Canto 30

WHen men with wrath and sodaine pangs of ire,
Permit themselues to be orewhelmd & drownd,
And hot reuēge that burns like flaming fire,
Moues hearts to hurt, or tongs or had̄s to wound,
Though after to amend it they desire,
Yet place of pardon seldome can be found:
Ah (worthy Ladies) I do you beseech,
To pardon that my former foolish speech.

For I am growne like a diseased man,
That when he finds by phisicke no reliefe,
And now no more with patience suffer can,
The burning torture of his lingring griefe
Doth fall to raue and rage, and curse and bau,
Blaspheming God, renouncing his beliefe:
But when that fit is past, then would he faine,
But ah he cannot call it backe againe.

Yet Ladies of your clemencie I hope,
I pittie shall not onely pardon finde,
Although I somewhat swarue from reasons scope,
And rash words flow from vnaduised minde:
She onely beare the blame that slayes my hope,
And for true seruice shews her selfe vnkinde:
That I did speake was partly of compassion,
With simpathy mou'd of Orlandos passion.

Who (as I partly did before declare)
In monstrous sort, suruayd Marsilios raigne,
And wrought great wo, great danger, and great care,
To all the then inhabitants of Spaine:
I told you how he drew the silly Mare,
Tide to his leg, till she was dead with paine:
And how he had so small sence in his head,
He drew her after him when she was dead.

But comming to a great deepe running water,
He was constraind to let her there abide,
And (for he swimmes as perfect as an Atter)
He quickly passed to the tother side,
Where then a herdman came his beasts to water,
And on a curtall he himselfe did ride:
And though he saw the madman and did view him,
Yet being naked he would not elchew him.

The madman prayeth him that he would spare
His hor[…]e; that they two might together cope:
I left (quoth he) on tother […]de my Mare,
And fast about her necke I left a rope:
I left her dead; but yet with heed and care,
Of her recouerie there is good hope:
The herdman laugheth at his sencelesse words
And vnto him no answer he affords.

Hoe (saith Orlando) fellow, dost not heare?
I must thy curtall haue, thon needst not laffe:
And with that word approching somewhat neare,
The crabbed herdman with a crabtree staffe,
Gaue him a bastinado on his care,
Which put the mad Erle into such a chafe,
That with his fist he made the herdman reele,
Till paine it selfe made him no paine to feele.

This done he leapeth on the horses backe,
And at aduenture on he takes his way,
Where ere he comes he putteth all to wracke,
His horse tastes neither prouender nor hay:
But though this tyrd; a horse he may not lacke,
The next he meets by force he takes away:
To striue with him it was but little boote,
He is resolued not to go a foote.

He passeth to the straites of Zibeltar,
Or Zibelterra (call it which you will)
And as he went, with force of open war,
Townes he did burne, and all the dwellers kill:
Ten yeares will hardly make that he would mar
Within one houre, and thus he traueld still,
Till on a day, riding vpon the sand,
He saw a ship new loosed from the land.

The aire was cleare and mild, and calme the wether,
And certaine Gentlefolke had hyr'd the barke,
With mind to take their solace there together,
And to returne againe er it were darke:
The madman cries, hoe sits let me come thither:
His deeds, his words, they neither marke nor harke,
Or if they did, you may be sure they thought,
They would not comberd be with such a fraught.

He hallows after them, and whopes and hayles,
To haue them stay, & with faire words doth wo th̄e,
Glad might they be they went with oars and says,
For might he come, he surely would vndoe them,
The soole that sees how small his speech preuayls,
Beats on his horse, and meanes to ride vnto them:
In vaine his horse would shun this hard aduenter,
But he perforce makes him the sea to enter.

First he his feete doth wet, and then his knees,
And next his belly, after that his backe,
Now scant his nose one in the water sees,
And full he layes him on; poore horse alacke,
That either in these seas his life must leese,
Or swim to Affricke et he can turne backe:
At last with swimming tyrd, with water cloyd,
His belly fild, till limbs of life were void.

