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

THE XLII. BOOKE. (Book 42)

THE ARGVMENT.

Orlando of his conquest takes small ioy, Which caused him his dearest frend to want: Loues diuers passions, breed no small annoy, To stout Renaldo and good Bradamant: She wishing her Rogero to enioy, He th' Indian Queene, but soone he did recant, Taught by disdaine: at last in Latian ground, The Palladine kind entertainment found.

1

* 1.1WHat iron band, or what sharpe hard mouthd bit, What chaine of diamond (if such might be) Can bridle wrathfulnesse and conquer it, And keep it in his bounds and due degree? When one to vs in bonds of frendship knit, And dearly lou'd, before our face we see, By violence or fraud to suffer wrong, By one for him too craftie, or too strong.

2

And if before we can such pang digest, We swarue sometime from law, and run astray, It may be well excusd, sith in ones brest, Pure reason at such time beares little sway: Achilles when with counterfaited crest, He saw Patroclus bleeding all the way, To kill his killer was not satisfide. Except he hal'd and tare him all beside.

3

So now a little since when in his brow, Alfonso wounded was with cursed stone, And all his men and souldiers thought that now, His soule from earth to heau'n had bene vp flone, * 1.2They kild and spoild, they car'd whom nor how, Strong rampiers, walls, to them defence were none, But in that furie they put all to wracke, Both old and young, and all the towne to sacke.

4

Our men were so enraged with this fall, To thinke they had their Captaine lost for ay, That to the sword they put both great and small, That happend then to come within their way: And so their fortune did preuaile withall, That they the Castle did regaine that day, In fewer houres, to their great fame and praise, Then had the Spaniards got it erst in dayes.

5

It may be, God ordained (as I guesse) That he that time should wounded be so sore, To punish that same sinne and foule excesse, His foes committed had a while before, When Vestidell forlorne and in distresse, Did yeeld, and should haue had his life therefor••▪ Yet was he kild when they had him surprised, By men whose greater part were circumcised.

6

Wherefore I iustly may conclude thus much, That nothing can more hotly kindle wrath, Then if one shall the life and honor tuch, Of our deare frend, or do him wrong or scath. Now (as I said) Orlandos griefe is such, And such occasion of iust griefe he hath, He sees his frend, for lacke of better heeding, Lye flat on ground, and almost dead with bleeding.

7

As the Nomadian Shepherd,* 1.3 that a Snake, Along the grasse and herbes hath slyding seene, Which late before with tooth most poysond strake His little sonne, that plaid vpon the greene, Doth bruse and beat, and kill him with a stake: So goes this Earle with blade most sharpe and keene And yet far more with wrath an choller whet; And Agramant, was then the first he met.

8

Vnhappie he that in his passage stood, His sword was gone as I declard before, Himselfe besmeared all with his owne blood, Braue Brandimart had wounded him so sore; Orlando comes, and in his wrathfull mood, With Ballisard, that payes home euermore, He strikes (by fortune were it or by art) Iust where the shoulders from the head do part.

9

Loosd was his helmet, as I erst did tell, That like a Poppie quite fell off his hed, The carkas of the Lybian Monarke fell Downe to the ground, and lay a long starke ded, His soule by Charon, ferrie-man of hell, To Plut••s house or Stigian lake was led. Orlando staid no whit, but straight prepard, To finde Gradasso eke with Ballisard.

10

But when Gradasso plaine beheld and saw, Of Agramant the wofull end and fall, He felt and vnaccustomd dread and aw, Who neuer wonted was to feare at all; And eu'n as if his owne fate he foresaw, He made the Palladine resistance small: Feare had so maz'd his head, and daz'd his sence, That for the blow, he quite forgat his sence.

11

Orlando thrust Gradasso in the side, About the ribs, as he before him stood, The sword came forth a span on tother side, And to the hilt, was varnisht all with blood, By that same thrust alone it might be tride, That he that gaue it was a warriour good, That with one thrust did vanquish and subdew, The stoutest champion of the Turkish crew.

