most dangerous falles Him call I happie that least doth set his confidence in Fortune or hath least receiued of her blinde gifts terming her benifites the threatning of greater miserie What good is there on earth but is mingled with a thousand vnsauorie displeasing euilles and of discontents misfortunes and lamentable euentes such and so many that onely leaue him with his bare name ouerpressing the soule with torments and gréeuing the perplexed minde with most gréeuous and wofull paines After that by little and little the furie of the sea was asswaged he hasted to a coppes that not farre from thence he espied there to drie his clothes and himselfe There Trebatios haughtie Nephew disrobed himselfe leauing but his onely shert vpon him remembring with some tendernesse the troubles he had ouerpast iudging by the greatnes of them they would at length wearie of themselues bring him to a delectable sweete ende that then with the present happinesse he might ioyfully recount his former infelicities This consideration somewhat animated him suffering that distresse more patiently Example should they take by him that in lesse dangers forget to make vse of sufferance estéeming that death which peraduenture the celestiall powers doth but ordaine for tryall of theyr workes The Gréeke againe apparelled himselfe his vestments beeing drie and laid him downe to rest neuer more destitute thereof then at that instant it was little for straight hee wakened to séeke some path which might leade him to some Village hee found it but with some trouble for without it nothing desired is lightly obtained And going along the same there happened to him what the insuing Chapter doth mention CHAP. XIII What befell vnto the mightie Rosabell with certaine other Ladyes of whome hee learned the countrey wherein hee then was I Dare almost assure my selfe faire Ladies your bewties haue with some féeling except your harts be harder then the flint or more obdurate then the Dyamond attended the Gréeke princes shipwrack In faith his worthes deserue it for hee that with an ayme submits himselfe to gréefe maketh himselfe vnworthie of comiseration being in necessitie and yet neuer any merited fauour that denied it to the néedie Something destitute of it was Olyuias haughtie sonne but from the middest of his heart drew he strength to resist his woes who although incompassed on all sides with so many extreames did neuer forget her whose fauours were wont to cherish him and now in absence putting him to his tryall This vertue hath true loue remoueable by nothing from the soule where it buildeth once his rest opposing it selfe against all inconueniences though ordered by his Lady whereof being assured takes them as comforts to his distresse Many examples there are of this yet of them I wil recount but one witnesse my mothers sonne whom neither the changes of time nor time altering course of life nor yet the Mutabilitie of state in life can make him denie his Captiuitie nor omit the dulled accentes of an vnaccent passion with remeÌ„brance of his grones for his vnpittying warres And though she know it and the sinceritie of his affection yet turnes she away the pittie of her fauour one telling him his paines are too fewe Pittie so vnfortunate a Louer pittifull Ladies and yée that shall first heare of his griefe greater then that which neuer any had nor worse respected yet this comfort hath hee that a lady excéeded all worth of comparison moued with his laments said vnknowne by whom vngratefull truth may shee be called that thus intreateth this distressed Louer Venus and Cupid reward thée beautious Lady and suâ—â— I am hee wil when thou shalt desire Loues helpe against Fortunes tyrannie for the Gréeke Lord suffering his labours with constant sufferance in the ende obtained his Lyriana whose onely sight made him déeme all his former discontents most swéete contents With this hope trauelled hee on foote onely with his sword hauing taken the straightest and most troden path Hee had not gone farre but vexed with thirst although newe dryed of waters he turned vp a long by a cleare streame till he came to the head of the spring about which was builded an Allablaster Fountaine whose worke with the clearenesse of the waters inuited the Prince to drinke Which done he did eate of such frute as the frutefull trées did yéeld that round incompassed the Fountaine Tyred with his former toyles he laid him downe and slept a good while resting his rest wanting amorous ioynts Farre was he not from the great cittie of Golthuerg chiefe in the Kingdome of Sylephia lying betwéene Polonia and Bohemia and therefore at the instant he dreamed the swéetest Vision in all his life for thinking himselfe embraced his Lady the Princesse Eufronisa whose beautie was inferiour to none equalling the fayrest that met in Constantinople at the Tryumphes She was very young hauing not yet attained to 14. yeares which made her as children vse walke to sport her selfe about those woods that bordered on her garden and hauing lost her selfe with one Lady from the rest of her attendants so amazed was not Venus when she first saw the boy Adonis along the banks of Nylus as with admiration the bewtious Eufronisa was astonished with the Gréeke Princes sight that lay vpon the grasse séeming more faire then when young Apollo in habit of a shéepheard tended Alestes Goates He was big of body his other parts and liniaments are already set downe although now he entered into 20 they were better perfected With more desire did the Lady gaze on him then in the woods of Troy the thrée faire Goddesses expected Paris sentence So much she yéelded to the sight that shee began to féele a newe alteration neuer felt before in her heart for being but a childe she yet knew not the meaning of Loues pretie fooleries With some woonder she turned to her damzell with these words Hast thou euer séene more perfect bewtie then this gallant youth doth shew I beléeue that Nature at his byrth angrie with her selfe did thus create him to despight her selfe I cannot thinke but he is child to some of our immortal Gods that haue now sent him on the earth to alienate all straungers wits Which if it be so we Ladies must strengthen our selues with courage for I feare the wisest will néed it to scape frée of his sight so absolute is he in all things This aduice came too late to the tender Lady for Loue had already made her his Goddesse till the death neither had she power to vntie the knot wherewith blinde Cupid had bound her hart tying it so hard as he left it insoluble I pittie thée gallant Eufronisa that in the nonage of thy yeares thou shuldest begin so sower an office as to be subiect to an vnknown lord I wold willingly giue thée some consolation but so much I do want it as rather for both I should procure it No vaine no colour no fashion was in the Brytanickes face but she coted it within her very soule
thing procéeding from you gentle Lady I le accept as a fauour answered the Gréeke being assured that since you know my will you will not be against my content which I shall estéeme most great to worke yours And they arriued at the Ladies lodging where they were forced to silence least they should be heard and the Prince tooke off the armor from his legs So went they euen where Eufronisa did expect him fairer then Diana yet so abashed and fearefull that though she saw him yet could not speake But from her weakenesse she drew strength to say embracing him now Loue began to helpe her I would not valiant knight haue you attribute this my boldnesse to more then to requite what I am indebted to you hauing this day to your high honour most noblely honoured our court where my selfe also had part through your valour of the glorious end of the aduenture In eternall records of liuing memorie to succéeding ages shall this remaine togither with this my wanton déed if it be knowne Hee replied There nothing happened this day most soueraigne Princesse but was atchieued vnder the name of your excellent bewtie And therfore vndergoing it as yours what difficultie could happen which I might not vanquish to enternize your glories Ay me strange Coriolano were I assured thereof what torment were so great which I should not account a pleasure and most swéete But oh cruell griefe it is thou that hast conspired with my malignant starres to make mee explaine my will before I know how it will be accepted Excéedingly content rested I séeing you at the Fountaine and conceiued such delight that therewith I liue and euer shall possesse this mancion of my life but if you knew or would vnderstand with what paines gréefes it was intermixed there were no heart of Diamond walled with Adamant but would pittie my distresse She there ended raining downe her christall rubie chéekes such a shewer of liquid pearle as it expressed her soules sorrow It was not vnconsidered by the Brittaine youth for he was M. of Loues schoole A thousand times cursed he himselfe complaining against the blinde guidresse of vnhappinesse reuoluing many inconueniences the least whereof were woorse then death for if he yéeld to the Ladies will hee sées the wrong he offers to his Lyriana and if he do it not hee feares she is resolued for aye to kéepe him there Both things hee ponderated wisely in his minde yet could not chuse which he might do or how to excuse himselfe Notwithstanding of these euils hee tooke the lesse yet greatest chusing rather to suffer a liuing death then to offend his deare Lyriana and so hee aunswered contrarie to her expectation thus I cannot but confesse most excellent Princesse how much you desire to fauor me altogither immeritable of your benefits and if ending the aduenture in your name may be thought any seruice for euer bee it happie for bringing me to this estate wherein if my woorthlesse life sacrificed to confirme your content may be any signe of thankfulnesse behold me here readie to yéeld it With a heauie sigh the Lady answered Woe be to thée vnfortunate Eufronisa since in thy tendrest years thou haste begunne to feele the bitter chaunges of inconstant Fortune Sure sure I am I shall remaine an example to all posterities through this vnséemly act made woorse by thy vnciuill vsage I do not require you cruell knight nor will not haue you hazard your life in now daungers of new enterprises onely I request séeing I loue oh Gods that I should say so you would do the like Most faire of fairest Ladies replied the afflicted youth I am yours and as such a one dispose of me for none with more will shall procure your content But yet doe not bestow your sacred faithfull loue on so meane a knight as I both in conditions blood and estate the which neither your Princely honour fame nor dignitie doth allow nor my selfe séeing and knowing your loosing choise bound by deserts vnto your worthinesse may permit without infringing the constant lawes of faith hospitallitie and thankfulnesse The which rather then I will commit these my hands will I staine with my owne blood for where there is such inequallitie of deserts I should be hated and abhorred of all men so to accomplish your languishing desire and therefore haue patience beauteous Princesse for there is nothing better then it to tollerate these hastie accidents in Loue. Oh inhumane crueltie said the wéeping Ladie how much doest thou extend thy power against me what auailes it thée hard hearted knight to procure my honour by giuing me a most vntimely death So shalt thou rather be called an homecide then a man seruitor of Ladies wel well I wot that my ouer liberall giuing thée my heart mooues thée to this strangenesse knowing there is no reason in that breft wher Loue commaundeth which were it in me I could not but see the increase of my honour by being silent but with such vehemencie was my paine augmented as I could no longer conceale it And if thou knowest what it is to loue this canst thou not iudge straunge when true affection could neuer yet be limitted and mine excéeding all others forceth me to say I onely liue to loue thée Héere she pawsed vnable to procéede further nor the Prince to replie the one intercepted by the gréefe the poore soule indured and the other to sée he caused it by being so obstinate and vnrelenting to her requests In the greatest confusion of the world was the Prince in to sée the Lady so determined and amorous and he himselfe be reaft of possibilitie to helpe her I hope most beauteous Eufronisa saide the Gréeke this conceiued anger against mee will bee pacified knowing how long since and afore this time Tyrant Loue had made mée his tributarie vassall delighting from mine infancie with those that were toucht with this euill and if the consideration hereof may mooue you knowing my weaknesse to satisfie your desire I hope you will desist from making your selfe guiltie of dishonour Ayme cruell knight answered she now I le not so much complaine of thy disdaine as of my owne lightnesse séeing what a capitall and hainous crime I haue therby committed not onely gainst me yet that is no matter but against all Ladies in the world besides that onely for the name deserue to bee sued and intreated But I ay mee that I as ill accounting of that name as of my pure honour haue yéelded to Loues triumph rather become a suter then reserue my selfe to bee sued vnto And yet doo not you thinke but I perceiue your minde is still busied imagining on an others absence this and many other things I knowe by experience since I first and last sawe you at the fountaine I do confesse it all and also my reputations wracke but a resolued mind in constancie cannot leaue lo loue nor will I otherwise though it treble my sorrowes eternally For this I did intreat
else séeme madnesse being compared to it Oh who would not be mooued séeing the Greeke holding the dagger in his hand sitting on his bedde yet ranging with his thoughts on Lyriana and the Ladie vrging him to hasten the deadly stroke Oh cruell inexecable knight said shee wilt thou yet in this torment me make an end at once with one swéete death to end the many I suffer Rosabell being the sole cause In not doing this most Princelesse Ladie I neither commit disloyaltie said the Prince nor breake my word for I le rather loose my life then spill yours So excéeding great was the gréef that suddainly surprised her that stopping her breath and benumming all her artires and vsuall powers she fell on the Gréekes brests The greatest proofe of constancie was this that euer knight was tried withall and had hee continued it no doubt but the example of it selfe had béene a sufficient memorating marble to record a déed so famous I do not wonder if he beganne something to yéeld and ioyne his face to hers fairer then Apollos halfe resolued to accomplish her request Ere he was fully determined which wanted but little shee recouered her selfe and séeing she was so vsed conceiued an vnhoped ioy féeling the heate of his chéekes on hers neuerthelesse with many sighes shee said How is it possible tell me knight thou shouldest still harbour such crueltie as suffer me to languish in such paine which thou mayest remedie by taking away the life I abhorre That thou wert cruel and inexorable farre more then Hyrcanian beasts poore haplesse Eufronisa knowes it long sithence by experience But that thou wantest loyaltie and faith to obserue thy word who can beléeue it of so mightie a Prince I do confesse faire Princesse answered he I do offend my selfe not doing it yet the offence is greater against both and woorthily I then deserue the title of a cruell homecide but that you may not longer complaine of me grant time till to morrow to be resolued in those extreames and then I will reply to your content It pleaseth me aunswered she although one daies stay will I feare kill me outright with this vehement and cruell griefe But I must suffer being borne to doo it and you disloyall and faithlesse knight consider well what you determine for séeing you haue denied me death these hands shall be guiltie of it in your sight when your preuention shall want spéede to stay my execution And thervpon she went away where had shee stayed and once againe vrged it no longer then that instant had béen ynough to answere for the Gréeke resembled his Grandfather in these affaires he had alreadie pondred the Ladies beautie and her woorthes in such sort that some of her distilling teares mollifying his obdured heart with such tendernesse that he forgot Lyriana His light vanished with her absence With many wishes hee desired the happie appointed night Little did he striue with his thoughts how to be resolued for ere she went away was the haughtie Brittaine in minde agréed With more rest stéepes Eufronisa then Rosabell Accidents be these ordered by the blinde God vnderstood of none but him although the soule suffers them and yet cannot he nor will conceiue by whose appoyntment it happens a iust reward for his disloyaltie since nothing should haue béene able to make him erre against his deare Lyriana that with such generositie receiued him for her espowse her Lord and husband The Ladie returned glad with the hope of her expected good to Selia and tolde her euerie thing that happened With some content they entertained the expectation of her ioy By chance and it was a happie chance the Ladie tooke one of the crowns that she had wonne in the Tent and set it on her head it was that which Belisa gaue her to comfort her in her distresse Hauing it on she séemed farre more beautifull and somewhat elder The vertue of the Crowne beganne his operation Selia was amazed and plucking her by the arme said Bee still Madame for sée the fairest aduenture in the world for this Crowne hath power to disguise the face and beléeue me you are not like Eufronisa Peace foole said the Ladie it is but Loues deuise and thy wittes conceits Then do not credit me replied Selia but the euidence wherewith I prooue it So she fetcht her a looking-glasse and setting it before her said Here Madame may you sée the Crownes effect She could not but laugh séeing her countenance altered and betwéene them both they iarred whether she so were fairest or not Then she remembred Belisas words in the Tent that there she should finde remedie in her greatest necessitie Shee could not imagine whose semblance she represented They would no longer deferre the knowledge of so happie businesse so hand in hand they went into a gallerie called the Ladies Treasurie because therein were the pictures of most in the world This was a curiositie the king for his pleasure had made Many they sawe most faire and they were those that in Grecia then flourished but passing further they perceiued their deceit finding Lyriana whose beautie she possest They read the title which tolde them she was Princesse of Nyquea to the greatest ioy that euer Eufronisa did conceiue Shee embraced Selia saying Oh my Selia the heauens now will take my part for knowe the Lady that hath captiuated this knight is she whom I represent hauing on this Crowne and by this deuise meane I nothing thanking him to fulfill my desire although he haue promised me an answere to morrow And if I can with this deceit I le craue no answere séeing it must come with so many paines and grones And sée my Selia how my suspition at the fountaine is verified that he was not him hee said for he is son vnto the famous knight of Cupid and betrothed to this Princesse and so I thinke I may stand excused for this my boldenesse Well knew she it that in the inchanted Tent tolde me that though therby I should obtain greatest good yet would it be intermixt with infinite troubles Ioyfully returned the two Ladies vnto their chamber expecting the next morne to deceiue him that was alreadie deceiued repenting him of the disdaine hee shewed The newe crowned Ladie entred his lodging to giue him the good time of the day The Gréeke had scarce séene her when falling in the deceipt he tooke her to bee Lyriana and with great tendernesse he ran to her saying May it be deare Ladie that in time of such sorrow you would be pleased to glad my heart with your presence How ill should I requite your loue deare Lord saide the mistaken Ladie if I did not procure your content being able as at this time and though I be with you yet none knowes of it The Gréeke Louer embraced her thinking he enioyed his Lyrianas companie which made Eufronisa most glad to sée the effect of the pleasant deceit What happened by this méeting is left to honest consideration Onely
which is vnable to suffer any Competitor in my loue and hopes But I let it alone to sée to what end my slauish turkish habit would sort vnto Sometimes I beheld her which was no small redresse to my afflicted minde yet was it tempered séeing her disconted which pure loue made me thinke was for Agesilao So one day walking neare her chamber window I met with my friend the Prince Lysander Euen from his secret cabinet did my heart leape with his suddaine sight He stayed to looke on mee and séeing me attired like a Turke with a turbant on my head and the rest of my apparrell neate and cleane he demaunded whence I was I aunswered of Carthage and that by great good happe I had freed my selfe from Argiers bondage He intreated me I know not if through affection to become his seruant I agréede thereto onely againe to trie my fortune that way Thence wée went to the Pallace where hée acquainted his new seruitor with his Parents My Lady was present whose presence made euery ioynt vain tremble within me in their seueral motion yet now and then casting my eyes vnto the Sunne-shine of her beautie I drew strength from it to support my weake minde to make reply to their demaunds for séeing me so young in that no hayre yet budded in my face they comiferated the relation of my troubles imprisonments and slaueries yet this nothing gréeued me saide I for I cannot remember when I was mine owne and therefore supposing I was marked to no other fréedome I did till now patiently beare my slauish bondage as if I had béene borne thereto and I beléeue it will neuer bée otherwise my fortunes so continued it Gladly would I haue had my Lady vnderstood it so shee might not knowe me and with what affection I did vtter it as hee that so long since was wholly deuoted to her perfections There was none in all the Court but tooke liking in me especially my Lord Lysander that fauored me that night to take mee with him with swords bucklers and priuie coates secretly to walke abroad crossing the backside of a Gardâ—â— that leaded him to his Ladie Solesias lodging His kindnesse and familiaritie was a meanes that hee did not intreate mee as a seruant but as if he had knowne me making mee the Secretarie of his Loues the surest token of true amitie that may bee in this age I cannot otherwise beléeue but that Cupid now at length thought himselfe wronged séeing Pollinarda so rebellious and cruell towardes him and me So she that could not loue Florisiano Venus sonne with his almightie power forced to affect poore Iaroe which name I would not change for vnder that title Fortune had offered me in obtaining the grace of Troyla Princesse of Argier Quickly did Pollinarda expresse manifest tokens of her change demaunding me whether I néeded ought if yea my demaund should be the effect of my desire Neither was I able to answere nor did I euer make known Florisianos great necessities but rather perceiuing what she ment as one skilfull in the Art I séemed straunge and regardlesse of her offer to be more assured of her faith that after no occasion might frustrate our expects My straungenesse effected what I wished for by this Iaroes Loue had made her more solicit I doubted not thereof noting the wooing motions of her eyes Oh they be the swéete silent Ambassadors soliciting the soules want Many times would I set my selfe at a window to ruminate alone the felicitie of my state then would I say to my selfe Oh who might deale some of my abounding fauours with disconted Florisiano Oh Gods how enuious became the Prince of Apulia to sée Iaroe so beloued and himselfe vtterly abhorred Oftentimes recounting my many fauors I found them so infinit that I was contented to let the Prince share with Iaroes glorie and happinesse One night oh happie night among the rest did the Lady at full make knowne her vehement passions for I being by my maister commanded to watch till one of the clocke because wee should then walke abroad I got me in that season not farre from her chamber I thinke there was some false doore for when I was giuing thankes to Cupid for the benefits I receiued I heard some busling there I started somewhat amazed and looking what it might be I sawe her that now gouernes my heart appeare more fairer then Diana A siluer Candlestick with a Taper she held in her hand With cap in hand for she was my Empresse I ran to take it from her Oh loue to none but whom thou lists thou dost distribute thy fauors She plainly excellent knights shewed her selfe to be soly mine for wanting the power to mooue the Organs of her voyce yet her eyes firmely fixed on mine she would not let the candlesticke go Oh Loues swéete warre In faith Noble Sirs you would haue smiled to sée the bewtious Pollinarda by silence and dumme action confesse she did loue acknowledging his soueraigntie and her tributarie dutie to his deitie granting those fauours as hostage of her faith vnto his seruant Iaroe Oh do not suffer him most sacred Lady said I so much to offend that was onely created to adore you With this spéech she perceiued the fault she had committed whervpon with consent we set the Taper on the table while she replyed The imagination Iaroe thou mightest ill suspect of this my comming thus to visit thée hath bereft me of all strength and vnderstanding but that thou mayest knowe wherefore I come it is thus I must haue thée tell me thy proper name for I am sure thou hast some other This will I not be denied vowing to kéepe it secret that thou mayest receiue no harme therefore You may well thinke how I might stand confounded with her demaund aunswere I could not which made her more eager to know it Againe she vrged me that I was inforced to say I cannot conceiue diuine Princesse why you are importunate to know the thing that will most of all others gréeue you oh let me not be the cause to renew your sorrow for I will first be my own murtherer The amorous Dame replyed Did I imagine to receiue any I would not demaund it but doing so I assure you you shall not in any thing more content me then in that I aunswered her thus Well for all this I am sure faire Princesse the knowledge of my name will vexe you Wherefore I humbly intreate you to holde this dagger in your hand that ending my spéech you also end poore Iaroes life Know therefore soueraigne Pollinarda I was borne as I said in Carthage but am called Florisiano I chaÌ„ged it because I heard that in times past one of this name had excéedingly displeased you by sleying the Prince of Calabria wherefore séeing how hated that name was in this house I durst not come hither with it fearing to refresh therewith the memorie of passed gréefes Oh excéeding power of loue for though Syr
