Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	life_n	lord_n	sin_n	8,978	5	4.5107	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A21106	Orlando furioso in English heroical verse, by Sr Iohn Haringto[n] of Bathe Knight.; Orlando furioso. English	Ariosto, Lodovico, 1474-1533.; Harington, John, Sir, 1560-1612.; Cockson, Thomas, engraver.; Porro, Girolamo, 1520-1604, ill.	1607 (1607)	STC 747; ESTC S106841	721,901	456

for Orlando being a known and approved warrior giues a more terrible deuice yet referring the honor to God in most Christian manner of striking down and confounding his enemies with lightning Oliuero whose deuice is the spaniell or lyam hound couching with the word fin che vegna doth with great modestie shew therby that the spaniell or hound that is at commandement waiteth till the fowle or deare he stricken and then boldly leapeth into the water or draweth after it by land so he being yet a young man waited for an occasion to shew his valew which being come he would no longer couch but shew the same In this kind we haue had many in our time as the happie 17. day of Nouember can witnesse that haue excelled for excellencie of deuice of which if I should speake at large it would aske a volume by it selfe My selfe have chosen this of Oliuero for mine owne partly liking the modestie thereof partly for I am not ashamed to confesse it because I fancie the spaniell so much whose picture is in the deuice and if any make merrie at it as I doubt not but some will I shall not be sorrie for it for one end of my trauell in this worke is to make my frends merrie and besides I can alledge many examples of wise men and some verie great men that haue not onely taken pictures but built cities in remembrance of seruiceable beasts And as for dogges Doctor Caynes a learned Phisition and a good man wrote a treatise in praise of them and the Scripture it selfe hath voutchsafed to commend Tobias dogge Here end the annotations of the 41. booke THE XLII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Orlando of his conquest takes small ioy Which caused him his dearest frend to want Loues diuers passions breed no small annoy To stout Renaldo and good Bradamant She wishing her Rogero to enioy He th' Indian Queene but soone he did recant Taught by disdaine at last in Latian ground The Palladine kind entertainment found 1 WHat iron band or what sharpe hard mouthd bit What chaine of diamond if such might be Can bridle wrathfulnesse and conquer it And keep it in his bounds and due degree When one to vs in bonds of frendship knit And dearly lou'd before our face we see By violence or fraud to suffer wrong By one for him too craftie or too strong 2 And if before we can such pang digest We swarue sometime from law and run astray It may be well excusd sith in ones brest Pure reason at such time beares little sway Achilles when with counterfaited crest He saw Patroclus bleeding all the way To kill his killer was not satisfide Except he hal'd and tare him all beside 3 So now a little since when in his brow Alfonso wounded was with cursed stone And all his men and souldiers thought that now His soule from earth to heau'n had bene vp flone They kild and spoild they car'd whom nor how Strong rampiers walls to them defence were none But in that furie they put all to wracke Both old and young and all the towne to sacke 4 Our men were so enraged with this fall To thinke they had their Captaine lost for ay That to the sword they put both great and small That happend then to come within their way And so their fortune did preuaile withall That they the Castle did regaine that day In fewer houres to their great fame and praise Then had the Spaniards got it erst in dayes 5 It may be God ordained as I guesse That he that time should wounded be so sore To punish that same sinne and foule excesse His foes committed had a while before When Vestidell forlorne and in distresse Did yeeld and should haue had his life therefor● Yet was he kild when they had him surprised By men whose greater part were circumcised 6 Wherefore I iustly may conclude thus much That nothing can more hotly kindle wrath Then if one shall the life and honor tuch Of our deare frend or do him wrong or scath Now as I said Orlandos griefe is such And such occasion of iust griefe he hath He sees his frend for lacke of better heeding Lye flat on ground and almost dead with bleeding 7 As the Nomadian Shepherd that a Snake Along the grasse and herbes hath slyding seene Which late before with tooth most poysond strake His little sonne that plaid vpon the greene Doth bruse and beat and kill him with a stake So goes this Earle with blade most sharpe and keene And yet far more with wrath an choller whet And Agramant was then the first he met 8 Vnhappie he that in his passage stood His sword was gone as I declard before Himselfe besmeared all with his owne blood Braue Brandimart had wounded him so sore Orlando comes and in his wrathfull mood With Ballisard that payes home euermore He strikes by fortune were it or by art Iust where the shoulders from the head do part 9 Loosd was his helmet as I erst did tell That like a Poppie quite fell off his hed The carkas of the Lybian Monarke fell Downe to the ground and lay a long starke ded His soule by Charon ferrie-man