12

Orlando of this conquest nothing glad, Doth from his saddle in great hast alight, And with a heauie heart and count'nance sad, He runnes vnto his deare beloued knight, He sees his helmet cut, as if it had Bene clouen quite with axe (a wofull sight) And eu'n as if it had bene made of glasse, And not of steele, and plated well with brasse.

13

The Palladine his helmet then vnties, And finds the scull clou'n downe vnto the chin, And sees the braine all cut before his eyes; Yet so much breath and life remaind within, That he is able yet before he dyes, To call to God, for mercie for his sinne, And pray Orlando ioyne with him in praying, And vfe to him this comfortable saying.

14

My deare Orlando, see that to our Lord, Thou in thy good deuotions me commend: Likewise to thee commend I my deare Fiorde- And liege he would haue sayd, but there did end; Straight Angels voyces with most sweet accord, Were heard the while his spirit did ascend, The which dissolued from this fleshly masse, In sweetest melodie to heau'n did passe.

15

Orlando though he should reioyce in hart, Of this his end so holy and deuout, Because he knew his louing Brandimart, Was taken vp to heau'n, without all doubt, Yet flesh and blood in him so playd their part, That without teares he cannot beare it out, But that he needs must shew some change in cheare, To leese one more, then any brother deare.

16

This while Sobrino brused in his hed, And wounded sorely in his side and thye; Vpon the ground so great a streame had bled, It seemd his life in perill was thereby; And Oliuero little better sped, On whom his horse still ouerthrowne did lye, He striuing, but his striuing did not boot, To get at libertie his brused foot.

17

And sure it seemes he had bene worse apayd, Had not his dolefull cosin quickly come, And brought to him, both quicke and needfull ayd, Before the paine had him quite ouercome: His foote that long had in the stirrop stayd, Was there withall so void of sence, and numme, That when he stood vpright, he was not able, To tuch the ground, much lesse tred firm & stable.

18

So that indeed Orlando in his hart, But little ioy of so great conquest had, He wayles the death of his deare Brandimart, And that his kinsman was in state so bad: Now lay Sobrino, though aliue in part, Yet with a looke so chearlesse and so sad, And so much blood his aged veines had bled, That doubtlesse in few howres he had bene ded,

19

Saue that Orlando with compassion moued, To see him ly so lorne, and so distressed, Gate him such needfull things as best behoued, And charitably made his wounds be dressed: So kindly, that some kinseman deare beloued, And not his foe, a man might him haue guessed: Such was this Earles good nature,* 1.4 fierce in fight, But fight once done, from malice free or spight.

20

The horse, and bodies of the other twaine, He tooke away, and left their men the rest, To be disposd to their owne priuate gaine, Or to interre their Lords, as they thought best. But here, that in my story I do faine, Fredericke Fulgoso (as I heare) hath guest,* 1.5 Sith at this Ile he late arriuing found, In all the same no leuell foote of ground.

21

Nor doth he probable it deeme or take, That sixe such knights as had in armes no peare, On horsebacke should a combat vndertake, Where no one foot of plaine ground doth appeare. To which obiection I this answer make, That then, in times now past seau'n hundred yeare, Plaine ground there was, but now some inundation, Or earthquake might procute this alteration.

22

Wherfore Fulgoso, honor of thy name, Bright Fulgor, causing all thy stocke to shine, If in this point thou hadst imputed blame To me, perhaps before that Prince deuine, From whom thy countries good and quiet came, And did it first to loue and peace incline, Informe him now, that eu'n perhaps in this, My tale of truth or likelyhood doth not misse.

23

* 1.6This while Orlando looking from the shore, A little Frigot did farre of deserie, That both with sayle, and with the helpe of ore, Vnto that Ile, seemd in great hast to flie; But ere of this I tell you any more, I must to France as fast as I can hie, To see if they be merrie there or sad, Now they from thence the Turks expulsed had.

