to her thinking she liued neuer more to be séene of any This life did she lead till the age of fouretéene yeares for then did her beautie staine the sunnes in his mid-daies pride whose fame the other Nimphes of the Temple published abroad throughout the spacious world One day among the rest as Prince Celio accustomed to recreate himself descending this way on hunting he chansed to finde her neare a cleare fountaine that lies behinde this little hill called the Vnfortunate by reason of that which happened thereat Where Celio séeing her and of such admirable beautie blame him not if hée yéelded a thousand soules so many if he had for much more deserued her excellencies and most gracious brauerie Hee went towards her shewing by his alteration what he went for and how estranged from himselfe he should depart at the drawing of his attracted eies from her sight From her being rose the solitarie Goddesse discontented to haue met with that knight who séeing her disdaining coynesse followed to ouertake her stayning her with sighes that procéeded from the middest of his perplexed heart but the frée Ladie carelesse of his cares declared hers in onely hasting her swift running steppes turning her face from whom acknowledged her for his Goddesse Shee could not so far outrunne him but he at last ouertooke her and catching holde by her thin sléeue falling on his knées began thus Oh sacred Ladie why should you shew such crueltie against him that must liue onely to loue you hoping for no longer life then you shal grant admitting his deuotion but oh if you shall ioy to prosecute your strangenesse let mee not prorogue your vengeance on my selfe While this dagger is readie to execute your sharpe decree for so you do remaine without displeasure it will be my pleasure to satisfie your doome with my death The crueltie sir knight you speake of should I vse towards my selfe replied the disdainfull Laissa should I regard your prayers knowing how Capitall the offence is against the chaste Diana whose Nimphes of whom I being one are first afore all other things sworn to the puritie of a single life and so my selfe ioying in the swéetnesse of so choise a liuing as that led in solitude should not then cruelly tyrannize ouer my coontent procuring your ease to loose my libertie With many currents of pearled teares distilling from his eyes the amourous Celio answered Neuer sacred Goddesse did my imagination so much as thinke by louing to worke my content in any thing to abridge yours onely I beséech and this is not to offend you that though my merits deserue not your sight nor my selfe be woorthie to adore you I may to nourish my else dying life make you solely to my selfe the sole commandresse of my oppressed soule and that I may repaire to your glorious name with the tributarie duties of my poore hearts spoyles Somewhat milder grewe the sister of amorous Celio for there is no Ladie so cruell and vnthankefull but reioyces to be beloued for such vertue doth loue set in the Ladie loued that onely to deserue the gift to be beloued shée will loue She would haue answered but the comming of Alcyno the second brother interrupted her who almost before hee sawe her rendred his soule vnto her as a pledge of his true loue The like sacrifice did the third make of hs that then arriued which two last séeing their brother and with that Ladie ere they knewe how to loue exprest approoued tokens to be iealous To breake their silence the third brother said What good fortune is this good brother to méete with so gallant a Ladie in so solitarie a place So haue the heauens appointed it my deare brother replied Celio And being nothing iealous of them to feare to say his minde added that the power of my thoughts béeing imployed on her my soule may triumph in content to haue found such a Soueraigne Most woorthie is her beautie saide the second of the offer of my noble thought whose reliques may solemnize her brauerie neither is vnoccupied for Loue doth occupie them all And whilest Alcino speakes Larsinio gluts himselfe with gazing And if by chance all thrée be silent she by mouing the Organs of her spéech kindles the fire that vnconsumingly doth burne them Celio loues and the mollified Lady looking on him by the motions of her eye-resplending sunnes with infinit signes of hopes doth incourage him to persist in his moued sute and for his sake shée affects the other two knowing they were his brethren She exprest it by her kind words in answering them Such is the condition of loue most bewteous Ladies credit me it is knowne by experience that any amorous motion how fained soeuer is accepted of the Louer as a manifest token that onely he is he soly beloued In like maner fell it out with the brothers For as the Lady without straungenesse kindly spake to them the more to winne Celio to her selfe either of the others accounted themselues to be especially beloued The greatest part of the day continued they in pleasing that intangling themselues in the snares of that deceiuing net that there with thousand childish toyes did leape from bowe to bowe to insnare these poore Louers in their owne vnhappie conceits vntil the withdrawing time of the recluse Goddesse called her away which forced the thrée brothers to returne vnto their home purposing euery day to come thither in quest of whom they loued yet minding to take their seuerall way For nothing was sufficient to disswade the two brothers that they were not beloued to desist the prosecuting of their intented loues Sometimes after they spake with the Lady not knowing nor remembring she was their sister but she by all exterior meanes told the two younger she could admit none saue the elder Neuerthelesse so possest was loue of the two brothers soules that in such sort it blinded them that they would neuer beléeue it was as she said and their owne eyes sawe to be most true for the perfect sincere loue which nourish them caused them to deuise the expedients meanes to end their passionated labors They found it and to their liues cost for passing some moneths in this entertainment one day dismall and blacke to this Countrey since so much calamitie fel on it Larsinio the yonger brother hastened his comming to séeke his sister clad all in rich shining armor He met with her at the vnhappie Fountaine through their lucklesse euents so called in whose bubbling Current shée was washing her faire white Alabaster hands His Beuer lifted vp the Louer and nimbly leaping from his horse went straight towards the Founte To receiue him ranue the Ladie guerdoning his comming with a louing imbrace not as to her brother or Louer but so neare in ally to him whom with heart she tendred which the Prince attributed not to Celio in fauour nor his consanguinitie to Laissa saue to his owne pure loue which was so great that he iudged himselfe in respect of
you would easily forget whom you left in prison that I thought best to get company to séek you abroad if you ouerlong should tarry and with my owne hands take my reuenge which should not be litle rigorous Had I bene happie diuine Ladies said the Prince as to haue knowne this resolution to féele the pleasure that wounds giuen by those your sacred hands doo yéeld I would not haue so soone returned But yet knowing the falling into any forgetfulnesse in you seruice how litle soeuer was paine intollerable inforced me so soone to hasten my comming to be resolued of your will the which those Princes nor my selfe wil in nothing contradict I loue so truly to kéepe my word inuiolate heroicke Prince of Grecia answered the Ladie that I know not what more to say sauing this I doo altogither submit my fortunes to your order which during life I wil obserue assured that such a knight wil respect my poore immaculated honour the which although in some respect I doo repugne yet to frustrate my intended marriage I wil venture my person in any peril you shal vndergo therefore in this there is no more to doo but plot it as you thinke best for that is our determination And since the Gods haue in all things made you so absolute doo not gréeue if I take this Ladie in my company For shée will in no case remaine any longer in my Fathers Court whilest I absent my selfe In charge had I that you last spake of saide the Prince from my Lord and Vncle the Prince of Dacia but séeing she is pleased with what we al desired let vs no longer procrastinate our iourney making all things readie for the same two daies hence in which time you may send to our lodging those things you shall bee best pleased to take with you Be it as you haue said soueraigne Prince said Venus for hauing in our defence the mightie Alphebos sonne it is nothing wee haue vndertaken were it farre harder Occasion they had to demaund for the Persian which being not omitted things passed so plainly that the Gréeke reioyced to sée his friend so well imployed Any ones good would glad him though hée himselfe did want it He tooke his leaue of the Ladies with a thousand imbracements that had not Archisilora gouerned his soule and the reason of his thoughts it were no wonder had he stood a while ponderating the content thereof but he with one ordinarie courtesie in liew of so many fauours left them of themselues iealous with feare of that they should do although their comfort was that such Princes had vndertooke their safetie They straight beganne to order the preparations for their iourney from Xantho While the valourous Gréeke returned to the Princes that receiued him with excéeding ioy relating to them all their conference with the Ladies resolution which not a little contented them and moreouer said And I haue newe commends to the haughtie Bransiniano Prince of Persia for the Ladies demaunded for none but him and I am glad in my heart to knowe how matters passe and in faith I had not thought the Dacian Lord to bee so warie Valiant Gréeke said Don Eleno knowe that in matters of Loue the greatest concealement is greatest fire for nothing contents Cupid more then to sée how by the sole motion of the eyes two agres concluding more with the sight then others in an age in present daily continual discourses For nothing better blazoneth the soules newes then the eyes and if they so could no maruell they be agréed and greater matters can Loue so effect So with great content did they all expect the second day to take the Ladies from the Pallace for the men they sent for were by that come to the place appoynted The next day Fausta sent thrée or foure of the Ladies chests and the one and the others awaited the darknesse of the approaching night wherin befell them what the next following Chapter doth resite CHAP. VII How the Princes conueyed the Ladies out of the Pallace The battell they had about them with the Kings Knights and what more happened ALreadie had the starrie canabey of heauen darkened the earth with clowdie blacke obscuritie when the foure mightie valiant warriours clad all in rich and strong abilements of warre accompanied with the two fierce gyants and twentie knights leauing the rest to guard the Ladies Coffers and to aduertise the armie of their approach arriued closely at the Garden gate and making the accustomed signe Fausta with more courage opened where they found the Ladies so amazed with feare that they had no power to vtter one word It was no time for ceremonies so Claridiano taking Venus in his armes carried her out of the garden and deliuering her to the Prince of Croatia said Receiue this gift sir knight for by doing it I can-cel the bonds of my ingaged word He could not answer being ouercloied with ioy nor yet could she do otherwise He returned like the winde for Laissa that more courage had then the other hauing indured many perils and gaue her to the Prince of Persia whose gladnesse did excéed the greatest in the world He forgot not Palisandro for almost he plainly conceiued what happened in the Tower so deliuering Fausta vnto him spake Since thou canst so well dissemble thou deseruest to haue her in kéeping The Damzell was wittie and so replied I would not sir knight that after you haue played your owne parts you should thus ill rewarde me The want of power to care for so many kinde Fausta hath forced mee to commit you to his guarding that knows what torments do possesse me Therevppon Don Elenos Dwarffe stept in with these words I faith Prince of Grecia if you vse to pay all your Squires in this manner it will make mee rebell against Don Eleno my Lord for he liuing secure remembers not vs that be so destitute of fauours The Dacian made answere The not knowing thy minde friend Lesbio was cause I procured not thy remedie but now I knowe thy will I will ere long satisfie thy content With many iestes at length they arriued at their armie where after they rested the Gréeke would discharge his soule of part of her cares wedding the beautious Venus to the gallant Pollidolpho with such content of all the hoste that feared they not to be heard had exprest it with applauding shouts Here me thinkes said Eleno all the world flies from farther toyle which being so I will also do it by leauing the protection of this soueraigne Ladie so bestowing her to the Persian he saide To you sir Knight must I deliuer her being destitute of strength to guard her So well did Venus plead knowing how the Persian was affected that foorthwith they were both espowsed to their admirable ioy Content in pleasant chat were these Princes and also beeing night it was not much if they enioyed any secret ioyes I knowe not but to increase their pleasure the sencelesse trées were
shed teares those teares will I repay Ten teares for one a hundreth teares for ten Hath my proude rigor hunted thee astray I le loose my life or bring thee backe agen Each sigh I le quittance with a thousand grones And each complaint with a whole age of mones And when I finde thee as I finde the will Or loose my selfe in seeking what I loue Then will I trie with all true humble skill Thy pittie on my great offence to moue Till when my griefes are more then tongue can tel My daies are nights and euerie place is hell With a heauie sigh shee ended but as if singing had but in part discharged her sorrowes she beganne with saying to prosecute them as followeth Ay me Quéen of Lyra said the Ladie that hauing no cause to complaine do suffer thus deseruedly a iust pay for such deserts Of whom else might I hope to bee loued beeing by the Gréeke Prince adored On the earth of whom couldst thou expect any good if not from thy Gréeke Oh woe is me that the trust of my small consideration should bring me to this passe that I must make the winds witnesse of my paines and that to my vnblemisht honours cost I must hue and wander by sea and land demaunding for him Archysiloras loue when I mought haue liued with ioy with pleasure and in quiet by giuing him a little signe of that happinesse I my selfe receiued by being his but séeing it is thus brought about loue I will and patiently embrace this iust imposed toyle Here was her languishment renewed séeing a knight come directly towards her shippe lying a long the hatches of another exclaiming against Cupids ordinances Who euer suffered said he his heart to followe and séeke his owne dishonour What lawe allowes the soule to disclose that whose secrecie preserueth no lesse then life Accidents be these onely incident in loue for he as the King of extreames enforceth me not regarding my fame to procure anothers consent Oh most valiant Knight who shall beléeue thou shouldest with mee violate thy word Thou knowst I loue thée also the I follow thée but I know to aggrauate my woe thou fliest my presence What is become of those swéete words at our parting thou spakest where is the faith wherwithon my hands thou vowedst loyaltie protesting if any pleasure thou shouldest haue it would procéede only from thinking thou art mine Thou doest ill guerdon the bountie wherewith I laide open vnto thée the secrets of my soule making my selfe tributary vnknowne to whome I did it when thou iudgedst it newe life newe ioy newe ease and newe content But now altogither forgetfull thou fliest from me that liue to loue thée So ouerwhelmed in her owne thoughts was the bewteous Floralizar who departing from the furious Brauorant followed the searche of the Tinacrian whom shée so intierly affected that shée regarded not whether any heard her By the complaints did Archisilora knowe her to be a Ladie and pittying her caused her Barke to be grappled with the other and saide No maruell heroicke Ladie that since the lande hath alreadie beene acquainted with your constancie you nowe participate your faith vnto these inhospitable waters Be of good courage for you haue company in your woes and such as wil neglect his owne to remedie yours At the voyce rose Floralindas daughter and replied Who are you Syr Knight that so kindly doo commiserate my paine which is the greatest that euer was inclosed in any humane breast I am hée saide Archisilora who with my soule valiant Ladie will procure your quiet and therefore pray you accept such seruice as my Barke wil yéeld for it may be the recitall of your griefs to me and I mine to you wil be a mittigation of some sorrow I le not forgo the enioying of so good company as that you offer mee Syr knight said Floraliza intreating I may know who you be that alreadie knowes my gréefs The Ladies gallant behauior had attracted the Lirian Matrons affection who replied In more then this doo I desire to satisfie you soueraigne Ladie but first step into my ship where I wil do it at full To know your name answered Floraliza a harder enterprise would I attempt So leapt she into the Quéenes Barke saying Aduantage hath my Barke got sir knight with my absence to which being alone the winds and waters may now be more fauourable then when I was in it and since we haue this opportunitie deare sir defer not my desire With neuer a word the haughtie Quéene vnlaced her Helme resting more faire then was Latonas sonne when onely for loue he kept Admetus shéepe Floralizas was also of whose beautie was equalled by fewe and that want was with valour supplied Let it not gréeue you Soueraigne Lady said the Quéene that I knowe she cause of your mones for mine are no lesse which I suffer séeking for him that ought to dye louing but since I am the cause therof it is reason I endure the extremitie of gréefe and séeing loue hath equalled vs therein I le no longer kéepe from you who I am So she related vnto her euerie thing she could not naming Claridiano Why now said Alicandros Néece I do account my paine a pleasure being pittied by you and haue assured hope we shall quickly finde redresse wherto the Quéene answered Gladly would I know who he is to labor your content Any certaine thing I know not replyed she more then that I am an others for a brother of mine called Celindo and my selfe were brought vp without knowledge of father though since we receiued the order of armes we haue met with certaine tokens to be children vnto the prince Meridian Excéeding ioy conceiued the Quéen of the Ladies company resoluing to enioy it so long as she would They vowed firme amitie which towards the peace was of no small effect for this Lady was of highest estimation among the Pagans in the Grecian warres By little and little being tender of yeares and knowing that the manifesting of their loues was some ease to their borthering cares either vnderstood who was the Louer to the other Vppon which occasion Floraliza thus saide So that our fortune doth permit most Péerelesse Princesse the Gréeke Princes to tryumph ouer our hearts Séeing the heauens will haue it so excellent Lady aunswered the Quéene and so haue fauoured them from their birthes we cannot but acknowledge their Soueraigntie specially the Tynacrian Prince knowing how great his gaines are thus being loued To which Floraliza made aunswere Stay my good Quéene how well by knowing your selfe to be loued doo you iudge a straungers distresse who would not liue contented in middest of the greatest euill were wée certaine of that assurance What paine would not then be a pleasure or what could make mee a stranger to my selfe onely séeking the company of my woes But I feare illustrious Ladie that as the heauens haue made them absolute happie so some one of them wil place his felicitie
with many valiant straungers that about it were thither come As these two warriours passed through the stréetes al the peoples eies they drew after them admiring to sée them so well armed of so braue disposition Gallanter Knights were not in that Cittie séene of many yeares before As too and fro the streetes were crossed by passengers that went to the Court and they doing the like the sunnes splendent rayes reuerberated on their glittering armour as no sence could more desire The amorous Eufronisa lost not this sight for standing on a turret she sawe the maiesticke pacing of her gallant and said vnto her selfe shée had giuen him but litle to make him Lord only of her hart There is no. Ladie saide Loues newe Scholler that hath more reason to loue then I since in my opinion the Gods haue not reserued vnto themselues more grace more brauerie nor more woorth then they haue bestowed on this knight Somwhat did this deefied couple prick their horses and passing vnder the Ladies being the Gréek made his bend his knées to the ground and his head lower then his brest The Ladie séeing it raised her selfe to do him courtesie which as a fauor she bestowed not respecting how she might be noted for it Near her stood her wittie Selia that burst into these words I cannot blame you soueraigne Princesse for louing him that was borne to be beloued and if for him you suffer he hath with him a remedie for your greatest maladie and therefore doo not complaine for if you do I le sweare you do dissemble She answered If there wore any with him that would so well plead my deserts to him as hee hath here to read his merits to my beléefe it might bee I should bee able to dissemble my paine when it takes me yet can I not denie what thou alledgest for his gallant behauior is a comfort in middest of my greatest woes The two famous Knights alighted for the hall being one of the fairest in the world was full of knights that expected the proofe of the Louers Pauillion In the outward yarde they left their horses and as friends togither entred into the hall hauing round about an infinite of rich seates excepting a corner purposely hung and reserued for the Ladies that then entred whose beautie and brauerie delighted euerie heart The most beauteous Eufronisa would not differ in her colour of garments from the Brittains armor apparrelling her selfe al in white imbrodered with red roses that neuer to the Ladies sight it admitted no compare The Gréeke did note it well smiled at it This occasion expected Cupid to yoake the brest of warlike Astorildo that in scorne of him had long time led his life and so with the sight of the Ladies rare beautie he was beset with new desires féeling his heart subdued A wound was this he receiued that onely death cured for that solely had power to remedie it for the Ladie busied her eies gazing on the Gréek he thinking on Lyriana in whom his hopes life felicitie consisteth So that only Loue must please this third intruder for Astorildo alreadie loues his life depends on his alienation now he gréeues for appoynting combat with the Greeke séeing it toucheth what hee adores and with a word he hath euen now changed his opinion by beeing in loue and without hope euer to obtain any recompence for his distresse And yet the Ladie scorning the firmnesse wherewith he loues her placeth it in affecting him that laughes at her because he dotes vpon Lyriana So the Ladies sate them down being aboue a hundreth in number daughters to the chiefe Nobles of the Realme When all were silent an ancient graue man for so he was that brought the Tent did set it in middle of the hall A fairer péece was neuer séene it was all of blew Sattin imbroderad with Artechokes of golde set with so many stones that their splendor depriued the sight of it At the doore thereof appeared two knights richly armed that séemed to challenge the fight of euery one present within was séene a faire throne wheron sate a Lady of excéeding beautie holding in her hands a crowne of inestimable value Thus euery one expecting to knowe of the ancient knight the sum of the aduenture the Ladies and knights yéelding him gratefull audience he beganne to recite the cause of his comming whose relation deserues a new Chapter inferring mee to intreat of you faire wonders of natures beauties like attention for now haue I most néede thereof expressing a matter of it selfe so worthie to be knowne CHAP. XV. How the knight ending his relation of his aduenture his knights began to prooue it and what them befell MOst high and mightie King of Sylepsia began the ancient knight in the Southerne parts and regions of the world there sometimes dwelled a man in the hidden and secret misteries of Art and Nigromanticke spels the skilfullest of his time whose knowledge and great wisedome could not keepe him from the snares of deceitfull loue who intrapt him with the beautie of Belisa daughter to the king of Arabia the Felix one of the fairest Ladies on the earth who gouerned with higher thoughts admitted not the wise Nycostratos affection He atchiued many woorthie déeds in her seruice yet all would not preuaile to mooue the Ladies loue nor yet to shew him one counterfeited fauor which put him in such desperation as daily he neglected the estimation of his credit more more lost his health On this Ladie were also inamored two Princes alike in valour and deserts though one was more happie hauing the Ladies fauor who fedde him with those hopes that they are woont to giue their louers al which was woorse then death to the wise man as also to the other knight reiected So Nycostrato knowing it as also the approach of his liues fatall houre finding that Belisa was cause thereof purposed ere he lest the world to be reuenged so formed he this wondrous Tent where hée inchanted the Ladie bereauing her of iudgement for the litle respect she had made of his great loue Also he enchaunted the two louers to defend the entrance vntill there were a knight so amorous and valiant but as vnhappie as eyther that by vanquishing might restore them their lost libertie And Belisa by the Lady that without exception best deserued the tytle of constant Louer yet woorse rewarded for onely this to be fayrest must frée enchaunted Belisa In the estate they be they suffer many torments for so pleased it Nycostrato the more to satisfie his reuenge That knight that is fauoured by Fortune shall end the Combat must after leade the Lady that will prooue the aduenture In many courts of mightie kings haue we bene hoping to finde some knight to set a periode to our trauell but the Princes being valiant and the Lady very faire none hath preuailed no not so much as in the entrance Almost dispairing euer to finde remedie for these