The horse vnto the bottome quickly funke,
And had for company his buthern drownd,
If fortune that helpe frantike men and drunke,
Had not him safe conueyd to Affrike ground:
Orlando at the danger neuer shrunke,
But to the shore he swam both safe and sound:
It happie was the seas were then so still,
Else had the Erle bin drownd for all his skill.

Now being safe arriued at the shore,
Neare Setta strayt he ranged ou'r the cost,
And did such deeds as he had done before,
On tother side to many poore mens cost;
At last he came where as he found great store,
Of warlike weapons, and a mightie host:
But how with them this madman disagreed,
I may not in this booke to tell proceed.

And further how Angelica the faire,
Did meet her loue againe, and what a Lord
He grew, by matching with so great an haire,
And liu'd with her in loue and sweet accord,
(Although in birth an vnsit matched paire)
I leaue for other Muses to record:
For now I must adresse my selfe to tell,
What haps in Agramantes campe besell.

I told you two bookes past, or there about,
How Mandricard was Doralices choice:
And how in face of all the Pagan rout,
She gaue that doome, that made him much reioyce,
For she was deemd for beautie (out of doubt)
The best in Europe by the common voices
Now chiefe since faire Angelica was fled,
And worthy Isabella lost her hed.

But yet this pleasure was not so entire,
But that it sawced was with some annoy,
For wrath and enuie set his heart on fire,
And much abated of his present ioy:
It spites him that Rogero dare aspire,
To giue his coat, being a berdlesse boy:
And further that the king of Sericane,
Should openly lay claime to Durindane.

And first Rogero will by no meanes yeeld,
By no intreatie, nor by no request,
That Mandricard should carrie that same sheeld
Which had the Argent Eagle on the crest,
Except he first could win it in the feeld:
On tother side Gradasso doth not rest,
But he will be the first to trie by fight,
Which of them two had to the sword most right.

With Agramant Marsilio tooke great paine,
In all or part these quarrels to appease,
But when they saw their labour was in vaine,
To gouerne or perswade with one of these:
Thé chance (quoth Agramant) shal make that plain,
For which you striue, and eu'n as fortune please,
So let it be, and let some lots be cast,
Which two or three, shall fight the first or last.

And yet this iust request denie me not,
Before the matter any further goth,
(Though now you be so violent and hot,
That speech of peace and all accord you loth)
To grant that who shall combat first by lot,
May leesing leese, and winning win for both:
This motion, most indifferent must seeme,
Sith both their vallews equall we esteeme.

This motion neither of them do mislike,
And straight Gradassos and Rogeros name,
Vpon two scroles were writ so passing like
You would haue iudgd them both to be the same:
A boy of fourteene yeare of age they pike,
To draw the lot, and he that first out came,
Must fight with Mandricard, and make it knowne,
He fights for tothers title and his owne.

When on this order all parts were agreed,
The lot to fight vpon Rogero fell,
Which hap great griese did in Gradasso breed,
Although in shew he seemd to take it well:
Contrariwise it did all ioy exceed,
The ioy Rogero had, it so befell:
So well of his owne vallew he belieued,
He ioyd at that at which the tother grieued.

But yet Gradasso doth with great regard,
Both fauour and aduane Rogeros side,
And sheweth him how he must lie to ward
A comming blow, how he might slip a side:
How for a thrust he may be best prepard:
Which blowes be firme, and which be falsiside,
When best time is to follow thrust or blow:
How one may best take vantage of his foe.

The rest of that same day that did remaine,
Ensuing this same course of casting lots,
They spent as pleased each mans pleasing vaine,
In talke, or banquetting, or tossing pots:
To see this fight the people glad and faine,
Clammer the scaffolds, gazing still like lots,
Some for desire do co[…]ne by breake of day,
And some all night within the place do stay.

Thus (as I say) these simple fooles do long,
To see the combat these braue knights betwixt,
And blame the stay, and thinke the time too long,
That for the same the Herralds had prefixt:
But sober men that knew what did belong
To such exploits, whose wiser heads were fixt,
On publike good, this quarrell much lament,
And traueld all they can it to preuent.

And chiefe Marsilio and Sobrino sage,
Aduise king Agramant to stay the fight,
And these same champions furie to asswage,
And to take vp the quarrell if they might:
Forewarning him when he must battell wage,
With Charles of France, the losse of one such knight,
Will do him greater hurt and damage then,
Then would the losse of thousands and other men.

