then sweetly kissing her he saide I assure you Madame that for your sake I will stay longer in this Country then you imagine therefore I pray ye be not vnmindfull of this place So arose Elisena and went to her Chamber with Darioletta leauing the king alone not a little contented with his new acquaintance but dreading his dreame as you haue heard and willing to know what it might signifie he became desirous to returne to his owne Country where as then were good store of Philosophers that were well seene in those Sciences himselfe likewise in former times tooke great pleasure therein and vnderstood sundry rules thereof Neuerthelesse he soiourned ten dayes with king Garinter after his sporting with Elisena who neuer a night failed to visit her louely haunt The ten dayes being spent king Perion forcing his will and notwithstanding the teares and intreaties of Elisena which were excessiue resolued to depart and therefore tooke his leaue of the Court but as he wold haue mounted on horsebacke he perceiued that he wanted his good Sword whereat he became somewhat offended because it was one of the best and fairest in the world yet durst he not demand it fearing least the loue of him and Elisena should thereby be discouered or King Garinter angry with them that visited his Chamber In these thoughts accompanied with infinite regrets without longer stay he tooke his way toward Gaule albeit before his departure Darioletta came intreated him to be mindfull of the great griefe wherein he left his Elisena and of the solemne promise he had made her Alas my deere friend saide the King I pray ye to assure her on my parte that she shall haue no cause of offence and that right soone I meane to see her in meane while I commend her to you as mine owne proper hart Then taking from his finger a Ring semblable to an other that he had he sent it to the desolate louer intreating her earnestly for his sake to giue it her This present did no whit lessen her great greefe but encrease it so that if she had not beene comforted by Darioletta without doubt she had then finished her dayes but so well she perswaded her to take good hope that by the alligations she laid before her of dangerous occurrences she came somewhat better to her selfe and learned thence forward more smoothly to dissemble her sorrowe till she felte her selfe great with Childe by meanes whereof she not onely lost the taste of her food but also the pleasure of rest and the faire cullour of her countenance Now on the highest step of mis-hap was her sorrow set and not without cause for in that time was there an inuiolable lawe that any woman or maiden of what quality or estate soeuer offending in such sorte could no way excuse her selfe from death This sharpe and cruell custome endured til the comming of the vertuous King Arthur the best Prince that euer raigned in that Country which he reuoked at the time as be killed Floian in battaile before the Gates of Paris But many other Kinges were betweene him and Garinter who maintained that lawe and for this cause the sorrowfull Lady could not be absolued by ignoraunce thereof albeit that by the oathes and promises of King Perion on his Sword God would remit the offence yet knew she not how to excuse her faulte to the worlde because it was done so secretly as you haue heard See here the distresse wherein King Perion left his Elisena which gladly she wold giue him to vnderstand if possible she could but it might not be for she knew the prompritude of this yong Knng that tooke no rest in any place where he came nor was his hart satisfied except in this with following armes as also seeking strange and hazardous aduentures and therefore he was the harder to be found Thus dispairing of this succour she thought there was no remedy for her life for which she made not so much mone as the losse of the sight of her true friend and onely Lord. But at that instant the great and puissant maker of all thinges by whose permssion this act was appointed to his seruice inspired Darioletta with such councell as she onely should remedie these occurrances in such sort as you shall presently vnderstand In the pallace of King Garinter there was a Chamber-vault seperated from the rest neere to which was a riuer whereto one might easily discend by a little Iron dore this Chamber by the aduice of Darioletta did Elisena request of her father as well for her ease as to coÌtinue her accustomed solitary life and would haue none other companion then Darioletta who as you haue heard knew the occasion of her dollorous greefes This request she lightly obtained the King thinking his daughters intent to be as she feigned and heereupon was the keye of the Iron dore giuen to Darioletta to open when it pleased Elisena to recreate her selfe on the water By this meane had she a place proper to her affaires and so was in better rest assurance then before for well was she aduised that in this place more commodiously then any other might she prouide to escape without danger Wherefore beeing there one day alone with her Damosell they fell in conference she requited councell what should be done with the fruit that she trauailed withall What answered Darioletta Mary it must suffer to redeeme you Oh poore maidenly mother saide Elisena how can I coÌsent to the death of the creature begoten by the only man of the worlde whome most I loue offend not your selfe quoth Darioletta for if you should dye hardly would it be permitted after you to liue In sooth saide Elisena although I dye beeing culpable it were no reason the little innocent should suffer Leaue we this talke answered Darioletta seeing it were great folly to hazard the safety of that which hereafter may be the onely cause of your losse and your friend likewise for well you knowe that if you be discouered you shall dye and the infant shall not liue you dying no longer can he liue that so dâerâly loueth you So shall you alone cause the death of all three where contrarywise if you escape the perill the time will come when you may haue together children enow which will make you forget the affection you bare to this first And as this Damosell was thus inspired so would she before hand seeke to preuent the inconuenience in this manner She got foure little boards of such largenes as was necessary to make a Chest wherein to put the infant with the clothes the Sword which she kept then did she giue them together in such sorte as the water should haue no place to enter This beeing done made fit she put it vnder the bed without declaring any thing there-of to Elisena vntil the time of child-birth approched and then Darioletta saide What thinke ye Madame this little Cofer is made for In good faith I know
made to me Madame quoth he I know in my selfe so small deseruing toward you that I account my selfe vnworthy to request any thing of you but I should thinke I were happy if I had the meane to obey you or that it would please you to coÌmand me What said shee haue you so base a mind such smal estimatioÌ of your selfe Madame answered he in what sort soeuer it be I haue no forces at all but such as haue left me in great desire to serue you for my hart is altogether yours and can receiue nothing but from you Mine quoth Oriana and since when Since the time it pleased you Madame replied the Prince And when was it quoth she that it pleased me At that time answered the Prince when the king your father left you in this Country if you remember and when the Queene presented me to you saying I giue you this Gentleman to serue you and at that time you accepted me as yours when you answered that you were well contented Then was I giuen to you and yours onely I reputed my selfe so that I haue no authoritie ouer my selfe Certes said Oriana you tooke her words to better end then at that time she meant them which I take in good part and am content it shall be so No sooner had she thus said but the Prince was ouercome with such ioy as he had no power to answer Oriana perceiuing it made no shew thereof but said she would goe to the Queene to doe what he had desired and returned soone after telling him that her griefe was for the Queene of Gaule her sister because the King of Ireland so oppressed her country So please you Madame answered the Prince if I were Knighted I gladly would go succor her with your leaue And without my leaue quoth Oriana will ye not goe Not for death said he for without your gracious fauour my conquered hart can haue no force or vertue in any perill At these words Oriana smiled saying Seeing then you are mine I grant you to be my Knight and you shall aide the Queenes sister Most humbly did the Prince giue her thanks telling her how the King thought it not good to giue him the order of Knighthood but had denied him yet quoth he is King Perion heere as you know at whose hands so pleased you to intreate it I would more willingly receiue it then of any other Nor will I let for that said she and the better to compasse your desire I will cause the Princesse Mabila to beare me company for whose sake he will the sooner grant it So presently she went to her and told what she and the Gentleman of the sea had concluded to attaine his Knight-hood and how faine he would haue it at King Perions hand for which cause she intreated her assistance in the sute Mabila who loued the Prince very well thus answered I assure ye sister there shal be no want in me for so well doth the Gentleman deserue as would make one do much more then this for him wherefore let him be ready this night in the Queens Chappell then when time shall serue we will go with our women to accompany him and I will send for the King mine Vncle which shall be somewhat before the breake of day that he may come see me and he being come to vs you and I will moue him in the matter which I hope he will grant vs considering he is a very gracious and affable Prince This is very well appointed answered Oriana wherefore they sent for the Prince and tolde him al the platforme they had laid who humbly thanking them wold prouide all things ready for him-selfe and therefore departed Then went he to finde Gandalin making him acquainted with the whole saying I pray ye brother conuay mine armour so closely as you can into the Queenes Chappell because I hope this night to receiue mine order and for I must right soone depart hence I would know if you haue any will to beare me company Beleeue me quoth Gandalin neuer with my will shall I depart from ye Of these words was the Prince so glad that the teares stood in his eyes with ioy Well said he prouide all things ready as I told ye wherein Gandalin failed not for ere supper he tooke such order as all was done vnseene of any and the Prince got him secretly into the Chappell where he armed himselfe except the head hands So staying there for the Ladies King Perion he fel on his knees before the Alter desiring God to be his aide not onely in conquering such as he should deale withall in Armes but also in obtaining her who caused him to endure so many mortal passioÌs The night being come the Queen with-drawne the Princesses Oriana and Mabila with their womeÌ came to the chappel where the GentlemaÌ of the sea attended Mabila hauing sent for K. Perion he was no sooner entred but she thus began My L. seeing you haue taken so much paines for me as to come hither I pray you grant Madame Oriana daughter to King Lisuart a small request she will make to ye I would be loath saide the King to deny her as well for her Fathers honor as her own sake Oriana arose to thanke him whom wheÌ he beheld so faire he thought all the world could not match her in beauty thus speaking to her Madame doth it please you to command me any thing Not coÌmand my Lord quoth she but intreat ye to giue my Gentleman the order of knight-hood this said she pointing to him as he kneeled before the Altar When the king saw him he wondred at his goodly stature and said to him My friend would you receiue the order of Knight-hood Yea my good Lord answered the Prince may it please you to giue it me In Gods name be it done said the King who giue you grace so well to proceede therein as he hath bestowed seemely perfection on you Then putting on his right spur and dubbing him with his Sword thus spake Now haueye the Order appertaining to a Knight but I would oppertunity had serued me to haue giuen it you with greater honor notwithstanding according to mine opinion of you I hope you will proue such as your renowne shall supply what wanteth here in performance Afterward King Perion took leaue of the Ladies who highly thanked him then set on his way toward Gaule coÌmending the new Knight to the heauenly protection this was the first act that might beare testimony of these louers sweete desires If it seeme to the Reader that their purpose was not according to affection but simple in respect of their vehement passions I answer that they ought to excuse their age likewise it often commeth to passe that they which thinke themselues most expert in those pleasing and amorous actions haue beene by this God so strongly bound and liuely attainted as not only he depriued them of speech but of iudgment also
being in my charge In speaking these words he came to the chiefest of the sixe from whom right-soone he caught his hatchet and gaue him such a stroke therewith as he fell to the ground All the other together presently set vpon him but one of theÌ he sliced to the very teeth and sooner after another bare him company with the losse of his arme When the three that were left saw their companions so handled they tooke themselues to flight and the Prince followed them so neere as one of them left his legge behinde him the other twaine he let go returning where he left the Damosel to whom he said Now boldly go on and like euill fortune may they haue that encourage any villany to lay forsible hand on Lady or Damosell She being assured by these words went on with the Prince and his Squires but ere they had gone any thing far they heard a great noyse tumult within the Castell Me thinkes Sir said the Damosel I heare a meruailous murmuring within this Fortresse therefore I would aduise ye to take the rest of your armour Goe on quoth the Prince and feare not for where Ladies are euill entreated who ought euery where to goe in safety there hardly abideth any man of valew In sooth said she if you doe not what I haue desired I will not passe any further and so much shee perswaded him that at length he laced on his Helmet afterward he went into the Castell at the entrance whereof he met a squire weeping who said Ah God why will they murder without cause the best knight in the world alas they wold inforce him to promise what is impossible for him to accomplish These words of the Squire could not stay the Prince for he saw King Perion who had so lately Knighted him very hardly vsed by two Knights who with the helpe of ten armed Halberders had round beset him saying sweare if not thou diest Greatly did it grieue the Prince to see such out-rage offered to King Perion wherefore he thus called to them Traiterous villaines what moues you to misuse the best Knight in the world by heauen you shall all die for him At these words one of the Knights left the King and taking fiue Halberders with him came to the Prince saying It likewise behoueth you to sweare if not you can escape no better then an other What quoth he shal I then sweare against my will by Gods leaue it shall not be so Then they of the Castell cryed to the Porter that he should shut the gate wherefore the Prince now saw he must stand vpon his defence whereupon hee ran fiercely against the Knight charging him in such sorte as he fell downe dead ouer the crupper of his Horse for in the fall he brake his necke Which the Prince beholding not tarring any longer with the Halberders came to the other knight that combated with K. Perton piercing his Launce quite through his body so that he accompanied the first in fortune King Perion seeing himselfe thus succoured so cheered vp his hart as he did much better then before against his enemies causing them by sharpe strokes of his Sword to retire in meane while the Gentle-man of the sea being on Horse-backe ranne among them and scattered them tumbling one downe heere and another there so that at length by the aid of the king they were all slaine except certaine that fled away on the top of the walles But the Prince alighted and followed them whereat they were so affrighted as they cast themselues downe headlong froÌ the wals only two got them into a Chamber where they thought to remaine in safetie notwithstanding he pursued them so neer as he buckled pel mel with them But within the Chamber on a bed lay an ancient knight whose vnweldy age had taken from him the vse of his legges to them that came in he vsed these speeches Cowardly villaines froÌ whom run ye so shamefully From a knight answered one of them who hath plaide the Diuell in your Castell for he hath slaine your two Nephewes and all our companions As thus he spake the Prince caught him by the head saying Tell me villaine where is the Lord of this place oâ esse thou diest The poore man seeing himselfe in such perill shewed him the old knight lying on the bed but when the Prince saw him so old and decrepite he blamed him in this manner Thou wretched olde man hath death already seazed on thy bones and yet doost thou cause such a wicked custome to be maintained heere Well dooth thine age excuse thee from bearing Armes yet shall I giue thee thy desert belonging to such a villaine With these words he made offer to smite off his head Wherefore the affrighted olde man cried Alas my Lord for Gods sake mercy None at all quoth the Prince thou art dead if thou swearest not to me that while thou liuest such like treason shall be no more maintained in this place whereto the olde knight right gladly tooke his oath Now tell mee saide the Prince wherefore hast thou heeretofore kept this custome heere For the loue of King Abies of Ireland answered the Knight who is mine Nephew and because I cannot aid him with my person in his warre I was desirous to succour him with such Knights errand as passed this way False villaine answered the Prince what haue Knights errand to do with thy desire so spurning the bed with his foote threw it downe and the olde Knight vnderit where commending him to all the Diuels he left him and comming downe into the Court tooke a Horse which was one of the slaine Knights and bringing it to the King said Mount your selfe my Lord for it little likes me to stay any longer here where such bad people haue their habitation The king presently went to Horse-bake and so they rode together out of the Castell but the Prince fearing least the king should know him would by no meanes take off his Helmet notwithstanding as they rode along the king thus spake to him I pray ye Sir knight tell me of whence you are that haue succoured me when I was so neere my death warranting me also hereafter froÌ the enimies of this place shewing your selfe a good friend to Ladies and knights errand As for me I am the same man against whom they kept this straight passage importing the cruell oath for which you combated My Lord answered the Prince I am a knight desirous to do you any seruice Beleeue me quoth the king that haue I already well perceiued for hardly should I haue found so good a friend to helpe me yet will I not giue ouer till I know ye Alas my Lord said he that will little profit ye Notwithstanding quoth the King I pray ye take off your Helmet which he would not do but put downe his Beuer a little WheÌ the king saw that his intreatie would not preuaile he desired the Damosell to obtaine so much for him
you are so hurt that you tooke no longer time for your coÌbat It had bin needlesse answered the Prince for I haue no wound I thanke God that can keepe me from the Combate Right soone were the Chirurgions commanded to looke thereon and they found it greater in shew then danger In the meane while supper was prepared during which time they had much talke of the accidents that day past vntill the houre of rest came when each one departed till the next morning Which being come after they had serued God the king sent a rich goodly Armour to the Prince of better proofe and strength then that hee had on the day before wherewith he armed himselfe and hauing taken leaue of euery one mounted on Horse backe in company of the King who bare his Helmet the Prince Agraics his Sheeld wherein was portrayed two azured Lions in a golden field rampant the one against the other as if they both inteÌded murder another Prince carried his Launce In this equipage he set forward to the field where the King of Ireland attended his comming well armed and mounted on a goodly blacke Courser but because King Abies had in former time fought hand to hand with a Giant and vanquished him with the losse of his head therefore he brought to the Combate the like figure in his Shield describing the whole order as the deede was done On either side resorted thither a number of people placing themselues for most conuenient sight of the Combate And now were the Champions entred the lysts each one couragiously resoluing against his enemy wherefore without longer tarying lacing downe the sight of their Helmets and commending them-selues to God they gaue the spurres to their horses meeting together so furiously both with Launce body and horse as their staues flew in shiuers yet piercing their Armour and both were laid along in the field But heat of hart and desire of conquest made them recouer footing quickly and plucking forth the spields of their Launces wherewith they were wounded set hand to Sword beginning such a strange and cruell fight as each one was amazed to see them endure so much For this fight was not equally matched in respect the Prince was but yong well proportioned and of a reasonable height but King Abies was so great as he neuer found any knight that exceeded him a handfull euery way being withall so strongly made that he was rather to be accounted a Giant theÌ a man yet was he highly loued reuerenced of his subiects for the vertue and prowesse which remained in him albeit he was too much audatious and proud Now were these Champions so animated against each other as well for honor as the consequence of the Combate that without any stay for breathing they layde on such load as their strokes resounded the fight of twentie men together And well they witnessed no great good will betweene them for there might ye see the earth tainted with their blood the pieces of their Shields the plate of their Armour scattered abroad and their Helmets so bruised that by reason their Armes being so squandered they were vnable to hold out their strokes for euery blow caused the blood to gush out abundantly yet were they of such inuincible courage as they seemed to feele none of this annoyance Hereupon they maintained such brauery the one against the other as it could not be iudged who had the better or worse notwithstanding about the houre of three the Sunne gaue an exceeding warme and violent heate whereby they found themselues so chafed in their Armour as they began to wake somewhat feeble especially King Abies insomuch as hee was constrained to retire backe thus speaking to the Prince I see thee very neere failing and my selfe am likewise out of breath if thou thinke it good let vs rest awhile for afterward we may more easily finish our enterprise And thus much I tell thee although I haue no cause or desire to fauour thee that I hold better opinion of thee then any knight that euer I combated withal moreouer it displeaseth me that I had an occasion to see thee much more that I am so long in conquering thee whereby I might take vengeance for his death whom most I loued in the world and as thou didst slay him in open battaile so likewise will I ouercome thee in sight of both our Campes King Abies replyed the Pince I now perceiue it displeaseth thee that thou canst doe no more harme entering so like a Tyrant as thou didst to ruinate this Countrey And as it often happeneth that he which delighteth in euill can neuer broke any other saour so hope I to reward thee so well for thy paines as thou shalt confesse thou hast wronged these people Beside thus much I aduise thee before hand that I shall giue thee as little leisure or respite as thou hast giuen them who haue tasted thy crueltie therefore sticke close to thy tackling and defend thy selfe against the Knight whom thou reputest fayling The King then taking his Sword and what was left of his Shield thus answered Well mayst thou cursse the boldnesse that made thee enter these Lystes for hence thou shalt not escape without losse of thy head Doe what thou canst said the Prince for thou shalt rest no more till thou or thine honour be dead Herewith more cruelly theÌ before they began againe their Combat as if they had euen then entred the field albeit king Abies was so expert by reason of his long exercise in Armes that he knew right well how to defend and offend neuerthelesse the lightnes hardines and promptitude of the Prince made him in the end forget all his industrie for hee was closely followed at an inche as he lost altother the rest of his Shield by which means the Prince could endomage him farre better then before whereof he failed not and in so many places withall that the blood streamed downe his Armour in meruailous aboundance causing him by little and little to lose his strength and being in this agony staggering from one side to another hee could not deuise what to do to escape the pursuing sword of his enemy Seeing himselfe now deuoyd of all hope he concluded either soone to dye or haue the victory and taking his sword in both hands he ran with all his might against the Prince and pierced it so farre into his Shield as he was not able to pul it forth againe Which when the Prince beheld he gaue him such a furious stroke on the left leg that being quite cut from the rest the King was enforced to fall downe and right soone did the Prince set foote vppon him tearing violently his Helmet from his head saying Thou art dead King Abies if thou doest not yeeld thy lelfe vaÌquished Beleeue me I am dead answered thâ King not vanquished alone but of both the one and other my ouer-weening hath beene the onely cause Notwithstanding since it is so come to
leaue of him returning the same way shee came whereat euery one was much abashed and displeased with the Kings rash promise not knowing any reason for it and now they began to misdoubt that the enterprise of this woman would bring the Kings person into some danger But his heart was so addicted to magnanimity as whatsoeuer happened hee would not be reprooued with cowardice and so dearely did his subiects loue him that they rather desired a thousand deaths then to see him suffer any mishap or iniury Wherupon the Lords and Barons perswaded him greatly fearing some threatned inconuerience to alter the promise hee had so lightly made shewing it was not beseeming his Maiesty to deale with ffaires of knights and Gentlemen he being placed in authoritie ouer them While they stood on these tearmes there entred three knights two of them being very well armed and the third hauing on no Armour at all for hee was a man of ancient yeares as seemed by his white head yet in his countenance appeared a more cheerefull colour then commonly hath been noted in a man of age who likewise was of tall and comely stature This knight carryed in his armes a very costly Cofer and demanding for the King the Gentle-men shewed where hee sate making him way to his Maiesty before whom hee fell on his knees thus speaking God blesse so good a Prince as is king Lisuart for within these few dayes hee hath made the most worthy promise that euer King did if he intend to keepe it Beleeue me knight answered the King I neuer promised ought but it was in my power and therefore the easier to be performed but I would faine knowe your meaning heerein I vnderstand Sir quoth the knight that you intend to maintaine chiualrie in the very highest honour a matter wherein now a dayes fewe Princes delight therefore are you to bee commended aboue all other Heerein you were tolde truth sayde the King and you may bee well assured that I will doe my vttermost to aduance the cause of vertue while I liue Long may you continue in this minde replyed the knight and because I haue likewise heard how you haue summoned the Princes and Lords of your countrie to be ready at your Court the next feast of September I haue brought you heere a thing with mee which such a king as you are ought most royally to receiue Then opening the Cofer hee took forth a Crowne of gold so sumtuously embelished with Orientall Pearles and pretious stones as neuer was seene a more costlier Iewell euery one being of the minde that it was to impale the head of some especiall mighty Lord. When the king had long and earnestly beheld it he was very desirous to haue it at what price soeuer which the knight perceiuing saide This Crowne my Lord is of such workemanship as no ieweller in the world can make the like and beside the vnualuable riches thereof it hath a vertue highly to be esteemed for the king that keepeth it in his power shall encrease in all felicitie and honor So will it happen to the king who must enioy it while he liueth and long time haue I kept it no king but you that euer saw it but if you like it so well I will make ye a present thereof prouided you helpe to saue my head which I am in some danger to lose All this while was the Queene in place earnestly wishing that the king her husband might haue it where-upon she saide to the king Me-thinkes my Lord it would full well become your Maiestie if you may haue it at so easie a rate as he demandeth Madame quoth the knight I haue a better thing for you if you please to buy it it is this mantle the richest and fairest that euer was seene for beside the precious stones wherewith it is beautified it is imbroydred with all sorts of beasts and birds which nature hath giuen life to On my faith answered the Queene it is a most rate and curious piece of worke not wrought as I thinke by humaine capacity You say true Madame replied the knight for the like hereof is not to bee found yet may not the riches compare with the property and great vertue of this mantle which is such as it rather belongeth to maried Ladies then any other because shee that weareth it shall neuer be offended with her husband A vertue of cheef regard answered the Queen if it haue any such indeede I haue tolde ye true Madame quoth the knight if you will buy it you may proue Now grew she maruailous desirous of it what-soeuer price should be paide for it especially to conserue peace and loue betweene the king and her wherefore she sayde to the knight Say Sir how do you estimate this mantle and the Crowne My Lord quoth he and you good Madame I beseech you to vnderstand my fortune I am but lately escaped the hands of him who long time kept me prisoner on a strange condition which is no little cause of griefe to me for I am out of all hope to finde remedy while I liue and because I know not well the valew of these iewels I will leaue them in your costody vntill the day you holde open Court at London where you shall deliuer them againe to me or giue so much for them as I then demand In meane while you may make triall of them if you please for hauing experimented what I haue sayd you may the more willingly pay well for them Now trust me sayd the king seeing you repose such confidence in mee assure your selfe to haue whatsoeuer you request or else they shall bee restored againe It suffiseth quoth the knight theÌ turning to the Lords he thus proceeded Worthy Lords you haue all heard what the king hath promised me that he will restore the mantle the crown which I leaue in your presence or giue me whatsoeuer I shall demaÌd So much his Maiesty hath said replied the Lords we are witnesses thereof Adiew then answered the ancient Knight for perforce I must returne to the most cruell prison that euer poore Knight was enclosed in But here you must note how during the time of this conference the two armed Knights which conducted the old man was still in presence the one of them hauing the beuer of his helmet open and seemed a young man the other held downe his head as loth to bee knowne being of so tall and mighty stature as no Knight in the Kings Court might bee equalled with him So departed they againe all three together leauing the Mantle and the Crowne in the Kings custody CHAP. XXXI How Amadis Galaor and Balays arriued at the Court of King Lisuart and what happened to them afterward AMadis Galaor and Balays being all happily met together rode on without any occasion to trouble them vntill they came to the Court of King Lisuart where they were wel-commed with exceeding ioy because Galaor was neuer there before nor knowne
they did first sow in the Forrest at such time as Gandalin was gone to seeke for some victuals for them as you haue heard in the first booke And although that Oriana made refusal thereof at the first yet Amadis vsed her so courteously that before they departed from the place they determined to continue their sport whilst they had so good oportunity and from thenceforth not to bee in any doubt eyther of Mabila or the Damosell of Denmarke Eight whole dayes did Amadis remaine at Mirefleur with Oriana leading a life as pleasantly as they could wish during all the which time he was not seene of any except of those that were the meanes of his bringing thither as it hath beene tolde you for all the day long hee was close with the Ladies in the chamber and when the euening approched they came forth into the garden where often times after many amorous discourses Amadis alayed the heate of his fire by the sweete embracings of Oriana at the musick of the birds who chanting out their pleasant notes were witnesses of the pleasure that these two louers receiued vnder the shade of the little young Trees wherewith this place was sufficiently stored Now did Gandalin euery day go and come from London to Mireflure to bring newes from the Court so that one time amongst others hee told Amadis that the Armour which by Enil he had caused to bee made for him would bee very shortly finished Moreouer hee told him that the King was in great doubt for the battaile which he had enterprised against king Cildadan for the most part of those that hee had to deale withall were cruell Giants and without reason and therefore hee had stayed Galaor Florestan Agraies and Don Galuanes to assist him in that encounter Who said Gandalin are so angry for the famous report that is spread abroad of the Faire Forlorne to the disprayse of Amadis as if they had not already passed their promise to the king seeking not to enterprise any combat or voyage before the battaile they had beene already vpon their way to haue sought him out to fight with him and they secretly giue it out that if they doe escape aliue they will not rest vntil they haue both found him and fought with him In good faith answered Amadis they shall see me the sooner if God please but it shal be after another manner then they hope for wherefore do thou returne to the Court and I arne if any thing hath since happened Herewithall Gandalin departed who went directly to London where hee found the king ready to sit downe to dinner and euen as they were taking vp the Table there entred in a very antient Gentleman attended vpon with two Esquires apparrelled both in one liuery This old mans beard was shauen and the hayre of his head was white with age who came and kneeled before the king and saluting him in the Greeke tongue in which countrie he was borne hee said vnto him It may please your Maiesty the high renowne that is spread in all parts of the world of the knights Ladies and Gentle-women that are in your Court hath beene the only cause that enforced me to addresse my iourney hither to see if in the same I may finde that which this threescore yeeres I haue sought in diuerse countries farre and neere to small purpose Therefore most renowned Prince I beseech your Maiesty to be pleased that to finish my trauaile I may make a proofe of the knights Ladies and Gentle-women in this assembly the which as I thinke will neyther be hurtfull nor displeasing eyther to your Maiesty or to any other Then all the Lords that were present desired to see a thing so rare intreating the king to grant his request the which he easily condiscended vnto therewithall the ancient Gentleman tooke from one of his Esquires a little cofer of Iasper which he did carrie which was in length about three cubits and in breadth a shaftmont and it was garnished with Gold and the most curious damaske worke in the World this little cofer he opened afterward he tooke out of it a Sword so strange as the like was neuer seene the scabberd therof was made of two bright shining bones and as greene as any fine Emeraud so as the blade was to be seene through it not after the manner of other blades for the one halfe of it shewed meruailous bright and the other seemed as if it burned being as red as fire and it hanged in a Belt of the same stuffe as the scabberd was of so cunningly made that any man might easily gird it about him This Sword the Gentleman did hang about his necke that hee might likewise take out of the cofer a kercheif the one halfe where-of was be set with floures as fresh and greene as if they had beene euen then newly gathered and the other halfe was couered with other violets as withered and dry as if they had beene ten yeeres in the Sun neuerthelesse both the one the other seemed to spring from one and the selfe same roote wherewithal the king being abashed demanded of him how these things might bee If it like your maiesty answered the old man this sword cannot bee drawne forth of the scabbard but onely by that knight that amongst all louers is the most constant and that doth best loue his Lady and as soone as hee shall haue it in his hands that part which burneth shall become as cleere and bright as the rest so as the blade shall bee all of one colour In like sort if this kerchiefe bestrewed with so many flowers be set vpon the head of such a Ladie or Gentlewoman that doth loue her husband or friend with the like constantnesse the withered and drie floures shall appeare againe of a most fresh and liuely colour and your Maiesty may be pleased to know that I cannot be made a Knight but by the hands of this perfect louer that shall draw forth this Sword neyther may I take armes but of her that shall deserue this pretious kercheife For this cause haue I these threescore yeeres continually sought in many strange Countries for those by whom I ought to receiue knight-hood but yet hitherto I haue trauailed in vaine now prosecuting my voyage in a manner for my last refuge I am come into your Court imagining that euen as it farre exceedeth the Courts of all other Emperors and kings so I might in like sort in the same find that which in all others I haue failed of I pray you saide the king let mee know the reason why the fire that remaines in the one halfe of this blade doth not burne the scabbard It may please your Maiesty answered the olde man betwixt Tartaria and India there is an arme of the Sea which is so hot that the water thereof beeing meruailous greene boiles as if it were vpon the fire and in the same there is brought forth a kinde of Serpents more great then Crocodiles
shall bee rehearsed vnto you But the King desirous to manifest the force of his vertue the better to comfort his knights all wounded as hee was lighted from his horse to imbrace Amadis who kneeled down to shew his duty vnto his Maiesty My deere friend sayd king Lisuart you are most happily met I know now very well that without your ayde the realme of Great Brittaine had beene in no small danger and I pray you be not so heauy for the losse of your brother seeing that the Damosels haue assured you of his health In this sorte want king Lisuart comforting of Amadis whom hee caused to mount on horse-backe and afterwards hee brought him into his tent where there was brought somewhat for them to eat because he would depart the next day he appointed ouer night that the dead should bee buried in a Monestarie hard by the place where the battaile was giuen vppon the which place hee had bestowed great riches to cause them to pray for him In like sort hee dispatched a knight to goe in haste to aduertise the Queene of the victory that hee gad gotten ouer his enemies and the next morning he tooke his way toward the Citty of Gonata which was about foure leagues off where hee remayned vntill he and his people were healed While these things were in doing the Queene Brialania got leaue of Queene Brisena that she might goe to Mirefleur to visit Oriana hauing a great desire to see her because she was renowmed through all the world for her most excellent beauty Of whose comming Oriana being aduertised she caused the place to bee decked vp as well as possibly it might be and she receiued her most honorably but when she beheld her to bee so faire the suspition that shee had conceiued against Amadis was not so thoroughly mortified but that it somewhat reuiued againe in her notwithstanding all the proof that she had had of him eyther by his passing thorough the Arch of loyall louers or by his winning of the olde mans sworde beleeuing assuredly that ' it was a thing impossible that any man could be so constant as hee might forbeare from louing a creature so beautifull as Briolania was On the other side Briolania verily thought that the often sighes of Amadis in her presence proceeded of no other cause but the affection which hee did beare vnto Oriana for shee was the most rare Princesse and of the sweetest grace that euer shee had seene Thus were these two Ladies suspitious one of another and they remayned together discoursing of diuerse matters agreeable to their affections especially of the vertues and perfections of Amadis But Oriana the better to diue into the thought of Briolania sayde vnto her I doe much maruaile gentle Cosen considering the bond wherein you are tyed vnto Amadis as also seeing that hee is decsended from Emperours and the sonne vnto the king of Gaule that you haue not chosen him for your husband Madame answered Briolania beleeue me I should haue thought my self most happy if the same might haue beene brought to passe but yet of one thing I can assure you the which I pray you to keepe as secret as it deserueth Many times did I motion such a matter vnto him but his continuall sighes did presently yeelde me an answere in his behalfe yet could I neuer vnderstand in what place his loue was so setled so couert and secret is hee in all his affections neuerthelesse let him be whatsoeuer hee will be he shall dispose of me and all that mine is foreuer as he shall thinke good Exceeding glad was Oriana to vnderstand these newes by the which shee appeaâed her new conceiued iealousie against Amadis and sayd vnto Briolania I doe greatly maruaile what shee is whom hee loueth as you say and there is no doubt but that he is one of the number of these louers by the testimony which the image of the enchanted Arch hath declared of him for according vnto that which hath been recited vnto me it shewed more for him then euer it did for any that there before had passed He loueth without doubt answered Briolania but it is so secret that non may knowe what or where she is In this sort did the two Princesses passe away their time still talking of Amadis during their aboad in the Castle of Mirefleur from whence within a fewe dayes after they departed to go towards Fenusa to see the Queene Brisena where she stayed for King Lisuart who was very glad to see her daugter returne in so good health There they had newes of the victory that the King had against the Prince of Ireland wherewith their ioy redoubled and God was highly praised but when Queen Briolania knew that he which was called the Faire Forlorne was Amadis of Gaul neuer was there woman more ioyful then she And although that Oriana and Mabila knew the cause thereof very well as you haue heard yet did they dissemble the matter and seemed to wonder thereat no lesse then the rest by meanes whereof Briolania did often times say thus vnto them would you euer haue suspected that Amadis would haue thus disguised himselfe taken a strange name amongst his deerest friends desiring thereby to extinguish his owne renowne by the great proâesse that hee performed vnder the title of a stranger By my faith answered Oriana if hee returne with the King wee must know of him wherefore hee did it and also what shee was that gained the kerchiefe with him I assure you said Briolania that we will not sticke to demand it of him and I beleeue he will willingly tell vs. CHAP. XVII How King Cildadan and Galaor were vnawares to themselues carried away by twelue Damosels and one of them was put into a strong Tower inuironed with the Sea and the other in a garden inclosed with high wals where they thought they had beene in prison and of that which happened there vnto them NOw wee will rehearse vnto you the enteâtaynement that was made vnto King Cildadan and Galaor whom the Gentlewomen had put into the ship and they were carried and so well looked vnto that the third day following they began to amend for vntill then they had lost all manner of feeling and remembrance And Galaor found himselfe to bee layd in a chamber within a garden furnished in the most sumptuous order that euer he had seene the which was supported vp with foure Marble pillers inuironed notwithstanding with great gates of iron through the which he might easily see from his bed where hee lay all the circuit of the garden the which was closed about with high walles not hauing any entrance into it but one little dore couered ouer with plates of iron whereby he thought that hee was in prison Then did he begin to feele such great griefe in his wounds that hee hoped for nothing but death Then did hee remember that hee had beene in the battaile but he knew not who had either brought him away
it which deceiueth you for if they had heretofore offended you you would haue beene ware of them as of your enemies but they can wisely cloake their pretended treason colouring it with an humble speech accompanied with some small seruices wherein they haue employed themselues watching a time of more fit opertunity The King turned his head on the one side without answering any farther because there came some Gentlemen vnto him neuerthelesse Gandandel being as yet ignorant how the King had taken his aduertisement he practised with Brocadan and drew him vnto his league declaring vnto him the whole discourse which he had with the King assuring him that if they might banish Amadis and his alies that from thenceforth they two alone should gouerne the king and his Realme peacebly Brocadan receiuing this counsell for good did afterwards imprint in the King his minde so great iealosie and suspition against Amadis and his fellowes as from that day hee hated them in so strange a sort that hee could not in a manner abide to see them forgetting the great seruices performed by them as well when he and Oriana were deliuered from the hands of Arcalaus as afterwards in the battaile against King Cildadan and in many other places heretofore recited Truely if this King had well remembred the counsell and aduise which hee had receiued of Vrganda hee had not so farre digressed from the bounds of reason although that the like malady doth often haunt al Princes when they take not heed of falling into the like accidents and danger as King Lisuart did Who giuing credit to the deceitfull words of these traitors did neuer afterwards visit as hee was accustomed Amadis and the others that were wounded whereat they were not a little abashed but to doe them the more dispite he sent for Madasima and other pledges vnto whom he sayde that if within eight dayes the Isle of Mongaza were not yeelded vnto him according to their promise that then hee would suddainly cause their heads to be smitten off When Madasima heard this rigorous constraint neuer was woman more afraid considering that in performing the will of the King shee should remaine poore and vtterly dishereted and on the other side denying to satisfie his behest shee did see her death prepared so that she was in such perplexitie as not being able to answere him she had recourse vnto her teares Wherefore Andaugell the old Gyant answered the King saying If it please your Maiestie I will go with those whom you shall appoint to send vnto the mother of Madasima and I will deale with her in that sort as shee shall accomplish your will yeelding the Countrey and places which you demand otherwise your Maiestie may doe your pleasure with vs. This the King liked well of and euen that day he sent him with the Eearle Latin and caused Madasima and her women to bee carryed back to their accustomed prison whether they were brought by diuers Gentlemen Whom she moued greatly to pittie her estate by the complaints and sorrowfull lamentation that she made vnto them praying euery one of them particularly to labour in her behalfe vnto the King so that there was not one amongst them all who promised not to doe for her as much as possibly they could especially Don Galuanes who at that time held her by the arme beholding her with such an eye as hee became of her enamoured and said vnto her Madame I am sure that if it would please you to accept mee for your husband the King would freely bestow vpon vs all the right that he pretendeth in your Countrey I beeleeue also that you are not ignorant of my nobility being brother to the King of Scotland and that by me your authoritie shall not be deminished For the rest assure your selfe that I will vse you as you are worthy Now Madasima had known him of long time she was assured that he was one of the best Knights in the world Wherefore accepting the offers of Galuanes shee fell downe at his feete most humbly thanking him for the good and honour which he did offer vnto her and euen then was the marriage betweene them agreed vpon the which afterward Galuanes laboured to effect to his vttermost power And the better to accomplish it some few dayes after he came vnto Amadis and Agraies making them acquainted with that which you haue heard and Agraies said vnto him Vnkle I know very well that loue hath no respect of persons sparing neither young nor olde and seeing that you are become one of his subiects we will beseech the King so much in your behalfe that you shall enioy your desired loue therefore determine to behaue your selfe like a lusty champion for Madasima is a woman not likely to bee pleased with a kisse onely By my faith answered Amadis my Lord Galuanes the King in my opinion will not refuse vs and I promise you that so soone as I am able to walke your Nephew and I will goe vnto his Maiesty to entreat that which you demand But you must vnderstand that whilest these things were in doing GaÌdandell the better to couer dissemble the treason which he had conspired did goe oftentimes to see and visit Amadis so that one time amongst the rest hee sayd to him my Lord it is long since you saw the King What is the cause there-of answered Amadis Because saide Gandandel by his countenance it seemeth hee beareth you no great good will I know not answered Amadis yet to my knowledge I neuer offended him For this time they passed no farther vntill at another instant this traytour came againe to see him shewing vnto him a better countenance then he was accustomed saying my Lord I told you the other day that I thought by the speeches which I heard the King speake of you that his friendship was not so firme vnto you as it was wont to be and because that I and mine are so greatly bound vnto you for the pleasures which you haue done vnto vs I will truly let you vnderstand how the King hath a very bad opinion of you and therefore looke vnto it So many times did hee repeat this and the like matter vnto Amadis that hee began to suspect least hee had layd some snare to entrap him in whereby the King might conceiue some euill opinion of him And therefore one day when Gandandel perseuered in his aduertisements Amadis being very angry answered him My Lord Gandandel I doe greatly wonder what mooueth you to vse this speech so often vnto me seeing that I did neuer thinke vpon any thing but onely wherein I might doe the King seruice And I cannot beleeue that a Prince so vertuous as hee is would euer suspect mee for a thing which I neuer committed Wherefore neuer breake my head more with such follies for I take no pleasure therein For this cause Gandandel durst neuer after that speake any more thereof vnto him vntill that Amadis beeing healed went vnto the Court
is the Prince by whom this night you shall receiue such pleasure You say true answered Elisena but what thinke you not that fortune is as fauourable to me as to him for if I be faire is not he one of the most perfect men that hath beene heard of either in personage good grace or hardines assure thy selfe Darioletta my friend that I imagine myselfe so happy as I thinke it is impossible for me to be more therfore let vs make hast I praye thee These words she vttered with such affection that she trembled like the little leafe on the high tree and as she ended those speeches they arriued at the Chamber doore where King Perion was lodged who for the strangnes of this new amorous flame as also the hope he had in Darioletta had not as yet taken any rest Neuerthelesse beeing as then wearye with trauaile ouercome with sleepe began euen as they opened the doore to slumber and dreamed that one entred his chamber at a false dore without knowledge who it should be but he thought that he thrust his hands into his sides and rent forth his hart afterward he saw him throw it into the Riuer when the king saide Wherfore commit ye such cruelty This is nothing at all answered hee that did this outrage for with you shall remaine another hart which I must take from ye against my wil. In great feare he suddenly awaked making the signe of the Crosse commended himselfe to God Now had the Ladyes opened the dore entred the Chamber wherfore he hering the noyse suspected some treason especially by reason of his feareful dreame lifting vp his head beheld thorow the curtans the dore open wherof he knew nothing and afterward by the light of the Moone he saw the shadowe of the Ladyes that were entred For this cause in feare he started out of bed tooke his Sword and went to the place where he had seene them but when Darioletta saw him so affrighted she spake to him in this manner What shal be done here Do you draw armes against vs that come to you with so slender defence the king who quickly knew them especially Elisena whom hee so much desired threw his Sword to the ground and casting a mantle about him which lay neere at hand in great affection hee came to her whom he loued better then him-selfe kissing embracing shewing the best countenance could be deuised which Darioletta seeing as one iealous and enuious of such fauour said to Elisena Now are you somewhat better contented for in my iudgement although till this time you defended your selfe from many And he likewise hath withstood sundry assaultes notwithstanding at this present neither the one or orher of you hath force or meane which way any longer to warrant or defend your selues As thus she spake she looked where the king had throwen his Sword which she took vp as a witnesse of the oath and promise he made her concerning the future mariage of Elisena and himselfe then shutting the dore after her she went into the Garden and so the king remained alone with his faire freind whom after many amourous embracings infinite kissings and execution of delights he behelde verily perswading himselfe that all the beauty of the world was in her reputing himselfe much more then happy that the heauens had allowed him so good an aduenture See now how it chaunced to this Princesse that for so long time in the cheefest flower of her youth beeing requested by so many mighty Princes and great Lordes she had withstood all to remaine in the liberty of a Maiden now won in lesse space then one day and at such time as her fancie in her one thinking was farthest off from such matters Thus Loue breaking the strong bandes of her holye and chast life caused a sudden alteration of her purpose making her soone after of a faire virgen a faire woman seruing for example to many other who assaying to withdraw their thoughtes from worldly things despising the great beauty wherwith nature hath endowed them tender youth which maketh them ignorant of the plesures delights in their Fathers Courts whereof sometime they might haue tasted yeelde themselues for saluation of their soules in poore and religious houses thereto in offering their free will vowing themselues to the subiectioÌ of others hoping to passe their time without any renowne or glory of this world Certes such Ladyes ought with great sollicitude to stop their eares close their eyes and giue themselues to continuall deuoute contemplatioÌs prayers accepting them as their true and singular pastimes as to such they are and aboue all they should exempt themselues from sight of Parents neighbours and freinds because oftentimes the talk and frequenting of such procureth achange of their holy chast will and not without cause haue I made this little discourse for it is to the end that it happen not to them as it did vnto the faire Princesse Elisena who so long labored in thought to preserue her selfe yet notwithstanding in one only moment seeing the beauty and good grace of King Perion changed her will in such sorte as without the aduise discretioÌ of Darioletta who would couer the honor of hir Mistresse vnder the mantle of mariage you may see she was at the poynt to fal into the very lowest parte of all dishonor As it hath happened to many other of whom hath commonly beene heard speech who not keeping them selues from what I haue saide before haue beene taken bad enough and taken will be if they admit no better foresight Now then are these two louers in their solace Elisena demanding of the king if his departure should be shortly or no. Wherfore Madame do you aske said king Perion Because quoth she this happy fortune that with so great delight hath giuen ease to our affectionate desires doth threaten me already with extreame anguish sorrow which by your absence I shall receiue and feare it will rather cause my sudden death then long life Haue no doubt thereof saide the king for although my body is seperated from your presence my hart for euer shal remain with ye which shall giue strength to vs both to you to suffer and to me by my speedye returne These two contented louers are thus deuising when she that had bin the cause of their meeting seeing it was time to call her mistresse who by this pleasure forgot her selfe in her louers armes entred the Chamber speaking somewhat loude saide Madme I know that heretofore you thought my company more agreeable then you doe at this present but it is needfull that you arise and let vs goe for the time calleth vs. When the King heard her knowing that perforce it must be so he played Darioletta to walke into the Garden and to bring him word in what corner the winde sat in meane while he tooke his amourous conge with such reciprocall pleasure as you that loue may easily iudge
named Vngan the Piccard the most experte of them all thus answered My Lord dreames are vaine thinges and for such ought to be esteemed notwithstanding seeing it is your pleasure that some account should be made of yours giue vs some time to consider thereon It liketh me wel said the king within 12 daies look that you make me answer But to the end they should not disguise oâ conceale the truth from him he caused them to be seperated so that during the time agreed vpon they might neither see or speake together wherefore to their vttermost they trauailed in what they had promised the King so that the day being come when they should render an occompt of their labour he first tooke Albert of Champaigne aside and said to him Thou knowest how thou hast sworne and promised to tell me what thou hast found by thy skill Sir answered Albert let then the rest be called into your presence for before them will I tel ye Well hast thou aduised said the King whereupon they were sent for afterward Albert thus began My opinion is my Lord that the closed Chamber and him whom you saw enter by the secret dore signifieth this Realme which is close well guarded notwithstanding by some right thereto some one shall come to take it from you And like as he thrust his handes into your sides renting forth thence your hart and afterward threw it into the Riuer euen so shall your Townes and Castles both more lesse be priuily stolen from you and put into his hand from whom you shall not easily recouer them And what meaneth the other hart said the King which I dreamed should remain with me and yet he said that soone after I should lose it against the will of him that took the first from me It seemeth by this answered Albert that some other shall inuade your Country as the first did yet constrained more by force of another that commanded him to do so then by any will thereto in himselfe thus see ye my Lord all that I can tell ye Now said the king to the second named Antalles tel vs your aduise Me thinkes Sir quoth he that Albert hath very well saide and I am of his opinion except in this for ought I can learne as the cause sheweth me that what he saith shall happen is already effected by the person that most loueth ye notwithstanding I am greatly amazed thereat seeing there is not as yet any part of your Realme lost if you do loose any thing hereafter it must be by such a one as loueth you decrely When the king heard this he nodded his head for it seemed to him that he came neere the marke but Vngan the Piccard who knew much more theÌ the other fel into a laughter which he was sildome wont to doe because he was a man very sad and melancholly yet by chance the King perceiued it wherefore he said Maister Vngan my friend now remaineth none but you say boldly what you haue gathered My Lord quoth he peraduenture I haue seene into things which is not necessary to be knowne to any other then your selfe therefore let these giue place a while if you please At these words they with-drew themselues leauing the King and Vngan alone who thus spake If your Maiesty saw me ere while to laugh it was at one word which little you thinke on yet it is true and will you know what It was that which Antalles said that what he found by your dreame was already happened by the person that best loueth ye Now shall I reueale what you keepe in secret and thinke that none knowes but your selfe You loue my Lord in such a place where you haue already accomplished your will and she whom you loue is surpassing faire then tolde he all the gests and fashions of her as if she had bene there present But as for the chamber you found shut you know Sir full well what it meaneth and how she whome you loue desirous to deliuer her heart and yours from griefe and sadnesse came to ye entring your chaÌber by the false dore that was hid from you The hands that opened your sides is the conuinction of you twaine then the heart taken from ye sheweth that she hath by you a Son or a Daughter Now tell me said the King what meaneth the casting thereof into the Riuer My Lord quoth he that nothing concerneth you therefore neuer labour for further knowledge thereof Yet would I said the King faine vnderstand it and therefore feare not to tell me for any harme that may happen Seeing you will needes haue it answered Vngan I beseech ye Sir assure me while you liue for any thing that I shal reueal you wilnot be displeased with her who loueth you so loyally That promise do I faithfully make thee said the King In good sooth Sir quoth Vngan that heart that you saw throwen into the water is the first infant she shall haue by you who must of necessity be forsaken And the other said the King that shall remaine with me what meaneth that You may answered Vngan vnderstand by the one desseigne of the other which is that she shall conceiue another childe who shall be caryed away against the will of her that caused the losse of the first Thou hast told me strange things said the King and would God the mis-fortune of my Children were not so true as what thou hast told me concerning the Lady I loue For things ordeined and appoynted by the highest answered Vngan none knoweth how to gaine-say or remedy and therefore men of wisdome should neuer be sad or reioyce at them because oftentimes the Lord disposeth matters beyond the capacity of men farre otherwise then they expect For this cause my Lord forgetting all that I haue said and which you haue bin so curious to vnderstand referre all things to God desiring him in these your affaires and all other to limit the end of them to his honor and glory and thus in mine opinion you ought to set downe your rest The King was highly contented with Vngan and so esteemed of him that from theÌce forward he had him neere his person by meanes whereof he receiued many great fauours Now it happened that at that instant as the king parted from the Philosophers a Damosell presented her selfe before him right costly in garments and faire in beauty thus speaking Vnderstand King Perion that when thou recouerest thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland shall loose her flower So giuing her Palfrey the bridle and the King not able to stay her she rode away these wordes made the good Prince more sad pensiue then he was before For this time the Auther leaueth this purpose returneth to speake of the infant that Gandales caused to be nourished whom he made to be called the Gentleman of the Sea Now was he curiously entertained wherefore in short time he grew and became so faire that all which
to whom he seemed no lesse beautyfull then he did to the Queene wherefore he commanded Gandales to fetch him for when I goe hence quoth he I will take him with me and haue him brought vp with mine one Son In sooth my Lord answered Gandales he is yet to yong to leaue his Mother but hauing brought him presented him to the King who said Faire Child will ye go with me to the Court My Lord answered the Childe I will goe whether you please if my brother shall goe with me And I quoth Gandalin will not tarry here without him I perceiue my Lord said Gandales that if you take the one you must needes haue the other for they will not be seperated I am the better pleased answered the King then calling Agraies to him said My Son I will that you loue these two Gentlemen as I do their Father When Gandales saw that the King would haue them away in good earnest with the teares in his eyes he thus spake in his hart My childe that so soone beginnest to proue fortunate now I see thee in the seruice of them who one day may happily serue thee if it please God to guide and protect thee as I shall humbly pray for suffer that the words of Vrganda the vnknowne spoken to me may proue true making me so happy as to liue to see the time of those great meruailes promised thee in Armes The King who noted Gandales seeing that his eyes were filled with teares came to comfort him saying Beleeue me I neuer thought you had bene such a foole as to weepe for a Childe Ah my Lord answered Gandales it may be vpon greater occasion then you thinke for and if it please you to know the truth I will presently tell ye heere before your Queene So he tolde the whole discourse how he found the Gentleman of the sea and in what equipage and he had proceeded with that which Vrganda foretold him but that he remembred the oath he tooke Now my Lord said Gandales deale for him as you shall please for so God helpe me according to his beginning I thinke him to be issued of great linage WheÌ the King heard this he esteemed much the better of him that he had so carefully nourished the child he found and thus answered It is great reason seeing god hath done so much for him as to preserue him froÌ so great a danger that now we be diligent in his education and endowe him with habilities when time shall serue In good faith my Lord said the Queene so please you he shal be mine during his young yeeres and when he comes to mans estate I will deliuer him to serue you Well Madame quoth the King I giue him you Now early on the next morning the King would set forward wherefore the Queene not hauing forgot the gift of her Lord tooke with her Gandalin and the yong Gentleman of the sea whom she commanded to be so carefully attended as her owne Sonne for she tooke such pleasure in beholding him that dayly she would haue him neere her owne person because he had such a cheerefull spirit and so well gouerned withall as he was well liked of euery ore so that whatsoeuer he did passed with generall allowance no other pastime had he but in shooting and cherishing dogges for the chase Now doth the Authour leaue this matter returning to that which happened to King Perion his new freind Elisena King Perion as you haue already heard being in Gaule where he vnderstood by his Philosphers the exposition of his dreame as also what the Damosell had told him That when he recouered his losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower he became more pensiue then before yet could he vnderstand nothing thereof As he thus sadly spent his dayes it chanced that another Damosell entred his Pallace who brought him a letter from Elisena whereby she gaue him to know that King Garinter her Father was dead and she remained alone and for this cause he should pitty her in that the King of Scots would take her Kingdome from her For the death of King Garinter was Perion somewhat sorrowfull but yet he comforted himselfe by thinking he should goe to see his friend towards whom he had not diminished one iot of his affection wherefore he quickly dispatched the Damosell saying to her Returne and say to your Mistresse that without staying one whole day I shall be in short time with her The Damosell well pleased with this answere returned and after the King had set his affaires in order he parted in good equipage to see his Elisena and iournied so speedily as he ariued in little Brittaine where he heard newes that king Languines had already gotten all the cheefe of the Country except those Cities which Garinter gaue to Elisena who now abode as he vnderstood at a place named Arcate whether he addressed himselfe If he were there well receiued I leaue to your iudgments and she likewise of him whom she loued so much After the welcomming feasting of one another the King told her that he would now marry her and for that cause she aduertised her kindred and Subiects which she did with all diligence could be deuised as also with so great contentation as her heart might desire for herein only consisted the summe of her affections Which being heard by the King of Scots and how to accomplish this King Perion was already arriued with his Sister he sent immediatly for all the noble men of his Realme to beare him company in doing honor and wel-come to the King his brother At his comming he was gratiously receiued by King Perion and after by embracings they had saluted each other and the nuptials likewise thorowly ended the kings determined to returne home into their owne Countryes King Perion trauailing toward Gaule with his Queene Elisena somewhat weary with tediousnesse of the way he would refresh himselfe along by a Riuer side while the tentes were erecting he rode softly alone by the waterbancke imagining how he might know the truth whether Elisena had a child aaccording as his Philosophertold him in expounding his dreame But so long continued he in this thought that riding on without any regarde he came to an Hermitage which was neere at hand wherefore finding him-selfe at a place of deuotion he alighted tying his Horse to a tree that he might goe in to say his prayers And entring the Church he found there a very antient religious man who comming to meete him said Knight is it true that king Perion is marryed to our kings daughter yea verily answered the king Praised be God said the good Hermit for I know certainly that she loueth him with all her hart How can you tell that replied the king Euen from her owne mouth said the good olde man The king then hoping he shoud heare of him the thing which he most desired to know said I pray ye Father tell me what
