arriuall to the shore Foure damsels met him sent by Logestilla Andronica that wisely sees before And Fronesis the iust and chast Drusilla And she that boldly fights for vertues lore Descending from the Romane race Camilla And straight rusht out of men a worthy band Ay prest to meet their foes on sea and land 45 Within a large and very quiet bay A nauie was of vessels big and tall That readie at an howers warning lay To go to fight at any little call And now there was begun a great affray By land and sea the conflict was not small Which did the realme in hurly burly set Alcyna late did from her sister get 46 T is strange to see of wars the strange successe She that of late was counted of such might Is now so driu'n in danger and distresse That scant she could preserue her selfe by flight Rogeros parting brought her griefe no lesse Then did the foile which both bred such despite And such despaire to die she had intended If so she might to haue her torments ended 47 And as her selfe the dame of Carthage kild When as the Troyan Duke did her forsake Or as her blood the Queene of Aegypt spild For that so famous Romaine captaines sake Euen to Alcyna with like sorrowes fild Wisht of her selfe with like death end to make But either auncient folke beleeu'd a lie Or this is true a fairy cannot die 48 But leaue we now Alcyna in this paine That from her elder sister fled apace And to Rogero let vs turne againe That was conducted to a beeter place Where finding now that he did safe remaine He thanked God that gaue him so much grace To see his foes of forces all depriued Himselfe within the castle safe arriued 49 And such a castle that in starely show And costly substance others all surmounted The value of the wals can no man know Except he first vpon the same had mounted Men haue not iewels of such price below For Di'monds are to these but drosse accounted And Pearles but pelse and Rubies all are rotten Where stones of such rare vertue can be gotten 50 These wals are built of stones of so great price All other vnto these come farre behind In these men see the vertue and the vice That cleaueth to the inward soule and mind Who looks in such a glasse may grow so wise As neither flattring praises shall him blind With tickling words nor vndeserued blame With forged faults shall worke him any shame 51 From hence doth come the euerlasting light That may with Phoebus beames so cleare compare That when the Sunne is downe there is no night With those that of these iewels stored are These gems do teach vs to discerne aright These gems are wrought with workmanship so rare That hard it were to make true estimation Which is more worth the substance or the fashion 52 On arches raisd of porphiry passing hie So hie that to ascend them seemd a paine Were gardens faire and pleasant to the eie Few found so faire below vpon a plaine Sweet smelling trees in order standing by With fountaines watring them in steed of raine Which do the same so naturally nourish As all the yeare both flowres and frutes do flourish 53 No weeds or fruitlesse trees are in this place But herbs whose vertues are of highest price As soueraigne sage and thrift and herbe of grace And time which well bestowed maketh wise And lowly patience proud thoughts to abase And hearts ease that can neuer grow with vice These are the herbs that in this garden grew Whose vertues do their beauties still renew 54 The Ladie of the castle greatly ioyed To see the safe arriuall of this knight And all her care and trauell she employed That honor might be done him in her sight Altolfo in his passage lesle annoyed Doth take in his acquaintance great delight And all the other his good fauour sought That by Melyssa to themselues were brought 55 Now hauing all themselues some dayes reposed In Logestillas house and taken rest And finding all themselues right well disposed To make returne againe into the West The good Melyssa for them all proposed Vnto the mightie Ladie this request That by her leaue without incurring blame They might returne them all frō whence they came 56 To whom dame Logestilla thus replide That after they a day or two had staid She would for them most carefully prouide For all their iourney furniture and aid And first she taught Rogero how to ride The flying horse of whom he was afraid To make him pace or passe a full careere As readily as other horses here 57 When all was ready now for him to part Rogero bids this worthy dame farewell Whom all his life time after from his hart He highly honored and loued well First I will shew how well he playd his part Then of the English Duke I meane to tell How in more time and with far greater paine He did returne to Charles his court againe 58 Rogero mounted on the winged steed Which he had learnd obedient now to make Doth deeme it were a braue and noble deed About the world his voyage home to take Forthwith beginneth Eastward to proceed And though the thing were much to vndertake Yet hope of praise makes men no trauell shunne To say another day we this haue done 59 And leauing first the Indian riuer Tana He guides his iourney to the great Catay From thence he passeth vnto Mangiana And came within the fight of huge Quinsay Vpon the right hand leauing Sericana And turning from the Scythians away Where Asia from Europa first doth draw Pomeria Russia Prutina he saw 60 His horse that hath the vse of wings and feet Did helpe with greater haste home to retire And tho with speed to turne he thought it meet Because his Bradamant did so desire Yet hauing now of trauell felt the sweet Most sweet to those to knowledge that aspire When Germany and Hungry he had past He meanes to visit England at the last 61 Where in a medow on a morning faire Fast by the Tems at London he did light Delighted with the water and the aire And that faire citie standing in his sight When straight he saw that souldiers did repaire To muster there and asking of a knight That in the medow he had met by chance He vnderstood that they were bound for France 62 These be the succors thus the knight him told Renaldo sude for at his comming hither With Irish men and Scots of courage bold To ioyne in hearts and hands and purse together The musters tane and each mans name enrold Their onely stay is but for wind and wether But as they passe I meane to you to shew them Their names and armes that you may better know them 63 You see the standerd that so great doth show That ioynes the Leopard and the Flouredeluce That chiefest is the rest do come below And
yet if I die I care not But then alas by law she dies er long O cruell lawes so sweete a wight that spare not Yet this small ioy I finde these griefes among That Polinesso to defend her dare not And she shall finde how little she was loued Of him that to defend her neuer moued 12 And she shall see me dead there for her sake To whom so great a damage the hath done And of my brother iust reuengement take I shall by whom this strife was first begun For there at least my death plaine proof shall make That he this while a foolish thred hath spun He thinketh to auenge his brothers ill The while himselfe his brother there shall kill 13 And thus resolued he gets him armour new New horse and all things new that needfull bâ—ene All clad in blacke a sad and mournfull hew And crost with wreath of yellow and of greene A stranger bare his sheeld that neither knew His masters name nor him before had seene And thus as I before rehearst disguised He met his brother as he had deuised 14 I told you what successe the matter had How Ariodant himselfe did then discouer For whom the king himselfe was euen as glad As late before his daughter to recouer And since he thought in ioyfull times and sad No man could shew himselfe a truer louer Then he that after so great wrong intended Against his brother her to haue defended 15 Both louing him by his owne inclination And praid thereto by many a Lord and knight And chiefly by Renaldos instigation He gaue to Ariodant Geneura bright Now by the Dukes atteint and condemnation Albania came to be the kings in right Which dutchie falling in so luckie houre Was giuen vnto the damsell for her dowrâ— 16 Renaldo for Dalindas pardon praide Who for her error did so sore repent That straight she vowd with honest mind and staid To liue her life in prayre and penitent Away she packt nor further time delaid In Datia to a nunrie there she went But to Rogero now I must repaire That all this while did gallop in the aire 17 Who though he were of mind and courage stout And would not easly feare or be dismaid Yet doubtlesse now his minde was full of doubt His hart was now appald and sore afraid Farre from Europa he had trauaild out And yet his flying horse could not be staid But past the pillars xij score leagues and more Pitcht there by Hercles many yeares before 18 This Griffeth horse a birde most huge and rare Doth pierce the â—kie with so great force of wing That with that noble birde he may compare Whom Poets faine Ioues lightning downe to bring To whom all other birds inferior are Because they take the Eagle for their king Scarse seemeth from the clouds to go so swift The thunderboltsent by the lightnings drift 19 When long this monster strange had kept his race Straight as a line bending to neither side He spide an Iland distant little space To which he bends in purpose there to bide Much like insemblance was it to the place Where Arethusa vsd her selfe to hide And seekes so long her loue to haue beguild â— Till at the last she found her selfe with child 20 A fairer place they saw not all the while That they had trauild in the aire aloft In all the world was not a fairer ile If all the world to finde the same were sought Here hauing trauaild many a hundred mile Rogero by his bird to rest was brought In pastures greene and hils with coole fresh aire Cleere riuers shadie banks and meddowes faire 21 Heere diuers groues there were of daintie shade Of Palme or Orenge trees of Cedars tall Of sundrie fruites and flowres that neuer fade The shew was faire the plentie was not small And arbours in the thickest places made Where little light and heat came not at all Where Nightingales did straine their little throtes Recording still their sweete and pleasant notes 22 Amid the lilly white and fragrant rose Preseru'd still fresh by warme and temprate aire The fearfull hare and cunnie carelesse goes The stag with stately head and bodie faire Doth feed secure not fearing any foes That to his damage hither may repaire The Bucke and Doe doth feed amid the fields As in great store the pleasant forrest yeelds 23 It needlesse was to bid Rogero light When as his horse approched nigh the ground He cast himselfe out of his saddle quight And on his feet he falleth safe and sound And holds the horses raines left else he might Flic quite away and not againe be found And to a mirtle by the water side Betweene two other trees his beast he tide 24 And finding thereabout a little brooke That neare vnto a shadie mountaine stands His helmet from his head forthwith he tooke His shield from arme his gantlet from his hands And from the higher places he doth looke Full oft to sea full oft to fruitfull lands And seekes the coole and pleasant aire to take That doth among the leaues a murmure make 25 Oft with the water of that cristall well He seekes to quench his thirst and swage his heate With which his veines enflam'd did rise and swell And caâ—â—d his other parts to fry in sweate Well may it seeme a maruell that I tell Yet will I once againe the same repeate He traueld had aboue three thousand mile And not put off his armour all the while 26 Behold his horse he lately tied there Among the boughs in shadie place to bide Straue to go loose and started backe for feare And puls the tree to which the raines were tide In which as by the sequell shall appeare A humane soule it selfe did strangely hide With all his strength the steed stâ—ues to be loosed By force whereof the mirtle sore was broosed 27 And as an arme of tree from bodie rent By peasants strength with many a sturdie stroke When in the fire the moisture all is spent The emptie places fild with aire and smoke Do boile and striue and find at last a vent When of the brand a shiuer out is broke So did the tree striue bend writhe wring and breake Till at a little hole it thus did speake 28 Right curteous knight for so I may you deeme And must you call not knowing other name Iâ— so you are as gracious as you seeme Then let your friendly deed confirme the same Vnloose this monster sent as I esteeme To adde some farther torment to my shame Alas mine inward griefes were such before By outward plagues they need be made no more 29 Rogero mazed looked round about If any man or woman he might see At last he was resolued of his doubt He found the voice was of the mirtle tree With which abasht though he were wise and stout He said I humbly pray thee pardon me Whether thou be some humane ghost or spright Or power deuine that in this
be daunted Thy tombe and temple may be dayly haunted 62 Alas our merits are of none effect To pay a portion of our grieuous debt Except thy grace our weaknesse so protect That our misdeeds out of thy sight be set Lord heale our soules with grieuous vice infect Forgiue our faults our errors all forget And though our sinnes the sands in number passe Yet let thy mercies greatnesse them surpasse 63 Thus praid the Prince most sorowfull and sad With humblenesse of heart and great contrition And to this prayre he then a vow doth ad Well suting to his state and high condition Nor small effect these vowes and prayers had For presently without all intermission His Angell good vp to our Sauiour mounted And there his vowes and prayers all recounted 64 And thousand pray'rs alike at that same time By messengers alike to God were brought When lo the goodnesse and the powre diuine That neuer shall nor neuer vaine was sought His gracious care doth to their prayre incline Those whoÌ„ he made and whoÌ„ he deare had bought Then to the Angell Michael straight he beckned Who not a little of his calling reckned 65 And thus he said go thither straight in post Where now in Picardie the Christens land And so to Paris guide that English host Let not their foes their comming vnderstand In this attempt shall Silence helpe you most Will him this enterprise to take in hand This done then see you find dame Discord out And will her hast vnto the Pagan â—out 66 And charge her there according to her skill Among the best to sow such soule dissension That they may one the other wound and kill And fill their camp with brauls and with contention Let some men like their entertainment ill And grudge because they haue no bigger pension And let them all so vary out of measure That they may do their Prince but little pleasure 67 The blessed Angell not a word replies But doth his makers holy will obay Forthwith eu'n in a moment downe he flies And where he goes the clouds do fleet away But by the way he thinks and doth deuise Of eu'ry place where Silence find he may Though he an Angell were he could not tell Where this same enemie of speech doth dwell 68 At last he fully doth himselfe perswade To find him in some houses of deuotion That first for liâ—e monasticall were made Where godly men despisers of promotion I â—well â—aire from all this worldly wicked trade With minds abhorring flesh and fleshly