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
fortune had coÌ„passion of your griafe Thou hadst reason diuine Floriana to remaine doubtfull of séeing me at thy departure How ofteÌ„ didst thou vrge me with my plighted faith the which I will kéepe till such time as I am in thy estate without any feare to loose thée but to sée thée with these eies wherwith I now doe celebrate thy death Oh most happy land of Cantabria in times past pittifull to my lamentations how maiest thou from this day forwards begin to mourne for the lacke of such a Lady and Mistresse Now my louing father may you liue content with my fortune to see me liue without my Floriana who was so odious in your eies for that I loued her I am vexed still that you doe noâ— conceaue it was life to me to loue her and a swéete ease to suffer for her Nowe here I sweare by my high thoughts not to returne to Spaine but to destroy it once againe if any therein were the occasion of the death of my loues life although it were my naturall father Oh my Floriana what can I doe to liue content or who is able to giue it me but death onely the which if I suffer for thy sake I will receaue it gladly And hauing a desperate wil he pulled out his sword saying O happy sword being the sword of my Goddes with thée at her hands I receiued the order of knighthood I sweare by her beauty that none shal be able to disturbe me til this vnhappy body doth accompany her in death that did giue it so excellent a life At that instant he would haue lifted vp the skirt of his shirt of male to haue thrust his sword in thereat If the discréet Arsilo had not thrown himselfe before him and pulled it out of his murdring hands Then this grieued youth came to himselfe and saide Oh my Arsilo is this the loue you beare me to hinder me that I go not to accompany in death that which neuer departed from me liuing my friend permit it as thou wouldest the heauens to be more fauourable to thée then they haue béene vnto the sorrowfull Torismundo Worthy Prince and my Lord answered the discréete page I should offend much therein in the duety that I owe vnto you and your generous father and you offende more your owne discretion for that you cannot suffer that which the heauen doth ordaine the faire Dutchesse was not for you for that the commaunder of all beauty had chose her for himselfe Amongst worthy persons there is nothing more to be praised then to know how to beare and suffer the disgraces of fortune with such courage as they doe her fauours consider how little ease it should be to your griefe in killing your selfe Doest thou call it little said the grieued Knight that alone is sufficient to succour me wherewith should I end so many deaths which waited on me but in giuing my selfe one for the conclusion of all thys did euill agrée vnto the seruice that thou owest mee sith to die is onelye profitable At this time answered the page I will die ere you shed one droppe of bloud Heare me a little my beloued Lorde that I may set before your eies examples for your comfort The Phrigians had excéeding cause to bewaile the death of valiant Hector and they did fill the ayre with immeasurable lamentations yet not one of them no not his Andromache though being deare to all to him she was most deare not one of them I say despairingly slewe himselfe but armed their resolutions against their enemies Who could waile a louers losse more than Venus her swéete Adonis whom she found discoloured and dead his faire body rent by a foule Boare yet she despaired not amidst her lamentations Sorrow for seperated friends I deny not is necessary but to die because they die is diuelish and damnabâ—e Despaire depriueth al grace doubteth of immortality and let not your excellence wrong Floriana so much to make quâ—stion of her immortall being Suppose her gone vnto a Princely habitation hauing enioyned you to perfourme aduentures for her loue Let your little short span of life be the progresse to that house your iourny done you shall enioy her sight Therefore consider worthy Prince and besides these reasons remember the royall bloud from whence you descend and the harme you should doe to many by your death who haue néed of that life that you so little estéeme Celebrate the death of your Mistresse and let me be the first in death if it may be any comfort vnto you But I am sure that it is rather an anger to Floriana who enioyeth a better estate than ours Therefore returne vnto your reasonable senses beloued Prince and conâ—ider that it is the ordinance of heauen for that you against the will of your father woulde loue her and might haue sought an other equall vnto your estate This grieued youth receaued great comfort by the discreete reasons of his page but not in such sort that it caused him to forget the griefe he felt The page séeing that he was somewhat quieted and eased drew foorth a letter saying This is the last worke that came from the hands of your Lady This worthy Spaniard did take it 〈◊〉 kissed it a thousand times and bedewing it with teares he opened it and read as followeth The letter of Floriana the Dutches of Cantabria to Torismundo Prince of Spaine VNderstand from me welbeloued Prince that I draw nigh vnto a new estate being appointed by the heauens and remembring with what truth you answered my firmenesse almost life scarce suffering mee to write these fewe lines I tooke strength to write vnto thée only for to desire thée by the faith which thou plightedst to bee mine to passe thy life in my absence with discretion as is required and Torismundo let not my death bee occasion of thy indiscréet dealing I would welbeloued Prince that I might in this worlde call thee my owne but to thy comfort in the other world I will thither goeth thy beloued Floriana hoping to sée thée when as the powers of heauen will stande our friend I can say no more for that my senses faile To God I leaue my beloued Torismundo Dying Floriana This afflicted Gallant concluded the reading of the letter giuing a harty sigh saying Oh chance and is it possible that now should be shewed vnto me so much euill and that she commaunds me to liue and I must performe it Oh my deare Mistresse how can I liue who liued onely with your presence Oh Fortune with how much discontent doest thou giue a little contentment Oh vnhappy heart so cruelly vsed in the beginning of thy age and tormented with thy excessiue torments Ah Floriana to remaine with life will be death vnto me but séeing that you receaue content therein I will liue imploying the rest of my life to loue in absence in the â—ame degrée as when I triumphed in your soueraigne beautye Now you may worthy Spaniard saide the Page
vnderstande the discontent that Floriana shoulde receiue by your death and the wrong you shall commit in not sustaining your life And therewith the page caused him to eate of such foode as he brought although it was with an euill will But yet the heauens did ordaine a remedie worthy to comfort this wofull Prince for by reason of his great wearines he fell a sléepe a while although it was not much for that with a sodaine anger he arose vp saying Ah my Goddesse and is it possible that there shall remaine no memorie of thy glorie and my torment this commeth not of the loue I beare vnto thée But I doe promise to solemnize thy feast returning into Spaine and giue the world to vnderstand with what affection Torismundo loued thée and in saying this hee went vnto a great and mightie Poppler trée on whose barke he fixed with his dagger these verses Ye Fawnes and Satyres seruants to great Pan. And olde Syluanus all assemble yee Ye lightfoote Nimphes assist a wofull man Of wood or water whether ere ye be Wilde Forrest beasts shall helpe you in your song And roare a base to thunder out my wrong Not one must sing a meane in my lament Except the still streame gliding on the pebble Thus will we carroll out my discontent My wofull selfe will sing or cry the treble Or if ye will confusion marre our song For we are all confounded by deathes wrong On the other side of the Fountaine there was a rough and knottie ashe whereas he descyphred the swéete name of his fayre mistresse and concluded with this Ode Floriana had not dyed Had not Fates her Loue enuyed Torismundo impartiall Fate With a deadly killing hate Sought to punish but could finde Nothing to torment his minde Till the fatall Sisters fell Worse than those three hags of hell Chancing to behold Cantabria And her Soueraigne Floriana Heard her praise the Prince of Spaine Heard her for his lacke complaine Heard her say she was his ioy Heard her sweare that no annoy Could to Torismund betyde If she liude to be his Bride Where withall from her liues clue Hastely the thred they drue And with speed they