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

THE XXXVII. BOOKE (Book 37)

THE ARGVMENT.

Rogero with his sister and his spouse, Find Vllanie halfe stript and strangely vsed, Straight each of them, but chiefe Marfisa vowes To be aneng'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, * 1.1In 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 to••gues 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,* 1.2 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 loue, 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,* 1.3 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.

8

The worthie writers of this present time, Haue set your worthie praises so to vew, Some in graue prose, and some in learned time, 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 aud 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

* 1.4Victoria 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 Py••amed, 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 rise, 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

* 1.5And 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 wise, 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,* 1.6 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)* 1.7 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 surst) 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,* 1.8 And in the maids behalfs, they blusht for shame, As do in Peslus 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 Vllan••, 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?

22

Poore V••lanie, 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 shé) To make complaint of those did vs abuse, Vnto the noble Christen Emp'rour Charles, Who punish will I trust such lawlesse catles.

24

Braue Bradamant and stout Marfisa longs, To go immediatly vnto this place, And be au••ng'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

* 1.9With 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 straight way behind her places, Faire Vilany, and makes her so to ride, Marfisa and Rogero take the paine, Behind themselues, to place the other twaine.

26

* 1.10The dame of Dordon led them all the way, The tother two do follow with great hast, But Villany 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 benight••d 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 cou'd see but women in the place, The women dr••st, 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,* 1.11 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 sauour, 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 buth by disposition, But yet a while he did dislemble 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.

36

Faire dames and knights that hapt to passe this way, Were still by them so frendly entertained, That by such kind of curteous v••age, thay The loue and praise of eu'rie one had gained; Their honors also farther to display, The sacred right of knighthood 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, asore 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 rest 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 inte••ed,

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 the consented him to matrie.

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?

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, masles, 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 eare, That some strong sodaine poyson may be got, You know (said the) 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, Anaunt, and touch not me thou traitor peasant.

60

Thoughtst thou of me solace to haue and sport, * 1.12And 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?

64

* 1.13Thus 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

* 1.14Eu'n as a snake whom speate to ground doth naile, Doth bite the steele and wood that sense hath none, Or as a dog that doth a man asfaile, 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 cried 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: * 1.15His seruants do, as doth the prouerbe say, When furie runs, lets furie haue her sway.

70

But when at last himselfe was almost tired With killing vs, though voyd of all remorce, Then by his friends request he was desired, And as it were constraind by 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,* 1.16 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, An 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.

78

What cannot gaine and hope of mony worke?* 1.17 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,* 1.18 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: ••u'nso 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 cou'd scarce such force defend; Much lesse a sort of dastard hireling twaines: Wherefore they cast away then warlike tooles, Their cariage left, and went away like fooles.

81

Eu'n as a greedie wolfe that runneth loden* 1.19 With 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 she 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 band had agreed,* 1.20 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,* 1.21 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.

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 needels 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, Ort bears down rocks and trees with force so maine, As heards do'h 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 afteard, 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,* 1.22 Is halfe excusd, if force procure the same.

97

Marfisa straight a Parlament did call* 1.23 Of 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 whatsoever 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 lacke and burne the same without all pitie.

100

This done, the warriers three did hasten hence, But yet their going they so long deferred, Vntil 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 powre Was 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;* 1.24 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.

In this xxxv ij. booke,* 1.25 the praises of women are set downe to the encouragement of all vertuous minded yong Ladies, and likewise the miserable end of Marganor and his two sonnes, for their vnbridled lust and crueltie, to the terrifying of all great men that dispose themselues to lawlesse and tyrannous behauiour. Lastly in the law made for women, we may see that that sex is capable of rule and gouernement, and not to be excluded from the highest degree thereof (as a noble learned, and learned noble man hath most amply and excellently proued in a discourse of his, which I happened by fortune to light vpon,* 1.26 though as yet I thinke imparted to few.)

Concerning the historie of this booke, first it should seeme that the whole booke it selfe was incerted into the rest of the worke by mine author, to take occasion thereby to speake in praise of women, and specially of the Ladie Vittoria, wife

to the famous Francis of Pescard: but concerning the famous women by him briefly touched, I will here set downe as briefly as I can their storie.

Arpalice or Harpalice a woman of Thrace, whose father being taken prisoner by the Geties, a nation of Scythia, with great courage and expedition recovered him from their hands, of whom Virgil speakes in his Aeneads:

Vel qualis equos Threissa fat∣gat Harpalice volucrem••; suga pr••euertitur Haebrum.

Tomeris Queene of the Massagetians. Cyrus became a suter to her, to marry her but she thinking (as it was most likely) he wooed not her, but her kingdome, refused him: hereupon Cyrus made warre on her. Tomeris sent her son against him, who was taken by Cyrus with an ambushment, and slaine. But she faining as though she fled for feare, drew Cyrus to the straits of the hils, where (they write) she slue his whole army, being two hundred thousand men, and left not a man aliue to carry newes; and after in reuenge of her son, she put Cyrus head into a great boule of bloud, vsing that wel knowne speech: Satia te sanguine quisanguinem sitijsti, Fill thy selfe with bloud that didst thirst for bloud. In the 5. staffe.

With those that did Turnios and Hector ayd.

Those two were Camilla and Pentheselea, of both which Virgil writes in the Aeneads:

Pentheselea surens, medijsque in millibus ardet Bellatrix, ardétque viris concurrere virgo. She that in compasse of buls hide, &c.

That was Dido: The storie is well knowne of Pigmalions crueltie in mardering Sycheus for hope of his money, but Dido warned in a dreame by the gift of Sycheus, tooke away all the gold, and fled with diuers confederates to Lybia in Affrik, and there bargained to buy as much ground as she could compasse with a buls hide: which bargain being made, she cut the hide into an infinit company of smal thongs, and so built the famous city of Carthage within that cōpasse, as Virgil noteth:

Mercatique locum facti de nomine Birsen, Taurino quantum poterant circundare tergo.

