a Shepherd which within these few dayes he hath assumed though with a purpose far different from mine for I wear it to exempt my self from the câ—res of the world and to seek for pleasures in these woods and he without doubt to make me beleeve that he loved me in this change of condition as that of his affection made me hold him inconstant and perfidious He was worthy of my love I do confesse for his fault shall not keep me from giving him his deserved commendations but his light and sickle humour hath made him incapable of so good a fortune He saw me and finding as he pretended charms in my eyes came to present his service to me with so good a grace that from that time forth it was impossible for me to approve of the resolution I had taken never to love again for fear of being once more in the danger of the misfortune which had made me complain so long howbeit good manners obliging me not to accept him at the first tender of himself nor my affection permitting me to reject him with too much rigour I made him an ordinary answer which yet might let him perceive that I had no inclination to neglect his good will To what end should I spin out my discourse with delivering the particulars of the beginning of our passions Our love did so increase that every body held our marriage for concluded and that it would be consummated as soon as the yeer was expired which the modesty of the world allows to the mourning for the dead and indeed I had resolved upon it â—â—s I told you but now had not his inconstancie put him by that fortune The faithlesse man seeing among the Ladies which my quality had made my friends and that often bestowed visits upon me a maid called Cloria beautifull indeed and of parts to make the most insensible feel the power of love could not refuse to yeeld her that which she was able to command from all those that looked on her and did in such sort become her slâ—ve as he scarce remembered that ever he had sighed for me If he came into my company it was with a ceremonious respectivenesse now he no longer besought me to quench that fire which I had â—indled in his soul his lips where unto he was wont to rivet me did no more meet with mine our looks no more incountered together I was no more acquainted with his minde though I did clearly let him see what was in my heart In brief his discourses being of a strain clean diffrent from what they had been before made me suspect not any ill in him for I was too full of love to think him a villain but that some mishâ—p had caused this change What â—il you Filismond said I to him and why do you appear so cold Hath any man told you tales to the prejudice of the good opinion which you had of me Or do you not think me as beautifull as for these three moneths past you have done If it be repentance that you have loved me which doth trouble you and that you hold me unworthy of your affâ—ction you are yet in your own power to make a fair retreat for I will never force your humour but rather do my best for your content nor will I be displeased with the liberty you shall take to ingage you other where so as the cause thereof may excuse this mutability in you Now if you have heard any mis-report in me give me leave to clear your minde of any doubts may be in it and I make no question but you shall finde me without â—aint or shame for any fault I have committed I should wrong my judgement as well as all theirs that know you answored he if I should think you other then discreet that is not the cause Orâ—stea of this change in me no more then my being sorry for that I have loved you for you deserve to be served by a more accomplished and eminent man then my self but I must accuse mine own weaknesse and by confessing my fault lâ—bour to obtain your parcton I love but alas it is not you 〈◊〉 posseâ—â—es me with an absolute power and that Deity which disposeth of our affections is not pleased that I shall have any content in this world but in enjoying her Iudge I beseech you what my misfortune is that cannot move but by the impulsion of another and that am constrained to crave favours of Cloria by your mediation Verily I blush for shame and know well that it were better for me to seek them in your imbraces but I have not power to dispose of my self and can think of nothing more conducing to my happinesse then your assistance which you promise me But alas I fear you are not so minded My promises are inviolable answered I without any shew of discontent for his bâ—sâ—nâ—sse and it may be Filismond Cloria will love you sooner at my intreaty then for your services wherefore I will go presently to her to begin the making good of my word Gâ—ing out thâ—n exceeding full of grief I went to Cloria unto whom I discovered the desires of my waverer praying her to have respect to his meâ—iâ— and to the advantage that his affection might bring her This discourse of mine sâ—emed a fiction to her at first for she was not ignorant with what passion Filismond had wooed me but seeing that I spake seriously and withall found some other pretences for cause of our separation she answered me that time and my advice should resolve her of this businesse and that in the mean while she would entertain Filismond at my request This good news I delivered to my Turn-coat and though displeasâ—d with the office the next moâ—nâ—ing carried him to his new Mist is to whom and in my presence he made the same protestation of love that at other times I had received of him O ye Gods said I when I heard him What traitours are men and what fools are we to give any credit to their promises Hark if these be not the very same speeches that Filismond hath used a thousand times to me all which the wind hath blown away as without doubt another puffe will do these he swears only that he may be perjured whereof I am to make my benefit grow wise with my losse never trust any but my self and draw my fuâ—ure content out of the knowledge of Filismonds treacherie Entertaining my self in this fashion whilst these lovers were laying the first foundations of their affâ—ctions the day insensibly slipt away and night comming on made me return home in a strange distâ—mper for not to dissemble all my resolutions could not keep me from wishing that these new fansies had never come into Filismonds Head but being as then fuller of despâ—ght then love I determined to live no more in the wâ—rld since the lives of those of quality were subject to so many mutations and from hence orth onely to frequent the
would comfort you in your losses and specially for that which hath this day befallen you But knowing you to be every way invincible and that you make little account of fortunes worst attempts against you I will not present you with reasons to mitigate your just resentments though I should be glad that you could reach unto the meaning of these obscure words The Prophecie When the strange Lion shall amaze the World with his roaring and shall meet with him of the Grecian Forrests the fourth of that name shall see the day for to render you presently after the lost Treasure If you did understand these words without doubt you would brave Princes perceive that the counsels of heaven are wonderfull and living with quieter minds give me means to continue my doing you service with more affection then ever See sayd Florisel how the Sunne shines againe after cloudy weather These good Magicians are still living and as far as I can perceive by this scroul though I do not fully understand it we shall not suffer so much as we imagined Let God that governs our actions be pleased to direct them to his Glory for I will neither murmur at his corrections nor grow insolent with his favors This said he went down the stairs mounted on horsback and better cheered then he had been in a long time before went to the forrest where he had not been long but he heard one that lamented not far from him which made him to gallop that way the voice directed him so that within a little while he arrived at a place where under a tree he found a good handsome woman which held in herlap a dead Knight over whom she made exceeding strange moan Gentlewoman said he being moved with pity if your sorrow be capable of comfort I would intreat you to consider that you afflict your self to no purpose that it were fit you should demonstrate your love to this Knight some other way rather then by your tears wherof he is now insensible That which he now is to expect from your hands is a grave Let us I beseech you bestow it upon him and that done we will think of what remains If he be slain by the treachery of any I will if it be in my power work your revenge otherwise it may be a comfort to you that you have seen him die like a good Knight which is the most honourable departure out of this life And if I shall not be troublesome to you I will beseech you to let me know his name and who it is that hath brought him into this estate For being ingaged by my word to revenge it I should be glad to understand if with reason I may do it This afflicted woman then lifting up her eies all drownd in tears beheld him a while without speaking a word but judging by his countenance that he was not a Knight of any mean quality at length she very modestly replied to him in this maner Do not beleeve noble Knight that my complaint is excessive for the valour and fidelity of him whose death I now lament deserves that my tears should be perpetuall and might justly perswade me to lend no ear to any comfort whatsoever But since with so much curtesie you make a tender to me of your assistance I will not be so ingratefull as to refuse you the satisfaction you desire Know then my Lord that this Knight whose head you see divided in two pieces was called Balard of Catabatmon grandchild to the good King Manely who in the time of the Emperour Esplandian was held in the esteem of a brave Knight he some moneths since left his fathers house to be at that great battell where the rest of all Christendome was set up but falling very sick in a Town of Macedon he could not bring his purpose to passe his malady still increasing there was little hope of his life when as his Squire the faithfullest that ever served in that kind remembring that there needed no more to cheer him up but only to speak of me assured him that I was upon the way to visit him having had advertisement of his sicknes as soon as he heard my name his love which yet in the extremity of his disease was still the same made him instantly rayse himself up imagining that I had been come But not seeing me he gently laid his head down again upon his pillow and began to take a little rest In the mean time his Squire not intending to lose the benefit of his invention instantly dispatched a post to me knowing full well that my love was powerfull enough to make me undertake more then a voyage of fowre daies journey And having gives me notice of the estate his master was in he put me in a strange perplexity for loving him to infinity I almost died at the first news of his sicknes but fortifying my self with a couragious resolution I wiped my eies and taking a good pacing nag I made such haste that three daies after I was by his bed side though wonderfully troubled to see him brought so low yet did my presence so work with him that his bloud returning to all the parts of his body he began to shew some signes of amendment To what end should I entertain you with longer discourse of his malady Time restored him to his health and when he found himself able to bear Armes he departed from thence with me who would by no means quit him For I lesse valued the opinion of the world then the obligation wherein I was tied to my affection Having travelled then twelve daies without meeting any adventure his courage coupled with his love made him undertake to guard this passage for my sake and to force all Knights that should passe this way to confesse that I was the fairest maiden in the world This his enterprise though full of danger passed with him very happily and divers were vanquished by him but alas Fortune forsook him this morning For a great Knight in flaming coloured armes arrived heer who not satisfied with the conditions of the combat proposed by him said unto him Knight there are two strong reasons that oblige me to sight with you One is the faith that I ow to my mistrisse much more beautifull then yours and the other an oath which I have taken never to spare any that are enemies to my Religion The device which I see painted in your shield is an infallible argument that you are a Christian and I know you have an unjust cause to maintain in affirming your Mistrisse to be the fairest living seeing then that you are in case to combat I am ready to follow your example Balard who wanted no courage not enduring the arrogance of this Knight presently set hand to his sword and a long time made his party good but alas not having a cask of proof sufficient to bear the furious and weighty blows of his adversary he was in the end brought
another but Madam you will not so much wonder at me when you shall well understand the reason I have to make this suit unto you Worthy Knights are alwaies obliged to lend succour indifferently to all afflicted persons what soever but yet I am assured that they go more willingly to the undertaking of the most difficile enterprises when as they are commanded so to do by some Lady of your merit I therfore thought it sitter to addresse my self to you then to importune them to quit this Court where their vertues are held in so high an esteem You know answered Clairangia extreamly sorry for the promise she had made that they being no subjects to the King we have no farther force over them then what their curtesie is pleased to afford us so that I should think it an abusing of their good will they bear us if I should lay any command upon them heerin but that I may not be wanting to my word I desire them to employ their valour in your service and to follow you for my sake Madam said Fulgoran then I receive no little content in the leave you give me to serve this Damsell to whom in truth both your Majesty and my self are much obliged for it was she that furnished me with the arms and horse which you saw me use the day of your deliverance I did not think said the Damsell smiling that so small a service as that which I rendred you then would have been so long remembred but now I see by experience that a good turn is never cast away since one way or other we alwaies meet with a recompence for it your kind acknowledgement pleaseth me so well that I am resolved to do more for you then ever I did and you shall one day find it In the mean time I pray you prepare your self to go with me to morow in company of this strange Knight for if we tary heer any longer my labour would be lost and we shall not find him alive whom we go to deliver The departure of these Knights being thus resolved on the Queen remained in a strange perplexity for the absence of Fulgoran afflicted her extreamly before it came and that which most vext her was that she durst not bring him into her chamber to take her last farewell of him which this strange Damsell knowing said unto her If I had not Madam a particular science for to penetrate into the secretest thoughts of men I would not offer to speak with such privacy to you but understanding both what they do and what they resolve to do before they communicate it to any one you may not wonder if I tell you that I know the pain you are in at this instant for the departure of this Knight whom I am to carry away with me I am the cause of your sorrow but I will now let you see that I have alwaies desired your contentment you long and blush not at it to enjoy the Knight Ardants company with the same liberty you have heertofore had I will procure it for you knowing full well that he disires it with no lesse passion then you but do not send for him before night for otherwise I should not have time enough for my conjurations and so you might be surprised you shall have the whole night at your dispose and him to continue safely with you till break of day These words mightily troubled the Queen for women would not have their counsels known and are well pleased that people should be blind in their affairs but being unable to help it and on the other side most contented with the promise was made her she very much blushing answered If you were ignorant of the weaknes of women of the power of that haughty deitie which triumphs over all men or of the merits of Fulgoran I would never confesse my error or would seek excuses to make it seem lesse distastfull to you but being assured that none of these things have escaped your consideration I will not trouble my self with studying for reasons to perswade you that I have not done much amisse and rendring you thanks for the assistance you proffer me which indeed I cannot refuse since you are so well read in my privatest intention I will wholly rest upon your promises for the execution wherof I will instantly go and send Silesia to my Knight to give him advertisement of our resolution This enamoured Queen retiring therupon to her Chamber with much impatience attended the evening which was no sooner come but she sent for her Knight whom she caressed more then ever she had done conjuring him by the infinity of her love to shorten his voiage as much as possibly he could and not to deprive her longer then of necessity he must of the pleasure she took in his company and the more to oblige him thereunto she informed him that their embraces at Celibana had left her with child The night then being insensibly slipt away amidst the sweetest delights that two lovers can enjoy they parted with tears and protestations to love one another eternally Having taken their leaves and bidden Grandimore farewell that lay of his wounds our Knights presently left the Town with the strange Damsell who seeing her self a great way distant from the Town made a stand and said thus to Fulgoran Valiant Knight marvell not if I speak somwhat freely to you they which love you and desire to have a share in the glory of your fame out of the interest that their affection doth chalenge therin have commanded me to tell you that a worthy and well bred Knight ought not to be caried away by any disordered love which never produceth but mischievous effects Your passion for the Queen of Romeria would infallibly have been your ruine and her imprisonment was no other then a presage oâ— the misfortune that ere long would have befallen you had not I retired you in this sort from the Court not with any purpose to conduct you to some enterprise as you have hitherto believed but only to shew you how you may clear your self of that obligation wherin you stand ingaged to your honor for without doubt you had not armour put on your back to let it hang rusting on a pin while you lie languishing at the feet of a Lady This which I give you is the advice of a friend for you may well imagine that it is more for your glory then for any profit I may reap therby And if you remember with what affection I received you lately in the palace of the inchanted rock you will judge that I rather did it to conceal you from them that sought for you and who would without doubt have taken away your life without any regard of your former services then for any hope of drawing assistance from you Weigh my reasons well I pray you and do not yield so much to your passion as to forget what you are Go seek abroad in the world the
their approbation rather out of good maners then for necessity we shall not only make them alwaies ready to assist us but also therby increase their affection towards us The Emperour doth highly honour you and esteems of me no lesse wherfore I beseech you be pleased to let me make him my intercessor to you for your love and favour what shall be resolved upon by his advice will as I suppose cary the more weight with it not in regard of us for being reciprocally assured of our affections the opinion of others should be indifferent to us but only to have it said that we know how to render due honor to such as deserve it Dearest friend answered she you are assured that my will is yours and that I wholly depend on you having reserved nothing to my self since I first engaged my faith unto you therfore you may dispose of all things at your pleasure and if the Emperour shall speak to me in your behalf my answer shall be so modest as it shall neither swarve from the respect I ow unto him nor from the duty wherunto your love obligeth me This resolution being taken not without some kisses Silvan went to the Emperour to whom in the first place he gave an account of all his adventures which he had passed since he left the great Castle of the twelve Towrs that done he began a speech to him of this tenor Sir you are a competent judge of the powers of Love nor do I believe that any man can speak more experimentally therof then your Majesty My parents that were not long since inclosed in their tombs nor the late losse of so many Princes whom Christendome doth to this day lament have not been able to divert this passion growing in me by the object of a pleasing beauty so that I am enforced to confesse unto you that the merits of that fair Queen whom you saw not long since fighting with me are accompanied with such unresistable charms as I have been constrained to yeeld up my liberty unto them I know you have a mighty power over her and that you may freely dispose of her determination In which regard Sir I most humbly beseech you that you will be the author of my happines that you will contribute to my content entreat her graciously to accept of my affection and in a word engage her to give me with her self the scepter of Lidia which she now enjoieth by the death of her husband It is true that I have not deserved this grace but the favour you shall do me heerin shall so firmly oblige me as I shall never have any desire but for your service Cousin answered Spheramond the lawes of Love are so pleasing that I do not wonder if men do prefer them before those of conveniency our parents are dead for they could not live ever and what should lessen our grief for that losse is that they have left the world with so much glory and honour as their fame shall continue in the mouths of men to all eternity so that we are not to afflict our selves excessively for losing them nor refuse our good fortune when it is presented the rather for that they are not sensible of our actions wherfore you shall not wrong their memory if now you take a wife since heaven hath too soon deprived you of her whom your merits had purchased for you and to testifie unto you that I speak according to my heart I will share in the fault which you think to commit You shall enjoy what you earnestly desire or this fair one shall reject my praiers for she is well worthy of you and you of the delights which you hope for from her Saying so he left him and without protracting time went into the fair Savagesses chamber who had that day at the request of her Lover attired her self like a woman See now said he finding her in that habit see now fair Queen your self in case more likely to force a thousand Knights to your obedience then you were of late with your sword in your hand although you can well make it redoubtable to your enemies and in truth I do not now marvell that Silvan is charmed by so many excellencies since I my self do begin to have the like desires although I am heer rather to do him service then to suffer my self to be vanquished I know not how you value his kindred or the merits of his person but I am not ignorant how much he loves you with passion and if I did not think I should trench too much upon the sweetnes of your disposition I would willingly beseech you to do him so much honour as to receive him for your Husband Sovereign Prince replied she with a deep blush I did in the beginning of your discourse beleeve that you were pleased to divert your cares with some gentle passage of wit but these words are past jesting so that I am obliged to answer as seriously you render me a husband so worthily vertuous as the greatest Princesse on the earth could not refuse him without imputation of vanity nor do I mean to leave the election of him to any other I do therfore most willingly accept of him aswell in consideration of the pain your Majesty hath taken in speaking to me for him as for his own merit and love and do account all those poor services that I have done to your Crown abundantly rewarded in this only favour which is as much as you may expect from me who do humbly beseech you absolutely to dispose of all that concerns me being most assured that you shall never see me disobey your commandements Spheramond having received an answer to his wishes and unwilling to give fortune leisure to interpose any malice for the disturbance of these Lovers content he caused them to be contracted the same night and the next day to be maried with great solemnity This wedding renewed the former pleasures and the new Knights not being weary of well doing armed themselves presently after dinner and divided into two troops Russian commanded the one and the gallant Esquilan the other all these yong Princes behaving themselves so bravely as after a long dispute of the honour of the Tourney it could not be discerned which of the parties had the better so as they retired with equall commendation the day being then spent in all kind of delight the two Lovers were by the Emperour and Empresse brought to their Chamber where they presently went to bed for to reap the fruit of their amorous trauels All things being thus disposed to delight and the next day inviting every man to get up for the continuance of the former sports Fortune who never gives good without evill would needs mingle some bitter amongst this sweetnes a Gentleman arrived from Greece which brought the Emperour word that yong Clarisel of Guindaia was stollen away by a Sorceresse the very same day wherin the Tourney was held at Constantinople in honour
they heard not of him they should not faâ—l to return back These young Princes thinking it an honour for them to receive this command went presently to arm themselves and being well mounted travelled till it was late without meeting any adventure worth the relating but toward night they saw a Shepherdesse passing by them who in the midst of her age had some lines yet left in her face of a loving beauty which in her youth had made her beesteemed a young Shepherd handsome and well proportioned followed her with his eyes drowned in tears What said he fair Oristea will you alwayes flie me and shall my tears never soften that marble which you have lodged in your breast Stay I beseech you and by my actions judge of my sufferings too long indeed for so slight a fault My sighs do crave that grace which sometimes you granted me and which now I have lost rather by misfortune then malice Do not deny it to this violent affection I bear you your quiet and my contentment depend on your facility in receiving me at this present for love having heertofore tied us together with such fast bonds I cannot see how ever we should live contentedly in this separation That is it said the Shepherdesse with a disdainfull countenance which without doubt abuses you for I am now more capable of hate then ever I was of love neither do you imagine that my happinesse consists in your glory or my pain in your misfortune you are to me me so indifferent that I will never have a share in any thing that may be fall you your excuses therefore and the importunities wherewith you thus vex me are altogether unprofitable Leave me then to live with the liberty of my thoughts and study some artifice with which you may appease Cloria who hath no lesse cause to banish you her presence and not to love you then my self With that she was going away when as Periâ—â— who was highly delighted with her discourse and as much desired to know the occasion of it Fair Shepherdesse said he I know not what fault this young man hath committed but I finde his penance very sharp and your heart a little to blame for we do alwayes merit pardon when we confesse our errour and protest never to offend again If you have heertofore loved him you would doubtlesse have loved him still had not some crime of his rendered him unworthy of your affection his repentance doth blot out his offence wherefore you ought to love him as much now as heertofore you have done nor think more of his fault since his sorrow for it hath cancelled it I should willingly answered she allow of your reasons if I were lesse sensible of the grief I am in for having been so fouly deceived or could build any assurance on the oaths of men but can it be likely I should ever put any trust in the oaths of a Shepherd whose humour I too well know to be so inconstant and full of levity these tears which you see in his eyes are onely to reduce me once more into the captivity wherein his love hath for three yeers detained me and his sighs serve but for charms to keep my reason from discerning the mischief which he would bring upon me I must not therefore regard them but having paid for my learning take my self out a good lesson from his fault and my misfortune to injoy the happinesse of my liberty It may be you will not approve 〈…〉 discourse and will say that my humour is too valiant but I will let you see that I have all the reason in the world to handle him in this sort and firmly to resolve either never to love again or to live no more for the world since there is no security to be found in it so your occasions will give you leisure to hear me and that you disdain not a poor cottage for your lodging this night Your request is so fair answered Esquilan that we are bound to accept of your currâ—sie wherefore we will wait on you with a longing desire to hear the relation of your adventure Taking then a path on the right hand and guided by the Shepherd who out of civility had given over his sighing and lamentions they came to a little village where they were better entertained by Oristeâ— then they could have hoped for from one of that quality Their suppâ—r ended she caused caused them to sit down under certain trees where when her self and Filismâ—nd had also taken their places she thus began Do not wonder Knights to hear me say that I am nobly descended because you see me not in a habit sutable to that condition Love and Fortune do often work greater miracles then this I came into the world with so malignant an aspect of the stars that I cannot with reason say that ever I enjoyed any contentment long My parents losing themselves in that common blindnesse of the world which thinks wealth to be the soveraign good made me be called a wife at the time when onely the title of a childe was fit for me and at seven yeers of age married me to a man whose kindnesse in that tender age was very unpleasing unto me but much more when I arrived at yeers of discretion and was able to discern the defects which were in him Complaining then not to those upon whom my will should in right have depended for hardly should I by my prayers and tears have drawn them to break that which they had once done but to them that had the power of justice in their hands and demonstrating unto them that it was but reason to suffer me to enjoy the rights which heaven bestows on all men that are born into the world I got them after much debâ—ting and with many difficulties to dissolve this marriage and gave me power to chuse a husband to my own liking wherein truly I chanced very happily by the possession of a Gentleman as good and accomplished a Cavalier as the earth this day bears But the Fates envying the felicities which I then began to taste too suddenly ravished him from me and gave me cause to die with him if so I might have done without displeasing the Gods who will with absolute power dispose of our dayes not permitting us to shorten them no more then we are able to prolong them My tears and the continuance of my mourning sufficiently demonstrated my sorrow but my undestanding and time the common Physician of our sorrows having somewhat eased my grief I confidered that it was but weaknesse of spirit so to lose my self in the anguish of my minde and finding some ease in my pâ—tience resolved to afflict my self no more so excessively I lived then with lesse disquiet then before But alas This happinesse was not of long continuance The proud tyrant of our souls Love would once more triumph over me by the means of this Cavalier whom you see heer in this simple habit of
