Orlando furioso in English heroical verse, by Sr Iohn Haringto[n] of Bathe Knight.

THE XXXIIII. BOOKE. (Book 34)

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 with the doth receaue, And sees the fatall threeds the sisters weaue.

1

OH foule Harpias, greedie, hunger starued, Whom wrath diuine, for inst 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 boond, 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'nto the middle center, To see if ought may there be worth the sight; For why he thought what need I seare 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,* 1.1 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.

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 so 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

* 1.2Here 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, * 1.3 Behold her louer hanging for her sake: Here Daphnce lies, that now repents her shunning Of Phaebus, whom she scapt with ouerunning.

13

Too tedious it would be for me to tell The 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 sume 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‖ 1.4 Theseus and Iason well can speake, And he that* 1.5 Latin did of rule because, 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 tuch The 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,* 1.6 If to a gratefull prince it had bin done, So perfectly he had of warre the art, That for my fire, by his conduct he wonne All Caria, and of Cilicia part, And after these exploits, he then begun, For recompence of these his merits rise, 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.* 1.7

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 so.

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.

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 lesle; In fine Alcesté by his vallew brought My father and his frends to such distresse, * 1.8 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 fire haue thought the bargain e 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 to short, Intreated me to sue for his release; Yet did I vow to ma•• 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 thought To 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 Armenta 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 I 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, to himselfe besturd, He flew 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.

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,* 1.9 In Lerna, Thrase, in Nemea Eremaunt, Numid, Etolia, Tebrus where he fought, Not 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,* 1.10 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 fear, 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 sponn•• 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 a I 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,* 1.11 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 fledge) 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 foot, 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,* 1.12 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,* 1.13 So curreth he the ayre and doth not stop, Till he was come vnto that mountaines top.

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)* 1.14 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 sha∣ding: 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 faire There 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 fight, 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 fréed, 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, Left fasting long may make your stomack weake; Our fruits (said he) be neuer out of season: The ••uke reioyced much, and marueld eke, Then chiefe when by his speeches and his cote, He knew was 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,* 1.15 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, whom God 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.

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 permit Him 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 not So 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,* 1.16 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 things* 1.17 He 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,* 1.18 In stranger fort then I can well expound; Not 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 insect, 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;* 1.19 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,* 1.20 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,* 1.21 And those were all false flatteries he hard, Then heard he crickets songs like to the verses,* 1.22 The seruant in his masters praise reherses.

77

There did he see fond loues, that men pursew,* 1.23 To looke like golden giues with stones all set, Then things like Eagles talents he did vew,* 1.24 Those offices that fauorites do get: Then saw he bellows large that much wind blew, Large promises that Lords make, and forget,* 1.25 Vnto their Ganimeds in flowre of youth, But after nought but beggery enfewth.

78

He saw great Cities seated in faire places,* 1.26 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,* 1.27 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 Silvester long since.

80

Of birdlymd rodds, he saw no little store,* 1.28 And these (O Ladyes sayre) 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,* 1.29 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 sayre 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,* 1.30 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, Whole looke and hew, did shew her old and rotten:* 1.31 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 span Threds infinite, of diuers stuffe and hew; Another doth with all the speed she can, With other stuffe, the distanes 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, not 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.

In this xxxiiij.* 1.32 booke, is to be noted in the tale of Lydia, the punishment of ingratitude, and what an odious sin the same is, in the sight of God and the world: also here are to be obserued many kinds of ingratitudes: as first of her despising of Alcestes long seruice, and approued good will, and secondly of the fathers ingrate recompences, for his great deserts by seruices in the wars, in which kind, it is not onely slanderous, but dangerous for a Prince to show a niggardly mind, and much more a contemptuous disposition. For though indeed no subiect (rightly considering his duety) ought to be mo∣ued by any ingratitude or iniury of his seueraigne, to forget his allegeance, yet seeing the nature of most men, and spe∣cially of braue and resolute minded men, is subiect to the passion of reuenge, and can hardly bridle the same when they shall find themselues (as they thinke) disdained, or their seruices not well regarded: therefore the wisest and safest way, and sittest for the Maiestie of a Prince, is to be liberall in rewarding, or at least thankfull in accepting such mens ser∣uices, and to consider that loue and bountie, are stronger bands of allegeance, then feare and dutie.

Concerning the Historie of this booke,* 1.33 I have quoted some briefly by the side, and some is so plaine it expounds it selfe: onely I meane to ad a word or two what at I have read, concerning that which is here deliuered by mine author, about the Assumption of S. Iohn. First, how far the Scripture toucheth the same in the Gospell, euerie one knoweth, and how vpon the speech of our Sauiour (if I will be tary till I come, what is that to thee) it was noysed among the Disciples, that that Disciple should neuer see death. After this, as other of good credit haue deliuered, S. Iohn liued till he was an hundred yeare old, and then made himselfe a tombe, and entred thereinto aliue in presense of many, and on the sodaine, a light shone all about the place, and tooke the tombe for the time, quite from their sights: but the light being gone, the coffin was found empty, and the body of that Saint was no more seene vpon the earth. Whereupon it was certainly thoughtthat he was taken vp into heauen or Paradise, as Enoch and Elias were. Though this of S. Iohn be not recorded in the Scripture (nor no more is the assumption of the blessed virgin) and consequently, no man is bound to beleeue it, as an ar∣ticle of our Creed: Yet for mine owne opinion, I thinke it may be verie true, and I would in such cases beleeue a great deale more then I need, rather then anything lesse them I ought; for the tone (if it be a sinne) is surely pardonable, but the other doubtles is verye damnable. But I will briefly note the Allegorie that is meant hereby.

