they downe together and she proceeded on this manner I entreate yee Sir to resolue me if you knowe a Knight that is named Amadis Why aske ye Lady quoth hee Because replyed shee all the guard you found in this Castle was appointed for him and assure your selfe if hee entred heere hee neuer should depart hence againe if first hee denyed not a promise that he made What was it answered Amadis I wil tel ye Sir said she on this condition that with your vttermost indeauor you will cause him to acquite it either by Armes or otherwise by reason hee hath not done it iustly In sooth Madame quoth hee if Amadis hath promised any thing wherein hee is to bee touched I will if I can cause him to discharge it Shee who vnderstood not to what ende hee thus spake answered as followeth I heartily thank ye Sir wherefore vnderstand that Amadis promised Angriote a Estraâ—aâ—s how hee would procure his Ladies liking to him and yet shee neuer could loue him in all her life this is a matter against all right seeing forced affection is no loue but dolour and misery then according to your promise you must labour to cause Amadis reuoke this vnreasonable offer Now trust mee Madame replyed the Prince you say right well I will endeauour to make him acquite you These wordes proeured many thankes from her shee not comprehending his meaning heerein for hee hoped to accomplish his promise both to Angriote and her without derogating either to one or other as you hereafter shall vnderstand But Madame saide hee are you shee whom Angriote loueth so Yea truely quoth shee I know him very well answered Amadis that hee is one of the best Knights in the world and one thinkes there is no Lady or Gentlewoman so rich or faire but might thinke herselfe happy and fortunate to haue such a Knight as he Neuerthelesse what I say is 〈◊〉 to exempt my selfe from the promise I made ye for I will perform it if I can because hee is a much better Knight then Amadis albeit he made him that gentle offer CHAP. XXXIII How Amadis combated with the Knight that did steale the Damosell from him when he slept and vanquished him WHile thus they were deuising together there entred another Knight of large proportion and strong all armed except with his helmet and gauntlets who thus spake to Amadis It is tolde me Sir knight that you demaund a Damosell which I brought hither yester night and how I did it against her will but assure your self she would more willingly goe with mee then stay with you therfore you may be ashamed thus to quarrel nor haue I any reason to deliuer her againe to you I would faine see her answered Amadis It must bee then saide the Knight whether I will or no but if you will maintaine that I haue wronged her and she ought not to be mine I presently will approoue the contrarie on your person by combat Thou canst not please mee better quoth Amadis and in this cause will I stand not onely against thee but resolutely against all other that by right she appertayneth not to thee if willingly she gaue not her consent Let vs see then saide the Knight which of vs shall haue her This man of whom we speake was Vncle germaine to Angriotes Ladie named Gasinan shee louing and honouring him aboue all her other kinred for hee was the best Knight of his race wise and discreete so that shee was altogether gouerned by his counsell A goodly horse beeing brought forth for him hee laced on his helmet and stood prouided to enter the combate which Grouenesa the Lady perceiuing she came to her Vncle with these wordes Certes my Lord it were better you should forbeare this difference because I would bee sory any harme should come to either of you in respect you Vncle are the only man of the world whom I am most bound to loue and this knight I haue greatest hope in for he hath promised to deale with Amadis as hee shall acquite the offer made to Angriote What Neece answered Gasinan thinke you that hee or any his like can disswade the most gentle Knight on the earth from accomplishing his promise I know not quoth shee what you imagine of him but I repute him one of the best in the worlde otherwise hee could not haue entered heere by strength of Armes as hee did Say you so replyed Gasinan you praise him ouer much for passing the defended gates when men of such mean account had them in charge I say not this but that hee may be a gentle Knight yet I hope to take him forth a new lessen and a better then he if he were here in witnesse of my wordes your selfe shal presently be iudge seeing him vanquished and my selfe peaceably possessed of the Damosel we quarrell for Herewith the Lady left them and they giuing the spurres to their horses brake their Lances gallantly in the encounter and with such fury met their bodies that Gasinan was dismounted hauing a shrewd fall against the ground yet he arose quickly and drawing his sworde stood by a Marble pillar in the middest of the Court thinking Amadis could there little endomge him being on horse-backe and hee on foote When Amadis sawe how his enemy dallied with him he waxed very angry and striking fiercely at him by mishap his sworde lighted short on the pillar and so was broken in three peeces now grew he into greater choller and seeing in what danger hee was vnprouided of a weapon to desend himselfe withall hee leaped from his horse so quickely as hee could when Gasinan thus spake to him Knight thou seest thy death at hand if thou grant not the Damosell to be mine Nor will I yeelde thereto saide Amadis vnlesse herselfe doe first consent Thou shalt see quoth Gasinan how deere this foolish humor will cost thee With these wordes he deliuered him many sharpe stroakes but Amadis awarded them very cunningly so that the most of them were bestowed in vaine rather wearying his enemy then doing him any harme And so long endured the combate as the beholders were not a little amazed thereat wondering that Gasinan got not the victorie all the while considering what aduantage hee had of the Prince but Amadis concluded with himselfe being thus extreamely handled to hazard rather a speedy conquest then a liugring shame and therefore ranne violently vpon Gasinan getting fast holde about his body so suddenly as he had scant leasure to lift his armes for resistance but was constrained to let fall his sworde and struggle with Amadis who griped him terribly so stroue they to ouerthrow each other But Amadis threw him with such might against the Marble pillar that hee was not able to stirre hand or foot and afterward tabâ—…g vp Gasinans sword brake the buckles of his helmet then catching him by the head hee sayd Knight thou hast offered mee great wrong since my sworde brake â—…ow shall I bee reuenged on theâ—… then
determined to passe further on our way yet for your sake we are content to stay with you this night Then the knight conducted Galaor into a faire Chamber leauing the Damosell among the other Ladies and after the Prince was vnarmed the knight spake to him in this manner Here Sir may you rest and take your ease calling for any thing you stand in neede of for God knows I haue vsed such entertainement not onely to you but to all knights errant that passed this way because some time I haue beene as now you are Yet hath nature giuen mee two Sonnes whose onely delight is in search of aduentures but now they lie sicke in their beds beeing cruelly wounded by a Knight who with one Launce cast them both from their Saddles But they were so ashamed at this foyle as they mounted againe and purfued the knight ouertaking him as hee entred a Barque to passe the water where my Sonnes said to him that in respect he had iousted so well they would trie his fortune in combat with the Sword but the knight made answere he could not now intend it yet would they needes presse him so farre as to hinder his entrance into the Barque Where-upon a Lady being in his company said they wronged her ouer-much to stay her Knight but they were not to depart til he had combated with them at the Sword Seeing it will be no otherwise replied the Lady he shall enter fight with the better of you both on condition that if he be conqueror the other do forbeare the Combat They answered if the one were vanquished the other would reuenge his foyle which when the Knight heard he was so angry as he bad them both come together in respect they were importunate and would not rest contented In the triall one of my sons sustained the worst wherefore his brother seeing him in such perill stroue to reskue him from death yet all was in vaine for the knight handled them so roughly as he left them like dead men in the field and afterward passed away in the Barque No sooner heard I of this mishap but I sent for my Sonnes home were they brought in this daungerous plight but that you may giue credit to my words behold here their Armour cut and mangled as I thinke the like stroakes neuer came from any mans hand Galaor maruailing at this discourse demanded what Armes the conquering knight bare when he was answered his Shield to be of vermilion colour with two black Lions figured therein By these tokens Galaor knew him that it was the same man he trauailed to finde which made him demand of his friendly host if he had no further knowledge of the Knight No verily Sir quoth the auncient Gentleman For this night answered Galaor let vs take our rest and to morrow I intend to seeke the man you talke of For already I haue trauiled foure daies in his search but if I meete with him I hope to reuenge the iniuries of your Sonnes and oâ—… likeâ—… whom he hath offended or else 〈…〉 will cost the price of my life 〈…〉 could rather wish said the Knight that leauing this perillous enter prise you would take some other course seeing my two Sonnes haue beene so hardly intreated their own wilfull folly being cause thereof So breaking off talke Galaor took hir rest till the next morning when taking leaue of the ancient knight he rode away with the Damosell who brought him to the place of passage in the Barque where crossing the water to the other side they came to a very beautifull Castle whither the Damosel rode before aduising the Prince to stay her returne She taryed not long but comming back againe brought another Damosel with her of excellent beauty and ten men beside all on horse-back after the faire Gentlewoman had saluted Galaor she said Sir this Damosell that came in your company telleth me how you seeke a knight who beareth two black Lyons in a vermillion shield and are desirous to know his name this is very certaine that you nor any other can finde him for three yeeres space but onely by force of armes a matter not so easie to be accomplished by you for perswade your selfe his like is not to be found in all the Isles of great Brittaine Lady quoth Galaor yet will I not giue ouer his search although hee conceale him selfe in this sort and if I meete with him it shall like mee better to combate with him then to know my demand by any other way Seeing then answered the Damosell your desire is such I will shew you him within three dayes ensuing for this Gentlewomans sake being my cosin who according to her promise hath earnestly entreated me Galaor requited her with many thankes and so they trauailed on arriuing in the euening at an arme of the Sea where they found a Barque ready for passage to a liule Island and certaine mariners in it who made them all sweare if they had any more then one knight in their coÌ„pany No credit me replied the Damosell hereupon they set sayle and away Then Galaor demanded of the Damosell the reason why they tooke such an oath Because quoth she the Lady of the Isle whither we goe hath so ordained it that they shall let passe but one knight at one time and no other must they bring till his returne or credible intelligence of his death What is hee saide Galaor that vanquisheth or killeth them The selfe same knight you seeke answered the Damosell whom the Lady hath kept with her more then halfe a yeere intirely louing him and the cause of this affection proceedeth from a Tourney which not long since hee maintained in this countrey for the loue of her and another faire Lady whom the knight being a stanger here conquered defending her cause with whome he now is and euer since shee bare him such affection as without grant of his loue she wold haue dyed Sometime hee is desirous to seeke after strange aduentures but then the Lady to detaine him still in this place causeth such knights as come hither to passe one after another against whom he combateth and not one hath yet returned vnuanquished such as die in fight are there interred and the foyled sent back againe despoyled of their horse and armes which the knight presenteth to his Lady shee being one of the fairest creatures in the world named Corisanda and the Isle Brauisande Know you not the cause said Galaor wherefore the knight went not many dayes since to a Forrest where I found him and kept the passage there fifteene dayes together against all such as trauailed that way Yes mary quoth the Damosel he promised a boone to a Lady before he came hither wherfore she intreated him to keep the Forrest for the space of fifteene dayes yet hardly hee got licence of his faire Mistresse who allowed him but a moneth to stay and returne By this time they were landed and come before a goodly Castle where stood a
Damosell as without longer stay she iourned toward Gaule and executed her enterprise whereof heereafter you shall vnderstand more But not to discontinue the purposed voyage of Oriana after that Languines had prouided all things necssary for the same Oriana Mabila their company were imbarqued theÌ„ taking leaue of the King Queene at the sea side they set saile hauing the winde so prosperous as in few daies they landed in great Brittaine where they were all right worthyly wellcommed Heereof doth the author at this time make no more mention because he meaneth to tell ye what happened to the Gentleman of the see hauing left him at the Knights Castell that was vanquished by Galpan in the Damosels charge who attended his wounds which in fifteene daies were almost thorowly healed Notwithstanding despising rest determined to set on his way so that on a Sunday morning taking leaue of his hoste and his gentle Chirurgion he mounted on Horse-backe accompanied onely with Gandalin who neuer would forsake him and not farre from the Castle they entred a great Forrest It was now about the moneth of Apâ—â—ll when the Birdes tune their Notes most pleasantly and that all Trees Herbes and Flowers declare the comming of the Spring time this delightsome change made him remember her who aboue all other flowred in excellent beautie and for whom abandoning his libertie Loue hath taken him captiue so that in these thoghts he thus somewhat loud parled with himselfe Ah poore Gentleman of the Sea without Parents or Lands that thou canst auouch how durst thou lift thy heart so high as to loue her who is beyond all other in beautie bounty and birth Ah wretch as thou art oughtest thou not to consider by these three things wherein she is most perfect the best Kinght in the world may not be so hardy as to thinke of louing her And thou poore vnknowne art wrapt in a labirinth of folly louing and dying not daring to tell it or make shew thereof In this complaint was the Gentleman of the Sea so carryed away as forgetting all other matters hee rode crosse the forrest a long space with his Helmet closed till at length lifting vp his head hee behelde a Knight well mounted in the wood by him who long had kept company to heare his sadde discourse When the knight sawe the Prince had discryed him for that cause held his peace he approched neerer him with these words Beleeue me knight it seems you more loue your Friend then shee doth you when in commending her you dispraise your selfe and for ought I vnderstand by your speeches you are no such man as ought to pretend loue therefore it is necessarie I should know who shee is to the end I may supply your defect and serue her Sir knight answered the Prince you haue some reason for these speeches yet hap what shall you can know no more then you doe and I can assure yee that by louing her you can get no aduantage So doe not I beleeue sayd the knight for a man ought to conceiue glory in trauaile or any danger in the seruice of so faire a Ladie seeing that in the end he cannot but gaine his long looked for recompence wherefore hee that loueth in so high a place as you doe should not be agreeued at any thing that happeneth When the Prince heard him speake so sensibly imagining hee vsed these wordes to comfort him he was of better cheere and came more neere to him to continue this talk but the Knight sayd Keepe yee backe for either by friend-ship or force you must tell mee what I haue demaunded Now trust me answered the Prince it shall not be so Goe too then quoth the knight see what wil happen thereon and defend your selfe With right good will sayde the Prince So gan they lace their Helmets taking likewise their Shieldes and Lances but as they seuered them-selues for the Ioust a Damosell came and spake in this manner Knights I pray you forbeare a while and tell mee one thing before the combate if you can for such is my haste as I haue no leasure to tarry the end of your fight At these words they stayed them-selues demanding of her what she desired I would fame quoth shee heare some news of a Knight called the Gentleman of the Sea And what would you with him said the Prince I haue brought him tydings answered the Damosell from Agraies Sonne to the King of Scotland Attend a little replyed the Prince and I will tell ye so much as I know of him All this time was the Knight of the Forrest ready for the Ioust and much offended at her that came to stay them wherefore hee called to the Prince to gaurd him-selfe giuing him such an attaint in the encounter as his Launce slew in pieces but the Prince met him full as both Horse and Man were thrown to the ground when the Horse being more nimble then his Maister seeing him selfe at libertie ran about the field yet the Prince found the meanes to take him againe and bringing him to the dismounted knight sayd Heere Sir take your Horse and hence-forth desire not to know any thing against a mans will The knight would not refuse his gentlenesse forhe found him-selfe so shaken with his fall as hee could hardly follow to catch him again in meane while he assayed to remount on his Horse the Prince left him comming to the Damosell that stayed for him demaunding if she knew the man she enquired after No truely quoth she I did neuer see him but Agraies told me that he would presently make himselfe knowne so soone as I should say that I came from him He did not deceiue you therein answered the Prince therfore ye must vnderstand I my selfe am the man and with these words he vnlaced his Helmet when the Damosell saw his face she said In truth now doe I verily beleeue it for your beauty I haue heard very much commended Then tell me quoth the Prince where haue you left Agraies Hard by a Riuer not farre hence sayd she where he staieth with his Troupe attending a fit winde for Passage into Gaule and is very desirous before he go any further to know if you will beare him companie With all my heart replyed the Prince ride then before and conduct mee the way So rode he on with the Damosell and in some short time after they came neer the place where Agraies and his Armie were encamped but yet before they arriued there they heard behinde them one cry Stay knight for thou must tell me what I demanded The Prince turning backe behold the knight whoÌ„ he so lately dismounted and another that bare him company wherfore hee stayed to take his Armes Now were they so neere the Prince Agraies Campe and he as they all might see the Tourney hauing a farre off noted the Princes comming maruailing what he was that so gallantly managed his Horse and to say sooth hee was in his time a