Knight suffer ye so to do Yea mary Sir replied the Prince he is now become more patient for hee hath endured the losse of his head When the Knight heard of Galpans death he presently alighted from his Horse and ran to kisse the Princes feete but he would not suffer him yet could he not hold him from embracing his Sheeld saying Ah Gentle Knight how highly am I indebted to you you are to this place the most wellcome man in the world for by your meanes haue I thorowly recouered mine honor Leaue wee this talke said the Prince say where I may quickly finde some remedy for my wounds In my house answered the knight abideth a Neece of mine who shal heale your hurts better then any other So riding on they arriued at the castle where being dismounted they walked into the great hall the Knight reporting by the way how Galpan had kept him from bearing Armes one whole yeere and a halfe compelling him to change his name and sweare to call himselfe while he liued the conquered by Galpan but now quoth he seeing he is dead mine honor is restored me againe Afterwarde he caused the Prince to be vnarmed and laid in a sumptuous bed where his wounds were dilligently attended by the Lady who assur ed him in short timeto make him well againe if he would be aduised by her councell which he promised faithfully to do CHAP. VIII How the third day after the Gentleman of the sea departed from king Languines the three Knights came to the Court bringing with them the wounded Knight in a Litter and his disloyall wife ON the third day after the Prince left the Court of King Languines where hee receiued the order of Knight-hood the three Knights came thither with their wounded brother and his trothlesse wife of whom the discourse hath beene already recited At their arriuall they presented him before the King letting him vnderstand the cause of their comming and deliuering their prisoner on the new Knights behalfe to deale with her as he should thinke conuenient Greatly did the King meruaile at the womans disloyaltie not imagining such wickednes could haue harboured in her notwithstanding he thanked the Knight that had sent them to his Courte yet could he not guesse who it was for he nor any body else knew that the Gentlman of the sea was Knighted but the Princesse Oriana and the Ladies which accompanied her in the Chappell Full soone was hee aduertised of his absence from the Courte but he thought hee was gone to visite his father Gandales theÌ the King turning to the knight in the Litter said Me thinkes that a woman so vnfaithful as your wife hath beene deserueth not to liue My Lord quoth the Knight doe therein as it shal like your maistey as for me I will neuer consent that the thing I most loue should die This said the Knights tooke their leaue of the King carying backe againe with theÌ their brother in the Litter leauing their sister to receiue iustice by the Kings appointmeÌt who after their departure called for her said WomaÌ thy malice hath bene too great in respect of thy husbands kindnes but thou shalt be made an example to all other that they heereafter offend not in the like and so he commanded her to be burned aliue The execution being doone the King was in greater pensiuenesse then before because he knew not who the new knight should be that parting so suddenly from his Court but the Squire standing by which lodged the Gentleman of the sea afterward conducted him to the Castell where he deliuered King Perion from death began to imagine that it was his guest wherefore he said to the King It may be my Lord a yong Knight with whom the Damosell of Denmarke and my selfe were certaine daies and then we left him when wee came thither Knowest thou his name quoth the King No my Lord quoth the Squire but hee is both yong and very beautyfull beside I saw him do such rare deeds of Chiualrie in so little time as in mine opinion if I liue he will proue one of the best Knights in the world Then discoursed he at large euery action as also how hee deliuered King Perion in the time of great danger When the King had noted well his taile his desire to know him increased now more and more My Lord quoth the Squire the Damosell that came hether with me happily can tel ye more tydings of him for it was my chance to meet them together Of what Damosell speakest thou said the King Of her answered the Squire that lately came from great Brittaine to Madame Oriana Presently was she sent for and hee demanded what the Knight was of whom there went such reporte Whereupon she declared so much as she knew cheefely the occasion wherefore she rode with him and in what manner the Launce was giuen him by Vrganda as to the onely Knight in the world but in sooth quoth shee I know not his name for neuer could I learne it of him Ah God said the King how may it be Now was Oriana voyde of all doubting for shee well knew it was her Gentleman of the sea but shee was so grieued with the news which the Damosell of Denmarke had brought her as shee well knew not whom she might coÌplaine to for the king her father sent her word how she should prepare her self in readinesse to come to him so soon as his Ambassadours should bee sent for her into Scotland But much more willingly could she affoord to stay in that Country then there whether she should now goe against her mind not onely in respect of her gentle vsage there but because she imagined by being far thence she should be further from him that had the prime of her affection beside she might there hardly afterward heare any newes of him but continuing in Scotland she could easily compasse it In these melancholly thoughts was the amourous Princesse and the King on the other side in dayly musing what he might be that sent the foure Knights with the wicked woman whom the fire had consumed But fiue or sixe dayes after these matters were thus passed as the King was conferring with his Sonne Agraies who now stood vpon departing toward Gaule to succour the king his Vnccle there entred a Damosell who falling on her knee before all the assembly framed her speeches to Agraies in this manner May it please ye my Lord that in the presence of his highnes and this assembly I deliuer a message of importance to ye then taking the Helmet from her Squire she thus proceeded This Helmet thus broken and battered as ye see I present ye in place of Galpans head as a token to you from a new Knight to whom in my iudgment it better belongeth to beare Armes then any other and the cause why hee sends it you is for that Galpan vilainously abused a Damosell that came to you on vrgent affaires What quoth the King
and to say sooth hee was in his time a Knight of the comlyest grace that euer was seen where he stroue to hide himselfe he was soonest discouered by reason of his brauery in horseman-ship The two Knights ran together in full course against him breaking their Lances in pieces on his shield but the Prince meeting him that had the foile in the forrest threw him again froÌ his saddle so roughly as in the fall he brake his arme the grief whereof made him lie still as if he had bin dead When he perceiued he was so well rid of one hee drew his sword came to the other giuing him such a stroke on his Helmet as the Sword entring in hee puld it backe with such force that the laces brake wherby he broght it quite froÌ his head vpoÌ his sword then he lifted vp his arme to haue smitten him but the knight quickly clapt his Shield before In mean while the Prince got his sword into his left hand which hee could doe very hardly and with his right hand tooke holde on his enemies shield renting it violently from about his necke and afterward gaue him such a blow on the head as in great amazement hee fell to the ground Thus did hee leaue him there with his companion and rod with the Damosell to the Tents of Agraies who hauing seen the conclusion of this quarrell meruailing what he was that had so soone ouer-come two knights therefore when he came towardes him hee went foorth to meete him and so soone as they knew each other you need not make no doubt of their kinde salutations Soone after the Prince alighted and by Agraies was conducted into his Tent to be vnarmed but first hee gaue commandement that the knights dismounted in the fielde should bee brought thither where they were no sooner ariued but Agrais thus spake to them Beleeue mee my friends you attempted great folly to meddle with this Knight You say true my Lord answered hee whose arme was broken yet once to day I saw him in such plight as I little thought of any such resistance Afterward he declared all that happened in the Forrest and the communication they had together yet he omitted the Princes complaints because hee stood in feare to displease him During the repitition of these matters the patience of the one and boldnesse of the other was entercoursed among them and all that day they soiourned there but on the morrow Morning they mounted on horse-backe shaping their course to Palingues a right good City on the frontires and the outmost part of Scotland where they found shipping and embarqued them-selues toward Gaule The winde seruing according to their desire in fewe dayes they landed in the Hauen of Galfrin and marching thence in seemely order without any hinderance they came to the Castle of Baldain where King Perion was besieged hauing already lost great number of his people When he was aduertised of this succour you must imagine him comforted thereby and their welcome to bee good and gracious chiefly by the Queene Elisena who hauing knowledge of their arriuall sent to entreat her Nephew Agraies to come visite her which he did being accompanied with the King and the Gentleman of the Sea and two other knights of good account But you must note that king PerioÌ knew not the prince at the first sight yet at the length hé called him to remeÌbrance that it was the same man whom he had knighted and afterward saued his life at the Castle wherefore thus he spake My deare friend on my faith I had forgotten ye you are most welcome to this place for your presence giueth assurance that I neede feare this warre no further hauing the onely Knight of the world so neere mee Dread Lord answered the Prince God giue me grace to serue you accordingly for perswade your selfe that while these troubles endure I will make no spare of my person As thus they deuised they entred the Queenes Chamber when the King taking the Prince by the hand presented him to her saying Madame this is the good Knight of whom here-tofore I tolde ye he defeÌded me from the greatest danger that euer I was in and therefore I pray ye let no spare of curtisie be made to him here but giue him the best entertainment the time will affoord The Queene aduanced her selfe to embrace him but he fell on his knee with these wordes I am seruant Madame to the Queen your sister and froÌ her I come to serue you with like obedience as to her owne person Right graciously did the good Lady giue him thankes yet little thought she that he was her Sonne for she imagined the sea had deuoured him yet was the Princes presence at that very instant so pleasing to her as her eyes could not be satisfied with beholding him and through a secret mouing of nature she wished more good to him theÌ any in the troupe At this time likewise was her remembrance solicited with the former losse of her two ChildreÌ whose yeeres she thought would haue equaled the Princes if God had preserued them these occasions vrged the teares in her eyes Thus wept she for him that nature touched her withall and yet vnknowen was in her presence but when the Prince beheld her so sorrowfull he reputed it to the reason of the warre begun wherefore hee said Madame I hope with the aide of God your King and the fresh supply we haue brought in shorte time to recouer your ioy and for mine owne part trust me I will make no spare Heauen prosper ye answered the Queene with happy successe for you are the Queene my sisters Knight I wil that ye prouide no other lodging but abide here with vs and all things shall be appointed for yee to your owne contentment Such was their conference together vntill Agraies would goe refresh himselfe wherfore taking leaue for that night he went to his lodging where it was prouided and gladly would the Prince haue followed him but the Queene with-held him by such importunity as he was coÌstained now to remaine in his vnknowne mothers custody Right soone was the news of this fresh succour brought to K. Abies of Ireland Daganel his Cozin who made very small account thereof because in those times was King Abies accounted for one of the best Knights that euer was heard of and in respect of his hot desire to the fight determined seeing new aide was come to his enimy very quickly to bid him battaile and for this cause he said before all his people there present If King Perion were so gentle a coÌpanion as to come see vs I had rather he would do it to day then to morrow Assure your selfe answered Daganel he is nothing so hasty as I thinke for hee feareth you to much albeit he maketh little shew thereof Know you said Galin Duke of Normandy by what means we may thereto constraine him First let vs make an ambush of the greater part of
our Army which shall remaine with the King in this Forrest of Baldain then you Lord Daganel and my selfe will go with the rest to present our selues at breake of day before the Cittie I am certaine that being descried by our enemies who imagining our strength is altogether wil take hart and not faile to come running forth vpon vs. When we see them approch we will dissemble a timerous feare and take our flight toward the Forrest where shall abide the King with his company then our enemies pursuing assured victory in their own conceit wil secke aduantage by our shamefull retire so be takeÌ theÌseues in the snare Very well haue you aduised answered King Abies do you your selfe worthy Duke giue order that all things bee done as you haue appointed Now might ye there behold armed men on Horse-backe the Souldiers mustring the drums thundering and the Trumpets cheerefully sounding as in one instant matters were so well ordered that the Kings Commandement failed in nothing whereupon the next morning at the breake of day Daganel and the Duke of Normandie shewed themselues with their Squadron before the Towne Little did King Perion at that time thinke of any such enterprise but altogether refreshed his succour and honoured the Prince by whoÌ he had found such friend-ship And to make some shew of his affection towardes him in the morning he came with his Queene to the Princes Chamber where they fouÌd him washing his hands and perceiuing his eyes red swollen blubbered with teares they easily gathered hee had taken no good rest that night and very true it was for continually hee thought of her whose loue had depriued him of libertie and likewise compared withall the slender means he had to attaine so high which made him enter into such profound griefe as he expected no other remedie but death The Queene desirous to know the cause of his sadnesse tooke Gandalin aside thus speaking to him My friend your Maisters countenance berayweth some inward displeasure hath any one heere offended him in ought No Madame answered Gandalin he hath by your Maiestie receiued great honor but he is wont to bee tormented in sleepe as you see During these discourses the Sentinell came to aduertise the King how he had discoured the ambush and the enemies were very neere the Citie where presently he commanded to doraine the Armie Now was each one ready to horse-backe especially the King and the Prince who went directly to the Citie gate where they found Agraies chiding because they would not let him goe forth thinking he should tarrie too long from the fight for he was one of the hardiest Knights and the best to giue assistance in neede that could bee found so that if good aduise had beene as ready with him as he was possessed of vnconquerable courage his like might not haue beene found in the world At the Kings comming the gates were suddenly opened and then went foorth the men of Gaule in order who seeing their enemies to be so great a number albeit the whole Armie was minded to goe no further reputing it ouer-much boldnesse to assaile such an vneaquall strength and therefore arose among them a murmuring contestation Which Agraies perceiuing without further trifling gaue the spurres to his horse crying aloud Beshrow him that tarrieth any longer seeing them hee is to deale withall shall we not venter So saying he gallopped toward his enemies in like manner did the Gentleman of the Sea and the rest of their traine who without any order of marching ran among them and were immediatly mingled together He whom the Prince first met withall was the Duke of Normandie whoÌ he charged so couragiously as breaking his Launce on him ouer-threw both man and horse to the earth and with this rough fall his legge was broken So passed on the Prince setting hand to Sword as a chafed Lyon entred the preasse shewing such deeds of Armes as none durst with-stand him for he ouer-threw all that encountred him killing some outright chining and dismembring others so that euery one was glad to giue him way When Daganel saw his men in such disorder by the meanes of one Knight he got the most of them together so well as he could and round about beset the Prince to beate him downe which they had done but that Agraies Perceiuing it came with his troupe to rescue him At their arriual you might behold Launces broken Knights tumbling downe helmets rent and shields scatred on the ground making a great conflict disorder amongst the Irish-men for King Perion likewise came fresh vpon them with his band Daganel on the coÌtrary side did the best he could to retire backe but the Gentleman of the Sea was among the thickest shewing such chiualry as he found before him not any resistance each one was so abashed at his behauiour and Agraies aboue the rest shewed that his arme was not benummed for the more to hearten and cheere vp his men he cryed aloude to them follow my friends follow the best Knight that euer bare Armes When Daganel saw his side to haue the worst what great damage he receiued by the Prince he determined to kill his horse and so to make him fall among the crowde but he was deceiued for the Prince comming to him let fall so mightie a stroke on his Helmet as rent it cleane from off his head and so remained Daganel vnarmed Which when King Perion espied he reached him such a salutation with his Sword as cleft his head through the very braines whereupon his men seeing him slaine they that had the best horses fled away for life and stayed not till they saued them-selues where King Abies was ambushed But King Perion still pursuing victory discouered the rereguard that came from the Forrest marching in very great haste toward him shewing by their countenance a reuenge of their losse wherefore ioyning together they cryed Set on them men of Ireland see that none of them escape vs but let vs enter pell-mell in the field When the Gaules found themselues thus surpized neuer were people more astonished for they imagined the ambush had not beene so great and which most of all affrighted them was that they must now deale with fresh and lustie men them-selues being sore wearyed their horses so ouerlaboured as they could hardly indure their burden Beside they knew king Abias was there in persoÌ being as you heard before accounted one of the best knights in the world and for this cause the most part of the Gaules began to tremble But the Gentle-man of the Sea foreseeing the disorder was like to ensue came perswaded them rather to die then loose one iot of their honour and reputation saying My friends and companions be of good cheere each one make knowne his vertue and remember the esteeme the Gaules haue gotten by Armes We are to deale with the people astonnied halfe ouercome let vs not make change with them taking their feare and
deliuering our victorie for if they but onely behold your resolute countenances I am certaine they are not able to endure yee let vs then enter among them for God is our defender At these words the most disheartened tooke courage concluding to stay and fight manly with their enemies who soone after in great furie set vpon them Now did King Abies make knowne his magnanimitie and hardly could Prince Agraies men endure the assault nor the Squadron that King Perion brought for King Abies maimed some other he ouerthrew while his Launce held he dismounted euery knight that met with him Afterward he layd hand to Sword wherewith hee carried himselfe so valiantly as the hardyest were amazed thereat for he made way where euer he came so that king Perions men not able longer to hold out began to retyre so fast as they could toward the Citie WheÌ the Gentleman of the Sea saw that Fortune was so contrary to them in great spight he entered the throng and fought so fiercely as the most part of the Irish-men were glad to stay while the Gaules without disorder retyred toward the Castle then turning his horse he followed them To defend this brunt there was also king Perion and the Prince Agraies who deliuered testimonie to their enemies by the keen edge of their Swords how well they knew to gouerne themselues in such extremities notwithstanding the Irish-men seeing they had the better stil pursued them with eager courage driuing them confusedly into the Citie hoping that now would be the end of their warre Such was the retire of the Gaules still more and more pressed by their enemies as doubtlesse the Irish had entred the Citie after them but that they were hindred by king Perion Agraies and the Prince who wholly did repulse the throng till their people by them were gotten in But now was tydings brought to king Abies that his cousin Dagenel and Gallin Duke of Normandie were slaine whereat he waxed very displeasant and seeing King Perion with his people were inclosed in the Citie he resolued to take leysure for his reuenge wherein he was deceiued for soone after he was very strongly repulsed which made him almost mad with anger And as he thus raged vp downe one of his knights shewed him the Prince saying My Lord hee whom you see mounted on the white Horse is the man that slewe Prince Daganel and the Duke of Normandie with many other the best in our Armie When King Abies heard that he rode to the Prince with these words Knight thou hast slaine the man whom most I loued in the world but if thou wilt combate I hope to be reuenged so well as I shall haue cause to be quit with thee Your men answered the Prince are two little trauailed to meddle with ours notwithstanding if thou wilt as a Knight reuenge him thou louedst and declare the great hardinesse for which thou art renowned chuse of thy men such as thou shalt like and I if it please the King will doe as much of mine for being equall in number thou shalt gaine more honor then with so great an Armie which thou hast brought into this Countrey without iust occasion Beleeue me quoth the King thou talkest well go to chuse thou thy selfe the number of men how many or few thou thinkest good Seeing you leaue it in my choyse replied the Prince I will make another offer which it may be you will account more coÌuenient You are mine enemy for that which I haue done and I yours for the wrong you haue done to this Realme so for our seuerall cause of anger it is not reasonable any other then our selues should suffer let then the battaile be betweene you and me onely and presently if you will without longer dallying yet shall you assure me from your men as I will do you from mine so that none shall moue whether the one or the other be vanquished Right well said King Abies do I allow of thy offer whereupon he chose ten Knights on his parte to garde the field And as the Prince laboured to gaine the like of the King with his consent hee found King Perion and Agraies somewhat loath to grant the Combate as well for the consequence that might ensue as also because the Prince was much wearyed and sore wounded beside wherefore they entreated him to déferre the matter till the day following But the desirous affection he had to be conquerour as also to make a finall conclusion of the warre that hee might returne vnder her obeysance from whom he came to serue king Perion would not suffer him to make any longer delay of the glory and honor which he saw so neere at hand For this cause he vsed so many perswasions to the king as in the end hee was granted the Combate and on his side likewise were tenne knights appointed for his guard and safetie in the field CHAP. X. How the Gentleman of the sea fought a Combate with King Abies on difference of the warre he made in Gaule YOu haue heard in what maner the combat was accorded betweene King Abies the Gentleman of the sea and now already is the greatest part of the day spent wherefore it was agreed by the Lords on either side very much against the wils of the two Combatants that all should be deferred till the morrow morning as well that they might refresh themselues and repaire their battered armour as also for regarding such wounds as they had receiued in the passed encounters Hereupon the two Kings withdrew themselues the one to his Campe and the other to his castle But such is the bruite spred through the Cittie what worthy exploits the Gentleman of the sea had done as he could not passe by them but thus they spake with generall voyce Ah famous Knight God giue thee grace to proceed as thou hast begun impossible is it to find a Gentleman so accomplished with beauty and Chiualrie as he is for our eyes are iudges of the one and our enemies full well haue felt the other But you must note that in the morning when they went to the field the King had giuen the Queene in charge that so soone as the Prince returned froÌ the warre she should send one of her Ladyes to him requesting him not to be vnarmed in any other place then in her chaÌber wherefore as he went neere the Kings lodging the Lady came vnto him saying Sir Knight the Queene desires you not to be elswhere vnarmed but in her Chamber where she stayeth your comming In sooth said the King you must needes grant this request and I desire it may be so The Prince condisending went where the Queene staied with her Ladies and no sooner was he entred but presently the Ladyes holpe to vn-arme him yet the Queene her selfe tooke the greatest paine of all and as shee had off his coate of Mayle shee perceiued he was sore wounded which she shewing to the King he said I maruaile Gentle-man seeing
deale of trauaile to king Lisuart to whom I am going for the same cause My friend replied the knight you shall do your selfe ouer-much wrong to leaue so good an occasion by the best king in the world for so poore a knight errand as I am My Lord quoth Galaor the great state of the king can put no such strenght into me as I haue seene performed by you in the late Combats therefore so please it you accomplish in me my earnest desire I can be much better content answered the knight to grant any other thing you will demand for such authority appertaineth not to me nor to you likewise is it so honorable As thus they stood on these tearmes Vrganda vnlooked for came to theÌ where-with the knight of the Lions was very glad and she hauing as yet not heard any of their talke thus spake to her champion What is your opinion of this Gentleman Me thinks quoth he a brauer person was neuer seene but he requireth such a thing of me as is neither in him or me conuenient What is it said Vrganda That I quoth he should giue him the order of knight-hood and yet he is now in trauaile with determination to request the same of the famous king Lisuart Certainly answered Vrganda to make him stay will be a greater cause of euill to him then good and I will councel him not to desist from his former motion for you ought nor to deny him seeing I can assure ye that honor will be better imployed by him then any other in all the Isles of the sea except one Seeing it is so replied the knight in the name of God let it be done goe we then to some Church to performe the vigill It shall be needlesse quoth Galaor to stand about such matters now in that I come not vnprouided of them already It suffiseth then answered the Knight so put he on his right spurre and embracing him said You are now a knight wherefore take the honor of the sword by whom you shall thinke it more conuenient Do you then giue it me said Galaor if you please for by no other will I receiue it with my will Then he called a Squire that held a sword ready but Vrganda stepped before saying No no you shall haue a better take that which hangeth on yonder tree and you shall finde it farre more faire and good Heere-with they looked vpon the tree yet saw it not wherefore they all began to smile and she doing the like said to them In sooth it is almost ten yeeres since it first was hanged there yet no passenger by euer saw it looke better about the tree for sure you cannot but easily behold it Now did they all perceiue it tied to a branch of the tree euen as though it had but euen then beene hanged there and by it was a Scabberd couered with gold shewing most fine and curious Worke-manship on it The Knight of the Lyons tooke it downe and afterward girded it about Galaor saying So faire a Sword beseemeth a knight so formall and thinke shee hated you not who of so long time hath kept it for you Most cheerefully did Galaor giue her thankes and the knight likewise thus speaking to them I beseech ye to hold me excused for I am constrained presently to depart from ye and were it not I must goe where I am attended no companie in the world would I desire more then yours therefore I desire ye Sir to tell me where I may find ye at my returne In the Court of king Lisuart answerd the knight where I shal be very glad to see you and because it is no long time since I was knighted I am the more desirous of some abode there to attaine honour as you cannot chuse but doe the like if you come hither Certes said Galaor to that place will I shortly follow ye and Madame quoth he to Vrganda you haue so strictly bound me to your seruice as may it please you to account me your knight I am readie wheresoeuer you shall command mee So departed he from them returning to the Gyant who stayed for him by the Riuer side where hee had hid himselfe least he should bee seene But now you must here obserue that as Galaor thus deuised with Vrganda and the Knight one of the Damosels that was in Galaors company had conference with her that attended on Vrganda of whoÌ at large shee vnderstood how the knight of the Lyons was Amadis Son to king Perion of Gaule whose coÌming thither Vrganda had caused to deliuer by force of Armes her friend that there was kept prisoner for by inchantmeÌt she could not compasse it by reason the Ladie of the Castle was too cunning in that Arte and there had first enchanted him in despight of her fearing no way to loose him againe but by knightly chiualrie On this occasion the custome there was appointed which Amadis ended and restored as you haue heard the man for whom they came thither and hee by the Damosell Neece to the Ladie of the Castle that in enchaunted furie would haue leapt into the Riuer was conducted to this place So soone as Galaor had left Vrganda shee demaunded of Amadis if he knew the man to whom hee gaue the Order of Knight-hood No truely Madame quoth he In sooth answered Vrganda it is great reason you should knowe what he is for he beareth so braue a minde that if you both should meet without further knowledge there might happen betweene yee great inconuenience Therefore I giue ye to vnderstand how he is your owne brother both by father and mother and the very same whom the Gyant caryed away being then but two yeeres old and a halfe now he is of so goodly stature as you haue seene for whose sake and yours likewise I haue a long time kept the Sword where-with I assure ye he shall do more in exploits of Armes then euer any knight did in Great Brittaine Amadis concieued hereat such inward ioy as the teares trickled downe his cheekes wherefore he said to Vrganda I beseech ye Madame tell mee where I may finde him It is not necessarie quoth she that as yet you should seeke him Why said Amadis is he then constrained to accomplish some predestinate matter before I may finde him Yea verily answered Vrganda and it is not so easie to know as you may imagine Long time thus continued their conference till Vrganda would depart alone with her friend so she commended Amadis to God who presently tooke his way toward Windsore where at this time King Lisuart soiourned Our Historie at this time pauseth of him continuing what hapned to Galaor the new Knight who beeing arriued where the Gyant stayed for him thus spake Father I am now thanks bee to God and him you sent me to a confirmed knight My sonne quoth the Gyant I am not a little glad thereof and seeing it is so well effected will yee graunt mee one request
so perplexed as he could not answere wherefore Gandalin tooke him by the arme saying My Lord see you not what a great traine maketh toward vs At these words he came to himselfe beginning to sigh and lifting his eyes to heauen said Gandalin if in this loue I were maister of my strength as I am in diuers other actions neither shouldest thou haue neede to aduertise me nor my selfe be without councell so much as I am But I feele my selfe so oppressed as all the enemies in the world cannot bring me to such extremity as this ouer ruling passion doth therefore I pray thee talke to me of the felicity a man shall enioy in death for other may I not taste and practise no meanes of my life seeing the contrary doth surmount it What my Lord answered Gandalin esteeme you the victory ouer your selfe so difficult after so many conquests of stout and bold strangers Why do you not think that peraduenture she loueth you well for whom you endure such assaults and happily by as great reason as you loue her your persoage prowesse beauty and nobility of linage can they deserue lesse then the good grace of the most rare and exellent Lady in the world let these humours my Lord repell your desperations Further hee would haue proceeded but Amadis brake him off in anget saying Wretch darest thou blaspheme so much as to say that he who hath merited no conditioÌ in the world may be equalled with so perfect a thing as is my Lady enter no more into such tearmes if thou wilt not haue me thine enemy and so loose my conuersation Well well said Gandalin I pray ye wipe your eyes least those that come hitherward perceiue you haue wept What answered Amadis comes their any body Yea mary quoth Gandalin and now they be at hand here-with he shewed him the Knights the Ladyes who were hard by them by time Amadis was mounted Then as though hee had stayed for their companie hee saluted them and riding among the traine hee beheld a Ladie very comely and beautifull who wept very grieuously where-upon hee left the rest and rode with her saying Madame God comfort yee and giue you ioy In sooth answered the Lady and thereof haue I need in that as now it is very farre from mee which except Heauen fauour me with better grace I am vtterly out of hope euer to see againe And so high a Maiestie said Amadis can prouide therefore when he pleaseth Not-withstanding if you were so contented I gladly would know the cause of your sadnesse Beleeue mee my friend quoth she all that euer I enioy in this world consisteth in the tryall of a Combate By these wordes hee knew this to be the Lady of whom the Damosels had tolde him before wherefore hee enquired further if as yet shee had found a knight on her behalfe No truely sayd the Lady and which greiueth mee most of all to morrow must my delay bee exterminate What will ye then doe answered Amadis What would you that I should doe quoth shee but lament and loose all vnlesse by hap I finde one in the Kings Court who mooued thereto by charitable compassion will courteously defend the right of a desolate widow Such fortune sayd Amadis shall I pray may befall yee for I should not be a little glad thereof as well for your owne sake as also because I neuer thought well of your aduersarie I thanke ye gentle Sir quoth she to God I commit the reuenge of my wrong So passed on the Ladie and Amadis turning bridle rode backe to the Pauillion where he found the Damosels who were already returned from the towne and presently they told him how Dardan was come into the field with full resolution to doe his deuoire And trust me sayd Amadis it was my happe to meet the distressed Lady euen the same whom the case concerneth heere-with hee declared all the talke they had together But now is the houre of quiet come and each one went to rest till the point of day when the Damosels being risen came to tell Amadis how they would goe before to the Towne and send him worde when Dardan was readie Not so quoth Amadis I will not bee farre behinde yee but let one ride before to aduertise me when Dardan shews himselfe in the field After he was armed they went all to horse-backe and being come to the issue of the Forrest he sayd to the Damosels Now may you goe if you please for I will not depart this place till I heare some newes from you Away they went when Amedis alighting tooke off his Helmet to refresh himselfe No sooner did the Sunne appeare in the East but the King came to the place appointed for the Combate which was without the Towne hard by the Walles where Dardan not long after shewed himselfe in such manner and equipage as an ambitious man vseth to gaine goods honour also like an amourous Champion to maintaine the quarrell of his beloued who to countenaÌce him with the greater fauor was queintly led by the reines of his Palfray theÌ presenting himselfe before the king on his knees he sayd My Lord according to the ordinance by you appointed this Ladie and I humbly beseech ye that the goods may be deliuered her as is no more then reason for if any Knight oppose him selfe against her heere am I readie for the Combate The king then called for the Ladyes defendant but she poore soule appeared alone Why Lady quoth the King are you vnprouided of a Champion that you come without any to defend your right So helpe me God answered she weeping I am my Lord forsake of all except you grant me mercie Great compassion had the King on her for he knew her to be very vertuous but he could not together order reason and the Law In the meane while Dardan who thought no resistaÌce would come sate downe in the middest of the field attending the third houre which was the time according to the custome when the King would pronounce sentence to the Conquerour but one of the Damosels seeing nowe the needefull time made haste to let Amadis vnderstand what want of his presence was in the field For this cause he immediately mounted on horse-backe and being armed as appertained commanded the Damosell and his Squire to goe some other way for he would not be seene by any from whence he came assuring them that if he were Victor hee would returne againe to the Tent. So departed Amadis alone riding on a braue white Courser as he promised the Damosell of Denmarke in Gaule and arriued at the place where Dardan held the world in wonder of him The king and his Nobles seeing him come from the Forrest stood somewhat in doubt of him for hee carryed such a gallant and Knightly counteuance as promised a-farre off that his enemie should finde him of hautie disposition which made the King aboue all other desirous to know him and thinking she for whose
falleth it out with âee by thy maister whom fortune hath euer kept mee furthest from but God knowes my good wil hath alway beene with him and gladly would I prouide for his griefs and mine owne if I were able to compasse the meanes Doe then Madame what you may answered Gandalin if you loue him as I am sure he doth you and begin at this instant to let him know how hee shall behaue him-selfe in this Countrey Oriana then shewed him a Garden which was vnder the window where they talked saying Returne to thy master and tell him that this night he must secertly come to the place thou seâst remember this withall how the chamber vnder where we stand is the same that Mabila and Hodge in and there is a crosse barred window neere the ground where-through we may easily discerne ech other and talk together for his Cozin is acquainted with mine affaires nor is it necessarie they should bee concealed from her Then taking a costly Ring off her finger shee thus proceeded Deliuer him this token from mee as the onely Iewell I most esteem and ere thou goest thou shalt see the Princesse Mabila who is so wise and discreet as she will easily vnderstand thee yet thou must say some-what loud to her that thou hast brought her tydings from her mother Here-upon Oriana called her to talke with the Squire whom the Queene of Scots her mother had sent to her but when she saw it was Gandalin she then suspected how matters went wherefore Oriana went to the Queene leauing them in deepe talke together In meane while the Queene demaunded of her daughter if the Gentleman were to returne shortly or no For quoth she I would send a token to the Queene of Scots by him Madame answered Oriana the chiefe cause of his comming into this Countrey was to seeke for the good Knight Amadis Son to the King of Gaule of whom you haue heard such famous report And where is he said the Queen The Squiâe saith quoth Oriana it is more then ten moneths since hee heard that he was heere and now he maruaileth to misse of him in this Court. Now trust me answered the Queene right glad would I be to see so good a Knight in the Kings company for it would be a great comfort to him many wayes hauing to deale with so many Countres wherefore I assure ye if he doe come hither hee shall finde here such honourable entertainment as he shal haue no cause to depart in haste Of his Prowesse Madame replyed Oriana I know little but what common bruite hath blazed abroad but heereof I am certaine how hee was one of the most braue yong Gentle-men that euer I saw when in the King of Scots Court he serued Mabila and me All this while Mabila continued with Gandalin enquiring if his master were as yet arriued Yea Madame answered Gandalin the same was he that vanquished Dardan and expresse charge hee gaue me to salue you on his behalfe The name of Heauen be for euer praysed quoth shee hauing preserued our Kins-man from such exceeding danger and now sent him hither so honourably Ah Madam said Gandalin hee were happy indeed if the force of loue made him not in worse case then dead for Gods sake therefore doe you assist him being thus fully perswaded that if he finde no ease to cure his afflictions you shall loose the best Knight in the world and the vpholder of your fathers fame He may be well assured answered Mabila how hee cannot with greater desire employ mee then I haue to doe him pleasure and will him not to faile in what the Princesse hath commanded him as for thy selfe being iudged to come from the Queene my mother thou mayest come and speak with vs at al times as need shall require Gandalin tooke his leaue for that time returning toward Amadis who attended the answere of life or death and into such debilitie was he brought by these extreams as hee had scant force enough to support himselfe for the short sight hee had of his Ladie at the Combate encreased such a desire in him to see her at more libertie as euery houre seemed to him longer then a yeare When hee saw that Gandalin was returned in hope of happy newes hee came and embraced him not daring to demaund any thing of him fearing least matters should not fall out to his contentation but Gandalin with a cheerfull couÌtenance told him that he brought no fadde tydings and rushing into the matter at first said My Lord God make yee as constant as you haue cause to be conteut for if you haue that vertue you are the most happy and accomplished Knight in the world Ouer-whelmed with ioy Amadis caught him in his armes demaunding what he had done seene and heard I haue seene and heard answered Gandalin the felicities of Paradise and know that they are prouided for you if you hinder it not your self Ah Gandalin quoth Amadis iest not with me but tell me the very trueth Then Gandalin declared word by word how euery thing happened first of the counterfeit Letter and next the appointed meeting at the window and by the way reported some part of his owne speeches moouing a change of conntenance in Oriana then her answere euen to the conclusion before rehearsed likewise how he talked with Mabila and how willing she was to assist him with her vttermost habilitie Amadis was so fed with content by these reports that hee made him rehearse one thing ten times and I cannot tell which of them was most affectionate either Gandalin in reporting or Amadis in hearing for both the one and the other seemed insatiable in the end Amadis thus spake My faithfull Companion I thought my self altogether indebted to thy Father who saued me from the daunger of drowning in the Sea but I confesse that duty belongs more necessarily to thee because by thy diligence and discretion thou hast giuen me a better life then he preferued But tell me now didst thou take good marke of the place to which she commuanded me Assure your selfe thereof quoth Gandalin for she her self shewed it me Ah God sayd Amadis how shall I deserue the great good she doth for me Away from me now all sorrowe and complaining Yet this is not all my Lord quoth Gandalin See here a token she hath sent ye as a testimonie of her honourable loue to you so he gaue him the Ring which came from Oriana and after he had long beheld it kissing it a thousand times put it on his finger saying Faire Ring that hast beene so happy as to be caried and accounted deere by the most accomplished creature in the world albeit thou be now in a place of much inferiour honor yet hast thou not changed thy mistresse for both thou and ââ¦re hers and she doth compasse my heart hith greater force theÌ thou canst possibly binde in my finger Let vs leaue this talk answered Gandalin and returne to the
escape the death Wherefore shee was content to conceale them in respect of the offence she should commit by causing the death of two so good knights beside shee repented her vnhonorable iourney which now she could no way remedie but only by keping their names vnknown They being thus prisoners to the Lady she entred into these speeches Knights you may see in what estate I hold ye and there is no meane but one for deliuerance which I will acquaint ye withall mary if you doe not fulfill it in steed of giuing you liberty I will cause you to be inclosed in such a dolorous prison as shall be worse to you then death it selfe Lady answered Amadis the matter may be such that we shall easily consent thereto and in some sort againe we will rather die then obey you I know not quoth the Lady how you may conceiue thereof but I can assure ye that if you promise mee not to forsake the seruice of King Lisuart and to go tell him at your departure hence how you do it by commandement of Madasima Lady of Gantasi who enuies his welfare because he keepeth one in his court that slew the most renowned Knight Dardan you neuer shale escape this mereilesse captiuity Madame said Galaor if you do this thinking thereby to offend king Lisuart you much abuse your selfe for we are two poore knights who haue no other riches then our Armour and Horse and hee hath such store of redoubted Seruants as he will little care whether you imprison vs or no yet shall it bee such a shame to vs as you can neuer imagine the like because wee are vnable to do it What quoth she loue you better to spend your life time in a most miserable prison then to forsake the seruice of the most disloyall king liuing Now trust me Madame answered Galaor but ill beseems you these bad speeches for he is one of the best Princes in the World and against any knight I will maintaine that neuer was disloyalty found in him In lucklesse time for thee said Madasima hast thou vttered thy loue wherewith shee commanded their hands to be bound That shall I do replied a knight and cut off their heads if you please Hereupon he laid hold on Amadis who was so offended thereat as he lifted his fist to giue him a blow on the eare but the knight escaping Amadis caught him about the middle throwing him so violently against the ground that he thought his heart was broken for he lay still and moued not Now grew the Lady and her knights into such anger with Amadis as presently they would haue slaine him and he had not escaped but that an ancient knight stepped before him with his Sword drawne vsing such threatnings and other behauiour as he caused them all to goe forth of the Pauillion yet could he not defend him so well but Amadis was wounded on the right shoulder Then stepped the auncient knight to Madasima with these wordes By God Madame you deale like a very vnreasonable Woman causing your people in your presence to murder two knights after they haue yeelded themselues your prisoners Why Sir quoth she did you not see their presumptuous boldnesse especially this varlet who before my face hath so vsed this Man as he is not able to rise againe Madame replied Galaor we rather chuse to die then any other but your selfe shall binde vs for you by nature are gentle and courteous and we as prisoners wil shew obeysance to you Seeing you say so answered Madasima I will binde you my selfe hereupon she bound their hands with strong cords and presently taking downe the Tents they departed thence Amadis and Galaor being set on horses without Saddles and led along by two Sârgeants as for Gandalin and Galaors Squire they followed on foot hauing their hands bound behinde them in manner as if they had gone to hanging and thus were they constrained to trauaile al night through the Forrest But Amadis was weary of his life not so much for his hard vsage in respect he could gouerne himselfe with wonderfull patience but for the matter Madasima would enforce them to the refusall whereof gaue hope of no better vsage at her hand but for euer to be depriued of his faire Oriana And contrarywise if he consented he should in like manner be banished from her presence being compelled to serue king Lisuart no longer these two extremitys troubled his thoughts which the ancient knight well perceiued that saued their liues yet he imagined the cause to proceede from his hurt and was moued to pitty him for the Damosell had told him that he was one of the best knights in the world Here you must obserue how the Damosell was the ancient knights Daughter and repented her treason in deceiuing them seeing how discourteously they were intreated which made her earnestly to perswade her father to practise some meane for their safety for quoth she if they be put to death perpetuall shame will attend on my life Haue pitty then good Father on them and me in respect the one is famous Amadis of Gaule and the other his brother Gaiâor who slew the Giant at the Rock of Galteres Full wel knew the knight the cause why his Daughter brought them and therefore pittied their vsage the more deuising how he might compasse the meanes to shielde them from death which was neere at hand so comming to Amadis he thus spake Be of good cheere Sir Knight for I hope by the helpe of God ere long to deliuer you from this cruell Lady and if your wound offend ye I will perswade her to let you haue some cure When Amadis heard him speake so friendly knowing likewise it was the Man who deliuered him from them that would haue slaine him hee thus answered Father I haue no Wound which greatly annoyeth me but I haue more cause to complaine of the Damosell she hath brought vs hither by the falsest treacherie in the World I know very well saide the Knight you haue beene deceiued and can tell what you are better then you weene which makes mee the more carefull in seeking your good Therefore I shall giue you profitable counsell if you will accept it But did the Lady know you you should die without any remedy because nothing might serue else to expiaâe her wrath beleeue then what I say and put it in practise You are fayre young and of gallant stature beside Madasima hath beene told how you are one of the best Knights in the World whereby shee conceiueth good opinion of you now must you cunningly close with her requesting shee would accept you as her husband or perpetuall friend for she is a woman not to refuse you if you can neuer so little dissemble with her But what you doe do quickly because at that place whither we are now going she intends to send one of her seruants to King Lisuarts Court whose errand ãâã onely to enquire your names for she that conducted you âither
on the helmet as hee was astonied therewith and redoubling his blowe cut his right arme quite from his shoulder when Barsinan feeling himself so wounded would haue retyred backe to saue himselfe by the speed of his horse but hee fell to the ground as depriued of his sences Wherefore Amadis left him and set vpon the rest who beeing vnable to endure these hotte assaults likewise beholding their Lord dismounted took theÌselues to flight for safety of their liues yet were they so closely followed as the most part of them were slain in the field and some few of them escaped into the Tower causing the bridge to be quickly drawen vp after them Hereupon Amadis returned where he left Barsinan because he was not yet dead commanded he should be carried to the Queenes lodging there to bee kept till the Kings returne and as hee would haue put vp his sword hee sawe it soyled with blood wherefore in wiping it hee saide Thou trustie sworde in a happy houre was the knight born to whom thou belongest and as thou art one of the best in the world so is thy Master the most vertuous Prince liuing He vsed these words because it appertained to King Lisuart and was sent him from the Queene by Gandalin as you heard before but now returnes hee with king Arban to the Queenes lodging to comfort her with newes of happie victory All this while the King is hasting toward London giuing order to returne all the knights hee met by the way among whom were Agraies Galuanes Soliuan Galdaâ Dinadaâs and Bernas all which were highly in the Kings fauour as men of vertue and no small deseruing and his Maiesty hauing imbraced them said My noble good friends you had almost lost mee but God bee thanked you haue recouered mee againe by the helpe of these three worthy knights Galaor Guilan and Ladasin In sooth my Lord answered Dinadaâs so soon as your mishap was knowen in the Citie each one prepared to bring you succour I knowe my good Nephew quoth the king that I am greatly beholding to you all but I pray you take good store of these knights and post with speed to assist the Queene for I doubt she is in no little danger This Dinadaâs was one of the best knights of the kings linage and well esteemed among men of account as well in respect of his vertues as also his braue behauiour in chiualry so according to the kings command he rode away presently very brauely accompanied The king likewise followed an indifferent pace left his Nephew should stand in need of helpe and by the way he ouertooke Don Grumedan with his daughter Oriana How ioyfull this meeting was you may easily conceiue that the separation was not so grieuous but this was as gladsome Grumedan told his Maiesty how Amadis left the Princesse with him while hee rode before to assist the Queene thus with repetition of many matters they beguiled the time till they arriued at London where hee vnderstoode the successe of Barsinans enterprise and how valiantly King Arban had resisted him not forgetting the worthy behauiour of Amadis in taking him prisoner and discomfiting his men except a few that saued themselues in the Tower Here would it aske a worlde of time to report the ioy pleasure and contentment betweene the King and Queen at their meeting likewise the mothers comfort hauing recouered her daughter againe but as your iudgements can better conceiue then I set downe matter aboue the reach of common capacity so doe I leaue it to you and proceed to the King Who to terrifie the traytours thus gotten into holde besieged them seuerally and to dishearten them the more brought Barsinan Arcalaus Nephew before the walles where before all the people they confessed their treason Which being done a great fire was made wherein they were aliue consumed but when they in the Tower beheld this spectacle and that they were in great want of victals they yeelded themselues to the Kings mercy the most part of theÌ being for examples sake hanged on the battlements and the rest set at liberty vpon humble submission Yet this matter bred very great trouble afterward betweene them of Great Brittaine Sansuegua for the sonne of Barsinan being a good knight vexed king Lisuart with contagious warre as in the History hereafter at large is mentioned After the King had escaped these misfortunes the former ioyes and pastimes beganne againe during which time the Lady and her two sonnes the messengers of Madasima who were witnesses when Galaor and Amadis promised to forsake king Lisuarts seruice arriued at the Court. When the two Princes were aduertised thereof they went and friendly entertained her shee saying Gentlemen you know the cause of my comming are you determined to keepe your promise We are quoth they and will not breake our couenant with Madasima but presently will performe it before the King Entring the great Hall the Lady fell on her knees before his Maiesty deliuering these speeches My Lord I am come to your Court to see if these two knights will obserue a couenant which in my presence they made to a Lady What was it answered the King A matter that will scant like you quoth the Lady or any such as beare you affection and thereto shee added the whole circumstance Wherat the King waxing somewhat offended told Galaor that hee had very much wronged him My Lord replyed Galaor it was better to do so then be trecherously slaine for had wee beene knowne neither you nor all the world could haue saued our liues but let not your Maiesty be offended for the remedy shall be more ready then you expect In accomplishing my promise to Madasima of Gantasi my Lord I take my leaue of you departing altogether from your seruice certifying you that it is her will to doe you this displeasure and worse if she should compasse it for the extreame mallice she beareth to you Amadis affirmed what his brother had done then Galaor turning to the Lady her two sonnes sayd Haue we not now accomplish our promise Yes truely quoth the Lady wee must needs auouch so much You may then returne when you please answered Galaor but tell Madasima she did not so much as she weened as you may perceiue by the present effect Now my Lord quoth he to the King we haue fulfilled our promise to Madasima and because in graunting her earnest desire the time was not limited how long we should leaue your seruice we may enter thereinto againe when you please to command so that we are yours as faithfull as before When the King and all that were present heard what had past they reioyced exceedingly esteeming Galaor Amadis well aduised herein where-upon the King thus spake to the Lady According to her great treason vnder shaddowe of good meaning they are bound to no more then they haue accomplished for to deceiue the deceiuer is no deceit And say to Madasima seeing she hateth me so
in his armes the teares streaming from his eyes with ioy and greeuing to see him so sore wounded doubting least his life was in great danger but when the Lady saw them so good friends and the enmity conuerted into such Humility as one right glad thereof shee said to Galaor Worthy Sir though first you gaue me occasion of great heauinesse yet now with sufficient ioy you haue recompenced me So taking each of them by the hand she walked with them into the Castle where they being lodged in two sumptuous beds her selfe skilfull in Chirurgerie cured their wounds Thus remained the two brethren with the rich and beautifull Lady Corisanda who desired their health as her owne wel-fare CHAP. XLIII How Don Florestan was begotten by King Perion on the faire Daughter to the Countie of Zealand AT what time King Perion sought after strange Aduentures he ariued in the countrey of Almaigne where he soiourned the space of two yeares accomplishing many braue deedes of Armes the renowne whereof continueth to this day And as he returned toward Gaule hee lodged in the Counties house of Zealand where he was entertained very royally as well in respect of his owne reputation as also because the County himselfe had sometime beene a Knight errant which made him loue all such as followed Armes After supper the King was conducted to his Chamber where being in bed and somewhat wearie with trauaile he sell a sleepe soundly but to shake off this heauinesse he felt himselfe embraced and kissed he knew not by whom when starting vp to arise he was so held down that he could not Why Sir quoth she that thus mastred him take you no pleasure in me who am alone with you the king looking on her by meanes of the light which still burned in his Chamber he discerned her to be a most beautifull Lady wherefore he thus answered I pray you faire friend tell me what you are What soeuer Iam quoth she I loue you exceedingly as one that freely giues her selfe to you In sooth replyed the King I very gladly would know your name You trouble me said the Lady with this importunity yet can I vse no other continence theÌ you see but it were necessary quoth the king I should know your name if you meane to be my friend Seeing you constraine me thereto answered the Lady know that I am the Counties Daughter who hath so friendly entertained you Now trust me Madam replyed the King you must hold me excused for I had rather die then abuse the man I am so much beholding to Will you then refuse me quoth she well may you bee tearmed the worst nurtured Prince in the world in denying the conquest which all your life time you might haue fayled of You may speake your pleasure answered the King but I will do what is conuenient for your honour and mine and not offend in so foule a manner I shall quoth she cause my Father to thinke himselfe more iniuried by you then if you grant what I desire So starting from the bed she tooke the Kings Sword euen the same which was afterward found with Amadis when he was taken vp on the Sea and drawing it forth she set the point against her heart saying Now shall my Fathers life be shortned by my death whereof you are the onely cause As she vttered these words she offered to stab her selfe with the Sword when the king suddenly staying her hand and meruailing at her impatient loue thus replyed Hurt not your selfe Madam for I am content to satisfie your will Hereupon hee kindely embraced and kissed her passing the night with her in such sort as her hot desire was quallified and at that instant she conceiued with childe the King little thinking thereon for the next morning he tooke his leaue of her and the Countie returning with all speede he could into Gaule But the time of deliuerance drawing on and she desirous to couer her offence determined to goe visit an Aunt of hers whose dwelling was not past two or three miles off and many times she resorted thither for her pleasure So taking no other company with her but a Damosell as shee rode through the Forrest the payne of trauaile made her alight from her Palfrey she being soon after deliuered of a goodly Sonne The Damosell that was with her seeing what had happened bringing the childe to the mother said Madam as your heart serued you to commit the offence so must it now practise some pre-present remedy while I returne from your Aunt againe Then getting on horseback she rode apace to her Ladies Aunt and acquainted her with the whole matter which caused the old woman to be very sorrowfull yet she prouided succour for her Niece sending a Litter with all conuenient speede wherein the Lady and her childe were brought to her Castle secretly euery thing being so cunningly handled as the Countie neuer knew his Daughters fault After such time as these matters require the Lady returned home to her Father leauing her Sonne in her Aunts custody where he was nourished till the age of eighteene yeeres hauing Squires and Gentlemen attending on him who daily instructed him in managing Armes and all braue qualities beseeming a man of value He being growne of goodly stature the old Lady brought him one day to the Countie his Grand-father who gaue him his knight-hood not knowing what he was returning againe with his motherly Nurse by the way she brake with him in this manner My Sonne I am certaine you are ignorant of your parenatge but credit my words you are the son to King Perion of Gaule begotten on his daughtr that gaue you your order of knight-hood endeuour your selfe therefore to follow your fathers steps who is one of the most renowmed knights in the world Madam quoth Florestan oftentimes haue I heard great fame of King Perion but neuer imagined my selfe to be his son wherefore I vow to you being my long and carefull nurse that I will trauaile to fiude my father and not make my selfe known to any one till my deedes declare me worthy to be his son Not long after hee departed from the olde Ladie and accompanied with two squires iournied to Constantinople which at that time was greatly vexed with warre where he remained the space of foure yeeres performing such haughty deedes of Chiualrie as he was counted the best knight in all those parts When he perceiued himselfe in some account he intended to visit Gaule and make himselfe knowne to the king his father but comming into great Brittaine hee heard the fame of Amadis to be maruailous which was the cause of his stay there to win some report by armes as his bretheren had done whom he longed to acquaint himselfe withall At length he met with them both in the forrest as you heard and afterward combated with his brother Galaor which caused their aboad at the Castle of Corisanda vntill such time as their wounds were healed But now let vs