cut the same When they heard my hatefull name So because I was enuied Gentle Floriana dyed This worthy louer being somewhat quieted depared and comming to the Christaline water hee washed his blubbred face and handes and drunke of the vertuous Fountaine which so quicklie did worke his necessarie effect that before he departed from the water hee knew not what had passed with him but the amorous life that before séemed to be a dreame although he remembred all yet not in such sorte that the death of the faire Floriana should giue him any perticuler griefe but rather seemed that he did wrong vnto Spaine that so quickly left it for blind affection Being in this new frée estate hee saw comming out of the thickest of the mountaine a Damsell mounted on a mighty blacke horse with a Lyon before her who at her arriual with a gallant demeanor alighted and comming to the Prince she said in the Spanish tongue Ualardus Torismundo a wise man who desireth thy good as to himselfe commanded me to bring thée this armour and horse and although their coulours are now contrary to the new and pleasant time and frée state which thy destiny hath brought thée yet the troubles are so many that you must passe in tormenting your couragious hart that you may from this present beare a deâ—ice conformable vnto that griefe and in recompence he will desire no more but that your heart faile not but alwaies haue in memory the noble bloud from whence you descend till such time as the tame Lionesse nigh to the place whereas now you vnderstood of the death of Floriana méete thée then shalt thou know of the frée life that shal be admitted thée and then thou shalt leaue this blacke armour putting on with better reason this which thou nowe wearest the which shall remaine vpon that poplar till all be finished that I haue here rehearsed vnto thée for so it is ordayned This swift Damsell tarried for no answere but with the spéede of an Eagle she put her selfe into the Forrest presently this young Mars did put of his pretious gréene armour with the which he did incounter the mighty Alphebo and hung it on the poplar whereas he found this saying He that takes thy armour hence which thou leauest for this blacke Shall againe in recompence giue thee ioy which thou wilt lacke With great ioy did this worthy Spaniard leaue his pretious armour and armed himselfe in the blacke armour of truth for that there were few like vnto it The armes as I say were all blacks but onely in the middest of the shield was painted Hope and Fortune Fortune saying thus With the turning of my Wheele all estates of men doo change Greefe or ioy they vsde to feele on a sodaine seemeth strange Hee had not well concluded the perusing of the shield with the deuice when that somewhat a farre off he heard a great troope of horse and sometimes the noyse of Women which séemed that they were by force constrayned which was the occasion that he leapt vpon his inchaunted horse and went into the high way with all spéed possible But by reason it was night and the Moone went verye low he could not sée nor know what people they were til such time as cléere Day appeared from the East then from a little hill whereon he ascended for to learne what it should bee hee discouered a mightie waggon drawen with sixe swift horse being full of people and to the number of 30. Knights with them and two furious Giants by which he conceiued that those in the waggon were caried prisoners Wherewith he descended from that little mountaine like an arrow out of a bow and ran with hys horse after them till it was in the afternoone and then hée was constrained somewhat to rest his horse in which time the Giants got vantage of the way for that the horses in the waggen were verie good After he had a while refresht his horse this warlike Youth went from thence more swift than the stone out of the sling till such time as in trauelling he saw a gentle Knight with russet armour and his shield of the same and in it the deuice of Cupide with two faces different vnto that hee was wont to beare for that they were now both closed This was the frée Dacian if you doo remember in amorâ—â—us conference with the French Ladie on their iourney towards Paris the Prince by the vertuous Fountainâ— changed had on his shield this Embleme written by the wise Lyrgandeo Sith my libertie is gained Close those eyes my heart that pained The Prince receiued great contentment when he saw the shield with that posie and willed the Pages that they should follow him softly after and spurring his inchanted horse he ran with more swiftnes than
strength of the blowe leauing the poore Knight that he séemed as though he had been stonned and being so nigh the King sawe hee could not hurt him with weapon he layd hands on him and griped him in such sort that hee made him to doe the like whereas was séene a gallant wrastling and by reason they were both of great force the one could not recouer of the other any aduantage but were forcing each other with the contention of their wrastling that they made their horses to stoope on their knées They were but mortall and to shewe they were such it was not much after foure houres battaile so well fought that Mars would haue bin weary that they loosed one from the other and breathed a while then taking againe their Maces they began to lay on without any pittie procuring the spéediest way they could ouercome it chaunced that the Tharsian did looke vp to the windowe where as his Lady was and seeing that shée stirred not leaning with her chéeke on her hand hee thought it was because she sawe in him some weaknes wherewith hee prâ—ssed to his enemy and stroke him vpon the helme such a blow that he voyded bloud at his mouth and fel vpon his saddle bowe Euerie one thought he had béen dead for that they saw his horse carry him about the field but within a while he came to himself without comparison much more malitious then the angry Uiper in the sandy Libia and with both his handes he gaue an answere to his contrary so rigorously that hanging down his armes and voyding bloud it made him in that state that his horse carried him towards the window wheras the Princesse was who séeing her Louer in that case her heart would not suffer her to sée so heauy a sight but she turned her back at such time as the gréeued youth came vnto himselfe and séeing the backe of his Flora considering from whence it did procéed he pricked foorth his great horse and assalted the Pagan and raysing himselfe in his stirrops with both his hands he gaue him such a blowe vpon the crest of his helme that he buckled it vnto his head wherewith he had a great fal to the ground with so great griefe vnto his people that it forced them against reason and without considering what their Lord had commaunded trusting in their great multitude to giue an assalt saying Strike downe and make dye that euill knight that hath slaine our Lord but that incouraging was to their hurt and damage for y t the valiant louer séeing them to be a vile kind of people returned to them so rigorously that quickly hee made a broad way whereas he went Those of the Cittie were not forgetful nor the valiant Princes for in a moment they opened the gates of the Citty whereout came all the knights and before them the thrée pillers of Knighthood and set vpon their enemies who were without Captaine making great slaughter wounding and killing with such force that quickly the field was witnes of their crueltie all to besprinckled with Cilician bloud and in such sorte they did presse them that at the euening they had almost none to fight with followed the chace vnto the seaside there it was that the Argentarians did most at their content make reuengement and remained rich with the spoiles for many yéeres and being honored foreuer they returned to their Citty with little losse yet they slew that day more then thirty thousand men besides a great number of captiues They were all amazed to sée the Knightly déeds of Rosicleer whome they estéemed in equall degrée with Mars The Kings receiued them all with that content as they were wont to receiue such as were victors increasing more their ioy with the hope they had to know what they were who said that it should be done in the pallace Then the gentle Lisarte caused to cut off the Pagans head and made his Page to keep it til he came at the Pallace whither they went And being all set down the valiant Tharsian rose vp with the head in his hand went knéeled down before his Lady who was the ioyfullest woman in the world saying Sir Knight Iupiter reward you for that you haue done this day for me for me to reward you I will not binde my selfe thereunto neither doe I beléeue that if I should venter my life for you it would