willingly permit any to talk to them of love for fear of being deceived and infortunate by trusting the oaths of a lover of three daies standing If I receive a command to looke on you with these conditions you have merrit enough in you of power to make me willing to obey it otherwise doe not expect any kinder language from me In the meane time live with lesse disquiet and out of this my answer extract reasons to procure your ease Therewith she passed on leaving him much perplexed for he found both bitter and sweet equally mixed in her words and durst not hope without fear Neverthelesse being somwhat pleased that he had revealed his thoughts he retired quietly to his chamber and remembring that townes doe ordinarily endure the first assault that yet will afterwards yeeld to a persisting beleager he tooke paper and in it wrote these lines Prigmaleons Letter to Polixena THink it not strange if I shew more love then obedience I am brought to that extremity that all considerations in the world must give way to the violence of my suffering I write this because you have forbidden me to speak to you and do crave the same pitty of you which you would wish for if you were in the pain you have seen me If you judge rightly of my passion you will not be offended at this request Honour doth guide it nor do I desire any felicity but according to the ordinance of heaven that may legitimate it Let not your refusall then make me desperate but permitting me from hence forward to call my selfe your Knight give me leave to expect the return of those upon whom you so absolutely depend This Letter written and sealed he committed to the fidelity of a Dwarf who certainly had a greater spirit then a body and that could so well chuse his time as the next morning he found Polixena in her chamber unto whom kneeling down he said If it were fit for me Madam to relate to you what one of the most completest Princes of the earth doth suffer for you I would recount to you his sighes his griefs his transports and his disquiets and letting you know the miserable estate whereinto despair hath reduced him since you forbad him to complain to you I should perhaps possesse you with as much pity as he hath love but perswading my self that his passion hath found reasons enough to let you see it I will content my self with presenting this paper to you from him Be pleased Madam to view it with a gentle eye and return him so favourable an answer as may cause him to live contented you shall tye the world to you in no mean obligation by preserving in it so brave a Knight who I assure you desires nothing so much as the honour of doing you service I will not answered she be so farre an enemy to his content as not to be willing to read what occasion he takes to complain of me wherefore give me the paper with that she took and opened it and having well considered it said to the Dwarfe My friend the answer that I must returne to thy master consists of so few words as I need not take a pen in hand to let him know my minde onely bid him hope that time bring him content and that fidelity alone can procure him that which with so much impatience he wishes for It is enough answered the Dwarfe I will go tell him that he is happy and that he is not to complain any more So going out with a curtsie that made the Princesse laugh he went to Prigmaleon who expected his returne with a panting heart and returning him that answer he rendred him so contented that not remembring himselfe to be Emperour of Aethiopia he imbrâ—ced him three or foure times ever and anon enquiring of him if he had observed any coldnesse in her actions or rather love in her words What said the Dwarfe coldnesse Beleeve it you may be happy if you will if you be not happy already me thinkes I see you in the midst of those delights which will bring you to a very paradise For having seen that faire hand which touched mine when she tooke the letter from me and imagining that her cloathes concealed wonders I was almost transported with her And if the respect of your passions had not staid me I had assuredly besought her with some favour to quench that flame which already began to scorch my heart But not intending to be a traytor nor to seek my contentment with the losse of your quiet I surmounted those unruly passions and quickly withdrew my selfe for feare that the violence of my desires should make us commit some errour See said Prigmaleon laughing heartily at the grace wherewith this little thing vented his fooleries See my Mussardin assured proofs of thy fidelity which I have also observed in other things But be confident that thou obligest not an ingratefull man and that I will one day recompense the labour thou tookest in mastering thine own appetite for my sake I know well said the Dwarfe that my affection doth highly oblige you howbeit withall I extreamly feare that you will not give me the reward for it that I desire But I will upon the faith of a Knight said Prigmaleon so that I may do it without prejudice to my love and that it be in my power Nay I will quickly ease you of that fear said the Darfe nor shall you find any friend more faithfull to endeavour the bringing of your wishes to their desired part then my self if you will assist me for as for Polixena I will wholly quit her to you but I would fain have a place in the good grace of Castibella daughter to that peerlesse Diana who once filled the world with such wonders of her beauty It is a rising Sunne that promises great things in her course and that to be briefe hath struck me dead in the eye Perswade her to love me and setling a good impression on her of my courage for you know I would rather dye then be wanting to my occasion of honour tell her that my alliance with her will be for her glory and that she shall finde herselfe most happy in my services So will I never complaine of my pains in furthering your satisfaction and you shall see how faithfully I will serve you This is said Prigmaleon almost burst with laughter the happâ—est passage that may be for now I shall not be jealous of thee do thou but labour secretly to purchase the favour of Polixena for me and I will do the like to thee to Castibella who truly would accommodate thee excellent wel if she were not a little too young Make not that your excuse said the Dwarf true love never stands upon time I will stay till yeers have better ripened her judgement and in the mean space will finde a thousand wayes to make my intentions not unpleasing to her This discourse finishing with certain frisks that the
and that peradventure is still in fight with one of these raskals Saying so he led his horse with one hand and held Miralinda by the other when they perceived the Knight of whom they spake come towards them as fast as he could drive but as soon as he discerned them he presently stopt and alighting embraced Don Clarisel to whom he said My Lord I was making all the haste I could to your succor but I see you had no need of my sword Truly said Clarisel not knowing him I am more obliged to you then you think for and you shall do me a singular pleasure to make use of me and freely to tell me your name Do you not know Alcidas then said the Knight O me said Clarisel how forgetfull am I These arms I saw at your house but I was before in such a rage and am now so full of joy that I had then no desire but to be revenged nor at this present have any will but to render thanks unto God for my good successe which was the reason why I knew you no sooner I but I did your Miralinda said Alcidas for seeing her in the power of these Knights and hearing her crie out I fell in amongst them to rescue her being assured that I should oblige you in her assistance but without your arrivall we had both been lost Let us speak no more of this misfortune since we have avoided it said Clarisel and tell me whether we may find any lodging heerabout night is at hand and I am sensible already of the incommodity this shepherdesse would receive should she lie abroad I am not able to assure you any said Alcidas only let us keep this way perchance it will bring us ere long to some village then Clarisel having taken up Miralinda behind him Alcidas rode along with them and was musing on this treacherous plot when as a Knight came against him as hard as he could run and incountred him so furiously that he cast him out of his saddle to the ground passing on as if he had been carried by lightning By my life said Alcidas being much abashed to see himself overthrown in that maner you have taken me at unawares but if I live I le crie quittance with you whereupon having desired Clarisel not to be displeased with his departure he rode after this discurteous Knight and left the Lovers in the midst of the wood who unable to find any way by reason of the darknes of the night they went aside and alighting under a tree they resolved to rest there till day CHAP. XV. The passions of Clarisel finding himself alone with his shepherdesse Alcidamant is made Knight CLarisel seeing himself alone with his shepherdesse was so contented that he never felt the discommodity of hunger and his hard lodging but men are never void of crosses his desires made war with him and labouring to have as much respect as love he found his pain to be every way equall unto the pleasure which he had to find himself beloved his words were so many assurances of his affection his thoughts so many wishes that Love would afford him some assistance all his actions assured proofs of a violent passion he took the delicate hands of his shepherdesse carried them often to his lips sometimes bathed them with tears sighed incessantly and then by a deep silence testified that his soul was opprest with great unquietnes fain he would have complained but he durst not fear contained his tongue and when he would have opened his heart he was restrained by the consideration that he was not to be importunate Miralinda whose affection was innocent guessing by his carriage that he suffered much was perswaded that he had received some wound which he would not discover for grieving her insomuch that she was afraid and desiring to know the truth she said unto him Why do you weep my Shepherd whence grow these sighs and what means this silence are you hurt and do your wounds pain you Alas said he beautious Shepherdesse now you inforce me I was resolved to have suffered silently but since you will understand the cause of my griefe I will not refuse you the knowledge of it to the end I may not accuse my cowardise for my suffering I consider the misery whereunto I am reduced in that I dare not tell you how it is time that you should recompense my services the place favours my thoughts but my feare to offend you will not permit me to reveal them I love passionately you doubt not of it I assure my self your beauty gives me violent passions I am in continuall torment I feel a million of flames which consume me yet I endure and do not so much as open my mouth and hitherto I never gave you any cause to complain of my actions But it is time I my Shepherdesse it is time to be more hardy and I should think my self miserable if I should overslip this opportunity without knowing how far your love extends We are in a wood barred from all eies that may disclose our secrets this darknesse will warrant our delights my faith will make them lawfull you will free me from a perpetuall fear that another more happy then my self may one day possesse you you will oblige me to live contented and this way I shall assure you the greatnesse which is due to your merit do not suffer me my dearest Shepherdesse to languish any longer keep me from dying with grief at your being insensible of my endurings give your self wholly to me as I protest again before God to be onely yours and never to have other wife let us take hold of occasion that is bald and which seldom offers it self twice give not your self time to accuse your fear nor me cause to complain of you and now calling to minde the integrity of all my passed actions draw from thence an infallible conclusion that I love you sincerely and that you shall not be deceived this is the way to assure our happinesse all your future content depends on your discretion which ought to accomodate you to the time think on it my Shepherdesse and lose not yourself with light considerations which are never well accepted of amongst lovers I am now in a state to receive grace said he kneeling down conâ—er it on me I beleech you and be perswaded that my death is tied to your deniall Miralinda observing him thus disposed was exceedingly troubled her affection made her think his impatience just would have her consent to his imbraces and counselled her to give up her self to him upon assurance of these promises but then her honor represented unto her how she was to love otherwise if she meant not to give this Prince just cause to despise her another day when he should finde her so facile resting then on this resolution she answered him Ah Sir do you make more account of your pleasure then my reputation and do not you consider that I
and quietly desiring her to return unto her Iland I shall appeare rather an angred sister then an ill lover howbeit I will wait a fit opportunity and in the mean time use some speeches to her that may make her acknowledge her fault but if she prove obstinate we will part never to see one another again as sisters and love who admits of no consideration that will have one regardlesse of times persons places and conditions shall authorize my resentment Whilst she entertained her selfe in this manner Silvana did the like I perceive well enough said she to her self that my sister looks not upon me but with disdain that she forbids this Knight to talk with me and that I expect nothing save displeasure wherefore I resolve to return home howbeit if be possible I will be accompanied with him so shall I be no longer crost in my desires He is courteous he is obliged to me he will deny me nothing I shall demand of him wherefore covering my designe with the pitty I take of my people and countries which every day fall to ruine by the cruelty of a monster that continually destroyes them I will beseech him to succour me like a valiant and generous Knight and if I can get him once out of my sisters hands I will never permit him to undertake so dangerous an enterprise but preserve him for my future contentment Insisting then on this resolution as the best she could desire she said unto him one day in the presence of Merediana who commended to every one the assistance which she had received from him Sir you see how your benefits are acknowledged that praises are alwayes in the mouthes of such as are obliged and generous Knights doe ordinarily find some recompence in the glory is given to their vertues If you had done any thing for me I should speak of you as others do and would raise your name to heaven holding the world unworthy to retain the greatnesse of it Madam answered he interrupting her there the fault shall not be mine if you have not the satisfaction to see me combat for your service doe but furnish me with occasion and you shall find me ready whensoever you please My people said she afflicted by a cruell monster reach out their hands unto you now advise with your self whether you will oblige me by succouring them Most willingly Madam answered he and shall think my self most happy to serve you in this occasion We will depart then to morrow replied she in the mean time take order for your journey Merodiana hearing this discourse and seeing a departure resolved so soon knew not what to say she would have accused her lover but having very great testimonies of his affection she laid all the fault upon her sisters malice whom she blamed in very plain tearms saying that she ought not to precipitate the dayes of so brave a Knight who could not enter into that combat without apparant losse of his life but Silvana resolved the contrary and caring for nothing but how to draw him from thence made no reckoning of her anger All this night was bestowed in sighs and tears and Merodiana a thousand times curst her sisters comming to see her I will not let you go to imminent death said she and notwithstanding any promise you have made my sister you shall not stir from hence she is too impudent to be obeyed and I knew her comming too well for to leave her the liberty to put it in practise but if you be resolved to go with her be confident that I will follow you and crosse the pleasures which she expects as much as she hath done my content O God Madam said he kissing her most amorously do you make doubt of my faith now truly you do me infinite wrong for so many oathes and protestations as I have made to you should me thinks remove this false opinion out of your imagination I must go because I am obliged therunto by my promise but Madam be assured it shall be to return incontinently again if I happen to live after the combat which I purpose to enter into against the Serpent and to perswade you to beleeve what I say behold your self in your glasse then think upon Silvana and you shall find that your beauties being unlike that she having lesse charms then you lesse love and lesse merit I shall never abandon you to follow her Live contented in the expectation of my return and in the mean time permit me to imbrace occasions that may acquire my glory so shall you testifie a true affection to me and oblige me to esteem my self happy in your love These so powerfull reasons having mitigated but not defaced Merodiana's grief she slept till morning when giving him a farewell kisse he retired to arm himself leaving her in tears and sorrow CHAP. XLII The grief which the fairest Merodiana took at the departure of her Knight who went with her sister for to combat the monster that ravagod the the Island of Silvana the loves of this Princesse and the Knight and the danger wherein he found himself in the combat SIlvana departing with as much glory as she left discontent in her sisters Court travelled a while between the Knight of the Palms and him of the Lions entertaining him with a world of pleasing talk howbeit her passion making her desire no other ear but her lovers she many times went and spoke softly to him as if she were willing none else should hear her which the gentle Tâ—oiluâ— perceiving modestly withdrew himself and left them to the liberty of their actions and discourse Then this amorous Lady more openly shewing the joy she conceived for being freed from a concurrent in her love rendered the length of the way so short by a million of oaths to love him eternally and by as many complaints against her sisters jealousie that he found himself almost out of the wood before he thought of being in it The place representing to his memory the pleasure which he had received at his first acquaintance with Silvana he would fain have stept aside with her for to alight under some bush but conceiving that they could not blinde the eyes of so many persons which followed them they travelled to the sea side where a ship attended to transport them over howbeit Silvana would not imbark this night because she knew she should not have the liberty aboord as in her tents neverthelesse to avoid all fear of discoverie she caused her train to be shipped reserving no body about her but Falerina Alderia her Knight and him of the Lions who having good intelligence with Falerina made but one bed with her and the fair Alderia which was not more squemish then the other whilst his companion took up a place by Silvana's side The night being spent with many more caresses and kisses then I am able to deliver the Knights armed themselves at break of day and seeing that a favourable gale sollicited
vertue render you worthy of that honour your valour that carries your name over all the earth hath made me desire to see and try you that so I might know whether the effect be answerable to the praises which the world gives you but beleeve me you have wrong in that you have not altars erected unto you and your glory placed where it deserves howsoever it sufficeth that you are esteemed of me as you ought to be and that I have such an opinion of you as obliges me not to pardon you because you have never offended but to grant you the favour to be my Knight Wherefore I receive your service and your vowes and do further promise to give you one day that place in my bed which I had reserved for some one of the Gods being hitherto perswaded that the earth had not a man worthy of that fortune Madam answered he trembling with joy to hear the sentence of his felicity pronounced in so sweet a promise Be sure that to merit such grace I will do things above the power of man and that in my services you shall finde all that can be expected from an obliged soule protesting neverthelesse never to dispence with my self for the respect which I owe to your greatnesse No no said she love will endure no constraint and I desire we may live together without ceremony that we may with the more sweetnesse enjoy out conversation I will submit to such lawes as you shall prescribe me said Alcidamant and you shall see me eternally disposed never to fail against the obedience of your commandments That is it which I desire said Trasielea in the mean time get you to horse and follow me to the Emperour my father unto whom I will present you for to be admitted into the number of his Knights Whereupon Alcidamant mounting on horseback after he had very humbly kist her hands in some acknowledgement of the grace she did him rode along with her and entertained her with the best discourse his troubled minde would permit him to use CHAP. XLV Alcidamant entertains amorous discourse with the beautifull Trasiclea and encounters Rozanel d' Astre in the midst of a wood who relates unto him his love with Angelea of Sâ—pradisa ALcidamant thinking no glory in the world equall to that which he had in the sight of his Lady rode on so contented that he esteemed himself the happiest man living he often fixed his eyes on her and finding her incomparably fair whether he considered the delicate features of a perfect visage or thought upon the â—orce which she had shewed in justing he conceived her to be that Pallas whom the Ancients had worshipped She on the other side observing a most extraordinary grace in his actions an amorous face a lovely eye a sweet disposition a warlike and majesticall countenance imagined him to be the God of battels whose power and arms the whole universe adored in such sort that their content was recâ—procall their glory alike and their desires common Trasiclea beheld the letters which in gold were embossed upon her Knights Armour with a great minde to know the mystery thereof Alciâ—amant many times considered the figurâ— which he saw in the middest of his Ladies Shield musing at the cause that moved her to affect that bird both of them carried by the same desire were opening their mouthes to inform themselves of it and retained by a like consideration would not seem too curious At last Trasiclea lesse â—ashâ—ull or more amorous said unto him Since you are my Knight you may not refuse to impart your adventures unto me to tell me freely who you are and for the love of what Lady you have câ—used those characters to be put upon your Armour It is more then fit said he that I should satisfie you herein I am a Knight errant native of the kingdome of France having no better fortune then that of my hope and most unworthy of your greatnesse if you measure not my merit by my love strangers call me the Knight of the Palms and my friends know me better by the name of Alcidamant As for my parents they are noble but in truth not furnished with great estates though I mâ—y say without vanity that Crowns are unjustly wanting to their worth Touching these Arms which were given me by a learned Inchantresse when I was to combat Fangomadan I conceive they were made upon the occurrence of our loves for heer are the first letters of our names interlaced a T which signifies Trasiclea and an A which is as much to say as Alcidamant so that I presume with reason that all this hath been governed by the providence of heaven But Madam I have been long meditating on the device you bear in your Shield and do therein finde no lesse a mystery then in these characters for bearing two birds which never meet together as being unique in their kinde I am perswaded that you would thereby figure your merit and my love which separately or together can receive no comparison in the world nor ever can be incountred in one and the same affection for your beauties which take their originall from heaven and my love which is derived from your divine perfections seem to make but one person of our two bodies as these birds are united in such a fashion that you think them to be but one were it not for the difference of the heads I do beleeve with you said she that there is a great deal of mystery in our incounter for these arms were given me by a woman who having told me that with them I should receive a wound whereof I should never be cured and yet that the steel of no enemy should ever pierce them it had disswaded me from ever using them but that she added withall how this wound should no way indanger my life but contrarily I should finde so much delight in it that I should blesse the time wherein I got it all which is manifestly made good at this instant my hurt being no other then the love wherewithall I am strucken which shall not diminish by the knowledge I have of your mean fortune for being a Gentleman vertuous and valiant I shall affect you far more then if you had Empires without vertue courage and glory onely live with me as I have told you and I shall prize your valour above all the Kingdoms of the earth seeing riches and crowns ought not to be the object of a generous spirit These lovers entertaining one another in this manner travelled with such content that whole dayes past away insensibly so that being not above five leagues from Tarsipolis the Capitall City of the Empire of Tramazond Trasiclea sent Cesarina such was the Damsels name that conducted Alcidamant for to see whether any adventure was befallen at the Court worthy a couragious undertaking that their apparance there might be so much the more remarkable The Damsell bâ—ing departed then these lovers transported with the excesse
world The Prince of Argilles though he were rank't with the best by reason of that extraordinary prowesse which renowned him every where yet compared with the valour of the Champion whereof I speak was but as a common man whose actions being no lesse full of sweetnesse then of courage makes him so amiable that he steals the hearts of all that behold him The praises thou givest this Knight are so great said Adelazia that I suspect thee to be in love with him Alack Madam said Arlandria such flowers are too precious for my wearing neither doe his affections stoop so low for as he is the most accomplished Knight that is or ever was so hath he made choise of the most absolute and peerless Mistris in the world Dost thou know her said Adelazia that felt some unaccustomed motions Yes Madam answered she you are the Sun which he adores and your beauty is it alone that ever yet could captivate his soul How can that be said Adelazia since he never saw me Your Picture replyed Arlandria hath wrought that miracle nor could his passion be more had you employed all the charms of your unresistable looks on him On shipboard his eyes were perpetually fixt thereon he kneeled he spake to it and as if it had been sensible of his sufferings he craved some asswagemeâ—â— of his torments To be short it is impossible for any man to give greater testimonies of an affection then what I have seen in him during this voyage This fair Princesse willingly hearkning to these discourses and pleasing her self with the thoughts of her new love longed very much to see the effects answerable to the high commendations which this Damosel had given him but lest her carriage should discover her mind she kept on her former gravity howbeit desiring to continue this talk she said unto her Verely these speeches of thine have bred a kind of desire in me to see him for it is scarce credible that so many perfections should concur in one man But tell me is he come hither Nothing lesse Madam answered she he is yet in the Port of Carican and it may be now combatting with your Guards for he is resolved not to present himself before you but as a worthy Knight should do that renders himself esteemed by his vertue I was never a friend to cruelty said Adelazia and the shedding of humane blood was always abhorred by me neverthelesse I would willingly see him fight therby to judge impartially whether his valour be correspondent to thy prayses Madam answered this Mayd you have the best oportunity that may be I doubt not but he will make a quick riddance of all such as this day shall dare to incounter him since the Prince of Argilles who came far short of him hath been able to doe it wherfore if you please you may see him amongst the Knights that guard your Ports but for your better satisfaction if you go forth to morrow into the fields and under pretence of walking will take the way he intends to come you shall soon behold him make through your Troops since he may not arrive at your presence without forcing his passage then shall you know that all I have said comes farre short of his valour and merit Nay said Adelazia I may doe far better for it being too-great a cruelty to expose one only Knight to the fury of so many I le exempt him from that danger and shall rest satisfied if I may see him break five or six staves against a dozen of the ablest of my Kingdom and to this end I shall appoint them a rendi-vous under the great tree of the Fantosmes which is not much out of his way By this way I shall both content my self and secure his life and honour Truly said Arlandria who perceived this tendernesse to proceed from love you shew yourself no lesse wise then beautifull for to speak troth I have often wondred how you could be so cruell as to admit no Knight to your presence upon easier terms then the price of his blood keep you still in this mind and in the mean time advise with your self what entertainment you will give him Hereupon in most humble manner withdrawing her self she left the Queen much troubled with the blow she had given her who calling to mind the speeches of her Damosel which represented unto her thoughts as well the valour as the beauty of the Knight remembring withall how he had behaved himself to and before her Picture spake thus to her self If this Knight be such as he is described unto me I shall never be able to be Mistris of my self since the bare fame of him hath begotten so earnest a desire in me to see him But what a weakness doe I shew to be thus overcome by the first motions of a passion that assayles me And what will the world say of me when it shall be knownthat I have so suddenly changed both my mind and purpose I shall be counted very fickle and one that is not able to govern her affections And yet not so but in regard that vertue is always to be beloved they will rather judge that I have reason to affect him and that it is not possible for a woman to resist such powerfull charms I will therefore shew him favour and since I am accountable to none but the gods for my actions I le put the Scepter of Corolandaya into his hand if I find him worthy of that grace This Princesse yeelding up her self in this sort unto Loves Dominion from which no creature living is exempted was insensibly enamoured and this little spark grew suddenly into a flame when as a Souldier diverting her thoughts delivered in few words the wonders Griolanis had performed at his first entry into that Kingdom Madam said he your Guards of Garicanaâ—e forced by the valour of the most puissant and ablest Champion in the world And since that combat was full of prodigies I may not rob you of the contentment you will reap by hearing the particulars therof related This morning he presented himself with an headlesse Launce and forced seven Knights to quit their saddles ere it brake in shivers thence rushing through the rest with the flat of his sword only he sent fifteen or sixteen of them to the ground and this with that force as needed not the helpe of a second blow Truly Madam to relate unto you with what addresse and dexterity he seartered the rest in less then a moment is impossible for in despight of their weapons which left not so much as the least impression upon his armour he made his way like Lightning and forced his passage through all oppositions with no lesse violence then a Thunderbolt when it lights upon a Steeple And to be short he hath won the day without shedding one drop of blood whereat your Knights being amazed who judged this proceeding of his over mild and gentle towards those that had withstood him they demanded the
Court that will undertake the combat for the Queen not for that they do not hold her innocent but because the report is that three horrible Giants will second the traitor who is the cause of all these mischiefs now if your courage be suteable to the beauty which I see in your face you can never have a braver occasion to gain honor in the world nor will you let me return without hope of seeing my mistris soon rid of the trouble Do not believe Gentlewoman said he that the fear of any danger can make me be wanting to the duty of a good Knight we never leave our homes nor put on arms but with a solemn oath not to forsake the innocent in their misery Wherefore I will not only assist you in this where the life and honor of so excellent a Princesse is in question but in whatsoever els you will employ me Let us then when you please make for the town provided that we may reach it in time I shall never complain of my labour I could not replied she wiping her eies expect an answer lesse vertuous from so gallant a Knight Let us go then since you are pleased without any further stay for in truth I fear that we shall not get there but with the latest Away then went they towards the Town entertaining one another with pleasing discourses to make their journey seem the lesse tedious In this mean time Fulgoran was in the Palace of the rock amidst the greatest delights that might be one while being entertained by the damsels who recounted to him the admirable deeds of arms of the Grek Princes to the end he might thereby be drawn to love them another while diverted by the pleasing object of a thousand varieties which he met with in every part Love did not then disquiet him he was free in his thoughts and the remembrance of no one thing whatsoever was of force to bar him from enjoying a most happy content Fourteen daies being spent amidst so much sweetnes that fair Lady which did first welcome him at his arrivall there took him by the hand and said I could passionately wish gentle Prince that the Fates would permit you a perpetuall abode in this house that I might not be deprived of your conversation which is most agreeable to me but you were not brought hither for my satisfaction nor for to passe the rest of your daies in solitarines your valour is necessary in the world and I should be guilty of much mischief if I should retain you heer any longer Wherfore you shall presently depart for the preservation of that which your merit hath gotten you I mean that beautuous Queen who feared not to hazard her life to oblige you She is in an extream danger of death which she cannot avoid but by your assistance Do not fail her then in this necessity lest you incur the name of ingratefull The estate wherin you now are doth trouble you I well perceive for to enter a combat in the case you are now in were not agreeable to your merit But be not dismaid for those which brought you hither from amongst the middest of your enemies have taken a care of your affairs behold heer are arms that were made for you and worthy of your valour with that she opened a little Cabinet and took out of it an azur'd armour covered all over with golden starrs and an helmet of the same so rich and of so excellent a temper as was hard to be matched You must said she continuing her discourse instantly aâ—m your self whilest I give order to make ready a horse for you with that she departed leaving the Knight Ardant as much amazed as contented but remembring that it was no time to loiter since the busines was pressing he put on those arms which he found so light as he could hardly beleeve that they were proof enough against the blow of a sword yet unwilling to shew any mistrust of them which had entertained him with so much curtesie he made an end of arming himself and instantly came down the stairs but when he thought to come into the Court he no longer saw those stately buildings or the rock but a very spacious plain Good God! said he then all astonished where am I now and how in a moment comes so goodly a house to be lost Either I sleep or all that was done heer proceeded from the art of some person that loves me Howsoever I am armed now and therfore fear not the encounter of my enemies then looking round about him he saw on of the bravest horses that ever he had beheld tied at a tree not far off This Lady said he is no liar for the horse is not inferior to the arms with that he drew to him and finding him sadled and brideled got up on him took a lance that was reared against the tree and rode away towards the Town In this mean time the Giant Grandimores wounds were healed and Clairdngia's sorrows increased For having no news either of her Knight or of Silesia she was in utter despair of her life the rather in regard that the next day was the very same which was designed her for the maintenance of her innocency that her enemies were come and that no Knight presented himself to defend her right Poor distressed Queen said she tearing of her hair into what extremity art thou now reduced Thou hast but one gasp of life remaining which also thou must lose ignominiously and that which with reason may most torment thee is that thy misery proceeds from thy sence of anothers pains who now hath no feeling of thine O ingratefull Knight I could never have beleeved that thy love would have been extinguished by my misfortune since that was the only cause of it but thy perfidiousnes doth teach me that nothing is more unsure then the promises of men Thou oughtest to lose a thousand lives for so thou hast often sworn to me and run any danger whatsoever for my service and thy affection ought to be as lasting as thy life yet now thou wantest either love or courage the presence of three men doth affright thee or forgetfull of my caresses thou art now lying at the foot of some other Lady whom thou meanest to bring into the like miserable condition But what do I say Fulgoran Thou art no coward I have seen too great proofs of thy valour for to doubt of it nor can I by any means perswade my self that thou dost not love me still Thou comest not then to relieve me because thou art detained by some unlucky fate and so it is not in thy power I am therefore too blame in accusing thee for I know thou wouldst not shun the encounter of a thousand armed Knights when my preservation were in question No I can accuse none for my ill fortune but my self I will die then in this opinion and will beseech the Gods that they will deliver thee if thou beest in
