Canto 4

THough he that useth craft and simulation,
Doth seldome bend his acts to honest ends,
But rather of an euill inclination,
His wit and skill to others mischiefe bends:
Yet sith in this our worldly habitation,
We do not euer dwell among our frends,
Dissembling doubtlesse oftentimes may saue
Mens liues, their same and goods, and all they haue.

If man by long acquaintance and great proofe,
To trust some one man seant can be allured,
To whom he may in presence or aloofe,
Vnfold the secrets of his mind assured:
Then doth this damsell merite no reproofe,
That with Brunello (to all fraud inured)
Doth frame her selfe to counterfeit a while,
For to deceiue deceiuers is no guile.

Now while these two did to conferre begin,
She to his fingers hauing still an eie,
The host and other seruants of the Inne,
Came on the sodaine with a wofull crie,
And some did gaze without, and some within,
(As when men see a Comet in the skie)
The cause of this their wondring and their crying,
Was that they saw an armed horseman flying.

And straight by th'host and others they were told,
How one that had in Magicke art great skill,
Not farre from thence had made a stately hold,
Of shining steele, and plac'd it on a hill,
To which he bringeth Ladies yong and old,
And men and maids according to his will,
And when within that castle they haue beene,
They neuer after haue bene heard or seene.

No sooner can he spie a pretie maide,
But straight he takes her vp into the aire,
The which his custome makes them all afraid,
That either are or thinke that they be faire.
Those hardie knights that went to giue them aide,
Of which sort many hither did repaire,
Went like the beasts to the sicke Lions den,
For all went in, but none returnd agen.

This tale in worthy Bradamant did breed
A kind of pleasure and confused ioy,
In hope (which after she performd indeed)
The sight of her beloued to enioy,
She praid the host procure a guide with speed,
As though each little stay did breed annoy:
She sweares that in her heart she longd to wrastle
With him that kept the captiues in his castle.

Because that you sir knight should want no guide,
(Brunello said) I will my selfe be he,
I know the way, and somewhat haue beside,
By which may fortune you may pleasur'd be:
He meant the ring offorce and vertue tride,
Although he meant not she the same should see.
Great thanks (quoth she) that you will take ye paine,
In hope hereby the precious ring to gaine.

Thus each from other hiding their intent,
They forward set like friends by breake of day,
Brunello sometime foremost of them went,
Sometime behind, as chanced on the way.
Now had they certaine houres in trauell spent,
When they arriued where the castle lay,
Whereas mount Pyrene stands aboue the plaine,
So high as may discouer France and Spaine.

When is the castle did in sight appeare,
So strange, so faire, so stately, and so hie,
In which that knight whom the esteem'd so deare,
With many others, prisoner did lie.
She thought her finest time drew very neare,
To take the ring, and make Brunello die.
Wherefore with open force she doth assaile him,
Whose strength with age and feare soon gan to saile him.

Her meaning was the Caitise to haue kild,
But vnto that her noble heart said nay,
Small praise would come from bloud so basely spild,
She meanes to get the ring another way:
But first the bound him wher he wild or nild,
And though with teares he did for pittie pray,
Yet lest she him vnto a tree fast tide,
And with the ring away the straight did ride.

And being in the greene fast by the towre,
Straight (as the fashion was) her horne she blew,
Out came that armed knight that present houre,
And seeing there a challenger in vew,
He seemeth to assault her with great powre,
But by the ring she all his falshood knew:
She saw he carride neither sword nor speare,
Nor any weapon that one need to feare.

He onely carride at his saddle bow,
A shield all wrapped in a crimson case,
And read a booke by which he made to show
Some strange and strong illusions in the place:
And many that these cunnings did not know,
He had dece[…]'d and tane in little space.
And could both swords and lances to appeare,
When neither word nor lances them were neare.

But yet the beast he rode was not of art,
But gotten of a Griffeth and a Mate,
And like a Griffeth had the former part,
As wings and head, and clawes that hideous are,
And passing strength and force and ventrous hart,
But all the rest may with a horse compare.
Such beasts as these the hils of Ryfee yeeld,
Though in these parts they haue bin seene but seeld.

This monster rare from far theft regions brought
This rare Magician ord ed with such skill,
That in one month or little more he tought
The sauage monster to obey his will:
And though by comurations strange he wrought,
In other things his fancie to fulfill,
(As cunning men sultrie each strange conclusion)
Yet in this Griffeth horse was one collusion.

The Ladie faire protected by the ring,
Found all his sleights (although she seemd not so)
Her purpose to the better passe to bring,
And first she seemes to ward a comming blow,
And then to strike, and oft to curse the wing,
That carride still away her flying so,
And sith to fight on horsebacke did not boote,
She seemes as in a rage to light on foote.

