from my infancy haâ— brought the vp and being moued by reason of my no little losse with a desirâ— to reuenge both my selfe and my friendes I thoughâ—â—o kill him â—â—d was so neere the point to execute my will that as I held the 〈◊〉 drawne in my hand and began to lift vp mine arme to giâ—e the blow he séemed so faire within mine eie that suddâ—inâ—y I was surprised with loue and that so feruently that were 〈◊〉 not for the promise you haue made me I had not ben aliue at thâ—â— present time Neuerthelesse hauing sithence vnderstood that hee by whome I am in this extremitie in estate and degrée â—ot to bee my equall whereby I perceiue my selfe vnworthy eiâ—â—er to be wife or companion vnto him I haue somewhat moderated my first deliberation in such manner that I will hold my selfe more then satisfied if it please him I may only continue with him to serue at his commandement during my life which in reason he cannot well deny me for let him doe what hee will so long as life is in my body I will neuer forsake him if I be not constrained therevnto Wherefore my lord for the honour of God I beséech your grace to finde the meanes my poore request may once bée granted and you Gentlemen saied she to Ambor and Talanque I pray you put to your helps that by your fauours the life of me poore louer not beloued may bee prolonged The king hearing the Gentlewoman that while she spake sometime blushed and other whiles waxed pale make this discourse could hardly abstain to laugh thinking how inconsiderately shee had fallen into so great extremitie whereby hee feared if hée should make an answere other then pleased her she would kill her selfe but with courteous spéech hee saied vnto her Gentlewoman your request is so reasonable that I am of opinion hee will not deny it and for my part I will intreat him as much as possible I can My lord said Esplandian I wil do what your grace commaundeth Graunt her then I pray you saied the king what shée craueth at your hands that from henceforth shee may bee called your faithfull seruant her honour alwaies saued as in knighthood you are bound I will doe it answered Esplandian and thereof I assure you saied hee speaking to Carmelle who knéeling on the ground kissed his féete and thanked the king and him most heartely reputing heâ— selfe most happy in obtaining so great fauour CHAP. XI How Talanque and Ambor shewed the king what aduentures they had found seeking for Esplandian their companion after they had receiued the order of knighthood YOu heard before in what sort king Luisart was deliuered out of prison by his nephew Esplandian but as yet he knew not the manner how he receiued the order of knighthood Wherefore as they rose from dinner the king desired him to tell him how he was made knight as also what happened vnto him since that time to the end saied hée that Talanque and Ambor may doe the like Then Esplandian tolde how Vrganda came vnto the Ferme island in the great serpent what spéech shee had with Amadis de Gaule and others that were with him the order shee vsed to dub him knight together with Talanque Ambor Manely the king of Denmarke The sléepe wherein they fell and that when hee awaked he found himselfe at the foot of the rocke of the Enchantresse in company of Sergil his Squire and two dumb men also how he conquered the sword with his arriuall at the mountain where he found the Hermite that dissuaded him from fighting with the giants By my head said the king I neuer heard stranger things And now Ambor saied hee what became of you My lord saied Ambor my companion and I were likewise asléepe and when we awaked we found our selues in a little barke with our two horses in a Hauen of the sea called Armata in the country of Norway as then vnknowne to vs where wee landed before a towne not only to know in what countrey wee were but also to séeke for victuals And as wee went towards it the watch of the towne by reason of certain dissension not long before moued betwéene them and their neighbours sent to knowe what we would haue Wherewith we made them answere wée were knights aduenturous that came from the Ferme Isle cast vpon that shore by tempest of weather In good truth said he that spake vnto vs our king hath so great cause to vse your helpes that if you goe vnto him I am well assured hee will bid you welcome We asked him the kings name and what country wee were in My lords said he the country is called Norway wherof Adroni father in lawe to Agraies sonne to the king of Scots and one of the best knights in the world is our king I know not whether you know him And what cause saied wee hath your king to vse our helpe I will tell you said he he is so old that one of his nephewes his sisters sonne procured therevnto by euil counsel is risen in armes against him séeking to haue the gouernement of the countrey in respect as hee saith his vncle is no more able to rule the same And vnder that pretence hath already vsurped a great part thereof and now lieth in campe before one of the best citties in this land which the king by no meanes can reléeue by reason that most of his trustiest friends haue forsaken him and hold with the yoong presumptuous foole that winneth them by faire promises a thing that oftentimes happeneth vnto such as fortune fauoureth not and when men are fallen they are not only abandoned of straungers but by their owne kindred and friends that properly may be tearmed friends for the present time In good faith said we if the towne will giue vs victuals and one to guide vs we will gladly goe and present our seruice vnto him not onely for the loue of Agraies to whom wee are companions but for the right he hath as you haue told vs. That shall be done said he and therewith desired vs to stay till he came again from the cittie where he staied not long but hee brought what we desired and a guide that conducted vs so wel that the next day about dinner time we arriued where the king lay Who being aduertised of our comming and that wée were of Agraies companions entertained vs most courteously commaunding one of his Gentlemen to vnarme vs in one of his best chambers whether hee came and after hee had bidden vs welcome beganne in the same manner to shew vs all what the watch had before declared vnto vs and what an vnnaturall part his nephew shewed vnto him procured therevnto by two knights in whome onely hée putteth his whole trust because saied hee they are well assured that not any of my knights dareth enter into combat with them they are estéemed so valiant and hardy But who hath mooued them and your cosin said we to vndertake
so well that Esplandian could neuer take him before hée had ouerthrowne him and pulled off his helmet wherewith hée yéelded meane time Frandalo and his companions being in the middle of the enemies laide so well about them slaying horses pulling away shields and doing so valiantly that woonder it was to behold them yet did not the Turkes once séeme abashed but still fought most couragiously vntil such time they perceiued their captaine taken prisoner which caused them to flie and turne their backes but not all of them for there lay more than one hundred and fiftie of them dead vpon the ground the rest saued themselues by meanes of the darke night It was then about an houre before day and Frandalo fearing that those of Tesifant hearing of the ouerthrow would issue foorth to cut off their passage presently caused captaine Eiraca to be remounted and all the Christians that wanted horses and with all spéed rode backe againe to Alfarin not the same way they came but another way somewhat farther about wherein they trauailed so long that about sunne rising they entred into a great woode where they alighted to refresh both themselues and their horses and staying not long there least they should bée surprised they made such spéed that about sunne setting they arriued in the town meane time newes came to Tesifant of the ouerthrowe of their men wherewith Alphorax was in such a rage that in a manner hée séemed desperate But for this time wée haue sufficiently discoursed of martiall affaires now wée meane to bring Loue in place who desiring to minister some comfort to the Princes Leonorine that liued in great paine expecting the arriuall of her friend Esplandian caused him to depart from Alfarin to visit her in the citie of Constantinople as in the Chapters following you shall heare CHAP. XXXIII Of the great griefe Esplandian had vnderstanding by the messenger that Gastilles sent vnto him what displeasure the Princesse Leonorine had conceiued against him YOV heard before how Gastilles shewed the Emperour what Esplandian had done and what message hée sent vnto him and to the Princesse Leonorine as also what answere she made which Gastilles by his Squire writ and sent vnto him hauing charge from the Emperour so to doe thereby to procure his spéedier arriuall in Constantinople The Squire with his lether made such hast that hée arriued at Alfarin about fiue daies after the taking of Eiraca and méeting Carmelle at the gate asked her if he might find Esplandian at conuenient leisour to deliuer him a letter from Gastilles but Carmelle being subtill suspecting it to be some newes from the Princeâ—â—e Leonorine that might mooue Esplandian who as then séemed discontent answered him said My good friend you can hardly speake with him at this time but follow me and giue me the letter and I will present it vnto him and cause him to returne you an answere The Squire did as she willed him and followed her to Esplandians lodging where entring into his chamber she found him sitting vpon his bed talking with the king of Denmarke and deliuered him Gastilles letter which when he read the teares ranne out of his eyes and therewith cast forth a great sigh saying O Lord but Carmelle that beheld him doubting the cause to be as she suspected asked him if he were ill at ease Ill said he I that I am and so ill that I would to God I were dead and looke I pray you said he whether I haue cause or not wherewith stretching forth hish hand he gaue Carmelle the letter and