with his sword in his hand inuiting him to mortall battaile Zoylo who sawe his determination did procure to defend himselfe and offend his enimie Oh my Muse that nowe I had so much discreation and eloquence for to set out and declare the greate harme that this daie happened in this vnfortunate Forrest This valiant Tartarian when his enimie came vnto him stroke him so terrible a blowe vpon the visour of his helme that with the furie thereof he made sparkles of fire to issue out thereof with great abundaunce and to bowe downe his head vpon his breast The Pagan did returne vnto him his salutation and stroke him such a blowe vpon his helme that with the great noise therof it made a sound in all the mountaines Now began betweene them a meruailous and fearefull battaile at the great noise whereof Fortune willing to vse her extremitie for to amplifie a farther euill caused the Princesse Tigliafa in the companie of her Ladyes and Damsells to come vnto that place whereas these knightes were in â—attaile and straight waie she did knowe her welbeloued Tartarian and séeing him in so dangerous a battaile she was in great anguish with her selfe These Knights thought on no other thing but either of them procured to bring his aduersarie to his ende striking at eache other suche terrible blows and with so great fury that many times it made eyther of them to loose his féeling and both séeing the greate force of one another were meruailously incensed with anger This fierce Tartarian threw his shield at his backe that with more force he might strike and hurt his enemie and therewith gaue him so strong a blow vpon his helme that all astonied he forced him to fall vpon the crupper of his horse who carried him a great space round about the fielde without any féeling But when he came againe vnto himselfe this fierce Mauritanian setling himselfe in his saddle stroke at y e Tartarian so terrible a blow that if it had chanced on him it would haue turned him to much griefe but with great discretion he cléered himselfe therof in such sort that it was stroken in vaine and with great lightnesse hee retourned and stroke the Mauritanian so that he made him once againe to fall vpon the crouper of his horse all astonyed and there appeared by the visour of his helme the abundaunce of bloud that issued out of his mouth and his horse béeing gréuéd with that blow stooped with his forefeete to the ground and being amazed with great fury he rose vp with his great kicking and flinging backwards he did defend that the Tartarian could not come nigh to hurt y e Mauritanian which was the occasion that he could not haue any time for to giue him the second blowe although he neuer left to follow him to see if he could make an end of y e enterprise which would haue made much of his part not to haue giuen way that this fierce Mauritanian should haue retourned to himselfe so quickly which was in so short time and with so great anger that the smoake which came from his mouth seemed like a myst about his helme so that almost it could not be seene Then this furious diuell set spurres to his horse blaspheming against his Gods hauing his mortall sword very fast in his hande he ranne towards his enimie who without any feare of his fury went forth to receiue him and when they met together they discharged their blowes at once but it fortuned that the Mauritanians blow did first fasten with so great strength that for all the helme which Zoylo had was so good it was not sufficient to make defence but that with the diuellish furie wherwith it was discharged it bended in such sorte that it brake all to péeces the scalpe of that vnhappie Tartarian wherewith he gaue a terrible fall to the ground So when the Pagon sawe his enimie on the earth with a loude voyce he sayde Nowe shalt not thou bée he that shall disturbe mée that I carrie not this armour with mée This sadde and heauie Princesse when she sawe her swéete and welbeloued friende on the earth with great suspition what was happened beganne to wéepe bitterly And as a Lyon who séeing before her her young Lyon euill intreated of the hunter euen so she leapt from her Palfraie and ranne vnto her welbeloued Zoylo and with greate spéed shée pulled off the healme from that wounded head and with a fayre linnen cloth she wiped of the bloud from his mortall face and when she was certaine that it was hée that cost her so déere the séeking and that he was without lyfe with furious madnesse she tore her attire from her head and all to rent her golden haire tearing it in péeces and retourned againe and wiped that infernall face making such sorrowfull lamentation that whosoeuer had seene her woulde haue bene moued to haue had compassion Then shée tooke the head betwéene her handes and did procure without dooing it anie harme to lifte it vp and to put it vppon her lappe and séeing for all this that there was no moouing in him she ioyned her face vnto the face of that vnfortunate Zoylo and with sorowfull wordes shée sayd Oh my loue open thine eyes and beholde me open them I saie and looke vppon this thy Ladie most vnfortunate and while lyfe remaineth giue mée some contentment if fortune be so fauourable Oh my Lorde strengthen thy selfe to looke vpon me wherein I shall receiue such delight that willinglye I will beare thée companie Ah Zoylo and my onely loue séeing that in former time my teares were not sufficient to reclaime thée in anie parte make me satisfaction for the greate trauaile which I haue taken in séeking thée out come nowe in death and inioye this thy vnfortunate louer and dye not without séeing me open these eyes and beholde mée giue me I praie thée some comfort Ah my Lorde I know not whether in séeing me thou shalt receiue paine or no for that at anie time thou neuer delightedst in anie thing that was mine but now I will gratifie thée in dying with thée and séeing that in thy lyfe time I coulde not reioyce in thée nor haue anie companie with thée I will now in thy death séeke thée and peraduenture thou wilt nowe haue more pittie on mée The Princesse sorrowfull lamentations and greate weepings were such that she almost sounded But this discomforted Ladie comming to her selfe and sawe that her loue made no appearaunce of lyfe shée beganne againe to wipe his face for that it was againe all to bée bathed with bloud and with her white hande she felt his eyes and mouth and all his face and his head till such time as shée chaunced to put her hande on the mortall wounde and when shée knew that there was all the harme she held her hand still and looking on him whether he mooued or no with the greate feare which she had that he woulde die
without giuing her anye comfort to speake vnto her she made a meruailous and great lamentation and cryed out with terrible shrikes the which did augement much heauinesse and sorrowe in them which were in companye with the Princesse and she sayd Ah my loue how many troubles and great trauailes haue I passed in seeking thee by mountaines and hils by vallies wilde fields and high wayes watering them with my amorous teares alwayes demaunding for thee and alwayes in vaine calling thée yet was I neuer desolate of the true loue which I bare vnto thée Oh howe many times in calling for thée haue I bene answered by the ecko which was vnto me great dolor and griefe and nowe that fortune hath brought me into the same place whereas thou art for to recreate and reioyce my selfe with thy beutie the same fortune would that it should be for the more increasing of my dolour and griefe in finding thée in this sort as now thou art Oh cruell Fortune I haue not deserued to be thus ingratefully vsed at thy hands for when I thought to be cléere of all sorrow and trouble now I finde my selfe most afflicted therewith Ah my Lord séeing that in thy lyfe time thou gauest me so bitter and euill a life for that thou didst hate abhorre me now in thy death giue me some comfort Open these swéete eyes and behold me lift vp this wounded head and giue me some comfort before thou dyest Ah Zoylo my ioye if euer thou didst beare me any loue it is now time to giue me to vnderstand thereof before thy soule depart from thy body and in saying these lamentable words she was constrained to hold her peace for that she saw that this woūded Tartarian recouered some strength who opened his eyes and when he sawe himselfe in the armes of her who at that time he so much loued before by force of inchauntment he hated he sodainly arose vp and recouering strength he sate himselfe on the ground and cast his armes aboute the white necke of the Princesse and they ioyned theyr faces the one with the other distilling betwixt them manye salt and bitter teares in such sort that it would haue moued the wilde beasts vnto compassion and with a féeble weake voice this vnfortunate Prince sayde Ah my Ladie and mistres let me recreate and comfort my selfe in inioyeng this thy mouth the time that I shall remaine aliue and before that my soule doth depart the company of this my body giue me my Lady some comfort doe not make any excuse although without all reason I haue bene pitilesse vnto thée in making thee to trauaile with great sorow séeking him y t because he would not see thée fled alwaies in shunning thée now I come to desire thée Héere must you shew me in what estimation you had me in in giuing me succour before that I do leaue thée in this wildernesse alone with my dead bodie colde and wan Oh my loue giue me a thousand kisses let me onely haue this delight for the little time I haue to tary afterward I desire thée to giue my body his sepulchar This sad and discomforted Ladie answered Ah Zoilo what doest aske of me what wouldest that I shuld giue thée I alwayes was thine I haue nothing of mine owne I am all thine it were now a straunge thing to beginne a new to loue thée for all that euer I could giue thée I gaue it thee long ere this oh my loue why doest thou not vnderstand this alasse what shall I saie I that am without all good fortune for now I sée that thy time draweth on that my contentment ioy and comfort is verie short Ah my Lord dost thou request of me to giue thy bodie a Sepulchre well I see that it is requisite to séeke some to giue it vnto vs both And without strēgth to procéede anie farther in spéeches she kissed the face of her welbeloued so long desired Zoilo with great sobbing sighs making within her selfe a terrible conflict tarrying for the answere of her welbeloued friend who with no lesse paine anguish of death sayd Ah my Ladie and mistres I do know that thou wert alwaies mine I thine That which I will now desire of thée is for that I was beloued of thée in my life time that now in my death I