imagine me to be abused because the Knight I aske for hath vanquished the Giant and kild him in battell hand to hand Beléeue me Uirgin replyed Galuanes you tell vs matter of great meruaile in respecte neuer any Knight dealt alone with a Giant vnlesse it was King Abies of Ireland who combated with one him selfe being armed and the Giant naked which was the cause of his death and yet this attempt of the King is thought the greatest stratageme that euer was heard of then sound not your spéeches to any likely-hood for this Giant surpasseth all other in strength and crueltie Gentleman answered the Damosell the Knight I speake of hath doone no lesse then I tolde ye wherwith she rehearsed the whole maner therof they reputing it strange almost incredible which caused Agraies to aske her if she knew y e Knightes name His name quoth she is Galaor Sonne to King Perion of Gaule Ah Lady said Agraies you declare the only newes of the world to content me withall naming my Cozin who more commonly was reputed dead then liuing kéer-upon he reported to Galuanes what he had heard concerning Galaor how he was taken away by the Giant 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 aide on the behalfe of a Damosell who is imprisoned by the accusation of a Dwarffe the most villainous creature that euer was borne heereto she added the whole discourse of Galaor and the Dwarffe as hath been already declared to you yet she concealed y e louely pranck of Aldena And because Sir said 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 greefe to the other Ladies doubting least she through feare of death will accuse some of them and tell withall to what end Galaor came into the Dukes Castell more-ouer of the ten dayes foure are already expired Séeing it falleth out so answered Agraies you neede trauaile no further for we will perfourme what Galaor should doo if not in strength yet in good will and therfore be you our guide to the place The Damosell turned her haqueney and led them with such spéede to the Dukes Castell that they arriued there the daye before the execution should be Now was the Duke set downe to dinner when the two Knightes entring the great hall humbly saluted him and when he saw them he requested they would sit downe to dinner with him but they answered that he should presetly know the cause of their comming wher-upon Galuanes thus began My Lord you detaine a Damosell prisoner by the false disloyall accusation of a traiterous Dwarffe we desire that she may be deliuered séeing she hath no way mis-doone and if it be needfull to proue her innocencye by battaile let come two other Knightes to maintaine the quarrell for we are ready as her defenders Well haue you said replyed the Duke and calling for the Dwarffe thus spake to him What answerest thou to these Knightes challenge who say that falsely thou hast caused me to imprison the Damosell and will proue it against thee in open battaile it behooueth thee to finde some defence for thy self For that I am not to seeke my Lord quoth the Dwarffe I haue such on my behalfe who shall make known the trueth of what I haue saide Héer-with he called a frollick Knight his Nephewe so like him in pitch and proportion as one would haue thought he had no other Father to him he saide I pray ye Nephewe maintaine my quarrell against these two Knightes Scarse had he thus spâ—ken but his Nephewe returned this answere to Galuanes and his companion Well Gentlemen what will you say against this loyall Dwarffe who was so iniured by the Knight the the false Damosell brought hether 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 and the Damosell ought to dye because she brought him into my Lord the Dukes chamber Agraies who found him selfe most touched in his owne conceite stepped foorth with this answere In sooth neither of vs is the man albeit we desire to imitate his vertues but we auouche he hath doone no wrong and if the Duke please this difference shall be soone discided for on his behalfe will I maintaine that the Damosell ought to be deliuered and the Dwarffe in her stead burned as a traiterous villaine I iustifie the contrary replyed the Dwarffes champion then calling for his Armour full soone was he mounted on a gentle courser and turning to Agraies who presented him y e combat thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whom this quarrel began too high a price should I set on thy 〈◊〉 We shall quickly see quoth Agraies what thou caâ—â— dâ—â— but 〈◊〉 aâ— 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 reason then doo I leaue thée to iudge how notably he would handle thee in this consisting on trueth and equitie While these menaces thus passed on either side the Duke stirred not from the table till dinner was doone when séeing the Knightes prepareâ— to execute their spéeches he conducted them with a braue company of Gentlemen to the place appointed to end such controuersies where all accustomed ceremonies béeing obserued the Duke thus spake to Agraies Perfourme the vttermost of your habilitie yet shall not the Damosell be deliuered for to the Dwarffe hath not béene 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 wherfore if my fortune make me conquerour you ought by good reason to deliuer her I haue tolde ye what I meane to doo said the Duke and other-wise it shall not be Agraies tarying for no more woordes turned his horsse running a braue carrire against the Dwarffes Knight and in the encounter brake their sâ—aues gallantly meeting likewise so furiouslye with their bodies as they were both laide along on the ground yet quickly they recouered them-selues and vnsheathing their weapons deliuered fierce and cruell strokes to eche other their Swoordes béeing very sharpe the Knightes valiant and hautilye disposed by meanes whereof their Armour healmes and shéeldes were in shorte time made of slender resistaunce yet Galuanes well saw how his Nephewe had still the better on his enemye if then he had before estéemed him a good Knight farre greater reason had he now so to doo notwithstanding he was so hot and
this instant wearye with trauaile and ouercome with sléepe began euen as they opened the doore to slumber and dreamed that one entred his Chamber at a false doore without knowledge who it should be but he thought that he thrust his handes into his sides and rent foorth his hart afterward he saw him throw it into the Riuer when the King said Wherefore commit ye such crueltie This is nothing at all answered he that did this outrage for with you shall remaine an other hart which I must take from ye against my will In great feare he suddenlye awaked and making the â—igne of the Crosse commended him selfe to God Now had the Ladies opened the doore and entred the Chamber wherfore he hearing the noyse suspected some treason especially by reason of his fearefull dreame and lifting vp his head behelde thorowe the Curtaynes the doore open wherof he knew nothing and afterwarde by the light of the Moone he sawe the shadowe of the Ladyes that were entred For this cause in feare he started out of bed tooke his Swoord and went to the place where he had seene them but when Darioletta sawe him so affrighted she spake to him in this manner What shal be doone héere Doo you my Lord draw armes against vs that come to you with so slender defence The king who quickly knew them especially Elisena whom he so much desired threw his Swoord to the ground and casting a mantle about him which lay néere at hand in great affection he came to her whom he loued better then him selfe kissing embracing and shewing y e best countenance could be deuised which Darioletta seeing as one iealous and enuious of such fauour saide 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 sundrye assaultes notwithstanding at this present neither the one or other 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 Swoord which she tooke vp as a witnesse of the oathe and promise he made her concerning the future mariage of Elisena and him selfe then shutting the doore after her she went into the Garden and so the King remained alone with his fair fréend whom after many amourous embracinges