Queen of Dacia of one called Lascaris The Queen of Fenicia of one called Doristan and the Queen of Cathaia of a daughter called Anticlia which news so increased the content of Spheramond as he determined to keep open Court eight daies together and to hold a joust and tournay for all commers at the end of these magnificences This was indeed a just occasion of rejoicing for the Christians but this happines was yet greater then they were aware of for at the same time the fair Clairestoilla who was inchanted in the Castle of the incomparable Treasure with all the delights that might be had brought into the world a son of extraordinary beauty called Lucibel of France The Empresse of Almain one called Alazian The Queen of Sibilia one called Sestilian The Queen of Trinacria one called Lucidan The Princesse Anaxara one called Hercules of Niquea The Queen of Armenia one called Abvaran and the Queen of Rhodes one called Onoxander who were all brought up with great care by Alcander untill the inchantments of the incomparable Treasure were dissolved by the valour of those two bright lights of the World Rozalmond of Greece and the gentle Alcidamant But to return to my discourse All things being thus in order for the Triumphs which were to begin within two daies the Emperour one morning was going out on hunting when as he perceived fifteen or sixteen Gentlemen entring the Palace who comming to him fell on their knees desiring his hand to kisse Nay said he unto them I shall be more curteous then so for by your noble countenances I cannot but judge you to be persons of more then ordinary quality Free me I pray you of this doubt and let me know who you are as also what design brings you hither Excellent Prince answered one that spake for them all we will most willingly content you heerin but upon condition that you will not refuse us a favour which we desire at your hands I will not upon the faith of a Prince said the Emperour for I am confident you will not ask me any thing but what is in my power We could hope for no lesse replied he and therfore I will presently begin to give you satisfaction by letling you know that this yong Gentleman is called Perion of Gaul grandchild to the Sovereign king of Great Britain this other is Esquilan of Poland heir to King Filadart with whom you are acquainted these two are the grandchildren of Galaâ—â— the first named Florian of Sobradisa and the other Eriston he that follow them is called Florestan of Sardinia son to the deceased King therof this heer is the heir of Saba bearing his fathers name this other is Don Agrian of Scotland son to Agriers these two are called Dardanâ— son to Galdes King of Rhodes and Florizart of Taproban whom the valiant Artaxerxes had by the fair Lardenia the other is Melfort son to Gadard King of Hungarie these remaining fowrate Frisel of Arcadia Aâ—ies of Ireland Leonidas of Mesopotamiâ— Armond of Bohemia and he that now speaks to you is a Gentleman unknown and called Russian of Media We altogether met about fowrdaies since with 〈◊〉 and the same design namely to be made Knights by your hand which is the bâ—on we crave of your Majesty and which you have been so graciously pleased to promise us My good Lords said Spheramond having intertained them with all curtesie the pains you have taken in comming to see me so far doth so oblige me that you shall have no cause to be discontented with me I grant you that which you desire and commâ—nd the generous design you have to follow your predecessors who have acquired so much glory in the World as their fames shall ever last beyond their lives You shall therfore refresh your selves heer this day to morrow I will give order for the fitting of you for that Ceremony and the next day I will arm you Knights together with the fair Alteria daughter to Calafia who hath already been a suitor to me for the like favour to the end you may enter with her into the jousts that are to be holden for the celebration of the birth of a son which the heavens have bestowed on me Having thus spoken he commanded the Duke of Lâ—iazza to take care that they might be accommodated in with all things necessary and so passing on he went into the forrest where he tarried till night amidst all the pleasures that hunting can afford The next day being paâ—â— with much impatience by these yong Lords they were all armed in white after the fashion of new Knights took their oaths before the Emperour and having received their swords from the beautifull Empresse Richarda and the Infanta Rozaliana her sister who were there present for to do them honour they went presently to dinner to be the sooner ready for the jousts Now was the feast ended and the yong Knights with some impatience called for their helmets when as a Dwarf came into the Hall who kneeling down before the Emperour thus spake Sovereign Monarch of the Parthians the two black Knights whose names with good reason slies about the World desiring to bring some addition to the magnificence of your Triumphs do most humbly beseech that you will be pleased they may maintain with the lance against all commers that love gives all the contentments in the world and that men cannot propose a more worthy object to themselves then that of so powerfull a deity The condition shall be very easie Those which shall be unhorsed with the Lance may not require a further triall with the sword every one may win six courses the conquerors shall have nothing but the glory of the action nor the vanquished but the constraint to acknowledge that to sigh for the favour of a mistris is not to be inthralled This is Sir the intention of the black Knights touching that you may be pleased to let me know your resolution to the end that if your Majesty allow of them they may instantly appear in the Lists Their enterprise said Spheramond is too generous to be denied the liberty they desire If they come they shall obliâ—â— me to them and I will promise the performance of the conditions you have propounded but you may advise them not to forget any thing necessary behind them at their lodging for heer you see new Knights that will not give them leave long to repose themselves These yong Lords taking this the Emperours answer for an especiall favour gave him most humble thanks for the good opinion he had of them and having fitted themselves with all things requisite they mounted on horsback to go and incounter the black Knights who having set themselves at one end of the Lists had already laid fowr of the most remarkable Knights of the Parthian Empire on the ground the addresse of these Knights extreamly contenting them each one in particular resolved to incounter them so that Florian of Sobradisa and Tristâ—r his brother
of his birth and that Florisel and Sidonia were extreamly afflâ—cted with sorrow for this losse These displeasing news caused great trouble in the Court all pastimes ceased complaints were renewed and every one grieved according to the measure of his love the new Knights desirous to shew their affection to the services of the house of Greece immediatly armed themselves and comming altogether before the Emperour they besought his permission to go in search both of this yong Prince and of the adventures of the World which request being granted them they departed the same day with a resolution to run over all Countries rather then to fail of their enterprise but their design was to no purpose for the Enchantresse Creonda in whose hands he was and that had not taken him away but only for that she foresaw by her Art that of her daughter Grisolita he should beget a Prince excelling all of his time had so enchanted him as by the sequel of this Discourse will appear that none but Alcander could know the place of his retreat or be able to contribute to his deliverance The Court being in mourning for this bad news and for the absence of so many Princes Spheramond had no contentment left him but in the conversation of Silvan who not willing to abandon him so soon endeavoured to make the time more pleasing and his losse lesse sensible unto him Howbeit forced by the necessity of his affairs he was constrained to depart together with his wife for to reduce the people of Lidia to their duties who seeing neither King nor Queen rendred but little obedience to their governours and began to rise in tumultuous maner Their departure made the Court very solitary but the Emperour knowing how to live every where with contentment never troubled himself with the consideration of so many losses as he had endured and began to attend the care of his subjects when a second advertisement gave him a fresh cause of discontent CHAP. XVIII The adventures of the new Knights after they had left the Court the Emperour Spheramond is advertised that the King of Canabea raised a mighty army to invade the Empire of Trebisond FOrtune is seldome satisfied with one attempt upon us she redoubles her assaults to see if she can overthrow us and never shews her face if we do not force her to it by the greatnes of our courage The losse of the little Clarisel of Guindaia not able to suffice her rage she would needs once again arm the Pagans for the ruine of those brave Princes who shewed still the same countenance in their afflictions as they had carried in their prosperity and were not troubled for being crost since it did but render their vertues the more eminent by ministring to them occasions of glory the new Knights going out at severall parts to seek adventures in the world Russian riding along with Esquilan on a plain hard by the Sea perceived a damsell flying from a tall old man that pursued her with a sword in his hand As I live said he at the view of so discurteous an act I would never have believed that a man so neer his grave could have done a thing so unworthy of himself Let us by no means leave this maid in this distresse wherfore put on I pray you that we may free her from the hands of this barbarous man which without doubt will never spare her being so inraged as he is Heerwith they set spurs to their horses but make what haste they could they were not able to overtake them before they came to the sea side where they saw the wench leap in a Bark and the old man after her who having taken her by the hair made as though he would have cut off her head The Knights much grieved for that they could not aid her in regard the Bark was put off a little from land they approached to them as neer as they could and thinking to alay his fury with intreaties began to conjure him to consider what he himself was and how little honour he should gain by dipping his hands in the bloud of a woman I know very well answered he what every man ows to his reputation but withall I am not ignorant of the content that revenge affoords This woman cannot escape death for satisfaction of the wrong I have received from her except you grant me one boon You shall have it said Esquilan whatever it be that you desire of us Come aboard this Bark then replied he and go with me I shall have time enough to let you know what I will require of you Wherupon not staying for further entreaty they presently lighted from their horses and by the advice of the old man leaving them upon the strand they entred that little Bark which without attending any more lading began to cut the waves with incredible speed The Knights much amazed to see themselves caried away in that sort looked round about them and seeing no Sailers for the steering and conducting this vessell they desired to be informed by what means it was done but they found no body to satisfie them therin the old man and the damsell no longer appearing nor any thing to be found in the Bark but two little Beds and a Table furnished with exquisit meat Verily said Esquilan this is one of the wise Alquifs or the unknown Vrganda's devices but never credit me if for fear of any inchantment I forbear now to eat of this meat wherwith he drew to the Table and finding a paper upon it he opened it and therin read these words Excellent Princes do not wonder at the novelties you have seen this day all is done for your glory and we have with Art disposed you to follow the influences of the Stars for which our care of you you will then give us thanks when as you shall with the hazard of your lives give us that you have this day promised us If I had not said Russian oftentimes heard of the like incounters I should be somwhat mistrustfull and could not touch this meat fearing the malice of some enemy but I entend not to be more cautelous then your self with that they sat down and finding the meat agreeable to their palâ—t they fell to with a good appetite and their repast being ended with thanks to heaven which never leaves his without relief in their necessities they saw a Dwarf come in to them who shewing a spirit much greater then his body thus spake unto them My Lords it is time for you to rowse up your selves and worthily to employ these arms you wear Heerwith they arose and looking about them they perceived two ships grapled together in one of the which were two Knights invironed with about twenty souldiers and two horrible Giants that charged them with such fury as they were amazed to see what resistance they made Their Bark laying them aboord just as they had laced on their helmets they leapt into that ship wherin
thirty paces broad in one corner wherof upon some stones raised in form of an altar was a fire burning making a stand to look about him he discovered two damsels comming one of the which kneeling down before him thus spake If it be by the order of that barbarous man who now desires to glut himself with my bloud as he hath heertofore done with my embraces if it be I say from Ormand that you come do not Sir make me languish any longer my bosome is ready to receive the blow of mercy and it will lesse grieve me to die by your hands then once more to come in the sight of so wicked and base a man Fortune hath brought me hither said Russian taking her by the hand to raise her from the ground not with an intent to shorten your daies and much lesse to put you into the power of a man that you have no cause to love Be not therfore afraid but rather be confident in my company and be assured Gentlewoman that I will have an account of the wrong that hath been done you if you will make use of my arms and let me know the occasion of your retirement to this desolate place so far remooved from all conversation of men Good Knight replied she my misery is past remedy and the aid you proffer me can no otherwise serve but only to oblige me unto you for your good will yet will I not be so little sensible of the favour you do me as to deny your curiosity the relation of my misfortunes Let us sit down then upon this bed of leaves that so you may with the more ease attend to my discourse Me thinks said Russian we should be much better abroad where the clear day will more content us then this darknes the rather for that a Gentleman my friend who staies without for guard of the entry of this darksome lodging may perhaps be discontented with our longer stay All places are to me indifferent said she and if I desired to stay you in this cave it was because I thought it a fitter place for the rehearsall of my woes then any other whatsoever But I am well contented to go out with you that the Sun which for these fowr and twenty daies hath not troubled my sight may let you behold in my face the signs of a most extream sorrow wherupon going forth they went and set them down in the shadow of certain trees where she began to speak in this maner Do not I beseech you expect a long discourse although the history of my misfortunes be infinit for I will not Sir abuse your patience but succinctly let you know the cause of my dispair I was not five weeks since Countesse of Haute fleur rich and beautifull enough at least as I thought to cause my self to be beloved of any now ugly and more likely to fright people with my looks then to beget the least affection in their hearts and deprived of all conveniences in the world but what these trees do yield me for my sustenance and that of this maid which keeps me company who not being ingratefull for some favours received of me in the time of my prosperity would needs bear a share in my miseries to comfort me This is a strange change and such as men might well wonder at if they did not know that fortune disposeth of all things and that she daily maketh greater metamorphosis but I will not lay the blame on her because I must confesse that all the fault was wholly in my self for if I had not given credit to the words of Ormand a yong Prince and one of my neighbours I might still have flourished amidst the delights which those of my condition daily enjoy This Knight valiant of his person and fully compleat in all those perfections that can render a Gentleman commendable if he had been sensible of a lawfull affection happening to be in a forrest where I intended to spend some daies in hunting was assailed by fowr Knights who pressed him very hard and without question would have laid him in his grave if I had not chanced to come in during their combat but unable to endure the sight of so unequall a party I went to his enemies and curteously desired them for my sake to forbear and to consider that they much wronged the order of Knighthood but they were so obstinatly bent as they would not give ear to me wherwithall being displeased I commanded three Knights of my followers to take the busines in hand which they did so fortunately as in lesse then half an howr these arrogants were cut in pieces That execution done I was going towards Ormand whom I had never seen before meaning to invite him home with me to have his wounds looked unto but he prevented me and lifting up his cask said unto me You have Madam nobly preserved my life which doubtlesse was otherwise in my enemies power but I desire you will be pleased to imploy it in your service and not to spare it whensoever you shall think me fit for any design of yours I am heer without all acquaintance and find my self constrained to presse yet once more upon your goodnesse beseeching you to spare me one of your servants for to guide me where I may have my bloud stanched which runs out at three or fowr wounds I should but half oblige you if I should leave you in the estate you are in but Sir I will make you see that I esteem more of your life then you think for wherfore go along with me and you shall find all that is needfull for you wherupon departing with all speed we got in lesse then an howr to Heautefleur where I put him into the hands of a Physician that within a month so recovered him as he was able to bear arms during which time I visited him daily and finding him to be of a most gentle cariage I conceived a certain kind of good will towards him which converted into a violent love assoon as he had told me who he was and that he had sworn to affect me more then all the world beside I will not heer tell you the pleasure I received in hearing him sigh nor the contentment I had in the praises he gave me for taking all his actions for testimonies of his love and my merit I felt such infinit sweetnes in his conversation as all other delights whatsoever were nothing to me in comparison therof To what end should I spin out this discourse any longer Opportunities being fit and our passions violent I yielded him up that which I ought to have held most dear under the assurance of a thousand oaths that he made me to marry me publikely when he had craved the consent and permission of his Father whose authority he held not fit to be contemned which seeming to me very reasonable I gave him leave to return into his Country after he had tarried five months with me hoping
the other which done he spake before them all in this fashion My Lords you have lived many yeares and the defects that use to accompany a life subject to crosses would ere long bereave you of that heroicall vigor which hath made you triumphant in so many enterprises if out of my love I had not found out certain secrets able to restore you to the flower of your age to preserve in you that admirable force you have and to keep you from decaying with age till threescore yeares be past see heer bathes prepared for that purpose go into them I pray you and come not out of them till the hearbs which were gathered in their due seasons have perfected their operation on you Vrganda is under the other Arch with the Princesses that accompanied you hither they shall enjoy the same prerogative with you and that wise Lady shall render them the same beauty which they enjoyed when they were twenty years old as I will restore you to the estate that you were in at your five and twentieth yeare of your age At these words they stripped themselves without replying and went into the bathes whilst all the young Princes that followed them wondered to see the fountaine and the place about it covered with a thick mist wherupon they looked one upon another without speaking a word and would have gone into it to know what was become of that troop if Cassandra had not told them that all was done for the glory of the Grecian family and that the time to require the freeing of those great personages was not yet come And whether it be so or no read I pray you in this writing They then looking a little forward saw a columne of Iasper upon which hung a table of Brasse with these words engraven it it Death is threatned to all those that are so aâ—dacioâ—â— as to approch thee cloud of secrets Nor shall this cloud be dispelled till the young Lion comes out of his den then shall the hidden treasures be discovered and the old creatures having changed their skins shall behold the Sunne again to the glory of their young ones Now on my life said Dorigel addressing himselfe to Cassandra if the faithfull services you have done us did not well secure me I would either die presently or my fortune should be the same with these Princes But since it were a crime to be jealous of you I will have patience expecting the time wherein the heavens will restore us what we this day have lost This losse gently replied Cassandra shall not hinder your pleasures nor shall you so much as ressent it for the present as you shall ere long finde it the more comfortable to you Wherefore let us returne unto the palace and continuing our former triumphs and feasting make it appeare that if need be we can master even Fortune her selfe The freenesse of these words and the grace of her pronouncing them having somewhat quieted those Knights they returned unto the Palace determining not to stir from thâ—nce in ten dayes space and in the mean time to employ themselves in some vertuous exercises CHAP. XXXVIII Prigmaleon transported by the violence of his desires discovers his affection to Polixena Her answer WHilst Russian meditates on means to see Agriclea whose absence very much troubled him that Dorigel with the rest sought to divert their cares by noble exercises Prigmaleon entertaining himselfe with his private thoughts and delighting onely in solitary places told the trees that the occasion of his disquiet was an extream apprehension that Polixena who held all his desires engaged would refuse to accept of his affection as being most unworthy of her merit bestowing his thoughts then in this manner and not daring to reveal his sufferings to the Princesse he expected till love should take pity of his grief and that good fortune should send him some help howbeit better considering that confidence was to bring him content and that where fear was there could be no hope he resolved to open his heart upon the first occasion that should present it self to seek a remedy for his grief some more speedy way then by silence Beleeving then that this was his best course he began to frame a speech in his minde to that purpose when as a confused sound of voices talking together put him out of his imaginations whereupon he rose up presently from under the trees where he was laid and looking round about he spied Polixena with seven or eight young Ladies that were going to take the air of the garden O me said he How luckily doth this fall out It seems that love doth favour my designe now is the time wherein my courage must appear if Polixena rejects me a resolute death shall free me from so many pains which will be far more honourable for me then a languishing life This ardour carrying him on he came to his Mistris thinking that he should have his tongue as free as his thought but after a Good-even he stuck fast and leaving his eyes to discover his passion he was not able to utter a word Polixena who took this timorousnesse for a signe of his love seeing him in that case took him by the hand and said My Lord I beleeve we have surprised you for the amaze you are in makes me imagine so much Do not wonder Madam answered he at seeing me disordered in this encountring you the weaknesse of my sight is not able to endure the glittering of so many beauties as I behold This excuse said Polixena is none of the best for if I had the power that you speak of I should indifferently trouble as many as look on me but none complaines of me save you and your palenesse declares that it is some secret malady which you will not have not knowne It is true replied he all trembling that a secret griefe doth consume me But Madam I should have just reason to blame my want of courage and to impute all my vexation to my cowardice if I should not seek for a remedy when it is in my power to do it I have suffered infinitely since I saw you and the powerfull charms of your eyes have left me nothing that is mine but my desire to doe you service You may say I am too bold that a greater respect belongs to your greatnesse and that I ought to have endured my suffering without declaring it But alas I do not speake but by the impulsion of a passion that forces me to it Love hath untied my tongue which you saw was dumbe when you came hither and that is it which now constraines me to beseech you that you will be as sensible of pitty as I am of affection If I had not given you occasion to speake coldly replied Polixena I should be displeased with this your discourse Maidens in these daies and especially those of my quality doe not take a liberty of engaging themselves without the consent of their fathers neither
not contribute to mine own safety answered she Will my presence avail this Knight say you It is most just that I give him this small satisfaction seeing he contemns his own life to save mine let us go then when you please but with this assurance that for everv drop of bloud his enemies sword shall draw from him so many tears shall I shed so being attended by certain Ladies she appeared upon the walls just at the time when Rozalmond being come to Fulmigadan said unto him Knight it is time for you to say that Armazia is too fair to fall into the power of a man so ill made as your self she hath sent me hither to free you of the error you are in that she may one day affect you howsoever her father hath been constrained by fear to promise the contrary but thinking that these words would not be very pleasing unto you I am come provided to answer you other wayes What do I hear said Fulmigadan in wonderfull fury doth Armazia disdain the honour of my favour and do I see my self defied by one man alone O ye Gods How will I be revenged on her and you for this affront but thou insolent Knight shalt begin the dance for bringing me so harsh a message Saying so he unsheathed a long and heavie Scimiter wherewithall he struck at Rozalmonds head but he observing his action threw away his lance and laying his hand suddenly on his sword opposed his left arm to the fury of the blow which was so great that it made him bow to the crupper of his horse with extreme pain but he presently setled himself again and desiring to be revenged he struck him with such fury that the Pagan receiving the blow upon his shield thought he had been under the ruines of a tower overthrown by lightning and indeed he so astonished him that had it not been for his horse that carried him away Rozalmond who had his sword aloft might easily have vanquished and slain him This first blow amazing Armazia inflamed her with the love of this Knight and mâ—de her wish that his enemy might never come to himself again but seeing him re-settle himself in his saddle and with a world of madnesse make head against his adversary that pursued him her bloud congealed in her vains with the apprehension of so mortall a blow as the inâ—initenesse of his choler did threaten â—nd in truth the rage of the Pagan was such that Rozalmonda arms though the best of the world could not have resisted the fury of the blow but lightly avoiding it and making use of the opportunity he charged full upon the body of Fulmigadan which he opened and gave passage to his bloud to issue forth in great abundance Thus the battell waxing every minute hotter and hotter the ground was strewed with pieces of their armor the grasse was died with their bloud the skie enlightened with the fire which sparkled from their helmets and the encounter of their swords If the force of Fulmlgadan seemed monstrous no lesse admirable appeared the addresse of his adversary both in abating and shifting his blows briefly this combat brought a generall astonishment and every one expected the end of it by some dreadfull blow In the mean time the two combatants charged one another with extream fury and taking no time to breathe so quick were their strokes that their swords were neverseen but in the air or on their armour Fulmigadan far more enraged then can be exprest and striking with passion and not with judgement railed against heaven and earth for producing a man so puissant and couragious as to be able to withstand his force that made the whole world to shake and seeing that four hours were already spent since the combat first began and yet had gotten no advantage of his enemy he gave such desperate blows that made Rozalmond amazed at his fury but being no lesse incensed to see that in the beginning of his arms the victory was so long disputed in the presence and for the preservation of Armazia to whom his soul was so far ingaged he resolved either to die or suddenly to vanquish clasping his sword then fast in his hand he began to presse the Pagan with such terrible blows that his forces seemed to increase with his travell whereat Fulmigadan was so transported with rage that he took his Scimiter in both his hands and discharged it so furiously upon Rozalmonds helmet as it made him fall backward upon the crupper of his horse casting out great quantity of bloud at his mouth and nose whereupon every one thought him to be dead and the Emperour commanded his Knights to assail his enemy who seemed to be all covered over with bloud and dust but even as the troops were about to march they beheld Rozalmond raise himself up and make towards Fulmigadan with such horrible fury that he who contemned the dreadfull thunder of the Gods began to fear seeing him arrive with so much rage and indeed the blow which he discharged on his head was such that it cleaved him down to the very shoulders overthrowing him stark dead to the ground This victory thus generously obtained brought a world of contentment to the Emperor but much more to the beautifull Armazia who not able to contain her joy so published the praises of this Knight as if she had neither voice nor speech but for his glory howbeit every one thinking that she did it in regard of the interest which she had in the death of Fulmigadan it was not supposed that her love made her speak in that maner but she could not possibly contain her self in the excesse of her passion for seeing Rozalmond come with some wounds upon him she made it appear that she would be partaker of his pain and not enduring to stay till the Emperour had entertained and caressed him she went and with an amorous countenance asked of him whether his wounds were dangerous Madam answered he I am not so ill but that if I were to begin another combat for your service I would most gladly undertake it The Gods said she forbid such another accident you have done so much this day that your name shall never die in this Empire so long as the world doth last but I fear I shall abuse your patience if I do not permit your wounds to be visited wherefore I will leave you having first entreated you to make use of all things heer as if you were in your own house the obligation wherein we stand ingaged unto you gives you this power and commands me to seek out the means to shew my self acknowleding in particular which assure your self I will do in the mean time have regard to your health so with most amourous looks she departed leaving him more contented with the care she had of him then with a Monarchie The Emperours Chyrurgeons being arrived would have dressed his wounds but Cassandra desiring them to leave that unto her she caused