and well entertained Fol. 24. Chap. 6. How Vrganda the Vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentleman of the Sea Fol. 33. Chap. 7. How the Gentleman of the Sea combatted with the guarders of Galpans Castle and after-ward with his Brethren and in the end with Galpan himselfe Fol. 39. Chap. 8. How the third day after the Gentleman of the Sea departed from King Languines the three Knights came to the court bringing with them the wounded Knight in a Litter and his disloyall wife Fol. 43. Chap. 9. How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter the Princesse Oriana for that long before he had left her in the Court of King Languines who sent her accompanied with the Princesse Mabila his onely daughter as also a noble traine of Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen Fol. 46. Chap. 10. How the Gentleman of the Sea fought the combat with King Abies on difference of the warre he made in Gaule Fol. 55. Chap. 11. How the Gentleman of the Sea was knowne by King Perion his Father and by the Queene Elisen a his Mother Fol. 60. Chap. 12. How the Giant bringing Galaor to King Lisuart that he might dub himknight met with his brother Ama. by whose haÌa he would be knighted and by no other Fol. 66. Chap. 13. How Galaor vanquished the Giant at the Rock of Galteres Fol. 76. Chap. 14. How after Amadis departed from Vrganda the Vnknowne he arriued at a Castle where it chanced to him as you shall reade in the discourse Fol. 81. Chap. 15. How King Lisuart caused a sepulchre to be made for Dardan and his friend with an Epitaph in remembrance of their death and the honor he did to Amadis after he was found and knowne Fol. 91. Chap. 16. How Amadis made himselfe knowne to King Lisuart as also the Princes and Lords of his Court of whom he was honorably receiued and feasted Fol. 100. Chap. 17. What were the aduentures of the Prince Agraies since his returne from Gaule where he left Amadis Fol. 108 Chap. 18. How Amadis tarrying with his good will in the Court of King Lisuart heard tidings of his brother Galaor Fol. 206. Chap. 19. How Amadis combatted against Angriote and his brother who guarded the passage of the valley against such as would not confesse that their Ladies were inferior in beauty to Angriotes choyce F. 122 Chap. 20. How Amadis was inchanted by Arcalaus when he would haue deliuered the Lady Grindaloya and other from prison and how after-ward he escaped the inchauntments by the ayde of Vrganda Fol. 131 Chap. 21. How Arcalaus brought news to the Court of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his friends to make manifold lamentations and regrets especially the Princesse Oriana Fol. 136. Chap. 22. How Galaor came very sore wounded to a Monastery where he soiourned fiue dayes attending his health and at his departure thence what happened to him F. 141 Chap. 23. How Amadis departed from the Ladies Castle and of the matters which were occurrent to him by the way Fol. 150. Chap. 24. How King Lisuart being in the chase saw a farre off three knights armed comming toward him and what followed thereupon F. 154. Chap. 25 How Amadis Galaor and Balays determined to trauaile to King Lisuart and what aduentures happened by the way betweene them Fol. 159. Chap. 26. How Galaor reuenged the death of the Knight whom hee found slaine on the bed vnder the Tree Fol. 164. Chap. 27 How Amadis pursuing the Knight that misused the Damosell met another knight with whom he combatted and what happened to him afterward Fol. 168 Chap. 28. How Amadis combatted with the Knight that did steale the Damosell from him when he slept and vanquished him Fol. 174. Chap 29. How Balays behaued himselfe in his enterprise pursuing the Knight that made Galaor loose his Horse Fol. 176. Chap. 30. How King Lisuart held open Court most royally and of that which happened in the meane time Fol. 179. Chap. 31. How Amadis Galaor and Balays arriued at the Court of King Lisuart and what happened to them afterward Fol. 182 Chap. 32. How King Lisuart departed from Windsore to the good Citty of London there to hold open and royall Court Fol. 185. Chap. 33. How King Lisuare would haue the aduise of his Princes and Lords as concerning his former determination for the high exalting and entertaining of Chiualrie F. 191 Chap. 34. How while this great and ioyfull assembly endured a Damosell came to Court cloathed in mourning requesting ayde of King Lisuart in a cause whereby shee had beene wronged Fol. 195. Chap. 35. How King Lisuart was in danger of his person and his state by the vnlawfull promises he made too rash and vnaduisedly Fol. 201. Chap. 36. How Amadis and Galaor vnderstood that King Lisuart and his Daughter were carried away prisoners wherefore they made hast to giue them succour Fol. 209. Chap. 37. How Galaor rescued King Lisuart from the ten Knights that led him to prison Fol. 216. Chap. 38. How news came to the Queene that the King was taken and how Barsinan laboured to vsurpe the Citty of London many dayes in which time sundry great personages were there feasted the greater part whereof remained long time after-ward Fol. 227. Ch. 41. How Amadis determined to goe combat with Abiseos and his two Sons to reuenge the kings death who was father to the faire Briolania and of that which followed Fol. 230. Chap. 42. How Galaor went with the Damosell after the Knight that dismounted him and his companions in the Forrest whom when hee found they combatted together and afterward in the sharpest point of their combat they knew each other Fol. 235 Chap. 43. How Don Florestan was begotten by King Petion on the faire Daughter to the County of Zealand Fol. 240. Chap. 44. How Galaor and Florestan riding towards the Realme of Sobradisa met with three Damosels at the Fountaine of Oliues Fol. 248. FINIS THE SECOND BOOKE Of Amadis de Gaule CONTAINING THE DESCRIPtion Wonders and Conquests of the Inclosed or Firme-Island As also the triumphes and troubles of Amadis in the pursuit of his fayrest Fortunes Moreouer the manifold Victories hee obtained and admirable seruices by him performed for King Lisuart And his notorious ingratitude towards him which was the first occasion of the broyles and fatall warres that no small time continued betweene him and Amadis Translated out of French by A. M. LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES dwelling in Foster-lane 1619. TO THE RIGHT HONORAble Sir Phillip Herbert Earle of Mountgomerie And Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter AMadis in his first Booke kissing your noble hand the second followeth to finde the like fauour encouraged thereto by your euer knowne most honourable nature and affable graces affoorded to the very meanest deseruers The third and fourth Bookes successiuely ensue to make vp the first volume of so famous an history till foure more may in the like manner be finished to present themselues to you their
Durin I see my misfortune so strange and my sorrow so intollerable as of force I must die which God grant it may be without delay for death onely will giue rest and ease to this torture which vexeth mee Salute from me the Princesse Mabila and thy good sister the Damosell of Denmarke vnto whom thou mayst declare my cruel death which I suffer with as great wroÌg as euer any knight suffered Before the which I would to God I had the meanes to doe them any seruice in recompence of the duty I doe owe them for all the good they haue done and the fauours they haue purchased for mee Then hee beganne his moane weeping so bitterly as Durin therewith had his heart so stopped with woe that hee was not able to answer one word Wherfore Amadis embraced him and committed him to God At that instant began the day to appeare when Amadis perceiuing that Gandalin followed him hee sayd vnto him if thou determinest to come with me take heede vpon thy life that thou turne me not from any thing which I shall say or doe otherwise I pray thee forthwith to turne another way that I may see thee no more Beleeue me Sir sayd Gandalin I wil do whatsoeuer shal please you Then Amadis deliuered him his armor to bear coÌmanding him to pul the sword forth of his shield to cary it to the amorous knight CHAP. V. Who was the Knight vanquished by Amadis and what happened vnto him before he fought with him SEeing that it falleth out so fit I will declare vnto you before I passe any further the estate of the amorous Knight of whom wee spake euen now You must knowe that hee was called Patin brother to Don Sidon the Emperor of Rome and hee was the best knight that was to be found in all Romania By meanes whereof he was feared and famous through all the Empire chiefly because hee was to succeed in his brothers dignitie for there was none more neare the same then hee and the Emperour was already so olde that hee neuer hoped to haue any heire Now this Patin was one day talking with the Queene of Sardinia named Sardamira one of the fairest Ladies in the world whom hee loued extreamely And as hee gaue her to vnderstand what feruency and torment hee endured in ouer-louing her she answered him My Lord I assuredly beleeue that which you tell mee and the better to witnesse the same I let you know that there is no prince liuing for whoÌ I would do more then for you nor whom I would more willingly take for husband because I know your good parts and the high knight-hood where withall you are so famoused These speeches bred so great presumption in the heart of Patin as besides that hee was by nature one of the proudest Gentlemen in the world hee entred into such glory that he answered her Madame I haue heard that King Lisuart hath a daughter esteemed the fairest Princesse in the worlde but for the loue of you I will goe into Great Brittaine there to mainteine against all men that her beauty is not coÌparable to yours the which I alone will prooue in combate against two of the best knights that dare say the contrary whom if I cannot ouercome I will that King Lisuart doe cause my head to bee cut off In good faith my Lord answered the Queene I am of a contrary opinion for if the Princesse haue any beauty in her it nothing impaireth that which God hath bestowed vpon mee if any beauty there bee and me thinks that you haue other means more fit to make known your prowesse in all places Hap what may hap answered hee I will doe it for your loue to the end that euery one may knowe that as you are the fairest Lady in the world so you are beloued of the valiantest Knight aliue Hereupon continuing in this minde within a while after hee tooke leaue of the Queene and passed into Great Brittaine accompanied onely with two Esquires Then hee enquired where he might find King Lisuart vnto whose Court he shortly after came and because hee was more richly armed then wandering knights were accustomed to bee the King thought him to be some great personage For this cause hee receiued him most honourably appointing him into a chamber to shift himselfe When he was vnarmed hee returned to the King who stayed for him marching with such grauity as those that beheld seeing his comely stature iudged him to bee of great courage But the King tooke him by the hand and conferring together hee sayde vnto him gentle friend I pray you thinke it not strange if I desire to know who you are because I may the more honor you in my Court It may please your Maiesty answered Patin I am not come into this countrey to hide mee but rather to make my selfe knowne as well vnto your Highnesse as vnto all others I am that Patin brother to the Emperour which humbly beseecheth you to enquire no further of my affaire vntill I haue seen my Lady Oriana your daughter When the King heard that he embraced him and in excusing his ignorance he sayd to him My good Cosen I am maruailous glad of the honour that you haue done me In coÌming thus to visit me in my owne countrey assuring you that since you are desirous to see my daughter she shall not onely be shewed vnto you but likewise the Queene and all her trayne And so long they continued their talke vntill they had couered for supper Then the King caused him to sit next vnto him where hee found himselfe compassed with so great a number of knights as hee much marualled thereat and began to despise the Court of the Emperour his brother as also of all other Princes in respect of this which hee saw After the tables were taken vp it being time to goe to rest the King coÌmanded Don Grumedan to bring Patin to his lodging and to shew him all the honor and good entertainment hee could So for that night they departed vntill the next morning that hee came and found the King hearing diuine seruice after the which hee was conducted to the Ladies who receiued him curteously for at his comming the Queen took him by the hand praying him to sit betweene her her daughter Oriana whom at that instant he beheld with such an eye as the loue which before he did beare vnto the Queene Sardamira was wholly changed vnto her beeing captiuated with her excellent beauty and goodly grace You may iudge then how he would haue esteemed her if he had seene her in the time of her perfect health which was now much decaied by reason of this new iealousie which she had conceiued against Amadis which made her looke leane pale and wan but these defaults could nothing quench the heate of the fire already kindled in the heart of Patin who was so far beside him-selfe that hee determined to beseech the king to bestow her vpon him in
a great blemish Therefore my Lords I beseech you in performing the duty of a brother a friend and a companion to begin his search a fresh without sparing therein at all either time or toile This perswasioÌ did Gandalin make in weeping so extreamly that it greatly putied the three knights to behold him so as they concluded after they had beene in the Court if they heard not news of Amadis to begin a new pursuit to compasse the whole world about till they had found him and vpon this determination after they had heard diuine seruice they departed from the hermitage and tooke the way towards London But as they approched nere vnto the Cittie they were ware of the King who was already in the fields accompanied with many noble men and valiant knights for hee celebrated that day with all magnificence because that vpon the same he was crowned peaceable king of great Brittaine which was the principall occasion that many knights came to serue him Who beholding Galaor and his fellowes comming towards them shewed the king thereof and they in the mean season were hard at hand But because Florestan had neuer before seene such an assembly Galaor said vnto him Brother behold the king Now had they all three their head-pieces off wherefore some in the company did know them all forth-with except Flotestan the King imbraced them demanding how they fared Then Florestan ãâã to kisse his hands the which he refused And because he was the Gentleman that did most of all resemble Amadis and that heretofore he had heard speaking of him he began to suspect that it was his brother and therefore he saide vnto Galaor I beleeue that this is your brother Florestan It is he indeede if it please your Maiestie who hath a great desire to doe you seruice Ah said the king I would Amadis were now heere that I might see you all three together what saide Galaor hath your grace heard ãâã newes of him No saide the king but what haue you heard It may please your Maiestie answered he wee haue all three sought him a whole yeere yet haue we done no good but lost our labour and we did thinke to haue found him here in your Court wherefore seeing your grace hath certified me to the contrary I am in worse hope of his recouery then before So am not I saide the king for I am perswaded the heauens haue not endued him with such perfections to forsake him after this manner which maketh me to beleeue that we shall very shortly heare some tidings of him WheÌ they had ended their talke they entred into the Cittie where the Queene and the other Ladies were incontinently aduertised of their arriuall wherewith they were as glad as might bee especially Olinda the friend to Agraies who very lately was aduertised that he had passed vnder the arch of faithfull louers and shee expected his comming with as great deuotion as Corisanda did the arriuall of Florestan Then Mâ⦠imagining to do Orianâ a pleasure ãâã to aduertise her but she ãâã âwordh-drawn iâto ââ¦er where shee sawe her ââ¦ing her head vpon one of hâr hââds and reading in a booke to whom she saide Madame will you please to come downe to see Galaor Agrâ⦠and Florestan who are now newely heere arriued WheÌ she heard her speake nothing of Amadis a new feare strook at her heart so that she knew not what to doe and the teares distilled from her eyes in such aboundance that her speech failed Neuerthelesse in the end not beeing able to dissemble her griefe shee answered Mabila my cosin and sweet friend how would you haue me to go see them in good sooth I haue not my minde so well setled that I may dissemble or hide that which in their presence I ought to doe Moreouer mine eyes are ouerswollen with much weeping and that which worse is it is impossible for to behold those whom I did neuer see but in the company of your cosin whom I haue so highly offended Heerewithall her heart was likely to haue left her sorrowfull body and she cryed My God how doe you permit mee wretched woman to liue being so worthy of death Ah my deere loue I doe now feele a double griefe for your absence seeing Galaor the rest to returne without you whome you loued as deere as your selfe who knowing the iniury and wicked act that I haue coÌmitted against you shall haue iust cause to procure my ruine whereunto I consent with a good will seeing that so vnaduisedly I haue beene the meanes of your losse Herewithall she had fallen downe all along if Mabila who streight espied it had not staied her vp saying vnto her Madame will you alwaies continue these strange passions I know well that in the end you will publish that to your shame which we doe most desire should be kept secret Is this the constancy which you ought to haue especially seeing that day by day we expect to heare good newes by the Damosell of Denmarke Alas answered shee you speake at your pleasure is it possible that shee may finde him hauing the charge but to seek him onely in Scotland seeing that his brethren haue in a manner compassed all the West without hearing any newes at all of him You abuse your selfe saide Mabila it may bee that they had found him but that hee kept himselfe secret from them the which he wil neuer do froÌ your Gentlewoman knowing that she is priuie to both your loues And therefore be of good cheere vntill her returne and then doe as you shall thinke good and for this time let vs goe if it please you towards the Queene who demandeth for you Well answered Oriana I am content to doe what you will Then shee dried her eyes and went in the Queenes chamber into the which the three knights were already entred who seeing her comming did their duty vnto her at the same time the King held Galaor by the hand vnto whom he said behold I pray you how your good friend Oriana is impaired since you did last see her In good faith answered Galaor your Maiestie saith true and I would with all my heart that I might doe her any pleasure that might purchase her former health Herewithall Oriana smiled saying vnto Galaor God is the only comforter of all men so that when his pleasure is my health shall bee restored and your losses recouered which no doubt are great for so deere a brother Amadis was vnto you And I would that the trauell which you haue taken to seeke him in farre countries had brought some fruit as well for the good of you and yours as also for the seruice of the King my father vnto the which hee was wholly adicted Madame answered Galaor I trust that wee shall very shortly heare some newes of him because he is the knight that I haue euermore seene most valiantly to resist all extremities God grant it said Oriana but I pray you cause Don Florestan to
come neere vnto vs that I may more plainely beholde him for I haue beene tolde that hee is the knight that doth most resemble your brother Amadis Whereupon Galaor called him and he came saluted Oriana who tooke him by the hand they three sate downe together Then the Princesse imagined that she did verily beholde him who beeing absent from her shee had day and night before her eyes and therefore shee began to blush and change her colour Now had Mabila in like fort withdrawn her selfe together with Olinda to giue a better occasion vnto her brother Agraies more priuately to speake vnto her and there withall hee seeing them in a place so conuenient came and saluted them then at their request he sate downe betweene them in taking Olinda secretly by the hand And she who did languish for his loue was the gladdest that might be being sure of his constancy by the proofe which he had made passing vnder the arch of loyall louers in the Firme-Island in recompence whereof she would willingly haue giuen him better intertainement if she durst But the presence of so many witnesses took from them not oâ⦠the ãâã which otherwise they would hââe gâ⦠the one to the other but allâ the facility and liberty of speech so that their eyes onely serued to supply this default which âhey imploied therein according to the affections of their passioned harts And as they were in these pleasant tearms there was heard from the chamber as if it had been the voyce of some oppressed with grief wherfore the king would needs know who it was It may please your Maiesty answered an Esquire it is Gandalin the Dwarffe who no sooner beheld the shield and armour of Amadis but they made and yet continue the strangest lamentation that possibly may be What sayde the King is Gandalin here He is if it like your Maiesty answered Florestan It is very neere two monethes since I did finde him at the foot of the hill of Sangâin as hee was seeking his Maister and because I did tell him that I had already sought him in euery place hee was content to come with me In good faith said the King I haue alwaies esteemed Gandalin for such a one as now he sheweth himselfe to be for I did neuer see any Esquire to loue his Master better then hee doth When Oriana heard these words especially how that Gandalin was returned without Amadis she was in such a perplexity that shee was likely to haue swouned betweene Florestââ his armes who not knowing the cause of her sudden passion and fearing to affright the King and the company called Mabila who forthwith doubted such a mischance Wherefore leauing Agraies alone with Olinda shee came vnto Oriana and caused her secretly to depart into her chamber and to lie downe vpon her bed where shee remained not loâg but that rising vp as it were almost beside her selfe shee sayd vnto Mâbila Cosen you knowe that since our comming to this Cittie there hath passed neuer a day wherein wee haue not receiued âore displeasure Therefore I am determined to withdrawe my selfe for a certaine time vnto my Castle of Mirefleur for my heart telleth me that in changing the ayre I shall also change my afflictions and that my troubled spirit shall there finde rest Madame answered Mabila I am of the same opinion to the end that when the Damosell of Denmarke doth returne you may more priuately speake with her and pleasure him that shee I hope shall bring with her the which would be very hard yea almost impossible to doe in this place As you loue mee then sayd Oriana let vs not tarry any longer for I am sure the King and Queene will very willingly giue vs leaue Now you must vnderstand that this place of Mirefleur was a little Castle most pleasantly seated two leagues from London built vpon the side of a hill and compassed vpon the one side with the Forrest and vpon the other with many Orchards full of all sorts of trees and pleasant flowers moreouer it was inuironed with many great Fountaines which watered it on all parts And because that once the King being there on hunting with the Queene seeing that his daughter tooke great pleasure in the place hee bestowed it vpon her and afterwards she caused a Nunnerie to bee builded within a bow shot thereof whereunto she sometimes went to recreate her selfe But that I may not degresse ouer farre from my first discourse Oriââa according as she had determined came and demanded leaue of the King and Queene for her departure the which was easily granted vnto her and therefore shee purposed to depart the next day very earely in the morning And because that Galaor and his consorts would in like sort returne to make a new search for Amadis finding the King at leasure they sayd vnto him If it please your Maiesty wee were greatly to be blamed if wee should any longer deferre the seeking of Amadis because my fellowes and I haue sworne neuer to rest in any place before wee haue heard of him therefore it may please your grace to giue vs leaue to depart to morrowe to doe our endeauours My friends answered the King I pray you deferre your departure yet a fewe daies longer in the meane season I will cause thirty knights to depart from hence who shall goe begin this voyage for I haue great neede of such knights as you are for an enterprise which is happened vnto me the which importeth me greatly both in goods and honour it is a battaile which I haue appointed against King Cildadan of Ireland who is a strong and mighty Prince And to let you vnderstand the cause of this warre Cildadan hath married one of the daughters of King Abies whom Amadis slew in Gaule And although time out of minde the realme of Ireland hath euer beene tributarie vnto the King of Great Brittaine neuerthelesse to haue an occasion of quarrell this Cildadan refuseth the payment thereof and sendeth me word that he will put one hundred of his knights in battaile against the like number of mine vpon this condition that if he be ouercome he will redouble the tribute which I doe demand of him otherwise he will hence-forth remaine free and acquitted the which I haue condiscended vnto So my friends I doe most earnestly entreat you euen as you loue mee not to forsake mee in this my greatest neede knowing assuredly that my enemies are strong and determined to worke my displeasure but by your good helpe and the right that we haue we shal easily ouercome them then shall you goe seeke out Amadis as you haue determined and you shall take as many of my knights with you as you please When they heard this request which the King did make vnto them there was not any amongst theÌ that was not content to obey him seeing his necessity so great although that thereby the quest of Amadis was delaied and at the same instant they
the which he granted wherefore Enil according to the custome watched all night in the Chappell and the next morning about the breake of day after seruice was ended hee receiued the order of knighthood by the Faire Forlorne which done they all mounted on horse-back in the companie of Abradan and his two Nephewes who serued them for their Esquires In the end they arriued where king Lisuart had already ordered his battaile being ready to goe meete his enemies who stayed his comming in a plaine field but when the King beheld the Faire Forlorne hee was exceeding ioyfull and there was not any in the company whose courage was not increased at his comming Then hee approached neer vnto the king vnto whom he sayd it may please your Maiesty I am come to accomplish my promise and also I do bring another knight with me for I was aduertised that your number was not full where-withall the king gaue him most hearty thanks and although there was not any one of the hundred knights who were not all approomen and esteemed amongst the best yet king Lisuart after he had ordered his battallion seeing his enemies aproached beganne to make this Oration vnto his armie My fellowes louing friends and countriemen I am sure there is not any one amongst you who knoweth not very well how wee haue vndertaken this battaile with great right especially for the defence of the honour and reputation of the Realme of Great Brittaine which king Cildadan and those of Ireland would abase in denying vnto vs the tribute which they haue time out of minde paid vnto our predecessors for the acknowledgement of the fauours that in times past they haue receiued at their hands Moreouer I am throughly assured that there is not any of you all whose heart is not both valiant and inuincible for which cause there is no need that you should bee further animated or incouraged against those with whom you are to encounter hauing your honor before your eyes which I knowe you doe more esteeme then an hundred liues if it were possible that so many you might haue one after another Therefore then my deere friends let vs boldly march on not respecting a small number of cruell and bloody minded Gyants that are in their troupe for a man is not to be esteemed the valianter by the outward appearance of his great strong and huge members but by the magnanimious couragious heart that remaineth within him you doe oftentimes behold the dogge to master the bull and the sparrow hawke or hobbie to beate the kite Our enemies trust in the force of these monsters without hauing any respect vnto the wrong that they maintaine and wee onely put our trust in God who being the righter of all iniuries will giue vnto vs sufficient strength to vanquish them by the dexterity of our persons our owne endeauours Let vs boldly then march on my friends euery one bearing this minde that hee is able both to combate and conquer the proudest of their troupe assuring you if this day we gaine the honour of the battaile that besides the honour and glory that shal be spread of vs thorow the whole world neuer enemy to great Brittaine dare once hereafter be so bold as to lift vp his head to doe vs the least iniury that may bee Thus did king Lisuart incourage his knights and king Cildadan on the other side did the like vnto his for he went from ranke to ranke to animate them saying vnto them Gentle knights of Ireland if you vnderstand vpon what occasion you goe to fight there is not one of you that will not blame his predecessor for being so slacke in the vndertaking of so glorious an enterprise The kings of Great Brittaine Vsurpers and Tyrants not onely towardes their subiects but also vpon their neighbours haue heretofore without any right exacted vpon their ancestors such a tribute as is very well known hath often beene payd and for this cause wee haue made this assembly and are come vnto this place to defend our liberty which cannot bee paid by any treasure It is your cause it is your right and not youâ⦠but your childrens who vntill this present time haue beene held and reputed by those whom you see determined likewise to make you seruants and slaues Will you then alwayes liue in this sort Will you continue this yoake vnto your successors are you of lesse courage or of lesse substance then your neighbours Ah if wee are conquerours they shall restore that which they haue had of vs. I am very sure that Fortune doth fauour vs for you see what men of worth are come vnto our ayde knowing our great right Let vs resist them let vs resist them valiant knights I see King Lisuart and his troupe now in feare ready to turne their backs vnto vs. They are as they say accustomed to vanquish but wee will teach them to accustome themselues to be vanquished One thing I would aduise you that euery one helpe his fellow keeping you as close together as possibly you may And longer would hee haue continued his Oration if hee had not seene King Lisuart prepared to ioyne with him Wherefore he retyred into the midst of his squadron and sayd very loud Now haue at them since they will care giue them cold iron enough At this cry euery man prepared to receiue his enemy shewing by their countenance that they were men most hardy and couragious And formost of all did march the Faire Forlorne accompanied with Enil as also Galaor Florestan Agraies Gandalac the Gyant who stole Galaor away when he was but two yeares olde and his two sons Bramandill and Gainus whom Galaor had newly made knights After them Nicoran de Pont Craintif Dragonis Palomir Viuorant Giontes Nephew to the King the most renowmed Brunnio de Bonne Mer his brother Branfill and Guillan the Pensif who all marched after old Grumedan a knight of honour belonging to the Queene who carried King Lisuart his standard On King Cildadan his side the Gyants made the front of the battaile with twenty knights all neere a kinne vnto the King who like a prouident Generall appointed that Mandafabull the Gyant of the Isle of the VermillioÌ Tower should remayne vpon the top of a little hill with ten of the best knights in their troupe coÌmanding them not to stir from thence vntill they should perceiue assuredly toward the end of the battell that the most valiant knights of Knig Lisuarts fide should be scattered and weary and that then they should rush in vpon them without spearing any man sauing the Kings person Whom they should take prisoner and if they should perceiue any great resistance to be made they should kill him if they could not carry him vnto their ships Thus the two battailes approched so neere one to another that they came to the ioining together there might you haue seene Lances broken armour clattering armes stroken off some crying others breaking the ranks of their
but so soone as the King beheld him hee turned his head from him his fellowes not vouchsafing so much as once to looke vpon them Then Gandandel who was hard by them seeing the Kings countenance came to embrace Amadis saying vnto him that hee was glad of his recouery But by my faith sayd he I am very sory that the king vseth you no better notwithstanding now you may know whether the aduertisements that I gaue you were false or not Amadis answered him not one word but came vnto Angriota Bruneo who thinking that hee had not marked the couÌtenance which the King shewed vnto them aduertised him thereof There is no cause answered Amadis that you should take it in ill part seeing that very often a man is intentiue vnto some thing whereon his minde is set that hee taketh no heed vnto that which others doe it may be that the king mused vppon some other matter when wee saluted him therefore let vs returne and speake vnto his Maiesty for that which Galuanes entreated vs. Herewithall they approached vnto him and Amadis sayde vnto the King Although if it please your Maiestie that I haue not here-tofore done you that seruice that I desire yet haue I presumed trusting in your good bounty to request one gift of your highnesse which can not but turne greatly to your honour moreouer you shall binde those vnto your Maiestie whom you may pleasnte with your gacious grant At this time was Gandandel present who playing the hypocrite as he was accustomed very malapertly took vpon him to speake and answered Amadis Truly if it bee so as you say the King ought not to denie your suâe If it like your highnesse saide Amadis the gift which I and my fellowes here present do besech your high-to grant vnto vs is that it would please you to bestow vpon the Lord Galuanes the Isle of Mongaza for the which he shall yeeld you fealty and homage in marying with Madasima by the which fauour your grace shall both aduance a poore Prince and extend your pitty vnto one of the fairest Gentle-women in the world When Brocadan and Gandandel heard this demand they looked vpon the King making a signe vnto him that hee should not grant it to them Yet neuerthelesse it was a great while before hee spake considering the deserts of Don Galuanes and the seruices which hee had receiued of him in many places especially how that Amadis had conquered with the price of his blood the land which he required for another neuerthelesle hee gaue no eare vnto him although by verture hee was bounden to condiscend vnto a request so resonable yet hee thus answered Amadis That man is ill aduised who requesteth a thing that cannot bee granted I speake this because of you my Lord Amadis who doe entreate mee for that which within these fiue dayes I haue bestowed as a gift vpon my youngest daughter Leonor This excuse had the King fayned of set purpose to refuse Galuanes whereupon Amadis who was greatly discontented with the slender entertainment that he shewed vnto them knowing that this was but an excuse hee could not so much command him-selfe as to hold his peace but that he said vnto the King Your Maiestie doth very well manifest that the seruices which for you we haue done haâe beene little pleasing vnto you and lesse profitable for vs. And therefore if these my companions will bee ruled by me wee will hence-forth bethinke vs what to doe Beleeue me my Nephew answered Galuanes you say true and those seruices are very ill imployed which are done vnto those that haue no desire to acknowledge them and therefore euery man of courage ought to beware for whom he aduenture him-selfe My Lords answered Amadis blame not the King for not granting that which hee hath promised vnto another and let vs onely entreat him that he will be pleased to permit that Galuanes may marry with Madasima And if he grant this fauour I will giue vnto him the Firme-Island Madasima answered the King is my prisoner and if she deliuer not vnto mee the land which she hath promised me shee shall lose her head before the moneth be past By my faith saide Amadis had your Maiestie answered vs more kindly you had done vs no wrong at all if at the least you had a desire in any sort to thinke well of vs. If my entertainement like you not answered the King the world is large enough to finde out some other that may vse you better Truely this word hardly digested turned afterward into a greater consequence then the King thought it would who perceiued shortly after by Brocadan and his companion how hurtfull a thing hatefull and vncourteous speech is as the forgetting of good and his honour is oftentimes the ouerthrow both of a king and realm Amadis was so displeased with this farewell that he said vnto the king If it like your Maiesty I haue hitherto thought that there was neither King nor Prince in the world more indued with vertuous and honourable qualities then you neuerthelesse we now by proofe perceiue the contrary Therefore seeing you haue changed your ancient good custome by the aduise of some latter bad counsell wee will goe seeke out another manner of life Do answered the king what you will for you know my minde Saying so hee rose vp in a great rage and went vnto the Queene vnto whom he imparted the whole discourse that he had with Amadis and his companions and how hee was dispatched of them where-with hee was very glad I am in great doubt said the Queene least this your pleasure doe not hereafter turne you to displeasure for you are not ignorant from the first day that Amadis and his confederats entred into your seruice how your affaires haue alwaies prospered better and better so as if you consider that which they haue done for you you shall finde that they haue deserued no such answere as you haue made vnto them Besides when it shall bee manifest vnto others what they both haue done and can doe and the little account you doe make of them for their deserts they may hereafter hope for no better at your handes and therefore will they desist to employ themselues for you reputing them fooles that shall do but the least seruice for so vngratefull a man Tell mee no more of it said the king for it is done but if they make their complaint vnto you tel them that long since I haue giuen that land which they required of me to our daughter Leonor as I did tell them I will doe it answered the Queene seeing it is your pleasure and God grant that all may turne to the best But you must vnderstand that after Amadis and those in his company had seene in what sort the King had left them they went forth of the Palace and as they went to their lodging they concluded to say nothing thereof vnto their friends vntill the next morning against which time
they would pray them all to meete together and that then they would take counsell what was best to be done And at the same instant Amadis sent Durin to tell the Princesse Mabila that he would if it were possible the night following speake with Oriana about some matter of importance newly fallen out In this sort the day passed and the night approched being alreadie apparrelled in his sable weede wherefore at such time as euery one was in their soundest sleepe Amadis called Gandalin and came vnto that place by the which hee commonly entred into the chamber of Oriana who stayed for him according to the message which shee had receiued by Durin where being arriued without acquainting her at the first with any thing that might displease her after they had a little while discoursed pleasantly together Mabila the Damosell of Denmark who were desirous to sleep or it may be not being able to endure that heat where-with loue did pricke them seeing the kissings embracings where-with these two louers entertained one another sayd vnto them the bed is bigge enough for you two and the darknesse fit for your desires it is now late lie you downe if it please you and afterwardes talke together as much as you wil. Madame said Amadis vnto Oriana by my faith their counsell is very good It is best for vs then to beleeue them answered shee and therewithall hauing nothing vpon her but a cloake cast about her she had quickly gotten her in between a paire of sheets and as shee layd her downe close in her bed hee lent so neere vnto her ouer the beds side that after the curtains were drawne not to encrease his passion but to redouble his pleasure a wax taper being onely lighted vp in the chamber they began to kisse and embrace each other so incessantly that remaining in this great ease their spirits entertained a double delight by the sweet sollace which their metamorphosed soules did mutially receiue from the outward parts of their lippes being brought at the same instant into such an extasie that they were thereby vnable to speake one worde vntill the Damosell of Denmarke thinking that Amadis had beene asleepe pulled him by the garment saying My Lord you may lightly take colde get you into the bed if it please you With this waking as it were forth of a sound sleepe hee setched a deepe sigh Alas deare loue sayd the Princesse should you not be as well at your ease if you were laid downe in the bed by mee as to take so much paine and hurt your selfe Madame answered he seeing it pleaseth you so to command me I will not make it daintie to straine a little curtesie with you No sooner had hee sayde these wordes but that hee threwe him-selfe starke naked betweene the Princesse her armes then begunne they againe their amorous sports performing with coÌtentment that thing which euery one in the like delight doth most desire after-wardes they began to conferre of diuers matters vntill that Oriana demaÌded of him wherefore he had sent her word by Durin that he had somewhat of great importance to tell her Madam answered he I wil declare it vnto you seing that you desire to know it although I am sure it will be both strange grieuous vnto you neuertheles I must of necessity aduertise you thereof because it is of so great coÌsequeÌce You must vnderstand therefore Madame that the King your father yesterday did speake vnto Agraies Galuanes me in such discurteous sort that thereby we wel perceiued little good hee wisheth vs afterwards he recited vnto her word by word of all that had happened how in the end the king rising vp in a great rage told them that the worlde was large enough for them to goe seeke some other place where they might bee better requited then of him And for this cause Madame sayde Amadis wee must of force doe what hee hath commaunded otherwise wee should greatly preiudice our honours remaining against his wil in his seruice seeing that he might presume that wee had no other place to goe vnto where we might be entertained therefore I beseech you not to be offended if in obeying him I am constrained to leaue you for a season You know what power you haue ouer mee and that I am as much yours as you can wish more-ouer I know very well that if I should gaine any bad reputation you are she that would bee most offended therewith so much am I sure that you doe loue and esteeme mee which maketh mee againe to entreate you to allow of my departure and to giue mee leaue vsing your accustomed constancy and vertue Alas answered shee my deere loue what doe you tell me Madame if it please God the King heereafter will acknowledge the wrong that he hath done vnto vs and I shall bee as well wel-come vnto him as euer I haue bin Gentle friend answered the Princesse you do much amisse to complaine of my father for if he hath receiued any good from you it was for my loue by the commandement that I gaue vnto you and not for his sake for I alone did bring you hither and was the cause that you remained with him And therefore it is not hee that must recompence you but I vnto whom you belong It is very true that hee hath alwaies thought otherwise for which hee is the more to bee blamed for answering you so vndiscreetly And although that your departure is the most grieuous thing that could happen to me being a matter of constraint I am content to sortifie my selfe and to prefer reason before the delights and pleasures which I receiue by your presence Therefore will I frame my will to your liking because I am sure that in what place soeuer you shall bee your heart which is mine shall remaine with mee as pledge of the power which you haue giuen me ouer your selfe and yet moreouer my father in losing you shall know by those few that he shall haue left what he hath lost by you Madame said Amadis the fauour which you shew vnto me is so great that I esteeme it no lesse then the redemption of mine owne life For you know that euery vertuous man ought to haue his honour in such estimation that hee ought to preferre it before his owne life In like sort Madam seeing that to conserue it I must of force depart from you doe thus much if it please you for mee as during my abseÌce to let me heare very often from you And to hold mee alwaies in your good fauour as he who was neuer borne but only to obay and serue you And truely whosoeuer had seene the Princesse then when Amadis took this sorrowfull farwell he might easily haue bin witnes of the passioÌ which she indured Neuerthelesse Amadis seeing the day constrained him to depart in kissing her sweetly hee rose vp leauing her so ful of sorrow heauines that although shee dissembled as well as shee
or shee that loueth as constantly as Grimanesa and Apolidon that made this enchantment And they must of necessity enter in both together for the first time otherwise let them be assured to die most cruelly and this enchauntment shall last and all the rest of this Island vntill that the knight Lady who do surpasse in loyalty those that made the defences of the forbidden Chamber bee entred in and there haue taken their pleasure Hereupon my Lady caused Isania to be called and tolde him she was glad that she had seen these wonders but shee would yet see the Arch of loyall Louers and the chamber so renowned and in the meane season she desired him to tell her what was meant by the Hart Serpent Dogs and Lions Madame answered Isania I know no other thing thereof but that euery day at those houres and places that you did see them the combats of the beasts are made and the Hart doth alwaies leape downe from the window and the Dogs after who pursue him into a Lake not far from hence where they are hidden and seene no more vntill the next day and houre that the chase beginneth againe as you haue seene it this night past But thus much you shall know that if you were one whole yeere in this Island yet should you not haue time enough to see all the wonderfull things which there are For this cause my Lady and her company mounted on horseback and we came vnto the Palace of Apolidon to see the arch of loyall Louers and the forbidden Chamber Whereunto my Lady was no sooner come but she alighted and approched vnto the Image of copper as she that had neuer falsified her loue and passing vnder there was heard the most sweete and melodious tune in all the world and the Queene passed through euen vnto the place where the portraitures of Apolidon and Grimanesi were which seemed vnto her as though they had been aliue And from thence shee came vnto the piller of Iasper where she saw written these wordes Briolania the daughter to Tagadan king of Sobradisa is the third Damosell that did euerenter into this place But seruice all vpon one occasion and therefore it is reason that all of vs should succor him that hath most need of helpe And although wee had no desire to aide Don Galuanes heere present yet are wee bound to fauour Ladies in all that we can and amongst other Madasima and hers assuring you that through my fault they shall neither haue hurt nor displeasure By my faith said Quedragant you speak vertuously and according to good reason for doing otherwise we should be vnworthy of the name of knights and although I were my selfe alone yet would I seeke aide to execute that which you haue determined knowing that the poore Madasima forsaken of euery one hath freely yeelded her selfe into the King his prisons not by her owne will but by the dutifull obedience which shee desired to shew vnto her mother For which cause if the king pretend any right vnto the lands of the Isle of Mongaza I say hee doth wrong My Lords answered Amadis those things which are debated by sound deliberation doe assuredly come vnto good end you need not doubt that enterprising this which you determine you shall performe it vnto your honour yea although it were more dangerous and difficult then it is neuerthelesse if it please you I will declare what I thinke thereof You doe all conclude so farre as I see to set at liberty the twelue Damosels now prisoners with king Lisuart Therefore I am of the opinion that twelue of you without any more should vndertake this enterprise so euery one of you shall haue one of them and the twelue gentlewomen shall bee particularly bound vnto twelue knights and the rest of this company shall spare themselues and tarry heere to preuent such inconueniencies as may happen Mee thinkes that Galuanes vnto whom this matter doth chiefly appertaine deserueth well to be the first man that shall be named next Agrates his nephewe Florestan my brother Palomir Dragonis Brian Nicoran Orlandid Garnat Imosil brother to the Duke of Burgoine Madansil and Eaderin You twelue are such valiant knights as you may answere twelue others whatsoeuer they bee and King Lisuart cannot deny the combate although it should bee against the chiefest of his Realme considering the houses from which you are descended This counsaile was so well allowed of all that about mid-night following the twelue knights mounted on horse-backe taking their way vnto the Citie of Thassillana in the which the King soiourned CHAP. XXII How Oriana remayned in great perplexity not onely for the departure of Amadis but also because she felt her selfe great with childe and of that which happened to the twelue Knights that were departed from the Firme-Island to deliuer Madasima and her Damosels A Little before it hath beene tolde vnto you how Amadis remained eight daies in Mirefleur with Oriana contenting their affections and desires to the full in such sort as two moneths after or there about the Princesse doubted that she was with childe neuerthelesse for the little experience that she had in such matters she made no account thereof vntill after the departure of Amadis wheÌ the liuely coulour in her face beganne to fade and decay and her stomack waxed very bad and weake so that this doubt was turned into a certaintie wherefore shee determined to acquaint Mabila and the Damosell of Denmarke therewith as vnto those whom she esteemed the true treasurers of her secrets For which cause beeing one day withdrawne into her closet hauing her eyes full of teares and her heart oppressed with griefe shee sayd vnto them Alas my deare friends and louing counsellors I do now well perceiue that Fortune wil wholy work my ruine and ouerthrowe You haue seene what inconuenience hath happened of late vnto the person whom I doe most loue in the world and now that which is worst of all the thing which I haue most feared and doubted is lighted vpon mee For certainely I am with child and I know not what I shall doe that I be not discouered and vndone Much abashed were these two Damosels at this neuerthelesse as those which were wise well aduised they dissembled that which they thought thereof And Mabila answered Oriana Take no care Madame God shall prouide well enough for you if it please him but by my faith said shee in smiling I alwaies doubted that vnto such a Saint such an offering would be brought Oriana smiled to see with what a prettie grace Mabila deliuered this pleasant speech answered her For the honour of God doe you both aduise to giue mee some remedy and then you shall see if I cannot requite your frumps As for mee I thinke it best that wee find the meanes to retyre vnto Mirefleur or elsewhere froÌ the Court staying the time vntill it shall please God to regard me in pitty for I feele my belly to rise
not quoth she This shal be to serue vs saide the Damosell when we haue need Beleeue me answerd Elisena weeping but little doe I care for any thing that may happen for I feele my selfe too neere the losse of my good ãâã my ioy Very soone after the Princesse felt the anguish of trauaile which was to her very strange troublesome oppressing her hart with sundry bitter passioÌs yet notwithstanding al her yrksome plunges poore soule she durst not but be silent greatly fearing least she should be heard Her agonies thus redoubling the most mighty without danger of her person gaue her in deliuerance a faire Son which the Damosell receiued and as she held it it seemed to hero wonderfull feature and happy would she haue reputed him had he not bene borne to hard fortune where-to Darioletta was constrained to send him for the redemption of the sorrowfull mother and therefore she deferred it not But euen as before was concluded she wrapped the infant in riche clothes and afterward brought it with the Cofer to Elisena which when the good Lady sawe she demanded what she would do therewith Madame quoth she herein shall your little Sonne be put then will I send it forth on the water and if it please God he may escape and liue Alas my sweete infant saide Elisena how full of danger is thy destiny In meane while Darioletta tooke inke and parchment and writ therein these words This is Amadis without time Sonne to a King by these words without time she meant that she thought his death to be neere at hand and the name of Amadis was of great reuerence in that Country because of a Saint there so called to whom this little infant was recoÌmended The letter beeing written and sealed was couered and wrapped in silke then with a little golden Chaine fastened about the Childes necke with the Ring that King Perion sent Elisena at his departure Each thing thus appointed Darioletta came to the wofull mother and in her sight put the Childe into the Chest laying by him the King his Fathers Sword which he threw on the ground the first night he came to Elisena and this is the cause wherefore the Damosell had so well kept it then after the Mother had kist her Sonne as her last farewell the Cofer was made fast very arteficially and Darioletta opening the iron dore commending the babe to the heauenly protection she set it on the water the course whereof beeing very speedy full soone caried the Cofer into the Sea which was lesse then halfe a mile from the place Now began the breake of day to appeare and the little infant followed his fortune now throwne heere then there according as the boystrous waues pleased but by the will of the highest who when he pleaseth makes impossibilities easie caused it so to fall out that at the same time as this was done a Scottishe Ship sayled on the Sea wherein was a Gentleman named Gandales who from little Brittaine sailed with his wife into Scotland she hauing beene lately deliuered of a sonne called Gandalin The morning was both calme cleere wherefore Gandales might easilye perceiue the Chest floting on the waues which he presently sent out for thinking it to be some matter of great value then the Mariners casting forth a Skiffe made toward the Cofer and tooke it vp when they had brought it to Gandales he got open the couer and beholding the goodly infant within as also the rich clothes wherein it was wrapped he suspected that it came from no meane place as he gathered by the ring the good Sword So taking it in his armes he was filled with such compassion as he began to cursse the mother thereof who through feare had forsaken so cruelly such a beautifull creature and carefully did he cause al things to be kept which he found in the Cofer desiring his wife that this infant might be nourished as his owne Sonne She was heerewith very wel contented and so the two children were equally fostered together for neuer had yong Amadis suckt the teat but so soone as it was giuen him by his new nursse he made no refusall thereof but being very thirstie sucked very hartily whereat Gandales and his wife were exceeding glad Now had they the time so fauourable as shortly they landed in Scotland neere to a Citie named Antallia and soone after they came to their owne Country where little Gandalin and the Childe found in the sea were nourished together And because Gandales forbad his seruaÌts to vse any speech of his good hap requesting the like of the Mariners to whom the ship belonged and were to saile els where the two children were esteemed bretheren by such as were ignorant of their fortune CHAP. III. How King Perion parting from little Brittaine trauelled on his iourney hauing his heart filled with griese and melancholie KIng Perion being on his way toward Gaule as already hath beene recited entred into a marueilous melancholy as well for the greefe wherein he had left his Elisena to whom in his hart he wished well as also for his doubtfull dreame being in such sorte as you haue heard So long rode he in this heauines till he ariued in his country and soone after he sent for all his great Lords as also the Prelates of his Realme giuing them expresse charge to bring with them the most learned Clarks in their Countryes and this he did to the end they might expound his dreame When his vassailes had made knowne his will not only those he sent for but many other came to the court shewing the desire they had to see him their readines to obey his command for they did so loue and reuerence him as oftentimes being fearefull to loose him they were for him in very great greefe and sorrow thinking on the dangerous perils that in chiualry to win honor he hazarded himselfe so that they would more gladly haue had him dayly with them which could not be because his hart was discontented til by armes he had brought the greatest aduentures to end The Lordes and Princes thus assembled the King conferred with them on the estate and affairs of the Realme but it was with so sad countenance as could be for the occasion of his dreame made him so pensiue as his Subiectes being abashed thereat were in meruailous doubtes notwithstanding after he had giuen them to vnderstand his will and appointed all requisite matters in order he gaue them leaue to departe sending each one home to his house only staying with him three Astrologers reputed the most skilfull in those actions and therefore he made choise of them These men he called into his chappell there causing them solemnely to sweare promise that without feare of any thing how dangerous soeuer it were they should interprete to their vttermost and truely expresse what he would declare to them whereupon he told them his dream as hath bin already before rehearsed then one of them being
am her seruant It is true quoth the King but for this present haue a little patience and when time serueth you shal be honorably knighted in meane while he gaue charg that all his needfull accouârements for the cause should be prouided Now did the king aduertise Gandales heereof who was so contented therewith as he soone dispatched a Damosell toward the yong Prince by whome he sent the Sword the Ring and the letter couered with waxe which he found in the chest he tooke out of the sea Such speede made the Damosell as she came to the Prince at what time he was sporting with Oriana and the other Ladies while the Queene slept At that instant was he in such a sollemne thought of Oriana as not daring to lift vp His eyes to behold her said within himselfe Ah God why hast thou endued this Lady with such exellent beauty that vnhappy I should suffer so extreame passions by louing her Ah mine eyes too high did ye looke when ye beheld her of whome you are not worthy but if the worst happen death shall satisfie this timeritie whereto my hart for her is humbled In this thought he was like to fall downe so had he forgotten and ouergone himselfe when a page came to him saying Gentleman there is a strange Damosell attending without who hath brought you certaine presents and would speake with ye When she who loued him heard this message her hart began to tremble in such sorte as being not able to endure this new flame she called to the Prince saying I pray ye stay heere and let the Damosel come in that we may haue the sight of what shee hath brought which he did the Damosell being entred thus spake to him My Lord your good friend Gandales saluteth you as the man whom he onely loueth and hath sent ye this Ring this waxe this Sword which he desireth ye for his sake to keepe while you liue The Prince hauing receiued the presents laid the Ring and waxe aside to behold the Sword which being without a sheath was wrapped in a fine linnen cloth whereat he greatly meruailed and while he was musing thereon Oriana tooke the waxe thinking it to be some other thing and said Beleeue me Gentleman for my part I would haue this waxe You may haue it if you please Madame quoth he but me thinkes this faire Ring were better for ye I will haue nothing but this waxe said Oriana and so tooke it During these discourses the King came who said to the Prince What thinke ye of that Sword My Lord quoth he I find it a very faire one but I maruaile wherefore it hath no scabbard It is said the King very neer fifteene yeeres since it had one hauing so said he laid it aside proceeding thus You would be a Knight and know not whether you ought to be one or no therefore it is necessary that you vnderstand what you are and I to tell you so much as I know Heereupon he declared how he was found in a chest on the sea with the Sword the Ring as you haue already heard I beleeue my Lord quoth the Prince that for your pleasure you vse this inuention because the Damosell when she entred said that my good friend Gandales sent me these presents but I think she fayled in her words and would haue said my father Gandales Notwithstanding my Lord if it be so as you haue rehersed I am not displeased thereat except in not knowing of whence I am nor they me yet do I thinke my selfe a Gentleman for my hart perswades me of no lesse Now therefore it is more necessary that I be Knighted then before to the end I may labour to become such a one as may acquire honor and reputation seeing I haue no parents by whom I may be named not knowing what I am When the King heard him speake so vertuously he esteemed much better of him then before thinking him-selfe that he could not but be a man of calling and hardy As thus they were deuising a Gentleman came to the King and said My Lord King Perion your brother is come to the Court The King very glad thereof departed to receiue his brother embracing him thus spake I see my good brother you meant to take me vnprouided for little did I thinke of your so sudden arriual in this country Noble brother answered King Perion I come to request the ayd of my friends because I haue more neede of them at this time then euer I had for Abies King of Ireland threatneth me with strong warre and is with great puissance entred my Kingdome so that he and Dagauel his Cozin haue laid very seuere siedge to me And which is worst of all Fortune hath so hardly dealt with me that certaine whome I trusted haue forsaken me and the greatest part of my other friends are ouerthrown in the skirmishes we haue had together so that now I come to request your succour in this extreame needeâ Truely brother answered Languines you may be sure thereof and your mis-fortune grieueth me not a little but I wil prouide therefore so well as I can Agraies who was newly knighted being hot and ready to Armes hauing heard the reâuest of his Vnckle and the grant the King his father had made him of assistance came and fell on his knee before him saying I beseech ye father let me obtaine one boone at your hands The King who loued him as himselfe answered Demand what thou wilt for it shall not be denied thee I desire your sufferance quoth Agraies that I may go to Gaule to aid the Queene my Aunte In good faith said the King well content am I ãâã in good equipage shalt thou goe and strongly accompanied When the Gentleman of the sea heard this determination he was more earnest to compasse his enterprise then before and seeing king Perion was present he could not glut his eyes with beholding him onely for the good reporte he had heard of him for he thought not then of any affinitie or parentage but would rather be Knighted by his hand then any other in respect of his high hautghy deedes of Armes And to attaine his purpose he thought best to entreat the Queene hoping that if she would doe so much for him as to moue the King her brother therein she shold not be gainlaid and for he saw her so sad that he durst not speake to her he boldly went to Ortana and setting his knee to the ground said I pray ye Madame tell me what causeth the Queene to be so pensiue Oriana beholding the man before her whom she loued in her very Soule albeit neither he or any other knew it was surprized whith such vehemency of loue as she could hardly tell how to dissemble it yet thus she answered Gentleman of the sea and my friend I will take paine to know then shall I tell ye with all my hart seeing it is the first request that euer ye
is Galpan ouercome by the hand of one man beleeue me Damosell you tell vs meruailes Worthy Lord answered she he onely of whom I speake hath done him to death after hee had slaine all the other that resisted him in Galpans Castell and he thinking to reueng their foile himselfe combated hand to hand with the Knight but such was his bad successe as there with dishonor hee lost his head which I would gladly haue brought to this Court yet doubting the corrupt fauour thereof and being otherwise aduised by him that sent me to my Lord Agraies as testimony of his victory this Helmet may suffiise Vndoubtedly said the king to al there present it it the same Knight of whose name we are ignorant how say you Lady cannot you resolue vs My Lord quoth she I obtained it by exceeding importunity for otherwise he would neuer haue told me Say then good maiden replied the King to rid vs of all other doubtes He nameth himselfe said the Damosell the Gentleman of the sea When the King heard this he was greatly abashed and so were all the other likewise afterward he thus spake By my faith I am assuredly perswaded that whosoeuer Knighted him neede not be ashamed thereof seeing so long time he requested it of me and I deferred it for occasions which I needed not to haue done seeing Chiualry is in him already so well accomplished Then Araies taking occasion to speake demanded of the Damosell where he might meet with his gentle friend My Lord quoth she he humbly commendeth him-selfe to your good grace giuing you to vnderstand by me that you shall finde him at the warres in Gaule if you come thether Good newes faire Damosell said Agraies haue you brought me now am I more desirous to be gone then before I was and if I may find him there with my good will shall I neuer leaue his company You haue reason so to do answered the Damosel for he loueth you as becommeth a Gentleman Great was the ioy for these good newes of the Gentleman of the sea and if any one receiued displeasure you must thinke it was Oriana aboue all the rest yet was it handled so couertly as the watchfullest eye could not descerne it Now in meane while the king enquired by diuers meanes how and by whom the Prince was Knighted when at length he was aduertised that the Ladyes attending on the Queene could tell better then anybody els which with much a do he obtained of them Then may the Gentle-man of the sea quoth he vaunte that he hath found more curtisie in you then in me but the cause why I prolonged the time of his honor was that he seemed too yong for so great a charge In this time Agraies courteously wellcomed the Damosell who beside the Helmet deliuered him letters from a Lady that deerely loued him of whome the History hereafter maketh mention But now for this present occasion the Reader must imagine that Agraies without longer tarying in Scotland is departed with his Army trauailing toward Gaule to his Vnckle King Perion CHAP. IX How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter the Princesse Oriana for that long before he had left her in the Court of King Languines who sent her accompanied with the Princesse Mabila his onely daughter as also a noble traine of Knights Ladyes and Gentlewomen ABout ten daies after Agraies was departed the King his Fathers court with his troup three Ships of great Brittaine tooke port in Scotland wherein as cheefe was Galdar of Rascuit accompanied with an hundred knights of king Lisuarts as also many Ladyes and Gentlewomen that came for Oriana Being arriued at the Court of king Languines they were very graciously entertained especially Galdar for he was esteemed a wise and hardy knight After he had giuen his Maiesty to vnderstand his Ambassadge which was harty thanks froÌ king Lisuart his Maister for the gentle entreatance of the Princesse his daughter he requested now to haue her home Mabila his daughter with her to whom he would do all the honor could be deuised Right thankfully did king Languines accept this offer and was content that his daughter should go with Oriana thence-forward to be educated in the Court of King Lisuart Certaine dayes soiourned Galdar and his traine in Scotland during which time they were most honorably feasted and in this while the king prepared other Ships to accompany the voyage When Oriana saw that matters fell out in this sorte she knew well it was impossible longer to dissemble or tarry wherefore as she placed all her little trifles in order she found among her Iewels the waxe which she had taken from the Gentleman of the sea This gaue her such a remembrance of him as the teares entred her eyes and through vehement loue often wringed her hands so that the waxe which shee held in them suddenly brake she espied the letter enclosed therein which so soone as she vnfolded she found there writteÌ these words This is Amadis without time Sonne to a King At these newes shee conceiued such ioy as quickly she left her former countenance and not without cause for she was now assured that he who before was esteemed at the most but the son of a simple Gentleman or it might be of lesse because he was vnknowne both of name and parents the man whom she so faithfully loued was Sonne to a King and named Amadis therefore without longer deferring she called the Damosell of Denmarke to her on whom she intirely trusted thus spake My good friend I will declare one thing to ye which no other then mine owne hart and you shall know therefore regarde it as the secret of such a Princesse as I am and of the best Knight in the world beside On my faith Madam answered the Damosell seeing it pleaseth you to honor me so much more willingly shall I dye theÌ faile therein wel may you be assured that what-soeuer you disclose to mee shal be altogether kept secret executed to my power TheÌ so it is deere friend said Oriana that you must needs go seek the Gentle-man of the sea whom you shall find at the warres in Gaule and if you chance to come thither before him there must ye of necessitie stay for him but so soone as you see him giue him this letter saying he shall find his name therein wââtteÌ on the day that he was cast into the sea whereby I know him to be the son of a king which ought inspite him with higher courage hardines to encrease the same hee hath already so well begun You shall likewise tel him how the king my father sent for me and therefore I am gone toward great Brittaine which I was desirous to acquaint him withall and when hee returneth from the warre where he is he should immediatly come to the place of my aboad limitting al things in such sorte as he may liue in my fathers Court vntill he receiue other commandemeÌt of
