beholders fight and vntying a slender vnder garment like to a paire of Bases she remained the best accomplished and in armor the absolutest that could bee desired In hys sight she seemed the haughtie Knight of the Sunne when he withdrew him frō his Country rusticke life Hee gazed on her with a pensiue admiration and thought the longest time too short for his contemplation altogether forgetting his promise past Well did the Ladye perceaue his amazement for shee of no lesse rare excellēcie did accompt him wherewith a new motion with her little experience learned at that time ingendred a firme loue with more glories to dignifie her eternitie but dissembling her inward passions she put him out of his dumps with these words The time Sir knight begins to ware too late for you to performe your promise He started as one suddenly awaked from a slumber and with a sigh replied your will Heroicke Lady be accomplished though yet in this the heauens be opposed against my fortune And so lacing on her helme that at her saddle bowe did hang whose riches doth exceede compare with the sword that vnder one Monarchie did once reduce with seruile yoak the greatest parte of the Orbed earth he struck her a little blowe on the shoulders whose scant heard sound put him in so cold a trembling with feare whether he had strucke too hard And done thus spake Now Soueraine Lady maie you let the world know that as you are the only Phoenix in beautie so you are the sole Myrror in armes And the sword guird with the wondring puritie of your owne hands for I will defend mauger the strongest strength they be the absolutest on this earth she straight closed the visor of her helme with admirable gallantnesse newe snares to intrappe his captiue harte and especially if any thing else were left with libertie But somewhat mooued she turned her to him thus The seconde thing you must for me doe is to take your weapons presently for now like a Knight will I reuenge my selfe not like a tender woman but a rauening Wolfe Trembling like an Aspen leafe with a chill timerous feare stood Don Eleno séeing her so determined in resolution trying whether with milde wordes hee could diswade her from that resolution sayd I knowe not what greater content you doe pretend most beauteous Lady then to accept my disgraced lyfe which I with such liberalitie doe offer most willingly to dispossesse my selfe thereof by your hands that at one instant you may counterpoyze your beauty with your crueltie I will in nothing bloody Knight replyed shee so please you But you shall now féele whom my brother hath left to take his reuenge and therefore you haue no more to doe but to put on your armes for otherwise you shall force me to some fellonious outrage killing you without them With Millions of teares did he beseech her to desist from her purpose but seeing nothing woulde preuaile he buckled on his helme swearing onely to defend himselfe and not offend her for rather he would suffer himselfe péece-meale ioynt by ioynt to be torne asunder So soone as she did see him ready more swifter then a hungry Eagle bent to her pray she flang agaynst the yeilding youth and florishing that so renowned sword she discharged so furious a blowe vppon his helme that though through his fine temper it was impenitrable yet it fell so heauie that his head was forced to receaue it with that humble dutie which her high state merited bending both his knees on the earth with suche astonishment that shee seconded another that made the blood gush through his Visor Neuer in all his life did hee feele the valour of one Knight hand to hand so greatly to torment him For neither in the cruell battell with the braue Teffereo brother to the King of Cerdena did he receaue any such blowe nor yet about the libertie of the angry Garrofilea Queene of Tynacria was he so ouermatched as this Ladie nowe did tyre him For at his rizing taking him somewhat amazed shee stept to him with her left foot foreward with twoo thrustes one after another that he was forced backwardes and florishing her sworde aloft shee strucke him so fierce a blowe on the side of his shield that she had almost feld him The Lady seing her enemie would not offend her burned in kindled coales of inraged fury against her loue cōquered aduersarie though more aptly they might be called messengers of the winged Lord sent with so great hast to demande the Tribute due to his domination that at such time they ariued when altogether they could subiugate her will and dispossesse her of her free libertie that now her Combate was more thorow dutie she ought her dead brother then for any desire to offend the Knight that so truely seemed to be hers Notwithstanding she had so wearied him that a Thousand times he doubted to scape wel the danger But resolued rather to die then offer violent hands on whom he had chosen to command his thoughts as such a one acknoledging her vsing his dexteritie he began to shewe himselfe more nimble then a light-foot hare pursued by a troope of hoūds leaping on al sides making the Lady loose her blows yet to his no small discontent because he supposed he therein displeased her Well did the gallāt Lady perceaue his intent which was but adding of more fuell to the fier wherin she burned for him But returning her eyes on the bloodlesse carcas of her murthered brother shee strayght forgot all conceaued affection with the new griefe she receaued making her redouble her blowes with more fiercenesse insomuch that now altogether vnable longer to hould out hee thought it better at length to close with her and trie whether by that meanes he might moue her adamantine heart to some cōmiseration so receauing one blow that made him set his hands on the ground and quickly arysing he threw his shield a toe-side running within her he cast about her sholders his amorous strong arms with such happy contēt that he wisht such successe might happen to him as befell vnto the son of Venus Mercury with the beauteous Nymphs Salmacis when she imbraced him in the cleare fount of her name whose transformation of two Natures in one shape was the beginning of Hermaphrodites fayned fable that he might fearelesse to his content enioy what fortune then made doubtful and houlding her yet not to hard because he would not hurt her he sayd Giue not occasion most valerous Ladye that it bee blazoned through the world how the Mirrour of the newe miracle of your deuine beautie is taynted with an ignominious blot of barbarous crueltie the onely enemie to those perfections that the almightie carefull Apelles of Natures rarest coulors hath bestowed on you For yf my death will aduance your content I doe receaue it with more anguish and paynes by liuing to liue pyning awaye in woes in your seruice Let it be so
my proper blood But for this time I will no other reuenge but your departure from my company leauing me sufficiently assured of your cruelty to my cost and I will liue for my misfortune will haue it so with the only desire of a more full reuenge Wherefore from hencefoorth I straight doe banish you my sight for I will haue it so If I shall depart in your disgrace most beauteous Lady I will not haue my life with your disfauour to torment me replied the Prince but since you desire to be reuenged on him that only would liue to admire you take it with this sword cawser of your woes and my misfortune and therewith strike of my sacrifized head to appease your wrath for I willingly offer it on your pities altar with all I else possesse already subiect to your will and only this doe praie that after you haue done it you would rent forth my harte for none shall witnesse your crueltie but your selfe and there shall you see your selfe engrauen though not so naturally yet with rarer perfections reasons suffcient to force me to elect you sole patronesse thereof The which remaining in your handes being loues thrall may moue clemencie towardes his Lord to sturre your anger to pitie your captiue euen with his owne reliques Wherewith prostrated on his knees before her with his eies closed with water holding the sword by the point againe thus said If only in my death great Ladie there rests any small comforte for mee it will bee the greatest that I may imagine receiuing it with this blade by your hands for Guerdon of my rashe attempts although if I had knowne what this dead increaser of your griefes did concerne you my selfe had only been the procurer of his life with farr greater care then for my owne which wil be hatefull to mee if still you will insist in your conceaued wrath Knight said she more barbarous then the Sauages of Hircania and the cruellest that ere my eies beheld thus I will not execute my reuenge for it will not be so cal'd performed with the offenders liking and bycause you said it is life and the sweetest to bereaue you thereof with my handes neither will I therin so much content you but expect and sollicite the heauens to order my reuenge after some other sorte The afflicted Prince hearing so sower and bitter answere conceaued such extreame griefe which with sobbes and sighes so besieged his harte that it berest him of his senses falling at his Ladies feete which was another new kind of torment to afflict her for abandoning all crueltie she tooke him in her armes and sitting on the ground she laid his head on her lappe which had the grieued Dacian felt he would not so soone recouer himselfe and bewailed this lamentable spectacle with new laments that moued the tender Ladye to breake into these exclaymes Oh blind despightfull Fortune enemy to my rest how well hast thou manifested thy mutabilities hauing so well pleaded for the greatest enemie I had that I am forst to cōmiserate his woes and pitie his distresse Oh Goddesse who might certenly knowe if with my death she would end her rigorous changing courses execute at once against my tendernesse the whole power of thy despight for the wrongs past hauing been the greatest that might befall mee or thou do mee will I with ioy accept bycause I know they come from thee for she that was borne to no good can receaue no harme to hurt her and with this deceipt may she passe her life that in the beginning hath felt the vtmost of thy cruell power Oh cruell Goddesse vnworthie of a better name because in all thy actions thou performest the deedes of an Hircanian Tyger And being vnable to doe otherwise she cōmanded Fabio to bring her some water wherewith the distressed youth obtained his loste senses and with a sighe that seemed to burst his weake harte he saide Vnhappy stars that gouern'd my natiuitie and more vnhappie I to liue to see my woes to conquer death that dares not approche where he is onely wished with his crueltie to end a life oppressed with cares Oh vnfortunate hap who would haue thought so long and tedious a nauigation should anchor in so vnluckie a Port Oh valiant friends now must I for euer in absence with ayrie words take my latest leaue for my fates saye he shall neuer see you more that onely liued with your deare sights Oh valiant Princes of Grecia what balefull newes will it be when you shall heare of my death whose life alwaies and content soly delighted yee And seeing himselfe in the Ladies lappe a little lifting vp his eyes with so many sighes and throbbing sobbs that might haue mooued a Lions fiercenes to relent but to the extreamest point was this Ladies furie come that it would admit no Impression of any mercy vnlesse it should altogether yeeld to pittie which she thought was yet too soone to doe he sayd Since no pietie noe pittie nor no mercie that are the vertues which glorifies all your sexe maye sturr a litle compassion in your obdurate breast then at once cruell Lady end the tormenting of my poore soule with so long prolonging a despised life and take what reuenge you will on this weeping hart subiect to your Imanitie Knight answered the Lady ill would it beseeme me if by yeelding to your request and in that maner to worke your content I should become cruell against my selfe I wil not take any reuenge that may rather redowne to my dishonour then honour But for this time only I will haue you grant me two things Being all in all yours replied he there is no cause why by promise you should séeke to winne my will which so truely doth acknowiedge your souerainetie Why then said she my first demaund is you giue mee the order of Chiualry and as for my other request you shall after know it I doe sayd he esteeme my happinesse farre greater now then a little afore I esteemed my selfe vnhappie in that deare Soueraign of my soule you haue deygned to imploye me and in affayres more difficult farre would I haue had you hazarded my life but séeing this is your will I am content to obaie and bycause I perceaue you want armour I do beseech you to accept these which were giuen me for good and I shall be more glad thereof bycause they shall obtaine a worthier owner I thanke you for your offer replied she But these of Semyramis nothing inferiour to those I had not long since on yonder vallie giuen me and that with them I should end the greatest aduenture of the world And so casting off her hunting garments she discouered the rarest armes that the whole earth could afford for they were all of Pearles and Dyamonds with such arte vnited that it made them farre strōger then if they were of fine tempered steele on one side they bare a painted harte but made of inestimable orient Rubies whose glister alyenated the
