hate And would not do his friend so great offence Thought as in euill cases is the best Of two great mischiefes to chuse out the left 17 He meanes to leaue Argeos friendship quite And get him home againe from whence he came Or hide himselfe where this most wicked wight Shall neuer see his face nor heare his name This though it grieu'd him as it ought of right He chuseth as a way lesse worthy blame Then yeelding to her lust for to abuse her Or to her louing husband to accuse her 18 Wherfore though of his wound both saint and weake He doth resolue to part with constant mind He gets him thence and not a word doth speake And leaues this filthy minded beast behind But fortune ill his purpose good doth breake And alterd quite the course he had designd Home came her husband finding her alone Complaining grieuously and making mone 19 Her cheekes with teares all blubberd were and red Her lookes did shew her mind was ill apaid Her lockes all torne did hang about her hed With which her louing husband fore afraid Did aske her oft what chance such change had bred Till at the length the wicked wretch thus said With spiteful heart with wicked voice trembling And faind a cause the cause it selfe dissembling 20 Alas quoth she what should I seeke to hide My wicked act and hainous deadly sinne Which though from you and all the world beside I could conceale yet doth the soule within And conscience grudge a burden such to bide So as the inward torment I am in Doth passe the plague or penance far away That mortall man vpon my sinne can lay 21 If so a sinne of right you may it name That one is forst vnto against her will But thus it is your friend that hither came I thinking he had thought nor meant none ill Inforced me to my perpetuall shame Against all lawes all honestie and skill And doubting that I would the fact bewray Forthwith he gate him hence and fled away 22 But though my bodie he haue so desild Yet is my mind from sinne deuoid and cleare Although from sight of men I am exild Nor dare I once in publike place appeare This â—aâ—d with thousand names she him reuild So that Argeo that the tale did heare Beleeued it and straight withall intended To punish him that neuer had offended 23 He taketh horse forthwith and followth post All on reuenge his mind was wholly bent And for he perfitly did know the cost And for my brother faire and softly went He met him in an hower at the most Bidding him stand or elÃe he should be shent My brother would distwade him if he might But all in vaine Argeo needs would fight 24 The tone was strong and full of fresh disdaine The tother weake and lâ—th to hurt his frend So that himselfe defending long in vaine My brother was constraind to yeeld in th' end And thus at last he prisner doth remaine And yeelds himselfe vnable to defend Which seene Argeo doth surcease to strike But speaketh vnto him these words or like 25 God neuer let my heart so farre be moued With rightfull wrath that I thy blood should spill Since once I thee esteemed well and loued Whom once I loued I will neuer kill And though thy act may iustly be reproued The world shall see my goodnesse by thine ill For be â—t loue or be it in disdaine I will be found the better of the twaine 26 Another meane then death to vse I mind In panishing this sinne and soule misdeed This 〈◊〉 with willow bands he there did find He makes a hurdle fit to leâ—ue such need On which my brothers bodie he doth bind That with old hurts and new did freshly bleed And to his castle he doth him conuay In mind to keepe him there a prisner ay 27 Yet though with him a prisner he remaind In other things he felt no lacke nor want Saue that his libertie was him restraind But â—o this wretch that late did him supplant And to her husband so of him complaind Thought she would trie if he would yet recant And â—tor at her commaund she had the kayes She goes to him and thus to him she sayes 28 Now sir quoth she I trust you feele the frute That this your foolish constancie hath wrought Had you not better bene to graunt the sute That I in friendly â—ort so often fought You see us vaine to argue or dispute Say what you can you are a traitor thoughtâ— And he to whom you shewd so great fidelitie Imputes to you treason and infidelitie 29 I thinke both for your ease and reputation You had bene better graunted my request You see you haue a sorie habitation And in the same for euer looke to rest Except you change your first determination And mollifie your stonie hearted brest Which if you yet will do I do assure you Both libertie and credite to procure you 30 No neuer hope no said Filandro neuer So my vnhappie brothers name they call In vaine to change my mind you do endeuer And though Argeo caussesse keepe me thrall Yet I in faith and troth will still perseuer Sufficeth me that he that seeth all Doth know mine innocencie and doth see me And when he list can both reward and free me 31 I care not though the world of me thinke ill I hope another world will make amends Yet let Argeo slay me if he will Or let him as it seemeth he intends Though wrongfully in prison hold me still Yet one day he will find he hurts his frends And know by proofe how he hath bene beguild When truth appears and time brings forth her child 32 Yet for all this this woman void of shame Did cease no whit Filandro still to tempt And oftentimes in vaine to him she came And euer turnes repulst and with contempt And in this frantike fancie she doth frame A thousand sleights to further her attempt And many things in mind she doth reuolue Before on any one she do resolue 33 Sixe months entire she doth her selfe absent Nor euer came Filandro to entice Which made him hope that she was now content To cease her sute and follow his aduice But lo how fortune that is euer bent To further wicked persons in their vice Doth vnto her a fit occasion lend To bring her wicked lust to wofull end 34 There had bene hate and enmitie of old Betweene her husband and another knight Morando cald who often would be bold If so Argeo absent were a night To come with force and to assault his hold Or thereabout to do him some despight But if he were at home then all that whiles He came not neare him by a dozen miles 35 Wherefore to be reueng'd on this his so That often did him wrong and great outrage Argeo giues it out that he will go Vnto Ierusalem on pilgrimage And from his house disguysd he parted so In secret sort
noyse a trampling on the ground They thought it was some companie or rout That caused in the woods so great a sound At last they see a warlike horse and stout With guilded barb that cost full many a pound No hedge no ditch no wood no water was That stopped him where he was bent to passe 73 Angelica casting her eye aside Except said she mine eies all dazled be I haue that famous horse Bayardo spide Come trotting downe the wood as seemes to me How well for vs our fortune doth prouide It is the verie same I know t is he On one poore nag to ride we two were loth And here he commeth fit to serue vs both 74 King Sacrapant alighteth by and by And thinkes to take him gently by the raine But with his heeles the horse doth streight reply As who should say his rule he did disdaine It happie was he stood the beast not nye For if he had it had beene to his paine For why such force the horse had in his heele He would haue burst a mountaine all of steele 75 But to the damsell gently he doth go In humble manner and in lowly sort A spantell after absence fauneth so And seekes to make his master play and sport For Bayard cald to mind the damsell tho When she vnto Albracco did resort And vsd to feed him for his masters sake Whom she then lou'd and he did her forsake 76 She takes the bridle boldly in her hand And strokt his brest and necke with art and skill The horse that had great wit to vnderstand Like to a lambe by her he standeth still And while Bayardo gently there did stand The Pagan got him vp and had his will And she that erst to ride behind was faine Into her saddle mounted now againe 77 And being newly setled in her seate She saw a man on foote all armed runne Straight in her mind she ga◠to chase and fret Because she knew it was Duke Ammons sonne Most earnestly he sude her loue to get More earnestly she seekes his loue to shunne Once she lou'd him he hated her as much And now he loues she hates his hap was such 78 The cause of this first from two fountaines grew Like in the tast but in effects vnlike Plac'd in Ardenna each in others vew Who tasts the one loues dart his heart doth strike Contrary of the other doth ensew Who drinke thereof their louers shall mislike Renaldo dranke of one and loue much pained him The other dranke this damsell that disdained him 79 This liquor thus with secret venim mingled Makes her to stand so stiffely in the nay On whom Renaldos heart was wholy kindled Though scarce to looke on him she can away But from his sight desiring to be singled With soft low voice the Pagan she doth pray That he approch no nearer to this knight But flie away with all the speed he might 80 Why then quoth he make you so small esteeme Of me as though that I to him should yeeld So weake and faint my forces do you deeme That safe from him your selfe I cannot shield Then you forget Albracca it should seeme And that same night when I amid the field Alone vnarmed did defend you then Against king Agrican and all his men 81 No sir said she ne knowes she what to say Because Renaldo now approcht so nie And threatned so the Pagan in the way When vnder him his horse he did espie And saw the damsell taken as a pray In whose defence he meanes to liue and die But what fell out betweene these warriers fearce Within the second booke I do rehearse In this first booke may be noted in Angelica the vngratefulnes of women to their worthiest suters In the foure knights the passionate affections of loue and fancy And whereas first Bradamant and after Renaldo interrupt Sacrapant of his lasciuious purpose may be noted both the weake holdfast that men haue of worldly pleasures as also how the heauens do euer fauour chast desires Lastly in the two fountaines may be noted the two notable contrarieties of the two affections of loue and disdaine that infinite sorts of people daily tast of while they runne wandring in that inextricable labyrinth of loue Concerning the historie we find that in the time of Charles the great called Charlemaine sonne of Pepin king of France the Turkes with a great power inuaded Christendome Spaine being then out of the faith as some part thereof was euen within these four score yeares namely Granada which was held by the Moores And one Marcus Antonius Sabellicus writeth that for certaintie there liued in that time of Charlemaine many of those famous Palladines that are in this worke so often named and especially he maketh mention of Renaldo and Orlando affirming that they were indeed very martiall men and how Charles obtained great victories by their seruice and namely he talleth of one Ferraw a Spaniard of great stature and strength who tooke certaine Frenchmen prisoners afterward rescued by Orlando which Orlando fought with him hand to hand two whole dayes and the second vanquisht him Further the same author affirmeth that the same Charlemaine for his great fauour shewed to the Church of Rome was by Leo the third named Emperour of Rome and that he was a iust a fortunate and a mercifull Prince and one that within Europe as well as without did attaine great conquests suppressing the violent gouernement of the Lombards and taming the rebellious Saxons Huns and Baudrians and conquering a great part of Spaine all which testimonies shew that the ground of this Poeme is true as I shall haue particular occasion in sundry of the books ensuing to note and thus much for the story For the allegory in this Canto I find not much to be said except one should be so curious to search for an allegory where none is intended by the author himself yet an allegory may not vnfitly be gathered of the description of Bayardos following Angelica which may thus be taken Bayardo a strong horse without rider or gouernor is likened to the desire of mā that runs furiously after Angelica as it were after pleasure or honor or whatsoeuer man doth most inordinately affect Likewise in that Angelica flieth from Renaldo we may take an allegorical instruction that the temtations of the flesh are ouercome chiefly by flying from them as the Scripture it selfe teacheth saying Resist the diuel but fly fornication Further in that Bayardo striketh at Sacrapant but yeeldeth to Angelica it may be noted how the courage of our minds that cannot be abated with any force are often subdued by flatterie and gentle vsage till they be in the end euen ridden as it were with slauerie And whereas Renaldo followes Angelica on foote some haue noted thereby to be meant sensualitie that is euer in base and earthly or rather beastly affections neuer looking vpward For Allusions there are not any worth the
and this for heat to leaue And this we carried in so secret sort As none there was our doings did perceaue For why this window standeth out of sight Where none do come by day nor yet by night 11 Twixt vs this vse continu'd many dayes Yea many months we vsd this priuie traine Loue set my heart on fire so many wayes That still my liking lasted to my paine I might haue found by certaine strange delayes That he but little lou'd and much did faine For all his sleights were not so closely couered But that they might full easly be discouered 12 At last my Duke did seeme enflamed sore One faire Geneura neither can I tell If now this loue began or was before That I did come to court with her to dwell But looke if I were subiect to his lore And looke if he my loue requited well He askt my aid herein no whit ashamed To tell me how of her he was enflamed 13 Not all of loue but partly of ambition He beares in hand his minde is onely bent Because of her great state and hie condition To haue her for his wife is his intent He nothing doubteth of the kings permission Had he obtaind Geneuras free assent Ne was it hard for him to take in hand That was the second person in the land 14 He sware to me if I would be so kind His hie attempt to further and assist That at his hands I should great fauour finde And of the king procure me what me list How he would euer keepe it in his mind And in his former loue to me persist And notwithstanding wife and all the rest I should be sure that he would loue me best 15 I straight consented to his fond request As readie his commandment to obay And thinking still my time emploied best When I had pleasd his fancie any way And when I found a time then was I prest To talke of him and good of him to say I vsed all my art my wit and paine Geneuras loue and liking to obtaine 16 God knowth how glad I was to worke his will How diligent I followd his direction I spar'd no time no trauell nor no skill To this my Duke to kindle her affection But alwayes this attempt succeeded ill Loue had her heart alreadie in subiection A comely knight did faire Geneura please Come to this countrie from beyond the seas 17 From Italy for seruice as I heare Vnto the court he and his brother came In tourneys and in tilt he had no peere All Britain soone was filled with his fame Our king did loue him well and hold him deere And did by princely gifts confirme the same Faire castels townes and lordships him he gaue And made him great such power great princes haue 18 Our Soueraigne much his daughter likt him more And Ariodant this worthy knight is named So braue in deeds of armes himselfe he bore No Ladie of his loue need be ashamed The hill of Sicil burneth not so sore Nor is the mount Vesuuio so inflamed As Ariodantes heart was set on fire Geneuras beautie kindling his desire 19 His certaine loue by signe most certaine found Did cause my sute vnwillingly was hard She well perceiu'd his loue sincere and sound Enclining to his sute with great regard In vaine I seeke my Dukes loue to expound The more I seeke to make the more I mard For while with words I seeke to praise grace him No lesse with workes she striueth to deface him 20 Thus being oft repulst so euill sped I To my too much beloued Duke I went And told him how her heart was fixt alredie How on the stranger all her mind was bent And praid him now sith there was no remedie That to surcease his sute he would consent For Ariodant so lou'd the princely wench That Neptunes floods vnneth his flames cold quench 21 When Polynesso so the Duke we call This tale vnpleasant oftentime had hard And found himselfe his likel'hood verie small When with my words her deeds he had compard Greeu'd with repulse and greeued there withall To see this stranger thus to be prefard The loue that late his heart so sore had burned Was cooled all and into hatred turned 22 Inâ—â—â—ding by some vile and subtil traine To part Geneura from her faithfull louer And plant so great mislike betweene them twaine Yet with so cunning shew the same to couer That her good name he will so foule distaine Alâ—e nor dead she neuer shall recouer But lest he might in this attempt be thwarted To none at all his secret he imparted 23 Now thus resolu'd Dalinda faire quoth he I so am cald you know though trees be topt And throwded low yet sprout yong shoots we see And issue from that head so lately lopt So in my loue it fareth now with me Though by repulse cut short and shrewdly cropt The pared tops such buds of loue do render That still I proue new passions do engender 24 Nâ— do I deeme so deare the great delight As I disdaine I should be so reiect And lest this griefe should ouercome me qâ—ight Because I faile to bring it to effect To please my fond conceit this very night I pray thee deare to do as I direct When faire Geneura to her bed is gone Take thou the clothes she ware and put them on 25 As she is wont her golden haire to dresse In stately sort to wind it on her wire So you her person liuely to expresse May dresse your owne and weare her head attire Her gorgets and her iewels rich no lesse You may put on t' accomplish my desire And when vnto the window I ascend I will my comming there you do attend 26 Thus I may passe my fancies foolish fit And thus quoth he my selfe I would deceiue And I that had no reason nor no wit His shamefull drift though open to perceiue Did weare my mistresse robes that seru'd me fit And stood at window there him to receiue And of the fraud I was no whit aware Till that fell out that caused all my care 27 Of late twixt him and Ariodant had past About Geneura faire these words or such For why there was good friendship in times past Betweene them two till loue their hearts did such The Duke such kind of speeches out did cast He said to Ariodant he marueld much That hauing alwayes lou'd and well regarded him That he againe so thanklesly rewarded him 28 I knâ—w you see for needs it must be seene The good consent and matrimoniall loue That long betweene Geneura and me hath beene For whom I meane ere long the king to moue Why should you fondly thrust your selfe betweene Why should you roue your reach so faire aboue For if my câ—e were yours I would forbeare Or if I knew that you so loued were 29 And I much more the other straight replies Do maruell you sir Duke are so vnkind That know our loue and see it
fild He might haue better staid at home in Spaine Then come abroad to be in battell kild But thus we see they get but losse and paine That deale in that in which they be not skild I wish musitions meddle with their songs And pray the souldiers to reuenge their wrongs 54 Ferraw that saw ten thousand slaine before Without or fetching sigh or shedding teare With this his minions death was grieu'd so sore As scarce he could eu'n then to weepe forbeare But he that kild him shall abuy therefore By Macon and Lanfusa he doth sweare And straight performd it to the knights great paine For with his pollax out he dasht his braine 55 Nor so content he runs among the presse And in his rage so many Scots he slew That their late forwardnesse he did represse And causd that they in hast themselues withdrew Then to the tents was sent the king of Fefte To make resistance to the Irish crew That spoild their lodgings hauing robd the best And went about to set on fire the rest 56 Then when the stout King Agramant espide The danger great he and his men were in And how these new supplies on eu'ry side Made his retire and ground of them did win To saue his owne in time he doth prouide And lets alone the wals and them within Himselfe with Lords and other Princes store Came where Ferraw was entred late before 57 And in such strength they do their forces linke And with such fury they restore the fight That now the Scots began to faile and shrinke Saue that Renaldo came eu'n then in sight And cride O worthy Scots and do you thinke To saue your selues by so vnworthy flight Will you so leese the honor late you wonne Care you no more to saue your masters sonne 58 Do you regard no more your reputation By you in sundry bloudy battels got To leâ—ue the flowre and iewell of your nation Amid his foes as if you lou'd him not Ye shame your selues and all your generation If you distaine you with so foule a blot Turne turne I say and take some heart of grace And meet and smite these Panims in the face 59 They that before were sore with feare possest Were now so heartned that with honest shame Each one doth seeme his safetie to detest Each one his mind with anger doth inflame And where they left their captaine halfe distrest With this so forward guide as fast they came So Zerbin rescude was from Turkish forces And mounted straight one of the emptie horses 60 Renaldo that did euer take delight To set on those that were most strong and stoâ—t When once king Agramant was come in sight Him fro the rest forthwith he singles out But when betweene them was begun the fight They sundred were by those that stood about I meane the Turks who their chief Prince defended Who else perhap his raigne eu'n then had ended 61 Now while without the wals the battell so On either side with fury was renewd Fierce Rodomont within did worke such wo More rufull sight with eye was neuer vewd To wracke profane the holy temples go He setteth fire on all and to conclude He did alone so spoile the goodly citie As might haue mou'd a stony heart to pitie 62 And while King Charles that was farre off from thence Did entertaine the new come English host The which Renaldo sent for their defence Behold there came a messenger in post That lookt like one bestraught of wit and sence His voice with hast and feare was welnigh lost And when his broken words were plâ—â—â—ly hard Ah well away he cries we all are mard 63 Some fiâ—nd of hell for sure a fiend of hell It is that doth our citie so destroy Is sent from Belzebub with vs to dwell To worke our vtter ruine and annoy This day we must bid all good dayes farewell This day must be the last day of our ioy Lo yonder how our sacred temples smoke Nor one in their defence dares strike a stroke 64 Looke how a man would be amazd to heare A noise confusd of backward ringing bels And after find when he approcheth neare New set on fire his house wherein he dwels In such amazement and in such a feare Was Charles to heare the tale this poore man tels And as he thither nearer came and nearer He sees the buildings clearer burne and clearer 65 Of hardie Squires he culs a gallant crew And meanes to driue away this wicked wight If man it be or spright with humane hew That doth vnto the towne this soule despight Now came he where he plaine might see in vew Men murdred houses burnd a wofull sight But now although perhap my storie please you To pawse a little may refresh and ease you In the person of Griffino is described a yong man besotted with loue and affection of a vile strumpet so as she easily perswades him that he that indeed kept her so openly as all the world spake of it was her brother or her cosingerman or some such matter as easily blinded his eyes being bleared afore with affection and in this kind though I meane to touch none by name yet I doubt not but many will feele themselues touched of both sorts such as Griffino that place their loue in vnworthy persons and such as Martano that vnder the name of kinred are most vile and filthy adulterers which how common it is now a dayes this saying shewes turned now almost to a prouerbe The nearer of kin the sooner in and that verse of Ouid translated or pretily turned by a pleasant Gentleman to this purpose Tuta frequénsque via est sub amici fallere nomen Tuta frequénsque licet sit via crimen habet A safe and common way it is by kinred to deceaue But safe and common though it be t is knau'ry by your leaue The great aphorisme or maxime set downe in the two last verses of the second staffe of this booke was imitated by a Gentleman of our countrey in his yonger dayes though a man euer of great wit and worth his verse was this He that hath plast his heart on hie Must not lament although he die To which purpose all that haue written of this common place of loue and chiefly Petrark in his infinite sonets in the middâ—st of all his lamentation still had this comfort that his loue was placed on a worthy Ladie and our English Petrarke Sir Philip Sidney or as Sir Walter Raulegh in his Epitaph worthily calleth him the Scipio and the Petrarke of our time often comforting himselfe in the sonets of Stella though despairing to attaine his desire and though that tyrant honâ—â—â— still refused yet the nobilitie the beautie the worth the graciousnesse and those her other perfections as made him both count her and call her inestimable rich makes him in the midst of those his mones reioyce euen in his owne greatest losses as in his eighteenth sonet which
he are a while my storie now shall cease Lest my mishap or punishment be such As was this Priests for talking ouermuch In Iocundo and Astolfo both may be noted the vanitie of beautie in men and how weake a protection it is against the blow that neuer smarteth as some haue termed it â—urder in Iocundos wife that after all the great protestations of kindnesse was taken in bed with his man we may note the fraud as well as frailtie of some of that sexe In Fiametta that lying between a king and a knight tooke vp a Tapster into her bed I cannot tell what to note but that which Ouid faith Non caret effectu quod voluere duo Nought can restraine consent of twaine In the Queene of Lombardie that bestowed her loue so basely we may see that no state nor degree is priuiledged from shame and slander except vertue and grace from aboue do keepe them from such enormous offences Further we may see it is a verie desper at enterprise to thinke by any restraint to keepe an vnchast woman from putting in practise her lewd desires Lastly the defence of women by the graue wise man too truly proueth that though many women are bad yet many men are worse and therfore if euery one would mend one as the Prouerbe saith al shal be mended And as for Rodomonts new loue it shews that no passioÌ„ grows so strong by accident to remoue take away a natural disposition Historie nor Allegorie not scant any thing that is good can be picked out of this bad booke but for Allusions they come in my mind so plentifully as I can scant tell how to make an end when I am once entred into them Onely I will touch one or two so fill vp this page withall that allude to that point of Iocundos patience in leauing the adulterer vnpunished and his wife reproued taking her in so shamefull an act As I haue heard of one of honest calling But namelesse he for blamelesse he must be that finding one in bed with his wife and seeing euidently that she had plaid false at tables and borne a man to many drew out his dagger resolutely and sware a great oth that if he had not bin his verie frend he would at least haue killed him and when he had done he put vp his dagger againe and went about some other business Another hearing one was newly gone out of his house that had done that for him which no bodie desires to do by a deputie tooke his sword and his buckler and followed in a great rage and hauing ouertaken him laid adultery to his charge the man so hotly pursude and so hardly charged confessed it was true with which the tother being fully satisfied as it seemed with his honest confession left him swearing if he had denied it he would not so haue put it vp Here end the notes of the xxviij booke THE XXIX BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Isabell to loose her head is glad To saue her chastitie from Pagans might To pacifie her ghost the Pagan sad Doth make a bridge at which fals many a knight Orlando commeth thither being mad And in the water both together light From thence the madman onward still proceeds And by the way doth strange and monstrous deeds 1 OH thoughts of men vnconstant and vnstable As subiect vnto chaunge as Westerne wind In al designments fond and variable But chiefly those that loue breeds in the mind Lo he that late deuild all he was able To slander and deface all women kinde Yet now with them whom he so fore reuild Eu'n on the sudden he is reconcild 2 Indeed most noble Dames I am so wroth With this vile Turke for this his wicked sin For speaking so great slander and vntroth Of that sweet sex whose grace I faine would win That till such time he shall confesse the troth And what a dammed error he was in I shall him make be so in conscience stoung As he shall teare his flesh and bite his toung 3 But with what folly he was then possessed The sequell of the matter plaine doth show For he that yesterday himselfe professed To all the kind a sworne and open foe Now to this stranger one in state distressed Whose birth whose kin whose name he doth not know With one small glance sober cast of â—y Was so enthralld he woos her by and by 4 And as new fancie doth his heart inflame So to new speach it doth his tongue direct A new discourse new reasons he doth frame With great perswasions but to small effect For still the godly Frire refutes the same Exhorting her such speeches to neglect And fast to hold her purpose good and holly Of seruing God and leauing worldly folly 5 He faith the way of death is large and spacious But that to life is straight and full of paine But Rodomont that saw him so audacious In spite of him this doctrine to maintaine Steps to him and with hand and tongue vngracious First bids him get him to his cell againe Then his long beard growne on his aged chin All at one pull he pilleth from the skin 6 And so farre foorth his wrath and furie grew He wrings his necke as pincers wring a naile And twise or thrise about his head him threw As husband men that thresh do tosse a flaile Reports most diuers afterwards ensew But which be true and which of truth do faile Is hard to say some say he was so battered That all his limbs about a rocke were scattered 7 Some say that to the sea he hurled him Though diuerse furlongs distant from the place And that he dide because he could not swim Some others tell some saint did him that grace To saue his life and heale each broken lim And to the shore did bring him in short space The likelyhood hereof who list may way For now of him I haue no more to say 8 Thus cruell Rodomont that had remoued The babling Frire that did him so much spight The fearfull damsels loue to win he proued By all kind words and gestures that he might He cals her his deare heart his sole beloued His ioyfull comfort and his sweet delight His mistresse and his goddesse and such names As louing knights apply to louely dames 9 Her reasons he doth curteously confute Loue soone had made him such a learned clarke In phrases mannerly he moues his sute And still his sute was leueld at one marke And though he might by force haue pluckt the frute Yet for that time he doth but kisse the barke He thinkes it will more sweet and pleasing make it If she do giue him leaue before he take it 10 Wherefore a while he is content to pawse In hope by time to win her loue and grace She deems her selfe like mouse in cats sharpe clawes In strangers hands and in as strange a place She sees he feard not Gods nor humane lawes Nor had