thing procéeding from you gentle Lady I le accept as a fauour answered the Gréeke being assured that since you know my will you will not be against my content which I shall estéeme most great to worke yours And they arriued at the Ladies lodging where they were forced to silence least they should be heard and the Prince tooke off the armor from his legs So went they euen where Eufronisa did expect him fairer then Diana yet so abashed and fearefull that though she saw him yet could not speake But from her weakenesse she drew strength to say embracing him now Loue began to helpe her I would not valiant knight haue you attribute this my boldnesse to more then to requite what I am indebted to you hauing this day to your high honour most noblely honoured our court where my selfe also had part through your valour of the glorious end of the aduenture In eternall records of liuing memorie to succéeding ages shall this remaine togither with this my wanton déed if it be knowne Hee replied There nothing happened this day most soueraigne Princesse but was atchieued vnder the name of your excellent bewtie And therfore vndergoing it as yours what difficultie could happen which I might not vanquish to enternize your glories Ay me strange Coriolano were I assured thereof what torment were so great which I should not account a pleasure and most swéete But oh cruell griefe it is thou that hast conspired with my malignant starres to make mee explaine my will before I know how it will be accepted Excéedingly content rested I séeing you at the Fountaine and conceiued such delight that therewith I liue and euer shall possesse this mancion of my life but if you knew or would vnderstand with what paines gréefes it was intermixed there were no heart of Diamond walled with Adamant but would pittie my distresse She there ended raining downe her christall rubie chéekes such a shewer of liquid pearle as it expressed her soules sorrow It was not vnconsidered by the Brittaine youth for he was M. of Loues schoole A thousand times cursed he himselfe complaining against the blinde guidresse of vnhappinesse reuoluing many inconueniences the least whereof were woorse then death for if he yéeld to the Ladies will hee sées the wrong he offers to his Lyriana and if he do it not hee feares she is resolued for aye to kéepe him there Both things hee ponderated wisely in his minde yet could not chuse which he might do or how to excuse himselfe Notwithstanding of these euils hee tooke the lesse yet greatest chusing rather to suffer a liuing death then to offend his deare Lyriana and so hee aunswered contrarie to her expectation thus I cannot but confesse most excellent Princesse how much you desire to fauor me altogither immeritable of your benefits and if ending the aduenture in your name may be thought any seruice for euer bee it happie for bringing me to this estate wherein if my woorthlesse life sacrificed to confirme your content may be any signe of thankfulnesse behold me here readie to yéeld it With a heauie sigh the Lady answered Woe be to thée vnfortunate Eufronisa since in thy tendrest years thou haste begunne to feele the bitter chaunges of inconstant Fortune Sure sure I am I shall remaine an example to all posterities through this vnséemly act made woorse by thy vnciuill vsage I do not require you cruell knight nor will not haue you hazard your life in now daungers of new enterprises onely I request séeing I loue oh Gods that I should say so you would do the like Most faire of fairest Ladies replied the afflicted youth I am yours and as such a one dispose of me for none with more will shall procure your content But yet doe not bestow your sacred faithfull loue on so meane a knight as I both in conditions blood and estate the which neither your Princely honour fame nor dignitie doth allow nor my selfe séeing and knowing your loosing choise bound by deserts vnto your worthinesse may permit without infringing the constant lawes of faith hospitallitie and thankfulnesse The which rather then I will commit these my hands will I staine with my owne blood for where there is such inequallitie of deserts I should be hated and abhorred of all men so to accomplish your languishing desire and therefore haue patience beauteous Princesse for there is nothing better then it to tollerate these hastie accidents in Loue. Oh inhumane crueltie said the wéeping Ladie how much doest thou extend thy power against me what auailes it thée hard hearted knight to procure my honour by giuing me a most vntimely death So shalt thou rather be called an homecide then a man seruitor of Ladies wel well I wot that my ouer liberall giuing thée my heart mooues thée to this strangenesse knowing there is no reason in that breft wher Loue commaundeth which were it in me I could not but see the increase of my honour by being silent but with such vehemencie was my paine augmented as I could no longer conceale it And if thou knowest what it is to loue this canst thou not iudge straunge when true affection could neuer yet be limitted and mine excéeding all others forceth me to say I onely liue to loue thée Héere she pawsed vnable to procéede further nor the Prince to replie the one intercepted by the gréefe the poore soule indured and the other to sée he caused it by being so obstinate and vnrelenting to her requests In the greatest confusion of the world was the Prince in to sée the Lady so determined and amorous and he himselfe be reaft of possibilitie to helpe her I hope most beauteous Eufronisa saide the Gréeke this conceiued anger against mee will bee pacified knowing how long since and afore this time Tyrant Loue had made mée his tributarie vassall delighting from mine infancie with those that were toucht with this euill and if the consideration hereof may mooue you knowing my weaknesse to satisfie your desire I hope you will desist from making your selfe guiltie of dishonour Ayme cruell knight answered she now I le not so much complaine of thy disdaine as of my owne lightnesse séeing what a capitall and hainous crime I haue therby committed not onely gainst me yet that is no matter but against all Ladies in the world besides that onely for the name deserue to bee sued and intreated But I ay mee that I as ill accounting of that name as of my pure honour haue yéelded to Loues triumph rather become a suter then reserue my selfe to bee sued vnto And yet doo not you thinke but I perceiue your minde is still busied imagining on an others absence this and many other things I knowe by experience since I first and last sawe you at the fountaine I do confesse it all and also my reputations wracke but a resolued mind in constancie cannot leaue lo loue nor will I otherwise though it treble my sorrowes eternally For this I did intreat
Galtenor saith the Ladie forgot her paines enioying many daies the fruition of the Gréeke Louers bedde vnder that deuise telling him that a wise man her great friend had for some time fetcht her out of the inchantment to accompany him in that distresse Much bound did the Prince thinke himselfe to him for so good a turne So farre wrought the vertue of the Crowne that all the time shee enioyed him by that deceit the Gréeke could comprehend no more but tooke what Fortune offered him At length Eufronisa iudging it reason to let him go féeling her selfe with childe conferred with Selia that approoued it Shee tooke off the Crown kissing it a thousand times for hauing enioyed by it her harts content She had no sooner set it by the other when it was presently taken away not knowing by whose hands A voyce shée heard which thus comforted her Haue patience Ladie for the heauens will haue it so and till you knowe the fruite that by this deceit shall rise neuer looke to sée it more So soone as it was taken away the Gréek thought all that he had past but a dreame hauing scarce the remembrance thereof What time hée had so spent he knew not but stayed for the Ladies comming to giue her his answere which shee determined to refuse because shee would not be bound vnto him for it She entred his chamber with her damzell thus speaking How are you determined most cruell knight of the Flowers that according to your resolution she may liue that loues you He answered I am sure excellent Princesse you haue had time to consider the wrong you do me to inforce me breake my word yet I am yours and will bee till the death and so may you dispose of mee at your pleasure Whereto she thus returned Euer since most glorious Prince of Greece that Fortune or the powers of Loue made my heart obedient to your will I onely procured but a graunt from your mouthe by so many meanes as you haue séene solely deuised to affect you and that you might knowe I loue you And since you are assured thereof and now to comfort my sorrowes in your absence I wil haue you leaue with me some remembrance and let it be your dagger for which you shal haue mine that wherewith I intreated you to end my life which now I le kéepe to imploy it in your loue and beléeue me braue Prince while this soule shal haue power to breath this affection shall neuer decay And therewith with excéeding ioy she embraced him and taking his ponyard she gaue him hers bidding him prepare his departure against the next morning The Prince did so somewhat abashed to haue béen so importuned Hee tooke his leaue of the Ladies not without many teares for trust mee hee was beloued in the highest degrée that euer knight was A verie rich Iewell the Ladie gaue him at his departure All armed in precious armour and mounted on a lustie Courser giuen him by Eufronisa hee went out of the famous Cittie of Golthuerge whose departure she tooke most heauily yet some comfort she conceiued to be big with childe by him Straight the two Ladies beganne to deuise how they might kéepe close Eufronisas trauell who being a straunger to such matters gréeued thereat Onely this consolation she tooke to looke from the toppe of a high turret towards Grecia whither her ioy was gone calling it a heauie land to bring forth such fruite Thus this bewtious Lady passed away the season vntill her time of deliuerie which being the first she felt extreamely She was deliuered of two boyes the fairest that the heauens created for he which was first brought forth had on the face of a Lady fairer then the sunnes Splendor in his pride The other a heart thrust through with a dagger with the wound so fresh as it séemed then to bléed Selia shewed them her saying Reioyce faire Princesse with the issue sprung from that deceit which is such that it frées you from any fault The tender mother embraced and kist them saying Oh may the powerfull heauens deare children of my heart let you liue to know your warlike father for though he vsed me with all crueltie yet are you his sonnes Blesse you may the Gods make you as happie as I am vnhappie although I may now call my selfe the happiest on the earth onely by being your mother So carefull Selia tooke them away and through a secret doore in the garden she gaue them to the old ancient knight to see them nursed in some Village At their carriage away a thousand kisses and blessings did the louing mother giue them as diuining the long time shee should be ere againe she saw them With much care did the olde knight carrie them to a Village where he had prepared a nurse for them That hee might passe more couertly he cros◠the Forrest bearing the children in two baskets on a litle Asse by the way hee rested and tooke downe the boyes to quiet them from crying Scarce had he done when a chased Lyon ran thitherward being hunted by shéepheards with their dogs The knights age and the Lyons sight put him in such feare as he fell downe in a trance As then the cruel beast ment not to take any pray but to escape his pursuers In this manner lay the old man and the children crying for hunger when by great chaunce a mightie Lord dwelling on the confines of Sylepsia past that way with his wife that had bene at the Cittie to to sée the tryumphes there With them was an auncient Lady lately deliuered of a childe that dyed in Golthuerge So soone as the Lords wife saw the children and hauing none her selfe tooke such affection on the babes séeing theyr woonderfull bewtie that she commaunded the other Lady carefully to nurse and bring them vp In this manner were these two Infants carried by this Lord and tendered as his owne He that had the Ladies face they named Clarabell And the other with the wounded heart Leobello Who so grew in yeares and bewtie that they were accounted children of the Godds Where we will leaue them nourished by the good Knight Sergio for so was hee called omitting also their afflicted mothers sorrow for theyr losse and a while must remember the mightie dispayring knight Claridiano of the Sphere already departed from Croatia CHAP. XVII What aduenture the Prince Claridiano met in the I le of Creet where he disinchaunted his Vnckle Claramant FOr a while faire Ladies I am constrained to leaue Loues amorous discourses and trust mee with some gréefe but hauing to treate of many things I must describe them with diuers styles And now the warlike Gréeke with an Adamantiue power attrackts me to lighten him from the darke center of obliuion who departing from the most bewteous Venus and gallant Laysa lanched into the Adriaticke sea downe the which hee Nauigated foure dayes and the fift hee crossed into the Affrican and happening on no aduenture deseruing memorie
It was séene farre off and therefore there were fewe vppon the seas but repaired thither although without it there had not failed to come the famous Bembo with the Souldan of Egypt which was a brother to him slaine yet farre more stronger Neither at his due time wanted the great Lord of Nyquea himselfe with a mightie Fléete For Lupercio found that Gréeke Prince should end the aduenture and maugre all the world beare away Lyriana and to forbid that no other Knight might approach to proue the aduenture he stirred vp and mooued the valiantest Knights in the whole vniuerse against the Gréekes as hereafter shall at large be exprest And yet by the signe the great Magician Nabato set all the flower of Grecia vnited was there assembled The mightie Brauorant could not but sée it for parting from the two famous Princes his Galley so nauigated the Mediterranean Ocean that he sawe the fearefull flames that issued from the Sea Desirous to sée such straunge aduentures was the stout and fierce Pagan and to proue himselfe therein ioying to haue left his Countrey to participate of his begunne sights imagining that his strong and valiant arme was sufficient to terminate such a déede he commaunded thither to be directed where quickly he arriued amazed to sée the Tower and the maruellous workemanship thereof vnable to conceiue who could frame so admirable a thing He read the superscriptions not regarding what Armes were required for that attempt he flung as Bembo had done at one of the Pillers whereon the Tower was built but at that instant there arose so much fire that all his fury strength nothing auailing him with want inough thereof he gaue ouer where his Armour stood him in no small stéed for being made of those bones that are most colde they were able to defend some part of the heate of that fire and blaspheming on his Goddes he stood looking if he could finde any other entrance and séeing none he thought it best to depart vowing to returne thither and defend that none other should trie it since he had not ended it it cost many liues and to performe it he commaunded his Pylot to make towardes Mauritania for he desired to be there to demaund his fathers Armes of Brufaldoro or loose his life in their pursuite The weather was faire calme and prosperous fauouring his voyage for in eight daies he landed there he was glad thereof and so tooke foorth a mightie roane Courser the best that all his Countrey did affoord of such force as it easily might beare the sturdie youth On another mounted his Squier Artanio and taking the largest path he beganne to pace foorth in haste to learne of some one if the king of that lande were there to séeke him Straight was he assured ther of reioycing greatly thereat being perswaded none could disturbe him from winning the Armour that once belonged to his deare father But to rest himselfe he entered through a faire Forrest passing that day there til it was time to sléepe which was but little by reason of that which befell him CHAP. II. What hapned vnto the mightie Brauorant with a strange knight and who he was SCarce was the middle houre of that same season past when rest in silent quietnesse surpriseth the waking eyes of euery one to make them cease their laborious daily toyle suffering the wandering passengers of gloomy darkenesse with night tripping Fairies to progresse throgh those walks that the absence of their exilde light doeth limit them in blacke obscuritie when a suddain new alteration inforced the haughtie Pagan from his accustomed vncontrowled sléepe For the heard not far from him the complaints of some one whose necessitie vrged him to lament He was as is said in nature contrary to all others of his kind and like his Father onely in strength For he pittied those distressed offering his person in theyr required aide hee rose and closing his Beauer went to the place from whence he heard the plaintes and by the pale shine of Cynthias watery beames he sawe sitting at the foote of a knottie Oake a well proportioned knight apparrelled in most rich Armour complaining of loue The Pagan knew not what it ment and therefore to sée his effects he got behinde another Trée verie neare vnto the knight who had not all that night slept bewayling his chaunce neyther would he do it but to participate his griefe to those that felt it not So not regarding because not séeing the Pagan he beganne with a thousand sighes witnesses of his soules sorrow to vtter the gréeued burthen it sustained and with such grace that Brauorant rested amazed iuding him some celestiall creature respecting the swéete harmony of his voyces he did with all attention listen and ouerheard the Louer in this maner sing against Fortune these verses following FOrtune is blinde she lookes on no mans need And deafe she hearkens vnto no mans call And cruell she respects not who doth bleed And enuious she reioyceth at ones fall No Bewtie can vnmaske her hood-winck't eies No Force can driue attention to her eares No Griefe make her dead-sleeping pittie rise Nor is her Enuie thaw'd with Vertues teares She at aduentures lets her Fauours flie Without proportion without due regards The base vnworthy now she mounts on hie And fatteth dunghils with her best rewards Anon they tumble to their first estate And other on the tottering wheele are set Who neuer finde repentance till too late And then they finde it in sad sorrowes net Such fortune is and oh what hap haue I To serue a Goddesse lighter then the winde Constant in nothing but inconstancy As also enuious cruel deafe and blinde Fortune is blind Oh what can me betide But blind mishap that serue so blind a guide With a breathlesse heart breaking hay me ended the Louer principiating her oppressed soules discharge thus What auailed it Oh what auailed it me heroycke warrior so to my honors cost reputations wrack to reueale vnto thée the tenure of my Loues secrets whose tribute is only due to thy incomparable merits It was more then became me violating those immaculate rytes of ours which are first to be intreated and then vpon sufficient proofe to like I knowe not on whom to complaine not of my selfe for neuer was any better imployed nor yet their thoughts higher sublimated No I complaine of my hard fortune for that the sacrifice of my will offered in his hands could be no meanes to confirme in part the hope he gaue me on the sandes of the Gréeke sea coast to be soly mine For if I so now vnderstood it who would be so weake and so mistrustfull a Louer as with so many sorrowes to séeke the thing loued and with a number of infinit sighes that vnsought for would méete me since I would not refuse what he admitted nor could my Loue fancie but what he desired louing But O griefe I cannot beléeue but that misfortune and my selfe were both borne Twinnes
at one selfe same birth O haughtie Tynacrian thinke not but it is a blot to thy immortall fame to shewe thy selfe cruel vnkind gainst him whom hath yéelded soule thoughts to thée It is a tyrannie altogither vnbeséeming whom thou art and what thou diddest protest at our departure The sterne fierce Pagan would not interrupt him but astonied to heare what he said hearkened vnable to resolue whether man or woman he was All the night past they away one in his laments and the other in his newe doubts vntil the appearing of Auroras shine began to giue warning of the morning Sunnes vprise And then leauing his stand went towards the Knight that séeing it was day had laced on his helme fearing to be knowne The knightly Gyant séeing him with excéeding courtesie that most adorned him he beganne to speake You haue inforced me sir Knight to passe this night so disquietted by hearing you publish your griefe that in recompence thereof I intreate you I may knowe the cause and if the hazarding of my person to woorke your content may bee a seruice accepted I shall rest happie to bee so imployed The Ladie well noted him thinking she had neuer séene a brauer nor better armed knight and his ciuill demenour bound her to a milde answere but she was in such an amorous rage that not considering the end replied Why then woorse will the day be to me then was the night to you knowing that you haue heard what the verie soule dares not trust it selfe withall and I know not what lawe of armes admits it Your fauour I refuse for hauing committed such an offence as to require the knowledge of a strangers deare hearts secret against his will that loues which if I declare how should I thinke it could be conceald by you So may you returne for the gréefe that mée torments is pleasant onely in concealement I had not thought replied the Pagan that through intreating thée with what amongst good knights is vsed should haue put thée in that arrogant confidence as to néede none others ayde beeing a thing so contrarie to reason If thou knewest the lawe of Loue replied the Knight thou should knowe there is no happinesse therein but to loue with secrecie for that is it that assureth any doubtfull hope But to recount my cares to one that cānot redresse them with more then a dolefull I am sorrie we sigh more in hauing a straungers companie then for discret circumspectnesse It cannot be exprest what rage the Pagan conceiued for being insolently bolde he was onely noted of immoderate rashnesse and so answered Then that thou mayest know that to haue told it me was thy aduantage I ingage thée to the battell that by taking away thy puling life the paines whereof thou doest complaine may also end Mars was not more fierce then the Louer beeing angered and so without longer stay drew foorth one of the worlds best blades Mightie hee was but hee met with that strength whereto Mylos forces neuer reacht through conceiued rage he was quicker in executing his blow discharging it on the shield of which to the ground hee threwe a péece beating the rest so heauily on his heade that it almost astonished him He stept in with his right foote and with a steddie strong thrust he forst him with staggering paces backwards he wold not yet leaue the chase for turning his sword vnderhand let it flie at his right thigh making his aduersaries flesh féele the cutting of his sharpe blade Neuer was Serpent in the desert Libia more rigorous then the Pagan now did returne vpon the knight and where he thought his blow would be of more effect thither hee strucke the other raised his shield but it was of no defence for although hee did not cut it through the finesse of the temper yet it so charged him that hee set his hands on the ground and ere hee rose hee felt another which made him thinke hee sawe the starrie firmament The blood congealed in his mouth and fréezed in his bodie séeing the fiercenesse of the Pagan which hee thought farre to excéede the Gréeke Princes He rose vp for hee was couragious minding to vse his nimblenesse but as therein the Scythian excéeded the swiftnesse of any Hart it auaild him not from receiuing most cruell blowes kissing the earth sometimes with his knées and sometimes with his handes Neuer felt he himselfe so persecuted nor at the poynt to loose the fame he had obtained for valour and therefore did hee redouble his blowes so strong and thicke that the Pagan was forced to deuise newe defensiue wards Excéedingly he reioyced to sée what braue knights he met in his iourney towards the parts of Grecia déeming him of that countrie where the Authors of his life were intombde This remembrance so vext him that hee supposed it cowardise to continue in single combat so long so letting a blowe flie aloft hee discharged the seconde with such mightie strength on his aduersaries helme that it rezounded like a bell and not able to penetrate it so heauily it waighed on one side that breaking all the laces buckles and riuets it strucke it from his head making the knight vpholde himselfe with his handes but at his rising Apollos beautie séemed not so faire that day as Floralizas great Alicandros Néece that wandring throgh straunge lands in search of her Poliphebo had arriued there In all his life did not the Pagan receiue such a blowe as with her sight for in all the same he forgot not the memorie of that day hee stayed his sword and stepping foorth vnlaced his helme setting to view his sturdie visage more faire then swartie yet with many wrinkled checkes and one great mole on his front approoued tokens of his excessiue strength his shield he cast away and taking his sword by the poynt through the newe tuch of loue hee spake with more ciuilitie then the most amorous Admired Goddesse I beséech you pardon my mad presumption although I féele alreadie the punishment thereof for the not knowing you forced me to it yet I repute it well if it redownde not to your farther displeasure which will be to me a more vnhappier death in that I haue séene the excellencie of beautie and valour and so intreate you as deseruer of farre more honour you will accept my sword in signe of victorie and I le defend that all the world doth owe it you It greatly delighted the Ladie to sée the knights courtesie and imagining he was of estéeme replied I will not sir knight haue you in all things take the better of the fight for the victorie is yours leauing not thereby indebted to your content Her handes to kisse then required the newe Mars thinking no greater good might bee expected then the present Shée drew them from him demanding who he was So yoaked was the Pagan that he could not denie it nor through contemplation say any thing yet thus he spake There was no reason diuine Goddesse
sonne Rosuler that at Oliuas intreaties did stay Also the furious Brandafidel was with him on whose strength he reposed much hope The Gréeke Alphebo had no néed of aduertisement for the generallitie of the warres was come vnto his eares and so with the greatest power he could vnite withdrew himselfe to Tribizound accompanied with Braminoro and Tefereo who most gréeued at the Princes absence was the beautious Archisilora attributing the lacke of Claridianos presence to her owne strangenesse her sorrow was easily discerned by her outward semblance No lesse was Rosamondes to sée her so knowing the cause it so tormented her that for feare it should be perceiued she resolued to absent her selfe for commanding the Gouernors of her kingdome should with all conuenient spéede conduct the greatest power of well prouided men they could select â—ut of her Kingdome to Constantinople and there to rest vnder the Emperours gouernment They accomplisht their Quéens beheft for then she no Princesse was more with loue respected of subiects sending when time serued fiftie thousand of well armed men The day before her departure shee tooke her leaue of Rosamond with no fewe teares for neuer betwéene two Ladies was such simpathie of true amitie Very importunately she offered her coÌ„pany but as any good societie wold but aggrauate the Quéenes euill shee would not admit it saying shee might not leaue Greece and the Emperour in such necessitie Then her armes being the best the world contained she presented her Them shee also refused for Lirgandeo had prouided her with such as were requisit for safegard of her person which were of the same colour as Claridianos sauing that the sable barres were filled with flames of fire on her shield was a gallant deuise for out of a field full of odoriferous flowers a Ladie séemed to go in search of a knight after whom she in great haste ascended vp a craggie rocke from whence she looked after the content she lost and the Motto betwéene them thus Little hope of ioyes abide That leaue knowne ioyes for ioyes vntride Alone would the warlike warriour néeds go thinking her gréefe a sufficient company all the Court sorrowed for her absence but Lirgandeo assuring them of her safetie their discontent was lessened mounted on a lustie Courser shee crost the woods of Greecia thinking on her Lord calling her selfe a thousand times most cruell for that in being so shee had lost him and by the losse obtained so great torments Shee shipt her selfe in a barke bound for Alexandria resolute to trauell the whole world in pennance of her folly One night among the rest while the warriours slept she walked as she vsed on the hatches with her lameÌ„ts to make the watrie dwellers partakers of her gréefes at such time that another barke sayled by hers from whence might be heard some entermingled grones with sighes She could not knowe what it was so swift it went away After it with all possible spéede with ores and sayles she commaunded hers should followe it was done with such diligence till shee ouertooke the barke wherein shee sawe a Knight complaine of Loue and Fortune thus Ay me vnfortunate Prince said the knight is it possible there should be no euill but the extreamest sower it containes my perplexed soule shuld féele Why should I hope for any good when with mine eyes I sée it flie from me There is no inconuenience but haunts me except death with whom I cannot be acquainted Oh Gréekish Prince how happily mayest thou call thy selfe happie by being in thy infancie brought vp with the soueraigne of my life and hearts direction since that was an occasion for the obtaining of those rights solely due to to me Oh Liriano thy name being sufficient to asswage the gréefe that me torments who might by sacrificing my life into thy hands assure thée in faith thy Louer deserue not comparison with me To you to you Sea-Gods do I complaine Oh you I pray that séeing her celestiall habitation is in your vaste confused watrie kingdome a little intreate her for the vnhappie Bembo Oh Loue how rigorously hast thou in all things shewen thy crueltie against me Wherein haue I offended thée when disobeyd I thy commands when violated I thy lawes abolished thy rights or when did my painfull thoughts harbor or conceiue the least imagination against thy honour or deitie If this be so and not vnknown to thée why doest thou wound him with tyrannie that is orborne with weaknesse and thy disastrous chaunces Oh how many any pardon me faire Ladies be hereafter confident on your perfections your crueltie being as great as your beauties are incomparable if you reward him that can loue like him that onely liues to hate No more could the Ladie heare for the barke was guided by Lupertio but what she heard was ynough to increase her paine and raise some doubt that the named Prince was he whom she loued Oh generall plague said the gréeued Lady none canst thou forgiue shewing thy care in most tormenting them that are most carelesse of thée A shower of infinit teares rained the Quéene downe her pearled théekes procéeding from the extremitie of loue hauing so done séeing her selfe comfortlesse and not knowing whom to aske for hauing no notice of the Gréekes deuise she began to giue vent vnto her swelling thoughts singing these verses My heart will burst except it be discharg'd Of his huge load that doth oppresse it so Streames stopt oreflow the bankes if not enlarg'd And fire supprest doth much more fiercer grow Great woes ript vp but halfe the woe remaines But paines concealde doth aggrauate the paines Sing then my soule the storie of my losse Forme in sweete words the anguish of my minde Yet doo not singing ill becomes a crosse Rather sigh out how hard Loues yoke I finde Loue is a sicknesse singing a ioy And pleasure is no pack horse for annoy And must I then knowing Loue a disease That fils our soules with strang calamities Spite of my heart enforc'd my selfe to please And in mine owne armes hug my miseries And seeing still my state waxe worse and worse Must I of force embrace and kisse my curse I must I must Cupid hath sworne I must And t' is in vaine and bootlesse to resist Then be not Loue oh be not too vniust I yeeld me to thy rule rule how thou list For my reclaim'd rebellion shall bring foorth A treble dutie to thy glorious woorth Oh Loue sweete Loue oh high and heauenly Loue The Court of pleasure Paradice of rest Without whose circuit all things bitter prooue Within whose centure euery wretch is blest Oh graunt me pardon sacred deitie I do recant my former heresie And thou the gearest Idoll of my thought Whom loue I did and do and alwaies will Oh pardon what my coy disdaine hath wrought My coy disdaine the author of this ill And for the pride that I haue shew'd before By Loue I sweare I le loue thee ten times more Hast thou