may be fauoured of thée Oh cruell loue oh what a wish is this a case neuer the like heard of before that I shuld desire the death of her that so long time hath trauailed and taken paines and sorrowes with terrible wéepings and sighs for my sake Ah my mistres how happie shoulde I be that thus imbracing one in the others armes we might depart together Oh what a happie death would it be oh swéete Fortune I haue no other griefe with me but to leaue thée behinde me Oh vnhappie that I am I neuer determined to desire thy death but nowe and onely for that I woulde not leaue thy companie The Princesse béeing very much troubled with griefe and sorrowe aunswered him and sayde Oh my loue therein take thou neyther griefe nor care for héere I dooe promise thée by the greate loue that I doe beare vnto thee that if death doe shew himselfe any thing contrarie vnto mée that I will procure it with mine owne handes for that the Gods will not consent that I should liue and thou die therefore I saye that if hée doe contrarie mée I will giue thee this contentment for that without thée I shall finde héere no ioye nor comfort at all for me neyther yet any ease of this my great griefe so that I shall thinke it for the best to loose all my ioye and now I doe finde in my selfe that death will be my friend Ah my swéet loue and Lord ioyne thy face vnto mine let vs kisse together and let vs make our departure both together The Prince béeing troubled with the anguish of his hastie death sayd Héere I doo desire thée my Tigliafa by y e firme faithfull loue which thou doest beare me not to consent that I be the occasion that with a cruell death thou doest finish thy life but to sustaine maintaine it so long as the Gods doth permit the same and when that I am dead which shall be verie quickly let me receiue this fauour at thy handes that thou wouldest vouchsafe to giue a Sepulchre vnto this my bodie for with great ease and comfort shall I depart séeing that I die in the armes of my Ladie and mistres and a greate deale more comfort shall I receiue if I knew of a certaintie that thou woldest performe this that I doe craue and desire at thy hands Oh my loue doe not denie this my supplication and for that I am certified that thou wilt performe the same héere I take my leaue of thée farewell the Gods preserue thée and take me to theyr mercies And when he sayde these wordes he inclined his necke vpon
hart doth grow Make soft thy hart and do not him disdaine That doth adore thy beautie so diuine Pittie my plaints abate my grieuous paine With scoffes and scornes constraine me not to pine Either graunt grace els flatly nay reply That I may know if I shall liue or dye When he had made an ende of this song he let the Rebeck fall out of his hand stretching himself on the grene grasse crossing his hands he put them to his mouth as a man ful of passions griefes began to say w t a weping voice O my Pastora let thy cruelty now suffise thée it is now time that thou helpest thy Pastor out of so long and great sorow Consider mistresse that thou dost intreate me very euil for y t thou dost wel vnderstand y t I am wholly thine not mine owne as thyne own thou maist ordaine dispose me I am wholly subiect vnto thy will whether it be good or ill what so euer thy pleasure is vnto either of them I am agreable for y t I am wholly thyne The Prince saw y t with this shepard was an other in his company who whan he saw y t the other hild his peace he toke an other Rebeke which he had w t no lesse musicke then y e other he began to play sing as followeth by y e which he did show to be clere at libertie of y e paines of loue That tyrant Loue shall neuer wound my brest I will not loue nor yet beloued be The louers lyfe I doe in hart detest which now in myrth are straight in misery ¶ I being free doe Cupids customes scorne Reiect his lawes disdaine his wounding dart And let who will be with his passions torne He neither can nor shall possesse my hart This shepheard left off his song playing all at one time as one y t made no reckoning nor estéemed loue but the amorous shepheard gaue so terrible a sigh y t it sounded throughout all the field Then making a heauie sound he said O happie shepheard that loue hath giuen so much libertie vnto great is thy good fortune that thou maist fréely publish thy lybertie and blame my captiuitie Let the Gods vnderstand let it be published that I am brought vnto that estate that in my songes sonets I doe delight to vtter the swéete conuersation that I haue with my loue But how much more ioy should I receiue if I could sing as thou doest in seing my selfe at lybertie Oh mightie Iupiter doe not take away this excellent ioy which I doe féele in louing lyke wyse I do desire thée that thou wouldest giue me strēgth for to passe ouer my payne and griefe therewith he toke againe the Rebick and soung this song as followeth EXcept I loue I cannot haue delight It is a care that doth to lyfe belong For why I hold that lyfe in great despight That hath not sower mixt with sweete among And though the torments which I feele be strong Yet had I rather thus for to remaine Then laugh and liue not feling louers paine This Shepard was troubled in his song could not procede any farther for that he hard a great rushing noyse amongst the bushes and trées And loking who it should be he saw that it was a Pastora who was apparaled with a white peticoate of very course cloth She had hir golden haire dyspersed abroade on hir backe behind hir eares and had in hir hand a shepheards hooke very well wrought with the which she gouerned a fewe shéepe that she had the charge of Hir face semed so faire as Diana at such time as hir beames hath most force And when the Shepard saw hir he began a new to make vnto hir pitifull lamentations But for all that the Pastora made no rekoning to giue any eare vnto him nor to his complaints but rather with a smiling laughter made of it as a iest which caused vnto the Shepehard more torment Then Cupide who was tarying his tyme opportunitie at y t time discharged his golden Arrow with great furie in such sort that the heart of the Prince who aforetime was voyd at libertie was now brought in subiection made subiect vnto his lawes customes For so sone as he had séene this Pastora he straight way remembred the Pastora which y e Princes of Ierosolima had told him of also of y t which he saw in the inchanted Castle leaning on hir breast at the Yron grate And remēbring himselfe he cast his head a side to behold hir that was y e occasion of his new harme but for y t she was passed alongst with hir shéep he could not sée hir Then he began to complaine against his vnhappie fortune saying Ah heauy hart that in the time y t thou wert a knight at libertie thou diddest subdue and hadst power to ouercome so many strong warriors wher is now thy strength become wherwith thou didst ouercome thē Art not thou he who did ouercome those two mightie giants in Trapobana Art not thou he which w t thy fury didst abate y e strength courage of y e mightie Geredion what is become of thy potensie wherwith thou diddest bring down y e pride of y e two Tartaros what is become of the fury wher with thy fystes thou slewest y e great giant of the moūtaines Nabatea wher is thy strēgth wherwith thou didst win thy mightie horse Zefiro I do sée y t it is all yelded vnto a poore simple Pastora Oh hart it doth not greue me for y t thou art brought in subiectiō but only for y t thou art at y e wil power of a Pastora It is a signe y t my lignage is not of such valour estimation as I was perswaded by my friend Galtenor But what do I say do I finde fault in the desert of my Pastora And although I wer of y e most highest lynage in the world yet that faire face is more then any humaine creature doth deserue And in saying these words he fell in a sownd to the ground And forsomuch as he was absent taried a long time y e ladies saw he came not they went out to seke him found him in y e sort as I haue told you which caused great disturbance vnto them Notwithstanding in the best maner they could with bowing of his finger other diligences they brought him againe to his remembraunce but not in so perfect sort that he knew who was with him in presence And therwith he gaue a greuous sigh sayd Oh merciful Iupiter show vpon me thy power do not permit that Cupide may haue so much might against this sorowful knight And therwith a new he fel down in a sownd as at the first Both the princes wer greatly amased not knowing what it should be which hath caused so much alteration And therwith Fidelio ran vnto the riuer for water wherwith they
had left her shéepe in a gréen place féeding she went and sate downe in a place not very farre from thence where Filipensio and his company were and when she was set downe she pulled off a knit caule from her head where in was wrapped her haire letting it fall and dispearse it self all abroad her backe and taking out from her white christalline breast a combe she began to kembe her haire her hands and fingers séeming to be of white yuorie All this did this vnknowen Filipensio beholde and was in that perplexitie that he did occupie his vnderstanding on no other thing but in beholding of her The discréete Pastora Galismena did well perceiue it for that he was in a dumpe said neuer a word Then she with her hands stroke him vppon the breast to call him to remembraunce and sayd Gentle shepheard hearken and giue attentiue eare vnto the swéete verses which the amorous shepheards will sing and let not this new sight so trouble thée And therewith Coridon tooke his Rebecke and began to play very swéetely and song these verses as followeth Faire Pastora cease off delay with speed declare the certaintie Whether thou wilt my loue repay if not then know that I must die I Wish for life that I might thee adore and largely show the loue to thee I beare And if that thou offended seeme therefore with speede by speach let it to me appeare Which done then know that for a certaintie thy sentence giuen I am preparde to die Thou well dost see or plainly maist perceiue that long time since I had thee in regard Frame not thy lips thy louer to deceiue with scoffes and scornes returne not thy reward Which if thou doo I neuer will replye But meekely yeeld as readie prest to dye And héerewith he made an ende of his sorrowfull and grieuous song and then another Shepheard began to sing with a meruaylous and swéet voyce those verses following Reward not him that loues thee with disdaine Least Loue at length repay the like againe EXtend not force against the yeelded wight shun not his sight that seeketh thee to serue Thy willer well reward not with despight forget