24

* 1.7First let vs see how faithfull Bradamant, Doth take his absence whom she loueth most, Who in his oth, due care of faith did want, Which he had tane in sight of either host: Now sure she thinks his loue and faith too scant, To heare he quite had left the Christen cost: If in his publike oth he be vniust, Whereto alas, then whereto can she trust?

25

And still returning to her former plaints, And still bemoning her vnluckie fate, With which her selfe she too too well acquaints, She calls herselfe accurst, and him vngrate, Yea blaming God himselfe, and all his Saints, For not redressing this her wofull state, She scarce abstaines high blasphemie to speake, That God vniust, and that Saints powres are weake.

26

Then she Melissa (absent) doth reproue, And curst that Oracles perswasion blind, That lapt her in this Laberinth of loue, Whence she herselfe by no meanes can vnwinde, But to Marsisa all the rest aboue, She open layes her stomacke and her mind, With her she chides and vtters all her choller, And yet she prayes her comfort this her doller.

27

Marsisa comforts her in all she may, And tels her what a vertue Patience is, And partly doth excuse Rogeros stay: And further giueth her her faith in this, That if she find he wilfully delay, She will constraine him mend all is amisse, Or if she find that he refuse to do it, To fight with him and so compell him to it.

28

With this she did in part her paine asswage, For why it is in sorrow great reliefe, To those of either sex or any age, To haue some frend, to whom to tell their griefe, But now if Bradamant be in such rage, No lesse is he that of her house was chiefe, I meane Renaldo, that cannot expulse Loues fire, from eu'rie sinew, veine and pulse.

29

I thinke I need not now to you repeat, A thing by me so often told before, By name that loue and that affection great, That to Angelica Renaldo bore: Nor did her beautie cause so much his heat, As did that spring of which he dranke such store, Now all the other Palladines were free From all their foes, now Cupids thrall is he.

30

An hundred messengers he sends about, Himselfe the while an hundred wayes more riding, To aske of her, or else to finde her out, Who hath her now, or where is her abiding. At last, because he thinketh out of doubt, That Malagige of her can learne some tiding, He asketh him (but blushing sore with shame) If he knew what of th'Indian Queene became.

31

His cosin wonders at so strange a case, And in his mind thereon long time he mused, That when Renaldo had both time and place, Her offers large and kind he still refused, When both herselfe did sue to haue his grace, And many of his frends perswasions vsed: And Malagige himselfe among the rest, Had prou'd him oft with prayre and with request.

32

The rather eke, because Renaldo then, By taking her, had set his cosin free, Who then was kept close prisner in a den, And for that cause in perill slaine to be; He maruels that he now would seeke her, when No hope, nor cause there was, and further he With angrie looke, did bid him call to mind, How in this point he had bene too vnkind.

33

But good Renaldo now quite of tune, Pray'th him old quarrels from his mind to moue, And doth most earnestly him importune, Vnto his helpe, his skill and bookes to proue: Which made his cosin so much more presume, Vpon his reconcilement and true loue, And promist to assist him if he may, And for his answer he prefixt a day.

34

And straight from thence he go'th vnto the place, Where he was wont the spirits to coniure, A strong vast caue, in which there was great space, The precepts of his Art to put in vre: One spright he calls, that of each doubtfull case Of Cupids court, could giue him notice sure: Of him he askt what bred Renaldos change, By him he heard, of those two fountaines strange.

35

And how Renaldo by misfortune led, First happend of that hatefull spring to drinke, Which his dislike of that faire Ladie bred, And made her loue, and profferd seruice stinke: And how againe, by some ill starre misled, He drank of th'other spring, which causd him thinke Her onely to be loued and admired, Whom erst he hated more then cause required.

