Canto 20

RIght wódrous deeds by diuers dames were donne,
In times of old, as well by sword as pen,
Whereby their glorie shined like the sunne,
And famous was both far and neare as then,
The fame Harpalice in battell wonne,
Camillas worth is eke well knowne to men,
Corinnas praise, and Saphos are discerned,
Aboue the rest, because they both were lerned.

What art so deepe? what science is so hie,
But worthy women haue thereto attayned?
Who list in stories old to looke, may trie,
And find my speech herein not false nor fained,
And though of late they seeme not to come nie,
The praise their sexe in former times haue gained,
No doubt the fault is either in backbiters,
Or want of skill and iudgement in the writers.

For sure I see in this our present age,
Such vertuous parts in their sweet sexe to grow,
The young so sober, and the rest so sage,
And all so chast, as writers shall (I know)
Haue worke enough to fill full many a page,
With their great praise that from their worth will flow,
To win the fame their ancestors did leese,
And passe Marfisa not in few degrees.

But now […]o turne my speech to her againe,
I say that when the knight did aske her name,
She made him answer, and did not disdaine,
To tell both what she was, and whence she came,
Yet (as her fashion was) both briefe and plaine;
She saith thus to the knight; I called am
Marfisa: and she need to say no more,
For all the world had heard the rest before.

The tother, when his turne to speake came in,
First making long and farther circumstance,
In such like manner doth his tale begin,
(And sighing deepe) you all haue heard perchance,
Both of my fathers house and of my kin,
Of fame in Italie, in Spaine and France:
Forsure I am the house of Clarimount,
In all the world is knowne and of account.

He that Charello and Mambrino slew,
And did their kingdoms ruine and deface,
Out of one stocke with me together grew,
Although we were not all borne in one place,
For why at lster flood (to tell you trew)
My father me begat, and in that case,
My mother great with childe he left behind,
And went to France by helpe of saile and wind.

Thus seu'nteene yeares I liu'd like one exild,
Vntill I able was to breake a launce,
And for that place me seemd too base and vild,
I meane to seeke my frends and kin in Fraunce:
They name me Guidon sauage of a child,
As yet I could not much my name aduance,
For hither by a tempest I was borne,
As you were now, with ship and tackle torne.

Here first Argillon with nine me[…] I killed,
A leau'n months since, and that same day at night,
The office of an husband I fulfilled,
Vnto ten Amazons in flesh delight;
This done, to take my choise then was I willed,
Of any ten that pleased best my sight,
And these remaine my wiues, and must vntill
One come that me with other nine can kill.

Vnto the knights this seemd a maru'lous storie,
And much they wonderd at this gouernment,
They maruell that so great a territorie,
For want of men was not consum'd and spent:
They thought no lesse the women would be sorie,
For want of men, to liue so continent;
Twas strange one man sufficed ten of thease,
Sith one with vs can scant one woman please.

And straight they were inquisitiue to know,
When first this foolish order there began,
And vpon what occasion it did grow,
That women in that countrie ruled man?
Then Guidon answerd thus, I shall you show
The whole discourse as briefely as I can,
According as my selfe haue heard the same,
Since (by mishap) into this realme I came.

When as the Greekes had quite defaced Troy,
And after twise ten yeares returned home,
(For ten whole years in danger and annoy,
Of surging seas they vp and downe did rome)
They found their wiues that had but little ioy,
So long a time, to liue and lye alone,
Each one a lustie louer to haue chosen,
Lest with the cold they might be staru'd and frozen.

Their houses full of bastard brats they see:
In fine, they purpose after consultation,
To pardon all their wiues and let them free,
But for these boyes that bred some altercation,
To driue them out a doore they do agree,
And make them seeke a forraine habitation;
It was contrarie much to their desiers,
That others brats should warme thé at their fiers.

