Canto 27

AMong the many rare and speciall gifts,
That in the femal sex are found to sit,
This one is chiefe, that they at sodayne shifts,
Giue best aduice, and show most readie wit:
But man, except he thinks and chews, and fifts,
How eu'ry part may answer tother fit,
By rash aduice doth often ouershoot him,
And doth attempt the things that do not boot him.

Good Malagigi thought he had done wisely,
In making Doralice to Paris fly,
But if he had the matter wayd precisely,
(Though Richardetto was perseru'd thereby)
He would haue sure confest it done vnwisely,
His safetie with so great a losse to buy:
For by this act (which he then not forethought)
A losse vnspeakeable to Charles was wrought.

Alas how much might he haue better done,
If he had made the fiend the wench conuay,
Vnto the fall or rising of the Sunne?
To West, or East, or any other way,
Where Rodomont and Agricanes sonne,
From Paris wals might haue gone far astray?
But he that euer wisheth Christens euill,
So at this time did proue himselfe a Deuill.

The siend her silly horse most slily enterd,
And, not before prescribed any place,
He quickly all the company distemperd;
Nor bare he her away a common pace,
But ouer brooks, and streams, and ditches venterd:
She crying still for ayd as in such case,
Nor leaues her beast to fling, run, snore and stampe,
Vntill she quite was past the Christen campe.

There did she come eu'n as she could desire,
Among the midst of Agramantes traine,
And there at last she found the king her sire,
That of Granata did possesse the raigne:
The while her louers both themselues do tire,
And in pursuing her do take great paine,
By tracing her with as great toile and care,
As huntlmen do with pleasure trace the Hare.

Now Charles tis time for thee to looke about,
Vnto thy wals and strengths in time betake thee,
Thou neuer canst escape this plunge, I doubt,
Except thou stir vp quickly, and awake thee,
Thy strength, the lamps of France are quenched out
I meane thy frends & champions chiefe forsake thee,
Orlando thee, his wits haue him relinquished,
And all his vertues drownd and quite extinguished.

Likewise Renaldo, though not fully mad,
Yet little lesse then mad seekes there and hear[…],
For faire Angelica, and is full sad,
To see that he of her no news can heare;
For why a certaine old inchaunter had,
Told him a forged tale, that toucht him neare,
How she, to whom of loue he made profession,
Was in Orlandos keep ng and possession.

This made him at the first so loth to go,
To England, whither he was sent for ayd;
This made him backe againe to hasten so,
Then when the Turks his presence so dismaid,
And thinking after that, some news to know,
By priuie search the Nunries all he laid,
And Castels all, in Paris and about,
To see if he by search could finde her out.

But when he heard of her no news nor tiding,
And that Orlando there likewise did want,
He could in Paris make no longer biding,
Doubting his riuall sought him to supplant,
But vp and downe about the countrie riding
Sometime to Braua, sometime to Anglant,
Snpposing still Orlando her had hidden,
Lest of his pleasure he might be forbidden.

And thus the wicked fiend his time espide,
To giue the Christens such a fatall blo,
When as these two, in whom they most affide,
Were absent now their Prince and countrie fro;
Furder for souldiers of the Turkish side,
All that were valiant men, or counted so,
Were all against this time entised hither,
Wholly vniting all their force togither.

Gradasso stout, and Sacrapantee fearce,
That in that charmed castell long had dwelt,
Which th'English Duke, as I did late rehearse,
Dissolued quite, and causd like snow to melt.
These two likewise the Christen campe do pearce,
The forces of these two the Christens felt.
Rogero and Marfisa made lesse hast,
And so it happend they arriued last.

The first two couple neare the Christens tents,
Did meet, and then after long consultation,
Each vnto other shewing their intents,
They all conclude with on determination,
And all of them to this giue their consents.
In spite of all the Christen generation,
To succour Agramant their Lord and Liege,
And mauger Charls his might, to raise the siege.

Straight in one crew they foure togither knit,
Breake through ye Christen watch by force amaine,
Neither in hugger mugger did they it,
But crying lowdly, Affrica and Spaine,
They lay on lode, and eu'rie one they hit,
Dead or astonished doth there remaine:
Alarum then all ore the campe was rung,
Though few could tel the cause fró whēce it sprung.

Some thought the Gascoigns or the Switzers bold,
By mutiny had made some insurrection,
And their surmise vnto the Emp'ror told,
Who came with minde to giue them due correction
But when he did the bodies dead behold,
Incurable vntill the resurrection,
He standeth still like one with wonder mazed,
And on their wofull wounds long time he gazed.

