satisfie our desires defend your selfe from mee Wherewith hee set spurres to his horse and Esplandian likewise who at the first encounter cast him so strongly out of his saddle that in long time after hee could not rise againe and therewith his launce brake with that the second knight came forwards willing Esplandian to take another launce for he meant to reuenge his companion Which Amadis hearing sent him his launce that he willingly receiued and being in a rage to sée himselfe assailed without cause hée ranne against the knight and strake him so surely on the brest that he ouerthrew him both horse and man Well said the king to the standers by iudge you if it be possible to doe better My lord said Agraies I neuer saw two fairer strokes giuen with a launce the rest I will leaue to consider of till I know those that ranne against him Let vs sée the end saied the king and calling a Squire hee sent his launce vnto Esplandian for as then the third knight prepared himselfe to runne and spurring their horses set forwards so fiercely that breaking their launces they met so strongly body and shields and heads together that Esplandian had much adoe to sit vpon his horse and the other had such a fall that he lay stil vpon the ground Whereat the fourth knight being abashed saied vnto himselfe Truly both the king and Vrganâ—â— â—â—ue good reason as they do to assure the valor and Prowesse of this knight séeing it is much more then they warrant it to bee Neuerthelesse I must of force trie him otherwise I should doe both my selfe and him wrong And with that he called Esplandian and said Knight Although I well know the small courtesie that I and my companions haue shewed vnto you yet I must not refuse to doe the same that they haue done before me wherefore I pray you send to some of your company for another launce that we may sée who shall beare the honour of this enterprise I will doe it saied hee séeing you constraine me therevnto vpon condition that if I can I will serue you in the like sort I haue done your companions With that Gransador that heard them speake gaue him his launce which he presently charging they met together with such force that their launces brake close vnto their hands neither of them remouing out his saddle wherefore the knight of the forrest turned to Esplandian and saied Sir Knight let vs yet trie one blow more and I will quite you for this time You might content your selfe said hée with that is done but séeing you are so void of reason I am content to trie it with you till one of vs bee beaten off his horse Then he sent Sergil to fetch another lance and he brought him one some what bigger and shorter then those hee had before wherewith hee strooke the knight of the forrest so valiantly that he ouerthrew him himself being constrained to imbrace his horse about the necke or else he had fallen as the other did that lay on the ground yet he rose before Esplandian had runne out his course and as he returned barke he staied him by the armour and saied vnto him Before God sir knight you haue sufficiently shewed that in valour and Prowesse you are second to none but to your selfe but hee answered not a word but holding downe his head ashamed of that had happened vnto him passed forth With that the king came thether to knowe what knights they were that had ben ouerthrowne among the which he knew Galaor for hee had put off his helmet to do him honour when he saw him come wherat the king was so well pleased that he alighted of his horse and ranne to imbrace him the like did Amadis saying vnto him with a smiling countenaunce How now brother Galaor how long haue you vsed to be a kéeper of the high waies You sée said hee that I and my companions haue sought to trie whether this knight be of such force as we haue found him and what hath happened you may well iudge when Esplandian vnderstood his vncle Galaor fearing to haue offended hee lighted off his horse and knéeling downe before him asked pardon for his fault Nephew saied hée it is I that haue done the wrong and therefore I tolde the king that you are a better knight then I and maruaile not if I sought to prooue it Because I thought to doe it with mine honour but I found the contrary which from henceforth shal make me thinke the things foreshewed of you will bee accomplished so well that the glory of your father and the reputation by many knights in times past obtained shall from henceforth bee extinguished you hauing so easily ouerthrowne thrée of the best knights in great Brittaine and my selfe the fourth What are they said the king My lord said Galaor the first that ranne was Sendale of Gonaste the second Galuanes the third Angriote d'estrauaulx and my selfe hath done worse then they Wherat the king and al the company began to laugh And imbracing them caused them to mount on horsebacke riding towards London where in the way the King praied them to tell him howe this enterprise was deuised My Lord saied Galaor hauing vnderstoode by the danish Gentlewoman that my lady Oriane not long since sent vnto the Quéene to bring her newes of your returne and what had happened vnto you during your imprisonment the valiant acts by you declared of my nephew Esplandian wee conceiued such a iealousie against him estéeming the honour you did him thereby to procéed rather of fatherly loue then otherwise that wée determimined secretly to depart out of London to proue his force as now you haue well séene and to moue him therevnto we sent the gentlewoman with the message you haue heard Of my faith saied the king the deuise was good and hath fallen out well In this manner deuising of sundry things hee came to Mirefleur where the Quéen met him praising God for his vnexpected return and considering his trouble past with the gréefe shee had for his long absence séeing him there safe and in good health shee thought her selfe well recompenced with his presence The next day in the morning they set forwards towards London where the people receiued him with such signs of gladnesse that most part of them wept for ioy to sée him for there was neuer Prince better loued of his subiects theÌ„ he Being there Esplandian began to be weary of the place longing to heare news of Carmelle that he had sent to Constantinople as you haue heard before And therefore euery day hee deuised meanes to get licence to depart from thence pretending a cause of returning to the castle called La montaigne defendu shewing the king what promise he had made to his companions which if hee did not performe they should haue cause to complaine of him but the king would not in any sort graunt to his request yet in the end ouercome with much
like disease whereof you still complaine for sometimes she blushed and againe became pale and otherwhâ—les was at such an exegent that shee could not answere mee a ready woord especially when I presented her with the ring that shee once gaue to Amâ—di your father as she told mee afterwards In recompence whereof shee sendeth you this hairelace which shee most earnestly desireth you to kéepe for the loue of her and as the first Iewell her Grandfather Grimanaise gaue to the Emperesse Appolidon being but her louer Expressely sending you the same as an assured token of the loue she beareth vnto you and the good will shee will bee ready alwaies to shew you during her mortall life With that shee tooke a little boxe out of her bosome wrapped in a péece of Taffata and gaue it vnto him which Esplandian receiued and taking it out of the boxe he sighed tenderly and saied Ha most fortunate present the first witnesse of the perfect alliance that the most loiall louers that euer liued had together from whom is descended the Paragon of all beauty happy to haue approched so néere her person But I much happier that receiueth it as more affectioned to serue her then any other liuing on the earth and it pleaseth God while life indureth I trust thou neuer shalt depart from mee but I will kéepe thée as carefully as I desire she should hold my heart Yet this is not all said Carmelle but behold the recompence of my labour and saying so shee cast the mantle from her shoulders shewing them her rich gowne all couered with crownes of gold which put Esplandian in minde of that Vrganda sent him word by her Gentlewoman when shee sent him the white armour set with the like deuise confirming in his mind the hope that vntill then he had holden doubtfull wherat he felt the greatest ease that possible he might And as they beheld the great and excellent workemanship with the great and costly imbrodery of Pearles and precious stones wherewith it was all couered Gandalin came and knocked at the dore to shew thé that there were a great number of vessels discouered on the sea and fearing them to bee some new supply of Turkes was of aduise they should bee ready to receiue them Wherevpon each man ranne to armes causing more men to goe into their shippes for their better safetie yet that alarme continued but a while for that the Pennons and Banners of Constantinople were perceiued on their ships by such as they sent out for to descry theÌ„ some of them comming backe againe in great hast to shew them that Gastilles as general of the army for the Emperour was comming to succour them whereof the Turks hauing intelligence presently brake vp their campe being gone farre from the castle before any of the vessels come neare the shoare Neuerthelesse those of the castle set vpon their reare ward and in the chase slue so great a number that had not night come on considring the euil order they held there had not escaped a man of all their campe In the mean time Gastilles with his army came vnto the mountaine where Esplandian the king of Denmarke and diuers others stoode ready to receiue him and after many courtesies and welcomes on all parts giuen Gastilles asked them how they dealt with their enemies As well as may be saied Esplandian but wée could not by any meanes cause them to stay till your comming but they are fled from hence as soone as they heard newes thereof Then hee tolde him of the larumes and issues by them made during the siege as also of the taking of king Armato That is good newes said Gastilles God bee praised therefore if mine vncle the Emperour had beene aduertised thereof before my departure from Constantinople I had not found the meanes to come send to visite you which would haue displeased mée much neither would he haue ben at charge to furnish such a Nauie but he was in doubt you were in great necessity that at my putting to sea hée commanded me to make al the spéed I could til he came in person with four hundred saile that already are prepared if our forces should not be sufficient to sustaine the Turkish army but for this yeare he shall be excused if there happeÌ„ no other aduenture I pray you said Esplandian come to land go with vs into the castle where wee will conferre of all things with some better leisure Which he agréed vnto wherewith he some of the principall captaines of his army entered into the knights boat and with them went vp into the castle where being arriued Gastilles that knew king Armato desired Esplandian before hee did any thing else that hee might sée him wherwith hée brought him to the chamber where he sate as pensiue as any man could bee Gastiles did him honour as to his estate appertained But king Armato would hardly looke vpon him but saied vnto him Gastilles I maruaile much why the Emperour your maister contrary to his faith and promise hath broken the peace agréed vpon betwéene vs and for a thing so little importing him as this place doth wherevnto hee neuer had any right as you well knowe But I perceiue from whence the same procéedeth because hee would euery man should knowe the little faith and lesse loialty that is in him which I shall one day make him know full well if euer I escape out of this prison My lord said Gastilles your honour saued the Emperour my maister hath in him all the parts that belong vnto a wise vertuous and hardy Prince such as hee is and it séemeth vnto mee vnder your correction that by good and iust cause he hath done no more then he might do séeing it is euident that this castle hath ben conquered by Christian knights whom he is bound to fauour with all the aid hee can not onely to defend our law or because they haue desired his aide as being the first and greatest monarch in the world but to sustaine the right that both hee and his predecessors haue alwaies pretended to these marches And where you threaten to make him féele the small loialty whereof you accuse him at other times heretofore you haue met each other with your forces where you sped so hardly that I rather beléeue you speake in choler then with reason specially considering the estate wherein you are at this present Gastilles saied Armato Although I were dead I haue sufficient number of Captaines and good Souldiours in my country to reuenge my cause and a sonne likewise that is not borne to indure the iniury done vnto his father and thus much I assure thée that if I thought him to bee other I would slay him with mine owne hands as soone as I should sée him My lord saied Esplâ—ndian that Prince Knight or Gentleman that vseth such vnfit spéech as you doe now is commonly holden for a man of no capacity especially when hee is in a place where humility
perceiued him enter into choler to pacefie the same answered vim and said My lord you may doe it when it pleaseth you but at this present you sée here a great number of poore desolate people I beséech you speake vnto them and comfort them as wel as you may for their whole trust is in you with that Alphorax going vnto them gaue them many gracious and comfortable spéeches and with them returned to the citty of Tesifant CHAP. XXXI How Gastilles tooke his leaue of Esplandian and sailed to Constantinople and of the arriuall of Palomir Branfil and other knights of great Brittaigne at the towne of Alfarin THe Towne of Alfarin brought vnder the subiection of the knights of the castle La montaigne defendu as you heard before Gastilles hauing prepared himselfe to return to Cōstantinople went vnto Esplandian and saied vnto him My lord when I departed from the Emperour hee gaue me expresse commandement with al spéed to aduertise him what I had done to the end he might determine either to come himselfe in person if occasion serued with the army hee is already preparing or else wholly to breake off his enterprise for it now beginneth to bee Winter and séeing as it is Gods will that your affaires on this side are in good estate I am determined as to morrow to depart hence to Constantinople that the Emperour vnderstanding by mee what hath passed on this side the sea he shall not bee forced for this yeare to bee at further charges wherof before this time I had willingly certefieed him had it not ben the daily expectation I had to sée the end of this our last enterprise which God bee thanked is fallen out as we desired My lord saied Esplandian séeing the Emperour as you say by your returne may receiue both pleasure and profite you shall doe well to make hast thether one thing I beséech you doe for me that is most humbly to commend me vnto his grace assuring him that not any subiect hee hath is or shall bee readier to obey him then my selfe and as touching our proceedings for that you haue personally both séene and béene an actor in the same you can aduertise him at large Shew him likewise I pray you that I kéepe king Armato as his prisoner attending his pleasure what shall bee done with him but not the castle of La montaigne defendu for I haue conquered the same in fauour and vnder the protection of the Princesse Leonorine kéeping the same at this present onely to her vse and as her seruant as I meane to continue during my life But if it pleaseth his grace to giue the Towne of Alfarin to Frandalo not onely thereby to increase his will and desire to serue him but also for that hee deserueth a greater reward so dooing mee thinketh hee shall therein shewe the part of a liberall Prince considering the seruice and fidelitie hee hath done and shewed in all places where hee hath beene employed You shall tell the Emperour also that according to my fathers will and commandement I hope shortly to bee in Constantinople to present my selfe before his grace and the ladie Leonorine as by the Gentlewoman Carmelle I haue giuen thē to vnderstand wherewith I think you are not vnacquainted praying you in the meane time to make my excuse to them in that I haue deferred it off so long for in a manner you are not ignorant what hath béene the cause My lord said Gastilles the Emperour my vncle so much desireth your company that I neuer saw man more gréeued nor woman than the Princesse my cousin when they perceiued the great serpent passe before Constantinople to crosse the straightes of Bosphore I will shewe them what you say and in the morning about breake of day I meane God willing to set saile Will you not said Esplandian first goe visit Frandalo Manely and others that lie wdunded in their beds to know if they will send any message to the Empeperour That I will said Gastilles Goe then said Esplandian and I will beare you companie With that they went to Frandalos lodging where they were no sooner