their horses some defence found hee behinde the heape of dead Knights which was nothing had not fortune hither brought the Tynacrian Polliphebo flower of Chiualrie who hauing past many storms in the seas the heauēs for eithers good did cast him on that shore directing him thither at such time as he might succor his cousin who like Mars himselfe behaued him for hauing slaine another of the suruiuing Gyants horses in the fall he tooke from him an Iron Mace that hung at the saddle bowe the which at that instant serued him better then his sword for with it hee reached more out at length The Tynacrian blest himselfe to sée a knight of such force he iudged him to be a Gréeke for in them consisted the worldes strength he said neuer a word but with his launce aboue hand like a fierce comet entred among them killing aboue tenne before he brake it Hee would néeds rid the Knight from the Gyant that remained on horsebacke so drawing foorth his sword went to him and taking it twixt both handes raised himselfe on his stirropes and finding the Gyant carelesse of him executed the brauest blow that in all that day was giuen for he discharged his sword on his middle higher hee could not reach in so braue a manner that from thence downward hee left on horsebacke tumbling the other halfe at Rosabels féete that with the noyse of the fall turned about and séeing a déed so extraordinarie could not but a lowde say thus Oh mightie Iupiter what vnmatcht incomparable strength is this He looked on his deuise yet knew it not for he had neuer before seene it but desirous to let him sée what he beléeued stept with his left foote forward closed with the Gyant that vnmercifully laide on him and strongly firming himselfe on the ground with both hands discharged his sword on his shoulder which effected such a blowe as it was doubted whether of the two the God of warre inured for all that part downe to his legges he cut away and like an Eagle leapt on a horse that was neare him Neither of the kinsmen spake to the other leauing it till better opportunie but thrust themselues among that miserable rowte greeued they were so fewe whereon to shewe their valour In lesse then an houre were the two warriours left alone yet mought it well bee said in them consisted the most part of humane power Togither they put off their helmes discouering their beautie admired able to haue slaine Apollos in his glorie They were almost of one age so Rosabell first spake Most mightie knight the best that euer mine eyes beheld make me meritorious to know to whom I am bound for my life for to your happie comming when I accounted it lost must I attribute my now enioying it Whereto the Tynacrian answered Excellent and most renowned warriour there was so little néede of my helpe in presence of your valour as I desire no thankes for any thing done being solely due to the strength of your arme for if I presumed to the attempt of any déede it was onely to haue the fruition of your swéete presence which bindes me to tell you who I am Although there want in mee sufficient merits to equall me in valour to deserue the name of brother to the Emperour Alphebo Rosicler the most glorious knight of Cupid I am Polliphebo of Tyuaria sonne to Quéene Garrofileo and the Emperour Trebatio and I arriued at Greece with desire to make my selfe knowne vnto my Lord the Emperour though I am assured he is displeased with my cruell mother The ioy cannot be expressed which Rosabell conceiued séeing him whose fame had filled the earth with immortall honour He embraced him with these words In faith heroicke Prince I may hereafter thinke my selfe the happiest knight aliue throgh the knowledge of such an vncle for know though my déeds deserue it not I am your cousin Rosabell of great Brittaine sonne to Rosicler and the Princesse Oliua and he that nothing more desired then to know you With excéeding content the Tynacrian embraced him Oh vnexpected happinesse is it possible such goodnesse was in a land so remote reserued for me what may I hope for that will not befall me since fortune hath so luckily begunne my good acquainting mee with one of the puissant Emperour Trebatios kinsmen I doo protest most excellent Prince this day shall so be inprest within my memorie that first euery vytall power shall abandon their naturall nation ere I will forget the remembrance of this present content caused by the knowledge of so warlike a cousin be assured deare Rosabel that séeing you are the first I haue knowne of my kindred so you shall alwaies be in all things for I will neuer obey any with more willingnesse He performed it better then he spake it for neuer cousins loued one an other more nor Rosabell estéemed none of his Vncles as hee did she Tynacrian Quickly did Fortune or Nabatos power through the Dacians intercession whom hee accounted as his child separated them for the Gréek telling his cousin why he came from Greece and the necessitie Abstrusio might be in forced them as quicke as any thought to séeke the Louers but being ouertaken by the nights approach and they following their haste lost one another in the wood which so gréeued either of them as they were readie for gréefe to yéeld their selues and surely they had fallen into some daunger for they had ingendred the greatest affection that can be imagined had not the wise man comforted them alleadging how néedfull their parting was So he returned the Tynacrian to his damzell and launching his Barke into the déepe seas wée leaue him returning to the Gréeke CHAP. XII How Rosabell met with Abstrusio fighting with them that had stolen his Ladie How hee ayded him and after how he suffered shipwracke on the seas CIth some comfort giuen by the wise man did Rosabel Prince of great Brittaine hast his iourney ioying in the knowledge of the Tynacrian prince his Vncle G thousand thankes gaue he the heauens for beeing allied to kinsmen of such might Till midnight did he gallope séeking for Abstrusio wishing in heart he might arriue in good time to lend him his aide herein would Fortune séeme to fauor him for euen when faire Endyminos loue shined fairest then heard he a noyse of blowes and armor clashing Lighter then a young wanton Goate spurred hee thitherward and entring into a spacious field hee sawe Syrindas mightie Louer like a new Mars among his aduerse Knights Hée stoode a while gazing on him glad to sée such haughtie strength and iudged him woorthie of the Ladies brauerie He assayled them saying To them to them braue Knight for their owne weaknesse shall heere confound them The Gréekes couragious words did greatly incourage him whom knowing he humbled himselfe for his good helpe the which hee not a little néeded for at that instant aboue two hundreth knights vnder the leading of a
most dangerous falles Him call I happie that least doth set his confidence in Fortune or hath least receiued of her blinde gifts terming her benifites the threatning of greater miserie What good is there on earth but is mingled with a thousand vnsauorie displeasing euilles and of discontents misfortunes and lamentable euentes such and so many that onely leaue him with his bare name ouerpressing the soule with torments and gréeuing the perplexed minde with most gréeuous and wofull paines After that by little and little the furie of the sea was asswaged he hasted to a coppes that not farre from thence he espied there to drie his clothes and himselfe There Trebatios haughtie Nephew disrobed himselfe leauing but his onely shert vpon him remembring with some tendernesse the troubles he had ouerpast iudging by the greatnes of them they would at length wearie of themselues bring him to a delectable sweete ende that then with the present happinesse he might ioyfully recount his former infelicities This consideration somewhat animated him suffering that distresse more patiently Example should they take by him that in lesse dangers forget to make vse of sufferance estéeming that death which peraduenture the celestiall powers doth but ordaine for tryall of theyr workes The Gréeke againe apparelled himselfe his vestments beeing drie and laid him downe to rest neuer more destitute thereof then at that instant it was little for straight hee wakened to séeke some path which might leade him to some Village hee found it but with some trouble for without it nothing desired is lightly obtained And going along the same there happened to him what the insuing Chapter doth mention CHAP. XIII What befell vnto the mightie Rosabell with certaine other Ladyes of whome hee learned the countrey wherein hee then was I Dare almost assure my selfe faire Ladies your bewties haue with some féeling except your harts be harder then the flint or more obdurate then the Dyamond attended the Gréeke princes shipwrack In faith his worthes deserue it for hee that with an ayme submits himselfe to gréefe maketh himselfe vnworthie of comiseration being in necessitie and yet neuer any merited fauour that denied it to the néedie Something destitute of it was Olyuias haughtie sonne but from the middest of his heart drew he strength to resist his woes who although incompassed on all sides with so many extreames did neuer forget her whose fauours were wont to cherish him and now in absence putting him to his tryall This vertue hath true loue remoueable by nothing from the soule where it buildeth once his rest opposing it selfe against all inconueniences though ordered by his Lady whereof being assured takes them as comforts to his distresse Many examples there are of this yet of them I wil recount but one witnesse my mothers sonne whom neither the changes of time nor time altering course of life nor yet the Mutabilitie of state in life can make him denie his Captiuitie nor omit the dulled accentes of an vnaccent passion with remeÌ„brance of his grones for his vnpittying warres And though she know it and the sinceritie of his affection yet turnes she away the pittie of her fauour one telling him his paines are too fewe Pittie so vnfortunate a Louer pittifull Ladies and yée that shall first heare of his griefe greater then that which neuer any had nor worse respected yet this comfort hath hee that a lady excéeded all worth of comparison moued with his laments said vnknowne by whom vngratefull truth may shee be called that thus intreateth this distressed Louer Venus and Cupid reward thée beautious Lady and suâ—â— I am hee wil when thou shalt desire Loues helpe against Fortunes tyrannie for the Gréeke Lord suffering his labours with constant sufferance in the ende obtained his Lyriana whose onely sight made him déeme all his former discontents most swéete contents With this hope trauelled hee on foote onely with his sword hauing taken the straightest and most troden path Hee had not gone farre but vexed with thirst although newe dryed of waters he turned vp a long by a cleare streame till he came to the head of the spring about which was builded an Allablaster Fountaine whose worke with the clearenesse of the waters inuited the Prince to drinke Which done he did eate of such frute as the frutefull trées did yéeld that round incompassed the Fountaine Tyred with his former toyles he laid him downe and slept a good while resting his rest wanting amorous ioynts Farre was he not from the great cittie of Golthuerg chiefe in the Kingdome of Sylephia lying betwéene Polonia and Bohemia and therefore at the instant he dreamed the swéetest Vision in all his life for thinking himselfe embraced his Lady the Princesse Eufronisa whose beautie was inferiour to none equalling the fayrest that met in Constantinople at the Tryumphes She was very young hauing not yet attained to 14. yeares which made her as children vse walke to sport her selfe about those woods that bordered on her garden and hauing lost her selfe with one Lady from the rest of her attendants so amazed was not Venus when she first saw the boy Adonis along the banks of Nylus as with admiration the bewtious Eufronisa was astonished with the Gréeke Princes sight that lay vpon the grasse séeming more faire then when young Apollo in habit of a shéepheard tended Alestes Goates He was big of body his other parts and liniaments are already set downe although now he entered into 20 they were better perfected With more desire did the Lady gaze on him then in the woods of Troy the thrée faire Goddesses expected Paris sentence So much she yéelded to the sight that shee began to féele a newe alteration neuer felt before in her heart for being but a childe she yet knew not the meaning of Loues pretie fooleries With some woonder she turned to her damzell with these words Hast thou euer séene more perfect bewtie then this gallant youth doth shew I beléeue that Nature at his byrth angrie with her selfe did thus create him to despight her selfe I cannot thinke but he is child to some of our immortal Gods that haue now sent him on the earth to alienate all straungers wits Which if it be so we Ladies must strengthen our selues with courage for I feare the wisest will néed it to scape frée of his sight so absolute is he in all things This aduice came too late to the tender Lady for Loue had already made her his Goddesse till the death neither had she power to vntie the knot wherewith blinde Cupid had bound her hart tying it so hard as he left it insoluble I pittie thée gallant Eufronisa that in the nonage of thy yeares thou shuldest begin so sower an office as to be subiect to an vnknown lord I wold willingly giue thée some consolation but so much I do want it as rather for both I should procure it No vaine no colour no fashion was in the Brytanickes face but she coted it within her very soule
giuing it the shadow and her heart the substance which being so tender and vnacquainted with change tooke such impression that neuer Lady yéelded more to loue then Eufronisa Now she desires to speake to him then feares she Already becomes she suspicious that neuer learned to loue Before she knew who he was she became so skilfull in the Art that she feared whether he loued whether he could loue or acknowledge anies soueraigntie Now she that staines the blushing of the mornings Sunne becomes enuious of her owne thoughts and doth distrust her owne worths séeking new deuises and inuented meanes to be beloued deseruing for her owne bewtie Ioues immortal worship Oh Cupids blind snares happinesse in misery a plague in pleasure and grief without remedy found vnsought for and yet a torment that contains a most swéete life By her amazednesse perceiued the damzel her Ladies maladie wherefore she merily said Let vs awake this knight and try whether his bewtie haue more force waking or sléeping Doo what you wil replied she although it be no modestie considering who we be Rather waighing that I thinke it best to do it said the wittie Selia to sée what he is that hath such power ouer Ladies for if his merits equals all other parts requisite in a good knight he may call himselfe one of the happiest in the world So long continued the Ladies in their amourous chat that the Prince awaked with these words Oh fortune how doest thou flatter my hopes for if thou giuest me any good t is only dreaming that when I wake to see it I finde it but an illusion He said no more for the Ladies sight staied him both from the publishing his woes as of the cause of them He rose admiring the Ladies bewtie who first spake thus You should séeme to haue fewe enemies sir knight séeing so carelesly you lye and sléepe in passages so open that any by you offended may at his pleasure right himselfe He answered So crosse and austere hath my fortune alwaies bene most bewteous Ladie that it did neuer let me knowe the state wherin I might say I had a friend for euen my owne thoughts doo most within my brest make warre against my rest wherefore hauing none to trust vnto forceth me to set my selfe in the hands of euery one that one in this generalitie would shewe the office of a friend by taking away my despised life then as such a one I should account him for by the déed giuing me one death he riddes me of a thousand that I suffer in continuall languishment and it might I wel call life for he liues well that féeles no more pain Great is your griefe answered the Ladie and of force to drawe commiseration from the hardest heart and greater it is séeing that none pities you were it but with a counterfeit remedie noting the waight of your complaints In faith faire Ladie said the Prince so mightie are my oppressions that although I know them and the paine I endure by them yet I must suffer them for if I liue it is by liuing in paine so that should I but neuer so litle ease this paine it would be séene in the want of my health If it doth so please you replied the Ladie vniustly you complaine and I thinke you greatly wrong your Ladie terming her cruel My complaints most soueraigne Ladie are not so much ment against my lifes directnesse as against my vnhappie starres that make me infortunate in fauours but not in my imployment for neuer was any better but in such a place where my griefs be scorned Some reason you haue said the Lady hauing this occasion to bewaile for where sorrow is not regarded there is a double griefe and gladly would I know who you are and where borne for you séeme a straunger in these parts I cannot but obey your soueraigne commaund most excellent Lady answered the Gréeke I was borne in the farthest Confines of great Tartaria and am called Corolano cast by fowle weather and tempest of the sea on this Countrey passing so many troubles that had I not receiued such vnexpected comfort with your faire sight no doubt but that my soule séeing the bodie drenched in misery and as vnworthie to containe it had it forsaken me but to enioy within it the view of your happie sight gaue life to her liuelesse habitation And that I may commit no error for it is impossible but I haue incurred some suffer my prayers by your admittance to make me deseruer to know the name of the land so happie in the possession of such admirable brauery Quickly doo you require a payment for the discouery of your name Sir knight replied Selia for the Princesse could not busied in her new and painfull businesse but because you shall not altogither iudge your selfe vnfortunate in your pretences know this land is called Sylepsia whereof this Lady is Princesse and going on hunting we lost our company and our selues yet wee haue not hunted ill hauing founde the amourousest knight in the world and so according to your showes none like you haue better assuraunce of the Louers Tent whose aduenture was newly brought into this Cittie and the proofe thereof shall within these foure daies be begunne and little shall you not please vs to hazard your person in the tryall I am so ill prouided of Armor and other necessaries faire damzell answered the tender Prince that though I were vnwilling to do it yet to content your bewties with them I would try it assured that for louing and being vnfortunate to me the glory is onely due This want shall not hinder you said Eufronisa for I will furnish you with the best armor that euer you saw earst belonging to the first king that raigned in this countrey named Tersio equall in soueraigntie of Fortitude and Wisedome strengthened by Art and skill wherewith he forged them and neuer were séene by any These I le send you by this damzell first swearing you shall not absent your selfe from this Kingdome without my leaue and in our Pallace shall you be cherished The amorous Lady spake so plainly as the Prince could perceiue Loues new wound There is none so destitute of iudgement but wold haue weighed what he obtained to be beloued of so faire a dame for if the Prince had euer séene pure bewtie she was the perfect stampe therof in whose creation Nature the olde Mars of liuing forme had shewed the vtmost of her skill modeling her liniaments more absolute then thought could wish Among so fewe yeares as they both had was neuer seene completer excellencies so he answered Who dares most soueraigne Lady shew himselfe so vngratefull to the fauours imparted by your rare bewty as to commit a fault so hainous to depart from you without your license I am so long since captiue to anothers wil as now to acknowledge it anew is no pain but rather chéefest happines knowing to whom I owe seruice Why then said she we may be gon
thy helpe and for this requested thy good will But for all I am denied all I wil till death persist in this my pure loue and hope for no remedie euermore cōplaining alike of my self as of thy most inhumane barbarous cueltie And therwith flung out of the chāber bathing her chéekes in water of her eyes Shee sent him by Selia some Iuncates of her owne making to refresh him with for she knew he had eaten nothing all that day She intreated him to be answerable to the Princesse loue though it were but fained for according to the gréefe that hath possest her I doubt she will not liue till morning and consider what by her death wil be imputed to you when you shall bee called the murtherer of so faire a Lady I would to God gentle Damzel said he it were in my power to redresse the Princesse griefe but you know being heretofore sworne anothers it is impossible I should pleasure her without committing the greatest fault that euer knight hath none I wil no more importune you said the damzell for I shuld think my selfe much iniuried with your disdaine how much then a Princesse so faire and honourable That is it replied the Gréeke which hinders me for should I do what she requires it were but to satisfie her will against mine which were the greatest wrong that might bee done her for hauing pawned my faith vnto another I cannot violate it to pleasure her The damzel returned to her Ladie leauing the Prince the most perplexed in the world séeing himselfe in place where he could not vse his valor Selia found the beauteous Eufronisa tumbling on her bed drowned in teares What sayest thou my deare Selia said she to her to the tyrannie wherewith that cruel knight doth vse me what meanes may I vse I my selfe know it not nor doo thinke there is any and to desist to loue him thou séest is impossible for neither my affection will permit nor am I able to let it Shee spied neare her the Crownes shée had wonne and with a sigh that séemed to end her life said Oh glorious rewards to increase my harmes you were the sole cause of my vnhappinesse Now that she thought the Gréeke to bee in bed not able to bee quiet shee went alone vnto his chamber whose sight made the Prince offer quickly to rise shee stayed him saying I le not haue thée vse me with any of these ceremonious courtesies nor is my comming for them thou cruellest knight that euer the heauens did create but onely do I come not to intreat of thée what thou shouldest of thy selfe procure hadst thou thy perfect iudgement saue to demand of thée two things for with either of them shal I receiue some comfort and beléeue me they bee not to thy preiudice for were they I would not require them Most woorthie Princesse I nothing more desire of Fortune answered he then to haue that occasion offered wherein I might indanger my life in your seruice and would to God by loosing it I might cure your woes then should you sée with what willingnesse I would cast it on a squadron of deaths darts therefore demaund faire Ladie what you will for I wil at the instant accomplish it beeing with the conditions you propounded Without them most cruell Knight said she who durst require any thing of thee séeing thy straungenesse and barbarous disdaine so extreame against me The first thing therefore that for me thou must do is to tell me who thou art and the Ladies name to whom thou hast rendred that fréely will of thine The second thing I le demaund this being knowne for séeing I must be disdained and forlorne I wil know whom I loue and for whom I am not loued Your excellencie sacred Princesse so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot thinke replied Rosabell why you wil know the thing that being knowne I am sure wil but augment your woes They cannot be greater then them I haue alreadie did she answere and therefore you must not breake with me vnlesse you wil be as disloyal as cruel I am content to do it said he though sure I am of your hate when you know me but that I may giue some ease vnto your gréefes I will kéepe promise Know therefore diuine Ladie I am Rosabel of Brittaine son to the Gréeke Prince Rosicle◠and his Princesse Oliuia espoused vnto Lyriana Princesse of Nyquea and he that in nothing wil take more felicitie then to procure your content But will you not excellent Princesse force mee beeing so inraged to breake that faith I vowed on her hands to be true Louer And now may you sée what reason mooued me to bee so obdurate finding that any remedie from me can but dishonour you And is it possible knight said she that you are sonne to the famous knight of Cupid whose woorthie déeds and loues haue with immortal fame filled all the world Wel had I no other cause but that you are sonne to such a father it were sufficient to make mee loue you till death I only intreat your leaue being alone opprest with these extream passions I may disburthen my cares by séeing the vnhappie Eufronisa is yours for so I shall receiue some rest Whereto he answered Most soueraigne Ladie Princesse of Sylepsia you sée what litle power is in me to graunt you that license for hauing no interest in my selfe I cannot without her will graunt any such thing Then saide shée tell mée where she kéepes for I le send to her for it So enuious hath fortune béene to my content that yet that I cannot say not knowing it because she rest her from my hands Well well replied the Ladie chopping her words in the middle and drowning them with teares because I aske I sée it is impossible I should knowe it least I might receiue some little comfort thereby And since the earth cannot affoord me any the second thing that you for me must do since you haue promised it and vowed by the faith of a knight is that with this dagger you bereaue me of my despised life séeing your sight gaue me so many deaths do not denie it for you haue promised it and if you do be sure I le trauell through the world proclaiming your disloyaltie And so she drew foorth a dagger from vnder her gowne and with manly courage she put it in his hands saying Through my breast hewe foorth a passage for my soule most cruell knight and yet I will not haue you make the wound vpon my heart least you should hurt your selfe modelde in the middest thereof The Gréeke tooke it so amazed that he knew not where he was But the resolute Ladie immediately discouered her brests the purest work that euer nature wroght Make an end thou fellon-stealer of my libertie to giue me som content by this expected death and stain with blood this constant obiect of thine eyes Oh rare force of loue faire Ladies whose power consisting on extreames makes all things