much by the charms of her beauty as he is otherwise held by those of her mother Creonda then softly retiring and hiding themselves behinde the trees they let this Nymph passe who seeing Clarisel asleep put her mouth presently to his and finding that this touch did not awake him she said somewhat aloud with a sigh Alas It seems your cares are not like unto mine you take your rest whilst I am disquieted your eies are closed whereas mine are covered with teares sleep no longer dear Clarisel but come and take part of my pain and let us seek the means to divert the storm wherewithall we are threatned At these words Clarisel arose and seeing Crisolita's cheeks all bedewed with tears he said unto her Whence comes this change What cause have you to look so sad and why do you thus complain Because the end of our content is come said she for my mother told me in the morning that your Destâ—nies will not permit you any longer abode heer and that a Knight will arrive very suddenly who shall carry you from hence judge then whether I have not reason to weep and just occasion to wish my self out of my life for what pleasure can I take in the world if I may not see you my dear heart all delights will be trouble some to me my griefe will make those joyes that would even ravish others distastfull unto me and the memory of our imbraces will torment me when I am deprived of the hope any more to enjoy such happinesse I do not think said Clarisel that any man can take me from hence against my will wherefore do not you afflict your self in this sort for be assured my love is too much for me to forsake you so but I wonder that your mother who can stay the Sun in his course force even the devils themselves and do what else she please against the law of nature doth not shew her self more carefull of our good by impeaching the arrivall of this Knight The Ordinances of heaven are inviolable answered Crisolita for you may be confident that she hath imploied the utmost of her skill and yet cannot come to know how or by whom you are to be carried from hence which makes me conjecture that a Magician more cunning then her self hath undertaken the care of this affair wherefore I must resolve to lose you and so I will but first I desire to obtain this promise from you which wil be infinite comfort to me in your absence that you wil alwaies love me and return hither sometimes unto me Let the Gods who are judges of our thoughts said Clarisel refuse me in my greatest occasions if ever I forget the favours you have done me Madam they are of too much esteem with me and I am more sensible of benefits then to affect the name of ingratefull but since the Destinies will separate us let us make use of the time we yet injoy and by a thousand new delights assure our love against the common weaknesse of an absence Then beginning their caresseâ— with a million of kisses I doubt they would have proceeded farther had not Rozalmond whose mouth peradventure began to water broken the bough of a tree to give them a tacite notice that they were seen The lovers surprised with this noise arose straightway from the ground where they lay and running towards the Castle got immediatly out of sight whereat Cassandra laughing turned to the Prince and said Behold Sir a testimony of that power called Love which oftentimes carries us into extreamities not permitting us to consider of things but let that passe you are now to imploy your sword for the rendring of a man to the world who questionlesse will prove very necessary in it Let us go Madam said Rozalmond for I shall most willingly undertake this enterprise and receive infinite content to serve mine unkle upon so worthy an occasion using some speed then they arrived neer to the Castle where under the first gate they encountered a man of a goodly stature who seeing Rozalmond advance said unto him Knight you cannot enter heer unlesse you overcome me wherefore let us try unto whom Fortune will be most favourable I will not commit such an errour said Rozalmond as to trifle out the time unprofitably in talk so that using no farther speech they presently charged one another with two such mighty blows that thereby either of them knew the force of his enemy the Knight of the Bridge as valiant and couragious as could be offended his adversary and defended himself with marvellous dexterity but he was exceedingly vexed for that his sword could not fasten on Rozalmonds armour who giving him sometimes a thrust at the brest then a down right blow on the shield cut all his arms in pieces and drew the bloud from divers parts of his body which put him in such a rage that not regarding his life he struck such blows as oftentimes made Rozalmond see Stars though the Sun were but in the midst of his course The combat continued in this manner very cruell and dangerous each imploying his uttermost force especially the Knight of the Bridge who being mad for that he saw no bloud on his enemies armour and resolved either to vanquish or to die he set both his hands to his sword and struck his enemy so rudely on the helmet that he made him stoop with one knee to the earth whereat he was so mightily incensed that rising in fury he discharged such a terrible blow on the Knight of the Bridges shield that having divided it in two he made him to stagger and put both his hands to the ground whereon questionlesse he had fallen had not the shame of being overcome and the apprehension of death caused him quickly to get up again Renewing the fight then with more cruelty then before they held out three long hours without any shew of taking breath but Rozalmond who began to enter into fury and mad at the resistance which he found in his enemy gave him so dangerous a blow upon the helmet that had not his sword turned in his hand his head had been cloven in pieces howbeit not being able to support the violence of such a stroke he tumbled to the ground as if he had been dead This fall without doubt had brought a great deal of contentment to the victour if he had not pitied the misfortune of so strong and valiant a Knight but desiring much to save him he stepped instantly unto him and unlâ—â—ed his helmet to see whether he were in case to receive any assistance which at the first he greatly doubted perceiving his face to be covered all over with bloud howbeit not to omit any thing that might serve for his preservation he intreated Cassandra to wipe him and to employ her utmost skill in Chyrurgerie for to recover him if there were any hope of it and so not stopping at this first victory he went on with his sword in his
hand resolved either to see the end of the adventure or to die in the attempt approaching then to the second gate he was about to have knocked when he perceived Crisolita coming forth followed by the old Creonda leading a furious serpent of the strangest form that ever was beheld in a chain who modestly making towards him said Excellent Prince it is not fit that we should longer oppose your desire or hazard your life in the claws of this serpent which is so inchanted that you could not triumph over it without a world of pain for knowing now who you are I cannot me thinks endure to see you in any extremity my love to your kinsman wills me to serve you in stead of seeking to hurt you sheath your sword then and be assured heer is none but thâ—se that will gladly receive the honor of your coÌ„mandments Madam answered Rozalmond who little expected such gentle language without dissembling I did not think to finde so facile an entrance considering the dangerousnesse of the guards but since you will free me from that labour and do also say that you love me not having any way obliged you thereunto I receive this favour with all respect and do protest to serve you so far forth as not to demand your lover of you for whose deliverance I come hither your meeknesse makes me ready to leave him to your caresses until such time as some other Knight lesse courteous and sensible of obligations shall come and pluck him from you No my Lord said Crisolita I have more love then passion and will never prefer mine own satisfaction before Clarisels glory it is time for him to see the world and pursue his fathers steps that so the Oracles which publish wonders of him may be made good Madam said Rozalmond you are as generous as fair and my unkle is most happy in your acquaintance but you shall very much oblige me to let me rid the world of so dangerous a creature as is that same your mother holds there My Lord answered Creonda we have easier waies for having kept him hitherto but onely to oppose him to the violence of such as sought after your kinsman it is in our power to famish him now that he is no longer fit for that purpose wherefore I pray you be not offended if I deprive you of this glory which you would adde to the triumphs which are due to you all your actions being so many miracles you must not be displeased then if we hinder this combat since our weaknesse and the good wil we bear you will not permit us to behold you in any danger whatsoever Madam answered Rozalmond your fair respect to me obligeth me so much that I am contented with what you please and seeing you hold it not fit for me to imploy my sword upon this serpent let us go in but see heer comes my unkle unto whom I must by any means tender my service Clarisel then arriving they entertained one another with all the demonstrations of kindnesse that might be each of them admiring the goodly presence of the other and as they were thus complementing the fair Cassandra approached who assured them that the valiant Silveriâ— of the Desert so was the good Knight named whom Rozalmond had combatted at the first gate was out of all danger whereat they were not a little joyfull and so they continued caressing one another till it was time to go to supper where they were roially entertained and from thence conducted to their chambers to take their rest after their painfull travells CHAP. VI. Clarisel of Guindaya being made Knight departed with Rozalmond Silverin of the Desert and Cassandra he becomes iâ—amoured of the fair Miralinda the French Shepherdesse the furiouâ— combat that he had against four dreadfull Giants and twenty Knights THe night being sweetly past away by every one but by Carisel and Crisolita who interrupted their usuall pleasures with an infinity of fighs and tears drawn from them by the grief to see themselves so soon to be separated each one arose with the day Clarisel put on a white armour which Creonda with her conjurations had made sufficient proof against any stroke whatsoever and withdrawing himself into a place where Creonda kept her Idols he fell to praying unto God whom he began now to know by the means of his Nephew which most part of the evening had instructed him thereabout that he would be pleased to blesse his arms for the glory of his service and the honour of his house In the mean time Crisolita well resolved for his absence since the heavens would have it so went into Rozalmonds chamber and perceiving he was not asleep approached to his beds side and kneeling down said unto him Excellent Prince I am come to importune you for a thing which I must desire to obtain of you and which I intreat you not to refuse me upon the condition that I will never alter the resolution I made yesterday Provided Madam said Rozalmond that you arise from the place where you are I will with all my heart grant whatsoever you can demand of me but this humility of yours displeases me pardon me for speaking so I being of no such recommendation in the world as to be complemented with so much submission I cannot answered Crisolita yeeld you so much honour but that you yet deserve far more howbeit since you command me to carry my self otherwise towards you I hope I shall not erre in obeying you That which I desire of you my Lord said she being risen up is that you will pleased to give Clarisel the Order to the end that the memory of being made Knight by so excellent a hand may render him worthy the renown which his father hath acquired in the world for if he must go along with you I shall think my self happy that he may take courage from your presence to combat bravely whensoever fortune shall offer him the occasion in your voiage Madam answered Rozalmond the merit of your beauty obliged me to respect you before but I never esteemed you as I do now nor was perswaded that it was possible any woman could love so generously as you have done which makes me once more to say that mine unkle is happy in your affection seeing you prefer glory before your own satisfaction and his honour before the contentment you might have in him you desire to have him Knighted if he be ready your pleasure shall be presently fulfilled You shall finde him all armed answered she and when your leisure will permit my mother shall wait upon you to conduct you to the Temple of our Gods whom for his sake I utterly renounce whither I will go with Cassandra that my prayers being conjoined with hers may the better obtain from heaven those graces which are requisite to so sacred an Order Departing then with a very low obeysance she went to seek out Clarisel who observing as much love in her patience as he had
again with the more grace Clarisel that beheld her through the trees was ravished in the contemplation of such wonderfull beauty but apprehending a greater content in her conversation he went towards her leaving Alcidas behind The noise which he made treading upon some leaves drew Miralinda suddenly to divide her hair that so she might with the lesse impediment look about her she was somewhat amazed seeing a Knight so goodly and of so gallant a grace to appear but accompanying her actions with an extraordinary discretion she presently rose up and making him a low reverence demanded what chance had conducted him to that place My passion brought me hither answered he for to tell you fair shepherdesse that you are not to marvell hearing me truly to sigh for you though our conditions seem to be so different Love doth greater miracles and the wonders which I see in your eies shall alwaies excuse me before the severest Iudge that can be Look said she no whit abashed how a silly shepherdesse may be jeered no doubt Sir I have cause to complain of fortune for giving me no better a being but withall I must praise her for sending me into the world with so much judgement as to know how to put the difference that is requisit between your greatnes and my poverty which forbids me to be perswaded that ever I can merit the honour you would do me I am without name without parents and have nothing els to relie upon this day in the world then the only goodnes of an old shepherdesse who doth bring me up upon condition that I shall feed her flocks in regard whereof I will never beleeve that you love me but to undo me which I will avoid if I can and will wisely conserve that which can make me live happily in my unhappines Now if you fondly suppose with them who think that promotion may one day perswade me to accept of the advantages they propound unto me without doubt you will be deceived and lose your labour for at length you shall know that the desire of greatnes shall never prevail with me If you take feigning for truth answered Clarisel without doubt you will intreat me as you have done all those which have hitherto presented themselves before you but if you please to make use of your reason you will discern the difference that is to be made between my affection and their passions I love you without desiring any thing of you but what honour will permit you to confer on me and that which I most wish for at this present is that you will suffer me to live by you with the liberty to keep a flock in another habit then this I have on and that you will not refuse to see both in my respect and in my actions the integrity of this love Provided answered she that your quality be not known heer which at last might make me unhappy and that you will live modestly according to your promise I will never oppose your desire for I will give my self the glory of your captivity and beleeve that your intentions are as sincere as I am innocent Beauteous shepherdesse answered Clarisel kissing her hand whether she would or no I receive this grace from you with more satisfaction then if you had made me Monarch of the whole earth You command discretion in my actions you will have my affection to be unfeigned and my vows inviolable such is my desire to and I wish that thunderbolts from heaven may strike me if ever you see me sigh otherwise then you would have me and from henceforward I will approve of your anger and my banishment if I give you any occasion to abridge these favours which I hold so dear Well said Miralinda our accord is half made but can you counterfet the shepherd well The best in the world answered he and if I had the habit now I verily think you would take me for one at leastwise I should accommodate my self far better to the cariage of a swain then one of your Lovers doth who came this way a little before you and mightily complained of your rigour It is the son of Count Moligny named Cesander answered she who questionles wishes me well but his humor is intolerable he is jealous when he beholds me cast an eie upon any shepherd he importunes me continually and is alwaies chanting unto me the greatnes of his race as if I were obliged to love him for that only consideration rather then for the merit of his person and renders himself so odious in his waies that I cannot endure to look upon him which is the reason I flie him as I would do a wolf But let us leave off this discourse I pray you and tell me how you lighted on this place The destinies conducted me hither said he and from their providence is this good fortune of mine derived Then making a brief relation of his adventures of his condition of the beginning of his love and of the violent passions he had undergone since that time he much amazed her put her almost out of hope of ever enjoying him but setting up her rest upon a contrary opinion she sweetly replied thus Verily I am of the same faith with you that there is a kind of fare in our affections for if you were stricken in love by my picture I was no lesse wounded therewith by yours which I saw not many daies past in this very place it being shewed to me by a damsell who told me that within a while I should no longer be mine own wherefore I do not marvell now that I have not been more difficult to receive you seeing the heavens governed my thoughts and disposed of my will I acquaint you with this secret not to give you more boldnes lesse respect but to let you know that we are not to falsifie the effect of so many promises if we will live contented since it is the only mean to assure you those felicities which you hope for in me and to render me the satisfaction that I expect from your thraldome Fear not fairest shepherdesse answered he wonderfully contented with these assurances fear not that I will ever passe the bounds of your commandements I feel such infinite joy in being yours that I am resolved to die a thousand deaths before I will give you the least occasion to complain of me and to testifie how far I am from abusing your favour I will depart if you please with promise to be heer again in two daies for to continue my services unto you Go my shepherd said she for so will I call you heerafter and let Love whom we begin to adore favour our designs Heerewith Clarisel kissing her hand again went to find out Alcidas who seeing him return with so merry a countenance asked him if he should be happy Yes said he if heaven do not oppose mine enterprise Miralinda wishes me well and trusting in my promises makes me hope for that
menaces No doubtles nor shall I ever be in quiet till I have put my self in case to serve you if by chance any thing should arrive unto you beyond expectation But what can you do heerin said Miralinda a little troubled Keep my self ready upon all occasions answered he and have my horse and my arms in my lodging for I never told you yet my fairest shepherdesse that I am a Knight and son to the great Emperour of Greece Florisel of Niquea a thousand times more satisfied in being yours then in the possession of all the Kingdoms of the World O God! said Miralinda what tears will these words one day cost me and what sorrow will this great inequality make me endure I would your condition my Clarisel were lower or mine more eminent I might then expect that which my judgement doth now prohibit me to hope for No no said he do not imagin my excellent shepherdesse that ever this difference shall alter my resolution or that it shall one day cause me to despise that which you see me so adore at this present I do not love you for the consideration of any means that you may have but for the sole merit of your beauty by which I swear in the sight of heaven whom I call to witnes that I will alwaies hold you as dear as mine own life and that I will never have other wife then your self if so be you wil be contented with my fortune Relie upon these assurances I beseech you and do not kill me with greeving at your doubt of my faith I will give said she with a cheerfuller countenance my Lord I will give more to your oath then to my fear for you would not take pleasure to beguile the simplicity of a maid that loves you with passion howsoever you shall permit me if you please to carry my self with much more respect to you then formerly I have done to the end that my humility may render me worthy of your affection It would be the utter undoing of all our pleasures answered he if you take away the liberty of our actions wherefore we will live if you please as hitherto we have done But my shepherdesse shall we not seal these promises of marriage with some kisses It is reason said she that I should grant you this little since you have reserved nothing but to give me all And my Lord added she after she had amorously joined her lips to his I would I might give you sweeter and greater contentments verily you should then perceive that I am most sensible of your passions but mine honour doth forbid me the granting of any thing more and wills me humbly to intreat you to be contented with this untill such time as the destinies have resolved to make us happy You shall never see me swerve from the respect which you require in my actions said Clarisel but my shepherdesse seeing this article is concluded according to our desire let us return to our former talk Have you not observed the absence of Cesander He hath not appeared these three daies and I am confident he hath some dangerous plot upon you induced thereunto by the favourable intertainment you have given me and by the neglect of the services which he hath so often tendered unto you Assure you Sir said Miralinda that loving none but you I never thought of others and not to lie to you Cesander was quite out of my head but now I call to mind that I have not seen him a good while which makes me approve of your suspition wherefore we shall do well to stand upon our guard For my self said Clarisel I resolve to go presently to Alcidas house where all my furniture is ready but in regard I may not absent my self without your leave I desire you to grant it me Go said she weeping and all the Protectors of our woods be propitious to your designs as for me I will passe away the rest of this day by entertaining my thoughts with the favors which the heavens have conferred on me in your affection Clarisel then departing arrived within a few howrs after at Alcidas Castle who by chance was gone the very same day upon a certain enterprise and conferring a long time with Orizenna recounted unto her the pleasantnes of his life the contentment which he had in the continuall beholding of so lovely a shepherdesse and commending her disposition that was far from all kind of rudenes he swore that he had never seen any thing so worthy the affection of the greatest Prince insomuch that he made Orizenna in love with Miralinda and extreamly desirous to see her This discourse having continued till the evening he caused his horse and arms to be brought him and taking leave of Orizenna unto whom he had declared his dream he returned to Bellombre wherein desiring to enter in by dark because he would not be discovered in that equipage he got him to bed hoping to sleep better then he had done the night before howbeit the exceeding desire he had to see his shepherdesse again not suffering him to take much rest made him rise by break of day to wait for her at the Elms but she that had no lesse unquietnes was there first so that incountring in this maner they renewed their salutes a thousand times and sitting down on the grasse gave account of their thoughts in such amorous words that they were able no doubt to make them live contented in the midst of infinit crosses having sat then a long time thus sweetly entertaining one another they rose up for to gather their sheep together which were scattered but they were eased of that labour and remained somewhat amazed to behold two yong unknown shepherds do them that office and that advancing themselves both at one instant fell upon their knees before Miralinda and said unto her Fair shepherdesse the fame of you which filleth our hamlets with wonder and astonishment having stricken this shepherds heart and mine both at a time we revealed our passions one to the other at one instant but with so much ill fortune that a marvellous great friendship which tied us together like brothers was suddenly converted into hatred jealousie not suffering either of us to indure a rivall so that in brief after we had reciprocally and in vain intreated each other to yeeld up his pretensions we came three or fowr times to blows alwaies giving over with a like advantage and questionles we had seen the end of one another if our parents grieved with this enmity had not laboured to accord us but the prize of our quarrell being great each one stood firm in his purpose so as the assistance of our friends had been without effect had they not had recourse to the oracle which told them that our remedy lay in your hands we are come therfore fair shepherdesse that you may pronounce in favour of the one or the other of us Our conditions are alike our states equall there
do though I would and if my honour would permit me to leave following of arms I would not stir from you whilst I have a day to lâ—ve howsoever you shall never see me mount on horsback but by your commandment I mistrusted said she that I should finde the defect in you which ordinarily accompanies the weaknesse of men who oftentimes suffer themselves to be carried away with new objects but your vow hath relieved that doubt and perswaded me to beleeve that you will be as perfect in love as you are in arms which makes me resolve to care more for your contentment then my own reputation This discourse having lasted somewhat long they walked in where a sumptuous supper waited ready for them on the table that done they had entertained themselves with some pleasing discourse had not Melania desirous to loose no time feigned some little indisposition thereby to send her family to bed Being then alone with a chambermaid whom she had made the Secretary of her thoughts and perceiving a generall silence over all the house she accomodated her hair in a delicate manner perfumed it with a most exquisite odour and putting on a cloak of white satten over her smock she went forth without any light but that of her eies and slipt secretly into Alcidamants chamber who seeing her come with such a grace lept suddenly out of his bed and giving her a kisse whereby she might easily discern the greâ—tnesse of his passion he laid her immediatly between the sheets where their embraces began with all the delight that may be imagined by any one thâ—t hath had the happinesse to be at such a banquet Their first fires being extinguished they instantly re-kindled them with a million of kisses and with all the dalliance that can be used in such actions they rendered their pleasure so full that the length of the night was but a moment to their desires insomuch that they parted lesse satisfied and with much more will to meet again then before so the next night being come as they had wished for a thousand times they renewed their sport with such pleasure that Melania became with childe of a most beautifull daughter which was named Lucilea and afterwards married to Sonabel of Fenuzâ— as more at large shall be related in the prosecution of this history but to come where we left These Lovers drowned in delight thought of nothing but how to please one another Alcidamant talked no more of horses and arms Melania had forgotten her passed miseries and finding her self in the supremâ—st degree of worldly felicity had no other desire but every day to adde some grace to her actions for the contentment of her Knight Howbeit Fortune that never gives a sweet without some sowr not enduring to see them triumph over her inconstancie resolved to interrupt the course of so much happinesse and send Alcidamant away when least they expected it CHAP. XIX The Knight of the Palms arrives at the dangerous Bridge forces the guards there and bravely delivers Florimond of Canabea with a multitude of prisoners ONE moneth being sweetly past away in these sweet delights Alcidamant who desired to join the pleasure of hunting with his content in love getting to horse one morning rode into the woods of Maran attended by five or six huntsmen but wandering from his company and thinking to take a way which he saw on his left hand he perceived a little Dwarf who laying hold on his bridle said with a surly countenance Thou wilt make the Destinies liars if thou continuest long in this manner and the exercises which thou hast used of late will not give thee that glory they have promised thee Shall the bosom of a woman limit thy ambition and in stead of nobly sweating under the weight of an armour wilt thou die inglorious in her imbraces Remember Knight that fame is not acquired with unmanly courses and that God hath not given thee such incomparable force to imploy it ill With these words he vanished leaving Alcidamant in a strange confusion for reflecting on his life and judging it indeed most unbeseeming a man that desired to be in esteem with persons of worth he resolved to quit Melania and follow the voice of the Destinies howbeit finding no little difficulty therein and fearing this wenches extream love would oppose his designe he knew not whether he should depart without leave or whether it were better for him to perswade her with reasons to allow of his going This last opinion seeming fairest unto him in regard that this way he avoided all occasion she might have to reproach him for deceiving her as also any misfortune that otherwise peradventure might arise from such his neglect of her he concluded to proceed ingenuously with her and to undertake nothing but with permission being perswaded he ought that respect unto so many favours which he had received from her Pursuing then the cry of the hounds and finding as full a grown Boar as ever he had seen he presently advanced towards him and not giving him time to enter into the toils he struck him to the heart with his Boar spear whereupon commanding the huntsmen to bring him away he returned home where at first he discovered not his intent to Melania but night being come and they together in bed he began his discourse with a sigh and said unto her Madam it is with extream grief that I desire you to consider the reasons I bring for to induce you no longer to keep me heer We are not born for our selves much lesse for pleasure and idlenesse nor is a man to put on arms for once and ever after to let them hang ignobly rusting The greatest Knights that are have loved like my self but their love never kept them from seeking adventures in the world contrarily they have rendred themselves famous by an infinity of enterprises atchieved by the sole remembrance of their Mistrisses sweet Madam give me this power permit me to raise my name with your praises and that I may make the world say how France produceth excellent warriors and incomparable beauties you shall have a share in my triumphs and when you shall hear the greatnesse of my acts reported you will receive a thousand times more contentment then that you can expect from my stay I speak not thus because I am weary of your caresses they have too much charm and delight in them but truly mine honour will not suffer me to give the best part of my daies to rest and ease for so should I renmy self the fable of the world whereas I should desire to be the wonder of it You love me in regard you hold me to be vertuous should I not then be most unworthy of your favours if I should be basly effeminate Verily Madam you might justly despise me wherefore I beseech you to leave me the liberty to merit them and generously testifie that you prefer my honour before own satisfaction This way you shall oblige
me never to forget your noble carriage to me and furnishing me with occasion to commend you you will make me desire to return to serve you after I have crowned my self with a million of laurells Alas said Melania I feared nothing in the world so much as this discourse the doubt whereof hath many times interrupted the pleasure I took in you What do you think will become of me for can I live without a soul Ah no dear heart I cannot your departure will procure my death as your coming prevented it Neverthelesse I cannot blame you your reasons appear most just unto me and though my love cannot allow of them yet I must needs confesse that you ought to live for glory and not for pleasure Why will not you then said Alcidamant suffer a little since it is for my good My weaknesse answered she will not permit me so to do howbeit seeing reason commands I will resolve my self for it Go then when you please I will seek for consolation in my patience in the praises which I shall hear published of you and most of all in the promise you have made me to return hither again another day But alas I fear and with reason that your merits which make you so lovely will furnish you with as many Mistrisses as you shall meet with fair women and that you will utterly forget me Madam said Alcidamant kissing her very amorously you are then troubled to no purpose your beauty may well assure you against this fear and the knowledge of my disposition will keep you from beleeving that ever I can be so far ingratefull If I am much indebted to the favour you have done me I must add to that account as none of the least this last resolution of yours wherein I find as much love as courage and from thence draw upon my self most powerfull obligations to make me despise all kind of objects for your sake Accompanying these words then with a world of kindnes he somewhat pacified the grief of this poor afflicted creature but her sorrows renewed when she saw her self alone in bed and that she considered how her Lover was arming himself to be gone whereupon not enduring the place and desiring to enjoy the sight of him as long as possible might be she presently got forth covered only with a little cloak and went to the chamber where our Knight was and would once again have bid him adieu howbeit not able to speak but with sighs she let him go to horse somwhat pleased yet in her displeasure to have seen a few tears on his cheeks as assured testimonies of his grief so to leave her and returned to her bed where the memory of the pleasures she had there formerly enjoied refreshing her torment she continued a long time weeping whilest Alcidamant followed his good fortune This generous warrior being alone was no doubt very sensible of the sorow he had left at Maran but on the other side it gladded him asmuch that he was at liberty and bethinking him of the time which he had unprofitably spent it vexed him to see how little he had done in the commencement of his chivalry neverthelesse he comforted himself with the resolution to do such deeds of arms as should deface this fault and give occasion to all the world to talk of him Travelling then with this intention he bestowed all the rest of the day without meeting of any adventure and at night took up his lodging in a village where being at supper a yong Squire came in and with a very sad countenance desired entertainment As God help me seid he moved with pity to behold him your affliction displeases me and if you will acquaint me with the cause of it I will gladly indevour to assist you if you have need of my succour Sir said the Squire your good will doth much oblige me but alas it brings me not the satisfaction I desire and which I cannot hope for but from heaven If I be greeved it is with a great deal of reason for having to day lost my master one of the best Knights in the world I can never look for any contentment heerafter By what misfortune did you lose him said Alcidamant Through the treason of a wicked villain answered the Squire who causes a bridge to be guarded some three leaues hence for to surprise a Knight from whom it seems he hath received some displeasure but others that come there are not exempted from his trechery for assoon as ever any one is advanced upon the bridge he makes the barrier by which he entred to be shut upon him and straightway he is opposed by fowr strong Knights who stop him from passing on till such time as another that I assure you is very valiant and couragious comes and joins with them to combat him if he will not render up his arms My Master unluckily arriving there went in boldly never dreaming of any such matter but he had not made twenty steps when the Knight of whom I last mentioned came against him threatned him with present death if he would not yeeld himself to prison What do you talk of death and prison to me answered my Master By my life you shall not triumph so easily of me and as long as I am able to weild a sword no man living shall command my liberty Saying so my Master having given me his lance because the Knight was without one couragiously drew his sword and not to use many words he began a fierce combat with him who behaved himself marvellous well both in defending and charging my Master that surpassing him in valour had brought him to an ill passe having already drawn bloud from divers parts of his body when as those that guarded the barrier advanced and having charged him altogether overthrew him from his horse manacled his hands and cast him into a dungeon with a resolution to plague him thorowly for the pain he had put them unto now because their meaning is not to take any but Knights they presently turned me out and told me that I was set at liberty in hope I would find our some valiant man or other for to deliver my Master out of their hands but they shall misse of their purpose for I will never make the misfortune greatâ—r by conducting any Knight thither unles it be the valorous Fulgoran of Canabea my Masters neer kinsman or in his absence the brave bastard of Media now judge Sir whither I have not great cause to complain That you have in good faith said Alcidamant and I much commend the affection which you carry to the service of that good Knight but me thinks you should not so afflict your self by despairing of his recovery seeing it may happen that he may be delivered and to oblige you thereunto I promise you so as you will conduct me to that bridge to trie my fortune there to morrow and save you the labour of going so far to seek relief Now
