Canto 26

RIght worthy dames there were in times of old,
That more esteemd of vertue then of wealth,
But now our iron age is all for gold,
For bad, and worse, in sicknes and in health,
But she that will that elder custome hold,
And leaue this new, deserues where ere she dwelth,
Here in this life to haue a happie choice,
And in the next for euer to reioice.

Such was the noble Bradamantas mind,
Who sought not after wealth and rich abilitie,
Nor state, nor pompe, that many women blind,
But after vertue pure, the true nobilitie:
And well deserued he to find her kind,
That shewd in him such proofs of high gentilitie,
And tooke vpon him actions for her sake,
Which time to come for miracles may take.

Rogero (as before I did recite)
With Aldiger and Richardetto came,
To rescue those two prisners (if they might)
That should be sold with great reproch and shame.
I told you how they met a gallant knight,
Whose shield had painted that same bird of fame,
That still renews it selfe, and neuer dien
And onely one, in all the world there flie[…].

Now when this knight was of these three aware,
That stood like men new plast in battell ray,
He comes to them, and seeing what they are,
Will there (quoth he) some one of you assay,
If so his value can with mine compare,
With staffe, with sword, or any any other way?
If any will, come then, and let vs trie it,
If none, then say so quickly, and denie it.

Sir answerd Aldiger, I were content,
To trie myselfe with you, about or two,
But we three came not here for this intents
We come, a greater feate then this to do,
And at this time, a little time mispent,
May hinder vs, and little pleasure you,
We three intend (if God do say Amen)
Two take two prisners from sixe hundred men.

Sure (said that other) if you mind indeed,
So great an enterprise to take in hand,
No doubt it doth of valiant mind proceed,
And pittiet' were, your purpose to withstand:
I rather shall assist you in this deed,
If you vouch safe to make me of your band,
And by my seruice I will quickly shoe,
Good proofe if I deserue such grace or no.

Perhap that some would know, and if they may,
What valiant knight this was that did intreat,
To take Rogeros part in such a fray,
Whereas the danger could not be but great.
Now she, not he, hereafter I must say,
Marfisa was, of whom I did repeat,
How she both fought, and foyld a little since,
And with Gabrina, chargd the Scottish Prince.

Rogero stout, and they of Clarimount,
Of her and of her offer well esteemed,
She ioynd with them, they making full account
That she had bene of that same sex she seemed.
Straight ready on their horses backs they mount,
They see aloofe a cornet (as they deemed)
Of horse, and mingled some on foote together,
And all of them directly tending thether.

Their march, their ensignes, penons, and their flags,
Did cause for Moores they knowne were & discride,
Amid this crew, vpon two little nags
The prisners rode with hands behind them tide,
That must be changd for certaine golden bags,
That Bertolage had promist to prouide;
Come (saith Marfisa) to the other three;
Now let the feast begin, and follow me.

Soft (quoth Rogero) there be wanting some
Of those that to the banquet must be bidden,
And to begin afore the guests be come,
In reason and good manners is forbidden;
By this, the tother crew had ouercome
The hill, that late before from them were hidden,
These were the traitrous wretches of Magaunse,
And now was ready to begin the daunce.

Maganza men of one side, merchant like,
Brought laden moyles with gold and costly ware,
The Moors their prisners brought with sword & pike
Enuirond round about with heed and care;
The Captains meet with mind a match to strike,
The prisners present at the bargaine are,
And now are bought and sold (for ought they know)
To Bertolage their old and mortall foe.

Good Aldiger and noble Ammons sonne,
Could hold no longer seeing Bertolage,
But both together at him they do runne,
With hearts all set on fierce reuenge and rage,
His force nor fate their fury could not shunne,
Their speares his armor and his brest did gage,
Downe falls the wretch, his wealth him cannot saue,
Such end I wish all wicked wretches haue.

Marfisa and Rogero at this signe,
Set out without expecting trumpets blast,
And with two staues of straight well seasond Pine,
Twise twentie men vnto the ground they cast;
The Captaine of the Moores doth much repine,
They of Maganza murmured as fast:
For each side deemed, as they might in reason,
That this had happend by the tothers treason.

