which you demaund but the one is contrarie to the other for if I doo not conclude this way I cannot lay hand on my sword so that it cannot be otherwise and therefore pardon mee who till now neuer denied anie thing that was requested of me The prince answered I will giue a remedie for the same if it be offence to none and take your hazard vpon my selfe I am content said the Moore because you shall perceiue that I will not refuse to giue you contentment and howsoeuer it bée beeing from hence I will hold you for my frend for that it séemeth to mée your worthines and curtesie doth deserue it Let it be so answered Meridian being much pleased with the gentle answere of the Moore and let vs goe thether where your Ladie is although it hinder vs of our iourney and there we will condition with her how this battell shal be concluded This giueth me greater content said the Moore for that the Goddesse of Beautie shall fully satisfie you with what great reason I doo defend her excellence Well séeing it is so said the prince I will imbrace you for a frend holding now in mine armes one of the best knights in the world It is I that doth profit thereby said the Pagan to sée mee in the conuersation of such companions There they all imbrased the one the other and Rosicleer tooke off his helme and discouered that deuine countenaunce which was such that the Moore said without all doubt this knight is one of the Princes of Gréece or els Mars himselfe for such proportion and shewe of valour I know not who hath attained except it be those whose fame in all the world is in equall degrée both for fairenes and valor In me Sir knight the prince answered is not that which you speake of yet at least I haue good will though I lacke force to imploy it in your seruice and I am verie glad that this battaile remaineth to bee yet decided that we may reioyce our selues in your companie all the time that we shall spend till wee come thether And I beléeue in this our boate we shall goe more at our content and to me and my companions a farther reioycing setting all anger apart if it will please you to serue your selfe of that we haue I giue you great thankes gentle knight answered the Pagan for the company you doo offer mee for although there is not in me any good part to deserue it yet there shall not lacke gratitude for to acknowledge it in such degree as it is reason And therewith hee caused his Page and People for to passe all into their ship but the Damse◠seeing that it would somewhat disturbe her going into Argentaria in time of so great necessitie said that shée would depart and take her iorney towards Greece for that if she should tarry so long she should fal into rebuke The which she would haue done if the Troyan Oristides had not stayed her and told her in secret that there was Rosicleer the Prince of Greece wherof she was verie glad that she had so good successe and aduised her to hold her peace and bee still till he told her more so therewith shee was quieted and put a fardle which she brought with her into the beat the which with the swiftnes accustomed began to nauigate the right way to Argentaria In this sort went these foure stout warriers in the boat debating of diuers things and finding fit opportunitie for the same the Prince Meridian in the name of the rest did request the Moore that hee would certifie them who hee was The curteous Moore answered I cannot but in all giue ye content séeing such Knights doth demaund me You shall vnderstand gentle and well disposed knights that I am the Prince of Tharsis the onely Heire of the kingdome after the death of my father and being a child I was tolde by wise men that in the beginning of my knighthood I should passe many perrils for loue and it séemeth to mee that it goeth forward accordingly this being the first which this Knight hath put me in I being in the Court of my Father the King of Argentaria passed by one part that lyeth vpon our Kingdome and brought with him his daughter of few yéeres but the fairest that euer nature framed the which Lady I being a child not knowing then what I did but now I should kill my selfe if I performed it not without any more consideration but with the content I receiued I made her a mansion in my brest where so long shée indured that in good earnest shée hath wholy possessed my soule Our Fathers were great friendes together at such time as they were aduenturous Knightes which was the occasion that hee detained them in Tharsis a long time but yet verie short for poore Lisarte for so I am called I am perswaded gentle knights that she did not gréeue to sée with what truth I did loue her she would neuer make any shewe thereof vnto me I might haue demaunded her of her Father and an easie thing it had béen to haue attained her for the release of my griefe considering the great frendship that was betwéene them but I did it not neither will I for that therby I should offend the affection I haue to her to procure loue by any other meanes than the right passions of a louer To conclude my fortune was such that her Father carried her to his kingdome I will not declare vnto you what griefe we two felt at our departure it were but to fill you with amazmentes but they shalt well feele it that haue knowen what benefit or losse cōmeth to be alienated or accompanied with the beloued I iudge as the one is a life the other is a death for the life I haue passed in her absence bringeth no content for that I was cléere without her sight and I beleeue it is an ordinary thing with Louers Now about a month past there came messengers from Argentaria to my Father demaunding succour for that a furious and fierce Giant being affectioned to the faire Flora doth demaund her in mariage and I doe beleeue that the heauens hath created vs for one To which she answered that first she wold teare her self in péeces rather thē marry to him At which answere he was so angry that at the instant hee ioyned together more then thirtie thousand men and fierce giants with whom he hath begun to spoile the Country My father for that he was bound went in person with much people and came thether in good time in such sort that they kept the Giant busie Amongst other things there came a letter vnto me from the faire Princesse y e which doth ease her absence when as it troubleth me And for that I know you wil receiue content therby I wil read it then you shall sée the reason I haue to loue her they al said that they should receiue great pleasure to heare it and therwith he
their desired Loues and Oliuia séemed thus to say Thine is Alphebo mine is Rosicleer Thine match to mine mine thy Alpheboes peer They receiued great content to sée these two Ladies especially when they knew who they were and what stout Husbands they had In the same quadrant was the worthie Arguisilora armed against the brauest Knight in the World with her beauer vp the knight séeming to speake thus Beautie once Conqu'ror In vaine is Valor The knight séemed so beauteous that the Princesse by his Figures sight entertained amorous affections and asked of the wise man who they were Hee answered I am vnwilling faire Daughter to tell ye yet I will satisfie your request This Ladie is the worthie Queene of Lydia beeing in the Field shee will combate with Mars himselfe and you shall haue no better experience of her valor than to sée her in Fight with this Knight of Tinacria whom I most feare It was oyle to the valiant Ladies fire to heare the Lydian Quéene so much praised Then began to worke in her thought a thousand amorous conceipts procéeding from that sight and shee prooued the most perfect Louer in the world as shall be héereafter declared I am gréeued said the wise man for you Floralisa to sée how you are entred into Loues sea where faire weather is painfull the tempest perpetuall calmnes continuing with a thousand doubtfull hopes and yet for all thys thou néedest not feare drowning though the Nauigation prooue more violent than death Oh poore Ladie y t neither thy owne beautie tender age nor strong heart can winne thée to leaue loue but carelesly thou admittest entraunce to thy owne care Thou hast desire to loue wilt gréeue that the reward will not be correspondent to thy entire affections but be contented such are the variable effects of furious Loue. Oh that I could fauour and helpe thee in thy insuing paine and gréefe I doo foresée it so much and sorrow doth so increase in mee to vtter it that I must of necessitie passe from this place to the next roome where I will shew you another excellent figure of a faire Shepheardesse This the wise man did not for that the Ladie should loose her new thought but that her Brother should beare her companie So passing to the last wall they did sée so beautifull a Figure of the faire Rosaluria in the habite of a Shepheardesse that the tender yong Prince Celindo at that sight made her owner of his hart in such sort as death alone was able to take awaye the thought thereâ—f At her féete was this saying Lowly habite hides not beautie Loue in Kings and Clownes doth raigne To win loue and shew his dutie Phoebus was a Shepheards Swaiue You may well beléeue that this new louer did reade it with a thousand coulours changing in his tender face at first rather desirous to be iealous then fearefull if he attained sight of his welbeloued but before he can liue with his ioye with feare to loose her he shal sée much of his blood spilt make his eyes cléere fountaines hoping for a remedy at her handes that neuer accustomed to regard complaints With this new imagination they came vnto the last Lady which was called Lindabthdes who was figured within the inchanted tower and at the gate a stout and strong knight assaying to open it on which gate was this inscription Loue that liueth here obscured To these paines hath me inured The wise man did declare vnto them all the inchantment and that the knight was Alphebo wherat they receiued new passion and griefe but not in such sort that it did take away that which they had before conceaued So they went out of that pallace with lesse liberty then when they entred Now they receaued content to be alone that before thought it death to be seperated They loue solitarinesse wherein they finde ease to meditate of absent beauty which but by figure they neuer saw where we will leaue them till their fit time for that we haue a large course to runne What happened to the Dacian Prince Don Heleno in France Cap. 4. WE left the Dacian Prince in the forrest of Ardenia nigh the fountaine called the Disamorous because it chaungeth louers thoughtes He sate vppon the stocke of a winde broken trée tossing a thousand imaginations in his minde For his Florisdama he nowe lamented not neither did Lydias beauty any whit disturbe his thoughts but a fiery high kindled resolution lifted vp the noble heart of this long distressed Dacian and of his solitary life he was excéedingly ashamed Now he determines to visite the courts of Princes that before frequented forsaken caues he purposeth now to continue in peopled Cities that not long since loued the inhabitable deserts Hereto he was encouraged by infinite waighty and necessary considerations first the long absence from his countrey the disgrace he liued in with his friends his rash and vnaduised abuse of the inuincible Emperour his Unckle Trebatio which most of all he séemed to lament Bréefely our Dacian was vnlike the old Eleno that made trées brookes beastes foules fountaines secretaries of his vnséene griefes but as one that had long bin captiue hauing brokeÌ„ his bonds conquered his cruell master maketh his voice the mirthfull expressor of his hearts ioy that in his bondage had often manifested the moanings of his soule so this Dacian that had long béene Loues prisoner hauing now got fréedome tooke his Lute his Lute that many times had yéelded sad sounds to the wofull accents of his voice and finding his musike in another key he carroled out this ditty in Loues disgrace Let him that longs to know where loue doth dwell What God he is what Lordly soueraigne Attend to me who hauing learnt can tell His slightes his shifts his smiles and his disdaine His habitation is the fondlings thought His godhead forged and his power weake Fled he will follow flie when he is sought His praise alone doe fooles and madmen speake They that adore him most yet terme him boy But I conclude Loue is an idle toy As he was laying downe his Lute he saw a Damsell making great complaint who hasted as fast as her palphrey could runne The Prince purposed to stay her being desirous to know her griefe promising to helpe her in all that was néedfull So he went to méete her on his inchanted horse and when shee came nigh him hee saâ—de Damsell as you would that fortune should fauour you tell me part of your euill for I promise you I will put my life in hazard to doe you any pleasure you shall lawfully desire Sir Knight I giue you great thankes said the wofull Damsel for your gentle offer for any of lâ—sse courage then so noble a person as you séeme to be cannot help me my griefe is so great that whatsoeuer narration must be made in séeking remedy it more and more aggrauateth it for that my heauy lot hath determined the time so short that
