dagger hee had â—â—ne a greater harme which he had done had not his old Aunâ— Cleonta preuented it the which in her kind being angry vsing her accustomed inchaunâ—ments put him farre from mee Shée came to mee and pluckt out the dagger and putting certaine herbes into the wound cured me of the hurt and said vnto me Notwithstanding that the resisting of your fathers passion be very worthy of commendation yet in that that thou wast not sory for his payne as was reason being his daughter it is iust that thou make satisfaction therefore in straight and close inchauntment where thou shalt remaine vntill that the braue Lion shall enter into my strong Castle breaking by force of Armes the strength thereof and ouercomming the gards which I shall there set and then thou shalt begin to feele some comfort although thy father haue none for it is requisite that he pay more for the iniurie which he hath committed not onely against thy renowne but against his owne honour But the â—â—siliske shall be giuen him when he shall least think thereof She sayd no more vnto me but at that very instant me thought I began to want my wits and without knowing what I did I went to that lodging from whence you set me free where I did nothing else but be waile the absence of my father holding him for dead She would neuer tell me any thing of him although that sometimes she came to visit me giuing me hope hereof and she told it me so playne that I now perceyue how much is therein contaynes and I am giuen to vnderstand that the time shall come that I againe shall sée my father Yea it will come answered the gallant Louer for the heauens giue not one contentment without another In this and other pleasing things they past the greatest part of the night wherewith the young man began to ware somewhat bold it was not wholly to offend her but to shew with the mouth what the heart felt He was of opinion that this Ladie was sent to him from the heauens wherefore with the greater ioy they past the rest of the time It suffiseth that to take their rest they went to their Cabin with a determination on eyther side that nothing should hinder their loue Before that Aurora had done the Sunnes Ambassage to the world shewing his câ—mming the master aduertised the Prince that in the top he had descried somewhat neere another Galley Hee leapt out of his bed not willing to shew any carelesnesse for the defence of his Ladie With the masters helpe he put on his rich Armour and being at all peeces armed he went to put the Princesse of Egypt and his soule also out of feare and with reuerence being wholly ouercome with loue he told her that there was an enemies Galley discouered willing her that shee should not therefore bee afeard for the sight of her good grace did assure all With greater valour valorous Prince sayd the Ladie I would very gladly accompany you for the succour which hereof can come vnto you except the good will is so little that it will rather be a hinderance Ill should I gallant Ladie quoth the Tinacrian goe to fight if not going wholly yours and in fighting it shall bee onelie for you By this time the two Gallies were come neere together wherin in seeing the Princes Gally was heard a great cry bidding them amaine if not they should all dye The young man did it but to another intent for hee commaunded that all those which could beare Armes should take them and should stand at the ships side As the Marriners with all diligence had ended the casting of grapples aboord the other to the ende that shee should not fall off and that they might with their swords fight aboord it was no euill counsell for it gaue them the victorie vpon a sudden there came some twelue Knights which bade them to yeeld The valiant young Prince stayed vntill that they had fastened the Galley and getting a club in his hand hee set himselfe vpon the poope where hee gaue so good account of himselfe that two of them lost their liues with one blow which he gaue amongst them They were many and for feare of their Commaunders they set vpon the Prince but it was to come with their liues and there to meete their death for hee neuer stricke blowe which killed not a Knight and sometimes two of them together payd for their folly before that they could returne he had made an end of them By that time there came forth three most fierce Giants out of a withdrawing place in the ship where the Tinacrian heard cryings as of forced Ladies Those thrée most cruell Pagans were much amazed to sée how soone that Knight had made an ende of all their Knights All of them forgetting the order of Knighthood drawing out their monstrous faulchions came to the shippes side and one of them assuring himselfe of his agilitie setting his one foote vpon his shippe side leapt into the Tinacrians Galley and had done it if the young mans cruell club had not by the way taken him a blow on the pate and bereauing him of his life in the ayre throw him in back againe into the ship dead at his friends feet which were in a cold sweat He which lost least occasion was the Tinacrian for with a light leap he set himselfe against the Giants Whether that she which loued him better then herselfe tooke pleasure therein there is no doubt thinking that no man could be loued with more reason then the Tinacrian seeing his great valour conioyned with so much beautie as hath bene aforesayd He was one of the most gallant personages in the world so as many times he would not put off his Helmet especially among Ladies to whom he was as a Cockatrice Uery ioyfull she set her to behold what he did in the Galley He somewhat reposing himselfe with a troubled voyce sayd How now you traytours and so easily did you thinke to beare away the prize First you shall leaue your liues in pawne for your foolish presumption The valiant Louer stayd for no answere but whorling his club about his head he smote one of them vpon the shield which hee brake in péeces and there withall his arme which it hung vpon He escaped not without his paiment for in the warres for loue neuer giueth the palme without it for they both smote him vpon the inchaunted Helmet and made him set his knees to the ground they there strake the Prince and his Ladie in the shield which her soule hath that faithfully loueth this they which know what it is to loue call the heart hee saw that these fierce Giants againe smote downe right at him Hee on one side crossed the blow with his club and the other he shunned by skipping to one side The club was no defence against the force of the blow which brake it in the middest It was good fortune that the Tinacrian
he so hard pulled the bough that he brake it off running downe great streames of bloud all his armour and weapons were changed into that Purple colour and hauing the bougâ— he went therewith to a gate within which led into a great hall so rich that it made him out of his wittes to behold the Paintings and Carued workes which were round about it The young man was much troubled to see the things which were in that most faire hall in one side thereof hee saw comming foorth an auncient Gentlewoman of good yeeres leaning vpon two Nimphes such as hee saw the Queene haue apparelled all in white cut vpon coloured Tinsell which comming neere vnto him said I know not presumptuous Knight who hath giuen you leaue to come into my lodging whither it is not permitted to any man to come without bringing the Golden bough or at least that of Siluer Why then honourable Ladie aunswered the young warriour I bringing the tokens of the tree which you speake of you haue no reason to shew your selfe displeased with me And with that he held vp his hand and shewed the Golden bough The Ladie verie much reioyced to see the Princesse at libertie shee came to the gentle Tinacrian and taking him by the hand shee said Come with mee valorous Prince of Tinacria and you shall enioy the spoyle due vnto your rare vertue Shee brought him to a lodging whose richnesse and beautifull building made him more to wonder then all the rest it was supported by foure Pillars and vpon euâ—rie Pillar was a picture painted holding arowe signifying what he was These shall not be freed from enchantment valorous Prince said the Ladie with the sorrowfull Emperour of Egypt which heere shall remaine punished for his follie and manie faire Dames vntill that the great Basiliske free his lodging for the present to you is onely granted the most faire daughter for reward for the paines which you haue endured in performing this enterprise a reward worthie of the sonne of Garrofilea and shee is a gainer to bee beloued bâ— so valorous a Prince Shee would not let him staie any longer but taking him by the arme shee ledde him to other rich lodgings till at last shee brought him verie neere where his Squire was before he went forth Shee put him in a rich square roome which opened towards the Dungeon where Luzela the Emperours daughter was lamenting her misfortune to see her selfe without libertie or any hope thereof The Ladie verie pleasantly went in thither saying Come hither Soueraigne Princesse of Egypt for now the high heauens haue practised a meane to free you of your paine and haue sent you the Prince of Tinacria to set you at libertie for whome it was reserued as for him which was most worthie The Ladie surprised with ioy could gaue no answere the good and such as that was so busied all her sences that she could not beleeue it although she saw it She came foorth with her where in seeing the great Tinacrian sheâ— fell wholly in loue with him in louing being beloued neyther of both had any aduantage The valorous louer set him on his knées before her imagining that it was shée which had giuen him the Mantle in pawne whereof he left with her his heart and soule he desired with great affection to kisse her hand and shée not to shew herselfe vnkind raising him said There is no reason valorous Knight that shée which hath receiued so much good at your hands should be entreated for ought séeing you haue more deserued The most discrete Ladie would not suffer them to spend any longer time but bringing them foorth into the walke where his Squire staied giuing to the Princesse those two Nimphes for her seruice shée imbraced them saying Although that the pleasure valorous Princes which I now enioy to sée you be great I hope in the high heauens to receiue greater although not so soone but the assured hope shall make mee liue contented expecting the Basilisk on whome your and my contentments doe depend Shée had alreadie prouided Palfreyes for the Ladies and againe imbracing them not without teares shée returned to the Castle at whose going in there was so great a noyse as made the louers much to wonder and within their sight they sawe the building to arise and to flie in the ayre vntill it past their sight whereof mention shall bee made in the end of this fourth booke where it shall better fit to tell you what those louers did CHAP. XVII How the Prince of Tinacria tooke his way towards Grecia in companie of the gallant Luzela and how hee set his sister Rosaluira at libertie from the power of the Giants which carried her to Sea IN sight faire Ladies of the inchaunted Castle wee left the two Louers who seeing themselues alone who is any way able to expresse what the one conceited of the other Now I would faine haue a fauour to be able to publish with my owne experience of what power a fauour is which is giuen with a pleasant countenance All this was experimented in them for if hee loued her shee liued by adoring him they were well matched and to liue secure from the changings in loue and with tendernesse of heart the valiant young man askt her saying Soueraigne Ladie séeing that the heauens haue reserued me to be yours and that I am neuer to depart your seruice neither from what you shall commaund I should bee verie glad to knew your mind and whither your will is that wee goe My lot valorous Prince is so contrarie although that I now haue my wish seeing I am in your power that I am to doe nothing after my owne will but onely follow yours The Gallant hartily thanked her saying I well see valorous Princesse that this your generosity is wholly to inrich me and seeing that it is your pleasure that I shall dispose of all for this present let our iournie be for the Greeke Empire for I haue a great desire to make my selfe knowne vnto the Emperour Trebatius my beloued father and also because that he may see what chaunce is fallen vnto mee in comming to doe you this little seruice for there your greatnesse may stay with the Greeke Ladies in greater honour then in that sorrowfull habitation Ualorous Prince sayd the tender Ladie I haue euer had a great desire to see the Gréeke Court and the Ladies therein for that I haue heard say that they are the full perfection of all brauery In this maner there is a thing come into my mind which if it shall please you to heare it I will tell it you vpon the way betweene this and the sea Nothing valorous Prince shall displease mee if you therein shall take delight In Poliphebus armes the Ladie tooke horse and so did the Nimphes giuen to doe her seruice Hee as nimble as a flie leapt into his saddle a new bayt to make the Ladie the better to loue him and leading her horse by the