teares into his eyes and altogether praised God for this good aduenture especially the Prince because he had beene preserued in so great danger and now at length to finde such honor and good hap as to meete with his Parents being all this while vnknowne to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demanded of him if hee had no other name theÌ that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three daies past since I knew there-of for as I came from the Combat against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in waxe when I was found in the sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and herewithall he shewed the letter to the Queene which she full well knew so soone as she saw it Beleeue me said the Queene this truely is the Letter that Darioletta wrote when she made the seperation betweene you and me thus though I was ere while in great griefe and sorrow yet now praised be God I feele as much ioy and pleasure Now seeing assuredly your name is Amadis it is needlesse you should beare any other contrary title so thence forward he was called no more the Gentleman of the sea but Amadis and sometime Amadis de Gaule It was not long before the bruite hereof was spread through the city that the good famous knight was sonne to King Perion and the Queen Elisena wherefore if euery one reioyced you must thinke the Prince Agrates was not sorry for they were found to bee Cozin germames Among the rest the Damosell of Deamarke had knowledge here-of wherefore considering what comfort this would bee to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to return toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good Newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whom aboue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to her Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you can not so speedily depart hence as you would nor were it reasonable but you should giue some contentation to them who for the loue of you haue shedde so many teares These wordes caused the teares to trickle downe his cheekes yet smothering his griefe so well as he could he made this answere to the Damosell Lady I will pray that the Heauens may safely conduct ye yet let mee entreat your friendly remembrance commanding the vttermost of my endeauours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so endebted to my gracious Mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuerthelesse you may say to her that right soon shall I come to shew my obedience and in like Armor will I be clad as when you saw me combate with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily know me if I cannot compasse the meane to speake with you in this manner departed the Damosel of Denmark On the other side Agrates seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside sayd Faire Cozin for this time I must be enforced to leaue ye albeit your company is more pleasing to me then any other but my passionate heart will allow me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to command me It is Madame Oliuia daughter to the King Vanain of Norway who sent for me by the Damosell that brought me the Helmet of Galpan which you sent me in reuenge of the dishonour she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speed and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the onely cause of my parting with you Now must you note heere-withall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the king of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this yong Prince became so enamoured of the Lady Oliuia as he concluded neuer to loue any other then her and this made him the more earnest to depart by her commandement And to tel ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without laÌd because al the portioÌ his father left him was onely a poore Castle for the rest he had spent in following armes entertaining Gentle-men whereupon he had the Sirname of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agrates had with Amadis of whoÌ he requested to know where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin qouth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visite the Court of king Lasuart where I haue heard Chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honour then in the kingdome of any Emperour or King But seeing it liketh you to take another way I desire when you shall see the King your Father and the Queene to remember my bounden dutie to them both assuring them on my behalfe that they may command mein their seruice eueÌ as your self or any other as well in respect of our alliance together as also for the gracious entertainment I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies took his leaue beeing Honourably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the fields he saw a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his Horse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell some-time sayd vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she sayd true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whom thou reputedst lost and euen by the death of valiant King Abies who was the Flower of Ireland and such a one as that Countrey shall neuer haue his like Vntill time the good brother of the Ladie must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be broght thither the tribute of other Countryes and he must die by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the onely thing of the world which most he loueth And so it hap ned by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that Countrey whom Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demanded of King Marke of Corne wall his Vncle which Tristan afterward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the onely thing of the world that hee most loued Now must thou be mindefull hereof sayd the Damsel to the King for Vrganda my Mistresse so coÌmandeth thee When Amadis heard her speake of Vrganda he tooke occasion thus to answere Damosell and my friend I pray you say to her who sent you hither that the Knight to whom she gaue the Launce commendeth him-selfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce
I should deliuer the house from whence I first discended and euen so it fell out for I deliuered my Father vnknowne to me being then at the very point of death So without any other reply the Damosell turning bridle rode backe the same way she came and the King into the Citie with Amadis his Soune so lately recouered for which cause he assembled all the Princes and Lords of his Realme meaning to keepe a more magnificent Court then euer he had done before to the end that euery one might behold Amadis in regard of whose honour and happie comming there were Knightly Tourneys daily vsed beside great store of other pastimes and delights During these pleasures Amadis was aduertised in what maner the Gyant had carryed away his brother Galaor wherefore hee determined happen what might to goe seeke him and if possible hee could to recouer him either by force of Armes or otherwise Notwithstanding his heart being dayly mooued to goe see her that hourely expected his presence one day he entreated the King his Father seeing now he had peace with his enemies that with his leaue he might goe seeke aduentures in great Brittaine because he was loath to remaine idle But little pleasing was this request to the King and much lesse to the Queen yet by opportunitie hee obtained permission for his Voyage nor could they all haue power to with hold him by reason of the loue he bare to Oriana which made him obedient to none but her Herevpon being clad in such Armour as he promised the Damosell of Denmarke he set forward on his iourney embarqing himselfe at the neerest Port of the Sea where by good happe he found passage readie Not long was his cut into great Brittaine landing at Bristow a most noble and auncient City of that Countrey where hee heard that King Lisuart soiourned at Windsore royally accompanyed with Knights and Gentlemen for all the Kings Princes his neighbours did highly fauour and shew him obeysance which made Amadis shape his course directly to the Court Not long had he ridden on the way but he met with a Damosell who demanded of him if that were her readie way to Bristow Yea marry is it answered the Prince I pray ye then tell me quoth she if I may finde any shipping there for my speedie passage ouer into Gaule What affayres calles you thither sayd Amadis In sooth replyed the Damosell I goe thither to finde a Knight named Amadis whom King Perion not long since had knowne to bee his Sonne Greatly did Amadis meruaile hereat for hee thought these newes had not been so farre spread abroad wherefore hee demaunded how she heard thereof I know it qouth she from her to whom the most secret things of all are manifest for she knew Amadis before he knew himselfe or that his Father heard of Amadis and if you would vnderstand what shee is her name by common report is Vrganda the vnknowne She hath at this time especiall affayres with him and by no other can she recouer that which shee now standeth in feare to loose Beleeue me Damosell answered Amadis seeing she who may command euery one doth now please to employ Amadis I assure ye it is needlesse for you to trauaile any further for I am the man you are sent to seek and therefore let vs goe whither you thinke conuenient What sayd the Damosell are you Amadis Yea verily am I answered the Prince Come then and follow me quoth she and I will conduct yee where my Mistresse is who attendeth your arriuall in good deuotion Heere-with Amadis rode after the Damosell and thus are they gone together in company CHAP. XII How the Gyant bringing Galaor to King Lisuart that hee might dubbe him Knight mette with his brother Amadis by whose hand hee would bee Knighted and no other THe Gyant of whom sundry times we haue spoken heereto-fore causing yong Galaor to bee instructed in managing horses all other exercises beseeming a Knight found him so capeable of euery thing as in lesse space then a yeere hee was growne meruailous perfect so that now nothing remained but to know of him by whom hee most willingly would receiue his order of Knight-hood Notwithstanding before the Gyant mooued this matter to him one day among other Galaor came to him in this maner Father quoth he you haue dayly promised me that I should be Knighted I desire you would bee so good as your word for there is too much time spent since I ought to haue had it In sooth my son answered the Gyant you haue reasoÌ for your words yet tell me by whoÌ you would receiue your Order King Lisuart quoth Galaor is reputed a gentle Prince and a right good Knight wherefore if so it like you I shall be contented to haue it at his hand Wel haue you aduised sayd the Gyant so presently preparing all things in order they set forward on their iourney About fiue dayes after their departure by good hap they came neere a very faire and strong Castle named Bradoid seated on the toppe of a mountaine enuironed about with Fennes and Marishes as also with a salt water that ran before it wondrous swiftly so that without a Barque it was impossible to get thither And because the Marish was very long there was to passe ouer it a faire long Causey being so broad that two Chariots might well meet together on it and at the entrance of the Causey was a draw-bridge where-under the water ran with such a violent fall as no one was able by any meanes to passe it Heere must ye note that equally facing this bridge there grew two goodly Elme trees where-under the Gyant and Galaor beheld two Damosels and a Squire with a knight mounted on a black Courser this Knight was armed bearing figured in his Shield two Lyons rampant and because the bridge was drawne vp hee could passe no further but called with a loude voyce to them within that some should come to giue him entrance which Galaor perceiuing sayd to the Gyant My Lord if it please you I would glady see what this Knight will doe here Soone after they espyed at the further end of the Causey by the Castle side two other Armed Knights accompained with tenne Halberders who came and demaunded of the knight what he would Marie enter in answered the Knight It may not be said one of the two Knights except you meane to combate first I will not sticke for that answered hee that would enter cause you the bridge to bee let downe and come to the combate which presently they did But one of the twaine more hasty then his companion aduanced himselfe first and placing his Launce ran with a swift carrier against the knight who receiued him so brauely as he sent both Horse and man to the ground The friend to the dismounted knight thinking to reuenge his iniury gaue forth to meete him and failing in the attaint with their Launces so furiously encountered with their bodies
the Castell but get thee walking for here shalt thou set no foote this night Now trust me said Amadis I thinke thou wouldest haue no man of valew in thy company yet before we part I am desirous to know what thou art That will I tel thee quoth the other on this condition that when so euer we meete thou shalt combate with me I will not stick for that answered Amadis Know then said he within how I am Dardan who commands thee not to stray so farre this night but that I may find thee to morrow morning Thou vauntest of thy selfe very much quoth Amadis but if thou wilt cause Torches to be brought hither to giue vs light and come forth presently without longer stay we shall soone see who ought to haue the worsse lodging this night What said Dardan to coÌbate with an Owle the enemy of the day must I bring Torches and this night take Armes vnwise is he that so late to gaine such simple honor will either put on spurre or Cuyrate and with these words he went from the gate Heere may the Reader by him-selfe discourse awhile what fruite ouer-braining commonly bringeth with it contrariwise what perfection among all other vertues is in modestie No well grounded courage or gallant disposed body can duely put in exercise the benefit of the one or other if moderation temperance be not their guids therein And albeit valiance hardines is a great gift of God yet are they so pernitious in such as haue them who are transported with passions or the glory of ambition as they be euen no better then cowardise presumtion Eloquence and the facultie of well speaking is a rich and precious gift of nature augmented and encreased by long vse and study to giue light and decking to the faire conceptions of the spirit but it is there a more hurtfull pestilence in a coÌmon wealth then when a well spoken Oratour will misuse his art sweetnes of language Haue not some bin knowne to perswade simple people to enterprise things which afterward haue brought their ruine and subuertion I leaue the confidence of the wise and the opinitiue in their owne beauty the one procuring to many the losse of their soules and the other to infinite number the destruction of honor so hurtfull in all things it too much vsurpatioÌ of ouer-weening and immoderate estimation of our selues I will not heere compare the wisdome of Vlisses with the arrogancie of furious Aiax or the violence of Turnus with the temperance of Aeneas nor make other remonstrances by the successe of great matters happening to mighty personages both Greekes Latines It shall content me to set for example this only accident of indiscreete Dardan to the end that yong Gentlemen who take delight to read this History seeing on the one side the patient magnanimity of Amadis and on the other the furious brutality of Dardan may propose the vertues to be imitated the vices to be detested and punished Amadis then somewhat displeased with the outragious speeches of Dardan departed not so much caring for his lodging as how to be reuenged concluded some-time in walking about and other while in resting by a bush to passe the incommodity of this night in the Forrest thus to beguile the time till day rising As there hee traced vp and downe he heard the speech of some body nere him and looking about espied two Damosels on horse-back accompanied with a Squire after they had saluted him and he them they demanded from whence he came so late armed wherewith Amadis throughly reported all that had happened to him at the Castell Know you said the Damosels the name of the Knight That doe I quoth he for he tolde me his name is Dardan Very true said they hee is called Dardan the proud the most audatious Knight in this country I beleeue it well answered Amadis Sir Knight quoth they seeing you are so vnprouided of lodging if you will take patience to remaine this night in our tentes which are pitched heere hard at hand you shall be welcome He glad of this courtesie rode with them and being there alighted Amadis caused his Squire to vnarme him When the Damosels saw him so faire and of such honest conuersation they were well pleased with his company and so they supped together merily afterward they gaue him a pallad to rest vpon Neuerthelesse before they parted they demanded of him whether he trauailed To the Court of King Lisuart answered Amadis And so do we replied the Damosels to see what shall happen to a Lady one of the best and most noble in the Country who hath committed her welfar to the triall of a Combate and it must be within few dayes following bee performed before King Lisuart but yet wee know not who will be the man for he against whom the cause must be defeÌded is one of the best Knights in all great Brittaine What is said Amadis the Knight so much esteemed especially among so many good It is the same Dardan answered the Damosels from whome so lately you came And on what cause said Amadis ariseth the Combate I pray ye faire Ladyes if you know let mee vnderstand it Sir quoth one of them this Dardan loueth a Knights daughter of the Country who at his second nuptials maried her I am to speake of now hath this Damosell the beloued of Dardan conceiued such hatred against her faire mother that she hath said to her friend how she will neuer loue him except he bring her to King Lisuarts Court and there openly maintaine that all the poore Ladyes goods appertaineth to her and if any gain-say it he to iustifie the same in Combate These news were highly pleasing to Amadis for by these meanes he intended to compasse occasion to be reuenged of the wrong he did him and that in the presence of Oriana who should there perceiue what her Knight was which made him enter into such thoughts as the Damosels well noting it one of them thus spake I pray ye Sir for courtesie acquaint vs with the reason of your sudden musing if it may without offence be knowne Faire Ladies answered Amadis if you will promise me as loyall Gentle-women to keepe it secret and reueale it to no one willingly shall I tell ye all which they solemnely sware to performe I intend quoth he to combate for the Dame you spake of and minde not to faile but I would haue it concealed from any but your selues When they heard what he sayd they were much abashed notwithstanding they made great esteeme of him seeing what they had vttered in praise of Dardan could not affray him but hee would hazard the Combate and therefore shee that alreadie had broken the matter thus replyed Gentle Sir your intent proceedeth froÌ a high resolued minde and wee will pray for your prosperons successe So gaue they ech to other the good night and went to rest till the morning when they dislodged together Then
cause hee came knew his name he called and demanded of her the question Dread Lord answered the Ladie I neuer saw the man before nor doe I know what he is By this time was Amadis entred the field when doing reuerence to the king and the Ladyes without longer stay he came to Dardan demauuding if hee were the man that would maintaine the quarrell of her for whom the poore Ladie was put to such trouble because quoth hee I am come in her defence and also to keepe promise with thee What didst thou promise me replyed Dardan That I would see thee in the day-time said Amadis wettest thou when It was at such a time as thou being whitled with wine or glorie or else the trust thou hadst in thy strong Castle speakest so out-ragiously to me staÌding without wearied both with trauaile hunger And therefore doe I make the lesse account of thee answered Dardan but cause her to come hither for whom thou wilt doe such a doubtie deed to know if she will accept thee as her Champion and afterward doe the vtter-most thou canst When the King saw they talked so long together he would haue heard what they said but the good Widdow came and to her Dardan thus spake Dame this Knight would maintaine thy right wilt thou submit all to what he can doe With all my heart quoth she seeing it pleaseth him to stand so much my Friend and God speed him no otherwise then my cause is iust WheÌ the two knights were at the very point to combate the King perceiued that Amadis Shield was bruised in two places both with strokes of the Sword and point of the Launce wherefore he sayd to such as stood neere him that if the Knight demanded another shield he would gladly giue him one but Amadis was so hot in desire to reuenge himselfe and the Ladie that he listened to nothing but the Combate Thus the Ladyes accord being receiued the two Champions tooke their carrire against each other so roughly as their Launces pierced their Armour and flew in pieces without any other harme as yet but when their bodies met Dardan was sent to the ground yet it happened so wel for him as holding fast the reines of his horse he recouered himselfe more nimbly and mounted againe as one both valiant and branely disposed boldly setting hand to his Sword WheÌ Amadis saw him so quickly vp againe in such readinesse for his owne defence hee approached to him when began such a battaile betweene theÌ as euery one present maruailed thereat On all sides were placed the inhabitants of the Towne and many other that came farre off as well on mightie Scaffolds in the fielde as also on the towers and walles of the Castle but aboue the rest the Queene was there present with her Ladies most desirous to behold who should beare away the honour of this cruell Combate for they seemed two so gallant companions as it was hard at first sight to iudge the better Such were the rigorous strokes deliuered on either side that sparkes of fire flew foorth of their Helmets and Armonr their Shields cut in pieces and their blood colouring the grouÌd which mooued exceeding compassion in the Regardants who seemed copartners in their danger according as ech one fauoured the wel-fare of his Friend but the two Champions gaue no respect there to because their desire was to make knowne both to the Ladyes and themselues the man deseruing highest account When King Lisuart saw them endure so long he sayd aloud that hee neuer beheld a more singular Combate pursured with greater courage and man-hood wherefore he determined not to depart vntill he had seene the finall issue thereof permitting them to proceed as themselues pleased And to the ende quoth hee that the Conquerour may bee dignified with more then accustomed honour I will cause his deserts to be liuely carued in Marble at the entrance of my Pallace to prouoke the like perfection in all other that are desirous to follow Armes In such manner as you haue heard continued the two Knights a lone time the standers by being not able to discerne who had the better for without taking breath or rest their fury continued as thogh their strength had more and more encreased But Amadis who by chance turning his head to the place where the Ladyes stood espyed his faire Mistresse louely Oriana whereby hee felt his vertue augmented in such sort that hee was as fresh and lustie as if but then he entred the field imagining he was become more then a man Now followed hee the fight with such cruell extreames as in short time he dissolued the doubt who should be superiour for Dardan not-withstanding all his defence was constrained to draw backe seeking how to escape the wreakefull strokes of his enemie which without ceasing wounded his bodie in many places his horse likewise no longer able to endure stumbled so often till at length he set both his knees to the ground which made Dardan thinke it better to fight on foot wherefore he sayd to Amadis Knight our horses are wearie and faile vs by reason we cannot doe as we would and if we were on foot me thinks in short time the doubt would be descided These wordes did Dardan speake so loud as the King and his Lords easily heard them wherat Amadis seemed ashamed thus answering Althought it be vnhonourable in a Knight to forsake his horse so long as he can keepe him yet since thou thinkest to combate better on foot then on horse-back we will a light and defend thy selfe well for thou shalt haue need Here with they dismounted assailing ech other so furiously as if but now they begun the Combat shewing more sharpe cruelty then before they had done yet Amadis euer-more kept the aduantage commonly deliuering two strokes for one which made Dardan doe nothing but defend his enemies blowes who compelled him to turne reqoile as himselfe pleased so that ech one accounted him very neere vanquished blaming him because hee kept not still on horse-back But as he turned here and there flying the slicing Sword of Amadis he was driuen vnder the Ladies Scaffold which made them cry Dardan can hold out no longer he is ouer-come if he enter the Combate againe Yet for all this Amadis would not leaue him but pressed him still with such pursuite as hee brought him hard by the Queens Scaffold when she and all the Ladies sayd Without question Dardan is dead At this clamour Amadis vnderstood the voyce of the Damosel of Denmarke and lifting vp his head espyed her standing by the Princesse Oriana by means wherof he became so farre beside him-selfe as hee set the point of his Sword to the ground forgetting not onely the daunger wherein he was but also stood amazed at the sight of his Mistres Which when Dardan beheld he tooke heart afresh and charged his enemie so brauely that if he had longer continued he would haue gone away Conquerour
circumstance of their deaths hereat he was very much abashed then falling to their cheer they begiled the time with sundry pleasant deuises yet Amadis could thinke of nothing else but how he might make his arriuall knowne to Oriana wherefore they were no sooner risen from the table but he tooke Gandalin aside and thus began My friend thou must of necessity goe to the Court and labour secretly to finde the Damosel of Denmarke to whom thou shalt report that I am here attending to heare from her what I shall do Gandalin with all possible speed departed and the better to execute his enterprise he went on foote when being come to the Pallace not long had hee stayed till he saw her he looked for who was as busie as he in the selfe-same cause yet at the first she knew him not but quickly remembred she had seene him in Gaule with Amadis and embracing him demanded where his Maister was Why Lady quoth Gandalin did not you see him to day it was hee that vanquished proud Dardan and hath with drawne himselfe to the Forrest to heare from his mistresse dâsââ¦g you by me to let him vnderstand what he must do Right welcomâ said the Damosell is he into this Country being the man desired aboue all othes but my Lady must needes see thee therefore follow me If any one aske who thou art say thou bringest letters to Oriana from the Queen of Scots and likewise thou art come to look for Amadis who is arriued heere as thou hast heard by these meanes thou mayest come to her without heere-after suspition Thus was Gandalin conducted into the Queenes chamber where the Princesse Oriana was to whom the Damosell of Denmarke came and speaking some-what loude sayd Madame heere is a Squire sent to you from the Queene of Scots Oriana weening she had said true arose to wel-come him but when she knew Gandalin the vermillion collour arose in her cheeks and was so ouer-come with ioy as shee knew not well what countenance to vse yet Gandalin as well aduised set his knee to the ground saying Madame the Queene my Mistresse heartily saluteth you as the Lady she loueth and esteemeth aboue all other of her Kinred desiring to heare some newes from you for here she greetes you with all that she doth know Then gaue he her a Letter which he had seigned hauing nothing written therein but the superscription on the out-side where-upon she went aside with Gandalin to one of the Windowes making shewe to heare the rest of his charge but she demaunded where he had left his master Madame answered Gandalin he with-drew himselfe into the Forrest so soone as he had conquered DardaÌ Good friend said Oriana tell me by the faith thou bearest to him how he fareth Euen so faire Princesse quoth Gandalin as the man that is altogether yours he liueth onely by remembrance of you and yet suffereth such anquish in his soule as neuer Knight endured by the onely feare he susteineth least hee should not be yours mistrusting his owne deserts for so high a seruice His greatest hope is in your princely kindnesse and knowing him so long as alsowhat he is that you will not forget him Wherefore I beseech yee Madame take compassion on him appoint a meeting together then resolue him make me a happie messenger and discharge your selfe of your deuoire for hitherto hath hee endured such sorrow as no man is able to suffer the like Often haue I seene him thinking on you so farre beyond himselfe as he hath fallen downe dead in a manner before mee so that I haue imagined noting the abundance of his teares his poore heart to be distilled into water through the conduits of his eyes If he should die ye offered him great wrong for he is yours easily can ye not finde another so worthy of you Nor need you doubt but if you graunt the houre of lengthning his life he will surpasse in Chiualrie the best Knight that euer bare Armes wherein if he be happy by his vertue yet hath he mishap to counterpoâse the same onely through the passions he endureth for you If now you will not deigne to afford him remedy much better had it beene for him that fortune had let him preish in the sea to the mercy whereof in his cradle coffin he was commited then after his preseruation by such strange meanes to suffer him dye by a worse shipwrack then the other But if his dismall starres wil not diuert this danger happy might he haue accounted himselfe if he had neuer come to the knowledge of his parents whose griefe likewise he greatly increaseth to see him so consume dye before his day being vnable to diuine or vnderstand the cause thereof Gandalin all this while accompained his words with such teares and often among breathed foorth so many mournefull sighes as would haue enforced the very Rocks to rueth but perceiuing Oriana was touched to the quicke he began againe in this manner Ah gentle Madame consent not to the death of such a Seruant of yours and so good a Maister of mine for beside the common losse which will be great in you alone shall consist the fault more-ouer you shall maculate that perfect beautie with the high condemned staine of crueltie and ingratitude Here did he knit vp his perswasion attending an answere from the Princesse but shee was not able to deliuer one word so vehemently was her heart surprized and ouer-come and holding downe her head let fall wonderfull streames of teares downe her daintie checkes which enforced her to turne on the other side least she should be discried then when as Gandalin would haue begun againe she stayed him with a piercing sigh saying Ah my friend I pray thee say no more vnlesse thou be willing to see me die here presently Now stood shee silent a prettie while often wringing and straining her fingers with griefe then setting apart all dissimulation she softly thus spake The assurance thou giuest me of thy masters loue is highly pleasing and agreeable to me but the passion thou sayest he endureth tormenteth me to the very death so that I feele both his paine mine owne Ah God let me not be the occasion of death to a man so high and precious of desert as hee is rather let me worke mine owne death for if he die I may not liue one houre Thou art come to tell me his painefull trauaile now thou mayest goe to let him vnderstand mine which if thou knewest so wel as thou doest thy maisters instead of blaming me with crueltie thou wouldst rather iudge me vnfortunate and if I vse any crueltie it is against my selfe whom I haue depriued of rest pleasure and well-neere life it selfe The lesse succour can I giue to mine owne destresse because as it often happeneth to our sects when thinking to draw neere such as we desire we are furthest off and seeking for a harbour of contentment glaunce into a place of torment and vexation so
happened to the Prince Agraies since his returne froÌ the warres in Gaule CHAP. XVII What were the aduenturs of the Prince Agraies since his returne from Gaule where he left Amadis AGraies returned from his enterprise in Gaule after Amadis had vanquished king Abies of Ireland and was knowne to his father and mother as you haue heard addressed his iourney toward Norway where be hoped to finde his Lady Oliuia Riding one day along somewhat neere the sea side on a sudden hee had a Hart in chase which when he had some prittie while pursued he gained at length the top of a mountaine from whence he might easily deserne the raging bellowes of the sea Suddenly arose an exceeding great tempest which with mighty windes so troubled the water and the thunder ratled with such violence as if heauen and the neather religion would haue met together At length he espied a ship tossed in the tempest vnterly destitute of any safety and which was worse subiect to the mercy of a darke comfertlesse night insuing wherewith he being moued to pittie commanded his Squires as a signall to make certaine blazes of fire that they in the ship might chuse their best lading place without perishing in the darke him-selfe minding to stay to see the end which happened so well by the helpe of God and dilligence of the mariners as the ship tooke safe harbour nere where Agraies was when they landed certaine Ladies who were greatly affrighted with the maruailous tempast thinking they could not haue escaped so long Agraies being one of the most courteous Princes in the world seeing them so well landed and free from danger sent one of his Squires to will them come and refresh themselues in his pauillion which gentlenes they refused not and because he was loth to be troublesome to them knowing they had now neede of nothing more then rest he concluded this night not to see them keeping himselfe close in his chaÌber The Ladyes being seperated to their owne coÌtentmeÌt the mariners made great fiers on the shoare to dry their garmeÌts and afterward fell to sleeping that they wakened not till next morning Agraies desirous to see strange women yet more to serue and honor them then to remoue his affection from where it was setled priuily pried in to behold their countenances they being round set about a fiere reciting to each other pleasantly their passed danger As thus he listened their discourses among the rest he knew the Princesse Oliuia toward whom he was trauailing by vertue of her message and you must imagine him so intirely addicted to her seruice as also she in affectioÌ to him that they might well be tearmed happy in their loue No sooner had Agraies espied her but he was so ouercome therewith as being no longer able to dissemble hauing before his eyes her so late perill of ship-wracke he breathed forth a vehement sigh saying Ah diuine comfort helpe me When the Ladies heard this cry especially Oliuia thinking some one of their company was not well commanded her women to open the dore which presently they did when Agraies told one of theÌ who he was that shee might secretly imparte the same to her mistresse the news whereof were so welcome to her as immediatly she commanded him to enter Then were embracings kissings freely entercoursed with al other gracious fauours so kind louers could deuise euen the very point wherein loue triumpheth so that the faire Princesse lost the name of a maiden with like conteâ⦠as other who haue assaied and can more then imagine what I meane So pleasing was this happy meeting as they soiourned there six dayes together beguiling the tune with reciptocall courtesies yet so secretly as none in the company except her Damosels perceiued Meane while the sea became nauigable the weather faire and the waters calm which made the Princesse determine to goe aboord her ship that she might passe into great Brittaine whither the King her father had sent her to be nourished by the Queene Brisena Which being vnderstood by Agraies after he had acquainted her with the cause of his iourney hee gaue her assuraÌce that very shortly he would come to her as well to shew her his faithfull seruice as also to seeke his cosin Amadis in king Lisuarts Court according as hee made him promise wherewith she was not a little contented desiring him earnestly not to tary long froÌ her Thus courteously taking leaue of each other the Princesse Oliuia departed vnder sayle and in fewe dayes after they landed in great Brittaine when comming to Windsore where King Lisuart kept his Court both by him the Queene Oriana and all the other Ladyes was the Princesse and her trayne graciously welcommed as well to honor the King her father as also in respect of her excellent beauty Now remained Agraies on the sea shore giuing many a long look after the ship which caried away the iewell of his heart and hauing lost the sight of it he tooke his way to Briantes a right good towne in Scotland where the King his father soiourned and his Vncle Gaiuanes Without land in whose company he intended shortly to visit King Lisuarts Court For there quoth hee to Galuanes shall we finde more good Knights then in any other Court of King Christian there likewise may we gaine honor and renowne better then in Scotland where we haue none to trye our selues against vnlesse some fewe that slenderly follow Armes This Galuanes was of gentle heart and a good Knight desirous among other to reach the top of honor yet of simple habilitie as you haue heard before now the enterprise of these twaine thus concluded after they had obtained licence of the King they went on boord with their horse armour ech one likewise a Squire atteÌding on him Hauing wind at wil in short time they landed at Bristow where they made no long aboad but riding through a Forrest they met a Damosell who demaÌded of them if that way would conduct her to the Rock of Galteres No quoth they but tell vs Damosell why you trauaile thither To see if I can finde the good Knight sayd shee who knoweth how to remedy a griefe I endure at this preseÌt You abuse your selfe Damosell answered Agraies for at the Rock you demanded you shal finde no other Knight then the great Gyant Albadan to whom if you bring any cause of sorow he wil quickly double it on your own head If you knew so much as I doe quoth the Damosell you would not imagine me to be abused because the Knight I aske for hath vanquished the Gyant and killed him in battaile hand to hand Beleeue me virgin replied Galuanes you tell vs matter of great maruaile in respect neuer any Knight dealt alone with a Gyant vnlesse it was King Abies of Ireland who combated with one himselfe being armed and the Giant naked which was the cause of his death and yet this attempt of the King is thought the greatest stratageme that
euer was heard of then sound not your speeches to any likely-hood for this Gyant surpasseth all other in strength cruelty Gentleman answered the Damosell the Knight I speake of hath done no lesse then I told ye wherewith she ãâã the whole manner thereof they reputing it strange and almost incredible which caused Agraies to aske her if she knew the Knights name His name quoth she is Galaor son to King Perion of Gaule Ah Lady said Agraies you declare the only newes of the world to content me withal naming my Cosin who more commonly was reputed dead then liuing Hereupon he reported to Galuanes what he had heard concerning Galaor how he was taken away by the Gyant and till this instant he neuer heard of him By my faith answered Galuanes the life of him and his brother is miraculous and their beginning of Chiualrie so famous as I thinke their like is not to be found through the world but Damosell what would you haue with that Knight My Lord quoth she I seeke his ayde on the behalfe of a Damosell who is imprisoned by the accusation of a Dwarffe the most villainous creature that euer was born hereto she added the whole discourse of Galaor and the Dwarffe as hath beene already declared to you yet she coÌcealed the louely pranck of Aldena And because Sir sayde she the Damosell will not confirme what the Dwarffe hath auouched the Duke of Bristoya hath sworne that within ten dayes she shall be burned aliue which is an occasion of great griefe to the other Ladyes doubting least shee through feare of death will accuse some of them and tell withall to what end Galaor came into the Dukes Castle more-ouer of the ten dayes foure are already expired Seeing it falleth out so answered Agraies you neede trauaile no further for we will performe what Galaor should doe if not in strength yet in good will and therefore be you our guide to the place The Damosel turned her haqueney and led them with such speede to the Dukes Castle that they arriued there the day before the execution should be Now was the Duke set down to dinner when the two Knights entring the great hall humbly saluted him when he saw them he requested they would sit downe to dinner with him but they answered that hee should presently know the cause of their comming where-upon Galuanes thus began My Lord you detaine a Damosell prisoner by the false and disloyall accusation of a traiterous Dwarffe we desire that she may be deliuered seeing she hath no way mis-done and if it be needfull to proue her innocency by battaile let come two other to maintaine the quarrell for we are ready as her defeÌders Wel haue you sayd replyed the Duke and calling for the Dwarffe thus spake to him What answerest thou to these Knights challenge who say that falsely thou hast caused me to imprison the Damosell and will proue it against thee in open battaile it behoueth thee to find some defence for thy selfe For that I am not to seek my Lord quoth the Dwarffe I haue such on my behalfe who shall make known the truth of what I haue said Here-with he called a frollick Knight his Nephew so like him in pitch and proportion as one would haue thought he had no other father to him he sayd I pray ye Nephew maintain my quarrell against these two Knights Scarse had he thus spoken but his Nephew returned this answer to Galuanes and his companion Well Gentlemen what will you say against this loyal Dwarffe who was so iniured by the Knight the false Damosell brought hither It may be one of you is the man I speake off but whether it be or no I will proue in Combate he dealt villainously the Damosell ought to dy because she brought him into my Lord the Dukes Chamber Agraies who found himselfe most touched in his owne conceite stepped forth with this answer In sooth neither of vs is the man albeit we desire to imitate his vertues but wee auouch he hath done no wrong if the Duke please this difference shall be soone decided for on his behalfe will I maintaine that the damosel ought to be deliuered the Dwarfe in her stead burned as a traiterous villaine I iustifie the coÌtrary replied the Dwarffes Champion then calling for his armour full soone was he mounted on a gentle Courser and turning to Agraies who presented him the CoÌbare thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whoÌ this quarrell begaÌ too high a price should I set on thy folly We shall quickly see quoth Agraies what thou canst doe but I am assured if he were present he would make no account of two such braggers as thou art how iust or vniust the cause were on his side by greater reasoÌ then do I leaue thee to iudge how notably he would handle thee in this consisting on truth and equitie While these menaces thus passed on either side the Duke stirred not from the table till dinner was done when seeing the Knights prepared to execute their speeches he conducted them with a braue company of Gentlemen to the place apointed to end such controuersies where all accustomed ceremonies being obserued the Duke thus spake to Agraies Performe the vttermost of your habilitie yet shall not the Damosel be deliuered for to the Dwarffe hath not been offered iniury alone but to such beside as are of higher reckoning then your selfe My Lord quoth Agraies you caused her to be apprehended only by his false accusation and he hath deceiued your iudgement with a lye wherefore if my fortune make mee Conquerour you ought by good reason to deliuer her I haue tolde you what I meane to doe said the Duke and otherwise it shall not be Agraies tarrying for no more wordes turned his horse running a braue carrire against the Dwarfes Knight and in the encounter brake their staues gallantly meeting likewise so furiously with their bodies as they were both laide along on the ground yet quickly they recouered themselues and vnsheathing their weapons deliuered fierce and cruell strokes to each other their Swordes being verie sharpe the Knights valiant and hautily disposed by means where-of their Armour Helmets and sheeldes were in short time made of slender resistance yet Galuanes well saw how his Nephew had stil the better of his enemy if then he had before esteemed him a good Knight farre greater reason had he so to doe notwithstanding hee was so hot and vigorous as often-times he seemed out of breath which made euery one imagine regarding his violence that hee could not long endure But in him it proued farre otherwise for the longer the Combate endured his courage and strength the more increased by reason whereof he became the Conquerour as shall hereafter be declared The Nephew to the Dwarffe found him-selfe so hardly handled as he drew back a little thus speaking to Agraies Me-thinkes Sir Knight wee haue made proofe enough of what we are able to performe
the Queenes Chamber who falling on her knees before the Queene said Madame is not a Knight heere that beareth azured Lyons in his Armes The Queene perceiuing she meant Amadis answered Damosell what would you with him Madame quoth she I haue brought him tidings of a new Knight who hath begun in deeds of Armes so rarely as euer did any You speake very much answered the Queene but you perhaps being acquainted with none but him thinke therefore he is beyond all other It may be so replied the Damosell yet when you vnderstand what he hath accomplished I thinke your selfe will agree to my saying I pray ye then quoth the Queene tell vs what he is When I see the good Knight answered the Damosell hee who carryeth such estimation from all other I will tell him in your presence and other newâ which I am charged to acquaint him withall The Queene was now more desirous to know him then before wherefore shewing her Amadis she sayd See here Damosell the man you aske for Madame quoth she in respect you speake it I beleeue it for a Queene of such state as you are is free from beguiling then comming to Amadis she thus proceeded My Lord the young Gentle-man whom not long since you Knighted before the castle of Bradoid when you vanquished the two Knights on the bridge and the other on the cawsey where you took the Maister thereof prisoner and deliuered by force of armes the friend to Vrganda most humbly saluteth you by me being the man whom he reputeth as his Lord giueth you to know how he endeuoureth to reach the height of honor which he will attaine or dye in the attempt likewise when he shall performe some-what worthy the name of Chiualrie he will acquaint you with more then yet you know vntill which time hee shrowds it in silence Amadis soon remembered she spake of his brother wherefore with ioy the teares dewed his cheekes and the Ladies well noting this alteration maruailed thereat especially Oriana who as you haue heard heereto-fore was grounded in such affection toward him as she was well neer depriued of power to dissemble it In meane while the Queene desirous to heare what deedes of prowesse the new Knight had performed sayd to the Damosell I pray ye continue your message tell vs the braue beginning of chiâalrie you speake of Madame quoth she the first place where he made proofe of himselfe was at the Rock of Galteres where hee combated with the great and terrible Gyant Albâ⦠whome in open field hand to hand he euercame and slew hereto she added the manner of the fight assuring her that she had seene the same Greatly were all the hearers abashed at these newes but aboue all the rest the Queene who demanded of the Damosell if shee knew whither he trauailed from thence Madame quoth she I parted from him soone after leauing him in the company of a Damosell who came from her mistresse to seeke him because she was desirous to know him at which time he went with her since I neuer saw him What thinke you heere of Sir Amadis sayd the Queene do not you know of whence he is Yes truely Madame answered Amadis although I can say but little herein I thinke he be mine owne brother for so Vrganda not long since assured me Doubtlesse quoth the Queene the fortune of you both is admirable I maruaile how you could come to the knowledge of your Parents or they of you yet would I be glad to see that Knight in the Kings seruice While theft speeches endured Oriana who sate farre from the Queene and heard none of these newes was in such greefe to see Amadis shed teares as being vnable to conceale the same she sayd to Mabila I pray ye faire friend call your cosin Amadis that we may know what hath happened to cause him mourne Mabila made a signe to Amadis to come and when he was with them Oriana shewing her selfe some-what griened thus began Sir Amadis it may full well be sayd that by some Lady you are now moued to pittie I pray ye tell vs what she is and from whence this Damosell brought you these tydings Amadis quickely perceiued his Mistresses disease wherefore hee declared all that the Damosell told the Queene which appeased the iealousie of her hote Louer and made this shew more amiable conntenance thus speaking to Amadis Alas my Lord I must intreat you to pardon the fault raised onely by false suspition against you I promise ye Madame quoth he there is no cause of pardon nor did my heart euer thinke amisse against you but could you like thereof that I should goe seeke him the Damosell departed from and bring him hither with me to serue you for this I am assured if I bring him not it will be very hard to get him hither Beleeue mee answered Oriana I would gladly wish so good a knight in his company and therfore you shal doe well to goe seeke him yet before you depart acquaint the Queene herewith that she may imagine how by her commandement onely you enterprise this iourney Humbly did Amadis regratiate his Mistresse and according to her counsell hee went to the Queene to whom he began in this manner It were good in mine opinion Madame that the King had this knight likewise to attend on his seruice Certes quoth shee I would it might be so if it were possible If you will grant me leaue said Amadis to goe finde him I haue no doubt of bringing him hither otherwise I know you shall hardly see him till hee haue made himselfe knowne in many other places You doe very much for the king quoth she if hee doe come neuerthelesse I referre it to your owne discretion Thus Amadis obtained licence to depart which hee did very early the next Morning hauing no other company then Gandalin and spending most part of the day ryding through the Forrest he saw a Lady come toward him accompanyed with two Damosels and foure Squires who weeping very grieuously conducted a knight in a Litter whereat Amadis being abashed demaunded what mooued them to be so sorrowfull and what he was they had in the Litter He is quoth the Ladie the onely cause of my care and pensiuenesse my Lord and Husband who is wounded in such sort as I feare his death Amadis aduanced him-selfe to behold the man and lifting vp the couerture of the Litter saw a Knight lye there of goodly personage but of his face hee could make no iudgement by reason it was cruelly cut and mangled whereupon hee called to him saying My friend who hath thus wronged thee yet did the Knight make no answere which made him goe to the Lady againe and aske her the question Gentle Sir quoth shee a knight that keepeth a Bridge not farre hence did it who as we passed by sayd to my Lord how hee must sweare whether he were of king Lisuarts court or no which made my husband demand
heard them but turned againe then doubting they inded some harme to him he clasped on his Helmet and his Shield yet had he no Lance nor they likewise Alas my Lord quoth the Dwarffe what will ye doe consider you not they be three and you alone What matters that answered Amadis if they assayle me without reason why by good right I must assay for mine owne defence On these speeches they came to him in this manner Sir knight we would demaund one thing of you which we desire ye not to denie otherwise you may not so easily escape vs. The sooner shall I grant it quoth Amadis if it bee reasonable Tell vs then as you are a loyall Gentleman where you imagine we may find him that slew Dardan Hee who could doe no lesse then speake the trueth thus replyed I am hee albeit I would haue you thinke that I doe not so soone fulfill your request in respect of adding any praise to my selfe When the knights heard him they cryed altogether Ah traytour thou dyest and drawing their swords set violently vpon him Amadis offended to see him-selfe thus assailed by them whom ere-while he had so friendly pacified resisted them with such resolute courage as at the first stroke he smote one of their armes from the body the griefe whereof made him fall beside his horse the secoÌd also felt his sword so peizantly that hee cleft his head to the very teeth and sent to keepe his fellow company When the third beheld their bad successe hee put the spurres to his horse and got him away but Amadis being not so well mounted let him escape returning to Gandalin and the Dwarffe who thus spake Credite me my Lord hence-foorth will I trust better to your wordes then I did let vs therefore make haste hence if you please So riding along at length the Dwarffe shewed him in a pleasant valley two high Pine-trees neere which was a Knight mounted on a lustie Courser and two other whom not long before hee had vanquished they running to catch their horses there strayed about the field And looking againe hee espied another knight lay leaning on his helmet hauing his shield by him and twentie Launces reared against the Pines with two spare horses likewise ready furnished My Lord quoth the dwarffe doe you see the Gentleman that leaneth on his Helmet What then sayd Amadis He is replyed the Dwarffe the good Knight I promised to shew you Knowest thou his name quoth Amadis He nameth himselfe answered the Dwarffe Angriote distranans and is the best knight that I haue heard report of Tell mee then said Amadis why he keepeth there so many Launces I can therein answered the Dwraffe full well resolue ye listen then a while He loueth a Ladie of this countrey who hateth him aboue all other neuerthelesse he hath preuailed so much by fight as her parents were constrained to giue him her After he had gotten her into his power he thought himselfe the happiest man in the world but shee tolde him he should wade into no such fond opinion because hee tooke a yong Ladie against her will And albeit quoth shee perforce you haue enioyed me yet while I liue neuer shall I loue ye if you do not performe one thing for me What Lady answered Angriote is it within compasse of my puissance That is it said she CoÌmand then sweete Madame replied Angriote for I will accomplish it euen to the death The Lady whose euill will was toward him exceeding great thinking to appoint him a place most conuenient for his death or else to get him there so many enemies as her Parents might enioy better assistance to take her from him intreated him and his brother to guard this vale of Pines against all knights errant that shold passe this way causing them by force of Armes to take an oath how they should afterward trauaile to King Lisuarts Court there to confesse her more beautifull theÌ the Ladyes they loued And if it so fell out that the brother to Angriote whome you see on horse-back were vanquished and could endure the combate no further then Angriote should keepe this passage alone during the space of one whole yeere ãâã this cause they depart not hence all the day time and at night returne to a Castle on the mountaine you see at hand hauing already maintained their enterprise three moneths in all which time Angriote neuer set hand to Sword against any Knight because his brother hath stil beene conquerour Trust me said Amadis I beleeue thou sayest true and so I heard in the Court of King Lisuart where not long since a Knight arriued who confessed Angriotes Lady to be more faire then his friend and me thought he called her name Grouonesa Very true quoth the Dwarffe but now seeing you are resolued remember your promise to me and bare mee company as you sayd you would With right good will answered Amadis which is the way Euen ouer this vale replied the Dwarffe but because of this hinderance as yet I thinke wee shall very hardly passe Care not thou for that sayd Amadis so giuing his horse the spurres he rode on and soone after he met a Squire who thus spake to him Go no further Gentleman if you will not grant the Lady vnder the Pine to be more beautifull then your Mistresse Neuer will I yeelde to such a slander replied Amadis without force or extreame constraint Returne then sayd the Squire otherwise you must combate with the twaine you see before If they assaile me quoth Amadis I must defend my selfe so well as I can so vsing no more words he rode on forward CHAP. XIX How Amadis combated against Angriote and his brother who guarded the passage of the valley against such as would not confesse that their Ladyes were inferiour in beauty to Angriotes choyce WHen Angriots brother saw him comming he tooke vp his weapons and met him saying Beleeue me Knight you haue committed folly in not graunting what our Squires gaue you warning of you must therfore enter combate with me As for the combate answered Amadis I like it much better then to confesse the greatest lye in the world I know well sayd the Knight you must do it with disaduantage in an other place And trust me quoth Amadis I thinke not so Stand on your owne defence then replied the Knight wherewith they gaue the carrire against each other meeting together so furiously as the knight was vnhorssed yet held he fast the raines of his bridle till they brake in his hand which caused him to fall on his necke to the ground where hee lay without remembrance of himselfe or any other Heereupon Amadis alighted and pulling the Helmet from his head perceiuing that he was in a sound wherefore he buffetted him in such sorte as he came to himselfe againe Thou art but dead sayd Amadis if thou yeeld not thy selfe my prisoner When the Knight saw the naked sword ouer his head fearing his death he yeelded Then
Amadis mounted againe perceiuing Angriote already on horse-backe ready to reuenge his brothers iniurie and a Squire came to the Prince bringing him a Launce which he presented him withall from Angriote Soone after they encouÌtered so galantly as their Launces flew in pieces without any further harme and ending their carrire Amadis quickly drew his sword turning to Angriote who thus spake Make not such hast Knight to combate with the sword because thou shalt haue time enough for that anon this he sayd in respect he reputed him-selfe the best at the sword that might be found But I pray thee quoth he let vs iust till our Launces faile or one of vs be sent to the earth Knight answered Amadis I haue weighty busines else-where and may not trifle time with tarrying heere What said Angriote thinkest thou to escape me so light ly I promise thee it is the least part of my thought yet I pray thee let vs try one course more Amadis was content and taking such Launces as each of them liked finished the Iust with such violence as Angriote was cast downe and his horse vpon him Amadis leaping from his saddle saw that a small trunchion of a Launce had a little entred his body yet scorning any shame should be deserned on his side fighting for the honor and beauty of his Goddesse Oriana snatching forth the trunchion and marched with his sword drawne against Angriote who seeing him come sayd I see Sir Knight thou art very young and me thinkes before it be worse with thee thou wert better to confesse my Lady fairrer then thine Then should I lye very fowlly answered Amadis and by my will I shall not dissent so farre from the truth These speeches enkindled collor on either side which made them charge ech other with such vigour as not onely they that beheld them but euen themselues were driuen into doubts thinking it impossible to endure so extreamely And to say sooth the cause was hard for Amadis vndertooke the honor of his Lady for which hee could rather chuse a thousand deathes then she should loose one iot of her excellence and this opinion still whetted on his courage that Angriote was compelled to diuers simple shifts to auoyde the fierce assaults of his valiant enemy who had wounded him in twenty seuerall places and he perceiuing his death at hand stepped aside thus speaking to Amadis Beleeue mee Sir Knight there is more valour in thee then I imagined Yeelde thy selfe sayd Amadis so shalt thou do wisely seeing thou art already brought into such danger for with the finishing of our combate thy life will likewise end which can be no pleasure at all to me in that I esteeme of thee better then thou weenest These words he vsed as well for the braue Chiualrie he noted in Angriote as also the great honestie he shewed to the Lady in his possession whereupon Angriote returned this answer It is reason I should yeeld my selfe to the best Knight in the world and the like all other to doe that beare armes Beleeue me then gentle Knight I not so much sorrow for my foyle as the wrackfull chance threatned to me by loosing this day the onely thing in the world I most loue That shall you not quoth Amadis if I can helpe it beside the Lady should shew her selfe very ingratefull if she acknowledge not your honorable paines in her defence and it cannot be but she will requite ye with the good you haue deserued As for me I promise ye to imploy my vttermost hability in causing her consent thereto so soone as I shall returne from a search I haue now in hand My Lord sayd Angriote in what place may I hereafter finde you In the Court of King Lisuart answered Amadis where hy Gods helpe I meane shortly to be So tooke he leaue of Angriote who gladly would haue had him in his Castle but he might not be hindered of his iourney Thus doth Amadis followe the Dwarfe who guided him fiue daies without any aduenture shewing him at length a meruailous strong and pleasant Castle saying Sir within yonder hold you must performe the promise you made me And I will doe it for thee answered Amadis if it confist in my power I am in good hope thereof quoth the Dwarffe in respect I haue seene some proofe of your fortune but know ye Sir how the place is named No verily sayd Amadis for till now I was neuer in this Country It is called Valderin replied the Dwarffe and thus deuising they came neere the Castle when the Dwarffe willed him to take his Armes Why saide Amadis shall we haue any such neede Yea mary quoth the Dwarffe for they suffer none to come forth that enter so lightly Amadis buckled on his helmet riding in before the Dwarffe and Gandalin following after then looking on euery side they could see no creature This place sayd Amadis is not inhabited where is the request thou saidst I should do for thee Credit me Sir sayd the Dwarffe I haue some-time seene heere a most braue Knight and the strongest in Chiualrie that euer I saw who in that porch killed two Knights one of them being my maister him hee put to death very cruelly without regard of fauour or mercy In reuenge whereof I would desire that traytors head which I haue long failed in obtaining because all such as I brought hither haue lost their liues or remaine here in captiuity Thou doest the part of a loyall seruant answered Amadis yet oughtest thou to bring no Knight hither before thou tell him against whom he shall fight My Lord quoth the Dwarffe the man is knowne well enough and reputed for one of the best Knights in the world therefore when I haue named him I could not meet with any so hardy as to reuenge my cause Belike then thou knowest his name said Amadis Yea my Lord replied the Dwarffe he calleth himselfe Arcalaus the enchanter Amadis hereupon went further in looking round about if hee might see any body but all was in vaine wherefore to rest his horse he staied there till euening saying to the Dwarffe What wilt thou I shall doe now it is so late Alas my Lord quoth he the night being so neere at hand me thinkes it were good wee departed hence Nay trust me answered Amadis I wil not budge hence till the knight come or some other that can tell me tidings of him But I dare not tarry sayd the Dwarffe least Arcalaus chance to know me and imagine I practise the meanes of his death Yet shalt thou beare me coÌpany replied Amadis as I will not excuse my selfe from the promise I haue made thee As thus they coÌmuned Amadis espied a Court somewhat more backward where-into he entred and found no body but he saw a darke place vnderneath and certaine steps leading into the earth Gandalin got holde on the Dwarffe who would haue run away and Amadis tooke great pleasure to beholde his trembling speaking thus merily to him Feare
thereof My Lord quoth she that tooke him by the hand when hee was enchanted mine Aunt Vrganda sent me to the Castle of Arcalaus by whose meanes we came thither and you were recouered Heauen shielde from euill that good Lady answered Amadis who hath so many waies bound me her obedient seruant and you faire Damosels the messengers of this fauour haue you any thing else wherein to coÌmand me No my Lord said they take you the way you left and wee wil returne from whence we came Fare well sweet Virgins replied Amadis remember my humble duty to the health of your Mistresse telling her she knowes right well I am her Knight In this manner rode the Damozels one way and Amadis another wherefore wee must now tell what happened to Arcalaus since his departure from the Castle of Valderin CHAP. XXI How Arcalaus brought newes to the Court of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his friends to make manifold lamentations and regreets especially the Princesse Oriana SVch speede made Arcalaus after his departure from Valderin where he left Amadis enchanted hee being as I haue saide clad in his armor and mounted on his horse that the tenth day following hee arriued neer the court of king Lisuart who was riding abroade in the fields to take the aire accoÌpanied with his Lords along the forrest side They seeing Arcalaus come a far off hauing on the armor of Amadis imagining it was hee indeede diuers rode before to welcome him but when they came more neere they found theÌselues deceiued by reasoÌ Arcalaus had his head and hands vnarmed wherefore without saluting the Gentlemen he stepped to the King with these words Sir I come to acquite a promise wherein I stand bound namely to let you vnderstand how I haue slaine a Knight in battaile that some-time bare these armes And albeit I must be content to declare mine owne prayse which were more honorable for me being reported by another in mine absence yet am I constrained to do no lesse seeing the couenant was betweene me him whom I haue slaine viz. that the conquerour should dispoyle the vanquished of his head and present it before you as this day Full loth was I to be so cruell because hee tolde mee hee was your Queenes Knight commonly called Amadis of Gaule and so hee named himselfe whom I vanquished As for me Sir I tolde him in truth that I was Arcalaus whom fortune hath graced with such singuler fauour for I haue slaine the man some-time owner of this armour and horse which as a testimony of my victory I brought with mee Ah God sayde the King is then the most vertuous and accomplished Knight in the world dead you lowring heauens why began ye so braue to course in him and now on such a sudden to cut it off These sorrowfull newes prouoked sighes and teares both in the King and his royall company which Arcalaus perceiuing not speaking any thing else returned the same way he came feigning himselfe likewise very sad and grieued but you must thinke he went not without great store of curses euery one instantly desiring God to send him an euill and speedy death which with their Swordes they could gladly haue bestowed on him themselues but that they heard howe Amadis was slaine by an accorded battaile The King being ouercome with pensiuenesse and sorrow returned to the Towne where these newes were so opened to euery one that at length the Queene and her Ladyes heard thereof which presently conuerted their former pleasures in to mourning At this time was the Princesse Oriana in her chamber with the Damosell of Denmarke where hearing the sudden clamour and noyse she commanded her to goe vnderstand the cause thereof Alas good Lady too soone was it brought to her for no sooner was she acquainted with the death of Amadis but her immoderate passions expressed the anguish of her heart and more to afflict this gentle Princesse the other Ladyes came weeping into her chamber saying Ah Madame what tongue can deliuer this wonderfull mishap yet durst she not good Lady bee too forward in enquiring the manner thereof least the cinders of her affection might be discouered and as if she had beheld Amadis dead before her she sayde Alas he is dead it can not be otherwise It is true madame answered the Damosell but what remedy you must not likewise dy for company These words made Oriana fall into a swoune which the Damosell of Denmarke beholding thought shee had too indiscreetly brought her these bad tidings whereupon she called the Princesse Mabila saying Helpe Madame my mistresse dyeth She being come saw that shee neither moued or breathed doubted least life had taken leaue indeed wherefore she commanded the Damosell to shut the dore to the end her loue all this while so well concealed might not breake foorth into open suspition Then vnlacing her garments to giue her more libertie as also bathing her temples and pulses with vineger cold water she recouered againe when deliring a faint figh with a feeble voise she thus spake Ah sweete friends hinder me not in the way of death if you desire my rest and would haue God find him another world who knew not how to liue one day without me Ah flower and mirrour of chiualrie thy death is insupportable not to me alone but to the whole world who is replete with griefe for thee because they haue lost him who in bounty prudence hardines and all other vertues did honor them aboue the compasse of all desire And were yet any feeling in thee I am certaine thou wouldst not sorrow for thy lost life but for my loue enduring by thy misse maruailous afflictions for thou hast left such honor in the world behinde thee conquering so incomparable reputation in this short time of thy life that rekoning thy merites thou diedst possessed with many yeeres Thus liuest thou in place immortall I remaining heere alone after thee can giue but wounding and vnthankfull speeches Ah cruell death sufficed it not that mighty loue murdered him with his feathered steele but thou must kill him out-right with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone see reason proceede froÌ her that did thee wrong who beeing the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equall loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together wee likewise might haue inioyed one sepulchre After these words she swounded againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenance as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes being discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the body Mabila desparing of any life left in her was so surprised with griefe that shee was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse walking some-what aside by
