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
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
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
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
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
Court was then full of knights that serued her And in faith beleeue me that how far soeuer the report of her prayses excéeded beléefe so farre and more did I finde them to limp behinde her excellencies I noted In my opinion the heauens haue not created a more absoluter bewtie because Enuie it selfe hath found no meanes to seize thereon and therefore is become the Herauld of her worthes You may think Noble Sir these were new snares to intrap my captiue soule Asumptuous tryumphe was ordained in the Citie which in auncient times was called Frossa which in the Assyrian tongue signifieth happy It was so indéed and euen from the beginning for she neuer had a Quéene but was also in bewtie so This occasion did Fortune offer me oh she did further me to make my mishaps the greater placing me neare vnto a brother of hers by name Lysander a knight both young and valiant and in loue too with the Infant of Campania that in court accompanied the princesse Pollinarda high Solesia no lesse bewtifull then kinde who knowing how she was beloued wold not ill repay Lysanders faith and so the gallant liued in some respects assured of his hopes Oh yet neuer had any full assurance if he still will be amorous On the aduerse part was Leader the valiant Prince of Calabria Agesilao by name the happiest that I knew in that without the panges of passions and soules afflictions he obtained to be beloued of Pollinarda and in such open manner that the whole popularitie did know it It did not gréeue my Ladies father but rather it so pleased him that in open shew he exprest it which more animated the Lady to grace him with new fauours which were sharpe poynted daggers stucke in the heart of wofull Florisiano for so am I named Oh it could not be lesse beholding with my owne eyes my own sorrow At length the Iousts began wherein my starres vouchsafed a little to aduance me which did attract Lysanders affection with such true zeale that there cannot bee firmer friendship then that hee hath shewen me yea although against his sister The whole multitude turned their gazing eyes on my deuice which was blew armes crost with yeallow barres It accorded to the ill my iealous soule endured On my shéeld was portrayed suspition in her naturall colour as in auncient times she was paynted bearing a scrowle with this word Wisely who can her despise That onely doth employ her eyes To spie out Loues subtilties There was no Ladie in the place but noted my iealous colours and so as I after vnderstood some that were more pittifull prayed for my victorie which maketh me think their orizons and good will abode me the honour of the iousts So Lysander that greatly affected me and I cleared the place that none wold more aduenture and hauing don yet did I not disclose my selfe neither to him nor any other although the King himselfe was very importunate to know me onely this they got that I was called the iealous Knight Sure I am that my Ladie béeing so busied wtth Agesilao shee did not note my déeds but rather for it was told me she was displeased that I vnknown had vnhorsed her Louer in the Liftes Néedes would the Prince Lysander haue mee to his owne lodging professing himself so intier a friend that he hath wonne me to the death the which I will gladly receiue to procure his content In greater bonds did he tie me altogither expressing his much noblenesse by discouering vnto me the sinceritie of his loue towards Solefia Infant of Campania I could not but highly estéeme of the trust he reposed in me being but a Knight possessing nought but armour and horse He intreated me to accompanie him that night in a Maske because the king his father in honour of the iousts feasted all the Princes with shews and reuellings It pleased me in my soule in that I shuld behold her presence that gouerned my heart In two long robes of cloth of golde we issued masked yet would not I go so vnprouided but that I had on a priuie coate which in my wandring daies I vsed bearing armes In this manner we entered the Pallace when the reuels began Euery Ladie that had her gallant there fauoured him to daunce with him Of these was my deare friend Lysander one whose Mistresse was attired in the same colour that we were They daunced with such grace that Cupid himselfe could not but like it Next to him did Agesilao take Pollinarda Princesse of beautie by the hand I cannot denie what the heauens had imparted them for their grace and Maiestie admired all the Hall Many excellent changes and tricks they vsed yet the iealous passion of my gréeued soule stirred vp more in my face by comming and going of my running colour Had not