infinite kissinges and execution of delightes he behelde verily perswading him selfe that all the beautye of the Worlde was in her reputing him self much more then happy that the heauens had allowed him so good an aduenture Sée now how it chaunced to this Princesse that for so long time in the chéefest flower of her youth being requested by so many mighty Princes and great Lordes she had withstood all to remaine in the libertie of a Maiden now wun in lesse space then one day and at such time as her fancie in her owne thinking was farthest off from such matters Thus Loue breaking the strong bandes of her holye and chaste 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 withdrawe their thoughtes from worldly thinges and despising the great beauty wherwith nature hath endowed them and tender youth which maketh them ignorant of the pleasures and delightes in their Fathers Courtes ' wherof sometime they might haue tasted yeelde themselues for saluation of their soules into poore and religious houses therto in all obedience offering their frée will vowing themselues to the subiection of others hoping to passe their time without any renowne or glory of this world Certes such Ladies ought with great sollicitude to stop their eares close their eyes and giue themselues to continuall deuoute contemplations and prayers accepting them as their true and singuler pastimes as to such they are and aboue all they should exempt them selues from sight of Parents neighbours fréends because that oftentimes the talk and frequenting of such procureth a change of their holye and chaste will And not without cause haue I made this little discourse for it is to the ende that it happen not to them as it did vnto the faire Princesse Elisena who so long laboured in thought to preserue her selfe yet notwithstanding in one only moment seing the beauty and good grace of King Perion changed her will in such sorte as without the aduise and discretion of Darioletta who would couer the honor of her Mistresse vnder the mantle of mariage you may sée she was at the point to fall into the very lowest parte of all dishonor As it hath happened to many other of whoÌ„ hath commonly béen heard speech who not keeping themselues from what I haue saide before haue béene taken bad enough and taken will be if they admit no better foresight Now then are these two louers in their sollace Elisena demaunding of the King if his departure should be shortlye or no. Wherfore Madame doo you aske saide King Perion Because quoth she this happy fortune that with so great delight hath giuen ease to our affectionate desires dooth threaten me already with extreame anguish and sorrow which by your absence I shall receiue and feare it will rather cause my sudden death then long life Haue no doubt therof saide the King for although my body be seperated from your presence my hart for euer shall remaine with ye which shall giue strength to vs bothe to you to suffer and to me by my spéedye returne These two contented louers are thus deuising when she that had been the cause of their meeting seeing it was time to call her mistresse who by this pleasure forget her selfe in her louers armes entred the Chamber and speaking somewhat loude saide Madame I know that heertofore you thought my company more agréeable then you doo at this present but it is néedfull 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 praied Darioletta to walke into the Garden and to bring him woord in what corner the winde sat in meane while he tooke his amourous conge w t such reciprocall pleasure as you that loue may easily iudge then swéetly kissing her he saide I assure you Madame that for your sake I will stay longer in this Cuntry then you imagine therfore I pray ye be not unmindefull of this place So arose Elisena and went vnto her Chamber with Darioletta leauing y e King alone not a little contended with his new acquaintance but dreading his dreame as you haue heard and willing to know what it might signify he becaÌ„e desirous to return to his owne Countrey where as then were good store of Philosophers that were well seene in those Sciences him self likewise in former times took great pleasure therin and vnderstood sundry rules therof Neuerthelesse he soiourned ten dayes with King Garinter after his sporting with Elisena who neuer a night failed to visit her louely haunte
I thanke God that can kéepe me from the Combate Right soone were the Chirurgions commaunded to looke thereon and they found it greater in shewe then daunger In the meane while supper was prepared during which time they had much talke of the accidents that day past vntill the houre of rest came when each one departed till the next morning Which being come after they had serued God the King sent a rich and goodly Armour to the Prince of better proofe and strength then that he had on the day before wherewith he armed himselfe and hauing taken leaue of euery one mounted on horsseback in company of the King Who bare his Helmet the Prince Agraies his Sheeld wherein was portrayed two azured Lyons in a golden féeld rampant the one against the other as if they both intended murder and an other Prince carryed his Launce In this equipage he set forward to the féeld where the King of Ireland attended his comming well armed and mounted on a goodly black Courser but because King Abies had in former time fought hand to hand with a Giant and vanquished him with the losse of his head therefore he brought to the Combate the like figure in his Sheeld describing the whole order as the deede was done On either side resorted thither a number of people placing themselues for most conuenient sight of the Combate And now were the Champions entred the lysts each one couragiously resoluing against his enemy wherefore without longer tarying lacing downe the sight of their Helmets and commending themselues to God they gaue the spurres to their horsses meeting together so furiously both with launce bodie and horsse as their staues flew in shiuers yet piercing their Armour and both were laid along in the feeld But heate of hart and desire of conquest made them recouer footing quickly and plucking foorth the spields of their launces wherewith they were wounded set hand to Sword beginning such a strange and cruell fight as each one was amazed to sée them endure so much For this fight was not equally matched in respect the Prince was but young well proportioned and of reasonable height but King Abies was so great as he neuer found any Knight y â— excéeded him a handfull euery way being withall so strongly made that he was rather to be accounted a Giant then a man yet was he highly loued and reuerenced of his subiects for the vertue and prowesse which remained in him albeit he was too much audacious and prowd Now were these Champions so animated against each other as well for honor as the consequence of the Combat that without any stay for breathing they layd on such loade as their strokes resounded the fight of twentie men together And well they witnessed no great good will betwéene them for there might ye sée the earth tainted with their blood the pieces of their Sheelds the plate of their Armour scattered abroade and their Helmets so bruised that by reason their Armes being so squandered they were vnable to hold out their strokes for euery blow caused the blood to gushe out aboundantly yet were they of such inuincible courage as they seemed to féele none of this annoyance Héereupon they mainteined such brauerie the one against the other as it could not be iudged who had the better or worsse notwithstanding about the hour of thrée the Sunne gaue an excéeding warme and violent heate whereby they found themselues so chafed in their Armour as they began to waxe somewhat féeble especially King Abies in so much as he was constrained to retire back thus speaking to the Prince I sée thee very neere falling and my selfe am likewise out of breath if thou thinke it good let vs rest awhile for afterward we may more easily finish our enterprise And thus much I tell thée although I haue no cause or desire to fauour thée that I hold better opinion of