But Agramant knew all was true they spake,
And saine he would their counsell wise obay,
But could not tell his grant how to reuoke:
Onely he doth in curteous sort them pray,
That he may strike with them so great a stroke,
Either to end or to defer the fray;
And yeeld the rather vnto his perswasion,
Because it rose vpon so light occasion.

Or if they did esteeme such toyes so far,
As though they matters were of true renowne;
That yet they would the fight so long defar,
Vntill the sonne of Pipen were put downe:
And till they conquerd had the Realme by war,
And tane from him his mantle and his crowne,
This motion had in likelihood taken place,
Saue each thought first consent would be disgrace.

Aboue them all and more then all the rest,
That in this sort their speech in vaine had spent:
Faire Doralyce doth Mandricard request,
That to the kings desire he would assent:
She doth exhort, intreat, perswade, protest,
She doth complaine, and languish, and lament:
To thinke that by his ouer haftie cholor,
She still must liue in anguish and in dolor.

How can I hope (said she) that ere I shall,
Liue any houre in solace and in ioy?
When still I see you readie be to brall,
With eu'rie man, for eu'rie trifiting toy:
The Sarzans foile doth me no good at all,
My choyce of you hath bred me more annoy:
To end that quarrell, ah what did it boot,
Sith straight another quarrell is on foot?

I simple foole, in minde was proud and glad,
That such a Prince, so braue a man as you,
For loue of me his whole state venterd had;
But now I finde by this that doth ensew,
That I had far more reason to be sad,
Sith each like cause, like danger doth renew;
And not my loue, but your owne natiue furie,
To bide such hard aduentures did procure yee.

But if your loue be such as in your speech,
You do professe, and in your open show:
Then by that loue I humbly you beseech,
And by that fancie which too well I know,
Doth eu'n my heart and soule with loue bewitch,
Let not this quarrell any further grow:
I see not why it should you so molest,
To see your Eagle in anot hers crest.

If needs you will attempt this hardie feat,
And venter life vpon a thing […]o vaine,
Then hazard that you make must needs be great,
But none, or verie small can be the gaine:
But if that fortune change her fickle fear,
Thinke then, ô thinke, what woe shall I sustaine?
There neuer yet was Emperor or king,
Could boast that he had Fortune in a string.

But if that life be vnto you lesse deare,
Then is a painted bird vpon a sheeld;
Yet for my sake, whom it doth touch more neare,
Let me intreat you to this motion yeeld:
If you were staine, what ioy could I haue heare?
Death sole from wo, both could & should me sheeld
Not feare I death; my onely griefe would bee,
Before my death thy wofull end to see.

Thus earnestly faire Doralycee delt,
All that same night, as in his armes she lyes,
And as she spake, the teares distill and melt,
In warrie streames, downe from her cristall eyes:
The Tartar that no little passion felt,
T'o comfort her faith all he can deuise:
And wipes her checkes, and her sweet lip dothkisse,
And weeps for company, and answers this.

Ah do not grieue thy selfe so sore (my deare)
Ah do not grieue thy selfe for such a toy,
Plucke vp thy sprights, and be of better cheare,
There is no cause of feare mine onely ioy:
No though that all the kings and captains heare,
Had sworne my death, and vowed mine annoy:
Yet all the kings and captaines I would vanquish,
Why then should you causles in sorrow languish?

What, did not I with trunchen of a speare,
(You know your selfe whether I say the truth)
Not hauing sword nor other weapon theare,
Win you from all your gard? and shall a youth,
A beardlesse boy, cause you my safetie feare,
And breed in you so vnaduised ruth?
Well might you deeme I were a dastard lout,
If of Rogero I should stand in doubt.

Gradasso, though vnto his griefe and shame,
Yet if one aske him can it not gainesay,
That when he last vnto Sorya came,
I met and tooke him prisner by the way,
Yet he is of another manner same,
Then is Rogero, you your selfe will say:
I had him there a prisner at my will,
And if I listed might haue kept him still.

