Canto 31

WHat state of life more pleasing may we find,
Then theirs, that true and heartie loue do beare?
Whom that sweete yoke doth? fast together bind,
That man in Paradice first learnd to weare:
Were not some so tormented in their mind,
With that same vile suspect, that filthie feare,
That torture great, that foolish frenesie,
That raging madnesse, called iealousie.

For eu'rie other sowre that gets a placo,
To seat it selfe amid this pleasant sweet,
Doth helpe in th'end to giue a greater grace,
And makes loues ioy more gratful when they meet,
Who so abstaines from sustenance a space,
Shall find both bread and water rellish sweet:
Men know not peace not rightly how to deeme it,
That haue not first by war bin taught t'steeme it.

Though eyes want sight, of that they would see faine,
The thought yet sees, & hearts with patience take it,
Long absence grieues, yet when they meet againe,
That absence doth more sweet and pleasant make it:
To serue and sue long time for little gaine,
(So that all hope do not eu'n quite forsake it)
One may endure, for when the paine is past,
Reward, though long it stay, yet comes at last.

The sharpe repulses, and the deepe disdaines,
And all the torments that in loue are found,
At last with pleasure recompence the paines,
And make far more contentment to abound:
But if this hellish plague infect the braines,
Though afterward it seeme both whole and sound,
The qualitie thereof is so mischieous,
The verie though is to a louer grieuous.

This is that cruell wound, against whose smart,
No liquors force preuailes, nor any plaster,
No skill of starres, no depth of Magicke art,
Deuised by that great clarke Zoroaster:
A wound that so infects the soule and hart,
As all out sence and reason it doth master;
A wound whose pang, and torment is so durable,
As it may rightly called be incurable.

This is a plague that quickly doth infect
All louers hearts, and doth possesse their thought,
As well with causlesse, as with iust suspect
By this, a man to madnesse meere is brought
Oh plague, by whose most damnable effect,
In deepe dispaire to die haue diuers sought;
Oh Iealousie, that didst without desart,
Possesse the noble Prailamantes hart.

Not for the tale her mayd or brother told,
Which made with in her mind a sharpe impression,
But other news that made her heart full cold,
How her loue of new loue did make profession;
As I more plaine hereafter shall vnfold.
For now I needs a while must make digression,
To braue Renaldo, that to Paris ward
Did march, with that same crew of great regard.

The day ensuing ere it yet was night,
They met an armed knight vpon the way,
A Ladie faire accompanid the knight,
His armour all was blacke, saue that there lay
A thwart the brest a wreath of Argent bright.
And straight the formost man in their array,
Which Richardetto was, as then did chaunce,
He challenged with him to breake a launce.

The gallant youth that neuer man refused,
Straight turnd his horse, a space for course to take,
As one that (for his time) had often vsed,
Such feates as this to do and vndertake:
Renaldo standeth still, and them perused,
To see which knight the fairest course would make,
Now Richardet thinks, if I hit him iust,
I shall this gallant tumble in the dust.

But otherwise it then to him befell,
And of his reckning he was quite deceaued,
The tother knew to hit, and sit so well,
That Richardet was from the sadle heaued:
Alardo seeing how his brother fell,
Did thinke t'auenge the foile that he receaued,
But he likewise inferiour did remaine,
His arme was bruisd, his shield was rent in twaine.

Guicchiardo next, the selfe same fortune tride,
And was constraind vnto the ground t'encline,
Although to him Renaldo lowdly cride,
Stay, hold your hands, for this course should be mine.
Vivian and Malagige, and more beside,
That at their kinsmens foyle did much repine,
Would then haue fought with this same stranger knight,
Saue that Renaldo claymd it as his right.

And said my friends, we must to Paris hast;
But to himselfe he said, it were a iest,
For me to stay till all they downe were cast
By one and one, lle fight and they shall rest;
This said, he spurres his horse and commeth fast,
And as he runs he sets his speare in rest;
The tother doth as much, and eithers speare,
The stroke doth in a thousand peeces teare.