aduenture my life for your vnstayned honour Then said the Princesse if in yéelding mine agayne were a satisfaction assure ye Prince Arlando I would doo it But if you loue me you would not haue anie liking that with the price of my fame I should pay so great debt Touching the battel which you intend to attempt for my honours defence I appeale to your owne selfe that haue tried my vnspotted chastitie Yet I vrge not this in my owne behalfe but it is anie Knights dutie whatsoeuer to helpe a wronged Ladie that standeth in necessitie with his sword This couragious Youth was somewhat comforted although he little enioyed that comfort for the furie of that vntamed King required a greater resistance althogh the battell was verie well fought but in the ende he tooke away his life and loue at one instant wherwith the gréefe of our Princesse increased the more who from a high gallerie sorrowfully beheld the mortall contention betwéene the two louers Shee then well vnderstood that the Pagan would goe thorough with his businesse that so soone had cléered fréeed himselfe of the Prince in whose death she would haue béen a companion not for that she loued him but to ende her trouble and gréefe Now I would you should consider what the sorrowfull Princesse suffered who liuing in hope from the 18. daye on which wee sent out a Damsell to séeke her worthie Brother till this which is the 24. and yet she is not returned I know not anie so hard hearted but would take compassion of so vertuous ladie that so vniustly doth suffer affliction Therefore faire knight I séeing the oâ—her Damsell returned not imboldened my selfe in the right and iustice of this poore Princesse to put away all childish and womanly feare and come foorth into these solitarye wayes publishing my misaduenture And now séeing I haue no reason to doubt hauing met so gallant a Warrier as it séemes you are I will not loose my hope but sée how your worthie arme wil returne vengeance for the infamie of that poore ladie And hauing so great equitie on our behalfe there is no doubt it wil little auaile the vniust and proud accuser though his huge proportion strength were doubled Héere you vnderstand sir knight the assured cause of my lamentation which deserueth to be pittied the more in regard of the â—louds of tears which euerie day are shed in the wofull and afflicted Court of France And if as most constantly my minde perswadeth mee there bee in you the valor which appeareth by that worthie countenance Fortune can neuer offer you so good occasion as this to shew it Here the heauie Damsel stayed ending her talke with a thousand sighes accompanied with pearly teares that distilled downe her chéekes which caused great compassion in the frée breast of the Dacian Prince who answered Of a truth faire Damsell you haue reason to séeke punishment for so great an euil as this is for there is no credite to be giuen to so vnreasonable a Knight as that false Pagan especially against the Daughter of so great a King But sure it gréeueth me that she suffered the amorous yong Prince of Alexandria to enter into that deadly combat although not long since I did know a Knight that would haue enuied him for to haue ended wyth hys death a great number of griefes that by his meanes hee suffered But for the principal matter though I loose my life in séeking to defend your Ladie I doo accomplish no more than that which I am bound vnto and now séeing it is more than time that we were on our way let vs trauell forward for I hope to giue comfort vnto the Princâ—sse And therewith he called his Page Fabio to bring to them his horse and the Damsells palfray and leaping into their saddles they tooke the direct waye towardes Paris This furious Dacian trauelled on a better horse than anie of the stéedes of Titan who in their course doo compasse daily the circle of the Earth the French Damsell carried his helmeâ— as well to honour him as for the desire she had to behold his excellent beautie And as they rid she noted the Deuice vppon his armour and gessing him a discontented Louer with some gréefe at his sorrow she said In truth sir Knight if your Mistres bee the occasion that you beare this sad Deuice she is without reason in that she hath not attained to know the much loue which the proportion of your person deserueth Herein iudge I that she is in fault because it séemeth vnto mee that you lacke nothing to make you a perfect Louer but some experience to make you shew the strength that Loue requyreth and follow the fashion which courtly Ladies in that case expect At another time could this gallant Youth haue answered with more passion than now when as his liberty was in the handes of them that made a iest of it but finding himselfe more at ease he answered Of truth faire Damsell you had reason to say that it is more néedfull to haue strength than anie other thing against this furious frenzie of Loue for that I had a frend who while he thought to haue cure in loue found first the ouerthrow of reason inforcing his sense contrarie to that which he willed rather than vnto the good which was ordeined although I now can boldly say both for him my selfe we know not to what part of loues rules to incline our selues Then it appeareth that you are not amorous sayd the Damsell No verily answered the Prince for that I could neuer know what it was to bee beloued therefore as â— neuer enioyed the name of a beloued I hate longer to be called a Louer for that he is not equally to bee iudged wise that passeth his time celebrating alwaies with ioy y e euening of death but rather I account him that liueth in this sort a wilfull foole than a discréete louer For each man should indeuour to lessen his gréefe and chéere vp his fainting spirites scorning to hope for or couet that desired gold which onely couereth the bitter pilles that by their hatefull operation purge the sense of all reason and vnderstanding The Damsell spéedily to this thus replyed In another Schoole haue you learned this erronious doctrine not in Loues Uniuersitie at Paris which through all the world is so much estéemed I am sorrie that I carry with me a Knight which estéemeth not a Louer to be most discréete What creature haue you in the world that liueth without loue What picture doth giue contentment to the eye if by the beautie the beholder presume not that the painter was enamoured of his worke vsing affection as his pensill It is well séene that where loue dwelleth gentlenes and valor haue their habitation What hath béen the occasion that the Gréeke Princes haue filled the world with their worthie actes but that they haue been amorous Against these faire Damsels answered the frée Dacian my iudgement reasons
of my hart Sir Knight said Terismondo I giue you great thanks for that you haue said as for the rest it is very apparant my necessity néeded your strength and to both we may attribute the raunsome of those Ladies for my name I answer you as you do me it is not iustice to denie a thing to him that hath so much desire to make me pertaker who hee is Know then that I am Torosmondo Prince of Spayne whome fortune that neuer ceaseth to be mutable hath brought as vanished into this country being tormented with amorous fyre and there he declared vnto him all his life and amorous dealings wherewith the Dacian was bound to declare vnto him of his loues and the great troubles that he receiued At the which the Spaniard remained greatly contented and they were maruelous affectioned the one vnto the other and the friendship that was betwéene them did so farre extend that it indured to the death which was the alonely meane able to seperate their loue and not the rigorous battels which they performed as shall bee tolde you were not sufficient but that they were the greatest friendes in all the world for that in one age and in one Countrie and at one selfe time fortune had giuen them remedy of their griefe With this the Dacian told him the lamentable occasion wherefore he went to Paris at the which the Spanish Prince reioyced at the heart for that he should once again sée the gallant Dutchesse who was no lesse delighted with his great beautie thâ—n hee was rauished and enamoured with hers They passed all that night one declaring to the other their former Loues till such time as the Spaniard did tell him of the great affection he had to the Dutchesse but the Dacian séeing that it was not good for him shee béeing a married Ladie did cause him to leaue it off Which was no small matter for that a new passion if once it be grapled to the heart will sooner make an ende of one than leaue him but for that the remedie was at hand it was easie to be forgotten At which conceipt they did not a little laugh both of them knowing the wonderfull effect of the fountaine The Damsell that vnderheard some of their amorous discourses said vnto them Of truth faire knights it was no small gréefe which the wise man did to disdainefull Ladies which found so good a remedie against their strangenes Of my selfe I say that if I were beloued I would not vse as commonly it is séene now among Ladies to dissemble so much that it causeth wings to be added vnto knights thoughtes to séeke out so vnsauerie a Fountaine for that it feemeth to me by the knowen vertue of this place it will fall out that she shall remaine forsaken by her dissembling and her gallant knight shal liue content to see her iust paine gréefe a worthie reward for proud statelines For if a Ladie loue wherefore doth she dissemble and if she hate wherefore doth shee not make it knowne But wee women are so strange of condition that we thinke that it is sufficient to be women that all the world may serue vs. This is a thing too vsuall which ought not to bee accepted amongst discréet people although it may séeme that she onely is discréet who often doth vse this false dissimulation Considering that hee who loueth and is not dissembled with doth not deserue the name of a Louer This hath place with them that are strange and giue not part of ioy to mitigate the griefe of the heart which loueth them and I hold that Knight careles who may bee remedied if hee will vrge it and yet simply bearing wrong reioyceth in his griefe beeing content to bee dissembled with Oh faire Ladie answered the tender Spaniard how sweete should a Louers life bée if all were of your opinion and how manie gréefes might they daily auoyd for that Ladies doo dissemble the affection which they beare their Louers and vniustly intreate them to whome they haue giuen their hearts Hencefoorth let all Ladies deale with me so sayd the Dacian Peace Cynicke said the Spaniard let me goe forward It is good a Lady should be circumspectâ—â— yeilding her honour on any tearmes and to estéeme it when all the world doth know that she is faire but to vse it in such sort to make her Louer suffâ—r griefe she her selfe beeing passioned and yet makes rigorous showes Faire Damsell I take this to be one of the greatest tyranyes that may be vsed either to Knightes or against themselues considering Knights to gratefie their Ladies euery moment put their liues at deathes doore And should the Lady then be coye in his loue whome she loueth with all her heart if so shée deale who can condemne him truly that leaueth to know her for her owne frowardnes is cause of her forgetfulnes You haue great reason on your side answered the gracious Damsell but these so costly hopes I like not of that when they come they are with pure hope loathed for to my iudgement and I beléeue all those that try shall find that the best of all hope in loue is bought for more then it is worth In these reasoninges they passed away a great part of the night till such time as the two newe friendes being wearie they layed their heades vpon their helmets to take rest so likewise did the Damsell and their Pages The Iusting which Don Heleno and Torismundo had at their entring into Parris and what more chaunced vnto them Chap. 5. APollo had scarse shewed himselfe at his golden window beholding the large Circle that he had to runne when as the two valiant friends did arme themselues with their stronge and inchaunted armour and mounted vppon better horses then those which the amorous shepparde did shew and began to trauell towards Paris with great desire to be reuenged for the Infant Grisalinda In this sort they trauelled till after a little more then two miles they came vnto a great and faire bridge for to passe the mightie Riuer of Some nigh vnto the high walles which compassed the Citty There they saw many Knights staying for to haue passed and some of them were in battaile These furious friendes pricked forwardes for to sée the good Iusting that was there And asking of one wherefore those Iustes were it was tolde them that the valiant Alsino did make the Iustes defending the beautie of a Lady that a little before was come vnto the Court This was the Dutches of Sauoy and hee was the Nephew of the redoubted King Partomio that accused the Princesse who séeing that there lacked but one day did think to carry her away with him and the proude Alsino the Dutches. The Dacian whose bountie was well knowne did very earnestly require Torismundo that they would let him frée the bridge The Spaniard did it with a very euill will for that it gaue him great griefe whan as it was told him Alsino was in loue with the Sauoyan
