it giue anie remidie or ease vnto this great griefe the which I haue for hir cause receiued yet it shall suffice me that another shall not boast himselfe to haue obtained and got that which I haue lost neither any other to reioice himselfe with that which doth cause my sorrow and griefe And although that this shall â—…ée against all reason that Don Siluerio doth dot deserue 〈◊〉 at my hands yet shall it bée comfortable vnto my heart 〈◊〉 that it is so captiue vnto loue it dooth consent vnto no â—…eason Rosicleer in saying these words and other lyke in efâ—…ect after much trauaile hée came vnto the bridge of Iaspe â—…ho straight waies was knowen by Rodaran by the deâ—…se that hée had of Cupid whose great fame and renowne 〈◊〉 that time was spread throughout all Asia more then any Knight therein When hée was armed with his heauie and strong armour hée straight waies mounted vpon one of the biggest and lightest horses that hée had and the Quéene béeing in hir royal seat of estate commanded the gate of the first tower to bée opened wherein this valiant Rosicleer entered without any suspition And when hée drew nigh vnto Rodaran hée dyd salute him and sayde The knight of Cupid and sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio is verie welcome vnto me for that his great fame which flieth throughout all the world of his great and valiant deeds as also the great desire which I haue to prooue his great strength with mine more then the desire that I haue to apprehend the knights of the Emperour hath caused mée for to come hether into these Countries Both the one the other might haue béene excused Rodaran sayde the knight of Cupid for that men beeing in their owne Countries are subiect vnto the blowes of Fortune and haue â—…nough to doo for to cleerâ—… themselues thereof much more to come and seeke the perils and daunger in a straunge Countrie it were much better for thee to haue friends in Greece And if the Quéene oâ—… Carmania doo beare thée so great loue as shée hath published wée would rather procure thy rest and quyetnesse and not thy troubles and trauailes wherein thou doost so much puâ—… thy life in aduenture It had been better excused of thy part saide Rodaran the seeking of the aduenture vnder the water of the Fountaine of Phenicia then my comming hether to séeke the Knights of Grecia but for that both Kinges Princes and Knights are no more but as the world dooth yeeld vnto them honour and promotion for theyr deserued déedes Then it is not much that wée aduenture our liues the more to increase our honours for that according as thou hast saide in all places men are subiect vnto the perills and dangers of this world and vnto the terrible blowes of fortune when shée listeth to strike vs notwithstanding if thou doost pretend to make battayle with mée vpon the occasion which you know choose the aduantage of the bridge to the contentment if not returne back againe from whence thou commest and make no more preaching vnto mée But the answere 〈◊〉 the valiaunt Rosicleer made vnto him was hee turned about his light Horse and put downe the beauer of his helme with his speare in his hand hée went put him selfe at the end of the bridge Rodaran dyd the like beeing both setled they stroke their horsses with so great fury with theyr spurs that they made them run like the winde and in the middest of theyr furious course they made theyr encounter executed the strength of their mightie speares in such sort that glauncing vpon their shéelds they lighted vpon theyr fine harneis and shéeuered all to péeces and the splinters â—…ew a great way into the field yet these two valiant Knights remained as firme in their saddles as though they had made no encounter at all and passed the one by the other without touching and with a trise they returned againe with their Horsses and their swoords in their hands and assaulted one another so stronglie that the first blow that Rodaran stroke at Rosicleer lighted vpon his Healme with so great strength that hée made him decline his head to his breast but the first blow that Rosicleer stroke at him was such a one that the shéeld which hée lift vp for to ward the same was cut in peeces hard by his hand but the fine cutting Swoord of the Queene Iuha not remayning there did descend downe vpon his healme with so great fury and force that hee made him decline his head downe vnto his Horse necke who felt such great griefe with that terrible blow that hée thought verily that all his head had 〈◊〉 in â—…eeces and beâ—…gan to say vnto himselfe Oh high and immortall Gods in whom I and all the Arabians doo béeléeue â—…et héere thy diuine power defend mée from this strong and â—…aliant Knight for if it fall out so that I receiue many such â—…lows as this was it cannot bée otherwise but that needes â—… must héere ende my dayes Oh old King of Gedrosia who â—…ould haue beleeued that I shuld haue found in the Christiâ—… knights so much strength Oh you immortall Gods saue and defende the mightie Emperour of the gran Tartaria that hée come not into this Empire of Greece for to acknowledge prooue the knights of the Emperour Trebatio his Court for that I doo assure you if you come hether that you nor none of yours will returne againe vnto Arabia for that these alone knights are sufficient to destroy you all if that now by my power and force I doo not make resistance and put order for to disturbe them And in saying these words Rodaran with great courage stroke at Rosicleer great mightie blowes who likewise receiued such by the hands of his aduersarie that if it should haue endured long hée must needes haue receiued the worst And hauing great confidence in his mighty strength and in the bignesse of his body determined to assault his aduersarie by proofe thereof and therewith hée threw his Swoord from him and caught Rosicleer in his armes and trauailed with his streÌ„gth all that euer he could for to hoise him out of his saddle or to ouerthrow him to the ground but Rosicleer who was as strong as hée dyd not refuse the wrastling but likewise threw his Swoord from him and caught him béetwixt his strong armes and dyd so stronglie crush him that Rosicleer dyd well perceiue that his determination dyd not fall out as hée thought So in this sort for a good space they trauayled the one to ouerthrow the other but there was no aduauntage perceiued béetwéene them neyther could the one ouerthrow his aduersarie till in the end after gret trauayle they both together dyd force themselues so much clasping theyr knées hard vnto theyr saddle hauing one another in their armes they did so much that both theyr Horsses foundered and fell with theyr masters vnto the ground and being downe for to arise
of beautie after the great trauaile that she had passed that it was as great meruaile to behold hir as Diana in breake of the day the queene the princesse were greatly amazed at that great wonder looked the one vpon the other beleeuing it rather to be a dream then of truth all that which they saw But in the end being fully satisfied the queene and the princesse did imbrace hir giuing hir great thanks for that she had done for them So they remained there all the rest of that day all the night and the next day in the morning the princes ordained made lord of that castell a knight of the giants for that he séemed to be a good knight the quéene the princesse with all their ladies gentlewomen did depart from thence the princesse did beare them company vnto the port And in the way as they went they met with the damsell that ran away who for very shame would not come in presence of the quéene although they all had great mirth pastime with hir for the small confidence she had in the princes So when they came vnto the port they all imbarked themselues in the same ship wherein the princes came into that country hauing the time wind very prosperous the next day they ariued at Hiberia they had not all fully disimbarked themselues a land when that thether came the King with more then two thousand knights who went in the demaund seeking of Orbion whohad caried away the queene when he met them ther vâ—…derstood of them all that had passed his ioy pleasure was such as to the iudgement I reter me but when he was fully certified by the quéene who the knight was that put them at libertye hée went towarde the princesse said Worthy Lady â—…iue me your royall hands that I may 〈◊〉 them for I owe it vnto you for this great benefit shewed vnto mée all kings princes in the world are bound vnto your great highnesse bounty The princesse did then imbrace him saying Unto God doo I giue great thanks for his great benefits showed vnto me in that he hath permitted that I haue done this great seruice vnto the quéene vnto the princes and likewise in excusing your trauaile begun to sake out Orbion And now séeing that there is no more to bee done héerein in your seruice I doo most hartely desire you to giue me lisence to depart for that I haue very much to doo in other places And so very much against the kings wil he tooke leaue of hir offred himselfe all his kingdome at hir commandement So she departed from them traâ—…ailed eyght daies without finding any aduenture till in the end she was cleane out of Hiberia entred into another kingdome vpon a sodaine at such time as the knight of the Sun was past she discouered a great way off from hir a mighty army oâ—… knights with very rich tents ancients likewise she saw nigh vnto that army a great well 〈◊〉 citie out of the which there went foorth one alone knight within a littlâ—… while after shée saw him to make battaile with the most strongest knights that euer she saw in beholding this fierâ—… battaile the history leaueth hir till opportunitie ¶ How that the Knight of the Sun and the king Liseo 〈◊〉 forth the second day against their enemies of the higâ—… knighthood which they shewed in their battell Chap. 48. IN the kingdome of Lidia was not the knight of the Sun idle neither receiued he much ease in the time y t he was there for that calling to remeÌ„brance the imprisonment of his friends and also the great loue which hee bare vnto the princesse Claridiana whom he exceedingly loued also vnto the faire princesse Lindabrides was the occasion that he could not take any rest but was put in the greatest care doubt that euer he had in all his life Not knowing when to cleare himselfe of that which he had promised vnto his new friend the king Liseo And because that the time shuld not passe away 〈◊〉 wares The next day after the battaile as the history hath told you the king Liseo determined to goe foorth againe in his company Then the knight of the Sun bid request him very much to let him that day goe foorth alone for that they should haue other dayes wherin they would goe soorth both together The which the king Liseo by no meanes would consent therto saying that first he would consent to loose all his kingdome for that it did accomplish him so to â—…ee rather then to consent to sée him in y â— camp amongst his enimies alone But the knight of the Sun hauing a great desire to goe forth alone said Héere I doo sweare vnto you my good Lord that if you doo not like wall héereof that I will leaue all your friendship the which I doo esteeme very much depart whereas you shall neuer heare more of me Then the king when hee saw him so determined saide My good friend doo your pleasure yet consider I pray you what pleasure I can receiue to see you in y e midst of mine enimies and not be a partner of your paine notwithstanding séeing you are therewith content I will not contend against any thing you will command So this valiant Knight béeing armed with his strong and rich armour and mounted vpon his horse somwhat before that the Sâ—…nne had any sorce hée went foorth out of the Citie at which time the king and the quéene all the kinghts and Ladies were vpon the towers of the citie and at the battle ments for to behold see what should passe with this valyant warlike knight who before that he came into the camp did set his horne vnto his mouth did blow it so strong and loud that ther was no knight so stout in all the camp knowing who he was that did sound it but his hart would tremble thereat and such were there that would gladly haue giuen all that they had vpon condition that they had not entred into the kingdome of Lidia although to the contrary ther were many other which did neuer proue his blowes were very valiant stout who did arme themselues and at the commandemeÌ„t of the king they went forth against him the first that went foorth amongst them was one named Alberro borne in Seras being a Knight arraunt he came in company with the king of Arcadia to those parts was counted for one of the most valiauntest knights that was amongst the pagans his armour was so excellent good and made by such art that ther was no blow of sword able to cut it who was mounted vpon his horse with great prid and arrogancy and went towardes the knight of the Sun and without any other salutation or curtesie hee said It shall well appeare foolish and simple
battayle endured more then two houres béetwixt them with so great force and strength that there was no iudgement to bée giuen béetweene them who should haue the victorie All those which béeheld this braue battell were very much amazed at the fury and force of Bradaman and much more at the bountie of that valyant knight how hee could so long endure agaynst him Then the Emperour Alicandro although hee had great doubt of the battaile yet hée meruayled very much and sayd vnto Oristedes the singular bountie of the Knight of the Sunne is to bée wondered at who likewise with words of great prayse sayde that there was not a knight in all the world that in bounty strength was lyke vnto him In this time the fayre Princesse with the out ward shew of hir heauy countenaunce and the going and comming of hir rubicond coulour gaue to vnderstand what great sorrow and griefe hir heart receyued for to see hir welbeloued knight put into so great perill and trouble and occupyed hir selfe in no other thing but praying vnto hir Gods for to giue him the victorie at which time the splendant Sun drew nigh vnto the Occident regions and the sad darknesse of the night began to couer the earth wheÌ„ the furious Bradaman and the good Knight of the Sunne had endured thrée houres in the battayle without taking anie rest yet at that time they stroke so fierce and furious one agaynst an other as though it dyd but as then béegin and Bradaman laboured with great courage for to fasten one sure blow vpon the Knight of the Sunne beeléeuing verelie ther with to make an end of that battayle but all that euer hee dyd procure to dooe was to little purpose for that this worthie knight knowing the great perill and daunger of his mortall blowes dyd procure by all meanes to defende and cleere himselfe froÌ„ them and with great fury and lightnesse hee dyd still strike and wound him on his big legs in such sort that although his armour was made of fine and hard bones of Elephaunts yet when the night drew on hée had more then ten wounds on them whereout ranne so great abundance of blood that all the place was barayeâ—… therwith as though ther had ben two bulls slaine the quantitie was so much by reason whereof the giants force and strength abated in suth sort that he did not execute his blewes with so great strength as he did at the first the which being knowen by the knight of the Sun his fury â—…orce increased the more Bradaman fainted by the losse of so much bâ—…ood being without all power strength he fell downe vnto the ground whose fall was so terrible heauie that it made the whole pallace with all the towers to shake which was as great â—…oy pleasure vnto them that did behold it as it was sorrow griefe vnto all the giants the companions of Bradaman who were ready to burst with pure anger to see their lord to be ouer come loose the victory the knight of the Sun giuing thanks vnto almighty god for that great victory went vnto Bradaman â—… pulled off his helme to sée if he were dead or not and when he saw that he was but in a sound he commanded straight waies that he should be caried from thence wheras he might be cured of his wounds The which was straight way done and his wounds washed and bound vp found that he was in no perill of death although if the knight of the Sun had knowen at that time what would haue hapned with a very good will he would haue câ—…t off his head before he would haue commanded him to bâ—… 〈◊〉 for that euery drop of blood which was ther spilt cost full deerly the emperour of Greece Thus this braue perillous battaile being concluded the horse of the knight of the Sun was straight waâ—…es brought vnto him 〈◊〉 theron all those kings mighty lords came for to beare him company with such gallant noise of musick that it shewed the great malestie of those kings Princes that were ther present In this sort they bare this knight company till hee came vnto the mightie pallace dooing him such honour as the like was neuer done vnto any Prince or Knight and beeing entered into the pallace in company with those Kings â—…ordes and knights the mightie Emperour Alicandro came 〈◊〉 into the galleries for to receiue him embracing him with great loue he 〈◊〉 Oh my doore weibeloued son how happy ioyfull was that day when first I knew you I may accoâ—…nt my selfe happy in that I had a daughter for to deserue so â—…aliant a knight Then the knighâ—… of the Sunne knéeling dâ—…wne before him saiâ—… In this am I onely bound to giue great thanks vnto God to accâ—…unt myselfe happy fortunâ—…te for that I acknowledge for my father so soueraignâ—… a lord And being in this conference the empresse came embraced him with great loue although vntill that time shée did with him euill for the great loue which she bâ—…re vnto hir son the prince Meridian yet hauing seene that day the great meruailes by him done hir mallice was turned into great loue accounted hir selfe happy in obtaining such a son in law Then they altogether entered into a very great quadraâ—… wheras he was vnarmed being supper time the fairâ—… princâ—…s Lindabrides was brought thether with great torch light much musiâ—…ke whereas they supâ—…ed altogether with great ioy 〈◊〉 the knight of the Sun the faire princes Lindabrides were set together whereâ—…s passed betwixt them many amorous questions the which did greatâ—…ye increase their amorous desires by reason of the great quantity of lights that were in the quadran their beauties dyd redouble more then before gaue great contentmâ—…nt vnto all the lookers on So after that they had sâ—…pped began the feasts of dancing in the which the knight of the Sun did 〈◊〉 with the princes with so notable excellent grace with the like disposition that it was a thing worthâ—… of beholding Likewise thâ—…se kings lords did dance with the lâ—…dies and damsells of the princesse who were very faire in the which mirth and pastime they passed away the greatest part oâ—… the night and for that the Knight of the Sunne was verye wearie of his great trauayle the past the Emperour would not that that night they should bée made sure together but commanded it to be referred till the next day following Thus midnight béeing past all men went vnto their rest and the knight of the Sunne at two of the clocke in the morning tooke his leaue of the Princesse Lindabrides with great sorrow griefe for that his desired glorye was put off and delaied till the next day So béeing departeâ—… the one from the other the knight of the Sunne was carryed into his chamber wheras hée euer lay since his comming thether and béeing laid in his rich
