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

THE XXXVIII. BOOKE. (Book 38)

THE ARGVMENT.

Marfisa doth present her selfe before King Charles, and in his presence is baptized: Astolfo doth Senapos sight restore, By whom such hardie feats are enterprised, That Agramant therewith molested sore, Is by Sobrino finally aduised, To make a challenge on Rogeros hed, To end the troubles that the warre had bred.

1

* 1.1FAire Ladies, you with gra∣cious eare that heare, My present storie, now me seemes I see, By this vnwóted changing of your cheare, That with Rogero you of∣fended be, For thus againe departing from his deare, And that you take the same as ill as she, As though you thought, and durst affirme it boldly, That fire of loue in him did burne but coldly.

2

And sure had he bin moued hereunto, By any other cause, then that I told, No though thereby he had attained to Rich Crassus wealth, or richer Cresus gold, Yet would I thinke (as now it seemes ye do) Loues darts in him had tane but shallow hold: For so sweet ioy, as this was to be thought, With gold nor siluer neuer could be bought.

3

But when ones honour shall thereon depend, Then should it merit not excuse but praise, And chiefe when one so truly may pretend, He cannot saue his honor otherwayes: And that same woman that herselfe should bend, To stop the same by prayre, or by delayes, Should giue iust cause to eu'rie one to guesse, Her loue were little, or her wit were lesse.

4

For if a woman should of him she loues, Esteeme the life and safetie as her owne, (I speake of such, whose choice no change remoues, And whose affections are not rashly growne) Then sure much more in reason it behoues, That of his honour should more care be showne; By how much more, it should in due account, Both pleasures all, and life it selfe surmount.

5

In following of his Lord so faithfully, Rogero did but eu'n as he was bound, And if he should haue left him then, thinke I He should haue done it but on slender ground▪ What though Almonti made his father die? On Agramant that fault could not redound, Who had for all his ancestors offences, Giu'n to Rogero many recompences.

6

He did but well in going to his Lord, And she as well (it cannot be denied) In that she thereto granted her accord, Which she might hap haue stopt, had she replied, That from the same her liking had abhord; What now she wants, henceforth may be supplied, But if that honor haue one minuts slaine,* 1.2 An hundred yeares scant can it cleanse againe.

7

Now while ••Rogero vnto Arly went, As dutie bound him to Traianos haire, Vnto the Christen campe incontinent, Rogeros spouse and sister (noble paire) As louing frends and co••ns now they went, And vnto Charles his tent they did repaire; Who minds by siege, or battels doubtfull chance, To driue these tedious troubles out of France.

8

When in the campe it was made knowne and bruted, That Bradamant was come, her noblest brothers Came forth to her, and kindly her saluted, With Guidon, though they came of sundry mothers; And she, as for her sexe and calling suted, Did resalute both them, and diuers others, By kissing some, and speaking to the best, And making frendly gestures to the rest.

9

But when Marfisas name was heard and knowne, Whose noble acts eu'n from Catay to Spaine, And ouer all the world beside were blowne, To looke on her all were so glad and faine, With presse and thrust not few were ouerthrowne; And scarse aman could in the tents remaine, But heauing, shouing, hither-ward and thither, To see so braue a paire as these togither.

10

Now when to Charles his presence come they be, Vpon her knee Marfisa did decline, And (as Turpino writes) no man did see, Her knee to touch the ground before that time, To none of anie calling, or degree, Not vnto Christen Prince or Sarazine: She onely doth esteeme king Pepins sonne, As worthie whom such honor should be donne.

11

But Charles arose, and met her halfe the way, And in kinde stately sort did her embrace, And set her by his side that present day, Aboue the Princes all, and gaue her place. Then voided was the roome that none might stay, But Lords and knights well worthie so great grace, Excluding all the sawcie baser sort, And then Marfisa spake in such like sort.

12

* 1.3Most mightie Caesar, high renownd and glorious, That from our Indies, to Tyrinthian shore, From Scythia, frosen full with breath of Boreas, To Aethiopia scorching euermore, Makst thy white crosse, so famous and victorious, By value much, but by thy iustice more; Thy praise (O Prince) and thy renowned name, Were cause from countries farre I hither came.

13

And to say troth, flat enuie mou'd me chiefe, Because thy powre to reach so farre I saw, I must confesse I tooke disdaine and griefe, That any Prince that fauord not our law, And was to vs of contrarie beliefe, Should grow so great, to keepe vs all in aw: Wherefore I came with mind to haue destroid thee, Or by all meanes I could, to haue annoyd thee.