turning his face began to make the greatest sorrow in the world but when shée had read the contents shée estéemed not thereof but said vnto Esplandian What my Lord are you abashed at so small a matter By my soule I now perceiue very well that the affections and loues of men are farre different and much vnlike the passions that we simple women endure when we fall into the like extremities and knowe you how you men doe most commonly take pleasure to manifest and make known your loue either by word of mouth or outward shewes and many times dissemble more than you meane to doe and which is worse how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you loue is of great desert or high linage so much more glory doe you take to make it knowne not onely that you beare her affection but that you are beloued and fauoured of her aboue all others which is cleane contrary to the nature of women I meane such as may bée tearmed wise and of good vnderstanding for how much the greater their parentage is so much more feare they haue to manifest their amorous passions in such manner that most commonly both in word gesture and countenaÌ„ce they outwardly denie that which they haue most déepely engraued in their hearts and mindes and not without good cause for that the thing which redoundeth to your praise and commendations as you think which is the manifesting of your loue bréedeth to them a certaine spot in their honour which often times they can not easily deface Wherefore it is more than expedient to obserue this modestie and constancie in vs not that I meane to restraine my selfe vnto this lawe séeing that all my glory and felicitie dependeth vpon you in such manner that I desire no greater happinesse in this world then that the loue and dutifull obedience I beare vnto you should be published and made knowne vnto the world to the end that all those that shall heare of your great valour and my meane estate may know my great good fortune to haue the meanes to serue you as I doe Wherefore my Lord in my opinion you ought to take the spéeches Gastilles hath written vnto you to be vsed by the lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your aduantage for I dare warrant you on mine honour that your affections are both alike and to say the truth she hath behaued her selfe most wisely to dissemble the matter so well as she hath done in the Emperors presence I deny not but she hath some cause to be impatient considering the message I deliuered vnto her in your behalfe but that is easie to be cured although the loue shée hath borne you so long time should be wholly extinguished which I can hardly beléeue euen as a bone that is broken in two péeces set togither againe is stronger in that place than in any other part so you being there and in her companie shall winne that you finde broken and by that meanes make it stronger than euer it was before Therefore I am of aduise that fulfilling her desire you goe vnto her and that as soone as possibly you may Alas Carmelle said Esplandian what good or what seruice did I euer doe vnto her thereby to haue deserued at her hands the least fauour among an infinite number I haue receiued from her specially by the report of your owne mouth If therefore shee hath iust
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
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
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
all that day hée had not eaten hauing supped they laied him in a bed where the Hermites doughter when shee came to sée her father vsed to lie and visiting his body to sée if he were hurt they found it much brused and blacke in diuers places but not wounded by reason of the goodnesse of his armour which no sword or other weapon could pierce then they annointed him with certaine ointments that appeased the sorenesse of his bruses wherewith hee fell on sléepe till the next morning CHAP. VI. Of the great displeasure king Luisart tooke for the departure of the blacke knight and what conference he had with Arcabonne mother to Matroco touching her vnfortunate life THe black knight being departed out of the castle he had newly conquered the prisoners entred therein among the rest king Luisart knew maister Elizabeth wherfore he rose vp sitting by Arcabonne Matrocos mother who as then leaned on her lap went to imbrace him asking him what fortune had brought him thether at that time to saue the Giants life being in so great extremity And it pleaseth your grace said he once this day I did not thinke hee would haue had so much néed of my helpe as he now hath But as I vnderstand by a knight that I met going downe the hill hee is in great danger of his life Neuerthelesse for the honour of him that commanded mee to helpe him I will doe the best I can I pray you doe so saied the king Then maister Elizabeth caused Matroco to be softly laied vpon his bed and being vnarmed searched his wounds and perceiuing them to bee deadly would not for that time doe any thing vnto them but stanch their bléeding leauing the rest till hee had slept wherein hee was newly fallen In the meane time king Luisart not forgetting what maister Elizabeth at his comming in had said vnto him asked him what was become of the blacke knight and it pleaseth your grace saied he as we entred into the castle I met him going secretly from hence and not minding to returne againe By Saint Mary saied the king haue I receiued so great aid at his hands and am I so vnfortunate that hee should depart from hence without knowing him Truly I am sorry I staied here to sée what would become of Matroco if I had not I would surely haue followed him and with much importunity haue craued his name Maister Elizabeth said he will you vpon your faith tell mee truly whether you know him or not If it be so if you will do doe me any pleasure hide it no longer froÌ„ mée for I neuer had so great desire to know any knight not only for the aid he hath done me but for the valiant enterprise at this present atchieued by him Your grace shall pardon mé◠if it pleaseth you said maister Elizabeth for it is true that I know him well but if I tel you any more I should do him wrong for hee hath expressely forbidden mee to doe it I sée well saied the king you will but increase the desire I haue to kâ—â—w him and that is worse by the same means bereaue me of all hope euer to sée him againe With that they entered into the hall where they met Arcabonne halfe dead with sorrow whome the king in courteous manner praied to stay a while asking her how her son did He doth saied shee as one in whome I haue as little hope of life as of the other that lieth dead in the court and to say the truth it séemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her selfe against me not ceasing continually to heap sorrow vpon sorrow to make me desperate Notwithstanding I know ful wel how to bee reuenged and that is in despight of her and her cruelties to bereaue my selfe of life whereby shee shall lose her power which by good reason I cannot well prolong séeing she hath not spared me one hower of rest since she first began still playing her part in tormenting mee but of all other my misfortunes none hath gréeued mee so much as the force of this knight by whose power saied she vnto the king I sée thée now deliuered out of my handes and from the cruell torments I had prepared for thée if accursed fortune had not withstood them Madame saied the king I pray you declare vnto me the cause of this your great mallice towards mee whether at any time I haue done you wrong or iniury whereby I should deserue it that wil I shew thée said Arcabonne not therein to doe thée pleasure but rather to gréeue thee more when thou shalt know and vnderstand that I was borne and bred in the same country wherein to my great despight thou hast raigned ouerlong for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother were both begotten and brought vp in the art of Nigromancy which oftentimes we haue practised put in effect therewith to torment diuers persons that neuer did offend vs. In the which art as age and knowledge increased I growing very expert in the end became acquainted with Cartadaque as then lord of this castle with whom I grew in so great familiarity that he married me and with him euer fithence haue dwelt here in this castle where not long after I was deliuered of a sonne called Lindoraque after that of another named Matroco that now lieth in this bed and lastly of the third called Frerion whome thou hast slaine and my brother also that went to helpe Argantes the Porter of this castle And being thus married vnto such a husband as Cartadaque was so much feared and redoubted in all places and hauing thrée of the most valiant and worthy knights to my sons that euer liued I was so eleuated in pride and so little estéemed of cruell fortune that I thought it vnpossible for her to work me any woe But by tract of time I found it otherwise for by little and little shee hath wholly chaunged my ioy into most gréeuous sorrow and wilt thou know how Then I thinke thou doest yet remember the discord that long sithence happened betwéene thée and Childadan king of Ireland and of the battaile wherein thou ouercammest him where my deceased husband minding to bee present expressely departed from hence thether and as accursed fortune would tooke my sonne Lindoraque with him and hauing trauailed many countries at the last arriued at the place where my brother staied for them trauailing all three together with full purpose and intent to doe thée all the iniury they could and they had scarce entered into a forrest not farre from London but they met a knight as then surnamed Le Beautenebreux riding in company of a Gentlewoman that ware on her head a Cal all set with strange flowers whome my sonne as accursed fortune would liked so wel that with a great desire to haue hir to present vnto the Lady Madasine his loue commanded one of his squires to go fetch her to him which the knight
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
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