him not that fauour doth deserue Neither triumph in his tormenting paine Least as thou meatst Loue measure thee againe Redresse my paines O Pastora full faire the heauens my hart thy sight may them perceiue Let not my hope be dashed with despaire for then thou wilt my corps of life bereaue Offend not Loue by laughing at my paine Least like for like he render thee againe With great griefe this sorrowfull Menalcas made an end of his song and after him there were other shepheards that sung many songs full of swéete amorous vearses y t which for y t I will not séeme tedious I do let passe but y e last shepheard of all called Alphesiueo sung these verses following WHat needeth threats gainst him that is a thrall O rurall Nymph whose rigor doth excell Ponder my fault and thou shalt finde it small Yea nought but this that I doo loue thee well Hard breasts they say doo tender hearts inclose I know it true and finde it to my smart Ah Pastora thy selfe art none of those thy breasts are soft but stonie is thy hart The shepheardes did well vnderstand◠for that alwayes Alphesiueo was the last of all the companye that did sing that the Musicke was whollye ended But yet the slower of all shepheardes had not vsed his amorous exercise but so soone as Alphesineo had made an end of his song Filipensio tooke his Lute and plaide so swéeltly on it that all the shepheardes of the riuer were amazed not knowing who it should be that newly was come to wrastle with Cupide and when they heard him plaie they all resorted vnto that place where he was and put themselues round about him for to heare the better Caiserlinga had straight waie in her eares that new and vnaccustomed musicke who turning her selfe vnto Galismena said Me thinks that to be a new shepheard that doth begin to plaie It is truth sayd the Pastora for that yester night somewhat a parte whereas hée was we heard him plaie and the better for to reioyce our selues of his swéete melodie my brother and I went vnto y e place wher he was taking his rest but if at his musicke you haue admiration you will much more meruaile at his gentle disposition and graue countenaunce I neither know nor can declare it vnto you faire Pastora but the Gods haue vsed in his bodie and proportion all their knowledge and power Whereat the faire Pastora arose vp and taking Galismena by the hand she sayd Come sister and let vs goe and recreate our selues at his musicke and faire countenaunce and so they both together went whereas this new Shepheard was the other shepheards when they sawe her come they all arose and put themselues a parte and gaue her place with so great reuerence as vnto a diuine creature This new shepheard at that time had néede of all his force to vpholde him and not to leaue his begun musicke the which when he saw the Pastora was much increased in delicate swéetnesse and they being in this conuersation there chaunced so high matters as well in Tinacria as in Grecia that I am constrained to leaue the pleasures of Venus and tourne vnto the furious force of Mars ¶ How that Polifebo because his mother the Queene of Tinacria would not giue him the order of knighthoode went secretly from the court and of all that happened in his iourney Chap. 23. THE valiaunt Eleno wée lefte in Tinacria with greate ioye to haue set at libertie so excellent a Quéene and with no lesse sorrowe for the sodaine departure of his cosin who did no more but put Brenio in his Sepulcher in such sorte as in the third part of this historie shall bée tolde you So straight waie hée entered into a Barke the which in short time was put into the maine and wide sea whereas they were sodainly taken with a storme and by the force thereof they were driuen vppon the coast of Fraunce where he was constrained to take land and taking a narow and straight path which he sawe he followed the same which brought him into the wildernesse of Ardenia nigh vnto the fountaine Disamore who séeing the cléerenesse of the water alighted from his inchaunted horse and washed his hands and refreshed his face with that water and dronke thereof till such time as he had satisfied his desire and when he had dronke and well refreshed himselfe he sate downe vpon an olde roote of a trée that had bene cut downe and felt within his breast an alteration of new desires as shall be tolde you héereafter and for that I am constrained to returne vnto Tinacria I do leaue him in this order Poliphebo seeing himselfe a man of sixtéene yéeres of age with so stout an heart and manly a courage requested his mother that shée woulde commaund
finished these speeches he began to slumber and immediatly with a sorrowing sigh he began to saie Alasse Fortune how manie things are there framed by thy hands swéete in all mens taste and sowre in my disgestion pleasant to many and bitter to me Afâ—er this he tooke againe his instrument with an harmonious stroke pittifull voice he sang these vearses O Heart more hard then Hircan Tiger fell and are more deafe then sencelesse troubled seas O causelesse foe whose rigor doth excell to thee I yeeld thy anger to appease Take tyrant wrathfull wreake of me thy fill That ending now my griefe remaine not still My heauie cheere and euill that is past my fainting voice my case so comfortlesse Thou moandst not once so mercilesse thou wast nor stirdst thy foote to ease me in distresse But time will come when sorrow hath me slaine That thy repentance will increase thy paine Ah cruell how canst thou the loue forget that each to other we in youth profest Which when I minde full many a sigh I â—et for that was it which first bred my vnrest And for the sweete which then by thee I felt I finde sharpe sowre O most vniustly dealt Tell me wherein I haue offended thee or when I slackt thy seruice anie waie Then how canst thou so much vnmindfull be when oft in secret thou to me wouldst saie That in my absence Lucifer so bright Nor gladsome Phoebus once should giue thee light I gone thou vowest the waters should not yeeld their wonted solace nor the pleasaunt Rose Or any flower of the fragrant feeld such loue thou saidst thou didst on me repose Which was but small as now the ende doth trye That thus distrest thou sufferst me to dye Oh Gods of loue if so there any be and you of loue that earst haue felt the paine Or thou thy selfe that thus afflictest me heare these my words which hidden griefe constraine Ere that my corps be quite bereaud of breath Let me declare the cause of this my death You mountaine Nymphes which in these desarts raigne cease off your chase of sauage beasts a while Prepare to see a heart opprest with paine addresse your eares to heare my dolefull stile No strength remorce no worke can worke my weale Loâ—e in my heart so tyrantlike doth deale O Driades of louers much adorde and gratious damsells which in euenings faire Your closets leaue with heauenly beautie stord and on your shoulders spred your golden haire Attend my plaints and thou that made'st me thrall If thou haue power giue speedie death withall Ye sauage Beares in caues and dennes that lye remaine in peace if you my reasons heare And be not mooued at my miserie though too extreame my passions doo appeare Ye Mounts farewell ye fragrant fields adieu And siluer streames high Ioue still prosper you He finished his song with manie a bitter sigh and hée was so windlesse with sobbing that he laye as it were in an extasie stretched vpon the ground The Knight of the Sun entring into this ruinous lodge finding the Gentleman in this wretched estate he began ne to behold the proportion of his face and with extreame dolour wepte as well in ballauncing his owne passed miserie with this young knights as also for that he verely reputed him to be his brother Rosicleer or els some néere kinsman of his for that in beautie and strongnesse of bodie he resembled him so much y t there was but small difference betwéene them sauing onely the beard While the Grecian Prince was beholding this sorrowfull sight the inthralled knight with a déepe sigh awaking and séeing the Knight of the sunne afore him he wondred what might drawe so comely a Knight vnto so solitarie a woode and therewithall he reared vp his bodie and sitting vpon y e gréene grasse with many a drerie teare hee beheld y e shape of the Knight of the sun inforcing himselfe to speake he said Sir Knight insomuch as fortune hath directed you hather to accompanie me in this desart place sit by me I pray you and pardon my folly in that you haue found me so disordered The Prince without making anye aunswere sate downe as the Knight intreated him beeing very desirous to knowe the ende of that aduenture what cause made him demeane so tragicall a life he being set he tolde the Knight that the desire he had to vnderstande the barke vearses that were in the trées and likewise to heare his swéete songs which so harmoniously he sang mooued him to forsake his waye and to repaire to this ruinous lodging therwithall made render of his seruice to the knight While the Prince deliuered these speaches the comfortlesse Knight was musing with himselfe what he might be who by his comelinesse appeared to be valiaunt and by his curtesie to be honourable and therewithall was verie desirous to knowe what he was and béeing somewhat stinged with the bitter passions which he had alreadie sustained he said Alasse sir Knight howe little is the bodie touched with the dolefull cares of the heauie heart and how slenderly nowe a dayes is the guerdon of a faithfull friend as mine owne experience can best relate it so shall your curtesie mooue me to impart the well spring of all my woe and then I beseech you iudge how vnworthily I am tormented I cannot otherwise thinke but you will pittie my mâ—shaps with some sorrowing sighs especially if at anie time you haue tasted the bitter pils of loue and I promise you I would be heartely gladde that it might stand with your pleasure to make me acquainted with your name to the end I might knowe to whome I might disclose my wretched estate The Prince made him aunswere and sayd I am sonne to the Emperour Trebatio of Greece and am called the Knight of the Sunne brother vnto the renowmed Rosicleer whom you greatly resemble and be thus perswaded that the sparkes of loue hath kindled as many glowing coales in me as in anie other and hath left as deepe impression of sorrowe in my poore heart as in anye other Knight Therefore Knight as I haue satisfied your request so I praie you vnfolde to mée the cause which makes you liue so pensiue In so dooing I will sweare by the almightie God I will hazard my life to purchase your desired quietnesse The Prince of Dacia which had alreadie heard of the prowesse of the Knight of the Sunne héerewithall began to shake off part of his martirdomes and knowing the worthinesse of the knight bowing downe his bodie somwhat low he said Although y t my mishap haue ben great in susteining such coÌ„tinual griefs yet doo I esteeme it sleÌ„der sith y t héerby I haue purchased acquaintance with y e flower of all chiualrie whose valiant hart doth bemone my oppressed estate whose only counsell wil determine my exceeding torments Sith theÌ„ renowmed prince y e loue hath already made a passion in thine hart wherby you may y e better be an