else séeme madnesse being compared to it Oh who would not be mooued séeing the Greeke holding the dagger in his hand sitting on his bedde yet ranging with his thoughts on Lyriana and the Ladie vrging him to hasten the deadly stroke Oh cruell inexecable knight said shee wilt thou yet in this torment me make an end at once with one swéete death to end the many I suffer Rosabell being the sole cause In not doing this most Princelesse Ladie I neither commit disloyaltie said the Prince nor breake my word for I le rather loose my life then spill yours So excéeding great was the gréef that suddainly surprised her that stopping her breath and benumming all her artires and vsuall powers she fell on the Gréekes brests The greatest proofe of constancie was this that euer knight was tried withall and had hee continued it no doubt but the example of it selfe had béene a sufficient memorating marble to record a déed so famous I do not wonder if he beganne something to yéeld and ioyne his face to hers fairer then Apollos halfe resolued to accomplish her request Ere he was fully determined which wanted but little shee recouered her selfe and séeing she was so vsed conceiued an vnhoped ioy féeling the heate of his chéekes on hers neuerthelesse with many sighes shee said How is it possible tell me knight thou shouldest still harbour such crueltie as suffer me to languish in such paine which thou mayest remedie by taking away the life I abhorre That thou wert cruel and inexorable farre more then Hyrcanian beasts poore haplesse Eufronisa knowes it long sithence by experience But that thou wantest loyaltie and faith to obserue thy word who can beléeue it of so mightie a Prince I do confesse faire Princesse answered he I do offend my selfe not doing it yet the offence is greater against both and woorthily I then deserue the title of a cruell homecide but that you may not longer complaine of me grant time till to morrow to be resolued in those extreames and then I will reply to your content It pleaseth me aunswered she although one daies stay will I feare kill me outright with this vehement and cruell griefe But I must suffer being borne to doo it and you disloyall and faithlesse knight consider well what you determine for séeing you haue denied me death these hands shall be guiltie of it in your sight when your preuention shall want spéede to stay my execution And thervpon she went away where had shee stayed and once againe vrged it no longer then that instant had béen ynough to answere for the Gréeke resembled his Grandfather in these affaires he had alreadie pondred the Ladies beautie and her woorthes in such sort that some of her distilling teares mollifying his obdured heart with such tendernesse that he forgot Lyriana His light vanished with her absence With many wishes hee desired the happie appointed night Little did he striue with his thoughts how to be resolued for ere she went away was the haughtie Brittaine in minde agréed With more rest stéepes Eufronisa then Rosabell Accidents be these ordered by the blinde God vnderstood of none but him although the soule suffers them and yet cannot he nor will conceiue by whose appoyntment it happens a iust reward for his disloyaltie since nothing should haue béene able to make him erre against his deare Lyriana that with such generositie receiued him for her espowse her Lord and husband The Ladie returned glad with the hope of her expected good to Selia and tolde her euerie thing that happened With some content they entertained the expectation of her ioy By chance and it was a happie chance the Ladie tooke one of the crowns that she had wonne in the Tent and set it on her head it was that which Belisa gaue her to comfort her in her distresse Hauing it on she séemed farre more beautifull and somewhat elder The vertue of the Crowne beganne his operation Selia was amazed and plucking her by the arme said Bee still Madame for sée the fairest aduenture in the world for this Crowne hath power to disguise the face and beléeue me you are not like Eufronisa Peace foole said the Ladie it is but Loues deuise and thy wittes conceits Then do not credit me replied Selia but the euidence wherewith I prooue it So she fetcht her a looking-glasse and setting it before her said Here Madame may you sée the Crownes effect She could not but laugh séeing her countenance altered and betwéene them both they iarred whether she so were fairest or not Then she remembred Belisas words in the Tent that there she should finde remedie in her greatest necessitie Shee could not imagine whose semblance she represented They would no longer deferre the knowledge of so happie businesse so hand in hand they went into a gallerie called the Ladies Treasurie because therein were the pictures of most in the world This was a curiositie the king for his pleasure had made Many they sawe most faire and they were those that in Grecia then flourished but passing further they perceiued their deceit finding Lyriana whose beautie she possest They read the title which tolde them she was Princesse of Nyquea to the greatest ioy that euer Eufronisa did conceiue Shee embraced Selia saying Oh my Selia the heauens now will take my part for knowe the Lady that hath captiuated this knight is she whom I represent hauing on this Crowne and by this deuise meane I nothing thanking him to fulfill my desire although he haue promised me an answere to morrow And if I can with this deceit I le craue no answere séeing it must come with so many paines and grones And sée my Selia how my suspition at the fountaine is verified that he was not him hee said for he is son vnto the famous knight of Cupid and betrothed to this Princesse and so I thinke I may stand excused for this my boldenesse Well knew she it that in the inchanted Tent tolde me that though therby I should obtain greatest good yet would it be intermixt with infinite troubles Ioyfully returned the two Ladies vnto their chamber expecting the next morne to deceiue him that was alreadie deceiued repenting him of the disdaine hee shewed The newe crowned Ladie entred his lodging to giue him the good time of the day The Gréeke had scarce séene her when falling in the deceipt he tooke her to bee Lyriana and with great tendernesse he ran to her saying May it be deare Ladie that in time of such sorrow you would be pleased to glad my heart with your presence How ill should I requite your loue deare Lord saide the mistaken Ladie if I did not procure your content being able as at this time and though I be with you yet none knowes of it The Gréeke Louer embraced her thinking he enioyed his Lyrianas companie which made Eufronisa most glad to sée the effect of the pleasant deceit What happened by this méeting is left to honest consideration Onely
in the sea for beléeue me they are the flower of Armes Two of them replied the Prince I can tell you of the one Bembo by name King of Achaya and Lord Generall of the Souldans Fléete the other is a most strong Pagan King of Mauritania and mortall enemie to the Gréekes The last yet séeming of a bigger constitution of composed members I knowe not sauing that it was he which in our companie proued Rosilias inchantment being he we met in the Forrest in battell against the Emperor my father But the time is long and we may end any particular combat for I no lesse desire it then you since I crost him on the seas when I defended your ladder In this conuersation they came vnto a cleare riuer of fresh bubbling water which inuited them to find out his spring to passe away the heate of the afternoone for the Sunne hauing progrest halfe his course had alreadie dried the moysture of the earth Within a while they found a faire Fountaine where they allighted both to wash their faces and take such repast as Pollisandros prouision affoorded Thus they droue away the time with some content for Claridiano for his vncles sake controwled his greefes when his Ladies remembrance troubled him So béeing desirous to take a nappe they parted a litle one from the other to sléep Short it was for the Musicke of a swéete voyce awaked them at once Wherevpon Claridiano said Haue you euer heard braue Knight more swéet harmonie Beléeue me we haue met with some good entertainment for he that sings in my opinion should liue by being in loue We may not leaue the enioying of so swéete a note So they rose togither and putting on their helmes tooke their shields and followed the sound they heard and then ceased They came vnto a little groue beset with loftie Pynes there saw they a shepheard of the fairest disposition in the world and so beautifull that his sight wold haue made him enuious that kept Admetus flockes He séemed to be very young holding a Recorder in his hand to whose sound tuning his voyce he sung his soules gréefe vnto those sencelesse trées Credit me Prince of Grecia said Claramant that some chance in Loue hath made him so disguise himselfe for although there be gallant shepheards about these and other fields yet this his tender behauiors showes he hath not béene brought vp to tend shéepe Let vs attend him replied Claridiano for hee himselfe will resolue this our doubt They néeded not much perswasion to make them listen for the swéetnesse wherewith he sounded his Instrument was sufficient to mooue as did the Thracian Poet his melodie which when he ended he warbled foorth this Elegie Great must needs be the greef extreme must needs be the torments Which I do feele while I want faire Polinarda thy sight Esteeming thy sweet presence my sole happines in life How may thy long absence but be a death to my heart On this staie yet I liue in thy disgrace that I liue not For then in endles plagues damned I were to perish Rather as one whose sincere Loue was kindly regarded On the highest heau'ns-spheare placed I was by thy hand Golden dayes were those But now dispoiled of all blisse Like sad Bellerophon ioyles I wander alone In darknesse I do straie missing thy Sunne to direct me My day to night turnde is my delite into laments Vexed thus though I am Complaine on thee yet I cannot Of thee Ladie diuine for loue I had loue againe Spightfull Fortune it is that of all ioyes hath me bereaued And with deadly malice crost me with heauy mishaps Distrest by Fortune yet neuer will I be daunted Maugre her and her force will I loue and be belou'd Enuious ill Fortune cannot compell me to dispaire When she hath her worst done then can I be but a wretch Then when I most am a wretch most cōstant shal be my hope then Which without her compasse firmly by faith I do keepe Her force will not I feare nor seeke for her helpe that I lou'd be Oh fayrest of fayres on thee alone I depend In presence was I lou'd and shal be I doubt not in absence Lady in whom vertue like to thy bewtie shineth Constant as comely Bur alas that I must like a Pilgrime Wander a whole age thus through regions so remote Kingdomes farre distant where I wish in vaine to behold thee Where new sprung dangers hourely delaie my returne From thy sight banished whose siluer rayes be so splendent That therewith dazled Cynthia hideth her head Expect yet do I still and that day daily do looke for In thy sweete presence once yet againe to reioyce Conuerting sadnesse to gladnesse sorrow to singing Rapte in blisse then I shall perpetually tryumph In meane time resting on this so sacred a comfort This thy want perforce with patience I do beare Till the raging tempest of Fortunes fury be ore-blow'n And I of all turmoyles shall haue a happie release No more could the two valiant Gréekes vnderstand for the vehement grones that burst from his soule togither with hart-breaking sighes drowned the verie sound of his words Now that he had thus giuen a litle passage to his griefes by publishing them vnto those loftie pynes that by bowing their spreading braunches séemed to pittie his distresse with a breathlesse Ay me he began his laments in this maner Oh Loue how extreamly hast thou executed the power of thy rygor on me Oh my tender yeres eclipsed in the budding of your spring with the nipping winter of sower griefe Iniustly hast thou made me an example of the happiest Louer that euer was neuer hauing against thy soueraintie so much as in thought offended nor yet in any thing gainsaid or contradicted thy awfull power Oh I acknowledge it and do confesse what happinesse is obtained submitting true dutie to thy commaund as to the sole deitie able to giue life or swéetest death and yet for all thou art long since assured with what submissiue humblenesse I haue obeyed thy behests and with patience endured thy crosses so dearely bought at the highest rate and price of my content it pleaseth thée when the soueraigne Goddesse of my soule would most fauour me to exile me her presence by such cruell meanes On me and my poore heart that neuer did offend thée hauest thou tyrannized with all inhumanitie winking and pardoning the Conspirators against thy rule What hast thou got by absenting me from her stampt in my liuing soule wherein wert thou offended when I beheld her presence were it not I feare to be accounted Traytor vnto thy Crowne and Principallitie I would call and proclaime thée ouer and besides that thou art cruell to be enuious and if not so that Iealousie plague of mortals and immortals to sée me loue and liue thereby and in recompence of so firme a faith to hope for the glorie of being againe beloued hath forced thée to make me in exile wander thus from that her
which is vnable to suffer any Competitor in my loue and hopes But I let it alone to sée to what end my slauish turkish habit would sort vnto Sometimes I beheld her which was no small redresse to my afflicted minde yet was it tempered séeing her disconted which pure loue made me thinke was for Agesilao So one day walking neare her chamber window I met with my friend the Prince Lysander Euen from his secret cabinet did my heart leape with his suddaine sight He stayed to looke on mee and séeing me attired like a Turke with a turbant on my head and the rest of my apparrell neate and cleane he demaunded whence I was I aunswered of Carthage and that by great good happe I had freed my selfe from Argiers bondage He intreated me I know not if through affection to become his seruant I agréede thereto onely againe to trie my fortune that way Thence wée went to the Pallace where hée acquainted his new seruitor with his Parents My Lady was present whose presence made euery ioynt vain tremble within me in their seueral motion yet now and then casting my eyes vnto the Sunne-shine of her beautie I drew strength from it to support my weake minde to make reply to their demaunds for séeing me so young in that no hayre yet budded in my face they comiferated the relation of my troubles imprisonments and slaueries yet this nothing gréeued me saide I for I cannot remember when I was mine owne and therefore supposing I was marked to no other fréedome I did till now patiently beare my slauish bondage as if I had béene borne thereto and I beléeue it will neuer bée otherwise my fortunes so continued it Gladly would I haue had my Lady vnderstood it so shee might not knowe me and with what affection I did vtter it as hee that so long since was wholly deuoted to her perfections There was none in all the Court but tooke liking in me especially my Lord Lysander that fauored me that night to take mee with him with swords bucklers and priuie coates secretly to walke abroad crossing the backside of a Gardâ—â— that leaded him to his Ladie Solesias lodging His kindnesse and familiaritie was a meanes that hee did not intreate mee as a seruant but as if he had knowne me making mee the Secretarie of his Loues the surest token of true amitie that may bee in this age I cannot otherwise beléeue but that Cupid now at length thought himselfe wronged séeing Pollinarda so rebellious and cruell towardes him and me So she that could not loue Florisiano Venus sonne with his almightie power forced to affect poore Iaroe which name I would not change for vnder that title Fortune had offered me in obtaining the grace of Troyla Princesse of Argier Quickly did Pollinarda expresse manifest tokens of her change demaunding me whether I néeded ought if yea my demaund should be the effect of my desire Neither was I able to answere nor did I euer make known Florisianos great necessities but rather perceiuing what she ment as one skilfull in the Art I séemed straunge and regardlesse of her offer to be more assured of her faith that after no occasion might frustrate our expects My straungenesse effected what I wished for by this Iaroes Loue had made her more solicit I doubted not thereof noting the wooing motions of her eyes Oh they be the swéete silent Ambassadors soliciting the soules want Many times would I set my selfe at a window to ruminate alone the felicitie of my state then would I say to my selfe Oh who might deale some of my abounding fauours with disconted Florisiano Oh Gods how enuious became the Prince of Apulia to sée Iaroe so beloued and himselfe vtterly abhorred Oftentimes recounting my many fauors I found them so infinit that I was contented to let the Prince share with Iaroes glorie and happinesse One night oh happie night among the rest did the Lady at full make knowne her vehement passions for I being by my maister commanded to watch till one of the clocke because wee should then walke abroad I got me in that season not farre from her chamber I thinke there was some false doore for when I was giuing thankes to Cupid for the benefits I receiued I heard some busling there I started somewhat amazed and looking what it might be I sawe her that now gouernes my heart appeare more fairer then Diana A siluer Candlestick with a Taper she held in her hand With cap in hand for she was my Empresse I ran to take it from her Oh loue to none but whom thou lists thou dost distribute thy fauors She plainly excellent knights shewed her selfe to be soly mine for wanting the power to mooue the Organs of her voyce yet her eyes firmely fixed on mine she would not let the candlesticke go Oh Loues swéete warre In faith Noble Sirs you would haue smiled to sée the bewtious Pollinarda by silence and dumme action confesse she did loue acknowledging his soueraigntie and her tributarie dutie to his deitie granting those fauours as hostage of her faith vnto his seruant Iaroe Oh do not suffer him most sacred Lady said I so much to offend that was onely created to adore you With this spéech she perceiued the fault she had committed whervpon with consent we set the Taper on the table while she replyed The imagination Iaroe thou mightest ill suspect of this my comming thus to visit thée hath bereft me of all strength and vnderstanding but that thou mayest knowe wherefore I come it is thus I must haue thée tell me thy proper name for I am sure thou hast some other This will I not be denied vowing to kéepe it secret that thou mayest receiue no harme therefore You may well thinke how I might stand confounded with her demaund aunswere I could not which made her more eager to know it Againe she vrged me that I was inforced to say I cannot conceiue diuine Princesse why you are importunate to know the thing that will most of all others gréeue you oh let me not be the cause to renew your sorrow for I will first be my own murtherer The amorous Dame replyed Did I imagine to receiue any I would not demaund it but doing so I assure you you shall not in any thing more content me then in that I aunswered her thus Well for all this I am sure faire Princesse the knowledge of my name will vexe you Wherefore I humbly intreate you to holde this dagger in your hand that ending my spéech you also end poore Iaroes life Know therefore soueraigne Pollinarda I was borne as I said in Carthage but am called Florisiano I chaÌ„ged it because I heard that in times past one of this name had excéedingly displeased you by sleying the Prince of Calabria wherefore séeing how hated that name was in this house I durst not come hither with it fearing to refresh therewith the memorie of passed gréefes Oh excéeding power of loue for though Syr
witnesse of the strongest and purest amitie that can be oh let the knight in yealow satisfie it with the like and with endlesse seruice perpetually to honor you And wonder not to sée me thus attired for the successes that haue me befallen makes me admire how I haue escaped with life I wil not because I cannot sufficiently expresse excellent knights the ioy those Princes conceiued with my sight They imbraced me as I were their brother yet had I bene so they could not haue done more They plainly had perceiued I was inamoured of Pollinarda since to such manifest hazard of my life I durst aduenture to come to the Court He so richly performed the part of a Noble Prince that knowing I desired to be concealed and not to be intreated otherwise then a seruant he also séemed content that I should affect his sister Much better did the faire Ladie take my part saying Beléeue me henceforth none but I wil sollicit Iaroes affaires which should haue no il successe séeing he refuseth his other name so wil I procure to redresse the most difficultest that we may liue contented She forgot it not the next day going to visit my Lady in her chamber where she found her troubled with many amourous doubts now misconstring of her fauours showne me then iudging it not sufficient to my deserts and her loue We departed thence ouercome with ioy and being in our Chamber and the Prince laide in bed I betooke me to a window that looked into the Garden to recount the fauours I receiued where in briefe I omitted none singing vnto the silent night the pleasure of my conceiued happinesse vnable to deuise what meanes I might choose to be knowne vnto the Princesse She was so farre in loue and therein so much out of quiet no Louer had euer any that she ouerheard my song and I thinke she gathered thereby her selfe had only the power to glad my sorrowfull soule And as the Infant Solesia came afterwards and began to talke of me she so well dealt for me speaking more then I deserued that she altogither made conquest of her heart for me insomuch that she had almost discored it For that time the Ladie would not presse her any more which if she had Pollinarda would of force explaind her great loue towards me That night which was the last of my content she came to heare Musicke and as I alwaies vsed I tooke my Lute and went to the window where not thinking because it was so late any had heard me I began to sing and openly to expresse the soueraigne ioy of my heart in this maner Oh who would thinke that Bondage could be Free That deep-hart-woundings could beget all gladnes That most accurst could the most happiest bee That that which all count griefe should kill all sadnes Let all men note these myracles in mee Whom Loue hath raised from the depth of badnes Vnto the highest of all high degree Euen then when nothing rul'd my soule but madnes Blest be the heauenly powre whose powerfull might Hath duld the keen edge of her iust disdaining And euer blessed be her noble spirit That heard with pittie my sad soules complaining Blest be the griefe of past afflictions night Sith it more sweete doth make my present gaining Blest be the Tyme that lent me first her sight But treble blest the Tyme of grace obtaining You markes of bondage too which did inuest Me in these blessings euer be you blest Longer had I made my song but that I heard a noise which not only made me leaue but also with some alteration to draw my weapons not thinking my lifes happinesse would séeke me at that houre With my sword in one hand and buckler in the other I awayted the successe when in the way accustomed I espied that soueraigne Ladie so excellent bewtifull that with her only sight I thought my selfe transported into the skies Smiling she came shewing the heauen of her face full of ioyfull hopes She first said thus Methinkes that straunge and irefull kinde of entertainment for her that soly procures thy content Oh what swéete words these be they that now féede me in this cruell absence and more she said thus And in faith I haue not conceiued small pleasure hearing thée sing expressing the secrets of thy amourous heart and for the great loue the Prince my brother beareth thée I wil indeuour if you tel me who your Ladie is to get your libertie that you may better attend her seruice With my soule full of gladnesse I replied It is the condition most soueraigne Ladie of all powerfull Loue to pardon none among which number he hath from the beginning so subdued my heart that I haue alwaies delighted to treate of his affaires with my selfe being most alone although the Ladie I adore and idolatrize be resolued neuer to fauour me I haue not dared euen from the spring of my loues to do more then sing the ioy my heart conceiues to account my selfe hers Where to she answered And is it possible thou art so cunning in dissembling thy affection Now by my troth wert thou to be my gallant thou shouldest not suffer so many torments And beléeue me there is neuer any thing lost by discouering to the Ladie the interior secrets of the heart and how she is beloued for otherwise thus to dissemble is rather occasion of further euil because it is likely nay it often happens that the Ladie may place her affection on some other and so thou loose that benefit through silence I haue alreadie set my chiefe happinesse therein did I reply most beawteous Ladie and therefore I cannot but bee silent and loue although I die Well hath my Ladie vnderstood what I require and how I loue for mine eyes sometimes forgetting their other motions repairing vnto the heauen of that bewtie for some fauour are credible Embassadors of the hearts intent That is not sufficient said she to make her resolue to loue beeing beloued for as touching your gazing that is so common and generall among all men that the Ladies may iudge it as an ordinarie thing not considering the owner of those gazing instruments doth honour and loue her and therefore it is an error to dissemble when the paine is estraunged If in recompence of the greatnesse thereof most sacred Ladie said I the author of the same should be discouered and she acquainted therewith none with more reason ought to do it then I for there can be none that hath indured so much nor any loued with such firmnesse If there be assurance thereof replied the Princesse I say thou doest wrong thy Ladie in not letting her know how she is beloued if it be with such truth as you publish And therfore because I haue this day heard I know not what of the Princesse Solesia thou shalt tell me what I demaund and on my faith none shall know it but whom thou wilt You haue no reason to binde me to any thing excellent Ladie
to intreate what by commaunding makes me happie in obedience I am called Brauorant sonne to that famous Bramarant which in Greece was deathes man to himselfe and Nephewe to that Campeon which lost his life by the hands of a Gréeke Prince although I cannot beléeue it and therefore haue I left my countrie of purpose to be reuenged on the Gréeks and the Mauritanian king whose land we now tread because hee tooke away my fathers armour and also I come to know the Prince Meridian whose vassaile I am and greatest friend in respect of the loue that he and the mightie Midinaro his Grandfather did beare vnto my kindred And this is all I can say praying the like not in regard of my relation but that I may know my Soueraigne bound thereto was the Ladie replying thus I greatly desire to knowe my stocke and whom I am that I might therein satisfie your content braue Brauorant and I assure you that the most I knowe is that I knowe not whom I am more then that a brother of mine and my selfe were brought vppe togither in a wood without other conuersation then of a wise man that did instruct vs in all vertues whom wee reputed our father till hee assured vs the contrarie and through the accidents befallen some haue tolde vs wee are the children of that so loued Prince Meridian More I knowe not I beléeue no lesse but that those which are the earths chief lights aunswered the amorous Scythian deriue their diuine discent from the heauens whence your sacred Grandfather procéeds As they were in this conuersation they sawe him comming whom they soght mounted on a mightie Courser he wore not then the armour of that Mars and mightie Bramarant kéeping them onely to weare in Grecia the more to despight her Princes The Ladie knewe him and tolde it the fierce Pagan that cried out for ioy saying This aduenture excellent Ladie admits comparison solely with that of your knowledge Now am I certaine of all good fortune since the heauens haue set before mine eyes with so smal toyle the thing I most desired He arose with angrie paces and called for his fierce horse The like did the Ladie lightly vawting into the saddle The Scythian was nothing enuious thereat for in lightnesse the Orientall nations affoorded not his péere and brandishing his lance made against the Mauritanian but what happeneth describeth the next Chapter CHAP. III. What befell vnto the mightie Bramorant with the warrelike Brufaldoro the most cruell battell betweene them and how they were parted by Floraliza SOme content may the angrie aspect of the two warrtours mooue that representing Mars either to the other approached The Mauritanian with his accustomed pride spake first saying What vnexpected motion of suddaine alteration knights hath my comming sturde in yée If you stand in any néede speake for in the vttering consists the remiede Of nothing haue we néede replied Campeons fierce Nephew for if any had wrongd vs we haue hands not to remit our remedie to others That which hath mooued this knight and my selfe with hastie paces to méete you is onely to know what cause the Mauritanian king had to take away the armes of that glorious Bramarant knowing how thereby he angred the Gréeke Princes yet no matter for this I séeke not their contents but thou shouldst imagine that a senne of his liuing greater was the wrong to take them since they were his right guiding thy selfe thereto more by insolencie then the dutie of a knight Neuer did the barbarous Sarazin nation know a more prouder Pagan then the king of Mauritania and supposing him like to others he had tried with a fearefull voyce hee replied What cowarde knight thinkest thou that méeting with those armes I would through feare leaue them although I did incense the heauens and anger euery one the earth contained Oh I wish I had them here to weare them in triumph of my valours victorie making the powers of heauen knowe to thy cost no terrene merits better deserues to weare them then Brufaldoro Milde in the beginning was the Scythian but being mooued to rage no Basseliske is like to him so roring like a bull and turning his horse casting his eyes vp to the skie said Is it possible that I liuing sole sonne to Bramarant should suffer this and that any other but he should threaten me permitting sithens thou haste his armour and detaines them not to procure them or loose my life in the enterprise So great was their rage that the one could neither prosecute his spéech nor the other make reply leauing to their handes what their tongues could not vtter Now would I here but I know not how I may againe implore your sacred helps admired Ladies of vnspotted purities but the importunate tōgue euermore tuned with this one vocal note dasht my thoghts in their expected hopes I dare oh I dare not presume least I should waken your slumbering displeasures they are woorse then then thousand wo-languishing deaths to pray the comfort of a smile the soules nourishment and hearts incourager to tread the difficultie of Dedalus inextricable laborinth or as Hercules to vndergo so many labors But being repulst in selfe conceit shall I flie to those chaste diuine Nimphs of that euerflowing fountaine of tongue inspiring musicke that some one not busied in the laies of loue would inchaunt my rusticke penne with a delicious method according to the two mightie warriours deserts They did refuse my plaints referring my Orizons to your desiding doom submitting their wils to your greater cōmanding powers whose fauours in my behalf they promised to solicit With trembling feare doo I once againe awaite your censures Oh in regard of their immaculate triple trinitie graunt it be it but vnder the couert of a fained smile whose obtained imagination swifter then the winde brought the sterne combattants to incounter with more noyse then Vulcans thunderboltes do rent the clowdie ayre amidst their furious passage or fiercer then the tempesteous waues raised by the vnbridled rage of a sea-oreturning whirlewinde beate on the flintie rockes yet was it nothing in respect of the horrour that these two rare in armes committed with their launces Of knottie Oake were they but arriuing at the brest brake as they were of weake cane or small reedes either past by the other without motion although the Moore at his turning about throgh the astonishment of the shocke lost his right stirrope Aloft with their swords raised togither they discharged them on their helms with more force then doth a waterie current descending from a stéepie hill breake through a riuers locke Venturous was the Mauritanians blowe for it lighted on the toppe of his plumed crest striking away all the stéeled circuite with part of the maled gorget on his shoulder praide the furious sword falling so heauily that he bowed belowe his horse necke On the shield did the fierce youth strike the Mauritanian it is no defence against the rigorous arme for the