lesse then with your honour or life I cannot satisfie the duetie that I owe vnto my Ladie Nay be it presently sayd Eleno insolent Knight for if my fortune had not been so aduerse fewe daies since I had a Ladie in my companie that Apollos light had darkened for whose sake against the mightie God of warre I would haue maintayned what thou hast vttered being so great an vntroth But here is Don Eleno that being hers is suffitient to chastise thy follie And without further spéech with such grace he turned his horse that a Thousand soules if so many she had she would haue giuen him And turning hers in a trice she tooke of her helme glorifyng her armour with fine tresses of Gould chaines wherein Apollo would giue his deitie to be fettered in In that manner she stayde for him hauing in like sort before vanquished him so Like to a furious thunder-bolt came the fierie Tireo till approching the rayes of that new discouered Sunne with such brightnes they penetrated his Beuer that it was a wonder they did not altogether blind him He stayde his Courser and without a worde stoode still thinking a vision what hee sawe vnable to beléeue so great a good coulde redounde from so strange and vehement torments To him stept the ioyfull Lady putting of his helme ioyning her mouth to the princes said I neuer imagined soueraign Prince the Don Eleno 〈◊〉 armes against his Rosamond for though the Prince of Dacia be displeased with the Princesse of Callidonia he ought not so soone shew it whereto he replyed I am indebted to Rosamond for her ayde else no doubt but the Princesse had incurred some peril dearest Ladie of my soule but I am so highly bound to Rosamond that it made me breake with all on paine of defending her rare beautie although thereby the Callidonian Lady might rest grieued But if the Prince of Dacia haue offended heere stands Don Eleno to render his amendes She answered for the loue that Rosamond beares him the Callidonian Princesse will not suffer him to take anye wronge And letting him goe they entred to passe the heate vnder the braunching trées in the thicket with the greatest ioy in the worlde discoursing what to either had happened Greatly shee rested content that her Lord had spoken to the Emperour other Princes but that which most ioyed her was the newes of the Tynacrian whom she greatly desired to know through the fame that in Callidonia she heard of him In conuersation past they till the hower of three that they tooke the next way to the Cittie for they heard that three dayes after the Iustes would begin ioying to see what multitudes thither resorted hoping for the day that they might approue before that sinode of Maiestie the valour of their armes In this and in other pleasing chat but most of loue for they were his slaues continued the louers and the ioyfullest that euer Cupid knew when the same way they had taken they saw towards them come two Knights of the best constitution in as rich armour as either of them had seen accompanyed with onely two Pages They quickly met and as among such their chiefest ornament is courtesie the biggest of them sayde Braue Knights can you tell vs any thing of the triumphs in Constantinople We sir Knight replyed the Dacian haue not been there but haue heard they are begun with greate solemnitie and it was yesterday told me the Emperour had commaunded them to cease for eight dayes and this is all we know whilst he replied he attentiuely gazed on his companion that spake to him that he espied his sword and looking well on it he knew it hauing many yeares before bene his and seeing it in a strangers hands he straight remembred he had lost it in Rome that night that he deliuered the Princesses from the Gyants as is in the former part recited so expecting no answer again said And you Knight who gaue you that sword which cost me no little blood in winning it and therefore must you either giue it me or prepare to defend for I will not part without it though it cost me my life Scarse had he said so when the esquiers knew him for the two Knights were the one Lisarte King of Tarsis and the other his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria and the pages those that afore haue bene named to be the Princesse Roselea of Rome and Arbolinda Infant of Scotland The Louer was so much astonished as the Ladies to see him for the other said I do not denie but it may be yours Knight but the partie that me it gaue would with reason greatly be offended if I should so easily let it goe not shewing first that the parting from it is by force and not for that it was so willingly giuen me which animates me rather to dye then loose it Why then replied the Dacian defend thy selfe for by no meanes must I leaue it The Louer answered not but tourned his horse with such gallantnesse that Rosamond did greatly admire him The like did the valiant Dacian with the lightnesse of his horse he incountred the Argentarian so mightily that without any maner of motion he made him loose his stirrops getting hould by his horse maine for feare of falling while Eleno past like the wind And with like celerity he returned vpon his enemy with his sword in hand finding him in like preparation In Greece was neuer seene a more fiercer battle nor with more affection admired for the blow that Florisarte receaues on his helme doth Aâ—bolinda take it on her soule and that which Don Eleno on his sheeld doth Rosamond ouerthrowen him and with the furie of his Tyrio he ranne to the Tharsian and as he past with a flourish he gaue him a blow that on his horse necke he threw him He returned vpon him because he could not strike him with his sword he incountred him with his horse brestes so mightily that both him and his horse he tumbled to the grounde and leaping after him with more ligeritie then a nimble Hare ere he could prepare himselfe he closed with him and as his strength was greater he raised him aloft but holding him so strongly for feare of falling with him he was fayne to sett him downe and with a thrust made him staggering giue backe three paces and ere he could open his eyes was againe vpon him There had he wounded him if his sonne had not come and sydewayes gaue him so mightie a blowe that maugre all his strength he went foure paces backe Follow him would the haughtie Prince of Argentarie when the Ladye set her selfe before him with more wrath then a troden Serpent and with both handes laide on the youthes shield which like to a piece of Wood shee cleft cleane in two and myraculously he scaped his hande which remained with such paine that he could not stirre it Both the one and the other Father and Sonne incurred mightie
scarce possible to expresse the alteration that surprised the Prince of Croatia imagining the letter came from Venus that seing the haughty déedes which he had done and also his faire constitutioÌ„ she was enamored of him certifying him therof by that meanes The Gréeke put him froÌ„ those dumpes calling him saying In the end hee was wounded with anothers hand Le ts see braue Prince what this Lady requireth that should haue no small néede of our succour strengthning her necessity with our weake helpes binding vs thereby to loose our liue in her defence T will bee an act procéeding of your magnanimitie haughty dispayring knight to procure that none suffer any iniurie replyed Pollidolpho and from this time doe I offer my person The like did the Gréeke and opening the Letter were amazed to sée the name neuerthelesse he read it thus The Princesse Venus Letter to Claridiano IMagining valiant dispairing Knight to whom that name deuise is iniustly permitted thou art come to knowe the power of loue rooted in a true hart and how it onely repaires vnto the harme acknowledging the causer vnable to doe otherwise I write yet assured that my Letter will denote me of some immodest wantonnesse for the lawes of Loue frees euery one of paine excepting that which from it doth proceede By this shalt thou knowe the wronge my Father intendes to doe mee marrying me against my will to a husband of his choise But oh what death is it to see that Fortune should bring me to the estate that I must rather loose my life then obay his coÌ„mande though a daughters obedience binds me thereto but doing it it is an offence and capitall crime which I do coÌ„mit against my immaculate faith and also to whome I haue sacrificed it I am sure since thou hast receaued the order of armes to protect and defend the vnblemisht honor of distressed Ladies thou wilt leÌ„d me thy ayd as she that hath most neede thereof And so shall I draw strength out of my Faeminine feare to execute what ere thou shalt ordaine It is suffitiently knowne of all who it is that procures me of al things I expresse a Resolution by thy answer which will be the incourager of my brest The Gods haue thee in their keeping and giue thee more ioy then eyther I haue or thy deuise doth betoken The Princesse Venus Wonderfull greatly did the Princes hauing read the Letter estéeme the confidence reposed in them of so waightie a matter whose yssue they could not auoyd without great aduenture and danger of their liues well had the Gréeke vnvnderstoode the Princes affection and thinking he that way might binde him sayde Excéedingly doth Fortune fauour you great Prince hauing by such meanes ordred the putting in your hands so faire a Lady And I vowe neuer to put on armor more yf I performe it not although more perrils depend thereon he made answere Most excelleÌ„t knight I doe confes the Gods had appointed mee to méete you that seing my great necessitie you should take pittie of the same I will not againe rebinde my selfe for these magnanimous offers but onely set my life and state in your handes to gouerne dispose of them to your pleasure for that will bee mine in nothing derogating from your direction Why theÌ„ sayd the Gréeke I find no better remedie theÌ„ to remoue froÌ„ betwene you the knight that hath shewen himselfe your coÌ„petitor in loue and that it may be effected it will be good we aduertise the Ladye to yéelde to her Fathers request and I with vnknowne armes will challenge him procuring his or taking my death to quiet your life Afterwards it will be easie to take the Ladye from the Pallaice but for this it will bee requisite you haue some number of men for it is impossible but wee shall haue some conflict with the kings people whereto he replyed That is already prouyded for my couzen I being with onely my twoe Gyants departed from my Kingdome came to séeke mee with twelue Thousand men well armed and couragious for anye dangerous exployte T is ynough answered the Gréeke to set her on the Seas where wee will defende her maugre all their strength With this agréement they concluded their dyscourse wherewith Pollidolpho remayned the gladdest in the worlde séeing howe well his affaires were ordered towards the procurement of his ioyes The war-like Gréeke writ his answere deliuering it to the Damozell that mist not to come for it carrying it straight to her Lady that with many pittifull lameÌ„tations beséeched the Gods they would not permit so vniust a marriage but rather to end her sorrowfull dayes which should bee her greatest good that liued exempt of all content Though she receaued it excéeding with the Gréeke Princes letter whose seales hauing rent open it contayned this effect Claridianos Letter to the Princesse Venus SO great is the wrong most excellent Princesse done vnto thy beauty so much the duty I acknowledge vnto Ladies that hauing not written but only giuing me the least notice of thy care both things had put me in the greatest that I euer conceaued to procure venturing therein the hazard of my life that in nothing thou shouldest sustayne iniurie and thereof liue secure that whylst this thy afflâ—cted Knight dooth liue so vnequall a Marriage shall not be effected And the better to perfourme it it is needefull you giue your graunt vnto your Father doe it without anye feare For eyther I will loose my lyfe or Lindauro shall not one daye enioye the name hee dooth not deserue it to bee thyne The Gods haue thee alwayes in their keeping and with good successe end these affaires The despayring Knight The teares of ioy ran down the Ladies eyes in gret abundaÌ„ce with her soule thanking the knight for what he vndertoke on her he halfe calling that Lady vnworthy of any good that ioyed in the sorrow of so valiant a Knight with whose loue any might accompt her selfe happie and had she not known he had on another bestowed himselfe hee had been the first whome the second Venus had made Patrone other hart with more loyalty then Cupids mother did yeild her selfe vnto her louer Almost with the letter in her hand did her Father take her for the Syconian Prince woulde not let him rest wyth his imrortunities he required her to obay his behest regarding how well it became her to marrie him one of the greatest Princes of the world being his neere neighbor which might moue her to doe it more willingly shee answered Deare Father nothing can be told me of the Syconian Prince more then I knowe and haue considered it exceeded my deserts to receaue him for my Lorde husband but so tender is my age and my yeres so few in their vnripenes that I thought I shoulde nippe the springing hopes of the same by vnder-going the heauie yoake of Matrimonie Neueerthelesse seeing both you he so much desire it your will be done for now nor neuer will