that place to séeke water for the great necessitie they had thereof and there the Emperour requested them that at theyr retourne into theyr Countrie they would go vnto the Court of King Tiberio and kisse his handes in his beehalfe and declare vnto him how and in what sort they found him at the Rock When these Knights vnderstood the whole matter by the Emperour they could not satisfie them in musing at so soddayne and straunge a méeting And falling on theyr knees beefore the Emperour and the Princesse they required theyr hands to kisse them but they with great ioye and pleasure dyd make them arise from the ground and after that beetweene them there had passed many delightfull words of cōference the Emperour sayd that hée would go sée what was within the Rock and so hée ascended vp the stayers tyll hée came to the doore which hée found shut in such sort that by no meanes hee could get in neyther would they open the doore for all his great knocking And as they might perceiue those that remayned within that Rock were household seruaunts and two sonnes of those Gyaunts béeing about the age of tenne yéeres whom they saw at the windowes béeholding all that had passed and they shut the doore very fast and durst not open it for that they thought verily y t Knight would destroy them all in so much that the Emperour was constrayned to retourne back agayne After a while that the Emperour and all the rest of the companie had eased and refreshed themselues by the Fountaine hée and the Princesse determined to depart and the Knights with their wiues would haue borne him company and dyd desire very earnestly the Emperour to suffer them so to doe yet hée wold not consent thereto but desired them to returne vnto theyr owne Countrie and to let them so alone as they were for that he had greater pleasure to trauaile in that sort then with any more company When these Knights vnderstood his determination they would not stand in contention with him nor importune him any farther but taking theyr leaue of the Princesse they and theyr wyues dyd retourne vnto theyr owne countrie hauing inough for all their lyfe tyme to declare that which they saw of the worthie Emperour Trebatio and of his high bountie béeléeuing that in all the world there was not a Knight like vnto him And when they came into theyr Countrie they left theyr wyues there and strayght way departed toward the Court of King Tiberio to shew vnto the King theyr Embassage from the Emperour to declare vnto him the whole matter how and in what order they were delyuered from theyr great perill as shall in this Historie by declared And when they came vnto the Court they were meruaylously well receiued as you shall heare in this Chapter following How the Emperour Tiberio and the Princesse Briana ariued in the Empire of Grecia Chap. 3. WHen the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana into Grecia was knowen vnto the Prince of that Prouince who was a yong Knight and one of his subiects hée was very much amazed and lykewyse all his Subiects for that they thought verily that many yéeres past hée had béene dead and there was no other reckoning made of him neyther would they béeléeue his comming to bee true till such time as euerie one of them dyd sée him with their owne eyes And béeing certefied thereof they dyd receiue him with such maiestie as the Emperour dyd remaine and would not procéede any farther but first wholy and perfectly informed himselfe of the estate of all things with-in the Empire And there was giuen him to vnderstand how that the King of Bohemia had béene and was gouernour of all the whole Empire and how that hée had ruled and gouerned it with great discretion and iustice And how that all people generally were very wel content with his gouernement at the which the Emperour receiued great pleasure and sent vnto him giuing him to vnderstand of his comming with the Princesse Briana certifying him by a briefe letter of all that hée had passed and willed him to méete him at Constantinople When the King and all the nobles of the Empire who at this present were in Constantinople heard these newes I am not héere able to expresse the great admiration that they had and the excéeding ioye that they in theyr hearts conceiued for that sodaine newes in such sort that if each of them had receiued his owne Brother they could haue possessed no more pleasure hée was so well beeloued So in a short space these newes was published throughout all Constantinople and was a meruailous thing to beehold the great pleasure and sports that were in the Cittie and generally amongst all the people Then the King of Bohemia with all those noble Princes and Lords dyd ioyne themselues together and departed toward Dardania whereas they receiued the Emperour and the Princesse Briana and conducted them vnto the great Cittie of Constantinople with such maiestie and pomp that neuer Prince nor Romane Emperour was so receiued into his countrie And when they were come vnto Constantinople that faire and royall Princesse Briana was crowned Empresse of Grecia at which coronation was made the greatest Feasts and Triumphes with such pompeous solempnity as neuer was in all the world béefore that time To which Triumph and Feasts there dyd not onely come all the Princes noble men and valyant Knights naturall of the Empire but also of all the Kingdomes and Prouinces which were nigh adioyning vnto whom the newes came of the ariual of the great Emperour Trebatio And for that the excellent and mighty déedes which the worthy Knight of the Sunne did in the Castell of Lindaraza should bée manifest vnto all people and that the memory thereof should not bée forgotten the Emperour commaunded to call together all the best Painters that were in Grecia and commaunded them to paynt vpon the fore front of his Pallaice which was next adioyning vnto the great Court in singular perfection naturall sort all the whole Iland the Castle the gates and the terrible and wonderfull kéepers and gards with the mightie and perilous battayle that the Knight of the Sunne had with them and of all the rest that happened for to cléere him of that inchantment as hath bane told you in this Historie past And when it was concluded and set foorth in coulours it was a thing very straunge to béeholde and of great admiration to all people that dyd looke thereon insomuch that they could not béeléeue that any humane man was able to dooe so great déedes of armes as was done by the Knight of the Sunne And all people had great desire to sée him although the Emperour had much more desire with no lesse loue and good will then if hée had knowen him to bée his naturall Sonne And for that this great triumph shall bée more spoken of in this Historie at this present it doth leaue them tyll
was fully certified vnderstoode hir great crueltie hée sell into a mortall sickenesse being without all hope of remedy of the Quéene hée determined to reuenge himself on hir before he dyed So on a night by his great learning he tooke the Quéene out of hir bed brought hir vnto his caue that night there was thundring lightning that with the great noise therof they thought verely the whole world would haue sonke But in the morning when they saw that the Quane was gone could not finde hir they sought for hir in all parts but all was in vayne for that chauncing to come this way reading that which is there grauen in the Rocke they straight wayes vnderstoode that the wise Artidon had brought hir thether in reuenge of the great cruelty that she vsed to him Whervpon ther was diuers Knights that would proue the entrie into the caue and it fell out with them as you shall beare All such Knights as were in loue dyd enter in thorough the fier without receyuing any hurt but within a while after they were put back throwen out againe some â—…arke dead and other some very sore hurt and ill intreated And when it was demaunded of them what they saw within the caue and what happened vnto them they sayde â—…hat at the entry thereof ther was a great Bull which dyd â—…efend the entry and at the first encounter he stroke them with his hornes and dorue them out of the caue and this Bull was of so great and wonderfull bignesse and fierceâ—…esse that the like hath not béene séene his hornes were â—… so great hardnesse that they séemed to be stéele all such Knights as did not loue at the hoore that they gaue the enterprise they felt so great heate torment that they were constrayned to returne back again so y t they could not come vnto the knowledge of the Quéene neyther vnto this day hath ther bene any that hath had so much prowesse to come vnto the knowledge of hir although there haue come many Knights out of diuers and sundry countryes to proue this aduenture and it is now a great time past since any enterprise hath ben giuen and yet all the people of this Country do liue in hope that their Quéene shall be deliuered out of this inchantment so that euer since the time of hir inchanting this Kingdome hath ben ruled by gouernours and not one hether to hath borne the name of King but at such time as any doe enter into this ground they are sworne to deliuer the Kingdome vnto the quéene Artidea at such time as she is deliuered out of that inchaunted caue At this present he y t is gouernour of this country is a yong knight of great vertue wisdome whose name is Luziro and diuers then be y t be cunning in Art magicke that haue told him y t in the time of his gouernment the quéene shall be set at libertyâ—… from the Inchantment of Artidon so y t they doe looke for hir deliuery daily This is sir Knight that which I haue heard declared and spoken by ancient men and héere I do tell you of a truth that the kéepers of that caue haue caused so great seare in all this country that of long time there hath benâ—… no Knight so hardy to giue the enterprise vnto the caue â—… I doe not thinke him to be a wise man that will put himselfe to proue this aduenture for that hether to ther hath not bell a Knight of so much prowes as to conquer the first kéeper it is to be beleeued that the caue is not kept by that alone bull but y t ther is some other keeper as ill or worse then heâ—… The Knight of Cupid was glad and did very much reioyce at this good newes which the shepheard had told him of this aduenture giuing him great thanks for the same he said that for any thing he would not let but giue the en ter prise thereto if the day were come Whereat the shep heardes were greatlie amazed and did request him aâ—… that they might to leaue and giuâ—… ouer this determination and not to put himselfe into such perill for y t by no meanes he could escape the death or els to be very sore hurt At this time theyr poore supper was ready and set vpon the gréene grasse wheras they sate downe to supper together when they had supped the Shepheards went and tooke their rests slept the Knight of Cupid did solitarily put himself a part and sate downe vpon the grasse vnder a trée there passed that night with great desire to proue the entry of the caue thought the night a thousand yeere til that day was come How the Knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened there Chap. 5. SO the next day in the morning when the Sunne began to shew himselfe ouer all the earth the worthy Knight of Cupid arose vp and looked for the shepheards and saw them where they lay all a long vppon the gréene grasse and were all a sléepe very soundly without all care as those that were not troubled with any kind of sorrow for to disturbe them of their rest and calling to remembrance the great number of nights y t he had passed wholy without any sléepe or taking any rest of his great â—…ares and profound thoughts that did not all onely bannish â—…way all sleepe in y e night but also in y e day time it brought â—…im into excéeding admiration which did sore trouble his â—…houghts caused him to lift vp his eyes to heauen say Oh Fortune how little are we bound vnto thée all we whom thou hast brought into this world with dignitye â—…nd honour and caused vs to exercise and vse all military Knighthood it had béene much better for vs and with greaâ—…er ease quiet rest void of all care â—…to passe our times in â—… meane and a base estate héere in these gréene and flouriâ—…ing fieldes whereas is all the quietnesse in the world And not with so much pleasure in the courts of Kings and Princes whereas we doe see make captiue our owne liberties and venture our liues and honours euery houre agayne if it be not with losse of bloud and great perils he is not worthy of honour nor to beare the name of a Knight but doth greatly defame the order of Knighthoode wharas they sléepe passe the sweet nights with great quietnesse receiue no infamie nor rebuke but doe comfort and reioyce themselues all night long with the peceable freshnes of the aire wheras is all quietnesse of the wild beasts the silence of the birds the pittering noyse of the running of waters y e great freshnesse of the trees the swéet odoriferous smels of all flowers which I say is vnto the soule hart a continuall peace concord in the breake of the day a
the same high way where hée went a great number of Knights which seemed vnto him that they were in battaile they so beesturred themselues and therewith hée did amend his pace to know what it should meane and when he came nigh vnto them hée saw that it was more them twentie knights who had compassed about one alone Knight who was a of a very big stature and armed with blackarmour who made battaile with them all and did defend himself verie stoutly and strongly and had ouerthrowen wounded to the ground sixe of them so that hée séemed to bée a valyant Knight and of good estimation When the Knight of Cupide had well marked him and saw him so valiantly defend himselfe he receiued great contentment and determined to succor him in that conflict perswading him that the truth and right was on his part for that there was so manie against one and without any more tarrying hée set spurres to his Horse sides and with his Sword in his hand hée put himselfe in the middest of them that had compassed him about and before that hee stroke any blow hée sayd Knights holde your handes and bee in quyet a while and let mée vnderstand what is the occasion of this battaile that so manie Knights are against one All of them did well heare and vnderstand what he sayd but the answere which they made vnto him was that they all stroke at him as they which made no reckoning of him which was a sorrowfull houre for some of them for that when the knight of Cupid dyd sée their villanie his anger dyd presently increase and he lift vp his strong arme and stroke one of them vpon y e healme that â—…e cloue his head downe to his shoulders so that he fel from â—…is horse dead to the earth he was scarce downe when the stroke another vpon y e shoulder so that hée cloue him to the breast and besturred himselfe amongst them with so great fury that béefore they did perceiue their losse and harme hée had ouerthrowen halfe of them to the ground When this mightie knight who first made battaile with them all saw himselfe succoured and aided in that time as hee thought his life to bée lost hée receiued great ioy and contentment and was very much amazed to sée the straunge curtesie of that Knight and the furious strokes which hee gaue vnto his contraries the which was such that if hée had not seene it with his owne eyes hee would neuer haue beeléeued it and with that new and vnlooked for aide succour his strength and courage did so increase that he stroke such a blow vpon the arme of one of them that was next him that hee cut it cleane a sunder and it fell to the ground holding his shéelde fast and hée stroke another vpon the head that hée cloue it to the eyes and ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground so that afterward they could not strike any more blows for that the rest of the Knights séeing the great slaughter and effusion of blood which those two Knights made thought their liues in small securitie and fled away with all the hast they could béeing to the number of sixe or seauen knights so that these two valiaunt knights were left alone when the knight with the black armour saw himselfe cléere from his contraries hée lift vp his beauer and went vnto the knight of Cupide saying O gentle knight the best that euer was séene for I beleeue that in all the world is not thy