of hell To Plut●s house or Stigian lake was led Orlando staid no whit but straight prepard To finde Gradasso eke with Ballisard 10 But when Gradasso plaine beheld and saw Of Agramant the wofull end and fall He felt and vnaccustomd dread and aw Who neuer wonted was to feare at all And eu'n as if his owne fate he foresaw He made the Palladine resistance small Feare had so maz'd his head and daz'd his sence That for the blow he quite forgat his sence 11 Orlando thrust Gradasso in the side About the ribs as he before him stood The sword came forth a span on tother side And to the hilt was varnisht all with blood By that same thrust alone it might be tride That he that gaue it was a warriour good That with one thrust did vanquish and subdew The stoutest champion of the Turkish crew 12 Orlando of this conquest nothing glad Doth from his saddle in great hast alight And with a heauie heart and count'nance sad He runnes vnto his deare beloued knight He sees his helmet cut as if it had Bene clouen quite with axe a wofull sight And eu'n as if it had bene made of glasse And not of steele and plated well with brasse 13 The Palladine his helmet then vnties And finds the scull clou'n downe vnto the chin And sees the braine all cut before his eyes Yet so much breath and life remaind within That he is able yet before he dyes To call to God for mercie for his sinne And pray Orlando ioyne with him in praying And vfe to him this comfortable saying 14 My deare Orlando see that to our Lord Thou in thy good deuotions me commend Likewise to thee commend I my deare Fiorde And liege he would haue sayd but there did end Straight Angels voyces with

praise it is in them to do as Alexander is noted to haue vsed to keepe one care for the aduerse partie or as we terme it for the defendant In the punishment of Martano we may note how false accusers euer come to some filthie end as their vile and fil●hie liues deserue In Norandine that finding he had done Griffino wrong is willing to make ●amends for it and to be frends with him we may see a notable example of princely clemency which I could wish all Christian Princes to follow though in deed commonly they do quite contrarie and rather where they do one wrong make amends with a greater according to that heathnish nay diuellish saying of Machiauell that whom you haue done a great iniurie to him you must neuer pardon but still persecute Tempora tempora quod monstrum aluistis Oh times what a monster haue yee bred how far is this doctrine from his that taught to forgiue not seuen times but seauentie times seuen times Lastly in Medoro we may note a notable example of gratitude towards his masters dead corse in hazarding his own life to burie it which is indeed though he were a heathen a most Christian act and one of the works of charitie commended in the Scripture as namely in Tobia who was greatly rewarded and blessed for it And further we may note in all ages buriall hath bene thought a most necessarie thing and religious but of Medoros gratitude I shall speake more in the next booke Concerning the description of the I le of Cypres set downe in 63. staffe where it is praised for the pleasantnes of it as all that write of it do testifie and Horace proues it was called Venus I le in this verse to Venus Regina Gnidi Paphiq Sperne dilectam Cipron c We may obserue a good Allegoricall sence in that Rodomont is first assaild by Iealousie then how Iealousie breeds Discord and how Pride increaseth it still edging it forward saying what a shame is it to put vp such an iniurie and what will the world say of it and who could beare it these be the whetstones to sharpen reuenge and to kindle the coales of strife Also we note how mine Author pretily noted that Discord and Pride when they went from the Abbey left Fraud and Hypocrisie for their sufficient deputies in their places for where Fraud works there neuer wanteth seed of strife and where Hypocrisie is there wants no pride though it be not plainly discouered In Dardanellos meeting with Renaldo and encountring him and after being slaine by him he altogether alludes to the conflict betweene Troylus and Achilles Infoelix puer atque impar congressus Achilli The end of the annotations of the 18. booke THE NINETEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Angelica doth heale and wed Medore Marfisa with that other worthie crew Lands after trauell long vpon the shore Of Amazons where when the law they knew Stout Guydon that came thither late before Fought with Marfisa who his nine men slew But when the combat ceast for want of light Then Guydon prayth them lodge with him that night 1 NOne can deeme right who faithfull frends do rest While they beare sway rule in great degree For these both fast and fained frends are prest Whose faiths seeme both of one effect to be But then reuolts the faint and fained guest When wealth vnwinds and Fortune seems to flee But he that loues indeed remaineth fast And loues and serues when life and all is past 2 If all mens thoughts were written in their face Some one that now the rest doth ouercrow Some other eke the wants his souerains grace When as their Prince their inward thoughts should know The meaner man should take the betters place The greater man might stoope and sit below But tell me now how poore