force thereof it dazled his eies and did somewhat astonish him and this infernall Pagan had not so soone stroke this blowe but that hée stroke another at the Princesse with so great furie that â—t might well bée saide that next vnto God her inchaunted armour dyd saue her lyfe for that his greate cuâ—ting sworde coulde not cut nor enter into them yet for all that hée brake them and made the peeces to flie a great waie of so that all her one side was vnarmed and lefte naked Then the stout Troyan séeing his companions so euill intreated forcing himselfe with great courage stroke such a blowe at Bramarant vpon his healme that he amazed him in such sort that his sword fell out of his handes and hung by the wrist band the which blowe made this stout and proude Pagan to knowe that his knight was of noble bloud and courage Then the knight of the Sunne when that he sawe his Ladie vnarmed he went vnto her and requested her to depart out of the battaile to auoide the great daunger and perill in the which shée was brought for lacke of her armour And therewith he left Oristedes in contention with Bramarant and went with the Princesse to set her frâ—â— out of the battaile and did so much betwéene them both that quietlie they cléered themselues out of the prease and being frée thereof the royall Princesse with great griefe for to depart from her knight returned vnto the 〈◊〉 whereas she was honourablie receiued and gaue great comfort vnto all those Ladies and Gentlewomen The knight of the Sun returned againe into the battaile whereas he left the valiant Oristedes and found that the stout Pagan had ouerthrowen him vpon his horse crouper all astonied and amazed and as the Pagan would haue stroke him againe the knight of the Sunne put himselfe before him and sayde With mée Bramarant thou viddest begin the battaile therefore conclude it with me before thou makest anie farther contention with this knight And in saying these wordes he stroke him such an ouerthwart blow vpon the helme that it seemed hée had béene all on fire with the burning sparkes and flames of fire that flew out thereof and the force was so great that if hée had not embraced himselfe with his horse necke he had fallen downe to the ground Then this furious Pagan righted vp himselfe againe blaspheming against the heauens and against them that gaue so much power vnto nature for to create a knight of so great force and strength and therewith went against him and began to charge him with such terrible blowes that if it had bene some hard Marble rocke in a short space he had broke it all péeces but yet the good armor of the knight of the Sun was of so great force that it wold haue made resistance against a farre greater strength than his by reason of the finenesse of the bones of those little fishes which were found in the frosen sea as you haue heard before wherewith the armour of the knight of the Sunne as also that of the Pagan were made whereby we may sée and vnderstand how great and strange be the secrets of nature that in so little bones nourished in the water shoulde make more greater and stronger resistance than anie yron or stéele so that these two worthie warriours being in such securitie by reason of their armour did execute the furie oâ— their great strengthes and laide so cruellie the one vppon the other that it was a wonder to beholde them and many nigh vnto them left of their owne fighting for to beholde them meruailing greatlie at their terrible and most cruell battaile Now héere let vs leaue them for a while in this their contention wherein either of them had inough to doe to defend themselues and also the valiant Troyan who was intangled with a stout Gyant in battaile and had great care for to cléere himselfe from him and let vs tel of that inclite and generous knight Rosicleer that had the charge of the second battaile who when he sawe the other battaile so intangled with great desire that he had to sée himself amongst his enimies he and his two friends the king Sacridoro and the Tartarian Zoilo did put themselues before their camp and setting spurres vnto their horses went against them that came in the second battaile who likewise did mooue themselues to receiue them There came in their fore front the Prince Meridian and the stout and strong Pagan Brandimardo and with them a king of the Indias called Albiro a young knight and verie proude these thrée came against Rosicleer and his companions and in the middest betwéene the two battailes they made their encounter in this sort Rosicleer and Brandimardo made their encounter the one against the other and shéeuered their speares in péeces passing along without receiuing anie harme but Brandimardo being greatlie amazed at the strength of his aduersarie sayd within himselfe Out of all doubt this is hée that did combat with Bramarant in the wildernesse of Grecia or else it is he that slew the gran Campion his Father for that I canâ—ot beléeue that in anie other knight shoulde be so great force and strength The like dyd Rosicleer thinke of Brandimardo whose encounter seemed to be equall vnto those of the knight of the Sunne and sayde within himselfe Oh that God were so pleased that this valiant Pagan were a Christian for surelie it shuld grieue me verie much that such a knight should perish Then the strong king Sacridoro and the Prince Meridian made their encounters in such sort that their speares were shéeuered all to peeces but the king declined so farre backe that his head touched his horse crouper and he staied himselfe so stronglie that hée fell not but passed along being greatlie amazed at the great agiliâ—ie of his enimie y â— Prince who in the same incounter lost one of his stirops and therewith put himselfe into the battaile hauing his aduersarie in great estimation but hée that had the best lucke in these their encounters was the valyant Tartarian who meeting this proude 〈◊〉 strikking him in the middest of the breast he thrust his Speare through his bodie that it appeared at his backe and ouerthrew him dead to the ground With that encounter hée likewise had fallen to the ground if there he had not embraced himselfe with his horse necke When that these encountâ—rs were finished the two battailes ioyned together and the noise was so great which they made at the breaking of their Speares that the mountaines and hilles seemed to shake therewith and the great slaughter that was on both partes was meruailous great But when that Rosicleer with that gallant courage as he was wont to haue did put himselfe in the middest of the gard of Meridian who as you haue heard to be twelue strong Gyantes he did that which neuer before time of auncient people was the lyke heard of hée assaulted them in such sorte that one of them
â—â—at We 〈◊〉 take you for our Lord all the daies of our 〈…〉 of any other reward but to learne of you good maners and conditions and new séeing it is so we doe 〈…〉 praye and desirs you that you would not leaue vs 〈◊〉 tute of your campanie with this excuse y â— you haue told vs for that we had rather die with you in what place soeuer it be then to haue all that the Emperour our Lord can giue vs and we shall haue great reason to complaine of you if that in the ende of so long time that we haue bene in your séruice you will leaue vs for surely our father will think no other occasion which driueth you to leaue vs but onely that we are not for to serue you With no lesse 〈◊〉 then Aurelio his brother Biniano said as much vnto the knight of the Sunne desiring him that he would think well of them and to take them with him in his companie who when he saw their great â—â—portunatie without speaking any word he mounted vpon his Horse and departed out of the pallace and his squires followed him and being foorth of the Citie they made so great haste in their trauaile that when the daie did breake they were a great waie of from Constantinople and fearing that some would follow after them they left the high waie and put themselues into a faire gréene fresh forest meruaâ—lously full of trées and in a part of the wildernesse of Grecia verie famous and notaâ—â—â— as well for the mightinesse thereof as to be verie plaine for that in one huÌ„dreth myles trauailing you could not finde anie one mountaine or hill the which was verie fresh and delightfull full of orchards and gardines and thick trées that few times they that doth enter into the same can finde the way out againe And trauailing in the same this valiant knight with his heart so furious and full of sorow griefe and anger that he thought it would breake within his bodie His squires séeing him so full of anguish and griefe they kept themselues a good waie behinde him for feare of his wrath and displeasure but he was so peâ—sâ—ue and heauie in his heart and minde that his Horse carryed him at his pleasure for that he made no accompt to rule him to the one side nor vnto the other and as he rode all alone in these pensine cogitations as you before haue heard they heard him saie as followeth OH traytor and false knight whether doest thou goe and what dost thou â—éeke how is it thâ—at thou doest now liue in the world hauing committed so great treason Oâ— earth why doest thou not open and swallow me vp into thy profoundnesse for that such a traitor as I am doth not delexue other sepulchre Oh if it were Gods will that thou diddest now open and that all the foure Glements might fall together vpon me as the fire did against Aleâ—bâ—atlâ—s the good Captaine of Grecia and the aire and water as against Pompeyo being drowned in the deep seas of Aegypt Alexander horne in Epiro and drowned in the â—iuer Lucano Likewise that the earth might bée against me as it was against him who with a great and mightie armie was drowned â—n the sants Oh high and coniealed cloudes how swéete and in peaceable sorte shoulde â—ound in my eares the timerous noise of your wonderfull and sodaine thunders if that from