thée then any Knight that euer I combatted withall moreouer it displeaseth me that I had any occasion to sée thee and much more that I am so long in conquering thée whereby I might take vengeance for his death whome most I loued in the world as thou didst sie y hym in open battaile so likewise will I ouercome thée in sight of both our Camps King Abies replied the Prince I now perceiue it displeaseth thee that thou canst do me no more harme entring so like a Tirant as thou didst to ruinate this countrey And as it often happeneth that he which delighteth in euill can neuer brooke any other sauour so hope I to reward thee so wel for thy paines as thou shalt confesse thou hast wronged these people Beside thus much I aduise thee before hand that I shall giue thee as little leisure or respite as thou hast giuen theÌ„ who haue tasted thy crueltie therefore stick close to thy tackling and defend thy selfe against the Knight whome thou reputest fayling The King then taking his Sword and what was left of his Shéeld thus answered Well mayst thou cursse the boldnes that made thee enter these Lyâ—tes for hence thou shalt not escape without losse of thy head Do what thou canst sayd the Prince for thou shalt rest no more till thou or thine honor be dead Heerewith more cruelly then before they began againe their combate as if they had but euen then entred the féeld and albeit King Abies was so expert by reason of his long exercise in Armes that he knew right well how to defend and offend neuerthelesse the lightnes hardines and promptitude of the Prince made him in the end forget all his industrie for he was so closely followed at an inche as he lost altogether the rest of his Shéeld by which meanes the Prince could endomage him farre better then before whereof he failed not and in so many places withall that the blood streamed downe his Armour in meruailous aboundance causing him by little and little to loose his strength and being in this agony staggering from one side to another he could not deuise what to do to escape the pursuing sword of his enemy Seeing himselfe now deuoyd of all hope he concluded either soone to dye or haue the victorie and taking his Sword in both hands he ran with all his might against the Prince and pierced it so farre into his Shéeld as he was not able to pull it foorth againe Which when the Prince beheld he gaue him such a furious stroke on the left leg that being quite cut from the rest the King was enforced to fall downe and right soone did the Prince set foote vppon him tearing violently his Helmet from his head saying Thou art dead King Abies if thou doest not yéeld thy selfe vanquished Beleeue me I am dead answered the King not vanquished alone but of both the one and other my ouer-wéening hath beene the only cause Notwithstanding since it is so come to passe I pray thee let assurance be giuen to my Souldiours that without iniurie they may carry me into
he was vnséene of any espied a goodly troupe of Lords and Ladies comming toward them whereof he made haste to aduertise the Prince but he was so perplexed as he could not answere wherefore Gandalin tooke him by the arme saying My Lord sée you not what a great traine maketh toward vs At these words he came to himselfe beginning to sigh and lifting his eies 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 enemyes in the world can not bring me to such extremitie as this ouer-ruling passion doth therefore I pray thée talke to me of the felicitie 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 estéeme you the victorie ouer your selfe so difficult after so many conquests of stout and bold Strangers Why do you not thinke that peraduenture she loueth you as well for whome you endure such assaults and happily by as great reason as you loue her your personage prowesse beawtie and nobilitie of linage can they deserue lesse then the good grace of the most rare and excellent Lady in the world let these humours my Lord repell your desperations Further he would haue proceeded but Amadis brake him off in anger saying Wretch darest thou blaspheme so much as to say that he who hath merited no condition 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 lose my conuersation Well well said Gandalin I pray ye wipe your eyes least those that come hitherward perceiue you haue wept What aunswered Amadis commes there any body Yea marie quoth Gandalin and now they be at hand héerewith he shewed him y e Knights and the Ladies who were hard by them by time Amadis was mounted Then as though he had stayed for their company he saluted them and riding among the trayne he beheld a Lady very comely and beawtifull who wept verie grieuously whereupon he left the rest and rode with her saying Madame God comfort ye and giue you ioy In sooth answered the Lady and thereof haue I néede in that as now it is very farre from me which except heauen fauour me with better grace I am vtterly out of hope euer to sée againe And so high a Maiestie said Amadis can prouide therefore when he pleaseth notwithstanding if you were so contented I gladly would knowe the cause of your sadnes Beleeue me my friend quoth she all that euer I enioy in this world consisteth in the triall of a Combat By these words he knew this to be the Lady of whom the Damosels had told him before wherefore he enquired further if as yet she had found a Knight on her behalfe No truely said the Lady and which gréeueth me most of all to morrow must my delay be exterminate What will ye then do answered Amadis What would you that I should do quoth she 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 widdow Such fortune said Amadis shall I pray may befall ye 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 Lady and Amadis turning bridle rode back 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 feeld with full resolution to do his deuoire And trust me said Amadis it was my hap to méete the distressed Lady euen the same whome the case concerneth héerewith he declared all the talke they had together But now is the hower of quiet come and eche 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 word when Dardan was readie Not so quoth Amadis I will not be farre behinde ye but let one ride before to aduertise me when Dardan shewes himselfe in the féeld After he was armed they went all to horsseback and being come to the issue of the Forrest he said to the Damosels Now may you goe if you please for I will not depart this place til I heare some newes from you Away they went when Amadis 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 Combat 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 and honor also like an amourous Champion to maintaine the quarrell of his beloued who to countenance him with the greater fauour was queintly led by the raynes of his palfray then presenting himselfe before the King on his knees he said My Lord according to the ordenance by you appointed this Lady and I humbly beséech ye that the goods may be deliuered her as is no more then reason for if any Knight oppose himselfe against her héere am I readie for the Combat The King then called for the other Ladyes defendant but she poore soule appeared alone Why Lady quoth the King are you vnprouided of a Champion that you come without any one to sustaine your right So help me God answered she wéeping I am my Lord forsaken of all except you graunt 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 lawe In meane while Dardan who thought no resistance would come sate downe in the middest of y e féeld attending the third hower which was the time according to the custome when the King should pronounce sentence to the conquerour but one of the Damosels seeing now the noedfull time made haste to let Amadis vnderstand what want of his presence was in the féeld For this cause he immediatly mounted on horsseback being armed as appertained commaunded 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 he 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 wunder of him The King and his Nobles séeing him come from the Forrest stoode somewhat in doubt of him for he caryed such a gallant Knightly countenance as