certaine aduenture They all offred him their company but then to be alone did best fit him accepting according as was reason of their gentle offer he tooke his way with his Ruvican speaking first to Rosabel whom he entreated that he should not tell who he was vntill hee had performed his chalenge He went directly to the place where he had left the Ladies but went not long to seeke them for by the Nymphes direction they met presently they made that day holyday passing it in reciting what had happened betwéene the Gréekes and the Moores to the which they determined the next day to send their message Their Captaine was much affected to valiant Knights and seeing what the two youthes had done he went to imbrace them who knowing what he was desired to kisse his hands putting off their Helmets discouering more theÌ„ humane beautie which strake them which were present with admiration to sée them so young and so valiant The warlike Bembo imbraced them saying It were no reason that they which haue so good hands of their owne should kisse any mans in the world All the rest of the Princes receyued them with such courtesie as was due to their valour There were no greater friends theÌ„ he with the stars and they all the whole campe did celebrate their comming reioycing to sée them especially the King of Silepsia when he knew that they were his subiects knowing the Knight whom they held for their Father they all supt together in the Soldan of Niquea his tent and to shew them the more pleasure there was that night masking and dauncing the Ladyes méeting there then which the earth bore none fayrer nor more discréete The Princesse of the Romanes séeing there was no possibilitie to effect her good sometimes from her seats with no small affection she beheld the Lord of Achaia séeming to her that next after the Dacian shee might best employ her beautie vpon him Of this Supper grew many new loues for the mightie Argante who till then had béene frée from his snares held the Sophâ— his Daughter to be the Sunne of all beautie and with this conceit he gaue her his life and soule submitting himself to her in such earnest and good fayth that nothing was of power to vntie the knot which blind loue had made Epirabio yéelded himselfe to the will of the gallant Lisiana who séeing his valour did neuer estrange her selfe from him It serued to small purpose for the braue Soldane of Egypt to subiect himselfe to the fayre â—ufionisa who had her eyes soule life and heart fixt vpon her Rosabel and without hope of remedie séeing him otherwise busted Time being come to withdraw themselues for some of the Knights were hurt they all went to their tents carrying with theÌ„ the yong Knights to their vnknowne Grandfather which went coÌ„mending the brauerie of the Gréeks who took no other race but to fortifie their Citie iudging that that war would be of long continuance both the one and the other had néede of truce And so from the Moores there came to the Citie to request it the Kings of Fenicia and Armenia The Gréeks granted it for fiftéene dayes and that into the Citie there might come onely 20. Knights together And séeing that both armies were in quiet the discréete Earle of Modica went to doe his dutie to the Emperour Trebatius making himselfe knowne vnto him who knowing from whom he came graciously receiued him This increased his good liking for he gaue him a letter from 〈◊〉 which the Emperour read alone not without vnderstanding how much hee was bounden to that valorous Queene which had so déerely loued him he read the letter which sayd in this maner A Letter from Garrofilea to the Emperour Trebatius TO the great Emperour of the Greekes Garrofilea sendeth greeting Had I not well knowne mightie Monarch how worthie those errours are to be pardoned when loue is the causer thereof neither would I haue presumed to write neither had I any mind thereto although I haue had it to desire thy death my life depending onely on thee that thou liuest I acknowledge my fault and for amends I send thee these Knights to serue thy person assuring me that the two sonnes which thou leftest heere will doe the like And if the affection which I doe and haue borne thee may moue thee the warre being ended I pray thee to returne them backe to me againe that I may enioy the presence of the sonnes which I hope not of the father The God in whom thou beleeuest grant thee such health as the forgotten Garrofilea desireth If he had to his liking ended all these battailes hee could haue receiued no greater ioy then he did in receiuing that letter from that cruel Quéen which was now become gentle milde amorous Sée of what force loue is for it hath euen melted me being of the countrey of the Tigers The Princes of either side were glad of the truce for the Greeks desired to sée the Ladies in the Moores camp the Pagans were no lesse desirous to sée the Gréek Ladies the fame of whose beautie recahed to the highest heaueÌ„s With this desire we will leaue them to tell what the most mighty Poliphebus did the next day CHAP. XXII How the Prince of Tinacria sent a Letter of challenge to the Pagans camp with leaue from the Emperour of Grecia and of what followed thereof IMagining faire ladies that chaptere of loue would be more pleasing vnto you I haue conceiued so much ioy thereof that it hath eased me of my paine which I begin to feele as the cause of my life if I intreate of any swéete hope it is but to deceiue mine owne fraile vnderstaÌ„ding who as a nomes in loue is of opinion that there can be no remedie for his griefe And my paine maketh me liue euer doubtfull of any good for although I loue in good earnest my Lady doth not yet know it an excuse for that which I endure not to attribute it vnto other but rather to mine owne mishap The valorous Tinacrian goeth free and at libertie for if he loue well hee knoweth that hee is also well beloued There is nothing in the world so swéet as is mutuall loue betweene a Lady her gallant for it sufficeth to make him cheerefull well content for to sée himselfe beloued was the occasion why he sent challenges to the 2. camps by the Nymphs which he brought She which went to the Citie well knowing what she had to doe stayed vntill all those high Emperours and Kings had made an end of their dinner and til that the Ladies were al come forth into the Hall séeing occasion she entred clad in such attire as was fit for such a message At her comming in she did her duty to such as were there and addressing her spéeches to the mightie Emperor Trebatius she sayd Soueraigne Prince whom in reason the world should acknowledge confident in thy generositie I am sent
mightie strength but I beleeue that no man can compare with the Knight with the Eagle And had I not séene his face thereby assured that it is not Claridiano I should haue thought that it had beene the same for I neuer saw man so like him in lordly grace and comelinesse in battailes as hee is Your highnesse saith truth answered the great Zoilo and I beleeue that the Pagans haue met with one who will giue them inough to doe I expect nothing quoth the fayre Archisilora vntill the two youths come in for men of greater courage the world contayneth not The warriours lost no time which being out of breath were yet more furious then the raging sea It séemed vnto the vnknowne Macedonian that hee spent much time in that battaile and the Tinacrian thought no lesse It séemed also that they agreed in one for lifting vp their swords they smote so great blowes that cleane without any feeling they fell vpon their horses neckes Garrofileaes sonne within a while came againe to himselfe hee was neuer woont to charge at aduantage but now hee was so blind with passion and furie that he forgate himselfe carried away with desire to ouercome and so seeing his enemie who as yet was scarcely come to his remembrance with two iumpes he was with him iust as he came to himselfe yet he could not strike him but tooke him at such aduantage that hee pluckt him out of his Saddle giuing him so great a fall against the ground that he could hardly rise he was so sore brused therewith All the Pagans campe was verie sory for Don Celindo his mishap Luzelaes Louer leapt after him and before that he knew where he was he gaue him two blowes one after another which put him past all remembrance leauing him breathlesse vpon the ground taking from him the best Shield that euer hee got and was glad in his soule that he had so ended the battaile Much did those foure shining Lampes of beauty extoll the valiancie of the Tinacrian Let vs attribute it quoth the fayre Policena to our fauour for it is not possible that it should come elsewhere He would make a new challenge hereupon sayd the fayre Aurelia for I rather beleeue that it procéedeth from the Ladies which hee bringeth in his companie who are endued with no lesse beautie then courtesie in fauouring so warlike a Knight Well may hee bee called fortunate sayd the fayre Iewish Artimisa seeing that they striue to giue him contentment who are able to giue and take it away in despight of loue it selfe There remaineth yet fayre Ladyes quoth the secretly enamoured Rosaluira so much for him to doe that in my opinion this may be referred to the end of all these battailes She sayd this in regard of Bembo whome she loued with her soule The proude attempt of Floralisa put them from this matter who séeing her brother ouercome there was no Uiper that shewed it selfe so malicious This Lady had a most delicate horse for in his course he would haue outrunne euen thought it selfe Shee gaue him the spurre who passed his carriere swifter then any Eagle and at their meeting made a greater noyse then when a great high built house talleth to the ground they passed with an excellent grace the one from the other There was no man among the Gréekes that knew the Lady for shee came disguised for feare that the Knight should refuse the battaile against her And hereupon was much suspicion among them who this might be séeing it was the first that matched the yong man in the carriere The Lady was of a mightie courage for if Mars himselfe had béene in the field she would not haue refused him in the single combat with that Lords sword which was the Troians greatest enemie Shee made towards the Greek so spéedily that it wan his good will although hee much felt the blew for in receiuing it it made him bow downe as low as his Saddle The Lady lost no opportunitie for shee was one that vsed all diligence and so before that the Gallant could recouer himselfe shee which loued him farre better then her owne soule gaue him a second O strange effects of loue The warlike Damsell entred with her shield somewhat farre from her brest and came so neere to him that before that he could deliuer his blowe shee gaue him so strong a thrust as had almost set him besides his saddle and made him to lose the halfe of his streÌ„gth The Lady gat hereby otherwise it had gone hard with her for with that little which hee gaue her hee made her to sée a thousand stars vnder her faire browes and troubled her so with the blow that thereby he gat meanes suddenly to giue her another He smote her crosse the Helme and smote her so much to one side that he had almost ouerthrowne her to the ground There was neuer any Dunce like her for she plyed the yong man so well that shee put the battaile a thousand times in doubt which his Lady gaue him to vnderstand for she carryed her selfe so in her standing as though the blowes which he receiued vpon his armour had pierced to her heart The Tinacrian perceiued it and imagining as it was hee charged the Daughter of Meridian in such â—oâ—t as made all the assistants to wonder The Ladies haue made some signe to that Knight sayd Venus for the fiercenesse wherewith he set vpon his aduersarie can proceede from no other cause for nothing doth so much encourage warriours as the fauour of their Ladies The second Venus sayd not so without reason for hauing seene his Ladyes countenance hee was so grieued that hee would that that Knight had beene Mars But for all that he could doe the Lady defended her selfe so well as could bee wished The Tinacrian entred like a master at the warres meaning at his pleasure to haue giuen her a great blow bearing his sword aloft but the warlike Matron vnderstood his pretence and suffering him to come neere to her with an excellent quicknesse shee foyled his ward and with her sword in both hands shee gaue the Prince vpon the Beuer one of the most cruell blowes that euer hee receiued in his life for falling vpon his horses necke the bloud began to spout out at his mouth and eyes There came a cold sweate all ouer those 2. Ladyes when they saw their Poliphebus in the taking But that being past there was neuer any Lion so furious as he shewed himselfe For very desperately he flung his Shield at his backe There were few in the place but were afraide of his angrie countenance and gnashing his téeth he spurred his angrie Rubican and was so soone with her that she had no time to defend her for he smote her vpon the rich Helme so aswash that he could not pierce it yet he brake all the riuets on that side which the yong man well perceiued and giuing her another that the bloud sprung out hee set hand to