motion Where idle words should counted be a shame And where on eu'ry wall they write his name 69 Wherefore into an Abbey he doth go And makes no question Silence there to find And Peace and Charitie and Loue also And lowly thoughts and well contented mind But soone he was aware it was not so All contrary ther humors were inâ—lind For Silence in that Abâ—ey doth not host His name was onely was vpon a post 70 Nor Quietnesse nor Humblenesse nor Peace Nor Chaâ—â—â— nor godly loue was here They were 〈◊〉 es baâ—â—â— those times do cease Now Couâ— and Eaâ—e and Belly cheare Pride 〈◊〉 and Angâ—r â— so increase That silence 〈◊〉 and comes not neare With 〈◊〉 the Angell then doth vew And findeth Discord â—n this â—rew 71 Her whom the heau'nly King did will him find Next after Silence her he findeth furst To seeke her out in hell he had assignd Among the spirits damned and accurst It sore did grieue his pure vnspotted mind Where he expected best to find them worst It seemd to him a thing vncouth and strange In sacred place to find so great a change 72 He knew her by her weed of sundry hew All patcht with infinite vnequall lifts Her skin in sundry places naked vew At diuers rents and cuts he may that lifts Her haire was gray and red and blacke and blew And hard and soft in laces some she twists Some hangeth downe vpright some standeth stating As if each haire with other had bene squaring 73 Her lap was full of writs and of citations Of processes of actions and arrests Of bils of answers and of replications In courts of Delegats and of Requests To grieue the simple sort with great vexations She had resorting to her as her guests Attending on her circuits and her iourneys Scriu'ners and clarks and lawyers and atturneyâ— 74 The Angell calleth her and bids her go Vnto the Turks as fast as she can hie Among their kings such seeds of strife to sow As one of them may cause the to ther die Then he demaundeth her if she do know Within what place Silence doth vse to lie He thought that she that traueld much about In stirring strife might hap to find him out 75 I cannot call to mind quoth she as yet That I haue talkt with Silence any time I heare them talke of him and praise his wit And secretnesse to couer any crime But my companion Fraud can serue you fit For she hath kept him companie sometime And which was Fraud she pointeth with her finger Then hence she hies and doth no longer linger 76 Fraud shewd in comely clothes a louely looke An humble cast of eye a sober pace And so sweet speech a man might her haue tooke For him that said haile Marie full of grace But all the rest deformedly did looke Fu'l of all filthinesse and foule disgrace Hid vnder long large garments that she ware Close vnder which a poisond knife she bare 77 The Angell asketh her if she do know The place where Silence makes his habitation Forsooth quoth Fraud he dwelled long ago With the wise sages of the Greekish nation Archytas and Pythagoras I trow That chiefe to vertue had their inclination And afterward he spent these latter yeerâ— With Carmelit and with Saint Bennet frierâ— 78 But since these old Philosophers did faile And these new saints their saintlike life did change He sought new places for his most auaile And secret and vncertaine he doth range Sometime with theeues that true men do assaile Sometime with louers that delight in change Sometime with traitors he doth bide and furder I saw him late with one that did a murder 79 With clippers and with coyners he doth stay Sometime in secret dens and caues obscure And oft he changeth places day by day For long he cannot in a place endure But I can tell you one most ready way Where you to find him out shall be most sure 〈◊〉 where as Sleepe doth dwell and out of doubt At midnight you shall find him thereabout 80 Though Fraud by custome vse to lie and faine Yet was this tale so euidently trew The Angell now no longer doth remaine But with his golden wings away he flew To Arabie where in a country plaine Far from all villages and cities vew There lieth a vale with woods so ouergrowne As scarce at noone the day light there is showne 81 Amid this darke thicke
consideration of the two last words taught his scholler Parillus that laurea lingua sunt vtraque foemininae generis sed lingua potissimum and so consequently silence might not by any meanes haue bene of the feminine gender In Mandricardos rape of Doralice he alludes euidently to a notable villany in the like kind done by Caesar Borgia son to Pope Alexander the sixt For one Caraccio a captaine of Venice hauing bene lately contracted to a gentlewoman of good account she came with an honorable train neare to a citie called Cesenna in Romagna here Borgia with a band of men set vpon her company and took her away by force and neither by threats nor intreatie of the Venecian Ambassador would restore her again the allusion holds in many parts as first where he saith in the 29. staff That Marsilio had giuen Mandricardo an horse Of colour bay but blacke the taile and maine Of Frizland was the mare that did him breed The sier was a villan braue of Spaine This notes Borgia whose father was a Spaniard his mother a Flemming and he a mungrel bastard In the one an thirtith staffe in the simile of the Wolfe he noteth his crueltie in the eight and fortith staffe where he saith If state may stand insteed who can denie Onely to God our homage doth belong In that he alludes plainly to the Pope that is reputed Christs Vicar on earth THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Paris is assaild on eur'ie part By those of Affricke and by those of Spaine From Logestill ' Astolfo doth depart And takes Calligorant in his owne traine Then slew Orillo that by Magicke art Reuiu'd when by the brothers he was slaine Stout Sansonet Astolfo kind doth vse But Gryphin of his mistres beares ill news 1 TO winne the field against our armed foes Is counted honorable anie wayes Although it be with policie or blowes Yet bloodie coÌ„quests stain the Captaines praise But chiefest honour doth belong to those Whom Fortune to such height of hap doth raise To haue their foe supprest and ouerthrowne With little losse and damage of their owne 2 Such was the victorie that you then gaind O stout Hyppolito you conquerd so When the Venetian Nauie had obtaind With armed vessels all the streame of Poe Your policie and vallue them constraind With losse inestimable thence to go Their marriners and souldiers all destroying Our marriners and souldiers not annoying 3 The Pagan ' Rodomont did want this skill That forst ten thousand men the trench to enter By his commandment sore against their will Vpon so perillous a place to venter Where straight the smother doth their bodies kill And send their sinfull soules beneath the center Himselfe in safetie sees them there a dying Still swearing cursing heau'n it selfe defying 4 Now Agramant an hot assault and fearce Gaue where he thought the same was lest exspected He striues the wals to batter break and pearce With engins strong and rams thereto erected Those kings whose names I did before rehearse Brought men some stout some with fear infected And such as rather wish to stand aloofe Then weare a corslet of the surest proofe 5 But Agramant herein was much deceaued For where he thought them weake and vnprepard He found that manfully he was receaued And that the king himselfe the place did guard With thousands more readie to be bereaued Of life and limbe and such as nought regard Before that they would take so great disgrace As in their masters sight to leese their place 6 But here I cease vntill another time To tell of these assaults the hard successe Of damage like to both sides now my rime Vnto the English Duke I must addresse Astolfo sonne of Oton whom sometime Alcynas witchcraft held in great distresse Who like another Cyrce men transformed To trees to beasts and soules of shapes deformed 7 You heard before how all her strange deceits Melyssa sage did with the ring discouer And how she gaue them also good receits As made them all their former shapes recouer How after hauing scaped all their sleights They did no longer in such fancies houer But to be surely able to resist her They fled vnto her vertuous elder sister 8 Where when they had with comfort great remained Desirous to their countries to retire They asked leaue of her and leaue obtained Of her that neuer hinders iust desire But er they went she frendly them constrained With precious gifts to be endowed by her Such gilts as were of precious price indeed And all their liues should stand them all in steed 9 But chiefly to this English Duke she gaue Of secret skill a little written booke Containing many a precept wise and graue The which of her most thankfully he tooke These teach a man from charmes himselfe to saue That in the same aduisedly doth looke And that to find them out he may be able The booke had in the end a perfit table 10 Beside this booke on him she doth bestow Another gift of as great price and more A horne in which if he do once but blow The noise thereof shall trouble men so sore That all both stout and faint shall flie therefro So strange a noise was neuer heard before When to the Duke these rare gifts were imparted He humblie tooke his leaue and thence departed 11 And least Alâ—â—na should by force attempt To bring him backe or worke him some disease Andronica was with a nauie sent To waste him sate till he were past those seas And vertuous Soâ—hrosina with him went To see him passe with safetie and with ease So good a condâ—cter so sure a guide As was not found in all the world beside 12 And thus she saild along that Indian shore And sees and â—eeâ—eth sight of sundrie Iles Those called fortunate and others more That distant are some few some many miles And for he neuer heard of them before He askt his guide some questions others whiles As whether from those Indian seas perchance A ship may saile to England Spaine and France 13 She answerd thus to put you out of doubt First know the earth itselfe it like an Iland In â—toned with waters round about That compasse in on eu'ry side their drie land And though to this day no man hath found out Nor thinks there can be any way but by land Because they iudge the lands length there is such That it the other Hemispher doth tuch 14 Yet I foresee et many ages passe Nâ—w in 〈◊〉 and masters new shall rise That shall find out that erst so hidden was And that discouer where the passage lies And all the men that went before surpasse To find new lands new starres new seas new skies And â—asse about the earth as doth the Sunne To search what with Antipodes is done 15 Behold I see the signe of holy crosse A signe within these quarters seene but seeld I see where ten a thousand put to
Castill Lisbon and Galicia are And Cordoue neare and Siuill see he might Which diuers crownes now ioyned in on raigne Are gouernd by the mightie king of Spaine 89 There saw he Gades where erst by Hercles hand Two pillars markes for Marriners were plast Then ouer Atlant sea to Egypt land And ouer Affrica forthwith he past And saw where Balearick Iles do stand Then traueld to Euiza with like hast And to Arzilla ward he thence departeth Quite ore that sea that it from Spagna eparteth 90 Oran he saw Ippon Marocco Fesse Algier Buzea and those stately townes Whose Princes with great pompe and pride possesse Of diuers Prouinces the stately crownes He saw Byserta and Tunigi no lesse And flying ouer many dales and downes He saw Capisse and Alzerbee I le And all the Cities to the flood of Nyle 91 Tripolie Bernick Tolomit and all Betweene the sea and Atlas woodie sides Then on the Cereneys he right doth fall And past Carena mounts and more besides Then crossing ou'r the barren fields and pall Where sands with wind do eb and flow like tides The tombe of Battus he doth leaue behind And Ammons temple now worne out of mind 92 Then came he by another Tremisen That followes eke of Mahomet the law Vnto another Ethyopia then He went the which before he neuer saw That differs both in language and in men From thence he toward Nubia then did draw Dobada and Coallee iust betweene Of which these Christend and those Turkish beene 93 The bord'rers still are armd in heate and cold Senapo yet of Ethyop is the chiefe And hath great store of iewels and of gold And much he varies not from our beliefe For he those principles most firme doth hold That can defend from euerlasting griefe Here is it if mine author be no her Where they do vse to be baptizd with fier 94 The Duke here lighted after trauell long And to Senapos stately Court was led The castle was more sumptuous then strong And admiration more then terror bred The locks barres chaines and all that did belong Vnto the bridge and gates from foote to head Which we make here of iron to endure Was there faire wrought in massie gold most pure 95 And though they haue great store of mettals fine Yet were the chambers and the lodgings here Borne vp with cristall collumns that did shine All ou'r the stately court most bright and cleare A stately border causd vnto the eine Red white greene blew and yellow to appeare Enriched with diuisions for the nones Of Rubie Smarag Zaphyr Topas stones 96 Most orient pearls and gems of passing price Were sprinkled on the pauements here and there Hence balme doth come hence other precious spice Which from Ierusalem men wont to beare Hence commeth muske for odours sweet and nice And amber pure that some in bracelets weare And finally all things grow there in plentie That in this country are esteemd most deintie 97 Most true it is else some haue written lies The Sowdan to this King doth tribute pay For that in this Kings powre alone it lies Great Cayre and fertile Egypt to decay Because that by those meanes he may deuise He may turne Nyle from them another way This Prince Senapo there is cald of many We call him Prester Iohn or Preter Iany 98 Of all the Kings that euer there did raigne This King exceld in riches and in treasure But losse of sight made all his comforts vaine And bard him eu'ry tast of worldly pleasure And this did much increase his care and paine And grieued him indeed beyond all measure That all his wealth and treasure not preuented But that with famine he was ay tormented 99 For when this Prince as hunger meere him drew Did but prepare himselfe to drinke or eate Straight of Harpias came a cursed crew With mightie wings huge pawes and bellies great And all the dishes quite they ouerthrew And greedily deuoured all the meate And that they left they did so file and slauer As few could brooke the sight but none the sauer 100 The cause was this why his great plague was such Because in youth when men most carelesse are Finding himselfe to be extold so much And passing other Kings in wealth so far So foule a pride his loftie heart did tuch Against his maker he would needs moue war To which intent a mightie powre he led Vnto that mount whence Nylus hath his hed 101 He had bene told and did it firme beleeue That on that mount whose top did touch the skie Was that same place where Adam dwelt and Eue Before their fall did cause them thence to flie He hoping some rare conquest to atchiue A mightie host prepared by and by With mind so hie his heart with pride did swell To make them tribute pay that there did dwell 102 But high Iehoua their foule pride represt And downe he sent his Angell that same night Who slue an hundred thousand for the least And him condemnd for ay to loose his sight Then sent he monsters vile him to molest Those vgly monsters that Harpias hight Which so deuoure and so spoyle all his meate Scarce they permit him once to drinke or eate 103 And that which draue him into meere despaire Was that one told by way of prophecie How those foule creatures euer should repaire Vnto that place till time they might espie A gallant knight all armed in the aire Vpon a winged beast aloft to flie And for that this vnpossible he deemed Past hope of helpe himselfe he then esteemed 104 Now when the people saw from eu'ry wall And from each towre the strangely flying knight He happie thought himselfe that first of all Could tell the king of this vnused sight Who straight the prophecie to mind did call And with the sudden ioy forgetting quite His trustie staffe went groping with his hand To welcome him that now came downe to land 105 Astolfo being lighted nearer drew And as he was the great court entring in Behold the King stood ready in his vew And kneeling downe to speake did thus begin O heau'nly Angell ô Messias new Though I deserue not pardon for my sin Yet thinke to vs is proper to offend To you to pardon those that wil amend 106 My guilt so heauie on my conscience lies I dare not sue thou shouldst my sight restore Though wel I wot that thou couldst heale mine eies That art of those that ay stand God before Let then this plague my want of sight suffice And let me not be steru'd thus euermore At least from me these filthy monsters driue And let me eate with quiet while I liue 107 And I do vow a temple vnto thee Of marble faire to build here in this place Whose gates and couer all of gold shall be Adornd with costly iewels in like case Nam'd by thy name and grau'd that men may see Thy miracle which no time shall deface Thus