them might descend vpon me the beames of burning fire as they did descend vpon Carro Emperor of Rome in the wars of Tigre and vpon Hostiâ—â—o king of the Romanes who béeing in his pallace was slaine by two sodaine lightninges Oh that my force and strength were so contrarie now vnto me as was the force of Milo and that this my horse might drawe mée through this forrest or that by some other occasion I might end my life so that I dyd it not my selfe for the safegard of my soule and when that all these disasters dooth faile mée then doe I desire God that my wittes may faile me and my vnderstanding as did Hercules and Aiax Telamon the Gréeke for y â— I being mad furious as they were might not féele my misfortune and vnhappie lot What is he in all the world that euer felt anie anguish sorrow and griefe that may be compared vnto mine What shall I doo and whether shall I goe Why should I liue anie longer vpon the earth for that I haue not alonelie bene a traitour vnto my Ladie and mistres but also as a mortall enimie I haue laid vpon her with my sword What misfortune may happen worse vnto me than this to sée her desire my death in whome standeth all the state of my life yet haue I committed against her so great euill and errour that shée hath iust cause to procure my death and I lacke of reason for to excuse me but now séeing that it is so that I am abhorred of my Ladie I will not kill my selfe for the safegard of my soule lyke a faithfull Christian but I will thether whereas none shall know nor heare anie newes of me whether I hée aliâ—ie or dead yea there whereas the brute beasts cannot liue for that so false and distoiall a man as I am deserueth not to liue whereas they do receiue comfort of the Sun and the swéetnesse of the aire So saying these and many other things this good knight trauailed being verie furious not desiring anie other thing but wherein it might cost him his life And as he trauailed a space in this sort and being entered a good waie into the wildernesse looking before him that waie which his horse carried him he sawe come forth out of a narrow path from amongst a bushment of thicke trées a mightie bigge knight mounted vpon a mightie horse all armed in blacke armour so bigge membred that he lacked little to be a Gyant and as hée drew nigh vnto him hée sawe that hée carryed his â—eauer lift vp and that he was of so furious semblaunce and braue countenaunce and by his bigge stature and well proportioned members hée séemed to bée verie valiant and séeing him come in this manner he sayde within himselfe Oh that my fortune were such that this whom I now méete were that Milo or that mightie Hercules or some other of no lesse force strength and valiantnesse than they that might so â—orment my strength in such sorte that this my bodie so disâ—oial might remaine in these fieldes for â—oode vnto the brute beasts but my soule into the place of ease in eternall glorie for whome it was created In saying these wordes this bigge knight merâ—ailing verie much at the braue and gentle disposition of the knight of the Sunne dyd staie his mightie horse and beholding him hée sayd Tell mée Knight art thou by fortune of the court of the Emperour â—rebatio I am sayde the knight of the Sunne Then tell me if thou commest from thence if there remaineth a knight that is called the
the Fauno should discouer the shippe and before that we could doe anie thing for to saile from him he would ouertake vs and giue vs all cruell deathes as he hath done to manie others heretofore In conclusion at these words the knights consented not to â—â—aie but to departe and according vnto the great feare which they receued they thought they tarried to long but the two squires when they saw that they departed and caryed them in their companie leauing their Lord in so great perill it cannot be declared the great complaints that they made requesting y â— knights and pylot for to carrie them vnto the Ilande wherewith they should receiue great contentment and be ioyfull but all their requestes were in vaine for that they would not consent that they should dye so desperate a death as also for the great peâ—ill which should be vnto them all they would not consent therevnto wherewith these good squires were so desperate that if time had serued them therevnto they would haue throwen themselues into the sea and by swimming as well as they could they would haue gon to the Iland of the Fauno but the knights caused them to be kept in the shippe and put into a cabin and locked the dore and caryed them in their companie till in the ende of certaine daies they ariued at Transiluania whereas they did disembarke themselues and went a â—and but the Squires were so leane so féeble for that they would not eate anie thing and againe by shedding of so manie teares that they could scarce stand vpon their féete And now to returne to the knight of the Sunne the Historie maketh no more mencion of them but when they came vnto Transiluania after that they had remained there two daies for to refresh and strengthen themselues they sought an other shippe where in they returned to seeke the Ilande of the diuelish Fauno with determined good will there to dye with their Lorde in which iourney they were taken prisoners so that they could not accomplish their desire as shal be declared vnto you in the processe of this Historie ¶ How the knight of the Sunne ariued at the Iland of the possessed Fauno and of the wonderfull and perillous battaile that he had with him Chap. 15. SO when the knight of the Sunne was departed from the knights of Candia he made such hast in rowing w t his great mightie strength that small bote that in a short space he ariued at the solitarie Iland and surelie it was a thing of great meruaile worthie to be put in memorie all that happened with this valiant and happie knight for one way the water stode in his eies and his heart was reâ—die to breake with soâ—â—w griefe and pittie to sée his Squirâ—s remaine so sorowâ—ull and without all comfort an other waie acknowledging in what peril he was of his life in that iourney and how he went to put himselfe in the greatest perplexitie that euer was man he remâ—mbred and armed himselfe with so great hardinesse courage that he thought the time long till he did sée that diuelish Fauno When that he came a lande he sawe that all the Iland was plaine and verie fragarant and fresh replenished with greene Trées although there appeared manie buildings the which were destroyed and fallen downe to the ground in such sorte that it well appeared that the people that there dwelled to be diuelish and abhoiminable And as he was beholding y e countrie which séemed to be verie good and fertill he straight waies discouered where the diuelish Fauno was yet was he not nigh him but a great waye of neither did he sée him but that which proceeded from him which was an infernall fier which seemed to reach vp vnto the Skies with so great a noyse as though it had thundred and as y â— wise Lirgandeo saith that there was no humane heart of so sufficient courage for to séeke out so terrible and wonderfull attempt as was this of that worthie valiant knight in whose heart neuer entred any feare but with so valiant and couragious a stomacke determined to seeke that mishapen and infernall beast â—ull of so manie legions of diuells And for that he would not that there should remaine any thing that might carrie him out from that Ilande hée drew the bâ—te that brought him thether a lande and with one of the oares with the which he rowed he broke it all to peeces and scattered them abroade alongst the water syde that the force of the waues might carrie awaie the péeces But before he departed from that place where he ariued he fell downe vppon his knées and with manie sorowful sighes triikling teares which ranne downe his chéekes in signe that he was a true and faithfull Christian he sayde as followeth OH soueraigne creator both of heauen and earth without whose good will there is no diuell that hath any power neither without it can men fowles nor brute beastes liue vpon the face of the earth nor be sustained nor gouerned without it the Elements would be confounded the heauens lose their course and naturall mouings The earth would quake and the high and mightie mountaines would fall The waters of the Seas would ouer flow the lande and no liuing thing should finde where to be sustained but thou by thy infinit goodnesse and mercie doest ordaine and sustaine all not for that it is to thée necessarie but for the profit of man Therefore séeing that thou doest vse so great pittie and mercie with them here Lorde I doe desire thée that in this perillous danger thou wouldest not leaue me and if I haue anie desire herein to gette the victory it is not for anie honor nor vaine glorie that I hope to maintaine thereby but onely to haue a little more time for to liue in this dispeopled and solitarie Ilande whereas I may fully repent mée for the life which hetherto I haue lead and for to doe some penance for the euills which I haue committed against thy diuine magestie But if it be thy will that I dye in this trance I doe most hartely desire thée not to looke vpon my sinnes and wickednesse but to haue mercie vpon this my soule which is immortal and by thée created to thy similitude and likenesse for eternal liâ—e and diddest redéeme it with thy most precious bloud the which I pray thée to pardon and to receiue at such time as it doth depart out of this wretched bodie my death doth not greue mée so much as that I haue not time enough to serue thée When this good kâ—â—ght had saide these wordes he arose vp vpon his féete and looking towards that part the which was toward Grecia with deepe profound sighes he saide OH Empresse Claridiana how ioyfull would it be vnto my heart if y â— I did know of certaintie that thou wert acquainted with this my daungerous attempt with the which I am bestead for that seeing that my