Lady The Pagan gloried that he had slaine verie many and straight way they sawe when as hee had concluded to ouerthrow those which were there to prosecute their Iorney they sent vnto Alsino a Page to know the condition of the defence the which gaue the Knights great cause of laughter and the Dacian turning to the Spaniard said It séemeth that if we had not drunke of the water of the fountaine we should not haue had contention about the iustifiyng of the beauty of your auncient Mistresse Although this were not said the French Damsell vnto Don Heleno I would commaund you in recompence of the sodaine passions which I had in beholding the passed battaile that you should doe it in my name The Prince receiued great content in that which the damsell said and therewith shaking his Lance he entred But I am most certaine more than ordinarie sorrowe tooke seazure of her heart for the amorous Princes death So much for her I dare affirme for my selfe to be plaine with ye I had rather neuer haue a louer than to dissemble his reward for I delight not in their mourning sonnets neither am I pleased that euery eye should bee fixed on his dispairing face and euery finger point at my disdainefull folly If I perceiue hee deserue loue I will crowne him with Loues garland but if I finde him halting he shall be sure to know that I can play the cripple But faire Knights I am yet no Mistresse of any amorous gallant my thoughts are not captiued onely I find my selfe to your worths so many waies bounde as till I dye I will indeuor to deserue it with duetie And indéede she prooued as good as her word as ye shal after heare in the loue of Torismund and Grisalinda In this sort at tenne of the clocke in the morning they came vnto the great Citty of Paris at such time as all the place was full of people abyding the comming foorth of the mightie Partomio for that according to the lawes of the realme the Princesse not finding within the terme set any to come and conquer the accuser the King was to pronounce the sentence All the windowes and galeries of the Pallace were hanged with black and a heauie and sad rumor was heard amongst the people at which time the two valiant Friends entred the place whome the eies of those that were present did much behold wondring to sée their armor and horse They were straight waies known by them that were at the bridge and they began to say there commeth the valiant warrier that at one encounter made the Louer that kept the bridge sée starres vpon the ground The Damsell went verie gallantly betwéene them that were the flowers of Knighthood with her face couered in such sort that it made the people to suspect her to beâ— more fairer then she was Almost all the people in the place followed them imagining wherefore they did come and at the Pallace gate they alighted from their horses with so gallant demeanor that euerie one meruailed at them The worthie Spaniard did take the Damsell in his armes from her horse and so with them she went vp into the great Hall at such time as the King was going forth all in mourning apparell so sad and heauie that the princes to sée him had great compassion And for they would not delay the time the mightie Dacian did somwhat lift vp his beauer the better to expresse his words saying verie curteously God kéepe and deliuer thée from traitors thou mighty king of great France The fame of a wrong that is done to thy onely Daughter came vnto the Countrey where I dwell and it séeming vnto mee a thing impossible that the daughter of so royall a king should be carelesse in any thing that is agréeable to her honour and honestie it dyd constraine mee to come hauing better confidence in her right than in my valour but such as it is I will imploy it in her defence Affirming that she did not commit any such thing and besides that it is euill and dangerous that so rigorous a law cannot bee referred into the kings hand but to giue credit to whosoeuer without any more consideration that either for passion or for that a Ladyes will is not answerable to their loathsome demaunds wil then forsooth false knights as they are bee so bold to vse their slanderous tongues euen against Princesses and the royall chast Daughters of holye and Emperiall Fathers But least these traytrous accusers should say that â—nely with armes I come to defend that which is put to the tryall of battaile cause him to come foorth that doth accuse the princesse séeing time doth passe away and I will with armes answere him And heerewith he concluded his reasons leauing all but especially the King very wel satisfied with his words and gallant disposition In returne of answere the King said Sir Knight I do estéeme as it is reason the trauaile which you haue taken for my cause and the battaile which you will vndertake for my daughter and beléeue mee gentle Knight I doe liue deuoide of care for that I know truth or falshood wil haue successe answerable to their deserts but for that hee who doth accuse her is a King and a person that in all thinges is to be creditted and on the other side my lawe hath admitted it to battaile I hoped alwaies that some would be found which would combate for her and in signe of the confidence I haue in her right and your valor I refer all into your hand being perswaded your desert to bée much more I doe kisse your Royall handes answered the Dacian for the confidence you haue in me but whether it be much or little all is at your seruice There was y e Prince of Geneua and his Dutches who came in with the Princesse whan they vnderstood there was a knight that tooke vpon him her battaile he came and saluted the Prince of Spaine knowing him by his blacke armor and offered vnto him his lodging for the ayde and succour which he had done vnto them Unto whome the gentle Torismundo surrendred thankes but could not procéede any further for that they sawe comming the mightie king Partomio and his Nephew the sâ—out Alsino who for that they were lodged in the Pallace came foorth without armor and when hee came where as the king was hee sayd with a lowde voyce I do much reioce king of France that you haue knights that will accept this battaile and I come to giue them knowledge that whatsoeuer Partomio doth speake in pallace he knoweth how to defend it in field The wrathfull Dacian did put himselfe before him saying in this manner to his furious and prowd aduersarie Truly valorous king hauing such confidence in your strength you had no néed to raise anie slaunder against so excellent a Ladie Thou art verie bold answered the pagan the cause of it is in that thou séest me without armour to be plain I
were a fault not to defend her to y e death for there is no better loue than that which is confirmed with déedes And for that both of you are such Louers I shall receaue great content that you dâ—o confirme true frendship with him and I will sweare the sinne vnto his Ladie till such time as my fortune grants that I may sée her to confirme it and on this condition I doo girt ye with this sword not to offend but defend so meritorius a knight So taking him vp shee caused them all foure to imbrace vniting vndeuided frendship as Lisarte and hâ—s people expressed in the great warres at Constantinople where hee shewed his loue to the Troyan who with the rest greatly thanked the Princesse for confirming that league The Princes would foorthwith haue departed about the Damsells busines but at the request of the betrothed Ladie they taried ten dayes In which time the Troyan maintained a gallant Iust. The new betrothed princes in this time vsed such cunning although but yong beginners in Louers in wished delights y t then was begotten one of the mightiest knights among the Pagans proouing so valiant that he was held for one of the Gréeke Princes with whom he had great frendship but especially with Claramante as shal be declared in the second Booke of this third Part. The ten dayes ended the Princes vndertooke theyr iourney with great gréefe vnto the faire Flora who affected them greatly The new married Lisarte did greatly desire them to let him goe in their companie but they would not consent thereunto At their parting the braue Gréeke did declare vnto them who he was whereat they much gréeued séeing they had not done him â—he honour hee deserued In recompente whereof Lisarte promised to visite him in the Empire of Grecia although hee could not performe it so soone as he intended but when he went it was in companie with his Sunne and they were called the Knights of the Sunne vnder which name they dyd wondrous déeds Manie rich gifts being bestowed on the thrée Princes they tooke their way with the Damsell in Rosicleers inchanted Boate towards the famous Cittie of Lyra in the Kingdome of Lacedemonia where we will leaue them and returne into France to sée what amorous aduentures there hapned What chanced to Torismundo Prince of Spaine in the Kingdome of France the ende of his loue with the departure of Don Heleno Prince of Dacia WE left the faire Princesse Grisalinda amorously passionated with meditation onely on the Knight in the blacke armour which thought had so possessed her hart that her chast desires could no longer resist for this amorous fier where it findeth resistance burneth with more furie In such sort it troubled this tender Ladie that the conuersation of the Ladies was nothing pleasant vnto her all her content is now to conferre with her cousin the Duchesse and Alcisa for so was the Damsell called about her vnknown beloued Alcisa comforted her with manie examples of Ladies who merely hid their amorous gréefe and obtained a quiet and honourable end as the faire Oliuia the worthie Claridiana for saith she in the sea of Loue they alone can tell how to saile in faire weather that patiently endure the tempests knowing that in the end they shall attaine the desired port I my Alcisa said the Princesse if there were anie hope of obtaining it were somwhat like but for a Ladie to loue and take delight in her owne affection the beloued not knowing her faith what comfort can sustaine her or expressing first her affection how can it be but she erreth against y e modest order of Ladies who know by experience they are beloued before they make anie show of thankfulnes This said the Damsell is the greatest errour that is made in Loues warre for some in setting before them the simple poynt of honour haue conuerted their ioy into lamenting and dyed solitarie for that they would not liue companie How much more doth the royall priuiledge of loue stretch farther than this not iudging it dishonour to put backe a little honorable fame for the content which loue bringeth Leaue off then Madam this wayward nicenes and be not ashamed to vtter what your heart féeles If you will assure me to comfort this worthie Knight and honour him with your loue I will goe séeke him in the Forrest and make him the happiest among men Doo good Alcisa said the Princesse and binde me euer to be thine but I pray thée be not too lauish to vtter my affection yet bring him to the Court and sée how I will reward thée nay rather say my selfe will be his reward than he should be slacke in comming Alcisa promised to goe wherewith the amorous Ladie was somwhat comforted and dissembled the gréefe that she suffred for his absence and receiued content to sée the Iustes and Tornayes that were made for her sake Then flourished Knighthood in that Court more than in anie in all the world the occasion was that the King did intreate Strangers verie well in giuing honour vnto those that deserued lodging them within his Pallace insomuch that all the Court was full of Knightes who came at the fame and report of those Triumphs and to behold the faire Grisalinda They who shewed themselues most excellent were the Princes of Geneua and of Claramonte the last being a rough youth and verie amorous of the Geneua princes sister that was in companie with Grisalinda also the Duke of Pera all valiant Knights But aboue all for brauerie was the couragious Duke of Soma a yong Knight and a valiant who serued the Daughter of Armineo the Kings Brother She was verie faire and called Liciana nothing agréeued to be beloued of such a Knight making shew of her affection vpon all occasions To this great Court did the prince of Phrigia come being a yong knight of great strength who trauelling to séeke aduentures heard of triumphs and purposed to shew his Knighthood Thether came also the King of Carthage called Pontenio a valiant Youth and of the race of Giants The prince Riendarte of Phrygia when hee saw the great beautie of the princesse affected her entyrely but dissembled it till he had made shew of his person The Challengers were the Dukes of Soma and Pera and great prizes were ordained by the King to be giuen to the best Deseruer The Iustes were ordained to begin the first of May and end at Midsummer by which time they expected the prince Clauerindoes comming When the appointed time was come it séemed that Paris was a celestiall Cittie so much and so excelent musike was heard therein The same daye early the King banquetted all the princes that they might haue time for the Iustes which banquet ended the Challengers armed themselues and came foorth conformable to their estates Both had gréene armour full of Flower de Luces manie precious stones amongst them with their capparisons of the same each had to attend them fiftie pages
imaginations he answered And thou knight indued more with pride than good manners doost not thou sée vs that are héere and aske license for to come in The Moore would not indure that answere euen of Mars himselfe and therwith layed hand on his sword as also did thrée or foure of his knights that came with him But when the Dacian did sée that all the mirth was turned vpside downe he quickly made a large way for that at two blowes he ouerthrew two dead to the ground and recouered the doore because they should not be compassed about The Spaniard who was verie desirous the Carthaginian reached him a little blow on the head which was the occasion that all the kings Guard were in an vproare The which these two Frends séeing with a trice they were in the Court yard and making so good shift as they could they left sixe dead and so went towards their lodging til such time as the people in the pallace were in quiet The King straight waies commaunded search to bee made who it should be that were the doers br but reason there were so many it could not bee knowne who they should be The tumult was only that night for that from that time forwards there should none enter into the Pallace with armour noâ— without license on any day that daunces were admitted The Spanish and Dacian Knights as they were yong men and that their bloud wrought more in them thaÌ„ sléep would not goe to rest till they had gone round about the Pallace and for that it butted vpon so gallant and delightfull gardens they might there passe away the time till the night were farther spent and drew nigh to that quarter whereas the Ladies were which butted towards the gardens The Prince of Spaine knew it for that hee was there before and comming more nigher they heard a deuine voyce which at the recording of a Base did sound verie swéetly which gaue great comfort vnto the Princes they were verie light and giuing the one the other their hands they leapt into the Garden being within they went by little and little till they came so nigh the windows that they might discerne who played which were thrée Ladies that stoode at an Iron grate window in the Moone-light the one of them had a Lute and beginning a new