And least I should of this good witnes want,
Beside Gradasso, there be hunderds more,
As namely Isolyr, and Sacrapant,
Whom I set free and had great thanks therefore:
Also the famous Grissin and Aquilant,
That there were taken, but few dayes before:
With diuers more both Turkish and baptised,
That by my force were taken and surprised.

Their wonder in those countries still doth last,
Of that great vallew I that time did show,
And should I now a doubt or perrill cast?
Am I in greater danger now you trow?
Shall one young youth me hand to hand agast?
Shall I now doubt his force, or feare his blow?
Now hauing Durindana by my side,
And Hectors armour on my backe beside?

Why did not I, as pointed was by lot,
With Rodomont first bloudie barrell wage?
That by his ill successe you might forewot,
The speedie end of this young sorrie page.
Drie vp these teares (my deare) and bring me not,
Before the combat at such an ill presage:
Nor thinke an Eagle on a target painted,
Moues me hereto, but doubt of honor tainted.

Thus much said he, but she such answer made him,
With words expressing such alouing mone,
As were not onely able to perswade him,
But might (I thinke) haue mou'd a marble stone:
The force was great wherewith she did inuade him,
In fine so farre she conquers him alone,
He grants thus farre to be at her deuotion,
If peace be offerd, to accept the motion.

And so I thinke indeed he would haue done,
Had not Rogero early in the morne,
Got vp before the rising of the Sunne,
And enterd in the lists, and blowne his horne,
To shew that he the battell would not shunne,
And that Ioues bird by him was iustly borne:
Which either he will carrie on his shield,
Or else will leaue his carkas in the field.

But when the Tartar fierce did heare that found,
And that his men thereof had brought him word:
He thinks great shame should vnto him redound,
If any treatie he of peace afford:
Arme arme he cries, & straight he armes him round,
And by his side he hangs his trustie sword:
And in his countenance he lookes so grim,
Scarse Doralyce her selfe dares speake to him.

And armed at all pieces, vp in hast
He gets, and that same courser he bestrides,
That was that Christen champions in time past,
Who now doth runne his wit and sence besides:
And thus he comes vnto the lists at last,
The place that all such quarrels still decides,
The king and all his court soone after came,
And now ere long begins the bloudie game.

Now on their heads their helmets are made fast,
Now are the Lances put into their hands,
Now was the token giu'n by trumpets blast,
Which both the horse and horseman vnderstands:
Now in a full carryre they gallop fast,
And either strongly to his tackle stands:
Now with such force the tone the tother strake,
As though that heau'n did fall, and earth did shake.

The Argent Eagle comes on either side,
With wings displaid on either captaines sheeld,
The bird which Ioue (men say) was seene to ride,
(Though better wingd) ou'r the Thessalian feeld:
As for their mightie strength and courage tride,
Their massie speares sufficient witnesse yeeld:
Nor strud they more with those t̄epestuous knocks,
Then wind sturs towres, or waues do stur the rocks.

The splinters of the spears flew to the skie,
(As Turpin writeth that was present there)
And were on fire by hauing, bin so nie,
Vnto the scorching of the fierie Spheare:
The champions out their swords draw by and by,
As those that neither sword nor fire did feare,
And either thrusteth at the tothers face,
And seekes by force the tother to displace.

They neuer sought to hurt each others steed,
Not that they made together such accord,
But that they deemd it an vnworthie deed,
Not worthie of a worthie knight or Lord:
Of base reuenge they count that act proceed,
And meet of noble minds to be abhord.
So that in those dayes none were knowne to kill
A horse, except it were against his will.

Vpon their vizers both do strike at once,
And though the same were firme and plated double,
As being made of proofe and for the nonce,
Yet did the force of such fell strokes them trouble;
And still they lay on lode as thicke as stones
Of haile, that often turne the corne to stubble:
I thinke it needlesse further to alledge,
It they haue strength, or if their swords haue edge.

Yet long they fought together in that field,
Ere any signe of any blow was left,
Such wary heed each tooke himselfe to shield;
But Durindan at last fell with such hest,
Full on the circle of Rogeros shield,
That halfe way throught the argent bird it cleft,
And pierst the coate of male that was within,
And found a passage to the very skin.