entred but the watch that stood vpon the tower ouer the water gate discouered about thrée miles in the sea a great shippe that with full saile made towards the towne whereof they aduertised Gastilles who presently caused two Brigandines to goe forth to sée if they were friends or enemies and they were not long before they returned againe with the great shippe in their company wherin were Palomir Branfil Helian le delibere Garuate du Val Craintif Brauor sonne of the gyant Balan that king Amadis had newly made knight Imosel de Burgoigne Ledarin de Faiarque Listoran de la tour Blanche Trion cousin to quéene Briolanie Tentilles le Superbe Guil le bien esteme Grodonan brother to Angriote Destrauaux and the two sonnes of Isamie gouernour of the firme Isle with many others that had imbarked themselues in great Britaine to goe to aid Esplandian and comming to the castle La montaigne defendu they had intelligence by the fishermen at sea of the ouerthrow of Armatos nauie his captiuitie with the taking of the citie of Alfarin whereat they much reioyced especially when they knew by Gastilles souldiers that not any of their companions were slaine in the assault They béeing arriued at the towne as they began to lande Esplandian with diuers others went thither to receiue them where betwéene them were many salutations and welcomes giuen which done Esplandian led them to his lodging where they refreshed themselues about two houres before they went to visit Frandalo of whome Esplandian gaue such commendations that they desired him to bring them where he lay which hée presently did but when Frandalo knew who they were béeing ashamed to sée them vse such courtesie to him could not well tel what to say and as he entertained them Palomir spake vnto him and said Sir knight I and my companie haue heard so great commendation of your valour that there is not one of vs but would be ready to obey and serue you as our chiefe commander wherefore we beséech you vse all diligence you may to be healed of your wounds that we may presently go into the field vnder your conduction My lords said Frandalo I pray you pardon me I am well assured that my valour is none such as you report whereby I deserue not the praise you giue me neither did I euer any thing worthy commendation but only by my lord Esplandians meanes Neuerthelesse I hope if God spareth me life and health so to behaue my selfe that all men shall know the desire I haue to doe seruice vnto Christendome and particularly vnto euery one of you Companion said Esplandian I pray you take care to be cured of your griefe that done wée will take order for the rest and for that these knightes are wearie with their long trauaile on the sea I pray you giue them leaue for to depart and in the
heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flocke resting in the power and gouernement of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to passe that the great deceitfull Serpent the inchaunted sword and this high rocke shal sink into the bottome of the sea and shall neuer after be seene againe of any man But although Esplandian vnderstoode the Gréeke tongue yet could he not giue any interpretation or exposition to this prophesie no more could any of his company wherefore they determined not to stay long about the same but were more busied to behold the stones and great riches they sawe within the tombe which they determined to take with them and return vnto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandiâ—â— willed Carmelle to take the Lion hee and the king of Denmarke tooke the plate of christall Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceader chest with the Image of Iupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending downe the rocke till about euening they came vnto the hermitage where they staied all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about sunsetting they imbarked themselues and because Esplandian would not be séene in Constantinople without the great Serpent hée commanded the master of the ship to direct his course to the castle called La montaigne defendu which he did But hauing sailed about two daies more as the king of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the letter that was sent vnto him hee asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voiage vnto the Princesse Leonorine to vnderstand the truth of her affection towards him For saied hee it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himselfe hath commanded him to write vnto you in such sort that therby you should make the more hast to goe thether at the least I shall know of her what her pleasure is and how you shal gouern your selfe in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you haue toucht me now euen at the quicke If you would doe me so much fauour you shall bind mee for euer vnto you meane time I will stay for you in the gulfe where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle La montaigne defendu Assure your selfe said the king I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the maister tooke with him besides the boat to saue himselfe and his people if any tempest should happen wherin the king with certain martiners to guide him entred and taking their leaue of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the sight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a teÌ„pest that at the breake of day their Pilot knew not where hee was without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace vnto the mercy of the waues which continued for the space of forty daies together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be ouertedious to recount them and wée should likewise digresse from the matter whereinto wee are entered to bring our history vnto an end â—et it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arriue in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the king of Denmarke and his squire lost their wits and became mad by force of a water that they drunk out of a fountain called The fountain of Forgetfelnesse that sprang in that Isle where they were taken kept in a cruel prison froÌ„ whence in short time after they were deliuered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fel in loud with the king and caused him to recouer his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himselfe and his squire and hauing done she with them put to sea and coasting the countrey of Treuisane they came vnto an Island where the people of the countrey would haue burnt a Gentlewoman because shee could not find a knight for to maintaine her quarrel but the king fought for her and ouercame him that accused her taking the Gentlewoman with him put to sea againe sailing sixe daies together along the coast hée perceiued a maid out of a tower where in the lord of the country kept her prisoner for the cause which shee declared to the king out of a window that looked into the sea for whose sake the king took land to fight with the lord till hée deliuered the poor gentle woman out of prison such were the aduentures of the king of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great chronicles that master Elizabeth wrote not long after the coronation of Esplandian wherein the prowesse aduentures of the Brittish knights and others remaining at Alfarin are likewise registred orderly set downe For this time content your selues to vnderstand the maner how in what sort Esplandian and the Princesse Leonorine saw each other how afterward Vrganda came to Constantinople of the armies both â—y land sea of the cruell battaile betwéen the Turks Christians which ended our history likewise shall be finished but hauing many things to describe before I come to that point we will returne to Esplandian that was not smally abashed at the long absence of the King expecting froÌ„ day to day some newes of him that had left his company only for the cause you heard before CHAP. XXXV How Esplandian hauing staied Garinter king of Denmarks returne about two weekes space and perceiuing no news of him determined by the counsell of Carmelle to goe in person to the citty of Constantinople AFter that Garinter King of Denmarke had set saile towards Constantinople as it is saied before Esplandians ship arriued at the gulfe where he promised to stay and there lay at anker for the space of two wéekes not hearing any news of his desired message wherewith he doubted either that the king of Denmarke should bee drowned or that fortune had carried his vessel some other way wherfore he thought to send one of his marriners to enquire of him But before hee did it he determined first to speak with Carmelle and taking her aside saied vnto her My great friend you know for what cause the king of Denmarke left vs the reason of his voiage as also the promise he made vnto me to returne again with all spéed but we can heare no news of him at all which maketh me assuredly beléeue either hee is dead or that the storme hee was in hath cast him in some country so far off that he cannot by any meanes doe as he hath promised wherefore I pray you giue mee your aduise what I were best to doe for those that are in the like mind that I am although in some thinges they haue their vnderstandings whole and perfect
Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéene the Princesse and him not only before the Emperour but also in the garden And of my faith sir saied hée you do her wrong considering the good meanes you haue both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soeuer you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to goe and sée her which shee craueth at your hands That I wil doe saied Esplandian but I must find the meanes take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléepe for I neuer had more néed Goe said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue leauing Esplandian alone in great care how hee might find some conuenient excuse to leaue his companions in the extreamity but God prouided for him for the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must vnderstand came out of the great serpent that hee left in the castle La montaigne defendu which at the time was arriued before the town of Galatia but little did he thinke of any such thing or that Vrganda had ben therein because he thought her to bée in great Brittaine This mellody continued for the space of half an houre and more which done he heard such a noise of trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the same to lay siege vnto it wherevpon they caused an alarum in the town each man running to the wals being all of that mind till day when they might be hold the great serpent wherein Vrganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers wherat Esplandian was so glad that going downe vnto the Hauen hee presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manely and diuerse other of the principall captaines to sée who might bee there And rowing néere vnto it they knew Vrganda that staied for them on the hatches stretching forth her armes spake vnto them said My good friends you are most hartily welcome I pray you come vp into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entered and as he meant to salute Vrganda she knéeled on the ground to kisse his féet whereat he being ashamed tooke her vp and saied vnto her Madame I neuer thought you would haue takē pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world And therfore for Gods cause if at any time I chaunce to offend you punish mee I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight sayed shée The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes shall passe mooued mée to doe as I haue done wherefore I beséech you take it in good part And with that shee embraced him and after him Talanque Manely and all the rest euery man doing her great honour desiring her to shewe them the cause of her so suddaine comming thether My good friends saied shee you shal know it at some other time when better laisure serueth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go vnto the city of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed apparelled in the same armor I haue brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should deferre it till another time it would be preiudiciall to you all Wherfore I counsel you to do it vpon the first day of the next wéeke assuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor as euer were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue vntil the rolling whéele of Fortune turning about shall bring with it manie trauels passions and aduentures which shal cause many gréefes and sorrowes both to you and others And the better to make you beléeue that all I say is true I tell you that I my selfe shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my life that euer I had whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not And which is worse I cannot by any means auoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee Madame saied Esplandian before you shall receiue any hurt in our presence wee will all lose our liues to succour you My good child said she mans destiny of force must bee accomplished But I pray you let vs enter into some other talke for this maketh mee melancholy Madame saied Manely Is it not your pleasure to goe into the Towne I saied she and I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I knowe is at Alfarin and I wil giue you as great cause to reioice as euer you had for that within my shippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke wounded in a combate that hee fought against Garlante Lord of the Isle of Calafre that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante bee estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that vnlesse hee had craued mercy the king would haue stricken of his head which he spared vpon condition that during his life hee should neuer after iniury any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriuing there during their combate I heard what passed betwéene tham And because I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had vpon his body I would not leaue him but caused him to enter into my shippe and layed him in the best bed where now hée is almost healed Ha saied Esplandian What good newes are these of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead wherefore madame I pray you for Gods cause let mée craue the means to sée him with the Vrganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refraine wéeping with the great pleasure hée took to sée the king Neuerthelesse for that time they had no great spéech together neither would Vrganda permit them to do it doubting least the king being yet but weake and féeble might therby bée hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Esplandian to go forth and entring with her into the boat they rowed to the shoare from whence they led Vrganda to the best lodging in the town with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Brisenne or Oriane if any of thē had ben there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women little children that had ben kept within the town from the time that it was takē said to his companions that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence then to hold them stil for the the longer they continued in the town the