to sing they came so nigh y t not onely they heard the musicke but also what they did talke and they heard one of them say Faire Grisalinda if the Knight with the blacke armour were so fully certified how you loue him as we are of your voyce there should not néed any other helpe but his presence for you to ease your sorrowfull life The Princesse answered Ah Orosia I am so fortuneles that I beléeue none is able to certifie what my soule requireth or what my heart doth suffer for as yet I know not whome to loue it may be the Empresse of Trapisonde or the péerelesse Quéene of Lira who hath taken that armour and pittying my necessitie hath taken vpon them the battell Of this you may liue well assured said the Damsell Alcisa for they are men although in grace and beauty they may be compared with these worthy Ladies Well if it be so answered the afflicted Ladie how can they liue who so truelie loue and haue so little hope or none at all of remedie for by his absence it appeareth hee hath a mistresse to whome he doth pay the true tribute of his thought and this is the cause that I onely in the world am fortunelesse I am perswaded answered the other Lady that he respecteth something in this Pallace for that if you remember at such time as he looked towards the place whereas you were he was intranced in his imagination which is a plaine shewe that there is something that causeth his griefe in our company I beséech God said the Princesse that it proue sâ— then shall I liue in hope to sée him but in the meane time giue mée that instrument for I will make these trées witnesses of my griefe and the birdes that build in them with this she playde like a second Orphens and to the instrument she song this song with an Angellicall voice If Mars vnbinde these bands of Venus Sonne Wherein the boy intangled hath my thought Ioy and delight vnto my heart will come Els valors sight I haue too deerely bought And ceaseles I compelled must complaine Loue layd the plot to kill me with disdaine Or if braue knight thou twist thee in these bands That me insnare and nere will be vntwinde I le yeeld mine honor to thy princely hands Or dye distrest if thou doe prooue vnkinde And Swanlike sing vpon my dying day Of life and loue no more no more away This Lady concluded her song with 〈◊〉 earnest sigh so that I know not any but would haue béen moued thereat and after a small pause shee said Oh Princesse of France how is it that in thy tender age thou beginnest to féele loues lawes Little but cruel God why hast thou made me subiect I know not to whom Ah nowe I perceiue my life is but short séeing in the beginning thereof so much griefe hath béene reserued for me If thou delight proud Loue to haue me serue thée why hast thou bound mee to one whom I knowe not where to find What triumph hast thou in such my affliction Ah faire Orosia help me to ban this false bewitching boy this théefe of hearts but all is vaine he will bewitch and wée must honor him all our exclaimes are idle and bootlesse passions Then taking the Lute she againe sung as followeth Gentle Loue commaundeth me To his hests I must agree Though my loue I neuer see Yet must I his louer be Sweet loue from this rigour stay No no no no thou must obay If I yeeld how can I tell Where my wandring loue doth dwell His regard would please me well His disdaine prooue worâ—e than hell Loue then from this rigor stay No no no no thou must obay If I yeeld I thee inioyne By thy Psiches gentle eyne And thy beauteous Mothers shrine That my loued may be mine Els thy cruell rigor stay No no no no thou must obay She ceasing this swéete and amorous song they heard the other Lady sayd Hope faire Grisalinda in thy good fortune what comfort your griefe with courage seeke helpe of the beloued which must remedie you of all paine other hopes but illusiue If this werr so answered the Infant that I knewe where to séeke reamedy my griefe should not hurt me It is not so vncertaine answered Alcisa for I will tomorrow séeke these Knights and if occasion be offered I will certifie your Knight the paine that for his sake you suffer Ah my Acilsa said the Princesse if you doe so you may reuiue soule for now liuing I dye hauing surrendred my wil haue no power but to loue there is no end set for this tempesttuous trauaile of my thought
I doe beléeue said Alcisa that at these new triumphes they being Knights and desirous of honor first they will shewe their valiantnes in the Court before they will depart out of the Countrie whereas I know they haue found some remedie for the griefe they brought Then they are amorrous answered the ielous Princesse No said the Damsell but I heard them praise a Ladie much and said they should neuer forget her if memorie did not faile them to remember the good which by her they had receiued But séeing it groweth somewhat late it shall be good that we depart whereby the Ladies do not conceiue any thing of our long being heere for it will be no small occasion of suspition So they departed leauing the two frends in obscure darkenes séeing her absent that with her presence did ease those inward desires which the Spaniard suffered although he was greatly content to haue séene by experience the loue which the Princesse did beare him that without knowing who he was or any farther consideration she was so wholy surrendred to him and feared hee would not omit her faith Then the worthy Dacian said Lord Torismunde we may now goe with great securitie worke some meanes to comfort your Lady and it shall bee some ease to your griefe in reuiuing her to morrow we will be at the fountaine against the Damsell come and of her wee shall vnderstand the order that wee must vse in this our busines for by her helpe wee shall make the way easie to take her from France carrying her for Spaine considering with whome she is her father will easily pardon her and if it doe not chance to your content they shal cut in péeces the Dacian Prince before they shal haue her from our power With this they turned out of the garden and went towards their lodging where as their Pages tarried for them with great griefe for their long absence but when they saw them they were glad and slept quietly the rest of the night that remained but at the breake of the day couering their armor because they would not be known they went into the Forrest where as the Damsell should come to giue thē knowledge what had passed in the court Who in the morning being masked went foorth vpon her Palfrey right vnto the place appointed but missing a little the way in wandring amongst the trées foure knights met with her who séeing her beautie and disposition they would haue vnhorsed her but she vsing the vsual weapon of women cryed out and the Princes did heare her who were hard by The braue Spaniard finding himselfe fullest armed a foote as he was went vnto them they were all alighted with the poore Damsell who cryed out for succour And when he came thether hee knew her not but being choloricke he put himselfe amongst them with his sword in his hand saying Away vile Knights and laye no handes on the Damsell if you doe you shall dye for it and reaching the first vpon the head in reward of his folly he cut it downe to the shoulders The thrée which remained séeing the death of their companions and that he was but one onely drew their swoords and went to him But this warlike youth so behaued himselfe amongst them that he stroke the second such a blow vpon the arme that arms and swoord fell both to the ground who séeing himselfe lamed he beganne to cry out and runne into the forrest whereas within a while after he yéelded vp the ghost the other two purposing to be reuenged they assalted him He séeing their ouermuch contempt payed them in such sort that at two blowes he made them beare the first company with great content to the Damsell for that she saw it was her knight And taking off her maske she went vnto the Knight with her armes open saying I did well know Sir knight that if any succour did come vnto me it should be from this mightie arme Happy Alcisa that hath come to knowe the best amonst knightes in her behalfe This amorous Torismunde reioyced in his soule when hee sawe the Damsell and knewe her and said vnto her with great content those false Knights faire Damsell did not so much estéeme you as I doe that so against your honor and my content would haue displeased you Thankes be to God Sir Knight and your strength said shée which gaue them their payment as they deserued and according to my will which shall bee alwaies ready in whatsoeuer for your content At this time came the worthy Dacian with his swoord in his hand whereat they did not a little laugh and the Damsell said vnto him It well appeareth sir knight who hath most care to doe mee frendship for if I should haue tarried for you I beléeue mine honor had bin lost now I say that the lacke of care in the seruice of Ladies is verie euill for at such time as it may bee lacked that after it cānot be remedied with life the which I would haue dispatched if these false knights had gon forwards with their rigorous intent but séeing that betwéen you two there is so great frendship it seemeth that being remedied by your companion I am bound to serue you both which I wil do to my power And therwith she declared why she came to seeke them and gaue them to vnderstand of all that passed in the Court and what the Prince of Phrigia purposed in loue towards Grisalinda At which the Spaniard was so angry that he said I vow that I wil no more put on armour if this go forwards and foorthwith I will go paie him the reward of his boldnes The Dacian when hee saw him so determined said that hee should quiet himselfe for that in these matters hast is not profitable This knight is in France and he cannot be so strong to resist vs and séeing you haue not gone forth to the Iuste you may goe thether and deale with him This Irefull Youth was somewhat appeased but not in such sort but that the Damsell plainly saw the good will which he had vnto the Princesse and séeing it would not be taken in euill part she said What is it to you gentle knight that the prince doth imploie his thoughts vpon Grisalinda The Prince answered to sée the euill he doth to an other in procuring to loue where he deserueth not And how are you certaine answered the Damsell of this euill which he doeth My poore armes giueth testimonie thereof answered the Spaniard Then sir knight you are he that excéedeth the prince of Phrigia in loue Not him alone answered the youthful prince but all the world and vpon this I wil enter into the field with all the world Nowe am I glad answered the Damsell for that you shal haue néed of Alcisa And how is it y t he must haue néed said the Dacian what are you so much in fauour with the Princesse touching this knight it is due to our desire in procuring her cōtent
wil stand for my knight and deale in his affaires as for mine owne and more earnestly hauing occasion But thys I would that you would consider of for I told him that hee might come this night and talke with vs by the Garden whereas yesternight we were singing Ah speak no such thing answered Grisalinda for to imagine it is a gréeuous offence to my reputation There can be no offence nor danger said the Damsell séeing you loue and they knowe the place For you shal vnderstand that yesternight they heard all your singing and conference Therefore séeing your affection is to him manifest let me perswade you to méete and conferre whereby you may know who hee is and if there be no disparagement in his birth I know not wherefore you should refuse to receiue him for the knight of your seruice And now let vs looke what they doo for I am certainly assured that these Iustes will be lamentable to some So all thrée the better to talke of their loue did put themselues together and beheld the knights at such time as the mightie knight of the Groue for so wee will call the Dacian came and talked with the knight of the Pellican which was the Spanish Prince and his conference was to this effect that he wold let him haue the first Iustes in the mean time y t he contemplated on his Lady who apparelled all in russet tinsell with manie and costly stones was leaning on her breast at the window and a garland vpon her haire which séemed like Ariadnes Coronet that beautifies the heauen The bodies of her gown were somewhat open and part of her snowie breast appeared to her knight who had pitched the great end of his speare on the ground to behold that swéete prospect wyth so great negligence that it caused all the people to say he séemed as good a Louer as a Warrier With this the worthie Dacian came to the victorious Pagan and said Gentle knight seeing this is the office of Gallants in seruice of Ladies I would know if the Iusts be frée for all perils So that you would agrée answered the Moore that it might be from the Tilt I am content You vnderstand me right said the Dacian let it be at your pleasure and therewith they went into y e great Court taking big speares with bright stéelie heads so that all had great regard vnto their incounters and imagined that the knights were of great force Being in the great Court they came to méete with so mightie incounters that it séemed vnto all and vnto themselues especially that their armour had broken to péeces The Moore made his incounter in the midst of the Dacians shield with so worthie a blow that he made hym fall backwards on the buttockes of his inchaunted horse and if the speare had taken a little more hold hee had ouerthrowen him but he incountred the strong Moore in such sort that piercing his breast-plate with a little wound he ouerthrew him to the ground He was no sooner falne but he rose vp againe with all lightnes possible with hys sword in his hand abiding his Contrarie who with an easie pace on his horse came gretly amazed at that strong incounter and at his comming the Moore said vnto him Knight thou art bound to perform the battel with swords séeing it was at all perills I doo not now receiue anie delight