my former successes through your meanes the happie sight of your first approch so alienated my selfe frō my selfe that I was faine to submit my soule to hope some redresse for so great a change and yet thereby loosing the same hope of remedie through the vnhappie death of your deare brother though now I haue not altogether lost if of his life because that learned man that sent vs this shield hath vndertaken the care of his safetie But because I am and will be yours vntill the fatall Sisters of life and death shall abridge my soule of her breathing sacrifices I beseech you by the firmenesse of our sincere loue you will assure my hopes confirme my desires and set an end to my painfull longings With the end of which wordes with more boldnesse thē his feare required he kist her on the chéeke which done he dyed his own with such a bashfull tincture that it altogether stopt the passage of his spéech Well did the Lady perceaue his alteration who with some showe of anger replyed I would not Prince of Dacia that the committing of my honours puritie and my Maydens fame into your hands should be occasion of your little regard vnto the great respect due to the confidence I haue in you reposed wherein yf you neglect the dutie you owe thereto I will rather cast my selfe into these deuouring waters then the glorie of my chast thoughts shall endure any stayne And the receauing you for my Knight hath not been so smal a fauor but might sufficiently so content you that my kéeping you company thus alone to trust you with my immaculate vnstayned imaginations should be no cause to mooue you to this discourtesie And offering to goe frō the hatches the Prince with Millions of sighes proceeding from his soule stayed her by the arme with these wordes That I haue displeased you Imperious Princesse so torments me that I know not how to satisfie your discontent conceaued vnlesse you now will take a full reuenge for my many trangressions though it bee with effusion of my dearest dearest lyfe and yet what I did was forced by the motion of a pure sincere loue and not of any lasciuious thoughts So assured was the beauteous Rosamond therof that she thus made answere Since my happie starrs braue Prince haue put me in your hands they haue dryuen me to that necessitie that I must forget and forgiue any offence whatsoeuer but if you shall passe these lymits my selfe will execute on my owne life the cruellest death ere heard of With incredidle ioy the amorous Prince kist her hands for the fauor being warned by the palenesse of Cinthias shine that it was time to withdrawe themselues they returned to their seuerall cabbins comparable to any Monarches chamber where they past the night with such conformable thoughts that hadd they durst either to visite the other at that seasō it is doubtfull whether they would haue differred the glory attending on such attempts A little before the Messenger of morne began to lace the Heauens with her goulden hayre the Princely youth séeing himselfe so true a seruitor vnto the God of loue so derely to be loued raysed himselfe on the bed and leauing on his pillowe tooke his Lute in hand and making it sound the repetition of his ioyes he sung the felicitie that the heauens gaue him in the possession of so rare a Lady in these verses Let th'happiest dye with enuie of my state And as vnhappie haue a speedy fall If soule and thoughts tormented were of late T was to obtayne the soueraygnest good of all In whome deuyne Apelles with his art For beauties sake drewe forth her better part Dye fayre Adonis and Apollo perish Pyramus and Leander breath no more Endimion eake that did with fauors florish Well knowes the world my loue the heauens adore And as their estimation passed myne So in content let them so much declyne He ended with a sigh saying Oh loue with how greate reason art thou honored and like a God adored seing thou canst cherish him that hath not felt thy churlishnesse and on whom thou hast not extended the intollerable waight of thy rygorous power Well did the Princesse heare him ouer-ioyed to be loued by so braue a Prince imagening she could not hope for more hauing so great a good there present Notwithstanding she determined yet to dissemble her affection vntill the time did counsell her what she should doe and because the Sunne had begun his rysing in the East she made her ready putting on her white most rich armour went directly to the Princes cabbyn who with his new care had it not to clothe himself yet seing his Lady come he woulde rise but she staying him sayd I would haue had you done it afore Sir Knight for he that liues so carelesse should not belike doubt of his Mistres fauors and with my soule I would be glad to know her that I might aske her if she ioyes in so carelesse a louer Deuinest Princesse replyed the ioyfull Prince with nothing doe I more expresse my poore soules pensiuenesse then with such carelesnes which being well noted it will be iudged a carefull confidence for it cannot be more séene nor better deserued in any then in whome true loue hath rooted his conceipts for without care of anye thing else he doth onely busie himselfe in the swéete imaginations of his owne alienation Notwithstanding answered the Lady I doe condemne so great confidence almost grounded vpon an extremitie and in most respcts little respecting the Lady loued for the ouerielous louer did neuer but die confounded in his owne expects A care magnanimous and honorable is to be alowed excused and worthy of estimation but vtterly to bee ouer-whelmed in pensiue suspence and make you séeme nothing but a louer befits you not nor yet becoms it one boūd to accomplish so many things as you I doe ioy so much deare Mistres of my hart to loue and wholy to employ my selfe therein that I would shewe no signe that I can any thing otherwise and although I should doe so I do not requite the worth of my imployment for if I had a Thousand soules al were to few cōpared to the content of my imaginatiōs where al the good is decyphered the otherwise I might expect and I finde that being not this waye yf would be more then troublesome Sir Knight replyed she you doe so highly accompt the thing loued that I doe wish I were she to obtaine that glorie that neuer Venus did enioy though in beautie a Goddesse and it should be for no longer then I might knowe whether it be true all that you publish Thereof excellent Princesse replied he craue no better testimonfe thē the paine that I conceaued with your sight Then answered shee you cannot denie mee that to loue is more to feare then any other thing seeing you say that the first sight left you so wounded whereby I inferre your paine proceeded
they would be found by reason of the triumphes cōmaunded their ship to be guided to Arrissa a hauen some thing remote from the Citie where the eight day they arriued and taking land they entred through the grene Forestes taking the next waye to Constantinople but first determined to linger thereaboutes the time that wanted for the feastes which might be some vii or viii dayes So their Fortune led them to passe away the night hard by the place where the iealous Sarmatia bewailed her woes For after she had parted from Brandafidell she cast her selfe from her horse lamenting her misfortuns supposing that her beloued Oristides had forsaken her to Loue Floralinda wife to the Prince Meridean And they arriued at such time that forced by a Ielous spleene she said Oh rauning experience that before I can begin to Loue I must with Ielousie be tormented Oh Cupid if this be one of thy blowes established in all harts how is it possible thou shouldest be honored or to thee appeale why shold any as to the Soueraine Prince and Iudge of the earth how wilt thou haue that Ladies shall worshippe and adore thee if with such extreames thou plaguest their tender harts Apparent signes did I see in that valiant Prince to loue me but more certainer haue I met in Greece that he abhorrs me Oh happie Land only to me vnappie I blame not thee but curse my starres that doe oppose their influences to ruinate my glory who would haue tould me thou shouldest be a sepulcher to her that to thee came to seeke her life O Gods how farre better had I done to split my hart in Lacedemon with my deare friends swoord then to come to so great miserie in Greece mightie will be the wrong I doe to Ladies when my death shall be published to haue been because I was not beloued But wretch that I am why impute I in him the sin of disloyaltie hauing to his owne cost assured mée by militarie déedes his soule to be soly thine then rather procuring thy victorie then the conquest for himselfe And séeing it is yet doubtfull I will cherish my selfe till I know it and finding it so not that I loued him without hope of like but for the dishonor I did thereby commit against my puritie I will vpon my life execute the cruellest death that ere the world was guiltie of in recompence of my rash foolishnes and affection so ill repaied So somewhat quieted she could not so continue long remembring what the Lady had tould her whereuppon a little to prorogue her griefes shee tuned her voice with this Dittie to her Lute with a more melodious harmonie than Mercury did sound whē Iupiter did send him to bewitch with musick the hundred eies of watching Argos charge Perswaded still maye be My sowle and pensiue hart That If I liue in smart It is by louing thee His life was neuer sweete That euer learnt to loue Vnlesse his minde did meete With what his Loue did moue There doth he striue to liue Both with his soule and hart That If he die with smart His death his loue might giue The acte that most is praised And worthie of most renowne Is I Loues heauenly crowne That makes dispaire amazed Which when it shall assure The soule and amorous harte Then is a life no smart To Loue if it indure With so short a winded hay me ended the warrelicke Dame that the Princesse which ouer hard it could not but greatly pittie her hauing begun to tread thē inextricable maze of Loue not a little wondring to see how general that passion was where with they cheefely liued So afflicted remained the beautious Sarmacia that she could passe no farther giuing occasion to the Brother and Sister their beuers closed because they would not be knowne to go to her and the Ladie being naturally more tender to the other said What haue you felt Sir Knight to expresse parte of your hearts aboundance to the aire and part to these harde and sencelesse Oakes which is but to increase your smart the which if in any thing we may diminish we will effectually accomplish it At the noise did the Ladye start for being drowned in imagination shee did not remember her selfe and hauing her thoughts dispearsed abroad had giuen no eare to the Princesse wordes and so seeing those Knightes in that place shee said Greatly may you fauour me Sir Knight to leaue me to my solitude for that onely hath the power to ease my paine and strengthen my mynde to suffer it add greater if greater may be imagined And this I intreat vnlesse any necessitie requires my person which I will vse most willingly in either of your behalfes Braue Knight replyed Floraliza the sight of your present state so penetrated our harts that it caused this Knight and my selfe to come and demaund the reason of it offering our persons at your neede I doe highly esteeme your offer renowmed Knight aunswered Sarmacia which could not proceede but from you But my infirmitie is of such condition that the remedie on your partes will augment it and for mee to relate it were a griefe past griefe and a newe kinde of torment For I haue no leaue to publish it to any much more to you because it will but serue to refresh the memorie of passed griefes and present euils And therefore I praye you either to goe from mee or giue me leaue that I may doe it For the verie sight of companie is to mee troublesome I neuer sawe a Knight saide Floraliza so deepely possest with Loue but would delight to communicate his paynes and ioyes For the one he mittigates by communication and the other he encreaseth by relation And so I thinke you are a Nouice in Loue seeing you knowe not there is no griefe how great so euer but will by company be asswaged Rather replyed the Lacedemon Ladye this proues you a fresh Scholler in Cupids schoole seeing you ignorant what wrong is offered to the Ladye loued publishing her secretes For to immagine them is secrete treason committed against her And nowe I saye I woulde not keepe companie with a Knight that so quickely desyres to blabbe the thoughtes cloased in an amourous soule being soly to be imagined and not made common to euery voyce Oh how braue a louer woulde you make gyuing place in your hart for euery loue tale Oh that I knew your Mistres be assured she should not longer liue deceaued in her hopes although I thinke she doth not yf this be not to her vnknowen you speake more then befits you said the hastie Floraliza and with more bouldnesse then you should which belike our simple well meaning spéeches did cause that rather is answered Sarmacia the truest testimony that any can haue of his Fortitude and not the vaunting beasts that many vse and commonly bragge of And seing this way you haue brought it about restore me the honour I did you esteeming you in the degrée of a good Knight
from my bouldnes It is reason sir Knight sayd she that Ladies should be rather loued and wooed then gallants by thē sued too for so they should disparage their fame though not with desire they shew oftentimes some disfauour but for that cause must the louer be discréete which is what in him is first required that he may note the one and take the other in good part attributing it to her feare and not to her desire and this consideration swéetenesse what is most sower Thus spunne they the webbe of their amorous liues whē the Damsell here cut off their discourse saying with some anger You Knight of the branch seeme to haue forgotten your promise and seing the night approcheth there is no more to doe but straight with me you enter in your Barke without any companie it behooues vs to goe Vnderstanding swéete damsell sayde Polliphebo that wee shoulde so manye dayes together Nauigate by Sea thought you woulde let mee enioy some on land but seeing it must bee so let ts away though great is the wronge you doo mee Greater is that which is suffered by whom néedeth and sent me for your person hauing power to request others that with more willingnesse would haue done it for though our stay here hath been but little not so small is the stayne that thereby your fame receaueth and my necessitie increaseth with a sorrowfull looke the Prince turned to the Ladie saying You see deare Lady my vnhappie chance expelling mee from inioying your swéete conuersation for which all my life I shall lead in griefe hauing not some assurance of hope to resee you againe for till thē the anguish I shall suffer wil be so great as to debarre me from alpleasure for I onely haue and shall haue in being yours Valiant Knight replyed she no lesse doe I féele it seing you thus to depart from me and my brother which is yonder Knight and as for the rest you may liue assured I tender you as my owne soule And if this picture may be any cause of your cōtēt take it for I will haue your coūterfeite for the same The gladdest on the earth he tooke it and falling on his knées a Thousand times kissing her handes hee intreated her to take him for her Knight The Ladye denied it not for loue had made her liberall and none did it euer touch but made him become an Alexander vpō paine of not knowing how to loue seing that one of the chiefest condition that yf requires is Magnanimetie And so seing with how great the Ladie had fauoured him he againe kist her handes and taking his leaue of them knowing who they were they entred the Barke which swifter then a towring Eagle ingulffed it selfe in the swelling Ocean Straight did they loose his sight leauing Floraliza greatly discontented the which her brother nothing demaunded the cause and relating it she ended with a sigh saying I greatly feare deare brother that this Knight will put me in mortall dangers for I iudge his libertie to be great and being Sonne and Brother to our deadly foes it will be difficult for him to consider if any pyne for him Let not the grieue you good Sister replyed Don Cellindo for if he loues he will easily doe it how much the more in my iudgement he departed captiue enough So thought I answered she but here is my vnhappinesse that trauelling through strāge countries he may see some one fayrer and being toucht with this infirmitie he will be apt to decline and so must be faine to wander in his search Let the feasts first passe sayd Don Cellindo and so I hope will this humor chang into cōtent Thus determined they stayed till the next mornings Suns vprising who knowing that Rosamond the Dacian should méete hastened his shining presence to see what happened in the next related CHAP. XII How the Prince Don Eleno of Dacia met with his deare Rosamond and what more befell them in their way towards the Cittie WIth as many teares as hast departed the Dacian louer from his beloued cozen of Tynacria entring within the Forrest where ouertaken with the night he past it with extreame anguish of his soule seeing the ympossibilitie of his content hauing it onely with the presence of his Ladie His foode was soly the fruit of those wilde trées and some of what Fabio had prouided but his conuersation was it which most pleased this woefull louer For memorating the troubles he had vndergone and the passions and violent sorrowes he had resisted animated him to tollerate this present accident Most part of the night spent they in this intermingling it with diuersity of matter to make him diuert from his pensiuenesse till yf was time to rest which made either part aside to sleepe yet small was the while that the Prince reposed Neuer yeilded this infirmitie any quiet till throughly possest Well may many speake it by experience though with a newe estate they be remoued from it with a Thousand sighes began the Dacian Lord to sing for onely in that he thought he founde pleasure And I my selfe neuer founde him otherwise while alone he trauelled with this passion If a remedie for loue be dayly to liue instrife come death and end my lyfe by my sweete ioyes remoue My payne and hard mischance makes fearelesse any death so I might loose my breath vntreading my woes daunce Whilst a remedie for loue is dayly to liue in strife come death and end my life from this my ioyes remoue The soule with paine opprest canne nere obtaine renowne come loue and treade it downe while t is in woes vnrest I tell thee t is no loue which dayly liues in strife come death and end his life that sees his ioyes remoue With some small comfort ended the Prince caused with his song and being day broade mounting vpon the earths best horse hee began to leaue that thicket delighting hys eares with Philomelas complaints making him a witnes of Tereus rape crueltie against her committed no lesse ioyed he with the others conceipts for though the Musitions were naturall yet kept they a wonderfull harmonie of an vnnaturall consort In this maner wondered he till about Nine a clocke of the Morning at the end of the groue hee sawe a Knight come toward him brauely mounted hee coulde not see his armour for ouer thē he wore a blewe coate ouer his shield a case of the same coulor Presently the disguised knight knew Don Eleno and hauing purposed what he ment to do vnbuckled but tooke not of his helme with extreme ioye to see him for no lesse had he suffered in his looking him arriuing sayd Sir knight my Lady hath tane my oath the méeting in Grecia with anye Knight that shoulde denie her beautie to be the greatest in the vniuerse I should defie him to the battle but this prouided that you bee in loue though your deuise sheweth the contrarie and therefore to mortall fight I challenge you for with