The Necromancer, as his manner is,
Disclosed at the last his shining shield,
Supposing that the vertue would not misse,
To make her (as it had done others) yeeld:
So haue I seene a craftie cat ere this,
Play with a silly mouse o[…] house or field,
And let it go a while for sport and play,
But kill at last and beare it quite away.

I say that he the cat, the other mise,
Resembled had in euery former fight,
But now this ring had made this one so wise,
That when she saw the strange enchanted light,
She falleth not of force, but of deurie,
As though she were astoned at the sight,
And lay like one of life and sense bereaued,
By which the poore Magician was deceaued.

For straight he lighted from the flying horse,
To take her as he had done many mo,
The shield and booke in which was all his force,
He left behind him at his saddle bow,
But thinking to haue found a senslesse corse,
Amazd and dead, he finds it nothing so,
For vp the starts, so quite the case was altred,
That with the cord he brought, himselfe was haltred.

And when with those selfe bonds she had him tide,
By which he thought before her to haue snared,
She strong and yong, he witherd, old and dride,
Alas an vnmeet match to be compared,
Forthwith determining he should haue dide,
To strike his head from shoulders she prepared,
Till she was mou'd to mercie with his teares,
And with the sight of white and hoaty haires.

For when he saw his force was ouerlaid,
And that her strength was not to be withstood,
O pardon life thou heauenly wight (he said)
No honour comes by spilling aged blood.
Which words to mercie mou'd the noble maid,
Whose mind was alwayes merciful and good.
Then why he built the castle she demanded,
And what he was to tell her him commanded.

With wosull words the old man thus replide,
I made this castle for no ill intention,
For couetice or any sault beside,
Or that I loued rapine or contention,
But to preuent a danger shall betide
A gentle knight, I framed this inuention:
Who as the heauens hath shewd me in short season,
Shall die in Christian state by silthy treason.

Rogero named is this worthy youth,
Whose good and safetie saine I would aduance,
My name Atlante is to tell you truth,
I bred him of a child, till his hard chance,
And valiant mind (that breeds alas my ruth)
With Agramant entist him into France.
And I that (like mine owne child) alway lou'd him,
From France and danger saine would haue remou'd him.

By art and helpe of many a hellish else,
This castle for Rogero I did build,
And tooke him as I meant to take thy selfe,
But that with greater art I was beguild,
From daintie fare, and other worldly pelse,
Because he should not thinke himselfe exild,
For company I brought him worthy wights,
Both men and women, Ladies faire and Knights.

They haue all plentie of desired pleasure,
I bend to their contentment all my care,
For them I spend my trauell and my treasure,
For musicke, clothes and games, and daintiesare,
As hart can think, and mouth require with measure,
Great store for them within this castle are.
Well had I traueld, well my time bestowed,
But you haue mard the fruits that I had sowed,

But if your mind be gracious as your looke,
If stonie heart bide not in tender brest,
Behold I offer thee my shield and booke,
And flying horse, and grant my iust request,
Some two or three, or all the Knights I tooke,
I giue thee free, let but Rogero rest:
Whose health whose wealth, whose sasty and welfare
Haue euer bene (and euer shall) my care.

Your care (quoth she) is very ill bestowne,
In thraldome vile to keepe a worthy wiglit:
As for your gifts you offer but mine owne,
Sith by my conquest you are mine in right.
Those dangers great you say to be foreshowne,
And vpon him in time to come must light,
With figures cast and heauenly planets vewed,
Cannot be knowne or cannot be eschewed.

How can you others harmes foresee so farre,
And not preuent your owne that were so nie?
I certaine shall suppose your art doth arre,
And for the rest the end the truth shall trie
I now intend your matter all to marre,
And that before these bonds I will vntie,
You shall set free and loose your prisners all,
Whom in this castle you detained thrall.

When as the poore old man was so distrest,
That needs he must for feare and dread obay,
And that this same imperious dames behest,
Could neither beare deniall nor delay,
To do as she commands he deemes it best,
And therefore takes th'inchanted place away.
He breaks some hollow suming pots of stone,
And straight the wais and buildings all were gone.

This done, himselfe eke vanisht out of sight,
As did the castle at that present hower,
Then Ladies, Lords, and many a worthy knight,
Were straight releast from his enchanted power:
And some there were had taken such delight
In those so stately lodgings of that tower,
That they esteemd that libertie a paine,
And wisht that pleasant slauery againe.

Here were at freedome set among the rest,
Gradasso, Sacrapant, two kings of name,
Prasyldo and Iroldo that from th'Est
Into this country with Renaldo came.
Here Bradamant found him she loued best,
Her deare Rogero of renowned same,
Who after certaine notice of her had,
Did shew to see her he was very glad.

