in danger had not Bramidoro and his friend Brandafidel with Tefereo come to his aide for to the noyse came Brauorante ouerthrowing more Greekes then the wind doth leaues in Autumne There began a braue battell for the Gréeke desired it and the other was readie to die for it By this time were the two famous warriours come to the little hill Poliphebus and Rosabel meeting there the flowre not onely of the Campe but of the whole world Claramante and Claridiano with the faire Archisilora There was great ioy at their meeting for they did reciprocally loue extremely and not without great griefe they beheld the successe of the battell for although that particular men did preuaile yet the multitude of the rascall Moores was so great that they gat ground vpon them although that at Sea the famous Astrusio sped better for therein hee was the most expert in the world For as being better of sayle with his greatest vessels he bare towards the South where with a fine Southeast wind which blew a faire gale haling their Tackles close aboord they weathered the enemies Fléete and comming hard aboord them they cast so much wild fire into it that they set certaine shippes on fire which they left burning in a light flame with such a mortall slaughter of men as cannot bee imagined for as the wind from the shore was a helpe vnto them comming close aboord the enemies ships they fired the greatest part and the best rigged and appointed in the Fléete and but for the losse by land it had beene great pleasure to haue seene them but that which made them most to wonder was to see come from the South with both sayles and Oares a great Fléete which drawing néere the shore a little beneath where the battell was fought vpon a suddaine landed so many men as excéeded the number of two hundred thousand with aboue thirtie thousand mightie Giants They saw them diuided into two battels and that the one ouer the valley towards the Citie went in the maner of a Crescent without charging Launce or assailing any body gathering together those which were dispersed ouer the fields As the Sunne was then at the highest shining vpon their armour it was a faire sight to behold the other battell wherein there séemed to be a Chariot triumphant drawn by twelue Elephants tooke the lower way Both armies were much troubled herewith for they well saw that to whether partie this should leane there the victorie was certaine Now is there néede of your horses swiftnesse and the valour of your arme said the Captaine Oristoldo first to the sonne of Garrofilea and then to the vnknowne Claridiano who obeying the commaundement of the braue and discréet Captaine answered Let it bee as it shall please you but it fitteth better for our businesse séeing that they are friends that wee should at our pleasure sacke their Campe for I haue to day a great desire to steale some Ladies or at the least if I misse thereof that ensigne which is set yonder in the side of the little hill for they shall not ioy at our losses And therefore valorous Prince with your fauour I will winne it and with my owne hand will giue it to the most faire and ingratefull Ladie of the world in the behalfe of the most faithfull Louer therein and worst rewarded Herewith they descended downe the hill farre more swift then thought The exployts which were done in this iournie are not to be written in so true a Historie as is this which I follow for there were no foure Knights of the most valiant in all the Campe that durst to stand two blowes for a stone doth no more easily strike down the tender eares of Corne then their swords did fell those Infidels They threw to the ground aboue two hundred not wounded which had béene a greater harme but starke dead The furious Giants which opposed themselues against them could not stay them in their iournie for against them like the lightning finding some resistance they shewed themselues more furious As they were perceiued to mount vpon the side of the little hil some from the Imperiall Standard came to their reliefe among which were the sonnes of Rosabel but both one and other came too late for the furious Claridiano much stronger then a thunderbolt rushed in among the flowre of the Almaines which had the gard there The blowes which they gaue nor the Launces and Darts which they hurled could not defend them for without lifting vp his sword he assailed him that had any striking him downe with his fiâ—â—s with greater force then the hungrie Tyger doth the heardes in the mountaines Rifei Hee was assailed by many but there were aboue twentie Knights which tooke his part which before had knowne him with whose aide and the helpe of the famous Poliphebus in the sight of both Camps he tooke the Standard which was the richest in all the armie They crossed the Campe although with much adoe which did encourage those which were ouercome to see the Pagans Standard in the hands of the Knight with the Ladies They came to vnderstand of the armie which was arriued and séeing by the wauing of their colours that they were Greeke ensignes without longer stay holding now the victorie on either