promised a farre off that his enemie should finde him of hautie disposition which made the King aboue all other desirous to knowe him and thinking she for whose cause he came knew his name he called and demaunded of her the question Dread Lord answered the Lady I neuer sawe the man before nor do I knowe what he is By this time was Amadis entred the feeld when doing reuerence to the King and the Ladies without longer stay he came to Dardan demaunding if he were the man that would maintaine the quarrell of her for whome the poore Lady was put to such trouble because quoth he I am come in her defence and also to keepe promise with thee What didst thou promise me replied Dardan That I would sée thée in the day time said Amadis and wottest thou when it was at such a time as thou being whitled with Wine or glory or else the trust thou hadst in thy strong Castell spakest so outragiously to me standing without wearied both with trauaile and hunger And therefore do I make the lesse account of thée answered Dardan but cause her to come hither for whome thou wilt do such a doubtie déede to know if she will accept thée as her Champion and afterward do the vttermost thou canst When the King sawe 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 do With all my hart quoth she séeing it pleaseth him to stand so much my friend and God spéede him no otherwise then my cause is iust When the two Knights were at the very point to combate the King perceiued that Amadis Sheeld was bruised in two places both with strokes of the Sword and point of the Launce wherefore he said to such as stoode néere him that if the Knight demaunded an other Shéeld he would gladly giue him one but Amadis was so hote in desire to reuenge himselfe and the Lady that he listened to nothing but the Combate Thus the Ladies accord being receiued the two Champions tooke their carrire against eche other so roughly as their Launces pierced their Armour and flewe in pieces without any other harme as yet but when their bodies met Dardan was sent to the ground yet it happened so well for him as holding fast the reines of his horsse he recouered himselfe more nimbly and mounted againe as one both valiant and brauely disposed boldly setting hand to his Sword When Amadis sawe him so quickly vp againe and in such readines for his owne defence he approched to him when began such a battayle betwéene them as euery one present meruailed 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 féeld as also on the towres and walles of the Castell but aboue the rest the Quéene was there present with her Ladies most desirous to behold who should beare away the honor of this cruell combat for they séemed two so gallant companyons as it was hard at first sight to iudge the better Such were the rigorous strokes deliuered on either side that sparks of fire flewe foorth of their Helmets Armour their Shéelds cut in pieces and their bloud coullering the ground which mooued excéeding compassion in the regardants who seemed copartners in their daunger according as eche one fauoured the welfare of his fréend but the two champions gaue no respect thereto because their desire was to make knowen both to the Ladies themselues the man deseruing highest account Whē King Lisuart saw them endure so long he said aloud that he neuer beheld a more singuler combat pursued with greater courage manhood wherefore he determined not to depart vntill he had séene the finall issue thereof permitting thē to procéede as themselues pleased And to the end quoth he that the conquerour may be dignified with more then accustomed honor I will cause his deserts to be liuely carued in Marble at y e entrance of my Pallace to prouoke the like perfection in all other that are desirous to followe Armes In such manner as you haue heard continued the two Knights a long time the standers by being not able to discerne who had y e better for without taking breath or rest their fury continued as though their strength had more more increased But Amadis who by chance turning his head to the place where y e Ladies stood espied his faire Mistresse louely Oriana whereby he felt his vertue augmēted in such sort y t he was as fresh lusty as if but then he entred the feeld imagining he was become more then a man Now followed he the fight with such cruell extreames as in short time he dissolued y e doubt who should be superiour for Dardan notwithstanding all his defence was cōstrained to drawe back séeking how to escape the wreakefull strokes of his enemy which without ceassing wounded his body in many places his horsse likewise no longer able to endure stumbled so often til at length he set both his knees to the ground which made Dardan think it better to fight on foote wherefore he said to Amadis Knight our horsses are weary faile vs by reason wherof we cannot do as we would if we were on foot me thinks in short time y e doubt would be discided These words did Dardan speake so loud as the King his Lords easily heard them wherat Amadis séemed ashamed thus answering Although it be vnhonorable in a Knight to forsake his horsse so lōg as he can keep him yet since thou thinkest to combat better on foot then on horsseback we will alight and defend thy selfe well for thou shalt haue néed Heerewith they dismounted assailing ech other so couragiously as if but now they begā the combat shewing more sharp cruelty then before they had done yet Amadis euermore kept y e aduantage cōmonly deliuering two strokes for one which made Dardan do nothing but defend his enemies blowes who cōpelled him to turne reqoile as himself pleased so y t ech one accounted him very néere vanquished blaming him because he kept not still on horseback But as he turned héere there flying the slicing Sword of Amadis he was driuē vnder y e Ladies Scaffold which made thē cry Dardan can hold out no longer he is ouercome if he enter y e combat again Yet for all this Amadis would not leaue him but pressed him stil w t such pursute as he brought him hard by the Quéenes Scaffold whē she all y e Ladies said Without question Dardan is but dead At this clamour Amadis vnderstood the voice of the Damsell of Denmarke and lifting vp his head espied her standing by the Princesse Oriana by meanes whereof he became so farre beside himselfe as he set the point of his Sword to the ground forgetting not only the daunger wherin he
can I giue to mine owne distresse because as it often happeneth to our sexe when thinking to drawe neere such as we desire we are furthest off and séeking for a harbour of contentment glaunce into a place of torment and vexation so falleth it out with me by thy maister whome fortune hath euer kept me furthest from but God knowes my good will hath alway béene with him and gladly would I prouide for his griefes and mine owne if I were able to compasse the meanes Do then Madame what you may answered Gandalin if you loue him as I am sure he doth you and begin at this instant to let him knowe how he shall behaue himselfe in this Countrey Oriana then shewed him a Garden which was vnder the windowe where they talked saying Returne to thy Maister and tell him that this night he must secretly come to the place thou séest and remember this withall how the Chamber vnder where we stand is the same that Mabila and I lodge in and there is a crosse barred windowe neere the ground where-through wée may easily discerne eache other and talke together for his Cozin is acquaynted with mine affayres nor is it necessarie they shoulde bée concealed from her Then taking a costly Ring off her finger she thus proceeded Deliuer hym this token from me as the only Iewell I most estéeme and ere thou goest thou shalt sée the Princesse Mabila who is so wise and discret as shée will easily vnderstand thée yet thou must say some-what loud to her that thou hast brought her tidings from her Mother Héereupon Oriana called her to talke with the Squire whome the Queene of Scots her Mother had sent to her but when she sawe it was Gandalin she then suspected how matters went wherefore she went to the Quéene leauing them in déepe talke together In meane while the Queene demaunded