like wherewith she bée able to greatifie this good turne which you haue done vnto mée I cannot surely with lesse then to offer my life so that next vnto God by you I haue my life at least wayt deliuered mée that I was not carried away prisoner whiâ—… would haue béene vnto mée more grieuous then my deaâ—… Sir knight saide Rosicleer your great valour doth deserâ—… far more then this and I doo account my selfe verie wâ—… satisfied for that I haue done dooing it for so worthie knight as you neuerthelesse I desire you to tell mée if yâ—… are of this Country what is the occasion that you had this battaile against so many knights To whom this Knight replied This question which you doe demannd of me doth require long time to declare and for that these Knights belongeth vnto the King of this Countrie whom we haue had this controuersie with I doe beleeue that when these that be run away shall come before him he will send a number more of knights after vs therefore me thinkes it shall doe well that we apart our selues out of this way goe vp towards the mountaine there we shall be sure not to meete with them and riding by the way I will declare vnto you the whole effect of this that you doe demaund These words which he spake liked well the Knight of Cupid therewith they departed from that place and went towards certaine mountaines which were towardes the right hand then the knight with the blacke armour began to make relation vnto the knight of Cupid and said Sir Knight you shall vnderstand that I am called Sacridoro not long since was King of Antiochia as rich and prosperous as any other king could bée but Fortune hath pursued me in such sort shewed hir selfe so rigorous vnto me that in a very short time I haue lost my Kingdome and am left all alone bannished from a great number of very good knights which I had continually with me some of them â—…e dead slaine other some in prison the occasion of all this hath bâ—…n that the king Polidarco lord of this country hath a daughter whose name is Oriselua a very faire damsell endurd with many good graces Princelike conditions to whom I did do at this present beare great loue which was the occasion that I did demaund hir in mariage of the king hir father who would not giue hir vnto me in consideration that in times past he had certaine controuersies with the king my Father for which cause I did moue wars with him thinking by force to get that which by â—…he way of request I could not obtaine Wherevpon either of vs did ioyne and gather together the greatest armie that possible we could so that in the end we ioyned in battaile wheras my cruell fortune destinie would that all my campe was broken destroyed I escaped out of the field by great aduenture by reason that I had no people knights nor souldiers for to defend my kingdome in few daies they made a conquest of all without leauing me either towne or village wherein I might rest my selfe yea although I doe sée my selfe so destroyed ouerthrowen yet the loue is so great that I haue vnto the princesse Oriselua that I cannot goe out of this country for that I would euery day heare some newes of hir although I haue procured to goe in all the
boat by Florion And in â—…aying these words he did open his shirt at his breast dyd how the signe of the Sun which was vpon his right side So when Rosicleer had well vnderstood what the worthy Knight of the Sunne had sayde and knowing him by his face and by the signe of the Sun on his body He saw before him the present romedy of all his sorow which was such of so great force that neuer in all his life he receiued the like And againe in knowing his brother the knight of the Sun he receiued so great ioy and pleasure and was so glad that as one halfe amazed and from himselfe he imbrased him and so remained a good while without any power to speake not knowing whether it was of a truth that which he had séene or some false vision with the which many times he hath beâ—… deluded But after many amorous and comfortable words of the knight of the Sun he was fully certified and put out of all doubt returned a new to embrace him shedding many salt tears which distilled downe his brest he said as followeth Oh diuine power maiestie of him that the heauens and earth doth gouerne how haue I deserued so great merite that at such time as I was in the greatest fauour of fortune I was vpon a sodaine brought vnto the estate to be ouer throwen downe into the pit And by thée I am reserued comforted haue attained to know him to bee my brother which is the most famous knight in all the world whom I thought to be my great and mortall enemie Oh my Lord and knight of the Sunne acknowledge this knight of Cupid which is the same Rosicleer who you going in the small bark at the Iland of the gyant did deliuer froÌ„ death although I doe not deserue so great a benefit yet I giue you to vnderstand that I am your brother and both borne at one time at one byrth of the high mighty empresse Briana at such time as she was at the Monestary of the Riuer being with childe by our high mighty father the Emperour Trebatio And by a misfortune which happened vnto the nurse who did nourish bring and vs vp for hir owne children you were lost in a small boate which by the furious force of a mighty deepe perillous Riuer and with the swift course therof you were caried into the maine sea and ther was tossed vp downe till such time as you were found by Florion the Prince of Persia. The two pages which was in another quadran hard by to watch them with the noise which the Knight of the Sun did make at such time as he arose out of his bed they did awake heard all that passed betwixt the two Knights who being almost from themselues with the great ioy pleasure they receiued they toke a torch that was light in that quadran without making themselues ready they went running vnto the place wheras the Emperour Trebatio the empresse Briana lay were a sléepe And neuer rested knocking giuing great blowes at the dore till such time as they were answered by the gard that kept them And the pages in great hast willed them to open the dore for that they brought vnto the Emperour the most ioyfullest newes that euer in all his life he receiued The gard who did know the pages by their speach béeing very much amazed therat did open the dore and they without any staying went in with the burning torch in their hands wheras the Emperour the empresse were a sléepe and with a high and loud voice they sayd Oh high mightie Emperour Trebatio and you soueraigne Empresse Briana arise vp from your beads and you shall sée the knight of the sun and the knight of Cupid aliue And by the great prouidence of God they are knowne to be bretheren The one is the gentleman of the Sunne and the other is Rosicleer both your lost sonnes So when the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana heard that newes of so great ioy and pleasure without any more tarrying they arose out of their beds and couered them selues with certaine mantells which were very rich and in great hast they forthwith went â—…nto the quadran or lodging whereas they left them So when the Empresse came vnto their lodging she did behold â—…he christalline face of Rosicleer who did know the same although she had not séene him of long time againe hée was very much growne in bignesse of his body person But when she was fully certified that to be most true which was told hir without tarrying for the Emperour she ran vnto him did imbrace him with great loue ioy and toke him out of the armes of the knight of the Sun who was in his shirt embraced with him But the great ioy which the Empresse receiued to haue him in hir armes was such that she had no power to speake in a great space But in the end with shedding of great abundance of teares she did reprehend him for being so long away from hir In this time the Emperour came did imbrace the knight of the Sun with so great pleasure that scarcely he could kéepe himselfe vpright Who when he saw the Emperour he kneeled down before him asked of him his hands for to kisse them said It may please your highnesse to giue vnto me your hands as vnto the knight of the Sun your faithfull seruant where with I may wholy intirely reioyce my selfe enioy that great benefit which the high gods this night hath permitted that I should know for father him whom vnto their diuine power doth make equall The knight of the Sun had noâ—… more time for to speak for that the Emperour did embraceâ—… him made him to arise from the ground kissed him with great loue as much for that he was the knight of the Sun as for that hee knew him to bee his childe And in shedding many teares which ranne downe by theiâ—… chéekes for great ioy he embraced him again said Oh 〈◊〉 loyall faithfull friend and louing sonne with what wordâ—… shall I giue thanks vnto my soueraigne Lord god for thâ—… great benefit which he hath shewed vnto me this night tâ—… acknowledge my selfe to be father vnto him who is the flâ—… wer of all knighthood in the world without knowing hiâ—… to be sonne is the onely person that I most loued anâ—… made accompt of in all the world Surely I know nâ—… what to say but to receiue it for so great a merit that it séemeth vnto me that I doe lack force and strength for to conceiue it In this time the pleasant amorous words which passed betwixt the faire Empresse Briana hir son Rosicleer was with so great ioy pleasure they receiued so great contentment that I know not wherto to compare it but vnto that ioy which the Emperour Trebatio the
manifest your high and mightie power wherfore did you not onely make mée and no other to bée the deseruer of him that onely doth deserue to inioye my great beautie and fayrenesse Wherfore did you make another so equall vnto mée which is the occasion that I doo sustaine this great griefe I would it were your diuine pleasure that séeing alone I doo deserue the Knight of the Sunne that the Princesse Claridiana might hée shée for that shée beeing the onely deseruer of him will bée the occasion to excuse béetwixt vs a great iealousie and cruell contention for that I had rather to account my selfe vnworthie of such a Knight then to inioy him with so equall a companion for that neither of vs in this sort can liue in any securitie but will rather bée a continuall dying for béeing vnto one alone the remembraunce of the other will bée the occasion of great daunger and shée which should bée forgotten in remembring the victorie of the other would cause in hir a cruell and mortall griefe Oh I am without all good Fortune what shall I dooe considering that I am none but my selfe whether shall I goe béeing a prisoner What comfort shall I take séeing that I am whithout all remedy What counsaile shall I take hauing no vnderstanding neither is there any power to perswade mée to reason but will rather the more increase my sorrow and griefe What shall I doo if I doo remaine héere I shall lack reson to sustaine my selfe considering my high estate will cause a farther griefe againe the sight of the knight of the Sunne cannot bee so ioyfull vnto mée as the presence of Claridiana will bée hurtfull And if I depart out of this Countrie and returned vnto mine owne it will be no other thing but to separate the life and soule from the body And to liue without the presence of the Knight of the Sunne will bée a life vnto mée as vnto those who are in the darke and see no light But alasse what do I say although they receiue nor sée no light yet the paine doth not trouble them but it I do finde my selfe banished out of the presence of the knight of the Sunne there can bée no paine in the world compared vnto that which I shall suffer Oh Knight of the Sunne how mightie and straunge is your Fortune that onely in your haÌ„ds doth remaine the whole remedie of the Princesse Lindabrides shee who in beautie and fairenesse is excellent and doth excéede and amongst all Ladies is the most highest and yet will let to giue hir remedie but rather condempne hir vnto cruell death Wherefore haue I so many Lordshippes and kingdoms with so many thousaads of people which the diuine Gods hath giuen vnto mee when that with all those ioyntly with my straunge exquisite beautie I cannot subiect the will of one alone Knight The sorrowfull Princesse Lindabrides had scarce made an ende of saying these words when that voyde of all memorie and vnderstanding shée remayned vpon hir bed as one that were dead whereas shée remained all that night without comming againe to hir selfe With no lesse sorrow and griefe the worthie Knight of the Sunne passed away the night without sléepe calling to minde all that had passed béetwixt him and the Princesse Lindabrides and the great loue which vnto that day he bare vnto hir ioyntlye with his meruailous surpassing beautie which was in such sort figuâ—…ed in his hart that it made great resistance against the loue which he had vnto the princesse Claridiana in especiall when she was not in presence But being both present y e great liking he had of the royall Princes did almost ouer come him who at that time neither more nor lesse did take as little caÌ„se as the others did sléepe For that the great loue which she had vnto the knight of the Sun did not let but put some doubt in that which hir wounded hart so much desired And although the highnesse of hir estate the excellency of hir beauty did almost wholy perswade hir of securitie that the knight of the Sun would not forget hir Yet the sight of the princes Lindabrides and hir remaining in the court did cause in hir some Ielosie not knowing what would bee the end of that hir demaund Likewise she had great doubt in hir hope For that at such time as the princesse should returne into hir owne country the knight of the Sun could not doe â—…o the contrary but to beare hir company so that the continuall conuersation of them two together would be the occasion of that which being in hir presence might be excused So with these such like thoughts they passed away the night â—…n the which the good knight of Cupid neither more nor lesse did not sléepe very much whose passions are not to be accouÌ„ed nor compared with the rest For if I should héere declare â—…ll that euer he passed for his lady mistresse the faire prinâ—…es Oliuia all this history were not sufficient to hold it alâ—…hough it were very much bigger It is sufficient that he pasâ—…ed away the night with no lesse care then the others that â—… haue told you of although his passions were not so strauÌ„ge â—…nto him as it was vnto the other their griefes But the fuâ—…e of his sorow was somewhat apeased with the hope that â—…e had for to be reuenged on him who was the occasion of â—…ll his euill mortall paine So at that time it was â—…oysed 〈◊〉 the great Citie of Constantinople and in all the whole Empire of Greece the great army that was making in a redinesse in england the occasion wherfore they did ordaine the same Which was the occasion that the sorowfull knight of Cupid did thinke euery day a whole yeare with the great desire he had to sée himselfe with the prince don Siluerio not for that he would haue any recompence at his hands for that it séemed vnto him that he was in no fault but onely to giue to vnderstand vnto the princes Oliuia the small reason that she had so for to cast him off So in this sort they passed away all that night very conformable in their sléeping rests but very different in their variable and pensiue thoughts Who the valiant Rodaran was and the Damsell and the occasion wherefore they came vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio Cap. 28. THe comming of this valiant knight Rodaran vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio was not so voide of occasion but that there was comprehended there in great discâ—…ipt mischiefe treason an euill preiudiciall vnto all Christendome hurtfull vnto the best princes Knights therin All the which came in such order knit put together that it lacked but little all to be lost if it had not ben by the diâ—…ine prouidence who forgetting the offences 〈◊〉 his people did by his infinit mercy goodnesse prouide a remedy although many times for the sins of the