Have you ever said she to those that accompanied her have you ever seen a Knight fight with more grace and who could imagin that a Giant so dreadfull should passe by the sword of one man alone It amazes me and the danger I was so lately in keeps me not from considering this combat with pleasure see you not his strange force and that he never gives blow in vaine but especially mark his addresse he diverts his enemies strokes wisely avoids the edge of his curtelax and when he is surprised he seems a towr that contemns all assaults no travell wearies him he appears stronger then he was but now briefly I observe in this Knight all that is most commendable and rare in others This beauty speaking thus in the behalf of this warrior fell insensibly in love with him rendred the fear of her companions much lesse and made them hope for speedy safety The mean while Alcidamant and the Giant hewd one another and each of them desiring the victory entreated his adversary as hardly as he could howbeit our champion seemed to have the better for the Giant grew more unweldy and the great quantity of bloud that issued from his wounds made him so weak that his blows were not discharged with that fury as at the beginning of the fight wheras Alcidamants courage augmented every minute which put the Giant into such an excesse of rage that resolving either to die or presently to vanquish he took his curtelax in both his hands thinking therwith to cleave the Knight to the very teeth but Alcidamant making his horse to leap aside the weapon did only whistle in the air and because the Giant had emploied all his strength on this blow he bowed forward even to his horses mane at which very instant of time Alcidamant having his sword aloft let it fall with such fury just on his neck as he divided his head from his body to the infinite contentment of these damsels who fell on their knees before him Valiant Knight said the fair damsell you have done miracles for our deliverance but you shall not lose the glory of it for we will publish over all France that you are the bravest gentleman that this day bears arms Lady answered he having caused her and the rest to rise you may do and say what you please but the recompence already exceeds the pains I have freed you I ought to do it and I do not think I have any way obliged you wherefore your acknowledgement me thinks is to no purpose let us therefore leave speaking of that and go to see the end of a combat wherein a Knight is ingaged with whom I was lodged when you past by the village and that discovering you before me generously began the fight On my faith said Arnidas thereupon I doubt of some ill news from him for his Squire comes galloping heer and I fear he is slain Now God defend said Alcidamant howsoever we must resolve for patience then meeting the Squire he learned that Florimond was the victor but had lost so much bloud that he was not able to sit his horse nor likely to live if he were not quickly assisted Take my Squire with you and get him to be carried to the village where we lay said Alcidamant and send with all speed for the best Chyrurgians of the Country as soon as I have placed these Ladies in safety I will come and look to him my self for his valour deserves this care He intreats you said the Squire to have as much pity of his sufferings as of his life and to indevour to make his Mistris more tractable His Mistris said Alcidamant is she one of these Ladies It is that fair one which spâ—ke to you but now said the Squire I am very glad of it said Alcidamant assure him that he is happy if my reasons may prevail with her Whereupon having dispatched away Arnides with Florimonds Squire he returned to Claristea so was that Lady named whom the Giant would have forced and having secured her against all fear which she might have conceived he walked along fair and softly with her towards a house which she had some two leagues from thence She was beautifull he was amorous she had good experience of his valour his opinion was no lesse of her merit beholding then powerfull charms in her eies and being carried with the remembrance of those two alablaster thighs which he had seen bare under the Giant as she likewise was transported with the memory of what she had seen him perform their love was reciprocall and their actions declared their thoughts sufficiently without speech she looked amorously upon him expecting to be sued unto he beheld her with the like affâ—ction and designe but their silence seeming to accuse them of too little love and too much respect they began to speak both at an instant and presently stopt each of them desiring to give that advantage to the other At length Claristea thinking she was obliged to speak first said unto him What shall we give you Sir for a recompence of so much pain I would willingly ask answered he having quite forgotten Melania and holding change no crime I would willingly ask I say that which you could have conserved without me but Madam I fear the same punishment which you gave to the temerity of a Knight who adores none in the woâ—ld but you you speak of Florimond said she for I observed that that was his Squire which lately parted from you but let us enter no farther upon that discourse I pray you I know how to put a difference between your valour and his and your merit will not suffer my favours to be shared equally betwixt you Say then What is it you desire of me That you will love me said he and that taking pity of my pain you will not make me languish in the expectation of that I so infinitely desire You would deserve that grace answered she provided that you had love enough Love enough replied he instantly Ah Madam Do not make that your excuse I beseech you your beauâ—y makes no small wounds neither doth my heart receive light impressions I can love more in a moment then another in a whole yeer I said she but such violence will not last No if I die quickly answered he I do not mean so said Claristea nor have I spoken in that manner but as fearing a change in you Never think of that Madam said Alcidamant when you know my disposition you will not accuse me thus Time will clear this point said she in the mean time hope well and beleeve I esteâ—â— highly of you Discoursing in this manner they arrived at Claristea's house where a many of Knights were assembled consulting in what sort they might recover their kinswoman out of the Giants hands but infinitely contented to see her delivered and understanding that it was the valour of the Knight of the Palms they honoured him with exceeding much respect wondering to
his head in the dust Animated with this lucky stroak he suddenly turned the point of his sword against the first that had hold of his shield and thrust it so strongly into his belly that he sent him dead to the ground with exceeding content to see himself so soon delivered from two such mighty enemies Seeing the grot then open and free he would willingly have entred in without further delay for to have seen Argenia and Clidor but fearing he should meet there with some new occasion to employ his sword he sat him down upon a stone to take a little breath howbeit the cries of these Lovers which he heard not permitting him to stay long he rose up for to go in and deliver them when as he beheld three dreadfull Giants who held seven damsels tied with cords calling to mind then that these were those cruell men which made so great a massacre of all the women that fell into their hands he came presently to his horse got up took his lance and approaching to Orfuron so was the great lover of Argenia called he said unto him Wicked monster whither leadest thou these damsels Set them instantly at liberty or defend thy self O Gods said the Giant what do I hear One man alone dares threaten me and will have me give him an account of my actions Come vile creature and receive the reward of thy temerity with that he charged his lance and encountred Rozalmond so furiously in the midst of the course that he made him bow to the crupper of his horse tumbling on the ground himself with a great wound in his side The other two seeing their brother in this plight presently advanced and surprising the Knight before he could finish his course discharged two such dangerous blows upon him that with the amazement he was in by the incounter of the lance he was like to have quit his saddle neverthelesse comming speedily to himself again he re-setled him in his seat far more furious then a Tyger that hath lost her whelps and drawing out his sword he struck the first that presented himself before him so cruell a blow that he cut off above half his left arm and being about to redouble upon the other he was charged by Orfurâ—n in so dangerous a maner with a great and heavy mace that he was constrained to knock his chin against his breast heerupon his horse as if he had been able to conceive that such another blow would have ranked him amongst the number of the dead carrying him away saved him from the fury of a merciles sword which was falling upon him and having esloigned him from his enemies gave him time to come to himself being well recollected then and trembling with choler and rage he set spurs to his horse and comming to Orfurâ—n he discharged with such violence upon his head that he divided him to the waste sending him dead to the ground with no lesse noise then if a towr had been overthrown by lightning to the very foundation This dreadfull blow amazed the other Giants but fury succeeding instantly to fear they approached him being carried by dispair and began to presse him harder then ever he had been in all his life He was wonderfully troubled in receiving the blows of the one upon his shield and warding himself from the others curtelax managing occasions and time with such judgement that the bravest Knights of the earth would no doubt have admired his fight but thinking that the length of the combat might prove dangerous although he saw his enemies bloud appearing on every part of their bodies he resolved to put all in hazard wherfore taking his sword in both his hands he struck one of them in such a terrible maner that he cut his body just in twain the one half tumbling down on the grasse and the other remaining in the saddle This horrible stroak possessing him that had no longer use of his left arm with extream fear he would have saved himself in the grot but Rozalmond alighting gave his horse unto the damsels to hold who all this while had been upon their knees invoking heaven for his good successe and got in as soon as he where he was much amazed to behold Argenia and Clidor giving over scourging one another and with their whips laying upon the Giant who appeared then to be naked without arms or cloths and never offering to resist He stood still a while taking pleasure in this sight but not to lose time and fearing to be overtaken with the night in that place he went to the Lovers pluckt the whips out of their hands and threw them out at the mouth of the cavâ— which was no sooner done but a great clap of thunder and lightning fell upon the grot beat the Giant in peeces broke asunder the inchantment and made the poor wretches understand how ill they had used one another by the power of charms Their love nevertheles continuing in the same state it 〈◊〉 in before Argenia desired Clidor to forgive her the wrong she had done him Clidor besought his Love to forget his cruelty towards her and both kneeling down before Rozalmond made those acknowledgements which were due to his assistance I should not endure you said he to the fairest Argenia in regard of your ingratitude to Meleander so was the Hermit named that had entertained him did I not consider the power of Love who absolutely disposeth of our hearts but since it was his pleasure you should commit this fault I will pardon you upon condition that Clidor shall render those favours legitimate which he shall receive from you heerafter It is that which I most desire in the world answered Clidor and even now I plight her my faith referring the consummation therof till such time as we shall be healed of our hurts in the mean space if you please to command us any thing my Lord we will most gladly obey you in some sort to acquite us of the obligation wherein we stand so deeply ingaged to your valour I should be very well contented said he that you would take the pains to go unto Constantinople with certain damsels which are without and present your selves on my behalf to the Empresse Richarda recounting the successe of your adventures together with that which hath past in this grot since my arrivall These Lovers finding honour in this request promised not to fail therein and going forth after they had put on their clothes were very much abashed at the slaughter which they saw without the grot The greatnes of the Lions the two horrible blows wherewithall the Giants were slain and above threescore heads a number of arms and legs cut off from Knights that no man living had seen no not Rozalmond himself who had made this massacre upon the resistance he had met with at the pillars as you have heard before made them admire the rare valour of so incomparable a Knight who addressing himself to the damsels desired
them to accompany these Lovers to Constantinople which they willingly undertook as they that were bound to publish unto all the world the grace they had received in his succour Taking the way then which would bring them thither they lef Rozalmond who returned to Melâ—anders Hâ—rinitage and related unto him all that past concerning the adventure of the grot for the which he could never commend him enough though he were somwhat discontented to hear that Argenia and Clidor were to live happily in the sweet fruition of one another CHAP. XXVII Clidor and Argenia arrive at Constantinople just at the same time when as the Knights senâ— by Alcâ—damant from the Castle of the Serpents came thâ—ther The mâ—rvellous contentment which those messages brought to the Princes of Greece CLidor and Argenia exceedingly desirous to see themselves in the liberty of their caresses used incredible speed to get to Constantinople and even then the steepls and towrs of that stately City appeared unto them when as they encountred thâ—ee Knights riding along with two covered chariots who beholding so many damsels with one unarmed man approached unto them and having saluted them with respect curteously entreated them to let them know whither they were bound To seek out the Princes of Greece answered one and acquaint them with the wonders which a Knight hath performed in the deliverance of these Lovers pointing to Clidor and Argenia whom ill fortune detained inchanted in a Cave which for that cause is to this day called The Lovers grot Will you be pleased said the Knight to render the way lâ—sse tedious by the recitâ—ll of this adventure Truly I am sorry answereâ— she that I am not able to satâ—sfiâ— your desire for having in charge to addresse my self only unto the beautifull Princesse of the Parthians I should think I did greâ—tly amisse if I should communicate it unto any other but if you be so desirous to hear it as you seem to be go with us to Constantinople and there you shall be fully satisfied Most willingly said he will I accompany you thither for indeed I have likewise in charge to wait upon not the Eâ—presse of the Parthians but the excellent Queen of France from a Knight who not long since hath done such marvellous acts as are of power to make him live for ever Why this is as it should be said the damsell for I shall have part in the content which you will bring to these Princes and you shall have your desire in the knowledge of those memorable things which the Knight of whom I spake to you of hath lately actâ—d come then let us make a little more haste that we may present our selves unto them before they rise from the Table Wherupon putting their horses to it they arrived not long after at the City went unto the palâ—ce and entred into the Hall where the presence of so many Princes and beautifull Ladies amazed them at the first but desiring to acquit themselves worthily of their charge they advanced forward and kneeling all down demanded at one instant for the fair Empresse of the Parthians and the beauteous Queen of France We cannot hear you all together said Florisel seeing you come upon severall occasions Speak damsell said he looking upon Argenia relate unto the Empresse of the Parthians the cause of your comming and then we will give the like audience unto these Knights Sovereign Princesse said Argenia then kissing Richarda's delicate hands the Knight of the Roses then whom I do not think there is a more valiant under heaven hath commanded me to wait upon you for to acquaint you with his glory and my fortunes which truly rather deserve pity then that you should inflict any new punishment upon me for that I did not acknowledge as I ought the affection of a Lord to whom I was greatly obliged Beginning then the discourse of her love with Meleander she delivered at large the good offices which she had received from his assistance protested that she had a full intention to recompence him with what was most dear unto her had she not been constrained by a sovereing power to love Clidor whose passions were no lesse violent then Meleanders spoke of her incounter with Orfuron of the subtlety which she used to get out of his hands of the revenge which he took of his disdain and falling upon her deliverance concluded with the praises of Rozalmond whom she placed in the highest degree of glory particularizing his combats against the invisible Knights the Lions and the Giants not forgetting the horrible blows which she had seen and discoursed in such sort for the advantage of this warriour that she made the Princes of Greece amazed and possessed them with an extream desire to know him better I should blame your ingratitude and bemone Meleander said the Empresse Richarda if I did not think him wise enough to lay this fault upon Love but knowing well that none can dispose of their will when that proud tirant of our minds holds them ingaged I will not ordain you any further penance then that which you suffered in the grot and for this Knights sake whom I know not and to whom I am much obliged without any desert at all I remit you to the rights of your freedome and do counsell you to follow the advice which he hath given you for the consummation of your mariage Madam answered Clidor That is it we desire and to effect the which we humbly receive that liberty your Majesty hath been so graciously pleased to grant us with a protestation to publish unto every one both your vertues and the acts of that most renowned Knight of the Roses Saying thus he bowed himself even to the ground for to kisse her hands and so gave place to the Knights that were to speak unto the Infanta Fortuna whereof one began for the rest and said Mighty Queen of France I acknowledge that Argenia's discourse hath given great content to this excellent presence and that the valour of that famous Knight whose praises she hath worthily published doth deserve one of the chiefest ranks amongst the best Knights of the world but I am addressed unto you by the commandement of another no lesse generous and valiant and that a few daies since hath done miracles able to astonish the whole earth and to fill this Court with all the joy that can be expected from good news He câ—me lately to the Castle of Serpents wherof it may be you have heard Yes answered Lucendus we understand that it is one of the most dangerous houses in the World Questionles there was reason to say so three weeks since said the Knight but the custome is well changed since that unmatchable Knight came thither Being neer to that Castle as I said before he met with two Squires that lamented the losse of fowr excellent Knights whom they had seen fall into certain fosses made of purpose to entrap such as came that way He was sensible of their
for to revenge the injury I have received from the Knight of the Palms and I want nothing at this present but my own horse and another for thee Go therefore to the Stables and find out some device to bring me out two unto the well gate that we may travel abroad to see the world a little Now verily answered the Squire this is as I desired and all the favours that possibly might be done me could not be comparable to so sweet a commandement as this Arm your self my Lord and beleeve it you shall not want horses Whereupon going to the Stables he took two extraordinary horses and went presently with them to the place appointed where Rozalmond straightway met him wonderfully well satisfied to see himself at liberty Getting to horse then he rode all night and made such haste that he was ten leagues from Constantinople when as every body thought him to be still asleep I will not stand heer to declare the grief the Princes of Greece were in when he was missing in his chamber much lesse speak of the adventures which befell Persides Lucibel of France Russian of Media Esquilan of Poland and others that put themselves in quest of him but referring this discourse to some other time I wil assure you that having taken a little rest in a shepherds cottage whilest his horses grased he travelled on choosing the most unusuall waies because he would not be sound if peâ— adventure he was followed and sought after Where fore being gotten into a forrest the way which he took brought him by that time it was night into a place so obscured by the thicknes of the trees that he could not see a whit whereby he was constrained for fear of falling into some precipice to alight to unbridle his horses and to lay him down upon the grasse in expectation of the next day Armazia comming then into his mind his passion carried him to complain in this maner Unhappy Knight why dost thou absent thee from so fair a sun to live thus in darknes The desire of glory deprives thee of a sovereign felicity in the mean time thou dost nothing that can excuse thy absence one Knight arrests thy ambition opposes thy conquests and takes the lawrell from thy head to appropriate it to his valour It is true indeed that the grief heerof ought to kill thee but thou must live to be revenged and thou art to undertake nothing till that be decided to thy contentment since so to do thou hast abandoned all thy friends Whereupon his anger increasing with the hatred that he bore to the Knight of the Palms he wished for day that he might go seek him out howbeit as he turned him on the other side the better to rest himself he perceived a little glimps of light to shoot thorow the trees at first he was somewhat amazed as unable to imagin from whence it should proceed nevertheles he presently start up and listned attentively but meeting with nothing but silence he went very softly towards certain trees which Nature had planted in maner of a round so neer together that they even touched one another except one place which seemed to be reserved for to give an entrance to this cabinet and saw by the light of a torch two damsels the one laid upon the grasse leaning with her cheek on her left hand which was bedewed with the tears that trickled from her eies and the other reading of a letter the noise which he made treading on some leaves having easily been overheard by her that was reading she suddenly demanded who goes there Gentlewoman answered Rozalmond It is a Knight arrested in this wood by the night and that would willingly do you service if it lay in his power Come in saies she no whit abashed and let us see what you are Rozalmond advancing then saluted her very curteously receiving the like entertainment from the damsell who seeing him carry so brave a presence said unto him Sir let me intreat you to fit â—eer down by me on the grasse with as little noise as you may for fear of waking this gentlewoman whose grief doth seldome permit her to â—â—ke such good rest Your fair demeanour doth oblige me to render the tediousnes of the night lesse irksom to you by some pleasing discourse the occasion I will draw from this paper in my hand sent to this Gentlewoman by the most ingratefull man of the world you shall hear the contents and then I will acquaint you with the particulars whereupon she read thus Clerastes Letter to Carinda I Held it no little glory to be beloved of you nor did I think any delight on the earth comparable to that which I found in your caresses but since you deride them and that the ambition triumph â—ver a King hath made you false to my affection I must tell you Carinda that I will sigh no longer for you but will for ever quit you and live for some other that will be more faithfull Men often seek excuses for their malice and they will take hold of the least occasions to serve their turns as you may perceive by this traitor called Clerastes who seigning some jealousie hath made this Gentlewoman whom you behold heer the miserablest creature in the World He is the King of Florertans favourite and in his grace hath found more wealth and dignity then he hath deserved she was neer unto the Queen cherished by her out of the consideration of her merits and was likely to have 〈◊〉 with some good fortune had not this man undone her Her beauty wherof you may judge still though it be much 〈◊〉 by her affliction having made a deep impression in the heart of this gallant she was adored by him for a time with exceeding respect his actions wâ—re full of love his woâ—â—s assured his captivity his sighes testifiâ—d a violent passion nor was there any day seen to passe without some proof rendred of his affection these devoirs joined to the place he held in Court at length forced Carinda so is she named to entertain some liking to him which by little and little converting into Love left her no poâ—er over her self If Cleraster heart were all â—ire hers was notices iâ— he suffered she was not at rest if â—e adore her she idolatâ—ized him if he gave her kisses she was not back ward to render him the like What should I say more â—â—â—othing was wanting to their desires but opporâ—â—nity whereupon she haâ—h â—ecourse to that affection which I have â—lwaies born her opens hâ—r heart 〈◊〉 me and â—â—lling me that Clerastes wouâ—â— marry her prâ—â—â—s me to â—aciliâ—aâ—â— the means that they might meet without suspition 〈◊〉 nothing more then her good I â—â—rreated her to consider well what she did and not lightly to cast her self away I put her in mind of 〈◊〉 inconstancy of the dissimulation they commonly use to bring their desires to passe but seeing her resolved I suffered Clerastes to come who cleared
death and my self more particularly who had by this time lost my honour or my life if you had been lesse strong and valiant I am exceeding glad said Rozalmond that I have diverted so great a mischief But how fell you into it By my disdain of this traitors affections answered she whom I would never suffer to visit me being perswaded that so il-favoured loath some and vicious a man was uncapâ—ble of love and most unworthy the affection of a woman of my quality He was indeed said Rozalmond too ugly and you too fair to have any part in your good grace Wherefore I was resolved to die said she and would hâ—ve câ—st my sâ—lf out of the window headlong before he should havâ— satisfied his beastly appetite upon me for having been advertised that he had surprised my house I suddenly fled into these chambers upon the confidence of three doors fast locked barred upon me with a purpose neverthelesse if it came to the worft to break mine own neck and by an honourable death prevent the grief of enduring the approaches and violence of so mishapen a monster who hath met with the justice of the Gods in his crime and his defeat having rendered me mistris again of my house I assure you Sir that you may absolutely command it Whereupon taking him by the hand she led him into a goodly chamber where Artander having unarmed him she caused him to put on a rich cloak which became him so well that this Gentlewoman named Basiliana could not behold him without the feeling of a secret fire that began to consume her heart Good Gods said she to her self how happy were I if this gallant Knight would love me as much as Dramant did I should soon change my minde and would not forbid him to represent his passions unto me I must incourage him unto it then and by my carriage let him know that I will be more facile to his desires then I was to his whom he hath slain which I may do without shame for covering my boldnesse with the resentment I ow to his assistance I may make him beleeve that my caresses are without artifice and so carry him insensibly to crave some more particular favours This resolution seeming proper to her for her contentment and having presented him with confects she drew him to walk in the garden whilst preparation was made for supper and buriall for the dead bodies Seeing her self alone with him and in the liberty to speak she would fain have begun and discovered her thoughts but bashfulnesse stopt her wouth as often as she opened it for that purpose ever and anon she changed colour and remaining silent she left her eyes to perform that office whereby Rozalmond judged easily of her pain but remembering his Armazia and not permitting his heart to conceive a thought to the prejudice of his love he made as though he understood not the mysterie of so great a silence and entertained her with ordinary discourse wherewithall not being contented it made her at last resolve to break the ice and begin this language to him with a sigh I have reason to rejoyce at your arrivall in these parts whereby your valour hath preserved me but withall I am much afraid Sir that it hath drawn me out of one danger to plunge me into another far greater for loving you more passionately then the small time of my acquaintance with you will seem to permit and doubting to finde your affections ingaged to some happier beauty I can expect no other then a wretched death from the refusall you will make me of corresponding to my desires I have discovered this secret unto you being unable to conceal it not with an opinion that you will despise what is so freely offered you but to oâ—lige you to be acknowledging for it Weigh this well Sir for my life and death is in your hands and upon your answer depends all that I can hope for or fear in this world This discourse ending with tears whereby she thought to move him unto pity she would have fallen on her knees before him but Rozalmond not permitting it sâ—id unto her Madam the truth is your speech doth not only amaze but much perplexe me for knowing how far the power of love doth extend I would gladly both give you some reliefe and yet not offend against mine own duty but considering to what I am obliged I may not for many reasons satisfie your desire The first is that I am forbidden by the religion which I hold to love any other woman but her whom heaven hath lawfully legitimated me especially Idolaters as you are the second is that I am not permitted as a Knight to spoyle a woman of her honour after I have nobly preserved it since our order is chiefely instituted for the preservation of Ladyes the third and most important of all is that my heart being ingaged under the power of another that loves me I may not to please you deceive her unlesse I will become a disloyall traitor thus have I dealt as frely with you as you have done with me and letting you see what cause I have to deny you it must oblige you to clear me from all ingratitude the meeknesse of men I confesse is great but we are to doe all things with reason and never so to subject our selves as not to be our owne masters still What glory should I gaine by the succour I have given you if I should now undo you and what were you the better for escaping Dramants violence if under the colour of my services I should do you the like wrong Not a whit Madam nor could your beauty that might seeme to excuse me before the world leave me without blame before heaven I must be then more constant and you more generous to the end that the victory obtained over our own desires may settle a quiet peace in our consciences You have given me reasons answered she with a sad countenance which are but so many shifts for to excuse your self upon the difference of our religions is nothing men are generally borne for the satisfaction of one another and a single opinion ought not to be denied them in that point to say also that it were a dishonour for you to cast me away after you have saved me from shipwrack is but a poore obligation for it is not to ruine but to preserve what is frely given you that only that alone which you may insist upon is that you will not betray a Lady that truly loves you but thereunto likewise I answer how you shall do her no wrong in loving me at at this time since my intention is not to deprive her absolutely of the power which her merit hath assuredly given her over you neverthelesse I will not presse you further but leaving you to the liberty either of contenting me or making me to dye I will only beseech you to read in my eies that which I shall suffer in