therein answered the Dacian for that we will not trouble other Knights that would iust for they that doo demaund battell in generall Iustes make show as if they before had some perticular defiance which hath not béen betwéene you and me but for that the Tilt was somwhat troublesome I desired the open place onely at more ease to prooue my launce This Knight hath reason in all hys spéech said the Iudges and is not bound to admit the battell not hauing anie will thereunto Then you doo mee wrong answered the Moore Let it not greeue you sayd the Dacian Prince for if you thinke to receiue such pleasure by triall of a battell I will abide your comming ten dayes hence within the woodes of Ardenia where if you doo not ease your stomacke it shall be your owne fault none in mée for the performing of my word Let it be as thou wilt answered the Moore although I should receiue greater pleasure if it might bee now Well since thou wilt néedes said the Prince mount vpon thy horse and he that first looseth his saddle or anie part thereof let hym be ouercome and remaine at the will of the other This is great curtesie said the Moore and so with a trice he moūted his horse and put hand to his sword and imbracing his shield he went against the Dacian who met him and together they strooke such blowes that they humbled thēselues to their saddle bowes All that were in the great pallace stood still to behold that cruell battell sauing onely the amorous Spaniard whose powers of his body wer all in suspence remaining onely glad by sight to get ease for his soule Whereat the gracious princesse receiued no small content to sée him so busied onely in beholding her beautie The worthie Heleno raised vp himselfe very angerly for the great blow hee had receiued and séeing that in giuing and receiuing of blowes was onely a delaye of the battell and a cause not to giue place to his Frend for to doo that which was reason he determined to aduenture it vpon one alone blow trusting in the strength and nimblenes of his inchaunted horse and therewith séeing that the Moore retourned more furious than a lyon hee made show as though he would stand and abide him and at the time he should receiue the blow hee spurred forward hys light horse and made him at a spring to enter so nigh that the Moore could not strike him but with the hilt and pommell of his sword and although it was such a blow as the Dacian felt yet it was more troublesome for the Moore for that hee felt his wrist thereby greatly pained Thys skilfull Youth desired no other thing but at that instaunt stretching foorth his left arme he let fall his shield and hauing time he laid his strong hands on the Moore and held him so fast and so quickly spurd forward his furious horse that ere he returned to himselfe the Prince carried hym by the armes out of the saddle with a great shout of them that were in the Court publishing his valour In this sort he carried him vnto the place whereas the Iudges were demaunding of them if hee were bound to doo anie more No of truth sir Knight said they for yours is the honor of the battell in the face of all the world The Pagan made no reply but desired to returne and prooue himselfe again with the Knight and defied him to mortall battell which the Iudges would not suffer The Prince with quiet pace put himselfe into the Court choosing no iusting speares but speares of fine and
his handes he went vnto the Spanish knight and gaue it him saying Gentle knight now is accomplished that which a wise man of my Countrie told me that I should loose my liberty with my shield which I should giue vnto the first knight that should ouerthrow mee and now it seemeth that it is performed I would it were better for you for whereas it was giuen mee it was in some estimation Because I will not doe any thing to gainsay your will gentle knight said the Spaniard I take it and I giue you mine to vse in exchange and I would faine win an owner that would sustaine it with the honor as hee which doth giue it hath done and so gaue him his and took that of the Tartare and neuer King receiued a better gift The faire Spaniard reioyced at the heart when hee sawe howe well it became him for his doubtfull Loue there was neuer Louer that had the like and noting the faire face that was vpon the shield it séemed it was the face of Grisalinda And in reading the Posie that was in it he vnderstood that it was agréeable to his imagination and this it was Why should I complaine of absence Being ioyed with her presence There could not be giuen to this louing youth a â—hing that did more content him so verie ioyfull he was pransing his horse in the ayre he put him selfe to abide the Iuste then foorthwith appeared the worthie Duke of Sauoy verie ioyous of the beautie of the faire Orosia he entred with the companie that his estate required with twentie Pages apparrelled all in carnation Ueluet with gold parchment Lace cut vpon siluer Tinsell which was verie sightfull The Duke entred with the same colour mounted vpon a mightie Fleabitten horse the best that was in al that place besides those of the two frends with many plumes vpon his head and helme The Duke of Ornos carried his speare being an ancient knight In this sort he passed by the Ladies whereas was his faire wife who knew not were she was with ioy to sée her gentle and welbeloued Lord so well proportioned The Irefull Spaniard did know him by his deuise which was a Sea and in the middest of it a beauteous gally and on the one side of it a Lady who gaue her hand to a knight that was in the Sea with this Embleme I shall not sinke where my faire beauty sailes But floate sustaind so much my loue preuailes The grateful Spaniard would shew vnto the Dutches his bounden duetie and how in earnest truth hee honored her for when hee should make his encounter he made shew as if he erred in the blowe and lifted vp his speare for that hee would doe the Duke no harme and receiued â—he Dukes encounter vpon his newe and faire shield which most grieued him The Duke thinking hee had failde by chance commaunded other speares to be brought and séeing him misse â—he second and third he said Sir knight I am beholding or that which you haue done although héere it séemeth it might be excused The Spaniard answered My Launce worthy Duke is not accustomed to seaze on that which his maister loueth I desire not your hurt but doe offer in what I may to doe you seruice Euery one did much praise the knight imagining certainely who it should be but the Dutchesse when she saw the curtesie that hee vsed with the Duke said vnto the Princesse from this day forwards faire Grisalinda if yée were importuned to fauour the knight of the faire portrature for so wee wil cal him do not let this kindnes to the Prince my husband be vnrequited for hence foorth for his valor and curtesie I wil euer study to giue him his desert For this Lady said the Damsell Alcisa wherefore doe you leaue mee out in so iust a demaund who doth owe more vnto the Knight of the faire Portrature than I if he deliuered you from prison he deliuered me from death and dishonor so that on this wee must contend And I will call in my ayde the Knight of the groue for although we are in one opinion touching loue towards him I know not from whence is taught this heresie in the law of loue there must onely be one beloued With such helpers answered the yéelded Lady it is not vnlike but that the Knight shall obtaine his méeting for here is nothing procured but for his content yet let some looke to the fame of Grisalinda since nowe the Princesse of France is in hazard Their swéet conuersation was cut-off for that the Sun was about to bathe her selfe in the West Ocean and then there entred on the one side of the great Court to the number of thirtie Knights al with vpper signes of mourning And the last was a valiant Knight with the same deuise his visor downe with a great Speare of cléere and sharpe Iron his shield all stéele and in the middest thereof was painted Ielosic with this Posie My Loue lookes on me with disdainefull eye Which makes me full of watchfull Iealosie At that instant hee was knowen to bee the Prince of Phrigia for séeing with what strangnes the Princesse did intreate him hee liued the most passioned man in all the world and his passion did pintch him so much that hee was constrained to come not as vnto so ioyfull feasts and triumphes but as vnto a rigorous and mortall battaile suspecting that the Princesse did loue one of those twoo Knights So that he came to defie them to mortall battaile In passing thorough the place hee went directly vnto the Knight of the faire portrature and said to him I wold know Sir knight the reward that shall bee giuen to him that shall conclude these feastes The honor of a victor said the Prince and he to remain as most valiant which is enough This is for them that séeke honor answered the iealous Moore and not for him that hath attained to the top of honor so that it séemeth vnto me all your glorie is but little for that I wyll depriue ye of it in this place Thou commest with more confidence than is reason answered Torismundo and séeing thou wilt challenge me let our prize be the head each of the other Thou art conformable vnto my desire said the Pagan and turning about his horse he went against the Youth who taking a great Lance burnished the head in the sight of his Ladie knowing that that Moore was he that desired to be her louer he made his encounter with so famous a blow that both Moore and horse fell both to the ground hauing his louing brest pearced thorough with the speare wherat all began to make a still murmuring to sée the horse of the Phrigian Prince ouer throwne at one blow those that came with him who vnder their sad deuise were all armed trusting in that they were so many assalted the Prince with a heauie lamentation saying make dye that euill knight in recompence of the death hee hath giuen to
hands of the best Knight in all y e world and he which hath most done for the honour of France and to serue him all the dayes of my life shall be my glory and I will thinke all my trauell ease If this Knight had his Ladie héere said the Hollandesse he had little néed for to watch hauing so earnest a Frend for him as you he may liue without care of the great woe that those are woont to haue which he touched with this passion I perceiue by this said the French Ladie you know well this euill by experience for that ther is none that can cast these doubts but they that haue felt Loues gréefe Things are known ladie said Grisanea without experience for we may iudge of them by report Not touching the euill that Louers do suffer said Orosia for that it neuer commeth to a certayne and limitted end for when the Louer thinketh his pain is pittied after he hath spent his life therein he is still abhorred I beléeue Madame said Grisanea you that haue bin such a seruant to Loue can tell all the troubles thereof Faire Princesse answered the Sauoyan Lady I hope also to sée the time that you may talke by costly experience and not be beléeued so easely as you beléeued me without knowing my glorie or gréefe And in recompence hereof in the behalfe of these Ladies I doo request you to let vs bee pertakers of your voyce for according as it is héere sayd there is not the like to bee heard in this Countrey You shall sée Madam said Grisanea I will obey you in all I may but I shall now put you out of all doubt my voyce is not so good as it is reported And there with she tooke a harpe and began to tune it with so excellent order and agréement that her gracing the gracious concord began new discords in the princely Tartarian who prepared his hart to giue in recompence for faire Grisaneas musique Pittie it was to sée the amorous Princes new passion but on these greéefes t is bootlesse to shew compassion for the beloued onely can giue ease The faire Ladie began making the heauens a witnes who reioycing at her musick did with their influence inspire the harts of all that were present kindling in them new cares of loue more than all the rest the gentle Tartarian was rauished his magical armour not being sufficient to withstand it but her diuine voyce penetrated his soule Line you secure that I doo liue secured From Loues allures his witchings and his woe I to his guiles will neuer be inured Ne doo I long his needlesse lawes to know Downe downe I sing hey downe as merely As Louers sigh and mone incessantly Loue is a ioy ymixt with endlesse sorrow A clowdie heauen a bright tormenting hell To day content but quite vndone to morrow A flowring banke that harbors serpents fell Downe downe I sing hey downe as merily As Louers sigh and mone incessantly Thus scorning Loues sad weeping weladay I sit secure and smile at others greefe And cheerly chaunt a gladsome roundelay While they wring hands and beg refusde releefe Downe downe I sing hey downe as merily As louers sigh and mone incessantly This frée Ladie had scarce concluded to make show of her libertie being shortly after taken by the gallant Tartarian when as the faire Grisalinda said Wee liue not héere gallant Princesse with so much fréedome nor in our Court doo we estrange the contents of loue for wee sée with how much sharpnes those are chastised that do declare themselues for rebells against imperious loue but though we be not snared we feare the time and so maye you shortly for all your disdaine We haue had manie amongst vs that haue to day abhorred loues lawes and to morrow repented it accusing their rashnes and acknowledging the same as to a Prince to whom now they pay iust tribute And for that I doo desire it I should reioyce to sée you begin to loose some what of your strangenes for that I am perswaded with some new meanes Loue pretendeth to demaund accompt of the time you haue spent from vnder his banner and seruice Let vs not put her in so much feare said the faire Orosia for that in flying from it she may finde a partie whereon to imploy her thought and not finding him hold her selfe happie if shee had neuer knowen so much