bee a iust reward considering what for me my father this day hath bin done by you your valorous frends whome and you in the behalfe of these kings I desire to pull off your helmes and tell vs who you are which shall be in regard of no duety for that which is done is sufficient but to leaue vs a memorie of your vertue and noblenes I am therewith content faire Princesse said Lisarte more than this doth the time that you spent when we were nourished together bind mée vnto I am Lisarte the Prince of Tharsis and haue not made my selfe known till such time as I had concluded this little seruice which hath béene according vnto my strength but not coÌ„formable to your desert And therewith he pulled off his helme which caused great consentment to all that were present and his father had no end of ioy in that he knew his sonne to bee so valiant The King Father vnto the Princesse séeing that the Prince of Tharsis was a mean to raise the siedge from his Cittie and to obtaine so glorious a victory hee went vnto the Princesse and taking her by the hand he gaue her for spouse vnto the valiant Tharsian whereof hee was wonderful ioyous and she no lesse delighted which ioy I leaue to the consideration of true Louers This gallant Lisarte when hee sawe his fortune sure turned to his new and welbeloued spouse and said for that worthy Princesse you shall bee more certified of my firmnes and with what truth you are estéemed I haue tarried vnto this time for to haue you girt me with my swoord although this Knight pointing to the Troyan gaue me the order of Knighthood hee would not neither I my selfe would suffer it but at your hand yet foorthwith I defied him to mortall battaile Then he told them the occasion of the battaile the agréement whereat they all maruelled But the faire Princesse because she would not be ingratefull for that which the thrée knighets had done for her said with a soueraigne grace Welbeloued Lord I am content you knowe that if I loued you I doe loue you should make it manifest to all the Knightes in the world But yet I doe conclude this battaile in that I sée you haue better occasion to make long frendship then bréede any rigorous enemitie in séeing what this knight his frends hath done for you it is no iustice y t you so euil reward theÌ„ and the rather in that he loues and estéemeth his beloued Ladie which is reason and liues to honour her which is his dutie and it
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
comforter and I will giue you knowledge of that little loue I haue and I am so certain that it will be shortly that I shall not erre ere long to say God giue you ioy of your alteration Meane while let vs depart for feare we be too long mist. They gone the Tartare stood confounded at the grace of Grisanea at length he said vnto his Frends Of truth worthie Princes although I had verie earnestly iniurde you yet you could not haue taken better reuengement than to bring me to a place where I haue lost my libertie not knowing who hath tooke mee captiue The harme is so common sir Knight answered the Spaniard that it is estéemed as the most certainest thing among Gallants which professe the seruice of Ladies But it is so strange to me answered the Tartarian that I cannot iudge thereof but according to y e gréefe which it causeth Thus conferring and on the death of the Phrigian Lord they tarried the retourne of the Damsell who likewise gréeued that the Princes were forced to giue so long attendance At last they came both in their petticoates vnto y e window the princely Ladie trembling to sée her selfe before her beloued Knight imagining what offence she did vnto her fame in comming in such sort but the amorous passion did ouercome all so that they came vnto the window without feare and made a little noyse for a signe So the prince came vnto the window which was somwhat low and hauing no power to speake a word he knéeled on his knées demaunding her hands to kisse They both remained silent which thing is common betwéene them that loue well for when they méete their eyes onely speake their tungs are mute The Ladie séeing his dumbe passion making strength of weaknes said I would not sir Knight that my comming hether at so vnfit an hower should cause you to iudge it rather rashnes than the bond wherein I stand bound to you for the good you haue done me Besides Alcisaes perswasion is the greatest cause of this boldnes Deuine Princesse answered the fearefull Youth I sée well that your excellence intendeth euerlastingly to binde mee more and more by your manie fauours That I should conceiue either rashnes or lightnes in this your humble visitation of mee were agaynst my soule irreligious sacriledge and against your deuine curtesie vnpardonable blasphemie I rather blesse my Fates that haue reserued me to this happie hower honor your pittie that hath respected my passions and acknowledge my dutie to Alcisa for solliciting my sute so effectually Your owne deserts sir knight said Alcisa was onely the solliciter in your loues sute I for my life and precious honours preseruation am till my death your bounden hand maid And though vppon my soule I durst vndertake that neuer anie disloyall thought will enter into your couragious breast yet is my Mistres charie of thys loue bargaine for gentle knight manie knights haue dealt vngently with gentle Ladies Therefore ye must protest déeply ere she will beléeue and kéepe religiouslye what you doo protest Ah gentle Damsell said the Spanish Prince to myne harts sorrow your eyes haue béen the witnes And if yee doubt me I sweare by the religion of true knighthood by all the vnstained honour of rightfull armes by the famous remembrance of my thrice reuerent Predecessors if Grisalinda will be gracious to her vowed knight of a more constant seruant should no Lady in the whole world boast I doo confesse sir knight said the princesse that I am infinitely bound vnto you and your vowes I verely beléeue for true but you shall pardon me for setting my affection much more for plighting my faith to a knight whom I know not Souereigne princesse said the Spaniard after I had séene you and that this Damsell declared vnto mée your worthines I haue procured things that redound vnto your honour séeking the certainest meanes to performe the same and I haue not found any thing with more content than to put my life in your seruice and desire no other paiment but your acceptance Touching my birth I assure you I am the Sonne of a most royall king and sole Heire of a rich and populous kingdome all which hopes with my true hearts spotlesse loue I humbly offer at your féete The Princesse held her peace awhile pondering the weightines of the cause but the discréet Alcisa said vnto her You néed not Madam make anie stay hereat but performe his sute although it be the greatest curtesie y t may be granted I will be his suretie he will be thankfull and neuer contradict your pleasure séeing with what plainnes you doo accept him And therewithall perforce shee tooke her hands and gaue them vnto the Prince who inclosed them in his not hauing anie power to speake till y e princesse said At my pleasure I make no question but I shal be reuenged for so manifest wrong done thus against my will The prince séeing her somewhat angrie sayd Faire Ladie if the righting of these wrongs must bee satisfied with my death let me now receiue it and I will account it welcomer than death And therefore answered the princesse will I not this time with deserued death punish you Doo not procéed anie farther said the Damsell but pardon vs and therewith he offered to kisse her hands Then she told him the next day she should goe to a house of pleasure charging him not to leaue France without her licēse Thus parted they he returning to his Frends the ioyfulst man liuing and so his passion led him that hee spake not to them till they came to their pages The princes markt it wel and laughed thereat and the Dacian though he were somwhat drowsie requested to be partner in his ioy He would haue answered but their desire to sléepe with another accident that happened which shall be handeled in the next chapter brake off his pleasant discourse at that time What chanced to the Princes by Brandarte King of Cyprus and his Knights and how they deliuered out of his power all the Queenes and Princesses that he had taken prisoners Chap. 9. THe worthie Torismundo rauished with ioy to sée himselfe so fauoured intended to pertake his ioy with two frends who being wearie were laid to sléepe and hée hauing as much néede meant to beare them companie but they wer scant asléep when a noyse of horses did disturb them yet they let them passe till by and by there followed others which disquieted thē in such sort that they prepared to take horse and followe them but on a sodain the Damsel who before had broght them their armour came foorth with a fardle and making her selfe knowen vnto them she said The Wiseman my master commendeth him to you and biddeth you to weare this armour to day and to you valiant Tartare for the ayde and helpe that one daye the Empire of Grecia shall haue of you he doth send these armes for with them shall happen the greatest first content