14

For this I came, for this I stayd in France, To seeke your ruin and your ouerthrow, * 1.4When lo a chance (if such a thing can chance) Made me a frend and subiect or a so, I will not stay to tell each circumstance, But this in substance, it did make me know, That I, your bloodie enemie Marfisa, Was daughter to Rogero late of Ryla.

15

He by my wicked vncles was betraid, And left my wofull mother big with child, Who neare to Syrté downe her bellie laid, As strangely sau'd, as wrongfully exild; She brought a twin, a man child and a maid, We fosterd were, seuen yeares in forrest wild, By one that had in Magicke art great skill,* 1.5 But I was stolne from him against his will.

16

For some Arabians sold me for a slaue, Vnto a Persian king, whom (growne in yeares) Because he my virginitie would haue, I killed him and all his Lords and Peeres And then such hap, God and good fortune gaue, I gat his crowne and armes, as yet appeares; And ere I fully was twise ten yeare old, Seuen crownes I gat beside, which yet I hold.

17

And being enuious of your endlesse fame, (As er••t I told) I came with firme intent, By all the meanes I could, to quaile the same, And haply might haue done the hurt I ment; But now a better minde, that minde doth tame, Now of my malice I do much repent, Since by good hap, I lately vnderstood, That I was neare allide to you in blood.

18

And sith I know my father was your man, I meane no lesse then he did, you to serue, As for the hate and enuie I began, To beare you I now the same reserue, For Agramant, and all the harme I can, To all his kin, that do the same deserue, Because I now do know, and am assured, His ancestors my parents death procured.

19

This said Marfisa, and withall, did adde, That she would be baptized out of hand, And when that Agramant she vanquisht had, Returne (if Charles to pleasd) to her owne land, And Christen them, and farther would be glad, Against all those that would Christs law withstand, Ay to beare armes, with vow that all her gaine, To Charles and holy Church should ay remaine.

20

The noble Charles of tongue as eloquent, As wise in head, as valorous in heart, Did much extoll the Ladie excellent, And all her kin and sire by iust desart: And of her former speech incontinent, Most graciouslie he answerd eu'rie part, Concluding that he would for euer after, Accept her as his cousin, and his daughter.

21

And her againe he did embrace of new: And kilt her forhead as his child indeed:* 1.6 It long would be to tell how braue a crew, From Clarimount, and Mongrane did proceed, To welcome her, or when Renaldo knew Marfisas name, what ioy in him did breed, He calls to mind what force in her he found, Then when Albracca he besieged round.

22

It long would be to tell of Guidons ioy, With Griffin, Aquilant and Sansonet, That leapt with her their land that do destroy. Those men that in their Realme they hap to get: No lesse did Malagige and Vinian ioy, Remembring how she ioynd with Richardet, To rescue them, as long before I told. When vnto Bertolage they had bene sold.

23

Now was prepard against th'ensuing day, A place, as was by Charles himselfe deuised, Set stately forth, and hangd with rich aray, Where this most worthy dame should be baptised, Then Bishops were employd by whom she may, Be taught the Christen faith and Catechised, And all that day a learned Clarke and Preacher, The principles of Christen faith did teach her.

24

Then Turpin Archbishop of chiefe account, In his robes pontificiall doth baptise her, Charles with great reu'rence standeth by the fount, And what to answer, he did still aduise her. * 1.7But now tis time that to the Moone I mount, For that receit, must make Orlando wiser, From whence the Duke, descending by strange byas, Came with S. Iohn in charret of Elyas.

25

And by his guide he backe againe was led, And keeps still in his hand that pot or Iarre, That should againe make wise the mased hed, Of that same Palladin well seene in warre. Likewise the Saint vnto Astolfo sed, Assoone as they allighted from the carre, That with an herbe (of which there grew great store) He should againe Sonapos sight restore.

26

For which, and for his former great desart, He should haue men t'assault Biserta land, He teacheth him those people vnexpart, He should so traine, to make them to his hand: He further learned him the way and art, * 1.8How he might safely passe th'vnstable sand: And plainly thus S. Iohn, from point to point. What th'English Duke should do, did him appoint.

27

Then did Astolfo take his winged steed, And of the Saint deuoutly tooke his leaue, And soaring downe, he makes no little speed, To do that which in charge he did receaue; So farre by Nylus bankes he doth proceed, Vntill that Nubia he did plaine perceaue; And following the course of that same streame, Came to Senapo, head of that same Reame.

28

Great was the pleasure, triumph, and the ioy, Senapo tooke when he thereof had woord, Remembring well the trouble and annoy, The foule Harpias brought him at his boo••d: But when he made him eke his sight enioy, And did so rare a grace to him affoord, That by his meanes his eye sight was restord him, He worshipt him and like a God adord him.