Wherefore each side with wrath and fury kindled,
Vpbraiding tone the tother with vntruth,
With swords and bils, pel mel together mingled,
Do fight, and then a bloudy fray ensu'th,
The Moorish Duke was by Rogero singled,
A man eu'n then in prime and strength of youth,
But youth, nor strength, nor armour could not saue him,
From such a blow as good Rogero gaue him.

Marfisa doth as much on tother side,
And in such sort besturd her with her blade,
That looke which way soeuer she did ride,
An open lane for her the people made:
If any were so stout the brunt to bide,
Yet soone they found their forces ouerlaid;
Through coats of proof they prou'd her sword wold enter,
She sent their soules below the middle center.

If you haue seene the hony making Bees
To leaue their hiues, and going out in swarmes,
When as their kings and masters disagrees,
And they make camps in th'aire like men at armes,
Straight in among them all the Swallow flees,
And eates and beates them all vnto their harmes:
So thinke Rogero and Marfisa then,
Did deale among these bands of armed men.

Now Aldlger and Richardet no lesse,
Vpon Maganza met chants lay on lode,
Both free to set their kinsmen from distresse,
And for they hated them like snake or tode,
They that the cause nor quarrell could not guesse,
And saw their Captaine dead, made short abode:
Their plate, their coine and treasure all they yeeld,
And were the first that faintly left the field.

So flie from Lions silly heards of Goates,
That haue deuourd and spoild them at their list,
And torne their sides, their hanches and their throtes,
Yet none of them their fellowes dare assist:
So fled these men, and cast away their coates,
And weapons all, and durst no more resist:
Nor matuell if these two had Lions harts,
That ready find such two to take their parts.

Whose acts at large to tell I do refraine,
At which that age did not a little wonder,
And now to tell them, men would thinke I faine,
Yea though my words their actions far were vnder:
For at one blow oft horse and man was slaine,
From head to foote whole bodies clou'n in sunder,
And either standing on their reputation,
Bred for their foes a costly emulation.

Still tone of them markt tothers valiant deed,
And each of tother fell in admiration,
She deemes him Mars, or one of Mars his seed,
And farre aboue all humane generation:
And saue he was deceiued in her weed,
He would haue giu'n her equall commendation,
And likned her, as well he liken might,
Vnto Bellona for her valiant fight.

Thus of two bands these foure the battell wonne,
And all their stuffe and carriages they got,
The prisners loosd, their bands were all vndone,
Their foes all foild, such is their happie lot:
The man was well whose horse could swiftest runne,
Small count they make of amble or of trot:
The tone side leaue their gold on asses loden,
The tother of their captiues are forboden.

The noble vanquishers do seize the pray,
Which was both rich and sumptuous to behold,
Of Flanders worke an hanging rich and gay,
(To hang a stately roome) of silke and gold;
They also found rich clothing and array,
That should haue bene vnto Lanfusa fold,
And namely mong the rest a gallant gowne,
Embroderd round with cost of many a crowne.

They further found good vittels and good store,
Wine bottels coole and fresh, and good of tast,
With which (not hauing eate that day before)
They do agree to baite and breake their fast,
And eu'ry one prepares himselfe therefore,
And to that end their curats they vnlast:
Now when Marfisa had put off her beauer,
To be a woman eu'ry one perceaue her.

Her golden haire trust vp with carelesse art,
Her forehead faire, and full of stately grace,
Her eye, her lip, and eu'ry other part,
So suting to her comely shape and face,
As bred eu'n then in each beholders hart,
A reu'rend loue and wonder in like case;
And straight they askt her name, the which she told them,
And with as great delight she doth behold them.

But she her selfe farre more then all the rest,
Rogeros shape and person doth regard,
His vallew great, his vnappalled brest,
Before the others all she much prefard,
To him alone her speeches she addrest,
Of him alone she would her speech were hard:
Thus she in him, and he delighted in her,
The while the other had prepard their dinner.