As one of whom he great account did make,
And thought himselfe to her most highly bound,
Since stie put off her helmet for his sake,
And in her head receiu'd a grieuous wound,
Twere long to tell what toile they both did take,
Both night and day each other to haue found,
But till this present time they had no meeting,
Nor giu'n by word nor writing any greeting.

Now when before him present he beheld
Her that from danger had him sole redeemed,
His heart with so great ioy and mirth was fild,
The happiest wight on earth himselfe he deemed:
And cristall teares from her faire eyes distild,
Embracing him whom she most deare esteemed.
As oft we see a strong and sodaine passion,
Bring forth effects quite of another fashion.

The Griffeth horse the while vpon the plaine,
Stood with the target at his saddle bow,
The damsell thought to take him by the raine,
But he then mounteth vp, and like a crow
Ghast by a dog forthwith descends againe,
And standeth still, or soareth very low,
And when that some come nie in hope to take him,
He flies away that none can ouertake him.

But neare vnto Rogero soone he staid,
Which by Atlantas care was sole procured,
Who for Rogeros danger was afraid,
And thinkes his safetie neuer well assured,
Wherefore he sent this monster for his aid,
And by this meanes from Europe him allured,
To his welfare his cares and thoughts he bendeth,
To succor and preserue him he intendeth.

Rogero from his horse forthwith alighted,
(The horse he rode on was Frontyno named)
And with this flying horse was so delighted,
That though he saw him wanton and vntamed,
Yet vp he leapt, and soone was sore afrighted,
He finds he would not to his mind be framed,
For in the aire the Griffeth soard so hie,
As doth the Faulcon that at sowle doth slie.

The damsell saire that now beheld her deare,
Borne farre away by force of monsters wing,
Was sorowfull and of so heauie cheare,
That to their course her wits she scant could bring.
The tale of Ganymed the once did heare,
Whom Poets saine to tend the heauenly king,
She doubts may true of her Rogero be,
That was as comely and as faire as he.

As long as cysight could at all preuaile,
So long she viewd him still in all and part:
But when his distance made the fight to saile,
At least she followd him in mind and hart,
To sob, to sigh, to weepe, lament and waile,
She neuer leaues these chances ouerthwart.
And seeing plaine her loue and shee were parted,
She tooke Frontyno and away departed.

Now was Rogero mounted vp so hie,
He seemd to be a mote or little pricke,
For no man could distinguish him by eie,
Except his sight were passing sine and quicke:
All southerly this Griffeth horse doth flie,
(Was neuermade that feru'd man such a tricke)
But let him on his way, God speed him well,
For of Renaldo somewhat I must tell.

Who all the while with raging tempest striued,
Borne where himselfe nor no man else did know,
By cruell stormie winds and weather driued,
That daye; and nights surceased no: to blow:
At last in Scotland weary he arriued,
Where woods of Callidony first do show,
A famous wood wherein in times of old,
Braue deeds were done by ventrous knights & bold.

Here haue those famous knights great honour won,
At whose rare worth the world it selse did wonder,
Here were most valiant acts archieu'd and done,
By knights that dwelt there neare or far asunder,
And many a man hath here bene quite vndone,
Whose seeble force his enemie was vnder.
Here were, as proued is by ancient charter,
The famous Tristram, Lancelios and sir Arther.

At this same wood Renaldo from his fleet,
Well mounted on his Bayards backe did part,
He points his men at Barwicke him to meet,
The while himselfe alone with valiant heart,
Sometime on horse backe, sometime on his feete,
Doth march in mind to do some worthy part,
But seeing now the night came on so fast,
Vnto an Abbey he repaires at last.

The Abbot and his Monks with comely grace,
As holy men of humane manners skilled,
Did welcome him, and in a little space,
With costly rate his emptic stomacke filled.
[…] straight enquired of the place,
What feates of armes had there bene late fulfilled,
And where a man by valiant acts may show,
I[…] his exploits deserue dispraise or no.

They said that in that wood and forrest, find
Aduentures strange and feates of armes he might,
But as the place, so are the actions blind,
That oft their doings neuer come to light.
But if (say they) we may perswade your mind,
Attempt an action worthy of a knight,
Where if you passe the perill and the paine,
Eternall same shall vnto you remaine.

For if you would performe an act indeed,
Whereby great name and honour may be wonne,
Then this would be the best and noblest deed,
That late or long time past was euer done:
Our Princes daughter standeth now in need,
Of great defence, a danger great to shunne,
Against a knight Lurcanio by name,
That seekes her life to take away and same.