time she pleased to appoint To haue him sent to crack his chiefest ioynt 9 Vnto some desart place he banisht was To serue for meat for carrion crowes and pyes Rogero that had helpt him oft alas Now cannot heare his pitteous mones and cryes He lyes sore wounded as it comes to passe And littles knowes where poore Brunello lyes And when he vnderstands thereof at last It is so late alreadie it is past 10 This while what torments Bradamant indured Those twentie days how did she waile and mourne Against which time she thought her selfe assured Her loue to her and to the faith should turne She makes no doubt but he might haue procured Within that space to make his home returne Yea though he were in prison kept or banished If troth and care of promise were not vanished 11 In this long looking she would often blame The fierie coursers of the heauenly light She thought that Phoebus wheeles were out of frame Or that his charriot was not in good plight Great Iosuahs day seemd shorter then these same And shorter seemd the false Amphitrions night Each day and night she thought was more then doubled So fancie blind her sence and reason troubled 12 She now enuyes the Dormouse of his rest And wisht some heauy sleepe might ouertake her Where with she might most deadly be possest Till her Rogero should returne to wake her But waking cares ay lodged in her brest That her desired sleepe did quite forsake her To sleepe so long doth so much passe her power She cannot frame her eyes to wincke one hower 13 But turnes and tosses in her restlesse bed Alas no turning turnes her cares away Oft at the window she puts forth her hed To see how neare it waxeth vnto day When by the dawning darkesome night is fled She notwithstanding stands at that same stay And during all the time the day doth last She wishes for the night againe as fast 14 When fifteene dayes were of the twentie spent She growes in hope that his approch is ny Then from a towre with eyes to Paris bent She waytes and watches if she can descry At least some messenger that he hath sent May bring the news where her sweet heart doth ly And satisfie her mind by what hard chance He is constraind to stay so long in France 15 If farre aloofe the shine of armour bright Or any thing resembling it she spies She straightway hopes it is her onely knight And wipes her face and clears her blubbred eyes If any one vnarm'd do come in sight It may be one from him she doth surmise And though by proofe she finde each hope vntrue She ceaseth not for that to hope anew 16 Sometime all arm'd she mounteth on her steed And so rides forth in hope to meet her deare But soone some fancie her concert doth feed That he is past some other way more neare Then homeward hasteth she with as much speed Yet she at home no newes of him can heare From day to day she passeth on this fashion Hither and thither tossed with her passion 17 Now when her twentie dayes were full expired And that beside were passed some dayes more Yet not Rogero come whom she desired Her heart with care and sorrowes waxed sore With cryes plaints the woods and caues she tyred Her breasts she beat her golden locks she tore Not while these gripes of griefe her heart embrace Doth she forbeare her eyes or Angels face 18 Why then quoth she beseemes it me it vaine To seeke him still who thus from me doth slide Shall I esteeme of him that doth disdaine My sute and scorne the torments I abide Him in whose heart a hate of me doth raine Him that accounts his vertues so well tride As though some goddesse should frō heau'n descéd Before that he his heart to loue would bend 19 Though stout he is he knows how well I loue him And how I honor him with soule and hart Yet can my hot affection nothing moue him To let me of his loue possesse some part And left he might perceiue it would behoue him To ease my griefe if he did know my smart To giue me hearing of my plaint he feares As to the charme the Adder stoppes his eares 20 Loue stop his course that doth so loosely range And flit so fast before my sorrie pace Or with my former state else let me change When I sought not to tracke thy tedious trace I hope in vaine remorce to thee is strange Thou dost triumph vpon my pitteous case For hearts thy meat thy drinke is louers teares Their cries the Musicke doth delight thine eares 21 But whom blame I it was my fond desire That first entist me to this killing call And made me past my reach so far aspire That now I feele the greater is my fall For when aloft my wings be toucht with fire Then farewell flight and I am left to fall But still they spring and still I vpward tend And still I see my fall and finde no end 22 Desire quoth I my selfe I was too light To giue desire an entrance in my brest Who when he had my reason put to flight And of my heart himselfe was full possest No roome for ioy is left or hearts delight Since I do harbour this vntruly guest Who though he guide me to my certaine fall The long expectance grieues me worst of all 23 Then mine the fault be if it be a fault To loue a knight deserues to be beloued With all good inward parts so richly fraught Whose vertues be so knowne and well approued And more whom would not his sweet face haue caught Myself I must confes his beautie moued What blind vnhappie wretch were she would shun The pleasing prospect of the precious Sun 24 Beside my destinie which drew me on By others sugred speech I was entrained As though I should by this great match anon Another Paradice on earth haue gained But now their words into the wind be gon And I in Purgatorie am restrained Well may I Merlin curse the false deceiuer Yet my Rogero I shall loue for euer 25 I hop't of Merlins and Melissas promises Who did such stories of our race foretell Is this the profit of beleeuing prophesies And giuing credit to the sprites of hell Alas they might haue found them better offices Then me to flout that trusted them so well But all for enuie haue they wrought me this So to bereaue me of my former blis 26 Thus sighs and lamentations are not fained Small place was left for comfort in her brest Yet spite of sorrows hope was entertained And though with much a do yet in it prest To ease her mourning heart when she complained And giuing her sometimes some little rest By sweet remembrance of the words he spake When he was forst of her his leaue to take 27 The minding of those words did so recure Her wounded heart that she was well content For one months space
in countenance with bashfull grace And oft his heart shot blood into his face 14 Yea feare inuaded him not feare of danger For force he feared not of any wight Of Turke nor Christen countryman or stranger The very cause of this his dolefull plight Was loue for loue feares nothing more then anger He doubts least she conceiu'd not of him right Thus wauing thoughts his mind do both waies cary If so he better were to go or tary 15 The while Marfisa that was present there And euer had a forward will to iust Could now no longer from the same forbeare Though seeing some before her lie on dust For all their fals did breed in her no feare So much in her great value she did trust Wherefore least good Rogero might preuent her First she rides forth and in the lists doth enter 16 And mounted on her horse came swiftly running Vnto the place where Bradamant did stay With panting heart to wait Rogeros comming With mind to take him prisner if she may She thinks how she might guide her staffe with cunning As with her stroke do him least hurt she may Thus commeth out Marfisa nothing fearing Vpon her loftie crest the Phenix bearing 17 Or that thereby to bost her strength she ment Of her rare strength of which the tooke some pride Or else thereby to note her chast intent She had a warlike virgine still to bide But Bradamant who first to meet her went And not to be Rogero now espide Did aske her name and by her name she knew That this was she that made her loue vntrew 18 Or to say better whom she did surmise To be the sole withholder of her deare Her whom she hates gainst whom her blood doth rise And minding now to make her buy it deare With furie great and rage at her she flies And that she may make all suspitions cleare With couched speare she fiercely runneth on her And meanes to kill her or to die vpon her 19 Marfisa was constrained with the stroke To kisse the ground as those before her had Which to such rage her courage did prouoke That with disdaine she seemd as one halfe mad Nor knowing how so great a foile to cloke She drawes her sword with an intention bad But Bradamant cry'th out with lostie hart What dost thou traitor thou my prisner art 20 And though I vsed curtsie to the rest To vse it vnto thee I am not tide Whosemind as I haue heard is eu'n a nest Wherein is bred all villanie and pride Looke how great waters rage and do not rest When as the winds do striue against the tide So rag'd Marfisa rather more then lesse And for meere spite could not a word expresse 21 But hurles about her blade with all her force Not caring what she strikes nor where nor how Vpon the horseman or vpon the horse Her rage in her no reason did allow And Bradamant as void of all remorse With mind to breake that that refuld to bow Ranne at her with the speare that would not misse And made her once againe the ground to kisse 22 But once againe vpon her feet she getteth And with her sword reuengement she intends Each fall she hath her furie sharper whetteth Yet still she fals and can haue none amends Nor goldelance his wonted force forgetteth For all it touches to the ground it sends Had not the speare bene as it was inchaunted It could not so Marfisas force haue daunted 23 Some of our men were hither come the while I meane some of the Christen host that lay Encamped neare the towne within a mile So as the wals of Arlie see they may And thinking for her sex did them beguile Some knight of theirs maintaind so great a fray They thither came with will and with delight To see so fierce and well maintaind a fight 24 Whom when as Agramant from far espide And thinks they came to bring their knight assistance He thought it best in wisedome to prouide If they should offer force to make resistance Wherefore he pointed some that of their side May stand from that same place a little distance Of this last crew Rogero was the first With whom the damsell so to fight did thirst 25 And seeing now how fierce the combat gro'th Betwixt these two to whom he wisht none ill Although in sundry kinds he fauord both For tone was loue the tother bare good will To suffer them to fight he was full loth Although for honors sake he must be still Else sure he could haue found it in his hart To step betweene them and the fray to part 26 But they that with him from the citie came And saw the Christen champion was so strong Stept in betwixt her and the tother dame And so withdrew Marfisa them among Which act the other Christens did inflame So that with mind to venge so foule a wrong They stept in to thus both sides cride alarme And soone the skirmish waxed fresh and warme 27 Such as before were armed out do runne They that vnarmed were their armor take And some runne out on foot on horseback some Each to his standerd doth himselfe betake The diuers sound of trumpet and of drum That doth the horsemen this the footmen wake But Bradamant is malcontent and wrath To thinke Marfisa thus escaped hath 28 Then lookt she wishly all about the place To find out him that caused all her care At last she knew him though not by his face Yet by the argent â—agle that he bare And viewing well his person and good grace His goodly stature and his feature rare She rag'd to thinke another should possesse it And in these secret words she doth expresse it 29 Shall any other then that sweetlip kisse And I in loue thereof stil mourne and pine Shall any other then possesse my blisse Shalt thou anothers be if none of mine No certes rather then to suffer this Thou by my hand shalt die or I by thine If in this life we shall be ioyned neuer Death onely be the meane to ioyne vs euer 30 Although that thou shouldst fortune me to kill Thy death by right should pacifie my spirit For lawes appoint who guiltlesse blood do spill Shall for reward the doome of death inherit Yet still I shall sustaine the greater ill For I should guiltlesse die but thou by merit I killing thee kill one that hates me meerly Thou killing me kilst one that loues thee deerly 31 Why shouldst not thou my hand be strong and bold That by thy stroke his hard heart may be riuen Who vnto me sharpe wounds and manifold In time of loues sweet peace and truce hath giuen And doth eu'a now with stonie heart behold The wofull state to which poore I am driuen Heart now be stout to take thy iust reuenge Let this one death thy thousand deaths auenge 32 With that at him she runs but first aloud Defend thy selfe Rogero false she said And think
this to do being as it were the verie kyrnell and principall part or as the marrow and the rest but the bone or vnprofitable shell or according as I said in my Apologie vsing Tassoes comparison like to the pill that is lapped in suger and giuen a child for a medicine who otherwise would not be drawne to take the simple drugge though it were to saue his life But to come to the matter mine author as you may see from the beginning applyeth his whole worke and referreth all the parts thereof to two principall heads and common places namely Armes and Loue in both which men commit great ouersights and from both which proceed many great enormous disorders both in publique and priuate For these two faults of wantonnesse and wilfulnesse are so coupled commonly with youth that they seeme to be borne at a burthen therewith and as it were accidents inseperable and a man might almost canonize him for a Saint that hath passed the heat of his youth and not offended in one of these but many doubtlesse offend in them both And this is the cause that mine authour hath propounded many examples but specially two in the which men may see their frailtie in the latter of these which I will handle first namely in the passion of loue As first Orlando who with a long and tedious voyage guardeth Angelica from the Indies then hath her taken from him among his friends after looseth her and by sundrie aduentures pursuing her and yet missing most narrowly of his purpose in the end falleth starke madde for her till by Saint Iohn his wits are sent him againe which is as much to say till by the grace of God and the light of the Gospel he discouereth the darknes he walked in and so comes againe to himselfe Secondly and principally in Rogero whom he faineth to haue bene a man of infinite value and of courage able to ouercome a thousand of our common worldly miseries but yet ouercome himselfe of this passion of loue without any resistance this is the reason that he is borne away vpon a horse with wings which would not be gouerned vp into the aire to the countrey of Alcyna which we may easily conceiue to be the court of pleasure by which mine aâ—thour giues vs to vnderstand that the principall occasion of our euill proceedeth of this when our appetite not ruled by reason ruleth vs. as Horace writeth of anger and may be applyed to any passion that striueth with reason Ira furor breuis est animum rege quinisiparet Imperat hune frenis huno tu compesce catena Wherefore this same appetite is that passionate desire of the minde that we are so often counsailed to restraine Now to this desire to this inordinate lusting is ioyned idlenesse as an assistant and great furtherer as I partly noted in the fourth booke out of Ouid Otiasitollas c. This idlenes is fayned by the Poer verie grosse and corpulent drunken and drowsie ryding vpon a Tortesse in token of slouth and he forsooth is ring-leader of a monstrous band of which some haue heads like dogges some haue neckes like cranes some are mounted vpon Oxen or Asses some haue countenances and gestures of Apes some are armed with prongs with forkes with hookes with broches all out of the Kitchen of all which what other meaning can be gathered but this that idlenes and slouth and the not beraking ones selfe to some honest trauell causeth men to proue drunkards gluttons backbytets reprochers iesters parasites and promoters with other monstrous and filthie faultes though worthie to be punished yet not worthie to be named Wherefore the auncient fathers haue not without great iudgement and iust cause placed slouth among the seauen deadly sinnes being so precise in the confideration thereof that they haue deliuered their opinion thus farre of it that though simply to be idle is not a mortall sinne as they terme it yet so to be idle as to be kept thereby from some good exercise as hearing of Gods word or helping out brother that wanted out assistance may make it mortall But now because in common sence it had not bene fit nor probable that a man of a high spirit and noble courage as his Rogero is described to be should be daunted with such a shamefull and base companie as these were therefore you see he defends himselfe against them most resolutely though their assault seeme terrible and their number infinite and in despight of them he proceedeth towards the house of Logestilla by which is meant vertue by that craggie and painfull way and shunneth the other way to Alcyna by meanes of the good warning Astolfo had giuen him of the daunger thereof But loe two faire yong Ladies sent from Alcyna which as I noted in the seuenth booke caried a shew of honourable and chast loue these wanne him without any resistance and make him of a resolute warriour a dissolute louer but trow you he can come to Aleyna with the bare name of a louer no if he be poore there is no place for him in dame Pleasures court he must spend he must giue he must lash it out Erifila a couetous wretch keeps the bridge by which is vnderstood that many men are stopt from this course of folly in regard of the great charge and expence thereof and so stay at this bridge and though no consideration of vertue withhold them yet feare of the charge doth terrifie them But when Erifila is once ouerthrowne then they are presently receiued into the bosome of Alcyna then all the cheare sporting dauncing and courting that can be imagined is applied to the welcoming of this youthfull Rogero Thus he is drowned and viterly ouerwhelmed in this gulfe of pleasure which mine author hath set downe so liuely as it were the very picture of the Prodigall sonne spoken of in the Scripture giuen ouer to all vnthristinesse all loosenesse of life and conuersation But because the Poet knew very well that youth of it selfe hath many good gifts of nature if the same were applied and that many yong men comming to themselves againe haue become notable members of their countreys and worthy patternes of prowesse and vertue therefore he deuiseth most excellently a meane whereby Rogero vnwindeth himselfe out of the bonds of Alcyna shewing how one day being gotten from her a thing that seldome happened vnto him Melissa recalled him againe and gaue him that Ring that discouered all Alcynas trumperies and made here odious in his sight so as now he cursed her in his heart and was ashamed that euer he had set his loue so basely This is to be vnderstood that a man besotted in the fond pleasures of this world entring into godly consideration with himselfe of his owne estate heareth Melyssa which is to be vnderstood the diuine inspiration of the grace of God calling him from the damned course of life to an honest and vertuous course
minde And now euery part of the body engenders such seeds of concupiscence that nature is become a bastard sister to reason and vsurpes that gouernement that is due onely to her and leaueth her onely one castell which was so strongly situated that it was impregnable so that now reason is retired as it were to her principall fortresse to the head the rest of this kingdome being possessed by Alcyna by pleasure and fond delights Now then what maruell is it if this new Hercules described by mine author do with so great difficultie and through so many impediments claÌ„mer vp to this stately seate of Logestilla built with such rare workemanship and of such pure stuffe that a man may in the walls thereof see euen into his very soule and conscience In these men see the vertue and the vice That cleaâ—eth to their inward soule and minde Who lookes in such a glasse may grow so wise As neither flat'ring praises shall him blind With tickling words nor undeserued blame With forged faults shall worke him any shame As for those gildings and paintings that were in the Pallace of Alcyna though the show of it were glorious the substance of it was drosse and nothing but Alcumie and cosenage but these of Logestilla be precious stones indeed of inestimable vallue The looking glasse and mirrour that will shew vs how our soule and our minde is spotted oh he that would vse such a glasse what a notable Antidoton it would be against the poyson of flatterie You faire Ladies that spend so many houres in looking and prying in a glasse to see if this shadow sit handsomely if your rebatoes be well set if your wyers stand euen vpon your heads and the pendent iust in the middle of your forheads and in the least of these matters you will not beleeue your maids eyes but you will see it your selues why are you so credulous to beleeue lyers and flatterers that tell you your chastities and other womanlie vertues be extolled and praysed and will not looke in that true glasse to see if you deserue it or no It is true that men are no fit iudges of themselues because commonly they are parciall in their owne cause yet is it as true that he that will dispose him to iudge indifferentlie of himselfe can do it better then any bodie else because a man can see further into his owne minde and heart then any one else can But now to come to this faire house of Logestilla to which I would so fayne inuite you all both Lordes and Ladies that reade this discourse here be sweete gardens here be wholesome herbes here is the continuall spring Here that vnbridled horse that bare away Rogero so farre out of Europe is taught to obey the rodde and the rayne and made seruiceable and at commaundement Further by the helpe of the ring as was touched before manie that had bene transformed into brute beastes were restored to their shape againe these were such as were so drowned in vice and in beastlie pleasures that no part of the reasonable man was left in them Astolfo was restored to his shape that had bene turned into a myrtle now the myrtle was said euer to haue bene Venus tree and because he was so entangled in Venerie that he could not get himselfe out of it therefore he is fayned to haue taken roote in the ground as the tree doth and so was fastened that without Melyssas assistance he could not haue stirred from thence Thus as you see mine Authour vnder a prettie fiction hath brought you to behold the whole miserie of the life of man and there in the beginning of the seuenth booke he exhorteth men to consider the meaning of his tale Wherefore to some my tale may seeme a fable Whose wits to vnderstand it are not able But now because there are diuers kindes of errours in this laberinth of loue and as diuers meanes by which men offen as there are diuers sortes of men that offend therefore you may perceiue how my autâ—our hath filled the whole booke with sundry examples both of men and women as beside Orlando of whom I spake before whose madnesse gaue the name to his worke calling it Orlando Furioso there is Sacrapant that followes Angelica from the Indies and is still foded out by her with faire wordes There is Renaldo that is extreamely in loue with her till the water of disdaine draue away and cooled the heat of his affection and the whole booke is full of examples of men and women that in this matter of loue haue bene notable in one kinde or other of which I will touch some speciall ones and omit the rest as not so much worth the standing vpon The ordinarie kindes of loue are set downe to vs of the good and the bad in two couples Angelica and Doralice of the worse kinde and Olympia and Bradamant of the the better sort In Angelica the excellentnesse of her beautie bred such an exceeding pride that disdayning the greatest and worthyest Princes that liued in that age she cast herselfe away at last vpon a poore seruing-man for a iust recompence of her too haughtie conceipt In Doralyce is set downe a patterne of great lightnesse of manners and behauiour that first louing Rodomont and being forciblie taken by Mandricard yet in one night was so well pacified toward him that she was content to tarrie with him and in the end refused Rodomont openlie for him though in so doing one might make a reasonable excuse for her but after when Mandricard was slaine she could haue found in her heart to haue loued Rogero also In Olympia contrarie we see an honest chast loue though very hardly required yet hath it in my opinion some reproofe namely that it was too sodaine and violent But in the worthy Bradamant is a perfect patterne of true honorable loue to Rogero moued first by his value by his courage by his behauiour by his worth which made him worthie of her loue In her you shall finde no rashnesse no want of constancie of faith of all other due regards for neither could her sundry ouerthwart chances neither the expectation and length of time which is wont to breed alterations nor the obstinate couetousnesse of her father nor the vaine ambition of her mother nor the state and Empire of Leon with all the promised riches and treasures his Father and he possessed once withdraw her minde from her first loue Further Bradamant did not rashlie fall in loue as did Olympia but the Prophetesse Melyssa and tokens from aboue did encourage her to her honest loue for showing her of her noble posteritie and of all those blessings that accompanie the same so as indeed in her onely we haue a patterne of honest and commendable loue before marriage Now there are in like manner two payre of marryed women one worthie all reproch the tother meriting all praise The shamelesse Orygilla and her filchie Martano are a patterne of base
late in battell to be kild And saw the troopes without him home returned Such ioy had Sacrapant when he behild His Ladie deere his teares to smiles are turned To see her beautie rare her comely fauour Her princely presence and her stately hanour 54 Like one all rauisht with her heauenly face Vnto his loued Ladie he doth runne Who was content in armes him to embrace Which she perhaps at home wold not haue done But doubting now the dangerous time and place She must go forward as she hath begun In hope by his good seruice and assistance To make her home returne without resistance 55 And in most lou'ly manner she doth tell The strange aduentures and the diuers chance That since they two did part to her beâ—ell Both on the way and since she came to France And how Orlando vsed her right well Defending her from danger and mischance And that his noble force and magnammine Had still preseru'd the floure of her virginitie 56 It might be true but sure it was incredible To tell to one that were discreet and wise But vnto Sacrapant it seemed possâ—ble Because that loue had dasled to his eyes Loue causeth that we see to seeme inuiâ—ible And makes of things not seene a shape to rise It is a prouerbe vsed long ago We soone beleeue the thing we would haue so 57 But to himselfe thus Sacrapant doth say B' it that my Lord of Anâ—laâ—t were so mad To take no pleasure of so faire a pray When he both time and place and power had Yet am not I obliged any way To inâ—â—tate a president so bad I le rather take my pleasure while I may Then waile my want of wit another day 58 I le gather now the fresh and fragrant rose Whole beautie may with standing still be spent One cannot do a thing as I suppose That better can a womans minde content Well may they seeme much grieued for a glose And weepe and waile and dolefully lament There shall no foolish plaints nor fained ire Hinder me to encarnat my desire 59 This said forthwith he did himselfe prepare T' assault the fort that easly would be wonne But loe a sodaine hap that bred new care And made him cease his enterprise begonne For of an enemie he was aware He claspt his helmet late before vndone And armed all he mounteth one his best And standeth readie with his speare in rest 60 Behold a warrior whom he did not know Came downe the wood in semblance like a knight The furniture was all as white as snow And in the helme a plume of fethers white King Sacrapant by proofe doth plainely show That he doth take the thing in great despite To be disturbd and hindred from that pleasure That he preferd before each other treasure 61 Approching nie the warrior he defide And hopes to set him quite beside the seat The other with such loftie words replide As persons vse in choler and in heat At last when glorious vaunts were laid aside They come to strokes and each to do his feat Doth couch his speare and running thus they sped Their coursets both encountred hed to hed 62 As Lions meete or Buls in pastures greene With teeth hornes staine with bloud the field Such eger fight these warriers was betweene And eithers speare had pearst the tothers sheild The sound that of these strokes had raised beene An eccho lowd along the vale did yeeld T' was happie that their curats were so good The Lances else had pierced to the blood 63 For quite vnable now about to wheele They butt like rammes the one the others head Whereof the Pagans horse such paine did feele That ere long space had past he fell downe dead The tothers horse a little gan to reele But being spurd fall quickly vp he sped The Pagans horse thus ouerthrowne and slaine Fâ—ll backward greatly to his masters paine 64 That vnknowne champion seeing thother downe His horse vpon him lying dead in vew Exspecting in this fight no more renowne Determind not the battell to renew But by the way that leadeth from the towne The first appointed iourney doth pursew And was now ridden halfe a mile at least Before the Pagan parted from his beast 65 Like as the tiller of the fruitfull ground With sodaine storme and tempest is astonished Who sees the flash heares the thunders sound And for their masters sakes the cattell punished Or when by hap a faire old pine he found By force of raging winds his leaues diminished So stood amazd the Pagan in the place His Ladie present at the wofull case 66 He fetcht a sigh most deepely from his heart Not that he had put out of ioynt or lamed His arme his legge or any other part But chiefly he his euill fortune blamed At such a time to hap lo ouerthwart Before his loue to make him so ashamed And had not she some cause of speech found out He had remained speechlesse out of doubt 67 My Lord said she what ailes you be so sad The want was not in you but in your steed For whom a stable or a pasture had Beene fitter then a course at tilt indeed Nor is that aduerse partie verie glad As well appeares that parted with such speed For in my iudgement they be said to yeeld That first leaue off and do depart the feeld 68 Thus while she giues him comfort all she may Behold there came a messenger in post Blowing his horne and riding downe the way Where he before his horse and honor lost And comming nearer he of them doth pray To tell if they had seene passe by that cost A champion armd at all points like a knight The shield the horse and armour all of white 69 I haue both seene the knight and felt his force Said Sacrapant for here before you came He cast me downe and also kild my horse Ne know I that doth greeue me most his name Sir quoth the post the name I will not force To tell sith you desire to know the same First know that you were conquerd in this fight By vallew of a damsell faire and bright 70 Of passing strength but of more passing hew And Bradamant this damsell faire is named She was the wight whose meeting you may rew And all your life hereafter be ashamed This laid he turnd his horse and bad adew But Sacrapant with high disdaine enflamed Was first lo wroth and then so shamed thereto He knew not what to say not what to do 71 And after he had staid a while and musd That at a womans hands he had receiued Such a disgrace as could not be excusd Nor how he might reuenge it he perceiued With thought hereof his mind was so confusd He stood like one of wit and sense bereaued At last he go'th a better place to finde He takes her horse and makes her mount behind 72 Now hauing rode a mile or there about They heard a