29

Nor onely did he giue him souldiers then, Wherewith he might Biserta towne inuade, But for each one he askt he gaue him ten, That soone two hundred thousand men he made: Scarce had the fields roome for so many men, But footmen all ••••o is that countryes trade, For horses in that Region are but dentie, But Elephants and Camells they haue plentie.

30

Now that same day that went before the day, In which the men of Nubia made account, To march on forward, some part of their way, Astolfo on his Griffith horse doth mount; And Southward he doth passe, and doth not stay, Vntill he came neare to a mightie mount: At foote whereof a vast caue he doth finde,* 1.9 Which was the lodging of the Sotherne winde.

31

The mightie caue had but a narrow mouth, At which the Duke (as Christs Apostle taught) Did watch so long, vntill the wind of South, Came home to ease his spirits ouerwrought, To enter in, Astolfo him allowth, But when anone, to haue come out he thought, Within a leather sacke the Duke had plast At that caues mouth, he caught and tyde him fast.

32

The Palladin, full proud of such a pray, Returnes to Nubia ward, before twas night, And to the Negros then he showd the way, Appointing them how they should trauell right; He victualls doth and cariages conuay, All safe vnto that hill, that Atlas hight; Quite ore those fields where many haue bene found, With wind for want of water,* 1.10 more then drownd

33

And being come vnto the mountaines side, There, where he might discouer all the plaine, He doth his bands and companies deuide, And chuseth those that are most apt to traine, And those he parts and putteth them aside, And orders for the rest he doth ordaine, Then he in fight of all the hill ascendeth, And lookt like one that some great feat intendeth.

34

And kneeling downe (as one that did beleeue, His prayre should granted be, as well as hard) He prayd his master their great want releeue: Then casting stones that were before prepard,* 1.11 (What cannot firme beleefe in Christ atcheeue?) The very stones (a thing to credit hard) Did grow, and hue, and moue by hidden cause, And had both bellyes, legges, and necks, and iawes.

35

And naying lowd, fild all the place with sound, Of horse, some bay, some roane, some daple gray, And of all them were readie horses found, The spurre, the wand, the leg and voyce t'obay; To stop, to start, to passe carier, to bound, To gallop straight, or round, or any way: Thus were the men well horst, with little paines, For eu'rie horse had saddle, bit and raines.

36

Thus by this vertuous Duke, within one houre, Were fourscore thousand footmen, horsemen made, With which so great and vnexpected powre, Full fiercely he all Affrike did inuade, And burnt and spoild full many a towne and towre, All giuing way to his victorious blade, Vntill three Princes, Agramants vicegerents, Made head against the Duke, with their adherents.

37

The king of Aldyzer, and he of Ferse, With stout Bransardo, all three mightie kings, That find their enemies to grow so fierce, * 1.12Do send their Lord by sea, word of these things. A little fricket straight the waues doth pierce, And of these euill newes quicke notice brings To Agramant that lay that time in Arlie, Besieged by an armie strong and warlie.

38

Who hearing of his countries wofull case, And by his absence what did them betide, He cald his Lords and Princes to the place, Consulting how for this harme to prouide; And looking once or twice with stately grace, Now on the tone, then on the tother side, But on Marsilio and Sobrino chiefe, In such like words he told to them his griefe.

39

* 1.13Although I wot it worst beseemes of all, A Generall to say, I had not thought, Yet so say I, for when a harme doth fall. Beyond the reach of humane sence or thought, Then sure the blame is either none or small, And in this compasse may my fault be brought: My fault it was, Affricke to leaue vnarmed, If of the Nubians now they could be harmed.

40

But who could thinke (but God that vnderstands The things to come as well as those are past) So great an host could passe to many lands, That were from vs so great a distance plast? Twixt whom and vs lies those vnstable sands, That dangerously are mou'd with Southerne blast, Yet are they come, and haue so farre preuailed, Byserta selfe is now by them assailed.

41

Now on this point your consels here I craue, If so I shall all fruitlesse hence retire, Or trie before I go, if I can haue The crowne of France, to which I do aspire, Or how I may at home my country saue, And this destroy, which is my most desire; If any know the meane, then speake he to it, To th'end that we may know the best, and do it.

42

Thus much the sonne of great Traiano spake, And on Marsilio fixt his eyes, that he As chiefe in place, thereby might notice take, That first by him he would aduised be: Who when he had stood vp for reu'rence sake, And bowd his bodie, and withall his knee, Downe sate him in his honorable seate, And spake such words as I shall here repeate.

