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

THE XLIIII. BOOKE. (Book 44)

THE ARGVMENT.

Renaldo to Rogero giues his sister, Against Duke Ammon and their mothers will: Rogero doubting lest he should haue mist her, Vowes Leon and his father both to Kill: He leaueth France, and to the streame of Ister, He rides and trauels in those parts, vntill He found the Bulgars fighting with the Greekes, And aydeth those, because he these mislikes.

1

OFt times we see, in house of meane estate, * 1.1In fortune bad, and chances ouerthwart, That men doe sooner lay aside debate, And ioyne in sound accord with hand and hart, The princes courts, where riches gender hate, And vilde suspect, that louing mind doth part, Where charitie is cleane consumde and vanished, An' frendship firme, is quite cast out and banished.

2

Hence comes it that twixt Princes and great Lords, Agreements all, and cou'nants are so fraile, Today Kings, Popes, and Emperors make accords Tomorrow deadly warres, with tooth and nayle: And why? their thoughts stil vary from their words, They keepe not othes, but for their owne auaile: Nor weigh they wrong or right, or recken of it, But as the same may turne to their owne profite.

3

Now though such men, as yet were neuer taught, What frendship is, nor euer knew the same, (For frendship neuer growes where there is nought But shewes disguisd, in earnest or in game) Yet if ill fortune them so low haue brought, To meete in meaner place, they straight do frame Their proud hy minds to frendship true and plaine, Which erst they knew not, or they did disdaine.

4

The saintlik man, had in his Cell more powre, His guests in firme and sound accord do binde, Then others should haue had in Princely bowre: And more, this frendship was of such a kind, That euer after, from that present houre, Eu'n to their ends, they all agreed in mind: Appearing to this old man and deuout, As white within, as Swans are white without.

5

He found them all both gentle kind, and meeke, And not in sort of which I erst complained, Of those that neuer thinke and speake alike, But euer go with speech, and uisage fained. They cleare forgat all grudge, and old mislike; No signe, nor memorie thereof remained: But loue together, as if they had come, All of one seede, and laine all in one worne.

6

But good Renaldo could by no meanes rest, To shew Rogero kindnesse great and loue, Both for his prowesse great, and valiant brest, Which hand to hand, in fight he late did proue: And for his courtsie, that did passe the rest, And was praise worthy all the rest aboue: But chiefe the cause was this, because he found, His frends to him had sundry wayes bene bound.

7

He knew, for often he had heard it told, How first Rogero saued Richardet, Whom then Marsilio kept in cruell hold, Because with child he did his daughter get: And further, Bouos sonnes should haue bene sold, But them Rogero did at freedome set: These things in honor true, and reputation, He knew were matters of great obligation.

8

And though before he could no kindnes show To him, while he profest himselfe a Turke, Yet now that him a Christian he did know, He would now let his loue no longer lurke: Which when the Hermit saw, he was not slow, A farther kindnes, them between to worke: (them) He moues them (sith he so good friends had seene That he might make affinitie betweene them.

9

He said it was foreshowd him from on hie, That by the ioyning their two lines in one, Such ofspring should arise, as vnder sky To passe or match the same, there should be none; Wherefore, he wisheth them, that by and by By his aduise, they would agree thereon: Renaldo at his motion straight allowes, That Bradamant should be Rogeros spouse.

10

Orlando, Olivero soone to that, Gaue their good will, and fauour, and assent, Affirming that all France may ioy thereat; They little knew how good Duke Ammon ment, To match his daughter higher farre, and that King Charles thereto did willingly consent: To Leon namely Constantynos haire, Emp'rour of Greece, who sought the Lady faire.

11

Duke Ammon meant not such a match to shunne, But yet his answere he a while d••ferred, Vntill such time as with his absent sonne, He had on such a weightie cause conferred: Not doubting but he thereto would be wonne, And glad to haue his sister so preferred; But yet, though herein he did nothing doubt him, Yet would he not resolue thereon without him.

12

But now Renaldo absent from his father, And ignorant of that imperiall plot, Vnto Rogero promist her the rather, Because his present friends mi••••kt it not; But chiefe that he by th' Hermits speech did gather, That God ordaind it by eternall lot; And of his father firmely he belieued, At such alliance he could not be grieued.