coulde defend himselfe with a furious thrust he pierced his left arme This wounde greatly grieued Trebarios Nephewe and so with the paine he would enter vppon his enemie who being skilfull set his rapyer against him that if he had not spied it hee had runne himselfe vppon it notwithstanding it wounded him sorely vpon the brest With his left hand he beate awaye his aduersaries rapier and with the vtmost of his strength he thrust at him on the side of his head and bearing his rapier downewards halfe of his head he threw at his féete ending one of the difficultest aduentures that then the world contained He sat him down staying the coÌ„ming of his friend Oristoldo who with his Squire stanched the blood â—f his woundes binding his arme which caused him extreame paine he was againe armed and so great was his desire to end that aduenture that without any wordes they entred into the great yard whose admirable workemanship greatly amazed them for the pillers about it seemed of rich pretious stones all inameld with gould and blew which ioyed euery sight One the floore of the same yard beneath were ingrauen many Histories with all the famous Knights most liuely figured They sawe the battle which the Tartarian Zoylo had made with the hawty Mauritanian Brufaldoro and his dolefull departure from his deare Tigliaffa who supposing he was dead was by Lupersios order with drawne within that pallace Greatly did the true Louer pittie her seeing how intyrely she had loued the Tartare and how ill her faith had bene repaid In the middle of the yard they saw a great alter like to a Piramides made for the death of some great Potentate and round about the galleryes of the same were burning many tapers and two seruants clad down to the heele in mourning that did nothing but loke to them and the lampes of siluer and finest gould As they were about to goe to them and inquire where the Prince was they heard within one of the galleryes a dore opeÌ„ from whence came forth two and two to the number of 12 Ladies all in blacke veluet with their faces masked Through away hung all of the same liuery they past vnto the Tombe where they began a most lamentable musick whose time the Ladyes wold breake with many sudden sighes whose eccho was recorded with in the sepulcher with some doleful sounds of funerall instruments which in the Princes caused some woefull fear when they had done a dame that seemed Lady of the others wherby the Princesse iudged her to be the Princesse Tigliaffa somewhat high that they might heare thus said How long deare Lord will my cruell fortune suffer her to liue that with thy want accoumpts it but a mortall torment what life maie I liue that only liued by seing thee ay me poore Tartare how haue they offended heaueÌ„s propagated my happlesse life for my greater paine that while thou art wanting the glasse wherein I did behold my selfe I might bewaile the good that from mee they bereft haue done thou cruell death by one to rid mee of so many as I suffer seing deare Lord that my lucklesse fates haue appointed me a new kinde of torment that when all the course of thy life being towards me without loue vnto the cost of my content thou shouldst shew such greatnes of vnexpected affection in that short momentarie space that I enioyed thée twixt mine armes Oh if I knew my life would doe thee good now thou art gone whom should I make the executioner but her that more loued then she did her selfe As she was performing certaine ceremonies she did espy the Princes that with their Beuers vp gazed on her beauty which they reputed to be the greatest they had seen wheÌ„ she knew they were none of her newe keepers shee ended her lamentations in great hast entring froÌ„ whence she came with mighty noyse shutting the gates after her No loÌ„ger stayed the louer but like an Eagle mounted the staires comming to the dores he found them so fast as hee thought it impossible to open them he compassed all the cloyster to see if he could finde any other entrance but hee sawe it all built of impenetrable marble he returned to break them open with his sword but found them to be made as he thought all of brasse on the one side he reade these letters He that by the strength of his arme and weapons helper hath arriued vanquishing the keepers of my Castle let him leaue his armor for only to be to haue byn a faithfull louer must end this aduenture Straight did the couragious youth put them all off setting his sword vpon them and so went to the gates at such time as Oristoldo came Assone as he arriued they opened seing no body sauing that within he heard some noise which the Ladies made without any feare hee entred within the hall which he hardly had done when two stronge Knights set vpon him they toke him so suddenly that they raysed him from the ground and had verie nere ouerthrowne him But the youth whose forces admitted no compare recouered himselfe winning his lost aduantage and setled himselfe farre better for he got an entrance for his armes All helpes did he neede for the two were there set onely to wrastle which at this time was admirable for they hadde somewhat wearied the Greeke They came tumbling at length to the gates which occasion vnwilling to let passe with great strength he droue the one from him in spight of his valour threwe him out of the inchanted hall hee had scarce done it when the Heauens were darkened with blacke fogges and mistie clowdes with horrible thuÌ„dering and lightning which fearefull tempest continued for a little space with whose end all the Castle vanished leauing no memorie thereof more then the dead beasts which in the beginning the Princes had slaine hee found himselfe vnarmed with his friend page in the open field hee quickly armed him for they heard new cries which was that the distressed Lady wept ouer her louer not to see him dead but because he was wounded Straight she remembred how she and he had been inchanted being liberated by a Knight that had slayne the kéepers which the wise man had toulde her did guard the Castle Then arriued the Prince presenly she knewe to whome shee was so much bounde and rising leauing the wounded Tartare with her damsells she went to the Prince that with his Beuer vp was going towardes her and imbracing him sayde Most valiant Knight the best that euer guerded sword I cannot suffitiently thanke nor enough memorize your deserued prayses for the good worke you haue done me and the Tartare my Lord both which I leaue and only say that in doing what you did you did perform the duty which your selfe did owe vnto your selfe by succouring the most distressedst Ladye on the earth Neuerthelesse if in part of satisfaction for so great a debt my life may be any imployed in your
foorth her shield whereon it lighted being a wonder she let it not fall so tormented remained her arme Shee entred againe with a point which Rosamond extreamely felt so sure was her reuenge that ere she retired she strucke her on the side of the helme she somewhat slackned her arme for else she had mortally wounded her but to the cruell swoord the hardest steele seemes softest waxe The imperious guider of the highest Orbes protected them to be instruments of his miracles in defence of his afflicted people for else with athrust the Gallidonian let fly she had ended that businesse On the out side she cut away all the harnesse vnder the arme making the furious blade appeare on the other part All the place had thought her to be slaine the like imagined Rosamond whereupon spurring her Courser shee would haue parted without payment but she thought it too late for the Quéene séeing her chance and amazed at the cutting edge of her aduersaries sword with all her strength she gaue her a blow that made her make a thousand signes of falling and altogether she had ouerthrowne her but that she feared the cruell slicing blade She procured to helpe her selfe with her dexteritie but it little auailes her for though the Calidonian Ladie be short winded her face within her helme besmeared with blood yet euery time she reacht her she cut both the armour and the most fairest skinne that the world did know O Claridiano who should approch thee with such newes that the blood which thou most adorest doth enamell the smallest grasse Ouerwhelmed in the studie of confused thoughts was the Loue-burning youth to see with what crueltie hee was entreated by his Ladie that hee neither heard nor saw what in the field was done Hard by him sat the beauteous English Artemisa who seeing him in such pensiuenes pluckt him by the arme with these wordes why how now excellent Prince is it possible there should be any loue should so estrange you if you please to participate your greefe with me receauing it to ease you therof it will be my content and in faith it is no small paine what I conceaue to sée you in these passions As froÌ„ a slepe newly awaked did the afflicted youth looke vp and hearing what that beauteous Lady had offered made this replie I doe most humblie kisse your Soueraigne handes most Soueraigne Princesse for the fauour done me in pittying what I indure yet is it but a small comfort for in the strangest maner hath crueltie plaste it selfe to my more plague in our place and my thoughts in another laboured in their striuing dutie setting apart all other things to procure at once one death a momentarie remedie for a long and painâ—full life Why then be assured said the Lady that this frensie of Loue is made gentle being tollerated and communicated with one that will like my selfe ridde you of it In all things replied the woefull Louer hath Fortune fauoured me animating my weakenes by so on high sublimating my hopes only it hath giuen me as a Crosse to this glorie the greatest euill that could be séeing I am comaunded bound by a constant faith to reueale my griefes to none I féele it though well considered it is my peace For discouering the cause thereof the present answere canne be no other then that my torments are too easie waighed with her merites So haue I chose in my bargaine to suffer and be silent although your noble offer shall not want his due regard in the duties of my loue why then said the Ladie I shall not anye more neede to importune you about the procéeder of your griefes But for this tyme leaue wee it to looke on the battaile of you foure Knights for valianter the earth doth not containe Your highnes hath reason for it replyed he for they that are newe come especially he of the flowers is the soonest in assaulting that I haue seene and it behooues him combating with a Knight that so warylie maks his battle as hee in the Russet And beléeue me I would gladly knowe his companion whose armor doth assure him what the others strenghth cannot loose FroÌ„ this were they interrupted for Rosabell thinking it towardise that a battle shoulde so longe last in presence of his Fathers lyke stormes of hayle threwe his blowes vppon his aduersarie which breathlesse made him almost goe vp and downe A wrastling would the Dacian verie faine haue been at thinking thereby to get more aduantage but the Gréeke that perceaued his intent suffered him to enter and in his closing with all his strength thrust at him betweene the ioynts of his armes harnesse he wounded him and with a litle more he had toucht the harts side but turning about he cast it outwards and becomming more fierce then a Bazeliske casting his shield at his backe with his handes he mounted his sword and discharged it on the Burgonet of Lirianas gallant louer it strucke him sencelesse vpon his horse filling his helme full of blood which ran froÌ„ his Beuer nostrels A better blow was not giuen in all the battle Well was it noted by the gallant Quéene that not a litle affected the knight of the Flowers both for his valour and courtesie She would needes helpe him so driuing Rosamond with a point apart sideling with her horse shee assaulted Don Eleno to wound him She got little by it for the Dacian was nimbler and stronger than shee and mounted on that Courser it was nothing to make her bow vnto his brest with the blowe hee gaue her at her entring and as she arose he still hauing the sword between his hands did let it flie at her the powers of heauen defended her for else so rigorous was the blow she had been parted in two All the corner of the shéeld was struck away he wounded her on the shoulder and cut the great band of her helme with part of her necke péece and made her tremble like an aspen leafe Then arriued the Callidonian Ladie and betweene them they hadde surely slaine her but she staied her sword thinking it cowardise to offend any with aduantage By this was the furious youth come to himselfe making against them Before him stept the Lady but with him shee could get nothing for in all thinges they were vnequall he let flye at the toppe of her burgonet such a blow that she thought she sawe the starrie firmament Like to a rauening Tygre she raysed her auntient sword whose inchauntment being made long afore any other there is no defence in Hectors shield for a peece therof she cast to the earth She came with another at his head he warded it fearing the swoord else had he fared ill neuerthelesse it extreamely opprest him In himselfe was not the amorous Lord séeing so mightie enemies impatient is hee of delaie his shield he hurles at his backe and with both handes hee reacht her though not at full vppon her rich helme it next to the
she more to bee ridde of her iealous feare since she was assured who the Ladie was that hadd so daunted her making her rather become iealous then amorous With millions of Loues sighes she left the Citie penitent of what vnwittingly she had breathed against her gallant She put her selfe among those thicke woods resolued to wander thereabouts till the Court were more quieter for she was sure Oristides would not absent himselfe thence being greatly estéemed of the Emperors of Trebizound and of Greece who determined to giue him an honourable charge in his Kingdome of Thessalie giuing him the Title thereof This not a litle ioyed her thinking shee might so well marrie him obtayning thereby such mighty friendes She alighted from her horse letting him féede on the gréene grasse and she put off her helme washing her face drinking of the water of a cleere spring whose brooke ranne all along that way passing the night in pleasant imaginations foulded in the good and euill of Loue. None in so short time loued so dearely nor none with more occasion became so iealous as she with that litle she conceaued by Floralinda She arryued to that point that Lirgandeo sayth she attayned the name of a firme Louer amonge those that most deserued to be so called She was affected to the Harmonie of concordant voyces hauing speciall grace in that vertue So leaning against a Mirtle trée she began raysing her voyce vnto the Cloudes in this manner That greefe which loue doth yeelde If he can loue that hath it Accompts it his foode mite To make his paine more milde None ere that truely lou'd Resting on it his life Though loue he calls his strife From it would be remou'd He is not a true louer That cannot indure his paine And knowing t is no disdaine That takes't not for a fauor This is a louer rare That thinkes his paine no smart Then knowes not his good hart The meaning of despaire For if he liue by louing The griefe his soule sustaines He calls it his true gaines Ioy to his paine still yeelding With a thousand amorous laments did the warlike Matrone bedewe the springing hopes of her concluding songe ioying to be so well imployed She that had lately band and cursed loue did now with Thousand Benedictions blesse him now without constraynt did the humble her selfe that had liued by denying him his Tribute to whome the whole world acknowledged awfull dutye who did euer Loue sayd the Ladye that did not thinke it a most pleasant lyfe There is on the earth no greater content then to loue to acknowledge an owner to haue him impressed in the middle of the hart No discommoditie in true loue was euer séene to bréede discontent since in saying I am not mine owne is included the glorie of sincere affection So maye I perish when I liue without it for if the earth affoordes any pleasure t is inserted on it as on the surest foundation to vphold such felicitie Not farre from whence she was with such content publishing her fayth arryued a Knight to ouerpasse the gloomie melancholy night intending to goe to the Iustes assured to obtaine the victorie and prizes So shee thought he heard her loue reasons but it was not so for the griefe that possest him had so amazed his sences that he not so much as heard his owne spéeches By this time would the Iealous louer of the Heauens display his fierie tresses ouer the world when the Knight that in the woods did lye began to expresse his