shewing hir selfe pleasant many times they asked of hir the occasion offering to doe all that was possible whereby she might receiue ioy And she answered them with great dissâ—…mulatton saying that ther was nothing that caused hir to be so sad but onely because shee could neuer heare any newes of hir brother the prince Meridian since his departure from hir Then the Emperour beleeuing it to be as she had told him presently sent abroad knights into all parts to seeke him dailye did comfort the princesse 〈◊〉 that beefore long hir brother Meridian would come thether Likewise at this time the good knight Rosicleer was not altogether at his ease for that idlenesse and eass was the occasion that he called to remembrance things passed in such sort that the old wound of his loue began to renue feaster againe so that within few daiâ—…ee that he had remained in Constantinople his owne naturall country habitation waxed 〈◊〉 vnto him the â—…onuersation of his father mother brother for that he could not receiue any pleasure or delight did cause vnto him great 〈◊〉 griefe did abâ—…orre their companie all his delight â—…as to be alone to any place wher mirth pastime was â—…e could not abide All the which increased in him so much that in the end he determined with himselfe to doe that as â—…eereafter shall bée told you ¶ How the Empresse Briana was deliuered of a sonne and of the great feasts that were made at his birth Chapter 52 IT is said in this famous history that the mightie emperour Trebatio had another and the third son by the faire empresse Briana of whom is made great mencion in the second part of this history for that was one of the most mightiest famous knights in all the world that next vnto his singuled bretheren the knight of the Sun Rosicleer ther was none equall vnto him many times combatting with his bretheren vnknowen he put theÌ„ in great hazard with either of them he hath maintayned battaile almost a whole day in the end it was very small the vantage they had of him so that this valiant knight did finish so many mortall déedes that they deserue to be spoken of to be put in the number of his bretheren in all other things as in body stature he was conformable equal vnto them did resemble so much the knight of the Sun in his face that many times he was taken for him if it were not that he was of fewer yéeres with great difficulty might you know the one from the other This valiant fortunat prince as the wise Artemidoro saith was borne straight after the emperour and all his company came from the kingdome of Lidia for that when that stout Pagan Rodaran came into Greece the empresse was very big with child It doth apéere that the wise Lirgandeo doth make difference for hée doth make no mencion of this yong gentleman till the conclusion of the great battailes which they passed betwéene the emperour Alicandro of Tartaria and the Emperour Trebatio of Greece from which time he doth declare meruailous wonderfull things done by him I doe beléeue that the occasion of this is because that the wise Lirgandeo did not sée him till such time as he came into Greece made no mention of him till all the battaile was finished at such time as the emperour all the rest tooke their rest with great ioy pleasure after the great trauaile which they receiued in the wars past for that at this time the young gentleman was verye tender of yeares passed not sixe yéeres of age so that till that time ther is no more mention made of him then is in this chapter but afterwards these two wise men doe begin to writ of him meruailous great wonderfull déeds doo both agrée in their writings When the time was come that this royall empresse should be deliuered ther chaunced a thing of great admiration meruaile which did shew declare a very high and great mistery in the birth of this â—…hild which was that night and very moment that he was borne the Moone did shine so bright cleere threw from hir such glistering beames of light that it seemed to bee the Sun the most part of all the earth was so cléere as commonly it is in the morning when the Sunne doth spred hir beames abroad This was seene iust at midnight did endure for the space of halfe a quarter of an houre iâ—… it put all those that saw it in great admiration those which afterwards heard tell thereof greatly meruailing thereat they demaunded of the wise men what that strange token might singnifie ther was none that could declare the signification therof but onely the wise Artemidore who was at that present in Constantinople who did tell them plainly that it did proâ—…nosticat shew that the features deedes of that yong prince should so cléerely shine in the obscure dark regions of the barbarous people as the moone did shew hir shining light in the obsure darknesse of the night And time did come that it was perfectly seene proued to be true all that this wise man had told them for that by his occasion the most part of the orientall regions were turned into the christian faith and true beléefe in Iesus Christ. After this which the wise man had told him as also for that the child was borne very faire The Emperour and the empresse his sons were very glad ioyfull all the knights of the court the citizens began to make great feasts and pastimes for the birth of the new prince the which endured in the Citie for the space of one moonth afterwards as the child did increase in yeeres so did he increase in bounty and bignesse of body in such sort that all men meruailed greatly ther at and said that according vnto the wonderfull tokens séene at the birth of that child it could not be but that hee should recouer as great fame be as singuler in bounty as his bretheren And many times the princesse Claridiana the faire princesse Lindabrides did take him in their armes and shewes him great ioy loue for that he was brother vnto the knight of the Sun said that neuer in all their 〈◊〉 they saw a childe of so great perfection but this was nothing to that which they would haue done if they had knowen how that be should quench the fury perillous discord that was betwéene them for certaintie if it had not ben done by him neither the oue nor the other should haue liued in security and for that this history shall make perfect relation in his time at this time ther shall be no more said till such time as the wise men in their writing of this happy prince shall agree in one be conformable which shall be at
would haue giuen a good part of his countrie for to haue had them remained in his court presently gaue vnto those ladies and Damsels all the castles and lands of Fulmineo in recompence of the great harme and damage which they receiued of him The Emperour as well as all the rest that did border vpon the countrie of Fulmineo gaue great laude and praise vnto god béecause he was out of the world and would very faine haue séene and knowen that knight that had so much force and strength for to kill him How the knight of the Sunnne and the faire Princesse Lindabrides went forwards on their iourney towards the great Tartaria and of the stout battayle that the knight of the Sunne had with the Troian Oristides Chapter 55. LOng tyme dyd the knight of the Sunne and the fayrâ—… Princesse Lindabrides trauayled together towards thâ—… gran Tartaria with great maiestie in hir triumphant Chariot which did manifest their high estate vnto all that saâ—… them In this sort they trauayled without happening vnto them any thing worth the telling till they came vnto a conuenient port whereas they might embarke themselues towards the gran Tartaria and by reason of the continuall conuersation of the Princesse and the Knight of the Sunne and the great beautie and soueraigne grace of the Princes Lindabrides which continually in the eyes of the Knight of the Sunne dyd worke effect in such sort that what so euer contrary might bee presented before him was not sufficient but that his hard and stonie hart must of force be molified and cloue it a sunder in the middest in such sort that the old wound did rankle a new and hée put in far greater extremities then at the first béeginning for that the Princesse Lindabrides depriued him of all his sences and as the Diamond stone dooth draw yron vnto him so dooth shée bring vnto hir all his thoughts so that the Princesse Claridiana by reson of hir absence the remembrance of hir great beautie is forgotten and the wound which hee receiued at his heart by hiâ—… singular beautie is not now felt by reason of the great griefe of the Princesse béeing present so that his eyes could béehould no other comfort nor pleasure neither dooth his thoughts desire any other glorie so that hée dooth not occupie himselfe in any other thing but to serue hir and to gieue hir all the contentment possible hir presence â—…s vnto him great ioy comfort and pleasure and hir abâ—…ence great sorrow paine and griefe When the Sun should â—…rise hée sayth that it is slouthfull and when that it goeth â—…owne hee sayth that it flyeth for that all the day time hée â—…oth reioyce himselfe with the sight and conuersation of the â—…rincesse and the night dooth separate them a sunder the â—…ne from the other At this time you may béeléeue that the â—…rincesse Lindabrides was more gladder and ioyefull then â—…hen she was in the citie of Constantinople in the presence â—…f the Princesse Claridiana for now séeing hir Knight by 〈◊〉 and considering the great loue which shée bare vnto hir 〈◊〉 in the waâ—… trauayling towards the Court of the Emâ—… Alycandro hir father hir contented pleasure was so great that shée neuer thought to bée so merrie neyther to inioy so great glory So when they came vnto the sea â—…ide they imbarked themselues in a very fayre and great ship wherein they put themselues into the power of the waues And vpon a day when the knight of the Sun found himselfe alone with the princesse Lindabrides amongst other matters which passed béetwéene them hee sayde Lady and Princesse of the gran Tartaria if I dyd thincke that my ouer much paine and inward griefe were perfectly knowen vnto you then would not I at this present declare it neyther the remedie for the same would I craue at your hands for if you my Lady and Mistres did vnderstand and know how grieuously I doo féele it and in you to raigne any good will to doo mee good then would you of your proper good will procure to put remedy to the same without my asking for that I cannot beeléeue nor thinke that it is possible that Nature hath formed a Damsell endued with so great beauty soueraigne grace that it doth surmount all which at this present are borne and should lacke in you pittie the which is an extremitie amongst Damsels for whereas any pittie doth dwell they cannot bee without compassion and hauing comassion to procure to put remedie in so sorrowfull a hart as mine is which in euery houre and moment is in liuely flames burning and languishing in burning coales The shining beames of your sight hath so kindled my thoughts that they be all occupied in your seruice and hath likewise scorched all my inward parts and all my sences are blinde my body all to peeces and my soule as immortal alwaies Therefore Lady I doo desire you that although my paine is equall vnto that which they haue that are condemned to the proâ—ound lake yet that in our remedies wée 〈◊〉 bee different that the mercy which doth lack for theÌ„ let it be in you for to help mee that I may bée cleere froÌ„ so terrible a fire And doo not delay any longer my remedy for my griefe is so great that it cannot suffer any delay because that therby I may bée brought vnto such extremitie that then you would shew me this pleasure of remedy then shall not I be able to receiue it at your hands And in concluding these words the knight of the Sun with as great courage as euer he had went vnto hir kissed hir on one of hir faire cheekes Then the princesse who very wel vnderstood the woords of the knght of the Sun his desire although she was very glad ioyfull to see the great loue that he did beare hir which was the thing that she did most desire yet for all that she was so full of honesty adorned with so great maiestie highnesse that she was cleane contrary vnto the purpose of the knight of the Sun would rather consent to die then to yeeld vnto any such thing and so making some semblaunce as though she were angry accompanied with great grauitie she answered him and said Knight of the Sun my very good perfect friend I would neuer haue beléeued that the true perfect loue which I haue borne vnto you should haue ben recompeâ—…ced w t the like singleneâ—… puritie of loue to haue proceeded from a pure perfect thought for that of mine owne part I haue alwaies thought to be sure in the great force strength of your person I had alwaies hope of defence against such like reproch at such time as I was most captiue and ouercome by loue most kindled in the burning flames therof I hoped in your soueraigne vertue to haue found defence for my imbeâ—… but now alasse I find all to be contrary and cleane changed from my
and if hée did come see me hauing my perfect remembrance my pleasure contented ioy should be such that in all things I should thinke my selfe happy if death did take me in Rosicleers armes Lady saide Fidelia let all such matters passe and let vs be diligent in that which is most conuenient to reserne the life of you and Rosicleer and to make all things sure for that which is to come for with death you can put small remedy in that which is past Ah my Fidelia said the Princesse one euill béeing past another is come doo you not sée this my close kéeping and how fast my Father hath mée in this tower that of a thousand other damsells I cannot bée seene And aboue all this hée hath promised vnto Don Siluerio that within these foure daies hée will marry mée vnto him and deliuer mée in his power to lead my life with him therefore my good friend imagine with your selfe what is best to bee done in this my great trouble for that I know not what I should say Fidelia likewise was at hir wittes end not knowing what was best to bée done for that the tower whereas they were was so strong and the windowes of so great height that it was not possible for any to enter into the tower except it were by the gate So that both of them passed away the day in great confusion and likewise the night without sleeping any whit at all but talking and imagining what was best to bée done in that so dangerous and perillous a case How Fidelia departed from the Court and went to speake with rosicleer at the Monasterie wheras shee left him Chapter 58. WHen the next morning was come Fidelia said vnto the princesse that forasmuch as beetwixt them two they could finde no remedie how and by what meanes Rosicleer might come and speake with hir that if it were hir pleasure shee would goe vnto the place whereas shée left them sée if they could determine some meanes for to disturb this that the king did determine to doo with Don Siluerio set hir at liberty out of that secret bondage The which counsaile séemed very good vnto the Princesse and commaunded hir presently to goe foorth and put it in vre But how is it possible to go forth the king hauing y e keyes of the tower Feare not for this said Fidelia for I haue good remedy for the same And in saying this she went vnto a window and séeing an ancient man thát passed vp downe calling him vnto hir she bad him to come nigh vnto the tower and said vnto him Good man for gods loue I do desire thée to do so much for me as to go vnto the king to tell him that Fidelia the damsell of the Princesse Oliuia would speake with him about certayne matters which dooth accomplish very much hir highnesse that I would desire him to commaund the gate of the tower to bée opened that I may come foorth This ancient man tooke his leaue of hir promised to performe hir request So he went vnto y e king and declared the message of Fidelia who wheÌ„ he heard it was very glad and ioyfull beeléeuing that it was concerning that which he had sayd vnto hir deliuered the keyes vnto his chamberlaine who was a very honest old man and commanded him to go to open the tower gate that Fidelia might come out Then the chamberlaine did as hée was commanded Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the Princesse went vnto the king and taking him on the one side somwhat a part shée sayd Soueraigns Lord you shall vnderstand that I haue got the victorie of the princesse shée sayth that seeing it is your pleasure shée is very wel content to marry with the prince Don Siluerio and if she hath not hetherto consented the occasion hath ben hir yong tender age and also considering the great wars which is looked for shée knew not how God would dispose with hir husband for that hée is a young and very couragious by reason wherof he would put himselfe wheras should bée the greatest peril and danger At which words the king receiued so great contentment that hee sayde vnto Fidelia There is nothing in the world that doeth so much content mée for to marry hir against hir will would bée a griâ—…uous corsiue vnto my hart and therewith hée cast his armes about hir neck and embraced hir and gaue hir great thanks for hir trauaile therein and promised hir for hir paines taken to marry hir very honourably If it please your highnesse sayd Fidelia the Princesse my Lady willeth mée to goe vnto the Monastery of Nuns that is twelue miles froÌ„ this Citie to commÌ„aund them to make certaine workes which shee hath great neede of Let it bee done in Gods name sayd the King goe thy wayes and God send thee good speede And heerwith Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the king very ioyfull and shee beeing gone the king presently sent for don Siluerio and when hee came hee sayde vnto him how the Princesse was content to bee married vnto him and that all things should bée made readie for the marriage But when the prince don Siluerio heard that newes there was no ioy and pleasure in the world that might bee compared vnto his and béeing proud with the same hée went and gaue all his knights vnderstanding therof and presently it was published throughout all the Citie for the which they were very ioyfull and the preparation for the feasts and triumphs went forwarde more then it dyd beefore Then Fidilia who in all this time dyd not sleepe but in great hast trauayled towards the monasterie whereas shee left the two knights and at hir comming thether Rosicleer receiued hir with great pleasure for hée thought euerie houre hée trauailed to bée a whole yéere And when shee had declared vnto him the whole estate of all things and of the great ioy which the Princesse receiued for his comming one way hée was very ioyfull for that his Lady shewed him so great loue and another way hée was in great confusion not knowing what order might bée taken for to deliuer his Lady and mistresse out of that great perplexitie in the which shée was brought with the which shée was brought with the marriage of the prince Don Siluerio but in the ende after great debating beetwéene them the king Sacridoro who receiued as great griefe for the sorrow of his friend as though it had been vnto himselfe My good Lord and friend that which I can say is this that for these and such like attempts god did ordaine knights in the world for to surpasse others and so likewise to bee in greater perâ—…ls for to doo such things that should séeme to surpasse and exceede nature and to appeare straunge vnto others for if the lustaining of perils were equall in all degrees then for very little should serue the extremitie of knights for that they should not finde