13

All that same day and night, and halfe the next, They made abode with that same saintlike fire, Still preaching, teaching them the blessed text, Expounding eu'rie place at their desire: The marriners with their long tarrying vext, Oft sent to pray them to the ship retyre, Because the wind blew well to serue their turne, Compelling them in fine, to make returne.

14

Rogero that had liu'd in long exile, (Now glad to do as that old man would haue him) Doth bid farewell, and left that happie Ile, When he had learnd y^t faith that sole must saue him, Orlando vnto him his sword this while, And Hectors armes, and good Frontino gaue him, Both to declare his loue so much the more, And that he knew they had bene his before.

15

And though the Palladine in common sence, Had iuster claime vnto the blade enchaunted, As hauing wonne it in his owne defence, Forth of the garden with foule spirits haunted, Whereas Rogeros title and pretence, Came from Brunello, that of theft was taunted, Yet gaue he it of his good nature meerly, Although his right thereto appeared cleerly.

16

Then by the holy man they all were blessed, And to their ship they made their backe repaire, Their oates for waues, their sails for winds adressed, Which then blew verie temperate and faire: No feare of wracke, no doubt to be distressed; No need there was of vowes, or yet of praire: But here I leane them sailing in faire wether, Till th' English Duke and them I bring together.

17

Who when the victorie he vnderstood Orlando got, of which he was lesse glad, Because the same was wonne with so much blood, And sith now France no feare of Affricke had; To send Senapo home he thought it good, And therefore with a count'nance graue and sad, Yet kind and frendly he did giue him thanke, For lending him his aid, so free and franke.

18

And Dudon sent a little while before, All that his great triumphant Nauie backe, Wherewith he plagued had the Turks so sore, And brought them all to ruine great and wracke: Which ships no sooner toucht that Affricke shore, And quite disburdend of the people blacke, But eu'rie ship his shape forsakes and leaues,* 1.2 And all of them were turnd againe to leaues.

19

And now on parting were the Nubian bands: Some mounted, some on foote pel mell together, The winds that wont to moue the troublous sands, Astolfo gaue their king in bagges of leather, So firmely tyde, and in so sured bands, As feare they need not any change of weather: And will'd him, when they were past all ieoperty, That they should grant vnto the wind his liberty.

20

Turpino writes that they no sooner came, Vnto the mountaine Atlas stonie roote, But that their horses, stones againe became, And so they all went home againe on foote: But after how each thing with them did frame, In this discourse to tell it shall not boote: Now tell we of your English Dukes proceeding, Of his returne to France, and of his speeding.

21

Who hauing rulers for those parts ordained, That might as pleasd, them ruine or repaire, No longer then in Affrica remained, But vnto France he quickly did repaire: By land or sea, to trauell he disdained, But with his winged beast he cuts the aire, And quickly came to Prouince where he did, As much as erst th' Euangelist did bid.

22

Which was that enterd into Prouince, he Should take away his saddle and his raines, And grant him liberty, and set him free, And put him now vnto no further paines: For Cinthias spheare, in which our lost wits be, That maketh of our losses greatest gaines, Had made his horne long since to loose his sound, That now no vertue in the same was found.

23

Now th' English Duke vnto Marsilio came, And iust at that same time arriued there, When those three Palladines of worthy same, With Sobrin and Rogero landed were: Much was their ioy, yet lessond was the same, And outward showes thereof they do forbeare: So great a sadnes in them all it bred, To thinke their friend king Brandimart was ded.

24

But Charles that from Sicilia notice had, How those two kings were slaine, and Sobrine taken, And Brandimart deceast (which made him sad) And that Rogero had the Turkes forsaken; Was in his minde now well apaid and glad, That such a peise, he from his necke had shaken, Which for a long time had so grieuous wayed, As he therewith was welny ouerlayed.

25

Wherefore to do them honour, as was meete, That with their courage did his crowne sustaine, He sent his Peeres and nobles them to greete, Vnto the verie confines of his raigne: Himselfe in person, after did them meete, With Lords and Princes of his chiefest traine: And neare the town, the Queene with many a Ladie Came forth, to do them honor all that may be.

26

King Charles himselfe with chearfull friendly face, The Palladines, their kinsfolke and their frends, The noble men, and people meane and base, To make them for their merits some amends, With friendly shouts did fill vp all the place, Each man and euery child his voice extends, And cride on those two houses of account, That of Mongrana, and of Clarimount.