noting in this Canto saue that it seemes in Renaldos horse Bayardo he seemes to allude to Buccphalus Alexanders horse THE SECOND BOOKE THE ARGVMENT A Frire betweene two riuals parts the fray By magicke art Renaldo hasteth home But in embassage he is sent away When tempest makes the sea to rage and fome Bradamant seekes her spouse but by the way While she about the country wyld did rome Met Pinnabel who by a craftie traine Both sought and thought the Ladie to haue slaine 1 O Blind god Loue why takst thou such delight With darts of diuers force our hearts to wound By thy too much abusing of thy might This discord great in humane hearts is found When I would wade the shallow foord aright Thou draw'st me to the deepe to haue me dround From those loue me my loue thou dost recall And place it where I find no loue at all 2 Thou mak'st most faire vnto Renaldo seeme Angelica that takes him for a foe And when that she of him did well esteeme Then he dislikt and did refuse her thoe Which makes her now of him the lesse to deeme Thus as they say the renders quit pro quo She hateth him and doth detest him so She first will die ere she will with him go 3 Renaldo full of stately courage cride Downe theese from of my horse downe by and by So robd to be I neuer can abide But they that do it dearely shall abye Also this Ladie you must leaue beside Else one of vs in her defence will dye A horse so good and such a goodly dame To leaue vnto a theefe it were a shame 4 What ' me a theefe thou in thy throat dost lye Quoth Sacrapant that was as hot as he Theefe to thy selfe thy malice I defie For as I heare the name is due to thee But if thou dare thy might and manhood trie Come take this Ladie or this hoise from me Though I allow in this of thine opinion That of the world she is the matchlesse minion 5 Like as two mastiue dogges with hungrie mawes Mou'd first to hate from hate to raging ire Approch with grinning teeth and griefly iaws With staring eyes as red as flaming fire At last they bite and scratch with teeth and claws And teare themselues and tumble in the mire So after byting and reprochfull words Did these two worthy warriets draw their swords 6 One was on foote the tother was one horse You thinke perhaps the horseman vantage had No sure no whit he would haue wisht to skoâ—ce For why at last to light he must be glad The beast did know thus much by natures force To hurt his master were a seruice bad The pagan could not nor with spur nor hand Make him vnto his mind to go or stand 7 He stops when he should make a full carite He runnes or trots when he would haue him rest At last to throw his rider in the nâ—ite He plungeth with his head beneath his breast But Sacrapant that now had small desire At such a time to tame so proud a beast Did worke so well at last by sleight and force On his left side he lighted from his horse 8 When from Bayardos ouer furious might The Pagan had himselfe discharged so With naked swords there was a noble fight Sometimes they lye aloft sometimes aloe And from their blowes the fire flies out in sight I thinke that Vulcans hammers beat more slow Where he within the mountaine Aetnas chaps Doth forge for loue the fearfull thunderclaps 9 Sometimes they profer then they pause a while Sometime strike out like maisters of the play Now stand vpright now stoup another while Now open lye then couer all they may Now ward then with a slip the blow beguile Now forward step now backe a little way Now round about and where the tone giues place There still the other presleth in his place 10 Renaldo did the Pagan Prince inuade And strike at once with all the might he cowd The other doth oppose against the blade A shield of bone and steele of temper good But through the same a way Fusberta made And of the blow reâ—ounded all the wood The steele the bone like yse in peeces broke And left his arme benummed with the stroke 11 Which when the faire and fearfull damsell saw And how great domage did ensue thereby She looked pale for anguish and for aw Like those by doome that are condemnd to dye She thinks it best her selfe from hence withdraw Else will Renaldo take her by and by The same Renaldo whom she hateth so Though loue of her procured all his wo. 12 Vnto the wood she turnes her horse in hast And takes a little narrow path and blind Her fearefull looks ofttimes she backe doth cast Still doubting lest Renaldo came behind And when that she a little way had past Alow the vale a Hermit she did find A weake old man with beard along his brest In shew deuout and holier then the rest 13 He seemd like one with fasts and age consumed He rode vpon a slouthfull going asle And by his looke a man would haue presumed That of his conscience scrupulous he was Yet her young face his old sight so illumed When as he saw the damsell by to pasle Though weake and faint as such an age behoued That charitie his courage somewhat moued 14 The damsell of the Hermit askt the way That might vnto some hav'n town lead most neare That she might part from France with out delay Where once Renaldos name she might not heare The frier that could enchaunt doth all he may To comfort her and make her of good cheare And to her safetie promising to looke Out of his bag forthwith he drew a booke 15 A booke of skill and learning so profound â— That of a leafe he had not made an end But that there rose a sprite from vnder ground Whom like a page he doth of arrants send This sprite by words of secret vertue bound Goes where these knights their combat did intend And while they two were fighting verie hard He enters them betweene without regard 16 Good sirs quoth he for courtsie sake me show When one of you the tother shall haue slaine And after all the trauell you bestow What guerdon you expect for all your paine Behold Orlando striking nere a blow Not breaking staffe while you striue here in vaine To Paris ward the Ladie faire doth carie While you on fighting vndiscreetly tarie 17 I saw from hence a mile or thereabout Orlando with Angelica alone And as for you they iest and make a flout That fight where praise and profit can be none T wer best you quickly went to seeke them out Before that any farther they be gone Within the walls of Paris if they get Your eye on her againe you shall not set 18 When as the knights this message had receiued They both remaind amazed dumbe and sad To â—eare Orlando had
them so deceiued Of whom before great iealosie they had But good Renaldo so great griefe conceiued That for the time like one all raging mad He sware without regard of God or man That he will kill Orlando if he can 19 And seeing where his horse stood still vntide He thither goes such hast he makeâ— away He offers not the Pagan leaue to ride Nor at the parâ—ng once adieu doth say Now Bayard felt his maisters spurres in side And gallops maine ne maketh any stay No riuers rocks no hâ—dge nor ditches wide Could stay his course or make him step aside 20 Nor maruell if Renaldo made some hast To mount againe vpon his horses backe You heard before how many dayes had past That by his absence he had felt great lacke The horse that had of humane wit some tast Ran not away for any iadish knacke His going onely was to this intent To guide his master where the Ladie went 21 The horse had spide her when she tooke her flight First from the tent as he thereby did stand And followd her and kept her long in fight As then by hap out of his master hand His master did not long before alight To combat with a * Baron hand to hand The horse pursude the damsell all about And holpe his master still to find her out 22 He followd her through valley hill and plaine Through woods and thickets for his masters sake Whom he permitted not to touch the raine For feare lest he some other way should take By which Renaldo though with mickle paine Twise found her out twise she did him forsake For first Ferraw then Sacrapant withstood That by twise finding her he did no good 23 Bayardo trusting to the lying sprite Whose false but likely tale so late he hard And doubting not it was both true and right He doth his dutie now with due regard Renaldo prickt with loue and raging spite Doth pricke apace and all to Paris ward To Paris ward he maketh so great shift The wind it selfe seemes not to go to swift 24 Such hast he made Orlando out to find That scant he ceast to trauell all the night So deeply stacke the storie in his mind That was of late deuised by the sprite Betimes and late as first he had assignd He rode vntill he saw the towne insight Where Charles whose chance all christned hearts did rew With the small relikes of his powre withdrew 25 And for he lookes to be assaulted then Or else besieg'd he vseth all his care To store himselfe with victuall and with men The walls eke of the towne he doth repare And take aduice both how and where and when For his defence each thing he may prepare An armie new to make he doth intend And for new souldiers into England send 26 He minds to take the field againe ere long And trie the hap of warre another day And all in hast to make himselfe more strong He sends Renaldo Englands ayd to pray Renaldo thought the Emperour did him wrong To send him in such hast and grant no stay Not that ill will to th'lland he did carie But for another cause he faine would tarie 27 Yet now although full sore against his mind As loth to leaue the Ladie he so loued Whom he in Paris hoped had to find Because t' obey his Prince it him behoued He taketh this embassage thus assignd And hauing straight all other lets remoued He posted first to Callis with great hast And there embarkt ere halfe next day was past 28 Against the mariners and masters minds Such hast he made to haue returned backe He takes the sea though swelling with great winds And threatning ruine manifest and wracke Fierce Boreas that himself despised finds Doth beate on seas with tempest foule and blacke By force whereof the waues were raisd so hie The very tops were sprinkled all thereby 29 The mariners take in their greater saile And by the wind they lie but all in vaine Then backe againe they bend without auaile Now they are out they cannot in againe No said the wind my force shall so preuaile Your bold attempts shall put you to some paine It was a folly any more to striue Needs must they follow as the wind did driue 30 In the foreship sometimes the blast doth blow Straight in the poope the seas breake to the skies Needs must they beare a saile though very low To void the waues that higher still did riâ—e But sith my web so diuerse now doth grow To weaue with many threds I must deuise I leaue Renaldo in this dangerous place And of his sister speake a little space 31 I meane the noble damsell Bradamant Of Ammon daughter and dame Beatrice In whose rare mind no noble part did want So full of value and so void of vice King Charls and France of her might rightly vauntâ—punc So chast so faire so faithfull and so wise And in the feates of armes of so great fame A man might guesse by that of whence she came 32 There was a Knight enamourd on this dame That out of Affricke came with Agramant Rogero hight so was his fathers name His mother was the child of Agolant The damsell that of worthy linage came And had a heart not made of adamant Disdained not the loue of such a knight Although he had but seeld bene in her sight 33 Long trauell and great paine she had endured And rid alone her louer to haue found Ne would she thinke her safetie more assured If with an armie she were garded round You heard before how she by force procured King Sacrapant to fall and kisse the ground The wood she past and after that the mountaine Vntill at last she saw a goodly fountaine 34 A goodly fountaine running in a field All full of trees whose leaues do neuer fade Which did to passengers great pleasure yeeld The running streame so sweete a murmur made Vpon the South a hill the Sunne did shield The ground gaue floures the groues a grateful shade Now here the dame casting her eye aside A man at armes fast by the brooke descride 35 A man at armes she spied by the brooke Whose banks with flowres of diuers hew were clad Of which sweet place he so small pleasure tooke His face did shew his heart was nothing glad His targe and helmet were not farre to looke Vpon a tree where tide his horse he had His eyes were swolne with tears his mind oppressed With bitter thoughts that had his heart distresled 36 The damsell faire entic'd by deepe desire That all but chiefly women haue to know All strangers states doth earnestly require The dolefull knight his inward griefe to show Who marking well her manner and attire Her courteous speech with him preuailed so He te's his state esteeming by the sight That needs she must haue bene some noble knight 37 Good sir said he you first must vnderstand I serued
heard it told How she that doth another man embrace Beside her husband be she yong or old Must die except within two fortnights space She find a champion stout that will vphold That vnto her no punishment is due But he that doth accuse her is vntrue 68 The King of crime that thinkes Geneura cleare Makes offer her to wed to any knight That will in armes defend his daughter deare And proue her innocent in open fight Yet for all this no champion doth appeare Such feare they haue of this Lurcanios might One gazeth on another as they stand But none of them the combat takes in hand 69 And further by ill fortune and mischance Her brother Zerbin now is absent thence And gone to Spaine I thinke or else to France Who were he here she could not want defence Or if perhap so luckie were her chance To send him notice of her need from hence Had she the presence of her noble brother She should not need the aide of any other 70 The King that meanes to make a certaine triall If faire Geneura guiltie be or no For still she stiffly stood in the deniall Of this that wrought her vndeserued wo Examines all her maids but they reply all That of the matter nothing they did know Which made me seeke for to preuent the danger The Duke and I might haue about the stranger 71 And thus for him more then my selfe afraid So faithfull loue to this false Duke I bare I gaue him notice of these things and said That he had need for both of vs beware He praisd my constant loue and farther praid That I would credit him and take no care He points two men but both to me vnknowne To bring me to a castle of his owne 72 Now sir I thinke you find by this effect How soundly I did loue him from my hart And how I prou'd by plaine course and direct My meaning was not any wayes to start Now marke if he to me bare like respect And marke if he requited my desart Alas how shall a silly wench attaine By louing true to be true lou'd againe 73 This wicked Duke vngratefull and periured Beginneth now of me to haue mistrust His guiltie conscience could not be assured How to conceale his wicked acts vniust Except my death though causlesse be procured So hard his heart so lawlesse was his lust He said he would me to his castle send But that same castle should haue bene mine end 74 He wild my guides when they were past that hill And to the thicke a little way descended That there to quite my loue they should me kill Which as you say they to haue done intended Had not your happie comming stop their will That God and you be thankt I was defended This tale Dalinda to Renaldo told And all the while their iourney on they hold 75 This strange aduenture luckily befell To good Renaldo for that now he found By this Dalinda that this tale did tell Geneuras mind vnspotted cleare and sound And now his courage was confirmed well That wanted erst a true and certaine ground For though before for her he meant to fight Yet rather now for to defend the right 76 To great S. Andrews towne he maketh hast Whereas the King was set with â—ll his traine Most carefull waiting for the trumpets blast That must pronounce his daughters ioy or paine But now Renaldo spurred had so fast He was arriu'd within a mile or twaine And through the village as he then was riding He met a page that brought them fresher tiding 77 How there was come a warriour all disguised That meant to proue Lurcanio said vntrew His colours and his armour well deuised In manner and in making very new And though that sundry sundrily surmised Yet who it was for certaine no man knew His page demaunded of his masters name Did sweare he neuer heard it since he came 78 Now came Renaldo to the citie wall And at the gate but little time he staid The porter was so readie at his call But poore Dalinda now grew sore afraid Renaldo bids her not to feare at all For why he would her pardon beg he said So thrusting in among the thickest rout He saw them stand on scaffolds all about 79 It straight was told him by the standers by How there was thither come a stranger knight That meant Geneuras innocence to try And that already was begun the fight And how the greene that next the wall did lie Was raild about of purpose for the sight This newes did make Renaldo hasten in And leaue behind Dalinda at her Inne 80 He told her he would come againe ere long And spurs his horse that made an open lane He pierced in the thickest preasse among Whereas these valiant knights had giu'n and tane Full many strokes with sturdy hand and strong Lurcanio thinks to bring Geneuras bane The tother meanes the Ladie to defend Whom though vnknowne they fauor commend 81 There was Duke Polynesso brauely mounted Vpon a courâ—er of an exc'lent race Sixe knights among the better sort accounted On foote in armes do marshall well the place The Duke by office all the rest surmounted High Constable as alwayes in such case Who of Geneuras danger was as glad As all the rest were sorrowfull and sad 82 Now had Renaldo made an open way And was arriued there in luckie howre To cause the combatto surcease and stay Which these two knights applide with al their powre Renaldo in the court appeard that day Of noble chiualrie the very flowre For first the Princes audience he praid Then with great expectation thus he said 83 Send noble Prince quoth he send by and by And cause forthwith that they surcease the fight For know that which so ere of these doth die It certaine is he dies against all right One thinks he tels the truth and tels a lie And is deceiu'd by error in his sight And looke what cause his brothers death procured That very same hath him to fight allured 84 The tother of a nature good and kind Not knowing if he hold the right or no To die or to defend her hath assignd Left so rare beautie should he spilled so I harmelesse hope to saue the faultlesse mind And those that mischiefe mind to worke them wo But first ô Prince to stay the fight giue order Before my speech proceedeth any farder 85 Renaldos person with the tale he told Mou'd so the king that straight without delay The knights were bidden both their hands to hold The combat for a time was causd to stay Then he againe with voice and courage bold The secret of the matter doth bewray Declaring plaine how Polynessos lecherie Had first contriu'd and now betrayd his trecherie 86 And proffreth of this speech to make a proofe By combat hand to hand with sword and speare The Duke was cald that stood nor farre aloofe And scantly able to conceale his feare He first
yet if I die I care not But then alas by law she dies er long O cruell lawes so sweete a wight that spare not Yet this small ioy I finde these griefes among That Polinesso to defend her dare not And she shall finde how little she was loued Of him that to defend her neuer moued 12 And she shall see me dead there for her sake To whom so great a damage the hath done And of my brother iust reuengement take I shall by whom this strife was first begun For there at least my death plaine proof shall make That he this while a foolish thred hath spun He thinketh to auenge his brothers ill The while himselfe his brother there shall kill 13 And thus resolued he gets him armour new New horse and all things new that needfull bâ—ene All clad in blacke a sad and mournfull hew And crost with wreath of yellow and of greene A stranger bare his sheeld that neither knew His masters name nor him before had seene And thus as I before rehearst disguised He met his brother as he had deuised 14 I told you what successe the matter had How Ariodant himselfe did then discouer For whom the king himselfe was euen as glad As late before his daughter to recouer And since he thought in ioyfull times and sad No man could shew himselfe a truer louer Then he that after so great wrong intended Against his brother her to haue defended 15 Both louing him by his owne inclination And praid thereto by many a Lord and knight And chiefly by Renaldos instigation He gaue to Ariodant Geneura bright Now by the Dukes atteint and condemnation Albania came to be the kings in right Which dutchie falling in so luckie houre Was giuen vnto the damsell for her dowrâ— 16 Renaldo for Dalindas pardon praide Who for her error did so sore repent That straight she vowd with honest mind and staid To liue her life in prayre and penitent Away she packt nor further time delaid In Datia to a nunrie there she went But to Rogero now I must repaire That all this while did gallop in the aire 17 Who though he were of mind and courage stout And would not easly feare or be dismaid Yet doubtlesse now his minde was full of doubt His hart was now appald and sore afraid Farre from Europa he had trauaild out And yet his flying horse could not be staid But past the pillars xij score leagues and more Pitcht there by Hercles many yeares before 18 This Griffeth horse a birde most huge and rare Doth pierce the â—kie with so great force of wing That with that noble birde he may compare Whom Poets faine Ioues lightning downe to bring To whom all other birds inferior are Because they take the Eagle for their king Scarse seemeth from the clouds to go so swift The thunderboltsent by the lightnings drift 19 When long this monster strange had kept his race Straight as a line bending to neither side He spide an Iland distant little space To which he bends in purpose there to bide Much like insemblance was it to the place Where Arethusa vsd her selfe to hide And seekes so long her loue to haue beguild â— Till at the last she found her selfe with child 20 A fairer place they saw not all the while That they had trauild in the aire aloft In all the world was not a fairer ile If all the world to finde the same were sought Here hauing trauaild many a hundred mile Rogero by his bird to rest was brought In pastures greene and hils with coole fresh aire Cleere riuers shadie banks and meddowes faire 21 Heere diuers groues there were of daintie shade Of Palme or Orenge trees of Cedars tall Of sundrie fruites and flowres that neuer fade The shew was faire the plentie was not small And arbours in the thickest places made Where little light and heat came not at all Where Nightingales did straine their little throtes Recording still their sweete and pleasant notes 22 Amid the lilly white and fragrant rose Preseru'd still fresh by warme and temprate aire The fearfull hare and cunnie carelesse goes The stag with stately head and bodie faire Doth feed secure not fearing any foes That to his damage hither may repaire The Bucke and Doe doth feed amid the fields As in great store the pleasant forrest yeelds 23 It needlesse was to bid Rogero light When as his horse approched nigh the ground He cast himselfe out of his saddle quight And on his feet he falleth safe and sound And holds the horses raines left else he might Flic quite away and not againe be found And to a mirtle by the water side Betweene two other trees his beast he tide 24 And finding thereabout a little brooke That neare vnto a shadie mountaine stands His helmet from his head forthwith he tooke His shield from arme his gantlet from his hands And from the higher places he doth looke Full oft to sea full oft to fruitfull lands And seekes the coole and pleasant aire to take That doth among the leaues a murmure make 25 Oft with the water of that cristall well He seekes to quench his thirst and swage his heate With which his veines enflam'd did rise and swell And caâ—â—d his other parts to fry in sweate Well may it seeme a maruell that I tell Yet will I once againe the same repeate He traueld had aboue three thousand mile And not put off his armour all the while 26 Behold his horse he lately tied there Among the boughs in shadie place to bide Straue to go loose and started backe for feare And puls the tree to which the raines were tide In which as by the sequell shall appeare A humane soule it selfe did strangely hide With all his strength the steed stâ—ues to be loosed By force whereof the mirtle sore was broosed 27 And as an arme of tree from bodie rent By peasants strength with many a sturdie stroke When in the fire the moisture all is spent The emptie places fild with aire and smoke Do boile and striue and find at last a vent When of the brand a shiuer out is broke So did the tree striue bend writhe wring and breake Till at a little hole it thus did speake 28 Right curteous knight for so I may you deeme And must you call not knowing other name Iâ— so you are as gracious as you seeme Then let your friendly deed confirme the same Vnloose this monster sent as I esteeme To adde some farther torment to my shame Alas mine inward griefes were such before By outward plagues they need be made no more 29 Rogero mazed looked round about If any man or woman he might see At last he was resolued of his doubt He found the voice was of the mirtle tree With which abasht though he were wise and stout He said I humbly pray thee pardon me Whether thou be some humane ghost or spright Or power deuine that in this
she sat without she walked 49 Alas why do I open lay my sore Without all hope of medcine or releefe And call to mind the fickle ioy before Now being plungd in gâ—lfes of endlesse greefe For while I thought she â—oâ—d me more and more When as I deemd my ioy and blisse was cheefe Her wauing loue away fro me was taken A new guest came the old was cleane forsaken 50 Then did I find full soone though too to late Her wanton wauering wily womans wit Accustomd in a trice to loue and hate I saw another in my seate to sit Her loue was gone forgone my happie state The marke is mist that I was wont to hit And I had perfect knowledge then ere long That to a thousand she had done like wrong 51 And least that they about the world might go And make her wicked life and falshood knowne In diuers places she doth them bestow So as abrode they shall not make their mone Some into trees amid the field that grow Some into beasts and some into a stone In rockes or riuers she doth hide the rest As to her cruell fancie seemeth best 52 And you that are arriu'd by steps so strange To this vnfortunate and fatall I le Although in youthfull sports a while you range And though Alcina fauour you a while Although you little looke for any change Although she friendly seeme on you to smile Yet looke no lesâ—e but changd at last to be Into some brutish beast some stone or tree 53 Thus though perhap my labour is but lost Yet haue â— giu'n you good and plaine aduise Who can themselues beware by others cost May be accounted well among the wise The waues that my poore ship so sore hath tost You may auoid by heed and good deuise Which if you do then your successe is such As many others could not do so much 54 Rogero did with much attention heare Astolfos speech and by his name he knew To Bradamant he was of kindred neare Which made him more his wofull state to rew And for her sake that loued him most deare To whom from him all loue againe was dew He â—ought to bring him aid and some releefe At least with comfort to asswage his griefe 55 Which hauing done he asked him againe The way that would to Logistilla guide For were it by the hils by dale or plaine He thither meant forthwith to runne or ride Astolfo answerd it would aske much paine And many a weary iourney he should bide Because to stop this way Alcina sets A thousand kinds of hindrances and lets 56 For as the way it selfe is very steepe Not pasâ—able without great toile and paine So she that in her mischiefe doth not sleepe Doth make the matter harder to attaine By placing men of armes the way to keepe Of which she hath full many in her traine Rogero gaue Astolfo many thanks For giuing him this warning of her pranks 57 And leading then the flying horse in hand Not during yet to mount a beast so wilde Least as before I made you vnderstand He might the second time haue bene beguild He meanes to go to Logistillas land A vertucus Ladie chast discreet and mild And to withstand Alcina tooth and naile That vpon him her force might not preuaile 58 But well we may commend his good intent Though missing that to which he did aspire Who iudgeth of our actions by th' euent I wish they long may want their most desire For though Rogero to resist her ment And feared her as children feare the fire Yet was he taken to his hurt and shame Euen as the flie is taken in the flame 59 For going on his way behold he spies A house more stately then can well be told Whose wals do seeme exalted to the skies From top to bottome shining all of gold A sight to rauish any mortall eyes It seemd some Alcumist did make this hold The wals seemd all of gold but yet I trow All is not gold that makes a golden show 60 Now though this stately sight did make him stay Yet thinking on the danger him foretold He left the easie and the beaten way That leadeth to this rich and stately hold And to her house where vertue beares the sway He bends his steps with all the hast he could But erâ— he could ascend the mountaines top A crew of caitiues sought his way to stop 61 A foule deformd a brutish cursed crew In bodie like to antike worke dcuised Of monstrous shape and of an vgly hew Like masking Machachinas all disguised Some looke like dogs and some like apes in vew Some dreadfull looke and some to be despised Yong shamelesse folke and doting foolish aged Some nakd some drunk some bedlem like enraged 62 One rides in hast a horse without a bit Another rides as slow an asse or cow The third vpon a Centaurs rumpe doth sit A fourth would flie with wings but knows not how The fift doth for a speare employ a spit Sixt blowes a blast like one that gelds a sow Some carrie ladders others carrie chaines Some sit and sleepe while others take the paines 63 The Captaine of this honorable band With belly swolne and puffed blubberd face Because for drunkennesle he could not stand Vpon a tortesâ—e rode a heauy pace His sergeants all were round about at hand Each one to do his office in his place Some wipe the sweat with faus some make a wind Some stay him vp before and some behind 64 Then one of these that had his feet and brest Of manlike shape but like vnto a hound In â—ares in necke and mouth and all the rest Doth vtter barking words with currish sound Part to commaund aud partly to request The valianâ— knight to leaue the higher ground And to repaire vnto Alcynas castle Or else forâ—ooth they two a pull would wrastle 65 This monster seeing his request denide Strake at Rogeros beauer with a launce But he that could no such rude iests abide With Ballâ—sarda smote him in the paunch Out came the sword a foote on th' other side With which he led his fellowes such a daunce That some hopt headlesse some cut by the knees And some their arms and some their eares did leese 66 In vaine it was their targets to oppose Against the edge of his enchanted blade No steele had force to beare those fatall blowes Vnto the quicke the sword a passage made But yet with numbers they do him inclose Their multitude his force did ouerlade He needs at least Briarius hundred armes To â—oile the foes that still about him swarmes 67 Had he remembred to vnfold the shield Atlanta carâ—â—d at his saddle bow He might haue quickly ouercome the field And cauâ—d them all without receiuing blow Like men dismaid and blind themselues to yeeld But he perhaps that vertue did not know Or if he did perhaps he would disdaine Where force did faile by fraud his will to gaine 68 But
turne vnto the caue Where lie the great and learned Merlins bones And at that tombe to crie so loud and raue As shall with pitie moue the marble stones Nor till she may some certaine notice haue Of her belou'd to stay her plaints and mones In hope to bring her purpose to effect By doing as that Prophet should direct 34 Now as her course to Poytiers ward she bent Melyssa vsing wonted skill and art Encountred her her iourney to preuent Who knew full well and did to her impart Both where her loue was and how his time he spent Which grieu'd the vertuous damsell to the hart That such a knight so valiant erst and wise Should so be drownd in pleasure and in vice 35 O poysond hooke that lurkes in sugred bait O pleasures vaine that in this world are found Which like a subtile theefe do lie in waite To swallow man in sinke of sinne profound O Kings and peeres beware of this deceit And be not in this gulfe of pleasure dround The time will come and must I tell you all When these your ioyes shall bitter seeme as gaâ—â— 36 Then turne your cloth of gold to clothes of heares Your feasts to fasts to sorrowes turne your songs Your wanton toyes and smilings into teares To restitution turne your doing wrongs Your fond securenesse turne to godly feares And know that vengeance vnto God belongs Who when he comes to iudge the soules of men It will be late alas to mend it then 37 Then shall the vertuous man shine like the sunne Then shall the vicious man repent his pleasure Then one good deed of almes sincerely done Shall be more worth then mines of Indian treasure Then sentence shall be giu'n which none shall shun Then God shall wey and pay our deeds by measure Vnfortunate and thrice accursed thay Whom fond delights do make forget that day 38 But to returne vnto my tale againe I say Melyssa tooke no little care To draw Rogero by some honest traine From this same place of feasts and daintie fare And like a faithfull friend refusd no paine To set him free from her sweet senslesse snare To which his vnkle brought him with intent His destinie thereby for to preuent 39 As oft we see men are so fond and blind To carry to their sonnes too much affection That when they seeme to loue they are vnkind For they do hate a child that spare correction So did Atlanta not with euill mind Giue to Rogero this so bad direction But of a purpose thereby to withdraw His fatall end that he before foresaw 40 For this he sent him past so many seas Vnto the I le that I before did name Esteeming lesse his honour then his ease A few yeares life then euerlasting fame For this he caused him so well to please Alcyna that same rich lasciuious dame That though his time old Nestors life had finished Yet her affection should not be diminished 41 But good Melyssa on a ground more sure That louâ—d his honor better then his weale By sound perswasions meanes him to procure From pleasures court to vertues to appeale As leeches good that in a desprate cure With steele with flame and oft with poison heale Of which although the patient do complaine Yet at the last he thankes him for his paine 42 And thus Melyssa promised her aid And helpe Rogero backe againe to bring Which much recomforted the noble maid That lou'd this knight aboue each earthly thing But for the better doing this she said It were behouefull that he had her ring Whose vertue was that who so did it weare Should neuer need the force of charmes to feare 43 But Bradamant that would not onely spare Her ring to do him good but eke her hart Commends the ring and him vnto her care And so these Ladies take their leaue and part Melissa for her iourney doth prepare By her well tried skill in Magicke art A beast that might supply her present lacke That had one red foot and another blacke 44 Such hast she made that by the breake of day She was arriued in Alcynas I le But straight she changd her shape and her array That she Rogero better might beguile Her stature tall she makes her head all gray A long white beard she takes to hide the wile In fine she doth so cunningly dissemble That she the old Atlanta doth resemble 45 And in this sort she waiteth till she might By fortune find Rogero in fit place Which very seldome hapt for day and night He stood so high in faire Alcyna grace That she could least abide of any wight To haue him absent but a minute space At last full early in a morning faire She spide him walke abroade to take the aire 46 About his necke a carknet rich he ware Of precious stones all set in gold well tride His armes that erst all warlike weapons bare In golden bracelets wantonly were tide Into his eares two rings conueyed are Of golden wire at which on either side Two Indian pearles in making like two peares Of passing price were pendent at his eares 47 His locks bedewd with waters of sweet sauour Stood curled round in order on his hed He had such wanton womanish behauiour As though in Valence he had long bene bred So changd in speech in manners and in fauour So from himselfe beyond all reason led By these inchantments of this am'rous dame He was himselfe in nothing but in name 48 Which when the wise and kind Melyssa saw Resembling still Atlantas person sage Of whom Rogero alwayes stood in aw Euen from his tender youth to elder age She toward him with looke austere did draw And with a voice abrupt as halfe in rage Is this quoth she the guerdon and the gaine I find for all my trauell and my paine 49 What was 't for this that I in youth thee fed With marrow of the Beares and Lions fell That I through caues and deserts haue thee led Where serpents of most vgly shape do dwell Where Tygers fierce and cruell Leopards bred And taught thee how their forces all to quell An Atis or Adonis for to be Vnto Alcyna as I now thee see 50 Was this foreshewd by those obserued starres By figures and natiuities oft cast By dreames by oracles that neuer arres By those vaine arts I studide in time past That thou shouldst proue so rare a man in warres Whose famous deeds to endlesse praise should last Whose acts should honord be both farre and neare And not be matcht with such another peare 51 Is this a meane or ready way you trow Which other worthy men haue trod before A Caesar or a Scipio to grow And to increase in honor more and more But to the end a man may certaine know How thrall thou art vnto Alcynas lore Thou wearest here her chaines and slauish bands With which she binds thy warlike armes and hands 52 If thou regard not thine owne