seemed not to be anie humane creatures But now was the time come of the good fortune and destinie promised vnto the Emperour Trebatio to shewe it selfe fauourable and the Prophesie before sayde by the olde king of Gedrosia to worke effect and accomplish the truth thereof in confirming of the same for that the Pagans began to retire and night drew on and it wared darke they receiued great feare in such sorte that they put themselues vnto flight and ranne awaie with great shame so that a little before the shutting of the euening the Pagans put themselues in such feare and hast in running that there was no force of resistance in them but to be all slaine by the Gréekes who followed them at their héeles And the Emperour Alycandro when that he sawe himselfe left alone without his strong gard and mightie kings his vassals that were wont to kéepe and beare him companie and all his people to run awaie before him ouercome and cleane without anie hope of victorie he larged the raines vnto his horse and ranne about the field complaining verie much against the Gods whome he tooke to bée his parents and kinsfolke as also against Fortune for shewing her selfe so contrarie against him but most he complained against himselfe for putting so great confidence and trust in his owne power in that hée would not giue anie credit vnto the good and true counsailes of the olde king of Gedrosia and going in this sort he came vnto his Tents and taking the faire Princesse Lyndabrides and the rest of the Ladies and Damsels that were with her with other such things as conueniently he could hée fled downe vnto the sea side whereas was all his whole Fléete whereof the Christians had burnt a great part of them such as were at the Sea for although the saide ships of the Christians were but few in number yet when that they sawe the great destruction that was made on the land they recouered great courage â—or to assault them that were at the Sea in such sorte that they set fire on manye shippes that were in the Fléete in spite of them that were there for that they found small resistance Thus as I haue saide before when the Emperour came vnto the Sea side there was so great hast of embarking that with great trauaile hée embarked himselfe into a shippe with those that came with him and being embarked yet he thought not himselfe in anie securitie but in great hast caused the Sailes to bée spread abroade and launched themselues into the Sea leauing all this troupe and power ouerthrowen in Grecia Then the Prince Meridian and Brandimardo when that they sawe how that the people were dispearsed and that by no meanes possible they coulde not staie them from flying and running awaie Then went they from one place vnto another séeking of the Emperour Alycandro but could not finde him till such time as they came vnto the Sea side whereas it was tolde them how that hée was embarked into a shippe and departed with the Princesse Lyndabrides and the other Ladies and Gentlewomen that were in her companie amongst whome was the faire Princesse Floralinda spouse vnto the Prince Meridian who when that hée vnderstoode of their departure dyd straight wayes embarke himselfe in another shippe and followed after them In all this while the Gréekes vnderstoode in no other thing but in killing and slaying of Pagans as they ranne awaie and made such slaughter as in all the daie before was not the lyke at which time all the water in the Tirreno sea from the â—geo vnto the Euxino was redde and turned into the coulour of bloud with the great quantitie that were slaine as well on the sea as on the land which was a thing of great terrour and wonder to beholde But the knight of the Sunne when he sawe that the battaile was dispearsed and how that the Pagans sledde before them hée made no farther account of them but went and sought for the Emperour Alycandro and the Princesse Lyndabrides fearing that in the moouing and running of the people they should receiue some damage or harme The which he would not that it should so fall out for anie thing in all the world for that hée considered verie well in his minde how much he was bound vnto them for the great loue which they bare vnto him And when he came vnto the Tents he went from one vnto another enquiring for the Emperour and it was tolde him how they were fled and gone wherewith he gallopped his horse till hée came vnto the sea side whereas hée sawe the Pagans making great hast for to embarke themselues and many of them did swimme aboord because they would not abide the furie of the Greekes a land Then the Knight of the Sunne came vnto one of those Pagans and put the point of his sword to his face and sayd that hee would kill him if hée dyd not tell him newes of the Emperour Alycandro Then the Pagan who sawe him depart for feare of death tolde him how that he was departed from thence in a ship with the princesse Lyndabrides and all her Ladies and gentlewomen Whereat when the knight of the Sunne heard of their departure he was verie sorrowfull as well for the perill in the which they put themselues as also for that hée would haue done vnto them the honourâ— and seruice that they deserued and for that his valiant courage could not suffer that they should depart in such sorte with a setled purpose and determination full of vertue he put himselfe into a Boate and caused the Marriners to rowe him vnto a good ship that was there at hande whereas he found certaine knights that did resist him at his entrie whom he slew and threatned the Maister and Marriners that he woulde lykewise kill them if they did not gouerne the ship right that waie which the Emperour Alycandro was departed and gone Then they who sawe the great destruction that hée had made in so short a time being greatlie amazed thereat and with great feaâ—e did obey all that he commanded so that in companie with the other ships they hoised saile and departed through that bloudie sea whereas we wil leaue them in their iourney and returne vnto them that were left in the field At this time the good Emperour Trebatio when he saw the night come on a pace and that it waxed darke being verie wearie he all his companie in killing of pagans began to blow and sound his rich horne which lyke a good Captaiâ—e he carried alwaies about his necke and he dyd sound it iâ— such sort that in all those broade and wide fields it was heard at which sound all his people dyd obey his commandement and gathered themselues together But yet in all this time the battaile betwixt Rosicleer and Bramarant neuer ceased but rather as then was more furious and kindled in wrath and they did no other thing but procure to charge the one the other with
from the knight of the Sunne and of his returne In all this time the Damsell Arcania did not foreslow her selfe but with great care and hast trauailed with desire for to come vnto her Ladie the Princes Claridiana to declare vnto her y â— who le course of y â— disloialtie of y â— knight of y â— Sunne as one y â— was ignorant of all y â— succeded afterward but beleuing for truth y â— he had bene married to the princesse Lindabrides And so not happening vnto her anie thing in her iourney that might disturbe her in the end of certayne daies after her departure from the gran Cataio she ariued at the Empire of Trapisonda and she vnderstanding howe that the Emperour was dead and how that her Ladie was crowned Empresse of Trapisonda she directed her iourney thetherwards came thether at such time as the Empresse was most desirous to heare newes of her knight because his tarying was so long thinking euerie daie to bée one whole yéere So when that Arcania came into the Citie she went straight waies towards the roiall pallace entered in thereat at such time as the Empresse was all alone in her closet occupied with no other thing but with her continual anguish and sorrowful thoughts who being certefied of her solitarinesse made no more adoe but entered into her closet shut the doore after her and comming before the Empresse fell downe vpon her knées and craued her handes to kisse them with so great abundance of teares that distiled from her eies that she had not the power to speake one word The Empresse séeing her on such a sodaine to enter in shée was greatlie ameruailed and went and embraced her saying Ah Arcania the true faithful secretarie of all my secrets what sodaine comming is this of thine that maketh me so much amazed and astonied How is it that thou commest alone and lefte the companie of him that thou wentest withall where hast thou left my knight tell me whether he bée come into this Countrie or not for that there is nothing in this world that at this present can giue me more content or ioy vnto my hart tell me out of hand some newes of him make no tarrying for y â— euerie moment séemeth to me one whole yéere of thy delating The sorrow and griefe the which Arcania had for those heauie newes that she should giue vnto her Ladie was such that â—he could doe no other thing but wéepe and was not able to speake one word the which being well considered by the Empresse Claridiana it brought her into the greatest perpleritie and sorrow that euer shée was in in all her life suspecting the euill newes that she brought for that she was so long in declaring them vnto her And hauing not the heart to suffer any longer but shedding great abundance of teares wherewith she did all to be bathe her face she burst out and said Oh high mightie and immortall God creator of all the worlde what is this that Arcania maketh so long delaâ—e in telling vnto mée her newes if they be anie that appertaineth vnto my long hope desired pleasure let me heare them But oh vaine hope of men how can any of vs liue but in great feare séeing that so many waies and times we are deceited by you with sodaine and vnlooked for doubts Alas what is he dead he that onely y â— hope that I had to sée him did sustaine my