Princes but only procure to follow me for I being well acquainted with all the waies in the Cittie will without danger safe-conduct you through it As you will haue it Sir Knight said they so be it done though willingly we would let the Souldan know what iniustice he had done vs another time will serue for that sayd Rosabell And so loosing the raignes of his Bollador with both hands he cutt his passage through those troopes in such sorte that he which could faster flie thought himselfe most valiant It was admiration to see how higher then his owne elbowes ouer horse and all he was besmeard with blood With no lesse courage followed Oristoldo in some perill which was lessened by the kings companie In this order did they issue out of the Cittie leauing in it eternal memorie of their valour The Souldan would haue had them followed but the two Knights so handled the matter that they pacified him commanding the tumult to cease and perswaded him to forget his displeasure against the Kings which he the sooner did because Don Clarisell gaue him a letter from Lupercio to thss effecte High and mighty Monarch Emperor and puisant Soldan of Nyqueas vast Empire thy friend Lupercio wisheth thee eternall happines with Immortall quietnesse end of troubles Hauing by my art skill foreknowen all the successe happened together with the euent of this present combate haue thought it meete to aduertize thee that those Kinges are innocent hauing committed no faulte against thee but they that the victorie haue got by ending the battaile are those that haue dishonored thy mightinesse stealing away thy daughter and her cosens though both the one and the others were left without them because with my skill I haue helped thee inchaunting them in such a place where they liue with such Roialty as if they were within thy pallaice and for their libertie I cannot yet finde when or how it must be for that it is of such difficultie Of the successe thereof as of other things will I in due time aduertise thée all in all wishing the fulnesse of thy content the which the immortall Gods graunt thée as they canne and I doe procure The wise Lupercio Some what pleased rested the Souldan with the wise mans letter seing thereby that his Daughter was not in his enemies power Greatly did he honour the two Knights knowing them to be so great Princes and so valiant of their handes where leauing them we must a while returne to Rosabell CHAP. VII How the Kings departed from the Princes resting eternally bound vnto them and what happened vnto them with a Knight WIth incomparable ioy did the two Princely friendes issue out of the Cittie of Nyquea after they hadde to their euer-liuing Fames terminated their busines They ceast not till they came to the Sea-side where the Kings had their fleetes staying for them for the gouernors of their kingdomes being aduertised of their being there had made that prouision to fetch them So soone as from their horses they had dismounted the king of Garamantes ranne to imbrace the Princes and saide while the others did the like Magnificent and illustrious Knightes the worthiest that euer buckled on armour how may wee in parte shewe the thankfulnesse due for so many great perils that for our sakes you haue vndergone Wee can finde no satisfaction sufficient to equalize your merits but that ye will imploy and commaund our persons and states in any your seruice as patrons and defenders thereof which to vs will be immortal happinesse and yet shall we remaine indebted considering your deserts and our benefits receiued But to make our ioyes compleat let these Kinges and my selfe obtaine the fauour to knowe by whome wee haue our honours and our liues regained It hath most mightie Princes bene so little replyed Rosabell what this Knight and my selfe for you haue done that respecting your many merites no occasion may thereby be taken to fauour vs. But if you will do it you do perfourme the honour that shal inlarge your fames because the ayde that my companions and I receiued was of power ynough to binde our liues to your lasting commaund and so may you vse vs as the onely procurors of your content Touching your last request we are of such remoted coūtreys that though wee should reueale our names you cannot knowe vs. This Knight is of Antioche called the Knight of Fortune and my selfe the Knight of the groue of Loue because I did beginne so soone that I cannot remember when I was mine owne It pleased his Fortune so to fauour me as to minister occasion for our meeting wherby many yeares since wee contracted a firme league of inuiolated amitie which hitherto we haue maintained and because I made him partaker of my woes and how the cause of them was the Princesse of Niquea he promised me his ayd together with my other foure cōpanions my great friends with whose vnited valour and of your persons wee brought her away But oh despightfull fortune sayde he with his eyes full of water that scarcely did let me sée much lesse enioy the happines she gaue mee because with the extreamest crueltie she could deuise she did bereaue me of her Whereupon he tould them the maner of her taking away as is set down in the end of the first booke of this third part Greatly grieued the Kings for the Ladies losse chiefly for the Knights sorrowe but being vnable to redresse it they comforted them as became true friendes of their qualities And seing that the Kings longer staying in that land would bee daungerous they counselled them to depart vnto their owne countries From whence they might obtaine a peace from the Souldan They all liked well thereof and so they tooke their leaues of their friends taking their right course to their kingdoms where they got the Souldans fauor which prooued not a little costly to Grecia For these Kings were they that most persecuted her in her generall warres as in the Fourth part at large shal be related Somewhat from the Hauen did the two valiant Princes lye themselues downe to passe away the lingring passage of of the sullen night making their supper of such prouision as Allirio had brought with him which done after a litle chat they parted a sunder to sléepe vnder the shadows of pleasant smelling trées A little more towards the Sea did Rosabell cast himselfe who one while thinking on his Lady and another on his voyage vnto Greece not letting himselfe to be knowen vntill his déedes might declare the Royaltie of his discent lay tumbling on the grasse till he fell a sléepe which was so little that the Ecchoe of sighing groanes proceeding from some that cōplained were of force to waken him who being of nature bould and of nouelties desirous quickly set himselfe on foote and with his sword in hand went straite to the place whence he heard the plaintes and so going into a little Meddowe vnder the spreading of a
it againe but through the which proceeded from the galant English lady who with a new fauor fauored her louer The couragious Bariandell with his saddle betwéene his legges with all his gyrtes broken went to the grounde and drawing foorth his sworde demaunded battell therewith I desire not Sir Knight said Clarindo with you to haue newe quarrels this that Fortune hath giuen me fully contenteth me I am not vanquisht aunswered Bariandell and so may require my battell with the sworde That must be said the other as the Iudges please who seeing the controuersie went to them and adiudged the aduenturer vanquished Whereupon the shrill sound of Trumpets was so great that the one could not heare the other The smoke that issued from the Ordinance darkened the splendour of the Sunnes brightnesse that in the middest of his course stoode to beholde the Ioustes The pleasure of the Ladies cannot be expressed to see how brauely the Frenchman behaued himselfe To him went the Persian and intreated him awhile to giue him leaue which courteously he did For between them was such friendship as amōg their fathers The gallant youth prepared himselfe greatly contenting the Ladies with his presence iudging he woulde continue to the ende as his friends had happily begunne yet found they themselues agreeued with his libertie esteming themselues of little worth that any one should enter the listes without the name of alienated The which the great Matrone of Trabisound well noted therefore saide In faith braue Ladyes it greeues me to see the libertie of yonder Knight the looke to this window will not much lesse to your beauties Considering our nyce cōditions strāgenesse replyed the beauteous Archisilora I do not maruel at yonder Knights Not farre from her was Claridiano the afflictedst youth in the worlde seeing with what rigour his Lady vsed him depriuing him of that which by no meanes almost shee could deny for which cause he was so passionate pensatiue that none in the vniuerse could be more And seeing the good occasion to speak vnto his Lady he said I am glad soueraigne Queene of Lyra that you haue graunted what my Lady mother hath noted which is no small comfort to those that pyne to knowe that all the fault is not in the gallants but some also in their Ladies disfauours or disgrace It is not so great replyed the sharpe Quéene as it is iust towards those Knightes that without consideration place their hopes on that which yeeldeth soonest cause of dispaire And then this is rather a fauour for which Ladies ought to be gratified when so plainly they leaue their louer hopelesse that after they call it not a deceipt seeing their faith loue and loyaltie so ill repaide and so ought their complaints to be pittied and excused had not our strangenesse at first diswaded them Wherefore couragious Prince if any Ladye hath had more power ouer you then all we on the Prince of Percia thinke that your disfauours proceeds from this The wofull louer had not the strength to aunswere her seeing how openly she would not shewe him no hope of fauour From thence he went to his chamber ad vttering a thousand exclaims he cast him selfe vpon his bed cursing his Fortune that so was opposed against his content He durst not tarrie long because he knewe his mother would send for him so he returned placed himselfe next to Oliuea that loued him as her selfe this was at such time as through the place entred two Knights armed in Russet with barres of black that euery one enuyed their disposition but seeing they loued according to their deuises that it was in some high place it grieued them to know they liued vnbeloued Yet that was not the cause thereof but the losse of their deare Ladies For these were the valiant Princes of Celandia that hauing taken their leaues of Rosabell tooke their way towards Grecia Their deuise was a fierie Chariot wherin their Ladies were caried away they looking after them with this Motto For such a famous losse Still may we burne in fire Equall to our desire With great grace they passed forwarde but yet their strength was not so great as the Persians who taking a bigg launce incounted the one so rigorously that though on his feete he made him touch the ground he lost his stirrops for fewe blowes like that he had receiued and passed forwards Against him setled himselfe the elder brother This Knight was of more strength and so with more might they incountred shiuering their Launces in a thousand pieces The aduenturer lost one stirrope yet was it scarse discerned With new Launces they returned but in this second carrier the Celandian got but little for his length on the earth he left with the fall The Persian lost his raynes and the horse with the force of the incounter strucke his buttockes on the ground but spurring him he made him passe forwards prawnsing as he went The Instruments began their accustomed Musick with such harmonie that it seemed sent from heauen The Galleys discharged their ordinance with such noyes that the rebounding Eccho made all the Citie quake What say you now deare Lady saide Rosaluira to our Knights high deedes I beleeue our fauours giuen so willingly is that which so animates them Rightly haue you spoken said the Queene of Lyra but in the listes to shewe the freenesse of his hart this Knight deserued not so manifest a fauour She spake it to let Claridiano vnderstand that she desired to haue him Ioust but not seeing him there she straight supposed that her sharpe aunswere had driuen him thence It gréeued her for shee loued him dearer then her selfe But her grauitie was so great that she would by no meanes haue him imagine any such thing of her yet if to dissemble were to loue this Lady may be eternized for a famous louer and the greatest that euer was But at this time there entred some to proue themselues against the Persian to their cost for in short space he ouerthrew aboue 50 Knights None durst enter within the listes seeing how little there was to be got So that towardes the houre of foure through the place past two Knights of good semblance cladd in yallow that no small laughter caused the Ladies to see their dispayring deuise on their sheeldes had they a thousand distrustes all making against them they there pictured with this inscription T' is a vertue to distrust To him that will not Loue For feare of Ioyes remoue The Motto the ladyes entertained as was their custome when therein they will shewe their disdain equall to the cruelty that they show vnto their gallants The one of the yellow knights sett him selfe right against the couragious Persian who with his incountre laide him on the grounde the like he did by the second resting so brused by their strokes that he could scarce keepe a horse backe for those were the strongest incounters he had all that daie receaued The
began to trace the intricate wayes of the gloomie woods calling himselfe a thousand times vnfortunate for that the displeased heauens for some offence of his berest him of the swéete presence of his deare Ladie when he had most neede thereof Of nothing did he more complaine then of Loue attributing his losse to the enuie of his good that with proper teares he had gained and that therfore he was inioyned to so vnpleasant a iourney Great comfort was it to him the remembrance of the Nymphes promise for that was only what nourished his life which else he had him selfe from himselfe bereft None loued as he and therefore was his reward admirable In this manner traueld he til the second houre in the after-noone that he sawe comming towardes him a Ladye in company of one of the best proportioned Knights that he had seene He was so loden with fearfull weapons that he iudged him of great valour And ye be remembred this is our affectionated Brandafidell that hearing howe the feastes were begun was going towardes the Citie So soone as they confronted ech other raising his Beuer he said If you come from Constantinople Sir Knight can you tell me who maintaines the Ioustes and whether they be begun I onely know replyed Don Eleno that certainly they are begun and as for the rest I haue heard the maintainers are the Prince of Persia and Babylon in companie of him of Fraunce and the Troyan Oristides Then belike saide the Gyant assured are the Gréeke Dames to loose no part of their beauties Famoused they are for valour replyed the Dacian Neuerthelesse there will go to the Ioustes those that in no lesse reputation accompt their Ladies from whome they will drawe strength to trye their Fortune And seeing I haue satisfied your demaund you should do me a great fauour to tell me newes of a Knight in white Armour on his shield a Sanguine heart with the like deuise that I haue Yesterday about this time replyed the Gyant we met him in greatest haste of his mightie horse and to mee the speaking to him was costly for being about to offer him my person to aide him if he had neede he went verie Cholericke for sharply hee aunswered me Well did I note it Yet notwithstanding I set my selfe in middle of the way to staye him with his incounter he did not ouerthrow me but it was the greatest that in all my life I receiued The heate of the Sunne somewhat annoyed the gallant Louer and therefore he raysed his Beuer. It was not so soone done but the Gyant thought verily it was his