to the second he stroke him so on the head that he made his braines flye in the field therewith quenching the desire they had vnto the Damsell In the meane time Fabio his Page had vntyed her who greatly maruelled at the valiantnes of the knight and came vnto him saying The heauen Sir Knight reward you for this you haue done for me For from thence commeth the reward of them that giue such succours which with my life likewise I will repay I giue you thankes faire Damsell said the prince but I pray you tell mee what was the occasion that these Knightes did thus misuse yee as also what Countrie this is where I am The Damsell humbling her selfe said most valiant Knight for euill persons to put in execution their kankred will little or no occasion at all serues So it is as I walked on my way in this Forrest I met with them and laying hold vpon me without any other occasion they put me in that sort as you found me and by and by began their battaile to try who should first make spoile of my honor And to the â—est touching this Countrie you shall vnderstand worâ—hy Knight that you are verie nigh vnto the great â—ittie of Rome for in two daies iourney you may â—â—me thether The gentle Dacian was ioyfull to bee in that famous Countrie so praised thoroughout al the world with many thankes he departed leauing the Damsell much bound to his seruice and verie ioyfull that she had séene so warlike a knight she went onwards on her way The Dacian took his way towards Rome and came that night vnto a faire and delightfull groue of poplers where he intended to passe away the night being sommer so there he alighted from his horse and made his Target his pyllowe but about aleuen a clocke at night he was waked by the noise of two shepheards who not farre from him were a talking but he imagining it to be some other thing buckled on his helme went by little and little amongst the trées to sée who they were y â— talked til by the light of the Moone he saw two shepherds set downe vnder a huge pine trée talking together And as one that was frée from the grief of amorous cares he receiued content to heare their talke the one who séemed to be yonger then the other with some shew of anger said It is not to be doubted frend Lisio that the brauerie of my shepperdesse excéedeth for onely with her beautie hath nature atchiued the name of famous Which causeth Aliano to affirme his shepperdesse is she that deserueth Apollo for her shepherd If he receiue content to come forth it is onely to behold her but not to giue her light for hee doth well know the eyes of my shepherdesse excéedeth his beames brightnes And this will I defend against them that be honored for Goddesses in the great Tinacria And therewith taking foorth his wel tuned rebecke he began this song with great swéetnes My Loue is of the Heard beloued Yet by his teares she is not moued In the sand his words she writeth And rends the songs that heinditeth O this she me with scornes requireth If I say I will not loue her My eyes teares my griefes discouer I must loue though she doe hate Sue though she disdaine my state And sing in teares this life me best delighteth At the end of this song thus answered the other Shepheard Aliano thou dost loue and takest it for the best life I doe not condemne thée but rather conceiue as thou desirest the fame due to thy Shepheardesse For this is the course of euerie louer to say that his Shepheardesse is a Phenix and for such a one doth hold her his crow must néedes be a swan who euer gainsaie it and yet there can be but one excellent and if yours be she whome doe all other Shepheards praise especially Poncenio The cholar of the amorous shepheard would not let him procéede any farther but he said It is sufficient frend Lisio I can with my rough crooke make knowne that Poncenio is an heryticke in affirming that his Shepheardesse deserueth the merit of mine and being ouercome with cholar at two leapes he put himselfe nigh vnto Poncenio with his knottie crooke in one hand and in his other his Ierkin and said Defend thée shepheard for it is time to sée if thou hast hands to maintaine that which thou hast so falsely published Poncenio was not a shepheard that would take such reprochfull words so with the swiftnes of a hawke hee put himselfe in the same order as his contrarie was where you should haue séene one of the prettiest contentitions in the world for as the shepheards did estéeme theÌ„selues to be louers they did not forget to be valliant The Dacian Prince reioyced in beholding them and greatlie wondred at the power of Loue that amongst shepheards shewed this rigor but he suffered them not to procéed forwards for that the contention would be perilous And so with a quicke pace came amongst them saying giue way gentle Shepheard it is not iust that this contention shuld goe forwards Valiant knight answered Poncenio it is not so small a matter as you thinke if you haue fasted loue you can say it is the greatest and most iust quarrell and rather to choose death than in this case to leaue off contention yet for all this for my loue said the Dacian I will that ye would be frends Of truth gentle Knight answered Poncenio many daies past haue I procured thys frendship with all plainnes in y e world and I beleeue because it was so simple it hath bin occassion that this shepheard doth thinke I doe it of necessitie he knowing which all the world shall know that if he loue I liue by louing a shepheardesse who in beautie discreation and proportion equalleth the most excellent I cannot said Aliano but acknowledge the many good parts of your shepheardesse brother Poncenio yet for all this you know that my shepheardesse hath caused her to yéeld These are passions sir knight said Lisio so long time past that it would be tedious to declare them But since you haue taken the matter in hand I pray you perswade them to leaue off contentions past and become frendes for frendship doth ease the sower troubles of this amorous euill And therewith the Dacian Lord went directly vnto the Shepherds very ioyfull that he had séene that controuersie and he tooke them perforce by their hands and made them frends which endured vnto death And the more to binde their frendship they all foure together sate downe on the gréene and fresh grasse making a signe vnto Fabio to bring the horses and likewise to inioy the frendship of the shepheards The gallant Youth did pull off his helme and shewed foorth his faire countenance but he had not so soone pulled it off wheÌ„ as the shepheard Lisio fel down at his féete saying O warlike Prince of Dacia what a happy day
brother was to armes So soone as the newes came to Parato for so was Mandrocos Fathers name the griefe was such that hee dyed presently Gelasio not being there for that he was gone into Egipt to consult with a wise man was notwithstanding foorthwith certified thereof by the wise Lupertio for so was the Master of Gelasio called namely that all his brothers and friendes were slaine sauing one néere a Giantesse his sister of a goodly proportion the which hee brought with him in companie of Lupertio and would not returne vnto the Iland whereof they were Lords for that foorthwith Trebatio did fortifie the same â—ut sâ—ayed them with him till he had commensed farther in his â—ote and he was so diligent that hee came to bee one of the most famous in Egipt Then foorthwith making signes and coniurations to know in what place he might inhabit best for to make reuengement and follow his 〈◊〉 he learned that it shold be in the defended Iland whereof was 〈◊〉 a young Giant called Fangomadan one of the moste strongest amongst all the Giants Hee foorthwith concluded with him frendship helping him with his learning till such time as hee had brought himselfe thether and the Giantesse And finding the countrey so fit for his purpose hee wrought so much that thys fierce Giaunt fell in loue with his Sister till they were married together of whom he begate the Giants which were slaine by the Greeke prince and Meridian who vntill that time did alwayes liue by robbing of the countrie till such time as hee apprehended those princes and put them in that inchauntment And straightwaies he departed from his brother in law for that hee vnderstood the destruction of his