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 〈◊〉 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 cōcealed 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 defēders 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 cōtrary 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 Cōbare thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whō this quarrell begā 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 reasō 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
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 giâ—â—s of the horse ouerthrowing both 〈◊〉 and saddle euen in a momentâ—… uerthelesse before the Gyants â—allâ— 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 wouÌ„ded 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
perceiuing in laughter saide You shall not be such a glutton maister Lyon but you shall leaue vs parte of the game And herewith presently he alighted because his Horse would not come nere the beast so drawing his Swoord and clasping his sheeld on his arme not regarding the cryes of King Garinter who laboured to disswade him from the attempt he marched to the Lyon who for defence of his pray ran eagerly against the King and so betweene them began a new warre But the Lyon being quicke and nimble did so much as he got his enemy vnder him yet was the Kinges heart so good that albeit he was in very great perill of his person he was not abashed one iotte but turned himselfe in such sorte as he thrust his Swoord into the belly of the beast which at that instant fel downe dead before him The King seeing what had happened was so ouercome with meruailing at this deed as he said within him selfe In sooth it is no shame to renowne one of the best Knights in the worlde In this meane while the rest of the traine came thether who for to finde their king had searched long time vp and downe the Forrest Then was their pray and Venison laid on two horses and caryed to the Citie where the Queene was immediatly aduertised of king Perions arriuall and therefore made speedy prouision of all things necessarye to welcome and feaste so great a Prince At their coming they found Dinner ready and the tables couered wherfore after the welcomes and reuerences done on all sides the two kinges sat downe so did the Queene and faire Elisena her Daughter Now had loue secretly ambushed himselfe because he had long time assayled this yong Princesse without any power to ouercome her but now he saw her so vnprouided as at this instant hower he might touch her to the quick and thence forwarde hold a sure conquest of her The like in king Perion who thought of nothing but a friendly entertainment yet when he cast his eye on the Lady Elisena she in like sorte vpon him by vertue of this pearcing regarde her wonted chaste and holye life had no longer power to priuiledge this Princesse but she was wonderfully thralled in extreame loue to this yong king and he in selfe same manner to her albeit till that hower he had his hart francke and free without subiection in any other place In this sorte during dinner tyme they found themselues for each other in a strange opinion till the tables were with drawen whē the Queene would departe to her Chamber wherefore Elisena arose to follow her but as she stepped forward she let fall a Ring which she had put in her bosome when she washt her handes and so had forgot it by reason of this new loue that made her thinke on other matters Now was king Perion somewhat neer her and desirous to let her know how willingly he would be hers stooped downe as soone as she to take it vp and so right did their handes meete together as the king had the meane to close her fingers yet feigning to take vp her Ring Wherevpon this amourous Lady began to change collour and notwithstanding by a sweete regard humbly thanked him Ah Madame quoth he this shall not be the last seruice I hope to doe you for my whole life time shal be imployed to obey you Cōstrained was Elisena without answering him to follow the Queen her mother so surprized altered as very neere she had forgoten her selfe so that not able to endure this new fire of loue which so sudden vehemently had conquered her wonted chaste and choice determination with the teares in her eyes and her hart full of anguish shee went and discouered the same to a faithful Damoselof hers named Darioletta praying her most instantly to councel her how she might safely know if King Perion had not elsewhere placed his loue and whether the affectionate semblaunce he had showne her might proceed from force of that impression which had so lately seazed on her hart The Damosell meruailing at this so sudden mutatiō in a person thought so farre from any such matter taking neuerthelesse compassion on her piteous teares thus answered I see well Madame that according to the extreame passion wherewith the tirant Loue hath tormented ye he hath lest no place in your iudgement where counsell or reason may be entertained and therefore following not what I ought for your seruice but the will I haue to obey you I shall do what you haue commaunded me by the most honest meanes that my little discretiō and great desire I haue to please ye will permit me So without any more woords Darioletta went to the Chamber where King Perion was and at the doore she found his Squire who brought other garments for his Lord to weare which the Damosell tooke of him For quoth she it is necessary that I performe this seruice and you gentle Squire may goe if you please about your other affaires The Squire thinking it was the custome of the Country made no deniall but willingly suffered her to take the Garments whereupon she entred the Chamber where she found the King laid on his bed who seeing her enter and knowing well it was she whom he had seene to conferre with Elisena most priuatly in whom aboue al other she put chiefest trust he thought that she wold not come in that sort to him without bringing him some remedy for his mortall passions for which cause all in trembling he said Faire friend what demand ye If it may so like you my Lord quoth she I haue brought other garments for ye Much rather would I said the King that you had brought some comfort to my hart which at this present is left despoyled of all pleasure As how my good Lord answered the Damosell Thus quoth he When first I arriued in this country I was free from all passions and doubted nothing but of aduentures that might happen to Knights errand but now I know not in what sort entring this Court by some one of your Ladyes haue I receiued a deadly wound for which if you faire Damosell know how to giue me any remedy your recompence shall be so good as you shall repute your selfe beholding to me Certes quoth she I should imagine my selfe happy by doing seruice to so high a personage and so good a Knight as you are if I could tell wherein If you wil promise me said the King as you are a loyall Damosell not to discouer me but where it is requisite I shall tell ye Say boldly your pleasure answered Darioletta for by me without your liking it shall not be knowen to any Damosell and my friend quoth he I giue you to vnderstand that at what time I beheld the excellent beauty of Elisena your Mistresse I became extreamely tormented with her loue and in such sorte as I cannot excuse my selfe from death if I find not remedy for my greefe
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 o◠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 thē 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 chāber 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 thēce 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
be answered the Prince vnlesse you thinke I haue done wrong in succouring the husband to this traiterous woman whom cruelly she hath caused to dy When the three Knights heard that they were very much abashed and then thought they had bene abused by their sister wherefore they thus replied In sooth my Lord so please you to assure vs we will shew on what occasion we assailed you You shall haue good assurance so to doe said the Prince yet will I not acquit ye from the combate Then he that first spake rehersed all the words of their sister according as hath beene already declared In good sooth quoth the Prince neuer was villanie disguised in such sorte for she hath done far otherwise as you may vnderstand by her husband himselfe who being nere his death I conuaied to an Hermitage hard at hand Seeing it hath so fallen out said the three bretheren dispose of vs as they that remain at your mercy And mercy shall ye haue answered the Prince if first ye will loyally sweare to me that you will cary this woman and her husband to the Court of King Languines there before him recite al that hath happened saying withall how you were thereto constrained by a yong Knight that sent ye thether who this day departed from his Court desiring him to censure on this mis-deed as he shall thinke good All this they promised and swore to performe wherefore commending them to God he rode away leauing them together CHAP. VI. How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentle-man of the sea THis quarrell thus ended with the three Knights the Gentle-man of the sea tooke the way which before he had left but they had not ridden long till they saw two Damosels come toward them by two sundry waies who addressed them-selues to meete together which when they had done they entred into communication One of them bare a Launce in her hand and whē they were come to the Prince she with the Launce aduanced her selfe to him saying My Lord take this Launce which I giue ye because I can assure ye that within three dayes it will stand ye in good steed as therewith you shall deliuer from death the house from whence ye are discended The Prince amazed at these words thus answered How can it be Lady that a house should liue or dye It shal be quoth she euen so as I haue said and this present I was desirous to bring ye as a beginning of recompence for two fauours I hope to receiue by you the first whereof shall be When one of your best friends shall by you haue one of the greatest honors that euer he can receiue whereby he shall fall into the deepest danger that any Knight hath done these ten yeeres space Beleeue me Lady answered the Prince such honor if God please I will not doe my friend Full well I known quoth the Damosell that so it shall come to passe then putting on her Palfray departed this Damosell you must note was Vrganda the vnknowne When the other Damosell who heard the words saw her forsake her company she determined for certaine daies to stay with the Prince to see what he should doe wherefore she said My Lord although I am a stranger if you thinke it conueneient I would gladly for a while abide with ye deferring a iourny that I haue to my mistresse The Prince well perceiued she was a stranger which made him to demand of whence she was where-to she replied that she was of Denmarke And that himselfe could not gain-say because her language gaue assurance thereof for hauing heard his Lady Oriana at her first comming into Scotland it made him the better remember that Country speech whereupon he said If you please faire Damosell to goe with me I will defend ye to my power but I pray ye tell me if you know the other Lady that euen now gaue me this Launce Truely Sir quoth she neuer did I see her till now I met her on the way and then she said to me that the Launce she caried she would giue to the best Knight in the world desiring me withall to let you vnderstand after her departure that she bare you great affection and how she was named Vrganda the vnknowne Ah God quoth he how infortunate am I ◅ot knowing her if I forbare now presently to follow her you must thinke Lady the cause is that I cannot find her against her will and thus deuising they rode on vntill the dark euening ouer-tooke them At this time it so chanced that they met with a Squire who demanded where they intended to find lodging trauailing so late Where we can answered the Prince In good faith said the Squire if you meane to haue lodging you must leaue the way which now you take for you cannot long time come to any that way but if you will follow me I will conduct you to a Castle belonging to my father who shall do you all the honor and good entertainment may be deuised The Damosel thinking this councel good desired the Prince to accept there-of which he did therefore the Squire rode before them as their guide leading them derectly forth of the way because he had neuer seene the combates of Knights errand and hoping to conduct them the day following to a Castell where such pastime was vsed but that night he brought thē to their lodging feasting and entertaining them very sumptuously yet could the Prince take no rest all the night for thinking on the Lady that brought him the Launce On the morrow very early they would be gone and taking leaue of their hoste the Squire said he would bring them againe into their way acquainting the Prince as he rode with the custome of the Castell which being very neere at hand he shewed them the Castell standing very strong and pleasantly for before it ran a huge swift Riuer and no passage thereto but ouer a long draw-bridge hauing at the end a faire Tower for defence thereof When the Prince beheld it he thought he must needs passe thether by the bridge yet he asked the Squire if there were any other way No my Lord quoth he for this is the vsaull passage March on then said the Prince wherewith the Squire the Damosell and their company set forward but the Gentleman of the sea remaining behind entred into such thought of his Lady Oriana as he had well neere forgotten himselfe but at length he heard the noyse of sixe Halberders armed with Corslets and Helmets who at the entrance of the bridge had arrested the Damosell and there would force her to take an oath that she should neuer beare loue to hir friend if he would not promise her to aide King Abies of Ireland against King Perion which she refusing cried to the Prince for his assistance This clamour made him forget his musing when adressing himselfe to the Palliardes he said Traiterous villaines who commanded you to lay hands on this Lady
aduenture and on the third about mid-day he arriued at a very goodly Fortresse that appertained to a Gentleman named Galpan This Galpan was then the most valiant Knight in all that Country and therefore was greatly feared of all his Neighbours yet did he there maintaine an abhominable and wicked custome forgetting God who was cheefely to be honored bequeathed his endeuours to the seruice of the Diuell For he constrained all Ladies and Damosells that passed by his Castell to enter in where vilainously he tooke his pleasure of them and not contented therewith enforced them to sweare that while they liued they should beare affection to none but him if any denied he caused them cruelly to be put to death Likewise he compelled such Knights as trauailed that way to combate one alone against his two bretheren but if they were vanquished he would force the conquerour to deale with himselfe he being the most hardy knight in al those parts If it happened that he brought thē into any debilitie he would take from them all they had turning them away on foote after he had made them sweare to name them-selues while they liued the vanquished by Galpan otherwise hee would depriue them of life But God displeased with the cruelty which so long time he had vsed to the hurt of many good people would now alter this great inconuenience and that Galpan with his complices should receiue guerdō to their deserts making them an example to all other as you shall heare presently recited CHAP. VII How the Gentleman of the sea combated with the guarders of Galpans Castell and afterward with his bretheren and in the end with Galpan himselfe BY this time the Gentlemam of the sea is come nere the castle where he saw a Lady comming towards him greatly afflicted hauing no other company then a Squire and a Page This sorrowfull woman breathed forth many griueous sighes shewing a violent kind of warre betweene her hands and the golden tresses of her haire which she discheueled and rent very pitifully Hereat was the Prince not a little amazed and willing to know what moued her to these extreames he came to her with these speeches Faire Gentlewomā I pray ye tel me the cause of your sorrow Ah my Lord qd shee death would be now right welcome to me being the onely friend to beare me company for such is my misfortune as teares are more conueniēt for me then rememberance of the cause In sooth Lady saide the Prince if in any respect I can do ye good you shall find me ready withall my hart Being sent Sir quoth the Damosell by my mistresses commandement to a yong Knight a man of some account in these parts and passing along this way foure cruell villaines set vpon me and whether I would or no brought me into this Castel where a traiterous Knight dishonorably forced me compelling me afterward to sweare that I should neuer loue any friend but him This complaint moued the Prince to great admiration and thus he answered Follow me Lady for your iniury shal be reuenged if God give me leaue Heereupon the Damosell immediatly went with him and by the way he desired her to tell him what the man was to whom she was sent If you reuenge my wrong quoth she I will tell ye but I can assure ye he is such a one as will be right sory when he hears of my misusage Great reason said the Prince hath he so to do and as thus they communed together they came to the place where shee shewed him the foure Gardants to whom he presently said Disloyall varlets wherefore haue ye abused this Lady as she trauailed on her iournie Because quoth they wee stood in no feare of you but if you get ye not the sooner your entertainment shal be worse then