the Emperour straight weie entered into a Foyst that was there readie with sixe oares on a side and hoysing sayles they made such waie that in a small time they had lost the sight of the Citie This faire Damosell was verie gladde and did exercise her selfe in no other thing but in seruing the Emperour In this sort they sayled all that daie and all the night till the next morning this noble Emperour saie in the poope of the Galley and by him sate this faire Ladie on the one side of whome hee asked the cause why shée brought him out of Constantinople Unto whome with manie teares distilling from her christaline eyes and with greate sighes that proceeded from her dolorous heart she said I haue tolde you noble Emperour that the force of loue hath brought mée to this extremitie wherein you nowe sée me Also I tolde you that I am Lidia daughter vnto the king of Lidia and was meruailously and daintely brought vp and much set by of my parents and now all alone with no other companie then you doo sée I goe subiect vnto this miserie The great fame of this my surmounted beautie was so spred abroade that it was the occasion that manye knightes of straunge Countryes resorted vnto the Court of the King my Father and amongest them all there was one that came from a farre whose name was called Brenio of the Countrie of Lusitania beeing of a meruailous beautie and no lesse valiauncie which did so surmount that in all the Countrie hath neuer bene séene the like and cruell Cupide I knowe not whether it was to vse his accustomed pollicies or whether he was enuious of his beautie hée stroke mée with his poisoned arrowe in such sort that I was constrained by that force to loue this vnhappie knight and therwith constrained to forget the roiall estate from whence I descended I did exercise my selfe in no other thing but thinking on his loue and determined to giue him vnderstanding thereof in as secrete wise as I could so long it lasted that I waxed blinde in loue feared that he would not vnderstand y t I loued him wherefore I did plainly declare it to him which gréeued him nothing at all but rather vnto my seeming he was verie well pleased therewith so by all meanes possible I did procure to speake with him and imagining which shoulde be the best waie I thought it good to ordaine a hunting thinking there to haue opportunitie to be alone in the thickest of the Forrest and there to ease and lighten my selfe somewhat of that heauie loue which by sorrow I receiued in giuing him to vnderstand the whole effect of my determined minde so this hunting I put in vre and tooke the mountaines and woodes and the hunts men prouided the â—ame béeing a great Hart which Hart was as in the end it proued accursed in my sight yea more worse then the shéeld of Pallas in the eyes of Medusa which made all people to desire to followe her so the hunts men followed their game with such hast that there I was left alone remaining only in my companie this knight who was halfe perswaded of my determination so I had scant well framed my eyes to content mée in beholding of his christalline countenaunce when that vppon a sodeine we were beset and betrayed of a great and furious gyaunt and with him eight knightes more in such sorte that my Brenio had not time to defend vs nor I to call for helpe and succour so that we were theyr prisoners and they carried vs and put vs into their théeuish Galley whereas straight waye they hoised saile and carryed vs to sea wée béeing without all hope of succour and there was I with greate trauaile deliuered from the hands of a vile théefe that would haue dishonoured mée And so hauing the winde prosperous to their desire wée ariued verie shortly after at an Ilande called Otono which is adioyning vnto one parte of your Kingdome whereas wée went a lande Noble Prince I did not féele so much force by my imprisonment neyther did I receiue so much griefe for mine own sorrow as I did for my best beloued Brenio who was so laden w t yrons chaines that my heart coulde not by anie meanes suffer it but I beganne to call them traitours and that they were no Knightes but théeues and robbers saying that ouer one â—lone an vnarmed Knight they haue strength to work such violence but not able to make anie resistaunce against armed Knightes And the Gyaunt aunswered Oh how simple doest thou shewe thy selfe in thinking that there is anie who is able to resist our strength and for that thou shalt vnderstande and see howe little wée doe estéeme the strength of men yea the strength of the Gods wée make no reckoning of take this Gallie and all thinges that shall bee necessarie for thy voyage and take with thée one of these my Pages and goe and séeke the Emperour Trebatio or eyther of his two sonnes whose fames are spread throughout the worlde and bring them hether and sée whether theyr strength is sufficient for to deliuer this thy knight out of prison So I put this iourny straight in practise departed and in the voyage I escaped with greate daunger to be robbed at sea by rouers and théeues so in the ende I came and presented my selfe before your highnesse The Emperour who was verie attentiue to all this which the sorrowfull Ladie had tolde him and vnderstanding the cause of all her trouble he answered Oh happie venterous knight to whoÌ„ loue hath shewed so much fauour to cause so nâ—ble as Damsell as thou art with thy trauaile to procure his libertie how much is he bound vnto thée faire Ladie seeing that thou doest deserue the praise of all other women that hath béene wounded with loue these thy déeds to be registred for a perpetuall memorie for an example to all other ladies Noble Lidia of truth I tell thee y t my departure from Constantinople was with some sorrow to leaue my Empire and subiects but now I am voide thereof am glad y t I am come to procure thy remedie the death shal be vnto me a happie death receiuing it for a ladie that is so loiall These such like reason of a perfect louer y â— Emperour expressed when vpon a sodaine they were constrained to leaue the waye they tooke by force of y â— wind which came with such gales that they were faine to take another waie which carried them vnto a desolate Iland wher by force of wether they entered into a port y t was knowen by the marriners there let fall their ankor The Emperour who was mooued with much compassion of the great trauaile of this Ladie and somewhat to refresh hir in the aire he caused hir to goe a lande and taking hir by the hande he did helpe hir out of the Gallie and they rested themselues vpon a little mountaine from which
than hir selfe Thus his craftie and subtill perswasions so much preuayled by reason of the humilitie and loue he shewed in his wordes that I coulde not frame any excuse to the contrary he was so importunate but must néeds consent vnto his demaund O immortall Gods that in so secret wise ye made the heart of man that you onely can comprehende the good and euill that is hid in it Who would haue thought much lesse haue beleeued that this traiterous King by his swéete wordes and subtill speaches would haue robbed me of my onely daughter So straight waye when he had in his power y t which his soule so much desired he would not make any delay of his departure giuing me to vnderstande that he would not let any time but carrie hir vnto his wife for whose sight so much she had desired and at whose comming she would receiue great ioy contentment But what sorrow did I then féele nothing thinking of that which shoulde happen for that my heart was ignoraunt of the knowledge thereof but to see hir depart from me for whose absence my heart remained in so great sorrowe and heauinesse giuing to vnderstand by the outward showes by the teares that procéeded from my eyes the great paine and passion that the lacke thereof wold shortly procure in this sorrowfull sort I was forced almost without any remembraunce to retourne vnto y e pallaice And they were not so soone entred into his ships but as one very gelous to keepe close his treason he commaunded straight to hoyse vp sayles and commit them vnto the winde and hauing too good and prosperous a weather in a very short time he arriued in his owne Countrie whereas two leagues from the Citie he was receiued of his subiects with great maiestie who brought with them both horse and Palfrayes néedfull for the companie So beeing all in a readinesse he commaunded that they should beginne to martch forward towards the Citie This false King still persisting in his euill determined purpose commaunded as I sayde that all the company should procéed forwards and he with my sorrowfull daughter Herea remained a good waye behinde And when he sawe his company so farre before and they two alone together he stepped on the one side and ledde the waye into a little groue which was hard at hande fast by a Riuers side He without any more tarrieng carried hir into the thickest part therof and as it appeared he was well acquainted in the same and where he thought it most conuenient he alighted off from his horse and willed my most welbeloued daughter that she shoulde likewise alyght Shée in whose heart raigned no kinde of suspition alyghted and saâ—e hir downe by the Riuers side and washed hir fayre white handes and refreshed hir mouth with the same water Then this dissembling traytor could not refrayne but by some outward showes and darke sentences gaue hyr to vnderstande the kindeled fire of loue with the which he was tormented and in the ende he did wholy declare his diuelish pretence and determined purpose towards hir So my louing daughter Herea being â—ore troubled with his importunate and continuall requests with great anger yet not without aduisement she began to reprehende him giuing him to vnderstand all that was needfull against so diuelish a pretence This vncleane King when he heard that so earnestly and contrary to his expectation she aunswered and would haue rose vp from the place whereas she sate helde hir fast by hir apparayle and would not suffer hir to arise but began with softe and milde wordes to perswade hir to be quiet and sayde O my best beloued