Castle would come and ordained his habitation more inwards vpon the highest parts of the rocks in the most delightfull and freshest aire that was in the whole world and he knew that hee who should race out his generation should be the same Knight that slewe the most valiant Mandroco Whereat he felt so great griefe that he wâ—nt about to preuent the reuengment before the death of his Kindred At last by arte hee came to knowledge that of the first and fairest Ladie that hee apprehended should be borne a Sonne and a Daughter vnder such a Signe and planet that they should prooue the most valiantest princes in the world and how that in the parts of famous Assyria should be borne another prince that in force should be equall with the Greeke princes and at the same time in Phoenicia another and a fifth begotten by the mightie Sophy all of such excellent valor force and strength that they should bee the parties able to promyse him reuengement When he had certaine knowledge of these things and was assured that Floralinda was Fangomadans prisoner he tarried the time of her deliuerie which chaunced vnto her with great paines and throwes but all turned to her content when shee saw the fairnes of the Children although this ioy indured so small a time that the remembrance therof passed away for hauing them in her armes there entered in two furious Lyons with terrible roaring and tooke them from her leauing the féeble Lady with great griefe as you may imagine to bee in prison without her children of whom the wise man had as great care as though they had béene his neuewes Yet to make them to be the more fierce and furious they were nourished in hardnes and giuen them mingled with their nurses milke the milke of Lyons and furious beastes and they were nourished in such sort that the wise and learned man did recouer a great part of his lost comfort He gaue them names conuenient to the content of their parents for the Prince they named the hidden Celnido and his sister Floralisa whom others did cal the rigorous For that til such time as she was wounded with amorous passions she was very cruell as you shall heare At the same instant in the figure of diuers beastes hee brought the other infants The Assirian he called Don Clarisell of Assiria who died for the loue of Floralisa as you shall heare The Phoenician he named Don Argente of Phoenicia that of the Sophy for that he was the goodliest in y e world he named him the gentle Torisiano Hee nourished and brought them vppe with so great care that there was nothing too deare for their comfort The three infants were together in places different from the brother and sister who increased in fairenesse and wit in such sort that the wise man liued the meriest man in all the world When they came vnto sixe yeres of age it was a heauenly thing to sée them by reason of their beauty and either of them séemed to be of more yeres They did neuer sée the one the other till they woon the swords as shal be tolde you He exercised them in learning and all languages of the world and the worthy Floralisa learned in such sort that she grew equall with her brother When they entered more in yeres he gaue them bowes to shoote with and some daies caried them to the mountaines and had a great delight to sée with what brauery they would attempt to hunt with their mountaine kniues in this sort they passed their life in great delights The brother and sister would neuer depart the one froÌ„ the other their loue was such neither could the one liue without the other They called the wise man father and so did the other Princes who increased in like maner in all knowledge and were brought vp in the exercise of hunting alwaies respecting them as to such Princes it was conuenient Aboue the two he did preferre the Assirian youth who séemed to be no other but an angell in his beauty and soueraigne disposition Unto them all the wise man gaue hunting apparell whereof they were very glad for that they much reioysed in that life and when they did kill any wilde beast they brought it home with great ioy and content One day he would shew them the strange thinges of his house and the chambers of the faire brother and sister and for the same the day before he inuited the two Scithians to the hunt telling them that he would sende them to other newe places whereas was great store of venison So the next day the amorous Delphian pastour shewing his face the two well agréeing youthes came foorth with two pages which were nourished with them of the most principall of the Scithians the page of the Prince was called Atlante and that of his sister was called Severo who caried with them somewhat for their sustentation for that day for that they would not returne till the euening Their iackets were of gréene cloth of golde cut vpon white tinsell and wrought with curious workes but the Lady by reason of her haire wore a garland with an infinit number of pearles set with diuers colours and a gallant quiuer at her back and crimson buskins after the maner of
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
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
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
with the earnest truth of our soules I should doe verie euill worthy knights said the Damsell if I knew not my duty therin I wil put my life in hazard for your coÌ„tents and for that you shal be certified of al know that your companioÌ„ is beloued my Mistres affecteth him without knowing who he is there is no need to kéep in secret who ye are And there with shee declared vnto them all that passed the night before and all was to know who they were but the Prince desired her on his part to doe his commendation vnto the gentle Dutches of Savoy and to certifie her what he pretended to doe in her seruice Then they agréed that the Damsel should returne and certifie them that they would bee at the iustes So putting themselues in a secret place of the forrest to repaire their armour they saw come foorth of the fame a Damsell mounted on a great horse and before her a fardell and when she came vnto them she said vnto the Dacian Worthy Heleno the wise man my Lord and thy faithfull fréend doth send thée this armour for that thou shouldst this day in the French Court shew the royall bloud from whence thou didst procéed And to you Prince of Spaine for that he vnderstands you shall giue him great ayde and succour he sendeth you another where with you shall make the beginning of your ease and all other matters he wisheth you to leaue to his power for that he will doe therein as for myselfe So without tarrying any answere shee returned like the winde and they lost the sight of her quickly with great ioy the knights tooke the armour and left theirs hidden amongst the bushes and with the help of the Damsell they were armed that shee might know them and giue aduise vnto the Princesse when they came thether so with this agréement they tooke their leaue of her and returned to rest themselues a little and eate of that which their Pages had brought ere they went to the Iustes the which at that time was begun so strongly that it gaue content to al the beholders for the mightie King of Carthage was one of the strongest in all the country of Moores This gallant Moore changed his armor and put on one of a russet colour striped with gréen bordred with blew vpon his shield was there a Phenix hard by his Lady with this Posie The Knight and Lady both may liue secure When he is valiant she a Phenix pure This gallant Carthaginian entred to be looked on and after hee had compassed the Court with a fierce countenaunce he put himselfe at the Lyst end to abide the Iusts There wanted no Knights to be in readines and the first that would prooue himselfe was the famous Lord of Claramonte armed with strong armor mounted on a mightie horse who taking a speare came and encountred his Contrarie so strongly that they both staggered in theyr saddles and the French Knight lost one stirrop But for that he was valiant they iusted againe but it happened otherwise than he thought for he fell on the ground wyth shame Straight there entred in his place a gentle knight of Almaine called Agesilaus who had thrée courses wyth the King but in the end he left his saddle Then entered the mightie Baldomes armed in carnation armour and his deuice in his shield was a bloodie sword Hee beeing knowen of all they said that there would be the best iusts of all that day They met together with all theyr forces without anie moouing the like hapned the second thyrd courses but at the fourth hee came to the ground wyth a great fall the Moore remained somewhat wearie with those strong incounters yet passâ—d forwards with a slowe pace at whose valor they