The king of Thunise had a daughter faire.
Whose beauties brute through many countries ran:
This Lady was her fathers only heire,
Which made her loude and likt of eury man,
But most of all the king of Granate than,
Began to loue, who for he was a king,
By little sute, this match to cloth did bring.
The promise past betweene these noble states,
They rested nought, but onlie her conuey
In safetie home, for feare of rouing mates,
Who would perhaps assault them by the way:
Wherefore the king Cicils pledge they pray
Who gane his word and Gantlet from his hand,
Not to be vext by any of his land:
Away they went, the ships forsooke the shore,
And held their course to Granate warde amaine,
When sodeinly Gerbino (who before
Had lovde the Queene, and did his match disdaine)
With Galies came this royall prize to gaine:
The fight was fierce, a cruell battaile grewe,
BuThe at length most likelie to subdue.
When Sarizens saw the force of blooddie foe,
And that they must surrender vp the dame,
Maugre their might, and needs their charge forgo:
What for despite, and what for verie shame,
And partly to discharge themselues of blame,
They kild the Queene, Gerbino looking on,
And threwe her out, for fish to feed vpon
To venge which deede, and cursed cruell acte,
He slue them all, not leauing one aliue,
With fire and sword the Sarizens he sackt,
For that they durst so stoutlie with him striue,
And did his loue of life and light depriue
Yet backe againe to Cicill Ile retyrde,
Missing the marke which he had long desyrde.
When newes was brought vnto the aged king
The Grandsire, how his nephew willfullie
Had broke the league, and done a heinous thing,
Committing spoile, and shamefull Piracie:
Although he loude Gerbino tenderlie,
Yet did adiudge him to the death, because
He did prefer his lust before the lawes.