Canto 33

TYmagoras, Parrhasius, Polignote,
Timant, Protogenes, Apollodore,
With Zewces, one for skill of special note:
Apelles eke, plast all the rest before:
Whose skill in drawing, all the world doth note,
And talke of still (to writers thanks therefore)
Whose works and bodies, time and death did wast,
Yet spite of time and death their fames doth last.

With others that in these our later dayes
Haue liu'd, as Leonard and Iohn Belline,
And he that carues and drawes with equall praise,
Michell more then a man, Angell diuine,
And Flores, whom the Flemmings greatly praise,
And Raphael and Titian passing fine,
With diuers others that by due desart,
Do ment in this praise to haue a part.

Yet all these cunning drawers with their skill,
Could not attaine by picture to expresse,
What strange euents should happen well or ill,
In future times, no not so much as guesse:
This art is proper vnto Magike still:
Or to a Prophet, or a Prophetesse.
By this rare art, the Brittish Merlin painted
Strange things, with which our age hath bin acquainted.

He made by Magike art, that stately hall,
And by the selfe same art he could to be,
Strange histories ingraued on the wall,
Which (as I said) the guests desir'd to see.
Now when they were from supper risen all,
The pages lighted torches two or three,
Making the roome to shine as bright as day.
When to his guests the owner thus did say,

I would (quoth he) my guests, that you should know,
That these same stories that here painted are,
Of future warres the sequels sad do show,
That shall to Italie bring wo and care:
Whereas the French full many a bloodie blow
Shall take, while others they to harme prepare,
As Merlin here hath layd downe, being sent
From English Arthur, chiefe for this intent.

King Feramont that was the first that past
The streame of Rhine with armie great of France,
And being in possession quiet plast
Of all those parts, sturd with so luckie chance,
Straight in ambitious thought began to cast,
His rule and scepter higher to aduance.
Which that he might to passe the better bring,
He made a league with Arthur English king,

Informing him how that his meaning was,
Of Italie the rule and crowne to get,
And askt his ayd to bring the same to passe,
Which neuer had atchieued bin as yet.
Now Merlin that did all men far surpasse
In Magike art, his purpose sought to let,
For Merlin had with Arthur so great credit,
He thought all Gospell was, if once he sed it.

This Merlin then did first to Arthur show,
And then by Arthur was of purpose sent,
To Fieramont of France, to let him know
The cause why he misliked his intent.
As namely, many mischiefs that would grow,
To all that now, or that hereafter ment,
The like attempt, aduising him abstaine
From certaine trouble, for vncertaine gaine.

And that he might his courage more appall,
And quite remoue him from this enterprise,
He made by Magicke, this so stately hall,
Adorned as you see in sumptuous wise,
And drew these histories vpon the wall,
That what he saw in mind, they might with eyes,
And thereby know, that in Italian ground,
The Flour de luce can near take root profound.

And how as often as the French shall come,
As frends to aid and free them from distresse.
So oft they shall their foes all ouercome,
And fight with honor great, and good successe:
But be they sure to haue that place their toome,
If so they come their freedome to oppresse;
Thus much the owner of the house them told,
And so went on, the storie to vntold.

Lo first how Sigisbert in hope of gaine,
And promises of Emperour Mauricius,
Doth passe the mountaines with a mightie traine,
With mind to Lombardie to be pernicious:
But Ewtar driues him backe by force againe,
When he of such attempt is least suspicious,
So that his enterprise is quite reuersed,
Himselfe doth flie, and leaue his men dispersed.

Next after him the proud Clodoueus went,
And had with him one hundred thousand men,
But him doth meet the Duke of Beneuent,
With searse for eu'rie hundred souldiers, ten,
Who doth intrap him in an ambushment,
So as the French might well be lik'ned then,
While Lombard wines too greedily they tooke,
To fish beguiled with a baited hooke.

Straight Childibertus with a mightie host,
Doth come with mind to wipe away this blot:
But of his gainings he may make small bost,
For of his purpose he preuailed not:
His enterprise by heau'nly sword is croft.
The plague doth grow among his men so hot,
What with the burning feauer, and the flixe,
Of sixtie men, there scant returneth sixe.

Another picture liuely doth expresse,
How that king Pepin and king Charles his sonne,
Fought both in Italie with good successe;
Not with intent that Realme to ouerrunne,
But to set free Pope Steu'n from sharpe distresse,
And wrongs, that by Astolso were him done,
One tames Astolso that was Steu'ns oppressor,
To ther takes Desiderius his successor.

Behold another Pepin yet an youth,
Not like his father, doth that Realme inuade,
And thinking to procure their wofull ruth,
Of ships and boats a mightie bridge he made:
But marke what ill successe to him ensuth,
Ear he through his great enterprise could wade,
A tempest did his massie worke consound,
His bridge was broken, and his souldiers drownd.