my friende bene there rather then I would haue suffered it my heart vpon a two edged sword should haue bene split or I reuenged The beloued youth was famoused to be an excellent Musitian as indéed he was So his Lady or rather espouse for her father had agreed thereto gaue him a Lute to play thereon Hee accepted it for he was fully bent to performe her will and began to touch it with more swéeter musicke then hee that descended to the infernall Vaultes to fetch his wife Then with a cleare voice he warbled forth this Dittie the which my memorie carried away the more to increase my paine That brow which doth with faire all faires excell Those eyes that shining lends the world his light That gracious mouth where all the Graces dwell That dimpled chin the whetstone of delight Those two rare Mounts of Lillies and of Roses That in their swelling all content encloses That brow eye mouth chin and most daintie cheeke Doth call keepe hold bind and in giues restraine My heart eye eare my thought and iudgement eeke That no wise force can free me thence againe Yet do I loue my pleasing paine so well That boue all ioyes I prize my heauenly hell Let dunghill basenesse and the earthy mind His summum bonum place in what he list My soule which strange diuinitie doth find Within thy faces centure to consist Will not consent that any other bee My onely good but onely onely thee Thy brow shall be the dreadfull snowy Barre Where I will daylie for thy mercie plead Thy shyning eye my path-directing starre Thy mouth the Lawes which I must keepe shall read Thy chin and cheeke shall equall power beare The first to cheere the last to keepe in feare And thou thy selfe Goddesse of my desire In my Hearts temple dayly I le adore No other Deitie will I admire No other power diuine will I implore Great Goddesse keepe me in thy fauour shine My heart eye eare my thought and iudgements thine Thus did he runne vpon the treble with such heauenly melodie that had he not bene Agesilao that sung beléeue me braue knight I would haue liked it but being done by the
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
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
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
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
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
giuing it the shadow and her heart the substance which being so tender and vnacquainted with change tooke such impression that neuer Lady yéelded more to loue then Eufronisa Now she desires to speake to him then feares she Already becomes she suspicious that neuer learned to loue Before she knew who he was she became so skilfull in the Art that she feared whether he loued whether he could loue or acknowledge anies soueraigntie Now she that staines the blushing of the mornings Sunne becomes enuious of her owne thoughts and doth distrust her owne worths séeking new deuises and inuented meanes to be beloued deseruing for her owne bewtie Ioues immortal worship Oh Cupids blind snares happinesse in misery a plague in pleasure and grief without remedy found vnsought for and yet a torment that contains a most swéete life By her amazednesse perceiued the damzel her Ladies maladie wherefore she merily said Let vs awake this knight and try whether his bewtie haue more force waking or sléeping Doo what you wil replied she although it be no modestie considering who we be Rather waighing that I thinke it best to do it said the wittie Selia to sée what he is that hath such power ouer Ladies for if his merits equals all other parts requisite in a good knight he may call himselfe one of the happiest in the world So long continued the Ladies in their amourous chat that the Prince awaked with these words Oh fortune how doest thou flatter my hopes for if thou giuest me any good t is only dreaming that when I wake to see it I finde it but an illusion He said no more for the Ladies sight staied him both from the publishing his woes as of the cause of them He rose admiring the Ladies bewtie who first spake thus You should séeme to haue fewe enemies sir knight séeing so carelesly you lye and sléepe in passages so open that any by you offended may at his pleasure right himselfe He answered So crosse and austere hath my fortune alwaies bene most bewteous Ladie that it did neuer let me knowe the state wherin I might say I had a friend for euen my owne thoughts doo most within my brest make warre against my rest wherefore hauing none to trust vnto forceth me to set my selfe in the hands of euery one that one in this generalitie would shewe the office of a friend by taking away my despised life then as such a one I should account him for by the déed giuing me one death he riddes me of a thousand that I suffer in continuall languishment and it might I wel call life for he liues well that féeles no more pain Great is your griefe answered the