The horsemen with the stroke stur not an inch,
They both had learnd so perfectly to fit,
But on their horses it did shrowdly pinch,
Yet Bayard searce his course doth intermit,
The tothers horse had such a parlous wrinch,
That mard him quite, and brake his backe with it,
His master that was greatly grieu'd to see't,
Forsakes his seate, and takes him to his feet.

And to Renaldo, that with naked hand
Came toward him in shew of truce, he sed,
Sir knight I giue you here to vnderstand,
I likt so well this horse that here is ded,
I thinke it would not with mine honor stand,
To leaue him vnreuengd, which hath me led
To challenge you, eu'n as you are true knight,
That you will answer me againe in fight.

Renaldo answerd, if your horse you lost,
The onely cause of this your quarrell be,
Then comfort you, for of mine onely cost,
Your want herein shall be supplide by me,
With such a horse, as I may boldly bost,
To be as good a one as cre was he:
Not so fit, said the tother, you mistake it,
I will expound my mind, and plainer make it.

Though I lykt well my seruiceable horse,
Yet fith he now is in this conflict flame,
Thinke not that of his death I so much force,
As that alone moues me to fight againe;
But in plaine termes on foot to true your force,
As well as erst on horsebacke I would saine.
Renaldo, that of no mans force accounted,
Without delay straight from his horse dismounted.

And fith (quoth he) I see your noble mind,
Of this my company hath no suspition,
They shall go on, and I will stay behind,
And so will fight with you on eu'n condition.
This said, his band to part thence he assignd,
Who went their way vpon their Lords commission,
Which bred great admiration in the stranger,
To find a man so little fearing danger.

Now when his standerd quite was out of sight,
And all Renaldos companie was gone,
Then hand to hand they do apply the fight,
With force and furie great they lay it on;
Each maruels at the tothers passing might,
And yet of either side the gaine is none,
They felt the blowes so heauie and so hard,
That glad they were to lie well to their ward.

Thus these two knights, for honors onely sake,
Together combat in such eager fort,
That eu'ry little error they should make,
Endangerd life in this vnpleasant sport:
An houre and halfe this trauell they did take,
Each labouring to cut the tother short,
And in his mind Renaldo maruels much,
Who this should be, whose skill and force was such.

And, saue that he could not with his reputation,
He would haue wisht the battell at an end,
And offerd of a truce communication,
And of his vnknowne foe haue made his frend:
Likewise the tother felt such inclination,
Now finding scarce he could himselfe defend,
That he repented has rash hardie part,
And would haue had a truce with all his hart.

It waxed darke there fell an eu'ning mist,
So that at last they neither of them know,
When he did hit aright, or when he mist,
Nor how to giue, nor how to ward a blow:
When first Renaldo wisht him to desist,
Sith now the Sunne descended was so low,
And that the combat might be now reiourned,
Till Phebus were about the world returned.

Offring (at which the stranger greatly musd,
And his rare curtesie therein commended)
To lodge him where he should both be well vsd,
And like a man of honour well attended:
The tother his great curt'sie not refusd,
And so betweene them two the fray was ended:
And straight Renaldo gaue him as his gift,
His pages horse, that was both strong and swift.

Thus on they rode vnto Renaldos tent,
And grew acquainted ere they thither came,
By meanes in certaine speeches as they went,
Renaldo happened to tell his name;
By which the stranger knew incontinent,
That this was that same Palladine of same,
And that himselfe was to Renaldo brother,
By fathers side alone, and not by mother.

The sauage Guidon, this braue warrier hight,
That traueld had full many a hunderd mile,
With those two brothers, nam'd the black and white,
And Sansonet, vntill by craft and guile
They were surprised, as you heard last night,
And made against their wils to wait a while,
For maintenance of lawes vniust and bad,
That wicked Pinnabell deuised had.

Now when as noble Guidon certaine knew
That this Renaldo was, whom he before
Desired long to see, he much did rew
That he had done, and did lament it sore:
A blind man would not be more glad to vew
The light, he doubted he should nere see more,
Then Guidon in his mind was well apaid,
To see this knight, and thus to him he said.

What stranger mishap, what sinister aduenter,
Hath bred this fault in me, my noble Lord,
That I with you into this strife should enter,
With whom I ought to haue all kind accord?
I am your fathers sonne, not by one venter,
I euer haue your name and stock adord,
Guidon I hight, Constanza was my mother,
Borne beyond Euxin seas, and yet your brother.