wraths wil not be so much increased against me as that you will not giue me leaue to be reuenged on him And as hee vttered those words beeing couered with his shield hee went vnto Esplandian and holding his sword in hand stroke him flatlâ—ng with the same vpon the arme in such maner that he was astonished and with the force of the blow the sword sliding downe vpon a stone brake in thrée péeces wherewith Esplandian stepped to him and with great dexterity strooke him so fiercely on the face that the blood in great abundance ran out of his forehead Whereat the Giant was in such a rage that casting downe his shield tooke the péece of his sword in both his hands and with all his force strooke at Esplandian that stept aside and perceiuing the Giants arme comming towards him with one blow cut off his hand whereby his sword fell downe Neuerthelesse he séemed not abashed but imbracing Esplandian with his left arme thought to crush the breath out of his body but it happened otherwise for as hee held him Esplandian hauing his right arme at libertie thrust his sword into the Giants body wherewith he died TheÌ„ calling Bramatos thrée squires that he brought thether to shew him the prisoners hee asked where they were My lord said one of them on that side the vaut is the two Giants lodgings that you haue slaine and vnder it are the prisoners that you séeke in a most darke prison aboue a hundred paces long and but two paces broad whereby the prisoners in great number haue no meanes to rest themselues beeing constrained to stand vpright for the narrownesse of the place Goe before said Esplandian with that the squire went forward and Esplandian followed after and they had not gone long but they entred into a goodly pallace and going lower hee heard the lamentable voices of the poore prisoners dying for want of food whereat he tooke such compassion that the teares ran downe his eies asking the squire for the keies there they hang said he vpon a naile Open the dore said Esplandian which he presently did wherein they entred and Esplandian calling the poore wretches that lamented saied vnto them My good friends come all forth and thanke God for your liberties You may well iudge if they were glad to heare those newes for that some of them had remained therein aboue thirtie yeares together being in all twenty Gentlewomen thirtie squires and fiftie knights among the which Esplandian knewe Gandalin and Lazinde who by euill fortune after the conquest of Sansuegue trauailing the country were met by the Giants and kept in prison with the rest where they indured great miserie CHAP. XXV How Esplandian commanded the prisoners he had deliuered to goe vnto Constantinople there to thank the Princesse Leonorine the Emperours doughter keeping only Gandalin and Lazinde with him THe Giants slaine and the prisoners set at liberty Esplandian that as yet had not taken off his helmet not long after made himselfe knowne to Gandalin and Lazinde that were no lesse abashed to sée him in so straunge a place then wondered at the great Prowesse he had shewed for their deliuery It was then about sunnesetting and Esplandian had neither eat nor dronke of all that day wherefore hée determined not to depart thence till the next day in the morning for hee found great store of victuals in the place Commanding Sergil with one of the squires to go séeke the Bay horse he left at the house where hee slew Bramato for his owne was slaine which they presently brought vnto him passing the night in the Giants house with the best victuals they could finde The next day in the morning Esplandian called the prisoners that he had deliuered asking them what they meant to doe Sir Knight saied they wee are wholly bent to doe as pleaseth you Then my friends said he you shal go to Constantinople and there giue thankes vnto the Princesse Leonorine for the grace it hath pleased Gâ—d to giue you by means of a knight that belongeth vnto her Anâ— if shee asketh you my name tell her only what manner of armes I beare shewing her that I willed you to submit your selfe vnto her mercy In faith saied Gandalin my companion and I were determined not to leaue your company so soone but séeing it is your pleasure wee are content to doe it You and he said Esplandian shall kéepe mee company till you meane to trauaile further the rest shall doe as I required them Sir Knight saied hee that shewed him the prison they shall finde within the house all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them shew them where they be said Esplandian Wherevnto he willingly obayed which done they all left the Giants house the prisoners taking the way towards Constantinople and Esplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde armed at all points went towards maister Elizabeth that stayed for them in the great Serpent and as they were about halfe a mile from the Giants house they met a knight all armed with two squires attending on him who in courteous manner saluting Esplandian and his company asked them what countrey men they were Sir knight said Esplandian wee are all of great Brittaigne Alas said he can you tell me any newes touching a thing that hath gréeued me full sore What is that saied Esplandian can you tell mee saied hee what is become of king Luisart For I haue ben certefied of a truth that hee is lost not knowing where how nor for what cause And for my part I sweare vnto you I haue already sought for him in diuers countries and can heare no newes at all and I am determined neuer to leaue trauailing before he be found againe if it be possible for mortal man to doe it You are bound therevnto said Esplandian séeing hee deserueth it as you knowe right well Neuerthelesse if it pleaseth you to put off your helmet and make you knowne vnto vs that haue ben bred and nourished in his house I assure you wee will satisfie your mind so wel as touching him that you cannot chuse but like it My lords saied hee putting off his helmet I am Norandel his sonne When Esplandian and the rest perceiued that they made themselues knowne vnto him imbracing each other most curteously Ha mâ— lord said Norandel I pray you for Gods cause if you know any thing touching the king hide it not from me Vncle saied Esplandian about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God bee thanked making good cheare shewing him in what maner hée had deliuered him out of prison wiih all that passed touching the same I maruaile then said Norandel what aduenture brought you hether By my soule saied Esplandian that can I not well tell only that I was brought hether by the great Serpent which I left at the sea side wherein maister Elizabeth staieth for me Then hee shewed him how hee departed from the court his arriuall in the Ferme Isle his
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
hee could not sléepe till day began to appeare when Frandalo and the rest of his knights entred into his chamber to talke with him not only as touching the intertainement of their prisoners but of other thinges that much imported them And as they were in counsell together Gandalin came vnto them shewing them that king Armato desired for to speake with them wherevpon they went out of the chamber to heare what hee would say Frandalo could speake the Arabian tongue better then the rest for that hee had serued the king of Turkie and hee knew him very well wherefore Esplandian desired him to speake for all the rest And entring into the chamber Frandalo went first who knéeling on the ground kissed the kings hand With that Armato thinking hee had beene prisoner asked him where he was taken My lord saied he I am now become a Christian and a knight of Iesus Christ that hath done mee so much grace not long time since to call mee to bee one of his A Christian said the king is that possible By my soule it maketh mee more abashed then the cruell fortune that is now happened vnto mee for that all knights following armes ought patiently to beare those hazards that they fall into vsing necessitie as a vertue But thou vnhappy wretch that through feare and want of courage hast forsaken our iust and holy law wherefore takest thou not a rope and hangest thy selfe as vnworthy to goe vpon the earth My lord saied hee you may say what pleaseth you as being priueledged for the greatnesse of your estate yet I can assure you I neuer had so cowardly a heart as you estéeme I haue but rather account my selfe happie to haue done that I haue done Yet will I not refuse to doe you seruice my honour still reserued in any thing I can With that Armato remembred himselfe and thought hee did him wrong wherefore moderating his choler he saied vnto him Friend Frandalo If it gréeueth mee to haue lost you let it not séeme strange vnto you séeing now I had greater hope then euer I haue had to bée serued by your meanes But séeing it is so you knowe howe I haue vsed you heretofore now I pray you if you may doe any thing for mee to finde the meanes with your companions that I may bee deliuered from hence by some reasonable composition My lord saied Frandalo pointing to Esplandian This is hee that hath all power and authoritie in this place both ouer you and mee With that Armato looked vpon him and perceiuing him so yoong without a beard thought Frandalo saied it to excuse himselfe wherefore hee asked if he mocked him God forbid I should doe so my lord saied Frandalo but I pray you beléeue me for it is true that my lord Esplandian standing here before you is he and none other that slew Matroco Frerion Arcalaus the inchanter and Argantes the Porter of the castle which hee conquered as you haue been aduertised By my head saied the king I would hardly haue estéemed him for so braue a man but séeing it is so I pray thee doe somewhat with him touching the thing I told you of euen now Beléeue mée my lord said Frandalo there shall want no good will in me and with that hee bad him God morrow and leauing him with his guard they went into the hall where they found the tables ready couered for dinner for it was about noone time But as Esplandian