43

What euer fame doth bring,* 1.14 of good or ill, To make it greater it doth euer vse, Wherefore (my soueraigne Lord) I neuer will Be bold or basht with hearing flying newes, But moue such doubt and such assurance still, As though I would not all reports refuse, Yet would I thinke the truth of other sort, Then as so many mouthes shall make report.

44

And I beleeue each tale so much the lesse, By how much more from likelihood it doth arre: Now in this present cause let any guesse, It like it be, a king that dwels so farre, Could come with such an host, as they expresse, To Africa, so often vsd to warre, And passe those parlous sands,* 1.15 where to his cost, Cambises erst did leese his mightie host.

45

But they be Nubians, let it be allowd, By miracle come in a showre of raine, Or closely carrid thither in some clowd, Sith by the way none saw so large a traine: Hath Affrike euer to such people bowd? Must they haue aide to driue them home againe? I sure may think you kept a sorie garison, If them and yours betweene there be comparison.

46

I rather thinke th'Arabians are come downe, From those their hils, and done some spoile or wast, And tane some men, & burnt some baggage towne, But small resistance finding as they past, And that Bransardo for his owne renowne, Whom as your deputie you there had plast, For one sets downe one hundred in his letter, To th'end that his excuse may seeme the better.

47

But if you will but send some ship or twaine, That but your standard may therein appeare, No doubt but they will hie them home againe, By that time these but weigh their ankers here, If they Arabians, that can bide no paine, Or if they Nubians be, the case is cleare, Who onely taken haue this heart of grace, To know your person absent from the place.

48

This therefore is the summe of my perswasion, Make sure the conquest here ere you go hence, Charles can no more endure your sharpe euasion, Now that his nephew is distraught of sence: Now by the forehead let vs take Occasion, Least after all our trauell and expence, He hide away his haire,* 1.16 and turne his bald. And we vnprouident be thought and cald.

49

With these so warie words, and such as these, The subtle Spaniard labourd to perswade, The king of Affrike not to passe the seas, Till of the warres in France and end were made: But sage Sobrino, that espide with ease, How deepe he seemd in shallow streames to wade,* 1.17 Respecting priuat more then publike cause, Did answer thus after a little pause.

50

* 1.18My Liege, when first to peace I counseld you, I would I had not bin so true a Prophet, Or if my sayings needs must proue so true, I would you had beleeu'd them for your profit; Not Rodomont with that rash youthfull crue Of Alcyrd, Marbalust, that then did scoffe it, Whom now I wish here present, face to face, But chiefly 'Rodomont I wish in place.

51

He that then vndertooke to make all France, But like the dust that flies before the wind, He that did vow, in heau'n or hell, your lance To follow, nay to leaue it farre behind, Now when he should the matter most aduance, Vnprofitably lurkes in corners blind, And I that then (because I told you true) Was cald a coward, still abide with you.

52

And still I will abide, what ere ensuth, During this life, which though made weak with age, I will not feare, against the strongest youth That liues in France, in your defence to gage; Nor yet can any charge me with vntruth, Not from the proudest Prince to poorest page, And well I wot, I haue done more then some, That promist much ere they were hither come.

53

Thus much I say, thereby more plaine to proue, That what I then did say, or now impart, Came from true seruice, and of loyall loue, And not of faint, much lesse of hollow hart: Now I aduise you hence with speed remoue, And that you homeward in all hast depart, For well you wot, that wisedome it is none, In winning other mens, to leese ones owne.

54

Yet know not I why we should call it winning, If of our losses iust account we yeeld, Thirtie two kings we were at the beginning, A third part now scarce tarries in the field; And we our selues here vp in corners pinning, Scant safe within these rampiers can vs shield, We so decay except in time we cease, At last we shall be driu'n to sue for peace.

55

Orlando is not there, tis true, what tho? Had he bin there, we had all dide ere this, His want doth but prolong our ouerthrow, By other men, our state in danger is: They haue Renaldo there, that plaine doth show His force and courage not much lesse then his, There are his cousins, all the Palladins, Eternall terror to our Sarazins.

56

* 1.19They further haue a man in strength and hart, (I needs must praise my foe against my will) A second Mars, I meane king Brandimart, Whose great puissance ioynd to actiue skill, My selfe in single fight haue found in part, And further proofe haue seene by others ill: Besides, Orlando wanted long ago, Since which we more haue lost then won you know.

57

Now if we sped no better in time past, We shall speed worse hereafter I do dread, We see Gradasso ouer sea is past. And that the valiant Mandricard is dead; Marfisa hath forsaken vs at last, And Rodomont, of whom it may be sed, Were but his faith with force to be compared, The rest might in a manner haue bin spared.