Lo Lews of Burgundie, descending theare
Where, as it seemes he taken is and bound,
And he that takes him, maketh him to sweare,
That he shall neare beare arms gainst Latian ground
Lo how he breakes his oth without all feare,
Lo how againe his foes do him confound,
And like a moldwarpe, make him loose his eyes:
A iust reward for such as oths despise.

See here how Hugh of Arly doth great fears,
Driuing the Beringars from natiue soile,
Forcing them twise or thrise to change their feats,
And cause the Hunnes and Bauiers backe recoile:
But greater force at last his acts defeats,
First he compounds, and after all his toile,
He dies, not after long his heire doth tane,
But yeeldeth vp his crowne to Beringarie.

Lo heare another Charles that by perswasion,
Of euill shepherd, sets on fire the fold,
And kills two kings in this his fierce inuasion,
Manfred and Corradin, which makes him bold:
But his owne faults of his fall gaue occasion;
His crueltie was such, so vncontrold,
That he and his were all kild (as they tell)
Eu'n at the ringing of an eu'niong bell.

Now after these about one hundred yeares,
For so the space betweene, did seeme to say,
From France, one shall inuade those famous peeres,
The Vicount Galeasses, and shall lay
Siege vnto Alexandria as appeares.
By those that here do stand in battell ray.
Lo how the Duke preuenting eu'rie doubt,
Prouideth strength within, deceipt without.

And with this warie policie proceeding,
He doth the Frenchmen at aduantage take,
Not finding his ambushment, and not heeding,
Together with the Lord of Arminake,
Who dieth of his hurts with ouerbleeding:
Lo how the streame of bloud there spilt doth make,
A sanguin colour in the streame of Poe,
By meanes Tanarus into it doth goe.

After all these, one comes that Maria hight,
And three that do of Aniow houle proceed.
All these to those of Naples do much spite,
Yet none of these can brag of their good speed:
For though to French they ioyne some Latiā might,
Of greedie sort, that with their crownes they feed,
Yet still for all their paine and their expence,
Alfonso and Ferdinando driue them thence.

Lo Charles the eight descending like a thunder,
Downe from the Alps with all the floure of France,
And conqu'ring all (to all mens passing wonder)
Not drawing once a sword, nor breaking lance,
(Except that rocke that Typheus lyeth vnder
While he to high himselfe, straue to aduance)
This Ile and castle both, that Iskia hight,
Defended was by Vasto gallant knight.

Now as the master of the castle told,
And pointed out each storie in his place,
It came into his fancy to vnfold,
The worthy praise of Aluas noble race;
Which (as for certaintie they all did hold)
Wise Merlin propheside, who had the grace,
To shew before hand, both with tongue and pen,
What accidents should hap, and where, and when.

And namely that this knight whom here you see,
Defending so the castle and the rocke,
As though he feard not those same fires that flee,
As far as Fare, but them did scorne and mocke.
From this same knight there shal descend (quoth he)
Out of the root of this most worthie stocke,
A knight shall win such fame and reputation,
As all the world shall hold in admiration.

Though Nereus were faire, Achilles strong,
Though Ladas swift, though Nestor was most wise,
That knew so much, and liued had so long;
Though bold Vilsses could both well deuise,
And execute what doth to warre belong,
Though Caesar, bountie praisd be to the skies,
Yet place to giue all these may thinke no scorne,
To one that shall in Iskia Ile be borne.

And if that ancient Creta may be prowe,
Because that Celus nephew sprang therein:
If Thebs of Bacchus birth doth vant so lowd,
And Hercules; If Delus of their twin:
Then may that Ile no lesse be well allowd,
To vant it selfe, that hath so happie bin,
To haue that Marquesse borne within that place,
On whom the heau'ns shall powre so great a grace.

Thus Merlin vsd to tell and oft repeat,
How he should be for such a time reserued,
When Roman Empires high and stately seat,
At lowest eb should be, and welnigh starued;
That his rare parts againe might make it great,
And that by him it might be safe preserued,
Which that you may see plainly to his glorie,
Marke in this table the ensuing storie.

Lo here (said he) how Lodwicke doth repent,
That he had thither brought king Charles the eight,
Which at the first he did but with intent
To weaken, not to presse with so hard weight
His ancient foe; for now gainst Charles he went,
Making new leagues according to his sleight.
He thinks to take him prisner by the way,
But Charles by force through thē doth make his way.

But yet the souldiers that behinde him staid,
Had not the like good fortune nor successe,
For Ferdinando grew by Mantuan aid
So strong, that soone he did the French distresse:
To whose great griefe, this Marquesse was betraid
By Gypsen vile, when he fear'd nothing lesse,
Which doth in Ferdinand so great griefe breed,
As doth his ioy of victorie exceed.