hast and feare extreame Had all from thence or burnd them in the port Which when Rogero once did vnderstand He went vnto Marsilia-ward by land 67 In Arly nor from Arly all the way He saw no liuing Turke but manie a corse He mindeth at Marsilia if he may To get a ship by faire meanes or by force That into Affrica shall straight conuay Him and Frontino his well tried horse But while such thoughts he in his mind contriued Great Dudon with his nauie there arriued 68 That Dudon whom king Agramant on seas Met to his cost when erst his men were slaine He fled his frends tane prisners and in theale Seauen kings that erst in Affrica did raigne A man as then might hardly cast a pease Into that streame or anie little graine The Nauie and the prises in such number Did so the riuer pester vp and cumber 69 But Dudon selfe was newly come on land And his chiefe prisners he had set on shore And as in way of triumph made them stand The chiefe behind the meaner set before With souldiers garded of his choisest band Who with their warlicke voices euermore Made that same towne and all the places round Of Dudons praise and Dudons name to sound 70 Rogero when he saw these bands appeare First thought it was the fleet of Agramant But when as he approched now more neare He saw how much his guesse of truth did want He sees his captiues frends with heauie cheare Bambyrage Agricalt and Ferurant Balastro Rimedont and Manilard And Nasamon that wayle their hap so hard 71 Rogeroâ—ould â—ould by no meanes it endure To see in miserie his noble frends He doubts his prayre no succour can procure And therefore he to trie his force intends His lance he presently doth put in vre With which not few vnto the ground he sends His sword he drawes and therewith in short space He doth an hundred hurt kill maime displace 72 Now Dudon heares the noise the harme doth see Done by Rogero yet to him vnknowne He sees his men displac't and foyled bee And by one onely man their hurt is growne He takes his horse and to that end that he May venge these harms or ioyne thereto his owne He setteth in his rest a mightie lance To proue himselfe a Palladine of France 73 He bids his men in order to retire That of the field they two may haue good scope Rogero that to rescue did desire His frends and now had put them in some hope And seeing vertuous Dudon did aspire In combat hand to hand with him to cope Did deeme he was the Captaine chiefe and guide And with great courage toward him did ride 74 First Dudon came but when he nearer came And saw Rogero had no speare in sight He cast away his owne as counting shame To vse aduantages in any fight Then saith Rogero to himselfe this same Is token of a most braue minded knight And sure except mine aime be much amisse One of the Palladines of France he is 75 Wherefore he minds ere any more ensew Or any force of either part were donne To learne his name and asking him he knew How that he was the Dane Vggeros sonne Now saith good Dudon let me know of you Your name before our combat be begonne Rogero in like sort him satisfied And so they both each other then defied 76 Now Dudon had that Axe or iron Mace Wherwith he wonne such fame in many fights As proued him to be of that same race Of Palladines so braue and worthie knights Rogero hath the sword that cuts apace And frustrateth all charms where ere it lights So that he had the vantage had he vsd it But for that time it seemed he refusd it 77 The cause was this he was aseard perchance It would offend his louing Bradamant For being skilfull in the lines of France He knew that Dudons mother washer Ant So though this conquest might his name aduance He doubts her loue it may not little daunt For Turpin thinks this was the onely reason That Dudon scaped killing at that season 78 Rogero neuer foynd and seldome strake But flâ—tling and his sword was so good steele The backe so thicke as it no hurt did take Yet ost therewith he made good Dudon feele Such thundring knocks at causd his head to ake And made him readie many times to reele But least much reading may annoy your eyes To lay this booke aside I you aduise In Agramant that from being so victorious fel into so great extremity Princes may consider the great mutability of Fortune or to speake more truly and Christianly they may see how God can ouerthrow them when in their own conceipts they are at the very highest In that their folly is dispraised that trust to others protection and stand not vpon their own strength the lamentable examples of many Princes that we haue heard of in this age and some that we haue seene may proue the truth of that principle nor doth it only hold in Princes affairs but eueÌ„ in the case of meaner subiects according as a good frend of mine perhaps vpon some good or peraduenture bad experience of his owne wrate many yeares since If you be wise this rule well minde Trust none for you to sue or pray Not frend most fast nor kin most kinde In that your selfe can do or say Further wheras Sobrino notwithstanding his age is chosen to be one of the three in the challenge offring himselfe therto we may note therby that old men are not only to be honored for their wisedomes but also imployed in seruice for their constant courage if themselues be willing therto and not to be contemned or scoffed a vice that our time is too much giuen vnto specially by young men that thinke they know all things and indeed know lesse then nothing It is a tale well â—â—â—â—ne and worthie to be well marked how one day the people of Athens being set in their theater to behold playes two olâ— men came in no man once offerd to giue theÌ„ place til they came where the Lacedemonian Ambassadors sate they straight rose and in reuerence of their gray heads not knowing the men they gaue them place which act when the people Comended with great applause the sorenamed Ambassadours gaue them that pretic tuch which hath euer since stucke by them That the Athenians knew what was honest and commendable but would giue others leaue to do it In the first staffe of this book he vseth three similitudes to this effect as we say in English to fling water into the Teams To beare pots as is said to Samos I le Where earthen vessels in great store are wrought Or Owles to Athens Crocodyles to Nile Of Samos vessels I will recite only that verse that was made of Agathocles Fama est sictilibus ornasse Agathoclea regem Atque abacum Samio saepe onerasse luto Fercula gemmatis cum poneret horrida vasis Et misceret
Reioycing now that thing so well did frame In humble manner to Rogero went And did salute him king as in the name Of all their countrimen incontinent And so accordingly did lowly greete Their new made Prince and kneeled at his feete 53 They told him how their Scepter and their Crowne Was safely kept alone for his behoofe In Adrianopolis their chiefest towne And for they knew by many a former proofe That Constantito straue to keepe them downe They pray him not to stay so farre allofe Affirming boldly that if he were there The forces of all Greece they would not feare 54 Rogero granteth them their iust request And promist to defend them from the Greekes And vowes if God permit to do his best To be with them within some thirteene weekes But Leon bids them set their heart at rest He tels them that their choise so well he leekes He on his Princely word will vndertake Twixt Constantino and them firme peace to make 55 Thus each thing framed now in so good sort As could be wisht by thought or by deuise But neither did Rogeros good report Get fauour with ambitious Beatrice Nor personage that past the common sort Nor feats of armes in which he wan the prise And of the which all Europe now did ring But onely this to see him made a king 56 In royall sort this marriage they prepare Whose charge it was the state wil make it knowne Charles bare the charge and tooke thereof such care As if she were a daughter of his owne Of her and hers so great the merits are And had to him so many wayes bene showne He thought the cost had not exceeded measure If he had spent vpon them halfe his treasure 57 He kept an open court by proclamation Where nine dayes space who list may freely baunt Men of their owne and men of forren Nation To all of them he did safe conduct graunt And all that stood vpon their reputation That sought their soes in single fight to daunt Had license franke to challenge whom they lists For euermore prepared were the lists 58 In open fields they pitched tents great store Beside with Oken boughes they made such bowres Strawing the pauements of them euermore With fragrant Roses and sweet smelling flowers That neuer bad the like bene seene before Nor neuer since from that same age to ours Besides the furnitures of silke and gold Was more then can conueniently be told 59 Th' innumerable people of each sort From Greece from England Italy and Spaine Th' Ambassadors that thither did resort Beside each seuerall Prince a seuerall traine Did cause the citie walls to seeme too short To lodge them all so they in fine were faine In houels boothes in tents and in pauillions To lodge some thousands if I say not millions 60 Onely Melissas care was to foresee The marriage chamber should be well attyred Which by her skill she ment should furnisht be For long to make the match she had aspired Which now that she accomplished did see She thought she had the thing she most desired For by her skill in Magicke She did know What passing fruit forth of that branch should grow 61 Wherefore she place the fruitfull wedding bed Amid a faire and large pauillion which Was eu'n the sumptuolest that ere was spred Of silke and beaten gold wrought eu'rie stitch And more from ouer Constantinos hed At Thracyan shore where he his tents did pitch Fast by the sea for his more recreation She tooke the same to his great admiration 62 Were it that Leon gaue consent thereto Or that she did the same her skill to vaunt To shew what one by Magicke art can do That haue the skill the fends of hell to daunt For what cannot their powre atchieue vnto When for our plague God leaue to them wil grant From Thrace to Paris in twelue houres it came I trow she sent one in the diuels name 63 She causd it to be carrid at noone day From Constantino Emp'ror then of Greece The beame the staues the cords they brought away The pinnes the hoopes and eu'rie little peece She placed it whereas she meant to lay Atlantas Nephew with his new made Neece In this pauillion she did place their bedding And sent it backe when finisht was the wedding 64 Two thousand yeare before or not much lesse This rich pauillion had in Troy bene wrought By faire Cassandra that same Prophetesse That had but all in vaine in youth bene taught Of future things to giue most certaine guesse For her true speech was euer set at naught She wrought this same with helpe of many other And gaue it Hector her beloued brother 65 The worthiest wight that eu'r man did behold That should proceed forh of his noble line She here portrayd in worke of silke and gold Of precious substance and of colour fine Also the time and season was foretold Both of his birth and of his praise diuine Don Hector of this gift great count did make Both for the worke and for the workers sake 66 But when himselfe by treason foule was slaine And Troy was by the Greekes defaced quite Who enterd it by Synons subtle traine And worse ensewd there of then Poets write Then Menelaus did this great relicke gaine And after on king Proteus hapt to light Who gaue to him dame Helen ere he went And for reward receiu'd of him this tent 67 And thus to Aegypt that time it came Where with the Ptolomeys it long remained Till Cleopatra that lasciuious dame As by inheritance the same obtained Agrippas men by seathen tooke the same What time in Rome Augustus Casar raigned And then in Rome while Rome was th'Empires seat It staid till time of Constantine the great 68 That Emp'ror Constantine I meane of whom Faire Italy for euer shall lament Who when he lothed Tibris bankes and Rome Vnto the citie of Byzantium went A place of more receipt and larger roome And thither this pauillion then he sent Of which the cords were golden wire and silke The staues and pinnes were lu'rie white as milke 69 In this Cassandra wrought such diuers faces More then Apelles erst with Pensill drew A queene in childbed lay to whom the graces With pleasant grace perform'd Lucynas dew Ioue Mercurie and Mars in other places And Venus do receiue the babe borne new The sweetest babe that to the world came forth From mans first age eu'n downe vnto the fourth 70 Hippolito they name him as appeares Wrote in small letters on his swathing bands And when he is a little growne in yeares On one side Fortune tother Vertue stands Then in another picture diuers Peeres Clad in long rayments sent from forren lands Vnto the father and the mother came To begge the babe in great Coruynos name 71 They part from Hercles with great reu'rence then And from that infants mother Elinore Vnto Danubia ward and there the men Still runne to see that