Eu'n as a man that with a bolt of thunder,
Hath seene his dwelling house smit vnaware,
Straight searcheth with no little feare nor wonder,
Which way the bolt did passe that cauld his care:
So Charles that saw mens bodies cut in sunder,
Inquires, of so great wounds who authours are,
And when he knew how few they were that did it,
Did wish himselfe there present to forbid it.

This while Marfisa on another side,
With good Rogero do them sore impeach,
And through the campe in spite of them they ride,
Killing or wounding all within their reach:
As in a migne that lies close vnespide,
With trayns of gunpowder men make a breach:
Or as a tempest goes along by coast,
So suddenly these two brake through the host.

Many that scapt the tother foure by flight,
In flying, fell vnwares vpon these twaine;
And felt by proofe that neither flight nor fight,
Can saue a man ordained to be slaine.
Eu'n as a Foxe, whom smoke and fire doth fright,
So as he dare not in the ground remaine,
Bolts out,and through both smoke & fire she flieth,
Into the Tariers mouth, and there he dieth.

Thus last of all, by this most noble paire,
The Christen armie once againe was sundred,
And then to Agramant they all repaire,
Who welcoms them, and at their value wondred.
Now hope and courage, driue away dispaire,
One Turke, of Christens straight defide an hundred,
So great a boldnesse in their mind doth rise,
By helpe and succour of these new supplies.

Straight way on both sides out their men were brought
Their standerds and their banners all displaid,
And there that day a bloodie field was fought,
And neither side made shew to be dismaid,
For hopes alike in either armie wrought,
Tones passed conquests, tothers present aid.
But fortune on the Christens so did frowne,
That they againe were driu'n vnto the towne.

The passing force of cruell Rodomount,
The strength and value great of Mandricard,
Rogeros vertue, that doth all surmount,
Gradassos courage of no small regard,
Marfisas heart, of principall account,
The skill of Sacrapant, with best compard,
These were the causers of good Charls his losse,
And sent the Christens whom by weeping crosse.

Great store were drownd in Sequana with hast,
The bridge so narrow was for to receiue them,
Wishing (as Dedals sonne had in time past)
Some wings wherewith aloft in ayre to heaue them,
Some thrusting, straue to get them in so fast,
That strength & breath, & life at last did leaue them
But that, where by king Charls was chiefly shaken,
Was this, that many Palladyns were taken.

Thus fortune once againe did turne the wheele,
The good king Charles had her, but could not hold her,
And of this foile this hurt he then did feele,
It fainter made his friends, his foes the bolder:
The Marquis of Vienna true as steele,
Was at that seruice wounded in his shoulder,
And many hurt, but none did play his part,
So well that day, as valiant Brandimart.

He stoutly bare it out, no little space,
And when he saw there was no other way,
Then to the furie prudently gaue place,
And spard himselfe, against another day:
Now once againe is Charls in wofull case,
Now once againe to Paris siege they lay.
Young Orphaus, and old widdows prayre and cries,
Againe vnto Gods heau'nly throne arise.

The Angell Michel, was but ill appaid,
Finding the cause of those good Christens teares,
He thought his maker was but ill obaid,
And that he may be blamd therefore he feares;
He cals himselfe deceiued and betraid,
By her should set the Pagans by the eares,
From which (it seemed) now she did so vary,
As she had rather done the quite contrary.

Eu'n as the Seruitor whose loue and zeale,
More then his memory may be commended,
Forgetting in some waightie cause to deale,
That by his Lord to him was recommended,
Would with new care his former fault conceale,
That er his master know, it may be mended:
So this good Angel, went not vp to God,
Till he had done as much as he was bod.

To seeke dame Discord he doth leaue the skie,
And to the Abby he returnes againe,
Where her amid the monks he might espie,
That change old officers, and new ordaine:
She laughes to see their portises to flie,
Readie to knocke out one anothers braine:
The Angel takes her by her painted locks,
And with great furie giues her many knocks.

He brake a crosses handle on her crowne,
And grieuously doth beat her, backe and side,
The wretch vpon her mary bones fals downe,
At th'Angels feet, and mercie, mercie cride:
Packe to the Pagans then, that siege yon towne,
(Quoth he) and see that you among them bide,
For if this place againe thou euer trouble,
Assure thy selfe, thy payment shalbe double.

Though Discords back and arms were sore with beating
Yet thence with all the hast she could she went;
Sore terrifid with that great Angels threating,
Doubting againe in like sort to be shent:
Yet in this hast, behind her not forgetting,
Bellows and coles, in steed of those were spent,
By which in many minds, and hearts inuincible,
She quickly kindle might a fire inquenchible.