58

Now when as so great helpes and succors faile vs, So many thousands of our souldiers slaine, And all supplies that should at all auaile vs, Alreadie come from Affrike and from Spaine; They haue of late got foure new knights to quaile vs, Compard with any of the Christen traine, Foure knights that if you search from hence to Inde, Foure knights to match these foure you shal not find

59

I know not if you euer heard before, Of Oliueros sons, and Sansonet, With Guidon sauage, whom I value more Then all their other succors that they get, From Almanie the higher or the lower, Although such aids at nought we cannot set, And we do plainly see before our eyes, That eu'ry day they may haue fresh supplies.

60

We may assure our selues if any more We take the field, our side goes to the pot, For if when we were two for one before, Yet we must needs confesse we gained not, Now they so much increased haue their store, With forraine powre, both English, Dutch and Scot, What can we hope but after all our toyle, To haue bad recompence of shame and toyle.

61

Yet all is well, if you will part betime, And hie you home before it proue too late; But if you tarry any longer time, You here will leese your men, at home your state: Now if to leaue Marsilio seeme a crime, For feare the world condemne you for vngrate, To saue him harmlesse you for peace must sue, Which they will so accept, if so will you.

62

But if you thinke such motion may not stand, With honour of your state and high degree, And hope by sight to make a surer hand, Which yet how it succeeded hath your see; Yet seeke at least to haue the vpper hand By this deuice, and herein follow me: Put all the quarrels triall, if you can, To one, and let Rogero be the man.

63

I know, and you do know, and so we all Do know, that our Rogero hath such might, No Christen can so sturdie be or tall, As hand to hand to conquer him in fight: But if you meane to make warre generall, Though he in strength far passe each other knight, Yet in the fight he but for one can stand, And what is one against a mightie band?

64

I thinke it best, if so you thinke it good, To offer this to Charles that if he will, If with his worthie courage so it stood, For sauing those, whom you on both sides kill, And shunning of the shedding guiltlesse blood, Which both of you, on each side dayly spill, Each side to chuse one champion at whose parrell, To make a full conclusion of the quarrell.

65

Prouided first, that which so ere of these Shall dye, his Prince shall pay the tother tribute: I know this motion will not Charles displease, For all his Lords, will there-vnto contribute; And this would worke our safetie, and our ease, For to Rogero, so much I attribute, That such his vallew is, this cause so ius•• * 1.20Were Mars Antagonist, yet yeeld he•• ••••st.

66

These words Sobrino spake with such effect, As Agramant thereto gaue his consent, And then Interpreters he did direct, Who straight to Charles with such a challenge went: Charles meanes not such occasion to neglect, He thinks the combat wonne incontinent, He had such store of champions, nere the latter, Vnto Renaldo he commits the matter.

67

Glad were both armies of this new accord, Henceforth to liue in quiet they intend, And either part doth praise his soueraigne Lord, That of these broyles would make so speedie end. Each one in mind these foolish bralls abhord, That made them thus in warres their dayes to spend, * 1.21Each man could say, and no man then denyd it, That warre is sweet to those that haue not tryd it.

68

Renaldo, he in mind doth much reioyse, To thinke his Prince had done him such a grace, To make of him aboue so many choyse, For triall of ••o great importing case: And though Rogero were by common voyce, The chiefe man deemd of all the Turkish race, And hand to hand had killed Mandricard, Renaldo this, but little did regard.

69

But good Rogero he was nothing glad, Though of so many gallant men and stout, His king to his great praise, him chosen had, Aboue all other knights, and pikt him out; His heart was heauie, and his looke was sad, Not that in mind he ought did dread or doubt, Renaldos forces, or Orlandos either, No scarse and if they had beene both togither.

70

But this procur'd his griefe, because he knew, Renaldo brother was vnto his deare, Who did her plaints with letters oft renew, And charged him so deepe, as toucht him neare: Now if he should to old wrongs, adde this new, To kill Renaldo, then the case is cleare, She should haue so great reason to reproue him, He doubts she neuer will hereafter loue him.

71

Now if Rogero do in silent sort, Lament this combat tane against his will, No doubt his spouse which heard this sad report, Was worse appaid then he, at least as ill; She beats her brest, and breakes her tresses short, And many teares with sorrow she did spill, And calls Rogero oftentimes vngrate, And curseth euermore her cruell fate.