did it the rather because Plutarke in one place speaking of Homer partly lamenteth and partly blameth him that writing so much as he did yet in none of his workes there was any mention made or so much as inkling to be gathered of what stocke he was of what kindred of what towne nor saue for his language of what countrey Excuse me then if I in a worke that may perhaps last longer then a better thing and being not ashamed of my kindred name them here and there to no mans offence though I meant not to make euerie body so far of my counsell why I did it till I was told that some person of some reckening noted me of a little vanitie for it and thus much for that point For my omitting and abreuiating some things either in matters impertinent to vs or in some too tedious flatteries of persons that we neuer heard of if I haue done ill I craue pardon for sure I did it for the best But if any being studious of the Italian would for his better vnderstanding compare them the first sixe bookes saue a little of the third will stand him in steed But yet I would not haue any man except that I should obserue his phrase so strictly as an interpreter nor the matter so carefully as if it had bene a storie in which to varie were as great a sin as it were simplicitie in this to go word for word But now to conclude I shall pray you all that haue troubled your selues to read this my triple Apologie to accept my labors and to excuse my errors if with no other thing at least with the name of youth which commonly hath need of excuses and so presuming this pardon to be granted we shall part good frends Onely let me intreate you in reading the booke ensuing not to do me that iniurie that a Potter did to Artosto AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER BEFORE HE READE THIS POEME OF SOME THINGS TO BE OBSERVED as vvell in the substance of this vvorkâ— as also in the setting forth thereof vvith the vse of the Pictures Table and annotations to the same annexed THere are peraduenture many men and some of those both graue and godly men that in respect they count all Poetrie as meerly tending to wantonnesle and vanitie will at the very first sight reiect this booke and not onely not allow but blame and reproue the trauel taken in letting forth the same in our mother tongue And surely for such censurers as will condemne without hearing the cause pleaded I can be well content to haue them spare the labor in reading which they thinke I haue lost in writing and appealing from them if not to higher at least to more indifferent iudges namely such as wil vouchsafe to heare what can be spoken in defence of the matter and then will yeeld as wise men euer should do to the stronger reason I do to them direct this my short aduertisement which because all that may reade this booke are not of equall capacities I will endeuor to explane more plainly then for the learned sort had haply bene requisite And first if any haue this scruple that it might be hurtfull for his soule or conscience to reade a booke of Poetry as though it might alien his mind from vertue and religion I referre him beside many other excellent mens writings both in defence and praise thereof to a litle briefe treatise in the beginning of this booke written by me generally in defence of Poemes and specially of this present worke which I dare affirme to be neither vicious nor profane but apt to breed the quite contrary effects if a great fault be not in the readers owne bad disposition Secondly I haue in the marginall notes quoted the apt similitudes and pithie sentences or adages with the best descriptions and the excellent imitations and the places and authors from whence they are taken Further where diuers stories in this worke seeme in many places abruptly broken off I haue set directions in the margent where to find the continuance of euery such storie though I would not wish any to reade them in that order at the first reading but if any thinke them worthy the twise reading then he may the second time not vnconueniently vse it if the meane matter betweene the so deuided stories vpon which commonly they depend be not quite out of his memorie Also according to the Italian maner I haue in a staffe of eight verses comprehended the contents of euery Book or Canto in the beginning thereof which hath two good vses one to vnderstand the picture the perfecter the other to remember the storie the better As for the pictures they are all cut in brasse and most of them by the best workmen in that kind that haue bin in this land this many yeares yet I will not praise them too much because I gaue direction for their making and in regard thereof I may be thought partiall but this I may truly say that for mine owne part I haue not seene any made in England better nor indeed any of this kind in any booke except it were a treatise set forth by that profound man master Broughton the list yeare vpon the Reuelation in which there are some three or foure pretie pictures in octauo cut in brasse very workmanly As for other bookes that I haue seene in this Realme either in Latine or English with pictures as Liuie Gesner Alciats emblemes a booke de Spectris in Latine and in our tongue the Chronicles the booke of Martyrs the booke of hauking and hunting and M. Whitneys excellent Emblemes yet all their figures are cut in wood and none in metall and in that respect inferiour to these at least by the old prouerbe the more cost the more worship The vse of the picture is euident which is that hauing read ouer the booke you may reade it as it were againe in the very picture and one thing is to be noted which euery one haply will not obserue namely the perspectiue in euery figure For the personages of men the shapes of horses and such like are made large at the bottome and lesser vpward as if you were to behold all the same in a plaine that which is nearest seemes greatest and the fardest shewes smallest which is the chiefe art in picture If the name of any man woman country towne horse or weapon seeme strange to any I haue made a table where to find it And in the same table a direction for the seuerall tales where to begin and end those that may conueniently be read single of which kind there are many and those not vnpleasant Lastly at the end of euery Book or Canto because the Reader may take not only delight but profit in reading I haue noted in all as occasion is offered the Morall the Historie the Allegorie and the Allusion The Morall that we may apply it to our owne manners
land is found I meane to tell how that faire Ladie sped That twise before from this Renaldo fled 25 I told you how Angelica the bright Fled from Renaldo in a thicke darke wood How on a hermit there she hapt to light And how her sight reuiu'd his aged blood But she that tooke in him but small delight Whose hoary haires could do her little good With this good hermit made but little stay But turnd her horses rains and went away 26 The hermit seeing he contemned was Whom age long since and loue did newly blind Doth spurre a thousand times his silly asse Who still remained more and more behind And sith he saw he could not bring to passe To stop her course afflicted much in mind In vaine he doth his poore asse beate and curse His trot was very bad his gallop worse 27 And being out of hope of comming nire As hauing almost lost her horses tracke He studies now to compasse his desire With some rare strategeme to bring her back Vnto that art forthwith he doth retire That damned art that is surnamed blacke And by his bookes of magicke he doth make A little sprite the Ladie ouertake 28 And as the hound that men the Tumbler name When he a hare or conie doth espie Doth seeme another way his course to frame As though he meant not to approch more nie But yet he meeteth at the last his game And shaketh it vntill he make it die So doth the hermit trauerse all about At eu'ry turne to find the damsell out 29 What he intends to do full well I wot And meane ere long the same to you to show The damsell traueld still that knew it not The spright to do his office was not slow For straight within the horse himselfe he got As she on sands of Gascoigne seas did go The spright that fully had postest the horse Did driue her to the sea with all his force 30 Which when the faire and fearfull damsell saw Although she tride full oft with rod and raine Her palfrey from his dangerous course to draw Yet seeing plainly she did striue in vaine With colour chang'd for anguish and for aw And casting oft her looke to land againe At last the sitteth still nor further striueth For needs they must go whom the diuell driueth 31 In vaine it was to strike the horse her bare It was not done by that poore palfreys falt Wherefore she tucks her garments taking care Lest they should be bedewd with waters salt Vpon her haire which then all loose she ware The aire doth make an amorous assalt The greater winds were still I thinke of deutie That they acknowledge to so rare a beutie 32 The waters more the land still lesse she sees At last she saw but one small peece of land And that small peece in small time she doth leese Now sees she neither shore nor any sand Then cold despaire all liuely hope did freese When as her horse did turne to the right hand And at the twilight or not long before Did bring her to a solitary shore 33 Here she remaining helplesse and alone Among the fruitlesse trees and senslesse rocks Standing her selfe all like the marble stone Saue that sometime she tare her golden locks At last her eyes to teares her tongue to mone She doth resolue her faire soft breast she knocks And blames the God of heau'n and powre diuine That did the fates vnto her fall incline 34 O fortune fortune thus the damsell cride Fill now thy rage and execute thine ire And take this life that takest all beside And let my death accomplish thy desire I haue and dayly do thy force abide Feare still my mind trauell my limbs doth tire And makes me think in this great storme and strife That death were sweet to shorten such a life 35 Can all thy malice do me further spite Can any state be worse or more vnstedy That am from princely scepter banisht quite A helplesse hap and hurt past all remedy And worse then this mine honor shining bright Is stained sore and eu'n defast alredy For though in act no ill I euer wrought Yet wandring thus wil make men think me nought 36 What can a woman hold of any price If once she leese her honor and good name Alas I hate this beautie and despise And with it neuer had bene of such fame Ne do I for this gift now thanke the skies By which my spoile and vtter ruine came Which cauld my brother Argal shed his blood Ne could his armes enchanted do him good 37 For this the king of Tartar Agricane Sought of my father Galafron the spoile Who whilome was in India cald great Cane And after dide with sorrow of the foile For this I dâ—yly doubting to be tane From place to place do passe with endlesse toile And now to loose alas what hast thou left me Since same and goods and friends are all bereft me 38 If drowning in the sea were not a death Seuere enough to quench thy raging spite Then send some beast out of this desert heath To teare my limbs and to deuoure me quite I shall thee thanke for stopping of my breath If to torment me thou haue no delight These wofull words vtterd the Ladie bright When straight the hermit came within her fight 39 Who all the while had in a corner stood And heard her make this piteous plaint and mone Proceeding from her sad and mourning mood Enough to moue a heart as hard as stone It did the senex fornicator good To thinke that he was there with her alone Yet â—o deuoutly commeth this old carrion As though it had bene Paul or Saint Hillarion 40 When as the damsell saw a man appeare In such a desert solitary place She straight began to be of better cheare Though feare and dread appeare still in her face And with a voice so loud as he might heare She praid him pitie this her wofull case Recounting all her dangers ouerblowne To him to whom they were alreadie knowne 41 No sooner had the hermit heard her out But straight to comfort her he doth begin And shewes by many reasons and deuout How all these plagues were sent her for her sin The while he puts his sawcie hands about Sometime her breasts sometime her neck and chin And more and more still gathering heart of grace He offers boldly her for to embrace 42 But she that much disdaind this homely fashion Doth staine her cheekes with red for very shame Thrust back his carren corpes without compassion Reuiling him with many a spitefull name Who testie with old age and with new passion That did him now with wrath and loue inflame Drawes out a bottle of a strange confection That fleepe procureth by a strong infection 43 With this he sprinkleth both the damsels eies Those eyes whence Cupid oft his arrowes shot Straight sound asleepe the goodly damsell lies Subiected to the will of such a sot Ne
Which did so sore the Friseland king displease He made sharpe warres on Holland in short space By force whereof he ruind all my race 24 For first he is of limbes and bodie strong To meete his enemies in open field And then so politike in doing wrong He makes their force vnto his fraud to yeeld He hath his other weapons strange among A weapon strange before this seene but seeld A trunke of iron hollow made within And there he puts powder and pellet in 25 All closed saue a little hole behind Whereat no sooner taken is the flame The bullet flies with such a furious wind As though from clouds a bolt of thunder came And whatsoeuer in the way it find It burnes it breakes it teares and spoiles the same No doubt some fiend of hell or diuellish wight Deuised it to do mankind a spite 26 And thus with this deuice and many other In open field our battels twise he brake And first in fight he slue mine elder brother The bulâ—et through his curat way did make And next in flight he tooke and kild the tother Which causd my fathers aged heart to quake Who notwithstanding stoutly did intend His honor and my safetie to defend 27 But in a hold that onely now was left him They him besieg'd that all the rest had wonne And by sharpe battell all the rest had rest him Where to a loup one leueld so a gunne The blow thereof of life and sense bereft him So swift it came as none the same may shun A weapon vile wherewith a foolish boy May worthy captaines mischiefe and annoy 28 Thus was my father and my brothers slaine Before this furious king his warre would cease And I sole heire of Holland did remaine Which made his former fancie more increase He thinks by match with me my land to gaine And offerd to my people rest and peace If I Arbante marry would his sonne Which I before refused to haue done 29 And I as well for hatred I did beare Most iust to him and all his generation By whom my fire and brothers killed were By whom was spoild and robbed all our nation As that to breake my promise I did feare Which I Byreno made with protestation That howsoeuer fortunes wheele should turne Yet none should marry me till his returne 30 Made answer this that if for euery ill I now abide I should haue thousands more Though they my corpes with cruell torments kill I would not breake my promise giuen before My countrimen perswade me change this will First praying me then threatning me full sore Except I do to yeeld me and my land Desired prey into mine enemies hand 31 But finding still their threats and prayers vaine And still that in my former mind I staid Me and my country by a priuie traine Vnto the king of Friseland they betraid Who thinking now with flatâ—â—ie me to gaine First bid me not to feare or be dismaid 〈◊〉 â—red free to giue me lands and life 〈◊〉 would be his sonne Arbantes wife 32 Then I that see my selfe inforced so Although I meant that death should set me free Yet