Thus some thrown out. some close their mothers keep
In corners, from their angrie husbands sight,
And when as elder years on them do creepe,
Each one betakes him to his most delight;
Some plow, some get them heards of goats & sheep
Some sciences, and some do learne to fight.
Thus eu'rie one betooke him to some trade,
As he assignes that all the world hath made.

Among the rest that Art of war ensue,
Phalanto sonne of Clytemnestra Queene,
But eighteene yeares of age, and […]resh of hue,
And in the floure of youths well pleasing greene,
This one to him an hundred gallants drue,
And getting ships and things that needfull beene,
With writs of Mart (a thing that breeds much sorow)
He gets him to the sea, in mind to borow.

Now while Phalanto with his cursed fleet,
Abode at sea with that more cursed traine;
It fortund at that time that they of Creet,
Had Idumeo driu'n out of his raigne,
Wherfore for better strength they thought it meet,
Phalanto and his men to entertaine.
They giue to him great hire, and great reward,
The citie of Ditea for to guard.

Ditea was a towne of great estate,
Rich and frequented with no small resort,
And yeelds in plentie large, betimes and late,
Of sundrie kinds of pleasures and of sport;
And as they all men vsd, so in like rate,
They vsd their souldiers in so friendly sort,
As though they had agreed by sound accords,
To make them all their masters and their Lords.

But chiefe they found with women so great grace,
As they wan most of them vnto their lure;
But when the warres were ended in short space,
And that their pay no longer did endure,
They all prepar'd to leaue this pleasant place,
Which to the damsels did great griefe procure;
To leese their husbands, brother, or their father,
Then these new louers eu'rie one had rather.

And when they saw they could not make them stay,
By no deuice of theirs, nor no request,
They do agree with them to steale away,
And take such things as were of value best;
Thus came these damsels loden with their pray,
And thence to sea, and were now gone at left
An hundred leagues, with these new lawles louers,
Before Ditea this their flight discouers.

The wind so good then for their purpose blew,
Phalanto quickly landed in this cost,
And here the amorous and wanton crew,
Vnto their loues of this their lewdnesse bost;
But now that saying was confirmed trew,
That pleasant things do often cloy the most:
And there can be a greater clog to no man,
Then to be wearie of a wanton woman.

Wherefore like men that were, and had bene euer,
Of gaine most greedie, sparing of expence:
They secretly consulting do endeuer,
To take the goods, and then to steale from thence.
Thus while the women still in loue perseuer,
They that regard not pleasure more then pence,
Lode with their wealth, of which there was good store
Stale to the sea, & left them on the shore.

Sore were the damsels daunted and dismayd,
When once they saw their loues had the forsaken,
For what more spite can be, then be betraid
Of him to whom one hath her selfe betaken?
And fith they find that weeping doth n[…]t ayd,
They meane betime some order shalbe taken,
What they shall do, and how heareafter liue,
And eu'rie one doth straight her verdit giue.

One home to turne againe doth thinke it best.
And to their kin and friends them to submit,
And with repentance pardon to request,
And vow the like fault neuer to commit;
Another that good motion doth detest,
And sweares it shewd the mouer had no wit,
And that with greater honestie or ease,
They might go drowne them headlong in the seas.

Among the rest one Orontea hight,
That lineally of Mynos was descended,
And past the rest in beautie and good sprite,
And had lesse grieuously then they offended,
For to Phalanto she her troth did plight,
And to haue bene his honest spouse intended:
This one declareth thus her resolution,
And makes the rest put it in execution.

She wishes them to tary in this land,
That had both fruitfull earth and pleasant aire,
And fountaines sweet, and woods on eu'ry hand,
And medowes greene, and pastures fresh and faire,
Beside large hau'us, where ships at ease might stand,
To which the merchants often made repaire,
By tempest driuen, well loden with good trafficke,
Of things that come from Egipt and from Affricke.

Wherefore this place she minds not to forsake,
But that they may as chiefly they desire,
A sharpe reuenge on men for euer take,
They vow to put to sacke, to sword and fire,
Such ships as to their hauen repaire do make,
And kill the men, and this they all conspire:
And still when any come, this trade they vse,
Nor left a man aliue to carry newes.