Ladie wherefore wilt thou consent that for thy cause I shoulde dye mayst now very well without being discouered of any giue mee remedie for the same Be not then obstinate to denye mée that which with so great loue I doo desire of thee Who is heere that can beare witnesse of this my priuie desire and bolde enterprise neither discouer thy gentle liberalitie shewed me not one surely but onely the immortall Gods Understande this for a certaintie my swéete Ladye that the God Iupiter doth receiue more griefe in this my sorrowe then in the paine which thou dost suffer This deceiued damosell when she sawe that he held hir so fast with his trecherous hande that she could not deliuer hir selfe with furious anger she sayde Traytor doo not thou thinke that these thy lecherous words haue power to moue my hearte to graunt and fulfill these thy filthie diuelish and lasciuious thoughts for héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the high and soueraigne Gods that first I will permit suffer my body to bée torne in péeces then to open my eares vnto the hearing of so great treason Therefore false King let me alone and consider with thy selfe that I am sister vnto thy wife whome I sée well thou hast forgotten by reason of this thy insatiable dronkennesse and greedye desire of fitâ—hye lust Therefore if it please thée determine to let mee alone and defile me not or else to the contrarie bee fully perswaded of this that I will rather dye the death in my defence Then this cursed king séeing that this shalt Ladye did defend her selfe he tooke fast holde by her necke and said Doe not thou thinke O cruell Herea that thou canst delyuer thy selfe out of my handes except first thou graunt vnto this my desired will and if not I doo promise thée in payment of this great pride which thou doest vse vnto me to put thee vnto the most cruell â—eath that euer was deuised for anie Damosell or maiâ—e This distressed Ladie was nothing dismaide to heare that shée shoulde die but without all feare she aunswered Thinke not false traitour that the feare of death shall cause mee to yéeld to thy filthie desire The which béeing well vnderstoode by the king he sayde Understande then and bée well perswaded that either liuing or dead I will performe my will and pretended purpose which so without measure and with vnquenchable fire doth burne in my heart Thus with great strength she did defend her selfe and with a manly courage she kepte her honour but this cruell and lasciuious king séeing that he coulde not fulfill his euill desire in a greate madnesse he cut off a greate parte of the traine of her gowne and bound it verie fast to the haire of her head in such sort that with the great strength he put thereto and the tendernesse of the same together with his euill intreating all the greene grasse was sprinkeled with the bloud that issued out whereat he beléeued that she would haue ben quiet and haue consented vnto him but she respected not the euill intreating but the more he procured to torment her the more angrie she shewed her selfe against him with continuall deniall When this cruell traitour sawe that all woulde not serue he beganne to forget all faith and loyaltie he ought â—nto knighthoode and the respect
euer was inuented in the worlde and most shamefully imputed vnto that innocent Princesse and by the thirde you shall get to your selues greate honour which is the thing that all good and valyaunt knightes doeth procure and desire in this worlde The Knight of the Sunne aunswered Wée knowe well that these thrée are to bée estéemed therefore fayre Damsell for my selfe and for my companion I thus much say that we dooe offer our persons with the conditions aforesayd In the meane time y t he spake these words the damsell did behold him very much and it séemed vnto her y t he was of a great valour and séeing him of so good a proportion and so well armed she imagined in her minde that he should be the knight of the Sun by all likelyhoods according as she had heard talke and declared oâ—â—en times in the Court of the French king and was perswaded that it was none other as appeared by all tokens that she before had heard comforting her selfe with these new and ioyfull thoughts she desired them to alight from theyr horses and that if it pleased them to sit downe vnder a faire greene arbour which was there at hand she woulde declare vnto them the greatest treason that euer was inuented in the world to the which these knightes did condescend with a verie good will and béeing set downe amongst those gréene hearbes the Damsell with a verie dolorous complaint began and sayd Noble knights and Lords you shall vnderstand that you are in the kingdome of France vnto the king wherof it pleased God to giue a daughter of so great beautie fairenesse that it caused greate admiration vnto all them that behelde her the which fame was spread abroade which caused verie manie great and valerous knightes and Lordes of this and other kingdomes to repaire vnto the Court amongest them all there came one who was sonne vnto the Prince of Scotland and named Dalior a man of a verie good grace gentle disposition one indued with al feats of good knighthood Likewise there was another who was sonne vnto the duke of Guyan one of the greatest noble men that was in all Fraunce a strong and stout man and of great pride and by lignage of the most valyaunt and strongest knightes in the worldâ— called Lidiarte These two Princes had discord betwéene themselues did contend in the seruice of this faire lady Artalanda The great contentmeÌ„t the which they receiued and the great brauery they vsed in apparell in this their seruice I cannot héere expresse But this faire ladie did so gouerne her selfe with discreation who was indued with it as much as with hir beautie y t she made as though she vnderstood nothing of their desire although alwaies she had a better affection to the good will of the Prince of Scotland then to the loue of Lidiarte and for that loue doth not permit y t anie thing which appertaineth therevnto should bée kept secret this vnbeloued knight did apparantly perceiue it by which occasion the great griefe which he receiued abated his coâ—â—our and he waxed verie leane and his face became yelow and wan and did determine to chaunge his apparaile oâ— ioye and gladnesse and all pleasures and to apparell himselfe in such sort that she might well vnderstande his great sorowe and heauinesse And to the contrary Dalior did shew himselfe in his apparell the great contentment that he receiued for that he did perceiue that his Lady did showe him some fauour the which was vnto the young Earle the cause of great sorrow and griefe Then Loue who neuer resteth from finishing his effects but alwayes doth with great efficacie make perfect his workes did wound with firme and faithfull loue towards Lidiarte a damsell whose name was Tarfina being in the seruice of this beautifull Princesse before named who loued him so firmelye that this miserable Damosell could finde in her selfe no kinde of quietnes nor rest and most of all she now tormented her selfe for that she â—awe so sodaine a change in her louer This cruell paine did so much constraine hir y t she of necessitie was driuen to seeke all meanes pollicies to procure how she might at her ease talke with him and giue him to vnderstand with her own mouth all the paine and griefe that she did suffer and the onely cause thereof And putting this her determination in vre it chaunced on a daye as she might saye bitter and vnfortunate after dinner when the Table was taken vp she founde time conuenient to declare vnto him all that her heart desired for finding her louer leaning against a cupboord all alone shee came vnto him and saluted him with greate curtesie the Earle did receiue her with no lesse gentlenesse beléeuing for that she was a Damsell of his ladie the princesse that she had come from her of some message she seeing so good opportunitie spake vnto him in this manner Many times noble Lidiarte I haue bene mooued to demand of â—oâ— what thing it shuld be that hath so much strength and force which onely doth not cauâ—e you to chaunge your gorgeous braue apparell but also doth take away y e colour from your gentle face and in this manner weâ—ken all your members Where is now all your brauerie and contentment that you were wont to hauâ— discouer vnto me all your paine and griefe and the occasion of all this your sorrowe Noble Lord let me heere vnderstand of all and being knowen of this thy seruaunt I will procure the best and most assured remedies that may be for thy redresse conuenient Tell me Lidiarte if it be corporall griefe or whether it be a wound hurte by the cruell force of Cupides dart My louing Lord I doo desire you to declare vnto me the cause of all your sorrowe griefe and heere I doo protest and giue my faith to procure with all my power and strength by pollicie other meanes to finde remedie for this your tribulation These and other such reasons with hir words well placed spake this Damosell vnto the Earle with hope that he would declare vnto her the cause of all his sorrow and from whence it did procéede These swéete perswasions and louing reasons tooke such effect in the Earle Lidiarte that he discouered all that was in his heart and the whole occasion as héeretofore you haue heard This damosell when she vnderstood the whole effect thereof it grieued her to the very heart although shée did dissemble it and kept it secret to hir selfe and would not suffer him therein to know her minde and straight wayâ— for her remedy the diuell put into her head a meruaylous wicked inuention And for to giue contentment vnto the Earle she tolde him that she would declare vnto the Princesse all the whole estate of this his sorrowfull paines and passionate griefe willing him withall to remember that the next daye at that houre he should méete her againe at y e same place for