Rogero, Mandricard, and Rodomount,
Gan now their former quarrels to renew,
As making of the Christians small account,
That vnto Paris walls themselues withdrew:
Wherefore to Agramant they do recount
Their quarrels, & the grounds of whence they grew,
Each one by challenge his iust cause auerring,
The combats order to the king referring.

Also Marfisa doth the king intreat,
That she may end her combat first begunne,
With as great hast thereof, and as great heat,
Against the Tartar, Agricanes sonne:
This she desires with hast and instance great,
As one that thinks, great wrong to her was done,
If in regard of any state or powre,
She should attend one day, or yet one howre.

But Rodomont alledgeth that of right,
He first should end the matter with his riuall,
Sith by accord they first deferd the fight,
Till time might serue, after their here arriuall:
No lesse Rogero for his horse takes spight,
And sweares, that whether they agree or striue all,
To take Frontino, no man should restraine him,
Or else to fight with him that doth detaine him.

Further, the matter farther to entangle,
The argent Eagle in the azure field,
Gaue to the Tartar matter more to iangle,
And quarrell with Rogero for his shield:
And so confusedly he then did wrangle,
As though with all at once he would the field,
And in his furie sure he had attempted it,
But that the kings commandment flat preuented it.

Who first with graue and frendly admonition,
To peace and good attonement did exhort them,
But when beyond all meanes of composition,
He saw that wrath and furie did transport them,
To certaine Marshals, he doth giue commission,
According to the law of armes to sort them:
And of all wayes, this was not thought the worst,
To trie by lots, which two should combat furst.

Foure little scrowles were put into a pot,
The first had Rodomont and Mandricard;
Rodomont and Rogero next they wrot;
The third Rogero was and Mandricard;
The fourth paire that must trie the present lot,
Was stout Marfisa ioynd to Mandricard:
When lots were cast, these two first out were tane,
Fierce Rodomont and sonne of Agrican.

Mandricard and Rogero next they finde,
Rodomont and Rogero next was said:
Mandricard and Marfisa staid behinde,
With which the stately dame was ill apaid:
Nor was Rogero well content in minde,
Doubting that when they first their parts had plaid,
The combat will be such betweene them two,
He and Marfisa should haue nought to do.

Not farre from Paris, lay a leuell ground,
That was in compasse scant a thousand paces,
This plain with rayles, and bars was compast round,
And tents therein were set with equall spaces,
With scaffolds raysd vpon the outward bound,
To giue to lookers on conuenient places:
Now came the time these strifes should be decided,
Among those knights, those tents were thus deuided.

In the pauillion bordring on the East,
Stands Rodomont with visage sterne and grim,
Ferraw and Sacrapant were readie prest,
To put his scally serpents hide on him:
In tother tent that was vpon the West,
Gradasso and stout Falsyron do trim,
With Hectors armes so stately and so faire,
The valiant Prince, king Agricanes haire.

On one side in a high tribunall seat,
Do sit the kings of Affrica and Spaine,
With Stordilan and other Princes great,
Both feard and followd of the Turkish traine:
Happie was he that day, that could but get,
A place to sit or stand although with paine,
On rigde of house, or wall, or top of tree,
In so greatpresse, the goodly shew to see.

On tother side sat Ladies of great name,
In stately sort, to see and to be seene,
That out of diuers realmes and countries came,
To visite or attend the Spanish queene:
There Doralyce was plast,that louely dame,
Who wears a robe of crimson cut on greene,
Yet was the crimson staind in such a fashion,
It rather seemd inclining to carnation.

Among the rest Marfisa sat that day,
In short light clothes most sumptuously arrayd,
The fashion of such kind, as well it may
Become a warrior, and yet a maid,
Hippolita (I thinke) vsd such array,
When in the field her banner she displaid,
Thus each thing was prepared for the fight,
And each man was prepared for the sight.

An Herald in his coate of armes steppes out,
And of the law of armes expounds the guise,
Prosessing to resolue each little doubt,
That in such case accustoms to arise:
The people gasing standeth all about,
Attent with listning ears, and longing eyes,
When from the tent of valiant Mandricard
Behold a sodaine noyse and sturre was hard.

The cause was this, the king of Sericane,
Who (as before I did rehearse) was one,
That holpe to arme the sonne Agricane,
Taking his sword in hand to put it on,
Saw written in the handle, Durindane,
And looking more aduisedly thereon,
He saw Almontes armes grau'n on the blade,
The which strange sight him greatly wonder made.