at one selfe same birth O haughtie Tynacrian thinke not but it is a blot to thy immortall fame to shewe thy selfe cruel vnkind gainst him whom hath yéelded soule thoughts to thée It is a tyrannie altogither vnbeséeming whom thou art and what thou diddest protest at our departure The sterne fierce Pagan would not interrupt him but astonied to heare what he said hearkened vnable to resolue whether man or woman he was All the night past they away one in his laments and the other in his newe doubts vntil the appearing of Auroras shine began to giue warning of the morning Sunnes vprise And then leauing his stand went towards the Knight that séeing it was day had laced on his helme fearing to be knowne The knightly Gyant séeing him with excéeding courtesie that most adorned him he beganne to speake You haue inforced me sir Knight to passe this night so disquietted by hearing you publish your griefe that in recompence thereof I intreate you I may knowe the cause and if the hazarding of my person to woorke your content may bee a seruice accepted I shall rest happie to bee so imployed The Ladie well noted him thinking she had neuer séene a brauer nor better armed knight and his ciuill demenour bound her to a milde answere but she was in such an amorous rage that not considering the end replied Why then woorse will the day be to me then was the night to you knowing that you haue heard what the verie soule dares not trust it selfe withall and I know not what lawe of armes admits it Your fauour I refuse for hauing committed such an offence as to require the knowledge of a strangers deare hearts secret against his will that loues which if I declare how should I thinke it could be conceald by you So may you returne for the gréefe that mée torments is pleasant onely in concealement I had not thought replied the Pagan that through intreating thée with what amongst good knights is vsed should haue put thée in that arrogant confidence as to néede none others ayde beeing a thing so contrarie to reason If thou knewest the lawe of Loue replied the Knight thou should knowe there is no happinesse therein but to loue with secrecie for that is it that assureth any doubtfull hope But to recount my cares to one that cānot redresse them with more then a dolefull I am sorrie we sigh more in hauing a straungers companie then for discret circumspectnesse It cannot be exprest what rage the Pagan conceiued for being insolently bolde he was onely noted of immoderate rashnesse and so answered Then that thou mayest know that to haue told it me was thy aduantage I ingage thée to the battell that by taking away thy puling life the paines whereof thou doest complaine may also end Mars was not more fierce then the Louer beeing angered and so without longer stay drew foorth one of the worlds best blades Mightie hee was but hee met with that strength whereto Mylos forces neuer reacht through conceiued rage he was quicker in executing his blow discharging it on the shield of which to the ground hee threwe a péece beating the rest so heauily on his heade that it almost astonished him He stept in with his right foote and with a steddie strong thrust he forst him with staggering paces backwards he wold not yet leaue the chase for turning his sword vnderhand let it flie at his right thigh making his aduersaries flesh féele the cutting of his sharpe blade Neuer was Serpent in the desert Libia more rigorous then the Pagan now did returne vpon the knight and where he thought his blow would be of more effect thither hee strucke the other raised his shield but it was of no defence for although hee did not cut it through the finesse of the temper yet it so charged him that hee set his hands on the ground and ere hee rose hee felt another which made him thinke hee sawe the starrie firmament The blood congealed in his mouth and fréezed in his bodie séeing the fiercenesse of the Pagan which hee thought farre to excéede the Gréeke Princes He rose vp for hee was couragious minding to vse his nimblenesse but as therein the Scythian excéeded the swiftnesse of any Hart it auaild him not from receiuing most cruell blowes kissing the earth sometimes with his knées and sometimes with his handes Neuer felt he himselfe so persecuted nor at the poynt to loose the fame he had obtained for valour and therefore did hee redouble his blowes so strong and thicke that the Pagan was forced to deuise newe defensiue wards Excéedingly he reioyced to sée what braue knights he met in his iourney towards the parts of Grecia déeming him of that countrie where the Authors of his life were intombde This remembrance so vext him that hee supposed it cowardise to continue in single combat so long so letting a blowe flie aloft hee discharged the seconde with such mightie strength on his aduersaries helme that it rezounded like a bell and not able to penetrate it so heauily it waighed on one side that breaking all the laces buckles and riuets it strucke it from his head making the knight vpholde himselfe with his handes but at his rising Apollos beautie séemed not so faire that day as Floralizas great Alicandros Néece that wandring throgh straunge lands in search of her Poliphebo had arriued there In all his life did not the Pagan receiue such a blowe as with her sight for in all the same he forgot not the memorie of that day hee stayed his sword and stepping foorth vnlaced his helme setting to view his sturdie visage more faire then swartie yet with many wrinkled checkes and one great mole on his front approoued tokens of his excessiue strength his shield he cast away and taking his sword by the poynt through the newe tuch of loue hee spake with more ciuilitie then the most amorous Admired Goddesse I beséech you pardon my mad presumption although I féele alreadie the punishment thereof for the not knowing you forced me to it yet I repute it well if it redownde not to your farther displeasure which will be to me a more vnhappier death in that I haue séene the excellencie of beautie and valour and so intreate you as deseruer of farre more honour you will accept my sword in signe of victorie and I le defend that all the world doth owe it you It greatly delighted the Ladie to sée the knights courtesie and imagining he was of estéeme replied I will not sir knight haue you in all things take the better of the fight for the victorie is yours leauing not thereby indebted to your content Her handes to kisse then required the newe Mars thinking no greater good might bee expected then the present Shée drew them from him demanding who he was So yoaked was the Pagan that he could not denie it nor through contemplation say any thing yet thus he spake There was no reason diuine Goddesse
hauing taken so vniust reuenge guiding thy selfe thereto by a blinde selfe voluntarie passion and not by royal wise and discréet reason And least thou shouldest hereafter pretend ignorance knowe thou haste iniuried such Princes that will straightly call thée to strickt account of all these wrongs Of whence or what you be and of your pride and insolencie we néede not care to know said the king for it manifestly appeares in your last committed faults And that you may sée how little I respect your haughtie menaces I commaund you on paine of death to depart my kingdome within these foure daies if not I le séek till the death pursue you with an hoste of armed men Before this had wee determined our departure replied Pollidolpho abhorring longer to abide in Court whose king so little doth respect true iustice and so do I hope to sée the time thou shalt thy selfe confesse the euil committed to be ruled by the opinion of self passionate men whom fortune hath rewarded according to their malicious intent Plainly vnderstood Lindaura it was ment by him but vrgent necessitie was betwéene them that he durst not speake They departed from the king leauing him readie to burst with rage and Lindaura in the same manner that had no other comfort but to thinke his estate sufficient to warre against the whole world He required since all matters were quietted to be married to the Princesse Venus The Father could not denie it being pleased therewith nor the Lady might not recall her word giuen to obey him although she deferred the day alleadging she and her damzels were working certaine things against that time which forced her to deferre it eight or tenne daies for séeing they were assured of her graunt that terme was little Her father reioyced and much more the dishonoured Louer of Liconia to sée that for all his troubles and vnhappie chances he obtained his Venus Who altogither of a contrary desire sought meanes how to aduertise the Prince and to conferre with them of her resolution The Gréeke well knew it who being without the Cittie taking some rest at the fountaine although it was some to be at libertie and in the company of such friends as those on whom for their valors a greater matter then that and difficulter might be reposed He expressed his determination thus So great is my soules ioy mightie Princes of Dacia and Babylon that my tongue cannot expresse it in that it pleased the reuoluing Mistresse of vnconstant time to order your commings hither for otherwise what the Prince of Grecia promised without your handes had béene impossible for him to atchiue Before the king imprisoned mee my helpe was craued by his daughter against the force her father would commit to match her with a husband she disliked to whom I offered my person so did this warlike Prince of Croatia louing as her beautie doth deserue no lesse the faire Venus and of himselfe he made her sole Empresse I well perceieud it presuming more then my strength could beare promising to set her in his handes in despight of the Syconian Sophy to whom she is assured by the king because hée is so great a Lord. In prison talking with her and telling her my opinion she altogither yéelded thereto and that shee would in nothing contradict me So must I now go to her presence and resolue her of my intent that according to our time limitted wee may vse the most conuenientest remedie I do therefore intreate your aduise and counsell in these waightie affaires The Dacian thus replied I knowe none here excellent Prince that will deny his ayde vnto so mightie a Lord as the Prince of Croatia and therefore there is no reason but we all hazard our liues to woorke his content and moreouer it behooues me to take from hence the bewteous Laissa for hauing bought her libertie at so beare a rate I wil not leaue her in a straungers power for I intende to intreate the Prince of Persia to carry her vnto his Empire til I otherwise doo purpose and the company of so braue a Lady will be gréeuous to none And since we be héere togither I I am of opinion that the Prince of Greece goe to night to knowe the Ladies resolution and against when they will bee readie to depart thence Whereto the Croatian Lord thus said I cannot most excellent Warriours and soueraigne Princes protest nor binde my selfe to more then I haue alreadie only this I can within two dayes haue heere twelue thousande men that expect my comming to the sea that til I commaund them the contrary wil not depart from thence And within the Citie I haue fiftie knights and two Gyants to helpe vs if we shall néede their aide And we may safely vnséene go to our lodging in the Citie and there order our businesse Euery one was glad that the Prince was so well prouided and lest longer delaie should prooue more harmefull they straight mounted and tooke their way backe towards the Citie They entred vnto their lodging vnséene of any through the obscuritie of the night From thence they sent two of the chiefest of the fiftie knights to poste to the Sea side to commaund the Captaines and Leaders of the souldiers that euery Commaunder should leade the most and best of their charge vnto the Valley of the Louers and that the rest should be in vigilant readinesse guarding the Gallies The knights obeyed most willingly as they that intirely loued their Prince being also of his subiects so affected The Gréeke Prince leauing them onely with his sword and the strong priuie Coate that Venus gaue him he left his Chamber taking the next way to the Garden which was the place he thought to meete the Lady at which indéed was so For accompanied with Fausta and Laissa whom she had made partaker of her Loues and also how she estéemed the Persian Prince were both determined to go with them being assured what great Princes they were if that meanes might debarre that vniust marriage Claridiano comming to the doore gaue his signall which Fausta knowing opened saying In faith sir knight I now sée you cannot but be happie in your owne Loues being so carefull of anothers The Prince thereto answered This is my vnhappinesse to sée by experience anothers faith well guerdoned and liue my selfe in the greatest dispaire that euer knight in the world did It may be answered said she you are onely euil conditioned for by all your other parts you deserue the wide worlds admiration That is not so much said the gallant Prince as my misfortune is great that guides it this way Well leaue we this replied she and go we where my Lady and the faire Laissa doo expect you and haue patience for this is but the touchstone whereon the Ladie by true proofe makes triall of the Louer By this came the two Ladies fairer then Apollo and Venus stepping foorth said I did so greatly feare dispairing knight that séeing your selfe at libertie
lamentably falling on both sides but the Princes being inuincible where ere they went were assured of the victorie Clearly had they obtained it if Phoebus hastening his Westerne downfall had not hid his light in Thetis watrie lap leauing almost half of the Esclauonians dead with foure thousand Croatians besides the wounded On either side retrait was sounded for feare of the nights approach Pollidelpho being in warre most polliticke commaunded many fiers to be lighted that his enemies might thinke they would stay til the morrow which he nothing lesse minded iudging it mere follie because the king had his succors so neare and they theirs so far off marcht away to the sea side causing all manner of lights in the Galleyes to be fired that the souldiers might imbarke themselues They did so leauing neuer a man on land except the two Princes whom another aduenture expected The next morrow the Pagans thinking their enemies had stayed scarce had Aurora welcommed Apollo the East when they began in rankes and files orderly to draw their men in field No griefe is comparable to that which the king and Lindauro conceiued being aduertised by their spies what happened So soone as it was knowne they followed towards the shore thinking to ouertake them but being thither come were assured of theyr departure which made the King Prince most wofully with bitter laments to exclaime and more missing their kinsman Tarsides they wanted present means to follow them which forced their returne to Xantho where they gaue order to prepare all the shipping in the land The like did the Sophi knowing how his son was mocked They gathered 600. sayles which was the most famous Fléete that euer came on those seas They wasted 200. thousand men and 400. Giants of the fiercest in the world with so great and puissant armies he thought he might make warre vpon the greatest Potentate therof Lindauro was appointed Generall by sea and land that had hée not bene troubled with fantasticke vaine imaginary boastes he had discharged the office with immortall Fame Some time was spent in the preparation and assembling of this mightie army in which season the Princes with their sayles spread in the winde fearelesse of any thing with their Ladies ioying in their company within eight dayes landed at Geua the chiefest hauen in all Croatia The inhabitants receiued the Princes with such ioy and costly triumphes that to shun prolixitie wée ouerpast day by day the rumor stil increast of Lindauros cōming For which cause as also for the ladies that were with child they intreated the princes to abide with them til they were in peace or with assurance of agréement with Venus father who knowing the imprisonment of her Coozen Tarfides procured his libertie with such entertainment as his merits deserued It did so win him as also séeing how well beflowed his Coozen was that he determined to pacifie the proclaimed wars Therupon he writ to the king of Esclauonia alleaging what honor and greater disaduantage he incurred to persecute his daughter since shee had chosen for her husband the Prince Pollidolpho rather then any other And if she gaue her promise of marriage to Lindauro it was onely to please his honor and not to satisfie her owne will hauing before made it obedient to an others command This letter a thousand times made him so recant his intent as he was about so often to haue shewn it the Prince yet he could not so close kéep it but he discerned it Who dissembling séemed to take no notice of it so that for all that they set their fortunes on the feas purposing to land in Croatia They had done it and it had béene one of the cruellest warre in the world if the wise Nabato considering his Don Eleno was there detained thereby had not succoured them by crossing the huge King with stormes and tempests that the third part of the Fléete was ouerwhelmed in the deuouring waters They returned to Esclauonia where taking counsell Lindauro knowing that the Soldan of Nyquea with the greatest part of Asia and Affrica did assemble themselues togither against Grecia resolued to ioyne with them that with so many multitudes his reuenge might be the more easier As it was determined he put it in execution and repairing his tempest beaten ships directed his voyage towards S. Georges promontory where it was reported all the generall forces met Thus far admired Ladies procéeded the sole spoyle of the ioyes it procured that by so many means sought the easie passage for his reuenge vpon the robbers of his contents who without remembrance of what hee poore soule indured past the time in sports and reuels till the season of the Ladies deliuery was come both who brought forth two Girles whose beauties being in their prime darkened Apollos clearest light The childrē were borne with seuerall tokens for the Persians had on their brests Loues bowe and quiuer of arrowes Venus daughter had also in the breast a hand whiter then the snow that twixt the fingers held a heart as red as blood Much adoo there was to name them in the end it was remitted to Claridiana who therein shewed the sharpnesse of his wit for considering they had got the mothers by force of armes named the Babylonian Helena he did not so amisse because for her sake there were no lesse cruelwars thē Troye sustained about the first as it is in the fourth part of this Historie Venus girle was called Pollixena in remembrance of her whose loue so dearly Gréeke Archilles did abide Euery one praised the wittie naming of the Ladies by the Prince who expressed his ioy and loue in the performance of a famous iouster He craued leaue of the Ladies to depart thinking he wronged his owne to liue so long in those pleasures which he obtained with great difficultie The day before the two Princes wold depart Pollidolpho thus spake It is so manifest most mightie Prince that many infinit recoūtlesse fauours and benefits I haue at your hands receiued which soring to so high prized valor my life is insufficiēt to satisfie the least degrée of gratitude but neuerthelesse that you may knowe the zeale of my thankfull minde and how I account my sole felicitie in your deare amitie I am determined to become a Christian for all my land will haue it so by which act I do eternally propagate my loue with such excellent warlike Princes and therefore I will receiue the Baptisme at your hands togither with my wife and daughter The Princes conceiued excéeding ioy with Pollidelphos déed whereto Don Eleno thus replied Wee cannot but credibly beléeue most noble Prince so illustrious a déed hath long since béene prophecied with more diuine inspirations then humane determination to corroborate our friendship there was no cause to intimate this for to obserue the lawes of honourable true Loue the least ground with so costly experience were ynough Happie be this amitie and confirmed with such bounds of faith wee cannot feare
sonne Rosuler that at Oliuas intreaties did stay Also the furious Brandafidel was with him on whose strength he reposed much hope The Gréeke Alphebo had no néed of aduertisement for the generallitie of the warres was come vnto his eares and so with the greatest power he could vnite withdrew himselfe to Tribizound accompanied with Braminoro and Tefereo who most gréeued at the Princes absence was the beautious Archisilora attributing the lacke of Claridianos presence to her owne strangenesse her sorrow was easily discerned by her outward semblance No lesse was Rosamondes to sée her so knowing the cause it so tormented her that for feare it should be perceiued she resolued to absent her selfe for commanding the Gouernors of her kingdome should with all conuenient spéede conduct the greatest power of well prouided men they could select â—ut of her Kingdome to Constantinople and there to rest vnder the Emperours gouernment They accomplisht their Quéens beheft for then she no Princesse was more with loue respected of subiects sending when time serued fiftie thousand of well armed men The day before her departure shee tooke her leaue of Rosamond with no fewe teares for neuer betwéene two Ladies was such simpathie of true amitie Very importunately she offered her coÌ„pany but as any good societie wold but aggrauate the Quéenes euill shee would not admit it saying shee might not leaue Greece and the Emperour in such necessitie Then her armes being the best the world contained she presented her Them shee also refused for Lirgandeo had prouided her with such as were requisit for safegard of her person which were of the same colour as Claridianos sauing that the sable barres were filled with flames of fire on her shield was a gallant deuise for out of a field full of odoriferous flowers a Ladie séemed to go in search of a knight after whom she in great haste ascended vp a craggie rocke from whence she looked after the content she lost and the Motto betwéene them thus Little hope of ioyes abide That leaue knowne ioyes for ioyes vntride Alone would the warlike warriour néeds go thinking her gréefe a sufficient company all the Court sorrowed for her absence but Lirgandeo assuring them of her safetie their discontent was lessened mounted on a lustie Courser shee crost the woods of Greecia thinking on her Lord calling her selfe a thousand times most cruell for that in being so shee had lost him and by the losse obtained so great torments Shee shipt her selfe in a barke bound for Alexandria resolute to trauell the whole world in pennance of her folly One night among the rest while the warriours slept she walked as she vsed on the hatches with her lameÌ„ts to make the watrie dwellers partakers of her gréefes at such time that another barke sayled by hers from whence might be heard some entermingled grones with sighes She could not knowe what it was so swift it went away After it with all possible spéede with ores and sayles she commaunded hers should followe it was done with such diligence till shee ouertooke the barke wherein shee sawe a Knight complaine of Loue and Fortune thus Ay me vnfortunate Prince said the knight is it possible there should be no euill but the extreamest sower it containes my perplexed soule shuld féele Why should I hope for any good when with mine eyes I sée it flie from me There is no inconuenience but haunts me except death with whom I cannot be acquainted Oh Gréekish Prince how happily mayest thou call thy selfe happie by being in thy infancie brought vp with the soueraigne of my life and hearts direction since that was an occasion for the obtaining of those rights solely due to to me Oh Liriano thy name being sufficient to asswage the gréefe that me torments who might by sacrificing my life into thy hands assure thée in faith thy Louer deserue not comparison with me To you to you Sea-Gods do I complaine Oh you I pray that séeing her celestiall habitation is in your vaste confused watrie kingdome a little intreate her for the vnhappie Bembo Oh Loue how rigorously hast thou in all things shewen thy crueltie against me Wherein haue I offended thée when disobeyd I thy commands when violated I thy lawes abolished thy rights or when did my painfull thoughts harbor or conceiue the least imagination against thy honour or deitie If this be so and not vnknown to thée why doest thou wound him with tyrannie that is orborne with weaknesse and thy disastrous chaunces Oh how many any pardon me faire Ladies be hereafter confident on your perfections your crueltie being as great as your beauties are incomparable if you reward him that can loue like him that onely liues to hate No more could the Ladie heare for the barke was guided by Lupertio but what she heard was ynough to increase her paine and raise some doubt that the named Prince was he whom she loued Oh generall plague said the gréeued Lady none canst thou forgiue shewing thy care in most tormenting them that are most carelesse of thée A shower of infinit teares rained the Quéene downe her pearled théekes procéeding from the extremitie of loue hauing so done séeing her selfe comfortlesse and not knowing whom to aske for hauing no notice of the Gréekes deuise she began to giue vent vnto her swelling thoughts singing these verses My heart will burst except it be discharg'd Of his huge load that doth oppresse it so Streames stopt oreflow the bankes if not enlarg'd And fire supprest doth much more fiercer grow Great woes ript vp but halfe the woe remaines But paines concealde doth aggrauate the paines Sing then my soule the storie of my losse Forme in sweete words the anguish of my minde Yet doo not singing ill becomes a crosse Rather sigh out how hard Loues yoke I finde Loue is a sicknesse singing a ioy And pleasure is no pack horse for annoy And must I then knowing Loue a disease That fils our soules with strang calamities Spite of my heart enforc'd my selfe to please And in mine owne armes hug my miseries And seeing still my state waxe worse and worse Must I of force embrace and kisse my curse I must I must Cupid hath sworne I must And t' is in vaine and bootlesse to resist Then be not Loue oh be not too vniust I yeeld me to thy rule rule how thou list For my reclaim'd rebellion shall bring foorth A treble dutie to thy glorious woorth Oh Loue sweete Loue oh high and heauenly Loue The Court of pleasure Paradice of rest Without whose circuit all things bitter prooue Within whose centure euery wretch is blest Oh graunt me pardon sacred deitie I do recant my former heresie And thou the gearest Idoll of my thought Whom loue I did and do and alwaies will Oh pardon what my coy disdaine hath wrought My coy disdaine the author of this ill And for the pride that I haue shew'd before By Loue I sweare I le loue thee ten times more Hast thou
shed teares those teares will I repay Ten teares for one a hundreth teares for ten Hath my proude rigor hunted thee astray I le loose my life or bring thee backe agen Each sigh I le quittance with a thousand grones And each complaint with a whole age of mones And when I finde thee as I finde the will Or loose my selfe in seeking what I loue Then will I trie with all true humble skill Thy pittie on my great offence to moue Till when my griefes are more then tongue can tel My daies are nights and euerie place is hell With a heauie sigh shee ended but as if singing had but in part discharged her sorrowes she beganne with saying to prosecute them as followeth Ay me Quéen of Lyra said the Ladie that hauing no cause to complaine do suffer thus deseruedly a iust pay for such deserts Of whom else might I hope to bee loued beeing by the Gréeke Prince adored On the earth of whom couldst thou expect any good if not from thy Gréeke Oh woe is me that the trust of my small consideration should bring me to this passe that I must make the winds witnesse of my paines and that to my vnblemisht honours cost I must hue and wander by sea and land demaunding for him Archysiloras loue when I mought haue liued with ioy with pleasure and in quiet by giuing him a little signe of that happinesse I my selfe receiued by being his but séeing it is thus brought about loue I will and patiently embrace this iust imposed toyle Here was her languishment renewed séeing a knight come directly towards her shippe lying a long the hatches of another exclaiming against Cupids ordinances Who euer suffered said he his heart to followe and séeke his owne dishonour What lawe allowes the soule to disclose that whose secrecie preserueth no lesse then life Accidents be these onely incident in loue for he as the King of extreames enforceth me not regarding my fame to procure anothers consent Oh most valiant Knight who shall beléeue thou shouldest with mee violate thy word Thou knowst I loue thée also the I follow thée but I know to aggrauate my woe thou fliest my presence What is become of those swéete words at our parting thou spakest where is the faith wherwithon my hands thou vowedst loyaltie protesting if any pleasure thou shouldest haue it would procéede only from thinking thou art mine Thou doest ill guerdon the bountie wherewith I laide open vnto thée the secrets of my soule making my selfe tributary vnknowne to whome I did it when thou iudgedst it newe life newe ioy newe ease and newe content But now altogither forgetfull thou fliest from me that liue to loue thée So ouerwhelmed in her owne thoughts was the bewteous Floralizar who departing from the furious Brauorant followed the searche of the Tinacrian whom shée so intierly affected that shée regarded not whether any heard her By the complaints did Archisilora knowe her to be a Ladie and pittying her caused her Barke to be grappled with the other and saide No maruell heroicke Ladie that since the lande hath alreadie beene acquainted with your constancie you nowe participate your faith vnto these inhospitable waters Be of good courage for you haue company in your woes and such as wil neglect his owne to remedie yours At the voyce rose Floralindas daughter and replied Who are you Syr Knight that so kindly doo commiserate my paine which is the greatest that euer was inclosed in any humane breast I am hée saide Archisilora who with my soule valiant Ladie will procure your quiet and therefore pray you accept such seruice as my Barke wil yéeld for it may be the recitall of your griefs to me and I mine to you wil be a mittigation of some sorrow I le not forgo the enioying of so good company as that you offer mee Syr knight said Floraliza intreating I may know who you be that alreadie knowes my gréefs The Ladies gallant behauior had attracted the Lirian Matrons affection who replied In more then this doo I desire to satisfie you soueraigne Ladie but first step into my ship where I wil do it at full To know your name answered Floraliza a harder enterprise would I attempt So leapt she into the Quéenes Barke saying Aduantage hath my Barke got sir knight with my absence to which being alone the winds and waters may now be more fauourable then when I was in it and since we haue this opportunitie deare sir defer not my desire With neuer a word the haughtie Quéene vnlaced her Helme resting more faire then was Latonas sonne when onely for loue he kept Admetus shéepe Floralizas was also of whose beautie was equalled by fewe and that want was with valour supplied Let it not gréeue you Soueraigne Lady said the Quéene that I knowe she cause of your mones for mine are no lesse which I suffer séeking for him that ought to dye louing but since I am the cause therof it is reason I endure the extremitie of gréefe and séeing loue hath equalled vs therein I le no longer kéepe from you who I am So she related vnto her euerie thing she could not naming Claridiano Why now said Alicandros Néece I do account my paine a pleasure being pittied by you and haue assured hope we shall quickly finde redresse wherto the Quéene answered Gladly would I know who he is to labor your content Any certaine thing I know not replyed she more then that I am an others for a brother of mine called Celindo and my selfe were brought vp without knowledge of father though since we receiued the order of armes we haue met with certaine tokens to be children vnto the prince Meridian Excéeding ioy conceiued the Quéen of the Ladies company resoluing to enioy it so long as she would They vowed firme amitie which towards the peace was of no small effect for this Lady was of highest estimation among the Pagans in the Grecian warres By little and little being tender of yeares and knowing that the manifesting of their loues was some ease to their borthering cares either vnderstood who was the Louer to the other Vppon which occasion Floraliza thus saide So that our fortune doth permit most Péerelesse Princesse the Gréeke Princes to tryumph ouer our hearts Séeing the heauens will haue it so excellent Lady aunswered the Quéene and so haue fauoured them from their birthes we cannot but acknowledge their Soueraigntie specially the Tynacrian Prince knowing how great his gaines are thus being loued To which Floraliza made aunswere Stay my good Quéene how well by knowing your selfe to be loued doo you iudge a straungers distresse who would not liue contented in middest of the greatest euill were wée certaine of that assurance What paine would not then be a pleasure or what could make mee a stranger to my selfe onely séeking the company of my woes But I feare illustrious Ladie that as the heauens haue made them absolute happie so some one of them wil place his felicitie