face He prayes of all good fellowship to shoe Or where she is or whither she did goe 5 When light apporcht and day began to breake By day he seekes her in the host of Turkes His passions strong do make his reason weake Yeeld to the fit that in his fancie workes Some helpe it was he could their language speake By which the safer he among them lurkes His words his weeds so like to theirs were seene As though that bred in Tripoly he had beene 6 But when he saw his staying was for nought At three dayes end away from thence he flang He left no towne of France and Spaine vnsought Ne yet this paine could ought asswage that pang Him Autumne first this wandring humor brought When frutes do fade his fruitlesse loue first sprang And lasted still his force and rage renuing Both all the spring and summer next ensuing 7 Now hauing traueld as his custome was From realme to realme he came vpon a day Where as the riuer cleare sometime as glasse That twixt the Britans and the Normans lay Was growne so high as now he could not passe The snow and raine had borne so great a sway By force wherof the bridge was ouerthrwowne The passage stopt the foords were ouerflowne 8 And looking round about the shore at large Deuising how to passe to th' other side He saw a little way from thence a barge That seemed toward him the course to guide Of which a certaine damsell had the charge To whom with voice aloud Orlando cride Intreating her because his hast was great Within the barge him to affoord a seat 9 The maid affirm'd no price the barge could hire And to command it he had no commission But promist she would grant him his desire Vpon a certaine cou'nant and condition Which was to vndertake by sword and fire For to destroy an Ile without remission A cruell I le Ebuda cald by name The wickedst place where euer creature came 10 For know quoth she beyond the Irish land There lies among the rest this gracelesse I le That yearely sends of wicked wights a band To rob to spoile to fraud and to beguile All women kinde that happen in their hand They giue for food vnto a monster vile A monster vile that vseth euerie day To haue a maid or woman for his pray 11 Of merchants and of pyrates that do come They get them store and of the fairest most Now guesse by one a day how great a somme Of women kinde within this I le are lost If then of loue you euer tasted cromme Make one within the king of Irelands host That make them readie shortly to proceed To take a faire reuenge of this foule deed 12 No sooner had Orlando heard her out But vowd to be as forward as the first To ioyne himselfe with that same worthie rout And now for loue doth euer cast the worst Within himselfe begins to cast this doubt Least that this wicked monster and accurst Had got his Ladie for a daintie bit Because he heard no newes of her aâ— yet 13 And this conceit his minde so much possest And in his heart made such a deepe impression For both in nature he did still detest All such as vnto others do oppression And much he fear'd his loue among the rest Might fall into the monsters vile possession That straight he shipt and by their due account Within three dayes he past saint Michels mount 14 But hauing passed now the milke white sand Of which the Ile of Albion takes his name The wind that in the South before did stand With â—o great furie to the Northwest came In vaine it was against the same to stand And therefore to retire it was no shame Backe in one night the tempest draue them more Then they had sayl'd three dayes and nights before 15 For when they saw it was no boote to striue Against the furie of so fearce a winde They went euen as the weather did them driue Vntill the streame of Antwerpe they did finde Where they to land with safetie did arriue There loe an aged man with yeares halfe blinde Who deemd Orlando of that crew the chiefe To this effect vtterd to him his griefe 16 How that a certaine dame of noble blood Of vertue verie great of beautie rare Of sober cheare and of behauiour good Though now opprest with miserie and care Requested him except his hast withstood That she to him a matter might declare In which to aske his wise aduice she ment To which Orlando quickly did consent 17 The Ladies pallace stood within the land To which the Earle conducted was with speed Where at the entrie did the Ladie stand In mourning shew and sorrowfull in deed Who brought Orlando sadly by the hand Into a chamber hang'd with mournfull weed First him by her to sit she doth beseech And then in ruefull sort she vs'd this speech 18 First worthy knight I would you vnderstood I was the Earle of Hollands daughter deare Who was to me so tender and so good That though my brothers both were him as neare Yet my desire in nothing he withstood Nor spake the word that I was loth to heare Thus whiles in state most stedie I did stand A certaine Duke arriued in this land 19 The Duke of Zeland and his arrant was To Bisky there against the Moores to fight His age and beautie that did others passe Moou'd me that had not tafted loues delight Nor arm'd against his darts with steele or brasse To yeeld my selfe his prisner without fight Beleeuing then as still I do and shall That he to me doth carrie loue not small 20 For while the windes contrarie here him stay Though naught for his yet exc'lent for my drift What time me seem'd each weeke was but a day The pleasant houres did slide away so swift We kept our selues togither day by day Till at the last we made vs so good shift That er we parted we had so procured Each was to other man and wise assured 21 Byreno was from hence but newly gone So is my deare beloued husbands name But that a great Ambassador anon Directly â—om the king of Friseland came To treat a certaine marriage vpon With other of that nation of good fame That to my Sire from Holland did repaire That I might marrie with his sonne and haire 22 But I in whom faith tooke so deepe a roote I could not change my new made choise and tho I would to striue with loue it was no boote That wounded me so lately with his bow To stop the motions newly set on foote Before they might to farther matter grow I would not go I flatly told my father That I to die a thousand deaths had rather 23 My louing sire that chiefest care did take That all he did might me his daughter please Agreeing to my will and for my sake My griefe so new conceiued to appease Straightway the motion of this marriage brake
lying groueling on her restlesse bed Moistning the same with water of her eies Sith two on thee did couch last night she sed Why did not two from thee together rise Accurst the wombe that false Byreno bred Accurst the day that first I saw the skies What shall I do what can I here alone Or who wo me can mitigate my mone 26 I see no man nor any signe I see That any man within this I le doth dwell I see no ship that hence may carry me With at the least some hope of being well I here shall starue it cannot other be And buried how to be I cannot tell Ah how if wolues that wander in this wood Deuoure my flesh or drinke my guiltlesse blood 27 Alas I doubt and stand eu'n now in feare Lest that some rau'nous wolfe that here abides Some Lion Tyger or some vgly Beare With teeth and clawes shall pierce my tender sides Yet what beast could with greater torment teare Then thou more fierce then any beast besides For they contented are but once to kill But thou my life a thousand times dost spill 28 But presuppose some vessell here arriue And take me from this place for pittie sake And so perchance I may be left aliue The Beares nor Lions neuer shall me take Yet will it be in vaine for me to striue Againe to Holland my repaire to make Thou keepst by force the place where I was borne Whence by deceit thou broughts me false forsworn 29 Thou tookst from me my liuing by pretence And colour of thy friendship and alliance Thy men of armes were paid by my expence I gaue thee all such was my fond affiance Or shall I turne to Flanders sith from thence I sold my selfe and am at flat defiance With all the nation whom to set thee free I quite forsooke that now ah wo is me 30 Is there for me in Friseland any place Where I refusd for thee to be a Queene The which refusall ruind all my race As by the sequell was too plainly seene O cruell hap ò strange and monstrous case The righteous God iudge thee and me betweene Was euer Tyger carried heart so hard For so firme loue to pay so foule reward 31 But what and if some pyrat wanting feare Of God and man shall take me as a slaue Thou God forbid let Tyger Wolfe and Beare First carry me a prey into their caue And there my flesh in peeces all to teare That dying I my chastitie may saue This said her raging griefe her hands addresses To offer force vnto her golden tresses 32 And euen as Hecuba fell raging mad With griefe of mind and sorrow sore oppressed To see her Polydorus little lad By kinsmans fraud and crueltie distressed So rau'd Olympia faire as though she had With twentie thousand diuels bene possessed At last she sitteth on the rocks alone And seemes as senslesse as the senslesse stone 33 And in this state I meane to let her stay Till of Rogero I haue talkt a while Who traueld in the hot and sandy way Full many weary and vnpleasant mile And now it was the middle of the day When as vpon the South side of the I le He saw three Ladies neare a little towre Did sport themselues within a pleasant bowre 34 These Ladies faire were of Alcynas crew And there refresht themselues a little space They had great store of wines both old and new And sundry kind of iunkets in like case A pretie barke there lay within their vew That did attend their pleasures in the place And wait when any little gale should blow For now was none that they might homeward go 35 Then one of these that had espide the knight At such a time and in such way to ride With courteous speech inuites him to alight The second brings him wine on th' other side And makes him farre more thirstie with the sight But these enticements could not cause him bidâ— He feares Alcyna prisner so might take him If by this stay she hapt to ouertake him 36 Euen as salt peeter mixt with brimstone pure 〈◊〉 straight when once it feeles the fire Or as the sea with winds and aire obscure Doth we â—â— and swell and euer riseth hier So they that law their words could not allure Hâ— noble mind to follow their desier Tooke high disdaine that they were so contemned And him of great discourtesie condemned 37 And straight the third as in a raging mood Said thus O creature void of all gentilitie And borne no doubt of base vnworthy blood And bred where neuer vsed was ciuilitie Ay during life fro thee depart all good Nor maâ—st thou die in quiet and tranquilitie But burned maâ—st thou be or cut in quarters Or driuen to hang thy selfe in thine owne garters 38 With these and many bitter speeches mo They raile on him and then they take their barke And câ—ast along vpon the Southerne shore That they his passage and his course might marke But he that now was gotten farre before Did little to their threats or curses harke And notwithstanding all that they contriued Yet to his ship in safetie he arriued 39 The Pilot doth Rogero much commend That from Alcyna so himselfe did saue And as a wise and well experienc'd frend Sound counsell and good precepts him he gaue And wisht that he his time would better spend And leaue fond toyes embracing wise dome graue And from the good the euill to discerne As I 〈◊〉 vsed men to learne 40 There is the food that fils and neuer cloyeth There is the loue the beautie and the grace That maketh him most blest that them enioyeth To which compar'd all ether ioyes are base There hope nor feare nor care the mind annoyeth Respect of persons nor regard of place The mind still finding perfit contentation That rests it selfe in vertuous contemplation 41 There are said he some better lessons taught Then dancings dallyings or daintie diet There shal you learne to frame your mind thought From will to wit to temperance from riet There is the path by which you may be brought Into the perfect paradise of quiet This tale the Pilot to Rogero told And all the while their course they forward hold 42 But 〈◊〉 they see a nauie vnder saile Of ships that toward them in hast did bend 〈◊〉 wrathfull striuing tooth and naile Doth thinke to fetch againe her fleeting frend But all her diligence could not auaile 〈◊〉 to returne doth not intend And of her forces he was not afraid Because that I 〈◊〉 sent him aid 43 For straight a watchman standing in a towre So high that all the hils and shore was vnder Did ring the larum bell that present houre He saw her fleet though distant farre asunder And when that now approched was their powre With cannon shot they made them such a thunder That though Alcyna threatned much and braued Yet was Rogero from her malice saued 44 Then at his first
that were not made of plaster Both that her eyes did shed such wofull teares And that the wind did waue her golden heares 83 To see her bound to heare her mourne and plaine Not onely made that he his iourney staid But causd that he from teares could scant abstaine Both loue and pitie so his heart assaid At last with words to mitigate her paine Thus much to her in louing sort he said O Ladie worthy onely of those bands Wherewith loue binds the hearts and not the hands 84 And farre vnsit for these or any such What wight was found so cruell and vnkind To banish all humanitie so much Those polisht iuory hands in chaines to bind About that corps whom none can worthely tuch With hurtfull hands vnworthy bands to wind This said she blusht seeing those parts were spide The which though faire yet nature striues to hide 85 Faine would she with her hand haue hid her eyes But that her hands were bound vnto the stone Which made her oft to breake to wofull cries Sole remedy where remedy is none At last with sobbing voice she doth deuise To tell the knight the cause of all her mone But from the sea a sodaine noise was heard That this her speech and all the matter mard 86 Behold there now appeard the monster great Halfe vnderneath and halfe aboue the waue As when a ship with wind and weather beat Doth hasten to the hau'n it selfe to saue So doth the monster hast in hope to eate The daintie morsell he was wont to haue Which sight so sore the damsell did appall Rogero could not comfort her at all 87 Yet with his speare in hand though not in rest The vgly Orke vpon the brow he strake I call him Orke because I know no beast Nor fish from whence comparison to take His head and teeth were like a bore the rest A masle of which I know not what to make He gaue him on the brow a mightie knocke But pierst no more then if it were a rocke 88 And finding that his blow so small hurt brings He turnes againe on fresh him to aslay The Orke that saw the shadow of great wings Vpon the water vp and downe to play With fury great and rage away he flings And on the shore doth leaue the certaine pray The shadow vaine he vp and downe doth chase The while Rogero layth him on a pace 89 Euen as an Eagle that espies from hiâ— Among the herbs a partie colourd snake Or on a bank sunning her selfe to lie To cast the elder skin a new to make Lies houering warily till she may spie A vantage sure the venomd worme to take Then takes him by the backe and beates her wings Mauger the poison or his forked stings 90 So doth Rogero both with sword and speare The cruell monster warily assaile Not where he fenced is with grizly heare So hard as that no weapon could preuaile But sometime pricks him neare vnto his eare Sometime his sides sometimes his vgly taile But nature had with such strong fences armd him As all his blowes but small or nothing harmd him 91 So haue I seene ere this a silly flie With mastiue dog in sommers heate to play Sometime to sting him in his nose or eie Sometime about his grizly iawes to stay And buzzing round about his eares to flie He snaps in vaine for still she whips away And oft so long she dallies on this sort Till one snap comes and marreth all her sport 92 But now Regero doth this sleight deuise Sith that by force he cannot make him yeeld He meanes to dazle both the monsters eies By hidden force of his enchanted sheeld And being thus resolu'd to land he flies And from all harme the Ladie faire to sheeld He puts the precious ring vpon her hand Whose vertue was enchantments to withstand 93 That ring that worthy Bradamant him sent When she from false Brunello had it tane With which Melyssa into India went And wrought his freedome and Alâ—ynas bane That ring he lends the damsel with intent To saue her eyes by vertue of the same Then takes he forth the shield whose light so dazed The lookers oâ— they fall downe all amazed 94 The monster now approching to the shore Amazd at this resistance none did make Regero hewes vpon him more and more But his hard scales no harme thereby did take Oh sir said she vnloosen me before Out of this maze the monster do awake And let your sword slay me this present houre So as this monster may not me deuoure 95 These wofull words mou'd so Rogeros mind That straight he did vnloose the Lady faire And causd her by and by to get behind Vpon his horse then mounting in the aire He leaues his Spanish iourney first assignd And vnto little Brittain doth repaire But by the way be sure he did not misse To giue her many a sweet and friendly kisse 96 And hauing found a solitary place A pleasant groue well waterd with a spring Which neuer herd nor herdman did deface Where Philomela vsed still to sing Here he alights minding to stay a space And hither he the Lady faire did bring But sure it seemd he made his full account Ere long vpon a better beast to mount 97 His armour made him yet a while to bidâ— Which forced stay a more desire did breed But now in him it was most truly tride Oft times the greater hast the worse the speed He knits with hast two knots while one vntide But soft t is best no furder to proceed I now cut off abruptly here my rime And keepe my tale vnto another time In Byreno that abandoned his kind Olympia in a desolate Iland and fell in loue with another we may note an example of ingratitude the monsirous fault of all faults and most odious before God and man and herein learne to abhor and detest this vice in him and in all others that hauing received preferment or aduancement either by men or women when they haue done shake them off like horses that be lame or garments that be old preferring one to the mill the other to the dunghill or as our Stukley said make as much of his wife as he could and if any could make more of her they might take her after he had gotten many thousand pounds by making much of her In the spiteful words that one of Alcynas women spake of Rogero we may obserue the maner of want on worldlings that if they see a young man live temperatly or go plainly or speake deuoutly straight they say he is a base fellow and one that knowes not what belongs to a Gentleman which foolish maner of phrase by Rogeros example we must learne to contemne and know that such men are indeed base as thinke temperance and sobrietie and deuotion base qualities Finally in Rogeros trauell about the world we may see how commendable it is for a yong gentleman to trauel abrode into
Within this place both weeks months had tarried 11 Orlando when he saw he could not learne Where this same theefe his mistresse had conuaid Thought she was carride out at some posterne Wherfore within no longer time he staid But walkes about the cattle to discerne Iâ— that were true of which he was asf aid But as he â—alked vp and downe the plaine He thought he heard her call him backe againe 12 And to a window casting vp his eve He thought he saw her face full of diuinitie And that he heard her plainly thus to crie Onoble wight of proued magnanimitie Helpe now or neuer helpe alas shall In mine Orlandos sight leese my virginitie Kill me or let a thousand deathes befall me Rather then let a villaine so to thrall me 13 These wofull speeches once or twise repeted Caus'd him returne into the house againe And searching once againe he chaste and freted Hope still asswaging somewhat of his paine And oft he heard the voice that counterfeted The speech of his Angelica most plaine From side to side he follow'd still the sound But of Angelica no signe he found 14 Now while Orlando tarrid in this traunce In hope for to auenge his mistresse harmes Rogerâ— who I told you had this chaunce To see his Fradamant in gyants armes Drawne to this place with such another daunce Namely by force of some vnusuall charmes Saw first the gvant in this castle enter And after him he boldly doth aduenter 15 But when he came within the castle walls And made much narrow search as in such case In garrets towrs in parlers and in halls And vnder staires and many a homely place Oft casting doubts what hurt his loue befalls Or left the theefe were gone in this meane space Forthwith he walketh out into the plaine And heares a voice recall him backe againe 16 That voice that lately did Orlando make Returne in hope Angelica to finde Rogero now for Bradamant doth take Whose loue no lesse possest his carefull minde And when the voice vnto Gradasso spake Or Sacrapant or Brandimart most kinde To euerie one of these it plainely seemed To be her voice whom ech one best esteemed 17 Atlanta had procur'd this strange inuention Thereby to keepe Rogero from mischance Because he saw it was the heauens intention That he by treason should be kild in France Ferraw and those of whom I last made mention Whith all whom vallew highest did aduance To keepe him companie he here detained With good prouision while they here remained 18 And while these knights with strange enchanments bound Do here abide behold the Indian queene Angelica that late her ring had found Whose vettue can her cause to go vnseene And also frustrate magicke skill profound Now longing home where long she had not been And being now of needfull things prouided Yet wants she one that her might hom haue guided 19 Orlandos companie she would haue had Or Sacrapant she car'd not which oftwaine Not that of eithers loue she would be glad For them and all the world she did disdaine But for the way was dangerous and bad In time of warre to trauell France and Spaine She wisht for her owne safetie and her ease To haue the companie of one of these 20 Wherefore a while she trauels vp and downe To seek for them that long in vaine had sought her And passing many woods and many a towne Vnto this place at last good fortune brought her Where wheÌ„ she saw these knights of great renowne Thus seeke for her she scant abstaines froÌ„ laughter To see Atlantas cunning and dissembling Her person and her voice so right resembling 21 Her selfe vnseene sees them and all the rest Now meanes she sure to take one of them two But yet she knowes not which her doubtfull brest Did stay as vnresolued what to do Orlandos vellew could defend her best But then this doubt is added thereunto That when she once so highly had prefard him She shall not know againe how to discard him 22 But Sacrapant although she should him lift High vp to heauen yet maketh the no doubt But she will find some sleight and pretie shift With her accustom'd coynesse him to lout To him she goes resolued of this drift And straight the precious ring she taketh out From of her mouth which made her go concealed With mind to him alone to be reuealed 23 But straight came in Orlando and Ferraw That both desired her to haue enioyd Thus all of them at once their goddesse saw Not being now by magickâ— art annoyd For when the ring on finger she did draw She made vnwares all their enchantments voyd These three were all in complet armor saue Ferraw no headpeece had nor none would haue 24 The cause was this he solemnely had sworne Vpon his head no helmet should be set But that that was by stour Orlando worne Which he did erst from Traians brother get Ferraw to weare a helmet had forborne Since with the ghost of Argall he had met Thus in this sort they came together armed By vertue of her ring now all vncharmed 25 All three at once do now the damsell vew All three at once on her would straight haue seased All three her faithfull louers were she knew Yet with all three at once she is displeased And from all three she straight her selfe withdrew Who haply one at once would her haue pleased From henceforth none of them she thinks to need But that the ring shall serue in all their steed 26 She hastens hence and will no longer stay Disdaine and feare together make her swift Into a wood she leades them all the way But when she saw there was none other shift Into her mouth the ring she doth conuay That euer holpe her at the deadest list And out of all their fights forth with she vanished And leaues them all with wonder halfe astonished 27 Onely one path there was and that not wide In this they followd her with no small hast But she first causd her horse to step aside And standeth still a while till they were past And then at better leisure she doth ride A farre more easie pace and not so fast Vntill they three continuing still their riding Came to a way in sundry parts diuiding 28 And comming where they found no further tracke Ferraw that was before the tother two In choler and in fury great turnd backe And askt the other what they meant to do And as his maner was to brag and cracke Demaunded how they durst presume to wo Or follow her whose propertie he claimed Except they would of him be slaine or maimed 29 Orlando straight replide thou foolish beast Saue that I see thou doest an helmet want I would ere this haue taught thee at the least Hereafter with thy betters not to vant Ferraw doth thankâ— him for his care in ieast And said it shewd his wits were very scant For as he was he would not be afraid To
will be to trye And how your heart wil faile and hand wil tremble When you shall go about to make one dye That shall Rogeros shape so right resemble But in this case you may not trust your eye But all your sprites and forces all assemble For this assure you if you let him go You worke your owne and your Rogeros wo. 47 The Prouerbe faith one that is warn'd is armd The which old saw doth proue by due construction That they that after warning had are harmd Did ill regard or follow good instruction Now Bradamant rides to the place so charmd And vowd that old Magicians destruction And that they may the tedious way beguile They spend the time in pleasant talke the while 48 And oft Melissa doth to her repeat The names of those that should be her posteritie That should in force and deeds of armes be great But greater in Religion and sinceritie Atchiuing many a strange and worthy feat And vse both head and hand with great dexteritie In ruling iust and bountifull in giuing Cesars in fight and saints in godly liuing 49 Now when Melissa sage such things did show The noble Lady modestly replide Sith God quoth she doth giue you skill to know The things that shall in future times betide And meanes on me vnworthy to bestow An issue such as few shall haue beside Tell me among so many men of name Shall there no woman be of worthy fame 50 Yes many a one said she both chast and wife Mothers to such as beare imperiall crownes Pillars and staves of roiall families Owners of realmes of countries and of townes Out of thy blessed offpring must arise Such as shal be eu'n in their sober gownes For chastitie and modestie as glorious As shall their husbands be in warre victorious 51 Nor can I well or do I now intend To take vpon me all their names to tell For then my speech would neuer haue an end I finde so many that deserue so well Onely I meane a word or two to spend Of one or two that do the rest excell Had you but talkt hereof in Merlins caue You should haue seen the shapes that they shal haue 52 Shall I begin with her whose vertue rare Shall with her husband liue in happie strife Whether his valiant actions may compare Or be preferd before her honest life He fights abroad against king Charles at Tare She staid at home a chast and sober wife Penelope in spending chast her dayes As worthie as Vlysses was of praise 53 Then next dame Beatrice the wife sometime Of â—â—dwickeSforze surnamed eke the More Wise and discreet and knowne without all crime Of fortunes gifts and natures hauing store Her husband liu'd most happie all her time And in such state as few haue liu'd before But after fell from being Duke of Millen To be a captiue fetterd like a villen 54 To passe the famous house I should be sorie Of Aragon and that most worthie queene Whose match in neither greeke nor latine storie Or any writer else hath euer beene And full to perfite her most worthy glorie Three worthie children shall of her be seene Of whom the heauens haue pointed her the mother Istell by name Alfonso and his brother 55 As siluer is to tinne as gold to brasse As roses are to flowres and herbs more base As diamonds and rubyes are to glasse As cedars are to sallows in like case Shall famous Leonora others passe In vertue beautie modestie and grace But aboue all in this she shall excell In bringing vp her children passing well 56 For as the vesseil euer beares a tast Of that same iuyce wherwith it first was filled And as in fruitfull ground the seed growes fast That first is sowne when as the same is tilled So looke what lore in youthfull yeares is plast By that they grow the worse or better willed When as they come to manly age and stature Sith education is another nature 57 Then next her neece a faire and famous dame That hight Renata I may not forget Daughter to Lews the xij king of that name Whom of the Britten Dutches he did get Whose vertue great shall merite lasting fame While fier shal be warme and water wet While wind shall blow earth stand firm sound And heau'nly sphears shall run their courses round 58 I passe all those that passe all these some deale Whose soules aspiring to an higher praise Despising pompe and ease and worldly weale In sacred rytes shall spend their blessed dayes Whose hearts and holy loue and godly zeale To heau'nly ioyes from earthly thoughts shall raise That to good workes to prayre and pure diuinitie Shall consecrate their liues and their virginitie 59 Thus doth Melyssa vnto her discourse Of those should come hereafter of her seed And while they talked oft by entercourse They in their iourney onward do proceed And oftentimes Melyssa hath recourse To will her of Atlanta take great heed And least she should with faint and foolish kindnes Be led vnwares in error and in blindnes 60 Now when they neare approched to the place Then Bradamant departed from her guide And after she had rode a little space She saw one brought with hands togither tide Exceeding like Rogero in the face In voice in stature haire and all beside Bound fast with chaines betweene two gyants led That threttend him er long he should be ded 61 But when the damsell saw within her vew The lamentable state and hard condicion Of him whose face she certaine thought she knew She changeth straight her trust into suspicion Doubting Melyssa of some malice new Or hidden hate had giu'n her such commission To make Rogero for a greater spite Be slaine by her in whom he doth delight 62 Is not this he thus to her selfe she spake Whom stil mine heart and now mine eies do see If my Rogero I can so mistake I neuer shall haue knowledge which is he I either dreame and am not now awake Or else no doubt it can none other be Melyssa what may not Melyssa lye Shall I beleeue her tale and not mine eye 63 Now while that thus she thought and thus she said And in this vnwise doubt did thus perseuer She thought she heard him speake and aske for aid Saying my loue assist me now or neuer What shall I in thy fight be so betraid Doest thou forsake me then farewell for euer These vnkind words her heart so greatly daunted She followes him into the house inchaunted 64 No sooner was she enterd in the gate But that the common error her possest Wandring about the house betimes and late Nor night nor day she taketh any rest The strange inchantment brought her in that state That though she saw the man that lou'd her best And spake with him and met him eu'rie howre To know the tone the tother had no powre 65 But let not now the reader be displeased Although I