And glad he was when once he did espy it,
(The chiefest cause that first to France he came)
Although before he neuer could come by it;
Wherefore he questions straight vpon the same,
If Mandricardo wan it, or did buy it?
Who in this sort his answer then did frame:
I with Orlando for this sword did quarrell,
And ear I had it, put my life in perrell.

Further vnto this answer he doth ad,
A farther lie, his glorie to increase,
How that Orlando for the feare he had,
That for this sword he neuer should haue peace,
Had throwne away the sword, and faind him mad,
That thereby he might cause his quartell cease:
Doing herein,as is the Castor wonted,
Bite of his stones, when he is nearly hunted.

Well (quoth Gradasso) what Orlando ment,
I cannot now discusse, nor do I know,
But sure I am it is not mine intent,
Now I haue found it here to let it go,
The money, men, munition I haue spent,
Deserue as good a thing as this I trow:
You did but finde it, you your selfe confesse it,
And now I challenge it and do possesse it.

If you denie my claime, here I will proue it,
This field the court, this list my pleading bar,
My plea is such, as no writ can remoue it,
My iugde must be the sequell of the war.
War said thother, who can better loue it
Then I? these words to me as musicke are,
If so the king of Sarza will agree,
To stay his combat, till I fight with thee.

Be sure Ile answer thee, and all beside.
That dare presume to offer me offence:
With that Rogero stept betweene and cride,
Ho sirs, with this I minde not to dispence,
Or let the fight proceed, as lots haue tride,
Or I my selfe will put you to your fence:
Shall he denie the sword and shall I yeeld,
That you shall weare mine Eagle on your shield?

Wherefore preserue that order first agreed on,
From which in honour, you may no way start,
Or if to breake it further you proceed on,
I breake will all, if you do breake a part.
Tush (quoth the Tartar) threats we haue no need on,
If Mars were in you both, and tooke your part,
Yet both should finde it folly to attempt,
Me of my shield, or sword once to preuent.

And with that word forthwith he bent his fist,
And on Gradassos hand so fierce he strake,
That sodainly, or ear Gradasso wist,
He made him vnawares the sword forsake:
Who much repind he thus his purpose mist,
And that so vnprepard he could him take,
And much more grieu'd it him, that this disgrace,
Was offerd him in such an open place.

Wherefore to be aueng'd of so great wrong,
He steppeth backe and out his sword he drawes,
The tother doth no farther time prolong,
Though in respect of order there was cause,
Nay which was more, he thought himselfe so strong
To fight with all at once, he askt no pause,
But to them both at once he makes defiance,
In his owne strength he had so great affiance.

This man is mad, but let me with him trie it,
Gradasso said, Ile make him wise againe:
Nay softly (quoth Rogero) I deny it,
For this same combat doth to me pertaine:
Stand backe saith tone, saith tother nay not I yet,
Backe you; yet both still in their place remaine:
Thus do these three with mallice great and spite,
Strangely begin a combat tripartite.

And sure to much confusion it had growne,
Had not some men, more stout perhap then wise,
Themselues among them vndiscreetly throwne,
With courage great, but yet with small aduise,
To succour others danger with their owne:
Yet could no force them part, nor no deuise,
Till Agramant himselfe, their dreaded Lord,
In person came their quarrell to accord.

The reu'rence great that vnto him they beare,
Made them forthwith their forces to restraine,
Who straight the causes of these broiles did heare,
And to compound them sought, but all in vaine,
For scant Gradasso could be made forbeare,
The sword so long with tother to remaine,
Vntil the fight were ended now in hand,
Of which the sequell could not yet be scand.

Scarse had the king with words of great perswasion,
This quarrell new begun, a while appeasd,
But that another strife, by new occasion,
In Rodomontes tent them all diseasd:
An hurlyburly and a fierce inuasion,
There grows betweene two Princes sore displeasd,
Betweene stout Sacrapant and Rodomount,
As I to you will presently recount.

King Sacarpant, as late before I told,
Helping to arme the cruell Sarzan king,
With those selfe armes that Nimrod ware of old,
From whom this Prince, his pedigree did bring,
Whiles he (I say) did curiously behold
His furniture, and eu'rie other thing,
That to his horse, or vnto him belong,
To see they might be sure and firme, and strong.

While he, that stately steed Frontino vewd,
That proudly champing stood vpon his bit,
And all his raines with snowlike some be dewd,
Without regard, whose hands embroderd it,
A thought vnpleasant in his mind renewd,
And to his heart did seeme full neare to sit,
He thinks this horse was verie like in sight,
To one of his, that Frontlat whilom hight.