her Helmet and with a touch pluckt it away leauing her couered with a fine Cawle of gold All the companie was stricken with admiration when they perceiued that shee was a woman The Queene of Lira knew her and doubting that Poliphebus would haue vsed her discourteously she would haue gone down to entreate him to giue ouer the battaile for the great loue which she bore her euer since they had beene together in Tinacria as is aforesayd But the Greeke was so gratefull considering how much loue this Lady had shewen him in time past He sayd vnto her You hauing so good assurance of your part valorous Lady haue wronged your beautie to séeke it with your victorious hands which if in ought I haue offended as I doubt not but that I haue much you may with lesse cost take iust reuenge although that comming hither vpon commandement it may somewhat excuse mee The victorie is yours and so are all in the world due to your beautie and worthinesse and so I beseech you in token thereof to take my shield To beare a pawn from so warlike a Knight quoth the Lady ought to haue béene done by some valorous knight for it is not iust that wee should take that which to your worth belongeth séeing that you haue so well woonne it for I am yours ouercome in battaile which otherwise I will not bee She would haue left her Shield which was held for an excéeding greatnesse of mind for it was one of the fayrest in the world But the Tinacrian would not yeeld thereto but rather accompanying her forth of the Lists offered her his seruice and so returned to his tent deâ—â—râ—ing the rest of the battels vntill the euening for these already ended had somewhat wearied him Bembo seeing what honour that Knight had gotten vpon his deare friends came forth like a Lyon There was a great hope of those which remained that they should againe recouer that which the rest had lost In the standings whither the Emperor commanded meate to bee brought for dinner there was no speech so long as it lasted but of the valour of this Knight If euer he had neede fayre Ladyes of your fauour sayd Liciana it will be this euening for I am of opinion that there remaine some behind which will put him to his shifts and God grant that hee fall not into their danger Hee shall not sayd the fayre Rosamundi for sith that these Ladies fauours haue serued his turne for so good a beginning and middle it will be no doubt sufficient to make a glorious end of that which remaineth They all wished it for they loued him in their soules and were neuer well vntill they might againe returne to see him Those of the campe stayed not long at dinner they were so sharpe set and the Greekes being aware of their comming came to the standing windowes to behold them whose sight deserueth a new Chapter CHAP. XXVI Of the cruell battaile fought betweene the youth Clecbulo and Poliphebus of Tinacria with what happened to Floriâ—arte of Argentaria FAire Ladies by often crauing your ayde as is reason I am become troublesome to you But my necessity so great occasion is offered me that I cannot forbeare to reâ—â—ire anew vnto you for some new fauour whereby I may bee able with a pleasing stile to deliuer vnto you the maner of foure of the most famous battels that euer were fought in the world for they which fought them were the flower of all valiancie and for such a cause as would haue made a Lambe a Lion There were many cruell blowes giuen but those which the Ladies gaue to those youths could neuer be cured but by them which gaue them No man employed himselfe so well nor with â—ore reason then the sonnes of Eufronisa which notwithstanding their braue and couragious hearts yeelded their soules to two Princesses of Grecia whose braue beautie would haue expelled the first Venus She to whome the gentle Leobulo subiected himselfe was the gallant Aurelia daughter of the valorous Tartarian Zoylo and the fayre Princesse Tigliafâ— whose loue gaue occasion to this Prince and his elder brother to worke wonders as I will the Muses assisting mee declare in the fourth part Well did Lupertius know what peace would grow of these warres and that hee should be a friend to the Greeks But hee was so much offended for the imprisonment of his fellow Scholler Selagio that he sought to bee reuenged of the Greeke Princes The destruction of Troy was neuer so much desired as was now the ruine of Grecia And although that he would that these youthes should haue dyed thereby to haue despighted Rosabel yet he forbare to the end he might see the bloud which they would shead in the Gréeke fields and in the behalfe of the Pagans And for this cause seeing the furious enemie with whom they were to encounter and the lucke of his hand hee sent them certaine most rich enchaunted Armours which were of the best in the world all russet with certaine knots of colours which made a marueylous faire shew They both bare one deuice for the gallant Claribel had chosen for his Soueraigne Lady the fayre Policena daughter of the valorous Polidolphus and of the second Venus In the middest of their shields they bare the God of Loue giuing him for tribute the spoyles of their hearts and soules with these words What may accounted pleasure Which doth yeeld no greater smart If loue therein haue no part Both the camps tooke great pleasure to sée these two gallant contented youthes which passing ouer the place tooke the first standing although there were some question about it for the Knight with the Starres had first desired the battell Brufaldoro was almost mad because hee could not be first The braue Lord of Achaia challenged it to bee his These fiue had fallen out about it had not the Emperour of the Romanes and the Souldan of Niquea taken vp the matter which brought them to agréement which was that they should draw lots whereto they agréed because they would not fal out The first lot happened to him which in all was equall to the best which was Leobello and the second to his brother the third to the Knight with the stars and next after him to Brufaldoro and the last of all to the furious Bembo who was as fierce as a Lion who imagined that after those Knights there would bee no meanes left for him to fight the battell but the Tinacrian did so wel discharge himselfe that hee gaue them all their hands full The youth came into the field with so gallant a countenance that all affected him for putting vp his Beauer hee went to the Tinacrian who entertained him verie courteously for they were maruailous like to whome the valorous youth said Mightie Knight with the Eagle although it bee a presumption for me to enter into the Lists with you yet for that my Ladie is fairer then shee whome you haue made Ladie
their small valour although it followed a most cruell nauall warre as that which passed betwéene them and the Soldan of Egypt which would giue them notice that they were daily to expect them Herewith was there made a most proud defyance signed by xii kings which were ioyned in that confederacie with the mightie Romane who of himselfe and of his adherents had leuied aboue foure hundred thousand most ready and expert Souldiers for amongst them went the fierce Almaines a people through all the world held for valiant Commandement was giueÌ„ for the making of many engines for the waâ—res and prouiding of munitions because they would not euery day lend for prouisions In such sort was the Romane furnished that not of Grecia but of all the world he made smal reckoning promising his daughter to crown her Eâ—presse of Constantinople in despite of all the Grecians And with this preparation they spéedily sent foâ—re Gyants in company with a cousin germane of Brundusio called Coriando a most valiant Knight held in the second degrée after his strong cousin with a Damsell called Sabina which knew Don Heleno for that she had invited him to the Iusts who caried the defyance signed and sealed knowing what she had to say as shee which was one of the most discrat women of the world The messengers were about to depart when in the great Palace entred those which were sent by the Soldan of Niquea aduertised by Lupercio of that which the infernall Furies had gayned vpon the Romane Prince There came the brother of the Prince of the Garamants subiect to the Soldan and two other Princes which were of Media and of Armenia who although they had beene in disgrace with the Soldan about the stealing of Lâ—riana as is said in the first booke the trueth being knowne that they had not beâ—n the cause nor acquainted therewith he receyued them into his friendship binding them by new fauours which was to send them for his Ambassadours to the Court of Rome They went with such company as was fit for so great Princes as they were The King knowing of their comming with the most principal that were with him went forth to receyue them taking the King of the Garamants by the hand to do him the greater honour they al let them down to heare the Ambassade of so mightie a Monarch as the Soldan of Niquea As they all expected the Ambassade of the Soldan the valiant King of the Garamants making a little reuerence drew out a sealed Letter of credence and giuing it to the great Emperour of Rome Constantius looke it and with a loude voyce a king of Armes read it which said thus was therein The valorous Coriandro who went in company with the foure Gyants the Damsell answered him that therein went certaine Knights of Rome into Grecia to defie the Gréekes Much were they pleased with the answere of those Princes and séeing they held that course hauing so good occasion they said they would accompany them for no lesser displeasures had they also receiued of the Gréeks It appeared what they were by their Armes and so those of Rome also reioyced in their soules to haue so valiant Knights as they séemed to be in their company not seeing the houre to méet theÌ„ in Grecia where we wil leaue them vntill their time for they will bring in matter inough to talke of CHAP. II. Of that which happened vnto the Prince Poliphebus of Tinacria with the Damsell which caried him into the kingdome of Samogacia ALl those which haue weighed the great trauell of Imagination with such sound consideration and so aduisedly as is requisite most noble Prince haue iudged it very great and not without much reason for he who will please many must seeke out matter different for that which to one is loathsome another holdeth for pleasant and swéet and to hit right to please many is impossible for euen betwéene thrée that are inuited there is great difference in tasts as he said who had wel experimented the same Horace I say so because it is not possible in so large an historie as this which I now haue in hand but to bee tedious with the diuersitie of Chapters although that if men impassionate should be Iudges therein this is the most certaine meane to entertaine that can be But of force séeing I take this way I must haue recourse to pardon and to treat somewhat leauing so many defiances of the noble Tinacrian who with some amorous griefe tooke his leaue of Rosabel both woondring at what they saw the one in the other but it made it the lighter to sée the valorous kinsemen which he had and what it behooued him to doe to be called brother to so great Princes and Unkle to such a Knight for yet to Claridiano he was vnknowne With this conceit he retyred to embarke him where his Damsel attended his comming feareful that his long staying might be the occasion that he should not come in time with his succours for the most accomplished Lady in all Samogacia had grounded her hopes vpon him At his coÌ„ming she told him what paine she endured and the cause thereof Great griefe would it be to me faire Damsel said the resolute yong man if my staying should giue occasion of any defect and I should be very glad if you would shew me your necessitie for since our comming out of Gréece we haue had no place for it and séeing that now the Seas and fortune haue giuen it I should bee very glad thereof All shall be perfourmed valorous Prince of Tinacria séeing the life of her which sent me to séeke resteth in your hands and because you shall be the more willing to procure her remedie harken and you shall heare the greatest and most vnreasonable that euer was vsed to Lady for if you be sworne to the lawes of loue you shall vnderstand how vniustly my Lady is condemned to an infamous death and vnderstand that in the great and populous kingdome of Samogacia there is a King who for his valour and person is worthie to be King of the vniuersall world it pleased the Heauens to giue him sonnes and daughters which is the greatest pleasure in the world and fortune willing to try his valour with taking them all away from him leauing him one onely daughter of whom it is said that the summe and ful perfection of beautie and accomplishment of qualities is included in her shape and goodly proportion for in her beautie is no hinderance to her discretion with both which graces she is adorned in the highest degrée that may be and so haue they giuen her a name conformable to her constitution calling her Celibella for her beautie séemeth rather heauenly then of the earth where if ought be excellent yet it bringeth with it some ill-fauoured abatement With this Lady the Princes of Podolia fell in loue Knights to whom nature had shewed her selfe very bountifull endowing them with what is most desired she