whole life As all humaine creatures hath their humours and there is none y â— liueth but euery houre are subiect vnto a thousand euills and misfortunes and the least of them all suffiseth to cause death In the high Firmament is congeled Thunderboults againste humaine creatures the waters doth swell by force of raine the windes doth combat and cause earthquakes the depthes of the Seas doe roare by force that they doe receiue and hoyse the ships at times vp vnto the heauens and straight waies downe vnto the depth of the waters The earth which séemeth vnto vs to be in securitie is full of perills vpon the face therof the terrible lightnings and thunderbolts hath their courses Likewise the déepe and profound Riuers doth excéede their limits Upon the earth is ouerthrowen and doth fall the mightie Mountaines and Rockes wherein doth happen great diseases Horses doth make their course y â— one against the other at whose encounters their riders be ouerthrowen men trauailing quietly by the way vpon a sodaine and vnlooked for are beset and ouerpressed with théeues robbers The furious Tyger cruell Lions the huge Elephant and fearce Griffens vnmercifull dragons and Basilists with a thousand kinde of wilde beasts Serpents that liueth vpon the earth what mortal man is he that is not afraide of theÌ„ as being the occasion that they haue not their liues in anie securitie Alas what shall I say if any of all these misfortunes â—auigating by Sea or trauailing by land hath chaunsed vnto the flower of all Knighthood that my Damsel Arcania is afraide to vtter it and hath no tongue to speake But alas I suppose that none of all these perills hath chaunced vnto him but considering that the world is great and wide and the knight of the Sunne hath trauailed through many countries landes and it cannot be otherwise but that he hath had the sight of many faire Ladies and damsels that theyr presence hath bene the occasion to put mée cleane out of his remembraunce And wen there were no other but the princesse Lindabrides daughter vnto the Emperour Alicandro of the gran Tartaria in whome the soueraigne creator hath bestowed so great beautie grace y â— she alone were sufficieÌ„t w t her preseÌ„ce to cause y â— empres Claridiana to be forgotten This faire Empresse séeing these and many other words of great dolour wherewith her thought was troubled she â—une vnto her Damsel Arcania and embrasing her said Ah my louing and faithful Arcania make an ende and declare vnto mée this sorowfull newes for that thy delaying doth cause vnto mée mortall griefe But Arcania durst not declare vnto her that sorowful and heauie newes for that she knew the great griefe that would procéede thereof but yet she was so much importuned that in the ende she was constrained to vtter it who began as followeth Ah my Ladie and Emprisse I would if that God were so pleased that this newes that I doe bring you were of the death of the knight of the Sunne how that the vnmerciful waues of the Sea had swallowed him vp or else how that the ground had opened and he consumed therein For if that it had happened in this sort then should you haue no occassion to coÌ„plain of him But alas he is wel in good health wheras y â— sight of an other ladie hath made him captiue al your loue forgotten that y â— recouerie is without remedie For after our departure out of Grecia til we came to y â—
much more the victorie against the Gréekes is so vncertaine and as you may make iust accompt thereof although you think it to the contrarie without any consideration of peruerse fortune which may so fall out that they shall remaine al libertie and you deceiued although the host of men which you may carie wil be a great multitude mightie and strong yet many times it falleth out that the greatest host is ouercome by the lesser as it happened vnto Xerxes and vnto Darius and a great number more who with hosts of innumerable companie of people were destroyed and ouercome Likewise before that this shall come in effect if you doe well consider and haue an eye into the great angers and molestacions presumptions alterations and contrarieties which doth happen daylie in these mightie hostes I beleue that you will think it better to remaine and liue at home in your owne countrie then to passe into Grecia with so mightie an host for that there is no iniuries nor cruelties that may be compared vnto the condicions of men of warre And these which you do think to be your owne it may so fall out that for a little occasion they will change their copie and perhaps betray â—el them so that of knights and subiects they may become thy enimies Behold and consider of that great and mightie Alexander who in his time accompted himselfe of no lesse estate then you doe now at this present yet that which all his enimies could not conclude and bring to passe was finished by his owne knights in killing him by poyson If you wil that I shall declare vnto you many other examples by Emperours of Rome beholde who slew Pertinax and the two Maximos father and sonne Baluino Maximo Probo Graciano Valentiniano the least of all these were good valiant men and yet slaine by the hands of those of their host Likewise I will declare the great perills and misfortunes that happeneth at the sea by y â— which you must of necessitie passe this your great multitude of people I would it were not my fortune to speake but could excuse my selfe for that it is well knowen vnto all men how readie y â— mightie windes are to augment perills the mightie greate and vnmercifull waues the hidden rockes vnder the water the continuall tempests and whirle windes What is that so strong that the power of the heauens and the sea doe not rent and teare all to péeces and carrie awaie by sodaine stormes and tempests of the windes and therefore it is said that the going to the sea is easie but the comming from the sea is perillous but putting all the perills and daungers a parte and that Fortune wil shew her selfe fauourable vnto you in all these affaires and that with prosperous windes and times you are entered into the Empire of Grecia yet I would you should consider and knowe how doubtfull is the victorie at that present for that in all thinges hope is doubtfull and much more in great warres and contentions Uerie prudent and well experimented in armes was hée that saide that there is nothing that hath his ende more vncertaine than the warre and that it is farre better a certaine and sure peace than the hoped victorie One thing all you may beléeue of a certaine that verie few or none entereth into battaile without hope of victorie but yet consider if it bée not a thing that hath often happened the losse of the ouercome to be lesse than of the ouercoÌ„mers How many times doth men goe vnto the warres in hope to haue the victorie and to the contrarie remaines ouercome and that which is worst they remaine dead in the field so that they returne not backe againe to their houses ouercome nor with victorie And yet will I say more in contradiction of your hope that if you did know of a verie certaintie and truth that the victorie should be on your parts against the Gréekes yet for all that I will not let to giue you counsaile for to remaine in quiet at home in your owne Countrie for as the victorie is alwaies doubtfull euen so many times it is sorrowfull bloudie is not got with ease that which is sought with perill of their liues déerelie sold y â— is bought with bloud more deerer if it cost their liues We haue séene many times an host to haue the victorie yet their generall slaine in the battaile this is without all doubt y â— some shal be slaine on your part possible it may be your lot before any other for that your enimies as vpon the principall staie of your host will seeke to procure your death How sodainlie vnlooked for may you méet with the knight of the Sun he that was heere in your court at which tune you would willingly giue all that now you do possesse for to be as farre distant from him as you are at this present Of truth according vnto his furie great worthinesse brauerie stoutnesse the which experience hath shewed me by the incredible things done in sight of al men in this court surelie I shuld thinke no securitie in my life although I were in the middest of your great mighty host if I were certaine that he were against me in the field And héere I do desire praie the almightie immortall Gods to saue kéep thée from his furious hands for surelie my heart doth tremble to heare you saie that you will goe and seeke him to contend with him Héere is now in presence Rodaran king of Arabia and the king of Media who hath proued the experience of his mightie blowes I doe desire your highnesse to aske of them if they haue anie good will to returne and proue them againe as also if Rodaran be in the same opinion that he was before he went into Grecia Therefore O high and mightie Emperour conserue and maintaine this soueraigne estate into the which the high and immortall Gods hath exalted you and leaue off this enterprise for to goe and séeke perilles and daungers in other straunge Countries for that innumerable bée the misfortunes that wée are daylie subiect vnto And you shall not doe little for to conserue and kéepe that which you doe now possesse Wise men in times past dyd not thinke it to bée done with ease who sayde that it was great trauaile to suffer prosperitie and that it was necessarie to learne to suffer hauing Fortune at will for that it is more difficult to gouerne himselfe therewith than in aduersitie Héere therefore I thinke not amisse to staie my talke for that in this which I haue sayde you maye verie well vnderstand my iudgement not onelie that you shoulde restraine from executing your will but also that you should seperate and blot it cleane out of your thought and minde neuer more remember it For that if the knight of the Sun had done vnto you any iniurie as hetherto he hath not for that