36

Moreouer he to Malagigis showd, How that same famous Indian Queene (nay quean) Had on a Pagan youth herselfe bestowd, Of parentage, of state, of liuing meane: And how from Spaine they in a galley rowd, All Christendome and Spaine forsaking cleane, And passing both with safetie and with ease, * 1.8(In ventrous barks of Catalyn) the seas.

37

Now when Renaldo for his answer came, His learned cosin seekes him to perswade, Vnto some better thought his minde to frame, Nor further in this gulfe of loue to wade; Alledging what a slander and a shame, It was to fancy one her selfe had made, Not like a Queene, but like a vile maide Marian, A wife, (nay slaue) vnto a base Barbarian.

38

In fine he said, she was to th'Indies gon, With her Medoro, and was welnie there: Renaldo not a little musd thereon, Yet all the rest he could with patience beare, And for the paine, he counts it small or none, So he at last might finde her any where; Wherefore of it he had no care not keepe, Nor could that make him once to breake his sleepe

39

But when he heard that one of birth so base Had with his mistres laid his knife a boord, It seemd this strake him speechles in the place, He was not able to pronounce a word: His heart did quake within, his lips like case So trembled, answer he could none afford; But ouercome with anguish of the passion, He flang away from thence, in carelesse fashion.

40

And much lamenting this her foule abuse, He vowes to follow her what ere insue, But yet to Charles he faineth this excuse, That sith Gradasso, of his word vntrue, Had tane his horse contrary to the vse Of valiant Knights, he meanes him to pursue; Alledging that it were his great dishoner, To let Bayardo haue a forren owner.

41

And that a Turke should bost another day, That he by fight did him thereof bereaue. King Charles (though loth) yet could not say him nay To such an honest sute, but gaue him leaue; Which tane, alone from thence he goes his way. And all his frends in Paris he doth leaue: With Guidon, Dudon stout to him do proffer Their company, but he refusd their offer.

42

Away he goes alone, yet not alone. Griefs, teares, and plaints, still his companions are: And oft in heart he bitterly doth grone, To thinke that erst he should so little care, For her great loue, which wilfully forgone, He now esteemes at rate so high and rare, He could haue wisht (thus was his mind perplext) But one day to enioy, and die the next.

43

Then he bethinkes with no lesse griefe, nayrage How she could finde in that her lofty hart, To set her loue on such a sorry page, The merites all, and seruice put apart, Done vnto her eu'n from her tender age, By men of high renowne and great desart: Thus with a fired hart, and watred eyne, He rode vntill he toucht the bankes of Rhyne.

44

Ere long into Ardenna woods he enters,* 1.9 Soone after he Basylea quite had past: Ardenna woods, whence many come repenters, And in that forrest haue bene sore agast, To trauell through the same Renaldo venters, When suddenly the skie did ouercast, And there arose a blacke and hideous storme, And then appeard a monster of strange forme.

45

She seem'd of womans shape, but in her hed, A thousand eyes she had, that watch did keepe, As many eares, with which she harkened, Her eyes want lids, and therefore neuer sleepe, In steed of haire, her crowne snakes ouerspred, Thus marched she foorth of the darknesse deepe, Her tayle one Serpent bigger then the rest, Which she with knots had tyde about her brest.

46

This fight, Renaldos mind appald so sore, He feeles his heart alreadie gan to fayle him, And sith it neuer had done so before, He maruels what, (the goody eare) now should aile him: Yet still his minde misgaue him more and more, To see the monster comming to assaile him, He nathlesse countersets his wonted boldnesse, Though quaking hāds bewraid his inward coldnesse

47

The monster straight assaulted him, much like To one that parfet was and skild in fence, And when againe he with his sword did strike, He misled, and could doe her none offence. Much doth Renaldo this ill match mislike, And little wants to quite distract his sence, Right blowes and reardemaine he striketh many, But yet he cannot hit her right with any.

