Canto 25

THe strife is great yt grows in youthfull minde,
When honor falls at variance with affection,
Nor could it yet be known or well definde,
Which passion keeps the tother in subiection,
For both allure, both do our iudgements blinde,
And both corrupt the heart with strong infection:
Yet lo sometimes these hurts procure our weale,
Eu'n as one poyson doth another heale.

For here you see these princes that of late,
Straue fiercely tone the tother to subdew,
Agreed to respit this their sharpe debate,
And to repaire vnto the Turkish crew,
To succour Agramants distressed state,
To whom th[…]y ought in dutie to be trew,
And vet herein loue claimeth halfe the praise,
For she commanded them to go their wayes.

And on they went without more disagreeing,
Faire Doralice with these her seruants twaine,
The tone in suit, one in possession being,
And yet as then in concord they remaine:
At last they came vnto a place, where seeing
Foure knights themselues did solace on a plaine,
(Or which two were vnarmd, two armour bare)
With them a Ladie was of beautie rare.

With these a while they staid, but who these weare,
And what they did, and whither then they went,
A little while to tell I do forbeare,
For to Rogero now my tale is ment,
Who would no more the shield enchanted beare,
But in the well did drowne it, with intent
That men might know his valiant deeds of armes
Were done by force of vertue, not of charmes.

He scant had gone a mile or little more,
From this same well, but that he met a post
From Agramant, of which there went good store,
The Captaines to recall vnto the host,
He told him how the king (besieged sore,
And like if succour come not to be lost)
Commanded him as his true Lord and leege,
To come without delay to raise the seege.

Much was Rogero with the message moued,
And diuers passions straue within his minde,
He faine would haue his Princes seege remoued,
Yet loth he was to leaue his loue behinde;
But be his doing praised or reproued,
He was so to the present cause enclinde,
First with his guide he goes to stay the slaughter,
Of him that had deflowrd Marsilios daughter.

They came vnto the place an houre er night,
Where this same execution should be done,
A castle that belongd to Charles of right,
But late the Spanish king the same had wonne,
And kept it in the mids of France by might,
By count'nance of the great Trainos sonne:
Rogero commeth in, and none denyde him,
Because they knew the damsell that did guide him.

There first he saw prepard a flaming fire,
In which they meant to burne the wofull youth,
He thought so small a sinne did not require
Such punishment, no more it doth in truth:
But when he markt his face and his attire,
And heard and saw the manner of his ruth,
Now sure I know (quoth he) I am not I,
Or this is Bradamant that here should die.

Tis certaine she, I see which way it went,
Belike while I at yonder castle staid,
She hither came afore me, with intent
To bring vnto the prisner here some aid,
For which (poore soule) her self should now be shent,
Yet I am glad and very well apaid,
That I am hither come in so good season,
To saue her that should die against all reason.

And euen with that, most furiously he files
With naked sword vpon the gazing rout,
Who ouer standeth in his way, he dies,
With so great force he hurles his blade about:
Then straight the prisners fetters he vnties,
Nor was there one so hardie or so stout,
That once durst make resistance or forbid it,
No not so much as aske him why he did it.

As fearfull fowle that in the sunshine bright,
Sit pruning of themselues vpon a banke,
When as a Faulcon doth among them light,
Flie without care of order or of ranke:
So when these caitiues saw this noble Knight,
Forthwith they from his manly presence shranke,
So did their fearfull hearts and courage faile them,
When as they felt Rogero once assaile them.

No maruell tho, for why Rogeros force
Was not as mens that now borne later are,
The strength of Lion, Beare, or bull or horse,
Were nothing, if with his they do compare,
And chiefe sith now he doth himselfe inforce,
To do as much as he or can or dare,
Hereby from danger thinking to recouer,
Her vnto whom he was professed louer.

Now when the youth from danger quite was freed,
And all that sought his death away were fled,
He thanks the author of this worthy deed,
And thanketh her that had him thither led
Then, when of helpe he stood in greatest need,
When otherwise he doubtlesse had bin dead,
And executed like a malefactor,
Agnizing him his Lord and benefactor.