and states vnto vs. To which Archisilora replied In more then this soueraigne Quéen doth this Knight and my selfe desire to fulfill your will This Knight poynting at Floraliza is called the Knight of Hope and my selfe of the burning flames of Loue we came togither and therefore know wee not him to whom we are all so much indebted Yet more then this must you do at our intreaties said the beautious Rosaluira and for my sake vnlace your helmes vnlesse you will cancell the bonds of my indebted loue There is none but trembles at that word diuine Ladie and feares it will bee so aunswered the Qeéene and therefore for so much as it toucheth me I wil loose no fauor I may therby reap Who shall dare do otherwise said Floraliza excéeding ioyfull thereat thinking she spake with her Tynacrian At once they put off their helms and being somewhat heated by the battell there is no beautie comparable to the two Ladies Oh Prince of Assyria oh thou hast a heart of stéele to resist this blowe Many daies it was since hee sawe her yet presently he acknowledged her to bee the soueraigne of his soule Haue patience magnanimous Louer for gainst loues accidents there is no better shield So like was the Qu. of Lyra vnto the Prince Polliphebo that Garrofileo assuredly thought shee had her sonne before her she leapt out of the Chariot with an extazie of ioy and embracing the Quéene said Oh my deare son Polliphebo may it bee thou shouldest thus long be absent and not aduertise me of thy aduentures and happie successes crueltie more then inhumane it hath béen and were you not son to such a father I could not beléeue it of any but knowing whose you be I am assured of your naturall crueltie which makes mee resemble your tyrannous father The Quéen did straight perceiue Garrosileas deceit and by her words confirmed the report blazoned of her rigors she told her of it who she was which not a little admired the beholders and also when they knew her companion to be a Ladie a newe the Quéen imbraced them saying Pardon soueraigne Ladie my bolde intreatie for iudging you to bée the Prince Polliphebo my sonne hath made me commit this fault There hath béene none vnlesse intended mightie Quéene replied Archisilora but rather it is a fauour exéeding mercie which I thereby receiued By this the faithfull Earle of Modica was arriued with aboue thrée hundreth Knights and the Ladies vnwilling to be stayed craued leaue to depart You will not I am sure so wrong vs saide the Queene as to leaue vs absent of your company We can do no otherwise imperious Dame said Floraliza for the good successe of the aduenture this Lady and I haue in hand consisteth in briefe expedition If it be so heroicke Ladies and least you should loose that happie successe I am content to loose the great content I should reape by your conuersation wherevppon they kindly embraced and departed leauing in Tynacria eternal memorie of their beautie and brauery And whilest Lindariano made his excuse crauing pardon for his stay the beauteous Floraliza thus spake vnto Don Clarisell Pardon mée sir Knight for not doing this before but let our lawfull and vnauoyded businesse bee our sufficient excuse although it néeds not be giuen to him that may be assured all happie content is wisht him Words were these that gaue new life vnto the Louer nourishing it many yeares with these words The Prince taking her by the hand saide You haue done mee mightie wrong most sacred Lady to intreat him with these wordes that onely desires to liue perpetually at your obedience The Lady drewe away her hands not suffering him to kisse them but casting her armes about his neck said He that hath shewed his to be so worthie heroicke Knight is iniuried to haue mine but his rather are to be requested for that sacrifice And inquiring for Forsiana and Don Argante of Phenicia for they all loued one another like brothers she tooke her leaue of him refusing his companle which with his soule he offered alleadging how it behooued them to go alone And as one that with admiration gazeth on the splendor of the heauenly Sunne with his radiant beames illuminating the earth and on a suddaine sées it dasht with mystie vapors of a blacke clowde wherewith his light being obscured blinds and bereaues the poore beholders of his contented sight Euen so thought the Princely Louer he was left though glad to sée how gently his gentle Lady intreated him Towardes the sea did the Ladies take their iourney where they found two Barkes without any to guide them It was admirable for so soone as the Quéene entred in the one to helpe the Lady in so swift flies not the arrow loosed from a stéele bow as of it selfe it lancht into the déepe In a minute it vanisht out of sight leauing faire Floraliza so extreame sorrie that she was about to fling her selfe into the sea considering what she had lost What content canst thou hereafter hope for poore Ladie said the afflicted Dame being robbed of that good the heauens had imparted thée with her companie What mayest thou account happie hauing lost her swéete comfortable conuersation Oh fortune wouldst thou but waigh how little strength I haue left mee by thy inconstant changes thou wouldst among so many infortunate happes mingle one fained pleasure She shipt her horse in the other barke and waighing the anchors that held it to the shore lying along vpon the hatches of the same shée committed his gouernment to Neptunes mercie Yet it was not so ill looked too but the enuious Lupercio had taken charge of it who by all possible meanes assembled all the mightiest knights in the Hauen of Nyquea to transport them thence vnto the maruellous Tower for he had alreadie knowne there should bee a knight would win Theseus armor and his battell-axe wherewith the inchauntment should be ended and knowing he was an enemie procured to get and bring these so valiant Knights on his side and therefore did he guide Floralizas Barke who on the fourth day of her Nauigation met with her brother Don Cellindo with whom she fought a most cruell combat which for breuity is not recited but being known for her brother he entred into her Bark and were directed towards Nyquea méeting continually all their voyage on the seas infinit Galleis and shippes as well Christians as Pagans where beeing arriued wee must leaue them a while to remember Rosabell whom we haue long wronged with forgetfulnesse CHAP. X. What happened to the most valiant Rosobell departed from Grecia in the company of a Ladie WIth some gréefe of minde faire Ladies left wee Rosabell to sée himselfe absent from the swéete company of his deare Oristoldo and armourlesse with the Damzell was he shipt in the doubtfull Seas yet knew not whither some comfort was it to him séeing hee had not all his armes to haue the sword that erst belonged to Hector
departing from his sister in Greece glad in his soule to sée her so well bestowed trauelled to séeke aduentures through the world performing many braue déeds vnder the name of the knight of the Griffon all which are at large set downe in the Chronicles Lupercio writ of all the Pagans acts Galtenor doth not here mention them because they appertained not vnto the storie he composed So now was the frée Pagan ouerhearing the Gréekes complaints he was not mooued at thē for he had not yet yéelded his libertie to loue A while he stayed thinking the cōplaint would further procéed It fell out as hee would haue it for hee vttered many pittifull exclaimes afore Auroras shining in the heauens yet could he not by them iudge who he was more then the constancie he publisht of his Loue who was so carefull to go vnto the Cittie that in the instant he put on the rich armour Eufronisa had sent him Such were they as appertained to a nouell knight all white bur garnisht with many flowers of precious Rubies They greatly pleased him being of the best in the world as also because with such of like colours he departed from Nyquea and combatted with his father His shield was like his armour in middle thereof bearing the picture of Faith held by a white hand which for all that two Serpents with their stinges did pricke would not loosen it The word this Loues greefes the longer Holds Faith the stronger Though orepressed still my selfe Clad in these faire armes and mounted on a lustie Courser did Trebatios haughtie Nephew pace on towards the famous cittie glad to sée it with so many Danubious streames which made it one of the fertilests soyles in the world The same way did he spye the valiant Astorildo in faire gréene armour full of Pomegranates and on his shielde a fearfull Griffon Wonders had Rosabell heard of him reioycing to sée him of such braue disposition so did he admire the Gréeke supposing he was him that in the Forrest he had heard complaine hee gazed on him a while iudging his behauiour to excel his that in Grecia had ouerthrown him Hauing each met with the other they extended such courtesie as they iudged eithers merits to deserue The Callidonian spake first in that countrie language saying I would gladly knowe sir knight who you are for it séemeth to mee I haue séene you farre from hence In the same tongue replyed the Gréeke beeing well skild in most I am sir knight of such remoted countrie that though I should tell my name you could not knowe me notwithstanding through those places I haue trauelled and where I am best knowne I am called the Knight of the Flowers beeing by stormes and fortune of the seas cast on this land where I vnderstood there is in the Kings Court a certaine aduenture arriued very lately which ere I did depart I was willing to know and prooue it hazarding but little thereby being on Ladies behalfes whose seruice brings with it a reward for any paine how great soeuer although it should be thought none done in a Ladies name There is reason replied the Callidonian to procure their content with perill of our liues but this must be with assurance of reward Whereto the Gréeke answered Then deserues he not to bee beloued that doth it for reward Neuer sir knight was that loue famous whereto a recompence was proposed which must by deserued loue be obtained for as loue is the motion of a noble act for which all good is desired to the thing loued so doth not hee merit that honoured title that séekes it for any other thing vnlesse it bee to let the world admire the rarenesse of his quallities not inclining to the other which rather is a price prefixt for loue dishonouring the reputation of the Louer and disableth his worthes through the hopes of that guerdon which otherwise might make him most happie And well it séemes you knowe not what it is to bee anothers alleadging such an irronious opinion condemned of all that knowe what happinesse it is happily to loue which makes me smyle to thinke how safe the Tent is from you for being to be giuen to louers your libertie excludes you from that priuiledge which by being one you haue obtained I would not haue you so rashly iudge by what you knowe not replied the Pagan for you may be deceiued How should I be said the Gréeke hearing you so plainly vrge your libertie Nay then returned the Callidonian that you may know the vnaduisednesse of your iudgement I say none shall prooue it vnlesse he first prooue mee vpon the spéeches wee haue vrged for who the diuell hath euer loued without hope of something That hope answered Rosabell somewhat mooued the Louer must not haue but leaue it in the Ladies dispose for it is shee must consider the merits of that faith wherewith shee sées shee is adored and according to those deserts and her bountie she yéeldes the due reward And I am sorrie wee should with new brawles enter into the Pallace and I beeing first aduertised of the aduenture the first triall ought to bee mine And so about both matters hauing now opportunitie let our battell be with this condition least we want time for the aduentures promised that hee which forgoeth first his saddle shall not sée the aduenture vnlesse he be commaunded by the conqueror Nothing doth better please me said Astorildo that you may know your error by your loue So these two famous warriours turned their horses brauely confronting each other More horror makes not the furious waues beating on the stonie rockes then they by their incounters The Pagan was one of the greatest that the Gréeke had receiued for it cast him backwards on his horse with losse of both stirrops but the Pagan chaunced woorse for Mars on horsebacke equalled not the Prince that met him so strongly that fetching him cleane from his saddle he fel on his féete Recouer he would his seate before the Gréek returned hauing the bridle in his hand but the horse starting at his offer mounted aloft and put him from it that the Gréeke when hée turned sawe him on the ground where hee required the combat with the sword We should so stay ouerlong said the Greeke for fear therof made me condition thus but we shall haue time ere you depart this land to do it the which I promise to performe bee it but to disswade you from your heresie And that you may beginne to credit me I am content you first prooue the aduenture so shall you sée what aduantage you should haue not hauing this opinion which your libertie makes you maintaine Otherwise could not the Pagan do for noted he would not be of discourtesie so he promised to accomplish it and mounting againe like two great friendes they tooke their way to the Cittie arriuing there at the first houre after noone when all the principall thereof repaired to the Pallace to sée the aduentures proofe togither
run at him and then with a swinge hee turned him against the horse brest who encountred him so strongly that he made him stumble backwards like to fall And more to helpe him downe he on foote thrust at him in his amaze two such strong points that Claridiano neuer did what he was now inforced vnto for neither courage nor valoure preuayling he fell downe But like Anteus towching on the earth he rose fresher and fiercer that he on horsbacke escaped not frée for his encounter for as he turned Claridiano as wrathfull as a hungrie Lyon let driue at him with so puissant a blowe that whether he would or no hee felde him from his Saddle downe to the grassie plaine where it added pleasure to content séeing the fortunate and vnconquered Gréeke enter and retire as he would Wearied he had them although himselfe was no lesse for they of the Castle were of the valiantest in the world and about that matter would not refuse Mars his challenge Crossing his sword inwards the one assaulted the Gréeke it was but an offer for going toward it he stayed his arme and bearing it lower strooke him on the legs and on the left thigh he gaue him the greatest blow that he had receiued in all that battle for though it did not wound him yet it put him in such paine that he could not stir that legge The good effect of the stroke perceiued they of the Castle and that they might take the aduantage before the paine left him they began to hammer him with more strength and spéede then the Cyclopes did when they forged Aeneas Armor The Prince much feared being so lame but séeing it concerned him no lesse then his life dragging that legge performed wonders The first Battle that euer Claramant had séene was this the which he iudged to himselfe would be the last so fierce and terrible it was He said more cunning skill nor vallour could not be wished in one knight thē what he in the yallow shewed It was a matter worthy the Prince for as he was he neuer suffered them to close within him though they nothing else procured stil kéeping them out with his vntollerable cruell blowes which made them kisse the earth sometimes with their hands and then with their knées And againe other times all at once In the ende he flung at him that had wounded him quicke he was but Archysiloras Champion was possessed with extreamest of his rage and therefore reached him on the toppe of his Helme in such manner that in despight of him he tumbled him on the gréene brest of his mother earth At him with a thrust ranne the other which Claridiano striking aside hée strooke him with both handes on his armes that he could no more vse his sword Hee closed with him and hoysing him from the ground flung him downe on his backe neare where his Companion was Vppon them with his naked Dagger busseled the Louer for hauing exceedingly incensed him he forgot the pitie and accustomed clemency which he vsed towards his vanquished Before him stept the bewteous Claramant saying To ende a Combat with death most valiant knight whose conquest is so manifest wil rather blemish the Victors victorie then dignifie his fame Wherefore I pray you giue me those Knights as by you are vanquished The haughtie Gréeke lifted vp his head to answere him for through the anger of the fight he had not noted the Donzell So looking on him now he was astonished thinking he sawe himselfe for were hée a litle elder none could haue distinguished them nor yet from the Emperour Alphebo for they resembled so much one another that in the beginning he verily iudged him to be his father which opinion his tender yeares frustrated And yet supposing him some kinsman of his did graunt it and would haue done had it bene farre more But that was inough had he bene any other then Claridiano to make him neuer returne to Greece For scarce had the Donzell raysed them with his hand when as freshe as in the beginning they let flie at him togither two such blowes that they made him knéele on the ground It extreamly gréeued him to be so mocked yet was not he angry against the Donzell imagining through lacke of iudgement he had done it He animated himselfe to this new Combat although with some doubt to sée his aduersaries nimbler and lustier then at the first and himself somewhat weary Clasping his sword strongly in his hand he went against them making them knowe nothing could bereaue him of his assured victorie So closing with the one with his shoulders he thrust him from him like a loosened arrow from a bowe And with a leape he turned on the second His spéed could not saue him for the furious Greeke cut away halfe his helme with part of his head This blow gladded him resoluing to deny the Donzell any thing he should aske within that place By this arriued the other but what auailes it for the Greeke Mars giues no blowe which they féele not within their fleshe They had kinde Ladies in this second fight lost the vertue of the Inchantment only helping themselues with their natural strength which was very great And yet it preuailes not against him that was borne a Conqueror End this cruel warre would the Gréeke calling himselfe coward to prolong it so long And auoyding one of their blowes he ran at him with the brauest thrust that in all his life he executed for piercing shield breast and backe hée tumbled him dead at his féete to Claramants great admiration The second incouraged himselfe for all he was alone and sore wounded it was but a little lengthning of his life to endure a more cruell death For the Prince hauing Fortune by the Front strooke at the top of his helme yet not with the strength he might but he yéelding backe his head couered it with the shielde whereat the Gréeke turning his arme discharged it on his thighes so mightily that almost he cut one cleane off Before he could setle himselfe he ran vpon him and with incredible haste least Claramant should interrupt him he reaft him of his life himselfe remaining so wearie that his legges could not then sustaine him All his life time he most estéemed this victorie for it cost more labor more blood and more trouble then any other of that quallitie He went towards the beauteous Donzell elder then him by sixe yeares but hauing suffered no cares nor paines nor loue passions made him séeme yonger then his cousin who tooke off his helme discouering that Mars his countenance of his Either reioyced to sée the other thinking they sawe one another in a glasse So Claridiano spake first saying I intreat you faire Donzell so the heauens make you happie in all attempts to tell me the cause of your being within so defended a place and also who you are for considering how dearly your sight hath cost me although I thinke it well bestowed you are bound
witnesse of the strongest and purest amitie that can be oh let the knight in yealow satisfie it with the like and with endlesse seruice perpetually to honor you And wonder not to sée me thus attired for the successes that haue me befallen makes me admire how I haue escaped with life I wil not because I cannot sufficiently expresse excellent knights the ioy those Princes conceiued with my sight They imbraced me as I were their brother yet had I bene so they could not haue done more They plainly had perceiued I was inamoured of Pollinarda since to such manifest hazard of my life I durst aduenture to come to the Court He so richly performed the part of a Noble Prince that knowing I desired to be concealed and not to be intreated otherwise then a seruant he also séemed content that I should affect his sister Much better did the faire Ladie take my part saying Beléeue me henceforth none but I wil sollicit Iaroes affaires which should haue no il successe séeing he refuseth his other name so wil I procure to redresse the most difficultest that we may liue contented She forgot it not the next day going to visit my Lady in her chamber where she found her troubled with many amourous doubts now misconstring of her fauours showne me then iudging it not sufficient to my deserts and her loue We departed thence ouercome with ioy and being in our Chamber and the Prince laide in bed I betooke me to a window that looked into the Garden to recount the fauours I receiued where in briefe I omitted none singing vnto the silent night the pleasure of my conceiued happinesse vnable to deuise what meanes I might choose to be knowne vnto the Princesse She was so farre in loue and therein so much out of quiet no Louer had euer any that she ouerheard my song and I thinke she gathered thereby her selfe had only the power to glad my sorrowfull soule And as the Infant Solesia came afterwards and began to talke of me she so well dealt for me speaking more then I deserued that she altogither made conquest of her heart for me insomuch that she had almost discored it For that time the Ladie would not presse her any more which if she had Pollinarda would of force explaind her great loue towards me That night which was the last of my content she came to heare Musicke and as I alwaies vsed I tooke my Lute and went to the window where not thinking because it was so late any had heard me I began to sing and openly to expresse the soueraigne ioy of my heart in this maner Oh who would thinke that Bondage could be Free That deep-hart-woundings could beget all gladnes That most accurst could the most happiest bee That that which all count griefe should kill all sadnes Let all men note these myracles in mee Whom Loue hath raised from the depth of badnes Vnto the highest of all high degree Euen then when nothing rul'd my soule but madnes Blest be the heauenly powre whose powerfull might Hath duld the keen edge of her iust disdaining And euer blessed be her noble spirit That heard with pittie my sad soules complaining Blest be the griefe of past afflictions night Sith it more sweete doth make my present gaining Blest be the Tyme that lent me first her sight But treble blest the Tyme of grace obtaining You markes of bondage too which did inuest Me in these blessings euer be you blest Longer had I made my song but that I heard a noise which not only made me leaue but also with some alteration to draw my weapons not thinking my lifes happinesse would séeke me at that houre With my sword in one hand and buckler in the other I awayted the successe when in the way accustomed I espied that soueraigne Ladie so excellent bewtifull that with her only sight I thought my selfe transported into the skies Smiling she came shewing the heauen of her face full of ioyfull hopes She first said thus Methinkes that straunge and irefull kinde of entertainment for her that soly procures thy content Oh what swéete words these be they that now féede me in this cruell absence and more she said thus And in faith I haue not conceiued small pleasure hearing thée sing expressing the secrets of thy amourous heart and for the great loue the Prince my brother beareth thée I wil indeuour if you tel me who your Ladie is to get your libertie that you may better attend her seruice With my soule full of gladnesse I replied It is the condition most soueraigne Ladie of all powerfull Loue to pardon none among which number he hath from the beginning so subdued my heart that I haue alwaies delighted to treate of his affaires with my selfe being most alone although the Ladie I adore and idolatrize be resolued neuer to fauour me I haue not dared euen from the spring of my loues to do more then sing the ioy my heart conceiues to account my selfe hers Where to she answered And is it possible thou art so cunning in dissembling thy affection Now by my troth wert thou to be my gallant thou shouldest not suffer so many torments And beléeue me there is neuer any thing lost by discouering to the Ladie the interior secrets of the heart and how she is beloued for otherwise thus to dissemble is rather occasion of further euil because it is likely nay it often happens that the Ladie may place her affection on some other and so thou loose that benefit through silence I haue alreadie set my chiefe happinesse therein did I reply most beawteous Ladie and therefore I cannot but bee silent and loue although I die Well hath my Ladie vnderstood what I require and how I loue for mine eyes sometimes forgetting their other motions repairing vnto the heauen of that bewtie for some fauour are credible Embassadors of the hearts intent That is not sufficient said she to make her resolue to loue beeing beloued for as touching your gazing that is so common and generall among all men that the Ladies may iudge it as an ordinarie thing not considering the owner of those gazing instruments doth honour and loue her and therefore it is an error to dissemble when the paine is estraunged If in recompence of the greatnesse thereof most sacred Ladie said I the author of the same should be discouered and she acquainted therewith none with more reason ought to do it then I for there can be none that hath indured so much nor any loued with such firmnesse If there be assurance thereof replied the Princesse I say thou doest wrong thy Ladie in not letting her know how she is beloued if it be with such truth as you publish And therfore because I haue this day heard I know not what of the Princesse Solesia thou shalt tell me what I demaund and on my faith none shall know it but whom thou wilt You haue no reason to binde me to any thing excellent Ladie
