Canto 13

FVll ventrous were the noble knights of old,
And worthy that their same should ay endure,
That durst with valiant heart, and courage bold
Find cut in dens and places all obscure,
Such as in courts we now but seeld behold,
Faire dames, of beautie, mind and manners pure:
As erst I told you how Orlando found,
A braue young Ladie hidden vnder ground.

Now in my former matter to proceed,
I say when he had vewd her person well,
And markt her face and hauiour with great heed,
He doth request the damsell faire to tell,
Who was the author of so soule a deed,
To force her in so vnfit place to dwell:
And the as plaine and briefly as she can,
In this sweet sort her wofull speech began.

Most worthy knight (she said) although I know,
That I shall buy my speech to you full deare,
(For sure I am, this woman here will show,
My words to him that first did place me heare)
Truth I will tell, though truth increase my woe,
And make him looke on me with angrie cheares
Dispaire hath euer danger all contemned,
What should she feare that is eu'n now condemned?

I am that Fabel that somtime was,
A daughter deare vnto the king of Spaine,
Well did I say I was, for now alas,
I am the child of anguish and and of paine:
Loue, onely loue, this great change brought to passe,
Loue, onely loue, of thee I may complaine,
That flattring alwaies in thy first beginnings,
Yeeld'st certaine losse in steed of hoped winnings.

Then in good state I spent my happie dayes,
Noble and young, honest and rich, and faire,
Now base, despised, poore, and wanting prayes:
Drownd in a dungeon of most deepe dispaire,
Thus loue throws downe, whom fortune hie doth raise
And marrs the sport in which he is a plaire:
He that in art of loue did show his skill,
Saith loue and maiestie agrees but ill.

But that I plainly may declare my mind,
Thus it fell out: my father twelue months since,
To make a famous triumph had assig nd,
Vnto the which came many a Lord and Prince:
Now whether liking did mine eies so blind,
Or that his vertue did it selfe conuince:
Zerbin (me thought) the king of Scotlands sonne,
In this same triumph honor chiefe had wonne.

The passing feates of armes I saw him do,
In which he was compared with the best,
His person and his beautie ioynd thereto,
In which he far surpassed all the rest,
Did cause that heno sooner did me woe,
But I as quickly granted his request:
Interpreters nor other means none wanted,
To make the seeds to grow that loue had planted.

When as these feasts and solemne shewes were ended,
My Zerbin backe againe to Scotland hasted,
Wherewith how grieuously I was offended,
Well may you guesse if euer loue you tasted:
But he that cannot be too much commended,
Whose loue to me no lesse in absence lasted,
With purpose and with promise firme to marry me,
Studed all meanes away from hence to carry me.

Twere vaine he thought to aske me of my fire,
(Zerbin a Christen, I a Sarazine)
Our country law contrarid that desire,
To which our loues so wholy did encline:
This feat doth some new stratagem require,
More heedfull, secret, circumspect and fine:
When loue hath knit two hearts in persite vnitie,
They seldome faile to find their oportunitie.

An house of great estate in Bayon towne,
My father had with gardens sweet and faire,
In which with large descents still going downe
Vnto a riuer comes the garden staire,
Here (if ill fortune on vs do not frowne)
He meanes when I shall walke to take the aire,
Soone to surprise me walking in an ally,
And so conuey me to his armed gally.

But sith with him the case did then so stand,
Not to be present at this enterprise,
He sent me letters written with his hand,
By Oderike of Byskie stout and wise,
Expert in seruice both of sea and land,
And wils me do as he should me aduise,
Whose faith he nothing doubteth to be found,
As one to him by benefits much bound.

This firme and fast, and sure obliged frend,
Of proued courage, value and of skill,
Against the time appointed he doth send:
And I that for their comming looked still,
Against the time appointed did descend,
To giue him scope to worke his masters will,
And he accordingly came vnespide,
With armed men vnder the garden side.

I seeing them, my selfe most fearfull saine,
They seeing me, soone of their purpose sped,
Those that resistance made, forthwith were slaine,
And some afraid and faint like cowards fled,
The rest with me as prisners do remaine;
Then straight we were vnto the gally led,
And gone so farre we could not be recouered,
Before my father had the fact discouered.