And more and more with heedfull looke still eying,
The markes and shape, and colour of the steed,
After his long and verie curious prying,
He saw and knew it was his horse indeed:
Which horse from him (then at Albracca lying)
Brunello stale, for want of better heed;
And shewed him an vnusuall cunning knacke,
To steale his horse while he sate on his backe.

Brunello stale that time more things beside,
By name Orlandos sword hight Balisard,
Angellicas faire ring, of vertue tride,
Which she recouerd as before you heard:
Likewise a sword eu'n from Marfisas side:
This done, he gaue Rogero afterward,
Orlandos sword, and this horse to the same,
But to Frontino first he changd his name.

Now then I say, when Sacrapant was sure,
This horse was Frontlat that sometime was his,
And that the markes he saw did him assure,
That he therein tooke not his marke amis,
To hold his peace he could not long endure,
But said; good sir, know mine Frontino is,
Stolne late from me, as I can make good proofe,
Although (I trow) mine owne word is inough.

One at Albracca stale from me this steed,
Yet for our late acquiantance I consent,
Because I see that now you stand in need,
That you shall vse him now I am content:
Conditionally, that first it be agreed,
You shall acknowledge him not yours, but lent,
Else here I claime him as my goods and chattell,
And will defend my right in open battell.

The Sarzan king, that past (I thinke) in pride,
All kings and knights that euer carrid sword,
And past (I thinke) in strength and courage tride,
All samples that old stories vs afford,
Made answer thus; if any man beside,
Durst vnto me haue spoken such a word,
He should haue found, I tooke it in such scorne,
He had bin better haue bin speechles borne.

But for our late begunne acquiantance sake,
I am content this at your hands to beare,
So as you this, do as a warning take,
The like attempt hereafter to forbeare,
And if you will but harke what end I make,
With Mandricardo, then I do not feare,
But you shall see such sample of my force,
Shall make you glad, to pray me take your horse.

Then villany is courtesie with thee,
(Saith Sacrapant inflamd with high disdaine)
When you be offerd faire you cannot see,
Wherefore my purpose is, I tell you plaine,
My horse shall seruice do to none but mee,
And with these hands I will my right maintaine:
And that is more, if these same hands should faile,
I will defend my right with tooth and naile.

Thus galling speech, betweene them multiplying,
Till each last word, the former worser made,
At last they sell to acts of flat defying,
And tone the tother fiercely doth inuade:
Rodomont on his strength and armes relying;
Yet tother so defends him with his blade,
And makes it so about his head to houer,
That seemes alone his body all to couer.

Eu'n as a charter wheele that runnes apace,
Seemes to the eye all solyd, firme and sound,
Although twixt eu'rie spoake there is a space,
Concealed from our sights by running round:
So Sacrapant seemd armed in that place,
Though armour then about him none was found,
So dextrously himselfe he then besturd,
As well it stood vpon him with his sword.

But quickly Serpentino and Ferraw,
With naked sword in hand, stept them betwixt,
With others more that present were and saw,
As friends of either part togither mixt.
Yet them no force, nor prayre could once withdraw,
Their lostie hearts were on reuenge so fixt,
And wrath had quite so put them out of frame,
Till Agramant to them in person came.

Vpon the sight of him, their soueraigne Lord,
They both agreed their furie to withhold,
Who straight perswaded them to good accord,
And much good counsell to them both he told:
But peace and good perswasions they abhord,
And either on his manhood made him bold;
Their king doth but among them leese his winde,
For more and more he froward them doth finde.

By no meanes Sacrapant will be intreated,
Vnto the Sarzan king his horse to lend,
Except that he (as I before repeated)
To borrow it of him, would condiscend:
The tother at this verie motion freated,
And sweares nor heauen, nor he should make him bend,
To seek to haue by prayer or request,
A thing of which by force he was possest.

King Agramant doth aske by what mischance,
He lost his horse, or who it from him stale?
The tother opend all the circumstance,
And blusht for shame, when as he told the tale;
Namely, how late before he came to France,
One tooke him napping, as it did befall,
And vnderpropt his saddell with foure stakes,
And so from vnder him his courser takes.

Marfisa, that was come to part this fray,
Hearing of this stolne horse among the rest,
Was grieu'd in minde for why that verie day,
Her sword was stolne as she most truly guest;
And then king Sacrapant she knew straight way,
Whom erst she knew not, and that gallant beast,
For which of late those two began to fight,
She knew, and said belongd to him in right.

While these things passed thus, the standers by,
That oft hereof had heard Brunello bost,
Straight in such sort to him did cast their eye,
As turned greatly to Brunellos cost:
By which Marfisa plainly did discrie
Him, by whose theft her sword she late had lost,
To be Brunello, whom she saw there sitting,
Among great Lords, a place for him vnfitting.