The cruell blow made many hearts full cold,
Of such as wisht well to Rogeros part,
For most of those that stood by to behold,
Rogeros fauourd in their mind and hart,
So that afore to say one might be bold,
If fortune follow would the greater part,
Fierce Mandricard were slaine, or else should yeeld,
So that this blow offended halfe the field.

But surely some good Angell I beleue,
The force of this so fearfull stroke abated,
Rogero though the wound him somewhat grieue,
Yet was his mind therewith no whit amated,
Great vsury he mindeth him to giue,
And that the strife may quickly be debated,
He frankly strikes with his whole force and might,
Full on the helmet of the Tartar knight.

With so great force and furie came the blow,
As to the teeth no doubt had clou'n his head,
Sauing by what mishap I do not know,
But want of heed that too much hast had bred,
It lighted flatling on him, else I trow,
That stroke alone had him most surely sped,
But as it was it made his head so idle,
He opend both his hands and loosd his bridle.

Good Brigliadore that felt the slacked raine,
(I thinke still mourning for his masters change)
Ran vp and downe at randon on the plaine,
His senslesse rider suffring him to range;
Who when he came vnto himselfe againe,
And saw his […] to run a course so strange,
A spurned Viper hath not so much wrath,
Nor wounded Lion, as the Tartar hath.

He claps the spurs to Brigliadoros side,
And on his stirrops he himselfe aduances,
And to his so with furie he doth ride,
And vp on hie his right arme he inhances,
To strike a blow; but when Rogero spide
His arme lie ope. as oft in fight it chances,
He chopt his swords point vnder tothers arme,
And puld it out with blood both wet and warme.

By which he did not onely maime his so,
By letting blood vpon so large a vaine,
But bated much the furie of the blo,
Which notwithstanding fell with force so maine,
As made Rogero stagger to and fro,
And mazd his head, and dazd his eyes with paine;
And much it was that time for his behoose,
To haue his helmet of so good a proofe.

But hauing now againe recouerd force,
And as it were new wakned from his dreame,
Vpon the Tartar Prince he turnd his horse,
And on his thigh he strikes with strength extreame,
That through the steele he did the sword enforce:
Out spins the blood in pure vermilion streame,
Nought could auaile inchanted Hectors armes,
Against this sword with stronger temperd charmes.

The Tartar feeling to his great disease,
His body wounded as he litle thought,
Did rage as terrible as do the seas,
With highest winds and strongest tempests wrought,
He curleth heau'ns, his smarting pangs to ease,
The shield that had the bird for which he fought,
Away he hurleth from him for the nonce,
And to his sword he lets both hands at once.

Ah (quoth Rogero) too plaine triall this is,
That to that Eagle thou no title hast,
That first didst with thy sword cut mine in peeces,
And now thine owne away from thee dost cast:
Thus much said he, but whatsoeuer he sees,
He must the force of Durindana tast,
Which fell vpon his forehead with such might,
A mountaine might haue seemd to fall as light.

I say the blow vpon his forehead fell,
But yet his beauer sau'd it from his face,
It happend at that time for him full well,
That in the hollow there was so much spaces,
Yet harmlesse quite to scape him not besell,
For why the sword that euer cuts apace,
Did pierce his plated sadle, and beside
An inch did enter into Rogeros side.

Thus each with crimson had his armor dide,
And bloud did streame from both a double way,
Yet hitherto it could not be descride,
On whether side would chances ballance sway:
At last Rogero did that doubt decide,
With that same sword that euer home doth pay,
And where the tothers target wants, there iust
Rogero payes him with a speeding thrust.

The blade, gainst which preuailes no Magick are,
His curats prest, and ribs and flesh it tore,
And found a passage to the naked hart:
Now must the Tartar Prince for euermore
In sword and painted shield forsake his part,
Not onely so, but that which grieues him more,
He must forsake his much beloued life,
More loued honour, and most loued wife.

The wretch yet vnreuenged did not die,
But gaue hard recompence ere he departed,
At good Rogeros head he doth let flie,
And had (no doubt) the same in sunder parted,
Saue that his arme was maymd, and so thereby
Much of his force from thence had bin diuarted,
Much of his force diuerted was from thence
Before, when for his arme he wanted fence.