Medoro sped That lou'd his master both aliue and ded 3 In vaine he sought to get him to the wood By blinde and narrow pathes to him vnknowne Their swift and his slow pase the same withstood Forst by the burden that he bare alone But now when Cloridano vnderstood Medoros case he made for him great mone And curst himselfe and was full ill apaid That he had left his friend deuoid of aid 4 Medoro all about so straight beset To leaue his loued lode was then constrained But all in vaine he sought fro thence to get His masters carkas that behind remained Was vnto him so fierce and strong a let It staid his wearie steps and him retained Eu'n as a Beare that would defend her whelpe About doth houer though she cannot helpe 5 So good Medore about the corse did houer The while that Cloridano cometh backe And for the day was dawnd he might discouer How greatly his Medore his helpe did lacke Wherefore to do his best him to recouer He takes his bow and quiuer from his backe And at a Scot he tooke his aime so well He strake him in the braine that downe he fell 6 The fall and death so sodaine of the Scot Amated much the courage of the rest And much they marueld whence should come this shot And sore this accident did them molest But Cloridan for this forbare them not But shot another in about the brest The which inflam'd Zerbinos mind so sore That for reuenge he would haue slaine Medore 7 And fastning in his golden curled heare His warlike hand thou shalt said he abuy Thou shalt the penance and the burthen beare Of him that here hath made my men to dye Yet for all this Zerbino did forbeare To kill him when he saw with gracious eye His sweet sad looke and harkned to his speech That in this sort for pardon did beseech 8 Sir knight he said for thy Messias sake I thee do pray and earnestly coniure So much compassion now on me to take To let me giue my Lord his sepulture I little care what spoile of me yee make What paines or tortures I my selfe endure I onely sue so long my life to saue As I may lay my master in his graue 9 Now while Medoro spake these words and such Whereby Zerbino was to mercie moued And to his fauour was inclined much As one that gratefulnesse had euer loued A vile base swaine so rudely did him tuch As him not onely from his place remoued But with his staffe most rudely ouerthrew him That eu'ry one do deeme him dead that vew him 10 This fact did so Zerbinos mind offend That presently the villaine he did chase And to haue killed him he did intend And had but that the other fled apace But when that Cloridano saw his frend With bleeding wound lie prostrate in the place He meanes himselfe no longer now to hide But eu'n to die by deare Medoros side 11 And as he purpos'd so he did indeed For fighting manfully he there was slaine The Scots do onward on their way proceed Medoro halfe aliue doth now remaine And still his

sauage monster to obey his will And though by comurations strange he wrought In other things his fancie to fulfill As cunning men sultrie each strange conclusion Yet in this Griffeth horse was one collusion 15 The Ladie faire protected by the ring Found all his sleights although she seemd not so Her purpose to the better passe to bring And first she seemes to ward a comming blow And then to strike and oft to curse the wing That carride still away her flying so And sith to fight on horsebacke did not boote She seemes as in a rage to light on foote 16 The Necromancer as his manner is Disclosed at the last his shining shield Supposing that the vertue would not misse To make her as it had done others yeeld So haue I seene a craftie cat ere this Play with a silly mouse o● house or field And let it go a while for sport and play But kill at last and beare it quite away 17 I say that he the cat the other mise Resembled had in euery former fight But now this ring had made this one so wise That when she saw the strange enchanted light She falleth not of force but of deurie As though she were astoned at the sight And lay like one of life and sense bereaued By which the poore Magician was deceaued 18 For straight he lighted from the flying horse To take her as he had done many mo The shield and booke in which was all his force He left behind him at his saddle bow But thinking to haue found a senslesse corse Amazd and dead he finds it nothing so For vp the starts so quite the case was altred That with the cord he brought himselfe was haltred 19 And when with those selfe bonds she had him tide By which he thought before her to haue snared She strong and yong he witherd old and dride Alas an vnmeet match to be compared Forthwith determining he should haue dide To strike his head from shoulders she prepared Till she was mou'd to mercie with his teares And with the sight of white and hoaty haires 20 For when he saw his force was ouerlaid And that her strength was not to be withstood O pardon life thou heauenly wight he said No honour comes by spilling aged blood Which words to mercie mou'd the noble maid Whose mind was alwayes merciful and good Then why he built the castle she demanded And what he was to tell her him commanded 21 With wosull words the old man thus replide I made this castle for no ill intention For couetice or any sault beside Or that I loued rapine or contention But to preuent a danger