Next after these, he shews them Lews the twelfth,
That puls out Lodwicke Storse with mightie hand,
And gets by force, what he had got by stelth,
And plants the Flour de luce in Millen land;
Yet he no long time there in quiet dwelth,
The great Consaluo with a Spanish band,
His Captaines and Lieutenants oft repulses,
And in the end from Millen quite expulses.

Lo here (which I forgat before to show)
How Lodwickes frends, and his own men betray him,
One sells his castell neuer striking blow;
The Swizzers eke that might away conuay him,
And had his pay, and did him seruice ow,
For filthie lucres sake they do bewray him;
Whereby without once breaking of a lance,
Two victories came to the king of France.

Lo how by fauour of his mightie king,
The bastard Caesar Borgia grew full great,
And doth the necks of many nobles wring
Of Italie, that had most ancient seat.
Lo how this king doth eke the akornes bring
To Bulloign, lo how with another feat,
He doth the Genowais in fight subdue,
And maketh them their late reuolt to rue.

Lo here not far from thence, how all the feeld,
With dead mens bones is heald at Geriadad,
How all the cities vnto Lews do yeeld,
How Venice to shut vp her gates is glad;
And searse her selfe frō this great storme can sheeld:
Lo how the Pope (his part that herein had)
Doth take away vnto his great rebuke,
Modone and more, from good Ferraras Duk[…].

At which king Lews (with rightfull choller moued)
Giues Bulloign to the Bentiuols againe,
And thence to Breskie all his force remoued,
And succours to Felsina doth ordaine,
What time the Churches souldiers felt and proued,
The French mens force vnto their mickle paine:
Lo after where both armies meet to fight,
Neare Chassie shore, to trie their vtmost might.

On this side France, on that the powre of Spaine
Vnited is, and deadly blows ensew,
The ditches all seemd fild with bodies slaine,
A hap to make a stonic heart to rew;
Long time in doubt doth victorie remaine,
Which way the sway would carry no man knew,
Till by the vertue of Alfonse alone,
The French preuaile, the Spanish (forst) are gone,

Lo how the Pope his lip doth bite for griefe,
Because the French men do Rauenna sacke;
Lo how he sent to Swizzers for reliefe,
Lo how they come and driue the French men back;
And they that with their treason caused chiefe
Of Lodiwike the ouerthrow and wracke,
To make some mends for that they erst had done,
Vnto the fathers place restore the sonne.

But lo a prince of France then new created,
Meets with the Swizzers to their mickle cost,
And so their courage quaild, and force abated,
As all the nations seemed welnigh lost;
And of their title that them animated,
Those villens vile hereafter need not bost,
Defenders of the Church, tamers of Kings,
They cleaped were, now clipped are their wings.

Lo how the French king Francis in despite
Of all the league, faire Millen doth surprise,
Bourbon defending it from Geno as might;
Lo while this King doth practise and deuise,
Some great exploit, while by foule ouersight,
His lawlesse men the towne did tyrannize;
Their hauing too much pride, and want of pitie,
Doth cause them sodainly to loose the citie.

Lo yet another Francis Sforse, a man
Like to his Grandfire both in acts and name,
Who to driue out the Frenchmen well began,
And Millen did recouer with great fame;
Lo France againe endeuour all they can,
To win with praise that they had lost with shame,
But Mantuas worthy Duke on Tycian streame,
Cut off his way, and kept him from that Realme.

Yong Fredericke, yet but a beardlesse boy,
Scant hauing on his chin a little downe,
Lo how he saues Pauia from annoy,
When furiously the French besiege the towne;
He makes their earnest plots turne to a toy,
The Lion of the sea he beateth downe:
Lo here two Marquesses both of one blood,
Both borne to do their country endlesse good.

The first of these is that Alfonsos sonne,
That by the Negro erst you saw betraid,
Behold what feates of armes by him are donne,
How at their greatest need he them doth aid,
How oft he hath on Frenchmen glorie wonne,
That of his very name they seem afraid:
The tother that so mild doth looke in sight,
Is Lord of Vasto, and Alfonso hight.

This is that worthy knight, of whom I told,
Then when I did the Ile of Iskia show,
Of whom I said that Merlin had foretold
To Feramont what he by skill did know,
That when this world were worne and waxen old,
And Rome and Italy were brought most low,
Then he should spring, who to his endlesse praise,
Their foes should ouerthrow, and them should raise.

Lo how he with his cousin of Pescare,
And with Colonnas prosprous ayd no lesse,
The French and Dutch that at Bycocca are,
Do foyle and slay, and driue to great distresse;
Lo how againe the French men do prepare,
With new attempts to mend their bad successe,
One campe the king in Lombardie doth make,
And with another Naples he would take.

But she that vseth men as wind doth dust,
First take it vp and blow it very high,
And from that highest place straight when she lust,
She throwes it downe whereas it first did lie:
She makes this king deuoyd of all mistrust,
Thinke he hath men an hundred thousand nie,
At Pauie siege beleeuing others musters,
(But wo to kings whose seruants are no iuster.)