her selfe thus lamented Incomprehensible wisdome let mee not liue to endure these trauailes seeing thou hast taken these two from me whom I loued as my life But when the Damosell of Denmarke saw her selfe thus alone betweene two extreames shee was maruailously abashed yet as one wise and well gouerned shee spake in this manner to the Princesse Mabila Why Madame when were you wont to abuse your honourable vertues is it now time to forget your selfe will you thus consent to the death of my Lady you rather ought to aide and comfort her then thus to forsake her and procure her further danger if shee reuiue againe Come I pray yee succour her for now is the time of greatest neede and let these lamentations be referred till another time Mabila perceiuing the Damosell saide true wherefore she came to Oriana and feeling by her warmenesse some hope of life to bee expected they lifted her vpon the bed when soon after her spirites returned to their office and to qualifie this agonie they could deuise no better means then to busie her eares with some or other speeches Why Madame quoth one will ye leaue vs at least yet speake to vs. Madame saide the other your Amadis is yet aliue and well At the name of Amadis shee opened her eyes turning her head here and there as if she looked for him which good humour Mabila desirous to continue proceeded thus Amadis commeth Madame and shortly you shall see him Oriana giuing a great sigh started vp saying Alas sweete friend where is he We vnderstand quoth shee that he is in very good health and how the Knight who brought these bad tidings is wont to vaunt of himselfe without cause feeding himselfe with false praise of deceiuing Knights Why saide Oriana haue I not heard that hee brought his horse and armour A matter of nothing answered Mabila they may as wel be borrowed or stolne or he happily sent with that false allarme to try out constancy then finding vs thus weakely disposed hee should haue had the thing he desired I would not haue you thinke so simply Madam that Amadis could be ouercome by one and no better a knight then he nor were it reason to credit a commender of himselfe bringing his owne glory for testimony and no other approbation I am assured that Amadis will come ere long and if he finde you not onely dead in a manner but thus giuen ouer to griefe it will cost his life so shall you deliuer vnhappy proofe what wicked feigning by malice can do and thus you both shall die one for another When Oriana remembred how by this meane she might be the death of her friend if by good hap he yet enioyed life and imagined likewise that Mabila spake the truth she tooke courage casting her eye on the windowe where many times Amadis and she had amorously conferred when first he ariued at her fathers Court and intercepting a number of forced sighes thus spake Ah window the witnesse of my abaÌdoned pleasures how piercing is the doubt of him whom thou causest me remember and by whose gracious words both thou and I were made happy Of this I am certaine that neuer canst thou indure so long as two so loyall louers might by thee enioy such delight as he and I haue done which fayling mee now giueth me strange and insupportable torments to bee my companions and hence-forth shall my sad spirit remaine in bitter sadnes vntill the comming of him or my death Mabila perceiuing the cheefest danger was past laboured to confirme her opinion more strongly then shee had done in this manner Why Madam thinke you if I held these babling newes for truth I could haue the power to comfort you in this sort the loue I beare to my Cozin is not so little but rather I should incite all the world to weepe then want consolation for you who stand in such neede thereof But I see so slender appearance of beleefe as I will not before time require repute you vnfortunate because discomforting our selues without asurance The euill hereby may be amended and the good made much more worse especially it will be the meane of discouering what hath so long time beene shaddowed in secret Alas quoth Oriana if he bee dead I care not though our loue were openly knowne for all our mishaps in respect of it are nothing Thus debating and deuising together the two Ladies all that day kept their chamber not suffering any other to come in for when the Damosell of Denmarke who passed often in and out was demanded for Oriana she answered that she accompanied Mabila whom she would not suffer to part from her by reason of her griefe for her Cosin Amadis Thus was the princesses secret sadnesse couered all night she being vnable to take any rest such were her assaults between doubt and despaire not forgetting any thing that past betweene her and Amadis since their younger yeeres But on the morrow about dinner time Brandoynas entred the palace leading Grindaloya in his hand which gaue great ioy to such as knew them for of long time they could not imagine what was become of them they falling on their knees before the king were quickly called to remembrance his maiesty thus speaking Sir Brandoyuas how chaunce you haue tarryed so long from vs Alas my Lord quoth he imprisonment hath bin the cause whereout had not the good Knight Amadis of Gaule giuen liberty to me this Lady and many more by such deedes of Armes as are vnspeakable we could neuer haue been deliuered Yet was he once in danger of tarying there himselfe by the villainous coniurations and sorceries of Arcalaus but he was succoured by two Damosels who deliuered him from all the exorcismes When the King heard him name Amadis whom hee verily thought to be dead What my friend quoth he by the faith thou owest to God and me is Amadis liuing Yea my good Lord answered Brandoyuas it is not ten dayes since I left him in good disposition but may it like you to tell me why you demanded such a questioÌ Because sayd the King Arcalaus yesterday tolde vs he had slaine him heere-with he declared his speeches and the manner how What a traiterous villaine is that replied Brandoyuas but worse is befalne him then he weeneth as yet hereto he added what passed betweene Amadis Arcalaus as already you haue heard whereby each one forsooke the sorrow of the former false newes the King presently commanding that Grindaloya should be conducted to the Queene that shee might vnderstand these happy tidings Into the Queenes chamber is she brought and the Damosell of Denmarke hearing her reporte ran with all speede to the Princesse Oriana who hearing by her the truth of all the passage of her speech was stopt for a long time seeming as one confounded with enchantment thinking in these newes shee gaue her the bag or that she dreamed them but when she recouered the vse of her tongue she thus answered the
Damosell Alas my friend did I raue or toldest thou me that Grindaloya testified to the Queene how Amadis is not dead In good faith quoth the Damosel I came but euen now from her highnes chamber where Grindaloya declared how Arcalaus had deceiued theÌ Happy bee this houre sayde Oriana but I pray thee goe tell my mother that Mabila entreates her to sende the Lady to comfort her which she did returning right soone with Grindaloya to Oriana I leaue to imagine whether shee were well entertained or no with all the modest courtesies so glad tidings deserued likewise whether Oriana and Mabila gaue her audience when she recounted Amadis deedes of armes at Valderin the misery of her and many other the danger whereinto he fell afterward by the enchantments of Arcalaus from which hee was deliuered by two strange Damosels The discourse hereof so pleased contented them that I think Grindaloya had an endlesse taske in the reporting for Oriana must heare euery thing often redoubled But repeating the dangers of Amadis and the misery from which he deliuered the poore captiues caused teares so thick as winters haile to trill downe her cheekes Thus taried Grindaloya all day wiih the two Princesses and had not so soone departed but that shee was aduertised how that King Arban of Norwales who loued her deerely expected her returne in the Queenes chamber Good reason had she to take leaue of Oriana and seeke him from whom shee suffered such sorrow But when these loyall louers met together each one was delighted so substantially as Grindaloya thought her griefes well recompenced Now because the Queene vnderstood how shee was daughter to King Ardroyd of Seralis and all her miseries had been for the loue of king Arban with instant intreaty shee procured her stay in the Court doing her all the honour and fauour could be deuised Grindaloya was not curious in granting the Queenes request because king Arban was partaker in the same suite by this occasion the Queene was aduertised that shee had a maruailous faire sister named Aldena who was nourished in the Duke of Bristoyaes castle which made her presently dispatch a Gentleman thither with request that the Dutchesse would send her to the Court This Aldena was the friend to Galaor shee for him suffered such iniurie by the Dwarff as you haue heard before discoursed We haue a long time continued with Amadis now let vs returne againe to Galaor leauing King Lisuart in hope to see him soone in his Court whom Arcalaus said he had slaine in combat CHAP. XXII How Galaor came very sore wounded to a Monastery where he soiurned fiue dayes attending his health and at his departure thence what happened to him shall be declared in this Chapter FIue dayes together aboade Galaor at the Monastery whether he was conducted by the Damozell he deliuered from prison attending there the recouery of his wounds but when hee found himselfe able to weare his Armor he tooke leaue of the sisters and rode on his iourney euen which way fortune pleased to guide for he had minde to no part more then another About mid-day he arriued in a valley in the middest whereof stood a fayre fountain where he found a knight armed hauing no horse Galaor maruailing thereat demanded if hee came thither on foote the knight returning this answere Beleeue me no but riding through this Forrest to a Castle of mine I met with certaine theeues that slew my Horse thus am I brought into the state you behold me by reason my seruants heare not of my misfortune Why You shall haue my Squires monture answered Galaor I thanke you sir quoth the Knight yet before wee part hence you shall know the great vertue of this fountaine for there is no poyson in the world so strong that hath any force against this water wherefore by reason of so soueraigne a benefit often times enuenomed beasts doe drink here-of and are presently healed beside diuerse of this Countrey vse to come hither and finde redresse for all their infirmities In sooth you tell me meruailes replied Galaor and seeing I am now so neere it I will alight to drinke thereof as others haue done Good rrason you should answered the Knight because you are ignorant of comming this way againe Galaor leaped from his Horse bidding his Squire alight to drinke as he did but while they were drinking the knight clasped on his owne head Galaors helmet and taking his Launce mounted on his Horse when leauing the Prince drinking he rode away saying Farewell Knight I must be gone tarry thou here to beguile another as I haue done thee Galaor lifting his head from the water and seeing the Knight make such hast away thus called to him Ah villaine neuer did theefe such a treacherous pranck as thou hast done for thou hast not alone deceiued me but committed an act of great disloyalty which thou shalt well know if euer I meet with thee Yea mary answered the knight rest your selfe there till you recouer some other meane to combat with me Gone is the Knight so fast as he could gallop leauing Galaor chasing like a mad man but seeing there was no remedy he mounted on his Squires horse and pursued him til at length he came to a double way when not knowing which of them to take because he had lost the sight of him hee stood still in great pensiuenes till at length hee saw a Damosel come riding a pace toward him of whom hee demanded if she met not a knight mounted on a bay Courser bearing in a whiââ sheeld a vermilion flower What would you with him replyed the Damosell I would quoth he recouer again my horse Armes for they be mine and by false villanies hee hath carried them from me When happened this said the Damosell wherewith Galaor told her all the discourse Well quoth the Damosell what can you doe to him being thus vnarmed for I thinke hee tooke them not away to restore them againe I care for nothing else said Galaor but to finde him once more Trust me answered the Damosell if you wil grant me one boone soone shall I bring ye together againe Galaor being very desirous hereof agreed to any thing she would demand Follow me then quoth she so turning her horse rode the same way she came keeping coÌpany a while together but the Damosell being better mounted then he left him behinde with his Squire rid before so fast that they had lost the sight of her trauailing the space of 3. miles without any news of her but at last on a great plain they saw her returne againe here you must note that the cause of her riding thus before was to aduertise the other knight being her deere friend of their comming and hee had expressely sent her to fetch Galaor to deceiue him of the rest of his Armour which he imagined easily to do without danger seeing hee had gotten the chiefest thing of his defence and afterward he intended to
kill him or put him to some notorious shame For this cause he taryed in a Pauilion erected by him on the plaine and no sooner came she to Galaor but thus she spake GentlemaÌ to the end I might not faile in my promise I forsooke your coÌpany a while only to see if the man you looke for were in the place I left him or no there haue I found him little thinking on your coming and in yonder Pauilion may you speake with him at pleasure As thus they deuised together they came to the Tent wherefore Galaor alighted to enter but the Knight meeting him at the doore said Sir knight what moueth thee to come in here without licence trust me it is but little for thy profit because thou must here leaue the rest of thine Armour or die presently Thou mayst be therein deceiued answered Galaor and the wordes of such a wretch as thou art cannot feare me This reply very angerly incensed the Knight lifting vp his sword to smite the Prince on the head but Galaor cunningly escaped the blowe giuing his enemy such a stroake on the top of his helmet as made him sit one knee to the ground then quickly laying hold on him got the helmet beside his head spurning him so strongly with his feete that therewith hee fell on his face to the earth When the Knight beheld himselfe in such danger he called with a loud voice to the Damofell for succor where-upon she stepped to Galaor saying that hee should holde his hand for this was the boone he promised to giue her But he being in extream choller gaue no eare to her speeches bringing the Knight into such estate as hee left no vitall motion in him whereat the Damosell being ready to despaire breathed forth many grieuous lamentations saying Alas wretch that I am too long haue I trifled time for in seeking to beguile another my selfe am worthiely requited with deceite And thou traytor quoth shee to Galaor who hast thus cruelly put him to death heauen send thee a more worse and haplesse end for by thee haue I lost my only felicity in this world for which bee well assured it shall cost thee thy life because thou hast broken promise with mee and in such a place will I demand reuenge on thee as nothing but thy death shal expiate my anger wert thou a Knight of greater hardinesse then thou art if then thou make refusall there I shall haue more then iust occasion to publish in all places the pusillanimity of thy faint hearted courage Faire Damosell answered Galaor if I had thought his death would haue beene so grieuons to you I could haue spared part of my displeasure though iustly hee deserned no lesse but you spake when it was too late The worse for thee replyed the Damosell because thy death shall recompence his Galaor seeing shee continued her threatning speeches without any further answere left her lacing on his helmet mounting on the horse the dead Knight tooke from him and hauing ridden a pretty while hee looked backe to see if the Damosell followed him when perceiuing her hard at his horse heeles demanded of her whither shee trauailed With thee answered the Damosell and neuer will I leaue thee till I haue found opportunity to request the boone thou didst promise me which shal be the losse of thy head by some euill death Me thinkes it were better sayde Galaor for you to take some other satisfaction of me and happily might bee more pleasing to you Not any thing else quoth shee thy soule shall accompany his whom thou hast slaine else neuer shalt thou accomplish what thou hast promised mee Well well answered Galaor I must stand to the hazard of that as I may thus quarreling they rode on three dayes together and entered the Forrest of Angaduze an aduenture there happening to them whereof the Author hereafter maketh mention But now he returneth againe to Amadis who taking his leaue of Vrgandaes Damosels as you haue heard before recited rode on till about noone time when issuing forth of the Forrest hee saw on a plaine a very faire Castell whereout came a goodly Chariot so brauely equiped as euer he beheld any it being drawen by two braue red steedes which were couered with imbroydered crimson sattin as it made a very dainty and seemely shew The Chariot was guarded by eight armed Knights yet Amadis being desirous to see who was in it drew somewhat neere to lift vp the rich couering but one of the Knights came to him with these rough wordes Keepe backe Sir Knight and bee not so bold to come thus neere What I doe answered Amadis is for no harme Whatsoeuer it bee replyed the other trouble your selfe no further in respect you are not worthy to see what is here couered for if you enterprise the like againe it will value your life because thou must deale with all in this troupe and some such one is amongst vs as is able alone to get the maistrie of thee more easily then may wee altogther vse thee as we list I know not sayd Amadis the Knights valour you speake of but hap good or bad I will see what is in the Chariot Herewith hee tooke his Armes which the two Knights seeing that rode formost they ran both against him the one breaking his Launce and the other missing but Amadis sped otherwise for the first very easily hee cast from his saddle the other he threw both horse and man to the ground Then Amadis went towarde the Chariot yet was he stayed by two other Knights one of them being likewise dismounted and with his sword hee gaue the other such a welcome on the pate as hee was glad to keep himselfe from falling by catching fast holde about his horse necke when the other foure sawe their companions so vsed by one Knight they maruailed not a little and being willing to reuenge their iniury altogether fiercely charged Amadis With this last assault hee found himselfe sore combred for one of them tainted him in the shield and another in his armour as hee escaped hardly from beeing ouerthrowne notwithstanding hee held out valiantly deliuering such stroakes to the first he met as hee fell beside his horse in a swoune The three that remayned turned their faces seeking which way they might soonest hurt him but hee snatched a Launce from one of them which yet remayned whole and met one with such a full carriere that piercing quite thorough his throate hee fell to the ground and gaue vp the Ghost After his death he came to another of them and with his sword smote the helmet from his head when seeing hee was a very ancient knight hauing his head and beard so white as snowe mooued with pittie he friendly thus spake Father henceforth it were good you left the vse of armes to younger then your selfe seeing you haue liued so long without gayning honour or commendation marry your age doth now excuse yee In good faith answered the Knight your
such braue viuacity of spirit as his enemy found he had a hard taske in hand At this instant an other knight chanced to passe by who seeing the combattants so âierce against each other determined to expect who should depart with victorie and placing himselfe by the Damosell demanded if shee knew them or the cause of their quarrel I must needes know them answered the Damosell because I set them together as you see and this good hap is not a little pleasing to mee for it is impossible but one of them must die nor doe I greatly care which of them it be but if both end together my ioyes would bee the greater Now trust me said the Knight full well doe you manifest a wicked disposition practising for your pleasure the death of two such braue men whose health and safety you rather ought to desire then imagine such a disloyall thought toward them but tell me I pray ye what reason you haue to hate them so That can I sufficiently quoth she He whose shielde is most defaced is the onely man of the world to whom mine Vncle Arcalaus wisheth most harme he being named Amadis And the other that combats with him is Galaor who not long since slew the chiefest man I loued It so fel out that Galaor hereâofore made me promise of any thing I would request and because this day I was most affectionate to his death I haue brought him to deale with fuch a one as will hardly permit him to escape with life For I knew the other to bee one of the best Knights in the World on whom this Dwarffe which you see attendeth I therefore desired Galaor to giue the little villaines head being perswaded Amadis would rather die then suffer it Thus the one to deliuer me my request and the other for his Dwarffes defence are fallen into the extreamitie of their liues which doth me good at the heart to behold By my conscience Damosell replyed the Knight I neuer thought such malice had remained in a woman of your sort and I beleeue assuredly being yet so yong if longer you liue you will accustome your self to such vilainie as this you begin withall whereby you shall infect the ayre and the other elements to the disaduantage of the honest and vertuous Ladies liuing at this day But to shielde them from such danger and these two good Knights whom treacherously thou wouldest should kill each other I will make a Sacrifice of thee according to thy deserts then lifting vp his Sword he smote her head quite from her shoulders that it fell on the ground at her horse feete saying Take the reward of thy merits for the loue I beare to thine Vnckle Arcalaus who kept me his prisoner till the vertuous Knight Amadis deliuered me then running to the combatants he cryed out aloud Holde Lord Amadis hold your hand for the man you fight against is your brother Galaor When Amadis heard these words he threw down his Sword and Shield to the earth and embracing Galaor said Alas my friend my brother rightly may I be tearmed the most vnhappy Knight in the world offering you such outrage as I haue done Galaor amazed at this aduenture knew not what to say but seeing how Amadis humbled himselfe on his knee he fell downe likewise desiring pardon reputing himselfe wonderfull vnfortunate in wronging thus his Lord and brother then Amadis weeping with inward conceite of ioy thus answered Noble brother and my friend I esteeme the passed perill well imployed because it beareth witnes of what we are able to doe So taking off their helmets to refresh themselues they heartily thanked the Knight that rhus caused their acquaintance whereupon he told them all what the Damosell said the execution hee committed on her Now trust me quoth Galaor neuer was false strumpet more rightly serued and now am I dischargd of the promise I made her All the better for mee said the Dwarffe and thereby haue I saued my head yet I meruaile why shee should hate me so much in respect I neuer saw her till now to my knowledge Then did Galaor at large discourse what happened betweene him the Damosell and her friend as you haue heard already rehearsed but the Knight that seperated them seeing their Armour all couered with blood thus spake to them My Lords your Armours deliuer testimony enough how discourteously your Swords haue intreated your bodies wherefore me thinks long tarrying in this place will but endanger your wounds let me request ye then to mount on horseback and accompany me to the Castle whether you shall not onely be welcome but finde helpe for your hurts by one skilfull therein Wee will not refuse your gentle offer said Amadis Let vs set forward then answered the Knight and happy shall I thinke my selfe in doing any seruice that may be liking to you for you Lord Amadis deliuered mee from the cruell imprisonmeÌt as neuer poor knight endured the like Where was it I pray replied Amadis At the castle quoth he of Arcalaus the enchanter wheÌ you restored so many to liberty How are you named said Amadââ¦lays answered the Knight and because my Castle is cleped Carsanta I am often tearmed Balays of Carsanta therefore my Lords vse mee and mine as your owne Brother said Galaor seeing the Knight reputeth himselfe so much bounden to you let vs goe with him In short time they arriued at the Castle of Balays where they found Gentlemen and Ladeies that courteously entertained them by reason Balays had sent them word before how he brought with him the two best Knights in the world Amadis who deliuered him from the strong prison of Arcalaus and his noble brother Galaor For this cause were they welcommed much more honourably and brought into a goodly chamber to bee vnarmed where likewise stood two costly beds and a table furnished with soueraigne medicins for their wounds the cure whereof two Ladies being Neeces to Balays vndertooke for they were very learnedly skilled in Chirurgery Now did they imploy their vttermost cunning to recoÌpence Amadis for his worthy pains in restoring their Vnckle from the slauerie of Arcalaus so that within few daies they felt themselues indifferently amended and almost able to beare their Armour as they did before Here-upon Amadis comming with his brother Galaor declared how to seeke him he departed from the Court of King Lisuart promising not to returne without his company wherefore he intreated him to yeelde no denâall in respect no Princes Court was better frequented with Chiualrie nor could he finde more honour in any other place My Lord quoth Galaor I intend to accomplish what you please to command me albeit I desire not as yet to be knowne among men of account first would I haue my deedes giue some witnesse how desirous I am to imitate your proceedings or else to die in this religious affection Certes brother answered Amadis for this matter you neede not abandon the place seeing your renown is already greater
his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies will ye not see your sister whom you loue so deerly Yes Madam quoth he âo it please you to giue me lâ⦠with he arose and came ãâ¦ã who stepping forward to meet him you must think Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcoÌmed him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia louing him as you haue heard ouermastring her will with reason as a most wise well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand a while asunder from all the rest Yet did Agrates keep neere his Mistresse taking her by the hand and playing with her fingers often sent her a sweete kisse in imagination so that by intire regarding her he was transported with such singuler delight as he neither heard or made any answere to his sister She being ignorant as yet of his disease knew not well what to thinke for notwithstanding all her courteous speeches his minde was otherwise busied then on her yet in the end she discouered the cause of this suddaine mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with each others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauor them with more libery feigning a desire to speake with her Vnckle Galuanes which she prettily coloured in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Vnckle may come hither because it is long time since I saw him and I haue some that to acquaint him with all secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agrates whereupon he went to the Queene thus spake Madam if you could spare mine vnckle a little you might doe his Neece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good said the Queene at which words Galuanes went with him which Mabila seeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Fayre Neece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye do you like Scotland or this Countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the window because I haue many things to tell ye which were needelesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they being of such importance as they are These words shee vttered smiling and with a marueilous good grace cheefely because her brother might court his friend alone And well said Neece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes bee kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes whereof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone When the Prince perceiuing hee had liberty to speake trembling in aboundance of affection he began thus Madam to accomplish your commandement when you parted from mee as also to satisfie my heart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gratious contentment conueyed thereto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my Faith that being neere your person my spirits feele themselues viuified in such sort as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therefore I desire ye if it bee your pleasure to limit mee some better hap hereafter in place where I may often see and doe you seruice And as hee would haue proceeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the griefe you endure we being absent one from another as no other proofe is required then what mine owne heart doth plainely testifie smothering a displeasure worse then death it selfe whereto oftentimes I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerefull hope rebacke this despaire how one day our loue shall meet together with happy contentation And perswade your selfe that I daily trauaile in remeÌbrance of our mutuall loue meane while sweete friend remporize and dismay not Mistresse sayde Agrates you haue already so bouÌd me to you as I must in duty temporize till time you please but I desire yee to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortifie mee withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shall haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer will I faile yee be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteeme yee whereby I may striue to loue you more then any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine onely And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioy therein for it cannot bee without recital of your haughty courage chiualry yet my heart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer bold venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare himselfe so praised vayled his lookes and shee loath to offend him altred her speech demanding what hee was determined to doe On my faith Madam quoth he I wil do nothing but what you please to coÌmand me I will then sayd Oliuia that hence-forth you keep company with your Cosen Amadis for I knowe hee loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to bee one of this Court deny it not Beleeue me Madam answered Agrayes both you and such good counselling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I wil more credite with mine affaires then my honourable Cosen Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing hnowledge of him in her fathers kingdome of Denmark where hee performed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with her the Queene remembred Galuanes of her auncient acquaintance at which instant the Princesse Oriana came to them wherefore Agraies arose to salute her leauing Galuanes with the Queene and setled himselfe to conferre with Oriana who entertayned him maruailous kindely as well for Amadis sake whom hee loued as also the curtesie hee shewed her in Scotland when king Lisuart left her there at his returne from Denmarke as you haue heard before declared the Princesse thus speaking to Agraies Cosen we haue daily desired your presence heere especially your sister who not many dayes since was in great grief by false newes that came hither of Amadis death your kinseman as truly you would haue wondered therat Good reason had she Madam quoth Agraies to be sorrowful and not she alone but all the rest of his linage were bound to no lesse knowing when our Cosen dyeth the chiefe and most excellent of vs all dyeth yea the best Knight that euer bare Armour on his body and you must thinke his death would haue
together and she proceeded on this manner I entreate yee Sir to resolue me if you knowe a Knight that is named Amadis Why aske ye Lady quoth hee Because replyed shee all the guard you found in this Castle was appointed for him and assure your selfe if hee entred heere hee neuer should depart hence againe if first hee denyed not a promise that he made What was it answered Amadis I wil tel ye Sir said she on this condition that with your vttermost indeauor you will cause him to acquite it either by Armes or otherwise by reason hee hath not done it iustly In sooth Madame quoth hee if Amadis hath promised any thing wherein hee is to bee touched I will if I can cause him to discharge it Shee who vnderstood not to what ende hee thus spake answered as followeth I heartily thank ye Sir wherefore vnderstand that Amadis promised Angriote d'Estrauââs how hee would procure his Ladies liking to him and yet shee neuer could loue him in all her life this is a matter against all right seeing forced affection is no loue but dolour and misery then according to your promise you must labour to cause Amadis reuoke this vnreasonable offer Now trust mee Madame replyed the Prince you say right well I will endeauour to make him acquite you These wordes procured many thankes from her shee not comprehending his meaning heerein for hee hoped to accomplish his promise both to Angriote and her without derogating either to one or other as you hereafter shall vnderstand But Madame saide hee are you shee whom Angriote loueth so Yea truely quoth shee I know him very well answered Amadis that hee is one of the best Knights in the world and me thinkes there is no Lady or Gentlewoman so rich or faire but might thinke herselfe happy and fortunate to haue such a Knight as he Neuerthelesse what I say is not to exempt my selfe from the promise I made ye for I will perform it if I can because hee is a much better Knight then Amadis albeit he made him that gentle offer CHAP. XXXIII How Amadis combated with the Knight that did steale the Damosell from him when he slept and vanquished him WHile thus they were deuising together there entred another Knight of large proportion and strong all armed except with his helmet and gauntlets who thus spake to Amadis It is tolde me Sir knight that you demaund a Damosell which I brought hither yester night and how I did it against her will but assure your self she would more willingly goe with mee then stay with you therfore you may be ashamed thus to quarrel noâ haue I any reason to deliuer her againe to you I would faine see her answered Amadis It must bee then saide the Knight whether I will or no but if you will maintaine that I haue wronged her and she ought not to be mine I presently will approoue the contrarie on your person by combat Thou canst not please mee better quoth Amadis and in this cause will I stand not onely against thee but resolutely against all other that by right she appertayneth not to thee if willingly she gaue not her consent Let vs see then saide the Knight which of vs shall haue her This man of whom we speake was Vncle germaine to Angriotes Ladie named Gasinan shee louing and honouring him aboue all her other kinred for hee was the best Knight of his race wise and discreete so that shee was altogether gouerned by his counsell A goodly horse beeing brought forth for him hee laced on his helmet and stood prouided to enter the combate which Grouenesa the Lady perceiuing shee came to her Vncle with these wordes Certes my Lord it were better you should forbeare this difference because I would bee sory any harme should come to either of you in respect you Vncle are the only man of the world whom I am most bound to loue and this knight I haue greatest hope in for he hath promised to deale with Amadis as hee shall acquite the offer made to Angriote What Neece answered Gasinan thinke you that hee or any his like can disswade the most gentle Knight on the earth from accomplishing his promise I know not quoth shee what you imagine of him but I repute him one of the best in the worlde otherwise hee could not haue entered heere by strength of Armes as hee did Say you so replyed Gasinan you praise him ouer much for passing the defended gates when men of such mean account had them in charge I say not this but that hee may be a gentle Knight yet I hope to take him forth a new lessen and a better then he if he were here in witnesse of my wordes your selfe shal presently be iudge seeing him vanquished and my selfe peaceably possessed of the Damosel we quarrell for Herewith the Lady left them and they giuing the spurres to their horses brake their Lances gallantly in the encounter and with such fury met their bodies that Gasinan was dismounted hauing a shrewd fall against the ground yet he arose quickly and drawing his sworde stood by a Marble pillar in the middest of the Court thinking Amadis could there little endoâge him being on horse-backe and hee on foote When Amadis sawe how his enemy dallied with him he waxed very angry and striking fiercely at him by mishap his sworde lighted short on the pillar and so was broken in three peeces now grew he into greater choller and seeing in what danger hee was vnprouided of a weapon to defend himselfe withall hee leaped from his horse so quickely as hee could when Gasinan thus spake to him Knight thou âeest thy death at hand if thou grant not the Damosell to be mine Nor will I yeelde thereto saide Amadis vnlesse herselfe doe first consent Thou shalt see quoth Gasinan how deere this foolish humor will cost thee With these wordes he deliuered him many sharpe stroakes but Amadis awarded them very cunningly so that the most of them were bestowed in vaine rather wearying his enemy then doing him any harme And so long endured the combate as the beholders were not a little amazed thereat wondering that Gasinan got not the victorie all the while considering what aduantage hee had of the Prince but Amadis concluded with himselfe being thus extreamely handled to hazard rather a speedy conquest then a lingring shame and therefore ranne violently vpon Gasinan getting fast holde about his body so suddenly as he had scant leasure to lift his armes for resistance but was constrained to let fall his sworde and struggle with Amadis who griped him terribly so stroue they to ouerthrow each other But Amadis threw him with such might against the Marble pillar that hee was not able to stirre hand or foot and afterward taking vp Gasinans sword brake the buckles of his helmet then catching him by the head hee sayd Knight thou hast offered mee great wrong since my sworde brake but now shall I bee reuenged on thee then made hee
we most desire yet when wisely and discreetely they resist our inordinate appetites keeping the thing without which they are worthy no praise they bee euen of our selues more reuerenced and commended This is the cause quoth she why I more esteeme your succour to mine honour then my life because the difference betweene the is farre incoÌparable Well said Balays what will you now I shall do for you Let vs leaue these dead carcasses replyed the Damosell and goe where wee may stay till day light I like your counsell answered Balays if I had another horse but being now destitute I know not what to doe We will ride on my horse saide the Damosell till wee finde further remedy so he mounting vp before the Damosell they rode till they came to a pleasant meddow where they rested themselues till Sunne rising and then they went to horse backe againe Now because Balays intended to seeke the knight who caused Galaors horse to escape away from him hee asked the Damosell what should become of her My Lord quoth shee not farre hence is a house whither when you haue brought mee you may depart to what place you please As thus they rode communing together he sawe a knight come towarde him carrying his legge on his horses necke but drawing neerer he put foote in stirrop couching his Launce against Balays and running at him threwe him and the Damosell both from the horse afterward he vsed these speeches In sooth Lady I am sorie for your fall but to amend the wrong I haue done ye I will bring yee where you shall be contented because he that hath the charge of you is vnworthy to haue so faire a creature in his custody Ere this had Balays recouered himselfe and knowing him to bee the knight he sought for hee drew his sworde saying By thee villaine haue I lost my horse and my companion thou hast in like sorte abused now finding mee vnprouided thou takest delight in offering me wrong but both for him and my selfe will I be reuenged on thee else let mee be thought vnworthy of my order What quoth the knight art thou one of them that mocked mee as I rid in the darke I hope now I haue put the mockerie on thee Heereupon they presently fell to combate and many sharpe blowes were giuen on either side till Balays at length fastning holde on his enemy got him vnder foot when renting his helmet from his head hee tooke his life as ransome for his villany and breaking his sword in peeces layd them by him then mounting on his horse and the Damosell on her owne they tooke their way toward the tree where he left Galaor But because their stomacks well serued them to meat they alighted at a little Lodge where dwelt two women of austere and holy life who bestowed on them such cheer as they had the Damosell acquainting them with all her mishap and how Balays deliuered her from the theeues at what time they intended to dishonor her hauing slaine her seruants and shee destitute of helpe whereof the holy women were very glad by reason those theeues did much harme in that countrey After they had refreshed themselues Balays and the Damosell took their leaue and comming to the tree met Amadis there newly returned from his enterprise wherefore they concluded no more to sunder themselues vntill they arriued at King Lisuarts Court By this time the night drew on apace whereupon the Damosell earnestly intreated them to lodge that night at her Fathers which was not farre off they liking well of her friendly offer wene with her beeing there entertayned and vsed very honourably Early in the morning arming theÌselues they thanked their gentle host his daughter framing their course towarde Windsore but by the way you must note how Balays according to his promise presented his horse to Galaor which he won from the knight and he refused it because he had another so that Balays saued his oath thereby CHAP. XXX How King Lisuart held open Court most royally and of that which happened in the meane time I Haue heretofore declared the ioy and coÌtent of good king Lisuart for the newes brought by the Dwarffe concerning the health of Amadis and Galaor but the more to shew his princely minde hee concluded at their comming to keepe a most royall and magnificient Court as all his ancestors in Great Brittaine neuer did the like Which Oliues perceiuing who came as you haue heard to make his complaint on the wrong done him by the duke of Bristoya in putting to death trayterously his Cosen germaine fell on his knee againe before the King desiring hee might haue iustice in the cause When the King had considered thereon with them of his blood as also diuers other knights and auncient Gentlemen he decreed that within one moneth all excuses set apart the Duke should come in person to answere Oliuas and if with two knights more beside himselfe hee would iustifie his cause Oliuas should likewise prepare two other knights Warning hereof was presently sent to the Duke and open Proclaymation made the same day that all Gentlemen following Armes should bee ready at the Citty of London on the day of our Lady following in September Like summons was sent abroade by the Queene to aduertise the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the countrey by which meanes great resorte came to the Court where all kindes of pastimes and sporres were inuented without respect of fortunes malice any way who commonly in great assemblie of states when least they thinke of her variable changings often telleth them that men purpose but she will dispose All this royall company being in ioy and pleasure a Damosell strangely attryred entered the Pallace and a Gentleman that bare her company demanding where the King was whereof being resolued by his Maiesty him-selfe the Damosell thus spake In sooth my Lord well do you seem a King by your porte and countenance yet may it bee doubted what your heart is Damosell quoth the King you must iudge of what you see and hereafter knowe the rest when you haue occasion to prooue Mee thinkes my Lord answered the Damosell you speake according to the magnanimitie of your minde and euen as I my selfe doe desire remember therefore what you haue spoken before so many great persons for seeing you make mee such a liberall offer I hope one day to try the matter I doubted Neuerthelesse I will deferre it till the feast of September because I heare you will then keepe Court at London where must bee assembled many valiant men who shll know by the promise you haue made me how worthy you are to gouerne such a noble Realme and how highly Chiualry is honoured by you Damosell sayde the King so much as effects may better my wordes so much the more will it glad me to see good store of hardy knights there present My Lord quoth shee if effects answere your wordes I shall haue great reason to bee contented So tooke shee
againe I desire ye that without feare each one would in particular and generally aduise what we ought to doe as matter most commendable Herewith he held his peace and Barsinan Lord of Sansuegua was intreated by all the assistants to speake his opinion which they did for no other reason but because the King would haue euery one honour him whereupon after many excuses on his own behalfe he arose from his seate making humble reuerence thus spake seeing it liketh you I should first declare my censure I desire the King and this company to pardon my ignorance being vnworthy of this honorable and gracious fauor But me thinks vnder submission to his pleasure and better aduise of al you my Lords that wee should with-draw our selues a while from the presence of his Maiesty where we may more freely conceiue our seuerall humors This answer was generally well liked wherefore the King and Queene left them together walking into another of their Pauillions then Seroloys the Fleming Countie of Clare began in this manner You haue all heard my Lords the good zeale the King hath to the gouernement not only of the coÌmon wealth in his Realm but particularly to the honorable encrease of Chiualry which he desireth to continue in greater preeminence then euer it hath beene And therefore my Lords humbling my selfe to better opinion I thinke it good to supply the intent of our King that wee all ought to counsell him to strengthen himselfe with men and money for they are the sinnews of warre and peace whereby all Kings on the earth are maintained in their puissant authority For it is most certaine that treasure is for Souldiers and men at armes by whome Kings reigne nor ought it for any cause to bee else-where dispended without committing of true sacrilidge for these affairts are termed holy causing the state to liue in tranquility and winne glorious conquests of such as seeke to inuade them Beside to attaine the better thereto his Maiestie must seeke meanes to get all the knights he can heare of as well strangers as other entreating them with liberality to send his renowne on winges through the world which will fetch from the furthest parts men to his seruice in hope of condigne recompence to their labour By their aid he may easily make himselfe Monarch of al the Princes by Eeast and West for it hath neuer beene read or heard that any Prince could make himselfe great except by the assistance of valiant aâd hardy Knights hauing bought their vallour in braue attempts I tearme it bought by fauouring honoring and distributing their treasure among them that they may receiue no occasion of dislike but with vnconquerable resolution to pursue victorie As he would haue proceeded in further perswasion the greater part of the Lords seemed to allow of his opinion afferffing that better conncell could not bee giuen which when Barsinan heard he requested audience for him-selfe and hauing grant thereof he intended to reuerse this first aduise because he might very hardly else goe forward with his secret purpose the silence being made Barsinan thus begins It seemeth by your countenance my Lords that the County of Clares opinion is a grounded truth for I see the most part of you auerre the same not hauing heard any thing to the contrary notwithstanding I hope to make it knowne to you all and to the king himselfe hereafter how much I desire to be friend him you and the whole Realme The county of Clare hath laid before you that the King your maister ought to strengthen himselfe by the multitude force of strange knights whom he would haue called from all parts of the world in sooth if his opinion were to bee credited and you your selues bound to follow it I am certaine in short time their number would be such as your king who is a good Prince and liberall would not only congratulate them with what he was wont to bestow on you but likewise take your owne from you and giue to them for naturaly matter of nouelty and neuer seene before is most pleasing Hereupon it followeth that whatsoeuer seruice you performe bee it of neuer so high esteemation yet shall you fall into his disdaine and obliuion and strangers lift you from the seats which now do promise your securest quiet Therefore my Lords before you conclude this matter is of so great importance as you all ought to bee aduised by good and descreete deliberaâion in your graue iudgements I hope there is no one in all this assembly that will presume I speake otherwise then reason and the good loue I beare yee doth admonish me for I thanke God I am such a one as neede to regard the greatest Prince my neighbor no more then he doth me but considering I am in so noble compay and haue here receiued such fauour and honour I rather desire God is my witnesse I had neuer beene borne then to flatter men with vaine perswasions You must therefore my Lords diligently fore-see least afterward you repent with too much leysure And heere he paused for the murmour was so great among them as they hardly gaue him time to conclude because the most part of them that accorded to the first opinion were now changed and helde with Barsinan by meanes whereof they could determine nothing but it was appointed how the king should bee acquainted with this controuersie that hee might set downe some better order and after it had againe beene debated in his presence hee thus spake vnto them all My honourable friends I am sure that the loue you beare me your forward desire in doing mee seruice hath brought you into these intricate difficulties and I thinke there is no one of you all but hath spoken so neere to truth as is possible whereby your iudgements are so sound and good as better cannot bee heard from any Notwithstanding it is a thing most sure and certaine that the Kings of the earth are not esteemed great by the number of places in their possession but by the quantity and multitude of their people ouer whom they rule and command For what can one king alone do it may be much lesse theÌ the simplest of his subiects and beside it shal seem a matter aboue his power to gouerne maintain his estate without people let him abound in neuer so much wealth nor can these transitorie gifts of fortune be better imployed then distributed among such as well deserue them Whereby I gather how euery man of good iudgement will say that good counsell and strength of men is the very treasure indeede If yet you will haue better instance hereof looke on the liues of great Alexander strong Iulius Caesar gentle Hannibal and many other whose names beare the title of immortality they by the treasure of men and not mony were made Kings Emperours Monarchs for they could bountifully distribute their coyne to such as they well knew had best deserued it and likewise would vse them
with gracious behauiour as they might be termed Lords both in heart and hand the only meane that made them be serued with fedelity Therefore my good friends I desire you all euen in the most intire affection I can vse that you assist me to your vttermost in recouery of good Knights either of our owne or strangers promising you by the faith and word of a king so honorably to entreate and esteeme of them as both they and you shall remaine contented Nor are you ignorant my nobleÌ friends that the better we bee accompanied the more we shall be feared of our enemies our state in greater safety and your selues more securely defended and loued If then any vertue at all abide in vs you may easily iudge how new friends cannot make vs forgetfull of our olde let none then differ from the request I haue made but rather yeelde and consent thereto Againe I entreat ye and expressely command that each of you presently name such to me as you know happely they being yet vnknowne to me to the end if any be in this Court they may receiue such fauour of vs as the absent may bee the better affected to our seruice likewise we entreat them not to depart our company without giuing vs some aduertisement All which was presently done many openly called and their names set downe but because the tables were couered for dinner the King arose from his chaire withdrawing him-selfe into the appointed Hall where many Tables were prouided which he commanded to bee well furnished with Knights You may easily coniecture that during the seruice they diuersly communed together some on the kings deliberation and other of his magnificence vntill the Tables were with-drawne againe when the King caused them all to be called and thus spake You see my good friends how earnestly I loue and desire your company wherefore you must grant me one request not to depart this Court without my leaue for I would particularly know the seruice you haue done me and you âast such reward of my treasure as may continue your loue to me Hereupon they were seuerally called by name againe and euery one confirmed the kings request except Amadis because he was the Queenes knight and al this while was she present at these matters wherefore after the noise was somewhat appeased she framed her speeches to the King in this manner My Lord seeing it hath pleased you so to fauour and honour your Knights me thinks it were reasonable that I should doe the like to the Ladies and Gentle-women of what part soeuer they be Wherefore I humbly desire one boone with assurance likewise if you consent these Gentle-men after you shall not deny mee considering that in semblable company good things deserue to bee demanded and granted Then the King looked on all the assistants saying What answer my friends shall we make the Queene shall we agree to her demand Yea Sir if it be your pleasure answered they What said Galaor were it possible to deny a princesse so vertuous Seeing you are all so well content quoth the King she shall obtaine whatsoeuer she asketh At these words the Queene arose and thanking her Lord said Seeing it pleaseth you to giue place and fauour to my request I desire hence-forth you would doe such honour to Ladies and Gentlewomen as to take them into your protection and defence maintayning their quarrells against all such as would molest them any manner of way Beside if you haue made promise of some suite to a man and the like to any Lady or Gentlewoman you first shall accomplish the womans request as being the weakest person and who hath most neede to be holpen This granted hereafter they shall be better fauoured and defended then euer they were for villaynes that are wont to do them iniurie meeting them in the fields and knowing they haue such knights as you are for their protect ours dare no way wrong them In sooth Madame said the King your request is reasonable and I thinke none will gaine-say it wee will haue it therefore registred and set downe as a law inuiolable CHAP. XXXIIII How while this great and loyfull assembly endured a Damosell came to the Court cloathed in mourning requesting ayde of King Lisuart in a cause whereby she had beene wronged MEane while this honorable company thus continued free from all danger and mis-hap thinking on nothing but pleasure and delights there entred a Damosell clad in mourning who falling on her knees before the King thus spake My Lord ech one is merry but my poore selfe who am so crossed with griefe and sorrow as death were the best friend could come to me yet would your Maiestie take compassion on me I easily might recouer my ioy againe These wordes were dipt in such aboundance of teares as the King being moued therewith to pittie thus answered Lady I would be very glad to relieue your sadnesse but tell me who is the cause thereof Dread Lord quoth she my Father and Vncle are detained prisoners by a Lady who hath vowed neuer to release them vntill they deliuer her two so good knights as one was whom they killed in fight On what occasion did they kill him said the King Because he vanted replied the Damosel that he alone would combat with them and so proud he grew in speeches as at length he defied them Not long after they meeting one day together the knight vsed such reproouing tearmes of cowardise as my Father and vncle could not indure the iniurie but falling to the combat the knight was slaine in the presence of a Lady named Galdenda who as she said procured his comming to maintain a difference which she had with a neighbour of hers being her great enemy wherfore seeing him dead she caused the conquerors to be taken put them into the most miserable prison in the world albeit my father and vncle often told her that they would performe for her what the knight should haue done But she answered how shee well knew they were not sufficient for the cause therefore should neuer be released vntill they deliuered her two knights of like account each of them valuing him in strength whoÌ they had slaine to finish the attempt himselfe was able to doe Know you not Damosell said the King against whom they shoulde combat or the place where it is appointed No truely Sir answered the Damosell but I haue seene my father and vncle cruelly put in prison where their friends caÌ compas no meanes to see them Herewith she began again to weep that euery one pittied to behold her which made the king aske her if the place were far off In fiue daies my Lord quoth she it may easily be gone returned Now trust me said the king you shall not want your ioy for two knights wherefore looke among al these gallants and chuse such as you best fancy My Lord replied the Damosell I am a stranger and know not any one in this Court But
if you please I will iâtreate the Queene to doe me so much grace as to appoint me twaine after her owne minde Doe so said the King if you thinke good then came the Damosell and falling at the Queenes feete proceeded thus Madame you are sayde to bee one of the wisest and most vertuous dames in the world you vnderstand the cause of my mourning and the gracious offer the King hath made me most humbly I beseech ye theÌ for the honor of God to take coÌpassion on a poore Gentlewoman and counsell me which two knights I shall chuse that are best able to support my want Beleeue me Damosell answered the Queen you demand a matter of great importance yet in such sort doe I pittie your cause as I am the more willing to giue you aduise albeit I would be loth to forgoe them twaine whome I could name in this company TheÌ shee shewed her Amadis saying This is my knight And pointing to Galaor sayde This other is the Kings yet be they both bretheren and the best Knights as I haue heard this day liuing I desire your Maiestie quoth the Damosell to tell me their names The one sayd the Queene is called Amadis and the other Galaor But by your fauour replied the Damosell is this Amadis the knight so much renowmed I am very certaine Madame so soone as hee and his brother shall arriue where I can bring them my cause will be sufficiently executed therefore I desire you to obtaine mee their company Hereupon the Queen called them saying I beseech yee both to succour this woman who standeth in neede of your assistance Amadis was somewhat slow in answering for he cast his eye on the Princesse Oriana to note if she would like of his departure and she who likewise pittied the womans cause let fall her gloues which was an appointed signall betweene them and thereby he was certified of her consent wherefore hee thus spake to the Queene I am at your disposition Madame to do whatsoeuer you shall command me Go then in Gods name quoth she and returne again with all possible speed without tarying for any thing that may happen Hereto they willingly condescended and taking leaue of her Amadis fained hee would speake to Mabila when comming neere her and Oriana hee sayde to his Goddesse Madame well may I say that the fairest Lady in the world sends mee to succour the most wofull woman I euer did beholde Sweete friend quoth Oriana I repeÌt that I gaue you so much libertie because my minde telleth me this attempt will proue some-what dangerous to you which I hope the heauens will powerfully defend I am perswaded Madame answered Amadis that as the wonderfull worke-man of the world hath enriched you with beauty beyond all other women he will not suffer you to feele displeasure by any mis-fortune happening to mee for being yours as I am I imagine my selfe so happy as I thinke no euill can chance to mee if I continue in your gracious fauour If it lay in my power replied Oriana I would reuoke your licence of departure but seeing it may not bee I will remaine in prayer for your prosperous successe So taking leaue of her hee and Galaor went to arme them-selue then doing their humble duty to the king they rode away in company of the Damosell As thus they trauailed about mid-day they entred the fortrest which commonly was called the vnfortunate Forrest because neuer any knight errant entred into it that could escape without some michiefe and so these two bretheren deerely experimented for such mishap befell them as they verily thought to lose their liues Still rode they on without any aduenture till the Mo one begaÌ to grace the euening yet would not the Damosell shew any signe of stay which made Amadis aske this question Gentlewoman shall we rest out selues here awhile Yea mary quoth shee here before wee shall finde tents ready prouided and people in them who expect your comming make then a little hast I pray you because I will goe before to aduertise them They were very well content therewith and so the Damo sell left them till soone after they espied the tents where they saw her among other Ladyes and knights who bad theÌ welcome at their arriuall and being alighted from their horses they were conducted into a Pauillion hauing seruants standing ready to take their armour which they had no sooner put off but was caryed by them into another roome where-upon Amadis demanded why they did so Because replied the Damosell you must lodge where they haue caryed your armour He imagining shee sayde true made no further enquirie but sate downe with his brother on stooles that stood ready for them attending the houre of supper Not long had they sitten there but fiue knights well armed entred furiously vpon them saying Yeelde your selues else you are slaine When Amadis heard and saw their bad behauiour he knew right well they were betraied and starting vp saide to Galaor By God brother wee are treacherously deceiued Theâ finding no remedy but present death after they had strugled with the knights who eââily might haue taken their liues Aââ¦dis thus spake Ah villaines you haue vs now at too much aduantage deliuer vs our armes and this quarrell shal be otherwise decided These wordes will little profit yee answered the Knights yeeld your selues our prisoners or we will kill ye So may you doe sayd Galaor like traitours as you are and I will maintaine my wordes against two or three of you if you dare deliuer me mine armes We need no such proofe replied the knights but if you contend in further speeches you shall deerely buy them with the losse of your liues Now trust me quoth Amades wee rather will dye then be prisoners to such villaines as you are Herewith one of the knights went foorth and comming to a Lady he said Madame they will not yeelde shall wee kill them Stay awhile quoth she and if they graunt not my will deale as you please with theÌ Then came the Lady who was mauaileous beautifull into the tent and shewing the countenance of a very angry woman thus spake to Amadis and Galaor Knights yeeld your selues my prisoners otherwise you must die Brother answerâd Galaor it may bee shee will pittie vs let vs yeelde our selues to her And Madame quoth hee wee beseech yee deliuer our horses and armour when if all your seruants can conquer vs wee will bee content to submit our selues but if you dânie vs this reasonable request wee must esteeme the lesse of you and they that deale with vs so discourteously I willgiue no credence to you at this time replyed the Lady but would counsell ye to yeeld your selues to mee Whereto at length they accorded seeing they could no way else saue their liues yet knew she not their names for the Damosell that conducted them thither would not tell her because if her Mistresse vnderstood what they were she knew they might not