declared vnto Flamides the great loue which hee bare vnto Lindaraza and â—…esired him that he might haue the carrying of her vnto the Court of the Emperour hir father for that his determinaâ—…ion was to demaund hir for his wife and according vnto â—…he great loue and friendship that was beetwixt them they â—…éeleeued verily that shee should not bée denyed Then Flamines who receiued greater contentment thereat then at any other thing sayd that hée was very well content and that hée should doo him great pleasure therein So béetwixt them both it was consented that they all together should depart from thence the next day Whereas this Historie dooth leaue them till time dooth serue for to tell you what happened vnto the Prince Brandizel How the Prince Brandizel was deliuered from the torment of the Sea and what happened vnto him afterwards Chapter 63. IN great peril to be drowned the prince Brandizel found himselfe in that furious torment which chaunced vnto them at the Sea but God would not permit that such a knight as hée was should dye but first to acknowledge his Christian lawe dyd direct his fortune in such sort that the planke wheron he swam was carryed by those vniuersall and great rouling waues vnto the shoare which séemed to bée very good fresh and fertiel When this wearyed and afflicted Prince was a land hée knew the Countrie for that hée had béene in it béefore and it was the kingdome of Polonia whereas hée did deliuer and cleere out of the power of the Gyant the fayre Princesse Clarinea his Lady and for that hée knew the Countrie very well one way hée was very sad and sorrowfull for the great perill in the which remained hir very friend Clauerindo otherwise hée was the gladdest man in all the world for that hée was in that Countrie and so nigh vnto the Princesse his Lady but when hée considered with himselfe that hée was on foot and so euill intreated with the sea hee was ashamed so to shew himselfe béefore the King neyther knew hée noâ—… what to doo nor whether hee might goe for to remedie him selfe in that necessitie The time of the yéere as then was very hot and after that hée had dryed himselfe in the Sun hée put himselfe into a gallant fresh greene Forrest which was along the sea side comming vnto a fountaine of very cleere 〈◊〉 christalline water shadowed with boughs of verye greene 〈◊〉 odoriferous treâ—…s he stooped and dronke of the same wateâ—… after he had well refreshed himsâ—…lfe he saâ—…e downe vpon 〈◊〉 gréene grasse pulled off his helme laid himselfe downe what with the pittering of the leaues of the trees 〈◊〉 with the pleasant aire likewise with the swéet noise of the running of the water he fell in a sound sleepe being ther a 〈◊〉 the king of Polonia who was on hunting in the same forrest chanced with his knights for to come vnto the same place when the king his knights did first see him they were greatly amazed to see a knight of so gentle disposition to lie along vpon the grasse especially in that place but by reason his helme was off they did very much behold him in the end they knew him to be the prince Brandizel 〈◊〉 great friâ—…nd at the which he was greatly amazed for to see him ther alone without any horse yet was he the gladst man in all the world did alight from his horse went vnto him and shaking him by the armes the prince did awake out of his sleepe when he knew the king he was much amazed with a trise hee arose vp and went for to kisse his hands but the king who did loue him very well did embrace him with gâ—…eat loue and asked him how he came into that country all alone by what aduenture To whom y e prince said with great desire to serue your 〈◊〉 there he declareâ—… vnâ—…o him all that hapned vnto him vnto the prince Clauerindo vnderstanding all the king was very sorowfull for the great perill and danger in the which the prince Clauerindo remained although he thought all for the best was very glad to see in that country the prince Brandizel for that he had a great dâ—…sire to maâ—…ie him vnto the princes Clarinea his daughter for that it séemed vnto him to be one of the beâ—…t knights in all the world So after that there had passed béetwixt them manye things the king commaunded a horse to be giuen vnto the prince so they departed together vnto the citie of Poloniâ—… which was but foure miles from that place whereas they were meruailouâ—…ly well reteined but especially of the princes whose ioy pleasure was such that it could not be rehersed at such time as she vnderstood of the comming of him whom hir hart so greatly desired and whom she thougâ—…t so long for his comming The history cannot héere detaine him selfe long but onely how that the prince remained ther certaine daies in the which time the wise Lirgandeo vnderstanding the great care in the which he was in for that he duâ—…st not marie himselfe without the lisence of his father did send him letters from the king Florion and from the quéene his mother by the which they gaue him lisence to mary with the princesse Clarinea desired him to returne sée them so soone as it was possible the prince being glad therof dyd shew them vnto the king who likewise did reioyce therat So straight wsies the mariage was made in such sort that the prince did inioy the princesse Clarineo wheras the history doth leaue them till time doth serue ¶ Of the great triumphs feasts that were made in the court of the Emperour Alycandro Chapter 64. THe day drew on in the which the mariage of the knight of the Sun with the princesse Lindabrides should be celebrated the whole citie of Neptaia with the wide broad fields were all furnished with valiant worthy well estéemed knights which séemed to be a mightie army amongst them ther lacked not high mightie kings valiant stout knights for that all the flower of the pagans were ioyned together in the court of the emperour Alicandro Wherat the knight of the Sun was greatly amazed for that if he had not séene it he could not haue beléeued that the power os any one Lord in all the world could not haue extended so far At this time the knight of the Sun was estéemed and honoured of all those mightie kings Lords and knights who thought long for the day of the triumphs for to sée by experience some part of his great bountie that was so noised abroad for that they could not beléeue that he should bée of so great force strength but that ther were a great number of pagans in that court that would shew themselues more valiaunter then he In this time the great ioy contentment which the
princes did sée that pleasant countenaunce whose all onely picture did wound hir vnto y e hart made hir to come into those parts the ioy pleasure which she receiued I am not able to expresse and hir loue did the more increase for y t it seemed vnto hir that by a great deale that royall presence that she had before hir might be compared vnto the figure which she saw in y e mountaines of Oligas Then the knight of the Sun went vnto hir said worthy gentlewoman shew vs I pray you so much 〈◊〉 as to tell vnto vs who you are for that according vnto the strange things which we do sée in you we cannot beléeue to the contrary but that you do desend from the heauens and that you are y e diuine goddesse Palas of whose sight I should thinke my selfe happie if feare did not put me in doubt to obtaine so great glory Then the princes with a merry and cherefull countenaunce did answere him and said Worthie knight your great valour doth constraine and force mée to giue you to vnderstand of all that you doe aske although when I came vnto this court it was with intent not to giue my selfe to bée knowen You shall vnderstand that I am called Claridiana and I am daughter vnto the Emperour of Trapisond and of the Empresse his wife who in hir time did exercise military knighthood for that the great fame of your high prowesse doth so far extend in the world I departed out of Trapisond for to come into these parts not for any other purpose but to proue my selfe with you And now I doe thinke my trauaile well bestowed that I haue taken for y t I doe know so mightie strong a knight Oh what great ioy contentment did the Knight of the Sun receiue when he heard these words as well for that hee did know who she was as also that she was a humane damsell wheron he might occupie his thoughts likewise the great honour that she did vnto him 〈◊〉 saying that his sonne had brought hir thether And as he would haue made an answere at the same instant came thether the mightie Emperor Trebatio who as sone as he knew the knight of y e Sun in great hast he withdrew himselfe from the window came vnto him When the knight of the Sun saw him comming with a trice he alighted from his Horse knéeling downe before him he demanded his hands to kisse them crauing pardon for that he did not before that time make himselfe to be knowen The mighty Emperour did imbrace him with entire affection shewing vnto him so great ioy pleasure as though he had knowen him to be his son hauing him in his armes he said My friend how could your hart suffer so long time to refraine to speake vnto me for certainly â—…ccording vnto the great desire which I haue had to sée you the great care that I haue had of your so long absence doth make mée say that you haue done me great wrong in not discouering your selfe vnto me in all this time that you haue ben héere My Lord answered the knight of the Sun I do acknowledge my errour wherin I haue erred yet I am worthy to be pardoned of your highnesse for that loue hath ben the occasion héereof it may please your highnesse to speake vnto this damsell who is y e soueraigne princesse Claridiana daughter vnto y e emperour of Trabisond When the emperour vnderstood therof for that before he knew nothing being very much amazed he went towards hir When the princesse saw them comming she did alight from hir horse receiued them both with a meruailous great dutifull reuerence And the emperour began first to speake vnto hir and said Since when did my desert deserue to see in my Court so great goodnesse honour certainly I shall neuer be able to doe seruice vnto God for to gratifie this great curtesie My Lord answered the princes the great valour of your person the mightinesse of this your Court doth deserue that all the rest of the princes in the world should come to serue you I for my part doe account my selfe happy to find my selfe héere whereas is ioyned together all the worthines of the whole world So after that these many other words had passed betwixt them they all thrée together went towards y e great pallace when they came thether the empresse Briana was aduertised how that the Knight of the Sun the princesse Claridiana were ther who with great ioy and pleasure went forth to méet them wheras the Empresse did imbrace the princesse with great loue and ther passed betwixt them words of great curtesie Likewise y e empresse entertained the knight of the Sun as he knéeled down before hir for to kisse hir hands the empresse did take him by the hand made him to arise vp as in his semblance he did resemâ—…le very much hir son Rosicleer as well in hir face as in the proportion and disposition of his person the teares issued from hir eyes for that it gaue hir occasion to remember hir lost sons giuing a great sigh she said within hir selâ—…e Oh that if God were so pleased to vse so great curtesie vnto me as that this knight were one of my sonnes And with hir tender hart ouercome with sorrow she said Gentle knight I finde my selfe very much grieued because you haue ben so many daies héere in this court that neither the emperour my lord nor I haue knowen you for that many daies we haue tarried looked for you as for one vnto whom we are most bound vnto in this world This my fault said the knight of the Sunne your highnesse pleasure may bee to impute it vnto the Princesse Lindabrides who hath ben the occasion therof for that in nothing I could take greater delight then to come serue my Lord the emperour your highnesse With these such like words they entred into the great pallace comming into a great faire Hall the empresse saâ—…e downe on the one side with the princesse Claridiana the emperour with the knight of the Sun saâ—…e downe on the other side of the hall whereas the one did declare vnto the other the whole discourse of all that happened vnto them after such time as they parted a 〈◊〉 in the kingdome of Hungaria either of them receyued great pleasure to heare one another In this time the faire princes Lindabrides who was in hir triumphant Chariot had no security neither receiued any contentment for hauing seene the soueraigne beauty and great maiestie of that roiall princesse Claridiana which seemed vnto hir to surmouÌ„t passe any humane iudgement or vnderstanding she waxed very heauy of Hart sorrowfull which caused to ingender in hir many â—…ealous thoughts complayned against hir gods nature for that they created so great beauty maiesty in that damsell
beauty With what reason and boldnesse dare I before the Empresse binde my selfe vnto your seruice seeing that in so short time I haue found my equall What reason is ther to the contrary that you being in the most extremity of all the damsells in the world that likewise he to be the most valiantest amongst all knights that durst be so bold to set his mind on you So these valiant Knights saying these other words vnto themselues did so much animate their couragious stomacks that eight houres were past since the beginning of their rigorous battaile at that time their wonderfull blowes séemed to be with more force strength and their horses with their great continuall labour waxed weary but these two valiant knights at that time séemed to fight with new force strength neuer ceased striking one another such terrible blowes that the standers by had their eares filled with the sound of their fine tempered armour and were so greatly amazed to sée the great trauaile that they suffered in that bartaile likewise to sée with what great force strength they did execute the same in the end of long time that they had indured séemed that ther was neuer done by them the like prowesse nor actiuitie as was done at that prelent as truth was for that neither of them in all their liues was euer brought into the like extremity or perill as they wer in this battaile nor neuer had the like feare to be ouercome But the great shame reproch with the iealousie of their honor did so much touch either of them that it made them without feeling any trauaile to procure all that in them lay for to get the victory or ele to die in the demaund So at this time the golden Diana began to shew hir light in the orientall Regions and the worthy Knight of Cudid not esteeming his owne life if hée should not get the victory of the Knight of the Sunne with both his hands raising himselfe in his stirops hée stroke him so terrible a blow that it did depriue him of his vnderstanding made him to fall backwards vpon the backe of the saddle that his head touched the horse crouper and his weary Horse carried him about that great place in such sort that all those which saw him thought that hée had béene dead But when the Princesse Claridiana did sée him in that plight hir blood waxed could within hir body and béeing sore troubled shée asked the Emperour if hée were dead or no but hée was at that wonderfull blow so troubled that hée had no power at all for to answere hir but whosoeuer at this time had séene the face of the faire Princesse Lindabrides would haue knowen by hir coulour the great loue that shée did beare vnto him but at such time as the Knight of the Sun did come agayne vnto himselfe there was neuer Lion nor furious beast more outragious then hée was and considering the great danger and perill that hee was in his out ragious heart was so full of mortall anguish with vnmeasurable wrath y t hée stroke his light horse with the Spurs and crushed his téeth together that it séemed sparkes of fire procéeded from his eyes and like vnto a whirle winde hée ran towards the Knight of Cupid who seeing him recouered againe made likewise against him with so great fury that the ground where his Horse dyd runne séemed to tremble Oh how great was the feare which the fury of these valyaunt knights caused in them that did béehold their mortall wrath comming the one against the other terrifying their vnderstanding to abide the end of their mortall blowes I doo beleeue certainly that ther was not one knight in all that place of what force and strength so euer hée was that séeing the fury of those valiant knights but hée would haue béene terrified neither was there any friend although hée had béene fully satisfied of the bountie of any of them but would haue prayed vnto God for them séeing them in that great perill The Emperour Trebatio with the great loue that hée bare vnto the Knight of the Sunne and the desire that hée had to know the knight of Cupid receiued no lesse feare then all the rest and sayd Oh mightie God thou who madest these Knights of nothing I praie and desire thee to aide and succour them and let them not execute theyr great wrath the one vppon the other neyther doe not permit that the Knight of the Sunne bée slaine béefore hée doo acknowledge thy great power and turne vnto thy lawes that his soule bee not condempned to immortall paine So the swift course of theyr furious Horses ioyned theyr encounters and the two wrathfull Knights raysing themselues in theyr stirrops pretending to make an end of theyr long and doubtfull battell with the extremitie of all theyr force and strength they stroke one another with so great wrath vpon theyr fine Helmes that although the fine edges of theyr mightie cutting swoords could not enter nor cut theyr inchanted armour yet these valiaunt Knights were so ouerlayd with the great might and power of theyr blows that the knight of Cupid was constrained to decline himselfe on the one side and therwith hee fell downe to the ground wheras he lay and mooued neither hand nor foot but was as one that were dead and the inuinsible knight of the Sun by the force of the blow was cleane voide of any vnderstanding and had likewise fallen to the ground if Fortune had not fauoured him that he fell forwards vpon the saddle bow that his head touched the Horse necke and his armes hung downe on both sides and voyded great abundance of blood out of his mouth eyes in such sort that they thought him likewise to bée as dead as the Knight of Cupid and his horse beeing tormented with that terrible blow did founder vnder him and remained without any moouing as though the bones of his legges had béene broken At which sight all those that were in that great place receiued so great sorrow and griefe at the extremitie of these two valiant Knights that thinking they had béene dead they lamented as though they had béene theyr naturall bretheren But the Princesse Lindabrides when shée saw hir Knight in that estate not hauing any power to resist so mortall a griefe had not the power to gouerne hir selfe but fell in a sound had fallen out of hir Chaire wheras shée sat if hir Gentlewomen had not ben who séeing hir in that case tooke hir in their armes and carryed hir into hir closet and laide hir vppon hir bed whereas shée had more semblaunce to bée dead then as one hauing any lyfe Likewise the Princesse Claridiana with no lesse paine and griefe did béeholde hir knight who with the mightinesse of hir couragious heart did make resistance against that amorous thought which loue caused within hir Who with no lesse sorrow and griefe when hée saw the Knights in