firmenes with no lesse testimonie then the Ladie had done for to the mellodious discord of the chirping byrdes that celebrated the cōming of the lustie Sheapherd he tuned his voyce with this Sonnet Faire Lisiana if in so long an absence May any glory drowne my discontent T is by the thought of that most sweete content That makes my foule more richer by thy presēce I doe not speake sweete Goddesse by experience Wanting deserts to moue thee to lament Though I deserue to suffer any torment Yet might'st thou mittigate thy cruel sentence And since thou art assured to my cost The pure sinceritie of my true loue What canst thou get to shew thy selfe too rigorous Gainst him that his content hath lest Ioying to see his true harts ioye remoue T is but in vaine to be thus tyrannous With a sigh séeming with it to send forth his soule ended the More the famousest in all the Prouince of Peloponesus now called Morea whereof he was Prince hee had obtayned high Fame through a Thousand valiant deedes he had done in the seruice of Lisiana Princesse of Lituania whose beautie was accompted the greatest in the whole Paganisme which in deed was so for it did not a little cost Gréece Hauing ended his Sonnet the Lady would see who hee was the shewed himselfe so true a Louer and closing her Beuer shee went towards the place from whence shee hearde the voyce where she sawe a Knight tall of bodie well proportioned young armed in Rose colour armour with a halfe Moone in the middest of his shield something Ecclipsed by the rayes that procéeded from a Ladies eyes that gazed on it the Motto this If the Sunn becommeth darke She being in beautie one Then may she ecclipse the Moone So soone as the valiant Epirabio saw her so was the Pagan called he sayd What i' st you séeke sir Knight nothing replyed the Lady but to knowe the Knight that publisheth himselfe so amorous for if his outward signs may be credyted I thinke you are vniustly wronged in reiecting of your woes You haue sir Knight verie ill vnderstood my affection said the Louer for though the paines I suffer be greater then I make them the beautie of her that causeth them is such that if euery one were tenne times trebled it were nothing comparable to her merites and therefore haue I sought the difficultest meanes to make the Ladie sure how greatly she is loued Whereuppon I left my countrey to come to Grecia to giue her the prizes of the Iusts I haue heard held in Constantinople In the imaginatiō of such glorious thoughts a more harder enterprize if any be might be happily accomplished but as for the Iusts of Grecia they are ended were the famousest that any memory can comprehend and I am sure you had got little there in respect of the valiant Knights that there miscarried that reputed thēselues no lesse then you Discourteous thou art said the angrie Moore to iudge of anothers strength not knowing it by experience and that thou mayst not altogether be deceaued prepare thy selfe for the fight else it were a shame for Epirabio louing Lisiana to suffer any thing spokē to her praises extenuation If shee be so faire replied the Ladie as thou art bould it were not much if I esteamed her as thou doest and as her beautie deserueth More furious then the Sunne roze the Pagan and lacing on his helme with his sword drawne marched against the
replied Soueraigne Princesse of Trebizound although this Knight had greatly wronged me I am content to leaue it in this estate so he will he will he will answered shee if he will leaue me debtor for that he hath done for me In what maner the voice surpriz'd him in the same he stood a good while hauing his power subiect to no more then to obay the beauteous Ladie to whome hee replied My aduantage being hereby the greatest most faire Princesse I wish it had been commaunded mee before not now this knight hath got the best that your soueraigne beauty might haue been assured of my will which is with my life to bee employed in your seruice vntill the death In what maner soeuer you doe it I accoumpt it no small fauour sir knight did Rosiluera answere since the cause to be respected is the wil that perfourms it till some of my attendants come I pray you alight that with some thing wee may binde your woundes Both from their horses leapt and being Louers set all their felicitie in obeying Ladies They put of their helmes faire was the gallant youth Don Cellindo more white then browne and of so braue a constitution that no Lady being in loue but would desire to be of him Shee bound his woundes with more gentlenesse then Venus did her Adonis when shee thought he had not been slaine These three the famousest Louers that euer Cupids amorous host did knowe sat them downe together vnder the couert of a spreading mirtle Where oh loue who may haue a tongue so exquisite sharpened in skill to accord thy discordes and order thy disorders In what dost thou delight thou scourge of humane liues To see the youthfull Don Cellindo fixe his eyes and thoughts on the beauteous Ladye making it norishment to his heart and all other thinges but to bee hers to accompt a death a plague a torment or to behold the Lady frée of his paine to explicate with her two earthly Sunnes the cause that doth augment hers within her selfe suffering a Thousand tormentes all of loue procéeding of louing the Achayan Bembo to drawe the pleasure for her soule from him to Don Cellindos cost who noting with his Iudiciall eyes with what affection the Princesse woulde cast hers vpon his aduersarie it was more then eternall payne which he suffered then which the hel of Loue wherein hee liued he Iudged could yeild no greater Ioyest thou destroier of the vniuerse not sparing the little little corner of my iniuried hart to sée the ingratefull More iest at Rosiluera hauing his thoughts there but his soule with Liriana in this liuing with ioye but of the other hauing onely of all his powers his body there on the plaine casting his eyes aloft vpon the towring Cypresses and odoriferous mirtles Some comfort was this to Meridians Sonne for to himselfe hee sayde It was not possible hee should loue where his sight did not gaze theron Oh valiant Princes who might please you displeasing neither pardon oh pardon mee swéete Ladies for my long progressing through the pathes of loues sincere puritie for Don Cellindo gazing on her he loues shee on him she had afore her on the other side made the last viewing her beautie iudge it but a parcell or an abstract drawen from the perfect modell of Lirianas perfections on whome his imagination did féede accompting the greatest euil for her sake to be his chiefest ioy The Lady spake for in loue discourses they haue greater power in this war of Venus then Hector amonge Mars his troopes sir Knight looking at Don Cellindo I doe greatly desire you would communicate your name to vs that Trebizound may know her creditor for my libertie nothing more then to obay her can the gallant so he replyed Most Soueraigne Princesse the certainest thing that I can tell of my name is to knowe nothing of the same In companye of a Sister of mine a wise man brought me vpp not telling vs who we are but that I was called the hidden Don Cellyndo though now the fortunate Knight I am termed It shold séeme they suspected this would befall me wherein I might doe you some seruice although it may bee more aptly attributed to the valour of this Knight Any other thing I know not of my selfe nor haue I the hart to declare it The last vnderstood the Lady as one wounded with that disease because she would not giue him farther occasion for that argument she thanked him for that hee had done and turning to her soule sayde Seeing sir Knight that by your valour you haue obtained to be my kéeper I must now haue you also declare your name vnto me In all things soueraigne Princesse am I bound to your seruice although of your demand I know lesse thē this Knight only can I tell that from my minoritie I haue acknowledged anothers soueraigntie ouer mee and for all my life dependes thereon yet was my name giuen me contrarie to this Knights calling mee the vnfortunate I am sure she will now bee weary of paines hauing reserued for mee in Trebizound such supreame good As the Lady was about to answere appeared Teferreo with signes that hee had fought for all his armor was dashed with fresh blood of others T was so for not far there had hee met with the 4 Knights whose vanquishment cost him no little trouble but in the end their heads payd for their bouldnes He toke vp the Lady behind him on the horse shūning the prolixitie of their gréetings tooke their way where the brothers of Spaine Artermisa were with whome after the passing of some iests betwene them about her flight they altogether went to the house of pleasure where the Emperour brauely welcomed them and the better knowing what had befallen them What intertaynement or with what pleasure they should intertaine the two Princes they knew not The one knewe no more of himselfe then what he had sayd The other neuer declared his name to any but Liriana There staid he eight dayes which was but a momentary instant for the Ladye that by a thousand meanes woulde haue made him knowe her affection but his was so great towards another that it woulde not so much as let him marke hers thinking hee had byn stayed a whole age in Trebizound Hee craued leaue for his departure to euery ones griefe for hee was louing who felt it worse then death was Rosiluera though she dissembled it in this she exceld all Ladies of her time Hee returned to Achaya where his frend Lupercio expected him who to expell his loue of Lyriana from his minde toulde him how she was betrothed to one of the valiantest Knights of the world and of the house of Grecia It grieued him so extremely that he fell into many infirmities although the wise man with hopes deluded him which was the cause of his recouery where we must leaue him and Don Cellindo feasting in vaine the gallantnesse of his Ladie Rosiluera because we must treat
Lyra said the Prince of Gretia how maiest thou nowe liue contented séeing thy crueltie hath absented me from my countrey and thy deuine presence which was the thinge whose power might nourish an abhorred life that nowe doth kéepe me inclosed within a stonie limmit wounded sicke and weake and where none with helpe can preuaile to liberate him from a cruell and shamefull death that only wishes a tormented life to adore thy beautie O deare Father Galtenor this is the time wherein thou shouldest shewe thy loue towardes thy Sonne on whome thou sometime diddest put thy glorie and the recouerie of thy whole Kingdome Regard with what will I hazarded my life for thy content I onlie require thée to set me at libertie that I maye bee reuenged on these villanous Traitors which if I might obtaine I would not then gréeue at any thing that I haue sustayned so I might make them know and also teach them howe they should entertaine valiant Knights O Emperour Trebatio my Lord and Grandsire knewe you my anguish and gréefe I know you would reuenge it O Claridiana my soueraigne Lady Mother who would tell you that your beloued Son hath but xxiiij daies of life limmited by a mortall man with lyke affection would you put on your armor to rescue me as when you went to séeke the great Alphebo my louing Father The Prince supposed that none did heare him which in déede might verie well bee for that Tower was hygher then any of the rest Great ioye conceaued the Ladyes with the fynding out of so braue an aduenture and séeing how that waye they myght frée him that hee might so doe by the Prince Pollidolpho yet most woundered that vnderstanding hee was so highe a Prince Nephewe and Sonne to those that with their haughtie déedes hadde illustrated the spacious world Of him being so young they had not heard but what they had séene was suffitient reason for to mooue them to esteame him for the best and moste worthiest Knight that euer guirded swoord Returne we nowe my Fausta sayd the gallant Venus for so happie an aduenture as this could not but be kept for so great a necessitie as ours and we will giue order that vnknowen to the Prince the doore may be opened vs by his squyre for he is wittie and will do it being intreated but goe wée softly least wée be heard Then let vs be gone said shee and I knowe not what it is that Knights can séeke since your beauteous selfe hath discouered an aduenture so hard difficult of such perill There is none now said the Lady giuing the despairer armor for when I sée him with thē gainst all the world I liue assured though it would iniurie me Come let vs away replyed the Damozell for that confidence hath in Loue most force And if so we might liberate the despayring knight we néede not harbour the least feare A good successe I doe not doubt for fortune hath reserued for this busines answered Venus since it pleased her with so good a beginning to discouer vnto vs the way vnto so sure a hope They came away that no Lady walking that way might finde the Caue they couered it againe with those bushes briers the best that they could No body had mist thē because they thought they walked according to their custome about those greene arbors That afternoone procured the Damozell to speake with Palisandro which happened as shee desired for she spied him crosse by the tower where his Maister lay Shée made him signes to come to her which he did and because shee would not prolong their conuersation least they might be espied she said Good squire it hath so gréeued vs the Princesse my Lady my selfe to sée the imprisonment of thy Lord that we cannot expresse it and therfore we haue procured a meanes to frée him from it so our good hap was to shew vs to day a Caue that from my Ladies garden reacheth to thy Lords chamber which we could not open though we heard him complaine of many things and we alredy know how great a Prince he is and that he may performe what to my Lady Mistres he promised she will set him at liberty that he may procure it for the other Knight Of neither aduertise him but onely open the dore which in the same wall you shall sée of stone that we may on the sodian enter for it will so greatly please my Lady Venus And because this matter requires a secret breuitie no more but that this night after the Chirurgions be gone stay you with a light to doe what I tell for we will not fayle you The discréete Palisandro toke his leaue pondering that matter in his minde as the waighte thereof required In the end he resolued to doe yt vnable to imagine that in so great a Princesse there shoulde bee anye thinge ment contrary to what shee sayde After the Prince was dressed Palizandro shut the dores verye fast to execute his appointment and hee found their tale to bee true which not a little gladded him seeing that his Maister might that way goe foorth hee opened the wall and set a taper by his Maisters bed side that the Ladies might sée him was about himselfe to goe méete them but he feared to displease them They stayed not long for the houshold being withdrawne with Summer garmēts they descended to the garden making fast the dore after them The Princesse Venus woare a Damaske mantle imbroydered with gold cast ouer a peticoate of russet Satten layd about with golden lace vpon her haire she had a Lawne of curled Cypers which so reuerberated the beames of her owne beauty vpon her selfe that no Knight not louing Archisilora could haue the hart to forget her In beauty onely thrée contayned the world to equall her yet they knew not any aduantage ouer her the first the rezited Lady Rosamond Liriana They went more nymbler by reason of their light garments which made thē easier mount to the staire head whence through the tapestry that hung before the dore they spyed the light With a thousād imaginations were the Prince Palisandro expecting what might fall out At the entring they started as it were wyth feare in such sort that they made not so little noise but the Prince might heare it he feared some treasō and though he had no armor at the time that he would leape out of his bed entred with her damozell that excellent Ladye who with a ioyfull countenance able to reuiue a dying man sayd Did you thinke sir Knight to passe so sorrowfull a life and we not come to receaue part of your griefe the which if it might be deuided there should not want one so you might be ryd thereof to take the greatest part Ryse would the Prince admired not onely of her beautie but of the meanes she had to come thither The Lady would not suffer him nor giue him her handes which the Gréeke instantly required supposing he