of her daughter if the Gentleman were to returne shortly or no For quoth she I would send a token to the Quéene of Scots by him Madame answered Oriana the chiefe cause of his comming into this countrey was to seeke for the good Knight Amadis Sonne to the King of Gaule of whome you haue heard such famous report And where is he said the Quéene The Squire saith quoth Oriana it is more then ten moneths since he heard that he was héere and now he meruaileth to misse of him in this Court. Now trust me answered the Quéene right glad would I be to sée so good a Knight in the Kings company for it would be a great comfort to him many wayes hauing to deale with so many countreys wherefore I assure ye if he do come hither he shall finde heere such honorable entertainement as he shall haue no cause to depart in haste Of his prowesse Madame replyed Oriana I knowe little but what common bruite hath blazed abroade but héereof I am certaine how he was one of the most braue young Gentlemen that euer Isawe when in the King of Scots Court he serued Mabila and me All this while Mabila continued with Gandalin enquiring if his Maister were as yet arriued Yea Madame answered Gandalin the same was he that vanquished Dardan and expresse charge he gaue me to salute you on his behalfe The name of heauen be for euer praised quoth she hauing preserued our kinseman from such exceeding daunger and now sent him hither so honorably Ah Madame said Gandalin he were happy indeede if the force of loue made him not in wursse case then dead for Gods sake therefore do you assist him being thus fully perswaded that if he find no ease to cure his afflictions you shall loose the best Knight in the world and the vpholder of your fathers fame He may be well assured answered Mabila how he can not with greater desire imploy me then I haue to do him pleasure and will him not to faile in what the Princesse hath commaunded him as for thy selfe being iudged to come from the Quéene my mother thou mayst come and speake to vs at all times as need shall require Gandalin tooke his leaue for that time returning toward Amadis who attended the answere of life or death and into such debilitie was he brought by these extreames as he had scant force enough to support himselfe for the short sight he had of his Lady at the combate encreased such a desire in him to see at more libertie as euery hower seemed to him longer then a yeare When he sawe that Gandalin was returned in hope of happy newes he came and embraced him not daring to demaund any thing of him fearing least matter should not fall out to his contentation but Gandalin with a cheerefull countenance told him that he brought no bad tidings and rushing into the matter at the first said My Lord God make ye as constant as you haue cause to be content for if you haue that vertue you are the most happy and accomplished Knight in the world Ouerwhelmed with ioy Amadis caught him in his armes demaunding what he had done seene and heard I haue seene and heard answered Gandalin the felicities of Paradise and knowe that they are prouided for you if you hinder it not your selfe Ah Gandalin quoth Amadis iest not with me but tell me the verie truth Then Gandalin declared word by word how euery thing happened first of the counterfeit Letter and next the appointed meeting at the windowe and by the way reported some part of his owne speeches moouing a chaunge of countenance in Oriana then her answere euen to the conclusion before rehearsed likewise how he talked with Mabila and how willing she was to assist him with her vttermost habilitie Amadis was so fed with content by these reports that he made him rehearse one thing ten times and I cannot tell which of them was most affectionate either Gandalin in reporting or Amadis in hearing for both the one and other seemed inâ—atiable in the end Amadis thus spake My faithfull companion I thought my selfe altogether indebted to thy Father who saued me from the daunger of drowning in the Sea but I confesse that dutie belongs more necessarily to thée because by thy dilligence and discretion thou hast giuen me a better life then he preserued But tell me now didst thou take good marke of the place to which she commaunded me Assure your selfe thereof quoth Gandalin for she her selfe shewed it me Ah God said Amadis how shall I deserue the great good she doth for me away from me now all cause of sorrow and complaining Yet this is not all my Lord quoth Gandalin sée héere a token she hath sent ye as a testimonie of her honorable loue to you so he gaue him the King which came from Oriana and after he had long beheld it kissing it a thousand times put it on his finger saying Faire King that hast béene so happie as to be caried and accounted déere by the most accomplished creature in the world albeit thou be now in a place of
think not so Stand on your owne defence then replied the Knight wherwith they gaue the carrire against eche other méeting together so furiouslye as the Knight was vnhorssed yet held he fast the reines of his bridle till they brake in his hand which caused him to fall on his neck to the ground where he lay without remembraunce of him selfe or any other Héerupon Amadis alighted and pulling the helmet from his head perceiued that he was in a swoune wherfore he buffetted him in such sort as he came to him self again Thou art but dead said Amadis if thou yéeld not thy self my prisoner When the Knight saw the naked Swoord ouer his head fearing his death he yeelded Then Amadis mounted againe perceiuing Angriote already on horsse-back ready to reuenge his brothers iniurie and a Squire came to the Prince bringing him a Launce which he presented him with-all from Angriote Soone after they encountred so gallantly as their Launces flewe in péeces without any further harme and ending their carrire Amadis quickly drewe his Swoord turning to Angriote who thus spake Make not such haste Knight to combate with the swoord because thou shalt haue time enough for that annon this he saide in respect he reputed him self the best at the swoord that might be found But I pray thée quoth he let vs ioust till our Launces faile or one of vs be sent to y e earth Knight answered Amadis I haue weightye busines else where and may not trifle time with tarying héere What said Angriote thinkest thâ—â— to escape me so lightly I promise thee it is the least parte of my thought yet I pray thee let vs tyre one course more Amadis was content and taking such Launces as eche of them liked finished the ioust with such violence as Angriote was cast down and his horsse 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 discerned on his side fighting for the honor and beauty of his Goddesse Oriana snatched foorth the trunchion and marched with his swoord drawen against Agriote who seing him come said I sée sir Knight thou art very yong and me thinkes before it be woorsse with thee thou wert better to confesse my Lady fairer then thine Then should I lye very fowlly answered Amadis and by my will I shall not dissent so farre from the trueth These speeches enkindled choller on either side which made them charge eche other with such vigour as not only they that behelde them but euen theÌ„selues 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 he could rather chuse a thousand deathes then she should loose one iotte of her excellence and this opinion still whetted on his courage that Angriote was compelled to diuers simple shiftes to auoide the fierce assaultes of his valiant enemye who had wounded him in twenty seuerall places and he perceiuing his death at hand stepped aside thus speaking to Amadis Beleeue me sir Knight there is more valour in thee then I imagined Yéeld thy selfe said Amadis so shalt thou doo wisely seing 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 estéeme of thee better then thou weenest These woordes he vsed as well for the braue chiualrie he noted in Angriote as also y e great honestie he shewed to the Lady in his possession wher-upon Angriote returned this answere It is reason I should yeeld my selfe to the best Knight in the world and the like all other to doo that