Wherefore I pray, pardon my fond offence,
That haue in steed of dutie offerd wrong,
And tell me wherein I may recompence
This ouersight, and I will do ere long:
Renaldo that had heard of him long since,
And to haue seene him did not little long,
Embrast him, and not onely did forgiue him,
But commendation great and praise did giue him.

He said his valew was a perfect signe,
To shew himselfe in fight so fierce and stout,
That he was truly come of that same line,
Whose noble brute was blowne the world about:
For if your manners did to peace incline,
Then had there bene (said he) more cause of doubt,
The fearfull Hart comes not of Lions seed,
Nor doth a silly Doue a Faulcon breed.

Thus fell they two acquainted on the way,
And talkt together friendly as they went,
But neither did their talke the iourney stay,
Nor did their riding make their speech relent,
Vntill they came where all their brothers lay,
When as a great part of the night was spent,
Who with great ioy and pleasure did behold them,
And chiefe when who this was Renaldo told them.

For though he must to them (no doubt) haue euer
Bene verie welcome as a brother deare,
Yet could he be to them more welcome neuer,
Then now, what time as you before did heare,
They all did mind to do their best indeuer
To rescue Charles that was of heauie cheare:
Wherefore for this one cause aboue the rest,
He was vnto them all a welcome guest.

Thus now the day ensuing on went Guidon,
Ioyning himselfe vnto Renaldos crew,
And as to Paris walls they forward ride on,
They met two valiant youths that well him knew:
Further with them conferring, they descride one,
A Ladie richly clad, and faire of hew:
These warlike youths had Gismond to their mother,
White Griffiin, and blacke Aquilant his brother.

Now Guidon knew them, and to them was knowne,
As hauing bene together many dayes,
By whom they were vnto Renaldo showne,
And praisd for gallant men at all assayes:
As in your iudgement, likewise in mine owne,
(Renaldo said) these youths do merit praise,
For they haue oft bene prou'd two perfect warriers,
As well in spite as sport, at tilt and barriers.

Renaldo did by their apparell know them,
Tone euer wearing white, the tother blacke,
And friendly countenance he now did show them,
Chiefly because the King did succour lacke:
Wherefore into his band he doth bestow them,
That band that to ye Turks must bring much wracke,
And they do ioyne them to Renaldos banner,
Forgetting all old iarres in louing manner.

Betweene the house of Ammon and these twins,
About one Truffaldin a iarre there fell,
The matter at the first not worth two pins,
Wherefore the circumstance I will not tell,
But now Renaldo their affection wins,
By vsing them so curteously and well,
For curteous speech and vsage mild and kind,
Wipes malice out of eu'ry noble mind.

Now after these another knight there came,
Hight Sansonet a man of great account,
Who welcom'd was, and tooke it for no shame,
Of stout Renaldos band himselfe to count:
While this thus past, behold the gallant dame,
That knew this noble Lord of Clarimount,
(For she was one that all the French Lords knew)
Told him a tale that made him greatly rew.

My Lord (sai[…] she) I bring you sory tiding,
He whom the Church and Empire held so deare,
Runs all about, in no one place abiding,
Of sence and argument depriued cleare:
He naked goes, not natures secrets hiding,
Which me to tell, and you must grieue to heare,
Orlando, that same light and lampe of France,
Hath lost his wits, God knowes by what mischance.

His armes and sword that he away had throwne,
As things by him left and forsaken clearly,
I saw a curteous knight, to me vnknowne,
But one (it seemd) that lou'd Orlando dearly,
Them gather where they scattered were and sowne,
And eu'n of charitie as seemed mearly,
In triumph wise on tree he hangd the same,
And vnderneath he grau'd Orlandos name.

But straight the sword that hanged on the tree,
With force and scornfull speech away was tane,
(As I can witnesse well that did it see)
By Mandricard the sonne of Agricane:
Thinke you what hurt this will to Europe be,
That once againe the Turks haue Durindane;
The gentle knight straue long with him to saue it,
But in the end was forst to let him haue it.