for this way shall you treade the path that will leade you to a satisfied reuenge Oh suffer not remorcelesse Lady that it be sayd of you what is written of that inhumane and hellish sorceresse Medea whome with a sauage desire of reuenge most cruelly murthered her own children cōsider oh wonder of admiratiō it wil scandalize the glorie of your excellencies you shall yf you wil do it offēd the rarenesse of your beautie for neuer any could boast of it or worthely be nominated beautifull though she excell the brightnes of the brightest Sun vnlesse she do abandone the crueltie of an hardned hart the sole dishonor of all honor'd Ladies in steed wherof admit the pitie of a mollified brest pittie the splendor of your name pittie the tryūph of your victorie pitie the Trophy of your vertues this oh let this shine through your clouded clemēcy whose beams shall stellify your chiualries imortalize your fame infuze new life in me whose blod is alredy almost vtterly defused vnlesse your pitie gather it againe restoring it to him the wil only kéep as a memorial statue of this your eternal cōquest else otherwise the vnhappie death of your haplesse brother wil neuer by other means be suffitiently reuenged With so many teares sighes did the woefull Dacian vtter these wordes that they woulde haue melted a flintie rocke to distilling dropps of water much more her obduracie that was assured his true loue passions forced him to it and as she had already giuen him the principall commande ouer her will these his new spéeches made her thus replie Séeing my starrs braue Knight haue brought mee to such passe that I must consent to what you will I acquite you of this combate because I thinke the conquest thereof the mighty God of warre hath onely reseru'd to himselfe as a particuler honour due to his deitie Moreouer yf wee should stay till my Knights come there is no doubt but you shall incurre some great daunger for the losse you haue giuen them by the timelesse end of my deare brother or that I should carrie them the newes would be no lesse then yf they had seene the maner of his pitilesse death So I will neyther consent to the one nor do the other but am determined to depart in your company though it be troublesom vnto you vntill by others this infortunate chance be knowen So ioyfull became the afflicted Prince with the Ladies words that like a man ouer-ioyed he replyed I cannot most excellent Ladie for so high a fauor bind me anew more then I am already for since my happye destinies though with so many aduerse accidents brought me to the place where I might enioy your Celestiall sight I haue no power ouer my will more thē to obay what euer you shal command as the sole Goddesse of my earthly deuotion hauing to your behests for euer vowed deuoted dutie as a true seruitor And as such a one humbly prostrated on the lowly earth I beg I may be accepted in token of which graunt with like humilitie I craue that you would deigne to giue me your victorious handes on whose purity I may pay what all the world should doe She replyed I would not sir Knight you should so soone demand the cure of your distresse but because you shall not altogether despaire of my pitie I wil accomplish your request were it onely but to fulfill the first commande intreated by a Knight so great an enemie to my content And so shee raysed him and intertayned him as her Knight giuing him her beauteous handes which made the gallant Dacian thinke there was no other happinesse to bee wished in the circled Orbe and séeing himselfe so fauored by that excellent Lady hee sayd Make me at once diuinely happie diuyne Goddesse of my hart with the discouery of the Royall progeny of your Soueraigne stocke and the Kingly parentage of your high discent The same answered she was I determined to require of you sir Knight but me thinkes you are so armed with asking that you admit no leaue for my commaunde Which séeing it is so I am content in all things to content you but first let vs from hence least we be here taken by an elder brother of myne with whome it cannot be but you should run into some imminent perill for hee is reputed no lesse valiant then any of the Greeke Princes by the way I will discourse my byrth and parentage first intreating you to direct our course to Grecia for I greatly desire to knowe those Princes so highly famozed through the worlds spacious continents as also because I would bee resolued whether they be your kinsfolkes for I much suspect it And in great hast beginning to mount a horse-back with farre swifter speed out of the Forrest there yssued the Ladie that was wont to come to the Prince Don Eleno Straight did the Dacian Lord know her to whome with a chereful countenance he thus said How now deare friend tell me haue you any neede of my person Speake for you know my debt therefore I shall hazard nothing if for your sake I indaunger my selfe Your loues Sir Knight haue so much disquieted me as not long since I was for your friēd Torismundo But because I haue taken part of your griefes there is no reason but you should let me enioy some of the glorie and content you haue obtained by the admirable bountie of this excellent Lady whose beautie farre excelleth her for whose sake Troy was subuerted But because your departure cannot be excused my Vncle Lirgandeo sends you this shield that you may present it to this Lady that in such great danger did put your valour giuing her new armes that shee may altogether conquer you This said she drew foorth a shield of the like colour of the armour with so many precious stones that it well denoted the workmanship of so rare a workman it had the like deuise that Don Elenos had which was a Cupid with two faces for in that he greatly delighted saying that both in peace and warre it was iust to acknowledge him the tribute that ouer all things he claimes And to you braue lady he bid me saie you should not a little accompt of this Knight for it were life to manie to see him as you now doe and of your brother he wils you to loose your care leauing it onely to him for he hath it and will hereafter so regard al your affairs as his own She awaited no answer but with the turning of her Palfrey she made the Forrest make so great a noyse as if it had ben ouerwhelmed They looking what it might be saw at the foote of a tree a rich tombe admirable for curious works and so transparant that the Princes running to it they saw the Ladies brother as he fell with the cruell wound with certaine redd letters which the Prince thus read Here shall the wounded Larsino abide vntill his cruell murtherer shall make satisfaction with
towring Caedar he saw a Knight in azure armour all ouer crosse barred with Gold He was tall of personage and of well knit sinnewes betokning excesse of strength who was without helme with a hat vppon his head and laye pitiously lamenting to knowe the cause he stoode still Straight did the other giue it him which beeing the disease of loue none can hide it for with Millions of broken sighs that his soule sent foorth he began to sing as followeth Faire spreading Caedars that doe growe so high That you doe seeme to touch the vaultie skie Mount ye aloft and looke if you espie Prince Lindoriano in his owne teares lye Whose teares that trickle downe his louely face Your rootes will moysten and will doe them grace When heauens weat dewe Appollos heate shall drie Vppon your bowes I 'le graue my miserie And on your barkes in Carracters I 'le write My soules great griefe procurer of my spight My dangers cause my constancie procures With which I loue and will while life indures Though that it doe her crueltie increase Pyne may my hart till she my hart release For publishing my loue and her rare beautie To whome all knees may bow to doe her duetie I well doe knowe by'xperience to my cost The waightie griefe wherewith my soule is tost Which makes me thinke the nights for to seeme day And daies seeme night thus care with care I pay But yet in midst of my great griefe and paine This for my comfort onely doth remaine When as I thinke how sweet this warre will be Where yeelding I sustaine no infamie Happie Tynacria t is thou that doest containe Lindorianos blisse and chiefest gaine The Sunne of Heauen the comfort of this earth In whome I ioye for whome I drawe my breath Oh suffer not this Goddesse Natures ioye To be disgrast by being ouer coye To his complaintes that liuing her adore Constant and firme by fayth what would you more Loue her I will vntill I truely knowe From whence the cause of her disdaine doth growe Which loue after my death let her requite Not with like loue for that I neuer might But with her knowing that I haplesse die Refus'd of comfort from me that did flie The extremitie of passions were such and so many which surprized the louer that not onely hindered his songe but stopt his breath accompanied with a suddaine fainting that in a traunce leaft him spéechlesse leauing against the Caedar but being past he returned with a sighe that I knowe not whose hart it would not mollefie but hers oh pardon me that is the swéete insulting enemie of my life and sayd Oh loue how doest thou spare none from burning with thy vnconsuming fier Oh you mightie Princes by fortune exalted on the highest top of honor I nothing enuie your estates if once it be touched with loue Oh Gods how farre happier by enioyning a contented life where I yf I had the office of a laboring Countreyman and not the tytle of so great a Prince that my starres haue giuen mee But oh cruell passions more intollerable griefe what Oh yes thither would you follow me hauing as great a power in a poore cottage as in a Princes Court And therefore seeing I must loue and must liue thereby I will admit no comfort but what shall come from Rosaluyra for the swéetest otherwise is but hatefull sower and abortiue Oh despightfull chāce Oh hap vnhappie vnheard of that I should loue and not manifest it to the Empresse of beautie and of my Idolatrie the sole Goddesse and that I thus must languish without her knowledge Well it must be so she will haue her will deseruedly accomplisht and I will remaine adoring her more then euer was Lady loued But in recompence to demaund a thinge so small as Trebatios head is a diminishing of the high deserts of her incomparable merits By this way oh Gods to procure my content I am resolued to doe because hers consisteth therein But yet yf by my louing and wéeping experience she would be assured of my faith my death in this enterprize were eternall felicitie But oh slowe louer and more bashfull wooer why doest thou linger knowing there is no other meanes for thy happinesse Intollerable and more then may be imagined is the wrōg agaynst thy Lady thou cōmittest in this delay wherupon with a sudden hast that in such cases happens hee laced on his helme had tooke vp his weapons calling to his Squire for his horse But ere it was brought him Rosabell issued out of his ambush For knowing the Knight to bee sonne vnto the Souldan of Niquea and brother to his deare Ladie it grieued him because he had vndertaken such an enterprise against his Grandfather The occasion and the cause thereof hee had tould Oristoldo as hath been largly discoursed in the first of the second part And approching to the Knight with a gallant audacitie he sayd By that I haue heard sir Knight I haue vnderstood you are Lindoriano Prince of Niquea the Knight that I as my soule doe loue and euen to the same it grieues mee you haue vndertaken a demaunde so perrilous as that against the Emperour Trebatio for you must consider how that Lady and her Mother rather procéede through hate then with reason that bindes them to dissemble it And if Garrofilea complaines of the Emperour her selfe was the cause thereof procuring to her honours cost the accomplishing of her content And seing the Emperor did doe it hee might no farther passe because the sacred law of marriage did forbid yt whereof she was aduertized when she had him in prison so she might content he selfe with the children shee hath of so mightie a Prince and not topsey turuie turne and offend the world with her vanitie méere follie as to hope for hys head for hir reuenge and well doe wee knowe that a womans reuenge is but the aboundāce of feruent desire of things and things None more then she I am sure would grieue with his death because with reason the losse of such a person might iustly be lamented by his Daughter Rosaluira so she should cast her fame and honour on the dice being causer of so many deathes as haue already happened for the world doth wel know there is none therin that against his will is able to make that Prince leaue the listes A greater honour were it for her to dissemble her angrie loue as dooth her sonne Polliphebo who is reputed the flower Chiualrie glorying in nothing more then of such a Father not promise her selfe his head at whose countenance the very heauens tremble And so sir Knight the great loue I beare you hath forced me to this discourse because with more immortall honour by louing by your haughtie déeds shall you sooner obtaine your Ladies loue then by so doubtfull and vncertaine a meanes that can nothing yeild then a blot to your reputation Attentiuely did the Prince of Niquea heare him thinking he should
attributing due glorie to your seming merits and when you haue so done then doe what you wil for I giue you leaue What I will haue sayd the angry Ladie is to let you vndestand the discourtesie you haue committed which is greater then the strength you boast of Then stay replyed Oristides Lady and you shall sée how well I can shew the one when the other dependes thereof and so leaping on her light horse hee turned him about defying her to mortall battle In matters of warre woulde not the Macedonian Princesse dissemble with her brother much more with whom she knewe not and did challenge her Oh Appollo the desire to see so braue a combate made thée hasten Auroras splendor to her wonted light because without thy presēce none could witnesse their hawghtie déedes or was it because forgetfull of thy Alcestes loue thou wouldest surfeite on this beautie Which séeing it so why doest thou not dippe my dull penne in the Nectar of thy Diuinetie for if they each other wouunde this and my tongue must memorize it Now is the season thy liberall influence to impart with mee when the whole worldes beautie is here like to perish There was left no Cittie in the first Heauen to guard their habitations onely to be spectators of so rich a fight for euery of them would willingly loose their liues to bee wounded by such beautie They met by the swiftnes of their nimble Coursers in such manner that the strength of their incounters made the Brother shrinke at the viewe No harme happened betwéen the Ladies most gallantly passing by ech other their méetings serued but in shéeuers to sende their launces through the emptie ayre to Phaebus middle Mantion At once drewe they the two admirable swords the one of Camilla and the second of Pyrrhus by succession Come to Oristides who gaue it to his deare Sarmacia in Lacedemon as the president booke reported With them hoysted on high together did they ground them on their helms resting either alike assured of the others strength for the Heauens had in fortitude and beautie in euerie respect equald them They began one of the fiercest battailes that the world did euer recorde for being Ladies increasing in wrath their blowes were able to dissolue a Rocke But such were their strong armours that it assured them from all perils Neuerthelesse with such furious strength they layd vppon each other that the flesh more fairer then Venus in her chiefe pride they mangled The desperate Sarmacia gaue her gallant enemie a dangerous blow a little belowe her Beuer it was to no small effect for it made her bend her head below her Horse maine She would not omit the aduantage for sieldome like to this there happens none and so with both hands she layd on the circuite of her helme that shee struck her from all féeling made her blood run through her visor and mouth loosing the guiding of her horse which sencelesse bare her about the fielde a good while till recouering her selfe the rage that with furie ioyned to settle her firmly againe in her saddle is not set downe for casting her Romaine shielde at her faire backe she let flie at her helme with such strength that had she carried her arme stiffe that blow had terminated the controuersie Notwithstanding the blad vnable to penetrate the magick temper it went slyding downe the same falling on the shoulder lighting so heauily that shee thought all that quarter had been beate asunder She fell with her brest on her saddle pummell and with the weyght of the stroake the horse set both his knées on the earth Scarse had she executed this blow when worthy with admiration to be celebrated at the wounded Sarmacias rysing shee helped her with two thrustes one after the other with such force that her owne handes trembled therewith casting her aduersaries head vpon the horse croopper shee would close with her to ouerthrowe her with her Steede but with this desire she spurd hers with more force then néeded for it made him furiously passe further then she would that stumbling on her aduersarie she had like to fall which to preuent she nimbly leapt from her owne to the ground It was aduisedly done for the Lacedemon Ladye arriued with a stroake in such blinde furie that had she met her she could not but haue incurred certaine danger For not méeting her the blowe fell in middle of the saddle deuiding it the horse in two Tremble did the Prince with the sight of this blowe iudging the Knight of mightie valour in no lesse reputation did the aduerse Ladie accompt him that seing him in some amaze lying along the horse necke following the winde of the blowe with a leape she stept thyther casting her strong armes on her shee snatcht her from the saddle and séeing her in some confusion therby because one foote hung in the stirrope which shee could not take foorth shee so striued that shee pluckt her dagger from her backe Hereat the hawghtie dame séeing her disgrace feared a sudden death dishonourable and so shee had no other remedie but loosing her sworde with all her strength to drawe her to her and strongly setling her selfe on one foote she did in sight of her aduersaries brother a thing worthy her beautie for casting her arme at Floralizas dagger shee drewe it out of the sheath and with it hadd slaine Alicandros vnknowne Neece yf she had not stept away with feare seeing her owne weapons in her aduersaries handes It was no little good fortune for the valerous Sarmacia hauing thereby time to drawe her foote out of the stirrope and with hard plucking shee had almost disioynted which founde to her griefe for going to follow her enemie she could not treade thereon which was the cause she had almost fallen on her She dissembling yt as much as possible she might expecting her enemies comming which was not longe for like a chaffed Lyonesse seeing that was her first battle and what little honor vnlesse she spéedily did finish it she should get she flung against Sarmacia and with both handes she layde on her so thicke and so quicke that breathlesse shee hadde almost tyred her and yet she hawghtlie defended her selfe often making Floralindas daughter rest on the grounde both wyth handes and féete till the paine of her foote was paste and then she seemed but newly to begyn the combate for the ligeritie wherewith shee entred and salyed deserued admiration With a florish they crossed aloft their putting swordes procuring that way to conclude their warre But it lasted not long for Alicandros Néece thrusting her somewhat more inwards stepping in with her right foote and with imagined swiftnes she gaue her a venturous blowe for taking her vnder the skirt it wounded her though little on the thigh It was no newe matter for the Ladye to receaue such blowes it made her loose her patience and like a rauenous Vulture did shee become with the sight of her owne blood
