whereupon the King commanded that lots ſhould be caſt, which fell upon his own daughter, the beauteous Celeſtine, whoſe heart was already fired with the love of the heroic champion; and, therefore, on her bare knees, earneſtly begged his life of her father, which with much ado, he granted, but for ever baniſhed him the land, and departing a little ſpace, out of the love he bore to Celeſtine, who had preſerved his life, he ventured again. diſcolouring his face and hands, and remaining dumb that he might not be known, at laſt got an opportunity to diſcover himſelf, and obtaining her conſent to go along with him in the dead time of the night, mounted her on his ſteed (which he ſhoed backward to prevent purſuit) and after many dangers narrowly eſcaped, at laſt they happily arrived in Spain.
C H A P. V.
The noble Champion, St. Anthony of Italy having (after leaving the other ſix Champions travelled over many hills and dales, woods and foreſts, came at laſt into the country of Thrace, where, upon the top of an high mountain, ſtood an impregnable caſtle, wherein lived a terrible giant, named Blonderon, that had over the principal gate of his caſtle theſe verſes written:
What Champion to this Caſtle doth repair,
Here lives a Giant bold within this place,
Who pris'ners keeps ſeven virgins chaſte and fair,
Daughters to the noble King of Thrace.
All theſe who with this Giant fierce will fight,
Shall have a Virgin's prayers day and night.
Thirſt of glory and honourable renown, ſo fired the breaſt of the noble Champion, that he thundred at the gate with the pummel of his ſword as loud as the cyclops when they formed the armour of Achilles; the giant being rouſed at this terrible noiſe, came running