hers was Without any more talking he drew his Sword and comming to one that heaued his hatchet against him quite cut away the right arme from his body then turning to another cleft him ouer the face to the very eares When the rest saw their companions thus mained they fled away so fast as they could running through a by way along a Riuer side but the Prince making no shew of pursuing them wiped his Sword and put it vp againe then comming to the Damosell bad her go forward My Lord quoth she hard by is a gate where I found two armed Knigthts attending Well said he and I shall find them when I come thether So rode they on as the Prince entred the base court he saw the Dungeon dore open and an armed Knight on Horse back come forth after whom they within let downe a Port-cullis and shut the dore againe then the Knight of the Castell aduancing himselfe very boldly thus spake to the Prince Poore wretch too soone art thou come hether to receiue shame and dishonor Dishonor quoth Prince tush these are but words leaue what shall happen to the presence of God who only is skilfull therein and tell if thou be the villaine that did force this Lady No answered the Knight but if it were I what then I meane quoth the Prince to reuenge her wrong if I can Go to said the Knight I shall see then what kinde of reuendge you vse So giuing the Spurrs to his Horse ran as fiercely as he could against the Prince yet he failed in the attaint but the Prince meeting him with full carire gaue him such a greeting with his Launce through the Sheeld as the armour being vnable to resist it let passe the yron through both his shoulders whereby he fell downe dead in the place Hauing with-drawne his Launce prepared him-selfe for another that came to succor the first who pearcing quite through the Princes Sheeld left the head of his Launce in his armour which was of sufficiēt profe but in the encounter he met his enimie so derectly as he rent his Helmet from his head casting him so violently off his Saddie as hee was able to sit no more on Horse-backe The Knight seeing himselfe thus vnarmed cried for some other to come helpe him whereupon three Halberders issued forth to whom he said Looke well my friendes that this man escape vs not At these words they ranne all three violently on the Prince and buckled so neere him as they slew his Horse betweene his leggs whereby he was constrained to fight on foote and so offended was he thereat that hauing recouered himselfe he smote 〈◊〉 Launce through the Knights head which made him presently yeeld the ghost And now he bestirres himselfe against the other three who cowardly stealing behinde him woūded him on the shoulder whereby he lost a great quantity of his bloud but full well he recompensed the villaine that did it letting forth the deerest bloud he had in his body by cleauing him with his Sword as it bad beene an Axe The other two terrified heer-with ranne vp into a long Gallery crying Come my Lord come quickly for we are all vanquished
as the knight of the Castle fell into the water where he was drowned and the conquerour rode on which the Halberders seeing presently drew vp the bridge againe after him When the Damosels saw he was thus closed in they cryed out aloud vnto him that he should returne as he was about so to do he espied three other Knights well armed come toward him who very audaciously thus spake Vnhappy was the houre to thee whē thou didest passe this bridge for thou shalt dye in this water where he is drowned that was of greater reputation then thou art Here with they all three together ran against him and met him so firmely as his Horse was like to haue fallen ouer backward yet hauing broken their Launces on him he was at this encounter wounded in two places neuerthelesse one of them he met in such order as his armour vnable to resist the pointe of the Launce pierced through with such violence that the trunchion still remained in his body This done couragiously he drew his sword adressing himselfe to the other twaine and they in like manner against him where-upon began a dangerous Combate betweene them but he with the Lions in his Shield doubting his death laboured so much as he could to ouer-come his enemies giuing one of them such a stroke on the right arme as being cut from the body it fell sword and all to the ground wherefore feeling himselfe thus wounded he galopped with all speed to the Castell crying Helpe my friends helpe your Lord who is in danger of killing When the Knight of the Lions heard that he with whom he must yet deale was the Lord of the Castell he deliuered him such a rigorous blow on the Helmet as made him loose his stirrops and ready to fall had he not got hold about the neck of his Horse in this staggering the Knight of the Lions rent his Helmet from his head and he perceiuing himselfe vnarmed thought to escape by flight as the other did but his enemy got betweene him and the Castell saying Thou art dead if thou yeeld not thy selfe my prisoner Alas answered the amazed Knight I am dead indeede if you please but as you are a Gentleman take pitty on me for I doe yeeld my selfe your vanquished Suddenly the Knight of the Lions looking about espied other Knights and armed men on foote that came in great hast from the castell to succour their Lord wherefore he stepped to his conquered prisoner and holding his sword against his throate said Command thy men to returne else shalt thou presently die Then he who faw his life in such perill cryed to them made a signe with his hand that if they loued him they should returne where-upon they beholding their Lords life at his enimies swords pointe obeyed his command with all possible speed Yet is not this enough said the conquerour cause now the bridge to be let downe which he did and they came both forth on the causey where the Ladyes taried but when the Knight of the Castell beheld them and that one of them was Vrganda the vnknowne Ah my Lord quoth he if you keepe me not from this Lady I am but dead Nay beleeue me answered the Knight that will not I do but rather am to deale with thee as shee shall command me then stepping to Vrganda he said Madame see here the Lord of the Castell what is your pleasure I shall do with him Smite off his head answered Vrganda if he will not deliuer you my friend whom he keepeth in prisō Here-with he lift vp his sword to feare him when the Knight falling on his knee cried Ah my Lord kill me not I will obey whatsoeuer she commandeth Dispatch it quickly then said the Knight of the Lions So caled the Lord to one of the halberders within saying Go to my brother and tell him if euer he intend to see me aliue let him quickly cause the imprisoned Knight to come hither and the Damosel that brought him with her Right soone was the messenger gone on this errand returning immediatly with the Damosell and the Knight to whom the Knight of the Lions thus spake Thanke this Lady who hath done so much for ye and truely great cause you haue to loue her in that she hath taken wonderfull paines to deliuer you from this thraldome I do loue her answered the restored Knight and so will continue better then I haue done heretofore But before he could finish these words Vrganda ran and embraced him the like did he to her afterward the conquerour demanded what should be done with her that brought him thither It is necessary that she dy replied Vrgà da to let her know the price of so hainous an offence Presently was the poore Damosel so strangely enchanted as she ran skipping ouer the marrish quag-mires and turning backe againe would haue throwne her selfe into the water had not the knight of the Lions intreated Vrganda to pardō her trespasse for this time Prouided saide Vrganda that she returne no more to offend me otherwise she shall pay for altogether Whē the Lord of the Castle saw the Damosell was remitted at his request who ouer-came him he thus spake My Lord I haue performed what hath bin commanded therefore I pray ye giue me leaue to depart from her that neuer loued me In sooth answered Vrganda for honor of him by whom you make your suite I am content and you may returne He being gone the Knight of the Lions who yet maruailed by what occasion the Damosell was driuen into that furie asked what moued her so to do Ah my Lord quoth she me thought one came round about me and would haue burned me with a lighted torch therefore to saue my selfe I sought to leape into the water At these words the Knight fell into a laughter saying Your folly hath beene ouer great faire Damosel to worke her ill who knowes how to reuenge it Galaor stood and had seene all these things where-upon he thus spake to the Giant Beleeue me father I very much desire that this worthy man should giue me my order for if King Lisuart be renowned it is for his possessions but this Knight deserues it by his strength and valour I am well content answered the Giant go and request it of him if he deny you the fault is his owne So Galaor went forward accompanied with foure squires and two Damosels ◠when comming to the Knight of the Lions he found him yet vnder the trees At his arriuall he was curteously receiued by the Knight who reputed him one of the most comely Gentlemen that euer he had seene afterward Galaor thus began Gentle Sir I am come to entreat a fauour at your hand Truely answered the Knight if your request be reasonable it will the sooner be granted My suite Sir quoth Galaor is for nothing else but that it might please you to giue me the order of knight-hood and in so doing you shall saue me a great
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 encoūtered 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 cōpany replied Amadis as I will not excuse my selfe from the promise I haue made thee As thus they cōmuned 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
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 â—o it please you to giue me lâ—… with he arose and came 〈…〉 who stepping forward to meet him you must think Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcoÌ„med him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia louing him as you haue heard ouermastring her will with reason as a most wise well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand a while asunder from all the rest Yet did 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 remeÌ„brance of our mutuall loue meane while sweete friend remporize and dismay not Mistresse sayde Agrates you haue already so bouÌ„d me to you as I must in duty temporize till time you please but I desire yee to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortifie mee withall so that if you 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 coÌ„mand 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
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 â—ast 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
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 Sâ—rgeants 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 Gaiâ—or 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 expiaâ—e 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 〈◊〉 onely to enquire your names for she that conducted you â—ither
still comforting his dismayed Mistris and shee reioycing in her louely friend Gandalin arriued who had sought his Master all that night and happily found him there with his Lady Now minded they to tarry no longer in this place wherfore making choyce of the knights horses to their owne liking they all mounted Amadis leading Orianaes Palfray by the bridle and shee rehearsing to him by the way what iniury the dead knights had done her as in her life time she neuer endured the like Madame answered Amadis much greater griefe haue I suffered by a liuing creature yet lesse to be feared then the dead who can doe no harme but beauty onely hath hazarded my life Albeit Oriana well knew his meaning yet shee demanded who was the cause thereof Euen you Madame quoth he who hold mee in a life more irkesome then death My Lord said the Princesse neuer with my consent did you sustaine any harme and very sorie would I be you should thinke mee so vnkinde for rather could I affoord to ease your griefe were it in my power to compasse the meane Ah Madame replyed Amadis as by you onely I took my hurt so from you onely must I haue my help and reason reputes it a matter of great inconuenience that such rare perfections should cause so rough passions But if you be indued with such pitty as the rest of your excellencies do plainly promise you will not beholde that in me which you grieue to see in your chiefest enemies euen death gentle Princesse who in my torments awaiteth on me forbearing to strike beeing conquered with this hope that did opportunity and place serue your passed promise shold ease your thoughts and deliuer me from this weighty oppression But see how sweete occasion fauoureth vs and fortune stands aloose from hindering our content doe not you then good Madame let slip this gracious offer when time and place challenge it at your hand considering the argument is vrgent and being now loytered may hardly be againe so well recouered Oriana not so much for these reasons as because her pain was equall with his had not he begun the motion her selfe would haue solicited the same thus answered Great is the force of your perswasioÌ„s but greater the vnfained loue I beare you which hath such authority ouer me as when you shall haue least occasion to demand I am content and constrained to obey yea to repose such a thing in your trust as very hardly can I holde fast in my thoughts Yet I desire you albeit you see me not stored with prouidence that you will carefully mannage our enterprise by warie keeping it from knowledge or suspect rather submitting our selues to the highest displeasure then common reproofe which is containd within no limits Sufficient protestation made Amdais hereof but little batterie needed when the hole was won and riding through a verie thick wood the Princesse became desirous of sleepe because the night before she enioyed no rest whereupon shee acquainted Amadis therewith saying shee must needes sleepe ere she went any further â—Hee beeing no vnprofitable counseller and seeing a daintie plot by a riuers siue shaddowed with boughes from the heate of the sunne aduised her to rest there awhile and dismounting from their horses hee thus spake So please you Madame in this place we may stay till the heate be gone and you rest in tarying for the cold euening in meane space I will send Gandalin to the Towne to bring some viands to refresh vs withall Your reason is good saide Oriana but how shall hee come by meate He shall leaue his horse in pawne answered Amadis and returne on foote Yet I quoth Oriana haue a better helpe then that hee shall sell this ring which can doe vs no better seruice then now in our neede So pulling the ring from her finger she gaue it to Gandalin who taking his leaue as hee came by his Maister saide So good time lost will neuer bee had againe Amadis knew his meaning well enough yet made he no shew thereof but vnarmed him-selfe and Oriana spreading the Damosels mantle on the grasse laide her downe vpon it the Damosell likewise went aside into the wood where shee fell soundly asleepe by reason she watched all the night before Thus remained Amadis alone with his mistresse so glad of her gentle grant and the fauourable houre at hand as hee could not withdraw his eyes from comfort which made him delay time in needelesse gazing In the end though his hands had beene slow in vnarming him all his other members were in better state for not one of them but did his duty The heart was rauished in thoughts the eye in contemplatioÌ„ of excellent beauty the mouth with sweete kisses the armes with kinde embracings and no one mal content in any poynt except the eyes which wished themselues in number like the starres in heauen for their better ability in function thinking they could not sufficiently beholde so diuine an obiect In great paine were they likewise because they were hindered from the pride of beauty for the Princesse held her eyes closed as well to disguise her desire of sleepe as also for the discreet shame conceiued by this pleasure so that shee durst not boldly looke on him she most loued Hereupon carelesly spreading her armes abroad as though she slept in deed and by reason of the exceeding heate leauing her gorget open two little alablaster bowles liuely shewed themselues in her bosome so faire and sweetly respiring as Nature neuer shewed more curious workmanshippe Now Amadis forgetting his former bashfulnesse seeing Fortune allowed him so quaint a fauour let loose the reines of amorous desire with such aduantage as notwithstanding some weak resistance of the Princesse she was enforced to prooue the good and bad together which maketh friendly maidens become faire women Dainty was the good grace and subtiltie of Oriana in shadowing her surpassing pleasure with a feminine complaint of Amadis boldnesse shewing in countenance such a gracious choller contented displeasure as in stead of consuming time in excuses Amadis resaluted her with sundry sweet kisses as also another cause to chide if she wold But she being loth to mixe angry speeches with amiable sollace or with frowning lookes to crosse an equall content thought it better to commend the controule of so kinde a louer and therefore continued this pleasing recreation as neither party receiued occasion of mislike rather with kisses which are counted the seales of loue they chose to confirm their vnanimity then otherwise to offend a resolued patience Ah how many repetitions made Oriana of the paines she suffered in expectation of this day confessing those priuate particularities which none but she her desire were acquainted withall How many matters likewise alleadged Amadis expressing thereby his singular contentment and credible assurance of his perpetuall faith now reckoning all his trauels well imployed more then sufficiently recompensed In these discourses and pleasures they spent most part