So while this noble Prince mistrusts no harme,
His wicked Captaines greedy gaine to win,
Cauld that the souldiers in the night alarme,
Came to their colours slow and very thin;
Within their tents they feele their skirmish warme,
The warie Spaniards soone had entred in
With those two guides, with whom they durst assay,
In hell or else in heau'n to breake a way.

Lo how the chiefe nobilities of France
Lie dead on ground, a cause of many teares,
How many an hargubush, a sword and launce,
This stout king hath alone about his eares:
His horse slaine vnder him by hard mischance,
And yet he nothing yeelds nor nothing feares,
Though all the host assaulted him alone,
And all the rescues and supplies were gone.

The valiant King defends him on his feet,
Bathing his blade long time in en'mies blood,
But vertue that with too much force doth meet,
Must yeeld at last, it cannot be withstood;
Lo him here prisner, lo how in a fleet
He passeth into Spaine the salt sea flood,
Whence Vasto doth the chiefest honour bring,
Of the field wonne, and of the prisner king.

Thus both that host the king had thither brought,
And that he meant to Naples to haue sent,
Were both dispersed quite, and came to nought,
Much like a lampe when all the oile is spent.
Lo how the King againe so well hath wrought,
He leaues his sons for pledge, and homeward went,
Lo how abroade he doth new quarrels pike,
Lo how at home some do to him the like.

Lo here the wofull murders and the rapes,
That Rome doth suffer in the cruell sacke,
Where neither thing prophane nor holy scapes,
But all alike do go to spoile and wracke:
The league that should relieue, sits still and gapes,
And where they should step forward, they shrinke backe:
Thus Peters successor by them forsaken,
Is straight besieged, and at length is taken.

The King sends Lautrek, new supplies to gather,
Not that he should to Lombardie do ought,
But that he might set free the holy father,
That to so low an ebbe so soone was brought:
But Lautrek should haue come a little rather,
The Popes own coyn hath his own freedom bought,
Lautrek attempts to conquer Naples towne,
And soone turnes all that country vpside downe.

Lo how a faire Imperiall nauie bends
His course to succor the distressed towne,
But Doria backe with heaue and ho them sends,
And some of them doth burn, and some doth drown:
Lo, fickle fortune once againe intends
To change her cheare, and on the French to frowne,
With agews, not with swords they all are slaine,
Scarce of an hundred one turnes home againe.

These and such stories had the stately hall,
In marble rich ingraued on the skreene,
As were too tedious to recite them all,
Though then by them they were perusd and seene;
Their wonder great, their pleasure was not small,
And oft they read the writings were betweene,
That in faire Roman letters all of gold,
The circumstance of eu'ry picture told.

Now when the Ladies faire and all the rest,
Had seene and askt as much as they desired,
Their host doth bring them to their roomes of rest,
Where sleepe renews the strength of bodies tired,
Onely Duke Ammons daughter could not rest,
Though bed were soft, room warm, and wel attired,
Yet still she tost from left side to the right,
And could not sleepe one winke all that same night.

With much ado her eyes at last she closed,
Not much afore the dawning of the day,
And as she slept, she in her sleepe supposed
Rogero present was, and thus did say,
My deare, what ailes thee to be thus disposed,
That false beleefe in thee doth beare such sway?
First shall the riuers to the mountaines clime,
Ere I will guiltie be of such a crime.

Beside she thought she heard him thus to say,
Lo I am come to be baptizd, my loue,
And that I seemd my comming to delay,
Another wound, and not a wound of loue,
Hath bene the cause of my constrained stay,
Suspitions vaine, and causlesse feare remoue:
With this the damsell wakt, and vp she started,
But found her dreame, and louer both departed.

Then freshly she doth her complaints renew,
And in her mind thus to her selfe she spake,
Lo what I like, are dreames vaine and vntrue,
And in a moment me do quite forsake;
But ah, what me offends is to to true,
I dreame of good, but none I find awake,
How are mine eyes alas in so ill taking,
That closd see good, and nought but euill waking?

Sweet dreame did promise me a quiet peace,
But bitter waking turneth all to warre;
Sweet dreame deluded me, and soone did cease,
But bitter waking plagues, and doth not arre:
If falshood ease, and truth my paines increase,
I wish my selfe from truth I still might barre,
If dreames breed ioy, and waking cause my paine,
Ay might I dreame, and neuer wake againe.

Oh happie wights whom sleepe doth so possesse,
As in six months you neuer open eye,
For sure such sleepe is like to death I guesse,
But waking thus, is not like life (thinke I)
How strange are then the pangs that me oppresse,
That sleeping seeme to liue, and waking die?
But if such sleepe resemblance be of death,
Come death and close mine eies, and stop my breath.