And furthermore he doth Rogero pray,
To let him vnderstand his name and nation;
Rogero musing to himselfe doth say,
What meaneth this so strange congratulation?
In face, in shape, in gesture, in array,
This is my loue, I see no alteration,
Yet strange it is her voice should be so changed,
More strange that she from me is so estranged.

It doubtlesse is not she, for if it were,
Could she within three houres my name forget?
Wherefore to tell his name he doth forbeare,
Vntill he may more perfect notice get:
And thus he said, I haue I know not where,
Seene you ere this, and I bethinke me yet
Where it might be, for sure I know your face,
Though now I haue forgot the time and place.

Most noble sir (said tother) I agree,
You may haue seene me, though I know not when,
I rather iudge it should my sister be,
That fights and carries armes as well as men:
My mother at one birth bare her and me,
And we be both so like, that now and then
Our seruants, yea our father and our mother
Haue tane vs in exchange the tone for tother.

Chiefly since in her head she had a wound,
For which she was constraind to cut her haire,
Twere long the circumstances to expound,
How she was hurt and heald, by whom and where;
Since that betweene vs diffrence none is found,
Saue sex and names that from our birth we beare,
She Bradamant, I Richardet am cald,
She sister, and I brother to Ronald.

And further if you please, I shall you tell,
As we do onward on our iourney go,
A strange mishap that vnto me besell,
By being tane for her not long ago;
A hap that at the first I liked well,
But after wrought my danger great and wo:
Yes with good will, Rogero said, and than
Yong Richardet to thus his tale began.

It happend (as in part I toucht before)
My valiant sister passing through a wood,
Was hurt with certaine Sarazins so sore,
As had her cost almost her vitall blood,
Which wound to cure, her tresses short she wore,
For so as then her surgeon thought it good;
The wound once cur'd for which her head was pold
Abroade to go againe she waxed bold.

And hauing traueld till the heate of day,
All clad in armor, as her manner was,
At noone she tooke occasion to make stay,
Fast by a watrie streame as cleare as glasse,
And putting off her helmet, downe she lay,
Vpon a pleasant banke well clothd with grasse,
And steepe at last her heauie eyes did close,
The place inuiting her to take repose.

Now while she did there fast asleepe remaine,
There happend to arriue vnto that place,
The daughter of Marsilio king of Spaine,
That there by chance was hunting in the chase,
And seeing signes of manhood very plaine,
With that her sweet and amiable face,
As horse, and sword, and target all of steele,
A little amorous passion she doth seele.

And taking then my sister for a man,
As by all circumstances well she might,
She offers her all courtsie that she can,
And askt her if in hunting she delight;
And then to chuse a standing they began,
And finding one far off from others sight,
She opened more plainly that affection,
That had her heart already in subiection.

And saue her maiden modestie forbad,
She would the same in words haue plainly told,
Howb'it with sighs, with rufull looks and sad,
And silent signes she doth her griese vnfold:
And when she thus long time discoursed had,
Surpri'd with hope, she could no longer hold,
But steps vnto her, and giues her such a kisse,
As that alone shewes what her meaning is.

My sister at the first doth thinke it strange,
That such a sute should vnto her be made,
And finding she had tane her in exchange,
She thinks it best (before she further wade,
Or let the tothers humor further range)
Tell troth, for thus she doth her selfe perswade,
Tis better to be knowne a Ladie gentle,
Then to be deemd a base man and vngentle.

For what could be more cullen-like or base?
Or fitter for a man were made of straw,
Then standing in a faire yong Ladies grace,
To shew himselfe a cuckow or a daw,
And leese occasion both of time and place?
My sister therefore that this ill foresaw,
And knew she wanted that, that her should aid,
Told her by circumstance she was a maid.

And thus she told her how the worthy same,
Hippolita and stout Camilla wonne,
In deeds of armes, mou'd her her mind to frame,
To do the like while others sowd and sponne:
And that she thought it to her sex no shame,
To do as women of such worth had done;
She told her this, in hope this would appease her,
But this alas did so much more disease her.

For why the fancie was so firmly fixt,
That in her mind she had before conceiued,
By meanes of speech had passed them betwixt,
That sore it grieu'd her to be thus deceiued,
Before her feare with some good hope was mixt,
But now eu'n hope it selfe was her bereaued:
And this is one extremest point of griefe,
Still to despaire and hope for no reliefe.