side for certaine in the twinkling of an eye they came to the place where the Generall with his friends stayed for them glad of the exploite which they had done and the couragious young man taking the ensigne in his hand deliuered it to his Lady saying Although that it be a presumptioÌ„ and apparant errour valorous Ladie I bestow this Standard vpon your beautie and valour but seeing it is done and that I haue gotten it in your name my ouer-boldnesse is excusable Upon some other more worthie answered the Ladie I would you had bestowed it but comming from you none will refuse to receiue it as from the best Knight of the world and I will this day bee Standard-bearer to all this companie to charge into the Campe for it now groweth somwhat late And setting vpoÌ„ those which are come to the Campe it will be their whole ouerthrow to sée themselues assailed by so many for there is nothing that putteth men in such feare as to sée before their eyes their goods friends consumed with fire And presently they tooke their way downe the hill vntill they were out of sight of those of the Campe who were busied with beholding the great armie which was newly arriued The sixe valorous Princes came to the Ambuscado where Florisarte ioyfully receiued them and with all spéede put their people in order What followed and who it was which came shall be declared in another Chapter CHAP. XXX How the mightie Andronio Lord of the great Tartaria came to aide the Greekes and of the end of the field battel HOw highly gratitude most excellent Prince is to be estéemed it shall bee néedlesse with many examples to amplifie hauing one in sight as the comming of the famous Tartarian who as he euer had béene a friend to the Dacian Prince and to Thorismundo as in the first and second parts was declared who in his countrie hearing of the warres which the Romanes made determined to come to their aide with the greatest power that hee was able hee leuied two hundred thousand men and thirtie thousand Giants with which for they were both valiant and expert in the warres hee purposed to aide his friends he came thus late because hee thought that the warre had beene in Dacia whither hee went and there vnderstood of the fierce proceedings of the greatest part of the world Hee came in good time and was not a little glad thereof especially when hee saw that the Greekes had the worse imagining that his succours would be the better esteemed In comming to land hee deuided his troopes into two battels and with the one he sent the mightie Prince Daristeo with 15000. Giants who taking his fathers blessing was accompanied with those prowd Giants whereof 100. had charge of his person which was armed with the most coâ—â—ly armour in the camp for it was set with stones of great price and in some places with exquisite workmanship were set great Carbuncles which when the Sun did shine vpon them bereaued men of their sight There was no goodlier shew in all the campe for he was a very youth not yet 15 yéeres old but matched the Gréeke Princes in valour Of his standard which was of the colour of his Armour which was Lion-colour 50. which were the flowre of all the Giants had the gard which presumed to defend it against hath the campes As he tooke the way about the camp he might well sée the estate of the battel He hasted to come to the port of Mars his Castle where all the Ladies were for he perceiued that the Gréeke Caualiery gaue back and to get before them he hastned his march to the end that with his ayd they might be encouraged coÌ„ming at the instanâ— that the ramer of humane harts the sonne of Venus attended his comming for passing before their windowes that the Ladies might sée and bee séene by him delighted with his brauery and the more for that he came in their ayd he looked by chaunce saw his life enclosed in a sweet death for as Rosabella the daughter of Rosacler did shine like the Sun at noone-tide hee could not resist the beames which came from her beauty but that he must yéeld giuing her his soule in exchange for the pleasure which hee conceyued in beholding her neither did she so escape from his brauery but that she thought him to be one of the most gallant youths in the world which in deed was true With this new alteration marshalling his troupes he stayed very ioyfull to sée himselfe by his fathers direction so well imployed who whéeling along the bottome of the valley had placed himselfe right ouer against the flowre of the Parthians which were those which of all others had done most harme in Grecia In the triumphant Charriot they thrise sounded three great Clarions so lowd that the noyse was heard ouer all the fields As they left the mighty yong Daristeo stayed no longer but with the greatest courage of the world casting vp his golden trunchion taking a great Launce in his hand he turned about to behold his Ladie which to him séemed now more beautifull then before I know not how to expresse the noyse which hee made when he gaue the onset for it séemed that all the whole frame of heauen and earth would haue suncke At the first encounter they threw to the earth aboue 30000. for as those fierce Giants went in the vaunt gard there was no defence against their armes for they were the totall confusion of the Pagans The fierce yong man hauing well imployed his Launce drew out a rich sword wherewith hee began by the déedes which he performed to resemble Hector of Troy for hee gaue no blow but ouerthrew a Knight and somtime both horse and man Heerein did Bemboes wisdome appeare prouiding for either partie for against this young man came Brufaldoro with all his people who had not yet charged but his valour could not serue the turne for the Tartarians to winne their Princes fauour fought valiantly Both Captaines met with their swords aloft The blowes which they gaue were cruell for they saw the starres within their Helmets They came againe with others which made the bloud to gush forth at their visors Then they aduaunced themselues beginning one of the most perillous battels of the world The Affricane was more accustomed to labour but the young man being in his sprouting youth and being newly wounded with loue was so ready to strike and retire with his well made horse that he made the Moore sweat drops of bloud Neuer was man séene so furious for perceyuing that he was none of the Gréekes and to sée him so valiant it put him out of his wittes This fight lasted but a while for the armies comming to ioyne made them to part eche of them going where was most danger the better to shew their valour But the Mauritanian had a mishap for as he charged in among those Giants working wanders at the last