The place they din'd in was a pleasant caue,
And one of foure that famous Merlin wrought,
Where he in milke white marble did ing[…]ave
Strange stories, which things future strangely taught,
The very images seemd life to haue;
And sauing they were dumb you weld haue thought
Both by their lookes and by their heely features.
That they had mou'd, and had bene liuing creatures.

From out a desert wood an vgly beast
There seemd to come, whose shape was thus defined
An asles cares, a wolte in head and breil,
A carkas all with pinching […] pined,
A Lions grizly raw, but all the test
To fox like shape did seeme to be inclined:
In England, France, in Italy and Spaine,
Yea all the world this monster seemd to raigne.

Where ere this cruell monster set his foote,
He kild and spoild of eury sort and state,
No height of birth or state with him did boote,
He conquerd kings and clownes, all in a rate,
Yea this beasts powre had tane so deepe a roote,
It enterd in Christs vicars sacred gate,
And vexed Cardinals and Bishops chiefe,
And bred a scandall eu'n in our beliefe.

Vnto this beast men seemd to bow and bend,
This beast brake through each wall and eu'ry sence,
No citie could itselfe there from defend,
Strong castels made from it but weake defence,
In fine, her powre did seeme so farre extend,
That many were so fond and void of fence,
To thinke and to beleeue this monster fell,
Had powre of all things both in heau'n and hell.

But when this beast had rang'd a while, behold
One wearing on his head a lawrell crowne,
With three that wore the flowre de luce of gold,
Embroderd richly on their purple gowne,
And with these three a stately Lion bold,
Did ioyne his force to put the monster downe;
The titles and the names that them concerned,
Might in their garments plainly be discerned.

One that with sword the beast thrusts in the paunch,
Was he whose praise no time shall euer smother,
Francis the first of that name king of France,
Of Austria Maximullen is another,
Then Charles the fist that with a mightie launce
Smites through the beast, frō tone side to the tother:
The fourth that in the brest with arrow wounds him
Was Henrie th'eight, the writing to expounds him.

Leo the tenth, the Lion fierce is called,
Who chast him, and fast caught him by the eare,
And in the chase the beast so tyrd and galled,
As others tooke him while he held him there:
By this the world seemd freed that erst was thralled,
By this men seemd secure and void of feare,
Seing that beast whose look late made them tremble
Stroyd by the powre of this so braue assemble.

This story so set forth (as I haue told)
With costly workmanship, great pleasure bred,
In all their minds that did the same behold,
And on this sight more then their meat they fed,
And chiefe Marfisa wisht to heare it told,
What men these were, if men already dead,
Or else a prophecie of things ensuing,
[…] […]dden skill, laid ope to each mans vewing.

The Malagigi was by them requested,
As one in Mathematikes seene right well,
And had the method thereof so digested,
As he all hidden mysteries could tell,
To shew what monster thus the world molested,
And who be these that him frō earth expell:
For though they saw their names, they did not know them,
But he they knew by his great skil could show them.

Know then (quoth he) that these whose names appeare
In marble pure, did neuer liue as yet,
But long time hence, after six hundred yeare,
To their great praise in princely throne shall sit,
Merlin the English prophet plast them here
In Arthurs time, and by his passing wit,
Set here (as yet) their vuperformed deeds,
And noted all their names vpon their weeds.

This beast you saw, had first her habitation
Beneath amongst the wicked fiends of hell,
And staid there till that wicked generation,
(I meane the iron age) on earth did dwell,
When none durst trust without an obligation,
When fraud first came tween them that buy and sel,
And when the mightie (to their great reproch)
First on the poore mens liuings did incroch.

Then first this monster cruell got abrode,
And euer since her powre doth still increase,
And wheresoere she maketh her abode,
There is no friendship firme, nor godly peace;
Conscience and iustice vnder foote are trod,
Good gouernment and wholsome lawes do cease,
That Python Phoebus kild with thousand darts,
Was monster lesse then this by thousand parts.