He that had heard her wofull plaint and mone,
Must needs haue greatly at the same bin grieued,
Ah wo is me (she said) that I alone
Should liue in such despaire to be relieued:
In passed times I thinke there hath bene none,
In time to come it will not be beleeued,
That loue should make by such a strong infection,
One woman beare another such affection.

O Cupid, if thou didst my state enni[…],
And that thou hadst a mind me to torment,
To send such paines as others more do trie,
At least me think thou shouldst haue bin content:
Shall in so many ages none but I,
Yeeld of so vncouth loue such president?
The female with the female doth not wish
To couple, nor in beast, nor foule, nor fish.

I sole am found in earth, aire, sea, or fire,
In whom to strange a wonder thou haft done,
On me thou shewst the power of thine ire,
And what a mightie conquest thou hast wonne.
The wife of Nynus had a strange desire,
To ioyne in copulation with her sonne;
Faire Myrrha by her fire was made a mother,
And made Adonis both her sonne and brother.

Pasyphae, except it be a tale,
Was buld, inclosed in a woodden cow;
Yet in all these the female sought the male,
But nature doth my fancie disallow;
No Dedalus could remedie my bale,
Nor art can frame, nor sense imagine how,
This knot dame nature hath so firmely knit,
It cannot be dissolu'd by any wit.

This Fiordispina faire (so was her name)
In piteous sort her wofull state doth waile,
My sister vnto her, her speech doth frame,
As chiefly to her comfort might auaile:
And wisht her this vnbridled will to tame,
Sith nature could not suffer it preuaile,
And that she would let that desire be daunted,
Which possibly by no meanes could be graunted.

All this but all in vaine my sister said,
To seeke that fancie from her mind to wrests;
She that for comfort car'd not, but for aid,
Doth more and more her selfe vexe and molest:
Now night grew on as they together staid,
What time all creatures seeke repose and rest,
The Ladie prayes my sister for her sake,
A lodging at her castle then to take.

To this request doth Bradamant assent,
And so together to that place they came,
Where I (but that you did my harme preuent)
Should haue bene cast into the burning flame:
She that all kindnesse to my sister ment,
By many outward courtsies shewd the same:
And caused her to weare a womans weed,
That men might know that she was one indeed.

For why the semblance false she saw before,
Of manly shape to her was so pernicious,
She would now see her in those weeds no more,
The rather eke left folke should be suspicious,
(If she had bene ashewd the weed she wore)
Left that they two did liue together vicious:
She further was by phisick rules assured,
That contraries by contraries are cured.

But nought could salue that fore, nor swage her woes,
That night they lay together in one bed,
But sundry and vnlike was their repole,
One quiet slept, the tothers troubled h[…]d
Still waking, or if she her eyes but close,
That little sleepe strange dreames and fancies bred:
She thought the gods and heau'n would so assist her,
Into a better sex to change my sister.

As men tormented with a burning feuer,
Do dreame with drinke they swage their grieuous thirst,
But when they wake, they feele their thirst perseuer,
And to be greater then it was at first;
So she whose thoughts from loue, sleepe could not seuer,
Did dreame of that, for which she wake did thirst,
But waking felt and found it as before,
Her hope still lesse, and her desire still more.

How feruently did she to Macon pray?
What vowes did she vnto her prayre anuex?
If so by mightie miracle he may,
Her bedfellow turne to a better sex?
Now neare approcht the dawning of the day,
When she in vaine her selfe doth greiue and vex:
And so much more her passion grew the stronger,
Because my sister now would stay no longer.

When Fiordispina saw she would be gone,
She causd a gallant gennet to be brought,
All richly barbd, and furniture thereon,
Which with her owne hand partly she had wrought,
This frankly she bestoweth her vpon,
My sister takes it kindly, as she ought,
And takes her leaue, and on her way doth get,
And home she came that night ere Sunne was set.