But when this cruell law some yeares had lasted,
Which they had meant to haue confirmd for ay,
They find that they so fast consumd and wasted,
That this their barren kingdome would decay,
Except to find some remedy they hasted,
And hauing long consulted on the way,
They meane of this their law to bate some rigor,
Yet leaue the substance still in strength and vigor.

And thus they do, they chuse among such men,
As tempests driue to this their wicked nation,
Some few as were so lustie, as with ten
They could performe the act of generation,
All in one night, the rest into a den
They cast, and kill them in most cruell fashion,
And build vnto reuenge a solemne alter,
And ouer this they make them stretch a halter.

Such men as liue are to this order sworne,
To kill all such as hither shall repaire,
And all men children that to them are borne,
They sell or change as in an open faire,
So when some die with age and weaknesse worne,
Then other women do the want repaire,
Their powre and number thus doth still increase,
Their wealth & pomp augmented, with long peace.

But after many yeares it thus befell,
Elbanio, one of Hercles noble race,
A comely tall strong man, and fauord well,
And in his speech and manners passing grace,
Arriued where these homicids do dwell,
And ere he knew the fashion of the place,
The cruell sergeants tooke him as they found him,
And like a fellon hand and foote they bound him.

It fortund as they carrid him to slaughter,
Among the rest that did the same behold,
Was Alessandra, Oronteas daughter,
A fine yong girle, about twise eight yeare old,
Elbanio humbly as he went besought her,
To be a meane this foule death to withhold,
That like a man he might be kild at least,
And not be drawne to slaughter like a beast.

To beg my life (quoth he) it were a vanitie,
(Which in your seruice I would gladly spend)
Where humane hearts be voyd of all humanitie,
But all the sute that I to make intend,
(Which to denie were too too much immanitie)
Is this, that thus my life I may not end,
But with my sword in hand to fight with men,
With seu'n at once, or eight, or nine or ten.

This he to her, thus she to him replies,
Though to mankind we all professe hostilitie,
Yet thinke not (this she spake with watrie eyes)
That all our hearts are void of all gentilitie,
What Progne or Medea could despise
Your passing beautie, courage and nobilitie?
And were my fellowes all so ill inclind,
Yet I my selfe would beare a better mind.

Aud though the rigor of our law be such,
That no man can obtaine a pardon free,
And eu'n this small you aske, to graunt is much,
If our law strictly should obserued bee,
Yet such remorse I feele my heart doth tuch,
To graunt thy sute if others will agree
Although I feare thou wilt in such a strife,
Prolong thy paine, and not preserue thy life.

Oh (said Elbanio) blest were such a day,
That in the field my manhood I might trie,
Could but your credit carry such a sway,
Not ten, but ten times ten I would defie.
This said, she causd the execution stay,
And to her mother goes she by and by,
With thousand stings of Cupid in her brest,
And vnto her expoundeth his request.

Straight Orontea doth her counsell call,
And in such sort thereof to them she spake,
In guarding of our hau'n and citie wall,
Tis good that of the strongest men we take:
Therefore to know who be most stout and tall,
I thinke it very good some proofe to make,
For else we shall vnto our selues do wrong,
To saue the weaker men, and kill the strong.

And who can wish to make a better triall,
Then for one man to fight with fiue and fiue,
And if he vanquish them and make them die all,
Twere certes meet he should be kept aliue:
Thus Orontea said, and they replie all,
That in this point with her they cannot striue,
Saue old Artemia (carren witherd iade)
Mislikt the motion, and this answer made.

The cause that first we did some men admit,
Was not to keepe our hau'ns or citie wall,
For we our selues haue strength enough and wit,
To keepe our towne (I trust) and euer shall.
Were we as well for procreation fit,
Without mans helpe, not one should liue at all;
Now for necessitie some few we spare,
Such as most able for that seruice are.