where he was drowned and the conquerour rode on which the Halberders seeing presently drew vp the bridge againe after him When the Damosels saw he was thus closed in they cryed out aloud vnto him that he should returne as he was about so to do he espied three other Knights well armed come toward him who very audaciously thus spake Vnhappy was the houre to thee wheÌ„ thou didest passe this bridge for thou shalt dye in this water where he is drowned that was of greater reputation then thou art Here-with they all three together ran against him and met him so firmely as his Horse was like to haue fallen ouer backward yet hauing broken their Launces on him he was at this encounter wounded in two places neuerthelesse one of them he met in such order as his armour vnable to resist the pointe of the Launce pierced through with such violence that the trunchion still remained in his body This done couragiously he drew his sword adressing himselfe to the other twaine and they in like manner against him where-upon began a dangerous Combate betweene them but he with the Lions in his Shield doubting his death laboured so much as he could to ouer-come his enemies giuing one of them such a stroke on the right arme as being cut from the body it fell sword and all to the ground wherefore feeling himselfe thus wounded he galopped with all speed to the Castell crying Helpe my friends helpe your Lord who is in danger of killing When the Knight of the Lions heard that he with whom he must yet deale was the Lord of the Castell he deliuered him such a rigorous blow on the Helmet as made him loose his stirrops and ready to fall had he not got hold about the neck of his Horse in this staggering the Knight of the Lions rent his Helmet from his head and he perceiuing himselfe vnarmed thought to escape by flight as the other did but his enemy got betweene him and the Castell saying Thou art dead if thou yeeld not thy selfe my prisoner Alas answered the amazed Knight I am dead indeede if you please but as you are a Gentleman take pitty on me for I doe yeeld my selfe your vanquished Suddenly the Knight of the Lions looking about espied other Knights and armed men on foote that came in great hast from the castell to succour their Lord wherefore he stepped to his conquered prisoner and holding his sword against his throate said Command thy men to returne else shalt thou presently die Then he who saw his life in such perill cryed to them made a signe with his hand that if they loued him they should returne where-upon they beholding their Lords life at his enimies swords pointe obeyed his command with all possible speed Yet is not this enough said the conquerour cause now the bridge to be let downe which he did and they came both forth on the causey where the Ladyes taried but when the Knight of the Castell beheld them and that one of them was Vrganda the vnknowne Ah my Lord quoth he if you keepe me not from this Lady I am but dead Nay beleeue me answered the Knight that will not I do but rather am to deale with thee as shee shall command me then stepping to Vrganda he said Madame see here the Lord of the Castell what is your pleasure I shall do with him Smiâ—e off his head answered Vrganda if he will not deliuer you my friend whom he keepeth in prisoÌ„ Here-with he lift vp his sword to feare him when the Knight falling on his knee cried Ah my Lord kill me not I will obey whatsoeuer she commandeth Dispatch it quickly then said the Knight of the Lions So caled the Lord to one of the halberders within saying Go to my brother and tell him if euer he intend to see me aliue let him quickly cause the imprisoned Knight to come hither and the Damosel that brought him with her Right soone was the messenger gone on this errand returning immediatly with the Damosell and the Knight to whom the Knight of the Lions thus spake Thanke this Lady who hath done so much for ye and truely great cause you haue to loue her in that she hath taken wonderfull paines to deliuer you from this â—hraldome I do loue her answered the restored Knight and so will continue better then I haue done heretofore But before he could finish these words Vrganda ran and embraced him the like did he to her afterward the conquerour demanded what should be done with her that brought him thither It is necessary that she dy replied Vrgada to let her know the price of so hainous an offence Presently was the poore Damosel so strangely enchanted as she ran skipping ouer the marrish quag-mires and turning backe againe would haue throwne her selfe into the water had not the knight of the Lions intreated Vrganda to pardoÌ„ her trespasse for this time Prouided saide Vrganda that she returne no more to offend me otherwise she shall pay for altogether WheÌ„ the Lord of the Castle saw the Damosell was remitted at his request who ouercame him he thus spake My Lord I haue performed what hath bin commanded therefore I pray ye giue me leaue to depart from her that neuer loued me In sooth answered Vrganda for honor of him by whom you make your suite I am content and you may returne He being gone the Knight of the Lions who yet maruailed by what occasion the Damosell was driuen into that furie asked what moued her so to do Ah my Lord quoth she me thought one came round about me and would haue burned me with a lighted torch therefore to saue my selfe I sought to leape into the water At these words the Knight fell into a laughter saying Your folly hath beene ouer great faire Damosel to worke her ill who knowes how to reuenge it Galaor stood and had seene all these things where-upon he thus spake to the Giant Beleeue me father I very much desire that this worthy man should giue me my order for if King Lisuart be renowned it is for his possessions but this Knight deserues it by his strength and valour I am well content answered the Giant go and request it of him if he deny you the fault is his owne So Galaor went forward accompanied with foure squires and two Damosels when comming to the Knight of the Lions he found him yet vnder the trees At his arriuall he was curteously receiued by the Knight who reputed him one of the most comely Gentlemen that euer he had seene afterward Galaor thus began Gentle Sir I am come to entreat a fauour at your hand Truely answered the Knight if your request be reasonable it will the sooner be granted My suite Sir quoth Galaor is for nothing else but that it might please you to giue me the order of knight-hood and in so doing you shall saue me a great deale of trauaile to king Lisuart to whom I am going for the
from your wonted mellanchollie it may be some hinderance to your determination So they brake off cōmunication and went into the Pauillion where Amadis notwithstanding Gandalins councell could not but shew himselfe pleasantly disposed whereat the Damosels were verie glad because such behauiour better beseemed him then his former pensiuenes When the houre of rest was come each one went to his accusttomed lodging and soone after Amadis seeing the time commodious for his enterprise arose and found Gandalin who had already prepared for their iourney wherefore being armed they mounted on horse-backe taking the most conuenient way for their purpose to the Towne When they came to the Garden which Oriana had before shewed Gandalin they alighted and tied their horsses at a tuft of trees nere adioyning afterward they went through a hole which a water-course had made in the Garden wall and approched the window where Oriana lay faire and softly did Amadis knock thereon with his finger she not yet sleeping who expected his comming and when she heard the louing signall of her friend she awaked Mabila saying Sweete sister I thinke your cosin knocketh at the window My cosin answered Mabila it may be so but you haue greater intrest in him then I or all other of his linage together Mabila presently arose and lighted a waxe taper which she had hid for the nonce when Oriana likewise was got out of bed they came together and opened the casement where they found Amadis no more attending then hec was attended If they were then well pleased it were folly to inquire for all the contentments in the world might not be compared to the ioy of seeing each other And without question they had two inducing reasons thereto for beside the nourishment they receiued together in their yonger yeeres and their first amity continued by the rememberance and good opinion they had of each other their beauty and perfections were so correspondent as if they had neuer seene one another till that very instant yet had they cause enough to loue together Oriana had on such braue attire beseeming the night as set the heart of her loue on fire for vnder a fine dainty white frontlet appeared the rarest golden tresses of haire that euer nature made and about her shoulders she had a mantle of figured cloth of gold imbroidered all ouer with rich and costly flowrets as it might beseeme the greatest Maiestie in the world And for her selfe a thing more faire was impossible to be found the inward conceite of her present comfort decked her face with such a heauenly beauty as it seemed that nature in pride of her art made this piece to excell all other in perfection I will leaue you then to consider on the iudgement of Amadis who when she was nothing so glorious in fairenes thought her worthy the loue of the best Knight in the world now if he stood mute blame him not hauing the only iewell of his heart before him and therefore she to breake off this silence first spake in this manner My Lord if I haue giuen you the liberty contrary to my duty and custome to see me in this place at an houre so vnfitting you must commit the offence to the security which our former nurturing together loyally promised and likewise to the good opinion of your great vertues since that time encreased which hath conquered no lesse fauour in me then honor and renowne in all other places Amadis to auoide further silence thought it better to let his speeches passe at aduenture then by holding his peace to be reputed vnworthy this happines or not so feruently touched with loue as she was to exclude all which doubts he thus replied Madame I account my selfe not so much fauoured by fortune in any thing else as honored at my first entrance into your seruice euen the very highest tipe of grace she could affoord me nor do I feele my selfe so beholding to my vertues as I rest double bound to thē that report so wel of me But when both these benefits shall be excluded yet is my loue and seruice to you so affectionate as they can deserue no lesse then this secret gentlenes and whē you shall allow me more ample courtesie it may command a stricter bond of duty but not affection for that is already so substantially grounded that the vttermost good you can do me is neither able to augment it or the sharpest vnkindnes diminish it I know not whether it be seemely for a man to cōfesse the extremities he hath infinite times endured by this passion the very least griefe I receiued hath beene the losse of rest and banishment of sleepe frō mine eyes and yet to afflict me with greater torment my spirit hath seene in a dreame what it vncessantly desired How many times hath it happened to me in thinking on you to be so cōfounded that such as haue seene me reputed me not only depriued of common since but euen of very life it selfe What moman what child well beaten hath euer powred forth so many teares as I poore Knight haue done yea my very chiefest enterprises huae I sprinckled withall for your sake not as feeling my selfe a happy subiect in loue but rather too little merit of my selfe and much lesse hope This fauour proceeding frō you in deigning to heare me is greater then euer I durst hope for and so farre doth it surmount my passions as I cannot expresse the least part of my ioy my tongue likewise seemeth as vnprofitable ignorant of his office hauing bin so long from seruing me to you But aboue all this impuissance in speech shall on my behalfe testifie to you what all the words in the world cannot deliuer with sufficient truth for as all other beauty in cōparison of yours is nothing so before mine affection al the other habilities of my soule vanish away and become of no reckoning Will you thē good madame with your courtesie supply my insufficiencie and with pittie giue me both life and my selfe and conserue that which else cannot be vnlesse it be yours onely These words vttered Amadis with such interruption of sighes and teares as witnessed he had no intent of feigning but rather knew how to suffer then speake wherewith Oriana moued to compassion thus answered I make no doubt deere friend but you loue me in respect of the pains you haue taken for me as also by what you haue now tolde me and though I should haue no signe thereof by speech or ought else yet am I cōtent to beleeue because my heart hath no other desire but heerein conceiueth greatest contentment And yet the torment I see you in with impacience troubleth my quiet for you being assured by sufficient proues and especially this that I loue ye me thinks you should haue no further cause of so seuere affliction but rather ought to temper your paines in that through the vnion of our spirits I feele no lesse then you do your selfe If
and Amadis sollemnely promised Angriote that he should enioy me as his Wife wherof when I attained knowledg I withdrew my selfe to a Castle of mine where I kept such a strong guarde and custome as it was thought impossible for any strange knight to enter there without licence but that knight comming thither vanquished my guardants and hath vtterly abolished the drift I intended Yet afterward of his owne good will he promised mee to cause Amadis recall his offer to Angriote then chanced an vnhappy combat betweene him and this knight mine Vnckle who being at the latest extremitie of his life at my request he was spared on this condition that on the first day your Maiesty held open Court I should here present my selfe to grant a request he must demand of me To satisfie my promise I am come hither and desire to know what he will command me At which words Amadis stepped forward saying My Lord the Lady hath told ye nothing but truth concerning the seuerall promises at the Combats therefore am I ready here to accomplish that Amadis shall call back his word to Angriote prouided she performe her owne promise On my conscience quoth shee if you effect what you haue said you pleasure me more then you can imagine and to let you know I am ready to fulfill my offer demand what you please for if it be in my power you shall preuaile I request nothing else answered Amadis but that you would accept Angriote as your husband he louing you so deerely as he doth Out alas cryed the Lady what maner of demand is this I wish Madame said Amadis that you would marry with such a one as is well worthy to haue so faire a Lady In sooth knight quoth shee this is not according to the promise you made me I promised nothing replied Amadis but I will performe it for if I stand bound to you to cause Amadis discharge his word to Angriote herein I accomplish it I am Amadis and I reuoke the promise I made him wherein you must needes confesse your selfe satisfyed hee gladly would enioy you as his Wife and I ioyne with him in the same request thus stand I free discharged to you both May it be possible quoth she that you are the man so highly renouned Credit me Lady answered the King this is Amadis Ah wretch that I am said she now do I wel perceiue that art nor cuning can preuent what God hath appointed for I haue done my vttermost to escape Angriote not onely for the euill I wish him disdaining his good and vertuous deserts but carying this resolution that keeping my selfe chast and single I would not bring my liberty into subiection and now when I thought to be furthest from him I am come neerer then euer I intended Lady quoth the King you haue great occasion to reioyce for you being faire and rich he is a yong and braue disposed knight as you are rich in goods and possessions euen so is he in bounty and vertue not onely in deedes of Armes but in all other good qualities beseeming a knight therefore your mariage together is very requisite and I thinke all in this presence are of mine opinion heereupon shee stepped to the Queene saying Madam you are esteemed one of the most vertuous Princesses in the world most humbly I desire your councell what I shall do Faire friend answered the Queene according to the reputation Angriote had gotten among the good he well deserueth not onely to bee aboundant in riches but to bee loued of any Lady he shall chuse Why Lady said Amadis think you not that by accident or affection my promise was made to Angriote for had he compelled me to one of these twaine then might you well haue condemned mee of folly but making tryall of his valour and hardinesse yea to mine owne cost I dare assure ye and knowing likewise his earnest loue to you me thinkes the iustice of the cause commands that not only my selfe but all such as are acquainted with him ought to 〈◊〉 in seeking remedy for you both in him the extreame passions hee endureth through your loue in you by making his restlesse griefes known to you Now trust me Sir quoth shee such prayse haue I heard of your vsage to euery one as I imagine you would not say before such an assembly otherwise then truth wherefore following your counsell as also the pleasure of the King and Queene I will forget my former stubborne opinion and am ready to accomplish what you shall command mee Then Amadis taking her by the hand called Angriote and presenting him his loue said Sir Angriote I promised to do my vttermost in this matter say now is this the Lady you would haue Euen she quoth Angriote is the life and essence of my Soule and I am deuoted to none but her Then here I giue her you replied Amadis on this condition that you shall be forth with married together and continue in honourable loue to her as she deserueth I thanke you my Lord quoth he with all my heart and will obserue your gentle commandement Presently the King called for the Bishoppe of Salerne who conducted them to the Church where they were espoused in the presence of many great Lords Afterward they returned to the Citty and there the wedding was solemnized with great ioy and Triumphs wherefore wee may well say that hot men but God appoynteth mariage who perceiued the honest and continent loue which Angriote euer-more bare to this selfe-willed Lady For albeit hee had her in his custodie neuer did he meane dishonorablie against her but by vertuous cogitations bridled vnlawfull desire onely to expresse how intirely he loued her and by obeying her seueere charge lost his life wel-neare when he combatted with Amadis CHAP. XXXIII How King Lisuart would haue the aduise of his Princes and Lords as concerning his former determination for the high exalting and entertayning of Chiualrie AFter the end of this mariage which by diuersity of opinions caused much talke as commonly it happeneth in such cases the King commanded silence againe by his Herauld when euery one being attentiue to heare what he would say he thus began My friends no one of you is ignorant of the heauenly fauour toward me by appointing me the greatest earthly Lord that liueth this day in the Isles of the Ocean Wherefore I thinke it conuenient that as wee in this countrey are the chiefe so should we be second to no other Prince in rendring immortall thankes by good and vertuous workes whereof we are now minded to determine In this respect I intreate command albeit Kings are the heads of their Monarchies you the members that you would altogether take aduise and giue mee counsell euen from your consciences what you thinke most expedient for mee to do as well for the benefit of my Subiects as also for our estate And I assure ye I am minded to beleeue your opinions as proceeding frō loyall and