We that long time of her had heard no tiding,
I meane her mother, brothers, and her kin,
Do welcome her, and aske of her abiding,
Why she so long from vs had absent bin?
Who straight from vs the troth of nothing hiding,
Doth tell vs how great danger she was in;
And opned from the ending to beginning,
The course of all her leesing and her winning.

As namely first how hardly she had sped,
And in a conflict had receiu'd a wound,
For which she was constraind to pole her head,
Before her health she could recouer found;
She told how fortune afterwards her led,
Where that faire huntresse had her sleeping found;
She told vs how the Ladie did her woo,
And all the circumstance that longd thereto.

To heare this story I was passing glad,
For why at Saragoza I had seene
This Fiordispina, and some knowledge had
Of her likewise when she in France had beene,
And likt her well, yet was I not so mad,
In vaine to set my loue on such a Queene:
But now againe I gaue that fancie scope,
When by this tale I had conceau'd some hope.

Loue was my counsellor that me aduised,
My meaning secret I to none impart,
This was the stratageme that we deuised,
This was the plot, the cunning, and the art,
To go in Bradamantas clothes disguised,
And for a while to play the womans part:
I knew my face my sisters so resembling,
Would be the better helpe for my dissembling.

The day ensuing ere it yet was light,
I tooke my way, my loue and fancie guiding,
I there arriu'd an houre before twas night,
Such hap I had, such hast I made in riding:
No sooner came I in the seruants sight,
But well was he of me could carry tiding:
They looke (as Princes oft to giue do use)
Some recompence for bringing so good newes.

Straight out she came, and met me halfe the way,
And tooke me fast about the necke and kist me,
And told me how in this my little stay,
In anguish great and sorrow she had mist me,
Then she did cause me alter mine array,
In which with her owne hands she doth assist me;
A cawl of gold she set vpon my crowne,
And put on me a rich and stately gowne.

And for my part to helpe the matter, I
Did take great heed to all I did or said,
With sober cast I carrid still mine ey,
And bare my hands before me like a maid:
My voice did serue me worst, but yet thereby
Such heed I vsd, my sex was not bewraid:
And thus arrayd, my Princesse led me with her,
Where many Knights and Ladies were togither.

My looke and clothes did all them so beguile,
They all had thought I had a woman beene,
And honour such was done to me that while,
As if I were a Dutchesse or a Queene:
And (that which made me oftentime to smile)
Some youths there were of yeeres & iudgment green
That cast vpon me many a wanton looke,
My sex and qualitie they so mistooke.

At last came meate, both store of flesh and fish,
What kinds of both to tell I ouerslip,
I maidenly rast here and there a dislr,
And in the wine I scant do wet my lip,
The time seemd long that staid my wanton wish,
And still I doubted taking in some trip;
When bed time came, she told me I must be
Her bedfellow, the which well pleased me.

Now when the maids and pages all were gone,
One onely lampe vpon the cubbard burning,
And all costs cleare, thus I began anon:
Faire dame I thinke you muse of my returning,
And cause you haue indeed to muse thereon,
For yesterday when I did leaue you mourning,
I thinke both you and I did thinke as then,
We should not meet againe till God knowes when.

First let me tell you why from you I went,
Then why I come, hereafter I shall show:
Deare Ladie (thus it was) I did lament
Your fruitlesse loue on me was placed so,
And though I could haue ay bene well content,
To waite on you, and neuer part you fro,
Yet since my presence did but make you languish,
I thought mine absence minish would your anguish.

But riding on my way, I somewhat straid,
As fortune and aduenture did me guide,
And so I heard a voice that cride for aid,
Within a thicket by the riuer side:
A Satyr taken had a naked maid,
And with a twisted cord her hands had tide,
And in his vsage seemed so to threaten her,
As if he would haue kild her straight and eaten her.

I rusht to them with naked sword in hand,
And death to him, and freedome I did giue her,
She diuing vnder water out of hand,
Vnrecompenst thou shalt not me deliuer,
Quoth she, for I will haue you vnderstand,
I am a Nvmph that dwell here in this riuer;
And for this courtsie I do much regard you,
And am well able richly to reward you.