to intreate what by commaunding makes me happie in obedience I am called Brauorant sonne to that famous Bramarant which in Greece was deathes man to himselfe and Nephewe to that Campeon which lost his life by the hands of a Gréeke Prince although I cannot beléeue it and therefore haue I left my countrie of purpose to be reuenged on the Gréeks and the Mauritanian king whose land we now tread because hee tooke away my fathers armour and also I come to know the Prince Meridian whose vassaile I am and greatest friend in respect of the loue that he and the mightie Midinaro his Grandfather did beare vnto my kindred And this is all I can say praying the like not in regard of my relation but that I may know my Soueraigne bound thereto was the Ladie replying thus I greatly desire to knowe my stocke and whom I am that I might therein satisfie your content braue Brauorant and I assure you that the most I knowe is that I knowe not whom I am more then that a brother of mine and my selfe were brought vppe togither in a wood without other conuersation then of a wise man that did instruct vs in all vertues whom wee reputed our father till hee assured vs the contrarie and through the accidents befallen some haue tolde vs wee are the children of that so loued Prince Meridian More I knowe not I beléeue no lesse but that those which are the earths chief lights aunswered the amorous Scythian deriue their diuine discent from the heauens whence your sacred Grandfather procéeds As they were in this conuersation they sawe him comming whom they soght mounted on a mightie Courser he wore not then the armour of that Mars and mightie Bramarant kéeping them onely to weare in Grecia the more to despight her Princes The Ladie knewe him and tolde it the fierce Pagan that cried out for ioy saying This aduenture excellent Ladie admits comparison solely with that of your knowledge Now am I certaine of all good fortune since the heauens haue set before mine eyes with so smal toyle the thing I most desired He arose with angrie paces and called for his fierce horse The like did the Ladie lightly vawting into the saddle The Scythian was nothing enuious thereat for in lightnesse the Orientall nations affoorded not his péere and brandishing his lance made against the Mauritanian but what happeneth describeth the next Chapter CHAP. III. What befell vnto the mightie Bramorant with the warrelike Brufaldoro the most cruell battell betweene them and how they were parted by Floraliza SOme content may the angrie aspect of the two warrtours mooue that representing Mars either to the other approached The Mauritanian with his accustomed pride spake first saying What vnexpected motion of suddaine alteration knights hath my comming sturde in yée If you stand in any néede speake for in the vttering consists the remiede Of nothing haue we néede replied Campeons fierce Nephew for if any had wrongd vs we haue hands not to remit our remedie to others That which hath mooued this knight and my selfe with hastie paces to méete you is onely to know what cause the Mauritanian king had to take away the armes of that glorious Bramarant knowing how thereby he angred the Gréeke Princes yet no matter for this I séeke not their contents but thou shouldst imagine that a senne of his liuing greater was the wrong to take them since they were his right guiding thy selfe thereto more by insolencie then the dutie of a knight Neuer did the barbarous Sarazin nation know a more prouder Pagan then the king of Mauritania and supposing him like to others he had tried with a fearefull voyce hee replied What cowarde knight thinkest thou that méeting with those armes I would through feare leaue them although I did incense the heauens and anger euery one the earth contained Oh I wish I had them here to weare them in triumph of my valours victorie making the powers of heauen knowe to thy cost no terrene merits better deserues to weare them then Brufaldoro Milde in the beginning was the Scythian but being mooued to rage no Basseliske is like to him so roring like a bull and turning his horse casting his eyes vp to the skie said Is it possible that I liuing sole sonne to Bramarant should suffer this and that any other but he should threaten me permitting sithens thou haste his armour and detaines them not to procure them or loose my life in the enterprise So great was their rage that the one could neither prosecute his spéech nor the other make reply leauing to their handes what their tongues could not vtter Now would I here but I know not how I may againe implore your sacred helps admired Ladies of vnspotted purities but the importunate tōgue euermore tuned with this one vocal note dasht my thoghts in their expected hopes I dare oh I dare not presume least I should waken your slumbering displeasures they are woorse then then thousand wo-languishing deaths to pray the comfort of a smile the soules nourishment and hearts incourager to tread the difficultie of Dedalus inextricable laborinth or as Hercules to vndergo so many labors But being repulst in selfe conceit shall I flie to those chaste diuine Nimphs of that euerflowing fountaine of tongue inspiring musicke that some one not busied in the laies of loue would inchaunt my rusticke penne with a delicious method according to the two mightie warriours deserts They did refuse my plaints referring my Orizons to your desiding doom submitting their wils to your greater cōmanding powers whose fauours in my behalf they promised to solicit With trembling feare doo I once againe awaite your censures Oh in regard of their immaculate triple trinitie graunt it be it but vnder the couert of a fained smile whose obtained imagination swifter then the winde brought the sterne combattants to incounter with more noyse then Vulcans thunderboltes do rent the clowdie ayre amidst their furious passage or fiercer then the tempesteous waues raised by the vnbridled rage of a sea-oreturning whirlewinde beate on the flintie rockes yet was it nothing in respect of the horrour that these two rare in armes committed with their launces Of knottie Oake were they but arriuing at the brest brake as they were of weake cane or small reedes either past by the other without motion although the Moore at his turning about throgh the astonishment of the shocke lost his right stirrope Aloft with their swords raised togither they discharged them on their helms with more force then doth a waterie current descending from a stéepie hill breake through a riuers locke Venturous was the Mauritanians blowe for it lighted on the toppe of his plumed crest striking away all the stéeled circuite with part of the maled gorget on his shoulder praide the furious sword falling so heauily that he bowed belowe his horse necke On the shield did the fierce youth strike the Mauritanian it is no defence against the rigorous arme for the
he iudged her all diuine He was not constant for seeing the Gréeke Ladies he straight forgot Floraliza only the supremacy of bewtie making change in him Most part of the night past they with different thoughts for the Pagan was soly ouerwhelmed in Contemplation of the Ladies graces not daring to manifest his glorie for yet he was not sufficiently toucht with loues fierie euil The Lady though she was glad to haue such company were it but because he was an enemy to the Gréekes answered with her toong what her heart felt not which she had left in the possession of the Tynacrian whose absence was able to distract her thinking she should not sée him any more It is easie for the soule to beléeue the euil it is addicted too for as it liues fearful and in doubt of the desired good any contrary accident that happens taketh firme possession of the Louer In this conuersation were the vncontrowled Brauorant and the Ladie when they heard a great noyse like the fighting of many knights they tooke their way towards it neuer finding out where it was For the Magitian Lupercio had deuised it to conduct the Pagan to the keeping of the maruellous Tower So lost he the Lady which so extreamly greeued him that he had almost lost his wits wandring thrée dayes vp and downe those woods calling for her yet could heare no tydings till thinking she was shipt to sea he with his Page Artanio did the like He arriued at the Tower where he made his abode to the cost of many Fames sending those that went with him in the shippe to the land for his necessary prouision Where for this time we leaue him till other occasion that wil minister matter inough of his valiantnesse and the Lady in search of Polliphebo returning to Esclauonia for in so long delaie we mightily haue wronged the Princesse Venus CHAP. IIII. How the Prince Claridiano returned to prison first discouering him selfe to Don Eleno and what else happened FRom the famous Citie of Xantho went the two all-admired warriours most faire Ladies either enuious of the other to haue seene the haughtie Chiualries by their inuincible armes With ioy they met the Page and Dwarffe that expected them in the Forrest discoursing of the Fortitude wherewith they procéeded in the battle leauing their names in Xantho consecrated to eternitie Of great estéeme said the Dwarffe should those knightes prisoners be of hauing obtained such defence Thou sayest well answered the Gréeke for in the end according to their necessitie they were succoured with the valour of this knight to whom the palme of the victorie is due I wil not agrée thereto Syr knight said the Dacian since the experience you haue this day showne of your vnconquered arme witnesseth against any that on my behalfe may be alleaged But leauing this alreadie alighted from their horses it will glad my very soule to knowe who hath this day inacted so many wonders In comparison of yours said the Gréeke warlike Prince of Dacia mine are of so small name that they may boast of nothing more then to be atchiued by the fauours of your presence whose imaginatiō and the knowledge that Don Eleno of Dacia went in my defence made me draw strength from my weaknes to shewe that at least in something I may resemble to be your kinsman And therevpon he did put off his helme procéeding I should wrong the Darian Lord not to tell him who hath this day receiued such happie ayde His vncle did straight knowe him and with a ioyfull voyce embracing him said Vntill the death shall I complaine mee of this wrong most excellent Prince of Greecia in so long delaying the content I should receiue by knowing you For had I been witting of such deare companie I had still conceiued more assurance of the victorie My selfe being armed with that assurance Heroicke Prince replied the Gréeke made me reserue till now my discouerie purposing still frō the beginning to do it til the battell ended of whose good successe I nothing doubted seeing you therein and that you may bee assured by what meanes you haue bound me to your obseruance know that the combat was made for my libertie being called in this countrie the Dpairing Knight whose Princesse taking pittie of my wrong imprisonment procured meanes to liberate me and found one difficult ynough which was to let me out through her garden and gaue mée this armour that I disguised might for my selfe demaund the battell and since it hath so happened to our content let vs procure it for that Ladie by againe presenting my selfe in her handes your selfe beeing witnesse thereof for in nothing wronging the beautious Rosamonde little is aduentured therein It is iust replied the Dacian braue Claridiano that herein all our friends and kinsfolkes ayde vs and let vs go for whosoeuer stayes any delay is hurtfull Let vs away saide the Gréeke for more then is done resteth to be executed and in affairs wherein our hands must be inured For know that this Ladie one of the worlds beauties is inamored of the suspitious knight who is the Prince of Croatia that is prisoner whose amitie made me promise a thing inhumane reason almost impossible that maugre all the kingdome I would set her in his hands but now I sée fortune hath broght it to more facilitie conducting you hither and I assure you that his noblenesse and friendship deserueth any kindnesse wherto the Dacian spake It is ynough to effect it Heroicke Prince if you haue promised it for I by loosing my life do accomplish what I am bound to With these animating reasons they arriued to the doore where the Ladie expected them with so great feare seeing they staied so long that she was a thousand times about to go away The two haughtie warriours alighted and the Prince giuing his watchword the ioyfull Lady opened the doore and said I promise you dispairing knight you behaue your selfe so like an ill prisoner that another time there wil be no license to walke foorth hauing made this so long He replied I am so pleasant excellent Princesse with this imprisonmēt that I wold ere I returned bring company with me that the might participate of the ioy here enioyed A greater offence then the committed deserueth pardon with so good excuse Conditionally answered she that I know who he is for séeing with what courage he helped the Greeke Prince makes me suspect he is of that happie Countrey Claridiano replied So great is the desire I haue towards your seruice soueraigne Venus that it was able to bring in my aide and your seruice no lesse then my deare Lord and Vnckle Don Eleno Prince of Dacia Who had alreadie put off his Helme discouering his excellent complexion intreating the kissing of her white hand He that hath them so good said she is wronged in not commaunding that honor of all the Orbe Now may I liue content knowing that the protectors of all necessities abides in my Court And since
to her thinking she liued neuer more to be séene of any This life did she lead till the age of fouretéene yeares for then did her beautie staine the sunnes in his mid-daies pride whose fame the other Nimphes of the Temple published abroad throughout the spacious world One day among the rest as Prince Celio accustomed to recreate himself descending this way on hunting he chansed to finde her neare a cleare fountaine that lies behinde this little hill called the Vnfortunate by reason of that which happened thereat Where Celio séeing her and of such admirable beautie blame him not if hée yéelded a thousand soules so many if he had for much more deserued her excellencies and most gracious brauerie Hee went towards her shewing by his alteration what he went for and how estranged from himselfe he should depart at the drawing of his attracted eies from her sight From her being rose the solitarie Goddesse discontented to haue met with that knight who séeing her disdaining coynesse followed to ouertake her stayning her with sighes that procéeded from the middest of his perplexed heart but the frée Ladie carelesse of his cares declared hers in onely hasting her swift running steppes turning her face from whom acknowledged her for his Goddesse Shee could not so far outrunne him but he at last ouertooke her and catching holde by her thin sléeue falling on his knées began thus Oh sacred Ladie why should you shew such crueltie against him that must liue onely to loue you hoping for no longer life then you shal grant admitting his deuotion but oh if you shall ioy to prosecute your strangenesse let mee not prorogue your vengeance on my selfe While this dagger is readie to execute your sharpe decree for so you do remaine without displeasure it will be my pleasure to satisfie your doome with my death The crueltie sir knight you speake of should I vse towards my selfe replied the disdainfull Laissa should I regard your prayers knowing how Capitall the offence is against the chaste Diana whose Nimphes of whom I being one are first afore all other things sworn to the puritie of a single life and so my selfe ioying in the swéetnesse of so choise a liuing as that led in solitude should not then cruelly tyrannize ouer my coontent procuring your ease to loose my libertie With many currents of pearled teares distilling from his eyes the amourous Celio answered Neuer sacred Goddesse did my imagination so much as thinke by louing to worke my content in any thing to abridge yours onely I beséech and this is not to offend you that though my merits deserue not your sight nor my selfe be woorthie to adore you I may to nourish my else dying life make you solely to my selfe the sole commandresse of my oppressed soule and that I may repaire to your glorious name with the tributarie duties of my poore hearts spoyles Somewhat milder grewe the sister of amorous Celio for there is no Ladie so cruell and vnthankefull but reioyces to be beloued for such vertue doth loue set in the Ladie loued that onely to deserue the gift to be beloued shée will loue She would haue answered but the comming of Alcyno the second brother interrupted her who almost before hee sawe her rendred his soule vnto her as a pledge of his true loue The like sacrifice did the third make of hs that then arriued which two last séeing their brother and with that Ladie ere they knewe how to loue exprest approoued tokens to be iealous To breake their silence the third brother said What good fortune is this good brother to méete with so gallant a Ladie in so solitarie a place So haue the heauens appointed it my deare brother replied Celio And being nothing iealous of them to feare to say his minde added that the power of my thoughts béeing imployed on her my soule may triumph in content to haue found such a Soueraigne Most woorthie is her beautie saide the second of the offer of my noble thought whose reliques may solemnize her brauerie neither is vnoccupied for Loue doth occupie them all And whilest Alcino speakes Larsinio gluts himselfe with gazing And if by chance all thrée be silent she by mouing the Organs of her spéech kindles the fire that vnconsumingly doth burne them Celio loues and the mollified Lady looking on him by the motions of her eye-resplending sunnes with infinit signes of hopes doth incourage him to persist in his moued sute and for his sake shée affects the other two knowing they were his brethren She exprest it by her kind words in answering them Such is the condition of loue most bewteous Ladies credit me it is knowne by experience that any amorous motion how fained soeuer is accepted of the Louer as a manifest token that onely he is he soly beloued In like maner fell it out with the brothers For as the Lady without straungenesse kindly spake to them the more to winne Celio to her selfe either of the others accounted themselues to be especially beloued The greatest part of the day continued they in pleasing that intangling themselues in the snares of that deceiuing net that there with thousand childish toyes did leape from bowe to bowe to insnare these poore Louers in their owne vnhappie conceits vntil the withdrawing time of the recluse Goddesse called her away which forced the thrée brothers to returne vnto their home purposing euery day to come thither in quest of whom they loued yet minding to take their seuerall way For nothing was sufficient to disswade the two brothers that they were not beloued to desist the prosecuting of their intented loues Sometimes after they spake with the Lady not knowing nor remembring she was their sister but she by all exterior meanes told the two younger she could admit none saue the elder Neuerthelesse so possest was loue of the two brothers soules that in such sort it blinded them that they would neuer beléeue it was as she said and their owne eyes sawe to be most true for the perfect sincere loue which nourish them caused them to deuise the expedients meanes to end their passionated labors They found it and to their liues cost for passing some moneths in this entertainment one day dismall and blacke to this Countrey since so much calamitie fel on it Larsinio the yonger brother hastened his comming to séeke his sister clad all in rich shining armor He met with her at the vnhappie Fountaine through their lucklesse euents so called in whose bubbling Current shée was washing her faire white Alabaster hands His Beuer lifted vp the Louer and nimbly leaping from his horse went straight towards the Founte To receiue him ranue the Ladie guerdoning his comming with a louing imbrace not as to her brother or Louer but so neare in ally to him whom with heart she tendred which the Prince attributed not to Celio in fauour nor his consanguinitie to Laissa saue to his owne pure loue which was so great that he iudged himselfe in respect of
who gaue him no longer time for this consideration for the two that on horsebacke remained returned to ouerthrow him Hee could not defend himself for the course was short and so headlong they ouerturned him Ere he could rise Celio stept to him with the greatest blow he had in al his life receiued for it had almost strooke him sencelesse laying him all along vpon the earth All this was no meanes to put the Dacian from his skilfull procéeding for ere he could second another like a furious Lyon he rose on his féet resolued to expect them Hee sawe himselfe in daunger of death for the two that remained on horsebacke with quicke and suddaine carriers so opprest him as he lost his hope with honour to issue out of that enterprise Among the horses he setled himselfe strongly A thing worthie his valour he did for his shield forwards he expected Larsinio that to incounter him had aduanced himselfe but no more he mooued him then if he had runne against a rock whom with his horse staggering back the Dacian forced to fall whereat the Prince was glad knowing that on foote he could better deale with them So he stept aside letting Alcino passe and as he went gaue him such a thrust which was it that assured him the victorie making him therewith maugre his strength to leaue his saddle For all this he had no cause to boast of the blowe for the inraged Celio ranne to him with both hands laying on his rich helme the temper gaue him his life else had his head downe to his necke béene diuided yet made he the blood in great abundance gush through his nose By this were the other two vp with their swords in hand It was a combat most worthie Cupids sight for the thrée are mightie and the Dacian the same he was woont and a foote stronger then Mars hée shewed himselfe like a cunning fencer setting forth at length his shield and sword to intice them to make offer Herein hee preuailed for most blowes he receiued on his shield which being inpenetrable they did not so much as race it In this manner a while he behaued himselfe but hee iudged it cowardise so to end the battell wherefore brauely he rusht among them well couering himselfe with his shield and as hee past he gaue the second brother such a counterbuffe on the helme striking away a great part of his vizor that it was aduenture he had not done so by his head Downe along the breast descended the sword making there a long daungerous wound with another he would haue ended that battell had the other two let him But the haughtie Celio with impoysoned rage entred so much inwards that at his pleasure hee could discharge his furie on the toppe of the inchaunted shield not able to cut it yet so waightie was the blow that thrée or foure steppes staggering backwards it forced him Larsinio was not ydle for with a strong point he thrust at his brest He felt the blow for it depriued him of his breaths passage The two brothers had not discharged their blowes when the wounded Alcyno returned and with both hands gaue him a most mightie stroke Rezound with Eccho did the gréene fields by the warriors sterne stupendious blowes And the angrie Iudge was astonished to sée with what crueltie they assayled each other Aduantage had the warrelike Dacian in his armour for though he was tired yet they had no scarre Otherwise was it with the brothers for the fielde was besprinkled with their blood Don Elenos celeritie much auailed him else he had not got the victorie so cheape but it and the surenesse of his armes makes it certaine Thrée houres haue they fought making no shewe of fainting in the end of which was the Dacian alreadie at the extreamest of his rage thinking he had the worst of the fight so casting his shield at his backe and with his sword twixt both hands began to brandish it among them quicker then the Cyclopian Smithes doo their crooked hammers and as he could not misse them he gaue no blowe but fetcht blood In the selfe same Coyne doo they paie him for the thrée more fiercer then Alcydes assayled him so brauely that if he giues he receiues and in greater quantitie with equall quallitie Now skill and dexteritie preuailes not with him all he remits to blowes wherewith he rents cuts and in péeces shiuers their armor priuy coates and shields He would first dispatch Celio which most troubled him so getting from the two entered to him and in his assault with a downright blowe he cut away his shield with al his vanbrace and a great péece of his shoulder Scarce had he done it whē with a point he turned against the second thrusting thrée parts of his sword vnder his arme pit where had he put foorth his arme as he mought for euer had he there laine Vpon Larsinos waste he discharged his furie so fiercely that it was a wonder he had not in two diuided him The heauens preserued him to paie his iealousie although against the Dacian Prince he lost thereby In his very soule was Celio vext to sée with what rygor that one knight handled them that taking his sword strongly in his fist aymed aloft giuing Alcyno time to giue him a dangerous blow on the thigh for falling betwéene a ioynt it made him a wound outwards so great was the paine as he could not stand on that legge which the brothers perceiuing and assuring themselues the victory began to oppresse him so vehemently as they depriued him of breathing Eager herein séemed the third brother and would make some shewe of his valour but it rezulted to his deare cost For Don Eleno noting his intent gaue back as fearing the rest and so let the third enter who being within his reach with incredible force laide him on the head he cut away most of his Helme with a great péece of his head tumbling him at his féete helping him thereto with another no lesse strong The other two closed with him lamenting the successe He could not refuse the wrasle He entred thereto aduisedly first drawing foorth his dagger quickly they fell on the ground where they tumbled a good while It was aduantage for the Dacian to be so for stretching foorth his arme in that place where before Alcyno was wounded on the front there againe Don Eleno strooke him making him loose his hold with the pangs of death Then he turned on the first whom for his valour he had affected but at that instant forgetting it let flie at his brest a most cruell stabbe wherewith he ended the brauest aduenture euer in that kingdome knowne The noyse which the haughtie edefice made vanishing away was heard through all the Citie of Xantho To Cupids Throne was the Ladie conueyed in that manner as she witnessed her brothers deaths whom the God of loue thanked for her amorous act in giuing her selfe the mortall stroke of death only mooued through zealous
his life since you attribute to me what onely is due with such right to this Ladies beautie in whose deliuerance the ending of this aduenture was nothing Readie to burst with anger stood Lindauro séeing with what kindnesse Venus spake to that knight which made him suspect his ending the aduenture and what he had done in the place had mooued her to affection He could no longer indure it but called him saying Come sir Knight and relate vnto the King what befell you with the Louers for we shall all reioyce to heare it From the Ladies he went leauing the Persian with them betwéen whom they admitted him for which place Phoebus had exchanged his throne celestiall Venus while Don Eleno discoursed with the kings demaunded of him in this manner Sir knight quietly and without grudge if you will enioy so great a fauour as this you must tell vs your name raising your beauer and this small satisfaction shall satisfie so high a benefit The Persian replied I had ere this done it sacred Princesse without demaunde but I feared to displease thereby the knight in russet for although hée hath not knowne me I could not haue met with better hap then him in this countrie and if he bee here knowne I will declare my name else I beséech your excellencie do not commaund it me I onely am she of all this kingdome containes said Venus that knowes him and he not a little ioyed discouered himselfe to me and so without feare may you tell me yours for this Ladie and my selfe excepted none shall euer knowe it To satisfie your content excellent Ladie answered he I le no longer conceale it I am Bransiniano Prince of Babylon and Persia the greatest friend the Gréekes haue by reason my father was brought vp in company of the Emperour Alphebo and I in Claridianos in whose demaund I wander as this knight is his so neare kinsman I cannot but affect him and had I not this reason yet his valour bindes me to his loue and raising his vizor shewed his faire face saying Because you shall be assured diuine Ladies how much I desire your seruice I haue discouered all that of my selfe I can I do highly estéeme braue Prince replied Venus the account you haue giuen me of your stocke and because I will not long be your debtor for the same I will giue you newes of that Gréeke you séeke who in this Pallace is prisoner vnknowne to any what he is saue to the Prince of Dacia and me who shall at large acquaint you with the cause which is not lawfull any other should know and so I intreate your soueraigne beautie my deare Laissa to conceale it So eleuated in contemplations of her new amorous thoghts was the Lady that neither it nor what else was talked of did she marke for of none did euer loue with more power take possession willingly making her submit séeing how great a Prince he was She replied not to the purpose saying I greatly desire excellent Princesse that since your knight hath recounted to them their demaundes he doo it heere to vs. Venus knew not to what end shee so replied but being wittie quickly conceiued what might be the reason so dissembling it said There is no reason but we should bee satisfied herein So calling their Damzell Fausta sent her in their behalfe to Don Eleno But they could not end to giue her her charge by reason of a suddaine tumult that arose where the king was The Persian hearing it stood vp and closing his beuer taking leaue of the Ladies went towards the Dacian at what time somewhat mooued hee thus beganne Gladly most mightie king of Esclauonia would I haue deferde vntill some other occasion what I will now say because I would not disturbe this present ioy But so great is the necessitie I haue to depart that it forceth me to beseech thee in respect of the iustice thou haste alwaies maintained thou wouldest be pleased to giue me the prisoners whose libertie cost me so much blood and my companion much more whose words haue not suffered him to come with me although he requested me I should on his behalfe intreate so much of his Maiestie since as it séemed you rested content wee should about their discharge vndertake the battell Consider it well and answere me straight for I will immediately depart publishing the iniustice I haue in thy Court receiued through all the world Here he ended doing his dutie Well said the king he had reason but he was so subborned by the Prince Lindauro that to please him he chose rather to reiect it answering I know braue knight you haue reason to demaunde these prisoners but séeing they slew such great Princes whose kindred crying out for iustice forceth me to detaine them To this saide Lindaura your Maiestie doth wrong your royall Crowne and seat by so many waies and in so many respects to giue this knight so many satisfactions of what with great right and iustice is done These words so inraged the Dacian that hee was almost resolued to strike him but hee staied himselfe not willing to raise the whole Hall vppon him so hée replied It better would beséem thée Prince of Siconia to make known thy valour defending thy owne iustice with thy proper person by honourable meanes and not by so infamous a manner And that thou maist know what wrong is done me I here alone challenge the fight against two knights whom thou shalt appoynt about this matter or if thou wilt like a good knight accept my gage I defie thée person to person giuing thée aduantage for the combat that thou mayest sée and know my iustice I will combat on foote in armour without weapons as sword dagger and launce and thou shalt take the fielde and haue thy choise in armes So great was the aduantage that it was able to turne a tender Lambe vnto a fierce Lyon and not regarding his honour hee did accept it presently from which the king could not disswade him None in the Hall except the Babylonian Prince but iudged the knights challenge to procéed of meere madnesse Don Eleno as he had done nothing demaunded the battell to be straight first requiring the prisoners to be brought in field Who were straight aduertised thereof The Gréeke was nothing astonished thereat well knowing the fury of his vncle The prisoners surely guarded were conducted to a Scaffold of purpose made for such matters They gréeted one another as their affection did deserue with ioy hoping for the good successe of the battel For Pollidolpho knowing the Challenger doubted not of victory On foote did the Dacian enter the fielde without any weapon which the Prince of Persia carried and his page ledde his horse to giue it The Combat ended with a leape did the furious gallant take the Lists compassing it about with such quicke paces as he were mounted Then stood he still gladly gazing how the Citie did vnpeople it selfe to sée the Combat The Ladies