kissing her he saide I assure you Madame that for your sake I will stay longer in this Country then you imagine therefore I pray ye be not vnmindfull of this place So arose Elisena and went to her Chamber with Darioletta leauing the king alone not a little contented with his new acquaintance but dreading his dreame as you haue heard and willing to know what it might signifie he became desirous to returne to his owne Country where as then were good store of Philosophers that were well seene in those Sciences himselfe likewise in former times tooke great pleasure therein and vnderstood sundry rules thereof Neuerthelesse he foiourned ten dayes with king Garinter after his sporting with Elisena who neuer a night failed to visit her louely haunt The ten dayes being spent king Perion forcing his will and notwithstanding the teares and intreaties of Elisena which were excessiue resolued to depart and therefore tooke his leaue of the Court but as he wold haue mounted on horsebacke he perceiued that he wanted his good Sword whereat he became somewhat offended because it was one of the best and fairest in the world yet durst he not demand it fearing least the loue of him and Elisena should thereby be discouered or King Garinter angry with them that visited his Chamber In these thoughts accompanied with infinite regrets without longer stay he tooke his way toward Gaule albeit before his departure Darioletta came intreated him to be mindfull of the great griefe wherein he left his Elisena and of the solemne promise he had made her Alas my deere friend saide the King I pray ye to assure her on my parte that she shall haue no cause of offence and that right soone I meane to see her in meane while I commend her to you as mine sowne proper hart Then taking from his finger a Ring sembleble to another that he had he sent it to the desolate louer in treating her earnestly for his sake to giue it her This present did no whit lessen her great greefe but encrease it so that if she had not beene comforted by Darioletta without doubt she had then finished her dayes but so well she perswaded her to take good hope that by the alligations she laid before her of dangerous occurrences she came some-what better to her selfe and learned thence forward more smoothly to dissemble her sorrowe till she felte her selfe great with Childe by meanes whereof she not onely lost the taste of her food but also the pleasure of rest and the faire cullour of her countenance Now on the highest step of mis-hap was her sorrow set and not without cause for in that time was there an inuiolable lawe that any woman or maiden of what quality or estate soeuer offending in such forte could no way excuse her selfe from death This sharpe and cruell custome endured til the comming of the vertuous King Arthur the best Prince that euer raigned in that Country which he reuoked at the time as he killed Floian in battaile before the Gates of Paris But many other Kinges were betweene him and Garinter who maintained that lawe and for this cause the sorrowfull Lady could not be absolued by ignoraunce thereof albeit that by the oathes and promises of King Perion on his Sword God would remit the offence yet knew she not how to excuse her faulte to the worlde because it was done so secretly as you haue heard See here the distresse wherein King Perion left his Elisena which gâ—â—dly she wold giue him to vnderstand if possible she could but it might not be for she knew the promptitude of this yong King that tooke no rest in any place where he came nor was his hart satisfied except in this with following armes as also seeking strange and hazardous aduentures and therefore he was the harder to be found Thus dispairing of this succour she thought there was no remedy for her life for which she made not so much mone as the losse of the sight of her true friend and onely Lord. But at that instant the great and puissant maker of all thinges by whose permssion this act was appointed to his seruice inspired Darioletta with such councell as she onely should remedie these occurrances in such sort as you shall presently vnderstand In the pallace of King Garinter there was a Chamber-vault seperated from the rest neere to which was a riuer whereto one might easily discend by a little Iron dore this Chamber by the aduice of Darioletta did Elisena request of her father as well for her ease as to coÌ„tinue her accustomed solitary life and would haue none other companion then Darioletta who as you haue heard knew the occasion of her dollorous greefes This request she lightly obtained the King thinking his daughters intent to be as she feigned and heereupon was the keye of the Iron dore giuen to Darioletta to open when it pleased Elisena to recreate her selfe on the water By this meane had she a place proper to her affaires and so was in better rest assurance then before for well was she aduised that in this place more commodiously then any other might she prouide to escape with-out danger Wherefore beeing there one day alone with her Damosell they fell in conference she required councell what should be done with the fruite that she trauailed withall What answered Darioletta Mary it must suffer to redeeme you Oh poore maidenly mother saide Elisena how can I coÌ„sent to the death of the creature begoten by the only man of the worlde whome most I loue offend not your selfe quoth Darioletta for if you should dye hardly would it be permitted after you to liue In sooth saide Elisena although I dye beeing culpable it were no reason the little innocent should suffer Leaue we this talke answered Darioletta seeing it were great folly to hazard the safety of that which hereafter may be the onely cause of your losse and your friend likewise for well you knowe that if you be discouered you shall dye and the infant shall not liue you dying no longer can he liue that so deerely loueth you So shall you alone cause the death of all three where contrarywise if you escape the perill the time will come when you may haue together children enow which will make you forget the affection you bare to this first And as this Damosell was thus inspired so would she before hand seeke to preuent the inconuenience in this manner She got foure little boards of such largenes as was necessary to make a Chest wherein to put the infant with the clothes the Sword which she kept then did she giue them together in such sorte as the water should haue no place to enter This beeing done made fit she put it vnder the bed without declaring any thing there-of to Elisena vntil the time of child-birth approched and then Darioletta saide What thinke ye Madame this little Cofer is made for In good faith I know not quoth
Vngan the Piccard the most experte of them all thus answered My Lord dreames are vaine thinges and for such ought to be esteemed notwithstanding seeing it is your pleasure that some account should be made of yours giue vs some time to consider thereon It liketh me wel said the king within 12 daies look that you make ine answer But to the end they should not disguise or coâ—ceale the truth from him he câ—â—sed them to be sepereted so that during the time agreed vpon they might neither see to speake together wherefore to their vttermost they trauailed in what they had promised the King so that the day being come when they should render an occompt of their labour he first tooke Albert of Champaigne aside and said to him Thou knowest how thou hast sworne and promised to tell me what thou hast found by thy skill Sir answered Albert let then the rest be called into your presence for before them will I tel ye Well hast thou aduised said the King whereupon they were sent for afterward Albert thus began My opinion is my Lord that the closed Chamber and him whom you saw enter by the secret dore signifieth this Realme which is close well guarded notwithstanding by some right thereto some one shall come to take it from you And like as he thrust his handes into your sides renting forth thence your hart and afterward threw it into the Riuer euen so shall your Townes and Castles both more lesse be priuily stolen from you and put into his hand from whom you shall not easily recouer them And what meaneth the other hart said the King which I dreamed should remain with me and yet he said that soone after I should lose it against the will of him that took the first from me It seemeth by this answered Albert that some other shall inuade your Country as the first did yet constrained more by force of another that commanded him to do so then by any will thereto in himselfe thus see ye my Lord all that I can tell ye Now said the king to the second named Antalles tel vs your aduise Me thinkes Sir quoth he that Albert hath very well saide and I am of his opinion except in this for ought I can learne as the cause sheweth me that what he saith shall happen is already effected by the person that most loueth ye notwithstanding I am greatly amazed thereat seeing there is not as yet any part of your Realme lost if you do loose any thing hereafter it must be by such a one as loueth you deerely When the king heard this he nodded his head for it seemed to him that he came neere the marke but Vngan the Piccard who knew much more theÌ„ the other fel into a laughter which he was sildome wont to doe because he was a man very sad and melancholly yet by chance the King perceiued it wherefore he said Maister Vngan my friend now remaineth none but you say boldly what you haue gathered My Lord quoth he peraduenture I haue seene into things which is not necessary to be knowne to any other then your selfe therefore let these giue place a while if you please At these words they with-drew themselues leauing the King and Vngan alone who thus spake If your Maiesty saw me ere while to laugh it was at one word which little you thinke on yet it is true and will you know what It was that which Antalles said that what he found by your dreame was already happened by the person that best loueth ye Now shall I reueale what you keepe in secret and thinke that none knowes but your selfe You loue my Lord in such a place where you haue already accomplished your will and she whom you loue is surpassing faire then tolde he all the gests and fashions of her as if she had bene there present But as for the chamber you found shut you know Sir full well what it meaneth and how she whome you loue desirous to deliuer her heart and yours from griefe and sadnesse came to ye entring your chaÌ„ber by the false dore that was hid from you The hands that opened your sides is the conuinction of you twaine then the heart taken from ye sheweth that she hath by you a Son or a Daughter Now tell me said the King what meaneth the casting thereof into the Riuer My Lord quoth he that nothing concerneth you therefore neuer labour for further knowledge thereof Yet would I said the King faine vnderstand it and therefore feare not to tell me for any harme that may happen Seeing you will needes haue it answered Vngan I beseech ye Sir assure me while you liue for any thing that I shal reueal you wilnot be displeased with her who loueth you so loyally That promise do I faithfully make thee said the King In good sooth Sir quoth Vngan that heart that you saw throwen into the water is the first infant she shall haue by you who must of necessity be forsaken And the other said the King that shall remaine with me what meaneth that You may answered Vngan vnderstand by the one desseigne of the other which is that she shall conceiue another childe who shall be caryed away against the will of her that caused the losse of the first Thou hast told me strange things said the King and would God the mis-fortune of my Children were not so true as what thou hast told me concerning the Lady I loue For things ordeined and appoynted by the highest answered Vngan none knoweth how to gaine-say or remedy and therefore men of wisdome should neuer be sad or reioyce at them because oftentimes the Lord disposeth matters beyond the capacity of men farre otherwise then they expect For this cause my Lord forgetting all that I haue said and which you haue bin so curious to vnderstand referre all things to God desiring him in these your affaires and all other to limit the end of them to his honor and glory and thus in mine opinion you ought to set downe your rest The King was highly contented with Vngan and so esteemed of him that from theÌ„ce forward he had him neere his person by meanes whereof he receiued many great fauours Now it happened that at that instant as the king parted from the Philosophers a Damosell presented her selfe before him right costly in garments and faire in beauty thus speaking Vnderstand King Perion that when thou recouerest thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland shall loose her flower So giuing her Palfrey the bridle and the King not able to stay her she rode away these wordes made the good Prince more sad pensiue then he was before For this time the Auther leâ—… ueth this purpose returneth to speake of the infant that Gandales caused to be nourished whom he made to be called the Gentleman of the Sea Now was he curiously entertained wherefore in short time he grew and became so faite that all which
deseruing toward you that I account my selfe vnworthy to request any thing of you but I should thinke I were happy if I had the meane to obey you or that it would please you to cōmand me What said shee haue you so base a mind such smal estimatiō of your selfe Madame answered he in what sort soeuer it be I haue no forces at all but such as haue left me in great desire to serue you for my hart is altogether yours and can receiue nothing but from you Mine quoth Oriana and since when Since the time it pleased you Madame replied the Prince And when was it quoth she that it pleased me At that time answered the Prince when the king your father left you in this Country if you remember and when the Queene presented me to you saying I giue you this Gentleman to serue you and at that time you accepted me as yours when you answered that you were well contented Then was I giuen to you and yours onely I reputed my selfe so that I haue no authoritie ouer my selfe Certes said Oriana you tooke her words to better end then at that time she meant them which I take in good part and am content it shall be so No sooner had she thus said but the Prince was ouercome with such ioy as he had no power to answer Oriana perceiuing it made no shew thereof but said she would goe to the queene to doe what he had desired and returned soone after telling him that her griefe was for the Queene of Gaule her sister because the King of Ireland so oppressed her country So please you Madame answered the Prince if I were Knighted I gladly would go succor her with your leaue And without my leaue quoth Oriana will ye not goe Not for death said he for without your gracious fauour my conquered hart can haue no force or vertue in any perill At these words Oriana smiled saying Seeing then you are mine I grant you to be my Knight and you shall aide the Queenes sister Most humbly did the Prince giue her thanks telling her how the King thought it not good to giue him the order of Knighthood but had denied him yet quoth he is King Perion heere as you know at whose hands so pleased you to intreate it I would more willingly receiue it then of any other Nor will I let for that said she and the better to compasse your desire I will cause the Princesse Mabila to beare me company for whose sake he will the sooner grant it So presently she went to her and told what she and the Gentleman of the sea had concluded to attaine his Knight-hood and how faine he would haue it at King Perions hand for which cause she intreated her assistance in the sute Mabila who loued the Prince very well thus answered I assure ye sister there shal be no want in me for so well doth the Gentleman deserue as would make one do much more then this for him wherefore let him be ready this night in the Queens Chappell then when time shall serue we will go with our women to accompany him and I will send for the King mine Vncle which shall be somewhat before the breake of day that he may come see me and he being come to vs you and I will moue him in the matter which I hope he will grant vs considering he is a very gracious and affable Prince This is very well appointed answered Oriana wherefore they sent for the Prince and tolde him al the platforme they had laid who humbly thanking them wold prouide all things ready for him-selfe and therefore departed Then went he to finde Gandalin making him acquainted with the whole saying I pray ye brother conuay mine armour so closely as you can into the Queenes Chappell because I hope this night to receiue mine order and for I must right soone depart hence I would know if you haue any will to beare me company Beleeue me quoth Gandalin neuer with my will shall I depart from ye Of these words was the Prince so glad that the teares stood in his eyes with ioy Well said he prouide all things ready as I told ye wherein Gandalin failed not for ere supper he tooke such order as all was done vnseene of any and the Prince got him secretly into the Chappell where he armed himselfe except the head hands So staying there for the Ladies King Perion he fel on his knees before the Alter desiring God to be his aide not onely in conquering such as he should deale withall in Armes but also in obtaining her who caused him to endure so many mortal passiōs The night being come the Queen with-drawne the Princesses Oriana and Mabila with their womē came to the chappel where the Gentlemā of the sea attended Mabila hauing sent for K. Perion he was no sooner entred but she thus began My L. seeing you haue taken so much paines for me as to come hither I pray you grant Madame Oriana daughter to King Lisuart a small request she will make to ye I would be loath saide the King to deny her as well for her Fathers honor as her own sake Oriana arose to thanke him whom whē he beheld so faire he thought all the world could not match her in beauty thus speaking to her Madame doth it please you to command me any thing Not cōmand my Lord quoth she but intreat ye to giue my Gentleman the order of knight-hood this said she pointing to him as he kneeled before the Altar When the king saw him he wondred at his goodly stature and said to him My friend would you receiue the order of Knight-hood Yea my good Lord answered the Prince may it please you to giue it me In Gods name be it done said the King who giue you grace so well to proceede therein as he hath bestowed seemely perfection on you Then putting on his right spur and dubbing him with his Sword thus spake Now haue ye the Order appertaining to a Knight but I would oppertunity had serued me to haue giuen it you with greater honor notwith-standing according to mine opinion of you I hope you will proue such as your renowne shall supply what wanteth here in performance Afterward King Perion took leaue of the Ladies who highly thanked him then set on his way toward Gaule cōmending the new Knight to the heauenly protection this was the first act that might beare testimony of these louers sweete desires If it seeme to the Reader that their purpose was not according to affection but simple in respect of their vehement passions I answer that they ought to excuse their age likewise it often commeth to passe that they which thinke themselues most expert in those pleasing and amorous actions haue beene by this God so strongly bound and liuely attainted as not only he depriued them of speech but of iudgment also it is necessary for such persons to vse greater words