lesse then with your honour or life I cannot satisfie the duetie that I owe vnto my Ladie Nay be it presently sayd Eleno insolent Knight for if my fortune had not been so aduerse fewe daies since I had a Ladie in my companie that Apollos light had darkened for whose sake against the mightie God of warre I would haue maintayned what thou hast vttered being so great an vntroth But here is Don Eleno that being hers is suffitient to chastise thy follie And without further spéech with such grace he turned his horse that a Thousand soules if so many she had she would haue giuen him And turning hers in a trice she tooke of her helme glorifyng her armour with fine tresses of Gould chaines wherein Apollo would giue his deitie to be fettered in In that manner she stayde for him hauing in like sort before vanquished him so Like to a furious thunder-bolt came the fierie Tireo till approching the rayes of that new discouered Sunne with such brightnes they penetrated his Beuer that it was a wonder they did not altogether blind him He stayde his Courser and without a worde stoode still thinking a vision what hee sawe vnable to beléeue so great a good coulde redounde from so strange and vehement torments To him stept the ioyfull Lady putting of his helme ioyning her mouth to the princes said I neuer imagined soueraign Prince the Don Eleno 〈◊〉 armes against his Rosamond for though the Prince of Dacia be displeased with the Princesse of Callidonia he ought not so soone shew it whereto he replyed I am indebted to Rosamond for her ayde else no doubt but the Princesse had incurred some peril dearest Ladie of my soule but I am so highly bound to Rosamond that it made me breake with all on paine of defending her rare beautie although thereby the Callidonian Lady might rest grieued But if the Prince of Dacia haue offended heere stands Don Eleno to render his amendes She answered for the loue that Rosamond beares him the Callidonian Princesse will not suffer him to take anye wronge And letting him goe they entred to passe the heate vnder the braunching trées in the thicket with the greatest ioy in the worlde discoursing what to either had happened Greatly shee rested content that her Lord had spoken to the Emperour other Princes but that which most ioyed her was the newes of the Tynacrian whom she greatly desired to know through the fame that in Callidonia she heard of him In conuersation past they till the hower of three that they tooke the next way to the Cittie for they heard that three dayes after the Iustes would begin ioying to see what multitudes thither resorted hoping for the day that they might approue before that sinode of Maiestie the valour of their armes In this and in other pleasing chat but most of loue for they were his slaues continued the louers and the ioyfullest that euer Cupid knew when the same way they had taken they saw towards them come two Knights of the best constitution in as rich armour as either of them had seen accompanyed with onely two Pages They quickly met and as among such their chiefest ornament is courtesie the biggest of them sayde Braue Knights can you tell vs any thing of the triumphs in Constantinople We sir Knight replyed the Dacian haue not been there but haue heard they are begun with greate solemnitie and it was yesterday told me the Emperour had commaunded them to cease for eight dayes and this is all we know whilst he replied he attentiuely gazed on his companion that spake to him that he espied his sword and looking well on it he knew it hauing many yeares before bene his and seeing it in a strangers hands he straight remembred he had lost it in Rome that night that he deliuered the Princesses from the Gyants as is in the former part recited so expecting no answer again said And you Knight who gaue you that sword which cost me no little blood in winning it and therefore must you either giue it me or prepare to defend for I will not part without it though it cost me my life Scarse had he said so when the esquiers knew him for the two Knights were the one Lisarte King of Tarsis and the other his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria and the pages those that afore haue bene named to be the Princesse Roselea of Rome and Arbolinda Infant of Scotland The Louer was so much astonished as the Ladies to see him for the other said I do not denie but it may be yours Knight but the partie that me it gaue would with reason greatly be offended if I should so easily let it goe not shewing first that the parting from it is by force and not for that it was so willingly giuen me which animates me rather to dye then loose it Why then replied the Dacian defend thy selfe for by no meanes must I leaue it The Louer answered not but tourned his horse with such gallantnesse that Rosamond did greatly admire him The like did the valiant Dacian with the lightnesse of his horse he incountred the Argentarian so mightily that without any maner of motion he made him loose his stirrops getting hould by his horse maine for feare of falling while Eleno past like the wind And with like celerity he returned vpon his enemy with his sword in hand finding him in like preparation In Greece was neuer seene a more fiercer battle nor with more affection admired for the blow that Florisarte receaues on his helme doth Aâ—bolinda take it on her soule and that which Don Eleno on his sheeld doth Rosamond ouerthrowen him and with the furie of his Tyrio he ranne to the Tharsian and as he past with a flourish he gaue him a blow that on his horse necke he threw him He returned vpon him because he could not strike him with his sword he incountred him with his horse brestes so mightily that both him and his horse he tumbled to the grounde and leaping after him with more ligeritie then a nimble Hare ere he could prepare himselfe he closed with him and as his strength was greater he raised him aloft but holding him so strongly for feare of falling with him he was fayne to sett him downe and with a thrust made him staggering giue backe three paces and ere he could open his eyes was againe vpon him There had he wounded him if his sonne had not come and sydewayes gaue him so mightie a blowe that maugre all his strength he went foure paces backe Follow him would the haughtie Prince of Argentarie when the Ladye set her selfe before him with more wrath then a troden Serpent and with both handes laide on the youthes shield which like to a piece of Wood shee cleft cleane in two and myraculously he scaped his hande which remained with such paine that he could not stirre it Both the one and the other Father and Sonne incurred mightie
daunger hauing such strong enemies The gallant of Argentaria returned her his aunswere with such strength that he made her see more starres then in the heauens were But who bewayled the blowes in their soules with sighes and pearled teares were the two wofull Ladies seeing their louers in such daunger For Artimio alreadie bewailed Florisartes death alreadie calles the Heauens vniust alreadie complaines on Loue calling him a tyrant that liued by honouring Cupid a pittifull God If this way there is such excesse of griefe what shall the beautifull Princesse of Rome do seeing her Don Eleno with Lisarte For though he had the better her loue disliked it making her beleue what easily she credited But her sorrow helped not nor her louing with such intiernes auailed to asswage her passions They could not deuise no meanes to make the battle cease for as they were flesht in it they thought it impossible that any thing lesse then the death of some should part them for at this time it semed that with more fiercenes it increased The Tharsians dexteritie was it that defended him agaynst the angry Dacian yet was it not so much but being reached euery time he set both hands and knees on the earth he passed not much better for his aduersarie neuer gaue him blow but brused and tormented his body so that if he gaue he receaued In no lesse danger was Rosamond for onely her armour was it that in this battle saued her life Euen whē the Sunne would set widdowing the earth of his light there arriued the valiant Mauritanian Brufaldoro that following the search of the Tynacrian and not finding he came thither iudging that for feare he had hiddē himselfe And seing the crueltie of that fight hee could not but say Oh Iupiter what Knightly valour is this The fierce Pagan was gentle and affable of condition and so pittied the faire Pages that wéeping stood speaking thus Can you tell me pretie Pages the cause of this battaile which should not be little considering the fiercenesse thereof It is so small sir Knight replyed Artimio that it is gret pitie it should be continued to the end for so slight a thing the cause being only that this Knight pointing to Florisarte weareth asword which he in the Russet challengeth for his saying he would not part without it vnlesse it cost him his life No longer stayed the mightie youth but drawing foorth his sword put himselfe betwene them that were on foote saying Heare me sir Knights that seing ye haue no other reason then what these Squiers haue told me it were to be reasōlesse to leaue the world Orphant for so small a cause of your valour and for a sword The vndertaken battailes all discréet Knights should be grounde vpon some suffitiēt reason for that is it which assureth the victorye making hym more famous that prosecutes it with Iustice and not with passion to procure to maintain their fame vntill death well did the Dacian know him iudging him of great vallor seing he sustained himselfe to his honour against his Cosen Pollephebo and so replied It is not so small Sir Knight as you thinke it for that knights sword is mine and I requested it with much courtesie which was enough for him to giue it me he not only denyed it but allso threatned me till death if I more demaunded it which you see is sufficient for a-thousand battles and I knew that in no cause you would haue left it That were answered the beautious Arbolinda with many teares had not you giuen it willingly vnconstrained and with it leaue to be giuen to any hauing no action to require it and if like a Knight you gaue it you should no more haue rememberd it The Dacian thought he should know that voice to be of the Princesse of Scotland and so with some a maze answered how know you good page that I did giue this sword I was brougt vp in Rome replied the disguised Artimio sure enough to be vnknowen where I saw that in recompence of an inprisonmēt by the gentlest Gaoler in the world you gaue it All this while the most beautious Roselea did nothing but weepe currents of sault teares vnable to speake on word yet thus replied Don Eleno So many requires a peace valiant Sir that he should not deserue to inioy any that would deny it and so for this time I remit the battle so pleaseth these Knightes They will saie the woefull distressed Roman were it but to be more pittifull then you that forgetfull of your owne honour and what you are bound to do wander vp and downe challanging battles of whom you know not and without any reason More a mazed then at first with these things remained the Datian for by their voices he thought he knew them both and thinking long till he spake with them said to Rosamond in her language that it behooueth him to leaue that battle She that was borne to loue him woulde not therein discontent him And so stepping apart left the battle leauing the Princes so brused that they could scarce stand The king of Mauritania seeing the matter ended demaunded for the Knight of the Branch of whome Don Eleno gaue him the newes he knew not knowing he was shipt to Sea after he departed from him No longer stayed the Moore but in all hast possible with his wife tooke the way that the Dacian directed him and no sooner was he departed but Rosamonds louer mounting on his Tirio went to the Pages saying your spéeches gentle pages haue so confounded one that I wold giue ouer a Thousand battles so I might intreat you to tell me whether you know me or if my name in Rome bee knowen Wherto Artimio answered you haue no reason prince of Dacia to conceale your name and yet wee wish wee had not knowne you were it but because wee would not haue had a Prince so great an as you renowned haue erred against such excellent Ladies as the Princesses Roselia and Arbolinda for the former is with reason wronged with the discourtesie and ingratitude or rather crueltie wherwith you departed from Court she hauing shewed you so manye fauors which were suffitient for one that had a clearer iudgment then you to make him leade all his life with content but I feare you were onely borne to mocke poore Ladyes Then consider the blot of your fame and reputatiōs staine and the greatnesse that in Rome you are loued and moreouer the toyle and labourous trauayle that I and my companyon haue suffered in our tedious voyage to séeke you all which well pondered may bee some cause that leauing the present state of all thinges you returne where by minutes you are expected by them that fill the ayre with sighes And that you maye see it signed receaue this her better whose tenor I knowe not whose obdurate harte it woulde not mollefie but Don Elenos Prince of Dacia who tooke it not to be moued to Loue for therein he had not where
wrong cōmitted it is well she may haue such a defender The haughtie dame hereby suspected somewhat and so gloryfiing her beautie with a heauenly tincture she replyed Little can a Ladies graunted fauour auaile for the valour of the Prince of the Greece most excellent Lady and rather there are some so happilesse in cōmanding that they put in doubt what the gallants with their fortitude haue assured Among these I accompt my selfe and in so much that I know not when I could call my selfe happie And this is the cause I dare not require any to goe forth in my name but beeing dryuen to that necessitye beeing able to doe it my selfe I neede not intreate it of any And because shee would not be more importuned shee turned to him in the blacke that more furious then a hungry Beare ran vpp and downe It was no small vertue in the Prince to indure with patience this bitter answere a Thousand cries would hee haue giuen publishing the iniustice done to hys faith vsing it with such cruelty he departed from thence for his sighes gaue him not leaue not so much as to take leaue of the sweete enemie of his tormented soule Who with attētion gazed on the amorous Knight that at this time with his owne hand had chosen a strong launce for at a corner of the place there entred two Knights no lesse to be wondred at then the former at the same instant entred two other no lesse gallant then the first These last were armed in Murrey armour with barrs of azure and gold on their shieldes he that seemed bigger of body had a Sunne in middle of a cleare heauen with these wordes Not any though neuer fauored And in his proofes hauing done But ioyeth in the Sunne His companion that a better disposition shewed had another Sunne ecclipsed with this Motto about it It changeth effect in me For gazing on his fier It augments griefe and desire These two Knights posies greatly delighted euerye one for if yee bee remembred they bee none other but Lysarte the mighty King of Tarsis and his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria that came accōpanied with the two disguised Princesses they past the place with more grace then Achilles had done The like did the twoo first for both were armed in most rich armour hee on the right hand that was Don Argante of Fenicia had a siluer armor full of Lillies on his shield a Pyne tree and hee himselfe leauing against it with this posie In sollitude delights He that on loue doth dote But most he that 's remote That Knight is not like to want battailes that to ympeach the Ladies worthes shewes himselfe so free for as euery one liueth by being alienated they will presently put it to triall Now am I very glad sayd the beauteous Lindaraza that so free a Knight maye meete with him in the blacke that is so constant in his alienation No lesse dyd his companion shew himselfe vn-yoaked being the gallant Torisiano who was all in Carnation armour quartered with golde and azure a brauer temper was not seene in the place In the middle of his shield was set a knight languishing in loue accompanied with all his troubles with these words How sweet is that same sight That gazeth on his woes It doth his hart delight Though it with griefe vndoes Hauing approched they entred the Listes None of the behoulders durst take their eyes from them thinking in the meane time they should loose them so furiously they past forward The first that in Greece met with ill fortune was he of Phenicia that quicker then an Eagle spurerd against him in black he got little for the sorrowfull louer incountred him with the vtmost of his strength which only merited comparison with the Greeke Princes lightly fetching him frō his saddle threw him to the ground he receaued no small encounter for Don Argante was one of the strongest in the world he made him loose his raynes and forwardes passe more slowly then he would Great was the noyse that rose in the place as also among the Ladies that celebrated the fall with accustomed disdaine which well maye bee called death And that 's but little considering howe t is taken I almost speake by experience I maruell not at the Knights disgraces deare Ladies sayd the old King of Bohemia entring with your disfauour Your highnes speaketh with great reason answered the Princesse Oliuia to supplye which want I intreated the Quéene of Lyra that to shewe howe she loues me she would haue bestowed one fauor vpō a gallant that from it he might haue drawen valour to assure our busines that so goeth to wracke hee replyed There is no reason any thing should be denyed to so iust a demaund the which if my age did not disturbe I would haue béen he that should haue craued it A Thousand should your highnes haue obtayned replyed Archisilora But there wants not them that without any may returne the Grecian honor to their owners Their that was broken off by the peoples rumor for the mourning Knight with more strength thē Hector had did ouerthrow the braue Torisiano which displeased the Ladies Many suppositions past there who the blacke knight shoulde bee for some Ladies were affected to him And so with some pittie the Empresse Claridiana sayde to them that were with her Greatly doe I commisserate this Knight to sée with what crueltie his loue his repayd And if his fauors were equall to his strength none might more bragge of valour then hee Those that on a sudden begyn to loue answered the beauteous Rosiluera that in the secret of her soule had portrayed the knight with such coulors that none but death could wipe away any little occasion ministers vnto thē cause of Loue but le ts sée what shall become of the Knights of the Sunnes that séeme of a valiant disposition his Carrier had the braue King Lisarte taken incountring with the blacke knight so fiercely that he thought he had béen broken in pieces either past by the other without any moouing Of the valiantest was the Tarsian but he there met with Bembo then whom the Pagan nation neuer knewe more hawghtier and couragious knight who taking another launce incountred hym so mightily that hee brought him to the ground himselfe had almost accompanied him for loosing brydle and stirrops was fayne to stay himselfe by his horse neck Like to a fiery Dragon his amorous sonne ran with him thrée launces vnable to mooue eyther of them from the saddle to both theyr extreme griefes that like to bloodie Lyons they with their owne handes choosed their launces with the excessiuenesse of their forces incountred so puissantly that the beleued Argentariā came to the ground with his horse slaine betweene his leggs he leapt from him for feare of some disgrace The Achayan with the strong shocke staggering backwards lost his saddle falling on his féete but with so small féeling that though the couragious youth stept to him