this extremitie and as though hée had knowen theÌ„ to bee his sons hée withdrew himselfe from the window descended downe into the great place accompanied with many Knights hée went whereas these knights were and found that they were compassed about with their perfect friends the two Princes and the king Sacridoro who lamented with great abundance of teares and caused theyr Helmes to bee pulled of and to throw water in theyr faces thinking therewith and with the aire they would come againe to themselues but all was in vaine that they did for that there was in them no other signe but as though they had béene starke dead For which occasion with dolorous griefe the Emperour commaunded them to bée carried vnto his Royall Pallace and caused their armour to bée taken off and to bée laide in seuerall beds which was in two quadrans very richly hanged ioyning the one vnto the other Then were called together the best Hhisitions and Surgions that were in all the whole citie of Constantinople who did béehold and peruse them very well tolde vnto the Emperour that they were not dead although they were in great peril of their liues Who being somwhat comforted therby commaunded that foorth-with theyr faces should be washed and made cleane that were all to bée rayed with boold and swollen and did not a little meruaile in their mindes when they saw the great beautie of the Knight of Cupid and the small quantitie of yeeres which hée séemed to haue And how that hee resembled very much the Knight of the Sunne and hée had so great loue vnto both those Knights that hée would haue giuen halfe his estate to haue seene them out of that great perill So after the Phisicions and Surgions had well perused them they found that the greatest euill which they had was wearinesse of theyr bodies and all their bones and flesh brused by the mightie force of theyr terrible blowes So they ministered vnto them very swéet and comfortable ointments and all that was necessay for them and most conuenient and commaunded that euerie man should depart from thence and lette them alone that they might sléepe and take theyr rest with onely two Pages which were in another chamber ther by with great silence that whensoeuer these knights should come vnto themselues they should call the Phisitions and Surgions In this time there was not a knight in y e citie of Constantinople neither in that great place nor in their Tents in the field as well straungers and Countrie men that did occupie themselues in any other communication but in the wonderfull and timerous battaile of these two Knights and of their mightie blowes perticularly euery thing as it was and sayde that there was neuer seene in all the world such lyke contention béetwixt two knights with so great strength force and perill neyther was any Damsell or Gentlewoman that saw the perill of these two Knights but dyd verie much lament the same and sayde that if these two Knights dyd die that the flower of all knighthood in the world was finished and ended But in this time what dyd those two Princes Brandizel and Claueryndo and his verie friend Florinaldus Surely no other thing all that night but lament for theyr very friend the Knight of the Sunne and making so great sorrow that it would haue mooued anie to haue had compassion that should haue heard them But what shall I say of that valyaunt and worthy King Sacridoro his perfect friend that when the night was come hée found himselfe all alone in that great place without the companie of his very friend the Knight of Cupid and not knowing where to lodge himselfe surely his sorrow and griefe was such that if hée thought to finde his friend the Knight of Cupid in the profound depth of the sea hée would haue throwen himselfe therin as hée did into the déepe fountaine of the sauage people for to take reuengement on that monster who carryed his friend away So hée went foorth of the Citie and béeing in the fields hee dyd alight from his horse laid himselfe downe vpon the gréene grasse whereas hee passed away all that night with great lamentation béewayling y e misfortune of his perfect friend The history doth not declare any thing of the faire Princesse Lindabrides but that shée passed all that night in sorrow and griefe But hée saith that the princesse Claridiana when she was alone in hir chamber there was no sufficiencie in the highnesse of hir estate neither in the generositie of hir couragious hart for to draw hir froÌ„ the lamenting of y e misfortune of hir knight in such sort that all the night she did no other thing but shed abundaunce of teares which ranne downe by hir Christall chéekes and spake such lamentable and sorrowfull words that it séemed hir life could not haue endured till the next day if it had not pleased God to haue giuen remedy therin as in the next Chapter shall bée declared How the knight of the Sunne and the knight of Cupid were come againe vnto themselues how they were knowen to bee bretheren by a meruaylous meanes Chapter 36. NOw was the time come that the vniuersall creator and maker of all this would that these straunge meruayles should bée manifest vnto all men and that the great trauailes and biter complaints of the Empresse Briana should come to an ende his diuine prouidence doth so ordaine all things that at such time as the losse of the Gréeke Princes was very certaine vnto them and that there was great suspition and doubt in the liues of the two worthie Knights of the Sunne and of Cupid at that time were the lost princes found againe and these famous knights cléere of their perill and knowen to be sons vnto their royall fathers for that with more honour they might celebrate the triumphes and feasts of theyr naturall Princes So after that this rigorous furious battaile was ended about midnight the knight of the Sun came vnto himselfe and awaked out of his long and heauie place And when he was well setled in his remembrance hée called so minde the passed battell but séeing himselfe naked alone in that bed with a torch burning in the quadran â—…e straight way suspected what it should be and thought verily that the knight of Cupid had got the victorie hee ouercome Wherat he reciued so great sorrow and griefe that hée though it better to bée dead then to remaine with life and was the occasion that hée fell againe in a sound and so remained more then one houre at which time hée returned againe vnto him selfe with mortall anguish and inward griefe hée sayd Oh false and deceiuable Gods how much haue you béene by mée honoured and worshipped now I dooe béeleeue that your sect is false euil and all we which doo beléeue therin wée doo erre and are out of the right way How could your diuine prouidence if you haue any aboue men permit
the pallace who would not let but to bée present at the acknowledging of the knight of the Sunne in consideration whereof shée determined to goe in such sort that she might assure y â— feare which the princesse Claridiana did put hir in So after that shée was by hir damsels made ready and put in gallant and rich order shée commanded to call vnto hir two of the principallest Gyaunts that were there amongst the rest and taking him by the hand shée discended out of the Chariot and before hir went a great number of damsels with Torches burning in theyr hands and were so richly apparailed that either of them séemed to bée a quéene and hir traine was carried vp by two very fayre damsels with crowns of gold vpon theyr heads because they were quéenes and they had other two damsels which carried vp theyr traines and came last and in the midst amongst the Damsels that carried the burning Torches béefore the Princesse there went foure Gyants of those of the gard all armed with very bright and glistering armour and each of them a mightie Fauchon in his hand who were so furious and terrible to béeholde that the sight of them to all that did looke on theÌ„ was a sufficient sauegard vnto the Princesse And in the same order ther went other foure Gyants after the princesse who were no lesse sauegard vnto hir and for that shée was one of the fayrest damsels that was in all the world and so richly apparailed shee séemed by the light of the Torches to bée so excéeding fayre that many which were reioycing themselues in the citie and celebrating these great feasts did forget themselues in theyr owne inuentions and sports and remayned astonied and amazed in béeholding the straunge beautie and soueraigne highnesse and estate which y e Princesse had In this sort she passed through the great place till shée came vnto the mightie Pallace and entered in therâ—…at When the Emperour vnderstood of hir comming and all those which were with him they went â—…oorth to meete receiue hir and all that were ther present â—…ere not a little amazed at the strange beauty of the prinâ—…esse vnto whom when they had done all their dutie reueâ—…ence the Empresse Briana receiued hir and tooke hir by the â—…and and tooke the Princesse Claridiana in the other hand So they went all thrée into a very faire and well garnished quadran wheras thay did passe all the rest of the night which remained with so great mirth and pleasure that it is better 〈◊〉 bée thought on then tolde althought the 〈◊〉 Claridiana was in no such securitie as béefore who at times did béehold the knight of the Sunne and séemed vnto hir that there lack no reason for to loue the Princesse Lindabrides if there remained any remnaunt of loue in him after that hée had séene hir although on the other part with great reason shee hir selfe in estimation and was in all things assured if that shée had béene satified that by reason the Knight of the Sunne would gouerne himselfe yet the great feare of the Princesse Claridiana was nothing in comparison to that which the princesse Lindabrides felt with hir perilous grace and countenance For when she saw the great vantage that shée had ouer all that euer shée had séene and the great reason that the knight had for to loue hir she was in great perplexitie of mind and thought that shée did very much repent hir selfe for comming thether Likewise in this time the Knight of the Sunne was not so firme in the loue of the one but many times hée was ouercome with the sight of the other neither had he brought himselfe into such bondage but that he had liberty for to renue the loue lost although his minde was brought into such alteration and contensious battell as hée neuer found himselfe in the like yet his body in such sort did refraine the desire which his couetous eyâ—…had for to beholde that he gaue vnto none of all them that were there present any occasioâ—… of suspition of his griefe neither vnto any of the Damsellâ—… occasion for to thinke any thing but the feare of theyr beauties and the great reason that either of them had for to 〈◊〉 béeloued which desert surmounted in eyther of them In this time the Emperour Trebatio and the 〈◊〉 Briana neuer ceased to enquire and asked of their preciouâ—… sonnes what things had chanced vnto them in aduentures vntill that time that they were knowen Unto the which sometimes their sons sometimes their fathfull friends did satisfie themselues in such sort that not onely the emperour the Empresse but also all those that were present to heare them were greatly amazed gaue great thankes vnto god for his miracles shewed vpon those knights Although they had greater reason to meruaile within a while after because the wise Artemidoro came thether did shew the chronicle of all that two worthie knights had done wherin was declared perticularlie the worthy déeds of either of them likewise of their friends So in declaring what had happened vnto them they passed away the rest of the night which remained with so great contentment vnto the hearers therof that they wished the night longer so that he might not leue off declaring those things ¶ Of the great feasts triumphs that were made in the great Citie of Constantinople for the acknowledging of the princes and of a certaine aduenture which came at that time thether whereat all the Knightes of the Court were at the point to be lost Chapter 37. THe next day in the morning the reioycing pleasure that was in the great city of Constantinople with the inuentions that the citizens had the more to increase the same was in such sort that the strange Knights which found themselues present therat had great reason to say that it was the best most richest citie that any prince had in all the world the people thereof so loyall faithfull as any subiects might possibly be Likewise the Gréekish knights mounted vpon very good horses garnished and béetrapped with very rich cloth of Golde and 〈◊〉 and did passe throughout all the great Citie and made a great noise vpon tâ—…e paued stréets which did not a little augment the great feasts amongst whom there dyd not lacke princes of great estimation and knights of great fame And for that they were subiects vnto the Emperour Trebatio they did as well shew themselues very gallant ioyfull in acknowledging of their new princes And all of them went did kisse their hands who receiued them with great loue embrasing of them acknowledging some of theÌ„ for very good faithfull friends more then for subiects but in especiall the good valiant prince Rodafeo prince of the Rhodes Rodamarte other valiant princes knights which the knight of the Sunne in the Iust did know them to bée of great bounty worthy to be estéemed So this day
of Greece by reason that the people which doth inhabit on the one side of the fiue armes which procéedeth from Danubia and runneth into the sea Fuxino they are very barbarous furious and beastlie and many times they doo enter into that Countriâ—… and doo very much harme therein And although the Emperour would make a conquest ouer them as diuers times hée hath put it in practise yet hee cannot for that they haue neyther Cities Townes nor villages neyther any dwelling houses but onely great Caues vnder the ground whereas they doo make theyr habitation béecause they are so beastlie and brutish In consideration whereof it dyd behoue the Emperour to haue that bridge very stronge and excéeding well kept and it was for that alongst the Riuer there was none other passage When this valiant Rodaran and the Quéene ariued at that bridge saw it to bée a place very conuenient for their purpose straight way the prince Rodaran did prepare himselfe for to win the same béeing armed in very good order hee tooke the quéene by the hand and without any more company they went towards y e gate of the bridge knocked therat for that they were all alone the gate was straight way opened When they were entered within the first Tower this valiant Rodaran commanded those that were the keepers therof that they should yéeld vp the towers and bridge and that they should depart with quietnesse Who séeing him alone they so many wold not obey his commandement but did procure to defend the towers the bridge and wold not suffer him to perswadge any farther But this valiant Rodaran in a smal time did so béehaue himselfe amongst them that wounding and killing the most part of them the rest were constraynd thought it good for the sauegard of their liues to yéeld and to doo all that hée commaunded them And so they deliuered vnto him all the keyes of the gates and towers and departed thence at their liberty with the losse of the most part of their companions and although they were ashamed so manye to bée slaine and ouercome by one alone Knight which made them to refraine comming into the Emperours presence yet ther did not lack who béefore Rodaran did enter into Constantinople that did aduise the Emperour thereof At such â—…ime as hée came thether hée was very angrie with himâ—…elfe for that hée was so bolde to giue that enterprise and if â—…t had not béene for the disturbing of their great feasts and â—…riumphs which were made there for their sons hée would â—…aue sent thether such as should haue rewarded him vnto â—…is contentment for his boldnesse But when that Rodaâ—…an was come vnto the Court and the Emperour fullie saâ—…sfied of his demaund hée was very glad and ioyefull for that hée had so good opportunity whereby hée should receiue his pâ—…yment for his boldnesse and small account that hée made of him and his estate So when this valyant Rodaran and the Quéene of Carmania saw themselues Lords and gouernours ouer the whole bridge and their Towers they commaunded all those that came in theyr companie to enter in thereat whereas they dyd establish their abiding and caused the ship wherein they came thether which was at the sea to enter into the riuer and to surge close vnto the bridge wheras they did let fall their ancker and made hir very fast for that in the same Ship Rodaran did determine hauing ouercome