beare Armes beleeue me then gentle Knight I not so much sorrow for my foyle as the wreakfull chaunce threatned to me by loosing this day the only 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 honourable 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 imploye my vttermost habilitie in causing her consent therto so soon as I shall returne from a searche I haue now in hand My Lord saide Angriote in what place may I héer-after finde you In the Courte of King Lisuart answered Amadis where by Gods helpe I meane shortly to be So tooke he leaue of Angriote who gladly would haue had him to his Castell but he might not be hindered of his iourney Thus dooth Amadis followe the Dwarffe who guided him fiue dayes together without any aduenture shewing him at length a meruailous strong and pleasant Castell saying Sir within yonder holde you must perfourme the promise you made me And I will doo it for thée answered Amadis if it consist in my power I am in good hope therof quoth the Dwarffe in respect I haue séene some proofe of your Fortune but know ye Sir how the place is named No verily saide Amadis for till now I was neuer in this countrey It is called Valderin replied the Dwarffe and thus deuising they came néere the Castell when the Dwarffe willed him to take his Armes Why said Amadis shall we haue any such neede Yea mary quoth the Dwarffe for they suffer none to come foorth 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 said Amadis is not inhabited where is y e request thou saidt I should doo for thee Credit me Sir saide the Dwarffe I haue sometime séene héere a most braue Knight and the strongest in chiualrie that euer I saw who in that Porche killed two Knightes one of them béeing my maister him he put to death very cruellye without regarde of fauour or mercy In reuenge wherof I would desire that traitours head which I haue long fayled in obtaining because all such as I brought hither haue lost their liues or remaine héere in captiuitie Thou doost the part of a loyall seruant answered Amadis yet oughtest thou to bring no Knight hither before thou tell him against whome he shall fight My Lord quoth y e Dwarffe the man is knowen well enough reputed for one of the best Knights in the world therefore when I haue named him I could not méete with any so hardy as to reuenge my cause Belike then thou knowest his name said Amadis Yea my Lord replyed the Dwarffe he calleth himselfe Arcalaus the enchaunter Amadis héereupon went further in looking round about if he might see any body but all was in vaine wherefore to rest his horsse he stayed there till euening saying to the Dwarffe What wilt thou I shall do now it is so late Alas my Lord quoth he the night being so néere at hand me thinks it
to finde there the Princesse Oliuia the choice Ladye and Mistresse of his hart But when they came among the Ladies their entertainment was good and gracious especially by the Quéene her selfe who caused them to sit down by her as meaning matter of more priuate conference Many familiar spéeches were entercoursed betwene them and practising by all meanes to welcome them honourably for she was the only Quéen of the world that soonest could win the harts of Gentlemen and therin took no little pleasure by meanes wherof she was loued of most and least beeing reputed the most vertuous Lady liuing Now had Oliuia made choise of her place next Mabila thinking Agraies would soonest come to his Sister when he left the Queene but while he beguiled the time with her his eye glaunced on the obiect of his heart which he being vnable to dissemble was compelled to a sudden alteration of countenance and could not withdraw his lookes from the Adamant of his thoughts which the Queene somewhat noted yet imagined his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies wil ye not see your Sister whome you loue so deerely Yes Madame quoth he so it please you to giue me leaue Heerewith he arose and came to Mabila who stepping forward to meete him you must thinke Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcommed him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia loouing him as you haue heard ouer-maistring her will with reason as a most wise and well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand awhile asunder from all the rest Yet did Agraies keepe 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 aunswere to his Sister She beeing 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 sudden mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with ech others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauour them with more libertie feigning a desire to speake with her Unckle Galuanes which she prettily coullered in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Unckle may come hither because it is long time since I sawe him and I haue somewhat to acquaint him withall secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agraies wherupon he went to the Queene and thus spake Madame if you could spare mine vncle a little you might doo his Niece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good saide the Quéene at which woordes Galuanes went with him which Mabila séeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Faire Niece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye doo you like Scotland or this countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the windowe because I haue many thinges to tell ye which were needlesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they béeing of such importance as they are These woordes she vttered smiling and with a meruailous good grace cheefelye because her Brother might courte his freende alone And well saide Niece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes be kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes wherof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone when the Prince perceiuing he had libertie to speake trembling in aboundaunce of affection he began thus Madame to accomplish your commaundement when you parted from me as also to satisfie my hart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gracious contentment conuayed therto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my faith that beeing neere your person my spirits feele them-selues viuified in such sorte as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therfore I desire ye if it be your pleasure to limit me some better hap héer-after in place where I may often sée and doo you seruice and as he would haue procéeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the gréefe you endure we béeing absent one from an other as no other proofe is required then what mine own hart doth plainly testifie smothering a displeasure wursse then death it self wherto often-times I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerfull hope reback this despaire how one day our loue shall meete together with happie contentation And perswade your selfe that I dayly trauaile in remembraunce of our mutuall loue meane while swéete fréend temporize and dismay not Mistresse said Agraies you haue already so bound me to you as I must in dutye temporize till time you please but I desire ye to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortefie me withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shal haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer wil I faile ye be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteem ye wherby I may striue to loue you more theÌ„ any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine only And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioye therin for it cannot be without recitall of your hautye courage and chiualrie yet my hart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer-bolde venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare him selfe so praysed vayled his lookes and she lothe to offend him altered her spéech demaunding what he was determined to doo On my faith Madame ê™ he I will doo nothing but what you please to commaund me I will then saide Oliuia that hence-foorth you keepe companye with your Cozin Amadis for I know he loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to be one of this Court deny it not Beléeue me Madame answered Agraies both you such good councelling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I will more credit with mine affaires then my honourable Cozin Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing knowledge of him in her fathers Kingdome of Denmarke where he perfourmed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with