First,* 1.34 whereas Astolfo washeth himselfe in a christ all well of cleare water, before he can fly vp to Paradise, it signi∣fieth, that after a man shall by remorse, and deuout consideration, weigh and behold the filthinesse of his sinne, he must then wash himselfe with the cleare spring water of prayer and repentance; and then and not before, be may mount to Paradise: which may here be vnderstood the comfortable peace of conscience, the onely true Paradise of this world. And whereas Astolfo commeth to S. Iohn (whose name signifieth grace) to receiue by his helpe Orlandos lost witts, for so it is set downe that that was the secret cause why he was guided thither, though vnawares to himselfe: thereby it is to be vnderstood, that no hope nor means is left for any man that hath lost his wit, with following the vanities and plea∣sures of this world (as diners carelesse christians do, in forgetting and omitting their duties to God, which is the verie highest point of follie,) I say there is no meane for them to recouer their wit againe, but onely by the helpe of this S. Iohn, that is this, grace of God, which can miraculously restore it againe.

In the description of S. Iohns apparell (His gowne was white, but yet his Iacket red, The tone was snow, the tother lookr as blood, &c) by the red is signified charitie, which burneth with Zeale and seruentinesse of loue; by the white is meant virginitie and purenesse of life.

All those things that he saines to have beene showed Astolfo in the circle of the Moone, are but similitudes, and like∣nesse of such follies, as he that will marke them well, shall easily discerne.

The old man that ran away so fast with the Printed names of men, and flang them in the darke streame, figureth time, as in the next booke mine author verie artificially explanet bit: affirming in the person of S. Iohn, as if it were (as our prouerbe faith) as true as the Gospell, that the onely defence against the malice of time, is the pen of the learned: and that same out lasteth, and out styeth all things: as the well learned Gentleman, and my very good frend M. Henrie Constable wrate in his Sonnet to the now king of Scotland.

Where others hooded with blind loue do fly A low on ground, with buzzard Cupids wings, A heau'nly loue from loue to loue thee brings, And makes thy Muse to mount aboue the sky. Young Muses be not woont to fly so hy, Age taught by time, such sober dittie sings, But thy youth flyes from loue of youthfull things, And so the wings of time doth ouerfly. Thus thou disdainst all wordly wings as slow, Because thy Muse with Angels wings doth leaue Times wings behind, and Cupids wings below, But take thou heed, least Fames wings thee deceaue, With all thy speed from Fame thou canst not slee. But more thou flees, the more it followes thee.

For the punishment of Lidy as ingratitude by hanging in the eternall smoke,* 1.35 makes me call to minde a story of the Em∣perour Seuerus as I remember, who hearing that a fauorite of his accustomed to promise many men great furtherancein their suits, by his favour with the Prince, and having taken their reward, his promise vanished into the aire like a va∣pour, and left the poore suters nothing but his vaine breathed words: the iust Emperour caused him to be smothered to death with smoke, saying Fumo percat, qnifumum vendidit. Let sume him choake, that selleth smoke.

Here end the annotations vpon the xxxiiij. booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nere begins the tale of Lydia.
• * 1.2

  Anaxarite, for loue of whō I phi•• hanged himselfe in the Ile of Cy∣prus.
• * 1.3

  Daphne in the first book of Ouids Metamorphosis.
• ‖ 1.4

  Theseus for sook Anadne. Iason for sooke Hipsiphile, and after Medea.
• * 1.5

  Aentas for sook Dido. 〈…〉〈…〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, de floured Tha••ar, and af∣ter, despised her. & put her away, for which he was slain by Abs••••••••
• * 1.6

  Look in the ••all of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.7

  Simile.
• * 1.8

  ••verbe vsed 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  Hercules labors appossed, by his Aunt Iuno and Euristeus his half brother.
• * 1.10

  Simile.
• * 1.11

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tale.
• * 1.12

  Looke to the Allegoria.
• * 1.13

  Sumile.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 description ••ad. sc.
• * 1.15

  He saith, your Orlando, because he was his cosin: Sentence.
• * 1.16

  The Moons the lowest Planet.
• * 1.17

  This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greeing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we vses, th•• wits are be•• the M•••• they have •••• vp things •• circle of the Moone.
• * 1.18

  Looke in the Allegun.
• * 1.19

  Pride of Pr•• and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.20

  Gifts gives Princes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of re••••.
• * 1.21

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.22

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.23

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 words.
• * 1.25

  Great 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.26

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.27

  ••courturs.
• * 1.28

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 gift in understood the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Rome. ••••h Constan∣•••• •• Pope ••••ster, which ••ur now ••••ursinnes. •••• because of ••••.
• * 1.29

  •••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kept 〈◊〉〈◊〉, like oyl.
• * 1.30

  This is written in the fourth booke of the five Cantos, aided to Ariosto, which many thinke were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his doing, and are veris vnperfect.
• * 1.31

  Simile.
• * 1.32

  Morall.
• * 1.33

  Historie.
• * 1.34

  Allegorie.
• * 1.35

  Allusion.