This motion quite gainsaith our auncient law,
To keepe one man as strong as halfe a score:
How many women would he keepe in aw?
Had we ten such we should beare rule no more.
And further, tis an old and certaine saw,
Both vsed and proued many yeares before,
That they that giue a weapon to their stronger,
Are like themselues to carry rule no longer.

But put the case this one by our consent,
And his good hap ten of the others kill,
How shall an hundred widowes then lament,
That long must he alone against their will?
If he an hundred women would content,
Then him to saue I should not thinke it […]ll,
Then were he to be lou'd, admir'd and wonderd,
If he alone could satisfie an hunderd.

This cruell speech did all the rest displease,
And loth they were Elbanio should be slaine,
His comely shap their sharpnesse did appease,
And chiefly she that ouer all did raigne,
Doth seeke herein her daughters mind to please,
With many reasons answring her againe,
And point by point did all her speech confute,
And in the end obtaind her daughters sute.

Thus to Elbanio pardon they impart,
Prouided if he ouercome the men,
And after brauely play the husbands part,
Not with an hundred women, but with ten.
Elbanio thanketh them with chearfull hart,
Then was he freely loosed from the den:
In fine, when all things ready were ordained,
In both exploits the conquest he obtained.

Then Allessandra, in whose tender mind
Loue had alreadie made so deepe impression,
With other nine, were vnto him assignd.
And princely mace was put in his possession.
But first by solemne vow they do him bind,
To hold this law for euer by succession,
To sacrifice all men, saue such as trie,
To kill ten men, and with ten women lie.

And though that many haue in ages past
Attempted both, yet few haue had successe,
To scape the first exploit, and trie the last,
In which to faile, the danger were no lesse,
But he that both performes, forthwith is plast
In princely seate, and free from all distresse:
And this their law (as by records appeares)
Alreadie lasted hath two thousand yeares.

The last but I, that held this cursed place,
Argillon hight, whom I in combat killed,
And him and his thereby I did displace,
And then their roomes with me and mine I filled,
Where we haue tarrid now a tweluemoneths space,
Among these wights of goodnesse all vnskilled,
And leade a life full of disdaine and scorne,
As better had bene neuer to be borne.

For why these dallyings and wanton toyes,
That wonted are to please our foolish youth,
With costly fare, gay clothes, and Venus ioyes,
Of which repentance is the frute ensewth,
Doth breed to me but anguish and annoyes,
And pensiue cares, and euer during ruth;
And chiefly when vnto my mind I call,
My libertie is lost, and I a thrall.

To loose my lustie time in this vile place,
Remou'd from kin and friends, and countrey farre,
A wofull and remedilesse disgrace,
Mou'd by some ill aspect of angry starre,
Eu'n as a stallion kept for breed and race,
Whom some mishap hath made vnfit for warre,
By losse of fight and foundring of his feete,
For seruice quite vnable and vnmeete.

The while this tale the sauage Guidon told,
The English Duke that all this while stood by,
And heard his speech, and did his face behold,
And noted all his grace with watchfull eye,
And made by all these obseruations bold,
He runneth to embrace him by and by,
And said, deare cosin, I were much to blame,
Except I lou'd the house from whence you came.

Your mother could not tie a better lace
About your necke, to make your linage knowne,
Then this your value in this present place,
Against Marfisa in the battell showne:
I am Astolfo one of Ammo[…]s race,
Friend to your house, and kinsman of your owne,
I much reioyce to find by this mischance,
So neare a kinsman so far off from France.

But he that otherwise would haue bene glad,
To meet a friend, a Prince of kin so neare,
Now on the other side he was full sad,
And shewd the same in countenance and cheare,
For eu'ry way the sequell must be bad,
For if he win they die, the case is cleare,
And if he do not win, he is but ded,
Thus by ones good the tothers harme is bred.