made them equals to the end that as brothers and so like in proportion but that by their names no man could haue knowne them the elder was called Daristeo of Podolia and the yonger Rosaner Both at their comming affected the Kinges fairâ— Daughter wooing her with many Tiltings and Turneyes which they caused for her sake wherein they were both coÌ„mended in equall degrée As to subiect the mind in these louers cases is reserued to loue onely it ordained for the greater euill that Celibella most affected the younger not for that he had more then the other but that fortune thought it an honourable trophe to triumph of these two louers with her eies did this faire Dame giue her beloued gallant to vnderstand to what estate fortune had brought her but they had so small hope of béeing beloued that notwithstanding that she shewed it with a thousand good countenances yet he could neuer be perswaded that she loued him for as that Lady is the Phoenix of beautie hee held a fauour from her hand to be such a thing as loue it selfe could not deserue and so they procéeded in their loues a-vie without acquainting the one the other with the secret of their mindes It was no small griefe to the Ladie that Rosaner could not perceiue how well she loued him and for the Lady to make shew thereof by any signes or other meanes she would not for any thing in the world well knowing how much she should therein preiudice her honour with the often fauours and publike prayse which she gaue to whatsoeuer this gallant did he was partly perswaded that she loued him but yet he could hardly beléeue that fortune would be so fauorable At this instant wherein Celibella shewed her selfe most affected vnto him accepting of the endeuours and exployts which Rosaner performed in her seruice there was brought to the Court a kinsewoman of this Ladies who was the beginning and ending of all these mishaps She truly was fayre for somewhat being of kinne to the Kings daughter claue to her As my Lady was young and a nouice in loue she was of opinion that it was much ease to disclose it some others are of the same opinion but for my part I vtterly condemne it for there is no greater griefe then to reueyle the secrets of the heart whereby the renowne may be touched and from whence nothing is drawne but the Lady to subiect her selfe to the party to whome shee reueyleth her secret who also peraduâ—â—ture will hold her for more light in discouering it then for being in loue This hapned sometimes The vnwary Lady trode these reasons vnder foot told all to Felina for so was her kinswoman called The discouery of this secret serued not to yeeld any ease to the Lady but to incite her kinsewoman to fall in loue with the Prince Daristeo and that in so good earnest that shée spéedily made it appeare But as hee was so engoulfed in the loue of Celibella he tooke no notice with what affection Felina shewed her selfe to be his The Lady Princesse perceyued it well and receyued no small pleasure therein imagining that therewith Daristeo would leaue to bee so enamored of her for the beauty of her kinsewoman was â—ell worthy to be beloued There were often meetings in the hall betwéene these foure louers but I know not who is able to agrée them for with my tongue I am not able for neyther partie left to loue though it were not accepted It appeared in their eyes for the two brothers fixed theirs vpon the Princesse and she with new spoyles beholdeth her Rosaner making her eyes fat with beholding him But her cousin being touched to the quick with apparant signes giueth testimony of her loue in beholding her Daristeo in whom she onely delighteh and from whom she draweth her life and although she were but a nouice in that occupation the carelesnes wherewith the prince answered her put her in such care as I thinke no body hath béene more carefull for from that time forward her griefe was such as her cousin was very sory for This amorous passion did so much pinch her that shée knew no meanes how to remedie it neither saw any possibilitie for the prince neuer tooke any regard of the fauours which shee shewed him which was worse then death to this afflicted Lady who growing desperate would haue taken any course for remedy although somewhat dishonourable As the king loued these Princes holding them in place of sonnes although he had not yet determined vpon whom be would bestow his daughter Celibella so had they opportunitie to discourse with the lady who seeing that her father was well pleased therewith forbare it not making shewe that to be the cause concealing the trueth Rosaner being the man who wore the palme his brother could neuer imagine it thinking with himselfe that if the Ladyes affection were guided by reason he was rather to be beloued theÌ„ his brother but loue led it another way without respect of the large kingdoÌ„ whereof he was prince for to him which perfectly loueth it neuer representeth the qualities of the thing beloued but only what is in self which otherwise were but a fayned loue and so the Lady loued the fortunate yong man not with a litle enuy of loue séeing what was enioyed The passionate cousin was shée who sped worst in this businesse for although that the Princesse loued not Daristeo yet he was neuer perswaded that shee loathed him for the discreet Lady bestowed some fauours vpon him which were a meane to entertaine the Prince and hée held himselfe happy to obtaine so much at her handes But poore Felina neither perceiued any shew that she was beloued neither was there any end in vnderstanding her ill hap in being not regarded by him whom shee loued better then her selfe In this meane while the braue Furiandro bastard sonne to the king of Podolia which hée gat in his yong yéeres vpoÌ„ a most strong woman in the mountaines Rifei came to the court to séeke these 2. brothers he proued so fierce and valiant that they say that in valour he doeth exceede the great god Mars for there is no knight no although they be ten nay twenty that are able to kéep the field against him neither any Gyant how fierce so euer he be he is beloued of the common people for hee is not of that condition which such men commonly are of which excéede all other in force and strength of body but he is rather courteous and a great friend fauourer of Ladies although that in this occasion I maruaile not he haue shewed himselfe cruell to Celibella Much did the princesse reioyce at his comming all the whole court for the feastes were renewed wherein it is incredible not to be beléeued what that furious knight did for he was séene at one blow to strike downe both horse and man all men gaue him the prize for valiant The king respected him according as was
to acknowledge him for their Prince and soueraigne Lord for the king had so heauily taken the death of his two sonnes that the sorrow thereof bereaued him of his life and he left no heire but this mightie Furiander Al the principal of the Realme were of opinion to giue the crowne vnto him and to accept him for their king seing his valour deserued no lesse but was much more worthy The valorous Pagan did not a little sorrow the death of his father and the sonne of the most cruell Garofilea kept him company mourning with him for the one and reioyâ—ing with him for the other A newe life and a long answered the Pagan I would the heauens would grant me noble man at Armes to the ende to acknowledge howe great a good it is to bee your friend but such as it shall please the gods to bestow vpon me assure your selfe it shall be to doe you seruice as he who is no lesse endebted vnto you then for his life and honour It yéeldeth me not that ioy and solace said the Tinacrian Soueragine prince to sée how gentle fortune hath shewed her selfe vnto me to gette such a friend as I hope in the gods you will bée as to sée with what affection and in how good earnest you haue estéemed my offer so as if I shall be able to equall my déedes with my desire none shall shew himselfe a more faithfull friend then I. By this time the king with the whole court was descended to receiue and entertaine the Tinacrian who had already determined in himselfe to entreat the king to receiue Furiander for his sonne In approching with his Armes displayed he came to the faire yong man saying Althoughâ—â—t were for nothing else most valiant knight but to say that in my armes I imbrace the flowre of cheualry I hold the troubles well imployed whereunto this Prince hath brought vs. The faire Poliphebus wel discharged the part of the Moore saying It was a worthy matter mighty king to to considered in how manifest a daÌ„ger your daughter was but herein appeareth the noblenesse of your generous brest that you not onely pardon what is done with the passion to sée such princes to fayle but you are now to receiue him for a friend séeing his valour deserueth that all the princes of the world should hold him for such greater errours then these which may be pardoned so venturous a knight vndertaking the same By this time was come the Kings daughter so fayre that I know not any man of reasonable vnderstanding but would haue giuen rather then to haue lost the sight of her two thousand soules if he had them She drew néere giuing the prince great thanks for that which hée had done for her saying I was well assured valorous knight of the Bough that committing my affayres into your victorious hands it should haue such issue as is this While as the fayre Tinacrian made answere vnto Celibella loue began to sturre in the brest of the Pagan who regarded the beautie wherewith the Infanta was adorned whom in his conceit he had much offended but loue playing his part had obtained his pardon for sometimes she cast her eye aside to behold the wounds which this new-come prince had receiued and indéed the Pagan did not so much feele it as the Lady did for it did ease his paine to behold her beautie But to her who had already yéelded her selfe tributarie to loue euery drop of his blood was worse then a cruell death so farre doeth his power extend who is called the blind god of loue Within the Palace were these Princes cured of their wounds and fifteene dayes the Tinacrian there remayned in which time he behaued himselfe so well that hee obtained of the king all that he desired setting before his eyes the valour of Furiander and the state which hee held loue had so well disposed of the fayre princesse that it was no hard matter to winne her The valorous Furiander knew not how to value this good for all the Court feasted him holding it well content to receiue such a knight for prince and Lord thereof Much did the princesse desire that the Tinacrian should haue remained a longer time but being vnable to end other matters he tooke his leaue of the Lady and committed himselfe to the déepe sea with Ruuâ—o his squire alone The fift day of his nauigation with a prosperous wind he ariued in the kingdome of Hilepsia where hapned vnto him that which in the next Chapter shall be declared CHAP. IIII. How the Prince of Tinacria neere the Fountaine of three spoutes met with the braue Eufronisa and of the battaile which hee fought with two Giants which would haue robbed him SO much did absence most noble prince afflict the fayre Eufronila for the loue of Rosabel that shee tooke no pleasure but in comming to the fountaine where shée first saw him It fared with her as with one which hath lost a precious iewel who not finding it a thousand times returneth with great care to the place where he thinketh he lost it EueÌ„ so did this fayre princesse beeing not so much afflicted for the losse of the sonnes as for the absence of the Father In company of her discreet gentlewoman she passed a heauy solitarie life although it were som case vnto her to think that her father had promised to carry her with him into Grecia for there came certaine messengers to him from the Souldan of Niquea to entreat his â—auour which hee throughly purposed to grant as he which was very mightie and of great power And imagining with her selfe that there she should see her 〈…〉 made her to prolong some what the rest of her dayes it was a world to sée and to heare what she did and said beholding her selfe in the cléere fountaine Loue is not such most noble prince as that hee who is possessed ther with can haue any regard of reason neither is reason of force to detaine him who is enamored from going to any place whither his cruell destinyes shall lead him In the Schole of my mishappes I learned to discourse of the successe of Loue and how it dealeth with those which are subiect thereto this enamored princesse yéeldeth vs sufficient experience thereof whom loue so many wayes after she was subiect thereto tired with a thousand desastres and being set in the place where she first became enamored she made a thousand complaints of loue Oh fierce and cruell resolution said the fayre Lady and the pleasing content wherein I liueâ— before I saw that venturous prince the robber of my libertie I know not of whoÌ„ to complaine me not of loue for it shewed it selfe fauourable in my behalfe I complaine me of his crueltie séeing that he séeing the sincere faith wherewith I loued him neuer vouchsafed to giue me one sparkle of hope but reioyced to sée me for him in so sweet annoy Oh my sonnes if the heauens grant you life and by them