loth as vnreuenged hence to go On those that had so greatly iniur'd me Did muse on many meanes to helpe my wo At last I thought dissembling best to be Wherefore I fained that I was relented And that to haue his sonne I was contented 33 Among some seruants that my father had Two brethren strong and hardy I did chuse Most apt to do what euer I them bad And for my sake no danger to refuse For each of them was brought vp of a lad Within our house I did their seruice vse In warre and peace and found their faiths as great As were their hearts to any hardy feat 34 To these two men I open made my mind They promist me their seruice and their aid One into Flanders went a barke to find The tother with my selfe in Holland staid Now was our day for marriage assingd When flying newes the strangers made afraid With many sailes Byreno was reported Into these parts newly to haue resorted 35 For when the first conflict and broile was fought Wherein my brother cruelly was slaine I straight by letters with Byreno wrought To make all speed to succor vs from Spaine But while prouision for each thing was sought The Friseland king gat all that did remaine Byreno hearing not what late was past Conducts his nauie hither in great hast 36 The Frisâ—land king that heard of his repaire Dâ—th leaue the marriage for his eldest sonne And to the sea he goes with nauie faire They meet they fight the king of Friseland wonne And to expell all comfort with despaire 〈◊〉 prisner tane I quite vndone Abrode Byreno captiue like was carried At home vnto his en'my I was married 37 But when he thought in armes me to embrace And haue that due that wiues their husbands ow My seruant standing in a secret place Which I to him did for this purpose show Affoords him to his sport but little space And with a Pâ—llax strake him such a blow That staggring straight and making little strife He left his loue his liuing and his life 38 And thus this youth borne in vnhappie houre Came to his death as he deserued well In spite of all his sire Cymâ—seas powre Whose tyranme all others did excell Whose sword my sire and brothers did deuoure And from my natiue soile did me expell And meant to enter vpon all my lands While I by marridge should be in their hands 39 But when we once performed had this deed And taken things of greatest price away Before that any noise or tumult breed Out of the window we deni'd a way And packing thence with all expedient speed We came to sea before the breake of day Where as my seruant waited with a barge As he before receiu'd of me in charge 40 I know not if 〈◊〉 tooke more griefe Or wrath or 〈◊〉 kindled in his mind To 〈◊〉 his torne that lay past all reliefe To find aâ— thing of value left behind Then when his pride and glory should be chiefe Then when to make a triumph he assignd And hoping all were at a wedding glad He finds them all as at a buriall sad 41 His hate of me and pittie of his sonne Torment him night and day with endlesse greefe But sith by teares no good the dead is done And sharpe reuenge asâ—wageth malice cheese From dolefull teares to rage he straight doth runne And seeks of all his sorrow this releefe To get me in his hands with subtile traines Then me to kill with torments and with paines 42 Those of my friends or seruants he could find Or that to me did any way retaine He all destroyd and left not one behind Some hang'd some burn'd and some with torment slaine To kill 〈◊〉 once he had assignd O purpose onely to procure my paine But that he thought his life would be a net The sooner
Griffin in what sort They should this couple worthily torment To hang and draw and burne their priuie parts Was not too much for their too foule desarts 40 The King and a'l his Councell thought it good Because their fault was such so open knowne That they should publikely dispill their blood And their desarts might publikely be showne But yet that motion Griffin straight withstood Pretending priuate causes of his owne Onely he wisht Martano should be stript And at a cart drawne through the street and whipt 41 And as for her although she had deserued A punishment as great as he or more Yet was the sentence of her doome reserued Vntill I ucina came and not before So that by Griffins meane she was preserued So great a sway loue in his fancie bote Here Aquilant by Griffin was procured To bide with him vntill his wounds were cured 42 Now Norandin that all his powre still bends To honor Griffin all the meanes he may And with great courtesie to make amends For that disgrace he did him th' other day To make another triumph he intends Set forth with pompe and state and rich array And that the same may she to forraine nations He notifies it straight by proclamations 43 At foure weekes end the triumph should begin The fame whereof about so farre was blowne Without the land of Iewrie and within At last vnto Astolfo it was knowne Who asking Sansonets aduice herein Whose wisedome he preferd before his owne At last for companie they both agree To go together these same iusts to see 44 Now as they went vpon their way behold They met a gallant and a stately dame With whom this Duke acquainted was of old Marfisa was this noble Ladies name She traueld like a Knight her heart was bold Her bodie passing strong vnto the same And when she knew both why and where they went To go with them she quickly did consent 45 And thus these three their iourney so contriue As iust against the day and solemne feast Together at Damasco they arriue Each one well mounted on a stately beast The King that specially did care and striue To honor Griffin more then all the rest By all the meanes and wayes he could deuise Augmented much the valew of the prise 46 And where it was as I before declar'd A single armor rich and finely wrought Now Norandino at this time prepar'd To set it out with things not lightly bought To this he adds a horse most richly barbd By riders skill to great perfection brought Well shapt wel markt strong limbd and passing swift The beast alone fit for a Princess gift 47 All this he did because great hope he saw That Griffin once againe the prise would win But then was verifide the old said saw Much falls betweene the Challice and the chin For when Marfisa void of feare or aw Without had viewd this armor and within And finds it had bene hers by marks well knowne She seizeth straight vpon it as her owne 48 The King that ill so great disgrace could brooke Did shew himselfe there with much discontent And with a princely frowne and angry looke His silence threatned that she should repent And in so great despite the thing he tooke That straight some sergeants vnto her he sent With souldiers some on foote and some on horse Deceiu'd much in her sex more in her force 49 For neuer did a child take more delight With gawdie flowres in time of spring to play Nor neuer did yong Ladie braue and bright Like dauncing better on a solemne day Then did Marfisa in the sound and sight Of glittring blades and speares delight to stay And this did cause her take therein more pleasure Because her strength was great beyond all measure 50 Those few that were to apprehend her sent And punish her for this vnlawfull deed Were cauld their comming quickly to repent And others by their harmes tooke better heed The armed Knights most diuersly were bent Some standing still to mark what this would breed Some to the sergeants thought to bring reliefe Or whom were Griffin and his brother chiefe 51 The English Duke doth deeme it were a shame To leaue Marfisa in this dangerous case Sith chiefly for his companie she came And Sansonet doth deeme it like disgrace Wherefore they meane how ere the matter frame Not leaue her vnassisted in the place Astolfo had a charmed speare all gilt With which he vsed oft to runne at tilt 52 The vertue of this charmed speare was such Besides the gilding bright and faire of hew That whom so ere the head thereof did tuch Straight him from off his horse it ouerthrew Griffino first although disdaining much He quite vnhorst nor who it was he knew Then Aquilant that to reuenge it ment Vnto the ground in manner like was sent 53 Thus did these warriers three themselues behaue But chiefe Marfisa who would neuer rest But would in spite of all the armor haue Nor once vouchsaft to aske it or request She doth the King and all his nobles braue And when the best of them had done his best On eu'ry side she beat the people downe And from them all made way out of the towne 54 Sansonet and Astolfo did the like King Norandinos men of armes pursew The foolish people crie stop kill and strike But none comes neare but stand aloofe to vew A narrow bridge there was this place they pike And to defend it against all the crew Till Griffin came hauing his horse recouered And by some markes the English Duke discouered 55 And straight his brother Aquilante came And of Astolfo both acquaintance take And then in ciuill termes they somewhat blame Her litle count she of the King did make Astolfo friendly told to them her name And in defence of her some words he spake The rest that came maruell to what it tends To heare them talke together now like frends 56 But when that Norandinos souldiers hard Her name so dreaded ouer all the East They surely thought that they should all be mard And that the citie would be tane at least Therefore they pray the King to haue regard But now Marfisa moued by request Of those two brothers friendly doth consent Her selfe before the Prince for to present 57 And thus without much reuerence she spake Sir King I maruell what your highnesse ment A prise and gift of such a thing to make As is not yours without I giue consent The armes this armor hath plaine proofe do make Namely a crowne into three peeces rent Once I put off this armor in a way To chase a theefe that stale from me a pray 58 Then said the King faire dame the truth is so Of one Armenian merchant I them bought I make no question be they yours or no Nor needs for proofe more witnesse to be brought For though they were not I would them bestow On you if so the same by you were sought As for
hath 31 Now while in this same doubt Zerbino staid Behold by hap Gabrina there was brought She that of late had this good Prince betraid And had to him so great a danger wrought Her horse that heard where other horses naid Came to the noise as nature had them taught Against her will she wanting force to sway him And hauing lost the raines wherewith to stay him 32 The beastly wretch cride helpe and out alas While thus her horse ran ouer fields and lands But when the Scottish Prince saw who she was And how she thither came he vnderstands He gaue God thanks that so had brought to passe To giue those two at once into his hands Which two for their misdeeds aboue the rest He had great cause to malice and detest 33 And after he had made a little pause Vnto his seruants turning thus he said Sirs Odricke shall not die although by lawes His fact deserues no lesse vprigtly waid For sith he faith affection was the cause Content I am on loue the fault be laid The sinne to which a man by loue is driuen So much the rather ought to be forgiuen 34 The force of strong affection hath ere this Distemperd yea and sometime ouerthrowne A wiser and a staider head then his As is to me by mine experience knowne And that here in he did his dutie misse I must confesse the fault was part mine owne That gaue to him such charge and did not know How quickly flaming heate can kindle tow 35 Then to the caitiue Odricke thus he spake Here I forgiue thee and do thee enlarge But yet the penance I will haue thee take Is this to take this woman in thy charge And sweare to me thou shalt her not forsake For one whole yeare but this thine oth discharge And that thou shalt if any would offend her Do thy deuoir and vnto death defend her 36 This was the punishment on him he layd And certainly this same had bene cnow If so the circumstance were duly wayd And Odericke had right performd his vow For why so many men she had betrayd And done such sinnes euen from her youth till now That whereâ—oere they had together traueld In her defence he must at last be graueld 37 Thus Zerbin let this wicked couple go And thinks sufficiently to plague them both But sweares if euer he did hap to know That he therein should violate his troth His flesh should serue as feeding for the crow A fit reward for such as breake their oth Thus went this honest couple thence together Lurking in corners wandring here and thether 38 But what in th' end of these same two became I know not and mine author doth not write I onely heard a speech or flying fame That when they once were quite from Zerbius fight Odricke to shun the quarrels and the shame That by her companie on him might light Did hang her vp and after in short space Almonio made him runne the selfe same race 39 The Prince that faine some tidings would haue heard Of that Earle Palladine who tother day Fought hand to hand with lostie Mandricard Vntill his rainlesse horse bare him away Doth trauell on his way to Paris ward Though faire and soft and lingring by the way And his two seruants he doth send before And kept with him his Ladie and no more 40 They rode not farre but that they found the caue And that same pleasant arbor and the spring At which Medoro vsd such sport to haue With that faire daughter of the Indian king Where she their names together did ingraue All tide with true loue knots a wondrous thing They looke and see the stones the words and letters All cut and mangled in a thousand fitters 41 And as they musd hereon they might espie Orlandos armor and his famous blade Hight Durindana on the ground to lie That sword that first for Hector had bin made They saw where Brigliador was feeding by Vpon the grasse amid the pleasant shade This sight did make them both exceeding sad Yet little did they deeme that th' Earle was mad 42 Had they but seene one little drop of blood They would haue surely thought he had bin staine But while in this most carefull doubt they stood Behold there came a country silly swaine That with no little speed ran through the wood And scapt the mad mans fury with great paine He told them how a man bestraught of sences Had done these outrages and great offences 43 And further gaue them perfect information And told each circumstance at their request Zerbino standeth still in admiration And as the manner is himselfe he blest And with great griefe of mind and lamentation He takes the sword and armor and the rest And Isabella helpeth them to gather And so they lay them on a heape together 44 This while by hap came by faire Fiordeliege Who as I told before with pensiue hart Went to seeke out her loued Lord and Liege I meane Orlandos friend King Brandimart Who leauing Paris in the wofull siege To seeke Orlando did from thence depart Till Atlant to that cage him did intice Which he had fram'd by magicall deuice 45 The which inchantment being now defeated By good Astolfos value and his skill And all the knights as I before repeated At libertie to go which way they will King Brandimart though much in mind he freated To thinke how long in vaine he had stood still Backe vnto Paris ward his course he turned Yet missing her the way that he returned 46 Thus as I said faire Fiordeliege by chance Saw much of that which hapt and heard the rest How that same worthy Palladine of France With inward giefe of mind and thought opprest Or by some other great and strange mischance Went like a man with some ill sprite possess And she likewise enquiring of the peasant Heard all the circumstance a tale vnpleasant 47 Zerbino being farre from any towne Hangs all Orlandos armor on a Pine Like to a Penon and lest any clowne Or peasant vile should take a thing so fine He writes vpon the tree Let none take downe This armour of Orlando Palladine As who should say if any man attempt it Orlando would ere long cause him repent it 48 And hauing brought this worthy worke to end And ready now to take his iourney hence Fierce Mandricard hapt thither to descend And when he saw the tree he askt of whence Those weapons were which knowne he doth intend To take away good Durindana thence He steps vnto the tree and takes the sword Nor so content he adds this spitefull word 49 Ah fir quoth he this hap doth make me glad My claime vnto this sword is not vnknowne And though before I no possession had Yet now I lawfully seize on mine owne Alas poore foolo and doth he faine him mad And hath away his sword and armor throwne Because he was not able to
