 | Orlando Fvrioso |  |
189
THE XXIIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
The noble Zerbin, pardon doth affordTo Odrik and Gabrina, gracelesse payre:
A Turke with him fights, for Orlandos sword,
He dies, in armes of Isabella faire.
Fierce Rodomont with sundrie passions sturd,
Doth fight with cruell Agricanes haire,
But them in their chief rage their mistres parted,
From whence to ayd their Prince they both departed.
1
Who so shall set on Cupids snares his foote,Must seeke to draw backe, least it be caught,
And madnes meer, in loue to ouershoot,
The foole hath felt, the wise hath euer taught,
And though in all alike, it take not root,
Yet all shall finde that loue's a thing of naught,
For sure, it is an open signe of madnes,
To haue an others pleasure breed thy sadnes.
2
Now though effects proue not in all alike,Yet all are mad in sort, all go astray,
As in a wildernes where men do seeke,
And more and more in seeking loose their way,
Wherefore let no man this my wish mislike,
In whom fond loue, shall carie long the sway,
I wish for due reward, such doting dolts,
Like wilfull prisners, store of iron bolts.
3
Some man perhap will say, what soft my frend,You spie our faults, in your owne errors blind;
And true it is, yet speake I to this end,
To bring vs both into a better mind.
As for my selfe I hope er long to mend,
And from these bands, in time my selfe vnwind:
Though it hath tane in me such root, I prooue it,
As hard tis on the sudden to remoue it.
4
I shewd you in the booke that went before,By what mishap Orlando waxed mad,
And lost not onely care of vertues lore,
But reason, wit, and all the sence he had:
His armor he disperst, his cloths he tore,
The verie cloths, wherewith his corps was clad:
And though he wanderd, all vnarmd and naked,
Yet at his presence, all the countrie quaked.
5
The countrimen that heard the noise aloof,Of trees, that with their fall, made no small cracke:
Came neare, and saw by plaine and open proof,
His mōstrous strength, by their so monstrous wracke:
And straight they found it best for their behoof,
With all the hast they could, to get them backe,
For those he caught he did this lesson teach,
To keep a loof from out a mad mans reach.
6
Away they fled, but he pursu'd so fast,That some he caught, and some surprisd with feare,
Stood still (as oft it happens) all agast,
Not knowing how to hide themselues nor wheare:
Some other ploughmen seeing what had past,
Thought it but little wit to tarie theare,
But clim'd (for feare) their houses and their churches
Not trusting strength, of elmes, of beech, & burches
7
Among the rest he takes one by his heele,And with his head knocks out anothers braine,
Which caused both of them such paine to feele,
As till dooms day they neuer shall complaine;
Another with his fist he made to reele,
Till paine it selfe made him past sense of paine,
And when the men fled all away affeard,
Then with like rage he set vpon their heard.
190
8
The voice of men, the bellowings of beast,About the countrie raysd so great a sound,
As might haue well bene heard fiue leags at least,
And all the people straight were raysed round;
Each man prouiding (as he could) the best,
And for the present time might then be found,
With bows, with bills, with staues, & pikes, & prongs
To be reueug'd, on these outragious wrongs.
9
Looke how the waues are driu'n by westerne blast,And one and one, do rise still more and more,
Vntill their force so great be at the last,
They sprinkle all the banks, and beat the shore,
So now these countrie folke came in so fast,
By two, and three, a dozen and a score:
Till at the last they grew so great a number,
Their verie multitude themselues did cumber.
10
But when they saw their force could do no good,And that his skin so strange protection had,
That though they smot thereon they drew no blood
They thought, ye they might worse be thought then mad,
To fight with one that all them so withstood,
Wherefore they parted home dismaid and sad.
The madman went vnto the nearest village,
Although he cared not for spoile or pillage.
11
And finding no man there, nor small nor great,For all were fled away from thence for aw;
As famine forst him, he sought out some meat,
And were it fine or course, the first he saw,
In greedie sort he doth deuoure and eat,
Not caring if it rosted were or raw,
And when thus homely he had tane repast,
About the countrie bedlemlike he past.
12
He scares both man and beast without regard,He takes swift gotes and fallow Deare in chase,
Sometimes a Lion fierce, a bore, a pard,
He kils by strength and swiftnes of his pase.
At last he came where as a knight did guard,
The passage of a bridge, and by the place,
Had built a towre of no small worke aud charge,
As shalbe showd hereafter more at large.
13
Now must I tell what hap Zerbino had,Who with faire Isabell togither rode,
A long that place where this good Earle fell mad.
But by the way, these two made some abode,
Where they beheld two men in armor clad,
That driue a horse that bare a wofull lode,
A knight a prisner to Zerbino knowne,
That had beene once a seruant of his owne.
14
This prisner Oderik of Biskie hight,In whom the Prince had put so great a trust,
He made chiefe choise of him, as of a knight,
That of his promise would be firme and iust.
But he (fond beast) esteeming small delight,
And fruitlesse hope, of his vnbridled lust,
Aboue his sacred oth and promist fealtie,
Would haue defloured her against all lealtie.
15
Faire Isabell by hap eu'n then was telling,How in the boat she desperatly was saued;
And hauing scapt the stormie seas and swelling,
How trecherouslie this wretch himselfe behaued,
That (had not outlawes thereabout bene dwelling)
He would haue forst her, vnto that he craued,
And eu'n as these, or some such words she sed,
She saw the man she spake of captiue led.
16
Those two that led the wicked O'drik tide,Knew well their Lord when as they came in vew,
Both by the Lady, that was by his side,
And by the rampant Lyon red of hew,
Borne by the Prince, not for a shew of pride,
But his as from his predecessors dew,
They light, and with a courtsie to the ground,
And cap in hand, salute their Lord thus found.
17
Zerbino knew and cald them both by name,Corebo tone, Almonio tother hight,
Which two with Isabell from Bayon came,
In conduct of that most vnworthy wight.
And straight Almonio thus his speech doth frame,
My Lord (said he) I shall to you recite,
Some little part, of that vnpleasant story,
That till this houre, had made my heart full sory.
18
Sith (thankt be God) this Lady here doth liue,Who felt these storms, and therein chiefly smarted,
I know that she thereof could notice giue,
And hath er this to you the same imparted;
I onely shall declare what did me grieue,
And what had hapned, since from her I parted,
What time by this vile wretches lewd intent,
For horse and men to Rochell I was sent.
19
And as I went, so backe I turnd in hast,With men and horse as good as I could get,
To seeke them out mine eies about I cast,
But yet mine eyes on them I could not set,
Their tracke I found, and following that full fast,
It brought me to a wood where as I met,
My fellow Coreb, panting then and groning,
This caitife cursing and himselfe bemoning.
20
He told me how, he fighting in defence,Of Isabella, was so sorely wounded,
That from that place he had not sturred sence,
And how with bleeding much, he oft had sounded,
At which report I tooke so great offence,
That in my wits I was welnie confounded.
And to reuenge, my heart so sharpe was whet,
That Corebs danger quite I did forget.
21
But when in vaine this wretch I long had sought,To Coreb I returned backe againe,
Who was so weake, and low by bleeding brought,
That scant the life did in his limbs remaine.
For which his wofull state, I tooke great thought,
As one that deemd it fitter to ordaine,
Some Priests and Friers, buriall to procure him,
Then Surgeons or Phisitions that might cure him.
191
22
Yet him vnto the towne at last I caried,Where, by such helpe our friendly host procured,
It pleased God, Corebo not miscaried,
But of his grieuous hurts was soundly cured;
Which done, no longer in those parts we taried,
But being there by sundry men assured,
That Odrick in Alfonsos court was biding,
We thither went to heare of him some tiding.
23
And there I challengd Odrick face to face,And by the noble iustice of the King,
And chiefly (as I deeme) by Gods great grace,
That onely rules and gouernes eu'ry thing,
I tooke him prisner in the present place,
From whence aliue I did him hither bring,
For why that king that heard his great offence,
Did graunt vs libertie to bring him thence.
24
I might haue slaine him, as he well deserued,But yet I chused rather of the twaine,
Vnto your doome to haue his life reserued,
That you might point him death with worthy paine,
And much I ioy that lucke so well hath serued,
That we so safe haue found your grace againe,
And much more I reioyce, if much more may be,
At health and welfare of this noble Ladie.
25
Thus much Almonio said, and then did cease,Expecting what Zerbino would reply,
Who all the while stood still and held his peace,
And viewd the prisner with an heedfull eye,
And much it did his griefe of mind increase,
To think a friend could stray so farre awry.
Then sighing deepe; what Odrick is this true,
Wherewith (quoth he) Almonio chargeth you?
26
The caitiue, humbly prostrate on the ground,Forgiue my Lord (said he) your seruants crime,
What wight on earth can voyd of fault be found?
What Saint is such as doth not sinne sometime?
Tweene good and bad this diffrence sole is found,
That good men sin but seeld, and mend betime,
The bad man (making scruple none nor question)
Yeelds wilfully to eu'ry leud suggestion.
27
If you to me some fortresse had committed,And I the same had wittingly betraid,
I graunt such fault were not to be remitted,
But if I had with force bene ouerlaid,
Then sure I am my case would haue bene pittyd,
At least no sinne should to my charge be laid,
For when the enemy is once the stronger,
Tis vaine to make resistance any longer.
28
Eu'n so my Lord, my faith I ought to guard,No other then a fortresse or a hold,
Put in my charge with carefull watch and ward,
As long as strength will serue me it to hold:
And so I kept my faith with due regard,
Nor was I any way to be controld,
Vntill at last I was so strong assailed,
That faith gaue place, and fancie then preuailed.
29
Thus Odricke said, and what he said beside,I doubt it somewhat tedious were to tell,
As namely, none so great assault could bide,
That loue all other passions doth excell,
But sure if it were euer plainly tride,
That humble speech doth often wrath expell;
Now Odricke found of lowly words the fruit,
That holp him to obtaine so hard a suit.
30
Zerbino stood a while in mind confused,To punish or to pardon his offence,
Sometime his thoughts all clemencie refused,
Sometime the loue and seruice done long since,
Asswagd his wrath, and rothers fault excused,
And mou'd him with his folly to dispence:
And still as rage did kindle fire of wrath,
To quench it mercie store of water hath.
31
Now while in this same doubt Zerbino staid,Behold by hap Gabrina there was brought,
She that of late had this good Prince betraid,
And had to him so great a danger wrought;
Her horse that heard where other horses naid,
Came to the noise, as nature had them taught,
Against her will, she wanting force to sway him,
And hauing lost the raines, wherewith to stay him.
32
The beastly wretch cride helpe, and out alas,While thus her horse ran ouer fields and lands,
But when the Scottish Prince saw who she was,
And how she thither came he vnderstands,
He gaue God thanks that so had brought to passe,
To giue those two at once into his hands,
Which two, for their misdeeds aboue the rest,
He had great cause to malice and detest.
33
And after he had made a little pause,Vnto his seruants turning thus he said,
Sirs, Odricke shall not die, although by lawes
His fact deserues no lesse vprightly waid,
For sith he saith affection was the cause,
Content I am, on loue the fault be laid,
The sinne to which a man by loue is driuen,
So much the rather ought to be forgiuen.
34
The force of strong affection hath ere thisDistemperd, yea and sometime ouerthrowne
A wiser and a staider head then his,
As is to me by mine experience knowne,
And that herein he did his dutie misse,
I must confesse, the fault was part mine owne,
That gaue to him such charge, and did not know
How quickly flaming heate can kindle tow.
35
Then to the caitiue Odricke thus he spake,Here I forgiue thee, and do thee enlarge,
But yet the penance I will haue thee take,
Is this, to take this woman in thy charge,
And sweare to me thou shalt her not forsake,
For one whole yeare, but this thine oth discharge,
And that thou shalt if any would offend her,
Do thy deuoir, and vnto death defend her.
192
36
This was the punishment on him he layd,And certainly this same had bene enow,
If so the circumstance were duly wayd,
And Odericke had right performd his vow.
For why so many men she had betrayd,
And done such sinnes euen from her youth till now,
That wheresoere they had together traueld,
In her defence he must at last be graueld.
37
Thus Zerbin let this wicked couple go,And thinks sufficiently to plague them both,
But sweares if euer he did hap to know,
That he therein should violate his troth,
His flesh should serue as feeding for the crow,
A fit reward for such as breake their oth.
Thus went this honest couple thence together,
Lurking in corners, wandring here and thether.
38
But what in th'end of these same two became,I know not, and mine author doth not write,
I onely heard a speech, or flying fame,
That when they once were quite from Zerbins sight,
Odricke (to shun the quarrels and the shame,
That by her companie on him might light)
Did hang her vp, and after in short space,
Almonio made him runne the selfe same race.
39
The Prince that faine some tidings would haue heardOf that Earle Palladine, who tother day,
Fought hand to hand with loftie Mandricard,
Vntill his rainlesse horse bare him away,
Doth trauell on his way to Paris ward,
Though faire and soft, and lingring by the way,
And his two seruants he doth send before,
And kept with him his Ladie and no more.
40
They rode not farre but that they found the caue,And that same pleasant arbor and the spring,
At which Medoro vsd such sport to haue,
With that faire daughter of the Indian king;
Where she their names together did ingraue,
All tide with true loue knots (a wondrous thing)
They looke, and see the stones, the words and letters
All cut and mangled in a thousand fitters.
41
And as they musd hereon, they might espieOrlandos armor and his famous blade,
Hight Durindana on the ground to lie,
That sword that first for Hector had bin made,
They saw where Brigliador was feeding by
Vpon the grasse amid the pleasant shade:
This sight did make them both exceeding sad,
Yet little did they deeme that th'Earle was mad.
42
Had they but seene one little drop of blood,They would haue surely thought he had bin slaine,
But while in this most carefull doubt they stood,
Behold there came a country silly swaine,
That with no little speed ran through the wood,
And scapt the mad mans fury with great paine;
He told them how a man bestraught of sences,
Had done these outrages and great offences.
43
And further gaue them perfect information,And told each circumstance at their request:
Zerbino standeth still in admiration,
And as the manner is, himselfe he blest,
And with great griefe of mind and lamentation,
He takes the sword and armor, and the rest,
And Isabella helpeth them to gather,
And so they lay them on a heape together.
44
This while by hap came by faire Fiordeliege,Who (as I told before) with pensiue hart,
Went to seeke out her loued Lord and Liege,
I meane Orlandos friend, King Brandimart,
Who leauing Paris in the wofull siege,
To seeke Orlando did from thence depart,
Till Atlant to that cage him did intice,
Which he had fram'd by magicall deuice.
45
The which inchantment being now defeated,By good Astolfos value and his skill,
And all the knights as I before repeated,
At libertie to go which way they will,
King Brandimart, though much in mind he freated,
To thinke how long in vaine he had stood still,
Backe vnto Paris ward his course he turned,
Yet missing her, the way that he returned.
46
Thus (as I said) faire Fiordeliege by chance,Saw much of that which hapt, and heard the rest,
How that same worthy Palladine of France,
With inward giefe of mind and thought opprest,
Or by some other great and strange mischance,
Went like a man with some ill sprite possest,
And she likewise enquiring of the peasant,
Heard all the circumstance, a tale vnpleasant.
47
Zerbino being farre from any towne,Hangs all Orlandos armor on a Pine,
Like to a Penon, and lest any clowne
Or peasant vile should take a thing so fine,
He writes vpon the tree, Let none take downe
This armour of Orlando Palladine;
As who should say, if any man attempt it,
Orlando would ere long cause him repent it.
48
And hauing brought this worthy worke to end,And ready now to take his iourney hence,
Fierce Mandricard hapt thither to descend,
And when he saw the tree, he askt of whence
Those weapons were? which knowne, he doth intend
To take away good Durindana thence,
He steps vnto the tree and takes the sword,
Nor so content, he adds this spitefull word.
49
Ah sir (quoth he) this hap doth make me glad,My claime vnto this sword is not vnknowne,
And though before I no possession had,
Yet now I lawfully seize on mine owne:
Alas poore foole, and doth he faine him mad?
And hath away his sword and armor throwne,
Because he was not able to maintaine it,
And was afeard that I by force would gaine it?
193
50
Zerbino crieth out, what? peace for shame,Take not his sword, or thinke not I will beare it,
If by the coate of Hector so you came,
You stale it, and vnworthy are to weare it:
Tush (quoth the Pagan) I will beare that blame,
As for your threatning, do not thinke I feare it:
Thus tones sharpe answers, tothers sharpe replying,
Made them to fall to termes of flat defying.
51
And either shewing signes of plaine hostilitie,Prepares the tother fiercely to inuade,
Zerbino with his skill and great agilitie,
His partie good against the Pagan made,
And voided all the blowes with much facilitie,
Though hauing great disuantage in the blade,
And in that armor massie so and strong,
That in times past to Hector did belong.
52
Looke how a Grewnd that finds a sturdie Bore,Amid the field far straying from the heard,
Doth runne about, behind him and before,
Because of his sharpe tusks he is afeard:
So Zerbin that had seene oft heretofore
That blade, and of the force thereof had heard,
With heedfull eye to shun the blowes he watched,
Because he was in weapons ouermatched.
53
Thus warily this worthy Prince did fight,And though by heedfull skill he scaped oft
The furious bloes of this Tartarian knight,
Yet lo, at last one blow came from aloft,
And Durindan so heauie did alight,
As pierced through the hard vnto the soft,
A finger deepe, and went in length a span,
Downe from the place where first the wound began.
54
The Prince so earnest was, he felt no smart,Yet ran the blood out of the brest amaine,
And of his curats all the former part
With crimson streame of blood it did distaine:
So haue I seene her hand that to mine hart
Hath bene a cause of anguish and much paine,
When she a purple seame or flowre hath drawne,
In siluer kirtle, or in sleeue of lawne.
55
The wound was great, but yet did greater show,Which sight faire Isabella much amated,
The Prince that seemed not the same to know,
With force increased rather then abated,
Vpon the Pagans brow gaue such a blow,
As would no doubt haue made him checkt & mated
Saue that (as I to you before rehearst)
His armor was not easie to be pearst.
56
The blow was such as caused him to reele,And on his stirrops staggringly he stood,
Had not his armor bene of passing steele,
The blow would sure haue entred to the blood,
The grieuous paine that he thereof did feele,
Did put him in so fierce a raging mood,
So that for all Zerbinos skill and sleight,
He wounded him in places seu'n or eight.
57
Which when his louing Isabella saw,She went to Doralice, and her doth pray,
The fury of her husband to withdraw,
And ioyne with her to part the bloody fray,
Who both because she was in feare and aw,
Lest yet the Prince her spouse indanger may,
And for of nature kind she was and meeke,
Of that good motion she doth not mislike.
58
Thus those two Ladies this fierce battell parted,In which the prince receiued many a wound,
Though being (as he was) most valiant harted,
He neuer gaue the Pagan inch of ground:
From thence each couple presented departed,
Fierce Mandricard to pagan campe was bound,
To Paris ward the Prince, but driu'n to stay,
By reason of his bleeding by the way.
59
Dame Fiordeliege that stood this while aloofe,And saw how Mandricard preuailed had,
And how the Prince had fought with euill proofe,
Departed thence all sorrowfull and sad,
Reuiling Mandricard with iust reproofe,
That of this euill gotten sword was glad,
And wished that her husband Brandimart,
Had present bin to take Zerbinos part.
60
But as she traueld homeward to the campe,She saw the noble Palladine of France,
Not like himselfe, but of another stampe,
Besmeard and nakt as antiks wont to dance:
Quite was extinguished the shining lampe,
Of vertue bright that did his name aduance:
This sight in Fiordeliege much sorrow bred,
But tell me now how good Zerbino sped.
61
Who on his way with painfull steps proceeding,With Isabella onely and no more,
His former taken hurts still freshly bleeding,
Which now with cold were stiffe and waxed sore,
And yet this griefe in him the rest exceeding,
To thinke that sword of which I spake before,
Should mauger him, be by a Turke possest,
I say this grieu'd him more then all the rest.
62
Now gan the dreadfull pangs of death assaile him,So great a streame of blood his wound had draind,
His eyes were dim, his speech began to faile him,
Strong hart to yeeld to weake limbs was constraind:
What can poore Isabella do but waile him?
She blam'd the heau'ns and fates that had ordaind
Her to escape such dangers and such harmes,
And now to haue her deare die in her armes.
63
Zerbino though he scant could draw his breath,Yet hearing her lamenting in such fashion,
Doth ope his closed lips, and thus he seath,
Both shewing then, and mouing much compassion:
So might I (my deare loue) eu'n after death,
Be deare to thee as I do feele great passion,
To think when as my death frō hence shal reaue me,
Alone in wo and danger I shall leaue thee.
194
64
Might I haue left thee in some safer place,I should esteeme my death a blessed hap,
And that the heau'ns had giu'n me speciall grace,
To end my life in thy beloued lap,
Now greiues it me to thinke of thine hard case,
In what a world of woes I thee shall wrap,
When I must die, and leaue thee here alone,
And none to helpe thy harme or heare thy mone.
65
To this the wofull Isabell replies,With watred eyes, and heart surprisd with anguish,
Her face to his, and ioyning her faire eyes
To his that like a witherd rose did languish,
No thought (said she) my deare in thee arise
For me, for know I neither do, nor can wish
Thee to suruiue, I will be thine for euer,
Life could not, and death shall not vs disseuer.
66
No sooner shall thy breath thy brest forsake,But I will follow thee I care not whither,
Griefe or this sword of me an end shall make,
And if some stranger after shall come hither,
I hope of vs such pittie he will take,
To lay our bodies in one graue to gither:
This said, about his necke her armes she clasped,
And drawes the fainting breath that oft he gasped.
67
The Prince inforcing his forefeebled voyce,Said thus, I thee coniure my sole delight,
By that deare loue that made me first thy choyce,
And thee from natiue soyle to take thy flight,
If euer in my loue thou didst reioyce,
If to commaund thee I haue any right,
That thou still liue (as long as God shall graunt thee)
And not despaire how euer fortune daunt thee.
68
Th'almightie God, from danger and from ill,Hath hitherto, and will (I trust) thee saue;
Eu'n as he sent that noble Earle to kill
Those caitiues that did keepe thee in their caue,
And sau'd thee from the Biskins wicked will,
First hauing thee preseru'd from salt sea waue,
Liue then my deare, and trust in him aboue,
And while you liue be mindfull of my loue.
69
These latter words his lips had scantly past,When death vnto his heart was softly crept;
And as the lampe go'th out when oyle doth wast,
So quietly the noble Zerbin slept:
What tongue can tell how sore she was agast,
How she lamented, wailed, mournd and wept,
To her owne eyes and faire haire doing force,
When as she saw her deare a senslesse corse?
70
And griefe had set her in so great a rage,With Zerbins sword she thinks an end to make
Of her owne life, her sorrow to asswage,
Neglecting those last words Zerbina spake,
But lo, a certaine saintlike personage,
That sword from hand, that thought from hart doth take,
A certaine godly hermit and deuout,
That was by hap abiding thereabout,
71
Who came and said, oh damsell leaue despaire,Mans nature weake, and womens sex is fraile,
Feare him that rules both heau'n, and earth, and aire,
Who saith the word, and his word cannot faile,
That those that vnto him for helpe repaire,
And put their trust in him, shall neuer quaile:
Then shewd he her, to proue his saying true,
Examples out of Scriptures old and new.
72
Of saintlike women that in time of old,Their liues and prayre in chastitie had spent;
And further to the damsell faire he told,
And prou'd and shewd by reasons euident,
That worldly things are vaine and haue no hold,
Alone in God is ioy and true content:
In fine, he makes to her this godly motion,
Her future life to spend in true deuotion.
73
His godly speech by helpe of heau'nly grace,Pourd in her heart by hie diuine infusion,
Wrought such effect, and found so great a place,
She ceast to seeke or worke her owne confusion,
But leauing the profession of her race,
Profest her selfe a Christen in conclusion;
She gaue her selfe to prayre and pure diuinitie,
And vowd to God her life and her virginitie.
74
Yet did she not remoue out of her thought,The feruent loue Zerbino had her borne,
But by the hermits helpe the corse she brought,
And thinks it sin to leaue it so forlorne,
And in some village thereabout she bought
Sweet balmes to fill the flesh all cut and torne,
Then in a Cypres coffin she doth close it,
Not being yet resolu'd where to dispose it.
75
That aged fire, though being wise and staid,Yet would not trust in his owne stay so well,
To carry such a faire and goodly maid
To soiourne with him in his little cell,
Twere perill great (thus to himselfe he said)
That fire and straw should nie together dwell,
Wherefore he meanes to Prouince her to carie,
And there to place her in a monestarie.
76
But as he thitherward with Isbell went,And by the way deuoutly did her teach,
All things vnto religion pertinent,
And of the same most learnedly did preach,
Behold a Pagan fierce with foule intent,
This purpose and their iourney doth impeach,
As I shall shew more largely afterward:
Now back I must returne to Mandricard.
77
Who hauing ended that same cruell fight,In which the worthist Prince aliue was slaine,
Soone after by a shadie banke did light,
And turnd his horse a grazing on the plaine,
Dame Doralice in whom he tooke delight,
Alone with him in that place did remaine,
When looking sodainly by chance aside,
An armed knight come toward them the spide.
195
78
She guest, but yet she knew not by the view,Who it might be, vntill she spide her page,
That came with him, then certainly she knew,
Twas Rodomont, full of reuenge and rage,
Wherefore vnto her knight she nearer drew,
And said (my Lord) mine honour I dare gage,
That yon is Rodomont mine ancient louer,
Who thinks by fight from you me to recouer.
79
Looke how the Falcon in the aire doth mount,When she espies a Bittor or a Herne,
So when this Prince espied Rodomount,
And by his hast his furie did discerne,
Like one that made of conquest full account,
He starteth vp with visage grim and sterne:
Straight armd, and horst he is, his foe to meete,
In hand the raynes, in sterops are his feete.
80
When as the tone the tother came so neare,As each might harken what the tother sed,
Fierce Rodomont spake lowd as he might heare,
With threatning gesture, both of hand and hed:
And sayd, be sure Ile make thee buy it deare,
That with a short vaine pleasure hast bene led,
To do to one so foule and open wrong,
That can and will it wreake on thee er long.
81
The Tartar Prince that for him little cared,Made answer thus, in vaine you me do threat,
Poore boyes with words, or women may be scared,
Not I that fight as willingly as eat,
Proue when you please I am not vnprepared,
At any time for any warlike feat,
On horse, on foote, in field, or in the list,
I shalbe readie, trie me when you list.
82
Thus words bred wrath, and wrath engendred blowes,And blowes encreast their sharpe auenging will,
Eu'n as the wind that first but calmely blowes,
But after more and more increasing still,
At last it trees and houses ouerthrowes,
And seas and lands with tempest it doth fill:
So cruell grew the fight them two betweene,
Whose match might hardly in the world be seene.
83
Their hearts were stout, so were their bodies strong,Desire to win, in both a like was great,
One doth maintain, tother would venge his wrong,
And loue their furie equally doth whet,
In equall paise the fight endured long,
Nor each of tother any gaine could get,
But each of them so firmely kept his ground,
As if each inch thereof had cost a pound.
84
Among an hundred blowes the Tartar smit,Of which small hurt to Rodomont did rise,
Yet one at last so heauily did hit,
Vpon his helmet, ouer both his eyes;
His senses all were so amazd with it;
He thought he saw more starres then are in skies,
And almost downe he was eu'n in her sight,
For whom he first began this cruell fight.
85
But as a strong and iustly temperd bow,Of Pymount steele, the more you do it bend,
Vpon recoile doth giue the bigger blow,
And doth with greater force the quarrell send,
Eu'n so the Sarzan king that stoupt so low,
As highly to reuenge it doth intend,
And to acquite himselfe of this disgrace,
He striketh at the Tartar Princes face.
86
So fierce he strake, in this so furious mood,An inch or little more aboue his sight,
That saue those armes of Hector were so good,
No doubt that blow had finisht all the fight,
But so astond therewith the Tartar stood,
He could not tell if it were noone or night:
And while in this amazment he abode,
The tother ceaseth not to lay on lode.
87
The Tartars horse that saw the glittering blade,That Rodomont about his head so tost,
Did start aside, and with a turne he made,
Rescude his master, sore to his owne cost,
Downe with the blow fals this vnluckie iade,
And with his starting he his life hath lost:
To ward his head he wanted Hectors shield,
And therefore dead he tumbleth on the field.
88
Now came his master to himselfe againe,Inflamd with greater anger then before,
To see his horse so pitifully slaine,
But Rodomont forbeares him neare the more.
But spurrs on him, and thinks with furie maine,
To beare him downe, but he so strongly bore
The push, and thrust withall Frontino backe,
He made his master glad to leaue his backe.
89
Thus now with minds more aliend from all peace,In eager sort the combat is renewed,
To strike, to thrust each other doth not cease,
In hope with blood their swords to haue embrewed
Fell rancor wrath and pride do still increase,
And death of one or both must haue ensewed,
Er either of them would from thence haue started,
Had not a certaine messenger them parted.
90
One that had traueld all about the cost,To seeke them out, to aske their helpe and aid,
To raise the siege, that by the Christen host,
Vnto the campe of Agramant was laid:
Yet though he came in peace, and eake in post,
To speake to them at first he was affraid,
And though his office were sufficient warrant,
Yet to themselues he dares not do his arrant.
91
But seeing Doralice, to her he told,How Agramant, Marsilio, Stordylan,
And others more, like men pent vp in hold,
Were in great danger to be kild or tane,
Wherefore he wisheth her for to vnfold,
Thus much to them, that sought each others bane:
And to perswade them to so good accord,
As they might go to helpe their soueraigne Lord.
196
92
She that a woman was of passing sprite,And knew that neither of them would offend her,
Stept them between, and chargd them stay the fight,
As they their honour and her loue did tender,
And helpe their king, that is in wofull plight,
And end this fray begun of cause so slender,
At least defer so long to trie this quarrell,
Till Agramant their king were out of perrell.
93
When she thus much to them declared had,Then doth the messenger declare the rest,
And other strong perswasions he doth ad,
And doth expound to them their kings request,
Alledging that their absence made him sad,
That but they helpe, the campe would be distrest,
And that if they to rescue him neglected,
A present ruine were to be expected.
94
With his report and with her strong perswasion,The hardie knights the combat do defar,
Till Agramant be freed from this inuasion,
And all the Christen forces moued ar,
Thus of this friendly truce she is occasion,
That first was causer of their deadly war;
To her they binde themselues by solemne oth,
That vntill then, they will be quiet both.
95
There Discord was and Pride, and what they may,They do this league to interrupt and breake,
But at that time, Loue bare so great a sway,
That to withstand him, they were both to weake:
In vaine it was to argue and gainsay,
When once dame Doralice the word did speake,
By her perswasion, firmely they agreed,
Like friends vpon their iourney to proceed.
96
One onely want there was, that let them sore,Which was that Mandricardos horse was ded,
But loe eu'n then, came thither Brygliadore,
That since his masters madnes there had fed,
Full glad the Prince of Tartar was therefore,
Of such a horse, so quickly to be sped:
But least my tale with tediousnes molest you,
I wish you lay aside the booke and rest you.
198
THE XXV. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Rogero saueth (to his fame and glorie)His spouses brother, that had else bene ded:
Who doth recount to him the wofull storie,
That so great danger vnto him had bred:
His cousin cheares them, though himselfe were sorie,
Next morne, they arme them all from foote to hed,
Good Malagige, and Viuian to releeue,
Whose thraldome did their kinsmen greatly greeue.
1
The strife is great ye grows in youthfull minde,When honor falls at variance with affection,
Nor could it yet be known or well definde,
Which passion keeps the tother in subiection,
For both allure, both do our iudgements blinde,
And both corrupt the heart with strong infection:
Yet lo sometimes these hurts procure our weale,
Eu'n as one poyson doth another heale.
2
For here you see these princes that of late,Straue fiercely tone the tother to subdew,
Agreed to respit this their sharpe debate,
And to repaire vnto the Turkish crew,
To succour Agramants distressed state,
To whom they ought in dutie to be trew,
And yet herein loue claimeth halfe the praise,
For she commanded them to go their wayes.
3
And on they went without more disagreeing,Faire Doralice with these her seruants twaine,
The tone in suit, one in possession being,
And yet as then in concord they remaine:
At last they came vnto a place, where seeing
Foure knights themselues did solace on a plaine,
(Of which two were vnarmd, two armour bare)
With them a Ladie was of beautie rare.
4
With these a while they staid, but who these weare,And what they did, and whither then they went,
A little while to tell I do forbeare,
For to Rogero now my tale is ment,
Who would no more the shield enchanted beare,
But in the well did drowne it, with intent
That men might know his valiant deeds of armes
Were done by force of vertue, not of charmes.
5
He scant had gone a mile or little more,From this same well, but that he met a post
From Agramant, of which there went good store,
The Captaines to recall vnto the host,
He told him how the king (besieged sore,
And like if succour come not to be lost)
Commanded him as his true Lord and leege,
To come without delay to raise the seege.
6
Much was Rogero with the message moued,And diuers passions straue within his minde,
He faine would haue his Princes seege remoued,
Yet loth he was to leaue his loue behinde;
But be his doing praised or reproued,
He was so to the present cause enclinde,
First with his guide he goes to stay the slaughter,
Of him that had deflowrd Marsilios daughter.
7
They came vnto the place an houre er night,Where this same execution should be done,
A castle that belongd to Charles of right,
But late the Spanish king the same had wonne,
And kept it in the mids of France by might,
By count'nance of the great Traianos sonne:
Rogero commeth in, and none denyde him,
Because they knew the damsell that did guide him.
199
8
There first he saw prepard a flaming fire,In which they meant to burne the wofull youth,
He thought so small a sinne did not require
Such punishment, no more it doth in truth:
But when he markt his face and his attire,
And heard and saw the manner of his ruth,
Now sure I know (quoth he) I am not I,
Or this is Bradamant that here should die.
9
Tis certaine she, I see which way it went,Belike while I at yonder castle staid,
She hither came afore me, with intent
To bring vnto the prisner here some aid,
For which (poore soule) her self should now be shent,
Yet I am glad and very well apaid,
That I am hither come in so good season,
To saue her that should die against all reason.
10
And euen with that, most furiously he fliesWith naked sword vpon the gazing rout,
Who euer standeth in his way, he dies,
With so great force he hurles his blade about:
Then straight the prisners fetters he vnties,
Nor was there one so hardie or so stout,
That once durst make resistance or forbid it,
No not so much as aske him why he did it.
11
As fearfull fowle that in the sunshine bright,Sit pruning of themselues vpon a banke,
When as a Faulcon doth among them light,
Flie without care of order or of ranke:
So when these caitiues saw this noble knight,
Forthwith they from his manly presence shranke,
So did their fearfull hearts and courage faile them,
When as they felt Rogero once assaile them.
12
No maruell tho, for why Rogeros forceWas not as mens that now borne later are,
The strength of Lion, Beare, or bull, or horse,
Were nothing, if with his they do compare,
And chiefe sith now he doth himselfe inforce,
To do as much as he or can or dare,
Hereby from danger thinking to recouer,
Her vnto whom he was professed louer.
13
Now when the youth from danger quite was freed,And all that sought his death away were fled,
He thanks the author of this worthy deed,
And thanketh her that had him thither led
Then, when of helpe he stood in greatest need,
When otherwise he doubtlesse had bin dead,
And executed like a malefactor,
Agnizing him his Lord and benefactor.
14
And furthermore he doth Rogero pray,To let him vnderstand his name and nation;
Rogero musing to himselfe doth say,
What meaneth this so strange congratulation?
In face, in shape, in gesture, in array,
This is my loue, I see no alteration,
Yet strange it is her voice should be so changed,
More strange that she from me is so estranged.
15
It doubtlesse is not she, for if it were,Could she within three houres my name forget?
Wherefore to tell his name he doth forbeare,
Vntill he may more perfect notice get:
And thus he said, I haue, I know not where,
Seene you ere this, and I bethinke me yet
Where it might be, for sure I know your face,
Though now I haue forgot the time and place.
16
Most noble sir (said tother) I agree,You may haue seene me, though I know not when,
I rather iudge it should my sister be,
That fights and carries armes as well as men:
My mother at one birth bare her and me,
And we be both so like, that now and then
Our seruants, yea our father and our mother
Haue tane vs in exchange the tone for tother.
17
Chiefly since in her head she had a wound,For which she was constraind to cut her haire,
Twere long the circumstances to expound,
How she was hurt and heald, by whom and where;
Since that betweene vs diffrence none is found,
Saue sex and names that from our birth we beare,
She Bradamant, I Richardet am cald,
She sister, and I brother to Ronald.
18
And further if you please, I shall you tell,As we do onward on our iourney go,
A strange mishap that vnto me befell,
By being tane for her not long ago;
A hap that at the first I liked well,
But after wrought my danger great and wo:
Yes with good will, Rogero said, and than
Yong Richardetto thus his tale began.
19
It happend (as in part I toucht before)My valiant sister passing through a wood,
Was hurt with certaine Sarazins so sore,
As had her cost almost her vitall blood,
Which wound to cure, her tresses short she wore,
For so as then her surgeon thought it good;
The wound once cur'd, for which her head was pold
Abroade to go againe she waxed bold.
20
And hauing traueld till the heate of day,All clad in armor, as her manner was,
At noone she tooke occasion to make stay,
Fast by a watrie streame as cleare as glasse,
And putting off her helmet, downe she lay,
Vpon a pleasant banke well clothd with grasse,
And sleepe at last her heauie eyes did close,
The place inuiting her to take repose.
21
Now while she did there fast asleepe remaine,There happend to arriue vnto that place,
The daughter of Marsilio king of Spaine,
That there by chance was hunting in the chase,
And seeing signes of manhood very plaine,
With that her sweet and amiable face,
As horse, and sword, and target all of steele,
A little amorous passion she doth feele.
200
22
And taking then my sister for a man,As by all circumstances well she might,
She offers her all courtsie that she can,
And askt her if in hunting she delight;
And then to chuse a standing they began,
And finding one far off from others sight,
She opened more plainly that affection,
That had her heart already in subiection.
23
And saue her maiden modestie forbad,She would the same in words haue plainly told,
Howb'it with sighs, with rufull looks and sad,
And silent signes she doth her griefe vnfold:
And when she thus long time discoursed had,
Surprisd with hope, she could no longer hold,
But steps vnto her, and giues her such a kisse,
As that alone shewes what her meaning is.
24
My sister at the first doth thinke it strange,That such a sute should vnto her be made,
And finding she had tane her in exchange,
She thinks it best (before she further wade,
Or let the tothers humor further range)
Tell troth, for thus she doth her selfe perswade,
Tis better to be knowne a Ladie gentle,
Then to be deemd a base man and vngentle.
25
For what could be more cullen-like or base?Or fitter for a man were made of straw,
Then standing in a faire yong Ladies grace,
To shew himselfe a cuckow or a daw,
And leese occasion both of time and place?
My sister therefore that this ill foresaw,
And knew she wanted that, that her should aid,
Told her by circumstance she was a maid.
26
And thus she told her how the worthy fame,Hippolita and stout Camilla wonne,
In deeds of armes, mou'd her her mind to frame,
To do the like while others sowd and sponne:
And that she thought it to her sex no shame,
To do as women of such worth had done;
She told her this, in hope this would appease her,
But this alas did so much more disease her.
27
For why the fancie was so firmly fixt,That in her mind she had before conceiued,
By meanes of speech had passed them betwixt,
That sore it grieu'd her to be thus deceiued,
Before her feare with some good hope was mixt,
But now eu'n hope it selfe was her bereaued:
And this is one extremest point of griefe,
Still to despaire and hope for no reliefe.
28
He that had heard her wofull plaint and mone,Must needs haue greatly at the same bin grieued,
Ah wo is me (she said) that I alone
Should liue in such despaire to be relieued:
In passed times I thinke there hath bene none,
In time to come it will not be beleeued,
That loue should make by such a strong infection,
One woman beare another such affection.
29
O Cupid, if thou didst my state enuie,And that thou hadst a mind me to torment,
To send such paines as others more do trie,
At least me think thou shouldst haue bin content:
Shall in so many ages none but I,
Yeeld of so vncouth loue such president?
The female with the female doth not wish
To couple, nor in beast, nor foule, nor fish.
30
I sole am found in earth, aire, sea, or fire,In whom so strange a wonder thou hast done,
On me thou shewst the power of thine ire,
And what a mightie conquest thou hast wonne.
The wife of Nynus had a strange desire,
To ioyne in copulation with her sonne;
Faire Myrrha by her sire was made a mother,
And made Adonis both her sonne and brother.
31
Pasyphae, except it be a tale,Was buld, inclosed in a woodden cow;
Yet in all these the female sought the male,
But nature doth my fancie disallow;
No Dedalus could remedie my bale,
Nor art can frame, nor sense imagine how,
This knot dame nature hath so firmely knit,
It cannot be dissolu'd by any wit.
32
This Fiordispina faire (so was her name)In piteous sort her wofull state doth waile,
My sister vnto her, her speech doth frame,
As chiefly to her comfort might auaile:
And wisht her this vnbridled will to tame,
Sith nature could not suffer it preuaile,
And that she would let that desire be daunted,
Which possibly by no meanes could be graunted.
33
All this but all in vaine my sister said,To seeke that fancie from her mind to wrest;
She that for comfort car'd not, but for aid,
Doth more and more her selfe vexe and molest:
Now night grew on as they together staid,
What time all creatures seeke repose and rest,
The Ladie prayes my sister for her sake,
A lodging at her castle then to take.
34
To this request doth Bradamant assent,And so together to that place they came,
Where I (but that you did my harme preuent)
Should haue bene cast into the burning flame:
She that all kindnesse to my sister ment,
By many outward courtsies shewd the same:
And caused her to weare a womans weed,
That men might know that she was one indeed.
35
For why the semblance false she saw before,Of manly shape to her was so pernicious,
She would now see her in those weeds no more,
The rather eke lest folke should be suspicious,
(If she had bene as shewd the weed she wore)
Lest that they two did liue together vicious:
She further was by phisick rules assured,
That contraries by contraries are cured.
201
36
But nought could salue that sore, nor swage her woes,That night they lay together in one bed,
But sundry and vnlike was their repose,
One quiet slept, the tothers troubled hed
Still waking, or if she her eyes but close,
That little sleepe strange dreames and fancies bred:
She thought the gods and heau'n would so assist her,
Into a better sex to change my sister.
37
As men tormented with a burning feuer,Do dreame with drinke they swage their grieuous thirst,
But when they wake, they feele their thirst perseuer,
And to be greater then it was at first;
So she whose thoughts from loue, sleepe could not seuer,
Did dreame of that, for which she wake did thirst,
But waking felt and found it as before,
Her hope still lesse, and her desire still more.
38
How feruently did she to Macon pray?What vowes did she vnto her prayre annex?
If so by mightie miracle he may,
Her bedfellow turne to a better sex?
Now neare approcht the dawning of the day,
When she in vaine her selfe doth greiue and vex:
And so much more her passion grew the stronger,
Because my sister now would stay no longer.
39
When Fiordispina saw she would be gone,She causd a gallant gennet to be brought,
All richly barbd, and furniture thereon,
Which with her owne hand partly she had wrought,
This frankly she bestoweth her vpon,
My sister takes it kindly, as she ought,
And takes her leaue, and on her way doth get,
And home she came that night ere Sunne was set.
40
We that long time of her had heard no tiding,I meane her mother, brothers, and her kin,
Do welcome her, and aske of her abiding,
Why she so long from vs had absent bin?
Who straight from vs the troth of nothing hiding,
Doth tell vs how great danger she was in;
And opned from the ending to beginning,
The course of all her leesing and her winning.
41
As namely first how hardly she had sped,And in a conflict had receiu'd a wound,
For which she was constraind to pole her head,
Before her health she could recouer found;
She told how fortune afterwards her led,
Where that faire huntresse had her sleeping found;
She told vs how the Ladie did her woo,
And all the circumstance that longd thereto.
42
To heare this story I was passing glad,For why at Saragoza I had seene
This Fiordispina, and some knowledge had
Of her likewise when she in France had beene,
And likt her well, yet was I not so mad,
In vaine to set my loue on such a Queene:
But now againe I gaue that fancie scope,
When by this tale I had conceau'd some hope.
43
Loue was my counsellor that me aduised,My meaning secret I to none impart,
This was the stratageme that we deuised,
This was the plot, the cunning, and the art,
To go in Bradamantas clothes disguised,
And for a while to play the womans part:
I knew my face my sisters so resembling,
Would be the better helpe for my dissembling.
44
The day ensuing ere it yet was light,I tooke my way, my loue and fancie guiding,
I there arriu'd an houre before twas night,
Such hap I had, such hast I made in riding:
No sooner came I in the seruants sight,
But well was he of me could carry tiding:
They looke (as Princes oft to giue do vse)
Some recompence for bringing so good newes.
45
Straight out she came, and met me halfe the way,And tooke me fast about the necke and kist me,
And told me how in this my little stay,
In anguish great and sorrow she had mist me,
Then she did cause me alter mine array,
In which with her owne hands she doth assist me;
A cawl of gold she set vpon my crowne,
And put on me a rich and stately gowne.
46
And for my part to helpe the matter, IDid take great heed to all I did or said,
With sober cast I carrid still mine cy,
And bare my hands before me like a maid
My voice did serue me worst, but yet thereby
Such heed I vsd, my sex was not bewraid:
And thus arrayd, my Princesse led me with her,
Where many Knights and Ladies were togither.
47
My looke and clothes did all them so beguile,They all had thought I had a woman beene,
And honour such was done to me that while,
As if I were a Dutchesse or a Queene:
And (that which made me oftentime to smile)
Some youths there were of yeers & iudgment green
That cast vpon me many a wanton looke,
My sex and qualitie they so mistooke.
48
At last came meate, both store of flesh and fish,What kinds of both to tell I ouerslip,
I maidenly tast here and there a dish,
And in the wine I scant do wet my lip,
The time seemd long that staid my wanton wish,
And still I doubted taking in some trip;
When bed time came, she told me I must be
Her bedfellow, the which well pleased me.
49
Now when the maids and pages all were gone,One onely lampe vpon the cubbard burning,
And all coasts cleare, thus I began anon:
Faire dame I thinke you muse of my returning,
And cause you haue indeed to muse thereon,
For yesterday when I did leaue you mourning,
I thinke both you and I did thinke as then,
We should not meet againe till God knowes when.
202
50
First let me tell you why from you I went,Then why I come, hereafter I shall show:
Deare Ladie (thus it was) I did lament
Your fruitlesse loue on me was placed so,
And though I could haue ay bene well content,
To waite on you, and neuer part you fro,
Yet since my presence did but make you languish,
I thought mine absence minish would your anguish.
51
But riding on my way, I somewhat straid,As fortune and aduenture did me guide,
And lo I heard a voice that cride for aid,
Within a thicket by the riuer side:
A Satyr taken had a naked maid,
And with a twisted cord her hands had tide,
And in his vsage seemed so to threaten her,
As if he would haue kild her straight and eaten her.
52
I rusht to them with naked sword in hand,And death to him, and freedome I did giue her,
She diuing vnder water out of hand,
Vnrecompenst thou shalt not me deliuer,
Quoth she, for I will haue you vnderstand,
I am a Nymph that dwell here in this riuer;
And for this courtsie I do much regard you,
And am well able richly to reward you.
53
Aske of me what you list, and I will giue it,For I vpon the elements haue powre;
I can with charms bring down the Moon, beleeue it,
I can swage stormes, and make faire weather lowre,
What is so hard, but my skill can atchieue it?
To drayne the sea; or build in aire a towre?
Yea eu'n with simple words (and if I will)
I can inforce and make the Sunne stand still.
54
When as the Nymph had made me this great offer,(Lo Ladie what great loue to you I bare)
I neither askt with gold to fill my coffer,
Nor victory, of which some greedie are,
This fauour onely I demaunded of her,
To make me able to asswage your care:
Nor nam'd I any meanes for feare of erring,
The onely way and meanes to her referring.
55
No sooner this request to her I told,But in the christall streame againe he diued,
And sprinkled me with drops of water cold,
Which to my skinne so sooner were arriued,
But I was changd from that I was of old,
And of my former state I was depriued;
I felt, I saw, yet scant beleeue I can,
That of a woman I was made a man.
56
And sauing that eu'n now I am so nie you,As you may quickly proue my tale not fained,
Else you might thinke I said it but to trie you;
Now lo, since I for you this wish obtained,
Aske what you please, I nothing shall denie you,
Enioy that which my loue for you hath gained:
When I had pleaded thus, and she had heard it,
On sight of euidence she gaue her vardit.
57
As one whose state is ouerwhelmd with debt,By lending or by spending out of measure,
That looks ech houre when prouling shreeus wil fet
Himselfe to ward, and of his goods make seasure,
If some vnlookt for gaine he hap to get,
By some mans death, or by some trouie treasure,
Is so surprisd with ioy, he scant doth know,
If true it be, or if he dreamed so.
58
So she that now did see, and feele, and tuch,That which she long had longed for in vaine,
It ouerfild her mind with ioy so much,
It seemed in a trance she did remaine;
Therein her incredulitie was such,
As to resolue her I did take much paine:
If these be dreames (quoth she) for these dreams sake
I euer wish to dreame and neuer wake.
59
Not sound of drum, of trumpet, or of phise,Nor warlike instrument of any sort,
Did sound alarum to our friendly strife,
But douelike billing followd louely sport,
This battell hazards neither limbe nor life,
Without a ladder I did scale the fort,
And stoutly plant my standerd on the wall,
And vnder me I made my fo to fall.
60
If that same bed were full the night beforeOf teares, of plaints, of anguish and annoyes,
No doubt but now it had in as great store,
Both smilings, sports, and solaces and ioyes:
No Iuy doth embrace the pillar more,
Then she did me, nor Apes can find more toyes,
Then we yong fooles did find to make vs merie,
Till ioy it selfe of ioy did make vs werie.
61
The thing twixt vs did secret long remaine,And certaine months this pleasure did endure,
Till some had found, and told it to my paine,
As you well know that did my life assure:
Yet I confesse great griefe I still sustaine,
Not knowing how her safetie to procure.
This Richardetto to Rogero told,
And all the while their iourney on they hold.
62
By that time Richardettos tale was done,They gan vp to a little hill to mount,
And when an houre and more was set the Sunne,
They came vnto the castle Agrismount,
Kept then by Aldiger the bastard sonne
Of Bouo, of the house of Clarimount,
A wise and sober man and of good qualitie,
And bountifull in keeping hospitalitie.
63
And after he had bid them welcome both,One as his kinsman, tother as his frend,
I heare ill newes (quoth he) that I am loth
To tell to you, least it should you offend:
But thus it is, to let you know the troth,
I heare that Bertolage doth sure intend
To buy the prisners that Ferraw hath tane,
As namely Malagige and Viuiane.
203
64
Lanfusa taketh vpon her to sell them,And as I heare to morrow is the day,
Vnto your brothers I sent one to tell them,
But they be absent hence so farre away,
As ere they come, from hence they may expel them,
I am too weake to force, too poore to pay,
My loue is great, to wish all good vnto them,
But powre so small, as good I can none do them.
65
Young Richardetto much mislikt the newes,So did Rogero for the tothers sake,
And when he saw they both were in a muse,
Nor knew what counsell, or what course to take,
No feare (quoth he) let me this matter vse,
On me this enterprise Ile vndertake,
So I shall handle this affaire so handsome,
This sword alone shall pay your kinsmens ransome.
66
This spake Rogero his companions chearing,But notwithstanding Aldiger, his host,
Gaue to those loftie promises such hearing,
As if there were great boast and little rost:
Which vnto Richardetto plaine appearing,
Who knew his vallew, greater then his bost:
Good cosen if you knew him well that sed it,
You would said he vnto his word giue credit.
67
Then Aldiger on better information,Gaue care and credit to his noble guest,
And made him cheare to sute his reputation,
And plast him at the boord aboue the rest:
And supper done, he was in seemely fashion,
In chamber lodgd, of all the house the best,
The master of the house in nothing scant,
His worthy guest will suffer nothing want.
68
Now was the time when all men soundest sleepe,Rogero onely cannot sleepe a winke,
For cares and thoughts that him do waking keepe,
And in his troubled braine profoundly sinke,
The siege of Agramant doth pierce him deepe,
And what dishonor men of him may thinke,
And deeme his heart but faint, his faith but fickle,
To leaue his soueraigne in so wofull pickle.
69
Had he reuolted at some other time,Men might haue thought that true religion mou'd him,
None could haue it imputed as a crime,
Nor no man probably could haue reprou'd him:
Now, when his masters fortune did decline,
And when to aid him chiefest it behoou'd him,
Feare, men will thinke, his change procured chiefe,
Nor iust remorse, nor zeale of true beliefe.
70
This troubled him, and little lesse then this,It troubled him, to thinke of his deare hart,
Whom now by euill fortune he doth misse,
Nor cannot once salute er he depart;
Wherefore to write to her his purpose is,
And so to her at large his minde impart,
Both that of him she may haue certaine newes,
As that he may his sodaine going scuse.
71
The chamberlaines both prudent and discreet,Vpon Rogero quicke attendance gaue,
Prouiding him of needfull things and meet,
Inke, paper, light, and what he else would craue:
Then (as the manner is) he doth her greet,
Vpon the front, as letters vse to haue;
Thus after verie hartie commendations,
Or some such phrase of friendly salutations.
72
Then tels he her how that the Turkish Prince,Had for his ayd, by speciall message sent,
Who is besiegd, and hath bene long time since;
And how to rescue him is his intent:
Least men of cowardise might him conuince,
That he away in time of danger went:
And now would leaue his lawfull Lord and liege,
Then when his enemies did him besiege.
73
He prayeth her to weigh, how foule a deed,How full it were of infamie and shame,
To yeeld his Prince no aid in such a need,
That sent to him of purpose for the same:
He wisht her for her owne sake to take heed,
That no such staine might spot her spouses name,
That being she, so true and so sinceare,
She should no blemish in her husband beare.
74
He further doth his zeale to her protest,As erst he had in word so now in writing,
And sweares that when his Prince were vndistrest,
The siege quite raisd, by concord or by fighting,
That foolish people might not make a iest,
To his reproch, that common speach reciting,
Rogero loues to take the surer side,
And turnes his sailes, as fortune turnes her tide.
75
I shall (he writes) when that time doth expire,Which in a month I hope will be effected;
Finde some occasion from them to retire,
And of no breach of honour be suspected.
Then shall I full accomplish your desire,
And do, as I by you shalbe directed:
This onely for my honour I demand thee,
And after this thou euer shalt command mee.
76
These things, and like to these Rogero wrate,As then by hap came in his troubled hed,
To certifie his loue of his estate,
And of the cause that his departure bred:
By that time he had done, it was full late,
And then againe he got him to his bed,
And closd his eies, when he had closd the letter,
And after tooke his ease a great deale better.
77
Next day they all arose at breake of day,With minde to go to set their kinsmen free,
And though Rogero earnestly did pray,
That none might take that enterprise but he,
Yet both the other stifly said him nay,
And thereunto by no meanes would agree,
Vnto the place assignd they ride togither,
And by the time appointed they came thither.
204
78
The place they came to was a goodly plaine,In which no tree nor bush was to be seene,
Here Bertolage did point to take them twaine,
As was agreed Lanfuse and him betweene,
But first they met, while here they did remaine,
One that a Phenix bare in field all greene,
With armor faire embost, and guilt with gold,
As in the booke that follows shalbe told.
206
THE XXVI. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
The learned Malagige strange riddles showes,To his companions out of Merlins well:
With Mandricard the Sarzan thither goes,
And each tooke quarrels new, as there befell:
For Discord seed of strife among them sowes,
But Doralices horse, by fiend of hell
Affrighted, doth his mistres beare away,
Which causd the Pagans both breake off the fray.
1
Right worthy dames there were in times of old,That more esteemd of vertue then of wealth,
But now our iron age is all for gold,
For bad, and worse, in sicknes and in health,
But she that will that elder custome hold,
And leaue this new, deserues where ere she dwelth,
Here in this life to haue a happie choice,
And in the next for euer to reioice.
2
Such was the noble Bradamantas mind,Who sought not after wealth and rich abilitie,
Nor state, nor pompe, that many women blind,
But after vertue pure, the true nobilitie:
And well deserued he to find her kind,
That shewd in him such proofs of high gentilitie,
And tooke vpon him actions for her sake,
Which time to come for miracles may take.
3
Rogero (as before I did recite)With Aldiger and Richardetto came,
To rescue those two prisners (if they might)
That should be sold with great reproch and shame.
I told you how they met a gallant knight,
Whose shield had painted that same bird of fame,
That still renews it selfe, and neuer dies,
And onely one, in all the world there flies.
4
Now when this knight was of these three aware,That stood like men new plast in battell ray,
He comes to them, and seeing what they are,
Will there (quoth he) some one of you assay,
If so his value can with mine compare,
With staffe, with sword, or any any other way?
If any will, come then, and let vs trie it,
If none, then say so quickly, and denie it.
5
Sir answerd Aldiger, I were content,To trie my selfe with you, about or two,
But we three came not here for this intent;
We come, a greater feate then this to do,
And at this time, a little time mispent,
May hinder vs, and little pleasure you,
We three intend (if God do say Amen)
Two take two prisners from sixe hundred men.
6
Sure (said that other) if you mind indeed,So great an enterprise to take in hand,
No doubt it doth of valiant mind proceed,
And pittie t'were, your purpose to withstand:
I rather shall assist you in this deed,
If you vouchsafe to make me of your band,
And by my seruice I will quickly shoe,
Good proofe if I deserue such grace or no.
7
Perhap that some would know, and if they may,What valiant knight this was that did intreat,
To take Rogeros part in such a fray,
Whereas the danger could not be but great.
Now she, not he, hereafter I must say,
Marfisa was, of whom I did repeat,
How she both fought, and foyld a little since,
And with Gabrina, chargd the Scottish Prince.
207
8
Rogero stout, and they of Clarimount,Of her and of her offer well esteemed,
She ioynd with them, they making full account
That she had bene of that same sex she seemed.
Straight ready on their horses backs they mount,
They see aloofe a cornet (as they deemed)
Of horse, and mingled some on foote together,
And all of them directly tending thether.
9
Their march, their ensignes, penons, and their flags,Did cause for Moores they knowne were & discride,
Amid this crew, vpon two little nags
The prisners rode with hands behind them tide,
That must be changd for certaine golden bags,
That Bertolage had promist to prouide;
Come (saith Marfisa) to the other three,
Now let the feast begin, and follow me.
10
Soft (quoth Rogero) there be wanting someOf those that to the banquet must be bidden,
And to begin afore the guests be come,
In reason and good manners is forbidden;
By this, the tother crew had ouercome
The hill, that late before from them were hidden,
These were the traitrous wretches of Magaunse,
And now was ready to begin the daunce.
11
Maganza men of one side, merchant like,Brought laden moyles with gold and costly ware,
The Moors their prisners brought with sword & pike
Enuirond round about with heed and care;
The Captains meet with mind a match to strike,
The prisners present at the bargaine are,
And now are bought and sold (for ought they know)
To Bertolage their old and mortall foe.
12
Good Aldiger and noble Ammons sonne,Could hold no longer seeing Bertolage,
But both together at him they do runne,
With hearts all set on fierce reuenge and rage,
His force nor fate their fury could not shunne,
Their speares his armor and his brest did gage,
Downe falls the wretch, his wealth him cannot saue,
Such end I wish all wicked wretches haue.
13
Marfisa and Rogero at this signe,Set out without expecting trumpets blast,
And with two staues of straight well seasond Pine,
Twise twentie men vnto the ground they cast;
The Captaine of the Moores doth much repine,
They of Maganza murmured as fast:
For each side deemed, as they might in reason,
That this had happend by the tothers treason.
14
Wherefore each side with wrath and fury kindled,Vpbraiding tone the tother with vntruth,
With swords and bils, pel mel together mingled,
Do fight, and then a bloudy fray ensu'th,
The Moorish Duke was by Rogero singled,
A man eu'n then in prime and strength of youth,
But youth, nor strength, nor armour could not saue him,
From such a blow as good Rogero gaue him.
15
Marfisa doth as much on tother side,And in such sort besturd her with her blade,
That looke which way soeuer she did ride,
An open lane for her the people made:
If any were so stout the brunt to bide,
Yet soone they found their forces ouerlaid;
Through coats of proof they prou'd her sword wold enter,
She sent their soules below the middle center.
16
If you haue seene the hony making BeesTo leaue their hiues, and going out in swarmes,
When as their kings and masters disagrees,
And they make camps in th'aire like men at armes,
Straight in among them all the Swallow flees,
And eates and beates them all vnto their harmes:
So thinke Rogero and Marfisa then,
Did deale among these bands of armed men.
17
Now Aldiger and Richardet no lesse,Vpon Maganza merchants lay on lode,
Both free to set their kinsmen from distresse,
And for they hated them like snake or tode,
They that the cause nor quarrell could not guesse,
And saw their Captaine dead, made short abode:
Their plate, their coine and treasure all they yeeld,
And were the first that faintly left the field.
18
So flie from Lions silly heards of Goates,That haue deuourd and spoild them at their list,
And torne their sides, their hanches and their throtes,
Yet none of them their fellowes dare assist:
So fled these men, and cast away their coates,
And weapons all, and durst no more resist:
Nor maruell if these two had Lions harts,
That ready find such two to take their parts.
19
Whose acts at large to tell I do refraine,At which that age did not a little wonder,
And now to tell them, men would thinke I faine,
Yea though my words their actions far were vnder;
For at one blow oft horse and man was slaine,
From head to foote whole bodies clou'n in sunder,
And either standing on their reputation,
Bred for their foes a costly emulation.
20
Still tone of them markt tothers valiant deed,And each of tother fell in admiration,
She deemes him Mars, or one of Mars his seed,
And farre aboue all humane generation:
And saue he was deceiued in her weed,
He would haue giu'n her equall commendation,
And likned her, as well he liken might,
Vnto Bellona for her valiant fight.
21
Thus of two bands these foure the battell wonne,And all their stuffe and carriages they got,
The prisners loosd, their bands were all vndone,
Their foes all foild, such is their happie lot:
The man was well whose horse could swiftest runne,
Small count they make of amble or of trot:
The tone side leaue their gold on asses loden,
The tother of their captiues are forboden.
208
22
The noble vanquishers do seize the pray,Which was both rich and sumptuous to behold,
Of Flanders worke an hanging rich and gay,
(To hang a stately roome) of silke and gold;
They also found rich clothing and array,
That should haue bene vnto Lanfusa sold,
And namely mong the rest a gallant gowne,
Embroderd round with cost of many a crowne.
23
They further found good vittels and good store,Wine bottels coole and fresh, and good of tast,
With which (not hauing eate that day before)
They do agree to baite and breake their fast,
And eu'ry one prepares himselfe therefore,
And to that end their curats they vnlast:
Now when Marfisa had put off her beauer,
To be a woman eu'ry one perceaue her.
24
Her golden haire trust vp with carelesse art,Her forehead faire, and full of stately grace,
Her eye, her lip, and eu'ry other part,
So suting to her comely shape and face,
As bred eu'n then in each beholders hart,
A reu'rend loue and wonder in like case;
And straight they askt her name, the which she told them,
And with as great delight she doth behold them.
25
But she her selfe farre more then all the rest,Rogeros shape and person doth regard,
His vallew great, his vnappalled brest,
Before the others all she much prefard,
To him alone her speeches she addrest,
Of him alone she would her speech were hard:
Thus she in him, and he delighted in her,
The while the other had prepard their dinner.
26
The place they din'd in was a pleasant caue,And one of foure that famous Merlin wrought,
Where he in milke white marble did ingraue
Strange stories, which things future strangely taught,
The very images seemd life to haue;
And sauing they were dumb you wold haue thought
Both by their lookes and by their liuely features,
That they had mou'd, and had bene liuing creatures.
27
From out a desert wood an vgly beastThere seemd to come, whose shape was thus defined
An asses eares, a wolfe in head and brest,
A carkas all with pinching famine pined,
A Lions grizly iaw, but all the rest
To foxlike shape did seeme to be inclined:
In England, France, in Italy and Spaine,
Yea all the world this monster seemd to raigne.
28
Where ere this cruell monster set his foote,He kild and spoild of eu'ry sort and state,
No height of birth or state with him did boote,
He conquerd kings and clownes, all in a rate,
Yea this beasts powre had tane so deepe a roote,
It enterd in Christs vicars sacred gate,
And vexed Cardinals and Bishops chiefe,
And bred a scandall eu'n in our beliefe.
29
Vnto this beast men seemd to bow and bend,This beast brake through each wall and eu'ry fence,
No citie could it selfe there from defend,
Strong castels made from it but weake defence,
In fine, her powre did seeme so farre extend,
That many were so fond and void of fence,
To thinke and to beleeue this monster fell,
Had powre of all things both in heau'n and hell.
30
But when this beast had rang'd a while, beholdOne wearing on his head a lawrell crowne,
With three that wore the flowre de luce of gold,
Embroderd richly on their purple gowne,
And with these three a stately Lion bold,
Did ioyne his force to put the monster downe;
The titles and the names that them concerned,
Might in their garments plainly be discerned.
31
One that with sword the beast thrusts in the paunch,Was he whose praise no time shall euer smother,
Francis the first of that name king of France,
Of Austria Maximillen is another,
Then Charles the fift that with a mightie launce
Smites through the beast, frō tone side to the tother:
The fourth that in the brest with arrow wounds him
Was Henrie th'eight, the writing so expounds him.
32
Leo the tenth, the Lion fierce is called,Who chast him, and fast caught him by the eare,
And in the chase the beast so tyrd and galled,
As others tooke him while he held him there:
By this the world seemd freed that erst was thralled,
By this men seemd secure and void of feare,
Seing that beast whose look late made them tremble
Stroyd by the powre of this so braue assemble.
33
This story so set forth (as I haue told)With costly workmanship, great pleasure bred,
In all their minds that did the same behold,
And on this sight more then their meat they fed,
And chiefe Marfisa wisht to heare it told,
What men these were, if men already dead,
Or else a prophecie of things ensuing,
By hidden skill, laid ope to each mans vewing.
34
Then Malagigi was by them requested,As one in Mathematikes seene right well,
And had the method thereof so digested,
As he all hidden mysteries could tell,
To shew what monster thus the world molested,
And who be these that him frō earth expell:
For though they saw their names, they did not know them,
But he they knew by his great skil could show them.
35
Know then (quoth he) that these whose names appeareIn marble pure, did neuer liue as yet,
But long time hence, after six hundred yeare,
To their great praise in princely throne shall sit,
Merlin the English prophet plast them here
In Arthurs time, and by his passing wit,
Set here (as yet) their vnperformed deeds,
And noted all their names vpon their weeds.
209
36
This beast you saw, had first her habitationBeneath amongst the wicked fiends of hell,
And staid there till that wicked generation,
(I meane the iron age) on earth did dwell,
When none durst trust without an obligation,
When fraud first came tween them that buy and sel,
And when the mightie (to their great reproch)
First on the poore mens liuings did incroch.
37
Then first this monster cruell got abrode,And euer since her powre doth still increase,
And wheresoere she maketh her abode,
There is no friendship firme, nor godly peace;
Conscience and iustice vnder foote are trod,
Good gouernment and wholsome lawes do cease,
That Python Phœbus kild with thousand darts,
Was monster lesse then this by thousand parts.
38
Thus Malagigi said, and then he toldWho those should be that should the monster kill,
That should come then when as the world were old,
That should renew each good, and mend each ill,
Whose names in sacred stile to be inrold
Deserue, and to be praisd aud honourd still,
That should in time to come, as he did conster,
With bountie kill that miserable monster.
39
Those fiue I nam'd, and more by fiue times fiue,Mine author names, that holpe to slay the beast.
Rogero and the rest, the time did driue,
In such like talke during the present feast,
And ere they rose, behold there did arriue
Vnto this caue vnwares another guest,
By name that maid from whom of late by force,
Fierce Rodomont had tane Rogeros horse.
40
She hauing heard by hap vpon the way,Her mistris brother was at Merlins caue,
Where she had bin her selfe an other day,
Not thinking now Rogero there to haue;
Him when she saw, she not one word doth say
To him, nor any show or inckling gaue,
Like one that knew so well to do her arrant,
As she durst go, sometime beside her warrant.
41
But vnto Richardet she frames her tale,Yet so as tother might her speeches heare,
How one from her a gallant courser stale,
Which Bradamant her mistris held full deare,
The horse (quoth she) Frontyno she did call,
And I had led him thirty mile well neare,
Marsilia toward, where she bad me stay,
And pointed me to meet me at a day.
42
So fond was I, I feared no mans force,Nor doubted no mans will to do me wrong,
When once I should but shew them how the horse
Vnto Renaldos sister did belong:
Yet one fierce Pagan voide of all remorse,
Met me, and tooke him from me, and ere long
Did meet a fo, with whom I fighting left him,
That hath I hope by this of life bereft him.
43
Rogero with this tale was so much moued,That scant hereof Hyppalca made an end,
But Richardetto straight by him was moued,
Yea and coniurd, as he would be his frend,
That this attempt might sole by him be proued,
And (but this damsell) none might him attend:
That she may bring him to the Pagans sight,
That tooke away her horse against all right.
44
Stout Richardet (though thinking too much wrong,So oft to let another vndertake
Those enterprises that to him belong)
Yet sith so earnestly Rogero spake,
He giues consent, and tother staid not long,
But of the companie his leaue doth take,
And leaues them all, in wonder great to see,
That such hie worth could in a yong man be.
45
Now when Hyppalca was quite out of sight,She opned to Rogero all the troth,
How she that counts him her beloued knight,
And voweth to be his by solemne oth,
Sent her of purpose to him this last night,
Which she before conceald (as being loth
Her mistris brother should her counsell know,
How she that horse vpon him did bestow.)
46
She told him how that he that tooke the steed,Did adde these proud and scornfull words beside,
Because it is Rogeros horse indeed,
So much the rather on the horse I ride,
And if he will be grieu'd at this my deed,
Tell him I do not mind my selfe to hide,
For I am Rodomont (he said) whose name
Where ere I passe filleth the world with fame.
47
One might haue seene it in Rogeros face,In how great dudgen this great wrong he tooke,
Both for the gift and giuer in like case,
And grosse abuse, for which he did not looke:
He thinks what infamy and foule disgrace
It were to him, so great despite to brooke;
Which if he would, then iustly eu'ry body,
Might take him for a dastard and a nody.
48
Wherefore with heart vpon reuenge full set,He followeth forthwith his female guide,
She that did thinke the fray vnparted yet,
That Rodomont and Mandricardo tride,
By darke blind wayes, the nearest she could get,
Vnto the place directly she did ride,
But as you heard, they had deferd the quarell,
And hasted thence to help their Liege from perell.
49
And as I toucht before, their hap them broughtVnto the foresaid Merlins famous caue,
There where before good Malagigi taught,
What secret meaning all the pictures haue:
Now had Marfisa (by the rest besought)
Put on a womans garment passing braue,
Which lately for Lanfusa had bin made,
And so attyrd, refresht her in the shade.
210
50
When that Tartarian Prince had spide this dame,Straight in his mind he plots this new found drift,
I will (thought he) by conquest win the same,
And giue her Rodomontee as my gift,
(As though that loue were but a sport and game,
That might be sold and changed for a shift)
For why (he thought) what needs a man complaine,
If leesing one, he do another gaine?
51
Wherefore the tothers damage to repaire,And that he might his owne in quiet haue,
And for Marfisa seemly was and faire,
As no man need a dame more comely craue:
He doth forthwith vnto them make repaire,
Denouncing straight the challenge stout and braue,
That he with those foure knights at tilt wold runne,
Till they slue him, or he their Ladie wonne.
52
Straight stept out Malagige and Viuian,Both prest in her defence to breake a speare,
Nor fearing to encounter man to man,
With those two Pagans they saw present there;
But when the fray betweene them now began,
Fierce Rodomont stood still and doth forbeare,
As comming thither with another mind,
And not to change his purpose first assignd.
53
Now of the brothers Viuian was the first,That with great might the Pagan did inuade,
Vpon whose crest in vaine his speare he burst,
His blow no hurt it did, no signe it made,
His force was least, so was his fortune worst,
For Mandricard (more perfect in his trade)
With so great strength and skill his speare inforced,
That he was ouerthrowne and quite vnhorsed.
54
To venge his brother, Malagigi thought,But of his thought he quickly was deceiued,
His force thus ouermatcht preuailed nought,
From off his saddle he was quickly heaued.
Next Aldiger his comming dearly bought,
For in his side a great wound he receaued,
So downe vpon the grasse he fell halfe dead,
His visage waxing pale, his armor red.
55
Then Richardetto came with mightie lance,And prou'd himselfe by his great force to be
Worthy the name of Palladine of France,
As oft his foes did feele, his friends did see;
But at this time one ouerthwart mischance
Did hap, that downe among the rest lay he,
His horse wherein he put so great a trust,
Fell downe with him, and tumbled in the dust.
56
When as no other champion did appeare,But all were ouerthrowne in this late fight,
Thinking this conquest now obtained cleare,
Without more stay he from his horse doth light,
And comming vnto her with smiling cheare,
Faire dame (quoth he) you now are mine by right,
You cannot it denie, or once excuse it,
For by the lawes of battell so we vse it.
57
Indeed (Marfisa said) it were no wrong,And I were yours I grant by law of warre,
If I were theirs, or did to them belong,
That you haue foiled in this present iarre,
But I shall make you know I hope ere long.
You misse your marke, your aime did greatly arre,
I am mine owne, mine owner is within me,
He that will haue me, from my selfe must win me.
58
I handle can (quoth she) both sword and speare,And haue ere this made more then one man bleed,
Then cald she for her armor which was there,
Which by a page was brought to her with speed,
Off go'th her gowne, and for she still did weare
A slender trusse beneath her womans weed,
Her well shapt limbs therein were plainly seene,
In shape like Mars, in face like Ægypts Queene.
59
When at all peeces she was armed round,She vauteth nimbly vp into her seate,
And twise or thrise she makes her horse to bound,
To bate a little of his furious heate,
And makes a turne or two aboue the ground,
Then turnes she to her fo to do her feate;
Such was (I iudge) Pentheseleas fight,
Against Achilles famous Greekish knight.
60
Thus each themselues vpon their horse aduances,And with their couched speares forthwith they run,
Vp in a thousand splinters flies the lances,
But vnto them no hurt at all is done:
The Pagan greatly maruels how it chances,
That she should scape, and curses Moone and Sun;
And she with her successe as ill content,
Blasphemeth eke the heau'ns and firmament.
61
Then they assayd with swords most dreadfull dint,To wound the tone the tother, and to kill,
Their strokes were such as might haue pierst ye flint,
And to their force was ioyned passing skill:
They lay on lode amaine, and do not stint,
The sound doth all the place with eccho fill,
But neuer was it more for their behoofe,
To haue their armour of so passing proofe.
62
But while they now did most apply the fray,Fierce Rodomont doth step them both betwixt,
And blames him much for making such delay,
Of that which late by him was firmely fixt;
And then with courteous speech he her doth pray,
With lowly words and loftie, quaintly mixt,
That she would helpe to aid Traianos sonne,
Whose tents were in much danger to be wonne.
63
To this request Marfisa doth assent,As well to helpe king Agramant thereby,
As for she came to France with that intent,
The forces of the Palladines to try;
This while Rogero, wroth and malcontent,
After the stealer of his horse doth hie;
And hauing found of him the perfect tracke,
He sends againe his guide Hippalca backe.
211
64
And for he thought that none could do it better,The messenger he makes her of his mind,
And sends by her his lately written letter,
Protesting he will still continue kind,
And that he doth himselfe acknowledge debter,
And would himselfe to her for euer bind,
He onely prayes her for a time excuse
His absence, which he would not, might he chuse.
65
With this dispatch Hippalca went her way,And came to mount Albano that same night.
Rogero made but very little stay,
Vntill he had Frontino in his sight;
Which seen and known, forthwith there was no way,
But he will haue his horse againe, or fight
With him, that had with so vnnoble force,
The damsell robbed of the gallant horse.
66
And straight in shew of warre he coucht his speare,And to his face the Pagan he defide,
But Rodomont doth patiently forbeare,
Eu'n as a Iob, and all his words abide;
Not that of him he had one sparke of feare,
For his great value often had bin tride,,
But that the danger of his Lord and King,
Weyd more with him then any other thing.
67
Wherefore he gently tels him for what causeHe may not fight, and him exhorted to,
What all diuine, and what all humane lawes,
Vnto his Prince commands a man to do.
I (said Rogero) am content to pawse,
In this respect, and make a truce with you,
So that this horse againe to me you render,
Which so to take, your reason was but slender.
68
Now while these two herein do square and braue,The Tartar king doth vnto them approch,
And when he saw what armes Rogero gaue,
He set another brabble straight abroch:
Mine are (quoth he) these armes that now you haue,
How dare you on my titles thus incroch?
The cause why Mandricardo spake these words,
Was that Rogero gaue the King of burds.
69
An Eagle argent in a field of blew,Rogero gaue, whilom the crest of Troy,
As one that thence deriu'd his pedegrew,
And did by due descent the same enioy;
But hereof Mandricardo nothing knew,
Or nought beleeu'd, and calld it but a toy,
And tooke it as an iniury and scorne,
To see the same by any other worne.
70
For he himselfe did giue, as for his cote,That bird that bare vp Ganimed on hie,
Ere since he wan (as I before did note)
Don Hectors armes, and wan such praise thereby,
The good successe hereof makes him aflote,
So that he did Rogero straight defie,
I shall (quoth he) some better manners teach thee,
Then in such sawcie sort to ouer reach thee.
71
As wood well dride will quickly fall on fire,If so a man a little do it blow;
So was Rogero kindled now in ire,
To heare the Pagan reprehend him so;
Thou thinkst (quoth he) to haue thy fond desire,
By charging me now with a double fo,
But know that I my partie good will make,
From him mine horse, from thee mine arms to take.
72
Did not we two about this matter boord?And then to take thy life I did abstaine,
Because that by your side I saw no sword;
But now sith you begin this brawle againe,
This shall be fight in deed, that was but word,
And that your crest shall turne you to much paine,
Which vnto me descent and propagation
Hath left, but you do hold by vsurpation.
73
Nay thou vsurpst, the tother straight doth say,And with that word he Durindana drew,
That sword that erst Orlando flang away,
And then a cruell fray was like ensew:
But straight the tother two did cause them stay,
And chiefly Rodomont did seeme to rew,
That Mandricard of lightnesse shewd such token,
That twise by him his promise had bin broken.
74
First when to get Marfisa he had thought,He had conflicted more then twise or thrise,
And now with tother quarrelled for nought,
About a bird or some such fond deuise:
Nay then (quoth he) if needs you wold haue fought,
We two should trie the title of our prise,
Which by consent should stand still vndecided,
Vntill our Princes safetie were prouided.
75
Wherefore for shame do as you haue agreed,And let vs cease and lay all quarrels by,
And when our Prince from danger shall be freed,
Then first betweene vs two the matter trie,
And after if you liue, you may proceed
To fight it out with him, and so will I:
Though well I wot, when I haue done with you,
But little will remaine for him to do.
76
Tush (saith the Tartar Prince) for him nor thee,Nor all the world beside, I passe one straw,
For though you fight, or though you do agree,
Of neither of you both I stand in aw,
As water in a spring, so strength in me
Shall still supply much more then you can draw;
I hope by that time I haue done my feate,
From head to foot with blood He make you sweate.
77
Thus one ill word another doth draw on,And wrathfull Mandricard them both defies:
Rodomont would haue peace, but they would none,
If this speake sharpe, then that more sharpe replies;
If one strife be compounded, yet anon
Another strife as bad or worse doth rise;
In vaine Marfisa labours to compound them,
For more and more vntoward still she found them.
212
78
Eu'n as the painfull husbandman doth thinke,By care to keepe the riuer in his bounds,
That swels with raine, readie to passe the brinke,
And ouerflow his mowd or sowed grounds,
He strengthens eu'ry place that seems to shrinke,
Yet more and more the water still abounds,
And while he stops one vent, another groweth,
Till ouer all perforce at last it floweth.
79
So when the dame, of whom I last made mention,Saw how Rogero stout and Mandricard,
With Rodomont continude in contention,
And each would seeme for tother two too hard,
She willing to compound this sharpe dissention,
Perswades them, but they little it regard,
For still as one at her request forbeares,
The other two are at it by the eares.
80
When as she saw their furie still increase,Let either vs (quoth she) our Prince assist,
And in the meane time let all quarrels cease;
Or if you in this fury still persist,
Then I with Mandricard will haue no peace.
Do herein (quoth Rogero) as you list,
For I resolued am to haue my horse,
Although it be by faire meanes or by force.
81
Then do (said Rodomont) your worst and best,For with that horse to part I not agree,
But here before you all I do protest,
That if our King by this stay damag'd be,
And that for want of ayd he be distrest,
The cause thereof did not proceed of me;
Rogero little weyes his protestation,
But firmly holds his first determination.
82
And at the Sarzan furiously he flies,And with his shoulder gaue him such a thrust,
He lost his stirrops, and so loosd his thies,
That hard he scaped lying in the dust.
What? hold Rogero, Mandricardo cries,
Either not fight, or fight with me you must,
And in great rage, as that same word he spake,
Rogeros beauer with great might he strake.
83
The blow was such, as made him forward leane,And ere that he himselfe againe could reare,
Vpon him smote the sonne of Vlyen,
With so great strength as no strength might it beare
That had his armor bene of temper meane,
No doubt they had an end made of him there:
Rogeros hands flie ope with senslesse paine,
The tone his sword, the tother leaues his raine.
84
His horse away beares him about the greene,And Balisard his blade is left behind:
Marfisa that had to Rogero beene
Fellow in armes that day, was grieu'd in mind,
To see him vsd so hardly them betweene,
And being strong of limbes, and stout by kind,
She smiteth Mandricardo on the crowne
So hard, as wants not much to fell him downe.
85
After Rogero Rodomont doth get him;And now Frontino had welnigh bin wonne,
But by the way stout Richardetto met him,
And with him ioynd his cousin Bouos sonne;
Tone iustles him, and furder off doth set him,
The tother, namely Viuian, doth runne,
Vnto Rogero that by this was waked,
And lends his sword vnto his right hand naked.
86
Now backe he doth returne, enrag'd with scorne,Minding to pay his damage home againe,
Eu'n as a Lion, whom the Bull hath borne
Vpon his head, is full of fierce disdaine,
Flies at him still, nor feares his cruell horne,
His anger making him forget his paine,
And on his beauer with such force he thundered,
As though he wold his head in twain haue sundered.
87
And sure he had performd it very neare,If Balisarda had bene in his hand,
Which he let fall, as you before did heare.
Now when as Discord saw how things did stand,
She thinks no peace can possibly be here,
And taking Pride her sister by the hand,
Now sister let vs turne vs to our Friers,
For here (quoth she) are raisd sufficient fiers.
88
And so away they went, and let them go:And let me tell you how Rogero sped,
Who gaue to Rodomont so fierce a blow,
That such a great amazement in him bred,
That twise or thrise he reeled to and fro;
Frontino with his senslesse master fled,
Also his sword had falne out of his fist,
But that a chaine did tie it to his wrist.
89
This while Marfisa held the tother tacke,And yet on either side the conquest swayd,
Each had so good an armor on their backe,
Of piercing it they need not be afrayd,
Yet by a chance Marfisa hapt to lacke,
And likewise hapt to haue Rogeros ayd,
For in a turne she made, her horse did trip,
And in the durt vpon one side did slip.
90
And as againe he labourd vp to rise,The cruell Tartar iustled him so crosse,
That on his side the horse constrained lies,
Foundring againe vpon the slimie mosse;
Which when Rogero from aloofe espies,
How neare she was to danger great and losse,
He steps to Mandricard, fiercely assailing him,
While Rodomont stands mazd, his senses failing him.
91
The Tartar doth as fiercely him resist,But yet Rogero strake so great a blow,
Both to auenge himselfe and her assist,
Whom Mandricardo hapt to ouerthrow,
That sure I thinke that blow had little mist,
Quite to haue clou'n him to the saddle bow,
Saue that the Tartars armor was so hard,
And that Rogero wanted Balisard.
213
92
By this the Sarzan king againe did wakeAnd seeing none but Richardetto neare,
He cals to minde how for Rogeros sake,
That youth to him was troublesome while eare.
Straight with great rage he toward him doth make,
Minding to make him buy that curtsie deare:
And sure good Richardetto had repented it,
But that his cosin with great art preuented it.
93
His cosin Malagige, whose skill was great,In all that doth to magicke art pertaine,
With words that he without booke could repeat,
Did coniure vp a spryte of hellish traine,
And by this meanes he works a passing feat:
For (though he namd no place) he doth ordaine,
This sprite in Doralices horse to enter,
And beare her thence away at all aduenter.
94
The sprite thus coniurd, quickly doth his part,Into the damsels gentle nag he crept,
And so his quiet nature did peruart,
That one the sudden thirtie foot he lept,
And ten foot high, yet with so easie start,
That Doralicee still the sadle kept,
Yet cride she out, in doubt to haue miscarried,
For in the diuels name she thence was carried.
95
Forthwith to helpe her Rodomonte go'th,Because she fled, and cride to him for aid,
To stay behind the Tartar is as loth,
For feare betweene them he may be betraid,
He leaues Rogero and Marfisa both,
Nor in the place so little time he staid,
As to accord with them vpon some truce,
Or make at least some mannerly excuse.
96
This while Marfisa was got vp againe,And now she means to venge her on her fo,
But he was gone, at which in great disdaine,
She frets and chafes, that he had seru'd her so,
Rogero chafes as much, for all in vaine,
He knew it would be, after them to go:
They know their steeds (and this doth grieue them more)
Cannot out run Frontin & Brighadore.
97
Wherefore supposing (as it was indeed)That they were gone vnto the Turkish host,
To follow them forthwith these two agreed,
Though not to follow as they went in post,
Not doubting but when Agramant were freed,
At leasure them to meet, and to their cost:
They onward go, but yet Rogero ment,
To bid his friends farewell afore he went.
98
Downe from his horse he gently doth descend,And Richardetto he aside doth take,
And promist him for ay to be his frend,
And to his noble sister for his sake:
To whom (said he) I pray you me commend,
Yet in such prettie sort the same he spake,
His inward loue was not thereby detected,
Nor her great loue to him, one whit suspected.
99
Thus solemne leaue once tane on either side,And profers of great loue and curtsie made,
To him was hurt, and all the rest beside,
As still among great nobles is the trade,
Rogero with Marfisa on doth ride,
But how they did the Christen campe inuade,
And what great losse did Charls thereby receiue,
In next ensuing booke you may perceiue.
215
THE XXVII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Rogero and those other Pagan kings,Make Charles againe to Paris wals retire:
Among the Turks new seed of quarrell springs,
And kindles in their hearts a quenchlesse fire:
Which all their campe in great disorder brings.
Agramant to appease them doth desire;
Fierce Rodomont doth leaue the campe in wrath,
Because his mistres him forsaken hath.
1
Among the many rare and speciall gifts,That in the femal sex are found to sit,
This one is chiefe, that they at sodayne shifts,
Giue best aduice, and show most readie wit:
But man, except he thinks and chews, and sifts,
How eu'ry part may answer tother fit,
By rash aduice doth often ouershoot him,
And doth attempt the things that do not boot him.
2
Good Malagigi thought he had done wisely,In making Doralice to Paris fly,
But if he had the matter wayd precisely,
(Though Richardetto was perseru'd thereby)
He would haue sure confest it done vnwisely,
His safetie with so great a losse to buy:
For by this act (which he then not forethought)
A losse vnspeakeable to Charles was wrought.
3
Alas how much might he haue better done,If he had made the fiend the wench conuay,
Vnto the fall or rising of the Sunne?
To West, or East, or any other way,
Where Rodomont and Agricanes sonne,
From Paris wals might haue gone far astray?
But he that euer wisheth Christens euill,
So at this time did proue himselfe a Deuill.
4
The fiend her silly horse most slily enterd,And, not before prescribed any place,
He quickly all the company distemperd;
Nor bare he her away a common pace,
But ouer brooks, and streams, and ditches venterd:
She crying still for ayd as in such case,
Nor leaues her beast to fling, run, snore and stampe,
Vntill she quite was past the Christen campe.
5
There did she come eu'n as she could desire,Among the midst of Agramantes traine,
And there at last she found the king her sire,
That of Granata did possesse the raigne:
The while her louers both themselues do tire,
And in pursuing her do take great paine,
By tracing her with as great toile and care,
As huntsmen do with pleasure trace the Hare.
6
Now Charles tis time for thee to looke about,Vnto thy wals and strengths in time betake thee,
Thou neuer canst escape this plunge, I doubt,
Except thou stir vp quickly, and awake thee,
Thy strength, the lamps of France are quenched out
I meane thy frends & champions chiefe forsake thee,
Orlando thee, his wits haue him relinquished,
And all his vertues drownd and quite extinguished.
7
Likewise Renaldo, though not fully mad,Yet little lesse then mad seekes there and heare,
For faire Angelica, and is full sad,
To see that he of her no news can heare;
For why a certaine old inchaunter had,
Told him a forged tale, that toucht him neare,
How she, to whom of loue he made profession,
Was in Orlandos keeping and possession.
216
8
This made him at the first so loth to go,To England, whither he was sent for ayd;
This made him backe againe to hasten so,
Then when the Turks his presence so dismaid,
And thinking after that, some news to know,
By priuie search the Nunries all he laid,
And Castels all, in Paris and about,
To see if he by search could finde her out.
9
But when he heard of her no news nor tiding,And that Orlando there likewise did want,
He could in Paris make no longer biding,
Doubting his riuall sought him to supplant,
But vp and downe about the countrie riding
Sometime to Braua, sometime to Anglant,
Supposing still Orlando her had hidden,
Lest of his pleasure he might be forbidden.
10
And thus the wicked fiend his time espide,To giue the Christens such a fatall blo,
When as these two, in whom they most affide,
Were absent now their Prince and countrie fro;
Furder for souldiers of the Turkish side,
All that were valiant men, or counted so,
Were all against this time entised hither,
Wholly vniting all their force togither.
11
Gradasso stout, and Sacrapantee fearce,That in that charmed castell long had dwelt,
Which th'English Duke, as I did late rehearse,
Dissolued quite, and causd like snow to melt.