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 theÌ„selues 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— Dinadaâ—s 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 Dinadaâ—s 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 Dinadaâ—s 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
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 â—ought 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 woâ—t 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 â—as 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 bâ—re 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 Forâ—â—rne 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 â—…stood by 〈◊〉 the â—…t at you had in 〈◊〉 her Lettâ—r 〈◊〉 assure you that shee was 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 I doe greatly wonder how â—â—ee hath beene abâ—… vntill this time to suppâ—… the 〈◊〉 which â—he 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 vâ—to haue beene the cause of 〈◊〉 â—â—ischiefe then is yet happened Beleeue me said the Faire Forâ—â—â—ne I was neuer in greater danger 〈◊〉 death and I doe maruell whereâ—… 〈◊〉 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 faâ—…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 â—â—nd and were not this thought 〈◊〉 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 Hâ—â— many paâ—â—es what 〈◊〉 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 hâ—…d pâ—…â—â—ne I indured for her whâ—…m I neuer offended beleeue me Damo 〈◊〉 I was so exceeâ—… troubled that euery houre I dâ—…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 〈◊〉 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
from those whose words you shall know to be vniust and peruerse Herewithall she arose from her place and al the company in like fort and shortly after she tooke leaue of the King and of the rest of his court which done she returned into her galley accompanied onely with the foure knights that had conducted her to the Court who hauing seene her embarked returned backe to the Citty but they had no sooner turned their backs when a thicke and great Cloude so ouershaddowed the ship that presently they lost the sight thereof CHAP. XIX How after the departure of Vrganda the king being ready to mount on horse back to execute the enterprise which he had determined to make vpon the burning lake there came before him a Damosell Giantesse to vnderstand whether his Maiesty would be pleased to referre the quarrell that he pretended in this voyage vpon the combat betwixt Ardan Canila and Amadis of Gaule with such conditions as shall bee declared vnto you SOme few dayes after the departure of Vrganda king Lisuart walking vpon the sea sand consulting with his knights about the voiage which hee determined to make vnto the Isle of Mongaza to set at liberty king Arban and Angriotta they beheld a shippe making towards the shoare which cast anchor hard by them Whereupon they all approched to know who or what newes it had brought when suddainely they perceiued two Esquires waiting vpon a Damosell comming forth thereof who was no sooner landed but shee demanded for the king Those vnto whom she spake answered that he was there but they did all wonder at her greatnesse for there was not a man in all the Court whom she exceeded not in height a hand breadth for the rest shee was indifferent faire and well apparrelled Then she approched neer vnto the king to whom she said if it please your Maiesty I am hither come to let you vnderstand that which I am commanded to declare vnto you in the behalfe of some great personages but if it pleased your highnesse I would haue the Queene present Here-withall the king tooke her by the hand and brought her to the Pallace and afterward he sent for the Queene and her Ladies that they might heare what the Damosell would say they being all come the Damosell enquired if Amadis of Gaule lately called the Faire Forlorne were in this company or no. And Amadis vnto whom by chāce she spake answered her that hee was the man ready to doe her any pleasure if she would imploy him notwithstanding for all his courteous speech the Damosell looking vpon him with a sterne countenance began to raile at him saying the lesse do I esteeme thee for thou wast neuer ought worth not neuer shall be and by the effect of this my message all this company may know whether there bee any heart or courage at all in thee then she tooke forth two Letters of credit sealed each of them with a seale of Gold the one of them she presented to the king the other to the Queene But so soone as the king had red his letter he commanded her to declare whatsoeuer she pleased Wherefore shee spake aloude and said It may please your Maiesty Grumadaca the giant of the burning lake and the faire Madasima with the most redoubted Ardan Canila who is at this present with them to protect and defend them against you haue knowne for certaine that you determine to passe into their country to assaile them and because the same cannot bee done without the losse of many worthy men on eyther side they haue deuised a meanes if your maiesty think good to auoid the effusion of blood the losse of diuers valiant knights which is this that the combat of two persons onely shall determine the quarrell betweene you and them vpon the victory of him that shall win the field the one is the valiant and famous Ardan Canila the other Amadis of Gaule here present vpon this condition that if Amadis bee ouercome Ardan may freely cut off his head and carry it with him to the burning lake vnto Madasima and also if fortune proue contrary to the said Ardan that Amadis remaine conqueror the land the countrie that you intend to conquer shal without contradiction be yeelded vp into your hands And moreouer my Lady shall in like sort presently set at liberty king Arban of North Wales and Angriotta d'Estrauaux who hath beene a long time her prisoners as you know Therefore if Amadis do loue them as they thinke and doe imagaine he doth let him presently condiscend vnto this Combat for the liberty of two such great friends of his otherwise he may be assured that Ardan to despight him the more will send their heads vnto him for a present very shortly Damosell answered Amadis if I agree to this combat what security shall the king haue for the performance of this your promise I will tell you said she The faire Madasima accompanied with twelue Gentlewomen of great birth shall bee sent as hostages and become the Queenes prisoners vnder this condition that if this which I haue said be not wholly accomplished the king may cause them all to die in what sort hee pleaseth and as touching you I demand no other assurance then this that if you be vanquished Madasima may afterward haue your head without contradiction And to let you know that they from whom I bring this message will not gaine-say that which I haue promised I will yet further cause Andaugel the old giant with his two sons and nine of the chiefest knights of the countrie to enter into the king his prison as pledges for the performance of the former couenāts Truly answered Amadis if the king and Queene haue these persons which you speake of in their power the security is sufficient but yet you shall haue no answere of me vnlesse you first grant to dine with me in my lodging with these two Esquires that attend vpon you I do greatly wonder said shee what moueth thee so instantly to intreate and inuite me to dine in thy company seeing that I hate thee more then any man that I know I am sorry for that said he for I loue you and will willingly doe you all the honour and seruice that I am able but if you will haue an answere grant mee that which I demand of you I do grant it said the Damosell more to take away all occasion from thee to deferre the combat then for any desire that I haue to remaine in thy company I thanke you answered Amadis and because it is reason that I aduentur my person not onely to saue two of my best companions friends from death but also doe my best for the enlarging of the limits and authority of the king and his Realme I accept the combat against Ardan and let the hostages come when it shall please you because for my part so glorious an enterprise shall not be foreslowed Certainly said the Damosell thou hast
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 whē 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 frō the Court staying the time vntill it shall please God to regard me in pitty for I feele my belly to rise
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 Grumedaâ—a 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 preseÌ„t 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 recoÌ„pensed 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 waÌ„dring 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 preseÌ„t 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
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 subiectiō 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 contemplatiōs 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 discretiō 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
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 Whē 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 frō 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
whereto she condiscended tooke the Prince by the hand saying I beseechye Sir grant the king what he hath requested He seeing her importunate took off his Helmet when presently the king knew him that it was the same man he had knighted at the Ladies motion wherefore embracing him he said Right glad am I to know so deere a friend My Lord quoth the Prince I knew you so soone as I came to the Castell to be the man that gaue me mine order of knight-hood wherewith so please it God I meane to serue you while your warre continueth in Gaule willingly I would not be knowne by any one till your troubles be finished You ha ue already said the King done so much for me as I rest bounden to you while I liue allowing you to dispose of me and mine and if as you say you come into Gaule you shall augment with aduauntage the honor due to you then iustly may I tearme the hower happy that it was my fortune to make so good a Knight Such like words vsed King Perion litle thinking how neere they were allied together thus they rode deuising till at length they came to a double way when he demanded of the King which of those waies pleased him to take This on the left hand answered the King because it guideth directly to my Country God haue you then in his keeping said the Prince for I must needes ride this other way I pray ye quoth the King remember your comming into Gaule as you promised me for the hope I haue in you hath abridged part of my sorrow and giueth me assurance withall that by your meanes I shall recouer my losse So tooke they leaue of each other the king toward Gaule and the Prince in company with the Damosell and Gandalin but because she had now seene what she desired namely the proofe of the Launce which Vrganda gaue him she wold trauaile no further out of her way but turning to the Prince said I haue hetherto my Lord with right good will kept ye company because the Lady that gaue ye the Launce said she brought it to the best knight in the world and surely I haue seene so much as I stand in no doubt of her speeches wherefore I shall now shape my course to find her I am sent to as before I tolde ye I pray ye Lady quoth he tell me what she is It is said she the Princesse Oriana Daughter to king Lisuart of great Brittaine When he heard her named whom he loued so deerely his hart began to tremble in such sorte as he had fallen beside his Horse but that Gādalin staied him yet fetching a great sigh said Ah God my hart faileth me the Damosell thinking some sudden sicknes was the cause thereof would haue had him vnarmed but hee tolde her it was needlesse for he was oftentimes wont to feele such passions The Squire who all this while had beene their guide tooke leaue of the Prince as king the Damosell if her way lay toward the Courte of King Languines which she affirming he said he would accompany her thether because hee had busines of some importance there So hauing courteously saluted each other they returned the same way they came the Prince rode on with Gandalin to seeke aduentures Heere leaueth the Author to tel ye what happened to Galaor whom the Giant caried away and gaue in keeping to the aged Hermet as already you haue heard By this time had Galaor attained the age of sixteene yeeres meruailously encreasing in stature comely perfection hauing no other exercise then reading on a Booke which the olde man lent him discoursing the deeds of Armes of sundry ancient Knights Heerein he tooke so great pleasure as on this occasion as also by a naturall instinct he was desirous to be Knighted neuerthelesse he knew not whether by right such honor appertained to him Very earnestly he questioned thereon with the Hermet but the holy man who knew right well that so soone as he receiued the order he should combate against the Giant Albadan his eyes being filled with teares he thus answered My soone much better were it for you to labour in the safetie of your soule then to aduenture on the order of Knight-hood which is to be maintained with wonderous trauaile Father quoth Galaor very hardly shall I follow the calling which I take against my will but in that whereof my hart hath made choyse if God grant me good successe will I aduance his seruice for there-out may I not be during life The good Hermit who then well perceiued his grounded resolution replied Certes my Sonne seeing you are determined to follow Armes I can well assure ye that through fault of high linage you neede not dispaire of good hap in respect you are son to a King and Queene but keepe that to your selfe and let not the Giant know how I told ye so much When Galaor heard this he was exceedingly contented saying to the Hermit In sooth Father the care I haue had all my life time to be a Knight hath beene very great but now I thanke God and you I am rid thereof for by that you haue tolde me I cannot misse ofit The Hermit noting his earnest affection doubted least soone after he would be gone wherefore he gaue the Giant to know his Schollers forwardnes as also how his constitution did now very well serue him being wonderfull desirous of his knight-hood and therefore he should now deale in the cause as best himselfe pleased No sooner was the Giant enformed hereof but presently he got him to Horse-backe and rode to the Hermit with whom he found Galaor of more large stature then his yeeres expressed very comely and beautyfull in euery parte whereupon he thus spake to him I vnderstand Sonne that you would be a Knight to follow Armes truely you shall prepare your selfe to go with me when time serueth and your desire shal be honorably satisfied Father answered Galaor heerein consisteth the summe of mine affection so not long after the Giant departed from the Hermit taking Galaor with him who falling on his knee before the reuerent olde man desired that as he had fatherly nourshed him so still he would remember him in his deuout orisons The holy man with the teares tricling downe his cheekes kissed and blessed him then mounted Galaor on Hors-back and followed the Giant who brought him home to his Castell where for certaine time he practised to combate at Armes as also brauely to manage Horses hauing all things conuenient for the same and two maisters very expert therein When he had continued a yeere at these exercises the Giant seeing him worthy to receiue honor strong enough to endure chiualrie disposed thereon as you shall read hereafter Now againe doth the Author leaue him and discourseth of that which chanced to the Gentleman of the sea who after he departed from King Perion and the Damosell rod two daies together without any
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 takē thēseues 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 whō 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 foūd 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 whō 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 cōtrary 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 persō 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
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 thē 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 lād because al the portiō 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 whō 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 euē 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 cōmandeth 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 reasō for your words yet tell me by whō 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
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 thē 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 whō at large shee vnderstood how the knight of the Lyons was Amadis Son to king Perion of Gaule whose cōming thither Vrganda had caused to deliuer by force of Armes her friend that there was kept prisoner for by inchantmēt 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
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 cōbate 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 cōmon 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 vsurpatiō 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 defēded 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 frō 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