I saw Orlando late in monstrous guise,
To runne about vncouth and all vnclad,
With strangest clamours and most hideous cries:
In fine I do conclude that he is mad;
And saue I saw it so with these mine eyes,
I would not trust if any told it had.
She further told how she had seene him later,
With Rodomont to tumble in the water.

And last of all she told him she had heard,
How that about this sword there grew some strife,
Betweene Gradasso stout and Mandricard;
And how the Tartar hauing lost his life,
The sword was giuen Gradasso afterward,
As ouer all the Pagan campe was rife:
And hauing ended this so sad narration,
Thereto she addeth this short exhortation.

That he and eu'ry one that were not foe
To stout Orlando, would take so much paine,
In Paris or elsewhere him to bestow,
Till he had purged his distemperd braine:
Mine husband Brandimart (said she) I know,
To do him any good himselfe would straine:
Thus Fiordeliege spake, the louing wife
Of Brandimart, that lou'd her as his life.

At this strange tale and wofull accident,
Such inward griefe the good Renaldo felt,
That with the thought, his heart incontinent
Did seeme like snow against the Sunne to melt,
And with all speed he might, to go he ment,
And by all meanes he might so to haue delt,
To seeke Orlando, whom if he can find,
He hopes to bring him to a better mind.

But sith he now had thither brought his band,
Or wer't the will of God, or were it chance,
He first doth mind to end the cause in hand,
And rescue Paris and the king of France;
Wherefore he makes his men all quiet stand
Till night, what time himselfe will leade the dance,
And then betweene the fourth and second watch,
He meanes at once the matter to dispatch.

He makes his men lie close for all that day,
By way of Ambuscado in a wood,
And ease themselues and horses all they may,
And take the sustenance of rest and food,
The place within three leagues of Paris lay,
And when the Sunne was set, he thought it good,
What time the world doth vse his lesser lampe,
To Paris ward to moue his silent campe.

And as he purposd, he performd in deed,
For straight himselfe, with that same gallant grew,
Set out by night, as first they had decreed,
In silent sort suspition to eschew.
Now came the time that they must do the deed,
Now neare vnto the Turkish campe they drew,
When first the heedlesse Sentinels intrapping,
They kild them al, because they took them napping.

The watch once slaine they are no longer dumme,
But after stout Renaldo soone they came,
They sound the trumpet, and strike vp the drumme,
And calling still vpon that noble name,
That often had the Pagans ouercome,
(I meane Renaldos house of Montalbane)
Which crie he cauld both his owne men to quicken,
And that the Turks might in more feare be stricken.

Himselfe well mounted on his famous horse,
Doth presse amidst the Pagan Princes tents,
And with his owne, and with his horses force,
He treds them downe, and all in peeces rents,
Vnarmd or armd he kils without remorse,
Who euer commeth in his way repents,
The drowsie men halfe armd make poore resistance
Against so braue a man with such assistance.

For why, beside those men I nam'd before,
Whose vertue and whole value oft were showne,
Renaldo had sixe hundred men and more,
All perfect traind, of strength and courage knowne,
Which about Clarimont he kept in store,
For his owne vse and causes of his owne,
Though at this need his Princes turne to furnish,
He soone agreed his owne townes to vnfurnish.

And though Renaldo had no great reuenue,
The which chiefe sinews vnto warre affords,
Yet kept he still six hundred in rennue,
What with good vsage and with gentle words,
That all of them did still with him continue,
At his commaund with launces, horse and swords;
Nor was there any that from him away went,
Though diuers others offerd greater payment.

Now thinke when this braue crue the Turks assailed,
At vnawares halfe wake or halfe asleepe,
How that same name and that same noise them quailed,
How here they fled and there, with hold and keepe:
But smally flight, and lesse their fight preuailed;
But euen as Goates from Lions, or as sheepe
Frō Wolues make small defence, such in comparison
These Pagans made against Renaldos garison.

On tother side king Charles (that by espiall)
Had notice of Renaldos comming hither,
With all that crue so noble and so loyall,
That to his aid combined were togither,
With diuers Lords came forth in person royall,
And all his men of armes likewise came thither:
Eke Brandimart, rich Monodontes heire,
Did with king Charles vnto the field repaire.