These two likewise the Christen campe do pearce,
The forces of these two the Christens felt.
Rogero and Marfisa made lesse hast,
And so it happend, they arriued last.
12
The first two couple neare the Christens tents,Did meet, and then after long consultation,
Each vnto other shewing their intents,
They all conclude with on determination,
And all of them to this giue their consents,
In spite of all the Christen generation,
To succour Agramant their Lord and Liege,
And mauger Charls his might, to raise the siege.
13
Straight in one crew they foure togither knit,Breake through ye Christen watch by force amaine,
Neither in hugger mugger did they it,
But crying lowdly, Affrica and Spaine,
They lay on lode, and eu'rie one they hit,
Dead or astonished doth there remaine:
Alarum then all ore the campe was rung,
Though few could tel the cause frō whēce it sprung.
14
Some thought the Gascoigns or the Switzers bold,By mutiny had made some insurrection,
And their surmise vnto the Emp'ror told,
Who came with minde to giue them due correction
But when he did the bodies dead behold,
Incurable vntill the resurrection,
He standeth still like one with wonder mazed,
And on their wofull wounds long time he gazed.
15
Eu'n as a man that with a bolt of thunder,Hath seene his dwelling house smit vnaware,
Straight searcheth with no little feare nor wonder,
Which way the bolt did passe that causd his care:
So Charles that saw mens bodies cut in sunder,
Inquires, of so great wounds who authours are,
And when he knew how few they were that did it,
Did wish himselfe there present to forbid it.
16
This while Marfisa on another side,With good Rogero do them sore impeach,
And through the campe in spite of them they ride,
Killing or wounding all within their reach:
As in a migne that lies close vnespide,
With trayns of gunpowder men make a breach:
Or as a tempest goes along by coast,
So suddenly these two brake through the host.
17
Many that scapt the tother foure by flight,In flying, fell vnwares vpon these twaine;
And felt by proofe that neither flight nor fight,
Can saue a man ordained to be slaine.
Eu'n as a Foxe, whom smoke and fire doth fright,
So as he dare not in the ground remaine,
Bolts out, and through both smoke & fire she flieth,
Into the Tariers mouth, and there he dieth.
18
Thus last of all, by this most noble paire,The Christen armie once againe was sundred,
And then to Agramant they all repaire,
Who welcoms them, and at their value wondred.
Now hope and courage, driue away dispaire,
One Turke, of Christens straight defide an hundred,
So great a boldnesse in their mind doth rise,
By helpe and succour of these new supplies.
19
Straight way on both sides out their men were broughtTheir standerds and their banners all displaid,
And there that day a bloodie field was fought,
And neither side made shew to be dismaid,
For hopes alike in either armie wrought,
Tones passed conquests, tothers present aid.
But fortune on the Christens so did frowne,
That they againe were driu'n vnto the towne.
20
The passing force of cruell Rodomount,The strength and value great of Mandricard,
Rogeros vertue, that doth all surmount,
Gradassos courage of no small regard,
Marfisas heart, of principall account,
The skill of Sacrapant, with best compard,
These were the causers of good Charls his losse,
And sent the Christens whom by weeping crosse.
21
Great store were drownd in Sequana with hast,The bridge so narrow was for to receiue them,
Wishing (as Dedals sonne had in time past)
Some wings wherewith aloft in ayre to heaue them,
Some thrusting, straue to get them in so fast,
That strength & breath, & life at last did leaue them
But that, whereby king Charls was chiefly shaken,
Was this, that many Palladyns were taken.
217
22
Thus fortune once againe did turne the wheele,The good king Charles had her, but could not hold her,
And of this foile this hurt he then did feele,
It fainter made his friends, his foes the bolder:
The Marquis of Vienna true as steele,
Was at that seruice wounded in his shoulder,
And many hurt, but none did play his part,
So well that day, as valiant Brandimart.
23
He stoutly bare it out, no little space,And when he saw there was no other way,
Then to the furie prudently gaue place,
And spard himselfe, against another day:
Now once againe is Charls in wofull case,
Now once againe to Paris siege they lay.
Young Orphans, and old widdows prayre and cries,
Againe vnto Gods heau'nly throne arise.
24
The Angell Michel, was but ill appaid,Finding the cause of those good Christens teares,
He thought his maker was but ill obaid,
And that he may be blamd therefore he feares;
He cals himselfe deceiued and betraid,
By her should set the Pagans by the eares,
From which (it seemed) now she did so vary,
As she had rather done the quite contrary.
25
Eu'n as the Seruitor whose loue and zeale,More then his memory may be commended,
Forgetting in some waightie cause to deale,
That by his Lord to him was recommended,
Would with new care his former fault conceale,
That er his master know, it may be mended:
So this good Angel, went not vp to God,
Till he had done as much as he was bod.
26
To seeke dame Discord he doth leaue the skie,And to the Abby he returnes againe,
Where her amid the monks he might espie,
That change old officers, and new ordaine:
She laughes to see their portises to flie,
Readie to knocke out one anothers braine:
The Angel takes her by her painted locks,
And with great furie giues her many knocks.
27
He brake a crosses handle on her crowne,And grieuously doth beat her, backe and side,
The wretch vpon her marybones fals downe,
At th'Angels feet, and mercie, mercie cride:
Packe to the Pagans then, that siege yon towne,
(Quoth he) and see that you among them bide,
For if this place againe thou euer trouble,
Assure thy selfe, thy payment shalbe double.
28
Though Discords back and arms were sore with beatingYet thence with all the hast she could she went;
Sore terrifid with that great Angels threating,
Doubting againe in like sort to be shent:
Yet in this hast, behind her not forgetting,
Bellows and coles, in steed of those were spent,
By which in many minds, and hearts inuincible,
She quickly kindle might a fire inquenchible.
29
Rogero, Mandricard, and Rodomount,Gan now their former quarrels to renew,
As making of the Christians small account,
That vnto Paris walls themselues withdrew:
Wherefore to Agramant they do recount
Their quarrels, & the grounds of whence they grew,
Each one by challenge his iust cause auerring,
The combats order to the king referring.
30
Also Marfisa doth the king intreat,That she may end her combat at first begunne,
With as great hast thereof, and as great heat,
Against the Tartar, Agricanes sonne:
This she desires with hast and instance great,
As one that thinks, great wrong to her was done,
If in regard of any state or powre,
She should attend one day, or yet one howre.
31
But Rodomont alledgeth that of right,He first should end the matter with his riuall,
Sith by accord they first deferd the fight,
Till time might serue, after their here arriuall:
No lesse Rogero for his horse takes spight,
And sweares, that whether they agree or striue all,
To take Frontino, no man should restraine him,
Or else to fight with him that doth detaine him.
32
Further, the matter farther to entangle,The argent Eagle in the azure field,
Gaue to the Tartar matter more to iangle,
And quarrell with Rogero for his shield:
And so confusedly he then did wrangle,
As though with all at once he would the field,
And in his furie sure he had attempted it,
But that the kings commandment flat preuented it.
33
Who first with graue and frendly admonition,To peace and good attonement did exhort them,
But when beyond all meanes of composition,
He saw that wrath and furie did transport them,
To certaine Marshals, he doth giue commission,
According to the law of armes to sort them:
And of all wayes, this was not thought the worst,
To trie by lots, which two should combat furst.
34
Foure little scrowles were put into a pot,The first had Rodomont and Mandricard;
Rodomont and Rogero next they wrot;
The third Rogero was and Mandricard;
The fourth paire that must trie the present lot,
Was stout Marfisa ioynd to Mandricard:
When lots were cast, these two first out were tane,
Fierce Rodomont and sonne of Agrican.
35
Mandricard and Rogero next they finde,Rodomont and Rogero next was said:
Mandricard and Marfisa staid behinde,
With which the stately dame was ill apaid:
Nor was Rogero well content in minde,
Doubting that when they first their parts had plaid,
The combat will be such betweene them two,
He and Marfisa should haue nought to do.
218
36
Not farre from Paris, lay a leuell ground,That was in compasse scant a thousand paces,
This plain with rayles, and bars was compast round,
And tents therein were set with equall spaces,
With scaffolds raysd vpon the outward bound,
To giue to lookers on conuenient places:
Now came the time these strifes should be decided,
Among those knights, those tents were thus deuided.
37
In the pauillion bordring on the East,Stands Rodomont with visage sterne and grim,
Ferraw and Sacrapant were readie prest,
To put his scally serpents hide on him:
In tother tent that was vpon the West,
Gradasso and stout Falsyron do trim,
With Hectors armes so stately and so faire,
The valiant Prince, king Agricanes haire.
38
On one side in a high tribunall seat,Do sit the kings of Affrica and Spaine,
With Stordilan and other Princes great,
Both feard and followd of the Turkish traine:
Happie was he that day, that could but get,
A place to sit or stand although with paine,
On rigde of house, or wall, or top of tree,
In so great presse, the goodly shew to see.
39
On tother side sat Ladies of great name,In stately sort, to see and to be seene,
That out of diuers realmes and countries came,
To visite or attend the Spanish queene:
There Doralyce was plast, that louely dame,
Who wears a robe of crimson cut on greene,
Yet was the crimson staind in such a fashion,
It rather seemd inclining to carnation.
40
Among the rest Marfisa sat that day,In short light clothes most sumptuously arrayd,
The fashion of such kind, as well it may
Become a warrior, and yet a maid,
Hippolita (I thinke) vsd such array,
When in the field her banner she displaid,
Thus each thing was prepared for the fight,
And each man was prepared for the sight.
41
An Herald in his coate of armes steppes out,And of the law of armes expounds the guise,
Professing to resolue each little doubt,
That in such case accustoms to arise:
The people gasing standeth all about,
Attent with listning ears, and longing eyes,
When from the tent of valiant Mandricard
Behold a sodaine noyse and sturre was hard.
42
The cause was this, the king of Sericane,Who (as before I did rehearse) was one,
That holpe to arme the sonne Agricane,
Taking his sword in hand to put it on,
Saw written in the handle, Durindane,
And looking more aduisedly thereon,
He saw Almontes armes grau'n on the blade,
The which strange sight him greatly wonder made.
43
And glad he was when once he did espy it,(The chiefest cause that first to France he came)
Although before he neuer could come by it;
Wherefore he questions straight vpon the same,
If Mandricardo wan it, or did buy it?
Who in this sort his answer then did frame:
I with Orlando for this sword did quarrell,
And ear I had it, put my life in perrell.
44
Further vnto this answer he doth ad,A farther lie, his glorie to increase,
How that Orlando for the feare he had,
That for this sword he neuer should haue peace,
Had throwne away the sword, and faind him mad,
That thereby he might cause his quarrell cease:
Doing herein, as is the Castor wonted,
Bite of his stones, when he is nearly hunted.
45
Well (quoth Gradasso) what Orlando ment,I cannot now discusse, nor do I know,
But sure I am it is not mine intent,
Now I haue found it here to let it go,
The money, men, munition I haue spent,
Deserue as good a thing as this I trow:
You did but finde it, you your selfe confesse it,
And now I challenge it and do possesse it.
46
If you denie my claime, here I will proue it,This field the court, this list my pleading bar,
My plea is such, as no writ can remoue it,
My iugde must be the sequell of the war.
War said thother, who can better loue it
Then I? these words to me as musicke are,
If so the king of Sarza will agree,
To stay his combat, till I fight with thee.
47
Be sure Ile answer thee, and all beside.That dare presume to offer me offence:
With that Rogero stept betweene and cride,
Ho sirs, with this I minde not to dispence,
Or let the fight proceed, as lots haue tride,
Or I my selfe will put you to your fence:
Shall he denie the sword and shall I yeeld,
That you shall weare mine Eagle on your shield?
48
Wherefore preserue that order first agreed on,From which in honour, you may no way start,
Or if to breake it further you proceed on,
I breake will all, if you do breake a part.
Tush (quoth the Tartar) threats we haue no need on,
If Mars were in you both, and tooke your part,
Yet both should finde it folly to attempt,
Me of my shield, or sword once to preuent.
49
And with that word forthwith he bent his fist,And on Gradassos hand so fierce he strake,
That sodainly, or ear Gradasso wist,
He made him vnawares the sword forsake:
Who much repind he thus his purpose mist,
And that so vnprepard he could him take,
And much more grieu'd it him, that this disgrace,
Was offerd him in such an open place.
219
50
Wherefore to be aueng'd of so great wrong,He steppeth backe and out his sword he drawes,
The tother doth no farther time prolong,
Though in respect of order there was cause,
Nay which was more, he thought himselfe so strong
To fight with all at once, he askt no pause,
But to them both at once he makes defiance,
In his owne strength he had so great affiance.
51
This man is mad, but let me with him trie it,Gradasso said, Ile make him wise againe:
Nay softly (quoth Rogero) I deny it,
For this same combat doth to me pertaine:
Stand backe saith tone, saith tother nay not I yet,
Backe you; yet both still in their place remaine:
Thus do these three with mallice great and spite,
Strangely begin a combat tripartite.
52
And sure to much confusion it had growne,Had not some men, more stout perhap then wise,
Themselues among them vndiscreetly throwne,
With courage great, but yet with small aduise,
To succour others danger with their owne:
Yet could no force them part, nor no deuise,
Till Agramant himselfe, their dreaded Lord,
In person came their quarrell to accord.
53
The reu'rence great that vnto him they beare,Made them forthwith their forces to restraine,
Who straight the causes of these broiles did heare,
And to compound them sought, but all in vaine,
For scant Gradasso could be made forbeare,
The sword so long with tother to remaine,
Vntill the fight were ended now in hand,
Of which the sequell could not yet be scand.
54
Scarse had the king with words of great perswasion,This quarrell new begun, a while appeasd,
But that another strife, by new occasion,
In Rodomontes tent them all diseasd:
An hurlyburly and a fierce inuasion,
There grows betweene two Princes sore displeasd,
Betweene stout Sacrapant and Rodomount,
As I to you will presently recount.
55
King Sacarpant, as late before I told,Helping to arme the cruell Sarzan king,
With those selfe armes that Nimrod ware of old,
From whom this Prince, his pedigree did bring,
Whiles he (I say) did curiously behold
His furniture, and eu'rie other thing,
That to his horse, or vnto him belong,
To see they might be sure and firme, and strong.
56
While he, that stately steed Frontino vewd,That proudly champing stood vpon his bit,
And all his raines with snowlike fome be dewd,
Without regard, whose hands embroderd it,
A thought vnpleasant in his mind renewd,
And to his heart did seeme full neare to sit,
He thinks this horse was verie like in sight,
To one of his, that Frontlat whilom hight.
57
And more and more with heedfull looke still eying,The markes and shape, and colour of the steed,
After his long and verie curious prying,
He saw and knew it was his horse indeed:
Which horse from him (then at Albracca lying)
Brunello stale, for want of better heed;
And shewed him an vnusuall cunning knacke,
To steale his horse while he sate on his backe.
58
Brunello stale that time more things beside,By name Orlandos sword hight Balisard,
Angellicas faire ring, of vertue tride,
Which she recouerd as before you heard:
Likewise a sword eu'n from Marfisas side:
This done, he gaue Rogero afterward,
Orlandos sword, and this horse to the same,
But to Frontino first he changd his name.
59
Now then I say, when Sacrapant was sure,This horse was Frontlat that sometime was his,
And that the markes he saw did him assure,
That he therein tooke not his marke amis,
To hold his peace he could not long endure,
But said; good sir, know mine Frontino is,
Stolne late from me, as I can make good proofe,
Although (I trow) mine owne word is inough.
60
One at Albracca stale from me this steed,Yet for our late acquaintance I consent,
Because I see that now you stand in need,
That you shall vse him now I am content:
Conditionally, that first it be agreed,
You shall acknowledge him not yours, but lent,
Else here I claime him as my goods and chattell,
And will defend my right in open battell.
61
The Sarzan king, that past (I thinke) in pride,All kings and knights that euer carrid sword,
And past (I thinke) in strength and courage tride,
All samples that old stories vs afford,
Made answer thus; if any man beside,
Durst vnto me haue spoken such a word,
He should haue found, I tooke it in such scorne,
He had bin better haue bin speechles borne.
62
But for our late begunne acquaintance sake,I am content this at your hands to beare,
So as you this, do as a warning take,
The like attempt hereafter to forbeare,
And if you will but harke what end I make,
With Mandricardo, then I do not feare,
But you shall see such sample of my force,
Shall make you glad, to pray me take your horse.
63
Then villany is courtesie with thee,(Saith Sacrapant inflamd with high disdaine)
When you be offerd faire you cannot see,
Wherefore my purpose is, I tell you plaine,
My horse shall seruice do to none but mee,
And with these hands I will my right maintaine:
And that is more, if these same hands should faile,
I will defend my right with tooth and naile.
220
64
Thus galling speech, betweene them multiplying,Till each last word, the former worser made,
At last they fell to acts of flat defying,
And tone the tother fiercely doth inuade:
Rodomont on his strength and armes relying;
Yet tother so defends him with his blade,
And makes it so about his head to houer,
That seemes alone his body all to couer.
65
Eu'n as a charret wheele that runnes apace,Seemes to the eye all solyd, firme and sound,
Although twixt eu'rie spoake there is a space,
Concealed from our sights by running round:
So Sacrapant seemd armed in that place,
Though armour then about him none was found,
So dextrously himselfe he then besturd,
As well it stood vpon him with his sword.
66
But quickly Serpentino and Ferraw,With naked sword in hand, stept them betwixt,
With others more that present were and saw,
As friends of either part togither mixt,
Yet them no force, nor prayre could once withdraw,
Their loftie hearts were on reuenge so fixt,
And wrath had quite so put them out of frame,
Till Agramant to them in person came.
67
Vpon the sight of him, their soueraigne Lord,They both agreed their furie to withhold,
Who straight perswaded them to good accord,
And much good counsell to them both he told:
But peace and good perswasions they abhord,
And either on his manhood made him bold;
Their king doth but among them leese his winde,
For more and more he froward them doth finde.
68
By no meanes Sacrapant will be intreated,Vnto the Sarzan king his horse to lend,
Except that he (as I before repeated)
To borrow it of him, would condiscend:
The tother at this verie motion freated,
And sweares nor heauen, nor he should make him bend,
To seek to haue by prayer or request,
A thing of which by force he was possest.
69
King Agramant doth aske by what mischance,He lost his horse, or who it from him stale?
The tother opend all the circumstance,
And blusht for shame, when as he told the tale;
Namely, how late before he came to France,
One tooke him napping, as it did befall,
And vnderpropt his saddell with foure stakes,
And so from vnder him his courser takes.
70
Marfisa, that was come to part this fray,Hearing of this stolne horse among the rest,
Was grieu'd in minde, for why that verie day,
Her sword was stolne as she most truly guest;
And then king Sacrapant she knew straight way,
Whom erst she knew not, and that gallant beast,
For which of late those two began to fight,
She knew, and said belongd to him in right.
71
While these things passed thus, the standers by,That oft hereof had heard Brunello bost,
Straight in such sort to him did cast their eye,
As turned greatly to Brunellos cost:
By which Marfisa plainly did discrie
Him, by whose theft her sword she late had lost,
To be Brunello, whom she saw there sitting,
Among great Lords, a place for him vnfitting.
72
She heard, and much it grieued her to heare,How for these thefts and many mo beside,
The king rewarded him, and held him deare,
Whereas in law for them he should haue dide:
These news so greatly chang'd Marfisas cheare,
That hardly she her wrath could longer hide,
Let Agramant accept it as he will,
She minds Brunello presently to kill.
73
Straight way she armed is from head to heele,And makes her page her helmet close to claspe,
To him she goes, and with her gloue of steele,
She giues him such a blow as made him gaspe,
And while the paine hereof doth make him reele
With her strong hād, his weak corse she doth graspe
As doth the Faulcon fierce the Mallard gripe,
To which a while before she gaue a stripe.
74
With furie great from thence away she flings,While he for helpe, and oft for mercie cride,
But wil he, nill he, him away she brings,
Like to a thiefe with hands togither tide,
Where Agramant among the meaner kings,
Sate like a iudge their causes to descide,
Then making some obeysance for good manner,
She speaketh thus in short but stately manner.
75
Sir king, I minde to hang this thiefe your man,That by desart should long ere this haue dide,
For when he stale that horse from him, eu'n than
He stale my sword that hanged by my side:
But if there any be, that dare or can
Deny my words, or say that I haue lide;
Here in your presences I do desire,
To trie by combat whether is the lier.
76
But least some should, as some by fortune may,Affirme I chuse this time to make new strife,
Alone at such a time, on such a day,
When other quarrels in the campe are rife,
I am content a day or two to stay,
And to prolong this wretched caitiues life,
To see if any man will him defend,
And after sure to hang him I intend.
77
I meane (quoth she) to bring him three mile hence,And keepe him as a prisner in yon towre,
And with his life I promise to dispence,
For two dayes space, and longer not an howre,
If any list to fight in his defence,
There let him come and trie my force and powre:
Away she gallopt when she this had said,
And on her saddle bow the wretch she laid.
221
78
The King was sore displeasd at this attempt,And much it did his princely mind enrage,
And minds himselfe to wreake so great contempt,
Vntill Sobrino, one both graue and sage,
Told him in wisedome he must be content,
His choler in this matter to asswage;
And said it were a base part for his highnesse,
To fight for one sprung vp by theft and slinesse.
79
Yea though before hand he were sure to win,Yet would such victorie dishonor haue,
Because a woman vanquisht were therein:
Wherefore (quoth he) if you his life might saue,
With one words speech, to speake that word were sin;
For sure she doth but law and iustice craue:
And Princes neuer do themselues more wrong,
Then when they hinder iustice, or prolong.
80
You may (said he) to satisfie your mind,Send after her, in manner of request,
And promise her that if iust cause you find,
He shall be hangd, and so all strife may rest;
But if to this you find her not inclind,
Giue her her will, for so I thinke tis best;
So that she firmely in your friendship bide,
Hang vp Brunello, and all theeues beside.
81
This good direction Agramant obaying,Went not himselfe, nor sent none to molest her,
But yet according to Sobrinos saying,
He sent a messenger that might request her:
Himselfe the while doth trauell in allaying,
The tumults fierce that all his campe do pester:
Pride laughs at this, and Discord so reioyces,
As vp to heau'n flie their eternall voyces.
82
Fiue men most resolute haue set their rest,To be the first that will begin the fight,
The strife so intricate, as would molest
Apollo to descide or set it right,
Yet Agramant still striues to do his best,
And to compound the matter if he might:
And thus to end the matter he begonne,
Twixt Rodomont and Agricanes sonne.
83
He makes to them this good and friendly motion,That sith for Doralice they onely straue,
They would agree to stand at her deuotion,
And let her take her choise which she will haue,
And that once made, to raise no more commotion.
This pleasd them both, to this consent they gaue;
A certaine hope and trust them both alluring,
Each on himselfe of her firme loue assuring.
84
The Sarzan king doth thinke, that needs she mustGiue sentence on his side, and be his owne,
Sith oft he had in turneys and in iust,
Her fauours worne, and his affection showne:
How can she loue (thinkes he) or put her trust
In one, whō she scant three dayes space hath knowne?
Nor was alone his owne opinion such,
But all the campe beside did thinke as much.
85
They all thinke Mandricardo ouerseene,And made no question but she would reiect him:
But he that knew what past had them betweene,
And found that she did inwardly affect him,
Was sure, although his seruice were vnseene,
And done by night, that she would not neglect him;
Wherefore of her good will he nothing doubting,
Did scorne their scorns, and flouted at their flouting.
86
Thus hauing put the matter in her choyce,And put the choice in her owne declaration,
She with a sober looke and lowly voyce,
Chose Mandricard, against all expectation:
The Tartar prince hereat did much reioyce,
But all the rest were filld with admiration,
And Rodomont himselfe was so astound,
As hardly he could lift his eyes from ground.
87
But when his wonted wrath had driu'n awayThat bashfull shame that dyde his face with red,
Vniust he cals that doome, and curst that day,
And clapping hand vpon his sword, he sed,
This better arbitrate our matters may,
Then womens foolish doome by fancie led,
Who oftentimes are so peruerse in chusing,
They take the worst, the offerd best refusing.
88
Go then (quoth Mandricard) I little care,I hope that fight shall yeeld you like successe:
And thus againe to fight they ready are,
But Agramant doth soone that rage represse,
And said, vpon this point againe to square,
Quite were against all lawes of armes expresse:
And Rodomont he sharply then controld,
That in his sight was against law so bold.
89
The Sarzan king that saw himselfe that day,So noted by those Peeres with double scorne,
Both from his Prince, whom he must needs obay,
And her to whom so great loue he had borne,
With fury great he flings from thence away,
And counts himselfe disgrast and quite forlorne:
Of all his traine two men he onely taketh,
The king, the campe, the place he quite forsaketh.
90
And as a Bull his loued heard that leaues,By his strong riuall forced to be gone;
Among the trees all clad with thickest leaues,
Doth hide himselfe, and seekes to be alone:
So he, whom shame of comfort all bereaues,
Flies sight of men, yet still he thinks thereon;
And chiefe when he remembers what disgrace,
His mistris did him in so open place.
91
Rogero gladly would haue him pursude,To get his horse, but yet he doth refraine,
Lest men should thinke he had the fight eschude,
That did twixt Mandricard and him remaine:
But Sacrapant whom no cause doth include,
Pursues the Sarzan king, the horse to gaine:
And doubtlesse had outgone him that same day,
But for mishap that chanced by the way.
222
92
A damsell fell by hap into a riuer,And was in perill great to haue bin drownd;
He lighting from his horse backe to relieue her,
Lept in, and brought her out all safe and sound:
But doing this good act, her to deliuer,
Scarce all that day his horse againe he found,
His horse got loose, and he with all his cunning,
Could scantly catch him in six howers running.
93
At last with much ado he doth him get,And after Rodomont he then doth make;
But where, and how long after him he met,
And how the Sarzan did him prisner take,
I may not now proceed to tell as yet:
First tell we what vild words the Sarzan spake,
That cald his Prince and mistris both vnkind,
And for her fault doth raile of all her kind.
94
With scalding sighes, that inward pangs bewrayd,He breathes out flames in places where he goes,
From rocks and caues his plaints doth eccho ayd,
And takes compassion on his rufull woes;
O womens wits, how weake you are (he sayd)
How soone to change you do your selues dispose?
Obseruers of no faith, nor good direction,
Most wretched all that trust in your protection.
95
Could neither seruice long, nor sured loue,By me aboue a thousand wayes declared,
Thy fickle mind to fastnesse so farre moue,
But wilfully to let thy selfe be snared?
If reason could haue led thy mind to proue,
Was Mandricard with me to be compared?
Hereof can reason be alledgd by no man,
But this alone, my mistris is a woman.
96
I thinke that nature, or some angry God,Brought forth this wicked sex on earth to dwell,
For some great plague, or iust deserued rod
To vs, that wanting them had liued well:
As in the wormes, an Adder, Snake and Tode:
Among the beasts, Beares, Wolues and Tygers fell:
And makes the aire the Flie and Waspe to breed,
And Tares to grow among the better seed.
97
Why did not Nature rather so prouide,Without your helpe that man of man might come,
And one be grafted on anothers side,
As are the Apples with the Peare and Plom?
But Nature can no meane nor rule abide,
But still she must exceed in all or some;
Full easie tis the cause thereof to render,
For Nature selfe is of the womans gender.
98
Yet be not therefore proud and full of scorne,O womankind, that men come of your seed;
The fragrant Rose growth on the pricking thorne,
The Lilly faire comes of a filthy weed;
In lothsome soyle men sow the wholsome corne;
The basest mould, the fairest flowre doth breed:
Vngratefull, false and craftie y'are and cruell,
Borne of our burning hell to be the fuell.
99
These words, and like to these the Pagan fearce,Doth spend amid his rage and frantike fumes
And like a mad man did the same rehearse,
Sometime in hie, oft times in baser tunes:
I tremble to set downe in my poore verse,
The blasphemie that he to speake presumes;
And writing this I do, know this that I
Full oft in heart do giue my pen the lie.
100
But passion did this Pagans sense so blind,And left within the same so sharpe a sting,
That he not onely blam'd his loue vnkind,
But also rag'd against his soueraigne King,
And cursed him, and wished in his mind,
That fortune so great woes on him might bring,
That he might loose his state and princely crowne,
And see his country turnd quite vpsidowne.
101
And being to such miseries once brought,And with aduersitie assaild so sore,
That then by him his freedome might be wrought,
And that he might his former state restore,
That Agramant might by such proofe be taught,
Of faithfull friends indeed to set more store,
And learne to know, that such a friend as he,
Deseru'd in right and wrong preferd to be.
102
Thus blaming oft his Lord, more oft his loue,To his owne natiue soyle his course he bent,
But changing place, could not his sorrow moue,
Nor trauels paine, his paine of mind relent;
It seemd his horse Frontino well to proue,
Before his bridle should be drawne, he ment,
To Sonna he doth ride without a bait,
And minds fro thence to passe to Prouence strait.
103
And there to cast away all care and carke,And all his anguish quickly to appease,
For Affrica he will himselfe imbarke,
And passe the large Mediterranian seas;
But, for the weather now waxt dim and darke,
First in his Inne he minds to take his ease,
For all the counntry, eu'n as farre as Spaine,
In Agramantes powre did then remaine.
104
Now he resolues to lodge about the cost,And long he is not of a place to seeke,
For straight he was inuited by an host,
To take his house, if so it might him like:
It pleasd the Pagan well, to heare him bost,
That he had Corsike wine, and French and Greeke,
For though he were a Turke in all the rest,
Yet did he like French fashion drinking best.
105
The pleasant host, that was indeed of those,That can with double diligence attend,
As hauing sau'd, amid both friends and foes,
His goods, and gaind by that which both do spend:
When by that princes view he did suppose
Him some great man, he straight abroade did send,
And thither doth his kin and friends request,
To helpe to waite, and welcome such a guest.
223
106
But loe, his guest sits musing all apart,And of his Mistres runneth all his thought,
Which (though he would forget) spite of his hart,
He thinks on still, so strong the fancie wrought:
The standers by are not so malypart,
To talke to him, till he occasion sought:
Which hauing found, vp from his chaire he started,
And salutations to them all imparted.
107
Then askt he many questions of them all,And as occasion seru'd, discourses varid;
But still we finde, and euer finde we shall,
By thought of heart the speech of tongue is carid:
For last to treat of marridge he doth fall,
And asketh of the men if they be marrid:
And if they be, he prayth them to declare,
Of their wiues truthes, what their opinions are.
108
Straight all of them made answer they had wiues,And but mine host, all praisd the happie state;
And said they were the comforts of their liues,
That draw a happie yoke without debate:
A playfellow, that farre off all griefe driues,
A steward, early that prouides and late;
Both faithfull, chast, and sober, mild, and trustie,
Nurse to weake age, and pleasure to the lustie.
109
Tush (quoth mine host) vnder your good correction,(Most noble guest) these fellows say not right,
But either with fond loue, or foule subiection,
So blinded are, they take the blacke for white:
I once my selfe, was toucht with this infection,
But now I see, that then I wanted sight:
And now I know, as being better taught,
That theirs and mine be all vnchast and naught.
110
For as the Phœnix is a bird alone,And of that kind, the whole world hath no more;
So (thinke I) of all wiues there is but one,
That liueth chast in loue and vertues lore:
He blest may be, that lighteth her vpon,
Small hope (thinke I) there is in so scant store,
That many should haue one of such a kind,
Of which in all the world but one I finde.
111
I once so blinded was, as now be thease,Till by good hap vnto my house there came;
A Gentleman of Venice from the seas,
Francis Valerio was he cald by name:
He knew, and could declare them all with ease,
All womens wiles, and stories to the same,
He had of old, and of the later times,
To shew both wiues, and single womens crimes.
112
He said, and bad me hold it as my creed,That all of them are false, if they be trides
If some seemd chast, it did of this proceed,
They had the wit to do, and not be spide,
And knew, by deepe dissembling, and good heed,
With sober looks their wanton lusts to hide:
And this to proue he told me such a tale,
As while I liue, I still remember shall.
113
And if it like you fir, to lend me eare,In my rude fashion, I shall it recite,
Right glad (quoth Rodomont) by heau'ns I sweare,
For thou hast hit my present humor right:
Wherefore (said he) sit downe I pray thee theare,
For in thy speech alreadie I delight:
But heare I end this booke, for doubt I haue,
That in his tale, mine host will play the knaue.
225
THE XXVIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Fierce Rodomont hears of his prating HostA lying tale, to womens great disgrace:
Vnto Algier he minds to passe in post;
But by the way he finds more pleasing place,
Faire Isabell passeth by that cost;
The Pagan changeth mind, and sues for grace:
The Hermit warnes her keepe her vow and oth,
At which the Pagan Prince is passing wroth.
1
You Ladies, yee that Ladies hold in prise,Giue not (perdie) your eare to this same tale,
The which to tell, mine Host doth here deuise,
To make men think your vertues are but small:
Though from so base a tongue there can arise,
To your sweete sexe, no iust disgrace at all;
Fooles will find fault without the cause discerning,
And argue most, of that they haue no lerning.
2
Turne ou'r the leaf, and let this tale alone,If any thinke the sex by this disgraced,
I write it for no spite, nor mallice none,
But in my Authors booke I finde it placed;
My loyall loue to Ladies all is knowne,
In whom I see such worth to be imbraced,
That theirs I am, and glad would be therefore,
To shew thereof a thousand proofes and more.
3
Peruse it not, or if you do it reed,Esteeme it not, but as an idle bable;
Regard it not, or if you take some heed,
Belieue it not, but as a foolish fable:
But to the matter, thus it was indeed,
When all the guests were cheared at the table;
Neare Rodomont (so was the Pagan named)
Downe sate mine Host, and thus his tale he framed.
4
Astolfo, whilom king of Lombardy,To whom his elder brother left his rayne,
Was in his youth so fresh and faire to see,
As few to such perfection could attaine:
Appelles match, or Zeuces he might be,
That such a shape could paint without much paine,
Great was his grace, and all the world so deemd it,
But yet himselfe of all men most esteemd it.
5
He did not of his scepter take such pride,Nor that degree that common men are vnder,
Nor wealth, nor frends, nor meaner kings beside,
That there about dwelt neare or far asunder:
But of his beautie, which he would not hide,
At whose rare worth, he thought ye world did wonder,
This was his ioy, and all that he intended,
To heare his comely face and shape commended.
6
Among his courtiers, one aboue the rest,Fausto by name; by birth a Romane knight:
Who hearing oft so praisd, as they know best,
His face, and hands, and all that praise he might;
The king did bid him tell at his request;
Neare or far of, if he had seene that wight,
That in all parts so perfectly was wrought:
But he was answerd as he little thought.
7
My Liege (quoth Fausto) plainly to declare,Both what my selfe doth see, and others say,
But few with your rare beautie can compare,
And that same few were none, were one away:
Iocundo hight, a man of beautie rare,
And brother mine, excepting whom, I may
Prefer your grace before all other creatures,
But he doth match or passe you for his features.
226
8
The king to heare such tidings strange it thought,As hauing still till that day kept the prise,
And with a deepe desire straight wayes he sought,
To know this man, and see him with his eies:
In fine, with Fausto so far forth he wrought,
To bring him to his court he must deuise:
Although (quoth he) to bring my brother to it,
I shall be sure of worke enough to do it.
9
The cause is this, my brother neuer wentFoorth of the gates of Rome scant all his life,
And such small goods as Fortune hath him lent,
He hath enioyd in quiet, free from strife,
Left by our sire, and them he hath not spent,
Nor yet increast, his gaines are not so rife:
And he will thinke it more to go to Pauy,
Then some would thinke to th'Indies in a Nauy.
10
But I shall finde it hardest when I proue,To draw him from his louing wife away;
To whom he is so linkt in chaines of loue,
That all is vaine, if once his wife say nay:
But yet your grace is so far all aboue,
You shall command me, certes all I may.
Thanks (quoth the king) and addeth such reward,
As might haue moued any to regard.
11
Away he posts, arriuing in few dayesAt Rome, and to his brothers house he went,
And with such earnest words his brother prayes,
That to returne with him he doth consent:
Also his sisters loue he so allayes,
That she doth hold her peace, as halfe content,
Beside great thanks, laying before her eyes,
Preferments large, that hereof might arise.
12
Iocundo now resolu'd to go his way,Gets men and horse against he should depart,
Sets forth himselfe with new and rich aray,
As still we see nature adornd by art.
His wife at night in bed, at boord by day;
With watrie eyes to shew a sorrie hart,
Complaines his absence will so sore her grieue,
Till his returne she doubts she shall not liue.
13
Ay me, the thought (quoth she) makes me so fraid,That scant the breath abideth in my brest;
Peace my sweete loue and life (Iocundo said)
And weepes as fast, and comforts her his best:
So may good fortune ay my iourny aid,
As I returne in threescore dayes at least:
Nor will I change the day I set thee downe,
No though the king would grāt me halfe his crowne
14
All this might not asswage this womans paine,Two months were long, yea to to long she cries,
Needs must I die before you come againe,
Nor how to keepe my life can I deuise:
The dolefull dayes and nights I shall sustaine,
From meat my mouth, from sleepe will keepe mine eyes:
Now was Iocundo readie to repent,
That to his brother he had giu'n consent.
15
About her necke a iewell rich she ware,A crosse all set with stone in gold well tride,
This relicke late, a Boem Pilgrim bare,
And gaue her father other things beside:
Which costly things he kept with no small care,
Till comming from Ierusalem he dyde:
And her of all his goods his heire he makes,
This precious crosse to her goodman she takes.
16
And prayes him for her sake to weare that token,And thinke on her: the man that was most kind,
Receiu'd it with more ioy then can be spoken,
Although he needed not be put in mind,
For why no time, nor no state sound nor broken,
Nor absence long, a meane should euer find,
To quayle his loue, not only while his breath
Maintains his life, but neither after death.
17
That verie night that went before the morrow,That they had pointed surely to depart,
Iocundos wife was sicke, and sounds for sorrow,
Amid his armes, so heauie was her hart;
All night they wake, and now they bid Godmorrow
And giue their last farewell, and so they part;
Iocundo on his way with all his traine,
His louing wife doth go to bed againe.
18
Scant had Iocundo rode two mile forthright,But that his crosse, now came into his minde,
Which on his pillow he had laid last night,
And now for hast had left the same behinde:
He would deuise to scuse it if he might,
But no excuse sufficient could he finde:
But that his loue must needs be much suspected,
To finde the precious iewell so neglected.
19
When no excuse within his minde could frame,But that all seemed friuolous and vaine;
To send his man, he counted it a shame,
To go himselfe it was but little paine:
He staid, and when his brother did the same,
Ride soft (quoth he) till I returne againe:
For home againe I must, there is no nay,
But I will ouertake you on the way.
20
Th'affaire is such as none can do but I,But doubt you not, I will returne as fast;
Away he spurres as hard as he could hy,
Alone without or man or page, for hast:
Now had the sunnes new rising cleard the sky,
With brightest beames, ear he the streame had past,
He hies him home, and findes his wife in bed,
Full sound asleepe, such cares were in her hed.
21
He draws the curtaine softly without sound,And saw that he would little haue suspected;
His chast and faithfull yokefellow he found
Yokt with a knaue, all honestie neglected:
Th'Adulterer, though sleeping verie sound,
Yet by his face was easily detected:
A beggers brat, bred by him from his cradell,
And now was ryding on his masters sadell.
227
22
Now if he stood amazd and discontent,Beleeue it yee, to trie that would be loth;
For he that tries it, doubtlesse will repent,
As poore Iocundo did, who was so wroth,
That out he drew his sword, with iust intent,
For their vngratefull act to kill them both:
But lo, the loue he bare her, did withstand,
Against his heart, to make him hold his hand.
23
O ribald loue, that such a slaue couldst make,Of one that now was subiect to thy force;
He could not breake her sleepe for pitties sake,
That brake all bonds of faith without remorse;
But back he goes before they did awake,
And from his house he gets him to his horse:
Loue so pricks him, and he so pricks his steed,
He ouertakes his companie with speed.
24
His looke is sad, all changed is his cheare,Full heauie was his heart they well perceiued,
They see no cause of griefe, nor guesse they neare,
And they that guesse most likely are deceiued;
They thought he went to Rome, but you do heare
How at Cornetto he his hurt receiued:
Each man espide that loue procur'd that passion,
But none descride the manner nor the fashion.
25
His brother deemes that all his griefe doth grow,Because his louing wife is left alone;
But he a cleane contrary cause doth know,
Her too much companie did cause his mone:
He bends his browes, his looks he casts alow,
With powting lips, and many a grieuous grone;
In vaine doth Faustus comfort seeke to bring him,
For why he knowes not where the shoo doth wring him.
26
He giues a salue afore the sore is found,His plaisters are as poison to the smart;
He seeks to heale, and wider makes the wound,
He names his wife, but her name kils his hart:
Gone was his tast, his sleeps do grow vnsound,
Nature decayth, and little helpeth art;
And that faire face that erst was of such fame,
Is now so chang'd, it seemeth not the same.
27
His eyes are sunke so deepe into his hed,It made his nose seeme bigger then it should,
His flesh doth shrinke, his bones do seeme to spred,
He was so chang'd, as more cannot be told;
At last an agew makes him keepe his bed,
And bait at Innes more often then he would:
His faire complexion now is pale and withered,
Much like the Rose that yesterday was gathered.
28
With this mishap was Faustus sore aggrieued,Not onely for his brothers wofull state,
But fearing of his Prince to be reproued,
Vnto whose grace he vndertooke so late,
To shew the goodliest man, as he beleeued,
Now growne vncouth, by force of inward bate:
Yet as they could, their way they so contriued,
That at the last in Pauie they arriued.
29
He would not straightway shew him to the King,Lest eu'ry one might deeme his iudgement small,
But sent by letters notice of the thing,
And what mishap his brother was befall;
How scant aliue he could him thither bring,
A secret griefe so greatly did him gall,
And with an agew puld him downe so sore,
He seemd not now the man he was before.
30
And yet behold this noble King is glad,That he is come, and meanes to make him cheare,
As if he were the dearest friend he had,
So sore he had desird to see him heare;
Nor would the worthy naturd Prince be sad,
In praise of beautie to haue found a Peare;
He knew Iocundos beautie had excelled,
But that by this disease it was expelled.
31
He placeth him to his owne lodging nie,He visits him each day and eu'ry houre,
Great plentie of prouisio nhe doth buy,
To welcome him he bendeth all his powre:
But still Iocundo languishing doth lie,
His wiues misdeeds makes all his sweet seeme sowre,
No songs, no sights, which oft he heard or saw,
One dram of this his dolour could withdraw.
32
Fast by his lodging was, amongst the rest,A faire large roome, which very few did vse,
Here would he walke, as one that did detest
All pleasing sights, and comforts all refuse:
Here the wide wound he bare within his brest,
With thousand thoughts vnpleasant he renews;
Yet here he found, which few would haue belieued,
A remedy for that which had him grieued.
33
For at the vpper end of this old hall,There was a place of windowes voyd, and light,
Saue that the lime new moulten from the wall,
Let in a little beame that shined bright,
Here did he see, which some may thinke a tale,
A very strange and vnexpected sight,
He heard it not, but saw it in his vew,
Yet could he scant beleeue it should be trew.
34
For at the chinke was plainly to be seene,A chamber hangd with faire and rich aray,
Where none might come, but such as trusty beene,
The Princesse here in part doth spend the day,
And here he saw a Dwarfe embrace the Queene,
And striue a while, and after homely play:
His skill was such, that ere they went asunder,
The Dwarfe was got aloft, and she lay vnder.
35
Iocundo standeth still as one amazed,Supposing sure that he had seene a vision,
But seeing plaine when he a while had gazed,
It was an act, and not an apparition:
Good God (said he) are this Queenes eyes so dazed,
To loue a dwarfe, more worthy of derision?
Whose husband is a Prince of worthy fame,
So braue a man, such loue? now fie for shame.
228
36
He now began to hold his wife excused,His anger now a little was relented;
And though that she her bodie had abused,
And to her seruant had so soone consented;
Not her for this, but he the sex accused,
That neuer can with one man be contented:
If all (quoth he) with one like staine are spotted,
Yet on a monster, mine was not besotted.
37
The day ensuing he returned thither,And saw the dwarfe couragious still and iolly;
Eke he another day repaired hither,
And still he found the Queene committing folly:
He oft returnes, he finds them oft together,
They cease not worke, on dayes prophane nor holy:
Yea which was strange, the goodly Queen cōplained
That of the dwarfe she found she was disdained.
38
One day when in the corner he had stayd,He sees her come all sad and malcontent,
Because the dwarfe his comming still delayd,
For whom of purpose twise before she sent,
Once more she sends, this answer brings the mayd,
Forsooth vnto his play he is so bent,
That for mistrust at Chesse to leese a shilling,
To come to you the apes face is not willing.
39
Iocundo, who before had still bene sad,Vpon this sight became of better cheare;
The paines, the plaints, the cloudie stormes he had,
Away were blowne, the coast began to cleare:
Most ruddie faire he chearfull grew and glad,
That angellike his beautie did appeare,
So as the King and others thought it strange,
In so short time to find so great a change.
40
Now as the King desired much to know,The meane whereby his hurt so soone was healed,
No lesse Iocundo did desire to show,
And would not haue the thing from him concealed,
So as his choller might no greater grow,
Then his had beene when as it were reuealed:
But first he made him sweare on his saluation,
Vpon the parties to vse no castigation.
41
He made him sweare, for ought he heard or saw,Wherewith his mind might fortune be diseased,
Yet from his choller so much to withdraw,
As that in shew he may not seeme displeased,
Nor punish it by might nor yet by law,
Nor first nor last, but hold himselfe appeased,
So as th'offenders might not haue suspected,
That their misdeeds were to his grace detected.
42
The King so sure, by oth so solemne bound,As one that little thought his Queene so stained,
Iocundo first his owne griefe doth expound,
Why he so long so dolefull had remained,
And in whose aimes his owne wife he had found,
And how the griefe thereof so sore him pained,
Had not that salue vnlookt for bene applied,
Of that conceit no doubt he should haue died.
43
But lying in your highnesse house forlorne,I saw (quoth he) that minisht much my mone;
For though it grieued me to weare a horne,
It pleasd me well, I ware it not alone:
This said, he brought him where the wall was torne,
And shewd him that, that made his heart to grone,
For why the dwarfe did mannage with such skill,
Though she curuets, he keeps his stirrop still.
44
Much did the King this foule prospect mislike,Beleeue my word I say, I need not sweare,
Horne wood he was, he was about to strike
All those he met, and his owne flesh to teare;
His promise to haue broken he was like,
If of his oth he had not had some feare;
But vnreuenged all must now be borne,
For on his Agnus Dei he had sworne.
45
Now to Iocundo gently he doth speake,Good brother mine, aduise me what to do,
Sith I am bound by oth I may not wreake
The fact, with such reuenge as longs thereto;
Forsooth let's trie if others be as weake,
(Iocundo said) and make no more ado:
This was the counsell he did giue the King,
Into their order other men to bring.
46
We both are yong, and of such pleasing hew,Not to be matcht with such another paire;
What she will be so obstinatly true,
But will be wonne with youth, and being faire:
If youth and beautie both do misse their due,
The want herein our purses shall repaire:
Let vs not spare our beautie, youth and treasure,
Till of a thousand we haue had our pleasure.
47
To see strange countries placed farre apart,Of other women eke to make some triall,
Will ease the paine that whilom pierst our hart,
And salue our sore, there can be no deniall:
The King that longd to ease his new found smart,
Consented straight, and to auoid espiall,
Himselfe, the Knight, two pages, and no mo,
Out of the Realme forthwith disguised go.
48
Away they past through Italy and France,And though the Flemish and the English land,
And those whose beauties highest did aduance,
Those still they found most ready to their hand:
They giue, they take, so luckie is their chance,
They see their stocke at one stay still to stand:
Some must be woode forsooth they were so chast,
And some there were that wooed them as fast.
49
In countries some a month or two they tarried,In some a weeke, in others but a day;
In all of them they find the women married,
Like to their wiues, too gentle to say nay:
At last, because they doubt to haue miscarried,
They meane to leaue this sport and go their way;
They found it full of danger and debate,
To keepe their standings in anothers gate.
229
50
They do agree to take by common voyce,Some one whose shape and face may please them both,
In whom without suspect they might reioyce;
For wherefore (quoth the King) should I be loth,
To haue your selfe a partner in my choyce?
I must haue one, and I beleeue for troth,
Among all women kind there is not one,
That can content her selfe with one alone.
51
But of some one, we two might take our pleasure,And not inforce our selues beyond our ease,
But as they say, take meate and drinke, and leasure,
And by our doings, other not displease;
Well might that woman thinke she had a treasure,
That had vs two, her appetite to please;
And though to one man faithfull none remaine,
No doubt but faithfull they would be to twaine.
52
The Roman youth much praisd the Princes mind,And to performe it, seemed very faine,
Away they posted as they had assignd,
By towne and citie, ouer hill and plaine,
Till at the last a pretie peece they find,
The daughter of an Inkeeper in Spaine,
A girle of person tall, and faire of fauour,
Of comely presence, and of good behauour.
53
She was new entring in the flower and pride,Of those well pleasing youthfull yeares and tender,
Her father many children had beside,
And pouertie had made his portion slender,
And for them all vnable to prouide,
It made him soone consent, away to send her;
The price agreed, away the strangers carry her,
Because the father money wants to marry her.
54
In concord great she did with them remaine,Who tooke their pleasure one and one by turne,
As bellows do, where Vulcans wonted paine,
By mutuall blast doth make the mettall burne:
Their meaning is, now they had traueld Spaine,
By Siphax realme to make their home returne;
And hauing left Valenza out of sight,
At faire Zatiua they did lodge at night.
55
The masters go abrode to view the towne,And first the Churches for deuotions sake;
And then the monuments of most renowne,
As trauellers a common custome take:
The girle within the chamber sate her downe,
The men are busied, some the beds do make,
Some care to dresse their wearid horse, and some
Make ready meate against their masters come.
56
In this same house the girle a Greeke had spide,That in her fathers house a boy had beene,
And slept full often sweetly by her side,
And much good sport had passed them betweene;
Yet fearing lest their loue should be descride,
In open talke they durst not to be seene,
But when by hap the pages downe were gone,
Old loue renewd, and thus they talke thereon.
57
The Greeke demaunds her whither she was going,And which of these two great estates her keeps?
She told them all, she needs no further woing,
And how a night betweene them both she sleeps:
Ah (quoth the Greeke) thou tellest my vndoing,
My deare Fiametta, and with that he weeps;
With these two Lords wilt thou from Spain be banished? Fiametta.
Are all my hopes thus into nothing vanished?
58
My sweet designements turned are to sower,My seruice long, finds little recompence;
I made a stocke according to my power,
By hoording vp my wages, and the pence
That guests did giue, that came in luckie hower;
I meant ere long to haue departed hence,
And to haue askt thy sires good will to marry thee,
And that obtaind, vnto a house to carry thee.
59
The wench of her hard fortune doth complaine,And saith that now she doubts he sues too late:
The Greeke doth sigh and sob, and part doth faine,
And shall I die (quoth he) in this estate?
Let me enioy thy sweetnesse once againe,
Before my dayes draw to their dolefull date;
One small refreshing ere we quite depart,
Will make me die with more contented hart.
60
The girle with pittie moued, thus replies,Thinke not (quoth she) but I desire the same;
But hard it is, among so many eies,
Without incurring punishment and shame.
Ah (quoth the Greeke) some meanes thou wouldst deuise,
If thou but felt a quarter of my flame,
To meet this night in some conuenient place,
And be together but a little space.
61
Tush (answerd she) you sue now out of season,For eu'ry night I lie betwixt them two,
And they will quickly feare and find the treason,
Sith still with one of them I haue to do.
Well (quoth the Greeke) I could refute that reason,
If you would put your helping hand thereto,
You must (said he) some pretie scuse deuise,
And find occasion from them both to rise.
62
She first bethinks her selfe, and after badHe should returne when all were sound asleepe,
And learned him, who was thereof right glad,
To go and come, what order he should keepe.
Now came the Greeke as he his lesson had,
When all was husht, as soft as he could creepe,
First to the doore, which opend when he pushed,
Then to the chamber, which was softly rushed.
63
He takes a long and leisurable stride,And longest on the hinder foote he staid,
So soft he treds, although his steps were wide,
As though to tread on eggs he were afraid;
And as he goes, he gropes on either side,
To find the bed, with hands abroad displaid,
And hauing found the bottome of the bed,
He creepeth in, and forward go'th his head.
230
64
Betweene Fiamettas tender thighes he came,That lay vpright, as readie to receaue,
At last they fell vnto their merry game,
Embracing sweetly now to take their leaue;
He rode in post, ne can he baite for shame,
The beast was good, and would not him deceaue,
He thinks her pace so easie and so sure,
That all the night to ride he could endure.
65
Iocundo and the King do both perceaueThe bed to rock, as oft it comes to passe,
And both of them one error did deceaue,
For either thought it his companion was:
Now hath the Greeke taken his latter leaue,
And as he came, he back againe doth passe,
And Phebus beames did now to shine begin,
Fiametta rose and let the pages in.
66
Now with Iocundo gan the King to iest,Brother (quoth he) I doubt we do you wrong,
It were more time for you to take your rest,
That haue this night a iourney rode so long.
Iocundo answers him againe in iest,
Oh sir you do mistake, you sing my song;
Take you your ease, and much good do your grace,
That all this night haue rid a hunting pace.
67
I, quoth the King? I would in faith I sweare,Haue lent my dog a course among the rest,
But that I found your selfe so busie were,
And rode so hard, you could not spare the beast.
Well (said the Knight) it seemeth me to beare,
Although you breake your promise and behest,
Yet priuie quips and taunts there needed none,
You might haue bid me let the wench alone.
68
One vrg'd so farre, the tother so replide,That vnto bitter words their tongues were moued,
Scarce one forbare to say the tother lide;
And plaine to trie whose truth should be reproued,
They cald the girle, the matter to decide,
Who was afraid, as well it her behoued;
And she must tell, they standing face to face,
Which of them two deserued this disgrace.
69
Tell (quoth the King) with grim and angry sight,Nor feare not him nor me, but tell vs true,
Which of vs two it was, that all this night
So gallantly performed all his due.
Thus either deeming he did hold the right,
They looked both, which should be found vntrue:
Fiametta lowly layd her selfe on ground,
Doubting to die because her fault was found.
70
She humbly pardon craues for her offence,And that they pittie would her wofull case,
That she with pittie mou'd to recompence
His loue, that lasted had no little space,
And who it was, she told them, and of whence,
Had this ill luck in this vnluckie place,
How she had hop'd that though they hapt to wake,
Yet for his partner either would it take.
71
The King and his companion greatly mused,When they had heard the practise so detected,
And their conceits not little were confused,
To heare a hap so strange and vnexpected:
And though no two were euer so abused,
Yet had they so all wrathfull mind reiected,
That downe they lay, and fell in such a lafter,
They could not see nor speake an houre after.
72
And when at last their stomacks and their eiesWaterd and akt, they laughed had so much,
Such shifts (quoth they) these women will deuise,
Do what we can, their chastitie is such:
If both our cares could not for one suffice,
That lay betwixt vs both, and did vs tuch,
If all our haires were eyes, yet sure they said,
We husbands of our wiues should be betraid.
73
We had a thousand women prou'd before,And none of them denied our request,
Nor would and if we tride ten thousand more,
But this one triall passeth all the rest:
Let vs not then condemne our wiues so sore,
That are as chast and honest as the best,
Sith they be as all other women be,
Let vs turne home, and well with them agree.
74
When on this point they both were thus resolued,They gaue the Greeke, Fiametta for his wife,
And tide the knot that cannot be dissolued,
With portion large, to keepe them all their life:
Themselues went home, and had their sins absolued,
And take againe their wiues, and end all strife.
And thus mine Host the pretie storie ended,
With which he prayth them not to be offended.
75
The Pagan Prince, of whom I erst made mention,Was pleased with this storie passing well,
And heard the same with heed and great attention,
And praised it, and said it did excell,
And sweares he thought no wit nor no inuention,
No pen could write, no tongue attaine to tell,
By force of eloquence, or helpe of art,
Of womens trecheries the hundredth part.
76
But at the table sat another guest,Of riper yeares, and iudgement more discreet,
Who such vntruths to heare could not digest,
And see their praises so trod vnder feet;
Wherefore his speech he presently addrest
Vnto his host, and said, we dayly meet
With slaunders, and with lying fables told,
And this is one, to say I dare be bold.
77
Nor thee, nor him that that told thee, trust I will,No though in other things he gospell spake,
I dare affirme it well, that euill will,
Not any triall that himselfe could make,
Mou'd him of all the kind to speake so ill,
Belike for some one naughtie womans sake:
But he that would enter in womens praise,
On higher steps aloft his stile might raise.
231
78
But tell me now, if any one of youThat married are, haue not awrie yet stept?
No scarse a man, that hath not been vntrew,
And with some other woman hath not slept:
Nay that is more, they woo, they seeke, they sew,
They trie, they tempt those that be safest kept,
Yet women seeke not after men I ween,
(I meane not such as common harlots been.)
79
Surely the man on whom your tale you father,Cannot himselfe, nor other men excuse,
Who still to take an vnknowne peece had rather,
Although there owne, were better far to chuse:
But if themselues were wood, I surely gather,
Such courtesies, they neuer would refuse,
But rather straine themselues beyond their might,
Such kindnes, with more kindnes to requite.
80
But be't some woman breaks chast wedlocks laws,And leaues her husband, and becomes vnchast,
Yet commonly it is not without cause,
She sees her man, in sin his substance wast;
She feels that he, his loue from her withdraws,
And hath on some (perhap) lesse worthie plast,
Who striks with sword, the scabberd thē may strike,
And sure loue craueth loue, like asketh like.
81
Indeed in their behalfe, agree would I,That all wiues that adulterie do commit,
Should by a law, condemned be to die,
If so their husbands guiltles be of it.
But if that men vnpunisht walke awry,
Doubtles in sence and reason tis not fit,
The weaker sex should for this sin be vext,
Do as you would be done to, saith the text.
82
Yet when a man is bent to speake his worst,That in despite he can of women say,
He cals them but incontinent and curst,
No greater fault, he to their charge can lay:
To rob, to spoile, houses to breake and burst,
Whole Cities, townes, and countries to betray,
Vsurie, murder, all such sinnes appeare,
Proper to men, women of them are cleare.
83
This said this graue wise man, and would haue toldSome storie to the same, his speech to verifie,
Of women that had liu'd till they were old,
Chastlie and vertuouslie, and with sinceritie,
But that the cruell Turke, did him behold,
With so grim looke as did the poore man terrifie,
And made him hold his peace with threats & terror,
Yet hating inwardly the Pagans error.
84
These brables ended, night on them did creep,To rest they went hauing their bodies fed:
But Rodomont scant all the night could sleep,
For cares, that ran still in his troubled hed,
His vnkind mistres him doth waking keep,
She troubles him, whether he lye on bed,
Whether he go, or ride, or sit, or stand,
Whether it be, by water or by land.
85
But though himselfe could take but little rest,Yet of his horse he takes no little care,
Both that he should be diligently drest,
And haue good prouander, to mend his fare:
To go by water now he thought it best,
Himselfe to ease, and his good horse to spare,
That horse he gat, as he might iustlie vant,
Spite of Rogero, and of Sacrapant.
86
He takes a barke, and downe the pleasant streameOf Sonna he doth passe, with winde and ore,
Great hast he makes, to get to his owne Reame,
But changing place doth helpe him neare the more;
In sleepe, of her vnkindnes he doth dreame,
A wake, he sighs and still renews the sore:
To talke was best, and yet not much the better,
Say what he list, yet cannot he forget her.
87
Anoyd by bote, againe he taking land,Vienna, Lions, and Valenza past,
(All which then were in Agramantes hand,
His late good hap, had so them all agast:
To Aquamort, he turns on his right hand,
And thence he will to Algier turne in hast,
And in his way, his iourney to abridge,
He past Auignon, at the sumptuous bridge.
88
Not far from Mompelier a towne he saw,Of Bacchus, and of Ceres well beloued,
Though then so spoild by souldiers that for aw,
The dwellers all, themselues fro thence remoued:
Also there was a Church for Christen law,
But yet the Priests (in this to be reproued)
To saue thēselues, their Church had quite forsaken,
So as the same by Rodomont was taken.
89
This seat this place, did so the Pagan please,That here he minds to make his firme abode;
For of the tone side, he might see the seas,
On tother side, the ground with corne well lode;
Here all prouisions he might finde with ease,
Here he doth cause his men his stuffe vnlode,
And makes that Church (oh horrible abuse)
Serue him, to his profane vngodly vse.
90
Now standing pensiue, in this pleasing place,As still he vsd, he saw a Ladie faire,
(Though mourning, yet most ful of pleasing grace)
Who with a Frire, made thither her repaire:
A goodly horse, they led a soft slow pace,
And as they went, he taught her many a praire:
That horse did beare a coffin on his backe,
All ouerspred in mourning sort, with blacke.
91
Me thinke by this description you may guesse,Who this same Frire, and who this damsell is,
Yet for more plainesse sake, I will expresse
Her name, left any may the matter misse:
Twas Isabella, who did late professe,
That state that leadeth strait to heau'nlie blisse,
He was the Frire, that to that mind conuerted her,
When as dispaire, had almost quite subuerted her.
232
92
Within the mourning coffin was enclosed,His corse, whom she so lou'd aliue and dead,
And though to griefe she seemed all disposed,
Though all in blacke, she went from foot to head,
Yet in that wofull shew there was disclosed,
So worthie grace, as in the Pagan bred
A fancie, mouing such an alteration,
As made him change his first determination.
93
For where before he did dispraise and scorneAll women, now againe he doth commend
That sex, that doth indeed the world adorne:
His second loue to place he doth intend
On this, sith that his first hath him forlorne;
Here now he hopeth all his wo to end,
And with this passion to driue out the tother,
As men do driue out one naile with another.
94
And straight in mildest manner that he can,Saluting her, he askt what causd her paine?
And she the wofull tale to tell began,
How her true loue by Mandricard was slaine,
For whose sake she would neuer marrie man,
But serue God all her life that doth remaine.
The Pagan laughs at that the damsell saith,
As one that knows no God, and hath no faith.
95
And greatly he her good intent controld,Affirming her to merit as great blame,
As doth the miser, that hoords vp his gold,
And neither doth himselfe imploy the same,
And yet from those that would, doth it withhold:
So shut not vp your selfe (quoth he) for shame;
Fierce Lions, Bears, and serpents that haue stings,
Should be shut vp, not faire and harmlesse things.
96
The godly Frire, that tooke no little care,Lest this ill speech might turne her to small good,
With new exhortings, bad her to be ware,
That such intisements strongly be withstood:
And for that end, forthwith he doth prepare,
A sumptuous messe of ghostly inward food:
But this vile Pagan did no sooner tast it,
But vp againe, his squemish stomacke cast it.
97
And seeing that the speeches of this Frire,(Whō he could make by no means hold his peace)
Seemd greatly to contrarie his desire;
Wrath kindled, and at last did so increase,
That this poore priest gat but a sorie hire.
But heare a while my storie now shall cease,
Lest my mishap or punishment be such,
As was this Priests, for talking ouermuch.
234
THE XXIX. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Faire Isabell, to loose her head is glad,To saue her chastitie from Pagans might:
To pacifie her ghost, the Pagan sad,
Doth make a bridge at which fals many a knight:
Orlando commeth thither, being mad,
And in the water both together light.
From thence the madman onward still proceeds,
And by the way doth strange and monstrous deeds.
1
Oh thoughts of men, vnconstant and vnstable,As subiect vnto chaunge, as Westerne wind,
In al designments fond, and variable,
But chiefly those, that loue breeds in the mind:
Lo he that late deuisd all he was able,
To slander and deface all women kinde,
Yet now with them whom he so sore reuild,
Eu'n on the sudden he is reconcild.
2
Indeed (most noble Dames) I am so wroth,With this vile Turke, for this his wicked sin,
For speaking so great slander and vntroth,
Of that sweet sex, whose grace I faine would win,
That till such time, he shall confesse the troth,
And what a dammed error he was in:
I shall him make be so in conscience stoung,
As he shall teare his flesh and bite his toung.
3
But with what folly he was then possessed,The sequell of the matter plaine doth show;
For he that yesterday himselfe professed,
To all the kind, a sworne and open foe:
Now to this stranger, one in state distressed;
Whose birth, whose kin, whose name he doth not know,
Wlth one small glance, & sober cast of ey,
Was so enthralld, he woos her by and by.
4
And as new fancie doth his heart inflame,So to new speach it doth his tongue direct,
A new discourse, new reasons he doth frame,
With great perswasions, but to small effect:
For still the godly Frire refutes the same,
Exhorting her such speeches to neglect,
And fast to hold her purpose good and holly
Of seruing God, and leauing worldly folly.
5
He saith the way of death is large and spacious,But that to life is straight and full of paine.
But Rodomont that saw him so audacious,
In spite of him this doctrine to maintaine,
Steps to him, and with hand and tongue vngracious,
First bids him get him to his cell againe,
Then his long beard, growne on his aged chin,
All at one pull, he pilleth from the skin.
6
And so farre foorth his wrath and furie grew,He wrings his necke, as pincers wring a naile,
And twise or thrise about his head him threw,
As husbandmen that thresh, do tosse a flaile:
Reports most diuers afterwards ensew,
But which be true, and which of truth do faile,
Is hard to say: some say he was so battered,
That all his limbs about a rocke were scattered.
7
Some say that to the sea he hurled him,Though diuerse furlongs distant from the place,
And that he dide, because he could not swim:
Some others tell, some saint did him that grace,
To saue his life, and heale each broken lim,
And to the shore did bring him in short space.
The likelyhood hereof, who list may way,
For now of him, I haue no more to say.
235
8
Thus cruell Rodomont that had remouedThe babling Frire that did him so much spight,
The fearfull damsels loue to win he proued,
By all kind words and gestures that he might;
He cals her his deare heart, his sole beloued,
His ioyfull comfort, and his sweet delight,
His mistresse and his goddesse, and such names,
As louing knights apply to louely dames.
9
Her reasons he doth curteously confute,(Loue soone had made him such a learned clarke)
In phrases mannerly he moues his sute,
And still his sute was leueld at one marke,
And though he might by force haue pluckt the frute,
Yet for that time he doth but kisse the barke:
He thinkes it will more sweet and pleasing make it,
If she do giue him leaue before he take it.
10
Wherefore a while he is content to pawse,In hope by time to win her loue and grace:
She deems her selfe like mouse in cats sharpe clawes,
In strangers hands, and in as strange a place;
She sees he feard not Gods nor humane lawes,
Nor had no pittie of her wofull case,
That onely for his lust would her perswade,
To breake the vow that she to God had made.
11
Her heart and eyes, oft times to heau'n she lifts,And prayes the blessed Virgin and her Sonne,
To saue her from this Pagans filthy drifts,
That vnto her no villanie be donne:
She doth bethinke her of an hundred shifts,
How she his beastly lust may safely shunne,
That like an open gulfe on her did gape,
So as it seemd vnpossible to scape.
12
She finds out many scuses and delayes,That to prolong, which faine she would preuent,
Sometime in humble manner him she prayes,
That to release her he would be content:
But being still repulst at all assayes,
At last she doth a way and meanes inuent,
Not onely how to shun that present shame,
But merit to her selfe eternall name.
13
Vnto the cruell Turke that now beganFrom all good course of curtesie to swarue,
She commeth in the meekest sort she can,
And saith, if he her honor will preserue,
(Which is the part of each true valiant man)
She would of him that fauour well deserue,
And giue him such a gift as in due measure,
Should farre surpasse this momentarie pleasure.
14
But if you needs will me defloure, I wis(She said) when you haue done you will repent,
To thinke how fondly you haue done amisse,
And lost that might haue bred you true content
As for your carnall loue, you need not misse
More faire then I, and fitter for your bent,
But in ten thousand, one you shall not know,
That such a gift vpon you can bestow.
15
I know (quoth she) an herbe, and I haue seeneA little since the place where as it grew,
That boild vpon a fire of cypresse cleene,
And mixt with elder berries and with rew;
And after strained harmlesse hands betweene,
Will yeeld a iuyce, that who in order dew,
Annoint therewith, shall neuer domage feele,
By flame of fire, nor yet by dint of steele.
16
I say if one therewith annoint him thrise,These strange effects thereof will strait ensew,
Prouided alwayes that in any wise
He must each month the liquors strength renew:
I haue the way to make it in a trice,
And you shall see by proofe that it is true;
This thing I thinke should ioy you more to gaine,
Then if you conquerd had all France or Spaine.
17
And now for my reward of you, I prayLet me obtaine this fauourable meed,
To sweare that you henceforth will not assay
My chastitie, by either word or deed:
Fell Rodomont thinks this a blessed day,
And hopes he now shall neuer armor need,
And sweares he will her honour safe defend,
Though to performe it he doth not intend.
18
Yet till she might this worke bring to effect,He doth himselfe against his mind inforce,
And that she might no violence expect,
He doth not offer any signe of force;
But that once done, his oth he will neglect,
For of an oth he neuer had remorce;
But specially he thought it least disgrace,
His oth to violate in such a case.
19
He makes to her a solemne protestation,And with most damned oaths the same doth bind,
That he will neuer do her molestation,
If she procure a iuyce of such a kind:
This sinks so deepe in his imagination,
Of Cygnus and Achilles runs his mind,
For by this meanes he doth himselfe assure,
Such priuiledge as they had to procure.
20
Poore Isabella glad of this delay,By which a while her chastitie she shields,
Receiuing this his promise, go 'th straightway
To seeke these herbs amid the open fields,
In eu'ry bank and groue, and hedge and way,
She gathers some, such as the country yeelds;
And all the while the Pagan walketh by,
And to the damsell casteth still an eye.
21
And least she should want cypresse wood to burne,He with his sword cuts downe whole cypresse trees,
And in all other things to serue her turne,
That each thing may prouided be he sees:
Now with her herbs she made her home returne,
The caldrons are on fire (no time to leese)
She boyles and perboyles all those herbs and flowres,
In which he thought there were such hidden powres.
236
22
At all these ceremonies he stands by,And what she doth he many times doth looke,
The smoke and heate at last him made so dry,
That want of drinke he could no longer brooke,
Greeke wines there were, and those he doth apply,
Two firkins late from passengers he tooke,
He and his men by drinking both that night,
Their heads full heauie made, their hearts full light.
23
Though by their law they are forbidden wine,Yet now that here they did the liquor tast,
They thought it was so sweet and so diuine,
That Nectar and that Manna farre it past:
At that restraint they greatly do repine,
That did debar them of so sweet repast,
And at their owne law and religion laffing,
They spend that night carowsing and in quaffing.
24
Now had faire Isbell finisht that confection,Which this grosse Pagan doth beleeue to be,
Against both steele and fire a safe protection:
Now sir (she said) you shall the triall see,
And that you may be sure that no infection
Is in these drugs, you first shall proue by me,
I shall you shew thereof so perfect triall,
As you shall see the proofe past all deniall.
25
My selfe (quoth she) mind first to take the say,That you may see I do not faine nor lie,
Then after on your selfe you proue it may,
When you haue made a witnes of your eie:
Now therefore bid your men to go away,
That none be present here but you and I,
And thus, as with her selfe she had appointed,
Her neck and brests, and shoulders she annointed.
26
Which done, in chearefull sort she open laydHer naked necke before the beastly Turke,
And bad him strike, for she was not afrayd,
She had such skill and trust in this rare worke:
He vnaduisd, and haply ouerlayd
With wine, that in his idle braine did worke,
Was with her speech so vndiscreetly led,
That at one blow he quite cut off her head.
27
The head where loue and all the graces dwelt,By heedlesse hand is from the bodie seuered,
Alas whose heart at such hap could not melt?
Yea that is more, the head cut off endeuered
To shew what pleasure of her death she felt,
And how she still in her first loue perseuered:
Thrise from the floore the head was seene rebound,
Thrise it was heard Zerbinos name to sound.
28
His name to whom so great loue she did beare,As she to follow him would leaue her life,
To whom tis hard to say if that she were
A truer widow or a kinder wife;
O soule that didst not death nor danger feare,
(A sample in these latter times not rife)
To saue thy chastitie and vowed truth,
Eu'n in thy tender yeares and greenest youth.
29
Go soule, go sweetest soule for euer blest,So may my verse please those whom I desire,
As my poore Muse shall euer do her best,
As farre as pen can paint, and speech aspire,
That thy iust praises may be plaine exprest
To future times. Go soule to heauen or hyer;
And if my verse can graunt to thee this chartir,
Thou shalt be cald of chastitie the Martir.
30
At this her deed so strange and admirable,He that aboue all heau'ns doth ay remaine,
Lookt downe, and said it was more commendable
Then hers for whom Tarquinio lost his raigne.
And straight an ordinance inuiolable,
Ay to be kept on earth he doth ordaine,
And thus he said, eu'n by my selfe I sweare,
Whose powre, heau'n, earth, sprites, men and Angels feare,
31
That for her sake that dide of this name last,Who euer shall hereafter beare that name,
Shall be both wise and continent and chast,
Of faultlesse manners, and of spotlesse fame,
Let writers striue to make their glorie last,
And oft in prose and verse record the same,
Let Hellicon Pindus, Parnassus hill,
Sound Isabella, Isabella still.
32
Thus said the Hy'st, and then there did ensewA wondrous calme in waters and in aire,
The chast soule vp into the third heau'n flew,
Where Zerbin was, to that she did repaire:
Now when the beastly Turke saw plaine in vew,
How he had prou'd himselfe a womanslayre,
When once his drunken surfet was digested,
He blam'd himselfe and his owne deed detested.
33
In part to satisfie for this offence,And to appease her ghost as twere in part,
Although he thought no pardon could dispence,
Not punishment suffice for such desart;
He vowes a monument of great expence,
Of costly workmanship and cunning art,
To raise for her, nor minds he to go furder,
Then that selfe church where he had done ye murder.
34
Of that selfe place he minds her tombe to make,And for that cause he gets of workmen store,
For loue, for mony, and for terrors sake,
Six thousand men he set to worke and more;
From out the mountaines massie stones they take,
With which wel wrought, & hewd, & squard therfore
With hie and stately arch that church he couers,
And in the midst intombs the blessed louers.
35
And ouer this was raisd with curious sleight,A Pyramid, a huge and stately towre,
Which towre an hundred cubit had in height,
By measure from the top vnto the flowre;
It seemd a worke of as great charge and weight,
As Adrian made, to bost his wealth and powre,
Of goodly stones, all raisd in seemly ranks,
Vpon the edge of stately Tybris banks.
237
36
Now when this goodly worke was once begunne,He makes a bridge vpon the water by,
That of great depth and force did euer runne,
In former time a ferrie there did lye,
For such as would a further circuit shunne,
And passe this way more easie and more nye;
The Pagan takes away the ancient ferrie,
And leaues for passengers, nor bote, nor wherrie.
37
But makes a bridge where men to row are wont,And though the same were strōg, & of great length,
Yet might two horses hardly meet a front,
Nor had the sides a raile or any strength,
Who comes this way he meanes shall bide a bront,
Except he haue both corage good and strength,
For with the armes of all that this way come,
He means to bewtifie faire Isbels toome.
38
A thousand braue Atchieuments he doth vow,Wherewith he will adorne this stately worke,
From whom he taketh all these spoiles or how,
He cares not whether Christian or Turke.
Now was the bridge full finished, and now
His watchmen on each side in corners lurke,
To make him know when any one coms neare,
For all that come, he means shall buy it deare.
39
And further his fantastike braine doth thinke,That sith by drinking wine he did that fin,
In lieu thereof he now would water drinke,
As oft as by mishap he should fall in:
For when he should vnto the bottome sinke,
The top would be an ell aboue his chin,
As who should say, for eu'rie euill action
That wine procures, were water satisfaction.
40
Ful many there arriued in few days,Some men, as in the way from Spaine to France,
Some others fondly thirsting after prayse,
In hope by this exploit their names t'aduance,
But Rodomont doth meet them both the ways,
And such his vallew was so good his chance,
That still as many men as there arriues,
Lost all of them their arms, and some their liues.
41
Among the many prisners that he tooke,All those were Christians to Algyre he sent,
And willd his men safely to them to looke,
Because ere long himselfe to come he ment;
The rest, saue that their armors they forsooke,
All harmelesse backe into their countries went:
Now while such feats were by the Pagan wrought,
Orlando thither came of wits bestraught.
42
At that same instant that Orlando came,Was Rodomont all armed saue his hed,
The naked Earle with wits quite out of frame,
Leaps ou'r the bar, and went (as folly led)
To passe the bridge, the Pagan him doth blame,
For his presumption, and withall he sed,
Stay sawcy villen, proud, and vndiscreet,
For such as thee, this passage is not meet.
43
For Lords and knights and squyres of good estate,This bridge was built, and not for thee thou beast:
He that no sence had in his idle pate,
Not heeding what was said still onward prest:
I must (the Pagan thinks) this fools pride bate,
It seems belike he thinks I am in iest,
And thereupon he makes the madman towards,
And minds to drowne him, sith he was fo frowards.
44
He little lookt to find a match so hard,Now while they two together gan to striue,
Behold a gallant dame of great regard,
At that same bridge by fortune did arriue,
Faire Fiordeliege, that late before had hard,
How loue did of his witts this Earle depriue
She hither came to seeke out Brandimart,
That now in Paris was with pensiue hart.
45
And thus this Ladie (as before I told)Came at that season to this dangerous place,
And knew this Earle, when she did him behold,
And wonderd much to see him in such case:
Now held Orlando with his foe hard hold,
In vaine the Pagan striues him to displace,
And grinning, to himselfe he said at length,
Who could haue thought, a foole had had such strength?
46
And fretting that he had his purpose mist,He doth by sleight the madmans force assay,
Sometime he puts his hand below his twist,
Sometime aboue, sometime another way:
Orlando stands vnmou'd, do what he list;
The Pagan seemd to do by him that day,
As doth the Beare, that would dig vp the tree,
From whence she fell, but sees it will not be.
47
Orlando full of force, though void of sence,About the middle tooke the Pagan fast,
And heaues him vp from ground, & so from thence,
Into the streame himselfe he backward cast:
Vnto the bottome both do sinke from whence
Each one was glad to get him in great hast,
Orlando nakt and light, swam like a fish,
So that he soone gat out as he would wish.
48
And being out, away he straight doth runne,Nor tarries he to heare, or to exspect,
If men do blame or praise that he had donne,
But follows on his former course direct:
This while the Pagan dranke nye halfe a tunne
Of water, ere he could himselfe erect,
And hardly he escaped being drownd,
So heauie armd, and in place so profound.
49
Now, while the Pagan swimmeth for his life,Faire Fiordeliege with sad and pensiue hart,
A liuely patterne of a vertuous wife,
Doth search the sepulcher for Brandimart,
She tooke her time while they fell first at strife,
And vp and downe she lookt in eu'rie part,
But here she finds nor arms nor yet his mantell,
Nor meets with such as of him tydings can tell.
238
50
But leaue we her awhile thus mourning sad,And seeking him each where saue where he was,
And tell we now what hap Orlando had,
And what strange feats his furie brought to passe,
You might perchance beleeue that I were mad,
If none of his mad pranks I ouerpasse.
Which were so strange, and in so great a number,
As you to heare, and me to tell would cumber.
51
I onely shall some few of those recite,As to my present purpose shall pertaine:
The madman westward held his course forthright,
Straight to the hils that seuer France fro Spaine,
He seldome bayts, but trauels day and night,
So much he was distemperd in his braine,
And by the mountaines side as he did passe,
He met two young men driuing of an asse.
52
This asse they loden had with clefts of wood,Fast bound vpon his burden bearing backe;
They seeing one runne nakt as he were wood,
Amid their way, they cride, hoe sirra backe,
But he makes answer neither bad nor good,
For sence and vnderstanding he did lacke,
But with his foote, the poore asse he so spurned,
That both his lode and him he ouerturned.
53
He tost him like a football vp on hy,Whence downe he fell and brake his necke with it;
Then at the men he doth with furie fly,
Of which the tone had better hap then wit,
For downe the rocke the tone lept by and by,
Deep threescore yards, and by the way did hit,
Vpon a banke of furze, growne in the place,
And scapt with onely scratching of his face.
54
The tother that of feare like passion feels,Did thinke to clammer vp vpon the rocke,
But straight Orlando takes him by the heels,
And puls him downe and beats him like a stocke,
As fishers vse to beat their sliding Eels,
And eu'n as fawlkners teare some time a cocke,
To giue vnto their hawks their intrals warme,
So he tears leg from leg, and arme from arme.
55
These same and other like, stupendious deeds,He put in practise while those hils he past,
Eu'n such as speech and credit all exceeds,
His fits so furious were, his strength so vast:
So far vnto the westward he proceeds,
That to the sea, he now was come at last,
Eu'n to the sandie shoars of Tarracona,
That leadeth right the way to Barcellona.
56
Vpon those sands (such was his mad conceat)He purposd with himselfe a house to build,
And being noyed with the parching heat,
He thinks with sand his skin therefro to shild:
Straight with his hands he digs him out a seat,
And though the oes his bodie all defild,
Yet with that mould his members all he couered,
That nothing but his head could be discouered.
57
Now as he lay halfe burid in the sand,(For saue his head, the rest was all vnseen,)
There thither came, as in their way by land,
Medoro with Angelica his Queen,
She not aware what in her way did stand,
(Of her lorne louers bosting then I ween)
Came vnto him so neare and on such soden,
That vpon him her horse had welny troden.
58
But seeing straight vp start a naked man,The sight did her greatly amaze and fright,
She knows him not, nor guesse at him she can,
She thinketh sure, he is some hellish spright:
Rough grifly heard, eyes staring, visage wan,
All parcht, and sunne burnd, and deformd in sight,
In fine he lookt (to make a true description)
In face like death, in cullor like a Gyptian.
59
But she at this strange sight (as erst I said)Did gallop thence as fast as she could ride,
And screeching lowd, she crieth out for aid,
Vnto Medoro her beloued guide:
The mad Orlando was not ill apaid,
When such a prettie damzell he had spide:
Though he no knowledge nor remembrance had,
How this was she, for whom he first fell mad.
60
Yet, as delighted with her pleasing hew,And liking well to see so faire a face,
With great desire he straight doth her pursew,
Eu'n as a hound the fearfull Doe doth chase,
Medoro mou'd herewith, his rapier drew,
And after this mad fellow rides apase,
And with his horse he thinketh downe to tred him,
And with his blade he thinketh to behed him.
61
But by effect, contrariwise he found,That he without his host his reckning made,
The madman shrinketh not an inch of ground,
And his bare skin was harder then the blade,
Yet sodenly when as the madman found,
That one behinde his backe did him inuade,
He turnd and with his fist so smote the horse,
As made him ly on ground a senslesse corse.
62
And in a trise he backe againe doth goe,To catch Angelica who spurrs with speed,
And thinketh still her palfreys pase too sloe,
For such a turne, and so it was indeed,
For had it gone like arrow from a boe,
It hardly could haue holpe her at this need;
At last her onely hope was in the ring,
For now to helpe her was none other thing.
63
The ring that neuer faild her at her need,Did make her now to vanish out of sight.
But whether that it were for want of heed,
Or that the sodainenesse did her affright,
Or that her beast did founder with the speed,
Or that she did determine to alight,
Of all these which it was I cannot tell,
But topsie turuie from the beast she fell.
239
64
Had she falne shorter, or on tother side,In likelihood the madman had her caught,
Which if he had, she doubtles should haue dide,
But great good fortune her deliuerie wrought:
But now another beast she must prouide,
For this another pase will soone be taught,
Orlando still doth her pursue so fast,
That needs he must ou'rget her at the last.
65
As for Angelica I take no care,I know that she a beast long will not lacke,
But rather steale one, as she did that Mare,
That now in madmans hands will suffer wracke.
To follow her Orlando doth not spare,
Till he her stayd and lept vpon her backe,
Then gallopt he as long as she was able,
And lets her rest in neither field nor stable.
66
Vntill at last in leaping ou'r a ditch,The poore Mare put her shoulder out of ioynt,
He with his fall, tooke neither ach nor stitch,
Nor of the bruse he passeth not a poynt;
Nor seeketh he for turpentine or pitch,
The poore beasts brused members to annoynt,
Though he might see with this fall he had mard her,
Yet faine he would, she should haue borne him farder.
67
At last on his owne shoulder her he laid,And bare her so about an arrow shoot,
But feeling then that she too heauie waid,
He leadeth her and lets her go on foot,
She limping follows him, and still he said,
Come on, come on, but little did it boot,
At last to make her, her slow pace to alter,
About his right leg he doth her halter.
68
And tels her now with ease she follow may,And so to harry her he doth begin,
The sharpe stones lying in the rugged way,
Fret of her haire, and afterward the skin,
The beast misused thus, liues scarse a day:
Orlando hath her tyde vnto his shinne;
He sees not, nor he knows not she is ded,
But on he draws her as his furie led.
69
And sure he would haue seru'd her such a tuch,I meane his mistres, if he could haue caught her,
Had not the vertue of that ring beene such,
As how to walke inuisible it taught her:
Ah cursed be that ring, and curst as much
Be he that so vnluckily it brought her;
Else sure Orlando had reuenged then,
Her often wrongs, to him and other men.
70
Yet why wish I this curse on her alone?I would the like might hap to all the kinde,
For in a thousand good there is not one,
All be so proud, vnthankfull and vnkinde,
With flintie hearts; carelesse of others mone,
In their owne lusts carrid most headlong blinde,
But more herein to speake I am forbidden,
Some time for saying truth one may be chidden.
241
THE XXX. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Strange feats by mad Orlando are atchieued,Fierce Mandricard is by Rogero slaine:
Himselfe so hurt, that all the campe belieued,
He had bin dead the formost of the twaine:
His loue with his long absence sore is grieued:
To breake his word his wounds do him constraine:
Renaldo with his kinsfolke and his frends,
To set his Prince at libertie intends.
1
When men with wrath and sodaine pangs of ire,Permit themselues to be orewhelmd & drownd,
And hot reuēge that burns like flaming fire,
Moues hearts to hurt, or tongs or hāds to wound,
Though after to amend it they desire,
Yet place of pardon seldome can be found:
Ah (worthy Ladies) I do you beseech,
To pardon that my former foolish speech.
2
For I am growne like a diseased man,That when he finds by phisicke no reliefe,
And now no more with patience suffer can,
The burning torture of his lingring griefe
Doth fall to raue and rage, and curse and ban,
Blaspheming God, renouncing his beliefe:
But when that fit is past, then would he faine,
But ah he cannot call it backe againe.
3
Yet Ladies of your clemencie I hope,I pittie shall not onely pardon finde,
Although I somewhat swarue from reasons scope,
And rash words flow from vnaduised minde:
She onely beare the blame that slayes my hope,
And for true seruice shews her selfe vnkinde:
That I did speake was partly of compassion,
With simpathy mou'd of Orlandos passion.
4
Who (as I partly did before declare)In monstrous sort, suruayd Marsilios raigne,
And wrought great wo, great danger, and great care,
To all the then inhabitants of Spaine:
I told you how he drew the silly Mare,
Tide to his leg, till she was dead with paine:
And how he had so small sence in his head,
He drew her after him when she was dead.
5
But comming to a great deepe running water,He was constraind to let her there abide,
And (for he swimmes as perfect as an Atter)
He quickly passed to the tother side,
Where then a herdman came his beasts to water,
And on a curtall he himselfe did ride:
And though he saw the madman and did view him,
Yet being naked he would not eschew him.
6
The madman prayeth him that he would spareHis horse; that they two might together cope:
I left (quoth he) on tother side my Mare,
And fast about her necke I left a rope:
I left her dead; but yet with heed and care,
Of her recouerie there is good hope:
The herdman laugheth at his sencelesse words
And vnto him no answer he affords.
7
Hoe (saith Orlando) fellow, dost not heare?I must thy curtall haue, thou needst not laffe:
And with that word approching somewhat neare,
The crabbed herdman with a crabtree staffe,
Gaue him a bastinado on his eare,
Which put the mad Erle into such a chafe,
That with his fist he made the herdman reele,
Till paine it selfe made him no paine to feele.
242
8
This done he leapeth on the horses backe,And at aduenture on he takes his way,
Where ere he comes he putteth all to wracke,
His horse tastes neither prouender nor hay:
But though this tyrd; a horse he may not lacke,
The next he meets by force he takes away:
To striue with him it was but little boote,
He is resolued not to go a foote.
9
He passeth to the straites of Zibeltar,Or Zibelterra (call it which you will)
And as he went, with force of open war,
Townes he did burne, and all the dwellers kill:
Ten yeares will hardly make that he would mar
Within one houre, and thus he traueld still,
Till on a day, riding vpon the sand,
He saw a ship new loosed from the land.
10
The aire was cleare and mild, and calme the wether,And certaine Gentlefolke had hyr'd the barke,
With mind to take their solace there together,
And to returne againe er it were darke:
The madman cries, hoe sirs let me come thither:
His deeds, his words, they neither marke nor harke,
Or if they did, you may be sure they thought,
They would not comberd be with such a fraught.
11
He hallows after them, and whopes and hayles,To haue them stay, & with faire words doth wo thē,
Glad might they be they went with oars and sayls,
For might he come, he surely would vndoe them,
The foole that sees how small his speech preuayls,
Beats on his horse, and meanes to ride vnto them:
In vaine his horse would shun this hard aduenter,
But he perforce makes him the sea to enter.
12
First he his feete doth wet, and then his knees,And next his belly, after that his backe,
Now scant his nose one in the water sees,
And still he layes him on; poore horse alacke,
That either in these seas his life must leese,
Or swim to Affricke er he can turne backe:
At last with swimming tyrd, with water cloyd,
His belly fild, till limbs of life were void.
13
The horse vnto the bottome quickly sunke,And had for company his burthen drownd,
If fortune that helpe frantike men and drunke,
Had not him safe conueyd to Affrike ground:
Orlando at the danger neuer shrunke,
But to the shore he swam both safe and sound:
It happie was the seas were then so still,
Else had the Erle bin drownd for all his skill.
14
Now being safe arriued at the shore,Neare Setta strayt he ranged ou'r the cost,
And did such deeds as he had done before,
On tother side to many poore mens cost;
At last he came where as he found great store,
Of warlike weapons, and a mightie host:
But how with them this madman disagreed,
I may not in this booke to tell proceed.