rested ill that night so hee made but a meane dinner not being able to withdraw his mind from thinking on the princesse Leonorine which was the cause that the Tables being vncouered hee went into his chamber without any company onely the king of Denmarke whom he loued as himselfe where being together he began to shew him the cause why he sent Carmelle to Constantinople as also what affection hee bare to the Princesse Leonorine And to the end said he you bee participant of my ioy I pray you let vs haue her here that shee may shew vs what shee learned in her voyage My lord saied the king of Denmarke if you saw her apparrelled in the gowne the Princesse gaue her I am assured you will scarse knowe her at the first Will you that I send her word to bring it hether It is well saied saied Esplandian with that he called a Squire sending him to Carmelle that as theÌ„ was in company of Arcabonnes Gentlewomen but vnderstanding Esplandians pleasure went presently to apparrell her selfe as hee had willed her and hauing a mantle on her shoulders because she would not be séene went to him in his chamber where she found him and the king of Denmarke talking together but as soon as he espied her he tooke her in his armes and setting her in a chair couered with veluet saied vnto her My goodfriend I meane to shew my companion you sée here how much I loue and estéeme him wherefore I pray you shew me before him what intertainement the princesse Leonorine gaue you knowing you came from me and whether I find any fauour in her sight My lord said she as soone as I was arriued and that she vnderstood the cause of my comming vnto her I found her no lesse yours then you hers whereby I may estéeme you the happiest knight liuing in the world And know you why She is so faire and of so comely personage that vnlesse it bee her selfe none can resemble her and of truth shee dooth farre surpasse all other ladies for being alone in her priuate chamber playing on some instrument or singing for her pleasure she stealeth and rauisheth the harts seperated from the bodies of such as either heare or sée her and if at sometimes she attireth her selfe after the Italian manner with a cap of that country fashion then you may sée her faire and glistering haire part giuing a certaine shadow on her vermilion chéekes the rest knit vp together inuironing her head shewing with farre better grace then any crowne that she could weare bée it of stones laurell or the finest gold that may be found But if that be a temptation vnto man her two humble and modest eies like two suns giue them as many deaths as they at times behold the same and againe reuiueth them better â—hen at the first and all at one instant whereat you must not 〈◊〉 abashed séeing that loue it selfe doth often skirmish and striue in them thereby to yéeld both pain and pleasure vnto those that doe behold the same and if hée touch her he feareth to hurt her as being in most extreame passions of loue And not without a cause for that nature hauing made her brake the mould that shee might be the only perfect creature accompanied with so many vertues that loue findeth nothing in her but bones to gnaw vpon And I assure you my lord that speaking vnto her of those thinges you had giuen mee in charge I plainely perceiued her by the changing of her countenance to be charged with the
rather then threatnings would become him better Haue you already forgotten the prison wherein you are and in the handes of those that haue so small occasion to wish you well My lord vertue is neuer better knowne to bee in man but then when hee is in most distresse Wherefore if vntill this time you haue not knowne what constancy doth meane learne hereafter to discerne the same vsing words worthy your estate and not such nor so iniurious as you haue vttered vnto my lord Gastilles who in this place representeth the person of an emperor a greater lord then you in whose mercy your life or death consisteth for we are all his souldiours ready to doe him seruice The king perceiuing well that hee had done them wrong and fearing to bee hardlier vsed then hee was accustomed to bee saied vnto Esplandian Sir Knight I pray you pardon my impatience considring with your selfe the great gréef and melancholy humour wherein I am when I that was wont to be feared and redoubted of al the princes in Asia am now constrained to obay the will and pleasure of my greatest enemies which vnto me is so extreame gréefe that I die each day a hundred times because I cannot die But Esplandian answered not one word but leauing him with his gard taking Gastilles by the hand led him into one of his best chambers where they supped The next day they assembled all together and after many matters propounded it was agréed among them according to Frandalos aduise that they should enter into Turkie being as then in great perplexity as well for the taking of king Armato as for the ouerthrow of his army as it shall bee shewed vnto you hereafter for at this time wee will cease to speake thereof returning to shew you of king Luisart that during this time for the most part held his court in the citty of London CHAP. XXVIII How the greatest part of the knights that vsed to be at king Luisarts court returned vnto their owne houses and of the coronation of Amadis and Oriane at London YOu haue heard before of the combat betwéene Esplandian and Amadis his father and how after long time of their abode at Mirefleur staying the healing of their wounds Esplandian desiring to returne vnto the castle La montaigne defendu tooke his leaue of king Luisart the like did diuers of the knights that as then were at the Court as Galaor king of Sobradise Agraies Gransador Balan Galuanes and Angriotte d'estrauaulx some to sée their wiues others to tast the ease and pleasant rest of their mansion houses whereby it happened the court was lesse replenished with knights then it had beene in long time before especially by reason of the newes they heard from the castle La montaigne defendu whether diuers yong knights trauailed to aide Esplandian King Luisart therefore so meanely accompanied as I said before being very old and decrepit began to bée melancholy and to haue the palsie setting aside all Hunting Hawking Armes and Chiualry or any other pleasure whatsoeuer And with a remēbrance of death so much abhorred all things past present and to come that he estéemed them vaine and altogether transitory whereby he determined to depose himselfe of all kingly estate and gouernment of his realme to passe the rest of his time in a solitary and religious manner specially when he called to mind the great perils from whence he had escaped and aboue all his last most dangerous and cruell imprisonment Neuerthelesse for a time hee kept it secret vntill one night hee being a bed with the Quéene where they lay talking of the sicklenesse of this world hee discouered his whole mind vnto her and how hée determined to make Amadis his sonne king and gouernour of his country to the end he might fréely and without any interruption withdraw himself to his castle of Mirefleur where by Gods helpe he meant to liue a solitary life The Quéene that was one of the wisest and deuoutest ladies in her time confirmed him so well in his opinion that they agréed to returne to London there to accomplish their pretence And the next day they departed from Mirefleur accompanied of Amadis Gransador and others and comming to London after they had remained there a certaine time the Quéene sent for all the nobilitie who being arriued at the court caused a scaffold to bee made in the principall place of all the citty where the people might repaire And as he and the Quéene both apparrelled in their roiall robes each set in a chaire of estate Amadis sitting somwhat lower on his right hand and Oriane on the left were come thether a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéepe silence ◠the king with a stately countenaunce and Princely magnanimitie turning to the people saied vnto them My good friends and loial subiects before I begin to shew you the cause why I haue made you to repaire vnto this place I wil put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I haue often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris whē it pleased God to call me vnto the gouernment of this land and as I thinke there are yet many of you liuing that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the meanes and subtletie of Arcalaus the inchanter I was deliuered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my sonne Amadis deliuered mee Yet not long after by euill counsell I made warre against him which ended as all men know fortune enuious of my felicitie afterward prepared mee such a banket that without his helpe I had beene prisoner with king Arauigne and vtterly ouerthrowne And that which hath yet more astonished mee was that when I thought my selfe sure and out of danger of all mishaps a worse then all the former suddainely chanced vnto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verely to haue ben the end and consumation of my daies Neuerthelesse the Lord God regarding me in pitty sent my yong sonne Esplandian to my sorrowfull prison from whence hée hath deliuered mee as no doubt you haue heard Now my good subiects you all sée mée to bee very old and white haired hauing already attained to the thréescore and tenth yeare of mine age which maketh me think it time now to forget all wordly pleasures and to serue God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I haue determined from henceforth to forsake all royall dignity and leaue you my son Amadis for your king to whome at this time I yéeld both my Crowne Scepter and all the right I haue vnto the gouernement of this land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will bee faithfull and true subiects vnto him as you haue alwaies ben to me And although hée bée but my sonne in law if I knew him vnworthy of the place beléeue