how she would prooue the vertue of his heart whereupon hee thus answered In good faith Damosel I haue now more neede of âoy then euer I had notwithstanding I am readie to accomplish any thing I promised you It is the only thing my Lord quoth she of my returne to you being the most loyall King in the world wherefore humbly I intreate yee presently to reuenge my cause on a knight that passed through this Forrest who not long since slew my father by the most horrible treason that euer was heard of yet not content there-with the villaine violently tooke mee away and perforce made me yeeld to his vnlawfull will But in such sort is hee enchanted as hee cannot bee done to death except the most vertuous man in the Realme of Great Brittaine giue him a wound with this Launce and another with this sword both which he gaue in keeping to a Ladie of whom hee had good hope to be loued yet therein he was deceiued for shee hateth him aboue all others for which cause she gaue mee this sword and Lance whereby we might both be reuenged on him Nor can it bee done but by you onely who are the chiefe and most vertuous man in this countrey wherefore as you promised mee before so valiant men may it please ye to execute this iust action of vengeance And because I haue often tolde him that by this day I would bee prouided of a knight to combate with him he is come alone into this Forrest attending onely for my Champion It is likewise ordered how you must haue no company but my selfe for hee little thinketh that I haue the Sworde and Launce so hurtfull to him and this is our agreement together if hee remaine conquerour I must pardon him mine iniury but if he be vanquished hee must doe what I command him Presently the King sent a Gentleman for his Armour which when hee had put on he mounted on a braue Courser girding the Damosels sworde about him leaning his owne that was one of the best in the world then without any other company hee rode on with her shee carrying his helmet Not farre had they ridden but she caused him to forsake the high beaten way conducting him by a little path among the shrubs where not long before they had past that led away Oriana then the Damosell shewed him a huge knight armed mounted on a black Courser whereupon she sayde My Lord take your helmet for this is he you must deale withall which the King quickly did approaching neare the knight sayd Proud Traytour defend thy selfe and thy lawlesse lust So couching their Launces they encountred together when the King perceiued how his painted Launce brake like a stalke of hempe hauing no strength at all in it which made him drawe his sword to charge the knight but at the first strok the blade broke close to the hilt whereby hee imagined himself betraied for the knight did what he pleased to him But as hee would haue killed his horse the King being quick nimble caught holde by his gorget and in such sort they strugled together as they both fell to the ground the knight vnderneath and the King vpon him by meanes whereof hee got his sword from him and vnlacing his helmet to smite off his head the Damosell cryed out so loude as shee could Sir Arcalaus helpe your Cosen quickely or else hee dies When the King heard her name Arcalaus hee looked vp and sawe ten braue knights come running vnto him the one of them vsing these wordes King Lisuart spare the knight otherwise thou shalt not reigne one houre If I die answered the King so shall you all for mee like traytours as you are Then one of them gaue him such a blowe with his Launce as not onely sore hurt him but made him fall on his face to the ground yet did hee recouer himselfe very quickely like one resolued to defend his life albeit hee sawe death present before his eyes But being vnable to resist so many at length they got sure holde on him when renting off his helmet his shield they bound him fast with a double chaine Afterward they set him on a simple horse two knights still holding the ends of the chain and so leading him along sought where they might finde Arcalaus Oriana and the Damosell of Denmark but the knight against whom the King first fought rode before apace and wauing his gauntlet aloft to Arcalaus sayde Beholde Cosen kin Lisuart is ours A very good prize answered Arcalaus henceforth shall his enemies haue no cause to dread him Villaine quoth the King well know I thou wast neuer other then a traytour and though I am wounded yet will I maintayne my words if thou darest combate with me By God sayde Arcalaus neuer should I make reckoning of my selfe to vanquish such a Lord as thou art Thus contending as they rode they came to a double way where Arcalaus stayed thus speaking to his Page Sirra ride with all speed to London and say to Lord Barsinan that hee must execute what I willed him for I haue begunne indifferently if hée can make an end as well Gone is the Page toward the Citie in meane while Arcalaus deuised to send the King one way and Oriana another wherefore hee sayde to his Cosen Take tenne knights with you and conduct Lisuart to my prison at Daguanell these other foure shall keepe mee companie for I will leade Oriana to mount Aldin where I will shew her strange and wonderfull things This mount Aldin was the place of his most vsuall aboade beeing one of the strongest and fairest in the worlde thus the ten knights carryed away the King and Arcalaus with the rest had charge of the Princesse But certainely if heere wee consider the properties of fortune we may easily repute her as mutable or rather more towardes great Princes and Lords then the meaner sort as well shee witnessed by king Lisuart euen in the time when hee intended most honourably to bee twharted with such a contrary chance For at one instant hee sawe himselfe in the hands of his greatest enemies his Daughter and heire to his kingdome taken from him and all his estate in danger of ruine Hee that was wont to be honored of all was now iniuriously despised bound and led as a theefe by a villainous enchanter a meane Gentleman and out of any other hope then death Is not this then a faire example for such as at this day are called to the greatest honours in the world wherewith oftentimes they are so blinded that they forget both God and themselues King Lisuart was a right good vertuous and wise Prince yet the diuine ordenance suffred him to fall in these dangers to the end hee might remember how al creatures remaine at his heauenly disposition This lesson he taught him for in short time hee was brought so lowe as might be and afterwarde restored againe as you shall presently vnderstand CHAP. XXXVI How Amadis
of the day carryed so farre from remembrance of any thing else as they thought not on the time how day wasted night ensued whether Gandalin were returned or the Damosell awake all these things were now cast into obliuion They imagined to haue viands good store being thus delighted the one with the other which seemed more delicious to them then all the Nectar or Ambrofia of Iupiter Yet at length they remembred themselues somewhat better when hearing the Damosell and Gandalin so neare them their pastime ended and taking each other by the hand walked among the trees to take the ayre in the meane while Gandalin and the Damosell spread a cloath on the grasse and set thereon such victuals as they had Now though there wanted rich cup-boords of plan as were in the houses of King Lisuart and Perion as also the solemnity of great seruices yet the fortunate entertaynement at this time was held by them of higher estimation During their repast as they regarded the woods and fountaines they began to esteem it no strange matter why the Gods sometime forsooke the heauens to dwell in groues and delightful Forrests Iupiter they imagined wise when he followed Europa 10 and his other friends Beside Apollo had reason to become a Shepheard for the loue of Daphne and the daughter of Admetus They being willing to imitate their example wished continually to tarry there without returning to the Pallace and royall pompe reputing the Nymphes of the woods most happy Goddesses excelling such as remayned in the walled Cities Pitty were it to trouble these louers in their amorous deuises wherefore wee will leaue them and see what happened to Galaor following the search of King Lâsuart CHAP. XXXVII How Galaor rescued King Lisuart from the ten Knights that led him to prison GAlaor parting from his brother Amadis in such sort as you heard followed the way whereby the King was led prisoner and making great haste in respect of his earnest desire to ouer-take him had minde of nothing else hee met by the way As thus hee continued gallopping hee saw a Knight well armed come riding towarde him who maruelling why the Prince vsed such extreame diligence when hee came neare him sayd Stay a while knight and tell mee what affaires cause you make such speed Forbeare Sir I pray yee answered Galaor for by my tarrying may happen too great an inconuenience By God sayde the knight you must not so escape for you shall tell mee whether you will or no. I may not triâle the time quoth Galaor and so rode on still without any âariance Nay Gallant replyed the knight I will bee resolued in my demaund though to your cost Hereupon hee posted after Galaor still exclaiming on him with hard words weening he fled away for feare of him and often times hee thought to smite him with his Launce but the Prince euermore escaped his attempt yet his horse beeing sore wearied hindered him very much when the knight ouer-taking him thus spake Infamous palliard and without heart of these three things chuse the best either to combate returne or answere my demaund Now trust me sayd Galaor the easiest of these three is hard to mee wherein you make no shew of curtesie for returne I may not and if I combate it must be against my will But if you desire to know the cause of my haste followe me and you shall see for I should tarry too long in telling it and happely you would scant beleeue mee so horrible and disloyall is the deed which compelleth me to this impatience Beleeue mee quoth the knight I will follow thee three whole dayes onely to see whether thou lyest or no. Thus Galaos held on his way the knight hasting after till hauing ridden the space of a mile wheÌ they espied two other knights the one being on foote running to catch his horse and the other gallopping away so fast as hee could Hee on foot was Cosen germaine to the knight that followed Galaor who in iousting with the other knight had beene dismounted knowing his kinsman acquainted him with the whole accident requesting his assistance in reuenge of his wrong It may not be now answered the other till I haue followed the knight you see before three dayes together hereto bee added all the speeches betweene Galaor and him In sooth replied his Cosen hee should seeme by your wordes the greatest coward in the world else mindeth he some enterprise of higher consequence therefore I will adiourne the reuenge of mine iniury and beare you company to the ende I may beholde the sum of your attempt While thus they talked Galaor had gotten very farre before which caused them make the more haste after him till at length the Prince espied the ten knights that conducted the King they riding vppe a narrow straite fiue before him fiue behinde Now did he fully resolue to die or purchase his deliuerance for hee was so offended to see the King bound with chaines as hee imagined himselfe able to conquer them all as many more if they had been there whereupon he thus cryed to them Traytours durst you vnreuerently lay hand on the best King in the world With these wordes he met one of them so directly as his Launce passing through his body hee fell downe dead beside his horse When the other foure saw their companion slaine they willed the for most fiue to guard the King for they would reuenge his death sufficiently but they found themselues very much deceiued for though the Princes horse by reason of his sore trauell often stumbled and thereby put him in danger of falling yet laide hee such loade vpon his enemies as two more of them accompanied the first and the other twaine were brought into hard extreamity Then came the other fiue with a fresh charge vpon him when Galaor perceiuing his owne danger intended to reuenge his death and the Kings together entring couragiously among the thickest shewing most rare and haughty chiualry When the two Cosens that followed him beheld his behauiour confounded with maruell the one sayd to the other By God we did him wrong to tearme him a coward for hee is the most hardy knight that euer I saw except the world shall twit vs with shame let vs not see him die in this extreamity leât the beauty of chiualry bee gone for euer Resolued thus to succour him they valiantly thrust themselues into the skirmish deliuering such friendly blowes on euery side that Galaor soone felt himselfe well assisted because his enemies were somewhat more dispersed and hee had leasure to take a little breathing but wondering whence this aide should proceed hee fell to worke againe giuing them good cause to misdoubt their liues When the Cosen to Arcalaus sawe how his side decayed and his knights dishartened slaine and sore wounded hee purposed to kill the King who by this time found the meanes to vnbinde himselfe and alighting from his horse got one of the slaine knightes
swordes where-with hee resisted his enemies brauely As the cosin to Arcalaus followed his intent the king gaue his horse such a blow ouer the face as by rearing vp hee fell downe back-ward yet the Knight recouered himselfe and Galaor seeing one fight with the king came to assist him when snatching off his helmet hee would haue smitten his head from his shoulders but the king would not suffer him saying hee should liue and dye a theefe The two cosins who were named Don Guilan and Ladasin pursued another knight whome they slew and returning backe againe they knew the king which stroke them into no little maruaile because they heard nothing of his mis-fortune then alighting from their horses they took off their helmets and did him reuerence when hee knowing them right well embraced them in his armes saying My friends you haue succoured me in a needefull time for which I may liue to requiâe you with thankes yet haue you wronged me by your absence from the Court and for your loue to each other I lost you both especially you Lord Guilan your minde being else-where made you forget me These words caused a modest blush in Don Guilan beause the king disciphered his loue which was the Duchesse of Bristoya who was not one âot behinde him in affection as well witnessed the good entertainment she gaue him tasting together the fruit of their contentment Which the Duke so doubted and dayly conceiued such strange suspition thereof as it procured the iniurie was done to Galaor when the Dwarffe espied him in the garden at his returne from faire Aldena whereby the Damosell was in danger of burning as the history here-tofore hath declared to you But while the king thus communed with Don Guilan Galaor had got the Nephew of Arcalaus beside his horse and tyed the chaine about his neck the king was bound withall then taking the best horses belonged to the dead knights they rode toward London And by the way Ladasin recounted to the king how he contended with Galaor for riding so fast offering him the combate which he refused because he would delay no time for his succour which caused the king to require him with many thankes that he could so well forbeare in a case of such necessity But my Lord quoth Don Guilââ my hap was more hard for by thinking on her who oftentimes makes mee to forget my selfe a knight encountred with mee and by force of his Lance cast me from my saddle In sooth answered the king I haue heard talke of many louers and what they enterprise for their Ladies yet neuer of any folly comparable to yours which giueth me good cause to coniecture that you were not in vaine named Guilan the pensiue for you are the greatest muser I euer heard of As thus they beguiled the time they ariued at the house of Ladasin which was not farre thence whither soon after came Galaors squire and Dardan the Dwarffe who thought his maister had taken that way Then did Galaor tell the king how his brother Amadis was gone to reskew his daughter and in what manner they heard of their seperation by the poore labourers wherefore he aduised him to send speedily to London least his mis-hap being published iu the Cittie might raise some coÌmotion amoÌg the people Credit me quoth the king seeing Amadis vndertooke to follow my daughter I will not as yet account her lost if the traytor Arcalaus worke no new villany by his enchantments but as concerning my happy deliuerance I like well that my Queen should vnderstand thereof Whereupon Ladasin called a Squire whom the king presently sent to the Court as Galaor aduised After they had well refreshed themselues they were conducted to their chambers and on the morrowe set forward on their iourney the king coÌmuning with the Nephew of Arcalaus as concerning the enterprise of his kinsman which made him reueale the whole determination and how Barsinan was in hope to be king of Great Brittain Hereupon the king concluded to make the more haste thinking to finde Barsinan as yet at London and to punish him for his audacious presumption CHAP. XXXVIII How newes came to the Queene that the King was taken And how Barsinan laboured to vsurpe the City of London I If you haue well noted the former discourse you may easily remember how the poor labouring men not knowing the king Oriana seeing how iniuriously they were intreated by Arcalaus and his complices were glad to hide them-selues in the wood in like manner how afterward they vnderstood by Amadis and Galaor that the prisoners were king Lisuarts and his daughters Whereupon so soone as the two knights were parted from them they hasted to report these newes in London which caused such a murmuring through the Citty especially among the knights as they presently armed themselues and mounted on horse backe in such troupes as the fields were quickly couered with men horses At this time was king Arban of Norwales talking with the Queene little thinking on any mis-fortune when one of his Squires bringing his Armour sayde My Lord you tarry heere triââing too long arme your selfe quickely followe the rest who by this time haue gotten so farre as the Forrest What is the matter answered King Arban Ah my Lord quoth the Squire newes is brought to the Citie how certaine villaines haue carried the King away prisoner Prisoner replyed king Arban may it be possible Too true my Lord answered the Squire When the Queene heard these vnhappy tydings not able to vndergoe so great an oppression she fell downe in a swoune but king Arban hauing more minde on the King left her in her Ladies armes hasting with all speed hee could to horse-backe When he was setting foot in stirrop hee heard the allarme sounded and the assault which Barsinan gaue to the Castle whereby hee gathered they were betraied wherefore hee caused the Queenes lodging to bee guarded and returning to the Citie sawe euery one ready in Armes when chusing so many as hee pleased as also two hundred well approoued knights hee sent two of the cheefest to the Tower of London to vnderstaÌd the cause of the allarme To them it was reported how Barsinan had forcibly entred with his traine killing and casting ouer the walls al that he met Herein he followed the message of the Page from Arcalaus finding very slender resistance for most part of the knights and men of account were gone to succour the king Highly displeased was king Arban at these newes perswading himselfe the king had been betrayed wherefore to preuent such other inconueniences that might happen he ordained his men in battaile placing good watch about the Queenes lodging And thither Barsinan now prepared hoping to take the Queen as hee had done the tower but he met with stronger resist theÌ he expected and the skirmishes proceeding on either side Barsinan took a prisoner by whoÌ he was aduertised how king ArbaÌ wold with-stand him euen to the death Now began
vnreasonably she once had theÌ in her power who might haue grieued me all my life time but God hauing in other places deliuer'd me froÌ many perils wil not suffer me to perish by so bad woman as she is I desire yee my Lord quoth she to tell mee their names The one is Amadis answered the King and the other his brother Galaor May it be possible sayde the Lady that Madasima had Amadis in her power Credit me quoth the King I haue tolde yee truth Their fortune was good replyed the Lady for they might not haue escaped if she had known them and in sooth the deede might bee reckoned ominous if two such worthy persons had perished Yet when she shall knowe hereof sayd the King I thinke she will forbeare to wrong me any further With that the Lady tooke her leaue shaping her course the same way she came CHAP. XL. How King Lisuart held open Court in the Cittie of London many dayes in which time sundry great personages were there feasted the greater part whereof remayned there long time afterward TWelue dayes together after these mishaps did King Lisuart continue his Court in all magnificence many noble personages being there assembled as wel straÌgers as others hoping now to make little stay but to return home to their owne houses yet the greater part of them aboad with the King in like manner did sundry worthy Ladies accompany the Queene Among other knights attending on the King were Don Guilan the pensiue and his Cosen Ladasin who as I haue sayde were very good knights but Guilan was the better of the twaine for very fewe were found in the Realme of Great Brittaine that carried more account for deeds of Armes and all other graces beseeming a knight setting aside his musing and melancholy By meanes whereof fewe or none could bee pleasant with him or haue any words from him in company but loue procured these extreames busying his thoughts in such sort with his Lady as hee had minde of none but her And shee of whom wee speake was endued with singular beauty being named Brandalisia sister to the Kings wife of Sobradisa and ioyned in marriage with the Duke of Bristoya who now was arriued at the Court to answere the accusation Oliuas laide against him The King gaue him very gentle welcome and beeing in the presence of many great Lords the Duke beganne in this manner Sir you haue commanded my appearance here this day to iustifie my selfe before your Maiesty concerning a crime Oliuas chargeth mee withall whereof I hope sufficiently to cleare my selfe by the rightfull iudgement your selfe shall giue and hee rest condemned like a varlet as hee is for here am I ready to approue against him or any other hee shall bring that I neuer committed treason or so foule a deed At these wordes Oliuas arose and with him a great nuÌber of knights errant all resolued to maintayne this quarrell against the Duke when the King beheld them in such a mutiny hee maruelled whence the cause should proceede when Grumedan speaking for all the rest sayd My Lord because the Duke of Bristoia hath threatened and defied all knights errant we are ready to answere his challenge In good faith answered the King if it bee so hee hath attempted an ouer fond warre for I thinke there is no knight in the worlde so puissant that will bee induced to such an entetprise But forbeare at this time and offer him no iniury because he is heere to receiue iustice which shall be done according to the counsell of the Princes and Lords present without fauouring any one Then Oliuas falling on his knee before the King beganne in this manner My Lord the Duke who standeth before your Maiesty hath slaine a Cosen germaine of mine hee neuer giuing him occasion of offence wherefore I will iustifie him to bee a villaine and a traytour and will make him confesse it with his owne mouth else shall I kill him and cast him forth of the field The Duke tolde him hee lyed and hee was ready to accomplish what the King and his Court should ordaine wherupon it was determined that this emulation should bee decided by combate which the Duke accepted desiring the King to permit him his two Nephewes in this cause against Oliuas and two other knights This being granted the Duke was very glad thereof for he made such account of his kinsmen as hee thought Oliuas could not bring the like notwithstanding all was deferred till the morrowe following In meane while Don Galuanes asked his Nephew Agraies if hee wold assist Oliuas against the Duke and hee consenting thereto Galuanes came to Oliuas saying Sir Oliuas seeing the Duke is desirous to fight three against three my nephew and I are determined to take your part which when the Duke heard hee remembred that he had defied them in his owne house when Agraies combated with the Dwarffes champion at what time the Damosell should haue beene burned wherefore hee became very pensiue in respect though he esteemed his Nephewes approued good knights yet he repented his wilfull offer gladly would haue excused the matter if hee could being so well acquainted with the behauiour of Galuanes Agraies But considering his promise past before the King and so many noble personages there present hee must of necessity stand thereto wherefore the next morning hee entered the Listes with his Nephewes and Oliuas on the contrarie with his copartners Now were the Ladies standing at the windowes to beholde the issue of this quarrell and among the rest stood Oliuia the faire friend to Agraies who seeing him ready to enter such perill was so dismayed as she could scant tell what countenance to vse By her stood Mabila shee being in no lesse griefe for her Vncle and brother together likewise the Princesse Oriana louing them both in respect of the reasons heretofore declared accompanied the two Ladies in sorrowe fearing their danger but the knights being ready to the combate the King by a Herald commanded the Champions to doe their deuoyre Heereupon with a braue carreer they encountred together Agraies and Galuanes vnhorsing the two Nephewes and albeit Oliuas receiued a wound on the stomacke yet had not the Duke caught hold about his horse neck his fortune had proued as had as his Nephewes TheÌ drawing their swords they smote so violently against ech other as the standers by wondered at their fiercenes beholding their shields defaced their armour battred coullered with their blood that the victorie hung a long time in suspence For Agrates horse being slaine vnder him brought his life in maruailous hazard because the Duke and one of his Nephews stroue to keep him downe seeking to thrust their swords into his belly or else to smite his head from his shoulders but he was so well armed and of such courage withall as hee held them both play though with exceeding perill Well may you thinke that his friends grieued to see him
in this distresse especially the three Ladyes of whom we spake so lately whose cheekes were bedewed with whole fountaines of teares and wofull Oliuia seemed rather dead then liuing But had he long continued in this extreamity her latest houer must needes haue ensued yet at length he recouered him-selfe charging the Duke and his Nephewes with such puissant strokes as well declared his hardy courage Oliuas all this while was in such case by reason of the sore wound the Duke gaue him that he could hardly defend himselfe which the Duke perceiuing hee left his Nephew with Agraies and assailing Oliuas very roughly made him fall downe in a great astonishment But as he would haue slaine him Agraies stepped betweene theÌ hauing dispatched his enemie of his head and hindred the Duke from his determination wounding him in many places on his body that he could scant tel which way to turne him Don Galuanes likewise hauing slaine the other Nephew came to assist Agraies against the Duke who seeing his life at the latest exigent turned his horse to escape away but Agraies gaue him such a stroke on the helmet as hee fell beside his saddle with one of his feete hanging in the stirrop when the horse being at libertie feeling his burthen hang on the one side ranne flinging vp and downe none being able to reskew the Duke till his necke was broken with dragging along Hereupon Agraies left him returning to his vncle to know how he fared Very well I thanke God answered Galuanes but it grieueth mee that Oliuas is dead for hee lieth still and moueth not Right sorry likewise was Agraies to heare these words wherefore commanding the Duke and his Nephewes bodyes to be throwne foorth of the field they came both to Oliuas and finding him aliue as also his wounds not to be mortall they bound them vp so well as they could saying Friend Oliuas be of good cheere for though you haue lost very much blood yet doubt wee not of your health because wee finde little danger in your hurts Alas my Lords quoth Oliuas my heart fainteth and albeit I haue beene heeretofore wounded yet neuer was I in such debilitie Then the King desired to knowe whether hee were dead or no and when it was tolde him how hee wanted nothing but speedy cure hee commanded him to bee honourably caryed into the Citie and his own cirurgions to attend on his health euen as it were his owne person which he did promising to deliuer him well againe within few daies Thus euery one returned disputing diuersly on the end of the Combat and according to their particular affections so that soone after the Queene who was one of the best Ladies in the world was aduised to send for the wife to the deceased Duke that in the Court shee might weare away the cause of her melancholly and to dispatch this businesse shee sent Don Grumedan to her requesting she would bring her Neece Aldena with her whereof Galuanes was not a little glad especially Don Guilan who was the friend and beloued of the Dutchesse Not long after she and her Neece arriued at the Court where they were right nobly feasted and entertayned Thus the King spent the time in the Citty of London accompanied with many great Lords knights and Ladies because the fame was blazed throught the world of his honourable courtesie to strange Knights which drew an exceeding number to his court whom he rewarded very bountifully hoping by their meanes not onely to confirme his Realme in peace but likewise to conquere other which some-time had beene subiect and tributary to his Crown yet through the pusillanimity and negligence of the Kinges his predecessors were lost and discontinued their former obedience CHAP. XLI How Amadis determined to goe combat with Abiseos and his two Sonnes to reuenge the Kings death who was Father to the fayre Briolania and of that which followed HEretofore it hath beene declared how Amadis being with Briolania promised to reuenge the King her Fathers death against Abiseos and his two Sonnes which in one year after he should performe being accompanied with two other Knights Also how when he tooke his leaue of her shee gaue him a Sword because his owne was broken desiring him to weare it for her sake which Sword was afterward broken at the Ladies Castle who was the beloued of Angrioted Estrauaus when he combatted with Gasinan and commanded Gandalin to bring away the peeces thereof which occasioned great harme not long after not by any fault of him but by the indiscretion of Dardan the Dwarffe who imagined his master loued the faire Briolania in respect he offered himselfe to be her Knight One day therefore Amadis being with King Lisuart euermore delighting with his Lady Oriana to the no little contentation of theÌ both Loue who often-times prouoketh his Subiects would no longer continue them in so great ease but rayse some cinders of diuision wherby they might receiue discontentment For this cause he made Amadis remember his promise to Briolania that he should combat Abiseos within one yeare the end whereof was now at hand and being loth to faile therein he sought all conuenient meanes to take his leaue of the Princesse Oriana determining to acquaint her with the whole cause in what sort Briolania was disinherited of her fathers kingdom such were his discourses on her behalf that although Oriana was loth to grant what hee demanded or to permit his absence from her yet being ouercome with compassion she restrained her will and in middest of her sorrow said Deere friend I know well that your speeches are reasonable but the wrong you do me aloweth no excuse Yet in respect I loue ye as you are well assured it is conuenient I should preferre your honor before mine own pleasure You haue promised as you tell me to succour a disinherited Lady I am content seeing there is no other remedy though my consent be with greater griefe then you weene for my minde is perswaded some mischiefe will happen to me by this voyage Madam answered Amadis vnwilling am I to giue you any occasion of dislike or to attempt any thing against your minde rather could I wish neuer to haue beene borne Let Briolania then pardon my tarrying for I hold my selfe sufficiently excused seeing my departure is not agreeable to you Not so sweete friend replyed Oriana I am willing you shall go but make a speedy returne I pray you With twenty kisses was this separation sealed and shee desired him to acquaint the Queene there with that this iourney might be shaddowed vnder her commandement which he did and on the morrow departed with Galaor and Agraies when they had not ridden past halfe a Mile but he asked Gandalin if hee had brought with him the peeces of the Sword that Briolania gaue him when hee left her No my Lord answered Gandalin Returne then quoth Amadis to the Dwarffe and when thou hast them make what speede thou canst to ouertake
thinke his choller ouer-mastred him when he vttered words of such great indiscrerion Trust me my Lord answered Briolania you cannot say or doe so much against these traytours as they iustly deserue You know what vilanie they did to the king my Father and how long time they haue disinherited me let pitty then preuaile on my behalfe seeing in God and you I haue reposed my selfe with assured hope of sufficient reuenge Amadis whose heart was submisse to vertue and all gentlenesse moued with compassion said Madam if God be so pleased ere to morrow at night your sorrow and sadnesse shall be conuerted into pleasure and content herupon they concluded to set forward very early the next morning which made them depart to their chambers except Briolania who sat conferring with Amadis on many matters when often times she thought to motion marriage between him and her but suspecting by his continuall sighs as also the teares streaming from his eys that some other Lady was cause of these passions she kept silence and taking her leaue bad him good night On the morrow they go all to horse-back comming to the Cittie of Sobradisa their arriuall was very welcome to many who seeing the Daughter of their late soueraigne Lord and knowing the monstrous treacherie of his brother they instantly desired her prosperous successe because they bare her singuler affection Abiseos remembring the wrong hee had done her and his bloody treason so vnnaturally committed seemed terrified in countenance because the worme of conscience reuiued his heinous offence yet hauing beene so long abstinate and indurate in his sinne thought fortune would now assure his quietnes and confirme his estate to continue in tranquility But when he saw how the people flocked about her not shewing any reuerence to him and his sonnes albeit they were royally accompained with Lords hee exclamed on them in this manner Ah wretched and bad minded people I see what comfort you take by the presence of this Girle and how your sences are caryed away with her now may I well iudge you rather could except her as your soueraigne she beeing a woman not capable of such an office then I that am a hardy knight Her weaknesse you may note because shee hath in so long time gotten but two knights who are come to receiue an ignominious death which in sooth I cannot chuse but pittie When Amadis heard these taunting words he was so enraged as if the blood would haue gushed from his eyes and raising himselfe on his stirrops that euery one might heare him hee thus answered Abiseos it may bee easily discerned that the arriuall of the Princesse is scant pleasing to thee in respect of thy horrible treason committed murdering her father thy eldest brother but if thou haue any feeling of vertue art repentant for thy foule mis-deed yeeld to her what thou hast vniustly vsurped so shall I discharge thee of the combate prouided thou aske God forgiuensse and vse such repentance as beseemeth a sin so hainous that by losing honour in this world thou mayst seeke the saluation of thy soule hereafter Darison prouoked to anger by these speeches aduanced himselfe before his father had leisure to reply hee preuented him in this manner Thou foolish Knight of King Lisuarts Court hardly can I endure thy iniurous words to my father in my presence but I am content to defer them till we proceede to the effect of thy demand then shall I take such vengeance for them as I desire for when thy heart shal faint in time of neede weening to saue thy life by flight if thou make not good hast I will so chastife thee as each one shall pittie thy miserable estate This is too long a processe said Agraies to defend thy fathers treason withall goe arme thy selfe and come to the combate as thou didst promise then shalt thou see if fortune bee so fauourable to giue thee the victory which thou reckonest assured if she doe otherwise perswade thy selfe both thou and thine shal haue the meed of your wicked derseruing Say what thou wilt answered Darison ere long thy iniurious tongue puld from thy head shall be sent to the court of thy maister king Lisuart that such as behold thy worthy punishment may be afraid to hazard the like by their liberall language So calling for their armour the king and his two sons were quickly armed then mounting on horse-backe they went to the place appointed for Combats Where-upon Amadis and Agraies lacing their Helmets tooke their Shields and Launces and afterward entred the field Then Dramis who was the youngest brother yet a Knight so valiant as two of the best in that Countrey durst not deale with him in Combat said to his Father My Lord where your Maiesty and my brother are present wel may I be excused from speech but now effects must shew it otherwise by such strength as Heauen hath enabled me withall therefore I desire to try my Fortune with the Knight who hath so wronged you and if I kill him not at the first taint of the Launce neuer shall Armor come on my back againe but if I meete him not so right as I desire he shall haue but little respite of life for at the first stroake of my Sword I will dispatch him Many heard the words of young Dramis and esteemed highly of his enterprize nor did they greatly doubt the performance considering what deedes of Armes they had seene him accomplish Now place they their Launces in their rests and Dramis prepared himselfe against Amadis who met him so full in the cariere as his heart brake in his belly and he fell to the ground so waightily as if it had beene the fall of an Oxe Get thee to all the Diuels said Dardan the Dwarffe my master is very well rid of thee but me thinks his threatning hath lighted on himselfe which commonly falls out so with such great crakers Agraies and Darison brake their Launces in the encounter but no other harme happened betweene them as yet When Abiseos saw his Son Dramis was dead he was meruailously displeased and intended to reuenge his death on Amadis where-upon he gaue forth to meete him and piercing his Launce thorow the Princes shield gaue him a sore hurt on the Arme which made the beholders doubt that Amadis could hold out no longer If then the young Princesse Briolania was dismaide it were in vaine to demand the question for now her heart dreaded further mishap but he who could not be daunted with common wounds drew the sword which he recouered from Arcalaus giuing Abiseos such a sound greeting therwith on the head as made him coutch his neck to his shoulders and the Sword sliding downe vpon his right arme gaue him a wound to the very bone by means whereof Abiseos found himselfe so distressed and amazed that hee fell down from his horse as it were in a Trance Now did the people meruaile not a little to see Amadis at two stroakes
vntill the moon began to shine and then they knew that they were in a great meddow in which they beheld many Pauillions set vp and people sporting all about them Then said the Gentlewoman vnto Amadis Sir because I see my father you may if it please you come faire and softly and I will goe before to aduertise him of your coÌming that he may do you that honour as you deserue So saying shee gallopped her horse vntill shee came vnto the tents where she alighted Then shee tolde her father how these foure knights had followed her hauing a desire to trie the aduentures of the Firme Island which he vnderstanding came to meete them and receiued them very courteously afterwards hee led them vnto one of the Pauillions where they rested vntill their supper was ready When they were set downe the gouerner of the Isle discoursed vnto them the aduentures of such Knights and Ladyes which had proued the arch of loyall louers and the other nouelties thereof vntill it was time to goe to rest Whereupon they all with-drew themselues and when day appeared they mounting all on horse-back rode so long that they came to a place which was in breadth no more then a bow shoot of firme ground and all the rest was water And they went on in this straight vntill they came into the entrie of the Island the which was onely fiue leagues in breadth and seuen in length There might they see the sumptuous Pallace of Apolidon whose gates were open and as they drew neerer they perceiued more then an hundred targets or shields placed in three rankes the most parte leaning against two postes and tenne other nailed a little ouer them But there were three which were very high aboue the rest fastned vpon another post which stood forwarder then the first yet did they likewise differ in height for the highest was a faddom aboue the middle-most and the middlemost was a cubit ouer the lowest Then Amadis demanded why they were thus ranked Truely answered the gouernour according to the vallour and knight-hood of those which would haue entred the forbidden chamber their shields are honoured and these which you see neerest the ground belonged to such Knights which could not come neere the brasen piller but these tenne that are higher came vnto it they which ought these two other shields which you see seperated and placed aboue the rest haue done more for they haue passed the piller yet could they not come neere the other of marble as the other hath done whose shield is therfore placed aboue these two which are so much esteemed Then Amadis approched more neere to see if he might know any of them for there was none of them but had written vpon them the names of such as heretofore did owe theÌ and he cast his eye vpon the lowermost of the three which hung by themselues ouer the other tenne which had in a field Sables a Lyon Or fanged and armed Argent with a Cheife Gules this hee knewe to boe the shield of Arcalaus Then hee beheld the two vppermost the lower bearing in a field Azure a knight Argent cutting off the head of a Gyant the which hee remembred to bee the shield of king Abies of Ireland who prooued this aduenture two yeares before that Amadis did kill him in Gaule The third which was aboue all the rest had a fielde Azure three Flowers or which he could not know without reading the superscription which sayd This is the shield of Don Quedragant brother to king Abies of Ireland the which was set ouer all the others within these twelue dayes For Quedragant behaued himselfe so valiantly that he came vnto the Marble piller whereunto none other had before approached He by chance passed by the Firme-Island in seeking for Amadis with an intent to fight with him and to reuenge the death of King Abies his brother Much amazed was Amadis seeing the shields of so many good Knights which had all fayled in their purposed enterprise and hee greatly feared least hee might performe as little as they For this cause hee and his company with-drew themselues to goe towarde the arch of loyall louers the which was shewed vnto them Agraies suddenly alighted and approaching neere the forbidden place hee with an indifferent high voice thus spake Loue if eâer I haue beene constant let mee now be remembred This sayde hee passed on and entred vnder the arch Then the copper Image began to sound so sweetely as it greatly reioyced the hearers and Agraies stayed not but went on vntill hee came vnto the Pallace where the pictures of Apolidon and Grimanesa were which seemed vnto him as if they had been aliue And he came neer vnto the Iasper piller wherein he beheld two lines written The first contayned Madanil sonne to the Duke of Burgoine hath passed vnder the arch of loyall louers and ended that aduenture The other was the name of Don Bruneo de bonne mer or of the lucky Sea sonne to Vaillades Marques of Troques Scant had he read the last line but he beheld a third which coÌtained This is the name of Agraies son to Languines King of Scotland This Madanil loued Aquinda Countesse of Flanders Don Bruneo Melicia daughter to King Perion of Gaule When Amadis did see that his Cosen was entred without any let at all hee sayde vnto his brethren Will not you proue the aduenture as hee hath done No answered they for we are not so much subiect vnto this passion that wee deserue to make tryall of our loyalty Seeing then that you bee twaine keepe you one another company and I will accompany Lord Agraies if I can Then he boldly entered vnder the arch and as hee passed the copper Image sounded vpon his horne another sound far more melodious then hee yet before had done Moreouer in stead of fire and sâinking flame that it cast forth against the disloyall louers flowers and sweete leaues came forth of his horne in such abundance that the place were all couered therewith But for all this Amadis stayed not but passed on euen hard vnto the Images of Apolidon and Grimanesa the which seemed vnto him so well formed as they wanted nothing but speech When Agraies which was entered before perceiued him he came to him and sayde My Lord and Cosen me thinkes we should not hence-forth hide our loues from one another But Amadis without any answere tooke him by the hand and walking together they beganne to discourse of the excellency of the place In the meane season Galaor and Florestan displeased with staying so long for them did intreate Isania the Gouernour of the Isle to shew them vnto the forbidden chamber the which he did Whereupon Florestan sayde vnto Galaor my Lord are you determined to try yourselfe No answered hee for I neuer desired to prooue such enchantments I pray you then sayde Florestan to sport you whilest I haue tryed this aduenture Then commending him-selfe to God with his shield
for any thing behinde him at least I will carry him his armour I will gladly beare you companie for this night sayd Durin I would to God we might finde him in better case then hee was at his departure Then they tooke their leaue of Isania and getting to horse-backe they followed the same way that Amadis had tooke coasting heere and there about the wood so long till fortune brought them where hee lay When his horse sented their horses hee began to neigh whereby Gandalin knew his Master was not farre off wherefore the more secretly to behold his countenance hee allighted comming so neere vnto him as he might easily behold where he slept hard by the riuer side whereupon he stood close watching when he should awake he had not staied long before his slumber left him Then he suddenly started vp as if hee had been frighted At that instant was the Moon withdrawne by the daies approach yet sate hee still on the grasse beginning his moane in a most strange and pittifull manner and bitterly weeping he burst out into these words Alas fortune too inconstant sickle why hast thou first aduanced mee and afterwards ouerthrowne me Now I well perceiue thou canst doe more hurt in one houre then thou wilt do good in a thousand yeares for if heretofore thou haste giuen me any pleasure or ioy thou hast now in a moment cruelly robbed me of all leauing me in bitter tormeÌts far worse then death and seeing thou wast minded so to serue mee why hast thou not at the least made the one equal with the other because thou knowest that if heeretofore thou didst bestow vpon me any contentment yet was it euermore mingled with great sorrowe In like sort shouldst thou reserue for me some sparke of hope with this cruelty wherewith thou now tormentest me executing vpon me an incomprehensible thing in the thought of those whom thou fauourest who because they feele not this mischiefe doe thinke those riches glories and honours which vnto them thou lendest to bee euerlasting But they forget that besides the troublesom trauels which their bodies doe suffer for the keeping thereof how their soules are in danger to perish therefore For by thy flatteries wanton intisemeÌts thou vtterly ouerthrowest them in the end compellest them to enter into the labyrinth of all desolation from whence they are neuer able to depart And quite contrary are thy aduersities for so much as if a man doe resist theÌ patiently flying greedy couetousnes disordinate ambition he is lifted out of this vilde place into perpetuall glory Notwithstanding I beeing most vnfortunate could not chuse this good seeing that if all the world were mine and should bee taken from me by thee yet hauing only the good grace of my Mistris it should be sufficient to make me as mighty as the greatest monark the which I also lacking how is it possible for me in any sort to liue Therefore in fauour and recompence of my loyalty I beseech thee not to giue mee a languishing death but if thou art appointed to ende my dayes doe it without delay taking compassion of him whose longer life thou art ignorant how irkesome it is This sayd hee fell downe backward vpon the grasse and was as silent as if he had beene in a swound Then within a while after hee cryed Ah louely Oriana you haue wounded me deadly in banishing me discurteously for I will neuer transgresse your coÌmandements what danger soeuer may happen mee seeing that if therein I failed my life also were thereby finished notwithstanding for as much as I wrongfully receiue my death the more extream is my dolor But seeing that with my end you shall rest satisfied I neuer esteemed my life at so high a price but I wold if it were possible change it into a thousand deaths to afford you neuer so little pleasure In like sort since it liketh you to execute your anger against me I am very well content if for my affliction you may hence-forth liue at your ease for whether soeuer my Soule flyeth it shall receiue most quiet when it shal know that you remaine contented And vntill mine innocencie shall bee known vnto you I will endeauor to finish the rest of my sorrowfull daies in all bitternesse and displeasure and being dead my spirit shal lament the griefe which wil happen vnto you for the wrong which you haue done to me specialy wanting power to succour you O king Perion my Lord and father how little occasion shall you haue to bewaile my death when you shall neither know the same nor the cause thereof But because that knowing the same it would bee to you a griefe intollerable and yet it could be no mittigation of my torment I pray that my misfortune may to you neuer be manifest least the same should abridge the remainder of your dayes which yet are not determined Then after a small pause he cryed O my second father Galuanes truely I do greatly grieue that my aduerse Fortune doth not permit me to discharge that great bond in which to you I am bound for if my father gaue me life you preserued the same in deliuering me from the danger of the Sea being launched forth into his mercilesse waues euen when I had but newly left my mothers womb and afterwardes I was by you as carefully cherished as if I had beene your deerest childe I am assured good King Arban that you will greatly bewaile my sorrowfull ând yet valiant Angriotta d'Estauaux Guillan and a number of my other friends shall assist you to bemone his death who euer loued and held you deere Ah good cosin Mabila what haue I deserued of you or of the Damosel of Denmark that by you I am abandoned when I haue most neede of your ayde Haue you so many times preserued my life doe you now without desert make me pay tribute for my receiued pleasure in consenting to my miserable death Beleeue mee if need were deare friends for your sakes would I bee sacrificed and yet you make no conscience to forsake mee which maketh mee verily to beleeue that you haue denied mee your coÌfort heauen and earth haue desired my confusion which shall the lesse grieue me in that I see no remedy Gandalin and Durin hearing these lamentations of Amadis the were so much agrieued therewith that they wept as bitterly as hee yet durst they not shew themselues because hee had so straitly charged them not to follow him But Amadis ceased not his mone vntill hee heard a knight who passed hard by him singing this song LOue sacred Loue ãâ¦ã I remaine To thee for ãâã exceeding bounteous grace On earth what Gentleman may ãâã like game Beloued thou makest me in euery place Happy such âaâ when loue ââ¦pect me Nââ¦d I Ladâ⦠me To witnesse ãâ¦ã Sweet Sard ãâ¦ã Whom ãâ¦ã Anâ sort ãâ¦ã ãâã was ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã retire ãâã ãâã daugâter of a ãâ¦ã Whom ãâ¦ã My ãâã is great ãâ¦ã But to enioy ãâ¦ã Hauing
deale but I beleeue thou shalt proue thy selfe a lier and so saying hâe strooke at him Then there began between them a sharpe and cruell Combat For withoot any breathing they laid at each other so fiercely that Ladasin and his esquires who were present did not thinke that any of them could escape the death Neuerthelesse they behaued themselues so valiantly that one could not iudge who had the best for they were expert knights hardy and exercised in armes so that knowing how to defend themselues few blowes could hurt them to the quicke Now when their battaile was at the hottest they heard the winding of a horne from the top of the tower wherewithall Guillan was abashed thinking it to be some new supply come to his enemy and on the other side Gandalod suspected it to bee some reuolt of the captiues which he had in his prisons And therefore either of them did their best to vanquish his enemy before the succours should come so that suddainnly Gandalod rushed vpon Guillan thinking to vnhorse him but Guillan embraced him so hard that they both fell to the ground tumbling one ouer another yet holding their swords fast in their hands but it happened so well for Guillan that he had his enemy vnder him By meanes whereof before the other could rise hee gaue him fiue or six great blowes with his sword which in such sort amazed him that from thenceforth he waxed more feeble Notwithstanding getting vp vpon his feet hee both well defended himselfe and better assailed his aduersary giuing sufficient knowledge of the little good will he wished vnto his enemy who so sorely oppressed vpon him that hee was constrained to recoile and turne his back Therefore Guillan marking where he was worst armed did hit him such a blow with his sword vpon the arme that hee quite parted it from his shoulder So as with the extreame griefe thereof he cast forth a loude crie flying towards the tower but Guillan ouertooke him and laide so fast holde vpon his helmet that hee pulled it from his head Then setting his sword to his throat hee saide vnto him Beleeue mee Sir you shall now goe to the king to present him with other heads then you determined but if you will not obey me your owne shall satisfie me Alas answered Gandalod I had rather yeelde my selfe to the mercy of the King then to die presently Whereupon after hee had giuen his faith vnto Guillan they mounted on horseback and Ladasin with them At that instant they heard a great tumult within the tower and beheld one of the warders running away whome they staied to know what the matter was who told them that the prisoners had found the meanes to vnbinde themselues and to come forth of the dungeon wherein they were kept afterwards how they were armed and had already slaine the most part of his fellowes Hee had no sooner ended his speech when hee behelde some of those which he spake of ouer the gate of the tower and three or foure others which pursued a knight and seuen halberders that fled towards a wood hard by and when those which had gained their liberty perceiued Guillan and Ladasin they cryed vnto them that they should kill those tratours that had scaped froÌ them Wherefore Guillan his cosin ran before and slew foure of them the rest saued theÌselues with their lightnes excepting onely the knight who was taken Then came the prisoners to salute Guillan whom they all knew after some talke which they had together Guillan said vnto them my Lords I cannot tarry long with you for I am constrained to goe forthwith to King Lisuart but my cosin Ladasin shal bear you company vntill you haue refreshed you and afterwards I pray you to come vnto the Court to bring with you these two knights whom I deliuer into your keeping vntill king Lisuart haue taken such order for them as to his Maiestie shall seeme best and let one of you remaine here for the guard of this place vntil I haue otherwise prouided for it The which they promised him to performe thus taking leaue of them hee tooke his shield from his neck and gaue it vnto his esquires and taking the shield of Amadis as he was accustomed the teares stood in his eyes Where-withal the others being much abashed demanded of him what mooued him thus to take his shield froÌ his neck and place another in steed thereof with so great sorrow Ah answered he this shield belongeth to the best knight in the world theÌ he rehersed vnto them the manner how hee had found it with the rest of the armor of Amadis whom he had since searched for through all the countrey without hearing any newes of him wherewithall euery one of them were very sorry fearing least some great mis-fortune had happened him Thus Guillan followed on his way and rode so long that without any further trouble hee ariued in the Court of king Lisuart where it was already known how Amadis had ended the aduentures of the Firme-Island gained the signorie thereof in like sorte how hee was departed from thence secretly in great anguish Neuerthelesse they knew nothing of the cause thereof except those whom I before haue tolde you of Thus Guillan entred into the hall hauing about his neck the shield of Amadis who was presently known of all the assembly wherefore they flocked about him to heare what he would say but the king was for-most who demanded what newes hee had of Amadis It may please your maiestie answered Guillan I knowe none neuerthelesse if it please you I will before the Queen recite how I did finde his armour sword and his shield which heere you may see Truely said the king I am very well pleased for since hee was her knight it is reason that she first know what is become of him Saying so hee tooke Guillan by the hand led him where the Queen was Then Guillan kneeling down said vnto her weeping Madame not many daies since I found al the armour of Amadis with his shield left all alone hard by a fountaine which is called the fountain of the plaine fielde wherewithall I was so sorrowful that euen at the same instant I fastned the shield vpon a tree leauing in it the keeping of two Gentlewomen that were in my company vntil that I had gone through the countrey to enquire where hee was become But I was neither so fortunate to finde him nor so happy to heare any newes of him wherefore knowing the disert of so good a knight who had neuer any desire but to imploy himselfe to doe you seruice I determined seeing I could not bring him to you to bring you his armes as witnesse of the duty which I doe owe both to your Maiestie and also to him the which you may command if you please to bee set in an open place where euery one may see them as well to heare news of him by such strangers as ordinarily
Faire Forlorne I loue him intirely as well for his valour as also for that his father made me knight which maketh me the more bounden vnto his children and I am very sory for the newes that I haue hard of Amadis before I did come vnto this desert What are they sayd Corisanda Truely answered hee comming hither I met with a Gentlewoman at the entry of a Forrest which sung a pleasant song for the tune but very pittifull by reason of the matter that it contayned Then I enquired of her who made it and shee answered me that it was a knight vnto whoÌ God if it bee his pleasure send more ioy then hee had when hee made it for his song doth very wel witnesse that his griefe proceeded from too extreame loue And because I liked it wel I remained with the Gentlewoman so long vntill I had learned it moreouer she did assure me that Amadis did make it and that he did shew her the song at that time when by his melancholy hee was most maistered I pray you sayde Corisanda teach it vnto these two Gentlewomen for by that which you say loue held him then in as great bondage as he now holdeth me I will doe it answered hee both for the honour of him and also of you althought it be a thing farre vnseemely for me to do Herewithall he withdrew the Gentlewomen a part and taught them the song with the tune there-of wherein they tooke great pleasure because the Faire Forlorne did sing it with a lamentable and soft voyce which yeelded more harmony and aptnesse both to the tune and the matter then he could if hee had beene at more liberty in body and minde and the Gentle-women learned it so cunningly that many times after they did sing it before their Mistris who tarried foure dayes in the poore Rocke the fift shee embarqued But before she departed shee demanded of the Faire forlorne whether hee would remaine any long time in that place Madame answered he nothing but my death shall drawe me from hence I doe much maruaile sayde Corisanda what mooueth you to doe so yet seeing that you are in such a minde I will in no sorte disswade yon from it so saying she entred into her ship with her companie bidding the Hermit farewel Then setting saile the winde was so fauourable that in fewe dayes after they landed in Great Brittaine and arriued in the Citie of London where at that time King Lisuart remayned Who knowing of her arriuall hee together with his Queene receiued her royally The King to honour her the more caused her to bee lodged in his owne Pallace And some few dayes after as they were discoursing together the Queen sayd vnto her Good Cosen the King charged mee to tell you that hee tââ¦âour comming hither to see âim âo thânkefully that if you haue any thing to doe with him he will imploy his best meanes to pleasure you Madame answered Corisanda I giue the King most humble tââ¦kes and your grace also there is nothing that importuneth mee more then the absence of Don Florestan whom I thought to haue found in this Court Cosen sayde the Queene wee haue at this time no other newes of him but that hee is gone in search of his brother Amadis who of late is lost we not knowing the cause thereof Then shee tolde her how hee had wonne the Firme Island and that after-wardes hee departed secretly from his fellowes especially the manner how Don Guillan did finde his armour and what diligence hee had vsed to vnderstand what was become of him When Corisanda did see that shee was frustrate of her intention and vnderstood the losse of Amadis the teares stood in her eyes saying Alas what wil become of my Lord and friend Florestan I am sure considering the loue that he beareth vnto his brother that if hee cannot finde him he will lose himselfe so that I shall neuer while I liue see him any more the Queene comforted her so well that shee receiued some hope to heare news from him very shortly Now Oriana was by who had heard all this talke and the loue that Corisanda did beare vnto Don Florestan brother to Amadis for which cause shee had the more desire to doe her honour so as she and Mabila did ordinarily keepe her company taking great pleasure to heare her recite the loue that passed betwixt her and hee friend the cause of their parting and the trauell which afterwardes shee had endured in hope to finde him And as shee made this discourse she remembred her of the time when shee remayned in the poore Rocke where shee found a knight doing penance who during her abode there taught a song vnto her women which Amadis had made being in great melancholy as the companion of the Hermit had assured her Madame answered Mabila I pray you feeing your Gentlewomen haue learned it coÌmaund them to sing it before my Lady Oriana for I shall bee very glad to heare it seeing it is made by Amadis who is mine owne Cosen Beleeue mee sayd Corisanda I am very well content assuring you that it caÌnot better please you then it will delight me because of the neernesse of the linage that is betwixt my Lord Florestan him Then shee sent for the Gentlewomens Lutes who played and did sing the song of Amadis so sweetely that it ministred both mirth mone vnto the Ladies which vnto them listened ioy to the eare coÌtent for the melody and griefe to the minde in feeling his passion that was so grieuously pained But Oriana whom it most of all touched tooke more heede vnto the matter then the musicke knowing the mischiefe whereof she was cause and the great reason that Amadis had to complaine Where-upon shee was suddenly stricken wâ⦠so great sorrow that she went into a wardroabe ashamed for the teââeâ that had issued from her eyes iâ⦠good a company from which she could not abstaâ Notwithstanding as shee withdrew her selfe Mabila to couer this fault sayd vnto Corisanâa So farre aâ I perceiue Oriana is not well wherefore I am coÌstrained to leaue your company at this tââe and to goe helpe her neuerthelesse if it pleased you I would willingly knowe what was the behauior of him that taught your Gentlewomen the song and wherefore he remayned in the poore Rocke for no doubt hee did then knowe what was become of Amadis Then Corisanda rehearsed vnto her in what sorte they did finde him and the talke he had with her but sayd shee I did neuer see a man more pensiue not more faire considering the miseries he endured Mabila very suddenly began to suspect that it was Amadis himselfe who being so far from all hope had chosen such a solitary place because hee would not be seene of any liuing wight and at the same instant shee departed towardes Oriana whom shee found weeping bitterly Vnto whâ with a smiling countenance shee sayd Madame in seeking after newes sometimes one learneth
to manifest himselfe in any sort vnto the Damosell of Denmarke who sayd vnto him My friend I haue been enformed by the Hermit that you are a knight and because all Gentlewomen are greatly bound vnto good knights for the benefits and pleasures that they commonly receiue at their hands in defending them and deliuering them from many and great dangers I had a great desire before I departed to see you to giue vnto you such prouisions as are in my ship that shall be necessarie for your health Notwithstanding he answered her nothing neither did hee any other thing but lament and sigh and because that in that little Cell wherein hee remayned there was little light the Gentlewoman did not know whether hee were a dying or no. Whereupon she was ware of a window which she opened by the light whereof shee might behold him more at ease but all the while that she beheld him hee neuer cast his eyes off from her neuerthelesse hee spake not one word but sighed without ceasing like vnto a wight whose heart was ouercharged with woe which moued the Damosel to exceeding pittie And comforting him in the best sorte she could by chance shee espied a scarre which he had vpon his face with a blow that Arcalaus the Enchanter had giuen him when hee rescued Oriana as hath beene recited in the first Booke Wherefore shee thought in her minde that without doubt this was Amadis whom shee âought and at the instant shee did know that he was euen the same for the same cause shee being grealy amased cryed out Alas what do I see My Lord you are he that hath made me haue many a weary iourney to find you this sayd she embraced him Alas my Lord sayd shee it is now high time to extend both pitty and pardon vnto her who procured thereunto by some sinister report hath brought you to this great extreamitie beleeue me doth now iustly endure a life worse then death then did she deliuer him the Letter that Oriana had written vnto him Hold sayd she your Lady sendeth you this and commandeth you by me that if you be the same Amadis that you were woât to be and hee whoÌ she so much loueth that forgetting all passed faults you come vnto her to the Castle of Mirefleur where a full satisfaction shall bee made vnto you for the sorrowes and anguishes which you haue suffered for your ouer feruent loue Here withall was the Faire Forlorne so greatly rauished that it was a long time before hee could answer one word but hee tooke the Letter which hee kissed without ceasing and afterwards put it next vnto his heart saying O poore heart so long time passioned that hardly hast thou beene able to resist such a tempest notwithstanding the abundance of teares which thou so continually hast distilled that it hath almost brought thee euen to the point of death receiue now this medicine the which only is conuenient for thy health and come forth of this darknes which so long hath blinded thee taking thy strength againe vnto thee to serue her that of her owne free grace causeth thee to reuiue Then opened hee the Letter which contayned The Letter of Oriana to Amadis IF great faults committed by enmitie acknowledged afterwards by humility are worthy of pardon what ought those to bee which are caused by too much abundance of loue Neuerthelesse my loyall friend I will not deny but that I haue deserued exceeding punishment for I ought to haue considered that at such times when any are in the greatest prosperity and mirth then fortune commeth and ouerthroweth them into sorrow and misery furthermore I ought to haue remembred me of your exceeding vertue and honesty which was neuer yet found faulty and most of all though I had died yet should I not haue forgotten the great seruitude of my pensiue heart which proceedeth from no other cause but onely from the same wherein your owne is tyed being certaine that so soone as any flame had beene therein quenched mine had as suddenly beene there-withall acquainted in such sort as the care which it hath had to aswage the mortall desires thereof hath been the onely cause to encrease the same But I haue done amisse like vnto them who being in the top of their felicity and most assured of the loue of those by whom they are beloued not being able to comprehend in them so much good become iealous and suspicious more by their owne imagination then by any reason ouer shadowing this bright happinesse with tha cloud of impatience beleeuing the report of some men it may bee wicked slanderers of small credit and vitious sooner then the witnesse of their owne conference and certaine experience Therefore my constant friend I beseech you bartely to receiue this Damosell âas beeing sent from her who acknowledgeth in all humility the great fault which she hath committed against you who shall better then my letter acquaint you with the extremitie of my life where of you ought to haue pittie not for any of mine own desert but for your owne reputation who are neither accounted cruell nor desirous of reuenge where you finde repentance and submition especially seeing that no penance may proceede from you more rigorous then that which I my selfe haue ordained for me and the which I doe bâre patiently hoping that you will release it restoring vnto me your good fauour and my life together which thereupon dependeth Herewithall a new ioy possessed the minde of the Faire Forlorne and hee quite banished the continuall melancholy which had so long tormented him neuerthelesse the perplexity wherein Oriana remained in expecting newes from him with held part of pleasure wherefore he praied the Damosell of Denmarke to aduise her selfe what she had to do for I feele my selfe said he so farre beside my selfe that I can thinke vpon no other thing but vpon the new restitution of my life which I haue receiued by your meanes I am of the opinion answered the Damosell seeing that these in my company do not know you to tell them that for pittie sake I will cary you to the Firme Island only to see if by changing the aire you may also change your malady the which was accordingly performed Notwithstanding the Faire Forlorne before his departure declared vnto the Hermit how the Gentlewoman had so long sought for him that now they were heere casually met together onely by meere chance and the storme which had brought her vnto the poore Rock And for this cause my father saide he I am constrained to leaue you and to follow her assuring you that so long as I liue I shall neuer forget the good which you haue done for mee for without your good help I had perished both body and soule And seeing that by your deuout praires as I beleeue I haue beene preserued hitherto I most humbly beseech you to haue your poore guest still in remembrance And moreouer to do so much for me that hereafter you would