On th'other side his yeares and tender age,
Did all of them so farre with pittie moue,
And did Marfisas heate so much aslwage,
Her enmitie was welnigh turnd to loue:
At last she makes a motion wise and sage,
Which was, that all to scape by force should proue,
She sweares if he would take part with his cosen,
Not all the towne could vanquish that halfe dosen.

Most glad (said Guidon) I would take your part,
Though vaine it is against so great a number,
To enterprise by force hence to depart,
Their very multitude will vs so cumber:
For often (to the terror of mine hart)
Ten thousand armed women I do number
Here in the streets, and with as many more,
They do defend the port, the hau'n and shore.

Tush (quoth Marfisa) this I not regard,
Were they in number as the sands of seas,
To valiant hearts no enterprise is hard,
Take you but part, and ioyne with me and these.
Yes, answerd Guidon, be I made or mard,
Or bee't with paine, with danger or disease,
I will take part with you, but if I may,
I would aduise you to a safer way.

If we this matter wisely take in hand,
This is the safest way that I do know,
They let no men to touch the salt sea sand,
Lest any should attempt from hence to go:
And sith tis hard their forces to withst[…]n[…]
Ile trie a better way then that, I trow,
Among my ten I haue one speciall wife,
Vpon whose trust I venter dare my life.

She shall a barke prouide in secret sort,
And other needfull things for vs prepare,
And when as to the tilt-yard they resort,
And of our fight in expectation are,
We suddenly will make vnto the port,
And ship ourselues ere any be aware:
To leade the way my selfe I am content,
So you and yours to follow will consent.

Marfisa straight and all the rest agreed,
That Guidon for that time should be their guide,
And that accordingly they would proceed,
As he for them had promist to prouide:
Though (said Marfisa) sauing this my weed,
My shape and sexe from all of them doth hide,
I know my selfe from harme could be excused,
And of them all both welcome and well vsed.

But now (said she) such part I mind to take,
As you shall tast (how good or bad it proue)
That night with his Aleria Guidon spake,
(So was her name that bare him chiefest loue)
And points that she prouision good should make,
For things that needfull were for their remoue.
And she no time, nor paine, nor trauell spard,
But out of hand a galley straight prepard.

And that her fellowes might no fraud suspect,
To go to seeke a prize she doth pretend,
And with great diligence she doth direct,
All meanes to serue their passage to defend:
And they within no time nor meane neglect,
To bring their stout designement to an end
Thus eu'ry one their charge so well attended.
That ere the morning all was done and ended.

No sooner came the dawning of the day,
But that those Amazons like bees in swarmes,
That seeke new dwellings in the month of May,
So came they well appointed all in armes,
To see an end of that vnended fray,
Not looking for such new and strange alarmes,
For straight those sixe I nam'd and all their traine.
Came with intent to scape or else be slaine.

First Guidon breakes the way to all the rest,
Soone after him Marfisa did ensew,
Then Sansonet and th'English Duke were prest,
And next two brothers came, then all the crew;
But yet with numbers they were so opprest,
Both with the shafts they shot, and darts they threw,
That notwithstanding all they had deuised,
They were in danger great to be surprised.

But when the English Duke the danger saw,
Vnto himselfe these words or such he said,
I see our foes in troupes together draw,
I see our friends are weakned and dismaid,
Now will I strike our enemies in aw,
Now will I bring out friends vnlookt for aid,
With this he tooke his horne and blew a blast,
That made the hearers eu'ry one agast.

So great a terror in their minds was bred,
That straight as if with sprites they had bene scard,
This way and that confusedly they fled,
And left the gates without defence or guard,
As tumults often are at stage-playes bred,
When false reports of sudden fires are heard,
Or when the ouerloden seates do cracke,
One tumbling downe vpon anothers backe.

One breakes a leg, another breakes an arme,
And some are choakt and stifled in the presse,
Some kill themselues for feare of further harme.
And whence the danger comes they cannot guesse,
But all of them in hast themselues vnarme,
And vnto fearefull flight themselues addresse:
Nor women onely with this feate are punished,
But euen the men themselues were all astonished.