for my libertie which onely may be estéemed a thing whereof there resteth for mée no hope to make any requitall which the heauens reward you in your greatest necessitie The great displeasure which I conceyued against this Knight for departing out of my prison without my leaue was the occasion of my ouersight For many errors worthy Lady this onely were a sufficient excuse if there had beene any such how much more then where there was none committed Much time they spent in entertaining with these swéete discourses To entertaine in such maner worthy Ladyes is no error which I leaue to your discréete considerations omitting therewith the tediousnesse wherewith I should procéed The long absence of the Prince of Apulia had giuen no occasion to lose any part of the affection which shée bare vnto him when hee was present her stedfast beholding him did manifest as much All this did but encrease the Gréeke louers paine to see himselfe so infortunate and absent from his Lady and with such disgrace banished and not to returne into Grecia without licence bearing the name of Claridiano It did somewhat grieue the Prince of Apulia to sée the discontentment of the knight of Crueltie he was generally so called of al men for that was his deuice in his shield The gentle conuersation of the Princesse did much comfort him whom these princes entreated to declare the cause of her imprisonment I can tel you none valorous Knights but that being one day in a gardeÌ„ vpon the Stronds side to recreate my selfe in company of these foure Damsels this accursed Gyant by chance with the furie of the winde came to ariue at the gardens bancke side he with those Knights entred and comming through the thickest they ariued at certaine fountaines where we were solacing our selues To small purpose serued the callings and outcries which wee made calling for helpe that they should not carrie vs away to their Galley It was yesterday twelue dayes he told me by the way that he was of the squadron of Ocho vassal to the Prince of Almayne in whose seruice hee went to the warres against the Gréekes in company of the Emperour of the Romanes and to the same effect my Father is vpon parting with the king of Carthage which are to ioyne with the Souldan of Niquea whom as they say this warre doth principally concerne for the theft which a Prince of the Gréekes committed in stealing one of his Daughters they purpose to ruinate the whole Empire according to the great numbers of men which they leuie This is all that I can say concerning my imprisonment And séeing I shal not finde the King my Father at Argel for by this time hee is gone I should be very glad if you would take me with you for being in company with such Knights for the present nothing in the world could yeeld mee the like content You shall doe vs answered Florisiano great fauour to take vs with you for Knights of your gard Whereto the Gréek agréed dissembling the griefe hee conceiued to heare how great troopes of men were leuied to warre against his parents hee determined with himselfe to take his way towards Grecia disguised with new armes secretly without acquainting any man therewith except the Knight of the Lions who was the gentle Claramant The Princes often times discoursed concerning the successe of the Prince of Apâ—lia and sware that it should be kept secret without discouering to any man who he was With faire weather they sayled sixe dayes and on the seuenth they discouered the land of Lucania with such alteration of the Prince of Apâ—lia that standing aloft to beholde it the Ladie said vnto him You shall do ill to goe ashore in this land which wee haue discouered valorous Prince séeing that you wil land therein with so sad and heauie countenance Some things haue happened vnto me to my liking answered the Prince but the most ordinary and that which maketh me to absent my selfe from my Countrey and friends is that which carieth me after the currant of my hard happes Loue most noble Prince is not so swéet to bee endured nor so easie to be concealed but that howsoeuer a man will goe about to dissemble the matter hiding the griefe of his soule yet hée will giue signes and certaine notice thereof The Prince of Gréece was of opinion plainely to discouer it for in his soule hee was grieued for it was a matter to touch a man for her beautie did deserue that the Prince of Apulia should loue her but he dissembled offering himselfe to any danger that might yéeld content to Florisiano They attributed it to the great generositie of his minde desiring much that occasion might be offered to requite the same They leapt to shore and he of Apâ—lia tooke the Armes of one of the Gyants Knights which best fitted him and a mightie horse which was the dead Gyants other foure they tooke for the Ladies which were with the Princesse They gaue commandement to the Mariners of the Galley to attend them there and licensing the Gyants galley to depart they tooke the most direct and beaten way that they saw all the Ladies ware skarfes which they cast ouer their faces to goe the more vnknowne There was neuer séene a fairer company for the Ladies were all yong maides and the others enamoured so as there was no discourse of any thing betwéene theÌ„ but of loue From the one side to the other rode thâ—se valiant warriours managing their horses with so great a grace as Mars himselfe the Ladie taking great pleasure therein accounting it a pleasure to trauell all the world ouer in company of such Knights their valour assuring her from al danger By the same way that they went they saw eight Knights comming towards them very richly armed to whom at their méeting the Gréeke in their owne language said for he could speake any in the world We shall take it for fauour Sir Knights to know of you what Countrey this is and how farre it is to any Towne Well pleased with his good spéeches and behauiour The Countrey Sir Knights wherein you are answered one who séemed to be Captaine of all the rest is the populous Lucania very néere vnto the famous Citie of Troba it would yéelde you great delight to sée the maruellous stately buildings thereof but now all the Countrey is so troubled with these warres which are a beginning that there is no pleasure or contentment especially now by reason of the importunacie of Asternio Prince of Calabria who hath declared himselfe for a great louer suiter vnto the Princesse Polinarda although it is imagined that she admitteth none of his seruices But the King hath so effectually dealt in the matter that she is promised vnto him for his wife in stead of his brother whom they put to death through her occasion Greatly was the Prince of Apulia moued with the words of these knights although he past it ouer holding the matter as concerning
himselfe and holding such company as the Gréeke Prince who desirous to returne into Grecia to the aid of his parents taking leaue of these Knights thanking them for the newes which they had told them he said Ualorous Princes the best most certaine meane that I know to deale in this busines is to remit it to the fortune of my valor so to bereaue this Prince which procureth your spoiles of the meane therto here fréeing vs froÌ„ any successe that may happeÌ„ to send a messenger to the King of Lucania that I wil maintaine the beauty of this Lady against any Knight that shal say the contrary at al assaies to be the fairest that is in this kingdoÌ„ which shall giue occasion to this Knight if he loue and be valiant as he is reported to be to take it in ill part that any should bee preferred before his Ladie and comming to blowes with him for nothing in the world will I giue ouer the battell and if the heauens grant vs victorie as I hope they will it shall bee an easie matter for you to carie the Ladie away shee bearing you such good will as you say she doth and being in your Countrey you may defend her against all the world or otherwise make your returne into Grecia in company with this Ladie wherein you shall do the king of Argel great seruice deliuering her into his hands They all agréed to this which the Knight of Cruelty had deuised and so in conclusion they dispatcht a Damsell in company with Polisandro to deliuer the message to the King they remayning in a wood expecting answere which shal be declared in the next Chapter CHAP. VI. How the Damsell deliuered the ambassade to the King of Lucania in the behalfe of the Knight of Crueltie who admitting the same the matter came to triall AS Polisandro and the Damsell as saith Galtenor were departed from the Princes with the Gréeke Princes message and were come within two miles of the great Citie of Troba at what time as the King was newly risen froÌ„ dinner accompanied with many principal knights among which was the most strong Astrenio which was now respected of euery body as the Kings sonne they desired leaue to enter which was granted in the presence of many Ladies the faire Polinarda with Solesia the Princesse of Campania and her valorous louer Lisander The Damsell doing such reuerence as in such cases is accustomed the King willing her to deliuer her ambassade shee began in this maner Thou shalt vnderstand mighty King of Lucania that in the confines of the red Sea in that part which boundeth vpon Media there lyeth a most populous and rich Iland called the I le of plate for the great abundance which the earth there bringeth forth of which Iland is Quéene one of the most accomplished Ladies of the world called Troyla with whom the mightie Prince of Cumagena trauelling through the world to seeke his aduentures seeing her rare beautie fell in loue and that with such feruencie that according to the shew which hee hath made thereof nothing but death onely may suffice to diuert him from his amorous conceit hee hath perfourmed most Soueraigne King so many and so great matters in the seruice of this Ladie that of very dutie and considering with her selfe that it was no disgrace to her to accept him for her Knight thee resolued to admit his seruice and him for her seruant With the fauours which she bestowed on him he beganne againe anew to make triumphs for ioy in such maner that she consented and promised to be wholy his She valorous King standeth so assured on her selfe and her beautie that she requested him in requitall of the faith which she vowed vnto him to carie her to the Courts of the most famous Kings for the space of two yéeres to maintaine her beautie A small request seemed vnto her louer that which she required and to all others that knew him seeing by experience the great valour which the heauens had infused into him And now they goe accomplishing the two yeeres quest performing such aduentures therin with so much honour to them both that hee is held for one of the most valorous Knights of the world and hearing the fame of this Court of the gallantrie of the Ladies of the same he would not passe by into Grecia before he had here made proofe of what power his aduenture might bee he yéeldeth to the battell at all perils for some hauing procéeded to the Iusts onely haue remained throughly grieued bringing the battell to no perfection wherefore he hate sent to entreat thée if it shall so please thée to send him safe conduct to the ende he may maintaine the cause for which he commeth Here ended the Damsell her Oration leauing not one in all the hall which did not wonder at her bold demaund Some rumour beganne among the young Knights making a scoffe thereof auouching that the Ladies whom they serued had attained to the highest of all beautie Wel did the King vnderstand it and dissembling the same answered the Damsell which comming in the name of an Ambassadour was to be honourably entertained I doe thankefully accept faire Damsell of the pleasure which this Knight with his presence will doe vnto this court although as I am perswaded he shall here purchase more enemies then friends for here being Princes which delight in Ladies seruice they will neuer yeeld to so generall an offence as is this The most strong Astermo could not dissemble his discontentment déeming that therein was great disgrace done to his Polinarda who said thus I doe rather wiâ—h faire Damsell that this Knight had first séene the Ladies of this Palace that he might haue perceiued the errour which he maintaineth before he had with such ouerboldnesse defyed their gallants I am of opinion Sir Knight answered the disâ—reet Damsell that you haue not yet made proofe of the power of loue seeing that you know not that hee which admireth the beautie of his beloued speaketh according to his affection I am of opinion that both of the one and the other the Prince will put you out of doubt if it shall please the King to giue him leaue thereto I graunt it quoth the King if he will to the end wee may see the effect of your hopes The Lady would haue kist the Kings hand for the sauour which he granted returning she said As these Princes mightie King haue trauelled a long iourney so come they vnfurnished of prouision necessary wherefore they pray thee to commaund a Tent to be lent theÌ„ seeing that the challenger is to make his abode therein Whatsoeuer shall please him answered the King I will coÌ„mand to be carefully prouided In this maner said the Ladie with a high voice begin you that are enamoured to set vp your armes for betwéene this and to morrow wil come to the Lists the Prince of Comagena with costly experience to make shew of his great