time great lords and knights repaired thither Allured by the same of such a feast I told you from the holy citie hither Was fiue or sixe dayes iourney at the least But all the townes about both small and great Are not like this for state and fruitfull seat 13 For first beside the cleare and temprat aire Not noid with sommers heat nor winters cold There are great store of buildings large and faire Of carued stone most stately to behold The streetes all pau'd where is their most repaire And all the ground is of so fruitfull mold That all the yeare their spring doth seeme to last And brings them store of fruites of daintie tast 14 Aboue the Citie lies a little hill That shades the morning sunne in erly houres Of waters sweet which here we vse to still They make such store with spice and iuyce of flowrs As for the quantitie might driue a mill Their gardens haue faire walkes and shady bowrs But that which chiefe maintaineth all the sweets Two christall streames do runne a mid the streets 15 Such was the natiue beautie of the towne But now because they looke for great resort Of Princes and of Lords of great renowne They decke their citie in another sort Each Ladie putteth on her richest gowne Each house with Arras hang'd in stately port The noble youths do stand vpon comparison Whose horse doth best who weares the best caparisâ— 16 Thus Griffin and his mates come to this place And first they view these shows with great delight And after they had rode a little space A curteous squire perswades them to alight And praieth them to do his house that grace To eate and take their lodgings there that night They thanke him for his kind an friendly offer And straight accept the courtsie he doth profer 17 They had set downe before them costly meat Of sundrie wines there was no little store Of precious fruits the plentie was so great As they had seldome seene the like before The while their host doth vnto them repeat The cause of all this feasting and wherefore The king appointed all these solemne sports To draw togither knights of sundrie sorts 18 But Griffin though he came not for this end For praise and brauerie at tilt to runne But came to find his fleeting female frend Yet was his courage such he would not shunne In these braue sports some little time to spend Where of well doing honor might be wonne He promist straight though little were his leasure Before he go to see and shew some pleasure 19 And first he asketh farther of the feast If it were new ordaind or else of old His host replieth thus my worthie guest I shall in briefe to you this thing vnfold Our Prince the greatest Prince in all the East Hath newly pointed this great feast to hold This is the first but all of his retinew Mind ech fourth month this custome to continew 20 In token of great gladnes and great ioy By all the citie is the feast begunne In token of the danger and annoy That Norandin our king did lately shunne Lockt vp foure months where he could not enioy The vse of earth of water aire nor sunne Yet at the four months end by hap he scaped The death with yawning mouth on him that gaped 21 But plaine to shew you whence did come the seed Of which this danger seemed first to grow Loue did to Norandin this danger breed The king of Cypres daughter pleasd him so Because her beautie did the rest exceed To see her needs in person he would go He saw he likt he woode he wun he marrid her And homward then by ship he would haue carid her 22 But lo a wind and tempest rose so sore As three dayes space they looked to be drownd And made them land vpon an vnknowne shore Where straight we pitcht our tents vpon the ground And for of trees and grasse there was good store The King in hope some venson to haue found Into the next adioyning wood doth goe Two pages beare his quiuer and his boe 23 His meaning was some stag or buck to kill We wait his comming in the tent at ease When suddenly such noise our eares doth fill As winds in woods and waues do make in seas And ay more nie vs it approched till We plaine might see vnto our sore disease A monster huge that ran along the sand Destroying all that in the way did stand 24 This Orke for so men do the monster call Directed straight his course vpon our tent His eyes were out how ere it did befall But yet he was so quicke and sharpe of sent As all his blindnesse holpe not vs at all He hunteth like a spaniell by the vent His sent is such as none can hope to shunne him His pace is such as no man can outrunne him 25 Thus whether they prepar'd to fight or fly Or whether feare both sight and flight did let He takes them as his prisners by and by Of fortie ten scarce to the ship could get Among the other prisners tane was I Whilst I our Queene in safetie would haue set But all in vaine to flie it did not boote He was so quicke of sent aud swift of foote 26 As shepheards hang a wallet at their wast So at his gudle hangs a mightie sacke In which the better sort of vs he plast The rest he bound together in a packe And to his caue that was most huge and vast He beares vs hopelesse euer to come backe A comely matron in this den he had Maids faire and foule some poore some richly clad 27 Beside this female family of his He hath a caue wherein he keepes his flocke That caue in length and largenesse passeth this Made all by hand out of the stonie rocke And for mans flesh his chiefest daintie is Into the caue he safely doth vs locke The while he leades abroade his goates and sheepe Which in the fields adioyning he doth keepe 28 The King not knowing this returned backe The silence that he found some feare did breed But when he found his wife and men were lacke He then to sea did hast him with great speed He sees plaine signes of hast of spoyle of wracke Yet knowes he not the author of this deed Vntill he had his ship by hap recouered Then by his men the fact was plaine discouered 29 When he had heard at last the wofull newes How greatly was his heart surprysd with griefe What gods what fortune did he not accuse For all his losses but Lucyna chiefe But dangers all and death he first will chuse Ere he then leaue his loue without reliefe He either will her libertie procure Or else he will like chance with her endure 30 He leaues his ship and goes by land apace There where the monster had his loue conuaid And often wailes her hard and wofull case Desiring and despairing of her aid Now came he in the kenning of
Griffino vnto whom I gaue them He shall be pleasd I hope and not to haue them 59 I will him recompence some other way And giue him gifts of as great worth or more Thanks to your highnesse Griffin straight doth say Preserue me in your grace I aske no more But when Marfisa saw that eu'ry way They honord her she chang'd her mind before To shew magnificence she vsd this drift That he must take this armor as her gift 60 And thus good friends all turned back againe And then with double ioy the feast they hold In which chiefe praise did Sansonet obtaine The other foure did then themselues withhold Wishing the praise should vnto him remaine And then with greater cheare then can be told By Norandino they were nobly feasted And there themselues they well repos'd and rested 61 Seu'n dayes or eight the King them entertained And those once past of him their leaue they take The which with gifts and honor great obtained Vnto the towne of Tripoly they make And in one companie these fiue remained And mind not one the other to forsake As long as one of them was left aliue Vntill in France they safely should arriue 62 And straight they get a vessell for their hire A merchants ship new laden from the West The master of the ship an auncient fire Consented to their wils with small request The wind as then seru'd fit for their desire And blowes a gentle gale all from the East So that with filled sailes in little while They came as farre as Cypres Venus I le 63 Here eu'ry place was full of odours sweet Of gardens faire of spice of pleasant tast The people lustfull for dame Venus meet From tender yeares to doting age do last With wanton damsels walking in each street Inuiting men to pleasure and repast From hence againe they loosed at what time Don Phaebus charret vnto th' East did clime 64 The weather still was temperat and cleare A pleasant gale their swelling sailes did fill No signe of storme or tempest did appeare To such as in the weather had best skill But loe the weather oft doth change her cheare Eu n as a woman oft doth change her will For sodainly they had such stormes of wether As if that heau'n and earth would come together 65 The aire doth on the sodaine grow obscure But lightned oft with lightnings dreadfull light And saue their houreglasse kept them reckning sure T was hard for to discerne the day from night The desprat marriners do all endure As men inured to the waters spight The heau'ns aboue the waues beneath do rore Yet are not they dismaid one whit therefore 66 One with a whistle hang'd about his necke Showes by the sound which cord must be vndone And straight the shipboy readie at a becke Vnto the tops with nimble sleight doth runne The other marriners vpon the decke Or at the steere the comming waues do shunne And then by turnes they pumpe the water out By paine and care preuenting eu'rie doubt 67 Now while this noble crew with tempest tost Went in the sea as winde and weather draue And looke each minute to be drownd and lost The Christians with a fresh assault and braue Set on the Pagans sorely to their cost Who now began the worser side to haue But chiefly then their courage gan to quaile When noble Dardanellos life did faile 68 Renaldo him had noted from the rest Full proud of slaughter of so many foes And to himselfe he said t is surely best To crop this weed before it higher growes Therewith he sets his fatall speare in rest And cries to Dardanello as he goes Alas poore boy much wo to thee they bred That left to thee that sheild of white and red 69 He trie if you defend those colours well He saith which if with me you cannot do Against Orlando fierce I can you tell For to defend them will be great adoe Thus said Renald and noble Dardanell In valiant wise thus answerd thereunto Know this quoth he that these my colours I Will brauely here defend or brauely die 70 With that he spurr'd his horse as this he spake And with great force Renaldo did assaile But loe the staffe vpon his armor brake So as his blow but little did auaile But straight Renaldos speare a way did make And pierce the double folds of plate and maile And went so deepe into the tender skin The life went out there where the staffe went in 71 Looke how a purple flowre doth fade and drie That painefull plowman cutteth vp with sheare Or as the Poppeys heads a side do lie When it the bodie cannot longer beare So did the noble Dardanello die And with his death fild all his men with feare As waters runne abrode that breake their bay So fled his souldiers breaking their array 72 They flie vnto their tents with full perswasion That of the field the masterie was lost Wherefore to fortifie against inuasion They spare no time no trauell nor no cost Now Charles by forhead meanes to take Occasion And follows them full close with all his host And comming to their tents so brauely venterd That he with them themselues almost had enterd 73 Had not his valiant attempt bene staid By ouer hastie comming of the night So that of force as then it was delaid And either side was driu'n to leaue the fight But with this difference all the Turks dismaid And newly gatherd from their fearfull flight The Christians on the tother side pursewing And day by day their hope and powre renewing 74 The number of the Turks that day were slaine Was more then fourscore thousand as they say Their bloud did fat the ground of all that plaine And makes the ground more fertile to this day Among the dead some men halfe dead remaine Left there for theeues and robbers as a pray Within the Pagan campe great mone they make Some for their friends some for their kinsfolks sake 75 Two youths there were among so many more Whose friendship fast and firme whose faithful harts Deserued to be plast the rest before And to be praised for their good desarts Their names were Cloridano and Medore Both borne farre hence about the Ester parts Their parents poore and not of our beleefe Yet for true loue they may be praised chiefe 76 The elder of the two hight Cloridan An hunter wilde in all his life had beene Of actiue limbs and eke an hardie man As in a thousand men might well be seene Medoro was but yong and now began To enter too of youth the pleasant greene Faire skind black eyd and yellow curled heare That hangd in louely locks by either eare 77 These two among the rest kept watch that night And while the time in sundry speech they spent Medoro oftentime most sadly sight His masters death did cause him so lament Oh said Medoro what a wofull spight What cruell scourge to me
other straid Orlando falls starke mad with sorrow taken To heare his mistres hath him quite forsaken 1 LEt eu'rie one do all the good they can For seldom cometh harme of doing well Though iust reward it wāteth now and than Yet shame and euill death it doth expell But he that mischieueth another man Doth seldome carrie it to heau'n or hell Men say it and we see it come to passe Good turns in sand shrewd turns are writ in brasse 2 Seeld mountains meet but men may often meet The Prouerbe saith and who so sets a trap May catch himselfe as here you plainly se e't In him that thought this dame in woes to wrap But hurts himselfe a punishment most meet God still defending her from all mishap God her preseru'd and will all those preserue As shunne all vice and him sincerely serue 3 It little did auaile to Pinnabell To be amid his kinsfolke and his frends And neare the castle where his fire did dwell Where eu'rie one him honours and attends Loe here the end of him doth plainly tell How wicked liues haue often wretched ends But to proceed I said when he was slaine The noble damsell sought her way againe 4 Which when she saw she could by no meanes know But more and more vncertainly did roue And sees the sunne was now declining low She meanes that night to rest her in the groue And sleepe sometime or else sometime I trow To looke on Mars on Saturne or on Ioue But chiefly whether she awakes or sleepes Rogeros image in her heart she keepes 5 Oft times she fretting to her selfe would say Loe hare with me farre more preuailed hath Then loue could do that now haue lost my way And left my comfort to auenge my wrath Nor had my wit so much forecast or stay To take some marke of my foretrodden path I did quoth she as fooles are wont to do Take one shrewd turne to do another two 6 These words and many like to these she spake To passe the rest of that her restlesse night Till starres gan vanish and the dawning brake And all the Easter parts were full of light Then at aduenture she her way doth take Not knowing yet if it were wrong or right And hauing traueld in that way some miles By hap Astolfo came that way the whiles 7 He rides the winged horse but in his hand He leades the famous Rabican behinde And eu'n as then in great doubt he did stand Where to bestow a beast of so good kind She knowing him went to him out of hand With words with showes and with embracements kind And ioyd to find this kinsman of her owne And vnto him her selfe she maketh knowne 8 Astolfo much reioyst at this their meeting Then one the other askt of their well fare And after their long talke and friendly greeting In which each shewd of other louing care Sith I quoth he intend hence to be fleeting To see what sights in forren countries are This horse of me I shall request you take Till I returne and keepe him for my sake 9 Also he said this corslet and this speare With you I leaue till I returne againe This speare the sonne of Galafren did beare Whom as you heard before Ferraw had slaine With head whereof if any touched were Straight wayes to fall to ground they must be faine All these he left behind to make him light Before that he begins to take his flight 10 Thus leaue once tane away the Duke doth sore First low and after still more hye and hye Till at the length she could him see no mores So doth the Pylot first with watchfull eye Guide out his vessell softlie by the shore While he doth thinke the rocks and shallowes nye But after when he dreads no more such doubts He sayles apace and claps on all his clouts 11 Now when the Duke was from the damsell gone What she might do she mused in her minde And carefully she meditates thereon How she may take the iourney first assignd And not neglect her kinsmans charge anon A wandring peasant t was her hap to finde To him she doth betake the horses spare Though of the wayes they both vnskilfull are 12 Her meaning was to go to Vallumbrose As first her loue and she concluded had Whom there to finde she certaine doth suppose Whom there to find she would haue bene full glad But loe a quite contrarie course she goes And sees a sight that made her then full sad Her fathers house Montalbanie she spide In which as then her mother did abide 13 If she shall forward go approching nire She shal be stayed there she stands in doubt If she stand still or backward do retire She feares to meet acquaintance there about If she be staid she feeles such burning fire Of longing loue as cannot be put out She chaunst amid these thoughts and many other To meet Alardo there her younger brother 14 This meeting in her minde bred much vexation When as she found her brother her had spide And made her alter her determination Which that she might from him the better hide She vsd some common words of salutation And to Montalban with him she doth ride Where as her mother full of care and feare Had wisht and wayted for her comming there 15 But all those kind embracings and those kisses She had of parent kinsmen kinde and friends She deems of little vallue to those blisses That she had lost and thought them small amends But sith to meet Rogero now she misles To send a messenger she now intends Some such to whom she may commit the charge To tell her mind vnto her loue at large 16 And if neede were to pray him in her name As he had promist her to be baptised And to excu'e that thither she not came As they togither had before deuised Besides his horse Frontino by the same She sent a horse of goodnes nor despised No horse in France or Spaine esteemed more Bayardo sole except and Brigliadore 17 Rogero if you call it well to minde What time the Griffith horse he first did take That soard away as swift as western winde And forst him quickly Europe to forsake That gallant beast Frontino left behind Whom Bradamant then for his masters sake Tooke home and with much care and costly feeding Made him by this time faire and fat exceeding 18 And straight her mayds and women seruants all That skilfull were to few to weaue and knit She doth to worke in hast togither call And she her selfe among them all doth sit To worke a net of art and cost not small For his caparison to make it fit When this was done and finisht straight way after She calls her nurse Callitrifeas daughter 19 This mayd knew best her minde of all the rest And off had heard her praising to the skyes Rogeros comly shape aud valiant brest His sugred speech sweet face
with fancie she was ouerseene To marry with a page of meane desarts Thus loue quoth he will haue his godhead seene In famous Queens and highest Princes harts This said to end the tale he shewd the iewell That she had giu'n him which Orlando knew well 95 This tale and chiefly this same last conclusion Was eu'n a hatchet to cut of all hope When loue had after many a vaine collusion Now for his farewell lent him such a rope To hang himselfe and drowne him in confusion Yet faine he would denie his sorrow scope And though a while to shew it he forbeares It breaketh out at last in sighs and teares 96 And as it were inforst he giues the raine To raging griefe vpon his bed alone His eyes do shed a very showre of raine With many a scalding sigh and bitter grone He slept as much as if he had then laine Vpon a bed of thornes and stuft with stone And as he lay thereon and could not rest him The bed itselfe gaue matter to molest him 97 Ah wretch I am thus to himselfe he sed Shall I once hope to take repose and rest me In that same house yea eu'n in that same bed Where my vngratefull loue so leudly drest me Nay let me first an hundred times be ded First wolues deuoure and vultures shall digest me Straight vp he starts and on he puts his clothes And leaues the house so much the bed he lothes 98 He leaues his host nor once doth take his leaue He far'd so ill he bids them not farewell He leaues the towne his seruants he doth leaue He rides but where he rides he cannot tell And when alone himselfe he doth perceaue To weepe and waile nay eu'n to houle and yell He doth not cease to giue his griefe a vent That inwardly so sore did him torment 99 The day the night to him were both aleeke Abroade vpon the cold bare earth he lies No sleepe no food he takes nor none would seeke All sustenance he to himselfe denies Thus he began and ended halfe the weeke And he himselfe doth maruell whence his eyes Are fed so long with such a spring of water And to himselfe thus reasons on the matter 100 No no these be no teares that now I shed These be no teares nor can teares run so rife But fire of frenzie drawth vp to my head My vitall humor that should keepe my life This streame will neuer cease till I be dead Then welcome death and end my fatall strife No comfort in this life my wo can minish But thou who canst both life and sorrow finish 101 These are not sighs for sighs some respite haue My gripes my pangs no respite do permit The blindfold boy made me a seeing slaue When from her eyes my heart he first did hit Now all inflam'd I burne I rage and raue And in the midst of flame consume no whit Loue sitting in my heart a master crewell Blowes with his wings feeds with his will the fewel 102 I am not I the man that earst I was Orlando he is buried and dead His most vngratefull loue ah foolish lasse Hath kild Orlando and cut off his head I am his ghost that vp and downe must passe In this tormenting hell for euer led To be a fearfull sample and a iust To all such fooles as put in loue their trust 103 Thus wandring still in wayes that haue no way He hapt againe to light vpon the caue Where in remembrance of their pleasant play Medoro did that epigram ingraue To see the stones againe his woes display And her ill name and his ill hap depraue Did on the sudden all his sence inrage With hate with fury with reuenge and rage 104 Straightways he draweth forth his fatall blade And hewes the stones to heau'n the shiuers flee Accursed was that fountaine caue and shade The arbor and the flowres and eu'ry tree Orlando of all places hauocke made Where he those names together ioynd may see Yea to the spring he did perpetuall hurt By filling it with leaues boughs stones and durt 105 And hauing done this foolish franticke feate He layes him downe all weary on the ground Distemperd in his bodie with much heate In mind with paines that no tongue can expound Three dayes he doth not sleepe nor drinke nor eate But lay with open eyes as in a sound The fourth with rage and not with reason waked He rents his clothes and runs about starke naked 106 His helmet here he flings his poulderns theare He casts away his curats and his shield His sword he throws away he cares not wheare He scatters all his armor in the field No ragge about his bodie he doth beare As might frō cold or might from shame him shield And saue he left behind this fatall blade No doubt he had therwith great hauocke made 107 But his surpassing force did so exceed All common men that neither sword nor bill Nor any other weapon he did need Meere strength suffisd him to do what he will He rootes vp trees as one would root a weed And eu'n as birders laying nets with skill Pare slender thornes away with easie strokes So he did play with ashes elmes and okes 108 The heardmen and the shepheards that did heare The hideous noise and vnacquainted sound With feare and wonder great approched neare To see and know what was hereof the ground But now I must cut off this treatise heare Lest this my booke do grow beyond his bound And if you take some pleasure in this text I will go forward with it in the next In Bradamants sorow for want of Rogero we may note how it falleth out many times that ouer great desire of reuenge worketh to our selues as great displeasure as we wished to our enemies In Rodomont that would not take the horse from Hippalca till he knew that a braue chāpion was the owner thereof we may note that though wrong be in deed a thing reprouable to whom soeuer it is done yet it is far more tollerable or at least excusable to be done to ones equal then to poore or inferior persons In Zerbinos happie deliuerance from a shameful death by Orlandos meanes we may obserue that which can neuer be too much obserued namely how diuine prouidence neuer failes the innocent In all the proceedings of Zerbino and Isabella a patterne might be taken of gratitude of constantnesse and of noble and princely inclination Of Hercules and Antheus though the originall it selfe seeme but fabulous yet thus it is written that they two wrastling Hercules perceiued that Antheus strength increased by falling to the ground and therefore to take him from his force he tooke him vp in his armes and so held him from the ground till he had vtterly vanquished him Plutarke in the life of Sertorius saith this Antheus was threescore cubits high In Astolfo that put off his armor and gaue away his spare horse and
turne he made Rescude his master sore to his owne cost Downe with the blow fals this vnluckie iade And with his starting he his life hath lost To ward his head he wanted Hectors shield And therefore dead he tumbleth on the field 88 Now came his master to himselfe againe Inflamd with greater anger then before To see his horse so pitifully slaine But Rodomont forbeares him neare the more But spurrs on him and thinks with furie maine To beare him downe but he so strongly bore The push and thrust withall Frontino backe He made his master glad to leaue his backe 89 Thus now with minds more aliend from all peace In eager sort the combat is renewed To strike to thrust each other doth not cease In hope with blood their swords to haue embrewed Fell rancor wrath and pride do still increase And death of one or both must haue ensewed Er either of them would from thence haue started Had not a certaine messenger them parted 90 One that had traueld all about the cost To seeke them out to aske their helpe and aid To raise the siege that by the Christen host Vnto the campe of Agramant was laid Yet though he came in peace and cake in post To speake to them at first he was affraid And though his office were sufficient warrant Yet to themselues he dares not do his arrant 91 But seeing Doralice to her he told How Agramant Marsilio Stordylan And others more like men pent vp in hold Were in great danger to be kild or tane Wherefore he wisheth her for to vnfold Thus much to them that sought each others bane And to perswade them to so good accord As they might go to helpe their soueraigne Lord. 92 She that a woman was of passing sprite And knew that neither of them would offend her Stept them between and chargd them stay the fight As they their honour and her loue did tender And helpe their king that is in wofull plight And end this fray begun of cause so slender At least defer so long to trie this quarrell Till Agramant their king were out of perrell 93 When she thus much to them declared had Then doth the messenger declare the rest And other strong perswasions he doth ad And doth expound to them their kings request Alledging that their absence made him sad That but they helpe the campe would be distrest And that if they to rescue him neglected A present ruine were to be expected 94 With his report and with her strong perswasion The hardie knights the combat do defar Till Agramant be freed from this inuasion And all the Christen forces moued ar Thus of this friendly truce she is occasion That first was causer of their deadly war To her they binde themselues by solemne oth That vntill then they will be quiet both 95 There Discord was and Pride and what they may They do this league to interrupt and breake But at that time Loue bare so great a sway That to withstand him they were both to weake In vaine it was to argue and gainsay When once dame Doralice the word did speake By her perswasion firmely they agreed Like friends vpon their iourney to proceed 96 One onely want there was that let them sore Which was that Mandricardos horse was ded But loe eu'n then came thither Brygliadore That since his masters madnes there had fed Full glad the Prince of Tartar was therefore Of such a horse so quickly to be sped But least my tale with tediousnes molest you I wish you lay aside the booke and rest you In the great offence of Oderike and the notable clemencie of Zerbino in pardoning the same we may note in the one the great frailtie of men in offending specially in this kinde of fleshly concupiscene in the other a notable magnanimitie as well as mercie in forgiuing him For that indeed is true clemencie in a Prince to forgiue that offence that is committed against his priuat as they call it that is against his owne person rather then that which is done against the law for that is rather parcialitie and iniustice then clemencie Secondly we may obserue both in Zerbino and Isabella a notable example of gratitude toward Orlando first in gathering his dispersed armour next in that Zerbino fought with Mandricardo in defence of Orlandos sword in which conflict he receives his deaths wound and though indeed all that is told of this couple tendeth to a tragicall end yet is it withall set downe by my author in a sort to moue so great compassion that it seemes all that read it are as it were in loue with them and lament their so vnfortunate end which hath made me say sometimes in sport to some of mine honorable frends that if I could without wronging mine author I would surely have saned their liues or giuen them a more fortunate end though to say true sith an end is of necessitie due to all mankind what more honorable death can a Prince have then by a wound in fight specially for a good quarrell what more sweet death then in her beloued armes whom he was bethrothed to and intended to marrie what more happie reward then same and loue in this world and heaven in the next Further though Isabella were after slain by Rodomont in hâ—â— drunkennues as is noted in the xxix booke yet that notable title that is there given her the martir of chastitie makes her so famous and her vertue so admirable as she could never have wisht a better end if she had lived as long as Hecuba Wherefore if it be true that Ouid said of Cadmus Scilicet vltima semper Expect and a dies homini dicique beatus Anteobitum nemo supremaque funera debet In English thus Our onely dying day and end doth show If that a man haue happie beene or no. Then I say by the death of these two though in shew vnfortunate yet in deed most glorious they may be called happie Lastly for the end of this morall we may take one speciall obseruation of great integritie in the religious man that converted her to the faith and yet afterward would not trust himselfe alone with her for in the fleshly conflicts and temptations the onely way to conquer is to play the coward and runne away and thus much for the morall The examples of the vertuous women that are praised by the hermit though not named in the 72. Staffe of this booke are many recited in the Scripture it selfe as namely the blessed virgin Marie Anne and Magdalen all which be tooke themselues most deuoutly to the seruice of God and therefore are worthy to be canonized for examples of chastitie and zeale of religion In the sodaine parting of the fray betweene the two famous riuals onely vpon the commandement of Doralice with whom they were both exceedingly in loue thus allegorically is supposed to be meant that the strongest passions that are as anger and revenge or what else soeuer