you would easily forget whom you left in prison that I thought best to get company to séek you abroad if you ouerlong should tarry and with my owne hands take my reuenge which should not be litle rigorous Had I bene happie diuine Ladies said the Prince as to haue knowne this resolution to féele the pleasure that wounds giuen by those your sacred hands doo yéeld I would not haue so soone returned But yet knowing the falling into any forgetfulnesse in you seruice how litle soeuer was paine intollerable inforced me so soone to hasten my comming to be resolued of your will the which those Princes nor my selfe wil in nothing contradict I loue so truly to kéepe my word inuiolate heroicke Prince of Grecia answered the Ladie that I know not what more to say sauing this I doo altogither submit my fortunes to your order which during life I wil obserue assured that such a knight wil respect my poore immaculated honour the which although in some respect I doo repugne yet to frustrate my intended marriage I wil venture my person in any peril you shal vndergo therefore in this there is no more to doo but plot it as you thinke best for that is our determination And since the Gods haue in all things made you so absolute doo not gréeue if I take this Ladie in my company For shée will in no case remaine any longer in my Fathers Court whilest I absent my selfe In charge had I that you last spake of saide the Prince from my Lord and Vncle the Prince of Dacia but séeing she is pleased with what we al desired let vs no longer procrastinate our iourney making all things readie for the same two daies hence in which time you may send to our lodging those things you shall bee best pleased to take with you Be it as you haue said soueraigne Prince said Venus for hauing in our defence the mightie Alphebos sonne it is nothing wee haue vndertaken were it farre harder Occasion they had to demaund for the Persian which being not omitted things passed so plainly that the Gréeke reioyced to sée his friend so well imployed Any ones good would glad him though hée himselfe did want it He tooke his leaue of the Ladies with a thousand imbracements that had not Archisilora gouerned his soule and the reason of his thoughts it were no wonder had he stood a while ponderating the content thereof but he with one ordinarie courtesie in liew of so many fauours left them of themselues iealous with feare of that they should do although their comfort was that such Princes had vndertooke their safetie They straight beganne to order the preparations for their iourney from Xantho While the valourous Gréeke returned to the Princes that receiued him with excéeding ioy relating to them all their conference with the Ladies resolution which not a little contented them and moreouer said And I haue newe commends to the haughtie Bransiniano Prince of Persia for the Ladies demaunded for none but him and I am glad in my heart to knowe how matters passe and in faith I had not thought the Dacian Lord to bee so warie Valiant Gréeke said Don Eleno knowe that in matters of Loue the greatest concealement is greatest fire for nothing contents Cupid more then to sée how by the sole motion of the eyes two agres concluding more with the sight then others in an age in present daily continual discourses For nothing better blazoneth the soules newes then the eyes and if they so could no maruell they be agréed and greater matters can Loue so effect So with great content did they all expect the second day to take the Ladies from the Pallace for the men they sent for were by that come to the place appoynted The next day Fausta sent thrée or foure of the Ladies chests and the one and the others awaited the darknesse of the approaching night wherin befell them what the next following Chapter doth resite CHAP. VII How the Princes conueyed the Ladies out of the Pallace The battell they had about them with the Kings Knights and what more happened ALreadie had the starrie canabey of heauen darkened the earth with clowdie blacke obscuritie when the foure mightie valiant warriours clad all in rich and strong abilements of warre accompanied with the two fierce gyants and twentie knights leauing the rest to guard the Ladies Coffers and to aduertise the armie of their approach arriued closely at the Garden gate and making the accustomed signe Fausta with more courage opened where they found the Ladies so amazed with feare that they had no power to vtter one word It was no time for ceremonies so Claridiano taking Venus in his armes carried her out of the garden and deliuering her to the Prince of Croatia said Receiue this gift sir knight for by doing it I can-cel the bonds of my ingaged word He could not answer being ouercloied with ioy nor yet could she do otherwise He returned like the winde for Laissa that more courage had then the other hauing indured many perils and gaue her to the Prince of Persia whose gladnesse did excéed the greatest in the world He forgot not Palisandro for almost he plainly conceiued what happened in the Tower so deliuering Fausta vnto him spake Since thou canst so well dissemble thou deseruest to haue her in kéeping The Damzell was wittie and so replied I would not sir knight that after you haue played your owne parts you should thus ill rewarde me The want of power to care for so many kinde Fausta hath forced mee to commit you to his guarding that knows what torments do possesse me Therevppon Don Elenos Dwarffe stept in with these words I faith Prince of Grecia if you vse to pay all your Squires in this manner it will make mee rebell against Don Eleno my Lord for he liuing secure remembers not vs that be so destitute of fauours The Dacian made answere The not knowing thy minde friend Lesbio was cause I procured not thy remedie but now I knowe thy will I will ere long satisfie thy content With many iestes at length they arriued at their armie where after they rested the Gréeke would discharge his soule of part of her cares wedding the beautious Venus to the gallant Pollidolpho with such content of all the hoste that feared they not to be heard had exprest it with applauding shouts Here me thinkes said Eleno all the world flies from farther toyle which being so I will also do it by leauing the protection of this soueraigne Ladie so bestowing her to the Persian he saide To you sir Knight must I deliuer her being destitute of strength to guard her So well did Venus plead knowing how the Persian was affected that foorthwith they were both espowsed to their admirable ioy Content in pleasant chat were these Princes and also beeing night it was not much if they enioyed any secret ioyes I knowe not but to increase their pleasure the sencelesse trées were
in scorning her shall most intierly loue him And if any there be that wil most truly verifie my doubt it wil be the sonne of that most cruel Garrofilea For what could procéed from so cruel a mother but so cruel a sonne to reiect the constantest faith that any age ere knew Let it not so gréeue you bewteous Floraliza said the Quéene that the knight of the Braunch doo wander in absence of your presence so we distrust not of his loue And you doo not well to condemne him of ingratitude for I le pawne my word vnto you vowing by my high thoughts to procure with all my power your chéefest ioy for it were iniustice another should call him hers you being alone in the world that deserue him This liberall promise was some comfort to Floraliza as thinking that in her company she should not méete with any inconuenience although she perswaded her selfe she should not hope euer to be by him beloued In pleasant discourses of Loue and Armes they past away their else ouer tedious voyage vntil the fiftéene day of their Nauigation that they arriued at the fruitful land of Tinacria where what aduentures there befel them another Chapter shall relate CHAP. IX The aduentures that happened vnto the two Ladies in Tynacria with certaine Gyants that had by stealth imprisoned the Queene Garrofilia and her bewteous daughter Rosaluyra GLad in their glittering rich abillements of warre landed the two warrelike Ladies bringing on shoare the Quéenes Horse which she offered to Floraliza that would not take it but would goe a foote which made Archifilora doo the like with maiesticke pace leading her Courser by the bridle Along a broade and beaten pathe trauelled both these Princes of bewtie and Bellonas in valour They had not gone scarce a mile when they espied thrée knights of gallant disposition and well mounted comming the same way a crosse the same lane issued an other then whom the Ladies had not séene many of more liberal and brauer carriage his deuice and armes were discribed at the Tryumphes in Constantinople for this was Don Clarisel of Assyria Floralizas great Louer Well did the Lady know him and although the faith he shewed her could no whit withdraw her affection from the Tynacrian Neuerthelesse it pleased her to giue him that content that Ladies vse to yéeld in pleasant chat reseruing the best for their soules beloued She tolde the Quéene how shee knewe that Knight but it behooued her to bee then concealed for that she told her At length they all met and none of them but incessantly gazed on both the Ladies None of the thrée Knights were so courteous as the Assyrian Prince and so the one said It were some case Sir knights for one to ride while the other went on foot and so by turnes to vse your horse Because we will not trouble our selues answered Floraliza to mount and dismount so often we haue chosen thus to trauell togither vntill by some good chance we get an other horse This countrey doth yéeld so fewe said he Sir knight that I feare it will be very hard to get one Notwithstāding I had rather haue my hopes replied the lady thē thy vnciuill answere whereto the knight said What comming on foot and with such little shew of valour dare you make comparatiues with my words which were you better mounted then I am I would not suffer especially comming as you doo There is no fault said the Lady but may bee found in a discourteous knight and therefore hauing committed this there is no doubt but you haue all the rest yet if you will try your much strength with mine I am content to doo it conditionally that he which shall forgoe his saddle loose his horse and armour Had you a horse said the knight I would not much care to doo it were it but to disburthen you of your armed loade which now in hotte weather will be surely troublesome Let not that gréeue you said shee for my companion will lend me his horse and be content to loose him if you ouerthrowe me Eare he could answere with such grace she leapt into the saddle that the Quéen and Prince were amazed and brandishing her Lance she went towards the knight saying Go too discourteous knight now is the time to trie whether of the two can better kéepe his armor Forced through the challenge hée had made and the presence of his companions he turned about his great horse which was the last he did in all his life For meeting although the Ladie receiued a strong incounter hers was such that making three parts of the lance appeare at his backe at one instant he lost horse armour and life No longer stayed the other two séeing their friend slaine but ranne against the Ladie no more stirring her then if they had run against a rocke The Quéen was abashed seeing how basely the Knights behaued themselues so drawing foorth her good sword at two steps shee was where Floraliza stood with Camillas in her hand The Quéen entred sidelong with her sword aloft which valiantly discharging on the Knights helm she strooke him from his horse and with another on the ground ended his life which done quickly mounted his horse confounding the Assyrian with admiration who turning about sawe the Ladie beate the other Knight vnto the earth with a most pitteous wound whose paine ere it left him left him lifelesse The Quéene went to her and laughing said In faith sir Knight wee haue now horses for Pages had we brought any if they were on foote wanting armour here we want no choise A greater punishment then this said Floraliza deserued their discourtesie and turning to the Assyrian thus spake Haue you any néed sir Knight of our helpes for since we haue got horses a little haste else calles vs away By the voyce he séemed to know her whose figure he had impressed in his heart and so in some amazement did replie Not at this time sir Knight more then comming in time that I might enioy the sight of your high déed I would not loose the conceiued content of gazing on them especially being atchiued by whom deserues the honour of euery victorie So fearing the Prince had knowne or that by longer conuersation she might be discouered she tooke leaue of him and with the Quéene entred into a thicket adioyning to rest not of the battell toyle but of the seas wearinesse They allighted letting their horses féed on the grasse where shee recounted who Don Clarisell was and how sincerely he published himselfe to bee her Louer and how vnknowne to either they were brought vp in one wood She did recite the aduentures with such passion that the Quéene verily he should certainly marry her In many diuers matters did the two Ladies chat away the afternoone leauing vntil the next day their approach vnto the great and famous Citie of Tynacria where so many aduentures happened vnto the mightie Emperour Trebatio It greatly pleased Floraliza to
tread on the soyle of her deare knight hartily beséeching the immortal Gods to graunt her no other end of her desires then her faith deserued wherwith she sought him for she neuer imagined any thing but what increased loue to loue him and with vnfained constancy harbouring his affaires in the midst or her heart transferring them from thence vnto the soule to giue them there a place more quiet frée from the worlds perturbations and fortunes assaulting stormes and where she might better contemplate her happinesse being the Tynacrians Maisters They scruple of that litle they had from the Barke brought with more content in being there pursuing their Louers then were they in Constantinople féeding on the daintiest cates of the Emperors Court. Hauing done they a while discoursed of their knights thinking that time lost wherein they did not remember them The houre of rest being come the tender Ladies made their blanckets of their beds the earth and for pillowes tooke their Helmes and not without some teares to sée themselues in that manner and vncertaine whether their toyle would auaile them She that slept least not for louing most but fearing her affections zeale would not bee accepted was the Emperour Alicandros Néece that about midnight vnclasping the booke of her secret thoughts she found it so full of amorous arguments grounded on deare experience that it caused in her a newe griefe which tormenting her with some extraordinary passion to giue it passage she sat her vnder a loftie Pyne where supposing the Quéene of Lyra was not awake she began with more melodious harmony then his that descended into the vawtes of hell among those blacke inhabitants to fetch his deare wife to sing these verses Once I thought but falsly thought Cupid all delight had brought And that Loue had been a treasure And a Pallace full of pleasure Bur alas too soone I proue Nothing is so sower as Loue. That for sorrow my Muse sings Loue 's a Bee and Bees haue stings When I thought I had obtained That deare sollace which if gained Should haue caus'd all Ioy to spring View'd I found it no such thing But in steed of sweete desires Found a Rose hem'd in with Bryers That for sorrow my Muse sings Loue 's a Bee and Bees haue stings Wonted pleasant life adew Loue hath chaung'd thee for a new New indeed and sowre I proue it Yet I cannot chuse but loue it And as if it were delight I pursue it day and night That with sorrow my Muse sings I loue Bees though Bees haue stings With many Millions of sighs she ended The swéete melodie awaked the faire Archisilora ioying to sée her so firme a Louer Long did they not continue thus by reason that from the farthest side of the thicket they heard the trampling of many horses and now then the cries of outraged Ladies by violence opprest A little thing was inough to moue them being naturally bold togither they rose bridled their horses and swifter then the wind they spurd after the noyse In such haste went they that though they quickly got into the high way yet could they not know the cause They durst not sunder themselues for feare of loosing but rather referring their affaires to Fortunes dispose they followed along that way which was most beaten with horses hoofes Two myles they gallopt not finding what they desired til with the mornings suns vprise in a large faire plain they descried some 40. knights and 3. Gyants that guarded a waggon drawne with 4. horses Assured to haue found what they sought they let goe their Coursers reignes with more fiercenesse then Mars himself Neuer was such boldnes séen for the knights were mightie and for the enterprise chosen and the Giants euery one an Hercules Neuertheles the royall Ladies nothing doubting the fearful assault with their swords in hand entred among those knights as the hungry Lyon enters a heard of harmelesse shéep to séek his praie Against the Ladies strength their aduersaries stéele doubled shéelds nor fine tempored armor was no defence for their valor and puissance was infinit and the desire they had to frée the prisoners made them with more force floorish their swords among them Ere they were aware eight of their fellowes were slaine and the rest strooke the Ladies with many encounters but their Armor was such as they suffered no impression So the furie of their Launces being past Oh Archysilora who would not admire thée séeing thée raised on thy styrrops the shéelde at thy backe and with thy sword betwixt both thy hands range among those knights giuing no blowe but was deadly or deadly woūding At her héeles followed the Sythian Matrone that no lesse then she made her selfe feared with Camillas blade whose edge euen to the bone pierced their armor It séemed they both striued to excéed the other in déeds almost impossible in humane sight Abashed were the Gyants togither with a bigge Knight that was Lord of them all to sée how two knights hazarded their pryze with so much labour obtained to be rid of them two Gyants with croes of Iron made towards them crying to their knights Away away you cowards for shame blush to sée two Knights thus vsed Neuer were they by them obeyed more willingly then then for with the word they withheld their swords accounting that cōmand their liues which fighting with the two they aduentured on the dyce The two mightie Gyants on their styrrops stretcht themselues and shaking their armes threw the croes more fiercer then were they hurried from a Cannons mouth Carfully did the two Ladies séeing how it concerned them expectit that spurring their horses gaue way vnto the Iauelings and ioyning so neare their Maisters that ere they drew their Comitors they made them féele the waight of their armes So eager was Meridians daughters assault that she lost the strength of her blowe yet was it such that falling on his Beuer it dazelled his sight and wounded him at large on the fronte from whence the bloud issuing and dropping in his eyes blinded him to the Ladies great aduantage Forward she past swifter then lightning and with the same she turned at such time that the Gyant did so as furious as a bayted Bull with his Fawchon raysed against her that he wounded him and at once on either discharged the furie of their weapons A thousand starres saw the Lady within her rich helme but the Giants was filled with blood for the thin edged sword on the head woūded him dangerously This while was not the Quéene idle for in her assault she had brauely done he part and being longer winded and more vsed to the warre then Floraliza with Mars his strength she laid him on the side of his helme disarming all that part and on the head gaue him a mightie wound cutting away a péece of the skull and the blade discending downe the shoulder with like furie as the roaring waters runne through a lockt riuer it strooke away all his
He inquired of the Damzell the cause why with such spéede shee hasted his departure For none other sir knight replied the Damzell but to see one of the fairest Ladies in the greatest daunger in the world and knowing that onely in your presence rests her remedie and in the least delay the greatest death that euer befell to any is sure on her For know most valiant Knight that in the kingdome of Tentoria there is a Lady no lesse beautifull then adorned with all good quallities and graces of the minde Shee was and is beloued of all her subiects because they know that chastitie beautie holds in her one equall degrée of soueraigntie Through the onely fame of her perfections with her the mightie Dardario fell in loue who was said to be the valiantest Gyant in the vniuerse Hee with a puissant hoast came vnto her land though peaceably with him hee brought a sonne vnknighted for his yeares did not allow it who became farre mightier then his father He sent his Ambassadors to our Quéene to let her know of his comming and demaund which was to marrie her A thousand times was my Lady about to stay her selfe to auoyde a match so vnequall She called a Councell of her Nobilitie who resolued to withstand him with fierce warre by reason there were many valiant knights that would loose their liues to defend their Quéen and countries safetie for although they sawe the Gyant come with signes of peace yet doubttng the woorst had gathered a great armie of men because they would not be suddainly surprised There were many voyces among them that the Quéen should marrie him being Lord of al the Isles in the Adriaticke Sea But in the ende most part agréed they should rather die with honour in fielde then for feare suffer such a marriage Eight daies respite had the Gyants giuen them for their aunswere In which time the beauteous Syrinda commending her affaires vnto the Gods and her wit she resolued on the greatest déed that euer Ladie did imagine Shee acquainted it with her Captaines and Councell of warre which are the shiefest Lords in her land and this it was That she would séeme to consent to his desire and that she durst vndertake in the night of her wedding day to giue the Gyants head vnto her Knights who should be in readinesse to issue vpon their enemies whose vanquishment would be easie being with the Feasts carelesse and vnarmed Almost all the Councell approoued my Ladies deuise and praying the immortall Gods to giue her good successe therein they aduertised the Gyants thereof that with extreame ioy was almost besides himselfe All his subiects laying by their armes with gallant shewes welcommed her answere Two daies after the proude Dardaria entred the Cittie with his soonne Abstrusio whom hee begot on a strong Gyantesse and so issued like his Parents He onely carried his bigge Cemitor at his side accōpanied with two Knights richly adorned and himself in robes of inestimable valor with a triple crowne on his head woorth a kingdome with Princely brauerie was he entertained by the dissembling Syrinda whom the fierce pagan imbraced with the greatest content in the world thinking himselfe in heauen séeing the Ladies excéeding beautie who with a thousand fained loue toyes inueigled the disarmed Gyant The desired night being come which was eternall to the Pagan and supper ended hee was most sumptuously brought to his bedde where the Lady faining some modest shame to be séene naked so long deferred her going to bedde that the force of the many meates and wine forced him into a sound sléepe Hee neuer more awaked for the Lady seeing her aduantage drew foorth a sharpe two edged Dagger which she thrice stabbed in his brutish breast pearcing his heart therewith Now that the couragious Dame was assured of his death she brauely cut off his head and presently gaue it to those knights shée had appoynted to expect it They tooke it extreamely ouerioyed and conueyed the Quéene and Ladies out of the Pallace for feare of some danger that might happen the next day With great desire they expected his comming whereon scarce had the Sunne sent foorth his messengers of morne when an alarme was sounded through all the Citie they of the Campe without thinking it was in honour of the Nuptialls replyed with all their millitary Instruments In an instant were aboue fiftie thousand men Armed whereof fiue thousand assaulted the Pallace leauing none aliue that with Dardario came except his haughtie sonne that hearing the noyse ranne foorth with one of the bedde postes making such pittiful slaughter that none durst assault him He got some weapons of those that were slaine wherewith his déeds are incredible But being alone and by so many thousands assaulted his death was certaine which the sturdie youth perceiuing got vnto the Camp where being come he found it so disordered and so many sayle and the rest so affrighted that he could scant méete with any that might tell him the cause of so great euil in the ende hee came to knowe it with such great griefe as he was about to kil himselfe his fathers Armour he put on and the first he met guirded him his sword The fury that possest the youth when he sawe his fathers head pearched on a pole vppon the highest Turret of the Citie cannot most valiant Knight be credited Hée went foorth into the fielde roaring like a Bull and killing without mercy but his force was to small purpose for all his Army was discomfited and the Quéenes subiects behaued themselues so well that ere the day was halfe spent they had put the better thrée parts of their foes to the sword and gaue chase to the rest euen to their shippes wherein sore wounded as many as could imbarke themselues and among them the mightie Abstrutio purposing with newe powers to returne and with fire and sword to destroy our kingdome In his he arriued where his intent he presently put in execution not without griefe to sée that of fortie thousande men his father had carried with him he had returned backe againe scarce fiue thousand The Paganne spoyles left all our lande excéeding rich and our Quéene with the greatest Honour that euer Lady obtained Notwithstanding the great tryumphes made for so happie victorie yet would they not liue carelesse of their safetie but euery day mustred trained their souldiers and strengthning all their garrisons with the best men in the land because they would not loose what was obtained for want of diissipline béeing assured the sonne would come to reuenge the fathers death whose body was cast out for foode vnto the byrdes and beasts But now Magnanimious Knight returning to our purpose the murthered Gyant had in his owne Pallace my Ladies liuely counterfeite which he had caused to be made when hee first became enamoured of her This being left at home came to his sonnes hands which daily frequenting and the helpe of his tender yeares with continuall consideration