This knight hath her vnto the king accused,
I thinke of malice rather then of right,
That he hath seene how she her selfe abused,
And closely tooke her louer vp by night.
Now by the lawes that in this land are vsed,
Except she haue a champion that by might
Within a month Lurcanio proue a lier,
She shall be straight condemned to the fier.

The Scottish law that breedeth all this strife,
Appoints that all of base or better sort,
That take a man except she be his wife,
And spends her time with him in Venus sport,
By cruell torment finish shall her life,
Except she find some knight that will support,
That she the hainous fact hath not committed,
But that in law she ought to be acquitted.

The King for faire Geneura takes great thought,
Both for her safetie and her estimation,
And seeks by all good meanes that may be wrought
For her defence, and maketh proclamation,
That by whose helpe from danger she is brought,
(Prouided he be one of noble nation)
Shall haue the goodly damsell for his wife,
With huings large to keepe him all his life.

But if within this month that now ensuth,
(So little time for her defence is left her)
No knight will come that will defend her truth,
Then friends and same, and life will be berest her,
This enterprise would much commend your youth,
The praise whereof would last a great while after:
And from Atlantas pillars vnto Inde,
A fairer Ladie you shall neuer finde.

Now then beside the honour and the praise,
To haue a state, may make you liue content,
The Princes loue (that helpeth many waies,
Whose honour now is halse consum'd and spent.
Againe true knights should helpe at all as[…]aies,
When any harme to Ladies faire is ment.
The very law of knighthood doth commaund you,
To grau[…]t this aide that we do now demaund you.

Renaldo pausd, and after thus he spake,
Why then (said he) must this faire damsell die,
That for her true and secret louers sake,
Did condescend within his armes to lie?
Accurst be they that such a law did make,
Accurst be they that meane to liue thereby,
Nay rather point a punishment and paine
For such as do their louers true disdaine.

If faire Geneura had her friend or no,
I stand not now the matter to descide,
Yea I would praise her had she done it so,
That by her foes it had not bene espide.
Be as be may, my meaning is to go
To fight for her, if I may haue a guide
That will but shew me where is her accuser,
And I shall quickly proue he doth abuse her.

I know not if the fact she haue committed,
Nor can I say in this the certaine sure:
But this I say, it ought to remitted,
Much rather then she should distresse endure.
I further say, they were but meanly witted,
That did so straight a statute first procure.
I also say, this law they ought recall,
In place thereof a better to enstall.

Sith like desire the fancies doth possesse,
Both of the male and of the female gender,
To do that thing that fooles count great excesse,
And quench the flame that Cupid doth engender,
To grant the men more scope, the women lesse,
Is law for which no reason we can render.
Men vsing many neuer are ashamed,
But women vsing one or two are blamed.

This law I say is partiall and naught,
And doth to women plaine annd open wrong,
I trust in God they shall be better taught,
And that this law shall be reuokt ere long.
The Abbot and his Monks in word and thought,
Allowd Renaldos speech, both old and yong:
They all condemne the law, and partly blame
The king that may and mendeth not the same.

Next morning when Renaldo doth perceaue
The Sunne appeare, and starres their heads to hide,
He thanks them for his cheare, and taketh leaue,
And takes a target-bearer for his guide,
For feare left vnknowne paths should him deceaue.
Himselfe all armed doth on Bayard ride,
And to the Scottish court he goes a stranger,
For to defend the damsell faire from danger.

And for they thought to take a way more nie,
They leaue the common way a mile or twaine,
When suddenly they heard a piteous crie,
Well like to one that feared to be slaine.
In hast they spurre their horses by and by,
Along the vale, and looking downe the plaine,
A maide betweene two murderers they saw,
That meant to take her life against all law.

The caitises put the damsell in great feare,
And shewd that they were come to end her dayes,
Which made her weepe, and shed full many a teare,
To moue their minds she trieth many wayes:
And though the fact a while they did forbeare,
Yet now they had remoued all delayes,
When as Renaldo came vnto her aid,
And made the malefactors fore afraid.

Away they sled and left the wench alone,
For dread of death appald and fore affrighted,
Who all her cause of danger and of mone,
Vnto Renaldo straight would haue recited,
But so great haft he maketh to be gone,
He gaue no eare, nor from his horse alighted,
But to ensue the iourney first assignd him,
He causd the guide to take her vp behind him.

And now on horsebacke marking well her face,
And marking more her gesture and behauiour,
Her pleasing speech, and modest sober grace,
She now hath wonne a great deale more his fauour,
And after he had rode a little space,
To tell her hard aduenture he would haue her:
And she began with humble voice and low,
As more at large hereafter I will show.