set vp tables others scaffolds there was nothing in the place but was put to vse Then came forth the Gréeke Ladies so fayre that if the Sunne had not taken care of those warriours hee could haue taken no benefit of the counsell which he gaue to his sonne it would so much haue troubled him to see so much rare beauty together séeing that hee onely for one left his aboade in the heauens liuing in a rude office and held it for greater glorie then in his rich Charriot to compasse the heauens who séemed to stay which was for that that at one side of the place the two famous warriours presented themselues with the one came all the Affricanes he would not haue his armes brought to him for hee came in with his Beauer downe and with his Launce in his hand with so angrie a pace that there was great hope of him hee was couered all ouer with cleane and well tempered steele enamelled greene with many knots of gold In the middest of the shield which was of the same colour hee had his Ladies picture when hee tooke her from foure Giants which he slue in requitall for their presumption with this â—ot in the borders A strong conceite in a louing mind Maketh easie what euer it doth find Hee rode round about the place with a greater grace then Mars causing at one side thereof a great Launce to bee set vp and thereon to set vp the Armes which had belonged to Brauorante to the end that hee who gat the victorie should beare them away for a Trophe and token of his valour Hee presently tooke his place attending the great Scythian who had chalenged the famous Affrican if euer there were any in that land On the other side came in in valour the rare Brauorante with all the Assyrians that were left in his company It was a thing worthy to bee séene by the Greekes to see how prowdly hee came in all in cleane tempered steele from the head vnto the foote his colours were Lyon-colour with many streames of greene and the skirtes gilt There was neuer seene in the world except it had beene a Giant a greater or a goodlier Warriour and in remembrance of the Ladie which hee had chosen for his god hee bare her paynted so at life in his Shield as when hee met her in the kingdome of Mauritania where hee fought for her as in the beginning of the third part is declared The borders were so set with precious stones of such inestimable price that there was no fayrer shewe to bee seene Therein was also a Warriour farre in loue and betwéene the two these words Well may hee presume to winne Who first found you And by his seruice bound you Hee came in with a furious aspect confronting his aduersarie The Iudges of the field were the two famous Quéenes of beautie for the Affrican chose for his part the fayre Archisilora and the great Brauorante chose his goddesse Floralisa which doing that which to that office did appertaine appointing them an equall space for their carriere armes and sunne they withdrew them to one side to giue the more roome Although this be the last faire Dames there is no reasoÌ„ that he which in the beginning craued leaue to begin this Historie and to giue it in the middle should now leaue to repaire to your beauties to giue it a pleasing ending and to extoll the blowes of the most famous warriours vpon the earth for with angrie paces they set themselues face to face and the Sunne betweene them both staying his course because they should hasten theirs which they did more swift then the fresh wind in Autumne None of those which beheld them durst cast their eye aside for feare to lose the sight of the effect of their swift carriere They performed it gallant Ladies with greater noyse then the raging Sea maketh when it threatneth the highest heauens and being vnable to reach vnto them contenteth it selfe with beating the rockes vpon the shores side And although that their Launces had beene Shippes masts they would haue broken them in small peeces for they came more strongly seated in their Saddles then any rocke in the Mountaines and their Launces being broken into splinters with the force of their encounter flew into the ayre cleane out of sight I beleeue they flew so high as to the Throne where the angrie god maketh his abode who did malice their péerelesse encounter they past one by another with a better grace then he could haue done They returned in the ayre with their swordes in their hands with so fierce a countenance and so proud an aspect that the most valiant of the Greekes cast their cloakes ouer their faces because they would not see it all their bloud of their bodies being retired to their hearts And seeing that Claramante was afraid and Claridiano shrunke aside what shall my wearied pen and my dul short wit but make an end of this booke entreating pardon for the faults which are in them all not looking into them as into a worke of so tender yeeres but onely into my desire so giue content But being now entred into more ryper yeeres I doe promise the fourth part in the which an end shall bee giuen of this terrible battell and also of the loue of the vnknowne Greeke with the noble acts of the sonnes of Eufronisa and also of the Knight with the starres with the mighty Daristeo for the things which they did in seeking the Ladies were wonderfull to the world which doth anewe encourage mee to treat of their loues which were not comparable with the Quéenes of Lira Wherefore worthy Ladies excuse my errors and my so abrupt giuing ouer this Historie whereof if â— may be assured I shall begin it with courage onely to giue you contentment FINIS