assured you will do no otherwise and this night will I send you horse and Armor whose sight will content you In the meane time hyde your selfe amongst these Pynes for hauing lost our selues it cannot bee but our Guard will seeke vs out The Gréeke now had no more will but to fulfill the Ladies and so taking his leaue of the young childe already olde in loue he thrust himself into the the thickest thereof Without a thousand embracements she had not sent him feared she not to be too much noted of wātonnesse yet with her eyes she exprest her hearts desire They are soueraign dames the tonguelesse messengers that best make knowne the paine and pleasure of the soules Better signes of like or dislike is there not then the motion of those spéechlesse speakers As one rapt in a dustie blacke clowde so séemed Eufronisa in absence of her sonne Ay me my Selia said the amorous Ladie what in auspicious lucke crosses my tendernesse to affect the knight that hath alreadie another granted the possession of his soule Who can loue him knowing hee affects another wherewith the heauens haue adorned mee and yet not made me proude for if he loues another how shall I loue him being sure that for my sight hee will not violate the promise of his sacrificed faith and yet who will not dote on him What inconueniences can restraine me from his loue what infamie what dishonour or what staine of maidens fame may befall me but my soule will regardlesse trample on so with equall loue her paines might be rewarded Why I doo not feare the foolish rude reports of common multitudes when they shall ioyne their mouthes to fames shrill trumpe far and neare to sound my shame when this my folly shall bee noysed abroad I will loue and dote on him and yet I do beléeue that doing so I do not sufficiently answere the merits of his valour nor noble carriage of his minde And though it be a torment intollerable to knowe another is inshrined in his brest I cannot refuse the diuine appoyntment nor what heerein my haplesse fates ordaine for otherwise none more happie then I in loue and I cannot beléeue he is as hee hath said to bee for these that haue the power to bee beloued of euerie one doo neuer disclose their true names countrie and estates wherefore wee must by all meanes procure to learne his certaine name for beeing intreated thereto I do not doubt but he will That he is easie to be knowne answered the damozell hauing him in our lodging for if he be in loue as he séemed to be being alone hee will publish it and perchance more then we now wish for intire loue cannot be husht in secret and euery one too much bragges of this blind opinion as to account the greatest comfort to participate the inward thoughts to stones to wals to groues to fields and windes Ay me my Selia by experience thou doest shew to haue ben in loue said Eufronisa who can discourse of seas of rockes of shallowes and of tempests but such as haue nauigated scapt and past them What is hée that feares his enemie that hath not béene wounded at his hands If this bee so and thou so skilfull I will repose the trust of this my businesse on thy discretion and experience Had it béene for nothing but to helpe you in this tempest soueraigne Ladie answered Selia I account the time well bestowed I spent in Loues toyes letting my soule confesse with content anothers superioritie I am well acquainted with Loues deuises and his allurements I know where he is resisted there enuiously hee striues to subiugate new forces causing afterwards greater paines for refusing his deitie and denying his prerogatiue ouer all the world as hee that can onely giue life or death with ioy Why then my deare Selia said the Princesse it is likely he wil not so cruelly tyrannize ouer me that willingly admitted the heauie yoake of his slauerie as he vseth against them that leuied armes and warre against his power Selia answered To demaund no condition of this God is best for gouerning absolutely by himselfe doth not being blinde consider the gréeuous paines the soule indures and many times with a little rests hee more content in the end hee is but a childe then if a thousand hearts were sacrificed to appease his wrath They could procéed no further in their sweet chat for many knights came to them that carefully did séeke them fearing some disgrace had befallen them They were glad whē they met them so altogither returned to the Cittie for the Princesse would no longer stay hauing alreadie foode to nourish her conceits The night beeing come they bound the armour in a bundle and the Ladie sent to a kinsman of hers whom shee trusted to make readie the best horse within the Cittie He did it desiring to do her seruice which when she knew making him sweare to keepe her counsell she bad him go with Selia for she had promised a knight to furnish him to prooue the Louers tent So leauing her they arriued in good time at the fountaine where they found the Gréeke ouerwhelmed in imaginations expecting the Ladies commaund After courtesies past on either side Selia said The Ladie sir Knight that met you here this day sendes you this armour and horse for seeing you promised her to prooue the aduenture of the Louers tent in her name shee thought good to furnish you with necessaries therefore Whereto the Gréeke replied Faire damzell you may tell that Ladie that with such a fauour a harder enterprise is assured They would not talke of other matters because of the olde mans presence more then to giue him direction for his way and therevpon departed leauing the Prince expecting the comming of the next morne wherein faire Ladies there befell him what you shall heare CHAP. XIIII What happened to the Prince Rosabell going to the Cittie to prooue the aduenture of the Louers Pauilion VNable to conceiue the cause why that beauteous Princesse should shewe him such kindnesse laye Rosiclers braue sonne vppon the grasse passing away the night in that thicket looking for the desired morne meane while taking some rest Two houres before it did appeare he awaked with the remembrance of his lost Ladie recording with what rigor fortune had crost his ioyes iudging his shipwracke was not yet an end vnto his troubles thinking that yet the blinde Goddesse was not content with his tried patience He hartily wished to know new meanes to indure such excessiue torments as he daily suffered This imagination so opprest him that to ease with passage his burthening passions he beganne to plaine him to the trées that with their stirring noyse mooued by the gentle blasts of Zephyrus séemed to pittie his laments breathed against her whose mutabilities are the plagues and scourges of mortall men They were not vttered with such silence but might bee heard by Astorildo Prince of Callidonia brother to the beauteous Rosamond that
Princes I heard of the famous knight and bewtious Ladyes of your Court. With some better hope I turned hither which I trust will not be frustrated considering the worthies here assembled of eyther kinde So I humblie beseech your Maiestie commaund your knights vnto the proofe for no small honour shall hee win that ends it There were so many desirous of it as they expected but the kings commaund among them were two of the kings Coozens both louers and reputed valiant Many proouing the entrance and loosing it made shew of their valour attributing their losse not to it but to their happinesse in loue and so returned with great comfort thinking they had obtained much thereby The Prince of Laronia a young knight but a notable louer prepared himselfe who drawing forth his sword made against the two competitors beginning a well sought combat but after a while he retyred backe vnable to endure his enemies strong blowes No longer stayed the kings two Coozens but one after an other made knowne their valour vnto the beholders yet in the end were forced to withdraw More couragious warriors had not the King séene then those of the Tent who in lesse then two houres had ouercome aboue fiftie knights besides the strangers the chiefest of the land Onely now were left the mightie Gréeke and Astorildo who taking his leaue of the Gréeke with whom he would not haue no longer quarels drew forth his sword and marched towards the Tent. The Prince was most skilfull in fence and so marked the maner how they kept the doore where carefully fixing his eyes flourishing aloft let flie 2. blows one after an other They of the Tent stept out toward them which was to their euill for he in despite of them woon the entrance whereat so many warlike instruments were heard as if some generall fielde were to be fought All the Hall did verily iudge he would win it for being within his déeds were incredible so be labouring the Louers as were he a little vnfortune Galtenor doubtlesse he had saued Rosabell a labour For one of the Princes being the beloued going to wound him below the shield Astorildo auoiding it ran at him with so strong a thrust that hee tūbled him bacwards vpon the steps that ascended to the Lady Being rid of him he might execute a blowe vpon the others helme it was with such force as hee was forced to set his knées vppon the ground run to ouerthrow him he would which was the losse of his battell for the other abashed at his hap stept thither and with both his hands laid on Astorildos helme which made him stagger like to fall An other seconded the Competitor with no lesse might then that which made him set both hands and knées on the earth They cast theyr armes about him and though he a while delayed his vanquishment in the end he was thrust out winning more honor then any had before him Now was none left but Lyrianas Princely Louer who rising from his seate with excellent Maiestie drew forth that worthie sworde that once belonged to the mightiest and greatest enemie the Gréekes had There was none but with admiration gazed on the Brytaine for his gallant carriage assured the victorie More eyes then Argos had wished the Lady to cote all his perfections for she loued him dearer then her life With furious pacing went the Gréeke towards the Pauillion whence was heard what neuer was before for the signall as to a battell of seuerall armies was sounded with many shoutes and clamors that it drowned euery ones hearing Which being past with more warlike aspect the two Competitors awaighted their aduersaries comming with their swords aloft they expected him that with his accustomed courage went neare them at once they discharged 2. mightie blowes yet bigger they must be to hinder him the entrance for with a leap ere they could again raise their swords he ran in betwéen them and méeting with the vnbeloued with his shoulders thrust him frō him fiercer then a bullet shot from a musket With a thrust wold the fauorit wound him which the Gréek being skilfuller then he nimbly auoided and discharged his furie on his helme The enchauntment is vnable to resist the sharpe edge of Hectors blade for it cut all the top wounding him a little on the head Before he could settle himselfe hee turned vpon the other giuing him a puissant blowe on the shield All that his sword reached it cast to the ground leauing his arme with such extream paine as he could scarce stir it Excéedingly praised in the Hall was the valour of the knight of the Flowers New baites for Eufronisa that gaue eare to them with more affection then Venus when she met Adonis going to hunt Yet now hath she no more to giue him hauing done it all afore saue constancie doth shee procure to maintaine wishing him a happie victorie which was to some effect for the Competitors came onely to fight and thereto do animate themseleus but he that was borne in armour will not be daunted with feare bestowing neuer a blowe on the Louers but makes them with hands and knées kisse the earth None doubts the victorie generally giuing it to the Gréeke that like a Lyon fought betwéene the Competitors The vnbeloued thrust at him strongly with his sword thinking to haue runne him thorow so much he made him giue backe he seconded an other which was trebled with a cruell stroke vpon his head by the Fauoured Something they amazed him and doubling their blowes againe made him set one knée on the groūd Hold on him to wrastle would Belisas Louer haue taken but Rosabell refused it giuing on his head so mightie a blowe as sencelesse at his féete he cast him Swifter doth not an Eagle take her flight then hée turned vpon the vnbeloued and twixt his armes he raised him aloft and breathlesse threw him to the earth A greater noise did not Illiums tower make when it fell then was heard at the Louers fall Ouercast was the Pauillion a while with a thicke fogge which being past it appeared as before sauing that the knights lay at the Ladies féete that then séemed fayrer hauing an other Crowne on her head besides that she held in her hands With the sound of heauenly musick there also appeared the aduēture of Hope which Don Eleno discouered at Esclauonia and at the Ladies right hand an old man that was iudged to be Nycostrato So soone as the knights were vanquished the auncient knight said to Rosabell Most valiant knight you may highly thinke of your selfe hauing to your immortall glory ended what in so many yeares could neuer bee attained Now remaines that the Ladies you leade by you do prooue the aduenture of the Crownes and I hope also here to see it terminated Euery one in the hall gréeted the knight of the Flowers with much ioy neither exprest nor thought may that be which Eufronisa did receiue séeing what her knight with such honour had
obtained calling her selfe a thousand times happie for placing her affection on him The proofe of the Crownes was begun by the ladies with some feare which notwithstanding was lessened by the Knights company One of the Kings Nieces a Lady of rare bewtie taking the Knight by the hand said I would be sorie Sir Knight that through my company you shuld loose what euery one knoweth your valour doth deserue That is it I feare faire Lady that my vnfortunate hap may debarre me from the honour your bewtie had assured Which being not so great as Belisas made her returne without the Crownes but with more glorie then any other had got hauing ascended to the highest step where the Lady sate Euery one prooued yet got little by it I beléeue Sir Knight said the olde man you haue attained a troublesome office by vanquishing the two amorous Knights It is a pleasure replyed the Prince being in seruice of Ladies Now onely remained Eufronisa fearing she should not obtaine the victorie iudging the enchaunted Princesse to be fayrer yet euery one was of contrary opinion although the Arabian was very faire but being so neare him she had impressed in her soule added bewtie to her bewtie that when she came to the tents doore she séemed Angelicall She was not able nor could shee there otherwise fauour her gallant then to wring him by the hand that if Lyriana had not bene possest of his heart it had bene no woonder if she there had made him her prisoner With a most solemne consort of melodious harmonie were the two different Louers receiued Hauing entered the Pauillion many Nymphes strewed all their way with swéete odorious flowers of whose pleasant smell all the hall participated With more ioy did she mount the staires theÌ„ the Carthage Dydo entred the Caue where she found her deare Aeneus till she came vnto the top where the princesse Belisa rising welcommed her and taking off her Crowne from her head set it vpon Eufronisas saying This receiue most excellent Princesse as a token I acknowledge the soueraigntie of your bewtie ouer mine And in assurance of the excéeding loue I must beare you and the extreame paine you shall endure take this at my hands which if you put on when most you shall dispaire of comfort this shall giue it you though short and after paine till death But what thereby shall ensue shall for aye content you And you most glorious knight though Fortune hath hitherto most cruelly persecuted you haue courage against her chaunges for you shall not return to Greece without the thing your soule most loues The Lady had no sooner ended what shee would say when on a sudden the Pauillion vanished onely leauing the beloued Prince in all his iudgement with the Lady A sentence was proclaimed wherby was gathered that the vnbeloued Lord in recompence of his saith so ill repayed went to accompany amorous Celio in the Castle of Hope Euery one reioyced therat for his loue to Belisa merited some reward Who was most courteously entertained by the King with her beloued Prince excéeding ioyfull to be at libertie in company of his Lady that assured his happinesse with a kinde looke The Ladies intreated the Gréeke to vnloose his helme he refused it till Eufronisa with a wincke did bid him He obeyed which more allured the Lady his bewtie increased as much admiration as his valour for being heated by the battel it was the greater Some there was that said it equalled the Ladies and hauing as yet no beard and being like his mother no maruell if it were so compared making the Ladies enuious of his graces Among them he sate him downe with the greatest content he euer receiued excepting that his Lady gaue him when she receiued him as her husband although hee lost her at the instant There discoursed he with them some demanding who he was others whether he was in loue and others where his Lady was With such wit and discretion he answered them al as he greatly gained theyr good willes With her eyes did Eufronisa speake to him till the nights approch made him take his leaue of the king whose importunities could not make him stay Softly did the Lady remember him of his promise of Belisa and her Louer he craued leaue leauing them much bound vnto him he demanded of the knight of the Griffon whether he wold stay there or no for he could do no otherwise but depart So far in loue was Astorildo that he answered Sir knight in my soule I would be glad of your company gréeuing that I euer crost you in your words but at this time I am forced for a while to abide in this countrey vntill I bee aduertised the contrary from mine and if in any thing my person or what I haue may do you seruice bee assured I will performe it with my life The Gréeke gratefully accepting his offer departed out of the Pallace and on his lustie Courser went out of the citie minding being more darker to returne and kéepe his promise How he accomplished it the next at large relateth CHAP. XVI How the Prince Rosabell returned to the citie and what befell him with the Princesse Eufronisa WHere I haue hitherto implored the fauour of your desired aid most faire and only worthy to be most faire Ladies to prosecute this storie to record of your fames the imaginary grant thereof hauing brought me to this stay doubts his sufficiencie farther to procéed vnlesse it be anew allowed and sealed with a pardon which for your owne sakes gentlenesse and pittie I hope for my selfe I shall obtaine being but the interpreter of my Authors offence committed by the Gréeke against your search although it was done by him constrained by her to asswage the burning fire of Eufronisas loue and to remooue the desperate violent passions of the same Whose reading oh thinke then how you haue pardoned me craueth such extenuation as patiently you will not denie for his returne will offend your bewties violating plyted faith to Lyriana by which iniurie your worthes cannot but receiue some detriment And so comming to the place appointed him by Selia he left his horse among the trées to féede alone maisterlesse although he was not long without one for being so good hee did not little estéeme him that tooke him thence But Rosabell went straight vnto the ladies garden and knocking at the doore Selia opened it saying Now are you worthy greater estimation knight of the Flowers thâ—â— you wold so willingly come and obserue your word which I may attribute to your sufficient vertues Farre vnworthy of fauour were hee faire damozell that would not know what happinesse by doing it is obtained Why thou come with me said she for I le commit you to better hands then mine and since you haue this day displeased me proouing of the Crownes do not maruel if I should put you in such a prison as Iupiter would not leaue the Empire of the heauens to liue in it Any
thy helpe and for this requested thy good will But for all I am denied all I wil till death persist in this my pure loue and hope for no remedie euermore cōplaining alike of my self as of thy most inhumane barbarous cueltie And therwith flung out of the chāber bathing her chéekes in water of her eyes Shee sent him by Selia some Iuncates of her owne making to refresh him with for she knew he had eaten nothing all that day She intreated him to be answerable to the Princesse loue though it were but fained for according to the gréefe that hath possest her I doubt she will not liue till morning and consider what by her death wil be imputed to you when you shall bee called the murtherer of so faire a Lady I would to God gentle Damzel said he it were in my power to redresse the Princesse griefe but you know being heretofore sworne anothers it is impossible I should pleasure her without committing the greatest fault that euer knight hath none I wil no more importune you said the damzell for I shuld think my selfe much iniuried with your disdaine how much then a Princesse so faire and honourable That is it replied the Gréeke which hinders me for should I do what she requires it were but to satisfie her will against mine which were the greatest wrong that might bee done her for hauing pawned my faith vnto another I cannot violate it to pleasure her The damzel returned to her Ladie leauing the Prince the most perplexed in the world séeing himselfe in place where he could not vse his valor Selia found the beauteous Eufronisa tumbling on her bed drowned in teares What sayest thou my deare Selia said she to her to the tyrannie wherewith that cruel knight doth vse me what meanes may I vse I my selfe know it not nor doo thinke there is any and to desist to loue him thou séest is impossible for neither my affection will permit nor am I able to let it Shee spied neare her the Crownes shée had wonne and with a sigh that séemed to end her life said Oh glorious rewards to increase my harmes you were the sole cause of my vnhappinesse Now that she thought the Gréeke to bee in bed not able to bee quiet shee went alone vnto his chamber whose sight made the Prince offer quickly to rise shee stayed him saying I le not haue thée vse me with any of these ceremonious courtesies nor is my comming for them thou cruellest knight that euer the heauens did create but onely do I come not to intreat of thée what thou shouldest of thy selfe procure hadst thou thy perfect iudgement saue to demand of thée two things for with either of them shal I receiue some comfort and beléeue me they bee not to thy preiudice for were they I would not require them Most woorthie Princesse I nothing more desire of Fortune answered he then to haue that occasion offered wherein I might indanger my life in your seruice and would to God by loosing it I might cure your woes then should you sée with what willingnesse I would cast it on a squadron of deaths darts therefore demaund faire Ladie what you will for I wil at the instant accomplish it beeing with the conditions you propounded Without them most cruell Knight said she who durst require any thing of thee séeing thy straungenesse and barbarous disdaine so extreame against me The first thing therefore that for me thou must do is to tell me who thou art and the Ladies name to whom thou hast rendred that fréely will of thine The second thing I le demaund this being knowne for séeing I must be disdained and forlorne I wil know whom I loue and for whom I am not loued Your excellencie sacred Princesse so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot thinke replied Rosabell why you wil know the thing that being knowne I am sure wil but augment your woes They cannot be greater then them I haue alreadie did she answere and therefore you must not breake with me vnlesse you wil be as disloyal as cruel I am content to do it said he though sure I am of your hate when you know me but that I may giue some ease vnto your gréefes I will kéepe promise Know therefore diuine Ladie I am Rosabel of Brittaine son to the Gréeke Prince Rosicle◠and his Princesse Oliuia espoused vnto Lyriana Princesse of Nyquea and he that in nothing wil take more felicitie then to procure your content But will you not excellent Princesse force mee beeing so inraged to breake that faith I vowed on her hands to be true Louer And now may you sée what reason mooued me to bee so obdurate finding that any remedie from me can but dishonour you And is it possible knight said she that you are sonne to the famous knight of Cupid whose woorthie déeds and loues haue with immortal fame filled all the world Wel had I no other cause but that you are sonne to such a father it were sufficient to make mee loue you till death I only intreat your leaue being alone opprest with these extream passions I may disburthen my cares by séeing the vnhappie Eufronisa is yours for so I shall receiue some rest Whereto he answered Most soueraigne Ladie Princesse of Sylepsia you sée what litle power is in me to graunt you that license for hauing no interest in my selfe I cannot without her will graunt any such thing Then saide shée tell mée where she kéepes for I le send to her for it So enuious hath fortune béene to my content that yet that I cannot say not knowing it because she rest her from my hands Well well replied the Ladie chopping her words in the middle and drowning them with teares because I aske I sée it is impossible I should knowe it least I might receiue some little comfort thereby And since the earth cannot affoord me any the second thing that you for me must do since you haue promised it and vowed by the faith of a knight is that with this dagger you bereaue me of my despised life séeing your sight gaue me so many deaths do not denie it for you haue promised it and if you do be sure I le trauell through the world proclaiming your disloyaltie And so she drew foorth a dagger from vnder her gowne and with manly courage she put it in his hands saying Through my breast hewe foorth a passage for my soule most cruell knight and yet I will not haue you make the wound vpon my heart least you should hurt your selfe modelde in the middest thereof The Gréeke tooke it so amazed that he knew not where he was But the resolute Ladie immediately discouered her brests the purest work that euer nature wroght Make an end thou fellon-stealer of my libertie to giue me som content by this expected death and stain with blood this constant obiect of thine eyes Oh rare force of loue faire Ladies whose power consisting on extreames makes all things
to forbid it nor to breake their order This was the famous Abstrusios Nauie then who vpon the seas was neuer any more skilfuller and bringing with him so many men well furnished vesselles with an ifinit number of braue Knights aduancing aloft the Gréeke armes hee passed through his enemies with winde-blowne sayles and oares in mosthorrible manner crying Grecia and his countrey He kept such good order that ere he lost it he made mortall destruction on his enemies for his smaller barkes entring where greater could dot did nought but cast wilde fire melted pitch and scalding Leade which was present death to those that onely defended themselues with the sword Armed like Parthians were Abstrusios followers with bowes and arrowes wherewith before they fell to handy blowes they bereft a number numberlesse of liues Which horror of shafts being past it was admirable to sée with what brauerie they betooke themselues to their weapons They were all expert and exercised in warre because they liued in it continually against theyr neigbouring Ilanders Wherefore the Sea began a newe to floate with dead trunckes of men with such horrible outcries of the wounded because they could not before death reuenge themselues that there is no heart so stony and remorcelesse but would haue bene mooued to pittie Sylla that wished to sée riuers of purple goare had here bene satisfied with sight of seas of blood The mightie generall Abstrusio did set himselfe vpon the hatches of his galeon doing what Mars durst not imagine on either hand Lysart did accompany him with his sonne Florisart desiring to make manifest their affection to the Gréeke The Gyants that were appointed to guarde the fayre Serynda were cyzed like tall high mastes clad all in steele with Iron Maces in their hands A better defended vessell was not in all that Fléete for not dreading any thing it went forwards sinking all it met The furious Bembo hauing séene the mercilesse destruction of his men and Gallies had commaunded his to be vngrapled from the Gréeke Emperors to send succour where it most néeded He was straight espied by Abstrusio that presently sent those that followed him to boord her leauing way for his encounter The beake of whose Galleon was all of Iron fastened euen downe to her kéele which made him presume on more then was lawfull on the seas So séeing how well his Gallies had assailed his aduersaries not omitting his intent Abstrusio entered with his running with such force against the side of his aduersaries that he split her cleane in two and had almost endangered himselfe for trusting to his strength he would haue leaped into her when shee began to sinke and they within her cryed out for boates to saue themselues Oh Bembo here diddest thou shew thy selfe to be whom thou art for leaping into a small Barge he opposed himselfe against Abstrusio as if he were in as good a Galleon as his The Pagan laughed at his folly and noting him more narrowly by his colours he knew him to be his enemies Generall It gladded him thinking to haue taken him prisoner But the haughtie Louer that had his life reserued to endure greater troubles made his valour there knowne to the vttermost and how in déeds of armes he would be second vnto none for though he was beset on all parts he so bestirred himselfe that neither his aduerse Generall nor Lysarte with his sonnes power could enforce him from his standing Presently was he succoured and taken into Lindauros Admirall dyed in blood and so inraged that he would speake to none nor any durst looke on him To be in such vnaccustomed brunts amazed him and more not able to learne nor gesse whom his aduersary was that making such destruction of his had succoured the Gréekes From this imagination was he put hearing the entry of the other Fléete nothing inferior to the first Diuers were the voyces heard for some cryed Babylon and Persia some Antioche others Croatia and all at once Grecia and then let flie such volleyes of shaftes that no lesse hauocke they made then Abstrusio Whose arriuall vtterly vanquished that wing of the Pagans And Sacridoros Admirall where Oristoldo was past close by the Tower which none else had done It astonied both Father and Sonne to looke vpon the two Competitors Bramarant and Brufaldoro who with their ponderous blades suffered none to approach the Arches to doo the like arriued Bembo making himselfe strong betwéene the Pillers that sustained the Tower where he animated himselfe with gazing on the Ladie he most affected that opening the Casements then knowing none of them had set her selfe to behold the battell She appeared like the Sunne of Maye in all his glorie chasing away the duskie Clouds from about him that would obscure his brightnesse There was none in all the Fléetes but turned their eyes to gaze on her bewtie Many knew her whereof one was Oristoldo who thus said to his Father This is the season wherein we must procure to liberate you Ladies thence For the fayrest of them is Lyriana whose carrying from Nyquea cost our friend Rosabel and me so much blood and more labor And beléeue me not dread Lord and Father if these knights haue not purposely takē their standings there that none might proue the ascending to the Tower As they were thus talking they descried two knights of rare disposition comming in seueral Barkes The one was presently knowne to be Don Eleno of Dacia whome being departed from Pollidolpho Nabato had guided thither Of his helpe there was no néed for the Pagans had then the worst yet he entred as he was accustomed couering the frothy waues with dead carkasses He assaulted no particular knights but the fierce Gyants Quickly was Rosamond aduertised of his comming whereat she straight commaunded her Royall Galley to waft her where he was she met him Her Armor was well knowne of euery one and so her beloued Dacian also knew her He leapt into her Galley imbracing one another with intyre loue It was no time for long discourses so hauing kist the Emperors handes the two Louers began to performe such déeds as were incredible but not to those that to their cost beheld them The other knight clad all in Rose colour Armour none as then knew but approaching neare the Tower and viewing his Lady he conceiued such content that he suspended his fight til he had well noted the possessor of his heart He became so fierce with that sole sight as he iudged nothing the subduing of both Armies Casting his shield behind him and taking Hectors sword twixt both hands at fewe blowes he was known to be Rosabel to the excéeding content of all his friends In this inchaunted Boate he flung to the Arches of the Tower but he found them so wel defenced that neither his friend Aristoldos helpe nor his owne strength could make his way to them For the thrée famous warriors being in a rancke with such brauery behaued themselues that euery one iudged the