nature but by art that neither of the two Princes of those countries what force soeuer they brought hether could neuer win it And now a Giant sonne vnto my lady and mistresse and one of the most strongest and puissant knights in the East parts as many of his neighbours whose goods hee hath by force vsurped and that in despight of the Emperour or any other contradicting the same haue proued is lord thereof Where dwelleth hee saiâ—d the knight Aboue vpon the rock said the Hermite in a castle which he hath most strongly fortefied and is kept with all diligence and care by a Giant one of his brethren with others of as good condition as themselues and which is more it is not possible to come néer the castle but by a little path way whereon the sea continually beateth at the end whereof there is a pair of staires cut out of the rocke whereby you mount vp till you come to an yron gate where a villaine in whom the lord of the castle putteth his trust watcheth continually for there is no other entery but onely the great gate that is defended with strong platformes and great Towers in the middle whereof there is a dore so straight that a man on horsebacke can hardly enter therein and that way most commonly those of the castle doe vse to issue forth Before it bee night said the knight I meane to sée what manner of place it is if I can I will know who it is that was so lately brought thether God kéepe you from thence saied the Hermite for thereby you will either procure your owne death or at the least perpetuall imprisonment Happen what may said the knight I wil proue what fortune it shall please God to send mee That were but ill done of you said the Hermite for that men are bound to imploy their forces only in things that stand with reason and possibilitie thereby to reap a benefit by their labors otherwise they are to be estéemed desperat fools not valiant hardy knights adueÌ„turing without due respect not only their bodies but their souls which are of greater price and Christ himselfe hath by example plainely shewed it vnto vs for when the Deuil came and tempted him bidding him doe certain things which in déed as he was Christ were possible but as be was man were impossible to doe hee answered him that hee should not tempt the Lord his God So my good sonne said hee I would aduise you to desist from so vnreasonable an enterprise You may preach what you will to persuade me to the contrary said the knight but I must do that where vnto I am called which is to prooue my selfe in those aduentures that in mans iudgement séeme impossible otherwise those that haue foreshewed of me should not onely haue trauelled in vaine but bee estéemed liers and fooles If then their sayings bee true what greater honour can I obtain then bringing most wonderful aduentures to an end I may from henceforth therby restrain the rage and fury of such men as hurt and do iniury vnto others contrary to the laws of God and man And if they be found liers I had rather they shold be reproued for their want of knowledge then I accused of any point of cowardise And if the worst fal out I will imploy my force against such accursed people members and ministers of the deuill whom by the help of God I shal ouercome and I beléeue and am certainely persuaded that if I die in those aduentures hee will receiue my soule into his heauenly ioy The Hermite meruailed much to heare the blacke knight speake so wisely and with so great a courage neuerthelesse the great beautie and yoong yeares hée perceiued him to haue moued him to so great compassion that the teares ranne downe his eies and therewith he saied Ha good knight hee in whome thou trustest preserue thée and send thée long life and séeing thou art resolutely determined to passe forward I pray thée deferre the time for this night for it is already so late that although thou shouldest haue time inough to get vnto the gate before the sunne goeth downe yet shalt thou find it shut as it is accustomed to be wherevpon the Knight kept the Hermite company till the next day in the morning CHAP. IIII. How the blacke knight went vp the rocke where by force of armes he slue three Giants and dliuered king Luisart out of prison AT the Hermites request the knight stayed and â—are him company all night who entertained him in the best manner hee could where after they had supped they laied them downe vpon a little straw till day began to appear when they rose vp and the knight hauing said his praiers in the chappell being armed at all points tooke his leaue of the Hermite that brought him a great part of his way and had gone further but he feared the Giants Wherfore committing him to God hee tooke his leaue and returned Being gone the knight trauailed so fast that hauing coasted along the sea shore and passed the side of a great and thick forrest he descended into the goodliesh meddow that eâ—er was séene from whence hee perceiued the castle scituated vpon the top of a high rocke and making towards it hee came tâ—â— long bridge finding no other way vnto it at the end whereof was a broad causie paued with stone the sea â—â—â—ting continually against the towers out of the windowes hee espied two knights one as hee thought was a Giant the ladies sonne Notwithstanding hee stayed not but tooke his way on the left hand and â—ounting vp the steppes came to a marble gate kept by a knight all armeâ— that before he came at him cried as loud as hee could saying Thou accursed wretch the colour of thy armor fore sheweth not so much sorrow and griefe as here thou shalt receiue confusion What deuill was bee that sent thée hether being so yoong Meane time the knight by little and little got vp the hill making as if hee heard him not for hee had worke inough to looke to himselfe the way was strait and vneasie to passe and therefore hée bare his helmet vnder his arme But when hée approched the gate and heard the other continue in his brauery he answered him and said He that is afraid commonly threatneth a faâ—â—â— oâ—â— as then bâ—e some but if thou desirest to know the cause oâ—â—â—y comming open mee the gate and thou shalt sée if I can satisfie thy desire With that the Porter came downe and while the knight put on his helmet hee opened the gate and looking out cried with a loud voice come in thou vnhappy creature to the place where you 〈◊〉 any straunger had good entertainement Then the blacke knight went in and entred into a vaut meane time the gate was that whereby the place séemed very darke for there entred no light but only by a little hole that came through the rocke and as he passed forward
him goe in and there shalt thou finde the prisoner Ladie saied the knight if it were to fight I would not faile to doe your commandement but if by subtiltie I should be shut in prison you would laugh at me that I had no more wit but to put my trust in you wherefore goe you in first that whatsoeuer happeneth you may haue your part I sée well saied the lady that my labour is in vaine and all my art is nothing in respect of thée therefore I am content to doe thy will but we haue no light to sée Care you not for that saied he for I will prouide you light and with that hee pulled of the taffata that couered the scabberd of his sword whereby there was so great a brightnesse in the place as if the sunne had shone therein Then they descended into a caue where the knight perceiued king Luisart lie vpon a couch of straw with a great coller of yron about his necke and fetters on his legs whereby he indured no little paine whereat hee was so gréeued that for sorrow the teares ranne downe his eies yet would hee not disclose himselfe vnto him neither once vtter what hee thought but without making himselfe knowne said vnto him Noble king you haue beene ouerlong within this filthy place rise vp I pray you and follow mee When the king heard him speake in that manner hée made no other account but to end his daies at that time wherewith he could not refraine to wéepe and speaking vnto the old lady asked her if she knew him For saied hee since I entered into this place I neuer saw any knight nor any one that spake vnto me but that little sustenance I had was let downe at a hole from the top of this dungeon TheÌ„ she answerd him and in great despight said Thou accursed king if I had not knowne thée I would neuer haue taken paines to fetch thée so farre from hence as I haue done cursed bee the time when first I tooke it vpon mee for thou onely art the cause of my great sorrow and the sole instrument of my bereaued ioies In faith lady saied the king I know not what you meane and am very sorry for your heauinesse for I neuer sought but to doe honour and pleasure vnto all ladies and Gentlewomen that desired the same and for them haue I oftentimes enterprised many dangerous aduentures to the great perrill and hazard of my life and if it hath happened otherwise vnto you it is altogether vnknown to mee and wholly against my will wherefore I be séech you bee not offended with me but tell me where I am and in whose power I now remaine a prisoner in so great misery or by my soule I know it not neither can I so much as conceiue which way I came into this place only I remember that to second a Gentlewoman that a villaine would haue forced I entered into a tent but what happened vnto mée after that I know not but that now I find my selfe lying on straw like a théefe with yrons on my legs King said she the short time of thy continuance in this darknes hath not satisfied as I well hoped it would the great mischief I doe wish thée and that for good cause séeing that by thée onely I haue indured so much sorrow that if the heart and bowels were taken out of my body they would bee found as burning whote as flaming fire and especially for the new displeasure I haue nowe conceiued to sée thée so soone deliuered out of my hands being in good hope by thy long imprisonment to satisfie my losses past but yet I am deceiued for that fortune hath now made mee pay the vsury of my forepassed ioies hauing giuen thée into my handes from whence by the exquisite force of this diuell incarnate thou art now deliuered who hauing put to death the Gardians of this castle and slaine mine owne sonne hath constrained mee to bring him vnto thée which I neuer thought hée could haue done much lesse that euer I should haue yéelded vnto his request knowing the wrath of a woman not to haue any bridle or meanes of mittigation vntill her desired reuenge hath wrought the effect and so had it happened vnto thée without the force of this my enemy but in despight both of him and thée with mine owne handes I will slay my selfe if my aâ—cursed fortune bereaue mee not the sooner of my wretched daies Cursed bée both thou and thy King thou now hast found saied shee vnto the knight Now take him and doe thy pleasure with him I pray you then lady said hée vnlose his irons and helpe mee to lead him vp with that shee tooke the keies out of her pocket and opened the lockes of his chaines whereby the King rose vp vpon his féet and embracing the blacke Knight saied vnto him What great good or pleasure sir Knight did I euer doe you whereby you should purchase this liberty vnto me By my soule I sweare that besides the honour you haue obtained in this place you haue so much bound me vnto you that during my life I shall neuer forget your courtesie wherefore if you loue me let me know your name Noble King said the knight whosoeuer I am I account my selfe happy if many sort I may be able to doe you seruice as for the rest pardon mee if it pleaseth you and let vs goe out of this caue thanking God that oftentimes sendeth scourges vnto those hee loueth as in his heauenly wisedome he thinketh conuenient thereby to kéepe them in obedience vnto him The King pecreiuing well by the knights words that he desired not to be knowne and for the same cause kept his helmet on his head therefore hee determined not to mooue him any more but with that they went all thrée out of the caue and came into a goodly hall when the sunne began to goe downe CHAP. V. How that after King Luisart was deliuered out of prison Matroco Frerions elder brother with his ships arriued at the foot of the rocke called La Roche defendu and of the battell betweene the said Matroco and the blacke knight KIng Luisart the black knight and the lady being entred into the hall as they looked out at the windowes into the sea there entered a Gentlewoman and doing reuerence vnto the lady shee saied Madame your sonne Matroco with his ships is euen now arriued at the foote of the rock with him great numbers of other vessels that he hath taken vpon the seas What is your pleasure to say vnto him When the ladie heard her shee waxed pale and with teares in her eies answered her and said I would to God he were as farre from hence as hee is néere for my heart giueth mee he will spéed in the like maner that others haue done before him And as shee spake king Luisart and the knight looked into the sea and perceiuing the Giants fléet surging on the shoare out of wind
and weather among the which they knew Elizabeth Libee his nephue and diuers others that were bound in chaines making great sorrow but none of Matrocos men durst set foot on land hauing already ben aduertised by some of the castle of the great misfortune happened therein and for the same cause staied so long without till the Giant espied at the windowes the knight and the king looking vpon them wherewith in a great rage hée cried vnto the blacke knight whom he perceiued all armed and saied vnto him Thou accursed slaue is it thou that so cowardly hath slaine my vncle my brother and the porter of my castle When the knight heard him he answerd him and said I haue done my endeuour to make thée know that it belongeth not to such as thou art either to imprison kings or to molest and gréeue so many men as continually thou doest By all my gods said Matroco fortune fauoureth thée too much when at my arriuall I finde thée armed with the wals of this my castle for if I had thée here vpon the shore I would soone send thée fishing into the sea as I haue done many other rash and bold fooles like thy selfe that hast enterprised without cause to inforce my castle but if I continue here tenne yeares together I will neuer depart hence till I haue thée in my hands then shalt thou know how I vse to handle such as thou art Stay a while said the black knight there is much more difference betwéene saying and doing then there is distance of place betwéene thée and me Thy threatnings make me more assured wherefore now I feare thée lesser then I did before and that thou maiest well know it to bee so take thy choice whether I shall come downe to fight with thée or thou come vp to me Then shalt thou plainely sée to whome God will giue the victory either to thée that trustest in thine owne strength or to mee that trust onely in him The greatest oxen and fattest buls are oftentimes brought vnto the slaughter as well as lesser beasts So thou great beast I aduise thée to remember thy former life before worse happen vnto thée forsaking thy accursed faith which thou now holdest with might maintainest otherwise bee thou assured the wrath of God will fall vpon thée as it hath already done vpon thy friends That shall bee séene saied Matroco and if thou hast the courage to stay for mee I assure thée thou wilt bee glad to denie the villainous wordes thou now hast vttered Therefore cause the gate to bee opened for séeing thou puttest mée to my choice I will come vp to thée were it into the dungeon from whence thou hast deliuered that villaine standing by thée and therwith leauing his company behind him being all armed he began to mount vp the rocke and went vnto the castle but when he came to the yron gate which he found open because the watch had left it and were gone and saw Argantes lying dead hee was in a manner out of his wits not so much for the prowesse he knew to be in him as that he had from his youth beene nourished and bred vp in the castle by the Giant his father Neuerthelesse hée dissembled his griefe hoping to bee reuenged at his pleasure and going further in another place hee found the Giant armed all in gréene dead and freshly bléeding wherewith he was so moued that he staied and stood still and casting forth a great sigh began to crie out and saied alas Arcalaus my good vncle how néere doth the losse of thee goe to my heart wheresoeuer it had happened but especially being done within mine own castle wherein I thought long time to liue and make merry with thée Alas is fortune so cruell vnto thée that after so many trauailes and dangerous aduentures with infinite perils that in the flower of thy youth thou hast sustained thou must in thine old yeares come and receiue so cruell a death within my house which I estéemed as an assured hold and defence not only for me but for thée and the rest of our kindred and friends O immortall gods what vengeance can I take vpon the Traitor that hath so much offended me séeing that to cause him to die each day a hundred times were nothing in respect of the mischiefe he hath done vnto mée At the least if it were Amadis de Gaule so much estéemed of all men or any of his two brethren or all they thrée together my griefe would bee somewhat eased by reason of the sorrowes I would cause them to indure But what Now I am constrained to fight against one alone who by reason considring the trauell hee hath taken all this day ought already to estéeme himselfe ouercome and vanquished What glory then can I obtaine by winning victory against him Trewly as much as if I fought against a simple woman being as by nature shee is both weake and féeble so hee vnworthy of my presence will bee much prowder if I doe but make a countenance to fight with him neuerthelesse what blot soeuer may happen vnto mine honour of force hee must die In this manner did the Giant lament ouer the body of Arcalaus his dead vncle not mouing from thence till at last hee perceiued the blacke knight that stoode to heare him wherewith being somewhat ashamed he marched towards him thinking without hinderance to enter into the dungeon but hee found the blacke knight at the gate that boldly thrust him backe and saied vnto him Thou brutish and vnreasonable beast thinkest thou to enter in by force Whereat the Giant all abashed staied without and said Thou biddest me to come vp haue I thē done thée wrong to come at thy commandement No saied the knight but beholding thy countenance it séemeth thou wouldest enter by authority and therewith stepping aside he saied Now come in and doe what thou canst When the old woman with whom king Luisart talked perceiued thē ready to fight in great feare she ran out of the hall and fel downe at her sonnes féet crying out and said alas Matroco I pray thée and by the duty a child oweth vnto the mother I commaund thée not to enter into this combate for thou knowest well that of all thy brethren thou art onely left aliue wherewith my heart is so gréeued that had it not been for the loue I beare thée thou haddest found mee now at thy returne in as pittiful estate as thou séest thy brother Frerion neither is there any woman at this present liuing in the world that ought with better reason to wish for death then I. Alas what fortune is this that now again I must renue the sorrows which both time and long patience as I thought had buried in obliuiuion Alas miserable woman that I am I only haue forged the weapon that hath giuen the wound whereby at this present I receiue this dommage for vpon the day of my husbands decease thinking to reuenge the griefe