72

It needs must turne vnto her griefe and paine, Who ere is ouercome, who euer win, She dare not thinke Rogero can be slaine, Her heart such anguish doth conceiue therein; And if it pleased Christ so to ordaine, For chastising his wretched peoples sin, That man should dye, that of her house was chiefe, Besides his death, that brought a further griefe.

73

A griefe that was indeed beyond all measure, To thinke she neuer might henceforth for shame, Go to her spouse, without the flat displeasure, Of all her kin and house of whence she came: And when she weigh'd the case at better leasure, Each thing to her seemd worse and worse to frame, For why she knew, her tongue that knot had tyde, That while she liu'd, might neuer loose, nor slide.

74

But that deare frend of hers, that neuer faild, To helpe at chiefest needs, the noble maid, I meane the sage Melissa, so preuaild, That Bradamantés griefe was part alaid, For when she knew the cause, and what she aild, Against the time, she promised her aid; And vndertooke, that of that bloudy quarrell, To her nor hers, there should ari••e no parrell.

75

This while the gallant knights against the fight, Themselues, and eke their weapons do prouide, The choise whereof did appertaine in right, Vnto the champion of the Christen side, Who, as a man that tooke but small delight, (Since he had lost his famous horse) to ride, Did chuse to fight on foot, and in this sort, All arm'd, with axes long, and daggers short.

76

Or were it chance, or were it in regard, That Malagige aduised him thereto, Because he knew the force of Balysard, Or powre all charms of armour to vndoe, (Of whose sharpe edge you haue ere this time hard) But this they did appoint betweene then two, About the place likewise they do agree, A plaine neare Arlie walls, the same to be.

77

Now when Aurora left the lothed bed,* 1.22 O•• Tytan (vnto whom she hath no list) To th'end that no disorder may be bred, On either side the marshalls part•• he list, At end whereof, were rich pauillions spred, Where nothing that belongs to stare was mist, And distant from each tent a little space, On either side, they did an altar place.

78

Not long time after this, in battell ray, The Turkish armie with their king came out, Glistring in gold, and stately rich aray. In show, with all Barbarian pompe set out, A swift Arabian horse, of colour bay He rode, and by his side Rogero stout, Rode cheeke by cheeke, and to his greater same, On him to wait, Marsilio thought no shame.

79

His helmet (for the which the Tartar dyde, Slaine by Rogero as I did rehearse) (Which since a thousand yeares, and more beside, * 1.23Was celebrated in more stately verse) Marsilio carrid, by Rogeros side, Well mounted on a Spanish genet fearce, His arms, and all that did thereto belong, Some other states, deuided them among.

80

On tother side came worthie Charlemayne, From out his tents, strongly intrencht, anone, And all his bands of men he did ordayne, So as if to battell he should then haue gone: About him was of Peers a noble trayne, Renaldo in the mids, with armour on, That onely helmet erst from Mambryn tane, Was by Vggero borne, the noble Dane.

81

Two axes, both alike in each respect, Salemon and Duke Namus beare before, The Chieftaines on each side their men direct, To keepe within their limits euermore; And in the midst, was left a large prospect, Betweene each company, and roome good store, For present death it was, if any venter, Saue those two champions, in the list to enter.

82

* 1.24When second choise of weapon (as was fit) Was giu'n Rogero to auoid suspect, Two Priests before the rest came forth, to wit, Of each side one, and one of either sect, Each had a booke, ours had Christs holy writ, Theirs Alcoran, with errours foule infect, With ours came forth the Christen Prince deuout, With that of theirs, the king of Turks came out.

83

Now first king Charles neare to his altar stands, And this great protestation there did make, And lifts to heauen both heart, and eyes and hands, O God, O Christ, that suffredst for our sake, O blessed Ladie, that in swathing bands, Heldst him that mortall flesh of thee did take, And didst nine months inclose that high diuinitie, In sacred wombe, still keeping true virginitie.

84

Be witnesses, that here I make it knowne, And promise faithfully for me and mine, To Agramant, and who so ere shall owne The crowne of Affrike in ensuing time, That if my champion shall be ouerthrowne, To pay to them, each yeare of gold most fine, Ten horslode, and forthwith the warres to cease, And euermore hereafter to haue peace.

85

And if I fayle, then let the fearfull wrath Of both, on me at once this folly wreake, And worke vnto my sect all wo and seath, That all insuing ages plaine may speake, Loe what a plague, and iust reward he hath, That durst his oth to you, and promise breake: This said, his hand he laid vpon the booke, And vp on heauen he fixt his stedfast looke.

86

When this was done, then all departed thence, There where the Turks had with much superstition Adornd their altar with no small expence; And their king Agramant, with like condition, Vowd neuer after this, to do offence To Charles, but passe the seas with expedition, And ay keepe peace, and equail tribute pay, If that Rogero vanquisht were that day.