Whom when his spouse, that neare about did ho[…]er,
Had found out by his standard and his armes,
And plainly saw it was her dearest louer,
She rusheth in among the men of armes,
And vnto him herselfe she doth discouer,
Who straight embraced her in open armes;
And leauing then the battell drew apart,
That each to other might their minds impart.

And after sweet embracing oftentimes,
They did conferre together of their state:
Overtue of those vnsuspicious times,
When Ladies early wander might and late,
And yet be faultlesse deemd, and free of crimes,
Where now each small suspect turnes loue to hate,
Yea eu'n for all their watching and safe keeping,
They doubt their wiues do wake while they are sleeping.

Among the conference this couple had,
The Ladie did vnto her spouse vnfold,
How his good friend Orlando was falne mad,
How she herselfe his madnes did behold,
His running naked, carelesse and vnclad,
Not credible had any else it told,
But credible it was now she had sed it,
For in far greater things he gaue her credit.

She further did to Brandimart recount,
How she had seene the bridge the Pagan made,
(I meane the cruell Pagan Rodomount)
Vpon the streame so deepe as none could wade,
Where he the passengers of best account,
Did from each side with furie great inuade,
And with the spoiles of those he kild and tooke,
Did beautifie a tombe made by the brooke.

And last she told how with his strength extreame,
Orlando heau'd the Turke armd from the ground,
And so with him fell backward in the streame,
With perill great there to haue both bene drownd,
From whence Orlando went about the Reame,
Where his mad parts wold make him soon be found.
This tale in Brandimart did breed such sorrow,
He staid not for the next ensuing morrow.

But taking for his guide faire Fiordeliege,
And being readie armd, as then he was,
He go'th to seeke that foresaid parlous bridge,
In mind (what euer hap) the same to passe,
Where many men their liues line did abridge,
As in such dangers soone it comes to passe:
No sooner came he to the vtmost ward,
But Rodomont had notice by his guard.

He greatly did to heare such newes reioyce,
And straight he cometh forth with warlike gesture,
And bids him with a loud and scornfull voyce,
Vnto the tombe to yeeld his armes and vesture,
Or threatens him if he refuse this choyce,
To make him drinke beyond all good disgesture:
But Brandimart his threats did nothing feare,
And makes no answer, but with couched speare.

Then straight to horses side he sets the spurs,
The horse he rode vpon Batoldo hight,
The horse though good, yet snores, and starts & sturs,
Much scar'd with narrow bridge and waters sight:
Eke Rodomont his good Frontino spurs,
Who neuer starts, as vsed to this fight,
Although the bridge did shake all vnder feet,
When in the middle way these kinghts did meet.

Their speares that were of firme well seasond wood,
With so great force vpon their armour strake,
That though their horses were both strong & good,
Yet both fell from the bridge into the lake,
Quite ouerwhelmd with water and with mood,
Yet neither horseman did his horse forsake;
Long taried they within the streame below,
To search if any Nymph dwelt there, I trow.

This had not bin the first time nor the fift,
That from this bridge the Turke had bene throwne downe,
Wherefore his horse and he could better shift,
For neither horse nor he did doubt to drowne;
For where the streame was most profound and swift
He often had bene plung'd aboue his crowne,
Which made his horse and him the more audacious
Amid the streame, although profound and spacious.

He knew by proofe (for he had tride it oft)
Where all the shelues, and where the channell lay,
Which parts were grauelly, and which were soft:
The tother ignorant, was borne away,
Tost here and there, now low, and then aloft,
The while the Pagan greedie of his pray,
At all aduantages doth still assaile him,
Whose horses footing more and more did faile him.

At last with plunging and with striuing tired,
He backward fell into the weeds and mud,
Where he was like to haue bin drownd and mired,
Saue that his spouse that by the riuer stood,
In humble wise the Pagan Prince desired,
And in most earnest manner that she coud,
Eu'n for her sake, whose ghost he did adore,
To helpe her worthy knight vnto the shore.