15
And further how Angelica the faire,Did meet her loue againe, and what a Lord
He grew, by matching with so great an haire,
And liu'd with her in loue and sweet accord,
(Although in birth an vnfit matched paire)
I leaue for other Muses to record:
For now I must adresse my selfe to tell,
What haps in Agramantes campe befell.
16
I told you two bookes past, or thereabout,How Mandricard was Doralices choice:
And how in face of all the Pagan rout,
She gaue that doome, that made him much reioyce,
For she was deemd for beautie (out of doubt)
The best in Europe by the common voice:
Now chiefe since faire Angelica was fled,
And worthy Isabella lost her hed.
17
But yet this pleasure was not so entire,But that it sawced was with some annoy,
For wrath and enuie set his heart on fire,
And much abated of his present ioy:
It spites him that Rogero dare aspire,
To giue his coat, being a berdlesse boy:
And further that the king of Sericane,
Should openly lay claime to Durindane.
18
And first Rogero will by no meanes yeeld,By no intreatie, nor by no request,
That Mandricard should carrie that same sheeld,
Which had the Argent Eagle on the crest,
Except he first could win it in the feeld:
On tother side Gradasso doth not rest,
But he will be the first to trie by fight,
Which of them two had to the sword most right.
19
With Agramant Marsilio tooke great paine,In all or part these quarrels to appease,
But when they saw their labour was in vaine,
To gouerne or perswade with one of these:
Thē chance (quoth Agramant) shal make that plain,
For which you striue, and eu'n as fortune please,
So let it be, and let some lots be cast,
Which two or three, shall fight the first or last.
20
And yet this iust request denie me not,Before the matter any further goth,
(Though now you be so violent and hot,
That speech of peace and all accord you loth)
To grant that who shall combat first by lot,
May leesing leese, and winning win for both:
This motion, most indifferent must seeme,
Sith both their vallews equall we esteeme.
21
This motion neither of them do mislike,And straight Gradassos and Rogeros name,
Vpon two scroles were writ so passing like
You would haue iudgd them both to be the same:
A boy of fourteene yeare of age they pike,
To draw the lot, and he that first out came,
Must fight with Mandricard, and make it knowne,
He fights for tothers title and his owne.
243
22
When on this order all parts were agreed,The lot to fight vpon Rogero fell,
Which hap great griefe did in Gradasso breed,
Although in shew he seemd to take it well:
Contrariwise it did all ioy exceed,
The ioy Rogero had, it so befell:
So well of his owne vallew he belieued,
He ioyd at that at which the tother grieued.
23
But yet Gradasso doth with great regard,Both fauour and aduance Rogeros side,
And sheweth him how he must lie to ward
A comming blow, how he might slip aside:
How for a thrust he may be best prepard:
Which blowes be firme, and which be falsifide,
When best time is to follow thrust or blow:
How one may best take vantage of his foe.
24
The rest of that same day that did remaine,Ensuing this same course of casting lots,
They spent as pleased each mans pleasing vaine,
In talke, or banquetting, or tossing pots:
To see this fight the people glad and faine,
Clammer the scaffolds, gazing still like lots,
Some for desire do come by breake of day,
And some all night within the place do stay.
25
Thus (as I say) these simple fooles do long,To see the combat these braue knights betwixt,
And blame the stay, and thinke the time too long,
That for the same the Herralds had prefixt:
But sober men that knew what did belong
To such exploits, whose wiser heads were fixt,
On publike good, this quarrell much lament,
And traueld all they can it to preuent.
26
And chiefe Marsilio and Sobrino sage,Aduise king Agramant to stay the fight,
And these same champions furie to asswage,
And to take vp the quarrell if they might:
Forewarning him when he must battell wage,
With Charles of France, the losse of one such knight,
Will do him greater hurt and damage then,
Then would the losse of thousands other men.
27
But Agramant knew all was true they spake,And faine he would their counsell wise obay,
But could not tell his grant how to reuoke:
Onely he doth in curteous sort them pray,
That he may strike with them so great a stroke,
Either to end or to defer the fray;
And yeeld the rather vnto his perswasion,
Because it rose vpon so light occasion.
28
Or if they did esteeme such toyes so far,As though they matters were of true renowne;
That yet they would the fight so long defar,
Vntill the sonne of Pipen were put downe:
And till they conquerd had the Realme by war,
And tane from him his mantle and his crowne,
This motion had in likelihood taken place,
Saue each thought first consent would be disgrace.
29
Aboue them all and more then all the rest,That in this sort their speech in vaine had spent:
Faire Doralyce doth Mandricard request,
That to the kings desire he would assent:
She doth exhort, intreat, perswade, protest,
She doth complaine, and languish, and lament:
To thinke that by his ouer hastie cholor,
She still must liue in anguish and in dolor.
30
How can I hope (said she) that ere I shall,Liue any houre in solace and in ioy?
When still I see you readie be to brall,
With eu'rie man, for eu'rie trifling toy:
The Sarzans foile doth me no good at all,
My choyce of you hath bred me more annoy:
To end that quarell, ah what did it boot,
Sith straight another quarrell is on foot?
31
I simple foole, in minde was proud and glad,That such a Prince, so braue a man as you,
For loue of me his whole state venterd had;
But now I finde by this that doth ensew,
That I had far more reason to be sad,
Sith each like cause, like danger doth renew;
And not my loue, but your owne natiue furie,
To bide such hard aduentures did procure yee.
32
But if your loue be such as in your speech,You do professe, and in your open show:
Then by that loue I humbly you beseech,
And by that fancie which too well I know,
Doth eu'n my heart and soule with loue bewitch,
Let not this quarrell any further grow:
I see not why it should you so molest,
To see your Eagle in anothers crest.
33
If needs you will attempt this hardie feat,And venter life vpon a thing so vaine,
The hazard that you make must needs be great,
But none, or verie small can be the gaine:
But if that fortune change her fickle seat,
Thinke then, ô thinke, what woe shall I sustaine?
There neuer yet was Emperor or king,
Could boast that he had Fortune in a string.
34
But if that life be vnto you lesse deare,Then is a painted bird vpon a sheeld;
Yet for my sake, whom it doth touch more neare,
Let me intreat you to this motion yeeld:
If you were slaine, what ioy could I haue heard?
Death sole from wo, both could & should me sheeld
Nor feare I death; my onely griefe would bee,
Before my death thy wofull end to see.
35
Thus earnestly faire Doralycee delt,All that same night, as in his armes she lyes,
And as she spake, the teares distill and melt,
In watrie streames, downe from her cristall eyes:
The Tartar that no little passion felt,
To comfort her saith all he can deuise:
And wipes her cheekes, and her sweet lip dothkisse,
And weeps for company, and answers this.
244
36
Ah do not grieue thy selfe so sore (my deare)Ah do not grieue thy selfe for such a toy,
Plucke vp thy sprights, and be of better cheare,
There is no cause of feare mine onely ioy:
No though that all the kings and captains heare,
Had sworne my death, and vowed mine annoy:
Yet all the kings and captaines I would vanquish,
Why then should you causles in sorrow languish?
37
What, did not I with trunchen of a speare,(You know your selfe whether I say the truth)
Not hauing sword nor other weapon theare,
Win you from all your gard? and shall a youth,
A beardlesse boy, cause you my safetie feare,
And breed in you so vnaduised ruth?
Well might you deeme I were a dastard lout,
If of Rogero I should stand in doubt.
38
Gradasso, though vnto his griefe and shame,Yet if one aske him can it not gainesay,
That when he last vnto Sorya came,
I met and tooke him prisner by the way,
Yet he is of another manner fame,
Then is Rogero, you your selfe will say:
I had him there a prisner at my will,
And if I listed might haue kept him still.
39
And least I should of this good witnes want,Beside Gradasso, there be hunderds more,
As namely Isolyr, and Sacrapant,
Whom I set free and had great thanks therefore:
Also the famous Griffin and Aquilant,
That there were taken, but few dayes before:
With diuers more both Turkish and baptised,
That by my force were taken and surprised.
40
Their wonder in those countries still doth last,Of that great vallew I that time did show,
And should I now a doubt or perrill cast?
Am I in greater danger now you trow?
Shall one young youth me hand to hand agast?
Shall I now doubt his force, or feare his blow?
Nor hauing Durindana by my side,
And Hectors armour on my backe beside?
41
Why did not I, as pointed was by lot,With Rodomont first bloudie battell wage?
That by his ill successe you might forewot,
The speedie end of this young sorrie page.
Drie vp these teares (my deare) and bring me not,
Before the combat such an ill presage:
Nor thinke an Eagle on a target painted,
Moues me hereto, but doubt of honor tainted.
42
Thus much said he, but she such answer made him,With words expressing such a louing mone,
As were not onely able to perswade him,
But might (I thinke) haue mou'd a marble stone:
The force was great wherewith she did inuade him,
In fine so farre she conquers him alone,
He grants thus farre to be at her douotion,
If peace be offerd, to accept the motion.
43
And so I thinke indeed he would haue done,Had not Rogero early in the morne,
Got vp before the rising of the Sunne,
And enterd in the lists, and blowne his horne,
To shew that he the battell would not shunne,
And that Ioues bird by him was iustly borne:
Which either he will carrie on his shield,
Or else will leaue his carkas in the field.
44
But when the Tartar fierce did heare that sound,And that his men thereof had brought him word:
He thinks great shame should vnto him redound,
If any treatie he of peace afford:
Arme arme he cries, & straight he armes him round,
And by his side he hangs his trustie sword:
And in his countenance he lookes so grim,
Scarse Doralyce her selfe dares speake to him.
45
And armed at all pieces, vp in hastHe gets, and that same courser he bestrides,
That was that Christen champions in time past,
Who now doth runne his wit and sence besides:
And thus he comes vnto the lists at last,
The place that all such quarrels still decides,
The king and all his court soone after came,
And now ere long begins the bloudie game.
46
Now on their heads their helmets are made fast,Now are the Lances put into their hands,
Now was the token giu'n by trumpets blast,
Which both the horse and horseman vnderstands:
Now in a full carryre they gallop fast,
And either strongly to his tackle stands:
Now with such force the tone the tother strake,
As though that heau'n did fall, and earth did shake.
47
The Argent Eagle comes on either side,With wings displaid on either captaines sheeld,
The bird which Ioue (men say) was seene to ride,
(Though better wingd) ou'r the Thessalian feeld:
As for their mightie strength and courage tride,
Their massie speares sufficient witnesse yeeld:
Nor sturd they more with those tēpestuous knocks,
Then wind sturs towres, or waues do stur the rocks.
48
The splinters of the spears flew to the skie,(As Turpin writeth that was present there)
And were on fire by hauing bin so nie,
Vnto the scorching of the fierie Spheare:
The champions out their swords draw by and by,
As those that neither sword nor fire did feare,
And either thrusteth at the tothers face,
And seekes by force the tother to displace.
49
They neuer sought to hurt each others steed,Not that they made together such accord,
But that they deemd it an vnworthie deed,
Not worthie of a worthie knight or Lord:
Of base reuenge they count that act proceed,
And meet of noble minds to be abhord.
So that in those dayes none were knowne to kill
A horse, except it were against his will.
245
50
Vpon their vizers both do strike at once,And though the same were firme and plated double,
As being made of proofe and for the nonce,
Yet did the force of such fell strokes them trouble;
And still they lay on lode as thicke as stones
Of haile, that often turne the corne to stubble:
I thinke it needlesse further to alledge,
If they haue strength, or if their swords haue edge.
51
Yet long they fought together in that field,Ere any signe of any blow was left,
Such wary heed each tooke himselfe to shield;
But Durindan at last fell with such heft,
Full on the circle of Rogeros shield,
That halfe way through the argent bird it cleft,
And pierst the coate of male that was within,
And found a passage to the very skin.
52
The cruell blow made many hearts full cold,Of such as wisht well to Rogeros part,
For most of those that stood by to behold,
Rogero fauourd in their mind and hart,
So that afore to say one might be bold,
If fortune follow would the greater part,
Fierce Mandricard were slaine, or else should yeeld,
So that this blow offended halfe the field.
53
But surely some good Angell I beleeue,The force of this so fearfull stroke abated,
Rogero though the wound him somewhat grieue,
Yet was his mind therewith no whit amated,
Great vsury he mindeth him to giue,
And that the strife may quickly be debated,
He frankly strikes with his whole force and might,
Full on the helmet of the Tartar knight.
54
With so great force and furie came the blow,As to the teeth no doubt had clou'n his head,
Sauing by what mishap I do not know,
But want of heed that too much hast had bred,
It lighted flatling on him, else I trow,
That stroke alone had him most surely sped,
But as it was it made his head so idle,
He opend both his hands and loosd his bridle.
55
Good Brigliadore that felt the slacked raine,(I thinke still mourning for his masters change)
Ran vp and downe at randon on the plaine,
His senslesse rider suffring him to range;
Who when he came vnto himselfe againe,
And saw his horse to run a course so strange,
A spurned Viper hath not so much wrath,
Nor wounded Lion, as the Tartar hath.
56
He claps the spurs to Brigliadoros side,And on his stirrops he himselfe aduances,
And to his fo with furie he doth ride,
And vp on hie his right arme he inhances,
To strike a blow; but when Rogero spide
His arme lie ope, as oft in fight it chances,
He chopt his swords point vnder tothers arme,
And puld it out with blood both wet and warme.
57
By which he did not onely maime his fo,By letting blood vpon so large a vaine,
But bated much the furie of the blo,
Which notwithstanding fell with force so maine,
As made Rogero stagger to and fro,
And mazd his head, and dazd his eyes with paine;
And much it was that time for his behoofe,
To haue his helmet of so good a proofe.
58
But hauing now againe recouerd force,And as it were new wakned from his dreame,
Vpon the Tartar Prince he turnd his horse,
And on his thigh he strikes with strength extreame,
That through the steele he did the sword enforce:
Out spins the blood in pure vermilion streame,
Nought could auaile inchanted Hectors armes,
Against this sword with stronger temperd charmes.
59
The Tartar feeling to his great disease,His body wounded as he litle thought,
Did rage as terrible as do the seas,
With highest winds and strongest tempests wrought,
He curseth heau'ns, his smarting pangs to ease,
The shield that had the bird for which he fought,
Away he hurleth from him for the nonce,
And to his sword he sets both hands at once.
60
Ah (quoth Rogero) too plaine triall this is,That to that Eagle thou no title hast,
That first didst with thy sword cut mine in peeces,
And now thine owne away from thee dost cast:
Thus much said he, but whatsoeuer he sees,
He must the force of Durindana tast,
Which fell vpon his forehead with such might,
A mountaine might haue seemd to fall as light.
61
I say the blow vpon his forehead fell,But yet his beauer sau'd it from his face,
It happend at that time for him full well,
That in the hollow there was so much spaces
Yet harmlesse quite to scape him not befell,
For why the sword that euer cuts apace,
Did pierce his plated sadle, and beside
An inch did enter into Rogeros side.
62
Thus each with crimson had his armor dide,And bloud did streame from both a double way,
Yet hitherto it could not be descride,
On whether side would chances ballance sway:
At last Rogero did that doubt decide,
With that same sword that euer home doth pay,
And where the tothers target wants, there iust
Rogero payes him with a speeding thrust.
63
The blade, gainst which preuailes no Magick art,His curats preist, and ribs and flesh it tore,
And found a passage to the naked hart:
Now must the Tartar Prince for euermore
In sword and painted shield forsake his part,
Not onely so, but that which grieues him more,
He must forsake his much beloued life,
More loued honour, and most loued wife.
246
64
The wretch yet vnreuenged did not die,But gaue hard recompence ere he departed,
At good Rogeros head he doth let flie,
And had (no doubt) the same in sunder parted,
Saue that his arme was maymd, and so thereby
Much of his force from thence had bin diuarted,
Much of his force diuerted was from thence
Before, when for his arme he wanted fence.
65
But as it was, yet to to hard it fell,And causd the noble knight great paine to feele,
His helmet it did cleaue, though plated well,
And made for proofe of tough well temperd steele,
And in the very skull it cloue a spell,
Two fingers deepe, and made him backward reele,
He backward fals, the paine was so exceeding,
With grieuous wound his hed most freshly bleeding
66
Rogero was the first that tumbled downe,And Mandricardo fell a good while after,
All thought Rogero dead, because his crowne
Still bled, but chiefly Stordilanos daughter
Ioyes that her spouse had won this fights renowne,
Now hopes she, she shal turne her teares to laughter,
And as she thought, so was the common voyce,
So that the Tartars friends did all reioyce.
67
But when there did appeare by certaine signes,The liue man liuing, and the dead man slaine,
Then Doralycee wrings her hands and whines,
And griefe came there, and comfort here againe:
The chiefest part, whose fauour all inclines
Vnto Rogero, are full glad and faine,
And gratulate his good successe, and grace him,
And runne to him, and in their armes embrace him.
68
Nor was this shew of loue, dissimulation,But true vnfained kindnesse, and good faith,
But yet Gradassos faint congratulation,
Makes men surmise he thinks not as he saith:
He secretly enuies such reputation,
Though outwardly the flatterer he playth,
And curseth (were it destinie or chance)
That to this enterprise did him aduance.
69
But Agramant that euer did before,Do him great honor and him well esteeme,
Now he doth him admire, extoll, adore,
So highly of his valew he doth deeme:
In him alone he puts affiance more,
Then all his campe together it should seeme,
Now that the seed of Agricane was spent,
And Rodomont gone thence a malcontent.
70
What should I tell the praise that many a LadieGaue of this knight, of Affrike and of Spaine?
Who knew that Mandricardo was no babie,
And saw him now by this mans valew slaine;
Yea dolefull Doralyce her selfe (it maybe)
Saue that for modestie she must refraine,
Would haue bene moued with a small request,
To speake as well of him as did the rest.
71
I say it may be, but I cannot tell,For why before vnconstant she was proued;
And sure Rogeros parts did so excell,
As any Ladie doubtlesse might haue moued.
While tother liu'd, perhap she likt him well,
But now to seeke a new it her behoued,
Such one as she her selfe might able warrant,
To ride both day and nightly on her arrant.
72
Now brought the King Rogero with great careTo his owne tent, that there he may be cured,
The best Phisitions thither sent for are,
To search his wounds, they straight his life assured;
The shield and armes that Mandricardo bare,
The which this bloudie battell first procured,
All saue the sword that was Gradassos right,
Were hanged vp by his beds head that night.
73
Howbeit that braue courser Brigliadore,Rogero needs would giue vnto the King,
Who tooke it thankfully, and set more store
By that same steed then any such like thing:
But hereof now a while I treate no more,
First must you heare what news the maide did bring,
(I meane Hyppalca) to her mistris deare,
Whom loue had made to be of heauie cheare.
74
She told her first what hap to her befell,How Frontine by a Turke was tane away;
And after, how she found at Merlins well
Richardo and Rogero that same day,
To whom she did her hard aduenture tell,
And how Rogero went with her straightway,
To win the horse out of the Pagans fist,
But at that season he his purpose mist.
75
Also she told to Bradamant the cause,Why her deare loue himselfe did now absent,
Who promist her, to take a little pawse,
And then her mind most thoroughly content:
In fine Hyppalca from her bosome drawes
That letter which was to her mistris sent,
Who so much lesse did seeme to like the letter,
Because she would haue likt his presence better.
76
For sith before she did himselfe expect,Now paper in his steed to haue and inke,
It caused her to feare and to suspect,
And made some doubts into her thoughts to sinke,
Yet likt she well the meaning and effect,
And kist the letter oft, and sure I thinke,
Had burnd it with the heate of her desire,
Saue that the teares she shed did quench that fire.
77
She read the writing ou'r, fiue times or six,The words, the phrase, the sence her pleasd so well,
And then she made the maid, each time betwix,
The message that Rogero sent to tell,
And saue he did so short a time prefix
To come to her, and ay with her to dwell,
I thinke she neuer would haue ceased mourning,
Till she had seene or heard of his returning.
247
78
Rogero to Hippalca promist had,Fifteene, or twentie dayes at most to stay,
And her, to tell her mistresse so he bad,
But swearing to come sooner if he may:
But nearethelesse good Bradamant is sad,
Still doubting chances to prolong that day.
All things (said she) to fortune are subiected,
And chiefe in warres that are by chance directed.
79
Ay (my Rogero) who could once haue thought,Sith I more then my selfe esteemed thee,
That thou by any means couldst haue bin brought,
To beare thy verie foes more loue then me?
Whō thou shouldst hurt, by thee their help is sought
Whom thou shouldst saue, by thee they spoiled be;
Needs must I blame thy negligent regarding,
As well in punishing as in rewarding.
80
Traiano slue thy sire, I thinke thou knowest,(For sure the stones it know) yet to his sonne,
Thou thinkst in honor thou such dutie owest,
That thou must see no hurt may him be donne:
Is this sufficient a reuenge thou trowest,
Thinkst thou true fame can by such facts be wonne?
Lo vnto what thy shew of honor tends,
To serue thine enemies, and slay thy frends.
81
Thus Bradamant spake to her absent loue,With passion great, and euermore her maid,
With reason seeks that fancie to remoue,
Assuring her she need not be affraid:
And wishing her with patient mind to proue,
If so he would not do as he had said,
And that she would in all things hope the best,
And then to God and fortune leaue the rest.
82
With this good speech of hers, and strong perswasion,She doth his comming till the day expect,
Which good Rogero brake, not by occasion
That he his word and promise did neglect;
But that which hapt against his expectation,
His wounds had bred so dangerous effect,
But chiefe the same he last tooke in his hed,
Which made him fortie dayes to keepe his bed.
83
Now Bradamant doth waite the twentie dayes,And staid at Montalbano with her mother,
And making still enquirie many wayes,
If she might heare some news of one or other,
But none she heard, saue that which to his praise,
Was told her after by her younger brother,
Which though she ioyd to heare, as was most meet,
Yet mingled was some soure with that same sweet.
84
For why the vallew of Marfisa stout,Which did assist them greatly, as he told,
To win their kinsmen from the moorish rout,
That vnto Bertolage should haue bin sold,
This bred in Bradamantes minde some doubt,
And strake into her heart a iealouse cold;
Because twas said they two together went
To Agramant, that in his campe was pent.
85
For though she could not chuse but greatly praise her,That did her selfe so stout and valiant proue,
Yet one the tother side, her beautie frayes her,
Lest he perhap on her might set his loue:
But yet in fine, hope of his promise stayes her,
So that in twentie dayes he did not moue
From Montalbano, and in that same space,
There thither came the chiefe man of her race.
86
I meane not chiefe of birth, but chiefe of name,For two there were, in birth more old then he,
Renaldo vnto Montalbano came,
His brothers, cosins, and his frends to see,
Whom he had heard by speech of flying fame,
Now safe ariued at that place to be,
And how Rogero and Marfisa wrought
Their libertie, when they were sold and bought.
87
Wherefore he came to see them face to face,And vnderstand with them how each thing stood,
It seemd he was as welcome to the place,
As is the swallow to her tender brood,
That almost starued and in sorrie case,
Haue long expected sustenance and food,
And when they there had staid, a day or twaine,
Both they and he to Paris went againe.
88
Alardo and Guichiardo, Richardet,And Malagigy and good Viuiane,
Close after this braue Lord themselues do get,
And Bradamant with them they would haue tane,
But she alledg'd she could not come as yet;
(But hopes ere long they should be ouertane)
She prays them for that time content to hold them,
For why she was not well at ease she told them.
89
And true it was, she was not well at ease,Not that she had a fit of any feauer,
Or any other corporall disease,
It was a fit of loue, that burneth euer;
Whose heat no herbe nor phisicke can appease;
This fit did her from that braue crew disseuer:
But in another booke I shall repeat,
What succour they did bring to Charls the great.
250
THE XXXI. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Unwares doth Guidon with Renaldo fight,But afterward is by his brethren knowne,
By whose great courage, and vnited might,
The Turks are vanquished and ouerthrowne.
Good Brandimart seeks out that wofull knight,
Whose wits by loue distraught, are not his owne,
Is tane, and of his life was in great perrell.
Renaldo and Gradasso fall to quarrell.
1
What state of life more pleasing may we find,Then theirs, that true and heartie loue do beare?
Whom that sweete yoke doth fast together bind,
That man in Paradice first learnd to weare:
Were not some so tormented in their mind,
With that same vile suspect, that filthie feare,
That torture great, that foolish frenesie,
That raging madnesse, called iealousie.
2
For eu'rie other sowre that gets a place,To seat it selfe amid this pleasant sweet,
Doth helpe in th'end to giue a greater grace,
And makes loues ioy more gratful when they meet,
Who so abstaines from sustenance a space,
Shall find both bread and water rellish sweet:
Men know not peace nor rightly how to deeme it,
That haue not first by war bin taught t'steeme it.
3
Though eyes want sight, of that they would see faine,The thought yet sees, & hearts with patience take it,
Long absence grieues, yet when they meet againe,
That absence doth more sweet and pleasant make it:
To serue and sue long time for little gaine,
(So that all hope do not eu'n quite forsake it)
One may endure, for when the paine is past,
Reward, though long it stay, yet comes at last.
4
The sharpe repulses, and the deepe disdaines,And all the torments that in loue are found,
At last with pleasure recompence the paines,
And make far more contentment to abound:
But if this hellish plague infect the braines,
Though afterward it seeme both whole and sound,
The qualitie thereof is so mischieuous,
The verie thought is to a louer grieuous.
5
This is that cruell wound, against whose smart,No liquors force preuailes, nor any plaster,
No skill of starres, no depth of Magicke art,
Deuised by that great clarke Zoroaster:
A wound that so infects the soule and hart,
As all our sence and reason it doth master;
A wound whose pang, and torment is so durable,
As it may rightly called be incurable.
6
This is a plague that quickly doth infectAll louers hearts, and doth possesse their thought,
As well with causlesse, as with iust suspect
By this, a man to madnesse meere is brought:
Oh plague, by whose most damnable effect,
In deepe dispaire to die haue diuers sought;
Oh Iealousie, that didst without desart,
Possesse the noble Bradamantes hart.
7
Not for the tale her mayd or brother told,Which made with in her mind a sharpe impression,
But other news that made her heart full cold,
How her loue of new loue did make profession;
As I more plaine hereafter shall vnfold,
For now I needs a while must make disgression,
To braue Renaldo, that to Paris ward
Did march, with that same crew of great regard.
251
8
The day ensuing ere it yet was night,They met an armed knight vpon the way,
A Ladie faire accompanid the knight,
His armour all was blacke, saue that there lay
A thwart the brest a wreath of Argent bright.
And straight the formost man in their array,
Which Richardetto was, as then did chaunce,
He challenged with him to breake a launce.
9
The gallant youth that neuer man refused,Straight turnd his horse, a space for course to take,
As one that (for his time) had often vsed,
Such feates as this to do and vndertake:
Renaldo standeth still, and them perused,
To see which knight the fairest course would make,
Now Richardet thinks, if I hit him iust,
I shall this gallant tumble in the dust.
10
But otherwise it then to him befell,And of his reckning he was quite deceaued,
The tother knew to hit, and sit so well,
That Richardet was from the sadle heaued:
Alardo seeing how his brother fell,
Did thinke t'auenge the foile that he receaued,
But he likewise inferiour did remaine,
His arme was bruisd, his shield was rent in twaine.
11
Guicchiardo next, the selfe same fortune tride,And was constraind vnto the ground t'encline,
Although to him Renaldo lowdly cride,
Stay, hold your hands, for this course should be mine.
Viuian and Malagige, and more beside,
That at their kinsmens foyle did much repine,
Would then haue fought with this same stranger knight,
Saue that Renaldo claymd it as his right.
12
And said my friends, we must to Paris hast;But to himselfe he said, it were a iest,
For me to stay till all they downe were cast
By one and one, Ile fight and they shall rest;
This said, he spurres his horse and commeth fast,
And as he runs he sets his speare in rest;
The tother doth as much, and eithers speare,
The stroke doth in a thousand peeces teare.
13
The horsemen with the stroke stur not an inch,They both had learnd so perfectly to sit,
But on their horses it did shrowdly pinch,
Yet Bayard scarce his course doth intermit,
The tothers horse had such a parlous wrinch,
That mard him quite, and brake his backe with it,
His master that was greatly grieu'd to see't,
Forsakes his seate, and takes him to his feet.
14
And to Renaldo, that with naked handCame toward him in shew of truce, he sed,
Sir knight I giue you here to vnderstand,
I likt so well this horse that here is ded,
I thinke it would not with mine honor stand,
To leaue him vnreuengd, which hath me led
To challenge you, eu'n as you are true knight,
That you will answer me againe in fight.
15
Renaldo answerd, if your horse you lost,The onely cause of this your quarrell be,
Then comfort you, for of mine onely cost,
Your want herein shall be supplide by me,
With such a horse, as I may boldly bost,
To be as good a one as ere was he:
Not so sir, said the tother, you mistake it,
I will expound my mind, and plainer make it.
16
Though I lykt well my seruiceable horse,Yet fith he now is in this conflict slaine,
Thinke not that of his death I so much force,
As that alone moues me to fight againe;
But in plaine termes on foot to trie your force,
As well as erst on horsebacke I would faine.
Renaldo, that of no mans force accounted,
Without delay straight from his horse dismounted.
17
And sith (quoth he) I see your noble mind,Of this my company hath no suspition,
They shall go on, and I will stay behind,
And so will fight with you on eu'n condition.
This said, his band to part thence he assignd,
Who went their way vpon their Lords commission,
Which bred great admiration in the stranger,
To find a man so little fearing danger.
18
Now when his standerd quite was out of sight,And all Renaldos companie was gone,
Then hand to hand they do apply the fight,
With force and furie great they lay it on;
Each maruels at the tothers passing might,
And yet of either side the gaine is none,
They felt the blowes so heauie and so hard,
That glad they were to lie well to their ward.
19
Thus these two knights, for honors onely sake,Together combat in such eager sort,
That eu'ry little error they should make,
Endangerd life in this vnpleasant sport:
An houre and halfe this trauell they did take,
Each labouring to cut the tother short,
And in his mind Renaldo maruels much,
Who this should be, whose skill and force was such.
20
And, saue that he could not with his reputation,He would haue wisht the battell at an end,
And offerd of a truce communication,
And of his vnknowne foe haue made his frend:
Likewise the tother felt such inclination,
Now finding scarce he could himselfe defend,
That he repented his rash hardie part,
And would haue had a truce with all his hart.
21
It waxed darke there fell an eu'ning mist,So that at last they neither of them know,
When he did hit aright, or when he mist,
Nor how to giue, nor how to ward a blow:
When first Renaldo wisht him to desist,
Sith now the Sunne descended was so low,
And that the combat might be now reiourned,
Till Phebus were about the world returned.
252
22
Offring (at which the stranger greatly musd,And his rare curtesie therein commended)
To lodge him where he should both be well vsd,
And like a man of honour well attended:
The tother his great curt'sie not refusd,
And so betweene them two the fray was ended:
And straight Renaldo gaue him as his gift,
His pages horse, that was both strong and swift.
23
Thus on they rode vnto Renaldos tent,And grew acquainted ere they thither came,
By meanes in certaine speeches as they went,
Renaldo happened to tell his name;
By which the stranger knew incontinent,
That this was that same Palladine of fame,
And that himselfe was to Renaldo brother,
By fathers side alone, and not by mother.
24
The sauage Guidon, this braue warrier hight,That traueld had full many a hunderd mile,
With those two brothers, nam'd the black and white,
And Sansonet, vntill by craft and guile
They were surprised, as you heard last night,
And made against their wils to wait a while,
For maintenance of lawes vniust and bad,
That wicked Pinnabell deuised had.
25
Now when as noble Guidon certaine knewThat this Renaldo was, whom he before
Desired long to see, he much did rew
That he had done, and did lament it sore:
A blind man would not be more glad to vew
The light, he doubted he should nere see more,
Then Guidon in his mind was well apaid,
To see this knight, and thus to him he said.
26
What strange mishap, what sinister aduenter,Hath bred this fault in me, my noble Lord,
That I with you into this strife should enter,
With whom I ought to haue all kind accord?
I am your fathers sonne, not by one venter,
I euer haue your name and stock adord,
Guidon I hight, Constanza was my mother,
Borne beyond Euxin seas, and yet your brother.
27
Wherefore I pray, pardon my fond offence,That haue in steed of dutie offerd wrong,
And tell me wherein I may recompence
This euersight, and I will do ere long:
Renaldo that had heard of him long since,
And to haue seene him did not little long,
Embrast him, and not onely did forgiue him,
But commendation great and praise did giue him.
28
He said his valew was a perfect signe,To shew himselfe in fight so fierce and stout,
That he was truly come of that same line,
Whose noble brute was blowne the world about:
For if your manners did to peace incline,
Then had there bene (said he) more cause of doubt,
The fearfull Hart comes not of Lions seed,
Nor doth a silly Doue a Faulcon breed.
29
Thus fell they two acquainted on the way,And talkt together friendly as they went,
But neither did their talke the iourney stay,
Nor did their riding make their speech relent,
Vntill they came where all their brothers lay,
When as a great part of the night was spent,
Who with great ioy and pleasure did behold them,
And chiefe when who this was Renaldo told them.
30
For though he must to them (no doubt) haue euerBene verie welcome as a brother deare,
Yet could he be to them more welcome neuer,
Then now, what time as you before did heare,
They all did mind to do their best indeuer
To rescue Charles that was of heauie cheare:
Wherefore for this one cause aboue the rest,
He was vnto them all a welcome guest.
31
Thus now the day ensuing on went Guidon,Ioyning himselfe vnto Renaldos crew,
And as to Paris walls they forward ride on,
They met two valiant youths that well him knew:
Further with them conferring, they descride one,
A Ladie richly clad, and faire of hew:
These warlike youths had Gismond to their mother,
White Griffiin, and blacke Aquilant his brother.
32
Now Guidon knew them, and to them was knowne,As hauing bene together many dayes,
By whom they were vnto Renaldo showne,
And praisd for gallant men at all assayes:
As in your iudgement, likewise in mine owne,
(Renaldo said) these youths do merit praise,
For they haue oft bene prou'd two perfect warriers,
As well in spite as sport, at tilt and barriers.
33
Renaldo did by their apparell know them,Tone euer wearing white, the tother blacke,
And friendly countenance he now did show them,
Chiefly because the King did succour lacke:
Wherefore into his band he doth bestow them,
That band that to ye Turks must bring much wracke,
And they do ioyne them to Renaldos banner,
Forgetting all old iarres in louing manner.
34
Betweene the house of Ammon and these twins,About one Truffaldin a iarre there fell,
The matter at the first not worth two pins,
Wherefore the circumstance I will not tell,
But now Renaldo their affection wins,
By vsing them so curteously and well,
For curteous speech and vsage mild and kind,
Wipes malice out of eu'ry noble mind.
35
Now after these another knight there came,Hight Sansonet a man of great account,
Who welcom'd was, and tooke it for no shame,
Of stout Renaldos band himselfe to count:
While this thus past, behold the gallant dame,
That knew this noble Lord of Clarimount,
(For she was one that all the French Lords knew)
Told him a tale that made him greatly rew.
253
36
My Lord (said she) I bring you sory tiding,He whom the Church and Empire held so deare,
Runs all about, in no one place abiding,
Of sence and argument depriued cleare:
He naked goes, not natures secrets hiding,
Which me to tell, and you must grieue to heare,
Orlando, that same light and lampe of France,
Hath lost his wits, God knowes by what mischance.
37
His armes and sword that he away had throwne,As things by him left and forsaken clearly,
I saw a curteous knight, to me vnknowne,
But one (it seemd) that lou'd Orlando dearly,
Them gather where they scatterd were and sowne,
And eu'n of charitie as seemed mearly,
In triumph wise on tree he hangd the same,
And vnderneath he grau'd Orlandos name.
38
But straight the sword that hanged on the tree,With force and scornfull speech away was tane,
(As I can witnesse well that did it see)
By Mandricard the sonne of Agricane:
Thinke you what hurt this will to Europe be,
That once againe the Turks haue Durindane;
The gentle knight straue long with him to saue it,
But in the end was forst to let him haue it.
39
I saw Orlando late in monstrous guise,To runne about vncouth and all vnclad,
With strangest clamours and most hideous cries:
In fine I do conclude that he is mad;
And saue I saw it so with these mine eyes,
I would not trust if any told it had.
She further told how she had seene him later,
With Rodomont to tumble in the water.
40
And last of all she told him she had heard,How that about this sword there grew some strife,
Betweene Gradasso stout and Mandricard;
And how the Tartar hauing lost his life,
The sword was giuen Gradasso afterward,
As ouer all the Pagan campe was rife:
And hauing ended this so sad narration,
Thereto she addeth this short exhortation.
41
That he and eu'ry one that were not foeTo stout Orlando, would take so much paine,
In Paris or elsewhere him to bestow,
Till he had purged his distemperd braine:
Mine husband Brandimart (said she) I know,
To do him any good himselfe would straine:
Thus Fiordeliege spake, the louing wife
Of Brandimart, that lou'd her as his life.
42
At this strange tale and wofull accident,Such inward griefe the good Renaldo felt,
That with the thought, his heart incontinent
Did seeme like snow against the Sunne to melt,
And with all speed he might, to go he ment,
And by all meanes he might so to haue delt,
To seeke Orlando, whom if he can find,
He hopes to bring him to a better mind.
43
But sith he now had thither brought his band,Or wer't the will of God, or were it chance,
He first doth mind to end the cause in hand,
And rescue Paris and the king of France;
Wherefore he makes his men all quiet stand
Till night, what time himselfe will leade the dance,
And then betweene the fourth and second watch,
He meanes at once the matter to dispatch.
44
He makes his men lie close for all that day,By way of Ambuscado in a wood,
And ease themselues and horses all they may,
And take the sustenance of rest and food,
The place within three leagues of Paris lay,
And when the Sunne was set, he thought it good,
What time the world doth vse his lesser lampe,
To Paris ward to moue his silent campe.
45
And as he purposd, he performd in deed,For straight himselfe with that same gallant grew,
Set out by night, as first they had decreed,
In silent sort suspition to eschew.
Now came the time that they must do the deed,
Now neare vnto the Turkish campe they drew,
When first the heedlesse Sentinels intrapping,
They kild them al, because they took them napping.
46
The watch once slaine, they are no longer dumme,But after stout Renaldo soone they came,
They sound the trumpet, and strike vp the drumme,
And calling still vpon that noble name,
That often had the Pagans ouercome,
(I meane Renaldos house of Montalbane)
Which crie he causd both his owne men to quicken,
And that the Turks might in more feare be stricken.
47
Himselfe well mounted on his famous horse,Doth presse amidst the Pagan Princes tents,
And with his owne, and with his horses force,
He treds them downe, and all in peeces rents,
Vnarmd or armd he kils without remorse,
Who euer commeth in his way repents,
The drowsie men halfe armd make poore resistance
Against so braue a man with such assistance.
48
For why, beside those men I nam'd before,Whose vertue and whose value oft were showne,
Renaldo had sixe hundred men and more,
All perfect traind, of strength and courage knowne,
Which about Clarimont he kept in store,
For his owne vse and causes of his owne,
Though at this need his Princes turne to furnish,
He soone agreed his owne townes to vnfurnish.
49
And though Renaldo had no great reuenue,The which chiefe sinews vnto warre affords,
Yet kept he still six hundred in retinue,
What with good vsage and with gentle words,
That all of them did still with him continue,
At his commaund with launces, horse and swords;
Nor was there any that from him away went,
Though diuers others offerd greater payment.
254
50
Now thinke when this braue crue the Turks assailed,At vnawares halfe wake or halfe asleepe,
How that same name and that same noise them quailed,
How here they fled and there, with hold and keepe:
But smally flight, and lesse their fight preuailed;
But euen as Goates from Lions, or as sheepe
Frō Wolues make small defence, such in comparison
These Pagans made against Renaldos garison.
51
On tother side king Charles (that by espiall)Had notice of Renaldos comming hither,
With all that crue so noble and so loyall,
That to his aid combined were togither,
With diuers Lords came forth in person royall,
And all his men of armes likewise came thither:
Eke Brandimart, rich Monodontes heire,
Did with king Charles vnto the field repaire.
52
Whom when his spouse, that neare about did houer,Had found out by his standard and his armes,
And plainly saw it was her dearest louer,
She rusheth in among the men of armes,
And vnto him her selfe she doth discouer,
Who straight embraced her in open armes;
And leauing then the battell drew apart,
That each to other might their minds impart.
53
And after sweet embracing oftentimes,They did conferre together of their state:
O vertue of those vnsuspicious times,
When Ladies early wander might and late,
And yet be faultlesse deemd, and free of crimes,
Where now each small suspect turnes loue to hate,
Yea eu'n for all their watching and safe keeping,
They doubt their wiues do wake while they are sleeping.
54
Among the conference this couple had,The Ladie did vnto her spouse vnfold,
How his good friend Orlando was falne mad,
How she her selfe his madnes did behold,
His running naked, carelesse and vnclad,
Not credible had any else it told,
But credible it was now she had sed it,
For in far greater things he gaue her credit.
55
She further did to Brandimart recount,How she had seene the bridge the Pagan made,
(I meane the cruell Pagan Rodomount)
Vpon the streame so deepe as none could wade,
Where he the passengers of best account,
Did from each side with furie great inuade,
And with the spoiles of those he kild and tooke,
Did beautifie a tombe made by the brooke.
56
And last she told how with his strength extreame,Orlando heau'd the Turke armd from the ground,
And so with him fell backward in the streame,
With perill great there to haue both bene drownd,
From whence Orlando went about the Reame,
Where his mad parts wold make him soon be found.
This tale in Brandimart did breed such sorrow,
He staid not for the next ensuing morrow.
57
But taking for his guide faire Fiordeliege,And being readie armd, as then he was,
He go'th to seeke that foresaid parlous bridge,
In mind (what euer hap) the same to passe,
Where many men their liues line did abridge,
As in such dangers soone it comes to passe:
No sooner came he to the vtmost ward,
But Rodomont had notice by his guard.
58
He greatly did to heare such newes reioyce,And straight he cometh forth with warlike gesture,
And bids him with a loud and scornfull voyce,
Vnto the tombe to yeeld his armes and vesture,
Or threatens him if he refuse this choyce,
To make him drinke beyond all good disgesture:
But Brandimart his threats did nothing feare,
And makes no answer, but with couched speare.
59
Then straight to horses side he sets the spurs,The horse he rode vpon Batoldo hight,
The horse though good, yet snores, and starts & sturs,
Much scar'd with narrow bridge and waters sight:
Eke Rodomont his good Frontino spurs,
Who neuer starts, as vsed to this fight,
Although the bridge did shake all vnder feet,
When in the middle way these kinghts did meet.
60
Their speares that were of firme well seasond wood,With so great force vpon their armour strake,
That though their horses were both strong & good,
Yet both fell from the bridge into the lake,
Quite ouerwhelmd with water and with mood,
Yet neither horseman did his horse forsake;
Long taried they within the streame below,
To search if any Nymph dwelt there, I trow.
61
This had not bin the first time nor the fift,That from this bridge the Turke had bene throwne downe,
Wherefore his horse and he could better shift,
For neither horse nor he did doubt to drowne;
For where the streame was most profound and swift
He often had bene plung'd aboue his crowne,
Which made his horse and him the more audacious
Amid the streame, although profound and spacious.
62
He knew by proofe (for he had tride it oft)Where all the shelues, and where the channell lay,
Which parts were grauelly, and which were soft:
The tother ignorant, was borne away,
Tost here and there; now low, and then aloft,
The while the Pagan greedie of his pray,
At all aduantages doth still assaile him,
Whose horses footing more and more did faile him.
63
At last with plunging and with striuing tired,He backward fell into the weeds and mud,
Where he was like to haue bin drownd and mired,
Saue that his spouse that by the riuer stood,
In humble wise the Pagan Prince desired,
And in most earnest manner that she coud,
Eu'n for her sake, whose ghost he did adore,
To helpe her worthy knight vnto the shore.
255
64
Ah gentle sir, if euer you did tast,Of loue (she said) or of a louers passion,
Saue that same knight, on whom my loue is plast,
And let him not be drownd in so vile fashion:
Suffice it you, your tombe will be more grast,
With one such prisner of such reputation,
Then hunderds other, that shall here arriue;
Then take his spoiles, and saue himselfe aliue.
65
These words that might haue mou'd a stone I thinke,Mou'd him to rescue noble Brandimart,
Who without thirst had tane such store of drinke,
As from his limbs, his life did welny part:
But ere he brought him to the riuers brink,
He causd him with his sword and armes depart,
And made him sweare now he was in his powre,
To yeeld himselfe true prisner to his towre.
66
The dame of comfort all was quite bereaued,When as she saw how ill her spouse had sped,
And yet lesse griefe of this chance she conceaued,
Then if he had beene in the water dead:
She calls herselfe the cause that he receaued
This harme, that fondly had him thither led,
Into a place of danger such and ieopardie,
As needs must hazard either life or libertie.
67
About the place in vaine she long did houer,Then parted she in mind to seeke some knight,
Of Charles his campe, that might her losse recouer,
And proue himself, though not more strong in fight
At least more fortunate then was her louer:
Long did she trauell all that day and night,
And eake the day ensuing, ere she met one,
Yet was it her good hap at last to get one.
68
A champion in a rich attyre she met,All wrought with witherd leaues of Cypresse tree,
Hereafter I will tell you, but not yet,
What wight this was, whether a he or she:
Now turne I to the campe, least I forget
The noble knights that set their soueraigne free;
I meane Renaldo and his new come brother,
With cunning Malagige and many other.
69
Vnpossible it was account to keepe,Of those were kild that night, and those that fled,
Fierce Agramant was wakned from his sleepe,
And with all speed that might be, vp he sped,
He weighes the perill and the danger deepe,
His souldiers runne away near making hed:
Marsillo, with Sobrino and the rest,
Wish him to flie, for feare he be distrest.
70
Aduising him, sith fortune now gan frowne,Vnto this tempest wisely to giue place,
And go to Arly, or some other towne,
So strong to dure assault no little space:
So might he saue his person and his crowne,
As first was to be car'd for in such case;
And then with wisedome wanly proceeding,
To waite till time might serue of better speeding.
71
Thus Agramant, to so great danger brought,Well knew not what to do, nor what to say,
But did as by his counsell he was taught,
And in great hast conueyd himselfe away:
The while much woe vnto his men was wrought,
The Christens them discomfite, kill and slay:
The darknesse causd the number be vnknowne,
That in this fight were kild and ouerthrowne.
72
With hast full many were in water drownd,That saw there was no safetie in the land,
More succour in their heeles then hands they found
Against such fierce assaylants few durst stand;
But greatest damage did to them redound,
By those six hunderd of Renaldos band:
Who did distribute strokes in so great plentie,
As eu'rie one of them massacred twentie.
73
Some thinke that Malagigi plaid his part,In this conflict not wounding men nor slaying,
But making of their foes by Magike art,
To heare so huge a noyse of horses naying,
Such sound of Drums, such shouts from eu'ry part,
As all the world had vowed their decaying:
By which they all were striken in such feare,
As not a man of them durst tarrie theare.
74
Yet though the Turkish Prince fled thence so fast,The braue Rogero, he would not forget,
But caused him from danger to be plast,
And on an easie paced horse him set:
Thus now the Turks were by the Christens chast,
And glad they were a walled towne to get:
But yet Gradasso and his valiant band,
Did still vnto their tackle stoutly stand.
75
Nay, which was more, when as he vnderstood,How that Renaldo Palladine of France,
Was he that shed such store of Turkish blood,
He was so glad he ready was to dance;
He thanks his Gods that were to him so good,
To send him this so much desired chance,
By which he hopes and makes account most clearly,
To win that horse Renaldo held so dearly.
76
For why, Gradasso king of Serycane,Long since to France came with an army Ryal,
With onely hope to conquer Durindan,
That famous blade of so good proofe and triall:
And eake Renaldos courser to haue tane,
That Bayard hight: and now when by espiall,
He knew Renaldo was on that beast mounted,
The conquest sure, the horse his owne he counted.
77
So much the rather, for that once before,About this matter they had made a fray,
Fast by the sea vpon the sandie shore;
(To tell the circumstance I may not stay)
But Malagigi thence his cosin bore,
And did into a barge him safe conuay:
And thereupon Renaldo euer since,
Was tane but for a coward by this Prince.
256
78
Wherfore in hope so rich a spoile to reape,Two howres before the rising of the sonne,
All armed on Alfana he doth leape,
And with his launce to death are diuers done;
On French the Moores, on Moores he French doth heape,
And all he meeteth he doth ouerrunne:
So did ambition set his heart on fire,
To meet Renaldo, such was hs desire.
79
Soone after this each met with speare in rest,(But neither then at first the tother knew)
Each brake his speare vpon the tothers crest,
Vnto the heau'nly car the splinters flew:
Then with their swords either was readie prest,
(Their lances thrown away, their swords they drew)
Each laying on the other so fell strokes,
As if not knights had fought, but clownes feld okes.
80
Gradasso, though he knew him not by sight,(For yet the morning beames were not displaid)
Yet did he guesse both by the horses might,
And those fierce strokes the tother on him laid;
Wherfore with words that sauord scorne and spight,
He straight begins Renaldo to vpbraid:
And said he had his challenge disappointed,
And not appeared ar the day appointed.
81
Belike you thought I should haue met you neuer,But now (said he) you here are met right well,
Assure your selfe I will pursue you euer,
Were you tane vp to heau'n, or downe to hell;
No height nor depth, should hinder mine endeuer,
I meane to finde you out where eare you dwell,
To shunne the fight with me it doth not boote,
Vntill you leaue your horse and go on foote.
82
At this his speech, were diuers standing by,As Guidon, Richardet, and others more,
Who would haue slaine Gradasso by and by,
Had not Renaldo stepped them before,
And said in wrath, what masters am not I,
Well able wreake my priuate wrongs therefore?
Then to the Pagan gently thus he spake,
And wisht him marke the answer he did make,
83
Who euer saith, that I did fight eschew,Or shew defect of vallew any way,
I say and do auouch he saith vntrue,
And I will proue by combat what I say;
I came vnto the place to meete with you,
No scuses I did seeke, nor no delay,
And frankly here to you I offer fight,
But first I wish you were informed right.
84
Then tooke he him aside, and more at large,He told what hapned him and how by art,
His cosin Malagige into a barge
Conuayed him, and forst him to depart:
In fine himselfe, of blame quite to discharge,
He brought him out to witnes eu'rie part,
And then to proue that this was true indeed,
He offerd in the combat to proceed.
85
Gradasso that both curteous was, and stout,Gaue eare vnto the tale Renaldo told,
And though it seemd he stood thereof in doubt,
Yet him in all his speech he not controld:
But in conclusion, hauing heard it out,
He doth his former purpose firmely hold:
Which was by combat fierce to try and know,
If so he could Bayardo win or no.
86
The Palladine that passed not a pointOf no mans force, to meet him gaue his word:
The place in which to meet they did appoint,
Was neare a wood, and by a pleasant foord,
There only added was a further point;
Which was that Durindan, Orlandos sword,
Should to Renaldo as of right accrew,
If he the Pagan ouercame or slew.
87
Thus for the present time departed they,Vntill the time approcht of pointed fight,
Although Renaldo frendly did him pray,
To rest him in his tent that day and night:
And offerd franke safe conduit for his stay,
So curteous was this same couragious knight:
Gradasso greatly praisd the noble offer,
But yet refusd the courtsie he did profer.
88
The feare was great that secretly did lurke,In all the minds of all Renaldos kin,
Who knew the strength and cunning of this Turke
Was such, as doubt it was which side should win:
Faine Malagigi by his art would worke,
To end this fray, before it should begin:
Saue that he feard Renaldos vtter enmity,
In so base sort for working his indemnity.
89
But though his frends did feare more then was meet,Himselfe assurde himselfe of good successe:
Now at the pointed time and place they meet,
Both at one verie instant, as I guesse,
And first they kindly do embrace and greet
The tone the tother with all gentlenesse,
But how sweet words did turne to bitter blowes,
The next booke sauing one, the sequell showes.
258
THE XXXII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Good Bradamant Rogero long expecteth,But heareth newes that touch her verie nie,
How he all other loues beside neglecteth,
To wed Marfisa, thus the fame doth flie:
To Arly Bradamant her course directeth,
To kill Marfisa, or her selfe to die:
Three kings and Ullany, she doth subdew,
Those with her speare, and this with passing hew.
1
I now remember how by promise bound,Before this time, I should haue made you know,
Vpon what cause faire Bradamant did ground,
The iealouse humors ouer charg'd her so:
She neuer tooke before so sore a wound,
She neuer felt before such bitter wo,
No not the tale which Richardetto told her,
In such a fit, and so great pangs did hold her.
2
To tell you first, when I should haue begonne,Renaldo call'd my tale another way;
No sooner with Renaldo had I done,
But straight with Guidon I was forst to stay:
From this to that, thus vnawares I ronne,
That I'forgot of Bradamant to say:
But now I meane to speake of her before
I speake of those two champions any more.
3
Yet needs I borrow must a word or twaine,How Agramant to Arly did retyre,
And gatherd there the few that did remaine,
Escaped from the furie of the fire:
Where not farre off, from Affrica nor Spaine,
He plants as fit as he could we I desire,
For lying on a flood so neare the seas,
Both men and vitell were supplyde at ease.
4
To muster men Marsilio had commission,That may supply the place of them were lost,
Of ships of warre there was no small prouision,
Soone had he gatherd vp a mightie host:
There was no want of armour and munition,
Ther was no spare of labour nor of cost,
That with such taxes, Affrica was sessed,
That all the Cities were full sore oppressed.
5
And further Agramant, that he might winFierce Rodomont, to aid him with his power,
Did offer him a match of his neare kin,
King Almonts daughter with a Realme in dower;
But he his profer weys not worth a pin,
But keepes the bridge and doth the passage scower,
That with his spoiles the place was welny filled,
Of those he had dismounted, tane, and killed.
6
But faire Marfisa tooke another way:For when she heard how long the siege had lasted,
How Agramant his campe at Arly lay,
How both his men were slaine and store was wasted,
She sought no cause of any more delay,
But thither straight without inuiting hasted,
Her purse and person offring in the fight,
In iust defending of his crowne and right.
7
She brings Brunello, and the king she gaue him,Who had giu'n cause of very iust offence,
Ten dayes and ten, she did of courtsie saue him,
To see who durst to stand in his defence;
But when ye no man made the meanes to haue him,
Though she to kill him had so good pretence,
She thought it base, her noble hands to file,
Vpon an abiect dastard, and a vile.
259
8
She will deferre reuenge of all his wrong;And vnto Arly brought him to the king;
Whose ioy to tell, would aske a learned tongue,
Both for the aid, and present she did bring:
(For shew whereof, before it should be long,
He offerd her to make Brunello wring:
And at what time she pleased to appoint,
To haue him sent to crack his chiefest ioynt.)
9
Vnto some desart place he banisht was,To serue for meat for carrion crowes and pyes,
Rogero that had helpt him oft (alas)
Now cannot heare his pitteous mones and cryes:
He lyes sore wounded, as it comes to passe,
And littles knowes where poore Brunello lyes:
And when he vnderstands thereof at last,
It is so late alreadie it is past.
10
This while what torments Bradamant indured,Those twentie days, how did she waile and mourne?
Against which time she thought her selfe assured;
Her loue to her, and to the faith should turne:
She makes no doubt but he might haue procured,
Within that space to make his home returne,
(Yea though he were in prison kept or banished)
If troth and care of promise were not vanished.
11
In this long looking she would often blame,The fierie coursers of the heauenly light,
She thought ye Phœbus wheeles were out of frame,
Or that his charriot was not in good plight:
Great Iosuahs day seemd shorter then these same,
And shorter seemd ye false Amphitrions night:
Each day and night she thought was more then doubled
So fancie blind, her sence and reason troubled.
12
She now enuyes the Dormouse of his rest,And wisht some heauy sleepe might ouertake her,
Wherewith she might most deadly be possest,
Till her Rogero should returne to wake her:
But waking cares ay lodged in her brest,
That her desired sleepe did quite forsake her:
To sleepe so long doth so much passe her power,
She cannot frame her eyes to wincke one hower.
13
But turnes and tosses in her restlesse bed,(Alas no turning turnes her cares away)
Oft at the window she puts forth her hed,
To see how neare it waxeth vnto day;
When by the dawning, darkesome night is fled,
She notwithstanding stands at that same stay:
And during all the time the day doth last,
She wishes for the night againe as fast.
14
When fifteene dayes were of the twentie spent,She growes in hope that his approch is ny,
Then from a towre with eyes to Paris bent,
She waytes and watches if she can descry
At least some messenger that he hath sent,
May bring the news where her sweet heart doth ly:
And satisfie her mind by what hard chance,
He is constraind to stay so long in France.
15
If farre aloofe the shine of armour bright,Or any thing resembling it she spies,
She straightway hopes it is her onely knight,
And wipes her face and clears her blubbred eyes:
If any one vnarm'd do come in sight,
It may be one from him, she doth surmise:
And though by proofe she finde each hope vntrue,
She ceaseth not for that, to hope anew.
16
Sometime all arm'd she mounteth on her steed,And so rides forth in hope to meet her deare,
But soone some fancie her conceit doth feed,
That he is past some other way more neare:
Then homeward hasteth she with as much speed,
Yet she at home no newes of him can heare:
From day to day she passeth on this fashion,
Hither and thither tossed with her passion.
17
Now when her twentie dayes were full expired,And that beside were passed some dayes more,
Yet not Rogero come, whom she desired,
Her heart with care and sorrowes waxed sore;
With cryes & plaints, the woods and caues she tyred,
Her breasts she beat, her golden locks she tore,
Nor while these gripes of griefe her heart embrace,
Doth she forbeare her eyes or Angels face.
18
Why then (quoth she) beseemes it me it vaine,To seeke him still, who thus from me doth slide?
Shall I esteeme of him that doth disdaine
My sute, and scorne the torments I abide?
Him, in whose heart a hate of me doth raine,
Him, that accounts his vertues so well tride,
As though some goddesse should frō heau'n descēd
Before that he his heart to loue would bend?
19
Though stout he is, he knows how well I loue him,And how I honor him with soule and hart,
Yet can my hot affection nothing moue him,
To let me of his loue possesse some part:
And lest he might perceiue it would behoue him,
To ease my griefe, if he did know my smart,
To giue me hearing of my plaint he feares,
As to the charme the Adder stoppes his eares.
20
Loue; stop his course that doth so loosely range,And flit so fast before my sorrie pace:
Or with my former state else let me change,
When I sought not to tracke thy tedious trace:
I hope in vaine; remorce to thee is strange,
Thou dost triumph vpon my pitteous case:
For hearts thy meat, thy drinke is louers teares,
Their cries the Musicke doth delight thine eares.
21
But whom blame I? it was my fond desire,That first entist me to this killing call,
And made me past my reach so far aspire,
That now I feele the greater is my fall:
For when aloft my wings be toucht with fire,
Then farewell flight and I am left to fall:
But still they spring, and still I vpward tend,
And still I see my fall, and finde no end.
260
22
Desire quoth I? my selfe I was too light,To giue desire an entrance in my brest,
Who when he had my reason put to flight,
And of my heart himselfe was full possest,
No roome for ioy is left, or hearts delight,
Since I do harbour this vnruly guest,
Who though he guide me to my certaine fall,
The long expectance grieues me worst of all.
23
Then mine the fault be, if it be a fault,To loue a knight deserues to be beloued,
With all good inward parts so richly fraught,
Whose vertues be so knowne, and well approued:
And more, whom would not his sweet face haue caught?
My self, I must confes, his beautie moued:
What blind vnhappie wretch were she would shun,
The pleasing prospect of the precious Sun?
24
Beside my destinie which drew me on,By others sugred speech I was entrained,
As though I should by this great match anon,
Another Paradice on earth haue gained:
But now their words into the wind be gon,
And I in Purgatorie am restrained:
Well may I Merlin curse the false deceiuer,
Yet my Rogero I shall loue for euer.
25
I hop't of Merlins and Melissas promises,Who did such stories of our race foretell:
Is this the profit of beleeuing prophesies,
And giuing credit to the sprites of hell?
Alas they might haue found them better offices,
Then me to flout that trusted them so well:
But all for enuie haue they wrought me this,
So to bereaue me of my former blis.
26
Thus sighs and lamentations are not fained,Small place was left for comfort in her brest:
Yet spite of sorrows hope was entertained,
And though with much a do, yet in it prest;
To ease her mourning heart when she complained,
And giuing her sometimes, some little rest,
By sweet remembrance of the words he spake,
When he was forst of her his leaue to take.
27
The minding of those words did so recure,Her wounded heart that she was well content,
For one months space his absence to endure,
Yea when his dayes of promise quite were spent:
Yet still she lookt for him you may be sure,
And many a time that way she came and went,
Till by the way at last such news she hard,
That all the hope she had before, was mard.
28
For she by chance did meet a Cascoigne knight,That in the warres of Affrica was caught,
One that was taken captiue in that fight,
Then when fore Paris the great field was fought.
What she requires to know, he could recite,
But carelesse of the other news he brought,
Of her Rogero chiefly she enquires,
To heare of him is all that she desires.
29
Of whom the knight could let her vnderstand,(For in that Court he late his life had led)
How Mandricard and he fought hand to hand,
And how much blood on either part was shed:
And though by wounds himselfe in perrill stand,
That he subdewd his foe, and left him ded.
Now if with this, his storie he had ended,
Rogeros scuse had verie well bin mended.
30
But he proceeds to tell, how one was theare,A Ladie hight Marfisa in the feeld,
Whose fame for martiall acts did shine most cleare,
Whose beautie rare to few or none did yeeld
Rogero her, she held Rogero deare,
They neuer were asunder or but seeld,
And that they two, as eu'rie one there saith,
The tone the tother plighted haue their faith.
31
And if Rogero once were whole and sound,Their wedding should be celebrate with speed;
That such a paire as yet was neuer found,
And happie they should come of such a seed:
How much it ioy'd the Pagan Princes round,
To thinke vpon the race they two should breed,
Which likely were all others to excell
In feats of arms that erst on earth did dwell.
32
The Gascoigne knight of all that he had sed,Himselfe had reason to beleeue was sooth,
So generall a fame thereof was spred,
There were but few but had it in their mouth.
Some little kindnesse she did vse, had fed
Their foolish humors of this false vntrowth;
Still fame will grow if once abrode it flie,
Although the ground be troth or be a lye.
33
They came indeed together to this fight,And many times together they were seene,
For he was warlike, stout and worthy knight,
And she a gallant, faire, and daintie Queene,
By which, suspition neuer iudging right,
Did gather straight they had assured beene:
And specially because when she departed,
To visite him she was so soone reuerted.
34
Of iust suspect their reason was put slender,If they had weighed well their vertues rare,
Though of his wounds she seemd to be so tender,
And of his danger had so great a care;
Against bad tongues no goodnes can defend her,
For those most free from faults, they least wil spare,
But prate of them whom they haue scantly knowne,
And iudge their humors to be like their owne.
35
Now when the knight auowd the tale he told,(And yet in truth you know t'was but a tale)
The damsels heart was toucht with shiuering cold,
The little hope she had away it stale,
Almost in sound her seate she scarce could hold:
With mourning cheare, and face both wan and pale,
She said no more: but mad with griefe and ire,
Her horse she turnd, and homeward did retire.
261
36
And all in armour on her bed she lyes,She wisht a thousand times she now were ded,
She bytes the sheets to dampe her sobs and cries,
The Gascoigns news still bearing in her hed:
Her heart is swolne, and blubberd be her eyes,
With trickling teares bedewed is her bed,
When griefe would be no longer holden in,
Needs out it must, and thus it doth begin.
37
Ah wretched me, whom might a maiden finde,In whom she might be bold to put her trust?
Since you Rogero mine, become vnkinde,
And tread your faith and promise in the dust;
You only you, mine eye so farre did blinde,
I still esteemd you faithfull, true and iust:
Ah neuer wench that loued so sincerely,
Was in requitall punisht so seuerely.
38
Why (my Rogero) why do you forget?(Sith you in beautie passe each other knight,
And do in feats of armes such honor get,
As none can match your chiualrie in fight)
This golden vertue with the rest to set,
By which your glorious name wil shine more bright
If as in other graces you abound,
So in your promise constancie were found?
39
This is the vertue breeds most estimation,By which all other vertues shew more cleare,
As things most faire do loose their commendation,
Which by the want of light can not appeare:
What glorie was it by false protestation,
Her to deceiue whose Saint and God you were?
Whom your fair speeches might haue made beleeue
That water would be carride in a seeue.
40
From any haynous act wouldst thou refraine,That murdrest her who beares thee so good will?
How wouldst thou vse thy foe, that thus in paine,
Dost let thy frend to be tormented still?
Thou that with breach of faith thy heart dost staine,
No doubt thou dost not care for doing ill;
Well this I know, that God is euer iust,
He will er long reuenge my wrongs I trust.
41
For why, vnthankfulnesse is that great sin,Which made the Diuell and his angels fall,
Lost him and them the ioyes that they were in,
And now in hell detaines them bound and thrall:
Then marke the guerdon thou art like to win;
For why like faults, like punishment do call,
In being thus vnthankfull vnto me,
That alwayes was so faithfull vnto thee.
42
Besides of theft thy selfe thou canst not quit,If theft it be to take that is not thine;
The keeping of my heart no that's not it,
That thou shouldst haue it I do not repine,
Thy selfe thou stalst, which I can not remit,
Thy selfe thou knowst thou art, or shouldst be mine,
Thou knowst damnation doth to them belong,
That do keepe backe anothers right by wrong.
43
Though thou Rogero do forsake me so,I can not will nor chuse but loue thee still;
And since there is no measure of my wo,
Death is the only way to end mine ill;
But thus to cut of life, and thou my fo
It makes me do it with a worser will;
Yet had I dyde when best I did thee please,
I should haue counted death, no death but ease.
44
When with these words she was resolu'd to dy,She tooke her sword in hand for that intent,
And forst her selfe vpon the point to ly;
Her armour then her purpose did preuent,
A better spirit checkt her by and by:
And in her heart this secret reason went,
O noble Ladie borne to so great fame,
Wilt thou thus end thy dayes with so great shame?
45
Nay rather if thou beest resolu'd to dy,Vnto the campe why dost thou not repaire,
Where bodies of braue knights in heaps do ly?
Lo there to honor the directest staire,
The losse of life with glorie thou mayst buy,
To die in thy Rogeros sight were faire,
And happily by him thou mayst be slaine,
So he that wrought thy wo, may rid thy paine.
46
Thou mayst be sure Marfisa there to see,Who hath so falsly stolne away thy frend;
If first on her thou couldst reuenged be,
With more contented mind thy dayes would end.
Vnto this counsell she doth best agree,
And onward on this iourny straight doth tend,
She takes anew deuice that might implie,
A desperation, and a will to die.
47
The collour of her bases was almost,Like to the falling whitish leaues and drie,
Which when the moisture of the branch is lost,
Forsakenly about the tree doth lye,
With Cipresse trunks embroderd and embost,
(For Cipresse once but cut will alwayes die)
A fine conceipt, she thinks to represent,
In secret sort her inward discontent.
48
She tooke Astolfos horse and Goldélance,As fittest both for this her present feat,
That speare could make the brauest knight to dance,
And caper with a tuch beside his seate.
But where Astolfo had it, by what chance,
Or why he gaue it, need I not repeate,
She tooke it, notwithstanding her election,
Not knowing of that magicall confection.
49
Thus all alone without both Squire and page,Thus furnished she set her selfe in way,
To Paris ward she traueld in a rage.
Whereas the campe of Sarzins lately lay,
And (as she thought) kept vp king Charles in cage,
Not vnderstanding how before that day,
Renaldo aiding Charles with Malageege,
Had forced them from thence to raise their seege.
262
50
Now had she left mount Dordon at her backe,When little way behind her she descride,
A gallant Damsell following of her tracke,
A shield of gold vnto her saddle tide;
Of Squires and other seruants none did lacke,
And three braue knights were riding by her side,
But of the Squires that ouertooke her last,
She askt one what those were that by her past.
51
And straight the worthie Ladie it was told,How from Pole Artike that same damsell came,
Sent from a Queene, with that faire shield of gold,
Vnto king Charles (that there was knowne by fame)
But so, as he must this condition hold,
That on a knight he must bestow the same,
Such one as he in his imagination,
For prowesse deemd most worthy reputation,
52
For she of Island Ile that holds the raigne,And is (and knows it) that she is most faire,
Doth thinke she should her worth not little staine,
And her great fame and honour much impaire,
If any knight her Ile and her should gaine,
Except he stood so high on honors staire,
As that he were adiudg'd in feats of warre,
The prymer man, and passing others farre.
53
Wherefore the cause she sends to France is this,She thinks if she shall finde one any where,
That in the Court of France he surely is:
And therefore she doth send to greet him there.
As for those three, because you shall not misse,
To know the truth, Ile tell you what they were:
They were 3 kings, of whom great fame there goth,
Of Norway one, one Swethland, one of Goth.
54
These three, though far they dwell from Island Ile,Yet loue of that same Queene hath brought thē hither,
This Ile is calld Perduta otherwhile,
Because the seamen leese it in foule weather:
These kings liu'd from their country in exile,
And to this Queene were suters all together:
And she that knew not well how to forbid them,
With this same pretie shift from thence she rid them.
55
She saith, she minds to wed for her behoofe,That wight that most excels in warlike action,
And though (quoth she) you shew no little proofe,
Of valew here (as twere in priuat faction)
Yet I must haue you tride more far aloofe,
Before my mind can haue full satisfaction:
Wherefore I meane my selfe and crowne to yeeld,
Alone to him that bringeth backe my sheeld.
56
This is the cause that these three kings did moue,Each one to come from so remote a nation,
With purpose firme their vtmost force to proue,
To win the golden shield with reputation,
Or leese their liues, for that faire Ladies loue,
If that they failed of their expectation.
When he had told her thus, he her forsooke,
And soone his company he ouertooke.
57
The Damsell rode a softer pace behind,And so as in a while she lost their sight,
And often she reuolued in her mind,
The tale the fellow told, with small delight.
She doubts this shield bestowd in such a kind,
Will be in France a cause of brall and fight,
That this wilbe a meanes she greatly feares,
To set her kin together all by th'eares.
58
This fancie mou'd her much, but more then this,That former iealouse fancie did her moue,
That her Rogeros kindnesse alterd is,
That on Marfisa he had plast his loue:
This so possest her sence that she did misse
Her way, nor neuer thought as did behoue,
Till night was almost come, and Sunne nigh set,
Where she a lodging for her selfe may get.
59
Eu'n as an emptie vessell that was tide,Vnto the wharfe, with some old roten cable,
If that the knot do hap to breake or slide,
So that to hold it be no longer able,
Is borne away, as please the wind and tide:
So Bradamant, with mind and thoughts vnstable,
Was in such muse, as she the right way mist,
And so was borne, where Rabicano list.
60
But when she saw the Sunne was almost set,She tooke more heede, and asking of a clowne,
(A shepherd that by hap there by she met)
Where she might lodging get er Sunne went downe
The shepherd made her answer, that as yet
She was almost a league from any towne,
Or other place where she might eate or lodge,
Saue at a Castle cald sir Tristrams lodge.
61
But eu'rie one that list, is not assured,Though he do thither come, to stay therein,
To martiall feats they must be well inured,
With speare and shield they must their lodging win:
Such custome in the place hath long indured,
And manie years ago it did begin,
Wherefore tis good that one be well aduised,
Ere such an act by him be enterprised.
62
In briefe thus is their order, if a knightDo finde the lodgings void, they him receaue,
With promise, that if more ariue that night,
Either he shall to them his lodging leaue,
Or else with each of them shall proue in fight,
Which of them can of lodging tother reaue:
If none do come that night he shall in quiet,
Haue both his horsemeat, lodging, and his diet.
63
If foure or fiue do come together first,The Castle keeper them must entertaine,
Who cometh single after, hath the worst,
For if he hope a lodging there to gaine,
He must (according to that law accurst)
Fight with all those, that did therein remaine:
Likewise if one come first, and more come later,
He must go fight with them yet neare the later.
263
64
The like case is, if any maid or dameDo come alone, or else accompanied,
Both they that first, and they that latest came,
Must by a Iurie haue their beauties tried:
Then shall the fairest of them hold the same,
But to the rest that come shall be denied:
Thus much the shepheard vnto her did say,
And with his finger shewd to her the way.
65
About three miles was distant then the place,The damsell thither hasts with great desire;
And though that Rabicano trot apace,
Yet was the way so deepe and full of mire,
The snow and drift still beating in their face,
She later came then manners good require;
But though it were as then both darke and late,
She boldly bounced at the castle gate.
66
The porter told her that the lodgings allWere fild by knights that late before them tooke,
Who now stood by the fire amid the hall,
And did ere long to haue their supper looke:
Well (answers she) then haue they cause but small
(If they be supperlesse) to thanke the cooke;
I know (quoth she) the custome, and will keepe it,
And meane to win their lodging ere I sleepe yet.
67
The Porter went and did her message bold,To those great states then standing by the fire,
Who tooke small pleasure when they heard it told,
For thence to part they had so small desire;
Now chiefly when twas rainie, darke and cold;
But so their oth and order did require,
That they must do it, were it cold or warme,
And therefore quickly they themselues did arme.
68
These were those three great kings, whom that same dayDame Bradamant had seene but few houres past,
Though they had sooner finished their way,
Because she rode so soft, and they so fast.
Now when they were all armd, they make no stay,
But all on horsebacke mount themselues at last:
No doubt but few in strength these three did passe,
Yet of those few, sure one this damsell was.
69
Who purposd (as it seemeth) nothing lesse,Then in so wet and in so cold a night,
To lack a lodging and sleepe supperlesse:
Now those within at windowes see the fight,
The men themselues on horsebacke do addresse,
To looke thereon, for why the Moone gaue light:
And thus at last, though first twere somewhat late,
They did abase the bridge and ope the gate.
70
Eu'n as a secret and lasciuious louer,Reioyceth much, when after long delayes,
And many feares, in which his hope did houer,
He heares at last the noise of pretie kayes:
So Bradamant that hopes now to recouer
A lodging, for the which so long she stayes,
Did in her mind in such like sort reioyce,
When as she heard the watchfull porters voyce.
71
Now when those Knights and some few of their traine,Were past the bridge, the dame her horse doth turne
To take the field, and then with speed againe,
With full careere she doth on them returne,
And coucht that speare, yet neuer coucht in vaine,
For whom it hits it still doth ouerturne;
This speare her cosin, when he went from France,
Gaue vnto her, the name was Goldelance.
72
The valiant king of Swethland was the firstThat met her, and the next the king of Goth,
The staffe doth hit them full, and neuer burst,
But from their saddles it did heaue them both;
But yet the king of Norway sped the worst,
It seemd to leaue his saddle he was loth,
His girses brake, and he fell vpside downe,
In danger with the mire to choke and drowne.
73
Thus with three blows, three Kings she down did beare,And hoist their heels full hie, their heads full low,
Then enterd she the castle voyd of feare,
They stand without that night in raine and snow;
Yet ere she could get in, one causd her sweare
To keepe the custome, which they made her know;
And then the master doth to her great honor,
And entertainment great bestowed on her.
74
Now when the Ladie did disarme her head,Off with her helmet came her little caul,
And all her haire her shoulders ouerspred,
And both her sex and name was knowne withall,
And wonder great and admiration bred
In them that saw her make three Princes fall:
For why she shewd to be in all their sight,
As faire in face as she was fierce in fight.
75
Eu'n as a stage set forth with pompe and pride,Where rich men cost, and cunning art bestow,
When curtaines be remou'd that all did hide,
Doth make by light of torch a glittring show;
Or as the Sunne that in a cloud did bide,
When that is gone, doth clearer seeme to grow:
So Bradamant when as her head was barest,
Her colour and her beautie seemed rarest.
76
Now stood the guests all round about the fire.Expecting food, with talke their eares yet feeding,
While eu'ry one doth wonder and admire,
Her speech and grace, the others all exceeding;
The while her host to tell she doth desire,
From whence and whō this custom was proceeding,
That men were driu'n vnto their great disquiet,
To combat for their lodging and their diet.
77
Faire dame (said he) sometime there rul'd in FranceKing Feramont, whose sonne a comely knight,
Clodian by name, by good or euill chance,
Vpon a louely Ladie did alight:
But as we see it oftentimes doth chance,
That iealousie in loue marres mans delight;
Thus he of her in time so iealous grew,
He durst not let her go out of his vew.
264
78
Nor euer Argus kept the milkwhite cowMore straight, then Clodian here did keepe his wife,
Ten Knights eke to this place he doth allow,
Thereby for to preuent all casuall strife;
Thus hope and feare betweene, I know not how,
As he prolongs his selfe tormenting life,
The good sir Tristram thither did repaire,
And in his companie a Ladie faire.
79
Whom he had rescude but a little sinceFrom Giants hand, with whom he did her find,
Sir Tristram sought for lodging with the Prince,
For then the Sunne was very low declind:
But as a horse with galled backe will wince,
Eu'n so our Clodian with as galled mind
For casting doubts and dreading eu'ry danger,
Would by no meanes be won to lodge a stranger.
80
When as sir Tristram long had prayd in vaine,And still denide the thing he did demaund,
That which I cannot with your will obtaine,
In spite of you (said he) I will commaund;
I here will proue your villanie most plaine,
With launce in rest, and with my sword in hand:
And straight he challenged the combat then,
To fight with Clodian and the other ten.
81
Thus onely they agreed vpon the case,If Clodian and his men were ouerthrowne,
That all then presently should voyd the place,
And that sir Tristram there should lie alone:
Sir Clodian to auoid so great disgrace,
The challenge tooke, for why excuse was none:
In fine, both Clodian and his men well knockt,
And from the castle that same night were lockt.
82
Triumphant Tristram to the Castle came,And for that night, as on his owne he seased,
And there he saw the Princes, louely dame,
And talkt with her, who him not little pleased:
This while sir Clodian was in part with shame,
And more with thought and iealous feare diseased,
Disdaining not in humble sort to woo him,
By message mild to send his wife vnto him.
83
But he, though her he do not much esteeme,For why, by meanes of an inchanted potion,
Isotta fairest vnto him did seeme,
To whom he vowed had his whole deuotion:
Yet for he did the iealous Clodian deeme
Some plague to merit, he denide his motion;
And sweares it were no manners nor no reason,
A Ladie to vnlodge at such a season.
84
But if (saith he) it do his mind offend,To lie all night alone and eke abrode,
Tell him I will this other Ladie send
To him, that shall with him make her abode:
Now tell him that to keepe this I intend,
The which to win, I haue such paine bestowd;
Tis reason that the fairest should remaine
With him that is the strongest of vs twaine.
85
Clodian in mind was wondrous malcontent,Vs'd so not like a Prince but like a patch,
That puffing, blowing vp and downe he went
All night, as one were set to keepe a watch:
But whether he do chafe or else lament,
He found the Knight for him too hard a match.
Next day sir Tristram let him haue his wife,
And so for that time finisht was the strife.
86
For openly he on his honour swore,That he her honour had that night preserued,
Although discourtesies he had before
Had at his hands a great reuenge deserued;
Yet in that Clodian had lodg'd out of dore,
He was content that penance should haue serued;
He nathelesse tooke it for no good excuse,
To say that loue was cause of such abuse.
87
For loue should gentle make rude hearts and base,And not in gentle mind breed humors vile:
Now when sir Tristram parted from the place,
Sir Clodian meant to stay there but a while,
But to a knight that stood much in his grace,
He graunts the keeping of this stately pile:
Keeping one law for him and for his heires,
With eu'ry one that to the place repaires.
88
That namely euer he that was most strong,Should there be lodg'd, and she that was most faire,
And that the rest should take it for no wrong,
To walke abrode into the open aire:
This is the law which hath endured long,
And no man may the strength thereof impaire:
Now while the man this storie did repeate,
The steward on the boord did set the meate.
89
The boord was couerd in a stately hall,Whose match was scarce in all the country seene,
With goodly pictures drawne vpon the wall,
All round about, but chiefly on the screene;
These they did looke on, with delight not small,
And would haue quite forgot their meate I weene,
Saue that their noble host did them aduise,
To feed their bellies first, and then their eyes.
90
Now as they downe did at the table fit,The master of the house began to lowre,
And said they did an error great commit,
To lodge two Ladies come in sundry howre;
Needs one must be put out, where ere it hit,
And go abrode into the cold and showre:
The fairest (sith they came not both together)
Must bide, the foulest must go trie the wether.
91
Two aged men and women more besideHe cald, and bad them quickly take a vew,
Which of the twaine should in the place abide,
And namely which of twaine had fairest hew:
This lurie do the matter soone decide,
And gaue their verdit as it was most trew,
That Bradamant past her in hew as farre.
As she exceld the men in feates of warre.
265
92
Then spake the knight vnto the Island dame,Whose mind was full of timorous suspition,
I pray you thinke it not a scorne or shame,
For hence you must, there can be no remission.
Poore Vllany (so was the damsels name)
Doth thinke she now is driu'n to hard condition,
Yet in her conscience true she knew it was,
That Bradamant in beautie her did passe.
93
Eu'n as we see the Sunne obscur'd sometime,By sudden rising of a mistie cloud,
Engendred by the vapor breeding slime,
And in the middle region then embowd:
So when the damsell plainly saw that time,
Her presence in the place was not allowd,
She was so chang'd in count'nance and in cheare,
That eu'n vnlike her selfe she did appeare.
94
But much astonyd with the sudden passion,She readie was to sound in all their sight;
But Bradamant that would not for compassion
Permit that she should go abroade that night,
Did say, this triall was of no good fashion,
And that the iudgement hardly could be right,
When men obserue not this same chiefe regard,
As not to iudge before both parts be hard.
95
I, that on me do take her to defend,Say thus, that be I faire, or lesse or more,
I came not as a woman, nor intend
As woman now to be adiudg'd therefore;
Who knowes my sex, except I condescend
To shew the same? and one should euermore
Shun to confirme things doubtfull, or deny it,
When chiefly others may be harmed by it.
96
Yet who can say precisely what I am?For many men do weare their haire as long,
And you do know that as a man I came,
And all my gestures to a man belong;
Wherefore in giuing me a womans name,
To both of vs perhaps you may do wrong;
Your law points women (if their right be donne)
By women, not by warriers to be wonne.
97
But yet admit it were as you do guesse,That I indeed were of the female gender,
Though that it is so, I do not confesse;
Should I to her my lodging then surrender,
If that my beautie of the two were lesse?
No sure, in that the reason were but slender:
The price that vnto vertue longs of dewtie,
Should not be tane away for want of bewtie.
98
And if your law were such, that needs of force,Vnto the fairest lodging should be giuen,
Yet at this feast I tary would perforce,
And from my lodging I would not be driuen:
Wherefore mine argument I thus enforce,
That this same match betweene vs is not euen,
For striuing here with me, the case is plaine,
She much may leese, and little she may gaine.
99
And where the gaine and losse vnequall is,The match is euill made in common sence:
Wherefore I thinke it were not much amisse,
With this same law for this time to dispence;
And if that any dare mislike of this,
Or seeme to take the matter in offence,
I will with sword be readie to maintaine,
That mine aduice is good, and his is vaine.
100
Thus noble Ammons daughter mou'd with pittieIn her behalfe, who to her great disgrace
Should haue bin sent, where neither towne nor cittie
Was neare almost in three leagues of the place,
Fram'd her defence so stout and eke so wittie,
That to her reason all the rest gaue place;
But chiefe the perill great and hazard waying,
That might haue grown to them by her gainsaying.
101
As when the Sunne in sommer hath most powre,And that the ground with heate thereof is riued,
For want of raine the drie and parched flowre
Doth fade, and is as twere of life depriued,
But if in season come a fruitfull showre,
It riseth vp, and is againe reuiued:
So when the damsell this defence did heare,
She waxed faire againe, of better cheare.
102
And thus at last they fell vnto their feastIn quiet sort, for none did come that night,
To challenge any of them, or molest,
No traueller, nor any wandring knight;
All merry were but Bradamante least,
Fell iealousie bard her of all delight,
Her stomacke so distempring, and her tast,
She tooke no pleasure of that sweet repast.
103
When supper ended was, they all arise,Although perhaps they would haue longer sate,
Saue for desire they had to feed their eyes;
And now the night was spent and waxed late,
The master of the house in seemly wise,
Doth call for torches to set out his state,
And straight with torch light filled was the hall,
But what they saw, hereafter shew I shall.
268
THE XXXIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Faire Bradamant sees grau'n by passing art,The future wars of France vpon a screene.
Bayardos flight the combat fierce doth part,
Renaldo and the Serican beweene.
Astolfo hauing past the greater part
Of all the world, and many countries seene,
Unto Senapos kingdome last arriues,
And from his boord the foule Harpias driues.
1
Tymagoras , Parrhasius, Polignote,Timant, Protogenes, Apollodore,
With Zewces, one for skill of speciall note:
Apelles eke, plast all the rest before:
Whose skill in drawing, all the world doth note,
And talke of still (to writers thanks therefore)
Whose works and bodies, time and death did wast,
Yet spite of time and death their fames doth last.
2
With others that in these our later dayesHaue liu'd, as Leonard and Iohn Bélline,
And he that carues and drawes with equall praise,
Michell more then a man, Angell diuine,
And Flores, whom the Flemmings greatly praise,
And Raphael and Titian passing fine,
With diuers others that by due desart,
Do merit in this praise to haue a part.
3
Yet all these cunning drawers with their skill,Could not attaine by picture to expresse,
What strange euents should happen well or ill,
In future times, no not so much as guesse:
This art is proper vnto Magike still:
Or to a Prophet, or a Prophetesse.
By this rare art, the Brittish Merlin painted
Strange things, with which our age hath bin acquainted.
4
He made by Magike art, that stately hall,And by the selfe same art he causd to be,
Strange histories ingraued on the wall,
Which (as I said) the guests desir'd to see.
Now when they were from supper risen all,
The pages lighted torches two or three,
Making the roome to shine as bright as day,
When to his guests the owner thus did say,
5
I would (quoth he) my guests, that you should know,That these same stories that here painted are,
Of future warres the sequels sad do show,
That shall to Italie bring wo and care:
Whereas the French full many a bloodie blow
Shall take, while others they to harme prepare,
As Merlin here hath layd downe, being sent
From English Arthur, chiefe for this intent.
6
King Feramont that was the first that pastThe streame of Rhine with armie great of France,
And being in possession quiet plast
Of all those parts, sturd with so luckie chance,
Straight in ambitious thought began to cast,
His rule and scepter higher to aduance.
Which that he might to passe the better bring,
He made a league with Arthur English king,
7
Informing him how that his meaning was,Of Italie the rule and crowne to get,
And askt his ayd to bring the same to passe,
Which neuer had atchieued bin as yet.
Now Merlin that did all men far surpasse
In Magike art, his purpose sought to let,
For Merlin had with Arthur so great credit,
He thought all Gospell was, if once he sed it.
269
8
This Merlin then did first to Arthur show,And then by Arthur was of purpose sent,
To Fieramont of France, to let him know
The cause why he misliked his intent.
As namely, many mischiefs that would grow,
To all that now, or that hereafter ment,
The like attempt, aduising him abstaine
From certaine trouble, for vncertaine gaine.
9
And that he might his courage more appall,And quite remoue him from this enterprise,
He made by Magicke, this so stately hall,
Adorned as you see in sumptuous wise.
And drew these histories vpon the wall,
That what he saw in mind, they might with eyes,
And thereby know, that in Italian ground,
The Flour de luce can near take root profound.
10
And how as often as the French shall come,As frends to aid and free them from distresse,
So oft they shall their foes all ouercome,
And fight with honor great, and good successe:
But be they sure to haue that place their toome,
If so they come their freedome to oppresse;
Thus much the owner of the house them told,
And so went on, the storie to vnfold.
11
Lo first how Sigisbert in hope of gaine,And promises of Emperour Mauricius,
Doth passe the mountaines with a mightie traine,
With mind to Lombardie to pernicious:
But Ewtar driues him backe by force againe,
When he of such attempt is least suspicious,
So that his enterprise is quite reuersed,
Himselfe doth flie, and leaue his men dispersed.
12
Next after him the proud Clodoueus went,And had with him one hundred thousand men,
But him doth meet the Duke of Beneuent,
With scarse for eu'rie hundred souldiers, ten,
Who doth intrap him in an ambushment,
So as the French might well be lik'ned then,
While Lombard wines too greedily they tooke,
To fish beguiled with a baited hooke.
13
Straight Childibertus with a mightie host,Doth come with mind to wipe away this blot:
But of his gainings he may make small bost,
For of his purpose he preuailed not:
His enterprise by heau'nly sword is crost,
The plague doth grow among his men so hot,
What with the burning feauer, and the flixe,
Of sixtie men, there scant returneth sixe.
14
Another picture liuely doth expresse,How that king Pepin and king Charles his sonne,
Fought both in Italie with good successe;
Not with intent that Realme to ouerrunne,
But to set free Pope Steu'n from sharpe distresse,
And wrongs, that by Astolfo were him done,
One tames Astolfo that was Steu'ns oppressor,
Tother takes Desiderius his successor.
15
Behold another Pepin yet an youth,Not like his father, doth that Realme inuade,
And thinking to procure their wofull ruth,
Of ships and boats a mightie bridge he made:
But marke what ill successe to him ensuth,
Ear he through his great enterprise could wade,
A tempest did his massie worke confound,
His bridge was broken, and his souldiers drownd.
16
Lo Lews of Burgundie, descending theareWhere, as it seemes he taken is and bound,
And he that takes him, maketh him to sweare,
That he shall neare beare arms gainst Latian ground
Lo how he breakes his oth without all feare,
Lo how againe his foes do him confound,
And like a moldwarpe, make him loose his eyes:
A iust reward for such as oths despise.
17
See here how Hugh of Arly doth great feats,Driuing the Beringars from natiue soile,
Forcing them twise or thrise to change their seats,
And cause the Hunnes and Bauiers backe recoile:
But greater force at last his acts defeats,
First he compounds, and after all his toile,
He dies, nor after long his heire doth tarie,
But yeeldeth vp his crowne to Beringarie.
18
Lo heare another Charles that by perswasion,Of euill shepherd, sets on fire the fold,
And kills two kings in this his fierce inuasion,
Manfred and Corradin, which makes him bold:
But his owne faults of his fall gaue occasion;
His crueltie was such, so vncontrold,
That he and his were all kild (as they tell)
Eu'n at the ringing of an eu'nsong bell.