48

The monster stickes a Serpent in his brest, That strake his heart in to a freesing cold, Another fixed is below his crest, And on his necke and shoulders taketh hold; Renaldo thinkes to get him gone is best, And spurres away with all the speed he could, But that vile monster was not lame to find him, But ouertooke him, and leapt vp behind him.

49

And whether he go straight, or go he wide, The monster fitteth sure and holds him fast, He knowes not how to be from her vntide, Nor any meane within his mind can cast, His heart eu'n quakes within him, and beside That he was with this hideous plague agast, He sorrowd so not knowing how to mend it, He loth'd his life, and did desire to end it.

50

He spurres amaine, and purposely he takes The rugged wayes, the worst that he could find, By craggie Rocks, and hils, through bryers & brakes Through copsies thicke, by narrow paths and blind, But sure the knight the matter much mistakes, He cannot from the monster him vnwind: And like it was, great harme had him betyded, Had not for him, bene helpe in time prouided.

51

* 1.10For loe a knight, vnto his succour went, All armd in shining steele, and on his shield, He bare a yoke in sundry peeces rent, And flames of fire all in a yellow field, So weaponed he was, as if he ment To make all that encountred him to yeeld, A sword and speare he had, and to the same, A Mace from whence he threw continuall flame.

52

His Mace was stor'd with euerlasting fire, That euer burned, and did neuer wast, No other weapon needed one desire, To make good way with, wheresoeu'r he past, And sure Renaldos danger did require Quicke remedie, wherefore the knight doth hast: And when he saw this monster and did vew her, With his stiffe speare forthwith he ouerthrew her,

53

But this same fall did her no whit annoy, Wherefore to vse his speare he now misliketh, He onely will his fierie Mace imploy, And with that same the monster foule he striketh: Then she no longer could her force enioy, Renaldo while she fled, occasion piketh, To scape away, as him that knight perswaded, While he this monster more and more inuaded.

54

Now when the knight had with his fierie Mace, Driu'n backe this monster to her darksome den, * 1.11Where she for spite doth beat her head and face, Repining at the good of other men, Then to Renaldo he doth ride apace, And when he had soone ouertane him, then He offerd in kind sort, with him to ride, From out the darksome places him to guide.

55

But when Renaldo was from danger free, And that same knight by whom his safetie came, So courteously to come to him did see, His speech to him in kind words he did frame, And gaue him many thanks in hye degree, And then besought him he might know his name, That th'Emperor and all his court might know, What knight did so great grace on him bestow.

56

The knight in courteous manner thus replide, I would not you should take it in displeasure, That I my name from you a while shall hide, But ere the shadow grow a yard by measure, I shall you tell: thus onward still they ride, Renaldo being pleasd to stay his leasure, So long they went together till they found, A christall spring that ran along the ground.

57

At which full oft the herdmen, that did dwell Neare those same woods,* 1.12 haue in their louing fits, Drunke loue away, with tasting of that well, And of those passions purged cleane their wits: Now (for the knight that rode with him could tell That for Renaldos ill, this Phisicke fits) He doth aduise him there to stay a space, And make that well their baite and resting place.

58

Renaldo of the motion well allowth, And lighteth straight, and to the well doth go, Both for that heat and trauell bred his drowth, And that the monster had disturbd him so; Vnto the christall well he puts his mouth, And greedily drinks downe fiue gulps or mo, And from his brest doth with one draught remoue, His burning thirst, and his more burning loue.

59

Now when that other knight that with him went, Saw him lift vp himselfe from that same brooke, And found he did his foolish loue repent, And that he now that humor quite forsooke, Then to declare his name he was content, And looking with a graue and loftie looke, He said, Renaldo, know I hight Disdaine, That came to loose thee from loues foolish chaine.

60

This said, he vanisht from Renaldo quite, His horse nor him he could not after see, Renaldo maruels at this wondrous sight, And lookes about, and saith, what where is he? At last he thinks tis some familiar spright, That by good Malagigis sent might be: To rid him of that tedious care and wo, That many months had him afflicted so.