deare Rosicler For as it is saide he so much resembled him as the one scarse was knowen from the other and crying out alowde he leapte from his beast and flinging at the Prince saide Oh my deare Lorde what good Fortune hath awayted thy faithfull Brandafidell bringing him to see you Thither was the beauteous Floralinda come and saide Why how now Soueraigne Prince is it possible that in your owne countrey you will not know vs Deedes are those that Floralinda hath receiued that byndes her to your knowledge but you are so changed that I will complaine vnto the Princesse Oliuia of your disquietnesse Don Eleno was so amazed at what the Lady and Gyant did that he could not aunswere till he perceiued their deceipt taking him for his cousin Rosicler so altogether listing vp his Beuer replyed Most beauteous Ladye to inioy so great fauour as to that famous Prince you doe I wish I were in deede him whome I do so much resemble I am not that Prince you knowe though you may accompt me for your friend as I thinke he is I am his cousin Don Eleno of Dacia and account it my good Fortune to haue met with your company and haue vnderstoode of that Knight that some fewe dayes hath made mee seeke him about these desert Woods And seeing I haue no more to doe I commit you to God For euery Minute that I stay I am in great fault with yonder Knight So he tooke his leaue departing swifter then any thought that way which the courteous Gyant directed him Somewhat abashed rested the Ladye at her chaunce with the Dacian but knowing who he was it did not greene her I do intreat your Ladyship to follow mee softly saide the couragious Gyant For doubtlesse some of those Knightes may haue some neede and in ayding them will Rosicler be pleased And turning the raynes of his Alfana he tooke Don Elenos way and as he bestryded the worldes best horse hee could neither see nor ouertake him and with feare to loose the Lady went but leasurely Yet Don Eleno iudged stowe the swiftnesse of his Tirio For hauing crost most parte of the Forrest when the Sunne would ende his course hard by the Sea syde he spyed one of the brauest battels that he euer sawe It was one sole Knight among many and some Gyants with lesse furie followeth a towring Hawke on his praying game then did the Dacian descend those Mountaines till he arriued hard by them where he sawe a damozell bound that greatly exclaimed on her outrage so he perceiued that about her libertie the battell was He remembred not to haue seene a brauer Knight then he that fought for they were some twentie Knights and thrée Gyants and sixe of them he had layde at his feete with one Gyant so brauely he behaued himselfe among them that the Dacian thought him to be the Emperour Alphebo of Trebisound No longer stayed the couragious Louer but giuing a hallow to his horse a signe that he should not leaue the battell till the ende he strongly settled himselfe in his styrrops and with Mars his strength he threwe his Launce it could not light but hitting one of the Gyants that it pearst him syde through syde He cast his shielde at his backe and with Brutus famous sworde he began such hauocke among them that ere they could perceiue their daunger fiue he had slaine The sonne of angry Garrofilla for that was he greatly esteemed the Dacian seeing his valour to be so great that none durst withstand him First he would rid himselfe of that vylde peeple before he assaulted the Gyants he did so when two Knightes of haughtie disposition arryued the one knewe Polliphebo as one that in her soule had him imprinted being the beauteous Floraliza who without further staye with her sworde in both handes arryued almost as soone as Don Eleno Neuer was there seene more fiercer blowes for both with the vtmost of their strength not regarding that the other did the like they discharged thē al vpon him deuiding him in thrée for euery one had his quarter Enuious of the same the Tinaerian casting his sheeld away brauely firming his feet in his stirropes raised his selfe on them and with his sword in both hands with incredible strength he discharged his blow on the others left shoulder that to his saddle he cleaft him and as if he had
daunger hauing such strong enemies The gallant of Argentaria returned her his aunswere with such strength that he made her see more starres then in the heauens were But who bewayled the blowes in their soules with sighes and pearled teares were the two wofull Ladies seeing their louers in such daunger For Artimio alreadie bewailed Florisartes death alreadie calles the Heauens vniust alreadie complaines on Loue calling him a tyrant that liued by honouring Cupid a pittifull God If this way there is such excesse of griefe what shall the beautifull Princesse of Rome do seeing her Don Eleno with Lisarte For though he had the better her loue disliked it making her beleue what easily she credited But her sorrow helped not nor her louing with such intiernes auailed to asswage her passions They could not deuise no meanes to make the battle cease for as they were flesht in it they thought it impossible that any thing lesse then the death of some should part them for at this time it semed that with more fiercenes it increased The Tharsians dexteritie was it that defended him agaynst the angry Dacian yet was it not so much but being reached euery time he set both hands and knees on the earth he passed not much better for his aduersarie neuer gaue him blow but brused and tormented his body so that if he gaue he receaued In no lesse danger was Rosamond for onely her armour was it that in this battle saued her life Euen whē the Sunne would set widdowing the earth of his light there arriued the valiant Mauritanian Brufaldoro that following the search of the Tynacrian and not finding he came thither iudging that for feare he had hiddē himselfe And seing the crueltie of that fight hee could not but say Oh Iupiter what Knightly valour is this The fierce Pagan was gentle and affable of condition and so pittied the faire Pages that wéeping stood speaking thus Can you tell me pretie Pages the cause of this battaile which should not be little considering the fiercenesse thereof It is so small sir Knight replyed Artimio that it is gret pitie it should be continued to the end for so slight a thing the cause being only that this Knight pointing to Florisarte weareth asword which he in the Russet challengeth for his saying he would not part without it vnlesse it cost him his life No longer stayed the mightie youth but drawing foorth his sword put himselfe betwene them that were on foote saying Heare me sir Knights that seing ye haue no other reason then what these Squiers haue told me it were to be reasōlesse to leaue the world Orphant for so small a cause of your valour and for a sword The vndertaken battailes all discréet Knights should be grounde vpon some suffitiēt reason for that is it which assureth the victorye making hym more famous that prosecutes it with Iustice and not with passion to procure to maintain their fame vntill death well did the Dacian know him iudging him of great vallor seing he sustained himselfe to his honour against his Cosen Pollephebo and so replied It is not so small Sir Knight as you thinke it for that knights sword is mine and I requested it with much courtesie which was enough for him to giue it me he not only denyed it but allso threatned me till death if I more demaunded it which you see is sufficient for a-thousand battles and I knew that in no cause you would haue left it That were answered the beautious Arbolinda with many teares had not you giuen it willingly vnconstrained and with it leaue to be giuen to any hauing no action to require it and if like a Knight you gaue it you should no more haue rememberd it The Dacian thought he should know that voice to be of the Princesse of Scotland and so with some a maze answered how know you good page that I did giue this sword I was brougt vp in Rome replied the disguised Artimio sure enough to be vnknowen where I saw that in recompence of an inprisonmēt by the gentlest Gaoler in the world you gaue it All this while the most beautious Roselea did nothing but weepe currents of sault teares vnable to speake on word yet thus replied Don Eleno So many requires a peace valiant Sir that he should not deserue to inioy any that would deny it and so for this time I remit the battle so pleaseth these Knightes They will saie the woefull distressed Roman were it but to be more pittifull then you that forgetfull of your owne honour and what you are bound to do wander vp and downe challanging battles of whom you know not and without any reason More a mazed then at first with these things remained the Datian for by their voices he thought he knew them both and thinking long till he spake with them said to Rosamond in her language that it behooueth him to leaue that battle She that was borne to loue him woulde not therein discontent him And so stepping apart left the battle leauing the Princes so brused that they could scarce stand The king of Mauritania seeing the matter ended demaunded for the Knight of the Branch of whome Don Eleno gaue him the newes he knew not knowing he was shipt to Sea after he departed from him No longer stayed the Moore but in all hast possible with his wife tooke the way that the Dacian directed him and no sooner was he departed but Rosamonds louer mounting on his Tirio went to the Pages saying your spéeches gentle pages haue so confounded one that I wold giue ouer a Thousand battles so I might intreat you to tell me whether you know me or if my name in Rome bee knowen Wherto Artimio answered you haue no reason prince of Dacia to conceale your name and yet wee wish wee had not knowne you were it but because wee would not haue had a Prince so great an as you renowned haue erred against such excellent Ladies as the Princesses Roselia and Arbolinda for the former is with reason wronged with the discourtesie and ingratitude or rather crueltie wherwith you departed from Court she hauing shewed you so manye fauors which were suffitient for one that had a clearer iudgment then you to make him leade all his life with content but I feare you were onely borne to mocke poore Ladyes Then consider the blot of your fame and reputatiōs staine and the greatnesse that in Rome you are loued and moreouer the toyle and labourous trauayle that I and my companyon haue suffered in our tedious voyage to séeke you all which well pondered may bee some cause that leauing the present state of all thinges you returne where by minutes you are expected by them that fill the ayre with sighes And that you maye see it signed receaue this her better whose tenor I knowe not whose obdurate harte it woulde not mollefie but Don Elenos Prince of Dacia who tooke it not to be moued to Loue for therein he had not where
content the same shal be my chiefest felicitie Soueraigne Princesse replyed the Prince so greatly were you wronged by being here detained that what I did ought not to be esteemed any thing for your constancie deserued far more I want abilitie most excellent Knight aunswered she to expresse my thankfulnes more then to remaine perpetually at your commaunde onely nowe I must intreate you that since you haue restored vnto my handes the thinge that I most hoped for in this world that you woulde helpe me to cure his woundes for though we haue been inchanted yet they séeme now as fresh as when they were made by that most barbarous Knight In hast they went al vnto him and taking of his armour with the ayre that breathed in his face he returned from the trance he fell in betwéen his Ladies armes when she thought it was his lastly gaspe he opened his eyes and seing himselfe in hir hands he once did hate and nowe excessiuely did loue with great faintnesse sayde May it be deare Ladie that the power of a constant loue hath so rooted it selfe within your brest that not respecting my sauagenesse my more then barbarous sauadgnesse cōmitted against your loyaltie you should still loue mee you should now pittie me you should feele my déepe wounds in your soule hauing made them so great in yours with my life Ingratitude hath been myne worthy of your disgrace deseruing to haue left comfortlesse the most rebellious body that ere the earth did foster leaue we this answered the amorous Ladie my most dearest Lorde for seeing I was borne onely to loue by doing so I discharged my dutie together with what my loue-afflicted soule instructed mee to It neuer grieued me to be vnloued but it onely tormented mee as in reason it should that the first time so famous a Prince should shrinke from his worde it should bee from me This and nothing but this hath made mee wander through the world as it best can witnes so greatlye to my fames cost and honours blemish but since it hath pleased the heauens to pittie my paines mollifying your flint obdurate heart in recompence to see my selfe beloued of my deare Zoylo I accompt my discontent my greatest content yf I any did passe And now le ts giue order for your woūds cure for yet you are more bound then you are aware of depart they would vnto the next village when through the Forrest they spyed a damsell comming towards them more swifter then the raging winde and arriuing sayde Away braue sirs for the Tartars life hath been reserued by the Author thereof onely for my comming And so going to hym she drewe forth a glasse with a most Odoriferous licour whose fragrant smell comforted all the circumstants the which she set vnto his mouth Oh deuine thing for scarce she had set it and hee tasted what it contained when hee remained whole of his wounds though weake through the much blod he had lost his due thanks would hee render for that great good déede but she was vanished vn-seene of any To this famous Knight sayde Tigliaffa must you giue them for t is he that his mightie arme hath fréede both you and me from whence the world else had not béen able to do deliuering vs from the cruell torment wee both iniustly suffered for these wounds for all they séemed so freshly to bléede you receaued them aboue 6. yeares agoe in presence of the vnhappie Tigliaffa that seing it receaued them no lesse Thereupon did the beloued Prince remember that about the armes of of Bramarante a Knight had giuen him them He turned