said shée to returne againe as you haue promised Which Esplandian vowed vpon his faith meane time Norandel and quéene Minoresse as much gréeued as might be knewe not what countenance to holde hauing their hearts so seased with care that the Quéene was constrained to withdrawe her selfe into her chamber and lay vpon her bedde shutting the doore whereby Norandel had no meanes to take his leaue but imbarked himselfe charged with an infinite number of gréefes and sorrowes with that the great serpent began of it selfe to set forward and within two daies after arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu CHAP. XLV How the two Dragons set Vrganda Melie and king Armato in the middle of the cittie of Tesifant and of the great armie that Armato prepared to enter into Greece THe Dragons bearing Vrganda Melie and king Armato in the aire flewe so swiftly that before day they were right ouer the citie of Tesifante where they set downe their charge that done they flewe away and neuer were séene againe king Armato was excéeding glad when he perceiued himselfe to be in place whereas he might commaund and went vnto his pallace where finding the guard he made himselfe knowen vnto them that presently went to aduertise the prince Alphorax who much abashed at those newes start out of his bed and casting a furred gowne vpon his shoulders ranne to imbrace his father who séemed to be so changed not onely because his beard was longer than he vsed but by reason of the great gréefe and melancholly he had so long endured that the prince began to wéepe and say vnto him My Lord you are more than heartily welcome for Gods cause I beséech you tell vs how fortune hath béene so much your friend to deliuer you out of the misery wherein you haue continued so long to my no little griefe Sonne said he Melie can tell you better than my selfe for she is the only meanes of my good hap and hath brought with her Vrganda discogneue of whome heretofore you haue heard And as he left speaking Melie and Vrganda entred into the hall wherewith the rumor of the kings returne was so great within the Citie that all the people ranne vnto the palace for to sée him being as glad of his arriuall as Vrganda sorry to sée her selfe in such a place and that which gréeued her more was that Melie in presence of them all spake vnto her and said Vrganda two things mooue me to saue thy life the one for that in my captiuitie thou hast not once suffered an euill word to be vsed to me neither permitted that any man should doe mee harme the other because I certainly know that king Armato hath by thy means receiued all the good intertainement he had during his hard imprisonment Neuerthelesse the mischiefe thou hast procured vnto this country being the only cause the Christians entered into the same is sufficient to make thée indure perpetuall imprisonment wherein by mine art I will so straightly inclose thée that thy Art shal nought auaile thée euer so get forth But although that sentence might well abash Vrganda yet shee shewed such constancy that she neuer changed colour determining with her selfe to indure whatsoeuer should fal out wherfore she said vnto Melie Madame you may do with me as pleaseth you but in reason you ought not to vse me otherwise then you your selfe were vsed whē I had the like authority ouer you as you haue now of me otherwise you shal do wrong both to your selfe me To me that am olde ancient putting me in prison wherewith you threaten me not hauing offended you to your selfe in preferring cruelty before the curtesie that hath ben found in you whereto Melie answered hir not a word but commanded her to be shut into a great tower stāding in the midst of the citty ouer the which she wrought such coniurations the Vrganda knew without Gods help it would be impossible for her euer to come forth yet she liued in hope considring the mutability of fortune the king Armato himselfe had ben casually deliuered who continued certaine daies in his great Citty of Tesifant without making any shew to bee reuenged But in the end he sent Embassadours to all the Princes in the East that were his allies and confederates desiring them to enter into arms not onely to driue the Christians out of Galatia Alfarin and other places that they had vsurped in his countrey but to destroy Constantinople with all the Christian monarch and therefore wrote a letter vnto them the contents whereof doe follow Armato by the prouidence of our immortall gods called to the gouernment of the puissant country of Turky the frontier Bulwark of al the Pagan land to all caitifes kings soldiors admirals gouernors of the countries scituated in the east parts sēdeth gréeting being returned out of prison from whence we are now deliuered I thought good to giue you to vnderstand that not long since there is a knight come out of the South into the marches descended as men say of the race of Brutus the Troiane to whome for our iniustice as it is verie likely our gods haue giuen power to conquer the castle La montaigne defendu slaying Matroco and Frerion two of the best Knightes in all the East parts and which is worse the number of the Christians increasing more and more they haue fought all meanes to destroy our holy lawe which to preuent we entred into armes and hauing raised a mightie armie thought to driue them out of our quarters but hauing long time continued siege before the castle La montaigne defendu and brought it to such extremitie that they had no victuals to sustaine themselues he of whome we were most in doubt the first beginner of those warres found meanes by the aid of a villaine named Frandalo that sometime belonged vnto vs to enter therein and by subtiltie to take vs prisoners in such sort that our army being ouerthrowne we remained prisoners in their handes where they haue holden vs in straight kéeping almost for the space of a whole yéere togither meane time our fortune continuing worse and worse they haue by treason seazed vpon the townes of Alfarin and Galatia two of the best portes in all our Realme which they had neuer taken in hand without the aide of the traiterous and disloyall Emperour of Constantinople who for to aid and succour them hath falsly broken the truce concluded betwéen vs and raised so many men that without your aides we are in danger to fall into their hāds a thing that would concerne you much séeing we as you know are the frontire and rampart to you all Wherefore in the name of all our gods wee pray and desire you that not onely for the safegard of our law but for the profit and vtilitie of all the East countries you will assemble your forces in so great number that thereby we may driue these Christians out of our countrey and
inconuenience he foreséeth to be prepared against all Christendome if it be not succoured he hath expresly willed me to shew you that he hath had certaine intelligence that all the kings of the East parts haue sworne and promised togither to ouerrunne all Christendome which is verie likely considering the great preparations and assembly of men they haue alreadie made in the Isle of Tenedos which is such that as our spies report they are at least sixe hundred sayle of shippes and about foure or fiue hundred thousand men God will helpe vs if it pleaseth him said king Amadis for my part I will doe what possible I may and will like wise aduertise king Perion my father and my brother Galaor My lord said Gandalin I haue also charge to trauaile vnto them and likewise vnto Gasquillan Don Bruneau Quedragant and others to whome Esplandian hath written in like sort as he hath done to you and hath expresly giuen me in charge to sée king Luisart and doe his humble commendations vnto him It is great reason said the king neuerthelesse I am of this opinion that before my mother the quéene you doe not once declare the occasion of your comming but giue her to vnderstand that all is well but not vnto the king if you find him alone for he is a man as euery one well knoweth to take all things with patience as they shall fall out and because my sonnes affaires require no delay I pray you Gandalin after you haue refreshed your selfe a day or two goe on your iourney as you haue in charge So Gandalin that day remained there during which time Quéene Oriane talked long with him the next day he departed to sée King Luisart and Quéene Brisenne at Mirefleur who knowing he came of message from Esplandian were excéeding glad the Quéene although shée were wise and verie aged yet could not change her womans nature but before the king spake any word asked him for her sonne but Gandalin accustomed readily to deuise excuses as hée had béen instructed by king Amadis tolde her that he had left him in the firme Isle not well at ease by reason of his long trauell but not so ill said he as that he could not haue taken paine to come hither sée you but he feared least his sicknes would encrease wherefore he thought it better for him to kéep his chamber a while than to entertaine a long and enuious ague for a long space which the quéene easily beléeued and for the hope she had shortly to sée him she made no account thereof neuertheles the same euening Gandalin tolde king Luisart all that you heard before wisely excusing himselfe of the spéech he vsed before him vnto the Quéene as king Amadis had giuen him charge wherein king Luisart commended him for the rest he promised to thinke theron while he trauailed vnto those with whome he had to doe In this sort Gandalin being dispatched returned to king Amadis who in the mean time persuaded by quéen Oriane wrought a marriage for him as you shall heare You haue read in the beginning of our history of the seruices the gentlewoman of Denmarke did for them and the things wherein she Gandalin had béen exercised wherefore it was reason that hauing béen partakers of their youthful toies she should also tast some of their prosperous fortunes Wherefore quéene Oriane moued king Amadis to make a marriage betwéen them two but he thought the match vnfit because the gentlewoman was already aged Gandalin being yong and lusty neuertheles as all women that are wise and of a quicke conceit can bring their enterprises to effect