61

Or else that God to him this helpe did lend, Of his especiall grace and louing kindness, As erst he did vnto Tobias send, His Angel to deliuer him from blindnes: But let it Angel be, or be it send, Renaldo takes against him no vnkindnes: He thanks and praises it, and doth acknowledge, To haue receiu'd of him grace, wit, and knowledge

62

Now, that same great mislike and hate retorned, Of faire Angelica, whom late he loued, Now he despised her and greatly scorned, To thinke that he for her one foote had moued: Yet onward into India ward he iourned, As for Bayardos sake it him behoued: Because both honor did compell him to it, And to his Prince he vndertooke to do it.

63

He rides to Basile next ensuing night, Where verie late before, some newes were hard, How that Orlando challeng'd was to fight, And for that fight, how he himselfe prepard, Not, that Orlando newes here of did write, But one that came from Sycill thitherward, Affirmed he had heard the same reported, By many that to Sycily resorted.

64

These newes do set on edge Renaldos hart, He faine would present be at this conflict, He faine would take therein Orlandos part, To whom he bounden was in bands most strikt, Of friendship, of allyance and desart: Wherefore he takes post horse, and spurd and prickt, And changd both beasts, & guides each tē miles end And toward Italy he still doth bend.

65

At Constance he did passe the streame of Rhine, And then beyond the Alpes, he soone doth goe, To Mantoa, and ere the Sun decline, He passed ore the stately streame of Poe, Here he did doubt and did not soone designe, If he should trauell all the night or noe: * 1.13Till at the last a well behauourd knight, And full of curtesie, came in his sight.

66

This knight forthwith vnto Renaldo went, And askt him if he were a marride man, Renaldo maruels what the question ment, But answerd yea, then tother straight began, And praid him, that he would be then content, To be his guest, at such cheare as he can: Offring to show him, while with him he tarride, A sight well pleasing vnto all were marride.

67

Renaldo glad so good a bait to make, And no lesse willing, haps most rare to heare, Would not the offer of this knight forsake, Of entertainment good, and friendly cheare, But onward with him doth his iourny take, Vntill he saw a goodly place appeare, So well set forth, both for the shew and sence, As seemd not for a priuat mans expence.

68

The porch was all of Porpherie and Tut••h, On which the sumptuous building raised was, With Images that seemd to moue, see, tuch, Some hewd in stone ••ome caru'd and cut in brasse, Likewise within, the beautie was asmuch: Beneath a state••y arch, they straight did passe, Vnto a court that good proportion bare, And was each way one hundred cubites square.

69

And either side a Porch had passing faire, That with an arch, is on two cullomns placed, Of equall sise they seemed euerie paire, Yet sundrie works which them the better graced; At each of these a wide, large easie staire, Without the which, all buildings are defaced, And those same staires so stately mounting, led Each to a chamber richly furnished.

70

The cullomns hie, the chapters guilt with gold, The cornishes enricht with things of cost, The Marbles set from farre, and dearely sold, By cunning workmen carued and imbost, With Images, and antikes new and old, (Though now the night thereof concealed most) Shew that that worke so rich beyond all measure, Could ••cant be builded with a Princes treasure.

71

But nothing did so much the fight enrich, As did the plenteous fountaine, that did stand Iust placed in the middle, vnder which The Pages spred a table out of hand, And brought forth napry rich, and plate more rich, And meates the choisest of the sea or land: For though the house had stately roomes full many, In summer season this was best of any.

72

This fountaine was by curious workmen brought, To answer to the rest with double square, Eight femall statues of white marble wrought, With their left hands, an azure skie vp bare, Which raining still, expelled heat and drought, From all that vnder it, or neare it are, In their right hands,* 1.14 was Amaltheas horne, By eu'rie one of those eight statues borne.