19
Now after these about one hundred yeares,For so the space betweene, did seeme to say,
From France, one shall inuade those famous peeres,
The Vicount Galeasses, and shall lay
Siege vnto Alexandria as appeares.
By those that here do stand in battell ray.
Lo how the Duke preuenting eu'rie doubt,
Prouideth strength within, deceipt without.
20
And with this warie policie proceeding,He doth the Frenchmen at aduantage take,
Not finding his ambushment, and not heeding,
Together with the Lord of Arminake,
Who dieth of his hurts with ouerbleeding:
Lo how the streame of bloud there spilt doth make,
A sanguin colour in the streame of Poe,
By meanes Tanarus into it doth goe.
21
After all these, one comes that Marca hight,And three that do of Aniow house proceed.
All these to those of Naples do much spite,
Yet none of these can brag of their good speed:
For though to French they ioyne some Latiā might,
Of greedie sort, that with their crownes they feed,
Yet still for all their paine and their expence.
Alfonso and Ferdinando driue them thence.
270
22
Lo Charles the eight descending like a thunder,Downe from the Alps with all the floure of France,
And conqu'ring all (to all mens passing wonder)
Not drawing once a sword, not breaking lance,
(Except that rocke that Typheus lyeth vnder
While he to high himselfe, straue to aduance)
This Ile and castle both, that Iskia hight,
Defended was by Vasto gallant knight.
23
Now as the master of the castle told,And pointed out each storie in his place,
It came into his fancy to vnfold,
The worthy praise of Aluas noble race;
Which (as for certaintie they all did hold)
Wise Merlin propheside, who had the grace,
To shew before hand, both with tongue and pen,
What accidents should hap, and where, and when.
24
And namely that this knight whom here you see,Defending so the castle and the rocke,
As though he feard not those same fires that flee,
As far as Fare, but them did scorne and mocke.
From this same knight there shal descend (quoth he)
Out of the root of this most worthie stocke,
A knight shall win such fame and reputation,
As all the world shall hold in admiration.
25
Though Nereus were faire, Achilles strong,Though Ladas swift, though Nestor was most wise,
That knew so much, and liued had so long;
Though bold Vlysses could both well deuise,
And execute what doth to warre belong,
Though Cæsars bountie praisd be to the skies,
Yet place to giue all these may thinke no scorne,
To one that shall in Iskia Ile be borne.
26
And if that ancient Creta may be prowd,Because that Celus nephew sprang therein:
If Thebs of Bacchus birth doth vant so lowd,
And Hercules; if Delus of their twin:
Then may that Ile no lesse be well allowd,
To vant it selfe, that hath so happie bin,
To haue that Marquesse borne within that place,
On whom the heau'ns shall powre so great a grace.
27
Thus Merlin vsd to tell and oft repeat,How he should be for such a time reserued,
When Roman Empires high and stately seat,
At lowest eb should be, and welnigh starued;
That his rare parts againe might make it great,
And that by him it might be safe preserued,
Which that you may see plainly to his glorie,
Marke in this table the ensuing storie.
28
Lo here (said he) how Lodwicke doth repent,That he had thither brought king Charles the eight,
Which at the first he did but with intent
To weaken, not to presse with so hard weight
His ancient foe; for now gainst Charles he went,
Making new leagues according to his sleight.
He thinks to take him prisner by the way,
But Charls by force through thē doth make his way.
29
But yet the souldiers that behinde him staid,Had not the like good fortune nor successe,
For Ferdinando grew by Mantuan aid
So strong, that soone he did the French distresse:
To whose great griefe, this Marquesse was betraid
By Gypsen vile, when he fear'd nothing lesse,
Which doth in Ferdinand so great griefe breed,
As doth his ioy of victorie exceed.
30
Next after these, he shews them Lews the twelfth,That puls out Lodwicke Sforse with mightie hand,
And gets by force, what he had got by stelth,
And plants the Flour de luce in Millen land;
Yet he no long time there in quiet dwelth,
The great Consaluo with a Spanish band,
His Captaines and Liuetenants oft repulses,
And in the end from Millen quite expulses.
31
Lo here (which I forgat before to show)How Lodwickes frends, and his own men betray him,
One sells his castell neuer striking blow;
The Swizzers eke that might away conuay him,
And had his pay, and did him seruice ow,
For filthie lucres sake they do bewray him;
Whereby without once breaking of a lance,
Two victories came to the king of France.
32
Lo how by fauour of this mightie king,The bastard Cæsar Borgia grew full great,
And doth the necks of many nobles wring
Of Italie, that had most ancient seat.
Lo how this king doth eke the akornes bring
To Bulloign, lo how with another feat,
He doth the Genowais in fight subdue,
And maketh them their late reuolt to rue.
33
Lo here not far from thence, how all the feeld,With dead mens bones is heald at Geriadad,
How all the cities vnto Lews do yeeld,
How Venice to shut vp her gates is glad;
And scarse her selfe frō this great storme can sheeld:
Lo how the Pope (his part that herein had)
Doth take away vnto his great rebuke,
Modone and more, from good Ferraras Duke.
34
At which king Lews (with rightfull choller moued)Giues Bulloign to the Bentiuols againe,
And thence to Breskie all his force remoued,
And succours to Felsina doth ordaine,
What time the Churches souldiers felt and proued,
The French mens force vnto their mickle paine:
Lo after where both armies meet to fight,
Neare Chassie shore, to trie their vtmost might.
35
On this side France, on that the powre of SpaineVnited is, and deadly blows ensew,
The ditches all seemd fild with bodies slaine,
A hap to make a stonic heart to rew;
Long time in doubt doth victorie remaine,
Which way the sway would carry no man knew,
Till by the vertue of Alfonse alone,
The French preuaile, the Spanish (forst) are gone.
271
36
Lo how the Pope his lip doth bite for griefe,Because the French men do Rauenna sacke;
Lo how he sent to Swizzers for reliefe,
Lo how they come and driue the French men back;
And they that with their treason caused chiefe
Of Lodiwike the ouerthrow and wracke,
To make some mends for that they erst had done,
Vnto the fathers place restore the sonne.
37
But lo a prince of France then new created,Meets with the Swizzers to their mickle cost,
And so their courage quaild, and force abated,
As all the nations seemed welnigh lost;
And of their title that them animated,
Those villens vile hereafter need not bost,
Defenders of the Church, tamers of Kings,
They cleaped were, now clipped are their wings.
38
Lo how the French king Francis in despiteOf all the league, faire Millen doth surprise,
Bourbon defending it from Geno as might;
Lo while this King doth practise and deuise,
Some great exploit, while by foule ouersight,
His lawlesse men the towne did tyrannize;
Their hauing too much pride, and want of pitie,
Doth cause them sodainly to loose the citie.
39
Lo yet another Francis Sforse, a manLike to his Grandsire both in acts and name,
Who to driue out the Frenchmen well began,
And Millen did recouer with great fame;
Lo France againe endeuour all they can,
To win with praise that they had lost with shame,
But Mantuas worthy Duke on Tycian streame,
Cut off his way, and kept him from that Realme.
40
Yong Fredericke, yet but a beardlesse boy,Scant hauing on his chin a little downe,
Lo how he saues Pauia from annoy,
When furiously the French besiege the towne;
He makes their earnest plots turne to a toy,
The Lion of the sea he beateth downe:
Lo here two Marquesses both of one blood,
Both borne to do their country endlesse good.
41
The first of these is that Alfonsos sonne,That by the Negro erst you saw betraid,
Behold what feates of armes by him are donne,
How at their greatest need he them doth aid,
How oft he hath on Frenchmen glorie wonne,
That of his very name they seem afraid:
The tother that so mild doth looke in sight,
Is Lord of Vasto, and Alfonso hight.
42
This is that worthy knight, of whom I told,Then when I did the Ile of Iskia show,
Of whom I said that Merlin had foretold
To Feramont what he by skill did know,
That when this world were worne and waxen old,
And Rome and Italy were brought most low,
Then he should spring, who to his endlesse praise,
Their foes should ouerthrow, and them should raise.
43
Lo how he with his cousin of Pescare,And with Colonnas prosprous ayd no lesse,
The French and Dutch that at Bycocca are,
Do foyle and slay, and driue to great distresse;
Lo how againe the French men do prepare,
With new attempts to mend their bad successe,
One campe the king in Lombardie doth make,
And with another Naples he would take.
44
But she that vseth men as wind doth dust,First take it vp and blow it very high,
And from that highest place straight when she lust,
She throwes it downe whereas it first did lie:
She makes this king deuoyd of all mistrust,
Thinke he hath men an hundred thousand nie,
At Pauie siege beleeuing others musters.
(But wo to kings whose seruants are no iuster.)
45
So while this noble Prince mistrusts no harme,His wicked Captaines greedy gaine to win,
Causd that the souldiers in the night alarme,
Came to their colours slow and very thin;
Within their tents they feele their skirmish warme,
The warie Spaniards soone had entred in
With those two guides, with whom they durst assay,
In hell or else in heau'n to breake a way.
46
Lo how the chiefe nobilitie of FranceLie dead on ground, a cause of many teares,
How many an hargubush, a sword and launce,
This stout king hath alone about his eares:
His horse slaine vnder him by hard mischance,
And yet he nothing yeelds nor nothing feares,
Though all the host assaulted him alone,
And all the rescues and supplies were gone.
47
The valiant King defends him on his feet,Bathing his blade long time in en'mies blood,
But vertue that with too much force doth meet,
Must yeeld at last, it cannot be withstood;
Lo him here prisner, lo how in a fleet
He passeth into Spaine the salt sea flood,
Whence Vasto doth the chiefest honour bring,
Of the field wonne, and of the prisner king.
48
Thus both that host the king had thither brought,And that he meant to Naples to haue sent,
Were both dispersed quite, and came to nought,
Much like a lampe when all the oile is spent.
Lo how the King againe so well hath wrought,
He leaues his sons for pledge, and homeward went,
Lo how abroade he doth new quarrels pike,
Lo how at home some do to him the like.
49
Lo here the wofull murders and the rapes,That Rome doth suffer in the cruell sacke,
Where neither thing prophane nor holy scapes,
But all alike do go to spoile and wracke:
The league that should relieue, sits still and gapes,
And where they should step forward, they shrinke backe:
Thus Peters successor by them forsaken,
Is straight besieged, and at length is taken.
272
50
The King sends Lautrek, new supplies to gather,Not that he should to Lombardie do ought,
But that he might set free the holy father,
That to so low an ebbe so soone was brought:
But Lautrek should haue come a little rather,
The Popes own coyn hath his own freedom bought,
Lautrek attempts to conquer Naples towne,
And soone turnes all that country vpside downe.
51
Lo how a faire Imperiall nauie bendsHis course to succor the distressed towne,
But Doria backe with heaue and ho them sends,
And some of them doth burn, and some doth drown:
Lo, fickle fortune once againe intends
To change her cheare, and on the French to frowne,
With agews, not with swords they all are slaine,
Scarce of an hundred one turnes home againe.
52
These and such stories had the stately hall,In marble rich ingraued on the skreene,
As were too tedious to recite them all,
Though then by them they were perusd and seene;
Their wonder great, their pleasure was not small,
And oft they read the writings were betweene,
That in faire Roman letters all of gold,
The circumstance of eu'ry picture told.
53
Now when the Ladies faire and all the rest,Had seene and askt as much as they desired,
Their host doth bring them to their roomes of rest,
Where sleepe renews the strength of bodies tired,
Onely Duke Ammons daughter could not rest,
Though bed were soft, room warm, and wel attired,
Yet still she tost from left side to the right,
And could not sleepe one winke all that same night.
54
With much ado her eyes at last she closed,Not much afore the dawning of the day,
And as she slept, she in her sleepe supposed
Rogero present was, and thus did say,
My deare, what ailes thee to be thus disposed,
That false beleefe in thee doth beare such sway?
First shall the riuers to the mountaines clime,
Ere I will guiltie be ofsuch a crime.
55
Beside she thought she heard him thus to say,Lo I am come to be baptizd, my loue,
And that I seemd my comming to delay,
Another wound, and not a wound of loue,
Hath bene the cause of my constrained stay,
Suspitions vaine, and causlesse feare remoue:
With this the damsell wakt, and vp she started,
But found her dreame, and louer both departed.
56
Then freshly she doth her complaints renew,And in her mind thus to her selfe she spake,
Lo what I like, are dreames vaine and vntrue,
And in a moment me do quite forsake;
But ah, what me offends is to to true,
I dreame of good, but none I find awake,
How are mine eyes alas in so ill taking,
That closd see good, and nought but euill waking?
57
Sweet dreame did promise me a quiet peace,But bitter waking turneth all to warre;
Sweet dreame deluded me, and soone did cease,
But bitter waking plagues, and doth not arre:
If falshood ease, and truth my paines increase,
I wish my selfe from truth I still might barre,
If dreames breed ioy, and waking cause my paine,
Ay might I dreame, and neuer wake againe.
58
Oh happie wights whom sleepe doth so possesse,As in six months you neuer open eye,
For sure such sleepe is like to death I guesse,
But waking thus, is not like life (thinke I)
How strange are then the pangs that me oppresse,
That sleeping seeme to liue, and waking die?
But if such sleepe resemblance be of death,
Come death and close mine eies, and stop my breath.
59
Now were those Easter parts of heau'n made red,Where Phœbus beames do first begin appeare,
And all the thicke and rainie clouds were fled,
And promised a morning faire and cleare;
When Bradamant forsooke her restlesse bed,
And giuing for her lodging and good cheare,
Right curteous thanks vnto her noble host,
She leaues his house, and minds to part in post.
60
But first she found how that the damsell faire,The messenger that supt with her last night,
Was gone before, with purpose to repaire
To those three knights that lately felt her might,
When she did cause them caper in the aire,
Driu'n without stirrops from their steeds to light,
She found they had all night to their great paine,
Abid the wind, the tempest and the raine.
61
And that which greatly did increase their griefe,Was that while those within had cheare great store,
They and their horse lackt lodging and reliefe:
But that which did offend their stomacks more,
And was indeed of all their sorrows chiefe,
Was least the maid (of whom I spake before)
Would tell their mistresse of their hard mischance,
They had at their arriuall first in France.
62
And hauing full resolued and designd,To die or venge the foile receau'd last night,
To th'end the messenger might change her mind,
(The messenger that Vllania hight)
Who thought their force and valew farre behind
The vaunts that they had made of their great might,
Therefore as soone as Bradamant they spied,
Straight each of them to combat her defied.
63
Not thinking though she should a damsell be,For of a damsell gesture none she vsed;
The Ladie gently spake vnto them three,
And thought her hast the fight might haue excused,
But they did vrge her still so farre, that she
Without disgrace could not haue it refused;
Wherefore she coucht the golden headed launce,
And from their saddles made them all to daunce.
273
64
And for that time thus ended was that fray,For she sets spurs to horse, and rode so post,
That ere they rose, she quite was gone away:
They that their seats had twise togither lost,
Were so ashamd they knew not what to say:
For why, they wonted were to make their bost,
No knight of France should able be to stand
Against the worst of them, with speare in hand.
65
But Vllania further them to taunt,That Bradamant a Ladie was, them told,
Now sirs (said she) you that were wont to vaunt,
From Palladins to win the shield of gold,
Lo how a womans forces can you daunt,
Now is (I hope) your loftie courage cold:
Sure for those knights you be too weake a match,
When one poore damsell you can ouermatch.
66
What need (said she) be furder triall had,You haue alreadie that for which you came,
Except that any of you be so mad,
To ioyne a future losse, to present shame;
Or if perhaps ye would be faine and glad,
To end your liues by men of worthy fame:
Trow you that vanquisht are by womans hand,
Renaldo or Orlando to withstand?
67
Now when as Vllanie declared had,How that a damsell them had ouerthrowne,
With griefe and with disdaine they were so mad,
That scarse their wits and senses were their own:
Each one himselfe, of armour all vnclad,
Their horse turnd loose, their swords away were throwne,
And vowd for penance of so great disgrace,
To tuch no armour in a twelue-months space.
68
They further vow they ne're will ride againe,No not when that same yeare should be expired,
Although the way were mountany or plaine,
And though the way were grauelly or myred,
Vntill they could by force of arms regaine
Such horses, as for seruice are required,
And furniture for three such champions meet;
Till then they vowd to trauell on their feet.
69
Thus wilfully they walkt while others rode,But Bradamant went on, and that same night,
She at a castle maketh her abode
Neare to the way that leads to Paris right:
Heare by her host, the Ladie faire was showd,
How Agramant was vanquisht in the fight:
Good meat, good lodging, and good news she had,
Yet eat she not, nor slept, nor was she glad.
70
But now of her so much I must not say,That I forget my storie out to tell,
Of those two knights that met this other day,
And tyde their horses at the running well:
No lands nor townes were causes of their fray,
Nor who in rule nor office should excell,
But eu'n that he that strongest was of twaine,
Should Bayard win, and Durindana gaine.
71
There needs no signe of war, nor trumpets sound,To warne them when to strike or when to pawse,
No Heralds need to limit out the ground,
Nor reade them lectures of their warlike laws.
They met as they by promise firme were bound,
And each his weapon at one instant draws,
And then they layd about them strong and nimble,
Blows bred their smart; and smart their wrath did kindle.
72
Two blades more firme in triall, and more sure,Could not in all the world haue bin prepard,
That hauing beene as these were, put in vre,
Would not haue bene in peeces burst and mard:
But both these blades were of such temper pure,
So keene, so tough, and therewithall so hard,
They might a thousand times at hard-edge met,
And neither blade thereby a gap would get.
73
Renaldo quick, hither and thither goes,And often time was forst to change his place,
And trauerse ground, for why the weight he knows
Of Durindana, that would cut a pase:
Gradasso euer gaue the stronger blows,
But tother still to scape them had the grace;
Or if they hit, they hit in some such part,
Where though they made great sound, they causd no smart.
74
Renaldo with lesse strength but far more art,Strake once or twise the Pagan on the arme,
And with a thrust had surely pierst his hart,
Saue that his armour strenghtned was by charme,
So that no maile out of his place would start:
But while each sought to do the other harme,
A sodaine noyse did part their earnest quarrell,
They lookt and saw Bayardo in great parell.
75
I say they lookt about and spide at length,Bayardo fighting with a monstrous fowle,
Bigger then he, her beak three yards of length,
In other shape and making like an owle,
Her tallents huge and sharpe, and of great strength,
The feathers of her wings all blacke and foule,
Her eyes like fire, a long and hideous taile,
Her wings so huge, they seemed like a saile.
76
Perhaps it was a fowle, but I thinke not,Nor euer heard I erst of such a bird,
Onely so Turpin cals it well I wot,
If any will credit to him affoord:
Rather I deeme that Malagigi got
Some sprite infernall, that himselfe had sturd,
To come in shape as I did shew before.
Because the champions fierce, might fight no more.
77
Renaldo eake himselfe beleeu'd the same,And with his cousin Malagige fell out,
And to his charge laid not a little blame,
And gaue him euill language thereabout,
The tother sware by him that heau'ns did frame,
It was not he, to put him out of doubt,
But were it fowle, or were it a foule deuill,
Certaine to Bayard it did worke much euill.
274
78
The horse that was puissant, brake his raine,When as the sharpnes of her claws he feels,
And what with terrour mou'd and what with paine,
He yerketh at her fiercely with his heels:
She soard aloft and downe she comes againe,
And striks him so, that Bayard almost reels,
And sith of other fence no meane he had,
He runs away as if he had bin mad.
79
Vnto the nearest wood he right doth runne,And still the feathered beast him held in chase,
Till the thicke boughs holp him her gripes to shun,
So that she gaue him ouer in short space,
And seeing that her sport with him was done,
She sored vp on high and left this place,
And to another coast her flight doth frame,
Where as she thought to find some other game.
80
Gradasso and Renaldo when they saw,The horse was fled that caused all the fray,
Do by consent themselues from thence withdraw,
To find Bayardo out and if they may:
But first each promist to obserue this law,
That he that found him first of both, should stay
At this same well, till tother should come thither,
And then againe to fight it out togither.
81
Thus when each had his word to th'other past,That they would meet there at their coming backe,
They after go, but Bayard ran so fast,
As soone they lost the sight of any tracke:
Gradasso rode and therefore made more hast;
The Palladine that his good horse did lacke,
Remaind behind, all sad and grieued more,
And malcontent then ere he was before.
82
And when he traueld had about in vaine,In body wearie, discontent in minde,
With losse of all his trauell and his paine,
He turneth to the place they first assignde,
In hope the tother would returne againe,
And bring the horse, if so he could him finde:
But when he saw his looking did not boot,
He traueld backe vnto the campe on foot.
83
But yet Gradassos paine succeeded well,For why, a while afore the lights decaying,
He passed neare the place, as it befell,
Where in a caue he found him by his naying,
Still fearing that same monstrous impe of hell:
He takes him thence, and then but little waying
His promise made, he turnes another way,
And to himselfe in secret thus doth say.
84
Let them that list hold things in strife and war,I meane to hold mine owne with peace and ease,
Onely to get this horse, I came so far,
And past so many lands, and many seas:
My promise breach to me shalbe no bar,
To keepe that I so quietly do sease;
If he desire to win his horse againe,
To come to India let him take the paine.
85
As safe as France hath bin for me now twise,So safe for him shalbe my Serycane,
I thither wish him come if he be wise,
Else of Bayardo now his leaue is tane:
If he will haue him he shall know the prise,
Now mine Bayardo is and Durindane:
This sayd, he mounted on the steed so warly,
And by another way went backe to Arly.
86
Where finding ships new riggd, to sea-ward bent,Though then at anker in the harbour lying,
With those rich spoils, to passe the seas he ment,
In all post hast into his country hying:
Hereafter you shall heare which way he went,
And of his last conflict and of his dying:
Now him I leaue, Renaldo and all France,
And tell you what did to Astolfo chance.
87
Who mounted on his stately winged steed,Well tamed late by Logestillas wit,
Tooke perfect vew of France with passing speed,
And saw how eu'rie towne of worth did sit,
Which hauing well obseru'd, and markt with heed,
From Rhine to Pyren mount, he thought it fit,
In manner like, all ouer Spaine to ride,
And many countryes of the world beside.
88
To Aragon he passed through Nauar,Each man that saw him wondring at the sight,
Then Taracon he did discry not far
Vpon his left hand, Biskie on his right,
Where Castill, Lisbon, and Galicia are,
And Cordoue neare, and Siuill see he might,
Which diuers crownes now ioyned in on raigne,
Are gouernd by the mightie king of Spaine.
89
There saw he Gades where erst by Hercles hand,Two pillars, markes for Marriners were plast,
Then ouer Atlant sea, to Egypt land,
And ouer Affrica forthwith he past,
And saw where Balearick Iles do stand,
Then traueld to Euiza with like hast,
And to Arzilla-ward he thence departeth,
Quite ore that sea, that it from Spagna parteth.
90
Oran he saw, Ippon, Marocco, Fesse,Algier, Buzea, and those stately townes,
Whose Princes with great pompe and pride possesse
Of diuers Prouinces the stately crownes,
He saw Byserta, and Tunigi no lesse,
And flying ouer many dales and downes,
He saw Capisse and Alzerbee Ile,
And all the Cities to the flood of Nyle.
91
Tripolie, Bernick, Tolomit, and allBetweene the sea and Atlas woodie sides,
Then on the Cereneys he right doth fall,
And past Carena mounts, and more besides;
Then crossing ou'r the barren fields and pall,
Where sands with wind do eb and flow like tides,
The tombe of Battus he doth leaue behind,
And Ammons temple now worne out of mind.
275
92
Then came he by another Tremisen,That followes eke of Mahomet the law,
Vnto another Ethyopia then
He went, the which before he neuer saw,
That differs both in language and in men:
From thence he toward Nubia then did draw,
Dobada and Coallee iust betweene,
Of which these Christend, and those Turkish beene.
93
The bord'rers still are armd in heate and cold,Senapo yet of Ethyop is the chiefe,
And hath great store of iewels and of gold,
And much he varies not from our beliefe;
For he those principles most firme doth hold,
That can defend from euerlasting griefe:
Here is it (if mine author be no her)
Where they do vse to be baptizd with fier.
94
The Duke here lighted after trauell long,And to Senapos stately Court was led;
The castle was more sumptuous then strong,
And admiration more then terror bred;
The locks, barres, chaines, and all that did belong
Vnto the bridge and gates from foote to head,
Which we make here of iron to endure,
Was there faire wrought in massie gold most pure.
95
And though they haue great store of mettals fine,Yet were the chambers and the lodgings here
Borne vp with cristall collumns, that did shine
All ou'r the stately court most bright and cleare;
A stately border causd vnto the eine
Red, white, greene, blew, and yellow to appeare,
Enriched with diuisions for the nones,
Of Rubie, Smarag, Zaphyr, Topas stones.
96
Most orient pearls and gems of passing price,Were sprinkled on the pauements here and there,
Hence balme doth come hence other precious spice,
Which from Ierusalem men wont to beare;
Hence commeth muske, for odours sweet and nice,
And amber pure, that some in bracelets weare;
And finally all things grow there in plentie,
That in this country are esteemd most deintie.
97
Most true it is, else some haue written lies,The Sowdan to this King doth tribute pay,
For that in this Kings powre alone it lies,
Great Cayre and fertile Egypt to decay,
Because that by those meanes he may deuise,
He may turne Nyle from them another way:
This Prince Senapo there is cald of many,
We call him Prester Iohn or Preter Iany.
98
Of all the Kings that euer there did raigne,This King exceld in riches and in treasure,
But losse of sight made all his comforts vaine,
And bard him eu'ry tast of worldly pleasure,
And this did much increase his care and paine,
And grieued him indeed beyond all measure,
That all his wealth and treasure not preuented,
But that with famine he was ay tormented.
99
For when this Prince, as hunger meere him drew,Did but prepare himselfe to drinke or eate,
Straight of Harpias came a cursed crew,
With mightie wings, huge pawes, and bellies great,
And all the dishes quite they ouerthrew,
And greedily deuoured all the meate;
And that they left they did so file and slauer,
As few could brooke the sight, but none the sauer.
100
The cause was this, why his great plague was such,Because in youth (when men most carelesse are)
Finding himselfe to be extold so much,
And passing other Kings in wealth so far,
So foule a pride his loftie heart did tuch,
Against his maker, he would needs moue war,
To which intent a mightie powre he led,
Vnto that mount whence Nylus hath his hed.
101
He had bene told, and did it firme beleeue,That on that mount, whose top did touch the skie,
Was that same place where Adam dwelt and Eue,
Before their fall did cause them thence to flie:
He hoping some rare conquest to atchieue,
A mightie host prepared by and by,
With mind (so hie his heart with pride did swell)
To make them tribute pay that there did dwell.
102
But high Iehoua, their foule pride represt,And downe he sent his Angell that same night,
Who slue an hundred thousand for the least,
And him condemnd for ay to loose his sight;
Then sent he monsters vile him to molest,
Those vgly monsters, that Harpias hight,
Which so deuoure and so spoyle all his meate,
Scarce they permit him once to drinke or eate.
103
And that which draue him into meere despaire,Was that one told by way of prophecie,
How those foule creatures euer should repaire
Vnto that place, till time they might espie
A gallant knight all armed in the aire,
Vpon a winged beast aloft to flie:
And for that this vnpossible he deemed,
Past hope of helpe, himselfe he then esteemed.
104
Now when the people saw from eu'ry wall,And from each towre the strangely flying knight
He happie thought himselfe, that first of all
Could tell the king of this vnused sight;
Who straight the prophecie to mind did call,
And with the sudden ioy, forgetting quite
His trustie staffe, went groping with his hand.
To welcome him that now came downe to land.
105
Astolfo being lighted, nearer drew,And as he was the great court entring in,
Behold the King stood ready in his vew,
And kneeling downe, to speake did thus begin,
O heau'nly Angell, ô Messias new,
Though I deserue not pardon for my sin,
Yet thinke to vs is proper to offend,
To you, to pardon those that wil amend.
276
106
My guilt so heauie on my conscience lies,I dare not sue thou shouldst my sight restore,
Though wel I wot that thou couldst heale mine eies
That art of those that ay stand God before,
Let then this plague my want of sight suffice,
And let me not be steru'd thus euermore,
At least from me these filthy monsters driue,
And let me eate with quiet while I liue.
107
And I do vow a temple vnto thee,Of marble faire to build here in this place,
Whose gates and couer all of gold shall be,
Adornd with costly iewels in like case,
Nam'd by thy name, and grau'd that men may see
Thy miracle, which no time shall deface:
Thus saith the prostrate King that nothing sees,
And gropes to haue embrast Astolfos knees.
108
The Duke to him thus friendly doth reply,Nor Angell I, nor new Messias am,
Nor come from heau'n, but mortall man am I,
And thrall to sinne, vnworthy so high name;
But for your sake, my best skill I will trie,
To kil or driue those fowle from whence they came,
Which if I do, giue God, not me the praise,
That for your helpe did hither guide my wayes.
109
For him your Churches and your altars make,That must of dutie, Church and altars haue:
This said, he vp from ground the King doth take,
And went with him and other Barons graue:
Straightways of meate prouision new they make,
For so the hungry King in hast doth craue,
In hope that now the monsters would be quiet,
And not to interrupt him at his diet.
110
Forthwith a sumptuous dinner was prepard,In stately sort great store and of the best,
Senapo hopes Astolfo can him guard
From those foule fowles that did him so molest;
But lo a sodain noise forthwith was heard,
The sent of those same viands that were drest,
Had brought them thither ere the men were able
To set downe all the dishes on the table.
111
Of them came seu'n together in a knot,With womans faces, wan with deadly cold,
So hungerstaru'd, as death it selfe might not
Be at first sight more hideous to behold,
Their wings were great, but foule blacke wings God wot,
Their talents sharpe to gripe, but strong to hold,
A large foule paunch, a filthy taile and long,
From whence there came an odour mightie strong.
112
As sodaine heard, so sodaine were they seene,For on the table all at once they fell,
And spoild the meat, and from their wombs vncleen
Cast lothsome filth to see, irksome to smell:
The Duke with blade of mettall sharpe and keene,
Strikes at the monsters, thinking them to quell;
But all in vaine, his bootlesse blade turnd backe,
As he had smitten on a wollen sacke.
113
Some rau'nously deuour'd the sweet repast,And did so eager fill their greedie gorge,
That by and by they were compeld as fast,
The same in beastly manner to disgorge:
The wofull King thinks now all succour past,
Till good Astolfo sware by sweet Saint George,
Sith force was vaine, he would another way,
To driue these monsters from the king assay.
114
The horne, which euer he about him beares,He meanes against these monsters to employ,
He causd the King and his to stop their eares
With molted waxe, that no noise them may noy,
Else might his blast haue bred in them such feares,
To driue them thence, and all the land destroy;
Then causd he them prepare another feast,
An vp he gets him on his winged beast.
115
The steward that did know his mind by signes,Straightwayes another dinner doth addresse,
With store of daintie meates and costly wines,
But in a trise more soone then one could guesse,
The filthy flocke, as famine them inclines,
Came downe and seasd vpon the costly messe;
But straight Astolfo blew them such a blast,
As on the sodaine made them all agast.
116
The noise into their open eares so entered,That had no meanes to stop them nor defence,
As so their stomacks and their tasts distempered,
They fled, as feare expeld all other sence;
The English Duke to follow them aduentered,
And winding still his horne, he chast them thence,
To that hils foote, whence Nylus first doth fall,
If so that Nyle haue any head at all.
117
About the bottome of this mightie mount,There is a caue descending like a well,
By which (as dwellers by do oft recount)
A speedie passage one may haue to hell;
To this the monsters fled, and made account
Within this caue safe from the noise to dwell,
Which seene, Astolfo from his beast alighted,
And ceast the blowing that them so affrighted.
118
And for he did with heed the caues mouth marke,He nearer doth approch vnto the same,
And with a listning eare he then doth harke,
If any sound from thence vnto him came;
The entrance lookt all like a dungeon darke,
With smoke that seemd to come from smothered flame:
But more of this hereafter I will treat,
For now this booke begins to be too great.
281
THE XXXIIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Astolfo heares of Lydias plague in hell,Vntill the smoke annoyd and fould him so,
That he was faine to wash him at a well;
Which done, to Paradise he straight doth go,
Where he doth meet Saint Iohn, who doth him tell
Strange things, and as strange things to him doth show:
And there Orlandos wit he doth receaue,
And sees the fatall threeds the sisters weaue.
1
Oh foule Harpias, greedie, hunger starued,Whom wrath diuine, for iust reuenge hath sent
To blinded Italy, that hath deserued
For sins both old and late, so to be shent.
The sustenance that shold for food haue serued,
For widowes poore and orphans innocent,
These filthy monsters do consume and wast it
Oft at one meale, before the owners tast it.
2
He doubtlesse guiltie is of grieuous sin,That first set open that long closed caue,
From which all filth and greedines came in
To Italie, and it infected haue;
Then ended good, then did bad dayes begin,
And discord foule so farre off all peace draue,
That now in warres, in pouertie and paine,
It long hath taride, and shall long remaine.
3
Vntill she can her slouthfull sonnes awake,From drowsie sleepe, that now themselues forget,
And say to them, for shame example take,
Let others valiant deeds your courage whet:
Why should not you the like acts vndertake,
As in time past did Calai and Zet?
That erst like aid to Phineas did bring,
As did Astolfo th'Ethiopian king.
4
Who hauing driu'n away these monsters fell,From blind Senapos boord, as erst I told,
And chased them so farre, vntill they fell
Into the caue most fearfull to behold;
That fearfull caue that was the mouth of hell,
To hearken at the same he waxed bold,
And heard most wofull mourning, plaints and cries,
Such as from hell were likely to arise.
5
Astolfo minds into the place to enter,And visit those that haue forgone this light,
And pierce the earth eu'n to the middle center,
To see if ought may there be worth the sight;
For why he thought what need I feare to venter,
That haue this horne with which I can affright
Foule Sathan, Cerberus with trebble chaps,
And safely keepe my selfe from all mishaps?
6
He ties his flying beast fast by the raines,With mind to hell it selfe to bid defiance,
His horne fast tide about his necke remaines,
In which much more then sword he puts affiance:
But at his very entrance he complaines
Of that same smoke that bred him much annoyance,
That sauourd strong of brimstone and of pitch,
Yet still Astolfo goeth thorough stitch.
7
But still the farder that he forward goes,He feeles the smoke more noisome and more thick,
That in himselfe he gan now to suppose,
If furder he should wade he should be sicke;
When lo a shadow seemed to disclose
It selfe to him, of somewhat that was quicke,
And to his thinking hither wau'd and thether,
Much like a carcasse hanged long in wether.
282
8
The English Duke that had desire to know,If so he saw a bodie or a vision,
Strake with his sword thereat so fierce a blow,
As would indeed thereof haue made diuision,
If it had bin as it did seeme in show:
But when he saw his sword made no incision,
He guessed that it was (by that blows giuing)
A passed spirit, not a bodie liuing.
9
Then heard he how thus wofully it said,Oh you that to these lower parts descend,
Bring vs no hurt, though you can bring no aid,
And be not fo to those whom none can frend.
The Duke amazd, both hands and footsteps staid,
And said vnto the ghost, so God thee send
Some speedie ease of this thy painfull smart,
As thou wilt deine to tell me who thou art.
10
And if to worke your good lay in my lot,Aboue or here I should be glad to do it.
Ah (said the ghost) my plague with such a knot
Is tide, as mortall strength cannot vndo it,
Yet your request denie you will I knot,
Because you haue so great a mind vnto it,
I will declare to you my stock and name,
And eke the cause why to this place I came.
11
My name is Lydia, borne of princely birth,And bred in pompe and solaces delightfull,
Though now in place excluded from all mirth,
I lie condemnd by Gods high doome and rightfull,
Because while I did liue aboue on earth,
Vnto my loue I shewd my selfe so spightfull;
And many more be here for like offences,
As he that all doth rule, their plague dispences.
12
Here lies that faire, but cruell Anaxaritee,Whose corps a stone diuine reuenge did make,
Her ghost in smoke that no light ay shall clarifie,
Doth most seuere, but most iust penance take,
Because she could without all sence of charitie,
Behold her louer hanging for her sake:
Here Daphnee lies, that now repents her shunning
Of Phœbus, whom she scapt with ouerunning.
13
Too tedious it would be for me to tellThe seu'rall names of eu'ry femall spirit,
That for reward of their hard harts, in hell
Appointed are such portions to inherit.
Yet farre more are the men that there do dwell,
For like offence, who for their euill merit
Are placed much more low, though somewhat nie them,
Where fume doth smother them, and flame doth fry them.
14
And reason good, for sith our sex is weake,The greater sinne it is vs to deceaue,
As Theseus and Iason well can speake,
And he that Latin did of rule bereaue,
With him, on whom faire Absolon did wreake
The wrong that rauisht Thamar did receaue,
With diuers that of tone and tother gender,
Refusd or left their loues for causes slender.
15
But that I may particularly tuchThe cause that brought me to this endlesse paine,
My beautie while I liu'd, and pride was such,
As none or few did to the like attaine,
And both of them in me exceld so much,
Twas hard to say which greater was of twaine;
But this I know full well my proud mind grew,
Out of conceit of my well pleasing hew.
16
It happend that a valiant knight of Thrace,In state and liuing of the better sort,
And hearing praise of my praise-worthy face,
Confirmed oft by more then one report,
He purposd, and performd it in short space,
Vnto my fathers kingdome to resort,
That he might sue to me, and onely serue me,
In hope by his great value to deserue me.
17
In gallant sort when he to Lydia came,And saw with eye what he had heard with eare,
He calleth scant report, and niggard fame,
That did to him so barren tidings beare:
And rauisht with my looke he straight doth frame
Himselfe to wait in court, and tarrie there,
And shewd such worth, and vsed such behauour,
As iustly might deserue my fathers fauour.
18
Exceeding was his seruice and desart,If to a gratefull prince it had bin done.
So perfectly he had of warre the art,
That for my sire, by his conduct he wonne
All Caria, and of Cilicia part,
And after these exploits, he then begun,
For recompence of these his merits rife,
To pray my father I might be his wife.
19
My father him repulst with answer sowre,Because to match me higher was his will,
Not to a priuat knight, whose chiefest dowre
Was vertue, of whose worth he could not skill,
His greedy thoughts did nought but gaine deuoure,
And couetise the branch and roote of ill,
Made him no more regard his vertuous sute,
Then doth an Asse the sound of sweetest Lute.
20
Alcesté (so was nam'd the worthy Knight)Tooke this so foule repulse in great disdaine,
Proceeding thence, from whence he ought of right
Expect great recompence for his great paine;
Wherefore he parted thence in great despight,
And vowd reuenge, nor was his vow in vaine.
Vnto th'Armenian king he thence doth go,
My fathers emulous and auncient fo.
21
Him, readie to accept each light occasion,He soone perswades, without all intermission,
To make vpon my father fierce inuasion.
And make him chiefe Lieutenant by commission:
And hauing wonne him thereto by perswasion,
They thus agreed of spoiles to make partition,
As namely all the townes he wonne should be
The kings, and for himselfe he askt but me.
283
22
This legue thus made, what woes my sire he wrought,I know not how in speeches to expresse,
Foure royall armies quickly came to nought,
Disperst or dead in halfe a yeare and lesse;
In fine Alcesté by his vallew brought
My father and his frends to such distresse,
They tooke them to a fort with such small treasure,
As in so Scarbrow warning they had leasure.
23
When here a while he vs besieged had,To such dispaire he then my father draue,
To yeeld me vp he would haue bin ful glad,
To be his wife, yea eu'n to be his slaue;
Nor would my sire haue thought the bargaine bad,
If halfe the Realme with me for dowre he gaue,
So sore he feard, ere long to leese it all,
And dye in wofull bands a captiue thrail.
24
Wherefore in season to preuent the worst,Me that had beene the cause of all this ill,
He minds to offer to Alcesté furst,
To win thereby his fauor and good will:
I went (for why none other doe I trust)
With mind herein my sires mind to fulfill,
And offer mine owne selfe at his deuotion,
With halfe the Realme, if he accept the motion.
25
Alcesté hearing I came him to looke,Against me forth he comes al pale and trembling,
Not like a conquerour was then his looke,
But rather a captiued man resembling;
Which when I found, my first plot I forsooke,
For well I saw that this was not dissembling,
With lowring looke, I held my peace awhile,
Then fit for his estate I fram'd my stile.
26
I waxed bold the more I see him faint,And first I cursed this vnluckie loue,
And of his crueltie I made complaint,
Which harmd my frends, and chiefe that he would proue
Against my will to haue me by constraint,
I further did most sharply him reproue,
That he so parted with the first deniall,
And neuer sought to make new frendly triall.
27
I told him that his manners were to fierce,That though my father his iust suit denyed,
Because perhaps his nature is peruerse,
And would not at the first attempt be plyed,
He should not though, all his good deeds reuerse,
But rather ought with constancie haue tryed,
By patient suffring, and by painfull seruing,
To come vnto reward of well deseruing.
28
And if my father would not haue beene wonne,I would (I said) his fauour haue procured,
And would haue prayd him, to make him his sonne
If I had found his loue to me had dured;
Or else in secret I would that haue donne,
By which of me he should haue beene assured;
But sith he needs would trie another meane,
I told him plaine, my loue was alterd cleane.
29
And though I now came in this humble sort,To yeeld my body, as the price of peace,
Because my father, whom he held so short,
Intreated me to sue for his release;
Yet did I vow to mar his hoped sport.
And if to offer force he would not cease,
I sware that rather I my selfe would kill,
Then grant such ioyes constraind against my will
30
These words and such as these to him I spake,Finding my powre was ouer him so great,
Wherewith I did him as repentant make,
As ere was Saint, in Hermits desert seat:
He fell downe at my feet, and prayd me take
His naked dagger, and did me intreat,
To stab him with the same into his hart,
To take iust vengance of his lewd desart.
31
Now when I saw him at this passe, I thoughtTo follow this great conquest to his end,
And straight a little hope to him I brought,
Of fauour, if his errour he would mend,
And if my fathers freedome might be wrought,
And state restord, and he continue frend,
And not attempt hereafter to constraine me,
But with his seruiceable loue to gaine me.
32
He promised hereof he would not misse,And backe vnto my sire, me safe did send,
Nor once presumed he my mouth to kisse,
Thinke you, how he vnto my yoke did bend;
I thinke that loue playd well his part in this,
And needed not for him, more arrowes spend;
Hence straight vnto th'Armenian king he went,
Whose all the winnings should be, by consent.
33
And in the mildest manner that he could,He prayeth him to grant his good assent,
That my poore sire might Lydia quiet hold,
And he would with Armenia be content.
The king Alcesté sharply then controld,
And in plaine termes, he told he neuer ment,
To cease that bloodie warre at any hand,
While that my father had a foot of land.
34
What if (said he) Alcestes wau'ring braine,Is turnd with womans words? his damage be it:
Shall I therefore loose all a whole yeares gaine
At his request? I neuer will agree it:
Againe Alcesté prayes him, and againe
But all in vaine, he sees it will not be yet;
And last he waxed angrie, and did sweare,
That he should do it, or for loue or feare.
35
Thus wrath engendred many a bitter word,And bitter words, did breed more bloody blowes,
Alcesté in that furie drew his sword.
And straight the guard on each side him inclose,
But he among them, so himselfe be sturd,
He slew the king, and by the helpe of those
Of Thrace, and of Cilicia in his pay,
Th'Armenians all, he put to flight that day.
284
36
And then his happie victorie pursuing,First he my fathers frends did all enlarge,
And next the Realme within one month ensuing,
He gat againe, without my fathers charge;
And for the better shunning and eschuing,
Of all vnkindnesse, with amends most large,
For recompence of all harmes he had donne,
He gaue him all the spoiles that he had wonn.
37
Yea fully to content him to his asking,In all the countries that did neare confine,
He raisd such summes of coyne, by cursed tasking,
As made them grieue, and greatly to repine.
The while my hate, in lous faire vizer masking,
In outward show, I seemd to him incline;
Yet secretly I studied to annoy him,
And many wayes deuised to destroy him.
38
In steed of triumph by a priuie traine,At his returne to kill him we intended,
But from such fact, feare forst vs to refraine,
Because we found he was so strongly frended;
I seemed of his comming glad and faine,
And promist when our trobles all were ended,
That I his faithfull yokefellow would be,
In wo or weale, to take such part as he.
39
Wherefore I prayd him first that for my sake,He would subdue some of our priuat foes,
And he each hard exploit doth vndertake,
And now alone, and then with few he goes,
And safe returnes, yet oft I did him make,
To fight with cruell Giants, and with those
That past his strength oft with som monstrous beast,
Or Dragon fell, that did our Realme molest.
40
Don Hercles neuer by his cruell Aunt,Nor by the hard Euristeus, was so wrought,
In Lerna, Thrase, in Nemea Eremaunt,
Numid, Etolia, Tebrus where he fought,
Nor Spaine, nor no where else, as I might vaunt,
With mild perswasion, but with murdring thought,
I made my louer still to put in vre,
In hope hereby his ruine to procure.
41
But as the Palme the more the top is prest,The thicker do the vnder branches grow,
Eu'n so the more his vertue was opprest,
By hard attempts, the brighter it did show:
Which when I found, forthwith I thought it best,
Another way to worke his ouerthrow,
A way by which in deed I wrought the feat,
Which yet I shame and sorrow to repeat.
42
Against all such as bare him best affection,I secretly did still his minde incense,
And euer one and one, by my direction,
I made him wrong, till all were driu'n from thence:
So was his heart and soule in my subiection,
So had my bewtie blinded all his sence,
Had I but winkt, or vp my finger hild,
He had not car'd whom he had hurt or kild.
43
Now when I thus had foyld my fathers foes,And by Alcesté, had Alcesté wonne,
And made him for my sake, forsake all those,
That for his sake no high attempt would shunne;
I then began my selfe plaine to disclose,
And let him know what wise threed he had sponne,
With bitter spitefull words, I all to rated him,
And told him plaine, that in my heart I hated him.
44
And that I wisht his life and dayes were ended,And would haue kild him, if I could for shame,
Saue then I should of all men be condemned,
Because his high deserts were of such fame;
Yet him and them I vtterly contemned,
And loathd to see his face, or heare his name,
And sware I would wish him thenceforth no better,
Nor heare his message, nor receiue his letter.
45
At this my cruell vsage and vngrate,He tooke such griefe that in a while he died;
Now for this sinne, he that all sinne doth hate,
Condemns me here in this smoke to be tyed,
Where I in vaine repent my selfe too late,
That I his suite so causlesllie denyed,
For which, in smoke eternall I must dwell,
Sith no redemption can be had from hell.
46
Here Lidia this her wofull tale doth end,And faded thence; now when her speech did cease,
The Duke a farther passage did intend,
But this tormenting smoke did so increase,
That backward he was forst his steps to bend,
For vitall sprites alreadie did decrease,
Wherefore the smoke to shunne, and life to saue,
He clammerd to the top of that same caue.
47
And least those woman faced monsters fell,Might after come from out that lothsome ledge,
He digd vp stones, and great trees downe did fell,
(His sword suffising both for axe and sledge)
He hewd and brake, and labourd it so well,
That gainst the caue, he made a thicke strong hedge,
So stopt with stones, and many a ragged rafter,
As kept th'Harpias in, a great while after.
48
But now the Duke, both with his present toyle,That did with dirt and dust, him all to dash,
And with the smoke that earst did him so foyle,
As blacke as soot, was driu'n to seeke some plash,
Where he himselfe might of his cloths dispoyle,
And both his rayment, and his armour wash,
For why the smoke, without and eake within,
Did taint his cloths, his armour, and his skin.
49
Soone after he a christall streame espying,From foote to head he washt himselfe therein,
Then vp he gets him on his courser flying,
And of the ayre he more and more doth win,
Affecting heau'n, all earthly thoughts defying:
As fishes cut the liquid streame with fin,
So cutteth he the ayre and doth not stop,
Till he was come vnto that mountaines top.
285
50
This hill nigh toucht the circle of the Moone,The top was all a fruitfull pleasant feeld,
And light at night, as ours is here at noone,
The sweetest place that euer man beheeld;
(There would I dwell if God gaue me my boone)
The soyle thereof most fragrant flowres did yeeld,
Like Rubies, Gold, Pearles, Saphyrs, Topas stones,
Crisolits, Diamonds, Iacints for the nones.
51
The trees that there did grow were euer greene,The fruits that thereon grew were neuer fading,
The sundry colourd birds did sit betweene,
And sing most sweet, the fruitfull boughs them shading:
The riuers cleare as crystall to be seene,
The fragrant smell, the sense and soule inuading,
With ayre so temperate and so delightsome,
As all the place beside was cleare and lightsome.
52
Amid the plaine a pallace passing faireThere stood, aboue conceit of mortall men,
Built of great height into the clearest aire,
And was in circuit twentie mile and ten,
To this faire place the Duke did straight repaire,
And vewing all that goodly country then,
He thought this world, compared with that pallace,
A dunghill vile, or prison voyd of sollace.
53
But when as nearer to the place he came,He was amazed at the wondrous sight,
The wall was all one precious stone, the same,
And then the carbuncle more sanguine bright;
O workman rare, ô most stupendious frame,
What Dedalus of this had ouersight?
Peace ye that wont to praise the wonders seau'n
Those earthly kings made, this the King of heau'n.
54
Now while the Duke his eyes with wonder fed,Behold a faire old man in th'entrie stood,
Whose gowne was white, but yet his iacket red,
The tone as snow, the tother lokt as blood,
His beard was long and white, so was his head,
His countnance was so graue, his grace so good,
A man thereby might at first sight suspect,
He was a Saint, and one of Gods elect.
55
He comming to the Duke with chearfull face,Who now alighted was for reu'rence sake,
Bold Baron (said the Saint) by speciall grace,
That sufferd wast this voyage strange to make,
And to arriue at this most blessed place,
Not knowing why thou didst this iourny take,
Yet know that not without the will celestiall,
Thou commest here to Paradise terrestiall.
56
The cause you come a iourney of such length,Is here of me to learne what must be done,
That Charles and holy Church may now at length
Be freed, that erst were welnigh ouerrunne,
Wherefore impute it not to thine owne strength,
Nor to thy courage, nor thy wit, my sonne,
For neither could thy horne nor winged steed,
Without Gods helpe stand thee in any steed.
57
But at more leisure hereof we will reason,And more at large I mind with you to speake,
Now with some meate refresh you, as is reason,
Lest fasting long may make your stomack weake;
Our fruits (said he) be neuer out of season:
The Duke reioyced much, and marueld eke,
Then chiefe when by his speeches and his cote,
He knew twas he that the fourth Gospell wrote.
58
That holy Iohn whom Christ did hold so deare,That others thought he death should neuer see,
Though in the Gospell it appeares not cleare,
But thus he said, What if it pleased me,
O Peter, that thy fellow tarry here,
Vntill my comming, what is that to thee?
So though our Sauiour not directly spake it,
Yet sure it was, so eu'ry one did take it.
59
He here assumed was in happie houre,Whereas before Enoch the Patriark was,
And where the Prophet bides of mightie powre,
That in the firie coach did thither passe:
These three in that so happie sacred bowre,
In high felicitie their dayes did passe,
Where in such sort to stand they are allowd,
Till Christ returne vpon the burning clowd.
60
These saints him welcome to that sacred seate,And to a stately lodging him they brought;
And for his horse likewise ordained meate,
And then the Duke himselfe by them was taught,
The daintie fruites of Paradise to eate,
So delicate in tast, as sure he thought
Our first two parents were to be excused,
That for such fruit obedience they refused.
61
Now when the Duke had nature satisfide,With meate and drinke, and with his due repose,
(For there were lodings faire, and all beside
That needfull for mans vse man can suppose)
He gets vp early in the morning tide,
What time with vs alow, the Sunne arose,
But ere that he from out his lodging moued,
Came that disciple whom our Sauiour loued.
62
And by the hand the Duke abroade he led,And said some things to him, I may not name,
But in the end (I thinke) my sonne he sed,
Although that you from France so lately came,
You little know how those in France haue sped,
There your Orlando quite is out of frame,
For God his sinne most sharply now rewardeth,
Who most doth punish whom he most regardeth.
63
Know that the champion your Orlando, whomGod so great strength and so great courage gaue,
And so rare grace, that from his mothers wome,
By force of steele his skin no hurt might haue,
To th'end that he might fight for his owne home,
And those that hold the Christian faith to saue;
As Sampson erst enabled was to stand,
Against Philistins for the Hebrew land.
286
64
This your Orlando hath bin so vngrate,For so great grace receau'd, vnto his maker,
That when his country was in weakest state,
And needed succor most, he did forsake her
For loue (O wofull loue that breeds Gods hate)
To woo a Pagan wench, with mind to take her,
And to such sinne this loue did him intise,
He would haue kild his kinsman once or twise.
65
For this same cause doth mightie God permitHim mad to runne, with belly bare and breast,
And so to daze his reason and his wit,
He knowes not others, and himselfe knowes least:
So in times past our Lord did deeme it fit,
To turne the king of Babel to a beast,
In which estate he seu'n whole yeares did passe,
And like an oxe did feed on hay and grasse.
66
But for the Palladins offence is notSo great as was the King of Babels crime,
The mightie Lord of mercie doth allot
Vnto his punishment a shorter time,
Twelue weeks in all he must remaine a sot,
And for this cause you sufferd were to clime
To this high place, that here you may be tought
How to his wits Orlando may be brought.
67
Here you shall learne to worke the feate I warrant,But yet before you can be fully sped,
Of this your great, but not forethought on arrant,
You must with me a more strange way be led,
Vp to the Planet, that of all starrs errant
Is nearest vs, when she comes ouer head,
Then will I bring you where the medcine lies,
That you must haue to make Orlando wise.
68
Thus all that day they spent in diuers talke,With solace great, as neuer wanteth there,
But when the Sunne began this earth to balke,
And passe into the tother hemispheare,
Then they prepard to fetch a further walke,
And straight the firie charret that did beare
Elias, when he vp to heau'n was carrid,
Was ready in a trice, and for them tarrid.
69
Foure horses fierce, as red as flaming fire,Th'Apostle doth into the charret set,
Which when he framed had to his desire,
Astolfo in the carre by him he set,
Then vp they went, and still ascending hire,
Aboue the firie region they did get,
Whose nature so th'Apostle then did turne,
That though they went through fire, they did not burne.
70
I say although the fire were wondrous hot,Yet in their passage they no heate did feele,
So that it burnd them, nor offends them not;
Thence to the Moon he guides the running wheele,
The Moone was like a glasse all voyd of spot,
Or like a peece of purely burnisht steele,
And lookt, although to vs it seemd so small,
Welnigh as big as earth and sea and all.
71
Here had Astolfo cause of double wonder,One, that that region seemeth there so wide,
That vnto vs that are so farre asunder,
Seems but a little circle, and beside,
That to behold the ground that him lay vnder,
A man had need to haue bin sharply eide,
And bend his browes, and mark eu'n all they might,
It seemd so small, now chiefly wanting light.
72
Twere infinite to tell what wondrous thingsHe saw, that passed ours not few degrees,
What towns, what hils, what riuers and what springs,
What dales, what pallaces, what goodly trees;
But to be short, at last his guide him brings,
Vnto a goodly valley, where he sees
A mightie masse of things strangely confused,
Things that on earth were lost, or were abused.
73
A store-house strange, that what on earth is lost,By fault, by time, by fortune, there is found,
And like a merchandize is there ingrost,
In stranger sort then I can well expound;
Nor speake I sole of wealth, or things of cost,
In which blind fortunes powre doth most abound,
But eu'n of things quite out of fortunes powre,
Which wilfully we wast each day and houre.
74
The precious time that fooles mis-spend in play,The vaine attempts that neuer take effect,
The vowes that sinners make, and neuer pay,
The counsels wise that carelesse men neglect,
The fond desires that leade vs oft astray,
The praises that with pride the heart infect,
And all we loose with folly and mis-spending,
May there be found vnto this place ascending.
75
Now as Astolfo by those regions past,He asked many questions of his guide,
And as he on tone side his eye did cast,
A wondrous hill of bladders he espide;
And he was told they had bin in time past,
The pompous crownes and scepters full of pride,
Of monarks of Assiria, and of Greece,
Of which now scantly there is left a peece.
76
He saw great store of baited hookes with gold,And those were gifts that foolish men prefard,
To giue to Princes couetous and old,
With fondest hope of future vaine reward:
Then were there ropes all in sweet garlands rold,
And those were all false flatteries he hard,
Then heard he crickets songs like to the verses,
The seruant in his masters praise reherses.
77
There did he see fond loues, that men pursew,To looke like golden giues with stones all set,
Then things like Eagles talents he did vew,
Those offices that fauorites do get:
Then saw he bellows large that much wind blew,
Large promises that Lords make, and forget,
Vnto their Ganimeds in flowre of youth,
But after nought but beggery ensewth.
287
78
He saw great Cities seated in faire places,That ouerthrowne quite topsie turuie stood,
He askt and learnd, the cause of their defaces
Was treason, that doth neuer turne to good:
He saw fowle serpents, with faire womens faces,
Of coyners and of thieues the cursed brood,
He saw fine glasses, all in peeces broken,
Of seruice lost in court, a wofull token.
79
Of mingled broth he saw a mightie masse,That to no vse, all spilt on ground did lye,
He askt his teacher, and he heard it was,
The frutlesse almes that men giue when they dye:
Then by a faire greene mountaine he did passe,
That once smelt sweet, but now it stinks perdye,
This was that gift (be't said without offence)
That Constantin gaue Siluester long since.
80
Of birdlymd rodds, he saw no little store,And these (O Ladyes fayre) your bewties be,
I do omit ten thousand things and more
Like vnto these, that there the Duke did see:
For all that here is lost, there euermore
Is kept, and thither in a trise doth flee,
Howbeit more nor lesse there was no folly,
For still that here with vs remaineth wholly.
81
He saw some of his owne lost time and deeds,But yet he knew them not to be his owne,
They seemd to him disguisd in so strange weeds,
Till his instructer made them better knowne:
But last, the thing which no man thinks he needs,
Yet each man needeth most, to him was showne,
By name mans wit, which here we leese so fast,
As that one substance, all the other past.
82
It seemd to be a body moyst and soft,And apt to mount by eu'ry exhalation,
And when it hither mounted was aloft,
It there was kept in pots of such a fashion,
As we call Iarrs, where oyle is kept in oft:
The Duke beheld with no small admiration,
The Iarrs of wit, amongst which one had writ,
Vpon the side thereof, Orlandos wit.
83
This vessell bigger was then all the rest,And eu'ry vessell had ingrau'n with art,
His name, that erst the wit therein possest:
There of his owne the Duke did finde a part,
And much he musd and much himselfe he blest,
To see some names of men of great desart,
That thinke they haue great store of wit, and bost it,
And here it playne appeard they quite had lost it.
84
Some loose their wit with loue, some with ambition,Some running to the sea, great wealth to get,
Some following Lords, and men of high condition,
And some in fayre iewells rich and costly set:
One hath desire to proue a rare Magicion,
And some with Poetrie their wit forget,
Another thinks to be an Alcumist,
Till all be spent, and he his number mist.
85
Astolfo takes his owne before he goes,For so th'Euangelist did him permit:
He set the vessels mouth but to his nose.
And to his place, he snuft vp all his wit:
Long after wise he liu'd as Turpin shows,
Vntill one fault he after did commit,
By name the loue of one fayre Northerne lasse,
Sent vp his wit vnto the place it was.
86
The vessell where Orlandos wit was closed,Astolfo tooke, and thence with him did beare,
It was far heauier then he had supposed,
So great a quantitie of wit was theare;
But yet ere backe their iourny they disposed,
The holy Prophet brought Astolfo, wheare
A pallace (seldome seene by mortall man)
Was plast, by which a thicke darke riuer ran.
87
Each roome therein was full of diuers fleesis,Of woll, of lint, of silke, or else of cotten,
An aged woman spun the diuers peecis,
Whose looke and hew, did shew her old and rotten:
Not much vnlike vnto that labour, this is,
By which in Sommer, new made silke is gotten,
Where frō the silke worme his fine garment taking
They reaue him of the clothes, of his owne making.
88
For first in one large roome a woman spanThreds infinite, of diuers stuffe and hew;
Another doth with all the speed she can,
With other stuffe, the distaues still renew:
The third in feature like, and pale and wan,
Doth seuer faire from foule, and old from new:
Now who be these? the Duke demands his guide.
These be the fatall sisters, he replide;
89
The Parcees that the thred of life do spin,To mortall men, hence death and nature know
When life must end, and when it must begin:
Now, she that doth deuide them, and bestow
The course from finer, and the thicke from thin,
To that end works, that those that finest grow,
For ornaments in Paradise may dwell,
The course are curst to be consum'd in hell.
90
The Duke did further in the place behold,That when the threds were spent that had bin spun,
Their names in brasse, in siluer, or in gold,
Were wrote, and so into great heaps were donn;
From which a man that seemed wondrous old,
With whole loads of those names away did run,
And turn'd againe as fast, the way he went,
Nor neuer wearie was, nor euer spent.
91
This aged man did hold his pase so swift,As though to runne, he onely had bin borne,
Or had it giu'n him as a speciall gift;
And in the lappet of his cloke were borne,
The names of men, with which he made such shift:
But now a while I craue to be forborne,
For in the booke ensewing shalbe showed,
How this old sire his cariage ill bestowed.
290
THE XXXV. BOOE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Saint Iohn the praise of writers doth recount:Bradamant doth with good successe recouer
The prisners, that were tane by Rodomount:
This done, she sends a challenge to her louer,
And sends withall an horse of good account,
Which makes Rogero long in doubt to houer;
The while, before his face the fall he saw,
Of Serpentine, Grandonio, and Ferraw.
1
Faire mistresse who for me to heau'n shall fly,To bring again frō thence my wandring wit,
Which I still loose, since from that piercing ey,
The dart came forth that first my heart did hit?
Nor of my losse, at al complaine would I.
Might I but keepe that which remaineth yet,
But if it still decrease, within short space,
I doubt I shall be in Orlandos case.
2
Yet well I wot where to recouer mine,Though not in Paradice nor Cynthias spheare,
Yet doubtlesse in a place no lesse diuine,
In that sweet face of yours, in that faire heare,
That rubie lip, in those two starlike eyne,
There is my wit, I know it wanders there;
And with my lips, if you would giue me leaue,
I there would search, I thence would it receaue,
3
But to returne vnto that English Prince,Whom (if you do remember) with S. Iohn,
By vgly streame I left a little since,
The fatall sister spinners looking on,
Who sometime do prolong, and sometime mince
Our threed of life, I say he saw anon,
Among a million more, one passing fleece,
More fine then that that Iason brought to Greece.
4
So shone the thred that from that fleece out came,No gold, nor Orient perle could looke so bright,
Astolfo much desir'd to know his name,
And time of birth, that to that thred had right.
Straightways this answer vnto him doth frame,
He that the darke Apocalips did write;
The number of his birth shall noted be,
When twentie shalbe tane from M and D.
5
And as the fleece which here so faire doth show,In finest substance passeth all the rest;
So shall the person that the same doth ow,
Make that same age in which he liueth, blest;
For all the gifts that nature can bestow,
Or with which studie can a man inuest,
Shall powred be on him with large proportion,
Assigned from aboue, to be his portion.
6
There stands (said he) neare to the bankes of Poe,A village now of small or none account,
Whose moorish seat the streame doth ouerflow,
But in that time that I to you recount,
Vnto a Citie of such state shall grow,
As all the neighbour townes it shall surmount;
Nor sole in walls, and buildings fayre and stately,
But in good arts of old found out, or lately.
7
Nor thinke you this preferment to proceed,By peraduenture, or as it twere by chance,
But eu'n as a thing by God himselfe decreed,
For one mans sake, his natiue soile t'aduance;
As still we see those that good fruits will breed,
Do graffe the stocke, and prune & pike the branch,
Or as the goldsmith pollisheth the mettell,
In which he minds a gemme of price to settell.
291
8
For nere shall soule that shall to earth descend,With mortall garment be more comely clad,
Neuer did God a soule from hence downe send,
That more choise gifts, nor more rare vertues had
Then this, which vnto him he doth intend,
That shall his country and his friends make glad,
Hippolito of Est his name shall be,
To whom the heau'ns such fauours do decree.
9
For all those vertues great that wonted are,To set forth diuers, diuersly deuided,
Shall ioyned be in this same man most rare,
Vnto such place, by heau'ns appointment guided;
Maintaind shall studies be by his great care,
All quarrels cease, and broyls shall be decided,
Whose vertues all, if I to tell prolong,
Orlando should expect his wit too long.
10
Thus much the follower of Iesus spake,The while Astolfo those same webs doth vew,
From whence our liues end and beginning take:
One spun, one cut, the third doth stuffe renew.
Then came they to the foule and lothsome lake,
Darke, deepe and mirie, of a deadly hew,
Where was the aged man, that neuer stinted
To carry bundels of the names imprinted.
11
This was the man, whom (as I told before)Both vse and nature so swift pac't had made,
He neuer rested, but ranne euermore,
And with his running he did vse this trade;
A heape of names within his cloke he bore,
And in the riuer did them all vnlade;
Or (plaine to speake) away he cast them all
Into this streame, which Lethee we do call.
12
This prodigall old wretch no sooner cameVnto this cursed riuers barren banke,
But despratly, without all feare of blame,
Or caring to deserue reward or thanke,
He hurld therein full many a precious name,
Where millions soone into the bottome sanke,
And scant in eu'ry thousand one was found,
That was not in the gulfe quite lost and drownd.
13
Yet all about great store of birds there flew,As vultures, carren crowes, and chattring pies,
And many more of sundry kinds and hew,
That made leud harmonie with their lowd cries:
These, when the carelesse wretch the tresor threw
Into that streame, did all they could deuise,
What with their talents some, and some with beake
To saue some names, but find themselues too weake.
14
For euer as they sought themselues to raise,To beare away those names of great renowne,
The weight of them so heauie downeward wayes,
They in the stream were driu'n to cast them downe,
Onely two swans sustaind so great a praise,
In spite of him that sought them all to drowne,
These two do still take vp whose names they list,
And bare them safe away, and neuer mist.
15
Sometime all vnder that foule lake they diued,And tooke vp some that were with water couered,
And those that seemd condemned, they repriued,
And often, as about the banke they houered,
They caught them ere they to the streame arriued:
Then went they with the names they had recouered,
Vp to a hill that stood the water nigh,
On which a stately Church was built on high.
16
This place is sacred to immortall fame,And euermore a Nymph stands at the gate,
And took the names, wherwith the two swans came,
(Whether they early come, or whether late)
Then all about the Church she hangd the same,
Before the sacred image, in such rate,
As they might then well be assur'd for euer,
Spite of that wretch in safetie to perseuer.
17
Astolfo had a great desire to knowThe mysteries most high, and hidden sence
Of that old man, that still ran to and fro,
And precious things so leudly did dispence,
And of the birds, and of the nymph also,
That from the swans tooke names, and bare them thence,
And therefore asked what they signified,
To whom the man of God thus wise replied:
18
Know first (said he) there cannot wag a strawBelow on earth, but that the signe is here;
And each small act doth correspondence draw,
Although in other shew it doth appeare:
That aged man, that running erst you saw,
And neuer baits, nor resteth all the yeare,
To worke the like effects aboue is bound,
As time doth worke below vpon the ground.
19
When here the fatall threed of life is spun,Then doth below the life of man decline,
There fame, and here their names in mettall done,
Would make them both immortall and diuine,
Saue here this aged sire, that so doth runne,
And there below, time doth thereat repine,
He here flings all the names into a puddle,
Time there doth all in darke obliuion huddle.
20
And eu'n as here Rau'ns, Vultures, Pies and Crowes,And such like birds, endeuour all they may,
To saue those names that worthiest they suppose,
But wanting strength, the names stil downward sway:
So there promooters, ruffins, bawds, and those
That can the parasites and iesters play,
That by great Lords are oft more made of, then
The true and plaine, and vertuous minded men.
21
And these (forsooth) good fellowes call you must,Because they learne like Asse and Porke to be,
But when their Lords be layd full low in dust,
Their line of life cut off by sisters three,
Yea oft by their owne surfetting and lust,
Then these same goodly squires of base degree,
In their vile mouths, their names beare vp and downe
A while, and after in obliuion drowne.
292
22
But as the swans that here still flying are,With written names vnto the sacred port,
So there Historians learnd, and Poets rare,
Preserue them in cleare fame and good report;
O happie Princes, whose foresight and care
Can win the loue of writers in such sort,
As Cæsar did, so as you need not dread,
The lake of Lethe after ye be dead.
23
But surely God their reason so doth blind,And takes from them all sence of wit and skill,
That when their rooms on earth they haue resignd,
Death both their bodies and their fames might kill;
Where at the least some fame would stay behind,
(Admit in part their manners were but ill)
Had they but wit to get some grace with Cirra,
Their fame should sweeter smel then nard or mirrha.
24
Perhaps Æneas was not so deuout,Nor Hector nor Achilles were so braue,
But thousands haue as honest been and stout,
And worthy by desert more praise to haue;
But those faire lands and castles out of doubt,
That their successors vnto writers gaue,
Made them so famous ouer forren lands,
Canonizd by the Poets sacred hands.
25
Augustus Cæsar was not such a saint,As Virgil maketh him by his description,
His loue of learning scuseth that complaint,
That men might iustly make of his proscription;
Nor had the shame that Neros name doth taint,
Confirmd now by a thousand yeares prescription,
Bene as it is, if he had had the wit,
To haue bene franke to such as Poems writ.
26
I lind Homer writes how Agamemnon fought,And wan at last great Troy that long resisted;
And how Penelope, though greatly sought
By many suters, yet in faith persisted:
Yet sure (for ought you know) he might haue taught
The contrary to this if he had listed,
That Troy preuaild, that Greeks were conquerd cleane,
And that Penelope was but a queane.
27
On tother side, we see Queene Didos name,That worthy was indeed to be commended,
Is subiect now to slaunder and to shame,
Because that she by Virgil is not frended.
But on this point I now more tedious am,
Then I was ware, or then I had intended,
For I loue writers well, and would not wrong them,
And I my selfe do count my selfe among them.
28
I wrate a volume of my masters praise,For which to me he hath not bin vngrate,
But to this height of honour me doth raise,
Where (as you see) I liue in happie state;
I pitie those that in these later dayes
Do write, when bountie hath shut vp her gate,
Where day and night in vaine good writers knocke,
And for their labours oft haue but a mocke.
29
So as indeed this reason is the chiefe,That wits decay, because they want their hire,
For where no succour is, nor no reliefe,
The very beasts will from such place retire.
Thus said the saint, and (as it were with griefe
Of such offence) his eyes did flame like fire,
But turning to the Duke with sober lafter,
He pacifide himselfe a little after.
30
But here I leaue Astolfo safe and soundWith holy Iohn, for forthwith leape must I,
As far as from the Moone vnto the ground,
My wings would faile if stil I soard so hie:
Now come I vnto her that had the wound,
That euer smarting wound of iealousie,
I told she had, when last of her I spoke,
Vnhorst three kings with goldelaunces stroke.
31
And how she lay all at a castle sad,Although in vaine she sought her griefe to smother,
How at that place she perfect knowledge had,
That Agramant was foyled by her brother,
And that to flie to Arlie he was glad,
With good Rogero and with many other;
This made her vnto Prouence then to hast,
Because she heard that Charles pursude him fast.
32
Now vnto Prouence onward as she went,A comely damsell in her way she vewd,
Who though she lookt like one that did lament,
Yet could not griefe her comely grace exclude;
This dame had traueld long, with this intent,
To find some knight that from the Pagan rude,
(Fierce Rodomont, that prisner held her louer)
By force of armes againe might him recouer.
33
Now when the comfortlesse dame BradamantHad met a dame as comfortlesse as she,
Such simpathie she felt of griefe, that scant
She kept in teares, so sad a sight to see,
She askt her what misfortune or what want,
Of her sad plight, vnworthy cause might be:
Faire Fiordeliege that for a knight did hold her,
The circumstance of all the matter told her.
34
And in most rufull sort she did recount,Both of the tombe and bridge the wofull storie,
And how the cruell Pagan Rodomount
Had taken him, for whom she was so sorie,
Not that he could in value him surmount,
That for his value had obtaind much glorie,
But that the Pagan not to strength did trust,
But to a bridge and vantages vniust.
35
Wherefore most noble minded knight (said she)If such you be, as by your speech I guesse,
Helpe my deare spouse from bondage vile to free,
And plague the Pagan that doth him oppresse;
Or if you cannot so, yet counsell me,
Where I may find some ayd for my distresse,
Some knight so stout of heart, and strong of hand,
As may this cruell Sarazen withstand.
293
36
So shall you do a braue and noble deed,That wandring knights, do think they ought of due,
So might you ayd a worthy man indeed.
And one in loue most faithfull and most true:
As for his other praise, it is no need
For me to tell, mine owne griefes to renue,
Sith well I know, they plainly are appearing,
To all that haue their sense of sight and hearing.
37
The worthie Dame, that thirsted still for praise,Agrees to take this hard exploit in hand,
As one that readie was at all aslayes,
On horse, on foote, by water or by land:
For either thus, she shall her glorie raise,
If so she shall the Pagans force withstand,
Or die she shall, which danger lesse doth moue her,
Because she thinks Rogero doth not loue her.
38
And thus she sayd, most louely louing Dame,Gladly I shall my vtmost forces proue,
To succour one that merits so great fame,
Yet of his praises chiefly me doth moue,
Because you giue him such a noble name,
That he is true and faithfull in his loue:
Which sith you speake by triall, I must weene so,
Else I durst sweare no man aliue had beene so.
39
These last words ending with a scalding sigh,A sigh that came indeed from grieuous thought,
Then on they went, till they approched nigh
The parlous bridge, that Rodomont had wrought:
And straight the watch descride them from on high,
And blew a horne, by which the Pagan thought,
That trauellers were come the bridge to passe,
Came out all armed, as his manner was.
40
But when that he one all in armour saw,He greets them lowd with this lewd salutation:
Ho stay, and er you passe obserue this law,
Vnto this tombe, humbly to make oblation,
Of horse and armes, with feare and reu'rent aw:
Else with this speare expect sharpe castigation.
She, that before had heard of Isbels deth,
And of this tombe, thus stoutly to him seth.
41
Ah damned wretch, why should the innocent,Indure the penance of thy grieuous guilt?
Thy selfe shouldst die, or suffer punishment,
That killedst her, if please her ghost thou wilt:
Her soule (vpon my soule) would be content,
If by my hand thy guiltie blood were spilt,
More then with all the armors, men, and horses,
That thou dost win by thy vnlawfull forces.
42
And so much more it will accepted beTo her, if thou by my right hand mayst die,
Because I am a woman as was she,
And only come on thee my force to trie:
But let vs first vpon these points agree,
That if you hap to vanquish me, then I
Shall suffer at your hands, so and no more,
Then other prisoners haue done before.
43
But if I vanquish you (as sure I trust)Then I will haue the spoile of all the rest,
And make your horse, and arms, a guift more iust,
Vpon the tombe of her for euer blest:
And then withall, to me you promise must,
That all your prisners straight shall be releast.
When thus the Dame her mind had signified,
Thus the fierce Turke mildly to her replied.
44
Faire Dame, you seeme to me to speake but reason,And thereto I my franke assent affoord:
But true it is, that I for feare of treason,
My prisners all, haue sent from hence aboord,
So as I cannot free them at this season,
But firmely here to you I passe my word,
If you foile me, of which there is small ieobertie,
I will send word to set them all at libertie.
45
But if I conquer you, as sure I shall,(For so it is most likely, and most meet)
I will not hang your armour on the wall,
Nor send you hence a prisner in my fleet,
I will remit to you my conquest all,
For that faire faces sake, and looke so sweet;
Suffise it that this curtesie may moue thee,
Where now thou seemst to hate me, thē to loue me.
46
Be not (faire Dame) in your owne strength beguyld,I offer not such grace to eu'rie stranger,
For I am strong; at this the damsell smyld,
But such a smyle, as shewd not mirth, but anger;
And whether courage had all feare exyld,
Or that dispaire made her to doubt no danger;
She spurd her horse, nor other answer made him,
But with her speare in rest she doth inuade him.
47
This so did moue the cruell Rodomount,Vpon his horse he doth himselfe aduance,
Not making doubt, but that he would dismount,
Out of her seat, the noble Dame of France;
But he was quite deceiu'd of his account,
No sooner was he toucht with Goldelance,
But eu'n as if of strength he had bin reaued,
Quite from the saddle backward he was heaued.
48
But yet the Dame her selfe in danger was,To fall into the streame so swift and fleet,
By meanes the bridge so narrow was to passe,
That hardly two at once thereon could meet;
But Rabican, whose swiftnesse did surpasse
All foure foot beasts, did firmely keepe his feet:
Although so straight and narrow was the bridge,
He was constraind to runne vpon the ridge.
49
Now when the Pagan lay thus ouerthrowne,She turnd to him, and sporting, thus she spake,
Now sir (said she) I hope it may be knowne,
Of vs two which the worser cause did take.
But he, like one whose wits were not his owne,
He either could or would no answer make;
But still he stood, looking on ground and musing,
Neither his foyle denying, nor excusing,
294
50
And hauing walkt some halfe a dozen paces,He suddenly cast all his armour off,
And hurles it gainst the stones, and it defaces,
That scant he left vnbroke one peece thereof:
Determining after such foule disgaces,
To hide himselfe, and go a great way of:
But er he went, he graunted full commission,
To free his prisners without intermission.
51
So thence he went, and what of him became,Or what he did, no notice cleare I haue,
But onely this, that eu'n for verie shame,
He long liu'd close, within a secret caue;
The while his armes by that victorious Dame,
Were hangd vp at the tombe, for triumph braue,
The tother armes and furnitures among,
That erst to Pagan Princes did belong.
52
But for all those that were from Christens wonne,She laid them vp, and did in safetie set,
Among the which was Monodantes sonne,
And Oliuero and stout Sansonet,
Who late before with ill successe did runne,
So that the Pagan did their armour get,
And them themselues as prisners did conuay,
Vnto Algirie, farre from thence away.
53
Among the rest that had their armour lost,Was Sacrapant, the fierce Circassen Prince,
Who sought for Frontlet, to his paine and cost,
And with the Pagan fought but little since;
But being foyld, he quite forsooke that coast,
Where men, of such disgrace might him conuince,
And with great shame (but what could shame him boot
He came on horsback, & went thēce on foot.
54
Wherefore asham'd in such sort to returne,He minds to follow that his former quest
Of her, whose loue long since his heart did burne,
Although her loue he neuer yet possest:
For still her froward mind did euer spurne,
Against his earnest, and most iust request.
Of her returne he late had heard the news,
(I know not how) but now he her pursews.
55
And let him her pursue, for I proceed,Of noble Bradamantes acts to tell,
Who hauing done this braue and worthie deed,
To free the passage where so many fell,
She wrate it, so as eu'rie one might reed,
How all the circumstance thereof befell;
Which hauing done, then she demands to know,
Which way Dame Fiordeliege did mind to go.
56
Who straight her purpose, vnto her vnfolding,Told her, to passe the sea by ship she ment,
At Arly, least the Turke his word not holding,
Might keepe her spouse too long in prison pent:
Then shall you (saith the Dame) be more beholding
To me, for sure (said she) tis mine intent,
Vnto that towne to guard you in your passage,
So you will do for me, but one embassage.
57
And that withall, you me this grace affoord,To giue Rogero this same horse from me,
And say an vnknowne champion sends him word,
To challenge him that all the world may see
He hath bin false of promise and of word;
Of which, our combat shall the triall be:
And tell him plainly there is no deniall,
But that by challenge I will make this triall.
58
This say, and say no more; and if he askeMy name, then tell him plaine you may not tell;
The while mine armes shall serue me for a maske,
This I desire, do this and so farewell;
This is (said Fiordeliege) an easie taske
From you, that haue of me deseru'd so well,
As binds me both to this that you demand me,
And to what euer else you would command me.
59
This said, she takes the bridle in her hand,And with her leads Frontino on the way,
Vntill they both came to the salt sea sand,
That next vnto the towne of Arly lay;
But Fiordeliege goes to the towne by land,
And Bradamant doth in the suburbs stay,
To th'end she may conuenient respite giue her,
To him the horse, and message to deliuer.
60
Who when the bridge and gate she quite had past,She prayeth one of those that kept the ward,
To bring her to Rogero in great hast,
And through the towne of curtsie her to guard
This done, she to Rogero came at last,
And did her message with most due regard,
And gaue Frontino, and then went her way,
Nor would she once to heare his answer stay.
61
Rogero standeth still all in a muse,The messenger and message so beguile him,
He wonders who it is, that both doth vse
Such curtesie, and yet withall reuile him,
He thinks the partie doth him much abuse,
With fowlest blot of breach of word to file him:
And of all others, least of all he thought,
That Bradamant of him the combat sought.
62
To thinke it Rodomont he was inclind,But yet it could not sinke into his reach,
Why of a sudden he should be so kind,
And wherein he could blame his promise breach;
And saue with him, he cannot call to mind,
With whom he had of frendship any breach:
The while the Ladie with a stately scorne,
In token of defiance, blew her horne.
63
Straightwayes the news to Agramant doth fly,That one without did challenge some within,
And Serpentine, that then by chance was by,
Askt leaue to fight, with sured hope to win,
And swears the knight should yeeld, or else should dy
And then the people flockt both thicke and thin,
And stood vpon the walls, with young and old,
Betweene these two the combat to behold.
295
64
Out Serpentino came in braue array,And brauely with his speare in rest he ran,
But at the first encounter downe he lay,
The horse runnes leere away without the man,
But noble Bradamant, the horse doth stay,
And backe restore: then finely as she can,
She prayes him to king Agramant to speake,
To send a stronger knight, sith he was weake.
65
The mightie kings of Affricke and of Spaine,That from the wall the courteous act did vew,
From praising of the same could not refraine,
Though none of them, thereof the author knew;
Now Serpentino backe returnd againe,
And to his Prince he told his message trew,
How that same champion did desire to fight,
With some more stout and more renowned knight.
66
And then Grandonio fierce of Volaterne,The proudest knight that Spaine long time had bred
Obtaind next place, and with a visage sterne,
And threatning voice thus to the damsell sed:
Your curtsie small reward for you shall earne;
For either here in fight you must be ded,
Or at the least, I will you prisner bring,
Vnto Marsilio, of great Spaine the king.
67
Well (answerd she) keepe these your threats in store,Your villany my curtsie shall not let,
But that ile frendly monish you before,
That backe againe vnto your king you get,
Ere that your fall, may make your body sore;
And say that I desired to haue met,
A man indeed of courage, and of worth,
And not your selfe, nor him that last came forth.
68
This her replie so mild, and yet so bitter;The Pagan with more furie did enflame;
With speare then speech, he thought an answer fitter
And toward her in full carreer he came,
Intending sure, some deadly blow to hit her;
But she that was accustomd to this game,
Bare well his blow, and with her Goldélance,
She taught him how the somersaut to dance.
69
But yet his horse, that loose about did runne,She brought him backe, and thus to him she sayd,
Loe sir, you had bin better to haue donne
My message, when I curteouslie you prayd;
Yet here I will release my prisner wonne,
So you will tell your king that I haue stayd,
To combat with a man in fight well seene,
And not with nouices, of skill so greene.
70
The lookers on that sure thought nothing lesse,Then that a virgin so could guide a speare,
With murmurings their wonder great expresse;
Still ayming with surmises who it were;
Some Brandimart, and some Renaldo guesse,
Or others whom the Turks had cause to feare,
But most they would Orlando haue suspected.
Saue they had heard his sences were distracted.
71
Next stout Ferraw desir'd to haue the place,Not that he hop't the conquest to haue wonne,
But that these knights may haue the lesse disgrace,
If I (quoth he) shall do as they haue donne:
A strong swift horse he takes, and sure of pace,
Well made to beare the shocke, and free to runne,
The choisest of an hundred that he kept,
And thus all arm'd vpon the beast he lept.
72
Against the femall champion forth he goes,And first they interchangeably salute,
Please it you (said the Ladie) to disclose
Your name to me? that shall be all my sute:
He (that what longs to ciuill manners knowes,)
To satisfie her therein was not mute,
And I refuse you not, then said the tother,
Although I rather would haue had another.
73
Whom? (quoth Ferraw) Rogero (she replyed)And scarse she fully could bring forth his name,
But that a blush with rosie colour dyed
Her louely cheekes, with secret honest shame:
(Further she addeth) him whose vallew tryed,
And so much praysd, was cause I hither came,
None else I seeke, nor for none else care I,
Onely his manhood I desire to try.
74
She spake the word in plaine and simple sence,Which some perhaps will subtlie wrest awry,
Well (said Ferraw) yet now ere I go hence,
Let me with you haue leaue on ecourse to try;
To see if I can make no more defence,
Then those whom last you made one arth to ly,
If I fall as did they, then I will send,
That gentle knight, that may our errour mend.
75
Her beauer open was while they confard.At which, when her the Spaniard well had vewed,
And markt her bewtie worthy of regard,
He was alreadie more then halfe subdewed:
He thought an Angell of the heau'nly guard,
Could not with greater bewtie be endewed;
Against her speare, what fence can he deuise,
That is alreadie conquerd with her eyes?
76
Now tooke they field, and ran with all their force,And now Ferraw is from his saddle borne,
The damsell doth of curtsie stay his horse,
The Spaniard lyeth like a man forlorne;
But backe he must vnto the king perforce,
Nor true to do his message doth he scorne;
He tels Rogero plaine before them all,
How this same knight onely for him doth call.
77
Rogero who it is yet little knowing,In hast to make him readie doth begin,
A setled hope of conquest plainly showing,
Willing to fight, with mind assur'd to win:
As for their foyles, and their fowle ouerthrowing,
That went before, he weighd them not a pin;
But how they met, how kindly him she serued,
Vnto the booke ensuing is reserued.
298
THE XXXVI. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Duke Ammons daughter with reuengefull hart,Doth meet Marfisa, minding her to kill,
Untill the battels ioynd on either part,
And so did sunder them against their will:
Bradamant and Rogero talke apart:
Marfisa gets of both great euill will,
By troubling them, but when she knew her brother,
She reconciled is to tone and tother.
1
Tis meete a gentle heart should euer show,By curtesie the fruites of true gentilitie,
Which will by practise to an habite grow,
And make men do ye same with great facilitie:
Likewise ye dunghil blood a man shall know,
By churlish parts and acts of inciuilitie,
Whose nature apt to take each lewd infection,
Custome confirmes, and makes ill in perfection.
2
Of courteous acts, old stories he that reeds,In auncient times shall find there hath bene store,
But in our dayes of bloudy cruell deeds.
Is greater plentie then hath bene before;
For charitie brings forth but barren seeds,
And hatred still is sowd in so great store,
That when the fruits of both come to be reaped,
The tone is scarce, the tother ouer heaped.
3
What fierce Barbarian Tartar, Moore or Turke,Could vse more crueltie then now of late,
In Latian land Venetian force did worke?
Not by consent of the wise men of state,
But by the filthy nature that did lurke
In wicked hirelings, and a hidden hate;
I speake not of the damage and defaces,
They did by fire in all our pleasant places.
4
Though that reuenge was foule and to to cruell,And chiefe against Hippolito, who late,
When Cæsar sieged Padoa, as they knew well,
And brought it to low ebbe and wofull state,
He both withdrew the matter all and fewell,
And quencht the fires kindled by deadly hate,
Preseruing many a Church and many a village,
By his rare clemencie from fire and pillage.
5
Not those I meane, nor many actions more,That cannot be excused or defended,
But such an act as stones might weepe therefore,
As oft as it is talkt of or remembred:
Then when my Lord his houshold sent before,
There where his foes were secretly assembled,
And left their vessels on the saltish sand,
While in ambushment close they lay on land.
6
As Hector and Æneas did by fireAssault the Greekish fleet with hardie fight,
So saw I two, whose hearts to fame aspire,
(One Alexander, tother Hercles hight)
Assault their foes, and driue them to retire,
Vnto their trenches, nay within them quite,
But one of them returned thence full hard,
The tother of returning cleane was bard.
7
For Feruffine scapt, Cantelmo stayd,O Duke of Sore, what sore griefe didst thou find,
To see thy noble sonne so foule betrayd,
Among a thousand blades left there behind?
His naked necke on side of gally layd,
And chopped off: now surely in my mind,
When that same bloudie stroke his necke smit off,
You felt like stroke eu'n with the sight thereof.
299
8
Slauonian vile, where didst thou learne to knowSuch lawes of warre? within what Scithian land,
Vse men to kill a prisner taken so,
That yeelds, and hath no weapon in his hand?
Or was it such a grieuous sinne you trow,
The foes of his deare country to withstand?
Why hast thou Sunne, so long on this age shinde,
That breeds of Atrews and Thiestes kinde?
9
Barbarian vile, that kild so sweet a youth,To satisfie thy rancor and thy rage,
So rare a youth, as to confesse the truth,
His match could not be found in this our age;
Whose beautie might haue bred sufficient ruth,
Fierce Poliphemus anger to asswage,
But not fierce thee, more cruell and more fell,
Then any monsters that in deserts dwell.
10
The valiant men did studie in time past,With clemencie their honors to increase,
And hate no longer then the fight did last,
With victorie reuenge did euer cease:
So Bradamant, of whom I told you last,
The prisners she had tane, did still release,
And staid their horses when themselues were downe,
And sent them backe againe into the towne.
11
And praid them but her challenge to deliuer,Vnto Rogero, and to call him out,
Who meant with speare in rest her answer giue her,
Vnto her challenge that she sent so stout.
Now when the other knights were all togither,
In presence of the kings, they cast a doubt,
Who this should be, and then they aske Ferraw,
That talkt with her, and her bare visage saw.
12
Sure (said Ferraw) it is not tone nor tother,Of those on whom before your thoughts were set;
I tooke it first it was Renaldos brother,
Who is in yeares a very youth as yet:
But now I rather iudge it is another,
For so much force is not in Richardet,
I thinke it is his sister by her vsage,
Who I haue heard is like him much in visage.
13
She hath ere this of value had great fame,Renaldo and the Palladins among,
I must confesse I found it to my shame,
Her, then her brothers to be farre more strong:
Rogero, when he heard them her to name,
Was guiltie straight that he had done her wrong,
And blusht in countenance with bashfull grace,
And oft his heart shot blood into his face.