Thus Malagigi said, and then he told
Who those should be that should the monster kill,
That should come then when as the world were old,
That should renew each good, and mend each ill,
Whose names in sacred stile to be inrold
Deserue, and to be praisd aud honourd still,
That should in time to come, as he did conster,
With bountie kill that miserable monster.

Those fiue I nam'd, and more by fiue times fiue,
Mine author names, that holpe to slay the beast.
Rogero and the rest the time did driue,
In such like talke during the present feast,
And ere they rose, behold there did arriue
Vnto this caue vnwares another guest,
By name that maid from whom of late by force,
Fierce Rodomont had tane Rogeros horse.

She hauing heard by hap vpon the way,
Her mistris brother was at Merlins caue,
Where she had bin her selfe an other day,
Not thinking now Rogero there to haue;
Him when she saw, she not one word doth say
To him, nor any show or inckling gaue,
Like one that knew so well to do her arrant.
As she durst go, sometime beside her warrant.

But vnto Richardet she frames her tale,
Yet so as tother might her speeches heare,
How one from her a gallant courser stale,
Which Bradamant her mistris held full deare,
The horse (quoth she) Frontyno she did call,
And I had led him thirty mile well neare,
Marsilia toward, where she bad me stay,
And pointed me to meet me at a day.

So fond was I, I feared no mans force,
Nor doubted no mans will to do me wrong,
When once I should but shew them how the horse
Vnto Renaldos sister did belong:
Yet one fierce Pagan voide of all remorse,
Met me, and tooke him from me, and ere long
Did meet a fo, with whom I fighting left him,
That hath I hope by this of life bereft him.

Rogero with this tale was so much moued,
That scant hereof Hyppalca made an end,
But Richardetto straight by him was moued,
Yea and coniurd, as he would be his frend,
That this attempt might sole by him be proued,
And (but this damsell) none might him attend:
That she may bring him to the Pagans sight,
That tooke away her horse against all right.

Stout Richardet (though thinking too much wrong,
So oft to let another vndertake
Those enterprises that to him belong)
Yet sith so earnestly Rogero spake,
He giues consent, and tother staid not long,
But of the companie his leaue doth take,
And leaues them all, in wonder great to see,
That such hie worth could in a yong man be.

Now when Hyppalca was quite out of sight,
She opned to Rogero all the troth,
How she that counts him her beloued knight,
And voweth to be his by solemne oth,
Sent her of purpose to him this last night,
Which she before conceald (as being loth
Her mistris brother should her counsell know,
How she that horse vpon him did bestow.)

She told him how that he that tooke the steed,
Did adde these proud and scornfull words beside,
Because it is Rogeros horse indeed,
So much the rather on the horse I ride,
And if he will be grieu'd at this my deed,
Tell him I do not mind my selfe to hide,
For I am Rodomont (he said) whose name
Where ere I passe filleth the world with fame.

One might haue seene it in Rogeros face,
In how great dudgen this great wrong he tooke,
Both for the gift and giuer in like case,
And grosse abuse, for which he did not looke:
He thinks what infamy and foule disgrace
It were to him, so great despite to brooke;
Which if he would, then iustly eu'rybody,
Might take him for a dastard and a nody.

Wherefore with heart vpon reuenge full set,
He followeth forthwith his female guide,
She that did thinke the fray vnparted yet,
That Rodomont and Mandricardo tride,
By darke blind wayes, the nearest she could get,
Vnto the place directly she did ride,
But as you heard, they had deferd the quarell,
And hasted thence to help their Liege from perell.

And as I toucht before, their hap them brought
Vnto the foresaid Merlins famous caue,
There where before good Malagigi taught,
What secret meaning all the pictures haue:
Now had Marfisa (by the rest besought)
Put on a womans garment passing braue,
Which lately for Lanfusa had bin made,
And so attyrd, refresht her in the shade.

When that Tartarian Prince had spide this dame,
Straight in his mind he plots this new found drift,
I will (thought he) by conquest win the same,
And giue her Rodomontee as my gift,
(As though that loue were but a sport and game,
That might be sold and changed for a shift)
For why (he thought) what needs a man complaine,
If leesing one, he do another gaine?