better arbitrate our matters may Then womens foolish doome by fancie led Who oftentimes are so peruerse in chusing They take the worst the offerd best refusing 88 Go then quoth Mandricard I little care I hope that fight shall yeeld you like successe And thus againe to fight they ready are But Agramant doth soone that rage represse And said vpon this point againe to square Quite were against all lawes of armes expresse And Rodomont he sharply then controld That in his sight was against law so bold 89 The Sarzan king that saw himselfe that day So noted by those Peeres with double scorne Both from his Prince whom he must needs obay And her to whom so great loue he had borne With fury great he flings from thence away And counts himselfe disgrast and quite forlorne Of all his traine two men he onely taketh The king the campe the place he quite forsaketh 90 And as a Bull his loued heard that leaues By his strong riuall forced to be gone Among the trees all clad with thickest leaues Doth hide himselfe and seekes to be alone So he whom shame of comfort all bereaues Flies sight of men yet still he thinks thereon And chiefe when he remembers what disgrace His mistris did him in so open place 91 Rogero gladly would haue him pursude To get his horse but yet he doth refraine Lest men should thinke he had the fight eschude That did twixt Mandricard and him remaine But Sacrapant whom no cause doth include Pursues the Sarzan king the horse to gaine And doubtlesse had outgone him that same day But for mishap that chanced by the way 92 A damsell fell by hap into a riuer And was in perill great to haue bin drownd He lighting from his horse backe to relieue her Lept in and brought her out all safe and sound But doing this good act her to deliuer Scarce all that day his horse againe he found His horse got loose and he with all his cunning Could scantly catch him in six howers running 93 At last with much ado he doth him get And after Rodomont he then doth make But where and how long after him he met And how the Sarzan did him prisner take I may not now proceed to tell as yet First tell we what vild words the Sarzan spake That cald his Prince and mistris both vnkind And for her fault doth raile of all her kind 94 With scalding sighes that inward pangs bewrayd He breathes out flames in places where he goes From rocks and caues his plaints doth eccho ayd And takes compassion on his rufull woes O womens wits how weake you are he sayd How soone to change you do your selues dispose Obseruers of no faith nor good direction Most wretched all that trust in your protection 95 Could neither seruice long nor sured loue By me aboue a thousand wayes declared Thy fickle mind to fastnesse so farre moue But wilfully to let thy selfe be snared If reason could haue led thy mind to proue Was Mandricard with me to be compared Hereof can reason be alledgd by no man But this alone my mistris is a woman 96 I thinke that nature or some angry God Brought forth this wicked sex on earth to dwell For some great plague or iust deserued rod To vs that wanting them had liued well As in the wormes an Adder Snake and Tode Among the beasts Beares Wolues and Tygers sell And makes the aire the Flie and Waspe to breed And Tares to grow among the better seed 97 Why did not Nature rather so prouide Without your helpe that man of man might come And one be grafted on anothers side As are the Apples with the Peare and Plom But Nature can no meane nor rule abide But still the must exceed in all or some Full easie t is the cause thereof to render For Nature selfe is of the womans gender 98 Yet be not therefore proud and full of scorne O womankind that men come of your seed The fragrant Rose growth on the pricking thorne The Lilly faire comes of a filthy weed In lothsome soyle men sow the wholsome corne The basest mould the fairest flowre doth breed Vngratefull false and craftie y' are and cruell Borne of our burning hell to be the fuell 99 These words and like to these the Pagan fearce Doth spend amid his rage and frantike fumes And like a mad man did the same rehearse Sometime in hie oft times in baser tunes I tremble to set downe in my poore verse The blasphemie that he to speake presumes And writing this I do know this that I Full oft in heart do giue my pen the lie 100 But passion did this Pagans sense so blind And left within the same so sharpe a sting That he not onely blam'd his loue vnkind But also rag'd against his soueraigne King And cursed him and wished in his mind That fortune so great woes on him might bring That he might loose his state and princely crowne And see his country turnd quite vpsidowne 101 And being to such miseries once brought And with aduersitie assaild so sore That then by him his freedome might be wrought And that he might his former state restore That Agramant might by such proofe be taught Of faithfull friends indeed to set more store And learne to know that such a friend as he Deseru'd in right and wrong preferd to be 102 Thus blaming oft his Lord more oft his loue To his owne natiue soyle his course he bent But changing place could not his sorrow moue Nor trauels paine his paine of mind relent It seemd his horse Frontino well to proue Before his bridle should be drawne he ment To Sonna he doth ride without a bait And minds fro thence to passe to Prouence strait 103 And there to cast away all care and carke And all his anguish quickly to appease For Affrica he will himselfe imbarke And passe the large Mediterranian seas But for the weather now waxt dim and darke First in his Inne he minds to take his ease For all the counntry eu'n as farre as Spaine In Agramantes powre did then remaine 104 Now he resolues to lodge about the cost And long he is not of a place to seeke For straight he was inuited by an host To take his house if so it might him like It pleasd the Pagan well to heare him bost That he had Corsike wine and French and Greeke For though he were a Turke in all the rest Yet did he like French fashion drinking best 105 The pleasant host that was indeed of those That can with double diligence attend As hauing sau'd amid both friends and foes His goods and gaind by that which both do spend When by that princes view he did suppose Him some great man he straight abroade did send And thither doth his kin and friends request To helpe to waite and welcome such a guest 106 But loe his guest fits musing all apart And of his Mistres runneth all his
thought Which though he would forget spite of his hart He thinks on still so strong the fancie wrought The standers by are not so malypart To talke to him till he occasion sought Which hauing found vp from his chaire he started And salutations to them all imparted 107 Then askt he many questions of them all And as occasion seru'd discourses varid But still we finde and euer finde we shall By thought of heart the speech of tongue is carid For last to treat of marridge he doth fall And asketh of the men if they be marrid And if they be he prayth them to declare Of their wiues truthes what their opinions are 108 Straight all of them made answer they had wiues And but mine host all praisd the happie state And said they were the comforts of their liues That draw a happie yoke without debate A playfellow that farre off all griefe driues A steward early that prouides and late Both faithfull chast and sober mild and trustie Nurse to weake age and pleasure to the lustie 109 Tush quoth mine host vnder your good correction Most noble guest these fellows say not right But either with fond loue or foule subiection So blinded are they take the blacke for white I once my selfe was toucht with this infection But now I see that then I wanted sight And now I know as being better taught That theirs and mine be all vnchast and naught 110 For as the Phoenix is a bird alone And of that kind the whole world hath no more So thinke I of all wiues there is but one That liueth chast in loue and vertues lore He blest may be that lighteth her vpon Small hope thinke I there is in so scant store That many should haue one of such a kind Of which in all the world but one I finde 111 I once so blinded was as now be thease Till by good hap vnto my house there came A Gentleman of Venice from the seas Francis Valerio was he cald by name He knew and could declare them all with ease All womens wiles and stories to the same He had of old and of the later times To shew both wiues and single womens crimes 112 He said and bad me hold it as my creed That all of them are false if they be trides If some seemd chast it did of this proceed They had the wit to do and not be spide And knew by deepe dissembling and good heed With sober looks their wanton lusts to hide And this to proue he told me such a tale As while I liue I still remember shall 113 And if it like you sir to lend me eare In my rude fashion I shall it recite Right glad quoth Rodomont by heau'ns I sweare For thou hast hit my present humor right Wherefore said he sit downe I pray thee theare For in thy speech alreadie I delight But heare I end this booke for doubt I haue That in his tale mine host will play the knaue In this booke we may obserue how important a thing it is in an army to haue store of good leaders as Liuie noteth of the old Remaines Fortiorem rem Romanam ducibus esse quam militibus That the strength of the Romaines consisted more in Captaines then in souldiers In quarrels that grew in the campe vpon trifling causes we may note a fault that many of English Seruitors though otherwise braue men haue many times bene noted of in their forren seruice where they verie seldome agree togither but seeke to disgrace one another In Agramant we may note a princely maiestie in compounding such controuersies In Rodomonts bitter inuective against women we may see how passionate extreames loue and hate be In mine Host we note how such base fellows are still readie to feed the humors of Princes though it be in shamefull vices or manifest errors Hippolita to whom Marfisa is compared as also the whole countrie of Amazons and their lawes I haue spoken of elsewhere this is that Hippolita that was brought by Theseus to Athens and there had a sonne called Hippolitus In that he faineth that the spright entring into Doralices horse conueyed her into the campe of the Pagans to the great damage of the Christians we may thereby note how that ghostly enemie doth indeed watch as the scripture saith like a roring Lion whom he may deuour to do mankind all the hurt that may be and therefore we must not giue him an inch least as the prouerbe saith he take an ell In the solemnitie of their combats and preparation Fornarius noteth that he alludes to a ' policie vsed by Isabella wife to Ferdinando king of Spaine She to make her men of armes more valiant and couragious caused them to fight with the Moors in the verie sight of their Ladies and Mistresses and partly thereby expulsed the Moores out of Granata But for Doralices reiecting of Rodomont and chusing Mandricard it alludes to a like thing written by Plutarch in his loue discourses where Calysto was taken and Strato refused of which afterward insued the death of al three Here end the notes of the xxvij booke THE XXVIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Fierce Rodomont hears of his prating Host A lying tale to womens great disgrace Vnto Algier he minds to passe in post But by the way he finds more pleasing place Faire Isabell passeth by that cost The Pagan changeth mind and sues for grace The Hermit warnes her keepe her vow and oth At which the Pagan Prince is passing wroth 1 YOu Ladies yee that Ladies hold in prise Giue not perdie your eare to this same tale The which to telll mine Host doth here deuise To make men think your vertues are but small Though from so base a tongue there can arise To your sweete sexe no iust disgrace at all Fooles will find fault without the cause discerning And argue most of that they haue no lerning 2 Turne ou'r the leaf and let this tale alone If any thinke the sex by this disgraced I write it for no spite nor mallice none But in my Authors booke I finde it placed My loyall loue to Ladies all is knowne In whom I see such worth to be imbraced That theirs I am and glad would be therefore To shew thereof a thousand proofes and more 3 Peruse it not or if you do it reed Esteeme it not but as an idle table Regard it not or if you take some heed Belieue it not but as a foolish fable But to the matter thus it was indeed When all the guests were cheared at the table Neare Rodomont so was the Pagan named Downe sate mine Host and thus his tale he framed 4 Astolfo whilom king of Lombardy To whom his elder brother left his rayne Was in his youth so fresh and faire to see As few to such perfection could attaine Appelles match or Zeuces he might be That such a shape could paint without much paine Great was his grace and all
the world so deemd it But yet himselfe of all men most esteemd it 5 He did not of his scepter take such pride Nor that degree that common men are vnder Nor wealth nor frends nor meaner kings beside That there about dwelt neare or far asunder But of his beautie which he would not hide At whole rare worth he thought the world did wonder This was his ioy and all that he intended To heare his comely face and shape commended 6 Among his courtiers one aboue the rest Fausto by name by birth a Romane knight Who hearing oft so praisd as they know best His face and hands and all that praise he might The king did bid him tell at his request Neare or far of if he had seene that wight That in all parts so perfectly was wrought But he was answerd as he little thought 7 My Liege quoth Fausto plainly to declare Both what my selfe doth see and others say But few with your rare beautie can compare And that same few were none were one away Iocundo hight a man of beautie rare And brother mine excepting whom I may Prefer your grace before all other creatures But he doth match or passe you for his features 8 The king to heare such tidings strange it thought As hauing still till that day kept the prise And with a deepe desire straight wayes he sought To know this man and see him with his eies In fine with Fausto so far forth he wrought To bring him to his court he must deuise Although quoth he to bring my brother to it I shall be sure of worke enough to do it 9 The cause is this my brother neuer went Foorth of the gates of Rome scant all his life And such small goods as Fortune hath him lent He hath enioyd in quiet free from strife Left by our sire and them he hath not spent Nor yet increast his gaines are not so rife And he will thinke it more to go to Pauy Then some would thinke to th' Indies in a Nauy 10 But I shall finde it hardest when I proue To draw him from his louing wife away To whom he is so linkt in chaines of loue That all is vaine if once his wife say nay But yet your grace is so far all aboue You shall command me certes all I may Thanks quoth the king and addeth such reward As might haue moued any to regard 11 Away he posts arriuing in few dayes At Rome and to his brothers house he went And with such earnest words his brother prayes That to returne with him he doth consent Also his sisters loue he so allayes That she doth hold her peace as halfe content Beside great thanks laying before her eyes Preferments large that hereof might arise 12 Iocundo now resolu'd to go his way Gets men and horse against he should depart Sets forth himselfe with new and rich aray As still we see nature adornd by art His wife at night in bed at boord by day With watrie eyes to shew a sorrie hart Complaines his absence will so sore her grieue Till his returne she doubts she shall not liue 13 Ay me the thought quoth she makes me so fraid That scant the breath abideth in my brest Peace my sweete loue and life Iocundo said And weepes as fast and comforts her his best So may good fortune ay my iourny aid As I returne in threescore dayes at least Nor will I change the day I set thee downe No though the king would grat me halfe his crowne 14 All this might not asswage this womans paine Two months were long yea to to long she cries Needs must I die before you come againe Nor how to keepe my lite can I deuise The dolefull dayes and nights I shall sustaine From meat my mouth from sleepe will keepe mine eyes Now was Iocundo readie to repent That to his brother he had giu'n consent 15 About her necke a iewell rich she ware A crosse all set with stone in gold well tride This relicke late a Boem Pilgrim bare And gaue her father other things beside Which costly things he kept with no small care Till comming from Ierusalem he dyde And her of all his goods his heire he makes This precious crosse to her goodman she takes 16 And prayes him for her sake to weare that token And thinke on her the man that was most kind Receiu'd it with more ioy then can be spoken Although he needed not be put in mind For why no time nor no state sound nor broken Nor absence long a meane should euer find To quayle his loue not only while his breath Maintains his life but neither after death 17 That verie night that went before the morrow That they had pointed surely to depart Iocundos wife was sicke and sounds for sorrow Amid his armes so heauie was her hart All night they wake and now they bid Godmorrow And giue their last farewell and so they part Iocundo on his way with all his traine His louing wife doth go to bed againe 18 Scant had Iocundo rode two mile forthright But that his crosse now came into his minde Which on his pillow he had laid last night And now for hast had left the same behinde He would deuise to scuse it if he might But no excuse sufficient could he finde But that his loue must needs be much suspected To finde the precious iewell so neglected 19 When no excuse within his minde could frame But that all seemed friuolous and vaine To send his man he counted it a shame To go himselfe it was but little paine He staid and when his brother did the same Ride soft quoth he till I returne againe For home againe I must there is no nay But I will ouertake you on the way 20 Th' affaire is such as none can do but I But doubt you not I will returne as fast Away he spurres as hard as he could hy Alone without or man or page for hast Now had the sunnes new rising cleard the sky With brightest beames ear he the streame had past He hies him home and findes his wife in bed Full sound asleepe such cares were in her hed 21 He draws the curtaine softly without sound And saw that he would little haue suspected His chast and faithfull yokefellow he found Yokt with a knaue all honestie neglected Th' Adulterer though sleeping verie sound Yet by his face was easily detected A beggers brat bred by him from his cradell And now was ryding on his masters sadell 22 Now if he stood amazd and discontent Beleeue it yee to trie that would be loth For he that tries it doubtlesse will repent As poore Iocundo did who was so wroth That out he drew his sword with iust intent For their vngratefull act to kill them both But lo the loue he bare her did withstand Against his heart to make him hold his hand 23 O ribald loue that such a staue couldst make Of one that now was
subiect to thy force He could not breake her sleepe for pitties sake That brake all bonds of faith without remorse But back he goes before they did awake And from his house he gets him to his horse Loue so pricks him and he so pricks his steed He ouertakes his companie with speed 24 His looke is sad all changed is his cheare Full heauie was his heart they well perceiued They see no cause of griefe nor guesse they neare And they that guesse most likely are deceiued They thought he went to Rome but you do heare How at Cornetto he his hurt receiued Each man espide that loue procur'd that passion But none descride the manner nor the fashion 25 His brother deemes that all his griefe doth grow Because his louing wife is left alone But he a cleane contrary cause doth know Her too much companie did cause his mone He bends his browes his looks he casts alow With powting lips and many a grieuous grone In vaine doth Faustus comfort seeke to bring him For why he knowes not where the shoo doth wring him 26 He giues a salue afore the sore is found His plaisters are as poison to the smart He seeks to heale and wider makes the wound He names his wife but her name kils his hart Gone was his tast his sleeps do grow vnsound Nature decayth and little helpeth art And that faire face that erst was of such fame Is now so chang'd it seemeth not the same 27 His eyes are sunke so deepe into his hed It made his nose seeme bigger then it should His flesh doth shrinke his bones do seeme to spred He was so chang'd as more cannot be told At last an agew makes him keepe his bed And bait at Innes more often then he would His faire complexion now is pale and withered Much like the Rose that yesterday was gathered 28 With this mishap was Fdustus sore aggrieued Not onely for his brothers wofull state But fearing of his Prince to be reproued Vnto whose grace he vndertooke so late To shew the goodliest man as he beleeued Now growne vncouth by force of inward bate Yet as they could their way they so contriued That at the last in Pauie they arriued 29 He would not straightway shew him to the King Lest eu'ry one might deeme his iudgement small But sent by letters notice of the thing And what mishap his brother was befall How scant aliue he could him thither bring A secret griefe so greatly did him gall And with an agew puld him downe so sore He seemd not now the man he was before 30 And yet behold this noble King is glad That he is come and meanes to make him cheare As if he were the dearest friend he had So sore he had desird to see him heare Nor would the worthy naturd Prince be sad In praise of beautie to haue found a Peare He knew Iocundos beautie had excelled But that by this disease it was expelled 31 He placeth him to his owne lodging nie He visits him each day and eu'ry houre Great plentie of prouâ—sio nhe doth buy To welcome him he bendeth all his powre But still Iocundo languishing doth lie His wiues misdeeds makes all his sweet seeme sowre No songs no sights which oft he heard or saw One dram of this his dolour could withdraw 32 Fast by his lodging was amongst the rest A faire large roome which very few did vse Here would he walke as one that did detest All pleasing sights and comforts all refuse Here the wide wound he bare within his brest With thousand thoughts vnpleasant he renews Yet here he found which few would haue belieued A remedy for that which had him grieued 33 For at the vpper end of this old hall There was a place of windowes voyd and light Saue that the lime new moulten from the wall Let in a little beame that shined bright Here did he see which some may thinke a tale A very strange and vnexpected sight He heard it not but saw it in his vew Yet could he scant beleeue it should be trow 34 For at the chinke was plainly to be seene A chamber hangd with faire and rich aray Where none might come but such as trusty beene The Princesse here in part doth spend the day And here he saw a Dwarfe embrace the Queene And striue a while and after homely play His skill was such that ere they went asunder The Dwarfe was got aloft and she lay vnder 35 Iocundo standeth still as one amazed Supposing sure that he had seene a vision But seeing plaine when he a while had gazed It was an act and not an apparition Good God said he are this Queenes eyes so dazed To loue a dwarfe more worthy of derision Whose husband is a Prince of worthy fame So braue a man such loue now fie for shame 36 He now began to hold his wife excused His anger now a little was relented And though that she her bodie had abused And to her seruant had so soone consented Not her for this but he the sex accused That neuer can with one man be contented If all quoth he with one like staine are spotted Yet on a monster mine was not besotted 37 The day ensuing he returned thither And saw the dwarfe couragious still and iolly Eke he another day repaired hither And still he found the Queene committing folly He oft returnes he finds them oft together They cease not worke on dayes prophane nor holy Yea which was strange the goodly Queen coÌ„plained That of the dwarfe she found she was disdained 38 One day when in the corner he had stayd He sees her come all sad and malcontent Because the dwarfe his comming still delayd For whom of purpose twise before she sent Once more she sends this answer brings the mayd Forsooth vnto his play he is so bent That for mistrust at Chesse to leese a shilling To come to you the apes face is not willing 39 Iocundo who before had still bene sad Vpon this sight became of better cheare The paines the plaints the cloudie stormes he had Away were blowne the coast began to cleare Most ruddie faire he chearfull grew and glad That angellike his beautie did appeare So as the King and others thought it strange In so short time to find so great a change 40 Now as the King desired much to know The meane whereby his hurt so soone was healed No lesse Iocundo did desire to show And would not haue the thing from him concealed So as his choller might no greater grow Then his had beene when as it were reuealed But first he made him sweare on his saluation Vpon the parties to vse no castigation 41 He made him sweare for ought he heard or saw Wherewith his mind might fortune be diseased Yet from his choller so much to withdraw As that in shew he may not seeme displeased Nor punish it by might nor yet by law Not first nor last but hold himselfe appeased
no pittie of her wofull case That onely for his lust would her perswade To breake the vow that she to God had made 11 Her heart and eyes oft times to heau'n she lifts And prayes the blessed Virgin and her Sonne To saue her from this Pagans filthy drifts That vnto her no villanie be donne She doth bethinke her of an hundred shifts How she his beastly lust may safely shunne That like an open gulfe on her did gape So as it seemd vnpossible to scape 12 She finds out many scuses and delayes That to prolong which faine she would preuent Sometime in humble manner him the prayes That to release her he would be content But being still repulst at all assayes At last she doth a way and meanesinuent Not onely how to shun that present shame But merit to her selfe eternall name 13 Vnto the cruell Turke that now began From all good course of curtesie to swarue She commeth in the meekest sort she can And faith if he her honor will preserue Which is the part of each true valiant man She would of him that fauour well deserue And giue him such a gift as in due measure Should farre surpasse this momentarie pleasure 14 But if you needs will me defloure I wis She said when you haue done you will repent To thinke how fondly you haue done amisse And lost that might haue bred you true content As for your carnall loue you need not misse More faire then I and fitter for your bent But in ten thousand one you shall not know That such a gift vpon you can bestow 15 I know quoth she an herbe and I haue seene A little since the place where as it grew That boild vpon a fire of cypresle cleene And mixt with elder berries and with rew And after strained harmlesle hands betweene Will yeeld a iuyce that who in order dew Annoint therewith shall neuer domage feele By flame of fire nor yet by dint of steele 16 I say if one therewith annoint him thrise These strange effects thereof will strait ensew Prouided alwayes that in any wise He must each month the liquors strength renew I haue the way to make it in a trice And you shall see by proofe that it is true This thing I thinke should ioy you more to gaine Then if you conquerd had all France or Spaine 17 And now for my reward of you I pray Let me obtaine this fauourable meed To sweare that you henceforth will not assay My chastitie by either word or deed Foll Rodomont thinks this a blessed day And hopes he now shall neuer armor need And sweares he will her honour safe defend Though to performe it he doth not intend 18 Yet till she might this worke bring to effect He doth himselfe against his mind inforce And that she might no violence expect He doth not offer any signe of force But that once doire his oth he will neglect For of an oth he neuer had remorce But specially he thought it least disgrace His oth to violate in such a case 19 He makes to her a solemne protestation And with most damned oaths the same doth bind That he will neuer do her molestation If she procure a iuyce of such a kind This sink so deepe in his imagination Of Cygnius and Achilles runs his mind For by this meanes he doth himselfe assure Such priuiledge as they had to procure 20 Poore Isabella glad of this delay By which a while her chastitie she shields Receiuing this his promise go'th straightway To seeke these herbs amid the open fields In eu'ry bank and groue and hedge and way She gathers some such as the country yeelds And all the while the Pagan walketh by And to the damsell casteth still an eye 21 And least she should want cypresse wood to bunie He with his sword cuts downe whole cypresse trees And in all other things to serue her turne That each thing may prouided be he sees Now with her herbs she made her home returne The caldrons are on fire no time to leese She boyles and perboyles all those herbs and flowres In which he thought there were such hidden powres 22 At all these ceremonies he stands by And what she doth he many times doth looke The smoke and heate at last him made so dry That want of drinke he could no longer brooke Greeke wines there were and those he doth apply Two firkins late from passengers he tooke He and his men by drinking both that night Their heads full heauie made their hearts full light 23 Though by their law they are forbidden wine Yet now that here they did the liquor tast They thought it was so sweet and so diuine That Nectar and that Manna farre it past At that restraint they greatly do repine That did debar them of so sweet repast And at their owne law and religion laffing They spend that night carowsing and in quaffing 24 Now had faire Isbell finisht that confection Which this grosse Pagan doth beleeue to be Against both steele and fire a safe protection Now sir she said you shall the triall see And that you may be sure that no infection Is in these drugs you first shall proue by me I shall you shew thereof so perfect triall As you shall see the proofe past all deniall 25 My selfe quoth she mind first to take the say That you may see I do not faine nor lie Then after on your selfe you proue it may When you haue made a witnes of your eie Now therefore bid your men to go away That none be present here but you and I And thus as with her selfe she had appointed Her neck and brefts and shoulders she annointed 26 Which done in chearefull sort she open layd Her naked necke before the beastly Turke And bad him strike for she was not afrayd She had such skill and trust in this rare worke He vnaduâ—d and haply ouerlayd With wine that in his idle braine did worke Was with her speech so vndiscreetly led That at one blow he quite cut off her head 27 The head where loue and all the graces dwelt By heedlesse band is from the bodie seuered Alas whose heart at such hap could not melt Yea that is more the head cut off endeuered To shew what pleasure of her death she felt And how she still in her first loue perseuered Thrise from the floore the head was seene rebound Thrise it was heard Zerbines name to sound 28 His name to whom so great loue she did beare As she to follow him would leaue her life To whom us hard so say if that she were A truer widow or a kinder wife O soule that didst not death nor danger feare A sample in these latter times not rise To saue thy chastitie and vowed truth Eu'n in thy tender yeares and greenest youth 29 Go soule go sweetest soule for euer blest So may my verse please those whom I desire As my poore Muse shall euer do her best As farre as