14
Yea feare inuaded him, not feare of danger,For force he feared not of any wight,
Of Turke nor Christen, countryman or stranger;
The very cause of this his dolefull plight
Was loue, for loue feares nothing more then anger,
He doubts least she conceiu'd not of him right:
Thus wauing thoughts his mind do both waies cary,
If so he better were to go or tary.
15
The while Marfisa that was present there,And euer had a forward will to iust,
Could now no longer from the same forbeare,
Though seeing some before her lie on dust.
For all their fals did breed in her no feare,
So much in her great value she did trust,
Wherefore least good Rogero might preuent her,
First she rides forth, and in the lists doth enter.
16
And mounted on her horse came swiftly running,Vnto the place where Bradamant did stay,
With panting heart to wait Rogeros comming,
With mind to take him prisner if she may,
She thinks how she might guide her staffe with cunning,
As with her stroke do him least hurt she may:
Thus commeth out Marfisa, nothing fearing,
Vpon her loftie crest the Phenix bearing.
17
Or that thereby to bost her strength she ment,Of her rare strength, of which she tooke some pride,
Or else thereby to note her chast intent
She had, a warlike virgine still to bide;
But Bradamant, who first to meet her went,
And not to be Rogero now espide,
Did aske her name, and by her name she knew
That this was she that made her loue vntrew.
18
Or to say better, whom she did surmise,To be the sole withholder of her deare,
Her whom she hates, gainst whom her blood doth rise,
And minding now to make her buy it deare,
With furie great and rage at her she flies,
And that she may make all suspitions cleare,
With couched speare she fiercely runneth on her,
And meanes to kill her, or to die vpon her.
19
Marfisa was constrained with the stroke,To kisse the ground as those before her had,
Which to such rage her courage did prouoke,
That with disdaine she seemd as one halfe mad;
Nor knowing how so great a foile to cloke,
She drawes her sword with an intention bad,
But Bradamant cry'th out with loftie hart,
What dost thou traitor? thou my prisner art.
20
And though I vsed curtsie to the rest,To vse it vnto thee I am not tide,
Whose mind (as I haue heard) is eu'n a nest,
Wherein is bred all villanie and pride:
Looke how great waters rage and do not rest,
When as the winds do striue against the tide,
So rag'd Marfisa rather more then lesse,
And for meere spite could not a word expresse.
21
But hurles about her blade with all her force,Not caring what she strikes, nor where, nor how,
Vpon the horseman or vpon the horse,
Her rage in her no reason did allow:
And Bradamant as void of all remorse,
With mind to breake that, that refusd to bow,
Ranne at her with the speare that would not misse,
And made her once againe the ground to kisse.
300
22
But once againe vpon her feet she getteth,And with her sword reuengement she intends,
Each fall she hath, her furie sharper whetteth,
Yet still she fals, and can haue none amends,
Nor goldelance his wonted force forgetteth,
For all it touches, to the ground it sends;
Had not the speare bene (as it was) inchaunted,
It could not so Marfisas force haue daunted.
23
Some of our men were hither come the while,I meane some of the Christen host, that lay
Encamped neare the towne within a mile,
So as the wals of Arlie see they may,
And thinking (for her sex did them beguile)
Some knight of theirs maintaind so great a fray,
They thither came with will and with delight,
To see so fierce and well maintaind a fight.
24
Whom when as Agramant from far espide,And thinks they came to bring their knight assistance
He thought it best in wisedome to prouide,
If they should offer force to make resistance;
Wherefore he pointed some that of their side,
May stand from that same place a little distance,
Of this last crew Rogero was the first,
With whom the damsell so to fight did thirst.
25
And seeing now how fierce the combat gro'th,Betwixt these two, to whom he wisht none ill,
Although in sundry kinds he fauord both,
For tone was loue, the tother bare good will;
To suffer them to fight he was full loth,
Although for honors sake he must be still,
Else sure he could haue found it in his hart,
To step betweene them, and the fray to part.
26
But they that with him from the citie came,And saw the Christen champion was so strong,
Stept in betwixt her and the tother dame,
And so withdrew Marfisa them among,
Which act the other Christens did inflame,
So that with mind to venge so foule a wrong,
They stept in to: thus both sides cride alarme,
And soone the skirmish waxed fresh and warme.
27
Such as before were armed, out do runne,They that vnarmed were, their armor take,
And some runne out on foot, on horseback some,
Each to his standerd doth himselfe betake;
The diuers sound of trumpet and of drum,
That doth the horsemen, this the footmen wake,
But Bradamant is malcontent and wrath,
To thinke Marfisa thus escaped hath.
28
Then lookt she wishly all about the place,To find out him that caused all her care,
At last she knew him though not by his face,
Yet by the argent Eagle that he bare,
And viewing well his person and good grace,
His goodly stature and his feature rare,
She rag'd to thinke another should possesse it,
And in these secret words she doth expresse it.
29
Shall any other then that sweet lip kisse?And I in loue thereof stil mourne and pine?
Shall any other then possesse my blisse:
Shalt thou anothers be if none of mine?
No certes, rather then to suffer this,
Thou by my hand shalt die, or I by thine,
If in this life we shall be ioyned neuer,
Death onely be the meane to ioyne vs euer.
30
Although that thou shouldst fortune me to kill,Thy death by right should pacifie my spirit,
For lawes appoint, who guiltlesse blood do spill,
Shall for reward the doome of death inherit;
Yet still I shall sustaine the greater ill,
For I should guiltlesse die, but thou by merit,
I killing thee, kill one that hates me meerly,
Thou killing me, kilst one that loues thee deerly.
31
Why shouldst not thou (my hand) be strong and bold,That by thy stroke his hard heart may be riuen?
Who vnto me sharpe wounds and manifold,
In time of loues sweet peace and truce hath giuen,
And doth eu'n now with stonie heart behold
The wofull state to which poore I am driuen,
Heart now be stout to take thy iust reuenge,
Let this one death thy thousand deaths auenge.
32
With that at him she runs, but first aloud,Defend thy selfe (Rogero false) she said,
And think not thou shalt scape with spoiles so proud,
Of heart subdued of a silly maid.
Rogero, who to her himselfe had vowd,
And to offend her greatly was afraid,
Held vp his gantlet vnto her in token,
That he with her desired to haue spoken.
33
He would her wrath with kind words haue appeased,And shewd her how the cause he brake his day,
Was that with grieuous wounds he lay diseased,
Which forced him against his will to stay;
But at this time she was so sore displeased,
She would not hearken what he had to say,
But with her speare in rest, on him she runneth,
Who such vnkind encounter greatly shunneth.
34
But when he saw she was so rash and headie,And that her choler now so great did grow,
That she was in her full careere alreadie,
He puts his speare in rest, at least for show,
And forward sets, but when she was eu'n readie,
Him to haue giu'n a sharpe disgracefull blow,
(Or that it were that she eu'n then recanted,
Or that her heart to harme him courage wanted)
35
She bare her launce aloft quite ore his crest,And so of purpose that same course she mist,
Yet so, as by the manner might be guest,
She could haue hit him surer, had she list,
And wrath and rage still boiling in her brest,
To bend her force gainst him she did desist,
But in that mood no little harme she workes,
Vnto the other souldiers of the Turkes.
301
36
In little time, she with her gilded lanceHad causd three hundred men on ground to lie,
So that the conquest to the part of France,
Was thought to haue bene gained sole thereby:
Rogero seeks her out, and last by chance,
He speakes to her, and saith my deare I die,
But I may talke with you, what haue I done
Alas, that you my conference should shunne?
37
As when the Southerne wind with luke-warme blast,Doth breath on hils where winter long had dwelt,
Resolues the rocks of ice that hung so fast,
And all the new made mounts of snow doth melt:
So with this gentle prayre, though spoke in hast,
The damsell such an inward motion felt,
That sodainly her hardned heart did soften,
As vnto women kind it chanceth often.
38
Yet answer made she none, but held her peace,She onely turned Rabican aside,
And hasting to get out of that same prease,
She beckned him that after her he ride:
Thus went she thence, with mind inclind to peace,
Vnto a valley, where on either side,
A groue of Cypres so eu'n set was seene,
As if they all of one selfe stampe had beene.
39
Amid this groue a goodly sepultureWas built, which these faire Cypres trees did shade,
Of Porphyrie and marble white and pure,
And faire engrau'n, to shew why it was made;
But of the tombe she tooke no care nor cure,
But there expected in the open glade,
Vntill Rogero hauing made good hast,
Approcht the wood and damsel at the last.
40
But of Marfisa now I must you tell,Who hauing got by this her horse againe,
Her loftie heart with rancor great did swell,
To be reueng'd of this foule sufferd staine,
And seeing where she went, as it befell,
And how Rogero followd her amaine,
She little thinketh that it is for loue,
But rather that they may the combat proue.
41
Wherefore to follow them she thinks it best,So as she came almost as soone as they,
But what a tedious and vnwelcome guest
She seemd to both, one soone coniecture may:
Much sure it did the Dordon dame molest,
Who sole to her Rogeros faults did lay,
She deemd that to come thither nothing mou'd her,
But that Rogero in ill sort had lou'd her.
42
And false, Rogero she againe doth name,And was it not enough false man, said she,
That of thy falshood I should here by fame,
But that I with these eyes the same should see?
But sith I find thou dost thy actions frame,
To driue me with vnkindnesses from thee,
I am content to die, but ere I die yet,
She that did cause it, dearly shall abuy it.
43
Thus as a Viper angrie and malicious,With mind indeed to do her best to kill
Her, that was come in manner so suspitious,
(Though she came more for wrath, thē for goodwil)
With gilded launce she giues a blow pernicious,
That quite vnhorsed her for all her skill,
Backward Marfisa fell, and in the durt,
Her beauer stucke, but had no further hurt,
44
Duke Ammons daughter that resolues to die,Or kill her fo, so much her selfe forgetteth,
That thinking to dispatch her by and by,
Before her head out of the mire she getteth,
The golden launce she will no farther trie,
But throwes it downe, as wrath her courage whetteth,
And to performe the feate, her sword she drawes,
Therewith of feare to cut away the cause.
45
But ere she came so neare, Marfisa met her,Like one with rage, with spite and scorne halfe mad,
To thinke that now againe she sped no better,
And that a while before she sped so bad;
So that Rogero could by no meanes let her
From fighting, which to stop great will he had,
But both of them with choler were so blinded,
They fought like bedlem folk, and desprat minded.
46
They came vnto the halfe sword at the first,And with their rage forgetting rules of skill,
Their ouermuch desire to do their worst,
Was onely cause that they could do none ill;
Their hearts were readie for despite to burst,
And either purposing to die or kill,
Did leaue her sword aside, in mind supposing,
With stab to kill each other at the closing.
47
Rogero sunders them, and both intreateth,To pacifie themselues, but all in vaine,
Then of their daggers he them both defeateth,
And by perswasions mou'd them both againe;
Sometime he speaketh faire, sometime he threateth,
Except they wil at his request abstaine;
But these viragoes wil not thoe desist,
Though weapons want, they fight with feet and fist.
48
He steps betweene againe, and back he drawes,Now one, and then the tother by the sleeues,
And makes them both against their wils to pause,
At which Marfisa not a little greeues;
Her selfe too greatly wronged in the cause,
And him to be too partiall she beleeues;
Wherefore his friendship she doth quite disclaime,
And open warres with him she doth proclaime.
49
And taking vp her sword, in termes most vile,She saith he playes the churlish villens part,
And that he greatly doth himselfe beguile,
To thinke her fight against her wil to part,
She sweares she wil, within a little while,
Of his owne folly make him feele the smart;
And that she wil henceforth so short him curbe,
He shall not dare her combat to disturbe.
302
50
Rogero still bare all her words as words,And sought by speech her to haue pacified;
But seeing that it needs must come to swords,
And that with blowes, not speeches she replied,
No longer time to walking he affords,
But to his weapon he himselfe applied,
And being moued now with rightfull anger,
To saue himselfe, he oft put her in danger.
51
But nere did spectacle breed more delight,In stately Rome or Athens so well learned,
Then Bradamant did take to see this fight,
In which she now apparently discerned,
That of their loue she had not iudged right;
Now iealousie, and all that it concerned,
Suspition, feare, mistrust, and wrath, and franzie,
Are of the sodaine quite put from her fancie.
52
And taking vp her sword she stands not farre,With mind not yet awhile the fray to part,
She thinkes in him she sees the God of warre,
Such grace Rogero vsd, such skill such art:
And tother seemd in that vnpleasant iarre,
Some hellish furie, (so she playd her part)
Yet true it is that he awhile forbare her,
Nor did his worst, but did of purpose spare her.
53
He knew the secret vertue of his blade,Which he had tride in many battels well,
That euermore a way and entrance made,
Whose charme all charmed armes did far excell;
Wherefore he doth not fiercely her inuade.
With bloudy blowes, nor fearfull thrusts and full,
But flatling still he causd his blowes to light,
Till once he was of patience put out quite.
54
For once Marfisa, with intention shrowd,Strake with such furie at Rogeros beauer,
That with that blow she very plainly showd,
That to haue kild him she did her endeuer,
Rogero with his argent Eagle trowd,
From danger of the stroke himselfe to seuer,
But though the shield brake not, gramercy charme,
Yet vnderneath the shield it stound his arme.
55
It happie was Don Hectors shield was there,Else had she put him vnto further paine,
Scarce could he now the massie target beare,
Scarce now the siluer bird he could sustaine:
Now he intends no longer to forbeare,
But hurleth out a foyne with force so maine,
In rage with that late blow so fierce and bitter,
Wo vnto poore Marfisa, had it hit her.
56
I know not what good Angell did her keepe,The thrust mist her, and in a tree it strake,
And enterd in the same a shaftman deepe,
And on the sodaine all the hill did quake:
A secret horror on them all did creepe,
They see the hill, the trees and tombe to shake,
Till from that sepulcher a voice proceeding,
Spake vnto them, all humane voice exceeding.
57
The voice to them with no small terror cride,File not your hands nor hearts with so great sin,
It is a kind of cruell parracide,
To seeke to kill, and be so neare of kin:
Wherefore I charge you lay all hate aside,
And marke my speech, and all containd therein,
I say you both were gotten of one seed,
One wombe you bare, one brest you both did feed.
58
My deare Rogero, my Marfisa deare,Let not the sister seeke to kill the brother,
But learne of me some things that touch you neare,
Which former times in ignorance did smother;
Your sire Rogero hight, who that same yeare,
He gat you of dame Gallacell your mother,
Was by your vncles of his life depriued,
Who also your destruction thus contriued.
59
They put your mother in a steerlesse bote,Who was as then of you twaine great with child,
And in the Ocean wide they let her flote,
There to be staru'd or drownd in waters wild:
But lo how fortune holpe the lucklesse lot,
And ere you yet were borne, vpon you smild,
For why against all hope or expectation,
Your mother made a happie nauigation.
60
And being safe arriu'd at Syrtee shore,There at one burden she brought forth both you,
And then (as if she ought this world no more)
Her blessed soule to Paradise vp flew;
But there by hap (to God be thanks therefore)
Was I at hand, and when the cause I knew,
I did as much, ere I the place did leaue,
As such a barren soile would giue me leaue.
61
Your mother then in dust of earth I lapt,(Our auncient mother) whereto all must go,
And in my cloke your little selues I wrapt,
To seeke some meanes to nourish you, when lo,
A Lionesse that late had whelpt there hapt,
To come in sight while I went to and fro,
Her did I make to leaue her proper whelpes,
And giue you sucke, then wanting other helpes.
62
Ten months and ten in forrests wilde and moorish,The Lions tets you vsed were to sucke,
I after learnd with wilde flesh you to nourish,
Such as I could, of Beares, or Stag and Bucke;
But when you now began in strength to flourish,
One day while I was lacke, by euill lucke,
A band of fierce Arabians comming thither,
Wold haue conuaid you both from thence togither.
63
But thou Rogero when thou sawst them comming,Didst saue thy selfe from that mishap by flight,
But thou Marfisa, not so swiftly running,
Wert tane, and quickly carrid out of sight,
To fetch thee backe againe I wanted cunning,
For which I soride many day and night,
But as the losse of tone did make me sad,
So of the tother greater care I had.
303
64
Ah my Rogero, thou thy selfe canst tell,If thine Atlanta lou'd thee while he liued,
I saw the starres some euill haps foretell,
That thou shouldst haue which me not litle grieued:
Yet I endeuord still, as thou knowst well,
That by my meanes thou mightst haue bin relieued,
But finding thee still contrary inchned,
For very griefe at last I dide and pined.
65
But here I built this tombe afore I died,Where I foresaw you two should make this fray;
And being dead, to Charon lowd I cried,
To suffer in this wood my ghost to stray,
Vntill this fight, to me foresignified,
Should happen, which was done this present day,
Now shall my soule from hence depart in peace,
Now Bradamant thy iealousie may cease.
66
Thus said the voice, and left them all amazed,With wonder great, and strangenesse of the case,
And when a while each had on other gazed,
They met in kindest manner, and embrace;
Nor Bradamant her selfe, who erst was crazed
With iealousie, now tooke it in disgrace,
To see her spouse, when he most kindly kist her,
Now well assured that she was his sister.
67
Thus they agreed at last, and either twin,Do call to mind some acts of childish yeares,
What they had sayd and done, where they had bin,
Which eu'n with tender heart did moue their teares;
At last the worthy brother doth begin
To tell Marfisa what great loue he beares
To Bradamant, whom he to wed intends,
And so at length he made them faithfull frends.
68
Then all parts pacifide so well at length,Marfisa doth intreate her noble brother,
To tell to her the storie more at length,
Of that so strange exiling of her mother,
And if their sire were slaine by fraud or strength,
And who it was that wrought the tone or tother,
For sure (said she) I thinke I neuer heard it,
Or childishnesse did make me not regard it.
69
Rogero tels her, how of Troian race,From Hector they be lineally descended,
By meanes Astianax (of speciall grace,
That scapt Vlysses and the snares intended,
Did leaue a child of like yeares in his place)
And from that country to the sea descended,
And came to Sicill after trauell long,
And tooke Mesina, and grew very strong.
70
His ofspring still increasing in renowne,Calabria rul'd in part, and thence to Phare,
And came at last to dwell in Mars his towne,
And many a noble Emperour and rare,
In stately Rome haue worne th'Imperiall crowne,
Of such as from this stocke descended are,
From Constance and from Constantine accounting,
To Pepin and his sonne, them all surmounting.
71
Rogero first, and Iambaron of these,Rouus, Rambaldus, and Rogero againe,
Of whom (as Atlant told) sau'd from the seas,
Our mother by the shore brought forth vs twaine,
Their acts in auncient stories they that please
To looke, may find them there recorded plaine;
Then tels he how there came king Agolant,
With Almont, and the sire of Agramant.
72
How that Kings daughter, a most noble maid,In feates of armes so valorous did proue,
That diuers Palladines she ouerlaid;
And then with that Rogero fell in loue,
And of her fathers anger not afraid,
Did match in Christen state, as did behoue,
How after this one Beltram sought by treason,
Incestuous loue of her without all reason.
73
And for that cause his brothers and his sire,And his owne natiue soile he did betray,
And open Risa at his foes desire;
Which being tane, and seizd on as a pray,
Fierce Agolant and his inflamd with ire,
Tooke Gallacell our mother where she lay,
Six months with child, and put her in a bote,
And in the Ocean wide they let her flote.
74
Marfisa all this while with gladsome cheare,Vnto her new knowne brothers tale attended,
And in her mind reioyced much to heare,
That of so noble house she was descended,
From which Mongrana came, as doth appeare,
And that of Clarimount so much commended,
Which houses both, long in great fame had flourished,
For diuers noble persons they had nourished.
75
But when of Agramant she heard him say,How both his grandsire, vncle, and some other,
Consented had their father to betray,
And in so cruell sort to vse their mother,
She could not suffer any longer stay,
But breaking off his tale, said noble brother,
(With your good fauor) you haue too much wrong
To leaue your father vnreueng'd so long.
76
If not in Almont nor Traianos blood,You can auenge this ill sith they be gone,
Yet ought you to auenge it on their brood,
Liue you, and let you Agramant alone?
This blot except it quickly be withstood,
Will shame you euer, if it once be knowne,
That he that did this wrong not onely liueth,
But that to you he entertainment giueth.
77
But for my part (said she) by Christ I vow,(Whom as my father did, so serue I will)
That I will not leaue armes, till I know how
To venge my fathers and my mothers ill;
And much I shall lament, and do eu'n now,
If in that Pagan campe you tarry still,
Or euer should be seene therein hereafter,
Except it were to worke their harme and slaughter.
304
78
Oh how did Bradamant at this reioyce,Aduising him to follow that direction,
And to giue eare vnto his sisters voice,
To leaue so vile a place, and base subiection,
And cleaue to Charles as to the better choice,
Who gladly would receiue him in protection,
Of which (she said) one sure signe she did gather,
She heard him often so extoll his father.
79
Rogero answers thus with great regard,(My deare) to haue done this at first I ought,
But then indeed the troth I had not hard,
Whereby I might my dutie haue bin tought:
Now sith that Agramant hath me prefard,
If his destruction should by me be sought,
That am his seruant and a daily waitor,
The world might iustly deeme I were a traitor.
80
But this my meaning was, and so it is,To find some meanes I may (with honor) part,
Which when I haue, then sure I will not misse,
To come and to requite your great desart;
And that (quoth he) I had performd ere this,
Saue that a cause (of which I felt the smart)
Enforst my stay, the wounds the Tartar gaue me,
So as my friends had much to do to saue me.
81
As she knowes well that holpe me at my need,And eu'ry day did fit by my beds side:
Thus much he said, but they that tooke good heed
To all he said, in earnest sort replide,
Howbeit at the last it was agreed,
That he so long with Agramant should bide,
Till he some honorable cause might find,
To leaue his master and to change his mind.
82
Well (quoth Marfisa) if he needs will go,Then let him go, but I will you assure,
That shortly I will vse the matter so,
He shall not long with Agramant endure:
This said she vnto Bradamant, but tho
She told not how she would the same procure:
Thus for that time Rogero brake this parlie,
And turnd his horse to turne againe to Arlie.
83
When lo they chanc'd a sodaine crie to heare,Proceeding from the next adioyning vale,
The voice did seeme, when they approched neare,
To be some damsels that for helpe did call:
But who it was, hereafter you shall heare,
For now of force I must cut off my tale,
And pray you my abruptnesse to excuse,
For in the next you shall heare further newes.
306
THE XXXVII. BOOKE
THE ARGVMENT.
Rogero with his sister and his spouse,Find Ullanie halfe stript and strangely vsed,
Straight each of them, but chiefe Marfisa vowes
To be aueng'd on him that her misused:
She heares the law that women none allowes;
She finds the man that hath the sexe refused:
She plagues the tyrant, for his proud behauiour,
And makes another law in womens fauour.
1
If worthie Ladies would but take such paine,In studies that immortall glorie raise,
As they do often take in matters vaine,
Deseruing none at all, or little praise,
Which notwithstanding that they might obtain,
They haue employed many nights and dayes;
To haue thereby some trifling want supplied,
That niggard nature had to them denied.
2
And further, if they could with their owne pen,Set forth the worthie praise of their owne kind,
And not to be beholding vnto men,
Whom hate and enuie often so doth blind,
To make vs heare the good but now and then,
But eu'rie place full of their ill we find;
Then sure I iudge, their praises would be such,
As hardly men should haue attaind so much.
3
For many writers do not onely striue,Too highly to extoll our sexes fame.
But that they thinke they must withall contriue,
To publish womens blemish and their blame;
As fearing haply, lest they might arriue,
By their most due desart, to greater name;
And so they might thereby obscure our praise,
As doth a cloud the Sunnes bright shining rayes.
4
But yet, for all such sparing pens do write,Or lauish tongues can speake in their disgrace,
Enforcing eu'rie il report for spite,
That may their credits slander and deface,
We still shall find their glorie shining bright,
We still shall see, it keepes a worthie place,
Though wanting of that height the greater part,
To which it should attaine to by desart.
5
Harpalicé and Thomeris beside,With those that Turnus did and Hector ayd,
Besides that dame that in an Oxes hide,
The first foundation of faire Carthage layd,
Zenobia eke, and she that quayld the pride
Of Assur, and both Inde and Persia frayd:
I say there haue bin many more then thease,
That haue bin famous both by land and seas.
6
Nor only Rome and Greece haue bred such store,Of faithfull matrons, chast, and stout, and wise,
But all the world beside, some lesse, some more,
From whence it sets, to where the Sun doth rise:
Though now their names obscured are so sore,
That few or none are laid before our eys:
And all because that they in those dayes wrate,
Were enuious, and false, and full of hate.
7
Yet cease not Ladies, ye that vertue Ioue,To follow that your course, and so good way,
And let not feare your minds from it remoue,
That your great fame hereafter may decay;
For true it is, as we do daylie proue,
No good nor ill can still stand at a stay;
Though writers in time past were not your frends,
The present time shall make you large amends.
307
8
The worthie writers of this present time,Haue set your worthie praises so to vew,
Some in graue prose, and some in learned rime,
As none shall need this want hereafter rew:
And though they were infected with this crime,
Yet in this age, so learn'd are some of you,
So well acquainted with the noble muses,
You could your selues remedie such abuses.
9
And if I should recite the names of those,That by the writers of our times are praisd,
Or that themselues haue wrote in verse or prose,
And haue their owne and others glorie raisd,
As I might please some few, so I suppose,
I might be blam'd of others, and dispraisd,
Or in omitting some, to do them wrong,
Or reckning all, too tedious wax and long.
10
Shall I then all omit? that were not well,Sith that to please them all I do desire:
Then will I chuse some one, that doth excell
The rest so farre, as none may dare enuie her;
Whose name doth in such height of honor dwell,
As hard it is, for any to come nye her,
Whose learned pen such priuilegde can giue,
As it can make eu'n those are dead to liue.
11
For eu'n as Phebus shines on eu'rie star,Yet on his sister casts his fairest light,
So eloquence and grace ay shining are,
Much more on her, then any other wight,
And maketh her to passe the rest as farre,
As Phebé doth the other starrs in night,
Her light so splendent is, and so diuine,
As makes another Sunne on earth to shine.
12
Vittoria is her name, a most fit name,For one in triumphs borne, in triumphs bred,
That passeth Artimesia in the fame
Of doing honor to her husband ded;
For though she did erect a wondrous frame,
For her Mausoleo, with a Pyramed,
Yet which is more? to lay the dead in graue,
Or else from death, with learned pen to saue?
13
If Laodamie, and if Brutus wife,Argia, Arria, and Euadne chast,
Be to be praysed, as they are so rife,
Because when as their husbands dayes were past,
They willingly forsooke this mortal life:
Then in what height must she of right be plast?
That such a gift vnto her spouse doth giue,
That being dead, she still doth make him liue.
14
And if the great Macedon enuie bare,Vnto Achilles, for Meonian Lyre,
Much more to noble Francis of Pescare,
He would haue borne, whose praise is sounded hyre;
By such a wife, so vertuous, chast, and rare
As eu'n thy soule it selfe could not desire,
A louder trumpe thy prayses out to sound,
Sith hardly can a match to this be found.
15
But to conclude both these and others prayse,That I may follow on my present storie,
I say that both in these and former dayes,
Faire dames haue merited great fame and glorie;
Which though by writers enuie much decayes,
Yet need you not therefore now to be sorie,
Because amongst vs all it is intended,
That this foule fault hereafter shalbe mended.
16
Now of Marfisa and of Bradamant,I meane to tell, that still were so victorious,
As both my voice too faint, and skill too scant
Would be, to count their famous deeds & glorious;
Yet shall good will so farre supply my want,
As I will recken those were most notorious,
And were my might agreeing to my mind,
I would deserue as well of all their kind.
17
If you remember, I declared erst,How good Rogero purposd to returne,
And how he heard the sound I then reherst,
Of some that seemed wofully to mourne;
Which wayling so his mind with pittie pierst,
As he a while his iourny did adiourne,
Both that to know the parties he desired,
And ment to succour them, if cause required.
18
With him those dames the noble cosins went,And when they nearer came vnto the place,
They saw three damsels wofully lament,
Appareld strangely and in sorie case,
Their clothing all, had bene clipt of and rent,
Vp to their nauels, to their foule disgrace,
They sitting on the ground and durst not rise,
To hide their secret parts from strangers eyes.
19
As Vulcans sonne (by Pallas pointment nurst)Whom (without mother) got of earth he had,
(For whom Aglaur was plagu'd, because she durst,
Looke on him when the Goddesse had forbad)
Sat in a coach (by him deuised furst)
To hide his leggs, that were deformd and bad:
So sat the wofull maids their secrets hiding,
Scarse from the ground, to lift their looks abiding.
20
The foule prospect, did with great wrath inflame,The worthie dames when they did plaine it vew,
And in the maids behalfs, they blusht for shame,
As do in Pestus gardens roses new:
But Bradamant, when as more neare she came,
Was grieued more, for one of them she knew,
Whose name was Vllanie, that since a while,
Was vnto France sent from the Island Ile.
21
She also knew both tother in effect,For she had met them trau'ling on that cost,
But yet her speech she chiefly did direct,
To Vllany, whom she regarded most;
And askt her what vile wight did so neglect
All law, and had all humane nature lost,
As that without remorse he could abide,
To leaue that bare, that nature seeks to hide?
308
22
Poore Vllanie, that both by speech and sight,The worthie damsell Bradamant did know,
To be a Ladie, whom she saw last night,
To giue three Princes such an ouerthrow;
When first a while she sobbed had and sight,
The manner and the matter plaine doth show,
How people neare that place, did ill intreat them,
And clippe their cloths, and also whip and beat them
23
Fast by (said she) the Castle you may see,Where they do keepe, that vs so ill did vse,
As for the shield of gold and Princes three,
That came to win it, she could tell no newes:
We onely ment to trudge on foote (said she)
To make complaint of those did vs abuse,
Vnto the noble Christen Emp'rour Charles,
Who punish will I trust such lawlesse carles.
24
Braue Bradamant and stout Marfisa longs,To go immediatly vnto this place,
And be aueng'd on such enormous wrongs,
Done as they deeme, to all the sexe disgrace:
Rogero eke, that knows well what belongs,
Vnto the law of knight-hood, in such case,
(To succour all that are by wrong opprest,
But chieflie women) goes without request.
25
With one consent, they all put off their bases,Which seru'd the maidens verie fit to hide,
The secret parts, of those same priuie places,
That modestie to show cannot abide.
Then Bradamant straightway behind her places,
Faire Vllany, and makes her so to ride,
Marfisa and Rogero take the paine,
Behind themselues, to place the other twaine.
26
The dame of Dordon led them all the way,The tother two do follow with great hast,
But Vllany showd where the Castle lay,
To which they many a hill and valley past.
But now so much was spent of that same day,
That they were quite benighted at the last,
At night to take a village they were glad,
Where they good meat, good drinke, good lodging had.
27
But when to looke about them they began,They none could see but women in the place,
The women drest, brought all, and not a man,
In all the village that did show his face:
Among themselues they on the matter scan,
And much they mused at so strange a case,
Among so many, fayre, foule, young, and old,
As there they saw, not one man to behold.
28
I thinke that Iason neuer marueld more,Nor those his Argonauts, that with him came,
Then when they first arriu'd at Lemnos shore,
Where they found none but women void of shame,
That had their sires, and brethren slaine before,
And did a common wealth of women frame:
Then did Rogero with the Ladies wonder,
To see no men, but women such a nomber.
29
Wherefore (when first they had in seemly sort,Prouided raiment for the damsels three,
If not so sumptuous, certes not so short,
But to conceale that which men should not see)
Then they desir'd some dweller there, report
To them, what might the cause and reason be,
Why in this towne there were allowd no men,
And in this sort the woman answerd then.
30
This order at the which you seeme to wonder,Was by a tyrant pointed for our paine,
A tyrant, whose subiection we are vnder,
Who by his proclamation doth ordaine,
From mothers sonnes, frō husbands wiues to sunder;
And in such hard exile we must remaine,
And suffer not by merit, but by force,
From our deare spouses, such a long diuorce.
31
Thrise haue the trees with winter bene deleaued,Since we haue bene into this place confind,
Of husbands, fathers, and of sonnes bereaued,
So sore the tyrant hateth all our kinde;
And if that any chance to be perceaued,
(As some perhaps there be, that are so kinde)
To come but once to looke vpon his wife,
The man and woman both, shall loose their life.
32
The lawlesse wretch, that makes this cruell law,Dwels two leagues hence, and is of such behauiour,
As from his purpose no man can him draw,
How much so euer he be in his fauour;
He doth all women from his land withdraw,
As if he were infected with their fauour,
He is so fierce, so sturdie, and so strong,
That none dare once protect, whom he will wrong,
33
And which is strange, he vseth strangers worst,If any happen to his house arriue,
(It seems he hath of womens bloud some thurst)
For though he let them part from thence aliue,
Yet first with whipping, and with vsage curst,
He doth their torment, and reproch contriue:
Wherefore if you your safeties do regard,
I wish you not to trauell thither-ward.
34
At this Marfisa and the Dordon dame,Were much incenst, and did desire to know,
How he was cald, and whence his furie came,
That made him first to such a madnes grow:
The woman maketh answer thus, his name
Is Marganor, and if you please Ile show
The whole discourse: to this they all agreed,
And she then on her tale, did thus proceed.
35
This Marganor, that makes full many weepe,Was bloodie from his birth by disposition,
But yet a while he did dissemble deepe,
That of the same there was but some suspition;
His sonnes did make him it the closer keepe,
Because they were of contrarie condition,
Both boūteous, frank, & curteous, of good qualitie,
Of strangers louers and of hospitalitie.
309
36
Faire dames and knights that hapt to passe this way,Were still by them so frendly entertained,
That by such kind of curteous vsage, thay
The loue and praise of eu'rie one had gained;
Their honors also farther to display,
The sacred right of knight hood they obtained;
Both stout, both strong, comly and of good stature,
Not wanting ornaments of art or nature.
37
Cylandro and Tanacro nam'd they are,And long they liu'd with no dishonor stained,
And longer had, if they had bene so ware,
As not in Cupids snares to haue bene trained;
This foolish passion foyld all their welfare,
The passion men call loue, this them constrained,
To change the worthie course they had begonne,
And do that by the which they were vndonne.
38
It happend that there thither came a knight,Belonging to this Emperour of Greece,
Who brought with him a Ladie faire and bright,
Of good behauour, and a louely peece,
With whom Cylandro fell in loue that night,
And fully bent of her to haue a fleece,
He thought her beautie so possest his hart,
That he should surely dye, if she depart.
39
And, for he deemd it labour lost to pray,To open force he doth himselfe dispose,
And secretly all armd, vnto the way
Where tother needs must passe, afore he goes,
And seeing him he would no longer stay,
But trusting to his manhood, comes to bloes,
Not seeking vantage, but with lance to lance,
He minds to trie of fight the doubtfull chance.
40
Not thinking though but with his suer running,To beat him downe, and beare away his wife,
But this same knight, that in this art was cunning,
Did pierce his shield, and reft him of his life:
The newes hereof vnto his father comming,
Fild all the court with plaints and sorows rife;
At last, when long the time had bene deferred,
By his great ancestors they him interred,
41
Nor did this foule mishap and ill successe,Make Marganor to minish ought his port,
Tanacro still did courtesie professe,
To strangers all, and vsd them in good sort:
But loe, it chanc't within a yeare and lesse,
A noble Baron thither did resort,
A comely man of personage to see,
With him a Ladie faire as faire might be.
42
And to her beautie her behauour fitted,Her looks are modest, manners sober are,
Her words are ware, and shew her sharply witted;
Likewise her Lord, himselfe most comely bare,
As fit to whom the charge should be committed,
Of one in shape and qualities so rare:
He hight Olindro, Lord of Longauilla,
The louely Lady named was Drusilla.
43
No lesse Tenacro doted on this Dame,Then had his brother done on that before,
But that foule end to which his brother came,
Made him more warie, though not honest more;
By former good report that bred him fame,
And all his passed praise, he sets no store:
Be fame, be vertue troden in the dust,
So he may but fulfill his present lust.
44
Thus caring onely to auoyd the danger,In which he saw before his brother dyde,
He secretly that night way-laid the stranger,
There as he knew next day he needs must ride,
Not meaning his owne person to endanger;
In fine, the Baron that to saue his bride,
Did stoutly giue and take full many a wound,
At last they left foule murderd on the ground.
45
Drusilla se'ing her deare Olindro ded,In deadly sound vnto the ground she sanke,
But thence in curteous sort the men her led,
Whō to haue kild her, she would giue more thanke:
But griefe in her such will to die had bred,
That wilfully she leapt downe from a banke,
To kill her selfe, but poore soule could not dy,
But all her head and face was brusd thereby.
46
Tanacro gets some surgeons and Phisicions,To looke vnto her health, and hurts to cure,
He causeth her to heare most rare musicions,
To cheare her heart, and solace to procure:
He maks great brags of her so chast conditions,
With mind by marriage to make her sure;
He thinks a woman of so vertuous life,
Must not be termd a lemman, but a wife.
47
To marrie her he inwardly intends,This outwardly in shew he doth make knowne,
And euermore he highly her commends;
And though her griefe was by his doings growne,
He saith he will for this make large amends,
And that he will her loue, and be her owne:
But still the more that on that point he grateth,
The more in heart she him detests and hateth.
48
But yet her hate did not so blind her wit,But that to keepe it close she tooke good heed;
She knew full well she must dissemble it,
If she will be reuengd of him indeed:
Wherefore vntill the time may serue her fit,
She seemes vnto his meaning halfe agreed,
And did in shew the same so smoothly carrie,
That lastly she consented him to marrie.
49
Sweet peace and loue were written in her eyes,Reuenge and hate were in her heart engraued,
To kill him, in her thought she doth deuise,
When with most kindnesse she her selfe behaued:
He needs must die, needs die in any wise,
But eu'n thus long to liue of God she craued:
How can I better end my life (she seth)
Then in reuenging my deare husbands deth.
310
50
Thus seeming to forget all former wrong,She chearfully expects the wedding day,
As though that she did for this marriage long,
And so she did, although another way,
She shortens all that might the time prolong,
And paints her selfe, and tricks her trim and gay:
She onely crau'd thus much for Christ his passion,
She might be marry'd of her country fashion.
51
Not that her speech herein indeed was trew,That such the custome was as she pretended,
But she doth mind to forge a custome new,
With trust assuredly to be reuenged
On him, that her beloued husband slew;
Reuenge, reuenge was all that she intended:
She pray'th, she might obserue her countrie guise,
Which in this sort, she doth to them deuise.
52
The widdow that to marrie new intends,According as our countrie law allows,
Must first appease the ghost whom she offends,
I meane (saith she) that of her former spouse,
And make vnto his spirit some amends,
By Dirges, trentals, masses, pray'rs, and vows,
In that same Church, whereas his bones be resting,
Then may she marrie new, without molesting.
53
But when of her new spouse she takes the ring,The Priest in sight of all that stand about,
Of hallowd wine a bottle then must bring,
And in the Challice he must powre it out;
Then ouer it he must both say and sing,
Effectual prayrs, and Psalmes, and hymnes deuout,
Then must the woman take it of the Vicker,
And drinke vnto her spouse the blessed licker.
54
Tanacro liketh well of this her motion,Respecting little how much it imported,
To let her marrie with so strange deuotion,
He onely wisht to haue the season shorted;
And not mistrusting that same hallowd potion,
To cut of all delays he her exhorted,
Each makes like hast, though sundry in cōstruction,
He to her wedding, she to his destruction.
55
Among her women seruants that were theare,Drusilla had one old ilfauord trot,
She calleth her, and bad her in her care,
That some strong sodaine poyson may be got,
You know (said she) to get it, how and wheare,
Conuay it safe into some pretie pot,
For I (quoth she) haue found the way and skill,
The wicked sonne of Marganor to kill.
56
And doubt not, I know how to saue vs both,As I will let thee know at better leasure,
The woman doth the feat though seeming loth,
Saue onely that it was her mistres pleasure:
Then for a cup of Candie wine she goth,
And mingles this and that in so due measure,
As made it with but little alteration,
Not sowre in tast, yet sure in operation.
57
Now came Drusilla on the wedding day,With gorgeous gowns and costly iewels dect,
There where Olindros corps intombed lay,
Raisd high on collumns as she did direct:
The Priest began the solemne Masse to say,
To which came great resort, without suspect,
And Marganor himselfe now most contenting,
Came with his son and frends the place frequenting.
58
When all the solemne rites to end were brought,Then in a cup of massie gold and fine,
The Priest powrd out, as she before had taught,
The cursed poyson, with the blessed wine;
She soberly drinks a conuenient draught,
Inough to do the feat she did designe,
Then to Tanacro with a louely cheare,
She gaue it, who supt vp the challice cleare.
59
And rendring then the challice to the Frire,He thought in open arms her to embrace.
But then she sodainly began retire,
Then her sweet looks, and words so full of grace,
Were gone, her eyes did seeme to flame like fire,
Then wrath and spite were written in her face,
She cries with grisly looke, and voice vnpleasant,
Auaunt, and touch not me thou traitor peasant.
60
Thoughtst thou of me solace to haue and sport,And bring me cause of torment, teares, and woe,
No, now I trow that I haue cut thee short,
That drinke was poyson, if you do not know:
But ah this death is of too gentle sort,
And I too noble hangman am I trow,
A hangman ought with halter stop thy breath,
This was for thee, too honorable death.
61
My onely sorrow is that ere I dyde,My sacrifice was not in full perfection,
And that thy wicked sire and more beside,
Did not with thee, tast of that strong confection:
But pardon me (my deare dead spouse) she cride,
If I haue fayld for fault of good direction,
If I perhaps haue not done all I should do,
Yet sure I haue performed all I could do.
62
And looke what I do want in all or part,In working him torture condigne, and shame,
I hope the world to come, with greater smart,
Will pay it him, and I shall see the same,
Thus much she said, and then with chearfull hart,
Still calling on her former spouses name,
Take here in worth (said she) this sacrifice,
That thy poore wife did for thy sake deuise.
63
And of our Lord for me a place obtaine,In Paradise, with thy most blessed spirit,
And if he say that none must there remaine,
But they that by good works the same inherit;
Tell him I haue a cruell tyrant slaine,
Of tyrants death I bring with me the merit;
To kill a tyrant, what can be more glorious,
Or in the sight of God more meritorious?
311
64
Thus much she said, and fell dead therewithall,And being dead, she kept a chearfull looke,
And sure to her the comfort was not small,
That for her spouse so sharpe reuenge she tooke.
I know not if Tanacro in his fall,
Did follow her, or else her ouertooke,
He ouertooke her sure, as may be thought,
That dranke the bottome, and the greater draught.
65
Fell Marganor that heard his sonnes last grone,And seeing him lie dead past all reliefe,
Made at the first so great and grieuous mone,
As though he would haue dide of very griefe:
Two sons he had of late, now hath he none,
Two women had hereof bin causes chiefe,
One mou'd the first to hazard life, the tother
With her owne hands gaue poison to his brother.
66
Loue, pitie, griefe, disdaine, and hate, and wrath,Desire of death and of reuenge together,
The dolefull parent so inraged hath,
Like to the roring seas in fowlest wether:
Faine to Drusilla he would do some scath,
But she was dead before, yet goes he thether,
As blinded hate did him still forward pricke,
He seeks to harme the corse that was not quicke.
67
Eu'n as a snake whom speare to ground doth naile,Doth bite the steele and wood that sense hath none,
Or as a dog that doth a man assaile,
If one do fling at him a sticke or stone,
Doth runne and bite the same without auaile,
Till he that hurled it is past and gone:
So Marganor more fierce then dog or snake,
Seeks on the senslesse corse reuenge to take.
68
And when that harrying it, and all to tearing,Could not in any part his wrath asswage,
Eu'n in the Church on vs, no such thing fearing,
He drawes his sword, and in his senslesse rage,
Doth hew and mangle women, none forbearing,
For dignitie, for beautie, nor for age;
While we cride out, and at his furie wondred,
He thirtie kild, and hurt and maimd an hundred.
69
So sorely of his people he is dreaded,That no man dare against his acts oppose him,
Vnto his will he is so firmely wedded,
That for the time starke mad ye would suppose him;
Who would reforme him, hangd shall be & headed,
For guerdon of his paine, when once he knows him:
His seruants do, as doth the prouerbe say,
When furie runs, lets furie haue her sway.
70
But when at last himselfe was almost tiredWith killing vs, though voyd of all remorce,
Then by his friends request he was desired,
And as it were constraind hy honest force;
And to his castle he himselfe retired,
Appointing there this law of our diuorce,
And clemencie forsooth he doth it call,
In that he did forbeare to kill vs all.
71
Thus whether they obeyd or else repined,Men are from wiues, babes frō their dames deuided,
And hither all the women be confined;
This towne of purpose is for vs prouided,
Where if that any man to loue inclined,
And by a good and kind affection guided,
Come but to see his wife, and thereby show it,
Wo be to him if Marganor may know it.
72
And worse then this, he hath ordaind an order,Such one I thinke was neuer heard before,
All women that are tane within his border,
Must first be whipt with rods till they be sore,
And then he doth their vestiments disorder,
By clipping them behind and eke before;
And so away he sendeth them halfe stripped,
When first they haue bin beaten well and whipped.
73
And if that any hope to haue assistance,Or bring some knights them to defend and saue,
Forthwith he killeth them and their assistants,
As sacrifices on his childrens graue:
So as no hope there is to make resistance,
For euermore he if he list can haue
At his commaund, of men a mightie powre,
By name one thousand eu'n within an houre.
74
And further all men in his realme he takes,By either faire perswasions or by feare,
Vpon the Sacrament to sweare he makes,
That ay they shall to women hatred beare.
Now for your owne and these faire Ladies sakes,
Iudge you if you haue reason to forbeare,
Vnto his castle nearer to approch,
Except you will be sham'd with foule reproch.
75
This tale so much did moue the warriers three,With pitie first, and then with high disdaine,
That saue it was so darke they could not see,
They would haue gone eu'n then him to haue slain:
Now for that night they rest, but they decree,
So soone as Phebus should returne againe,
To arme themselues, and boldly to aduenter,
Vpon the tyrants hold by force to enter.
76
Now as they were about their horse to take.They saw before them at the mountaines root,
Some twentie men, that no great hast did make,
But some on horseback were, and some on foote,
All armd, these three them soone did ouertake,
Before they full had rode an arrow shoot,
And then they saw how they did beare by force,
And aged beldam on a sumpter horse.
77
This was forsooth Drusillas chamber mayd,That to her mistris that same poison gaue,
And being then mistrustfull and afrayd,
What strange effect it fortune might to haue,
Vpon the wedding day from Church she staid,
And so by secret flight her selfe did saue,
And kept her selfe three yeares from law and triall,
Till Marganor had found her by espiall.
312
78
What cannot gaine and hope of mony worke?First by his coyne he learned where she lay,
Then with his coyne he set these men a worke,
Who in this sort did fetch her thence away,
And of a Lord (in whose land she did lurke,
With promise that she safely there should stay)
With coyne of that same Baron her he bought;
Ah noble men, can nobles make you nought?
79
Looke how the great and stately streame of Poe,The nearer he vnto the sea descends,
When Lambra, Tycin, Adda, with some mo,
Fall into him, and their due tribute sends,
The broader and the deeper still doth grow:
Eu'n so the more that Marganor offends,
The greater will in these three champions breeds,
To be auenged on so vile misdeeds.
80
Yet first to free this woman they intend,Who else (at least) should haue bin hangd in chaines,
Straight on those lowts all three their forces bend,
They couch their speares and slack their horses rains:
An host of men could scarce such force defend;
Much lesse a sort of dastard hireling swaines:
Wherefore they cast away their warlike tooles,
Their cariage left, and went away like fooles.
81
Eu'n as a greedie wolfe that runneth lodenWith his desired pray vnto his den,
That finds vnwares the way to him forboden,
By hunting dogs, or by the hunting men,
Hurles downe his pray, and by the paths vntroden
Doth flie for life; so did these cullions then,
Not onely that their prisoner enlarge,
But leaue their horses and their other charge.
82
Some, others force, some their owne feare vnhorses,By meanes whereof they did at ease prouide,
For those three damsels good conuenient horses,
That yesterday behind them three did ride:
Also Rogero that old trot inforces,
(Though she in vaine refused and denide)
To go with them, lamenting sore and wailing,
But all her lamentation nought auailing.
83
Now were they come vnto the towne at length,About the which there was no ditch nor wall,
Yet were the houses built in bredth and length
Both orderly and very strong withall;
A castle in the midst of mightie strength,
Stood on a rocke that ouerlookt them all;
To this they march with great desire and longing,
Because it was to Marganor belonging.
84
Within this towne no sooner set they feet,But that the guard that kept the watch, began
Behind them step, and chained fast the street:
Some others, with the greatest hast they can,
Cald Marganor, that straight came them to meet,
With guard of many a tall and sturdie man,
Who with a speech but short, yet full of pride,
The leud law of his Citie signifide.
85
Marfisa who before hand had agreed,Vpon the matter with the other two,
Sets spurs to horse, and galloping in steed
Of making answer, makes no more ado,
But being of her person strong indeed,
Employing neither launce nor sword thereto,
With bended fist she giues him such a boxe,
As stonid him, and would haue feld an oxe.
86
Nor doth Rogero, nor the dame of France,Grant to the others any time of ease,
But chiefe the damsell that with goldelance,
Doth throw to ground as many as she please;
No man there was that durst himselfe aduance,
To stand vnto the shocke with one of these;
Rogero seuen, she threw downe seuen times seauen,
Eu'n as if thunder had falne downe from heauen.
87
The hurtlesse people to their houses fled,The hartlesse souldiers followd them as fast,
None stayd behind but those were maimd or dead,
And Marganor alone was left at last,
And by Marfisa now is captiue led,
Who (with his armes behind him piniond fast)
Gaue him Drusillas maid to be tormented,
And wold haue burnd the town, had they consented.
88
But all consent the law to abrogate,The people easily were wonne thereto,
And to accept one of another rate,
Which there was ratifide with small ado,
His law and him they did detest and hate,
Yet as him list they were content to do,
As still we see the foolish common vse,
Obey him best that doth them most abuse.
89
And why, they dare not one another trust,Nor tell to one another their complaints,
They let him kill and banish whom he lust;
Ones goods he takes, anothers house he taints,
The silent soule yet cries for vengeance iust
Vnto the mighty God and to his Saints,
Who though they seeme in punishing but slow,
Yet pay they home at last, with heaue and how.
90
So now these silly soules inflamd with ire,With speech and deeds do make their stomacks knowne,
And (as the prouerbe saith) each man beares fire,
To burne the tree the wind hath ouerthrowne.
Ye Princes that to tyrannize desire,
Marke this mans end, and make his case your owne,
Beleeue it well, that God doth euer send
Vnto a wicked life a wretched end.
91
Out came the yong and old, the great and small,In words and workes to do him great disgrace:
He that so terrible was erst to all,
Is now despisde of all (a wondrous case)
Yea those three warriers had ado not small,
To keepe him now from killing in the place;
Not that they car'd to haue his life preserued,
But vnto greater paines they him reserued.
313
92
They gaue him bound vnto that woman aged,That erst vpon Drusilla did attend,
And to those three, whose, minds were yet inraged,
Whom whipt and stript he lately thence did send;
These with sharp goads and kniues his body gaged,
And to torment him, all their wits did bend,
Now some cast stones, and some with need els pricke him,
Some scratch, some bite, with feet some spurn & kick him.
93
Eu'n as a brooke new swolne with rage of raine,Or with a sodaine thaw of melting snow,
Oft bears down rocks and trees with force so maine,
As heards doth drowne and houses ouerthrow,
A drouth doth come, and then that brooke againe
Abates his pride, and is at last so low,
A woman, yea a child with small adoe,
May passe the same, and neuer wet their shoe.
94
So Marganor that erst in pompe and pride,Made hearts of men to quake when he was named,
To lowest ebb now turned sees his tyde,
His combe now cut, his furie now is tamed;
Now kennel-rakers scorne him, and deride,
To looke men in the face he is ashamed,
Small children, yea the babes, be not affeard,
To pill away his haire from head and beard.
95
The while Rogero with those champions twaine,The castle summond that did gladly yeeld,
Here Vllanie recouered againe,
Which lately she had lost, her golden shield:
Here met they those three kings, which to their pain
Dame Bradamant had twise ou'rthrowne in field,
At the same castle, where before I told
She wan their lodging, and made them lie cold.
96
Since which, on foote vnarmd they vowd to go,Which want, faire Vllanie from death did saue,
For all that went with armd men garded so,
Were sacrificed on Tanacros graue;
Yet better of the twaine it was to show,
The parts that modestie conceald would haue,
For why both this and eu'ry other shame,
Is halfe excusd, if force procure the same.
97
Marfisa straight a Parlament did callOf all the towne, and made them take an oth,
Of high and low, rich, poore, and great and small,
Although they were content, or else were loth,
That to their wiues they should be subiect all;
That in their houses and the Citie both,
The women should haue rule, such powre, such graces,
As men are wont to haue in other places.
98
She further made this notable decree,That lodging, meate and drinke should be forbode
To trauellers, of whatsoere degree,
Admit they go on foote, or that they rode,
(Within that towne) except they first agree
To sweare by some great Saint, or else by God,
That they should euermore be womens frends,
And foe vnto their foes to their liues ends.
99
And whatsoeuer stranger there arriues,Must further sweare, before they go their way,
If, or they haue, or meane to marry wiues,
That euermore they shall their wils obay:
This must they keepe on perill of their liues,
For why she vowes to come ere twelue-months day,
And if she find her law broke in that Citie,
To sacke and burne the same without all pitie.
100
This done, the warriers three did hasten hence,But yet their going they so long deferred,
Vntill Drusillas corse was tane from thence,
Where (as it seemd) it was but homely berred,
And order tane, with cost and good expence,
Her spouse and she might nobly be interred,
With Epitaphs, by which was signified,
In how great honour they both liu'd and died.
101
Marfisa made her law in marble faire,Vpon a pillar to be written downe,
And then Rogero with the warlike paire
Of damsels, tooke their leaues of all the towne:
But Vllanie her garments doth repaire,
And stayes to make some new and costly gowne,
She thinks to come to Court were great dishoner,
Except she had some sumptuous clothing on her.
102
Therefore she staid behind, and in her powreWas Marganor, by those same warriers giuen,
Who had new torments taught him eu'ry howre,
And was at last by his sharpe iudges driuen,
To leape downe headlong from a mightie towre,
Where all his bones and flesh were broke and riuen:
Of him nor these I haue no more to say,
But of those three that went the tother way.
103
The rest of that same day together riding,And halfe the next in companie they spent,
Vntill they found a way in twaine diuiding,
One to the campe, tother to Arlie went;
Here oft they take their leaues, yet still abiding,
For euer parting makes friends ill content:
In fine the knight the way to Arlie tooke,
They to the campe, and thus I end this booke.
317
THE XXXVIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Marfisa doth present herselfe beforeKing Charles, and in his presence is baptized:
Astolfo doth Senapos sight restore,
By whom such hardie feats are enterprised,
That Agramant therewith molested sore,
Is by Sobrino finally aduised,
To make a challenge on Rogeros hed,
To end the troubles that the warre had bred.
1
Faire Ladies, you with gracious eare that heare,My present storie, now me seemes I see,
By this vnwōted changing of your cheare,
That with Rogero you offended be,
For thus againe departing from his deare,
And that you take the same as ill as she,
As though you thought, and durst affirme it boldly,
That fire of loue in him did burne but coldly.
2
And sure had he bin moued hereunto,By any other cause, then that I told,
No though thereby he had attained to
Rich Crassus wealth, or richer Cresus gold,
Yet would I thinke (as now it seemes ye do)
Loues darts in him had tane but shallow hold:
For so sweet ioy, as this was to be thought,
With gold nor siluer neuer could be bought.
3
But when ones honour shall thereon depend,Then should it merit not excuse but praise,
And chiefe when one so truly may pretend,
He cannot saue his honor otherwayes:
And that same woman that herselfe should bend,
To stop the same by prayre, or by delayes,
Should giue iust cause to eu'rie one to guesse,
Her loue were little, for her wit were lesse.
4
For if a woman should of him she loues,Esteeme the life and safetie as her owne,
(I speake of such, whose choice no change remoues,
And whose affections are not rashly growne)
Then sure much more in reason it behoues,
That of his honour should more care be showne;
By how much more, it should in due account,
Both pleasures all, and life it selfe surmount.
5
In following of his Lord so faithfully,Rogero did but eu'n as he was bound,
And if he should haue left him then, thinke I
He should haue done it but on slender ground.
What though Almonté made his father die?
On Agramant that fault could not redound,
Who had for all his ancestors offences,
Giu'n to Rogero many recompences.
6
He did but well in going to his Lord,And she as well (it cannot be denied)
In that she thereto granted her accord,
Which she might hap haue stopt, had she replied,
That from the same her liking had abhord;
What now she wants; henceforth may be supplied,
But if that honor haue one minuts staine,
An hundred yeares scant can it cleanse againe.
7
Now while Rogero vnto Arly went,As dutie bound him to Traianos haire,
Vnto the Christen campe incontinent,
Rogeros spouse and sister (noble paire)
As louing frends and cosins now they went,
And vnto Charles his tent they did repaire;
Who minds by siege, or battels doubtfull chance,
To driue these tedious troubles out of France.
318
8
When in the campe it was made knowne and bruted,That Bradamant was come, her noblest brothers
Came forth to her, and kindly her saluted,
With Guidon, though they came of sundry mothers;
And she, as for her sexe and calling suted,
Did resalute both them, and diuers others,
By kissing some, and speaking to the best,
And making frendly gestures to the rest.
9
But when Marfisas name was heard and knowne,Whose noble acts eu'n from Catay to Spaine,
And ouer all the world beside were blowne,
To looke on her all were so glad and faine,
With presse and thrust not few were ouerthrowne;
And scarse a man could in the tents remaine,
But heauing, shouing, hither-ward and thither,
To see so braue a paire as these togither.
10
Now when to Charles his presence come they be,Vpon her knee Marfisa did decline,
And (as Turpino writes) no man did see,
Her knee to touch the ground before that time,
To none of anie calling, or degree,
Not vnto Christen Prince or Sarazine:
She onely doth esteeme king Pepins sonne,
As worthie whom such honor should be donne.
11
But Charles arose, and met her halfe the way,And in kinde stately sort did her embrace,
And set her by his side that present day,
Aboue the Princes all, and gaue her place.
Then voided was the roome that none might stay,
But Lords and knights well worthie so great grace,
Excluding all the sawcie baser sort,
And then Marfisa spake in such like sort.
12
Most mightie Cæsar, high renownd and glorious,That from our Indies, to Tyrinthian shore,
From Scythia, frosen still with breath of Boreas,
To Æthiopia scorching euermore,
Makst thy white crosse, so famous and victorious,
By value much, but by thy iustice more;
Thy praise (O Prince) and thy renowned name,
Were cause from countries farre I hither came.
13
And to say troth, flat enuie mou'd me chiefe,Because thy powre to reach so farre I saw,
I must confesse I tooke disdaine and griefe,
That any Prince that fauord not our law,
And was to vs of contrarie beliefe,
Should grow so great, to keepe vs all in aw;
Wherefore I came with mind to haue destroid thee,
Or by all meanes I could, to haue annoyd thee.
14
For this I came, for this I stayd in France,To seeke your ruine and your ouerthrow,
When lo a chance (if such a thing can chance)
Made me a frend and subiect or a fo,
I will not stay to tell each circumstance,
But this in substance, it did make me know,
That I, your bloodie enemie Marfisa,
Was daughter to Rogero late of Rysa.
15
He by my wicked vncles was betraid,And left my wofull mother big with child,
Who neare to Syrté downe her bellie laid,
As strangely sau'd, as wrongfully exild;
She brought a twin, a man child and a maid,
We fosterd were, seuen yeares in forrest wild,
By one that had in Magicke art great skill,
But I was stolne from him against his will.
16
For some Arabians sold me for a slaue,Vnto a Persian king, whom (growne in yeares)
Because he my virginitie would haue,
I killed him and all his Lords and Peeres
And then such hap, God and good fortune gaue,
I gat his crowne and armes, as yet appeares;
And ere I fully was twise ten yeare old,
Seuen crownes I gat beside, which yet I hold.
17
And being enuious of your endlesse fame,(As erst I told) I came with firme intent,
By all the meanes I could, to quaile the same,
And haply might haue done the hurt I ment;
But now a better minde, that minde doth tame,
Now of my malice I do much repent,
Since by good hap, I lately vnderstood,
That I was neare allide to you in blood.
18
And sith I know my father was your man,I meane no lesse then he did, you to serue,
As for the hate and enuie I began,
To beare you I now the same reserue,
For Agramant, and all the harme I can,
To all his kin, that do the same deserue,
Because I now do know, and am assured,
His ancestors my parents death procured.
19
This said Marfisa, and with all did adde,That she would be baptized out of hand,
And when that Agramant she vanquisht had,
Returne (if Charles so pleasd) to her owne land,
And Christen them, and farther would be glad,
Against all those that would Christs law withstand,
Ay to beare armes, with vow that all her gaine,
To Charles and holy Church should ay remaine.
20
The noble Charles of tongue as eloquent,As wise in head, as valorous in heart,
Did much extoll the Ladie excellent,
And all her kin and sire by iust desart:
And of her former speech incontinent,
Most graciouslie he answerd eu'rie part,
Concluding that he would for euer after,
Accept her as his cousin, and his daughter.
21
And her againe he did embrace of new:And kist her forhead as his child indeed:
It long would be to tell how braue a crew,
From Clarimount, and Mongrane did proceed,
To welcome her, or when Renaldo knew
Marfisas name, what ioy in him did breed,
He calls to mind what force in her he found,
Then when Albracca he besieged round.
319
22
It long would be to tell of Guidons ioy,With Griffin, Aquilant and Sansonct,
That scapt with her their land that do destroy.
Those men that in their Realme they hap to get:
No lesse did Malagige and Viuian ioy,
Remembring how she ioynd with Richardet,
To rescue them, as long before I told,
When vnto Bertolage they had bene sold.
23
Now was prepard against th'ensuing day,A place, as was by Charles himselfe deuised,
Set stately forth, and hangd with rich aray,
Where this most worthy dame should be baptised,
Then Bishops were employd by whom she may,
Be taught the Christen faith and Catechised,
And all that day a learned Clarke and Preacher,
The principles of Christen faith did teach her.
24
Then Turpin Archbishop of chiefe account,In his robes pontificiall doth baptise her,
Charles with great reu'rence standeth by the fount,
And what to answer, he did still aduise her.
But now tis time that to the Moone I mount,
For that receit, must make Orlando wiser,
From whence the Duke, descending by strange byas,
Came with S. Iohn in charret of Elyas.
25
And by his guide he backe againe was led,And keeps still in his hand that pot or Iarre,
That should againe make wise the mased hed,
Of that same Palladin well seene in warre.
Likewise the Saint vnto Astolfo sed,
Assoone as they allighted from the carre,
That with an herbe (of which there grew great store)
He should againe Senapos sight restore.
26
For which, and for his former great desart,He should haue men t'assault Biserta land,
He teacheth him those people vnexpart,
He should so traine, to make them to his hand:
He further learned him the way and art,
How he might safely passe th'vnstable sand;
And plainly thus S. Iohn, from point to point,
What th'English Duke should do, did him appoint.
27
Then did Astolfo take his winged steed,And of the Saint deuoutly tooke his leaue,
And soaring downe, he makes no little speed,
To do that which in charge he did receaue;
So farre by Nylus bankes he doth proceed,
Vntill that Nubia he did plaine perceaue;
And following the course of that same streame,
Came to Senapo, head of that same Reame.
28
Great was the pleasure, triumph, and the ioy,Senapo tooke when he thereof had woord,
Remembring well the trouble and annoy,
The foule Harpias brought him at his boord:
But when he made him eke his sight enioy,
And did so rare a grace to him affoord,
That by his meanes his eye sight was restord him,
He worshipt him and like a God adord him.
29
Nor onely did he giue him souldiers then,Wherewith he might Biserta towne inuade,
But for each one he askt he gaue him ten,
That soone two hundred thousand men he made:
Scarse had the fields roome for so many men,
But footmen all: so is that countryes trade,
For horses in that Region are but dentie,
But Elephants and Camells they haue plentie.
30
Now that same day that went before the day,In which the men of Nubia made account,
To march on forward, some part of their way,
Astolfo on his Griffith horse doth mount;
And Southward he doth passe, and doth not stay,
Vntill he came neare to a mightie mount:
At foote whereof a vast caue he doth finde,
Which was the lodging of the Sotherne winde.
31
The mightie caue had but a narrow mouth,At which the Duke (as Christs Apostle taught)
Did watch so long, vntill the wind of South,
Came home to ease his spirits ouerwrought,
To enter in, Astolfo him allowth,
But when anone, to haue come out he thought,
Within a leather sacke the Duke had plast
At that caues mouth, he caught and tyde him fast.
32
The Palladin, full proud of such a pray,Returnes to Nubia ward, before twas night,
And to the Negros then he showd the way,
Appointing them how they should trauell right;
He victualls doth and cariages conuay,
All safe vnto that hill, that Atlas hight;
Quite ore those fields where many haue bene found,
With wind for want of water, more then drownd.
33
And being come vnto the mountaines side,There, where he might discouer all the plaine,
He doth his bands and companies deuide,
And chuseth those that are most apt to traine,
And those he parts and putteth them aside,
And orders for the rest he doth ordaine,
Then he in sight of all the hill ascendeth,
And lookt like one that some great feat intendeth.
34
And kneeling downe (as one that did beleeue,His prayre should granted be, as well as hard)
He prayd his master their great want releeue:
Then casting stones that were before prepard,
(What cannot firme beleefe in Christ atcheeue?)
The very stones (a thing to credit hard)
Did grow, and liue, and moue by hidden cause,
And had both bellyes, legges, and necks, and iawes.
35
And naying lowd, fild all the place with sound,Of horse, some bay, some roane, some daple gray,
And of all them were readie horses found,
The spurre, the wand, the leg and voyce t'obay;
To stop, to start, to passe carier, to bound,
To gallop straight, or round, or any way:
Thus were the men well horst, with little paines,
For eu'rie horse had saddle, bit and raines.
320
36
Thus by this vertuous Duke, within one houre,Were fourscore thousand footmen, horsemen made,
With which so great and vnexpected powre,
Full fiercely he all Affrike did inuade,
And burnt and spoild full many a towne and towre,
All giuing way to his victorious blade,
Vntill three Princes, Agramants vicegerents,
Made head against the Duke, with their adherents.
37
The king of Aldyzer, and he of Ferse,With stout Bransardo, all three mightie kings,
That find their enemies to grow so fierce,
Do send their Lord by sea, word of these things.
A little fricket straight the waues doth pierce,
And of these euill newes quicke notice brings
To Agramant that lay that time in Arlie,
Besieged by an armie strong and warlie.
38
Who hearing of his countries wofull case,And by his absence what did them betide,
He cald his Lords and Princes to the place,
Consulting how for this harme to prouide;
And looking once or twise with stately grace,
Now on the tone, then on the tother side,
But on Marsilio and Sobrino chiefe,
In such like words he told to them his griefe.
39
Although I wot it worst beseemes of all,A Generall to say, I had not thought,
Yet so say I, for when a harme doth fall,
Beyond the reach of humane sence or thought,
Then sure the blame is either none or small,
And in this compasse may my fault be brought:
My fault it was, Affricke to leaue vnarmed,
If of the Nubians now they could be harmed.
40
But who could thinke (but God that vnderstandsThe things to come as well as those are past)
So great an host could passe so many lands,
That were from vs so great a distance plast?
Twixt whom and vs lies those vnstable sands,
That dangerously are mou'd with Southerne blast,
Yet are they come, and haue so farre preuailed,
Byserta selfe is now by them assailed.
41
Now on this point your counsels here I craue,If so I shall all fruitlesse hence retire,
Or trie before I go, if I can haue
The crowne of France, to which I do aspire,
Or how I may at home my country saue,
And this destroy, which is my most desire;
If any know the meane, then speake he to it,
To th'end that we may know the best, and do it.
42
Thus much the sonne of great Traiano spake,And on Marsilio fixt his eyes, that he
As chiefe in place, thereby might notice take,
That first by him he would aduised be:
Who when he had stood vp for reu'rence sake,
And bowd his bodie, and with all his knee,
Downe sate him in his honorable seate,
And spake such words as I shall here repeate.
43
What euer fame doth bring, of good or ill,To make it greater it doth euer vse,
Wherefore (my soueraigne Lord) I neuer will
Be bold or basht with hearing flying newes,
But moue such doubt and such assurance still,
As though I would not all reports refuse,
Yet would I thinke the truth of other sort,
Then as so many mouthes shall make report.
44
And I beleeue each tale so much the lesse,By how much more from likelihood it doth arre:
Now in this present cause let any guesse,
If like it be, a king that dwels so farre,
Could come with such an host, as they expresse,
To Affrica, so often vsd to warre,
And passe those parlous sands, where to his cost,
Cambises erst did leese his mightie host.
45
But they be Nubians, let it be allowd,By miracle come in a showre of raine,
Or closely carrid thither in some clowd,
Sith by the way none saw so large a traine:
Hath Affrike euer to such people bowd?
Must they haue aide to driue them home againe?
I sure may think you kept a sorie garison,
If them and yours betweene there be comparison.
46
I rather thinke th'Arabians are come downe,From those their hils, and done some spoile or wast,
And tane some men, & burnt some baggage towne,
But small resistance finding as they past,
And that Bransardo for his owne renowne,
Whom as your deputie you there had plast,
For one sets downe one hundred in his letter,
To th'end that his excuse may seeme the better.
47
But if you will but send some ship or twaine,That but your standard may therein appeare,
No doubt but they will hie them home againe,
By that time these but weigh their ankers here,
If they Arabians, that can bide no paine,
Or if they Nubians be, the case is cleare,
Who onely taken haue this heart of grace,
To know your person absent from the place.
48
This therefore is the summe of my perswasion,Make sure the conquest here ere you go hence,
Charles can no more endure your sharpe euasion,
Now that his nephew is distraught of sence:
Now by the forehead let vs take Occasion,
Least after all our trauell and expence,
He hide away his haire, and turne his bald.
And we vnprouident be thought and cald.
49
With these so warie words, and such as these,The subtle Spaniard labourd to perswade,
The king of Affrike not to passe the seas,
Till of the warres in France an end were made:
But sage Sobrino, that espide with ease,
How deepe he seemd in shallow streames to wade,
Respecting priuat more then publike cause,
Did answer thus after a little pause.
321
50
My Liege, when first to peace I counseld you,I would I had not bin so true a Prophet,
Or if my sayings needs must proue so true,
I would you had beleeu'd them for your profit;
Not Rodomont, with that rash youthfull crue
Of Alcyrd, Marbalust, that then did scoffe it,
Whom now I wish here present, face to face,
But chiefly Rodomont I wish in place.
51
He that then vndertooke to make all France,But like the dust that flies before the wind,
He that did vow, in heau'n or hell, your lance
To follow, nay to leaue it farre behind,
Now when he should the matter most aduance,
Vnprofitably lurkes in corners blind,
And I that then (because I told you true)
Was cald a coward, still abide with you.
52
And still I will abide, what ere ensuth,During this life, which though made weak with age,
I will not feare, against the strongest youth
That liues in France, in your defence to gage;
Nor yet can any charge me with vntruth,
Not from the proudest Prince to poorest page,
And well I wot, I haue done more then some,
That promist much ere they were hither come.
53
Thus much I say, thereby more plaine to proue,That what I then did say, or now impart,
Came from true seruice, and of loyall loue,
And not of faint, much lesse of hollow hart:
Now I aduise you hence with speed remoue,
And that you homeward in all hast depart,
For well you wot, that wisedome it is none,
In winning other mens, to leese ones owne.
54
Yet know not I why we should call it winning,If of our losses iust account we yeeld,
Thirtie two kings we were at the beginning,
A third part now scarce tarries in the field;
And we our selues here vp in corners pinning.
Scant safe within these rampiers can vs shield,
We so decay, except in time we cease,
At last we shall be driu'n to sue for peace.
55
Orlando is not there, tis true, what tho?Had he bin there, we had all dide ere this,
His want doth but prolong our ouerthrow,
By other men, our state in danger is:
They haue Renaldo there, that plaine doth show
His force and courage not much lesse then his,
There are his cousins, all the Palladins,
Eternall terror to our Sarazins.
56
They further haue a man in strength and hart,(I needs must praise my foe against my will)
A second Mars, I meane king Brandimart,
Whose great puissance ioynd to actiue skill,
My selfe in single fight haue found in part,
And further proofe haue seene by others ill:
Besides, Orlando wanted long ago,
Since which we more haue lost then won you know.
57
Now if we sped no better in time past,We shall speed worse hereafter I do dread,
We see Gradasso ouer sea is past,
And that the valiant Mandricard is dead;
Marfisa hath forsaken vs at last,
And Rodomont, of whom it may be sed,
Were but his faith with force to be compared,
The rest might in a manner haue bin spared.
58
Now when as so great helpes and succors faile vs,So many thousands of our souldiers slaine,
And all supplies that should at all auaile vs,
Alreadie come from Affrike and from Spaine;
They haue of late got foure new knights to quaile vs,
Compard with any of the Christen traine,
Foure knights that if you search from hence to Inde,
Foure knights to match these foure you shal not find
59
I know not if you euer heard before,Of Oliueros sons, and Sansonet,
With Guidon sauage, whom I value more
Then all their other succors that they get,
From Almanie the higher or the lower,
Although such aids at nought we cannot set,
And we do plainly see before our eyes,
That eu'ry day they may haue fresh supplies.
60
We may assure our selues if any moreWe take the field, our side goes to the pot,
For if when we were two for one before,
Yet we must needs confesse we gained not,
Now they so much increased haue their store,
With forraine powre, both English, Dutch and Scot,
What can we hope but after all our toyle,
To haue bad recompence of shame and foyle.
61
Yet all is well, if you will part betime,And hie you home before it proue too late;
But if you tarry any longer time,
You here will leese your men, at home your state:
Now if to leaue Marsilio seeme a crime,
For feare the world condemne you for vngrate,
To saue him harmlesse you for peace must sue,
Which they will so accept, if so will you.
62
But if you thinke such motion may not stand,With honour of your state and high degree,
And hope by fight to make a surer hand,
Which yet how it succeeded hath you see;
Yet seeke at least to haue the vpper hand
By this deuice, and herein follow me:
Put all the quarrels triall, if you can,
To one, and let Rogero be the man.
63
I know, and you do know, and so we allDo know, that our Rogero hath such might,
No Christen can so sturdie be or tall,
As hand to hand to conquer him in fight:
But if you meane to make warre generall,
Though he in strength far passe each other knight,
Yet in the fight he but for one can stand,
And what is one against a mightie band?
322
64
I thinke it best, if so you thinke it good,To offer this to Charles that if he will,
If with his worthie courage so it stood,
For sauing those, whom you on both sides kill,
And shunning of the shedding guiltlesse blood,
Which both of you, on each side dayly spill,
Each side to chuse one champion at whose parrell,
To make a full conclusion of the quarrell.
65
Prouided first, that which so ere of theseShall dye, his Prince shall pay the tother tribute:
I know this motion will not Charles displease,
For all his Lords, will there-vnto contribute;
And this would worke our safetie, and our ease,
For to Rogero, so much I attribute,
That such his vallew is, this cause so iust,
Were Mars Antagonist, yet yeeld he must.
66
These words Sobrino spake with such effect,As Agramant thereto gaue his consent,
And then Interpreters he did direct,
Who straight to Charles with such a challenge went:
Charles meanes not such occasion to neglect,
He thinks the combat wonne incontinent,
He had such store of champions, nere the latter,
Vnto Renaldo he commits the matter.
67
Glad were both armies of this new accord,Henceforth to liue in quiet they intend,
And either part doth praise his soueraigne Lord,
That of these broyles would make so speedie end.
Each one in mind these foolish bralls abhord,
That made them thus in warres their dayes to spend,
Each man could say, and no man then denyd it,
That warre is sweet to those that haue not tryd it.
68
Renaldo, he in mind doth much reioyse,To thinke his Prince had done him such a grace,
To make of him aboue so many choyse,
For triall of so great importing case:
And though Rogero were by common voyce,
The chiefe man deemd of all the Turkish race,
And hand to hand had killed Mandricard,
Renaldo this, but little did regard.
69
But good Rogero he was nothing glad,Though of so many gallant men and stout,
His king to his great praise, him chosen had,
Aboue all other knights, and pikt him out;
His heart was heauie, and his looke was sad,
Not that in mind he ought did dread or doubt,
Renaldos forces, or Orlandos either,
No scarse and if they had beene both togither.
70
But this procur'd his griefe, because he knew,Renaldo brother was vnto his deare,
Who did her plaints with letters oft renew,
And charged him so deepe, as toucht him neare:
Now if he should to old wrongs, adde this new,
To kill Renaldo, then the case is cleare,
She should haue so great reason to reproue him,
He doubts she neuer will hereafter loue him.
71
Now if Rogero do in silent sort,Lament this combat tane against his will,
No doubt his spouse which heard this sad report,
Was worse appaid then he, at least as ill;
She beats her brest, and breakes her tresses short,
And many teares with sorrow she did spill,
And calls Rogero oftentimes vngrate,
And curseth euermore her cruell fate.
72
It needs must turne vnto her griefe and paine,Who ere is ouercome, who euer win,
She dare not thinke Rogero can be slaine,
Her heart such anguish doth conceiue therein;
And if it pleased Christ so to ordaine,
For chastising his wretched peoples sin,
That man should dye, that of her house was chiefe,
Besides his death, that brought a further griefe.
73
A griefe that was indeed beyond all measure,To thinke she neuer might henceforth for shame,
Go to her spouse, without the flat displeasure,
Of all her kin and house of whence she came:
And when she weigh'd the case at better leasure,
Each thing to her seemd worse and worse to frame,
For why she knew, her tongue that knot had tyde,
That while she liu'd, might neuer loose, nor slide.
74
But that deare frend of hers, that neuer faild,To helpe at chiefest needs, the noble maid,
I meane the sage Melissa, so preuaild,
That Bradamantés griefe was part alaid,
For when she knew the cause, and what she aild,
Against the time, she promised her aid;
And vndertooke, that of that bloudy quarrell,
To her nor hers, there should arise no parrell.
75
This while the gallant knights against the fight,Themselues, and eke their weapons do prouide,
The choise whereof did appertaine in right,
Vnto the champion of the Christen side,
Who, as a man that tooke but small delight,
(Since he had lost his famous horse) to ride,
Did chuse to fight on foot, and in this sort,
All arm'd, with axes long, and daggers short.
76
Or were it chance, or were it in regard,That Malagige aduised him thereto,
Because he knew the force of Balysard,
Or powre all charms of armour to vndoe,
(Of whose sharpe edge you haue ere this time hard)
But this they did appoint betweene then two,
About the place likewise they do agree,
A plaine neare Arlie walls, the same to be.
77
Now when Aurora left the lothed bed,Of Tytan (vnto whom she hath no list)
To th'end that no disorder may be bred,
On either side the marshalls part the list,
At end whereof, were rich pauillions spred,
Where nothing that belongs to state was mist,
And distant from each tent a little space,
On either side, they did an altar place.
323
78
Not long time after this, in battell ray,The Turkish armie with their king came out,
Glistring in gold, and stately rich aray,
In show, with all Barbarian pompe set out,
A swift Arabian horse, of colour bay
He rode, and by his side Rogero stout,
Rode cheeke by cheeke, and to his greater fame,
On him to wait, Marsilio thought no shame.
79
His helmet (for the which the Tartar dyde,Slaine by Rogero as I did rehearse)
(Which since a thousand yeares, and more beside,
Was celebrated in more stately verse)
Marsilio carrid, by Rogeros side,
Well mounted on a Spanish genet fearce,
His arms, and all that did thereto belong,
Some other states, deuided them among.
80
On tother side came worthie Charlemayne,From out his tents, strongly intrencht, anone,
And all his bands of men he did ordayne,
So as if to battell he should then haue gone:
About him was of Peers a noble trayne,
Renaldo in the mids, with armour on,
That onely helmet erst from Mambryn tane,
Was by Vggero borne, the noble Dane.
81
Two axes, both alike in each respect,Salemon and Duke Namus beare before,
The Chieftaines on each side their men direct,
To keepe within their limits euermore;
And in the midst, was left a large prospect,
Betweene each company, and roome good store,
For present death it was, if any venter,
Saue those two champions, in the list to enter.
82
When second choise of weapon (as was fit)Was giu'n Rogero to auoid suspect,
Two Priests before the rest came forth, to wit,
Of each side one, and one of either sect,
Each had a booke, ours had Christs holy writ,
Theirs Alcoran, with errours foule infect,
With ours came forth the Christen Prince deuout,
With that of theirs, the king of Turks came out.
83
Now first king Charles neare to his altar stands,And this great protestation there did make,
And lifts to heauen both heart, and eyes and hands,
O God, O Christ, that suffredst for our sake,
O blessed Ladie, that in swathing bands,
Heldst him that mortall flesh of thee did take,
And didst nine months inclose that high diuinitie,
In sacred wombe, still keeping true virginitie.
84
Be witnesses, that here I make it knowne,And promise faithfully for me and mine,
To Agramant, and who so ere shall owne
The crowne of Affrike in ensuing time,
That if my champion shall be ouerthrowne,
To pay to them, each yeare of gold most fine,
Ten horslode, and forthwith the warres to cease,
And euermore hereafter to haue peace.
85
And if I fayle, then let the fearfull wrathOf both, on me at once this folly wreake,
And worke vnto my sect all wo and scath,
That all insuing ages plaine may speake,
Loe what a plague, and iust reward he hath,
That durst his oth to you, and promise breake:
This said, his hand he laid vpon the booke,
And vp on heauen he fixt his stedfast looke.
86
When this was done, then all departed thence,There where the Turks had with much superstition
Adornd their altar with no small expence;
And their king Agramant, with like condition,
Vowd neuer after this, to do offence
To Charles, but passe the seas with expedition,
And ay keepe peace, and equall tribute pay,
If that Rogero vanquisht were that day.
87
And in like sort he did protest alowd,And cald on Mahomet, his Idol great,
And by that booke, that his Priest held, he vowd
To keepe most duly all he did repeat:
This done, to part from thence were all allowd,
And either Prince retired to his seat;
Then in like sort they sweare the champions both;
And thus much in effect containd their oth.
88
Rogero promiseth, that if the fight,By Agramant shall be disturbd or parted,
That neuer after he will be his knight,
But serue king Charles, and be to him true harted,
Renaldo in like sort his faith doth plight,
That if to him, Charles any aid imparted,
Before that one of them were ouercome,
That then himselfe to Agramant would come.
89
Now when these ceremonies all were ended,Then eu'rie man departed to his side,
And then the warriours onely now attended,
The trumpets sound, that battell signifide;
Which when both heard, then each of thē intended,
To show the vtmost of his vallew tride:
Now sounds the steele with blows, not few nor soft,
Now they themselues, strike low and now aloft.
90
Sometime they would beguile the tone the tother,With mind vnto their strength, to ad their art,
They profer at one place, and strike another,
Inuading still the least defended part:
But good Rogero, that against the brother,
Of her did fight, that did possesse his hart,
Did oft bestow his blows, with such regard,
Most thought Renaldo was for him too hard.
91
He seemed readier to ward then strike,For he himselfe well knew not what he ment,
To kill Renaldo, that he did not like,
To dy himselfe that was not his intent:
But now I hope that none will it mislike,
Sith in this booke so much time hath bene spent,
And least my tediousnesse may some molest,
In this ensuing booke to heare the rest.
326
THE XXXIX. BOOKE
THE ARGVMENT.
King Agramant breakes oth, and is constrained,Vnto his natiue soile by sea to flye,
Where then Astolfo many townes had gained,
And at Biserta siege as then did lye:
Orlando thither commeth, madly brained,
But th'English Duke did cure him by and by:
Braue Dudon, with his nauie made of leaues,
Meets Agramant, and hotly him receaues.
1
What tongue can tell, or learned pen expresse?The woes, to which Rogero now did runne?
In mind, and body, driu'n to such distresse,
That of two deaths, the tone he cannot shun:
If he be slaine, and if he kill no lesse,
Both wayes he sees he shall be quite vndonne:
By shame in death, and if he win and liue,
By that offence he shall his true loue giue.
2
The tother knight whom no such thoughts encombredLets frankly fly his blows without regard,
In so great store as was not to be numbred,
No time, no place, nor no aduantage spard:
Rogero seemd to him, as if he slumbred,
Small list he had to strike, but all to ward,
And if he did, in such a place he strake,
His blow great sound, but little signe did make.
3
The Pagan Lords now doubt it will go wrong,They see the combat so vnequall grow,
Renaldo seemd too lustie and too strong,
Rogero seemd too lasie and too slow.
But Agramant that sate the rest among,
Doth fret, and fume, and chafe, and sweat, and blow,
Doth blame Sobrino chiefly, whose perswasion,
Was of this combat chiefe and sole occasion.
4
This while Melissa sage, whose skill was greatIn Magicke art, repaired to the place,
And with some secret words she did repeat,
She changd her voice, her stature, and her face,
In mind hereby to worke a wondrous feat;
She seemd all armed, in a Dragons case,
In sword, in shield, in shew, in eu'rie thing,
She seemed Rodomont the Sarzan king.
5
To wofull Agramant she straight doth ride,(In likenesse of an horse, she rode a sprite)
And comming to his presence, lowd she cride,
(My Liege) this was too fowle an ouersight,
To match a beardlesse boy so meanly tride,
With such a famous and renowned knight,
And chiefe in matter that imports so much,
As doth the whole estate of Affricke tuch.
6
Wherefore that you in time this losse may saue,Permit the combat to proceed no more,
Let Rodomont the blame and blemish haue,
Of breaking that, which you so rashly swore;
Now each man shew how well his sword can shaue,
Now I am here, each man is worth a score.
These words in Agramant had so much force,
That without more aduice, he straight tooke horse.
7
And thinking sure fierce Rodomont was theare,Forthwith the Christens host he doth inuade,
Of oth nor promise he hath now no feare,
This one mans presence him so bold had made:
Each man doth in a moment couch his speare,
Or charge his pike, or draw his glittering blade:
Melissa hauing set them thus togither,
With this illusion vanisht (God knows whither.)
327
8
The two stout champions when they plainly saw,Their combat, that all quarrell should descide,
Disturbd against all promise, and all law,
They cease all force, and lay all wrath aside,
And by consent, themselues they do withdraw,
Vntill it might more plainly be descride,
In whether Prince of faith were found such want:
In aged Charles, or youthfull Agramant.
9
And each of them of new doth vow and sweare,That vnto him that first did cou'nant breake,
They will for euer endlesse hatred beare,
And ioyne together such offence to wreake:
The while the hosts of neither side forbeare
To make quicke triall who be strong or weake,
For lightly at the first conflict they shoe,
Their hearts if they be resolute or no.
10
Euen as a grewnd which hunters hold in slip,Doth striue to breake the string, or slide the coller,
(That sees the fearfull Deare, before him skip,
Pursewd belike with some Actæons scholler)
And when he sees he can by no meanes slip,
Doth howle, and whine, and bites the string for choler
In such like case within the tents did stay,
Marfisa with dame Bradamant that day.
11
All that same day vnto that present howre,They had beheld with great despite and paine,
Such tempting baites yet had they not the powre,
To set their foote in that forbidden plaine:
But now they do the field on each side scowre,
Though erst for duties sake they did abstaine,
Now finding such a true and iust excuse,
That Agramant had lewdly broke the truse.
12
Marfisa ran the first quite through the brest,And made the speare come forth a yard behind;
Then with her sword she flies among the rest,
There chiefe where most resistance she doth finde:
And Bradamant puts Goldélance in rest,
With like effects, but of another kind,
For all she toucht therewith she ouerthrew,
And yet not one among them all she slew.
13
Thus these two warriours euer as they went,Subdewd their enemies, and kept them vnder,
Who euer met them surely should be shent,
And each of them at tothers force did wonder:
But being both to sharpe reuengement bent,
At last they part themselues, and went asunder,
Each by her selfe, such high exploits performing,
As gaue the Turks long after cause of mourning.
14
As when the Southerne winds do melt the snow,Congeald on tops of mountaines many dayes,
It often happens that two streames do flow,
And taking in their course, two sundrie wayes,
At last so violent and furious grow,
That bearing downe, and breaking vsuall bayes,
They wast the fields, and seeme on vye to runne,
By which of them most damage may be donne.
15
Eu'n so these twaine, incenst with rage and wrath,And each in seu'rall acts their forces trying,
Do worke the Turks, no little woe and scath,
And leaue them ouerthrowne, or maymd, or dying:
Scarse Agramant the powre by this time hath,
(Say what he list) to keepe his men from flying,
Himselfe not shrinking though, nor once retiring,
But euermore for Rodomont enquiring.
16
By onely his aduise and exhortation,(For so the vnaduised Prince doth thinke)
He broken had his solemne protestation,
He maruels now, to find him so to shrinke:
Likewise Sobrino with great lamentation,
(Religion in his mind so deepe did sinke)
Retyrd to Arly, euermore protesting)
His faultlesse mind, that periurie detesting.
17
Marsilio eke vnto his countrie fled,The shamefull promise breach, of Agramant
Strake in his mind such superstitious dred,
He leaueth him to beare the brunt, who scant
Against the Christen souldiers could make hed:
Thar no supplies of forren powres did want,
With Palladines among them fierce and bold,
Mixt like rich gemmes in faire embroderd gold.
18
But now a while I linquish this conflict,And passe beyond the seas without a barke,
For to this tale I am not tyde so strict,
But that I will repeat (if you will harke)
Astolfos acts, who forward dayly prickt,
With new made horsemen, as (if you did marke)
I told you erst, and did all Affrike wast,
Vntill three kings resisted him at last.
19
The king of Algazer, and stout Bransard,Did leuy powres, such as in hast they could,
And put them all in armes without regard,
That some to young were found and some to old;
Yea from the musters, women scant were spar'd,
For Agramant (as hath before bene told)
With hope of vaine reuenge, without aduise,
Of able men, vnpeopled Affrike twise.