to the gallant Rosabell that excéedinly ioyed to sée him well casting his armes about his necke seing him so young said Oh most mighty Knight is it possible that from your hands hath proceeded such a benefit there is no recompence can equall my receaued fauor I will not binde my selfe for it though eternally I will acknowledge my debt because I feare that being of such waight my short life will not suffer me in part to shew my gratitude but oh God what greater comfort maye I now enioy then to beholde betwene my armes him that so much resembles Rosicler the Prince of Grecia my greatest friend and if in any thing he touches you sir Knight I intreate you by the thing you must loue hope to enioy in this world you would not denie it me for if you are Sonne vnto my Lady the Princesse Oliuia much did the king Sacridoro in her rape yet cost it mee no lesse woundes and had I lost my life it had been pleasing so hee obtayned her his desired pryze to his valour onely due Excellent Prince replyed Rosabell your valour was suffitient without your merits on the Gréeke Princes behalfe deserued to binde all the worlde to your seruice In the rest touching himselfe I knowe no more then that to this Prince of Antioch sonne vnto that King you named and to mee there hath happened so manye thinges since my Fortune caused vs to meete in me to knitte a league of inuiolable friendship besides what before befell mee euen afore that Greeke Lord that we dare presume to saye I am sonne to those so much behoulding vnto you and with like deceipte was prince Rosicler by a strange aduenture parted from me in Lacedemon More then this I assure you I knowe not This is ynough most excellent Princes aunswered the Tartare and for me the greatest comfort that nowe Fortune could giue mee to set mee with the Sonne of those in whose amitie I esteeme my greatest felicitie Anewe they imbraced each other for greater friendes the earth neuer knewe Exceeding glad was the gallant Ladie to see her selfe in companie of such hawghtie knights but more to be beloued of him that once liued by hating her So well did the two friendes handle this matter that they altogether assured the Iealous Lady of her hopes procuring the Tartare to espowse her seing her fayth dyd meryt more then that The gracious Zoylo dyd not refuse it but rather expressed it was the greatest good hee might receaue There the braunches towring trees would bend to make them arbours to spende the nights in pleasure till they arriued at Constantinople Many times would the two louers willingly loose themselues among the thickets where they might inioy what the cursed Selagio pretended with his artes to auoyde and it was no small benefite vnto them for the Lady remained with child of a Sonne that in armes was called Mars a daughter that in beautie excelled all those of her age for whose loue one of the Gréeke Princes doted till the death as the fourth part recordeth where a while wee must leaue them returning to Constantinople for alreadye were the Triumphes begun with farre greater solemnitie CHAP. XIIII How the Tryumphes were againe begun and what admirable battailes happened in them WIth such verie gret affectiō hath the wise Lirgandeo faire Ladies shewed him in the discription of the Tartarian
alonge with this motto Did euer any see The Ladie that doth delight To equall her despight With that fier which burneth me Vnto the Iousts there entred not a Knight of whome a more generall commiseration was had The Prince of Hyberia did deserue it who for the loue of the Armenian Kings Daughter that bordered in this Confynes extreamely languished being therefore constrayned to tread the steppes of Pilgrimage through forraine lands arryuing at length at Constantinople hee was of high valour and one of them that shewed himselfe a capitall enemie to Greece his name was the vnfortunate Lindelfo They met with the puissance of their armes but what auailes it though the Dacian loose his raines and hould by his horse necke if at his turning he saw his aduersarie on the ground though quickly he leapt into his saddle he pittied him remembring the time when comfortlesse accompanied with nought but despaire to ease his torments hee wandered through the world in that manner So hee craued his pardon requesting him to accept him for a friend Generally was the yellowe Knight esteamed for the braue encounter hee had made and to ouerthrow him was alredie iudged impossible so furious so lucky did the Louer raunge about the yarde A sudden rumour buz'd through the place with the entring into it of one of the gallantest Gyants in the vniuerse and so loaden with fearefull weapons that the farthest of yet thought himselfe within his armes This was the courteous Brandafidell bringing with him the beauteous Floralinda being himselfe clad in rich armour of a mingled Red and Greene and garnished with many Lillies On his shield hee had figured a Tower wherein a faire Ladie seemed to bee inclosed himselfe standing at the Gate with that huge Mace and about this deuise were these wordes inrowled Being committed to my trust None euer past this way Nor Loue in proude aray There was no â—ady in all the place but with gret laughter applauded the gyants deuise seing the inequalitie betwene the Lady and him She was attired all in groâ—â— cut vppon Red blackt in such curious manner as if it were some workemanshipp of Heauen A thin sendall masked her face except the sparkling light of her twoo Sunnes whose beames exceeded Phaebus raies Euery one longed with desire to know what foolish Ladie that might be that so bestowed her beautie on so deformed a Gyant Forwards stept the courteous Pagan and knowing him in the Russet to be Cousin to him he highly honored was vnwilling in any thing to moue him and so said your admired valour Sir knight is so highly knowen that none dares hazard his reputation on the breaking of a Launce against you If I may intreat suffer me to runne on with your Companion rather to shew I am all in all yours then otherwise to offend you Well did the haughtie Matrone vnderstand it and also the whole place heard what the Gyant had said thereby more esteaming the Russet Knight The Ioust did the Lady demaund of her beloued Lord with feare ynough did hee giue it her and his shield with his soule None in all the place did mis-imagine of the knights hardinesse in the white though his companion seemed of a stronger constitution But she that fetcht her Pedegree from Hercules for a greater matter did encourage her selfe and so turning her Courser with no lesse grace then her louer they encountred with asmuch furie as the god of warre could haue done T was well for the Lady to hit the Gyant on the Beuer and bearing her launce with the vtmost of her strength which was equall to any she strucke of his helme from his head the paine whereof made him loose his owne blow no sooner had it fallen but presently the three Princes knewe him There no longer lingred the gallant Brandafidell but taking his leaue of the Ladie leauing her in opinion of valiant he went straight to the Theater and leaping from his beast he alighted the Ladie twixt his armes most ioyfull to see her selfe before her lord Meridian all her deare Father By her hand did the courteous Gyant lead her vp staires til euerie one knowing who they were seeing Rosicler rise though very weake of his last battle they did the like to accompanie him Along past the gentle Brandafidell saying I am sorrie most excellent Princesse that bringing such company with me to her will all the content be attributed wherewith I am receaued but I am glad of it to bee in recompence thereof discharged of my guaridng my Lady the Princesse Floralinda deliuering her vnto the Scythian prince for if he be the Meridian I belieue he will not be displeased with the gift By this time had she vnmasked her face discouering a more fayrer one then Apollos in the moneth of Maye The Prince imbraced his espowse vsing betwene them such ceremonies as is accustomed amonge those that like ioyes expected With such furie behaueth her selfe the Calidonian Matrone in the listes swéete sollaces of Melancholy hartes that I caÌ„not stand to rehearse these welcomes on all partes I remit it to your sober considerations for to repeate the manners of the gentle Brandafidell what with euery one he did and to euerye one did say were to inlarge with superfluous courtesies the breuitie of the Historie fall into that error I haue already condemned To be short euery one returned to their places except the old King of Macedonia who with the Emperors leaue went thence with his Daughter to know what had befallen her in so loÌ„g an absence Only swéet Ladies comforts of comfortlesse soules pitie Claridiano burning in the vnconsuming fier of loue that with his Ladies coynesse added the fewell of discontent vnto the selfe norishing flames of the reasonlesse warre of rude confused thoughtes The fauour of some smyling chance lightly in such accidents as these doth sometime leaue his contrarious maleuolence and so fortune at this instant brought him to meet with the Queene of Lyra that returned froÌ„ speaking to the Macedonian ladie no doubt but to see him so pensiue and for her sake shee became more milde She shewed it by these wordes but with such a hanging downe of her eyes that I knowe not what heart of Adamant could haue indured it Verie gladly woulde I haue you tell mee Prince of Grecia the cause of your sorrowe For I feare your euill doth proceede of Loue yf so and the Ladye bee amonge vs and my selfe able in anye thinge to fauour you may I but know hee and I will doe it in respect I am so much indebted to your vncle Rosicler Most excellent Queene answered the afflicted Lorde my infirmitie is of such equalitie that I knowe no remedie for it for to nominate the cause therof is a newe torment to augment it For that to doe so is certainelye to offende This onelye doe I knowe that I feele the approching of a longe lingring death and would yt make an end to come Oh happie it and I farre
happyer For to whome his lyfe is a griefe his death is a sweete remedye I doe not doubt but the tormentes of paynefull passions which I suffer is well knowne to whom gouernes the powers of my alienated soule from my selfe but the vnworthinesse of my merits doth withhold immerited fauour Shee replyed neuer a word for she was so free that for the world shee woulde not haue had him been more playner in what shee already knewe yet she remayned glad to see her selfe so ingratefull and to be more intirely loued and so shee spake why then goe with your Father to beholde the Iustes for I will tarrie here with these our newe-come friendes Neuer did Louer receaue such a blowe nor on any was such Iniunction imposed swell did his heart beyonde his limits with so rygorous an answere that hee could not replye nor knewe hee where hee was imagining that her parting him from her wyth so straunge a disdayne was the shutting of the doore against all comfort With no such imaginations did the Lady sit to looke on the Iustes and with no lesse glorie did Rosamond mayntaine them So returning to the listes she sawe afore her a Knight in azure armor crosse bard wyth yellowe his deuise was iealously in her naturall lynamēts with this Motto Is' t not pittie to behold That no fayth now preuaileth Whilst true loue is controld By iealousie that most auaileth Euery one well noted the Iealous deuise of the Knight the grace wherwith he past forwards till the theater where he did his dutie with more Maiestie then ioye It not a little auailed her towards the Iustes for this was Sarmacia the Troians loue to looke aloft to the windowes for there shee spyed her welbeloued Lord sitting next to the Emperor Alphebo and on the farther side the beauteous Floralinda in pleasing conuersation discoursing with her Meridian She straight knewe that was the Ladie which had been cause of her griefe her bigge heart coulde not indure it but shee must aske the first shee mette whom that Ladye Knight were Shee was answered the truth whereat shee conceaued exceeding ioye becomming nowe penitent for her rash mideeming and opprobrious exclaimes agaynst her Oristides She could not imagine the hower when to speak with him to craue his pardon of what against him shee had breathed She returned to the listes the ioyfullest aliue I feare the gallant Rosamond wil be in some danger with her for her purefied thoughts had to such manner incoraged her that all the place seemed too little to mayntaine her At her approching the Calidonian Matrone with some seeming choller sayd In fayth Sir Knight if from the sight of Ladies you doe attract your strength you may already assure your selfe the victorie though hauing so little daye for the much that is to bee done you might for this present haue deferd your sight by shortening the beholders hopes There is not so little tyme replyed the gallant Sarmacia but will suffice to make you knowe the great deceipte that doth possesse you Shee aunswered not for her anger woulde not permit it saue wyth turning of her horse she went where the launces were and chose her selfe a strong and knottie one and more swifter then any Autumne winde loosing the raynes of her Courser she ranne against her aduersarie who to méete her did the like Fiue launces brake the Heroyke Ladies ere aduantage was betwene them knowne At the Sixt for the Iudges told them they might runne no more with newe forces they seemed to incounter wyth such furie that their blowes made all the scaffoldes in the place tremble with the noyse Her stirroppes and brydle lost our Rosamond and was fayne with the vtmost of her strength to holde by her horse necke which was a haynous matter to commit that fault before her deare Lorde and so shee thought it yet was shee glad when turning about her Courser shee saw her aduersarie on the grounde who thoughe she had with some aduantage fallen yet her horse eleuating himselfe made her altogether loose the recouerie of her seate The other celebrated her victorie with admired Maiestie prawnsing vpp and downe her furious Stéede The hawghtie Lyrian Quéene was out of patience to indure it so fayning some sodaine quame went to her lodging and secretly arming her selfe in a disguised habit and without company went out of the Cittie She