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 conditiō 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 countenāce him with the greater fauor was queintly led by the reines of his Palfray thē 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 resistāce 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
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 stāding 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 Whē 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 Whē Amadis saw him so quickly vp againe in such readinesse for his owne defence hee approached to him when began such a battaile betweene thē 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 groūd 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
happened to the Prince Agraies since his returne frō 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 chāber The Ladyes being seperated to their owne cōtentmēt the mariners made great fiers on the shoare to dry their garmēts 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 affectiō 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 thē 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 conte◅ 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 assurāce 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 frō 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 attēding 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 demāded 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 presēt 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
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 chiâ—alrie 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
departure I shall pray Sir Knight that God may send peace between my husband and you Beleeue me Lady quoth he though I neuer care for it with him yet shall it remaine twixt you and me because you deserue it So fortuned it after-ward these words tooke effect and highly profited the good Lady as in some part of this history you shall heare recited Now are they departed from the Castle of Arcalaus riding till the night ouer-tooke them lodging at a Ladyes place fiue leagues thence where they were entertained with very gracious welcome and on the morrow after they had thanked their friendly host as they rode together Amadis thus communed with Brandoyuas Courteous Sir I trauaile in search of a Knight as here-tofore I told ye imagining it will be little pleasure to you to follow me it were not amisse then if we parted In sooth Sir answered Brandoyuas I gladly would goe to King Lisuarts court notwithstanding if you thinke it good I will keepe ye company Little neede shall I haue thereof answered Amadis I thanke ye because I must be cōstrained to wander alone so soone as I haue brought this Lady into such safety as she thinkes meete My Lord quoth she I will accompany this Gentleman if you please seeing he trauaileth to the Court of King Lisuart and there I hope to finde him for whom I was prisoner who I am assured will be glad of my deliuerance Now trust me answered Amadis very well sayde goe then together and God be your guid Thus are they seperated now remaining none with Amadis but Gandalin the Dwarffe of whom the Prince likewise demanded what he meant to do Mary be your trusty seruant sayde the Dwarffe if you like so well as I. I am well pleased replied Amadis and thou shalt doe what thou wilt thy selfe In sooth my Lord quoth the Dwarffe seeing you released me I would gladly remaine in your seruice for I know not where I may be halfe so well the man and the maister being both agreed they tooke their way as fortune liked to conduct them Not farre had they trauailed but they met one of the Ladyes that rescued him from enchantment at Arcalaus Castle shee weeping and mourning very grieuously which mouing Amadis to pitty her complaints made him demand the cause thereof A Knight who rideth not farre before quoth she hath taken from me a little casket wherein is matter of great cōsequence yet no way able to pleasure him for such things are therein as within these three dayes one in my company and my selfe restored from death the best Knight in the world and shee likewise of whom I tell ye is violently caryed away by another Knight who is ridden before intending to force her Heere you must obserue that the Damosell now talking with Amadis knew him not by reason his helmet beuer couered his face but when he heard how her casket was taken from her hee neuer left gallopping till he ouer-tooke him to whom hee thus spake Knight you deale not courteously giuing this Lady cause thus to complaine of you and me-thinkes you should do a great deale better to deliuer the casket againe you tooke from her but when the Knight heard him hee fell in a great laughter Why do ye thus laugh Sir sayd Amadis I laugh at you answered the Knight whom I thinke scant wise in giuing councell to him that demands it not the lesse hope may you haue in speeding in your suite It may be quoth Amadis you care not for my words yet it were good to deliuer the thing is none of yours Belike you threaten me thē sayde the Knight Not you Sir answered Amadis but your ouer-much boldnes in vsing force where it ought not to be Is it true quoth the Knight with these words hee set the casket aside in a tree and returning to Amadis sayd If your brauery be such in deedes as it seemeth in words come teach mee know it and receiue the law So giuing the spurres to their horses they encountred together in such sorte as the Knight being dismoūted his horse fel so heauily on him that he was not able to rise againe in meane while Amadis fetched the cofer and deliuering it to the Damosell sayd Take your owne faire Lady tarry here till I bring your companion Presently he posted after the other Knight ouer-taking him at a thicket of trees where he had tyed both his horse and the Ladies trayling her by the haire of the head into the wood there to commit his villainous desire but Amadis cryed to him aloude in this manner Of an euill death maist thou dye traytor that wrongest a Lady in this sorte without offending thee As the Knight strougled with her to get her into the wood hee looked vp and saw Amadis whereupon he left her making speede to his weapons and mounted on horseback then approching neere the Prince hee sayd By my hand Knight in haplesse time for thee didst thou hinder me of my will Such a will answered Amadis as distaineth honor both men and beasts despise If I take not reuenge for it quoth the knight then let me neuer weare armour againe The world therein shall sustaine a great losse replied Amadis of one addicted to such villainy that seeks to force Ladies who ought in all liberty and honor to be defended and so they bee by all loyall Knights With a braue course they met together when though the knight brake his lance yet was hee hurled against the ground so violently as the weight of his armour and strength of his fall made him lye trembling in a trance Which Amadis perceiuing to rid him out of his paine altogether he trampled on his belly with his horse feete saying Thus shalt thou loose thy desire of forcing Ladyes And as for you faire soule I hope heereafter you are rid from any danger of him The more am I to thank you my Lord quoth she would God my companion who hath lost her casket were as well deliuered as I am She was the first I met withall answered Amadis wherefore first of all I succored her so well as shee hath recouered what was taken from her and beeholde where my Squire conducteth her hither-ward Now because the heat was some-what violent Amadis put off his helmet to take the ayre when the Damosell immediately knew him for it was shee that at his returne from Gaule conducted him to Vrganda the vnknowne when by Chiualry he deliuered her friend at the Castle of Bradoy◠which made her remember him and so did Amadis her when alighting they embraced each other the like courtesie he shewed to the other Damosell Alas quoth they had we but dreamed on such a defender no villain could haue wronged vs halfe so much On my faith said Amadis the help you gaue me within these three daies may not be compared with this matter of no validitie for I was in greater extreamity thē you but how could you possibly vnderstand
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 abādoned 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 questiō 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
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 â—ierce 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 hereâ—ofore 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 imprisonmeÌ„t 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 Amadâ—…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 recoÌ„pence 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 denâ—all 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
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 thē 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 demād 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
promised Angriote that he should enioy me as his Wife whereof when I attained knowledg I withdrew my selfe to a Castle of mine where I kept such a strong guarde and custome as it was thought impossible for any strange knight to enter there without licence but that knight comming thither vanquished my guardants and hath vtterly abolished the drift I intended Yet afterward of his owne good will he promised mee to cause Amadis recall his offer to Angriote then chanced an vnhappy combat betweene him and this knight mine Vnckle who being at the latest extremitie of his life at my request he was spared on this condition that on the first day your Maiesty held open Court I should here present my selfe to grant a request he must demand of me To satisfie my promise I am come hither and desire to know what he will command me At which words Amadis stepped forward saying My Lord the Lady hath told ye nothing but truth concerning the seuerall promises at the Combats therefore am I ready here to accomplish that Amadis shall call back his word to A◅iote prouided she performe her owne promise On my conscience quoth shee if you effect what you haue said you pleasure me more then you can imagine and to let you know I am ready to fulfill my offer demand what you please for if it be in my power you shall preuaile I request nothing else answered Amadis but that you would accept Angriote as your husband he louing you so deerely as he doth Out alas cryed the Lady what maner of demand is this I wish Madame said Amadis that you would marry with such a one as is well worthy to haue so faire a Lady In sooth knight quoth shee this is not according to the promise you made me I promised nothing replied Amadis but I will performe it for if I stand bound to you to cause Amadis discharge his word to Angriote herein I accomplish it I am Amadis and I reuoke the promise I made him wherein you must needes confesse your selfe satisfyed hee gladly would enioy you as his Wife and I ioyne with him in the same request thus stand I free discharged to you both May it be possible quoth she that you are the man so highly renouned Credit me Lady answered the King this is Amadis Ah wretch that I am said she now do I wel perceiue that art not cuning can preuent what God hath appointed for I haue done my vttermost to escape Angriote not onely for the euill I wish him disdaining his good and vertuous deserts but carying this resolution that keeping my selfe chast and single I would not bring my liberty into subiection and now when I thought to be furthest from him I am come neerer then euer I intended Lady quoth the King you haue great occasion to reioyce for you being faire and rich he is a yong and braue disposed knight as you are rich in goods and possessions euen so is he in bounty and vertue not onely in deedes of Armes but in all other good qualities beseeming a knight therefore your mariage together is very requisite and I thinke all in this presence are of mine opinion heereupon shee stepped to the Queene saying Madam you are esteemed one of the most vertuous Princesses in the world most humbly I desire your councell what I shall do Faire friend answered the Queene according to the reputation Angrtote had gotten among the good he well deserueth not onely to bee aboundant in riches but to bee loued of any Lady he shall chuse Why Lady said Amadis think you not that by accident or affection my promise was made to Angriote for had he compelled me to one of these twaine then might you well haue condemned mee of folly but making tryall of his valour and hardinesse yea to mine owne cost I dare assure ye and knowing likewise his earnest loue to you me thinkes the iustice of the cause commands that not only my selfe but all such as are acquainted with him ought to labor in seeking remedy for you both in him the extreame passions hee endureth through your loue in you by making his restlesse griefes known to you Now trust me Sir quoth shee such prayse haue I heard of your vsage to euery one as I imagine you would not say before such an assembly otherwise then truth wherefore following your counsell as also the pleasure of the King and Queene I will forget my former stubborne opinion and am ready to accomplish what you shall command mee Then Amadis taking her by the hand called Angriote and presenting him his loue said Sir Angriote I promised to do my vttermost in this matter say now is this the Lady you would haue Euen she quoth Angriote is the life and essence of my Soule and I am deuoted to none but her Then here I giue her you replied Amadis on this condition that you shall be forth-with married together and continue in honourable loue to her as she deserueth I thanke you my Lord quoth he with all my heart and will obserue your gentle commandement Presently the King called for the Bishoppe of Salerne who conducted them to the Church where they were espoused in the presence of many great Lords Afterward they returned to the Citty and there the wedding was solemnized with great ioy and Triumphs wherefore wee may well say that not men but God appoynteth mariage who perceiued the honest and continent loue which Angriote euer-more bare to this selfe-willed Lady For albeit hee had her in his custodie neuer did he meane dishonorablie against her but by vertuous cogitations bridled vnlawfull desire onely to expresse how intirely he loued her and by obeying her seueere charge lost his life wel-neare when he combatted with Amadis CHAP. XXXIII How King Lisuart would haue the aduise of his Princes and Lords as concerning his former determination for the high exalting and entertayning of Chiualrie AFter the end of this mariage which by diuersity of opinions caused much talke as commonly it happeneth in such cases the King commanded silence againe by his Herauld when euery one being attentiue to heare what he would say he thus began My friends no one of you is ignorant of the heauenly fauour toward me by appointing me the greatest earthly Lord that liueth this day in the Isles of the. Ocean Wherefore I thinke it conuenient that as wee in this countrey are the chiefe so should we be second to no other Prince in rendring immortall thankes by good and vertuous workes whereon we are now minded to determine In this respect I intreate command albeit Kings are the heads of their Monarchies you the members that you would altogether take aduise and giue mee counsell euen from your consciences what you thinke most expedient for mee to do as well for the benefit of my Subiects as also for our estate And I assure ye I am minded to beleeue your opinions as proceeding frō loyall and saithfull subiects wherfore
how she would prooue the vertue of his heart whereupon hee thus answered In good faith Damosel I haue now more neede of â—oy 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 Lâ—suart 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 triâ—le the time quoth Galaor and so rode on still without any â—ariance 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 leâ—t 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
vnreasonably she once had thē in her power who might haue grieued me all my life time but God hauing in other places deliuer'd me frō 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 strāgers 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 nūber 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 Thē 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