wrong in succouring the husband to this traiterous woman whom cruelly she hath caused to dy When the three Knights heard that they were very much abashed and then thought they had bene abused by their sister wherefore they thus replied In sooth my Lord so please you to assure vs we will shew on what occasion we assailed you You shall haue good assurance so to doe said the Prince yet will I not acquit ye from the combate Then he that first spake rehersed all the words of their sister according as hath beene already declared In good sooth quoth the Prince neuer was villanie disguised in such sorte for she hath done far otherwise as you may vnderstand by her husband himselfe who being nere his death I conuaied to an Hermitage hard at band Seeing it hath so fallen out said the three bretheren dispose of vs as they that remain at your mercy And mercy shall ye haue answered the Prince if first ye will loyally sweare to me that you will cary this woman and her husband to the Court of King Languines there before him recite al that hath happened saying withall how you were thereto constrained by a yong Knight that sent ye thether who this day departed from his Court desiring him to censure on this mis-deed as he shall thinke good All this they promised and swore to performe wherefore commending them to God he rode away leauing them together CHAP. VI. How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentle-man of the sea THis quarrell thus ended with the three Knights the Gentle-man of the sea tooke the way which before he had left but they had not ridden long till they saw two Damosels come toward them by two sundry waies who addressed them-selues to meete together which when they had done they entred into communication One of them bare a Launce in her hand and wheÌ„ they were come to the Prince she with the Launce aduanced her selfe to him saying My Lord take this Launce which I giue ye because I can assure ye that within three dayes it will stand ye in good steed as therewith you shall deliuer from death the house from whence ye are discended The Prince amazed at these words thus answered How can it be Lady that a house should liue or dye It shal be quoth she euen so as I haue said and this present I was desirous to bring ye as a beginning of recompence for two fauours I hope to receiue by you the first whereof shall be When one of your best friends shall by you haue one of the greatest honors that euer he can receiue whereby he shall fall into the deepest danger that any Knight hath done these ten yeeres space Beleeue me Lady answered the Prince such honor if God please I will not doe my friend Full well I know quoth the Damosell that so it shall come to passe then putting on her Palfray departed this Damosell you must note was Vrganda the vnknowne When the other Damosell who heard the words saw her forsake her company she determined for certaine daies to stay with the Prince to see what he should doe wherefore she said My Lord although I am a stranger if you thinke it conueneient I would gladly for a while abide with ye deferring a iourny that I haue to my mistresse The Prince well perceiued she was a stranger which made him to demand of whence she was where-to she replied that she was of Denmarke And that himselfe could not gain-say because her language gaue assurance thereof for hauing heard his Lady Oriana at her first comming into Scotland it made him the better remember that Country speech whereupon he said If you please faire Damosell to goe with me I will defend ye to my power but I pray ye tell me if you know the other Lady that euen now gaue me this Launce Truely Sir quoth she neuer did I see her till now I met her on the way and then she said to me that the Launce she caried she would giue to the best Knight in the world desiring me withall to let you vnderstand after her departure that she bare you great affection and how she was named Vrganda the vnknowne Ah God quoth he how infortunate am I 〈◊〉 not knowing her if I forbare now presently to follow her you must thinke Lady the cause is that I cannot find her against her will and thus deuising they rode on vntill the dark euening ouer-tooke them At this time it so chanced that they met with a Squire who demanded where they intended to find lodging trauailing so late Where we can answered the Prince In good faith said the Squire if you meane to haue lodging you must leaue the way which now you take for you cannot long time come to any that way but if you will follow me I will conduct you to a Castle belonging to my father who shall do you all the honor and good entertainment may be deuised The Damosel thinking this councel good desired the Prince to accept there-of which he did therefore the Squire rode before them as their guide leading them derectly forth of the way because he had neuer seene the combates of Knights errand and hoping to conduct them the day following to a Castell where such pastime was vsed but that night he brought theÌ„ to their lodging feasting and entertaining them very sumptuously yet could the Prince take no rest all the night for thinking on the Lady that brought him the Launce On the morrow very early they would be gone and taking leaue of their hoste the Squire said he would bring them againe into their way acquainting the Prince as he rode with the custome of the Castell which being very neere at hand he shewed them the Castell standing very strong and pleasantly for before it ran a huge swift Riuer and no passage thereto but ouer a long draw-bridge hauing at the end a faire Tower for defence thereof When the Prince beheld it he thought he must needs passe thether by the bridge yet he asked the Squire if there were any other way No my Lord quoth he for this is the vsaull passage March on then said the Prince wherewith the Squire the Damosell and their company set forward but the Gentleman of the sea remaining behind entred into such a thought of his Lady Oriana as he had well neere forgotten himselfe but at length he heard the noyse of sixe Halberders armed with Corslets and Helmets who at the entrance of the bridge had arrested the Damosell and there would force her to take an oath that she should neuer beare loue to hir friend if he would not promise her to aide King Abies of Ireland against King Perion which she refusing cried to the Prince for his assistance This clamour made him forget his musing when adressing himselfe to the Palâ—â—ardes he said Traiterous villaines who commanded you to lay hands on this Lady being in my charge In speaking these words he
by the hand saying I beseech ye Sir grant the king what he hath requested He seeing her importunate took off his Helmet when presently the king knew him that it was the same man he had knighted at the Ladies motion wherefore embracing him he said Right glad am I to know so deere a friend My Lord quoth the Prince I knew you so soone as I came to the Castell to be the man that gaue me mine order of knight-hood wherewith so please it God I meane to serue you while your warre continueth in Gaule willingly I would not be knowne by any one till your troubles be finished You haue already said the King done so much for me as I rest bounden to you while I liue allowing you to dispose of me and mine and if as you say you come into Gaule you shall augment with aduauntage the honor due to you then iustly may I tearme the hower happy that it was my fortune to make so good a Knight Such like words vsed King Perion litle thinking how neere they were allied together thus they rode deuising till at length they came to a double way when he demanded of the King which of those waies pleased him to take This on the left hand answered the King because it guideth directly to my Country God haue you then in his keeping said the Prince for I must needes side this other way I pray ye quoth the King remember your comming into Gaule as you promised me for the hope I haue in you hath abridged part of my sorrow and giueth me assurance withall that by your meanes I shall recouer my losse So tooke they leaue of each other the king toward Gaule and the Prince in company with the Damosell and Gandalin but because she had now seene what she desired namely the proofe of the Launce which Vrganda gaue him she wold trauaile no further out of her way but turning to the Prince said I haue hetherto my Lord with right good will kept ye company because the Lady that gaue ye the Launce said she brought it to the best knight in the world and surely I haue seene so much as I stand in no doubt of her speeches wherefore I shall now shape my course to find her I am sent to as before I tolde ye I pray ye Lady quoth he tell me what she is It is said she the Princesse Oriana Daughter to king Lisuart of great Brittaine When he heard her named whom he loued so deerely his hart began to tremble in such sorte as he had fallen beside his Horse but that Gādalin staied him yet fetching a great sigh said Ah God my hart faileth me the Damosell thinking some sudden sicknes was the cause thereof would haue had him vnarmed but hee tolde her it was needlesse for he was oftentimes wont to feele such passions The Squire who all this while had beene their guide tooke leaue of the Prince asking the Damosell if her way lay toward the Courte of King Languines which she affirming he said he would accompany her thether because hee had busines of some importance there So hauing courteously saluted each other they returned the same way they came the Prince rode on with Gandalin to seeke aduentures Heere leaueth the Author to tel ye what happened to Galaor whom the Giant earied away and gaue in keeping to the aged Hermer as already you haue heard By this time had Galaor attained the age of sixteene yeeres 〈…〉 encreasing in stature comely perfection hauing no other exercise then reading on a Booke which the olde man 〈◊〉 him discoursing the deeds of Armes of sundry ancient Knights Heere in he tooke in great pleasure as on this occasion as also by a naturall instinct he was desirous to be Knighted neuer the lesse he knew not whether by right such honor appertained to him Very earnestly he questioned thereon with the Hermet but the holy man who knew right well that so soone as he receiued the order he should combate against the Giant Albadan his eyes being filled with teares he thus answered My sonne much better were it for you to labour in the safetie of your soule then to aduenture on the order of Knight-hood which is to be maintained with wonderous trauaile Father quoth Galaor very hardly shall I follow the calling which I take against my will but in that whereof my hart hath made choyse if God grant me good successe will I aduance his seruice for there-out may I not be during life The good Hermit who then well perceiued his grounded resolution replied Certes my Sonne seeing you are determined to follow Armes I can well assure ye that through fault of high linage you neede not dispaire of good hap in respect you are son to a King and Queene but keepe that to your selfe and let not the Giant know how I told ye so much When Galaor heard this he was exceedingly contented saying to the Hermit In sooth Father the care I haue had all my life time to be a Knight hath beene very great but now I thanke God and you I am rid thereof for by that you haue tolde me I cannot misse of it The Hermit noting his earnest affection doubted least soone after he would be gone wherefore he gaue the Giant to know his Schollers forwardnes as also how his constitution did now very well serue him being wonderfull desirous of his knight-hood and therefore he should now deale in the cause as best himselfe pleased No sooner was the Giant informed hereof but presently he got him to Horse-backe and rode to the Hermit with whom he found Galaor of more large stature then his yeeres expressed very comely and beautyfull in euery parte whereupon he thus spake to him I vnderstand Sonne that you would be a Knight to follow Armes truely you shall prepare yourselfe to go with me when time serueth and your desire shal be honorably satisfied Father answered Galaor heerein consisteth the summe of mine affection so not long after the Giant departed from the Hermit taking Galaor with him who falling on his knee before the reuerent olde man desired that as he had fatherly nourshed him so still he would remember him in his deuout orisons The holy man with the teares tricling downe his cheekes kissed and blessed him then mounted Galaor on Hors-back and followed the Giant who brought him home to his Castell where for certaine time he practised to combate at Armes as also brauely to manage Horses hauing all things conuenient for the same and two maisters very expert therein When he had continued a yeere at these exercises the Giant seeing him worthy to receiue honor strong enough to endure chiualrie disposed thereon as you shall read hereafter Now againe doth the Author leaue him and discourseth of that which chanced to the Gentleman of the sea who after he departed from King Perion and the Damosell rod two daies together without any aduenture and on the third about mid-day
of one man beleeue me Damosell you tell vs meruailes Worthy Lord answered she he onely of whom I speake hath done him to death after hee had slaine all the other that resisted him in Galpans Castell and he thinking to reueng their foile himselfe combated hand to hand with the Knight but such was his bad successe as there with dishonor hee lost his head which I would gladly haue brought to this Court yet doubting the corrupt fauour thereof and being otherwise aduised by him that sent me to my Lord Agraies as testimony of his victory this Helmet may suffiise Vndoubtedly said the king to al there present â—t it the same Knight of whose name we are ignorant how say you Lady cannot you resolue vs. My Lord quoth she I obtained it by exceeding importunity for otherwise he would neuer haue told me Say then good maiden replied the King to rid vs of all other doubles He nameth himselfe said the Damosell the Gentleman of the sea When the King heard this he was greatly abashed and so were all the other likewise afterward he thus speake By my faith I am assuredly perswaded that whosoeuer Knighted him needs not be ashamed thereof seeing so long time he requested it of me and I deferred it for occasions which I needed not to haue done seeing Chiualry is in him already so well accomplished Then Araies taking occasion to speake demanded of the Damosell where he might meet with his gentle friend My Lord quoth she he humbly commendeth him-selfe to your good grace giuing you to vnderstand by me that you shall finde him at the warres in Gaule if you come thether Good newes faire Damosell said Agraies haue you brought me now am I more desirous to be gone then before I was and if I may find him there with my good will shall I ne-uer leaue his company You haue reason so to do answered the Damosel for he loueth you as becommeth a Gentleman Great was the ioy for these good newes of the Gentleman of the sea and if any one receiued displeasure you must thinke it was Oriana aboue all the rest yet was it handled so couertly as the watchfullest eye could not desceme it Now in meane while the king enquired by diuers meanes how and by whom the Prince was Knighted when at length he was aduertised that the Ladyes attending on the Queene could tell better then anybody els which with much a do he obtained of them Then may the Gentle-man of the sea quoth he vaunte that he hath found more curtisie in you then in me but the cause why I prolonged the time of his honor was that he seemed too yong for so great a charge In this time Agraies courteously wellcomed the Damosell who beside the Helmet deliuered him letters from a Lady that deerely loued him of whome the History hereafter maketh mention But now for this present occasion the Reader must imagine that Agraies without longer tarying in Scotland is departed with his Army trauailing toward Gaule to his Vnckle King Perion CHAP. IX How King Lisuare sent for his Daughter the Princesse Oriana for that long before he had left her in the Court of King Languines who sent her accompanied with the Princesse Mabila his onely daughter as also a noble traine of Knights Ladyes and Gentlewomen ABout ten daies after Agraies was departed the King his Fathers court with his troup three