had not gone farre when shee spyed comming towardes her three Knightes of gallant disposition mightily mounted with them also came some Ladies The manner of their trauell denoted them to bee of Royall courage The warlike Ladye Archisilora with great courtesie stept to them with these wordes Sir Knights I shall accept it as no meane fauour that seeing they are twoo which mayntaines the Iustes you would take me in your company and though in mee there bee no merits to deserue it your proper valours may counteruaile my wants Braue sir replyed one of them whose courtesie knewe no superior in the vniuerse your gallant presence binds vs to graunt your request for rather thereby we are they that receaue speciall honour with your societie This kinde reply highly pleased the Lady more then before esteeming the Knights for it Then this nothinge more illustrateth a Prince Thus this messe of choise warriors began to approch vnto the Citie they delighting exceedingly in the disguised Ladies conuersation shee most ioyfull of their braue company She discourst to thē the accidents befallen in the Iustes and howe it was thought the two present maintayners would winne the prizes for their shewē valour witnessed no lesse being thitherto by none depriued of the hope Memorable matters about this time happened For to the place ware arriued two Knightes whose hawghty semblance drew on themselues the spectators eies He on the right hand was all in a sanguine armor of finest rubies intermingled with some greene Emeraldes the magnificentlye it adorned him His deuise on his shield was a Knight and a Lady that seemed to giue her portrayture vnto her gallant in whose exchange shee receaued his A fayrer thinge was neuer seene for being set with stones of inestimable value the Sunne reuerberating thereon it dazled euery eye Betwene the two Louers was this poesie which seemed to proceede from the Ladie No faith was ere so sure But fortune it myght crosse By some vnhoped losse Euery one praised the Knights inscription iudging him for a perfect Louer that for all he was assured of his Lady yet hee assigned himselfe to liue amongst all the ioalousest The armes of his companion were to his in show and estimation nothing inferiour They were of a deepe red florished all ouer with many greene enameld flowers set with vnualuable stones on his shield that was no lesse rich then the rest in a greene fielde was pictured the face of a moste beauteous Ladie in such maner as if through certen trees he gazed on her yeilding his libertie to her captiuitie at that sight his word was Well
but the Queenes graue perfections bewitched euery vnderstanding Thitherto had not Rosabell put of his helme though excéeding glad to sée that great Emperour whome he accompted his Grande-father By that was Rosicler come yet somewhat weake who thinking him to bee his deare Sonne thus sayd Now is the time sir Knight you must performe the promise you made me to speake to vs ere you departed I am answered he and will be alwaies most ready to obay you most excellent Prince but yonder stands the Knight pointing to the Tartare ouer-ioyed to se his friends to whome I gaue my word not to vnlace my helme vnlesse it be in presence of all the Court for he will haue it so to doe the like Be it so replyed the Father of the supposed Sonne for here will we all onely procure your content Straight went they to the Royall pallace that stoode not farre from thence first agréeing that the prizes of the Iustes shoulde remaine at the two Ladies disposing They for Rosilueras sake bestowed them on the Ladies that in the beginning were fauorers of the Tryumphes they were Claridiana Oliuia Rosiluera and Artemisa This decrée was with admiration applauded and with the noyse of all sortes of Musicke they were all coÌ„uayde out of the place Being arryued in the great Hall their receauinges beganne anewe whose prolixitie doth not Lirgandeo set downe nor what past among the Ladies with their newe come guest most of whome remayned enuious of her beautie So when they were all quyet the three newe and faythfull friendes Rosabell the Tartare and Oristoldo with the beauteous Tigliaffa went towardes the Emperour and their dueties done Lirianas couragious louer thus began Comming some fewe dayes since most mighty Monarch vnto thy Court through fame of her greatnesse From far Countries my Fortune brought mee vnto an inchaunment where the Ladye and Knight meaning the Tartare were bereaued of their naturall powers I indeauored with the vtmost of my power though in the venture I shoulde loose my selfe to procure his libertie In the ende it pleased the Gods that I yet with some labour should enfranchize them hauing done I intreated theÌ„ to tell me who they were They answered that yf they should I being of such remoted parts could not know them neuerthelesse they promised to doe it here in thy presence In recompence whereof I offered them my companie and seing we are arryued to this passe may it please thy mightinesse I may by thy commaunde knowe them for I must without delay depart Here the gallant youth ended together with his awefull duetie expecting the Emperours answere who contented with the Knightes behauiour replyed Hee that hath receaued so great good worke at your handes sir Knight will not so ill satisfie you as deny you who he is No in faith answered the Tartare for he that so greatly is indebted as my selfe with hazarding my life I doe desire to acknowledge the beginning of my gratitude Alreadie was the Ladie vnmasked and the three valiant warriours without helmes Besides himselfe was the Emperour séeing the Tartare louing him as any of his sonns he imbraced him shedding some teares of ioy and said Braue Prince the Traytor that kept you so long from vs did nothing loue you as I doe The Emperour was not suffered to speake any more for all the rest rose to welcome the Tartare Oh who might expresse without some note of tediousnesse what Oliuia did with Rosabell T was long since she saw him euen since she was deliuered of him but scarce he had doft his helme when she knewe him rising swifter then an Eagle to imbrace him and spake without respect of her grauetie Oh deare deare Sonne the procéeder of my most deare hearts bloode may it bee that on this daye such happinesse was allotted mee Euerye one thereat were amazed till Rosicler declared it to them Agayne began their kindnes which were no lesse with Oristoldo The Gréeke Emperour that sawe such a Nephewe cloyde with ioye tooke him about the necke and kist him on the right chéeke hee was not more glad when he knew Claridiano Their content was greatly increased by the hawghtie Lysarte and his Sonnes discouering of themselues to the three Princes that wonderfully ioyed to see them without were the two disguised Ladies And Roselia seing Don Eleno in coÌ„pany of so braue a Dame presently dispayred of her hope and would returne vnto her Fathers Court But a better meanes then this did Nabato ordaine as shal be sayd By reason of these newe guestes the wofull Prince Claridiano had occasion thus to speake to his Mistres Nothing amisse did your soueraigne beautie most excellent Queene seeing the cowardise of the Knightes to maintayne your owne beautie but being so sure of the aduantage you had no neede to take your weapons She replyed I would not Prince of Greece haue you take that for an excuse to couer the remissenes of the gallantes of this Court that haue shewen it so great and since they haue done it t is well for the Ladies may liue without care to redresse their woes suffering them to languish seing they are content to bee so negligent and forgetfull especially in busines that so greatly concerned them They cannot choose deuine Princesse but by their carelessenes incurâ—e some fault and thereby merit some disfauour answered the fearefull Prince Neuerthelesse had any of them béen commanded to it no doubt but some would haue ioyed to spill their dearest lyfe vnder that behest That sayde shee had not been meritorious For the Ladye requiring it shee shoulde buy it at too high a rate The haughtie Archisilora saw him amazed so she went to chat with Rosamond whome shee greatly affected leauing the Prince in an obscure darknes whose maladie séemed dayly more and more to increase by the fading of his hopes In his pensiues leaue wee him a while to giue some ease vnto an easelesse spirit that wyth fresh courage it may set downe in the next Chapter what farther happened CHAP. XVII What happened in Court amonge the Princes and how Don Eleno departed with other successes WIth some content it may bee your perfections swéete beauties Mirrors haue with patience borne the bloody Iustes of Grecia And the cause of them being a iealous passion there is none that knowing howe good it is to bee estranged from himselfe should rest discontented For that affection fixed in a constant brest cannot bee called Loue vnlesse dispising all other fayrenesse it onely accompteth of his imployment imagining that if there bee any happinesse on earth t is that he soly doth adore This conceipte hadde bereft the Greeke Prince of his best sences seeing the coynesse and with what disdaine Archisilora vsed him intertayning all other gallantes in the Courte wyth farre greater signes of affection then him This was occasion to put him in no other state theÌ„ that he was in for as his thoughts were his only comforters they imployed in such high contemplations he
brought the fortunes of his loue to that passe that he manifested apparant tokens of the same loosing the roseat colour of his face shunning the conuersation of all his friends kinsfolkes who in nothing more than in pastimes busied themselues All the Court did note it and some that would shew themselues his friends required of him the cause of his discontent he denied it to them all for none loued with more secrecie A deede most meritorious for his Ladie to fauoure him But she was so free that to continue it for all shee loued him as her selfe she would neuer let him know it and so thence forwardes the opportunitie that occasion appointed him she would disappoint by choosing foorth some other companie which was a new kinde of tormenting martirdome for the afflicted Prince He tooke counsell vnable longer to dissemble with the Countie of Acantos sonne a youth wittie and discreet called Palisandro to whome he disclosed his griefes whose repetition séemed to encrease them his squire comforted him the best he could saying how in that age it was so common to be alienated that to be so meanes was found therein to suffer any crosse and willed him to consider with what troubles his Father had loued not noly to his cost but of al Greeces that he shold know there could be no pleasure with a desired end vnles the meanes thereto were difficult and vnpleasant for they are the reward of the thing procured making the end to be esteamed according to their value T is true good Palisandro answeared the Prince yet thou knowest with what sinceritie my Father was beloued And being the cause of such bloodie cruell warres in Grecia yet knew he not what it was to be in the Empresse my mothers disgrace And I am sure should I demaund her for my wife my Lord the Emperour being a mediator I should not be denied her But there are a thousand incōueniences and all to defame my Fame and stayne the honor and reputation of my hopes for it wil presently be sayd that the feare to attaine vnto the winter of my deedes to recoumpt an haruest of honourable actes accomplisht aduētures hath daūted the nonage of my glory mixt the springing of my yeres with ignoble slothfulnesse therefore since I must loue giue me some remedie to quyet my thoughts be it but in disguise or fayned I finde none other sayd the Page but that you wryte for when she sées by experience how constantly she is loued she cannot be so cruell but will be moued reading vnder so firme a firme what the soule hath most firme Oh Palisandro replyed he who may write being thus with woes tormented vnles hee should set downe he knoweth not what T is that sayd the Page which must with effect speake in your behalfe besides there is no carelessenes betwene louers but procéedes of care well seing t is so spake the Gréeke how wilt thou conuay it to her I shall sayd hee want no good occasion for the deliuery in the Court So they went to write with more feare in the louer then if hee went to combate with his father The page tooke the letter promising to deliuer it in her owne hands though hee indāgered his life therby fortune gaue him leaue to do it oh if she would effect as she giues occasion none would euer complaine of her For Rosamond and she being at a windowe that looked to the Sea discoursing of loue though Don Elenos were already knowen yet the Quéene delighted with the newe maner of woing in Calidonia Sometimes in their talke wold they stumble on the gallant Prince whose qualities the Princesse praysed aboue the skies without suspition of any thing else and sayd I doe not doubt sweete Quéene but some absent loues doe make him thus to languish for his sodaine change in so few dayes cannot come from any thing else Euery time deare Princesse replyed the Quéene that gallants will seeme so their Ladies are not bound to fauour them to their honours costs though they greatly loue Then Rosamond neuer did any liue by louing that woulde not remedie the thing loued seing it languish in paine for herein is the tryall of loue not to consent the languishing of the thinge loued although the louer in that remedie doe a Thousand times indanger his life And considering your highnesse words I now estéeme the Gréeke Ladies as cruell as they are beautifull for on that ground they built their crueltie a thinge that so much blemisheth the noblenesse the adornes them T is not so much answered the Quéene as is their small sufferance to dissemble their Ladies coynesse Then the wary Palisandro caused to passe that waye with slowe paces because he might be seene who straight knowing him they called to whom Rosamond spake .. Come hither gentle Page it hath been told vs that your Lord Prince Claridiano wil absent himselfe from Court because he cannot brooke so long absence and truly hee doth well if he thinke the sight of his Ladie will adde more content vnto his thoughts then now he sheweth heere flying from vs all publishing he liues best in solitude Of his departure I knowe nothing answered Palisandro sauing of his woes as he that dayly receaueth them no lesse to see how he pines away and I dare well affirme no Knight euer loued with a more constant faith nor none intreated with more crueltie a thing that would haue mooued a Tygre to pittie and so I thinke yf the Ladye continue in her rygor we shall very shortly see him dead Oh God forfend it sayd the dissembling Quéene but tell me hath not he manifested to his Lady the sorrow payne that norishes him His eyes replyed he are they that speak by signes Why then sayde Rosamond shee is in Gréece that is cause of his maladie So farre as I haue spoke replyed he knowe I of his departure life and loues for hee would not wrong his Lady as to tell me her name or who she is In faith answered the Princesse yf his loues agrée with his outward effectes he is iniustly vsed There is no doubt thereof sayd he for what the face expresseth procéedes from the aboundance that is inclosed in a little corner of his brest that yeildes assurance of the ouermuch the soule indures Thy Lord will loose nothing sayd the Quéene by aggrauating the little he doth suffer Then he I am so fearefull most excellent Quéene of his life that I cannot but acquaint euery one with his discontent which hath not been to small effect since it is a meanes to moue his Soueraigne Princesse to pittie him They could no lōger talk for the Empresse Briana called thē As they past they being so nigh the bould Page thrust the letter into the Queenes hand She could not choose but take it least the Princesse should perceaue it seing her somewhat moued Shee presently procured to withdrawe into her Chamber not to read it for a Thousand times shee was