all reioyced And from that time he began to doo such wonders y t before it was one a clocke in the afternoone hee had ouerthrowen sixtéene knights Then changed he his horse and tarrying the Iust with a great speare he saw enter on the one side of the place two knights the gallantest proportioned that he had séene mounted vpon mightie horses He on the right hand séemed to bee most corpolent and was armed with a shining armour of an euill coloured yeolow but in riches verye strange All the buttons and workes were of white and red which in the Sunne showed gallantly and could not be well discerned for the rich stones it had There was a Groue painted on his shield out of the which came foorth a Ladie with a sword in her hand as thogh she wold wound a Knight who was on his knées before her showing hys heart with this Embleme If thou wilt smite behold my hart Be kinde or kill death easeth smart His Companion who shewed no lesse grace and gallantnes than the first was armed in armour quartered like a chesse with blue and gold there was set about the quarters diuers kinds of precious stones and all y e ioints were lion tawney and on his shield a shining heauen in the middest a Pellican cherishing her birds with her owne blood hauing this Motto Open thy breast thou gentle Pellican And change we harts els dyes a fainting man These gallant Knights at their entrie gaue great hope who crossing y e place with their speares tipped with sharp and bright stéele rid till they came to the galleries wheras the Princesse was who was féeding her sight wyth that ioyfull obiect Unto whom the two Knights when they passed by did their obeysance with a souereigne gallantnes whereat the Ladies did somewhat raise themselues from their seates The discréet Alcisa did very wel know them for that she saw them armed in the Forrest and now hauing occasion to speake for her Knightes for that the passionated Princesse did aske her if shee knewe them she answered Madam I doo know them for he with the Pellican is that happie Knight of the blacke armour to whom are due all good aduentures in the world and whom of right I am bound to serue for that he did not onely deliuer me yesterday from death but did also defend my honour from foure rude knights that were desirous to spoyle it and in payment of their boldnes he slew them giuing me afterwards plainly to vnderstand that he doth liue amorous and wil haue no other content but y t which commeth of loue accounting you for his naturall owner not desiring other reward more than the glorie of your thought I did well beléeue my Alcisa answered the amorous Ladie that in yéelding my affaires to your charge there could nothing redownd vnto mée but that which should be comfortable and there is small néede to perswade mee to that which I estéeme as my life I perceiue said the faire Duches that Alcisa will show her dutie vnto the Knight of the Blacke armour séeing shee did not onely learne of him that hee loued but also I beléeue she told him that he was beloued Alcisa answered I
that now ye can desire And as the other time without any more tarrying shée departed leauing them greatly content for that the armour was as good as they had séene Then they left their other with the beauteous shield amongst the bushes and with great spéed armed themselues and mounted on their horses they went foorth into the high way and commanded their Pages to come by little and little towards the bridge Sequana When they were foorth they mended their paces but they could not sée any body so for that they would not loose the way they alighted till such time as the carefull and amorous Apollo purposing anew to salute the Morning hasted him forwards in his course At this time the thrée valiant Frends beeing mounted on their light horse tooke the trace of them that had passed But for that the country was so full of trées halfe the day was past and they had no newes of them till they were tolde by a wood maker that they were passed directly vnto the house of peasure whether as the king that morning had gone to recreate himselfe Almost deuining howe it should be they went vpward into the field till the hower of two then they saw a faire Tent armed in the middest of the field nigh vnto the way that they passed to the house and there staied certaine Chariots that séemed to be ful of Ladies The Princes stayed and the Tartarian requested them that they would let him alone to goe into the fielde and that they would tarrie for him there For to giue him content the two frends did graunt it who lighted from their horses and when their Pages came they commanded Fabio the Dacians page for that he was most discréet that he should muffle himselfe and goe thether and sée what succéeded vnto the Prince of Tartaria Who with his visor downe and his speare in his hand with a quiet pace went directly vnto the Tent at such time as came foorth therof a knight armed with yellow armour bordred with blewe mounted on a mightie horse and in the middest of his shield at the side of a mightie Riuer there was a Ladie as though she were a writing with this Posie which said When my griefe I let her know In the sand she writes my woe The Tartarian receiued great content at the good disposition of the knight and staying to sée what he would do he saw that he went vnto the first Chariot in the which there was alone thrée ladies which séemed the most fayrest in all the world all thrée apparelled alike in golde tynsell cut vpon blewe and their haire according to the vse of Spaine with sightly lockes which graced more their faire faces and comming vnto them the knight said Faire Ladies the solitarie knight commaundeth mee in his behalfe I should doe to you his commendations and for that he hath vnderstood the brauerie of the Ladies of France and how renouned they are in the world hee gesseth there will bee knights desirous to shewe their forces in their seruice From this time I defie them in the name of your beauties maintaining that you alone deserue the names of faire and beautifull and to bee beloued aboue all and I will runne thrée Speares with euerie one of them on condition that he who falleth shall loose his horse and shield and there to leaue his name and if vnto him it chanceth otherwise that faire Tent shall be the reward of his victorie And I with the same launces doe defie all knights with the condition aforesaid that my passions is more iust than any that hath suffered by loue my lady being the sole occasion shee and no other deseruing to be lady and Mistresse of my thoughts It caused the ladies to laugh at that which those twoâ— knights would defend but the answere they remitted to the Duke of Soma for that hee and all the other Dukes and knights that were at the Iuste came for the loue oâ— the Princesse and the king who at that time were arriued The Duke gaue them thankes saying of truth sir knight the lady whom this solitarie gallant doth serue séemeth to be most faire according to his opinion Yet notwithstanding neither of them shall lacke those that will answere them Without any reply or answering he in the yellow armour bore downe his launce and put himselfe in place whereas he and they in the Chariots might sée the Iusts Then might they sée come foorth the solitarie knight armed in siluer armour full of red listes and in the middest of his shield a field painted full of swéet flowers and he lying in the middest amongst them with this Posâ—e I doe liue alone content In this pleasant languishment He was mounted on a great and mightie horse of a browne colour with a gallant semblance tarrying to sée how his companion did for that he should runne with two and himselfe with other two The Duke of Samo went foorth to the encounter but although the Moore was one of the valiantest in his Countrie yet at the first encounter he lost the reines out of his hand at the third the Duke of Soma went to the ground his saddle all in péeces with griefe vnto all for that he was welbeloued Foorthwith in his place entred the valiant Duke of Pera assalting the one the other the Duke was out of his saddle Then the Moore put himselfe on the one side that the solitarie knight might enter who entred with a great grace forcing his horse till such time as there went two Knightes to the encounter and the like happened vnto them as did vnto the rest The cunning Moore that first did Iuste was making himselfe ready tarrying to sée who would come foorth then entred into the field the curteous Andronio Prince of Tartaria mounted on his light horse with the armor which the wise man had sent him which was all gilt and theron placed many Serpents of curious worke and on hys shield which was of the same colour of his armour and thereon M. of colour red with this Posie Since I am chanst into deaths fatall lot I like my chance if so my Loue be got All the Ladyes and knightes fixt their eyes on him in séeing his gallant shape who passing before the chariot made his horse knéele downe with so gallant a grace that y e most did affect him but none more regarded him thaÌ„ the Princesse of Holland Grisanea who by séeing him yéelded in such sort that she began to be angry with her selfe for that she was so bold to speake euil of Loue the night past Uerie quickly she made shew thereof for turning vnto the Ladies she said Let vs haue good hope in this knight that will better defend our beautie than those that are past with the affection wherewith she spoke it it did plainely appeare that it did come from her heart and therewith the braue French Lady said I pray God Lady cosin that the force of the knight of the Serpents