shall betide A gentle knight I framed this inuention Who as the heauens hath shewd me in short season Shall die in Christian state by silthy treason 22 Rogero named is this worthy youth Whose good and safetie saine I would aduance My name Atlante is to tell you truth I bred him of a child till his hard chance And valiant mind that breeds alas my ruth With Agramant entist him into France And I that like mine owne child alway lou'd him From France and danger saine would haue remou'd him 23 By art and helpe of many a hellish else This castle for Rogero I did build And tooke him as I meant to take thy selfe But that with greater art I was beguild From daintie fare and other worldly pelse Because he should not thinke himselfe exild For company I brought him worthy wights Both men and women Ladies faire and Knights 24 They haue all plentie of desired pleasure I bend to their contentment all my care For them I spend my trauell and my treasure For musicke clothes and games and daintiesare As hart can think and mouth require with measure Great store for them within this castle are Well had I traueld well my time bestowed But you haue mard the fruits that I had sowed 25 But if your mind be gracious as your looke If stonie heart bide not in tender brest Behold I offer thee my shield and booke And flying horse and grant my iust request Some two or three or all the Knights I tooke I giue thee free let but Rogero rest Whose health whose wealth whose sasty and welfare Haue euer bene and euer shall my care 26 Your care quoth she is very ill bestowne In thraldome vile to keepe a worthy wiglit As for your gifts you offer but mine owne Sith by my conquest you are mine in right Those dangers great you say to be foreshowne And vpon him in time to come must light With figures cast and heauenly planets vewed Cannot be knowne or cannot be eschewed 27 How can you others harmes foresee so farre And not preuent your owne that were so nie I certaine shall suppose your art doth arre And for the rest the end the truth shall trie I now intend your matter all to marre And that before these bonds I will vntie You shall set free and loose your prisners all Whom in this castle you detained thrall 28 When as the poore old man was so distrest That needs he must for feare and dread obay And that this same imperious dames behest Could neither beare deniall nor delay To do as she commands he deemes it best And therefore takes th'inchanted place away He breaks some hollow suming pots of stone And straight the wais and buildings all were gone 29 This done himselfe eke vanisht out of sight As did the castle at that present hower Then Ladies Lords and many a worthy knight Were straight releast from his enchanted power And some there were had taken such delight In those so stately lodgings of that tower That they esteemd that libertie a paine And wisht that pleasant slauery againe 30 Here were at freedome set among the rest Gradasso Sacrapant two kings of name Prasyldo and Iroldo that from th'Est Into this country with Renaldo came Here Bradamant found him she loued best Her deare Rogero of renowned same Who after certaine notice of her had Did shew to see her he was very glad 31 As one of whom he great account did make And thought himselfe to her most highly bound Since stie put off her helmet for his sake And in her head receiu'd a grieuous wound T were long to tell what toile they both did take Both night and day each other to haue found But till this present time they had no meeting Nor giu'n by word nor writing any greeting 32 Now when before him present he beheld Her that from danger had him sole redeemed His heart with so great ioy and mirth was fild The happiest wight on earth himselfe he deemed And cristall teares from her faire eyes distild Embracing him whom she most deare esteemed As oft we see a strong and sodaine passion Bring forth effects quite of another fashion 33 The Griffeth horse the while vpon the plaine Stood with the target at his saddle bow The damsell thought to take him

his youthfull course from that which he shall after surely repent Rogeros offring to go to Logestilla which betokens vertue signifies the good motiues that men haue often by reading good bookes or hearing good sermons to amend their liues but then the monstrous crew that stoppeth Rogero signifying the base conceits of men and foule desires that assaile them as namely those sea●en sinnes which be called the deadly sinnes by strong temptations and lewd suggestions do put vs out of that right way or at least encomber vs so as we proceed but slowly howbeit these do not preuaile so farre but that an honest and well giuen minde doth withstand them and yeeldeth not to them till the two Ladies riding vpon Vnicornes which some vnderstand by chast loue or at the least a shew of honorable loue or rather I suppose thereby to be meant ambition and desire of aduancement these two driue away all those base thoughts that assailed him but yet they bring him at last vnto the court of Alcina where he is held fast as shall be shewed in the next booke By Erifila is ment couetousnesse as the name it selfe shewes which must be beaten downe er we can come to honour or loue By Logestilla that is inuaded by the two bas●erd sisters is ment allegorically the true Christian