She heard, and much it grieued her to heare,
How for these thefts and many mo beside,
The king rewarded him, and held him deare,
Whereas in law for them he should haue dide:
These news so greatly chang'd Marfisas cheare,
That hardly she her wrath could longer hide,
Let Agramant accept it as he will,
She minds Brunello presently to kill.

Straight way she armed is from head to heele,
And makes her page her helmet close to claspe,
To him she goes, and with her gloue of steele,
She giues him such a blow as made him gaspe,
And while the paine hereof doth make him reele
With her strong hād, his weak corse she doth graspe
As doth the Faulcon fierce the Mallard gripe,
To which a while before she gaue a stripe.

With furie great from thence away she flings,
While he for helpe, and oft for mercie cride,
But wil he, nill he, him away she brings,
Like to a thiefe with hands togither tide,
Where Agramant among the meaner kings,
Sate like a iudge their causes to descide,
Then making some obeysance for good manner,
She speaketh thus in short but stately manner.

Sir king, I minde to hang this thiefe your man,
That by desart should long ere this haue dide,
For when he stale that horse from him, eu'n than
He stale my sword that hanged by my side:
But if there any be, that dare or can
Deny my words, or say that I haue lide:
Here in your presences I do desire,
To trie by combat whether is the lier.

But least some should, as some by fortune may,
Affirme I chuse this time to make new strife,
Alone at such a time, on such a day,
When other quarrels in the campe are rife,
I am content a day or two to stay,
And to prolong this wretched caitiues life,
To see if any man will him defend,
And after sure to hang him I intend.

I meane (quoth she) to bring him three mile hence,
And keepe him as a prisner in yon towre,
And with his life I promise to dispence,
For two dayes space, and longer not an howre,
If any list to fight in his defence,
There let him come and trie my force and powre:
Away she gallopt when she this had said,
And on her saddle bow the wretch she laid.

The King was sore displeasd at this attempt,
And much it did his princely mind enrage,
And minds himselfe to wreake so great contempt,
Vntill Sobrino, one both graue and sage,
Told him in wisedome he must be content,
His choler in this matter to asswage;
And said it were a base part for his highnesse,
To fight for one sprung vp by theft and slinesse.

Yea though before hand he were sure to win,
Yet would such victorie dishonor haue,
Because a woman vanquisht were therein:
Wherefore (quoth he) if you his life might saue,
With one words speech, to speake that word were sin;
For sure she doth but law and iustice craue:
And Princes neuer do themselues more wrong,
Then when they hinder iustice, or prolong.

You may (said he) to satisfie your mind,
Send after her, in manner of request,
And promise her, that if iust cause you find,
He shall be hangd, and so all strife may rest;
But if to this you find her not inclind,
Giue her her will, for so I thinke tis best;
So that she firmely in your friendship bide,
Hang vp Brunello, and all theeues beside.

This good direction Agramant obaying,
Went not himselfe, nor sent none to molest her,
But yet according to Sobrinos saying,
He sent a messenger that might request her:
Himselfe the while doth trauell in allaying,
The tumults fierce that all his campe do pester:
Pride laughs at this, and Discord so reioyces,
As vp to heau'n flie their eternall voyces.

Fiue men most resolute haue set their rest,
To be the first that will begin the fight,
The strife so intricate, as would molest
Apollo to descide or set it right.
Yet Agramant still striues to do his best,
And to compound the matter if he might:
And thus to end the matter he begonne,
Twixt Rodomont and Agricanes sonne.

He makes to them this good and friendly motion,
That sith for Doralice they onely straue,
They would agree to stand at her deuotion,
And let her take her choise which she will haue,
And that once made, to raise no more commotion.
This pleasd them both, to this consent they gaue;
A certaine hope and trust them both alluring,
Each on himselfe of her firme loue assuring.

The Sarzan king doth thinke, that needs she must
Giue sentence on his side, and be his owne,
Sith oft he had in turneys and in iust,
Her fauours worne, and his affection showne:
How can she loue (thinkes he) or put her trust
In one, whō she scant three dayes space hath knowne?
Not was alone his owne opinion such,
But all the campe beside did thinke as much.

They all thinke Mandricardo ouerseene,
And made no question but she would reiect him:
But he that knew what past had them betweene,
And found that she did inwardly affect him,
Was sure, although his seruice were vnseene,
And done by night, that she would not neglect him:
Wherefore of her good will he nothing doubting,
Did scorne their scorns, and floured at their flouting.