20
Thus few were there, and of those few were theare,(So quite his countrie weale he did neglect)
The greater part vnskilfull, armes to beare,
As was more plainly proued in effect,
For at first brunt they fled from thence for feare,
In hope Biserta walls should them protect:
Braue Bucifer was taken in the fight,
Bransardo scapt, and sau'd himselfe by flight.
21
For Bucifer alone, he tooke more griefe,Then all the rest (he did him so esteeme)
Because Biserta asked great reliefe,
For which this Bucifer most fit did seeme,
Who was in all those parts of credit chiefe;
Wherefore Bransardo faine would him redeeme,
He many wayes doth cast, but none conclude on,
Till at the last he did remember Dudon.
328
22
This Dudon was by blood and birth a Dane,But yet esteemd the Palladins among,
He lately at the Bridge was prisner tane,
Where Rodomont the sturdie Turke and strong,
Brought many worthy men vnto their bane:
To Affrike Dudon then he sent ere long,
Now Bransard thinkes (nor was his thought amisse)
Stout Bucifer by change to get for this.
23
He perfect notice had, by true espiall,The Nubians leader was an English Lord,
“Who loue a Dane (there can be no deniall)
“And once were Danes, as writers do record:
Wherefore he sends a messenger for triall
Vnto Astolfo, who doth soone accord,
To free his kinsman, whom he lou'd so dearly,
And ioyned was in blood to him so nearly.
24
Thus Dudon by the English Duke was freed,Who afterward his seruice did employ,
Now (as Saint Iohn had wild him to proceed)
He sought to worke the Turks some more annoy;
And that he might set Prouence free with speed,
Which Agramant and his did then enioy,
He maketh of his men a new election,
Whom he may send to free them from subiection.
25
And hauing chosen forth some men of these,As best from his huge armie might be mist,
Whose number was so great, as he at ease
With halfe of them three Affricks might resist:
He causd them to be trained for the seas,
And praying God his purpose to assist,
That night was shewd Astolfo in a vision,
How he of ships might make a large prouision.
26
Next day the weather being faire and calme,Astolfo walketh to the salt sea shore,
And holding in his hands in either palme,
Great store of leaues that he had tane before,
Of Bayes, of Cedar trees, of Oke, of Palme,
Into the sea he flang them in great store;
O metamorphosis beyond all credit,
O admirable powre diuine that bred it!
27
No sooner had the water wet the leaues,But presently they chang'd their former hue,
The veines that were in them, each man perceaues
To grow to ribs and posts in order due,
And still at each end sharpe each leafe receaues,
Eu'n of a sailing ship proportion true:
And of the ships as many sorts there weare,
As there were trees that those same leaues did beare.
28
A miracle it was to see them growneTo ships and barks, with gallies hulks and crayes,
Each vessell hauing tackling of their owne,
With sailes and oares to helpe at all assayes.
The Duke prouided, when it once was knowne,
Both marriners and masters in few dayes,
For with his present pay he soone allured
From Sard and Corsie men to seas inured.
29
Those that tooke shipping then, were counted moreThen six and twentie thousand strong of hand,
Great Admirall was Dudon, who before
Had learnd the seruice both of sea and land:
Now while they lay at anker nigh the shore,
To wait when wind would for their purpose stand,
It fortuned a man of warre came by them,
Full lode with prisners, and cast anker nie them.
30
These were those prisners whom fierce Rodomount(As oft I haue declard) did dayly get,
When at the bridge he did them so dismount,
And sometime backward in the riuer set:
Here were (among some more of good account)
Braue Brandimart and worthy Sansonet,
With Oliuer, and some I now not tutch,
Both French, Italian, Gascoigne knights and Dutch.
31
The master of the barke had first assignd,His prisoners at Algier to vnlode,
But being driu'n by ouerblowing wind,
Farre past the place, he thought to make abode
Neare great Biserta, where he thinks to find
None but his countrimen within the rode;
To which he thinks himselfe as welcome guest,
As Progne is vnto her chirping nest.
32
But after, when th'Imperiall bird he saw,Conioyned to the Pard and flowre of France,
He was abasht, and looked pale for aw,
Much like to him that waking new, doth chance
On poisond serpent tred, and same would draw
Himselfe from thence, for feare of more mischance;
He quakes, and from the serpent doth retire,
Whose poison swels, and eyes do flame like fire.
33
But now the wretched Pilot could not flie,And lesse could keepe the prisners he had caught,
For both himselfe, and all they by and by,
Vnto the place against his will were brought,
Whereas the Duke and Dudon then did lie,
Who welcomd well the Christens as they ought,
And he that brought them thither, for his paines,
Was made a gally slaue, and bound in chaines.
34
Thus were the knights most friendly entertained,And greatly welcomed by Otons sonne,
Who horse and furniture for them ordained,
And causd to them great honor to be donne:
Eke Dudon with these knights some days remained,
And thinks the time so spent, not lost but wonne:
His iourney purposely three dayes deferring,
To spend the same with these braue knights conferring.
35
By their relation he doth vnderstand,In what estate King Charles and th'empire stood,
What are the hau'ns, where he may safely land,
And where they thought ye same would be withstood.
Thus while discreetly on each point they scand,
And each man told what he thought ill or good,
There suddenly rose in the campe alarme,
The cause vnknown, but ech man cride, arme, arme.
329
36
The Duke Astolfo with his noble crew,That at that time conferring were together,
Straight armd themselues, and out their swords they drew
And went enquiring hither still and thither,
To learne of whence this sudden tumult grew,
But yet no cause they could suspect or gether,
At last they saw a madman stare and stampe,
That nakt alone did trouble all the campe.
37
Those that had seene him first belike did flout him,But when some few vnto their cost had found,
That with a bat he so did play about him,
His blowes made many fall in deadly sound:
They now began so much to dread and doubt him,
That they had giu'n to him no little ground,
And none of them to meet him had the harts,
They onely shot at him, or cast some darts.
38
The noble Duke, and those with him did see,The wondrous force and most stupendious wracke,
The madman wrought,, and marueld much that he
Alone could driue so many souldeirs backe:
When lo, a Ladie of no meane degree,
Rode towards them attyred all in blacke,
And vnto Brandimart she came in hast,
And claspt her arms about his necke full fast.
39
I know you know, without my further showing,This was the spouse of noble Brandimart,
Who euer since his wofull ouerthrowing,
By Rodomont, did with a pensiue hart,
Seeke his release, till at the last she knowing,
(As I before did more at large impart)
How he beyond the seas was prisner sent,
Her selfe at Arly to take shipping ment.
40
But while that louing purpose she pursewth,Bardino met with her, an Easterne knight,
Who brought vp Brandimart in tender youth,
And kept him at a Castell (Siluan hight)
He hearing at her mouth at large the truth,
And how in Africa they find him might,
They soone agreed, no long time ouerslipping,
To seeke him out and so forthwith tooke shipping.
41
No sooner they on Affrike shore did land,(Bardino sage, and faithfull Fiordeliege)
But first the people let them vnderstand,
Astolfo great Biserta did besiege,
With many a Captaine braue, and gallant band;
Likewise a brute of Brandimart their liege
Was spred, that he was there ariued newly,
But none was able to confirme it truly.
42
Vntill so long they traueld on the cost,At last she found and saw him with her eyes,
Among those Lords, amid the Nubian host,
With which such ioy did in her thoughts arise,
As vitall sprites did faile in her almost,
Nor any word to speake could she deuise,
But hangd about his necke a burden sweet,
And he as louingly his spouse did greet.
43
Full glad was he to see her, and as gladTo see his ancient tutor and his frend,
And further talke with them he would haue had,
But he was forst to make a speedie end,
By meanes the man that naked ran and mad,
Did keepe such rule as did them all offend.
Faire Fiordeliege that lookt with eye more curious,
Cride, ah my deare, this is Orlando furious.
44
Astolfo eke when as he did behold him,And saw how madly he about did range,
And no man durst him meet, nor none could hold him,
He wonderd greatly at the sight so strange,
And by the marks that erst Saint Iohn had told him,
He knew it was the man; but such a change
There was in all his shape, from top to toe,
He rather seemd a beast, more then a man in show.
45
Astolfo straight did call vnto the rest,And said my Lords, this man that you had vewd,
Orlando is: at this themselues they blest,
And eu'rie one his wofull pickle rewd:
Well (said the Duke) to helpe our frend is best,
And not to wayle; and therefore to conclude,
Come ioyne your force to mine, and let vs take him
And I do hope ere long Ile sober make him.
46
To this they soone assent, and Brandimart,With Sansonet and Oliuero iolly,
And Dudon closd him round, on eu'rie part,
But he as full of strength, as foole of folly,
At Dudon strake, and saue the blow in part
Was broke by Oliuer, and fell not wholy
On Dudon, sure I thinke that staffe accurst,
His shield, his headpeece, head and all had burst.
47
His shield it brake, and thunderd on his scull,That noble Dudon therewithall fell backe,
But Sansonet strake with his sword so full,
That of the staffe three yards he made him lacke:
Now Brandimart thinks backward him to pull,
And leaps behind, a pick pack, on his backe,
And holds his armes: the Duke doth then deuise,
To hold his leg, and Oliuer his thyes.
48
Orlando shakes himselfe, and with a spring,Ten paces off, the English Duke he cast,
But Brandimart from him he could not fling,
That was behind him, and did hold him fast,
But yet with Oliuer he was to bring,
For with his fist he smot him as he past,
That downe he fell, and hardly scaped killing,
From mouth, nose, eyes, the bloud apace distilling.
49
Of headpeece strong he neuer had more need,For sure he could not haue escaped death,
Except it had a good one bene indeed.
This while Astolfo now had taken breath,
And Dudon both who late for want of heed,
Were by Orlando tumbled on the heath,
With Sansonet, that par'd his staffe so well,
All these at once vpon Orlando fell.
330
50
Good Dudon that endeuors him to cast,With Brandimart, about his shoulders hangs;
Astolfo and the rest his arms hold fast,
He seeks to loose himselfe with sudden pangs:
Who so hath seene a Bull with mastiues chast,
That in his eares haue fixt their cruell fangs,
How he doth runne, and rore, and with him beares
The eager doggs, that still hold fast his eares.
51
Let him imagine that Orlando now,In such sort drew the warriours on the plaine;
But Oliuer, that had the broken brow,
Againe on foote recouerd vp againe,
Did cast within his mind a reason how,
To do with ease, that they did seeke with paine:
He doth bethinke a way, that will not misse
To do the feat: and his deuice was this.
52
Full many a halser, and full manie a cordWith sliding knots all knit he doth prouide,
And to the leggs and armes of this mad Lord,
He made them on the sudden to be tyde;
And then their ends on each side by accord,
They all of them amongst themselues deuide.
Thus were those Princes faine to do vnto him,
As Smiths do to an oxe, when they do shoe him.
53
Then fell they on him when he lay on ground,And then they bind him sure, both hand and foote:
Orlando when he felt himselfe thus bound,
Doth striue in vaine, for striuing will not boote.
Astolfo that doth meane to make him sound,
And saw his skin looke blacke as any soote,
Requested them vnto the shore to beare him,
Which soone was done, for now they need not feare him.
54
Then seau'n times was he washed in the place,And seau'n times dipped ouer eares and hed,
To get the scurfe from of his skin and face,
Which with his naked going had bene bred:
Then with some herbs, the Duke gat in this space,
He made them stop his mouth, for why he sed,
For certaine secret reasons that he knowes,
He must not fetch his breath but at his nose.
55
Then kneeling downe as if he askt some booneOf God, or some great Saint, that pot he brought,
Which he had carride from beyond the Moone,
The Iarre, in which Orlandos wit was caught,
And closd it to his nostrills, and eftsoone,
He drawing breath, this miracle was wrought,
The Iarre was void, and empty'd eu'rie whit,
And he restord vnto his perfect wit.
56
As one that in some dreame or fearfull vision,Hath dreamt of monstrous beasts, and vgly fends
Is troubled when he wakes with superstition,
And feareth what such vgly sight intends,
And lying wake, thinks of that apparition,
And long time after in that fancie spends:
So now Orlando lay, not little musing,
At this his present state, and vncouth vsing.
57
He holds his peace, but lifting vp his eyes,He sees his ancient frends king Brandimart,
And Oliuer, and him that made him wise,
All whom he knew, and loued from his hart;
He thinks, but cannot with himselfe deuise,
How he should come to play so mad a part,
He wonders he is nakt, and that he feeles,
Such store of cords about his hands and heeles.
58
At last he said, as erst Sileno said,To those that tooke him napping in the caue,
Soluite me: with countenance so stayd,
And with a cheare so sober and so graue,
That they vnloosed him, as he them prayde,
And sufferd him his libertie to haue,
And clothed him, and comforted his sadnesse,
That he conceiued of his former madnesse.
59
Thus being to his former wits restord,He was likewise deliuerd cleane from loue;
The Ladie whom he erst so much adord,
And did esteeme all earthly ioyes aboue,
Now he despisde, yea rather quite abhord:
Now onely he applies his wits to proue,
That fame and former glorie to recouer,
Which he had lost, the while he was a louer.
60
This while Bardino told to Brandimart,How that his father Monodant was dead,
And how his brother Gylyant on the part
Of all that those East Iles inhabited,
Him sent of purpose these news to impart,
And pray him (as he ought) to be their head:
Sith all the world had not a Realme more wealthy,
Nor any Prince could wish a seate more healthy.
61
Wherefore (saith he) deare sir, it is most meet,That you should now repaire to your owne home,
For home though homely twere, yet is it sweet,
And natiue soile is best: you would not rome
About the world, did you once tast and see't,
Thus much he said, but Brandimart in whome,
True loue & great renown were bands more strong
Then priuat profit, answerd this er long.
62
My brothers message, and your frendly paineI kindly take, but lo; my word is past,
With Charles and with Orlando to remaine,
And them to serue while these garboyles do last:
Now in my steed, I will my brother raigne,
Let him be my vice-roy, and I will hast,
When once these warres are at a finall end,
To come, and there my life with them to spend.
63
Thus these did part, and next ensuing day,Went Dudon with his fleet to Prouence ward,
Orlando with the Brittish Prince doth stay;
And when the state of those same warres he hard,
Vnto Biserta straight a siege they lay,
But euermore Orlando had regard,
That (as Astolfo followd his aduise)
To giue him th'honor of each enterprise.
331
64
But how they did the great Biserta win,When they assaulted it, and on which side,
How at the first assault, the men within
Did yeeld, and durst no longer triall byde,
I cannot farther now proceed herein,
But must deferre it to another tyde:
Now I do purpose vnto you to show,
How Agramant receiu'd an ouerthrow.
65
Who was welnye abandond of his men,Eu'n in the verie furie of the fight,
For why Marsilio and Sobrino then
Were gone, in minde to saue themselues by flight;
In walled townes they feard themselues to pen,
But went to sea with all the hast they might,
And many Princes of the Turkish trayne,
The sample follow giu'n them by these twayne.
66
Yet Agramant did beare it out a space,But when he saw there was no other shift,
Then from his enemies he turnd his face,
To get into the towne was all his drift:
Him Bradamant pursewd a wondrous pace,
Still spurring Rabican, that ran full swift,
She wisht vpon his corps to venge the wrong,
In keeping of her deare from her so long.
67
On tother side Marfisa rode as fast,To venge though late, her fathers wofull end,
She makes her borse to feele she is in hast,
But each of them doth misse that they intend:
He got within the gates and made them fast,
And then to sea he doth himselfe commend,
He sees he was not able to withstand,
The forces of his enemies by land.
68
As two coragious Pards, that held in chaseAn Hart, or bearded Goat vpon a plaine,
That scaped then by swiftnesse of his pace,
With no small wrath, and chafe turne backe againe,
As though they thought they had a great disgrace,
In that they followd had the prey in vaine,
So did the damsels chafe, and sigh, and fret,
That they to Agramant no neare could get.
69
But though he scapt their hands, yet sure the restEscaped not, full dearely then abuying,
Some wounded in the side, in backe, and brest,
Some slaine out right, some worse thē dead a dying,
How sorily (pooresoules) had they bene drest,
Whose safetie was not wrought, no not by flying,
For Agramant, himselfe more sure to saue,
To shut the Citie gates commandment gaue.
70
He made the bridges eake to be cut downe,On Rodon streame, that was both large and deepe,
Ah wofull subiects vnto tyrants crowne,
Who that they may their persons safely keepe,
Regard not if their people swim or drowne,
But deeme of them like beasts, or silly sheepe,
That so themselues they pamper may and cherish,
They care not if their men in millions perish.
71
Twas infinite the number that was slaine,In this same last conflict, nor fewer drownd,
While they attempted despratly in vaine,
To passe the streame, so brode and so profound;
Of which great slaughter yet the signes remaine,
For dayly neare to Arlie walls are found,
Huge heaps of dead mens bones, and of their sculls,
Whose flesh was then deuourd, by crows and gulls.
72
Now Agramant made speedie preparation,And causd his ships forth in the deepe to lanch,
Prouiding all that longs to nauigation,
In mind for ay to bid farewell to France:
Two dayes the winde stopt his determination,
The third it seru'd, and then he did aduance
His sayles, and eu'rie one did ship his ore,
And so away they parted from the shore.
73
Marsilio doubting least his Realme of Spaine,Should now be driu'n to pay this costly shot,
And fearing to be forced to sustaine,
That storme alone, which fell in France so hot;
Doth land at Valence, where he did ordaine
All furniture, that might for warre be got,
Repairing all his townes against that warre,
That after him, and all his frends did marre.
74
But Agramant, his ships to Affrike bent,Ill armd, halfe void of men, but full of griefe,
For most of them were sad and malcontent,
Three parts of foure, were lost past all reliefe:
And though for feare perhaps, of being shent,
None dare in publike speake to his repriefe,
Yet secretly, their burning hate to coole,
Some cald him proud, some cruell, some a foole.
75
But (as I say) they speake this in their sleeues,For feare of blame, except some two or three,
That each to other open dare their greeues,
Yet wretched Agramant, he doth not see,
How he is scorned; but he still beleeues,
That he is lou'd, and why, because that he,
Saw neuer lookes but fawningly disguised,
Heard neuer words, but fainingly deuised.
76
Now he was fully purposd in his landing,To leaue Biserta and seeke harbour nyer,
Because he late had perfect vnderstanding,
The Nubians spoyld those parts with sword and fier
Wherefore for doubt of dangerous withstanding,
He meant to shun that port, and land farre hyer,
And thence withall vnto his parts addicted,
To bring reliefe vnto the towne afflicted.
77
But loe his cruell fate, doth ouerthrowHis counsell sage, and quite his hope deceaues,
For, while scant winde did make him sayle but slow,
Stout Dudon with that nauie made of leaues,
Met him full butt, that no such thing did know,
And with a fierce assault him there receaues,
Enforcing him to vnexpected fight,
In that darke, cloudie, and tempestuous night.
332
78
For Agramant no spyall had till now,Of these same ships, and would haue deemd a fable,
If one had told him of a little bow,
To make a hundred ships, a man was able:
Wherefore he sayled on he car'd not how,
And doubts no foe but waue, and wind vnstable,
And not expecting such strange sodaine stops,
He neuer set his watchmen in his tops.
79
On tother side, our men that had espyde,Their enemies, at sea an houre ere night,
Came with great speed, although all vndescride,
For eu'rie ship kept close their fire and light:
At last when as they saw their time, they tryde
Their vtmost force, and with full sayles they light
On their foes shipping, that at first did shrinke,
And many did vnto the bottome sinke.
80
Now Dudons men began to play their parts,Some vsing fire, some heauie stones, some steele,
Vpon the Turks fell such a storme of darts,
As they before, the like did neuer feele:
On our side God, with courage fill'd their harts,
On their side, each mans hart was in his heele,
They stood amazd with feare, and quite astonished,
The time now come their old sins should be punished.
81
Thus Agramant is closd on eu'rie side,With many a pike, and sword, and hooke, and axe,
The stones that fell from high, made breaches wide,
And much sea enterd at the new made cracks,
But most the fire, which they could least abide,
That takes in pitched boords, and wreathed flax,
To kindle verie quicke, but slow to quench,
Annoyd them sore with heat, & smoke, & stench.
82
Some ouer boord do fall in water cold,And there are drownd: some take thē to their swimming,
But on another bark while they take hold,
They now full fraught, and fearing ouertrimming,
With cruell sword (a foule sight to behold)
Cut of their bands, wt which they now were climing,
The bleeding stumps all mangled there remained,
And with fresh blood, the water salt was stained.
83
Some few to saue their liues that had desier,Or at the least, to leese them with least paine,
Do leape in water to escape the fier,
Till with new feare of drowning, they againe,
Vnto the flaming shipwracks do retier,
And there, with much a do are glad and faine,
To catch some burning boord: and being loth,
To dye of either death, they dye of both.
84
Some one for feare of sword, or axe, or pike,Doth all in vaine, vnto the sea betake him,
For why some stone, or arrow, or such like,
Ere he be farre from thence, doth ouertake him:
But least the reader haply may mislike,
My too long tale, this motion I would make him,
That to another season he defarre,
To heare the sequell of this bloudy warre.
334
THE XL. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Great Agramant doth fly, and in his flightWould kill himselfe, but Sobrin him forbode,
Biserta being fir'd, a wofull sight:
At last they meet Gradasso in a rode,
They send a challenge, three to three to fight,
Vnto Orlando, where he then abode;
Rogero fights with Dudon to set free
Seu'n kings, whom bound in chaines he chaunst to see.
1
Twere long (my Lord) to tell of all that fought,In that sea fight, and certes all the while,
That I should tell it you, I should be thought,
To beare pots (as they say) to Samos Ile,
Where earthen vessels in great store are wrought.
Or Owles to Athens, Crocodils to Nyle:
For more then can of this by me be told,
Your selfe haue caused many to behold.
2
Your faithfull people had a long prospect,When all a day vpon the streame of Poe,
Your men, as your great vallew did direct,
The shipping of your foes assaulted so,
That with their blood the streame they did infect,
And brought vpon them all, a world of woe;
Then both your selfe, and others plaine did see,
How sundry deaths, in fights of sea there be.
3
It was not then indeed, my hap to see't,(Sent then to Rome six dayes before in post,
To craue then, at the holy fathers feet,
Reliefe and aid against so great an host)
And in that time your grace with them did meet,
In such a sort, so sorely to their cost,
And so you par'd the Lyons teeth and pawes,
That since that time to feare we had no cause.
4
But Alfonsin, and Moore that saw the same,Afframo, Anniball, and Zerbinet,
Albert, and Baygn, and three that beare my name,
Declar'd to me the conquest you did get:
Also their banners, monuments of fame,
Which offerd in the Churches you did set,
With fifteene Gallies tane a thousand botes,
Of that rich conquest, giue vs open notes.
5
He that had seene the fire and wondrous wreake,That at that time was wrought vpon your foes,
When for your few, their many were too weake,
He might describe the deaths and diuers woes,
Of Agramantés host, of which I speake,
And of their great and grieuous ouerthrowes,
Then when amids the surging waues and salt,
Stout Dudon in the night did them assault.
6
When first the fight began, the night was darke,But when the flame vpon the pitch tooke hold,
The fire gaue light, and did so clearly sparke,
That Agramant might plainly now behold
His enemies, and their great number marke,
Incredible, if any had it told:
Wherefore in season to preuent the worst,
He changd the course he had intended furst.
7
And chusing out a vessell swift of sayle,And placing there his things of greatest price,
With Brigliadore (sith all hope now doth fayle)
To steale from thence he closlie doth deuise:
And while that Dudon doth his men assayle,
In all the hast he can, away he flyes,
His men the sword, the sea, the fire destroyes,
And he is fled that caused their annoyes.
335
8
And in that Barke, with him Sobrino fled,Who much complaind and was not little greeued,
That that which he before so truly sed,
Yet then by Agramant was not beleeued:
But tell we now how good Astolfo sped,
And what exploits Orlando had atcheeued,
Who counseld so to raze Biserta towne,
That it might neuer noy th'Imperiall crowne.
9
And so it was in publicke sort proclaymd,That the third day th'assault they should expect,
Astolfo had some ships before ordaynd,
(For Dudon had not all) for this effect,
And these same ships with Sansonet remaynd,
A man that could by sea and land direct,
Who rode at anker neare Biserta shore,
But distant from the hau'n a myle and more.
10
The Brittish Duke, and valiant Palladine,That like good Christens vsed euermore,
To pray to God for grace and aide deuine,
Proclaymed in the campe, three dayes before,
That to assault the towne they did assigne,
By fast and publicke prayre, Christ to adore,
And craue his aid against that wicked towne,
That they might raze it quite and beat it downe.
11
And hauing ended that their solemne fast,And made their vowes, accustomd in such case,
Then frendly they together take repast,
And each his frend, and parent doth embrace,
And spake as if those words should be their last,
The kindly teares, oft trickling downe their face,
And eu'rie one resolued by and by,
Either to win the towne, or in the place to dy.
12
Also the wretched Priests within the towne,With fayned show of foolish superstition,
Pray vnto Macon, that he do not frowne
On them: and vow to him on that condition,
Great Holocausts, with cost of many a crowne,
Of him they seeke to haue their sinnes remission,
And as if he the fates could mend or alter,
They offer sacrifices on his alter.
13
Then when they were by their great Cady blest,They went (but faintly) to their Citie wall,
Yet did the fayre Aurora take her rest,
And scarce the Esterne coast yet looked pale,
When Sansonet, Astolfo, and the rest,
That had the needfull things prouided all,
The noble enterprise did take in hand,
And did assault the towne by sea and land.
14
Biserta hath this manner situation,Two parts thereof with water are enclosed,
Two parts with goodly wall of ancient fashion,
But not so strong, as one would haue supposed:
And though to make new strength and reparation;
The king Bransardo all the towne disposed,
His time and warning were so short and small,
He could do little good, or none at all.
15
Astolfo did appoint the Nubian kingSuch wise to noy the keepers of the wall,
With darts, and Turkish bowes, and many a sling,
That from the battlements he draue them all,
That now he might both horse and footmen bring,
Vpon the ditch in perill none or small;
And each according to his powre and skill,
Brought matter wherewithall the ditch to fill.
16
Some fagots brought, & some brought store of helmeSome heauy stones, & some light planks and boords
And lest the stream their worke might ouerwhelme,
They turned it away by other foords;
Great store of wood there grew in that same Realme
The which to them great store of stuffe affoords,
And now that Prouerbe see performd you might,
That many hands make heauie works but light.
17
The Nubians fierce impatient of all stay,And by desire of gaine all headlong led,
The perill great and danger do not way,
But each man clapps his target on his hed:
And then their battrie to the walls they lay,
With rammes, and engines strongly furnished,
With which to shake the walls they do begin,
Nor were they all vnfurnished within.
18
Darts, stones, and planks, yea eu'n their houses tyle,They flang down on thē, whē they drew more neare
By which they brake and pierced otherwhile,
Their engines huge, so as it might appeare,
Dame Fortune seemd at first on Turks to smile,
But after soone againe she changd her cheare,
No sooner night was gone, and Sun once vp,
But that they tasted of another cup.
19
Then on each side they had so hot a charge,As hardly they were able to sustaine:
Sansonet of the shipping had the charge,
And he by sea assaults them to their paine;
And, for their powre was great, and place was large,
Each Captaine tooke with him a seuerall traine,
Thereby the more to trouble all their foes,
And of their vertue, to make larger shoes.
20
And for that speciall cause, they do deuide,Their mightie host into foure seu'rall parts,
To th'end that by that meanes it might be spide,
Which men had stout, and which had fainting harts,
Great towres on mightie wheeles did seeme to ride,
Drawne with great force like ordinary carts,
And Elephants did carrie towres so tall,
As did in height surpasse the Citie wall.
21
A scaling ladder Brandimart doth beare,And clymes himselfe and causeth others clyme:
For what man hauing such a guide, could feare;
Each man to stay doth thinke it haynous crime:
The ladders strength was weighd by no man there,
Each roung a man, and some beares two sometime:
Now Brandimart to conquest wholy bent,
Gets to the top, and winnes a battlement.
336
22
With hand and foote he clammerd in such sort,He wan a batlement and did it keepe;
Then with his sword he made them all such sport,
As causd the lookers on, not laugh, but weepe:
The ladder now chargd with too great resort,
Standing aslope, and not vpright and steepe,
Brake in the midst, so that saue Brandimart,
All of them fell, vnto their paine and smart.
23
Their Captaine though, with this no whit dismayd,Keepes still his place though he the hap did marke,
Although he saw his men him could not ayd,
Though he alone were all their shooting marke;
His men below cryde out to him, and prayd
Him to retire, but he no whit could harke,
But boldly from the wall into the towne,
Which was thrise ten foote deepe, he leaped downe.
24
As if the pau'ment had bene straw, not stone,So lept he downe, so nimble and so light,
And being there, layd so about alone,
He made them all giue place vnto his might:
Of those that fought he killed many a one,
The rest thought best to saue themselues by flight,
But they that saw him leape downe from without,
Within their minds were full of dread and doubt.
25
Straightwayes about the campe a rumor spred,From mouth to mouth, & man to man doth come,
And fame doth fly, and flying gathers hed,
Of that hard feat, that Brandimart had done;
And comes at last whereas Orlando led
His band, and after to king Otons sonne,
And then to Oliuero, neuer ceasing,
But in her going still her tale increasing.
26
All these, but chiefe Orlando all among,That Brandimart in minde did dearely loue,
And hearing it from thence they tarrid long,
It would be hard his danger to remoue;
Vnto the walls set scaling ladders strong,
Resolued now their vtmost force to proue;
And vp they mount, with looks so grim and bold,
As scant their enemies durst them behold.
27
As when the seas are wrought with sturdie wind,The ventrous vessell tost with many a waue,
Is sometime smote before, sometime behind,
And each surge striues a passage free to haue;
The fearfull Pilot with astonisht mind,
Knowes not which way himselfe he should behaue,
Till at the last one surge the whole possesseth,
And so both Pilot, ship, and all oppresseth.
28
So when those three, of whom before I spake,Had got the wall, they did the souldiers teach,
To follow them, and so large path did make,
As thousands of them now the wall did reach:
This while the monstrous rammes the walls did shake
In other places, and made such a breach,
That now in many parts without resistance,
They might to Brandimart bring good assistance.
29
Looke how that streame surnam'd of streams the king,With damage great aboue his bankes doth grow,
When some strong wind or tyde of highest spring,
Makes him beyond accustomd bounds to flow,
And thereby hurt vnto the fields doth bring,
And drowneth flockes, and houses ouerthrow,
Then trees do harbour fish, as new come guests,
Where flying birds were wont to build their nests.
30
So now Biserta walls were farre too weake,To saue the Citie from both sword and fire;
The valiant Captaines first the Ice do breake,
To follow whom, the souldiers do aspire;
And what with will their ancient wrongs to wreake
And what with hope of booties, and desire,
They ruind soone that Citie, that had beene
Of Affrica, the sole triumphant Queene.
31
Now multitudes lay slaine in eu'ry street,And with the bloud that of their wounds did runne,
The channels flowd vermillion vnder feet;
But when the fire to take had once begunne,
No doubt it was a wofull sight to seet,
What spoile vpon the towne by fire was done:
Such cryes, such plaints were ouer all the Citie,
As might haue moued any hearts to pitie.
32
Their helples Gods now vnder foot were troden,Their sacred iewels taken all for pray,
The conquerers come forth of houses, loden,
With gold, with plate, with faire and rich aray;
And though the souldiers flatly were forboden
Foule beastly lust, this was to them no stay,
Young children and old matrones could not scape,
Deflouring forced, nor vngodly rape.
33
Stout Oliuero with a sound blow slew,King Bucifer, and brought him to his end,
Bransardo kild himselfe, when as he knew,
The Citie could not now it selfe defend;
Astolfo did in single fight subdew
Fuluo, and tooke him prisner in the end:
These three were those, whom (as before you hard)
King Agramant those countryes left to guard.
34
But Agramant, who as before I told,Stole from his men, and so away did sayle,
When as he did these flames from farre behold,
Much did the state of that same towne bewayle;
But when a messenger did plaine vnfold,
How farre his foes in Affricke did preuayle,
He would haue slaine himselfe, of woes to rid him,
Saue that the sage Sobrino did forbid him.
35
Ah sir said he (in frendly sort him chiding)Driue from your worthie minde such wretched thought,
What could be to your foes more welcome tiding,
Then that your selfe, your owne destruction sought?
They doubt, while you in safetie are abiding,
But hard to keepe, that they haue easlie caught;
Not one of them but dreads, and greatly feares,
That Affricke while you liue, cannot be theirs.
337
36
Your death would all your frends of hope depriue,(The onely helpe that in our case is left)
All they haue got, while you remaine aliue,
They can but count it robberie and theft:
But if you dye, who shall against them striue?
Both Affricke lost, and we of hope are reft:
Wherefore though for your selfe you life abhord,
Liue for our sake (at least) my soueraigne Lord.
37
The Souldan sure will helpe your cause t'aduance,To him you may for men and money send,
Be sure he will be loth the king of France
Should nest in Affricke, being not his frend:
If Norandino knew of your mischance,
He would both men, and horse, and monie send,
The states of Media, Persia, and Armenie,
With Arabia, will helpe you with their menie.
38
These words then spake the graue wise man and old,To moue his Prince a better minde to carrie,
And bad him cheare himselfe, and still he told,
What hopes there were (tho sure he thought cōtrary)
He saw and knew their comfort was but cold,
That long they vse to pray, and sue, and tarie,
Who hauing lost their crownes, to sue are faine
To other kings, to helpe them home againe.
39
Both Hanniball and Iugurth samples be,To Princes all, that trust in forren ayd,
With Lodwicke Sforce whom this last age did see,
Vnto a stronger Lodwicke foule betrayd:
Wherefore vnto that sentence I agree,
That Duke Alfonso of Ferrara said,
A greater signe of folly is not showne,
Then trusting others force, distrust ones owne.
40
Wherefore in that conflict and bitter warre,In which he found Christs Vicar not his frend,
And that the Venice state with him did iarre,
And he that promised him to defend,
From Italie was driu'n and absent farre,
Yet neuer would Alfonso condiscend,
To put himselfe in other mens subiection,
And leaue his state to forren powres protection.
41
But Agramant of comfort all bereft,Forsooke the shore, and lanched to the deepe,
To thinke in what estate his Realme was left,
Does make him bitterly to wayle and weepe,
From right hand now they sayld vnto the left,
And Eastward all the night their course did keepe,
Vntill a storme that rose within a while,
Did cause them harbour in a little Ile.
42
A little Ile voyde of inhabitants,But full of Hares, and Conies, and of Deare,
With couerts great, of trees and slender plants,
That had not bene cut downe in many a yeare:
Else there was nothing to supply their wants,
Onely some tokens plainly did appeare,
That fishers vsed there their nets to drye,
The while the fish in sea do quiet lye.
43
Here onely in the harbour they did find,A ship that had bene weather beaten sore,
Gradasso forced by contrary wind,
Came in that ship from Arly late before,
With princely gesture, and behauiour kind,
Each king salutes the tother on the shore;
For well they lou'd together, and were late,
Fellows in arms neare Paris walles and gate.
44
The king of Sericane with no small griefe,Did heare the storie of their late distresse,
And which did comfort Agramanté chiefe,
His person offerd these harms to redresse,
But that he shall in Ægypt finde reliefe,
He greatly doubts, and thinketh nothing lesse,
Pompeys example teacheth you (he said)
That banisht men finde there but sorie aid.
45
But sith the case so stands, and that you say,English Astolfo with a Nubian host,
And mad Orlando, who this other day
As I did heare, for loue his wit had lost,
Haue done such hurt, I haue bethought a way,
That at this time I thinke will profite most:
I will Orlando challenge hand to hand,
Who (sure I am) in my hands cannot stand.
46
Were he once dead, the rest I count as straw,And for the Nubians, though I cannot dreame
How they should come, yet know I how to draw
Them backe again from yours, to their own Reame
Those other Nubians, whom a diuers law
Sunders from these, as well as Nylus streame,
Shall with Arabian and Macrobian forces
Assaile them, (these haue gold, & those good horses)
47
The king of Affricke praisd this offer kind,And called it a good and blessed storme,
That causd him such a frend as this to find,
And thanks him for his offer: but the forme
Of it (he said) doth no whit please my mind,
No though thereby I might all harmes reforme,
And that I might Biserta towne regaine,
I would not do mine honor such a staine.
48
If any man must challenge him, then IIt is, that am in honor tide vnto it,
And whether I shall kill or else shall die,
I am resolued, surely I will do it:
Nay then sir (said Gradasso) I will trie
Another way, if you assent but to it,
We two will make one challenge thus: to fight
Against Orlando and some other knight.
49
So I be one (then Agramant replide)I care not, though I second be or furst,
For in the world is not a man beside,
To trust whose courage more then yours, I durst.
Sobrino that stood all the while aside,
Into such speech, vpon the sudden burst,
Hath age (quoth he) brought me in such contempt,
To be excluded from so braue attempt?
338
50
Disgrace me not so much, to leaue out me,Age hath not tane away my vigor cleene,
Skill and experience good companions be,
Age knoweth whatsoeuer youth hath beene;
Wherefore let me be one, and you shall see,
That I am stronger, then perhaps you weene:
To this request of his they soone agree,
And so they send their challenge three to three.
51
They send a Herald, as it is the vse,The challenge to Orlando stout to beare,
With number like to meet at Lippaduse,
And so by combat, end all matters theare:
The while each side should grant the other truse,
And all acts of hostilitie forbeare;
This Lippadusa is a little Ile,
Distant from Affricke shore some twentie mile.
52
The Herald made good hast, and went apace,And vsd all helpe of oares and sailes he could,
And comming to Orlando with good grace,
His message and the challenge plaine he told:
Amids Biserta in the market place,
He found him parting summes of coyne and gold,
(Of that same sacked towne the many spoiles)
Vnto his men for guerdon of their toiles.
53
Now when Orlando this braue challenge hard,He did accept it, and did much reioyce.
And gaue vnto the Herald in reward,
Of many sumptuous gifts great store and choise;
He knew before the death of Mandricard,
And heard of Durindan by common voice,
How that Gradasso had it, whom to find,
A voiage vnto th'Indies he assignd.
54
But knowing that he need not go so farre,And that his great good fortune so had wrought,
That he should send to offer single warre,
Whom he farre of had purposd to haue sought;
He now doth hope that long they should not barre
Him of his sword, that he so deare had bought,
Eke Brigliadore he hopes now to regaine,
That did in Agramantés hands remaine.
55
He chuseth for his frends to take his part,In this so great and dangerous a fray,
His cousin, and that faithfull Brandimart,
Both whom he oft saw tride before that day;
Armours and horse, and swords on eu'ry part,
He seekes to get for them the best he may,
For none of them had armour of his owne,
As I before this time haue made it knowne.
56
Orlando when he first of all fell mad,Lost both his sword and armour that same howre,
The tothers twaine, the Sarzan taken had,
And now they were safe lockt vp in a towre:
In Affrica their armour was but bad,
The warres in France did dayly theirs deuowre:
They seldome had in those parts any store,
And Agramant what was, had had before.
57
Such as he could, though it were old and rustie,He caused to be scowrd and furbusht new,
And eu'rie day with his companions trustie,
He talked of the fight that should ensew.
One day, as in a morning fresh and lustie,
They walkt vpon the shore, they saw in vew
A great ship vnder saile with treble top,
Saile to the shore, without all stay or stop.
58
No saylers, passengers, nor anie guide,Within the ship to be discouerd were,
But as the tempest draue her and the tide,
She came, and safely so ariued there:
But here a while the emptie ship shall bide,
And these three knights, because the loue I beare
Vnto Rogero and Renaldo both,
To ouerpasse them longer makes me loth.
59
You heard how they themselues aside did draw,And of their owne accords their combat cease,
When as they saw, against all right and law,
On either side the battell to increase:
They were so earnest, neither of them saw
Which side was first, that brake their vowed peace:
Wherfore they aske of those that neare them came,
Which king of this foule breach should haue the blame.
60
Rogero had a valiant trustie man,That serued him with faithfulnesse and care,
Who neuer since the combat first began,
Had lost the sight of him, and being ware
Of this new breach, with all the speed he can,
He did his masters sword and horse prepare,
And brought it him, and wished him to vse it,
But for that day Rogero did refuse it.
61
Howbe't from thence he did his course direct,And promise with Renaldo doth renew,
That if his king were first did oath neglect,
And shewd himselfe in promise so vntrue,
That he would leaue him and his wicked sect;
This said, he bad Renaldo then adew,
Demanding all he met, who was in fault,
Of this vngodly and vniust assault.
62
Of all the world he heares it plainly spoken,How that of youthfull Agramantés part,
The law of armes, and late sworne truce was broken
Which now was turnd vnto his losse and smart:
Yet thinks he, men would deeme it were a token
In him of faint or of vnfaithfull hart,
To leaue his Master in so great distresse,
Although his falshood had deseru'd no lesse.
63
The thought thereof draue him to no small muse,If better twere for him to go or tarrie,
If he do go, he much shall her abuse
Whom he so oft had promised to marrie;
Againe he thinketh that he cannot chuse,
In his returne to Affricke but miscarrie,
He knowes how periurie offendeth God,
How ouer it ay hangs a heauie rod.
339
64
On tother side, he feares the great disgrace,Men would impute to him his Lord to leaue,
And thinke it comes of fearfull heart and base:
What if some men perhaps his scuse receaue,
When they do know, and vnderstand the case?
Yet most will say, he doth his Lord deceaue:
And that a man such promise may forsake,
As at the first, vnlawfull was to make.
65
All that same day, and all that night ensuing,He did the matter with himselfe debate,
His loue, his Lord, on either side renewing
The doubtfull question, each in diuers rate:
But noble minde, the greater shame eschewing,
Chose lastly to releeue his masters state,
Much lou'd he Bradamant, much thought he on her,
But more he lou'd his dutie and his honer.
66
Wherefore resolued to depart the Reame,He sought at Arly, ships him to transport,
But neither at the sea, nor in the streame,
Could he there find a ship of any sort,
For Agramant in hast and feare extreame,
Had all from thence, or burnd them in the port,
Which when Rogero once did vnderstand,
He went vnto Marsilia-ward by land.
67
In Arly, nor from Arly all the way,He saw no liuing Turke, but manie a corse,
He mindeth at Marsilia, if he may,
To get a ship, by faire meanes or by force,
That into Affrica shall straight conuay
Him and Frontino, his well tried horse:
But while such thoughts he in his mind contriued,
Great Dudon with his nauie there arriued.
68
That Dudon, whom king Agramant on seasMet to his cost, when erst his men were slaine:
He fled, his frends tane prisners, and in thease
Seauen kings that erst in Affrica did raigne;
A man as then, might hardly cast a pease
Into that streame, or anie little graine,
The Nauie, and the prises, in such number,
Did so the riuer pester vp, and cumber.
69
But Dudon selfe was newly come on land,And his chiefe prisners he had set on shore,
And as in way of triumph made them stand,
The chiefe behind, the meaner set before,
With souldiers garded of his choisest band,
Who with their warlicke voices euermore,
Made that same towne, and all the places round,
Of Dudons praise, and Dudons name to sound.
70
Rogero when he saw these bands appeare,First thought it was the fleet of Agramant,
But when as he approched now more neare,
He saw how much his guesse of truth did want;
He sees his captiues frends, with heauie cheare,
Bambyrage, Agricalt, and Ferurant,
Balastro, Rimedont, and Manilard,
And Nasamon, that wayle their hap so hard.
71
Rogero could by no meanes it endure,To see in miserie his noble frends,
He doubts his prayre no succour can procure,
And therefore he to trie his force intends:
His lance he presently doth put in vre,
With which not few vnto the ground he sends;
His sword he drawes, and therewith in short space,
He doth an hundred hurt, kill, maime, displace.
72
Now Dudon heares the noise, the harme doth see,Done by Rogero, yet to him vnknowne,
He sees his men displac't and soyled bee,
And by one onely man their hurt is growne:
He takes his horse, and to that end that he
May venge these harms, or ioyne thereto his owne,
He setteth in his rest, a mightie lance,
To proue himselfe a Palladine of France.
73
He bids his men in order to retire,That of the field they two may haue good scope:
Rogero, that to rescue did desire
His frends, and now had put them in some hope:
And seeing vertuous Dudon did aspire,
In combat hand to hand with him to cope,
Did deeme he was the Captaine chiefe and guide,
And with great courage toward him did ride.
74
First Dudon came, but when he nearer came,And saw Rogero had no speare in sight,
He cast away his owne, as counting shame
To vse aduantages in any fight.
Then saith Rogero to himselfe, this same
Is token of a most braue minded knight;
And sure, except mine aime be much amisse,
One of the Palladines of France he is.
75
Wherefore he minds, ere any more ensew,Or any force of either part were donne,
To learne his name: and asking him, he knew
How that he was the Dane Vggeros sonne;
Now (saith good Dudon) let me know of you
Your name, before our combat be begonne:
Rogero in like sort him satisfied,
And so they both each other then defied.
76
Now Dudon had that Axe or iron Mace,Wherwith he wonne such fame in many fights,
As proued him to be of that same race
Of Palladines, so braue and worthie knights:
Rogero hath the sword that cuts apace,
And frustrateth all charms, where ere it lights,
So that he had the vantage, had he vsd it,
But for that time, it seemed he refusd it.
77
The cause was this, he was afeard perchance.It would offend his loving Bradamant,
For being skilfull in the lines of France,
He knew that Dudons mother was her Ant:
So though this conquest might his name aduance,
He doubts her loue, it may not little daunt:
For Turpin thinks, this was the onely reason,
That Dudon scaped killing at that season.
340
78
Rogero neuer foynd, and seldome strake,But flatling, and his sword was so good steele,
The backe so thicke, as it no hurt did take,
Yet oft therewith he made good Dudon feele
Such thundring knocks, as causd his head to ake,
And made him readie many times to reele,
But least much reading may annoy your eyes,
To lay this booke aside I you aduise.
342
THE XLI. BOOKE
THE ARGVMENT.
His prisners Dudon to Rogero giues,Who in a tempest all were drowned quite,
Rogero onely scapes the storme, and liues,
And then is Christend, and beleeues aright.
Neare Lippadusas steepe and craggie clyues,
Sixe valiant knights, a combat fierce do fight,
Where Sobrine hurt, the Marquesse lame on ground,
Good Brandimart receiues a deadly wound.
1
That odor sweet wherewith an amorous youthOf either sexe, their garments do perfume,
Or head or beard, when (full of louing ruth)
In flames of Cupids fire they do consume:
We say that odor perfect was in truth,
And of his goodnesse we do much presume,
If so a good while after it be felt,
And that the sweetnesse be long after smelt.
2
That pleasant iuyce that Icarus vnwise,Did cause his men (to his great harme) to tast,
And did the Gauls to Italie entise,
Where they commited so great spoile and wast,
Was doubtlesse perfect good, and of great price,
If so at twelumonths end it pleasant last.
The tree that doth his leaues in winter nourish,
Without all question did in sommer florish.
3
The bountie that so many hundred yeare,In your most Princely stocke did euer shine,
Is to the world an open proofe and cleare,
That he, from whom was first deriu'd your line,
Was sure a great, and worthie minded Peare,
And had that noble vertue and deuine,
Which chiefly makes a man so rare and od,
As in that one, they most resemble God.
4
I shewd you in the booke that went before,How good Rogero tooke great care and heed,
That as in other acts he shewd greate store
Of vertues rare, that other men exceed,
So in this fight he shewd as much or more,
Then he had done in any other deed:
With noble mind ambitious to all good,
For glory thirsting still, but not for blood.
5
Good Dudon found (for well discerne he might)How that Rogero him to hurt forbare,
How though he had great vantage in the fight,
Yet that to vse the same he still did spare;
Wherefore though he were ouermatcht in might,
Yet therewithall he shewd this speciall care,
That though Rogero were in force superiour,
Himselfe in coutsie would not be inferiour.
6
Perdie sir let (saith he) our combat cease,Your courtsie hath alreadie conquerd me,
I cannot winne, and therefore seeke I peace;
And I (saith tother) will to peace agree:
I onely craue this grace, that you release,
Those seau'n, whom standing there in bonds I see,
Those were the kings, whom late near Affrike shore
Had taken bene a day or two before.
7
At his request thus Dudon gaue remission,But ere they went, he made them first to sweare,
That neither they, nor none by their permission,
Gainst any Christen state, should armour beare;
He gaue them also leaue on like condition,
To take the choisest vessell that was theare,
Who no conuenient season ouerslipping,
For Affrica immediatly tooke shipping.
343
8
Thus had those kings their ransomes all remitted,And with Rogero shipt themselues that day,
And then to faithlesse winds themselues committed,
They weigh their ankers, and their sayles display:
A frendly gale at first their iourney fitted,
And bare them from the shore full farre away:
But afterward within a little season,
The wind discouerd his deceipt and treason.
9
First from the poop, it changed to the side,Then to the prore, at last it wherled round,
In one place long it neuer would abide,
Which doth the Pilots wit and skill confound:
The surging waues swell still in higher pride,
While Proteus flocke did more and more abound,
And seeme to them as many deaths to threaten,
As that ships sides with diuers waues are beaten.
10
Now in their face the wind, straight in their backe,And forward this, and backward that it blowes,
Then on the side it makes the ship to cracke,
Among the Mariners confusion growes;
The Master ruine doubts, and present wracke,
For none his will, nor none his meaning knowes,
To whistle, becken, crie, it nought auailes,
Somtime to strike, somtime to turne their sailes.
11
But none there was could heare, nor see, nor marke,Their eares so stopt, so dazeld were their eyes,
With weather so tempestuous and so darke,
And black thick clouds, that with the storme did rise
Frō whence somtime great gastly flames did sparke,
And thunderclaps, that seemd to rend the skies:
Which made them in a manner deafe and blind,
That no man vnderstood the Masters mind.
12
Nor lesse, nor much lesse fearfull is the sound,The cruell tempest in the tackle makes,
Yet each one for himselfe some busnesse found,
And to some speciall office him betakes:
One this vntide, another that hath bound,
He the Main bowling, now restraines, now slakes:
Some take an oare, some at the pumpe take paine,
And powre the sea into the sea againe.
13
Behold a horrible and hideous blast,That Boreas from his frozen lips doth send,
Doth backward force the sayle against the mast,
And makes the waues vnto the skies ascend:
Then brake their oares and rudder eke at last,
Now nothing left from tempest to defend,
So that the ship was swaid now quite aside,
And to the waues laid ope her naked side.
14
Then all aside the staggring ship did reele,For one side quite beneath the water lay,
And on the tother side the verie keele,
Aboue the water plaine discerne you may.
Then thought they al hope past, & down they kneele
And vnto God to take their soules they pray,
Worse danger grew then this, when this was past,
By meanes the ship gan after leake so fast.
15
The wind, the waues, to them no respite gaue,But readie eu'rie houre to ouerthrow them,
Oft they wer hoist so high vpon the waue,
They thought the middle region was below them;
Oft times so low the same their vessell draue,
As though that Caron there his boat would show thé
Scant had they time and powre to fetch their breath,
All things did threaten them so present death
16
Thus all that night they could haue no release,But when the morning somewhat nearer drew,
And that by course, the furious wind should cease,
(A strange mishap) the wind then fiercer grew,
And while their troubles more and more increase,
Behold a rocke stood plainly in their vew,
And right vpon the same the spitefull blast,
Bare them perforce, which made them all agast.
17
Yet did the master by all meanes assay,To steare out roomer, or to keepe aloofe,
Or at the least to strike sailes if they may,
As in such danger was for their behoofe.
But now the wind did beare so great a sway,
His enterprises had but little proofe:
At last with striuing yard and all was torne,
And part thereof into the sea was borne.
18
Then each man saw all hope of safetie past,No meanes there was the vessell to direct,
No helpe there was, but all away are cast,
Wherefore their common safetie they neglect,
But out they get the ship-boat, and in hast,
Each man therein his life striues to protect,
Of King, nor Prince no man taks heed or note,
But well was he could get him in the bote.
19
Among the rest, Rogero doth supposeThe safest way to be, to leaue the ship,
And being in his dublet and his hose,
He nimbly downe into the boat did skip,
But after him so great a number goes,
Before they could the rope vnwind or slip,
The boat at length did sinke with ouerlading,
And to the bottome carry'd all her lading.
20
Twas lamentable then to heare the cries,Of companies of eu'rie sort confused,
In vaine to heau'n they lift their hands andeyes,
And make late vowes, as in such case is vsed,
For ouer them the wrathfull sea doth rise,
As though to giue them eare it had refused,
And made them hold their peace by hard constraint,
And stopt the passage whence came out the plaint.
21
Some swamme a while, some to the bottome sanke,Some flote vpon the waue, though being ded,
Rogero for the matter neuer shranke,
But still aboue the water keeps his hed,
And not farre off he sees that rockie banke,
From which in vaine he and his fellowes fled:
He thither laboureth to get with swimming,
In hope to get vpon the same by climing.
344
22
With legges and armes he doth him so behaue,That still he kept vpon the floods aloft,
He blowes out from his face the boistrous waue,
That readie was to ouerwhelme him oft.
This while the wind aloofe the vessell draue,
Which huld away with pase but slow and soft,
Frō those, that while they thought their deth to shun
Now dide perhaps before their glasse was run.
23
O hopes of men vncertaine, vaine and fraile,The ship that all forsooke; as quite forlorne,
When all her wonted guides and helps did faile,
Her saylers drownd, and all her tackle torne,
A safe course held with broken mast and saile,
And by an Eddie from the rocke was borne,
And eu'n as if the storme had changd his mind,
It went with merrie gale afore the wind.
24
And where with marriners it went awry,Now wanting them, it went to Affricke right,
And came on land vnto Biserta ny,
And gently on the sands it did alight,
What time Orlando then was walking by,
Conferring with his fellowes of their fight,
The which was vndertaken by them three,
Against three Princes of no meane degree.
25
And for they saw the ship was fast on ground,They tooke a boate and went on her aboord,
With mind to question whither she was bound,
Or what good marchandise she can affoord;
But vnder hatches lading none they found,
Saue good Rogeros armour, horse, and sword,
Which he behind him left, when in bad taking,
He tooke the boat, the ship it selfe forsaking.
26
Orlando vewd them well with good regard,And hauing chiefly markt the noble blade,
He knew it was that famous Ballisard,
With which he did some yeares before inuade,
Fallarius garden, spite of all her guard,
Who by strong charms, the sword and garden made
It may be you er this haue heard the tale,
And how this sword from him Brunello stale.
27
And after to the good Rogero gaue it,Who late had left it in this wofull wracke,
Glad was Orlando now againe to haue it,
That oft had triall both of edge and backe;
He deemd that God, did eu'n of purpose saue it,
Now to supply therewith his present lacke:
And after oft he said, and thought indeed,
That God did send it him at so great need.
28
At so great need, when as he was to fight,Against Gradasso king of Sericane,
Who had, beside his great and passing might,
Renaldos horse, and fearfull Dudrindane.
Rogeros armour though it looked bright,
Yet was it not as thing so precious tane,
As being prisd more for the sumptuous show,
Then for the goodnesse, which they did not know.
29
And sith himselfe for armour did not care,And neuer did the dint of weapon feare,
He doth that armour to his cosin spare,
But not the sword, for that himselfe doth weare:
The horse, that was of shape and goodnesse rare,
Had Brandimart, and thus deuided were,
Among these three, in guerdon of their paines,
An equall share, and portion in the gaines.
30
Now each prepard against the day of fight,Braue furniture, with cost of many a crowne:
Orlando on his quarter, bare in sight,
High Babels towre with lightning striken downe:
His cosin had a Lyme hound argent bright,
His Lyme laid on his backe, he couching downe,
The word or Mot was this, vntill he commeth,
The rest was rich, and such as him becommeth.
31
But Brandimart, who as I erst made mention,Had heard his fathers death, went all in blacke:
Of braueries he now had no intention,
Lest men might thinke, he did discretion lacke,
He car'd for no deuice, nor new inuention,
Nor wore he sumptuous clothing on his backe,
He onely had one border richly set
With stones, but darkned ouer with a net.
32
A net that Fiordeliege his dearest Queene,With her owne hands against that day did make,
But neither then, nor all the time betweene,
That first she vndertooke it for his sake,
Till she had done it, was she euer seene
To laugh, or smile, or any ioy to take:
Her heart still heauie was, her looke still sad,
And yet herselfe did know no cause she had.
33
But still in feare, and still in doubt she is,Her spouse by death, shall now from her be sunderd:
Oft times herselfe hath seene him be, ere this,
In greater fights, an hunderd and an hunderd,
Yet neuer did her heart so giue amisse,
Wherefore at her owne feare she greatly wonderd:
And eu'n that reason made her feare the more,
Because she was not vsd to feare before.
34
Now when each thing in order fit was set,The chāpions three were shipped with their horses:
Vnto Astolfo and to Sansonet,
The charge was left of all those Christen forces,
But dolefull Fiordeliege, although as yet
To hide her sorow, she herselfe inforces,
Yet when the wind away the vessell beares,
She bursteth out to open cries and teares.
35
With Sansonet Astolfo tooke much paine,To bring her to her chamber from the shore,
Who lying on her bed, she still doth plaine,
That she hath lost her spouse for euermore:
To seeke to comfort her it was in vaine,
For talking made her feare increase the more,
But now the worthie champions in this while,
Were safe arriu'd at Lippadusa Ile.
345
36
No sooner set they foot vpon the land,But (on the Easterne side) they pitcht a tent,
Because perhap that part was nearest hand,
Or else vpon some politicke intent:
On tother side, with such an equall band,
Came Agramant: but sith this day was spent,
They all agreed all fight to be forborne,
Vntill the verie next ensuing morne.
37
A watch was charged then on either part,That neither side the tother may deceaue,
But ere it yet was darke, king Brandimart,
(Though not without Orlandos speciall leaue)
Doth meane a wondrous fauour to impart
To Agramant, if he the same receaue:
For why the tone the tother oft had seene
As frends, and had in France together beene.
38
Now after ioyning hands, and salutation,The noble minded Brandimart begun
To vse vnto the Turke an exhortation,
That with Orlando he the combat shun:
Affirming vnto him with protestation,
Would he beleeue but in the Virgins sonne,
That he both present peace would then assure him,
And all his Realmes in Affricke safe procure him.
39
Because you are, and haue bene deare to me,Therefore (he saith) this counsell you I geeue,
And sith I follow it my selfe you see,
Thereby you may be sure I it beleeue;
Christ is my God, a God indeed is he;
An Idol Mawmet is, that doth not liue:
Wherefore deare Sir, I do desire to moue
From errors foule, your selfe and all I loue.
40
This is indeed the way of truth and life,All other wayes but this, do leade astray;
Why should you liue in error and in strife,
When in true peace, and knowledge liue you may?
Tempestuous cares this world hath euer rife,
And if your present state you would but way,
You plainly may perceiue your venter such,
As you to win but little hazard much.
41
What if you could the sonne of Milo kill?Or vs that come with him to win, or die?
Thinke you that then you shall haue all you will?
Thinke you your state you can restore thereby?
No sure, the state of Charles is not so ill,
But that he quickly can our lacke supply;
Wherefore deare Sir, vnto my counsell listen,
All would be well, if you would be a Christen.
42
Thus much said Brandimart, and more besideHe would haue said, to peace him to exhort,
Saue that with scornfull speech, and full of pride,
Fierce Agramant this wise, did cut him short;
A madnesse meere it is (thus he replide)
In you, or any man that in such sort,
Will counsell and aduise men what to do,
Not being cald of counsell thereunto.
43
And where you say, to this loue mou'd you chiefe,That you haue borne, and still do beare to me,
Herein you pardon must my hard beliefe,
While in Orlandos companie you be;
I rather thinke dispaire, and spite, and griefe,
Hath mou'd you hereunto, because you see,
Your soule is damned to eternall fire,
To draw vs thither with you you desire.
44
What victories, or else what ouerthrowes,I shall hereafter haue, God onely knoweth,
Not you nor I, nor yet Orlando knowes,
God onely where he list, the same bestoweth:
But as for me, no feare nor foolish showes,
Shall daunt my courage, how so ere it goeth,
Die first I will with torment and with paine,
Much rather then to yeeld, my stocke to staine.
45
Now when you list, depart from hence you may,As little thankt, as slenderly rewarded,
And if to morrow you the Champion play
No better, nor no more to be regarded,
Then you haue plaid the Orator to day,
Orlando sure will be but weakely guarded;
And these last words, in manner such he said,
As that thereby much choller he bewraid.
46
Thus parted they, and rested all that night,But readie they were all by breake of day,
All armd, and readie for the future fight,
Small speech was vsd, no lingring, nor no stay,
They couch their spears, & run with all their might:
But while I tell you of this bloody fray,
I doubt I do vnto Rogero wrong,
To leaue him swimming in the sea so long.
47
The gallant youth had labourd many an howre,To swim, and saue himselfe from being drownd,
The surging waue still threats him to deuowre,
But guiltie conscience more doth him confound;
He thinks that God will of his mightie powre,
Sith he foreslowed when he was on ground,
To be baptizd in waters fresh, and fitter,
To sowse him now in waues both salt and bitter.
48
He now remembers he had plighted troth,To Bradamant, nor done as he had spoken,
How to Renaldo he had made an oth,
And that the same by him was fouly broken;
Most earnestly he now repents them both,
And calls to God for mercie, and in token
Of true contrition voweth out of hand,
To be baptizd, if ere he come to land.
49
And that he would renownce all Turkish lawes,Nor gainst a Christen Prince once weapon carrie,
But serue king Charles, and aid the Churches cause,
And from the same hereafter not to varie,
And neuer seeke delay or farther pause,
His vertuous spouse Dame Bradamant to marrie
(Twas strange) no sooner he this vow had ended,
But that his strength increast, & swimming mended.
346
50
And where before he greatly was affrayd,That those same surging waters him would drowne,
He thinketh now they do his swimming ayd:
And sometime rising, sometime going downe,
He passeth on with courage vndismayd,
And scarce he seemed once to wet his crowne:
That so with cunning part, and part with strength,
He reached to the little Ile at length.
51
The rest of all his company was drownd,Nor euer was a man of them seene more,
But by Gods onely grace, Rogero found
This little Ile, and clammerd vp the shore:
And finding it a small and barren ground,
A new feare rose, no lesse then that before,
Least in a place of needfull things too scant,
He should be staru'd with penurie and want.
52
But yet with constant mind and vnappald,Resolu'd to suffer all that God would send,
Vpon the rocke with much a do he crald,
And gat vpon the leuell ground in th'end;
When lo an aged man, whose head was bald,
And beard below his girdle did descend,
That was an Hermit that did there inhabit,
Came forth to him in godly reu'rent habit.
53
And comming neare he cride, ô Saul, ô Saul,Why persecutest thou my people so?
As erst our Sauiour spake vnto Saint Paul,
Then, when he gaue to him that blessed blow.
Behold how God when pleaseth him can call,
From sea, from land, from places high and low,
When you did weene him farthest he was nighest,
So strong an arme, so long reach hath the highest.
54
Thus spake this Hermit so deuout and old,Who by an Angell in his sleepe that night,
Of good Rogeros comming was foretold,
And of all chances should on him allight,
With all his valiant actions manifold,
That he had done, and should performe in fight,
And of his death, and of his noble race,
That should succeed him after in his place.
55
Now (as I said) this wise, this Hermit spoke,And part doth comfort him, and part doth checke,
He blameth him, that in that pleasant yoke,
He had so long deferd to put his necke,
But did to wrath his maker still prouoke,
And did not come at his first call and becke,
But still did hide himselfe away from God,
Vntill he saw him comming with his rod.
56
Then did he comfort him, and make him know,That grace is nere denide to such as aske:
(As do the workmen of the Gospell show,
Receiuing pay alike for diuers taske)
Prouided that our prayre of zeale do grow,
And serue not as a viser or a maske:
This did the man of God Rogero tell,
And so from thence he led him to his cell.
57
The cell a chappell had on th'Easterne side,Vpon the Wester side a groue or berie,
Forth of the which he did his food prouide,
Smal chear God wot, wherwith to make folk merie
Yet fortie yeare he had that liuing tride,
And yet thereof it seemd he was not werie:
But eating berries, drinking water cleare,
He had in strength and health liu'd fourscore yeare.
58
Now kindled had the man of God some wood,And on his boord he set a little frute,
The youth to drie his cloths, not farre of stood,
For why, to change he hath no other sute;
Then he by th'old mans teaching vnderstood
The faith, and how to Christ he must impute
The pardon of his sinnes; yet neare the later,
He told him he must be baptizd in water.
59
And so he was the next ensuing day,And afterward he rested in that place
A while, and with the man of God did stay,
Resoluing him of eu'rie doubtfull case:
Sometime of heau'n, and of the later day,
Sometime of earth, and of his noble race,
That should in time to come, hold mightie Reames
As was reueald to him in former dreames.
60
And further vnto him he doth repeat,How his chiefe house should be sirnamed Esté,
Because in time to come king Charles the great,
Should say to them in Latin words, Hic este,
Which is as much to say, be here the seat,
In which you shall hereafter euer rest ye,
And many future things to him he told,
Which were too long for me now to vnfold.
61
This while Orlando and king Brandimart,With Marquesse Oliuero, as I told,
Met with those three of the contrarie part,
Young Agramanté and Gradasso bold,
With good Sobrino, who for valiant hart,
Giues place to few of them, though being old;
Each spurrres his horse, that ran a wondrous pace,
And of their blowes resounded all the place.
62
In this same course, each plaid his part so well,That vp to heau'n flew shiuerd eu'rie lance,
The hideous noise did cause the seas to swell,
And some report, twas heard as farre as France;
Gradasso and Orlando as befell,
Did meet together, were it choice or chance;
The match seemd eu'n, saue that their horses differ,
And made Gradasso seeme to runne the stiffer.
63
The weaker horse on which Orlando rode,Was brused so with this so fearfull shocke,
As now he could no longer beare his lode,
But sinking downe, lay senslesse with the knocke;
Orlando then did make but small abode,
His courser lying senslesse like a stocke,
Sith that with neither raines nor spurres he sturd,
He left his saddle, and drew forth his sword
347
64
With Agramant the Marquesse hand to handDid most, betweene them equall went the game,
Sobrino was by Brandimartés hand,
Cast from his horse, I know not how it came,
But at that time it could not well be scand,
If so the horse or horseman were to blame:
But whether beast or rider wanted force,
Sobrino certaine downe was from his horse.
65
King Brandimart nere offerd once to tuchSobrino, when he saw him downe in vew,
But to Gradasso that had done as much
Vnto Orlando, in great hast he flew;
The Marquesse fight with Agramant was such,
As which side had the vantage no man knew,
For when their staues were shiuerd all and rent,
Their axes then they vsd incontinent.
66
Orlando who by hap a horse did lacke,And saw Gradasso bent another way,
Whom Brandimart did hold so hardly tacke,
That he enforced him thereby to stay;
I say the Palladine then looking backe,
Saw old Sobrino standing in his way,
And toward him he go'th with looke so fierce,
As though his eye, aswell as sword could pierce.
67
Sobrino gainst the force of such a man,Sought with his surest ward himselfe to saue,
And as a Pilot doth the best he can,
To shunne the furie of the surging waue,
Eu'n so this well experienc't Turke began,
Himselfe in this great danger to behaue,
With sword and shield his best defence he made,
Against the fearfull edge of that same blade.
68
Which blade, of such an edge, in such an arme,No maruell if to pierce it seldome faile,
Against the which in vaine was any charme,
For though his shield was steeld, his cote of maile,
Yet quite through shield and armour it did harme,
To saue his shoulder all could not auaile.
But he to wound Orlando was not able,
For God had made his skinne impenetrable.
69
The valiant Earle redoubled still his blow,And thinks from shoulders off to cut his head,
He, that the force of Clarimont did know,
Gaue backward, or his ground still trauersed,
But in his trauersing he was so slow,
That with one blow he laid him downe for dead,
The blow fell flatling, but with force so maine,
As crusht his helmet, and amazd his braine.
70
Downe fell Sobrino backward on the ground,From whence long time it was er he arose,
Orlando thinks that he was safe and sound,
And that he was starke dead he doth suppose:
Wherefore since single foe he no where found,
Vnto Gradasso presently he goes,
To whom king Brandimart in armes, and horse,
In sword, inferiour was, perhaps in force.
71
But yet the noble minded Brandimart,Vpon Rogeros horse Frontino mounted,
With that same Sarafin so plaid his part,
As if his forces he but little counted:
And sure Gradasso not in skill, nor hart,
But in his sword and armour him surmounted:
Enforcing him ofttimes to stand aloofe,
Because his armour was of no good proofe.
72
But good Frontino bare away the bell,For being readie to the riders hand,
It seemd where euer Durindana fell,
Frontino had such wit to vnderstand,
That euermore he did escape it well:
But all this while it hardly could be scand,
In tother twaine on which side fortune works,
In Oliuero, or the king of Turks.
73
Orlando had (as late before I told)Left good Sobrino on the gound for ded,
Wherefore on foot he goes with courage bold,
To succour Brandimart if ill he sped;
But in the way by hap he did behold,
Sobrinos horse that without rider fled,
Orlando straight into the saddle valted,
Not looking if he went vpright or halted.
74
One hand his sword, the tother holds his raine,And so he rideth to Gradasso ward,
Who when he saw him come, did not refraine,
But to encounter with him straight prepard:
To fight with one of them, or else with twaine,
It seemd he little reckoned nor car'd;
He minds and hopeth to effect it soone,
To make them both to thinke it night ere noone.
75
Yet for a while king Brandimart he leaues,And turnes him to the Earle, and with a thrust
Whereas his armour weakest he perceaues,
There doth the fierce Gradasso hit him iust,
And enterd, but his cunning him deceaues,
Orlandos skin be pierced neuer must.
But when with Ballisard Orlando strake,
His helmet, coate of maile, and shield he brake.
76
So that both in his face, his breast, and side,He wounded sore the king of Sericane,
Who maruels much what strange chance did betide
For neuer erst such sore hurt he had tane:
He thought there could not be a blade beside
To pierce his coate, he hauing Durindane;
And sure that blow had him dispatched clearly,
If it had had more strength, or come more nearly.
77
He sees that now he must take better heed,And not trust armour, but a surer ward,
To seeke to saue himselfe he now hath need,
And looke vnto his limbs with more regard:
Now while twixt them the fight did thus proceed,
Good Brandimart did see he might be spard,
Wherefore to breath himselfe he then retired,
Still ready t'ayd each part, if cause required.
348
78
Now had Sobrino long laine in a trance,With that same bruse, and with that bloody wound,
Giu'n him by that great Palladine of France,
That at two blowes had laid him on the ground,
With much a do he doth himselfe aduance,
And standing on his feet, and looking round,
He thought his Master was in weakest case,
And to his aid he moues his silent pace.
79
At Oliueros backe he comes vnspide,Who sole on Agramant did fixe his eyes,
And that same horse that Oliuer did ride,
He hought behind in such despitefull wise,
That wanting strength, he fell downe on his side,
And was not able any more to rise:
And which was worse then his vnlookt for fall,
His foot hung in the stirop therewithall.
80
Sobrino doubled then his blowes againe,Thinking from shoulders off his head to pare,
But yet the steele made that attempt but vaine,
That Vulcan temperd erst, and Hector ware:
King Brandimart at Sobrin runnes amaine,
When of his doings he was well aware,
And ouerthrew him quite, and stoutly smote him,
But th'old fierce man, soone on his feet vp got him.
81
And once againe at Oliuer he flies,And once againe he thinketh him to kill,
Or at the least cause him he shall not rise;
But he that had his better arme at will,
Layd with his sword about him in such wise,
As that he kept himselfe from further ill
And made his foe, that was of no great strength
Stand distant from him, almost twise his length.
82
The Marquesse hopes ere long to ease his paine,If he can cause Sobrino stand aloofe,
Who bled so fast, as now from fight t'abstaine
He thought it would be best for his behoofe:
Now Oliuero all his force doth straine,
And to get loose he maketh manie a proofe,
But still his foot was fast to his great hurt,
And still the horse lay tumbling in the durt.
83
This while king Brandimart doth go to findTraianos sonne, and now he hath him found,
Frontino now before, and straight behind,
That good Frontino that can turne so round:
The horse was sure and of a passing kind,
The Sotherne kings was readie, strong, and sound:
He had that famous courser Brigliadore,
The which Rogero gaue him late before.
84
But sure the Turke great ods in armour had,For he had one of proofe, well tride, and sure,
And Brandimartés was indeed but bad.
Such as he could in warning short procure,
Wherefore to change it now he would be glad,
And that he shall, his heart doth him assure:
So that he waxed stouter still and bolder,
Though Agramant had hurt him in the shoulder.
85
Gradasso further had about his thye,Him giu'n a blow, not to be tane in sport,
But yet the king did so the fight apply,
And laid on loade in so couragious sort,
As that he wounded his left arme thereby,
And pricked his right hand (thus they report)
But all this was but May game and delight,
Vnto Gradassos and Orlandos fight.
86
Gradasso hath Orlando halfe disarmd,And made him with one blow his shield forsake,
He could not wound him, for his skin was charmd,
But yet his headpeece on both sides he brake:
But him Orlando hath in worse sort harmd,
Beside that hurt of which before I spake,
He hath drawne blood of him in many a place,
As namely in breast, in throate, and in his face.
87
Gradasso sees himselfe with blood besmeard,And smarting paine in many places found,
And sees that Earle like one that nothing feard,
Stand whole, and quite vnwounded safe and sound;
Wherefore with both his hands his sword he reard,
With mind to cleaue him, rather then to wound,
And eu'n as he desir'd, with all his strength,
He strake him on his head, at halfe sword length.
88
And sure had clou'd him to the saddle bow,Had it another then Orlando bene,
But now as if it had falne flatling thoe,
The blade rebounded from him bright and cleene,
But yet that Earle was daz'd so with the bloe,
I thinke some starres on ground by him were seene;
He lost his bridle, and his sword had mist,
Saue that a chaine did bind it to his wrist.
89
The horse on which the good Orlando rode,Was eke so scared with the fearfull sound,
As there he durst no longer make abode,
But on the sands at randon runneth round,
And beares Orlando as a senslesse lode,
That with the paine still stood as in a sound,
And had Gradasso little harder spurred,
He might haue tane the Earle ere he had sturred.
90
But as he rode, he saw king Agramant,Vnto extreamest point of danger brought,
For why the valiant sonne of Monodant,
Had loosd his beauer, and such hold had caught
Vpon his gorget, that but small did want,
Eu'n with one stab his last end to haue wrought:
For why the noble minded Christen Prince,
Had wonne his sword from him a good while since.
91
Gradasso doth no more that Earle pursew,But maketh hast king Agramant to ayd,
And vnto Brandimart that nothing knew,
Nor of no such misfortune was affrayd,
He comes behind his backe quite out of vew,
And both his hands at once on sword he layd,
And in that sort, he strake with all his might,
Full on the helmet of the noble knight.
349
92
Oh heau'nly Father grant a resting placeIn Paradice, for this thy Martyrs spirit,
That hauing runne all his tempestuous race,
He may with thee an harbour safe inherit.
Ah Durindan, hadst thou so little grace,
So ill to quite thy noblest Masters merit,
That in his sight thou could of life depriue,
His best and kindest frend he had aliue?
93
The sword did pierce a double plate of steele,That little lesse was then two fingers thicke,
Good Brandimart gan with the blow to reele,
It pierced had so deepe vnto the quicke,
His braines all cut therewith he plaine did feele,
And downe he fell like one most deadly sicke;
A streame of blood out of the grieuous wound,
Ran forth, and dyde with crimsen all the ground.
94
By this Orlando waked, and behildHis Brandimart that lay now a la mort:
He sees the Sericane that him had kild,
This angerd him, and grieu'd him in such sort,
Twas hard to say which more his stomacke fild,
His wrath or griefe; but time to mourne was short,
That griefe gaue place, and wrath bare chiefest sway
But now I thinke it best awhile to stay.
351
THE XLII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Orlando of his conquest takes small ioy,Which caused him his dearest frend to want:
Loues diuers passions, breed no small annoy,
To stout Renaldo and good Bradamant:
She wishing her Rogero to enioy,
He th'Indian Queene, but soone he did recant,
Taught by disdaine: at last in Latian ground,
The Palladine kind entertainment found.
1
What iron band, or what sharpe hard mouthd bit,What chaine of diamond (if such might be)
Can bridle wrathfulnesse and conquer it,
And keep it in his bounds and due degree?
When one to vs in bonds of frendship knit,
And dearly lou'd, before our face we see,
By violence or fraud to suffer wrong,
By one for him too craftie, or too strong.
2
And if before we can such pang digest,We swarue sometime from law, and run astray,
It may be well excusd, sith in ones brest,
Pure reason at such time beares little sway:
Achilles when with counterfaited crest,
He saw Patroclus bleeding all the way,
To kill his killer was not satisfide.
Except he hal'd and tare him all beside.
3
So now a little since when in his brow,Alfonso wounded was with cursed stone,
And all his men and souldiers thought that now,
His soule from earth to heau'n had bene vp flone,
They kild and spoild, they car'd whom nor how,
Strong rampiers, walls, to them defence were none,
But in that furie they put all to wracke,
Both old and young, and all the towne to sacke.
4
Our men were so enraged with this fall,To thinke they had their Captaine lost for ay,
That to the sword they put both great and small,
That happend then to come within their way:
And so their fortune did preuaile withall,
That they the Castle did regaine that day,
In fewer houres, to their great fame and praise,
Then had the Spaniards got it erst in dayes.
5
It may be, God ordained (as I guesse)That he that time should wounded be so sore,
To punish that same sinne and foule excesse,
His foes committed had a while before,
When Vestidell forlorne and in distresse,
Did yeeld, and should haue had his life therefore,
Yet was he kild when they had him surprised,
By men whose greater part were circumcised.
6
Wherefore I iustly may conclude thus much,That nothing can more hotly kindle wrath,
Then if one shall the life and honor tuch,
Of our deare frend, or do him wrong or scath.
Now (as I said) Orlandos griefe is such,
And such occasion of iust griefe he hath,
He sees his frend, for lacke of better heeding,
Lye flat on ground, and almost dead with bleeding.
7
As the Nomadian Shepherd, that a Snake,Along the grasse and herbes hath slyding seene,
Which late before with tooth most poysond strake
His little sonne, that plaid vpon the greene,
Doth bruse and beat, and kill him with a stake:
So goes this Earle with blade most sharpe and keene
And yet far more with wrath an choller whet;
And Agramant, was then the first he met.
352
8
Vnhappie he that in his passage stood,His sword was gone as I declard before,
Himselfe besmeared all with his owne blood,
Braue Brandimart had wounded him so sore;
Orlando comes, and in his wrathfull mood,
With Ballisard, that payes home euermore,
He strikes (by fortune were it or by art)
Iust where the shoulders from the head do part.
9
Loosd was his helmet, as I erst did tell,That like a Poppie quite fell off his bed,
The carkas of the Lybian Monarke fell
Downe to the ground, and lay a long starke ded,
His soule by Charon, ferrie-man of hell,
To Plutos house or Stigian lake was led.
Orlando staid no whit, but straight prepard,
To finde Gradasso eke with Ballisard.
10
But when Gradasso plaine beheld and saw,Of Agramant the wofull end and fall,
He felt an vnaccustomd dread and aw,
Who neuer wonted was to feare at all;
And eu'n as if his owne fate he foresaw,
He made the Palladine resistance small:
Feare had so maz'd his head, and daz'd his sence,
That for the blow, he quite forgat his fence.
11
Orlando thrust Gradasso in the side,About the ribs, as he before him stood,
The sword came forth a span on tother side,
And to the hilt, was varnisht all with blood,
By that same thrust alone it might be tride,
That he that gaue it was a warriour good,
That with one thrust did vanquish and subdew,
The stoutest champion of the Turkish crew.
12
Orlando of this conquest nothing glad,Doth from his saddle in great hast alight,
And with a heauie heart and count'nance sad,
He runnes vnto his deare beloued knight,
He sees his helmet cut, as if it had
Bene clouen quite with axe (a wofull sight)
And eu'n as if it had bene made of glasse,
And not of steele, and plated well with brasse.
13
The Palladine his helmet then vnties,And finds the scull clou'n downe vnto the chin,
And sees the braine all cut before his eyes;
Yet so much breath and life remaind within,
That he is able yet before he dyes,
To call to God, for mercie for his sinne,
And pray Orlando ioyne with him in praying,
And vse to him this comfortable saying.
14
My deare Orlando, see that to our Lord,Thou in thy good deuotions me commend:
Likewise to thee commend I my deare Fiorde-
And liege he would haue sayd, but there did end;
Straight Angels voyces with most sweet accord,
Were heard the while his spirit did ascend,
The which dissolued from this fleshly masse,
In sweetest melodie to heau'n did passe.
15
Orlando though he should reioyce in hart,Of this his end so holy and deuout,
Because he knew his louing Brandimart,
Was taken vp to heau'n, without all doubt,
Yet flesh and blood in him so playd their part,
That without teares he cannot beare it out,
But that he needs must shew some change in cheare,
To leese one more, then any brother deare.
16
This while Sobrino brused in his hed,And wounded sorely in his side and thye,
Vpon the ground so great a streame had bled,
It seemd his life in perill was thereby;
And Oliuero little better sped,
On whom his horse still ouerthrowne did lye,
He striuing, but his striuing did not boot,
To get at libertie his brused foot.
17
And sure it seemes he had bene worse apayd,Had not his dolefull cosin quickly come,
And brought to him, both quicke and needfull ayd,
Before the paine had him quite ouercome:
His foote that long had in the stirrop stayd,
Was therewithall so void of sence, and numme,
That when he stood vpright, he was not able,
To tuch the ground, much lesse tred firm & stable.
18
So that indeed Orlando in his hart,But little ioy of so great conquest had,
He wayles the death of his deare Brandimart,
And that his kinsman was in state so bad:
Now lay Sobrino, though aliue in part,
Yet with a looke so chearlesse and so sad,
And so much blood his aged veines had bled,
That doubtlesse in few howres he had bene ded,
19
Saue that Orlando with compassion moued,To see him ly so lorne, and so distressed,
Gate him such needfull things as best behoued,
And charitably made his wounds be dressed:
So kindly, that some kinseman deare beloued,
And not his foe, a man might him haue guessed:
Such was this Earles good nature, fierce in fight,
But fight once done, from malice free or spight.
20
The horse, and bodies of the other twaine,He tooke away, and left their men the rest,
To be disposd to their owne priuate gaine,
Or to interre their Lords, as they thought best.
But here, that in my story I do faine,
Fredericke Fulgoso (as I heare) hath guest,
Sith at this Ile he late arriuing found,
In all the same no leuell foote of ground.
21
Nor doth he probable it deeme or take,That sixe such knights as had in armes no peare,
On horsebacke should a combat vndertake,
Where no one foot of plaine ground doth appeare.
To which obiection I this answer make,
That then, in times now past seau'n hundred yeare,
Plaine ground there was, but now some inundation,
Or earthquake might procure this alteration.
353
22
Wherfore Fulgoso, honor of thy name,Bright Fulgor, causing all thy stocke to shine,
If in this point thou hadst imputed blame
To me, perhaps before that Prince deuine,
From whom thy countries good and quiet came,
And did it first to loue and peace incline,
Informe him now, that eu'n perhaps in this,
My tale of truth or likelyhood doth not misse.
23
This while Orlando looking from the shore,A little Frigot did farre of descrie,
That both with sayle, and with the helpe of ore,
Vnto that Ile, seemd in great hast to flie;
But ere of this I tell you any more,
I must to France as fast as I can hie,
To see if they be merrie there or sad,
Now they from thence the Turks expulsed had.
24
First let vs see how faithfull Bradamant,Doth take his absence whom she loueth most,
Who in his oth, due care of faith did want,
Which he had tane in sight of either host:
Now sure she thinks his loue and faith too scant,
To heare he quite had left the Christen cost:
If in his publike oth he be vniust,
Whereto alas, then whereto can she trust?
25
And still returning to her former plaints,And still bemoning her vnluckie fate,
With which her selfe she too too well acquaints,
She calls herselfe accurst, and him vngrate,
Yea blaming God himselfe, and all his Saints,
For not redressing this her wofull state,
She scarce abstaines high blasphemie to speake,
That God vniust, and that Saints powres are weake.
26
Then she Melissa (absent) doth reproue,And curst that Oracles perswasion blind,
That lapt her in this Laberinth of loue,
Whence she her selfe by no meanes can vnwinde,
But to Marfisa all the rest aboue,
She open layes her stomacke and her mind,
With her she chides and vtters all her choller,
And yet she prayes her comfort this her doller.
27
Marfisa comforts her in all she may,And tels her what a vertue Patience is,
And partly doth excuse Rogeros stay:
And further giueth her her faith in this,
That if she find he wilfully delay,
She will constraine him mend all is amisse,
Or if she find that he refuse to do it,
To fight with him and so compell him to it.
28
With this she did in part her paine asswage,For why it is in sorrow great reliefe,
To those of either sex or any age,
To haue some frend, to whom to tell their griefe,
But now if Bradamant be in such rage,
No lesse is he that of her house was chiefe,
I meane Renaldo, that cannot expulse
Loues fire, from eu'rie sinew, veine and pulse.
29
I thinke I need not now to you repeat,A thing by me so often told before,
By name that loue and that affection great,
That to Angelica Renaldo bore:
Nor did her beautie cause so much his heat,
As did that spring of which he dranke such store,
Now all the other Palladines were free
From all their foes, now Cupids thrall is he.
30
An hundred messengers he sends about,Himselfe the while an hundred wayes more riding,
To aske of her, or else to finde her out,
Who hath her now, or where is her abiding.
At last, because he thinketh out of doubt,
That Malagige of her can learne some tiding,
He asketh him (but blushing sore with shame)
If he knew what of th'Indian Queene became.
31
His cosin wonders at so strange a case,And in his mind thereon long time he mused,
That when Renaldo had both time and place,
Her offers large and kind he still refused,
When both herselfe did sue to haue his grace,
And many of his frends perswasions vsed:
And Malagige himselfe among the rest,
Had prou'd him oft with prayre and with request.
32
The rather eke, because Renaldo then,By taking her, had set his cosin free,
Who then was kept close prisner in a den,
And for that cause in perill slaine to be;
He maruels that he now would seeke her, when
No hope, nor cause there was, and further he
With angrie looke, did bid him call to mind,
How in this point he had bene too vnkind.
33
But good Renaldo now quite of tune,Pray'th him old quarrels from his mind to moue,
And doth most earnestly him importune,
Vnto his helpe, his skill and bookes to proue:
Which made his cosin so much more presume,
Vpon his reconcilement and true loue,
And promist to assist him if he may,
And for his answer he prefixt a day.
34
And straight from thence he go'th vnto the place,Where he was wont the spirits to coniure,
A strong vast caue, in which there was great space,
The precepts of his Art to put in vre:
One spright he calls, that of each doubtfull case
Of Cupids court, could giue him notice sure:
Of him he askt what bred Renaldos change,
By him he heard, of those two fountaines strange.
35
And how Renaldo by misfortune led,First happend of that hatefull spring to drinke,
Which his dislike of that faire Ladie bred,
And made her loue, and profferd seruice stinke:
And how againe, by some ill starre misled,
He drank of th'other spring, which causd him thinke
Her onely to be loued and admired,
Whom erst he hated more then cause required.
354
36
Moreouer he to Malagigis showd,How that same famous Indian Queene (nay quean)
Had on a Pagan youth herselfe bestowd,
Of parentage, of state, of liuing meane:
And how from Spaine they in a galley rowd,
All Christendome and Spaine forsaking cleane,
And passing both with safetie and with ease,
(In ventrous barks of Catalyn) the seas.
37
Now when Renaldo for his answer came,His learned cosin seekes him to perswade,
Vnto some better thought his minde to frame,
Nor furtheron this gulfe of loue to wade;
Alledging what a slander and a shame,
It was to fancy one her selfe had made,
Not like a Queene, but like a vile maide Marian,
A wife, (nay slaue) vnto a base Barbarian.
38
In fine he said, she was to th'Indies gon,With her Medoro, and was welnie there:
Renaldo not a little musd thereon,
Yet all the rest he could with patience beare,
And for the paine, he counts it small or none,
So he at last might finde her any where;
Wherefore of it he had no care nor keepe,
Nor could that make him once to breake his sleepe
39
But when he heard that one of birth so baseHad with his mistres laid his knife a boord,
It seemd this strake him speechles in the place,
He was not able to pronounce a word:
His heart did quake within, his lips like case
So trembled, answer he could none afford;
But ouercome with anguish of the passion,
He flang away from thence, in carelesse fashion.
40
And much lamenting this her foule abuse,He vowes to follow her what ere insue,
But yet to Charles he faineth this excuse,
That sith Gradasso, of his word vntrue,
Had tane his horse contrary to the vse
Of valiant Knights, he meanes him to pursue;
Alledging that it were his great dishoner,
To let Bayardo haue a forren owner.
41
And that a Turke should bost another day,That he by fight did him thereof bereaue.
King Charles (though loth) yet could not say him nay
To such an honest sute, but gaue him leaue;
Which tane, alone from thence he goes his way.
And all his frends in Paris he doth leaue:
With Guidon, Dudon stout to him do proffer
Their company, but he refusd their offer.
42
Away he goes alone, yet not alone.Griefs, teares, and plaints, still his companions are:
And oft in heart he bitterly doth grone,
To thinke that erst he should so little care,
For her great loue, which wilfully forgone,
He now esteemes at rate so high and rare,
He could haue wisht (thus was his mind perplext)
But one day to enioy, and die the next.
43
Then he bethinkes with no lesse griefe, nay rageHow she could finde in that her lofty hart,
To set her loue on such a sorry page,
The merites all, and seruice put apart,
Done vnto her eu'n from her tender age,
By men of high renowne and great desart:
Thus with a fired hart, and watred eyne,
He rode vntill he toucht the bankes of Rhyne.
44
Ere long into Ardenna woods he enters,Soone after he Basylea quite had past:
Ardenna woods, whence many come repenters,
And in that forrest haue bene sore agast,
To trauell through the same Renaldo venters,
When suddenly the skie did ouercast,
And there arose a blacke and hideous storme,
And then appeard a monster of strange forme.