hight Robed with Emperious might Yet she staynes the Lillies white When she had done then the second turning to the Quéene of Lyra sung Earthly thing giues not her name Earth cannot expresse the same Heauenly t is and thence it came The third with no lesse swéetnesse remembred Rosamond in this manner Though last not least but with the best The worldes sweete Rose is well exprest A faire paire-royall euer blest Hauing all ended they recorded them togither with such recording voyces to the consort of their delightfull musick nothing different from Angels harmony And as they went vnder it from the opening of a Cloude spredde vnder the Arch after a tempest of artificall thunder and lightening there raigned downe an odoriferous shewer of swéete water-dewed fragrant flowers whose comfortable odour reuiued all their sea-weakened mindes Before they had passed it from the thickest of the same Cloude there descended thrée mightie Eagles eyther with a coronet of flowers in their billes and whipping the ayre with their great winges they with them crowned the thrée most gallant Ladies So soone as they were gone by and Venus with her company come thither the thrée Syrens to a new dulced tune with one voyce sung this note An other faire payre-royall of like fame That doubtfull t is which hand will winne the game The twelue Gouernors of the Empire with all the courtiers and gallants of the Cittie expected their landing at the shore where twelue auncient Peeres clad in long robes of cloath of Golde trayling on the ground tooke the sixe Ladies vnder a cannabie whose value excéeded estimation and in that equipage marched forward till they stayed to behold a Castle erected and drawne on foure whéeles within they rung a larum bell crying Nyquea Nyquea aduancing on the highest of the same thrée Ensignes with the Ladies armes Then in rich Armour issued out thereof thrée well accomplished Knights who aloude made a challenge to maintaine they were the Paragons for bewtie and fortitude There wanted not enemies to defend the contrarie for from the same Castle came foorth nine knights betwéene whom they began a braue combat at barriers Then beganne the Castle to mooue discharging so many fireworkes as if it were al on a flame The Ladies wold not mount on horeseback because they were very neare the chiefe gate of the Cittie through which the Theban Duke issued foorth with the imperial Ensigne who intreated the Ladies in the Cittizens behalfe to dispose of the Citie as their natural Lords They returnd their thākfulnes according to their states highly estéeming of their solemne entertainment which had so excéedingly contented Lyriana that shee accounted all her forepassed troubles well bestowed since they had brought her to so happie ende In all the Court there was not any but came to sée the arriuall of their Princes In opinion was the Ladies beautie had whether of the thrée was fairest for Lyrianas sight had attracted all eyes And in no lesse admiration were the others had Such presse of people were in the stréetes that had not the Emperours guard gone before they had not béene able to passe But beeing entred into the yard new matters did happen for an alarum bell was with furie rung in Lyndabrides inchantment which ended they heard a most heauenly noyse of swéet musick Ther was none but demanded the cause of that vnaccustomed accident Whereto the wisemen aunswered That by reason of the Nyquean Princesse comming the gates were opened that euerie one that would might fréely prooue the aduenture Very great pleasure conceiued the Emperour Trebatio thereat so did the grand Alphebo imagining the end of the aduenture was at hand so much by them desired I do omit faire Ladies to shunne prolixitie their newe welcomes in the Hall onely remembring Oliuas ioy with the sight of Lyriana and her sonne Rosabell whom also with the other Ladies sonnes and kismē the Empresse Briana most kindly entertained Few daies after was the Brittaine Prince with the Princesse of Nyquea married by the Patriach of Constantinople being first baptized which sacred and diuine Sacrament Rosamond would also receiue for her dear Lords sake New triumphs had béen ordained but that the proofe of the disamorous Tower did intercept them for as the promised reward was so great euery one procured most to shew himselfe most forward in that aduenture Dinner being done there wanted no knights that offered the trial but as it required such great valour ere the sunne setting there was hung about the Tower aboue two hundreth Shieldes euery one placed according to his Maisters deserts Drowne would Apollo his cleare light in Thetis watery lappe when through the place there entered a gallant and well accomplished Knight clad in rose colour Armour and brauely mounted His disposition pleased euery one Who galloping along leaped from his saddle and with admirable brauery passed into the Tower Many suspected he would end the aduenture séeing with what courage hee ascended the defended steps But foure he wanted when vnable to goe any further hee was sencelesse cast from the Tower hauing his Shéelde set very neare vnto the haughtie Troians This knight was a valiant Pagan Lord of Lesbos I le not farre from Troy Who hauing landed a little after the Ladies came thither at such time that he well made knowne the prowesse of his person Scarce had this stout Pagan lost his entrance but Lyriamandros haughtie sonne named Tersildo presented himselfe to be no lesse valiant then frée from the vnweildie yoake of of loue His Armour was of Azure colour with many starres of Golde In the middest of his shield was portrayed a knight treading on Cupid hauing his Bow and Quiuer broken with this Motto Loue resisted is a childe Suffered is a Tyger wilde And a little lower The scourge of heauen and earth hell sea and land Is scourg'd and maistered by a humane hand There was no Lady there but gréeued at his frée deuice nor neuer did they more wish any knights vanquishment as this thinking it was an iniurie vnto their sexe to haue him liue at libertie Quickly was their desire satisfied for proouing the entrance he did couragiously arriue as farre as the Pagan whence with like violence hee was cast forth whose vnhappie chance did greatly please all the Ladies present The nights approach with sable couerture taking her place in Phoebus absence brake off the instant tryall whereupon the Emperour with his company returned to the Pallace where was open reuelling Rosabell daunced with Lyriana and euery Prince with his beloued Lady to their incomparable ioy All which did but more and more gréeue the Quéene of Lyra for wanting her Claridiano she was not capable of the least pleasure so was she there present onely but in person for her soule wandred to séeke him Iust guerdon for her straungenesse which she long time was forced to suffer for although he was in the Gréeke warres none knew him as in the fourth of this part shall be expressed
happie presence I neuer haue séene tokens of a perfecter Louer in my life said Claridiano and as I am a Knight if it lie in mee to helpe him I will doo it to the daunger of my life Of this and more is the Louer worthie of answered his vncle but I would not haue had you bound your selfe vnto so much wherby you should omit your iourney to Constantinople the which would gréeue my very soule especially loosing your company To doo so would increase my sorrow in the highest degrée said the Prince because our loue bindes vs to gréeue at others absence yet will not I remit to procure his coÌ„tent that know how to loue so intierly and it may be I shall this way find some measure for my torments knowing that her sight Commandresse of my soule will but augment my paines by being in disgrace and what great glorie it were to bee imbraced in her grace But go we to him that learned to loue and not feare the plague of absence for neuer yet did any féele it but iudged it woorse then death Let vs go replied the frée youth for it is charitie to helpe him in al thinges Wherevpon they made a little noyse that the carelesse shepheard might heare their going With some alteration he did rise supposing some other matter But when by Mooneshine hee fawe those two knight the riches of their armour and so gallant disposition hée went to méete them beeing no lesse courteous then any and saide What is it you this way séeke braue knights for although Fortune hath brought me to the last poynt to make me dispaire of my selfe so I may in any thing worke your contents beléeue mee I will be glad shee should for that time lengthen my despised life then which I could not be more plagued Whereto Claridiano made answere Wee come this knight and my selfe to offer our persons to procure your content courteous sheppheard if your necessities requires them the which we shal hazard with more will then you to imploy them There is no satisfaction nor yet gratefulnesse sufficient to ballance your most kinde offer gallant Knights replied the shepheard but in doing it you haue made known the valor and magnanimitie of your heroicke minds whereto by bountie you were bound Oh may Loue recompence it if it hath not bene possible to denie his soueraigntie with more ioyes then I at his hands haue receiued but now any comfort whatsoeuer will but augment my gréefe the which hath so far extended it selfe that no remedy nor salue can cure it Then Claramant tooke occasion thus But althogh phisicke doth not alwaies whole cure the inueterated Mallady yet many oftentimes it preuents and expelles many dangerous accidents that would else excéedingly aggrauate the infirmitie and so for all it may not now please you to communicate it to those that will féele your sorrow it will be some consolation to sée theÌ„ pittie it were it but to be answered with take comfort for others haue bene vsed with like crueltie and you are not alone despised in the world It is euen so said the amorous shéepheard for amongst all the greatest consolations inuented to mittigate the paines in loue to communicate them is the cheefest yet in me to discouer them it is an offence against the partie I loue But to tell the torments I haue endured and what happinesse they had obtained and my extreame fall from that high felicitie were to wrong my selfe in the recitall for it will be but an argument of little sufferance in me séeing that the least of my suffered paines was sufficient to withstand a thousand deathes But now to consider they haue let me suruiue oh there is no euill comparable to it nor none can I deuise worse For had I then bene depriued of my abhorred life I shuld not haue bene so familiar with sower gréefe yet to sée that after the loosing of that soueraigne good my life doth still persecute me with woes that death fearing to come neare them flyes from me when I most do call him oh there is no patient that can endure this nor I haue power to tollerate it but with millions of continuall teares to bewaile this losse and my misfortunes Farther hée could not proceede for his teares interrupted him which so mooued the tender hearted Prince that they intreated him to make them pertakers of his gréefs that they might iudge whether he haue reason so to gréefe Then the shéepheard said I am sure it is good to relate the tenor and processe of my woes vnto such Knights yet my distressed soule refuseth to refresh the memorie with so many euilles but that you may know how small this my languishment is sit you down and you shall heare the greatest iniustice that euer was vsed towards any he being assured of my faith that doth reward it not as it deserues but according to his pleasure as a Tyrant They all sate them downe vnder the couert of a spreading Oake where the Gréekes put off their Helmes whose bewties admyred the shéepheard who with some sighes moouing them to silence he began Since you be pleased Sir knights to haue me recount the Pilgrimage of my oppressed life and who I am so that séeming to receiue content thereby I shall not néed to intreate you to yéeld me that attencion my manifold sorrowes do deserue Know therefore most Noble warriors how that imperiall power that doth command both Gods and men pardoning none of no kinde I meane Loue soueraigne of all soueraignes hath inforced me into this disguised habit And yet when I ponder how extreamely the blinde Goddesse is bent against me I finde my selfe not secure therein for I haue ere this bene honored and as a Prince acknowledged vntill my â—â—arre-crost loues exilde me through the world This heart-infecting Deitie gallant Knights when in greatest pompe and iollitie I liued in Apulia whereof the Heauens allotted me Prince sent and conducted thither those whose tongues were tuned with the dulced notes of the gallantnesse and bewtie of the Princesse of Lucania With such déepe roote did her faire name insert it self within my frée thoghts that it is now impossible to leaue to loue her in that both she and I haue by a hidden grace accorded in one thing But I doubt it is the nature of our climate or they that breathe therein by custome to bee subiect to like misfortunes What shall I remember Hanniball who had hee not knowne Apulia then had hee not beene insnared in this passion but béene Lord of Rome and not through loue ouerthrow his eternall honour wonne with such losse of his owne blood Yet was not this example of any force to diuert me from my new imaginations but rather in greatest haste I prepared my iourney towards Lucania whither I went onely with a Page my horse and Armour soly to sée Pollinarda and if her perfections equalled the fame of her bewtie I arriued in time when it most florished because the
enemie to my rest it was worse then hell vnto mine eyes that saw it And in faith his song was but the méere truth although she was too cruell towards him yet was I the cause as I shal tell you No imperfection was noted in the continuance of his Harmonie So hauing done he laide by his Lute the which the Princesse bequeathed to Solesia who in compassion of my as shee thought ill placed affection warbled out this cold comfort Feare not faint-heart Tyme may prooue A soueraigne plaister for your Loue. Such a faith so firmely grounded Such a Loue so kindly placed From a Heart so deepely wounded From a person so well graced Needs must get the Hearts desiring Though hope yet seeme not to say it And though this Tyme seeme retyring Tyme heereafter may repay it Feare not faint-heart Tyme may prooue A soueraigne plaister for your Loue. I did not conceiue the meaning of her conceit vntill I vnderstood shee did suspect I affected her Couzen and so to put mee in hope being glad I accompanied her Louer shee animated me with that I did requite it when it pleased Loue to do by me as by then assuring her how intierly she was beloued of my friend whereof I had experience in the many daies I continued in Lucania I thinke Lysander did perceiue the affection I bore his sister yet hee shewed him so like a Knight that he not only dissembled it but séemed to reioyce wish my hopes might take place if that the Callabrian had not bin thē betwéen But being no longer able to indure the pestiferous plague of iealousie on the foure Gates of the Cittie I secretly caused so many shieldes to be set vp wheron vnder an vnknowne name I named my self maintainer of the ring an exercise and pastime much vsed in that land by reason it is near vnto the Spanish soyle whose nation challengeth the sole preheminence ouer this exercise as skilfullest and principall Authors thereof No knight in the Cittie would admit it séeing the Callabrian did refuse it vnlesse I did expresse my name the which in that I could not do without danger of my life I graunted notwithstanding that any should openly defend Pollinardas beautie which I by another name couertly maintained Therevpon Agesilao presently subscribed and and after him many prepared to winne at the ring The day béeing come you may thinke braue knights he would shew himselfe in the richest manner he could as a Prince so famous and happie So did the Ladie attired all in white adding such vertue to her excellencies that had I not béen inurde to suffer discontented paines my perplexed heart would haue burst The sport beganne wherein hee behaued himselfe according to his Ladies fauors with which it had not béene much hee had performed much more There were wee my friend Lysander and my selfe I meane in seuerall colours for his attire was gréene imbrodered with Artechokes of golde manifesting a maiesticke minde But I still with iealousie tormented durst not but differ from him apparrelled in yellow laced with blew and golde and mounted on a mightie Courser which from Apulia I had brought My companions posie agréed with his content My hearts heart likes my heart and I againe Like my hearts heart so both content remaine His Lady well vnderstood it for she tendered him as her soule Mine was dispairing in this manner Dispaire I yeeld sith all things do agree Into thy clawes to driue dispairing me Valiant was the gallant Lysander to whom I granted the first course whose prize he wonne which was a Pelican by nature cruell to himself onely to become kinde to his kinde It did Solesia receiue with greater ioy then I possessed séeing my Ladies bewtie so ill defended yet was I reuiued in my drouping thoghts hearing how all the multitude adiudged Pollinarda stil to be fairest After him I took my turne wherin the heauens so aided me that at euery carreire I tooke the ring on my lances point Then in signe of victorie I had a Crowne of golde deliuered me They could not haue giuen me a thing the more might please me at that occasion for I had an other ready made of purpose to present her if I issued victor Making my horse set his knées on the ground I presented them both but about my prepared Coronet I had caused to be engrauen this posie Well deserues her head a Crowne Who Crownes with praise all womankind Therefore Loue hath sent me downe As token of his louing mind A Crowne to Crowne the Crowne of Nature Soueraigne of all earthly feature Neare me was Agesilao whē I presēted the prizes He presently suspected I was hee that had vanquished the Iousts in the same colour since whē he noted it by many occasions as also how I affected his lady So trusting to many friends and kinsfolkes he had in the place yet chéefely thinking I was vnarmed and being spurred with a iealous frenzie he stepped to me so did my friend suspecting there would be some hurliburly He thus said I know not knight whereon thou hast grounded thy presumption so to deliuer the pryzes in such preiudiciall maner Wherupon to mooue him I replied To sée how ill the excellent bewtie of this soueraigne princesse is defended for if acccordingly some were so rewarded with fauour you might with as great right go without it as an other that I know He was bolde of his vallor and being toucht to the quick he drew his sword against me He had got nothing by the aduenture for sauing my head I was else all armed and with mine in my hande at two steppes I was within him so neare that he had not satisfied his boldnesse with lesse then his life but we were separated by the standers by that it procéeded no farther then in words Euery one blamed him which incouraged me without respect of displeasing my Lady to challenge cast him my honors gage as a warning he should be alwaies prouided against wheresoeuer we met We departed thence and I so angred that I thought it long til I incountred him Now the Reuels of that night being ended the two were contracted with the Fathers publike consent and the houre of rest approached euery one withdrew into his lodging so that Agesilao possest with excesse of ioy and forgetting my challenge he closely with two men got him vnder his Ladies window where knowing what pleasure she receiued with his Musicke he played this Dittie vppon his Lute What ere he is that would behold Imperious Cupids sporting place Here to gaze let him be bold On this bewteous comely grace Here doth rarest bewtie dwell On her brow doth Cupid sit This is she that doth excell Both for her bewtie loue and wit In her Cupid taketh rest Ioy and blisse with her haue end Who knoweth her is double blest Whose bewtie day to night doth lēd My rage swelling heart could not suffer him to procéed farther for with more fury then my feare would allow
better then yours may now satisfie her reuenge Let it be so and by this meanes reserue your life bee it but to imploy it in louing her for it is not the part of a noble breast to dispaire of euery thing but it rather belongs to a couragious minde to nourish his decaying hopes with bolde confidence He so well perswaded me most famous knights that I resolued to preserue my life by that sower remedie And first to comfort him for the depriuation of his estate which he willingly did forgo to escape away with me I tolde him for whom I vndertooke that daunger discouering my selfe vnto him It gladded him and therevppon hee tooke off my boltes and Gyues wherein my aduerse fortune had bound me and so the night being come we descended the Tower by a corded ladder through a window that ouerlooked the sea coast where he had prouided a well rigged Barke entring therein a maine wee lancht from the Cittie of Frossa not without many sighes teares from my heart thinking how much I did displease the Ladie of my life thereby in that her pleasure consisted on my death Thrée daies did wee nauigate with a faire gayle which made mee thinke I better fared on the seas then on the land The second time would not Fortune let me repeate it for conspiring with Eolus they both would néeds trie their fiercenesse on my patience with the cruellest storme that hath béen séen for the waues beginning to swell threatning the heauens and strongest rockes what might not we feare that were tossed on their billowes sometimes hoysed to the cloudes and then cast lower then the center of the earth So that he which suffered lesse paine was glad to submit to deaths stroke Such and so many flashes of water came tumbling into our weather-beaten vessell that full against our willes wee were forced to taste the sauor of Neptunes saultest licquor On the sudden we were surprized with such a whirlewinde that we lost all hope of recouery for the persecuted Barke laie wallowed vp and downe aboue halfe an houre vntil a contrary winde ouermaistring the tempest cast it neare the shore and running on a shole it splitted in the midst Our clamors and shrikes then are not to be beléeued nor wil I rehearse them for my tongue is insufficient He that by chaunce got then any aduantage was by fastning on some péece of boord a litle to prolong his life It was so hideous darke that none could sée the other nor light any fire could we for the winde dispearcing it would blow it out Thus grapled on a planke I left my friend and wrastling with the seas fortune and death the Gods permitted me yet I know not why to saue my abhorred life And about the dawning of the day I found my selfe on the sandie Hauen of Argier so brused and tired that I could not stand on my féete for besides my toyles I had not slept in foure daies before still by moments expecting my neare approching death I was willing to take a nappe before I would go into the countrie so stepping among some growing wéedes I slept a good while receiuing a little rest and ease Quickly was it bereaft mee falling in the hands of those barbarous Infidels of that Sconse that neither pitlie nor pardon any though they bee of their owne sect so much they trust to the strength of that their Castle They carried me vnto a rich Turke Lieftenant of the Fortresse who bought me for two hundreth Chequins to serue him with his other slaues I imployed the vtmost of my power therein which redownded to such effect that hee trusted me aboue all his other seruitors My painfull diligent and carefull seruice came to the kings hearing that he would néeds haue me from his Lieftenant paying the double that my first Maister had done for me I will omit valiant Princes how I might gréeue to be so hurried from Market to Market to be solde It pleased my fortune to let me so farre obtaine the Kings grace as that hee let mee go at libertie without bands but marked in the front as his slaue I learned to speak the language which much auayled me would I haue violated my faith consecrated to my Ladie for Troyla his daughter did euen dote on me but to him that had vowed his soule to Pollinardas excellēcies and wanting the consolation of her presence that increased his torment I purpose to shunne her importunities once of so many times they had iniustly bought and solde me to runne away One night among the rest I resolued to do it the which I might easily accomplish considering the much libertie I had yet would I not do it without a farewell of the beauteous Troyla because I would not séeme vngratefull for her loue and fauors You may imagine how she might take it affecting me in my opinion as her selfe neuerthelesse her true loue teares could not stay poore distressed Iaroe so was I called by the Turkes Shee seeing me thus obstinately determined requested to know who I was then which shee required no other comfort I did not hazard much thereby and therefore satisfied her It somewhat quieted her protesting to come to my kingdome or neuer to receiue husband but at my hands Therevpon I tooke my leaue a thousand times embraced by her for I durst not do it fearing thereby to wrong her that is the load-starre of my ioyes Shée gaue me more necessaries for my iourney then I néeded and therewith departed from Argier where I nothing got but like a slaue to be marked in the forehead I could not rest so tormented was I with variable cogitations yet in the end I resolued to returne into Lucania sure to be knowne of none for that my cares and the troubles of the seas had impaired and altered my countenance as also my slaues marke And considering how long since I was yoaked and captiuated with Loues slauerie I nothing gréeued at the signes thereof for accounting them giuen me as by Pollinardas hands I did therein repute my selfe most happie In these tempestuous toyles and turbulent shipwracks spent I one yeare and an halfe which was too much to be forgot though not in my Ladies Pallace I thought that Fortune by ayding me with prosperous gales would now at length séeme to pittie me for in fewe daies I arriued in Lucania where I inquired how matters passed I was informed that one of the strongest knights now knowne the Gréeke Princes that admit no comparatiue excepted was thither come The deceased Princes younger brother he was but farre valianter for there is no Gyant able to withstand him Hee solicited and wooed by all means to obtain the Ladies good will knowing there past no more betwéene her and his brother then an exterior affection confirmed with espowsed faith Yet doth he insist therein 〈◊〉 haughtie and proude is Asternio the fierce so is he named Many times was I about to buy horse and armor to trie my fortune