Yea euen Marfisas courage, late so fierce,
(So great a vertue this inchantment bad)
That strange and sudden feare the same did pearce,
And she by flight to saue herselfe was glad:
The knights likewise whom late I did rehearse,
And all the men, as if they had bene mad,
To seaward fled as doth a fearfull Doue,
When any noise doth scare her from about.

Thus doth the blast annoy both friends and foes,
Yet so as all the men to shipboord went:
[…] still about the citie goes,
For them to terrifie is his intent,
And more and more in all the streets he bloes,
And chiefly those where they do most frequent,
The while his trends were now to shipboord gotten,
And launched out, and him had quite forgotten.

The ship A[…]era did before prouide,
And Guidon taking ship with all the rest,
Would not con[…]ent neare to the shore to bide,
Put stale away with dreadfull feare possest.
Now came the Duke vnto the waterside,
And seeing all were gone, he thought it best
Some other meane and way to take in hand,
By which he might conuey him home by land.

But how he gate him home, and there did speed,
When from those countries he was come to France,
And how his horne did stand him in great steed,
Defendng him from danger and mischance,
Hereafter I will shew, n[…]w I proceed
To her whose deeds do still her name aduance,
I meane Marfisa stout, that made great hast
To shun the hearing of the fearfull blast.

But when they were remoued from the shore,
By helpe of sailes and oares, so great a space,
As now the fearfull sound was heard no more,
Each thought them guiltie of a great disgrace,
And of their feare they were ashamd so […]ore,
One shund to looke another in the face,
The while their bark had so good wind and wether,
As all arriu'd in Tyrhen seas together.

And to Marfisa thence by sea they went,
Where Brai[…]mant bare all the rule and sway,
Who late as gouernesse was thither sent,
Though thence she had bene absent many a day:
For h[…]d she present bene, by her assent,
Vnenterta[…]d they should not go away.
Here when they were refresh: with meate and rest,
Marfisa tooke her leaue of all the rest.

And said she thought it great disgrace and shame,
So many in one company to see,
For crowes (quoth she) and pigeons do the same,
And […]eere, and sheepe, and beasts that fearfull be,
But Falcons that do flie at stately game,
With other birds and beasts in their degree,
That feare not others force, and trust their owne,
Shun companie, and l[…]ue to go alone.

But yet the rest that were of other mind,
Together kept, and bad the Dame farewell,
Vntill by hap a castle they did find,
Wherein a Lord of great estate did dwell,
That in appearance courteous seemd and kind,
But not in acts, as after I shall tell,
For he surprisd them all that night asleepe,
And made them sweare a cruell law to keepe.

The while Marfisa on her way doth ride,
Appareld like a knight of some renowne,
And as she passed by the riuer side,
She met a woman in a tawnie gowne,
Ilfauourd, crooked, old and hollow eyd,
Her forehead furrowd with continuall frowne,
Her bodie tyr'd with trauell and ill fare,
Her guiltie mind afflicted more with care.

This filthy hag, this carren witherd iade,
Was she whom in the caue Orlando found,
When of the theeues such massacre he made,
That kept faire Isabella vnder ground:
This wretch that holpe them in that wicked trade,
And feard the plague that might on her redound,
Fled from all companie for feare of danger,
Vntill she hapt to light vpon this stranger.

And for she saw her clad in strange array,
Though gracelesse, yet she gathers heart of grace,
And at the foord her comming she doth stay,
And when Marfisa came vnto the place,
Sir knight (for so she seemd) I shall you pray,
(Said this old bag) to do me so much grace,
That on your horse behind you I may ride,
Till I be past the streame on th'other side.

Marfisa that was euer from her cradle,
Of courteous kind, doth grant her desire,
And made her clamber vp behind her sadle,
To passe the riuer and a filthy mire,
That to[…] horse had almost bene a stable:
And when they were ascended somewhat higher,
They met a faire yong Ladie with a Knight,
Both richly clad, both comely to the sight.