the most part of the best and principallest knights in all Greece to put them prisoners into the same ship and returne with them into his owne Countrie So after that the Quéene of Carmania had well perused the scituation of the bridges of the towers she saw that the tower that was in the midst of the Bridge was made in such sort that beneath it was round like vnto an arke and hollow without any gate but as broad as the bridge was wheras shée caused the net of yron to bée hanged in the highest part of the hollownesse within in such sort that it could not bée séene nor descerned without but it was so large that it occupied all the bignesse of the vaut within and in such sort the Quéene of Carmania caused it to be hanged that in pullling of a cord ordained for that purpose the whole nâ—…t should fall downe When Rodaran saw the net hanged vp and put in good order he was very desirous to know to what purpose it was put there and did importune the quéene so much that in the end shée was constrained to declare it vnto him saying You shall vnderstand my Lord that the great loue which I dooe beare vnto you hath caused mée to feare that which your valyaunt and singular bountie doth assure mée and put mée in great doubt of and although that I am fully perswaded that there is not in all the world a knight that can compare his bounty vnto yours yet it séemeth vnto mo that hauing to do with so many who wil prooue themselues against you it cannot bée chosen but there must néedes bée some amongst them that will trouble you so much béeing wearie that you shall receiue some harme on your person And therefore béeing mooued with the great loue that I doe beare vnto you I haue caused to bée made and put in this yron net which you sée that at what time so euer béeing in battaile with those Knights you shall finde your selfe to bée in any extremitie that then you may retire your selfe with him whom at that present you doo combat till that you are both right vnderneath this net and béeing there then presently both you and your aduersarie shall take your ease And this Sir is the whole cause and effect why I haue caused this net to bée made And if it bée so that this which I haue done dooe cause in you any disconentment or griefe héere I doo craue pardon and doo request you to attribute the occasion as a fault committed by a woman for when an offence is committed for loue and good will it is the easier to bée pardoned and forgiuen This valiaunt Rodaran in all his life time dyd not receiue so great grife and sorrow as at that present when hée did vnderstand sée what the Quéene had ordayned and it seemed â—…nto him that she had doubt of the victorie that hée hoped to haue of the Greekish Knights yet for all that the loue that hée bare vnto hir was such that hée would not say against that which shée had done but shewing himselfe to bée very angrie for the same hée saide Lady and mistres it doth griue mée very much that the Prince of Arabia is so little knowen vnto you What â—…oo you thinke that in all the world there is one for one â—…hat is of so great strength that of himselfe hée is sufficyâ—… to bring mée into so great extremitie in battaile that I â—…hall bée driuen to séeke for rest and succour for to bring
treason or falsehoode So after that the king Sacridoro was departed the knight of the Sun said that if ther were not some treason vsed with Rodaran that the prince Brandizel would rather consent to die then to bee ouercome And of this your highnesse may be well assured said Rosicleer that if the king Sacridoro doe not end this contention that all we shall haue inough to doe with Rodaran for except it were with the Knight of the Sun my brother I neuer met with so valiant a knight I holde him for no lesse said the Emperour for his presence doth performe the same the same which we haue heard of him In all this life although the imprisonment of the thrée princes were some griefe vnto them yet for all that they ceased not continually to make great feasts sports throughout all the great citie in the Emperours pallaice wheras euery day the princesse Claridiana came many other ladies gentlewomen they had great plesure delight in making amongst themselues so great feasts sports that they passed away all the time in great pleasure pastimes although the iealous thoughts of the princes Lindabrides wold not by any meanes suffer hir to reioyce hir selfe in any kind of pastime but it was the occasion that she receiued the greater griefe béecause the princes Claridiana at all times was in presence hir great beautie gentill grace would not suffer hir to assure hir selfe of the great loue shée had vnto the knight of the Sun who alwaies when he was in presence of these two ladies was so troubled that all that were ther present dyd greatlye meruaile that hée was so quiet and hadde so few wordes and the other for that he was no more wearyer of the which the princesse Claridiana did not let but had some suspition of that which hir great beautie and desert dyd assure hir And béecause the knight of the Sunne didde not behold hir and cast his eye vppon hir so often as shée desired she was in a great confusion and troubled within hir selfe not knowing whether hée did it or no for that hée would not haue that those which were ther present should haue any suspition of the loue that hée bare vnto hir or whether the presence of the princes Lindabrides did cause any forgetfullnesse of his part towards hir So because this History must more at leasure declare of their loues it doth returne to tell you of the King Sacridoro who were departed in the demaund of Rodaran ¶ How the king Sacridoro went to combat with Rodaran of all that happened vnto them therein Chapter 41. THe valiaunt King Sacridoro after that hée was departed out of the great hall went straight vnto his lodging wheras hee was armed with his strong and rich armour mounting vpon a mighty great and light horse accompanied with one alone page for to cary his speare he departed out of Constantinople with the great desire he had to proue himselfe with Rodaran in a short time he came vnto the bridge as soone as Rodaran had discouered him from the top of one of the towers he straight way armed himselfe with his strong rich armour being mounted vpon his horse he commanded that the gates of the first tower should be opened wherat the king Sacridoro entred with his speare in his hand straight waies the gates were shut againe leauing his page without who did as the squier of Brandizel did procure wher he might see beholde the battaile The king Sacridoro as soone as he was within found Rodaran mounted vpon his horse and very well armed with his speare in his hand whom hée did salute verye curteouslie To whom Rndaran said knight thou art welcome for that according vnto the semblance and good proportion thou shouldest be one of the best esteemed knights that the emperour Trebatio hath in all his Court. Therefore I pray thée tell mee who thou art that I may vnderstand with whom I shall make battayle and I am sure if the emperour doe send thée it is to amend the faults of the Prince of Persia and it should appeare that thou art in great estimation for to come and reuenge the Prince who was so valyaunt that I neuer in all my lyfe had so much trauayle to ouercome one knight To whom the King aunswered and sayde Thou shalt vnderstand Rodaran that I am called Sacridoro and am king of Antiochia and Knight vnto the Emperour Trebatio and a perfect friend vnto Rosicleer his sonne who otherwise is called the knight of Cupid of whose valiaunt and mightie déedes I am sure thou hast heard tell Of a truth I haue heard great talke of him sayd Rodaran for that in all Asia ther is not a thing more noysed and published abroade then the great aduenture which hée finished in the caue of Phenicia And one of the chiefest occasions which hath brought me into this country is for to proue my selfe with him for that I cannot 〈◊〉 of truth that hee should bee so valiant as the fame 〈◊〉 of him in all y ◠countrie To whom the king answered of my faith I doo promise thée that if once thou doost prooue him hée will bring thée out of this doubt for all that thou hast heard speak in him is nothing in comparison of that which thou shalt finde of him if thou doost once prooue him Truth it is thou hast ouercome got the victorie of such knights that there bee few in the world like vnto them and although I doo come hether to combat with thée I doo come more for to put my selfe out of doubt of a mistrust that I haue for that I cannot beeléeue that thou couldest get the victory of them without some falsehood or deceite and for to thinck that I can doo more against thee then they were able for in all things they were able to amend my faults Thou shalt straight wayes sée sayde Rodaran whether that my power and force bée able to dooe more then this or no. And ther with he turned about his horse and tooke so much scope as was sufficient for his Horse The King did the like so both of them with their Speares in their hands broched their furious Horsses who made their course with so great swiftnesse that quickly they were together whereas they did execute the force and strength of their furious encounter and shieuered their Speares all to péeces vppon theyr fine armour after that they had glanced from their shéelds and with the force of their furious encounter their horses ioyned together with their mightie bodies that horse and man fell vpon the ground and béeing fast in their saddles the euill fortune of the king Sacridoro was such that one of his logges doubled vnder his Horse in such sort that by no meanes hée could pull it out nor cléere himselfe to arise againe and Rodaran with the force of the mightie fall was so astonyed and amazed that voyde of
Prince I doe most hartelye desire you to tell me who these valiant knights be and from whence so excellent a companye should come Then presentlie the knight of the Sunne who did esteeme verye much of him declared vnto him who they were and by what aduenture he had found them there At this time the Emperour and all the rest of the Princes and knights had taken off their â—…elmes and the king Liseo was the gladdest man in all the world and went to kisse the emperours hands saying May it please your soueraigne highnesse to giue your handes to kisse them for that through you I am restored vnto my lost kingdome This high and worthy Emperour did embrace him with great loue so likewise did all the other Princes knights ther passed betwixt theÌ„ many curtâ—…ous words yet for all this was not the royall princesse Claridiana knowen And being desired by the emperour all the other princes knights to giue them vnderstanding who what hée was she straight way pulled off hir helme wheras he dyd discouer hir yeolow haire which was bound vp with a net of gold very richly wonderfullye wrought by reason of hir great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which she receiued in the passed battaile hir colour was somewhat mooued wherwith she shewed so perfect singuler beauty that verily she séemed vnto them all to be rather some diuine creature then any humane person ther was neuer a one there but she séemed vnto them to bee some celestiall thing Then the Emperour and all the rest of the knights that did know hir being as much amazed at hir beauty as to see hir ther at that instant went all vnto hir did welcome hir with great curtesie And the emperour said My Lady mistres this liberty the which I and all these princes knights haue receiued it cannot bee but by the hands of so high a damsell as you are I pray God that we may be able to gratifie you for the same Unto the knight of the Sunne said the Princesse ought you to surrender and giue these thankes for that for him is ordayned and kept the atchiuing of all good aduentures and to giue the finall conclusion of y â— same What might heere be thought of the great ioy and pleasure which this amorous and valiant knight conceiued when that in that time and place hée found himselfe in the presencé of his Lady and mistres hauing seene what shee had done for him beefore hee knew hir Truely this mirth and gladnesse was so much that hée thought all his vnderstanding to bee transported into a celestiall glory whereas the chosen doth remaine and going towards hir he said Your soueraigne beauty may please to giue vnto mee your seâ—…re hands that I may kisse them in acknowledging of the great curtesie which all wee haue receyued by your soueraigne aide and succour and for that all enterprises which I doe take in hand may haue credit it shall be done in your seruice and prayse as I am bound and likewise all good and valyaunt Knights in the world Then the Princesse who receiued great contentment at his words layd hir armes vpon his shoulders and sayd Worthie Prince your politike dealings and excellent bountie sooth so far excell that it is not needefull for mée to expresse the same neyther any other but onely to béehold what is done by your valiant hands heere in this Camp and vnto this there is good witnesse who is the king Liseo and all his knights And passing beetwixt them many other amorous words the Knight of the Sunne dyd tell them all how and by what aduenture hée came thether and all that happened with him after hee departed out of Greece The like dyd the Princesse Claridiana so that all the whole companie vnderstood by what order they were there assembled and ioyned In the meane time that they were in this acknowledging one another those of Lidia were not idle for they minded no other thing but to robbe and destroy all that were in the Tents and Campe of the King of Arcadia and finding there great store of riches and treasure which the king had brought euery one of them did so lade themselues that euer after they remayned very rich and thought their long and great trauaile to bee well employed the end fell out so prosperous vnto them Then the Emperour Trebatio out of hand commaunded that the Quéene Carmania should bée brought béefore him for there should bée no harme done vnto hir who when shée thought verily that Rodaran had béene slayne tare hir haire and dyd such iustice on hir selfe that they thought verily it would bee hir death And asking of them whether the king of Arcadia and Rodaran were aliue or dead they went straight wayes vnto the place whereas they lay a long vppon the ground and commaunded that theyr Healmes should bée pulled off and fresh water to bee throwen vpon their face to refresh them straight wayes they came agayne vnto themselues and when they vnderstood in what estate and perplexity they were all this time their sorrow and griefe was such that they thought it had béene better for them to haue beene slaine then to suffer so great misfortune but when the King of Arcadia dyd lookâ—… about him for his armie and could sée neuer a Knight on his part but those that were slayne and lay in the field with very sorrow and griefe hée thought verely his heart would haue burst Likewise when Rodaran saw all his prisoners at libertie and hée ouercome by one alone Knight the great sorrow and griefe which he receiued could not bée héere expressed and if hee had had his helme and his swoord and on horsebacke hee would haue tarryed there no longer Then strayght wayes the King Lyseo dyd desire all these worthie warriers to repaire vnto the Citie for to refresh themselues and to take their ease who consented vnto his request and went towards the citie and carryed with them theyr prisoners whereas they were receiued of all the Citizens and nobles of all the kingdome that were there present with so great ioy and triumphes that the whole Citie seemed to bée on 〈◊〉 with the great bonefiers other lights which were made in euery streete of the Citie not remembring any of their troubles past So when they came vnto the Queenes pallace who was very wyse and discréete shée receiued them with such courtesie as was requisit to so noble persons whereas they were all vnarmed and recreated with verie swéet waters and oyntments requisit for such hurts and bruses as they had receiued For although theyr armour dyd defend them from wounding yet could not their flesh bée free from bruses by the force of such terrible blowes as they receiued And in especiall the knight of the Sunne in the battaile which hée had with Rodaran and the King of Arcadia although hee estéemed it in nothing with the great contentment and pleasure which hee receiued in seeing