Of this departure I my selfe was glad,
In hope ere long my Zerbin to haue found,
But lo a sodaine tempest made vs sad,
And neare to Rochell almost had vs dround,
The master of the ship no cunning had,
To keepe the keele from striking on the ground:
It booted not against the waues to striue,
Vpon sharpe rockes the tempest doth vs driue.

In vaine it was to pull downe all our sailes,
And on the foreboord close to couch the mast,
No paine against the raging sea preuailes,
On land we looke each minute to be cast:
Diuine helpe oft doth come, when humane failes,
And when in reason all releese is past:
For doubtlesse I do deeme by powre diuine,
We were preserued in this dang'rous time.

The Byskin that the danger well doth note,
Doth meane a desprate remedy to trie,
He straightway launcheth out the little bote,
He and two more go downe therein and I,
This done, he cuts the rope and lets her flore,
Threatning with naked sword that he should die,
That durst presume to giue so bold aduenter,
Against our wils into the bote to enter.

The rope now cut, away the bote was carried
By force of waues vnto the shallow shore,
And by geat fortune none of vs miscarried,
So great a plunge I neuer scapt before,
But they (poore soules) that in the gally tarried,
Were drownd, the vessell quite in peeces tore,
Where though my losse of stuffe and iewels greeu'd me,
My hope to see my Zerbin still releeu'd me.

Now being come to land (in lucklesse houre)
And trusting onely Oderikes direction,
Loue (that doth euer loue to shew his power,
In tempring and distempring our affection)
My good to ill, my sweet doth turne to sower,
My hope to hurt, my health into infection:
He in whose trust Zerbin so much relieth,
Freezeth in faith, and in new fancie frieth.

Now whether first at sea this humor grew,
Or else he moued was with new occasion,
To haue me here alone with so small crew.
As from his will I could not make euasion,
He bids all faith and honestie adew,
And yeelds himselfe vnto this foule perswasion;
And that he may his pleasure surely warrant,
He sends the seruants of a sleeuelelle arrant.

Two men there were that had so luckie lot,
With vs into the shipbote to descend,
One hight Almonio, by birth a Scot,
A valiant man, and Zerbius trustie frend,
Odrike tels him that it beseemed not,
So few vpon a Princesse to attend,
And that the daughter of the King of Spaine,
Should go on foote and with so small a traine.

Wherefore he wisheth him to go before
To Rochell, there a palfrey to prouide,
And hire some men, a dozen or a score,
Me to my lodging mannerly to guide:
Almonio went, then was there left no more,
But Coreb, one of wit and courage tride,
In whom the Byskin put the more affiance,
Because that he was one of his alliance.

Yet long he seemd in doubtfull mind to houer,
Faine if he could he would haue rid him thence,
At last he thinks so fast a friend and louer,
Will with his friends iniquitie dispence:
Wherefore he doth to him his mind discouer,
In hope that he would further his offence,
And do as friends in our dayes haue a fashion,
Aduance their pleasure more then reputation.

But he whose honest mind could not suppose,
That Oderike had had so little grace,
The fact not onely threatens to disclose,
But cals him false and traitor to his face:
From bitter words vnto more bitter bloes,
They came and fought together in the place,
And […] in this prospect no whit delighting,
Fled to the wood while they two were a fighting.

Betweene them two the combat was not long,
But […]o the worser cause the better sped,
Whether he were more skilfull or more strong,
O[…]rike doth lay Corebo there for dead:
That done, he runs the woods and seme among,
And followes fast the way that I had fled,
I thinke that he god Cupids wings did borrow,
He made such hast to hasten on my sorrow.

Feare made me swift, for sore I was afraid,
Loue made him twister runne to ouertake me,
Then sore against my will my courie he staid,
Then sundrily both foule and faire he spake me,
Sometime he promised sometime he praid,
Sometime he threatned he by force would make me:
With […], with gifts, with threats he oft did proue me,
With […]at, with gifts, with threats he nought did moue me

But when he could not with his words preuaile,
He doth resolue no farther time to stay,
With open force he then did me assaile,
As doth a hungry Beare cease on his pray,
And I de ended me with tooth and naile,
And cries and skreeks, and all the wayes I may,
Not was I in mine owne defence afeard.
To scratch his eyes, and pull away his beard.

I know not if it were my skreech and crie,
That might haue well bin heard a league and more,
Or if it were their vse that dwell there by,
To come to seeke some shipwracks on the shore,
But straight vpon the hill we might descrie,
Come toward vs of companie good store,
Which makes my Byskie man away to runne,
And to surcease his enterprise begunne.