she more to bee ridde of her iealous feare since she was assured who the Ladie was that hadd so daunted her making her rather become iealous then amorous With millions of Loues sighes she left the Citie penitent of what vnwittingly she had breathed against her gallant She put her selfe among those thicke woods resolued to wander thereabouts till the Court were more quieter for she was sure Oristides would not absent himselfe thence being greatly estéemed of the Emperors of Trebizound and of Greece who determined to giue him an honourable charge in his Kingdome of Thessalie giuing him the Title thereof This not a litle ioyed her thinking shee might so well marrie him obtayning thereby such mighty friendes She alighted from her horse letting him féede on the gréene grasse and she put off her helme washing her face drinking of the water of a cleere spring whose brooke ranne all along that way passing the night in pleasant imaginations foulded in the good and euill of Loue. None in so short time loued so dearely nor none with more occasion became so iealous as she with that litle she conceaued by Floralinda She arryued to that point that Lirgandeo sayth she attayned the name of a firme Louer amonge those that most deserued to be so called She was affected to the Harmonie of concordant voyces hauing speciall grace in that vertue So leaning against a Mirtle trée she began raysing her voyce vnto the Cloudes in this manner That greefe which loue doth yeelde If he can loue that hath it Accompts it his foode mite To make his paine more milde None ere that truely lou'd Resting on it his life Though loue he calls his strife From it would be remou'd He is not a true louer That cannot indure his paine And knowing t is no disdaine That takes't not for a fauor This is a louer rare That thinkes his paine no smart Then knowes not his good hart The meaning of despaire For if he liue by louing The griefe his soule sustaines He calls it his true gaines Ioy to his paine still yeelding With a thousand amorous laments did the warlike Matrone bedewe the springing hopes of her concluding songe ioying to be so well imployed She that had lately band and cursed loue did now with Thousand Benedictions blesse him now without constraynt did the humble her selfe that had liued by denying him his Tribute to whome the whole world acknowledged awfull dutye who did euer Loue sayd the Ladye that did not thinke it a most pleasant lyfe There is on the earth no greater content then to loue to acknowledge an owner to haue him impressed in the middle of the hart No discommoditie in true loue was euer séene to bréede discontent since in saying I am not mine owne is included the glorie of sincere affection So maye I perish when I liue without it for if the earth affoordes any pleasure t is inserted on it as on the surest foundation to vphold such felicitie Not farre from whence she was with such content publishing her fayth arryued a Knight to ouerpasse the gloomie melancholy night intending to goe to the Iustes assured to obtaine the victorie and prizes So shee thought he heard her loue reasons but it was not so for the griefe that possest him had so amazed his sences that he not so much as heard his owne spéeches By this time would the Iealous louer of the Heauens display his fierie tresses ouer the world when the Knight that in the woods did lye began to expresse his firmenes with no lesse testimonie then the Ladie had done for to the mellodious discord of the chirping byrdes that celebrated the cōming of the lustie Sheapherd he tuned his voyce with this Sonnet Faire Lisiana if in so long an absence May any glory drowne my discontent T is by the thought of that most sweete content That makes my foule more richer by thy presēce I doe not speake sweete Goddesse by experience Wanting deserts to moue thee to lament Though I deserue to suffer any torment Yet might'st thou mittigate thy cruel sentence And since thou art assured to my cost The pure sinceritie of my true loue What canst thou get to shew thy selfe too rigorous Gainst him that his content hath lest Ioying to see his true harts ioye remoue T is but in vaine to be thus tyrannous With a sigh séeming with it to send forth his soule ended the More the famousest in all the Prouince of Peloponesus now called Morea whereof he was Prince hee had obtayned high Fame through a Thousand valiant deedes he had done in the seruice of Lisiana Princesse of Lituania whose beautie was accompted the greatest in the whole Paganisme which in deed was so for it did not a little cost Gréece Hauing ended his Sonnet the Lady would see who hee was the shewed himselfe so true a Louer and closing her Beuer shee went towards the place from whence shee hearde the voyce where she sawe a Knight tall of bodie well proportioned young armed in Rose colour armour with a halfe Moone in the middest of his shield something Ecclipsed by the rayes that procéeded from a Ladies eyes that gazed on it the Motto this If the Sunn becommeth darke She being in beautie one Then may she ecclipse the Moone So soone as the valiant Epirabio saw her so was the Pagan called he sayd What i' st you séeke sir Knight nothing replyed the Lady but to knowe the Knight that publisheth himselfe so amorous for if his outward signs may be credyted I thinke you are vniustly wronged in reiecting of your woes You haue sir Knight verie ill vnderstood my affection said the Louer for though the paines I suffer be greater then I make them the beautie of her that causeth them is such that if euery one were tenne times trebled it were nothing comparable to her merites and therefore haue I sought the difficultest meanes to make the Ladie sure how greatly she is loued Whereuppon I left my countrey to come to Grecia to giue her the prizes of the Iusts I haue heard held in Constantinople In the imaginatiō of such glorious thoughts a more harder enterprize if any be might be happily accomplished but as for the Iusts of Grecia they are ended were the famousest that any memory can comprehend and I am sure you had got little there in respect of the valiant Knights that there miscarried that reputed thēselues no lesse then you Discourteous thou art said the angrie Moore to iudge of anothers strength not knowing it by experience and that thou mayst not altogether be deceaued prepare thy selfe for the fight else it were a shame for Epirabio louing Lisiana to suffer any thing spokē to her praises extenuation If shee be so faire replied the Ladie as thou art bould it were not much if I esteamed her as thou doest and as her beautie deserueth More furious then the Sunne roze the Pagan and lacing on his helme with his sword drawne marched against the
commodiousnes of the place haue forced me to beare you company although respecting the sorrow your armour doth expresse I belieue it will discontent you delighting in solitude a meanes that loue hath inuented to louers costes to ease their paines and incorage their pensiuenesse Amorous was the Pagan and vsed to saye hee merited not the to bee named a Knight that woulde not in a Ladies behalfe aduenture his life hazarding his owne affaires to doe them seruice and so answered In faith faire Damozell though all humane conuersation were troublesome vnto mee yet yours shall not bee so because I thinke you are a little schooled in the good of solitude a manyfest token that hee that spares none hath pleased to make you his tributarie these discourses beeing those the soule conuerseth al alone to haue nowe one to aunswere mee will make my paines more tollerable perswading my selfe of good lucke in all thinges in his lande where my fortune hath cast me being welcomed by such a good beginning where shee replyed It well séemes sir Knight you bee in loue seeing with your reasons you woulde so soone launche into the déepe of beautye a common thinge amonge Knightes that only loue for the present there is no cause you should assure mee of my beautye for with it the Fountaine restes more gladded then that wherein Narcissus gazed So that Sir Knight you must séeke other meanes then these to Court the Dames of Trebizound which is the Lande you nowe are in for this here is too common and they knowe it verye well that presume so on their beautyes for telling them of it is to increase their rygor against them that in this land so wooe I am much bounde vnto your seruyce pleasaunt Ladye replyed Bembo gladde to heare the chatte of the riggish Dame for this aduise for as a Nouice in thys lande not knowing the manners thereof I talked according to the practizes of other Nations at this time since there is no content to Ladies equall to the calling of them beautifull receauing griefe by the contrary and not the least in compting them not fayre although the heauens haue towardes them byn niggards in their influences making them not of the absolutest She answered They doe so that will not beléeue what they are contrary to vs in Trebizound and therefore be they pleased to be tearmed by what they are not giuing their louers fauors though faygned for it who more by insinuating then a firme faith procure the content of beeing beloued Not for all the Ladies so saying to their gallantes sweete damozell answered the Pagan Cease they to be liberall carefull and for their Mistres good most ready The damozell replyed with that t is so for it doth more euidently shew how the hart loues and on the last groūding what abroade is vsed I saye that Ladye is ingratefull that will not shew her pittie being assured shee may by a Thousande new fauors that her gallant may be animated knowing if he liues by louing that his fayth is also repayd by loue This is that which best assures the hoped good betwene louers on the Ladies behalfe their glory of being beloued Other maner of courting vse you here faire damozell sayd Bembo thē in those places I haue trauailed for the gallāts in my countrey onely procure by louing to assure their Ladies thereof that they may be pleased to condescend therto making their wills knowen vnto them In respect of the intollerable paines suffered do they neuer require any guerdō but only procure to propagate that magnanimitie wherwith they sacrifize thēselues vnto their Ladies setting in their hands their hearts soules expecting nothing hereby but the glorious sirname of their amorous knights Strange things haue you tould me sir knight said she gladly would I know whome you loue to be certified whether it be so or no but perswaded it is so I know not what the Trebizound Ladies meane so much to debase their beauties And far more thē to receaue a iewel of great prize would I esteeme to haue longer time to discourse with a knight so grande a seruitor to Cupid but the hast that cals me away constraines me to depart for my Lady the Princesse expects an answere of some busines by my returne who to rest a while remayned not farre hence in a house of pleasure and with her is the Princesse Artemisa of England and to my thinking not so frée as were conueniēt So sir knight I pray you pardon me for fortune maye appoint better occasion that I may enioy your amorous conuersation which hath not a little attracted me At all times faire Ladye replyed the Moore that you will so fauour me will I accompt past my deserts reputing it according to your many merits the discretion of so faire a dame And if my power may any way procure your content commaund me for with all diligence necessarie will I accomplish it With this she departed leauinst the amorous Pagan affected to her witty wantonnes And mounting on his horse he cōtinued on his way wherein befell him what the next recounteth CHAP. XXI What in the Forrest happened to the couragious Bembo with the Princesse of Trebizound and her guard with other aduentures MOunted on a brauer horse then anye they which drawing the goulden eye of heauen compasse about the Terrene Orbe somewhat after his meridionall decline trauelled the mighty Bembo with his pilgrime thoughts onely on his Lady that to driue him from them was the wanton damozels prettie chat no meanes desirous ere he left that Empyre to see that Court so famoused throughout the world by reason of the excellent Princes that gouerned there On this ranged his pensiue imaginations with some ease which the pleasant sounde of the chirping birdes mooued seing that to among them loue hath his cōmaund For if they will striue either to excell other in their notes it is because he raignes among thē that makes the rusticke countrey swayne more excellenter then Demostenes in eloquence of speech so he be toucht with loue What tongue or pen hath he subingated that hath béen poore in skill and not rich in wit who could euer vtter the aboūdance of a copious and artificiall tongue vnlesse mooued by the sonne of his moother Venus The Sarracine Prince did not call himselfe deceaued for yeilding of his faith but considering he had past any time without Loue he tearmed it lost and that life worse thē death that is not troubled with Cupids amorous passions In this and in a thousand complots which Loue propounded him was he occupied when from out a fragant thicket he saw comming a companie of Knights richly armed not farre after them there came three attending on a sumptuous Carre wherein he thought hee sawe some Ladies till approching more nigh he was assured it was so ouer-viewing the riches of the knights Two of them were of one deuise all gréen with the spanish armes vpon their shields wherby he