27

Now to the Prince Rogero they did bring, And told him how he was apparent haire To Risa, and of that great house did spring: And while they spake these words, Marfisa faire Saluted him in presence of the King, But Bradamant (who thither did repaire) Yet kept her selfe aloofe with more respect, Least openly she should her loue detect.

28

Then Charls doth welcom him with words most sweet, And vsd him like a man of rare account, And for he was allighted on his feet, For reu'rence sake, againe' he made him mount; And cheeke by cheeke, to ride through eu'ry street: He knew and ioyd, that at the sacred fount, Rogero by the hermit was baptised, As he by former letters was aduised.

29

In triumph and in feasts they spent the day, And riding through the towne at sundry houres, Some straw greene leaues, or rushes in the way, Some cast downe gardlands made of sundry flowres. The streets were hanged all with rich array, And damsels from the windowes high and towres, To gratulate their prosperous deeds and haps, Cast showres of Roses from their tender laps.

30

At eu'ry corner, market-crosse or gate, High arches triumph-like were new erected, Some of Bysertas fall and wofull state, Which they had ouerthrowne and quite deiected: Some of the combat that was fought so late, With playes and new deuises vnexpected: Thus dedicate, and thus entitled wholly, To those Redeemers of the Empire holly.

31

With gratefull sound, of instruments and voyce, With sundrie sweet and musicall consorts, The people shew how greatly they reioyce, With Iubiles, and shoutes, and playes, and sports. Then Charles and all his knights, and Barons choise To his owne house, and his owne court resorts; And there with tilting, turneis, and with playes, They spent a few of then ensuing dayes.

32

Renaldo taking time, vpon a day,* 1.3 The marriage matter to his father brake, And told him he had promist by the way, His sister should for spouse, Rogero take: By which, allyance such procure they may, As men may count great folly to forsake: In which himselfe the further did proceed, Because Orlando was thereto agreed.

33

With much disdaine this speech Duke Ammon hard, Affirming, he presumptously had donne, To promise so, sith he had now prepard, To match her to the Greekish Emp'rors sonne: And not this priuate knight, who he had hard, Had not one foote of land scant vnder Sunne:* 1.4 Alas (quoth he) poore gentrie small auailes, And vertue lesse if land and riches failes.

34

But chieflie Ammons wife, dame Beatrice, Doth call her sonne vngrate and arrogant, And thinks to worke so by her wise aduise, To make an Empresse of her Bradamant: Renaldo much condemneth that deuice, Nor will not of his word one tittle want:* 1.5 But said his sister (vnder their correction) Would therein ruled be by his direction.

35

The mother (in her daughter much beguild) Perswades with her, and comforts her to say, That she will rather dye and be exild, Then match so∣meane, when higher match she may She saith, she will not take her for her child, If she will let her brother beare such sway: Wherefore (saith she) be bold, and do denie it, And with your brother, giue me leaue to try it.

36

Poore Bradamant doth silent stand and still, She dares not scarse in thought, for reu'rence sake, Gainsay her mother, or withstand her will, On tother side, she dare not promise make, Of that, which to performe did passe her skill, And was aboue her powre to vndertake: No powre she had in this, nor great nor small, For long ere this, loue sealed on it all.

37

She dares not giue consent, nor yet deny, She onely sighes, and answer maketh none, But when she is alone that none are by, Vnto her selfe she makes a piteous mone; She makes her brests and her faire haire to trie In part her griese, for why she beates the tone In spitefull wife, the tother short she teares, And thus she speakes amid her plaints and feares.

38

Wo me, shall then my will and fancie varie From hers, whose will should rule and gouern mine? Shall my will to my mothers be contrarie, Or that di'daine, my mother doth designe? Shall I presume with such a man to marrie, At whom my parents both do so repine? * 1.6What fowler blot can staine a damsels praise, Then when her parents will, she disobayes?

39

Shall then my mothers reu'rence, and my sites, Make me my deare Rogero to forget? And to new loues, new hopes, and new desires Be take my selfe, and him at nought to set? Or shall the reu'rence which their age requires, And which my selfe hath borne them euer yet, Be now forgot, and I be wholy bent, To mine owne ioy, and solace, and content?