But both their minds were false, their manners bad,
And therefore matcht together very fit,
For he was Pinnabell, that lately had
Faire Bradamant deceiu'd at Merlins pit.
She was his loue, for whom he was so sad,
When Bradamant on him did hap to hit,
Till after by this noble Damsels meane,
That strange inchantment was dissolued cleane.

This Ladie that was Pinnabellos loue,
And was both proud and scornfull of behauour,
And sees this hag, did straight her laughter moue,
To scorne her writheld skin and euill fauour:
For which Marfisa stout doth her reproue,
And with a sharpe reply she straight doth braue her,
Because (quoth she) I fin[…] thou dost disdaine her,
Against thy knight and thee I will maintaine her.

I say this woman fairer is then thou,
Now let thy knight come fight in thy defence,
For I by force my saying will auow,
And if that I preuaile, ere thou go hence,
Thou shalt thy horse and garments all allow
To this old woman for a recompence.
Then Pinnabell to fight doth him addresse,
Because in manhood he could do no lesse.

But when they met (Marfisas passing force,
Was such) she quickly vanquished the knight,
And ouerthrew him quite beside his horse.
This done, she makes the stately dame to light,
And with the aged woman cloths to scorse,
At which the tone tooke sport, the tother spite,
She tooke likewise the Ladies ambling nagge,
And thereupon she sets the trotting hagge.

Who in this youthfull tyre and rich array,
Doth looke in shew more vgly then before,
Thus three dayes with Marfisa she did stay,
Before they hapt to meet with any more;
The fourth they met Zerbino on the way,
The Scottish Prince that would haue sau'd Medore,
And now in anger great the Scot pursude,
That in his presence prou'd himselfe so rude.

Now though Zerbino were but ill apaid,
Yet was he straight with laughter great surprisde,
To see an aged woman so arraid,
In youthfull cloths as though she were disguisde:
And to Marfisa merily he said,
Sir knight it seemeth you are well aduisd,
To get so faire a peece to carrie by you,
As you are sure that no man will enuie you.

The woman seemd some hundred yeares of age,
Her witherd skin such store of wrincles had,
And like an ape or monkie in a cage,
So looked she in this apparrell clad:
But now she looked worse, when with new rage,
Her eyes enflamed were, and she halfe mad:
For what more spite can be a woman told,
Then if one say she looketh foule and old?

Marfisa seemeth wroth (to make some sport)
And thus she saith, surcease your standrous toung,
Your vertue of her beautie commeth short,
She is (in spite of you) both faire and young:
And if you dare contrarie my report,
Or that hereby you feele your courage stoung,
I will maintaine against you eu'rie word,
On horse, or foote, by speare or else by sword.

Zerbino at this challenge did but laffe,
And said he would not leese their frendship so:
Tis fit (quoth he) that swine should feed on draffe,
I am not I, so mad and fond I trow,
For her to draw a sword or breake a staffe,
But as you came you may together go:
No doubt you are a fitly matched paire,
If you as lustie be as she is faire.

Wherefore I list not paine and trauell take,
To get a conquest better lost then wonne:
Then (answerd stout Marfisa) I will make
Another offer which you may not shunne,
On this condition let vs for her sake,
A course at field one with the other runne:
That if you win then I will keepe her still,
If I, then you shall serue he while she will.

Content (quoth Zerbin) and with that they ran,
With couched spears, and met amid the plaine;
But Zerbin had the worse, Marfisa wan,
As better horst, and stronger of the twaine:
Who seeing Zerbin downe, she then began,
To talke with him and iest with him againe,
Behold (quoth she) I here to you present,
This louely damsell for your more content.

Now see you keepe your promise and your troth,
To this faire dame to be a champion trew,
And do not breake the bands of sacred oth,
And so (quoth she) for now I bid adew.
Zerbin was mou'd with shame and anger both,
Shame for his foile, a thing most strange and new:
And wrath for her whom he thereby did gaine,
Which he might deeme the greater losse of twaine.