religion and there is another cosen of theirs called heresie and the graundsire of them all called Atheisme that are of late very busie with her But she is defended with the water which signifies the holy Scripture and with the mountaine which in the Scripture it selfe is taken for preachers as S. Augustine noteth vpon the Psalmes I lift vp mine eies to the hils wh●nce commeth my saluation The transformation of Astolfo alludes to Cyrces witchcrast in Homer THE SEVENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT When foule Erifila was ouercome Rogero guided by two stately dames Vnto Alcynas sumptuous court doth come Where he his time in pleasure s●ends and games Melissa him rebukes he standeth dumme And at her true reproofes he greatly shames In fine by her good counsell and direction He frees himselfe from that most foule subiection 1 ALL they that to far countries do re●ort Shall see strange sights in earth in seas in skies Which when againe at home they shall report Their solemne tales esteemed are as lyes For ●●y the fond and simple common sort Beleeue but what they feele or see with eyes Therefore to them my tale may seeme a fable Whose wits to vnderstand it are not able 2 But carelesse what the simpl● sots surmise If they shall deeme it ● deuice or deede Yet sure to those that are discreete and wise It will no wonder nor no passion breed Wherefore my tale to such I do deuise And with them to the same to take good heed For some there are may fortune in this booke As in a glasse their acts and haps to looke 3 For many men with hope and show of pleasure Are carri'd far in foolish fond conceit And wast their pretious time spend their treasure Before they can discouer this deceit O happie they that keepe within their measure To turne their course in time and found retreit Before that wit with late repentance taught Were better neuer had then so deare bought 4 A little while before I did reherse How that Rogero by two dames was brought To combat with Erifila the feerse Who for to stop the bridge and passage soughte In vaine it were for to declare in verse How sumptuously her armor all was wrought All set with stones and guilt with Indian gold Both fit for vse and pleasant to behold 5 She mounted was but not vpon a steed Insteed thereof she on a Wolfe doth sit A Wolfe whose match Apuli● doth not breed Well taught to hand although she vsd no bit And all of sandie colour was her weed Her armes were thus for such a champion fit An vgly Tode was painted on her shield With poyson swolne and in a ●able field 6 Now each the other forthwith had descride And each with other then prepard to fight Then each the other scornefully deside Each seekes to hurt the other all he might But she vnable his fierce blowes to bide Beneath the vizer smitten was so right That from her seat ●ixe pac●s she was heaued And lay like one of life and sense bereaued 7 Rogero readie was to draw his sword To head the monster lying on the sand Vntill those dames with many a gentle word Asswagd his heat and made him hold his hand He might in honour now her life affoord Sith at his mercie wholly she doth stand Wherefore sir knight put vp your blade say th●y Le ts passe the bridge and follow on our way 8 The way as yet vnpleasant was and ill Among the thornie bushes and betweene All stony steep ascending vp the hill A way lesse pleasant seldome hath bene seene But this once past according to their will And they now mounted vp vpon the greene They saw the fairest castle standing by That erst was seene with any mortall eye 9 Al●yna met them at the outer gate And came before the rest a little space And with a count'nance full of high estate Salutes Rogero with a goodly grace And all the other courtiers in like rate Do bid Rogero welcome to the place With so great showes of dutie and of loue As if some god descended from aboue 10 Not onely was this pallace for the sight Most goodly faire and stately to behold But that the peoples courtsie bred delight Which was as great as could with tongue be told All were of youth and beautie shining bright Yet to confirme this thing I dare behold That faire Al●yna past the rest as farre As doth the Sunne another little starre 11 A shape whose like in waxe t were hard to frame Or to expresse by skill of painters rare Her haire was long and yellow to the same As might with wire of beaten gold compare Her louely cheekes with shew of modest shame With roses and with lillies painted are Her forehead faire and full of seemely cheare As smoth as polisht Iuorie doth appeare 12 Within two arches of most curious fashion Stand two black eyes that like two cleare suns shind Of stedie looke but apt to take compassion Amid which lights the naked boy and blind Doth cast In s darts that cause so many a passion And leaue a sweet and curelesle wound behind From thence the nose in such good sort descended As enuie knowes not how it may be mended 13 Conioynd to which in due and comely space Doth stand the mouth stand with Vermilion hew Two rowes of precious perle serue in their place To show and shut a lip right faire to vew Hence come the courteous words and full of grace That mollifie hard hearts and make them new From hence proceed those smilings sweet and nice That seeme to make an earthly paradice 14 Her brest as