with his swoord drawen he so soone saw him not Almost was the whole place in an vproare for Florisarte required a battle alleadging hee was not ouercome So farre paste this matter that of necessitie it was carryed to bee decyded by the Emperour and other Kings there who adiudged that the Knight of the Sunne could not returne to the Iustes nor demaunde farther battle because hee had lost his saddle he held his peace séeing whoe hadde ordered it and so on foote he stoode looking on the Iustes talking to the timerous Squires Long stood he not so for the Emperour sent him a Courser nothing inferior to that hee hadd lost Both Father and Sonne imputed it to Soueraigne magnanimitie At what time matters past to Bembos immortal prayse together there entred the yarde two Knights on whose disposition all the lookers on fixed their wondring eyes The one the best became his saddle was in yellow armour full of halfe Moones ouercast with a Russet coate at his saddle pummell there hung a mightie mace of steele On his shield that of fine skill séemed was a Ladye in liuely coulors figured and hard by her a Phenix with this Motto It is a quection hard And euer was most hardest Whether the Dam or byrd be fayrest The Knight seemed so braue a horse-man and shewed so rare a constitution that manye suspected who hee was no lesse brauery adorned the second that on a strong mightie Roane Courser was mouÌ„ted his warlike abillements were of a sad red coulor with greene barrs and golden grauings On his shield was a beauteous Lady lying along in a meadowe and hard by her foure Gyants among whom stoode he with his sword all bloody for about her libertie he had cut off their heads and hauing done he semed to approch the Lady that stretching forth one of her hands seemed to accept that seruice also on the shield were these words Thryce happie is that death Which doth assure his hope That lyes not in loues scope For a iust guerdon iudged the Princesses and shee that was figured meritorious of much prayse for intertayning a knight that in the beginning of his loues performed so honored a fact This Knight first arriued at the beginning of the listes whose hawghtines well shews him to be the mightie Brufaldoro that not finding the Tynacrian hoping to meete him in those Feastes changing his armor came thither at the instant that the other Knight did the like disguised in the habit of an Affrican Who comming with so great desire to Iust without farther aduise would haue entred the listes had it not been that the furious Mauritanian said you Knight because of your new attire will not onely commit a discourtesie but thinke it should be tollerated keepe you out for others haue first arriued and with more reason to Iust then you Courteous was the Knight for if I be not deceaued it is the gallant Greeke Rosicler So he replied So greatly hath yonder Knight angred mee that I thinke too late euery minute that my reuenge is deferd Nay theÌ„ stay answered the Pagan for gret is thy forgetfulnes so much to long to meete with him in the blacke and therefore to deale with mee the large fielde will affoorde vs ampler roome To make thee know and confesse thy rude vnciuilnesse I am content replyed Oliuias husband and wtout more repetition of words with the Iudges leaue they went vnto the field The whole world would I haue present most beauteous Sâ—â—nts of Venus Temple to viewe the most valiantest that it contayned Now doth my want crie out for helpe intreating with incessant prayers that Thalia or the recordresse of memorable acts vnto eternitye Clio I meane would dippe my slowe pen in their brooke of euer-flowing eloquence for therof it hath no litle need wtout it dares not daunted with feare of insuffitient skill to distinguish the particularities of a war so admirable There was none but with attention turned their wondring eyes vppon the battle The furious Bembo woulde not loose it but rather raysing his Beuer vppon his fierie Courser leauing on his launce stoode to behold it With more horror then a Tempestuous Sea met the twoo most mighty warriours in the middle of their strong shieldes with their strenghts clearely piercing them The furie of each aduersarie was stayed on their brest-plate froÌ„ whence the shiuers of their broken lauÌ„ces mounted into the highest regioÌ„ of the aire whose altitude might haue bereaued Argos of his hundred eied sight Forwards they past without receauing any more tormenting griefe then eyther did conceaue to sée the other on horsebacke So with this rauening wrath which possessed both alike they returned either vpon the other On the earth there was not séene then the Gréeke a more skilfuller knight of the weapon that at his saddle hung And so at once with the strength of such mightie armes they discharged so puissant blowes that euerie one considering their furie thought them the last All the toppe of his Burgonet lost the Greeke and voyding blood hee was cast along his horse back Worse sped the Pagan for Rosicler reaching him fully with the heauie mace had almost tumbled him from his horse notwithstanding it so fell that hee fell sencelesse vpon his Coursers necke shedding much blod through his nose and eyes Many with feare of those fearefull stroakes wisht themselues farre off but they that were borne to it quickly ioyned It was well for the Pagan to haue entred with his sword for vnder his shield about his left side betwene the closing of a buckle he wonded him It is not a fierce or daÌ„gerous blow that can daunt the hawghty Greeke but to see his owne blood spilte madded him yet that conted not the Moore but as he stept forth with a counter buffe he strucke him on the helme This blow dazled his sight and therefore he could not execute his to any purpose for taking him on the outward side with the mace the Moore turned awaye for fewe were nimbler then hee making him not onely loose the blowe but hazarded the condicion of his victorie because the strength thereof with the wayght of the Clubbe so disturbed him drawing hym after that the Pagan might at his pleasure giue him twoo thrustes at one of his sides Eyther of them hadd pierced him if hee had not put on that precious armor that with such curiositie of art the wise Artynidoro had forged Neuerthelesse hee felt such paine that hardly hee could drawe his breath he returned altogether like an Hyrcanian Tygre and with his steele Mace he gaue him suche a blow through anger of reuenge he somewhat mist his ayme that the Pagan thought himselfe wrapt in fome clowde so nigh he imagined to be to Heauen séeing such multitudes of Starres about his head hee arose and began so fierce a battaile that the Princes which beheld them rested amazed What thinke you braue Prince said the Emperour Alphebo to Meridian of the valour of
more strength was all in armor quartered in gréene and azure with many stones that marueilously adorned it In the middle of his shield was set the picture of Amitie as in antient times she was paynted in forme of thrée Ladies her in the middle all naked and shee on the right side halfe couered and the other altogether with this word Against this sacred trinitie No death did ere preuaile To massaker this dietie To be no lesse gallant then amiable did the Knight manifest himselfe for hee was that Gracious Oristoldo Prince of Annoch the other was the valiant Tartarian Zoylo whose armes were of an Indian colour with starres of gold and on his shield the Image of distrust with this Motto After a tedious griefe Commeth a sweete reliefe That all distrust abandones They went vnto the Ladies standing giuing the lysts to the flower of armes and beautie Rosabell and the faire Archisilora Quéene of Lyra. The hawghtie youth had on the best armor of the world of cleane fine tempered stéele grauen with flowers of diuers colours made with precious stones in such artificiall manner that no hart could more desire In azure field vpon his shield was portrayed a fierie Chariot and within it a Ladie who carried away perforce stretched foorth her arme vnto a Knight that stood on a bancke vppon the Sea Coast that he should succour her with this inscription on his behalfe Onely fortune may remoue thee From this hart that thee adores which in darknesse now still oâ—es Wanting the Sun-shine of thy beautie The warlyke Matrone was in Carnation and gréene armour with many gallant workes In the middle of her shielde was onely a faire white hand wrapt in this word This onely canne discouer The cause of loues remouer And when it listes giue fauor To the poore distressed louer They turned about prawnsing till they came vnder the windowes where the Prince Rosicler with his deare Oliuia sat to whom at what time they bewailed the losse of their Sonne they made a lowe obeysance and the Sonne to his Father thus began So little it is since our company hath arryued in his Countrey most excellent Prince that it knowes not the conditions of the Iustes And so for that I haue farre froÌ„ hence seene you and so long acknowledged you for my Lord vnto the death I doe beséech you to tell vs what herein is wonne or lost The voice that was impressed in his soule the Gréeke séemed to remember therefore with some alteration he made answere These tryumphes gracious Knight are to please the Ladies for their gallants doe delight to hazarde their liues in of celebrating their gallantnesse And so may you Iust though I am sure your valour will want matter to extend it selfe vpon intreating you that ere you depart you will speake vnto mee for I beléeue we haue in some place been alone with some content He bowed his head signe that he would obay and so returned with his companioÌ„ leauing the Prince telling his Lady what had happened with him who with infinit sobs and sighes prayed God he might be their lost Sonne What befell the next Chapter shall relate for I feare in this I shal be condemned of prolixitie CHAP. XVI The cruell battle betweene Rosabell and Archisilora with the two hawghtie Louers The end thereof with the knowledge of them all ALthough the Rodiant heauenly harnest téeme had almost ended his dayly goldeÌ„ progresse in the West yet to enioy the battle of the foure most famousest in arms he staied his fiery horses turning their proud vnbridled heads towardes the place of Greece which at this time according to the ecchoing noise therein it semed some generall battle was fought for the vulgar comunalty affecting the new adueÌ„turers with confused voyces made doubtfull the combates successe I shall not néede swéete Ladies to pray your attentioÌ„ for this war being for beauty I shold not perswade you to it yet being néedy in witt and hauing none but with laborious toyle What 's drawen froÌ„ the flowing current of your fauors I must still implore it without which in a swéet pleasant stile ill canne I paynt forthwith wordes such amorous though rigorous blowes as heere were giuen The two warlike louers opposed themselues in their Carrier while the Mirror of beauty her coÌ„panion did the like They prickt forth swifter then an aierie thought None mist the incounters for rather they were made with more horror then the roaring Baseliskes do make They passe shiuering their launces in a thousand pieces by each other with such grace that loue himselfe they inamored setting downe also principles of war for the mighty God of battles which he semed not to disdaine euen in his fift throne They turned about but with such fury that the farthest remooued looker on trembled at the view They drewe foorth the best blades in the world the two louers closed to wound each other but there swords froÌ„ their armor rebouÌ„ded vpwards Their dexteritie inwards disliked them supposing it impaired their valour so they seconded their blows with such wrath that their heads kist their saddle bowes Longer had the Dacian vsed his weapons and was by nature couragious but the gallant Britanian youth admits no comparatiue for al the place admired his ligeritie Againe they ioyned astonished that their swords did not cut Aloft offered the Greeke his blow hauing an eye still at his ayme as his strength was exceeding in the middest of his race he stayed turning it inwards and discharging it he made him sée a number numberlesse of stars doubling him vpon his horse back At large on his brest he gaue him another that had not Brutus armor defended him hee had inlarged his imprisoned soule A rauening Tygre nor angred Lyon depriued of his pray was neuer seen more furious then the Dacian did become and finding his enemie neere hee let flie at him twoo thrustes one after another that they left him breathlesse they guyrded hym so sorylie hee had not executed them when casting aside his shielde on the side of his helme hee gaue him such a counterbuffe that it made him turne his head more then he willingly woulde haue done Of a long time had not Greece been witnesse to a fiercer combate for the hastening of their blowes their warding assaulting and retires a larger Chapter doe require Giue me leaue swéete Ladies to tell you what passed betweene the twoo Matrones who like mountaine Lyonesses the one against the other returned with their raised swords Little gets the Quéene of Lyra for Rosamond weares the best arms weapoÌ„s in the vniuerse for which cause she cut away al her plumed top with halfe of her stéeled circuit and a peece of her shielde Better did she not speed with the blowe she receaued for voyding much blood through her visor she cast her ouer her horse crooper she seconded another when she would rise with no lesse force she had no other remedie but outwards to put
about to rent it without seing the contents but considering it was no salue for the euill done she opened it whose effect was thus Claridianos Letter to Archisilora TO the Soueraigne Archisilora excellent Queene of Lyra Claridiano of Grecia health A thousand meanes most hawghtie Queene haue I sought by some one to make known part of my cares but seing with what certaintie hourely swanlike I singe the approching cōming of my death and that the malady which mine eyes expresse wold not assure thee thou onely art the cause of my danger I resolued to imboulden my selfe to my harts deare coste to this whose imagination she thought it must come to those mighty and all-wondring hāds my soule feares to haue thus presumed to speak for the harts it trembles with doubt of remedie not obtayning it in lyfe which admitting no mittigation of griefe will bee short I intreate you not deuine Ladye to loue mee this merits not so meane deserts I onely craue if a remorcelesse cruelty is not altogether possest of that rarest beauty you wil be pleased to admit me as a knight attēdāt on your seruice suffering my lāguishment I require no pardon for louing thee since thou by woūding the body gauest the soule leaue to idolatrize the Instrument but if thou wilt altogether seeme displeased in kindled wrath my selfe will bee the executioner of the punishment I merit killing that life the heauens gaue me to adore thee vntill death the which is sure in me shutting the gates of pittie clemēcie wherto thou art bound As manye teares as the distressed Greeke hadde shedde wryting of the Letter didde the Ladye poure downe when shee read it for shee extreamely loued him but her libertie so rested her and imagining it diminisht her Fame not shewing her selfe grieued she so not onely determined it but also to write it lest her silence might giue him occasion to thinke the glory of his high thoughts was allowed Shee writ her answere not without manye teares and taking it with her put it twixt her brests a place where Phoebus wisht to rest so without any shew of alteration she went vnto the hall for one of her Damozels had told her how an aduēturre was come to the Pallaice which in deede was so For when they were all in pleasing conuersation one with another there entred a Dwarfe thorowe the hall so little that hee was scarce seene because hee brought a shielde bigger then himselfe and the richest in the world he went directly to Don Eleno and kissing his hands hee gaue him a letter from Nabato with his commendations bydding him straight read that Letter for it behooued him to depart with some alteration the Dacian tooke it and read it thus Nabatos Letter to Don Eleno of Dacia TO the excellent Prince of Dacia Nabato his faythfull friend and in the Magicke artes most skilfull health As all my studie is directed for thy content I haue founde that it behooues thee for the reasons I shall giue presently to depart from that Court least thy delay be the cause of the deare Lyons death It must bee onely with thy Page and that my seruaunt that shall guyde thee leauing thy be trothed Loue in pallaice where shee shal be well intreated vntill the heauens shal otherwise appoint The like must the King of Argentaria doe with the Kings of Antioche France and