The love and armes of the Greeke princes. Or, The romant of the romants. Written in French by Monsieur Verdere, and translated for the Right Honourable, Philip, Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, Lord Chamberlaine to his Majesty
Duverdier, Gilbert Saulnier, d. 1686.
Page  84

CHAP. XX. The joy of the Greek Princes for the arrivall of the Excellent Emperour of Persia, and the successe of the battell.

THe two armies disposing themselves equally for victo∣ry, prepared all things necessary for the fight, the Pa∣gans with a certain assurance of triumphing through the multitude of their men, and the Christians of de∣feating their enemies, more by the assistance of hea∣ven, then by the force of their arms, the day being al∣ready passed, they saw the seas covered with ships comming in very good order; whereupon; both sides were in fear alike, for neither of them knew to whether part they were in fa∣vour inclined; but they dwelt not long in that doubt, for as soon as the Vantguard approached the Port, the red Crosse with the arms of Persia were discerned in their flags, whereby it was judged to be the valiant Don Rogel of Greece; his arrivall brought no lesse fear to the Pagans, then con∣tentment to his friends, who being free to go whether they pleased, for that the truce was yet on foot, went to meet him in the strand with a thou∣sand signes of joy; the ceremonies of entertainment being over, the Prin∣ces, not to lose time, met presently in councell, for to deliberate on the courses which was to be held for the future battell, wherein all their opi∣nions, in a manner, concurring, they resolved to make four equall battalia's, each of them consisting of five and twenty thousand horse, and eight thou∣sand foot; the first or which should be commanded by Spheramond, accom∣panied with Amanio d' Astre, and Perion of Turkie; the second by the va∣liant Prince of Persia his father, with Russian of Media, and Dardanio; the third by the royall Alastraxerea, with Esquilan, and Quedragant of Sansue∣ga; and the last by the excellent Florizell of Niquea, with Florestan, and Florizart; the command and guard of the town was intrusted to the Count of Argamond, with ten thousand foot, and the Campe to the Duke of Sile∣sia, with the like number of Infanterie: On the other side, the Pagans were not drowfie, but knowing that the losse of that day would be the end∣ing of their honours, and lives, they incouraged their souldiers, one while with promise of rewards, another while with hope of glory, so as the most cowardly resolved to fight it out bravely, both for reputation and spoil; their spies having informed them of the order the Greek Princes determi∣ned to hold in imbattelling their army; they also concluded to frame four battalia's of their forces, each of them composed of thirty eight thousand horse, and fifteen thousand foot; whereof the first was to be led by the Prince Bruzanges, Florimond his son, the valourous Arifleura, and three Giants; the second by the great Cariffe of Africa, Dardanor King of Ro∣meria, and three Giants; the third and fourth by the King of Coriza and Fulgoran, with a like number of men; the King of Calican remaining with twelve thousand foot for the guard of their Camp. These things thus de∣creed, every man bestirred himself, some making clean their arms, some Page  85 whetting their swords, and others looking to their horses: In brief, none was idle, and every one passionately wished for the next day, that they might imploy their forces. Assoon then as the morning appeared, Sphera∣mond, who had the foreward, covered the field with his horse, and not in∣tending to stay untill the trumpets sounded a charge, he espied on his right hand five Knights armed all in white, present themselves with incredible courage against the enemy, to the no little joy of the Christians; whereup∣on, perceiving Florimond begin his career, he set spurs to his horse, and so strongly incountered him in the midst of his race, as their lances flew into a thousand shivers, Florimond still keeping his seat, though he was twice or thrice ready to fall; such was not Bruzanges fortune with the valiant A∣manio d' Astre, for he was laid upon the earth, so dangerously hurt, that without the succour of his son, he had been stifled under the horses feet; Perion of Turkie, and the white Knight, directed their staves against the Giants, whereby two of them were wounded, but so slightly, as they pre∣sently laid hands on their scymiters, and disdaining to fight with ordinary men, they began a furious combat with three of the white Knights, whilst Spheramond, in the midst of the preasse, thundered wheresoever he came, neither was Florimond any way behinde him, for as often as he advanced his sword, the death of some Christians ensued; whence it followed, that his people in imitation of him, laboured exceedingly to make good the place they fought upon; but they were so pressd by Spheramond, Peri••, Amanio d' Astre, and the white Knights, that they began to give ground with extream discontent to the Giants, who could not relive them, being too far ingaged in their combat with the new come Knights; neverthelesse, enraged to see themselves staid in that sort, they all at one instant diseharged three such blows on their adversaries heads, as they laid them on the ground almost void of sense; with that, taking the opportunity of the time, they went to have made their people turn head, which they perhaps had done, if they had not been stopt by the brave Emperour of the Par∣thians, Amanio d' Astre, and Peri••, who not giving them leave to passe any further, charged them so stoutly, as they were constrained to look to their own defence; then it was, that Florimond re-incouraging his men, over∣threw as many Christians as stood in his way, but the white Knights being come to themselves again, and infinitely inraged that they had been so ill intreated, flew into the throng, with their two companions, and made such a