Now were those Easter parts of heau'n madered,
Where Phoehus beames do first begin appeare,
And all the thicke and rainie clouds were fled,
And promised a morning faire and cleare:
When Bradamant forsooke her restlesse bed,
And giuing for her lodging and good cheare,
Right curteous thanks vnto her noble host,
She leaues his house, and minds to part in post.

But first she found how that the damsell faire,
The messenger that supt with her last night,
Was gone before, with purpose to repaire
To those three knights that lately felt her might,
When she did cause them caper in the aire,
Driu'n without stirrops from their steeds to light,
She found they had all night to their great paine,
Abid the wind, the tempest and the raine.

And that which greatly did increase their griefe,
Was that while those within had cheare great store,
They and their horse lackt lodging and reliefe:
But that which did offend their stomacks more,
And was indeed of all their sorrows chiefe,
Was least the maid (of whom I spake before)
Would tell their mistresse of their hard mischance,
They had at their arriuall first in France.

And hauing full resolued and designd,
To die or venge the foile receau'd last night,
To th'end the messenger might change her mind,
(The messenger that Vilania hight)
Who thought their force and valew farre behind
The vaunts that they had made of their great might,
Therefore as soone as Bradamant they spied,
Straight each of them to combat her defied.

Not thinking though she should a damsell be,
For of a damsell gesture none she vsed;
The Ladie gently spake vnto them three,
And thought her hast the fight might haue excused,
But they did vrge her still so farre, that she
Without disgrace could not haue it refused;
Wherefore she coucht the golden headed launce,
And from their saddles made them all to daunce.

And for that time thus ended was that fray,
For she sets spurs to horse, and rode so post,
That ere they rose, she quite was gone away:
They that their seats had twise togither lost,
Were so ashamd they knew not what to say:
For why, they wonted were to make their bost,
No knight of France should able be to stand
Against the worst of them, with speare in hand.

But Vllania further them to taunt,
That Bradamant a Ladie was, them told,
Now sirs (said she) you that were wont to vaunt,
From Pālladins to win the shield of gold,
Lo how a womans forces can you daunt,
Now is (I hope) your loftie courage cold:
Sure for those knights you be too weake a match,
When one poore damsell you can ouermatch.

What need (said she) be furder triall had,
You haue alreadie that for which you came,
Except that any of you be so mad,
To ioyne a future losse, to present shame;
Or if perhaps ye would be faine and glad,
To end your liues by men of worthy fame:
Trow you that vanquisht are by womans hand,
Renaldo or Orlando to withstand?

Now when as Vllanie declared had,
How that a damsell them had ouerthrowne,
With griefe and with disdaine they were so mad,
That scarse their wits and senses were their own:
Each one himselfe, of armour all vnclad,
Their horse turnd loose, their swords away were throwne,
And vowd for penance of so great, disgrace,
To tuch no armour in a twelue-months space.

They further vow they ne're will ride againe,
No not when that same yeare should be expired,
Although the way were mountany or plaine,
And though the way were grauelly or myred,
Vntill they could by force of arms regaine
Such horses, as for seruice are required,
And furniture for three such champions meet;
Till then they vowd to trauell on their feet.

Thus wilfully they walkt while others rode,
But Bradamant went on, and that same night,
She at a castle maketh her abode
Neare to the way that leads to Paris right:
Heare by her host, the Ladie faire was showd,
How Agramant was vanquisht in the fight:
Good meat, good lodging, and good news she had,
Yet eat she not, nor slept, nor was she glad.

But now of her so much I must not say,
That I forget my storie out to tell,
Of those two knights that met this other day,
And tyde their horses at the running well:
No lands nor townes were causes of their fray,
Nor who in rule nor office should excell,
But eu'n that he that strongest was of twaine,
Should Bayard win, and Durindana gaine.

There needs no signe of war, nor trumpets sound,
To warne them when to strike or when to pawse,
No Heralds need to limit out the ground,
Nor reade them lectures of their warlike laws.
They met as they by promise firme were bound,
And each his weapon at one instant draws,
And then they layd about them strong and nimble,
Blows bred their smart; and smart their wrath did kindle.

Two blades more firme in triall, and more sure,
Could not in all the world haue bin prepard,
That hauing beene as these were, put in vre,
Would not haue bene in peeces burst and mard:
But both these blades were of such temper pure,
So keene, so tough, and there withall so hard,
They might a thousand times at hard-edge met,
And neither blade thereby a gap would get.

Renaldo quick, hither and thither goes,
And often time was forst to change his place,
And trauerse ground, for why the weight he knows
Of Durindana, that would cut a pase:
Gradasso euer gaue the stronger blows,
But tother still to scape them had the grace;
Or if they hit, they hit in some such part,
Where though they made great sound, they causd no smart.