that my soule sustained I haue to the contrary aduanced mine owne shame and vtter ruine iustly receiuing the reward that belongeth vnto such as refusing the better part thinke to remedy one mischiefe by procuring a worse vpon themselues Madame said the Giant if at this present you haue receiued great losse by the death of some of your friends neuerthelesse you ought not to take it so offensiuely séeing they haue ended their daies in honourable combate as behooueth all worthy knights such as they were And as for me think you that for feare of death I will refuse to doe that whereunto by knighthood I am bound No no likewise what reason or what excuse should moue me being as I am both fresh and wel disposed to refuse the combat alone against one simple knight I deny not madame but confesse that affection causeth you to vse these words and shew the nature of a woman but you must conceiue think with your selfe that I answere you as it becommeth me preferring mine honour before your teares wherefore I beséech you suffer mee to take the small vengeance I can vpon the villaine that hath so much offended mee Matroco saied the knight thou reckonest before thine host I would not for all the gold in the world lose such an occasion offered as I now haue both for mine honour and aduantage Beléeue mee that neither thy mothers teares nor the duty thou owest vnto her as being her child can by any meanes prolong the end of thée or me if without dissimulation thou doest not by oath promise and assure mée to liue in as good sort from this time fâ—rwards as in times past thou hast liued wickedly Wherefore it were better for thée to make mee know by effect the Prowesse thou vauntest thy selfe to haue and for me to let thée sée the curtesie which it may bee thou shalt find at my hands if I ouercome thée When the lady perceiued that her prayers could take no place she left them and the two knights began to runne one vpon the other so brauely and with such fury that king Luisart beholding them thought he neuer saw so cruel a battell the which abashed him more was that hee could not presume how or in what manner the blacke Knight had found him in so strange a place and yet he knew him not sometime hee thought him to be Amadis but when he remembred the loue he bare vnto the lady Oriana that hee had newly married hee was otherwise persuaded and likewise hee remembred very well the combates hee had séene Amadis de Gaule make at Windsore against Dardan le Superbe and after that with Ardan Canile wherein hee vsed all his forces yet were they not comparable to those of the blacke knights who as then found himselfe as fresh and wel disposed to fight as if hee had not fought all the day before Againe when he thought it to be his nephew Esplandian for that Vrganda had foreshewed many wonderfull things of him he was soone dissuaded from that opinion by reason hée left him with the quéen his mother not once séeking to receiue the order of knighthood and although that since his departure out of Brittaine he might haue obtained that honour yet did hee estéeme it impossible for Esplandian to doe so valiantly at the first Further Vrganda had alwaies prophesied of him that the first valiant acts he should atchieue should be renowned and spoken of by his strange fearefull nauigation in the great serpent wherein he should be imbarked and for the blacke knight he knew he arriued there in a little barke vnfurnished whereby he estéemed it vnlikely to be his nephew Esplandian But hée thought hee neuer had séene so valiant and hardy a knight for the longer he fought the more he wearied and laboured Matroco Neuerthelesse hee continued fighting for the space of two hours together before it could be iudged who should haue the victory but in the end the Giant féeling himselfe wounded in so many places his armour altogether broken and his shield halfe clouen in two began to mistrust his owne force Wherefore stepping backe he staied his hand and saied Knight I pray thée let vs breath our selues a while and hear what I wil offer thée which cannot bee other then to thy honour and aduantage With that the knight stood still and Matroco began to speake saying I wonder sir knight what mooued thée to venture in this manner vpon this rocke wherein neuer any but thy selfe durst enterprise to come during my fathers life neither yet sithence that by his death I haue ben lord therof and besides this thy enterprise wherein thou hast done the thing that all others feared to doe before thée thoâ—â—â—st also slaine thrée of my friends whereof two of them as I thinke were the best knights in their time liuing on the earth whereby I haue iust cause to hate thee more then any man liuing But when I call to minde that thou hast done therein like a valiant and hardy knight I haue some reason to pardon thée and to estéem thee for one of the valiantest champions that euer I saw in all my life although I haue both prooued and vanquished many others longer practised in armes stronger then thy selfe Wherfore if the onely cause of thy arriuall in this place was to deliuer the king that looketh on vs I am content thou take and lead him hence in safety and for the same cause likewise I quite thée of the combate vpon condition that without long soiourning here thou shalt presentlie depart out of this castle that belongeth vnto mee When the blacke knight had heard him hée answered him and saied Giant as farre as I perceiue thou estéemest it a great enterprise that I haue done to come hether and find thée here within thy castle where by mee those that thou so much lamentest haue ben slaine but if thou knewest the maister that I serue to whom as duty bindeth mée I am obedient thou shouldest presently perceiue and plainely sée this enterprise by thée estéemed much to bee nothing in comparison of that hee is able to doe and bring to passe for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatsoeuer I haue done whereby of good right the glory belongeth vnto him and to the contrary you that are idolaters serue those that are accustomed to rocke and lul you asléepe in all kind of vices cruelties outrages thefts murthers and infinite other wickednesse which for a time doe prosper with you whereby you liue in honour riches and all worldly pleasures and so are nulled in all filthinesse but surely such manner of life may well bee compared to buildings erected vpon the sands that cannot â—ontinue long but are most sure to haue an euil end euen then â—hen they are estéemed to bee at the top of all their worldly felicity Like as it happened vnto Lucifer and his fellswes whereof it may be thou hast heard spoken Neuerthelesse if thou wilt
of comfort bâ—â— the other as much cause to rest If then it bee so as it is mâ—â—â—rue that we are all subiect to thâ— Tyrant he that hath past the flower of his youth not tasting of hâ—â— fury may not thinke himselfe in any thing more happy séeing it is his manner to constraine yoong men to loue and â—â—â—entimes old fooles to dote In that sort the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 â—ennance for the euill shee conceiued against the blacke knight and had continued longer there had it not been for feare to bee discouered Wherefore with the sword in her hand she returned backe again towards the castle without being once perceiued entered at a posterne dore whereof she had the key and so went vp into her chamber departing from the hermitage not long before her father and the dumbe man returned from the barke and found the knight sléeping who presently awaked and missing his sword asked them if they had taken it away No truly saied the Hermite for we came but now from the sea side Wherewith Esplandian estéeming it lost made account that as he had conque◠〈◊〉 after a strange maner so hée had lost it by a stranger meanes but the Hermite and the dumbe man sought it about the house and could not find it CHAP. X. How King Luisart being aduertised by Carmelle where the blacke knight was departed with her alone to find him out CArmelle returned to the castle as it is said before went to the king who at the same time was talking with master Elizabeth touching the wrong hee thought the blacke knight did him in departing thence without being knowne séeking by that meanes if it were possible to draw from him what hee knew as touching the knight but all in vain for the king was not so subtil to vndermine him but master Elizabeth was as crafty to preueÌ„t him not intending to falsifie the trust reposed in him and although the Gentlewoman had determined to shewe the king what shee had learned of the knight hoping thereby to obtaine her purpose Neuerthelesse séeing maister Elizabeth in presence shée held her peace till he went away and perceiuing the king alone said vnto him My lord if it pleaseth your grace to shew mee so much fauour as to assist mee in a thing that importeth as much as my life in behalfe of the knight that you so much desire to sée before to morrow at night I will shew him vnto you if you think good in such a place where you may easily speake with him and to the end you shall not suspect me of vntruth I wil shew you a certaine token that when you sée it I am assured you will easily beléeue me Gentlewoman said the king if you doe so I wil not faile if it be possible to satisfie your request I beséech your grace saied she when you are both togither it would please you to be a mean vnto him in my behalfe to graunt me a gift that I shall ask him By the faith of a Prince saied hée I will not faile to doe it nor a greater matter then that if it lieth in my power Then follow me saied the Gentlewoman bringing him where shee had laied the sword and shewing it vnto him asked if he had neuer séene it That I haue said the king and I would to God the knight that knoweth so well how to handle it were as néere vnto mee as it is You shall sée him in the morning saied she if it pleaseth you to follow me That will I doe saied the king armed or vnarmed I estéeme not whether so I may sée him Then be you ready saied she when I shall call and let no man go with you Content said the king wherewith hee went out of the chamber and passing through the court he met Libee and others to whome hee saied that in the morning he meant to walke along the rocke because maister Elizabeth had certefied him it was so goodly a countrey and that none but Carmelle should beare him company and falling into other spéeches they passed the time till they went to rest but the king could not sléepe for the great desire he had to sée the knight whereby he was hardly fallen asléep when Carmelle came to awake him saying My lord may it please your grace to remember your promise Let vs goe saied hée and there with making himselfe ready commanded two horses to bée sadled one for himselfe the other for Carmelle and issuing out of the castle rode towards the Hermitage And they had not trauelled farre but they perceiued a man comming towards them in great hast and as hee came néereâ— the Gentlewoman knew him asking what he meant to make such hast and whether hée rode I ride to the castle said hee to fetch Matroco and his brother Frerian with all spéed to helpe their vncle Lindoraque who comming to sée theÌ„ hath met with two knights armed all in white that haue slaine his men and as I thinke I left him in as great danger as possible may bee When the king heard him hee thought them to bee of the blacke knights company and said vnto the GentlewomaÌ„ I pray you stay here with this man and I will ride to sée them and with that hee set spurres to his horse and taking the same way the other came he perceiued a far off the two knights fighting with the Giant that defended himselfe most valiantly with his mare forcing them oftentimes to recule but the two knights as bold and nimble handled him in such sort that hee knew not how to defend himselfe and if hee had not slaine one of their horses it had gone worse with him Neuerthelesse the knight on horsebacke seeking to reuenge his companion was nothing abashed but when the other rose vp set fiercelier vpon the Giant then before in such manner that they closed and striuing together sought by all meanes to vnhorse each other Mean time the knight on foot went vnto the Giant and taking him by the left leg pulled him by such force that both hee and the other knight fell off their horses and holding each other fast the Giant fell vnder with his face vpwards wherewith the knight that threw him downe thrust him into the face that hee was constrained to let goe his hold neuerthelesse rising vp againe with great force and laying hold vpon the knight that had so wounded him hee threw him on the ground meane time the other gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the head that hée began to réele and therewith stretching out his legs yéelded vp the ghost With that the king rode somewhat néerer and perceiued the two knights to beare black crosses that shewed theÌ„ to be Christians wherefore riding boldly vnto them hee went so néere that they knew him wherevpon they went to doe him honour much abashed to sée him But the king perceiuing the honour they did him was no lesse abashed and saied vnto them My good friendes I know you not I pray
you put off your â—â—â—â—ets that I may sée your faces which they did whereby he knew the one to bee Talanque sonne of Galaor the other Ambor de Gâ—â—el sonne of Angriote destrauaulx whoÌ„ he friendly imbraced saied vnto them In faith my good friends it is not without cause if it liketh you well to sée mee here for all my life haue I desired the companies of your fathers the like doe I of their children wherefore for the loue of God I pray you shew mee what straunge aduenture hath brought you into this country And it pleaseth your grace said Talanque we séeke after a knight armed all in blacke of whome as yet wee can heare no newes Doe you know his name said the king That wee doe said Ambor for it is your nephew Esplandian that contents me said the king doe but follow mee and I will bring you where hee is With that Ambor who before was alighted to honour the king mounted againe on horsebacke and Talanque on the Giants horse for his owne was slaine and all thrée together rode the way the king came thether till such time they espied the Gentlewoman that staid for him who perceiuing them to ride in such hast towards her was in mind to haue fled away fearing they had taken the king and forcibly had him with them but perceiuing them by their gestures to be his friends shée staied till they came vnto her saying to the king My lord where hath your grace gotten company so soone Gentlewoman said he you shall know it all in good time but what haue you done saied hee with the man that I left with you Let vs know what newes he hath told you Truly said she I had no sooner assured him of the death of Matroco and the rest of the castle but hee fled ouer this hill as if all the deuils in hell had ben behind him yet he tolde mée that the Giant his maister had heard some rumour thereof and for the same cause was comming to the castle to know the truth accompanied only with two knights that he caused to ride before him but to their hard fortunes for he found them both slain not knowing who had done it but only that not long after hee met with two strange knights that assailed him and left them fighting as hee saied together By God saied the king if the first two knights sped hardly their maister that followed after them had little better entertainement for they are all slain â—pon the way and here are the knights that did it whome I pray you let vs take with vs for they are friends and companion vnto the knight you haue promised to shew me Let vs goe then saied shée séeing it is your graces pleasure and therewith they rode vnto the Hermitage at the entery whereof they found the Hermite set vpon a stone who being abashed to sée his doughter in such company asked whether shee went Father saied shee here is king Luisart your Prince and mine whom I haue brought to sée you And although the Hermite had not séen him in long time before yet he presently knew him where with hee stepped to kisse his féete which the king would not suffer him to doe but imbraced him and lighting off his horse followed the Gentlewoman till hée met the dumbe man that hearing the noise and trampling of horses came to see who they were and perceiuing the king hee bowed his head before him Neuerthelesse the king went forward not staying to speake vnto him entring presently after Carmelle into the chamber where he found the knight set vpon the beds side Wherwith Esplandian presently knew him and knéeled downe before him but the king taking him vp wéeping for ioy imbraced him With that Talanque and Ambor entred in and perceiuing their companion that they so long had sought were