45
She seem'd of womans shape, but in her hed,A thousand eyes she had, that watch did keepe,
As many eares, with which she harkened,
Her eyes want lids, and therefore neuer sleepe,
In steed of haire, her crowne snakes ouerspred,
Thus marched she foorth of the darknesse deepe,
Her tayle one Serpent bigger then the rest,
Which she with knots had tyde about her brest.
46
This sight, Renaldos mind appald so sore,He feeles his heart alreadie gan to fayle him,
And sith it neuer had done so before,
He maruels what, (the goody eare) now should aile him:
Yet still his minde misgaue him more and more,
To see the monster comming to assaile him,
He nathlesse counterfets his wonted boldnesse,
Though quaking hāds bewraid his inward coldnesse
47
The monster straight assaulted him, much likeTo one that parfet was and skild in fence,
And when againe he with his sword did strike,
He misled, and could doe her none offence.
Much doth Renaldo this ill match mislike,
And little wants to quite distract his sence,
Right blowes and reardemaine he striketh many,
But yet he cannot hit her right with any.
48
The monster stickes a Serpent in his brest,That strake his heart in to a freesing cold,
Another fixed is below his crest,
And on his necke and shoulders taketh hold;
Renaldo thinkes to get him gone is best,
And spurres away with all the speed he could,
But that vile monster was not lame to find him,
But ouertooke him, and leapt vp behind him.
49
And whether he go straight, or go he wide,The monster fitteth sure and holds him fast,
He knowes not how to be from her vntide,
Nor any meane within his mind can cast,
His heart eu'n quakes within him, and beside
That he was with this hideous plague agast,
He sorrowd so not knowing how to mend it,
He loth'd his life, and did desire to end it.
355
50
He spurres amaine, and purposely he takesThe rugged wayes, the worst that he could find,
By craggie Rocks, and hils, through bryers & brakes
Through copsies thicke, by narrow paths and blind,
But sure the knight the matter much mistakes,
He cannot from the monster him vnwind:
And like it was, great harme had him betyded,
Had not for him, bene helpe in time prouided.
51
For loe a knight, vnto his succour went,All armd in shining steele, and on his shield,
He bare a yoke in sundry peeces rent,
And flames of fire all in a yellow field,
So weaponed he was, as if he ment
To make all that encountred him to yeeld,
A sword and speare he had, and to the same,
A Mace from whence he threw continuall flame.
52
His Mace was stor'd with euerlasting fire,That euer burned, and did neuer wast,
No other weapon needed one desire,
To make good way with, wheresoeu'r he past,
And sure Renaldos danger did require
Quicke remedie, wherefore the knight doth hast:
And when he saw this monster and did vew her,
With his stiffe speare forthwith he ouerthrew her,
53
But this same fall did her no whit annoy,Wherefore to vse his speare he now misliketh,
He onely will his fierie Mace imploy,
And with that same the monster foule he striketh:
Then she no longer could her force enioy,
Renaldo while she fled, occasion piketh,
To scape away, as him that knight perswaded,
While he this monster more and more inuaded.
54
Now when the knight had with his fierie Mace,Driu'n backe this monster to her darksome den,
Where she for spite doth beat her head and face,
Repining at the good of other men,
Then to Renaldo he doth ride apace,
And when he had soone ouertane him, then
He offerd in kind sort, with him to ride,
From out the darksome places him to guide.
55
But when Renaldo was from danger free,And that same knight by whom his safetie came,
So courteously to come to him did see,
His speech to him in kind words he did frame,
And gaue him many thanks in hye degree,
And then besought him he might know his name,
That th'Emperor and all his court might know,
What knight did so great grace on him bestow.
56
The knight in courteous manner thus replide,I would not you should take it in displeasure,
That I my name from you a while shall hide,
But ere the shadow grow a yard by measure,
I shall you tell: thus onward still they ride,
Renaldo being pleasd to stay his leasure,
So long they went together till they found,
A christall spring that ran along the ground.
57
At which full oft the herdmen, that did dwellNeare those same woods, haue in their louing fits,
Drunke loue away, with tasting of that well,
And of those passions purged cleane their wits:
Now (for the knight that rode with him could tell
That for Renaldos ill, this Phisicke fits)
He doth aduise him there to stay a space,
And make that well their baite and resting place.
58
Renaldo of the motion well allowth,And lighteth straight, and to the well doth go,
Both for that heat and trauell bred his drowth,
And that the monster had disturbd him so;
Vnto the christall well he puts his mouth,
And greedily drinks downe fiue gulps or mo,
And from his brest doth with one draught remoue,
His burning thirst, and his more burning loue.
59
Now when that other knight that with him went,Saw him lift vp himselfe from that same brooke,
And found he did his foolish loue repent,
And that he now that humor quite forsooke,
Then to declare his name he was content,
And looking with a graue and loftie looke,
He said, Renaldo, know I hight Disdaine,
That came to loose thee from loues foolish chaine.
60
This said, he vanisht from Renaldo quite,His horse nor him he could not after see,
Renaldo maruels at this wondrous sight,
And lookes about, and saith, what where is he?
At last he thinks tis some familiar spright,
That by good Malagigis sent might be:
To rid him of that tedious care and wo,
That many months had him afflicted so.
61
Or else that God to him this helpe did lend,Of his especiall grace and louing kindnes,
As erst he did vnto Tobias send,
His Angel to deliuer him from blindnes:
But let it Angel be, or be it fend,
Renaldo takes against him no vnkindnes:
He thanks and praises it, and doth acknowledge,
To haue receiu'd of him grace, wit, and knowledge
62
Now, that same great mislike and hate retorned,Of faire Angelica, whom late he loued,
Now he despised her and greatly scorned,
To thinke that he for her one foote had moued:
Yet onward into India ward he iourned,
As for Bayardos sake it him behoued:
Because both honor did compell him to it,
And to his Prince he vndertooke to do it.
63
He rides to Basile next ensuing night,Where verie late before, some newes were hard,
How that Orlando challeng'd was to fight,
And for that fight, how he himselfe prepard,
Not, that Orlando newes here of did write,
But one that came from Sycill thitherward,
Affirmed he had heard the same reported,
By many that to Sycily resorted.
356
64
These newes do set on edge Renaldos hart,He faine would present be at this conflict,
He faine would take therein Orlandos part,
To whom he bounden was in bands most strikt,
Of friendship, of allyance and desart:
Wherefore he takes post horse, and spurd and prickt,
And changd both beasts, & guides each tē miles end
And toward Italy he still doth bend.
65
At Constance he did passe the streame of Rhine,And then beyond the Alpes, he soone doth goe,
To Mantoa, and ere the Sun decline,
He passed ore the stately streame of Poe,
Here he did doubt and did not soone designe,
If he should trauell all the night or noe:
Till at the last a well behauourd knight,
And full of curtesie, came in his sight.
66
This knight forthwith vnto Renaldo went,And askt him if he were a marride man,
Renaldo maruels what the question ment,
But answerd yea, then tother straight began,
And praid him, that he would be then content,
To be his guest, at such cheare as he can:
Offring to show him, while with him he tarride,
A sight well pleasing vnto all were marride.
67
Renaldo glad so good a bait to make,And no lesse willing, haps most rare to heare,
Would not the offer of this knight forsake,
Of entertainment good, and friendly cheare,
But onward with him doth his iourny take,
Vntill he saw a goodly place appeare,
So well set forth, both for the shew and sence,
As seemd not for a priuat mans expence.
68
The porch was all of Porpherie and Tutch,On which the sumptuous building raised was,
With Images that seemd to moue, see, tuch,
Some hewd in stone some caru'd and cut in brasse,
Likewise within, the beautie was as much:
Beneath a stately arch, they straight did passe,
Vnto a court that good proportion bare,
And was each way one hundred cubites square.
69
And either side a Porch had passing faire,That with an arch, is on two cullomns placed,
Of equall sise they seemed euerie paire,
Yet sundrie works which them the better graced;
At each of these a wide, large easie staire,
Without the which, all buildings are defaced,
And those same staires so stately mounting, led
Each to a chamber richly furnished.
70
The cullomns hie, the chapters guilt with gold,The cornishes enricht with things of cost,
The Marbles fet from farre, and dearely sold,
By cunning workmen carued and imbost,
With Images, and antikes new and old,
(Though now the night thereof concealed most)
Shew that that worke so rich beyond all measure,
Could scant be builded with a Princes treasure.
71
But nothing did so much the fight enrich,As did the plenteous fountaine, that did stand
Iust placed in the middle, vnder which
The Pages spred a table out of hand,
And brought forth napry rich, and plate more rich,
And meates the choisest of the sea or land:
For though the house had stately roomes full many,
In summer season this was best of any.
72
This fountaine was by curious workmen brought,To answer to the rest with double square,
Eight femall statues of white marble wrought,
With their left hands, an azure skie vp bare,
Which raining still, expelled heat and drought,
From all that vnder it, or neare it are,
In their right hands, was Amaltheas horne,
By eu'rie one of those eight statues borne.
73
Each of these statues rested both their feete,Vpon two Images of men below,
That seemd delighted with the noise so sweete,
That from the water came, that there did flow,
They also seemd the Ladies low to greete,
As though they did their names and vertues know:
And in their hāds they hold long scroles of writings
Of their owne pennings and their owne enditings.
74
And in faire golden letters were the names,Both of the women wrote, and of the men,
The women were eight chast and sober dames,
That now do liue, but were vnborne as then:
The men were Poets that their worthie fames,
In time to come, should praise with learned pen:
These Images bare vp a brasen tressell,
On which there stood a large white Marble vessell.
75
This tooke the water from the azure skie,From whence, with turning of some cocke or vice,
Great store of water would mount vp on hie,
And wet all that same court eu'n in a trice;
With sight of these Renaldo fed his eye,
So that his host could scarcely him entice,
To feed his stomacke, yet he oft him told,
His meate would marre and sallets would be cold.
76
Then downe at last they sat them at the boord,And pleasant talke did helpe disgest their meate,
His host that was no niggard, did affoord
Great store of delicates, to drinke and eate,
And all this while Renaldo spake no word,
Although he did it oft in mind repeate,
And though his tongue did itch, to pray him tell,
What twas that would please marride men so well.
77
At last he put him mannerly in minde,Of that he first did promise him to show,
Eu'n then he plainely saw his host inclinde
To inward griefe, and did more pensiue grow,
With secret sighs, and leauing halfe behinde;
At last a Page came in with curtsie low,
And beares a standing cup of gold most fine,
Without of gemmes, and full within of wine.
357
77
With this, the Master of the feast did smile,And on Renaldo lookt with pleasant cheare,
But one that well had marked him that while,
Might see more griefe then mirth, in him appeare:
Now noble guest (quoth he) within a while,
You shall see prou'd, a strange conclusion heare,
That needs must be full welcome to be tried,
By all that are in bonds of wedlocke tied.
78
For sure I thinke (he said) each husband ought,Make search if so his wife esteeme him dearly,
If fame, or shame, by her to him be brought,
If man or beast, he be reputed mearly:
The burthen of the horne though it be thought
To weigh so heauie, and to touch so nearly,
No doubt but many get them in their marriage,
Yet feele them not, they be so light in carriage.
79
But if a man by certaine signes may know,How that his wife to him is true and iust,
He hath more cause more kindnes her to show,
Then he that liues in right, or wrong mistrust:
For some without a cause do iealous grow,
Whose wiues are chast, and free from lawlesse lust:
And some ye for their wiues truth durst haue sworne,
Haue for their labours, in their head a horne.
80
Now sir, if you beleeue your wife is true,As sure till one do finde contrarie proofe,
I thinke both you, and all men ought of dew,
For that no doubt is best for their behoofe,
Here you shall see it tride within your vew,
For which I prayd you harbour in my roofe:
This cup (said he) if you desire to know it,
By drinking in the same, will clearely show it.
81
Now drinke hereof, and proue this passing skill,For if Acteons armes, be on your crest,
Do what you can, you shall the liquor spill,
Beside your mouth, vpon your lappe and brest,
But if your wife be chast, then drinke your fill,
No such mischance your draught will then molest,
Thus much he said, and fixt on him his eyne,
And thinkes Renaldo sure would spill the wine.
82
Renaldo halfe allured to assay,To finde a thing, which found he might repent,
Did take in hand the golden cup straight way,
As if to quaffe it off, were his intent:
Yet first he doth the certaine danger way,
To which by tasting such a cup he went.
But giue me leaue a while some breath to take,
Before you heare what answer he did make.
359
THE XLIII. BOOKE
THE ARGVMENT.
Renaldo heares two tales to like effect,Tone of a Bargeman, tother of a knight:
Both prouing that rewards will soone infect
The mindes of chastest dames, and make them light:
To Lippaduse he doth his course direct,
But first Orlando finisht had his fight:
That Hermit that Rogero did baptise,
Heal'd Oliuer, and Sobrine in likewise.
1
O curst, ô greedie, ô vnsaciableDesire of gaine, I do not maruell sure,
If thou the base and filthy minds art able,
To cause to stoope vnto thy carren lure,
Sith oft we see some persons honorable,
Can scarce thy weake and base assaults endure,
Who if they could thy foule entisements shun,
No doubt but they great glory should haue won.
2
Some men can measure earth, and sea, and sky,And tell the change and cause of eu'ry season,
And wade so farre with wit, or mount so hy,
They search both heau'n & hel with depth of reason
But when thou com'st in place, then by and by,
Thou putst their daintie tasts so out of season,
They place their whole delight, their hope, their health
In only scraping and in heaping wealth.
3
Another man in warres hath great renowne,And gets the conquest in each bloudie strife,
And wins this fortresse, and that walled towne,
Opposing his stout brest to perils rife,
Thou onely conquerst him, and thrusts him downe,
And keepest him thy prisner all his life:
Some men, excelling in each art and studdie,
Thou doest obscure, with base desires and muddie.
4
What should I speake of dames of worth not small,That hauing louers, men of great desarts,
Oppose their honours, as a brasen wall,
Against their suits with vnrelenting harts?
But come some miser, base deformed squall,
That saue his riches, hath no worthy parts,
They breake the wall, and make therein a gap,
To take the showre that fell in Danaes lap.
5
Nor without cause hereof complaine do I,Take me that can, for I do rightly take it,
Nor from my matter do I swarue awrie,
Or by a vaine digression do forsake it:
Yet to my former speach I not applie,
But tending to a future tale I spake it:
Now let me tell you of Renaldo first,
That with one draught wold swage his double thirst
6
But whether that his courage did him faile,Or that on more aduise, he changed minde,
He thought and said, what should it one auaile,
To seeke a thing he would be loth to finde?
My wife a woman is, their sex is fraile,
I yet am to beleeue the best enclinde;
I know I cannot better my beliefe,
And if I change it, it will be my griefe.
7
What good may come by such a straight espyall,Into my sences surely cannot sinke,
Much hurt may come, there can be no denyall,
Let nothing seuer those whom God doth linke:
Wherefore to make so vnaccustomd triall,
Were sinne, and tempting God as I do thinke:
Then drinke this cup, (quoth he) that list, not I,
I am not, nor I minde not to be drie.
360
8
God would such skill from mortall men be hid,And eu'n as Adam wrought his ouerthrow,
By tasting fruit, that God did him forbid,
So he that curiously will search to know,
All that his wife hath said, or what she did,
May fortune at the last himselfe beshrow:
And shall confound himselfe (this thinke I verily)
And liue in sorrow, that did erst liue merily.
9
Thus much said good Renaldo, and withallHe thrust away that hatefull cup of wine,
And then he saw of teares, a streame not small,
Flow from the master of that house his eyne:
Which past, he said, now foule may them befall,
That first procurd this miserie of mine:
To proue (which I shall sorrow all my life)
That, which bereft me of my dearest wife.
10
Why was not I (said he) with you acquainted,Ten yeares ere this, to take aduise so sound,
Before my heart was thus with sorrow tainted,
Of which no ease can now, nor end be found:
But that you may, as in a table painted,
Behold my griefes, I will to you expound,
What cauld this mine vncomparable woe,
And then you sure will pittie me I know.
11
Not farre from hence you left a little towne,About the which there runnes a prettie lake,
That fals into this streame of great renowne,
But from Banaco first his head doth take,
Erected when those walls were beaten downe,
That erst Agenors dragon there did make;
There was I borne of house and stocke not base,
Though of meane wealth inferiour to my race.
12
But though to me dame Fortune was but spare,That by my birth small wealth to me there grew,
Yet Nature did with bountie great and care,
Supply that want, by faire and comely hew,
My seemly personage, my beautie rare,
To me the liking of full many drew:
My qualities thereto, were quaint and iollie,
Although I know to praise ones selfe is follie.
13
Within this towne a great rich man did tarrie,Well learnd, and wise, and old beyond all credit,
For ere he dide, he on his backe did carrie,
Full sixscore yeares and eight at least, he sed it:
An hundred yeares he liued solitarie,
But after that (you know what humor bred it)
He lou'd a dame, and with his wealth so wrought her
That at the last he gat of her a daughter.
14
And least the daughter should proue like the mother,To sell her chastitie for filthie pelfe,
Which whosoeuer sels, it quite vndoth her,
Although she thinks she doth enrich her selfe,
Therefore he bred her farre from sight of other,
And by the helpe of many a hellish elfe,
Which by his skill in Magicke, he could master,
He built this house of Tutch and Allablaster.
15
He caused chast old women, her to nourishIn this same house, in which she grew so faire,
And in those yeares when youth doth chiefly florish,
He let not any thither to repaire,
That were in looks, or speech, or manners whorish,
But contrary, he causd in Marble faire,
Or else on tables to be drawne and carued,
All such whose chastities had praise desarued.
16
Nor onely such as haue in ancient times,Bene patterns true of manners chast and pure,
And haue opposd against all fleshly crimes,
Most chast and vertuous thoughts (a buckler sure)
By which their name to such high honor climes,
As their great praise shall euermore indure:
But such as shall excell in times to come,
Of which those eight, that erst you saw be some.
17
Now when this aged sire had with his skill,Procur'd his daughter be thus choisely bred,
It was my hap, (shall I say good or ill?)
That I was deemd most worthy her to wed;
And that old man bare her so great good will,
He gaue to me this house thus furnished,
With needfull things within it and without it,
And all the lands in twentie mile about it,
18
But her owne shape, so pleasd my heart and eyne,That for the rest I did but little care,
For needle workes, and for embrodries fine,
I thinke her skill with Pallas might compare;
To heare her play or sing, a thing deuine
It was, her stroke so sweete, her voyce so rare:
In other sciences, her skill was such,
As was her fathers, or almost as much.
19
Great was her wit, no lesse then wit, her fauour,As might in senslesse stones affection moue,
To this she had a sweete and kind behauour,
As more then all the rest ingendred loue,
It seem'd her sole delight was in my fauour,
Out of my sight, she was most loth to moue:
So liued I, and still had lined so,
But that my selfe did worke my selfe this wo.
20
For when her father finisht had his life,Full fiue yeares after I had got his daughter,
Then grew the causes of this wofull strife,
That vnto sorrow turneth all my laughter;
For when I doted most vpon my wife,
And of the world the chiefest iewell thought her,
A dame of noble birth, of person seemely,
Did hap to fall in loue with me extreemly.
21
This dame, for passing skill in Magicke art,Was comparable to the best Magicion,
But yet for all her skill, my constant hart,
She could not moue nor turne on no condition;
To cure her malladie, or ease her smart,
I still refused to be her Phisition,
Because, the med'cin that of me she sought,
As iniurie vnto my wife I thought.
361
22
Yet was her bewtie much, I must confesse,And great her offers she to me did make,
Beside the loue she did to me professe,
Would moue a man some care of her to take;
But my wiues loue, did me so firme possesse,
I all reiected, onely for her sake,
And that which most to her my liking drew,
Was that I found her still so kind and trew.
23
The good opinion, and the strong surmise,I had of my wiues chastitie and truth,
Would without doubt, haue made me to despise
The Dame, whose bewtie bred to Troy such ruth,
And all the wealth, though laid before mine eyes,
That Iuno offerd to the Troian youth,
Yet my refusall, and her oft repulses,
No part of her great loue, from her expulses.
24
Melissa, so was this inchantresse name,Perceiuing still in vaine to me she sewed,
Once finding me at leysure, to me came,
And in most cunning sort; her suit renewed,
And secretly she kindled iealous flame
Within my brest, which oft I since haue rued.
She saith, I do but well so true to be
Vnto my wife, if she were so to me.
25
But how know you (saith she) your wife is trew,That of her faith as yet no proofe haue made,
You neuer let her go scant from your vew,
When none can come to vice her to perswade,
Nor none can see her, none to her can sew,
Tis easie to resist where none inuade,
To praise her truth vntride, is too much hast,
Your care, and not her vertue keeps her chast.
26
But get you but from home some little while,That men to sue to her might take occasion,
And thinking you are absent many a mile,
With letters and with gifts to make inuasion,
And then if you shall finde in her no guile,
Except she yeeld to gifts, and to perswasion,
So she haue hope to do it vnespied
Then thinke your wife is chast, when that is tryed.
27
With these and such like words th'Inchantresse sly,Did make me do that that hath me vndonne,
By name, to giue consent my wife to try,
If so she could by such assaults be wonne:
But how shall I be well assur'd (said I)
To know at my returne, what she hath donne,
And whether she, with these so great assayes,
Haue at my hands deserued blame or prayse.
28
Forsooth (saith she) I will on you bestow,A drinking bowle, not much vnlike that cup,
With which Morgana made her brother know,
Genewras fraud, when he thereon did sup.
Who drinks here of, his wiues truth plaine shal know
If she be chast, he drinks the liquor vp,
But if a cuckold to carrowse doth thinke,
He sheddeth in his bosome all the drinke.
29
Now ere you go, the cup I wish you tast,And you shall drinke, perhaps and shall not spill,
Because as yet, I thinke your wife is chast,
As neuer being tempted vnto ill:
But try againe when as a month is past,
And you shall see I trow, a prettie skill,
For then I grant, that if you drinke it cleanly,
Aboue all men, you blessed are not meanly.
30
I tooke her offer, and I tooke the say,Of that same cursed cup, with sweete successe,
I find my wife vnspotted to that day,
As I my selfe was sure, and she did guesse:
Now straight (quoth she) to part from hence away,
For one or two months space, your selfe addresse,
Then try at your returne, how you haue sped,
If you drinke cleane, or if the drinke you shed.
31
But now this parting such a penance seemed,As I in deed could by no meanes endure,
Not that of my deare wife, I ought misdeemed,
For her of all the rest, I thought cocksure;
But that her company I so esteemed:
Well then (Melissa saith) I will procure,
If you will do, but what I shall you teach,
That you shall change your cloths, your shape, and speach.
32
And so you shall your selfe to her present,And make your selfe a plaine and perfect proofe,
I foolishlie to this deuice assent,
And so it hapt that hence, not farre aloofe,
A knight of large reuenue and of rent,
Dwelt at Giabana, fit for this behoofe,
His personage was braue, his purse well lyned,
His years but young, to Venus all inclyned.
33
That gallant youth had one day bene a halking,His hawke by hap, into my garden flew,
He comming thither, found my wife a walking,
And much he likt her, at the very vew;
But when he had a while with her bene talking,
To burning loue, his warme affection grew,
That after that, full many wayes he prou'd her,
If his request to grant, he could haue mou'd her.
34
But hauing still such short and sharpe repulses,He meanes no more, in that fond suit to wade,
But from his thought, her shape he not expulses,
That first to giue the bold attempt him made;
So well Melissa knew to touch my pulses,
To take his forme, she doth me soone perswade,
I straight was chang'd I know not how nor wheare,
In face, in clothes, in speech, in eyes, in heare.
35
Now hauing to my wife a tale deuisd,As though to th'East I then my iourny tooke,
And being like this youth, so strange disguisd:
In gate, in voyce, apparell, and in looke,
I came as sly Melissa me aduisd,
And she did like my Page or Lackie looke,
Vpon her arme she beares a little flasket,
In which, of iewells rich she hid a casket.
362
36
I that well knew each roome, came in securely,Into the house, my Page and I together;
There where my Ladie sate alone demurely,
For neither groome as then, nor maid was with her
Then I expound my suit, and that more surely
She might beleeue my words, I needs would giue her,
Pearls Rubies, Dyamonds of passing price,
The wicked baites, to draw good minds to vice.
37
I bad she should esteeme this gift but smallTo that she might of me in time exspect:
I said, her husbands absence fit did fall,
And wisedome bids occasions not neglect:
I prayd her weigh my constant loue withall,
Which long had lasted, though without effect,
And last, I sware I had some grace deserued,
That had so long, that had so truly serued.
38
At first she blusht, and lookt with lowring cheare,And would not hearken, but did still retire,
Lut th'Orient Pearls, and stones that shon so cleare,
Did mollifie her heart, to my desire:
She softly saith, but so as I might heare,
That for the thing, which I so oft require,
She grant it would, and would on me bestow it,
So she were sure that none beside might know it.
39
This answer was to me a poysond dart,To strike my soule, in desperat disease,
And straight my heart, my head, and eu'rie part,
I felt a frozen iealousie to sease:
And presently Melissa by her art,
Restor'd my shape (as she could do with ease.)
How lookt my wife (think you) when by my trapping.
She found herselfe thus foulie taken napping.
40
We both do looke like ashes, pale and wan,We both stood dum, we both cast downe our eye,
Scarse able was my voyce (do what I can)
To serue my turne, while I did thinke to cry:
Then wouldst thou wife vnto another man,
Mine honour sell, if he the same could by?
She held her peace, and answer made me none,
But onely wept and made a piteous mone.
41
The shame was much, but much more the disdaine,That of my foolish vsage tane she hath,
Within due bonds she could not it containe,
But that it brake to spite, to hate, to wrath:
Resolu'd with me no longer to remaine,
When Phebus charret trode his Westerne path,
That euening in a small barge of her owne,
Downe streame she swimmeth, as if she had flowne.
42
Betimes next day she doth vnto that knight,Herselfe present, that her before had loued,
In whose disguised shape, I her last night,
Both gainst mine owu, and gainst her honor proued
You well may iudge it was a welcome sight
To him, that long before such suit had moued,
From thence she sends to me this message plaine,
That she would neuer come at me againe.
43
Ah woe was me, for from that houre to this,She bydes with him, where me they lout and scorne,
And I that could not see my sugred blys,
Now by forgoing it, am quite forlorne;
Nor can I say but iust my penance is,
Which still growes more, and will till I be worne,
And sure one yeare, of life had quite bereft me,
Saue for one onely comfort that was left me.
44
This onely comfort brought me some releefe,That for the space of ten yeares, all my guests,
(Though many of their wiues had great beleefe)
Yet still they shed the drinke vpon their brests:
To finde so many partners in my greefe,
Asswageth much the paine that me molests,
Your onely selfe hath bene the onely stranger,
That hath refusd a draught of so great danger.
45
My ouermuch desire to sist my wife,In so precise, and in so straight a sort,
Doth cause that now I shall not all my life,
Liue on good houre, endure it long or short.
Glad was Melissa that procurde this strife,
But soone I turnd and marred all her sport,
For finding she, was of my harme procurer,
I hated her, and could no more endure her.
46
But she that finds herselfe disdained mearly,Where she had hoped to haue found reward,
And me, whom she profest to loue so dearly,
Her loue and kindnes nothing to regard,
The griefe hereof did tuch her minde so nearly,
To leaue this countrey she forthwith prepard,
And euer since farre hence she is abyding,
Whereas of her, we heare no newes nor tiding.
47
Thus told the wofull knight, in dolefull wise,This ruefull tale vnto his noble guest,
Who with compassion moued, thus replyes;
Melissas counsell certes was not best,
That did without discretion you aduise,
To anger waspes, or so to stirre their nest,
And you your selfe did greatly ouershoot you,
To seeke a thing, whose finding would not boot you
48
What maruell is it if your wife were wonneWith gifts, and were to lightnes soone alluered?
Is she the first (thinke you) that so hath donne?
No, nor the fiftith be you well assured,
Yea, minds full sound haue wanted powre to shunne
Such baites, and haue not such assaults endured:
Haue you not heard of men that haue for gold,
Their masters and their friends most dearest sold?
49
You should not with a dart so fierce assayle,If her defend herselfe to see you sought,
What, know you not stone walls cannot auayle,
Nor steele, if gold be to the batt'rie brought?
Now sure your selfe of duetie more did fayle,
In tempting her, then she in being caught,
Perhaps if she had tempted you so sore,
Your folly would haue bene as much or more.
363
50
Thus spake Renaldo, and withall he rose,And prayd he might betake him to his rest,
He minds a while himselfe there to repose,
And after to depart he doth request;
Small time he hath, and that he would dispose
With great regard, for so he thinks it best:
The gentle knight doth tel him when it please him
He may within his chamber rest and ease him.
51
But if you will vnto my counsell harke,And that you haue (as you pretend) such hast,
I will appoint for you a little barke,
That shall with oares conuey you safe and fast,
There may you sleepe the while you find it darke,
And when your stomake serues you, take repast:
Thus may you, downe the streame in safety sliding,
Win one whole night, & saue a whole daies riding.
52
Renaldo this good offer doth accept,And gaue him heartie thankes, then tooke his barge:
He found his host with him had promise kept,
And makes of needfull things prouision large:
No sooner was he setled, but he slept,
But yet before he gaue the stearman charge,
If that to sleepe too long it did befall him,
When he came neare Ferrara, then to call him.
53
Now did the knight of France in quiet sleepe,And past by diuers townes of count the whiles,
And still the barge a pace most swift doth keepe,
Vpon that hand, where Poe make diuers Iles:
And now the Rosie colour gan to creepe
To th'Esterne skie, when hauing past some miles,
Bandano then the stearsman wakt Renaldo,
When they discouerd both rocks of Tealdo.
54
Whereon when as the knight his eye had fixt,He saith, O happie place that I behold,
Of which, by vew of wandring starres and fixt,
My cosin Malagigis oft foretold,
How that by heau'nly doome it was prefixt,
On thee to lay such blessings manifold,
As that thy glorie to such height should rise,
Of Italie to hold the chiefest prise.
55
Thus good Renaldo spake, the while his boteDowne that same streame did swim, or rather fly,
And when the knight came nearer he did note
The place, that seemed then all wast to ly,
And with a moorish water all on flote:
Yet did he much reioice thereof, for why,
He knew that that same towne in future time,
Ordained was to great renowne to clime.
56
His cosin Malagige and he whileare,Had past that way, what time his cosin told,
That when the Ram had tane the golden spheare,
That fourth is plast in height, seau'n hundred fold,
Then should there be the brauest Iland theare,
That euer sea, or streame, or lake did hold,
So well replenished that none should dare,
With this Nausicas Iland to compare.
57
And that it should for building faire, disgraceTiberius Ile, that Capry they do call,
And that th'Hesperides should giue it place,
For passing fruits, and sundrie sorts withall:
Beside, more store of beasts, for vse or chase,
Then Circes erst did keepe in field or stall,
That Venus with her sonne, and all the Graces,
Should chuse this seat, and leaue all other places.
58
And that a certaine Prince should this fulfill,So prouident, so stout, so wise, so stayd,
As hauing powre vnited to his will,
Should with strong Rampires fence ye town (he said)
That foes should haue no force to worke her ill,
Nor she should neuer need of forraine aid:
And that the man by whom this must be donne,
Should be both Hercles Sire, and Hercles sonne.
59
Thus while the knight of France with great delight,Did call to mind, what should another day,
Vpon that happie Citie there alight,
His water-men did giue so lustie way,
That of the place he soone had left the sight,
And keeping on the right hand all the way,
They went beyond Saint Georges in an howre,
And passed by Giabanas ditch and Towre.
60
And now Renaldo, as doth oft befall,That one conceipt another out doth driue,
Began the knight to memorie to call,
That last did him kind entertainment giue,
That had iust cause this City more then all
To hate, and should haue still while he did liue:
The cursed cup he further cald to minde,
In which men may their spouses falshood finde.
61
And last of his hosts later speech he thought,Concerning that same cup, and how they sped,
I meane his guests, that that same triall sought,
Into their bosoms still the liquor shed:
Now he doth halfe repent he mist the draught,
Yet was he glad thereof, for why (he sed)
Had it falne well, what had I got thereby?
If not, in what a case had then bene I?
62
I now beleeue so well, as hauing triedWith good successe beleeue I better should not;
So that I might haue well bene damnified,
But by my triall mend my state I could not:
But what griefe had it bene if I had spied,
By my most deare Clarice, that I would not?
Much may they leese, but gains get small or none,
That will in play a thousand lay to one:
63
These later words so lowd and plaine he spake,(Though to himselfe) that he that steard the bote,
Who to his speech and gestures heed did take,
The words, and meaning of his words did note:
Wherefore a further cause of speech to make,
As one that though he ware a liu'rie cote,
Yet was well spoken, and of good bold sprite,
He straight doth fall to reason with the knight.
364
64
In fine, the summe of all their argument,Was that his wit was much to be controld,
That sought to make too great experiment,
Of womens truths, more then their force can hold:
For she that can with chast and firme intent,
Maintaine her truth, against assault of gold,
Might eu'n as easilie defend the same,
Against a thousand swords in midst of flame.
65
To this the Bargeman said, you sure may sweare it,They must not be assayld with darts so fierce,
For their soft brests, too tender are to beare it,
Sith coats of sounder proofe, such shot will pierce:
And sure a prettie tale (if you would heare it)
I could (saith he) to this effect rehearse,
Of one who though his wife had sore offended,
By her, in greater sinne was apprehended.
66
I meane the tale of that Adonio, whichThe great grift gaue vnto the Iudges wife,
A little dogge that made his owner rich,
A thing that in these parts is knowne so rife,
The knight replide, mine eares to heare it ich,
For neuer yet I heard it in my life:
Then if it please you, heare it now you shall,
The Stears-man said, and thus began his tale.
67
There was a learned Lawyer, cald by nameAnselmus, borne here in our neighbour towne,
That so long studied Vlpian, till he came,
To be a Iudge, and weare a scarlet gowne,
And hauing won great wealth he woo'd a dame,
For bewtie and for state of great renowne;
They wedded were, for better and for worse,
So he her person lik't, so she his purse.
68
Her qualities and hauiour past the rest,She seemed all of louelynes composed,
Not fit indeed for him, that was to rest,
And to his bookes, more then to sports disposed:
Wherefore foule iealous thoughts his mind possest,
And that his wife plaid false, he still supposed,
Yet cause was none, of her so to misdeeme,
Saue that too faire, and wittie she did seeme.
69
Now in the selfe same Citie dwelt a knight,(Too neare a neighbour to this man of law)
That was of that same stocke descended right,
That had their ofspring from the serpents iaw,
From whence the Fairy eake, that Manto hight,
And built our Citie, doth her lynage draw,
This knight that was Adonio cald by name,
Was much enamord on the louely dame.
70
And that he might attaine this Ladies loue,He doth begin to spend beyond all measure,
In clothes, in feasts, his calling far aboue,
In showes, in playes, to do his mistres pleasure:
To beare the charge thereof it would behoue,
To haue that Emperour Tiberius treasure,
So as I weene ere winters twaine were past,
His lands were quite consum'd, he spent so fast.
71
Wherefore compeld to strike his loftie fayles,He sodainly surceast his stately port,
The house, now that the Lords reuenue fayles,
Stood solitarie, quite without resort:
There were no Feasants, Partriges, nor Quayles,
His pittance now was growne but bare and short,
And he that earst was king of all this feasting,
Playd least in sight, now doubting of arresting.
72
And therefore lothing to be knowne or seen,He purposd in this place not long to tarrie,
But with a minde to leaue his country cleen,
He stale away fro thence all solitarie:
Her onely loue, that of his heart was Queen,
In all his woes he still with him doth carrie,
But lo, when as his Ebb did seeme most low,
Good fortune made his tyde most high to flow.
73
For as he wanderd here and there abroad,He saw how that a sturdie clowne and stout,
With sturdie staffe, layd on no little load,
Vpon a bush, still beating there about:
Adonio in the place makes some aboad,
And askt the cause, of that same country lout,
Who told him that a monstrous Snake and huge,
Had taken that same bush for a refuge.
74
And told him further, he that stir did make,With minde to finde, and kill it ere he part.
Adonio for his crest did giue the Snake,
And therefore lou'd and fauord Snakes in hart,
As from whose kinde he did his gentrie take;
Wherefore vnto the clowne he doth impart
His minde so farre, at last he him perswaded,
To let alone the Snake he so inuaded.
75
This done, he went as he was bent before,Farre from his country, where he was vnknown,
And so indur'd till seu'n whole yeares and more,
Of woe, and want, quite ore his head were blown:
But that great loue he to his mistres bore,
Him forst, though now all out of fashion grown,
With bushie beard, leane cheekes, & ragged cloths,
To turne vnto the place that most he lothes.
76
In this meane time, our towne had cause to send,Some sage Ambassadour vnto the Pope,
That must vpon his Holynes attend,
And for his suit to take a whole yeare scope:
The Iudge by lot was chosen to that end,
(O cursed lot that killed all his hope)
To shunne this office he tryes many shifts,
By scuses, promises, by prai'rs and gifts.
77
But finding that he straue against the streame,At last against his will, he takes the place,
Though to depart into another Reame,
It seemed vnto him, a grieuous case:
His iealousie therewith grew most extreame,
Misdoubting his wiues truth, so long a space,
Yet nath'les her, in graue and frendlesse speech,
To haue great care thereof, he doth beseech.
365
78
He saith, a woman cannot take vpon her,With bewtie, riches, nor with high Nobillitie,
To clayme the true diserued prayse of honer,
If chastitie do faile by her fragillitie,
This is the vertue that defends her owner,
And now she may (he saith) with great facillitie,
Attaine great praise, and show thereof great proofe,
While he is forst, to stay so farre aloofe.
79
These words he spake, and many such as thease,Thereby to moue her, to continue true,
And she (poore soule) yet free from such disease,
His parting thence, did much lament and rue;
She swears that sooner men should draine the seas,
Then draw her mind so to forget her due,
Yea first she will eu'n dye the death she saith,
Much rather then to falsifie her faith.
80
The Iudge appeasd with this her protestation,Began to haue of her the lesse mistrust,
But yet his fond and iealous inclination,
So moues him, that search further needs he must:
He had a friend that could by coniuration,
Foretell of future matters true and iust:
That were it skill in Magicke, or in starres,
His guesse was such, as that it seldome arres.
81
He speaketh to that friend to this effect,That he his wiues natiuitie would cast,
To learne if he did right or wrong suspect,
That she would in his absence liue vnchast:
The man thus praid, the figure doth erect,
And in their place the Planets all he plast,
Anselmus leaues him busie, and next day,
Doth come to heare him what he hath to say.
82
Twas long before th'Astronomer would speake,As loth to speake, that would the Iudge offend,
With many scuses friuolous and weake,
He shifts him off, but vrged by his frend,
He told him flatly she would wedlocke breake,
And that she would to him proue false in th'end,
Not mou'd by bewty, not by suit desired,
But eu'n for lucres sake directly hyred.
83
Now when Anselmus former bad beleefe,Was newly reconfirmd by Spheares supernall,
It doubtlesse did so much augment his greefe,
I thinke his torture past the paines infernall:
And more then all the rest, this greeu'd him cheefe,
And to his heart a corsiue was eternall,
To thinke that Auarice should her entise,
Vpon her chastitie to set a price.
84
Yet to preuent all that such minde might breed,Most earnestly he bendeth all his powre,
For (as they say) man is compeld by need,
To rob the Church, and hallow'd things deuowre,
His iewells, plate, and stocke that did exceed,
He put all in her hands, that present howre,
And made it all her owne by deed of gift,
And told her plaine what was herein his drift.
85
He saith he giues it her on this condition,Not that she should striue to increase or mend it,
For why (he said) she should haue free commission,
To sell, to giue, cast it away, and spend it,
But onely that she should auoyd suspisition,
Of wedlocke breach, and by no meanes offend it,
On this condition, all he then bequeaths her,
That he may find her such as now he leaues her.
86
He further doth her earnestly exhort,That presently when he is gone away,
She should for more eschuing of resort,
Not any longer in the Citie stay,
But at his countrey house, where in good sort,
Till his returne, the season passe she may:
Belike, he thought in tillers of the ground,
And country swaines, entisements none are found.
87
His louely wife Argia, all this space,Still hanging on his necke while he did speake,
With kindly teares bedewed all his face,
And much it greeu'd her to be iudgd so weake,
And to be deemed so deuoyd of grace,
That in his absence she would wedlocke breake,
Her manners haue not bene so light and vicious,
She saith, to moue him to be thus suspitious.
88
I should too long in this one matter dwell,If all that past betweene them two at large,
When he departed, I to you should tell,
Stil itterating that his former charge:
Now on his way he goes, God speed him well,
The griefe was great that did his heart surcharge,
But thus they part, her eyes all full of teares,
His minde of iealousies, and thousand feares.
89
This while Adonio looking pale and wan,As earst I told, and ouer growne with heare,
To trauell to his country-ward began,
In hope that no man now would know him theare,
He trauels in the secretst sort he can,
Vnseene, vnknowne, till he arriued wheare,
He rescude had the snake, seu'n yeares before,
That by the clowne pursued was so sore.
90
Arriuing at this place by breake of day,He saw a Ladie walking neare the lake,
Who though she seemd attyrd in strange array,
Yet for some great estate one would her take,
Her count'nance did such maiestie bewray:
She toward him with stately gate did make,
And looking on him with a gracious cheare,
She spake these words so loud as he might heare.
91
Gentleman, though you do not know my face,Yet am I bound to you, and am your frend,
I am your cosin, and of Cadmus race
Our royall stocke doth lineally descend,
I am that Manto, that in yond same place,
To build that towne did first begin and end,
And Mantua, according to my name,
Tis cald, as you perhaps haue heard by fame.
366
92
I am a Fayrie, and to make you know,To be a Fayrie what it doth import,
We cannot dye how old so ere we grow:
Of paine and harmes of eu'rie other sort
We tast, but yet no death we nature ow;
But which is worse then if our liues were short,
Each seu'nth day we constrained are to take,
Vpon our selues the person of a snake.
93
To be transformd to Serpents vgly hew,That creepeth still, and on his bellie goth,
Is such a griefe to vs, to tell you true,
Not one of vs but then to liue doth loth.
Now that I further may declare to you,
From whence this kindnesse that I spake of, groth,
Know this, what day we haue this cursed shape,
We hardly dangers infinite escape.
94
No liuing thing is lothed more then they,So that no sooner one of vs is spyde,
But we are chast and hunted out straight way,
And if we finde no place our selues to hyde,
They lay on load, and beat vs so that day,
That we the paine thereof long after byde,
And who would not rather one death haue chused,
Then beaten euermore to be and brused?
95
Now Sir, the benefit that I confesseI haue receiu'd, in which your merit stands,
Was this some seu'n yeares since, or not much lesse,
As you did wander ou'r these woods and lands,
You saued me from danger and distresse,
I should haue sufferd at a villens hands:
Who though he could not slay me, neare the latter,
Did seeke with cudgill me to bruse and batter.
96
For why those dayes that we be snakes (she saith)And creeping groueling, bellies on the ground,
The heau'ns, that other times our hest obay'th,
Denyes their aid, in vs no force is found:
Sometimes the Sun at our command'ment stay'th,
The stedie earth doth moue and runneth round,
And we can by our powre, cause in a trise,
Ise turne to flame, and fire congeale to Ise.
97
Now heare I come, your courtsie to requite,Which seau'n yeares since, I to me done did note,
Now to reward you I haue powre and might,
While I am free from serpents cursed cote,
Three times your fathers wealth, you shall ere night
Possesse, and I will set you so aflote,
You neuer shalbe poore, to your liues end,
But euer haue the more, the more you spend.
98
And (for I know that in your former knot,In which loue bound you first, you still are tide)
I will direct you so, by wayes I wot,
Your sute shall not be vnto you denide.
Now that the iealous Iudge at home is not,
Go thither straight, and I will be your guide,
She now is at her husbands countrie village,
Attending there good huswifrie and tillage.
99
She further doth at large to him deuise,How he shall go, in what apparell clad,
How he shall tempt her, in what manner wise,
And how to grant his suit, she should be glad;
Then told she how she would herselfe disguise,
For why, for euer in her powre she had,
Except the dayes, in which she was a snake,
What shape she list, vpon herselfe to take.
100
Thus she disguisd him like a Pilgrime poore,That on his shoulders doth a wallet beare,
And doth for Gods sake beg from doore to doore,
A gowne of Fryers gray she made him weare,
A strange apparell for a gallant woer:
Into an Island dog, with shagged heare,
As white as Ermin, and the pretiest else,
That euer nature made, she changd herselfe.
101
And thus vnto Argias they resort,First to some vtter roomes, in which were byding,
The Hinds and Laborers of meaner sort,
Heare he with certaine pypes of his prouiding,
His dog made dance, and make such prettie sport,
That glad was he could bring his mistres tyding,
Who needs would see as much as they had seene,
Such was the Doctors destinie I weene.
102
Adonio to her presence thus admitted,Commands the dog which in all points obayd,
His turnes, his dances, and his gestures fitted,
So due and iust, to all the Pilgrime sayd.
They musd to see a dog so rarely witted,
And marking still the qualities he playd,
In seeing them they take great mirth & pleasure,
And praysd the little dog beyond all measure.
103
Much wonder first but after much desier,Bred in the Iudges wife, the dog to get,
She bids the nurse the dog to buy or hier,
And try what price the man thereof would set:
Dame (said the Pilgrime) had your mistres by her,
In coyned gold, as much as euer yet,
A womans thought did wish, it would not boot,
Of this same dog of mine to buy on foot.
104
And plaine to shew that that was true he sayd,And that it rather better was then worse,
He tooke her straight aside with him and prayd,
The dog to giue two duckats to the nurse,
The dog but shooke his eares, and out he layd
The gold; there take and put it in thy purse
Adonio saith, and thinke what price is able,
To buy a dog that is so profitable.
105
What ere I aske, this dog to me will bring,Embroderd gownes and kirtles cloth of gold,
A chaine of pearle, aiewell, or a ring,
In shorter time then it can well be told;
Yet tell my Lady this, she hath a thing,
For which alone my Spaniell can be sold,
To pay me gold or coyne, I count it dodging,
But I will sell it her, for one nights lodging.
367
106
This said, he sent by her as for a token,A gem of passing price, then newly made;
The nurse rewarded thus, and fairely spoken,
And vsd (perhaps) to trafficke in such trade,
Went backe therewith, and hauing fitly broken
The matter first, her mistres doth perswade,
To buy the dog, and said she might atchieue it,
With such a price, as is no losse to giue it.
107
At first, the fayre Argia backward drew,As partly, being loth to breake her faith,
And partly doubting all could not be trew,
The which the tatling nurse before her laith;
But she with othes doth her first tale renew,
And that such offers seldome come she saith,
In fine she wan her mistres to agree,
Next day more priuatly the dog to see.
108
Adonios next apparance in the place,Became the Doctors ruine and confusion,
Such duckets, such spur Ryals in like case,
Such gems he shewd indeed, or by illusion,
He mollifi'd thereby my Ladies grace,
And mou'd her make the bargaine in conclusion,
And this did (then perhaps) the rather moue her,
When as she knew he was her ancient louer.
109
Thus her true louers presence, and his prayer,The comforts of her nurse, that whorish drudge,
The great rewards he presently did pay her,
The absence long of that same iealous Iudge;
And lastly, hope that sure none would bewray her,
Wipt from her conscience scruple all and grudge,
So that she tooke his dog, and for his laber,
Gane him free leaue to play vpon her taber.
110
Thus now Adonio frankly reapt the fruit,Of that faire Ladies loue that he had wonne,
The which he followd still with sweet pursuit,
Vnto their likings both: this while the Sun,
Before the Iudge full ended had his suit,
Through twise six signes his yearely course had run,
And home he came at last, suspecting sore,
That which th'Astronomer had told before.
111
But ere vnto his owne house he would go,First of th'Astronomer to aske he ment,
If so his wife had taryd chast or no,
Since he from home on his Ambassage went:
The cunning man, that meant the troth to show,
Doth calculate, to see how starres were bent,
And when that he the planets well had vewd,
That she had plaid the quean, he doth conclude.
112
And that it was befalne as he foreshowed,How she, with mightie gifts and bribes allured,
Her selfe vpon another had bestowed.
The wretched Iudge, with no small griefe indured,
To heare these newes, & though too true he trowed
The same, yet seeking to be more assured,
He cals the nurse aside, at his home comming,
And seekes to sift her with no little cunning.
113
With diuers circumquaques and deuises,He seeketh of the nurse to finde the trace,
But she in speech so warie and so nice is,
As one belike well studied in the case,
That all his cunning speech her not intices,
But that she still denide with shamelesse face,
That which she knew, and whereof her perswasion
Had bene in part, though not the chiefe occasion.
114
When as the iealous Iudge long time in vaine,Had tempted her with promises and gifts,
And that he saw for all his search and paine,
He found lesse certentie, the more he sifts,
He doth expect to try a further traine,
As one not vnacquainted with such drifts,
He watcht a time, when they should fall to bralling,
As still where women are, is oft befalling.
115
And as he thought indeed so fell it out,The testie nurse one day not pleased well,
Came vnto him at their next falling out,
And of her owne accord, the truth doth tell:
Thinke you, when as the Iudge had heard her out,
How he did chafe, and fret, and fume, and swell,
So neare vnto his heart and braine it sits,
It little wanted to haue reau'd his wits.
116
And in this agonie resolu'd to dye,And finish both his owne dayes and his wiues,
And so his griefe, and her great shame thereby
To wipe away, with ending both their liues,
He turneth to the Citie by and by,
As that same desperat desire him driues,
And thence a trustie seruant with instruction,
He sends of purpose for his wiues destruction.
117
He bids him tell Argia in his name,That on the sodaine he was falne so sicke,
That but to him without delay she came,
The doubt was great she should not find him quicke
Wherefore her iourney with more speed to frame,
To ryde behinde this man, who in a thicke,
That was right in the way vnto the Citie,
Had charge to kill her there without all pitie.
118
And straight accordingly the seruant went,To say and do, as much as he was bidden,
But she foretold of that their fell intent,
(For nothing from her little dogge was hidden)
And taught withall, the same how to preuent,
Away with this sawe seruant she is ridden,
And in few howres arriued at the wood,
Where he was purposd to haue shed her blood.
119
Then did he tell to her his masters will,And drew his sword a speedie death to giue her,
He onely offerd, ere he would her kill,
To grant her time, to pray God to forgiue her:
I cannot tell you by what manner skill,
She did her selfe forth of his hands deliuer,
But gone she was, he seeking all about,
And for his life he could not find her out.
368
120
Backe went the fellow, with astonied face,With trembling heart, and courage all dismayd,
And made his master, at the wondrous case,
No lesse then he had bene afore afrayd,
He knew not how, by Faery Mantos grace,
His wife could when she list, haue helpe and ayd,
For why the nurse that did the rest vnfold,
I knew not why, but this she neuer told.
121
The Doctour now was plagu'd with griefe extreame,Far more then euer he had felt before,
What erst was but a mote, is now a beame,
Nor he one iot reuenged is the more;
His shame will now be blazd ou'r all the Reame,
And all men now, will laugh at him therefore,
The former errour, might haue bene concealed,
But this to all the world wil be reuealed.
122
He thinks that sure, vpon this plaine detection,Of his fellonious mind, of which I spake,
She will, to keepe her out of his subiection,
To some great Lord, forthwith her selfe betake,
And liue in spite of him, with such protection,
And so a mocking stocke of him to make,
But most he doubts, least to some man she goth,
As is a leacher, and a russian both.
123
Wherefore so foule a mischiefe to preuent,He spares no paine, no trauell nor no cost,
To eu'rie towne, in Lombardie he sent,
With letters and with messages in post;
And further, he himselfe in person went
To seeke his wife that was so strangely lost,
But all in vaine, for why of her abiding,
No inckling he could heare, nor any tyding.
124
And to conclude, at last he cald his man,That man that made to him the strange report,
And bids him show the place, and if he can,
Where his lewd mistres vanisht in such sort:
The seruant straight to leade the way began,
And to the place, together they resort,
But (which was strange) where erst he left a wood,
A wondrous stately Pallace now there stood.
125
The fayre Argia caused had this space,Her Faery to erect there for her pleasure,
An house of Allablaster in the place,
Adornd and guilt, with cost beyond all measure:
Twere hard to thinke, much lesse to tell with grace,
What beautie was without, within what treasure;
My masters house, frō whence last night you came,
Was but a paltrie Alehouse to this same.
126
Of costly Arras, there was so great plentie,Of beds of silke, imbroderd, fresh, and new,
As furnisht chambers, more then ten times twentie,
And halls, and whatsoeuer was in vew,
Cups, candlesticks, and bowls of stones most dentie,
Of precious substance, and of sundrie hew,
To be imploid for eating, and for drinking,
And store of gold, and silke beyond all thinking.
127
Now sir, the wretched Iudge, as I said earst,That out to seeke his wife had here assignd,
And findes this house, in state as I rehearst,
Where he had nothing thought, but woods to find,
With wonder great his mazed head was pearst,
And doubted not a little in his mind,
If so himselfe were sleeping then or waking,
Or if his troubled brayne, were in due taking.
128
He sees a Gipsen standing at the doore,All blab-lipt, beetle browd, and bottle nozed,
Most greasie, nastie, his apparell poore,
His other parts, as Painters are disposed,
To giue to Esop; such a Blackamore
Could not be seene elsewhere, as he supposed,
So vile a visage, and so bad a grace,
To make eu'n Paradise a lothsome place.
129
Anselmus seeing none but this same drudge,Went vnto him, and praith him make it knowne,
Whose house is this: the Gipsen tels the Iudge,
That he himselfe, the stately house doth owne:
The Iudge, that he doth mocke him sure doth iudge
And prayes the certaine truth to him be showne:
The Negro doth affirme with many an oth,
That that which he had said before, was troth.
130
And that he plainly might the truth perceaue,He prayes him vew the house at better leasure,
And offreth him free libertie and leaue,
Of any thing was there, at his owne pleasure,
For him or for his frends, to take and leaue,
And eu'n as of his owne, to make free seasure:
The Doctor maruels that such liberalitie,
Could be in one, of so base show and qualitie.
131
But yet the Iudge, so fayre and kind intreated,In frendly sort, doth from his horse alight,
And sees the house, as I before repeated.
With wonder great, and with as great delight,
So richly furnished, so Princely seated,
So brauely built for vse, as well as sight,
And eu'rie part with other so agreeing,
He could not satisfie his eyes with seeing.
132
Now when the Iudge came backe againe, he toldHe nere saw house, so pleasing to his eye,
And sweares he thought that ten times Cræsus gold,
Were scant a price, so rare a house to buy:
Yet may (the Negro saith) this house be sold,
Though not for coyne (for not for coyne care I)
Yet for some other ware, which sure I guesse,
You will esteeme at price a great deale lesse.
133
In fine, he made to him the like request,As Sodomits did make for guests of Lot;
The Iudge his motion doth and him detest,
Who though fiue times repulst, yet ceaseth not,
But him with so large offers still he prest,
That in conclusion, like a beastly sot,
So as it might be done, in hugger mugger,
The Iudge agreed, the Negro him should (---).
369
134
Argia that there by vnseene had stayd,And seene him falne into the sinne forenamed,
Disclosd her selfe, and sharply did vpbrayd
His filthy fact, that iustly might be blamed;
A Iudge (said she) reputed wise, and stayd,
Sinne thus? wherewith the Doctor was so shamed,
He wisht the earth would cleaue vnto the center,
That he to hide himselfe, therein might enter.
135
But she exclaimeth on him still anew,For his more shame, and for her more excuse,
And said, what punishment were fit for you,
For this foule sinne, against all natures vse?
That did no lesse then death to me thinke dew,
For such a small and naturall abuse,
With one that lou'd me, and whose gift was such,
As ten such houses are not worth so much.
136
If one death did vnto my fault belong,One hunderd deaths were fit to thine to giue,
And though my selfe am in this place so strong,
That if I list, thou shouldst no longer liue,
Yet will I do to thee no further wrong,
But pardon thee, and thou shalt me forgiue,
And quite each other, all old debts and driblets,
And set the hares head, against the goose gyblets.
137
And let henceforth peace follow in effect,As ought to be betweene the man and wife,
Nor euer tone to tother once obiect,
Our former fault in all our future life:
The Iudge was glad, and did it not neglect,
To take this frendly end of cursed strife;
Thus as good frends, they liued many a yeare,
And while they liu'd, they lou'd each other deare.
138
And there the steers-man did his storie end,With which he mou'd the worthy knight to lafter,
Who blam'd the Doctor, that did so offend,
And talked of the same a good while after:
But much he did Argias wit commend,
Or at the least, the wit of her that taught her,
To make the Iudge into that net fall in,
In which her selfe was falne with far lesse sin.
139
Now when the Sunne gan mount vnto the South,A little Table in the Barge was spred,
And then the knight began to feed his mouth,
When sleepe his eyes, and talke his eares had fed:
The Mantuan at his charges, him allowth,
All fine Acates that that same country bred,
The while his swimming vessell doth forsake
The pleasant country, and vnpleasant lake.
140
From thence, he held his course still forward right,The Riuer running straight as any lyne,
Which when they passed had with speedie flight,
Vpon the tother hand they did decline:
And by a ditch, and standing poole in sight,
Ere of that day, were spent full howers nine,
Vnro Rauenna as they were commanded,
They went, and there the braue Renaldo landed:
141
Although Renaldo could but seldome bost,Of store of coyne, yet now such store he had,
As to the Bargemen of his frendly host,
He gaue a largesse such, as made them glad:
From thence to Rimini, he went in post,
And changing horses still, now good, now bad,
That night at Mountefior, he did but sup,
And so t'Vrbyno, ere next Sunne was vp.
142
Then Caglie, and from thence the Alpes he past,Then th'Vmbrys and Etruscians, thence to Rome,
And so by Barke, to Ostia in great hast
He went, and to that Citie he doth come,
Which good Æneas many ages past,
Ennobled with his sire Anchyses toome:
Then straight by sea he went vnto this Ile,
Where I did leaue Orlando, since a while.
143
I meane that Ile, that Lippadusa hight,Wherein the famous warriors, three to three,
The combat that I spake of erst did fight,
The which Renaldo longing sore to see,
With ores and sayles, made all the hast he might,
But yet for all his hast, it would not be,
The wind did for his purpose serue so slacke,
More then an houre too late it kept him backe.
144
So that eu'n much about that time he came,When as Orlando had that conquest wonne,
In which vnto his euerlasting fame,
Two Turkish Princes, vnto death were donne;
Yet was some sorrow mingled with the same,
Both for the death of Monodantés sonne,
And Oliueros hurt, of which he found
Such griefe, he could not set his foote to ground.
145
Now as the Earle Renaldo did imbrace,He could not chuse, but shed a streame of teares,
When as he show'd him, in the present place,
Good Brandimart, to whom such loue he beares,
Lye newly slaine, with pale and liuelesse face:
Likewise to weepe, Renaldo not forbeares,
To see his death, and eke his cosins bruse,
So grieuous, that his foote he could not vse.
146
Renaldo comforts them in all he may,Although himselfe of comfort tasted least,
And chiefe to thinke by his vnluckie stay,
He was come tardie, to so great a feast:
This while the wofull seruants did conuay,
Their masters coarses, to the towne distrest,
I meane Biserta, where they made it knowne,
Which side preuaild, and which was ouerthrowne.
147
Of this same conquest that Orlando wonne,Astolfo and stout Sansonet were glad;
Yet ioyd they not, so as they would haue donne,
If Brandimart his death then had not had:
The fall of noble Monodantés sonne,
Strake them into a dumpe and made them sad,
But who shall now impart to Fiordeliege,
The wofull losse, of her deare Lord and liege?
370
148
Her selfe had dreamt a strange dreame ouernight,Which did her minde, in fearfull sort dismay,
She dreamt the bases of her loued knight,
Which she imbrodred blacke this other day,
With spots of red were powdred all in sight,
And on the same, like storme of haylstones lay;
That she had done it so, she sure beleeued,
And with the thought thereof, was greatly greeued.
149
She further thought, that to her selfe she sed,Did not my Lord command me blacke to make it,
What ment I then to mixt it so with red,
And in so strange a manner to mistake it?
An ill presage in her this fancie bred,
And for an euill token she did take it,
Then came these newes which none imparted with her,
Till th'English Duke, and Sansonet came thither.
150
When they came in, and that she well had heededTheir count'nances, in such a conquest sad,
No further newes, no further notice needed,
To make her know, they brought her tidings bad:
Forthwith her griefe, and sorrow so exceeded,
Scarse any powre her vitall spirits had,
But presently in pale, and deadly sound,
She fell in wofull trance vpon the ground.
151
But when that life came to his course againe,Her tender cheekes, and her fayre haire she tare,
Oft calling'on his loued name in vaine,
Whose losse had bred in her such wofull care,
She screeches and cries out, with griefe and paine,
Like those with deuils that possessed are,
Or as the Menades, with sound of horne,
In furious manner all about were borne.
152
This man, and that, to lend she doth intreatA knife, wherewith her selfe she murder may,
Straight to the hau'n she runnes with furie great,
There where the bodies of the dead kings lay,
With minde to mangle them, and bruse and beat:
Then to the sea she will, there is no nay,
And passe to Lippaduse, and there abide,
And end her life, by Brandimarts deare side.
153
Ah Brandimart my loued Lord (she said)What ment I without me, to let thee part?
Ay me vnluckie wretch, in that I staid,
And was not present there, to take thy part;
Mine eye might vnto thee, haue bene an aid,
My voyce might haue assisted thee in part,
And if Gradasso thee behind had stricken,
One cry of mine, might thee both warne & quicken
154
Or else perhaps, so well I might haue sped me,As to haue stept the blow and thee betweene,
If thou hadst scapt, although it did behed me,
I would haue said, that it had happie bene:
Now dye I will, though death no whit can sted me,
And though I know, my death is fruitlesse cleene,
Whereas if I had dyde in thy defence,
My death had profit bred, and not offence.
155
And if the heau'ns had bene so hard in this,That I could not haue holpe thee in the place,
At least my last farewell, and solemne kisse,
I should haue giu'n thee, and thy louely face,
Bedewd with teares, and ere to heau'nly blisse,
Thy soule had flowne, I should haue had the space,
To say, depart from hence in peace my deare,
And know, I haue not long to tarrie heare.
156
Is this (deare Brandimart) is this thy raigne,Of Damagyre, whose scepter I should take?
Is this the dowre, thou doest to me ordaine?
Is this the royall seat, of which you spake?
Ah fortune hard, how friuolous and vaine,
Dost thou my hopes, and my designements make?
Ah why cease I, sith so great good is reft me,
To cast away what euer else is left me?
157
With this, againe so great her furie grew,She made vpon her selfe a fresh assalt,
And her faire haire, she rent, and tare anew,
As if her haire, had bene in all the falt,
Eu'n from her tender cheeks the bloud she drew,
Still dewing them, with watrie teares and salt:
But let her here awhile lament, and mourne,
For to Orlando I must now retourne.
158
Who with his kinsman that did now require,Some cunning Leach his grieuous wound to cure,
And (for to Brandimart he did desire,
To giue an honorable sepulture,)
To that hill went that doth the night with fire
Make cleare, and doth the day with smoke obscure,
And so the winde did fauour his intent,
In twentie houres, he came to Agringent.
159
Here when they were downe from their ships alighted,The Sunne eu'n then preparing to go downe,
They sent abroad and in great hast inuited,
The chiefe Nobilitie of all the towne:
Straight at the shore, of torches store was lighted,
And many men of honour and renowne,
When as Orlando to the shore retourned,
Went with him to the corps, and with him mourned
160
There Bardyn stood, a man well stricke in yeares,And in such sort to wayle he did perseuer,
That with aboundant shedding of his teares,
Men thought he would haue lost his eyes for euer;
To blame the heu'ns, and starres, he not forbeares,
But roaring like a Lyon in a feauer,
Tare his gray haire, and all about it sprinkled,
And spared not his aged skin, and wrinkled.
161
When as the Palladine approched neare,Straight doubled was the mourning noise and crye,
Each striu'd who should most sorrowfull appeare,
And eu'rie one lift vp his voice on hye;
Orlando with more heauy heart, then cheare,
Still keeping fixed on the beare his eye,
When silence first, by signes procur'd he had,
Pronounc't these words, with mourning voyce & sad
371
162
O stout, ô deare champion mine, and frend,That here art dead, but liu'st in heauenly seat,
Where thy great ioyes shall neuer haue an end,
Nor euer be impaird with cold or heat:
Yet pardon me in that I do offend,
To wayle my woe, and miserie so great,
My sorrow is not, for thy parting hence,
But that my selfe am so long absent thence.
163
To thinke that he is seuerd now so far,In whom I ioyd, this doth my paine increase,
I was with thee, in tempests, and in war;
Why am not I with thee in calme and peace?
O mirie flesh, that me from blisse doth bar,
Why cannot I obtaine a like release,
Sith still I was copartner of thy paine,
Why am I kept from part of so great gaine?
164
To you the happie guerdon, and the gaine,To vs the losse, and damage all is left,
France, Germanie, and Italy complaine,
Their chiefe defence, and their chiefe buckler reft:
How shall my Prince, and vncle now-sustaine,
(Depriu'd of so good helpe) so great a heft,
Thy losse of succour hath bereaued wholie,
Both holy Church, and eake the Empire holie.
165
The Pagans whom thou dantedst in thy life,How will they gather heart now with thy death?
How will they stirre new storms of fearfull strife,
Now hauing so good meanes, to gather breth?
But how great sorrow, will thy dearest wife
Sustaine? me thinks I heare eu'n now she seth
I am to blame, and that she hates me most,
And saith by me, she hath her worlds ioy lost.
166
Yet Fiordeliege, this comfort may reuiueBoth thee, and all that for his death are sorie,
That all the valiant knights that him suruiue,
Haue cause to enuie, and admire his glorie:
The Decij, nor the knight, that lept aliue
In Curtian lake, so praisd in Latin storie,
Nor Codrus by the Greekes so magnified,
With greater praise, nor honor neuer dyed.
167
These words, and such as these Orlando spake,The while the Fryres, both white, & blacke, and gray
A solemne, and a long procession make,
In goodly ranke, and in deuout array:
That God to heau'n, the dead mans spirit take,
Requiem æternam, for his soule they pray,
And tapers in the midst, before, behind,
Did cause that knight, like to the noone day shind.
168
Then diuers Earles, and knights, the hearse vphold,All ouer which a mantle rich was spred,
Of purple silke, embroderd braue with gold,
And with fayre pearle, and stone well garnished,
Of equall cost and bewtie to behold,
The coffin was, that held the bodie ded,
Prouided by the Palladine to be,
Fit for his calling, and his high degree.
169
Three hunderd people, of the poorer sort,Of dwellers that inhabited the towne,
Vnto the funerals did then resort,
And vnto each was giu'n a mourning gowne;
An hunderd Pages, mounted in good sort,
On warlike steeds, clothd to the ground adowne,
And both the Pages, and the gallant steeds,
From top to toe, were clad in mourning weeds.
170
Then bare they diuers banners fayre displayd,And painted diuers armes, that he obtaind
From armed bands alone, without all ayd,
And had to Cæsar and to Peter gaind:
With hunderds more, all in blacke gowns arrayd,
To whom were diuers offices ordaind,
And last Renaldo, and Orlando came,
But Oliuero staid (for he was lame.)
171
It long would be ere I could it rehearse,And tell what ceremonies vsed weare,
Nor can I comprehend them well in vearse,
How orderly they were accomplisht theare:
Vnto the chiefest Church, they bare a hearse,
The while nor old nor young, to weepe forbeare,
His noblenesse, his value, and his youth,
Did breed in all their hearts, so wondrous ruth.
172
Now when the women finisht had, and donne,Their bootlesse weeping, and their fruitlesse paine,
The Priest had said, their Kyrieleisonne,
And all the rites, that there-unto pertaine:
The carkasse of great Monodantes sonne,
So chefted, on two collumns to remaine
Orlando causd, till time he might procure,
A costly, and more stately sepulture.
173
From Sicilie Orlando not departs,Till he for Tutch, and Porpherie had sent,
And all that were most skilfull of those arts,
Had talkt with all, and told them his intent:
Then Fiordeliege comming to those parts,
Her time, her trauell, and her treasure spent,
To make the tombe most stately for her spouse,
At which to spend her future time she vowes.
174
And sith her plaints and teares were neuer tired,In that selfe place she meanes her dayes to passe,
And for her husbands soule, she still desired
Continuall Dirges, and perpetuall Masse;
From company her selfe she quite retired,
And to the place (such her deuotion was)
That by the tombe, she built a litle cell,
In which till death, she purposed to dwell.
175
Orlando diuers messages did sendTo her, and after that in person went,
To fetch her into France, and did pretend,
That her to place with Galeran he ment,
Or if the time, in prayre she still would spend,
He would a Nunrie build for that intent,
Or that he would, if so she so had rather,
Attend her to her country, and her father.
372
176
But at the tombe she tarride obstinate,And would fro thence by no meane be remoued,
Still doing, saying, both betime and late,
Penance and prayrs, for him that she so loued,
Till death in th'end, cut off her dolefull date,
And sent her soone, to find her deare beloued:
But now the knights of France, from Sicill parted,
For losse of their companion heauie harted.
177
And Oliuer still of his foote complained,For why no salue, nor surgerie preuailed,
But that he was with griefe so greatly pained,
They doubted that his life would then haue failed:
Thus while they all in doubtfull dumpe remained,
The man that steard the barke in which they sailed,
Did make to them this motion sage and wise,
And they agreed to follow his aduise.
178
He told them that not far from thence there dwelled,An Hermit in a solitarie place,
That so in sanctitie of life excelled,
That he could remedie each doubtfull case;
Diseases diuers were by him expelled,
Dumb, blind, and lame were heald (such was his grace)
And that he could with one signe of the crosse,
Allay the waues when they do highest tosse.
179
In fine, he told them sure there was no doubt,To find reliefe, eu'n present at the hands
Of that same man, so holy and deuout,
As scarce his match, was found in many lands.
Orlando hauing heard the Pylot out,
Inquired of the place, which way it stands,
And presently the place to him was showd,
And toward it, in hast they sayld and rowd.
180
Next morning they discouerd all the Ile,But kept aloofe, so as their ship might float,
And there they cast their anchor, and the while,
Conuayd the wounded Marquesse in a boat,
Vpon the shallow waues, scant halfe a mile,
Vnto the blessed Hermits simple coat,
That verie Hermit, that before but late,
Had brought Rogero vnto Christian state.
181
The man of God, that had his dwelling heare,Came forth, and met Orlando at the gate,
And welcomd him, with kind and frendly cheare,
Inquiring of his arrant, and their state,
(Although to him, it was apparent cleare:
For God that night, had sent his Angell late,
To tell the Saint thereof) Orlando sayd,
His arrant was, to get his kinsman ayd.
182
Who had a great and grieuous mayme receaued,In fighting for the Empire, and the faith,
And was of hope and comfort, quite bereaued,
Be of good cheare (the godly Hermit saith)
Who trust in God shall neuer be deceaued;
Yet oyntment none vnto his hurt he layth,
But first to Church he go'th, and makes his prayre.
Then with great boldnesse, doth to them repayre.
183
And calling on that trebble sou'raigne name,Of God the Father, Sonne and holy Ghost,
He blest the knight, that maymed was and lame,
(Oh wōdrous grace, of which Gods saints maybost)
Straight to his vse each vaine and sinew came,
No part of all his former strength was lost,
And as it pleased God, of his great grace,
Sobrino present was then in the place.
184
And being now so weake with bleeding brought,That eu'n his vitall sprites were almost spent,
And seeing plainly such a wonder wrought,
So great, so gracious and so euident,
To leaue his Macon he thereby was taught,
And to confesse our Christ omnipotent,
He prayd in most contrite, and humble manner,
To be a souldier vnder Christian banner.
185
The iust old man did grant him his request,And Christend him and did his health restore,
At which Orlando stout, and all the rest,
Reioyced much, and praysed God therefore.
Rogero eke as ioyfull as the best,
Increased in deuotion more and more,
To see those mysteries deuine, and Oracles,
Confirmed so by plaine apparent miracles.
186
Thus all this companie in sweet consort,In this same blessed Hermits house do stay,
Who doth them all, most fatherly exhort,
To bend their whole endeuours all they may,
That in this Inne, where mans abode is short,
They seeke to wash away the dirt and clay,
That some call life, and greatly do commend,
And sole to heau'n, their eyes and hearts to bend.
187
Then sent Orlando to his ship in hast,For bread and wine, and other daintie dishes,
And this old man, whom abstinence and fast,
Had made forget the tast of beasts or fishes,
Of charitie, they prayd some flesh to tast,
And he therein consented to their wishes,
And when they all had eate to their contents,
They found discourse of sundry arguments.
188
And as in speech it often doth befall,That one thing doth another bring to light,
Rogero was at last knowne to them all,
For that Rogero, that exceld in fight;
The first that him to memorie did call,
Was Sobrin, who did know him well by sight:
The next that knew his louely looke and stately,
Was good Renaldo, that fought with him lately.
189
They all do come to him with frendly face,When of his Christendome they vnderstand,
And some do kisse him, others him embrace,
In kindest sort, some take him by the hand,
But chiefe Renaldo striues, to do him grace:
Yet if that you desire to vnderstand,
Why more then all the rest Renaldo sought it,
Turne ore the lease and there you shalbe taught it.
375
THE XLIIII. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Renaldo to Rogero giues his sister,Against Duke Ammon and their mothers will:
Rogero doubting lest he should haue mist her,
Uowes Leon and his father both to kill:
He leaueth France, and to the streame of Ister,
He rides and trauels in those parts, vntill
He found the Bulgars fighting with the Greekes,
And aydeth those, because he these mislikes.
1
Oft times we see, in house of meane estate,In fortune bad, and chances ouerthwart,
That men doe sooner lay aside debate,
And ioyne in sound accord with hand aud hart,
Thē princes courts, where riches gender hate,
And vilde suspect, that louing mind doth part,
Where charitie is cleane consumde and vanished,
And frendship firme, is quite cast out and banished.
2
Hence comes it that twixt Princes and great Lords,Agreements all, and cou'nants are so fraile,
To day Kings, Popes, and Emperors make accords
To morrow deadly warres, with tooth and nayle:
And why? their thoughts stil vary from their words,
They keepe not othes, but for their owne auaile:
Nor weigh they wrong or right, or recken of it,
But as the same may turne to their owne profite.
3
Now though such men, as yet were neuer taught,What frendship is, nor euer knew the same,
(For frendship neuer growes where there is nought
But shewes disguisd, in earnest or in game)
Yet if ill fortune them so low haue brought,
To meete in meaner place, they straight do frame
Their proud hy minds to frendship true and plaine,
Which erst they knew not, or they did disdaine.
4
The saintlik man, had in his Cell more powre,His guests in firme and sound accord do binde,
Then others should haue had in Princely bowre:
And more, this frendship was of such a kind,
That euer after, from that present houre,
Eu'n to their ends, they all agreed in mind:
Appearing to this old man and deuout,
As white within, as Swans are white without.
5
He found them all both gentle kind, and meeke,And not in sort of which I erst complained,
Of those that neuer thinke and speake alike,
But euer go with speech, and visage fained.
They cleare forgat all grudge, and old mislike;
No signe, nor memorie there of remained:
But loue together, as if they had come,
All of one seede, and laine all in one wome.
6
But good Renaldo could by no meanes rest,To shew Rogero kindnesse great and loue,
Both for his prowesse great, and valiant brest,
Which hand to hand, in fight he late did proue:
And for his courtsie, that did passe the rest,
And was praise worthy all the rest aboue:
But chiefe the cause was this, because he found,
His frends to him had sundry wayes bene bound.
7
He knew, for often he had heard it told,How first Rogero saued Richardet,
Whom then Marsilio kept in cruell hold,
Because with child he did his daughter get:
And further, Bouos sonnes should haue bene sold,
But them Rogero did at freedome set:
These things in honor true, and reputation,
He knew were matters of great obligation.
376
8
And though before he could no kindnes showTo him, while he profest himselfe a Turke,
Yet now that him a Christian he did know,
He would now let his loue no longer lurke:
Which when the Hermit saw, he was not slow,
A farther kindnes, them between to worke:
He moues them (sith he so good friends had seene them)
That he might make affinitie betweene them.
9
He said it was foreshowd him from on hie,That by the ioyning their two lines in one,
Such ofspring should arise, as vnder sky
To passe or match the same, there should be none;
Wherefore, he wisheth them, that by and by
By his aduise, they would agree thereon:
Renaldo at his motion straight allowes,
That Bradamant should be Rogeros spouse.
10
Orlando, Oliuero soone to that,Gaue their good will, and fauour, and assent,
Affirming that all France may ioy thereat;
They little knew how good Duke Ammon ment,
To match his daughter higher farre, and that
King Charles thereto did willingly consent:
To Leon namely Constantynos haire,
Emp'rour of Greece, who sought the Lady faire.
11
Duke Ammon meant not such a match to shunne,But yet his answere he a while deferred,
Vntill such time as with his absent sonne,
He had on such a weightie cause conferred:
Not doubting but he thereto would be wonne,
And glad to haue his sister so preferred;
But yet, though herein he did nothing doubt him,
Yet would he not resolue thereon without him.
12
But now Renaldo absent from his father,And ignorant of that imperiall plot,
Vnto Rogero promist her the rather,
Because his present friends mislikt it not;
But chiefe that he by th'Hermits speech did gather,
That God ordaind it by eternall lot;
And of his father firmely he belieued,
At such alliance he could not be grieued.
13
All that same day and night, and halfe the next,They made abode with that same saintlike sire,
Still preaching, teaching them the blessed text,
Expounding eu'rie place at their desire:
The marriners with their long tarrying vext,
Oft sent to pray them to the ship retyre,
Because the wind blew well to serue their turne,
Compelling them in fine, to make returne.
14
Rogero that had liu'd in long exile,(Now glad to do as that old man would haue him)
Doth bid farewell, and left that happie Ile,
When he had learnd ye faith that sole must saue him,
Orlando vnto him his sword this while,
And Hectors armes, and good Frontino gaue him,
Both to declare his loue so much the more,
And that he knew they had bene his before.
15
And though the Palladine in common sence,Had iuster claime vnto the blade enchaunted,
As hauing wonne it in his owne defence,
Forth of the garden with foule spirits haunted,
Whereas Rogeros title and pretence,
Came from Brunello, that of theft was taunted,
Yet gaue he it of his good nature meerly,
Although his right thereto appeared cleerly.
16
Then by the holy man they all were blessed,And to their ship they made their backe repaire,
Their oares for waues, their sails for winds adressed,
Whieh then blew verie temperate and faire:
No feare of wracke, no doubt to be distressed;
No need there was of vowes, or yet of praire:
But here I leaue them sailing in faire wether,
Till th'English Duke and them I bring together.
17
Who when the victorie he vnderstoodOrlando got, of which he was lesse glad,
Because the same was wonne with so much blood,
And sith now France no feare of Affricke had;
To send Senapo home he thought it good,
And therefore with a count'nance graue and sad,
Yet kind and frendly he did giue him thanke,
For lending him his aid, so free and franke.
18
And Dudon sent a little while before,All that his great triumphant Nauie backe,
Wherewith he plagued had the Turks so sore,
And brought them all to ruine great and wracke:
Which ships no sooner toucht that Affricke shore,
And quite disburdend of the people blacke,
But eu'rie ship his shape forsakes and leaues,
And all of them were turnd againe to leaues.
19
And now on parting were the Nubian bands:Some mounted, some on foote pel mell together,
The winds that wont to moue the troublous sands,
Astolfo gaue their king in bagges of leather,
So firmely tyde, and in so sured bands,
As feare they need not any change of weather:
And will'd him, when they were past all ieoperty,
That they should grant vnto the wind his liberty.
20
Turpino writes that they no sooner came,Vnto the mountaine Atlas stonie roote,
But that their horses, stones againe became,
And so they all went home againe on foote:
But after how each thing with them did frame,
In this discourse to tell it shall not boote:
Now tell we of your English Dukes proceeding,
Of his returne to France, and of his speeding.
21
Who hauing rulers for those parts ordained,That might as pleasd, them ruine or repaire,
No longer then in Affrica remained,
But vnto France he quickly did repaire;
By land or sea, to trauell he disdained,
But with his winged beast he cuts the aire,
And quickly came to Prouince where he did,
As much as erst th'Euangelist did bid.
377
22
Which was that enterd into Prouince, heShould take away his saddle and his raines,
And grant him liberty, and set him free,
And put him now vnto no further paines:
For Cinthias spheare, in which our lost wits be,
That maketh of our losses greatest gaines,
Had made his horne long since to loose his sound,
That now no vertue in the same was found.
23
Now th'English Duke vnto Marsilio came,And iust at that same time arriued there,
When those three Palladines of worthy fame,
With Sobrin and Rogero landed were:
Much was their ioy, yet lessond was the same,
And outward showes thereof they do forbeare:
So great a sadnes in them all it bred,
To thinke their friend king Brandimart was ded.
24
But Charles that from Sicilia notice had,How those two kings were slaine, and Sobrine taken,
And Brandimart deceast (which made him sad)
And that Rogero had the Turkes forsaken;
Was in his minde now well apaid and glad,
That such a peise, he from his necke had shaken,
Which for a long time had so grieuous wayed,
As he therewith was welny ouerlayed.
25
Wherefore to do them honour, as was meete,That with their courage did his crowne sustaine,
He sent his Peeres and nobles them to greete,
Vnto the verie confines of his raigne:
Himselfe in person, after did them meete,
With Lords and Princes of his chiefest traine:
And neare the town, the Queene with many a Ladie
Came forth, to do them honor all that may be.
26
King Charles himselfe with chearfull friendly face,The Palladines, their kinsfolke and their frends,
The noble men, and people meane and base,
To make them for their merits some amends,
With friendly shouts did fill vp all the place,
Each man and euery child his voice extends,
And cride on those two houses of account,
That of Mongrana, and of Clarimount.
27
Now to the Prince Rogero they did bring,And told him how he was apparent haire
To Risa, and of that great house did spring:
And while they spake these words, Marfisa faire
Saluted him in presence of the King,
But Bradamant (who thither did repaire)
Yet kept her selfe aloofe with more respect
Least openly she should her loue detect.
28
Then Charls doth welcom him with words most sweet,And vsd him like a man of rare account,
And for he was allighted on his feet,
For reu'rence sake, againe he made him mount;
And cheeke by cheeke, to ride through eu'ry street:
He knew and ioyd, that at the sacred fount,
Rogero by the hermit was baptised,
As he by former letters was aduised.
29
In triumph and in feasts they spent the day,And riding through the towne at sundry houres,
Some straw greene leaues, or rushes in the way,
Some cast downe garlands made of sundry flowres.
The streets were hanged all with rich array,
And damsels from the windowes high and towres,
To gratulate their prosperous deeds and haps,
Cast showres of Roses from their tender laps.
30
At eu'ry corner, market-crosse or gate,High arches triumph-like were new erected,
Some of Bysertas fall and wofull state,
Which they had ouerthrowne and quite deiected:
Some of the combat that was fought so late,
With playes and new deuises vnexpected:
Thus dedicate, and thus entitled wholly,
To those Redeemers of the Empire holly.
31
With gratefull sound, of instruments and voyce,With sundrie sweet and musicall consorts,
The people shew how greatly they reioyce,
With Iubiles, and shoutes, and playes, and sports.
Then Charles and all his knights, and Barons choise
To his owne house, and his owne court resorts:
And there with tilting, turneis, and with playes,
They spent a few of then ensuing dayes.
32
Renaldo taking time, vpon a day,The marriage matter to his father brake,
And told him he had promist by the way,
His sister should for spouse, Rogero take:
By which, allyance such procure they may,
As men may count great folly to forsake:
In which himselfe the further did proceed,
Because Orlando was thereto agreed.
33
With much disdaine this speech Duke Ammon hard,Affirming, he presumptuosly had donne,
To promise so, sith he had now prepard,
To match her to the Greekish Emp'rors sonne:
And not this priuate knight, who he had hard,
Had not one foote of land scant vnder Sunne:
Alas (quoth he) poore gentrie small auailes,
And vertue lesse if land and riches failes.
34
But chieflie Ammons wife, dame Beatrice,Doth call her sonne vngrate and arrogant,
And thinks to worke so by her wise aduise,
To make an Empresse of her Bradamant:
Renaldo much condemneth that deuice,
Nor will not of his word one tittle want:
But said his sister (vnder their correction)
Would therein ruled be by his direction.
35
The mother (in her daughter much beguild)Perswades with her, and comforts her to say,
That she will rather dye and be exild,
Then match so meane, when higher match she may
She saith, she will not take her for her child,
If she will let her brother beare such sway:
Wherefore (saith she) be bold, and do denie it,
And with your brother, giue me leaue to try it.
378
36
Poore Bradamant doth silent stand and still,She dares not scarse in thought, for reu'rence sake,
Gainsay her mother, or withstand her will,
On tother side, she dare not promise make,
Of that, which to performe did passe her skill,
And was aboue her powre to vndertake:
No powre she had in this, nor great nor small,
For long ere this, loue seased on it all.
37
She dares not giue consent, nor yet deny,She onely sighes, and answer maketh none,
But when she is alone that none are by,
Vnto her selfe she makes a piteous mone;
She makes her brests and her faire haire to trie
In part her griefe, for why she beates the tone
In spitefull wise, the tother short she teares,
And thus she speakes amid her plaints and feares.
38
Wo me, shall then my will and fancie varieFrom hers, whose will should rule and gouern mine?
Shall my will to my mothers be contrarie,
Or that disdaine, my mother doth designe?
Shall I presume with such a man to marrie,
At whom my parents both do so repine?
What fowler blot can staine a damsels praise,
Then when her parents will, she disobayes?
39
Shall then my mothers reu'rence, and my sires,Make me my deare Rogero to forget?
And to new loues, new hopes, and new desires
Betake my selfe, and him at nought to set?
Or shall the reu'rence which their age requires,
And which my selfe hath borne them euer yet,
Be now forgot, and I be wholy bent,
To mine owne ioy, and solace, and content?
40
I know (alas I know) my dutie well,But powre I haue not to performe the same,
My fancie reasons rule doth quite expell,
And my well orderd thoughts, put out of frame:
And tyrant Loue, gainst whom who dare rebell,
Makes me cast off all feare of others blame:
My speech, my deeds, my thoughts he doth dispose,
And ruleth them, against my will God knowes.
41
To Ammon daughter, and to BeatriceI am, but vnto Loue I am a slaue,
Though I do now refuse their wise aduise,
Of them I may hereafter pardon haue:
But if I Loue resist, who knowes the price,
Or who can me from his great furie saue?
He will not stay to harken to my scuses,
But slay me presently, for such his vse is.
42
With much adoe, and with long time I drewMy deare Rogero, to the Christian faith,
What profite doth thereof to me ensew,
If still ill hap my purpose good gainsaith?
So doth the Bee, not for himselfe renew,
The hony that in combes he safely laith:
But sooner of my life they shall me reaue,
Then force me my Rogero deare to leaue.
43
But though herein I disobey my mother,And father to, which I to do am loth:
What though? yet I therein obey my brother,
That is reputed wiser then they both:
Orlando eke, for me speakes tone and tother,
And fauour will this match, how ere it goth;
And sure I am, the world doth of them twaine,
Make more esteeme then all our house againe.
44
Sith then the world esteemes and calleth those,The glorie and the flowre of Clarimount,
Lesse shame it is for me, as I suppose,
If that I suffer men of such account,
Of me in marriage matters to dispose,
That all my kin in credit do surmount:
Beside they haue the word directly spoken,
But to the Greeke the matter is but broken.
45
But now if Bradamant her selfe torment,And doth her euill hap bewaile and blame,
No doubt Rogero is as malcontent,
Who had some priuie inckling of the same:
He secretly doth his ill state lament,
And curseth fortune that vnconstant dame,
That had for wealth, so sparing left his lor,
Which diuers base vnworthy men had got.
46
In each thing else that nature man can graunt,Or that is got by industrie or art,
He knowth, and each man saith that none can vaunt
To haue a greater, no nor such a part:
His strength was such, no strength the same could daunt,
His person past his strength; his noble hart,
His Princely manners, and his braue behauour,
Wan each mans loue, each mans applause & fauour.
47
But this same vulgar sort vntaught and rude,That as them list distribute praise and shame,
And (saue the wise and learned) I include
All men that liue on earth, within that name;
For Myters, states, nor crownes, may not exclude,
Popes, mightie kings, nor Keysars from the same:
But onely wisedome graue, and learning cleare,
Gifts giuen from heau'n, that are not common heare
48
This vulgar sort (to tell my meaning out)That sauing wealth and riches, nought admyre,
And nothing thinke praise worthy them without,
And in their base conceits can looke no hyre:
That be one neu'r so learnd, so wise, so stout,
Well shapt as eye can see, or heart desire,
Well borne, well qualited of sober carriage,
They nought esteeme all these in case of marriage.
49
Well (saith Rogero) if that Ammon needsWill make an Empresse of his daughter deare,
At least this hast he makes, is more then needs,
Let him yet giue me respite but one yeare:
And if in that same yeare, I do such deeds,
That both the sonne and sire, I vanquish cleare:
When both their crowns I conquerd haue & wonne
Then I may worthy be, to be his soune.
379
50
But if he straight the marriage do effect,With Constantinos heire in so great hast,
And will Renaldos promise quite neglect,
And eke his Cosens, which so few dayes past,
Before that blessed man of Gods elect,
And that good Marquesse, they did bind so fast:
If they shall wrong me so, what then shall I?
What can I do in such a case but die?
51
What should I do? shall I then be auengedOf him that me contraries in this wise?
Let me be blamed herein, or commended,
Let me therein be deemd a foole or wise:
But would my state alas, be then amended
By th'old mans death? no, no, far otherwise:
I doubt this would not worke my more content,
But rather contrarie my first intent.
52
My first intention was, and yet is still,That Bradamant should beare me loue, not hate,
Now then if I her father here should kill,
Or ought attempt against her brothers state:
Had she not cause of me to thinke then ill,
And to refuse me for her spouse and mate?
What shall I do? alas then shall I beare it?
Ah no perdy, first I will dye I sweare it.
53
And yet I will not die, but Ile destroyThat Leon that procur'd my harme and wo,
And is desturber of my chiefest ioy,
Him and his father I will kill also:
Faire Helen to the louer lewd of Troy,
Not cost so deare, nor longer far ago,
Proserpin cost Perythous price so hye,
As I will cause them this my griefe to buy.