Aske of me what you list, and I will giue it,
For I vpon the elements haue powre;
I can with charms bring down the Moon, beleeue it,
I can swage stormes, and make faire weather lowre,
What is so hard, but my skill can atchieue it?
To drayne the sea, or build in aire a towre?
Yea cu'n with simple words (and if I will)
I can inforce and make the Sunne stand still.

When as the Nymph had made me this great offer,
(Lo Ladie what great loue to you I bare)
I neither askt with gold to fill my coffer,
Nor victory, of which some greedie are,
This fauour onely I demaunded of her,
To make me able to asswage your care:
Nor nam'd I any meanes for feare of erring,
The onely way and meanes to her referring.

No sooner this request to her I told,
But in the christ all streame againe he diued,
And sprinkled me with drops of water cold,
Which to my skinne so sooner were arriued,
But I was changd from that I was of old,
And of my former state I was depriued;
I felt, I saw, yet seant beleeue I can,
That of a woman I was made a man.

And sauing that eu'n now I am so nie you,
As you may quickly proue my tale not fained,
Else you might thinke I said it but to trie you:
Now so, since I for you this wish obtained,
Aske what you please, I nothing shall denie you,
Enioy that which my loue for you hath gained:
When I had pleaded thus, and she had heard it,
On sight of euidence she gaue her vardit.

As one whose state is ouerwhelmd with debt,
By lending or by spending out of measure,
That looks ech houre when prouling shreeus wil set
Himselfe toward, and of his goods make seasure,
If some vnlookt for gaine he hap to get,
By some mans death, or by some trouie treasure,
Is so surprisd with ioy, he scant doth know,
If true it be, or if he dreamed so.

So she that now did see, and feele, and tuch,
That which she long had longed for in vaine,
It ouerfild her mind with ioy so much,
It seemed in a trance she did remaine;
Therein her incredulitie was such,
As to resolue her I did take much paine:
If these be dreames (quoth she) for these dreams sake
I euer wish to dreame and neuer wake.

Not sound of drum, of trumpet, or of phife,
Nor warlike instrument of any sort,
Did sound alarum to our friendly strife,
But douelike billing followd louely sport,
This battell hazards neither limbe nor life,
Without a ladder I did seale the fort,
And stoutly plant my standerd on the wall,
And vnder me I made my so to fall.

If that same bed were full the night before
Of teares, of plaints, of anguish and annoyes,
No doubt but now it had in as great store,
Both smilings, sports, and solaces and ioyes:
No Iuy doth embrace the pillar more,
Then she did me, nor Apes can find more toyes,
Then we yong fooles did find to make vs merie,
Till ioy it selfe of ioy did make vs werie.

The thing twixt vs did secret long remaine,
And certaine months this pleasure did endure,
Till some had found, and told it to my paine,
As you well know that did my life assure:
Yet I confesse great griefe I still sustaine,
Not knowing how her safetie to procure.
This Richardetto to 'Rogero told,
And all the while their iourney on they hold.

By that time Richardettos tale was done,
They gan vp to a little hill to mount,
And when an houre and more was set the Sunne,
They came vnto the castle Agrismount,
Kept then by Aldiger the bastard sonne
Of Bouo, of the house of Clarimount,
A wise and sober man and of good qualitie,
And bountifull in keeping hospitalitie.

And after he had bid them welcome both,
One as his kinsman, tother as his frend,
I heare ill newes (quoth he) that I am loth
To tell to you, least it should you offend:
But thus it is, to let you know the troth,
I heare that Bertolage doth sure intend
To buy the prisners that Ferraw hath tane,
As namely Malagige and Viuiane.

Lanfusa taketh vpon her to sell them,
And as I heare tomorrow is the day,
Vnto your brothers I sent one to tell them,
But they be absent hence so farre away,
As ere they come, from hence they may expel them,
I am too weake to force, too poore to pay,
My loue is great, to wish all good vnto them.
But powre so small, as good I can none do them.

Young Richardetto much mislikt the newes,
So did Rogero for the tothers sake,
And when he saw they both were in a muse,
Nor knew what counsell, or what course to take,
No feare (quoth he) let me this matter vse,
On me this enterprise lle vndertake,
So I shall handle this affaire so handsome,
This sword alone shall pay your kinsmens ransome.