maruellous glad and comming to imbrace him the king said to Esplandian My sonne although you haue sought by all meanes to hide your selfe from vs yet God hath so wrought that at one instant we haue al thrée found you out wherefore I pray you let vs depart hence and go with vs vnto the castle where you shall bee better at your ease then in this simple Hermitage My lord saied hee I am at your commaundement with that hee went to imbrace Talanque and Ambor asking them and they him what had happened vnto theÌ„ since Vrganda caused them to be dubbed knights By Gods helpe said the king you shall stay to he 〈◊〉 the sequell vntill wee bee in the castle for then you shall haue better leisure to declare the same With that he called Carmelle willing her to returne with all dilligence to th◠〈◊〉 and commaund Libee to bring one of Matrocos horses 〈◊〉 splaâ—â—ian My lord saied Ambor it will bee late before he common hether he shaâ—â— rather haue my horse and I will goe on foote but 〈◊〉 shall not saied the king get you vpon Carmelles horse and let 〈◊〉 sit vp behind you In which manner they road vnto the castle after whom the Hermite and the dumb man followed as fast as they could But they scarce alighted off their horses Ambor and Talanque being vnarmed but Carmelle moued with the extreame passions of loue she bare vnto the blacke knight had almost slaine her selfe with the sword that the day before she had stollen from him the occasion wherof procéeded from a conceit that he would disdaine her as vnworthy of him hee being the sonne of Amadis de Gaule as shee vnderstood yet in the end she remembred the promise the king had made wherefore she determined to desire so much of him to be a meanes vnto Esplandian that he would graunt she might neuer be absent from him but would serue him during her life with all fidelitie and to the same end putting her determination in effect as they sat all together she knéeled before the king and saied My lord now your grace séeth I haue kept my promise That is true saied he and while I liue I will not be vnmindfull of it My lord said shée then I trust your grace hath not forgotten the gift you promised mee and to performe your word I pray you be a meanes to the black knight that hee will graunt mee my request Gentlewomen saied the king bee you assured I will doe it with all my heart Your grace saied she as yesterday gaue mee leaue to visite my father in the Hermitage who as it fortuned when I came thether was gone forth whereat I was abashed because he neuer vsed to bee farre from thence And finding the dore open I went into a chamber that I caused to bee furnished wherein sometimes I vse to lie when time or foule weather would not permit me to returne vnto the castle where I found this knight pointing to Esplandian which you all so much desired to sée fast sléeping his sword hanging at his beds head where with not long sit hence he hath slaine those that
importunity he was content wherewith hee tooke his leaue of all the court and vpon a monday in the morning taking horse accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil his squire hee tooke his way towards the Ferme Isle hoping to finde the great Serpent there wherein they might imbarke themselues CHAP. XV. How Esplandian riding towards the Ferme Isle was assailed by a strange knight that watched him in the forrest ESplandian departed from the king and hauing taken his leaue of all the court as you heard before tooke the crookeddest way hee could through woods and forrests towards the Ferme Isie thinking not to bee perceiued of any that might hinder his enterprise And hauing ridden thrée miles he entered into a forrest which hauing almost passed hée came vnto a great riuer wherevpon the king had built a house called Bellerose where oftentimes being on hunting hee vsed to resort And as he thought to passe the bridge he perceiued on the other side a knight armed at all points ready to fight that cried vnto him with a loud voice and said Sir knight you must aske me leaue if you wil come ouer for according to my promise I haue taken vpon mee to kéepe this bridge for the space of one whole yeare wherefore if you thinke good you may take some other way With that Esplandian was much gréeued perceiuing that either of force he must fight or séeke another passage wherfore he would willingly haue excused himselfe said Sir knight I pray you then shew mee which way I were best to goe for by me you shall haue no cause at this time to trouble your selfe You must returne again to London said he for other passage is there none vnlesse you will loose your horse and goe on foot Rather the I would doe so said Esplandian I will proue if I can win yours and therewith lacing his helmet tooke his launce and road vnto the knight who no sooner perceiued him comming but setting spurres to his horse ranne towards him whereby they met so fiercely together that both the knights fell off their horses in such manner that maister Elizabeth and Sergil thought verily they had slaine each other but they staied not long before they rose againe and laying hand on their swordes there began betwéene them the cruellest and most daungerous battell that euer was séene whereat maister Elizabeth much abashed said vnto himselfe Good God what may this meane I beléeue for certain that some diuell of hell hath transformed himselfe into humane shape to destroy vs all Meane time the two knights continued in most cruell fight still increasing their mights cleauing shields and armours in such sort that all the field was couered with péeces of the harneis and died with blood that issued from their bodies till at the last the knight of the bridge stept backe said vnto Esplandian Sir knight take another way and I am content to quite you of the combate for you are the valiantest knight that euer I dealt withall and it should displease mee much if by your wilfulnesse you would be cause of your owne death In good faith saied he I had done it at the first had it not beene the feare I had that you would estéeme me a coward but knowing very wel that the honour of this combate cannot bee had but onely by the death of one of vs or both together I will trie my fortune till I bee no longer able to weld a sword Is that true said the knight Then let vs sée to whom fortune will be fauourable And therewith couering themselues with that little of their shields that rested in their hands they began the combate crueller then before as though all the day they had not giuen a stroke so that after many cruel blowes with their swords they closed together and wrastling long time they sought to cast each other to the ground But séeing the little aduantage gotten thereby they began againe to lay on with their swords with such fury that Sergil looked for no other but when they should fall dead vpon the ground not béeing able to iudge who would haue the victory Whereat maister Elizabeth was so much displeased that hee could not abstaine from wéeping saying vnto himselfe Alas what fortune is this must the best knight liuing in the world and in the flower of his age lose his life at that time by so hard a chaunce Cursed be the day that euer he met with him that is the cause of so great losse And to say truth if God had not prouided for them the father had slain the sonne and the sonne the father for the knight of the bridge was Amadis de Gaule who being ouer curious of his sonnes glory would proue his force and the better to doe it the day before Esplandian tooke his leaue hee departed secretly from the court and staied for him at the bridge bearing an vnknowne armour where after many attempts on either part giuen Amadis perceiuing both their dangers said vnto Esplandian Knight you sée well you cannot ouercome mee and I assure you I neuer had to doe with any knight that euer put mee to so great extreamity wherefore I am content to let you passe But not I you saied he vnlesse you tell me your name I will not deny you that saied Amadis wherefore cause maister Elizabeth to come hether for I thinke we haue both néed of his helpe Then Esplandian called him vnto them meane time Amadis put off his helmet so faint and weary that hée was constrained to leane vnto a trée But when Esplandian knew him and perceiuing the fault he had committed he cast forth a grea◠crie and saied Alas wicked wretch that I am and therewith he fell vpon the ground whereat maister Elizabeth and Amadis thinking him to bee in a sound ranne to lift him vp but it was not so onely that it gréeued him hée had dealt in such manner with his father who said vnto him sonne although I am as sore wounded as possible may bee without death yet haue I not receiued so much hurt as conceiued pleasure perceiuing the valour I find to be in you wherefore bee not discomforted Notwithstanding he could not content himselfe but cursed his owne life being as he said the most vnhappy man that euer was borne of woman And continuing in that gréefe the blood in diuers places ranne out of his body whereby he waxed faint which maister Elizabeth perceiuing and knowing assuredly if remedy were not spéedily had they were both in danger of their liues hee saied vnto them I pray you for this time leaue off your sorrow and let vs presently go to Mirefleur not far from hence for you both haue greater néede of rest then of longer staying in this place wherewith he and Sergil set them on their horses and with great pain brought them to the castle where their wounds were dressed Such was the combate betwéene the two knights as you haue heard yet some write that
that had robbed mee scattered themselues in companies to find them out where they staied so long that the shéepheard and his wife went out of the house and thinking to haue their parts left mee alone with the child that not long after I tooke in mine armes and went away But as it fell out the nurse came in and missing the child called to them for help who running in great hast followed mée so fast that had it not ben for night that ouertooke them and the great fire you found about mee I had neuer escaped their hands And what would they haue done with this poore infant said Manely You shall vnderstand said she that the sonne of Garadan hauing conceiued a mortal hatred against the Emperour either because he could not haue the entertainement hee thought hee had deserued or else gréeued as I thinke that hee could not attaine vnto the Empire as hee pretended determined not onely to reuenge himselfe vpon this little child but to kill the Emperour likewise if euer he haue the means By God said the king of Denmark hée is a wicked and cruell hearted man but assure your selfe that God wil not permit it to be so Neuerthelesse I am in doubt this child will indure much woe séeing you haue no meanes to giue it sucke Let me alone with that said Vrganda for I haue certain hearbes about me with the iuice wherof I will nourish it if néed be eight daies together What saied hee will you then stay here so long No said Vrganda for as soone as it is day I will returne vnto my boat that staieth here at the shoare But madame saied they what shal become of vs for we are arriued here not knowing who brought vs hether But for Gods sake if you haue heard any newes of our companions let vs knew it and where wee may goe to find them My friends said shee you must first let desteny haue his course and indure many hard aduentures when time serueth you shall haue your desires And in that manner sometimes talking and sometimes sléeping they passed the time away till day began to appeare when they thrée together went to the sea side where they entered into Vrgandas boat wherein foure Gentlewomen and two dwarfes staied for her CHAP. XVII How Vrganda departed from the two knights and being guarded by two dragons went vnto the Emperours court to deliuer them their yoong sonne for the losse whereof all the court was in an vprore FOr a time Vrganda staied with the two knights not minding presently to ease the Emperours mind with the recouery of his sonne in the end she caused them to returne vnto their barke willing them from that time forwards to arm themselues against the assaults of fortune although she séemed neuer so variable and vnconstant For said shée therefore was the order of knighthood instituted appointed that thereby it might appeare more excellent And they were no sooner departed but she set foot on land and mounted on a palfrey with the child in her lappe shee rude forward with two dragons to guard her one vpon her right hand the other vpon the left that bare her company till shée came to Triol where the Emperour helde his court And approching the Towne she met great companies of knights that went to séeke the child who séeing those horrible beasts casting fire out of their mouths for feare they began to flie whereat Vrganda smiled At the last Florestan king of Sardinia comming that way hauing ridden a great compasse about to pursue Garadans sonne and returning as then all weary sore trauailed with his horse tyred perceiuing the people to runne so fast asked them the cause wherewith they shewed him a farre off what they had séene but hee not abashed went towards the dragons thinking if it were possible to fight with them and as he came néerer vnto them he knew Vrganda and spurring his horse hee thought to salute her but the more hee prickt him forwards the more the horse gaue backe whereby he was constrained to light downe and saluting her he tooke her by the hand but the dragons vanished away whereat hee was abashed which Vrganda perceiuing said vnto him In faith sir knight they haue good cause to giue you place knowing well the magnanimitie of your inuincible courage And for my part I estéeme my selfe better guarded being in your company then I did before wherfore I pray you leaue me not till I haue deliuered this child vnto his mother which I haue recouered from the villaines that had stollen it from her Is it possible madame said Florestan that the emperour should receiue so great a pleasure by your means Shew mee I pray you if it pleaseth you how you procured the same You shall know it saied she when time serueth till then content your selfe and mounting on horsebacke I pray you bring mée to the citty of Triol With that they rode together till they came to the Emperours court where they found the Empresse halfe dead for sorrow but when shee heard the good newes Vrganda brought her sorrow turned to excéeding ioy And for that the emperour being armed was ridden out to séeke the child as others did shee sent men on all sides to certefie him thereof hee hauing intelligence thanked God with all his heart and turned backe to sée Vrganda that told him in what manner she found the child as you haue heard before Where wee leaue her and returne to shew you of Manely and the king of Denmarke who in the mean time were at sea in so horrible a tempest that they thought to haue ben drowned CHAP. XVIII Of the strange aduentures that the king of Denmarke and Manely had after they departed from Vrganda and what pastime they had with two great apes in an Island where by chaunce they arriued AFter the king of Denmarke and Manely departed from Vrganda they entered into their barke where their two Squires staied for them and so imbarked presently hoised saile and put to sea the weather very peaceable and calme but they had not sailed long when a contrary winde began to rise wherewith the waters grew so high and the sea began to swell so bigge that one while it séemed to mount vnto the skies and againe to descend as low as the bottomelesse pit of hel whereby their little barke was oftentimes couered with water hauing neither maste saile nor cable but all rent in péeces And that which abashed thē most was that night comming vpon them it was so darke they could not sée the length of their boat in which torment they continued for the space of thirty daies together till at the length it cast them vpon an Island where being arriued about sunne setting they landed Then commaunding one of their squires to kéepe their boat being armed at all points they went into the Island to sée if they could find any fresh water or other victuals for they had not sufficient in