fixt On publike good this quarrell much lament And traueld all they can it to preuent 26 And chiefe Marsilio and Sobrino sage Aduise king Agramant to stay the fight And these same champions furie to asswage And to take vp the quarrell if they might Forewarning him when he must battell wage With Charles of France the losse of one such knight Will do him greater hurt and damage then Then would the losse of thousands and other men 27 But Agramant knew all was true they spake And saine he would their counsell wise obay But could not tell his grant how to reuoke Onely he doth in curteous sort them pray That he may strike with them so great a stroke Either to end or to defer the fray And yeeld the rather vnto his perswasion Because it rose vpon so light occasion 28 Or if they did esteeme such toyes so far As though they matters were of true renowne That yet they would the fight so long defar Vntill the sonne of Pipen were put downe And till they conquerd had the Realme by war And tane from him his mantle and his crowne This motion had in likelihood taken place Saue each thought first consent would be disgrace 29 Aboue them all and more then all the rest That in this sort their speech in vaine had spent Faire Doralyce doth Mandricard request That to the kings desire he would assent She doth exhort intreat perswade protest She doth complaine and languish and lament To thinke that by his ouer haftie cholor She still must liue in anguish and in dolor 30 How can I hope said she that ere I shall Liue any houre in solace and in ioy When still I see you readie be to brall With eu'rie man for eu'rie trifiting toy The Sarzans foile doth me no good at all My choyce of you hath bred me more annoy To end that quarrell ah what did it boot Sith straight another quarrell is on foot 31 I simple foole in minde was proud and glad That such a Prince so braue a man as you For loue of me his whole state venterd had But now I finde by this that doth ensew That I had far more reason to be sad Sith each like cause like danger doth renew And not my loue but your owne natiue furie To bide such hard aduentures did procure yee 32 But if your loue be such as in your speech You do professe and in your open show Then by that loue I humbly you beseech And by that fancie which too well I know Doth eu'n my heart and soule with loue bewitch Let not this quarrell any further grow I see not why it should you so molest To see your Eagle in anot hers crest 33 If needs you will attempt this hardie feat And venter life vpon a thing â—o vaine Then hazard that you make must needs be great But none or verie small can be the gaine But if that fortune change her fickle fear Thinke then ô thinke what woe shall I sustaine There neuer yet was Emperor or king Could boast that he had Fortune in a string 34 But if that life be vnto you lesse deare Then is a painted bird vpon a sheeld Yet for my sake whom it doth touch more neare Let me intreat you to this motion yeeld If you were staine what ioy could I haue heare Death sole from wo both could should me sheeld Not feare I death my onely griefe would bee Before my death thy wofull end to see 35 Thus earnestly faire Doralycee delt All that same night as in his armes she lyes And as she spake the teares distill and melt In warrie streames downe from her cristall eyes The Tartar that no little passion felt T'o comfort her faith all he can deuise And wipes her checkes and her sweet lip dothkisse And weeps for company and answers this 36 Ah do not grieue thy selfe so sore my deare Ah do not grieue thy selfe for such a toy Plucke vp thy sprights and be of better cheare There is no cause of feare mine onely ioy No though that all the kings and captains heare Had sworne my death and vowed mine annoy Yet all the kings and captaines I would vanquish Why then should you causles in sorrow languish 37 What did not I with trunchen of a speare You know your selfe whether I say the truth Not hauing sword nor other weapon theare Win you from all your gard and shall a youth A beardlesse boy cause you my safetie feare And breed in you so vnaduised ruth Well might you deeme I were a dastard lout If of Rogero I should stand in doubt 38 Gradasso though vnto his griefe and shame Yet if one aske him can it not gainesay That when he last vnto Sorya came I met and tooke him prisner by the way Yet he is of another manner same Then is Rogero you your selfe will say I had him there a prisner at my will And if I listed might haue kept him still 39 And least I should of this good witnes want Beside Gradasso there be hunderds more As namely Isolyr and Sacrapant Whom I set free and had great thanks therefore Also the famous Grissin and Aquilant That there were taken but few dayes before With diuers more both Turkish and baptised That by my force were taken and surprised 40 Their wonder in those countries still doth last Of that great vallew I that time did show And should I now a doubt or perrill cast Am I in greater danger now you trow Shall one young youth me hand to hand agast Shall I now doubt his force or feare his blow Now hauing Durindana by my side And Hectors armour on my backe beside 41 Why did not I as pointed was by lot With Rodomont first bloudie barrell wage That by his ill successe you might forewot The speedie end of this young sorrie page Drie vp these teares my deare and bring me not Before the combat at such an ill presage Nor thinke an Eagle on a target painted Moues me hereto but doubt of honor tainted 42 Thus much said he but she such answer made him With words expressing such alouing mone As were not onely able to perswade him But might I thinke haue mou'd a marble stone The force was great wherewith she did inuade him In fine so farre she conquers him alone He grants thus farre to be at her deuotion If peace be offerd to accept the motion 43 And so I thinke indeed he would haue done Had not Rogero early in the morne Got vp before the rising of the Sunne And enterd in the lists and blowne his horne To shew that he the battell would not shunne And that Ioues bird by him was iustly borne Which either he will carrie on his shield Or else will leaue his carkas in the field 44 But when the Tartar fierce did heare that found And that his men thereof had brought him word He thinks great shame should vnto him redound If any treatie he of
depth of Magicke art Deuised by that great clarke Zoroaster A wound that so infects the soule and hart As all out sence and reason it doth master A wound whose pang and torment is so durable As it may rightly called be incurable 6 This is a plague that quickly doth infect All louers hearts and doth possesse their thought As well with causlesse as with iust suspect By this a man to madnesse meere is brought Oh plague by whose most damnable effect In deepe dispaire to die haue diuers sought Oh Iealousie that didst without desart Possesse the noble Prailamantes hart 7 Not for the tale her mayd or brother told Which made with in her mind a sharpe impression But other news that made her heart full cold How her loue of new loue did make profession As I more plaine hereafter shall vnfold For now I needs a while must make digression To braue Renaldo that to Paris ward Did march with that same crew of great regard 8 The day ensuing ere it yet was night They met an armed knight vpon the way A Ladie faire accompanid the knight His armour all was blacke saue that there lay A thwart the brest a wreath of Argent bright And straight the formost man in their array Which Richardetto was as then did chaunce He challenged with him to breake a launce 9 The gallant youth that neuer man refused Straight turnd his horse a space for course to take As one that for his time had often vsed Such feates as this to do and vndertake Renaldo standeth still and them perused To see which knight the fairest course would make Now Richardet thinks if I hit him iust I shall this gallant tumble in the dust 10 But otherwise it then to him befell And of his reckning he was quite deceaued The tother knew to hit and sit so well That Richardet was from the sadle heaued Alardo seeing how his brother fell Did thinke t' auenge the foile that he receaued But he likewise inferiour did remaine His arme was bruisd his shield was rent in twaine 11 Guicchiardo next the selfe same fortune tride And was constraind vnto the ground t'encline Although to him Renaldo lowdly cride Stay hold your hands for this course should be mine Vivian and Malagige and more beside That at their kinsmens foyle did much repine Would then haue fought with this same stranger knight Saue that Renaldo claymd it as his right 12 And said my friends we must to Paris hast But to himselfe he said it were a iest For me to stay till all they downe were cast By one and one I le fight and they shall rest This said he spurres his horse and commeth fast And as he runs he sets his speare in rest The tother doth as much and eithers speare The stroke doth in a thousand peeces teare 13 The horsemen with the stroke stur not an inch They both had learnd so perfectly to fit But on their horses it did shrowdly pinch Yet Bayard searce his course doth intermit The tothers horse had such a parlous wrinch That mard him quite and brake his backe with it His master that was greatly grieu'd to see 't Forsakes his seate and takes him to his feet 14 And to Renaldo that with naked hand Came toward him in shew of truce he sed Sir knight I giue you here to vnderstand I likt so well this horse that here is ded I thinke it would not with mine honor stand To leaue him vnreuengd which hath me led To challenge you eu'n as you are true knight That you will answer me againe in fight 15 Renaldo answerd if your horse you lost The onely cause of this your quarrell be Then comfort you for of mine onely cost Your want herein shall be supplide by me With such a horse as I may boldly bost To be as good a one as cre was he Not so fit said the tother you mistake it I will expound my mind and plainer make it 16 Though I lykt well my seruiceable horse Yet fith he now is in this conflict flame Thinke not that of his death I so much force As that alone moues me to fight againe But in plaine termes on foot to true your force As well as erst on horsebacke I would saine Renaldo that of no mans force accounted Without delay straight from his horse dismounted 17 And fith quoth he I see your noble mind Of this my company hath no suspition They shall go on and I will stay behind And so will fight with you on eu'n condition This said his band to part thence he assignd Who went their way vpon their Lords commission Which bred great admiration in the stranger To find a man so little fearing danger 18 Now when his standerd quite was out of sight And all Renaldos companie was gone Then hand to hand they do apply the fight With force and furie great they lay it on Each maruels at the tothers passing might And yet of either side the gaine is none They felt the blowes so heauie and so hard That glad they were to lie well to their ward 19 Thus these two knights for honors onely sake Together combat in such eager fort That eu'ry little error they should make Endangerd life in this vnpleasant sport An houre and halfe this trauell they did take Each labouring to cut the tother short And in his mind Renaldo maruels much Who this should be whose skill and force was such 20 And saue that he could not with his reputation He would haue wisht the battell at an end And offerd of a truce communication And of his vnknowne foe haue made his frend Likewise the tother felt such inclination Now finding scarce he could himselfe defend That he repented has rash hardie part And would haue had a truce with all his hart 21 It waxed darke there fell an eu'ning mist So that at last they neither of them know When he did hit aright or when he mist Nor how to giue nor how to ward a blow When first Renaldo wisht him to desist Sith now the Sunne descended was so low And that the combat might be now reiourned Till Phebus were about the world returned 22 Offring at which the stranger greatly musd And his rare curtesie therein commended To lodge him where he should both be well vsd And like a man of honour well attended The tother his great curt'sie not refusd And so betweene them two the fray was ended And straight Renaldo gaue him as his gift His pages horse that was both strong and swift 23 Thus on they rode vnto Renaldos tent And grew acquainted ere they thither came By meanes in certaine speeches as they went Renaldo happened to tell his name By which the stranger knew incontinent That this was that same Palladine of same And that himselfe was to Renaldo brother By fathers side alone and not by mother 24 The sauage Guidon this braue warrier hight That traueld had full many a hunderd mile
felt of griefe that scant She kept in teares so sad a sight to see She askt her what misfortune or what want Of her sad plight vnworthy cause might be Faire Fiordeliege that for a knight did hold her The circumstance of all the matter told her 34 And in most rufull sort she did recount Both of the tombe and bridge the wofull storie And how the cruell Pagan Rodomount Had taken him for whom she was so sorie Not that he could in value him surmount That for his value had obtaind much glorie But that the Pagan not to strength did trust But to a bridge and vantages vniust 35 Wherefore most noble minded knight said she If such you be as by your speech I gueste Helpe my deare spouse from bondage vile to free And plague the Pagan that doth him oppresse Or if you cannot so yet counsell me Where I may find some ayd for my distresse Some knight so stout of heart and strong of hand As may this cruell Sarazen withstand 36 So shall you do a braue and noble deed That wandring knights do think they ought of due So might you ayd a worthy man indeed And one in loue most faithfull and most true As for his other praise it is no need For me to tell mine owne griefes to renue Sith well I know they plainly are appearing To all that haue their sense of sight and hearing 37 The worthie Dame that thirsted still for praise Agrees to take this hard exploit in hand As one that readie was at all aslayes On horse on foote by water or by land For either thus she shall her glorie raise If so she shall the Pagans force withstand Or die she shall which danger lesse doth moue her Because she thinks Rogero doth not loue her 38 And thus she sayd most louely louing Dame Gladly I shall my vtmost forces proue To succour one that merits so great same Yet of his praises chiefly me doth moue Because you giue him such a noble name That he is true and faithfull in his loue Which sith you speake by triall I must weene so Else I durst sweare no man aliue had beene so 39 These last words ending with a scalding sigh A sigh that came indeed from grieuous thought Then on they went till they approched nigh The parlous bridge that Rodomont had wrought And straight the watch descride them from â—on high And blew a horne by which the Pagan thought That trauellers were come the bridge to passe Came out all armed as his manner was 40 But when that he one all in armour saw He greets them lowd with this lewd salutation Ho stay and er you passe obserue this law Vnto this tombe humbly to make oblation Of horse and armes with feare and reu'rent aw Else with this speare expect sharpe castigation She that before had heard of Isbels deth And of this tombe thus stoutly to him seth 41 Ah damned wretch why should the innocent Indure the penance of thy grieuous guilt Thy selfe shouldst die or suffer punishment That killedst her if please her ghost thou wilt Her soule vpon my soule would be content If by my hand thy guiltie blood were spilt More then with all the armors men and horses That thou dost win by thy vnlawfull forces 42 And so much more it will accepted be To her if thou by my right hand mayst die Because I am a woman as was she And only come on thee my force to trie But let vs first vpon these points agree That if you hap to vanquish me then I Shall suffer at your hands so and no more Then other prisoners haue done before 43 But if I vanquish you as sure I trust Then I will haue the spoile of all the rest And make your horse and arms a guist more iust Vpon the tombe of her for euer blest And then withall to me you promise must That all your prisners straight shall be releast When thus the Dame her mind had signified Thus the fierce Turke mildly to her replied 44 Faire Dame you seeme to me to speake but reason And thereto I my franke assent affoord But true it is that I for feare of treason My prisners all haue sent from hence aboord So as I cannot free them at this season But firmely here to you I passe my word If you foile me of which there is small reobertie I will send word to set them all at libertie 45 But if I conquer you as sure I shall For so it is most likely and most meet I will not hang your armour on the wall Nor send you hence a prisner in my fleet I will remit to you my conquest all For that faire faces sake and looke so sweet Suffise it that this curtesie may moue thee Where now thou seemst to hate me thé to loue me 46 Be not faire Dame in your owne strength be guyld I offer not such grace to eu'rie stranger For I am strong at this the damsell smyld But such a smyle as shewd not mirth but anger And whether courage had all feare exyld Or that dispaire made her to doubt no danger She spurd her horse nor other answer made him But with her speare in rest she doth inuade him 47 This so did moue the cruell Rodomount Vpon his horse he doth himselfe aduance Not making doubt but that he would dismount Out of her seat the noble Dame of France But he was quite deceiu'd of his account No sooner was he toucht with Goldelance But eu'n as if of strength he had bin reaued Quite from the saddle backward he was heaued 48 But yet the Dame her selfe in danger was To fall into the streame so swift and fleet By meanes the bridge so narrow was to passe That hardly two at once thereon could meet But Rabican whose swiftnesse did surpasse All foure foot beasts did firmely keepe his feet Although so straight and narrow was the bridge He was constraind to runne vpon the ridge 49 Now when the Pagan lay thus ouerthrowne She turnd to him and sporting thus she spake Now sir said she I hope it may be knowne Of vs two which the worser cause did take But he like one whose wits were not his owne He either could or would no answer make But still he stood looking on ground and musing Neither his foyle â—enying nor excusing 50 And hauing walkt some halfe a dozen paces He suddenly cast all his armour off And hurles it gainst the stones and it defaces That scant he left vnbroke one peece thereof Determining after such foule disgaces To hide himselfe and go a great way of But er he went he graunted full commission To free his prisners without intermission 51 So thence he went and what of him became Or what he did no notice cleare I haue But onely this that eu'n for verie shame He long liu'd close within a secret caue The while his armes by that victorious Dame Were hangd vp at the tombe for triumph braue The tother
armes and furnitures among That erst to Pagan Princes did belong 52 But for all those that were from Christens wonne She laid them vp and did in safetie set Among the which was Monodantes sonne And Oliuero and stout Sansonet Who late before with ill successe did runne So that the Pagan did their armour get And them themselues as prisners did conuay Vnto Algirie farre from thence away 53 Among the rest that had their armour lost Was Sacrapant the fierce Circassen Prince Who sought for Frontlet to his paine and cost And with the Pagan fought but little since But being foyld he quite forlooke that coast Where men of such disgrace might him conuince And with great shame but what could shame him boot He came on horsback went théce on foot 54 Wherefore asham'd in such sort to returne He minds to follow that his former quest Of her whose loue long since his heart did burne Although her loue he neuer yet possest For still her froward mind did euer spurne Against his earnest and most iust request Of her returne he late had heard the news I know not how but now he her pursews 55 And let him her pursue for I proceed Of noble Bradamantes acts to tell Who hauing done this braue and worthie deed To free the passage where so many fell She wrate it so as eu'rie one might reed How all the circumstance thereof befell Which hauing done then she demands to know Which way Dame Fiordeliege did mind to go 56 Who straight her purpose vnto her vnfolding Told her to passe the sea by ship shement At Arly least the Turke his word not holding Might keepe her spouse too long in prison pent Then shall you saith the Dame be more beholding To me for sure said she t is mine intent Vnto that towne to guard you in your passage So you will do for me but one embassage 57 And that withall you me this grace affoord To giue Rogero this same horse from me And say an vnknowne champion sends him word To challenge him that all the world may see He hath bin false of promise and of word Of which our combat shall the triall be And tell him plainly there is no deniall But that by challenge I will make this triall 58 This say and say no more and if he aske My name then tell him plaine you may not tell The while mine armes shall serue me for a maske This I desire do tâ—â—s and so farewell This is said Fior â—â—ege an easie taske From you that haue of me deseru'd so well As binds me both to this that you demand me And to what euer else you would command me 59 This said she takes the bridle in her hand And with her leads Frontino on the way Vntill they both came to the salt sea sand That next vnto the towne of Arly lay But Fiordeliege goes to the towne by land And Bradamant doth in the suburbs stay To th' end she may conuenient respite giue her To him the horse and message to deliuer 60 Who when the bridge and gate she quite had past She prayeth one of those that kept the ward To bring her to Rogero in great hast And through the towne of curtsie her to guard This done she to Rogero came at last And did her message with most due regard And gaue Frontino and then went her way Nor would she once to heare his answer stay 61 Rogero standeth still all in a muse The messenger and message so beguile him He wonders who it is that both doth vse Such curtesie and yet withall reuile him He thinks the partie doth him much abuse With fowlest blot of breach of word to file him And of all others least of all he thought That Bradamant of him the combat sought 62 To thinke it Rodomont he was inclind But yet it could not sinke into his reach Why of a sudden he should be so kind And wherein he could blame his promise breach And saue with him he cannot call to mind With whom he had of frendship any breach The while the Ladie with a stately scorne In token of defiance blew her horne 63 Straightwayes the news to Agramant doth fly That one without did challenge some within And Serpentine that then by chance was by Askt leaue to fight with sured hope to win And swears the knight should yeeld or else should by And then the people flockt both thicke and thin And stood vpon the walls with young and old Betweene these two the combat to behold 64 Out Serpentino came in braue array And brauely with his speare in rest he ran But at the first encounter downe he lay The horse runnes leere away without the man But noble Bradamant the horse doth stay And backe restore then finely as she can She prayes him to king Agramant to speake To send a stronger knight sith he was weake 65 The mightie kings of Affricke and of Spaine That from the wall the courteous act did vew From praising of the same could notrefraine Though none of them thereof the author knew Now Serpentino backe returnd againe And to his Prince he told his message trew How that same champion did desire to fight With some more stout and more renowned knight 66 And then Grandonio fierce of Volaterne The proudest knight that Spaine long time had bred Obtaind next place and with a visage sterne And threatning voice thus to the damsell sed Your curtsie small reward for you shall earne For either here in fight you must be ded Or at the least I will you prisner bring Vnto Marsilio of great Spaine the king 67 Well answerd she keepe these your threats in store Your villany my curtfie shall not let But that I le frendly monish you before That backe againe vnto your king you get Ere that your â—all may make your body sore And say that I desired to haue met A man indeed of courage and of worth And not your selfe not him that last cameforth 68 This her replie so mild and yet so bitter The Pagan with more furie did enflame With speare then speech he thought an answer fitter And toward her in full carreer he came Intending sure some deadly blow to hit her But she that was accustomd to this game Bare well his blow and with her Goldélance She taught him how the somerlaut to dance 69 But yet his horse that loose about did runne She brought him backe and thus to him she sayd Loe sir you had bin better to haue donne My message when I curteouslie you prayd Yet here I will release my prisner wonne So you will tell your king that I haue stayd To combat with a man in fight well seene And not with nouices of skill so greene 70 The lookers on that sure thought nothing lesse Then that a virgin so could guide a speare With murmurings their wonder great expresse Still ayming with surmises who it were Some Brandimart and some Renaldo guesse Or others
not thou shalt scape with spoiles so proud Of heart subdued of a silly maid Rogero who to her himselfe had vowd And to offend her greatly was afraid Held vp his gantlet vnto her in token That he with her desired to haue spoken 33 He would her wrath with kind words haue appeased And shewd her how the cause he brake his day Was that with grieuous wounds he lay diseased Which forced him against his will to stay But at this time she was so sore displeased She would not hearken what he had to say But with her speare in rest on him she runneth Who such vnkind encounter greatly shunneth 34 But when he saw she was so rash and headie And that her choler now so great did grow That she was in her full careere alreadie He puts his speare in rest at least for show And forward setâ— but when she was eu'n readie Him to haue giu'n a sharpe disgracefull blow Or that it were that she eu'n then recanted Or that her heart to harme him courage wanted 35 She bare her launce alost quite ore his crest And so of purpose that same course she mist Yet so as by the manner might be guest She could haue hit him furer had she list And wrath and rage still boiling in her brest To bend her force gainst him she did desist But in that mood no little harme she workes Vnto the other souldiers of the Turkes 36 In little time she with her gilded lance Had causd three hundred men on ground to lie So that the conquest to the part of France Was thought to haue bene gained sole thereby Rogero seeks her out and last by chance He speakes to her and faith my deare I die But I may talke with you what haue I done Alas that you my conference should shunne 37 As when the Southerne wind with luke-warme blast Doth breath on hils where winter long had dwelt Resolues the rocks of ice that hung so fast And all the new made mounts of snow doth melt So with this gentle prayre though spoke in hast The damsell such an inward motion felt That sodainly her hardned heart did soften As vnto women kind it chanceth often 38 Yet answer made she none but held her peace She onely turned Rabican aside And hasting to get out of that same prease She beckned him that after her he ride Thus went she thence with mind inclind to peace Vnto a valley where on either side A groue of Cypres so eu'n set was seene As if they all of one false stampe had beene 39 Amid this groue a goodly sepulture Was built which these faire Cypres trees did shade Of Porphyrie and marble white and pure And faire engrau'n to shew why it was made But of the tombe she tooke no care nor cure But there expected in the open glade Vntill Rogero hauing made good hast Approcht the wood and damsel at the last 40 â—ut of Marfisa now I must you tell Who hauing got by this her hor'e againe Her loftie heart with rancor great did swell To be reueng'd of this foule sufferd staine And seeing where she went as it befell And how Rogero followd her amaine She little thinketh that it is for loue But rather that they may the combat prone 41 Wherefore to follow them she thinks it best So as she came almost as soone as they But what a redious and vnwelcome guest She seemd to both one soone coniecture may Much sure it did the Dordon dame molest Who sole to her Rogeros faults did lay She deemd that to come thither nothing mou'd her But that Rogero in ill sort had lou'd her 42 And false Rogero she againe doth name And was it not enough false man said she That of thy falshood I should here by same But that I with these eyes the same should see But sith I find thou dost thy actions frame To driue me with vnkindnesses from thee I am content to die but ere I die yet She that did cause it dearly shall abuy it 43 Thus as a Viper angrie and malicious With mind indeed to do her best to kill Her that was come in manner so suspitious Though she came more for wrath the for goodwil With gilded launce she giues a blow pernicious That quite vnhorsed her for all her skill Backward Marfisa fell and in the durt Her beauer stucke but had no further hurt 44 Duke Ammons daughter that resolues to die Or kill her fo so much her selfe forgetteth That thinking to dispatch her by and by Before her head out of the mire she getteth The golden launce she will no farther trie But throwes it downe as wrath her courage whetteth And to performe the feate her sword she drawes Therewith of feare to cut away the cause 45 But ere she came so neare Marfisa met her Like one with rage with spite and scorne halse mad To thinke that now againe she sped no better And that a while before she sped so bad So that Rogero could by no meanes let her From fighting which to stop great will he had But both of them with choler were so blinded They fought like bedlem folk and desprat minded 46 They came vnto the halfe sword at the first And with their rage forgetting rules of skill Their ouermuch desire to do their worst Was onely cause that they could do none ill Their hearts were readie for despite to burst And either purposing to die or kill Did leaue her sword aside in mind supposing With stab to kill each other at the closing 47 Rogero sunders them and both intreateth To pacifie themselues but all in vaine Then of their daggers he them both defeateth And by perswasions mou'd them both againe Sometime he speaketh faire sometime he threateth Except they wil at his request abstaine But these viragoes wil not thoe desist Though weapons want they fight with feet and fist 48 He steps betweene againe and back he drawes Now one and then the tother by the sleeues And makes them both against their wils to pause At which Marfisa not a little greeues Her selfe too greatly wronged in the cause And him to be too partiall she beleeues Wherefore his friendship she doth quite disclaime And open warres with him she doth proclaime 49 And taking vp her sword in termes most vile She saith he playes the churlish villens part And that he greatly doth himselfe beguile To thinke her fight against her wil to part She sweares she wil within a little while Of his owne folly make him feele the smart And that she wil henceforth so short him curbe He shall not dare her combat to disturbe 50 Rogero still bare all her words as words And sought by speech her to haue pacified But seeing that it needs must come to swords And that with blowes not speeches she replied No longer time to walking he affords But to his weapon he himselfe applied And being moued now with rightfull anger To saue himselfe he oft put her
in danger 51 But nere did spectacle breed more delight In stately Rome or Athens so well learned Then Bradamant did take to see this fight In which she now apparently discerned That of their loue she had not iudged right Now iealousie and all that it concerned Suspition feare mistrust and wrath and franzie Are of the sodaine quite put from her fancie 52 And taking vp her sword she stands not farre With mind not yet awhile the fray to part She thinkes in him she sees the God of warre Such grace Rogero vsd such skill such art And tother seemd in that vnpleasant iarre Some hellish furie so she playd her part Yet true it is that he awhile forbare her Nor did his worst but did of purpose spare her 53 He knew the secret vertue of his blade Which he had tride in many battels well That euermore a way and entrance made Whose charme all charmed armes did far excell Wherefore he doth not fiercely her inuade With bloudy blowes nor fearfull thrusts and full But flatling still he cauld his blowes to light Till once he was of patience put out quite 54 For once Marfisa with intention shrowd Strake with such furie at Rogeros beauer That with that blow she very plainly showd That to haue kild him she did her endeuer Rogero with his argent Eagle trowd From danger of the stroke himselfe to seuer But though the shield brake not gramercy charme Yet vnderneath the shield it stound his arme 55 It happie was Don Hectors shield was there Else had she put him vnto further paine Scarce could he now the massie target beare Scarce now the siluer bird he could sustaine Now he intends no longer to forbeare But hurleth out a foyne with force so maine In rage with that late blow so fierce and bitter Wo vnto poore Marsisa had it hit her 56 I know not what good Angell did her keepe The thrust mist her and in a tree it strake And enterd in the same a shastman deepe And on the sodaine all the hill did quake A secret horror on them all did creepe They see the hill the trees and tombe to shake Till from that sepulcher a voice proceeding Spake vnto them all humane voice exceeding 57 The voice to them with no small terror cride File not your hands nor hearts with so great sin It is a kind of cruell parracide To seeke to kill and be so neare of kin Wherefore I charge you lay all hate aside And marke my speech and all containd therein I say you both were gotten of one seed One wombe you bare one brest you both did feed 58 My deare Rogero my Marfisa deare Let not the sister seeke to kill the brother But learne of me some things that touch you neare Which former times in ignorance did smother Your sire Rogero hight who that same yeare He gat you of dame Gallacell your mother Was by your vncles of his life depriued Who also your destruction thus contriued 59 They put your mother in a steerlesse bote Who was as then of you twaine great with child And in the Ocean wide they let her flote There to be staru'd or drownd in waters wild But lo how fortune holpe the lucklesse lot And ere you yet were borne vpon you smild For why against all hope or expectation Your mother made a happie nauigation 60 And being safe arriu'd at Syrtee shore There at one burden she brought forth both you And then as if she ought this world no more Her blessed soule to Paradise vp flew But there by hap to God be thanks therefore Was I at hand and when the cause I knew I did as much ere I the place did leaue As such a barren soile would giue me leaue 61 Your mother then in dust of earth I lapt Our auncient mother whereto all must go And in my cloke your little selues I wrapt To seeke some meanes to nourish you when lo A Lionesse that late had whelpt there hapt To come in sight while I went to and fro Her did I make to leaue her proper whelpes And giue you sucke then wanting other helpes 62 Ten months and ten in forrests wilde and moorish The Lions tets you vsed were to sucke I after learnd with wilde flesh you to nourish Such as I could of Beaâ—es or Stag and Bucke But when you now began in strength to flourish One day while I was lacke by euill lucke A band of fierce Arabians comming thither Wold haue conuaid you both from thence togither 63 But thou Rogero when thou sawst them comming Didst saue thy selfe from that mishap by flight But thou Marfisa not so swiftly running Wert tane and quickly carrid out of sight To fetch thee backe againe I wanted cunning For which I soride many day and night But as the losse of tone did make me sad So of the tother greater care I had 64 Ah my Rogero thou thy selfe canst tell If thine Atlanta lou'd thee while he liued I saw the starres some euill haps foretell That thou shouldst haue which me not litle grieued Yet I endeuord still as thou knowst well That by my meanes thou mightst haue bin relieued But finding thee still contrary inchned For very griefe at last I dide and pined 65 But here I built this tombe afore I died Where I foresaw you two should make this fray And being dead to Charon lowd I cried To suffer in this wood my ghost to stray Vntill this fight to me foresignified Should happen which was done this present day Now shall my soule from hence depart in peace Now Bradamant thy iealousie may cease 66 Thus said the voice and left them all amazed With wonder great and strangenesse of the case And when a while each had on other gazed They met in kindest manner and embrace Nor Bradamant her selfe who erst was crazed With iealousie now tooke it in disgrace To see her spouse when he most kindly kist her Now well assured that she was his sister 67 Thus they agreed at last and either twin Do call to mind some acts of childish yeares What they had sayd and done where they had bin Which eu'n with tender heart did moue their teares At last the worthy brother doth begin To tell Marfisa what great loue he beares To Bradamant whom he to wed intends And so at length he made them faithfull frends 68 Then all parts pacifide so well at length Marfisa doth intreate her noble brother To tell to her the storie more at length Or that so strange exiling of her mother And if their fire were slaine by fraud or strength And who it was that wrought the tone or tother For sure said she I thinke I neuer heard it Or childishnesse did make me not regard it 69 Rogero tels her how of Troian race From Hector they be lineally descended By meanes Astianax of speciall grace That scapt Viysses and the snares intended Did leaue a child of like yeares in his place