Hungarie and the valiant Persian for after so great pleasures and on the necke of such Tryumphes no maruell if there happens the most cruellest warre that euer mortalls heard off for the enuious Basiliske with all his skill doth procure it The Gods preserue and protect thee as thy faith deserueth This Letter amazed euery one for Don Eleno tould thē who he was and seing with what spéed he was commaunded away he went to his chamber where his Ladie helpt him on with his rich armour with many millions of sighes bewayling her Loues departure she tould him softly shee was with Childe which newes nothing discontented the Dacian but rather said it therefore befitted her to stay in his Vncles Court. They brought him his swift Tirio and the Dwarfe gaue him his shield bidding him take none other he would suffer none to goe with him out of the Citie he intreated the Emperour to eare for his Rosamond who esteamed her as his daughter for the great loue hee bare to the Dacian Arryuing at the sea he found his inchanted Barke whereinto he leapt which with his accustomed velocitie began to rent the waues where we must leaue him to shew what happened in Constantinople CHAP. XVIII Howe one night the Greeke Prince diguised absented himselfe from the Court and what else happened WIth great care sweete Mistres of beauty leaft wee the faire Queene of Lyra to deliuer her angry Letter to him shee most loues Presently shall she bewaile with eternall teares and yet shall it bee no comfort to her the rash resolution she had to write so seuerely being assured with what faith she was beloued Shee mist not occasion for the carefull Palisandro quickly crost the hall shee called him saying Good Squire I beléeue you erred in deliuering your letter for it was written to some other Lady So I bring it you againe that she may not loose what from the same doth procéede he well perceaued the drift and therefore answered Why then most excellent Quéene I haue committed the greatest fault in the world publishing the secrets of my Lord the Prince There is no such fault for though I knowe his loues I will keepe them secret and as for the rest neither thou nor hee hast lost any thinge with me for t is verye common in his youth to ymploy it in some Ladies seruice She would staye no longer because of them that too and fro did passe which pleased the Page thinking hee carried good newes vnto his Lord hee found him in his Chamber for he went not from him and sayd That you may know with what affection your matters are handled reade this Letter written with your Ladies hande hee tooke it and whyle he ouerpast the feare of reading a thing so doubtfull with attention heard all that happened betwene the two Ladies at length he rent open the seales and a Thousand times kissing the firme the contents were these Archisiloras Letter to Claridiano ARchisilora of Lyra to the Prince Claridiano health If the anger griefe I did receaue with thy Letter bold Prince I shoulde expresse in this I shoulde rather want paper for it then reason to complayne mee of thy presumption behauing thy selfe not as a Knight but as one that liues by insinuating deluding those Ladies that altogether thinke not of thee With my owne hāds I wil not procure my reuēg for that were to worke thy content but I aduise thee to do so again thou do not so much as imagine it for that bee the cause to driue me to my kingdome only to depart frō the Knight that hath
him that had he not been so yoked to the beauteous Liriana surely some other had cured him for this Ladie was of the fairest in the world and hauing séene her valour might haue moued any ones affectiō yet was he a little amazed though applyed Phisicke doth not altogether heale yet at lest it takes away some hurting quames Remembring himselfe with a chéerefull looke he sayd In faith valiant Ladie I must néeds confesse I wrōged your beauty in taking the battaile from yonder Knight since by the one and by the other your honour was so great Shee answered I would not sir Knight haue you so soone shew your selfe against me iesting at that little the heauens haue on you imparted the which my good wil to worke your cōtent deserueth not specially since I saw you at the Iusts in Constantinople where I had been glad you had stayed to see the end of them that you might not be deceaued with my little beauty in that against so many Knights as thither came two Ladies wonne the prizes whose rare beauties made Cinthia pale and Venus blacke and I thinke Mars reserued not for himselfe more valour then he gaue them eyther was accompanied with a Knight no lesse then they adorned with grace and Fortitude who after were knowne to be the one for Nephewe and the other being Don Eleno Prince of Dacia couzen to the Emperour Trebatio The ladies were Archisilora Quéene of Lyra and the other Rosamond Princesse of Callidonia These be they braue knight whom the world should iustly serue and acknowledge for Soueraignes therof for their beauties doth deserue it You haue highly fauored me faire Lady sayd he telling me such famous Tryumphes as the Greekes haue had and you shal make it compleate binding me to your seruice to make mee partaker of your name and Eountrey I am content aunswered the Dame for in all things I desire to pleasure you my name is Sarmacia Princesse of Lacedemon and through a certaine aduenture in quest of a Knight I came to Greece which hath not a little contented mee hauing enioyed the sight of your valour With the greatest ioy in the world dyd Bembo rise and sayd Oh Soueraigne Princesse I beséech you giue mee your Royall handes for onely to me is this fauor due as to your couzen Bembo being the Knight that stands before you In her Countrey had the Ladye heard admirable report of that Princes valour and howe neere of kinne they were his Mother being her Fathers Sister In her soule did she reioyce to bee acquainted with him so she imbraced him vsing many kindnesse betwene them confirming the Consanguinitie among them with their pleasaunt couersation which was not to so small effect but after it greatlye auayled towardes the concluding of the geneall peace In their discourse hee could not but discouer to her his Loues and losse of Liriana which so tormented him with repetition thereof that hee could not but watter them with many teares more like a tender Louer then a warlike Knight whose enemies they be His faire couzen did comfort him with these words Courage braue Knight for onely it must set your Ladye in your handes and be not amazed nor wonder at Loues proceeding For his vnconsuming fier pardons none but rather shewes it selfe most furious against them that are with lesse care onely that it may bee knowen yf there bee anye plague worse then other in the world t is subiect to his more fiercer torments and that he is whom ought to be acknowledged for sole Supreame Lord of the vniuerse A mallady is yours so common that hauing many to bee companions in it it may be some cause to lessen the paine that particulerly is receaued And it is not possible the place where your Ladye is inchaunted should be so secret as not to bee knowne and being for what shall your valerous arme serue but to fetch her forth though in the enterprize wee loose our liues and my selfe from this time offer myne to bee imployed in any thing you shall néede That 's not it swéete couze that grieues me replyed the amorous youth but to haue heard the in her house company a knight was brought vp whom t was told me she loued as her soule t is suspected this was he that stole her from Nyquea though I was there assured that hee had also lost her why that 's an easie remedy sayd she by taking away the Knights lyfe from betwene you And if altogether fortune will persecute vs with barbarous crueltie there are other Ladies on whome you may imploy your thoughts that may be no lesse beautifull then the Princesse of Nyquea though hers be so matchlesse as you say whereto he replyed Onely that doe I feare excellent Lady that loue will bring me to that passe that I shall not loue what I doe now And in faith beleeue me to a true louer nothing but this is odious For he that loueth onely in this procures to propagate his Fame leauing in hand of inconstant fortune the remedie from the partie loued who seing how shee is loued and for her sake what is suffered she may bestow her guerdon not as this deserues but according to the liberall fauors that louers vse In this that were these amorous Princes when along the same meadowe they spyed a Knight comming in rich white armor with many knots of gold and greene about them on his shield in the middle of many flames was set a faire Cytie Straight did she knowe him and it was not a little she did in not manifesting her loue with the ioye she conceaued to see her deare Oristides who was he that came At that instant she laced on her helme saying to Bembo Behold yonder deare couzen the whole remaynder of destroyed Troy beleeue me the world hath not a better Knight I am glad you are in such an occasion present for I haue a combate to performe against him agreede vpon in Lacedemon where we had a certaine controuersie But that arryued the gallant Troyan verie glad to see them so well armed hee saluted them and sayd Can you tell me sir Knights any newes of a Knight in Indian colour armour with seauen starrs vpon his shield who maks me seek him with more care about these wods then I haue reason for The Ladie made answere we haue not seene him sir Knight but according to the care you saye you haue to seke him no maruel if you bee carelesse of a battle you appointed at Lacedemon for t is an ignominious wrong you offer to your person not to performe your promise hauing giuen as a pledge of your word fayth some of your armour In quiet did not the Louer liue after he departed from her he had present lamenting her absence with continuall teares a true token of his alienation yet coulde not he thinke that his Lady should depart from her Country to séeke him So he replyed Truely sir Knight you doe me wronge to charge
began battle but assuredly thought the Iustice on his side Being Conquerour hee would more plainely shewe the generositie of his minde attracting the wills of the conquered with singuler clemencie saying that so rare a vertue ought not to be extinguished by the honour of a bloody victory and so would take the conquest on hymselfe as the conquered Finally Lirgandeo sayth that exceping his Competitors the world had not a better Prince his loues distracted him of his best sences for imagining that another loued his Lady and was of her beloued he lost the raignes of patience with sighes publishing what his soule indured vrged thereto by the aboundance of his swelling hart as nowe hee did with in the shippe he went For the fourth day of his Nauigation seeing himselfe more ouerwhelmed in his imaginarie thoughts then in the waters whose furious billowes his barke plowed hee rose about midnight sitting on the hatches to ease his moanes hee sighed forth these loose rymes Hart without ioy and woes with woes opprest The power of loue is with more force adrest To make me slaue to vylde captiuitie Loosing all hope of hoped libertie There is no sweete vnlesse from her it comes That Lillies white and Roses red still shames What ioy without Liriana can be pleasant In absence of her beauty nothing's decent But if she send the ioy it is past ioye A buckler gainst all paines and dyre annoy It yeeldes in torment pleasure and content And when t is worst t is voyde of discontent I must nor not I dare not hope for any Since loue my woes procures by waies so many Bereauing me by stealing her of rest Changing my ioy to paine my peace t'vnrest Oh thou vast sea through which was no man dryuen Oh watrie waues clere skie and brightest heauen If any pittie you on earth bestowe Shew it on me that am by loue trodde lowe Maistred with woes inchain'd without all pittie Made poore in hope but rich in miserie Acknowledging content in discontent Calling that ioye where no ioy ere was ment She 's faire but coy excuse me in dispaire For all my ioy is in desire made bare There wanted no louing sighes wherewith the valyant youth bemoaned his paines and the glorie that from them he conceaued calling the Sea Gods and Goddesses to witnes his passions who hearing what the gentle Louer published could not but pittie him So past he the night till about the bright lacing of the high heauens he sawe a barke more swifter then the winde passe by his along thereon lay a Knight all armed no lesse lamenting his griefes then he and yet with more reason he went saying Oh loue may it bee thou shouldst by all meanes seeke to ruinate my onely hopes being so long since assured that if I liue t is but to loue yeilding to thée the awefull tribute of my tributarie selfe as liedge man to thy deitie and that for all these spoyles hauing my hart as hostage of my faith thou shouldst delight to permit the enemie of my death to vse mee thus giuing me life to liue in such distresse No more could the amorous Pagan heare by reason of the celeritie it carryed though by it he vnderstoode the wrong he suffered and seing howe generall it was sayde Oh woefull Prince what little remedie is there left thée seeing t is denyed to euery one there is no hoping for it by liuing Oh pestiferous plague how much art thou wrapt within the poyson of thy torments and yet how wished is it to the dire cost of louers poore soules that with such bitter lamēts doe celebrate their swéete woes By this did he sée that the bark was stayed not farre from the foot of a stately edefice builded vppon the sea The Achayan Lord rested amazed with the sight and to knowe what it was commanded his to bee dirrected thither he entred by the side of the inscriptions in sight of the Knight that was already ryzen resembling Mars himselfe by his magnificence with the first scrowle that Bembo mett with was this The entrance of the marueilous Tower is granted to none not bringing the armor of the ingratest Louer of the earth Naturally bould was the furious youth and not respecting the contents of the scrowle hee flunge at one of the pillers thinking that way was the ascending to the Tower But he had scarce taken it with his handes when sodainely there arose so much fier that the Knight seemed all of a kindled coale and certainely he had incurred mightie daunger of his life had he not had on the armes of Saturne whose nature resisted that element Notwithstanding he parted frō it almost stifled with the heate that entred through his visor Well did the other Knight sée it that not farre from thence gazed on those that looked towardes the occident seeing the fier that had risen though more ready he seemed for his graue then to smile yet he laughed so high that the fierce Pagan heard it that not a little was abashed thereat and not able to dissemble it sayd I would gladly knowe sir Knight the cause of your content since with such exterior signes you haue shewen it None other replyed hee in the yellowe of this colour was his armour but to haue séene sir Knight with what vehemencie that flame would haue imbrast you within your armour It cannot bee exprest what rage entred within the Pagan by the aunswere he turned to the dispayrer saying It had been farre better since you haue séene armour to haue tryed the sauor of the fier of the pillers in that the scorching flames of Loue you haue already published along the sea in your Nauigation and now I dare affirme you are with reason thus suffred to liue considering how much you flie from labour Wise and aduised is the Ladye that from so cowarde a Knight detaines her fauors But since you haue séene with what audacitie I embrace yonder fier prepare your selfe for to your cost will I make you know how I can defend the inclosed in my hart There was no need to aduise him therof for with Mars would he haue fought touching what Bembo there had vrged Neuer vpon the doubtfull seas nor on the certaine Lande was there euer séene of a single fight a more fiercer cōbate For the warriors are the flower of Christendome and Paganisme and the dispayrer was no lesse then the Greeke Prince Claridiano who out of hope in loue as Lirgandeo hath related departed from Grecia None of the waterie Gods woulde loose such a battle for neyther Faune nor Nymphe but came to behold it And not so much but the amorous Trytones lifted vp their heads to looke on the twoo sole rare in the world In sight did the angry swelling waues neuer séeme more milde then nowe Peace did Eolus and Neptune make together with all their seuerall attending traynes raynging along the gréene azured waters till they came to the place where the battle was to be fought The gentle