many times you shall desire death And opening the packet she tooke forth a white armour all set with crownes of gold inriched with Pearles and Diamonds most sumptuous to behold Which Esplandian with harty thanks vnto Vrganda and the messenger receiued willingly This as I thinke madame said Carmelle is the cause why he hath ben called the blacke knight but I suppose séeing hee hath chaunged his deuise he will likewise change his name The Princesse Leonorine knew thereby that all these thinges were saied as touching her wherewith shee felt an alteration in her mind for that loue by little and little began to burne her heart which shee had willingly couered but Carmelle by the changing of her colour which sometimes waxed pale and sometimes redâ— the sundry motions wherewith swéet loue did pricâ—e her 〈◊〉 heart perceiued it â—ull well in such manner that being no longer able to abstaine â—rom sighing as if she had spoken to her selfe she said I pray God his beginning may proue a happy end Wherâ—with Carmelle perceiuing her maisters suâ—â—â— prospeâ— with effeâ—t the better to encrease the desire of the lady 〈◊〉 said vnto her madame he hath commanded me not to stay long here for till my returne he doth continue in excéeding paine and neuer shall bée frée if hee receiue no comfortable answere from your â—race Gentlewoman saied â—he Princesse I were the most vngratefull Princesse liuing on â—he earth if I should doe so but tell him I pray you from me that I giue him hearty thankes for the courtesies hee offereth mee by you and when he once arriueth here hée shall soone know the great good will I beare him As also that I hold him for my knight for proofe whereof you shall on my behalfe present him with this â—airelace as being the first present that Grimanaise my grandfather gaue to his Appolidon being but her louer Wherewith taking a cloth of tissue from her head she vnbound her hair and deâ—iuered the hairelace vnto her and sending for a gowne imbroâ—ered all with crownes of gold gaue it her likewise But saied shee because the two knights haue promised the Emperour not â—o depart from hence till eight daies are past you shall stay for them and all together return vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu which she willingly graunted CHAP. XXIII How newes was brought vnto the Emperour that Armato king of Turkie had besieged the castle of La montaigne defendu and of the charge he gaue Frandalo with Manely and the king of Denmarke to goe succour it IN manner as you heard before the two knights of the Ferme Isle and Carmelle staied at Constantinople where there arriued a certaine shippe that brought a Squire on message from Talanque and Ambor to certefie the Emperour that Armatâ— king of Turkie aduertised of the death of Matroco had besieged the castle La montaigne defendu both by land and sea desiring him to send some aid otherwise they should bée constrained to yéeld the same not hauing victuals nor men for to defend it The Emperor hearing those newes and considering the truce betwéene him and the king of Turkes as also that hee had not any men prepared for to send neither Gally Galliace ship nor Brigandine ready for the sea stood somewhat in amase But considering with himselfe of what importaunce that Frontier castle might bee vnto him if the enemy should obtaine it he determined by all meanes to hinder him from the same Wherfore calling for Frandalo and taking him aside he said vnto him Well Frandalo you are now my prisoner and it lieth in me either to hang you like a théefe or deliuer you with greater riches then euer you possessed which I promise you to doe if from this time forwards you sweare to bee my loiall subiect and faithfully to serue me when you are imploied My lord saied hee I beséech your grace wholly to forget the faults by me committed to your Maiestie swearing of my faith if it pleaseth you to pardon my offence you shal from henceforth find a seruant of me that in time will make you knowe by effect how much I estéeme this fauour at your hands Will you doe it said the Emperor I and it pleaseth your grace said he What is become of your Nauie saied the Emperour that in times past you held vpon the sea My lord saied Frandalo the winds tempests that lately happened on the sea hath so scattered them that I can heare no newes of them Neuerthelesse I am of opinion they may easily be brought together wherewith I will doe your grace seruice if you thinke good Doe it then saied the Emperor and that with spéed for I haue determined to raise the greatest army that euer hath been séene therewith to driue Armato king of Turkie out of the Frontiers of my Empire who not long since hath besieged La montaigne defendu And while my forces are preparing you with the two knights that of late came hether shall goe before and vsing meanes to assemble your men shall in the meane time giue the Turkes somewhat to doe My lord said Frandalo God giue me grace to doe you faithful seruice then be you ready in the morning saied he to depart from hence wherewith hée commanded Frandâ—â—os ship to bee rigged and prepared with al things necessary and finding Manely and the king of Denmarke he told them that he had receiued news from Talanque and Ambor touching the â—astle of La montaigne defendu and what hee had determined to doe as concerning their reléefe shewing them what had passed betweene him and Frandalo touching the same Wherefore my good friends saied hee because I well perceiue the great desire you haue to sée your companions me thinketh it were good you imbark your selues with him who goeth before to aduertise them of the aide I meane to send them My lord saied Manely it is our whole desires In the morning said the king you shal haue your bark ready and furnished with all things necessary and some other of my ships likewise to second you attending the great army my selfe dooth meane to bring But before their departure hee gaue them diuers rich presents which they refused contenting themselues with the honor and courteous intertainement hee had already giuen them and taking their leaue of all the court especially of the Princesse Leonorine they took sea and Carmelle with them hoping to haue her maisters great good will for the good newes she brought him But before we passe further to shew you what became of them I thinke it not out of our hystory to leaue Esplandian no longer at Miresleur but shew you what became of him being healed of his wounds CHAP. XXIIII How Esplandian healed of his wounds tooke leaue of king Luisart and all the court to goe vnto the Ferme Isle where hee left the great Serpent wherein accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil he imbarked himselfe to returne vnto the castle of La montaigne defendu MAny
imbarking to take sea and what time they were at sea before they discouered any land till in the end saied hee we espied this country where Sergil and I tooke land in good time for Gandalin and Lazinde as hereafter they may shew you But you saied hee to Norandel tell me of your faith how was it your chance in so good time to méet with vs In truth saied Norandel the peace made betwéene Amadis and the king I departed from the court to séek some strange aduentures that commonly are found in this country of Almaigne where I had no sooner arriued but I had certaine newes of my fathers absence whereat I was so gréeued that to find him out I haue trauailed the countries of Denmark Poland Russia Sweathland Hungarie and all this country euen vnto this place where it is said there dwels two giants who as they are all of one nature exercise innumerable cruelties against those they méete the yonger of them waiting continually about this place for such as passe this way And therefore when I saw you first I thought one of you thrée to be the Giant thinking to fight with him or lose my life therefore which I wil yet doe if you let me passe By God saied Gandalin you lost your labour séeking for the king so shall you likewise doe if you take this enterprise in hand Wherefore saied Norandel Because saied he you sée him here in presence that easeth you of that burthen With that he shewed him in what manner Esplandian had fought with the Giants and how he Lazinde and diuerse others were prisoners in their house from whence Esplandian had deliuered them Before God saied Norandel the newes liketh mee wel for I neuer thought in long time any such aduenture would haue happened vnto him not knowing he had receiued the order of knighhood You sée it is so saied Esplandian and maister Elizabeth can tell you more if it pleaseth you to goe with vs. Let vs goe then said Norandel for I would gladly sée him With that they rode towards the sea till they espied the great Serpent wherein they imbarked themselues where Norandel Gandalin and Lazinde vnderstood by master Elizabeth what had happened to Esplandian from the day hee receiued the order of knighthood And although Norandel determined with all spéed to return into great Brittaigne yet hee chaunged his mind when hee heard so strange and maruailous news of his nephew Esplandian to whoÌ„ he said My lord séeing fortune hath brought vs so well together I pray you let me not leaue your company till some occasion bee ministred vnto vs. Vncle saied Esplandian I am content and I pray you let it be so In that manner they passed the rest of the day in the great Serpent minding the next day because shée stirred not to take land againe to sée if they could finde any more aduentures And they had scarse fallen asléepe but the Serpent began of it selfe to saile forward so swiftly that by sunne rising they had lost the sight of any land not ceasing for to saile sixe daies together before they espied land the seuenth day when the sunne began to shine it staied at the Isle Saint Mary which maister Elizabeth presently knew as hauing ben there before with Amadis de Gaule when he fought with Landriaque wherefore he saied vnto the knights In good faith I remember that once as I trauailed on the sea with my lord Amadis wee were cast vpon this Island by so great a tempest that we thought verily to haue béen drowned And if then at sea wee had great feare of death béeing landed our feare did more increase and that with so good cause that I cannot chuse but tremble to remember it What saied Esplandian Can a danger so long time past bréed so great a feare as you séeme to haue Sir saied maister Elizabeth some men to hide the truth make a great matter of a small but if you had séen as much as I then saw and that which as yet you may behold if it pleaseth you to goe where I was once you shall find that I haue no lesse occasion and there is Gandalin that can witnesse it as wel as I. I pray you bring vs thether said Esplandian with that they caused the horses to be vnshipt and going to land they mounted vp the Island til they came to the castle where Amadis staied certain daies to be healed of his wounds where they found a knight that kept it forthe Emperour who being aduertised by maister Elizabeth what knights they were hee had brought thether bad them heartely welcome offering them all the pleasure he could shew but they staying not there went forwards to the place where Amadis fought with Landriaque where the Emperour had erected both their Images so like vnto them that there wanted only life to expresse the same Which maister Elizabeth shewed vnto the knights and to the end said he you beléeue mee better another time I pray you behold well the forme of this great diuell who before my lord Amadis arriued had vtterly destroied this most fertile Island And therewith hee shewed them from point to point what had passed touching the same as you haue heard at large set downe in the third booke of this our hystorie whereat they were all abashed especially to think how Landriaque could bee slaine or ouercome by one knight alone For although this image were but a sencelesse thing yet it made theÌ„ abashed which hauing long time beheld and visiting other places worthy memory they returned to the great Serpent which presently departed from the Isle and with a good winde in fiue daies after arriued within half a mile of Constantinople where it began to cast forth fire in so furious manner that the saylers and others that perceiued it fled all away doubting the fury of that monster wherewith the Cittizens were in such a feare that newes was brought vnto the Emperour who as then was talking with the ladies whom he led vnto the towers of his pallace to sée what it might be when they perceiued the great Serpent and the sea raging so sore about it that it séemed a gulfe of fire wherewith they were in such a feare and the Emperour likewise that he coÌ„manded al men to be armed fearing it would come into the Towne and so destroy them al. But Gastilles that had séene it oftentimes assured the Emperour that it was the ship of the knight Esplandian which Vrganda brought first into great Brittaigne And to the end my lord saied hee you shall not doubt thereof if it pleaseth you I will goe sée if the sonne of Amadis be there and bring him vnto you Doe so I pray you saied the Emperour With that Gâ—stilles went vnto the Hauen entring into a Gally that hee found ready to put to sea commanding the maister thereof to row vnto the great Serpent but whatsoeuer hee could say the maister would not stirre one foote till such time hee
of their long staying with the Princesse to whom Frandalo in most courteous maner saied Madame Is it not your pleasure meane time that I and my companion goe vnto the towne to stay here for vs with this Gentlewoman and my cousin Foron I truly said Heliaxa and I will not depart from hence before I heare of you againe With that Frandalo and Esplandian ranne in great hast towards the Towne where they found their companions fighting with those of Alfarin among the which were Talanque Ambor the king of Denmarke Gandalin and Lazinde that had giuen the town a hard skirmish on that side thinking to giue them so much to doe that in the meane time the army by sea might assaile the water gate but they were too soone discouered whereby they found great resistance on all sides Neuerthelesse Norandel and Belleris had gotten the Barriers and repulsed the enemies vnto the pallisadoes Which Esplandian and Frandalo perceiuing they lighted on foot and being couered with their shields their swords in their hands passed through the prease and with bold courage went so farre that they slewe great number of the enemies for the Alfarins to defend their citty issued out of the gates and the Christians to winne it did most valiantly but the place was so narrow they could not hurt their enemies so much as in the opeÌ„ field Whereby it happened that Frandalo and Esplandian minding either to winne or loose stepped so farre forward that the Alfarins flying into the towne and they after found themselues alone within the same among their enemies and that so farre that had it not ben for Frandalo Esplandian that tooke no care but only to kill and ouerthrow the enemy had ben inclosed by them but hee pulled him backe Whereby the two knights perceaued the danger they were in wherefore by little and little they got vnto the steps that went vpon the wallâ— where they sustained many hard assalts without being hurt although the enemy ceased not to throw Launces Stones Darts and all other weapons at them they could find none of theÌ„ daring come to handle strokes for if any aduanced himselfe to shew his Prowes it cost him his life or els was throwne downe headlong Meane time Norandel and his company that had séene Frandalo and Esplandian shut into the towne sought by all meanes to scale the wals or else to breake the gates but all in vaine for they within defended it so well with Oile scalding Water Logs and Stones that diuers of them were ouerthrowne and ended their liues most miserably And fighting in that sort a knight all armed came from the Hauen crying with a loud voice and said Be of good courage my children be of good courage defend this quarter well for our enemies on the sea side haue not as yet found meanes to set one man on land and yet haue lost aboue two hundred of their men By God saied one of them I sée not one that standeth idle yet can we not ouercome these two knights Why so said the other They are saied he entered in among vs and wee haue ben these two howers fighting with them but all in vaine for the yoongest of them fighteth so valiantly that wee dare not approch them And which is more hee and his companion in despight of vs all haue gotten those staires where they now defend themselues and that so well that we can find no means to driue them thence although many of our men haue been slain by them others cruelly wounded I am of opinion said the knight that wee receiue theÌ„ vnto mercy for it may bee they are such men that for to haue them againe the enemy will bée glad to giue king Armato in exchange and returne againe into their country Wherevnto they all agéed and therewith the knight that had giuen them that counsell made signes vnto Esplandian that they would parley with them whereby the assault ceased for a time and the knight spake vnto them in this manner Sir knights you sée it is impossible for you to escape from hence and it were great pitty that two so valiant knights should die so yoong now in the flower of your ages But this wee will doe yéeld your selues and wee will saue your liues Sir knight saied Esplandian If wee die at this time we are quit for euer after but so much there wanteth therof and wee haue so good hearts and so sure a confidence in Iesus Christ in whose quarrell we fight that wee hope he will giue vs meanes not only to escape this danger but to spoile the Towne and lead you prisoners with vs Wherefore take this counsell for your selues and yéelde you vnto vs before the wrath of God bée further moued against you When they that stood about them heard those wordes both great and small began to crie with a lowd voice saying Stay that villaine let him die or wee will die here at his féet wherewith they assailed them so fiercely that they were constrained to get vpoÌ„ the highest steps But not long after they repulsed the enemy so valiantly with stones whereof they found great quantity vpon the Portall that from that time forwards they had no longer stomacks to assaile them But Norandel and the rest being without vnderstanding the noise and the voice of their companions whome they estéemed dead or taken prisoners determined to set fire on the gates while the rest assailed the towne Wherewith euery man ranne to fetch wood which the Alfarins perceiued but to conclude they could not shun it but whether they would or not the draw-bridge and the gates were set on fire wherewith they were so abashed that most part of them began to flie vnto the great temple of Iupiter the principall place of strength within their citty the rest staying behind with full determination rather to die then suffer the Christians to enter the Towne And séeing the gates burnt downe so many of them ranne to fetch water that not long after the Christians had meanes to assaile the towne on that side which assault continued so long that day failed yet could they not enter by reason of the great resistance the Alfarins made but the two knights that were aboue did them so much hurt with blockes and stones that not any of them durst appeare whereby the Christians became maisters of the towne Wherin great number of people both men women and children were put to the sword and more had died had it not ben night specially on the water side where Gâ—stilles and his army entred with most great fury Neuerthelesse fearing least the Alfarins should assemble againe and in the night they might bee repulsed hee commanded a retraict to bee founded being well assured the next day to haue the towne at their pleasure And for the same cause he sent to the army on land that they should do the like wherewith euery man retired setting watch in those places where most néed required The towne in this