Renaldo with lesse strength but far more art,
Strake once or twise the Pagan on the arme,
And with a thrust had surely pierst his hart,
Saue that his armour strenghtned was by charme,
So that no maile out of his place would start:
But while each sought to do the other harme,
A sodaine noyse did part their earnest quarrell,
They lookt and saw Bayardo in great parell.

I say they lookt about and spide at length,
Bayardo fighting with a monstrous fowle,
Bigger then he, her beak three yards of length,
In other shape and making like an owle,
Her tallents huge and sharpe, and of great strength,
The feathers of her wings all blacke and foule,
Her eyes like fire, a long and hideous taile,
Her wings so huge, they seemed like a saile.

Perhaps it was a fowle, but I thinke not,
Nor euer heard I erst of such a bird,
Onely so Turpin cals it well I wot,
If any will credit to him afoord:
Rather I deeme that Malagigi got
Some sprite infernall, that himselfe had sturd,
To come in shape as I did shew before,
Because the champions fierce, might fight no more.

Reynaldo eake himselfe beleeu'd the same,
And with his cousin Malagige fell out,
And to his charge laid not a little blame,
And gaue him euill language thereabout,
The tother sware by him that heau'ns did frame,
It was not he, to put him out of doubt,
But were it fowle, or were it a foule deuill,
Certaine to Bayard it did worke much euill.

The horse that was puissant, brake his raine,
When as the sharpnes of her claws he feels,
And what wish terrour mou'd and what with paine,
He yerketh at her fiercely with his heels:
She soard aloft and downe she comes againe,
And striks him so, that Bayard almost reels,
And sith of other fence no meane he had,
He runs away as if he had bin mad.

Vnto the nearest wood he right doth runne,
And still the feathered beast him held in chase,
Till the thicke boughs holp him her gripes to shun,
So that she gaue him ouer in short space,
And seeing that her sport with him was done,
She sored vp on high and left this place,
And to another coast her flight doth frame,
Where as she thought to find some other game.

Gradasso and Renaldo when they saw,
The horse was fled that caused all the fray,
Do by consent themselues from thence withdraw,
To find Bayardo out and if they may:
But first each promist to obserue this law,
That he that found him first of both, should stay
At this same well, till tother should come thither,
And then againe to fight it out togither.

Thus when each had his word to th'other past,
That they would meet there at their coming backe,
They after go, but Bayard ran so fast,
As soone they lost the sight of any tracke:
Gradasso rode and therefore made more hast;
The Palladine that his good horse did lacke,
Remaind behind, all sad and grieued more,
And malcontent then ere he was before.

And when he traueld had about in vaine,
In body wearie, discontent in minde,
With losse of all his trauell and his paine,
He turneth to the place they first assignde,
In hope the tother would returne againe,
And bring the horse, if so he could him finde:
But when he saw his looking did not boot,
He traueld backe vnto the campe on foot.

But yet Gradassos paine succeeded well,
For why, a while afore the lights decaying,
He passed neare the place, as it befell,
Where in a caue he found him by his naying,
Still fearing that same monstrous impe of hell:
He takes him thence, and then but little waying
His promise made, he turnes another way,
And to himselfe in secret thus doth say.

Let them that list hold things in strife and war,
I meane to hold mine owne with peace and ease,
Onely to get this horse, I came so far,
And past so many lands, and many seas:
My promise breach to me shalbe no bar,
To keepe that I so quietly do sease;
If he desire to win his horse againe,
To come to India let him take the pain[…].

As safe as France hath bin for me now twise,
So safe for him shalbe my Serycane,
I thither wish him come if he be wise,
Else of Bayardo now his leaue is tane:
If he will haue him he shall know the prise,
Now mine Bayardo is and Durindane:
This sayd, he mounted on the steed so warly,
And by another way went backe to Arly.

Where finding ships new riggd, to sea-ward bent,
Though then at anker in the harbour lying,
With those rich spoils, to passe the seas he ment,
In all post hast into his country hying:
Hereafter you shall heare which way he went,
And of his last conflict and of his dying:
Now him I leaue, Renaldo and all France,
And tell you what did to Astolfo chance.

Who mounted on his stately winged steed,
Well tamed late by Logestillas wit,
Tooke perfect vew of France with passing speed,
And saw how eu'rie towne of worth did sit,
Which hauing well obseru'd, and markt with heed,
From Rhine to Pyren mount, he thought it fit,
In manner like, all ouer Spaine to ride,
And many countryes of the world beside.

To Aragon he passed through Nauar,
Each man that saw him wondring at the sight,
Then Taracon he did dicery not far
Vpon his left hand, Biskie on his right,
Where Castill, Lisbon, and Galicia are,
And Cordoue neare, and Siuill see he might,
Which diuers crownes now ioyned in on raigne,
Are gouernd by the mightie king of Spaine.