a while of Claridiano whome with obliuion we haue greatly wronged CHAP. XXII How Prince Claridiano arriued in the Kingdome of Esclauonia and what aduentures there befell him AFfectionate to the valoure of the Blacke Knight departed the Gréeke Prince vnable to imagine whom so faire a Lady shold bee which hee iudged to remaine within that tower inchanted but as he in sorrow progrest hee woulde with nothing ioy nor in any delight thinking he wronged his Ladye to conuerse with pleasing thoughts hauing forsaken Grecia in her disgrace He crost all the Macedonian Sea sayled alonge the Coast of Panonia Foure dayes and on the fift his inchāted bark furrowed the raging billowes of the Illyrium Sea till the Tenth day that it ran alande in an vnknowen port where he leapt on shoare hauing nor méeting any of whom he might demaunde where he was arriued Vpon his Zephirus he mounted that horse which he with such immortall honour wonne at the Nabatran Feasts as the second part rezited His Heroyke cariage better denoted him to bee the Sonne of Mars then Claridianas of-spring his shield he caryed at his backe and his launce on his shoulder with his Beuer vp In this maner laden with Millions of grieuous passions he tooke in hast the most vsed path through which hee had not far gone when the same way he saw a knight comming as fast as his horse could runne He stept before him demaunding the cause therof but he was so grieued that he could or would not tell it Whereat the afflicted Prince beeing abashed with the Knightes discourtesie hauing his launce aboue hand strucke him with it from his horse saying Now discourteous Knight shall you perforce tell mee what I intreated you or else I will let foorth your life So did he set the pike of his launce at his brest threatning him with death if he tolde not who fearing it replyed Pardon me sir Knight for the greefe I had made mee thus forget my selfe but know you are in the kingdome Esclauonia very nere the auntient Citie Zantho where at this time the King kéepes his Court accompted one of the famosest in the world He hath a Daughter for her beautie called the second Venus whose excellencies are sayd to surpasse the Mother of Loues Of this Lady the Sonne of the Siconian Sophi became amorous who hath with him foure Brothers no lesse mighty then himselfe he hath shewen himselfe so affectionate towardes the second Venus that he demaunded Lycense to keepe a brydge in her name maintayning that hee alone deserues to bee beloued of her and none like him to loue her It is knowen she nothing respectes him as he would for which cause many do aduenture against him but most vnequall and vniust is the fight in that yf any ouerthrowes them all with the launce they altogether assault the Conquerour with their swords and they being so valiant many in the enterprize haue lost their liues and others their Fame amonge the last was a couzen of the Prince of Croatia that at the third incounter was ouerthrowen So I was going to aduertize the Prince my Lord thereof that no lesse then the Siconian doteth on the beauteous Venus who by a certaine aduenture was stayed at the Sea coast where we all landed with two fierce Gyants to guard him hym went I to call to reuenge the misfortune of his couzen This sir Knight is all I knowe of this Country in which I haue not béen foure dayes The Prince greatlye thanked him for his relation and parting from him entred to passe the heate of the day among those braunched trées from whence there rose a spring wherein he washt his face and drunke of the water vnbrydling his horse that he might féede on the grasse For himselfe would he no other foode but the glory of his thoughts Vppon the grasse hee laye himselfe alonge breathing forth his soule in sighes which still with euerye no thing séemed to increase to the Louers good where he began to extend the eyes of his imaginations through the vast Sea of passions wherein he was ouerwhelmed thinking that by little and little his life consumed remembring how disdainfully the Quéen of Lyra had reiected him louing her more then himselfe and not able to conceaue wherein he had offended her Hee had no other comfort then to exclaime on loue not because he was his vassayle but that he had made him so vnfortunate as that although hee had admitted the greatest paine for his speciall consolatiō yet it was prohibited from her knowledge which cōsideration bereft him of his wits but that he set his hopes on Galtenor to procure all possible meanes for his redresse A while to ease his sorrow he would communicate it to the gentle buzing wind and flowred field with more grace and swéetnesse then the famoused Thracian Poet. To strengthē his voice and helpe his thoughts he sate him downe vnder a Béech not farre from the spring singing thus Suspicious doubts that in my amorous minde Do still make warre against my good opposed Sometimes I happie victorie doe finde Ouer the mortall euill me inclosed Sometimes you immitate the angrie Dame To banish me my Ioy from her sweet name Yet happie be my thoughts more happie I Thinking her present in my miserie Who hath not ioy'd in woes and smilde in paine Seing his Ladie causer of his griefe Who is' t of any sorrow doth complaine Hauing his Loue at hand to yeild reliefe Who hath not been preseru'd who ere destroy'd The title of true Loue that ere enioy'd Hauing to witnes of his mortall paine She that can only rich him by her gaine There is no good compared to her presence Without her sorrow sollace doth confound In whome we well know by experience The Louer findes a salue for his deepe wound As by her presence heauie harts are eased So by her absence harts sores are increased Since none may therefore liue an absent life Pittie oh pittie loue and end this strife Here brake of the Gréeke with many sobs pitifull grones giuing a begining to his lamēts in this maner O tēder yeres to to much tried on the tuch-stone of my ladies coynes O cruelty shewē against none but him that liues by louing ioying in nothing but to be anothers wherefore soueraigne Quéene leftst thou me with life yf shold I liue dying tutord in nothing but thy loue and in my soule to adore thy perfections What honor hast thou swéete Lady got to banish me from thy sight with such crueltie what didst thou loose admitting my paine caused by the effect of thy beautie I did not procure manifesting the same thou shouldest loue me or comiserate my harme but I prayed leaue to loue languish till the death acōpting that a swéet life imployed in this But to forbid me yet alone to worshipp thée who will reioyce in such crueltie but Achisilora whose disdaine I haue do féele to equall her perfectiōs more thē humane A noyse he
giue you your swoord for it was not lawfull it shoulde come to another Maister hauing been the Gréeke Princes because it were so to wronge him Greater is that it now receaues deuine Ladye answered hee that hauing béen in your beauteous handes it shoulde come to the most vnfortunatest in the worlds wide continent Name no more that fearefull Epetithe sayde she for you make me thinke you are ill conditioned to loue one of the worst parts incident in any gallant for he that the power of disfauour forceth to deny the acknowledgmēt of his fortune in his good imployment is the apparent witnessing hee not so much estéemes his Ladye as hee ought for if she liues beloued a disfauour at their handes must bee accompted a greate fauour Your excellent beautye replyed the Prince hath greate reason and I confesse my fault for all it procéeded from an amorus passion Whatsoeuer how great soeuer said the Ladie procéeding frō Loue is worthie of pardon for none that truly loues is subiect to any on the earth but to the thing loued which is esteamed for life reputed for a lawe honoured as a King and obayed as a Lord and since in loue nothing is required but a perpetuall acknowledgement thereof héere let vs no longer staye but instruct Fausta in what she hath to doe Palisandro shall doe that replied the Prince who must stay with her suffering none to come in with any light and when the challenge is knowen then publish my extremitie to be most Héereuppon descended the twoo chiefe Beauties of the world into the garden where O Archysilora who shoulde haue tould thée so with what gréefe wouldest thou haue heard it is it possible thou shouldest be so carelesse as not to respect the loyaltie of the Gréeke Prince who being alone with her that challenged equalitie of thée remembred nothing but the battaile armor and horse chéefly She gaue him a stéeled temper one of the best that the earth possest saying This braue Prince was his that raysed the buildings of this Cittie of which a wise man tould me that it should come to the handes of the famousest Knight and greatest Louer of the world and with it he should terminate many haughtie aduentures and I thinke in all thinges hee did lye except in this for comming to your handes the earthes glorie doth ingraten them It is a guift most soueraigne Ladie said he to end any enterprise hauing béen obtayned by the woonderfullest hap euer recorded The Ladie had in that nothing missaide for that next to the Creator in a thousand places it did saue his life the first being in the battaile against the fearefull Ballurdano for so was the diuilish Gyant called The Prince did put it on hauing neuer as he thought séene a better in all his life and shee closed the buckles with more grace then strength Hee made an end of arming and his armour being of a rose colour grauē with gréene ameld flowers he rested the best accomplisht knight that might be séene The beauteous Venus could not but imbrace him saying In this doe I now wrong Archisilora but so I may with truth say I had the flower of Knighthood twixt mine armes I am bould to doe it vowing héereafter to amend it with my vtmost power With whatsoeuer gracious Princesse your Highnes shal vnto me doe replied he I am the man that onely thereby gaines though I wish my friend were in my place For among such there must be nothing but ought to be participated twixt both Now am I sorrowfull that I did it for said she it is the greatest wrong my fauors could receaue seing you tell me that not louing your friend I am the looser being before I am intreated vsed with such disdaine and till another time I will deferre my reuenge for this iniurie When it shall please you gallant Ladie replied hee will I receaue the paine of your inflicted punishment though séeing it must procéede from these hands I wrong it with that name here ending she led him to a wicket that to the fieldes did open made with barres of strongest stéele and opening it with a kisse she sayde I would to God renowned Prince I were a Knight in this Iourney to accompanye you the better to ioy your haughtye Cheualries It suffizeth for my glorie and the happye successe of them Heauenly Venus answered hee that in your name I vnder-goe them Yet yf that were so replyed the Ladye more ioyfuller should I remayne So here departing she gaue him a Thousande imbracemenets suffitient to Metamorphize the weakest Lambe into the strongest Lyon Hee tooke his leaue of her entring through a wood where what did happen vnto him the insuing Chapter shall memorize CHAP. XXV What happened to the Prince Claridiano with a Knight with whom he went to the Citie to combate against the Gyants BOund in his soule till death swéet Ladies did the mightie Nephew of Trebatio leaue the famous Citie of Xantho séeing with what carefull kindnes the beauteous Venus had procured his libertie so he fully resolued either to loose his life were it ten times ten thousand times more pretious or else to take her thence espowsing her vnto his friend if so she would and that she ment it he had receaued some hopes therof from her in the tower the first night The imagination of his vndertaken enterprise though of such consequence could not diuert him finding himselfe alone amongest those big branching oakes from remembring the tirānie wherewith he was vsed forgetting his promise of Patience that the same night hee past vnto the Princesse but there can be none being in his estate He sate him downe at the foote of a spreading Béech making the Eccho of his voice reiterate the repetition of his woes and tempering them with the fauours the Princesse Venus had done him he warbled foorth this Dittie What auailes it me to ioy Or for to renew my loue Since my Queene is nice and coy And my fauoures doth reprooue She is angrie full of yre Though her fauour I desire What resteth then since ioy and hope is spent In these extreames but to be patient Who is it that liues content And doth lead an absent life Who doth loue that is exempt From endlesse paine and bitter strife As her presence bringeth Ioy So her absence breedes annoy He ended saying what doth it auaile Sacred Venus so haue set me at libertie by those diuine hands of thine with hope that I might be the meanes to frée him frō prison that is wronged to be kept therein if thou shouldest leaue me in a perpetuall Gaole where it is impossible either for my selfe to frée my selfe or any else to aide me in distresse I will imbrace my death and my Lady doth procure it why therfore comes there to mee so great a good going to craue a licence to end my ill ioyed life vnles she doe replie me with a no Turbulent stormes are these which only a hart with passions