he wrote vnto him Soâ— Rosicleer tooke the charge vppon him for to dispatâ—h the Dainsell vnto whome the Empresse his Mother gaue many rich and precious iewells And he wrote vnto the wise man a letter in the name of the Emperour such a one that he receued great pleasure in the sight thereof So after that this Damsell was departed from the Citie within fewe dayes after the prince Clauerindo departed for France and Baâ—gandel for Bohemia and the other princes euery one into his owne countrie Then the good king Sacridoro at such time as hée shoulde depart towards his Countrie hee went to take his leaue of his great friend Rosicleer who as vnto the best friende hee had in the worlde did embrace him and not without shedding of many teares he sayd Ah my good friends I had thought that all my euill fortunes had bene concluded that you might haue gone as is great reason to haue taken your rest and ease whereas you haue béene so long looked for of that worthie â—â—éene Oriselua but now I sée my fortune to be such that whâ—â— a man doth thinke himselfe to bée at most quietnesse aâ—d ease then doth shée beginne a new to giue mee troubles to that new I haue more néede of your helpe and aide thâ—n heeretofâ—â—e desiring of God to gratifie you for the same for that of my selfe I am not able and hee doth well 〈◊〉 how â—â—â—uous it is to mée as now to leaue your 〈…〉 considering the state of all thinges it is 〈…〉 I should be absent one daie from the Court Then the good king Sacridoro with great loue dyd embrace Rosicleer and sayd My good Lorde in nothing can fortune shew her selfe more fauourable vnto me than to ofâ—er occasion wherein I may imploie the good will that I haue to serue you onelie to paie parte of that wherein I am so greatlie bound vnto you and these which you doe call misfortunes are vnto mee good and happie fortunes as well to haue occasion not to loose your companie so soone which is so acceptable vnto me as also the more for the extolling of your fortune and my good Lorde you ought not so greatlie to 〈◊〉 that thinges should so fall out to make you carefull and put your friendes to trouble for that béeing your Father and brother and you of so great highnesse of puâ—e force you shoulde shew your selfe stout against enuie and enimie vnto them of the worlde for that the most highest Pine 〈◊〉 are more assaulted of the windes than the other lowe trâ—es and the highest mountaines more subiect vnto the thundering and tempests that are conicaled in the Clowdes Thus these and many other thinges passed betwéene these two good and perfect friendes till such times as with many teares they tooke their leaue the one of the other So after that the king Sacridoro had taken his leaue of the Emperour the Empresse and of all the rest of his friends hée departed out of the mightie Citie of Constantinople and comming to the sea side he dyd embarke himselfe in a good shippe and made saile towards the kingdome of Antiochia and Rosicleer remained in great solitarinesse for lacke of his companie for that the loue which hée bare vnto him was verie greate who séeing how much it did touch him that which shoulde happen although his father the Emperour Trebatio with great diligence did vnderstand in the prouiding of all things necessarie He likewise on the other part did all that euer he could for to ioyne together the armie and in writing vnto his friends giuing them to vnderstand of the great néede that he had of them But the absence of the knight of the Sunne was vnto him verie grieuous for that he would not that at that time he should bée absent from the Court and for to tel you what passed with him the Hystorie doth leaue the other till time How the knight of the Sunne came forth of the wildernes of Grecia and sailing by sea was by a mightie storme carried vnto the solitarie Iland whereas was the diuellish Fauno Chap. 14. VVIth great sorrow griefe did this Historie leaue the knight of the Sun trauailing through that wide long thicke wildernesse of Grecia after that he had made the battaile with Brandimardo in the which he trauailed many daies and could neuer find the waie out in which time there happened vnto him many great and notable aduentures the which the author doth leaue to rehearse for to make short this first part So after a good while that the knight of the Sunne had trauailed in that wildernesse alone with his two Squires in the end he came vnto the sea side whose fortune was such that at the same instant there was come a land out of a boat certaine Mariners y â— came to séeke fresh water for a ship that was at the sea a good waie from the land in the which ship was to the number of thirtie knights that came from the Iland of Candâ—a and were bound vnto Mâ—fia which is now called Transiluania vnto certaine triumphs and feasts that were there ordained and as the Mariners were returning for to imbarke themselues the knight of the Sun did request them to receiue him into their boate for y â— it stood him 〈◊〉 vppon to passe into y â— Country The Mariners séeing him of so gentle disposition wel armed they durst not say to the â—entrarie but said they were verie well content therewith So this good knight did alight from his horâ—e also his squires and entered into the boate with their horses the which being done the Mariners began to row with great force till such time as they came vnto the ship whereas they were verie well receiued of the knights for y â— the comlinesse of his person ioyntlie with the strange riches of his inchanted arâ—â—or caused all them that did beholde him to haue him in great estimation and to giue him the honour that he deserued but when that he did lift vp the beauer of his 〈◊〉 they were all meruailouslie amazed to see how nature had wrought so great perfection in his face Besides all this in his coâ—â—senance he shâ—wed so great grauâ—tie and 〈◊〉 that as he was tall and verie well made that there was 〈◊〉 one as the wise Arteâ—ndoro sayth that euer dyd see him but his heart did alter and waxed timerous And this was 〈◊〉 of the excellentest vertues that was in this Knight thâ—t hée neuer sawe knight in the face although he were a straunger or otherwise knowen that he would 〈◊〉 or make anie euill account of him and this vertue did increase in him from his youth till such time as hée came vnto the perfectnesse of his strength which was at such time as he had battaile with that stout and valiaunt Bramarant as shall bée shewed you in the sequâ—ale of this Hystorie for vntyll that time his force and strength as also the bignesse of his members did dailie increase
thing â—he which he cannot obtain to put from him that which is impossible to leaue All creatures borne as wel as those that are to be borne although there be a great 〈◊〉 of liuing of their deaths yet to die is naturall vnto them all What do you thinke to flie from that which your fathers grandfathers their predecessors yâ—â— Emperours kings could neuer escape let vs turne our backes all that euer we can froÌ„ death auoide the perils thereof yet in the end it shall happen vnto vs as vnto hint thâ—â— sâ—utteth his â—ies at the blow of his enimie suffering the griefe thereof because hée would not sée it And whereas you saie that it is good for mée to liue longer and not to procure my death before my time I 〈◊〉 vnto you that there is none that dieth before his time for that all men dieth not at one time and as wise men saie euerie one hath his time appointed the which béeing accomplished hée concludeth his fine and for that wée haue not so much lisence to call time backe againe neither to staie of necessitie wée must procéede forwards No man ran die but at his time appointed sauing 〈◊〉 hee take the time for him that himselfe hath assigned and not by him that dooth assigne nature and fortune It is a small matter touching the immortalitie of the soule some to liue foure score â—éeres and other to liâ—e eight yéeres the time being past it séemeth the one to bée no 〈◊〉 than the other Men do deceiue themselues in many thinges but in especiall concerning their death not for that all men doe thinke to die but because they hope the time will bée long séeming to be farre of that which one waie by the briefnesse of life and swiftnesse of time and another waie by the force of fortune and by the diuersities of humane chaunces béeing alwaies at hand Death vnto a young man should neuer seeme grieuous although he made reckoning of no other goodnesse for abiding the time of auncient yéeres there procéedeth thereof nothing but sadnesse and miseries The young man doth well-knowe what he hath passed in his time but yet he knoweth not what he shall passe if that he endure long In this cruell and inconstant kingdome of Fortune hée that first dyeth doeth deceiue and mocke his fellowe You will now saie vnto me that séeing that death is necessarie and of force it were better to abide the time of naturall death than to goe and receiue it of that diuellish Fauno Then you might well saie if that I were certaine thereof that the death that I shoulde die shoulde bée more happie than fortunate but whosoeuer doth knowe it for that many a one haue hoped to die in their beddes when that afterward they were hanged and some throwne from the toppe of a mountaine some torne with Lions and some eaten with wilde Bores yea that Euripides the light of al great pollicy next vnto Homer was cruellie â—â—rne in péeces with dogges Likewise Luâ—recio Prince of Poets by drinkes that were giuen him by his concubine did raue in such sort that he thought it the best remedie to kill himselfe with a knife with what great good will would the Emperour Adriano suffered himselfe to haue bene torne in péeces of a furious Lion if his people would haue suffered him rather then haue abidden that terrible sicknesse whereof he dyed Many other mo as is well knowen did hope to die of their naturall deathes and yet in the ende they died