libertie Then said Alcisa wil I reioyce to sée how that is admitted which now so earnestly she condemneth and taking the harpe out of her hand shee gaue it vnto the Princesse Grisalinda who tooke it saying I know not faire Cousin whether in behalfe of Louers I can say anie thing with an instrument tuned with so frée hands The thrée Knights attended hir song and verie earnest was the Tartarian who said vnto his Frends I doo not meruaile that in France there bee so valiaunt Knights for that there be Ladies to animate those whom they loue and kill them that they scorne In this sort said the Dacian ther is vantage in louing if from thence procéedeth to be valiant And perceiuing some new passion had hapned to him in hearing them sing hee said Come nigher let vs heare what they will say in fauour of Louers The Tartarian if it had not béene for discouering them would haue exclaimed against loue because yet his wound was gréene but so it festred that at length he prooued the truest louer of his time The Spaniard was so desirous to heare his Ladie that he scarce heard what past betwéene them yet hee and the Moore at last went verye nigh the window When she began to play shee gaue a heauie sigh as a request to beg attention of him whom she little thought to be so néere her Where Loue lackes can be no life But an endlesse dying paine Compassed with care and strife Idle bootlesse wretched vaine Loue is heauenly Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly Loue combynes two hearts in one By sweet Loue all ioyes increase Whence Loue dwells departeth mone At his sight doth sorrow cease Loue is heauenly Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly To be free and not to loue Sauage freedome I it hold Yet Loues fier Beasts doth moue Taming Tygers fierce and bold Therefore say I Loue is holly They that scorne it wait on Folly I sing this swéet Cousin said the Princesse for that y◠shall vnderstand as I told you how reuerently wee doo estéeme of Loue. It well appeareth answered the Hollandesse that you acknowledge an Owner if it be so let me know it for vnto mee you may disclose the secretes of your heart God deliuer me said Orosia that I should impart my thoughts vnto so frée a Ladie for she neither knoweth how to ease gréefe nor rightly to pittie the grieued When I see faire Grisanea said the French Princesse that the absence of your Louer dooth paine and gréeue you then shal you finde me a
and foorthwith there was betwéene them a sightly battell for that the Moores were the valiantest in all their Countrey And for that the Spaniard did make battell before his Ladie for at y e time he knew her he made so great hast that he ouerthrew him at hys féet and lighting from his horse he cut off his head at the same instant that the Dacian had giuen a mortall wound vnto his Moore ouerthrowing him with a great fall vpon his backe and by and by hee yéelded vp the ghost These two perfect Frends when they saw their work done went vnto the Ladies with their helmes off The French princesse knowing her welbeloued Louer receiued him with the greatest show of affection that she could saying Oh Flower of Knighthood how shall I repay you thys great good It is but little faire Princesse said he that we haue done for your libertie your worthinesse and beautie dooth deserue it And none being by but the prince and the Duchesse whom they might trust they vsed very amorous coÌ„uersation till such time as the absence of the Princesse of Holland did hasten them to depart And by reason it was not as yet day they lost their way and found themselues in the morning nigh vnto the Fountaine where y e Prince did leaue his gréene armour by counsell of the Damsell that the Wiseman sent and therewith declared hee vnto them all his passed estate and who he was whereof shée was verie ioyfull There they ioyned hands to which contract the Tartarian and Grisanea came who were receiued with excéeding ioy the French Princesse especiallye reioycing to sée her Cousin Grisanea so quickly chaunged The worthie Spanish Prince pulled off his armour and laid it aside being vnarmed he séemed one of the fairest personages in all the world which was a new snare to cause the gentle French Ladie the more to loue hym And therewith they began to prouide for their departure whâ—n on a sodaine they saw come foorth of the thickest of the Forrest a furious Dragon which amazed these three princes yet fearlesly they attempted to defend their Ladies But the Monster left them and went directly to the shield with the faire portraiture that the Tartarian had giuen the prince of Spaine which she tooke betwéene her sharpe nayles and gaue so terrible a crie that made them all to fall to the ground and rising vp they could not sée the Dragon but a piller standing by the christaline fountaine of Forgetfulnesse hauing an Inscription thereon which the Dacian Youth read as followeth From this day forwards the water of Merlins Fountaine is forbidden to anie till such time as the Sonne of the bastard Lionesse in companie of the Flower of the Spanish Nation the one and the other doubtfull boldened by the keeper do take out of the deepest of the Fountaine the faire shield the victorie confirmed in the presence of the amorous Hircan Serpent But thou Knight that art desirous before that time to attempt this Aduenture leaue thy desire els death shall be the reward of thy boldnes All were wondrously amazed at this new Aduenture and could not imagine to whom the entry should be granted yet were they ioyfull that before the water was denied they had vnderstood the effect And for that it was late and the princesses desired to returne to the house of pleasure they tooke their way thetherwards with great content vnto the Dacian to sée how wel it succéeded with his Frends he iudging them now not alone for Louers but as men secured from Loues tempests hauing a kinde of enuie at their happie estate With this imagination and consideration of the manie troubles hee had suffered hee kept no companie with the princesses and that which worst and most greeued him at the heart was that hee neuer receiued any rest but rather iudged that he should begin a new to suffer greater The French Princesse séeing him ride so solitarily began thus sportiuely to talke I sée my handmaide Alcisa sounded your minde my Lord of Dacia for shee told mee you had forgoâ— all loue sicke passions and would not bee so idle busied as to intend amorous busines Madam said he you might rather say I am now idle for I protest wheÌ„ I did loue as once I confesse I knew that madnes neuer was any so busied as I night day in company alone I was so troubled that I account no trauell like it and I hope neuer againe to trauel with that burden O Sir said Orosia if ye haue loued there is no doubt yée may againe doe not disdaine a louers name sée by example the fayre Grisanea that was yesterday frée and she forsooth would none of loue singing saying all was against loue and now you sée the tunes her musique in another key And so may he said the Holland Princesse but belike he scorneth the French beautie and meanes to séeke farther for more faire So faire and so curteous said hee haue I seld séene and if I euer affect I wish it may be héere In this swéet conuersation they trauelled when at the sixt hower they saw much armed people trauelling the way agallop right towards the Sea side They imagined whether they went commaunding their Pages to goe and aduise them of the libertie of the Ladies that the knightes might bee quieted So they prosecuted their way till they came verie nigh the house whereas they met the King and all those mightie Princes which went to séek them It is not to be expressed to auoide tediousnes what ioy the King and all those Knights had and the more when they knew who they were and what they had done before for the honor of France The same day at the request of the Prince of Dacia knowing the valor of the Spaniard hée did so much that the King in publike did ioine theiâ— hands who in secret had ioyned their hearts The Nephew of Franconio reioyced to giue his daughter vnto the discent of Ricardo the Catholike King of Gades and of the Kings that succéeded in Spaine A happie coniunction seeing that from thence must procéed fruite that will make the world to wonder In like manner the Quéene of Holland receiued content to giue her daughter to him who with good diligence did procure before hee was a louer the reward of a Louer All the Court did reioyce and the frée Prince of Dacia sustained his libertie Also the gallant French Ladies consecrating their fame to immortalitie The curteous Andronio would not depart with his louing spouse but tarried till she and the Princesse of France were both brought to bed And when their times came they were deliuered of two Sonnes the most fairest in all the world That of the French Lady was called Grisaliano at the request of his faire mother That of the mightie Tartare was named Andronisio These yong and new Princes caused great reioycing in the Court and the king shewed it by the gifts which he gaue The Dacian did passe his
came to the head or sping of a gallant Christall Fountaine which was vnder certaine myrtle trées and there they alighted and let their horses taste of the water of that swéet and cléere spring and the gréen grasse that was there Then did their Pages bring forth such victuall as they brought from the doubtfull Castle making on the gréene grasse a more daintie Table than they had in Grecia and they passed Dinner with as great content if that Meridian had not disturbed it with the remembrance of the losse of his wife although he was somwhat eased with the confidence in Brandafidell and they all no lesse reioyced at the swéet musike which the birds made in the shadow than of that which they were wont to haue in the Royall Pallaces but the one and the other they did leaue for to heare a delicate voice which at the sound of a Harpe they did heare not far off and considering what it should be they heard that it began with a prosound sygh in this sort Though I be scornd yet will I not disdaine But bend my thoughts faire beauty to adore What though she smile when I sigh and complaine It is I know to try my faith the more For she is faire and fairenes is regarded And I am firme firme loue will be rewarded Suppose I loue and languish to my end And she my plaints my sighes my prayers dispise O t is enough when Fates for me doe send If she vouchsafe to close my dying eyes Which if she doe and chance to drop a teare From life to death that balme will me vpreare With an other sygh no lesse than the first did the wofull voice conclude which gaue occasion to the frée Troyan to arise and taking his shield he desired them to tarie for that hee would know who hee was that with so great griefe did publish his sorrow and went directly thether whereas the voice was and vnder a high and great pine trée he saw lying along a knight armed in armor all plated siluer like ful of gréen Roses without his helm which lay by him and a shield of the colour of his armor in the middest of the field in place of the flower was this Posie Nor frownes nor scornes preuaile Resolued loue to quaile The knight was very yong one of the fairest that euer he saw his eyes were swollen with wéeping The Troyan had great desire to know who he should be but stayed for that he saw he would return to his doleful song in this manner Let heauen and earth let Gods and men conspire To adde more griefe vnto my greeued minde So my faire Saint doe know my true desire I haue enough content therein I finde Loues bonds are heauen dull freedome is a hell Come all worlds woe yet loue can make it well This louing Youth intended onely to make the ayre pertaker of his gréefe so turning himself vpon the gréen grasse he said Oh Loue why in the beginning of my â—eÌ„der yeres hast thou made me place my felicitie in a person that hates mée Ah swéete Mistres I doo acknowledge your desert and giue my gréefe to witnes it yet if I may say it without offence as you are rare in beautie so I am a Phoenix in loue Oh that it pleased the heauens I might shew you my louing heart there should you sée how faith sustaineth the same against the extremitie of all your crueltie This afflicted Youth could procéed no further for that he was disturbed by the Troyan who desirous to know what he was in this sort saluted him I would fain faire Knight know what hath brought you into this estate if you stand in néed of my person I will imploy it in your helpe I néed not your companie said this disturbed Louer much lesse your helpe depart I pray you for your presence doth me wrong Thou art vncurteous answered the Kinsman of Hector so to reply vnto my Knightly offer Nay then I perceiue said the Youth you are ignorant what pleasure solitarines bringeth to the passionated Louer I answered the Troyan and hope euer to be ignorant of such pleasing sorrow O heauens how hast thou liued said the Youth art not amorous Now God defend me said Oristides from that madnes O generous thoughts of mine replied the Youth is it possible that Rosabel should liue and heare Loue slandered tarrie thou false Knight for with thy blood I trust to write vpon these trées the glorie of them that be Louers And therewith like a viper trodden on he arose vp to lace on his helme sodainly cast a thrust at y e Troian that hee made him retire backe thrée or foure paces almost past memorie Ere hee recouered the Youth strooke him so on the Uisor that hee made him sée starres in his darke helme and doubled another vpoÌ„ his shoulder that shrewdly pained him By this the Troyan did plainly sée that the Knight with whom hée dealt was aswell Mars his sonne as Cupids seruant and therefore rowsing himselfe he smit him such a blow vpon the shield that he made him put one knée vpon the ground The Youth was cunning and at the discharge of y e blow hurt the Troyan so on the legs that his red blood distained the gréene meadow With excéeding furie tooke Oristides his sword in both his hands and doubled two such extreame blowes that the young Knight knew not where he was but quickly recouering himselfe he retourned a double paiment A thousand thoughts came vnto the Troian in imagining who this valiant Youth might bée yet so he dealt with him that he made him sweat drops of blood At the noyse of this rigorous battell came the two Princes at which instant the Youth had feld the Troyan to the ground whence quickly recouering and with his sword seeking to reuenge the Princes stept betwéene them saying Part Knights it is not iust to permit this battell to come to an end without knowing the cause It is sayd the Youth because this Knight counteth a Louers life vnhappie which occasion is not so small but if I liue with his life he shall answere it Sir Knight said Meridian let not this flight quarrell hinder our important busines the matter being no more but you thinke Loues bondage swéet and he in libertie findes his content But that you shall perceiue doubt of his ablenes is no cause of this I will warrant that within these ten dayes either here or where els soeuer you will appoint this Knight shall ende the battell I am content aunswered the yong Knight for that your gentle disposition doth more binde mee than this Knights arrogancie therefore let the battell be here where onely accompanied with my solitarie thoughts I will attend you Stand aside said the valiant Troyan in cases that concerne my owne honour I am more bound than to wait on strangers therefore there is no reason to disturbe vs till the battell be ended It cannot be said Rosicleer