Ladie and of force to drawe commiseration from the hardest heart and greater it is séeing that none pities you were it but with a counterfeit remedie noting the waight of your complaints In faith faire Ladie said the Prince so mightie are my oppressions that although I know them and the paine I endure by them yet I must suffer them for if I liue it is by liuing in paine so that should I but neuer so litle ease this paine it would be séene in the want of my health If it doth so please you replied the Ladie vniustly you complaine and I thinke you greatly wrong your Ladie terming her cruel My complaints most soueraigne Ladie are not so much ment against my lifes directnesse as against my vnhappie starres that make me infortunate in fauours but not in my imployment for neuer was any better but in such a place where my griefs be scorned Some reason you haue said the Lady hauing this occasion to bewaile for where sorrow is not regarded there is a double griefe and gladly would I know who you are and where borne for you séeme a straunger in these parts I cannot but obey your soueraigne commaund most excellent Lady answered the Gréeke I was borne in the farthest Confines of great Tartaria and am called Corolano cast by fowle weather and tempest of the sea on this Countrey passing so many troubles that had I not receiued such vnexpected comfort with your faire sight no doubt but that my soule séeing the bodie drenched in misery and as vnworthie to containe it had it forsaken me but to enioy within it the view of your happie sight gaue life to her liuelesse habitation And that I may commit no error for it is impossible but I haue incurred some suffer my prayers by your admittance to make me deseruer to know the name of the land so happie in the possession of such admirable brauery Quickly doo you require a payment for the discouery of your name Sir knight replied Selia for the Princesse could not busied in her new and painfull businesse but because you shall not altogither iudge your selfe vnfortunate in your pretences know this land is called Sylepsia whereof this Lady is Princesse and going on hunting we lost our company and our selues yet wee haue not hunted ill hauing founde the amourousest knight in the world and so according to your showes none like you haue better assuraunce of the Louers Tent whose aduenture was newly brought into this Cittie and the proofe thereof shall within these foure daies be begunne and little shall you not please vs to hazard your person in the tryall I am so ill prouided of Armor and other necessaries faire damzell answered the tender Prince that though I were vnwilling to do it yet to content your bewties with them I would try it assured that for louing and being vnfortunate to me the glory is onely due This want shall not hinder you said Eufronisa for I will furnish you with the best armor that euer you saw earst belonging to the first king that raigned in this countrey named Tersio equall in soueraigntie of Fortitude and Wisedome strengthened by Art and skill wherewith he forged them and neuer were séene by any These I le send you by this damzell first swearing you shall not absent your selfe from this Kingdome without my leaue and in our Pallace shall you be cherished The amorous Lady spake so plainly as the Prince could perceiue Loues new wound There is none so destitute of iudgement but wold haue weighed what he obtained to be beloued of so faire a dame for if the Prince had euer séene pure bewtie she was the perfect stampe therof in whose creation Nature the olde Mars of liuing forme had shewed the vtmost of her skill modeling her liniaments more absolute then thought could wish Among so fewe yeares as they both had was neuer seene completer excellencies so he answered Who dares most soueraigne Lady shew himselfe so vngratefull to the fauours imparted by your rare bewty as to commit a fault so hainous to depart from you without your license I am so long since captiue to anothers wil as now to acknowledge it anew is no pain but rather chéefest happines knowing to whom I owe seruice Why then said she we may be gon
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