But as it was, yet to to hard it fell,
And causd the noble knight great paine to feele,
His helmet it did cleaue, though plated well,
And made for proose of tough well temperd steele,
And in the very skull it cloue a spell,
Two fingers deepe, and made him backward teele,
He backward fals, the paine was so exceeding,
With grieuous wound his hed most freshly bleeding

Rogero was the first that tumbled downe,
And Mandricardo fell a good while after,
All thought Rogero dead, because his crowne
Still bled, but chiefly Strodilanos daughter
Ioyes, that her spouse had won this fights renowne,
Now hopes she, she shal turne her teares to laughter,
And as she thought, so was the common voyce,
So that the Tartars friends did all reioyce.

But when there did appeare by certaine signes,
The lieue man liuing, and the dead man slaine,
Then Doralycee wrings her hands and whines,
And griefe came there, and comfort here againe:
The chiefest part, whose fauour all inclines
Vnto Rogero, are full glad and saine,
And gratulate his good successe, and grace him,
And runne to him, and in their armes embrace him.

Nor was this shew of loue, dissimulation,
But true vnsained kindnesse, and good faith,
But yet Gradassos saint congratulation,
Makes men surmise he thinks not as he faith:
He secretly enuies such reputation,
Though outwardly the slatterer he playth,
And curseth (were it destinie or chance)
That to this enterprise did him aduance.

But Agramant that euer did before,
Do him great honor, and him well esteeme,
Now he doth him admire, extoll, adore,
So highly of his valew he doth deeme:
In him alone he puts affiance more,
Then all his campe together it should seeme,
Now that the seed of Agricane was spent,
And Rodomont gone thence a malcontent.

What should I tell the praise that many a Ladie
Gaue of this knight, of Affrike and of Spaine?
Who knew that Mandricardo was no babie,
And saw him now by this mans valew staine;
Yea dolefull Doralyce her selfe (it may be)
Saue that for modestie she must resraine,
Would haue bene moued with a small request,
To speake as well of him as did the rest.

I say it may be, but I cannot tell,
For why before vnconstant she was proued:
And sure Rogeros parts did so excell,
As any, Ladie doubtlesse might haue moued.
While tother liu'd, perhap she likt him well,
But now to seeke a new it her behoued,
Such one as she her selfe might able warrant,
To ride both day and nightly on her arrant.

Now brought the King Rogero with great care
To his owne tent, that there he may be cured,
The best Phisitions thither sent for are,
To search his wounds, they straight his life assured:
The shield and armes that Mandricardo bare,
The which this bloudie battell first procured,
All saue the sword that was Gradassos right,
Were hanged vp by his beds head that night.

Howbeit that braue courser Brigliadore,
Rogero needs would giue vnto the King,
Who tooke it thankfully, and set more store
By that same steed then any such like thing:
But hereof now a while I treate no more,
First must you heare what news the maide did bring,
(I meane Hyppalca) to her mistris deare,
Whom loue had made to be of heauie cheare.

She told her first what hap to her befell,
How Frontine by a Turke was tane away:
And after, how she found at Merlins well
Richardo and Rogero that same day,
To whom she did her hard aduenture tell.
And how Rogero went with her straightway,
To win the horse out of the Pagans fist,
But at that season he his purpose mist.

Also she told to Bradamant the cause,
Why her deare loue himselfe did now absent,
Who promist her, to take a little pawse,
And then her mind most thoroughly content:
In sine Hyppalca from her bosome drawes
That letter which was to her mistris sent,
Who so much lesse did seeme to like the letter,
Because she would haue likt his presence better.

For fith before she did himselfe expect,
Now paper in his steed to haue and inke,
It caused her to feare and to suspect,
And made some doubts into her thoughts to sinke,
Yet likt she well the meaning and effect,
And kist the letter oft, and sure I thinke,
Had burnd it with the heate of her desire,
Saue that the teares she shed did quench that fire.