in handling my affaires you make me your euerlasting friend I know not why I should not openly reueale my secrets to you though to my cost for it wil not discontent him who hath placed all felicitie so faithfully to loue And to this end it wil be good the Prince of Dacia should goe to the suspitious knights lodging that he may at large know what hereaway hath happened To morrow I wil send him one of my Damzels to shewe it him For it behoues the Gréeke Prince to returne to prison least he be mist Whereto the Dacian answered With whatsoeuer your soueraigne bewtie shall commaund will I rest most contented For here now we only wil procure yours although therein I hazard my life I hoped no lesse of such a knight said she for such as you in defending I receiue no wrong ought to shewe they be knights And hereupon they departed appointing that with his Page and Dwarffe he should go to the groue of Louers whither they would aduise him by Fausta the next day what shall be done and surely making the doore fast she tooke the Gréeke Prince by the hand saying I am sorie renowned Prince to haue put you in so many daungers in my behalfe but I trust in the diuine powers I shall one day shewe my selfe not vngratefull he answered Small is not the wrong I receiue by those words your soueraigne beautie being assured that if I haue or shall haue any content it is onely to procure yours and beléeue me of little desert is the hazard of my life in so necessarie daunger and so much the more knowing that in Venus seruice any perill is a pastime I le suffer my self to be flattered herein said she that my beautie hath obtained so good credit And because I thinke it is reason you returne to the Tower heere put off your armour for these will I kéepe with me to put me in remēbrance how much I am indebted to their Maister With such grace she disarmed him that she disgraced Cynthia in her pride though then she séemed more faire then when shee visited Endymion Hee tooke his leaue of the Ladie and going through the Caue they mounted the staires where in his chamber hee found his trustie Polisandro with the discréet Fausta that expected him with some feare of his long tarrying although they had not gréeued had he a little longer stayed for the damzels wittie chat had attracted the Pages affection and were they wise they had not deferde the execution of their desires since so good opportunitie the Gréeke had giuen them with his absence Galtenor doth not expresse it onely saith that when the Prince of Croacia went to ayde Greece and carried Venus and Fausta with him that she séeing Polisandro there knighted was contented to bee made a Ladie a manifest token for any suspected minde to thinke they had contracted it From thence went the damzell accompanied with Polisandro to Venus chamber and returned to the Prince closed the Caue after him of whom he vnderstood the Dacian was the knight that helpt him Who being out of the garden mounted on his swift Tirio and alighted in the Forrest he was appoynted whither he was directed as one that well knew it by the dwarffe that with him and his Page in pleasant chat past away most part of the night glad to haue occasion wherein he might helpe his cousin So the time to take some rest being come he stept aside from them and lying along the gréen grasse with his head on his helme he slept the greatest part of the night and taking his shield straight went towards that place and comming to a spacious plaine at the farther end thereof he could discerne some shepheards that attended their flockes They were talking of their common-wealth affaires entermingling them with matters of Loue. The haughtie Dacian arriued and assuring them from the feare they conceiued by his comming said Feare not gentle shepheards for my comming is not to discontent you saue onely throughly to heare your discourses of amorous cares One of them that séemed to commaund the rest aunswered Wee very much estéeme sir Knight of the good opinion you haue of the Esclauonian shepheards and beléeue me there is no reason to conceiue the contrarie especially of those that féede their flockes in the groue of Louers for here with most efficacie doth Loue manifest his power vnto vs because true loue should neuer bee wanting from among these spreading mirtles on whose leaues and growing barkes is the life of those Louers written to incourage him that languisheth séeing what they suffered whose deathes with their names named this Groue Great occasion gallant shepheards hath the hearing of this Groue béene replied the Dacian to bring me hither from my farre remoted countrie to knowe the aduenture thereof The shepheards did rest affected to him séeing his behauiour and some more precisely noting him hauing that day béene in the Cittie knew him to bee one of the Knights that had with such honour ended the battell so made aunswere To no place sir knight could you haue come to haue more truer information of the thing you desire then this for beeing so long since we haue kept our flockes heerein we haue learned of our elders why this valley is called of the Louers Whereto the Dacian saide Why then should I impute it a fauor if it bee no trouble to relate it me wherein you shall perpetually binde me In much more then this replied the discréet shepheard desire we to content yon for your déeds this day done in Alantho deserue farre much more So sat he downe among them where the shepheard began his storie in this manner When here arriued the Author and builder of this great Cittie and first King of this countrie there inhabited on the highest toppe of this mountaine a people whose quiet and pleasing dwelling through their excellent gouernment and care brought it to bee the gallantest most pleasantest Town in althis kingdom Lord of this soyle was a knight Celio by name the valiantest and of rarest constitution then knowne in all the vniuerse insomuch that he was called the Oracle of his age He had two brothers the second named Alcyno and the third Larsinio they had a sister yonger then thēselues but elder in beautie which was such that frō many places strangers came only to sée her perfeéeions on whom some lost their liues at the very first sight This Ladie called Laissa their Parents did consecrate to this Groue dedicated to Diana to administer to her rites in companie of her other vowesses they brought her there so young and she so much delighted in that solitude giuing her selfe solely to hunt that shee became so excéedingly obliuious of her Parents and kindred that she procured by all meanes possible to occult her selfe from them and all humane creatures it was easie to be done by reason of the thicknesse and intricate passages of the same which was no little ioy
his life since you attribute to me what onely is due with such right to this Ladies beautie in whose deliuerance the ending of this aduenture was nothing Readie to burst with anger stood Lindauro séeing with what kindnesse Venus spake to that knight which made him suspect his ending the aduenture and what he had done in the place had mooued her to affection He could no longer indure it but called him saying Come sir Knight and relate vnto the King what befell you with the Louers for we shall all reioyce to heare it From the Ladies he went leauing the Persian with them betwéen whom they admitted him for which place Phoebus had exchanged his throne celestiall Venus while Don Eleno discoursed with the kings demaunded of him in this manner Sir knight quietly and without grudge if you will enioy so great a fauour as this you must tell vs your name raising your beauer and this small satisfaction shall satisfie so high a benefit The Persian replied I had ere this done it sacred Princesse without demaunde but I feared to displease thereby the knight in russet for although hée hath not knowne me I could not haue met with better hap then him in this countrie and if he bee here knowne I will declare my name else I beséech your excellencie do not commaund it me I onely am she of all this kingdome containes said Venus that knowes him and he not a little ioyed discouered himselfe to me and so without feare may you tell me yours for this Ladie and my selfe excepted none shall euer knowe it To satisfie your content excellent Ladie answered he I le no longer conceale it I am Bransiniano Prince of Babylon and Persia the greatest friend the Gréekes haue by reason my father was brought vp in company of the Emperour Alphebo and I in Claridianos in whose demaund I wander as this knight is his so neare kinsman I cannot but affect him and had I not this reason yet his valour bindes me to his loue and raising his vizor shewed his faire face saying Because you shall be assured diuine Ladies how much I desire your seruice I haue discouered all that of my selfe I can I do highly estéeme braue Prince replied Venus the account you haue giuen me of your stocke and because I will not long be your debtor for the same I will giue you newes of that Gréeke you séeke who in this Pallace is prisoner vnknowne to any what he is saue to the Prince of Dacia and me who shall at large acquaint you with the cause which is not lawfull any other should know and so I intreate your soueraigne beautie my deare Laissa to conceale it So eleuated in contemplations of her new amorous thoghts was the Lady that neither it nor what else was talked of did she marke for of none did euer loue with more power take possession willingly making her submit séeing how great a Prince he was She replied not to the purpose saying I greatly desire excellent Princesse that since your knight hath recounted to them their demaundes he doo it heere to vs. Venus knew not to what end shee so replied but being wittie quickly conceiued what might be the reason so dissembling it said There is no reason but we should bee satisfied herein So calling their Damzell Fausta sent her in their behalfe to Don Eleno But they could not end to giue her her charge by reason of a suddaine tumult that arose where the king was The Persian hearing it stood vp and closing his beuer taking leaue of the Ladies went towards the Dacian at what time somewhat mooued hee thus beganne Gladly most mightie king of Esclauonia would I haue deferde vntill some other occasion what I will now say because I would not disturbe this present ioy But so great is the necessitie I haue to depart that it forceth me to beseech thee in respect of the iustice thou haste alwaies maintained thou wouldest be pleased to giue me the prisoners whose libertie cost me so much blood and my companion much more whose words haue not suffered him to come with me although he requested me I should on his behalfe intreate so much of his Maiestie since as it séemed you rested content wee should about their discharge vndertake the battell Consider it well and answere me straight for I will immediately depart publishing the iniustice I haue in thy Court receiued through all the world Here he ended doing his dutie Well said the king he had reason but he was so subborned by the Prince Lindauro that to please him he chose rather to reiect it answering I know braue knight you haue reason to demaunde these prisoners but séeing they slew such great Princes whose kindred crying out for iustice forceth me to detaine them To this saide Lindaura your Maiestie doth wrong your royall Crowne and seat by so many waies and in so many respects to giue this knight so many satisfactions of what with great right and iustice is done These words so inraged the Dacian that hee was almost resolued to strike him but hee staied himselfe not willing to raise the whole Hall vppon him so hée replied It better would beséem thée Prince of Siconia to make known thy valour defending thy owne iustice with thy proper person by honourable meanes and not by so infamous a manner And that thou maist know what wrong is done me I here alone challenge the fight against two knights whom thou shalt appoynt about this matter or if thou wilt like a good knight accept my gage I defie thée person to person giuing thée aduantage for the combat that thou mayest sée and know my iustice I will combat on foote in armour without weapons as sword dagger and launce and thou shalt take the fielde and haue thy choise in armes So great was the aduantage that it was able to turne a tender Lambe vnto a fierce Lyon and not regarding his honour hee did accept it presently from which the king could not disswade him None in the Hall except the Babylonian Prince but iudged the knights challenge to procéed of meere madnesse Don Eleno as he had done nothing demaunded the battell to be straight first requiring the prisoners to be brought in field Who were straight aduertised thereof The Gréeke was nothing astonished thereat well knowing the fury of his vncle The prisoners surely guarded were conducted to a Scaffold of purpose made for such matters They gréeted one another as their affection did deserue with ioy hoping for the good successe of the battel For Pollidolpho knowing the Challenger doubted not of victory On foote did the Dacian enter the fielde without any weapon which the Prince of Persia carried and his page ledde his horse to giue it The Combat ended with a leape did the furious gallant take the Lists compassing it about with such quicke paces as he were mounted Then stood he still gladly gazing how the Citie did vnpeople it selfe to sée the Combat The Ladies
hauing taken so vniust reuenge guiding thy selfe thereto by a blinde selfe voluntarie passion and not by royal wise and discréet reason And least thou shouldest hereafter pretend ignorance knowe thou haste iniuried such Princes that will straightly call thée to strickt account of all these wrongs Of whence or what you be and of your pride and insolencie we néede not care to know said the king for it manifestly appeares in your last committed faults And that you may sée how little I respect your haughtie menaces I commaund you on paine of death to depart my kingdome within these foure daies if not I le séek till the death pursue you with an hoste of armed men Before this had wee determined our departure replied Pollidolpho abhorring longer to abide in Court whose king so little doth respect true iustice and so do I hope to sée the time thou shalt thy selfe confesse the euil committed to be ruled by the opinion of self passionate men whom fortune hath rewarded according to their malicious intent Plainly vnderstood Lindaura it was ment by him but vrgent necessitie was betwéene them that he durst not speake They departed from the king leauing him readie to burst with rage and Lindaura in the same manner that had no other comfort but to thinke his estate sufficient to warre against the whole world He required since all matters were quietted to be married to the Princesse Venus The Father could not denie it being pleased therewith nor the Lady might not recall her word giuen to obey him although she deferred the day alleadging she and her damzels were working certaine things against that time which forced her to deferre it eight or tenne daies for séeing they were assured of her graunt that terme was little Her father reioyced and much more the dishonoured Louer of Liconia to sée that for all his troubles and vnhappie chances he obtained his Venus Who altogither of a contrary desire sought meanes how to aduertise the Prince and to conferre with them of her resolution The Gréeke well knew it who being without the Cittie taking some rest at the fountaine although it was some to be at libertie and in the company of such friends as those on whom for their valors a greater matter then that and difficulter might be reposed He expressed his determination thus So great is my soules ioy mightie Princes of Dacia and Babylon that my tongue cannot expresse it in that it pleased the reuoluing Mistresse of vnconstant time to order your commings hither for otherwise what the Prince of Grecia promised without your handes had béene impossible for him to atchiue Before the king imprisoned mee my helpe was craued by his daughter against the force her father would commit to match her with a husband she disliked to whom I offered my person so did this warlike Prince of Croatia louing as her beautie doth deserue no lesse the faire Venus and of himselfe he made her sole Empresse I well perceieud it presuming more then my strength could beare promising to set her in his handes in despight of the Syconian Sophy to whom she is assured by the king because hée is so great a Lord. In prison talking with her and telling her my opinion she altogither yéelded thereto and that shee would in nothing contradict me So must I now go to her presence and resolue her of my intent that according to our time limitted wee may vse the most conuenientest remedie I do therefore intreate your aduise and counsell in these waightie affaires The Dacian thus replied I knowe none here excellent Prince that will deny his ayde vnto so mightie a Lord as the Prince of Croatia and therefore there is no reason but we all hazard our liues to woorke his content and moreouer it behooues me to take from hence the bewteous Laissa for hauing bought her libertie at so beare a rate I wil not leaue her in a straungers power for I intende to intreate the Prince of Persia to carry her vnto his Empire til I otherwise doo purpose and the company of so braue a Lady will be gréeuous to none And since we be héere togither I I am of opinion that the Prince of Greece goe to night to knowe the Ladies resolution and against when they will bee readie to depart thence Whereto the Croatian Lord thus said I cannot most excellent Warriours and soueraigne Princes protest nor binde my selfe to more then I haue alreadie only this I can within two dayes haue heere twelue thousande men that expect my comming to the sea that til I commaund them the contrary wil not depart from thence And within the Citie I haue fiftie knights and two Gyants to helpe vs if we shall néede their aide And we may safely vnséene go to our lodging in the Citie and there order our businesse Euery one was glad that the Prince was so well prouided and lest longer delaie should prooue more harmefull they straight mounted and tooke their way backe towards the Citie They entred vnto their lodging vnséene of any through the obscuritie of the night From thence they sent two of the chiefest of the fiftie knights to poste to the Sea side to commaund the Captaines and Leaders of the souldiers that euery Commaunder should leade the most and best of their charge vnto the Valley of the Louers and that the rest should be in vigilant readinesse guarding the Gallies The knights obeyed most willingly as they that intirely loued their Prince being also of his subiects so affected The Gréeke Prince leauing them onely with his sword and the strong priuie Coate that Venus gaue him he left his Chamber taking the next way to the Garden which was the place he thought to meete the Lady at which indéed was so For accompanied with Fausta and Laissa whom she had made partaker of her Loues and also how she estéemed the Persian Prince were both determined to go with them being assured what great Princes they were if that meanes might debarre that vniust marriage Claridiano comming to the doore gaue his signall which Fausta knowing opened saying In faith sir knight I now sée you cannot but be happie in your owne Loues being so carefull of anothers The Prince thereto answered This is my vnhappinesse to sée by experience anothers faith well guerdoned and liue my selfe in the greatest dispaire that euer knight in the world did It may be answered said she you are onely euil conditioned for by all your other parts you deserue the wide worlds admiration That is not so much said the gallant Prince as my misfortune is great that guides it this way Well leaue we this replied she and go we where my Lady and the faire Laissa doo expect you and haue patience for this is but the touchstone whereon the Ladie by true proofe makes triall of the Louer By this came the two Ladies fairer then Apollo and Venus stepping foorth said I did so greatly feare dispairing knight that séeing your selfe at libertie
and states vnto vs. To which Archisilora replied In more then this soueraigne Quéen doth this Knight and my selfe desire to fulfill your will This Knight poynting at Floraliza is called the Knight of Hope and my selfe of the burning flames of Loue we came togither and therefore know wee not him to whom we are all so much indebted Yet more then this must you do at our intreaties said the beautious Rosaluira and for my sake vnlace your helmes vnlesse you will cancell the bonds of my indebted loue There is none but trembles at that word diuine Ladie and feares it will bee so aunswered the Qeéene and therefore for so much as it toucheth me I wil loose no fauor I may therby reap Who shall dare do otherwise said Floraliza excéeding ioyfull thereat thinking she spake with her Tynacrian At once they put off their helms and being somewhat heated by the battell there is no beautie comparable to the two Ladies Oh Prince of Assyria oh thou hast a heart of stéele to resist this blowe Many daies it was since hee sawe her yet presently he acknowledged her to bee the soueraigne of his soule Haue patience magnanimous Louer for gainst loues accidents there is no better shield So like was the Qu. of Lyra vnto the Prince Polliphebo that Garrofileo assuredly thought shee had her sonne before her she leapt out of the Chariot with an extazie of ioy and embracing the Quéene said Oh my deare son Polliphebo may it bee thou shouldest thus long be absent and not aduertise me of thy aduentures and happie successes crueltie more then inhumane it hath béen and were you not son to such a father I could not beléeue it of any but knowing whose you be I am assured of your naturall crueltie which makes mee resemble your tyrannous father The Quéen did straight perceiue Garrosileas deceit and by her words confirmed the report blazoned of her rigors she told her of it who she was which not a little admired the beholders and also when they knew her companion to be a Ladie a newe the Quéen imbraced them saying Pardon soueraigne Ladie my bolde intreatie for iudging you to bée the Prince Polliphebo my sonne hath made me commit this fault There hath béene none vnlesse intended mightie Quéene replied Archisilora but rather it is a fauour exéeding mercie which I thereby receiued By this the faithfull Earle of Modica was arriued with aboue thrée hundreth Knights and the Ladies vnwilling to be stayed craued leaue to depart You will not I am sure so wrong vs saide the Queene as to leaue vs absent of your company We can do no otherwise imperious Dame said Floraliza for the good successe of the aduenture this Lady and I haue in hand consisteth in briefe expedition If it be so heroicke Ladies and least you should loose that happie successe I am content to loose the great content I should reape by your conuersation wherevppon they kindly embraced and departed leauing in Tynacria eternal memorie of their beautie and brauery And whilest Lindariano made his excuse crauing pardon for his stay the beauteous Floraliza thus spake vnto Don Clarisell Pardon mée sir Knight for not doing this before but let our lawfull and vnauoyded businesse bee our sufficient excuse although it néeds not be giuen to him that may be assured all happie content is wisht him Words were these that gaue new life vnto the Louer nourishing it many yeares with these words The Prince taking her by the hand saide You haue done mee mightie wrong most sacred Lady to intreat him with these wordes that onely desires to liue perpetually at your obedience The Lady drewe away her hands not suffering him to kisse them but casting her armes about his neck said He that hath shewed his to be so worthie heroicke Knight is iniuried to haue mine but his rather are to be requested for that sacrifice And inquiring for Forsiana and Don Argante of Phenicia for they all loued one another like brothers she tooke her leaue of him refusing his companle which with his soule he offered alleadging how it behooued them to go alone And as one that with admiration gazeth on the splendor of the heauenly Sunne with his radiant beames illuminating the earth and on a suddaine sées it dasht with mystie vapors of a blacke clowde wherewith his light being obscured blinds and bereaues the poore beholders of his contented sight Euen so thought the Princely Louer he was left though glad to sée how gently his gentle Lady intreated him Towardes the sea did the Ladies take their iourney where they found two Barkes without any to guide them It was admirable for so soone as the Quéene entred in the one to helpe the Lady in so swift flies not the arrow loosed from a stéele bow as of it selfe it lancht into the déepe In a minute it vanisht out of sight leauing faire Floraliza so extreame sorrie that she was about to fling her selfe into the sea considering what she had lost What content canst thou hereafter hope for poore Ladie said the afflicted Dame being robbed of that good the heauens had imparted thée with her companie What mayest thou account happie hauing lost her swéete comfortable conuersation Oh fortune wouldst thou but waigh how little strength I haue left mee by thy inconstant changes thou wouldst among so many infortunate happes mingle one fained pleasure She shipt her horse in the other barke and waighing the anchors that held it to the shore lying along vpon the hatches of the same shée committed his gouernment to Neptunes mercie Yet it was not so ill looked too but the enuious Lupercio had taken charge of it who by all possible meanes assembled all the mightiest knights in the Hauen of Nyquea to transport them thence vnto the maruellous Tower for he had alreadie knowne there should bee a knight would win Theseus armor and his battell-axe wherewith the inchauntment should be ended and knowing he was an enemie procured to get and bring these so valiant Knights on his side and therefore did he guide Floralizas Barke who on the fourth day of her Nauigation met with her brother Don Cellindo with whom she fought a most cruell combat which for breuity is not recited but being known for her brother he entred into her Bark and were directed towards Nyquea méeting continually all their voyage on the seas infinit Galleis and shippes as well Christians as Pagans where beeing arriued wee must leaue them a while to remember Rosabell whom we haue long wronged with forgetfulnesse CHAP. X. What happened to the most valiant Rosobell departed from Grecia in the company of a Ladie WIth some gréefe of minde faire Ladies left wee Rosabell to sée himselfe absent from the swéete company of his deare Oristoldo and armourlesse with the Damzell was he shipt in the doubtfull Seas yet knew not whither some comfort was it to him séeing hee had not all his armes to haue the sword that erst belonged to Hector