the Chariot forbad it and vnto the Dacian the Damsell thus said Roselia the Emperors Daughter being the Ladie in gréene accompanied with the Princesses of Scotland in red desireth to know your name and that you would accompanie her to the Emperours pallace The Daâ—ian being nigh the Coach shewed his faire face and at his eyes drew to his heart her fairnes both being enamoured either of other at length with verie great reuerence he said Souereigne Ladies pardon I beseech you the vnwilling gréef I haue giuen vnto these knights the fauors are this Damsells that fauoured meâ— with hers and where your Excellencie askes my name and commaudeth my vnworthie attendance this is humbly my answere I am bound from both till I haue finished an aduenture which ended I will both answere and attend on you On that condition said the princesse we are this fauor giuing him a iewell and bee as spéedie as you may for I will expect your returne The Dacian boowing himselfe promised his attendance and so parting he put himselfe into the thickest of the wooâ— they wondring at his worthines returned toward the Cittie Our Dacian being in the wood and alighted could not forget the beautie of Roselia yet loath to entertaine loue thoughts he tooke his Lutâ— and to the sound thereof sung in thys manner Fond affection hence and leaue mee Trie no more for to deceaue mee Long agoe thou didst perplex mee Now againe seeke not to vex mee For since thou leftst off to assaile mee Power nor passion could not quaâ—le mee As the Lambe the Wolfe I flye thee As my foe Loue I defie thee Wend a way I care not for thee Childish tyrant I abhor thee For I know thou wilt deceaue mee Hence away therefore and leaue mee Till euening in contrarie imaginations he rested and was then disturbed with the noyse of two Giants foure knights who were come so néere him that he might easily heare one of the Giants say Are you sure our princes of Gibia are acquainted with our comming They are said the other Giant but will not bee séene till wee haue tane away the Ladies Then said the first Giant let vs hast to the pallace for as I get the Scottish Ladies for our princes so will I haue the Emperours daughter Roselia for my Sonne and in this talke they poasted toward the Cittie Our Dacian glad of this occasion was not farre behind but at the entring of the gate rushed among them To whom one of the Giants said For thy hast fond hardie knight either tell vs what thou meanst to make such speed or leaue with vs thy horse for thy presumption My horse I will neither leaue said he nor tell ye my busines But thou shalt said the other Giant tel me and as he was laying hold on the princes arme with the great end of his speare he ouerthrew him to the ground and with a light leape cléered the gate for his page and himselfe stepping aside to sée which way they tooke The Giants thought him some diuell and by reason of their busines would not follow him but being guided by a knight that knew the way they went directly to the pallace Orchard and mouÌ„ted the wall sending their horses to a place appointed Alwaies the prince was within the hearing leauing his horse with Fabio followed them ouer the wall by which time they had reared a ladder vp to the Princesse chamber window and one of the Giants beeing almost at the top the nimble Dacian ran and ouerthrew the ladder so that with the fall the Giant brake both his legs making such a crie that the Court was straight in an vprroare Our Gallant in this time was not idle for that betwéene him the other Giant began a rigorous battell which hee had quickly ended but that the foure knights who were verie strong greatly troubled him but he soone dispatched two of them and in the seconds fall the Giant smit the prince so rudely on the helme y t made him to kisse the earth but it was little for his good for as he thought to catch him in his armes the Prince arose with y e point of his sword vpright which vnder the skir of his armour passed through his heart As he was falling the other cripple Giant ful of mallice came créeping to doo a mischiefe but the prince quikly deuided his head from his body wherat y e knights vainly sought to flée for the heroicke Eleno stept before them and parted one to the breast the other falling at his féete he tooke to mercie because he shuld reueale the treason to the Emperour before whom and the prince of Almaine who were now with twenty armed knights come and before the Ladies that from the windowes beheld the battell all was by the knight confessed and the manner of the princes following them by himselfe told Whereat the Emperour standing amazed y e Dacian knéeled down and to the Prince of Almaine he said Receiue worthie Prince this little seruice for the gréef I put ye too yesterday When the Prince perceiued it was the Knight that ouerthrew him he imbraced him saying valorous knight vse to me no such curtesie for I am infinitely bound vnto you for this seruice done vnto my Lord the Emperour The Emperour hauing heard of him before and beheld the mightie strokes on the dead giants and knights could not speake for ioy but taking him by the hand led him to his Daughters chamber and finding her with the two Princesses of Scotland he said Daughter I haue broght you this knight prisoner kéepe him safe but vse him well for I know you are not ignorant of his desert And turning to the Dacian he said Where my best ioy is ther I leaue you and I deâ—â—re ye to tell me your name I am of Tartarie and called the Knight without loue My small desert most royall Emperour meriteth not this gracious fauour but your kindnesses are euerlasting bonds to binde me to your seruice The Emperour left him to his rest his lodging being appointed hard by the princesses but neyther he nor she possessed their wonted rests Merlins water hauing now in his breast lost the operation and Dianaes rules beginning to dye in hers Arbolinda the Scottish Princesse was Roselias coÌ„forter but our Heleno was alone till carefull Fabio maruelling at his masters long stay knockt alowd at the Court gate and made earnest enquirie for his master The Emperour had vnderstanding thereof who caused him to be conueied to his master that was not a little ioyfull of his comming Being in the chamber and suspecting no hearkners to be nigh Fabio said the Prince in anie case confesse not that I am Heleno Sonne to the King of Dacia but call me the Knight with out loue of Tartarie for so to y e Emperor haue I named my selfe for betwéene his Maiestie my Father was a great quarrell when they were Knights Aduenturers which is not yet ended The
amorous Roselia and Arbolinda heard all ioyously but she was more delighted when the prince tooke a Lute and thus expressed his loue passions Yeeld vp thy life into the hands of Loue For faire Roselias beauty bids thee so Poore Dacian prince her curteons fauour proue Liue if she graunt or dye if she say no. For in her smile or frowne is set the date Of thy heauens blisse or euer dying fate But Fondling how canst thou expect such ioy A stranger and desertlesse of her grace But doe exclaime against that cruell boy That bound thy freedome to her Angels face And rather dye than thy hearts pride discouer In daring thoughts to be a Goddesse Louer Yet is she faire and fairenes should be milde She Princely is and free are Princes hearts With thoughts ingrate they will not be defilde But giue large giftes for very small desartes O then make sute she may perchance regard And for thy small desert giue rich reward The princesse was so ouerioyed that shee retyred to her chamber and thus requited his affected Sonnet Teares in mine eyes suspition in my heart And modest shame deny what I desire Faine would I ioy but still appeareth smart And threatens paine if I come neere this fire Wherein God wot I burne and it in mee Perforce I yeeld a yeelding loue to be Sweete Cytherea charge thy gentle Sonne That he be kinde and I will thee adore With myrtle boughes I le to thy altar runne And praise the Paphian Goddesse euermore White doues I le dayly offer at her shrine If this faire Prince proue firmely to be mine But if like Ariadne he me leaue When I haue made him Master of my heart I must exclaime Loue teacheth to deceaue And is vniust to recompence desart O farre farre off be such a thought I craue From him who for my Lord I meane to haue Hauing finished her Song she was incouraged by Arbolinda to goe through a secret doore into the Princes chaÌ„ber which with some feare shee attempted and being at the doore they stayed to heare him againe thus sing If I must sweet Loue obay Be pittifull to mee I pray And let me haue my Loues reward With pittie let her me regard And then thy quiuer I will fill With arrowes to content thy will I for thee will I euer fight My name shal be Loues martiall knight On my shield thee will I weare Still thy colours will I beare If thou help my heart distressed Thou shalt be euer blessed To my faire I will appeale That with me she gently deale Farewell hope loue will not yeeld Yet I beare him in my shield The toward boy is too too crosse And delighteth in my losse The princesse at the songs end by Arbolindas meanes entred and thus the Scottish princesse began merily to queststion him Sir like diligent Warderâ— we come to hearken of your health and being but awhile since neere your doore wée heard one name himselfe Heleno Prince of Dacia who if he be your Frend is hether welcome if otherwise he shal not here abide to vexe you The Prince perceiuing how he was discouered remained a while confounded but intending to dissemble it if he might he said Faire Ladie than my selfe my Page in this place till your comming I assure ye this night there hath béen none and where ye tell me of a Prince of Dacia I assure ye I know not any such It is verie likely said Roselia you are vnacquainted with him your Countries are so far asunder and your affections farther he being a Dacian and a louer you a Tartarian and without loue Leaue off this trifling said Arbolinda we know you gentle Prince to be Heleno but bee secure for the Princesse commeth not to meddle about your parents busines but to giue kinde answere to your hearts desire if your tung lately deliuered not dissembling passions If it did answered Heleno let me for euer be tunglesse but pardon me diuine princesse that so rudely haue attempted to name your excellence If impatience at my presumption trouble your gentle heart discouer Heleno to the Emperour for I am he that hee maye reuenge his hate against my Father and the harme offered to your Highnes Your desert sir knight is great and your desire much ingratefull I will not be but intertain you for my Knight and as you better deserue expect reward Withall I enioyne you that for my sake yee attempt an Aduenture in this Cittie So least we be all ouerheard as lately we ouer-heard you we will for thys time part Thus went the Princesse away happie by her knights affection leauing him in a paradice of content where it is reason that till the Sun arise we let him rest and in the next Chapter you shall heare of his most admirable aduenture Of the accusation that the Prince of Dacia made of the Princes of Gibia and the ende of the aduenture that was in the place Chap 16. NO sooner had the Sun beautified the morning but the Emperor commaunded the Princes of Gibia to appeare in the great hall whether himself with his daughter the Prince of Almaine and the Princesses of Scotland conducted the amorous Dacian who in that great presence discouered y â— treason of the Princes of Gibia howe they had consented with the Giants to steale away the Princesse of Scotland and to giue the daughter of the sacred Emperour to a base and hideous Giants Sonne which accusation the knight prisoner confessed And when the Princes denyed it the Lord of Dacia chalendged them to mortal battel the one to fight two houres and then the other to help him Which they accepting the combat was presently appointed to the great griefe of the Princesses of Scotland who not withstanding considering the violence intended were somwhat pacified and by Roselia perswaded to hope for better Princes and so they agréed to stand with her to sée the combat the Prince Heleno being alreadie entred the liâ—â—â— and not perceiuing his aduersaries ready busied himself to be hold a maruellous chapple on one side the Court seated vppon foure pillers of white Iasper and all the couering of the same in the middest séemed a Knight to be thrust thorough with a sword the richest that euer the Prince had séene and his armour of the same worke that his was but farre richer and vpon his shield he had the auncient deuise that he was wont to haue which gaue him no small content and reading a writing it declared the aduenture and was this At such time as the fauored Swan shall shewe her valor in this mighty place commaunded by the simple Doue a knight shall get the armour of the vnhappie Brutus who gaue himselfe a lamentable death with his owne swoord The Prince of Dacia would foorthwith haue prooued the aduenture but he was aduised by the signe that his enemiâ—s were in the place And therewith hee turned about his horse with a gallant demeanure There came with them many of the