shée tolde him how that she was damsell vnto the faire Princesse Oliuia how that she brought him a letter from hir How is this said the king is not the princesse Oliuia as yet married No surely said Fidelia for first she will consent to die a thousand deaths then to forget the great loue which shee doth beare vnto Rosicleer Oh lord haue mercy vpon me said the king how hath Rosicleer ben deceiued for that it was told him that Oliuia was maried which was the occasion that a thousand times he hath ben at y e point of death And in saying these words with the great ioy hée receiued he went vnto Rosicleer wheras he lay toke him by the arme did shake him in such sort that he made him somwhat to come to his remembrance Then the damsell Fidelia went vnto him and said My lord wherfore will you not speake vnto me who with so great trauaile griefe hath wandred through all the world this two yeares in strange countries in seeking of you And being at this time wholly in his remembrance vnderstood what the damsell had said with great anguish of mind and pale couler hee said Ah Fidelia how wouldest thou that I should liue before hir who brought me the sentence of my death How can I liue one moment calling to remembrance the â—…ast houre that thou didst see me when thou didst leaue me more dead then aliue from that time hetherto ther hath not entred one â—…ot of ioy or mirth in my hart And if it had not ben for the great regard which I haue as a christian vnto my soule I could not hetherto haue sustained my selfe but a thousand times I had slaine my self for that I would not liue without the loue of the princesse Oliuia What hart is that so diamant hard strong that séeing and knowing my fortune the pernersenes thereof that would not be moued vnto compassion For that in all the world the sight of the princes Oliuia was demed neither vnto the vnreasonable beasts of the fieldes nor vnto foules of the ayer that flyeth neyther vnto the stars and plannets of the heauens vnto all these were nothing hidden but vnto all thing permitted the sight and presence of Oliuia but all onely that vnfortunate Rosicleer whose life was sustâ—…ined onely with the sight of hir was prohibited a forbidden hir presence Ah my good Fidelia what aduensure hath brought thée into this country tell mee I pray thee giue me to vnderstand something of the princesse Oliuia my Lady mistresse to whom my name is so greatly abhorred Yet for all that it shall be to me great quietnesse to here tell somthing of hir And in saying these words he went vnto the damsell did imbrace hir with some contentment more then he haâ—… before for that he saw before him the faithfullest trustiest secretary of y e princes Oliuia his mistresse of whom he might very perfectly informe himselfe of that which his hart did desire Then Fidelia who could not refraine hir selfe from wéeping when she remembred the cruell letter which she deliuered vnto him in england the great sorrow griefe which he receiued by occasion of the same she tooke foorth a letter out of hir bosom the which she brought with hir deliuered it vnto Rosicleer saying My goodlord take beeâ—…e this letter which is sent you from the princesse Oliuia my mistresse and by it you shall vnderstand what part she hath sustained had of your griefe sorrow and what griefe it hath ben vnto hir your absence as a witnesse of the same I can giue you to vnderstand doo verely beleeue that ther is not a damsell in all the world at this present borne that hath sustayned so heauy sorrowfull a life as she hath done since y t you departed out of england My lord what shall I say vnto you I haue had hir in my armes more then a thousand times for dead without any hope of life And hir sorrow griefe is so much for that she hath done against you y t ther is nothing y t she hath desired so much as for the death Thrée times haue I gone foorth into the world trauailing all about to séeke you and euery time I haue béene foorth halâ—…e a yéere But when I returned vnto the princesse Oliuia without giuing hir any word of you hir sorow griefe care was such that I being moued with great compassion came foorth agayne in your demaund And that with the great perill of my own person and the newes which I heard of your death did giue me occasion for to returne backe againe And vnto the contrary vnderstanding the great sorrow which my Laâ—…ye wold vse with me I was determined rather to die trauayling from one country to another then to return into England but God who knoweth the harts of all creatures hath permitted that this should proceede no farther but hath giueu me so good fortune as to finde you When Fidelia had ended these words the ioy which Rosicleer receiued was such when he heard that swéet newes from his mistres not beléeuing that that which he heard should be true but rather a dreme comming againe vnto himself he went vnto Fidelia said My good friend and welbeloued Fidelia I desire you by him which created all things by the dutie which you owe vnto my lady the princes Oliuia that you doo tell me if this which I haue heard hath ben the principall occasion of your comming or whether you haue spoken it to comfort me in this sorrowfull life which I haue had continually for I cannot beléeue that the princes Oliuia hath receiued any griefe for me hauing bannished me out of the kingdome of England as 〈◊〉 by the cruell words of the letter which she sent me by my faithfull friend if it be now true which you haue told me happy am I more happy is the life in which I haue liued so long in sorow for y t I am now recompenced with so soâ—…er agine a reward it hath ben told me that my mistres the prinâ—…es Oliuia was maried which was the occasion of my greater sorow And how is it possible that all this should be true which you haue told me Then Fidelia answered I haue told you the truth of all my lord in that you say that she is maried it is the thing y t is 〈◊〉 off from hir hart foâ—… although the king hir father would haue married hir vnto the prince of Lusitania did importune hir very much to accept the same yet could he neuer conclude with hir to accept the mariage but first she would rather consent to receiue a thousand deaths theÌ„ to doo it so that to performe all that which doth owe vnto your loue she hath â—…en brought into great extremitie and daunger with hir father The great ioye which Rosicleer receiued hâ—…reat was such that he thought himself to be
expectation What will you giue remedy vnto your sorrow and griefe with that which will redound much to my barme Will you first serue your owne turne accomplish your owne desire without any consideration of my highnesse honestie the which if you did beare good wil loue as you doo publish you would neuer procure so great harme vnto me for it should be more griefe vnto thée the sorrow that I shuld receiue then thy own griefe neither shuld you receiue any ioy in that which shuld cause in me griefe 〈◊〉 and knight of the Sunne that I hauâ—… not my selfe in so little estimation that you should thinke that my loue were so base to cause such desires nor the desires so mortall that should cause vnto you paine but rather I doo think that things aboue nature doo cause ne paine vnto men hauing want therof So likewise my high royall estate accompanied with soueraigne beautie should bée to you holden as a thing aboue nature so by that meanes you should not haue the paine griefe which you publish neither for to séeke procure such vnséemely remedy I will not inlarge any farther héerein for that I am angry with anger ought little to be spoken especially with friendes It is sufficient good knight of the Sun that I doo loue you more then my selfe and when time doth serue I will dooe that which loue reason doth bind me that shall be at such time as we shall come vnto the gran Tartaria by the Emperour my father all those mightie kings and lords of his court with great 〈◊〉 equall vnto your highnes our marriage shall be 〈◊〉 in the meane time haue patience bridle your owne 〈◊〉 affections doo not loose the glory of your great mightie déeds in being vanquished by your owne affection for as the victory is greater that a man doth get of himselfe so much greater is the victory when he doth ouercome his own will for to that which reason doth deny a greater shame when that by a base knight he is ouercome for that the first is for the lack which is of vertue and of the person for so much as they did not lacke force strength for to make resistance secondly the lack was in nature for that it gaue him no more strength for to defend himselfe And héerewith the princes made an end of hir reasoning being somwhat moâ—…ed hir redicond colour apeered signifying that pure anger was the occasion therof Whose words toke so great effect in the knight of the Sun that one way it dyd grieue him very much for that hée had declared vnto hir his desâ—…re otherwise the great maiesty highnesse of the princesse was so augmented in his loue that he didde loue hir much more from that day forwards then before asking pardon of hir he kissed hir hands perforce At this time Arcadia was not so farre of but that shee did vnderstand part of their communication for that at all times when she saw the knight of the Sun the princes Lindabrides all alone she straight waies procured to put hir selfe in place wheras she might heare what passed betwéene them hauing very well vnderstood what passed it did grieue bir very much for the great sorrow which the princesse Claridiana would receiue when she should vnderstand the truth therof especially seeing it is a thing that may be held for that according as she did vnderstand that they two had great good will to be married at such time as they came vnto the gran Tartaria and so dissembling hir griefe in the best wise she could she tarried and did abide the time that fortune would ordaine therein So at this time béeing thrée daies after their departure towards the port wheras they did imbarke themselues they did ariue at the port of â—…enedon hard by that place wheras ther was wont to be the great Citie of Troy where they went a land by hir gyants were taken out of the ship of the triumphant chariot placing themselues in order with soueraigne maiestie as before they began to take their iourney by land they had not well â—…rauailed full two houres when that they saw béefore them a very high and well â—…owred Castle scituated at the foote of a Bridge So when they came nigh vnto it they saw that the Riuer was so déepe that of force they must passe ouer the Bridge with the Chariot which hadde breadth inough for the same And as yet the Unicornes were scarce entered vppon the Bridge when that there came foorth out of the Castle a Knight armed with very rich and substantiall armour and mounted vppon a great horse who was so great and so well made that in all theyr lines they haddâ—… not 〈◊〉 so great well proportioned a knight Who when he came nigh vnto them he lifted vp his beuer said Lords you shall vnderstand that the passage ouer the bridge is defended by me against all knights that presumeth to passe this way except first they doo leaue héere their shields and their names written thervpon in confessing themselues to be ouer come by the troyan Oristedes And seeing the great maiestie of your comming it doth giue me occasion to giue you better entertainment then I accustome to doo For that you shall vnderstand the ancient custome of this bridge likewise the bondage wherin I am bound for the defence keeping heere of is that I must show no curtesie to any knight that héere passeth The knight of the Sun was very much troubled as well at the good dispositioÌ„ of Oristedes as at his gentle speech and great courtesie being very desirous to know more of him he said Sir knight I doo giue you great thanks for your good will courtesie shewed vnto vs for that you shall not break any custome that hath ben so long kept at this bridge I will doo what doth lie in mée for to make the passage â—…ree for vs. And when I can do no more then will I doe that the which I am constrained vnto by force But yet of courtesie I require you sir knight tell me what is the occasion that you doo call your selfe troyan wherfore doo you kéepe defend the custome at this bridge For that according vnto the long time that is past since that this citie of Troy was destroied by the gréeks I doo beléeue that ther is no knight that doth remaine that is of the troians blood I will tell you said Oristedes for that you haue so great desire to know it And I dooe meruayle that you cannot béeléeue this which I haue sayde for that all those that hath not béene accustomed to come this wayes are likewise deceyued for that the ancient writers neuer wrot of that which I will shew you You shall vnderstand gentle Knight that at such time as this great citie of Troy was besâ—…eged by the gréekes there came
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
had passed at the fountaine of the sauages with them and were fully determined that if it were certainly Rosicleer did ouertake him that first they would consent to their owne death rather then he should receiue any harme for that they were all thrée of them such friends vnto Rosicleer that except it were the king Sacridoro in all the whole world hée had not the like So they waied their ankers hoist sailes began to take their iourney after the other ships with as much saile as euer they could make they did nauigat through the great ocean sea with as much spéed as euer they could the king Oliuerio returned back againe vnto his citie pallace very heauy sorrowfull wheras straight waies with great speed he began to gather together people for the warâ—… Writing vnto the mightiest kings in all christendome desiring them for to aide succour him with all the people that were possible for the furniture of his wars giuing them to vnderstand the great iniuries which he had receiued of the emperour of Greece his son how greatly he was bound for to reuenge himself of the same Wheras the history doth leaue them all time doth serue for to tell you of the knight of the Sun who remained at y e broken citie of Troy of y e troian Oristedes who was trauailing towards the gran Cataia ¶ How the Troyan Oristedes came vnto the Court of the Emperour Alicandro and gaue him vnderstanding of the comming of the â—…rinceffe Lindabrides Chapter 61. THe history saith that Oristedes the Troian made so great spéed in his iourney towards the gran Cataia wheras the emperour Alicandro was after that he had passed the first two Scithias in the end of fiftie daies he entered into the third which did belong vnto the Emperour Alicandro the gran Cataia was in the confines of the third Scithia which fallethmore towards the Orient vnder the which was the mighty emperour of Tartaria the great many other kingdomes subiect vnto the emperour Alicandro wherby he was estéemed to be the mightiest lord in the world Besids all this all the kingdomes Lordships of the Orient were subiect to him So when this good knight Oristedes was entred into the third Scithia within one moonth after be entred into the gran Cataia wher hée vnderstood that the emperour was in â—… citie called Neptaia which had aboue an hundreth fiftie thousand householdes within the wals when he came vnto the said citie he went vnto the pallaice entring in therat he found the Emperour in the great hall accompanied with many kings and Lords that were his subiects And entring in therat he pulled of his helme went knéeled downe before that mightye Emperour for to kisse his hands but he who knew him very well very glad for to see him ther made him to arise vp on his feet againe did embrace him saying Oristedes my very good friend thy absence hath not caused vnto me so much sorow grieâ—…e as now tâ—…y comming doth cause me to be glad and ioyfull Then Oristedes said my good lord emperour you shall receiue much more contentment when that you dooe vnderstand the newes that I dooe bring vnto you for that you shall vnderstand that the princes Lindabrides your daughter is comming very nigh vnto this country doth bring in hir company a knight the most valiant est that euer the gods did create in all the world and hauing the prince Meridian your son trauailed throughout many countries till he came vnto the empâ—…re of Grecia neuer could find any one knight that in bounty force was equall vnto him But this alone knight who did ouercome me in equall battaile since hée hath defended the beauty of the Princes Lindabrides with the best knights that is in the world And when he came vnto Troy whereas I doo dwell defending the passage of the bridge kept by old antiquitie hauing battaile with him hee ouercame me And at his coÌ„mandement I am come hether for to bring you newes of their comming And for that you shall sée vnderstand how fauourably the gods hath béene vnto the princes in giuing vnto hir so valiant a knight you shall vnderstand that if hee dooe excéede in bounty of knighthood there is no lacke in him of maiestie and high estate for that hee is sonne vnto the Emperour of Grecia béeing accounted the mightyest Prince that is amongest all the Christiane So when the Emperour Alicandro hadde well vnderstoode all that Oristedes hadde tolde him hée was so full of ioy and mirth that hée thought that in all his life he neuer receiued the one halfe of so great comfort pleasure for that he louod the princes Lindabrides much more then the prince Meridian And would giue a good part of his estate so that the Princesse might remaine with the whole Empire And for that he was fully certified of the high bounty of Oristedes of the prince Meridian his sonne That he was certaine suer that the knight that should ouercome them in battaile should surmount all other knights in the whole world And so with great ioy he did embrace Oristedes gaue him great thanks for his comming All the other lords and knights that were in the great hall they were greatly amazed when they vnderstoode that one alone knight did ouercome in battaile two such valiant knights as they were For that they thought verily that in all the world could not bée found others that could be equall vnto them So strayght waies the Emperour Alicandro caused these newes to bée published throughout all his kingdome lordship commanding all his vâ—…ssailes subiects to prepare make themselues in a redines to be at the great triumphs feasts which hée doth pretend to make at the mariage of the princes Lindabrides his daughter All this while the knight of the Sun went tranailing in his triumphant chariot the more that y e conuersation of the princes did continue so much the more dyd his hart burne in the flaming fier of hir loue in such sort y t he neuer remembred the faire princes Claridiana neither the emâ—…erour his father nor Rosicleer his brother neither his two perfect friends Brandizel Clauerindo of all his memory he was cleane void forgetting his owne naturall country all transported kindled in the amorous loue of the princes and onely in contemplating himselfe in beholding hir great beautie was all his ioy delight so that he remembred no other thing Wherat none ought much to meruaile for that the surpassing beautye of this noble princes accompanyed with so high and soueraigne maiestie was such that I doo beleeue that there was neuer knight borne in this world that kéeping continuall company with hir as the knight of the Sun dead hauing before him that perillous sight that could cléere himselfe or withstand the firie darts of loue although