and mooued 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 auncient Knight stepped before him with his Sword drawen vsing such threatnings and other behauiour as he caused them all to goe foorth of the Pauillion yet coulde hee not defende him so well but Amadis was wounded on the right shoulder then stepped the auncient Knight to Madasima with these words 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 quote she did you not see their presumptuous boldnes especially this varlet who before my face hath so vsed this man as he is not able to rise againe Madame replyed Galaor we rather chuse to dye then any other but your selfe shall binde vs for you by nature are gentle and curteous and we as prisoners will shew obeysaunce to you Seeing you saya so answered Madasima I will binde you my self heereupon she bound their hands w t strong cords and presently taking downe the Tents they departed thence Amadis and Galaor béeing set on horsses without Saddles and led along by two Sergeants as for Gandalin and Galaors Squire they followed on foote hauing their hands bound behinde them in manner as if they had gone to hanging and thus were they constrained to trauaile all night through the Forrest But Amadis was weery of his life not so much for his hard vsage in respect he could gouerne himselfe with wonderfull pacience 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 extremities troubled his thoughts which the auncient Knight well perceiued that saued their liues yet he imagined the cause to proceede from his hurt and was mooued to pittie him for the Damosell had told him that he was one of y e best Knights in the world Héere you must obserue how the Damosell was the auncient Knights Daughter and repented her treason in deceiuing them séeing how discourteously they were intreated which made her earnestly to perswade her father to practise some meane for their safetie for quoth she if they be put to death perpetuall shame will attend on my life Haue pittie then good father on them and me in respect the one is famous Amadis of Gaule and the other his brother Galaor who slewe the Giant at the Rock of Galteres Full well â—new the Knight the cause why his Daughter brought them and therefore pittyed their vsage the more deuising how he might compasse the meanes to sheeld them from death which was néere at hand so comming to Amadis he thus spake Be of good chéere Sir Knight for I hope by the help 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 freendly knowing likewise it was the man who deliuered him from them that would haue slaine him he thus answered Father I haue no wound which greatly annoyeth me but I haue more cause to complaine of the Damosell she that brought vs hither by y e falsest treacherie in the world I knowe very well said the Knight you haue beene deceiued and can tell what you are better then you wéene which makes me the more carefull in séeking your good therefore I shall giue you profitable councell if you will accept it But did the Lady know you you should dye without any remedy because nothing might serue else to expiate her wrath beléeue then what I say and put it in practise You are faire young and of gallant stature beside Madasima hath beene told how you are one of the best Knights in the world whereby she conceiueth good opinion of you now must you cunningly close with her requesting she would accept you as her husband or perpetuall freend for she is a woman not to refuse you if you can neuer so little dissemble with her But what you doo doo quickly because at y t place whether we are now going she intends to send one of her seruaÌ„ts to King Lisuarts Court whose errand is only to enquire your names for she that conducted you hither perceiuing you should assuredly dye if her mistresse knew the names of you both disguised the matter so with her as she said she forgot to aske your names only thus perswading her that you were two of the very best Knights in the world The daunger thorowly considered I sweare to you by the faith of a Christian that I can deuise no better meane for your deliuerance then this I haue told ye and shall I say more if you doo it not wursse will come to you then you suspect But Amadis loued the Princesse Oriana so deerely as he rather desired death then to hazard himselfe in such a composition whereupon he thus replyed I thanke you Sir hartely for your great kindnes but I haue no such authoritie ouer my selfe as will permit me to procéed so farre though your Lady her selfe intreated neuer so déeply yet libertie nor life can perswade me Alas Sir answered the Knight I wunder you will not consider how neere your death is It is all one to me quoth Amadis but if you will deale héerein with my brother he is a Knight more braue and beautifull then I am happily he will consent to follow your deuise Presently he left Amadis and comming to Galaor deliuered the whole discourse he did to his brother which he liking very well made this reply Good Father if you could bring it to passe that the Lady would accept me as her fréend my companion and I were for euer at your commaund Referre the matter to me quoth the Knight immediatly will I goe to her I hope to strike it dead on her behalfe So departing from Galaor he went to Madasima who rode formost and thus began to break with her Madame you carrye two prisoners with you but you doo not know what they are Why aske you me such a question answered Madasima Because the one of them quoth the Knight is esteemed y e best Knight that euer bare Armes and the most accomplished in all other good gifts Is he not then named Amadis said she whose death I haue so long desired No Madame answered the Knight I speake of him which rideth next vs whose youth and beauty had you well regarded your selfe would say you haue been too outragious in iniurie What though he be your prisoner it is not for any offence committed againste you but onlye through the hatred you beare to another all which you may yet redresse in much better sorte then you began considering if he conceiued liking
quoth the King and let vs heare your message My Lord said she by treason you murdered my Ladyes father and vniustly keep her from her inheritaunce wherfore according to your former promise which you haue not once but often times made that you with your two Sonnes would maintaine by Armes the right you pretend to haue in this Realme she sendes you woord by me if still you stand vpon such triall she will bring two Knightes hither who shall in combate maintaine her cause making you know your disloyaltye and treason committed Darison eldest sonne to the King hearing his Father menaced in this sorte grew into great choller and as one mooued with despight he arose when without the Kinges consent he thus spake Damosell if your Mistresse Briolania haue two Knights with her men resolued to fight on her behalfe héere doo I accept the combate for my Father and Brother and if I faile I promise in the presence of all these Lordes to send her my head in requitall of her Fathers whose death was not accomplished without great reason In sooth Sir Darison answered the Damosell you speak as a Knight of hautie minde yet may I doubt these woordes to procéed from choller because I discerne an alteration in your countenaunce but if you will request the King to confirme your speeches I shall thinke your proffer came from a hart of courage This answere Damosell quoth he may you boldely make her that sent you hither Cause then his Maiestie saide the Damosell to giue my Ladies Knightes assuraunce that for any mishap you may receiue in the combate they shall sustaine no iniurie nor be medled withall but by you three and if