slaughter among them, as the enemies were fain to retreat to avoid their fury, notwithstanding all that Florimond could do to stay them: The great Cariffe of Africa, accounted one of the most valourous among the Pagans, seeing the first troop in disorder, caused those which he led to advance, a∣gainst whom the Excellent Emperour of the Persians opposed himself, and with that greatnesse of courage, which made him so admired in the world, charged his lance against the Cariffe, whom he made to lose his stirrups, Russian of Media having run one of the Giants quite thorow and thorow; upon the encounter of these new troops, the earth was quickly covered with arms, legs, weapons, and the field with horses that had lost their ma∣sters, the air ecchoed with the cries of dying and wounded men, the ground shook with the noise of drums and trumpets, all was full of hor∣rour and fear, and wheresoever D•• Rgel and Russian passed, they left be∣hinde them evident marks of their valour▪ the ranks grew thin before the Page  86 great Cariffe and his Giants; in brief, all was in confusion, and the bloud streamed so over all the field, as it filled every one with astonishment: the King of Calican, and Fulgoran, impatient to see others imployed in busi∣nesse of glory, caused their troops presently to advance, the like did Ala∣straxerea, and Don Florizell; then it was, that the earth, and the heavens seemed to be but one thing, and so many Knights were overthrown at this encounter, as no man could stir a foot without treading on the dead; the Knight Ardant carried ruine in his hand, Florizell passed along like lighten∣ing, the Giants cut all in pieces that stood in their way, Alastraxerea, Esqui∣lan, Russian, Rogell, Spheramond, Quedragant, and Prion, seemed furies; in summe, nothing appeared but bloud and slaughter. The King of Calican, meeting with Alastraxerea, and Fulgoran with Florizell, began a furious com∣bat, but it lasted not long, for they were divided by a troop of Pagans, which invironing this valiant Prince and his sister, reduced them into very great danger of their lives, had not Spheramond, and the gallant Amanio d'A∣stre, come in just at the time, when as their horses were killed under them; these two Princes knowing Florizell and his sister, slew in suddenly amidst their enemies, and so wonderfully behaved themselves, as they gave their friends leave to breathe a while; howbeit, their succour had little prevai∣led against so great a multitude, amongst the which were three Gi∣ants; if the brave Russian of Media, together with the five white Knights, had not put himself in the head of fifty Knights, wherewith he charged the enemy so furiously, that after they had slain above two hundred of them, even before Fulgorans face, they re-mounted Florizell, and the valorous Alastraxerea, who renewing the fight with more rage then before, seemed not be wearied at all with their former toil. Whilst matters past thus in this part, Don Rogell, with Esquilan, Florerian, Dardanio, Quedragant, and Florizart, arrested the fury of the Cariffes Giants, and Florimond, where∣by their people were so heartened, as they were no whit dismayed with the sight of so many corpes as lay dead before them. The slaughter ha∣ving continued all the day with the Combattants incredible pain, the night came on, which parted them without knowing unto whom fortune was most favourable, the Pagans retired to their Camp, and the Christians to their tents, not a little glad to see the principall Knights preserved from the fury of this best debated battell that ever was fought. The number of the dead being calculated on both sides, it was found, that the Pagans had lost ninety two thousand men, with seven Giants, and the Princes Bruzan∣ges, Florimond, and the Cariffe sore wounded; the Christians for their part having fifty seven thousand men slain, Florizell and Alastraxerea both hurt, the one in the shoulder, the other in the arm. The retreat thus made, the Christian Princes, after they had caressed the new Knights, which were Florian, and Tristor of Sobradiza, Agrian of Scotland, Fulurtin, and Melfort, met in counsell about their affairs, where every one agreeing to Don Rogells advice, who perswaded the renewing of the fight by break of day, to let the enemy see, that neither losse nor labour could affright them, word was brought, that an Ambassadour was come from the Knight Ardant. Let him, said Don Rogell, come in, his presence will not scare us. The Ambas∣sadour then being admitted, spake to them all in this manner: Princes of Greece, the King of Canabea, beleeving that you have need of rest, as well as himself, and that you will be as willing to do all fair offices to those Page  87 which have lost their lives on your side, as well as he would be to such as died on his, he hath sent me hither to require a trce for eight dayes, to the end every man may bestow 〈…〉 upon his friends: that time expired, he will let you understand the designe he hath resolved on, for to give an end to this war. Don Rogell, that was chi••e in the counsell, by reason of the absence of Florizel of Niquea his father, who was retired into the citie, by reason of his hurt, would have had the advice of the other Princes upon this demand; but they all protesting to be wholly gided by him, he thus answered the Em∣bassadour, We had resolved before your comming, to have seen to morrow morning what the issue of our warre would have been; and to that end had commanded our men to be ready by break of day; but now we will let your master know, that the Princes of Greece will never be wanting in courtesie no more then in courage. The truce then which in his name you require, we are content to grant you, and will be glad to understand what his designe is, that we may contribute thereunto all that is necessarie on our part. This an∣swer being returned to Fulgoran, very much contented his army, and the Christians retired into their tents to refresh themselves at leasure.