with thy aunswere I woulde put in order that which I haue to doo concerning this my miserable life I doo well know my Lord and Emperour that this my bolde discouering of my selfe hath bene too much and beyond all reason but if at any time thou hast loued and doost know the great griefe that loue doth cause thou wilt not blame me nor put me in any fault I would y t I could show thée my woūded hart y t in séeing it so sore afflicted thou mightst take some compassion of me that which doth most torment me is that I haue yéelded my selfe vnto one y t hath so little pitie on me Who hath euer heard y t women shuld wooe require of men to loue them But I most vnfortunate Quéene haue broken that lawe and custome O immortal Gods what haue you conceiued against me Is not y e apparant which you vsed against my sister now wil you vse it also w t me I shuld be requested of Emperours Kings and now I come to request one that maketh no account of me neither dooth my present destruction mooue him to any pittie Go too Emperour make an ende and aunswere me that therewith I may receiue either life or death Héere may you which haue knowen what loue is iudge what the Emperour Trebatio might conceiue in himselfe in this cruell case One way he did consider the great loyaltie that he ought vnto the Empres his wife and this constrained him to deny her Another way the great desire that hée had to see himselfe at libertie and the great loue that he did know Garrofilea bare him caused his hart somewhat to yéeld Notwithstanding he did procure with faire and swéete wordes to sée if he could cause her to chaunge her thought and purpose saying Lady I doo sée very well that the force of loue is so cruell that whosoeuer he doth wound he leueth them in a manner without remedye except it come from them on whō they haue fixed their heart I doo not deny but that your amorous desire is such as he hath ordained it who spareth no creature But considering your highnesse and great estate the honour that all such as you are shoulde haue by your royall marriages I doo more reioyce that you suffer payne then you should take your ease with that vnto which sensuall loue doth constraine you Most souereigne Quéene héere I doo desire you to bridle your affection and restrayne your appetite that you fall not into that infamie which will bée the onely blemish of your estate séeing it appertaineth so much vnto your honour The quéene séeing y t his reasons did not incline vnto that which she desired shortened his talk said Emperour all that which thou hast sayde and all besides that thou canst tell me I doo already vnderstand and there is nothing that may be spoken héerein but I haue before this time considered of it Notwithstanding loue hath more force then any regard or consideration I should haue vnto my honour Therefore I am héere come fully determined to make a second sacrifice vnto my gods which afterwards shall be lamented by thée And in saying those words she tooke out the sworde which she brought in secret vnder her roabes and with great hast she set the pommell thereof vnto the ground and would haue throwen her self vpon the poynt thereof The worthy Trebatio seeing her in this desperate minde leapt quickly out of his bed and with a mightie courage caught holde of her and tooke the sword out of her hand saying Oh blinde quéene what diuelish determination is this The Lady answered Unlouing Lord◠〈◊〉 other thing but to ease my selfe by death for that I 〈◊〉 not longer liue as one dying And saying these words she fell in a sound in the armes of the Emperour Heere coulde not the stoutnesse of the Greeke heart make such resistance but that with great loue he tooke her and cast her vppon the bed shedding many teares with much compassion and considering the firmnesse of the loue that the Queene hadde showed him he was confoūded in his owne thought and inforced to haue done that which hee neuer thought to haue done and so purposed to giue her all her whole contentment and so ioyning his mouth to hers he remained kissing her till such time as this sorrowfull Lady came againe to her selfe But when she perceiued she was of him so louinglye imbraced being the thing she onely desired she straight-way recouered all the strength that she had lost and cast her armes about his necke with excéeding loue which grieued not the Emperour any thing at all in such sort they vsed themselues that the Queene was made Lady with great cōtentment vnto them both So with like sport they passed the rest of the night in great ioye and pleasure The Quéene Garrofilea when she saw that it was day returned vnto her chamber very pleasant merrie vntill such time as it was her accustomed houre of 〈◊〉 which was somewhat early y t day for that the two 〈◊〉 made very great hast that they might enter into the Citie the which was straight waye done And the Quéene brought with her the Emperour and made him to sweare to be her true prisoner and not to depart from thence without her will and leaue So the quéene tooke the Emperour by the hand in this order they went out of the Pallaice The Earle of Modique when he sawe this could not choose but receiue great griefe but he did dissemble it for that he considered that in such extremitie so valiant a Knight was néedfull and so altogether they entered into the Citie The Quéene was very gallant and pleasaunt whereat all her subiects receiued great delight and in the chiefe stréete of the Citie there was erected the Images of two Knights made all of stone of a maruelous good proportion and they had ouer them a couer like a Tabernacle very rich and well wrought because the water shoulde not fall vpon thē nor any other thing to hurt them As soone as the Emperour saw those figures he knew that the one was the Image of his sonne without reading of the supercription but when he came nigh vnto it he read the same which sayd This is the great Prince of Grecia called the Knight of the Sunne restorer of the auncient kingdome of Tinacria the abater and breaker of the strength of the most strongest Giants in all the world And going a little farther he sawe vpon the other Knight this title Prince Eleno of Dacia cousin vnto the most valiant sonnes of Trebatio the well-spring of all our quietnesse Upon this he looked with great affection and earnest desire to sée his perfect personage The Quéene did well vnderstand the great ioye that the Emperour receiued in beholding the figure of his sonne and of his brothers sonne for which cause she commanded that to be told publikely which was spoken in secret then entred into
that thou hast brought vs vnto this estate that crueltie should gouern our wills without hauing power to doe any other thing The King when he saw that the Knights were very earnest began to sweare with great oaths that his cause was iust and that he had tolde vnto them the truth of the matter and if so be that the Emperour had tolde them any other thing it was onely to deceiue them and to tourne them that they should not make his defence and charged them againe with their oath which they had made and how that they had giuen their words to be his vpholder and defender This worthy Dacian tourning vnto his companions sayd Knightes what doo you thinke in this matter what is it best that we doo héerein For well you doo sée that we are so bewrapte bound one against another and cousin against cousin yet for all that we cannot by any meanes excuse the battaile So they did all determine to retourne vnto the Emperour and to desire him for to accept it in good part and to leaue off that battaile to make theÌ„ beléeue that he was falsly informed when they came vnto him they said Worthy Emperour and our onely Lord looke well vnto this false information wherewith they haue informed you and hauing well considered thereof we doo all request you for the loue which vnto your sonnes and cousins and vnto all your friendes you doo owe that it may moue you to take no occasion to put vs into this extremitie for that by anie meanes we cannot goe from our oath and word Unto the which the Emperour answered and sayd My louing friends if that you haue giuen your word and oath to procure to make defence of so false a King doo you likewise indeuour to performe the same for the like will I doe to accomplish that which I haue promised for that there is no more reason for the one then for the other But this one thing I doe tell you that it is very apparant that you will maintaine the treason of this false King as it appereth plainly by many reasons which I haue told vnto you and the principall cause wherin you maye sée plainely his treason and falshoode is the little hast that hée doeth make himselfe vnto the battaile and if he knew that he dooâ—h maintaine the truth let him come forth and make his owne defence At the which reasons they all helde theyr peace considering the great reason which the Emperour had declared and determined that the next daie they woulde conclude what were best to bée done so these sixe knights returned vnto the Citie and the Emperour vnto the campe Of all this that happened he that receiued the most contentment was the Prince Eleno for he desired verye much to retourne vnto the Citie for that at his departure he left his Lady very sicke so that he thought not to finde her aliue and comming to the Citie hée was no sooner alighted from his horse but hée went straight vnto her Chamber whereas hée found her with a mightie burning ague and séeing her in that case he was as one that was beside himselfe and the more that her ague increased the more furious she did shew her selfe and farther out of quiet So this gréeuous and sicke Ladie did aske paper and inke for to write a few lines vnto him which was the causer of all this her harme and making an ende of her writing without power to doo any other thing with the great féeblenesse shée felt she fell downe vpon her pillowe speaking vnto Eleno she sayd Ualiant knight behold héere thy Lidia at her last ende for that there doth not remaine in me strength for to giue thée thankes for so great benefits as I haue receiued at thy handes yet I carrie one great comfort with me which is y â— although I dye yet thy great loyaltie doeth not dye neyther my firme faith and although I was vnloued of an vnfaythfull Knight yet am I beloued of the most couragious knight in the worlde This sorrowfull and troubled Prince woulde not suffer her to goe forwards with her talke but with shedding of manie teares from his eyes he sayd Oh my swéete Mistresse doe not giue me to vnderstande that thou wilt dye if that thou meane I shall remaine aliue Oh my loue I would rather that my heart shoulde be parted in twaine by the greatest enimie that I haue then to remaine without thée Oh my louing Mistres let this thy youthfull yeres and great beautie which thou hast incourage thée die not in this order this feeble Lidia for to shew with more feruentnesse the good will which she did owe vnto the Pâ—â—â—ce for his great curtesie forced her selfe to holde vp her head and he lifted it vp with such quicknesse as though her weake members had felt no griefe as though the furie of that burning ague was not able to resist her but with the force of loue she sate vp in her beâ— and with her face of a fiery colour she sayd My Lord time doth not giue me anye place that with words I might gratifie the great courtesie that of thée I haue receiued for that I doo