desire that daily more more increaseth in him to be your faithfull knight But before you procéed further it is conuenient you grant me two requests the one that neither you nor any other shall looke into the tombe vntill the morning that I returne againe with the keye to open a Cedar chest that you shall find therin the other that after you haue opened it you shall giue it me to carry with me to the place where my father kéepeth his hermitage therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a christian as you haue vnderstood Carmelle my friend said the princes that am I content to doe neuerthelesse I am much abashed why Esplandian deferreth the time so long before he commeth to sée the Emperour Madame said shee I will tell you that to morrow meane time I pray you determin where you will haue our men to set downe their charge In the great hall said Leonorine that my gentlewomen may sée it at their ease In faith madame you shall pardon me said Carmelle this place is too open and ouer common to leaue so precious a thing standing therein I denie not to let them haue the pleasure to behold it but hauing séene it for the more safetie it shall be set into your owne chamber wherof you and none other shall haue the keye With that they that bare the tombe entered into the hall and set it downe till Leonorine and the rest of the gentlewomen had beheld it long and if Carmelle had not béene there assure your selues it had béene better visited than it was but she would not depart from thence till it was shut vp Which done taking her leaue as shée went out she tooke the Princes aside and giuing her the keye of the chest wherein Esplandian lay said vnto her Madame I leaue you in this tombe two inestimable treasures although their difference be great as you may will perceiue you being alone for it is sure that vnder this keye lyeth the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée without staying Leonorines answer she went out of the chamber and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ship leauing the princes in a maruellous doubt by reason of the words shee vsed vnto her there with did so certainely persuade her selfe that her friend Esplandian lay dead within the same that she was constrained to cause all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber only quéene Minoresse that staied to beare her company with that she threw her selfe on her bed almost drowned in teares began to make the greatest sorrow in the world Quéene Minoresse abashed at so suddain alteration knew not what to think but perceiuing her gréefe to increase still more more went vnto her and said Madame I pray you hide the cause of this sorrowe from me no longer for I sweare vnto you of my faith if by any means I may reléeue the same I will deale therin as for my selfe Leonorine that neuer ceased sighing could not answer her one word but with much importance at the last answered her and said Alas my good friend for Gods cause let me be in rest and let it suffice you that you know that I neuer was so desirous for to liue as I am at this present to die What Madame said the Quéene will you tell me nothing els No said shée In good faith then said the Quéene you shall do me wrong and I shall haue good cause to thinke the loue and fauour that in times past you haue shewen vnto me to bee altogither fained whereat I am much gréeued séeing I haue borne such a mind to you that I would neuer haue failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and soule both for your sake When the princes heard her speake with such affection she was somwhat better assured and thereupon said vnto her Séeing you are so desirous to know the cause you shall heare it presently vpon condition you shall promise me to be a meanes rather to hinder my daies than any waies to further them séeing I am fully determined to die You may yet well remember said she the first time that Carmelle came hither to bring vs newes of Esplandian sonne to the good knight with the gréen Sword that had commandement from his father as she said to come hither to serue vs in his place according to the promise he had made vnto vs being in this court Carmelle said that for that cause onely Esplandian had sent her vnto Constantinople to giue the Emperour and vs to vnderstand therof but there were other matters in the wind for shée came expresly to intreat me to be good vnto her master who for the great loue and affection he bare vnto me liued in the greatest paine that possible could be Whereupon it happened that being vanquished ouercome with an infinite number of reasons that she made vnto me I confirmed in my heart that which his renowme had alreadie imprinted in my mind and there with determined for to wish more good to him that to my selfe not that I euer thought to commit any fault that might redound to my dishonour but onely for the glory to haue so worthy a knight readie at my commandement whereby this fire did so augment in me that euer since I could not thinke on any other thing that vpon Esplandian with whose loue my mind hath béene to mooued that his long absence hath almost procured my death yet the hope I had from day to day to sée him hath made me able to sustaine my griefe with so great patience that neither you nor any other as I thinke could euer perceiue it in me But as the Saylor on the sea being in a tempest thinking at length to arriue at some hauen for to saue himselfe suddainly méeteth with a rocke that breaketh his shippe in péeces so I most vnfortunate Ladie hoping by the presence of him I so much desire to sée to be at the end of my great sorrowe am now fallen into the gulfe of desperation considering the spéech which Carmelle vsed to me who speaking softly saied in this manner Madame I leaue you within this tombe two inestimable treasures the one is the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée which maketh me verily thinke it can be no other thing than the dead bodie of Esplandian and that as it is very likely hée hath desired at his death to be brought vnto me to wéepe and lament ouer him as I meane to doe during the terme of my life which if it pleaseth God shall not be very long And saying so shée cast forth a great sigh sowning in Quéene Minoresses armes who being abashed to hear the princesse vse those words so far from the estimation she alwaies had conceuied of her knew not at the â—câ—â— what counsell or comfort to minister vnto her neuertheles considering the extremitie shee was in minding to prouide for two accidents that both at
wherein Esplandian came thither which at that time as fortune would lay still at anker staying their pleasure Wherewith Esplandian sent Sergil to cause the ship to come thither which done Gandalin ready to imbarke himselfe Esplandian tooke him aside said vnto him Friend Gandalin you haue alwaies béene faithfull trustie to my father which giueth me cause to disclose my secret vnto you before all others When you come to Constantinople said hee you shall sée the Lady Leonorine to whome you shall present my most humble commendations shewing her that I will not faile very shortly to accomplish my promise and her cōmandement and withall you shall present her the two slaues that were giuen me which I send to wait vpon her that by their presence she may haue me in remembrance and knowing you are not to learne how to vse your spéeches in such cases I pray you Gandalin let me find in you that which I expect My Lord said he God giue me grace to doe you seruice Then fare you well said Esplandian With that Gandalin with all his charge entred into the ship and hauing set saile had a good wind that in short time after he arriued in Constantinople where being landed he caused two squires to beare the presents he had brought and entring into the palace he found the Emperor talking with diuers of his Noble men the Emperor perceiuing him went to imbrace him asking him where he had left the good knight Esplandian and whether he meant not shortly to come and sée him My Lord said Gandalin he commendeth himselfe most humbly vnto your Grace and hath sent you word by me that not aboue fiftéen daies past hée Frandalo and others of our companie haue taken the towne of Galatie Galatie said the Emperor By the faith I beare to God that is good newes for as I haue béen informed heretofore it is one of the richest townes in all Turkie but I know not well how they can kéepe it Full well my lord said Gandalin so it be your pleasure to send them some aid otherwise they shall bee constrained in the end either to abandon that to kéepe Alfarin or Alfarin for that which would bée a shame for them and great dommage both to your Grace and all Christendome Haue they found great riches therein said the Emperor or haue they lost any quantity of their men My lord said Gandalin some of the enemies were slaine in the taking thereof and with that he began to shew him the maner how it was done and causing the cases wherein the presents were to be opened amōg other things he shewed him the images of Nabuchodonosot king of Assiria of Alexander the great and that which he most estéemed the true and liuely representation of Hector of Troy armed at all points as he was when he fought against the Grecians and surely the Emperour had reason to make so much account thereof for that Agamemnon was content to receiue it for his part as being estéemed to be the richest iewell in all the citty of Troy for that Hector himselfe had caused it purposely to bée made while the Grecians lay before the citie by one of the cunningest workemen that could be found and set it vpon the chiefe gate of the palace of Ilion which long time after fell into the hands of the kings of Turkie that had erected it in the market place of Galatie placing it vpon a high marble pillar which Gandalin shewed vnto the Emperour as he hard reported in the country wherewith the Emperour was so well pleased that hée could not refraine to say In good truth I should not be better pleased with the taking of the Citty of Tesifante then I am at this time with this goodly Present and I pray you tell the knights that sent it that I thanke them for it with al my heart My lord said Gandalin so they did thinke it would bée more acceptable vnto your grace thē all the vessels of gold and siluer that they found within the Towne part whereof they haue likewise sent vnto you that are in this other case which hée presently caused to bée opened and after they had perused them Gandalin caused the two slaues that Esplandian sent to come néerer presenting them to the Princesse Leonorine saying vnto her Madame the good knight Esplandian not knowing what greater Present to offer you next vnto himselfe then these two yong maids hée sendeth them vnto you as your slaues to the end euery man may know that as you are the goodliest lady that euer nature framed so is there not any creature liuing on the earth that better deserueth to commaund such as command others then your selfe wherefore if you shew him the courtesie to accept them at his hands hee will estéeme it for one of the greatest fauours that euer hee receaued Leonorine that knew as well how to dissemble her affections as any womā liuing on the earth And desiring to haue the same opinion that alwaies had run of her to continue still with a dissembled kinde of anger answered Gandalin and said Sir knight it séemeth by your words that Esplandian is disposed to mock me and that you estéeme me to be a woman of light credite could you of your faith thinke me so very a child that I should not well perceaue that if Esplandian were so much at my commaundement as you say hee would not haue deferred the time so long to come hether vnto vs were it only but to acquite the promise king Amadis his Father made vs aboue sixe or seuen yeares past But I knowe his mind full well hée meanes to content vs with wordes and many messages that from time to time hée sendeth together with an infinite number of excuses but all to no purpose wherof while I liue I will not accept one of them for his discharge let him therefore come himselfe and then it may bee I will beléeue that to bée in him I haue so oftentimes heard reported When the Emperour heard her speake in that sort hee showed by his countenaunce that hée tooke great pleasure at his doughters choler and saied vnto her My swéet friend what wil Gandalin say to sée you so vncourteous towards him that honoureth you so much I pray you swéet heart moderate your colour and take that hée sendeth for if you refuse it hée shall haue great occasion to dislike thereof And you sée that for your sake hee dooth so many valiant acts that the good knight with the Gréene sword could neuer doe the like My lord saied shee I beléeue for valour hée is not inferiour vnto his father but for courtesie his father surpasseth him In faith Madame saied Gandalin if you knew him as well as I doe it may bée you would commend him more then now you blaspheame him séeing that if hee hath deferred the time to come hether it is onely because hee thinketh hée hath not as yet done sufficient in armes whereby hee should