40

* 1.7I know (alas I know) my dutie well, But powre I haue not to performe the same, My fancie reasons rule doth quite expell, And my well orderd thoughts, put out of frame: And tyrant Loue, gainst whom who dare rebell, Makes me cast off all feare of others blame: My speech, my deeds, my thoughts he doth dispose, And ruleth them, against my will God knowes.

41

To Ammon daughter, and to Beatrice I am, but vnto Loue I am a slaue, Though I do now refuse their wise aduise, Of them I may hereafter pardon haue: But if I Loue resist, who knowes the price, Or who can me from his great furie saue? He will not stay to harken to my scuses, But slay me presently, for such his vse is.

42

With much adoe, and with long time I drew My deare Rogero, to the Christian faith, What profite doth thereof to me ensew, It still ill hap my purpose good gainsaith? * 1.8So doth the Bee, not for himselfe renew, The hony that in combes he safely laith: But sooner of my life they shall me reaue, Then force me my Rogero deare to leaue.

43

But though herein I disobey my mother, And father to, which I to do am loth: What though? yet I therein obey my brother, That is reputed wiser then they both: Orlando eke, for me speakes tone and tother, And fauour will this match, how ere it goth; And sure I am, the world doth of them twaine, Make more esteeme then all our house againe.

44

Sith then the world esteemes and calleth those, The glorie and the flowre of Clarimount, Lesse shame it is for me, as I suppose, If that I suffer men of such account, Of me in marriage matters to dispose, That all my kin in credit do surmount: Beside they haue the word directly spoken, But to the Greeke the matter is but broken.

45

But now if Bradamant her selfe torment, And doth her euill hap bewaile and blame, No doubt Rogero is as malcontent, Who had some priuie inckling of the same: He secretly doth his ill state lament, And curseth fortune that vnconstant dame, That had for wealth, so sparing left his lot, Which diuers base vnworthy men had got.

46

In each thing else that nature man can graunt, Or that is got by industrie or art, He knowth, and each man saith that none canvaunt daunt, To haue a greater, no nor such a part: His strength was such, no strength the same could His person past his strength; his noble hart, His Princely manners, and his braue behauour, Wan each mans loue, each mans applause & fauour.

47

But this same vulgar sort vntaught and rude, That as them list distribute praise and shame, And (saue the wise and learned) I include * 1.9 All men that liue on earth, within that name; For Myters, states, nor crownes, may not exclude, Popes, mightie kings, nor Keysars from the same:* 1.10 But onely wisedome graue, and learning cleare, Gifts giuen from heau'n, that are not common heare

48

This vulgar sort (to tell my meaning out) That sauing wealth and riches, nought admyre,* 1.11 And nothing thinke praise worthy them without, And in their base conceits can looke no hyre: That be one neu'r so learnd, so wise, so stout, Well shapt as eye can see, or heart desire, Well borne, well qualited of sober carriage, They nought esteeme all these in case of marriage.

49

Well (saith Rogero) if that Ammon needs Will make an Empresse of his daughter deare, At least this hast he makes, is more then needs, Let him yet giue me respite but one yeare: And if in that same yeare, I do such deeds, That both the sonne and sire, I vanquish cleare: When both their crowns I conquerd I haue & wonne Then I may worthy be, to be his soune.

50

But if he straight the marriage do effect, With Constantinos heire in so great hast, And will Renaldos promise quite neglect, And eke his Cosens, which so few dayes past, Before that blessed man of Gods elect, And that good Marquesse, they did bind so fast: If they shall wrong me so, what then shall I? What can I do in such a case but die?

51

What should I do? shall I then be auenged Of him that me contraries in this wise? Let me be blamed herein, or commended, Let me therein be deemd a foole or wise: But would my state alas, be then amended By th' old mans death? no, no, far otherwise: I doubt this would not worke my more content, But rather contrarie my first intent.

52

My first intention was, and yet is still, That Bradamant should beare me loue, not hate, Now then if I her father here should kill, Or ought attempt against her brothers state: Had she not cause of me to thinke then ill, And to refuse me for her spouse and mate? What shall I do? alas then shall I beare it? Ah no perdy, first I will dye I sweare it.

53

And yet I will not die, but Ile destroy That Leon that procur'd my harme and wo, And is desturber of my chiefest ioy, Him and his father I will kill also: * 1.12Faire Helen to the louer lewed of Troy, Not cost so deare, nor longer far ago, * 1.13Proserpin cost Perythous price so hye, As I will cause them this my griefe to buy.