Ah gentle fit, if euer you did tast,
Or loue (she said) or of a louers passion,
Saue that same knight, on whom my loue is plast,
And let him not be drownd in so vile fashion:
Suffice it you, your tombe will be more grast,
With one such prisner of such reputation,
Then hunderds other, that shall here arriue;
Then take his spoiles, and saue himselfe aliue.

These words that might haue mou'd a stone I thinke,
Mou'd him to rescue noble Brandimart,
Who without thirst had tane such store of drinke,
As from his limbs, his life did welny part:
But ere he brought him to the riuers brink,
He causd him with his sword and armes depart,
And made him sweare now he was in his powre,
To yeeld himselfe true prisner to his towre.

The dame of comfort all was quite be reaued,
When as she saw how ill her spouse had sped,
And yet lesse griefe of this chance she conceaued,
Then if he had beene in the water dead:
She calls herselfe the cause that he receaued
This harme, that fondly had him thither led,
Into a place of danger such and iopardie,
As needs must hazard either life or libertie,

About the place in vaine she long did houer,
Then parted she in mind to seeke some knight,
Of Charles his campe, that might her losse recouer,
And proue himself, though not more strong in fight
At least more fortunate then was her louer:
Long did she trauell all that day and night,
And eake the day ensuing, ere she met one,
Yet was it her good hap at last to get one.

A champion in a rich attyre she met,
All wrought with witherd leaues of Cypresse tree,
Hereafter I will tell you, but not yet,
What wight this was, whether a he or she:
Now turne I to the campe, least I forget
The noble knights that set their […]oueraigne free;
I meane Renaldo and his new come brother,
With cunning Malagige and many other.

Vnpossible it was account to keepe,
Of those were kild that night, and those that fled,
Fierce Agramant was wakned from his sleepe,
And with all speed that might be, vp he sped,
He weighes the perill and the danger deepe,
His souldiers runne away near making hed:
Marsillo, with Sobrino and the rest,
Wish him to flie, for feare he be distrest.

Aduising him, sith fortune now gan frowne,
Vnto this tempest wisely to giue place,
And go to Arly, or some other towne,
So strong to dure assault no little space:
So might he saue his person and his crowne,
As first was to be car'd for in such case;
And then with wisedome warily proceeding,
To waite till time might serue of better speeding.

Thus Agramant, to so great danger brought,
Well knew not what to do, nor what to say,
But did as by his counsell he was taught,
And in great hast conueyd himselfe away:
The while much woe vnto his men was wrought,
The Christens them discomfite, kill and slay:
The darknesse causd the number be vnknowne,
That in this fight were kild and ouerthrowne.

With hast full many were in water drownd,
That saw there was no safetie in the land,
More succour in their heeles then hands they found
Against such fierce assaylants few durst stand;
But greatest damage did to them redound,
By those six hundred of Renaldos band:
Who did distribute strokes in so great plentie,
As eu'rie one of them massacred twentie.

Some thinke that Malagigi plaid his part,
In this conflict not wounding men nor slaying,
But making of their foes by Magike art,
To heare so huge a noyse of horses naying,
Such found of Drums, such shouts from eu'ry part,
As all the world had vowed their decaying:
By which they all were striken in such feare,
As not a man of them durst tarrie theare.

Yet though the Turkish Prince fled thence so fast,
The braue Rogero, he would not forget,
But caused him from danger to be plast,
And on an easie paced horse him set:
Thus now the Turks were by the Christens chast,
And glad they were a walled towne to get:
But yet Gradasso and his valiant band,
Did still vnto their tackle stoutly stand.

Nay, which was more, when as he vnderstood,
How that Renaldo Palladine of France,
Was he that shed such store of Turkish blood,
He was so glad he ready was to dance;
He thanks his Gods that were to him so good,
To send him this so much desired chance,
By which he hopes and makes account most clearly,
To win that horse Renaldo held so dearly.

For why, Gradasso king of Serycane,
Long since to France came with an army Ryal,
With onely hope to conquer Durindan,
That famous blade of so good proofe and triall:
And eake Renaldos courser to haue tane,
That Bayard hight: and now when by espiall,
He knew Renaldo was on that beast mounted,
The conquest sure, the horse his owne he counted.