Ships of great Brittaine tooke port in Scotland wherein as cheefe was Galdar of Rascuit accompanied with an hundred knights of king Lisuarts as also many Ladyes and Gentlewomen that came for Oriana Being arriued at the Court of king Languines they were very graciously entertained especially Galdar for he was esteemed a wise and hardy knight After he had giuen his Maiesty to vnderstand his Ambassadge which was harty thanks froÌ„ king Lisuart his Maister for the gentle entreatance of the Princesse his daughter he requested now to haue her home Mabila his daughter with her to whom he would do all the honor could be deuised Right thankfully did king Languines accept this offer and was content that his daughter should go with Oriana thence-forward to be educated in the Court of King Lisuart Certaine dayes soiourned Galdar and his traine in Scotland during which time they were most honorably feasted and in this while the king prepared other Ships to accompany the voyage When Oriana saw that matters fell out in this sorte she knew well it was impossible longer to dissemble or tarry wherefore as she placed all her little trifles in order she found among her Iewels the waxe which she had taken from the Gentleman of the sea This gaue her such a remembrance of him as the teares entred her eyes and through vehement loue often wringed her hands so that the waxe which shee held in them suddenly brake she espied the letter enclosed therein which so soone as she vnfolded she found there writteÌ„ these words This is Amadis without time Sonne to a King At these newes shee conceiued such ioy as quickly she left her former countenance and not without cause for she was now assured that he who before was esteemed at the most but the son of a simple Gentleman or it might be of lesse because he was vnknowne both of name and parents the man whom she so faithfully loued was Sonne to a King and named Amadis therefore without longer deferring she called the Damosell of Denmarke to her on whom she intirely trusted thus spake My good friend I will declare one thing to ye which no oâ—…er then mine owne hart and you â—…all know therefore regarde it as the secret of such a Princesse as I am and of the best Knight in the world beside On my faith Madam answered the Damosell seeing it pleaseth you to honor me so much more willingly shall I dye theÌ„ faile therein wel may you be assured that what-soeuer you disclose to mee shal be altogether kept secret executed to my power TheÌ„ so it is deere friend said Oriana that you must needs go seek the Gentle-man of the sea whom you shall find at the warres in Gaule and if you chance to come thither before him there must ye of necessitie stay for him but so soone as you see him giue him this letter saying he shall find his name therein writteÌ„ on the day that he was cast into the sea whereby I know him to be the son of a king which ought inspire him with higher courage hardines to encrease the fame hee hath already so well begun You shall likewise tel him how the king my father sent for me and therefore I am gone toward great Brittaine which I was desirous to acquaint him withall and when hee returneth from the warre where he is he should immediatly come to the place of my aboad limittingâ—… things in such sorte as he may liue in my fathers Court vntill he receiue other commandemeÌ„t of me Such was the speedy dispatch of the
behold your resolute countenances I am certaine they are nor able to endure yee let vs then enter among them for God is our defender At these words the most disheartened tooke courage concluding to stay and fight manly with their enemies who soone after in great furie set vpon them Now did King Abies make knowne his magnanimitie and hardly could Prince Agraies men endure the assault nor the Squadron that King Perion brought for King Abies maimed some other he ouerthrew while his Launce held he dismounted euery knight that met with him Afterward he layd hand to Sword wherewith hee carried himselfe so valiantly as the hardyest were amazed thereat for he made way where euer he came so that king Perions men not able longer to hold out began to retyre so fast as they could toward the Citie Whē the Gentleman of the Sea saw that Fortune was so contrary to them in great spight he entered the throng and fought so fiercely as the most part of the Irish-men were glad to stay while the Gaules with-out disorder retyred toward the Castle then turning his horse he followed them To defend this brunt there was also king Perion and the Prince Agraies who deliuered testimonie to their enemies by the keen edge of their Swords how well they knew to gouerne themselues in such extremities notwithstanding the Irish-men seeing they had the better stil pursued them with eagar courage driuing them confusedly into the Citie hoping that now would be the end of their warre Such was the retire of the Gaules still more and more pressed by their enemies as doubtlesse the Irish had entred the Citie after them but that they were hindred by king Perion Agraies and the Prince who wholly did repulse the throng till their people by them were gotten in But now was tydings brought to king Abies that his cousin Dagenel and Gallin Duke of Normandie were slaine whereat he waxed very displeasant and seeing King Perion with his people were inclosed in the Citie he resolued to take leysure for his reuenge wherein he was deceiued for soone after he was very strongly repulsed which made him almost mad with anger And as he thus raged vp downe one of his knights shewed him the Prince saying My Lord hee whom you see mounted on the white Horse is the man that slewe Prince Daganel and the Duke of Normandie with many other the best in our Armie When King Abies heard that he rode to the Prince with these words Knight thou hast slaine the man whom most I loued in the world but if thou wilt combate I hope to be reuenged so well as I shall haue cause to be quit with thee Your men answered the Prince are two little trauailed to meddle with ours notwithstanding if thou wilt as a Knight reuenge him thou louedst and declare the great hardinesse for which thou art renowned chuse of thy men such as thou shalt like and I if it please the King will doe as much of mine for being equall in number thou shalt gaine more honor then with so great an Armie which thou hast brought into this Countrey with-out iust occasion Beleeue me quoth the King thou talkest well go to chuse thou thy selfe the number of men how many or few thou thinkest good Seeing you leaue it in my choyse replied the Prince I will make another offer which it may be you will account more cōuenient You are mine enemy for that which I haue done and I yours for the wrong you haue done to this Realme so for our seuerall cause of anger it is not reasonable any other then our selues should suffer let then the battaile be betweene you and me onely and presently if you will without longer dallying yet shall you assure me from your men as I will do you from mine so that none shall moue whether the one or the other be vanquished Right well said King Abies do I allow of thy offer whereupon he choseten Knights on his parte to garde the field And as the Prince laboured to gaine the like of the King with his consent hee found King Perion and Agraies somewhat loath to grant the Combate as well for the consequence that might ensue as also because the Prince was much wearyed and sore wounded beside wherefore they entreated him to deferre the matter till the day following But the desirous affection he had to be conquerour as also to make a finall conclusion of the warre that hee might roturne vnder her obeysance from whom he came to serue king Perion would not suffer him to make any longer delay of the glory and honor which he saw so neere at hand For this cause he vsed so many perswasions to the king as in the end hee was granted the Combate and on his side likewise were tenne knights appointed for his guard and safetie in the field CHAP. X. How the Gentleman of the sea fought a Combate with King Abies on difference of the warre he made in Gaule YOu haue heard in what maner the combat was accorded betweene King Abies the Gentleman of the sea and now already is the greatest part of the day spent wherefore it was agreed by the Lords on either side very much against the wils of the two Combatants that all should be deferred till the morrow morning as well that they might refresh themselues and repaire their battered armour as also for regarding such wounds as they had receiued in the passed encounters Hereupon the two Kings withdrew themselues the one to his Campe and the other to his castle But such is the bruite spred through the Cittie what worthy exploits the Gentleman of the sea had done as he could not passe by them but thus they spake with generall voyce A◠famous Knight God giue thee grace to proceed as thou hast begun impossible is it to find a Gentleman so accomplished with beauty and Chiualrie as he is for our eyes are iudges of the one and our enemies full well haue felt the other But you must note that in the morning when they went to the field the King had giuen the Queene in charge that so soone as the Prince returned frō the warre she should send one of her Ladyes to him requesting him not to be vnarmed in any other place then in her chaber wherefore as he went neere the Kings lodging the Lady came vnto him saying Sir Knight the Queene desires you not to be elswhere vnarmed but in her Chamber where she stayeth your comming In sooth said the King you must needes grant this request and I desire it may be so The Prince condisending went where the Queene staied with her Ladies and no sooner was he entred but presently the Ladyes holpe to vn-arme him yet the Queene her selfe tooke the greatest paine of all and as shee had off his coate of Mayle shee perceiued he was sore wounded which she shewing to the King he said I maruaile Gentle-man seeing you are so hurt that you tooke no longer time
aduenture especially the Prince because he had beene preserued in so great danger and now at length to finde such honor and good hap as to meete with his Parents being all this while vnknowne to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demanded of him if hee had no other name theÌ„ that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three daies past since I knew there-of for as I came from the Combat against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in waxe when I was found in the sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and here-with all he shewed the letter to the Queene which she full well knew so soone as she saw it Beleeue me said the Queene this truely is the Letter that Darioletta wrote when she made the seperation betweene you and me thus though I was ere while in great griefe and sorrow yet now praised be God I feele as much ioy and pleasure Now seeing assuredly your name is Amadis it is needlesse you should beare any other contrary title so thence forward he was called no more the Gentleman of the sea but Amadis and sometime Amadis de Gaule It was not long before the bruite hereof was spread through the city that the good famous knight was sonne to King Perion and the Queen Elisena wherefore if euery one reioyced you must thinke the Prince Agraies was not sorry for they were found to bee Cozin germaines Among the rest the Damosell of Denmarke had knowledge here-of wherefore considering what comfort this would bee to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to return toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good Newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whom â—…ue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to her Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you can not so speedily depart hence as you would nor were it reasonable but you should giue some contentation to them who for the loue of you haue shedde so many teares These wordes caused the teares to trickle downe his cheekes yet smothering his griefe so well as he could he made this answere to the Damosell Lady I will pray that the Heauens may safely conduct ye yet let mee entreat your friendly remembrance commanding the vttermost of my endeauours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so endebted to my gracious Mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuerthelesse you may say to her that right soon shall I come to shew my obedience and in like Armor will I be clad as when you saw me combate with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily know me if I cannot compasse the meane to speake with you in this manner departed the Damosel of Denmark On the other side Agraies seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside sayd Faire Cozin for this time I must be enforced to leaue ye albeit your company is more pleasing to me then any other but my passionate heart will allow me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to command me It is Madame Oliuia daughter to the King Vanain of Norway who sent for me by the Damosell that brought me the Helmet of Galpan which you sent me in reuenge of the dishonour she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speed and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the onely cause of my parting with you Now must you note heere-withall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the king of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this yong Prince became so enamoured of the Lady Olinia as he concluded neuer to loue any other then her and this made him the more earnest to depart by her commandement And to tel ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without lâ—d because al the portioÌ„ his father left him was onely a poore Castle for the rest he had spent in following armes entertaining Gentle-men whereupon he had the Sirname of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agraies had with Amadis of whoÌ„ he requested to know where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin quoth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visite the Court of king Lasuart where I haue heard Chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honour then in the kingdome of any Emperour or King But seeing it liketh you to take another way I desire when you shall see the King your Father and the Queene to remember my bounden dutie to them both assuring them on my behalfe that they may command mein their seruice eueÌ„ as your self or any other as well in respect of our alliance together as also for the gracious entertainment I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies took his leaue beeing Honourably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the fields he saw a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his Horse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell some-time sayd vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she sayd true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whom thou reputedst lost and euen by the death of valiant King Abies who was the Flower of Ireland and such a one as that Countrey shall neuer haue his like Vntill time the good brother of the Ladie must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be brought thither the tribute of other Countryes and he must die by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the onely thing of the world which most he loueth And so it hapned by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that Countrey whom Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demanded of King Marke of Corne-wall his Vncle which Tristan after-ward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the onely thing of the world that hee most loued Now must thou be mindefull hereof sayd the Damsel to the King for Vrganda my Mistresse so coÌ„mandeth thee When Amadis heard her speake of Vrganda he tooke occasion thus to answere Damosell and my friend I pray you say to her who sent you hither that the Knight to whom she gaue the Launce commendeth him-selfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce I should deliuer the house from whence I first discended and