doe your best to reforme the Monestary which I haue caused to be builded in the Firme-Island as heere tofore I haue tolde you the which the holy man promised to accomplish and with the teares in his eyes blessed the Faire Forlorne who without longer stay went aboord with the Damosell of Denmarke The sailes were no sooner horsed and the ship lanched out into the main but they had so stiffe a gale in their poupe that within a fewe daies after they arriued in a port of great Brittaine he not being as yet knowne by any other but the Damosell Then came they on shoare and tooke their ready way towardes Mirefleur where Oriana stayed their comming being well aduised to amend the fault that she had made And the Damosell in riding together with the Faire Forâârne sayd What ioy will my Ladie receiue when she shall beholde you belecue mee that neuer woman was in a more desperate case then she when she ââ¦stood by ãâã the ââ¦t at you had in ãâã her Lettâr ãâã assure you that shee was ãâã haue ãâã I doe greatly wonder how ââee hath beene abâ⦠vntill this time to suppâ⦠the ãâã which âhe yet possesseth And you neede not to doubt but that Mabila and I were greatly troubled for none of vs did know that my hrother was sent vnto you and my Lady had expresly charged him that in no sort hee should tell vs thereof which had like vâto haue beene the cause of ãâã ââischiefe then is yet happened Beleeue me said the Faire Forâââne I was neuer in greater danger ãâã death and I doe maruell whereâ⦠ãâã framed this imagination that shee hath conceiued against me seeing that I neuer thought to doe any thing which might displease her and although I should haue so faââ¦e forgotten my selfe yet did I not deserue such a cruell Letter as shee did write vnto mee For although I make not those bragges hipocrisies that a number can doe yet doe not I forget to measure the fauours and graces which I haue receiued at her âând and were not this thought ãâã in bad ground I am sure she would not be suspicious of the fruit thereof seeing that both the one and the other are wholly dedicated to serue and obey her Alas when Corisanda arriued in our Hermitage I did then verily think that my ende was come the good Lady bewailed her passion which she indured in louing my brother Plo restan too vehemently and I died with displeasure to bee so wrongfully banished by Oriana Hââ many paââes what ãâã what intollerable torments haue I suffered in the poore Rocke without receiuing consolation from any liuing creature but the good Hermit who perswaded mee to patiâ⦠Alas what hââ¦d pââ¦ââne I indured for her whââ¦m I neuer offended beleeue me Damo ãâã I was so exceeâ⦠troubled that euery houre I dââ¦red death and as often did I feare to lose my life But I pray you imagine the despaire wheren I remayned when I shewed vnto the Gentlewomen of Corisanda the song that I made in my greatest tribulation And as hee would haue proceeded in discoursing his dolours the Damosell of Denmarke sayd vnto him in good faith so farre as I perceiue you haue both indured much sorrow one for another and therefore you must forget what is past and amend what is to come With these and such like discourses thy arriued neere vnto a Nunnery which was in the midst of the forrest foure dayes iourney from London Doe ãâã know sayd the Damosell what I have thought vpon I thinke it for the best you doe tarry heere to rest your selfe and I will go vnto my Lady to tell her of your arriuall which done I will send Durin backe againe to let you know what you are to do Not withstanding I thinke it best that Enil should not yet know who you are no more then he now doth that hee should tarry heere with you to serue you but Durin already vnderstandeth somewhat of the affaires betwixt Oriana you wherefore you neede not feare to disclose your selfe vnto him Here-upon they called him and the Damosell of Denmarke sayd vnto him Brother you were partly cause of the losse of Amadis by the Letter which you carried to him and yet so farre as I perceiue you haue not hither to knowne him but doe you thinke it possible that this Hermite may be my Lord Amadis and neuerthelesse it is he without doubt but take heede vpon your life that he be not disclosed by you neither to Enil nor any other when Durin knew that his sister sayde true neuer was man more amazed then hee in the meane while they entered into the Nunnery where the Damosell called Enil and sayd vnto him Enil I pray thee tarry with this knight vntill hee haue a little recouered his strength and in the meane season my brother and I will depart about certaine busines that wee haue to doe By Saint Mary answered Enil I will obey whatsoeuer you shall commaund mee Then they departed and the Faire Forlorne remayned in the Nunnerie for the occasion aboue rehearsed CHAP. XI How Galaor Florestan and Agraies departed from the Firme-Island to goe seeke Amadis of whome they could heare no tydings at all where-upon they all returned vnto the Court of King Lisuart IT hath beene heretofore tolde you that Golaor Florestan and Agraies departed froÌ the Firme-Iland to begin the search of Amadis who was secretly departed from them You must now vnderstand that after they had trauayled thorough many strange countries wherein they performed many worthy deedes of armes and perillous aduentures without hearing any newes of Amadis seeing that their time approached wherein they promised one another to meete in the Court of King Lisuart they determined to returne thither and they all did meete euen vpon Saint Iohns day earely in the morning at an Hermitage hard by London according as they had appointed And the first that came thither was Galaor Agraies next and shortly after Florestan accompanied with Gandalin Glad were they all to see each other in health but so sorrowfull for the little good that they had done in this enterprise as the teares fell from their eyes Where-upon Gandalin shewing the dutie of a good and faithfull seruant said vnto them Beleeue me Lords all your teares cannot bring him whoÌ you desire to finde except it be by another diligent search which you may a fresh vndertake And allthough that you haue already done your best endeauour yet ought you not to thinke much of your labour but seeke him better then euer you did seeing that you are assured thoroughly what hee would haue done for euery one of you particularly if fortune had offered any occasion Now then if behooueth you to doe the like for him for if you doe lose him in this sort it shall not onely bee the losse of the most gentle knight in the world but of the neerest kinsman that you haue and ouer and besides it will be vnto you
pleasure that wee might heare such speedy newes from him as might giue vs cause to reioyce And as they talked together Gandalin cast his eye vpon Florestan who was talking with Corisanda whome Gandalin knew not but hee thought her to be one of the fairest Ladies that euer he had seene therefore hee beseeched the Queen to tell him who shee was the which shee did and the occasion wherefore shee was come into great Brittaine as also the loue which she did beare vnto Florestan for whose sake she staied at the Court if she doe loue him said Gandalin shee may well vaunt that her loue is imployed vpon him in whome all bounty remaineth and he is such a one that hardly may his equal be found in all the world and moreouer Madame I assure you that if your grace did know him so well as I you would not esteeme any knight more then he for he is of a most valiant heart and high resolution He seemeth to be such a one answered the Queen further-more hee is of so good a grace and alied to so many good knights that it is impossible but that hee should bee such a gentle knight as thou hast reported him to be In the meane season Florestan entertained his Lady and Mistris whom he loued most feruently not without a cause for shee was passing faire a rich Lady and alied to the noblest houses in all great Brittaine Who hauing remained yet some few dayes in the Court after his returne shee determined to depart and taking her leaue of the king and Queene she took her iourney toward her own countrey Two whole daies together did Florestan accompany her who promised her that so soone as he heard any newes of Amadis and that the battaile was past betwixt the two Kings Lisuart and Cildadan if he remained aliue hee would come vnto her to tarry with her a long time then taking his leaue of her hee returned vnto the Court But you must vnderstand that Oriana who had not forgotten her determination of going to Mirefleur departed the next morning with her traine where shee had not long remained but that she perceiued the amendment of her health and with the same her hope increased to see him whom shee so greatly desired And because that the king had appointed that during her aboade in that place of Mirefleur the gate should continually bee kept and that no body should enter thereinn Oriana foreseeing for the great desire shee had that it should be so the comming of Amadis shee sent to tell the Abbesse that shee should send vnto her the keyes of the Nunnerie gardens to walke thither sometimes for her recreation the which shee accomplished which were hard adioyning to the Castle but yet inclosed with very high walles And one day as Oriana walked there accompanied onely with Mabila seeing the place fauourable and fit for her purpose as if Amadis were returned she began to thinke of him in such sort and vpon the pleasure she should receiue by his presence that in speaking to herselfe she sayd Ah my onely hope my sollace and my intire refuge wherefore art thou not beere with mee seeing at this present I haue the meanes both to giue vnto thee and also to receiue of thee such case and contentment as we haue so oftentimes desired to receiue one of another At the least I wil not depart from hence vntil I haue wholy satisfied the hurt which by my ouer-great folly I haue procured vnto you but I will here attend your comming And if Fates or fortune doe permit mee to beholde you here shortly I promise you sweete loue to giue you the sure contentment that your seruent loue hath promised vnto you a long time but if my misfortune shall bee an hinderance vnto your speedy returne your only absence shall bee the meanes to hasten my end wherefore I beseech you to take pitty on this my weakenesse and to succour mee for I liue and yet languish in extreame bitternesse And seeing that euer hitherto you haue beene obedient vnto mee without contradicting me in any sort now the necessity beeing such I pray you by that power which you haue giuen mee ouer you that you would come to deliuer mee from death which I feele to approach and tarry not otherwise your delay will cause you ouer late to repent my vnhappy end In this sort did she speak as if Amadis had beene present when Mabila brake off her thought and Oriana changing her talke sayd to her Cosen seeing that wee haue the keyes of this place it were best that Gandalin should make some other like vnto them to the ende that your Cosen beeing returned may goe and come hither when as often as hee shall please It is wel aduised answered Mabila And as they were consulting there was one of the Porters sayd to Mabila Madam Gandalin is without who desireth to speake with you Let him come in answered Oriana for he hath beene brought vp with vs a long time and also he is foster brother vnto Amadis whom God preserue God so doe sayde the Porter it were a great damage that so good vertuous a knight should sustaine any hurt Then went he forth to goe seeke Gandalin and in the meane time Oriana said vnto Mabila I pray you see how your Cosen is beloued and esteemed of all men yea euen of the basest sort of people that are in a manner voyde of all vertue it is true answered Mabila Then Oriana sayde what would you haue mee doe but die hauing beene the onely cause of the ruine of him who is more worth then all the men in the world and who did better loue me then his owne selfe Ah accursed be the houre wherein I was borne seeing that by my folly and light suspition I haue done vnto him so great and so much wrong Madame answered Mabila I pray you forget these imaginations and onely arme you with hope for all this which you both say and doe serueth in no sort to ease your dolour Herewithall Gandalin entred in whom Oriana caused to sit downe by her and after some conference which they had together she recited how she had sent the Damosell of Denmark to seeke Amadis vnto whom shee had written a Letter containing that which you haue heard and what words also she had giuen her in charge to say vnto him therefore said the Princesse in thy opinion doest thou thinke that he will pardon me Madame answered Gandalin Me thinks you are little acquainted with his heart for I am sure for the least word that is in the letter hee will teare himselfe into an hundreth peeces for you if you do but onely command him by more likelyhood may you imagin whether he will be glad to come see you yea or no. And be you assured that seeing the Damosel of Denmarke hath vndertaken the charge to finde him that she will sooner accomplish the same then all the persons in the world
beside for I do not thinke seeing hee did hide himselfe from me that it is euer possible for any other but shee to finde him out For this cause Madam you ought henceforth to liue in good hope and to reioyce more then euer you did to the end that when he returneth he may not finde your beauty in such sort decayed What saist thou Gandalin answered she laughing doest thou thinke me now so vgly Nay rather Madame what do you thinke of your selfe that in this sort you doe hide you from the sight of all men I do it to this end said Oriana that when thy Master commeth if he would flie me for my deformity I might in this place stay him as my prisoner I would said he that he were here already and free from that other prison wherein hee remaineth for your loue Well said Oriana we haue now other matters in hand his Cosin and I haue done so much that wee haue gotten the keyes of these gardens by the which at his returne he may come in hither to see vs at al times and as often as he will and thou must do so much to cause two other keyes like these to bee made the which he shall keepe In good faith said Gandalin it is well and wisely aduised Then the Princesse deliuered him the keyes and without any longer staying in Mirefleur he returned to London where he executed his commission so diligently that the next morning he came vnto Mabila vnto whom he deliuered the counterfeit keyes who shewed them straight vnto Oriana saying vnto her behold already a good beginning for the recompencing of the hurt which you procured vnto your Amadis Mine answered Oriana I would to God he were here I then might well call him mine whether hee would or no Go to go to let vs not come out of Gods blessing into a warme Sun said Mabila but let vs see this night if Gandalin haue performed his taske well and whether the keyes will open the dores or not I pray you let vs said Oriana And for that present they made an end of their talke waiting a conuenient time to finish their enterprise and according to their appointment about mid-night when euery one were sound asleepe they secretly rose vp and came down into the Court it was then in the time of the moones waining and for that cause the darknes did beare the more sway wherefore Oriana began to bee afraid and said vnto Mabila I pray thee hold me by the hand for I am almost dead with feare No no I will defend you well enough answered shee am not I cosin to the most valiant knight in the world But although Oriana did tremble yet could shee not refraine from laughter said vnto her Let vs go then garded for I will henceforth thinke me safe being to be garded by you who are so valiant in deeds of armes Seeing that you knowe me so well answered Mabila let vs march on boldly and you shall see how I will finish this aduenture wherein if I faile I sweare that for one whole yeere I will neither hang shield about my necke nor strike one stroke with the Launce Heerewithall they began to laugh so loude that they might haue bin heard very easily and at the same instant they came vnto the dore where they tried the first key which they found maruailous fit and the second also wherefore they opened them without any difficultie and entered into the Orchard Then sayde Oriana vnto Mabila Cosin all that wee haue done is to no end except some-what more be done how may your cofin returne when wee once haue brought him into the place considering the height of the wals I haue already thought vpon that answered she it shall be very easie for him by the corner of this wall against the which wee will set by this peece of timber and with the same and our helpe together hee may easily mount vp to the top thereof but it behooueth that the chiefest helpe come from you for you onely reape the commoditie thereof Wee shall see what will happen sayde Oriana and therefore for this time let vs depart and goe to sleepe the which they did And as they laid them downe in their bed Mabila on bracing Oriana saide vnto her Madame I would that the knight for whome you attempt so many fair enterprises were now in my place vpon this condition that I did goe to sleepe else-where because I would heare none of your complaints for the harme that hee might doe vnto you Gentle cosin answerrd she if he were here I would endure very much before I would complaine of it And so long they continued this pleasant discourse that loue stinged them so vehemently as euery amorous Reader may easily imagine what they wanted to cause them sleep till the next morning that they went to hear diuine seruice and at their returne they found that Gandalin was already come from London whom they led with them into the garden where they told him how they had tryed the keyes and what words Mabila had vsed in the proouing of them By my faith Madame answered he you do now put me in minde of some iniurious speech that I vsed of you vnto my Lord thinking thereby to haue comforted him but therewithall he had thought to haue taken my head froÌ my shoulders and shortly after I did abide sore penance for thus leasing because that I fell asleepe and when I awaked I neyther found my bridle nor saddle for my Master rode away and had hidden them of purpose to stay me from following of him Wherefore seeing that he was lost and that he had left mee for the words that I had spoken of you I was driuen into such a Melancholy that I had slaine my selfe if I had had a sword to do it friend Gandalin answered Oriana thou needest not to excuse him I knâw that he loueth me without ââ¦lation therefore I pray thââ put mee no more in remembrance of that mischiefe whereof I am the chiefe cause except thou wilt force my Soule and body to part asundet for thou knowest that I stand betweene life and death according to the newes that the Damosell of Denmarke shall report vnto mee CHAP. XII How King Lisuart being set at the Table there came before him a strange knight armed at all points who defied him the conference that Florestan âad with him and how Oriana was comforted with the good newes that she receiued from Amadis KIng Lisuart being ready to rise from dinner as Galaor and Dââ Florestan were taking their leaue of him to conduct Corisanda onward of her iourney there entred into the hall a strange knight armd at al points except onely his head-peece and gauntlets Who kneeled before the King and deliuered vnto him a Letter sealed with fiue seales hee said vnto him It may please your Maiesty to command this Letter to be read that you may vnderstand the cause of my comming
defie the Giants as Landin had done him and became that the Court was troubled for these vnhappy newes the king desiring to make the company merry said vnto Galaor it is come into my remembrance faire knight to doe one thing princely for you that will greately delight you Then âie caused his youngest daughter Leânor with all her Gentlewomen to be called who were all aparrelled in one liuerie each of them hauing chaplets of floures vpon their heads Whom hee commanded to dance and âing as they were accustomed to doe often-times And you my darling said he to Leonor begin with the same song that Amadâs made for the loue of you being your Knight Herewithall the young princessâ did sing The Song Leonor sweete Rose all other floures excellâ⦠For thee I feele strange thoughts in ãâã rebelling I lost my liberty when I did ãâã Vpon thâse lights which ãâ¦ã And ãâã ãâã free ãâã ãâã become a ãâ¦ã ãâã ãâã doe I ãâã this ãâ¦ã ãâã for that ãâ¦ã ãâã sweete rose c. For thee I ãâã c. I ãâã ãâã in ãâã ãâã âight My heart is ãâã thy selfe my chieâe delight ãâã yet I see the ââre that I doe loue More smart I feele more paine more griefe I ãâã ãâã let loue râgâ ãâã he be angry euer ãâã ââke my ââ¦e for gââ¦e though I gaine neuer ãâã sweete rose c. And though ãâã you I manifest my ââ¦s My ââ¦e my smart another knoweâ One vnto whom I secretly inuoke Who is the cause of this ây âire my smoke She hath a salue to cure my endlesse griefe And onely she may yeelde me some reliefe Leonor sweet rose all other flowers excelling For thee I feele strange thoughts in ãâã rebelling And seeing that it happeneth out so conueniently I will tell you vpon what occasion Amadis made this song One day the Queene being talking with Oriana Mabila and Oliâda Amadis comming into her chamber shee called her daughter Leânâr and saide vnto her that she should Princely goe and request Amadis to bee her knight and that from thenceforth he should serue her without bearing affection to any other but to her The little Princesse thinking that her mother did speake in good earnest did rise vp with a good grace came and made this request vnto Amadis whereupon all the Ladies and Gentlewomen began to laugh But Amadis taking her vp in his armes said vnto her My little Lady if you will haue me to be your Knight bestow some pretty fauour vpon me in token that you are my Mistresse and that I am your seruant I haue nothing answered shee but this carquent of gold that I were vpon my head The which she suddainly vntied gaue it vnto him wherewithal euery one againe began to laugh seâing how verely shee beleeued the words of Amadis who for her sake did make this song And the same did Leânâr and her playfellowes sing as you haue heard the which did greatly delight all the company which being ended they made a lowly obeisance returned vnto the place where the Queen sate Then the king tooke Galaor Florestan and Agraies apart who were desiring leaue of his Mastistie to accompany Corisanda some part of her way and he said vnto them My friends you are the three persons of the worlde vpon whome I doe chiefly rely You know the battaile that I haue agreed vnto with King Cildadaâ which is to be performed in the first weeke of the moneth of August wherein wee shall finde against vs many strong Giants who are bloudy people full of crueltie Wherefore I pray you not to vndertake henceforth any matter or aduenture that may let you from keeping of mee company otherwise you shall doe me a most great displeasure because that by your ayde I trust in God that the pride and presumption of mine enemies shall bee abated and wee shall remaine conquerours and they quite ouerthrowne and discomfited Most royall King answered Galaor there is no neede to vse either prayer or commandement vnto vs to perswade vs to bee in a place so famous for although wee had not at all any such intention as we haue to serue your Maiestie yet the desire to fight against such personages should neuerthelesse not bee diminished in vs seeing that it is the onely duty of all good Knights to hazard them-selues in such enterprises where they may gaine honour and reputation Therefore your Maiesty may be assured that our returne hither shall bee very shortly and in the meane season you may communicate this matter vnto the rest of your knights to incourage and to confirm them in the same good will that now they haue to serue your Maiesty the which counsell the King liked well of and there-withall hee gaue them leaue to depart Thus they went together in the conduct of Corisanda as I haue already recited Now had Gandalin heard all this talke that had passed seene how the three knights were departed whereuppon hee went to Mârefluer to declare the same vnto Oriana Mabila who were very much disquieted with this new defiance that the Gyââts had sent vnto the King Neuerthelesse Oriana sayde vnto Gandalin In good âooth seeing that Corisanda now hath Florestan so much at her commandement considering the vehement loue that she doth beare vnto him mee thinkes shee should bee very glad thereof and long may she so continue for she is a most sober and wise and vertuous Lady and such a one that deserueth it well Saying so she began to weepe with a deepe sigh she sayd Aâ fortune why doest thou not yet permit me to beholde my Lord Amadis one onely day I beseeâh thee either to grant me this good or to spare my life no longer because my soule doth loath it Herewithall shee became so sad that it greatly pittied Gandalin to beholde her who notwithstanding dissembling his griefe faigning not to be content with this talke answered her Mâdame you must not bee offended if henceforth I come no more in your presence for I did alwaies hope that my Lord Amadis would haue returned hither again every shortly and now hearing you ân these ââarmes I am quite depriued of this benefit I pray thee good friend Gaudalin sayd shee be not angry I swear to thee by my faith that if I could looke with a merrâer countenance I would willingly doe it but I cannot otherwise do for my heart yet remaining in continuall heauinesse will in no sort permit me and were it not for the consolation which thou hast giuen me I assure thee that I should not haue the power to stand vpon my feet so much doe I feele my selfe grieued with this warre that my father hath vndertaken the successe whereof I doe exceedingly feare by reason of thy Master his absence Madame answered Gaudalin hee shall not now bee any where so secret but that hee shall haue newes thereof and I am very sure that notwithstanding all the disgraces and disfauours that you haue done vnto
I adore When the Faire Forlorne heard him hee presently knewe that it was Famongomad who was wont to cut off the heads of all those that hee might take and to shed their blood before an Idoll that hee had in the burning lake by whose counsell hee was gouerned in all his affaires although hee then had no desire to fight as well because he would not faile to be at Mirefleur according as Oriana had willed him as also because he was wearie and tyred with the encounter that he had had against the ten knights yet knowing the persons that were in the cart amongst whom was Leonor the Kings daughter her Gentlewomen and the ten knights that hee had ouerthrowne hee determined either to die or deliuer theÌ knowing what grief the losse of her sister would be vnto Oriana whom Famongomad and his sonne did take at vnawares and all the rest of her traine in a manner as soone as the Faire Forlorne had left them and in this sort they had bound and fettered them in the cart that they might afterwards most cruelly put them to death For this cause hee willed Enil to giue him his armes My Lord sayd he doe you not see these diuels that are comming towards vs For Gods sake let vs begone and hide vs from them then may you arme your selfe at ease for I would not tarry their comming for all the wealth in London I will doe better if I may sayd the Faire Forlorne I will first try my fortune and although thou doest thinke them diuels thou shalt see them slaine by one onely knight for their life is so odious before God that hee will giue mee the strength to reuenge as I hope all those miserable cruelties which they from day to day doe commit Alas my Lord sayde Enil you will wilfully lose your selfe seeing that if twenty of King Lisuart his best Knights had vnder-taken that which you alone thinke to doe yet might they hardly escape with honor Care not thou for that answered hee if I should let such an aduenture passe before mine eyes and not bee an actor therein I were vnworthy euer to come into the company of good and vertuous men and therefore whatsoeuer may chance thereof I care not This said he left Enil weeping and went vnto that side where he might easily beholde Mirefleur because the remembrance of Oaiana was still present before him and he bagan to say O my Lady and onely hope neuer did I enterprise any aduenture the which I haue not by your means atchiued and now that I knowe you are so neere vnto mee and that it is for a thing that so much importeth you forsake mee not I pray you in this extreamity Herewithall he imagined that his strength was redoubbled and setting apart all feare hee went toward the cart and said vnto the Dwarffes stay you base slaues for you shall all die and your maisters also When the Gyant heard these threats hee entred into such fury that the smoke proceeded from his eyes in such sort as it seemed they had beene on a fire and hee did shake his bore-speare with such force that he almost doubled both ends together Then hee answered the Faire Forlorne Vnhappy and vnfortunate wretch how durst thou bee so bold to come before me Yet hee made as though he heard him not but couched his Launce and setting spurres to his horse he smote the Gyant a little beneth the wast with such strength as pearcing the ioynts of his harnesse the Launce entred into his tripes with such exceeding force that passing quite through it hit against the hinder part of the saddie and broke the giââs of the horse ouerthrowing both ãâã and saddle euen in a momentâ⦠uerthelesse before the Gyants âallâ he couched his bore speare thinking to haue hit the Faire Forlorne but it missed him stroke thorow his horses flankes wherefore he feeling that hee was wounded to death did very himbly alight downe and although that Famongomad was in like sort deadly wouÌded with the great rage that hee felt hee rose vp and with both his hands hee pulled forth the trounchon of the Launce that stucke in his body and threw it at the Faire-Forlorne with such extreame fury that hee thought to haue ouer-throwne him and so greatly did he straine himselfe to hurle the same that the tripes came out of his belly and he tumbled ouer and ouer Therewithall he cried Basigant my deere son reuenge the death of thy sorrowfull Father if thou canst At this crye Basigant approched holding a weighty bill wherewithall hee thought to haue strooken the Faire Forlorne but he stepped aside and the blow passed by so forcibly that if it had hit him it had clouen him quite asunder Then the Faire Forlorne being very ready and expert stretched forth his arme and stroke the Gyant so great a blowe that hee cut the one halfe of his legge away although that with the great fury wherein hee remained hee could not as then feele it but lifted vp his bill the which turned in his fist which was a happy chance for the Faire Forlorne who receiued the blowe vpon his Shielde within the which it entered so farre that the Gyant could not pull it forth And as hee striued to get it out hee raised him vpon his stirrops to haue the more strength By the meanes where of the sinues of his legge which were cut a sunder fayled him wherewithal he felt such great greefe that not being able to keep his sadle he kissed the ground with his nose and in falling the Faire Forlorne stroke him another blow vpon his right arme so that he was forced to forsake his bill and leaue it in the power of his enemy Notwithstanding his hart was so great that hee rose vp againe and drew forth his sword that was maruailous long with the which he layed at the Faire Forlorne with all his strength and hee strained himselfe so much that the blood issued froÌ his wounds in such great aboundance that all his strength fayled him and he fel down together with his blow which lighted vpon the stones wherewith the sword brake in two pieces The which the Faire Forlorne perceiuing hee stepped aside and set his hands vnto the bill in such sort that by force hee pulled it out of his shield wherewith he stroke so great a blow vpon the Giants helmet that he made it flie from his head but the Giant with that little remainder of his sword that hee yet helde pared away the top of his helmet together with a little of the skin and haire of his head the which blow if he had stroken somewhat lower hee had cut his head off Therewithal they that were in the cart thought that the Faier Forlorne had beene wounded to death and himselfe was so astonished that hee thought his dayes to bee ended wherefore desiring to bee reuenged hee gaue him such another great blowe with the bill that hee cut off his eare
with halfe of his face with the which he yeelded vp the ghost During all this combate the Princesse Leonor and all her company were deuoutly praying for the good successe of the Faire Forlorne who seeing that he was dispatched of Basigant turned vnto Famongâmad who had behelde the death of his sonne for whome hee made so great mone that he was likely to haue gone mad And although that hee was likewise at the point of death yet notwithstanding hee had throwne his helmet from his head holding both his hands before his wound to keepe in his blood that thereby he might prolong his life the more to blaspheme God and his saints not being sorry for his death as he said but because that he had not in his life time destroyed al the churches wherein he had neuer entred And he cryed as loud as he could Ah thou God of the christians it is thon alone that hast wrought the meanes that both I and my sonne who were mighty inough to ouer-throwe one hundred of the best knights in the world are slaine by the hand of a most wretched and feeble villaine And as hee would haue proceeded in his his blasphemy the Faire Forlorne stroke off his head from his shoulders saying Receiue thy reward for all thy cruelties which thou hast committed against a number of people And spurning him vpon the belly with his foote hee said Now get thee vnto all the Deuils who haue long expected thy comming Then he tooke vp Basigant his Helmet and threw downe his owne which was broken Enil in like sort brought vnto him Famongâmad his horse vpon the which he mounted and came both to vnbinde the prisoners and to doe his duty vnto the Princesse Leonor who gaue him great thankes for his good helpe In like sort so did all the rest of the company Now had the Giants tyed all their horses at the tayle of the Cart wherefore the faire Forlorne went to seeke out the Princesse her Palfrey the which he brought and mounted her vpon the same commanding all the rest to take euery one their owne horse and to get them to London and to carrie vnto king Lisuart the bodies of the two Giants and Basigant his horse which will serue him well in the battaile against king Cildadan But the Knights answered him sir who shall wee say hath done this good for vs you shall tell the king said he that it is a strange knight who is called the faire Forlorne and you may both declare vnto him at large the cause of the combat that I had with the Giants as also the great desire that I haue to doe his Maiesty all the seruice I may whether it be against king Cildadan or any other herewithall they layed both the bodies in the Cart but they were so great that their legs trayled along vpon the ground more then six foote and taking leaue of the faire Forlorne they went towardes London praising God and the good knight that preserued them from death But by the way Leonor and the yong Gentlewomen that were with her forgeting their passed perill made them garlands of flours which they set vpon their heads in entring into the Citty theÌ the people wondring to see the Giants followed the Cart euen vnto the castle to vnderstand who had done such valiant deedes of armes The king did already know that his daughter was arriued and how shee brought with her two dead Giants wherefore he went downe into the Court with the Queen and many knights Ladies and Gentlewomen with them to see what the matter was the which the Princesse Leonor recited vnto him together with all that you haue already heard whereat euery one wondred And euen as shee had ended her discourse in came Don Quedragans who yeelded him prisoner into the kings hands as being sent thither by the faire Forlorne the which increased in all the assistants farther desire to know him that lately had done so many knightly deeds And the king said in good faith I doe greatly meruaile what he may be but is there none of you that doe know him And it was answered him no saying that Corisanda Lady and friend to Don Florestan had found in the poore Rock as heretofore she had declared vnto many a sick knight that was named the faire Forlorne I would said the king that he were in this company beleeue mee that he should not depart from vs for any thing that hee would demand of me CHAP. XIIII How that after the Faire Forlorne had ended his aduenture hee went vnto the Fountaine of the three Chanels from thence he tooke his way to Mirefleur where he found Oriana with whom hee remained eight daies together and at the same time there arriued in the Court of King Lisuart an ancient Gentleman bringing with him two lewels of singular vertue whereby the faithfull louer from the fayned might be tried the which Amadis and Oriana determined to make proofe of in such secret manner that they would neyther be knowne of the king nor any other AFter that the Princesse Leonor and her trayne had taken their leaue of the Faire Forlorne he returned towards the Gentlewomen whom hee had found hard by the fountaine who hauing seene the victory which hee had atchieued had already forsaken the bushes came to meete him Then he commanded Enil to get him to London vnto Gandalin and that during his abode there he should cause such another armor as that of his owne was to be made for him because they were all to broken and battered with the blowes that he had receiued in the former combats moreouer that he should not faile to returne vnto the fountaine of the three chanels vpon the eight day following Thus Enil departed from him and on the other side the Faire Forlorne hauing taken his leaue of the GentlewomeÌ rode through the Forrest and they tooke their right way to Mireflure where being arriued they declared to Oriana and Mabila the dangerous combat and glorious victory that was performed in their presence by a knight called the Faire Forlorne When Oriana knew for truth that he was so neere vnto her castle ioy and extreame pleasure accompanied with a most feruent desire entred into her immagination in such sort that vntil she had him in her armes she neuer lost sight of the high way that led from the Forrest by the which he was to come By this time was the Faire Forlorne alighted from his horse hard by a little Riuer staying vntill it were night for he would not be seene by any at his entring into Mireflure Then hee put off his Helmet and laide him downe vpon the grasse and there-withall hee began to thinke vpon the instabilitie of Fortune and vpon the miserable despaire wherein not long before he remained when with his owne hands he was ready to haue effected his death and also how he was not only now restored to his former felicitie but also aduanced to greater honour glory
and contentment then before knowing that he was so neere that ioy which hee should receiue with his Lady Oriana In this cogitation remained the Faire Forlorne vntill after sun set when hee mounted on horseback and came vnto the place that Durin had assigned him where he fouÌd him together with Gandalin who stayed there for him to take his horse TheÌ he alighted down demanded of them what the ladies were doing my Lord answered Gandalin they are on the other side in the gardeÌ where they haue already staied for you more then foure houres Help me then to get vp The which they did and hee being vpon the wall beholding Oriana and Mibila on the other side hauing not so much patience as to stay for their helpe he leaped from the top of the wall downe to the ground and as hee would haue kneeled to haue done his dutie the Princesse ran to embrace him and in kissing him she was like to haue fallen in a swound betweene his armes But who could imagine the pleasure that they yeelded the one vnto the other Amadis hee trembled like a leafe not being able to speake one Word holding his mouth close vnto Orianaâs who as it were in an extasie did behold him with such an eye that it made them both twaine to liue and die together In this sort they remained more then a good quarter of an houre and euen vntill that Mabila smiling said vnto Oriana Madam I pray you at the least before my cosin do die let vs haue a sight of him if it please you Soft and faire answered Oriana let mee a while alone with him and then you shall after-wards haue him at your pleasure Herewithall Amadis saluting Mabila said vnto her My good Cosin this is not the first day that you haue knowne how much I am yours I beleeue you well sir but my Lady would haue you wholly to her selfe Alas said she haue I not reason seeing that I alone was likely by my fault to haue beene the causer of his losse Beleeue me deere friend the griefe which you felt and the teeres that you haue shed by the fault that I committed shall be now both acknowledged and thorowly recompenced Madam said Amadis you haue neuer been at any time but the procurer of all my happinesse and fauor and if I haue felt any tribulation I and not you haue been the causer thereof therefore haue I iustly sustained whatsoeuer sorrow I haue suffered Alas sweete loue answered Oriana when I thinke vpon the estate wherein Corisanda and the Damosell of Denmarke did finde you and the abundance of teares and lamentations that continually distilled from your eyes as they haue told me I assure you that yet my mind is troubled therwith Madam said hee the teares wherof you speake were no teares for long before the comming of Corisanda to the poore Rock the spring whereof was dried vp but it was an humor proceeding from my heart the which did so continually burne in your loue that being constrained by the force of the flame it did draw vp to the eyes that moysture which nature had placed about the heart to preserue it and to giue it life and I beeleue that if the Damosell of Denmarke had stayed from bringing me that reliefe which I receiued of her in steede of teares which distilled from mine eyes the soule it selfe had departed Sweete loue said the Princesse I know well that I committed a great errour in writing that letter which Durin did bring to you but you should then haue remembred how that all women are weake and very light of beleefe especially in things wherein they are affectioned and wherein by too extreame loue they are often times carried away made suspitious euen as I haue beene against you wherefore the greater that mine offence is the greater praise shall you win in pardoning me the which I beseech you to do being ready to receiue such punishment therefore as it shall please you to giue vnto me and to satisfie you at your owne discretion Alas Madam said Amadis it is I that should demand pardon of you for if I should die for your loue most pleasant would that death be vnto me But this much I assure you that I had neuer beene able to haue resisted this great sorrow that I haue suffered had it not beene that my martiredome was eased knowing the pleasure which you would receiue in the same that it tooke such force vnto it as death was not of sufficient power in any sort to bring it to an end Let vs leaue off this talke for this time said Mabila you haue both suffered wrong determine therefore henceforth how it may be recompensed and now to eschue the vapours of the night which may be vnto you somewhat hurtfull let vs retire vnto some couert I like your counsell well answered Oriana Therewithall Amadis was brought into her chamber and presently Mabila and the Damosel of Denmarke knowing that they should do them a pleasure to leaue them alone went forth faining to goe about some other affaires Then the princesse requested Amadis to sit downe in a chayre couered with veluet which stood in a corner of the chamber and she stood leaning vpon him that shee might at more ease kisse him and hang about his necke whereupon he being ouercome with an extream amorous passion left off his wonted modesty thrusting one of his hands into Oriana her prettie breasts and the other towards the place by him most affected where-with Oriana halfe ashamed in stretching her selfe along because she would not looke in his face saide vnto him My deere loue I beleeue that the hermit of the poore Rock taught you not this lesson Madame answered hee I beseech you to pardon my rashnesse takeing pitty of me and seeing that both time and place is so fauourable vnto vs be not you more contrary vnto me then they but suffer mee to continue that fauour wherof by your good grace I haue taken possession when I deliuered you from the handes of Arcalaus My ioy answered Oriana you know that I am so wholly yours that you cannot dispose of your selfe more then of me neuerthelesse how may I possibly at this time satisfie your desire seeing that your Cosin and the Damosel of Denmarke are so neere vnto vs Alas said he they haue hitherto been the cause of my life and now since they haue farther assisted me do you thinke that they will desire my death Assure you Madam that they are already so well acquainted with our affections especially the Damosell of Denmarke that although they haue not seen them effected yet it mny be they haue presumed as much and more therfore I beseech you in acquiting you of your promise to succour me Which said hee gaue such large scope vnto his passions that notwithstanding all the faint resistance that Oriana could make against him hee had that of her which he most desired tasting together of the sweete fruit which
may dispose of me at your pleasure so as I doe more feare the danger whereinto these Gentlewomen may fall if wee should be discouered then any of our owne and me thinks it were good to heare what their opinion is before we vnder-take any thing Whatsoeuer shall please you Madam answered the faire Forlorne that do Then shee called Mabila and the Damosel of Denmarke who were talking with Gandalin vnto whom they declared all that you haue heard And although that vndoubtedly the danger was very great neuerthelesse the gentlewomen seeing that they whom it did neerest touch were as they thought most forward therein they would not speake that which they thought thereof and answered Oriana that in troth she should nener in all her life haue the like occasion to win the most pretious Iewell in the world Well said the Princesse vâto the faire Forlorne doe then what you thinke best I will tel you answered hee how wee may goe I will answered Enil who as yet doth not know what I am to tell the King that a strange Knight with his Lady will make triall of those Iewels if it so please his Maiesty to giue them safe conduct that nothing shal be said nor done vnto them against their wil which granted I will conduct my Lady disguised in strange apparell hauing a very fine laune or cipresse before her face thorow the which she may see euery one and yet shall not she bee knowne of any and I being wholy armed with my beuer downe will leade het By my faith said Mabila your enterprise is great but I haue a garment that my mother did lately send vnto me by the Damosell of Denmarke of the rarest fashion in the world which will be fit for this purpose and if it please my Lady wee will presently try it vpon her herewithal they went for it which being brought she and the Damosell of Denmarke apparelled her there-with after so strange a manner that they all began to laugh seeing the Princesse so disguised and whatsoeuer the faira Forlorne had before determined to doe they thought might now be very easily performed Whereupon they forth-with commanded Gandalin to go buy some faire Palfrey for Oriana and that hee should not faile to bring him to the end of the Castle wall of Mirefleur the night before the trial of these Iewels was to be performed and further that he should aduertise Durin to bring his horse the same euening into that place where hee first alighted when hee entred into the garden For I wil depart said he this night to goe vnto the Fountaine of the three channels where Enil is to meete mee whom I will forth-with send vnto the King to purchase out safe conduct Thus Gandalin departed who did effectually performe whatsoeuer was committed to his charge Therefore so soone as the euening was come the faire Forlorne tooke his leaue of the Ladies who brought him vnto the foote of the garden wall and sliding down on the other side he found where Durin held his horse vpon the which he mounted taking his way towards the Eorrest and about the breake of day he arriued at the fountaine where within a while after Eâil came bringing with him the Armor which he had caused to bee made with the which he armed himselfe and then demanded of him what newes there was in the Court My Lord answered hee euery man there speaketh of your prowesse and there is not any one but is very desirous to be acquainted with you Then falling from one speech to another hee began to tell him the newes of the old Gentleman who had brought the Sword and the Kerchiefe Trust me said the faire Fâââorne it is now foure dayes ago since a Gentlewoman aduertised mee thereof vpon this condition that I should cary her to the court to make triall of this aduenture therefore I am constrayned to go thither neuerthelesse thou knowest how much I desire not to bee yet knowne of the King not of any other vntill my deedes do giue them further testimony of my valour then yet they haue For this cause thou must returne vnto London to tell the King that if it please him to giue security vnto a Gentlewoman and me that nothing shall be eyther said or done vnto vs against our wils we will come to make trial of the stranger his request but faile not in like sort to aduertise the Queene and her Ladies how the Gentlewoman constrayneth mee to conduct her thither according to the promise that I haue made vnto her and that otherwise I would not haue come there and after thou hast fulfilled my commandement faile not in any case to returne hither the night before these Iewels must be shewed In the meane season I will goe seeke the Gentlewoman who is somewhat far from hence and according to the answere that thou shalt bring vnto vs wee will eyther go forward or return back againe Then Enil departed and the faire Forlorne tooke the way to Mirefleur where hee arriued as soone as day was shut in and there he found Durin ready to receiue his horse By whose helpe hee got ouer the wall and entred into the garden where Oriana and the other gentlewomen were of whom he was most courteously entertained but when Mabila espied him comming she said vnto him what is the cause my good Cosin that you are more braue now then you were this last morning Haue you met with any good booty of late You know not the meaning there-of answered Oriana hee went of purpose for this faire Armour thinking to escape by force from this prison wherein we kepe him Is it true said Mabila if you determine to fight with vs see that you be well aduised first for you haue somewhat to do And in this sort iesting together they came vnto the Princesse her chamber where his supper was brought vnto him for all that day he neyther had eaten nor drunken fearing least hee should haue been discouered CHAP. XV. How the Damosell of Denmarke was sent vnto London to know what answere Enil had receiued from the King touching the safe conduct which was demanded by the faire Forlorne who did afterwards bring Oriana thither to proue the strange Iewels AS soone as the faire Forlorne was returned to Mirefleur he told Oriana how Enil was gone to the Court according to their determination concluded the day before Wherupon the Princesse desirous to know an answere and also to prouide all things necessary for their safety before hand shee sent the Damosell of Denmarke vnto the Queen to certify her Maiesty that because she found her selfe some-what ill at ease it would please her grace to hold her excused if shee could not as yet come and do her dutie vnto her Highnesse So the Damosell departed and returned not vntill it was very late for shee stayed the arriuall of the Queene Briolania to meet with whom the king himselfe did go and she came into the court with one hundred
knights ready to begin the search of Amadis according to the appointment of Galaor and Florestan and therefore she was determined not to depart from Queene Brisena vntil they were returned again neyther would she nor her women bee apparrelled with other Garments then of black cloth vntill he were found for such weeds did she weare at such time as hee did make her Queene and now would shee neuer change her manner of life if he were lost In your iudgment said Oriana is she so faire as the report goeth of her So helpe me God answered the Damosell except your grace she is the fairest woman and of the best behauiour that euer I did see shee was very sorry when she heard of your sicknesse and shee sendeth you word by me that she will come and doe her dutie vnto you so soone as you shall thinke conuenient Truely said Oriana I am more desirous to see her then any other that I doe know Madam answered the faire Forlorne beleeu me she well deserueth that you should shew her all the honour you may although heretofore you haue wrongfully sustayned some griefe for her sake gentle loue said the Princesse for Gods sake let vs speake no more of passed melancholies for I am assured that I did thinke amisse You shall yet be better assured answered he by the testimony that you shall receiue of those Iewels which we shall gaine the which will henceforth quite extinguish all those vnhappy fancies that you haue conceiued against me if they should chance to returne againe into your thought increasing in you the opinion of that zeale and dutie which I doe owe and beare vnto you My Lord said Oriana I am well assured that the kerchiefe shall make you beleeue that what wrong soeuer you receiued of me proceeded of no other cause but by the extreame loue which I did beare vnto you we shall see shortly said the Damosell of Denmarke what will happen For the king hath granted your request by Enil In this sort did Oriana and the test of her company passe away the time vntill the day came wherein they must depart to make triall of that which you haue heard which caused her to rise about midnight attiring her as the faire Forlorne had deuised and hee likewise was armed at all points that done they passed through the garden and came to the place where Gandalin held their horses in readines Then mounted they vpon them taking their way toward the Forrest right vnto the Fountaine of the three channels But there Oriana thinking vpon the enterprise which she went about foreseeing the inconuenience and danger thereof not onely if she were disclosed but also how if she failed in gaining the kerchiefe Amadis might haue iust cause to suspect her and by that meanes she might loose that good reputation which shee had gotten with him Herewithall she began to repent her forwardnesse and to tremble so extreamly that the faire Forlorne perceiued it who said vnto her Madam had I thought you would haue been so ill at ease with this voyage I sweare vnto you that I would rather haue died then haue brought you out of doores therefore if it please you let vs returne againe to Mirefleur So saying he turned his horse head neuerthelesse Oriana considering that by her an aduenture so recommendable should bee deferred changed her minde and answered him I beseech you sweete loue not to take any heede vnto the feare that a timerous woman may haue in the middest of this great wood but vnto the vertue and valor that remaineth in you Very sorry was the faire Forlorne because hee had spoken in such sort vnto her doubting lest he had offended her and he said vnto her Madam seeing that your discretion hath surmouted my âolly I beseech you to pardon me for I assure you my meaning was not to speake any thing that should be offensiue vnto you As they had ended their conference they came vnto the fountaine being yet an houre from day where they had not long stayed before Enil came vnto them whereat they were very ioyfull Then the faire Forlorne saide vnto Oriana Madame behold the Esquire which I promised you to send vnto king Lisuart by whose answere we may determin what to do In faith my Lord answered Enil he sendeth you by me all the assurance that you demand and further he aduertiseth you that the triall of the aduenture beginneth this day after his Maiesties comming from the Chappell All the better said the faire Forlorne wee shall then haue no great cause of stay Hereupon hee gaue him his shield and launce and without putting off his Helmet at all they tooke the right way to London the people had already heard that the knight which did ouercome the Giants should come vnto the kings lodging they said one to another Heauens shield the faire Forlorne from all mischiefe for he is worthy of great praise and most happy may that Lady thinke her selfe to whom he remaineth a seruant These words might Oriana vnderstand very well wherewith she was not a little ioyfull knowing that she was Lady Mistris of him whom so many people did both loue honor afterward they came and alighted at the Palace where they found the king Queen Ladies and a great number of knights already assembled all together in a great hal to make trial who should gaine the old mans Iewels And as soon as they knew of the arriuall of the Faire Forlorne the King rose vp with his traine to receiue them wherefore the Faire Forlorne kneeling down would haue kissed his hands but the K. lifted him vp saying vnto him My good friend you are most hartily welcome hither where you shall be as free as you would wish for you haue done as much seruice for me in so small a time as euer any knight performed either for King or Prince The Faire Forlorne answered not one word but onely bowed himselfe to his maiestie in signe of thankes and without stepping one foote from Oriana whom he held by the hand they came towards the Ladies who did all salute them very courteously You may imagine if the young Princesse were not now in some feare to be discouered being in such an assembly for the Queene her mother stepped vnto her looking her stedfastly in the face although it was couered with a laune and she said vnto her Gentlewoman I do not know who you are for to my knowledge I did neuer see you neuerthelesse for the loue of this knight in whose custody you are that hath done the king so great sernice assure you that in this place shal be shewed vnto you all the honour and seruice that possibly may bee For the which the Faire Forlorne humbly thanked her Maiestie but Oriana without speaking one word held her head down continually Therewithall the king and all his knights withdrew them to one side and the Queene and her Ladies to the other And in the meane time the Faire
this battaile for because I would be partaker of all the good honor or hurt that may happen vnto those which shall accoÌpany me Greatly did Galaor like of the kings magnanimous determinations and answered him beleeue me it is not for nothing that your Maiesty is estemed the most vertuous and valiantest Prince of the world and if all kings could as well represse the counsell of those who disswade them from their haughtie enterprises none durst be once so bold as to say any thing vnto them but that which should bee for their honour and glory but now your Maiesty may bee pleased to see what Vrganda hath written vnto me Herewithall he began to reade his Letter wherein was contained this which ensueth Vnto you Don Galaor of Gaule most valiant and hardie Knight I Vrganda the Vnknowne doe send all hearty salutations as she who both loueth and esteemeth you I will that you should vnderstand that which must happen vnto you in this cruell battell betweene the two kings Lisuart and Cildadan If you be there be you sure that in the end thereof your large and strong members shall want power to assist your inuincible heart at the departure from the Combat your head shall bee in his power who with the three blowes that he shall strike shall remaine conqueror In faith said the king if the contents of the Letter be true and that you bee in this conflict you see your death prepared which should bee a great losse considering your valiant beginning in deeds of armes therefore I shall so order the matter as at this time you shall be excused from thence It may please your Maiesty answered Galaor I now do very wel perceiue that the counsell which euen now I deliuered vnto you hath displeased your Maiesty when seeing mee sound and able of body you would perswade me to a matter so greatly to my dishonour God forbid that I should herein obey you Gentle friend said the king you speake both vertuously and valiantly for the which I thanke you and for this time let vs leaue off this talke and my aduice is that none do see our Letters for it may bee they may cause some feare astonishment euen in the hearts of those that doe thinke themselues to bee most hardy and valiant By this time they were come so neere vnto the Citty that they entred vnder the gate thereof as the king looked behinde he beheld two knights armed at all points whose horses were ouer-trauelled weary and their armour all to broken in such sort that it was very easy to be perceiued that they had been at some bickering One was Brunco de Bon ' Mer and the other Branfil his brother who came of purpose vnto king Lisuart to be of the number of those hundred knights which should bee in the battaile if it pleased him to accept of them But by the way Brunco had beene aduertised how the aduenture of the Sword was atchieued where-with he was meruailous displeased that he came no sooner because hee would haue tried his fortune therein as he had done vnder the Arch of loyall louers the which he had passed and for the firm and constant loue that he did beare vnto Melicia sister vnto Amadis hee did verily beleeue that no such like aduenture might escape him these two knights being come neer did their dutie vnto the king who receiued theÌ very courteously Then said Brunco it may please your Maiesty we haue beene aduertised of a battell which you haue agreed to be executed by a few knights so much the rather ought they to be selected and chosen men For this cause if it would please your highnesse to doe vs this honor that we might be of the same number your Maiesty may bee assured that wee would bee very desirous to serue you The King who had many times beene aduertised of the prowesse of these twaine especially of the valour of Don Brunco who for a yong knight was as much esteemed as any other that might be found accepted of them very willingly and thanked them for their good will Now did not Brunco as yet know Galaor but at the same instant they entred into such acquaintance and familiarity together that vntill the Battell was finished they parted not asunder And as the king entred into his lodging Enil came before him with the head of Lindoraq which did hang by the hayre at the paitrill of his horse and he had in his hand the shield and fingers of Arcalaus the Enchanter by meanes whereof before he was come neer the Palace a great number of people did follow him to know what newes he did bring Afterwards being come into the kinges presence hee declared vnto him the message that the faire Forlorne had sent by him wherewith he was no lesse glad then amased at so many good and blessed chanses that euery day happened and proceeded from this strange knight and hee remained a great while praising extolling him without ceasing In like sort Filipinel who had been to giue defiance vnto the Giants at the same instant approched he recited the names and sirnames of those which were appointed to be in the battell of king Cildadan amongst whom there were found many strong Giants and other knights of great worth who were all embarked already and how before that foure dayes were past they would all take landing in the bay of Vega where the battell was to be foughten then hee told the king how he had found at the burning Lake which stands in the Isle of Mongasa king Arban of North Wales and Angriotta d'Estrauaux prisoners vnto Grumadaca wife vnto Famongomad who caused them to suffer infinit miseries and calamities whipping them euery day most cruelly so that their bodies were wounded all ouer and they wrote a letter vnto the king which Filipinel deliuered vnto him the tenure whereof ensueth Vnto the most high and mighty Prince Lisuart king of great Brittaine and to all our Friends and Allies within his Dominions We Arban once king of North wales and Angriotta d'Estrauaux now detained in dolorous prison doe let you know that our misfortune more cruell then death it selfe hath brought vs into the power of the most pittilesse Grumadaca wife to Famongomad who in reuenge of the death of her Husband and Sonne doth daily cause vs to bee tortured with so many and strange torments that it is impossible to bee imagined so as euery houre wee desire the abridging of our daies that thereby we might bee released of our dolors But this mischieuous womaÌ the more to lengthen our paine deferreth our death as much as she may the which with our owne hands we had effected but that the feare of the losse of our soules withheld vs. And for as much as we are at this present so extreamely wounded that wee are no longer able to resist our deaths we send you this Letter written with our blood by the which wee beseech
The King saluted them but they answered not the gentlewoman lifted vp the couering that he had vpon and looking vpon his wounds she dressed theÌ afterwards she gaue him somewhat to eate returned both she and the knights the same way they came not once speaking vnto him When the king beheld their maner of behauiour he beleeued that he was in the prison of such a one where his life was in no great safety neuertheles he took as good comfort vnto him as he could not being able otherwise to remedy his mishap But the gentlewoman that looked vnto Galaor seeing that it was time to dresse him went vnto him and asked him how he fared Passing wel answered Galaor I hope seeing the good beginning of my amendmen that I may be healed within the time that you haue promised There is no doubt thereof said she therefore I will that you promise me as you are a loyall knight not to depart from hence without my leaue otherwise your life may bee in perill of death Galaor did sweare vnto her so to doe beseeching her most instantly to tell him how she was called But she answered him How now Galaor doe you not yet know my name Truely now I am greatly deceiued considering the seruices that heeretofore I haue done for you when you are so forgetfull of me I am called The wise among the wisest saying so shee went forth of the chamber fayning to bee very angry and pulled the dore rudely after her Wherewith Galaor remained more pensiue then before and hee remembred him of the faire sword that Vrganda had giuen vnto him when his brother Amadis made him knight whereby hee suspected that it was she her selfe neuerthelesse hee was in some doubt because that when he saw her first she seemed to bee olde and crooked and this was young faire and in good liking And as he was in this study not being able to sleepe hee turned his head toward the place where the young Gentlewomen were accustomed to sit in keeping him company but in stead of them he perceiued Gasauel his esquire and Ardan the Dwarffe of Amadis at which he was no lesse abashed then ioyfull and he called them because that they slept Who at their awaking seeing their Maister they became no lesse amased then he and they rose vp doing their duty vnto him and hee demanded how they were come thither who answered that Amadis Florestan and Agrates had commanded them to follow him They further declared vnto him in what estate the Damosels tooke him vp for which cause Amadis seeing in what extremity you remained permitted them to carry you away together with King Cildadan What do you say sayd Galaor was Amadis in this assembly My Lord sayd Gasanel it was hee that was called the Faire Forlorne by whose strength and courage the battaile was gayned Then he recited vnto him the manner how he deliuered the King and killed Mandafabull and that then he made himselfe knowne crying Gaul with a loude voyce Thou ââ¦lest me wonders sayde Galaor but by my faith he was too blame to hide himselfe from mee This was the estate wherein Galaor and Cildadan remained who in few dayes felt so great ease of their wounds that they began to walke about the chamber Wherefore Vrganda in whose power they remained in her vnknowne Island made her selfe knowne vnto them saying vnto them That the feare wherein shee had put them had beene the meanes to effect their health the sooner otherwise they had beene in danger of their liues Afterwards she commanded her two Nieces to be fetched to keepe them company which were daughters vnto King Falangris brother vnto King Lisuart who had begotten vpon them the sister of Vrganda one of them was called Iâlianda whome Galaor did shortly after beget with childe of a son that was named Talanqua and afterwards proued a valiant Knight and the other was called Solisa who also had by King Cildadan Manely the Discreete And these two Knights staied with these two Damosels till Vrganda set them at liberty as hereafter it shall be declared vnto you In the meane time King Lisuart Amadis and the other Knights staied at Gonata and after they were healed of their wounds they determined to goe visit the Ladyes which staied for them in the Cirtie of Fenusa of whom they were receiued with great ioy But during their aboad there as Amadis talked with Queen Briolania in the company of Oriana she sayd vnto him My Lord I assure you I was so sorrowfull when it was told mee that you were lost that I can in no sort expresse vnto you the displeasure that I receiued therewith and at the last seeing that you staied so long before you returned I determined to come vnto this Court with a hundred of my Knights to cause the search of you to begin according to the appointment of my Lords your bretheren Neuerthelesse by meanes of the battaile which the King had appointed with King Cildadan my enterprise was stored and that in a good houre seeing that it pleased God so soon to bring you home againe Therefore aduise you now if it please you what you will that I shall doe for you for I will obey you all my life long Madame answered Amadis if you were in any perplexity for mee you had great reason for I am well assured that there is no knight in the world more ready to do you seruice then is Amadis of Gaul But seeing that it pleaseth you to refer all your affaires vpon me I pray you to tarry yet in this Court eight or tenne daies longer vntill we may heare some newes from my brother Galaor in the meane time you shall haue the pastime of a Combate which my brother Florestan must performe against Laudin and afterwards I will conduct you home into your Countrey and from thence I will take my way vnto the Firme-Island where I must needs be I will do saide Briolania what-soeuer it shall please you prouided that you doe tell vnto vs the wonders and nouelties that you haue there seene And as he would haue excused him Oriana tooke him by the hand and saide vnto him My Lord Amadis you haue some-what to doe for we will not leaue you in peace before you haue tolde vs something In faith my Ladies answered hee although I take in hand to reââ¦e the particularities of the whole yet do I finde it impossible neuerthelesse I may truely tell you that the forbidden chamber is the most faire richest in all the world and if it bee not gained by one of you two I verily beleeue that so long as we liue neuer may any other set footing therein Briolania remained a while without answering him in the end she said vnto Amadis truly I doe not thinke that I may deserue to finish such an aduenture yet notwithstanding such as I am if it were not to bee reputed a folly in me I would willingly make proofe thereof Madame answered