Lord quoth Galaor your courtesie to vs is so great that albeit we were determined to passe further on our way yet for your sake we are content to stay with you this night Then the knight conducted Galaor into a faire Chamber leauing the Damosell among the other Ladies and after the Prince was vnarmed the knight spake to him in this manner Here Sir may you rest and take your ease calling for any thing you stand in neede of for God knows I haue vsed such entertainement not onely to you but to all knights errant that passed this way because some time I haue beene as now you are Yet hath nature giuen mee two Sonnes whose onely delight is in search of aduentures but now they lie sicke in their beds beeing cruelly wounded by a Knight who with one Launce cast them both from their Saddles But they were so ashamed at this foyle as they mounted againe and pursued the knight ouertaking him as hee entred a Barque to passe the water where my Sonnes said to him that in respect he had iousted so well they would trie his fortune in combat with the Sword but the knight made answere he could not now intend it yet would they needes presse him so farre as to hinder his entrance into the Barque Where upon a Lady being in his company said they wronged her ouer much to stay her Knight but they were not to depart til he had combated with them at the Sword Seeing it will be no otherwise replied the Lady he shall enter sight with the better of you both on condition that if he be conqueror the other do forbeare the Combat They answered if the one were vanquished the other would reuenge his foyle which when the Knight heard he was so angry as he bad them both come together in respect they were importunate and would not rest contented In the triall one of my sons sustained the worst wherefore his brother seeing him in such perill stroue to reskue him from death yet all was in vaine for the knight handled them so roughly as he left them like dead men in the field and afterward passed away in the Barque No sooner heard I of this mishap but I sent for my Sonnes home were they brought in this daungerous plight but that you may giue credit to my words behold here their Armour cut and mangled as I thinke the like stroakes neuer came from any mans hand Galaor maruailing at this discourse demanded what Armes the conquering knight bare when he was answered his Shield to be of vermilion colour with two black Lions figured therein By these tokens Galaor knew him that it was the same man he trauailed to finde which made him demand of his friendly host if he had no further knowledge of the Knight No verily Sir quoth the auncient Gentleman For this night answered Galaor let vs take our rest and to morrow I intend to seeke the man you talke of For already I haue trauiled foure daies in his search but if I meete with him I hope to reuenge the iniuries of your Sonnes and other likewise whom he hath offended or else it will cost the price of my life I could rather wish said the Knight that leauing this perillous enterprise you would take some other course seeing my two Sonnes haue beene so hardly intreated their own wilfull folly being cause thereof So breaking off talke Galaor took his rest till the next morning when taking leaue of the ancient knight he rode away with the Damosell who brought him to the place of passage in the Barque where crossing the water to the other side they came to a very beautifull Castle whither the Damosel rode before aduising the Prince to stay her returne She taryed not long but comming back againe brought another Damosel with her of excellent beauty and ten men beside all on horse-back after the faire Gentlewoman had saluted Galaor she said Sir this Damosell that came in your company telleth me how you seeke a knight who beareth two black Lyons in a vermillion shield and are desirous to know his name this is very certaine that you nor any other can finde him for three yeeres space but onely by force of armes a matter not so easie to be accomplished by you for perswade your selfe his like is not to be found in all the Isles of great Brittaine Lady quoth Galaor yet will I not giue ouer his search although hee conceale him selfe in this sort and if I meete with him it shall like mee better to combate with him then to know my demand by any other way Seeing then answered the Damosell your desire is such I will shew you him within three dayes ensuing for this Gentlewomans sake being my cosin who according to her promise hath earnestly entreated me Galaor requited her with many thankes and so they trauailed on arriuing in the euening at an arme of the Sea where they found a Barque ready for passage to a little Island and certaine mariners in it who made them all sweare if they had any more then one knight in their cōpany No credit me replied the Damosell hereupon they set sayle and away Then Galaor demanded of the Damosell the reason why they tooke such an oath Because quoth she the Lady of the Isle whither we goe hath so ordained it that they shall let passe but one knight at one time and no other must they bring till his returne or credible intelligence of his death What is hee saide Galaor that vanquisheth or killeth them The selfe same knight you seeke answered the Damosell whom the Lady hath kept with her more then halfe a yeere intirely louing him and the cause of this affection proceedeth from a Tourney which not long since hee maintained in this countrey for the loue of her and another faire Lady whom the knight being a stanger here conquered defending her cause with whome he now is and euer since shee bare him such affection as without grant of his loue she wold haue dyed Sometime hee is desirous to seeke after strange aduentures but then the Lady to detaine him still in this place causeth such knights as come hither to passe one after another against whom he combateth and not one hath yet returned vnuanquished such as die in fight are there interred and the foyled sent back againe despoyled of their horse and armes which the knight presenteth to his Lady shee being one of the fairest creatures in the world named Corisanda and the Isle Brauisande Know you not the cause said Galaor wherefore the knight went not many dayes since to a Forrest where I found him and kept the passage there fifteene dayes together against all such as trauailed that way Yes mary quoth the Damosel he promised a boone to a Lady before he came hither wherfore she intreated him to keep the Forrest for the space of fifteene dayes yet hardly hee got licence of his faire Mistresse who allowed him but a moneth to stay and returne
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 thē 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
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
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 tormeÌ„ts 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 intisemeÌ„ts 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 coÌ„mandements 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 â—nd 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 coÌ„fort 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 〈…〉 I remaine To thee for 〈◊〉 exceeding bounteous grace On earth what Gentleman may 〈◊〉 like game Beloued thou makest me in euery place Happy such â—aâ— when loue â—…pect me Nâ—…d I Ladâ—… me To witnesse 〈…〉 Sweet Sard 〈…〉 Whom 〈…〉 Anâ— sort 〈…〉 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 〈…〉 retire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daugâ—ter of a 〈…〉 Whom 〈…〉 My 〈◊〉 is great 〈…〉 But to enioy 〈…〉 Hauing
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 wrōg 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 cōmanding 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 whō 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 cōparable 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 cōming 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 cōmanded 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
thing as I guesse but that the displeasure of a weake woman had brought him to this extremity he would haue tried to colour his fault by the examples of the strong and valiant Hercules Sampson the wise Salomon Virgill and an infinit number of other great and vertuous personages which haue all faln into the like misery being no more able to resist the same then he And Amadis would haue thought their misfortunes sufficient to shaddow his miserie and yet it is quite contrary for their example might haue warned him to haue shunned the like folly Was it likely then that Fortune would bring him out of his calamity he being thus ouercome for so small a cause and to bestow vpon him afterwards more fauours and victories then euer she had done before me thinketh that she should not neither yet had she done it if those things by her executed against him had not turned to the profit of the persons whom she would fauour whose liues depended vpon Amadis his safety whom she tormented in such sort as it seemed she had more compassion vpon them then care of him as your selfe may iudge Because that Amadis being as it were brought vnto the period of his life when he least hoped of remedie euen then was he restored vnto his former estate by such meanes as shal be hereafter recited vnto you But to the end that we stray not too farre from the order of our history you must first vnderstand that which happened to Gandalin after he awaked and found neither Amadis nor his horse who rising vp in a fright misdoubted that which was happened and looked in all places thereabout notwithstanding he could see nothing but Trees and Bushes By meanes whereof he began to cry and call yet no body answered him but the Eccho which resounded thorow the valley whereby he knew well that Amadis was departed For this cause he began to make a most sorrowfull lamentations determining to follow him and to doe what he could to find him againe which that he might the better accomplish hee returned where hee had left his horse the which hee found hauing neither saddle nor bridle vpon him which made him almost beside himselfe But as hee fretted and sought from one place to another in the middest of the bushes hee espied the harnesse of his horse which he sought wherefore incontinently he sadled him and mounted vpon him gallopping through the forrest not knowing which way to take and in this frensie he rode fiue daies together without any stay at all but at the side of the villages where he onely taried to enquire after Amadis Notwithstanding he could heare no newes of him till the sixt day that he entred into a meddow wherein was a fountaine hard by the which Amadis had left his armour There he beheld a Pauillion set vp and two Gentlewomen vnto whom hee came asking them if they had seene a knight passe by bearing in his shield two Lions sables in a field Or. Wee haue not seene the knight which you demand after answered they but we did finde his shield and the rest of his armour vpon the brinke of this fountaine When Gandalin heard this hee cryed out mainely and bearing his haire he said weeping Ay me is he dead Alas what mis-fortune is hapned the best knight in the world is he lost heerewithall did hee encrease his laments so strangely as both the Gentlewomen had great compassion vpon his miserie Alas my Lord sayde hee how badly haue I kept you truely I am worthy to bee accounted the most wicked esquire that liueth on the earth hauing so lewdly forsaken you and you who were wont to be the defence and refuge of all distressed persons haue now nor coūcel nor cōfort of any liuing wight no not of me caitife as I am that through my great fault and sluggishnesse haue left you in your greatest neede euen when I ought best to haue serued you No soner had he said these words but that hee fell downe in a swound which when the Gentlewomen behelde they cryed Alas this esquire is dead and therewithall they ran vnto him but hee moued not in any sort Neuerthelesse they bestirred them so well as they brought him againe to himselfe afterwards they sayd vnto him my friend you are to blame thus to despaire for a thing whereof you are yet vncertaine It were more conuenient for you to goe seeke your maister seeing that the vertuous as you ought to bee do encrease their strength euen when aduersitie most assaileth them Gandalin knew that they sayde true and for the same cause he determined following their counsell to trauaile so long from place to place vntill he had newes of Amadis But I pray you Gentlewomen answered hee tell me where you haue found his armour That will wee willingly said they Wee were of late in the company of Don Guillan the pensiue who within these few dayes past deliuered vs from the prison of Gandinas the malicious with more then twentie other Ladies and Gentlewomen behauing him-selfe so valliantly that he hath broken the wicked custome of the Castle and constrained the Lord thereof to sweare neuer more to maintaine the same And because euerie one had liberty to goe whether they would my fellow and I haue followed him vnto this place and wee haue already stayed here this foure daies because that when we came hither first Guillan knew the armour of him whom you enquire after which were left vpon the side of the fountaine And I promise you that neuer knight was more sorrowful then he for as soon as he beheld them hee alighted from his horse saying Beleeue me this place is farre vnworthy to hold the shield of the best Knight in the world Then did hee take it vp from the ground and hanged it vpon this Tree Which done hee mounted againe vpon his horse commanding vs expressely that we should keepe it vntill hee had found the Knight to whom it appertained And to that end we did set vp these Pauilions which you see Notwithstanding after we had kept the same three whole dayes he returned and arriued but yesterday very late hauing no news of him at all and very early this morning he commanded his Esquires to take the rest of his Armour which were here found and he tooke off his owne shield to hang about his necke the other which we did keepe In the doing whereof he wept bitterly and said Truly shield thou makest a bad exchange of thy Master for me afterwards he told vs that he went to the Court of king Lisuart to present those spoyles vnto Queene Brisena being assured that shee would be no lesse sorrowfull then he for the sad mischance and wee likewise do follow after him to thanke the Queene for the good which Guillan hath done for vs for her sake as he hath commanded vs to do Then Gandalin bid them farewell assuring them that hee would finde him vpon whom his death or life
depended or else hee would end his daies in the seeking of him CHAP. VII How Durin returned vnto the Princesse Oriana vnto whom he declared the sorrowfull news of Amadis and of the great sorrow which she made after she vnderstood of his despaire DVrin hauing left Patin in the forrest as you haue heard made such great hast to returne vnto Oriana to let her know what he had seen of Amadis as the tenth day following he arriued in the Citty of London But so soone as Oriana perceiued him her heart throbbed in such sort as she was faine to goe into her chamber lay her down vpon her bed before shee would speake vnto Durin and shortly after shee commanded the Damosell of Denmarke to cause him to come in and to see that while she talked with him no other should come where she was Then Durin beeing on his knees before her shee said vnto him Durin my friend by the faith thou owest vnto mee tell mee in what estate thou diddest finde Amadis what was his countenance whilest hee red my Letter and what thou thinkest of the Queene Briolania Madam answered he by my faith I wil tell you the very truth although I am sure that vnto you and others it will seeme in a manner incredible At my departure from hence as it pleased you to command mee I went without any stay vnto the Citty of Sobradisa where I found the Queene Briolania who in my opinion next vnto you is the fayrest princesse of the world and of the best grace There I heard news that my Lord Amadis and his fellows were departed to returne vnto this Court but vpon the way they did meete with a Gentlewoman who carried them vnto the firme-Island to proue the strange aduentures thereof whereupon incontinently I tooke my way thither and there I arriued euen as my Lord Amadis passed the Arch of Loyall-Louers vnder the which none might passe that had in any sort falsified his first Loue. How said she hath he so rashly enterprised such an aduenture hauing his disloyalty so fresh before his eyes I know not Madam answered Durin how you beleeue it but sure I am that it hapned better vnto him then you thinke for seeing that he hath gotten more honour then euer any loyall Knight receiued as many can witnesse by the signes which then appeared And although at that instant Oriana would haue seemed for to dissemble the pleasure which she conceiued of these news yet could she not so cunningly do the same but that with extreame ioy her sudden blushing did increase her beautie for the assurance shee had in the loyaltie of Amadis But Durin continuing his discourse said vnto her Madam he hath yet done greater things for after hee had finished this so strange aduenture he heard news that my Lords Galaor Florestan and Agraies thinking to winne the forbidden Chamber were so rudely repulsed from the marble Pillar that their liues were in great perill by meanes whereof my Lord Amadis desirous to reuenge their wrongs with an inuincible courage he passed through all the garded places and maugre all the inchantments hee entred into the Chamber yet was it not without great danger and trauaile Thus did he win the Signory of the firm Island and al the inhabitants there-of haue already sworne vnto him homage and fealty according to the custome of the Country which is one of the fairest and strongest places in the world And I assure you Madame that it is more then an hundred yeeres since any liuing creature hath passed the pillars but onely my Lord Amadis by whose force and strength we haue seene all the singular things and riches of the pallace of Apolidon and the aduentrous Chamber which is renowned thorow all the parts of the Earth During this discourse of his Oriana was almost rauished with the great ease and pleasure that she conceiued in the hope that one day she should bee Lady and owner of such singuler things to her owne and her louers contentment and said vnto Durin Truly Durin fortune hath beene very fauourable vnto him Ah Madame answered he nay rather too rigorous so as I would to God some other had carried him that vnhappy Letter which you writ I deliuered how said Oriana I pray thee tell me what countenance he shewed in reading it Madame I wil tel you since it pleaseth you answered he although I am sure that you will bee very sort when you shal vnderstand what consequence it turned vnto and the mischiefe it brought vnto the best and faithfullest knight in the world In what sort said she You are the cause of his death answered Durin Out Alas said Oriana what is it thou tellest mee You haue forged the sword that hath wounded him to death and I carried it to him so as we are both his murtherers Then declared hee the whole circumstance and manner how he deliuered the letter and the despaire hee entred into after he had read it so as said Durin he did shortly after that secretly departe from the Pallace of Apolidon with Gandalin Isania the Gouernour of the Isle and me and we brought him vnto an hermitage where hee charged vs steightly to follow him no further then hee mounted on horse-back and taking with him neither Helmet Shield nor Lance he fled ouer a mountaine like vnto a mad man Afterward hee rehersed vnto her all the talke which particularly he had vsed vnto them in taking his leaue of them and Durin made this discourse with so many teares as it was very hard to iudge whether hee or Oriana had the more sorrowfull heart And know you Madame saide hee that after his departure notwithstanding his command to the contrary Gandalin and I followed him and found him asleepe by the side of a fountaine yet his sleepe was not long for suddainly hee awaked and raising himselfe vp he began to make the greatest lamentation in the world bewaling King Perion his father then Mabila and others his friends All this while Gandalin and I had our selues for feare of his furie by meanes whereof without any impeachment of vs he passed the most part of the night in the like lamentations vntill about the breake of day that there chaunced a knight to come singing a song which he had made for the loue of you the which Durin recited vnto her as also that which happened vnto Patin which so ouer-charged the heart of Oriana that she remained in a swound looking like one that were dead The which Durin fearing he called the Princesse Mabila and the Damosell of Denmarke vnto whom he saide Goe helpe my Lady who is in a greate perplexitie for a thing which is now too late to be remedied and if shee hath mis-done the punishment is of due vnto her Herewithall he departed leauing the women much amazed for they knew not the cause of this inconuenience much lesse how they might remethe same neuerthelesse they vsed her in such sort that shee came againe