Thus this vnlookt for crew preseru'd me then,
And hinderd him of his vmust desire:
But I was sau'd as is the flounder when
He leapeth from the dish into the fire.
For though these barbarous and sauage men,
To touch my person did not once aspire,
No vertuous thought did breed this moderation,
But hope of gaine and greedie inclination.

The leader of this miserable band,
Did thinke his market will be raised much,
In selling me, when men shall vnderstand,
He sels a maid whom none did euer tuch,
And now I heare a merchant is in hand,
Of him to buy me if his lucke be such,
From whom into the East I shall be sent,
Where to the Souldan they will me present.

And in this sort her wofull tale she told,
And mingled sighes with teares in rufull fashion,
Expressed with such dolefull words as would
Haue mou'd a stonie heart to take compassion:
It easd in part her mind, thus to vnfold
The bitter cause of her vnpleasant passion.
Now while Orlando to this tale attended,
The crew of caitiues to the caue descended.

A barbarous and foule misshapen crew,
Armed, one with a spit, one with a prong,
Mouthes, eyes and face, most vgly were to vew,
One had no nose, anothers was too long,
But when their leader somewhat nearer drew,
And saw Orlando standing there among,
Turning to his companion, he said,
Lo here a bird for whom no net we laid.

Then to the Earle he said, I am right glad
To find one so well armed in my caue,
For long for such an armor longd I had,
And surely now this I suppose to haue:
How thinke you, when my person shall be clad
With this your coate, shall I not then be braue?
Wherefore good sir, think not your welcome scant,
That come so fitly to supply my want.

Orlando turning with a sower smile,
Answerd, his armor was of price too hie,
And that he greatly did himselfe beguile,
That thought of him his armor there to buy:
And as they nearer came, he stoopt the while,
And tooke a brand that in the fire did lie,
And straight he threw it at the caitiues head,
And laid him there along the floore for dead.

A short thicke planke stood on a scrubby post,
That seru'd them for a boord to drinke and eate,
And (for the same full heauy was and great)
This like a coight at them Orlando tost,
It fell downe there among them to their cost,
They neuer saw before so strange a feat:
By which scarce one of them escaped harme,
In head, in leg, in brest, in side or arme.

So shall you see a country man that takes
In time of spring a brickbat or a stone,
And throwes the same vpon a knot of snakes,
That he together clusterd all in one,
How great a spoile the stone among them makes,
And those that scape, how quickly they be gone:
So did Orlando with these pesants play,
That glad were they that scapt to runne away.

Those that could scape the heauie tables fall,
Vnto their feete commended their defence,
Which were (as Turpin writes) but seuen in all,
Which seuen were glad to runne away from thence:
But yet their flying brought them helpe but small,
Orlando meanes to punish their offence,
Their feete, nor yet their fence, could them so gard,
But that he brought them to the hanging ward.

Now when the foresaid aged woman saw,
In how bad sort these trends of hers were serued,
She was affeard, for well she knew by law,
That no lesse punishment she had deserued,
Forthwith from thence she stale away for aw,
And vp and downe the desert wood she swarued,
Vntill at last a warrior stout her met,
But who it was I may not tell as yet.

The tender damsell doth Orlando pray,
Her chastitie and honour to protect,
Who made her go with him, and from that day,
Had vnto her a fatherly respect:
Now as they went, a prisner by the way,
They saw, whose name I may not now detect:
Now should I speake of Bradamant by right,
Whom erst I left in such a dolefull plight.

The valorous Lady looking long in vaine,
When her Rogero would to her returne,
Lay in Marsilia to the Pagans paine,
Where eu'ry day she did them some shrowd turne,
For some of them in Prouence did remaine,
And Languedock where they did spoile and burne,
Till with her valew she did them rebuke,
Supplying place of captaine and of duke.

Now on a day as she sat still and mused,
The time of his appointment long expired,
Doubting left she by him might be abused,
Or that her companie he not desired,
And often whom she blamd, she straight excused,
Thus while with carefull thought her selfe she tired,
Melissa whom she thought not to be neare her,
Came suddenly of purpose for to cheare her.