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
for rescue nor if they had cried could they haue béen heard the noyse and tumult was so great for the Ladies that waited on them sent out shrill cryes able to haue pierced the clowds but the heauie groanes of dying men deadly brayings of wounded horses so filled the place that â—ootlesse were all their lamentations For now Rosabel was mounted and Liriana before him the two Bretheren had her two Kinswomen and Lisarte their Sister Before them rid Oristoldo and Florisarte filling the iawes of death wyth heapes of dying men that fondly sought to hinder theyr swift escape For Marcello had commanded the chaynes that serued for pales to the place of Tornay to bee taken downe that all the Cittie being armed might enter and inclose the Knights strangers to reuenge the death of the Egyptian SoldaÌ„ the gates indéed it was folly to close because a great wal was ouerthrowne to ioyne the field adioyning to the Pallace gréene that the Court for Tornay might be more spacious Through this place passed our sixe Princes all men making meanes to giue them way but not one so mad to follow them And quickly comming to the place where they left their knights and pages there they set downe their amazed Ladies who began lamentably to complaine But when they knew what Knights they were their feare was turned vnto ioy and Liriana aboue the rest reioyced in her Rosabel Neuerthelesse considering the danger wherein the Souldan her Father was it was thought necessarie that Rosabel Florisarte Oristoldo should returne to the battaile whereuppon determining they changed their horses helmes and shéelds because they would not be knowen and posted to Niquea with all spéed In the meane time the pleasant Celandian princesse to chéere vp Liarana that drooped for the absence of Rosabel carrolled out this swéete dittie in praise of Fortune When Tyrants will had neere constraind Our Virgins state to haplesse stay And in our hearts we all were paind With thinking on the wedding day Then Fortune turned our distresse To endlesse ioy and happinesse The hatefull obiects of our harts Plumde in their pride did threat the skie And them we liked for deserts As exiles forced were to flie Yet Fortune that our griefes did see Prouided vs of remedie She sent our frends that quaild our foes She gaue vs life when death was nigh To ioy she turned all our woes Downe cast with greefe she raisd vs high Her Godhead therefore we adore And praise sweet Fortune euermore By this the thrée princes entred the Battell finding the Soldan vnhorsed defending himselfe against two giants whom Rosabel at two strokes cut in sunder With this y e King of Garamantia approched saying Soldan retyre thy knights and if I or my fellow kings bee guiltie of this daies tumult or thy daughters rape let vs die He speaketh reason said Rosabel heare him great prince For your desert I will said the Soldan on that condition and therewith he caused retreat to be sounded And so the kings submitting themselues to bee tryed that they were innocent of conuaying the Princesses away they were deliuered vnto an aged Prince to kéep and the thrée Princes with swift spéed returned to their Loues where in the middest of their delight a crosse accident barred their pleasure as shall bee expressed in the next Chapter How the Princesse Liriana and her companions sweetly conuersing with their loues and brethren were sodainly surprized by the wise Lupercio and inchaunted Chap. 22. THis vaine world wherein pleasures are gotten with much paine giueth no certaine continuance of the good wee toyle for but rather an houres storme of euil snatcheth from vs all the content that in a whole age with care we haue gathered Experience of this these Princes sodaine griefes shal be who had scarcely obtained a breathing time of ioy but a world of sorrow was heaped on their heads If you be remembred in the beginning of this historie where Brandafidel described the estate of FangomadaÌ„ and the cause of the inchauntment to Rosicleer Meridian and Oristides after y e death of his Brother he telleth theÌ„ of one Lupercio a wise man in Egipt that was master of his Unkle Gelasio and taught him his deuilish Artes. This Lupercio being acquainted with the successe of all things at Niquea by his Arte and knowing also where the Princes and Princesses were put himselfe into an inchanted Chariot drawen with foure furious Griffons and departing from his deuilish habitation came néere the pleasant place where these Princes fearelesse of such execrable euil were delighting themselues with amorous conuersation Neither did this Lupercio hate them for any other thing than because his scholler Gelasio was by them so crossed imprisoned It was about the houre of twelue at midnight when after long toyle the Knights intended to take rest the Ladies offering to watch be their kéepers Liriana begun a ditty to bring them all a sléep in whose vndersong Roselia Arbolinda the Soldans néeces and the Princesse of Celandia assisted her with voice and musique Sleep while we sit and be your Guard Your tyred lims rest in our laps Your endlesse faith be our reward Then care we not for after haps Lyke you lay Mars on Venus knee While she did sing her Lullabee Lullaby Lulla Lullaby So sweetly Warre with Loue doth lye Thou wert the substance of my griefe But art the ground worke of my ioy Thy absence causd my sorrow cheefe But now thy sight exiles annoy I mournd for thee thou weptst for mee Yet sing I now ioyes Lullabee Lullaby Lulla Lullaby So sweetly Warre with Loue doth lye The Knights had not closed their eyes nor the musique fully closed in due straines with the conclusion of the Ladies song when sodainly a fierie chariot drawen by â—oure Griffons descended and out of the chariot issued two fearfull Centaures that snatching vnder either arme a Lady carried away to the Chariot Liriana her two Cosins and the Princesse of Celandia with such swiftnes that the Princes were not able to rise ere the Chariot was mounted in the ayre the Ladies making such lamentation as the senselesse trees assisted by the whistling of the winde among their leaues séemed to sigh for their sorrow Liriana being heard alowd to cry Oh Rosabel why am I taken from thée when in thée was all my ioy And with this the chariot and Ladies were out of sight O tragicke Sister that beutifiest thy writings with griefe-discoursing lines a little lend me thy all able help that in concluding this booke I may straine teares from the pittying eyes of the Readers when they shal conceiue the sorrow that the princes conceiued at this sodaine accident All of them so gréeued as the dull earth drunke with their teares sent foorth from her pierced bosome salt and brackish springs that yet remaine in the forrests of Niquea as endlesse testimonies of that sad midnights misaduenture the chast Moone clouded her bright countenance and swéet Venus in her spheare lookt more discoloured than when the son of Mirrha was murdred by a sauage Boare and the Day-Starre refused to lead backe the hoast of heauen to giue way to the next daies morning but mourned in the skies euen as when Ceyx his sonne was drenched in the Seas But if all these Planets Earth Springes and Princes sorrowed y e grief and rage of Rosabel so much excéeded all as neither the fortunelesse Mother of those fourtéene Sons and Daughters slaine by the son and Daughter of Latona could with her griefe equall his sorrow nor the wrath of Alcides wheÌ„ he sacrificed himselfe on the mountaine of Oeta be compared to this yong princes rage And surely had not the wisedome of Lisarte preuailed he had desperatly ended his life who perswading him and the other princes that by the words on the Christaline piller which supported the tower where Rosabel was inchanted it was very likely they were borne thether