This spake Rogero his companions chearing,
But notwithstanding Aldiger, his host,
Gaue to those lostie promises such hearing,
As if there were great boast and little rost:
Which vnto Richardetto plaine appearing,
Who knew his vallew, greater then his bost:
Good cosen if you knew him well that sed it,
You would said he vnto his word giue credit.

Then Aldiger on better information,
Gaue care and credit to his noble guest,
And made him cheare to sute his reputation,
And plast him at the boord aboue the rest:
And supper done, he was in seemely fashion,
In chamber lodgd, of all the house the best,
The master of the house in nothing scant,
His worthy guest will suffer nothing want.

Now was the time when all men foundest sleepe,
Rogero onely cannot sleepe a winke,
For cares and thoughts that him do waking keepe,
And in his troubled braine profoundly sinke;
The siege of Agramant doth pierce him deepe,
And what dishonor men of him may thinke,
And deeme his heart but faint, his faith but fickle,
To leaue his soueraigne inso wosull pickle.

Had he reuolted at some other time,
Men might haue thought that true religion mou'd him,
None could haue it imputed as a crime,
Nor no man probably could haue reprou'd him:
Now, when his masters fortune did decline,
And when to aid him chiefest it behoou'd him,
Feare, men will thinke, his change procured chiefe,
Nor iust remorse, nor zeale of true beliefe.

This troubled him, and little lesse then this,
It troubled him, to thinke of his deare hart,
Whom now by euill fortune he doth misse,
Nor cannot once salute er he depart;
Wherefore to write to her his purpose is,
And so to her at large his minde impart,
Both that of him she may haue certaine newes,
As that he may his sodaine going scuse.

The chamberlaines both prudent and discreet,
Vpon Rogero quicke attendance gaue,
Prouiding him of needfull things and meet,
Inke, paper, light, and what he else would craue:
Then (as the manner is) he doth her greet,
Vpon the front, as letters vse to haue;
Thus after verie hartie commendations,
Or some such phrase of friendly salutations.

Then tels he her how that the Turkish Prince,
Had for his ayd, by speciall message sent,
Who is besiegd, and hath bene long time since;
And how to rescue him is his intent:
Least men of cowardise might him conuince,
That he away in time of danger went:
And now would leaue his lawfull Lord and liege,
Then when his enemies did him besiege.

He prayeth her to weigh, how foule a deed,
How full it were of infamie and shame,
To yeeld his Prince no aid in such a need,
That sent to him of purpose for the same:
He wisht her for her owne sake to take beed,
That no such staine might spot her spouses name,
That being she, so true and so sinceare,
She should no blemish in her husband and beare.

He further doth his zeale to her protest,
As erst he had in word so now in writing,
And sweares that when his Prince were vndistrest,
The siege quite raisd, by concord or by fighting,
That foolish people might not make a iest,
To his reproch, that common speach reciting,
Rogero loues to take the lurer side,
And turnes his sailes, as fortune turnes her tide.

I shall (he writes) when that time doth expire,
Which in a month I hope wil be effected;
Finde some occasion from them to retire,
And of no breach of honour be suspected.
Then shall I full accomplish your desire,
And do, as I by you shalbe directed:
This onely for my honour I demand thee,
And after this thou euer shalt command mee.

These things, and like to these Rogero wrate,
As then by hap came in his troubled hed,
To certifie his loue of his estate,
And of the cause that his departure bred:
By that time he had done, it was full late,
And then againe he got him to his bed,
And closd his eies, when he had closd the letter,
And after tooke his ease a great deale better.

Next day they all arose at breake of day,
With minde to go to set their kinsmen free,
And though Rogero earnestly did pray,
That none might take that enterprise but he,
Yet both the other stifly said him nay,
And there unto by no meanes would agree,
Vnto the place assignd they ride togither,
And by the time appointed they came thither.

The place they came to was a goodly plaine,
In which no tree nor bush was to be seene,
Here Bertolage did point to take them twaine,
As was agreed Lanfuse and him betweene,
But first they met, while here they did remaine,
One that a Phenix bare in field all greene,
With armor faire embost, and guilt with gold,
As in the booke that follows shal be told.