Thus hauing put the matter in her choyce,
And put the choice in her owne declaration,
She with a sober looke and lowly voyce,
Chose Mandricard, against all expectation:
The Tartar prince here did much reioyce,
But all the rest were filld with admiration,
And Rodomont himselfe was so astound.
As hardly he could lift his eyes from ground.

But when his wonted wrath had driu'n away
That bashfull shame that dyde his face with red,
Vniust he cals that doome, and curst that day,
And clapping hand vpon his sword, he sed,
This better arbitrate our matters may,
Then womens foolish doome by fancie led,
Who oftentimes are so peruerse in chusing,
They take the worst, the offerd best refusing.

Go then (quoth Mandricard) I little care,
I hope that fight shall yeeld you like successe:
And thus againe to fight they ready are,
But Agramant doth soone that rage represse,
And said, vpon this point againe to square,
Quite were against all lawes of armes expresse:
And Rodomont he sharply then controld,
That in his sight was against law so bold.

The Sarzan king that saw himselfe that day,
So noted by those Peeres with double scorne,
Both from his Prince, whom he must needs obay,
And her to whom so great loue he had borne,
With fury great he flings from thence away,
And counts himselfe disgrast and quite forlorne:
Of all his traine two men he onely taketh,
The king, the campe, the place he quite forsaketh.

And as a Bull his loued heard that leaues,
By his strong riuall forced to be gone;
Among the trees all clad with thickest leaues,
Doth hide himselfe, and seekes to be alone:
So he, whom shame of comfort all bereaues,
Flies sight of men yet still he thinks thereon;
And chiefe when he remembers what disgrace,
His mistris did him in so open place.

Rogero gladly would haue him pursude,
To get his horse, but yet he doth refraine,
Lest men should thinke he had the fight eschude,
That did twixt Mandricard and him remaine:
But Sacrapant whom no cause doth include,
Pursues the Sarzan king, the horse to gaine:
And doubtlesse had outgone him that same day,
But for mishap that chanced by the way.

A damsell fell by hap into a riuer,
And was in perill great to haue bin drownd;
He lighting from his horse backe to relieue her,
Lept in, and brought her out all safe and sound:
But doing this good act, her to deliuer,
Scarce all that day his horse againe he found,
His horse got loose, and he with all his cunning,
Could scantly catch him in six howers running.

At last with much ado he doth him get,
And after Rodomont he then doth make;
But where, and how long after him he met,
And how the Sarzan did him prisner take,
I may not now proceed to tell as yet:
First tell we what vild words the Sarzan spake,
That cald his Prince and mistris both vnkind,
And for her fault doth raile of all her kind.

With scalding sighes, that inward pangs bewrayd,
He breathes out flames in places where he goes,
From rocks and caues his plaints doth eccho ayd,
And takes compassion on his rufull woes;
O womens wits, how weake you are (he sayd)
How soone to change you do your selues dispose?
Obseruers of no faith, nor good direction,
Most wretched all that trust in your protection.

Could neither seruice long, nor sured loue,
By me aboue a thousand wayes declared,
Thy fickle mind to fastnesse so farre moue,
But wilfully to let thy selfe be snared?
If reason could haue led thy mind to proue,
Was Mandricard with me to be compared?
Hereof can reason be alledgd by no man,
But this alone, my mistris is a woman.

I thinke that nature, or some angry God,
Brought forth this wicked sex on earth to dwell,
For some great plague, or iust deserued rod
To vs, that wanting them had liued well:
As in the wormes, an Adder, Snake and Tode:
Among the beasts, Beares, Wolues and Tygers sell:
And makes the aire the Flie and Waspe to breed,
And Tares to grow among the better seed.

Why did not Nature rather so prouide,
Without your helpe that man of man might come,
And one be grafted on anothers side,
As are the Apples with the Peare and Plom?
But Nature can no meane nor rule abide,
But still the must exceed in all or some;
Full easie tis the cause thereof to render,
For Nature selfe is of the womans gender.

Yet be not therefore proud and full of scorne,
O womankind, that men come of your seed;
The fragrant Rose growth on the pricking thorne,
The Lilly faire comes of a filthy weed;
In lothsome soyle men sow the wholsome corne;
The basest mould, the fairest flowre doth breed:
Vngratefull, false and craftie y'are and cruell,
Borne of our burning hell to be the fuell.

These words, and like to these the Pagan fearce,
Doth spend amid his rage and frantike fumes;
And like a mad man did the same rehearse,
Sometime in hie, oft times in baser tunes:
I tremble to set downe in my poore verse,
The blasphemie that he to speake presumes;
And writing this I do, know this that I
Full oft in heart do giue my pen the lie.