Zenobia Queene of the Palmirens, widow, or as we call it, dowager of Odenatus: She rebelled against the Romaine Empire, and fought many battels very prosperously; but afterward by Aurelianus she was besieged in the citie of Pal∣mira, and in her flight from thence she was taken and brought to Rome in Triumph.

She that lnde and Assure frayd: this was Symiramis wife of Nynus, who was a notable warrier; had not her vn∣bridled lust of the flesh stained the honour of her other vertues, which as it became her owne destruction, so it hath left a notable example to all other Princes of her sex, to take heed and eschew the like infamie, and specially (though they be aboue all positiue lawes) yet not to pollute the laws of nature.

* 1.27In that it is said Marfisa and Bradamant put off their bases, therewith to hide the priuities of the damsels, it may thereby be vnderstood, that the vertues of some excellent women are so great, as not onely serue themselues to make them famous and most honorable, but also extend themselues so farre, as to serue to hide and couer the deformitie of o∣thers not so well apparelled with the garments of honor, and so (as it were with works of supererogation) beautifie those that had defects of their owne.

* 1.28Concerning the great praise mine author ascribeth to Madam Vittoria:

Whose learned pen such priuiledge can giue, As it can cause those that are dead to liue.

And for that cause preferreth her before Porcia wife of Brutus, and a diuers others that died voluntarie soone after their husbands, it was because she wrote some verses in manner of an Epitaph vpon her husband after his decease: In which kind, that honorable Ladie (widow of the late Lord Iohn Russell) deserueth no lesse commendation, hauing done as much for two husbands. And whereas my author maketh so great bost onely of our learned woman in Italie, I may com∣pare) besides one aboue all comparison,* 1.29 that I haue noted in the twentith booke) three or foure in England out of one family, and namely the sisters of that learned Ladie, as witnesse that verse written by the meanest of the foure to the Ladie Burlie, which I doubt if Cambridge or Oxford can mend.

Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti,* 1.30 Tu bona, tu melior, tu mihi sola ••oror: Sin malè ceslando retines, & trans mare mittis, Tu mala, tu peior, ta mihi nulla soror. Is si Cornubiam, tibi pax sit & omnia laeta, Sin mare Ciciliae nuncio bella. Vale.

In the 14 staffe.

And if the great Macedon enuie bare, Vnto Achilles for Meonian lyre, &c.

This place M. Alexander Neuell imitated, in his verses vpon Sir Philip Sidneys funerals, with farre sharper conceit then mine author here vseth it. For whereas the now King of Scotland had written among, that pretie Epitaph of the foresand Knight:

Vidit vt extinctum nuper Citherea Philippum, Fleuit, & hunc Martem credidit esse suum, Abripuit digitis gemmas, collóque monile, Martriterum nunquam seu placitura foret: Mortuus humana qui lusit imagine diuam, Quid faceret iam sivideret ille rogo?

To this effect in English,

When Venus saw the noble Sidney dying, She thought, it her beloued Mars had beene: And with the thought thereof she fell a crying, And cast away her rings and carknet cleene, He that in death a goddesse mockt and grieued, What had he done (trow you) if he had liued?

The verse hath a fine conceipt, and perhaps better then it showes for. Now (as I say) M. Neuell praising Sir Philip Sidney in the like manner, vseth the like application, as mine author doth in this place, preferring his fortunatenesse in this kinde, before his, whom Alexander enuieth: for he saith (as I remember)

Plectra canant alios, cecinerunt sceptra Philippum, Ista coronatis sunt carmina digna cothurnis. Harps, other praise; a scepter his doth sing, Of crowned Poet, and of Laureat king.

Concerning the tale of Drusilla, it is taken out of Plutarke, and thought a true Story: it is both in the Courtier of Castaglion and in Apuleius; but somewhat amplified by mine author.

The end of the annotations vpon the 37. booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The praise of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  L••••ke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 e••ui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Achilles, be∣••••se be had such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 asset of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  He makes them cosins though v••∣ry far of, which we count indeed the noblest tin∣red, though not the kindest.
• * 1.7

  Ericthonian son of Vulcan, deui∣sed a coach to Inde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 redlegges which were like surpā••••. Aglaurs looke the Table.
• * 1.8

  Peslus gardens are at a Castle so called in Luca∣••••s, and beare ros••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ini•••• yeare.
• * 1.9

  Looke in the Al∣ligorie of the ap∣plication of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  Here begins the tale of Marganor that made the law against wo∣men.
• * 1.11

  Iasons men were called Argonaus••, because they ••ost in a ship called Argo.
• * 1.12

  Dr••sillas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at h•••• death.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 the death 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.14

  ••word"
• * 1.15

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.16

  Marganors law against woman.
• * 1.17

  Sentence.
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  Simile.
• * 1.20

  ••word"
• * 1.21

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.22

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.23

  Mafisas law for women.
• * 1.24

  Ouid de ••••isti∣bus. Sape uale dicto rursus suns mul∣ta loguutus.
• * 1.25

  Morall.
• * 1.26

  Lord Harris Howard. Historie.
• * 1.27

  Allegorie.
• * 1.28

  Allusion.
• * 1.29

  The four daugh∣ters of Sir An∣thonie Cooke. Ladie Burke. Ladie Ru••t••ll. Ladie Bacon. Blistris Kelly. grew.
• * 1.30

  She wrote to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ladie Bobe, to send a 〈…〉〈…〉 of her 〈…〉〈…〉 wall, where be dwele, end to, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his going 〈◊〉〈◊〉 son.