Wherefore the tothers damage to repaire,
And that he might his owne in quiet haue,
And for Marfisa seemly was and faire,
As no man need a dame more comely craue:
He doth forthwith vnto them make repaire,
Denouncing straight the challenge stout and braue,
That he with those foure knights at tilt wold runne,
Till they slue him, or he their Ladie wonne.

Straight stept out Malagige and Viuian,
Both prest in her defence to breake a speare,
Not fearing to encounter man to man,
With those two Pagans they saw present there;
But when the fray betweene them now began;
Pierce Rodomont stood still and doth forbeare,
As comming thither with another mind,
And not to change his purpose first assignd.

Now of the brothers Viuian was the first,
That with great might the Pagan did inuade,
Vpon whose crest in vaine his speare he burst,
His blow no hurt it did, no signe it made,
His force was least, so was his fortune worst,
For Mandricard (more perfect in his trade)
With so great strength and skill his speare inforced,
That he was ouerthrowne and quite vnhorsed.

To venge his brother, Malagigi thought,
But of his thought he quickly was deceiued,
His force thus ouermatcht preuailed nought,
From off his saddle he was quickly heaued.
Next. Aldiger his comming dearly bought,
For in his side a great wound he receaued,
So downe vpon the grasse he fell halfe dead,
His visage waxing pale, his armorred.

Then Richardetto came with mightie lance,
And prou'd himselfe by his great force to be
Worthy the name of Palladine of France,
As oft his foes did feele, his friends did see;
But at this time one ouerthwart mischance
Did hap, that downe among the rest lay he,
His horse wherein he put so great a trust,
Fell downe with him, and tumbled in the dust.

When at no other champion did appeare,
But all were ouerthrowne in this late fight,
Thinking this conquest now obtained cleare,
Without more stay he from his horse doth light,
And comming vnto her with smiling cheare,
Faire dame (quoth he) you now are mine by right,
You cannot it denie, or once excuse it,
For by the lawes of battell so we vse it.

Indeed (Marfisa said) it were no wrong,
And I were yours I grant by law of warre,
If I were theirs, or did to them belong.
That you haue foiled in this present iarre,
But I shall make you know I hope ere long,
You misse your marke, your aime did greatly arre,
I am mine owne, mine owner is within me,
He that will haue me, from my selfe must win me.

I handle can (quoth she) both sword and speare,
And haue ere this made more then one man bleed,
Then cald she for her armor which was there,
Which by a page was brought to her with speed,
Off go'th her gowne, and for she still did weare
A slender trusse beneath her womans weed,
Her well shapt limbs therein were plainly seene,
In shape like Mars, in face like Aegypts Queene.

When at all peeces she was armed round,
She vauteth nimbly vp into her seate,
And twise or thrise she makes her horse to bound,
To bate a little of his furious heate,
And makes a turne or two aboue the ground,
Then turnes she to her so to do her seate;
Such was ([…]iudge) Pentheseleas fight,
Against Achilles famous Greekish knight.

Thus each themselues vpon their horse aduances,
And with their couched speares forthwith they run,
Vp in a thousand splinters flies the lances,
But vnto them no hurt at all is done:
The Pagan greatly maruels how it chances,
That she should scape, and curses Moone and Sun;
And she with her successe as ill content,
Blasphemeth eke the heau'ns and firmament.

Then they assayd with swords most dreadfull dint,
To wound the tone the tother, and to kill,
Their strokes were such as might haue pierst ye flint,
And to their force was ioyned passing skill:
They lay on lode amaine, and do not stint,
The sound doth all the place with eccho fill,
But neuer was it more for their behoose,
To haue their armour of to passing proofe.

But while they now did most apply the fray,
Fierce Rodomont doth step them both betwixt,
And blames him much for making such delay,
Of that which late by him was firmely fixt;
And then with courteous speech he her doth pray,
With lowly words and lostie, quaintly mixt,
That she would helpe to aid Traianos sonne,
Whose tents were in much danger to be wonne.