to rise and breathe Thither also arriued the furious forsaken Lindauro with many mightie Gyants of his guard and séeing the cruell fight and knowing the Ladie whom they all tendered hee went against Rosicler that hand to hand warred with Celindo he entred betwéene them parting both Barkes whereby the brother and sister turned both vpon Rosabel He did not refuse them although the Assyrian troubled him euerie time he reached him On euerie side else of the battell the Gréekes had plainly got the victorie which they brauely maintained And indéed the mightie Abstrusio was he that wonne it winning the title of an excellent Captaine which he kept for euer There wanted not them that tolde him newes of his deare friend Bosabels arriuall It gladded his very soule for as it he loued him Him for gratitude doth Galtenor extoll aboue all the Princes in the world Hee tolde it to his beloued Syrinda saying Let vs go to ayde our Prince deare Ladie for he that is so much indebted to him as we both it is the least we can do His strength and valour do I wish I had replied she to imploy in the thing I most desire With an embrace the Pagan encouraged himselfe and commaunding his Galleon to be directed towardes the Tower in a trice he rusht in among the Barks there Easily he might haue suncke them with the aduantage of his being the strongest best in all the Fléetes but yet he would not saue enter them with his person By his manner of fight he knew his friend wherevpon he committed his Galleon to the stout Lysarte that shewed himselfe that day to be a good warriour The Gréeke Louer wanted now no friends for on the other side came the haughtie Oristoldo all couered with Pagans blood Abstrusio first arriued whom euery one feared séeing him so sterne and mightie from his owne to Rosabels shippe he leapt pronouncing his proper name It much contented him to haue such a friend by his side Little could Alicandros Nephewes winne at their hands for the Pagan merits not comparison with lesse then with Brauorant and if hee haue any aduantage ouer him it is more then is knowne In his assault he strooke Don Celindo on the helme had he done it with aduise it had béene the last with the latest moment of his life neuerthelesse being besides his head it falleth him headlong downe He clasped him twixt his armes thinking eyther to kill or imprison him Either hée mought haue done if the gallant Don Argante had not lept thither from his vessell Of haughtie courage was the youth so vpon the Pagans barke he discharged a fierce blowe which made him leaue Don Celindo and tarne vpon him Against them both would the Pagan defend himself to his honour had he place to wilde about his strong armes but there was such little roome as they were all heaped togither one vppon another Yet Rosabell brauely kéeping his standing I knowe not with whom I may compare him vnlesse it be with him whom Fortune exalted aboue all knights who while matters thus past to eternize the Gréekes fame appeared in sight of both armies like the God of warre himselfe whose arriuall deserueth farre more then another Chapter CHAP. XXIII How to the battel arriued the two Princes Claramant and Claridiana and what ende happened to the aduenture of the Tower TIred with bloodie conflicts of sterne warre I now will returne me faire Ladies to Loues swéet pleasing battels whither bringing those two that haue the sole preheminence ouer al others in armes and onely to liberate the beauteous Lyriana I shall not néed to craue your fauors thereto for I trust though not all some wil denie it me This hope animates me to procéed in this laborinth and commit the two princes to your protecting smiles Plowing vp the billowes of the calme seas they resembled the glorious sunne appearing through the clowdes displaying his firie rayes As they approached Claramant said The world braue Prince is so full of your haughtie déeds that there néeds no more triall to eternize them wherefore let me intreate you at this time to let me be formost in this attempt that presuming on your helpe I may winne some honour by your ayde Most warlike warrior replied he considering the necessitie you should not demand of me what I ought to intreat of you for where your axe hewes his passage there my sword is not required So doo as you will for I meane to kéepe where I am to enioy the sight of your déeds And as I thinke there is more to do at the Tower then any where else He néeded not to haue said so for Galtenor that guided their barke directed it thither Straight did Trebatios vnknowne sonne close his beauer and setting one foote on the edge of his vessell with his axe twixt both hands he entred betwéene both armies crying Grecia Grecia that none might strike him There was none but much reioyced séeing one with Theseus axe at one end and the other with the best sword in the world defending his backe at the other More furious did not Hercules shewe himselfe among the Cennaures nor Theseus beating at the brazen gates of Hell then were the two Princes among those miserable Infidels No blow doth the new Mars bestowe but riddes his father of an enemie who was ouerioyed with pleasure séeing the excellent disposition of them both He expressed it to the two Gyants that were with him saying Haue you euer séene any knights of haughtier disposition credit me these be they will winne our victorie I thinke no lesse said the King of Cerdina for excepting my Lord the Emperor of Trebizond I haue not beheld any of better constitution and shape of bodie then the formost It is so said Brandafidell but I le be suretie for the other