safetie for you shall bee knowne by no man except such as you will At an instant the Armes were present and were such as the old man had reported all set with Pearles and blacke Checker-worke and some spots of Russet The prince had neuer seene a fairer thing neither did the world containe any for it séemed to excéede all humane workmanship The young man put them on remaining the same that he was before and so wel disposed that Gualtenor could not forbeare to say O luckie Planet vnder which so gracious a Knight was begotten and happie Armours seeing that it may well bee said that within them is incompassed the flower of cheualrie He gaue him a rich Iewell which was of most fine Rubies of no lesse worth then faire in shew In putting it about his necke he séemed to bee of greater age and his colour was not so white his haire curled and turned vp in his forehead Lirgandeo saith that hee resembled the god Mars when by force of armes vpon the earth hee wonne Venus Hee gaue him a shield of the colour of his Armour and in middest of the field he set Crueltie as hee bore it before although with a different writing for on the side appeared manie Ladies which tooke compassion of him and vnder this Mot. If to be grieued for your loue Were a meane to ease your paine Who would deferre the same If he knew what t' were to loue In the whole campe for this deuice hée was called The Knight with the Ladyes and he was rightly called so for the most of them did affect him With these valorous prince and my sonne you are to defend your Countrey which according to the perillous combates wherein you shal be they are those which shall assure my weary old age and your good successe that which I request is that you procéed not in the warre in such sort that your doings be correspoÌ„dent with your deuice for there is nothing that doth so much dishonour a man as crueltie I can stay no longer for the much that I haue to doe elsewhere but you may goe in safetie for if you be in neede I will come to your ayd as he which most leueth you He embraced him with as much tendernesse as if he had béene his owne carnall sonne hee tooke his leaue of Palisander to whom he gaue a girdle which altered his complexion The valiant Gréeke saw himselfe so plaine in the stones of his shield that he needed no loâ—king glasse hee could not chuse but laugh and say to the olde man at his departure Assuredly deare father if you could as wel change my lady Mystresse conditions as the colour of my face wholly in your hands would be reserued my contentment The old man presently vanished away and the Gréeke returned to his begun carriere where let vs leaue him to take our way towards Greece CHAP. VIII Howe the aduenture of the hatefull Tower with the libertie of the fayre Linda brides was ended with the coâ—ming of the Ambassadours from Rome and of that which therewith happened to the Ladyes THe Armes of the famous Athenian beeing lost with his dagger onely in his hand most noble prince wee left him in the end of the third Booke to the noble Claramante in the top of the hatefull tower in viewe of all the Gréeke Court who stood there with great desire from thence to behold the most beautifull Lindabrides hee which most shewed himselfe was the great Emperour Alphebus who could not put out of his mind howe much he was indebted to that Lady how ingratefully hée had euer shewed himselfe treading vnder foote that which she desired worthy to be more estéemed of the world then she was by him All those which had knowen her desired no lesse her rare beautie leauing them affected vnto her and the faith and loyalty which she euer bare to her prince They were quickly in better and more certeine hopes for to sée the couragious Knight without Armes had shadowed it as with a cloud but not to sée him so with great fury hee strake the sayle with greater courage then before he had shewen when his person was furnished putting himselfe in point not onely to defend himself but also to offend recouer his lost Armes Contrary to his desire stood those of the towre saying There requireth more care to be taken in the comming in sir Knight then you haue yet shewen which is a matter which onely to haue it will put it in your hands There hath not bene so great want thereof sayd the furious yong man as of your part there doeth wickednesse abound wherewith you haue procéeded and to the ende that you may sée that I am not without Armes stay and you shall see how costly your cousinage will proue vnto you And here with like a royall Eagle with a iumpe hée set himselfe in the midst of the Hall where O Apollo that thou hadst the describing of this battaile to set it out in particular the acts of this yong Gréeke according as they did deserue which were worthy of no lesse then thy wisedome and not of his that is bare and vnfurnished of grace and method who yet hath not had knowledge and experience of the deceites in loue what it is to be beloued what to liue secure from the paine which the soule féeleth Wanting this worthy Dames what courage can my wearie penne haue séeing the teares blot the letters I write and drowne the conceites framed in my soule Yet notwithstanding trusting in your fauour I will begin to describe the doings of this Gréek to set at libertie the Lady whom hee best loued euer in his life In the midst of the Hall he stood expecting these 2. which more swift theÌ„ a Sacre flying after her praie came the one with a battaile-axe aloft the other with the well sharpened sword of Theseus The first was more spéedy in deliuering his blow which stood the prince in no little stead for making him to lose it with a ship he closed with him and as for his dagger there was neither Armor nor enchantment that could resist it and finding himselfe néere the Knight of the towre he strake him on the top of his left shoulder drew it out againe dyed in his blood By this time the other was come with more discretion theÌ„ the first for hauing noted the quicknes agilitie of the enemy he came well in breath with his sword in his hand the point forwards The yong man had good hap that he ran him not thorow for he tooke it vnder his arme He of the towre thought that he had sped him so drawing backe his sword which making way to the flesh came foorth without any dangerous hurt hee marked his fortune considered that it was no fearefull hurt he would not lose occasion in a matter where it was so necessary to sée himself destitute of Armes so with the strength that he recouered aboue
these warres with such desire to doe you seruice that I determined not to be cured for I am banished in most straÌ„ge maner being to accoÌ„plish my banishment in Grecia and but for her sake which ruleth my life I would take it for a fauour séeing the graces which the heauens haue imparted vnto all the Gréeke Dames which kindleth new fire in my sorrowfull heart séeing it selfe absent from that which my soueraigne inioyeth which in all respects is equall to her cruelty Now I say that he is worthy to be pardoned and we are sorry for him quoth Rosamundi seeing that if he desire to liue it is onely to doe vs seruice If it were not for that gallant dames said the Gréeke I would rid my selfe thereof but I haue therein setled this hope that I should here find some bodie which would bee sorie for my ill happe About this matter those faire Ladies rode discoursing well pleased with the Knight of Liuia his gentle conuersation and no lesse were all those high Princes for the valour which they had séene and experimented in him the night they passed with swéete discourses that although the thrée Ladies and their being in companie with their husbands did restraine them from discoursing of loue matters yet they delighted to refresh their memorie with talking of the most plesing time of their whole life For neuer man loued wel which liued not in loue for by louing knights are purified they become franke liberall valiant and hee which was the most carelesse becommeth most careful In no part discretion holdeth so due proportion as betwéene louers and neuer was there any honourable end of warres if loue were not the ground thereof For loue gallants attempt doubtfull enterprises making them easie with this saying My Ladie will take pleasure therein and to procure her contentment in exchange of his owne soule is to purchase a new life new Iewels of loue sufficient to giue life to him that so loueth and to conclude Plato saith that there is no good where is no loue The valorous Claridiano entertained the faire Ladies and gallant youthes with discreete discourses vntil the golden louer shewed himselfe beautifying the earth at whose comming all on horsebacke tooke their way towards the Citie highly extolling the valiancie of the two Pagans they all came to the place where they were which had the gard of the Towre in the sea the after-noones heate they past in a groue of Poplars againe taking their short way vntill about two of the clock in the night vnder a high Pine trée they saw a Knight laid all along on the ground whose constitution was pleasing to them all hee was armed with blew set with many Starres of gold with so many precious stones of such worth that they could not bee valued who séeing so many comming on horsebacke rose vp and buckling on a rich Helmet he lightly leapt vpon his horse being caparisoned of the same colour that his armour was on his Caske he wore a most faire plume set with Spangles of gold hee had one of the most rich shields of the world In the middest whereof which was of blew he bare god Mars and close by him his Venus with seuerall crownes in her hands as though shée gaue them to a Knight which knéeled at her féete with this Mot For thy worth and beautie Receiue this fauour Worthie thy valour They tooke great pleasure to behold his goodly personage and much more that with his Launce in his hand hee came towards them they all imagined that he would iust If it be no otherwise said Rosamundi it falleth to our lot to begin seeing we haue giuen the occasion to séek vs. No body gainsaid it séeing it was no great aduenture and so by that time that this gallant was come they had taken their weapons who shewing courtesie lifting vp his Beuer discouered the best fauoured face in all the Pagans countrie and said My lot valorous Knights hath béene so good to méet you in this place that I cannot complaine of fortune séeing shée hath set before mine eyes what I most desired to see I doe not tel you my Countrie valorous companie being so remote neither my name because there will be small notice of either for there are not two dayes since I receiued the order of Knighthood from the hands of a most mightie warriour who told me that if I made haste I should find here all the best of Greece I desired him to tell me his name in requitall of which fauour I would bee readie to doe him seruice all the dayes of my life for his valour deserueth it He told me that hee is called Bembo and that I should tell the Knights with whome hee here had fought the battell that they should pardon him for not ending it and that there should not want time nor place thereto Hee told mee so much of your force and made me so desirous that I purposed if it shall not be offensiue to desire to iust with some of those which here come I know it a great boldnesse being the first time yet is it a satisfaction although I lose to haue iusted with warriours of so great fame The discrete behauiour of him in the blew gaue great delight to all and so the gallant Rosamundi answered him thinking with her selfe that shée had neuer in all her life séene a gallanter Knight except the Gréeke Princes for they were borne to bee the wonder of the world I would that of your part some harder matter to be done had béen required to the end that you might haue séene of what power in Gréece the controuersie is which you haue vsed and séeing it is but to iust and to prooue the strength of your arme let be as it shall please you estéeming according to reason her courteâ—us answere The young gallant turned with so good a gesture that hee made the great Alphebus say Neuer beléeue me if these iusts be not worth the seeing for me thinketh that this stranger is locked fast in his Saddle Of the same opinion were all the rest expecting what would follow It is not to bee recounted most excellent and worthie Dames without hauing recourse for aide to your beauties for such a thing is not to bee solemnized but by him who hath twise borne the Lawrell for the Eagle flyeth no swifter after her pray then these two rare persons in valour departed The Ladie most excellent Lord had a better horse then any of those which compasse the heauens and so they ioyned swifter then thought neither of them mist in the incounter the Ladies was such as would haue ouerthrowne a rocke but could not the young man for on horsbacke few excelled him none among the Moores yet something hee bent backwards But the gallant Ladie losing both her stirrops and the reines was driuen to take hold of her swift horses neck they all doubted more then before of the successe séeing the faire Ladie in such