With pleasant countenance Melissa sage,
Much like to those that carrie welcome newes,
Wils her, her causelesse sorrow to asswage,
And good Rogeros absence doth excuse,
Swearing that she durst lay her life to gage,
He would not absent be, if he might chuse,
And that he did now in his promise hault,
Was not by his but by anothers fault.

Wherefore (quoth she) get you to horsebacke straight
If you would set your faithfull louer free,
And I my selfe intend on you to wait,
Till you his prison with your eye shall see,
Whereas Atlanta, with a strange deceit
Detaineth men, of base and hie degree,
And showes by strange illusion distrest,
Each one the partie whom he loueth best.

Each one doth deeme he sees in great distresse,
His loue, his frend, his fellow or his page,
According as mens reasons more or lesse,
Are weake or strong such passion to asswage,
Thus do they follow this their foolish guesse,
Vntill they come like birds into a cage,
Searching the pallace with a pensiue hart,
The great desire not suffering them to part,

Now then (said she) when you shall once draw nye,
Where this same Necromancer strange doth dwell,
He will your coming and the cause descrye,
And to delude you (marke me what I tell)
He straight will offer there vnto your eye,
By helpe of some inhabitants of hell,
Rogeros person, all in wofull plight,
As though he had beene conquered in fight.

And if you follow, thinking him to ayd,
Then will he stay you as he doth the rest,
But kill him therefore and be not affraid,
For so you shall your frend deliuer best,
So shall your foe Atlanta be betrayd,
In his owne trap when as he looketh left,
And feare not when he commeth by to strike him,
Though he your deare resemble, and looke like him

I know full well how hard twill be to trye,
And how your heart wil faile, and hand wil tremble
When you shall go about to make one dye,
That shall Rogeros shape so right resemble:
But in this case you may not trust your eye,
But all your sprites, and forces all assemble,
For this assure you, if you let him go,
You worke your owne and your Rogeros wo.

The Prouerbe faith, one that is warn'd is armd,
The which old saw, doth proue by due construction,
That they, that after warning had are harmd,
Did ill regard or follow good instruction,
Now Bradamant rides to the place so charmd,
And vowd that old Magicians destruction,
And that they may the tedious way beguile,
They spend the time in pleasant talke the while.

And oft Melissa doth to her repeat
The names of those that should be her posteritie,
That should in force, and deeds of armes be great,
But greater in Religion and sinceritie,
Atchiuing many a strange and worthy feat.
And vse both head, and hand, with great dexteritie,
In ruling iust, and bountifull in giuing,
Cesars in fight, and saints in godly liuing.

Now when Melissa sage such things did show,
The noble Lady modestly replide,
Sith God (quoth she) doth giue you skill to know,
The things that shall in future times betide,
And meanes on me (vnworthy) to bestow
An issue such as few shall haue beside,
Tell me among so many men of name,
Shall there no woman be of worthy fame?

Yes many a one (said she) both chast and wife,
Mothers to such as beare imperiall crownes,
Pillars and staves of roiall families,
Owners of realmes, of countries and of townes,
Out of thy blessed offpring must arise,
Such as shalbe eu'n in their sober gownes,
For chastitie and modestie as glorious,
As shall their husbands be in warre victorious.

Nor can I well, or do I now intend,
To take vpon me all their names to tell,
For then my speech would neuer haue an end,
I finde so many that deserue so well,
Onely I meane a word or two to spend,
Of one or two that do the rest excell:
Had you but talkt hereof in Merlins caue,
You should haue seen the shapes that they shal haue.

Shall I begin with her whose vertue rare
Shall with her husband liue in happie strife,
Whether his valiant actions may compare,
Or be preferd before her honest life?
He fights abroad against king Charles at Tare,
She staid at home a chast and sober wife:
Penelope in spending chast her dayes,
As worthie as Vlysses was of praise.

Then next dame Beatrice the wife sometime
Of […]dwickeSforze, surnamed eke the More;
Wise and discreet, and knowne without all crime,
Of fortunes gifts and natures hauing store:
Her husband liu'd most happie all her time,
And in such state as few haue liu'd before:
But after fell from being Duke of Millen,
To be a captiue fetterd like a villen.

To passe the famous house I should be sorie,
Of Aragon, and that most worthie queene,
Whose match in neither greeke nor latine storie,
Or any writer else hath euer beene:
And full to perfite her most worthy glorie,
Three worthie children shall of her be seene,
Of whom the heauens haue pointed her the mother,
Istell by name, Alfonso and his brother.