To this request Marfisa doth assent,
As well to helpe king Agramant thereby,
As for she came to France with that intent,
The forces of the Palladines to try;
This while Rogero, wroth and malcontent,
After the stealer of his horse doth hie;
And hauing found of him the perfect tracke,
He sends againe his guide Hippalca backe.

And for he thought that none could do it better,
The messenger he makes her of his mind,
And sends by her his lately written letter,
Protesting he will still continue kind,
And that he doth himselfe acknowledge debter,
And would himselfe to her for euer bind,
He onely prayes her for a time excuse
His absence, which he would not, might he chuse.

With this dispatch Hippalca went her way,
And came to mount Albano that same night.
Rogero made but very little stay,
Vntill he had Frontino in his sight;
Which seen and known, forthwith there was no way,
But he will haue his horse againe, or fight
With him, that had with so vnnoble force,
The damsell robbed of the gallant horse.

And straight in shew of warre he coucht his speare,
And to his face the Pagan he deside,
But Rodomont doth patiently forbeare,
Eu'n as a Iob, and all his words abide:
Not that of him he had one sparke of feare,
For his great value often had bin tride,,
But that the danger of his Lord and King,
Weyd more with him then any other thing.

Wherefore he gently tels him for what cause
He may not fight, and him exhorted to,
What all diuine, and what all humane lawes,
Vnto his Prince commands a man to do.
I (said Rogero) am content to pawse,
In this respect, and make a truce with you,
So that this horse againe to me you render,
Which so to take, your reason was but slender.

Now while these two herein do square and braue,
The Tartar king doth vnto them approch,
And when he saw what armes Rogero gaue,
He set another brabble straight abroch:
Mine are (quoth he) these armes that now you haue,
How dare you on my titles thus incroch?
They cause why Mandricardo spake these words,
Was that Rogero gaue the King of burds.

An Eagle argent in a field of blew,
Rogero gaue, whilom the crest of Troy,
As one that thence deriu'd his pedegrew,
And did by due descent the same enioy;
But hereof Mandricardo nothing knew,
Or nought beleeu'd, and calld it but a toy,
And tooke it as an iniury and scorne,
To see the same by any other worne.

For he himselfe did giue, as for his cote,
That bird that barevp Ganimed on hie,
Ere since he wan (as I before did note)
Don Hectors armes, and wan such praise thereby,
The good successe hereof makes him aflote,
So that he did Rogero straight defie,
I shall (quoth he) some better manners teach thee,
Then in such sawcie sort to ouer reach thee.

As wood well dride will quickly fall on fire,
If so a man a little do it blow;
So was Rogero kindled now in ire,
To heare the Pagan reprehend him so;
Thou thinkst (quoth he) to haue thy fond desire,
By charging me now with a double so,
But know that I my partie good will make,
From him mine horse, from thee mine arms to take.

Did not we two about this matter boord?
And then to take thy life I did abstaine,
Because that by your side I saw no sword;
But now sith you begin this brawle againe,
This shall be fight in deed, that was but word,
And that your crest shall turne you to much paine,
Which vnto me descent and propagation
Hath left, but you do hold by viurpation.

Nay thou vsurpst, the tother straight doth say,
And with that word he Durindana drew,
That sword that erst Orlando flang away,
And then a cruell fray was like ensew:
But straight the tother two did cause them stay,
And chiefly Rodomont did seeme to rew,
That Mandricard of lightnesse shewd such token,
That twise by him his promise had bin broken.

First when to get Marfisa he had thought,
He had conflicted more then twise or thrise,
And now with tother quarrelled for nought,
About a bird or some such fond deuise:
Nay then (quoth he) if needs you wold haue fought,
We two should trie the title of our prise,
Which by consent should stand still vndecided,
Vntill our Princes safetie were prouided.