deale but I beleeue thou shalt proue thy selfe a lier and so saying hâ—e 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 theÌ„selues 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
repaire vnto his Court as also to encourage all such as follow armes to take example by him that was owner of them who by his high knight-hood hath gained the chiefest reputation amongst all those that euer buckled cuirasse on their backs When the Queene vnderstood such news of Amadis neuer was any Lady more sorrowful and answered Guillan It is great pitty for the losse of so good a Knight for I am sure that many at this day do liue which will be sorry for his losse and I giue you most hearty thankes for that which you haue done for him and me together assuring you that those which will put themselus forward to find him shall giue me and all other Ladies cause to wish them wel for his sake which was so much at their commandement But if the Queene for these newes was any whit sorry the king and those of his company were no lesse sad yet was it nothing to the griefe which Oriana sustained For if before she was vexed for the great fault which she had committed at that instant her paine redoubled with so great a melancholy that it was impossible for her to stay there any longer but she withdrew her selfe into her chamber And casting her downe vpon her bed she began to cry Ah wicked woman that I am I may now well say that all the felicity that euer I had is but a plaine dreame and my torment is a very certaine truth seeing that if I receiue any contentment It is onely by the dreames which do nightly solicit me for when I awake all froward Fortune afflicteth my poore spirit so as if the day be vnto me a grieuous martyrdome the darkenesse only bringeth me pleasure and comfort because in my sleepe I thinke that I am before my sweete friend but being awake and quite depriued of that great ioy maketh me too much to feele his absence Ah my eyes no more eies but floods of teares you are much abused seeing that being shut you onely behold him that contenteth you and no sooner opened but all the torment in the world commeth at once to blinde them at the least this death which I feele so neere at hand shall deliuer me from this care and you sweete friend shall be reuenged of the most ingratefull woman that euer was borne Then like a furious woman shee rose vp determining to throw her selfe headlong from the window downe to the ground but Mabila who had followed her preuenting such an inconuenience stayed her setting before her the infamy which she might get if it were but known that she were so minded and more-ouer she did assure her that Amadis would shortly returne saying vnto her How now Madam where is the constancy of a Kings daughter and that wisedome for which you are so much renowned Haue you already forgotten the mischiefe that was likely to haue happened vnto you by meanes of the false newes that Arcalaus brought vnto the Court this last yeare And now because Guillan hath found my Cosins armes is it therefore likely that he should be dead Beleeue me you shall see him againe shortly he wil come vnto you so soone as hee hath seene your Letters This Counsell was authorised with such perswasine reasons that Oriana apeased part of her tormēt But yet these newes so greately troubled her minde that had it not beene for the wisedome of Mabila who often times perswaded her to be quiet there had happened a merueilous incōnenience but in the end shee knew so well how to preuaile with her that she resolued vpon this that the Gentlewoman of Denmark would bring him againe And as they were in these tearmes one came to tell them that the knights and Gentle-women which Guillan had deliuered from prison were arriued wherefore Mabila seeking to with-draw Oriana from fancies brought her where the Queene was vnto whom the two Gentlewomen that had kept the shield of Amadis recited the lamentation which they had seene an Esquire make when he knew the Armour and Shielde that Guillan had found vpon the side of the Fountaine of the plaine field The King was likewise present in whose eyes stood a floud of Teares thinking assuredly that Amadis was dead Then Ladasin and his fellows were seene to come in who brought with them Gandalod prisoner together with the other knight whom they presented vnto the king on the behalfe of Guillan declaring vnto him both the manner of the Combat the talke that passed betweene Gandalod and Guillan and also how that during their incounter the knights that were in the deepe dungeon of his tower had found the meanes to deliuer themselues Is this true said he to Gandalod I caused not long since thy father to be burned in this citty for his great treason and thou shalt likewise be there hanged with thy companion because thou hadst conspired my death Then forthwith he commanded them to bee hanged ouer the Citty wales right ouer against the place where Barsinan was burned as it hath been recited vnto you CHAP. IX How the Faire Forlorne being in the poore Rocke with the Hermit there arriued a ship in the which was Corisanda who sought for her friend Florestan and of that which happened vnto them ONe day the Faire Forlorne being set hard by the Hermit neere vnto the dore of their little house the olde man said vnto him I pray you my son tel me the dream that you had when you awaked on a suddaine sleeping hard by me neere vnto the Fountaine of the plaine field Truely father answered he I will willingly tell it you and I most humbly beseech you likewise to let mee vnderstand be it for good or bad what you thinke thereof Afterwards hee recited the dreame in such sort as you haue heard keeping onely the names of the Gentlewomen secret Then the Hermet remained a good while pensiue when he beholding the Faire Forlorne he began to smile and said vnto him My child I assure you that you haue now more cause to reioyce then euer you had but yet I would haue you know how I vnderstand it The darke chamber in the which you thought your selfe to be out of which you were not able to comforth signifieth this great tribulation wherein you now are The Gentlewomen which afterwardes opened the doore vnto you are some of your friends that continually solicit your cause vnto the Lady whom you so feruently loue with whom they haue so much preuailed that they shall withdraw you from this place The Sunne-beame which went before them are Letters of reconciliation that she sendeth vnto you by meanes whereof you shall leaue me The fire that inuironed this lady sheweth the great loue together with the sad laments that she maketh for your absence as well as you doe for hers And by the faire garden whereunto you did beare her drawing her forth of the flame signifieth the great pleasure which you shall both haue at your meeting Truely my Son I know that seeing
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 tâ—…â—our comming hither to see â—im â—o thâ—nkefully 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 tâ—…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 coÌ„maund 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 caÌ„not 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 coÌ„tent 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 teâ—â—eâ— 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 Corisanâ—a So farre aâ— I perceiue Oriana is not well wherefore I am coÌ„strained to leaue your company at this tâ—â—e 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
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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 to aduertise her but she 〈◊〉 â—wordh-drawn iâ—to â—…er where shee sawe her â—…ing her head vpon one of hâ—r hâ—â—ds 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 coÌ„mitted 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 〈◊〉 which otherwise they would hâ—â—e 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 â—hey 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 Sangâ—in 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 Florestâ—â— 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 loâ—g but that rising vp as it were almost beside her selfe shee sayd vnto Mâ—bila Cosen you knowe that since our comming to this Cittie there hath passed neuer a day wherein wee haue not receiued â—ore 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 Oriâ—â—a 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
vnto you Then the king tooke the Letter and read it and because it referred to the knights report he answered him thus Friend you may performe your charge when it shall please you Hereupon the knight rose vp and said aloude King Lisuart I defie thee and all thy allies in the behalfe of the mighty Princes Famangomad Giant of the burning Lake Cartadaque his Nephew Giant of the inuincible Mountaine Mandafabâ—ll his brother in Law Giant of the vermillian Tower Dâ—â— Qâ—… brother to the late deceassed King of Abies of Ireland and Arâ—… the enchâ—â—nter who doe all sâ—nd thee word by me that they haue sworne the death of thee and 〈◊〉 And the better to accomplish 〈◊〉 their enterprise they will all come in the aid of king Gildâ—… be of the number of his hundred knights who will assuredly destroy thee Notwithstanding if thou wilt giue thy daughter and heire Oriana vnto the â—â—ire Madasimâ— daughter to the most redoubted Faâ—… to serue her for her Gentlewoman they will let thee liâ—e in peâ—… and be thy friends for they will maâ—y her with the Prince Bâ—sigant who doth well deserue to be Lord 〈◊〉 of thy Land and Daughter also Therefore King Lisuart châ—se thee of these two conditions the best either peace which I aduise thee 〈◊〉 except or the most cruell â—â—rre that may happen vnto thâ—â— hauing to doe with such mighty and redoubted Princes When the King had long giuen eare vnto him to shew that he made small account of such threats he smiling thereat answered him Trust mee Knight they that gaue thee this commission doe thinke farre amisse of me for I haue all my life time thought a dangerous warre better then a shamefull peace because I were worthy of great reprehension both of God and man being King ouer such a mighty nation if I should now through base cowardise suffer them to bee afflicted with cruelty Wherefore returne and tell them that I had rather desire all the daies of my life that warre which they do threaten me withall and in the â—nd to diâ— in battaile then to â—â—cord vnto a peace so much to my dishonor And because that I desire to know their mind at large I will send a Knight of mine owne with you who shall in like sort declare vnto them my whole intention and yet I know not if by their lawes all Embassadors or messengers are aâ— free from danger with them as they are with Christian Princes If it please your Maiestie said the knight that he shal go with me I will bee his warrant and will coÌ„duct him vnto the burning lake which is in the Isle of Mongaza where they are assembled with the rest of the hundred to come and meet with you assuring you that wheresoeuer Don Qâ—edragant abideth ne will neuer suffer wrong to be done vnto any Truely answered the King hee sheweth himselfe therein to bee a noble Prince but tell mee if it please you what your name is Sir answered hee I am called Landin Nephew to Dâ—â— Qâ—…gant who am come with him to reuenge the death of King Abies of Ireland mine vnckle neuerthelesse wee could neuer yet meete with him that did slay him and further we doe not well know whether hee bee dead or not I beleeue you well answered the king and I would you did certainely know him to be liuing and that he were here for all the rest would go forward well enough I know well said Landin wherefore your grace saith so you esteeme him to be the best knight in the world neuethelesse I hope to bee in the battaile which is prepared for you and there to performe such worthy deedes of armes to your disaduantage that it may be you will change your opinion By our Lady answered the King I am sorry for that I had a great deale rather that you had a desire to remaine in my seruice notwithstanding this much I tell you that there you shall finde those that can tell how to answere you well enough And you sayde the Knight many other that will pursue you euen vnto shamefull death When Florestan heard him speake so boldly and to the preuidence of Amadis his coller was mooued therewithall and hee saide vnto Laâ—din Knight I am a stranger in this Countrey and none of the Kings subiects so that for any thing which you haue saide vnto him I haue no occasion to answer you chiefely because that here are present so many Knights my betters ouer whome I will not in any sort insult Neuerthelesse seeing that you cannot finde Amadis which is as I think for your great profit I am ready to fight with you and will in his stead defend the quarrel that you haue against him And to the end that you may the better know me I am his brother Florestan who doe offer vnto you the combat vpon this condition that if I can ouercome you shall be bound to giue ouer the quarrel that you haue against him and if you ouercome mee reuenge part of your anger on mee Yet thus much by the way you must not thinke it strange that I haue beene so forward in the matter for I haue no lesse cause to sustaine his quarrell against you he being absent then you haue to maintaine that of King Abies whose nephew you are being very well assured that my Lord Amadis is of power sufficient to reuenge me if Fortune permit you to haue the aduantage ouer me My Lord Florestan answered Landin so farre as I perceiue you haue a desire to fight but I cannot satisfie you at this time being in no sort at mine owne disposition as well for the aâ—…ires which by another I am appointed to discharge as also for that I did promise before my departure from those Lordes that haue called me into their company not to enterprize any matter before the Battaile that might hinder me to assist and do my best endeuour therein and therefore at this present hold me excused vntill the battaile be ended then I promise you to accept the combat which you demand and sooner I cannot intend it Beleeue me said Florestan you speake like a worthy Knight for those that haue the like charge that you now haue ought to forget and denie the fulfilling of their owne will to satisfie those from whom they are sent otherwise they might bee blamed seeing that although you should get the victory of this coâ—… our honour yet it miâ—… their affaires might be â—…slowed thorow your â—â—ay and hinderance because they doe all repose themselues vpon your charge therefore I am content to defer it vntill the time that you require and because you shall not afterwards faile behold here is my gage At the same instant he threw downe his gloue and Landin his Gauntlet Wherefore by their owne consent all was remitted vntill the thirtieth day after the battaile Then Landin tooke his leaue of the king who deliuered vnto him a Knight that was called Filipinel to goe with him to
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 fouÌ„d 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 Orianaâ—s 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
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