of verie desperate and cruell deathes and possible before they eschewed farre worse And you who doth giue couÌ„sell for to flie from death I would you would tell mée how farre you are from it your selfe of trueth if you doe consider verie well you shall finde that there is but a thin borde betwixt you and death and not yet two daies past when that you thought the houre was come Oh false and folish world of men that flyeth with great diligence from one little perill on the land in resisting wherof there is no honour to be gotten yet putteth not doubt to put themselues vnto these déepe seas wheras their liues is at the courtesie of the windes to ouerthrow them and of the terrible waues to drowne them they flie from one follie on the land and putteth their liues in foure farre worse vppon the seas in a shippe that is alwaies mouing the mariners neuer in one accord the water that neuer staÌ„deth still and the winde that neuer resteth What Dragon or furie is vpon the land that doth feare vs more then vpon the â—ea whereas it is well knowen an innumerable sort of men hath bene drowned There is no furie nor wilde beast vpon the lande but that it is possible by the force and strength of man to make defence and resistance but vpon y â— sea if you ioyne together all y â— strengthes of the most valiantest men in all the worlde yet are they not able to make any resistaÌ„ce against one storme or teÌ„pest but if they please they may make thrusts with their speares into the water and strike with their swordes against the windes And now séeing that ther is all these perills on the sea wherefore my good friend doe you not take the counsel for your selfe the which you doe giue vnto mée What doe you thinke that it is not more possible for mée for to ouercome the diuelish Eauno then you to haue y â— victorie of two so terrible Elements as is the water and winde Finallie to conclude when that man thinketh himselfe most farthest from death it is then nighest at hande therefore barons that be stout and couragious in nothing they should feare the death wheras they doe venter themselues to get honor and not to apart themselues from perills and dangers for that they be alwaies readie at hand and in the ende when that it shal please God that they shal die it is no other thing but a cléering of the soule out of this miserable captiuitieâ— prison and to leaue this troublesome wearie world where in I doe sée that there is no pleasure without sodaine misthiâ—ousnesse no peace without discord no loue without suspition no ease without feare no aboundance without lacke nor no estate without complaints all doth wéepe all doeth sigh all doth complaine all doth shrike and sobbe and all things doth ende I sée none that liueth content I sée nothing that is firme and stable I sée all in confusion tossed vpside downe as wel in things liuing as insensible as wel the brute beastes as reasonable creatures the high mightie towers be torne and rent with thunderboults walles be ouerthrowen with Canon shot great flouds doth carrie away Cities and townes Trées be eaten with wormes the gréene corne with the Grassehoppers Timber doth rot and moulder away the brute and wilde beastes doth fight 〈◊〉 with an other betwéene the Ownce and the Lion there is great
vpon verie gallant and well dressed palfries and mounted himselfe vppon a mightie great horseâ— and put himselfe in the middest betwéene them And béeing in this maner in the great and wide court whereas the Emperour and the Empresse with all those valiant kings Princes and knights did behold them and a new they began to meruaile to behold their great beauties and gallant dispositions And as it hath bene declared vnto you before in this Historie that Rosicleer was of a high stature and well proporcioned of his bodie according vnto his height for that continually vnto that time he did encrease daylie more more as well in the one as in the other and ioyntly with this his face was perfect and well proporcioned verie white and faire and of a merrie couutenaunce and there was none that did behold him but had a great delight to sée him he was at that time apparailed in a Iacket of cloth of golde garnished round about with a great number of precious stones and a hat vpon his head after the Gréeke fashion full of verie fine Rubies and Diamonds and carryed no other weapon with him but that precious sworde of the Quéene Iulia at his girdle which was suteable vnto the apparell he ware for that the scabbert was garnished with gold and precious stones he was mounted vpon a big and lustie horse all baye sauing he was full of black spots which became him verie well and being in this maner on horse 〈…〉 to be a Gyant and in beautie and fairenesse Narcissus On the other part was the Princesse Oliuiâ— with Arquirosa so faire and richlie apparailed that it was verie strange to behold and Rosicleer being in the middest betwixt them there could not a more gallanter sight be séeâ—e of thrée persons So in this order they tooke their leave of the Emperour of the Empresse and departed out of that mightie pallas being accompanied with all those mightie and valiqnt Princes and Knights till such time as they came into the fielde out of the Citie whereas at the request of Rosicler they all retourned back againe and they thrée alone wont toward the compe of the king Oliuerio being verie much looked at of at the people of the citie and with no lesse admiration they were looked at by them of the campe when they came nigh vnto them and not knowing the pretence of their comming they could doe nothing but behold them and abyde the time to vnderstand the effect of their comming When they were come vnto the camp they asked which was the tent of the king Oliuerio and being shewed by a knight that was there they neuer rested nor staied till they came vnto it at which time the king shas within accompanied with the prince of Lusitania and with the other princes of Scotland and Ireland consulting whaâ— were best to be done in their affaires but when they saw them knew Rosicleer and the Princesse Oliuia all apparailed after so gallant a sort they were wonderfully amazed and were silent to heare what should be their demand There was no mouing amongst them till such time as Rosicleer descended from his horse who straight waies alighted y â— princesse Oliuia and the quéene Arquirosa and taking them both by the hands they entred into the tent then the king and all that were with him did arise from their seates and dyd salute the one the other with such courtesie as appertained vnto so high persons and although that Don Siluerio was greatly amazed and his bloud did rise when that he saw the princesse Oliuia yet when that he saw her in the power of Rosicleer and considering the great reason she had therevnto he dyd not let to haue a great regard vnto the Quéene Arquirosa and liked very well of her and said with in himselfe that next vnto the princesse Oliuia she was the fairest gentlewoman that euer he saw in all his life and greatlie desired to know what she should be His desire was quickly accomplished for that Rosicleer putting himselfe before the king hauing the princes the Quéene by their hands said HIgh king of great Britaine I will not call you mightie for that according vnto the opinion of wise men there is none amongst mortall men can attaine to so glorious a name sauing alonely he may call himselfe mightie that is Lorde and gouernour ouer men and hath the power of all fortunes he at whose will the Heauens doth moue the windes doth blow the waters of the sea doth arise and rage and by him the earth with all beasts plants are sustained Here I doe giue you the name of high for that séeing your selfe in what estate you are in you may know how perilous and slipper it is and how readie you are and open vnto the thundering blowes of fortune Many things doth men begin and put in vre who cannot bring it to passe as they would and according vnto their mindes but in the ende it finisheth cleane contrarie vnto their expectation and this procedeth onely for that it is in theyr hands to begin them and in the power of God to giue the conclusion vnto his pleasure Our hearts he valiant and couragious for to attempt against all the whole world and doe not consider and sée that humaine force is so féeble and weake that one little and hidden euill doth ouercome it and whatsoeuer blow of fortune doth ouerthrow it This we ought to haue alwaies in our remembraunce because we should not put our selues in difficult things for that if afterwards it doth not fall out according vnto our mindes then should we not haue any occasion for to be angrie neither reason for to complaine vs of fortune for that the whole fault is in our selues and with more reason we may be angery with our selues You doe well vnderstand how that the Prince Edward your sonne with fortie thousand good knights of great Britaine came into Hungaria with what intent I doe not iudge but according as it was notorious and manifest vnto all he came for to destroy the Emperour my father for to make the king of Hungaria Lord ouer all Grecia and for that this was an attempt as vniust as difficult it was in his hands to begin the same but in the hands of him that hath power ouer all to conclude the ende according vnto his will If the Emperour my father was to be blamed herein iudge you and then sée if there be anie reason for him to make restitutioÌ„ to whome fortune would seme fauourable but now let that goe for that I doe beléeue you are certified And touching the marriage which I made with the princesse Oliuiâ— without your lisence I will giue you to vnderstand that if you doe well consider and looke into all these things passed then should you verie manifestlie and cléerelie sée that it is not for anie iniurie towards you but that the diuine prouidence hath ordained the same for to euitate and cut off the