He inquired of the Damzell the cause why with such spéede shee hasted his departure For none other sir knight replied the Damzell but to see one of the fairest Ladies in the greatest daunger in the world and knowing that onely in your presence rests her remedie and in the least delay the greatest death that euer befell to any is sure on her For know most valiant Knight that in the kingdome of Tentoria there is a Lady no lesse beautifull then adorned with all good quallities and graces of the minde Shee was and is beloued of all her subiects because they know that chastitie beautie holds in her one equall degrée of soueraigntie Through the onely fame of her perfections with her the mightie Dardario fell in loue who was said to be the valiantest Gyant in the vniuerse Hee with a puissant hoast came vnto her land though peaceably with him hee brought a sonne vnknighted for his yeares did not allow it who became farre mightier then his father He sent his Ambassadors to our Quéene to let her know of his comming and demaund which was to marrie her A thousand times was my Lady about to stay her selfe to auoyde a match so vnequall She called a Councell of her Nobilitie who resolued to withstand him with fierce warre by reason there were many valiant knights that would loose their liues to defend their Quéen and countries safetie for although they sawe the Gyant come with signes of peace yet doubttng the woorst had gathered a great armie of men because they would not be suddainly surprised There were many voyces among them that the Quéen should marrie him being Lord of al the Isles in the Adriaticke Sea But in the ende most part agréed they should rather die with honour in fielde then for feare suffer such a marriage Eight daies respite had the Gyants giuen them for their aunswere In which time the beauteous Syrinda commending her affaires vnto the Gods and her wit she resolued on the greatest déed that euer Ladie did imagine Shee acquainted it with her Captaines and Councell of warre which are the shiefest Lords in her land and this it was That she would séeme to consent to his desire and that she durst vndertake in the night of her wedding day to giue the Gyants head vnto her Knights who should be in readinesse to issue vpon their enemies whose vanquishment would be easie being with the Feasts carelesse and vnarmed Almost all the Councell approoued my Ladies deuise and praying the immortall Gods to giue her good successe therein they aduertised the Gyants thereof that with extreame ioy was almost besides himselfe All his subiects laying by their armes with gallant shewes welcommed her answere Two daies after the proude Dardaria entred the Cittie with his soonne Abstrusio whom hee begot on a strong Gyantesse and so issued like his Parents He onely carried his bigge Cemitor at his side accōpanied with two Knights richly adorned and himself in robes of inestimable valor with a triple crowne on his head woorth a kingdome with Princely brauerie was he entertained by the dissembling Syrinda whom the fierce pagan imbraced with the greatest content in the world thinking himselfe in heauen séeing the Ladies excéeding beautie who with a thousand fained loue toyes inueigled the disarmed Gyant The desired night being come which was eternall to the Pagan and supper ended hee was most sumptuously brought to his bedde where the Lady faining some modest shame to be séene naked so long deferred her going to bedde that the force of the many meates and wine forced him into a sound sléepe Hee neuer more awaked for the Lady seeing her aduantage drew foorth a sharpe two edged Dagger which she thrice stabbed in his brutish breast pearcing his heart therewith Now that the couragious Dame was assured of his death she brauely cut off his head and presently gaue it to those knights shée had appoynted to expect it They tooke it extreamely ouerioyed and conueyed the Quéene and Ladies out of the Pallace for feare of some danger that might happen the next day With great desire they expected his comming whereon scarce had the Sunne sent foorth his messengers of morne when an alarme was sounded through all the Citie they of the Campe without thinking it was in honour of the Nuptialls replyed with all their millitary Instruments In an instant were aboue fiftie thousand men Armed whereof fiue thousand assaulted the Pallace leauing none aliue that with Dardario came except his haughtie sonne that hearing the noyse ranne foorth with one of the bedde postes making such pittiful slaughter that none durst assault him He got some weapons of those that were slaine wherewith his déeds are incredible But being alone and by so many thousands assaulted his death was certaine which the sturdie youth perceiuing got vnto the Camp where being come he found it so disordered and so many sayle and the rest so affrighted that he could scant méete with any that might tell him the cause of so great euil in the ende hee came to knowe it with such great griefe as he was about to kil himselfe his fathers Armour he put on and the first he met guirded him his sword The fury that possest the youth when he sawe his fathers head pearched on a pole vppon the highest Turret of the Citie cannot most valiant Knight be credited Hée went foorth into the fielde roaring like a Bull and killing without mercy but his force was to small purpose for all his Army was discomfited and the Quéenes subiects behaued themselues so well that ere the day was halfe spent they had put the better thrée parts of their foes to the sword and gaue chase to the rest euen to their shippes wherein sore wounded as many as could imbarke themselues and among them the mightie Abstrutio purposing with newe powers to returne and with fire and sword to destroy our kingdome In his he arriued where his intent he presently put in execution not without griefe to sée that of fortie thousande men his father had carried with him he had returned backe againe scarce fiue thousand The Paganne spoyles left all our lande excéeding rich and our Quéene with the greatest Honour that euer Lady obtained Notwithstanding the great tryumphes made for so happie victorie yet would they not liue carelesse of their safetie but euery day mustred trained their souldiers and strengthning all their garrisons with the best men in the land because they would not loose what was obtained for want of diissipline béeing assured the sonne would come to reuenge the fathers death whose body was cast out for foode vnto the byrdes and beasts But now Magnanimious Knight returning to our purpose the murthered Gyant had in his owne Pallace my Ladies liuely counterfeite which he had caused to be made when hee first became enamoured of her This being left at home came to his sonnes hands which daily frequenting and the helpe of his tender yeares with continuall consideration
departing from his sister in Greece glad in his soule to sée her so well bestowed trauelled to séeke aduentures through the world performing many braue déeds vnder the name of the knight of the Griffon all which are at large set downe in the Chronicles Lupercio writ of all the Pagans acts Galtenor doth not here mention them because they appertained not vnto the storie he composed So now was the frée Pagan ouerhearing the Gréekes complaints he was not mooued at thē for he had not yet yéelded his libertie to loue A while he stayed thinking the cōplaint would further procéed It fell out as hee would haue it for hee vttered many pittifull exclaimes afore Auroras shining in the heauens yet could he not by them iudge who he was more then the constancie he publisht of his Loue who was so carefull to go vnto the Cittie that in the instant he put on the rich armour Eufronisa had sent him Such were they as appertained to a nouell knight all white bur garnisht with many flowers of precious Rubies They greatly pleased him being of the best in the world as also because with such of like colours he departed from Nyquea and combatted with his father His shield was like his armour in middle thereof bearing the picture of Faith held by a white hand which for all that two Serpents with their stinges did pricke would not loosen it The word this Loues greefes the longer Holds Faith the stronger Though orepressed still my selfe Clad in these faire armes and mounted on a lustie Courser did Trebatios haughtie Nephew pace on towards the famous cittie glad to sée it with so many Danubious streames which made it one of the fertilests soyles in the world The same way did he spye the valiant Astorildo in faire gréene armour full of Pomegranates and on his shielde a fearfull Griffon Wonders had Rosabell heard of him reioycing to sée him of such braue disposition so did he admire the Gréeke supposing he was him that in the Forrest he had heard complaine hee gazed on him a while iudging his behauiour to excel his that in Grecia had ouerthrown him Hauing each met with the other they extended such courtesie as they iudged eithers merits to deserue The Callidonian spake first in that countrie language saying I would gladly knowe sir knight who you are for it séemeth to mee I haue séene you farre from hence In the same tongue replyed the Gréeke beeing well skild in most I am sir knight of such remoted countrie that though I should tell my name you could not knowe me notwithstanding through those places I haue trauelled and where I am best knowne I am called the Knight of the Flowers beeing by stormes and fortune of the seas cast on this land where I vnderstood there is in the Kings Court a certaine aduenture arriued very lately which ere I did depart I was willing to know and prooue it hazarding but little thereby being on Ladies behalfes whose seruice brings with it a reward for any paine how great soeuer although it should be thought none done in a Ladies name There is reason replied the Callidonian to procure their content with perill of our liues but this must be with assurance of reward Whereto the Gréeke answered Then deserues he not to bee beloued that doth it for reward Neuer sir knight was that loue famous whereto a recompence was proposed which must by deserued loue be obtained for as loue is the motion of a noble act for which all good is desired to the thing loued so doth not hee merit that honoured title that séekes it for any other thing vnlesse it bee to let the world admire the rarenesse of his quallities not inclining to the other which rather is a price prefixt for loue dishonouring the reputation of the Louer and disableth his worthes through the hopes of that guerdon which otherwise might make him most happie And well it séemes you knowe not what it is to bee anothers alleadging such an irronious opinion condemned of all that knowe what happinesse it is happily to loue which makes me smyle to thinke how safe the Tent is from you for being to be giuen to louers your libertie excludes you from that priuiledge which by being one you haue obtained I would not haue you so rashly iudge by what you knowe not replied the Pagan for you may be deceiued How should I be said the Gréeke hearing you so plainly vrge your libertie Nay then returned the Callidonian that you may know the vnaduisednesse of your iudgement I say none shall prooue it vnlesse he first prooue mee vpon the spéeches wee haue vrged for who the diuell hath euer loued without hope of something That hope answered Rosabell somewhat mooued the Louer must not haue but leaue it in the Ladies dispose for it is shee must consider the merits of that faith wherewith shee sées shee is adored and according to those deserts and her bountie she yéeldes the due reward And I am sorrie wee should with new brawles enter into the Pallace and I beeing first aduertised of the aduenture the first triall ought to bee mine And so about both matters hauing now opportunitie let our battell be with this condition least we want time for the aduentures promised that hee which forgoeth first his saddle shall not sée the aduenture vnlesse he be commaunded by the conqueror Nothing doth better please me said Astorildo that you may know your error by your loue So these two famous warriours turned their horses brauely confronting each other More horror makes not the furious waues beating on the stonie rockes then they by their incounters The Pagan was one of the greatest that the Gréeke had receiued for it cast him backwards on his horse with losse of both stirrops but the Pagan chaunced woorse for Mars on horsebacke equalled not the Prince that met him so strongly that fetching him cleane from his saddle he fel on his féete Recouer he would his seate before the Gréek returned hauing the bridle in his hand but the horse starting at his offer mounted aloft and put him from it that the Gréeke when hée turned sawe him on the ground where hee required the combat with the sword We should so stay ouerlong said the Greeke for fear therof made me condition thus but we shall haue time ere you depart this land to do it the which I promise to performe bee it but to disswade you from your heresie And that you may beginne to credit me I am content you first prooue the aduenture so shall you sée what aduantage you should haue not hauing this opinion which your libertie makes you maintaine Otherwise could not the Pagan do for noted he would not be of discourtesie so he promised to accomplish it and mounting againe like two great friendes they tooke their way to the Cittie arriuing there at the first houre after noone when all the principall thereof repaired to the Pallace to sée the aduentures proofe togither
run at him and then with a swinge hee turned him against the horse brest who encountred him so strongly that he made him stumble backwards like to fall And more to helpe him downe he on foote thrust at him in his amaze two such strong points that Claridiano neuer did what he was now inforced vnto for neither courage nor valoure preuayling he fell downe But like Anteus towching on the earth he rose fresher and fiercer that he on horsbacke escaped not frée for his encounter for as he turned Claridiano as wrathfull as a hungrie Lyon let driue at him with so puissant a blowe that whether he would or no hee felde him from his Saddle downe to the grassie plaine where it added pleasure to content séeing the fortunate and vnconquered Gréeke enter and retire as he would Wearied he had them although himselfe was no lesse for they of the Castle were of the valiantest in the world and about that matter would not refuse Mars his challenge Crossing his sword inwards the one assaulted the Gréeke it was but an offer for going toward it he stayed his arme and bearing it lower strooke him on the legs and on the left thigh he gaue him the greatest blow that he had receiued in all that battle for though it did not wound him yet it put him in such paine that he could not stir that legge The good effect of the stroke perceiued they of the Castle and that they might take the aduantage before the paine left him they began to hammer him with more strength and spéede then the Cyclopes did when they forged Aeneas Armor The Prince much feared being so lame but séeing it concerned him no lesse then his life dragging that legge performed wonders The first Battle that euer Claramant had séene was this the which he iudged to himselfe would be the last so fierce and terrible it was He said more cunning skill nor vallour could not be wished in one knight thē what he in the yallow shewed It was a matter worthy the Prince for as he was he neuer suffered them to close within him though they nothing else procured stil kéeping them out with his vntollerable cruell blowes which made them kisse the earth sometimes with their hands and then with their knées And againe other times all at once In the ende he flung at him that had wounded him quicke he was but Archysiloras Champion was possessed with extreamest of his rage and therefore reached him on the toppe of his Helme in such manner that in despight of him he tumbled him on the gréene brest of his mother earth At him with a thrust ranne the other which Claridiano striking aside hée strooke him with both handes on his armes that he could no more vse his sword Hee closed with him and hoysing him from the ground flung him downe on his backe neare where his Companion was Vppon them with his naked Dagger busseled the Louer for hauing exceedingly incensed him he forgot the pitie and accustomed clemency which he vsed towards his vanquished Before him stept the bewteous Claramant saying To ende a Combat with death most valiant knight whose conquest is so manifest wil rather blemish the Victors victorie then dignifie his fame Wherefore I pray you giue me those Knights as by you are vanquished The haughtie Gréeke lifted vp his head to answere him for through the anger of the fight he had not noted the Donzell So looking on him now he was astonished thinking he sawe himselfe for were hée a litle elder none could haue distinguished them nor yet from the Emperour Alphebo for they resembled so much one another that in the beginning he verily iudged him to be his father which opinion his tender yeares frustrated And yet supposing him some kinsman of his did graunt it and would haue done had it bene farre more But that was inough had he bene any other then Claridiano to make him neuer returne to Greece For scarce had the Donzell raysed them with his hand when as freshe as in the beginning they let flie at him togither two such blowes that they made him knéele on the ground It extreamly gréeued him to be so mocked yet was not he angry against the Donzell imagining through lacke of iudgement he had done it He animated himselfe to this new Combat although with some doubt to sée his aduersaries nimbler and lustier then at the first and himself somewhat weary Clasping his sword strongly in his hand he went against them making them knowe nothing could bereaue him of his assured victorie So closing with the one with his shoulders he thrust him from him like a loosened arrow from a bowe And with a leape he turned on the second His spéed could not saue him for the furious Greeke cut away halfe his helme with part of his head This blow gladded him resoluing to deny the Donzell any thing he should aske within that place By this arriued the other but what auailes it for the Greeke Mars giues no blowe which they féele not within their fleshe They had kinde Ladies in this second fight lost the vertue of the Inchantment only helping themselues with their natural strength which was very great And yet it preuailes not against him that was borne a Conqueror End this cruel warre would the Gréeke calling himselfe coward to prolong it so long And auoyding one of their blowes he ran at him with the brauest thrust that in all his life he executed for piercing shield breast and backe hée tumbled him dead at his féete to Claramants great admiration The second incouraged himselfe for all he was alone and sore wounded it was but a little lengthning of his life to endure a more cruell death For the Prince hauing Fortune by the Front strooke at the top of his helme yet not with the strength he might but he yéelding backe his head couered it with the shielde whereat the Gréeke turning his arme discharged it on his thighes so mightily that almost he cut one cleane off Before he could setle himselfe he ran vpon him and with incredible haste least Claramant should interrupt him he reaft him of his life himselfe remaining so wearie that his legges could not then sustaine him All his life time he most estéemed this victorie for it cost more labor more blood and more trouble then any other of that quallitie He went towards the beauteous Donzell elder then him by sixe yeares but hauing suffered no cares nor paines nor loue passions made him séeme yonger then his cousin who tooke off his helme discouering that Mars his countenance of his Either reioyced to sée the other thinking they sawe one another in a glasse So Claridiano spake first saying I intreat you faire Donzell so the heauens make you happie in all attempts to tell me the cause of your being within so defended a place and also who you are for considering how dearly your sight hath cost me although I thinke it well bestowed you are bound
his glorie As he walked vp and downe he past by an oake whereon he read an inscription to this effect Dismay not oh thou valiant Knight that by thy valour haste arriued to vngratefull Theseus walke but take courage for vanguishing him and winning his armor thou doest arriue this being thy first battell vnto the highest top of honour reseruing in thy power the hopes of greatest ioyes Hauing read the letters the Gréeke thought nothing what hée had before him considering the promise redounding by the victorie No longer would he rest for the desired end of the aduenture will not suffee him more to breath and so couering himselfe with the remainder of his shield and strongly gryping his sword in his hands went against the Athenian saying Come knight let vs end our battell for it is a shame it should so long last being but betwéene two Theseus replied taking his axe twixt both his hands There is not any but at his first semblance would haue trembled like an Aspen leafe yet the haughtie youth fearelesse confronted him His axe flourisht the Athenian thinking to haue hit him with the blade But the gallant youth whose strength excelled his with his swoord strooke it away within him hée stept letting flie a mightie thrust at his breast whose force made him fencelesse giue backe drawing his battell axe after him Trebatios sonne followed him hard and ere he could raise it from the ground hée layde on the visor of his helme such a blowe that he thought the firmament had fallen so many starres he sawe about his eares So abashed to be so handled was Ariadnes reiecter for euen as hee dragd his axe hee hoyst it aloft that the Gréeke could not escape the blowe nor shun a wound vpon his right side and yet but little for féeling the blade he yéelded to the left side and let it passe and séeing his wisht occasion presently closed with him The Athenian durst not let go the axe for therein consisted his strength whereby vnable to helpe himselfe as he would in this strife surely Claramant wonne ground of him A better wrasle could not almost be séene for the Prince being vnarmed and therefore nimbler trippes tangles and vntangles his legges with more dexteritie which his aduersarie could not do although by méere strength he valiantly resisted The Gréeke offering to take the axe from him snatcht at it but too strong so easily to part from it was the Athenians holde Oh who would not wish to sée this braue contention for ingrateful Theseus to defend it fetches forces from his alreadie fainting mind and the Gréeke to winne it imployeth the vtmost of his valour Thus contending they were almost at the end of the Alley when Trebatios issue with a fine slight got the victorie For séeming to let go the axe loosened a little his hold and himselfe stepping something backe The Athenian did the like thinking so to reassure his axe but the Gréeke setling himselfe strongly on his legges stept in and on the suddaine wroong it out of his hands No sooner had he done it but all that abhorred fréezing Alley séemed on a light burning fire The thundrings lightnings and hideous shoutes not a little amazed the Prince and him that was without no lesse who not able to indure imagining the haughtie Donzell to be in some daunger entred through those intangling pathes By the Athenians loosing of his axe the passage was frée so farre as the Donzell was So he arriued when his inuincible Vncle gazed on the armor Theseus had left him vpon a table of Iaspar wher there stood a Piller with an Epitaph He then quieted himselfe séeing it was the knight that had disinchanted him They embraced with such loue as if they knew the consanguinitie betwéene them Now may you sir knight said Claramant séeing fortune hath giuen me armour and weapons let me receiue the order of them at your hands In all things I desire to satisfie your content faire Donzell replied the dispairing Prince wishing it no lesse then mine But now rest a while for we shall haue time ynough to doo it for I beléeue the winning of these armes haue cost you no small trouble Some indéed it hath said Clarament but beeing so well acquittanced with the enioying of your sight and these rich armes I account it wel bestowed But let vs read this scrowle for I feare we haue more to do to get from this accursed place So hand in hand they went to the Piller and read the discription thus When the two most fiercest Lyons shall meete in the valley of vngratefull Theseus the one winning his armor and receiuing the order of knighthood of him that gaue him his liberty and vanguishing the Minotaure then shall the inchantments of ancient Dedalus haue end It greatly reioyced Claridiano to sée that he might safely giue him the order of Chiualrie And with one accord hee armed and knighted him at once They fitted him so well as if of purpose they had béene forged for him Neuer had Archisiloras Louer séene a gallanter knight somewhat bigger he was then his cousin but not taller wherefore the wisemen alwaies doubted whether was the valianter for their particular battels one against the other it could neuer be séene But rather on foote with the battel-axe no knight could abide the strength of Claramant Fewe times carried he shield the better to play with his are and therefore was he surnamed the Cruel for with it hee spilled more blood then the fierce Affrican With excéeding ioy did he gyrt his sword embracing him with excéeding signes of loue They vowed such great amitie that their knowledge of vncle and cousin could not more augment it A while they rested that with more courage the new knight might prooue the aduenture of the Minotaure So much desired the late armed Prince to sée the beast as he rose saying It is time sir knight to end this businesse for being so surely backt were the enterprise more difficult the victorie is most certaine His cousin followed him glad to sée his braue and gallant gate His are he carried on his shoulder the best weapon that the world contained and his sword girâ— by his side In this manner they paced towards a stately building that stood in middest of the field Narrow was the entrance to it but within if had so many intricate waies that they could not deuise where it might end Enter into it would the vallerous Claramaunt recommending himselfe vnto the immortall Gods protection The like did Claridiano committing him to his kéeping that with a Fâ—at framed the whole heauens earth and vast seas With tender kindnesse the two kinsmen embraced each other which done the haughtie youth prepared to enter the inextricable house of Dedalus What within hapned him and the battell fought with the monster deserues a new Chapter CHAP. XIX How Claramant entred the laborinth of Creete where he slewe the Minotaure and the glorious end he gaue the aduenture I Doubt not