that he will not for his part loose any iot of the victorie Why then spake the Emperor Trebatio let vs behold the triall of their brauerie Quicly did they verifie it to bee true for passing by the imperiall Admirall and thinking the Emperor to be there they did their dutie very gallantly Swifter then the winde past their Barke forward till it came euen where Rosabell was round beset with mightie enemies was the lustie Brittaine for Epirabio a valiant Pagan with others excéedingly troubled him So was Abstrusio by the rest that were in the shippe as is alreadie said Now Claramant arriued and with a flourish swaying about his axe hee strooke the Pagan on the helme it is too weake to defence the head for with a big wound he was felled To succor him came the braue Assyrian Prince who heere got nothing now for the rigorous axe will not pardon Loue it selfe the which was discharged on the midst of his shield It cleft it in two and had not his armor béene Telimonios his breast had béen so too yet hee stumbled backwards not knowing what he did Then turned he vpon the two valiant brothers reaching Floraliza besides
reioyced because he had and did greatly loue that Princesse whom he so easily could not forget if she had not béene alotted to his brother In middest of whose shielde was drawne a world round like a globe by which a knight climed vp to the toppe whereof he wanted litle whereon sate Fortune reaching him her hand with this motto If Fortunes hand be not a stop I will attaine the highest top The which if Fortune do deny Fortune is too blame not I. No lesse pleasure was conceiued at the word then the knights gallant disposition who with admired Maiestie past on making his horse bend to the earth before the Ladies It amazed him to sée such diuine bewtie he stood a good a good while rapt in contemplation iudging it the rarest sight in the world and indéede he was not deceiued for so many and so faire were neuer séene togither but there I would be loth saide the Princesse Oliuia the knight of the Lyons should detract much time in gazing on our beauties so that when hée would not he be forced to loose the forbidden entrance not for want of valour but by his yéelding to loue There is none heere but wishes his good in all things spake the Quéene of Lyra for by his meanes we were all made ioyfull Oh let mee kéepe company with such happie knights saide Artemisa whose disdaine towards Ladies nor their comming against them so openly to approoue themselues their aduersaries in Venus lawes will not diuert their affection from them The desire they haue to become Louers aunswered the Empresse Claridiana helpes them to be beloued but let vs not not loose the sight of his high déeds for I haue great hope of his victorie There is none here but hath the like wishing it with their very soules replied Lyriana and therevpon I doubt not but he should finde some one heere that would vndertake the combat about the same By this the furious youth was arriued at the Tower gate where he dismounted and stucke his launce in the ground whereat hee tyed his horse with such beauerie that euery one applauded his behauiour His shield hee tied to his saddle pummell and taking his Axe with soueraigne grace he paced towards the entrance whose passage many iudged too small considering his fearefull aspect For raising aloft his mightie axe making the blade shine with her glittering brightnesse and he beeing one of the best proportioned knights on the earth so he were no Gyant for he was nine foot in height and of most strong and euen composed members all which were apparant tokens of his excessiue strength Scarce did hee beginne to mooue to enter the Tower when there was heard the horrible sound of new warlike instruments with such cries and clamors of people that it séemed a whole hoste was within Vpon the toppe of the Tower appeared squadrons of armed knights whence also were discharged infinit péeces of Ordinance Many hideous shrikes gaue warning that the fierce scourge of their house was come This is no impediment to forbid his mounting the staires for as if hée walked on the plaine ground he ascended them to the very top whence new cries rezounded and newe kéepers were séene to defend him from taking the key of the Tower A good while he laboured in this rigorous conflict in the end setling himselfe strongly on his féete hée past his axe into his left hand and with his right hee got the key wherewith hee opened the Tower gate whereat a new alarum was sounded which put the battel in some doubt For foure vgly deformed Gyants were placed at the doore in defence whereof they executed wonders hauing no other care but to prohibit the entrance Oh who would not delight to sée our warlike youth within the narrownesse of the gate take the axe by the middle wherewith he misses no blowe and that which he executeth daunts the place with chill