great griefe and innumerable euils that were looked for betwéene my father and you for séeing that the harme was committed there was no other meanes for to recouer and make friendship againe but onelie by this marriage betwixt vs by the which my father doth claime of you kindred and you may receiue mée as your owne naturall sonne and séeing that this hath ben ordained by the diuine prouidence who is he that shoulde grant me this inclination to haue so great a desire as I had for to goe into great Britaine being in such delightes ioye and pleasure vnder the wings of the Empresse my mother Consider with how much honour you nâ—t knowing mee I receiued the order of knighthood at your hands and how fauourable Fortune did alwaies shew her selfe vnto mee in your Court What force could be so great that did constraine my will and the will of this precious Princesse so perfectlie to loue the one other in such sort that there is nothing in all the world that may bee compared therevnto In what heart may be comprehended so great singularitie no that although there were heere present those three worthie and famous Captaines Iosue Dauid and Iudas Machabeus and with them thâ—se thrée Pagans Hector Iulius Caesar and Alexander if it doth not come of the diuine prouidence neither without it could there be anie such force comprehended in me and in my companion for to giue the enterprise of such an attempt with so great boldnesse for to take away ouâ— of your power the Princesse Oliuia and what wée passed at the sea to deliuer and defend her Heere is the Prince of Lusitania who found himselfe present at the sport and can saie that the resistance was not made by anie humane force and strength for that being but fiue knights we alone did defend our selues so long time against so great a fléete of ships and men Likewise hée can declare of the great miserie in the aide and succour that came vnto vs in that great extremitie I will not héere inlarge nor procéede anie farther in these matters neither wold I haue said so much but onelie because you shall vnderstand that all doth procéede from aboue and that it is Gods will that this marriage betwixt me and the Princesse shall be the occasion for to euitate and take awaie all these inconueniences which are looked for and likewise to remedie and make attonement for all that is past do you not thinke that this wil bée an euil meane for things past besides as now the doing thereof cannot be restrained and many times as héeretofore hath fallen out their sonnes in lawe to be as profitable to their Fathers in lawe as are their owne naturall sonnes As to aske the question of Caesar Augustus and hée will saie that there was neuer sonne to true and trustie vnto his Father as was vnto him Marcus Agrippa his sonne in law Likewise consider of Antonius Pius who had for his sonne in lawe Marcus Aurelius who vsed so great fidelitie with him all the daies of his life which was for the space of twentie and thrée yéeres that for his great fidelitie and continuall diligence hée did not alonelie deserue to bée beloued of him and to haue his Daughter but as his owne naturall sonne hée dyd succéede him in the Empire So that by these and many other examples that might bée declared you maye plainelie sée what a swéete spice of friendshippe and perfect kindred is that which commeth by the Sunne in lawe and in especiall this that from the beginning vnto the end it appeareth to bée goueâ—ned by the diuine prouidence so that thereby there is no other thing to be looked for but vnto you great good and â—â—rie profitable for all your kingdomâ— And that whic◠〈◊〉 I will desire of you is no other thing but your plesure 〈◊〉 â—â—â—sider how that al these things are ordained by him who â—ath the rule gouernment of al and being fullie perswaded therein for to ioyne confirme your will vnto his will and to procure doe no other thing but that which is agréeable vnto his pleasure which is to confirme a peace betwixt you and my Father for that you be both Christians and it is the thing that our sauiour Iesus Christ dyd leaue most in charge vnto his Disciples And if there séemeth vnto you anie fault to bée in the Emperour my Father or that I and the Princesse Oliuia haue offended your Maiestie in anie thing apart and put awaâ—e from your heart all anger and wrath for that you doe vnderstand that the most noblest manner of reuengement is to forgiue and how that there is nothing so inconuenient and hurtfull vnto man as is wrath and anger for that it doth properlie appertaine vnto furious beastes and not vnto men but vnto such as bée most cruell and furious and to the contrarie there is nothing more conuenient vnto man than is méeknesse and mercie and much better and more honour it is to forget iniuries than to reuenge them and there is not a more nobler and generous forgetting than is in the offence which was attributed vnto the prince of Captaines for that he did praise himselfe that hée did neuer forget anie thing but offences done The pleasure in taking reuengement doth passe awaie in a moment and the ioy pleasure in shewing mercie endureth for euer There is nothing so necessarie amongest men nor ought to bée more common than to forgiue for that there is none but hath néede of mercie séeing that the Sunne must shine vpon him the earth sustaine him and all creatures must bring forth The winde must haue his course the clowdes must poure out their waters the Sâ—ars must haue their influence the heauens must moue and the waues of the sea must bée in quiet and not to ouerwhelme the earth when they are in a rage and higher than it and to conclude all things of the gouernment of this worlde doth vse Mercie and be necessariâ— for the conseruation of humane life and mercie cannot be lacking in him or at least waies may not that cannot sustaine himselfe one iote without it and that which is more there is not one but that hée sinneth so that hée cannot but hée néedes must desire mercie for his sinnes and offences What is hée that can salue and make whole the wounded consciences of humane creatures if the wrath of God doth perseuer then shall you neuer haue end of contentions and troubles armour shall neuer cease on the land neither lightnings and thunders with cruell shaking of the heauens therefore it is necessarie most worthie King that you doe forgiue and refraine the ire of your heart for otherwise with iust reason you cannot aske of God pardon when that you will not vse pardon with your daughter and sonne in lawe Beware take héede and helpe your selfe from that which is written That man doth kéepe wrath and ire a-against man and both doth séeke vnto God for
and an other way with great sorow repenting her selfe of that which she hadde done against the most worthie knight of the Sunne and blamed her selfe verie much in that she sawe not any further proofe of his disloyaltie and giuing him so malicious and euill reward for the great good loue and often perills which he aduentured for her sake and dyd thinke the tyme very long till she departed for to haue remedie for his euill Moreouer she toke her leaue of the wise man he made the like in declining his 〈◊〉 at her departure this soueraigne Princes was not so sone departed out of the inchanted quadran but the swéete Musicke ceased and straight waies Elizea and her knight entred in and when they were mounted whereas the wise man was there they knew all that they desired The knight was her true and faithfull louer so that Elizea departed from thence with great contentment and satisfied of his loyaltie they were not so soone departed out of the inchaunted hall but the steele dores were shut with a great noyse So the princes and the rest went into the galaries and desended into the great court but staied not there long the ioye and contentment of the princesse was such but being forth of that wonderfull and miraculous caue they toke their iourney towards the port whereas they came a shore And at their comming thether the princes would haue informed her selfe where the ylande of the diuelish Eauno was she found many that did giue her to vnderstande of the wonderfull things of that Iland by reason of the great fame that was spread abroade thereof but not one that knew expressely where abouts it â—â—oode whereby she might take her direct course thether which caused a great desire in her heart to commit her selfe vnto fortune for execution of the which she tooke her leaue of Elizea and her knight accompanieng her selfe with alonelie two damsels with whome she ment to enter into the ship with determination not to come any more a shore till such time as she had found the place whereas her knight was and giueing Elizea to vnderstand hereof she was very sad and sorowfull so for to lose her companie for that they accounted themselues happie and fortunate to be in her companie but when they vnderstoode that it was her will and desire with many teares shed of her and her knight they toke their leaue of her alwaies hauing in minde in how much they were bound vnto her for that she deliuered them out of prison from that mightie and famous Rouer Cleonidas The princes being departed from them she commended her selfe vnto fortune began to make saile hauing no certaine way whether to goe but wheras the winde would driue the ship hauing their sailes all abroade for that they would that they might nauigate with the more force all the which she thought to be verie little her desire was so great for to sée the knight of the Sunne who for her sake had put himselfe in so straight a life Being in the cabbin of the shippe all alone she fell downe on her knées listing vp her eies and heart vnto heauen shedding great abundance of teares that ran downe her christalline chéekes she sayde as followeth OH Creator of all things both celestiall and terrestrial by whose will and power the heauens doth moue the starres doth giue their light the Sunne the and the Moone doth giue