So much the rather, for that once before,
About this matter they had made a fray,
Fast by the sea vpon the sandie shore;
(To tell the circumstance I may not stay)
But Malagigi thence his cosin bore,
And did into a barge him sale conuay:
And thereupon Renaldo euer since,
Was tane but for a coward by this Prince.

Wherfore in hope so rich a spoile to reape,
Two howres before the rising of the sonne,
All armed on Alfana he doth leape,
And with his launce to death are diuers done;
On French the Moores, on Moores he French doth heape,
And all he meeteth he doth ouerrunne:
So did ambition set his heart on fire,
To meet Renaldo, such was he desire,

Soone after this each met with speare in rest,
(But neither then at first the tothers knew)
Each brake his speare vpon the tother crest,
Vnto the heau'nly car the splinters flew:
Then with their swords either was readie prest,
(Their lances thrown away, their swords they drew)
Each laying on the other so fell strokes,
As if not knights had fought, but clownes feld okes.

Gradasso though he knew him not by sight,
(For yet the morning beames were not displaid)
Yet did he gues[…]e both by the horses might,
And those fierce strokes the tother on him laid;
Wherfore with words that sauord scorne and spight,
He straight begins Renaldo to vpbraid:
And said he had his challenge disappointed,
And not appeared at the day appointed.

Belike you thought I should haue met you neuer,
But now (said he) you here are met right well,
Assure your selfe I will pursue you euer,
Were you tane vp to heau'n, or downe to hell;
No height nor depth, should hinder mine endeuer,
I meane to finde you out where eare you dwell,
To shunne the fight with meit doth not boote,
Vntill you leaue your horse and go on foote.

At this his speech, were diuers standing by,
As Guidon, Richarder, and others more,
Who would haue slaine Gradasso by and by,
Had not Renaldo stepped them before,
And said in wrath, what masters am not I,
Well able wreake my priuate wrongs therefore?
Then to the Pagan gently thus he spake,
And wisht him marke the answer he did make,

Who euer faith, that I did fight eschew,
Or […]hew defect of vallew any way,
I say and do auouch he faith vntrue,
And I will proue by combat what I say;
I came vnto the place to meete with you,
No […] cuses I did seeke, not no delay,
And frankly here to you I offer fight,
But first I wish you were informed right.

Then tooke he him aside, and more at large,
He told what hapned him and how by art,
His cosin Malagige into a barge
Conuayed him, and forst him to depart:
In fine himselfe, of blame quite to discharge,
He brought him out to witnes eu'rie part,
And then to proue that this was true indeed,
He offerd in the combat to proceed.

Gradasso that both curteous was, and stout,
Gaue eare vnto the tale Renaldo told,
And though it seemd he stood thereof in doubt,
Yet him in all his speech he not controld:
But in conclusion, hauing heard it out,
He doth his former purpose firmely hold:
Which was by combat fierce to try and know,
If so he could Bayardo win or no.

The Palladine that passed not a point
Of no mans force, to meet him gaue his word:
The place in which to meet they did appoint,
Was neare a wood, and by a pleasant foord,
There only added was a further point;
Which was that Duriudan, Orlandos sword,
Should to Renaldo as of right accrew,
If he the Pagan ouercame or slew.

Thus for the present time departed they,
Vntill the time approcht of pointed fight,
Although Renaldo frendly did him pray,
To rest him in his tent that day and night:
And offerd franke safe conduit for his stay,
So curteous was this same couragious knight:
Gradasso greatly praisd the noble offer,
But yet refusd the courtsie he did profer.

The feare was great that secretly did lurke,
In all the minds of all Renaldos kin,
Who knew the strength and cunning of this Turke
Was such, as doubt it was which side should win:
Faine Malagigi by his art would worke,
To end this fray, before it should begin:
Saue that he feard Renaldos vtter enmity,
In so base sort for working his indemnity.

But though his frends did feare more then was meet,
Himselfe assurde himselfe of good successe:
Now at the pointed time and place they meet,
Both at one verie instant, as I guesse,
And first they kindly do embrace and greet
The tone the tother with all gentlenesse,
But how sweet words did turne to bitter blowes,
The next booke sauing one, the sequell showes.