Wherefore for shame do as you haue agreed,
And let vs cease and lay all quarrels by,
And when our Prince from danger shall be freed,
Then first betweene vs two the matter trie,
And after if you hue, you may proceed
To fight it out with him, and so will I:
Though well I wot, when I haue done with you,
But little will remaine for him to do.

Tush (saith the Tartar Prince) for him nor thee,
Nor all the world beside, I passe one straw,
For though you fight, or though you do agree,
Of neither of you both I stand in aw,
As water in a spring, so strength in me
Shall still supply much more then you can draw;
I hope by that time I haue done my feate,
From head to foot with blood […]le make you sweate.

Thus one ill word another doth draw on,
And wrathfull Mandricard them both defier
Rodomont would haue peace, but they would none,
If this speake sharpe, then that more sharpe replies;
If one strife be compounded, yet anon
Another strife as bad or worse doth rise;
In vaine Marfisa labours to compound them,
For more and more vntoward still she found them.

Eu'n as the painfull husbandman doth thinke,
By care to keepe the riuer in his bounds
That swels with raine, readie to passe the brinke,
And ouerflow his mowd or sowed grounds,
He strengthens eu'ry place that seems to shrinke,
Yet more and more the water still abounds,
And while he stops one vent, another groweth,
Till ouer all perforce at last it floweth.

So when the dame, of whom I last made mention,
Saw how Rogero stout and Mandricard,
With Rodomont continude in contention,
And each would seeme for tother two too hard,
She willing to compound this sharpe dissention,
Perswades them, but they little it regard,
For still as one at her request forbeares,
The other two are at it by the eares.

When as she saw their furie still increase,
Let either vs (quoth she) our Prince assist,
And in the meane time let all quarrels cease;
Or if you in this fury still persist,
Then I with Mandricard will haue no peace.
Do herein (quoth Rogero) as you list,
For I resolued am to haue my horse,
Although it be by faire meanes or by force.

Then do (said Rodomont) your worst and best,
For with that horse to part I not agree,
But here before you all I do protest,
That if our King by this stay damag'd be,
And that for want of ayd he be distrest,
The cause thereof did not proceed of me;
Rogero little weyes his protestation,
But firmly holds his first determination.

And at the Sarzan furiously he flies,
And with his shoulder gaue him such a thrust,
He lost his stirrops, and so loosd his thies,
That hard he scaped lying in the dust.
What? hold Rogero, Mandricardo cries,
Either not fight, or fight with me you must,
And in great rage, as that same word he spake,
Rogeros beauer with great might he strake.

The blow was such, as made him forward leane,
And ere that he himselfe againe could reare,
Vpon him smote the sonne of Vlyen,
With so great strength as no strength might it beare
That had his armor bene of temper meane,
No doubt they had an end made of him there:
Rogeros hands flie ope with senslesse paine,
The tone his sword, the tother leaues his raine.

His horse away beares him about the greene,
And Balisard his blade is left behind:
Marfisa that had to Rogero beene
Fellow in armes that day, was grieu'd in mind,
To see him vsd so hardly them betweene,
And being strong of limbes, and stout by kind,
She smiteth Mandricardo on the crowne
So hard, as wants not much to fell him downe.

After Rogero Rodomont doth get him,
And now Frontino had welnigh bin wonne,
But by the way stout Richardetto met him,
And with him ioynd his cousin Bouos sonne;
Tone iustles him, and furder off doth set him,
The tother, namely Vinian, doth runne,
Vnto Rogero that by this was waked,
And lends his sword vnto his right hand naked.

Now backe he doth returne, enrag'd with scorne,
Minding to pay his damage home againe,
Eu'n as a Lion, whom the Bull hath borne
Vpon his head, is full of fierce disdaine,
Flies at him still, nor feares his cruell horne,
His anger making him forget his paine,
And on his beauer with such force he thundered,
As though he weld his head in twain haue sundered.

And sure he had performd it very neare,
If Balisarda had bene in his hand,
Which he let fall, as you before did heare.
Now when as Discord saw how things did stand,
She thinks no peace can possibly be here,
And taking Pride her sister by the hand,
Now sister let vs turne vs to our Friers,
For here (quoth she) are raisd sufficient fiers.