said Amadis I thinke thou wouldest haue no man of valew in thy company yet before we 〈◊〉 I am desirous to know what thou art That will I tel thee quoth the other on this condition that when so euer we meete thou shalt combate with me I will not stick for that answered Amadis Know then said he within how I am Dardan who commands thee not to stray so farre this night but that I may find thee tomorrow morning Thou vauntest of thy selfe very much quoth Amadis but if thou wilt cause Torches to be brought hither to giue vs light and come forth presently without longer stay we shall soone see who ought to haue the worsse lodging this night What said Dardan to coÌ„bate with an 〈◊〉 the enemy of the day must I bring Torches and this night take Armes vnwise is he that so late to gaine such simple honor will either put on spurre or Cuyrate and with these words he went from the gate Heere may the Read 〈◊〉 by him-selfe discourse awhile what fruite ouer-braining commonly bringeth with it contrariwise what perfection among all other vertues is in modestie No well grounded courage or gallant disposed body can duely put in exercise the benefit of the one or other if moderation temperance be not their guids therein And albeit valâ—ance hardines is a great gift of God yet are they so pernitious in such as haue them who are transported with passions or the glory of ambition as they be euen no better then cowardise presumtion Eloquence and the facultie of well speaking is a rich and precious gift of nature augmented and encreased by long vse and study to giue light and decking to the faire conceptions of the spirit but it is there a more hurtfull pestilence in a coÌ„mon wealth then when a well spoken Oratour will misuse his art sweetnes of language Haue not some bin knowne to perswade simple people to enterprise things which afterward haue brought their ruine and subuertion I leaue the confidence of the wise and the opinitiue in their owne beauty the one procuring to many the losse of their soules and the other to infinite number the destruction of honor so hurtfull in all things it too much vsurpatioÌ„ of ouer-weening and immoderate estimation of our selues I will not heere compare the wisdome of Vlisses with the arrogancie of furious Aiax or the violence of Turnus with the temperance of Aeneas nor make other remonstrances by the successe of great matters happening to mighty personages both Greekes Latines It shall content me to set for example this only accident of indiscreete Dardan to the end that yong Gentlemen who take delight to read this History seeing on the one side the patient magnanimity of Amadis and on the other the furious brutality of Dardan may propose the vertues to be imitated the vices to be detested and punished Amadis then somewhat displeased with the outragious speeches of Dardan departed not so much caring for his lodging as how to be reuenged concluded some-time in walking obout and other while in resting by a bush to passe the incommodity of this night in the Forrest thus to beguile the time till day rising As there hee traced vp and downe he heard the speech of some body nere him and looking about espied two Damosels on horse-back accompanied with a Squire after they had saluted him and he them they demanded from whence he came so late armed wherewith Amadis throughly reported all that had happened to him at the Castell Know you said the Damosels the name of the Knight That doe I quoth he for he tolde me his name is Dardan Very true said they hee is called Dardan the proud the most audatious Knight in this country I beleeue it well answered Amadis Sir Knight quoth they seeing you are so vnprouided of lodging if you will take patience to remaine this night in our tentes which are pitched heere hard at hand you shall be welcome He glad of this courtesie rode with them and being there alighted Amadis caused his Squire to vnarme him When the Damosels saw him so faire and of such honest conuersation they were well pleased with his company and so they supped together merily afterward they gaue him a pallad to rest vpon Neuerthelesse before they parted they demanded of him whether he trauailed To the Court of King Lisuart answered Amadis And so do we replied the Damosels to see what shall happen to a Lady one of the best and most noble in the Country who hath committed her welfar to the triall of a Combate and it must be within few dayes following bee performed before King Lisuert but yet wee know not who will be the man for he against whom the cause must be defeÌ„ded is one of the best Knights in all great Brittaine What is said Amadis the Knight so much esteemed especially among so many good It is the same Dardan answered the Damosels from whome so lately you came And on what cause said Amadis ariseth the Combate I pray ye faire Ladyes if you know let mee vnderstand it Sir quoth one of them this Dardan loueth a Knights daughter of the Country who at his second nuptials maried her I am to speake of now hath this Damosell the beloued of Dardan conceiued such hatred against her faire mother that she hath said to her friend how she will neuer loue him except he bring her to King Lisuarts Court and there openly maintaine that all the poore Ladyes goods appertaineth to her and if any gain-say 〈◊〉 he to iustifie the same in Combate These news were highly pleasing to Amadis for by these meanes he intended to compasse occasion to be reuenged of the wrong he did him and that in the presence of Griana who should there perceiue what her Knight was which made him enter into such thoughts as the Damosels well noting it one of them thus spake I pray ye Sir for courtesie acquaint vs with the reason of your sudden musing if it may without offence be knowne Faire Ladies answered Amadis if you will promise me as loyall Gentle-women to keepe it secret and reueale it to no one willingly shall I tell ye all which they solemnely sware to performe I intend quoth he to combate for the Dame you spake of and minde not to faile but I would haue it concealed from any but your selues When they heard what he sayd they were much abashed notwithstanding they made great esteeme of him seeing what they had vttered in praise of Dardan could not affray him but hee would hazard the Combate and therefore shee that alreadie had broken the matter thus replyed Gentle Sir your intent proceedeth froÌ„ a high resolued minde and wee will pray for your prosperons successe So gaue they ech to other the good night and went to rest till the morning when they dislodged together Then entreated the Damosels that seeing hee went to the same place they did and in the Forrest kept
somwhat noted yet imagined his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies will ye not see your sister whom you loue so deerly Yes Madam quoth he so it please you to giue me leaue Here-with he arose and came to Mabila who stepping forward to meet him you must think Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcoÌ„med him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia louing him as you haue heard ouermastring her will with reason as a most wise well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand a while asunder from all the rest Yet did Agraies keep neere his Mistresse taking her by the hand and playing with her fingers often sent her a sweete kisse in imagination so that by intire regarding her he was transported with such singuler delight as he neither heard or made any answere to his sister She being ignorant as yet of his disease knew not well what to thinke for notwithstanding all her courteous speeches his minde was otherwise busied then on her yet in the end she discouered the cause of this suddaine mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with each others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauor them with more libery seigning a desire to speake with her Vnckle Galuanes which she prettily coloured in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Vnckle may come hither because it is long time since I saw him and I haue somewhat to acquaint him with all secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agraies whereupon he went to the Queene thus spake Madam if you could spare mine vnckle a little you might doe his Neece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good said the Queene at which words Galuanes went with him which Mabila seeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Fayre Neece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye do you like Scotland or this Countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the window because I haue many things to tell ye which were needelesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they being of such importance as they are These words shee vttered smiling and with a marueilous good grace cheefely because her brother might court his friend alone And well said Neece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes bee kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes whereof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone When the Prince perceiuing hee had liberty to speake trembling in aboundance of affection he began thus Madam to accomplish your commandement when you parted from mee as also to satisfie my heart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gratious contentment conueyed thereto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my Faith that being neere your person my spirits seek themselues viuified in such sort as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therefore I desire ye if it bee your pleasure to limit mee some better hap hereafter in place where I may often see and doe you seruice And as hee would haue proceeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the griefe you endure we being absent one from another as no other proofe is required then what mine owne heart doth plainely testifie smothering a displeasure worse then death it selfe whereto oftentimes I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerefull hope rebacke this despaire how one day our loue shall meet together with happy contentation And perswade your selfe that I daily trauaile in remeÌ„brance of our mutuall loue meane while sweere friend remporize and dismay not Mistresse sayde Agraies you haue already so bouÌ„d me to you as I must in duty temporize till time you please but I desire yee to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortifie mee withall so that if you couâ—…y your graces to me as you haue begâ—… I shall haue strength to sorue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer will I faile yee be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteeme yet whereby I may striue to loue you more then any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine onely And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioy therein for it cannot bee without recital of your haughty courage chiualry yet my heart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer bold venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare himselfe so praised vayled his lookes and shee loath to offend him altred her speech demanding what hee was determined to doe On my faith Madam quoth he I wil do nothing but what you please to comand me I will then sayd Oliuia that hence-forth you keep company with your Cosen Amadis for I knowe hee loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to bee one of this â—ouâ—â— deny it not Beleeue me Madam answered Agrayes both you and such good counselling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I wil more credite with mine affaires then my honourable Cosen Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing hnowledge of him in her fathers kingdome of Denmark where hee performed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with her the Queene remembred Galuanes of her auncient acquaintance at which instant the Princesse Oriana came to them wherefore Agraies arose to salute her leauing Galuanes with the Queene and setled himselfe to conferre with Orianaâ— who entertayned him maruailous kindely as well for Amadis sake whom hee loued as also the curtesie hee shewed her for Scotland when king Lisuart left her there at his returne from Denmarke as you haue heard before declared the Princesse speaking to Agraies Cosen we haue daily desired your presence I heere 〈…〉 your sister who nor many dayes since was in great grief by 〈◊〉 newes that came hither of Amadis death your kinseman as truly you would haue wondered 〈…〉 Good reason had she Madam quoth Agraies to be sorrowful and nor she alone but all the rest of his â—â—â—age were bound to no lesse knowing when our Cosen dyeth the chiefe and most excellent of 〈…〉 yâ—â— the best 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 mour on his body and you must thinke his death
his sworde smote his head from his shoulders This is quoth hee the rewarde of thy treacheries done to Anthebon and payment for thy treason in the action of his death The daughter of Anthebon being present at this deede hauing heard Galaor often name her father fell on her knees before him with these words Alas my Lord you haue bouÌ„d me in such duty to you as neuer shall I be able to require your paines my selfe being of such simple and slender ability but the good will I haue to recompence this benefit hath imprinted daily prayers in my heart to God for you hauing so iustly reuenged the death of my father and the wrongfull forcing of this traytour Galaor curteously taking her vp embracing her in his armes thus answered On my faith faire friend hee were a man of little sence that would offer displeasure to such a one as you are seeing you much bettet deserue to be loued and serued then with griefe or fauour to bee offended but tell mee haue you any more enemies in this Castle No Sir replyed the Damosell those which remaine are to doe you honour and obeysance Let vs goe then quoth hee to let in two Damosels who were my guides hither from your Lady mother So taking him by the hand shee commanded the gate to bee opened the two Damosels entered leading Galaors horse but when they sawe their yong Mistresse they humbly made her reuerence demanding if her fathers death were reuenged to her desire Yea verily quoth shee I thanke God and this knight who hath done that many other could not doe It was now the vehement hot time of the day wherefore Galaor tooke off his helmet to refresh him selfe when the Lady seeing him so young and beautifull as also so valiant in deedes of armes began to bee touched with loue and setting aside both feare and bashfulnesse shee began to imbrace and kisse him saying My honorable Lord friend more cause haue I to loue you then any other creature liuing In good faith quoth he and I loue you likewise as well in respect of your beauty and good grace as also for your deceased fathers sake he and I being borne in one Countrie May if it please ye Sir sayde shee to tell mee your name Such as are acquainted with mee answered the Prince tearme mee Galaor In sooth my Lord quoth shee often haue I heard my father speake of Sir Amadis your brother and of you likewise saying you were the sons to the King of Gaul his liege Lord and Soueraigne At thus they deuised they entered alone into a chamber while the Damosels with the rest were pouiding viands wherefore Galaor seeing time and place so commodious to request the loue of her that vsed him so kindly shee being a Lady young fresh and faire named Brandueta himselfe likewise actiue and desirous of such sweete baytes thus spake Madame if Palingues loued you as I haue heard hee had great reason for it knowing you to bee such a one as I see you are for my selfe who haue so little acquaintance with you am already so deepe in deuotion to your gracious nature as I would repute my selfe happy if you granted me the fauour I desire accepting mee as your friend and seruant The Lady not one iot behinde him in amorous affection shaped him this answere I haue tolde yee my Lord that I loue you more then any other liuing creature therefore you may be certainely assured how my desire is to please you in all things whatsoeuer During these speeches Galaor still held his loue in his armes kissing and toying with her so pleasantly as Diana soone after lost her interest in the maiden whereto Brandueta yeelded with greater contentment then all her former resistances to Palingues from whom shee kept her virginity so long that shee was now content to bestow it on the French Prince and hee hauing a good stomacke to such dainty dyet made her loue him the better for it while she liued But see an vnhappy inconuenience after many â—mbracings and amorous conferences as they would once more haue besieged the Fortresse of loue the Damosels came to tell them that dinner was ready wherefore though loath they were forced to leaue off accompanying the Damosels to the place where the tables were couered which was vnder a Gallery inuironed with trees As they sate at the table and discoursed of many matters among other things Brandueta declared to him how Palingues standing in feare of him and his brother Amadis caused this Castle to be kept so strongly considering that her Father Anthebon was of Gaule and king Perions subiect the sooner would they assay to worke reuenge for his death For this reason quoth she hee allowed no other entrance then by the basket into this Castle where I haue liued in maruailous griefe and sorrowe as neuer shall I desire to tarry here longer therefore right gentle Lord and friend might it so like you without any longer stay I would gladly see my mother who will not bee a little glad of my returne and yours likewise Galaor was very well contented and though it were late yet got they to horse-backe departing from the Castle but for all their haste they were two houres benighted which brake no square in respect of the good newes the good Lady with all her family ioyfully receiuing them with all honourable meanes could bee deuised beside the comforted widow cast herselfe at his feete vsing these speeches Worthy Lord both I and mine are bound to you for euer referring to your disposition whatsoeuer wee enioy because you are the restorer confirmer of all I thank you Madame answered Galaor for your friendly offers but where no desert is the requitall must of force be farre more easie Now the greater part of the night beeing spent they brake off talke and bequeathed themselues to rest and Galaor being alone in his chamber remembred his louely breakefast before dinner with his new friend who likewise was so deepe in consideration thereof that shee could wish such another ere supper and whether she did or no iudge you For no sooner knew she euery one to bee in bedde but secretly shee came to Galaors chamber where shee had no churlish speeches to driue her away but most dainty sweete and gracious entertainement what else they did I know not but shee tarryed there till morning and then returned vnseene of any CHAP. XXVII How Amadis pursuing the Knight that misused the Damosel met another Knight with whom he combated and what happened to him afterward YOu haue heard what hasle Amadis made after the Damosell whom the knight led away perforce beating and misusing her very cruelly but hee happened to meet with another Knight who demanded of him why he rid so fast What haue you to do answered Amadis whether it be my pleasure to ride fast or soft In good faith said the knight Ispeake it as one willing to helpe you if you be offered wrong by