There saw he Gades where erst by Hercles hand,
Two pillars, markes for Marriners were plast,
Then ouer Atlant sea, to Egypt land,
And ouer Affrica forthwith he past,
And saw where Balearick Iles do stand,
Then traueld to Euiza with like hast,
And to Arzilla ward he thence departeth,
Quite ore that sea, that it from Spagna eparteth,

Oran he saw, Ippon, Marocco, Fesse,
Algier, Buzea, and those stately townes,
Whose Princes with great pompe and pride possesse
Of diuers Prouinces the stately crownes,
He saw Byserta, and Tunigi no lesse,
And flying ouer many dales and downes,
He saw Capisse and Alzerbee Ile,
And all the Cities to the flood of Nyle.

Tripolie, Bernick, Tolomit, and all
Betweene the sea and Atlas woodie sides,
Then on the Cereneys he right doth fall,
And past Carena mounts, and more besides;
Then crossing ou'r the barren fields and pall,
Where sands with wind do eb and flow like tides,
The tombe of Battus he doth leaue behind,
And Ammons temple now worne out of mind.

Then came he by another Tremisen,
That followes eke of Mahomet the law,
Vnto another Ethyopia then
He went, the which before he neuer saw,
That differs both in language and in men:
From thence he toward Nubia then did draw,
Dobada and Coallee iust betweene,
Of which these Christend, and those Turkish beene.

The bord'rers still are armd in heate and cold,
Senapo yet of Ethyop is the chiefe,
And hath great store of iewels and of gold,
And much he varies not from our beliefe;
For he those principles most firme doth hold,
That can defend from euerlasting griefe:
Here is it (if mine author be no her)
Where they do vse to be baptizd with fier.

The Duke here lighted after trauell long,
And to Senapos stately Court was led;
The castle was more sumptuous then strong,
And admiration more then terror bred;
The locks, barres, chaines, and all that did belong
Vnto the bridge and gates from foote to head,
Which we make here of iron to endure,
Was there faire wrought in massie gold most pure.

And though they haue great store of mettals fine,
Yet were the chambers and the lodgings here
Borne vp with cristall collumns, that did shine
All ou'r the stately court most bright and cleare;
A stately border causd vnto the eine
Red, white, greene, blew, and yellow to appeare,
Enriched with diuisions for the nones,
Of Rubie, Smarag, Zaphyr, Topas stones.

Most orient pearls and gems of passing price,
Were sprinkled on the pauements here and there,
Hence balme doth come hence other precious spice,
Which from Ierusalem men wont to beare;
Hence commeth muske, for odours sweet and nice,
And amber pure, that some in bracelets weare;
And finally all things grow there in plentie,
That in this country are esteemd most deintie.

Most true it is, else some haue written lies,
The Sowdan to this King doth tribute pay,
For that in this Kings powre alone it lies,
Great Cayre and fertile Egypt to decay,
Because that by those meanes he may deuise,
He may turne Nyle from them another way:
This Prince Senapo there is cald of many,
We call him Prester Iohn or Preter Iany.

Of all the Kings that euer there did raigne,
This King exceld in riches and in treasure,
But losse of sight made all his comforts vaine,
And bard him eu'ry tast of worldly pleasure,
And this did much increase his care and paine,
And grieued him indeed beyond all measure,
That all his wealth and treasure not preuented,
But that with famine he was ay tormented.

For when this Prince, as hunger meere him drew,
Did but prepare himselfe to drinke or eate,
Straight of Harpias came a cursed crew,
With mightie wings, huge pawes, and bellies great,
And all the dishes quite they ouerthrew,
And greedily deuoured all the meate;
And that they left they did so file and slauer,
As few could brooke the sight, but none the sauer.

The cause was this, why his great plague was such,
Because in youth (when men most carelesse are)
Finding himselfe to be extold so much,
And passing other Kings in wealth so far,
So foule a pride his loftie heart did tuch,
Against his maker, he would needs moue war,
To which intent a mightie powre he led,
Vnto that mount whence Nylus hath his hed.

He had bene told, and did it firme beleeue,
That on that mount, whose top did touch the skie,
Was that same place where Adam dwelt and Eue,
Before their fall did cause them thence to flie:
He hoping some rare conquest to atchiue,
A mightie host prepared by and by,
With mind (so hie his heart with pride did swell)
To make them tribute pay that there did dwell.

But high Iehoua, their foule pride represt,
And downe he sent his Angell that same night,
Who slue an hundred thousand for the least,
And him condemnd for ay to loose his sight;
Then sent he monsters vile him to molest,
Those vgly monsters, that Harpias hight,
Which so deuoure and so spoyle all his meate,
Scarce they permit him once to drinke or eate.

And that which draue him into meere despaire,
Was that one told by way of prophecie,
How those foule creatures euer should repaire
Vnto that place, till time they might espie
A gallant knight all armed in the aire,
Vpon a winged beast aloft to flie:
And for that this vnpossible he deemed,
Past hope of helpe, himselfe he then esteemed.