Knights I remembred the things she did most loue and hate she shewed no whit of alteration but returning my ponyard said Little néed had you Florisiano to alter your name for any such feare knowing that onely for it the first of the same had bene forgiuen Farther shee did not procéede nor more openly bewray her affection I dissembled my ioy sharing it with Iaroe whom now me thoght began to bee forgot I would therein recompence him for his former kindnesse towards Florisiano The time would no longer permit vs to chat for the houre of my departure being come I was constrained to tell her so She was content aduising me to be secret because shee would that way often visit me I imagine Sir Knights that you thinke both tongue and soule swore a solemne performance of her deare commaund and if you so thinke I assure you your thoughts deceiue you not for my soule that still hanged vpon her lips receiued her command with no lesse sentēce of the Delphian Oracle then rising with a pleasant smiling she said I pray Lord Florisiano let vs entreate your Turkeship Christianly to conduct vs to our lodging and then wée le license your departure All rauished with ioy not able to speake a word I went with her to her chamber doore and then falling on my knées and kissing her hand desiring her to account me hers I tooke my leaue leauing my soule in her bosome and returned to my Lords lodging where we prepared our selues for our walke He did an act that I iudged most kinde for he gaue me a garment that had bene mine saying Hold Iaroe for since Fortune robbed mee of his owner none hath better deserued it I put it on and greatly wondred how he knew me not Away we went arriuing to the window where his Lady expected him I stayed to guarde the passage with such resolution that all the world yea Florisiano of Apulia had not passed there with the first and with the fauoured last was Iaroe now in disgrace séeing the alteration of his fortunes So if with patience you will attend me the next Chapter shall vnfolde what else happened CHAP. XXIX How the Prince of Apulia ended the discourse of his amourous life to the Greeke Princes and how Claridiano pittying his estate departed with him WHat strong residence the power of Loues affection hath within an amorous brest faire Ladies the beawteous Pollinardas suddain and vnexpected change which Agesilao bought full dearely doth amply shew for not remembring how greatly she had loued him how bitterly she had taken his death and with what rigor she procured his reuenge she recanted and without consideration of her honours blemish doted on a slaue A iust guerdon that séeing she would not affect the Knight that with such firme proofes had approoued himselfe to be hers and by his déeds worthy of her estimate she now beheld the subiect of her ioyes with slauish markes and that her blinde and vaine passion might so far excéed as to say that for the second Florisianos sake the first had bene pardoned There is none that may safely build his assurance on such effects if once he haue opened his doores to Loues flatteries In pensiue imaginations had the Louer put the Gréekes with his amorous Historie that they would not so soone haue it end But the youth that aggrauated his woes with repetition of his former gréefes abreuiated saying There stayed I Heroicke knights gazing on the vesture that belonged to the Apulian till that my Lord Lysander hauing excused himselfe to his lady of certaine obiections layd against him I thinke it was but some iealous imagination they would assure all inconueniences by an espousall contraction especially befitting them both So hee came for me to be a witnesse thereto but ere he discouered himselfe he would néeds try the vygor of my armes comming an other way disguised for the purpose and being neare me he drew saying What madnesse hath brought thée to so suspitious a place where thy boldnesse shall reape no other againe then a remorcelesse death I was so carefull to let none passe nor to disclose who I was that without more ado or other answere I set vpon my dearest friend In faith I reioyced to sée how wel he behaued himselfe although I knew him not but I being throughly incensed I began to follow him in such sort that I droue him among the hedges of the Orchard faithfully discharging my dutie It behooued him to speake least some danger had happened so he raysed his voice miscalling me therewith which more gréeued me then if he had mortally wounded me for séeing me with eager furie presse to take aduantage at full to hit him he said Oh Turkish dog what doest thou I knew my Lord Lysanders voyce and beléeue me Noble warriors I was neuer more vexed but that I tendered him as my soule Iaore had surely kept him from enioying his loues yet I stayed my hand considering his friendship towards the Prince of Apulia So I tooke my sword by the poynt and intreated him to pardon me for my not knowing him had forced mee to commit that fault The faith answered he wherewith friend Iaroe thou backest thy Maister brings with it thy excuse for neuer had any knight a better seruant thē I But that thou mayest know how I estéeme thée come for I will haue thée be a witnesse to the faith I will plight vnto Solecia to bee her firme Louer Hee bounde mee eternally by the act And the Moone then shyning bright it shyned iust in the middest of the Ladies windowe where she stayed and credit mee shee séemed bewtifull Shee had so affected Florisiano Prince of Apulia that séeing mee with his owne garments shee could not but pittie him calling mee to memorie With my hatte in hand as a seruant ought I stood still but she called me saying Come thée hither friend Iaroe for I will haue this assurance passe in thy presence and my ioyes should I account compleate were the owner of thy apparell in thy place Oh if that were so my deare espouse sayde my tender-hearted fréende what greater content could wee more desire Towards whom might the blinde Goddesse shewe her selfe more fauourable then to vs had she now sent vs that valiant knight crost with so many troubles Some teares did I espie in their eyes which so greatly moued me that I could no longer dissemble and going more neare them I thus spake My very soule would ioy most soueraigne Princes although I lost this good to sée that knight here who is the happiest in the worlde to be beloued of such Princes for then should fortune neither bereaue Iaroe of this content oh Gods I could scarce make an end nor yet should the dispairing Knight be so persecuted by her as not to enioy your happie presence by experience sée with what faith he is affected And if you regard him behold me here for more troubles yet reserued And since I am eye
replied I knowing I will till death obey your commaund Shee answered Why then we shall not so ill disagrée as I thought the thing therefore I would knowe is thou must tell me if thy Lady be heere or no and her name withall without delay and circumstance for I shall thereby receiue the greatest pleasure in the world and with the contrary excéeding discontent which will bee immerited and no iust guerdon for what I meane to do for thée You may easily conceiue valiant Knights what conflicts I might indure of contrarious thoughts not knowing the successe that might ensue if by telling troth I did condiscend vnto her demaunde Somewhat amazed stoode I a while in so much that shee saide you must not deuise excuses for it will fall out woorse if you offend me so I answered None did I deuise diuine Pollinarda but I rather began to incourage my selfe to passe my life in your disgrace for nought else can redowne heereby but kindle your fléeping wrath Bee it what it will saide shee for I am pleased with the knowledge Why then replied I know soueraigne Princesse shée is in this Cittie and of the selfe same name that you are of in which repitition I offend her Shee procéeded further saying And haue you neuer spoken with her now did I tremble with feare and then imagined a thousand deuises yet in the end I replied Soueraigne Ladie your excellency so farre vrgeth this matter that I cannot steppe from hence fearing to méete with death vnlesse you seeke his lifes ouerthrow that was borne to serue you She replied I wil haue you tel me all for I wil take it as one that procures your good as you haue partly séene Whereto I answered falling on my knées Presuming on your Royall word and fauours sacred Ladie I cannot deny but I am yours imploring pardon for this fault if it be any worthie of worse punishment then death It did not gréeue her to heare me say she was the Quéene my heart had chosen to imperate ouer it and my soule but rather taking holde by my King the marke of my slauery which for my pleasure I often put on shée raised me saying Very plainely hast thou Florisiano exprest thou louest me and if thy constancie wherewith thou doest it be as thou saiest so I may enioy a heart so sincere and second to none I giue thée leaue to do so stil regarding the secrecy due to my honor vntil the heauens shall minister those meanes wherewith I may asswage thy griefes I required her hands I could doo no lesse to kisse them more glad then had I bene inuested sole Emperor of the wide world and yet that had not so pleased me She commanded me to take off my King séeing Fortune had now fauoured me wherto I replied Oh let not your excellency commaund me to put off that thing wherewith the heauens haue begun to worke my ioy lest Fortune enemy to all content séeing me no more a slaue should tryumph ouer my glory And though I be a king in louing and the most glorious and frée in being beloued let me kéepe this as a memoriall I am and wil be yours while my life shall endure the which loosing it in your seruice will be the happiest and richest losse in this terrene Orbe If it be so weare it replied the Mistresse of my life and yet the taking it off should nothing impaire my affection which now is only imployed in your Loue. Thus was the Soueraigne of my soule weauing this swéete webbe of my life on the delicate Loome of both our contents when blinde Fortune Mistresse of mischaunce being weary and angry that she had helped me that litle moment of time brought it about I know not by what meanes that our Loues till then became suspitious in Court nay further procéeds my woes Oh I cannot without teares say more it came to the Kings eares who desirous to be assured of so dishonourable a déede as to be beloued of the Princesse he had hidde himselfe in that roome vnknowne to me that very night and séeing by experience what he had suspected he issued forth inraged like a mad mā I yet was on my knées when he came forth and finding me in that manner he tooke me by the collor and drawing my ponyard said Oh infamous miscreant Turkish dogge hast thou thus wronged the trust reposed in thée The punishment inflicted on thée shall bee a sufficient example to all others such disloyall wretches as thy owne selfe I had no eyes to looke him in the face nor tongue to answere him though I wanted not hands to shead his blóod had not my Ladyes and my friend Lysanders displeasure and discontent thereby stayed me Hée snatched at her so furiously that shee almost fell vpon her face saying I had not thought Minion thy wanton boldnesse would so haue made thée passe the limits of shame and grace as to bestowe thy affection on a slaue He cried to those that awaighted without whereat foure knights rushed in who straight conueied me to prison where I thoght they would closely murther me the which I had gladly receiued so shee were not hardly handled that had so bountifully fauoured mee The king did commit her but knowing our affection had beene no other then he had séene hee straight for hee loued her dearely forgaue her turning all his rage vpon poore Florisiano Oh magnanimious Knights with how many millions of brinish teares did I bewayle that losse it was beléeue me the greatest in the world for none in so short time could bee so happie as I nor none againe so vnhappie Nothing I did but exclaime lamenting and with woes tormenting my afflicted selfe At length being so many some pierced the high heauens moouing the immortall Gods to pittie and comiseration appointing a meanes on earth to redéeme me for the Noble Lysander being mooued at my disgrace by pollicy procured my Gailors to release me of my Irons and boltes that I might escape through a window and saue my life I gréeued no lesse to depart from Pollinarda at that time though in her grace and fauour then at first when like an enemie I ran from her Yea more then this did my friend sollicit in my behalfe for hee went to his sister and discouered to her the whole secret of my affaires telling her I was the Knight in yealowe and hee that slewe her Agesilao then louing her more then now I neuer would tell any who else I was because I vowed it from the beginning onely to procure her fauour or disfauour without that regard and respect wherein I might bee hadde beeing knowne to bee Prince of Apulia and had not your valour and curtesies bound me thereto none should haue knowne it The Lady did not gréeue at this swéete complot of Loue but rather it kindled in her some new affection So was I visited in prison from her which reuiued my hopes and added new life to my dying powers To pleasure
the Prince Lysander my Gaylors tooke from me my gyues The Lady Mistresse of my life knew the night of my departure and hauing sometimes before written vnto me by her brother yet then she exprest the vtmost of her Loue for I was no sooner downe in the Garden ouer which the windowe was that I leaped through when among a certaine company of trées I heard a noyse Supposing it could be none that would do me such pleasure as I after receiued I drew my weapons and went towards that place where I was quickly pacified séeing a knight I well knew who with as much breuety as the case required tolde me that my Lady sent me a Letter with money and Iewels for my escape I tooke all not knowing how to deserue so much good as at her hands I had receiued and making my answere according to the merits of those déeds I tooke my leaue of the knight and went out of the Garden and trauelled till I thought I was out of daunger and hiding my selfe among certaine stéepie Mountaines I vnripped the Letters seale and by the clearenesse of the Moone that then shyned I read it thus Pollinardas Letter THe greefe kinde Florisiano to see thee so depart from her that had lodged thee in her brest is so great that it will not suffer me to be tedious although it bee my onely desire for seeing that going from mine with such affection it must rest in thy hands it were some comfort to me thus with thee to prattle longer But aye me for Fortune thinking we shuld enioy too great a happinesse thereby she doth bereaue me of my iudiciall sences and my bteath yet not so much but I haue strength to say though not libertie to auerre that I remaine thine till death which shall first attach me with his grim pawes then I will grant an other yea vnlesse it be to him that hath long since with such zeale and constant loue obtained and wonne my firme faith The Gods preserue thee me as they know I wish and thou deseruest Thine till death Pollinarda This Letter is it braue warriors that comforts me when my gréefe is at greatest and this is the foode vnto my fainting life whose tedious relation I am sure hath wearied you Wherto Claridiano said This knâ—â—â—â— and my selfe Noble Prince haue taken such pleasure at your Loues discourse that it cannot bee exprest insomuch it hath bound me to offer my life in your behalfe for I protest neuer to put on Armour more if I deliuer not that Lady into your hands in spight of all the world wherefore let vs straight bee gone although it gréeues my very soule to leaue this Knight but your necessitie forceth me thereto because her father to bee rid of that care may marrie her to the brother of the deceased Prince That onely is the thing which most tormenteth me answered the Apulian for doubtlesse it may happen as you Sir Knight haue imagined and may the heauens recompence what now and hereafter you shall do in my behoofe and I much desire to know who you are that I may venture with more securitie for all helpes will be necessarie to cope with so puissant a King and a knight so strong as Astrenio By the way you shall know that said the hastie Gréeke for daunger now awaites on our delay He tooke his leaue of his vncle with more loue then when Peâ—â—hous parted from Theseus he promised to séeke him if matters succéeded to his content They all rose the Gréeke Prince with Florisiano hasted to their ship wherein being imbarked they launched into the déepe Ocean where we must leaue them to bring Claramants to Constantinople CHAP. XXX What happened in the proofe of the Disamorous Tower and how Claramant arriued and prooued it WIth feare to bee condemned of too much prolixitie in the amorous discourse of the Prince of Apulias life being the thing I most dread and onely séeke to shunne and yet no small trouble did it cost mée to refuse it to so briefe a summarie as I haue the which I vrge for my excuse although it néed not if it be read by Cupids vassailes but whilest this is in question attend fairest of all faires most beauteous Ladies for the triall of the Tower is nothing but Loue. There was none left but went foorth to sée it because the fame therof drew them thither So many knights came from the shippes that the Cittie was not able to containe them all and euery one so richly armed that it delighted euery beholder The spacious yard was in a trice filled with people and the Ladies with their beauties made it more glorious then the heauenly Synode of the Gods For the trial there wanted no knights in that ere noone aboue two hundreth shields accompanied the others that were before hung vp yet none arriued so high as Brandimardo sonne to the great Affricano that died vppon the conquest of Lyra in Rosiclers presence as was declared in the second part of this Historie As the Emperours were about to withdraw to dinner there entred the place attended on with a maiesticke companie a cousin of Abstrusios no lesse valiant then he All in gréen armor hee was clad brauely garnished with halfe Moones the deuise on his shielde was a Griffion without head which in his countrie in battell he had slaine As nimble as a Roe he dismounted ascending the staires in such haste that euery one thought he would end the aduenture but arriuing where the deceased Pagan had done hoe was charged with so many strong blowes that Galtenor saith he could do no more then raise one legge to steppe higher which was the cause that with more rigor hee was thrust out and his shield placed according to his deserts next to Brandimardos Great honor wonne Salberno hereby so was he named and had in high estimation for his Cousin excepted that was borne for the seas whose Lieftenant hee was none could better order a Nauall battel then he as he shewed it in the warres of Grecia The Emperour to fauor the Captaine generall of his Fléetes inuited him which they much estéemed iudging the Gréeke Monarch the absolutest accomplished in all vertues of any in the whole vniuerse besides and themselues most happie to bee ioyned in amitie with such Princes Away they would go when a kinsman of Pollidolpho of Croatia shewed himselfe whose armes were of an Indian colour full of strawberries With gallant brauerie hee went towards the Tower where hee spedde not so ill as not to be accounted valiant for his shield was hung next to the Troyan Oristides To dinner went the Emperors glad to sée what happened in that triall where they were serued with such maiestie as their estates required By themselues sate all the Ladies so exceeding faire that Paris had doubted to which for beautie hee might giue the golden apple Nothing could please the beauteous Archysilora in absence of her Gréeke but rather gréeued to sée those feastiuals
missing the presence of her Prince She was a thousand times determined to go and séeke him but shee left it supposing the fame of the disamorous Tower would draw him thither thinking that was he that acccompanied the knight of the Lyons so much shee iudged him to resemble Claridiano Great comfort was it to her to communicate her gréefe with Rosamond that incouraged her as one that was frée of such tormenting passions and yet sore gréeued for the want of her deare sonne Roselindo of whom she knew not what was become and many times shee was about to demaunde the wise men for him had shee not thought it too much immodestie She could not but reueale it to her beloued Dacian who dissembled it as much as he could yet not without signes of inward sorrow in his very soule he purposed to séeke him first inquiring of his friend Nabato the place of his abode the which animated him perswading himselfe hee would haue especiall care of his welfare beeing the thing that so neare concerned him Dinner béeing ended and the table taken vp all that companie of Emperors Kings Princes and Knights with all the Ladies came foorth to sée the new commers that were many to prooue the Tower It was woorthie the trauell and to be desired what was promised to the victor Wherefore scarce were the Ladies placed when with Princely grace there entred the stoâ—t Lastorus cosin to Don Silueâ—io and Generall to the Hungarians and of whom there was good hope He shewed himselfe to be no lesse vnbeloued then valiant for his shield was set next to the Troyans So many hasted to the triall that no sooner one ended but another was readie Among them that best behaued themselues was the gallant Lusitanian Archylocus on Siluerios brother whose shield was also equalled with the last In such multitudes were those shields hung vp that the Christaline Tower was almost full Euerie one conuerted their eyes at one side of the place because they had espyed the famous Oristoldo Lord generall by land to whom the Emperour had giuen that honorable charge in respect of what his father had done for his son and he for his Nephew It was aduisedly done by the Gréeke for the world did neuer knowe a better nor more fortunate Captaine or more skilfuller in ordering of battel and presenting it in time He was beloued of all and also of the Ladies although he had not shewne himselfe amorous for he said there was nothing more contrarie nor troublesome to him that swayed any publicke commaunde then to bee in loue and to bee so it was necessarie for a man to busie himselfe in nothing but in that new alienation setting apart all other cares Accompanied with most of the Nobilitie came the valiant youth all in white armor garnished with knots of Gold and Azure A gallanter knight had not béene séene in that triall Mounted he was on a Roane Courser with Caparisons of colour like his armes with so many stones that their light dazeled the splendor of the Sunne whose rayes reuerberating on them depriued the beholders sight On his head and his owne Burgonet great plumes of feathers full of spangles of golde In middest of his shield within a groue of trées hée himselfe was pictured with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon a bloodie launce at his féete lay the God of Loue with bow and arrowes as vanquished by him on whom he séemed to gaze so carelesly as if he held his deitie in naught The posse was thus wreathed about his launce Mars and Cupid differ farre Loue cannot agree with warre And till Mars and Loue agree Looke not Loue to coÌ„quer me None was more gazed on then the braue Prince of Antioche Oh how gallant doth he come saide Lyriano who greatly tendred him and I am glad of his libertie by reason of these Ladies that may well excuse it for were he in loue he could not then so well guard vs. I am sorrie replied Rosiluera that so frée a knight should haue any here to take his part for I knowe not how so great a wrong as hee commits against Ladies by that cruell deuise may bee satisfied but by wishing the thraldome of his libertie If the world had another Oristoldo aunswered the Princesse it were good that this were in loue and the other the care to kéepe vs. Leaue we this said Rosamond to sée what will become of his libertie By this he was arriued at the Tower where hee allighted and drawing foorth his sword mounted the staires with such courage that euery one cried out Lindabrides would be his One steppe he ascended higher then Brandimardo There he stayed for hee was charged with so many blowes that hee spedde woorse then any before although his honour were greater His mother and the Princesses that loued him as their sonne made him come where they were and there the Ladies did disarme him with such kindnesse as if he were one of the Gréeke Princes To whom Lyriana saide I am sorrie Prince Oristoldo that to shew vs your libertie to these Ladies gréefes you haue sustained such trouble He aunswered Pleasant is the sowrest most soueraigne Princesse if my will and desire bee considered although the deuise be against my selfe the which shall neuer kéepe me from being yours Now you haue lost the entrance said Artemisa you shew your selfe penitent and sorrie for your libertie but you shal not thinke to haue answered it with such small satisfaction The beautie of these two Ladies had something astonished the frée Prince yet hee replied You shal not néed to deuise new punishments for him that must will be alwaies obedient to your commaunds faire Ladies and let it be ynough I confesse I haue wronged you that this acknowledgement may strengthen my excuse and so lessen my fault that by purchasing your grace I may hope for an extenuation of my chastisement That might be said Rosiluera were not your offence greater then may bee forgiuen No more of this vnprofitable that spake Archyrosa for his libertie will sufficiently hereafter plague him as it hath done many others and let vs now inquire the reason of this tumult whereat they all looked to sée what it was There was none but said aloud The aduenture is at an end now the braue knight of the Lyons is come All the Princes turned to sée his comming especially Rosabell beeing so greatly bound vnto him What shall I say of Archysilora Quéene of Lyra the changing colours of her face deuoted her alteration thinking her Prince came with him Alreadie was this warlike Mars past the prease of people mounted on a mightie bay Courser whose Caparisons coloured like his armor were imbrodered with so many inestimable stones that the riches of them admired the spectators On the toppe of his helme and horses head were large plumes of diuers coloured feathers that the brauerie of both amazed the whole place that none doubted his victorie The Emperor Alphebo was he that most
It was séene farre off and therefore there were fewe vppon the seas but repaired thither although without it there had not failed to come the famous Bembo with the Souldan of Egypt which was a brother to him slaine yet farre more stronger Neither at his due time wanted the great Lord of Nyquea himselfe with a mightie Fléete For Lupercio found that Gréeke Prince should end the aduenture and maugre all the world beare away Lyriana and to forbid that no other Knight might approach to proue the aduenture he stirred vp and mooued the valiantest Knights in the whole vniuerse against the Gréekes as hereafter shall at large be exprest And yet by the signe the great Magician Nabato set all the flower of Grecia vnited was there assembled The mightie Brauorant could not but sée it for parting from the two famous Princes his Galley so nauigated the Mediterranean Ocean that he sawe the fearefull flames that issued from the Sea Desirous to sée such straunge aduentures was the stout and fierce Pagan and to proue himselfe therein ioying to haue left his Countrey to participate of his begunne sights imagining that his strong and valiant arme was sufficient to terminate such a déede he commaunded thither to be directed where quickly he arriued amazed to sée the Tower and the maruellous workemanship thereof vnable to conceiue who could frame so admirable a thing He read the superscriptions not regarding what Armes were required for that attempt he flung as Bembo had done at one of the Pillers whereon the Tower was built but at that instant there arose so much fire that all his fury strength nothing auailing him with want inough thereof he gaue ouer where his Armour stood him in no small stéed for being made of those bones that are most colde they were able to defend some part of the heate of that fire and blaspheming on his Goddes he stood looking if he could finde any other entrance and séeing none he thought it best to depart vowing to returne thither and defend that none other should trie it since he had not ended it it cost many liues and to performe it he commaunded his Pylot to make towardes Mauritania for he desired to be there to demaund his fathers Armes of Brufaldoro or loose his life in their pursuite The weather was faire calme and prosperous fauouring his voyage for in eight daies he landed there he was glad thereof and so tooke foorth a mightie roane Courser the best that all his Countrey did affoord of such force as it easily might beare the sturdie youth On another mounted his Squier Artanio and taking the largest path he beganne to pace foorth in haste to learne of some one if the king of that lande were there to séeke him Straight was he assured ther of reioycing greatly thereat being perswaded none could disturbe him from winning the Armour that once belonged to his deare father But to rest himselfe he entered through a faire Forrest passing that day there til it was time to sléepe which was but little by reason of that which befell him CHAP. II. What hapned vnto the mightie Brauorant with a strange knight and who he was SCarce was the middle houre of that same season past when rest in silent quietnesse surpriseth the waking eyes of euery one to make them cease their laborious daily toyle suffering the wandering passengers of gloomy darkenesse with night tripping Fairies to progresse throgh those walks that the absence of their exilde light doeth limit them in blacke obscuritie when a suddain new alteration inforced the haughtie Pagan from his accustomed vncontrowled sléepe For the heard not far from him the complaints of some one whose necessitie vrged him to lament He was as is said in nature contrary to all others of his kind and like his Father onely in strength For he pittied those distressed offering his person in theyr required aide hee rose and closing his Beauer went to the place from whence he heard the plaintes and by the pale shine of Cynthias watery beames he sawe sitting at the foote of a knottie Oake a well proportioned knight apparrelled in most rich Armour complaining of loue The Pagan knew not what it ment and therefore to sée his effects he got behinde another Trée verie neare vnto the knight who had not all that night slept bewayling his chaunce neyther would he do it but to participate his griefe to those that felt it not So not regarding because not séeing the Pagan he beganne with a thousand sighes witnesses of his soules sorrow to vtter the gréeued burthen it sustained and with such grace that Brauorant rested amazed iuding him some celestiall creature respecting the swéete harmony of his voyces he did with all attention listen and ouerheard the Louer in this maner sing against Fortune these verses following FOrtune is blinde she lookes on no mans need And deafe she hearkens vnto no mans call And cruell she respects not who doth bleed And enuious she reioyceth at ones fall No Bewtie can vnmaske her hood-winck't eies No Force can driue attention to her eares No Griefe make her dead-sleeping pittie rise Nor is her Enuie thaw'd with Vertues teares She at aduentures lets her Fauours flie Without proportion without due regards The base vnworthy now she mounts on hie And fatteth dunghils with her best rewards Anon they tumble to their first estate And other on the tottering wheele are set Who neuer finde repentance till too late And then they finde it in sad sorrowes net Such fortune is and oh what hap haue I To serue a Goddesse lighter then the winde Constant in nothing but inconstancy As also enuious cruel deafe and blinde Fortune is blind Oh what can me betide But blind mishap that serue so blind a guide With a breathlesse heart breaking hay me ended the Louer principiating her oppressed soules discharge thus What auailed it Oh what auailed it me heroycke warrior so to my honors cost reputations wrack to reueale vnto thée the tenure of my Loues secrets whose tribute is only due to thy incomparable merits It was more then became me violating those immaculate rytes of ours which are first to be intreated and then vpon sufficient proofe to like I knowe not on whom to complaine not of my selfe for neuer was any better imployed nor yet their thoughts higher sublimated No I complaine of my hard fortune for that the sacrifice of my will offered in his hands could be no meanes to confirme in part the hope he gaue me on the sandes of the Gréeke sea coast to be soly mine For if I so now vnderstood it who would be so weake and so mistrustfull a Louer as with so many sorrowes to séeke the thing loued and with a number of infinit sighes that vnsought for would méete me since I would not refuse what he admitted nor could my Loue fancie but what he desired louing But O griefe I cannot beléeue but that misfortune and my selfe were both borne Twinnes