before nor knowne but by renowne of his famous Chiualry Beside echone reioyced to see Amadis who by the false report of Arâ—…s was thought to bedead and graciously did the King encertain them all conducting them to a chamber where they were vnarmed blaming she vilanous inuention of Arcalaus and the Damofell that caused their Combat together practising the death of two so noble Princes who were but euen now in the prime and flower of their youth Right soone did the King aduertise the Queene of their arriuall when accompanied with Agraies Galâ—…er and King Arban he went with them among the Ladies but Amadis casting his eye on Oriana and she on hi I leaue their ioyfull passions to your iudgment remembring that when long absent louers meete lookes sighs and teares are familiarly entercoursed being the only meanes to content ech others heart Yet Amadis thought it not best to stand still thus musing lest euerie eye should grow cunning in coniecturing the cause which to auoide he sell on his knee before the Queen saying Madam according to your charge at my departure from the Court I haue brought this Knight whom I present as onelie yours I thanke ye Sir Amadis quoth the Queene both he and you are welcome to our presence In good faith Maddam said the King you doe me wrong if you take them both Amadis alreadie is yours me thinks you should be content with him and leaue Lord Galaor for mee You aske no small matter answered the Queene but if he be so pleased I am not against it albert such a present was neuer giuen in great Brittaine Notwith-standing seeing you are the bâ—… King that euer raigned here so good a Knight is well bestowed on you But what say you Lord Galaor the King is desirous to haue you will yet then be his Madame quoth Galator me thinks that any thing so great a prince demandeth should be granted if it were possible here am I to obey you in euery respect so please my Lord and brother to like thereof because he hath greatest authority ouer me It contents me very well said the Queene that you should doe as your brother commandeth for through him shall I haue title in you by reason he is mine I am yours indeede Madame answered Amadis and brother you must be my fellow seruant to the Queene With all my heart replyed Galaor I am content and seeing you haue giuen mee to her seruice for euer I shall remaine at her disposition I thanke you sir quoth the Queene now may I boldly giue you to the King for I see he would be glad of so good a friend then stepping to the King she said My Lord you are desirous of this knight I giue him you on this condition that you loue and intreate him according to his deserts which may not be valued at any meane rate Beleeue me Madam answered the King I take this gift most kindely at your hand assuring you he shall soone perceiue how I loue and esteeme him nor can I be so affectionate to him as he hath noble vertues whereby to induce me which none can value or compare withall But if Amadis durst haue spoken he gladlie would haue maintained the contrary for he perswaded him-selfe that he loued his Oriana beyond his brothers desert or any other whatsoeuer So remained Galaor in the Kings seruice from which he could not be separated for any quarrell concerning Amadis as wee shall haue occasion to declare hereafter All this while Oriana Mabila Oliuia had withdrawne themselues from the other Ladies likewise Agraies and Amadis were talking together when Galaor was thus gratiously entertained by the King and Queene wherefore Mabila called her brother saying I pray ye cause the knight to come hither that standeth with you consenting because we are desirous to see him Agraies returned where he left Amadis who dissembled as if hee thought not on the Ladies till the Prince thus spake My Lord these Gentlemen would saine speake with you and desire you to come a little more neere the 〈◊〉 which he presentlie did But Mabila being wise and discreete not ignorant what medicines should be applied to passion are minde after they all three had saluted them Mabila took Amadis by the hand desiring him to sit between Oriana and how leauing Agraies to court him Oliuia they being set she merily 〈◊〉 began Although I am now among those foure friends whom I haue most cause to loue and regard yet haue I such present businesse else where as I must of necessity leaue you a while Thus deuised she bring the louers together and by a pretty wile gaue them oportunitie to content their thoughts with secret communication Now beginneth Amadis to conser with his Ladie and thinking to declare the great affection which vnder good hope gaue him life and essence extreme loue took him froÌ„ the facultie of speech yet his eyes not vnmindfull of their office supplied the defect of the tongue deliuering testimony to their diuine obiect how farre the sad and languishing heart was transported by ease and pleasure Which Oriana perceiuing she secretly tooke his hand vnder her mantle and wringing him by the fingers sighing thus spake My lord and friend what dolour and griefe did the traytor procure in me who brought hither tidings of your death neuer was poore maiden in greater perill and not without cause for neuer did woman sustain such a losse as I should haue done in loosing you And as I am better loued then any other so hath my fortune graciously fauoured mee that it should be by him who is of higher desert then any other Here-with Amadis cast downe his lookes as hashfull to heare himself so praised by her to whom all commendation was due and feeling his spirits altered stroue to make answere but the words died in his mouth which caused Oriana thus to proceede How can it be otherwise my Lord but I must needes loue you aboue all other when they that neuer saw you do highly loue honor and esteeme you and I being shee whom you affect most decrely haue I not great reason to loue you better then my selfe On my faith Madam answered Amadis your sweete and gentle words are sufficient to make mee die a thousand deaths as many times to reuiue me againe but how I pray you at this time onely to excuse my extremity with pitty enduring worse then death by louing you too vehemently for if I had died as Arcalaus reported euen then had begun my rest and quier if I had not known you before And albeit the houre of your acquaintance is my intire felicity yet am I assaulted with such violent passions as my heart would altogether consume in griese without the pleasure it receiueth in doing you seruice and the good it sustaineth by your remembrance of me But necessity constraineth me to craue the mercy as yet vndeserued by such intreatance as no desert may value onely to increase my hability in seruing
bedewed with whole fountaines of teares and wofull Oliuia seemed rather dead then liuing But had he long continued in this extreamity her latest houer must needes haue ensued yet at length he recouered him-selfe charging the Duke and his Nephewes with such puissant strokes as well declared his hardy courage Oliuas all this while was in such case by reason of the sore wound the Duke gaue him that he could hardly defend himselfe which the Duke perceiuing hee left his Nephew with Agraies and assailing Oliuas very roughly made him fall downe in a great astonishment But as he would haue slaine him Agraies stepped betweene theÌ„ hauing dispatched his enemie of his head and hindred the Duke from his determination wounding him in many places on his body that he could scant tel which way to turne him Don Galuanes likewise hauing slaine the other Nephew came to assist Agraies against the Duke who seeing his life at the latest exigent turned his horse to escape away but Agraies gaue him such a stroke on the helmet as hee fell beside his saddle with one of his feete hanging in the stirrop when the horse being at libertie feeling his burthen hang on the one side ranne flinging vp and downe none being able to reskew the Duke till his necke was broken with dragging along Hereupon Agraies left him returning to his vncleto know how he fared Very well I thanke God answered Galuanes but it grieueth mee that Oliuas is dead for hee lieth still and moueth not Right sorry likewise was Agraies to heare these words wherefore commanding the Duke and his Nephewes bodyes to be throwne foorth of the field they came both to Oliuas and finding him aliue as also his wounds not to be mortall they bound them vp so well as they could saying Friend Oliuas be of good cheeâ—e for though you haue lost very much blood yet doubt wee not of your health because wee finde little danger in your hurts Alas my Lords quoth Oliuas my heart fainteth and albeit I haue beene heereâ—ofore wounded yet neuer was I in such debilitie Then the King desired to knowe whether hee were dead or no and when it was tolde him how hee wanted nothing but speedy cure hee commanded him to bee honourably caryed into the Citie and his own cirurgions to attend on his health euen as it were his owne person which he did promising to deliuer him well againe within few daies Thus euery one returned disputing diuersly on the end of the Combat and according to their particular affections so that soone after the Queeene who was one of the best Ladies in the world was aduised to send for the wife to the deceased Duke that in the Court shee might weare away the cause of her melancholly and to dispatch this businesse shee sent Don Grumedan to her requesting she would bring her Neece Aldena with her whereof Galuanes was not a little glad especially Don Guilan who was the friend and beloued of the Dutchesse Not long after she and her Neece arriued at the Court where they were right nobly feasted and entertayned Thus the King spent the time in the Citty of London accompanied with many great Lords knights and Ladies because the fame was blazed throught the world of his honourable courtesie to strange Knights which drew an exceeding number to his court whom he rewarded very bountifully hoping by their meanes not onely to confirme his Realme in peace but likewise to conquere other which some-time had beene subiect and tributary to his Crown yet through the pusillanimity and negligence of the Kinges his predecessors were lost and discontinued their former obedience CHAP. XLI How Amadis determined to goe combat with Abiseos and his two Sonnes to reuenge the Kings death who was Father to the fayre Briolania and of that which followed HEretofore it hath beene declared how Amadis being with Briolania promised to reuenge the King her Fathers death against Abiseos and his two Sonnes which in one year after he should performe being accompanied with two other Knights Also how when he tooke his leaue of her shee gaue him a Sword because his owne was broken desiring him to weare it for her sake which Sword was afterward broken at the Ladies Castle who was the beloued of Angriote d'Estranans when he combatted with Gasinan and commanded Gandalin to bring away the peeces thereof which occasioned great harme not long after not by any fault of him but by the indiscretion of Dardan the Dwarffe who imagined his master loued the faire Briolania in respect he offered himselfe to be her Knight One day therefore Amadis being with King Lisuart euermore delighting with his Lady Oriana to the no little contentation of theÌ„ both Loue who often-times prouoketh his Subiects would no longer continue them in so great ease but rayse some cinders of diuision wherby they might receiue discontentment For this cause he made Amadis remember his promise to Briolania that he should combat Abiseos within one yeare the end whereof was now at hand and being loth to faile therein he sought all conuenient meanes to take his leaue of the Princesse Oriana determining to acquaint her with the whole cause in what sort Briolania was disinherited of her fathers kingdom such were his discourses on her behalf that although Oriana was loth to grant what hee demanded or to permit his absence from her yet being ouer-come with compassion she restrained her will and in middest of her sorrow said Deere friend I know well that your speeches are reasonable but the wrong you do me aloweth no excuse Yet in respect I loue ye as you are well assured it is conuenient I should preferre your honor before mine own pleasure You haue promised as you tell me to succour a disinherited Lady I am content seeing there is no other remedy though my consent be with greater griefe then you weene for my minde is perswaded some mischiefe will happen to me by this voyage Madam answered Amadis vnwilling am I to giue you any occasion of dislike or to attempt any thing against your minde rather could I wish neuer to haue beene borne Let Briolania then pardon my tarrying for I hold my selfe sufficiently excused seeing my departure is not agreeable to you Not so sweete friend replyed Oriana I am willing you shall go but make a speedy returne I pray you With twenty kisses was this separation sealed and shee desired him to acquaint the Queene there with that this iourney might be shaddowed vnder her commandement which he did and on the morrow departed with Gâ—laâ—r and Agraies when they had not ridden past halfe a Mile but he asked Gandalin if hee had brought with him the peeces of the Sword that Briolania gaue him when hee left her No my Lord answered Gandalin Returne then quoth Amadis to the Dwarffe and when thou hast them make what speede thou canst to ouertake vs. Alas had he but misdoubted the mishap followed hereon hee neuer would haue sent such
Amadis as to their new Lord vnder whom they hoped not onely to liue in peace and rest but also hereafter to stretch their Dominions euen ouer their bordering neighbours and further Then euery one might view the rare deuises of this palace amongst which there was a wardrobe whether Apolidon his Lady did most commonly withdrawe themselues so beautifull and sumptuous as it was not onely impossible to make the like but also it was thought very strange and wonderfull how any man might imagine that hee could build so rare a peece of worke â—…ing that they which were within might see what any man did with-out very easily but they which were without could not perceiue any thing that was within the same Thus was the firme Island conquered by Amadis which had beene 〈◊〉 thousand yeeres and more without a Lord since Apolidon had there set vp his inchantments and the next day the people came from all parts of the Island to offer their dutie and homage vnto their new Lord who receiued them curteously I leaue you then to imagine whether Amadis had occasion to be glad and content or no. They which haue oftentimes bin crossed with aduersitie may better indge therof theÌ„ any others can for they know how to beare and when to bewaile their misfortunes more orderly then such who are accustomed with all prosperity happinesse Neuerthelesse I know not whether of these two extreamities are more coÌ„mendable for the one commonly draweth vnto it an intollerable vaine glory and pride most damnable the other a continual care fraught with desperation very dangerous Therefore euery wise man considering there is nothing parmanent will neither â—ee proud with the prosperity that fauoureth him nor appaled for any aduersitie that befalleth him but he will swim vprightly as in a calm Sea betweene them both without abusing the one or affrighted with the other The which 〈◊〉 could not doe when inconstant fortune made him taste these persons which for him shee prepared euen in the midst as hee thought of all his prosperities And 〈◊〉 as shee beyond all measure 〈◊〉 red him holding him vp by the chinne in all chances that hapned to him without crossing him in any thing whatsoeuer in like sort did shee turne her face from him and brought him into such perplexity and sorrow that neither force of armes the continuall remembrance of his Lady nor the magnanimitie of his heart were once sufficient to procure him remedy but onely the grace and mery of our Lord God who in pittie regarded him after hee had sometime remained in the rocke of aduersitie in sorrow and tribulatiou as you may vnderstand from the which hee deliuered him and placed him in greater ease and contentment then before as by the sequel of this historie you shall perceiue You haue heard in the first booke of Amadis in what anguish the Princesse Oriana was for the false report of Ardan the Dwarffe at such time as hee returned backe from his maister to fetch the pieces of the sword which Gandalin had forgotten behinde him at his departure from the Court and how she sostered vp in her minde the hate which she had conceiued against Amadis not being able to accept any councell either from Mabila or the Damosell of Denmarke wrongfully suspected him of falshood who thought on nothing but only how he might serue and honour her with all faithfulnesse Now it resteth to shew vnto you what happened thereof Know you then that from the day wherein this ielousie was first imprinted in her it increased in such sort as it wholly made her forget her accustomed manner of life thinking thence forth on nothing so much as how she might sufficiently reuenge her on Amadis who had as she thought so grieuously offended her And hereupon seeing hee was absent and that shee could not declare vnto him by word of mouth the anguish of her soule shee determined to let him vnderstand it by writing So as one day amongst others beeing alone in her chamber shee tooke pen in hand and writ this letter which ensueth The letter of the Princesse Oriana to Amadis MY intolerable passions proceeding from so many causes compelleth my weake hand to declare by this letter that which my sorrowfull heart can no longer hide from thee Amadis of Gaule most disloyall and periured louer-For sieing the disloyaltie and inconstancie wherewith thou hast abused mee who am infortunate and frustrate of all good hap onely in louing thee abâ—ne all things in the world which is now very apparent cheefely in that sowrongfully thou for sookest vs to go with her who considering her young yeares and indiscretion cannot haue that kindenesse in her either to fauour or entertaine thee I haue also determined for euer to banish from mee this exceeding loue which I did bare vnto thee seeing my sorrowfull heart can finde no other reuenge And although I would take in good part the wrong which thou proferest me yet should it bee a great folly for mee to desire the welfare of such an vnthankfull man for the faithfull louing of whom I hate both my selfe all other things Alas I now perceiue very well but it is too late that most vnluckely I enthraled my liberty to a person so ingratefull seeing that in recompence of my continuall sighs and passions I finde my selfe deceiued and shamefully abused Wherefore I charge thee ne-uer to come in my presence nor vnto any place where I doe remayne be thou assured that I neuer loued thee so exceedingly but now by thy ill deserts I hate thee farre more extreamely Packe thee henceforth else where and try if thou canst with thy falsified faith and hony speech abuse others as vnhappy as my selfe and neuer hope that hereafter any of thy excuses shall preuaile with mee but without further desire to behold thee I will bewaile the rest of my sorrowfull life with aboundance of teares the which shall neuer cease but by the end of Her who forceth not to die but onely because thou art her murderer This Letter being sealed Oriana called a young Esquire brother to the Damosell of Denmarke in whom shee greately trusted and commanded him very expressely without staying one onely houre that hee should goe finde out Amadis in the Realme of Sobradisa and then presently deliuer this Letter which shee had written to him but chiefly that hee should marke his countenance whilst he read the same and that he should bring backe no answere though Amadis would giue iâ— him CHAP. III. How Durin departed to goe toward Amadis vnto whom hee deliuered the Letters from Oriana and what hurt happened thereby WHen Durin had at large vnderstood the will of the Princesse he mounted on horse backe and hasted him so well that the tenth day following hee arriued in the great City of Sobradisa where hee found the new Queene Briolania whom hee thought to be the fairest Lady that euer he had seene except the Princesse Oriana Then did he tell her how