cosin so much more presume Vpon his reconcilement and true loue And promist to assist him if he may And for his answer he prefixt a day 34 And straight from thence he go'th vnto the place Where he was wont the spirits to coniure A strong vast caue in which there was great space The precepts of his Art to put in vre One spright he calls that of each doubtfull case Of Cupids court could giue him notice sure Of him he askt what bred Renaldos change By him he heard of those two fountaines strange 35 And how Renaldo by misfortune led First happend of that hatefull spring to drinke Which his dislike of that faire Ladie bred And made her loue and profferd seruice stinke And how againe by some ill starre misled He drank of th' other spring which causd him thinke Her onely to be loued and admired Whom erst he hated more then cause required 36 Moreouer he to Malagigis showd How that same famous Indian Queene nay quean Had on a Pagan youth herselfe bestowd Of parentage of state of liuing meane And how from Spaine they in a galley rowd All Christendome and Spaine forsaking cleane And passing both with safetie and with ease In ventrous barks of Catalyn the seas 37 Now when Renaldo for his answer came His learned cosin seekes him to perswade Vnto some better thought his minde to frame Nor further in this gulfe of loue to wade Alledging what a slander and a shame It was to fancy one her selfe had made Not like a Queene but like a vile maide Marian A wife nay slaue vnto a base Barbarian 38 In fine he said she was to th' Indies gon With her Medoro and was welnie there Renaldo not a little musd thereon Yet all the rest he could with patience beare And for the paine he counts it small or none So he at last might finde her any where Wherefore of it he had no care not keepe Nor could that make him once to breake his sleepe 39 But when he heard that one of birth so base Had with his mistres laid his knife a boord It seemd this strake him speechles in the place He was not able to pronounce a word His heart did quake within his lips like case So trembled answer he could none afford But ouercome with anguish of the passion He flang away from thence in carelesse fashion 40 And much lamenting this her foule abuse He vowes to follow her what ere insue But yet to Charles he faineth this excuse That sith Gradasso of his word vntrue Had tane his horse contrary to the vse Of valiant Knights he meanes him to pursue Alledging that it were his great dishoner To let Bayardo haue a forren owner 41 And that a Turke should bost another day That he by fight did him thereof bereaue King Charles though loth yet could not say him nay To such an honest sute but gaue him leaue Which tane alone from thence he goes his way And all his frends in Paris he doth leaue With Guidon Dudon stout to him do proffer Their company but he refusd their offer 42 Away he goes alone yet not alone Griefs teares and plaints still his companions are And oft in heart he bitterly doth grone To thinke that erst he should so little care For her great loue which wilfully forgone He now esteemes at rate so high and rare He could haue wisht thus was his mind perplext But one day to enioy and die the next 43 Then he bethinkes with no lesse griefe nayrage How she could finde in that her lofty hart To set her loue on such a sorry page The merites all and seruice put apart Done vnto her eu'n from her tender age By men of high renowne and great desart Thus with a fired hart and watred eyne He rode vntill he toucht the bankes of Rhyne 44 Ere long into Ardenna woods he enters Soone after he Basylea quite had past Ardenna woods whence many come repenters And in that forrest haue bene sore agast To trauell through the same Renaldo venters When suddenly the skie did ouercast And there arose a blacke and hideous storme And then appeard a monster of strange forme 45 She seem'd of womans shape but in her hed A thousand eyes she had that watch did keepe As many eares with which she harkened Her eyes want lids and therefore neuer sleepe In steed of haire her crowne snakes ouerspred Thus marched she foorth of the darknesse deepe Her tayle one Serpent bigger then the rest Which she with knots had tyde about her brest 46 This fight Renaldos mind appald so sore He feeles his heart alreadie gan to fayle him And sith it neuer had done so before He maruels what the goody eare now should aile him Yet still his minde misgaue him more and more To see the monster comming to assaile him He nathlesse countersets his wonted boldnesse Though quaking hāds bewraid his inward coldnesse 47 The monster straight assaulted him much like To one that parfet was and skild in fence And when againe he with his sword did strike He misled and could doe her none offence Much doth Renaldo this ill match mislike And little wants to quite distract his sence Right blowes and reardemaine he striketh many But yet he cannot hit her right with any 48 The monster stickes a Serpent in his brest That strake his heart in to a freesing cold Another fixed is below his crest And on his necke and shoulders taketh hold Renaldo thinkes to get him gone is best And spurres away with all the speed he could But that vile monster was not lame to find him But ouertooke him and leapt vp behind him 49 And whether he go straight or go he wide The monster fitteth sure and holds him fast He knowes not how to be from her vntide Nor any meane within his mind can cast His heart eu'n quakes within him and beside That he was with this hideous plague agast He sorrowd so not knowing how to mend it He loth'd his life and did desire to end it 50 He spurres amaine and purposely he takes The rugged wayes the worst that he could find By craggie Rocks and hils through bryers brakes Through copsies thicke by narrow paths and blind But sure the knight the matter much mistakes He cannot from the monster him vnwind And like it was great harme had him betyded Had not for him bene helpe in time prouided 51 For loe a knight vnto his succour went All armd in shining steele and on his shield He bare a yoke in sundry peeces rent And flames of fire all in a yellow field So weaponed he was as if he ment To make all that encountred him to yeeld A sword and speare he had and to the same A Mace from whence he threw continuall flame 52 His Mace was stor'd with euerlasting fire That euer burned and did neuer wast No other weapon needed one desire To make good way with wheresoeu'r he past And sure
wise so stout Well shapt as eye can see or heart desire Well borne well qualited of sober carriage They nought esteeme all these in case of marriage 49 Well saith Rogero if that Ammon needs Will make an Empresse of his daughter deare At least this hast he makes is more then needs Let him yet giue me respite but one yeare And if in that same yeare I do such deeds That both the sonne and sire I vanquish cleare When both their crowns I conquerd I haue wonne Then I may worthy be to be his soune 50 But if he straight the marriage do effect With Constantinos heire in so great hast And will Renaldos promise quite neglect And eke his Cosens which so few dayes past Before that blessed man of Gods elect And that good Marquesse they did bind so fast If they shall wrong me so what then shall I What can I do in such a case but die 51 What should I do shall I then be auenged Of him that me contraries in this wise Let me be blamed herein or commended Let me therein be deemd a foole or wise But would my state alas be then amended By th' old mans death no no far otherwise I doubt this would not worke my more content But rather contrarie my first intent 52 My first intention was and yet is still That Bradamant should beare me loue not hate Now then if I her father here should kill Or ought attempt against her brothers state Had she not cause of me to thinke then ill And to refuse me for her spouse and mate What shall I do alas then shall I beare it Ah no perdy first I will dye I sweare it 53 And yet I will not die but I le destroy That Leon that procur'd my harme and wo And is desturber of my chiefest ioy Him and his father I will kill also Faire Helen to the louer lewed of Troy Not cost so deare nor longer far ago Proserpin cost Perythous price so hye As I will cause them this my griefe to buy 54 But were it possible my deare that thou Canst leaue thine owne Rogero for this Greeke Yea though that all thy brothers did allow This match which Ammon doth so fondly seeke Yes yes I feare that thine owne minde doth bow To his desire and could far better leeke When with thy selfe thou dost these offers scan To haue a Caesar then a priuate man 55 Can then the dignitie and glorious name Of pompous shewes and of imperiall seat The noble heart of Bradamant so frame Her vallew rare and vertue to defeat And go from her first promise to her shame Which me she made with many vowes and great No sure I know she will them all forsake Much rather then vnsay that once she spake 56 These words Rogero spake and many such And oftentimes he spake them in such sort That diuers ouerhard him in so much That they were told by more then one report To Bradamant whom they did chiefly tuch Who tooke them not you may be sure in sport But as her priuate griefe was great before So this report of him did grieue her more 57 But most it grieu'd her and aboue the rest That he mistrusted she would him forsake At any mans commandment or request And specially for this same Grecians sake Wherefore to moue this scruple from his brest And this foule error from his minde to take She gate her pen and inke one night full late And to Rogero such like words she wrate 58 My deare as erst I was I still will bide While life shall dure yea eu'n when life is past Though toward me loue shew his grace or pride Or fortune raise me vp or downward cast My stable faith shall neuer faile nor slide For calme nor storme but as a Rocke stand fast Against the surging waues still vnremoueable So shall my faith stand firme and vnreproueable 59 First shall a file or knife of drossie lead The Dyamond to sundrie figures carue Ere any chance by Fortunes frailtie bred Or powre of loue shall cause my course to swarue First shall the streames runne backe vnto their hed Ere I will iustly such a blame desarue Or ere I shall for chances good or ill Giue my consent to change my setled will 60 To thee Rogero mine a good while since Of me and of my heart I gaue dominion I should my selfe of lightnes great conuince If I so sodainly could change opinion As for my true allegeance sure no Prince Is faithfuller belou'd of dearest minnion For me you need no fortresse nor no towre To be defences against forren powre 61 You need no bands of men to entertaine To keepe this fortres strength enough haue I For riches make on me assault but vaine So base a price no gentle heart can buy Nor noble birth nor name of crowne or raigne Which oft doth dase the common peoples eye Nor beautie to the which light minds incline Though greater see I neuer shall then thine 62 No feare not no man powre shall euer haue My heart to other figure to transforme Loue did your shape therein so deepe ingraue As now it can receiue none other forme My heart is not of wax for why Loue gaue When to his worke he did it first conforme An hunderd strokes with cheessell and with male Ere he could fetch therefrom one little scale 63 Pure Iuorie gemmes and eu'rie hardest stone That most withstandeth steele a man may burst But other figure yet receiue they none Then that to which they formed were at furst My heart is not vnlike a precious stone Or Adamant or what so cutteth worst Loue sooner shall it breake in thousand splints Ere other beauties bring it to new prints 64 These words she wrote and many more to these That him with faith with loue with hope so fed Of force to cure each desperate disease Or rather to reuiue him being ded But when they thought them safest from the seas And in the hau'n securely harbored A new and sodaine tempest rose so sore As draue them backe to sea from sight of shore 65 For worthy Bradamant that had assignd To shew her meaning plaine was and direct And calling wonted courage to her minde And quite reiecting womanly respect Came vnto Charles and spake in such a kind My Leige if ere my seruice did effect Ought worth your highnes thanks at your cōmand Let not your grace denie me one demand 66 But promise me vpon your Princely faith And royall word which I may surely trust To grant one suit what ere your handmaid praith And I will promise that it shall be iust Beloued worthy mayd the Emp'ror saith Your many seruices confesse I must Deserue no lesse and frankly here I vow it If of my Realme you aske part I le allow it 67 My suit is that your highnes will not yeeld That I said she may any husband haue That shall not first of all with speare and sheeld Or
nations 20 Thus much the writing made men vnderstand That no man Bradamant to wife should get But one that would attempt with sword in hand From rising of the Sun vntill it set Her force in single combat to withstand Which if that any could there was no let But she agrees and Charles himselfe allows That such a one should haue her for his spouse 21 This Article was likewise there set downe That they should name the weapon if they list For why her vallew was of great renowne To fight on horse on foote in field in list Duke Ammon now that to withstand the crowne Wants force and will no longer doth resist But after long discourses with his daughter Compeld in fine backe to the Court he broughther 22 Her mother eke though wroth and malcontent Yet both for nature and for honours sake Good store of costly clothes incontinent Both gownes and kirtles she for her doth make Thus Bradamant with both her parents went Vnto the Court where she small ioy did take She scarce esteemed it a Court to be When that her louer there she could not see 23 As one that saw in Aprill or in May A pleasant garden full of fragrant flowres Then when fresh earth new clad in garments gay Deckes eu'ry wood and groue with pleasant bowres And comes againe on some Decembers day And sees it mard with winters stormes and showres So did this Court to Bradamant appeare When as she saw Rogero was not heare 24 She dares not aske of any man for feare Least such a question might her loue accuse How beit secretly she lendeth eare To others talke as in such case men vse Each man saith gon he is but none knowes wheare For to the Court of him there came no newes And he himselfe when as he thence departed His purpose vnto no man there imparted 25 Oh in what feare and rage these newes do set her To heare Rogero was in manner fled She thinks that sure because he could not get her And that her father nay to him had sed That now he sought of purpose to forget her And shunne her sight that all his sorrow bred She thinks that he from thence himselfe withdrawes For this alone and for none other cause 26 But more then all this doubt her heart assayles That he was gone to seeke some forren loue And sith that of his purpose here he fayles To speed some otherwhere he straight would proue As from a boord men driue out nayles with nayles So with new loue he woud her loue remoue But straight another thought that thought gainsaith She thinketh her Rogero full of faith 27 And there-vpon her selfe she reprehends That she her louer should so much abuse Thus in her minde one fancie him defends And then another doth him sore accuse And she her thought to either fancie lends And in great doubt she is which part to chuse But when a while she had her selfe bethought She leaneth most vnto best pleasing thought 28 Then chiefe when in her mind she doth repeat Rogeros promise which he bad her trust She thinks to him the iniurie is great That causlesly she now should him mistrust And eu'n as he were present she doth beat Her brest that still doth harbor thoughts vniust My selfe hath sinn'd she saith which now I curse But he that caused it is cause of worse 29 Loue was the cause quoth she that in my hart Your face and grace ingraued hath so seemely And therewith hath set forth each vertuous part Beseeming thee so sweetly and so trimly That sure no dame that knowes well what thou art Can chuse but fall in loue with thee extreemly And therewithall with all her powre indeuer To win thy loue and make thee hers for euer 30 Oh if that loue had grau'd thy thoughts so well As it hath grau'd thy visage in my minde In how great ioy and blisse should I then dwell For well I know that they be true and kinde Then iealousie the onely plague of hell To which alas I am too much inclinde Should quickly cease and I should free me from it Nor would I in my heart once thinke vpon it 31 But as a miser hoording vp his treasure Doth doubt in absence still that theeues be there So I when thou that art mine onely pleasure Art absent far from me I know not where I straight suspect and straight I doubt false measure And straight my hope grows lesse more my feare Which though I thinke both bootlesse and vniust Yet still I doubt and still I do mistrust 32 But yet no sooner shall the pelasing light Of thy sweet count'nance come vnto mine eyes O thou my ioy ô thou my lines delight Though where thou art I cannot now deuise But that true hope false feare shall put to flight And knowledge plaine all doubts shall satisfie Come then my deare and hasten thy returning Ere hope feare shal wast me quite with mourning 33 As when the night hath spred her mantle blacke Faint harted folke are wont to be affrayd But when againe the day-light doth come backe They seeme of better cheare and well appayd So I do faint when as my deare I lacke But in his presence I am vndismayd Come then my deare Rogero come vnto me Before that hope and doubt do quite vndo me 34 As in the night each little fierie sparke May plainly be discerned with our eyne But when the day doth come we then shall marke That all are dampt and do no longer shine So kindels feare in minde with doubt made darke Vntill my Sunne in my Horizon shine Turne then my deare and with thy light illume me And driue away this care that doth consume me 35 As when the Sun declines to South most low The land doth Ieese the beautie that she had And winter stormes breed raine and I se and snow The pleasant birds all silent sit and sad So when as thou from me farre of dost go O shining Sunne whose beames do make me glad A thousand feares but all vniust and vaine Make winter in my heart to my great paine 36 Shine then on me O my cleare Sun and bring Thy beames more nye this snow and I se to thaw Refresh these branches witherd in their spring And do no more thy selfe so farre withdraw As Philomena dolefully doth sing When as her young ones all destroyd she saw Or as the Turtle early mourns and late When she hath lost her deare beloued mate 37 So noble Bradamant still mournes and plaines With feare Rogeeo had her loue reiected And with salt teares her louely cheeks distaines Yet secretly for feare to be detected Oh had she knowne that he was bound in chaines And eu'rie houre a cruell death expected What griefe of minde thinke you would she then take That was so grieu'd alreadie for his sake 38 But loe the heau'nly goodnes so ordaines That Theodoras rage and cruell spight Against her
prisner whom she keeps in chaines And means to kil with torture all she might Reseruing him aliue for greater paines Came to the eare of Caesars sonne one night And put into his heart to saue and cherish And not to suffer so great vallew perish 39 The noble Leon that Rogero loues Not knowing tho that this Rogero was Whom his rare vertue and great vallew moues Which he did thinke all humane farre to passe Deuising sundry wayes this one he proues And by the same he brought the feate to passe So that his cruell Ant could not espy him Nor once complaine that she was wronged by him 40 He speaketh in the secretst sort he can Vnto the bloudy wretch that kept the kayes And prayth him show him the condemned man For why he must examaine him he sayes A knight a valiant man that was his man He takes with him fit for all bold assayes The cruell layler that no fraud suspected In all points did as Leon him directed 41 He leads him secretly vnto the den Where good Rogero was in prison pent Nor tooke he with him any of his men But as their guide the formost of them went Who when they saw the time best serued then No longer to defer th' occasion ment But vnawares they at aduantage catch him And with a sodaine stab they do dispatch him 42 Then open they the trap doore out of hand And downe they let the ladder that was by And Leon with a lanterne in his hand Of light conceald went where the knight did ly Fast bound vpon a grate with bitter band Not in the water but thereto so ny The very dampe was such that one might guesse That â—ole would kill him in a month or lesse 43 With great compassion Leon him imbraced And sayd sir knight the vertue you haue showne With sured knots my loue hath knit and laced To you since first the same to me was knowne So as my heart and thoughts are wholly placed To seeke your fafetie rather then mine owne Ventring your welfare and your loue to win To leese my fires good will and all my kin 44 To tell you true the Emp'rours sonne I am Leon by name as yet to you a stranger To set you free of purpose now I came And put my person and my state in danger That both my father greatly me may blame And looke vpon me euermore with anger The losse at Belgrade which you wrought him late Makes him to beare to you so sharpe an hate 45 These sugred words and many more beside Which were for me too tedious to repeat He spake and then his bands he all vntyde And secretly he causd him moue his seat Rogero in this wise to him replyde Your curtesie is such your gift so great To giue me life that you shall ay command it When euer it shall please you demand it 46 Thus Leon in this secret sort vnknowne Rogero from the prison doth conuay And sent him to a castle of his owne Whereas he might secure in silence stay Vntill this tumult all were ouerblowne And till againe for him regaine he may His armes and gallant horse and famous blade Kept by Vngardo Lord of Nouengâ—ade 47 The keeper slaine the next ensuing morne The prison gates from off the hinges heaued The chaines and manicles in peeces torne Each man might see but none by whom perceaued All thought that Leon had him hatred borne Wherefore of him they no mistrust conceaued The cause he had of hate each man doth know By name his late receaued ouerthrow 48 At this great curtesie that Leon vsed Rogero wonders much and thinks it strange And sore he was in minde and thought confused And sodainly he feeles a wondrous change His heart relented and all hate refused And turnde it all to loue by sweet exchange What earst malicious cruell was and hatefull Is turned now to kinde and milde and gratefull 49 So deepe into his head and heart it sinkes That it possessed all his soule and sence On this he studies when he wakes or winkes How he may do to him some recompence To spend eu'n all his future dayes he thinkes Sole in his seruice and in his defence Could not requite no scarce the twentith part Of so great curtsie and so great desart 50 In this meane while the newes was come from France Which Charles had notifide to many a nation Of her that would be woo'd by sword and lance In single fight so said the proclamation Don Leon was quite out of countenance To heare of this her strange determination And as a man that well his owne strength knowes Himselfe too weake for her he doth suppose 51 And long debating how he might supply His want of force and courage by his wit In fine he purposd with himselfe to try This new made fréd whose name he knows not yet Although he well could witnesse with his eye That for no braue exploit he was vnfit He hopeth by his manhood and his aid To conquer and to haue that hardie maid 52 But two things he must do before he goes One is the minde of this same vnknowne knight Vnto this hardie enterprise dispose The tother is to bring him to the fight So secretly as none might it disclose And all that while to keepe himselfe from fight First then in earnest sort he doth intreat Rogero take on him this hardie feat 53 Much might the Greeke preuaile by eloquence The which he vsd to leade him thereunto But more preuayld the bond of recompence So firme as no time euer could vndo That though the motion bred him great offence And seemd a thing vnpossible to do With gladder looke then heart he doth reply Deare sir I nothing may to you deny 54 Though he no sooner had this word pronounced But that he felt such griefe did gripe his hart As if damnation were to him denounced Such pangs he had such torture and such smart But yet his promise giu'n he not renounced Nor from the same once purposd to depart For first a thousand deaths he ment to chuse Then one request of Leons to refuse 55 Dye sure he shall he thinks for if he leaue His loue he knowes he cannot byde aliue For either sorrow will of life him reaue Or if that nature shall with sorrow striue Of his owne hands he will his death receaue And so his soule from hated harbor driue Each other thing on earth to him seems possible But missing her to liue he thinks impossible 56 Then die he must onely he doubts what kinde Of death were for his state and fancie best Once this conceit did come into his minde To lay in fight his naked open brest Might she him slay he deemeth in his minde That such a death in death might make him blest But then he sees what follow would of this That noble Leon should his purpose misse 57 And then himselfe of promise eke should fayle Which was not to dissemble but indeuer That
greater felicitie might one come to She that was sent for from Asbridge with commandement to be brought either aliue or dead she that was committed to the Towre of London she that was so often and so straightly examined she that demanded if the Lady Ianes scaffold were taken downe doubting to play on the same such another Pageant she that doubted murdering if her keeper had bene an ill disposed man she that sent word to her seruants that came to know how she did tanquam ouis lastly she that wrate in the window at Woodstocke with a Diamond Much suspected by me quoth Elizabeth prisoner Nothing proued can be quoth Elizabeth prisoner Became of the sodaine a crowned Queene with greater applause then either Lewes in France or Coruino in Hungarie and not onely hath raigned but doth raigne most happily All which her highnesse troubles my selfe haue the better cause to remember because the first worke I did after I could write Latin was to translate that storie out of the booke of Martyrs into Latin as M. Thomas Arundell and Sir Edward Hobby can tell who had their parts in the same taske being then schollers in Eaton as I was and nmaely that last verse I remember was translated thus Plurimi de me malè suspicantur Attamen de me mala non probantur Elizabetha carcere clausa And thus much for example of the change of fortunes In Bradamants fight against Rogero we may see how our opinion blinded with a false supposition striveth oftentimes most vehemently against that it would be loth to ouerthrow if it were rightly informed The cruell minde of the Theodora alludes to the cruelty of another Theodora wife to Iustinianus who exercised all those cruelties that this intended against Rogero vpon Pope Vigilius Here and the notes of the xlv booke THE XLVI BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Leon by search doth good Rogero finde And hauing learnd the cause of his annoy He grants to him his loue in manner kinde Whom now Rogero sweetly doth enioy Onely the Sarzan king with hatefull minde Comes to disturbe Rogeros ease and toy Nathelesse he is decciu'd of his account In fine Rogero kills fierce Rodomount 1 NOw if my compasse and my card be trew I am not fatre from that desired cost Where I shal pay my vow and promise dew Vnto my Saint of whose great grace I bost I looked earst with pale and chearlesse hew For feare in this wide Ocean to be lost But now me thinke I see I now see surely The hau'n in which I harbor shall securely 2 Harke harke what peals of Ord'nance great and Guns Are shot in token of congratulation Harke how they sound the Trumpets the Drums To gratulate my happie nauigation See how on either shore the people runs To see me after my long per'grination Behold a crew of peerlesse knights and dames Now I discerne them now I know their names 3 But least my ship should perish in the port As oft it doth befall for want of heed I will go forward in my first report And tell to you how well the prince did speed That sought Rogero who in wofull fort Did pine and languished and wisht indeed Sith that dame Bradamant he might not marry To dye all comfortlesse and solitary 4 But sage Melyssa that had euer sought To make that match as often hath bene fed And euermore did take great care and thought That good Rogero Bradamant might wed By her great skill in Magicko art so wrought She had continuall notice how they sped Two sprites she did imploy for that intent And still as one came home another went 5 By them she quickly had intelligence How he had tane so inward griefe and great He taryd in a wood with firme pretence To pine himselfe away with want of meat Melyssa parteth presently from thence And with some secret words she did repeat In likenesse of a horse a sprite she tooke And to met Leon that for him did looke 6 And thus she said to him sir if you be So gracious as your semblance makes me weene If your good minde with your good lookes agree If so you haue not lost all pittie cleene Come then o'come and helpe and ioyne with me To ayd the brauest knight that ere was seene Who for one curteous part that he hath done Except you helpe is like to bevndone 7 The noblest stourest and the prowest knight That euer carryd shield or blade forth drew The seemlyest and most worthy minded wight That euer was in age or old or new Is like to perish in most wofull plight Except he may relieued be by you Come quickly then vnto his aide perdye And suffer not so braue a man to dye 8 Don Leon straight supposed in his minde That this same knight of whom the stranger spake Was he whom long he sought and could not finde And be for whom such care himselfe did take Melissa leads the way he close behind Doth follow her and so good shift they make That in some twaine at most in three houres ryding They came there where Rogero was abyding 9 Now being at the place to which they hafted They both alighted there with minde to stay There saw they how he pinde away and wasted For in two dayes before nor all that day No liquor he had drunke nor meat had tasted But in his armor on the ground he lay And made a pillow of that noble sheeld With th'Vnicorne vpon vermillion feeld 10 Here as I said he lay along and mused On his owne miserie and on that wrong With which he had his loue so much abused And bites for griefe his hands and lips and tong And his conceits and wits were so confused To set his thoughts vpon one thing so long And hauing on his griefe so firmely fixt them He saw not them although he were betwixt them 11 Don Leon harkned to his lamentation And heard him often call himselfe vnkind And saw him vexe himselfe in such a fashion As vnto pittie great his heart inclind He finds that loue bred all this molestation But yet whose loue it was he did not find He heard how sundry times himselfe he blamed But all that while his loue he neuer named 12 And therefore pitying much his wofull case Although awhile he silent stood and mute Yet after stood before him face to face And with great louingnesse doth him salute And with affection great doth him imbrace Intreating him and making speciall sute That he would tell him plaine and make him know What cause had bred him so great griefe and woe 13 Rogero loth to liue resolu'd to dye Prayes Leon now to trouble him no more But he most sweetly doth to him reply That God hath made a salue for eu'uie sore If men would learne the same how to apply And that no one thing may auayle man more To cure a griefe and perfectly to heale it Then if he do vnto some frend reucale it 14 And