as much content as my self glory and be assured that I will never give you cause to complain of me Neither will I give you any answered she for to deny me your services Whereupon Alcidamant taking her hands kissed them a thousand times with incredible delight and had suffered himself to be transported with the excesse of his joy if she had not on a sudden retired for to take away all occasion of suspect After that they met often sometimes publikely sometimes in the walks where our Frenchman discovering his passion by his looks and sighs begot an exceeding desire in her to relieve him had she not been retained by that bashfulnesse which ordinarily accompâ—nies maidens Madam said he ever and anon I languish away my heart is compassed with a fire that consumes it strange â—ancies intercept my sleep my grief grows greater and greater and I die a thousand times a day yet you are not sensible of my sufferings and harder then the rock you leave me in my torment not affording me the remedy I so much want Could you be content to see me lost or to hear it said another day that your rigour was the cause of my death No Madam it would be a grief to you and when you should call to minde that the world could not give you a servant more faithfully yours you would lament to no purpose attend not this repentance I beseech you let me receive your grace before time or sorrow make me uncapable of it conferring more particular favours on me then hitherto you have done make â—e sâ—y that I am the happiest Knight living Sweet heart answered she with a smile it troubles me exceedingly to hear you complain thus of me without a cause and would it were fitting for me to let you know that I love you no lesse then my self But what can I do for you and what would you hope for from me Do I refuse to hear the assurances which continually you give me of your affections Do I intreat you neglectfully or can you think that my actions are governed more by cruelty then honour Questionlesse if you be not blinded with passion you cannot chuse but see that I â—o not want love and you shall never finde my disposition guilty of ingratituâ—e be pacified then I pray you live better satisfied for my sake and â—â—teâ—rupt not my content with your unquietnesse I desire said he to appear before you more contained But alas Madam my grief will not permit it and spite of my teeth my looks must shew you what is in my heart You say I have no cause to complain have I not think you when I may not see you but in fear You are alwayes in the midst of your Captains how can I tell you then before them that my soul is all of a flame Your minde is continually carried away with the care of affairs that every minute are presented unto you what place can there be left then for a thought of me No Madam you scarce think of me at any time and that is it which makes me despair of all remedy I acknowledge with you that I never deserved the grace which I demand but you are the onely cause of it and the little power which you have left me hath not permitted me to have cut your enemies Camp already in pieces if that be it you look for Madam keep me no longer heer I will soon rid them away and deliver you though every souldier were converted into a Giant What a misery is this answered she I thought I had obliged you to live wiâ—â— more content by the assurance I have given you of my affection but it â—â—â—ms your impatience is thereby the more increased and that the care which I take to have you alwayes in my sight proves a trouble unto you You say that it is alwayes in the presence of my Commanders Do you hold it fit that I should deny them accesse when they come to speak with me about my affairs For my part I do not but am perswaded that giving them occasion to talk to my disadvantage I should ruine that which I am raising for your glory we are to carry our selves more advisedly and with better discretion neverthelesse I am resolved to commit an errour rather then discontent you What is it you require of me That you would be pleased said he to grant me admittance into your chamber when all the house is at rest to the end I may discover my sufferings with that liberty which a lover ought to have That were too much answered she if I loved you lesse but relying on your vertue I will be contented to grant it you so as you will presently swear unto me to attempt nothing but with leave That respect you alwayes bear about you said Alcidamant wherefore Madam I protest unto you by the faith of a Knight no way to offend you Be ready then for to morrow night said Merodiana and follow Cistenia when she comes for you Madam said Alcidamant kissing her hands this is the happiest promise that ever was made howbeit I must beseech you to add yet something more to my felicitie That I will said she provided that it do no way contravenne the protestation you have made to be contain'd No Madam answered he for my request is that you will render me worthy of this grace by the defeat of some of your enemies and that you will not hinder me from waking them to morrow morning I speak not this without reason we came hither for your service we have enterprised nothing these three weeks that we have been heer your people begin to lose the good opinion which they had of us and some stick not to say that this course of ours is not correspondent to our great words Moreover I should not find so much pleasure in the favour you purpose to do me if I should not appeare before you like a generous and valiant Knight Sweet Madam be carried by these considerations to yeeld unto this intreaty of mine whereby you shall infinitly oblige me and testifie that you repose confidence in me I will not hinder you said she seeing my word is past howbeit tempt not Fortune nor hazzard your self too far if you love me but carefully preserve your life whereupon depends all the happinesse of my dayes This discourse finishing with our Frenchmans infinite content he assembled the Captains communicated to them his designe and finding them well disposed to his mind he chose out two thousand of the most resolute men and commanded them to be ready an howr before day and so retiring with Troilus he went to take a little rest This designe running in his mind he slept not long but arose armed himselfe put Troilus in the head of a thousand horse caused him to sally forth at one gate and making a shorter cut went and charged the enemies with such fury that being surprised he made an horrible slaughter of them before they had
you at leasure Madam answered he kneeling down by her beds side and beholding her with an amorous eye your command may alwayes dispose of me and I shall think my selfe most happy to see you in any sort whatsoever But O God! if you would be pleased to vouchsafe me a better place more neer unto you I should esteem my glory to be far greater then the felicities of a Paradise Do you remember your promise Knight said she unto him Yes Madam said he I have sworn to attempt nothing upon you but you have not forbidden me from intreating you Consider me I beseech you in torment neer my happinesse and cannot enjoy it between hope and fear and expecting either life or death from your answer Rise Knight said she you have no lesse grace in delivering your passions then valour in vanquishing them that encounter you and your parts have no lesse power over me then your arm hath over mine enemies I was resolved to have conserved my selfe but you have won me and I am constrained to tell you that you may dispose of my bed as you please I will not complain of the losse of that which I hold most dear so as your disloyaltie give me no cause to do Never fear said he casting his doublet on the table with an excesse of content No Madam never fear that you shall see me sigh for another you have too many charms in your eyes for to leave me that liberty and I too much sense of the favour you doe me Saying so he got in to bed to her where their embraces began with unspeakable delight kisses succeeded words feeling followed kisses and a thousand amorous wantonizing to stirre up their spirits that every minute furnished fresh pleasures Five howrs being spent in these delights they were about to have given themselves new testimonies of their loves when Fortune desiring to crosse their happinesse a little a great noyse was heard all over the Citie and the confusion of certain voyces that cried Arm arm amazed them Never beleeve me said Alcidâ—mant if our enemies be not upon some enterprise for to be quit with us But I swear by your love the most religious oâ—th I can make that I will so chastise their insolence and make them pay interest for the wrong they do me by ravishing me thus from out of your arms Whereupon having kâ—st her with a world of affection he went instantly out of her chamber with his clothes under his arm and entring into his own he met Cistenia in her smock comming out of her closet Whence commest thou Cistenia said he marvelling to see her in that fashion From seeking a second answered she for your Squires gentle carriage having made me as far in love with him as you are with my Lady I thought it not amisse to keep Sentinell with him In good faith said he laughing I like this humour well in thee but go in presently to thy Mistrâ—sse and desire her not to be moved at this noyse Then being ready he armed himself and causing three or four torches to be born before him in regard the night was very dark he marched to the Market place whither all the Knights repaired unto him and understanding the enemy was preparing to give an assault he manned the walls with good Souldiers exhorting them to fear nothing and commanding a thousand horse to be ready upon all occasions he presented himself the first upon the Battlements where perceiving that the enemy laboured to fill up the ditch the more commodiously to plant their ladders he caused the Archers to shoot wherewithall in a little time they slew so many that the earth was covered with them neverthelesse the Pioners doing their uttermost filled up the ditches and gave their Companies means to advance Whereupon a world of ladders were instantly reared against the walls and the Souldiers encouraged by the threatnings and promises of the Gyant strived who could soonest mount up beginning a most dangerous fight Fangomadan not able to accuse his men was almost distracted to see how fast they tumbled down one in the neck of another but desiring to bring them on again by his example he took a ladder mounted on it and presenting himself on the battlements grew dreadfull to the defendants who fearing his getting into the City gave present notice thereof to the valiant Knight of the Palms he forthwith making to the place where the Giant slew all that he met withall discharged so mighty a blow on his head that not able to abide the fury of it he was overthrown to the ground and there no doubt he had been killed had he not fallen upon five or six of his Captains who were getting up on the ladder after him and that were sâ—â—flâ—d under the weight of his body This fall of his might have discouraged him had he had lesse rage but rising up with a million of execrations against his Gods he re-mounted on the ladder resolving to die or enter into the City But Alcidamant leaving the Knight of the Lions to oppose him whilst Marâ—diana's Captains defended other places put himself in the head of the thousand horse which he had reserved for that purpose sallied forth at a back gate and giving furiously on the enemies back so disordered them that they began to betake themselves to flight with an horrible slaughter all the ladders being in the power of those of the City with such grief to Fangomadan that he would have held himself happy to have been rid of his life The assault ceasing then by this retreat Alcidamant returned glorious and was received with such applause that the people seemed to have no tongues but for to publish his valour and renown which gave infinite content to Merâ—diana who thought her self most fortunate in possâ—ssing so brave and valiant a Knight and never blushing at her fault received him when he came to the Court with most extraordinary testimonies of love which every one ascribed to the acknowledgement wherein she stood ingaged to his assistance and the valour he had shewn in the fight wherein there fell three thousand and three hundred Knights to the incredible terrour of the adverse troops who beleeved he was some God come down in favour of this Princesse right so that the brandishing of his sword was more dreadfull then the lightning which ordinarily precedes thunder She could have found in her heart to have kist him before all the Commanders that invironed him and would willingly have discharged him of his arms but referring that office to the night she contained her self till every body was gone to rest when as she received him into her bed where their pleasures were renewed with such delight that not able to expresse the thousandths part of it I must leave it to be imagined by those who at any time have injoyed so much happinesse CHAP. XL. Alcidamant combâ—ts the King of Licagena kills him and seconded by the succours of the Iland of Silvana gives
reposed himself howbâ—it understanding that he was asleep she would by no means disturb him but fell to considering of this dreadfull creature which made her afraid being dead and admiring the courage of her Knight who had made no difficulty to undertake him Hereupon her people arrived who thinking it almost incredible that one man could kill so great so furious and so formidable a monster published his praises in such manner as if they had no tongues but to proclaim him for the most excellent Knight of the earth Whilst every one was thus commending he awaked and finding himself better then he was he would have risen seeing Silvana comming towards him but she not able to forbear kissing of him before all the company forbad him with such a grace that he suffered himself to be laid upon the quilts for to be carried to a Castle about two leagues from thence where Silvana purposing to abide some time sent her Knights over all the countrey to assure the death of that dangerous Serpent whereupon a world of men and women came in â—locks who wondering at the valour and features of this Knight would willingly have prostrated themselves before him as the chief of all their Gods if he would have permitted such idolatry but rendering the glory unto God to whom it was due he modestly dismissed them and was contented that the monster should be flayed and that his skin stuft with straw should be set over the principall gate of the Capitall City of the Island of Silvana whither a little after he went to the unspeakable satisfaction of the people who strewing sweet herbs and flowers in his way as he passed thorow the streets cryed him up to heaven with their acclamations naming him the Saviour of their countrey and their Tutelar God CHAP. XLIII Trasiclea the valourous Princesse of Tramazond hearing the world talk of the valour of the Knight of the Palms sends to seek him the messenger findes him out shews him the picture of this Princesse he parts with her from the Island of Silvana and goes to meet with her WHilst these lovers lived thus without crosse or fear whilst the trees and gardens were witnesses of their pleasures whilst they bathed themselves in their delights and every day incountered some new way or other to render them more pleasing all forrain parts were filled with admiration and the name of the Knight of the Palms became so famous that there was no other talk but of his valour the pictures of the monster ran from countrey to countrey his figure was wondered at his greatnesse and force was considered and every one held it for a miracle that one man alone had the courage to affront him forces sufficient to combat him and so much valour as to kill him Merodiana having sent Cistenia to observe the carriage of her Knight was advertised of this victory which made her resolve to passe into the Island of Silvana for to draw her lover out of her sisters arms but she lost her labour for the Destinies that meant to dispose otherwise of the exploits and fortunes of this Knight would not permit her to see him for to hinder his happinesse and thus it was The fame of the glorious victory which he had obtained running from countrey to countrey with pictures thereof as I have related before came to the cars of Trasiclea the fairest and most valourous but withall the proudest Princesse of the world She was daughter to the Emperour of Tramazond a mighty Potentate and that deriving his originall from the Sun found the antiquity of his house in the race of the Gods an opinion that rendered this beauty so glorious that she esteemed no mortall wight capable of her alliance nor worthy of so great and precious a treasure This Princesse then who despised men and ranked her self among the Deities who thought she deserved Altars and that held nothing so glorious nor redoubtable as her arms hearing the commendations which every one gave to this Knight could not beleeve at first that he was so strong so valiant and every way so compleat as was reported but having usde the means to have his picture made to the life together with that of the Monster which he had slain she beheld it often with wonder and finding nothing to be added to the proportion of his body and lesse to the perfection of his beauty she said If the Painter hath not flattered this Knight he is in my mind the most accomplished under heaven But that which most amazes me is to see him so young and to hear tell how he hath defeated this Monster whose figure alone gives terrour to the most confident verily he is worthy of a place among our Gods the world may adore him and if I were at any time to bow unto the affection of a mortall wight I should never chuse any other to sort my greatnesse withall But good Gods what do I say if I were to bow unto the affection of a mortal wight me thinks I feel already a new passion that torments me by what I could comprehend from the complaints of them that have been in love it must needs be that love whose power hath been so vaunted of and that means to triumph over me as over all the rest of humane kind For having alwayes disdained to set mine eyes upon any one I am marvellously satisfied with this picture the sight of this warriour pleaseth me and I find such powerfull charms in him that I love him with an extream desire to see him O ye Gods from whence comes so great a change Trasiclea Where is that spirit which made thee raise thy thoughts to the heavens Art thou so weak as to suffer thy self to be vanquished by a man nay to take delight in confessing it Where are those high resolutions of thine to joyn thy self to none but one of the greatest of the Gods as capable alone to enjoy the merit of thy beauty I vow this is a strange basenesse in thee wherefore altering thy mind reassume thy former motions My former motions why this is the way to follow my former motions for there is nothing in the Gods which I meet not withall in this Knight behold here is the best face in the world this grace contents me wonderfully this gentle eye demonstrates an agreeable disposition this warlicke countenance a most generous courage and this shape an incomparable valour What shall hinder me then from loving him with such infinite perfections Nothing nor shall I ever be perswaded that I fail in my choyce since I find in him all that can be wished for in a divinity But to what end serves all this if he do not know my mind For nothing but to trouble me wherefore I will no longer forbear to let him understand that I am resolved to love him so shall I be no way accessary to my own suffering In this manner did this proud beauty forcing her naturall inclination conclude
and the sight of you which should asswage my martyrdome encreases it for apprehending the felicity which I am to expect from your more secret caresses I cannot bear the retardment of them but with incredible torment I am too forward I am too forward I confesse and this complaint of mine which seems unreasonable since you have alwayes assured me that you live for me only may justly offend you But alas that which I feel will not permit me to be longer contained so that I am forced to discover it for to finde some remedy and that wholly depends on you which I beseech you to grant me if you have resolved to render me one day happy and without making me longer to languish advance my felicity with your delitious fruition Sir answered she I did not think our familiarity would have carried you to such insolencie or that my affability would have made you forget the respect which you ought to have Have you well considered that you desire and upon what conditions doe you demand it Alas said he with a trembling which thorowly testified his love and that gave marvellous satisfaction to Trasiclea who therein observed that which she desired in this feare Madam do you set down the lawes your selfe I will never oppose them I opened my heart to you to make you sensible of my suffering not to provoke you to displeasure be not offended then I beseech you with this liberty I have taken or if it be distastfull to you command me to suffer and be silent and you shall never hear me open my lips hereafter but with that very respect which may be used to a Deitie I do not require said she in a gentler accent that you should live after with me for my affection will not endure such ceremonies but you shall oblige me for hoping for any thing more from me then what honour will permit me to grant you for our conditions being so different that they may well draw my father to be otherwise disposed then I am if he were aware of our determinations it is very necessary in my opinion to wait the time when as your services and my perswasions may induce him to receive you as his son in law rather then ruine them by precipitation I do beleeve that this expectation is grievous to you and that it leaves you not without much desire for I judge of your suffring by mine own but say my Knight will it not be worthy of your pain and will not your pleasure taste the sweeter for your enduring Yes verily it will be dearer to you having gotten it with difficulty then if you injoyed it otherwise Complain no longer therefore I pray you but live with more content and give me occasion to love you everlastingly Madam said he it is no little grief to me that you should finde any offence in my complaints but since they displease you be assured they shall never importune you more I will suffer with silence and if the violence of my passion shall inforce any sighes from me I will so carry my self that none but these trees shall be witnesses of them In the mean time be graciously pleased to sweeten the bitternesse of my displeasure with some more particular favours and incouraging me to attend the happinesse which you make me to hope for permit me to come and visit you in your chamber when all the world is at rest that so I may have the content to see you without fear I will advice with time upon that said she for it is a businesse that requires good deliberation but not to be so ingratefull as to give you nothing receive this kisse the first that ever man received from my divinity forbidding me the imparting of so great a favour receive I say this kisse for an infallible assurance of my promise Whereupon laying her mouth to his lips she ravished him with the incredible delight of so amorous a touch In this manner did these lovers spend the time and lived with such a tranquillity of minde that never did two finde lesse distast in the birth of their affections If they saw one another it was with new assurances of their love if therein they were hindered by any occasion that defect was supplied with letters Arnides and Cesarina were alwayes walking with new commissions briefly their discourse and conversation was a very Paradise This contentment being without crosses Alcidamant without jealousie because the pride this Princesse had esloigned all such as desired to present her with their service she without suspition not being able to imagine that ever he will be in any passion for another their life was rather divine then humane and all things disposed themselves by little and little to render them happy when as fortune that takes pleasure in her inconstancie would needs let them see that the content of men depends upon her will and that their designes do never arrive at a good port without her assistance Two storms arose at once whereof one was like to have overthrown the greatnesse of that Empire by reducing the Emperour and his daughter to the extremity of the losse of their lives and the other to have utterly ruined these lovers hopes for ever injoying one another The first happened by the treachery of Drumelia Aunt unto Brandamar King of Dramir slain as you have heard upon the quarrell of his Mistris beauty and the second through the indiscretion of Cistenia whom Merodiana had left in the Island of Silvana with a letter directed to the Knight of the Palms as I shall deliver by and by having spoken of that which did precede this misfortune CHAP. XLVIII Drumelia Aunt to the King of Dramir would have betrayed the Emperour of Tramazond Trasiclea is led away by cunning the Emperour is assaulted by three Giants falls down hurt Alcidamant succours him with increaible valour slaies the three Giants arrives in the wood just as Trasiclea was ready to be ravished delivers her by the death of his enemies and returns to the Citie DRumelia Aunt unto Brandamar unable with patience to endure the death of this King whom she held as dear as her own life had recourse unto magicall books wherein she was wonderfully expert and knowing that the Emperour of Tramazond upon whom she desired to extend her rage was too mighty for her to be revenged of by arms she proceeded therein with cunning wherefore desiring nothing so much as his death and the destruction of Trasiclea she resolved to govern her enterprise with such judgement that both their ends should arrive at one instant so that taking five dreadfull Giants neer kinsmen to Brandamar she caused her self and them to be carried by night in a cloud to the forrest of Tarsipolis where making certain circles amongst the trees she rendered her conjurations so powerfull that the great and formidable Giants seemed little deformed Dwarfs seeing them in the estate which she desired for to cover her malice she put her self in
ruine from that which serves for my glory for despising Merodiana for you me thinks I give you occasion to beleeve that you have the advantage of her yet you make her love the cause of your hate and my misfortune Is this done with justice No no you are too much transported with passion and if you did not refuse me that through anger which the severest judges in the world could not with reason deny to the greatest offenders I should justifie my self before you and let you see mine innocence with so much truth that you could not but condemn this precipitation of yours howbeit that I may not hope for your forbidding me ever to appear before you again utterly bereaves me of the means to let you one day see your errour Ah! this is to testifie more cruelty then ever you have shewed love and that my punishment doth far surpasse the pleasure of my hope You will have me gone Alas Can I do it and live I cannot I cannot yet it is fit that I prefer your commandments before my life I wil be gone then but lament my absence fair Princesse it deprives you of a servant that hath never had greater care then how to honour the merit of your favour Whereupon charging his Squire to go and make ready his horses he secretly armed himself went to the stable door mounted on horsback and depâ—rting out of the City took the first way presented it self making incredible lamentation Behold said he how from the supremest degree of felicity I am faln into the abysmes of a misery out of the which I cannot get without miracle Good God! who would have thought that having but one tedious minute to passe for to see my self in an unmatchable glory fortune should have found out the means to crosse me I could never imagine it but to my cost I perceive that man cannot assigne a time for his good no more then for the evill that is to arrive unto him Ah Cistenia How well thou makest me pay for the pleasures thou procuredst me from thy Mistris How dearly Merodiana do I buy your favours You say that I promised to espouse you Alas I had never such a thought our caresses have been free and the power of disposing our selves never parted from us Why do you say then that it is time to render our imbraces legitimate Can I be your sisters friend and your husband By no means it is a thing whereof you ought never so much as to think neverthelesse I endure the pains of your folly and my banishment proceeds from your passions it is unjust but I must bear it the heavens have alwayes had a care of my life the same regard they will have still of my actions if they please and will assist me with some extraordinary favour since that I have a divine power for to make me hope for relief Pronouncing these words he shed so many tears that he saw not the way which he went though the moon shone very bright in such sort that he crost thorow a wood more by chance then otherwise and finding himself at the break of the day in a beautifull meadow bordered about with numbers of trees he alighted let his horse feed and laying him down upon the green grasse began to think of his ill fortune and was about â—o renew his complaints and tears when as Arnides comming to him said Arise Sir and give over playing the woman come and chastise certain Knights that speak ill of Trasiclea that intend to revenge Drumelia to take her from the Emperour and to work your destruction by treason I beleeve said he that thou takest me for Alcidamant that slew Fangomadan and the Monster of the Island Silvana that defeated the Giants on the wooden bridge that brought Brandimar to reason that massacred the guards of the Sorceresse Drumelia and that would have made no difficulty to have combatted a million of armed men thou deceivest thy self Arnides I am but his shadow and the weaknesse of my arm could not fear the meanest Knight that is These desire to be righted of the wrong that I have done them let them use their pleasure upon me here is my throat which I will most willingly offer to their swords for loathing my life I care not what becomes of it Why this is spoken like a desperate man indeed said Arnides What a glory were it for them to vaunt in the Empire of Tramazond that they had overcome you valiantly and how might they abuse Trasiclea if fortune should give her into their hands as such a thing may be Now in good faith this womanish courage of yours exceedingly grieves me and give me leave to tell you that you lose much of the reputation that you have acquired in the world and particularly with Trasiclea who peradventure is not so much displeased as she makes shew for Well Arnides said he I see thou wilt prevailâ— and make me once more against my will to draw my sword Therewith arising and transported with sorrow and rage he advanced towards two Giants and three Knights whom he saw at the other end of the meadow and never examining the matter any further charged the first Giant so rudely that he made his sword arm and all flie to the ground together You die said he for daring to attempt upon the lives of Trasiclea and her Knight nor shall all your Gods save you from my hands Putting this high menace then in execution he laid two of the Knights that shewed themselves forwardest dead on the earth and striking furiously at the other Giant gave him three or four blows which all drew bloud of him howbeit the first having taken his sword into his left hand began to presse him very hard but this brave Champion being in the supremest degree of his rage overthrew them both in the place with two terrible blows and seeing but one Knight who on his knees begged for mercie he gave him his life upon condition that he should go to Tarsipolis and presenting himself before the Emperour recount the businesse how it had past This done he remounted on his horse and riding along began his lamentation and complaints to the great discontentment of his Squire who having eating nothing of a long time much blamed these strange humours of his Master in his minde Whilst Alcidamant was making thus from Tarsipolis the Knight of the Giants arrived there and presenting himself in the palace before the Emperour was risen from dinner he declared what he had in charge and publishing in the presence of Trasiclea the moan which the Knight of the Palms made at his departure it pierced so deep into the heart of this displeased Princesse of whom the Emperour demanded the cause of his absence that she repented hereof a thousand times for entreating him so cruelly as to condemne him unheard This action said she to herself is an infallible testimony that he loves not Merodiana and in that he obeyes my command