the Quéene found meanes to get the kings consent wherby Gandalin was no sooner come frō Myrefleur but he took him aside said vnto him Gandalin the quéene is desirous to haue you stay with vs not only for the loue she knoweth I beare vnto you but also for the good shée wisheth you And for this cause she would haue you marry with the gentlewoman of Denmarke whome she loueth will doe much both for her you if you consent thereto you know her long time since both to be wise good vertuous and for my part I pray you and counsell you thereunto Gandalin would gladly haue excused himselfe and to say the truth he was too yong for so old a match neuerthelesse hauing from his infancie learned to confirme his will to the of Amadis he was content to doe as pleased him in such sort that in lesse than thrée daies after the marriage was celebrated and ended Meane time king Amadis tooke the letters and instructions that Gandalin should carry to Gasquillan and king Bruneau and sent them by a gentleman of his named Handro cousin german to the Countesse of Flaunders desiring them as much as possible they might to aide his sonne in his so good a cause but the next weeke following Gandalin more affected to the seruice of Esplandian thā to court his wife departed from thence to trauaile into Fraunce vnto king Perion and from him to Sobradise to Galaor Meane time king Amadis sent for all the pilots masters and mariners of his countrey that he could find commending king Arban of Norgales to take care for all things requisite for the enterprise charges of such a vsage both for men and vessels In this maner did the affaires touching these wars procéed through the greatest part of Europe while all the kings in the East by little litle assembled themselues togither as you shall heare CHAP. XLVIII How the great citty of Constantinople was besieged by the princes of the East and of the salies that were made by those of the citty to keepe them from the same THe army of the Pagan kings daily assembling in the Isle of Tenedos the emperor mean time fortified his citty of Constantinople both with men victuals in the best maner he could cōmanding those that had charge of his army by sea to cause all his vessels to come into the Hauen of the town which he caused to be barred with a chaine that on that side he might be out of danger Thē hee sent diuers brigandines vnto Natolia to discouer the Pagans army and bring him certaine newes Meane time the countrey people reaped all their corn and brought it to the citty Within eight daies after the Brigandines that were sent forth discouered in the straights of Hellespont the great fléet of the Turkes that lay at Abides where they stayed a certaine time to take in victuals and other munitions necessary for their ships Whereof the emperour being aduertised caused his men to muster giuing Frandalo charge of the dragon gate so called because that at the foundation of the citty when it was named Bisance there was found a maruellous Dragon vnder the foundation of the gate which dragon was bound chained and norished so long time that it was thought most strange Norandel had charge of the gate called quiline Gastiles his
new forces come against the towne for they had not any intelligence of the sending of Gandalin Enil to the christian princes that brought with them a multitude both of ships men as well knights as others Now to returne to the Christians fléet King Childadan knowing that Alphorax plaied the foxe desired Quedragant hauing equall power with him to be content that he with thréescore pinnaces might skirmish with him that thereby if it were possible he might prouoke him to come out which he agréed vnto wherefore setting saile he made towards the enemie so néere that they were ready to fight hand to hand neuertheles Alphorax for that time would not touch the bait but entred farther in the straights wherewith king Childadan retired and came vnto the hauen of the citie making the brauest show that might be séene those of Constantinople perceiuing the bandirols and streamers of great Brtttain of other christian princes made him answer with the like and so high that the noise of the trumpets clerons tabers was so great that Armato and all the Pagans might easily hear it With that king Childadan was receiued by the Emperor Norandel others to whome he shewed what aide was come vnto them and what princes had taken the voiage in hand In good faith said the Emperor they bind me for euer vnto them yet am I much abashed how they vnderstood of the wars betwéene Armato me What my Lord said Childadan did Esplandian neuer tell you therof No I assure you said the Emperor nor any of his companions as far as I know Is he not in the city said the king In good truth said Norandel hee would not leaue the castle La montaigne defendu minding to kéep it if the Pagans came to besiege it Assure your selues said Childadan he will not long stay there before king Amadis sendeth for him for we determine presently to giue battell if he should faile at such a iourny it would gréeue him euer after Much other talketh had the knights of Constantinople with Childadan and those that bare him companie where he stayed till the next day in the morning that he entered into his ships to returne vnto Quedragant CHAP. LII How Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were sent for by Gandalin that went vnto the castle La montaigne defendu where they staied attending the succours of the Christian Princes and of a letter that the Souldan of Liquie and Queene Calafre wrot vnto king Amadis and Esplandian KIng Childadan returned to Quedragant as you heard before and the army on land incamped in sight of the enemy Amadis was aduertised by those that had ben in the city of Constantinople that Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were at the castle La montaigne defendu wherevpon he sent Gandalin to fetch them Gandalin tooke shipping and had so good a winde that without any aduenture hee arriued there where hee declared vnto them howe king Amadis and almost all the Christian Princes were incamped within halfe a mile of the Pagans host and all what hee and Enil had done considring their charge And because said Gandalin that our men are determined shortly to giue them bataile they pray you to come vnto them Truly saied Esplandian Gandalin my friend you haue wrought the matter well and I thanke you for the paines that you haue taken My lord saied the king of Denmarke are you not determined that we go vnto them For my part I had rather lose one of mine armes then faile thereof Brother saied Esplandian to morrow if it pleaseth God the great serpent shall bring vs thither before that time it had alwaies vsed to saile of it selfe but as then it failed For when they were entered into it it stirred not whereat Gandalin much abashed could not refraine to say By god this vessell is like to the horse with the white legge that faileth vs when we haue most néed Friend said Esplandian I am surely persuaded that this procéedeth by reason of Vrgandas imprisonment who at this time is in Melies power and so well inchaunted that her art profiteth her as little as this vessel doth vs that moued by her inchauntments which at this present hath no meanes to stirre as you may well perceiue And Esplandian saied true for at the same time the countrey wherein Vrganda dwelt called The vnknowne Island because it was alwaies inuisible was as then discouered and séene of all men With that Gandalin counselled them to enter into the Pinnace which Esplandian and the king of Denmarke did and hauing a good winde sayled towards Constantinople and on a sunday in the morning they espied the vessels of king Childadan and Quedragant which not long after they borded where Esplandian and the king of Denmark were receiued with great ioy after that hee went to sée his father and the rest of the knights that were on lande and after an infinite number of imbracings and welcomes on all sides they determined to visit their enemies somewhat néerer wherby many braue skirmishes were made where the women of Quéen Calafre were continually in armes and among the rest a sister of the Quéenes named Liote a hardy and valiant ladie that tooke a Frenchman prisoner which certefied the Souldan of Liquie that Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and Esplandian his sonne were in the army Whereof the Souldan and Quéene Calafre being aduertised determined together to write a letter vnto them the contents whereof doe follow Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie mortall enemy to the enemies of our gods and Calafre Quéene of Califorine a countrey most rich and abundant in gold and precious stones giue you Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and your sonne Knight of the great Serpent to vnderstand that the occasion of our arriual in these countries hath been for these two causes The one in hope to destroy all Christendome and the other to prooue if wee may take from you the renowne that is spread abroad of you to bee the two best knights liuing in the world for we account our selues for such as that if you will accept the combate of your persons against ours we will euidently make it knowne that our valor is no lesse then yours And to the end the glorye of the victors may be knowne the vanquished shall remaine in their powers to dispose of them as they shall thinke conuenient Aduise your selues therefore to answere vs herein by this our messenger to whome wee haue giuen charge to declare vnto you if you refuse this combate that from henceforth we shall haue iust occasion to attribute to our selues the aduantage of the praises and endlesse glories that fortune heretofore hath giuen you and to estéeme of you as meanely in time to come as you haue béen highly renowned heretofore This letter giuen to the Gentlewoman that bare the first to Norandel she went vnto the Christians campe and being aduertised which was Amadis tent entered therein as he sate