54

But were it possible (my deare) that thou, Canst leaue thine owne Rogero for this Greeke? Yea though that all thy brothers did allow This match, which Ammon doth so fondly seeke? Yes yes, I feare that thine owne minde doth bow To his desire, and could far better leeke, When with thy selfe, thou dost these offers scan, To haue a Caesar then a priuate man.

55

Can then the dignitie and glorious name, Of pompous shewes, and of imperiall seat, The noble heart of Bradamant so frame, Her vallew rare, and vertue to defeat, And go from her first promise, to her shame, Which me she made with many vowes and great? No sure I know she will them all forsake, Much rather then vnsay, that once she spake.

56

These words Rogero spake, and many such, And oftentimes he spake them in such sort, That diuers ouerhard him, in so much That they were told, by more then one report To Bradamant, whom they did chiefly tuch, Who tooke them not (you may be sure) in sport: But as her priuate griefe was great before, So this report of him did grieue her more.

57

But most it grieu'd her and aboue the rest, That he mistrusted she would him forsake, At any mans commandment or request, And specially for this same Grecians sake: Wherefore to moue this scruple from his brest, And this foule error from his minde to take, She gate her pen and inke one night full late, And to Rogero such like words she wrate.

58

My deare, as erst I was I still will bide,* 1.14 While life shall dure, yea eu'n when life is past, Though toward me, loue shew his grace, or pride, Or fortune raise me vp, or downward cast: My stable faith, shall neuer faile nor slide, For calme, nor storme, but as a Rocke stand fast, Against the surging waues still vnremoueable, So shall my faith stand firme and vnreproueable.

59

First shall a file, or knife of drossie lead, The Dyamond to sundrie figures carue, Ere any chance by Fortunes frailtie bred, Or powre of loue, shall cause my course to swarue: First shall the streames runne backe vnto their hed, Ere I will iustly such a blame desarue: Or ere I shall, for chances good or ill, Giue my consent to change my setled will.

60

To thee Rogero mine, a good while since, Of me, and of my heart I gaue dominion, I should my selfe of lightnes great conuince, If I so sodainly could change opinion: As for my true allegeance, sure no Prince, Is faithfuller belou'd of dearest minnion: For me you need no fortresse nor no towre, To be defences against forren powre.

61

You need no bands of men to entertaine, To keepe this fortres, strength enough haue I, For riches make on me assault but vaine, So base a price, no gentle heart can buy: Nor noble birth, nor name of crowne or raigne, Which oft doth dase the common peoples eye, Nor beautie, to the which light minds incline, Though greater see I neuer shall then thine.

62

No, feare not, no man powre shall euer haue, My heart to other figure to transforme, Loue did your shape therein so deepe ingraue, As now it can receiue none other forme: My heart is not of wax, for why Loue gaue, (When to his worke he did it first conforme) An hunderd strokes with cheessell and with male, Ere he could fetch therefrom one little scale.

63

Pure Iuorie, gemmes, and eu'rie hardest stone, That most withstandeth steele, a man may burst, But other figure yet receiue they none, Then that to which they formed were at furst: My heart is not vnlike a precious stone, Or Adamant, or what so cutteth worst: Loue sooner shall it breake in thousand splints, Ere other beauties bring it to new prints.

64

These words she wrote, and many more to these, That him with faith, with loue, with hope so fed, Of force to cure each desperate disease, Or rather to reuiue him being ded: But when they thought them safest from the seas, And in the hau'n securely harbored, A new and sodaine tempest rose so sore, As draue them backe to sea from sight of shore.

65

For worthy Bradamant that had assignd, To shew her meaning plaine was, and direct, And calling wonted courage to her minde, And quite reiecting womanly respect, Came vnto Charles, and spake in such a kind; My Leige, if ere my seruice did effect, Ought worth your highnes thanks, at your cōmand Let not your grace denie me one demand.

66

But promise me, vpon your Princely faith And royall word, which I may surely trust, To grant one suit, what ere your handmaid praith, And I will promise that it shall be iust. (Beloued worthy mayd, the Emp'ror saith) Your many seruices confesse I must, Deserue no lesse, and frankly here I vow it, If of my Realme you aske part, lle allow it.