then what griefe it would be to me if Briolania who goeth before to make proofe thereof should accomplish it notwithstanding my good Cosen deere friend I pray you to pardon mee and if it please you deferre not to aduise me what you think is best for mee to doe For your Cosen might bee very angry if hee did know that which I haue suspected of him Madame answered Mabila seeing you acknowledge your fault you must be better aduised hereafter You haue had experience enough by that which is past what inconuenience may happen vpon so light occasions take heed henceforth then how you commit the like errors Thus were these two Ladies reconciled together as before neuerthelesse shortly after Mabila came vnto Amadis vnto whom she declared all the talke that Oriana had with her reproouing him sharpely for that which he had said to Briolania before her knowing that already she had been suspitious of them both Therefore my good Cosen sayde Mabila endeauour henceforth not to giue her any farther occasion to vse you ill speaking hereafter more discreetely then you haue done especially before my Lady for it is a very hard matter wholly to banish and extinguish iealousie from a woman after it is much rooted in her mind and had it not beene for my sharpe answer vnto her by my faith shee had passed the bounds of reason Sweet Cosen answered Amadis I doe much maruaile at the phantasie of my Lady but yet I doe giue you exceeding great thankes for the counsell that you giue vnto mee although I doe sweare vnto you that whatsoeuer I did speake I thought was wholy for her aduantage And I will tell you how euery one knoweth that Briolinia is reputed one of the faired Ladies in the world so as one would thinke her sufficient to enter into the forbidden chamber but this thought is false for I haue seene the Image of Grimanesa vnto whose beauty Briolania in no sorte comes neere wherefore it is most sure that shee shall neuer attaine to this honour the which my Ladie shall obtaine without any difficultie Neuerthelesse if it were first before Briolania had made her tryall therein one might say after-ward If she had begun before Oriana that then shee had first atchieued the aduenture by means whereof I was so bold in the presence of my Lady to giue her that counsell which you haue heard Mabila liked well this excuse of Amadis and tolde Oriana thereof who did greatly repent her that shee had spoken so much fearing least Amadis would haue been offended with her and to make amends for this fault which she had committed she sent him word by Mabila that he should come to see her in her lodging where she and Briolania stayd for him the which he did At his coÌming the Ladies tooke him by the hand and made him sit betweene them then they prayed him to tell them the truth of what which they would demand of him wherunto hee discoÌended Tell vs then sayd Oriana what is the Ladie that gained the kerchief with the flowers when you conquered the burning sword Amadis perceiued well that he was not onely ouertaken but also constrained to tell the truth for which cause he answered Oriana In faith Madame I know no more what she was then you doe although I remained in her company sixe daies together But thus much did I see in her that she had the fairest haire that any Lady or Damosell could possibly haue and shee is besides most beautifull and of a most excellent grace for the rest you know as much as I doe By my faith said Oriana if shee got the kerchiefe with great honour it had bin like afterward to haue cost her very deere as it was tolde mee for without your assistance Arcalaus the enchanter and his Nephew Lindoraq had taken it from her also done her some villany It was not hee answered Briolania if hee be Amadis but another who was called the Faire Forlorne from whom wee must not derogate the honour to attribute it vnto another And although I am greatly bound vnto Amadis yet will I not let to speake the truth of the Faire Forlorne because if the one haue surmounted Apolidon in prowesse by winning of the Firme-Island the same being vnto him an exceeding great reputation so in like sorte was the other worthy of no lesse praise who in one onely day ouerthrew tenne of the best knights in Great Brittain and slew the most redoubted Gyant Famongomad and Basigant his sonne if Amadis did passe vnder the Arch of loyali louers in whose fauour the Images of copper did sound a more melodious tune then it did for any other that euer proued the same aduenture thereby manifesting his loyalty it seemeth in like sort that the Faire Forlorne had as great an aduantage in gaining the the burning sword the which for the space of threescore years no other could draw forth of his scabbard Therfore Madame it is not reason to take away the honour from the Faire Forlorne and without desert to giue it vnto Amadis seeing that both in prowesse and loyalty they may as I thinke equall one another And as they were in these pleasant discourses a Damosell came and told Amadis that the King asked for him because that Don Quedragant and Laudin his Nephew were before him to acquite them of the promise that they had made by the meanes whereof Amadis was constrained to leaue the Lady and to goe vnto the Court. By the way hee met with Bruneo and Branfil who followed him they found that Quedragant had begunne his speech vnto the King saying It may please your Maiesty I haue stayed heere for Amadis of Gaule according to the couenant that I made with the Faire Forlorne and now that hee is in the Court I will discharge me of my promise True it is that by force of armes I was constrained to graunt vnto the Faire Forlorn that I should not depart from your company vntill Amadis were returned and then hee being come before your highnesse I should cease all quarrels that I had enterprised against him for the death of king Abies of Ireland my brother and neuer after to demand any thing at his hands therefore and in like sort that I should neuer hereafter beare arms against your Maiesty or any of yours Which matter hath since grieued me more then one would thinke because I could not be present at the battaile the which you had vndertaken against king Cildadan and his followers of the number of whome I thought to haue beene but fortune was so contrary that my intent was turned farre otherwise then I had purposed for the hate which I did beare vnto Amadis is conuerted into a most great amity thâ which I am determined to holde inuiolable with him if he think it good being assured that I was ouercome by him vnder the name of the Faire Forlorne the which he had taken because hee would not be knowne So
that I doe manifestly perceiue that fortune is wholly determined to aduance him as the the force which hee did shew in this last battaile can sufficiently witnesse the honour whereof ought wholly to bee yeelded vnto him and to no other For this cause it may please your Maiesty seeing my Lord Amadis is heere present that first you will discharge mee of that which I haue promised vnto him vnder a contrary name and as for him I remit all the euill will that I did beare vnto him for the death of my late deceased brother king Abies and I doe further intreate him to accept mee for his companion and perpetuall friend Sir Quedragant answered the King you speake like a prudent and wise knight for what prowesse or courage soeuer a Gentleman hath if hee bee not gouerned by counsell reason he is not worthy that any man should make account of him You are sufficiently knowne for one of the best knights in the world yet you may be assured that the fellowship which you demand of Amadis shal in no sort deminish your praise renowne you two continuing in mutuall amity together and you may beleeue that hee will bee very glad to accept of the offer which you doe make vnto him Is it not true gentle friend sayd the King vnto Amadis If it like your Maiesty answered he Quedragant is so worthy a knight-that his fame is spread abroad in many places and seeing that it pleaseth him to chuse mee for his consort I doe thankefully accept his kind offer Herewithall they embraced and so long did their friendshippe thenceforth continue that it was neuer seperated but by death At the same time was Florestan Landin before the King purchasing their leaue to enter into the field according to their appointed agreement a good while before in maintenance of Amadis his quarrell against Quedragant but when they saw them friends their combate was finished and their hatred conuerted into amity wherewith Landin was exceeding glad for hee had already proued Florestan in the iourney against king Cildadan and seene his valour and prowesse Thus were these quarrels ended how much the Court had here-tofore been troubled by so much was the ioy and pastime thereof increased neuerthelesse the King hauing not forgotten the miserie wherein king Arban of Northwales and Angriota de Estrauaux remayned after he had some few dayes stayed with the Ladies he vndertooke their deliuerance and the better to effect the same hee determined to passe into the Isle of Mongaza to set them at liberty wherewith hee made his knights acquainted Then Amadis answered him your Maiesty doth know that my brother Galaor hath beene lost in your seruice therefore I beseech you to excuse mee from accompaning your grace in this voyage for if God please my cosins and I will goe seeke him as it is reason and so soone as we haue found him I assure your Maiesty that incontinently wee will follow vnto that place where wee shall heare your grace abideth Friend Amadis answered the King I promise you of my faith that I my selfe would willingly accompany you so sorry am I for Galaor but you know the present affaires that I haue whereby I am in truth to bee excused yet neuerthelesse I am well pleased with your departure both when you list and with such companie as you like Here-withall there rose vp more then a hundred of the most approoued knights who did all sweare the search of Galaor For saide they hardly may we vndertake a worthier or more strange aduenture they preuailed with the King so much that they got leaue to depart the next morning CHAP. XVIII How the euening ensuing the King being risen from the table walking about the galleries of his Pallace he beheld two great fires vpon the Sea that came directly towards the Cittie NOw it happened the same day after the King had supped as hee walked along a gallerie being almost bed-time hee beheld two strange fires vpon the Sea which came with great swiftnesse directly towards the Cittie Wherewith he was greatly amased because hee thought it very difficult that water and fire should continue together especially when hee beheld in the midst of these fires a galley at the mast whereof were many great burning torches so that one would haue iudged the vessell had beene all on fire This wonder did astonish the people so much that in a manner they came all forth of the Cittie presuming that seeing the Sea was not able to quench this fire it was impossible to defend the Cittie from being burnt to ashes if the same once tooke hold thereof wherefore the King as fearfull as the rest mounted vpon his horse and came forth with them vpon the sands And as hee came neere the water side he did see that the most part of all the knights were already arriued and amongst the rest was Amadis Euil and Guillan who were at that time so neere the galley which was hard at shore that he thought it impossible for them to escape from the fire thereof Hereupon he set spurres to his horse because hee tooke on exceedingly with the noyse that was made and whether hee would or no hee brought him close to the galley side vpon the which shortly after he saw a cloth lifted vp which couered it and a Damosell appeared clothed in white silke that held a small Cofer of gold in her hand which she opened then shee tooke out of it a burning taper which she cast into the Sea and presently the two great fires vanished away so suddenly that it was not perceiued what was become of them Wherwith all the people were maruailous glad seeing that they were out of danger for there remained no more light then that of the torches which burned vpon the masâ of the galley with the brightnesse whereof all the shoare receiued light Then the galley was plainly perceiued which was decked with many garlands of floures instrumeÌts began to sound very sweetly Herewithal there apeared vpoÌ the poupe twelue Damosels richly apparelled euery one of theÌ hauing a chaplet of roses vpon their head and a rod of gold in their hands And she marched forth first of all that had throwne the taper into the Sea who comming a shoare did her duty vnto the King and he receiued her very kindely saying vnto her Madame in satisfaction of the feare wherewith your fire affrighted vs tell vs if you please who you are although wee alreadie surmise that we know you well enough Your Maiestie answered she is of such a valiant courage that it is impossible to terrifie you with so small a thing yet the fires which you haue seene were ordayned to no other ende but for the safety of my women and me when we are determined to goe by Sea For the rest if you thinke mee to bee Vrganda the vnknowne your thought is true and I am expresly come into these parts to visit you as the best Prince in
beene ouerwearied and shortly after they rose vp but when the Damosell of Denmarke perceiued that shee was laied in such sort naked in the middest of the chamber there was neuer woman more amased then she the which when Oriana perceiued shee demanded smiling to her selfe if shee were come thither to seeke fresh aire By my faith Madame answered she I know neither who brought me hither nor can I remember how I came hither Whereat they all began to laugh and after they were ready they went vnto the Kings lodging whome they fouÌd together with the Queen in the church and so soone as seruice was ended the King came vnto Vrganda and bid her good morrow and shee after her duty done vnto his Maiestie saide that if it were his pleasure to cause the Knights and Ladies in his Court to assemble together that before her departure which should bee very shortly shee would declare something before them that shold happen vnto him heereupon the King appointed a large hall to bee made ready in the which the next morning a great number of Lords and Ladies were come Then Vrganda beeing in the midst of them all addressing her speech vnto the King shee saide vnto him Seeing that your Maiestie hath kept the letters which I did write vnto you and Galaor presently after the Fair Forlorne had obtained the burning sword and the Damosell the kercheife with flowres it may please you now to cause them to be read that euery one may plainely know that I am not ignorant of things before they happen Heereupon hee sent for them and they were read before al the assistance whereby it plainely appeared that shee had wholly foretold the manner of the battaile euen as it happened out and they all greatly wondred thereat especially at the stout hears of the King that would be in a battaile so dangerous when hee was before hand threatned so rigorously by his better In like sort was it certainly known that the Faire Forlorne had been the cause of the victory by the three blowes that hee gaue The first when he cast King Cildadan at Galaors feet the second in killing Sarmadan the Leonnois and the third when hee succoured the king whom the stout Mandafabul of the virmillion tower did carry vnto his ships whose arme hee cut off close by the elbow which was the cause of his present death And in like sort that which she had said of Galaor was come to passe for his head was certainly at the mercy of the Faire Forlorne at that time when the Damosels demanded to carry him away But now said Vrganda I will tell you in order that which must happen great contention shall arise between the mighty serpent the strong Lion which shall be aided by many cruell beasts they shall come with such fury that a great numder of them shall suffer most cruel death The subtill Roman foxe shall bee wounded with the clawes of the strong Lyon and his skin shall be cruelly torne wherewith the mighty serpent shall bee brought into wonderfull perplexitie In this time the meâke sheepe couered with blacke wooll shall come into the midst of them who by his great humilitie and pittifull bleatings shal pacific the pride and fiercenesse of their courages causing them to depart one from the other but presently the starued wolues shall discend from the steepe mountaines against the mighty serpent who being by them put to fight with a great part of his traine shall bee closed vp in one of his dens The tender licorne putting his mouth to the eare of the fierce Lion shall awake him out of his sound sleepe with his loud crye making him afterwards to take part of his beasts with the which hee shall speedily goe to the succour of the mighty serpent whom they shall finde so bitten and wounded by these starued wolues that his blood shall bee aboundantly shed vpon the earth at the same time shall he be deliuered from the teeth of the wolues and they be cut in pieces Then the life of the mighty serpent being restored leauing within his den all the poyson of his entrails he shall bee contented to put him-selfe betweene the clawes of the strong Lyon and the white hind who in the dreadfull Forrest did lift vp her greeues to Heauen shall bee taken from thence and called home againe Wherefore noble King may it please your Maiestie to cause this to bee written which before all this company I haue vttered for there is no doubt but all this shall come to passe I will so doe answered hee seeing it pleaseth you but I beleeue there is not any of vs that at the present vnderstands this prophesie Assure you saide shee that a time will come when it shall be manifested vnto all of you So saying she cast her eies vpon Amadis whom she perceiued to be maruailous pensiue and said vnto him My Lord Amadis you muse vpon that which cannot auaile you wherefore expel this fancy from your minde and harken vnto a match that you shall make wherein you shall get little gaine At such time as you shal be wounded to death in the defence of anothers life the smart being yours and the profit his the recompence that you shall reape thereby shall be a wonderfull discontent and a banishment from that whereunto you shall most desire to approach Then shall your good rich and sharpe Sword so bruise your bones and in so many places wound your flesh that with the losse of your blood you shall become very feeble and moreouer you shall bee so sharpely pursued that if halfe the world were yours you would giue it that your sword were cast into the bottom of some deepe lake from whence it could neuer be taken forth againe therefore bethinke you of your destiny which shall be such as I haue foretold you Amadis seeing that euery one had their eyes fixed vpon him looked vp with a smiling countenance and answered Vrganda Madame by the things that are already come to passe wherof you foretold vs we may wel credit and beleeue that which now you tell vs and knowing that I am mortal I am very sure that my life shall not be prolonged one minute longer then it pleaseth God and therfore whilst I may I will endeauour to gaine some reputation rather then seeke to conserue my life Notwithstanding if any perill were to be doubted I should haue more occasion to feare those that doe hourely happen vnto mee then such as are hidden yet to come I know well said Vrganda that it is more easie to draw the Sea drie then afright your vndaunted and magnanimious courage with any further dread of danger And because if it please your Maiesty said shee to the king that I must presently take my leaue of you remember I beseech you what I haue aduertised you of before this great and honourable company as shee that desireth the honour and profit of your Maiesty and stop your eares henceforth
deuise Wherunto they all agreed so that the day following knowing that she was neere at hand Amadis accompanied with eight of the best knights in King Lisuarts Court mounted on Horse-backe in very good order But they had not long ridden when they did behold her a farre off comming with Ardan Canila who did lead her she was apparrelled all in black mourning as yet for the death of her father whoÌ Amadis had slain This sad apparrell did so much grace her that although of her selfe without any other helpe she was esteemed one of the fairest that might be seen yet was her beauty much more encreased by this mourning weede with the which the liuely whitenesse of her face was the more manifested by the grace which this blacke colour added thereunto and her two cheekâ seemed like two white roses beautified with a naturall rednesse so as euen then those which had conceiued a mortall hate against her for the mischiefe which she procured vnto Amadis were now forced to loue her Behinde her marched the twelue gentlewomen apparrelled with the like attire After them came the old giant and his son followed with nine knights which all came as pledges Great was the entertainement that Amadis shewed vnto her and the rest of her traine and shee in like sort saluted them most courteously Then Amadis approching more neere said vnto her I promise you Madame that if you bee accounted faire and of good behauiour it is not without great cause seeing that I am now my self an eye witnesse of the truth thereof and truly that man ought to thinke himselfe happy whose seruice it shal please you to like of assuring you that I am willing to do you any pleasure and ready to obey your commandements when Ardan Canila heard him speake so courteously although hee was finally fauoured by Madasima hee was ouercome with iealousie and answered Amadis knight stand back and speake not so priuately vnto her whom you know not Sir said Amadis the cause of my comming hither is not onely to be acquainted with her but also to offer vnto her my person and my goods You are no doubt answered he some good fellow and worthy to be by her greatly imployed neuerthelesse faire sir get you gone from her otherwise I will make you know that it is not for so base a companion as you to vse so great familiarity with a woman of so high worth as she is Whatsoeuer I am answered Amadis yet do I desire to serue her notwithstanding your threats for although I am not of that worth as I would be yet shall not the affection that I beare vnto her bee abated by thy malapert boldnesse But sir you that are so lusty who would make me know my duty depart from her for whom willingly I would employ my best meanes tell mee what you are Ardan Canila exceeding angry beholding Amadis with a sterne and scornefull countenance answered him I am Ardan who am better able to increase her welfare and honour in one day then thou canst with the best meanes thou hast doe her seruice in all thy life It may very well be said Amadis notwithstanding I know that this whereof thou vantest shall neuer by thee bee executed so indiscreete and spightfull art thou And because that thou greatly desirest to know whether I am a sufficient man or not know thou that my name is Amadis of Gaule against whom thou desirest to fight and if this Lady be displeased with ought that I haue said vnto her I wil make her such amends therefore as shee shall please to command at my hands By my Gods answered Ardan Canila if thou tarriest the combat the satisfactioÌ which she shall take shall be thy head That would displease me meruailously said Amadis but I will giue her a head that shall bee more welcom to her if she please breaking the marriage of you two being so far vnfit one for another for she is faire wise and of courteous behauiour thou deformed foolish churlish Hereat Madasima the Gentlewomen began all to laugh Ardan to be extreamely angry that to behold his countenance and the rage wherein hee was one might easily haue iudged the little good that hee wished to Amadis vnto whom hee answered not one word more yet he ceased not grumbling and gnashing his teeth vntill hee came before the king Then very indiscreetely he began to say King Lisuart behold here the knights that must now enter into your prison according to the promise which yesterday a gentlewoman made vnto you in my behalfe Wherefore if Amadis dare be so bold to do as he hath boasted I am here ready to breake his head What will you doe answered Amadis Thinkest thou my heart so weake or my right so small that I cannot abate the pride of a man so audacious as Ardan is I assure thee that although I had not vndertaken it yet would I combat thee onely to hinder the marriage betweene thee and Madasima And therefore deferre not to deliuer vp these hostages which thou doest brag off for I verily hope to reuenge the good and valiant King Ardan Angriotta for the great wrong they haue receiued during their imprisoÌment I haue brought them along with me said Ardan knowing that you would demand them but I am in good hope to restore them againe into the power of the faire Madasima and to giue her therewithall the mold of thy cap to testifie that it becommeth not such a gallant as thou art to vse mee with such proude and spightfull tearmes and that âo the executing therof she may receiue the greater pleasure it may please your king to appoint that she may he set in a place hard at hand to the end that she may both plainely see the reuenge thee ãâã shall take of thee and ãâ¦ã where with thou ãâ¦ã same instant the ãâ¦ã brought and thâ faire Madasima together with her twelue Gentle women came to doe their humble duties vnto the Queene and by her side was the old Giant his two sons and the nine knights who all fell vpon their knees before the King At the same time euery one did attentiuely beholde thâ ãâã faire Madasima who shewed such an humble countenance that she was greatly esteemed yet could not Oriana cast one good looke vpon her thinking that shee of her owne will did procure the ruine of Amadis for the which none was more sorrowfull then shee But Mabila who was in like sort neerely touched with the matter ãâã her in hope that God would âyde him and that her Cosin might as easily ouer throw and vanquish Ardan Canila as hee did the proâ⦠Dardan and many other knights both valiant and stout The pledges then being receiued as the custom was both the knights reâired each of them to the place appointed for them staying vntill the time that they should enter into the field the which the king had commanded to bee closed in with paâes Then Gandalin
breadth And as hee striued to pull it forth Amadis thrust the head of the truncheon through his arme wherewith hee felt such extreme grief that he forsooke the sword which hee held on the which Amadis presently fastened his hand pulled it forth thanking God for ading him in his greatest need When Mabila beheld the case thus altered shee called Oriana who hauing seen her friend in such extreamity was newly layd downe vpon a bed studying with her selfe what death she might chuse for the speediest if Amadis were vanquished And Mabila sayd vnto her Madame come see how God hath holpeÌ vs Ardan without doubt is ouer-come The great ioy which Oriana receiued at these newes made her suddenly to start vp and looking out of the window shee perceiued how Amadis had stroken his enemy ãâã mighty a blow vpon the shââ¦der that hee separated it from ãâã necke wherewith he felt sucââ¦guish that hee turned his bâ⦠but hee ran not farre before ââ¦dis stroke him againe and he pursued him so sharpely as that hee made him recoyle backe euen to the top of a Rocke against the which the Sea did beat so that he could goe no farther Then was Ardan Canila brought between two extreamities for on the one side the deepe and vnmericifull waues set before his eyes his vnhappy end on the other side hee perceiued the sharpe sword of his enemy which did no lesse terrifie him Who pursued him so close that he pulled his helmet from his head and lifting vp his arme hee wounded him most cruelly so that hee fell from the top of the Rocke downe into the Sea and was neuer after seene For the which many praised God especiall king Arban of Northwales and Angriotta de Estrauaux because they had seen Amadis in such daunger that they greatly stood in feare of his safety Heerewithall Amadis wiping his sword did put it vp into his scabbard and came whereas the King and the other knights were who in great triumph brought him into his lodging and the more to honour him hee was led between those whom hee had deliuered froÌ cruell prison that is to say by Arban King of Northwales and Angriotta de Estrauaux And because they were leane pale and almost spent as well with the euill vsage which they had receiued during their imprisonement as also with the griefe and melancholly that they had taken Amadis was desirous that they should lodge in his chamber where they were so well tended and dyeted by the aid of expert Physitions and cunning Surgeons that they did shortly after recouer their health as by the sequell of our History you may vnderstand CHAP. XX. How Bruneo de Bonne Mer did fight with Madamaine the ambitious brother to the Damosell iniurious and of the accusations that were made by some of the enemies of Amadis vnto the King for which cause hee and many others that were desirous to follow him departed from the Court. THe next day after the combate was ended between Amadis and Ardan as hath beene related heretofore the iniurious Damosell came and presented herselfe before the king beseeching his Maiesty to send him that should fight with her brother whom according vnto promise shee had caused to come thither For sayd the Damosell although my brother be conquerour and cannot take that reuenge of his enemies as the friends of Ardan may rest satisfied for his death yet will it bee some small comforth vnto them notwithstanding Now Brunco was there present who without making stay answered to the resh speeches of the foolish woman said vnto the the King If it like your Maiesty I am the man she speaketh of and seeing that her brother is come hither as shee saith if it be your pleasure and his will wee shall quickly know if hee be such a gallant as hee vaunteth Vnto the which the King condiscended Wherefore they both went immediatly to arme them and anon after they entred into the field whither they were accompanied with certaine knights their friends They beeing then in the place assigned for that purpose the Trumpets sounded to warne them to begin the combate Forthwith they charged their Launces and setting spurres to their horses they ranne the one against the other such force that their Launces flew into shiuers encountring each other with their shieldes and bodies Madamain lost his stirrops and was vnhorsed Bruneo wounded in the left side Notwithstanding so soone as hee had finished his carreer hee turned himselfe to his enemy and saw that he had already recouered his feet and held his sword in his hand in a readines to defend himselfe but as Bruneo drew neere to charge him he sayd to him Sir knight alight or else assure you that I will kill your horse Truely sayd Bruneo at your choyce bee it for it is all one to me to ouercome you on foote or on horsebacke When Madamain saw that his wish came to a good end being as he thouhgt stronger then his enemy who was but little and himselfe in a manner a Gyant he was most glad thereof and sayd to Bruneo It were better for you to alight and then you should soon make profe whether you were able to effect that which you make brags of well quoth Brunco so withdrawing himselfe he alighted left his horse then he tooke his shield set hand to his sword approaching vnto Madamain who like a valiant stout knight receiued him coragiously They began to lay on load the one at the other both of theÌ pretending to get the victory which was the cause that neither shield nor armour of how good temper soeuer was able to withstand their blowes for they hacked them to peeces so that the field in many places was couered with peeces of their shields Now if the knights did assaile one another with great hardinesse their horses did no lesse for they set vppon one another and with their feete and teeth fighting together they did ioyne in such sort that the most part of the lookers on were more intentiue to the combate of the beasts then the fight of the knights Notwithstanding Madamain his horse in the ende had the worse being constrained to leape ouer the barriers and to run away This gaue a great presumption to euery man to imagine that Bruneo should obtaine the victory and so it fell out for hee pursued Madamain so neere and brought him to that extreamity that being almost out of breath he sayd vnto Bruneo I doe beleeue considering the rage thou art in that thou imaginest the day will not bee long enough to end our quarrell Howbeit if thou doest consider that thy armour is almost vnriuited thou shalt finde that it were better for thee to rest thy selfe then to assaile mee so vndiscreetly as thou doest and therefore I being vnwilling to vse thee so rigourously as thou deseruest I am content to giue thee leaue to take breath that we may afterwards begin the fight more hotly then before
could this her extreame greefe yet had shee not so much power ouer her selfe but that shee awaked Mabila and the Damosell of Denmarke with her loud sighes who thinking her to bee taken with some new disease came hastily vnto her and found that Amadis was already apparrelled Then they demanded of him what moued Oriana in such extreame sort to complaine Amadis tolde them the whole discourse in what sort hee was constrained to forsake the court and the seruice of the king wherefore my louing friends said he I pray you to go comfort my Lady Which said he tooke his leaue of them and dâparted leauing al the three Ladies accompanied onely with sorrow and extreame passion Now you must know that so soon as Agraies and Galuanes were come vnto Amadis his lodging they sent vnto all their friends particularly to intreate them to meet there the next morning the which they accordingly performed then they went altogether to the Church to heare seruice at their returne from whence they all walking in a great field Amadis began to speake vnto them in this manner My Lords because that some one may wrongfully blame my Lord Galuanes Agraies me some others here present for leauing the king his seruice as wee are determined to do they and I haue thought good to let you vnderstand what is the occasion thereof I beleeue that there is not any in this company that knoweth not whether since our arriuall in great Brittaine the authority of a Prince bee increased or diminished Wherfore without spending the time in rehearsing the seruices which wee haue done vnto him for the which we had great hope to haue receiued besides his good will a great reward I will declare vnto you particularly with what ingratitude he vsed vs yesterday eueÌ as fortune which is mutable inconstant doth often times ouerthrow all things so hath hee changed his conditions eyther by some bad counsaile which he hath receiued or for some sleight occasion wherof we are ignorant But this much I am sure that my Lord Galuanes did desire vs to bee a meanes for him vnto his Maiesty not past eight or ten daies since that hee would bee pleased to permit him to marry with Madasima and in so doing to suffer him likewise to inioy her lands vpon this condition that he should hold them of him and of his Crowne by fealty and homage the which wee promised to performe By meanes wherof so soone as I was able to goe I and others in this company did make this request vnto him but he without any regard eyther vnto vs that were sutors or vnto him for whom we sued who is as euery on knoweth brother vnto the King of Scotland as valiant and hardy a knight as possible may be such a one as in the late battell against king Cildadan hath not spared his life but hath done as much as any other that was there he hath not only refused our requests but also giuen vs such iniurious words as were far vnfit and vnworthy such a king And notwithstanding at the beginning wee made small account thereof vntill hee said vnto vs all as we shewed vnto him some reasons for our request that we shold goe seeke else where for such a one as would acknowledge and better esteeme of vs then he did and that the world was wide enough without importuning him any further Therefore my fellows and friends since that being in his seruice wee haue beene euer dutifull vnto him so for my part I am yet very well content in this case not to displease him and to get mee forth of his countrie But because it seemeth vnto mee that this his licence to depart doth not onely touch mee and those vnto whom hee spake but all others who are none of his subiects I thought it good to acquaint you therewith to the end that you might bethinke what to doe Much were these Knights amased at the words of Amadis considering that if the great seruises of him and his brethren were so badly requited that very hardly would that little which they had done be recompensed Wherefore they determined to forsake the King and to go seeke their fortune else-where especially Angriotta de Estraâaâx who to draw the rest vnto his opinion and to follow Amadis hee began to say with a loude voyce My Lords it is yet no long time since I knew the King and for that little acquaintance that I haue had with him I did neuer see a Prince more wise vertuous and temperate then he hath bin in his affaires wherefore I doubt mee greatly that this which hee hath done vnto Amadis and to these Lords present proceedeth not of his own fancy but he hath bin incited thereunto by some wicked malicious persoÌ who hath perswaded him to vse theÌ in that sort And because that for these eighteene daies I haue seen Gandandel Brocadan very often consulting with him and that so he hath been more priuat with them then any other I feare me that they are the men that haue bin the chiefe workers of this mischiefe for I haue known theÌ of long time for the most malicious persons in all the world Therefore I am determined euen this day to demand the combat against them and to maintain that fasly and wickedly they haue set discord betweene the king and Amadis and if they will make excuse because of their age they haue each of them a sonne which of long time haue borne Armes against whom I alone will fight if they dare bee so bolde to maintaine the reason of their wicked parents Ah my Lord Angriotta answered Amadis I should bee very sorry that you should hazard your body in a matter so vncertaine By my faith answered Angriotta I am very sure thereof and I haue perceiued it of long time so that if the king would bee pleased to tell but what hee knoweth hee would affirme them to be such as I say I pray you Gentle fâiend said Amadis deferre it yet for this time to the end that the king may haue no cause to bee discontented for if those whom you speake of who haue alwaies shewed to mee a friendly countenance haue beene so malicious as to play false play behinde my backe assure you that at length their wickednes shall bee discouered and their desert recompensed then shall you haue reason to accuse them Well answered Angriotta although this is against my will yet I am content to deferre it but beleeue mee that heereafter I shall both complaine and bee reuenged of them well enough For the rest my good friends saide Amadis if it pleased the King and Queene to vouchsafe to see mee I am determined to goe forthwith and take my leaue of them and so to retire vnto the Firme-Island in hope that those which will follow mee shall wholly bee pertakers with mee in all the good and pleasure which there I shall haue And as you doe know the Countrey is pleasant
and wealthy full of faire women store of forrests and many riuers fit for hauking furthermore diuers as well of our acquaintance as of strangers wil come and visit vs besides in our neede if we shall want any aide and that king Lisuart will attempt any enterprise against vs we shall bee supported by my father from the Countrey of little Brittaine and from Scotland especially from the Realm of Sobradisa the which the Queene Briolania will wholly yeelde into our hands at all times when wee shall please Seeing that you are in these tearmes answered Quedragant now may you know those which do loue your coÌpany from those which doe not By my faith said Amadis I am of the opinion if any loue his owne particular profit that hee should not forsake so good a Master yet those which will follow mee shall neither fare better nor worse then mine owne selfe And as they thus consulted in the meddow the king happened to come by them accompanied with Gandandell and many other knights and seeing them together he did passe on making as though he saw them not Then caused he a cast of Iackes or Hobbies to be let flie at a Larke and after hee had a while solaced himselfe with this pastime hee returned backe vnto the Citty without speaking eyther to Amedis or any other in his companie CHAP. XXI How Amadis with many others his confederats for sooke the seruice of King Lisuart and went as well to proue the aduentures of the Arch of loyall Louers as also of the forbidden chamber WHen Amadis did see that the king perseuered still in the euill opinion which he had conceiued against him and his according to his former determination at his coming forth of the meddow he went vnto the court and he found the king ready to sit downe to dinner Then approching vnto him he said may it please your Maiesty if in any thing I haue offended your grace God and your selfe can witnesse assuring you that although the seruices which I haue done vnto you haue beene very small yet the will which I haue had to acknowledge the benefits and honour which it hath pleased you to bestow vpon mee hath beene exceeding great You tell me that I should seeke abroad for one that would better requite me then you giuing me therby to vnderstand the small desire you haue that I should obey you not that I will depart from you as my liege Lord and Soueraign for I was neuer subiect to you nor any other Prince God only excepted but I take leaue of you as of him who hath done me great good and honour and vnto whom I doe be are affectionate loue and desire of seruice Scant had hee spoke this word when suddenly these in like sort did take their leaues viz. Galuanes Agraies Dragonis Palomir Bruneo de Bon'Mer Branfill his brother Angriotta d'Estrauaux Grindonan his brother Pinores his Cosin and Don Quedragant who stepped before all the rest saying vnto the King Your Maiesty knoweth that I neuer had come nor remayned in your Court but at the instance and request of Amadis willing and desirous to bee his friend for euer and seeing that by his occasion I became yours by the like reason will I now leaue your seruice and hereafter forsake you for what hope may I haue that my small seruices shall bee regarded when his being so many and great are so badly requited without remembrance how greately you are indebted vnto him in deliuering you from the handes of Mandafabull and for the victory also which you haue obtained of king Cildadan with the price of his blood and other of his kindred I could well remember you of the good turne which he did vnto you when hee deliuered you and your daughter Oriana as I haue many times heard it said from the hands of Arcalaâs and now of late my Lady Leonor whom Famangomad and Basigant his sonne the crullest giants in the world had taken prisoner with intent to put her to death for which cause the ingratitude which now you shew vnto him is so great that it quite depriueth you from all knowledge of the truth And therefore he ought to make no lesse account of this his short farewell then of the slow reward hee hath receiued for the seruices past As for me I am determined to follow him and to forsake your court togither with him Whereunto the king replied Don Quedragant your tongue doth well declare the little loue you beare vnto me yet notwithstanding mee thinks you are not so tied nor alied vnto Amadis as in accusing me you should excuse him as you do but your thought is otherwise you say more then you thinke Your Maiesty may speake what you please said Quedragant like a mighty Lord as you are neuerthelesse you much mistake mee in thinking me to be a dissembler or a counterfeiter of leasings as a number of others about you are by whom I am sure that in the end you shall finde your selfe but badly serued Moreouer before many dayes be past you shall perceiue who are the friends of Amadis Which said hee retired and Landin stepped forth saying to the king may it please your Maiestie I haue not found one in all your court that was able to giue any ayde or comfort to my wrongs but onely my Lord Amadis whom I now do see ready to depart from your seruice for the wrong that you haue done vnto him for which cause not desiring to forsake him nor my Vncle Don Quedragant also I do take my leaue of you Truly Landin answered the king so far as I perceiue wee are assured that henceforth you haue no desire to remaine with vs. Beleeue mee if it like your Maiesty said he looke what they are so will I bee for during my life will I obey them At that instant there stood in a corner of the hall whispering together Don Brian of Moniasta a most renowned knight sonne to King Ladasan and to one of the sisters to king Perion of Gaule Vrlandin son to the Earle of Orlanda Grandores and Madansill of Pont d'argent Listoran of the white Tower Ledaâ of Fryarqua Tantilies the haughty and Don Grauat de Val Craintif All these came vnto the king and said Your Maiesty may be pleased to vnderstand that the occasion of our comming hither was to see Amadis and his brethren and to be their friends if it were possible And euen as they were cause of the seruice that you haue receiued of vs they also shall bee the meanes that we will forsake you and we do take leaue of your grace to keepe them company When the king perceiued that hee was so suddenely forsaken of such a great number of good knights hee was highly displeas'd for very spight he would not permit Amadis to goe take his leaue of the Queene who as much as in her lay did wholy oppose her selfe against the counsell of Gandandell and his companion And therefore Amadis intreated
the auncient knight Don Grumedan to make his excuse vnto her Maiesty Afterwards taking his leaue of the king with great reuerence he retired vnto his lodging with his friends and companions where they found their dinner ready and as soone as the Table was taken vp euery one went to arme him and they trouped altogether in a place where Oriana might behold them and their number was so great as they were thought to be fiue hundred knights and more the most part of them being Sons vnto kings dukes or earles Afterwards in very good order they all passed along hard by the Queenes lodging Then Mabila being in one of the windows called Oriana who was laid vpon her bed as melancholy as might be saying vnto her Madame I pray you forget your heauinesse and come see how many knights you haue at your commandement All the while my cosin was in the seruice of the king your father he was accounted but as a simple wandring knight but no sooner is he departed from him when hee sheweth that hee is a Prince and mighty Lord as you may now behold and if you haue power ouer him by greater reason haue you power ouer all his troope of whom hee is the chiefe and principall Leader Oriana was so greatly comforted with this sight that euer after she was more merry and at better hearts ease In this sort did Amadis and his followers passe through the Citty and there accompanied them king Arban of North Wales Grumedan a knight of honour belonging to the Queene Brandoinas Queuorant Giontes Nephew to the King and Listoran the good iouster All these were very sorry for the departure of so many good knights especially for Amadis who prayed them that in any matter wherein his honour might bee blemished they would shew themselues to be such friends for him as hee esteemed them And although the king without any occasion had conceiued a hate against him yet they should not cease for all that to be his friends without forsaking the seruice of so good a prince and they answered him that excepting their seruice and loyalty in the which they were by duty bounde vnto the king they would bee ready to pleasure him at all times and places when and where he would employ them for the which hee heartilie thanked them Afterwards hee saide vnto them If you finde the king fit to be spoken vnto you may aduertise him that which Vrganda declared to mee in his presence is now accomplished for shee told mee that the recompence which I should haue in gayning Dominions for another should be hate anger and banishment from that place where most I desired to remaine I haue conquered as euery one knoweth with the edg of my sword and the losse of my blood the Isle of Mongaza thereby enlarging the limits of the realme of great Brittaine and notwithstanding al this the king without cause at all hath requited mee with hate but God is iust and will recompence euery one according to his deserts By my faith answered Grumedan I will not faile to let the King know as much as you haue sayde And cursed be Vrganda for prophesing so right which saide they embraced one another and tooke their leaue but Guillan the pensil whose eyes were full of teares said vnto Amadis My Lord you know my occasion and how I cannot of my selfe doe any thing being subiect so the will of another for whose sake I suffer and endure strange greefes and anguishes which is the cause that I cannot follow you for which I am very sorry and ashamed so great a desire haue I to acknowledge the fauour and honour that I haue receiued of you being in your company beseeching you most humbly at this time to holde me excused Now did Amadis vnderstand in what subiection loue did holde him and hee knew very well by himselfe what paine hee might suffer by meanes whereof he answered him My Lord Guillan God forbid that by my occasion you should commit any offence vnto the Lady whom you loue so constantly but I rather counsell you to be obedient vnto her and to serue her as hitherto you haue done and the King likewise being sure that your honour saued you wil be vnto me in all places a faithfull friend and louing companion Heere withall he embraced him taking his leaue Guillan and his fellowes returned vnto the Cittie and Amadis and his followed on their way to the Firme-Island vntill at the last they arriued along by a riuer vpon the side whereof Amadis had sent before to cause his Tents and Pauillions to be armed and set vp There they lodged for that night praising God in that they had so happily been warned of the Kings ingratitude with whom if they had remained any longer space they had but lost their time But Amadis was so heauie for his banishment from Oriana ignorant when he should see her again that he knew not in what sort to dissemble his malancholie and thus they passed away the night vntill the next morning that they had rode forward on their way In the meane time King Lisuart was in his Pallace who after the departure of so great a number of Knights perceiued that he now was but meanly accompanied Then he began to acknowledge the fault which he had committed and to repent him greatly for the words which he said vnto Amadis At the very selfe same time Gandandel and Brocadan were aduertised what Angriotta had said of them whereat they were maruailously abashed fearing least the King and the rest should dislike of the bad counsell which they had giued vnto him neuerthelesse since there was no remedy they determined to passe it ouer and to worke such meanes that neuer any of those Knights who were departed should enter into the King his fauour againe And the better to bring it to passe they both came vnto him saying Your Maiestie ought greatly to praise God that you are so honestly rid of those men who might haue wrought you much mischiefe for your highnesse knoweth there is nothing more dangerous then a secret enemy Wherefore you haue now no other thing to trouble you neither neede you take any care for your affaires because that wee two will take order and warily prouide for any perill that may happen to this Realme When the king heard them speake so audaciously hee looked vpon them with a sowre countenance and answered them I do much meruaile how you dare bee so presumptuous to perswade me that I should leaue vnto you the gouernment not onely of my house but also of my whole realm knowing that you are nothing fit not sufficient for such a charge Doe you imagine that the Princes and Lords of this monarchie will obay you knowing the place from whence you are descended And if you thinke to play the good husbands desiring to enrich mee by sparing of my treasure vpon whom doe you thinke that I may better imploy it then vpon such Gentle-men
the death You haue heard what Imosel and his fellowes haue saide vnto mee which I doe thinke to be good right wherefore it is time that you determine what to do For by the faith that I owe vnto God I will not permit that any other of my knights shall fight with them if you look not vnto it you shall bee answerable for all and the Damosels deliuered If it please your Maiesty answered they to morrow we will be ready to maintain what-soeuer we haue saide And for that time they departed to their lodging greatly troubled for that which they were to do Neuerthelesse seeing that now there was no remedy they determined to perseuer in their daurned opinion by argument of words onely without putting themselues or their children in danger knowing assuredly that they were not able to resist any of those that were come from the Firme-Island But it happened out so well for them as the very same night newes came vnto the King that Grumedaâa the olde Giantesse was dead and that a little before her death shee had yeelded vp her strong places into the hands of the kings people beseeching him to haue pitty vpon her daughter Madasima Whereupon the next morning at their returne from church hee caused the twelue knights of the Firme-Island to bee called vnto whom he said My friends you may carry away with you the Damosels which you demand when it shall please you for I set them at liberty because that this night the Earle Latin hath written vnto me that he hath the Isle of Mongaza in his hands and that the olde Giantesse is deceased If any were glad here-of you may beleeue that the two traitors Broquadan and Gandandel were nothing sorry for as much as they did perceiue that if this had not happened their treason had bid discouered TheÌ Imosel answered the king If your Maiestie doe but Madasima right shee must not remaine poor nor disinherited seeing your grace knoweth that children are bound to obey their parents as shee hath done more by feare then free will And so if it please your Maiesty vsing your accustomed liberality you should shewe her some grace and fauour shewing thereby an example to all other vertuous and couragious Princes to do the like Imosel sayde the king let it suffice you that the Damosels are at liberty for I cannot reuoke the gift which I haue made to my daughter Leonor of the land which you demand I most humbly beseech your Maiestie answered Galuanes to haue pitty vpon her and mee who at this preseÌt ought to hold the place descended froÌ her ancestors of whom shee is the lawfull inheretrix especially of the land which you doe take from her and if it please your highnesse in remembrance of the seruices which I haue done vnto you you may restore them vnto vs to hold them of your grace by fealty and homage I haue said enough my Lord Galuanes answered the king that which is done cannot be vndone Trust me answered he seeing I can neither haue right nor reason of you I will trie if I may get it some other way Doe what you can said the king I am in good hope seeing I haue won if froÌ greater then you to desend it against those that are lesse theÌ they Sir answered Galuanes he which got it for you hath bin very badly recoÌpensed therefore Care not you for that saide the King if he of whom you speake dare but aduenture to aide you I dare bee so bolde as to withstand him and to make him beshrew himselfe Agraies hearing these threats was exceeding angry and in great choller answered Sir although my Lord Amadis was neuer other theÌ a waÌdring knight yet did he that good for you which as yet you neuer recompensed for he hath many times defended you and deliuered you from death Florestan did well perceine that Agraies entred into farther tearmes then was fit hee should for which cause he a little pulled him back and said vnto the king Sir although you be a king and a great Lord yet it may be you shall finde somewhat to do to vse my Lord Amadis in such sort as you threaten him By my faith said Brian Amadis hath done you too many seruices to be thus badly requited especially he being sonne vnto a Prince as worthy as your selfe Soft and faire Don Brian saide the king we know wel enough that you are one of his friends I am and so ought to be said Brian for euery one knoweth that I am his cosin german and therefore it were a shame not to succour him in his neede Truely answered the King for the same cause doe I hold you excused And as they were in these tearmes Angriotta de Estrauaux Sarquiles his Nephew came before the King who beeing armed at all points did their duty vnto his Maiestie but when the knights of the Firme-Island did beholde them they greatly wondred for they knew nothing at al of this their enterprise Then Angriotta with a loud voice began his speech in this manner May it please your Maiestie my Nephew and I heere preseÌt do beseech your grace to cause two traitors that are in your Court Broquadan and Gandandel to appeare before your Maiestie vnto whom I will declare the treason which they haue done against you Much affrighted was Broquadan and his companion hearing Angriotta speake after this manner who continuing his speech saide If it like your highnesse these two wicked persons of whom I speake without respect or feare of God or men haue falsly accused my Lord Amadis other of a matter wherein they neuer so much as in thoght offended By means whereof I dare well say that you haue banished from you the best Knights that euer entered into Great Brittaine therefore if those traitours dare maintaine that they be not such as I tearme them I alone by the help of God and the edge of my sword will make them confesse it And if they ought to bee excused by reason of their age there is neither of them both which hath not a sonne of long time bearing armes and well enough esteemed of amongst the Knights of your court against whom I will fight if they will maintain the quarrell of their wicked fathers Most mighty soueraigne answered Gandandel doth not your grace see the boldnes of this proud iniurious fellow who is come into this countrey to no other end but onely to shame the Gentlemen of your court By my faith if your Maiestie would haue beleeued me long agoe so soone as hee had entred into your Realme hee should haue bin hanged vp vpon the first tree that he had come vnto but seeing that your grace doth suffer him you must not hereafter be abashed if Amadis in his owne person doe come euen hither to iniurie your owne selfe Notwithstanding thus much I protest that by the liuing God if I were as young now as when I began to enter into the seruice
himselfe so well but that hee felt some part of the strokes for he was sore wounded in many places yet was it nothing in respect of the others In the meane time Sarquiles whom Damas had in hand began to be ashamed with the ouer great resistance that his enemy made vnto him and for the same cause setting spurs vnto his horse he found the meanes to buckle with his enemy and as they were strugling together and striuing who should fall first Angriotta doubting that his Nephew would haue the worst drew towards him but before hee came neer vnto him Sarquiles and Damas fell down one vpoÌ another By this means was their incounter re-enforced because that Angriotta endeauoured to succour his Nephew the others to relieue their kinsman Who being vnder Sarquiles could by no meanes rise vp for Sarquiles held him so short that pulling off his helmet hee thrust his sword into his throat then seeing his enemy dead hee left him there came running vpon Tarin and his companion who were in a manner out of breath ready to yeeld or to aske mercy The which the King Broquadan Gandandel perceiuing they were so sory that they departed Notwithstanding although they were displeased with this sight yet all the rest of the Court there present tooke pleasure to behold it for the loue which they did beare vnto Amadis his friends And more gladder yet were they when they saw them brought to the extreamity of their vnhappy end For scant had the King turned his head froÌ the window but that Angriotta did hit Corian so forcible a blow that hee quite cut off all his right shoulder with the extreame griefe whereof giuing a signe of his death he fell downe kissing the ground with his nose after whom Tarin staied not long before he did as much Thus were the sons of these traitors slaine for the which Madasima Oriana and many others did greatly reioyce Then Angriotta his Nephewes tooke the bodies of the vanquished and dragged them forth of the fields afterwards they demaunded of the ludges if they had performed as much as was requisite who answered that they had Whereupon they both retyred in great triumph accompanied with their friends they came vnto the tents of their fellowes coÌducting with them Madasima and her women because they knew assuredly that King Lisuart was very angry for the good fortune which had hapned vnto theÌ so much hurt did he wish vnto Amadis notwithstaÌding that he wel perceiued how his affairs prospered very badly euer since he had driuen him away the FreÌch knights of his coÌpany The end of the Second Booke A Table of the Chapters contained in this Second Booke CHAPTER I. THe description of the Firme-Island who made the inchantments and placed those great riches which were sound in the same Fol. I. Chap. 2. How Amadis Galaor Florestan and Agraies hauing taken leaue of the faire Briolania to returne vnto King Lisuart were carried into the Firme-Island to prooue the arch of Loyall louers and the other aduentures in the same Fol. 6. Chap. 3. How Durin departed to goe towards Amadis vnto whom he deliuered the Letters from Oriana and what hurt hapned thereby F. 14. Chap. 4. How Gandalin and Durin followed the same way that Amadis had taken brought the rest of his armour which hee had left behinde then found him sleeping and how he fought against a Knight whoÌ hee did ouer come Fol. 18. Chap. 5. Who was the Knight vanquishea by Amadis and what happened vnto him before he fought with him Fol. 23. Chap. 6. How Don Galaor Florestan and Agraies vndertooke the search of Amadis who hauing left his armour changed his name and withdrew himselfe to an Hermitage in the company of a very olde Hermite There to liue solitary F. 27. Chap. 7. How Durin returned vnto the Princesse Oriana vnto whom hee declared the sorrowfull newes of Amadis and of the great sorrow which she made after she vnderstood of his dispaire Fol. 35. Chap. 8. How Don Guillan the Pensiue did bring vnto the Court of King Lisuart the shield armour and sword of Amadis which hee had found lying by the fountaine of the plaine field Fol. 39. Chap. 9. How the Faire Forlorne beeing in the Rocke with the Hermite there arriued a ship in the which was Corisanda who sought for her friend Florestan and of that which happened vnto them Fol. 46. Chap. 10. How the Gentlewoman of Denmarke going in search of Amanis after long trauaile coasting along many strange Islands by chance she arriued in the poore Rocke where Amadis was who was called the Faire Forlorne whom she knew how they returned together towards Oriana Fol. 53. Chap. 11. How Galaor Florestan and Agraies departed from the Firme-Island to goe seeke Amadis of whom they could heare no tydings at all wherupon they alreturned vnto the Court of King Lisuart Fol. 60. Chap. 12. How King Lisuart being set at the Table there came before him a strange Knight armed at all points who defied him The conference that Florestan had with him and how Oriana was comforted with the good news that she receiued from Amadis Fol. 71. Chap. 13. How the Faire Forlorne sent Enil his Esquire vnto London to cause a new armour to be made for him what aduenture chanced vnto him in going to Mireflour Fol. 78. Chap. 14. How that after the Faire Forlorne had ended his aduenture be went vnto the fountaine of the three Channels from thence he tooke his way to Mireflcur where he found Oriana with whom he remained eight dayes together and at the same ââme there arriued in the Court of King Lisuart an auncient Gentlemen bringing with him two Iewels of singular vertue whereby the faithfull louer from the fained might be tryed the which Amadis Oriana determine to make proofe of in such secret manner that they would neither be knowne of the King nor any other Fol. 90. Chap. 15. How the Damosell of Denmarke was sent vnto London to know what answer Enil had receiued from the King touching the safe conduct which was demanded by the Faire Forlorne who did afterwards bring Oriana thither to proue the strange Iewels Fol. 99. Chap. 16. How after the Faire Forlorne had brought Oriana backe againe to Mirefluer he departed that he might be in the battell with King Lisuart and what happened vnto him Fol. 110. Chap. 17. How King Cildadan and Galaor were vnawares to them-selues carried away by twelue Damosels and one of them was put into a strong Tower enuironed with the Sea and the other in a Garden enclosed with high walles where they thought they had beene in prison of that which happened there vnto them Fol. 120. Chap. 18 How the euening ensuing the King being risen from the Table walking about the galleries of his Pallace he behâld two great fires vpon the Sea that came directly towards the Citie Fol. 130. Chap. 19. How after the departure of Vrganda the King beeing readie to mount on horsebacke to execute the enterprise which he had determined to make vpon the burning Lake there came before him a Damsel Gyantesse to vnderstand whether his Maiesty would bee pleased to referre the quarrell that hee pretended in his voyage vpon the combate betwixt Ardan Canila and amadis of Gaule with such conditions as shall be declared vnto you Fol. 137. Chap. 20. How Bruneo de bonne Mer did fight with Madamine the ambitious brother to the Damosel iniurious and of the accusations that were made by some of the enemies of Amadis vnto the King for which cause he and many others that were desirous to follow him aâ parted from the Couât Fol. 151. Chap. 21. How Amadis with many others his confederâtes forsook the seruice of King Lisuart and went as well to proue the aduentures of the Arch of loyall louers as also of the forbidden chambâr Fol. 163. Chap. 22. How Oriana remained in great perplexitie not onely for the departure of Amadis but also because she ââlt herselfe great with childe and of that which happened to the twelue Knights that were departed from the Firme-Island to deliuer Madasima and her Damosels Fol. 173. FINIS