talking with king Luisart Esplandian and other good knights Where knéeling on the ground she asked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father Amadis spake vnto her and saied Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my sonne Is it your pleasure to speake with vs The gentlewoman casting hir eie vpon Esplandian maruelling at his great beautie spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily beléeue that this is hee for I haue heard him in diuers places estéemed for the same that nowe I doe behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp only to sée him you now haue your desire That hath not ben only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and Quéen Calafre send vnto you both wherfore hauing read it I pray you returne an answere With that Amadis hauing taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the tent attending their resolution King Amadis hauing read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there rose great controuersie among them concerning the refusall or acceptation of the combat for that the most part of them were of aduise it should not be accepted shewing diuers great and euident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them readye to giue them battaile if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to king Amadis and Esplandian in whome partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in diuers men that are now very willing ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame vnto them al for that that refusal only would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might wel be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth saie Amadis be it of two against two twenty against twenty or of greater number the victory is in the hands of God Wherefore in refusing thereof I should doe my selfe wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendome that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I haue great hope of Gods helpe herein for whose faith and honour I haue vndertaken this voiage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldlier and said That he would take that combate vpon himselfe alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéene but against two others more with them rather then it so should be refused whereupon it was concluded that Amadis and he would fight and sending for the messenger into the tent Amadis saied vnto her Gentlewoman you shall tel the Souldan and the Quéene that I and my son are content to doe as they require wherefore let them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall bee betwéene their campe and ours assuring them on the faith of a king that not one of our soldiours shall once remoue how soeuer we spéed which wee desire likewise at their hands and if it bée their desire to haue the combate fought this day we are content to doe it With that the gentlewoman returned and comming to the Souldans tent shée declared her message vnto thē being such as you haue heard wherof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéene for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian wherefore shee asked the Gentlewoman what she thought of him Madame saied shee I haue in my life time séene many men and women that nature had indued with great beautie but by the gods I confesse it is all but painting in regard of that I haue found in him for hee is so faire and beautifull that the more I thinke thereon so much the more it maketh me cōceiue such beauty to be rather deuine thē humane That is much said the Quéene I know not said the gentlewoman what you meane by that word Much but I am wel assured if you had séene him as I did that you would say as much as I doe and it may be more Truly saied the Quéene before I enter in combat with him I will first sée him vnarmed and speak with him not as an enemie to an enemy but as friends commonly do one vnto the other Madame saied the Souldan séeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went againe vnto them to desire them to giue you leaue to come and visite them in their campe not to procure them any cause of enuy but to do them honour and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsell séemed good vnto the Quéene and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman backe againe vnto Amadis and Esplandian whom she found yet in the Tent whereas she left them With that she told them what her message was and the great desire the Quéene had to sée them before they entred into combat King Amadis could not refraine laughing to hear the Gentlewoman expresse the affection her mistresse had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Sonne saied hee deny not her request for I assure you since our comming hether I haue heard the Quéene to bée estéemed a wise and beautifull Princesse You heare our answere saied Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Quéene come hether when she thinketh good for she shall be heartely welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the Quéene who being greatly pleased with that answere determined the next daye to goe vnto them But she knew not well what manner of apparell she were best to weare sometimes shee thought it fit to goe as she vsed when she went to bataile and then presently changed opinion thinking a womans apparrell would bee more séemely and conuenient séeing she went not to trie their forces but only to win the loue and fauour of Esplandian if she might procure the same And thinking on it all night long in the morning when she meant to apparrell her self she was resolued to dresse her as women vse to do thinking she had means inough afterward to shew her selfe in habite of a knight whereby shee might bee séene both in the one and the other sort Whervpon she caused her most precious robes to be brought vnto her and apparrelling her self forgot not any thing that might once beautifie or adorn her person or that in her opinion would deck her well the better to be liked And to bear her company she tooke twelue of her own gentlewomen so well furnished and set forth with stones and pearles that the like was neuer séene That done she sent vnto her ships for a most strange and monstrous beast wherevpon sometimes shee vsed to ride in great pomp It was as big as a great Dromadary the hair long somewhat yellow black spots his two eares hanging downe vnto his knées hauing but one eye shining brighter then a burning glasse and stood right in the midst of his forehead out of his mouth there issued two great téeth like hornes and although his
giuen vnto king Amadis hauing vanquished me by force which I certainely know to be wholly subiect to fortune but the imprisonment wherof 〈◊〉 complain is the wherin my hart hath inclosed it self hath the only mouing by the sole beauty fauor I haue found in the new most happy emperor estéeming my selfe to be such that I haued leauing my law to accept of yours to haue had him for my lord and husband although my hope by little and little began to deminish when I perceiued the Princes Leonorine to bee more recommended in all perfections then any that euer I heard of or euer haue séene so that speaking against my selfe it had béene impossible to finde a more equall match nor more conformable one vnto the other then the marriage of them together which maketh me beléeue that fortune extendeth wholy to eternise this my passion wherein I will if I can so much impeach her that forgetting my first affection and if it wil please him to giue me another husband worthy my estate I will accept it willingly together with baptisme and the law of Christ which you doe hold When the Emperour Esplandian saw her good pretence he began to comfort her in the best manner hee could and calling Talanque a faire lusty and wel disposed Gentleman hee saied vnto the Quéene Madame this Gentleman I offer vnto you is my cousin and son vnto King Galaor one of the best knights as I thinke liuing in the world I pray you at my request refuse him not for your lord and husband assuring you that I knowe no Princesse how great soeuer she be liuing in the world but might content her selfe with him The Quéene beheld him with so good affection that shee easily beléeued Esplandian and saied vnto him Vpon your word my lord I wil accept of him and from this time forward yéeld my selfe to bée his wife and will for his sake doe so much that the Island wherin I and others my predecessors would not suffer a man to liue shal from henceforth be gouerned by him as other countries are by their Kings and Princes And because her sister Liâ—â—e was not at that assembly but with her ships lying in the straights as Quéen Calafre had commaunded her as you heard before shee desired the Emperour to send for her who presently sent the admirall Tartarie to fetch her she being come and hauing heard her sisters mind easily agréed thereto and by the same meanes was married to Manely the wise both espoused at one time and being baptised caused all their armie to do the like which done not long after those newe married couples taking their leaues of the Kings Princes Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Court they imbarked themselues Manely hauing with him the vessels wherein Childadan his father arriued in the east and Talanque those of king Galaor which they caused to bee sraighted laden with all things necessary for so strange a country And setting saile for Californie not without great trouble which in the end they ouercame they arriued in safety where afterward they had many battels with their neighbors bordering about them whom they ouercame augmenting their dominions with many great lands territories But because the subiect of our history is not further to intreat of them we will for this present leaue theÌ„ to goe on with that which afterward was done in the city of Constantinople You heard before of the loue of Norandel and quéen Minoresse that daily increased in theÌ„ more more which the Empresse knowing ful well caused them to be married together the emperor giuing to Norandel the castle La montaigne defendu with the townes of Alfarin