feele that the hower is come and that the three fatall sisters haue the thred of my life betwéene the edges of their shéeres so that it lacketh nothing but to put them together insomuch that I miserable creature doo féele my soule tremble in my flesh at this my last hower But one thing oh my swéete and true louer I will desire thée before that I doo dye which is that thou wouldest procure that this letter maye bée giuen vnto that cruell Knight who hath brought me vnto this estate giuing him to vnderstande of this my troublesome death the occasion whereof was his vnreasonable crueltie And making an end of saying this this miserable Lady fell downe without hauing any more strength to sit vp but let the letter fall out of her hande before her true louer who tooke it vp and sayd Oh all my ioye what a cruell knife is this to my heart to heare thy complayntes in giuing me to vnderstande the great crueltie that loue hath vsed against thée without anye desert or reason and verely I doo beléeue that these thy great thoughts and griefes but most of all thy absence wil be the occasion of my death And if y â— my enimies are not of power to giue it me héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the great and true loue which I beare vnto thée that I my selfe with my owne hands will procure to pull this heart out of his place for that it knew not how to giue thée contentment paying therwith y e dutie y t I ow vnto thée O happy Brenio that didst obtaine so much grace fauour at Venus handes for to be beloued of the flower of all beautie The Clime in the which thou wert borne was not so happie as to the contrarie my
Clime hath béen vnhappie vnfortunate Take a good heart my Mistres comfort your selfe and be strong and bée not the occasion that I séeke my owne death héere I doe promise thée by thy vnhappie successe to bring thée into the Prouince of Lusitania or else to die Then this weake Lidia sayde Gentle Knight there is nowe no time all béeing past for that I doe féele my selfe that this is the last fight The sacred Gods will not permit that before my death I shoulde sée his face for if I did I verily beléeue that I should receiue some comfort O immortall Gods into your diuine bosomes I doe commend my soule asking no other reuengement against the causer of all my euill but that hée die of the same infirmitie And thou mightie Gréeke héere I do desire thée by the loue which thou doest séeme to owe me for that thou séest that my death cannot be excused and that Proserpina is tarrying for mée with both her armes abroade for to receiue my soule And againe that this shall be the last request that by me shall bée demanded of thée as also to verifie this loâ—e which thou hast shewed vnto me to be true so that I hope thou canst not by anie meanes denie me to doe it How is it possible my swéet Mistres sayd the Prince that now thou art in doubt of my loue I promise you that my true loue doth not deserue this suspition and héere I giue you to vnderstande that first the mightie riuer of Tigris shall forsake her course and runne backe againe before that anie lacke shall be found in me of that I owe vnto thy loue neither anie forgetfulnesse to bee the occasion to withdraw me from doing anie thing that you shall commaund me therfore swéet mistres aske what your pleasure is for that thou canst aske nothing at my handes but it shall be all thine This weak Ladie whose power and strength was wholy decayed and that her houre drew nigh at hande with a weake and feeble voice she said That which I desire gentle Lorde is that this my letter may come vnto the handes of Brenio wherein he may see how cruell he hath bene vnto his Lidia So this dead Ladie spake neuer a word more for at that instaunt the destinies concluded to cut the thrid of her lyfe a sunder Heere the Prince lacked both reason and patience heere he lost all his comfort and vnderstanding comming vnto the dead bodie of Lidia he fell in a sound when by the procurement of the Ladies and Damsells that were there present he came to himselfe he arose vp with a furious wrath saying Is it of truth swéete soule that thou art departed gone without me Is it possible my Lidia y t I shall not follow thée whether thou doest goe Alas what shall I doe where am I y â— I doo consent to let thée depart alone how is this my onely loue shall I loose thée What is it y t this cruell heart aileth that it renteth not in péeces O Eleno is this the loue that vnto thy Lidia liuing thou diddest shew At which great noise the other foure Princes entred into the chamber who were meruailously altered to heare his lamentations So either of them in the best wise he could did procure to comfort him but this amorous knight with the great anguish that he had fel in a sound in the armes of Clauerindo who requested the Ladyes and damsells which were there in companie with the dead bodie that they woulde ordaine some thing to bring him againe to his remembraunce and so with such remedies as they did make he came againe vnto himselfe who then with great rage crieng out called for his Lidia Oh my Lidia what is become of thée who for loue in another mans armes didst die now I die for thy loue Oh the whole staie of all my life where art thou my Lidia my comfort doest thou heare me Doest thou not carrie with thée this thy heart No no for yet I doe féele it Is it possible that I can liue or life will long sustaine me I hardly beléeue it Oh my ioy doest thou come againe I pray thée bée not so ingratefull but stay a while for I will come vnto thée For now I am certainely perswaded that I am altogether without life Fond Eleno if thou be dead wherefore doest thou talke so much of vanities wherefore doest thou not hold thy peace And with these such lyke reasons he remained without any feeling in such sort that it séemed that he was dead The other Princes which were there present séeing him in that case tooke him betwéene them and carried him vnto another chamber and procured that Lidia shoulde be buried which straight waie was done for that the King commaunded his Sepulchre shoulde bée open in which they put this dead Ladie The Prince of Hungaria did remaine in companie with the Prince Eleno for that he woulde not let him alone for hée loued him out of all measure because hée did resemble so much the valiaunt Rosicleer So hée remained there till such time as hée came vnto himselfe and the first worde that Prince Eleno sayd was Where is the Letter of my Lidia Liriamandro did giue it him who taking it in his hand he sayd Oh worke and the last worke of that white Iuorie hande héere I doe sweare vnto thée by the honour that I doo owe vnto knighthoode not to a part it from my heart till such time as the heart of that cruell Brenio bée cut it péeces and in speaking this hée kissed it a thousand times vttering a thousande varieties And straight waye with a furious anger hée arose vp and sayde What is this Eleno doest thou beléeue that with lamenting thou shalt recouer thy welbeloued Lidia and not performe that which by her was commaunded thée It is more requisite that thou doest trauaile and wander till such time as thou hast performed that which thou hast promised gather vnto thy selfe strength and courage for to performe that which thy heart is bounde to doo So with this anguish he arose vp at such times as Aurora with his glistering beames hadde spread ouer the earth ¶ How that Eleno before he would goe into the field would see the Sepulchre of Lidia and what chaunced in the battaile appointed with the Emperor his kinsmen friends Chap. 26. THE next morning when the daie was come all these stout warriours were readye on horse backe but Prince Eleno woulde first goe and sée the Sepulchre of his Lidia and going into the Temple of Mahomet hée went straight vnto the place whereas they tolde him that his Lidia was and hauing no strength to suffer the great griefe that his heart did féele he sayd Oh my swéete Lidia if thou doest heare my griefe and lamentation let it appeare by some outwarde shewe in these harde stones which hath bewrapt and inclosed thy white and delicate body that receiuing
of my armes I hope to cut off this wretched head from thy accursed shoulders And it was very true which was spoken for when she went away from the company of the Ladies she went to arme her selfe with purpose to demaund battaile of the Empresse Claridiana but when she came forth she founde them as you haue alreadye heard The Pagan could be no more angry and wrathfull then he was and without speaking any word he turned stroke very strongly at the Quéene who with no lesse fury defended her selfe and returned his blowes with both her hands that it made a meruailous noyse At this present time approched the two lights of all knighthood the Emperour of Grecia and his sonne and with them the Giaunt and the rest of the Princes that came with them You shall vnderstande that these were the two knights that in the high waye they founde in cruell battaile and meruailing verye much at the power that was in the two warriours they stayed to behold them not knowing who they were The Knight of the Sunne who had his eyes more fixed on them then the rest did knowe the Pagan as one which had first proued his furious force turning vnto y e Emperor his father he told him all that which had hapned vnto him in the fierce battaile which he hadde fought before with him in Fraunce Then they estéemed much the knight with the Lilies to sée how well and how valiauntly he did behaue himselfe not onely in this subtill defence which against his aduersarie he made but also his pollicie he made in offending his enimie So the knight of the Sunne with the greate desire that hée had to reuenge himselfe on the Pagan mooued his horse towardes him At which time there came forth of the village a Knight with white armour all full of Garlands of golde made by subtill art Likewise his shéelde was white and there was painted on it an Emperiall head which shewed as though it had béene cut off with a cruell knife the throat all so bée rayed with bloud verie artificially wrought and when hée sawe the battaile hée put himselfe to behold them at such time as the valyaunt Gréeke approched vnto the two knightes that were in battaile for to speake vnto them and hée sayd Worthie knight with the Lyllyes for curtesies sake if this battayle be of small importaunce that thou wouldest let me alone with this Pagan for that I haue a iust quarrell against him This excellent Ladie looking vppon the knight of the Sunne as one which had neuer séene him meruailing much at his fayre disposition and replyed saying I woulde be verie gladde sir Knight for your great curtesie