And fau'd thee from the Biskins wicked will First hauing thee preseru'd from salt sea waue Liue then my deare and trust in him aboue And while you liue be mindfull of my loue 69 These latter words his lips had scantly past When death vnto his heart was softly crept And as the lampe go'th out when oyle doth wast So quietly the noble Zerbin slept What tongue can tell how sore she was agast How she lamented wailed mournd and wept To her owne eyes and faire haire doing force When as she saw her deare a senslesse corse 70 And griefe had set her in so great a rage With Zerbins sword she thinks an end to make Of her owne life her sorrow to asswage Neglecting those last words Zerbino spake But lo a certaine saintlike personage That sword from hand that thought from hart doth take A certaine godly hermit and deuout That was by hap abiding thereabout 71 Who came and said oh damsell leaue despaire Mans nature weake and womens sex is fraile Feare him that rules both heau'n and earth and aire Who saith the word and his word cannot faile That those that vnto him for helpe repaire And put their trust in him shall neuer quaile Then shewd he her to proue his saying true Examples out of Scriptures old and new 72 Of saintlike women that in time of old Their liues and prayre in chastitie had spent And further to the damsell faire he told And prou'd and shewd by reasons euident That worldly things are vaine and haue no hold Alone in God is ioy and true content In fine he makes to her this godly motion Her future life to spend in true deuotion 73 His godly speech by helpe of heau'nly grace Pourd in her heart by hie diuine infusion Wrought such effect and found so great a place She ceast to seeke or worke her owne confusion But leauing the profession of her race Profest her selfe a Christen in conclusion She gaue her selfe to prayre and pure diuinitie And vowd to God her life and her virginitie 74 Yet did she not remoue out of her thought The feruent loue Zerbino had her borne But by the hermits helpe the corse she brought And thinks it sin to leaue it so forlorne And in some village thereabout she bought Sweet balmes to fill the flesh all cut and torne Then in a Cypres coffin she doth close it Not being yet resolu'd where to dispose it 75 That aged fire though being wise and staid Yet would not trust in his owne stay so well To carry such a faire and goodly maid To soiourne with him in his little cell T were perill great thus to himselfe he said That fire and straw should nie together dwell Wherefore he meanes to Prouince her to carie And there to place her in a monestarie 76 But as he thitherward with Isbell went And by the way deuoutly did her teach All things vnto religion pertinent And of the same most learnedly did preach Behold a Pagan fierce with soule intent This purpose and their iourney doth impeach As I shall shew more largely afterward Now back I must returne to Mandricard 77 Who hauing ended that same cruell fight In which the worthist Prince aliue was slaine Soone after by a shadie banke did light And turnd his horse a grazing on the plaine Dame Doralice in whom he tooke delight Alone with him in that place did remaine When looking sodainly by chance aside An armed knight come toward them she spide 78 She guest but yet she knew not by the view Who it might be vntill she spide her page That came with him then certainly she knew T was Rodomont full of reuenge and rage Wherefore vnto her knight she nearer drew And said my Lord mine honour I dare gage That yon is Rodomont mine ancient louer Who thinks by fight from you me to recouer 79 Looke how the Falcon in the aire doth mount When she espies a Bittor or a Herne So when this Prince espied Rodomount And by his hast his furie did discerne Like one that made of conquest full account He starteth vp with visage grim and sterne Straight armd and horst he is his foe to meete In hand the raynes in sterops are his feete 80 When as the tone the tother came so neare As each might harken what the tother sed Fierce Rodomont spake lowd as he might heare With threatning gesture both of hand and hed And sayd be sure I le make thee buy it deare That with a short vaine pleasure hast bene led To do to one so foule and open wrong That can and will it wreake on thee er long 81 The Tartar Prince that for him little cared Made answer thus in vaine you me do threat Poore boyes with words or women may be scared Not I that fight as willingly as eat Proue when you please I am not vnprepared At any time for any warlike feat On horse on foote in field or in the list I shal be readie trie me when you list 82 Thus words bred wrath and wrath engendred blowes And blowes encreast their sharpe auenging will Eu'n as the wind that first but calmely blowes But after more and more increasing still At last it trees and houses ouerthrowes And seas and lands with tempest it doth fill So cruell grew the fight them two betweene Whose match might hardly in the world be seene 83 Their hearts were stout so were their bodies strong Desire to win in both a like was great One doth maintain tother would venge his wrong And loue their furie equally doth whet In equall paise the fight endured long Nor each of tother any gaine could get But each of them so firmely kept his ground As if each inch thereof had cost a pound 84 Among an hundred blowes the Tartar smit Of which small hurt to Rodomont did rise Yet one at last so heauily did hit Vpon his helmet ouer both his eyes His senses all were so amazd with it He thought he saw more starres then are in skies And almost downe he was eu'n in her fight For whom he first began this cruell fight 85 But as a strong and iustly temperd bow Of Pymount steele the more you do it bend Vpon recoile doth giue the bigger blow And doth with greater force the quarrell send Eu'n so the Sarzan king that stoupt so low As highly to reuenge it doth intend And to acquite himselfe of this disgrace He striketh at the Tartar Princes face 86 So fierce he strake in this so furious mood An inch or little more aboue his fight That saue those armes of Hector were so good No doubt that blow had finisht all the fight But so astond therewith the Tartar stood He could not tell if it were noone or night And while in this amazment he abode The tother ceaseth not to lay on lode 87 The Tartars horse that saw the glittering blade That Rodomont about his head so tost Did start aside and with a
So as th' offenders might not haue suspected That their misdeeds were to his grace detected 42 The King so sure by oth so solemne bound As one that little thought his Queene so stained Iocundo first his owne griefe doth expound Why he so long so dolefull had remained And in whose armes his owne wife he had found And how the griefe thereof so sore him pained Had not that salue vplookt for bene applied Of that conceit no doubt he should haue died 43 But lying in your highnesse house forlorne I saw quoth he that minisht much my mone For though it grieued me to weare a home It pleasd me well I ware it not alone This said he brought him where the wall was torne And shewd him that that made his heart to grone For why the dwarfe did mannage with such skill Though she curuets he keeps his stirrop still 44 Much did the King this foule prospect mislike Beleeue my word I say I need not sweare Horne wood he was he was about to strike All those he met and his owne flesh to teare His promise to haue broken he was like If of his oth he had not had some feare But vnreuenged all must now be borne For on his Agnus Dei he had sworne 45 Now to Iocundo gently he doth speake Good brother mine aduise me what to do Sith I am bound by oth I may not wreake The fact with such reuenge as longs thereto Forsooth let 's trie if others be as weake Iocundo said and make no more ado This was the counsell he did giue the King Into their order other men to bring 46 We both are yong and of such pleasing hew Not to be matcht with such another paire What she will be so obstinatly true But will be wonne with youth and being faire If youth and beautie both do misse their due The want herein our purses shall repaire Let vs not spare our beautie youth and treasure Till of a thousand we haue had our pleasure 47 To see strange countries placed farre apart Of other women eke to make some triall Will ease the paine that whilom pierst our hart And salue out sore there can be no deniall The King that longd to ease his new found smart Consented straight and to auoid espiall Himselfe the Knight two pages and no mo Out of the Realme forthwith disguised go 48 Away they past through Italy and France And though the Flemish and the English land And those whose beauties highest did aduance Those still they found most ready to their hand They giue they take so luckie is their chance They see their stocke at one stay still to stand Some must be woode forsooth they were so chast And some there were that wooed them as fast 49 In countries some a month or two they tarried In some a weeke in others but a day In all of them they find the women married Like to their wiues too gentle to say nay At last because they doubt to haue miscarried They meane to leaue this sport and go their way They found it full of danger and debate To keepe their standings in anothers gate 50 They do agree to take by common voyce Some one whose shape and face may please them both In whom without suspect they might reioyce For wherefore quoth the King should I be loth To haue your selfe a partner in my choyce I must haue one and I beleeue for troth Among all women kind there is not one That can content her selfe with one alone 51 But of some one we two might take our pleasure And not inforce our selues beyond our ease But as they say take meate and drinke and leasure And by our doings other not displease Well might that woman thinke she had a treasure That had vs two her appetite to please And though to one man faithfull none remaine No doubt but faithfull they would be to twaine 52 The Roman youth much praisd the Princes mind And to performe it seemed very faine Away they posted as they had assignd By towne and citie ouer hill and plaine Till at the last a pretie peece they find The daughter of an Inkeeper in Spaine A girle of person tall and faire of fauour Of comely presence and of good behauour 53 She was new entring in the flower and pride Of those well pleasing youthfull yeares and tender Her father many children had beside And pouertie had made his portion slender And for them all vnable to prouide It made him soone consent away to send her The price agreed away the strangers carry her Because the father money wants to marry her 54 In concord great she did with them remaine Who tooke their pleasure one and one by turne As bellows do where Vulcans wonted paine By mutuall blast doth make the mettall burne Their meaning is now they had traueld Spaine By Siphax realme to make their home returne And hauing left Valenza out of sight At faire Zatiua they did lodge at night 55 The masters go abrode to view the towne And first the Churches for deuotions sake And then the monuments of most renowne As trauellers a common custome take The girle within the chamber sate her downe The men are busied some the beds do make Some care to dresse their wearid horse and some Make ready meate against their masters come 56 In this same house the girle a Greeke had spide That in her fathers house a boy had beene And slept full often sweetly by her side And much good sport had passed them betweene Yet fearing lest their loue should be descride In open talke they durst not to be seene But when by hap the pages downe were gone Old loue renewd and thus they talke thereon 57 The Greeke demaunds her whither she was going And which of these two great estates her keeps She told them all she needs no further woing And how a night betweene them both she sleeps Ah quoth the Greeke thou tellest my vndoing My deare Fiametta and with that he weeps With these two Lords wilt thou from Spain be banished Are all my hopes thus into nothing vanished 58 My sweet designements turned are to sower My seruice long finds little recompence I made a stocke according to my power By hoording vp my wages and the pence That guests did giue that came in luckie hower I meant ere long to haue departed hence And to haue askt thy fires good will to marry thee And that obtaind vnto a house to carry thee 59 The wench of her hard fortune doth complaine And saith that now she doubts he sues too late The Greeke doth sigh and sob and part doth faine And shall I die quoth he in this estate Let me enioy thy sweetnesse once againe Before my dayes draw to their dolefull dateâ— One small refreshing ere we quite depart Will make me die with more contented hart 60 The girle with pittie moued thus replies Thinke not quoth she but I desire the