to lament the losse of my Lord for hee was your graces most humble seruant Nay rather my good friend and protector answered she and I would it were the Lords pleasure that wee might heare such speedy newes from him as might giue vs cause to reioyce And as they talked together Gandalin cast his eye vpon Florestan who was talking with Corisanda whome Gandalin knew noâ— but hee thought her to be one of the fairest Ladies that euer he had seene therefore hee beseeched the Queen to tell him who shee was the which shee did and the occasion wherefore shee was come into great Brittaine as also the loue which she did beare vnto Florestan for whose sake she staied at the Court if she doe loue him said Gandalin shee may well â—aune that her loue is implâ—… vpon him in whome all â—ounâ—â— remaineth and he is such a one that hardly â—…ay his equal be found in all the world and moreouer Madame I assure you that if your grace did know him so well as â—â— you would not eâ—â—â—e â—e any knight more then he for he is of a most valiant heart and high resolution He seemeth to be such a one answered the Queen further-more hee is of so good a grace and alied â—o so many good knights that it is impossible but that hee should bee such a gentle knight as thou hast reported him to be In tho meane season Florestan entertained his Lady and Mistris whom he loued most â—eruently not without a cause 〈◊〉 for shee was passing faire a rich Lady and alied to the noblest houses in all great Britaine Who hauing remained yet some few dayes in the Court after his returne shee determined to depart and taking her leaue of the king and Queene she took her iourney toward her own countrey Two whole daies together did Florestan accompany her who promised her that so soone as he heard any newes of Amadis and that 〈◊〉 baâ—â—aile was past betwixt the two Kings Lisuart and Cildadan if he remained aliue hee would come vnto her to â—arry with her a long time then taking his leaue of her hee returned vnto the Court But you must vnderstand that Oriana who had not forgotten her determination of going to Mirâ—… departed the next morning with her traine where shee had not long remained but that she perceiued the amendment of her health and with the some her hope increased to see him whom shee so greatly desired And because that the king had appointed that dâ—…g her aboade in that place of Mireâ—â—eur the gaâ—e should continually bee kept and that no body should enter thereiâ—â— Oriana foreseeing for the great desire shee had that it should be so the comming of Amadis shee sent to tell the Abbesse that shee should send vnto her the keyes of the Nunnerie gardens to walke thither sometimes for her recreation the which shee accomplished which were hard adioyning to the Castle but yet inclosed with very high walles And one day as Oriana walked there accompanied onely with Mabila seeing the place fauourable and fit for her purpose as if Amadis were returned she began to thinke of him in such sort and vpon the pleasure she should receiue by his presence that in speaking to herselfe she sayd Ah my onely hope my sollace and my intire refuge wherefore art thou not beere with mee seeing at this present I haue the meanes both to giue vnto thee and also to receiue of thee such ease and contentment as we haue so oftentimes desired to receiue one of another At the least I wil not depart from hence vntil I haue wholy satisfied the hurt which by my ouer-great folly I haue procured vnto you but I will here attend your comming And if Fates or fortune doe permit mee to beholde you here shortly I promise you sweete loue to giue you the sure contentment that your feruent loue hath promised vnto you a long time but if my misfortune shall bee an hinderance vnto your speedy returne your only absence shall bee the meanes to hasten my end wherefore I beseech you to take pitty on this my weakenesse and to succour mee for I liue and yet languish in extreame bitternesse And seeing that euer hitherto you haue beene obedient vnto mee without contradicting me in any sort now the necessity beeing such I pray you by that power which you haue giuen mee ouer you that you would come to deliuer mee from death which I feele to approach and â—arry not otherwise your delay will cause you ouer late to repent my vnhappy end In this sort did she speak as if Amadis had beene present when Mabila brake off her thought and Oriana changing her talke sayd to her Cosen seeing that wee haue the keyes of this place it were 〈◊〉 that Gandalin should make some other like vnto them to the code that your Cosen beeing returned may goe and come hither when as often as hee shall please It is wel aduised answered Mabila And as they were consulting there was one of the Porters sayd to Mabila Madam Gandalin is without who desireth to speake with you 〈◊〉 him come in answered Oriana for he hath beene brought vp with vs a long time and also he is foster brother vnto Amadis whom God preserue God so doe sayde the Porter it were a great damage that so good vertuous a knight should sustaine any hurt Then went he forth to goe seeke Gandalin and in the meane time Oriana said vnto Mabila I pray you see how your Cosen is beloued and esteemed of all men yea euen of the basest sort of people that are in a manner voyde of all vertue it is true answered Mabila Then Oriana sayde what would you haue mee doe but die hauing beene the onely cause of the ruine of him who is more worth then all the men in the world and who did better loue me then his owne selfe Ah accursed be the houre wherein I was borne seeing that by my folly and light suspition I haue done vnto him so great and so much wrong Madame answered Mabila I pray you forget these imaginations and onely arme you with hope for all this which you both say and doe serueth in no sort to ease your dolour Here with all Gandalin entred in whom Oriana caused to sit downe by her and after some conference which they had together she recited how she had sent the Damosell of Denmark to seeke Amadis vnto whom shee had written a Letter containing that which you haue heard and what words also she had giuen her in charge to say vnto him therfore said the Princesse in thy opinion doest thou thinke that he will pardon me Madame answered Gandalin Me thinks you are little acquainted with his heart for I am sure for the least word that is in the letter hee will teare himselfe into an hundreth peeces for you if you do but onely command him by more likelyhood may you imagin whether he will be glad to come see you
Therewithall the king and all his knights withdrew them to one side and the Queene and her Laides to the other And in the meane time the Faire Forlorne leading Oriana by the hand came and beseeched the King that he and his Lady might remaine in the midst of the hall for they were not determined to touch the Iewels except that all the asistance did first misse the gaining of them The which the king did grant vnto him who did first of all take vp the sword which was layd vpon the table by the olde Gentleman named Macandon and the King did draw it out one shastmont and no more Wherefore Macandon said It may please your Maiesty if there bee not found in your Court any more amorous then you are I shal not depart from hence so contented as I hoped to doe There-withall he took the sword and laid it again vpon the table for so must he doe after euery triall Then Galaor tooke it vp but yet he performed lesse then the King did The which Florestan Galnanes Gramedan Brandoinas and Landin seeing they all one after another tryed what they could doe and yet none of them could vn sheath it so much as Florestan did who drew it sorth a foote and more but then Guillan the pensiue tooke it and he passed Florestan about halfe a foote so that hee came vnto the middest thereof Trust me then sayde Macandon if you did loue but as much againe as you do the sword should bee yours After him there came more then a hundred Knights who did little or nothing therin where-upon Macandon iesting with them called them heretiques in loue Then Agraies who had staied to bee the last beeing sure as hee thonght considering the firme loue which hee did bare vnto his Ladie Olinda that the aduenture was ordained for him and on other stepped forth and beholding his Mistresse hee tooke the sword and drew it forth of the scabbard within 3. fingers breadth and as he strained himselfe to pull it quite forth the fire issued from the blade so hot that it burned part of his apparrel so that he was constrained to leaue it there being very ioyfull neuerthelesse that he had performed more then any of the rest Truly said Macandon you are a loyall knight and you haue almost had occasion to bee content and I satisfied Lastly Palomir Dragonis approched who were but the day before arriued at the court and they gained no more then did Galaor which caused Macandon to laugh saying vnto them My aduise is that you should put both of your parts in the sword together it may be that you shall haue sufficient to defend you hereafter You say true answered Dragonis but if you be this day made knight you shall not be of so yong yeeres but that you may very well remember it hereafter At that word euery one began to laugh in the meane season there was neuer a knight remaining in the Court who did not put himselfe forward to gaine the sword and yet it was all in vaine Wherefore the faire Forlorne holding Oriana by the hand came to take it vp when Macandon said vnto him knight this sword wil fit you better if you may gain it then that which you haue yet it cannot be gotten by force of Armes without constancy in loue It must then be mine answered the faire Forlorne who there-withall did draw it forth of the scabbard as easily as if it had beene his owne and that part of it which seemed to be burning became like vnto the other and was as bright as euer was seene There withall Macandon exceeding ioyfull cast himselfe at the seete of the faire Forlorne saying vnto him O noble knight God increase thy honour for in ending my long trauaile you haue greatly honoured this Court. And truly that Lady who is serued of you hath cause to loue you well except she be the most mischieuous dissoyalst woman in the world Now therefore do me this fauour if it please you as to giue me the order of knighthood for by no other then you may I obtaine it nor yet enioy the fignory which of right belongeth vnto me ouer many great personages Cause first a triall of the Kerebiefe to be made answered the faire Forlorne and afterward I will performe whatsoeuer I ought to do vnto you Then grided he the sword vnto his side leauing his owne for him that would take it vp and returned to the place from whence hee departed Great was the praise that all mē gaue vnto him but more great was the emulation of Galaor and Florestan towards him concluding in their minds that so soone as the battell against king Cildadan was finished if they thence escaped with life they would presently seeke him out and chalenge him to the combat wherin they would die or else make it knowne vnto euery one that their brother Amadis was a far better knight then he who as they thought did eclipse his honor by the reputation whch he had gotten in gaining the strangers sword At that instant the Ladies approched to proue which of them might obtaine the Kerchiefe and first of all the Queene began putting it vpon her head notwithstanding the floures did not any whit change their colour for her Whereupon Macandon said Madam if the king your husband haue shewed the little loyaltie that remaineth in him in his triall of the sword me thinks you do now well enough requite him for it The Queene blushed and being halfe ashamed she returned to her place then came the faire Queen Briolania who therein performed as much as the first Vnto whom Macandon likewise said beleeue me Madam confidering the great beauty wherewith you are indued you are more beloued thē louing as wee may plainely see by this kerchief After her came foure kings daughters meruailous faire Elndia Estreletta Aldena and the sage Olinda vpon whose heads the kerchiefe being placed the withered floures began a little to flourish so that there was not any one of them which did not imagine that she should be the owner there-of wherwith Oriana was in a great perplexity Yet in the end the floures retutned to their withered colour And for the same cause the Gentlewomen set them downe againe in their places neuerthelesse it was not without receiuing some little frumpe from the olde Gentleman who for one of his age could very fitly apply them In the end Oriana perceiuing that euery one had failed shee was very glad thereof and therefore she made a signe vnto the faire Forlorne that he should leade her to the Table where the triall was to bee made but so soone as the kerchiefe was set vpon her head the blasted floures were as greene and as faire as those that were most fresh so that there was no difference at all to be perceiued Wherefore Macandon cried out Ah Madam you are shee whom I haue sought for fortie yeeres before you were borne now said he to the faire Forlorne
Then Mandafabull with the great griefe that hee felt gaue a loud cry and without going any further he fell downe dead in the place where-upon the Faire Forlorne seeing that his blow had so well profited as that therewithall hee had slaine such a Gyant and deliuered the King in like sort hee began to cry aloud Gaule Gaule here is Amadis who is yet aliue So saying hee entred amongst the thickest of his enemies who had in a manner lost their hearts by seeing two of the principallest of their army in that sort to be slaine especially knowing that Amadis whom they long before thought to bee dead was present to their confusion And had not Gandaturiell one of the strongest Gyants in their troupe encouraged them againe they had then surely turned their backs but hee valiantly made head against his enemies which being perceiued by Amadis who was desirous to reuenge his brother Galaor whom hee imagined to bee dead he thrust himselfe amongst his enemies and entred into the thickest of the presse so farre that there he had remained without the ayd which King Lisuart brought vnto him who had recouered his horse and there were in his companie Brunco Florestan Guillan Lâ—… Galuaues Olinas and Don Grâ—…daâ— who carryed his standard which was cut asunder betweene his armes All those seeing Amadis in so great danger although the most part of them were very sorely wounded had such exceeding ioy when they knewe that it was hee that they bestirred them in such sort as notwithstanding all the resistance that these Irâ—… could make they gaue ayde vnto Amadis and passing on further they found Agraies Paloâ—…fil and Dragonis manfully fighting on foote against those that had throwne them downe Yet they were so neerely driuen that they could not any longer withstand the force of their enemies although they had already slaine more then sixe as well Gyants as Irishmen which would haue ouerrunne them and without doubt they had beene so handled had not these succours come vnto them So that they which would haue forced them had enough to doe to defend themselues because that Amadis in spight of them made them to recoyle backe and that in such sort as with the ayde of his troupe hee was the meane that his Cosen Agraies and his fellowes did remount their horses Then the forces of King Lisuart encreased and the Irish troupes decreased who dispairing of all helpe had recourse vnto their vessels which were aâ—â—oate hard by 〈…〉 shoare to saue their booâ—y iâ—… tune had not contradicted themâ— but Amadis pursuing the victory chased them with such fury that the most part of the vanquished desired rather to be buried amidst the waues of the Sea then on the shoare which was so died and watered with their blood The which Gandaturiell perceiuing being esteemed amongst all the Gyants one of the stoutest without any feare at all of his death which hee saw ready prepated for him desiring before the end of his dayes to bee reuenged bearing his head somewhat lowe and holding his sharp sword in his hand he would haue stroken at king Lisuart but Florestan stepped before him who hit him so sound a knock with his sword vpon the Helmet that hee made it flie from his head and the King who was hard at hand seeing him bare diuided his paâ—e into two parts Then was there a great slaughter of the Irishmen for they were all now ouerthrowne by Amadis Florestan and Agraies who persued them euen into the Sea where they were swallowed vp with waues wherewith king Lisuart and his people retyred And because that Amadis had marked the place where hee had seene Galaor stroken downe hee prayed his Cosen Agraies others that they would helpe him to finde him amongst the dead Neuerthelesse they had not found him without the helpe of Florestan who knew him by a greene sleeue which hee did weare wrought full of white flowers but hee was so couered with blood dust that they could scant knowe him And I doe not knowe so hard a heart which had then seene the mone that Amadis did make for him that would not haue burst forth into teares for he beholding him in this estate fell down all along vpon him Whereby his 〈◊〉 did open against which the congealed blood was already setled and I thinke that Amadis had died vpon him if twelue Damosels had not by chaunce come thither suddenly who were very richly attyred and had câ—…sed a rich bed to bee brought by their Esquires these finding Amadis so desperate say do vnto him My Lord wee are come hither to seeke your brother Galaor and if you will euer see him aliue suffer vs to carry him presently away other wise there is no Chyrurgion in all Great Brittaine that is able to heale him Herewithall Amadis was greatly ashamed because the Damosels had found him in that order and although that hee knew them not yet hearing them speak of his brothers health hee determined seeing the extreame perill wherein he was not to refuse their request though it was to his extreame griefe And therefore he answered them my faire gentlewomen may in please you to tell vs whither you will carry him Not now said they but if you will desire to haue him liue giue him vnto vs without any longer delay otherwise wee will be gone Alas answered he I pray let mee followe you You may not and yet for your sake wee are coÌ„tent that Ardan the Dwarffe and his Esquire shall accompanie him Then they layd him vpon the bed all armed as hee was they caused him forthwith to be carried into the ship from whence they were come which was yet close to the shoare Afterwards they returned againe vnto king Lisuart to entreate him that hee would giue them king Cildadan who lay among the dead and to induce him thereunto they shewed vnto him that although Fortune 〈◊〉 fauoured him in this exployt yet hee should not exteÌ„d his cruelty vpon his enemy The which the King considering permitted them to carry him away dead or aliue wherefore the Damosels took him vp and carried him away with Galaor and so soone as they came into the ship they set sayle hauing the winde so faire that suddenly they were out of all mens sight Thus king Lisuart remayned coÌ„querour ouer his enemies going quite through the field to find out as well such of his owne people as those of his enemies that were not yet thoroughly dead to cause them carefully to bee looked vnto by skilfull Surgeons And as hee went from one place to another hee met with Amadis whose face was all to be blubbered with tears vnto whom he had not as yet spoken since his returne and seeing him so heauy after he had knowne the cause of his mone hee shewed an euident signe of the sorrow that he sustayned for Galaors sake whoÌ„ hee loued as dearely as himselfe not without cause for from the first day that hee receiued him for one