54
But were it possible (my deare) that thou,Canst leaue thine owne Rogero for this Greeke?
Yea though that all thy brothers did allow
This match, which Ammon doth so fondly seeke?
Yes yes, I feare that thine owne minde doth bow
To his desire, and could far better leeke,
When with thy selfe, thou dost these offers scan,
To haue a Cæsar then a priuate man.
55
Can then the dignitie and glorious name,Of pompous shewes, and of imperiall seat,
The noble heart of Bradamant so frame,
Her vallew rare, and vertue to defeat,
And go from her first promise, to her shame,
Which me she made with many vowes and great?
No sure I know she will them all forsake,
Much rather then vnsay, that once she spake.
56
These words Rogero spake, and many such,And oftentimes he spake them in such sort,
That diuers ouerhard him, in so much
That they were told, by more then one report
To Bradamant, whom they did chiefly tuch,
Who tooke them not (you may be sure) in sport:
But as her priuate griefe was great before,
So this report of him did grieue her more.
57
But most it grieu'd her and aboue the rest,That he mistrusted she would him forsake,
At any mans commandment or request,
And specially for this same Grecians sake:
Wherefore to moue this scruple from his brest,
And this foule error from his minde to take,
She gate her pen and inke one night full late,
And to Rogero such like words she wrate.
58
My deare, as erst I was I still will bide,While life shall dure, yea eu'n when life is past,
Though toward me, loue shew his grace, or pride,
Or fortune raise me vp, or downward cast:
My stable faith, shall neuer faile nor slide,
For calme, nor storme, but as a Rocke stand fast,
Against the surging waues still vnremoueable,
So shall my faith stand firme and vnreproueable.
59
First shall a file, or knife of drossie lead,The Dyamond to sundrie figures carue,
Ere any chance by Fortunes frailtie bred,
Or powre of loue, shall cause my course to swarue:
First shall the streames runne backe vnto their hed,
Ere I will iustly such a blame desarue:
Or ere I shall, for chances good or ill,
Giue my consent to change my setled will.
60
To thee Rogero mine, a good while since,Of me, and of my heart I gaue dominion,
I should my selfe of lightnes great conuince,
If I so sodainly could change opinion:
As for my true allegeance, sure no Prince,
Is faithfuller belou'd of dearest minnion:
For me you need no fortresse nor no towre,
To be defences against forren powre.
61
You need no bands of men to entertaine,To keepe this fortres, strength enough haue I,
For riches make on me assault but vaine,
So base a price, no gentle heart can buy:
Nor noble birth, nor name of crowne or raigne,
Which oft doth dase the common peoples eye,
Nor beautie, to the which light minds incline,
Though greater see I neuer shall then thine.
62
No, feare not, no man powre shall euer haue,My heart to other figure to transforme,
Loue did your shape therein so deepe ingraue,
As now it can receiue none other forme:
My heart is not of wax, for why Loue gaue,
(When to his worke he did it first conforme)
An hunderd strokes with cheessell and with male,
Ere he could fetch therefrom one little scale.
63
Pure Iuorie, gemmes, and eu'rie hardest stone,That most withstandeth steele, a man may burst,
But other figure yet receiue they none,
Then that to which they formed were at furst
My heart is not vnlike a precious stone,
Or Adamant, or what so cutteth worst:
Loue sooner shall it breake in thousand splints,
Ere other beauties bring it to new prints.
380
64
These words she wrote, and many more to these,That him with faith, with loue, with hope so fed,
Of force to cure each desperate disease,
Or rather to reuiue him being ded:
But when they thought them safest from the seas,
And in the hau'n securely harbored,
A new and sodaine tempest rose so sore,
As draue them backe to sea from sight of shore.
65
For worthy Bradamant that had assignd,To shew her meaning plaine was, and direct,
And calling wonted courage to her minde,
And quite reiecting womanly respect,
Came vnto Charles, and spake in such a kind;
My Leige, if ere my seruice did effect,
Ought worth your highnes thanks, at your cōmand
Let not your grace denie me one demand.
66
But promise me, vpon your Princely faithAnd royall word, which I may surely trust,
To grant one suit, what ere your handmaid praith,
And I will promise that it shall be iust.
(Beloued worthy mayd, the Emp'ror saith)
Your many seruices confesse I must,
Deserue no lesse, and frankly here I vow it,
If of my Realme you aske part, Ile allow it.
67
My suit is that your highnes will not yeeld,That I (said she) may any husband haue,
That shall not first of all, with speare and sheeld,
Or else with sword in hand him so behaue,
As that he can withstand me in the feeld,
Behold the onely fauour that I craue;
I would be his that proues himselfe so stout,
The rest maybe content to stand without.
68
Most noble maid (the Emp'ror straight replide)Thy stout demand, well to thy minde doth sute,
Wherefore by me it may not be denyde,
It is so noble and so iust a sute:
Now (for she sought not this her suit to hide)
All they that heard thereof, sure were not mute,
But eu'n ere night it publisht was so rife,
As it was knowne to Ammon and his wife.
69
And thereupon they presently conceaued,Against their daughter, great disdaine and wrath,
For by such motion plainly they perceaued,
She to Rogero most deuotion hath:
Wherefore to th'end she might be quite bereaued
All hope, to follow that forbidden path,
From out the court they traind her by a slight,
And sent her to their castle that same night.
70
This was a fortresse that but few dayes past,The Prince had giu'n to them vpon request,
Betweene Perpignan and Cirtasso plast,
And neare the sea, not of importance least:
Here as a prisner they did keepe her fast,
With minde to send her one day vnto th'East,
They purpose, will she, nill she, she must take
Don Leon, and Rogero quite forsake.
71
The Damsell, though not kept with watch or guard,Yet bridled with the Parents awfull raine,
Did keepe her close, with good and due regard,
And of their rigor did no whit complaine:
But yet to this her thoughts were full prepard,
To bide imprisonment or any paine,
Or death it selfe, by torture or by racke,
More rather then from promise to go backe.
72
Renaldo finding that his suttle sire,Had tane his sister thus from out his fist,
Nor able as his promise did require,
Rogeros suit to further and assist,
Forgets he is his sonne, and in his ire,
Rebukes his Parents, but say what he list,
They are content to giue the words to loosers,
But in their daughters match they will be choosers.
73
Rogero hearing this, and greatly fearing,Least Leon should by loue, or by constraint,
Possesse his Lady by his long forbearing,
He minds (but none he doth therewith acquaint,)
To giue a speedie death to Leon, swearing
That he of Cæsar, will make him a saint,
And that he will, except his hope deceiue him,
Of scepter, life, and loue, and all bereaue him.
74
And in his minde resolued full thereon,Don Hectors armor that from Mandricard
He late had wonne, forwith he putteth on,
Frontino eake he secretly prepard:
But Eagle on his sheeld he would haue none,
I cannot tell you well in what regard;
In steed thereof an argent Vnicorne,
In field of Gewls by him, as then was borne.
75
One onely trustie seruant and no mo,He takes with him his purpose to conceale,
He giueth him in charge where ere he go,
That he his name to no man do reueale:
Thus Mosa, Rhyne, he past with pace not slow,
And Austria, to th'Vngarian common weale:
And vpon Isters banke, such speed he made,
That in a while he came vnto Belgrade.
76
Where Saua doth into Danubia fall,And all along that streame he might discouer
Ensignes and banners all Imperiall,
That nye the streame in numbers great did houer:
Great was their multitude, and Grecians all,
Who with a hope that citie to recouer,
Which late before from them the Bulgars wonne,
Were thither brought by th'Emperor and his sonne.
77
Twixt Belgrade, and the streame in warlike rankes,The Bulgars stood eu'n to the monntaines ridge,
Both armies waterd at the riuers bankes,
The Greekes endeuord there to cast a bridge;
And for that end prepared boats and plankes,
The Bulgars sought their purpose to abridge:
Scarse had Rogero vewd them wel, and seene them,
But that there fell a skirmish hot betweene them.
381
78
The Greeks were foure to one, beside they haueGood store of boats with many a planke and boord,
And to the place a sharpe assault they gaue,
And mean to passe although there were no foord:
But this was but a policie, and braue,
For Leon so this while himselfe besturd,
That with a compasse that about he fet,
Both he and his, the streame past without let.
79
With little lesse then twentie thousand men,Along the banks he secretly doth ride,
And gaue to them a fresh alarum then,
Vnlooked for, vnwares, and vnespide:
No lesse the Emp'ror Constantino, when
He saw his sonne, on land on tother side,
By ioyning planke to planke, and boat to boat,
With all his powre, an easie passage got.
80
The Bulgar Captaine that Vatrano hight,And was a valiant warrior and a wise,
Endeuord both by policie and fight
To beare the bront, but nothing could suffice:
For Leon both by multitude and might,
Vnhorsed him, and ere he could arise;
Sith he to yeeld him prisner did disdaine,
Among a thousand swords he there was slaine.
81
Till then, the Bulgars valiantly made hed,But when they saw their king and Captaine slaine,
So great a terror in their minds was bred,
In their faint hearts no courage did remaine:
Rogero seeing how the Bulgars fled,
And none to stay or bring them backe againe:
To helpe the weaker part resolueth briefly,
For hate of Constantine, but Leon chiefly.
82
He spurres his horse that like the winde doth runne,And makes them stand, that fled with fainting brest,
And hauing spide one brauer then the Sunne,
A gallant youth, more forward then the rest:
(This same was Constantinos sisters sonne)
At him Rogero runnes with speare in rest:
He brake his shield and coat like brittle glasse,
And through his bodie made the speare to passe.
83
He leaues him dead, and Ballisard he drawes,And with that blade he shewd himselfe so stout,
Who meeteth with him, to repent haue cause,
He presseth in among the thickest rout;
Ones skull he cleaueth to the verie iawes,
Heads, leggs, and armes flew all the field about:
The streame that erst did run as Christall cleare,
Vermillion now doth to the sight appeare.
84
No man that saw, much lesse that felt his blowes,Dare once make head against them, or resist them,
Rogero in the field triumphant goes,
The Bulgars now march freely where it list them:
Nor was there one amongst them all that knowes,
What wight it was that did so well assist them:
This change they saw procur'd in little space,
Who lately fled, now held their foes in chase.
85
The young Augustus standing on a hill,A place aboue the rest much eminent,
Seeing one man his men to slay and kill,
And that their losse and flight was euident:
He wonders at his courage and his skill,
And thinks that God had sure some Angel sent,
To plague the Grecians for their old offences,
And for the Bulgars succours and defences.
86
He sees both by his armes and Vnicorne,That sure he was a knight of forraine Nation,
And where as some, more hate wold him haue born
He rather held him in more admiration:
His heart, whom vertuous thoughts did still adorne,
And euer was of noble inclination,
Made him extoll him for his deeds of armes,
Although his men by him receiu'd such harmes.
87
Eu'n as a babe, whom sometime mou'd with ire,The mother beats with rod; or with it chaseth,
Runnes not vnto the sister, nor the sire,
But to the Mam, and sweetly her imbraceth:
So now though Leons men are made retire,
And though Rogero killeth them and chaseth,
Yet his great valew maketh Leon loue him,
Much more then hate him, for the harm he doth him
88
But if that Leon loue him and admire,Me thinks he hath but sorrie recompence,
For why Rogeros hope and sole desire,
Is to do Leon damage and offence:
He lookes for him, and oft he doth enquire,
Which way he was, but still the diligence,
And long experience of the warie Greeke,
Do cause Rogero him in vaine did seeke.
89
Don Leon saw his souldiers flie so fast,He sounds retreit, and to his father sent
A messenger forthwith, in all post hast,
And of his message this was chiefe content;
To let him vnderstand how things had past,
And wish him flie for feare of being shent:
Likewise himselfe and his, hast all they may.
Backe ore the streame themselues then to conuay.
90
But yet for all his hast, his men were slaine,And some with hast were drowned in the streame;
The Bulgars now did conquerors remaine,
That erst in perill were to loose their Reame:
The knight of th'Vnicorne, they all see plaine,
Causd all their good; wherefore with ioy extreame;
To him they go acknowledging indeed,
That all their glorie did from him proceed.
91
Some kisse his hands, and some do kisse his feete,And in most humble manner him salute,
They thinke for him a praise diuine were meete,
And powre diuine they do to him impute:
They send their chiefest Captaines him to meete,
And all of them to him do make this sute:
And vp to heau'n their ioyfull voyces ring,
That he would be their Captaine, guide, and king.
382
92
Rogero vnto them this answer made,That he will be their guide as they thinke best,
But that he will not come into Belgrade,
Nor staffe, nor scepter touch at no request,
Vntill that Leon that did them inuade,
He haue once slaine, or tane him at the least:
For why a thousand miles for this alone,
He riden had, and other cause had none.
93
This said, forthwith he biddeth them adew,And would no longer stay at their desiring,
But that way Leon fled, did him pursew,
(For flight it was indeed, and not retyring)
Howbeit Leon and his men that knew,
What in such case for safetie was requiring,
Brake downe the bridge, when they the streame had past
And so as then they made the passage fast.
94
Rogero failing of his first intent,Did seeke some place to passe to tother side,
Along that streame till all that day was spent,
And all that night vncessantly doth ride:
Betime next morne vnto a towne he went,
To ease his wearied bodie, and beside,
To make his horse amends for so great wrong,
In keeping him without a bait so long.
95
Vngardo, one of reckning good and state,Held this same towne to Constantino deare,
And footmen had, and horsemen got of late,
Since of these warres he did first tidings heare:
Rogero finding none to watch the gate,
More boldly enterd finding passage cleare:
The towne it selfe within he likewise found,
With meat and drinke, and lodging to abound.
96
Now where Rogero lodged that same night,One of Romania, happend there to ofte,
That present was at that precedent fight,
When as Rogero holpe the Bulgars host:
And at that time did him so sore affright,
That though of his escaping he might bost;
Yet still he feard him, and still did doubt him,
And still he thought that Vnicorne about him.
97
Wherefore when as he saw that sheeld, he knewThis was the man that eu'n before so late,
So many of the Grecian armie slew,
Straightway he hasted to the castle gate:
And that he may haue audience, he doth sew,
For matter that concernes the Realme and state:
But when he was admitted, what he told,
Within the booke insuing ile vnfold.
384
THE XLV. BOOKE
THE ARGVMENT.
The noble Leon doth Rogero saue,In Theodoras cruell prison pent;
Soone after, Leon doth Rogero craue,
To win him Bradamant: he doth assent:
And fought with her xij. houres a combat brane;
Of which he after did so sore repent,
In sorrow great, he thought to end his life,
To thinke another should possesse his wife.
1
Looke how much higher Fortune doth erect,The clyming wight, on her vnstable wheele,
So much the nigher may a man expect,
To see his head, where late he saw his heele:
Polycrates hath prou'd it in effect,
And Dionysius that too true did feele:
Who long were luld on high in Fortunes lap,
And fell downe sodainely to great mishap.
2
On tother side the more a man is pressed,And vtterly ou'rthrowne by Fortunes lowre,
The sooner comes his state to be redressed,
When wheele shal turne and bring the happy houre:
Some from the blocke haue grown to be so blessed,
Whole realmes haue bene subiected to their powre,
As Marius and Ventidius sample is,
In former age, and Lews of France in this.
3
That Lews of France (the storie well is knowne)That to Alfonsos sonne, did giue his daughter,
Who was at Saint Albinos ouerthrowne,
And eu'n with much adoe escaped slaughter;
A like misfortune by like danger growne,
Coruino scaped but a little after:
And hauing past that moment by good chance;
One ruled Hungarie, the tother France.
4
Tis manifest in stories new and old,That good and ill, each other do succeed,
And worldly blisse hath but a slender hold,
Wherefore a man of wisedome, will take heed;
And on his fortune neuer be too bold,
Although his state and riches farre exceed:
Nor yet in fortune ill, dispaire or doubt,
For euermore her wheele doth turne about.
5
Rogero, as I lately did repeat,Now hauing both repulst the sonne and sire,
Grew to such pride therewith, and such conceat,
(Ambition euermore aspiring hire,)
He thinkes by fortune and his force so great,
To kill Don Leon, which was his chiefe desire,
And for that purpose aid he asketh none,
But thinketh sure, to do the feat alone.
6
But she that cannot suffer nor abide,That any long should of her fauour bost,
Now in the midst of all his praise and pride,
When in her fauour he affied most,
Did cause him of this knight to be discride;
Who went vnto Vngardo straight in post,
And told him how that man that put to flight
The Greekish host, would lie in towne that night.
7
He said, twas happend eu'n as one could wish,If so they mard not all by ill contriuing,
That he was taken now as is a fish,
That to the net approcheth without driuing;
Or rather layes it selfe into the dish,
And makes resistance none, nor any striuing,
Much did the Captaine at these newes reioyce,
And shewd the same by gesture and by voyce.
385
8
And presently prouision such he made,That good Rogero taken was that night,
And kept as prisner now in Nouengrade,
(For so the towne where he was taken hight)
What should he do? when arm'd men did inuade
Him naked and a sleepe, with so great might:
Vngardo straight doth send this ioyfull tyding,
To Constantin, at Beltrich now abyding.
9
For since his forces late were beaten downe,He thought it safest, quickly to withdraw
Vnto some strength, or to some walled towne,
(For of the Bulgars now he had such aw)
He doubted they would hazard eu'n his crowne,
Now hauing such a guide as erst he saw,
And this same towne was strong, and did pertaine,
To him, whose sonne was by Rogero slaine.
10
But when this message of their Captains taking,By letters and by Post, was brought to him,
He was therewith, in such a ioyfull taking,
He thought he now in seas of milke did swim;
His face that pale, his heart that earst was quaking,
Vpon this newes, it chearfull was and trim;
The Bulgars now he counts as ouerthrowne,
The victorie he iudgeth sure his owne.
11
As doth the father ioy, so doth the sonne,Of this good hap, though for a further end,
He hopeth this braue knight may now be wonne
By curtesie, to be his faithfull frend,
He needeth not enuie (if that were donne)
King Charles the great, (he thinks) but eu'n contend,
Both with his Palladines, and all his garrison,
For flowre of Chiualrie, to make comparison.
12
But Theodora was of other minde,Don Leons Ant, whose sonne Rogero slew,
For she with choller carri'd headlong blinde,
And for his losse, whose death she most did rew,
To Constantin her Lord, and brother kinde
She went, and at his feete herselfe she threw,
And when she first had made a piteous plaint,
She with her suit, this wise did him acquaint.
13
I will not rise from these your feete (she seth)My liege, vntill you grant me powre to wreake
My selfe on him, that brought my sonne to deth,
And did with cruell speare, his bowels breake:
Besides he was your nephew, while his breth
Did dure, you saw his loue, and seruice eake,
Your highnes knowes, it were too great a wrong,
To let his death be vnreuenged long.
14
You further see, that God of goodnes meare,Had causd that wretch, the campe thus to forsake,
And come like bird to bayt (the case is cleare)
Whereas Vngardo did him prisner take,
Because my onely sonne, I lou'd so deare,
Might not go vnreueng'd to Stigian lake:
Then giue me him (my Lord) and be content,
I swage my griefe, with his sharpe punishment.
15
Her plaints and mone, so well she doth deuise,So forcibly and heartily she prayd,
Nor would not sturre from thence in any wise,
(Although the noble Emp'ror did, and sayd
Eu'n all he could, to make her thence arise)
That sith she would by no meanes be denayd,
But still renewd her suit, with piteous weeping,
He granteth her the prisner in her keeping.
16
And thus at last, to make the matter short,He sendeth for the knight of th'Vnicorne,
And gaue him her, whose chiefe delight and sport,
Was to deuise to worke him woe and scorne;
All common deaths were of too milde a sort,
To haue him hangd, and all in peeces torne,
And on each gate, to set a quartred lim,
She thought it was not plague enough for him.
17
Chaind hands and feete, and necke, she lockt him vpIn dungeon voide of light, but full of stinke,
With mouldie bread, she made him dine and sup,
And gaue him puddle water for his drinke:
She shortly meanes, that he a sorrie cup
Shall tast, but till she may herselfe bethinke
The kinde of death, she giueth him a keeper,
Whose rancor was as deepe as hers, or deeper.
18
Oh had Duke Ammons noble daughter knowne,Of her Rogeros now distressed state,
Or if it had bene to Marfisa showne,
Who lou'd him deare, though in another rate,
Both tone and tother, thither would haue flowne,
And would not cease to ride betimes and late,
To rescue good Rogero, and assist,
Let Ammon and his wife, say what they list.
19
Now Charles the great, began to call to mindeHis promise, by the which himselfe was bound,
That husband none should euer be assinde
To Bradamant, but he in fight were found
Her match, and (as kings vse in such a kinde)
He published the same by trumpets sound,
Ou'r all his Empire, sending proclamations,
That soone the fame, did flye to forren nations.
20
Thus much the writing made men vnderstand,That no man Bradamant to wife should get,
But one that would attempt with sword in hand,
From rising of the Sun, vntill it set,
Her force in single combat to withstand;
Which if that any could, there was no let,
But she agrees, and Charles himselfe allows,
That such a one should haue her for his spouse.
21
This Article was likewise there set downe,That they should name the weapon if they list,
For why her vallew was of great renowne,
To fight on horse, on foote, in field, in list.
Duke Ammon now that to withstand the crowne,
Wants force and will, no longer doth resist,
But after long discourses with his daughter,
Compeld in fine, backe to the Court he brought her
386
22
Her mother eke, though wroth and malcontent,Yet both for nature, and for honours sake,
Good store of costly clothes incontinent,
Both gownes and kirtles she for her doth make;
Thus Bradamant with both her parents went,
Vnto the Court, where she small ioy did take,
She scarce esteemed it a Court to be,
When that her louer there she could not see.
23
As one that saw in Aprill or in May,A pleasant garden, full of fragrant flowres,
Then when fresh earth new clad in garments gay,
Deckes eu'ry wood and groue, with pleasant bowres
And comes againe on some Decembers day,
And sees it mard, with winters stormes and showres,
So did this Court to Bradamant appeare,
When as she saw Rogero was not heare.
24
She dares not aske of any man for feare,Least such a question might her loue accuse,
Howbeit secretly she lendeth eare,
To others talke, as in such case men vse:
Each man saith gon he is, but none knowes wheare,
For to the Court, of him there came no newes,
And he himselfe, when as he thence departed,
His purpose vnto no man there imparted.
25
Oh in what feare and rage these newes do set her,To heare Rogero was in manner fled,
She thinks that sure, because he could not get her,
And that her father nay, to him had sed,
That now he sought of purpose to forget her,
And shunne her sight, that all his sorrow bred;
She thinks that he from thence himselfe withdrawes,
For this alone, and for none other cause.
26
But more then all, this doubt her heart assayles,That he was gone to seeke some forren loue,
And sith that of his purpose here he fayles,
To speed some otherwhere he straight would proue
As from a boord men driue out nayles with nayles,
So with new loue he woud her loue remoue;
But straight another thought that thought gainsaith,
She thinketh her Rogero full of faith.
27
And there-vpon her selfe she reprehends,That she her louer should so much abuse,
Thus in her minde, one fancie him defends,
And then another, doth him sore accuse,
And she her thought to either fancie lends,
And in great doubt she is, which part to chuse;
But when a while she had her selfe bethought,
She leaneth most, vnto best pleasing thought.
28
Then chiefe, when in her mind she doth repeatRogeros promise, which he bad her trust,
She thinks to him the iniurie is great,
That causlesly she now should him mistrust,
And eu'n as he were present, she doth beat
Her brest that still doth harbor thoughts vniuft,
My selfe hath sinn'd (she saith) which now I curse,
But he that caused it is cause of worse.
29
Loue was the cause (quoth she) that in my hart,Your face and grace ingraued hath so seemely,
And therewith hath set forth each vertuous part,
Beseeming thee so sweetly and so trimly,
That sure no dame, that knowes well what thou art,
Can chuse but fall in loue with thee extreemly,
And therewithall, with all her powre indeuer,
To win thy loue, and make thee hers for euer.
30
Oh if that loue had grau'd thy thoughts so well,As it hath grau'd thy visage in my minde,
In how great ioy, and blisse should I then dwell,
For well I know, that they be true and kinde;
Then iealousie, the onely plague of hell,
(To which alas I am too much inclinde)
Should quickly cease, and I should free me from it,
Nor would I in my heart, once thinke vpon it.
31
But as a miser, hoording vp his treasure,Doth doubt in absence still, that the eues be there,
So I when thou that art mine onely pleasure,
Art absent far from me (I know not where)
I straight suspect, and straight I doubt false measure,
And straight my hope grows lesse, & more my feare
Which though I thinke both bootlesse, and vniust,
Yet still I doubt, and still I do mistrust.
32
But yet no sooner shall the pelasing light,Of thy sweet count'nance come vnto mine eyes,
O thou my ioy, ô thou my liues delight,
(Though where thou art I cannot now deuise)
But that true hope, false feare shall put to flight,
And knowledge plaine, all doubts shall satisfie,
Come then my deare, and hasten thy returning,
Ere hope & feare shal wast me quite with mourning.
33
As when the night hath spred her mantle blacke,Faint harted folke, are wont to be affrayd,
But when againe the day-light doth come backe.
They seeme of better cheare, and well appayd:
So I do faint, when as my deare I lacke,
But in his presence I am vndismayd:
Come then my deare Rogero, come vnto me,
Before that hope and doubt do quite vndo me.
34
As in the night, each little fierie sparke,May plainly be discerned with our eyne,
But when the day doth come we then shall marke,
That all are dampt and do no longer shine,
So kindels feare, in minde with doubt made darke,
Vntill my Sunne in my Horizon shine.
Turne then my deare, and with thy light illume me,
And driue away this care that doth consume me.
35
As when the Sun declines to South most low,The land doth leese the beautie that she had,
And winter stormes breed raine, and ise, and snow,
The pleasant birds all silent sit and sad:
So when as thou from me farre of dost go,
O shining Sunne, whose beames do make me glad,
A thousand feares but all vniust and vaine,
Make winter in my heart, to my great paine.
387
36
Shine then on me, O my cleare Sun, and bringThy beames more nye, this snow and ise to thaw,
Refresh these branches witherd in their spring,
And do no more thy selfe so farre withdraw:
As Philomena dolefully doth sing,
When as her young ones all destroyd she saw,
Or as the Turtle early mourns and late,
When she hath lost her deare beloued mate.
37
So noble Bradamant still mournes and plaines,With feare Rogero had her loue reiected,
And with salt teares her louely cheeks distaines,
Yet secretly, for feare to be detected:
Oh had she knowne that he was bound in chaines,
And eu'rie houre a cruell death expected,
What griefe of minde thinke you, would she then take,
That was so grieu'd alreadie for his sake!
38
But loe, the heau'nly goodnes so ordaines,That Theodoras rage, and cruell spight,
Against her prisner, whom she keeps in chaines,
And means to kil with torture all she might,
Reseruing him aliue for greater paines,
Came to the eare of Cæsars sonne one night,
And put into his heart to saue and cherish,
And not to suffer so great vallew perish.
39
The noble Leon that Rogero loues,(Not knowing tho that this Rogero was)
Whom his rare vertue, and great vallew moues,
Which he did thinke, all humane farre to passe,
Deuising sundry wayes, this one he proues,
And by the same, he brought the feate to passe,
So that his cruell Ant could not espy him,
Nor once complaine that she was wronged by him.
40
He speaketh in the secretst sort he can,Vnto the bloudy wretch that kept the kayes,
And prayth him show him the condemned man,
For why he must examine him he sayes:
A knight a valiant man that was his man,
He takes with him fit for all bold assayes,
The cruell Iayler, that no fraud suspected,
In all points did as Leon him directed.
41
He leads him secretly vnto the den,Where good Rogero was in prison pent,
Nor tooke he with him any of his men,
But as their guide, the formost of them went:
Who when they saw the time best serued, then
No longer to defer th'occasion ment,
But vnawares they at aduantage catch him,
And with a sodaine stab they do dispatch him.
42
Then open they the trap doore out of hand,And downe they let the ladder that was by,
And Leon with a lanterne in his hand,
Of light conceald, went where the knight did ly,
Fast bound vpon a grate with bitter band,
Not in the water, but thereto so ny,
The very dampe was such, that one might guesse,
That sole would kill him, in a month or lesse.
43
With great compassion Leon him imbraced,And sayd, sir knight, the vertue you haue showne,
With sured knots, my loue hath knit and laced
To you, since first the same to me was knowne,
So as my heart and thoughts are wholly placed,
To seeke your safetie, rather then mine owne,
Ventring, your welfare and your loue to win,
To leese my sires good will, and all my kin.
44
To tell you true, the Emp'rours sonne I am,Leon by name, as yet to you a stranger,
To set you free, of purpose now I came,
And put my person, and my state in danger
That both my father greatly me may blame,
And looke vpon me euermore with anger;
The losse at Belgrade which you wrought him late,
Makes him to beare to you so sharpe an hate.
45
These sugred words, and many more beside,Which were for me too tedious to repeat,
He spake, and then his bands he all vntyde,
And secretly he causd him moue his seat:
Rogero in this wise to him replyde,
Your curtesie is such, your gift so great,
To giue me life, that you shall ay command it,
When euer it shall please you demand it.
46
Thus Leon in this secret sort vnknowne,Rogero from the prison doth conuay,
And sent him to a castle of his owne,
Whereas he might secure in silence stay,
Vntill this tumult all were ouerblowne,
And till againe for him regaine he may,
His armes and gallant horse, and famous blade,
Kept by Vngardo, Lord of Nouengrade.
47
The keeper slaine, the next ensuing morne,The prison gates, from off the hinges heaued,
The chaines, and manicles, in peeces torne
Each man might see, but none by whom perceaued
All thought that Leon had him hatred borne,
Wherefore of him, they no mistrust conceaued,
The cause he had of hate, each man doth know,
By name his late receaued ouerthrow.
48
At this great curtesie that Leon vsed,Rogero wonders much, and thinks it strange,
And sore he was in minde and thought confused,
And sodainly he feeles a wondrous change,
His heart relented, and all hate refused,
And turnde it all to loue, by sweet exchange,
What earst malicious, cruell was, and hatefull,
Is turned now to kinde, and milde, and gratefull.
49
So deepe into his head and heart it sinkes,That it possessed all his soule and sence,
On this he studies when he wakes or winkes,
How he may do to him some recompence:
To spend eu'n all his future dayes (he thinkes)
Sole in his seruice, and in his defence,
Could not requite, no scarce the twentith part,
Of so great curtsie, and so great desart.
388
50
In this meane while, the newes was come from France,Which Charles had notifide to many a nation,
Of her that would be woo'd by sword and lance,
In single fight (so said the proclamation:)
Don Leon was quite out of countenance,
To heare of this her strange determination,
And as a man that well his owne strength knowes,
Himselfe too weake for her he doth suppose.
51
And long debating how he might supply,His want of force and courage, by his wit,
In fine he purposd with himselfe to try,
This new made frēd, whose name he knows not yet,
Although he well could witnesse with his eye,
That for no braue exploit he was vnfit,
He hopeth by his manhood and his aid,
To conquer and to haue that hardie maid.
52
But two things he must do before he goes,One is the minde of this same vnknowne knight,
Vnto this hardie enterprise dispose,
The tother is to bring him to the fight
So secretly, as none might it disclose,
And all that while to keepe himselfe from sight;
First then, in earnest sort he doth intreat
Rogero take on him this hardie feat.
53
Much might the Greeke preuaile by eloquence,The which he vsd to leade him thereunto,
But more preuayld the bond of recompence,
So firme as no time euer could vndo,
That though the motion bred him great offence,
And seemd a thing vnpossible to do,
With gladder looke then heart he doth reply,
Deare sir, I nothing may to you deny.
54
Though he no sooner had this word pronounced,But that he felt such griefe did gripe his hart,
As if damnation were to him denounced,
Such pangs he had, such torture and such smart:
But yet his promise giu'n he not renounced,
Nor from the same once purposd to depart,
For first a thousand deaths he ment to chuse,
Then one request of Leons to refuse.
55
Dye sure he shall (he thinks) for if he leaueHis loue, he knowes he cannot byde aliue,
For either sorrow will of life him reaue,
Or if that nature shall with sorrow striue,
Of his owne hands he will his death receaue,
And so his soule from hated harbor driue,
Each other thing on earth, to him seems possible,
But missing her, to liue he thinks impossible.
56
Then die he must, onely he doubts what kindeOf death, were for his state and fancie best,
Once this conceit did come into his minde,
To lay in fight his naked open brest:
Might she him slay, he deemeth in his minde,
That such a death, in death might make him blest,
But then he sees what follow would of this,
That noble Leon, should his purpose misse.
57
And then himselfe of promise eke should fayle,Which was not to dissemble, but indeuer
That Leon in his wooing might preuayle,
And make dame Bradamant his owne for euer:
Thus though that diuers thoughts his minde assayle,
Yet wholy in that thought he doth perseuer,
That moueth him most plaine to deale and trew,
And to all other thoughts he bids adew.
58
This while Don Leon with his fathers leaue,With such retinue as his state required,
Of knights and squyres, his natiue soyle did leaue,
And went to see the dame he so desired:
Rogero did of him before receaue,
His armes and horse, and in strange clothes attired,
Day after day they so their iorney frame,
That at the last to Paris walls they came.
59
Don Leon to the Citie would not go,But neare vnto the same he pitcht a tent,
And by Ambassage made the king to know,
How he was come, and vnto what intent:
King Charles was glad, and did his gladnes show
With gifts, and vnto him in person went:
Don Leon tels what did his comming breed,
And prayes he may dispatched be with speed.
60
And that King Charles that noble maid would cause,To come the day ensuing to the feeld,
That would (against all common wedlocks lawes)
Be wood and wonne, with onely sword and sheeld:
King Charles her cals, and she that askt no pause,
Vnto the motion willingly did yeeld,
And so accordingly next day she came,
Vnto the lists prepared for the same.
61
That day that went before the day of fight,Rogero passed with as great content,
As doth a man condemned spend the night,
The which before his execution went,
He chusd to fight all clad in armour bright,
Because as then to be vnknowne he ment,
And (for to hurt her, was not his pretence)
Saue sword, he vsd no weapon of offence.
62
Lance he would none, not that he feard the lanceWhich first Argalia, then Astolfo bare,
Which forced men beside their seat to dance,
And vnto many men procurde great care,
For neither he that vsde it first in France,
Nor any of those other, was aware,
How all those feats were by inchantment donne,
Saue that same king, that gaue it to his sonne.
63
Likewise Astolfo and the Dordon dame,That with that speare full many did vnhorse,
Thought not that it from Nigromancy came,
But from their sleight, and their owne proper force,
They thought with any speare to do the same:
But now Rogero did both speare and horse
Refuse, because if he had vsde his owne,
He thought it would by Bradamant be knowne.
389
64
Needs must the damsell call to minde the steed,For why she kept him long at Clarimount,
And vsed him with her owne hands to feed,
And made of him a speciall deare account:
Wherefore Rogero that tooke speciall heed,
To go vnknowne refusd on horse to mount,
Or any other thing by which he may,
Vnto his dearest loue himselfe bewray.
65
He further needs another sword would take,For well he knew against his Ballisard,
No steele, nor armor none, defence could make,
Whose edge so keene, whose mettall was so hard,
Of that new sword likewise he (for her sake)
Rebates the edge, so great was his regard,
And thus himselfe both weakning and disguising,
He came into the field at Phebus rising.
66
And that each one for Leon might him note,Vntill the controuersie were discided,
He wears vpon his backe Don Leons cote,
The golden Eagle with the head deuided,
(Their making both was like, from foot, to throte)
Thus when all things were readily prouided,
The tone presents him in the open greene,
The tother kept him close, and was not seene.
67
But Bradamant now farre in other rate,Herselfe in readines for fight doth set,
And if the knight do his swords edge rebate,
As fast the damsell her swords edge doth whet:
She wisheth with a heart most full of hate,
Her sword a passage to the quicke would get,
Yea comfort her it would and do her good,
If she with eu'rie blow could draw the blood.
68
Eu'n as a Barbrye horse that runnes a race,And for the signe thereof hath long expected,
Against his will, doth stay his running pace,
With swelling nostrils and with eares erected:
Eu'n so the noble damsell in like case,
That of Rogeros presence naught suspected,
Did swell with wrath, and burnes like flaming fier,
Vnto the combat, such was her desier.
69
And as ofttimes vpon some fearfull clapOf thunder, straight a hurlewinde doth arise,
And lifts the waues aloft, from Thetys lap,
Eu'n in a moment vp vnto the skyes,
The Herdman doubting of some great mishap,
About some tree, or caue, close hidden lyes,
So Bradamant with rage of anger driuen,
Assayld Rogero when the signe was giuen.
70
But neuer did a stiffe and aged oke,Against the Northerne blast more firmely stand,
Nor better doth a rocke, indure the stroke,
Of surging waues, still wallowing to the land,
Then good Rogero, guarded in the cloke
Of Hectors armes, her forces did withstand,
Though she still layd on loade with spite and hate,
Vpon his armes, his sides, his brest, and pate.
71
Sometimes she giues a blow, sometime a thrust,According as her vantage most she spide,
And still she watcht, if she could hit him iust
Betweene the plates, or where the same were tide;
Twas well the cote was such as one might trust,
For she doth search it still on eu'rie side,
And inwardly she fretteth in her minde,
That nought fell out of that she had assignd.
72
So shall you see some men besiege a towne,Wel walld, and strongly flankt with rampiers mayne,
Assault it oft, and striue to batter downe
Some towres or gates, with perill great and payne,
And wast their time, and spending many a crowne,
To loose their men about the same in vayne,
No more the damsels force did now preuayle,
To pierce a plate, or to vnriuet nayle.
73
Sometime foorth of his helmet and his sheeld,She made the sparks of fire fly out in sight,
Still smiting him with blowes not soft, nor seeld,
Sometime at rear demaine, and oft downe right,
As thicke as haylstones that vpon the feeld,
Or on the tyled houses do alight:
But still Rogero close lyes to his ward,
And not to hurt her, still he hath regard.
74
Oft standing still, now turning, then retiring,He makes his foote accompanie his fist,
With sword, with shield, with slip (cause so requiring)
He wards the blowes, or shunnes them as him list;
And euer not to damage her desiring,
When he might hit, of purpose still he mist,
Yet in such wise, that she her selfe was ware,
And all the rest, that he the same forbare.
75
But Bradamant when she her selfe bethought,What was containd in th'Emperors Edict,
That whosoeu'r with her a whole day fought,
Should haue her at the end of such conflict,
With all her force endeuord still and sought,
To gall her aduersarie and afflict;
And now the more she troubled was in minde,
To see the Sun to West so low declinde.
76
And as her hope still lesse and lesser grew,So her desire increast still more and more,
Her louing aduersarie to subdew,
That she had fought withall the day before:
As laborers whose worke by taske was dew,
That loyterd haue and now are sad therefore,
When night drawes on bestur their lasie bones,
Vntill their strength, and light fayle both at once.
77
Alas good Bradamant, if thou didst know,The man to whom thou wishest so much ill,
That in this fight hath bene thy frendly foe,
And winneth thee (perhaps against his will)
Thou wouldest first haue kild thy selfe I trow,
Then of his blood one little drop to spill,
Thou that distst now so curse him and beshrow him
Wouldst neither of them do, if thou didst know him
390
78
But Charles and all his Lords, with full perswasionThat this so valiant champion, Leon was,
To praise him highly now they take occasion;
And sith his strength did hers so greatly passe,
They thinke for her, there now was no euasion,
The matter brought to such a narrow passe,
Each man esteems this match for her most fit,
Each man allowes, each man commendeth it.
79
Now gan Don Phebus dip his golden rayes,(To swage their burning) in the Westerne seas,
When Charls himselfe comes to them both & prays
The damsell now her furie to appease,
And giueth sentence, that without delayes,
Don Leon may her marrie when he please:
Rogero doth himselfe no whit disclose,
But armed still backe to the tent he goes.
80
Don Leon, brotherly doth him imbrace,And then he holpe him to vntie his beauer,
And with great kindnes kissed all his face,
And said that he was bound to him for euer,
And that no time, such merit could deface,
Which to reward he would for aye indeuer,
Affirming frankly of his owne meere motion,
That all he had, should be at his deuotion.
81
I neuer can such curtesie requite,Scant in this life (he saith) or in the next,
No though I should surrender all my right
Vnto my crowne, and all thereto annext.
Rogero, that in speech tooke small delight,
And was with inward passion so perplext,
Restord to him his armes, that he had worne,
And tooke againe his sheeld of th'Vnicorne.
82
Pretending (as he truly might pretend)He wearie was, and would himselfe repose,
And therefore to his tent vnto that end,
All priuat vnaccompanyd he goes;
At midnight horse to take he doth intend,
At midnight priuily from bed he rose.
And armd, and mounted thence away departed,
But why nor whither, he to none imparted.
83
And thus away he secretly doth ride,And giues Frontino leaue to chuse the way,
Now neare a wood, then by the riuer side,
(He neuer looking to what coast it lay)
He faine would die, and still come death he cride,
He thought death onely could his paine allay,
He onely wished death, to end his griefe,
That while he liues, is sure past all reliefe.
84
Ah wretch (said he) of whom can I complaine,For sodain reauing me of all my blisse?
Shall I so great an iniurie sustaine?
Of whom else shall I be aueng'd for this?
I did the fault, and now I feele the paine,
Nor can I say, but iust the torment is,
For punishment doth properly belong,
To him that is the author of the wrong.
85
But had I done my selfe the wrong alone,I might perhap forgiue my selfe the same,
Though surely cause, nor reason there is none,
To pardon such a fact, so worthie blame:
But now I haue to her bene cause of mone,
To suffer that, it were perpetuall shame;
So though I should no iust reuengement take
For mine owne cause, yet must I for her sake,
86
This wrong reuenge I may, I will, I must,By onely death, sith this offence was such;
To dye, I soone shall finde the way I trust,
The care thereof, my minde no whit doth tuch:
Oh that I had long since bene layd in dust,
Ere that I iniured my deare so much,
I would I had bene put to death before,
When I was prisner vnto Theodore.
87
If I had then bene martyrd and tormented,With all the plagues her mallice could deuise,
At least my deare, my death would haue lamented,
With teares, from out her christall streaming eyes:
Now when she knows, that I haue thus consented
To Leon, to betray her in this wise,
My part of her, vnto a stranger giuing
She will haue cause to hate me dead and liuing.
88
Now while the knight did thus lament and plaine,The Easter parts of heau'n, with light were cleared,
And Phebus from his golden house againe,
Lift vp his head, wherewith all creatures cheared,
Betake them to their ordinarie paine:
And then vnto Rogero it appeared,
That he was in a wood, a most fit place,
For one of such a minde, in such a case.
89
He lights, and off he takes Frontinos sadle,And giues him libertie, and thus he sayes,
My gallant beast so good, so seruiceable,
As I haue found thee still at all assayes,
Go, heare I set thee free, and were I able,
As I am willing, to set forth thy prayse,
Thou doubtlesse shouldst not need that horse enuie,
That was tane vp from earth vnto the skye.
90
Nor should Arions prayses make thee sory,Nor Cillarus that Castor did bestryde,
Nor any praisd in Greeke, or Latin story,
For why (thy shape and readines beside)
Of all these famous steeds not one can glorie,
As thou maist do, it cannot be denide,
Of them none passeth thee in commendation,
Nor iustly challenge can such reputation.
91
Thou hast bene cherished and loued deere,By such a Nymph, so faire and so diuine,
As all the world can hardly show her peere,
She hath thee fed, with that fayre hand and fine,
I meane my loue, but ah why liue I heere,
Sith now I may no longer call her mine?
No longer mine she is, ah cruell word,
Why end not I my dayes by mine owne sword?
391
92
Now if Rogero thus himselfe tormented,And causd the birds and beasts, to mone his plaint,
For none but birds and beasts, the place frequented,
Whom he with his great sorrow might acquaint;
No doubt the damsell was as ill contented,
And made a greater, or as great complaint,
Sith for her selfe she nothing hath to say,
Why she to Leon longer should say nay.
93
Yet all meanes possible she meanes to trye,Before that she will her Rogero leaue,
And make king Charles and all his Lords to lye,
And Leon of his promise to deceaue:
Or if the worst shall hap, she meanes to dye,
And with her hands of life her selfe bereaue,
For present death she rather ment to chuse,
Then her belou'd Rogero to refuse.
94
How commeth it to passe (said she) my deare,That at this time thou art so farre from hence?
How can a thing which all the world did heare,
So strangely be concealed from thy sence?
If thou hadst heard it, sure thou wouldst appeare;
For that my drift, that was my sole pretence,
Ah my ill fortune euermore accurst,
What can I deeme, but eu'n the very worst.
95
Why then Rogero mine, can you alone,Not know that all the world doth know beside,
For had you known it straight you woulst haue flown
Of purpose hither combat to haue tride;
Thou sure art tane, or slaine, for third is none:
It may be, Leon that thy praise enuide,
Hath like a traytor, set for thee a trap,
And thou art tane therein by some mishap.
96
I gat this grace of Charles to marry none,But one that were in fight for me too hard,
Assured thou shouldst be that onely one,
For no mans force but thine I did regard;
I thought none else could vanquish me alone,
But loe how God doth this my pride reward,
That he that neuer erst in all his life
Did manly deed, hath wonne me for his wife.
97
If I be wonne and vanquished, becauseHe matched still my force at all assayes,
But Charles doth not iudge rightly of the cause,
And therefore I must seeke some new delayes;
Ah if I now put in some caffling clause,
I shall be cald vnconstant all my dayes,
But ficklenes in maids is seldome wonderd,
Nor am I first that vsde it, by an hunderd.
98
Suffiseth me that in the being trewVnto my loue, I others all excell,
And passe the patterns either old or new,
Or neare or far, eu'n wheresou'r they dwell:
Then will I bid that constancie adew,
That may be hindrance to my doing well,
So I and Leon may not match together,
Let me be deemd as wau'ring as the wether.
99
This Bradamant vnto her selfe doth say,And oft she breaks her speech with sighs and tears,
And that night that ensu'd that lucklesse day,
To sleepe or close her eye lids she forbeares,
But when Apollos beames had driu'n away
Nocturnus shades, then lo supernall spheares,
By which all humane actions are directed,
Brought helpe to her, when least it was expected.
100
For why Marfisa, that braue minded dame,The next day came and sowd new seeds of strife,
Alledging that it was great wrong and shame,
A forrener should haue her brothers wife;
And swears her selfe could not endure the same,
And that she would by combat gage her life,
According as the law of armes allows,
To proue Rogero was her lawfull spouse.
101
And if dame Bradamant would it deny,She saith, she will it to her face auer,
As hauing witnes bene with eare, and eye,
That good Rogero was assur'd to her
With words, as folkes in mariages apply;
And adding she would vnto law refer,
If so the damsell to her noble brother
Affianced, might iustly take another.
102
Now whether this she spake were false or trew,I know not, but she spake it with intent,
To stop the mariage likely to ensew
With Leon, which she studi'd to preuent:
Some thought perhaps that Bradamant it knew,
And that twas done in part by her consent,
As hauing no more safe nor honest way,
Vnto her left, to say Don Leon nay.
103
In euill part these newes the Emp'ror tooke,And called for the damsell by and by,
And told her what Marfisa vndertooke,
(And loe by hap, Duke Ammon then stood by)
She fixed on the ground her silent looke,
And to the question, said nor no nor I,
That by her gesture, eu'rie one did take,
That that was true, that earst Marfisa spake.
104
This made Orlando and Renaldo glad,In hope that this might proue a lawfull meane,
To make the match which they forepromist had,
And hinder this new match, and dash it cleane:
For sith Duke Ammon those first banes forbad,
And vnto Leons side did wholy leane,
To vse pretence of law, they both had rather,
Then take by force, the damsell from her father.
105
For if that this pretence may stand for good,The necke of Leons match it then would breake,
And moue no cause of warre, or shedding blood:
But Ammon in great wrath, thus wise doth speake;
This is a tale indeed of Robinhood,
Which to beleeue, might show my wits but weake,
But thinke not that I will be so besotted,
Though this were true, that you haue vainly plotted.
392
106
For presuppose, which yet I not confesse,My daughter was by folly so allured,
And that they are, which none of wit could guesse,
Each vnto other, man and wife assured:
I pray you yet, the time more plaine expresse,
When this was done, how long it hath indured,
This (sure I am) tis but a tale deuised,
Except it were before he was baptised.
107
And if twere done before his Christen state,To stand vnto the same I am not tyde,
Wherefore this caueat is put in too late,
Her owne desire she hath not had denyde:
Now tis not fit, a Prince of such estate,
As for her sake, aduenterd to haue dyde,
Should by our Emp'rours promise be deluded,
And by such craft, be from his right excluded.
108
You should haue spoken then of this contract,Before our king had sent his proclamation,
I meane not thus to haue my credit crackt,
For more then so, I weigh my reputation:
Thus pleaded he against that precontract,
The which to breake was his determination,
To either part his eare the Emperor lends,
Yet partially, to neither side he bends.
109
Looke what a murmure winds do make in woods,When Zephyrus mild blasts among them are,
Or when one hears from far the saltish floods,
When Eolus and Neptune are at square:
So did the common people in their moods,
Talke of these matters, and the same compare,
And as the manner is (for nine dayes space)
This was the newes and talke in eu'rie place.
110
This man Rogero, Leon that defends,According to the fancies of the men,
But yet it seemd Rogero had most frends,
Scarse had the stranger one, for tothers ten,
But as I said, the king to no side bends,
And hauing duly weighd the matter then,
He points the mariage day to be deferred,
The case vnto his Parliament referred.
111
Next day Marfisa made another offer,Sith that none could, during her brothers life,
Wed Bradamant, and be assured of her,
Her brother should (for ending of the strife)
To Leon hand to hand, the combat proffer,
So she might be the last suruiuers wife;
And he that tother could in battell kill,
Enioy her might alone at his owne will.
112
Charles vnto Leon doth impart these newes,As he before the other did impart,
That offer Leon ment not to refuse,
But saith he take it would, with all his hart,
He minds againe the matter so to vse,
The knight of th'Vnicorne should play his part,
He little knew that in great care and anguish,
The noble knight did now consume and languish.
113
But missing him, he quickly did repent,That he accepted had that stout defiance,
And therefore straight to seeke the knight he sent,
In whose tryde force, he put his whole affiance;
Him to Rogero to oppose he ment,
And all his frends and all his strong alliance:
Wherefore to shun both danger great and scorne,
He sent to seeke the knight of th'Vnicorne.
114
To all the Cities, and the the townes he sends,And all the villages were there about,
And mounting on his horse himselfe intends
To go in person and to seeke him out,
But neither he nor all Regeros frends,
In France, had euer light on him I doubt,
Had not Melissa holpe him at his need,
As in the booke insuing, you may reed.
395
THE XLVI. BOOKE.
THE ARGVMENT.
Leon by search, doth good Rogero finde,And hauing learnd the cause of his annoy,
He grants to him his loue in manner kinde,
Whom now Rogero, sweetly doth enioy:
Onely the Sarzan king with hatefull minde,
Comes to disturbe Rogeros ease and ioy,
Nathelesse he is deceiu'd of his account,
In fine, Rogero kills fierce Rodomount.
1
Now if my compasse, and my card be trew;I am not farre from that desired cost,
Where I shal pay my vow, and promise dew,
Vnto my Saint, of whose great grace I bost.
I looked earst with pale, and chearlesse hew,
For feare in this wide Ocean to be lost,
But now me thinke I see, I now see surely
The hau'n, in which I harbor shall securely.
2
Harke, harke, what peals of Ord'nance great and Guns,Are shot in token of congratulation,
Harke how they sound the Trumpets, & the Drums,
To gratulate my happie nauigation:
See how on either shore the people runs,
To see me after my long per'grination,
Behold a crew of peerlesse knights, and dames,
Now I discerne them, now I know their names.
3
But least my ship should perish in the port,As oft it doth befall for want of heed,
I will go forward in my first report,
And tell to you how well the prince did speed
That sought Rogero, who in wofull sort,
Did pine and languished, and wisht indeed,
Sith that dame Bradamant he might not marry,
To dye all comfortlesse, and solitary.
4
But sage Melyssa that had euer sought,To make that match (as often hath bene sed)
And euermore did take great care, and thought,
That good Rogero Bradamant might wed,
By her great skill in Magicke art so wrought,
She had continuall notice how they sped;
Two sprites she did imploy for that intent,
And still as one came home, another went.
5
By them, she quickly had intelligence,How he had tane so inward griefe and great,
He taryd in a wood with firme pretence,
To pine himselfe away, with want of meat:
Melyssa parteth presently from thence,
And with some secret words she did repeat,
In likenesse of a horse a sprite she tooke,
And so met Leon, that for him did looke.
6
And thus she said to him, sir, if you beSo gracious, as your semblance makes me weene,
If your good minde with your good lookes agree,
If so you haue not lost all pittie cleene,
Come then, ô come and helpe and ioyne with me,
To ayd the brauest knight, that ere was seene,
Who for one curteous part that he hath done,
(Except you helpe) is like to be vndone.
7
The noblest, stoutest, and the prowest knight,That euer carryd shield, or blade forth drew,
The seemlyest, and most worthy minded wight,
That euer was in age, or old, or new,
Is like to perish in most wofull plight,
Except he may relieued be by you;
Come quickly then, vnto his aide perdye,
And suffer not so braue a man to dye.
396
8
Don Leon straight supposed in his minde,That this same knight, of whom the stranger spake,
Was he whom long he sought and could not finde,
And he for whom such care himselfe did take:
Melissa leads the way, he close behind
Doth follow her, and so good shift they make,
That in some twaine, at most in three houres ryding
They came there where Rogero was abyding.
9
Now being at the place to which they hasted,They both alighted there, with minde to stay
There saw they how he pinde away and wasted,
For in two dayes before, nor all that day,
No liquor he had drunke, nor meat had tasted,
But in his armor on the ground he lay,
And made a pillow of that noble sheeld,
With th'Vnicorne vpon vermillion feeld.
10
Here as I said, he lay along and musedOn his owne miserie, and on that wrong,
With which he had his loue so much abused,
And bites for griefe, his hands, and lips, and tong;
And his conceits, and wits were so confused,
To set his thoughts vpon one thing so long,
And hauing on his griefe so firmely fixt them,
He saw not them, although he were betwixt them.
11
Don Leon harkned to his lamentation,And heard him often call himselfe vnkind,
And saw him vexe himselfe in such a fashion,
As vnto pittie great his heart inclind:
He finds that loue bred all this molestation,
But yet whose loue it was he did not find,
He heard how sundry times himselfe he blamed,
But all that while his loue he neuer named.
12
And therefore pitying much his wofull case,Although awhile he silent stood and mute,
Yet after stood before him face to face,
And with great louingnesse doth him salute,
And with affection great doth him imbrace,
Intreating him, and making speciall sute,
That he would tell him plaine, and make him know,
What cause had bred him so great griefe and woe.
13
Rogero loth to liue, resolu'd to dye,Prayes Leon now to trouble him no more,
But he most sweetly doth to him reply,
That God hath made a salue for eu'rie sore,
If men would learne the same how to apply,
And that no one thing may auayle man more,
To cure a griefe and perfectly to heale it,
Then if he do vnto some frend reueale it.
14
And sure (said he) I take it in ill part,Because you trust not me, that am your frend,
Not onely, since with your late frendly part,
You bound me vnto you, to my liues end,
But was eu'n then, when you with hatefull hart,
At Belgrade siege did me and mine offend,
Thinke not but I will still procure your good.
Both with my lands, my frends, and with my blood.
15
Why should it grieue you to declare your griefe,To one that may perhaps your losse repayre:
Bad haps are holpe with hope, and good beliefe,
Wherefore a wise man neuer will dispayre:
I hope my selfe shall bring you some reliefe,
By force, by policie, or else by prayre,
When all meanes haue bene tryde, and all hope past
Then dye, at least keepe that vnto the last.
16
These words so earnestly Don Leon spake,And with such efficacie him he praid,
Beseeching him, his frendly counsell take,
That tother now, with kindnesse ouerlaid,
Was forst an answer vnto him to make;
But in his answer, sodainly he staid,
And stammerd twise, ere he could bring it out,
Dispaire still mouing him to causlesse doubt.
17
Good sir (he said) when I my name shall show,As I do meane, and that eu'n by and by,
You will be then full well content I trow,
To grant me leaue and libertie to dye:
I am Rogero (if you needs will know)
That went from France (and if I shall not lye)
Mine arrant was, your fire and you to kill,
And would haue done it, had I had my will.
18
And all because indeeed I then supposed,Your onely life, did let me of my loue,
Man purposes, but all things are disposed,
By that great God, that sits and rules aboue:
Behold it hapt I was in prison closed,
And there I did your noble courtsie proue,
For there you did me such a great good turne,
As all my hatred into loue did turne.
19
And hauing bound me with so great desart,And ignorant, that I Rogero was,
You did your secrets vnto me impart,
And praid me win for you, that warlike lasse,
Which was all one, as to haue askt my hart;
Yet loe for you, I brought the same to passe,
Now take her to your selfe, and much good do you,
More good then to my selfe, I wish vnto you.
20
But yet withall forbid me not to dye,As now I trust I shall, ere many houres,
For liue as well without a soule can I,
As without her, that holds my vitall powres:
And sure tis best for your behoofe, for why
While I do liue, she is not lawfull yours,
For we two are betrotht, and law allowes,
One woman, but of one to be the spouse.
21
Don Leon with these newes was so accrazed,He seemed in a traunce, he knew not how,
And on Rogero stedfastly he gazed,
Nor euer mouing lip, nor hand, nor brow,
But like an Image long he stood amazed,
That some hath hallowd to performe his vow,
This act of his, so curteous he doth weene,
He thinks the like before had neuer beene.
397
22
So that he did not (when he knew his name)Repent him of the good he had him done,
But rather greatly did increase the same,
Proceeding in the course he had begunne:
Wherefore to shew from how great stocke he came
And that he was indeed an Emperors sonne:
Although in other things he was inferior,
In courtesie, he meanes to be superior.
23
And thus (he said) my deare Rogero know,If I as well had knowne your person, when
As by your meanes I had an ouerthrow,
And that you foyled me and all my men:
Yet that great vertue that you there did show,
Should eu'n in manner like haue mou'd me then;
And so I would all malice haue remoued,
And so I would your vertue great haue loued.
24
That once I did dislike Rogeros name,Before I knew you, I must needs confesse,
But that I now continue should the same,
Assure your selfe I purpose nothing lesse:
And if when first I to the prison came,
To set you free from danger and distresse,
I knowne had all the truth, yet then I vow,
I would haue done the same I will do now.
25
And surely, if I would haue done it then,When I had reason to haue borne you hate,
Much rather now I ought to do it, when
Not doing it I should be most vngrate,
And most vnthankfull of all other men;
Sith you your loue, your life, and whole estate,
Haue freely giuen for me, but as you gaue it,
Of me againe, so freely you shall haue it.
26
More due to you then me, the Damzell is,Whom though I much esteeme of due desart,
Yet not so much, that if I her do misse,
Straightwayes the griefe thereof should kil my hart:
Nor shall your death auantage me in this,
Sith you in her alreadie claime such part,
That lawfully while you abide in life,
She can by no meanes be anothers wife.
27
As for my part, first I will quite forsakeBoth her, and all my worldly ioyes beside,
Then it shall once be said, that for my sake,
A noble knight of so great worth had dide:
This onely thing I could vnkindly take,
That you that had before my kindnes tride,
Would rather chuse to end your daies with griefe,
Then at my hands haue comfort and reliefe.
28
These words Don Leon spake, and many more,Which now would be too tedious to recite,
Refuting good Rogero euermore,
That in conclusion, being vanquisht quite:
He said, I yeeld, and ile resist no more,
I will not die; but when shall I requite
Your courtesie, that twise to me haue giuen
My life, when I to greatest woe was driuen?
29
Now had Melissa caused to be brought,Both cordiall meates, and wines of her puruaying,
And made him take ye same, who now with thought,
And fasting long, was eu'n almost decaying:
His horse likewise (as nature hath them taught)
Came where he heard the other horses naying:
Don Leon causd his lackies him to get,
And then his saddle on his backe to set.
30
And so Rogero with Don Leons aid,With much adoe, did clammer to his seat,
So greatly was his former strength decaid,
With which he ouerthrew an army great:
And lately did withstand that warlike maid,
So weakly weapond, as I did repeat:
And thus with all conuenient speed they might,
They brought him to an Abbey that same night.
31
Where all the night, and three dayes that ensewd,They staid, and had of needfull things good store,
Vntill Rogero had his strength renewd,
Which had with fasting long, bene weakned sore:
Then priuily among them they conclude,
To turne to Paris, where the night before,
A few Bulgarians, came with an embassage,
And this was all the substance of their message.
32
They said how that the people of their Nation,To whom Rogero late such aid did bring,
Beyond all hope, beyond all expectation,
Had therefore chosen him to be their king:
Reiecting all their owne kings generation,
And all his royall race (no vsuall thing)
So much they loued him, so well they leeke him,
And therefore sent to Charles his court to seeke him.
33
Rogeros lackey that had bene their guide,Told eake his masters frends how he had sped,
As namely how the Greekes he damnifide,
And how the Bulgars hauing lost their hed,
Chose him for king, how he alone did ride,
To Nouengrade, where he was tane in bed,
And vnto Theodora was presented,
Who purposed to haue him sore tormented.
34
And how, he heard it commonly was spoken,That he his cruell keeper closely slew,
And that the Prison gates were rent and broken,
And he was gone, but whither no man knew:
Now while Rogeros man such things did open,
Rogero closely out of all mens vew,
Did come to towne, and there that night did stay,
And he and Leon, came to Charles next day.
35
Don Leon arme in arme Rogero led,(Thus it was then deuised them betweene)
With that selfe cote, and armes apparelled,
That were of late by all the people seene,
Then when dame Bradamant had combated
With Leon, (as they falsely then did weene)
That batterd sword, that cote, that plume all torne,
That headpeece now, was by Rogero worne.
398
36
By which each man eu'n at first sight surmised,This was that knight that had the Ladie wonne,
Don Leon selfe bare faced, vndisguised,
Came richly clothed, like an Emp'rors sonne,
And with retinue not to be dispised:
And when he had to Charles due reu'rence donne,
Rogero by the hand he then did take,
On whom all eyes were fixt, and thus he spake.
37
This is that stout and well approued knight,That did with Bradamant fight hand to hand,
Whom sith the neuer tooke nor put to flight,
But that he did twelue houres her force withstand,
(Most worthy sir) to haue her ought of right,
If your edict we rightly vnderstand:
And therefore now accordingly he commeth,
To lay his claime to her, as best becommeth.
38
Besides his right by proclamation knowne,That iustly doth all others claime debarre,
I thinke the vallew that he now hath showne,
Proues his sufficiencie in feates of warre:
If loue may win her, she is sure his owne,
His loue to her doth passe all others farre;
And here he stands prepared to auer,
By law or force, that he hath right to her.
39
King Charles and all his court did greatly museAt this, for why till then they little thought,
That he before did them so much abuse,
But that himselfe had that same combat fought:
This while Marfisa, that with flying newes
Of this same strange report was thither brought,
Scant him to end his speech she would permit,
But presently this wise she answerd it.
40
Sith now Rogero absent is from hence,That might his right against this knight defend,
And proue that this is but a vaine pretence,
Because the strife shall not so easely end:
I that his sister am, in his defence,
And in defence of this same cause intend,
To fight with whomsoeuer in this place,
As shall deny his title, or disgrace.
41
And these last words she spake with such disdaine,That some that knew her nature (hastie euer)
Did feare she scantly would eu'n then refraine,
But without leaue to kill him straight endeuer:
Now Leon thinks it best no longer faine;
And forthwith pulling off Rogeros beauer,
Loe here himselfe now readie prest (he said)
To answer all shall to his charge be laid.
42
As old Ægeus at his cursed boordAmazed sat, to finde his spouses wile.
When to his sonne she poyson did affoord,
And if he lingred had a little while,
And had not knowne the handle of his sword,
Had kild his sonne, he gate by Pitheus guile:
So stood Marfisa mazed in the place,
When as she saw and knew Rogeros face.
43
And straight she runnes, and on his necke doth fall,And long it was ere from him she could part,
Renald', Orlando, Charles, afore them all
Embraced him, and welcomd from their hart:
Good Dudon, Oliuer, with ioy not small,
And old Sobrino, health to him impart,
Eake all the other Lords and knights, and Squyres,
To bid him welcome shew most prompt desires.
44
Don Leon that in speech was eloquent,When eu'rie one had done his gratulation,
Begins to tell to Charles incontinent,
And all the rest, Rogeros commendation:
And how he to the Bulgars succour lent,
(To no small damage of the Greekish nation)
And shewd such noble courage and such force,
As him to loue Rogero did enforce.
45
So as when he was after tane and brought,To her that vowd with torments him to slay,
Himselfe in spite of her, and all that sought
To hurt Rogero, brought him safe away:
For which kind part of his, Rogero thought
Himselfe so bound to him, that he last day,
Did him that courtesie that sure doth passe,
The greatest courtesie that euer was.
46
He further doth from point to point declare,What for his sake, Rogero had atchieued,
But after this, with anguish great and care,
The losse of his belou'd so sore him grieued
As he to pine away did straight prepare,
Had not his sorrow bene in time releiued:
All which so rufully Don Leon sed,
Scarse was an eye, but teares with blindnes shed.
47
Then spake he to that obstinate old man,I meane Duke Ammon, that faire Ladies sire,
And with all skill, and Rhetoricke he can,
He wooes his loue, and pacifies his ire:
That by intreatie at the last he wan,
Himselfe to go in person, and desire
Rogeros pardon; praying him in th'end,
To take him for his father-in-law and frend.
48
This while to Bradamant the ioyfull tidingWas quickly brought, by more then one report,
Who in her chamber all her sorrow hyding,
Eschewd all solace, shunning all resort:
Whereby the blood about the hart abiding,
Was drawne now thence in such a sodaine sort,
And this vnlookt for ioy so ouerfild her,
That eu'n the suddennes had almost kild her.
49
Quite speechlesse, liuelesse sinking to the ground,(So strange a quame her tender heart did feele)
And she in whom such force was lately found,
For want of strength did here and thither reele;
But neu'r did thiefe with hands togither bound,
Condemned to the rope, the axe, or wheele,
And blindfold, looking eu'rie houre to die,
Ioy more to heare some man a pardon crie.
399
50
The houses of Mongrane, and Montalbane,Reioyce at these their branches newly knit,
But by Maganza comfort small is tane,
For in their hearts they sorrie were for it:
Anselmus, Falcon, Gynamus, and Gane,
Dissembling yet their thoughts with craftie wit:
But for a time of vengeance they do watch,
As doth the Fox, the hurtlesse Hare to catch.
51
Beside old quarrels and their ancient hate,New matters done of late did them displease,
Although the king, and wise men of the state,
For common quiet, did the same appease:
The death of Pynabello slaine but late,
And Bertolage, did much their mindes disease:
Yet now in shew they do dissemble deepe,
And close in minde they do their malice keepe.
52
In this meane time, th'Ambassadors that came,To Charles his court, by those Bulgarians sent,
Reioycing now that things so well did frame,
In humble manner to Rogero went:
And did salute him king, as in the name
Of all their countrimen incontinent,
And so accordingly did lowly greete,
Their new made Prince, and kneeled at his feete.
53
They told him how their Scepter and their Crowne,Was safely kept, alone for his behoofe,
In Adrianopolis their chiefest towne:
And for they knew by many a former proofe,
That Constantino straue to keepe them downe,
They pray him not to stay so farre aloofe;
Affirming boldly that if he were there,
The forces of all Greece they would not feare.
54
Rogero granteth them their iust request,And promist to defend them from the Greekes,
And vowes if God permit, to do his best,
To be with them within some thirteene weekes:
But Leon bids them set their hearts at rest,
He tels them that their choise so well he leekes,
He on his Princely word will vndertake,
Twixt Constantine and them, firme peace to make.
55
Thus each thing framed now in so good sort,As could be wisht by thought, or by deuise,
But neither did Rogeros good report,
Get fauour with ambitious Beatrice,
Nor personage that past the common sort,
Nor feats of armes, in which he wan the prise;
And of the which, all Europe now did ring,
But onely this, to see him made a king.
56
In royall sort this marriage they prepare,(Whose charge it was, the state wil make it knowne)
Charles bare the charge, and tooke thereof such care
As if she were a daughter of his owne:
Of her and hers, so great the merits are,
And had to him so many wayes bene showne;
He thought the cost had not exceeded measure,
If he had spent vpon them halfe his treasure.
57
He kept an open court by proclamation,Where nine dayes space, who list may freely haunt,
Men of their owne, and men of forren Nation,
To all of them he did safe conduct graunt:
And all that stood vpon their reputation,
That sought their foes in single fight to daunt,
Had license franke, to challenge whom they lists,
For euermore prepared were the lists.
58
In open fields they pitched tents great store,Beside with Oken boughes they made such bowres,
Strawing the pauements of them euermore,
With fragrant Roses and sweet smelling flowres;
That neuer had the like bene seene before,
Nor neuer since, from that same age to ours;
Besides the furnitures of silke and gold,
Was more then can conueniently be told.
59
Th'innumerable people of each sort,From Greece, from England, Italy and Spaine,
Th'Ambassadors that thither did resort,
Beside each seuerall Prince, a seuerall traine,
Did cause the citie walls to seeme too short,
To lodge them all, so they in fine were faine,
In houels, boothes, in tents, and in pauillions,
To lodge some thousands, if I say not millions.
60
Onely Melissas care was to foresee,The marriage chamber should be well attyred,
Which by her skill she ment should furnisht be,
For long to make the match she had aspired:
Which now that she accomplished did see,
She thought she had the thing she most desired:
For by her skill in Magicke, she did know,
What passing fruit, forth of that branch should grow
61
Wherefore she plac't the fruitfull wedding bed,Amid a faire and large pauillion, which
Was eu'n the sumptuosest, that ere was spred,
Of silke, and beaten gold wrought eu'rie stitch:
And more, from ouer Constantinos hed,
At Thracyan shore, where he his tents did pitch
Fast by the sea, for his more recreation,
She tooke the same to his great admiration.
62
Were it that Leon gaue consent thereto,Or that she did the same, her skill to vaunt,
To shew what one by Magicke art can do,
That haue the skill the fends of hell to daunt:
(For what cannot their powre atchieue vnto,
When for our plague, God leaue to them wil grant?)
From Thrace to Paris in twelue houres it came,
I trow she sent one in the diuels name.
63
She causd it to be carrid at noone day,From Constantino, Emp'ror then of Greece,
The beame, the staues, the cords they brought away.
The pinnes, the hoopes, and eu'rie little peece:
She placed it whereas she meant to lay
Atlantas Nephew, with his new made Neece:
In this pauillion she did place their bedding,
And sent it backe when finisht was the wedding.
400
64
Two thousand yeare before, or not much lesse,This rich pauillion had in Troy bene wrought,
By faire Cassandra, that same Prophetesse,
That had (but all in vaine) in youth bene taught,
Of future things to giue most certaine guesse,
For her true speech was euer set at naught
She wrought this same, with helpe of many other,
And gaue it Hector, her beloued brother.
65
The worthiest wight that eu'r man did behold,That should proceed forh of his noble line,
She here portrayd, in worke of silke and gold,
Of precious substance, and of colour fine:
Also the time and season was foretold,
Both of his birth, and of his praise diuine:
Don Hector of this gift great count did make,
Both for the worke, and for the workers sake.
66
But when himselfe by treason foule was slaine,And Troy was by the Greekes defaced quite,
Who enterd it by Synons subtle traine,
And worse ensewd thereof then Poets write:
Then Menelaus did this great relicke gaine,
And after on king Proteus hapt to light,
Who gaue to him dame Helen ere he went,
And for reward receiu'd of him this tent.
67
And thus to Ægypt at that time it came,Where with the Ptolomeys it long remained,
Till Cleopatra, that lasciuious dame,
As by inheritance, the same obtained:
Agrippas men by sea then tooke the same,
What time in Rome Augustus Cæsar raigned:
And then in Rome, while Rome was th'Empires seat
It staid till time of Constantine the great.
68
That Emp'ror Constantine I meane, of whomFaire Italy for euer shall lament,
Who when he lothed Tibris bankes and Rome,
Vnto the citie of Byzantium went,
A place of more receipt, and larger roome,
And thither this pauillion then he sent:
Of which the cords were golden wire and silke,
The staues and pinnes, were lu'rie white as milke.
69
In this, Cassandra wrought such diuers faces,More then Apelles erst with Pensill drew,
A queene in childbed lay, to whom the graces
With pleasant grace perform'd Lucynas dew:
Ioue, Mercurie, and Mars in other places,
And Venus do receiue the babe borne new:
The sweetest babe that to the world came forth,
From mans first age, eu'n downe vnto the fourth.
70
Hippolito they name him, as appearesWrote in small letters on his swathing bands,
And when he is a little growne in yeares,
On one side Fortune, tother Vertue stands:
Then in another picture diuers Peeres,
Clad in long rayments, sent from forren lands,
Vnto the father and the mother came,
To begge the babe in great Coruynos name.
71
They part from Hercles with great reu'rence then,And from that infants mother Elinore,
Vnto Danubia ward, and there the men
Still runne to see that infant and adore:
Also the king Coruyno wonders when
He saw in him both wit and iudgement more,
In those his tender childish yeares and greene,
Then many times in older men had beene.
72
One doth endeuour in his childish hand,Of the Strigonian Realme to put to the mace,
But euermore the tender youth doth stand,
So high in that same noble Princes grace,
That if he warre in manly Almans land,
Or in the Turkes, or any other place;
Hippolito is euer by his side,
And learneth vertue vnder such a guide.
73
Another place shewes how he doth dispence,His youthfull time in Discipline and art,
Fusco instructs him in the hidden sence,
Of ancient writs, and precepts doth impart,
What actions praise, what actions breed offence,
What be reward of good and ill desart:
All which the picture did so well expresse,
That at the meaning eu'rie one might guesse.
74
Loe where as yet a boy in Vatican,Among the grauest Card'nals he doth sit,
And speakes so wisely, that they all began,
To wonder at his towardnes and wit;
What manner man (if once he were a man)
Would this man proue? for Peters chaire how fit?
They seeme to say; oh if he thither clime,
What holy age were that? what happie time?
75
Within another part described wereHis youthfull sports, when he more strong did grow
Oft in the mountaines he doth meet a Beare,
Oft-times a Bore, in marrish grounds and low:
He rides his Genet fierce, and void of feare,
He chaseth oft the Buck, the Hart and Roe,
And by his horse swift pace, doth ouer-ride them,
And then doth with his sword in twaine deuide them.
76
Of Poets then, and of Philosophars.About him you should see a worthy band,
To make him know the course of wandring starres,
How heau'n doth moue & why the earth doth stand
Or reading of Elegies, or verse of warres,
Fine Epigrams, Odes hard to vnderstand:
Or sometime instruments of Musicke hearing,
In all his acts a speciall grace appearing.
77
Then on another part was to be vewd,His vertues, each one by it selfe distinct,
First Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude,
And Iustice, and a fift vnto them linkt
So nye, that who with it is not indewd,
The rest may seeme or blotted, or extinct:
Good bountle, shewd in giuing and in spending,
A speciall grace to all the other lending.
401
78
This one place shewes he aids vnluckie Sforse,Him euermore most faithfully assisting,
Sometime with policie, sometime with force,
Him helping, and his enemies resisting:
Of Fortunes change he doth but little force,
In woe and weale, in one faith still persisting:
He comforts him when euill haps do grieue him,
In dangers he doth saue, in want relieue him.
79
Then stands he studying at another season,And for his countries safetie taking care,
He searcheth, and he finds by depth of reason,
And finding, to his brother doth declare
Their most vnnaturall and filthy treason,
That some of his owne blood for him prepare,
By which he doth deserue such name to haue,
As Rome yet free, to famous Tully gaue.
80
Fast by he stands all clad in armour bright,And to relieue the Church he runnes in post,
With sodaine souldiers, raw and armed light,
Against a setled and well ordred host:
Yet did his onely presence so affright,
The aduerse part, that one may rightly bost,
It quencht the fire, ere it to burne began,
So he may say, I came, I saw, I wan.
81
Here stands he by his natiue riuer side,And straight encounters with the strongest fleete,
That euer yet Venetians did prouide,
Gainst Greeke, or Turke, but he doth boldly meet,
And vanquisht them; and tooke them at one tide,
And though the bootie and the gaine was sweet,
All (saue the praise) he left vnto his brother,
For onely that, cannot be giu'n another.
82
Thus this Pauillion, as before I told,The which Melissa brought so farre from thence,
Did please the knights, and dames that did behold,
The goodly imag'rie, and rich expence:
Although they had not any to vnfold,
The meaning of the same and hidden sence;
But yet by good Melissas wise instruction,
Dame Bradamant did know their whole cōstruction
83
Rogero markt likewise with great attention,Those goodly figures calling to his minde,
That oft his vnckle of that Prince made mention,
Hippolito, the flowre of all his kinde:
But now king Charles, whose care is and intention,
To giue to all men entertainment kinde,
Made playes and feasts, with sundry sports and great,
And euermore the tables fild with meat.
84
There, men might plainly see and vnderstand,The courage and the strength of eu'rie knight,
Sometimes in single wise, now band to band,
In iusts, and turnaments resembling fight,
But still Rogero had the vpper hand,
In all his exercise of day and night:
In leaping, running, wrastling, and in dancing,
All men him far aboue the rest aduancing.
85
But on the last of these dayes festiuall,Then when to take away they did prouide,
What time king Charles was set amid them all,
Eu'n iust betweene the Bridegrome and the Bride,
Behold they saw a goodly man and tall,
That seemd directly toward them to ride.
Most proudly mounted on a couriers backe,
But yet his horse and he, all clad in blacke.
86
This was fierce Rodomont, king of Algyre,Who at his late receiued foile, and scorne
Of Bradamant, inflamd with spight and ire,
All vse of horse and armor had forsworne,
Till one whole yeare, one month, one day expire,
But liue that while an Hermit all forlorne:
For so the knights were wont in ancient times,
Of their owne selues, to punish their owne crimes.
87
And though this while he oft had notice how,King Agramant, and how king Charles had sped,
Yet nathelesse, for not breaking of his vow,
Forth of the doores he neuer put his hed:
But when the yeare and month were ended now,
And day beside, himselfe he furnished,
With armor new, new horse, new sword, new lance,
And came therewith vnto the court of France.
88
Not once alighting nor so much as rising,For reu'rence sake, to bow his head or knee,
He bare the count'nance of a man despising,
Both Charles, and all those Peeres of great degree:
At this each man amazed stands deuising,
What proud and sawcy fellow this might be,
From talking and from eating each man stayes,
To hearken what this loftie warrior sayes.
89
Now when he was to th'Emp'ror come so nye,That he Rogero fully did confront,
With stately voice, and with disdainfull crie,
(He saith) I am the king of Sarza Rodomont,
That thee Rogero flatly here defie,
And ere the Sunne go downe make full account,
To proue thou hast bene false vnto thy Prince,
And openly of treason thee conuince.
90
For though thy treachery be knowne so cleare,In being Christend, thou canst not deny it,
Yet that to all the world it may appeare,
I offer here in single fight to trie it:
Or if thy courage faile, if any here
Will take on them thy quarrell, to supply it,
I will accept of any one or more,
Yea, not to faile, of six or halfe a score.
91
Rogero, when he first had licence crauedOf Charles, this wise to Rodomont replide,
(And said) he euer had his honour saued,
And who so said contrarie, lowdly lide:
For he had to his Prince himselfe behaued,
Most loyally eu'n to the day he dide:
And said he there was readie to maintaine,
That yet his faith had neuer sufferd staine.
402
92
And that himselfe was bold enough and strong,With him to buckle hand to hand alone,
And that he hopte to make him feele ere long,
He had enough, perhap too much of one:
Straightwayes Renaldo to auenge this wrong,
Orlando, and the Marquis would haue gone,
Marfisa with the brothers white and blacke,
And Dudon would be on the Pagans iacke.
93
Alledging, that sith he was newly marrid,For him to fight, it was against all vse,
But from their speeches his opinion varid,
And swears that that for him was no excuse:
Those armes that erst the famous Tartar carid,
He takes, nor will he make one houre of truse:
To arme him, all those states their aids afford,
King Charles himselfe, holpe to put on his sword.
94
His wife takes care his Curats well may fit,Orlando tyes his spurres, Marfisa bold
Doth fast vpon his head his beauer knit,
Astolfo is content his horse to hold:
His stirrop Dudon; others thinke it fit,
To rid the lysts, and driue out young and old:
Renaldo, Namus, Oliuer, take charge
To Martiall it, and make it cleare and large.
95
Faire dames and dimzels stand with lookes dismaid,With feare and trembling, like to fearfull Doues.
Whō some black tēpest-bringing cloud hath fraid,
And driu'n from fields, to shrowd in houses rooues:
(Downe fals the haile wt which the corne is laid,
And profitlesse vnto his owner proues)
So do they this fierce Pagans forces feare,
Which sure they iugde, Rogero cannot beare.
96
Nor onely do faint people so surmise,But many knights of worth, the same did weene,
That cald to mind what erst before their eyes,
To their griefe they had in Paris seene:
When he with fire and sword in fearfull wise,
Did welny spoile the towne, and wast it cleene:
Of which the wofull signes did still appeare,
And would remaine yet many a month and yeare.
97
But Bradamant more feard then all the rest,Not that she thought in strength or skill well tride
The Pagan past her spouse, nor valiant brest,
Or that he had more reason of his side,
(Which vnto victorie auailes not least,
When men by combat quarels do discide)
Yet still her minde is sad, her lookes vnchearfull,
Nor blame her though, for loue is euer fearfull.
98
Great suit she makes, great labour to procure,That vpon her she may the quarrell take,
Yea if to haue bene slaine she had bene sure,
To saue her spouse, but all in vaine she spake:
The champions now their lances put in vre,
And each with couched speare the tother strake:
The staues like Ise in shiuers small did flie,
The splints like birds did mount vnto the skie.
99
The Pagan that his lance did full direct,Against the middle of Rogeros sheeld,
Did smyte on it to small or none effect,
For Vulcan had the same most firmely steeld:
The tothers Target had no knowne defect,
Yet to the stroke it did a passage yeeld:
Yet was it thicke, a quarter of a foote
Of bone, and linde with plated steele to boote.
100
And saue the lance sustained not the blow,But at the first did breake and was dispersed,
So that the peeces of it seem'd in show,
To haue bene featherd foules (as I rehearsed)
That stroke had finished that strife I trow,
And had his Curats and his bodie pearced:
But now it brake, and both gaue strokes so sound,
As made both horses cruppers kisse the ground.
101
The riders neare the lesse sate firme and stedie,And laboured so well with spurre and raine,
Their horses were got vp on foote alredie,
The men to fight addresse themselues againe
With swords; their horses both were strong & redie
And each with skill some vantage sought to gaine,
And where they thought their armors were most thin,
With force they straue to pierce & enter in.
102
Fierce Rodomont had not that Serpents hideHe vsde to weare, nor yet that shauing blade,
That he was wont to carrie by his side,
For Nimrod his great ancestor first made;
He lost those armes, and many more beside,
Then when as Bradamant did him inuade,
At that same church, where he a tweluemonth since,
Entombed Isbell, with that peerelesse Prince.
103
He had another armor good and sure,But not like that so passing tough and hard,
But neither this, nor any else could dure,
Against the piercing edge of Ballisard:
No mixture such, no metaill was so pure,
No charme so strong, but that this blade thē mard:
Rogero so besturd him with this blade,
More then on hole, in tothers coate he made.
104
Now though a little while the Pagan clokesHis hurts receiu'd, with vnappaled minde,
Yet when he saw his blood, and felt the strokes
So smart, that still they seem'd the quicke to finde:
To so great wrath and rage it him prouokes,
Eu'n like the sea turmoyld with blustring winde,
He hurles away his shield, and doth endeuer,
With both his hands to cleaue Rogeros beauer.
105
With force as great he strikes, and as extreame,As doth that engin in the Riuer Poe,
Borne twixt two shippes, vpon the stately streame,
Enforcing downe with many a heauie bloe,
Some peece of timber, or some sharpned beame:
I say the Pagan smote Rogero so,
Had not the charmed helmet bene of force,
He doubtlesse would haue clou'n him & his horse.
403
106
Rogero sitteth staggring in his seat,His hand the bridell left, his thighes their hold,
Rodomont giues another blow as great,
To maze him more by all the meanes he could:
And last a third, but now he so did beat
His blade of mettall free, it would not hold,
But burst in twaine, with his continuall hammering,
And left the Pagan in no little mammering.
107
But yet for this the Turke doth not refraine,But still inuades the knight that wants defence,
So had the blow amaz'd his head and braine,
So dazed had the blow his wit and sence:
The Pagan minds to waken him againe,
First he doth close with him, and so from thence,
Wringing him by the necke with all his force,
To leaue the saddle he doth him enforce.
108
He fell, but yet the ground he touched scant,But that he rose, inflamd with wrath and shame;
For looking vp, he saw faire Bradamant,
Whose blush did shew how ill she tooke the same:
Yea eu'n of sounding she did little want,
And still her fainting colour went and came;
Which seene, Rogero with his sword intends,
For this so great disgrace to make amends.
109
The Pagan with his horse would ouer-runne him,And iustles him, but he with little paine,
Doth step aside, and warily doth shunne him,
And with his left hand takes the horses raine:
(So as the Turke thereby no hurt hath done him)
The while he puts in vre his sword againe,
And with two thrusts, he did the Pagan harme,
One in his thigh, another in his arme.
110
The Turke with whom a peece did yet remaine,Of that same blade that was in peeces flowne,
Smote on Rogeros headpeece so againe,
As had wel-ny againe him ouerthrowne:
But good Rogero now perceiuing plaine,
His vantage that was erst to him vnknowne,
Takes him by his left arme with all his force,
And (will he nill he) puls him from his horse.
111
Were it his strength or sleight, I cannot tell,But so he fell, no ods was them betweene,
My meaning is that on his feete he fell,
For in the swords, Rogeros odds was seene:
Rogero that did know his vantage well,
To keepe him now at bay his best doth weene;
It is not best for him he doth suppose,
With such a strong, and big bon'd man to close.
112
He further saw what store of blood he spilt,So now he hopes by warily proceeding,
To force his foe to yeeld, and leaue the tilt,
Whose strength decaid, stil more & more with bleeding:
The Turke then takes the pomell and the hilt
Of his owne sword, and with force so exceeding
Did hurle the same, he smote the knight so sore,
He stund him more then eu'r he was before.
113
It strake him twixt the shoulders aud the head,And gaue to him a blow so firme and sound,
That good Rogero therewith staggered,
And scant could keepe his feete vpon the ground;
The Turke to close with him then hast'ned,
But loe his foote did faile with former wound,
So that his too much hast (as oft we see)
Did hurt, and made him fall vpon his knee.
114
Rogero lost no time in manfull wise,To strike fierce Rodomont in brest or face,
And holds him short, and so his force applies,
He laid him on the ground, but in short space,
In spyte of him, the Pagan doth arise,
And with small kindnes he doth him embrace:
And then they striue, heaue, shoue, thrust to and fro,
And either seekes the tothers ouerthrow.
115
Each striues with all his skill, and his abilitie,By force to lay the tother on the ground,
Now Rodomont was growne to some debilitie,
By meanes of more then one receiued wound,
Rogero had great practise and agilitie,
And vsde to wrastle, and he quickly found
His vantage, which he did not ouerslip,
But on his weakest side his foe doth trip.
116
The Turke most full of wrath and of despight,Vpon Rogeros necke tooke stedfast hold,
Now drawing toward him with all his might,
Now thrusting him backe from him all he could:
And by and by he heau'd him quite vpright,
As strong Antheus was in time of old:
Rogero notwithstanding sure doth stand,
And labord still to haue the vpper hand.
117
Full oft the valiant knight his hold doth shift,And with much prettie sleight, the same did slippe:
In fine he doth applie one speciall drift,
Which was to get the Pagan on the hippe:
And hauing caught him right, he doth him lift,
By nymble sleight, and in such wise doth trippe:
That downe he threw him, and his fall was such,
His head-peece was the first that ground did tuch.
118
The Turke with such an hard and heauie fall,Was sore perplext, and brused in such wise,
His wounds fell fresh on bleeding therewithall,
And make the place Vermillion where he lyes.
Rogero giues him respite verie small,
But keepès him downe and will not let him rise:
And presently presents his dagger point
Vnto this throat, and to his chiefest ioynt.
119
As those that digge and search for golden ore,Within Pannonian, or Iberian hills,
Not vnderpropping sure the ground before,
Oft for a plague of their too greedie wills,
With sodaine ruine, are surprisde so sore,
As to get forth againe, doth passe their skills:
So was the Turke held downe, and pressed so,
By braue Rogero his triumphant fo.
404
120
Who now his naked dagger did present,Vnto the tothers vizer at his eye,
And with sharpe words he told him that he ment,
Except he yeeld, to kill him by and by:
But Rodomont, that rather then relent,
Or shew base mind a thousand deathes would dy,
No word doth speake, but straue himselfe to sunder
From him, or if he could to get him vnder.
121
Eu'n as a Mastiue fell, whom Grewnd more fell,Hath tyrde, and in his throat now fastned hath
His cruell fangs, yet doth in vaine rebell,
Though vnder him, and seekes to do some skath:
For still the Grewnd preuailes, and doth excell
In force of breath, though not in rage and wrath:
So doth the cruell Pagan striue and straine,
To get from vnder him but all in vaine.
122
But with long striuing and with wondrous paines,He freed his better arme, and void of aw,
His dagger that in his right hand remaines,
Which in this later bick'ring he did draw,
He seekes to stabbe into Rogeros raines;
But now the valiant youth the perill saw,
Then for his safties sake he was constrained,
To kill the cruell Turke that grace disdained.
123
And lifting his victorious hand on hie,In that Turks face he stabd his dagger twise
Vp to the hilts, and quickly made him die,
And rid himselfe of trouble in a trise:
Downe to the lake, where damned ghosts do lie,
Sunke his disdainful soule, now cold as Ise,
Blaspheming as it went, and cursing lowd,
That was on earth so loftie and so proud.
| Orlando Fvrioso | |