the which doe flie very lightly by reason of their long wings but they are so infectious that euery one shun them so much as they possible may Notwithstanding when a man findeth any one of them hee esteemeth of him as a thing much worth because they are profitable for diuerse medicines and these Serpents haue a bone that reacheth from the neck to the tayle the which is so great that vpon the same is formed al the whole body which is greene as you see by this scabberd and furniture for as much as they are bred vp as I haue said in this burning sea no heate of any other fire may hurt them Thus hath your Maiesty heard the strangenesse of this sword and of the scabberd now I will tell you of the floures of this kertchiefe In the same Countrie of Tartarie there is also an Island enuironed with the most strange and dangerous gulfe that is in any part of all the Sea By meanes whereof although the floures of these two branches are rare pretious yet there is no maÌ„ so valiant that dare goe to gather them but if it so chance that any one be so madde as to aduenture himselfe therein and if hee may bring them away assure your Maiesty he selleth them at as great a price as he pleaseth for amongst other singular vertues that they haue this is one that whosoeuer doth charily keepe them they doe neuer leaue their greenenesse and liuely colour as you may behold in this kertchiefe And seeing that I haue declared vnto you the excellency of these Iewels it may please your Maiesty likewise to vnderstand who I am and after what sort I came by these thinges I beleeu that you haue many times heard speaking of Apolidon who in his time was one of the best Princes of the Earth he it was that did beautifie the firme Island with many rare and singular things as euery one knoweth my Father was his Brother and king of Ganor who being in loue with the daughter of the king of Canonia did beget me of her And when I was of sufficient age to bee made knight my father commanded me seeing I had been coÌ„ceiued with far more perfect and loyall loue then euer was any other prince that I would not in like sort receiue knight-hood but by the hand of the most faithful louer that might be found in all the World neyther to take armes but from that Lady or Damosell who should loue her husband or friend with the like constancy as the knight doth The which I both promised and swore vnto him to performe thinking to accomplish his will very easily only in going to mine Vncle Apolidon and Grimanesa his wiâ—e towards whom I went neuertheles my misfortune was such that I found Grimanesa dead wherefore Apolidon knowing the cause of my comming was very sorrowfull For Grimanesa being deceassed else where very hardly might I finde as he told me that which I had promised vnto my Father the succession oâ— whose Crowne was denied vnto mee except I were a knight as by the statute and ordinance of his Realme was appointed and therefore mine Vncle willed me to returne vnto Ganor and that within one yeere following I should come againe vnto him during which time hee would endeauour to finde some remedy for the foolish enterprise which I had vndertaken and according to his appointment I returned Then he gaue me this Sword and kerchief by the which I might know those whom I was to finde telling mee that seeing had beene so rash in my promise therefore I should from thenceforth trauaile so long vntil that I finding such a constant knight and Lady had accomplished whatsoeuer my Father was commanded And thus your Maiesty may see the reason of my long trauaile and search therefore if it like your Highnesse you may trie the Sword first and your knights afterward And in like sort the Queene and her Ladies may prooue what shall bee the euent of the kerchiefe and he or she that shall finish these aduentures shall possesse the Iewels as their owne I gaine rest thereby where-of I shal reape the profit and your Maiesty honour and renowne amongst all other Kings and Princes hauing found that in your Court of the which I haue fayled in all other Countries Thus the old man hauing ended his discourse there was not any that were present who did not generally desire to see the matter in proofe and although the king was as desirous to see the triall there-of as any other yet did he defer it off vntil the fift day following vpon the which day was the feast of Saint Iames to be celebrated and the more to make it manifest he sent for a great number of his knights For the more full my Court is said the king the more is the likely-hood to haue this aduenture throughly tryed Vnto the which determination euery one agreed all this discourse did Gandalin heare who by good fortuÌ„e was not 1. houre before arriued at Lon. But so soone as the Conclusion was agreed vpon he got againe to horse-back and rode forthwith to Mireflure where he found the faire Forlorne playing at Chests with Oriana who seeing him returne so suddainly shee demanded of him what new euent was chanced in the Court Madam answered he I am sure that you will bee wonderfull glad to vnderstand what it is And what is it said Ortana then Gandalin recited all the whole discourse of the olde Gentleman with the strangenesse of the sword and kerchiefe as also how the king had put off the proofe thereof vntill the feast day of Saint Iames next ensuing During all this long discourse the Faire Forlorne became more pensiue then hee was accustomed to bee which Oriana straight perceiued neuerthelesse she made no shew thereof vntill Gandalin and the company were departed and that shee came and sat downe vpon the knees of the faire Forlorne Then shee kissing him and hanging about his neck said vnto him My loue I pray you tell mee whereupon you mused whilst Gandalin declared vnto vs the newes at London In faith Madam answered the faire Forlorne if my will were to my wish you and I should all our life time after liue in more rest and contentment then hitherto we haue done for the kerchiefe should be yours and the sword mine and so all suspition and iealousie should neuer more raigne betwixt vs. What sweete loue said she do you doubt that I would not gaine the Kerchiefe if it were by firme loue to be gained No Madame answered he but I did feare because the tryall is to bee made in the king your Father his Court that you would make it difficult to enterprise the same and yet I know that I am able both to carrie you thither and bring you back againe if it please you so that none that doe see vs shall know who we are My Lord said she you know that I will obey you all my life long and that you
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 vâ—to 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 Eâ—il 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 Fâ—â—â—orne 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
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 you◅ 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 Vermilliō Tower should remayne vpon the top of a little hill with ten of the best knights in their troupe cōmanding 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
enemies so that this day might be well called a sorrowfull and dismall day for those that were in this conflict the which continued so long vntill the most part of the day was past yet none of them had so much time as once to breath and yet it was so hot that there was neither horse not Knight that was not weary exrteamly trauailed for some lay vpon the ground and the most part of the rest in little better case were so weake that they could scant sit vpon their horses At the same time the Faire Forlorne fearing least the losse should fall vpon their fide begā to shew al his force and strength and he lighted vpon neuer an Irishman nor giant but that hee drew the blood from his body Close by his side did King Lisuart ride who did well shew the great prowesse that remained in him and hee was not ignorant of what consequence the end of this battaile was for loosing the victory thereof he lost his dignity his life and honor by meanes whereof without sparing his person hee was entred in amongst his enemies hauing his right arme all dyed with the blood of those whose liues had passed by the edge of his sword On the otherside Agraies Galaor Florestan hauing from the beginning seen the great force and high Knight-hood that the Faire Forlorne had executed vpon his enemies they who of long time did maligne him determined either to dye or to make knowne vnto euery one that they could also fight as well or better then hee so that this emulation was partly the cause of the animating of them so far that they all had likely to haue lost their liues for Galaor chafed like a Lion that is pursued came rushing in among the Giants and encountred Cartadaque of the inuincible mountaine who already with his battaile axe had ouerthrown at his feete six of king Lisuarts knights although that hee was wounded vpon the shoulder with a blowe that Florestan had giuen him whereby hee lost much of his blood then Galaor came vnto him and with all his strength hee gaue him so great a blowe vpon the head that hee cleft his helmet and the sword passing down along cut of his eare and the helue of his axe close vnto his fist Wherefore the Giant finding himselfe disfurnished of his weapon ran vpon Galaor and lifted him vp with such force that hee tooke him vp from his horse crushing him betweene his armes so streightly that one might easily haue heard his bones cracke Neuerthelesse the Gyant could not sit so sure in his saddle but that hee was forced to fal to the groūd with his burthē wherfore Galaor which yet held his sword in his hand foūd the meanes to thrust him in the beuer of his helmet and it entred so farre into his head that hee there withall yeelded vp the Ghost But Galaor was so tyred that after hee was gotten vp from vnder Cartadaque he had not power to pull his sword from the place wherein hee had thrusted it and that which was worst he was so crouded with the presse of people that hee was likely to haue died vnder the horses feet for many good knights both of the one and of the other side hauing seene the encounter betweene him and the Gyant and the perill of them both were approached of purpose to succour them by meanes whereof the battaile was then very great and maruailous hot for King Cildadan suddenly came to that place who ouerthrew all those hee found in his way and had not the Faire Forlorne beene who with one blowe of his sworde stroke him off his horse Galaor had there surely died or beene taken but when hee beheld King Cildadan on foot beside him he princely seased his sword which hee held and began to defend himselfe and that so valiantly as mauger all his enemies hee made them giue him roome Notwithstanding hee had ouerchafed himselfe so much in this last bickering that hee was quite out of breath and hee fell downe flat vpon the earth There was the Gyant Gandalac who had fostered him vp in his infancy hee seeing him fall was so angry that with great rage hee buckled with Albadanor another Gyant and so many strokes they gaue vnto each other with their clubs that they their horses were ouerthrowne where-with Albadanor had his arme broken and Gandalac his legge But they were not alone that were thus ill intreated for one might haue seene more then six score knights lying vpon the ground and yet was not halfe the day spent Then Mandafabull the Gyant of the Isle of the red Tower who had beene appointed not to depart from the little hill wheee hee remayned vntill the extreamity of the battaile seeing so many knights dead scattered and wounded thought that he might well end this enterprise and that it were very easie for them to defeate the rest by meanes whereof hee began to runne right vnto that place where was the greatest presse crying vnto his knights Take heed that none escape away aliue let all passe by the edge of the sword as for mee I haue vowed to take King Lisuart in hand for hee is mine dead or aliue This cry was heard of euery one especially of the Faire Forlorne who returned from taking of a fresh horse which one of the nephewes vnto his host had reserued for him and fearing that the Gyant would doe as hee said hee came and stepped before the King with Agraies Florestan Brunco de Bonne Mer Branfil Guillan the Pensif and Enil who had all day long behaued himselfe so valiantly that hee was had in very great reputation Now was Mandafabull better seconded then he thought for as hee approached neere vnto the esquadron of King Lisuart Sarmadan the Leonnois Vncle to King Cildadan one of the best knights of his stocke came foorth of the troupe and running against the Faire Forlorne he hit him so right a blow through his shield that he wounded him yet not very much and in passing by the Faire Forlorn did hit him such a thwart blow with his sword vpon the beuer of his helme that he cut both his eyes and the halfe of his visage off throwing him downe starke dead vpon the ground Herewithall Mandafabull and those that were with him beeing mad angry entered pell mell among King Lisuart his knights with such furie that mauger their resistance Mandafabull took hold of the King by the coller and lifted him from his horse carrying him vnder his armes right vnto his shippes But the faire Forlorne was ware of it who ran after him and ouertooke the Gyant hitting him so forcibly with his sworde vpon the arme that hee cut it off hard by the elbow and the blowe sliding downe wounded the King in such sort that the blood sell downe vpon the ground Then Mandafabull with the great griefe that hee felt gaue a loud cry and without going any further he fell downe dead in the place where-upon
the Faire Forlorne seeing that his blow had so well profited as that therewithall hee had slaine such a Gyant and deliuered the King in like sort hee began to cry aloud Gaule Gaule here is Amadis who is yet aliue So saying hee entred amongst the thickest of his enemies who had in a manner lost their hearts by seeing two of the principallest of their army in that sort to be slaine especially knowing that Amadis whom they long before thought to bee dead was present to their confusion And had not Gandaturiell one of the strongest Gyants in their troupe encouraged them againe they had then surely turned their backs but hee valiantly made head against his enemies which being perceiued by Amadis who was desirous to reuenge his brother Galaor whom hee imagined to bee dead he thrust himselfe amongst his enemies and entred into the thickest of the presse so farre that there he had remained without the ayd which King Lisuart brought vnto him who had recouered his horse and there were in his companie Bruneo Florestan Guillan Laâ—asin Galuanes Olinas and Don Grumedan who carryed his standard which was cut asunder betweene his armes All those seeing Amadis in so great danger although the most part of them were very sorely wounded had such exceeding ioy when they knewe that it was hee that they bestirred them in such sort as notwithstanding all the resistance that these Irishmen could make they gaue ayde vnto Amadis and passing on further they found Agraies Palomir Branfil and Dragonis manfully fighting on foote against those that had throwne them downe Yet they were so neerely driuen that they could not any longer withstand the force of their enemies although they had already slaine more then sixe as well Gyants as Irishmen which would haue ouer-runne them and without doubt they had beene so handled had not these succours come vnto them So that they which would haue forced them had enough to doe to defend themselues because that Amadis in spight of them made them to recoyle backe and that in such sort as with the ayde of his troupe hee was the meane that his Cosen Agraies and his fellowes did remount their horses Then the forces of King Lisuart encreased and the Irish troupes decreased who dispairing of all helpe had recourse vnto their vessels which were afloate hard by the shoare to saue their booty if Fortune had not contradicted them but Amadis pursuing the victory chased them with such fury that the most part of the vanquished desired rather to be buried amidst the waues of the Sea then on the shoare which was so died and watered with their blood The which Gandaturiell perceiuing being esteemed amongst all the Gyants one of the stoutest without any feare at all of his death which hee saw ready prepared for him desiring before the end of his dayes to bee reuenged bearing his head somewhat lowe and holding his sharp sword in his hand he would haue stroken at king Lisuart but Florestan stepped before him who hit him so sound a knock with his sword vpon the Helmet that hee made it flie from his head and the King who was hard at hand seeing him bare diuided his pate into two parts Then was there a great slaughter of the Irishmen for they were all now ouerthrowne by Amadis Florestan and Agraies who persued them euen into the Sea where they were swallowed vp with waues wherewith king Lisuart and his people retyred And because that Amadis had marked the place where hee had seene Galaor stroken downe hee prayed his Cosen Agraies others that they would helpe him to finde him amongst the dead Neuerthelesse they had not found him without the helpe of Florestan who knew him by a greene sleeue which hee did weare wrought full of white flowers but hee was so couered with blood dust that they could scant knowe him And I doe not knowe so hard a heart which had then seene the mone that Amadis did make for him that would not haue burst forth into teares for he beholding him in this estate fell down all along vpon him Whereby his wounds did open against which the congealed blood was already setled and I thinke that Amadis had died vpon him if twelue Damosels had not by chaunce come thither suddenly who were very richly attyred and had caused a rich bed to bee brought by their Esquires these finding Amadis so desperate sayde vnto him My Lord wee are come hither to seeke your brother Galaor and if you will euer see him aliue suffer vs to carry him presently away otherwise there is no Chyrurgion in all Great Brittaine that is able to heale him Herewithall Amadis was greatly ashamed because the Damosels had found him in that order and although that hee knew them not yet hearing them speak of his brothers health hee determined seeing the extreame perill wherein he was not to refuse their request though it was to his extreame griefe And therefore he answered them my faire gentlewomen may in please you to tell vs whither you will carry him Not now said they but if you will desire to haue him liue giue him vnto vs without any longer delay otherwise wee will be gone Alas answered he I pray let mee followe you You may not and yet for your sake wee are coÌ„tent that Ardan the Dwarffe and his Esquire shall accompanie him Then they layd him vpon the bed all armed as hee was they caused him forthwith to be carried into the ship from whence they were come which was yet close to the shoare Afterwards they returned againe vnto king Lisuart to entreate him that hee would giue them king Cildadan who lay among the dead and to induce him thereunto they shewed vnto him that although Fortune had fauoured him in this exployt yet hee should not exteÌ„d his cruelty vpon his enemy The which the King considering permitted them to carry him away dead or aliue wherefore the Damosels took him vp and carried him away with Galaor and so soone as they came into the ship they set sayle hauing the winde so faire that suddenly they were out of all mens sight Thus king Lisuart remayned coÌ„querour ouer his enemies going quite through the field to find out as well such of his owne people as those of his enemies that were not yet thoroughly dead to cause them carefully to bee looked vnto by skilfull Surgeons And as hee went from one place to another hee met with Amadis whose face was all to be blubbered with tears vnto whom he had not as yet spoken since his returne and seeing him so heauy after he had knowne the cause of his mone hee shewed an euident signe of the sorrow that he sustayned for Galaors sake whoÌ„ hee loued as dearely as himselfe not without cause for from the first day that hee receiued him for one of his knights he alwaies serued him faithfully neuer forsaking him for any warre or debate that happened betweene his maiesty Amadis as hereafter