Galatia for the which he recompenced Frandalo with the rich fertile and well peopled isle's of Galatines Mean time the Emperor Esplandian not forgetting the imprisonment of Vrganda one day among the rest not long before the princes of the West imbarked theÌ„selues to return into their countries hee shewed theÌ„ in what sort Melie had taken her away by inchantment caried her to the great citty of Tesifant where she held her prisoner in a great tower desiring them most earnestly to giue him counsel what he might do therin Son said king Amadis it were good you sent vnto Armato to offer him for her the souldan of Liquie that is your prisoner if he refuse you so to doe we will enter into his country and fetch her thence by force Wherevnto they all agréed so that without longer delay Carmelle was sent to Tesifant imbarking her self with four squires thrée gentlewomeÌ„ with a good wind arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu where she remained certain daies staying for king Armatos pasport which by one of her womeÌ„ she sent to fetch who fouâ—â— Armato as melancholy as might be féeling as yet his fortune past specially the death of his son Alphorax which without ceasing he coÌ„tinually lamented With that the gentlewoman gaue him to vnderstand the cause of her arriual wherwith he was so wel pleased that presently hee caused Carmelles safe conduct to bee made and giuing it to the messenger said vnto her My friend returne vnto your mistresse and assure her from mee that shée may come vnto my court as often as it pleaseth her remembring well the pleasures she shewed vnto me during my imprisonment The gentlewomaÌ„ thanked him most hartily and returned to Carmelle who within few daies after went to Tesifant to Armato where shee declared at large the effect of her embassage which heard by king Armato and considring with himself that for Vrganda hée might recouer one of his greatest friends therby cause the Christian Princes for a time to refrain the ouerrunning of his country sent presently for Melie desiring her in all affection for his sake to grant to his desire the pleasure of the Christians considring the offer made by theÌ„ was both aduantage vnto him his Melie desirous to please Armato brake her inchantments without delay Vrganda was deliuered vnto Carmelle vpon condition that shee being arriued in the city of Constantinople should likewise set the Souldan of Liquie at liberty which she swore and promised to do which done taking their leaue of Armato they trauelled so long that they came vnto the castle La montaigne defendu where Vrganda caused theÌ„ to leaue Carmelles ship to enter into the great serpent that as yet she found there which presently of it selfe began to saile as it had alwaies done before Vrganda was in prison in such manner that without impeachment they arriued in the Hauen of Constantinople where the Princes and lords being on shoare descended to the water side to receiue Vrganda And thinking to bring her to the pallace she desired the to stay there til a prophesie were accoÌ„plished that should be done before the sun went down which they agréed vnto not onely to please her mind but likewise desiring to sée what it should be
With that they were abashed that the great serpent began to leape and labour in the water as if it had ben in the greatest storm that euer was although the sea was very calme but only about the serpent where it raged in most horrible maner but that which most abashed the beholders was that the vessell cast forth such horrible cries that not one among them but his haire stood vpright vpon his head for fear And hauing continued in that maner about 〈…〉 more the serpent thrust his head into the water wherewith it sunk and neuer was séen again And with that they perceiued a farre off a great rock which being driuen by the waues came within half a bow shot néer vnto the shore on the top whereof stood a woman bareheaded and couered only with a linnen cloth to hide her priuities being inuironned by more then a thousand serpents as wel great as small which stung her in such sort that she wept and lamented in most pittiful maner wherat the knights of great Brittaine had so much coÌ„passion that they thought to enter into the ships and go to help her which Vrganda forbad them For said she besides the dangers that may happeÌ„ vnto you you shal lose your labors because she whom you behold which is the inchauntresse lady hath ordained it to be so With that the rocke sunk into the water and the gentlewoman vanished out of sight but not long after she appeared again vpon the waues flying from the fury of a monster of the sea that with his throat opeÌ„ followed after ready to deuour her in such manner that she came right vnto the hauen crying with a loud voire vnto Esplandian Gentle Emperor I pray you help me for none but you can do it wherewith Esplandian stepped forward holding the sword hee conquered in the old pallace of the inchaunted rock in his hand ran vnto her thinking to go néere the monster the gentlewoman that fled from it caught hold of his sword whether he would or not took it away wherwith she threw her self into the sea the monster after her Whereat euery man began to laugh saying to the emperor that if a gentlewoman had predestinated the same vnto him kept it long time another gentlewoman or she her selfe vpon a suddaine had taken it from him againe With that Vrganda was led vnto the pallace accompanied by the emperor with all the kings knights where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was deliuered sent to Tesifant about the beginning of the next wéek after the westerne princes took shipping and being imbarked with Vrganda recommending the emperor to God failed forwards till at the last euery man arriued at his desired hauen namely king Amadis that found Oriane very sad for the death of her mother newly deceased which much more increased wheÌ„ she knew hir father king Luisart was dead But in the end time made hir to forget her sorrow but not so soon as Amadis could haue wished CHAP. LV. How the Emperour Esplandian sent Norandel to take possession of the country he had giuen him and of the taking of Tesifant NOt long after the westerne princes were departed into their countries the emperor Esplandian would that Norandel should goe vnto the castle La montaigne defendu and other towns that he had giuen him to make warre against king Armato for which cause he gaue him a great number of soldiors with the which to make short he assailed the king of Turky had battell together wherein many a valiant knight lost their liues neuerthelesse the victory fell on Norandels side wherby he caused Armato to flie away retiring to his city of Tesifant which being known vnto the Emperour he departed from Constantinople with a great army going into Turkie ioyned with Norandels power and besieged Tesifant but feare seased so wel vpon Armato that he found means to flie away leaue the town which not long after was taken the princesse Heliaxe brought vnto the emperor who vsed her courteously and sent her againe vnto her father Ampheon king of Medea giuing her diuers rich presents News being spred throughout the country of Turky of the flight of king Armato as also of the taking of Tesifant diuers towns and citties yéelded to Esplandian that gaue them likewise to Norandel and because winter came on hee returned into Thrace where two of his nephewes sonnes of Galaor came to visite him and to receiue the order of knighthood which he gaue vnto them with both armor and horses minding to request them to trauell to Tesifant vnto Norandel thereto begin their first entrance into arms but they desired rather to take the way to Californie where Mâ—â—â— and Taâ—anque had great war against their neighbors which the emperor perceiuing caused al things necessary for so long a voiage to bee giuen them with so good Piloteâ— that in the end they arriued at their desired Hauen where they attained to great honor and estimation among their â—panâ— But 〈◊〉 to enter further to discouâ—â— of them 〈…〉 this present let them rest And let it suffice you to knowe how that as time passed Perion succéeded in his fathers feat and Garinter married in the east parts with Heletria quéen of Citharee and was the best knight in all the world And because it is declared at large in the sixt and seuenth bookes of this our historye we will passe it ouer at this time CHAP. LVI How Vrganda sent to desire king Amadis the Emperor Esplandian Don Galaor king of Sobradise and others to come vnto the Firm Isle and of the maruellous inchauntments that she made ouer theÌ„ VRganda being in her Isle not as yet discouered taking great pleasure to read Melies bookes knewe by her art death to be néere vnto the kings and princes whom she most loued and hauing great sorrow that worms should consume the flesh of so valiant king hes deuised to preuent the same which to do she took sea accompanied of her two cousins Iuliande and Solisee with diuers other gentlewomen and went vnto the Firme Isle where being arriued she sent to the emperor Esplandian Amadis Galaor Florestan Agraies and Gransador praying them most earnestly to come vnto her to the pallace of Apolidon for matter that touched theÌ„ most néer otherwise she sent theÌ„ word if they did it not that before long time past euil would happeÌ„ vnto theÌ„ and the master Elizabeth should bring with him the book that he made of the aduentures of the knights liuing in his time as also that they should bring their wiues with Ardan the dwarf Carmelle Gandalin the Gentlewoman of Denmarke Those princes hauing vnderstood Vrgandas mind failed not therin so that about the same time she willed theÌ„ to come they all arriued there where Vrganda receiued them not with a smiling counâ—â—nance as â—â—er vsed ordinary to doe but with teares in her eies whereat they being much abashed desired her
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
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
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