As siluer is to tinne, as gold to brasse,
As roses are to flowres and herbs more base,
As diamonds and rubyes are to glasse,
As cedars are to sallows: in like case
Shall famous Leonora others passe,
In vertue, beautie, modestie and grace:
But aboue all, in this she shall excell,
In bringing vp her children passing well.

For as the vesseil euer beares a tast,
Of that same iuyce wherwith it first was filled,
And as in fruitfull ground the seed growes fast,
That first is sowne when as the same is tilled:
So looke what lore in youthfull yeares is plast,
By that they grow the worse or better willed,
When as they come to manly age and stature,
Sith education is another nature.

Then next her neece, a faire and famous dame,
That hight Renata I may not forget,
Daughter to Lews the xij. king of that name,
Whom of the Britten Dutches he did get:
Whose vertue great shall merite lasting fame,
While fier shalbe warme and water wet,
While wind shall blow, & earth stand firm & sound,
And heau'nly sphears shall run their courses round.

I passe all those that passe all these some deale,
Whose soules aspiring to an higher praise,
Despising pompe and ease, and worldly weale,
In sacred rytes shall spend their blessed dayes:
Whose hearts and holy loue and godly zeale,
To heau'nly ioyes, from earthly thoughts shall raise,
That to good workes, to prayre and pure diuinitie,
Shall consecrate their liues and their virginitie.

Thus doth Melyssa vnto her discourse,
Of those should come hereafter of her seed,
And while they talked oft by entercourse,
They in their iourney onward do proceed,
And oftentimes Melyssa hath recourse,
To will her of Atlanta take great heed,
And least she should with faint and foolish kindnes,
Be led vnwares in error and in blindnes.

Now when they neare approched to the place,
Then Bradamant departed from her guide,
And after she had rode a little space,
She saw one brought with hands togither tide,
Exceeding like Rogero in the face,
In voice, in stature, haire and all beside:
Bound fast with chaines betweene two gyants led,
That threttend him er long he should be ded.

But when the damsell saw within her vew,
The lamentable state and hard condicion,
Of him whose face she certaine thought she knew,
She changeth straight her trust into suspicion,
Doubting Melyssa of some malice new,
Or hidden hate had giu'n her such commission,
To make Rogero for a greater spite,
Be slaine by her in whom he doth delight.

Is not this he (thus to her selfe she spake)
Whom stil mine heart and now mine eies do see?
If my Rogero I can so mistake,
I neuer shall haue knowledge which is he:
I either dreame and am not now awake,
Or else no doubt it can none other be,
Melyssa? what, may not Melyssa lye?
Shall I beleeue her tale, and not mine eye?

Now while that thus she thought, and thus she said,
And in this vnwise doubt did thus perseuer:
She thought she heard him speake and aske for aid,
Saying (my loue) assist me now or neuer;
What shall I in thy fight be so betraid?
Doest thou forsake me? then farewell for euer:
These vnkind words her heart so greatly daunted,
She followes him into the house inchaunted.

No sooner was she enterd in the gate,
But that the common error her possest,
Wandring about the house betimes and late,
Nor night nor day she taketh any rest;
The strange inchantment brought her in that state,
That though she saw the man that lou'd her best,
And spake with him, and met him eu'rie howre,
To know the tone the tother had no powre.

But let not now the reader be displeased,
Although I leaue her in this charmed place,
I, meane er long her trauell shall be eased,
And she shall see and know Rogeros face.
Eu'n as the tast with diuers meats is pleased,
So thinke I by this storie in like case,
The frendly reader shall be lesse annoyed,
If with one matter long he be not cloyed.

With sundrie threds a man had need to weaue,
To make so large a web as I intend,
Wherfore all other matters I must leaue,
Of Agramant a little time to spend:
Who sorely at the flour deluce did heaue,
And all his might to mar the same did bend,
Sending for men to Affricke and to Spaine,
Those to supply that in the field were slaine.

Thus all on war his heart was wholly fixt,
His new supplies with sundrie captaines led,
Were come, with men of sundrie nations mixt,
With whom that no disorder may be bred,
A day forvews and musters was prefixt,
That eu'rie one might know his guide and hed,
Then fell they to their mustring and their vewing,
As shall be shewd you in the booke ensuing.