Souldan came mightie Giants Against this squadron the braue Emperour Trebatius addressed himselfe compassed about with the best men of all his armie they two met but the Greekes force was such that excepting his sonnes it was matchlesse hee ouerbare both man and horse to the ground Many alighted after him some to defend him others to kill him or take him prisoner Twelue Giants which were of his gard alighted from their Elephants to rescue him which did much hurt With all this as in a chase there alighted the noble Emperour and Rosacler with the Princes of Fraunce and Zoilo the braue Tartarian with Brandafidel and Bramidoro and the gentle Tifereo There was renued one of the most perrilous fights that had bene seene of all that day for the Emperour making no reckoning of the Giants rushed in amongst them and at his entrie with a stabbe hee thrust their Captaine quite thorow the body from side to side who for his heyght was like to a well growne Pine trée The fierce Giant fell not seeking before bee dyed to be reuenged for hee swinged his heauie club about his head and therewith gaue the Emperour Trebatius such a blow athwart his shield as made him goe staggering to one side readie to fall and hee had falne the blow was so terrible had not his valorous Nephew Clarindo bene by him who held him vp with his hand The yong maÌ„ made no stay there for séeing what had happened to his grandfather casting his shield at his backe he made at the Giant Others were come to the aide so as he was well reuenged for Bramidoro with his heauie club the Prince with his sword smote him both at once one of them made his eies leap out of his scull and the other with his sword cleft his head Rosacler turned to another which had smitten his Uncle whom he made to lose his féeling This day did the young man winne his credit and eternall praise for with a mighty blowe he cut him almost in two péeces Much did the father reioyce to sée the force of his sonne who mayntained a cruell fight against another Giant This was no time to straine courtesie for Brandafidel came who with his hideous club knockt him on the pate his Helmet could not protect him for he stretcht him all along at the Princes feete The Gréekes and Macedonians seeing their Emperor tooke herein so good order that they wanne part of the Giants campe There remained two to beare newes of the Greekes valour and had there not come so much people that the trampling of their horses was daungerous they had without doubt taken the Souldan but they mounted him againe vpon a swift courser whereon he rode encouraging his people The Califa of Siconâ—a kept him better company then he thought for who seeing so much people there gathered together brought â—wenty thousand men to the rescue At their first comming they did some harme because they were flesh men but it lasted but a while for the Greekes which by this time were already fleshed made a cruell slaughter of them supplying that heere which was lost in the rest of the battels for the Fenician Prince Don Argante although vnknowne came afresh with all the Medians and for that cause where he entred he made a deadly but cherie This was no day for the Greekes for euen the Sunne was against them for falling downe in the West he bereaued them of their sight so as the enemies might easilie charge and retire at libertie The Prince of Britany could not sally on that side where he was but that he chaunced to see the furious young man with the stars who desirous to end the war with him seeing that his people had the better in the fight he weÌ„t along the side of a hill which he could not do but BeÌ„bo would sée it who with the other 2. famous Knights went to séeke him leauing the charge of his gouernement with the warlike Celindo who séeing himselfe in such authoritie began also to encourage his people and with as good order as Bembo himselfe could haue done What happened to those which so went out of the Campe is fit to bee told in another Chapter CHAP. XIX How the Prince Poliphebus of Tinacria came to the Campe and what hee did for the libertie of the Flemmish knight with the comming of the Princes of Silepsia Leobulo and Claribel and what with them happened to the Princes of Grecia VAlorous dames if to bee engulfed in the actions of bloudy Mars bee an occasion to leaue to treate of louing matters at the least I cannot leaue to acknowledge the much which your Soueraigne worthinesse deserueth I speake it for that hauing one day detained mine eyes from beholding this intricate historie kéeping continually my Chamber I chaunced to looke forth and saw my death and life both together Death because that there is no remedie for the euill which I then receiued Life also which is to sée my selfe wholy wel employed without enuie of a more happie louer although he liue daintily for although they loue me not neither doth my state deserue it yet for mee to loue it is a swéete life that I conceyue therein Being confident in my new wound although it bee in my old soule I presume to begin to make relation of the most famous warre that euer was séene of so many against so many for Rosabel had scarcely parted from among his friends and enemies when descending downe the side of a hil which led towards the Strand he saw come that way a 〈◊〉 to his seeming of a goodly proportion in companie of foure Ladies This was the valiant Poliphebus who hauing landed and hearing the noyse of the battel in great haste drue néere vnto it but durst not disclose his meaning because he would not grieue the Ladies The two nimphes of the Castle vnderstanding the matter one of them said vnto him O you mâ—y well valorous Prince without caring for vs goe to succour your Father for it is not a little needfull for if it were not so neere night the whole house of Grecia would be neere ouerthrowne considering the aboundance of enemies that are against it for know that this Ladies Aunt who is held for the wisest woman in al the vniuersal world for shée was taught out of Medeas bookes and in the same signe commaunded vs that in this battel and the challenge which you are to make we should haue especial care of your person for considering with what Knight you are to fight you would lightly bee brought into danger if shée vse no meâ—ne to the contrarie but shee being of your side you may boldly and merrily attempt any enterprise bee it neuer so doubtfull and shall preuaile The Prince was verie glad of the newes which the Nimphes had told him so willing him to goe before for they would come to behold he imbraced them tooke his leaue of the Ladies not without griefe for the one he
Claramante and the fayre Archisilora were also missing thinking that they were all together The night was wholly shut in when the braue Don Heleno and his beloued Lady with the Captaine generall and Brandafidel and Tirefeo went forth of the Citie and within a little while after the most part of the Princes went forth also and likewise out of the campe to seeke for their Gallants which were missing What happened vnto them shal be declared in another Chapter because O Mistresse of my heart I would not be noted to be tedious CHAP. XX. What happened to the Knight with the starers and to Rosabel in the combat and the end thereof I Cannot O Ladie of my life leaue to acknowledge what paine I indure for Loue hath made mee feruently enamoured and subiect to his swâ—eâ—e yoke yet I cannot haue time to treat of loue matters a thing so pleasing to my life but all of furious Mars to whom although I haue bene affected yet now a strickt account is called for of the time spent with him which might haue bene for loue What good thing hath there euer béene without it Who euer liued a merry life if hee spent it not in loue The imagination of field battels hath ouerwhelmed me otherwise no man should haue made more manifest shewes of his loue in writing then I but notwithstaÌ„ding my desire I am to follow those Princes which are gone forth of the campe He with the stars had no great experience in the warres and much lesse knew the countrey for both which his few yéeres might excuse him for yet hee was not fully sixteene yeeres old and yet he gaue all the flower of Greece matter to thinke on At last they came to a fit place for the battell although somewhat farre from the Citie and the campe Without speaking one word these two warriours turned their horses and parted to returne the one against the other Oh that my Mistresse would allow herselfe to be beloued which would giue me meanes to depaint this warre which was the most bloudy being betweene so many against so many that happened in all those warres it were a sweet pensill for mee to vnderstand that she tooke pleasure to be adored yet perswading my selfe that I am beloued I will goe forwards because they came together with greater fury then the sea when being most swolne it threatneth the heauens putting the ships in great danger Neither of them mist in the encounter breaking their launces as if they had bene réeds They past the one by the other with Mars his countenance Lirgandco saith that he with the starres lost one stirrop but it was not perceiued The Briton had a better horse then those which draw the Sun a reasoÌ„ why he was with him before the yong man could turne about he strake downe right Achilles neuer strake better blow for as it was Hectors sword it did cut away halfe of his shield for Lupertius his enchauÌ„tment was not of that antiquity as the swords he beat it to his helmet with greater force then can be imagined made him bow downe his head as low as the horses crooper and gaue him a terrible stab within little he had indangered him for it lighted néere the ioynting of his vant-brace He would néeds close with him which was to his owne hurt for the yong man like a fleshed Lion with a leap was on one side of him the Gréeke passing by with his courser as quick as thought He with the starres followed him in hope of reuenge fortune put that into his hands which he desired for Oliuiaes son returning he smote him at ease vpon the highest of his helmet the sword rebounded as if he had smitteÌ„ a rock The yong man was nothing glad of that yet he gaue him another which smote the Breton downe vpon his horse neck casting out bloud at his mouth nostrils eares The furious Tinacrian his bloud did fréese to sée such a blow at length coÌ„ming againe to himselfe in state to seeke reuenge thinking that he returned against his companioÌ„ he came to the Assyrian saying Sir Knight there is no reason that our friends should be in such daÌ„ger we stand and looke on The same did the other desire but the sonne of Garrofilea is secoÌ„d to none in valour was euery way too hard for him they encouÌ„tred with as great noyse as if two rocks had met The AssyriaÌ„ lost both his stirrops reines Luzelaes louer past forwards estéeming him highly for the good encounter which he had receiued tooke more pleasure theÌ„ any man to sée warlike Knights desired to try himselfe withall although that when he saw he had the aduantage he presently came to a peace a thing which few men will do The AssyriaÌ„ was more enamoured then Loue himselfe was of opinion that bearing so high thoughts as he did it were a great basenes for him to be ouercome bearing Miloes Armes He returned against the Gréeks smote him vpon the helmet which made him hold his head more at one side theÌ„ he would and busied him so that he had meanes to giue him another no lesse then the first He receiued it on his shield which was driuen back to his brest rich helmet it séemed to the new louer that a rock had falne vpoÌ„ him the blow was so mighty There is no serpent in the sands of Libia so furious as was the Tinacrian but before he could be prouided the Assyrian was with him with a strong thrust and made him to bend backe vpon his saddle Here choler mouÌ„ted to the highest degree in the sonne of Trebatius for now hee would not haue giuen place to Mars but with him he would that the battell had bene there was no defence against his blowes but that he cut his Armour notwithstanding the fine temper at the first blow he smote the Assyrian downe vpoÌ„ his horse neck sencelesse casting bloud now he assured himselfe of the victorie for although that hee with the starres would haue holpen him hee could not for Rosabel with his Flyer was come and his other valiant vncle with his Rubicane and trusting in his swiftnesse he set vpon the young man be labouring him with the best Armes that the earth knew pulling him out of his saddle but hee came to himselfe before he fell to the ground Don Clarisel was nimble for drawing his dagger his fortune was so good that hee stabd him in the closing of his brest-plate and but that it crost in the entring hee had wounded him deadly but this serued him to no small purpose for it made the Tinacrian to let him goe and fall downe vpon his feete it was a prodigious thing to see the Rubicane in the battell for hee forbare no footeman and so the Assyrian was not fully at the ground when hee ran vpon him and gaue him a shrewd fall The Tinacrian neuer perceyued that in his horse before and was sorry for it in