deserue one sparke of fauour at your handes considering your estate and the small valour that is in him although at this day hée is estéemed the best knight that euer bare armes for these hundred yeares Neuerthelesse séeing you accuse him of that that ought most to excuse him I promise you of mine honor leauing all thinges apart presently vpon my retourne hee shall come hether vnto you to doe whatsoeuer it shall please you to commaund him Gandalin saied the Princesse Leonorine thinke not whatsoeuer I say that I either take pleasure or displeasure at his presence or his absence but onely as my Father dooth and I for his sake knowing the great loue and affection hée hath alwayes born to King Amadis his Father and continueth the same to his sonne But hereof am I well assured that hée cannot so excuse himselfe or make vs thinke other then that herein hée hath done vs wrong Neuerthelesse séeing it is the Emperours pleasure I will kéepe the Present hée hath sent mée vppon the promise and assurance you haue made of his comming hether as soone as you shall bee arriued at Galatia Truely Leonorine played her part very cunningly herein for hardly would it haue béen thought or once imagined that Esplandian and shee had so faithfully giuen their handes and harts as they had done in the presence of quéene Minoresse as you heard before and Gandalin for his part knew not what to think although he had borne Esplandian in the tombe and set him in hir chamber as you likewise heard Then the Emperour asked him how long hée meant to stay My lord said Gandalin as little as I may for it were not fit for me to line at rest while my cōpanions are in armes Wherefore I most humbly beséech your grace to giue mée my dispatch as soone as possible you can Gandalin saied the Emperour I will presently send for my admirall wil cause men in al hast to be prepared that within sixe or seuen daies they shall bée ready to depart With that hee went into the Garden to recreate himselfe and the Ladies with him where when Gandalin perceiued Leonorine in an herbor of Mirtle trées walking pensiuely alone hee went vnto her and saied Madame my lord Esplandian commanded mee to certefie your grace that since the time hee departed from you and that he receiued so great fauour at your handes his heart that wholly is yours hath so longed after you that hee hath thought to die a thousand times with gréefe for the losse of your presence And to say the truth I haue knowne many men troubled with the passions of loue but I certainely beléeue there was neuer his like nor that more wisely could dissemble it which maketh mee greatly to doubt his person For that it is impossible considering the gréefe hee still indureth together with the small comfort hee receiueth of his familiar friends not knowing his disease but that hee must in short time end his daies whereby great dommage should then arise vnto all Christendome considering the straunge beginning of Knighthoode and great Prowesse that is in him which is such as that if hee continue as hee hath begun he will bring that order in greater estimation then euer it hath béene before wherefore Madame séeing I haue alwaies as it may bee you are alreadie aduertised beene a seruaunt to his father and that I am acquainted with the nature of his sonne and the daunger wherein hee is like to fall into if you shewe him not some fauour I haue presumed to shewe your Ladyship the hard case wherein he was when I left him as also that hee hath expressely commaunded mee to asure you that his only intent and desire is to be in your presence Yet perceiuing the danger wherin his companions do remain he knoweth not what excuse to make whereby he might take occasion for to leaue them wherfore he be séecheth you to impute his long absence vnto fortune and not to him that is born only to loue serue and obay you In vttering whereof Gandalin shewed so sorrowfull a countenance that hee made Leonorine ready to wéepe In which kind of office hee had so well ben exercised from his youth that no man could surpasse him in the same Friend Gandalin said the princesse Leonorine I know not what you mean I should do for him more then already I haue done nor yet for what cause you should imagine that I séeke to be the means of his death séeing that if he were but sick I know my selfe so féeble and impatient that with gréefe sorow I should not be able to liue one hour after Let it therfore be far from you once to thinke that I would euer be any other mans then only his and think it not strange if in the Emperors presence or before the world I dissemble as I do for I would not in any case that the least inckling of the burning loue wherein my heart continually flameth towards him should as yet bee once perceiued chéefly for the great good I wish vnto him Madame said Gandalin I am well assured hee will receiue an extream pleasure to hear these newes and that he wil leaue all things to come hether if you thinke it good That is my desire said she and I pray him so to do and you to persuade him therevnto While they were deuising Tartarie the admiral so called of the place of his birth entred into the garden being a man issued of a mean house but aduanced vnto great authority by his great wit valiant courage so that he commanded ouer all the Grecian seas The Emperor and hée talked long time touching Gandalins message concerning aid to bee sent vnto Galatia and in the end he willed in all hast to prepare thirty gallies Foistes with two thousand of the best souldiers he could find to man the same The admirall Tartary according to his charge executed his commission in such sort that within sixe daies after he was ready with his nauie to set saile and depart from thence CHAP. XXXIX How Vrganda arriued at Galatia and of the danger wherein shee was by the subtletie of Melie the Enchauntresse THe admirall Tartarie and Gandalin hauing taken their leaues of the Emperor set saile and passed the straights of Constantinople and without any aduentures arriued at Galatia within one wéek after their departure if they were wel receiued by the Christian knights it is not to be doubted for their number was so small and so dispersed that they were in doubt to bee able to kéepe that Towne with Alfarin and the castle La montaigne defendu But when they saw such aid they were in better hope and hauing receaued the admirall they deuided their two thousand men as néed required Mean time Esplandian had no small desire to know of Gandalin if he had spoken with the Princesse Leonorine how she did for the which cause being in his chamber hée sent for him Where talking together
more charge they put them to to kéep them prisoners saied he or in longer seruitude God may possible be offended with vs. Wherfore if you wil beléeue me vsing rather mercy then rigour towards them I am of opinion that we send them al to Tesifant to the Princesse Heliaxe who wil thank vs for it so shal we be ri◠of so much charge To this al the knights agréed Carmelle was appointed to execute the message he that had séen the great number of people that were about her especially women wéeping most bitterly to behold themselues banished driuen from their own houses surely he could not chuse vnlesse he were hard harted but haue pittied their estate But let them goe let vs heare what danger fell vnto Vrganda the next day after who being welcome to the knights took great pleasure to hear them shew of the aduentures they had found in the Turkish countrey since the taking of Alfarin And each man after the other discoursing what they knewe Esplandian remembred the old woman they had séene among the rocks where she continued wherat he could not chuse but smile which Vrganda espying asked him the cause Madame said hée I thought vpon the beauty of a yoong maid that I some of our company chanced to sée not far hence being the best furnished of all things for to beautifie her that might be found the better to describe her vnto you I can assure you vpon Belleris word that it is at the least eight or nine score years since she first could go speake yet hath she so fresh gallant a colour that to behold her well I cannot compare her better then vnto the bark of those great Elmes wée commonly find along the high wayes as wée ride in great Brittaigne her hair is as white as snow and for want of combing all knotted together which setteth her out so wel that to behold it spred abroad vpon a beares skin which she weareth for a gown there is not any man liuing that would not bée surprised with a sodain and vehement loue in the beholding of her Vrganda that had heard of her before aboue all things was much desirous to sée her because of her great skill saied vnto Esplandian In good faith I knowe her better then you think I do am wel assured that in her yong years she hath ben one of the goodliest ladies that euer you saw For shée is both doughter sister aunt vnto a king is called Melie who for to learn the perfect art science of Nigromancy hath so much contemned the world that for her inheritance shée hath chosen a rocke wherein she hath caused a caue to bee digged where shée now remaineth liueth in great misery I swear vnto you of my faith that it is aboue twenty yeares more since I determined to come sée her but other affaires that touched me néerer haue still hindered my desire Madame saied Esplandian séeing you are so néere you may do it now all we wil be your guides I pray you let it be so said she let vs go as soon as we haue dined which done and the tables vncouered euery man made preparation to goe with Vrganda to behold that sight but Esplandian would haue but thréescore with him who being wel horsed armed at al poinis issued out of Galatia Vrganda on her palfrey riding among thē Belleris was their guide when they came néer vnto the caue where they had found Melie they espied her set crosse-legged vpon the point of a rock with that Vrganda praied them to stay that she alone might speake secretly vnto her which the knights agréed vnto Wherwith she rode forward being néere vnto her she said Madame I pray you bee not offended that I come to sée you and offer you my seruice Who are you said shee I am saied shée Vrganda la discogneue that haue alwayes had a great desire to sée you Ha Vrganda the wisest lady among all others said Melie your cōming hether pleaseth mée right well light downe I pray you that you and I may talke of such thinges as wée haue taken great paines to learne and vnderstand for although you haue béene the onely occasion of the Christians arriuall here whereby our poor country indureth so much woe yet I cannot but excuse you knowing the faith duty you are bound to shew to your religion Wherefore I pray you come néer and sit downe by mée Vrganda perceiuing her to bée so old féeble did as shee required hoping by force to stay her there whether she would or no till her company were come thether minding to giue her vnto them to bring her to Galatia but shee met with as crafty a mate as her selfe for the olde woman perceauing Vrganda to bée néere her went to the mouth of her caue and said vnto her Vrganda It would gréeue me that these Knights should heare our talke wherefore let vs goe in Whereat Vrganda made no difficulty thinking verily that if she might once lay hands on her shee would vse her at her pleasure wherewith shée followed her but shee was no sooner entered but Melie stepped to hir and held hir so straight by the throat that shée had no means to cal Esplandian or any of the rest to help her But they fearing the worst ran in all hast vnto the caue and the first that entred was Talanque after him Manely and they had no sooner stepped in but they fell down as if they had béene dead their fall was so great that Esplandian that followed them heard it but hée had a remedye about him against all such aduentures and that was his good sword against the which no inchauntment whatsoeuer could ought auaile which he first found to bée true when hée entred into Arcabonnes chamber he perceauing his two companions in such case being much gréeued thereat willingly would haue reléeued thē but that he spied Melie holding Vrganda vnder hir knée séeking by all means to strangle her which caused him first to succour hir threatning Melie if that she did hir hurt she shold déerly buy it but for all his threatnings shee ceased not to vse all the meanes shée could for to destroy her vntill Esplandian went neare vnto her and with his sworde thought to cleaue her head wherwith she began to flie thinking to be safe within the chamber where she wrought her charmes but as she stepped vpon the threshold of the dore Esplandian caught her by the Beares skin and whether she would or not held her so fast that shee could goe no further And as hee lifted vp his arme to kill her hee remembred that hee should doe wrong thinking it not conuenient for a Knight to defile his hands in the blood of a simple woman not able to resist and surely that thought of his moderated his colour in such sort that he purposed not to
to shew the cause thereof which at the first she could not doe her heart was so full of gréete Neuerthelesse in the 〈◊〉 shee tooâ—◠〈◊〉 againe and saied vnto them My good friends 〈…〉 of almighty God al things haue 〈…〉 teÌ„poral things should passe away by death haue an end according to the qualities of his creatures Which diuers great persons considering with themselues haue trauailed during their liues in many sorts after their deaths to leaue some memorie of them not minding to bury their renowme togither with their bodies Now I know for certaine that the end of your daies is néere wherefore it is most requisite that you bée constant and shew your selues to be the same you were at the beginning Neuerthelesse before that death shall seaze vpon you I will shew the loue that I haue alwaies borne vnto you and with the helpe of God will doe so much that without death you shall remaine asléepe vntill the time that one descended of your race shall deliuer you froÌ„ thence and after that shall bée in as good case and raigne againe within your countries as you did before otherwise assure your selues that before sixe moneths do come vnto an end not one of you shall be aliue but all buried in the earth Wherefore let euery man shew me his opinion and for the rest said shee let me prouide Surely that spéech and newes of death was so harde for them to endure that not one of them but changed colour their hearts béeing seazed with an extreme sorow And as they beheld ech other king Amadis séeming least astonished answered vnto Vrganda and said Madame we know for certaine that not one of vs nor any other liuing creature can perfectly knowe what is necessarie for vs but only you alone wherefore doe with vs as you thinke good and wée will all obey you that is sufficient said Vrganda therefore let euery man put on his armour in the same maner hée vseth when hée goeth to the fielde and each man hold his sword naked in his hand that done she caused them to goe into the forbidden chamber setting them in their roiall seates with all their wiues by them which done Vrgandas two cousens Iuliande and Solisde in two basons of gold brought a certaine composition wherewith shée desired them to wash their faces which they did Whereby it happened that on a suddaine Beautie which Age and Time had decaied in them began againe to appeare within their faces in as great perfection aâ— euen it had done which aduenture pleaseâ— the Ladies so â—â—ll that they began to behold ech other and their husbands thereat to be much abashed Then Vrganda called master Elizabeth taking him by the hand led him into the next chamber where she caused him to sit downe putting the booke that he had brought into her hands she made signes to Gandalin and the gentlewoman of Denmark that they should follow her and passing through the Arke of faithfull louers they entred into the garden where the images of Apolidon and Grimanaise were placed ouer the which she set them and Ardan the dwarfe hard by them wherwith she said vnto them My friends the true and faithfull louers haue béen worthy to sée these images before the Arke sometime inchanted so you deserue this place for the faith and true and affection that you haue alwaies borne to your masters Wherefore vpon your liues sée you depart not hence whatsoeuer you shall heare or sée that done she went vnto the chamber where shée left the Emperour and taking Carmelle by the hand before them all she said vnto her Carmelle you were but of meane parentage but the vertue and great curtesie of your heart hath so much inabled you that you shall bée placed at the Emperors féet to fulfill the promise made vnto him which was neuer to forsake him while you liued With that she spake vnto king Amadis and all the other princes praying them not to flie till shée returned againe and going vp into one of the towers of the pallace shée tooke with her the best of Medeas bookes which Melie had that sometime belonged to the Enchantresse lady and being in the tower shée vncouered her head with that she began to read certaine coniuâ—â—ations and looking into all the foure quarters of the earth making signes and tokens with her fingers her face became so redde â—hat it séemed fire had issued out of her eyes Whereupon there â—appened such an earthquake so great tempests of lightning and â—hunder as though the Elements had fought togither This tempest continuing for the space of thrée quarters of an houre those whome she had caused to sit downe as you heard before remained in a trance without all knowledge as if they had béene dead and with that there appeared a cloud so obscure and thicke which inuironed the place that neuer after it could be séen till Luisart of Gréece sonne to Esplandian brought that enchantment to an end by meanes of a sword which he conquered as it shall be declared to you in the sixt Booke wherein is described one of the most pleasant and delectable histories that euer was read At which time all the Princes and the rest were reuiued againe and not before The Emperor Esplandian at that time had a sonne after his grandfathers name called Luisart as then about the age of eight yéeres King Amadis a sonne and a daughter the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisene that married the eldest sonne of the Emperour of Rome King Galaor two sonnes the one named Perion the other Garinter of whome I haue shewed you before Florestan the King of Sardaigne two sonnes the one named Florestan after his father that raigned after him and the other Palmindan of Almaine after his grandfather Agrayes Earle of Salandrie two sonnes the one called Languines the other Galmenes King Bruneau one sonne named Vallade and a daughter named Helisenne that married Quedragants sonne and bare his fathers name King Childadan two sonnes the eldest called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather whome Amadis slewe the first day hée entred into Knighthood And although these princes left such heires as you heard before yet would they not during their fathers absence take on them the names or titles of Kings hoping by Gods helpe that they should once returne as well as euer they were For the which cause they hauing â—â—â—tained to the age and strength to bear armes passed 〈◊〉 â—reland there to bée made knights by King Childâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 very weake and withered with age 〈…〉 followed strange aduentures doing many 〈…〉 feates of armes which are at large declared in the bookes that followe which in time may come vnto your handes when it pleaseth God FINIS