cold feare but not those that were onely set there to receiue them though the God of battels had discharged then yet could they not bee greater then these Not without great labour and toyle hee thrust himselfe among them where his déeds were admirable yet he toyled in vaine for vnlesse hée cleaued their heads hee cannot frée himselfe from them because therein consisted all their strength But now Fortune was of his side and content that beauteous Princesse should be set at libertie and end so many her troubles by enioying him the heauens had so long since promised her for laboring in this cruell fight giuing and receiuing mightie blowes by good chance hee reached one with the blade of his axe vpon the head Hee cleft it downe to the breast thinking hee had cut a rocke so hard hee found it At the very instant he vanisht out of sight whereby he supposed their inchauntment lay there Wherevpon hee beganne to stretch himselfe at length with his axe as a cunning maister of his weapon Euery one in the place plainly beheld him for the walles of the Tower were so transparant that all was séene what ere was done in the first Hall Some alteration did Claridiano féele within her Iuorie breast remembring what troubles and daungers shee had indured and past all caused by that Princesse And Meridian was also cōfounded in imagination of opposed thoghts which excéedingly gréeued him for if his sister were liberated his fathers large Emperie should be hers but so he might sée her hee was content for that time to omit those cogitations and turned his eyes on the haughtie knight that representing firie Mars within the Tower had by this slaine another The valiant youth made sure account of the victorie knowing where their strength lay So hee extended all his to end the battell with them thinking their deaths would ende the enterprise Hee made as if hee feared them that they might with vnaduised haste follow him It fell out as hee desired and so fetching about the ingratefull Athenian axe hee discharged it with the vtmost of his furie on the top of the ones helme that both it and helme was cleaft to the waste Hauing thus done he determined to close with the last but ere hee cast his armes about him hee ranne against him so hard with his shoulders that hee thrust him from him with more furie then hee had béene driuen by a culuerins shot and before hee recouered himselfe the vnresisted axe did hit him on the head doing by it as by the others The Gréeke thought he had now ended his businesse but it happened otherwise for two knights of gallant disposition presented themselues before him without eyther Armes or weapons sauing Rapiers and Daggers They issued forth on the sudden but with the sound of millitarie instruments that gaue signall to a new fight The one said Most valiant knight séeing the happiest immured within this Tower must not be with Armour which wee willinglier would haue done the better to eschew your furious blowes but wee are commaunded the contrarie and therefore we are forced and dare not but obey wherefore if you will terminate the battle and thereby conclude the aduenture you must presently put off your Armour for our Combatte is permitted onely with Rapiers and Daggers Somewhat astonished was the Gréeke séeing he must leaue his Armour but it lasted not long because he would not bee taynted with cowardise and so hee thus made aunswere I am content Syr Knights although it bee no good custome if wee may vse our Armes to put them off in such necessarie occasion At that instant he set his axe against the wall and vngyrting his sword and dooing the like by it The two Knights had such care and were so vigilent to watch these two weapons that hee was scarcely disarmed when swifter thou an Eagle they presently snatched them away that his nimblesse was not able to prohibit it Hee neuer sawe himselfe in daunger of death vntill now for they of the Tower with those weapons are become more furious then himselfe They said Dead art thou Knight for thy fiercenesse cannot deliuer thée from our handes Onely with his dagger did the Gréeke youth finde himselfe wherewith conioyned to his inuincible and neuer daunted courage hee beganne to defend himselfe and with seldséene brauery to maintaine what hee had wonne to the extreame gréefe of all that beheld him the which togither with the sorrow conceiued to sée him so disarmed and my selfe ouerwearied constraineth mee abruptly to leaue this warre vnfinished that after a little breathing I may with fresh courage ende it in the next part continuing the relation of the rare déeds both of the famous Gréekes and valiant Pagans their Competitors And if herein I doo commit any offence let oh let your pardon and your fauours excéede my faults and then Nec Laudare satis dignasque rependere grates Sufficiam referent superi FINIS
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