The sixth booke of the Myrrour of knighthood Being the first booke of the third part, immediatly follovving the fourth and fifth bookes printed. Conteining the knightly actions and amorous conuersations of Rosicleer and Rosabel his sonne, vvith diuers other their princely frends and kinsmen. Translated out of Spanish by R.P.

What chaunced Roselia and Arbolinda, in seeking He∣leno Prince of Dacia.

Cap. 18.

YOu are not ignorant I am sure, that of all gréefes none equalleth the sorrow we re∣ceiue to be seperated from those we do af∣fect: nor anye paine is easier ouerpassed, than the trauell to follow them whom we desire to sée. Roselias example and Arbo∣linda her kinde Frends may serue for proofe: for they pur∣sued the Dacian through all dangers of sea and land, Ro∣selia led by loue of him, and Arbolinda by affection to her. One day (the Dolphins dauncing on the vntroubled wa∣ters) there came a ship hulling along by the barke where∣in these boy-like Ladies sayled▪ in which ship were Lisar∣te prince of Tharsus, and Florisarte his Sonne: who be∣holding the beautie of the two pages, (for so they tooke the princesses to bée) caused their ship to stay, and Lisarte thus said. Faire pages, doo this yong Knight and me so much fauour, as to tell vs to what Knights you doo belong, and in what Countrey you were borne? Arbolinda (who at the sight of yong Florisarte was enamoured) thus answe∣red: Faire sir, wee haue no Masters, but were borne in Thracia, and are now going toward Scotland to certayne Triumphs, where we hope (if good Fortune prouide not better for vs before) to finde some famous Knights that shalbe our Lords. I would (said Florisarte with an affec∣tionated sigh) that my Father the King of Tharsus & Flo∣risarte his sonne were so happie to entertaine ye. Arbolin∣da noting the affection the prince spake with, replied: We shalbe happie to be entertained of such royall Masters.

Lisarte like one ouerioyed embraced them both, and dis∣charging the Marriners, they tooke the Princesses aboord their ships, and demaunded their names? Mine said Arbo∣linda is Artimio and this my fellowes is Roselio▪ Lisarte tooke Roselio for his Page, and Florisarte entertained Ar∣bolinda, in whome hee so delighted that he wholy to her surrendred his heart, not knowing whome hee loued: yet promised he to loue none but whom Artimio his page ap∣pointed. Who therof excéeding ioyfull; gaue him her own picture in a table, whereon he dayly contemplated. Lisarte ioyed no lesse though farre in other sense in his Page, and as they sate swéetly conferring, the Dacian passed swiftly by in his inchanted boate, to whom Roselia cryed: Knight stay for them that follow thée Arbolinda séeing her faynt, and the Princes wondred at her sodaine change, cherished her vp first and told Lisarte, that the Knight in the russet armour had done his fellow and him much wrong. Arti∣mio, said Lisarte, I will not liue if I reuenge not your wrong. Roselia greeuing to heare the Dacian threatned, said: many haue said much and failed in the enterprize, And while they were in this conference, came by the gen∣tle Brandafidell, who was going with Floralinda into Gréece: the Princesse sitting aboue hatch somewhat dis∣content, being grieued at her long being at Sea. Lisarte noting the Giants ••ignes and the Ladies sadnes, gessed she had some wrong: therefore taking his swoord in his hand, and his shield on his arme, he called, saying▪ ••ady if you be distrest, speake, and I wil deliuer you: knight, said the Giant▪ you are more forward than you need, if the La∣dy wanted help, tis like the would demaund it. And then artmore vncurteous than thou needst answered Lisarte, for if she be not dis••rest, yet I deserue thanks for my good will, & that shalt thou know if thou darest abide. O howe full of furie was Brandafidell! with a fearefull voyce hee commaunded the ships to be grapled.

The faire Floralinda was notable to disturbe the battaile, for she saw the Giant so angry, that shee durst not come nigh him. He quickely put on his helme and tooke a great heauy mace, at whose point did hung other sixe bullets of stéele, and with a furious aspect taried for his enemy. The warlike Tharsian came against him, but was receiued with such a blow, as had almost cost him his life. But re∣turning to himselfe, he repayed it so on the helme that it made him stagger on the one side two or thrée paces, and entring with the swiftnes of an Eagle, with a stiffe arme, he gaue him such a thrust vpon the brest that he made him recoyle back two or thrée paces, and with this would haue entred the bark with a light leape: but although the blow was great, yet it did not take away sence from the Giant he put his left leg forwards, and inlarging his arme, with a close fist he stroke the Tharsian such a blowe vppon the brest, he ouer threw him on his backe in the middest of his barke, and with the quicknes of a thought he put himselfe in the same order as he was before, abiding his enemie, who full of anger returned, and betwéen them continued a gréeuous fight, for more then thrée houres: but Lisarte was likely not to get much, for that the place was nar∣row, and the Giants weapon vnreasonable. The gentle Tharsian was a shamed, to acknowledge the vauntage that his enemy had in the str••••itnes of his place and would haue giuen halfe his kingdome to end the battaile wyth him vpon firme land. In this time the curteous Branda∣fidel was not 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ hauing a desire to conclude the battel, and that the Princesse shuld vnderstand what a good kée∣per she had, he whirl••d his weapon about ouer his head, making shew as ••••ough he would strike him. The gentle Lisarte did abide him, till he saw it comming making an internall noise, ratling the one with the other, and in pas∣sing be would haue stroken a ••hwart blowe at his armes: but the giant was so politick that in giuing an other turne helping it with some what yéelding his body, he forced two

bullets into his shield with so deuilish a furie that it pul∣led it out of his hands, and threw it a great way off, and left him so astonished, that he thought verily hee had also away his arme. The furious Lisarte like a serpent retur∣ned, bearing his body low, fearing the second blow, and with both his hands seazed a blow hard by the Giants el∣bowes, and although hee did not cut him by reason of the finenes of the armor, yet he tormented them in such sort y^e his diuelish weapon fell from him. The curteous Giant had thought his armes had béen off: but the excessiue gréef being past, putting backe his left leg, he drew out his fau∣chion, no lesse feareful then the mace, for that was by Lir∣gandeo warranted: you may well vnderstand the ioy that the Tharsian receiued when that fierce weapon was gone, and so firming his foote he ioyned with him, where began so sightly a battell that it amazed the beholders: till the Sunne declined they fought, and then with loud voy∣ces they called for lights: but the soueraigne Lord, know∣ing what those knightes should doe in the augmenting of his faith, apparted the battaile with equall honor vnto thē both, for at the bringing forth of lightes, they were all put out with a easterly wind, which rushing betwéene the barkes, did part them a good way the one from the other, in such sort, that by no meanes they could ioyne, the Giant cryed out that he would tarrie, and the other that he did a∣bide him: yet at the rising of the Moone, they were sixe miles the one from the other, with so great griefe vn∣to the Tharsian that he would not beléeue but that he had lost honor with his enemy: so there was not any that durst speake vnto him, no not his Son. But the faire Roselia did bolden her selfe and said. Ualiant Prince abate your Ire, and be fully certified, that if your cōtrary hath got any ho∣nor, it was not with any losse of yours: but rather as I i∣magine, had the battel bin on land, we should haue remai∣ned w^t the palm of victorie. So without anger, they supped with great content, praising the brauery of the Giant.