he straight doth runne Not tarries he to heare or to exspect If men do blame or praise that he had donne But follows on his former course direct This while the Pagan dranke uye halfe a tunne Of water ere he could himselfe erect And hardly he escaped being drownd So heauie armd and in place so profound 49 Now while the Pagan swimmeth for his life Faire Fiordeliege with sad and pensure hart A liuely patterne of a vertuous wife Doth search the sepulcher for Brandimart She tooke her time while they fell first at strife And vp and downe she lookt in eu'rie part But here she finds not arms not yet his mantell Not meets with such as of him tydings can tell 50 But leaue we her awhile thus mourning sad And secking him each where saue where he was And tell we now what hap Orlando had And what strange feats his furie brought to passe You might perchance beleeue that I were mad If none of his mad pranks I ouerpasse Which were so strange and in so great a number As you to heare and me to tell would cumber 51 I onely shall some few of those recite As to my present purpose shall pertaine The madman westward held his course forthright Straight to the hils that seuer France fro Spaine He seldome bayts but trauels day and night So much he was distemperd in his braine And by the mountaines side as he did passe He met two young men driuing of an asse 52 This asse they loden had with clefts of wood Fast bound vpon his burden bearing backe They seeing one runne nakt as he were wood Amid their way they cride hoe sirra backe But he makes answer neither bad not good For sence and vnderstanding he did lacke But with his foote the poore asse he so spurned That both his lode and him he ouerturned 53 He tost him like a football vp on hy Whence downe he fell and brake his necke with it Then at the men he doth with forie fly Of which the tone had better hap then wit For downe the rocke the tone lept by and by Deep threescore yards and by the way did hit Vpon a banke of furze growne in the place And seapt with onely scratching of his face 54 The tother that of feare like passion feels Did thinke to clammer vp vpon the rocke But straight Orlando takes him by the heels And puls him downe and beats him like a stocke As fishers vse to beat their sliding Eels And eu'n as fawlkners teare some time a cocke To giue vnto their hawks their intrals warme So he tears leg from leg and arme from arme 55 These same and other like stupendious deeds He put in practice while those hils he past Eu'n such as speech and credit all exceeds His fits so furious were his strength so vast So far vnto the westward he proceeds That to the sea he now was come at last Eu'n to the sandie shoars of Tarracona That leadeth right the way to Barcellona 56 Vpon those sands such was his made conceat He purposd with himselfe a house to build And being noyed with the parching heat He thinks with sand his skin therefro to shild Straight with his hands he digs him out a seat And though the oes his bodie all defild Yet with that mould his members all he couered That nothing but his head could be discouered 57 Now as he lay halfe burid in the sand For saue his head the rest was all vnseen There thither came as in their way by land Medoro with Angelica his Queen She not aware what in her way did stand Oâ— her lorne louers bosting then I ween Came vnto him so neare and on such soden That vpon him her horse had welny troden 58 But seeing straight vp start a naked man The fight did her greatly amaze and fright She knows him not nor guesse at him she can She thinketh sure he is some hellish spright Rough grifly heard eyes staring vilage wan All parcht and sunne burnd and deformd in fight In fine he lookt to make a true description In face like death in cull or like a Gyptian 59 But she at this strange fight as erst I said Did gallop thence as fast as she could ride And screeching lowd she crieth out for aid Vnto Medoro her beloued guide The mad Orlando was not ill apaid When such a prettie damzell he had spide Though he no knowledge nor remembrance had How this was she for whom he first fell mad 60 Yet as delighted with her pleasing hew And liking well to see so faire a face With great desire he straight doth her pursew Eu'n as a hound the fear full Doc doth chase Medoro mou'd herewith his rapier drew And after this mad fellow rides apase And with his horse he thinketh downe to tred him And with his blade he thinketh to behed him 61 But by effect contrariwise he found That he without his host his reckning made The madman shrinketh not an inch of ground And his bare skin was harder then the blade Yet sodenly when as the madman found That one behinde his backe did him inuade He turnd and with his fist so smote the horse As made him ly on ground a senslesse corse 62 And in a trise he backe againe doth goe To catch Angelica who spurrs with speed And thinketh still her palfreys pase too sloe For such a turne and so it was indeed For had it gone like arrow from a boe It hardly could haue holpe her at this need At last her onely hope was in the ring For now to helpe her was none other thing 63 The ring that neuer faild her at her need Did make her now to vanish out of sight But whether that it were for want of heed Or that the sodainenesse did her affright Or that her beast did founder with the speed Or that she did determine to alight Of all these which it was I cannot tell But topsie turuie from the beast she tell 64 Had she falne shorter or on tother side In likelihood the madman had her caught Which if he had she doubtles should haue dide But great good fortune her deliuerie wrought But now another beast she must prouide For this another pase will soone be taught Orlando full doth her pursue so fast That needs he must ou'rget her at the last 65 As for Angelica I take no care I know that she a beast long will not lacke But rather steale one as she did that Mare That now in madmans hands will suffer wracke To follow her Orlando doth not spare Till he her stayd and lept vpon her backe Then gallopt he as long as she was able And lets her rest in neither field not stable 66 Vntill at last in leaping ou'r a ditch The poore Mare put her shoulder out of ioynt He with his fall tooke neither ach not stitch Nor of the bruse he passeth not a poynt Nor seeketh he for turpentine or
His naked dagger and did me intreat To stab him with the same into his hart To take iust vengance of his lewd desart 31 Now when I saw him at this passe I thought To follow this great conquest to his end And straight a little hope to him I brought Of fauour if his errour he would mend And if my fathers freedome might be wrought And state restord and he continue frend And not attempt hereafter to constraine me But with his seruiceable loue to gaine me 32 He promised hereof he would not misse And backe vnto my sire me safe did send Nor once presumed he my mouth to kisse Thinke you how he vnto my yoke did bend I thinke that loue playd well his part in this And needed not for him more arrowes spend Hence straight vnto th' Armenian king he went Whose all the winnings should be by consent 33 And in the mildest manner that he could He prayeth him to grant his good assent That my poore sire might Lydia quiet hold And he would with Armenta be content The king Alcesté sharply then controld And in plaine termes he told he neuer ment To cease that bloodie warre at any hand While that my father had a foot of land 34 What if said he Alcestes wau'ring braine Is turnd with womans words his damage be it Shall I therefore loose all a whole yeares gaine At his request I neuer will agree it Againe Alcesté prayes him and againe But all in vaine he sees it will not be yet And last he waxed angrie and did I sweare That he should do it or for loue or feare 35 Thus wrath engendred many a bitter word And bitter words did breed more bloody blowes Alcesté in that furie drew his sword And straight the guard on each side him inclose But he among them to himselfe besturd He flew the king and by the helpe of those Of Thrace and of Cilicia in his pay Th'Armenians all he put to flight that day 36 And then his happie victorie pursuing First he my fathers frends did all enlarge And next the Realme within one month ensuing He gat againe without my fathers charge And for the better shunning and eschuing Of all vnkindnesse with amends most large For recompence of all harmes he had donne He gaue him all the spoiles that he had wonn 37 Yea fully to content him to his asking In all the countries that did neare confine He raisd such summes of coyne by cursed tasking As made them grieue and greatly to repine The while my hate in lous faire vizer masking In outward show I seemd to him incline Yet secretly I studied to annoy him And many wayes deuised to destroy him 38 In steed of triumph by a priuie traine At his returne to kill him we intended But from such fact feare forst vs to refraine Because we found he was so strongly frended I seemed of his comming glad and faine And promist when our trobles all were ended That I his faithfull yokefellow would be In wo or weale to take such part as he 39 Wherefore I prayd him first that for my sake He would subdue some of our priuat foes And he each hard exploit doth vndertake And now alone and then with few he goes And safe returnes yet oft I did him make To fight with cruell Giants and with those That past his strength oft with som monstrous beast Or Dragon fell that did our Realme molest 40 Don Hercles neuer by his cruell Aunt Nor by the hard Euristeus was so wrought In Lerna Thrase in Nemea Eremaunt Numid Etolia Tebrus where he fought Not Spaine nor no where else as I might vaunt With mild perswasion but with murdring thought I made my louer still to put in vre In hope hereby his ruine to procure 41 But as the Palme the more the top is prest The thicker do the vnder branches grow Eu'n so the more his vertue was opprest By hard attempts the brighter it did show Which when I found forthwith I thought it best Another way to worke his ouerthrow A way by which in deed I wrought the fear Which yet I shame and sorrow to repeat 42 Against all such as bare him best affection I secretly did still his minde incense And euer one and one by my direction I made him wrong till all were driu'n from thence So was his heart and soule in my subiection So had my bewtie blinded all his sence Had I but winkt or vp my finger hild He had not car'd whom he had hurt or kild 43 Now when I thus had foyld my fathers foes And by Alcesté had Alcesté wonne And made him for my sake forsake all those That for his sake no high attempt would shunne I then began my selfe plaine to disclose And let him know what wise threed he had sponn◠With bitter spitefull words I all to rated him And told him plaine that in my heart I hated him 44 And that I wisht his life and dayes were ended And would haue kild him if I could for shame Saue then I should of all men be condemned Because his high deserts were of such fame Yet him and them I vtterly contemned And loathd to see his face or heare his name And sware I would wish him thenceforth no better Nor heare his message nor receiue his letter 45 At this my cruell vsage and vngrate He tooke such griefe that in a while he died Now for this sinne he that a I sinne doth hate Condemns me here in this smoke to be tyed Where I in vaine repent my selfe too late That I his suite so causlesllie denyed For which in smoke eternall I must dwell Sith no redemption can be had from hell 46 Here Lidia this her wofull tale doth end And faded thence now when her speech did cease The Duke a farther passage did intend But this tormenting smoke did so increase That backward he was forst his steps to bend For vitall sprites alreadie did decrease Wherefore the smoke to shunne and life to saue He clammerd to the top of that same caue 47 And least those woman faced monsters fell Might after come from out that lothsome ledge He digd vp stones and great trees downe did fell His sword suffising both for axe and fledge He hewd and brake and labourd it so well That gainst the caue he made a thicke strong hedge So stopt with stones and many a ragged rafter As kept th'Harpias in a great while after 48 But now the Duke both with his present toyle That did with dirt and dust him all to dash And with the smoke that earst did him so foyle As blacke as foot was driu'n to seeke some plash Where he himselfe might of his cloths dispoyle And both his rayment and his armour wash For why the smoke without and eake within Did taint his cloths his armour and his skin 49 Soone after he a christall streame espying From foote to head he washt himselfe therein Then vp he gets him on
it hath beene receiued so long for a truth that Penelope was a chast and vertuous wife I will not take vpon me by S. Iohn to write the contrarie though mine authour make S. Iohn to cast a doubt of it Of the Allegorie I haue not much to say because mine authour himselfe expounds it so plainly onely I'pray you mark how rightly and with what decorum he likens Promotors and Parasites to vultures carren crowes and chattring pyes as likewise in the beginning of the 34 booke he likeneth them to Harpias The sustenance that should for food haue serued For widowes poore and orphanes innocent These filthie monsters do consume and wast it Olt at one meale before the owners tast it As if one would say the gifts and rewards that belong to old seruitours and well deseruing souldiers are catched at the volise by these rauenou birds and neuer come to the ground or if they do they make so false a bound that a man shall make a fault in offring at them and many times hazard both game and set for them Bradamant a woman ouercomming Rodomont a most terrible Turke alludes to the notable History of Iudith that cut off Holofernes head which story the Lord Du Bertas and rare French Poet continued into an excellent Poemâ— in French and the same is translated into a verie good and sweet English verse by one M. Thomas Hudson which worke I the rather mention because in the 6. booke of the vice of surfetting which I reproued afore in the Morall it is not ably described and with all sharply rebuked as followeth O plague O poyson to the warriour state Thou makst the noble hearts effeminate While Rome was rulde by Curioes and Fabrices Who fed on rootes and fought not for delices And when the onely Cresson was the food Most delicate to Persia then they stood c. Here end the annotations vpon the xxxv booke THE XXXVI BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Duke Ammons daughter with reuenge full hart Doth meet Marfisa minding her to kill Untill the battels ioynd on either part And so did sunder them against their will Bradamant and Rogero talke apart Marfisa gets of both great euill will By troubling them but when she knew her brother She reconciled is to tone and tother 1 T Is meete a gentle heart should euer show By curtesie the fruites of true gentilitie Which will by practise to an habite grow And make men do the same with great facilitie Likewise the dunghil blood a man shall know By churlish parts and acts of inciuilitie Whose nature apt to take each lewd infection Custome confirmes and makes ill in perfection 2 Of courteous acts old stories he that reeds In auncient times shall find there hath bene store But in our dayes of bloudy cruell deeds Is greater plentie then hath bene before For charitie brings forth but barren seeds And hatred still is sowd in so great store That when the fruits of both come to be reaped The tone is scarce the tother ouer heaped 3 What fierce Barbarian Tartar Moore or Turke Could vse more crueltie then now of late In Latin land Venetian force did worke Not by consent of the wise men of state But by the filthy nature that did lurke In wicked hirelings and a hidden hate I speake not of the damage and defaces They did by fire in all our pleasant places 4 Though that reuenge was foule and to to cruell And chiefe against Hippolito who late When Caesar sieged Padoa as they knew well And brought it to low ebbe and wofull state He both withdrew the matter all and fewell And quencht the fires kindled by deadly hate Preseruing many a Church and many a village By his rare clemencie from fire and pillage 5 Not those I meane nor many actions more That cannot be excused or defended But such an act as stones might weepe therefore As oft as it is talkt of or reinembred Then when my Lord his houshold sent before There where his foes were secretly assembled And left their vessels on the saltish land While in ambushment close they lay on land 6 As Hector and Aeneas did by fire Assault the Greekish fleet with hardie fight So saw I two whose hearts to fame aspire One Alexander tother Hercles hight Assault their foes and driue them to retire Vnto their