and therwith combining themselues neuer to cease trauel til they had found them out both Rosabel and the other princes were somewhat quiet So parting themselues two and two Rosabel Oristoldo went backe to Niquea to answere for the imprisoned kings and there to hearken if they might heare of the Ladies the two princes of Celandia sent home their ships and knights and onely with two pages followed this aduenture so did Lisarte his son another way accompanied onely with the two disguised Ladies their pages And séeing their heauy parting hath tyred my wearied spirits I wil end this book after that for your better memory I haue collected the places together where we left our knights and Ladies The gallant Torismundo prince of Spaine we left reioycing with Grisalinda the princesse of France his yong son the valiant Tartarian with Grisanea princesse of Holland and their sonne trauelling to his country from the doubtfull Iland where Rosicleer made Lord after the death of Bruncaldo the Rouer and his brethren the Giants the discreet knight Briano giuing him to wife the imprisoned Damsel daughter to Rosicleers old frends the Lord Lady of the valley of the mouÌ„taines Rosicleer Meridian and the new Louer Oristides we leaue going to Sea from Lacedemonia ful of sorrow for the losse of Rosabel The faire Sarmacia ful of iealous passion we left in y e forrests of Grecia and not farre off Brandafidel and Floralinda in the Castle they had gotten from Friston the inchanter Gelasio inprisoned by Lyrgandeo Liriana her Cousins and the Celandian princesse borne away in the Chariot How Rosabel and his frends parted you heard before onely wee haue not béen copious enough in expressing Roselias sorrow for the Dacians absence whom she last saw passing by Lisartes ship in his inchanted boat where also wee last left him And heere will wee leaue off intending with him to begin our next Booke FINIS
good successe hee had against the monster seconded his first blow couragiously and pared away a péece of the Satyres leg the diuelish furie finding himselfe so wounded would gladlye haue fled from the valiant Celindo but his wounds weakened his pace and the swift Youth fastened on him such and so manie violent blowes that the hideous monster fell groueling to the ground with a most horrible fearfull crye At the same instant the gallant and heroicke Princesse his sister had brought her aduersarie into like extremitie for returning vpon him with an inuincible courage she wounded him so sore in his legges and thighes that she had easie means by his fainting to cast a deadly thrust at him which entring the botâ—ome of his detested and hideous wombe he staggered awhile and fell to the earth with a more excéeding clamour than his horrible hatefull companion At the fall and crie of the first Satyre their two Pages came vnto them and séeing the Princes against such dreadfull aduersaries they fearfully exclaymed making the most gréeuous mone that might bee for feare of the danger that might ensue to their most beloued Lord and Ladie No sooner did the last Satyre fall which the admyred Floralisa ouerthrew but with angrie countenaunce she returned to the heartlesse Pages and thus reprehended their cowardise What meane ye you soft hearted and timerous wretches to vse these exclamations what danger doo you sée vs in that you thus crie out turne and behold our faynt ouerthrowne aduersaries where with turning about the bodies of the Satyres were vanished and an inchanted Castle erected in the place with a pillar before the gate hauing this inscription The Groue of Meruailes discoouered by the most excellent Brother and Sister shall be here tilâ— the Ownce which was at the Discouerie doth return and make entrie in companie with the furious Lionesse and beeing plagued with mad ielouzie doth seeke her remedie making free the enâ—rie to all with the rigor of her arme and then shall euerie â—ne know here in what degree they are beloued for so wil â—he ancient Medea that it should be And more lower was this inscription written From this time forwards may those that bee ouercome with loue prooue the Aduenture of the enamoured which was discouered by the hidden Prince in his infancie and prime of armes being the first blood that euer he shed euen the blood of my Sagittaries who shall neuertheles be the guarders of my dwelling house till such time as returning to enter they win the armes of the carelesse and loued Iason wheâ—ewith hee wonne the Golden Fleece from the I le of Colchos The Princes remained amazed to see the thinges that there hapned vnto them and determining to returne for that is was late they saw comming toward theÌ„ in great hast the reuerend wise man who they went to méete and he embrasing them said O felicitie of this present age with what praise shall I exalt the beginning of your most highest déedes that euer were done by Knights in truth I know not how to performe it with this my rude tung But here will remaine a memorie so long as the World shall endure and there shall not lacke Aduentures for anie Knight wherein to imploy himselfe whosoeuer commeth this way So taking them by the hands they returned and hee told them that there was an Inchantment but hee knew not that they should discouer it neither that it was in that place for that it was of more antiquitie than his Yet for all this you shall not goe from hence my louing children said the wise man if all things happen not as you desire for vnto this and more am I bound and so he carried them home leauing first by his arte on the piller these verses ingraued Louers that long to know with what regard Their deere lou'd Ladies them doo estimate Shall here perceiue their scorne or their reward To ease or end their sorrowes passionate This as a glasse to euerie Louers eye Shall shew his Ladies loue or iealozie Th'vntamed Hidden with the tender Lambe First found this wonder and aduenture rare Louers may blesse the time they hether came For in this place Loues chiefest secrets are Here shall they learne to flye and to pursue To craue and giue to yeeld and to subdue This writing said Gelasio for a token of the high and worthie beginning in which you haue made experience of your valors And I doo not doubt but they which haue gotten such an Aduenture as this is shall haue all other affaires for their contents although not to mine but it is so ordained by my destenies Discréete Father said Celindo the Gods wil not that we should atchiue anie thing wherein wee should receiue content and the same redownd to your discontentment to whom we are so much indebted If it were in your hands answered the wise man in good securitie might Gelasio liue to sée his reuengement But shortly Celindo shall you sée that which hath caused my paine and parents death and so shall you excellent Ladie but your affections shall be wounded you shall often wish death which will auoyde you and flye good fortune that shall follow you yet your heroicke déedes shall win you immortalitie therefore let not your hearts faile you And in telling them this hee brought them vnto theyr chamber which was of diuers colours and in the walls innumerable precious stones so placed that they gaue light to all the chamber Round about it were diuers figures of Ladies who in times past and at that time also flourished and were most famous There was the fayre â—uâ—â—a and the constant Penelope with her amorous web there was the affectionate Porcia with so manie showes of beautie that it caused in the princes great admiration Nigh vnto her they saw the negligent Egyptian Cleopatra at whose féete were three Emperiall Crownes wyth this saying Crowne Rule Fame Loue and glorious Emperie I sought scornd won and lost ingloriously The next vnto her was faire Campaspe with whome Great Alexander fell in loue and she was hand in hand with beauteous Helena who séemed to speake vnto Campaspe in this sort Once did my face consume Dardania When I was rapt by wanton Alexander But thine burnes him that burned Persia And of the vtmost Inde was Conquerer My Alexander was his Countries Fire-brand Thine burned others but preseru'd his Land On the second side was the mightie Empresse of Constantinople Briana and nigh her the faire Lindaraza The Empresse was compassed about with russet Crownes betokening her troubles for Trebatioes absence with thys Motto Crost Loue embracing gentle Patience Though long at last receiues Loues recompence This is she louing Children said the wise man that brought foorth the death of my royall blood of her were borne those vntamed Lions that haue raced out my Lynage More lower on the third side of that chamber was the â—aire Claridiana the princesse Oliuia with ioyous countenances in that they inioyed