And so away they went, and let them go:
And let me tell you how Rogero sped,
Who gaue to Rodomont so fierce a blow,
That such a great amazement in him bred,
That twise or thrise he reeled to and fro;
Frontino with his senslesse master fled,
Also his sword had falne out of his fist,
But that a chaine did tie it to his wrist.

This while Marfisa held the tother racke,
And yet on either side the conquest swayd,
Each had so good an armor on their backe,
Of piercing it they need not be afrayd,
Yet by a chance Marfisa hapt to lacke,
And likewise hapt to haue Rogeros ayd,
For in a turne she made, her horse did trip,
And in the durt vpon one side did slip.

And as againe he labourd vp to rise,
The cruell Tattar iustled him so crosse,
That on his side the horse constrained lies,
Foundring againe vpon the slimie mos[…]e;
Which when Rogero from aloofe espies,
How neare she was to danger great and losse,
He steps to Mandricard, fiercely assailing him,
While Rodomont stands mazd, his senses failing him,

The Tartar doth as fiercely him resist,
But yet Rogero strake so great a blow,
Both to auenge himselfe and her assist,
Whom Mandricardo hapt to ouerthrow,
That sure I thinke that blow had little mist,
Quite to haue clou'n him to the saddle bow,
Saue that the Tartars armor was so hard,
And that Rogero wanted Balisard.

By this the Sarzan king againe did wake
And seeing none but Richardetto neare,
He cals to minde how for Rogeros sake,
That youth to him was troublesome while eare.
Straight with great rage he toward him doth make,
Minding to make him buy that curtsie deare:
And sure good Richardetto had repented it,
But that his cosin with great art preuented it.

His cofin Malagige, whose skill was great,
In all that doth to magicke art pertaine,
With words that he without booke could repeat,
Did coniure vp a spryte of hellish traine,
And by this meanes he works a passing feat:
For (though he namd no place) he doth ordaine,
This sprite in Doralices horse to enter,
And beare her thence away at all aduenter.

The sprite thus coniurd, quickly doth his part,
Into the damsels gentle nag he crept,
And so his quiet nature did peruart,
That one the sudden thirtie foot he lept,
And ten foot high, yet with so easie start,
That Doralicee still the sadle kept,
Yet cride she out, in doubt to haue miscarried,
For in the diuels name she thence was carried.

Forthwith to helpe her Rodomonte go'th,
Because she fled, and cride to him for aid,
To stay behind the Tartar is as loth,
For feare betweene them he may be betraid,
He leaues Rogero and Marfisa both,
Nor in the place so little time he staid,
As to accord with them vpon some truce,
Or make at least some mannerly excuse.

This while Marfisa was got vp againe,
And now she means to venge her on her so,
But he was gone, at which in great disdaine,
She frets and chases, that he had seru'd her so,
Rogero chases as much, for all in vaine,
He knew it would be, after them to go:
They know their steeds (and this doth grieue them more
Cannot out run Frontin & Brighadore.

Wherefore supposing (as it was indeed)
That they were gone vnto the Turkish host,
To follow them forthwith these two agreed,
Though not to follow as they went in post,
Not doubting but when Agramant were freed,
At leasure them to meet, and to their cost:
They onward go, but yet Rogero ment,
To bid his friends farewell asore he went.

Downe from his horse he gently doth descend,
And Richardetto he aside doth take,
And promist him for ay to be his frend,
And to his noble sister for his sake:
To whom (said he) I pray you me commend,
Yet in such prettie sort the same he spake,
His inward loue was not thereby detected,
Nor her great loue to him, one whit suspected.

Thus solemne leaue once tane on either side.
And profers of great loue and curtsie made,
To him was hurt, and all the rest beside,
As still among great nobles is the trade,
Rogero with Marfisa on doth ride,
But how they did the Christen campe inuade,
And what great losse did Charls thereby receiue,
In next ensuing booke you may perceiue.