87

And in like sort he did protest alowd, And cald on Mahomet, his Idol great, And by that booke, that his Priest held, he vowd To keepe most duly all he did repeat: This done, to part from thence were all allowd, And either Prince retired to his seat; Then in like sort they sweare the champions both; And thus much in effect containd their oth.

88

Rogero promiseth, that if the fight, By Agramant shall be disturbd or parted, That neuer after he will be his knight, But serue king Charles, and be to him true harted. Renaldo in like sort his faith doth plight, That if to him, Charles any aid imparted, Before that one of them were ouercome, That then himselfe to Agramant would come.

89

Now when these ceremonies all were ended, Then eu'rie man departed to his side, And then the warriours onely now attended, The trumpets sound, that battell signifide; Which when both heard, then each of thē intended, To show the vtmost of his vallew tride: Now sounds the steele with blows, not few nor soft, Now they themselues, strike low and now aloft.

90

Sometime they would beguile the tone the tother, With mind vnto their strength, to ad their art, They profer at one place, and strike another, Inuading still the least defended part: But good Rogero, that against the brother, Of her did fight, that did possesse his hart, Did oft bestow his blows, with such regard, Most thought Renaldo was for him too hard.

91

He seemed readier to ward then strike, For he himselfe well knew not what he ment, To kill Renaldo, that he did not like, To dy himselfe that was not his intent: But now I hope that none will it mislike, Sith in this booke so much time hath bene spent, And least my tediousnesse may some molest, In this ensuing booke to heare the rest.

* 1.25In the beginning of this booke is set downe how great a regard a man ought to haue of true honor indeed, namely to do nothing •• herein it may be iustly touched: not as our young gallants in these dayes, that stand vpon their puntos in tri∣sting matters, hauing neither honor in their hearts, nor truth in their mouths. No doubt but to a noble nature and di∣sposition, honor in the tenderest thing that may be: And therefore it may well of them be said:

Ma al honor chimancha in vn momento, Non puo in cento annisatisfar, ne in cento. But if that honor haue one minutes staine, An hundred yeares scant can it clense againe.

But as in Religion, the true vsage thereof us most necessary to the good of the soule, but heresies and superstition be most damnable; so in this desire of worldy reputation, the good and considerat regard thereof, is the most worthy and Gentle∣manly thing that can be: but the vaine and friuolous maintenance thereof is as ridiculous and to be scorned. For ex∣ample, imagine some man so chast, (as Caesar was called) omnium mulierum vir, or to vse our homely English phrase (as the towne Bull of the Parish) so true of his word, as he that Heywood writes of that kept all the commandements, and namely that concerning false witnesse,

With witnesse false thou hurtest none, for why, Each word thou spakest, each man doth know a ly.

So temperat in eating and drinking that he surfets but once a weeke, vidz. from Saterday to Saterday; and endewed with other magnificall qualities, as swearing and gaming, and now and then (of the gentlenes of his nature) not scorn∣ing a Pandars occupation. Can you maruell (I say) if such ••••an stand somewhat nycely vpon his honor, if he be touched therein? but the true honorable person indeed, will neither giue iust cause of offence, nor beare any wrong or disgrace; and whosoeuer sailes either in the first of these, for want of stayd gouernment, or faints in the later of these, for want of true courage, let him know his honor goeth lame on one legge, onely the first of these two mayms may be cured, but the tother is called a priuie maim••, and is vtterly incurable.

Concerning the Orations of Agramant, Marsilio, and Sobrino, a man might make a long, & not vnnecessary discourse of the matter, but that I haue taken vpon me to note, and not to discourse: First therefore in Agramant we may obserue how young couragious Princes (such as he is described to have bin) are egged on by their grand minions (to whom peace is a penance) to warre vpon other mens countryes, and many times leaue their owne vnguarded: In which kind, fooles sometimes giue wiser counsell then they. As in the time of that good king of France Francis the first, they report that when he inuaded Italy, he consulted with his counsell, where he were best to enter Lombardy: some aduising one way, some another, a foole standing by, and hearing their consultation, came in amongst them and sware that they were all fooles: for (saith he) here is euerie man that aduiseth the king how to enter into Italy, but none of you takes care how he shall get out againe: this though accounted (as it was) but a fooles bolt for the time, yet proued too true afterward: for in that iourney the king was taken, and was sent prisoner to a Castle in Spaine called Madrillo.