light vpon the earth and the earth doth sustane all beastes the waues of the déepe and proâ—ound seas doth swel and abate againe the wyndes doth rage and become calme and all things are obedient vnto thee here I doe desire and craue of thy diuine maiestie and great clemencie that the force of this inuisible windes being gouerned by thy will to direct the full course of this my shippe through these déepe seas in such sort that in a short time I may ariue at Iland of y â— diuelish Fauno wheras I may make satisfactioÌ„ and recompence of that great euill and wrong the which I haue committed against the knight of the Sunne Permiâ— O Lord that I may receiue the reward of this my great offence and not he that is without fault Oh good knight if that I had had the eyes of my vnderstanding open no occasion nor newes had bene sufficient for to haue perswaded mée that in a knight of so perfect excelencie more then in any other man should remaine so great treason how is it possible that in so noble and worthie a person should be broken the faith promise which he made vnto mee of trueth no for his amorous words and profound sighes the which he vttered vnto mee he neuer pretended to make so euill a conclusion of Oh vnfortunate that I am how was I deceiued and how lightly was I moued to doe that which I dyd what reason or cause was there to constraine mee to lay hands vpon my knight and to employ all my force vppon him striking him with my sword to procure his death Oh wonderfull case and horrible how am I worthie of great punishment the windes waters of this déepe seas with iust reason 〈◊〉 â—well and rise against mée Oh vnto this day how much â—ell haue I conceiued against my loyall friend and how euell and vniustly haue I condemned him in his absence surely those were smal things that so lightly I should giue credit vnto neither was it in that happie knight to doe them for if that I had considered of the great exelencie and of the high and fortunate destinie of my loyall friend then had it ben apparant to haue bene beléeued and no lacke of vnderstanding but that I alone was she that deserued to be his spouse and alone the whole conclusion of his triumphant ioye And if that I had well considered of all those things what great trauailes sighes sobbes and teares heates and coldes had I euitated and cut of But alas what shall I saye for that true louers in fewe things doe chaunce of the right but in a great number doth erre sodaine chaunces iealous thoughts may be compared vnto the water of this sea being tossed with the surging waues and blustering windes Louers doeth beléeue all things for that loue is full of bread and that which is contrarie vnto his desire he doth lightlie beléeue and vnto that which giueth ioye and pleasure he giueth slender credit and this happeneth most in women for that they are more light and moueable in their actions which causeth vs to giue sooner credit vnto variable and contrarie things Ah good knight although that there ought to be in mée great shame to come into thy presence yet the great and perfect loue which I doe beare vnto thée ought to be estemed in more my desire is to be in thy presence whereas thy sight shal be as ioyfull vnto mée and lightsome to my vnderstanding as the Sunne is vnto all mortall creatures whose light doth beautifie the Moone and the
their terrible blowes all that euer they could At which time Bramarant thought not that the Emperour Alycandro had bene spoiled and lost the victorie but rather suspected that the Greekes had lost the field but verie quicklie hée was put out of that doubt for that by reason of the great noise which they made in their battaile the Emperour Trebatio and all those worthie Princes that were on his part came thether whereas they were for as then they were all ioyned together put themselues round about these two warriours with determination for to part them from that contension but this valiant and worthie pagan when he saw them in that sort and knew them hee was greatly amazed and straight waies suspected that they had got the victorie who as then with a hoarse voyce and proude semblant sayd Oh fortune how is it that thou hast had so great power for to shew thy selfe so contrarie against the pagans who is that mightie and valiant prince that hath had so great force for to ouerthrow the mightie Alicandro and the gran Campion my father who was sufficient to set fier on all the whole worlde To whome Rosicleer answered and said if thou wilt know him it is easie to bee vnderstood for I doe giue thée to vnderstand that all which is here done commeth alonely of him that dyd create and make all things and hath power ouer all men and at his will is gouerned both nature and fortune And this is Iesus Christ true God and man in whome all christians doe beleeue and worship and it hath bene his pleasure to giue vs the victorie against so many thousands of Pagans by the which thou maist vnderstand how false and deceiuable be your Gods who were not able for to ayde and succour the Emperour Alicandro who presumeth to desend from the race and stocke Then this proude Pagan replyed and sayde I neuer beleeued in any gods neither am I now determined to beleeue in any for that both their gods thyne and all the rest I holde them for my enimies and I will spoyle them all where soeuer I may finde or méete with them And in saying these words he raysed himselfe in his stirrups and with his sword in both his hands he stroke so strong a blow at Rosicleer vppon his inchaunted healme that it séemed a Thunderbolt to haue fallen from heauen the noyse was so great which made him somewhat astonished But when this Pagan sawe that he was compassed about with so much people that it was night he thought it not good to abide there anie longer but set spurres vnto his horse and rushed thorough the thickest of them ouer threw to the ground all them that was in his way lyke a whirle winde he runneth through those fields and neuer stayed till he came into the wildernesse of Grecia with intension not to depart from thence till such time as he hadde very well and to his contentment reuenged the death of his father Rosicleer would verie faine haue followed him for that he hadde a great desire for to conclude and giue ende vnto that battaile but the Emperour his father and those that were with him dyd distrube him Then when they sawe themselues together and missed the knight of the Sunne they were greatly amazed and seperated themselues some one way and some an other waye and went into all places for to séeke him but when that in all the whole field they could not finde him they could not immagine where hée should bée for the which they were all very sad and sorrowfull but in especiall the royall princes Claridiana for that she thought euery hower a yéere till she hadde spoken with him and trauailed from one place to an other with great care in his demaund but could not finde him nor haue anie newes of him till in the ende of great enquirie it was tolde her by a souldier that he dyd sée him embarke himselfe in a shippe and all that he procured was for to know some newes of the Emperour Alicandro When she heard this she was somewhat quieted in her selfe and went and informed the Emperour Trebatio thereof who with all the rest of the other princes receued great ioye and began at that instant to celebrate and reioyce the laâ—e victorie wonne and in very good order retourned to the Citie of Constantinople where as they were in the armes of those Ladies with such ioye as the reader may iudge yet I must néedes say that if the absence of the knight of the Sunne had not mittigated somewhat the extremitie of their pleasure there had neuer bene in Grecia the like ioye and triumph Let vs now leaue them in all their pastimes for that I am sure this long chapter hath somewhat wearied you and let vs retourne to tell you of other thinges wherein you shall receiue pleasure and delight ¶ How that the Emperour Alicandro sayling by sea was through a tempest by the which he was driuen vnto the strong Iland whereas they were taken prisoners he and the princes Lindabrides with all her Ladies by the Gyant Roboan and his sonnes ¶ Chap. 39. WIth great sorrow and heauinesse of heart dyd the Emperour Alicandro nauigate the Sea with the faire and precious Princes Lindabrides in companie with a small number of Knightes that entred into the ship with him who when they considered with what great pomp and force they entred into the Empire of Grecia with what disgrace they departed from thence their hearts were readie to breake with sorrrw for that they saw no other thing of so great a number of thousands of people that they brought with them out of their countries but onely the water of the Sea couered with bloud and a few other shippes full of people that had escaped from the furie of the Gréekes some one way and some an other without any order but whether soeuer the wynde fortune would carrie them The night was very dark so that the ship of the Emperor was all alone fortune who would shew her selfe more contrarie for to giue â—im to 〈…〉 what small trust there was in her it happen that in the night there arose a great â—â—mpest that dyd not onelie hinder them of their iourney but also dyd put the shippe many times in great daunger to be drowned so that the marriners and such as were in the shippe had enough to doe for to voyde and cast out the water that was forced in by that tempest and the faire princesse Lindabrides with all her ladies and gentlewomen receiued so great feare that they all amased remained as dead persons although vnto this faire princesse the griefe was not so much in beholding before her eyes that great perill of death in the which they were brought as to sée her selfe in that sorte for to depart from Grecia where as remained the knight of the Sunne and againe to consider how euell her purpose and desire was brought to passe so