73

Each of these statues rested both their feete, Vpon two Images of men below, That seemd delighted with the noise so sweete, That from the water came, that there did flow, They also seemd the Ladies low to greete, As though they did their names and vertues know: And in their hāds they hold long scroles of writings Of their owne pennings and their owne enditings.

74

And in faire golden letters were the names, Both of the women wrote, and of the men, The women were eight chast and sober dames, That now do liue, but were vnborne as then: The men were Poets that their worthie fames, In time to come, should praise with learned pens These Images bare vp a brasen tressell, On which there stood a large white Marble vessell.

75

This tooke the water from the azure skie, From whence, with turning of some cocke or vice, Great store of water would mount vp on hie, And wet all that same court eu'n in a trice; With sight of these Renaldo fed his eye, So that his host could scarcely him entice, To feed his stomacke,* 1.15 yet he oft him told, His meate would marre and sallets would be cold.

76

Then downe at last they sat them at the boord, And pleasant talke did helpe disgest their meate, His host that was no niggard, did affoord Great store of delicates, to drinke and eate, And all this while Renaldo spake no word, Although he did it oft in mind repeate, And though his tongue did itch, to pray him tell, What twas that would please marride men so well.

77

At last he put him mannerly in minde, Of that he first did promise him to show, Eu'n then he plainely saw his host incliude To inward griefe, and did more pensiue grow, With secret sighs, and leauing halfe behinde; At last a Page came in with curtsie low, And beares a standing cup of gold most fine, Without of gemmes, and full within of wine.

77

With this, the Master of the feast did smile, And on Renaldo lookt with pleasant cheare, But one that well had marked him that while, Might see more griefe then mirth, in him appeare: Now noble guest (quoth he) within a while, You shall see prou'd, a strange conclusion heare, That needs must be full welcome to be tried, By all that are in bonds of wedlocke tied.

78

For sure I thinke (he said) each husband ought, Make search if so his wife esteeme him dearly, If same, or shame, by her to him be brought, If man or beast, he be reputed mearly: The burthen of the horne though it be thought To weigh so heauie, and to touch so nearly, No doubt but many get them in their marriage, Yet feele them not, they be so light in carriage.

79

But if a man by certaine signes may know, How that his wife to him is true and iust, He hath more cause more kindnes her to show, Then he that liues in right, or wrong mistrust: For some without a cause do iealous grow, Whose wiues are chast, and free-from lawlesse lust: And some y^t for their wiues truth durst haue sworne, Haue for their labours, in their head a horne.

80

Now sir, if you beleeue your wife is true, As sure till one do finde contrarie proofe, I thinke both you, and all men ought of dew, For that no doubt is best for their behoose, Here you shall see it tride within your vew, For which I prayd you harbour in my roofe: This cup (said he) if you desire to know it, By drinking in the lame, will clearely show it.

81

Now drinke hereof, and proue this passing skill,* 1.16 For if Acteons armes, be on your crest, Do what you can, you shall the liquor spill, Beside your mouth, vpon your lappe and brest, But if your wife be chast, then drinke your fill, No such mischance your draught will then molest. Thus much he said, and fixt on him his eyne, And thinkes Renaldo sure would spill the wine.

82

Renaldo halfe allured to assay, To finde a thing, which found he might repent, Did take in hand the golden cup straight way, As if to quasse it off, were his intent: Yet first he doth the certaine danger way, To which by tasting such a cup he went. But giue me leaue a while some breath to take, Before you heare what answer he did make.