In Marsilio and Sobrino, we may see the qualities of a good counseller to a Prince, and a bad, one hauing only a regard to his owne priuat, the tother plaine and faithfull, and carefull for his Princes best safetie. In that Sobrino the good and faithfull counseller, aduiseth to make an end of the war one way or other, either by taking or paying tribute, one may ob∣serue that indeed it is no policie for Princes, but the vtter ruine & beggering of their Realmes, to prolong their wars, & to trifle away money & time in such serious causes, & be as vncertain in the end as in the beginning. The saying of a no∣ble & wise councellor (another Sobrino) in England, is worthy to be remembered, that with a prety tale he told, vtterly condēned such lingring proceedings. The tale was this, a poore widow (said he) in the country, doubting her prouisiō of wood would not last all the winter, & yet desiring to rost a ioint of meat, & a hen one day to welcome her frends, laid on two sticks on the fire, but when that would not scarse heat it, she fetched two more, & so stil burning them out by two and two (wheras one fagot laid on at the first would haue rosted it) she spent foure or fiue fagots more then she needed; & yet when all was done, her meat was scorched of one side, and raw of the tother side: her frends ill content with their fare, and she enforced ere winter went about, to borrow wood of her poore neighbours, because so many of her owne fagots were spent.

* 1.26Cresus was the king of Lydia, who thought himselfe happie for his riches: but Solon was of another opinion, and therefore thought a foole by him, till in the end Cresus being bound at a stake, to be burned by his victorious enemy, he cryed out on the name of Solon, and through that thicke and darke smoke, he could see that wisedome, which before his eyes dazled with foolish wordly felicitie could not see.

Crassus called also the rich Crassus, a Citizen of Rome, his saying was, that no man was rich that could not with his bare reuenue maintaine a Royall army: which if it be a true saying, I doubt whether any Prince Christened at this day be rich. Crassus in reproch of his couetousnesse, had molten gold poured into his mouth by the Parthians, who tooke him prisoner and slew him. Cambises sonne of Cyrus king of Persia hauing conquered Egipt, inuaded the Ammonians with a great armie, but for want of victuals was forced to giue ouer his enterprise. Further he sent an armie before him of fif∣tie thousand men, with commandement to destroy the Temple of Iupiter Amon, and they entring the deserts of that country were neuer seene againe, so as it was thought that while they sate at dinner in the field, a furious Sotherne wind raysed such store of dust and sand, as ouerwhelmed them and quite couered them.

* 1.27In the miracles done by Astolfo, is ment Allegorically, that a man guided by vertue, and assisted by grace, makes all kinde of creatures to serue his turne.

* 1.28His turning of stones to horses, alludes to the like thing in Ouids Metamorphosis, where Prometheus and Epime∣theus made men of stones.

Inque breui spacio superorum numine saxa, Iacta viri manibus faciem traxere virorum, Et de foemineo reparata est foemina iactu.

In his taking the Southerne winde in a bagge, it alludes to a like thing in Homers Odisseas of Vlisses, that had the winde bound in a bagge, and some say the Sorcerers neare the North sea, vse to sell the winde to saylers in glasses, and it is so common among them, that they will laugh as much at those that beleeue it not, as we would be to heare one tell it.

The end of the annotations vpon the 38. booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  Sentence.
• * 1.3

  Marfisas oration.
• * 1.4

  She means the voice out of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in the la∣ter end of the 26. booke.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  It was the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the old time, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in the 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉 booke 10.
• * 1.8

  ••he vnstable 〈◊〉〈◊〉, looke in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  Looke in the Allusion.
• * 1.10

  Because the wind •• as wont to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sand some∣times in such sort as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the men that went in it.
• * 1.11

  ••uid. Metam. 7. Sa•• a quu hoc credat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 protests 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.12

  He turnes to A∣stolfo in the next booke, 18 staffe.
• * 1.13

  Agramants O∣ration.
• * 1.14

  Mars••••n 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to perswade 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉 warrs in 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.15

  Looke in the stone.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.17

  Th••••••, how strongly be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forced 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reasons.
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 or 〈…〉〈…〉 made him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 France 〈…〉〈…〉 to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.20

  Antagonist is deriued from a Greeke word sig∣nifying the ad∣uersarie that fights hand to hand.
• * 1.21

  Sentence, Dulce bellum the ••pertu.
• * 1.22

  Looke in the Table.
• * 1.23

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ho∣•••••••• Virgels 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 challeges ••••••ade, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appoints 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th parte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and bring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weapons, and the challenger 〈◊〉〈◊〉 choise 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.25

  Morall.
• * 1.26

  Historie
• * 1.27

  Allegorie.
• * 1.28

  Allusion.