Now when the people saw from eu'ry wall,
And from each towre the strangely flying knight
He happie thought himselfe, that first of all
Could tell the king of this vnused sight;
Who straight the prophecie to mind did call,
And with the sudden ioy, forgetting quite
His trustie staffe, went groping with his hand.
To welcome him that now came downe to land.

Astolfo being lighted, nearer drew,
And as he was the great court entring in,
Behold the King stood ready in his vew,
And kneeling downe, to speake did thus begin,
O heau'nly Angell, ô Messias new,
Though I deserue not pardon for my sin,
Yet thinke to vs is proper to offend,
To you, to pardon those that wil amend.

My guilt so heauie on my conscience lies,
I dare not sue thou shouldst my sight restore,
Though wel I wot that thou couldst heale mine eies
That art of those that ay stand God before,
Let then this plague my want of sight suffice,
And let me not be steru'd thus euermore,
At least from me these filthy monsters driue,
And let me eate with quiet while I liue.

And I do vow a temple vnto thee,
Of marble faire to build here in this place,
Whose gates and couer all of gold shall be,
Adornd with costly iewels in like case,
Nam'd by thy name, and grau'd that men may see
Thy miracle, which no time shall deface:
Thus saith the prostrate King that nothing sees,
And gropes to haue embrast Astolfos knees.

The Duke to him thus friendly doth reply,
Nor Angell I, nor new Messias am,
Nor come from heau'n, but mortall man am I,
And thrall to sinne, vnworthy so high name;
But for your sake, my best skill I will trie,
To kil or driue those fowle from whence they came,
Which if I do, giue God, not me the praise,
That for your helpe did hither guide my wayes.

For him your Churches and your altars make,
That must of dutie, Church and altars haue:
This said, he vp from ground the King doth take,
And went with him and other Barons graue:
Straightways of meate prouision new they make,
For so the hungry King in hast doth craue,
In hope that now the monsters would be quiet,
And not to interrupt him at his diet.

Forthwith a sumptuous dinner was prepard,
In stately sort great store and of the best,
Senapo hopes Astolfo can him guard
From those foule fowles that did him so molest;
But lo a sodain noise forthwith was heard,
The sent of those same viands that were drest,
Had brought them thither ere the men were able
To set downe all the dishes on the table.

Of them came seu'n together in a knot,
With womans faces, wan with deadly cold,
So hungerstaru'd, as death it selfe might not
Be at first sight more hideous to behold,
Their wings were great, but foule blacke wings God wot,
Their talents sharpe to gripe, but strong to hold,
A large foule paunch, a filthy taile and long,
From whence there came an odour mightie strong.

As sodaine heard, so sodaine were they seene,
For on the table all at once they fell,
And spoild the meat, and from their wombs vncleen
Cast loth some filth to see, irksome to smell:
The Duke with blade of mettall sharpe and keene,
Strikes at the monsters, thinking them to quell;
But all in vaine, his bootlesse blade turnd backe,
As he had smitten on a wollen sacke.

Some rau'nously deuour'd the sweet repast,
And did so eager fill their greedie gorge,
That by and by they were compeld as fast,
The same in beastly manner to disgorge:
The wofull King thinks now all succour past,
Till good Astolfo sware by sweet Saint George,
Sith force was vaine, he would another way,
To driue these monsters from the king assay.

The horne, which euer he about him beares,
He meanes against these monsters to employ,
He causd the King and his to stop their eares
With molted waxe, that no noise them may noy,
Else might his blast haue bred in them such feares,
To driue them thence, and all the land destroy;
Then causd he them prepare another feast,
An vp he gets him on his winged beast.

The steward that did know his mind by signes,
Straightwayes another dinner doth addresse,
With store of daintie meates and costly wines,
But in a trise more soone then one could guesse,
The filthy flocke, as famine them inclines,
Came downe and seasd vpon the costly messe;
But straight Astolfo blew them such a blast,
As on the sodaine made them all agast.

The noise into their open eares so entered,
That had no meanes to stop them nor defence,
As so their stomacks and their tasts distempered,
They fled, as feare expeld all other sence;
The English Duke to follow them aduentered,
And winding still his horne, he chast them thence,
To that hils foote, whence Nylus first doth fall,
If so that Nyle haue any head at all.

About the bottome of this mightie mount,
There is a caue descending like a well,
By which (as dwellers by do oft recount)
A speedie passage one may haue to hell;
To this the monsters fled, and made account
Within this caue safe from the noise to dwell,
Which seene, Astolfo from his beast alighted,
And ceast the blowing that them so affrighted.

And for he did with heed the caues mouth marke,
He nearer doth approch vnto the same,
And with a listning eare he then doth harke,
If any sound from thence vnto him came;
The entrance lookt all like a dungeon darke,
With smoke that seemd to come from smothered flame:
But more of this hereafter I will treat,
For now this booke begins to be too great.