But passion did this Pagans sense so blind,
And left within the same so sharpe a sting,
That he not onely blam'd his loue vnkind,
But also rag'd against his soueraigne King,
And cursed him, and wished in his mind,
That fortune so great woes on him might bring,
That he might loose his state and princely crowne,
And see his country turnd quite vpsidowne.

And being to such miseries once brought,
And with aduersitie assaild so sore,
That then by him his freedome might be wrought,
And that he might his former state restore,
That Agramant might by such proofe be taught,
Of faithfull friends indeed to set more store,
And learne to know, that such a friend as he,
Deseru'd in right and wrong preferd to be.

Thus blaming oft his Lord, more oft his loue,
To his owne natiue soyle his course he bent,
But changing place, could not his sorrow moue,
Nor trauels paine, his paine of mind relent;
It seemd his horse Frontino well to proue,
Before his bridle should be drawne, he ment,
To Sonna he doth ride without a bait,
And minds fro thence to passe to Prouence strait.

And there to cast away all care and carke,
And all his anguish quickly to appease,
For Affrica he will himselfe imbarke,
And passe the large Mediterranian seas;
But, for the weather now waxt dim and darke,
First in his Inne he minds to take his ease,
For all the counntry, eu'n as farre as Spaine,
In Agramantes powre did then remaine.

Now he resolues to lodge about the cost,
And long he is not of a place to seeke,
For straight he was inuited by an host,
To take his house, if so it might him like:
It pleasd the Pagan well, to heare him bost,
That he had Corsike wine, and French and Greeke,
For though he were a Turke in all the rest,
Yet did he like French fashion drinking best.

The pleasant host, that was indeed of those,
That can with double diligence attend,
As hauing sau'd, amid both friends and foes,
His goods, and gaind by that which both do spend:
When by that princes view he did suppose
Him some great man, he straight abroade did send,
And thither doth his kin and friends request,
To helpe to waite, and welcome such a guest.

But loe, his guest fits musing all apart,
And of his Mistres runneth all his thought,
Which (though he would forget) spite of his hart,
He thinks on still, so strong the fancie wrought:
The standers by are not so malypart,
To talke to him, till he occasion sought:
Which hauing found, vp from his chaire he started,
And salutations to them all imparted.

Then askt he many questions of them all,
And as occasion seru'd, discourses varid;
But still we finde, and euer finde we shall,
By thought of heart the speech of tongue is carid:
For last to treat of marridge he doth fall,
And asketh of the men if they be marrid:
And if they be, he prayth them to declare,
Of their wiues truthes, what their opinions are.

Straight all of them made answer they had wiues,
And but mine host, all praisd the happie state;
And said they were the comforts of their liues,
That draw a happie yoke without debate:
A playfellow, that farre off all griefe driues,
A steward, early that prouides and late;
Both faithfull, chast, and sober, mild, and trustie,
Nurse to weake age, and pleasure to the lustie.

Tush (quoth mine host) vnder your good correction,
(Most noble guest) these fellows say not right,
But either with fond loue, or foule subiection,
So blinded are, they take the blacke for white:
I once my selfe, was toucht with this infection,
But now I see, that then I wanted sight:
And now I know, as being better taught,
That theirs and mine be all vnchast and naught.

For as the Phoenix is a bird alone,
And of that kind, the whole world hath no more;
So (thinke I) of all wiues there is but one,
That liueth chast in loue and vertues lore:
He blest may be, that lighteth her vpon,
Small hope (thinke I) there is in so scant store,
That many should haue one of such a kind,
Of which in all the world but one I finde.

I once so blinded was, as now be thease,
Till by good hap vnto my house there came;
A Gentleman of Venice from the seas,
Francis Valerio was he cald by name:
He knew, and could declare them all with ease,
All womens wiles, and stories to the same,
He had of old, and of the later times,
To shew both wiues, and single womens crimes.

He said, and bad me hold it as my creed,
That all of them are false, if they be trides
If some seemd chast, it did of this proceed,
They had the wit to do, and not be spide,
And knew, by deepe dissembling, and good heed,
With sober looks their wanton lusts to hide:
And this to proue he told me such a tale,
As while I liue, I still remember shall.

And if it like you sir, to lend me eare,
In my rude fashion, I shall it recite,
Right glad (quoth Rodomont) by heau'ns I sweare,
For thou hast hit my present humor right:
Wherefore (said he) sit downe I pray thee theare,
For in thy speech alreadie I delight:
But heare I end this booke, for doubt I haue,
That in his tale, mine host will play the knaue.