trenches nay within them quite But one of them returned thence full hard The tother of returning cleane was bard 7 For Ferussine scapt Cantelmo stayd O Duke of Sore what sore griefe didst thou find To see thy noble sonne lo soule betrayd Among a thousand blades left there behind His naked necke on side of gally layd And chopped off now surely in my mind When that same bloudie stroke his necke smit off You felt like stroke eu'n with the fight thereof 8 Slauonian vile where didst thou learne to know Such lawes of warre within what Scuthian land Vse men to kill a prisner taken so That yeelds and hath no weapon in his hand Or was it such a grieuous sinne you trow The foes of his deare country to withstand Why hast thou Sunne so long on this age shinde That breeds of Atrews and Thiestes kinde 9 Barbarian vile that kild so sweet a youth To satisfie thy rancor and thy rage So rare a youth as to confesse the truth His match could not be found in this our age Whose beautie might haue bred sufficient ruth Fierce Poliphemus anger to asswage But not fierce thee more cruell and more fell Then any monsters that in deserts dwell 10 The valiant men did studie in time past With clemencie their honors to increase And hate no longer then the fight did last With victorie reuenge did euer cease So Bradamant of whom I told you last The prisners she had tane did still release And staid their horses when themselues were downe And sent them backe againe into the towne 11 And praid them but her challenge to deliuer Vnto Rogero and to call him out Who meant with speare in rest her answer giue her Vnto her challenge that she sent so stout Now when the other knights were all togither In presence of the kings they cast a doubt Who this should be and then they aske Ferraw That talkt with her and her bare visage saw 12 Sure said Ferraw it is not tone nor tother Of those on whom before your thoughts were set I tooke it first it was Renaldos brother Who is in yeares a very youth as yet But now I rather iudge it is another For so much force is not in ' Richardet I thinke it is his sister by her vsage Who I haue heard is like him much in visage 13 She hath ere this of value had great fame Renaldo and the Palladins among I must confesse I found it to my shame Her then her brothers to be farre more strong Rogero when he heard them her to name Was guiltie straight that he had done her wrong And blusht
whistle becken crie it nought auailes Somtime to strike somtime to turne their sailes 11 But none there was could heare nor see nor marke Their eares so stopt so dazeld were their eyes With weather so tempestuous and so darke And black thick clouds that with the storme did rise Frō whence somtime great gastly flames did sparke And thunderclaps that seemd to rend the skies Which made them in a manner deafe and blind That no man vnderstood the Masters mind 12 Nor lesse nor much lesse fearfull is the sound The cruell tempest in the tackle makes Yet each one for himselfe some busnesse found And to some speciall office him betakes One this vntide another that hath bound He the Main bowling now restraines now slakes Some take an oare some at the pumpe take paine And powre the sea into the sea againe 13 Behold a horrible and hideous blast That Boreas from his frozen lips doth send Doth backward force the sayle against the mast And makes the waues vnto the skies ascend Then brake their oares and rudder eke at last Now nothing left from tempest to defend So that the ship was swaid now quite aside And to the waues laid ope her naked side 14 Then all aside the staggring ship did reele For one side quite beneath the water lay And on the tother side the verie keele Aboue the water plaine discerne you may Then thought they al hope past down they kneele And vnto God to take their soules they pray Worse danger grew then this when this was past By meanes the ship gan after leake so fast 15 The wind the waues to them no respite gaue But readie eu'rie houre to ouerthrow them Oft they wer hoist so high vpon the waue They thought the middle region was below them Oft times so low the same their vessell draue As though that Caron there his boat would show thé Scant had they time and powre to fetch their breath All things did threaten them so present death 16 Thus all that night they could haue no release But when the morning somewhat nearer drew And that by course the furious wind should cease A strange mishap the wind then fiercer grew And while their troubles more and more increase Behold a rocke stood plainly in their vew And right vpon the same the spitefull blast Bare them perforce which made them all agast 17 Yet did the master by all meanes assay To steare out roomer or to keepe aloofe Or at the least to strike sailes if they may As in such danger was for their behoofe But now the wind did beare so great a sway His enterprises had but little proofe At last with striuing yard and all was torne And part thereof into the sea was borne 18 Then each man saw all hope of safetie past No meanes there was the vessell to direct No helpe there was but all away are cast Wherefore their common safetie they neglect But out they get the ship-boat and in hast Each man therein his life striues to protect Of King nor Prince no man taks heed or note But well was he could get him in the bote 19 Among the rest Rogero doth suppose The safest way to be to leaue the ship And being in his dublet and his hose He nimbly downe into the boat did skip But after him so great a number goes Before they could the rope vnwind or slip The boat at length did sinke with ouerlading And to the bottome carry'd all her lading 20 T was lamentable then to heare the cries Of companies of eu'rie sort confused In vaine to heau'n they lift their hands and eyes And make late vowes as in such case is vsed For ouer them the wrathfull sea doth rise As though to giue them eare it had refused And made them hold their peace by hard constraint And stopt the passage whence came out the plaint 21 Some swamme a while some to the bottome sanke Some flote vpon the waue though being ded Rogero for the matter neuer shranke But still aboue the water keeps his hed And not farre off he sees that rockie banke From which in vaine he and his fellowes fled He thither laboureth to get with swimming In hope to get vpon the same by climing 22 With legges and armes he doth him so behaue That still he kept vpon the floods aloft He blowes out from his face the boistrous waue That readie was to ouerwhelme him oft This while the wind aloofe the vessell draue Which huld away with pase but slow and soft Fró those that while they thought their deth to shun Now dide perhaps before their glasse was run 23 O hopes of men vncertaine vaine and fraile The ship that all forsooke as quite forlorne When all her wonted guides and helps did faile Her saylers drownd and all her tackle torne A safe course held with broken mast and saile And by an Eddie from the rocke was borne And eu'n as if the storme had changd his mind It went with merrie gale afore the wind 24 And where with marriners it went awry Now wanting them it went to Affricke right And came on land vnto Biserta ny And gently on the sands it did alight What time Orlando then was walking by Conferring with his fellowes of their fight The which was vndertaken by them three Against three Princes of no meane degree 25 And for they saw the ship was fast on ground They tooke a boate and went on her aboord With mind to question whither she was bound Or what good marchandise she can affoord But vnder hatches lading none they found Saue good Rogeros armour horse and sword Which he behind him left when in bad taking He tooke the boat the ship it self forsaking 26 Orlando vewd them well with good regard And hauing chiefly markt the noble blade He knew it was that famous Ballisard With which he did some yeares before inuade Fallarius garden spite of all her guard Who by strong charms the sword and garden made It may be you er this haue heard the tale And how this sword from him Brunello stale 27 And after to the good Rogero gaue it Who late had left it in this wofull wracke Glad was Orlando now againe to haue it That oft had triall both of edge and backe He deemd that God did eu'n of purpose saue it Now to supply therewith his present lacke And after oft he said and thought indeed That God did send it him at so great need 28 At so great need when as he was to fight Against Gradasso king of Sericane Who had beside his great and passing might Renaldos horse and fearfull Dudrindane Rogeros armour though it looked bright Yet was it not as thing so precious tane As being prisd more for the sumptuous show Then for the goodnesse which they did not know 29 And sith himselfe for armour did not care And neuer did the dint of weapon feare He doth that armour to his cosin spare But
else with sword in hand him so behaue As that he can withstand me in the feeld Behold the onely fauour that I craue I would be his that proues himselfe so stout The rest may be content to stand without 68 Most noble maid the Emp'ror straight replide Thy stout demand well to thy minde doth sute Wherefore by me it may not be denyde It is so noble and so iust a sute Now for she sought not this her suit to hide All they that heard thereof sure were not mute But eu'n ere night it publisht was so rise As it was knowne to Ammon and his wife 69 And thereupon they presently conceaued Against their daughter great disdaine and wrath For by such motion plainly they perceaued She to Rogero most deuotion hath Wherefore to th' end she might be quite bereaued All hope to follow that forbidden path From out the court they traind her by a slight And sent her to their castle that same night 70 This was a fortresse that but few dayes past The Prince had giu'n to them vpon request Betweene Perpignan and Cirtasso plast And neare the sea not of importance least Here as a prisner they did keepe her fast With minde to send her one dâ—y vnto th' East They purpose will she nill she she must take Don Leon and Rogero quite forsake 71 The Damsell though not kept with watch or guard Yet bridled with the Parents awfull raine Did keepe her close with good and due regard And of their rigor did no whit complaine But yet to this her thoughts were full prepard To bide imprisonment or any paine Or death it selfe by torture or by racke More rather then from promise to go backe 72 Renaldo finding that his suttle fire Had tane his sister thus from out his fist Nor able as his promise did require Rogeros suit to further and assist Forgets he is his sonne and in his ire Rebukes his Parents but say what he list They are content to giue the words to loosers But in their daughters match they will be choosers 73 Rogero hearing this and greatly fearing Least Leon should by loue or by constraint Possesse his Lady by his long forbearing He minds but none he doth therewith acquaint To giue a speedie death to Leon swearing That he of Caesar will make him a saint And that he will except his hope deceiue him Of scepter life and loue and all bereaue him 74 And in his minde resolued full thereon Don Hectors armor that from Mandricard He late had wonne forwith he putteth on Frontino cake he secretly prepard But Eagle on his sheeld he would haue none I cannot tell you well in what regard In steed thereof an argent Vnicorne In field of Gewls by him as then was borne 75 One onely trustie seruant and no mo He takes with him his purpose to conceale He giueth him in charge where ere he go That he his name to no man do reueale Thus Mosa Rhyne he past with pace not slow And Austria to th'Vngarian common weale And vpon Isters banke such speed he made That in a while he came vnto Belgrade 76 Where Saua doth into Danubia fall And all along that streame he might discouer Ensignes and banners all Imperiall That nye the streame in numbers great did houer Great was their multitude and Grecians all Who with a hope that citie to recouer Which late before from them the Bulgars wonne Were thither brought by th' Emperor and his sonne 77 Twixt Belgrade and the streame in warlike rankes The Bulgars stood eu'n to the monntaines ridge Both armies waterd at the riuers bankes The Greekes endeuord there to cast a bridge And for that end prepared boats and plankes The Bulgars sought their purpose to abridge Scarse had Rogero vewd them wel and seene them But that there fell a skirmish hot betweene them 78 The Greeks were foure to one beside they haue Good store of boats with many a planke and boord And to the place a sharpe assault they gaue And mean to passe although there were no foord But this was but a policie and braue For Leon so this while himselfe besturd That with a compasse that about he fet Both he and his the streame past without let 79 With little lesse then twentie thousand men Along the banks he secretly doth ride And gaue to them a fresh alarum then Vnlooked for vnwares and vnespide No lesse the Emp'ror Constantino when He saw his sonne on land on tother side By ioyning planke to planke and boat to boat With all his powre an easie passage got 80 The Bulgar Captaine that Vatrano hight And was a valiant warrior and a wise Endeuord both by policie and fight To beare the bront but nothing could suffice For Leon both by multitude and might Vnhorsed him and ere he could arise Sith he to yeeld him prisner did disdaine Among a thousand swords he there was slaine 81 Till then the Bulgars valiantly made hed But when they saw their king and Captaine slaine So great a terror in their minds was bred In their faint hearts no courage did remaine Rogero seeing how the Bulgars fled And none to stay or bring them backe againe To helpe the weaker part resolueth briefly For hate of Constantine but Leon chiefly 82 He spurres his horse that like the winde doth runne And makes them stand that fled with fainting brest And hauing spide one brauer then the Sunne A gallant youth more forward then the rest This same was Constantinos sisters sonne At him Rogero runnes with speare in rest He brake his shield and coat like brittle glasse And through his bodie made the speare to passe 83 He leaues him dead and Ballisard he drawes And with that blade he shewd himselfe so stout Who meeteth with him to repent haue cause He presseth in among the thickest rout Ones skull he cleaueth to the verie iawes Heads leggs and armes flew all the field about The streame that erst did run as Christall cleare Vermillion now doth to the sight appeare 84 No man that saw much lesse that felt his blowes Dare once make head against them or resist them Rogero in the field triumphant goes The Bulgars now march freely where it list them Nor was there one amongst them all that knowes What wight it was that did so well assist them This change they saw procur'd in little space Who lately fled now held their foes in chase 85 The young Augustus standing on a hill A place aboue the rest much eminent Seeing one man his men to slay and kill And that their losse and flight was euident He wonders at his courage and his skill And thinks that God had sure some Angel sent To plague the Grecians for their old offences And for the Bulgars succours and defences 86 He sees both by his armes and Vnicorne That sure he was a knight of forraine Nation And where as some more hate wold him haue born He rather held him in more admiration His heart whom