67

My suit is that your highnes will not yeeld, That I (said she) may any husband haue, That shall not first of all, with speare and sheeld, Or else with sword in hand him so behaue, As that he can withstand me in the feeld, Behold the onely fauour that I craue; I would be his that proues himselfe so stout, The rest may be content to stand without.

68

Most noble maid (the Emp'ror straight replide) Thy stout demand, well to thy minde doth sute, Wherefore by me it may not be denyde, It is so noble and so iust a sute: Now (for she sought not this her suit to hide) All they that heard thereof, sure were not mute, But eu'n ere night it publisht was so rise, As it was knowne to Ammon and his wife.

69

And thereupon they presently conceaued, Against their daughter, great disdaine and wrath, For by such motion plainly they perceaued, She to Rogero most deuotion hath: Wherefore to th'end she might be quite bereaued All hope, to follow that forbidden path, From out the court they traind her by a slight, And sent her to their castle that same night.

70

This was a fortresse that but few dayes past, The Prince had giu'n to them vpon request, Betweene Perpignan and Cirtasso plast, And neare the sea, not of importance least: Here as a prisner they did keepe her fast, With minde to send her one d••y vnto th'East, They purpose, will she, nill she, she must take Don Leon, and Rogero quite forsake.

71

The Damsell, though not kept with watch or guard, Yet bridled with the Parents awfull raine, Did keepe her close, with good and due regard, And of their rigor did no whit complaine: But yet to this her thoughts were full prepard, To bide imprisonment or any paine, Or death it selfe, by torture or by racke, More rather then from promise to go backe.

72

Renaldo finding that his suttle fire, Had tane his sister thus from out his fist, Nor able as his promise did require, Rogeros suit to further and assist, Forgets he is his sonne, and in his ire, Rebukes his Parents, but say what he list, They are content to giue the words to loosers,* 1.15 But in their daughters match they will be choosers.

73

Rogero hearing this, and greatly fearing, Least Leon should by loue, or by constraint, Possesse his Lady by his long forbearing, He minds (but none he doth therewith acquaint,) To giue a speedie death to Leon,* 1.16 swearing That he of Caesar, will make him a saint, And that he will, except his hope deceiue him, Of scepter, life, and loue, and all bereaue him.

74

And in his minde resolued full thereon, Don Hectors armor that from Mandricard He late had wonne, forwith he putteth on, Frontino cake he secretly prepard: But Eagle on his sheeld he would haue none, I cannot tell you well in what regard; In steed thereof an argent Vnicorne, In field of Gewls by him, as then was borne.

75

One onely trustie seruant and no mo, He takes with him his purpose to conceale, He giueth him in charge where ere he go, That he his name to no man do reueale: Thus Mosa, Rhyne, he past with pace not slow, And Austria, to th'Vngarian common weale: And vpon Isters banke, such speed he made, That in a while he came vnto Belgrade.

76

Where Saua doth into Danubia fall, And all along that streame he might discouer Ensignes and banners all Imperiall, That nye the streame in numbers great did houer: Great was their multitude, and Grecians all, Who with a hope that citie to recouer, Which late before from them the Bulgars wonne, Were thither brought by th'Emperor and his sonne.

77

Twixt Belgrade, and the streame in warlike rankes, The Bulgars stood eu'n to the monntaines ridge, Both armies waterd at the riuers bankes, The Greekes endeuord there to cast a bridge; And for that end prepared boats and plankes, The Bulgars sought their purpose to abridge: Scarse had Rogero vewd them wel, and seene them, But that there fell a skirmish hot betweene them.

78

The Greeks were foure to one, beside they haue Good store of boats with many a planke and boord, And to the place a sharpe assault they gaue, And mean to passe although there were no foord: But this was but a policie, and braue, For Leon so this while himselfe besturd, That with a compasse that about he fet, Both he and his, the streame past without let.

79

With little lesse then twentie thousand men, Along the banks he secretly doth ride, And gaue to them a fresh alarum then, Vnlooked for, vnwares, and vnespide: No lesse the Emp'ror Constantino, when He saw his sonne, on land on tother side, By ioyning planke to planke, and boat to boat, With all his powre, an easie passage got.