it is clear that I do him wrong to suspect his loyaltie It may be that this Lady vanquished by her passion or rather by this Knights charms which are inevitable hath given her self to him upon some hope of marriage but that this Knight hath promised her I cannot think it he is too noble to be so wicked and if he were obliged by his word questionlesse he would have gone to her now but he hath taken a clean contrary way and howsoever his sorrow renders him innocent Now to be offended with him for what is secretly past between them I have no reason at all for their caresses were precedent to my acquaintance with him so as he was no wayes tied to observe any faith to me wherefore I condemne my jealousie and precipitious carriage towards him and do protest before my Gods to receive him into grace again if he present himself before me But alas that I fear he will not do but will have more regard to my will then the satisfaction of his own desires howbeit I may quickly remedy that I have committed the fault I must make the amends and sending Cesarina who may easily follow him by the fame of his brave acts let him know that I acquit him as freely as before I condemned him unjustly Whereupon writing a letter full of excuses and giving it to Cesarina commanded her to repair her errour and to use some means for to bring back this Knight who in the mean time rode on with incredible speed never regarding the wayes which at length having brought him to the kingdome of Clariana he met with a Desart wherein the gentle current of a bubbling stream together with the naturall beauty of a savadge grot and the shade of certain trees which seemed to make a pretty walk from the rock to the water so pleased him that forsaking his horse he resolved there to spend his daies Living on the fruits that he found there and drinking of the water that pearled out of the stone he lay upon a couch of leaves and limiting his walk among those trees he consumed his time in his usuall complaints accusing his ill fortune blaming Trasiclea's cruelty adoring her picture which Cesarina had given him in the Isle of Silvana and which he had kept as the onely relique remaining of all his hopes and leading a most solitary life took pleasure in nothing but his own lamentations and â—ighes where a while we will leave him and take some time for to thinke on the prosecution of this history The end of the Second Part. THE LOUE AND ARMES OF THE GREEKE PRINCES OR THE ROMANT OF ROMANTS Written in French by Monsieur Verdere And translated for the Right Honourable Phillip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery Lord Chamberlaine to his Majesty Tome III. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Thomas Walkeley and are to bee sold at his Shop at the signe of the flying Horse neere Yorke House 1640. Amadis of Trebisond arriving in the Empire of Martaria saveth Floridan of Persia from drowning Their Adventures CHAP. 1. AMadis of Trebisond departing from the Castle of Serpents under the conduct and in the Chariot of Cassandra as was delivered in the foure and twentieth Chapter of our second Part was somewhat amazed to see himselfe almost in a moment above the clouds where hee might well have had cause to feare his falling into those vast Seas which hee beheld so farre below him or of suffering the incommodities of an element full of fire that hee felt over his head had hee not beene carried from such apprehensions by the relation this damosel made him of the loves and noble acts of that renowned Emperour of Greece his Father and of the prodigious adventures brought to glorious ends by the Princes of his blood Five or sixe dayes being past away with these pleasing discourses one morning even as the Sunne began to enlighten the world hee heard a dreadful noyse proceeding from the incounter of the billowes which the violence of the winds raised sometimes as high as Heaven and then by and by cast down to the very center of the earth herewith awaked he looked round about to see from whence it came and amidst the strange disorder of these enraged waters hee espied a Ship whose sayles were rent all to fitters her shrouds and Tackle torne her Masts blowne over board and every part of her besides so terribly shaken and beaten with the fury of the mercilesse waves that having no Guid but the evill fortune of those shee carried at length she ranne against a Rocke that was neere to an adjoyning Port and split in a thousand pieces leaving some thirty persons to the mercy of the cruell seas This object so full of pitty moved him very much and as hee was about to bewayle the mishap of them hee had seene swallowed up and to desire that hee could succour the rest which were also ready to perish hee perceived that the Chariot descended conducting him to the incounter of a young man who swimming tugged couragiously for his life with that pittilesse element making use then of this occasion that succeeded according to his wish he thrust his Arme into the sea and catching hold of the young man drew him up into the Chariot which instantly landing on the shore vanished with its Guid leaving them both on the sands very much astonished thereat Howbeit Amadis ever confident would not seeme to bee troubled with so sudden a departure but turned to his companion whom for his beauty comely personage he much admired and said unto him Gentleman take courage and be not dismaied for now you are out of the power of the waues nor can this land you tread upon be so dangerous though it be unknowne to you I cannot chuse answered hee after hee was somewhat come to himselfe againe but bee somewhat amazed with the late perill I was in yet Sir it hath not so deprived me of judgement that I should not have sufficient left me to know how much I am obliged to you for my safety you have saved my life which you shall alwayes dispose of in the meane time may it please you to permit me to seeke out meanes to dry my selfe for I cannot continue long thus wet without some danger to my health Here said Amadis unbuttoning a coat which many times he wore over his Armour cover your selfe with this whilst your clothes are a drying for I will not leave you till I see you in better case This Gentleman taking the coat went presently aside and having stripped himselfe sate downe on a stone whither not long after Amadis came to him whereupon wondring much at his goodly presence in such rich armes hee arose somewhat ashamed to be seene so halfe naked and said Sir what may I doe to shew my selfe gratefull for so many good offices which I receive from your curtesie You may answered Amadis pay all this debt with a
he concealed his mind hoping that Corazinda had more judgement then to suffer her self to be carried by such an ill favoured and ugly beast Whilst all these gallants dyed for the love of her she felt the same passions for the Lady and because shee durst not sigh but in secret shee spent much of her time alone in the Gardens where shee entertained her self in this manner To what end serves this borrowed disguise if I have not an heart to crave a remedy for the extremity of my grief I see Palmirenna it is true I kisse her hands and by an excesse of good fortune shee sometimes joynes her lips unto mine but what doth that avayl mee seeing she does it in regard of the habit that I were not of the love that I beaâ— her Nothing questionlesse but to increase my torment these are winds which in stead of extinguishing my flame make it burn with the more violence and if I take not a stronger resolution I have laboured in vain to get the possession of so invaluable a gâ—mme I must then either quit this habit or make another and better use of it then hitherto I have done womens hearts are not without pitty and when Palmirenna shall know that I am a Knight shee will not advance my death by manifesting it to another But what is this I say will shee not have just cause to blame this deceit and to banish me from her sight for a punishment of so hainous a crime yes no doubt and wheras the good will shee bore mee whilst she thought me to be of her sex might counsell her to do otherwise honour and decencie will fence her to it I do therfore ill to yield to my desires I am more happy then I deserve for the longer I suffer the greater will be my glory So resolving to be silent and leave her remedy untâ— time shee sate her down one day under a tree upon whose bark she had graven a thousand characters where shee began to renew her complaints when as Palmirenna arriving there by chance with three of her Ladies caught her by the arm and said What Corazinda are you still weeping cannot all our caresses make you forget our countrey Truly I have reason to complain of you and will never beleeve that you love mee so much as you say since you continue so sad here Think not answered she some what amazed to see her self so surprised that I bestow these tears on the remembrance of my countrey or friends their absence is the least of my cares but I grieve for that I cannot profit you by my service nor advance my self a whit in the honour of your savour for loving you farre more and that beyond all comparison as I may truly say then all the Knights of the world put together can possibly do I could wish that your eyes should rest no where but on mee as my thoughts have no other object then the excellencie of your beauty I wonder said Palmirenna that you should complain thus of me without a cause doth not my womens jealousie who are vexed for that they cannot be so free with mee as you are make it evidently appear how infinitly I love you clear your self of this sinister impression and be confident dear Corazinda that if your content depends on me you shall live as happily as your own heart can wish being resolved to give you and that most willingly all that you can desire of mee provided I may see you no more thus afflicted Now are all my sorrows at an end answered Corazinda for all the good of my future life is tyed to the effect of this promise which I hope you will never forget and to make my happinesse compleat there wants nothing but this that whereas herein the Court I am called the fair slave you will be pleased that hereafter I may bee called Palmirenna's fair slave Here at the Princesse fell a laughing and embracing her said that it pleased her very well Some houres being sweetly spent in such like discourse which testifying more and more an extream love that gave the Ladies great occasion to marvell from whence the heat of so powerfull an affection should proceed these two incomparable beauties retired into the Palace where the Emperour meeting with them began on a sudden to feel that fire burn which the first sight of our fair slâ—ve bad kindled in his brest Pretty one said hee â—nto her having withdrawn her to a window doe not you thinke is time yet to case my pain and shall the discretion which you have sound in my carriage leave you insensible of my sufferings consider that my love can make you the happiest Woman of the world and that your good fortuâ—e depends on the pitty which you shall have of me and that if you be inexorable you will give mee just occasion to accuse your in gretitude and to retrench you of those favours which you receivehere Sir answered she knowing full well that â—hee was to flatter his grief rather than incense his choller my judgement is not so weak as to make me neglect the contentment and advantages which the honour of your affection doth promise mee but do you think that having yet sighes in my mouth and tears in my eyes to be wayl my captivity my esloignment from my countrey and the losse of my friends I can resolve for any pleasure verely I cannot time the common Physician of our miseries may alter this peevish humour and furnish mee with other devises bee pleased I beseech you Sir to attend your remedy from thence your delight will be the greater when I shall give it you without grudging and not forcing my will you shall oblige mee to commâ—nd your gentlenesse in the mean while let mee obrain of you that you will not afflict yourself and giving mee leave to retyre from hence for to avoid the suspicion which may bee had of your intent leave me so to manage my sorrows with time as I may be ableere it be long to satisfie your hopes Go my dearest Cornkinds said be insinitly contented with this answer the gods which have made you to â—air make you as true Palmirennaes fair slave having got off in this manner went to find on her Lady but understanding that shee was laid down to sleep shee returned into the Garden where having made afewturns she peceiveda man lying on the grasse under the shadow of certain trees who thinking hee was not over-heand spake thus Wretched Knight what canst thou expect from thy enterprise but insuppottabletonments thou imaginest that time and thy services will beget a liking of thee in this Princesse but thou wilt be deceived shee will receive them from thee as from an ordinary Knight obliged by the liberality of her father what wilt thou doe then wilt thou discoverthy self for to serve her openly thou wilt not be believed but say thou wert difference of religion would serve for a cause to refuse thee now to
that foolishly restraineth us you assure me that I have more interest in your heart then all the men besides in the world I have sworn a thousand times that I never adored any but you and that I wil never sigh for an other I will reiterate the same oathes give me the same assurance render the effects conformable to your words and making me partaker of the glory of your bed as your husband disdain not to be my wife upon the promise which now I make you before Heaven and your faithfull Crestia to espouse you solemnly at Constantinople or as soon as wee shall have disposed your father thereunto Why dearest Lord said Palmireâ—â—â— that was possest with no lesse powerfull desire then hee I have as much affection as you to wish our present content but pardon me if I tell you freely that I am to bee more carefull of my selfe I have heard of a thousand misfortunes occasioned by the inconstancie of men I may fear the like and when you were absent from me as the fortune of war might many times carry you abroad I should still be in doubt that you were in the power of some other beauty Ah Madam said Amadis shedding tears and deeply sighing which hee knew was of marvellous force to constrain the heart of a Woman have I not cause to be exceedingly grieved that you will ranke me thus amongst the worst of men Vnworthy and dishonourable spirits may offend so basely but a man whose aym is reputation will never fall into so soule a fault I may fail but never so much and say I should be tempted with some such desire have not you wherwithall to make mee sure look but only on your eyes and there you shall find charms able to arrest the most fickle humour in the world and to assure your fear These considerations Madam are cruell and if you desire to see an end of me doe but continue firm in the mind you seem to be in Your griefe doth much afflict me answered she nor will my love indure to see you suffer thus any longer wherfore I am contented to espouse you this evening but I will have my sister Amplamira whom I hold most dear to be present with Crestia at the vowes and oathes you shall make never to have any other Wife but me Madam answered he infinitly transported with joy I am not able to give you thanks worthy enough for the greatnesse of this grace but I will serve you so faithfully that you shall never repent the conferring of it on me I am wonderfully well contented that the Princesse Amplamira may be with you for I hope ere it be long to do her the like good office Why said Palmirenna will you give her an husband Madam answered Amadis the excesse of my happinesse will not permit me to conceale any thing how important soever from you I will acquaint you with a very great secret but with condition that you will be pleased to assist me to bring it to passe The Knight of the Flowers whom you know is my Nephew sonne to Rogel of Greece Emperour of Persia he is passionately in love with your sister Amplamira and by the means of Almerina he hath lately had accesse unto her in such sort as I beleeve she will not refuse him if you will present him unto her for a husband let one and the same time consummate these mariages the knowledge you have of a Lovers pains together with my intreaties may perswade you unto it but when you shall consider that it is for your sisters good you will be carried to it with more affection Verely this is strange said Palmirenna and sure this day is fatall for the happinesse of our house my Lord let us send for this Knight and know of him how farre hee hath proceeded with Amplamira afterwards we will dispose of the rest Crestia having order then to seek out Floridan these Lovers remained alone to Amadis unspeakable content who feeling himself much pressed by his desires would fain have entred into the possession of his felicity but Palmirenna she wing him how neer it was to night hee was constrained to command over his appetite and have a little patience the rather because Crestia arrived then with Floridan who going to Amadis after hee had kissed Palmirenna's fair hands he said unto him what occasion Corazinda keeps you thus in your bed Nay said Palmirenna smiling call him boldly by his name we have found out his tricks and which is more we know your greatest secrets does Amplamira love you and can you hope for any thing from your services Hereat Floridan blushed and was so dismayed that he could not return her a word he beheld Amadis laughing and perceiving Palmirenna take no lesse pleasure in seeing him so transported he could not tell whether it were a dream or no At last gathering his wits together and concluding with himself that all was discovered he answered her thus Madam you have so surprised me that in good faith I scarce know yet wher I am for that which you desire to understand of me concerns me so neer that I could rather dye a thousand times then confesse it any other where but desiring to give all obedience to your commandements and satisfaction to the friendship of this Knight I will not stick to acknowledge unto you that the Princesse Amplamira wishes me well and that she hath declared how she is pleased with my servitude That is enough said Palmirenna our danger will be brought to a good port Sir follow me and be not troubled with the captivity wherinto I will put you it shall not be but to make you relish your liberty the better Going forth then with Amadis who had made himself ready she went into her Cabinet wher she shut up Floridan and seeing her sister come she caused all her women to leave the Chamber retaining none but Almerina and her trusty Crestia that done she took Amadis by the hand and addressing her speech to Amplamira she said Sister I have prepared you for the marvels you shall behold for being most assured how much you love me and that I may trust to you in all occasions I hold it unnecessary to use many Ceremonies with you Love whose power is unresistable unable to put me into passion for any of those many Princes which heretofore have sighed for me hath possest me with so much for this slave that not to lye I was reduced to the uttermost of dispair thinking that my affections was mad and impossible but my good Genius having opened mine eyes I came this morning to know that the habit she wore was usurped for the love of me and that it covered the body of the valiant Knight who cleared this Province of the danger it was in by the death of that dreadfull Monster which would have rendred it desolate this hath induced me to resolve after I had learned of him that he was the sonne of the renowned
the fair Slave was so inraged who perceived the utter undoing of her self and her cousins involved in the Treatie that rising up with sparckling eyes she could not forbear saying to him Sir I wonderat you that in the middest of all your Subjects you are afraid what will the world say when they shal hear that after such insufferable outrages you could so soon and easily be perswaded to forget them Do you fear that your Daughters being so accomplished and beautifull shall never meet with Princes so great and valourous as these which now present them selves Sir I know some that yeeld not to them either for merit or birth and from whom you may have more assistance and content then you hope for from these They threaten you with a continuance of the War are not your Walls all entire and doe not they know to their cost that it had been determined otherwise had not Fortune shewed her self what she is she hath done her worst and therfore is not to be further feared nor shall this arm wherin hitherto you have found safetie ever be wanting to your succour provided your resolution be more generous at leastwise understand from your Daughters whether they like of these matches and doe not more then the gods which leave us a power over our own wills Sweet-heart answered the Emperour I verely beleeve that the love you beaâ— me maâ—â—s you speak with â—uch passion 〈◊〉 that it touches my particular when I talk of an accord with these Princes but you doe notknow how the affaires of a King are otherwise treated of then those of a private man the good of my State hath counselled 〈◊〉 to that which I say my Daughters must conforme themselves to my pleasure and therefore I command them to prepare themselves for these Nuptials wherby those mischiefs may be declined which otherwayes would arise should I wilfully persâ—stin this War These words â—o resolutely delivered having drawn all the rest to his opinion except the beautifull Princesses which spake not but with their tears the Ambassaâ—â—ours were called in and so satisfied with the promise which the Emperour made them in the presence of all his Barons as they would have faln on their knees before these Infantaâ—s but they not able to endure the fight of them presently departed and â—â—utting themselves up in their Chambers resolved to dye a thousand deaths rather then violate the faith which they had plighted to their beloved Lords who in the mean time were not a little disquieted making a milion of furious desigâ—es upon the lives of those insoleâ—t Princes that laboured to usurptheir right The Ambassadours being returned then with all the content they could desire a thousand and a thousand Bonâ—ires were instantly made in the King of Cabilla's Camp the gates of Cardana were set open all passed losses were forgotten most of the Troups were discharged six thousand Horse onely were reserved to honour these Princes Brizaâ—daâ— gâ—t out of his bed Rifantes and Meridâ—â—â— King of Filzandria trickt up themselves and deâ—iring to enjoy the happiness of beholding their Mistresses they went all three unto the Emperour who received them with open arms and insensible of all that was past conducted them himself into 〈◊〉 's Chamber where all his Daughters were assembled who notwithstanding their Fathers presence could not choose but shew their discontent speaking very coldly unto them Howbeir these Princes willing to â—latter themselves and hoping that time or necessitie would beget affection in them they departed a little after so prest with the desire of tasting the felicities which the fruition of theirincomparable beauties did promise as they humbly besought the Emperour that their happiness might not be deferred but for a day or two at the most which having been promised them the Emperour returned to his Daughters who thinking to move him to pitty fell on their knees before him and with tears intreated him not to render them miserable for all their lives by giving them Husbands most incapable of love and under whose pâ—wer they could expect nothing but constraints but all could not move him for resolved to see the consummation of these Mariages he commanded them anew to prepare themselves therunto within two dayes which commandement was so harsh unto them as they would quickly have made an end of themselves had they not the hope they had to find out some means by the counsell of their Lovers to avoid this mischief perswaded them to prolong their lives a while Having sent for them then assoon as it was night they shut themselves up with them into a Chamber where lovingly joyning their lips unto theirs the tears trickled downe their fair cheeks whereby Amadis too well knowing their grief said unto them Ladyes complaints are vain nor will weeping doe any good you love us the favours we continâ—ally receive from you assure us of it but yet you are to give â—â— further proofe therof vex not your selves at the crueltie of a barbarous Fathâ—r who without the regard of your content will subject you to men you cannot love France Persia and Greece are Countreys goodly enough to invite you without sorrow to abandon the ingracefull Land thither let us goe my excellent Mistris and make no difficultie to follow us I have a way to carry you hence in despight of all that would oppose my my enterprize so as you have sufficient courage and love to undertake it with us Alas my dearest Lord answered Palmirenna this is all that wee can wish for in the world declare unto us the secret of so difficult an affaire you shall find us most resolute and if there were occasion to take away the lives of these deteshed Lovers be assured that I would be the first to let out the heart-bloud of Rifantes Amplamira and Archesidella testifying no less courage and affection for the contentment of their Lords Amadiâ— continued his discourse in this sort Afflict your selves no longer then I beseech you but when the time comes dress you in the bravest manner you can for to be led to Church in which instant of time Floridan and I will come into the Hall in unknown Armes whilst Lucibel shall attend us at the gate adjoyning to the Haven and under colour of obliging you by some promise to descend into the Court yard for the deliverance of two inchanted Lovers whom I will feigne to be inclosed there in a Coach you three shall goe into it that done six Horses shall gallop away with you to the Sea side where we shall find the Prince of Frances Barque which to morrow we will cause to be made ready for that effect This enterprize seemes wonderfull difficult said Palmirenna for you will be in danger of exposing your selves against the power of all these Kings and the Emperour together howsoever wee will cast away all considerations for if you dye in the execution therof we will not survive you a minute wherfore be well prepared and we will follow
above five hundred Knights were killed therwith so that the Emperour and the rest were inforced to seek shelter in the neighbouring house to avoyd the fury of the storm which having continued above two houres ceased at the rising of the Sun that presented to their view not the Merchants house whose body was found covered with Serpents that devoured him but a great Tower of Crystall divided into three stories at the foot wherof lay two Lyons so fierce and terrible that none durst come neere it This noveltie having bred a great desire in the Emperour to behold it neerer he 〈◊〉 it seeing the Lyons stirred not out of their place and the first thing he espyed was a Table hanging wherin these words were written Prophecie THe Paradice of Love shall last untill the inchanted Lyons dye by the claws of the strongest Lyon in the world then shall the glorious prisons lâ—se their pleasures the Doves shall be invisible and the anger'd Cock shall burst to vomit his poyson living after the recoverie of his treasure for the glory of an unknown Altar These words too mysticall to be understood having detained him for a while he perceived in the bottom of the Tower as in a Tombe Armâ—lina Orestia and Melia who seemed to slumber in the first stage Palmirenna with Amadis in the second Amplamira with Floridan and above that Archesidella with Lucibel all six in bed kissing each other so amorously and using such other expressions of love as if they had no witnesses of their actions which so enraged him as tearing his hair and beard he cryed out O ye Gods Am I not the unhappiest Prince of the earth I have seen my power abated by three Knights alone this day a greater affront is presented to my view and I am become a spectator of that which I cannot behold without shame who could not be mad and burst with rage at this Come souldiers break me this Tower in peeces and let us be avenged of these robbers and impudent queans in spight of all Inchantments Hereupon thirtie or fortie of the stoutest and most resolute of the company stept forth and with hammers thought instantly to have broken the crystal in pieces but the Lyons forthwith rushing upon them made so quick a dispatch that the rest hoping for no better usage quitted the place to the proud Arastron who having before disdained to pursue those Princes with so much inequalitie and advantage ambitious of glory advanced immediatly towards the Lyons with whom he fought so valiantly that having with a most furious blow strucken down the greatest he was about to have dealt so with the other when as on a sudden three Centaurs of a marvellous bigness issued forth and discharging their massie clubs on him all at once layd him all along on the ground to the unspeakable grief of the Emperour who fell into such a passion of furie and uttered things so extravagant that had not the Kings of Arbales and Grisolia endevoured to comfort him he had undoubtedly become frantick but these Princes gravely remonstrating unto him that it was a signe of their gods displeasure which punished him for the violence he would have offered to his Daughters wills who had just cause to despise such deformed persons he commanded Arastron to be taken up that immediatly came again to himself and retyred to Cardana so exceedingly grieved that death would have been far more acceptable to him then life In the mean time the Emperour hoping by the valour of some excellent Knight the said Inchantment might receive a period he proclaymed throughout all his Territories and the Kingdomes adjacent that whosoever could give an end to this adventure he should have the Crown of Martaria for his reward judging his daughters disobedience a sufficient cause to disinherit them This moved sundry Knights from divers forâ—aign parts to repair thither allured with the promise of an Empire but none could ever approach the Tower with that intent that was not straight-ways torn in peices by the Lyons insomuch that the cruelty of those untameable beasts being no lesse notorious then the Emperours promise no Knight could be found that durst undertake so dangerous an attempt CHAP. XXIV Griolanis arrivall in Corolandaya his combat with the Guards of the Pâ—rt hee is entertained by the Queen and accepted for her Knight GRiolanis carried with a longing desire to see the real beauties of the excellent Princesse of Corolandaya whose Picture he evermore kept about him grew impatient of so long delay but having past five weeks with a prosperous gale and without the least interruption of his intended voyage he at last arrived at one of the Ports belonging to his fair Mistris to the unspeakable joy and contentment of his Conductresse Arlandria who using her wonted freedom said unto him Sir I make no question but the power of your arms will easily prevayl over our ablest Knights yet if you will follow my advice use no other then that of your beauty to captivate our Queen who for your sake will break her wonted custome and will never permit you to hazard your life for to win a place in her favour will you give me leave to advertise her of your arrivall Yes Lady replyed he you shall doe me a singular curtesie to assure her that ever since I first had the honour to behold her Picture I have burned in continuall flames and that I have no greater ambition then to let her know how infinitly I affect her but withall I must desire you not to goe about to hinder me from incountring her Knights the forbearance wherof would convince me of weaknesse and cowardice for should I present my self before her in any other manner then victoriously I should give but her too just occasion to deny me that which must be the sole reward of my vertue wherefore set forward presently if you think good for to morrow I will enter into combat with the chief Knights of the Port I never expected other answer from you said Arlandria neither did I think you would judge my advice honourable and therfore not to molest you any farther by urging my former proposition I shall in obedience to your commands let her know both your merit and affection Having spoken thus she presently got to Horse and used such diligence as the next day â—he came to Agricaâ—t the Capitall Town of Corolandaya where going straight unto the Palace she fell on her knees before her Mistris who making very much of her demanded what wonders she had seen in her voyage Madam said she they are such that should I undertake to give you a particular relation thereof you would hardly be induced to beleeve them I bring you the names of two hundred brave Knights manfully overcome by Silvion and of threescore and twelve Princesses besides over whose beauty yours hath most justly tryumphed but which surpasseth all I have brought with me the fairest stoutest the most courteous and most lovely Knight in the
Arlandria I may no longer disguise my thoughts the confidence I have ever reposed in thy trust hath bred a resolution in me to reveal unto thee at this present a secret of no small importance The Knight whom thou broughtest with thee hath captivated my soul with his beauty my love to him is beyond imagination and to be short I am resolved to make him King of Corolandaya but since I have not yet disposed the affections and good will of my subjects thereunto and that undoubtedly he suffers much for want of liberty to impart himselfe unto me in publike I conceived it most fit to shew him some favour In confidence therefore of his love wherof the Crown of Roses purchased me by his valour is a proof sufficient I have made him a promise to entertain him this night in my Chamber on condition that he shall have due regard to the greatnesse of my quality and shew the same respect in his actions which he would do in the eye of the whole world As soon therefore as every one shall be retyred being him to me In troth Madam said Arlandria I marvell not that you are sensible of his pain for so amiable is his person and his perfections such as it is not possible for any not to wish him well but Madam will you give me leave to tell you freely what I conceive Most willingly replyed shee for since I entrust thee with my secrets I may not reject thy advice I exceedingly wonder said Arlandria how you can resolve to let him languish so long and satisfie your self with a bare discourse since you are minded to make him your Husband It is to lose time Madam which hereafter you will repent and all this artifice that is but the tormentor of mans felicitie serves to no purpose Not that I would perswade you to proffer him that which must be the reward of his most earnest suite but Madam being perswaded as it is most probable that the heighth of his affection will not rest satisfied therewith I would counsell you not to shew your self over-modest and difficult Nay said Adelazia I mean not to resolve on any such thing doe what you are bidden and leave the rest to me I will not contest with you Madam replyed Arlandria only be pleased to remember that Lovers observe time place and persons and look to make use of occasion and fortune when they are presented Hereupon going forth she left this beautifull Queen full of strong passions Her affection perswading her to follow Arlandria's advice and her modesty forbidding her to entertain any such thought Amidst this irresolution she wayted the comming of her brave Knight who considering with himself that opportunities are often lost through want of resolution and courage and that Lovers speed best when they are somewhat daring he kneeled down before his Mistress and in a most trembling manner taking her by the hand he sixt his lips theron a good-while and so not being able to utter his mind in words he fetched three or four sighes wherwith that fair Queen who took no small delight to behold his respect in his fear and his love in his silence was so affected that growing impatient of his suffering she thus spake unto him Well my Knight is this all you have to say to me Ah! Madam replyed he my heart is over-charged and wants words to ease itself What would you have me say Madam I expect some favour shew it me as to your Husband since you have thought me worthy of that honour These words being uttered in such a sort as did plainly discover a most extraordinary passion wrought such effects in that excellent Princess that unable any longer to contain her desires or to withstand the charming tears of her Lover thus said unto him Verely your perfections have no lesse power over me then your Sword hath had over all those whom it doth incounter Get you up and swear unto me before this Damosell that you will never marry any other but me Madam said he lifting up his eyes to heaven and putting his hand within hers I swear unto you in the presence of God whom I adore and of your faithfull Arlandria that I will marry you solemnly whensoever you shall please and will never long after other beautie and if ever I break this oath let heaven execute its fiercest vengeance on this head of mine This oath having satisfied his Lady hee straight-way threw off his doublet on the Table and transported with joy hee got immediatly to bed to her where they fell to mutuall imbracements to the incomparable delight and satisfaction of each other Adelazia's lips were fastned to her Lovers and his no less amoâ—â—osâ—y fixed on hers she by the light of two Tapers that burnt fast by myâ—ed her self in his eyes and he quite loâ—â— himself in the contemplation of their secret beauties which he beheld To be short a thousand blandishments entertained them with fresh delights untill the heat of those fires being cooled they sought out new desires in their passions which redoubled their pleasure in such manner as the night feeming but a moment the day forced them to part with much regret and far less satisfied then before nevertheless assuring themselves they should not want meetings since their love was reciprocall Griolanis stole away leaving his Mistress to her rest where she continued till noone at which time she got up fully contented that she had met with so lusty and gallant an Husband Thus loving each other intirely their minds were at quiet their affections without disturbance their visits frequent their discourse wholly taken up with the mutuall assurances of their affections and their whole life so incomparably pleasant as they might justly have boasted their happiness before any Lovers whatsoever But envious fortune which takes delight in crossing of our pleasures and bringing us in subjection could no longer brook so happy and so blisfull an estate for Maxiana the great Inchantress Aunt of Silvion Prince of Argilles whom Griolanis flew in the quarrell of Adelazia's picture as is specified in the ninth Chapter of our second part desirous to know what state her Nephew was in took her books and conjuring up her spirits had notice of death and of all that passed in Corolandaya wherupon growing furious she prepared whatsoever charms her art could afford and so transported her self into Corolandaya where she arrived three dayes after the secret Mariage of these Lovers and just at such time as they were all in dauncing and every one standing by his Mistress This Sorceresse entring into the Hall with a burning Torch in her hand followed by three Maids all dischevelled and carrying certain monstrous and hideous Serpents came to the beautious Wife of Griolanis who stood quivering and thus spake unto her It is time thou shouldst smart for the death of the Prince of Argilles since thy crueltie occasioned it and that he which slew him should share with thee in the torment