This booke begins with a Morall against wrath, and reuenge, excusing rather then allowing them that yeeld to that bloodie passion: but let all noble minded men (I speake to men of the sword) if they do as Orlando did, reuenge the death of their deere friend, yet after take example of Orlandos clemencie towards Sobrino, whom (after the furie of the com∣bat was past) he made to be cured. Tully in his Oration pro Marcello, hath many excellent sayings to this effect, to ••raise Caesar and, all such as being able to reuenge, yet rather chuse to forgiue: as in one place he saith, verum animum vin∣cere, iracundiam cohibere, victoriam temperare, &c. Haec quifaciat, non ego eum summis viris comparo, sed si∣millimum Deo iudico. To ouercome the passions of the minde, to bridle ones anger, to moderate the victorie, &c. who doth these things I compare not him to the best sort of men, but I liken him to God himselfe. Further in the same oration he cals wrath an enemie to wisedome; and our common English prouerbe saith, the hastie man neuer wanteth woe: all which I alledge rather to proue mine authours saying true: that it is hard to bridle wrath, and to temper revenge; and consequently the more commendable for those that can do it: according to the saying, pulchra quae difficilia; and there∣fore the more noble and great a man is either in byrth or fortune, the more honorable it is for him to be spare and not bloodie in reuenge; Posse & nolle nobile. And euen in this last booke, you read how hurtfull desire of reuenge ••alleth of time to him that desireth it; for Agramant came of purpose into France to be reuenged vpon Charles, and was as you see, first expelled out of that Realme, and after bereft of his life.

Of Alfonsoes hurt you may reade in Guycchardin,* 1.17 and how his men recouered the Bastia from the Spaniards, who had certaine Moores with them at that time; and therefore he saith (of men whose greater part were circumcised.) Ful∣goso, or Fregoso, was Archbishop of Salerne, and as it seemes, had carped at Ariostos verse of Lyppadusa: but he de∣fends the matter prettily, alledging that an earthquake, or inundation had destroyed all the leuell ground. The like re∣proofe had Virgil about the hauen of Mongibello, which he describes at the roote of that hill, where indeed there was none: and the like excuse is made for him, that it filled with the continuall casting vp of stones out of the burning hill. Catalani are the chiefe house of Spaine, alledged here by the Poet, for their good successe in discouering the Indies, though indeed the Portugals Lusitani not Catalani deserue the praise of it.

The monster that assaulted Renaldo signifies Iealousie that he had,* 1.18 that another possest his loue: the knight that deli∣uered him was Disdaine, that with the heat of noble courage, signified by the fierie Mace, ouerthrew the monster, and draue him quite away: it is so plaine in the verse it needs no exposition.

The cup that Renaldo was offerd,* 1.19 puts me in minde of the like fansie, in the Historie of Herodotus in the second booke, briefely it is thus. Pharao King of Egypt, hauing by ill hap, lost his eiesight, was aduised (by some Oracle) to bath his eyes in the vrine of a chast woman. Wherefore first he proued his wiues, and after diuers other great Ladies, but he found none did him good but one poore gentelwoman, wherefore being recouered of his fight, he put all the other to death, and mar∣ried that one: but because the matter of the cup is continued in the next booke, I shall speake more to this effect, in my notes vpon the same.

Here end the notes of the XLII. booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••word
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this book.
• * 1.3

  Simile.
• * 1.4

  A true praise a noble mind.
• * 1.5

  Looke in the story.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Or. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 43. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 144.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  Looke in the story.
• * 1.9

  Looke in the Allegory.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈…〉〈…〉 this book.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  Of this Well you heard in the first booke.
• * 1.13

  H••ere you must begin, to reade the tale of the Man∣•••• in knight that had the married mans ••uppe.
• * 1.14

  That 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nifieth plea•••••••• cop••a cornu•• Of Amalt•••• looke in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.15

  Il Sala•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Italian 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.16

  Acteons armes were horne•• gi∣uen him by Dia∣na, wherupon a pleasant fellow wrote this de∣slicke of one that had married a light huswife. Th••••da ••e credi•• d••••isse, sed illa D••ana est, Namque Acteoneum da•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gau•••• ca∣put.
• * 1.17

  Historie.
• * 1.18

  Allegorie.
• * 1.19

  Allusion.