gallant Ladies beauties ornaments but that neither the excellencies of your perfections whose powerfull vertue can onely with the sight commaund the greatest heart nor yet the tender pittie attending on your sexe will not with timerous feare appall your gentle minds reading these fierce accidents of sterne Mars And then I hope you will not conceiue lesse pleasure with the bloodie battels wherein I am intangled then at Cupids amorous discourses But where they seem offensiue passe them ouer though loue haue ordained them and yet respecting the cause I know you will not condemne the effect For although now you sée the Gréeke Prince busied with cruell warres too soone he will be ledde where he shall confesse there is no good where the little blind God doth not raigne and this euen when ayded with nothing but his strength hee shall set frée the faire Princesse of the Scythians from her strong inchauntment But before that happens attend and you shall heare what him befell entring the blinde Laborinth His axe he carrid afore and with vnremoouing steppes hee entred the way-confused habitation where he so often turned and returned comming backe when as he thought himselfe to go forward and crossing such by-waies at euery second pace that when he iudged to be at the end he found himselfe at the doore Sometime he heard not without great amazement the noyse of voyces crying The rich armor thou haste wonne bolde knight shall not auaile thée to get from our dwelling in recompence of thy presumption to disquiet vs and then felt hée such mightie blowes that often made him set his hands and knées vppon the ground but considering how litle he had done by winning the armor and how the other valiant knight expected him so animated him to indure those huge strokes which none but he could haue suffered Wearie and tired he at last came where he sawe a little light that issued frō a high cranny of the wal It gladded him for by it he found a way that brought him vnto a faire large yard about whose wals were many pictures and stories so naturally drawne that they somewhat eased his paine By them he vnderstood Pasiphaes beastly accesse vnto the Bull. It so disliked him that he turned away his eyes being offended not with the pictures but with what it represented Hee sawe Theseus cladde in those armes he won of him enter the Laborinth with the thread tied to his arme and at the doore the two beautifull sisters that with feare did stay for him The cause was they loued and where that passion is none can liue secure fearing also the good it enioyeth A little beyond he sawe how ill repayed Ariadne was being left to the mercie of the windes among wilde beasts To such pittie was he mooued towards the Ladie that casting vp his eyes to heauen he said Oh cruell knight vnwoorthie the name of Theseus imploying so ill those partes the heauens hath adorned thee with but especially against a weake tender Ladie whom if reason had béen thy guide thou shouldest haue helped although thy life were hazarded A new battell were it possible would I haue with thée vppon this to make thée confesse thy crueltie and ingratitude He vowed to himselfe to helpe all Ladies though hee indaungered his life which he performed so well that many vnder that name onely durst trauell alone and euerie one called him the knight of the Ladies His owne image sawe hee a little further and his battell fought with Theseus togither with those which Claridiano made about his libertie He reioyced to see the haughtie déeds of his new friend Being about to go to the other side of the yard to view those pictures there as he turned he espied two knights all in armor comming towardes him with their shields and swords readie for the fight Their gallant semblance and brauerie much pleased the Gréeke beeing neare him one said Thou haste béene much ouerséene knight not acknowledging Loues soueraigntie to enter a place so prohibited where be sure thou shalt be called to strickt accounts They stayed for no answere but ere he could sway his axe about they gaue him two mightie blowes one on his shoulder and the other on his helme Both he greatly felt especially so cowardly to be assaulted With an Eagles swiftnes he got frō betwéen them into the middest of the broad yard the better to vse his daungerous axe He stretcht it out at length awaiting for his aduersaries that nothing fearing followed him With the poynt he hit one almost beheading him for with the blade he sorely wounded his throate hée drew backe his axe and winding it about layed on his shield the which he strooke to the ground and his Maister headlong at his féete His companion was not carelesse but comming behind gaue him so strong a blowe vppon his helme that though he cut it not yet hee bended it to his breast Like a furious Lyon turned the Gréeke against him whom hée found so neare that to hit him he was faine to draw back his armes and with a fierce incounter he ranne his shield through and wounded him on the breast making him stagger backwards and to helpe him downe hee raised his axe and discharging it on the side of his helme he cut away all that part with a great peece of his inchaunted gorget He felled him at his féete and was so eager to end with him that hee forgot his other aduersarie who assayling him at his backe gaue him so fierce a blowe vpon his middle that his companion executing ano ther in the same place they had almost felled him Neuer was Beare nor Tiger more fierce then now the Prince became against his enemies raising aloft his axe He could not misse his blowe for they were before him So with all his strength he hit one on the shoulders the blowe was so mightie that all the blade he hid within his breast splitting his heart in two Scarce had he finished this when he laide vppon his other enemie who was so skilful that ere the axe descended he got vnder his armes running at his breast with a thrust This blow much gréeued the Gréeke for it stopt the passage of his breath and hee seemed to awaite the axe but for all the haste he made to ward the blowe it first crowned him with death for falling on his head diuided in two he sent him to accompany his friend The hideous noyse which hee heard in the next roome would let him take no rest but rather leaning on his axe he stayed more warily to sée what it was When presently with admiration he was amazed seeing the feareful Minotaure so vgly and deformed His face was like a mans although farre bigger his eyes glowed like a furnace of kindled fire On his large front hee had two mightie hornes whose poynts were harder then any Diamond his necke short and thicke So big and broad a breast he had that the very fight witnessed his strength
the Castle and all the Inchauntment made in the vanishing strooke him in a traunce on the ground and was no lesse then if heauen and earth should haue met with fierce incounters An houre and more lasted the tempestuous noyse in the end wherof the skies cleared and Claramant found himself neare to the Fountaine of the thrée Pipes from whence Claridiano ranne to imbrace him and ioyfull to sée him safe said taking off his Helme How doo you féele your selfe most valiant Knight for I am sure considering the outragious cries I heard you haue not bene idle I haue vndergone all things easily sir Knight replied his vncle only by hoping of your sight which hath lessened all my troubles if any be sustained So sitting downe at the Fountaine he related to him all his successes wherat his cousin remained no lesse amazed then content iudging the knight to be the sonne of vallour of whome Claridiano intreated he might know who he was Were it for nothing else Sir Knight replied Claramant but to satisfie your content I should haue thought my selfe most happie if Fortune would haue let me tell you who I am But hauing so fauoured me with your deare sight and acquaintance no maruel if this pleasure so sauour of some discontent as in not being able to reueale my parentage to you because indéed I knowe not who I am more then that I haue some yeares bene nourished in this Groue being made excéeding much of yet not knowing by whom nor for what cause it is incredible Sometimes to comfort me in my solitarinesse they told me I was of Greece and of Noble parents There is no ioy comparable to Claridianos hearing he was a Gréeke perswading himselfe certainly he was his kinsman Againe he imbraced him gratulating his being of that Countrey and his Countrey man Claramant requested also to know him since the friendship vowed betwéene them might allow no secret from the other To please him Claridiano did it The kissing of his hands intreated his faire vncle saying The not knowing you soueraigne Prince hath made me commit so manifest an error wherefore in signe of inpenetrated pardon graunt me your victorious hands that I may thereon expiate the offering of my innocency on them due to your worthinesse His tender Cousin imbraced him and said Most valiant Knight this is not tollerable yours being of such deserts meriting the dutie of all the world And trust me you are too blame to vse me with such ceremonies that am your professed friend and wil be til the death All that day they rested there in pleasant conuersation passing away the time where Palisandro reioyced in his very soule that his Lord had found so mightie a friend So many things did the Prince discourse to him of Grecia which so contented Claramant that he intreated him to returne and accompany him thither The which Archisiloras Louer graunted purposing to discouer himselfe to none arriued in Crecia and so he praied his vncle In the afternoone the two Heroicke warriors tooke their way towards the Sea At their departure from the Fountaine on the Piller that contained the former words they reade these The intricate Laborinth and vanquishment of Theseus the most ingratefullest of all Louers was ended by the mightie Kinght of the Lyons in presence of his greatest friend and kinsman by whom he first receiued his libertie And so both ended the famousest aduenture in the world The suspitious words to be neare Allies could not more augment the Louers amitie betwéene the two haughtie youthes although they increased new ioy hoping in the end that Prophecie would issue true Thus they arriued at the sea shore where they founde their inchaunted Barke richly prouided with all necessaries for the Gréeke Princes Who being shipt therein with more fury then doth a Commet crosse the azure skies it launched into the déepe Where of force we must leaue them returning to Greece CHAP. XX. How Lysarte King of Tharsis and his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria arriued with their Fleete within sight of the Maruellous Tower and what else happened ALthough I am constrained altogither vnwillingly to leaue treating of Loue and Loues discourses yet wil I not leaue to implore your fauours bewteous Ladies to march vnder the displayed Ensigne of sterne and bloodie Mars For if it he wel considered this is an amorous warre procéeding of affection wherein the chéefest and valiantest thereof imparts no blowe vpon their enemies but is guided by Cupid Some fight here to please their Ladies others to giue her libertie inclosed in the Tower whose loue many prosecuted but only by one is obtained And others to become Louers choose this warre as their best meanes for it which indéed sorted not in vaine because many sacrificed their liberties to vnknowne Ladies especially in Greece where the blinde God kept the greatest part of his treasure wherewith he captiuates the strongest hearts So that diuine Ladies while I follow Mars his Drumme I doo not forget the footing of Cupids daunces And this opinion is wel confirmed by the gallant Florisarte Prince of Argentaria who neither Armes nor the being among so many bloods could extinguish the remembrance of his Loue not knowing who it was saue only to maintaine his word ingaged to disguised Artinio that for Arbolindas sake the faire Princesse of Scotland had so laide that plot heretofore recited whose memorie and absence made him within his Helme drowne his eyes in teares It is common excellent Ladies among amourous Gallants alwaies to bewaile their greatest euil although many other present daungers doo incompasse them In this perplexitie the valiant youth in his fathers company with all his Fléete nauigated the Gréeke sea with prosperous winde With such great desire came the Argentarians and men of Tharsis to fight that they thought they should neuer sée the occasion to shew their kings how greatly they desired to haue them Ten dayes they sayled on the Vast seas méeting with nothing that might hinder their voyage bearing the Gréeke armes in middest of their Cullours The eleuenth day early in the morne they discryed a mightie Nauie of ships and Gallies houering vp and downe vpon the calme waters They were aboue seuen hundreth sayles So not knowing what they were nor of whose part they strook alarm séeing the great aduantage they had ouer them both in winde and lightnesse of vesselles The Fléete of the Tharsian Prince in good order began to cast about in manner of a halfe Moone discharging two péeces of ordinance in signe of battle setting forwards against their aduersaries Who as it séemed trusting to their strength of multitudes made ready their well furnished ships and answered thē in like manner aduancing on their Admirall their royall armes and thus they approached one an other séeming to couer the seas Foure of the Agentarian Gallies rowed forth without spread sayles to discouer their aduersaries ensignes which to their content they discried for being in sight of them they saw the imperiall
the knight hee saw him splitted on his owne rapyer for séeing himselfe deadly wounded and that hee could not escape with life chose rather to bee his owne executioner then the Prince should tryumphe ouer his death at his hands Ioying at the victorie of so daungerous a Combat hee prosecuted his way No aduantage had Claramant ouer Don Celindo who ended his fight as soone as he for hauing slaine the swaynes and passed the Garden hee came vnto a greene Meade where a knight gallantly mounted expected the battle not farre from him there stood a Piller whereto a luftie courser was tyed the which Alicandros Nephew imagining to be for him he did quickly back and taking a strong knottie Launce that he also there found eyther parted from the other to take his carreire and valiantly made their strong encounters In middest of the shéelde did Don Celindo hit the Knight and clearely piercing it thrust him so strongly that breaking his saddle gyrtes he tumbled him from his horse The knight strooke Don Celindo on his Beauer which so astonished him that he let goe his horse bridle who féeling his head at libertie eleuated himselfe so high that both fell downe yet Don Celindo perceiuing it before the fall did quickly leape from his backe With shields about their armes and swords on high the two braue warriors met With a furious thrust did Don Celindo first wound his aduersary which made him giue backe thrée steppes But he presently returned and gaue him such a blow on the helme that he thoght himselfe in heauen so many starres he sawe about his head and with a counterbuffe on the shoulder he had almost felde him Like a rauening Lyon became Floralindas sonne and offering to strike him on the head the knight repaired thither with his shield It was the cause of his ouerthrow for Don Celindo not minding it with a point wounded him mortally on the brest pearcing all his Armor and then with mightie strength turning his sword to the others head he cut away halfe his helme with a péece of his scull Howling and shriking with the wound the knight turned his backe and fled through a faire Gallery After him went Don Celindo ouertaking him in a great plaine where he sawe foure great Arches inchaste with precious stones held vp with eight mightie Christal Pillers There did Don Celindo assaile the knight euen when a bewteous Lady most richly attyred confronted him He was astonished at her sight thinking he sawe his deare Rosiluera Stay your hand braue knight said the Lady and doo not execute your wrath on him that yéelds you the victorie I cannot most soueraigne Princesse replied he amazed to sée her there but satisfie your content obeying what ere you shall impose on me as he only borne to do your seruice yet is my poore soule tormented with griefe that this commaund is no greater It is too much answered she for her that hath showne you no kindnesse and so the craftie Damzel taking him by the hande placed him vnder the last Arche leauing him there inchaunted without iudgement or vnderstanding sauing how to accomplish her wil who leauing him there said Here must you remaine Syr knight and defend the entrance gainst all the world if all the worlde shall come Be assured Lady I wil replied the inchaunted youth and first I le leaue to breathe then desist from defending the Arche Away went the Lady along the Arches when the furious Brauorant came thitherward hauing put on his Armour He stept backe as one in a traunce imagining he behelde his Floraliza into that shape she had transmuted her selfe The Pagan so admyred her sight as he was strooke dumbe but she reuiued him thus Come with me braue knight for we greatly néede your strength He did not refuse it saying Leade the way diuine Ladie replied he for it is my felicitie to loose my life for your bewtie Leading him by the hand the deceitfull Ladie left him inchaunted vnder the third Arche saying Courteous Knight this Arche must you defend with the vtmost of your vallor He made answer Leaue that care to me for wil at least shall not want if strength forsakes me not At another Gate by this appeared Archysiloras Louer to him she went representing the Quéen of Lyra. Whom to be short she also inchaunted in the second and in the first did the like by Claramant hauing on the presence and countenance of the famous Lyndabrides whom he by report alreadie began to fancie Then like the winde she vanisht away yet ere she went she commuunded them on their liues they should not go out of the Arches vnlesse they would imbrace theyr deaths And so leauing a scroll vpon a Piller she left them CHAP. XXVI How the Emperour Alphebo ended the famous Inchauntment of Roselia and what else happened SO great was the care that those wise men Lyrgandeo Artemidoro and Nabato had ouer the Gréekes and theyr Empire that by theyr Arte had reached to the knowledge how that memorable Monarchy would be brought to the point of an vtter ouerthrow and perpetuall desolation wherefore so entierly affecting her Princes as this great Historie hath amply mentioned for their Loues they reuolued their bookes to know the cause and causer of such bloodie warres which they found to be the two Princesses Lyriana of Nyquea and Roselia of Rome whereupon they resolued to Inchaunt them beginning first with Lyriana within the sea Tower as hath bene related And séeing that the Romane Princesse was left they ioyned themselues togither in the making of this Inchantment the strongest euer séene for while she was so kept her Father should not knowe what had happened betwéene her and Don Eleno of Dacia nor should she at his hands require reuenge against him As they did determine it so did the wise Magitians performe it making it far stronger then Lyrianas for they intended to kéepe her long time there vntil some good order were taken about the Gréekes affaires Againe they resolued to haue Lyriana disinchaunted and her Nuptialls with the Brytaine Prince solemnized hoping it wold be a means to reconcile the Souldan of Nyquea giuing him so great a Prince as Rosabel to be his sonne in lawe They would not do so by Roselia because she could not be wedded with whome she had imprinted in her heart But the peruerse Selagio by meanes of Lupercio hunting after reuenge for the death of Fangomadon whom Rosicler flew as in the first Chapter of the first booke of this third part is exprest would néeds procure the libertie of this Lady with Arbolinda of Scotland that accompanied her for which purpose in a Barke he drew Brauorant and Don Celindo from the Fléete doing the like by Alphebo directing also Claridiano and Claramant thither where all of them performed such déeds in armes as is specified and worthie of such great Princes slaying all the kéepers of the Castles But the wise men fearing the two Ladies libertie as the last refuge of
happie presence I neuer haue séene tokens of a perfecter Louer in my life said Claridiano and as I am a Knight if it lie in mee to helpe him I will doo it to the daunger of my life Of this and more is the Louer worthie of answered his vncle but I would not haue had you bound your selfe vnto so much wherby you should omit your iourney to Constantinople the which would gréeue my very soule especially loosing your company To doo so would increase my sorrow in the highest degrée said the Prince because our loue bindes vs to gréeue at others absence yet will not I remit to procure his coÌ„tent that know how to loue so intierly and it may be I shall this way find some measure for my torments knowing that her sight Commandresse of my soule will but augment my paines by being in disgrace and what great glorie it were to bee imbraced in her grace But go we to him that learned to loue and not feare the plague of absence for neuer yet did any féele it but iudged it woorse then death Let vs go replied the frée youth for it is charitie to helpe him in al thinges Wherevpon they made a little noyse that the carelesse shepheard might heare their going With some alteration he did rise supposing some other matter But when by Mooneshine hee fawe those two knight the riches of their armour and so gallant disposition hée went to méete them beeing no lesse courteous then any and saide What is it you this way séeke braue knights for although Fortune hath brought me to the last poynt to make me dispaire of my selfe so I may in any thing worke your contents beléeue mee I will be glad shee should for that time lengthen my despised life then which I could not be more plagued Whereto Claridiano made answere Wee come this knight and my selfe to offer our persons to procure your content courteous sheppheard if your necessities requires them the which we shal hazard with more will then you to imploy them There is no satisfaction nor yet gratefulnesse sufficient to ballance your most kinde offer gallant Knights replied the shepheard but in doing it you haue made known the valor and magnanimitie of your heroicke minds whereto by bountie you were bound Oh may Loue recompence it if it hath not bene possible to denie his soueraigntie with more ioyes then I at his hands haue receiued but now any comfort whatsoeuer will but augment my gréefe the which hath so far extended it selfe that no remedy nor salue can cure it Then Claramant tooke occasion thus But althogh phisicke doth not alwaies whole cure the inueterated Mallady yet many oftentimes it preuents and expelles many dangerous accidents that would else excéedingly aggrauate the infirmitie and so for all it may not now please you to communicate it to those that will féele your sorrow it will be some consolation to sée theÌ„ pittie it were it but to be answered with take comfort for others haue bene vsed with like crueltie and you are not alone despised in the world It is euen so said the amorous shéepheard for amongst all the greatest consolations inuented to mittigate the paines in loue to communicate them is the cheefest yet in me to discouer them it is an offence against the partie I loue But to tell the torments I haue endured and what happinesse they had obtained and my extreame fall from that high felicitie were to wrong my selfe in the recitall for it will be but an argument of little sufferance in me séeing that the least of my suffered paines was sufficient to withstand a thousand deathes But now to consider they haue let me suruiue oh there is no euill comparable to it nor none can I deuise worse For had I then bene depriued of my abhorred life I shuld not haue bene so familiar with sower gréefe yet to sée that after the loosing of that soueraigne good my life doth still persecute me with woes that death fearing to come neare them flyes from me when I most do call him oh there is no patient that can endure this nor I haue power to tollerate it but with millions of continuall teares to bewaile this losse and my misfortunes Farther hée could not proceede for his teares interrupted him which so mooued the tender hearted Prince that they intreated him to make them pertakers of his gréefs that they might iudge whether he haue reason so to gréefe Then the shéepheard said I am sure it is good to relate the tenor and processe of my woes vnto such Knights yet my distressed soule refuseth to refresh the memorie with so many euilles but that you may know how small this my languishment is sit you down and you shall heare the greatest iniustice that euer was vsed towards any he being assured of my faith that doth reward it not as it deserues but according to his pleasure as a Tyrant They all sate them downe vnder the couert of a spreading Oake where the Gréekes put off their Helmes whose bewties admyred the shéepheard who with some sighes moouing them to silence he began Since you be pleased Sir knights to haue me recount the Pilgrimage of my oppressed life and who I am so that séeming to receiue content thereby I shall not néed to intreate you to yéeld me that attencion my manifold sorrowes do deserue Know therefore most Noble warriors how that imperiall power that doth command both Gods and men pardoning none of no kinde I meane Loue soueraigne of all soueraignes hath inforced me into this disguised habit And yet when I ponder how extreamely the blinde Goddesse is bent against me I finde my selfe not secure therein for I haue ere this bene honored and as a Prince acknowledged vntill my â—â—arre-crost loues exilde me through the world This heart-infecting Deitie gallant Knights when in greatest pompe and iollitie I liued in Apulia whereof the Heauens allotted me Prince sent and conducted thither those whose tongues were tuned with the dulced notes of the gallantnesse and bewtie of the Princesse of Lucania With such déepe roote did her faire name insert it self within my frée thoghts that it is now impossible to leaue to loue her in that both she and I haue by a hidden grace accorded in one thing But I doubt it is the nature of our climate or they that breathe therein by custome to bee subiect to like misfortunes What shall I remember Hanniball who had hee not knowne Apulia then had hee not beene insnared in this passion but béene Lord of Rome and not through loue ouerthrow his eternall honour wonne with such losse of his owne blood Yet was not this example of any force to diuert me from my new imaginations but rather in greatest haste I prepared my iourney towards Lucania whither I went onely with a Page my horse and Armour soly to sée Pollinarda and if her perfections equalled the fame of her bewtie I arriued in time when it most florished because the
once shewen him séeing my death was not to be auoyded and that I might leaue the world contently he should procure the deliuerie of a letter from me to my Ladie for it would be my latest happinesse He had before that noble knights heard mee complaine and vtter my true harts sorrow togither with the cause thereof which made him bid me write for he would with his owne hand conuey it to hers and also get me an aunswere To which courtesie I replied Had I much more done for you then I haue sir knight this your kind offer is a sufficient satisfaction for the same binding me anew ouer and aboue your loue to procure your content in any thing I may to effect which desire oh would I had a long life that a déed so rare and in such distresse offered and performed might with sufficient recompence bee guerdoned Thus animated I writ my letter whose coppie I haue about mee the which though it may séeme troublesome to you I wil read togither with the answere and then you will say I haue reason to complaine He drew his letter and opening it with a sigh hee reade it thus Florisianos Letter to Pollinarda NOt without fear most soueraigne Princesse of Lucania euen at the last moment of my life do I presume to write not intreating that I may liue for that nor the intiernesse of my Loue to your seruice will permit it nor yet can I perswade my selfe it would sort to any good effect because I am the petitioner for although it sometimes passed throgh my pensiue thoughts to demaund it to imploy the same to your content It presently vanisheth like ayre with remembrance of the vnhappie successe of your distressed Louers vntimely fall And although my fault may haue some hope of pardon beeing committed through the aboundance of pure Loue yet is it crost because it was against thee when I onely should haue dissembled my paine and not procuring to asswage it increase thine in the highest degree But I am resolued to die seeing you and my misfortunes will haue and haue ordained it so I do not offend beseeching thee that with thy leaue I may intreat to be carried to the place of execution along by thy windowe for the sight of thy presence wil much abate my greefe and tertor of so sharpe a death It shall be a fauour that with content wil license my departure when this haplesse bodie trodde downe with woes shal be dispossest of life The immortall Gods preserue thine as they can and he wishes that expects the approaching of the expiring minute of his Hauing done to the Court did the Iaylor sir knights high him He was a man in whom the King and al the Nobilitie reposed much trust so might he enter vncontrowlde into fair Pollinardas chamber whom as he tolde me he found clad all in mourning still continuing her laments By little and litle in their discourses hee forced her by occasion to demand for me whereto he replied I was one that momentarily expected his death from whom I tooke this letter finding it on his Deske and séeing it was directed to your Highnesse I heere bring it to be burnt least it import some further euil He did so cunningly deliuer it and skilfully perswade the reading that she thought him ignorant of the tenor Shee tooke and perused it from whence redounded the procéeding of the greatest crueltie euer heard of From Medea and Progne hath Pollinarda taken their names of cruell for her aunswere denotes her much more inhumane the which I do intreate you to attend that you may be assured what power a womans rage is of to execute her will The contents of her reply be these Pollinardas answere to Florisiano COnfounded was I twixt two extreames by thy Letter most bloodie knight and the cruellest that was euer borne the one increased my paine thinking on thy presumption and my ignorance in receiuing thy lewd scribled paper because it came from him that bereaft mee of my life murthering that vnhappie Prince The other which I account woorse then hell to be constrained to answere thee because to dissemble with thy letter were to giue ayme to thy boldnesse with occasion that thou mightest think it pleased me by my silence to graunt thy request admitting thy least euill the which my selfe denying it and adding tenne times more tortures to thy deserued punishment it would be termed no new crueltie proceeding from mee so exceedingly wronged and offended My sight thou hast no need to desire if it shall any thing auayle for thy content for hee that spoyled mee of my ioy hath no reason to demaund any And since thou murderedst his life that did not merit it thou hast merited the cruellest death that may be deuised the which I will hasten to execution I cannot wish thee life to ende mine because I doo procure thy death to comforte mee He hath reason noble Knights saide the Prince hauing ended to pine to languish to trauell without ioy and content that liued to sée so kinde a letter as mine aunswered with such disdaine and rigor Who hath euer heard of such crueltie as this I had no tongue to complaine of her nor power to banne my luckelesse starres For considering how I did offend her I thought this course of wrath too little But I desired so dearely did I loue Pollinarda it should bee saide of her shee had with greatest bountie and noblenesse forgiuen the greatest enemie of her content and sole spoyler of her ioy for that had béene a manifest token of selfe-conquest ouer her owne anger and reuenging thirst which is the sole glorie aboue all others to eternize an honourable minde because it is generally accorded that to bee a greater triumph obtained ouer our proper selues then to vanquish either heauen or earth Onely for this is that Ladie much bound to me that I neuer desired nor imagined any thing but to the aduancement of her honor and fame My gentle Kéeper greatly comforted me knowing how intierly I loued He performed an act the which hauing since without affection often déeply wondred with my selfe yet could I neuer resolue mee of the cause more then the motion of a vertuous inclination to comiserate a haplesse chance It was that being throughly gréeued to sée I should the next day be openly beheaded against which execution my deare friend Lycanders intercessions nothing preuailed that entring my chamber with a courage resolue he thus spake vnto me You sée sir knight what the king hath determined on your affaires it doth so gréeue my very soule that to saue your life I would gladly loose mine and hazard my credit with his Maiestie wronging his reposed confidence in me and will giue you libertie through this Tower for it is impossible you should scape by this Gate by reason of the strong guard that kéepes you And gréeue not thus to discontent your Ladie for the processe of time will lessen her concealed sorrowe for Agesilaos death