tempest filled all the place so that the Prince could not be séene and in the thicknes of this storme the great wise man Nabato apeared to the Prince giuing him the armour and weapons of the portrature and charging him not to stay after he had ouerthrowen the prince of Gibia but hye to the sea where was his inchanted bark for said the wise man in this storm Roselia and her frend the princesse of Arbolinda are taken away but at last you shall méete with your content With that the storm cleared the Edifice was vanished the two princesses among the Ladies missed and the Dacian ouerthrowing the prince of Gibia for dead poasted away like lightning on his horse Tirio his page following him to the inchaunted Barke leauing the Court in a confusion till the Emperour was comforted by the wise Nabato who tolde him though the taking away of his Daughter were gréeuous and by her loue much bloud should be shed yet should it be in the end ioyous and for the honor of the Empire The Emperour knowing Nabato euer to haue had care of his affaires gaue credit to him but yet retyred with the prince of Almaine both very sad into the pallace The wise Nabato had in his power Roselia and Arbolinda and making theÌ„ by his arte forget all feminine feare he apparrelled them pages and sent them in quest of the Dacian which they desired intending to sée what other Lady hee loued and to reuenge the disgrace as they tooke it done them by his sodaine departure Them will we leaue and turne to the fiue Princes left with Gelasio and of the maidenhead of their knightly aduentures What hapned to the Princes in the defended Iland brought vp by the wise Gelasio Chap. 17. THe wise Gelasio séeing the Princes in yéeres increase and in valor to bee excellent sent first foorth Celindo and his Sister he apparelled lyke Apollo shee like Pheobe but mounted on twoo fierce horses spotted blacke and white who ioyfull to sit such beastes with boare Speares in their handes went on their wonted hunting and followed their game so long till they came to the Castle of Fangomadan where reading the writing that promised the aduenture to them that durst attempt it without armes and also that there were weapons within the Princesse winded the horne so shrilly that all the place rung thereof When sodainly the mighty Fangomadan with an iron mace in his hand and a swoord by his side all armed issued foorth and in his company a deformed Sagittary with arrowes of Iron and a bowe of stéele The Giant séeing those faire youths commaunded them away telling them he was not to try the aduenture with such Infants when Celindo and his Sister with their fistes at once strooke the Sagittariâ— and him two such blowes on the wast for higher they could not reach that they retyred foure or fiue pâ—ces backe the which so incensed Brandafidell being led to furie contrarie to his nature by inchauntment that hee sought to take the Lady in his armes but shee closing with him drew out his swoord and sayd Now furious beast am I weaponed and thy aduantage of weapons shall be to thy hurt and therewith shée cut him on the thigh to the bone and with a light leap stept to the Sagittarie wounding him in the arme as he was readie to shoote one of his arrowes at Celindo For which her brother was nothing pleased but to quit her stept to Brandafidell and smit him so on the knée that he could scarsly stand wherewith Celindo entred the Court and came to the sepulcher and in dispite of the Sagittarie that followed him drewe out the swoord which Rosicleer lost in the battailes conclusion with Fangomadan and therwith returning he encountred his aduersarie with admirable boldnes Meane while the Giant and the princesse were close and indured an admirable wrastling To beholde which the Princesse Floralinda was gotten to the windowes and knowing the battaile was for her deliuerie shee prayed to the heauens to ayde those amiable younglings Whome though vnknowne shee affecteth as her Children By this the Sagittarie thinking to gripe Celindo was preuented by a deadly wound giuen him in his brest which made him fall and the Prince without feare did sit on his senselesse trunke to behold the end of the dangerous wrastling betwéene his Sister and the giant who left him with her strong resistance nigh dead on the Pauement with whose fall there hapned so great a noise that it frighted the young Princes and Deuine Floralisa looking for enemies stept to the sepulcher and drew thence the swoord of Camilla But presently swéete musique altred that feare and the gentle Brandafidell the newe Gréeke awaked from his inchauntment and comming directly to Floralisa whome shée doubted for an enemy he said Diuine Princesse pardon mine error in offering blowes to a Youth of so excellent prowesse the good yee haue done mee with this contention no tongue can tell for now is the inchauntment ended With this Floralisa left and then Floralinda the princesse of Macedonia descended the staires giuing praise to God for ending the aduenture and looking on Celindo shee thought vpon her Lord Meridian and in his sisters face she séemed to sée her selfe with all motherly affection shée imbraced them saying O that you were the lost Children of the Scythian prince and Macedonian princesse and so with many ioyfull teares she intreated them to tel where they were born To whom the yong princesse answered Diuine Lady of our birth we are ignorant only nurst in this Iland by the wise Gelasio Infinite ioyes at once possessed Floralinda with this answere for she made no question they were her children and no lesse ioyous they were of their weapons and her fréedome At length they both importuned the Giant to giue them the order of Knighthood which he willingly did the mother girded on the daughters sword and the sister her brothers There vowed they frendship to the Giant Who told them it was now time to part for the imprisoned Lady must be fréeed to goe sée her husband and wishing them to commend him to the wise man his Unkle whome they called father they all parted ioyfully the Castle gate shutting with a great noise of a battle which caused y e brother sister to stay the Giant and princesse found themselues at the Seaside and there entred a ship to sayle towards Grecia Where wee will leaue them to tell you how the other thrée princes Argante Clarisell and Torisiano were welcommed at the Castle of Fangomadan who following their hunting as the brother and sister did came directly wher they read the writing which said No knight nor person weaponed must attempt to enter Whereupon with an excellent courage they stucke their boare speares in the earth and hanging their swoords at their saddle bowes they came to the Castle gate which sodainly opened where at entred found thrée Arkes and in each of them an armed Knight and on
â—ignes and the Ladies sadnes gessed she had some wrong therefore taking his swoord in his hand and his shield on his arme he called saying â—ady if you be distrest speake and I wil deliuer you knight said the Giant you are more forward than you need if the Lady wanted help t is like the would demaund it And then artmore vncurteous than thou needst answered Lisarte for if she be not disâ—rest yet I deserue thanks for my good will that shalt thou know if thou darest abide O howe full of furie was Brandafidell with a fearefull voyce hee commaunded the ships to be grapled The faire Floralinda was notable to disturbe the battaile for she saw the Giant so angry that shee durst not come nigh him He quickely put on his helme and tooke a great heauy mace at whose point did hung other sixe bullets of stéele and with a furious aspect taried for his enemy The warlike Tharsian came against him but was receiued with such a blow as had almost cost him his life But returning to himselfe he repayed it so on the helme that it made him stagger on the one side two or thrée paces and entring with the swiftnes of an Eagle with a stiffe arme he gaue him such a thrust vpon the brest that he made him recoyle back two or thrée paces and with this would haue entred the bark with a light leape but although the blow was great yet it did not take away sence from the Giant he put his left leg forwards and inlarging his arme with a close fist he stroke the Tharsian such a blowe vppon the brest he ouer threw him on his backe in the middest of his barke and with the quicknes of a thought he put himselfe in the same order as he was before abiding his enemie who full of anger returned and betwéen them continued a gréeuous fight for more then thrée houres but Lisarte was likely not to get much for that the place was narrow and the Giants weapon vnreasonable The gentle Tharsian was a shamed to acknowledge the vauntage that his enemy had in the strâ—â—itnes of his place and would haue giuen halfe his kingdome to end the battaile wyth him vpon firme land In this time the curteous Brandafidel was not 〈◊〉 hauing a desire to conclude the battel and that the Princesse shuld vnderstand what a good kéeper she had he whirlâ—d his weapon about ouer his head making shew as â—â—ough he would strike him The gentle Lisarte did abide him till he saw it comming making an internall noise ratling the one with the other and in passing be would haue stroken a â—hwart blowe at his armes but the giant was so politick that in giuing an other turne helping it with some what yéelding his body he forced two bullets into his shield with so deuilish a furie that it pulled it out of his hands and threw it a great way off and left him so astonished that he thought verily hee had also away his arme The furious Lisarte like a serpent returned bearing his body low fearing the second blow and with both his hands seazed a blow hard by the Giants elbowes and although hee did not cut him by reason of the finenes of the armor yet he tormented them in such sort y e his diuelish weapon fell from him The curteous Giant had thought his armes had béen off but the excessiue gréef being past putting backe his left leg he drew out his fauchion no lesse feareful then the mace for that was by Lirgandeo warranted you may well vnderstand the ioy that the Tharsian receiued when that fierce weapon was gone and so firming his foote he ioyned with him where began so sightly a battell that it amazed the beholders till the Sunne declined they fought and then with loud voyces they called for lights but the soueraigne Lord knowing what those knightes should doe in the augmenting of his faith apparted the battaile with equall honor vnto theÌ„ both for at the bringing forth of lightes they were all put out with a easterly wind which rushing betwéene the barkes did part them a good way the one from the other in such sort that by no meanes they could ioyne the Giant cryed out that he would tarrie and the other that he did abide him yet at the rising of the Moone they were sixe miles the one from the other with so great griefe vnto the Tharsian that he would not beléeue but that he had lost honor with his enemy so there was not any that durst speake vnto him no not his Son But the faire Roselia did bolden her selfe and said Ualiant Prince abate your Ire and be fully certified that if your coÌ„trary hath got any honor it was not with any losse of yours but rather as I imagine had the battel bin on land we should haue remained w t the palm of victorie So without anger they supped with great content praising the brauery of the Giant The gallant aduenture that hapned vnto the Princes about the libertie of a Knight Chap. 19. WE left the faire Florisarte ioyfull of the picture when he knew not the person with inward sighs begaÌ„ to say Ah tender yeres that so truly are brought vnder the yoke of Cupid With how much reason may the world complaine of mee to sée me yéelded without knowing who is my owner Ah Princesse Flora your sorrowfull Son desireth loue and hath put his libertie he knoweth not where and hath giuen it to one absent and suffereth mortal grief without any hope of ease Who could euer be a perfect louer if he had not fed and contented his eyes on his beloued Oh cruell discretion to loue I know not whom and therewith with no lesse grace than he that brought stones to be molified in hearing his song he began to sing in this sort Pigmalion like I loue a senseles thing In hope the substance one day will appeare Of this sweet shape which I do hold so deare Which sight content vnto my heart will bring And rid my soule of sad dispairing feare O happy then I happy should be named But I beleeue her like was neuer framed She was not far that should remedy him might haue done it with louing him yet she entred into the chamber dissembling her griefe and with a louing boldnes said I wold not Prince of Argentaria y e the picture which I gaue you should be the occasion of your vnquietnes there is no doubt 〈◊〉 with me your sorrow must be departed séeing it is so dangerous for vs both it were better to loose the memory of the lady theÌ„ to haue for her absence such discoÌ„fort I say that this worthy Prince that you might inforce your courage for that these woundes of Loue many times doe so earnestly treade downe the strength and reason of the Louer that when he returnes to himselfe he hath no force for the same and this doth happen vnto them that feareth to be loued but vnto