80

The Bulgar Captaine that Vatrano hight, And was a valiant warrior and a wise, Endeuord both by policie and fight To beare the bront, but nothing could suffice: For Leon both by multitude and might, Vnhorsed him, and ere he could arise; Sith he to yeeld him prisner did disdaine, Among a thousand swords he there was slaine.

81

Till then, the Bulgars valiantly made hed, But when they saw their king and Captaine slaine, So great a terror in their minds was bred, In their faint hearts no courage did remaine: Rogero seeing how the Bulgars fled, And none to stay or bring them backe againe: To helpe the weaker part resolueth briefly, For hate of Constantine, but Leon chiefly.

82

He spurres his horse that like the winde doth runne, And makes them stand, that fled with fainting brest, And hauing spide one brauer then the Sunne, A gallant youth, more forward then the rest: (This same was Constantinos sisters sonne) At him Rogero runnes with speare in rest: He brake his shield and coat like brittle glasse, And through his bodie made the speare to passe.

83

He leaues him dead, and Ballisard he drawes, And with that blade he shewd himselfe so stout, Who meeteth with him, to repent haue cause, He presseth in among the thickest rout; Ones skull he cleaueth to the verie iawes, Heads, leggs, and armes flew all the field about: The streame that erst did run as Christall cleare, Vermillion now doth to the sight appeare.

84

No man that saw, much lesse that felt his blowes, Dare once make head against them, or resist them, Rogero in the field triumphant goes, The Bulgars now march freely where it list them: Nor was there one amongst them all that knowes, What wight it was that did so well assist them: This change they saw procur'd in little space, Who lately fled, now held their foes in chase.

85

The young Augustus standing on a hill, A place aboue the rest much eminent, Seeing one man his men to slay and kill, And that their losse and flight was euident: He wonders at his courage and his skill, And thinks that God had sure some Angel sent, To plague the Grecians for their old offences, And for the Bulgars succours and defences.

86

He sees both by his armes and Vnicorne, That sure he was a knight of forraine Nation, And where as some, more hate wold him haue born He rather held him in more admiration: His heart, whom vertuous thoughts did still adorne, And euer was of noble inclination, Made him extoll him for his deeds of armes, Although his men by him receiu'd such harmes.

87

Eu'n as a babe,* 1.17 whom sometime mou'd with ire, The mother beats with rod; or with it chafeth, Runnes not vnto the sister, nor the fire, But to the Mam, and sweetly her imbraceth: So now though Leons men are made retire, And though Rogero killeth them and chaseth,* 1.18 Yet his great valew maketh Leon loue him, Much more then hate him, for the harm he doth him

88

But if that Leon loue him and admire, Me thinks he hath but sorrie recompence, For why Rogeros hope and sole desire, Is to do Leon damage and offence: He lookes for him, and oft he doth enquire, Which way he was, but still the diligence, And long experience of the warie Greeke, Do cause Rogero him in vaine did seeke.

89

Don Leon saw his souldiers flie so fast, He sounds retreit, and to his father sent A messenger forthwith, in all post hast, And of his message this was chiefe content; To let him vnderstand how things had past, And wish him flie for feare of being shent: Likewise himselfe and his, hast all they may, Backe ore the streame themselves then to conuay.

90

But yet for all his hast, his men were slaine, And some with hast were drowned in the streame; The Bulgars now did conquerors remaine, That erst in perill were to loose their Reame: The knight of th'Vnicorne, they all see plaine, Causd all their good; wherefore with ioy extreame, To him they go acknowledging indeed, That all their glorie did from him proceed.

91

Some kisse his hands, and some do kisse his feete, And in most humble manner him salute, They thinke for him a praise diuine were meete, And powre diuine they do to him impute: They send their chiefest Captaines him to meete, And all of them to him do make this sute: And vp to heau'n their ioyfull voyces ring, That he would be their Captaine, guide, and king.

92

Rogero vnto them this answer made, That he will be their guide as they thinke best, But that he will not come into Belgrade, Nor staffe, nor scepter touch at no request, Vntill that Leon that did them inuade, He haue once slaine, or tane him at the least: For why a thousand miles for this alone, He riden had, and other cause had none.

93

This said, forthwith he biddeth them adew, And would no longer stay at their desiring, But that way Leon fled, did him pursew, (For flight it was indeed, and not retyring) How beit Leon and his men that knew, What in such case for safetie was requiring, Brake downe the bridge, when they the streame had past And so as then they made the passage fast.