better then yours may now satisfie her reuenge Let it be so and by this meanes reserue your life bee it but to imploy it in louing her for it is not the part of a noble breast to dispaire of euery thing but it rather belongs to a couragious minde to nourish his decaying hopes with bolde confidence He so well perswaded me most famous knights that I resolued to preserue my life by that sower remedie And first to comfort him for the depriuation of his estate which he willingly did forgo to escape away with me I tolde him for whom I vndertooke that daunger discouering my selfe vnto him It gladded him and therevppon hee tooke off my boltes and Gyues wherein my aduerse fortune had bound me and so the night being come we descended the Tower by a corded ladder through a window that ouerlooked the sea coast where he had prouided a well rigged Barke entring therein a maine wee lancht from the Cittie of Frossa not without many sighes teares from my heart thinking how much I did displease the Ladie of my life thereby in that her pleasure consisted on my death Thrée daies did wee nauigate with a faire gayle which made mee thinke I better fared on the seas then on the land The second time would not Fortune let me repeate it for conspiring with Eolus they both would néeds trie their fiercenesse on my patience with the cruellest storme that hath béen séen for the waues beginning to swell threatning the heauens and strongest rockes what might not we feare that were tossed on their billowes sometimes hoysed to the cloudes and then cast lower then the center of the earth So that he which suffered lesse paine was glad to submit to deaths stroke Such and so many flashes of water came tumbling into our weather-beaten vessell that full against our willes wee were forced to taste the sauor of Neptunes saultest licquor On the sudden we were surprized with such a whirlewinde that we lost all hope of recouery for the persecuted Barke laie wallowed vp and downe aboue halfe an houre vntil a contrary winde ouermaistring the tempest cast it neare the shore and running on a shole it splitted in the midst Our clamors and shrikes then are not to be beléeued nor wil I rehearse them for my tongue is insufficient He that by chaunce got then any aduantage was by fastning on some péece of boord a litle to prolong his life It was so hideous darke that none could sée the other nor light any fire could we for the winde dispearcing it would blow it out Thus grapled on a planke I left my friend and wrastling with the seas fortune and death the Gods permitted me yet I know not why to saue my abhorred life And about the dawning of the day I found my selfe on the sandie Hauen of Argier so brused and tired that I could not stand on my féete for besides my toyles I had not slept in foure daies before still by moments expecting my neare approching death I was willing to take a nappe before I would go into the countrie so stepping among some growing wéedes I slept a good while receiuing a little rest and ease Quickly was it bereaft mee falling in the hands of those barbarous Infidels of that Sconse that neither pitlie nor pardon any though they bee of their owne sect so much they trust to the strength of that their Castle They carried me vnto a rich Turke Lieftenant of the Fortresse who bought me for two hundreth Chequins to serue him with his other slaues I imployed the vtmost of my power therein which redownded to such effect that hee trusted me aboue all his other seruitors My painfull diligent and carefull seruice came to the kings hearing that he would néeds haue me from his Lieftenant paying the double that my first Maister had done for me I will omit valiant Princes how I might gréeue to be so hurried from Market to Market to be solde It pleased my fortune to let me so farre obtaine the Kings grace as that hee let mee go at libertie without bands but marked in the front as his slaue I learned to speak the language which much auayled me would I haue violated my faith consecrated to my Ladie for Troyla his daughter did euen dote on me but to him that had vowed his soule to Pollinardas excellēcies and wanting the consolation of her presence that increased his torment I purpose to shunne her importunities once of so many times they had iniustly bought and solde me to runne away One night among the rest I resolued to do it the which I might easily accomplish considering the much libertie I had yet would I not do it without a farewell of the beauteous Troyla because I would not séeme vngratefull for her loue and fauors You may imagine how she might take it affecting me in my opinion as her selfe neuerthelesse her true loue teares could not stay poore distressed Iaroe so was I called by the Turkes Shee seeing me thus obstinately determined requested to know who I was then which shee required no other comfort I did not hazard much thereby and therefore satisfied her It somewhat quieted her protesting to come to my kingdome or neuer to receiue husband but at my hands Therevpon I tooke my leaue a thousand times embraced by her for I durst not do it fearing thereby to wrong her that is the load-starre of my ioyes Shée gaue me more necessaries for my iourney then I néeded and therewith departed from Argier where I nothing got but like a slaue to be marked in the forehead I could not rest so tormented was I with variable cogitations yet in the end I resolued to returne into Lucania sure to be knowne of none for that my cares and the troubles of the seas had impaired and altered my countenance as also my slaues marke And considering how long since I was yoaked and captiuated with Loues slauerie I nothing gréeued at the signes thereof for accounting them giuen me as by Pollinardas hands I did therein repute my selfe most happie In these tempestuous toyles and turbulent shipwracks spent I one yeare and an halfe which was too much to be forgot though not in my Ladies Pallace I thought that Fortune by ayding me with prosperous gales would now at length séeme to pittie me for in fewe daies I arriued in Lucania where I inquired how matters passed I was informed that one of the strongest knights now knowne the Gréeke Princes that admit no comparatiue excepted was thither come The deceased Princes younger brother he was but farre valianter for there is no Gyant able to withstand him Hee solicited and wooed by all means to obtain the Ladies good will knowing there past no more betwéene her and his brother then an exterior affection confirmed with espowsed faith Yet doth he insist therein 〈◊〉 haughtie and proude is Asternio the fierce so is he named Many times was I about to buy horse and armor to trie my fortune
missing the presence of her Prince She was a thousand times determined to go and séeke him but shee left it supposing the fame of the disamorous Tower would draw him thither thinking that was he that acccompanied the knight of the Lyons so much shee iudged him to resemble Claridiano Great comfort was it to her to communicate her gréefe with Rosamond that incouraged her as one that was frée of such tormenting passions and yet sore gréeued for the want of her deare sonne Roselindo of whom she knew not what was become and many times shee was about to demaunde the wise men for him had shee not thought it too much immodestie She could not but reueale it to her beloued Dacian who dissembled it as much as he could yet not without signes of inward sorrow in his very soule he purposed to séeke him first inquiring of his friend Nabato the place of his abode the which animated him perswading himselfe hee would haue especiall care of his welfare beeing the thing that so neare concerned him Dinner béeing ended and the table taken vp all that companie of Emperors Kings Princes and Knights with all the Ladies came foorth to sée the new commers that were many to prooue the Tower It was woorthie the trauell and to be desired what was promised to the victor Wherefore scarce were the Ladies placed when with Princely grace there entred the stoâ—t Lastorus cosin to Don Silueâ—io and Generall to the Hungarians and of whom there was good hope He shewed himselfe to be no lesse vnbeloued then valiant for his shield was set next to the Troyans So many hasted to the triall that no sooner one ended but another was readie Among them that best behaued themselues was the gallant Lusitanian Archylocus on Siluerios brother whose shield was also equalled with the last In such multitudes were those shields hung vp that the Christaline Tower was almost full Euerie one conuerted their eyes at one side of the place because they had espyed the famous Oristoldo Lord generall by land to whom the Emperour had giuen that honorable charge in respect of what his father had done for his son and he for his Nephew It was aduisedly done by the Gréeke for the world did neuer knowe a better nor more fortunate Captaine or more skilfuller in ordering of battel and presenting it in time He was beloued of all and also of the Ladies although he had not shewne himselfe amorous for he said there was nothing more contrarie nor troublesome to him that swayed any publicke commaunde then to bee in loue and to bee so it was necessarie for a man to busie himselfe in nothing but in that new alienation setting apart all other cares Accompanied with most of the Nobilitie came the valiant youth all in white armor garnished with knots of Gold and Azure A gallanter knight had not béene séene in that triall Mounted he was on a Roane Courser with Caparisons of colour like his armes with so many stones that their light dazeled the splendor of the Sunne whose rayes reuerberating on them depriued the beholders sight On his head and his owne Burgonet great plumes of feathers full of spangles of golde In middest of his shield within a groue of trées hée himselfe was pictured with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon a bloodie launce at his féete lay the God of Loue with bow and arrowes as vanquished by him on whom he séemed to gaze so carelesly as if he held his deitie in naught The posse was thus wreathed about his launce Mars and Cupid differ farre Loue cannot agree with warre And till Mars and Loue agree Looke not Loue to coÌ„quer me None was more gazed on then the braue Prince of Antioche Oh how gallant doth he come saide Lyriano who greatly tendred him and I am glad of his libertie by reason of these Ladies that may well excuse it for were he in loue he could not then so well guard vs. I am sorrie replied Rosiluera that so frée a knight should haue any here to take his part for I knowe not how so great a wrong as hee commits against Ladies by that cruell deuise may bee satisfied but by wishing the thraldome of his libertie If the world had another Oristoldo aunswered the Princesse it were good that this were in loue and the other the care to kéepe vs. Leaue we this said Rosamond to sée what will become of his libertie By this he was arriued at the Tower where hee allighted and drawing foorth his sword mounted the staires with such courage that euery one cried out Lindabrides would be his One steppe he ascended higher then Brandimardo There he stayed for hee was charged with so many blowes that hee spedde woorse then any before although his honour were greater His mother and the Princesses that loued him as their sonne made him come where they were and there the Ladies did disarme him with such kindnesse as if he were one of the Gréeke Princes To whom Lyriana saide I am sorrie Prince Oristoldo that to shew vs your libertie to these Ladies gréefes you haue sustained such trouble He aunswered Pleasant is the sowrest most soueraigne Princesse if my will and desire bee considered although the deuise be against my selfe the which shall neuer kéepe me from being yours Now you haue lost the entrance said Artemisa you shew your selfe penitent and sorrie for your libertie but you shal not thinke to haue answered it with such small satisfaction The beautie of these two Ladies had something astonished the frée Prince yet hee replied You shal not néed to deuise new punishments for him that must will be alwaies obedient to your commaunds faire Ladies and let it be ynough I confesse I haue wronged you that this acknowledgement may strengthen my excuse and so lessen my fault that by purchasing your grace I may hope for an extenuation of my chastisement That might be said Rosiluera were not your offence greater then may bee forgiuen No more of this vnprofitable that spake Archyrosa for his libertie will sufficiently hereafter plague him as it hath done many others and let vs now inquire the reason of this tumult whereat they all looked to sée what it was There was none but said aloud The aduenture is at an end now the braue knight of the Lyons is come All the Princes turned to sée his comming especially Rosabell beeing so greatly bound vnto him What shall I say of Archysilora Quéene of Lyra the changing colours of her face deuoted her alteration thinking her Prince came with him Alreadie was this warlike Mars past the prease of people mounted on a mightie bay Courser whose Caparisons coloured like his armor were imbrodered with so many inestimable stones that the riches of them admired the spectators On the toppe of his helme and horses head were large plumes of diuers coloured feathers that the brauerie of both amazed the whole place that none doubted his victorie The Emperor Alphebo was he that most
deseruer of that courtesie But Fortune now alreadie wearie and angrie the earth should longer containe them ordained Alcino should sée the imbracement who not knowing his brother by reason he was armed set spurres to his horse being also in armes The Louer closed his Vizor séeing the other come in that manner and mounting on his horse stept to him saying What séeke you in such haste sir knight Onely replied the second brother to let you know the little reason you had to offer violence vnto that Ladie Inraged as well indéed he might became the vnwary youth and not supposing he was his brother turned about his Courser and saide Why then staie bolde knight for this shall chastise thy rude rashe intention Alcino cowched his Launce making their incounters with as much noyse as if two shippes had met Of mightie forces were the youthes and so they prosecuted their battle with as much strength as crueltie that the Ladie which beheld them could not but pittie the blowes which Larsinio receiued with some teares for the loue she bore his brother forced her to shead them The second brother closed with Larsinio striking away at one stroke the halfe of his shield wounding him sorely on the arme which was occasiō they cast eithers armes about the other with such power that both fell from their Saddles to the ground Striuing vp and downe they tumbled on the grasse bespringling the earth with their blood When the haughtie Celio arriued who séeing the battle not perceiuing the Ladie there lept from his horse and drawing forth his sword went towards them and said In courtesie sir knights cease a while your fights which causelesse séemes to be so fierce Either was so flesht against the other thinking the Lady offended by eithers action that vnwilling to obey their elder brother that being also in rich abillements of warre was not knowne Alcino made reply Doo not you sir knight séeke to part our Combat whose cause we haue adiudged too sufficient Notwithstanding said Celio for my sake and intreatie I hope you will leaue it It will be then answered the youngest to make you confesse you are discourteous in wishing peace where none is desired And so he being got betwéene them and they both angred togither they discharged two such blowes vpon him that he repented to haue vndertaken that demaund but being of incomparable strength quickly setled himselfe among them beginning one of the fiercest fights in the world Aboue two houres they continued hacking and without pittie cruelly cutting their armes and fleshe that euery one had aboue eight wounds The Ladie feared some vnhappie chaunce whose heart was so deliberated with feare to sée Larsinio so wounded for the others shée knew not that she could not rise nor with her voyce giue notice shée was there so we gaue occasion vnto the lamentablest and most vnluckie act that euer was acted For Celio weary of so long delay defending himselfe of the second brother with a cruell thrust to his thinking bereaft poore Larsinio of his life whose death so extreamly gréeued Alcino as if he had knowne him that dispairing of life did cast his shield to the ground and closed with his brother who doing the like so long wrasled that both fell to the earth where drawing foorth their daggers with equall blowes either stabbed in the others bodie togither at once loosing their vitall breathing to the Ladies so great sorrow that she thought to burst She rose bewayling that accursed happe and went to Larsinio tooke off his Helme and séeing him like one dead she became more then dead Néedes would shée know the others which was cause of greater euil for their Helmes being off and knowne who they were a thousande lamentations did shée breathe into the aire banning her misfortune Shée fell in a traunce and twise or thrise lost the motion of her mouing powers and at length recouering her selfe and seeing the thrée Princes for her sake with such remorselesse sauadgenesse slaine tearing the golden tramels of her amber haire whose bewtie eclipsed Apollos light thus she began her lament Oh cruel heauens wherein haue I deserued this mortal plague Or how haue I offended you should so much maligne my hopes to oppose your happie influences with such dire euent against the springing of my ioyes Had you suffered me to kéepe my life within the limits of my solitary walks these Princes had not séene me and so not viewing my ill bestowed bewtie they had not desired what soly was due to one Oh deare Princes you should haue bene contented to see your brother beloued and your selues for his sake affected to desist the procurement of your pleasure with his and your owne deaths Oh chaste Goddesse why didst thou suffer so execrable a fact hatefull abhorred and detestable were my life vnto the world should I desire to liue that sawe the timelesse end of your vnripe yeares For this oh this vaine momentary fading bewtie How oh how may she valiant Princes recompence this déed this deare and amorous déed but to immitate you in death that did Idolatrize me in life Reason had Tysbe to suffer for her Louer and Hero rather to taste of the bitter waters of death then of the actiue fire of loue that in her entrailes burned None had such reason to die as I and in speaking it to prolong my despised life I doo offend which though I might I will not enioy in absence of those thrée that did so dearly loue me Thrée liues wold I haue heroike Princes to bestow on either one being debter vnto you for thrée but since I cannot to thée swéete Celio my soule and heart I doo bequeath my good will and affection to Alcyno and Larsinio and my poore chaste life with my immaculate and vnspotted thoughts to thée most sacred Goddesse do I I sacrifice in extenuation of my fault Wherevpon with mortall fury she drew Celios sword and setting her brest to the sharpe point she offered her life to deaths tryumphing spoiles Which no sooner was effected but the blew heauens with thicke fogs and mysts was clowded with thundring and lightning and innumerable horrible voyces that strooke deadly terror in the harmelesse people who with their flockes and heards of cattle perished Their bodies were neuer found nor if is not knowne what is become of them more then that their liues and deaths with the maner and occasion was found carued in carrecters vpon some Okes there adioyning where some shepheards haue often séene a Caue from whence issues such flames and smoake that it consumed the Trées neare to it and it is many yeares since none dares through feare let their flocks féed thereabouts This is sir knight what you haue demaunded and of so many reports the truest where the shepheard ended Naturally was the Prince couragious and desirous of such aduentures and so very earnest did he inquire for the Caue determining to enter and see what it contained The shepheards shewed it him
I rusht vpon him saying The time and place doeth now fit discourteous Prince that the death of one of vs shall testifie the vallor of the other I being alone and himselfe accompanied with two made them the bolder all thrée to assaile me I refused them not but valiantly put my selfe among them I mortally wounded one which gaue me way the sooner to méet with the vnhappie Prince who so litle liued to enioy his louing hopes for driuing him before me til he was vnder his Mistresse window with a strong thrust I ranne him through where the blinde Goddesse of Chaunce séemed yet to fauour him as to be stucke to his Ladies wall At the last grone wherewith he yéelded his soule I heard another the fearfullest that euer before or since I heard because it procéeded from Pollinarda It so daunted me that I had like to haue bene taken all the knights guard with others being thither come As secretly as I might I shrunke away til I had time to set my safetie on my féete getting to my Lodging saying nothing of what had happened vnto my friend yet had he questioned me about it he could not but haue perceiued it What else befel the next Chapter shall rehearse CHAP. XXVIII How the Prince of Apulia with much pitie continued the discourse of his life vnto the Greeke Princes TO proue how many daungers and perillous inconueniences the disordinate passion of inconsiderate Loue doth cause there shall néede no arguments nor preambles of large discourses to auerre it for the experience that euery one sustaines by paines and griefes thereof togither with the opinion of that famous Philosopher that said If this disordered Motiue of intemperate and furious motions had not bene indengered in the breasts of mortalls as some plague and scourge for euils infinit and Capitall deadly crimes had neuer bene committed nor imagined Well is this saying confirmed by the vnhappy death of the Calabrian prince at the hands of the Apulian Florisiano who with equal grace and griefe prosecuted the tenor of his woes thus The bitter exclamatios that sounded in the Pallace braue knights and the hurliburly of the Citie séemed no lesse then had it bene round begirt with enemies Dead as he was he was carried to the Lady so she gaue in charge for louing him so dearly in his life she would not in his death forsake him She did lamentably bewaile ouer the murthered Corpes when I disguised came thither for I could not but go and sée her of whose sorrow I had bene the causer Oh cruell heauens said the wofull Ladie with what barbarous immanitie haue you extended your rygorous power on me more then on any Ladie else Oh Sauadge and inhumane wretch murtherer of my soule may it be there shall want Iustice where such bloodie déedes haue abounded Ay me vnfortunate Prince how cruelly in thy tender yeares art thou by an vntimely death persecuted A thousand times did she sound vpon the deceased Truncke holding it in her lappe So extreame were my passions Syr knights that to sée him in that manner I almost became iealous iudging I had fauoured him by so sheading of his blood that in death were it not sencelesse to enioy so swéete a fauour Considering my great intyer loue my state for his I would haue chaunged By little and little I approached so neare her that lifting vp her eyes she met with him that was cause of all her sorrowe shée supposing it cried out aloude and saide Why doo you suffer the bloodie murtherer with such presumption to appeare thus before the murthered Oh Gods sufficient strength did I then desire sufficiently to be reuenged Some of the dead Princies Allyes did suddainly arise which forced me without farther regard to shewe my selfe guiltie of the fact by drawing my weapons Aboue fortie swords did presently flie about mine eares The Pillers of the yarde whither I was got following Pollinarda defended my backe whereby hauing slaine thrée or foure the rest with feare retired giuing me leaue to returne vnto the place where the Ladie continued her laments There I said I would yeelde both my selfe and my weapons into the Princesse hand So ioyfully I resolued to accompany the dead prince to please the Ladie and therevpon taking my sword by the point prostrated on my knées I said Most excellent Ladie if any offence hath bene committed it hath beene with this wherewith you may take what reuenge you will on mée that was the executioner thereof Beléeue me heroicke knights there is no crueltie like to that kindled within the breast of an angry woman peremptorily resolued for so she may haue her will no life she doth respect She tooke the sword and with inraged courage she offered to execute what I had accounted my happinesse so she were contented but her strength fayled her in the execution of the blow falling after the blade in a traunce whose point scratching my Front did let foorth my blood And though greater wounds then that I had not felt yet that I noted when the Lady returning to her selfe I spied my deare blood on her face as the spoyles of her intent A sufficient marke was that braue knights to asswage the greatest paine Millions of thankes gaue I Fortune for it attributing that hap to her for being so rare it could not but procéed from such a blinde distributresse of vnexpected benefits I had no power to defend me from those that assailed me being weaponlesse who had giuē me a thousand deaths much more one but that my friend and faithfull Lysander arriued at the instant who drawing his sword approued his friendship to be great by shielding me from a shamefull death though not from a rygorous prison where the King commaunded me that night to be cast in shewing himselfe to be most excéedingly angry and gréeued You may easily suppose woorthie Syrs what I might féele being in that sort imprisoned especially when the next day I was adiudged in the open place to bee beheaded I did not so much sorrowe to be ledde to die as to depart in my Ladies disgrace Who moste like an eager Tyger of Hyrcania stil cryed and yelled out for reuenge But it pleased my inconstant chance from whence I gather I was reserued to suffer greater paines that I should knowe my Iaylor being a knight both gentle and kinde whom by deserts I had bound to pleasure me for in former times I had no lesse saued him then his life defending it from them that would haue spilt it Hee much encouraged me saying he would for my sake vndertake any perill béeing thereto long since indebted His kindnesse did much comfort me although I neuer imagined to steale from prison for all he would haue set mee at libertie for I was resolued to die louing her by that meanes working my Ladies content that she might sée I suffered the deserued punishment on me inflicted for so displeasing her I onely intreated him by the amitie and loue I had