His beautie made thee infringe a Law which proved fatall to thet unhappy Prince Undergoe therfore joyntly a due and direfull vengeance for it Saying so she threw her Torch on the floore which presently filled the Hall with as dreadfull a flame as all the spectators astonished therewith betook them to their heels Griolanis only excepted who with his fair Mistresse standing fast and unmoved by vertue of the Charmes were forth with environed with a terrible fire and six horrible Serpents that seized on them began to gnaw and teare their faces and breasts with a crueltie no whit inferiour to that of the flames which made them break forth into such dolefull lamentations and cryes as was easily heard all over the Palace Ay me said Adelazia that such varietie of delights should be followed by so great a torment and that the glory I found in the fruition of such valour and beauty as was in Griolanis should now bee turned into griefe by the cruell usage of such Furies Envious fates what had I done or this courteous Knight committed worthy of such hard measure Ah I Griolanis the loveliest of man-kind the paines I suffer you see is great but far greater are yours to me then my own your miserie it is which I bewayl and not mine but since I cannot succour you be perswaded to patience Dearest Lady replyed Griolanis it is your martyrdome and not my torments that draw from me these complaints for how is it possible I should behold these wonders of nature perish before mine eyes and not accuse the heavens of injustice The Prince of Argilles fell by my sword it was most fit I alone should rue it yet are you made to partaâ—e in my sufferings as I did in your favours neither doth their crueltie rest here I am made the spectator of your miserie Hellish fâ—end thou oughtest to have powred out thy spite and malice on me and have spared that beautifull face those two little worlds of love that delicate skin and not to scorch those fair eyes the perfection of the whole world for mine own particular I could willingly endure thy revenge were it crueller and never complain but woe is me thou art insensible to my moans and are more merciless then the Tyger thou delightest in the horrour of a thing which might mollifie the very stones Thou thinkest to triumph over my valour and courage alas thou art deceived I will cut these Furies in a thousand pieces and then must thou look for no better usage at my hands With these words he layd hold on his Sword and whilest he thought to kill those Serpents he ran her thorow the body and layd her groveling as if she had been dead But she instantly getting up and plucking the Sword out of her bosome thrust it into Griolanis brest being led by the same desire to rid him of such troublesome creatures and preserve him from being devoured which rendred the spectacle most dolefull and worthy of all compassion But this divellish Witch took unspeakable delight in it and was so well pleased to see them two butcher each other in so cruell a manner that having remained there above half an houre she quitted that hell which she named THE MARTYRDOME OF GRIOLANIS AND ADELAZIA and meeting Falimond Crisander Armorand and Grinaldo who moved with the Lovers dolefull cryes were hastening to their succour she resolved to make use of them in the execution of her designes You shall serve said she to further my enterprize whefore I command you to defend the passage to these wretches against all such as would come to their rescue for which purpose striking them all with a wand that was in her hand she so inchanted them as they remained fixt with their Armour on like to four Towers before the gate of the Palace Court dreaming of nothing but to combat whomsoever should appear before them These Princes were a guard sufficient to have prolonged this Inchantment neverthelesse this old Hag desirous if possible to make it last eternally raysed up at the stayres foot a most hideous Serpent fifteen foot long with a most terriblâ— Monster as big as an Elephant having the head and breast of a dreadfull man the arms hairie and great as a tree with a very keen axe in his hand the back parts resembling a Beares his pawes were armâ—d with crooked clawes a cubit long and to render the enttry more difficult yet she caused Griolanis armes to be brought which she placed at the Hall dore with such powerfull Conjurations that shee made them have the same motions and adresse as if the Knight had been in them adding moreover all that ever she could devise to make the 〈◊〉 invincible the spectacle having somewhat satisfied her a Pillar appeared before the gate with a Table hanging thereon wherein these words weâ—e written Prophecie AProach not hither unless thou be the most valiant in the world for these Inchantments shall never cease untill the excellent Turtle and the dreadful Lyon issuing out of the same Prison incounter each other within the flames Then the strayed bloud shall be known beauty shall resume her former glory and the punishment of a Law violated shall be converted into pleasures and delights And so hyding her self in the midst of a cloud with her three attendants she became on the sudden invisible leaving behind her plenty of tears and lamentations and a Town full of dolefull and confused cryes but especially of Alarina's Elemina's Philoteas and Marselina's whose griefes for the losse of their Lovers no comfort could asswage Howbeit considering that tears were unprofitable and that other means of succour were to be sought out they returned to their Countreys with a resolution to send throughout the world in the search of the bravest Knights to anull this Inchantment which example was followed by Adelazia's Damosels whereby it came to passe that the fame of this inchantment being spread abroad there came from all parts a great number of Knights to Corolandaya for to undertake the deliverance of the said Lovers CHAP. XXVII The Gyant Gorgophon being sent Ambassadour to Gardacia from Moranteon Soldan of Circassia steales away the beauteous Armazia he is driven into the Isle of Corolandaya and proves the Adventure of the martyrdome of Adelazia THe renowmed beautie of Armazia Princesse of Gardacia having filled the whole world with admiration so inflamed the heart of Moranteon Soldan of Circassia that without the possession of so rare a creature he thought he should never passe his dayes in quietnesse willing he was to see her and become a suitor to her Father for her being perswaded that the consideration of his power and greatnesse above other Pagan Princes would soon procure him what he desired but fearing lest his extream deformitie might breed a contempt of him in the Princesse being of ill shape of a Salvage countenance flat-nosed bobber-lipt hollow-eyed corpulent and crooked he conceived it much better to treat the match by Ambassadours then to
alienate her affection by the view of his defects Having therefore considered all his Subjects and finding none fitter for that employment he sent Messengers to Gorgâ—phon Colonel of the Gyants who lived in the redoubted Iland not far from his Kingdom desiring him to râ—paiâ— unto him about a busines of great importance which he was to impart unto him This Gyant the greatest then living the strongest of all Pagans the most terrible and furious amongst men being an intimate friend of the Soldans went straight to Circassia where being arrived and nobly entertayned after a world of Ceremonies and Caresses Moranteon thus spake unto him I am perswaded you cannot be ignorant of the power of that little god which challenges a right over all men living and since your selfe have felt the power of his Scepter you will not find it strange to see me from military exployts and the love of my people to settle my affection on a woman I shall therefore tell you freely that the Princesse of Gardacia is she that captivates my soul and that without the fruition of that blessednesse which he only can expect that shal enjoy her I cannot possibly subsist I have a strong confidence in your love it is in your power exceedingly to oblige me by undertaking a voyage to the Emperour her Father to demand her in mariage declaring unto him that the Crown of Circassia is a purchase sufficient to satisfie his Daughters vastest desire and ambition Your presence together with the feare of disobliging us will make him seriously to consider the demand ere he give a denial But in case he should prove so averse as to returne an answer not suitable to our desires spare not to let him know our resentment and that his indiscretion wil cost him no lesse then the losse of his Empire Well said Gorgophâ—n I intend not to amuze my self with giving you other testimonies of my love and friendship then by the carefull managing of the charge committed to my trust Armazia is yours and though her Father should prove so proudly insolent as to reject the honour you doe him you shall not be put to the trouble of raysing an Army I le cut him into a thousand peeces and bring away his Daughter in despight of all his subjects Let nothing therefore disturbe you but prepare your selfe to receive us as if we were already comming And so causing a ship to be made ready he imbarqued himself with a young Gyant that attended him and with a favourable wind in few days arrived in Gardacia where getting a shore he went towards Parmonda the place of the Princes ordinary residence but understanding that the Emperour and his Daughter were gone to hunt in a Forrest there by hee caused a countrey fellow to guid him thither and came just as they were uncoupling the Hounds The Emperours Knights seeing these two dreadfull Gyants appear on the sudden were extreamly dismayed and imagining that they had a purpose to assault them they prepared themselves for defence though they were mightily terrified with their furious countenances neverthelesse chusing rather to dye a thousand times then leave their Pâ—ince and his Daughter in extremity who trembled in the midst of them they began to advance when as Gorgophâ—n testifying in his cariage that he had no intent to doe them any harm said unto them Forbear foolish Pigmies for I could soon make an end of you if I meant to fight but being come hither for another end you shall not at this time feel the thunder of my Curtelas Which of you is the Emperour I am he answered Aliander all pale and wan with fear would you have any thing with me 〈◊〉 Mighty Monarch said he the gods resolve to augment your glory and gâ—eathesse so as you will make use of the good they intend you You behold â—â—â—gâ—phon Colonel of the Gyants Lord of the redoubted Ilands and â—ervant to the great Soldan of Circassia who hath sent me to let you know that he very much desires to be your Son in law and that it lyes in you to make Armazia the happiest Lady in the world by joyning the Crown of Circassia to that which she hopes from you this offer if you wil not imbrace then prepare your selfe for war Now let me hear what answer you will return Valiant Warriour replyed the Emperour who did not look forsuch gentle words the Prince of Circassia honours me very much in seeking my alliance and no lesse am I obliged unto you for the pains you have taken in comming hither to let us understand his desire whereunto I should presently consent if I could without blame passe by theregard which I owe unto a people that render me great by the obedience they yeeld me but I am first to consult with them about it since there is question of giving them a new Prince in expectation whereof if you please to repose your self a little with us we will doe you all the honour we may This answer having marvellously contented the Gyant who could not sufficiently admire the beauty of Armazia which already triumphed over his liberty they went on hunting wherein with much delight they spent above two hours during which time Gâ—rgophon entertayned himselfe in the corner of a Wood in this manner What said he can I affect Armazia after I have once demanded her for the content of another or rather should I leave her to the hope of any whomsoever seeing she may serve for mine She is too fair I have too much love and without treason to my passion it is not fit for me to speak otherways but for mine own content yet what will the Emperour her Father say if he should hear me speak in this sort and what cause would the Soldan have to complain of me for depriving him of a beauty that was done to his merit They would both wonder at this change and questionlesse they would exclaim of me but what is that to me I am to love my selfe more then others and if the Father of Armazia doe not satisfie my desire I carry that by my side which shall procure it me And if Moranteon will not be contented with another Princesse whereof I will make him Master ere it be long I shall not much care for neither am I his subject nor doe I fear his power if he assayl me I will defend my selfe and were he mightier then he is I will soon make him quiet The Emperour then must be frighted with menaces if fair means will not prevayl Whereupon getting to horse he went to seek out Aliander when as he heard the Forrest resound with cryes complaints and a very dreadfull noyse so that advancing forwards he met with nine or ten Knights flying away as fast as they could drive of whom not being able to learn the cause of their fear he went on til he came where a great and furious Serpent was devouring one of Armazia's women and promising no better entertainment to that
be without his company especially Palmirenna who was to succeed unto my Crown had not her bad life given me just cause to dis-inherit her To tell you all that passed between them I am notable but so it was that mistrusting no practice amongst them I left themto so great a libertie as Amplamira the middlemost of the three that you behold being made acquainted with the secrets of her eldest Sister and her Slave yeelded to the affection of that strange Knight unto whom I had given his life and the third which would shew no more obedience than the rest became passionately in love with the Knight whom you see there in the upper part of the Tower with her Nature that obligeth us to the care of our childrens well-doing having perswaded mee to bestow them richly in mariage I made choyce of the heir of the mightie King of Cabilla the valorous Soldan of Aralafia and the King of Filzandria to support my Crown with their greatness but being upon the point of leading them to Church this Slave with the first Knight comming armed at all parts under colour of succouring two infortunate Lovers which they said were at the Court-gate in a Coach they caused my Daughters to goe thither who being intelligent with them got suddenly into the Coach and galloped away with that speed as they were instantly out of sight wherof being exceeding sensible I commanded them to be pursued when as this Slave lifting up the Visier of his Helmet told me that he was not a woman as I had beleeved untill then but a Knight named Amadis Prince of Greece and Trebisond At these words some of my Knights advanced for to stay him howbeit he layd him that first presented himself dead at my feet with a blow of his fist and discharging his Sword on the Helmet of a very valiant Gentleman called Meander who arrived but that morning he cleft him down to the shoulders and so departed like lightning for to follow the Coach To what end should I relate all things in particular unto you briefly they got to the Sea-side after they had slain above six hundred Knights and with the assistance of three or four Knights errant that came thither by chance they imbarqued themselves in despite of a thousand Knights which endeavoured to arrest them Away they sayled them as they hoped with a prosperous wind but the gods who never suffer so foule a crime to rest unpunished drove them the very same day into this Iland where having invested them with four thousand Knights I had taken them in their beds and executed some horrible vengeance on them if I had not been prevented by the arrivall of an old Sorceresse who unexpectedly appeared with a flaming Torch in her hand made certain circles and muttered divers obscure words which were no sooner uttered but there fell so cruel a storm of huge Hayl-stones as above five hundred of my Knights were knocked down therwith and my selfe constrayned to fly for shelter to these houses you see from whence after the sky was cleared again I beheld this Tower erected in the place of the house wherein they were Now judge Sir whether this be not a strange affliction unto me and whether I have not reason to wish them in my power for to wash away the affront they have done me with their blood Mighty Prince said Rozalmond who had been much delighted with this discourse the Heavens doe sufficiently testifie by the care they have taken of these Knights that they doe not approve of the revenge you desire I could give you better counsell if your Majesty could be pleased to accept of it These Knights of whom you speak are all Lords of a quality nothing inferiour to yours of whom the first according to report is sonne to the mighty Amadis of Greece the second whom I know very well is Heir to the Soveraign Monarch of the Persians and the third is Nephew to the great King of France seek not their ruin then for an offence they have done you compelled thereunto by love but receive them like a gentle and mercifull Father and if you wish for their deliverance let it be to rejoyce with them in their alliance which shall so secure you as all the Princes of Paganism shall not dare to look on you but for your service If therefore you can carry a mind inclined to pardon then I am ready to undertake the restoring of them unto the world if not I wil never be the instrument of their destruction by putting them in your power You amaze me said the Emperor in telling me that these three Knights are such great Princes in which regard I blame not my daughters so much as I have done but my resentment will not permit me so lightly to passe by such enormous an offence O but you must Sir replyed Rozalmond at least wise if you will appear as generous as I know you are and in the assurance thereof I will no longer defer this Enterprise Whereupon drawing out his rich sword he advanced towards the Lyons which rose with fury and at the first onset discharged so mighty a blow on the leg of him that was next him that having cut thorow all the hair he gave him a great gash in the flank whilst the other fastning his claws on his Shield laboured to tear it from his arm neverthelesse he bravely resisted him and desiring to lose no time he struck him so strongly on the paw that he sent it divided from his body to the ground which made him roar most dreadfully at the noyse whereof Armelina Orestia and Melia which seemed to be asleep at the foot of the Tower presently start up and transforming themselves into horrible Centaurs flew all at one instant on Rozalmond who was therewith marvellously troubled not knowing well where to bestow his sword the Lyons prest him with their claws the Centaurs showred blows on him with their heavie clubs and thinking to avoyd the fury of the one he fell into the rage of the others howbeit nothing dismayed he layd with such violence at the body of one of those Lyons as he cut him in two peeces and turning withall towards a Centaur he struck him so dangerously on the head that though his Sword lighted flatling he overthrew him to the earth where instantly changing her shape she reassumed that of Almerina who began to slumber as before which made him resolve not to strike the Centaurs any more with the edge of his Sword turning all his fury then against the remayning Lyon that had plucked his Shield from his arm he ran him so lustily into the belly as he layd him dead by the other Being very glad at the defeat of these enemies and the recovery of his Shield he made head afresh against the Centaurs which so layd upon him that he felt himselfe bruised all over with their heavy stroaks neverthelesse he avoyded them as well as he could and at the length
said Trasiclea to her is that you would tell us why you kneele thus before this flame what is the cause of your complaints and of your retreat into this Desart place That were to renew my sorrows answered she but I take such delight in the rehearsall of my miserie that I shall be as ready to relate as you are willing to heare it This fire which but testifies the same that hath long consumed my heart serues for a sacrifice to the ghost of noble ClarismonÌ„d one of the loveliest Knights that was in all the Kingdome of Filamon whose body is buried under the ashes of this fire that every day is renewed by me just at this hour his death is as strange as the history of our loves which not to abuse your patience I will recount unto you as briefly as I can This Knight a great friend to one named Martander being taken with that little beautie wherwith it pleased heaven to indue me shewed himself so desirous to be in all places and companies where I had occasion to be present that by his looks and cariage I easily came to know he was in love with me howbeit being then I may well say blind because I did not consider his merit I could not by any means affect him but contrarily carrying some particular good liking to Martander that cared not for me the sight of him did very much displease me I found fault with all that he did and the more he laboured to serve me the more was I incensed against him His suit then being troublesome unto me I resolved to let him understand that he much dis-obliged me by soliciting me in that manner and accordingly taking occasion on a time when he besought me to carry a gentler mind and to have some compassion of his suffering I told him how my actions were the images of my thoughts how I had shewed sufficiently that I did not love him and how in vain he expected reliefe from me for if I would give my self to any one Martander should have more power over me then all the Knights on the earth Hereat Martander who was then present with Clarismond gave me many humble thanks for the election I was willing to make of him but Madam said he being Clarismonds friend I may not receive the honour of your favour which would be better conferred where it is due then on me Some moneths passing away Clarismond obstinate in his suit I in my hate to him and affection to Martander these two friends plotted together how to deceive me You may doe me a most friendly part said Clarismond one day to Martander Parmolina so is this miserable called that speaks to you loves you with passion and when you please you can prevaile with her to grant you any thing serve me faithfully I beseech you feigne as much love to her as she bears you and labour to obtain of her that she will spend one night with you upon promise you may make her of rendring her kisses legitimate the dark keeps all things unknown I wil goe to her in your stead and so by this means you shal save my life which otherwise cannot long continue Martander who to help his friend would have made no difficultie to have gone even into Hell most willingly undertakes this affaire comes to me and craving my pardon for his so long neglect of my affection in such manner counterfeits the motions of a man transported with love and impatience that I verely believed he was throughly taken his sighes very much grieved me the vows that he made never to adore any but my self exceedingly contented me I was sensible of his passions what should I say more There was nought resting to render us the happiest Lovers in the world but the fruition of our desires wherunto he laboured to arrive for the satisfaction of his friend but finding dangerous obstacles therein by reason I lay alwayes in my Mothers chamber in a bed apart by my self I could not resolve to run such hazard neverthelesse what could not the tears of a Lover or of one that seemed so effect in the heart of an amorous Girle At length I past by all respects and promising him to leave all our dores open I sent him away so contented as he seemed not to envy any felicitie whatsoever Midnight then being come I received Clarismond in mine arms thinking it was Martander and losing my self in his embraces I little thought of this change of persons insomuch that the next day I spake to Martander as thinking I had acted that with him which I had done with Clarismond and as for him he carryed the countenance of a man so infinitely pleased as it was a fortnight before I knew by what cunning I was deceived because we durst not speak but very softly in regard of my Mother howbeit Clarismond not induring to tast his delight any longer under the coverture of another discovered himself one night as we were in the middest of our pleasure and freely confest to me that he was constrained to have recourse unto wiles since he could not other wayes prevaile I will not tell you how much I was astonished at this discourse nor what errour I was then about to have run into by crying out as though I had been ravished by force but to proceed I will assure you how instantly changing my mind with the consideration that the matter was past remedy I loved Clarismond a thousand times more than ever I had done Martander and began to haâ—e Martander far more than ever I had done Clarismond unto whom excusing my self upon the weaknesse of my judgement which had not permitted me to choose the better partie I protested so much love and gave him such testimony therof by my most kind usage of him and caressing of him anew as he thought himself happy in disclosing this trick unto me But now see what sport love makes with men Martander hearing Clarismond continually talk of the unspeakable delight he enjoyed with me began to love me most passionatly and preferring his affection before his friendship he began to vow and protest that truly unto me which he had dissembled before hoping that the passion I had been in for him was not yet quite extinct I am not able to expresse what infinite content I received to behold him sigh at my feet and rejoyeing to see him languish through his own fault I told him that my Mothers in-disposition detained me from receiving him a-nights as I was wont but at length no longer to abuse him I plainly said unto him how I very much wondered to heare him desire a treasure which belonged unto Clarismond and knowing well enough that he possest it I could hardly beleeve he could be so wicked as to seek to bereave him of it At this speech he was so confounded that he was ready to dye with griefe and indeed he lay three weeks sick upon it at the end wherof being unable any longer
to indure the yiolence of his desires it came into his head to crave the same favour of Clarismond which he had received from him Laying before him then the peril of his life the imbecilitie of men that forced him to violate the lawes of friendship the power of that proud divinitie which useth to triumph over those hearts that goe about to resist him the merit of my beautie and briefly all that he thought could serve for his enterprize he put Clarismond into a strange perplexitie his love and the resolution he had taken to marry me forbad him to yeeld unto the unjust request of this friend neverthelesse choosing rather to dye than be ingratefull he concluded to deprive himself both of his life and happinesse together Insomuch that having promised to give him satisfaction in the very same manner as he had received it he drew this Lover from his bed and came a little after to see me but without so much as speaking a word of what â—ad past between them howbeit having observed some extraordinary sadnesse in his countenance and not knowing any just occasion he could have foâ— it I began to suspect this practise in regard wherof I purposed not to admit of Clarismond any more but upon safe tearmes neverthelesse making no shew of it I promised to entertain him as I used to doe Night being come then I left only the outward dore open shutting those fast within and standing close at a window that looked into the street first I heard 〈…〉 very 〈◊〉 ear because they made 〈…〉 I could hear Clarismond say farewell dear friend the 〈…〉 happy than I am Having spoken in this manner away he 〈…〉 going to ouâ— house who finding the 〈…〉 return with far leâ—â—hope than he came Being marvellously 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 of this busines I was much incensed against Clarismond and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him soundly for his fault though I was fully resolved to 〈◊〉 him but alas he gave me no opportunity to doe so for never appearing again before me he advertised me by a Letter that waâ— broughâ— me the next day how through griefe and dispaire he was gone to end his days in a Desart This sad and sudden departure of his derived from the excesse of his love to me cast me into a dangerous sicknessâ— which questionlesse had carried me out of the world if my hope with meeting with Clarismond again had not made me desire to live but my love to him restored me within a little after to my health when hearing no news of him carelesse of mother and friends I forsook my countrey and seven moneths together travelled from place to place in the search of him at the end whereof comming to this Rock I found my Clarismond clothed in a long Hermits Gown who hearing me 〈◊〉 how I had begâ—iled Martander was so overcome with joy as he dyed suddenly in my arms O! who can expresse the sorrow I was in then Let it suffice that it cast me into a swound and how long I continued so I 〈◊〉 able to deliver but at length being reserved for greater 〈◊〉 to my 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 my self again howsoever 〈…〉 my last in this very 〈◊〉 where â—e so unfortunately expired Behold noble Knight the cause of my griefe 〈…〉 which I earnestly beseech you seek not to 〈◊〉 by a 〈◊〉 of reason since I am obstinately bent never to admit of my 〈◊〉 Seeing you are so minded said 〈◊〉 we will â—orhear 〈◊〉 â—ouble you any further and 〈…〉 of your lamentable case we will commit you to the protection of heaven which we hope yet may in time reduceâ— yoâ— to a better 〈◊〉 Whereupon descending the hill and going towards the Sea-side they incountred with four 〈◊〉 Knighâ—â— the foremost of which bearing a Salvage in his 〈…〉 unto them Worthy Knights necessity 〈…〉 you that you will grant us room in your 〈◊〉 untill such time as we may 〈◊〉 as some hâ—bitablâ— place we landed here 〈…〉 wherin to imploy our 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 desolation and in the meanâ— time two 〈…〉 have 〈◊〉 away the Bark we come in leaving 〈…〉 hence unlesse it be by your assistance Noble Sir answered 〈…〉 which you behold there is so 〈…〉 for bringing you with us 〈…〉 if you please Being gotten 〈…〉 to the Prince of 〈◊〉 at the 〈…〉 their Helmets 〈…〉 Giv◠〈◊〉 your hands to kiss for here is Florisbel of the star Don Sestilian of Spain your servants with the redoubted knight of the Salvage who did such wonders at the turnament at Constantinople and the fair Amazon his Lady Brandimanda At these words Rozalmond rising up in his bed most kindly entertayned the Princes of France Spain and with no lesse honour caressed Grian and Brandimanda Alcidamant and Trasiclea at whose goodly presence those four Warriours were marvellously astonished together with Russian renewed their complements and so they sayled all the rest of the day with exceeding great content which was much augmented by the recitall that Alcidamant made of the history of Pâ—â—melina and Clarismond Let us leave them cutting a speedy way through the waves whilst we are preparing to declare the marvels that were seene at their arrivall in Corolandaya CHAP. XXXII The dreadfull combat between Rozalmond and Gorgophon for the deliverance of Armazia The wonders that Alcidamant performed in bringing the Incâ—antment of Griolanis and Adelazia to an end CErtain dayes being sweetly spent in the pleasure which might well be expected from the conversation of so many excellent Knights the Vessel of the Sunne made a stay in one of the ports of Corolandayâ— where all those Princes disimbarking themselves were very much amazed to see sixteen Salvagâ—s come out of the ship the first eight having each of them a mighty courser in his hand the others eight staves so strong and stiffe as they seemed to have been made for some important design being presented with these horses and launces each of them lept into his saddle with many thanks to Alcander for this care of them and marching two and two they took the way that led to Agricant being resolved to prove the adventure of the martyrdom of 〈◊〉 and Adelazia After they had ridden then about one hour they arrived at the Royal Palace where Rozalmond had but newly laced on his Helmet desiring to be the first at the essay of the adventure 〈◊〉 as he heard a woman speaking to the whole Troop in this manner Stay said she brave Knights and if you have as much valour as your presence doth promise leave not a poor afflicted Damosel in this prison combat you altogether that Colossus which you see there for her deliverance since his extream forces will not suffer him to be vanquished by one single man the gods will recompense your painâ— and I 〈◊〉 one day acknowledge this service of yours At these words 〈◊〉 â—â— king round about perceived two Ladies of a marvellous beauty staâ—diâ—â—â—â— the 〈◊〉 of a little Tower towards whom being advanced so 〈…〉 and