She read the writing ou'r, fiue times or six,
The words, the phrase, the sence her pleasd so well,
And then she made the maid, each time betwix,
The message that Rogero sent to tell,
And saue he did so short a time prefix
To come to her, and ay with her to dwell,
I thinke she neuer would haue ceased mourning,
Till she had seene or heard of his returning.

Rogero to Hippalca promist had,
Fifteene, or twentie dayes at most to stay,
And her, to tell her mistresse so he bad,
But swearing to come sooner if he may
But nearethelesse good Bradmant is sad,
Still doubting chances to prolong that day.
All things (said she) to fortune are subiected,
And chiefe in warres that are by chance directed.

Ay (my Rogero) who could once haue thought,
Sith I more then my selfe esteemed thee,
That thou by any means couldst haue bin brought,
To beare thy verie foes more loue then me?
Whō thou should hurt, by thee their help is sought
Whom thou should saue, by thee they spoiled be;
Needs must I blame thy negligent regarding,
As well in punishing as in rewarding.

Traiano flue thy fire, I thinke thou knowest,
(For sure the stones it know) yet to his sonne,
Thou thinkst in honor thou such dutie owest,
That thou must see no hurt may him be donne:
Is this sufficient a reuenge thou trowest,
Thinkst thou true fame can by such facts be wonne?
Lo vnto what thy shew of honor tends,
To serue thine enemies, and slay thy frends.

Thus Bradamant spake to her absent loue,
With passion great, and euermore her maid,
With reason seeks that fancie to remoue,
Assuring her she need not be affraid:
And wishing her with patient mind to proue,
If so he would not do as he had said,
And that she would in all things hope the best,
And then to God and fortune leaue the rest.

With this good speech of hers, and strong perswasion,
She doth his comming till the day expect,
Which good Rogero brake, not by occasion
That he his word and promise did neglect;
But that which hapt against his expectation,
His wounds had bred so dangerous effect,
But chiefe the same he last tooke in his hed,
Which made him fortie dayes to keepe his bed.

Now Bradamant doth waite the twentie dayes,
And staid at Montalbano with her mother,
And making still enquirie many wayes,
If she might heare some news of one or other,
But none she heard, saue that which to his praise,
Was told her after by her younger brother,
Which though she ioyd to heare, as was most meet,
Yet mingled was some soure with that same sweet.

For why the vallew of Marsisa stout,
Which did assist them greatly, as he told,
To win their kinsmen from the moorish rout,
That vnto Bertolage should haue bin sold,
This bred in Bradamantes minde some doubt,
And strake into her heart a iealiouse cold;
Because twas said they two together went
To Agramant, that in his campe was pent.

For though she could not chuse but greatly praise her,
That did her selfe so stout and valiant proue,
Yet one the tother side, her beautie frayes her,
Lest he perhap on her might set his loue:
But yet in fine, hope of his promise stayes her,
So that in twentie dayes he did not moue
From Montalbano, and in that same space,
There thither came the chiefe man of her race.

I meane not chiefe of birth, but chiefe of name,
For two there were, in birth more old then he,
Renaldo vnto Montalbano came,
His brothers, cosins, and his frends to see,
Whom he had heard by speech of flying fame,
Now safe ariued at that place to be,
And how Rogero and Marsisa wrought
Their libertie, when they were sold and bought.

Wherefore he came to see them face to face,
And vnderstand with them how each thing stood,
It seemd he was as welcome to the place,
As is the swallow to her tender brood,
That almost starued and in sorrie case,
Haue long expected sustenance and food,
And when they there had staid, a day or twaine,
Both they and he to Paris went againe.

Alardo and Guichiardo, Richardet,
And Malagigy and good Viviane,
Close after this braue Lord themselues do get,
And Bradamant with them they would haue tane,
But she alledg'd she could not come as yet;
(But hopes ere long they should be ouertane)
She prays them for that time content to hold them;
For why she was not well at ease she told them.

And true it was, she was not well at rase,
Not that she had a fit of any feauer,
Or any other corporall disease,
It was a fit of loue, that burneth euer;
Whole heat no herbe nor phisicke can appease;
This fit did her from that braue crew disseuer:
But in another booke I shall repeat,
What succour they did bring to Charls the great.