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 appeaâ—ed 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 proâ—esse 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 enteâ—taynement 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
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 â—…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 Iâ—lianda 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 reâ—…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
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 mas◠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 instrumēts began to sound very sweetly Herewithal there apeared vpō the poupe twelue Damosels richly apparelled euery one of thē 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
the earth and the Queene also who is one of the wisest Ladies that liueth Then shee called Amadis saying vnto him My Lord Amadis come neer and I will tell you to ease you of the trauaile that you should haue in seeking of Galaor that your brother is well and so throughly healed that you shall see him heere very shortly therefore leaue off your determined search of him for hee is in such a place as all the men in the world can neuer finde him Madame answered Amadis when hee was demanded of me by the Damosels that carried him away I imagined that he should be saued by you and that no other but Vrganda would haue vndertaken such an enterprise which hath euer since put mee in good hope without the which I thinke I had beene dead For this one thing I am sure of that there is no knight in the world more bound to Lady or gentlewoman then I am to you for the which I am not able to yeeld you such condigne thanks as I doe owe and you deserue but you know very well that Amadis his life shall neuer be spared to do you seruice Madame said the king will it please you to come and rest you in my Pallace Your Maiesty answered Vrganda shall pardon me for I will remayne this night in my galley and to morrow I wil doe whatsoeuer it shal please you but Amadis Agraies Bruneo and Guillan shall keepe mee companie because I knowe they are as amorous as my selfe and their companie will be a meanes to driue away all melanchollie Doe what you will said the King for you shall be obeyed Then he caused the people to returne vnto the Citty and he himself bidding Vrganda good night departed leauing for her guard a number of archers vpon the sands the next morning the Queene sent vnto Vrganda twelue of her owne hacknies richly trapped vpon the which shee and her women entred into the Cittie and Vrganda rode in the midst of the foure knights which she had ouernigh detained to keep her companie They intertained her with diuerse discourses by the way wherein she tooke so great pleasure that shee said vnto them Beleeue meâ— it would bee a long time before should be wearie of so good companie as this of yours is for I assure you that I finde you all foure so agreeable to my nature that you are particularly euen all one with my selfe for if I bee in loue you are no lesse holding Ladies in most great estimation And this saide Vrganda because that shee languished with extreame loue which shee did beare vnto the faire Knight of whom in our first booke wee haue mentioned vnto you Their conference was no sooner ended when they approached neere vnto the Pallace but the King who there had staied came forth to meete them and as hee embraced Vrganda bidding her heartily welcome she looked round about her vpon the companie and beheld a great number of knights in each place Whereuppon she sayd me thinks your Maiesty is now royally accompanied not onely for the multitude of great personages that are with you but especially for the loue which I am sure they do beare vnto you for which you ought greatly to praise God For the Prince that is beloued of his subiects may be sure to maintaine his estate in great safety therefore your Maiesty must endeauour to entertaine and vse them Kingly that your fortune which hitherto hath fauoured you do not forsake you if you doe otherwise and aboue all things take heede of false reports seeing that it is the very poyson and ruine of such Princes as giue credit vnto them And as the King would haue brought her to her chamber she said vnto him may it please your Maiesty that I may first goe and doe my duty to the Queene I with all my heart gentle Lady answered hee I am sure that shee will be most glad to see you as shee that hath greatly desired to honour and please you Herewithall hee conducted her where the Ladies were and so soone as the Queene did see her she rose vp and kissed her saying that she was exceeding welcome then shee made her sit downe betweene Oriana Briolania whom Vrganda had neuer yet seene and shee found that Briolania was the fairest Lady in they world if Oriana by her excellency had not blemished her beauty and to speake truth there was great difference betweene them two Then Vrganda sayde vnto the Queene Madame I doe now finde that true which I haue euer heard reported Which is that the King was more accompanied with worthy knights then any other Christian Prince and you also attended vpon by the fairest Ladies on the earth for hee which conquered the Firm-Island being a better knight then Apolidon the famous victory which so lately hath beene obtayned against King Cildadan by the effusion of the blood of so many Gyants as there dyed are sufficient witnesses of the one and I am sure to proue the other it will easily be granted vnto me that vnder the firmament it is not possible to finde fairer Ladies then these two heere pointing to Oriana and Briolania but if your Court hath this preheminence it is yet honoured for one thing and farre more recommendable which is the loyalty wherein loue is there maintayned as well to be seene by the proofe of the burning sword and the kerchiefe beset with flowers which aduenture was performed in your presence When Oriana heard her goe so farre in her talke her heart beganne to tremble and she became sorry and pensiue fearing least Vrganda would speake more in disclosing the secresie betweene Amadis and her But Amadis who was present knowing the wisedome of her that knew all things and the doubt of Oriana hee approached vnto her whispering thus in her eare I assure you Madame that Vrganda is ouer discreete to speake any thing foolishly or vnaduisedly And therewithall hee turned vnto the Queene saying vnto her Madame your grace may demaund if it please you of Vrganda what she was that gained the kerchiefe I pray you sayd the Queene tell vs that By my faith answered Vrganda there is great cause why Amadis should know better what shee was then I for shee followed him and after-ward hee deliuered her from the hands of Arcalaus the enchanter and from Lindoraq his Nephew not without great daunger of his person Madame sayd Amadis it was impossible that I should either know her of my selfe better then you did seeing that you knowe that shee desiring to remaine vnknowne would neuer vncouer her face before me yet from you nothing may bee so well concealed that is not at your pleasure reuealed Truely answered Vrganda for your sake I will presently declare vnto you as much as I know The Dâ—…ell whose loyalty is so knowne is no maide for shee is a faire 〈◊〉 aboue all others most excellent and for the same cause did shee conquer the kerchiefe so renowined especially through
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 fouÌ„d 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 meâ—ke 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 imprisoÌ„ment 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 â—o 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 〈◊〉 shall take of thee and 〈…〉 where with thou 〈…〉 same instant the 〈…〉 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 th◠〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 her in hope that God would â—yde 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 reâ—ired 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 paâ—es Then Gandalin
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 couÌ„tenance 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 suâ—e 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 haâ—e 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
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 dâ—parted 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 Estraâ—aâ—x 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 fâ—iend 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
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
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 thē 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 thē their brother in the Litter leauing their sister to receiue iustice by the Kings appointmēt who after their departure called for her said Womā 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 cōplaine 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
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 wâ—â—tteÌ„ 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 commandemeÌ„t of
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 cōming 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 discōended 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 th◠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
the constant loue which she did beare vnto her Lord. She is by birth of the Kings countrey by her Mother an Alien and her continuall abiding is in this Realme where shee liueth so aboundantly that if she wanteth any thing it is onely because shee cannot at all times when shee pleaseth enioy him whom shee loueth better then her selfe further shall you not knowe what she is by me Oriana who feeling he 〈◊〉 touched by Vrganda was not wel contented doubting least shee should haue proceeded further vntill shee held her peace and that the Queen answered truly gentle Ladie you haue so cunningly deciphered her vnto vs that there is not any heere in my opinion the better for her knowledge sauing onely that wee did thinke her a maide and you assure vs that shee is a wife A time will come said she that you shal know her better Herewithall the King who was minded to feast Vrganda came to seeke her that hee might lead her to dinner hee made her sit close beside him afterwards they spent the rest of the day in spotting making good cheare vntill it was time to goe to rest Then Viganda came vnto the Queene to entreate her that shee would be pleased to 〈◊〉 her to lie in Oriana her chaÌ„ber the which shee willingly did grant vnto her Neuerthelesse sayd the Queene I feare that her youthfull behauiour will somewhat disquiet you In faith Madame answered shee her beauty shall be more hurtful vnto many good knights whose prowesse cannot be so great as that it may defend them from sundry perils which they are likely to fall into for her loue for that their deaths will hardly be eschewed if they do not wisely preuent it The Queene could not refraine from laughter and saide vnto Vrganda Hitherto she may be pardoned for any such danger that shee hath as yet brought those vnto of whom you speake and therefore for this time I bid you good night Here-upon the Queene departed and Vrganda was brought vnto the Princesse her lodging where shee found the Queene Briolania and Mabila that kept her companie with whoâ— she discoursed so long of diuerse pleasant matters vntill ouercome of sleep they were constrained to lay them downe Now they were all foure lodged in one chamber together notwithstanding Vrganda perceiuing Briolania and Mabila to be fast asleepe and Oriana awake shee sayd vnto her Madame if you now doe not take your rest for thinking vpon him that day and night doth wake for your loue your quiet and his are both alike I knowe not what you meane answered Oriana but sure I am that loue neuer hindered me from sleepe Vrganda knew very well that she made her this answer because shee would not that Briolania should vnderstand the loue betwixt her and Amadis wherefore she sayd vnto her assure you that I am so carefull that your secrets be not disclosed as I will not offend you with any thing that I speak for I know what is needfull for you better then your selfe Madame answered Oriana you may waken the Gentlewomen that are in this chamber Let me alone for that sayd Vrganda I will rid you straight of this feare Therewithall shee tooke forth a booke which was so little one might haue couered it with his hand and after she had read therein a little while she sayd vnto Oriana let this suffice you that now wee may speake in safety for what noyse soeuer we make they shall not stirre vntill I awake them and if any doe enter into this chamber they shall fall downe vpon the sloute in as sound a sleepe as they and harke how they snort already Heereat Oriana began to laugh and rising forth of her bed shee came vnto Mabila and Briolania whose armes she pulled very rudely but for all that euer she could doe they stirred no more then a stone will you yet see sayd Vrganda the pastime of those that shall come ouer the threshold of your chamber doore call the Damosell of Denmarke who is in this wardrobe which Oriana did And as the Damosell had set her foote in the chamber she fell downe vpon the floure beganne to sleepe and snort more soundly then either Mabila or Briolania Wherefore Oriana went layd her downe by Vrganda and sayde vnto her Madame seeing that you know so much of my affaires I beseech you to tell mee what must happen vnto me How answered VrgaÌ„da do you think the sooner to escape that which is predestined vnto you by being aduertised thereof aforehand You may beleeue that it is not in the power of any mortall man to alter that which God hath appointed vnto him bee it good or bad vnlesse it be by his free will and grace neuerthelesse since you so greatly desie to know your fortune I am content afterwards make your profit thereof as you can Harken now then at such time as your heauinesse shall bee at the highest many good knightsÌ„ shall perish for your loue Then the sâ—…g Lion accompanied with his beast shall come forth of his denne with his loud roaring cries shal in such sort astonish those that shall haue you in keeping that mauger all their force you shall remaine in the pawes of that royall beast who shall throwe from your head the rich crowne that shall no more bee yours Afterwardes this famished beast hauing your body in his power shal beare you into his caue where hee shall feede in such sort as his extreame hunger shall be slaked Therefore my daughter take heed what you do for this which I haue foretold you shall without doubt come to passe By my faith answered Oriana I could haue beene well content to haue forborne this curiosity for the sorrowfull end that is prepared for mee doth trouble all my spirits Faire Lady saide Vrganda another time bee lesse curious to vnderstand that which is beyond your capasitie neuerthelesse oftentimes such things as are misticall and fearefull doe for the most part turne into ioy pleasure and profit therefore be not you discomforted in any sort seeing that you are daughter vnto the best king most vertuous Queene that liueth vpon the earth beeing endued with such excellent beauty that your renowne is spreade ouer all countreies and more-ouer you are beloued of him who is honoured and esteemed more then any other Knight You know as well as I that hee loueth you by the experience not onely of that which hath beene tolde you and you haue made knowne vnto him but also by the aduentures which hee hath brought to passe in your presence therefore you ought to thinke your selfe happy aboue all those that are best beloued being mistresse of him that deserueth by his chiualrie to be Lord of all the world Now it is time to wake the Ladies end our discourse Here-withall shee began to read againe in her booke and at that instant the Ladies that were asleepe began to breath as if they had