94

Rogero failing of his first intent, Did seeke some place to passe to tother side, Along that streame till all that day was spent, And all that night vncessantly doth ride: Be time next morne vnto a towne he went, To ease his wearied bodie, and beside, To make his horse amends for so great wrong, In keeping him without a bait so long.

95

Vngardo, one of reckning good and state, Held this same towne to Constantino deare, And footmen had, and horsemen got of late, Since of these warres he did first tidings heare: Rogero finding none to watch the gate, More boldly enterd finding passage cleare: The towne it selfe within he likewise found, With meat and drinke, and lodging to abound.

96

Now where Rogero lodged that same night, One of Romania, happend there to oste, That present was at that precedent fight, When as Rogero holpe the Bulgars host: And at that time did him so sore affright, That though of his escaping he might bost; Yet still he feard him, and still did doubt him, And still he thought that Vnicorne about him.

97

Wherefore when as he saw that sheeld, he knew This was the man that eu'n before so late, So many of the Grecian armie slew, Straightway he hasted to the castle gate: And that he may haue audience, he doth sew, For matter that concernes the Realme and state: But when he was admitted, what he told, Within the booke insuing ile vnfold.

* 1.19How truly and vpon how iust cause mine author blameth Princes for their weake keeping promise, and their conti∣nuall breaking of leagues (be they made euer so solemnly) I thinke our present time can witnesse, in which it is hard to say, whether any two Princes in Europe at this day be assured each of others loue: the reason is plaiue,

They weigh not wrong nor right, nor recken of it, Further then it may tend to their owne profit.

And as the fault is theirs, so sure they haue a great punishment for it, which is, that they liue in perpetuall feare one of another, and euer one iealous of anothers greatnes: it was a happie time (if euer there was a time) when it was otherwise.

In dame Beatrice we may note the notable ambitious humor of women, specially in matching their children aboue their calling, which I touched more at large in the notes of the fist booke: neither are the wiser sort of men free from this folly, for if they may match their daughters, so as they may say my Lord my sonne, they thinke they haue God almightie by the toe (as the prouerbe saith) whereas many times they haue the diuell by the claw: but those that glorie so to make their sonnes their Lords, I would haue them heare that verse of Martiall to one that called his father his Lord.

Seruum te dicis natum ingenueq fateris, Cum dicis dominum Sosibiane patrem. A slaue thou art by birth, of this I gather, For euermore thou saist, my Lord my father.

* 1.20Perythous would needs take vpon him by the helpe of Theseus to steale away the daughter of the king of Molossus, but being both taken, Perithous was deuoured by Cerberus a great dogge that the said king kept, and Theseus was af∣ter resiued by Hercules: thence arose the fable that they went to hell togither to steale Proserpina, for so was that kings daughter named.

* 1.21In the many lets that Rogero hath ear he can get Bradamant, the Allegorie is ••ontinued from the beginning to the end of the whole worke, to shew how hardly a man comes to a true contentment and peaceable state in this world (which is figured in the match with Bradamant man hauing still enemies bodily or ghostly to hinder or interrupt the same.

* 1.22In Bradamants constant loue to Rogero, he alludes to a Lady of the house of Colonna, that married Luigy Gon∣zaga against the Popes will, and many of his adherents.

Here end the notes of the 44. booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of friendship.
• * 1.2

  Looke in the Allegorie, of myracles.
• * 1.3

  Renaldo motio\̄s the marriage for Bradamant.
• * 1.4

  Sentence. The common opi∣nion of the people
• * 1.5

  Looke of this in the Moral.
• * 1.6

  Sentence.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 meliora 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dese••••••a Siqu••r
• * 1.8

  Simile.
• * 1.9

  Sentence.
• * 1.10

  Sentence.
• * 1.11

  Sentence. Of the com•••••••• op••on of mak•••••• marriage.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉 the slory.
• * 1.14

  Bradamants lett••r, Rogier qual sempre fui tal esser voglia.
• * 1.15

  Sentence.
• * 1.16

  Fard' Aug••∣dius, for m•• the Emper•• were dead, deified them called them which impor•• much as s••••
• * 1.17

  Simile.
• * 1.18

  This was a true noble nature.
• * 1.19

  Morall.
• * 1.20

  Historie.
• * 1.21

  Allegorie.
• * 1.22

  Allusion.