heard amōg the bushes brake of his exclaimes he rose to sée what it was saw his dere squire Palisandro that in great hast came towards him who leapt from his horse and sayd Did you thinke souerainge Prince that you shold wander alone so lāguishing in paine through parts so remoted frō your Coūtry Parents friends wtout company of whom doth féele thy greife far more thē his proper sorow These causes are the tuch-stones to try your valour shewing it against fortunes disorders who to change her lowring countenāce requires nothing but the resistance of her frownes seming more coragious whē she is most fiercest Far more out of fauour was your Father yet neuer did hee loose the raignes of his patience which hath not a little grieued your Tutor Galtenor who brought me hither to waite vppon you which was the thing I only desired cōmanding me to tell you you should not for any thing diminish the haughtines of your mind for al wold be the more to eternize your glory Such hopes were neuer giuē to any louer therfore I wil but anger him longer to continue in these extremes for t is good since Archisilora must be yours you shold obtain the happines of hauing her with a more rigorous harm thē any you haue suffred that according to your pains you shold after esteme your glorious tryūphs And with no lesse griefe takes she your absēce thē you hers for nothing els procured I to know but this while I was there vntil your tutor saw how necessary my cōming to you was Is it possible friend Palisandro said the Prince that my lady gréeues to see me absent I cannot beléeue it for so great a good brings with it an incredulitie He imbrast him for neuer had any Prince a more discréeter squyre except Allirio that was borne according to Rosabells humor A thousand things demaunded he of the Court whose presence did adorne it Some griefe was to him hearing that all his kinsfolkes were there missing not knowing the cause therof Great comfort did hee conceaue by seeing him hee had made the Consistorie within whose secrecie he recorded his soules thoughts imagining his companie would be a lessening of his paines but that which most did mittigate it was the care his Foster-father Galtenor had to succour him By this it was time to trauaile so getting a horse-backe tooke their next way to the famouse Citie of Zantho aduertising Palisandro he should by no meanes discouer what they were more then that he was called the persecuted knight discourse they did of many things and the most of Archisilora when about two of the clocke after midday the rayes of the reuerberating sunne vpon the stony walles of the Cittie guilded their plumed toppes whose stupendious buildings made them amazed with admiration On the north side it hath Panonia on the west Istria on the East Mysia the greater and on the south the Adriaticke sea The wall was round moted with an arme of the famous Gersian riuer where it is beléeued that Iupiter first fell in Loue and therefore did the Kings heere neuer want most beautifull daughters as this now was accoumpted the worlds machlesse Paragon for gallantnes and beautie The path which they hadde taken brought them vnto the bridge whose passage the Siconians Son with his bretheren did defend It was admirable in workmanshippe for in the middest therof was edified a stately pallaice where the prince and his brothers lodged It reached vnto the Cittie wall ending with a large and great plaine payled in for the battailes which the Siconian had cōmanded there to be made because that way stood the Kings pallaice from whose windows might the second Venus behold all the cōbates though not with such affection as the warlike Lindauro so was the Prince named could wish because he was of himselfe proud and insolent being so mighty which is the chiefest thinge the Ladies doe abhorre A tumult there was in the place for the Gréeke heard the noise of blowes hee hastened his horse so did his Page to arriue in time to sée the cause Which was for that the Prince of Croatia with his two gyants had entred the bridge before him desirous to reuenge his Couzens disgrace with such fury did Claridiano crosse the same that euery one beholding the fight was moued to laughter seing him with so mornefull deuise Thrée of the brothers had Pollidolpho Prince of Croatia ouerthrowne returning against the fourth he encountred him so brauely that the launce slyding from his shielde to the right side which beeing of a knotty Oake ere it broke thrée pats thereof appeared at the other side tumbling his enemie dead at his féete to his Brothers extreme griefe There was none there but cōmended the azure knight for of this colour was his deuise who like an angry Lyon made towards the haughty Lindauro They met with more ferrocity then the roaring of raging waters beating within the cauers of hollow rocks Valiant were the louers but both were vnhorst Of the two falls the better was the Croatians because he held the bridle in his hāds Recouer would he his seate to end the rest of the battles but the Iudges on Lindauros behalfe did put him from it saying he was vanquisht Not I replyed the youth since we both fel on our féet That 's al one said they for you to wyn were bound not to leaue your saddle though your aduersary dyd loose his To that passe came the matter that the Prince of Croatias gyants stept among them saying that he in the azure was not ouercome but that he might prosecute his battle that they would maintayne it gainst all the world Least any dangerous tumult should happen the King descended to whom the Iudgement of the combate was remitted verie neere approched the Gréeke determined to take the Croatians part thought it shold cost him his life for his valor shewen in the Iustes had drawen his affection So did the Kinge greatly affect Lindauro because he was so great a Prince and so néere neighbour to him it had moued him in secret to giue him hope of his Daughter Venus that none but he shold haue her although the lady one day her father talked with hir about it made answere contrary to her sires expectations Neuerthelesse he would not openly disgrace the stranger but onely that hee could not procéede farther in fight loosing his horse and shield Forward came the angry Gréeke with furious rage shaking like an aspen leafe lifting vp his Beuer sayd Notwithstanding that against what so wise a king hath decréede nothing ought to be sayd neuerthelesse sauing the respect honor due to your imperiall Crowne state in my opinion the knight may continue his battailes to the end for this being the last it is certaine it went at al aduenture either procuring the maintenance of his owne fame If there any wanted to Iust yet were there in this difficulty resting in the thrée
the fauor of your mightie arme I maye recouer that felicitie that my teares and your valour shall purchase I would it were no more but so deare Rosabell replyed the Prince of Antioch for it should more easier be accomplisht then the busines wee goe about And because I thinke it fitte we returne to the Kings that so well ayded vs we may set forwards in our way and let me not see you no more so passionate for you will but grieue me And more torments and more paines indured your father in his louing pilgrimage yet neuer had the like fauour that yesterday you possest neuerthelesse he did not desist with content to prosecute his Chiualries let therefore his magnanimitie no lesse shine in the Sunne nor in mee no lesse loue and true amitie then my Fathers towards yours till in your behalfe I sacrifice my soules life to winne your happines But let vs goe for now your sorrow wil be iniust hauing one so to mittigate it and let vs take all aduantage in these affaires admitting no battle one without another though we both demand it we must suffer so many to vndertake yt on their part For this Souldan is verie subtle hauing many Gyants his frends certainly it is like he wil to some of them commit that battaile so his intent might be accomplished supposing that none wil dare to attempt it For the Kings through feare of them Thus discoursed these two deare friends till they approched so nigh the citie of Nyquea that her gates winked vpon them on the bank of whose riuer they alighted to passe the tediousnesse of the night in pleasing chat of that peerelesse Lady and of the great desire they had to passe into Grecia There he recompted the battaile he had with his Father in Lacedemonia vnknowen whereby he vnderstood he was his sonne In this prattle continued they till it was time to sleepe and so departing one a little from the other they made their shields their pillowes and so rested the greatest part of the night Whē they awaked togither either full of carefull thoughtes for the others griefe For therin is ciphered the true patterne of perfect friendship And seeing thus pensiuely they heard the grones of some Knight that complained togither they rose and taking their shieldes and Helmes without any worde they went softly to heare what he saide And being nigh him they saw by the reflecting light of Cinthias beames a well proportioned Knight clad all in blacke armour who lying vnder a bigg growen Oake complained against the skyes loue and Fortune Oh heauens said the afflicted More how long will you suffer him to liue from whome death doth fly Why giue ye me life that nothing thanke you for it because t is hatefull to me Why permitted ye my ofspring to be from thence if on the earth I shall liue dying Oh suffer not Bembo Prince of Achaya to liue with so many passions when you may end it with one gentle death that neuer better welcome may come then now Oh soueraigne Princesse of Niquea how iustly maist thou complain of me that louing thee so deerely haue bene so remisse to visite thee Oh forgetfull louer if thou didst liue in Achaya louing why didst thou then so long proroge thy comming knowing that Liriana was in Niquea whereby thy delay is the cause thou must dye not seeing her being thy only desire as the most happiest life and now Prince of misfortune behooues it thee to pilgrimage throughout the worlds vast continents to know her habitation which thou hadst saued comming in time then who would haue bene able or somuch as presumed to thinke in his trembling harte to take her from thy hāds Oh hawtie and presumptuous Knight who may know what thou art that I might make thee acknowledge the wrong thou hast done me taking what only to my worthinesse was due How maie I call my selfe Nephew to that mighty Bembo the scourge terror of all Greece suffering another to inioy whome thou dost loue neuer more would I haue put on armour if I did not make him confesse this fowle iniurie And yet there is no reason why for seing Liriana was of beautie Angelical it was like others would loue her and if fortune did fauour him to carry her away I haue no cause to lament bewaile but my slow hart and sluggish thoughts that spurd me not afore this to visit her Oh my friend Nicandro how maie I complaine of thee bycause it is thy fault for hadst thou by thy skill aduertized me of this successe who would haue deferd such a voiage though it had coste him a thousand liues and come were it only but to see her whom to me thou didst canonize for beautie as the sole meritor of my faith So pensiue rested the braue greeke Rosabell seing what that Knight did and hearing what he said against his reputation affecting that Ladie that more then his proper life he loued that he knew not how to resolue himselfe till Oristoldo perceauing his alteration stept to him saying Valiant Prince seing by delaie the Kings doe incurre so great danger it is not lawfull you should procure now new battels and especially he knowing they are prisoners about the stealing of the Princes it cannot be but he will offer himselfe in that demaund and thē in their defence will your combate be more iustified thē at this instant for though he loues whome you do the extremity of contrarie passions may excuse you but being assured of her loue towards you great reasō haue you to forgiue him Great is the wrong heerein I doe my Lade replyed Rosabell but your will be fulfilled for I am determined altogether to follow your coūsaile All that Oristoldo had said was true for Bembo was then thither come for no other purpose but to maintaine that the prisoners were consenting to the Princesse stealing And had not Rosabell and Oristoldo staied to defend it there had byn none able from him to beare away the victorie because he was one of the worthies of the world and he that most persecuted Greece in the great warres He was verie yong and the most courteous of all his Nation He would not suffer his subiects to crown him King till he had traueld the worlde and so created he gouernors ouer his kingdome and accompanied with his valour onely he departed from Achaya with that mornfull deuise that many thought it signified more then it did He was the amorousest that euer woman brought foorth and he that was most loyall to Liriana for after he knew her to be married he still doted on her alleaging that he did loue and had referd the guerdon of his loyaltie to the graciousnes of his Lady but if she reiected his true loue passions yet he would not forget her for it were to iniurie his faith that from the beginning he had consecrated to her beautie And had fortune but a little fauoured him he had bene one of
the famous Princes of the worlde but seeing himselfe so cruelly by loue persecuted did often make him loose part of his high valour From him departed the two friendes returning where they had left their horses expecting the mornings approch which scarce appeared saluting the brightnesse of the Sunnes vprising when mounted on their coursers they had not galloped farre but the glittering of Nyqueas gates reflected on their armours Not long after did the valiant competitor do the like vpon a great mightie Bay Courser without any spot and of the best broode that euer was seene for as such a one it was giuen him by his louing friend the wise Nycandro So soone as he sawe the two Knightes before him with a little more then ordinarie speede he ouertooke them being nigh them he demauÌ„ded in the Arabian tongue the better to dissemble what countrey that was It is so little sir Knight since we ariued here answered Rosabell that we are altogether ignorant of your demaund hauing not met any of whome wee might knowe what you desire The ariuing of another Knight of as braue apparances as any of them interrupted his replie This was Don Clarisell that guyded by Lupercio Gellasios maister was come in the Souldans behalfe though he ariued too late for he had already sent to that purpose for a subiect of his the fiercest of many Gyants that he knewe being come to them with great courtesie he requested what Bembo had done before But as euerye one dissembled their knowledge they stayde till they might meete with some of whome they might learne their doubt Long stayed they not but they saw a Page in great hast come weeping from the Cittie and méeting with the foure Princes sayde Ah me braue Knights if in you there be what your gallantnes doth manifest now you may approue it by succouring of three Kinges that vniustly are accused of the rape made of the Princesse and her couzen by the deformedst giant in the vniuerse I am sure they are in no fault Leade the way good Page sayd the couragious Rosabell for I wil for them hazard my person in any danger and I will mine if it be néedfull sayd Oristoldo The Assirian that was somewhat bould would no longer forbeare but sayde I woulde not haue on my part Knights so resolute Then be you of the other sayd Oristoldo and you shall see that our resolution is grounded on our armes and not on our tongues without more stay they rayned about their Horses and with their swiftest pace they straight went to the Cittie The lyke did the other two remayning with great desire to combate with such confident Knights specially he in the black whome Rosabells behauiour highly pleased hee had reason for on horse-backe fewe were like him At length the first two arriued at the pallaice after the Souldan had Dyned being accompanyed with his chiefe Nobilitie because he would haue the Kinge of Garamantes cause tryed before them for he would not beléeue but he had consented to the rape And that he might be more sure of his reuenge he had called the proude Grantelâ—rio Lorde of the Altana Isles and subiect vnto him though like a friend he vsed him because of hys power There were no 20 Knights so hardy as one houre to withstand him in the fielde This Gyant was also in the great hall for the Souldan to honour him more had inuited him And straight he commanded the three Kings to be brought with suffitient garde to whome the Souldan sayd Knights you see what all my subiects doe obiect against you that you were confederates in my deare Daughters rape but I because I woulde in some respect beléeue the contrarie haue put it to the tryall of a battell and so within foure days may you present your Champion to combate against him that my counsell hath assigned who is the King of the Altana Isles that is here The King of Garamantes thus replyed Greatly are we wronged mighty Lord to haue this battle taken from our armes knowing none in thy Kingdome on whom we might repose so waightie a charge I haue already vrged that sayd the Gyant and intreated the Souldan that you three might be admitted thereunto but seeing hee sayth there is a law inuiolate that forbids it take no care for that for I giue leaue and will admit Ten Knights in your behalfe against all whom together I alone will maintaine you were confederates in the rape of the gracious Liriana Princesse of Niquea As the fearefull King was about to answere the couragious Greekes stopped foorth backe with his friend Oristoldo who doing his humble obeysance vnto the Souldan sayd vnto him in the Assirian tongue the which he knewe he could well speake In the entring of thy great Cittie great Monarch of this faire Empire comming to séek for the King of Garamantes my Lord and soueraigne I vnderstoode what on thy behalfe was against his honour obiected And my selfe being assured of his vertues relying thereon I am resolued to vndertake the battle for him and for the rest to the extremest hazard of my life because I am certaine of his right Greatly reioyced the imprisoned Princes seeing him come in such opportunitie for they straight knewe him by his azure deuise to whome the Souldan replyed The tryall sir Knight is already remitted to bee arbitrated by combate and so there remaines no more then that these Kinges doe graunt it and then may you straight performe it Braue couzen sayd the King of Garamantes to Rosabell I for my part giue you all my power thereto resting not a little assured of the good successe hauing so great iustice on my side and so braue a knight to defend it We graunt the like sayd the other Kinges Seing this is done sayde the Gréeke humbling himselfe for the imposed charg command mightie Souldan turned to him the apparance of the chalenger and I beseech you that the prisoners may bee set in place that the battle ended they may without impediment depart Like a deuillish furie did the furious Pagan steppe foorth saying Why how now Knight so sure art thou of the end that before thou séest me thou darest demaunde the prize of the battle But now consider knowing what thou hast to doe against whom whether thou wilt yet affirme thy spéeches Not only doe I it sayd the hawghty youth but sayd it waxeth late till it be done Then I aduise thee Knight replyed the Gyant that if thou wilt thou mayest chose to ayd thée besides thy companion eight knights more for to that nuÌ„ber haue I chalenged Gyant replyed the couragious Gréeke all your broode thinks that with soly the outward shew you may end any aduenture therefore presume you to vtter such blasphemies not vnderstaÌ„ding that he which estéemes himselfe a knight wil admit nothing with aduaÌ„tage And so maist thou go arme thy selfe for onely with these armor weapoÌ„s that I haue the iustice of my cause I