and gentle demeanour to leaue to you the battaile if the occasion were not of so greate waight Therefore I dooe desire you that you would stand aside for if my successe fall out vnfortunatly there will time inough remaine for to execute your anger The Moore did well vnderstand the demaunde of the Knight of the Sunne and knewe him verye well to bée the same that gaue him the order of Knighthood and when hée sawe him hée roared lyke a furious Lyon saying Oh vile and base Knight to whome Mahomet hath giuen more power and strength then hée hath himselfe come come and bring with thée in companie all these that bée there with thée for of all you together I dooe estéeme nothing at all and in saying these wordes hée pressed vnto the Knight of the Sunne verie fiercely and with greate courage the knight of the Sunne met him in the waye and put himselfe before the Quéene but this excellent Ladie with great lightnesse returned and did recouer her standing and said vnto him Knight bée not so farre out of measure to giue ease and helpe vnto them that giue thée no thankes for it But the Prince who was then burning with wrath retourâ—ed againe by the lefte side to put himselfe before her and gaue the Pagan so terrible a blowe that he made all his bodye to shake The knight with the Lillyes did put himselfe againe before and sayde In an euill houre doest thou vse this greate vncurtesie with one that thou doest not knowe The fearce Pagan in all this time was not idle but at such time as the Quéene did crosse the waye for to take her roome the Pagan stroke her so stronglye that it lacked but a little that shée fell not from her horse to the ground The knight with the Emperiall head when he sawe that set his spurres to his horse and sayd O men of small estimation come hether to mée one of you and dooe not occupie your selues in such controuersies And with saying these and such lyke wordes hée stroke the Quéene such a blowe that he made her téeth to chatter in her head in such sorte that shée had almost lost her féeling but hée had no cause to boast himselfe verie much of that blowe for that quickly she retourned his salutation with so great strength that shée gaue him well to vnderstand her cauragious force Nowe there beganne a rigorous battayle and the Knight of the Sun remained alone with the Pagan Oh wise and warrelyke Eliza giue mée to drinke of that water which the nine sisters did discouer that by the helpe of that swéet liquor I may make sharpe my rude tongue so that mixing the spéech of Mercurie with the prowesse of Mars I maye vnfolde this furious battayle which these foure knightes made who with excéeding and wonderfull blowes stroke one another without anie casing that they made them whether they woulde or no to incline their bodyes to theyr horse head without anie féeling In this sorte continued these valyaunt and warlyke knightes a good space till such time as the Empresse Claridiana came in great hast running with her light horse and making a great noise without anie consideration but onely to bée reâ—enged on the Pagan and sayd Giue roome giue roome for this battaile dooth belong vnto mée to make an ende thereof And without anie more speaking shée put her selfe before the knight of the Sunne and beganne to laye on the Pagan with her furious blowes The Pagan was nothing abashed at that but as one which had strength and courage inough he receiued them Then the knight of the Sunne with greate anger sayde Tell mée knight what is the cause which hath mooued thée to offer such lyke villanie This womanly warriour retourned vnto him and straight waye shée did knowe him to bée the Knight of the Sunne Héere all you true louers may iudge the greate ioye that shée receiued when shée beheld before her him who with so great loue she loued and the greate desire she had to heare of him So shée replyed with verie amorous wordes and sayde My déere and welbeloued Lord séeing that fortune hath brought you hether at this instaunt procure ioyntly with your reuengement to work mine against this Pagan Then the knight of the Sunne did knowe that it was his
vertue which doth remaine in thée to frustrate al iniuries past This I do desire you to consent vnto in that you are bounde vnto it by your high estate and not for anie desert dew vnto such a poore knight as I am Poore sayde Antemisca héere I doe sweare vnto you by that which I owe vnto all vertue due vnto mine owne person that I doe determine in seruing of you to doe as much as in the seruice of Iupiter for y t I take thée to be one of the Gods as it hath appeared by the greate valour which I haue seene shâ—wed by thée And whatsoeuer your pleasure is to commaund to be dâ—oâ— vnto this dead bodie although he doth not deserue it it shall be wholy accomplished and straight waie it was put in vre This valyaunt knight remained there certaine dayes whereas he was serued with great maiestie in which time the two louers weâ—e married wheras was made meruailous great 〈◊〉 and triumphs the which for auoiding tediousnesse I doe on it aâ—d will make no mention thereof for that this valiant knight was prisoner to the Pastora he neither receiued contentment nor ioy in his heart in so long â—arrying which was the occasion y t Claridiano tooke his leaue for to depart of y â— Princesse of Chaldea which was cleane contrarie â—â—to the good-will of Antemisca for that she loued him merâ—ailousâ—y for his great vertue and with many teares she tooke her leauâ— of him giuing him certaine presents and gifts necessarie for his trauaile so he departed taking his iourney onely with Fidelio his squire towardes the plaines of Ierosolima and pâ—sâ—ed by Armenia the great whereas happened vnto him many straunge aduentures ¶ How that Claridiano trauailed by Armenia and of the straunge aduentures which hapned him in that countrie Cap. 20. THE valiaunt Gréeke Claridiano trauailed through Armenia the greate with no companie but his Squire although his thought was not solitarie but alwayes represented in his heart the cause of all his griefe and sorrow So in this sort he trauailed a while till it chanced one morning at such time as the Sun began his accustomed iourney that he must passe a great mightie riuer ouer a bridge and at the end thereof there was a fortresse wrought after the fashion of a Bulwarke for that below at the beginning it was verie bigge hauing in the midst of it a great tower with a louer hole and vpon the same was put a standard which with the winde was mooued from the one side to the other The Prince following his iourney ouer the bridge without anie impediment would haue passed forwards on his waie but by anie meanes he could not by reason of a great broade and déepe ditch which was made on the other side beginning from the Riuer and making a compasse lyke a whoope which inuironed all the whole fortresse and came againe and ioyned vnto the sayde Riuer on the one side so that the fortresse remayned in the middiest and there was no other waye to take but that they must néedes passe through the fortresse So when the Prince came vnto a verie strong gate of yron hée tooke the King in his hande and gaue three greate blowes at the noise wherof there was a windowe opened whereat there appeared a Gentlewoman of a middle age who séemed to haue her eyes swollen with wéepings who said Knight what is it that thou doest séeke héere in this infernall Castell if thou wilt haue passage séeke it by some other waye and it shall bée better for thée for in procuring to passe this waie thou shalt get no other thing but death but and if thou wilt not turne backe by reason of the good opinion which thou hast in thy great valour and strength take and â—ound that horne which hangeth ther vpon that piller on the right hand which béeing heard the entrie shall bée fréely giuen vnto thée but the going out is vnpossible And in saying those words she shut the windowe in greate hast and went in The Prince cast about his horse towards the right hand whereas he sawe a piller of the height of a man therat hanged a rich horne and by it a péech of parchment rowled vp and laying hand vpon the horne he could not moue it although he did striue mightely to doe it and vnderstanding y e first he must vndoe the Parchment and read that which was written in it he tooke it and vnrowled it and saw that it constained that which followeth At this present raigneth a King in Arabia and although he bee a Pagan yet hée is adorned with noble and vertuous customes and had onely one daughter that was verie fayre humble and chast and was beloued of the Duke of Fedra vassall vnto the same king the Dukes name was Velegrato a young man with a seuere and graue countenaunce who deserued better the gouernment then anie other Pagan hée was verie well estéemed in all the Kingdome almost equally with the king for the which there ingendered in the kings heart a secreat rancour and hatred This Duke did loue the Princesse who was called Damelis and it was the Gods will that shée should repaie him with the same loue â—o that both theyr heartes beeing wounded with loue the one to the other the fire kindled dayly more and more in such sort that neither the one nor the other had anie imagination but onely to loue and not knowing how to manifest theyr griefes they indured sundrie greate passions Then loue which continually seeketh occasions did on a time set before this duke a Gentlewoman which thing seemed to be wrought by the order of y e Goddesse Venus Oh what great feare this knight had for to discouer vnto her all his heart but in the end by the great industrie of this Gentlewoman there was order giuen that these two louers should meete together Heere I will not detaine them that shall read this in telling of the great delight which both of them receiued to sée themselues together but such it was that she was made a Ladye This faire Damelis for that she coulde not at her ease enioye her Velegrato she did determine to leaue her own natural countrey father and with this intention one night being with her louer she cast her armes about his necke and sayde Oh my sweete and welbeloued friend séeing that the soueraigne Gods haue bene to me so grateful that I doo deserue to haue a louer let me not finde in thée ingratitude for that I cannot passe my time except continually I enioye thy fight and doo not muse my Lord at this that I doo say for that the ouermuch loue that I haue to you doth constrayne me to make it manifest and this beléeue of a certaintie that if thy sight be absent from me if will be the occasion that my hart shal lacke his vitall recreation And you doo well know how that the King my father doth beare you no good