and the Campe also because he would not bee knowne before that battell were ended for you shall vnderstand that it was the most strong Lindoriano who knowing in Tinacria that they had stollen away his Ladie Rosiluira went to séeke her vntill that in Niquea hee remembred to come to the aide of his Father the Souldan for where there were so great assemblies of men hee might peraduenture heare of her and his fortune brought him in so good time as this and although that he were one of the most courteous knights in the world yet iealousie did so torment him that it made him shew his pride Those in the sumptuous Chariots came to salute the Gréeke Ladies betwéene which past many discreete speeches the great Trebatius inuiting them to the Citie during the time of the Truce Some were glad thereof whereof Arbolinda Princesse of Scotland was none of the last who looking among those Princes found out her beloued Florisarte so gallant and so braue that shee would that shée had had another soule to haue imparted one vnto him in payment Also it did somewhat reuiue the spirits of the Romane Princesse to sée her Don Heleno Shee which sped worst at this méeting was the gallant Eufronisa who could not sée her beloued Rosabel who was secretly gone to visite his vnkle who did not a little regard him when the Ladies departed from the Campe. The valiant Tinacrian went to accompanie the Greeke Ladies till they were out of the field where he tooke his leaue saying that he could goe no further With great ioy the Ladies receiued him passing the rest of the night in pleasant discourses although the Tinacrian were so angrie with the Knight of Fortune that he longed to haue him by the eares Arbolinda desired nothing so much as the day because shee would send a message to the Prince of Tharsis In the next Chapter you shall know what passed for now it is time to take rest CHAP. XXV Of the cruell battell betweene the two Princes THe power of Loue valorous Dames doth now so withdraw me that in the middest of so much bloud as heere is spilt I cannot chuse but steale a little time to treate of the disease of Loue and what power it hath in the soule of the gallant Arbolinda who came to her lodging euen Loue-sicke which did so gripe her that shée could not forbeare to send to speake a word with her louer vnder the name of Artimio which was the name which he tooke when in the habite of a Squire he went with Florisarte as in the second part of this true Historie is declared And taking paper and â—â—ke shée wrote a letter to the Prince which shée gaue to a fauorite of hers to giue the same vnto him so soone as the appointed battell should bee ended And herewith the Ladie reposed her selfe attending the day which appeared so faire that it séemed that the Sunne had sought out new more bright shining beames for he shewed himself more faire then when he was heardsman and kept his flocks by the shoares of Silisia Through all the Citie for so had Rosabel commaunded that at the breake of day they should discharge the watch with a peale of Ordinance giuing a merrie good morrow the great captaine Astrutio from the Sea answered them who leauing his charge with his Cousin went disguised to the shâ—are to sée those battels The Ladies came forth of their Campe in their mightie Chariot and hard by them those which remained for the battell The faire Gréeke Ladies came accompanied as well with beautie as with Knights for all the best of the Citie came with them They tooke their standing attending the comming of the Ladies of the tent the which were clad all in gréen cut vpon Cornation so faire that therewith they did assure the palme of victorie to the knight with the Eagles who mounted vpon his mighty horse came armed at all péeces in gréene Armour with so many artificiall knots and such aboundance of pretious stones that more could not be wished for hee bare in the middest of his shield his vsuall Eagle so excellently well drawne that it séemed to be aliue and had changed the inscription for by the Herons he had this motte Well may firme affection Which is fixt and will not start Assure it selfe of iust reward And certaine solace for the hart The Gréeke Ladies were much delighted with the Tinacrians pleasant deuice who doing reuerence vnto them with a great Launce in his hand expected the comming of his enemie who was not slacke in comming into the lists armed with his strong Armour and without speaking one word séeing his beloued Rosaluira clad in the same colours as the Knight was as malicious as a serpent he made towards him as swift as the wind The two famous warriours brake their Launces into small sticks although the Pagan in the encounter lost one stirrop with a foule backe bending in his saddle Our Prince did likewise double somewhat in his but it was so little as could hardly be seene He was so earnest and so cholericke that he did not sée the time to bee reuenged according as hee desired but spurring his horse he passed so far forwards that he could giue no blow to the purpose which the warlike Moore perceyuing gaue him before that he could cleare himselfe from him so huge a blowe athwart the Helme that it made his téeth chatter in his head and comming with another with no lesse force he smote him in the middle of the shield which although he could not pierce for the finenesse of the mettall yet he bore it against his head adding more payne to the former making him to forget himselfe and with the third he set vpon his horses necke All men wondred at the fiercenesse of the Moore but much more at the angry lookes wherewith Garrofileas son turned to sée himselfe so ill intreated Hee expected no defence in his shield which he threw at his backe and as an enraged Knight he set vpon him of Niquea Euery body was afrayd and he as strong as he was was afrayd for raysing himselfe in his stirrops hee gaue him one of the most cruell blowes that had bene giuen in all those battels for hee smote him off a great corner of his shield the terrible sword falling vpon his left shoulder left all that side disarmed and sore wouÌ„ded and before he could fit himselfe again he gaue him a thrust but it was sidelong it was great hap that hee had not nayled the one side to the other but it carried away the side of his brest-plate part of his shirt of Mâ—ile casting him backe vpon his horses buttocks The Tinacrian shewed courtesie to many men but this Louer had much offended him and so séeing him in that taking trusting much to his Rubican he meant to end the battell by treading him vnder his horses â—éete But this yong man who had béene in many fights before he could come
as though there had béene no such slaughter All the Gréekes awayted the morning to goe foorth to receiue the Moores what passed shall bee declared elsewhere for certainely with iust reason hee may bee wearie who hath ended a warre so cruell as was this CHAP. XXXI How the Princes of the Campe entred into the Citie and of the feasts which were made them and the Marriages which were contracted for the confirmation of the peace SO swéete is peace most excellent Prince that Dion said that a man was to fight a whole yeere to enioy one day of peace it is so pleasing a good that it cannot bee valued being so highly extolled So said hee which desired it as Aristophones That it grieued not the maymed man to eate his bread poorely in peace although it had procéeded from a cruell warre Well did the famous Bembo vnderstand that when he so easily yeelded to all that which the Princesse of Lacedemonia required who the better to make her doings more famous had spoken to the most principall gallants to the end that the next day they should in her company goe forth as with her which had ended that which séemed impossible to receyue the Pagans They were all content to please her séeing that therein she had done the like by them The next day with new beautie not with any bloudy colour the Sunne shewed himselfe hastening his course to behold so much brauery as there was among those Gallants which by that time were gone forth of the imperiall Citie in a well marshalled squadron all light with their swords onely with such costly attire as a man would not desire to see more in all his life time Betwéene Claramente and Claridiano went the fayre Sarmatia armed with most rich Armour which Lirgandeo had giuen her without any Helmet and in stead thereof a coloured hatte of the colour of her Armour with such costly workmanship that the price thereof could not bee valued In the middest of her brest for shee bare no Shield shee ware Peace paynted so at life that it was very pleasing to behold it with these words The name of peace is passing sweete Which to obtaine Wee ought to take payne Shee had so good a grace besides her beautie that all men reioyced to see her By that time beganne to come forth of the imperiall Pauilion those mightie Monarchs the Souldan of Niquea and the Romane Emperour Constantius with the Souldan of Egypt and the rest of the mightie Kings inhabiting thereabouts which came to this most sumptuous sight being in all aboue thirty There were neuer séene so many together nor that commanded so many countries in comming so neâ—re that the one might see the other the warlike Ladie said Soueraigne Princes and valiant Knights because you shall know how much the Gréekes doe estéeme of the peace graunted on your behalfe they commend them vnto you praying you to accept of their Citie at your seruice wherein they will shew you in doing you seruice that if they fought it was but to come to enioy this day there is nothing sweete but what is gotten with paine which seeing it hath beene betweene both Campes it is reason that they both should enioy that which is redounded thereof Ualorous Ladie answered the courteous Bembo although it were but to be delighted with your valour and discretion after so many tempests they were all employed and we will accept of the fauour which those Princes offer vs entring into their Citie from whence it will be more hard for them againe to put vs out in peace then in open warre They all tooke their way towards the Citie where was nothing to be seene but Knights and Ladies the sight where of excéedingly much pleased the Pagans I know not how discreete reader I am entred neither the middle nor ending of these entertainments for euen to imagine it is as much as for mee to wade thorow the swolne Sea drie-foote Who is able to describe what Bembo felt when the faire Liriana came to speake to him saying I neuer thought famous Prince that your arme should haue wrought me so much displeasure but now to content you I will requite you praying you to dispose of all for although I haue gone with you in the opinion of a tyrant I will draw you from that by experience The young man could not suddainely answere her vntil that feare was past and then hee said Most excellent Princesse I euer thought that your beautie would one day come to take compassion of my griefe but not to remedie it I neuer pretended but that all the whole world might knowe of what power my sorrow was and if I came to this warre I was forced thereto to the end to enioy the sight of you Let those old quarrels proceede no farther said the most fayre Lindabrides for hearing of this Prince his valour I had affected him without offence to Claramante for hauing him in our power he shall see how much worse it shall be for him to get out of our hands then from the Gréeke Princes As these things passed it was a life for Bembo for it séemed to him that fortune would turne to fauour him The excellent Sarmatia had made such haste and taken so good order that shee had procured for Bembo no lesse then for Rosiluira which was to giue him what hee desired and her what shee desired although that Don Celindo was grieued thereat in his soule who by Lupertius his order who was there present was made knowne to bee Meridian his sonne Hee restored to the Assyrian his sonne and to the King of Fenicia and the Sophy theirs a thing which anewe renewed their content and for them also for they knewe that their father Selagio was at libertie who what hee did when hee sawe himselfe frée shall bee declared hereafter The Emperour of the Romanes was very glad that Don Celindo was so high a Prince which was the cause why hee gaue him his daughter The fayre Arbolinda vpon the way séeing herselfe in the armes of her beloued Florisarte told him the effect of all her loue hee made them to betroth Rosabel and because that there should bee perpetuall peace they gaue to the prince of Niquea Lindoriano the fayre Tinacrian Rosiluira whom hee loued as his soule to Astorildoes lot fell the faire Clarintea of Celandia and to the Prince of Fraunce Clarindo the fayre English Artemisa to the Princes of Bohemia and Hungarie to the one the fayre Troyla and to the other the faire Feniciana sister to Don Argante The mightie Tartarian Daristeo was so enamoured of the young Rosabela that her Gréeke parents were glad to giue her seeing how much they were beholding to him which cut the heart of the Knight with the starres for therevpon grewe a great quarrell which lasted long to the losse of much bloud as you shall heare All these marriages were deferred for the space of fifteene dayes because that Bembo was to bee christianed