Then of his mistresse new he doth enquire,
What knight it was that did him ouerthrow,
She willingly did graunt him his desire,
Supposing to his griefe might greater grow,
It was a Ladie in a knights attire,
Marfisa hight (quoth she) that layd you low,
The which strange news I thinke not much did lacke
To make his armor blush vpon his backe.

Vpon his horse in anger great he gets,
And curst himselfe he had not sit more sure,
He bites his lips, and inwardly he frets,
And she in him more anger to procure,
With byting words his discontentment whets;
Yet he doth for his oth sake all endure,
Like tired horse he quiet all abides,
That hath the bit in mouth, and spurs in sides.

At last into this bitter plaint he burst,
On thee ô fortune well I may complaine,
And call my selfe vnhappie and accurst,
That dost at once two plagues for me ordaine,
Two plagues that of all plagues I count the worst,
As first this foile, my former fame to staine;
And hauing lost a Ladie of rare features,
To haue this mistresse, fowlest of all creatures.

She, whose surpassing beautie well deserued,
All worldly blisse, whose match was neuer found,
She from misfortune could not be preserued,
But that by cruell stormes she must be dround,
And this, who if she had bene rightly serued
Ought longer this, haue fed worms vnder ground,
Thou hast these many yeares and still dost saue,
That I by her at last this plague might haue.

By these and such like words as Zerbin spake,
That aged woman giues a sured guesse;
That this was he, to whom, and for whose sake,
Faire Isabell (kept erst in great distresse,
There where Orlando did from theeues her take)
Was wont so great affection to professe,
And to describe his parts and shape so trew,
As eu'rie one might know him at a vew.

And now that by his words she plainely found,
That this was Zerbin, and that he beleeued
Faire Isabella was in tempest dround,
With which conceit she saw he sore was greeued,
She that did know her to be safe and sound,
Yet meaning not his griefe should be releeued,
She telleth onely that that would disease him,
And doth conceale that which she thought would please him.

You sir (quoth she) that me so greatly scorne,
If you but knew what tydings I could tell,
Other whom you lament as dead and lorne,
You would both speake me faire and vse me well:
But first I will with horses wild be torne,
And suffer all the paines of earth and hell,
Before that I will condescend to show it,
Or then by me you euer come to know it.

Looke how a gentle grewnd, that doth assaile
And flies vpon a stranger at the furst,
Will on the lodaine faune and wag his taile,
If […]o of bread one profer him a crust:
So Zerbin that before on her did raile,
And bitterly vnto her face her curst,
Now he inteates her, and doth pray and flatter,
To giue him farther notice of the matter.

At last with long intreatie she replies,
And faith, faire Isabella is not ded,
But so she liues, that sure she death enuies:
And neuer hope to haue her maidenhed,
For I haue seene (quoth she) with these mine eyes,
How twentie lawlesse men her captiue led,
And eu'rie one might haue her at their pleasure,
As hauing libertie, and lust, and leasure.

Ah wicked hagge, thou know'st it is a lie,
And yet behold how thou canst paint it out,
Thou know'st that none of them with her did lie,
Thou know'st Orlando thence did fetch her out:
And made the malefactors all to die,
That of her danger now there was now doubt.
But now alas this lying storie bred,
A thousand iealousies in Zerbines hed.

He askt herwhere and when his loue she saw,
He speakes her oftentimes both soule and faire;
But not a word more could he from her draw,
Neither by threatning words, nor yet by prayre:
He feeles a corzie cold his heart to gnaw,
His little hope was turnd to great dispaire:
And thus this old ilfauord spitefull Callet,
Gaue good Zerbino such a choking fallet.

What patience thus prouoked could haue borne,
At such a womans hands so vile a spite?
And saue he was vnto her seruice sworne,
No doubt he would haue done her then her right.
Thus she of mallice full, and be of scorne,
Went on their way, vntill they met a knight:
But what became hereof if you will know,
The booke ensuing shall the sequell show.