you purchase them such a safe-conduit they shall be heere within thrée dayes at the vtter-most Darison falling on his knée before the King saide You heare my Lord the Damoselles demaund and the promise I haue made before your Maiestie in the presence of al these great Princes and Lordes humbly therfore I beséeche you séeing my honor is yours that both you and all the rest will confirme her request otherwise to our great disaduauntage the presuming Knightes who dare aduenture in the cause of foolishe Briolania will imagine them-selues conquerours and vs dismaied fainte harted cowardes hauing openlye published that if any one will touche your illustrious renowne for matters past by the combate of vs three you intend to be purged And albeit you would make them no such promise yet ought not we to refuse them for as I vnderstand they be some foolishe Knightes of King Lisuarts Courte who by their ouer-wéening aspiring thoughtes make high account of their owne déedes in the contempte of others The King who loued Darison as him self though the death of his brother condemned him culpable and therby made him feare the combat graunted theÌ„ safe-conduit according as the Damosell requested for the two Knights and such as came in their company Héere is to be considered that the period of this traitours fortune was now limitted and the iust auenger of all wronges pointed out reward for the treason of him and his sonnes as in this discourse may be euidently séene The Damosell séeing her message had taken such effect as she desired said vnto them Make your selues readie for to morrow without faile shall this difference be discided So mounting on her Palfray she returned to the Castell of Galumba where béeing arriued before the Knights and Ladyes she reported her answere but when she told them that Darison reputed them foolish Knights of King Lisuarts Court they were so offended as Amadis entred into thâ—se spéeches By God there are such in company of that good King as can easily abate the pride of Darison and humble his head so lowe as they list but I thinke his choller ouer-maistred him when he vttered woords of such great indiscretion Trust me my Lord answered Briolania you cannot say or doo so much against these traytours as they iustly deserue You knowe what villainie they did to the King my Father and how long time they haue disinherited me let pittie 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 gentlenes mooued with compassion sayd Madame if God be so pleased ere to morrow at night your sorrow and sadnes shall be conuerted into pleasure and content Heerupon they concluded to set forward verie early the next morning which made them depart to their chambers except Briolania who sate conferring with Amadis on many matters when oftentimes she thought to motion mariage betwéene him and her but suspecting by his continuall sighes as also the teares streaming from his eyes that some other Lady was cause of these passions she kept silence and taking her leaue bad him good night On the morrow they goe all to horsseback and comming to the Citty of Sobradisa their arriuall was verie welcome to many who séeing the Daughter of their late soueraigne Lord and knowing the monstrous trecherie of his brother they instantly desired her prosperous successe because they bare her singuler affection Abiseos remembring the wrong he had done her and his bloody treason so vnnaturally committed seemed terrified in countenance because the woorme of conscience reuiued his heinous offence yet hauing been so long obstinate and indurate in his sinne thought fortune would now assure his quietnes confirme his state to continue in tranquilitie But when he sawe how the people flocked about her not shewing any reuerence to him his Sonnes albeit they were royally accompanyed with Lords he exclaimed on them in this maner 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 accept her as your Soueraigne she being a woman not capable of such an office then I y t am a hardy Knight Her weakenes you may note because she hath in so long time gotten but two Knights who are come to receiue an ignominious death which in sooth I cannot chuse but pitty When Amadis heard these taunting woords 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 he thus answered Abiseos it may be easily discerned that the arriuall of the Princesse is scant pleasing to thée in respect of thy horrible treason committed murdering her father thy eldest brother but if thou haue any feeling of vertue and art repentant for thy foule misdéed yéeld to her what thou hast vniustly vsurped so shall I discharge thée of the combate prouided thou aske God forgiuenes and vse such repentance as beseemeth a sinne so hainous that by loosing honor in this world thou mayst seeke the saluatioÌ„ of thy soule héereafter Darison prouoked to anger by these speeches anaunced himselfe and before his father had leysure to reply he
The ten dayes béeing spent King Perion forcing his will and notwithstanding the teares and intreaties of Elisena which were excessiue resolued to departe and therefore tooke his leaue of the Courte but as he would haue mounted on horseback he perceiued that he wanted his good Swoord wherat he became somewhat offended because it was one of the best and fayrest in the world yet durst he not demaund it fearing least the loue of him and Elisena shoulde thereby be discouered or King Garinter angry with them that visited his chamber In these thoughtes accompanied with infinite regrets without longer stay he tooke his way toward Gaule albeit before his departure Darioletta came and intreated him to be mindefull of the great gréefe wherein he left his Elisena and of the sollemne promise he had made her Alas my déere freend saide the King I pray ye to assure her on my parte that she shall haue no cause of offence and that right soone I meane to fée her in meane while I commend her to you as mine own proper hart Then taking from his finger a King semblable to an other that he had he sent it to the desolate louer intreating her earnestly for his sake to giue it her This present did no whit lessen her great gréefe but encrease it so that if she had not béene comforted by Darioletta without doubte she had then finished her dayes but so wel she perswaded her to take good hope that by the allegations she laid before her of dangerous occurrences she came somewhat better to her selfe and learned thence forward more smoothely to dissemble her sorrowe till she felte her selfe great with Childe by meanes wherof she not onlye lost the taste of her food but also the pleasure of rest and the faire cullour of her countenance Now on the highest step of mishap was her sorrow set and not without cause for in that time was there an inuiolable law y t any woman or maiden of what quality or estate soeuer offending in such sorte could no way excuse her self from death This sharpe cruell custome endured till the comming of the vertuous King Arthur the best Prince that euer raigned in that country which he reuoked at the time as he killed Floian in battaile before the Gates of Paris But many other Kinges were betwéene him and Garinter who maintained that lawe and for this cause the sorrowfull Lady coulde not be absolued by ignoraunce therof albeit that by the oathes and promises of King Perion on his Swoord God would remit the offence yet knew she not how to excuse her faulte to the world because it was doon so secretly as you haue heard Sée héere the distresse wherin King Perion left his Elisena which gladly she would giue him to vnderstand if possible she could but it might not be for she knew the promptitude of this yong King that tooke no rest in any place where he came nor was his hart satisfied except in this with following armes as also séeking strange and hazardous aduentures and therfore he was the harder to be found Thus dispayring of this succour she thought there was no remedy for her life for which she made not so much mone as the losse of the sight of her true fréend and only Lord. But at that instant the great and puissāt maker of all thinges by whose permission this act was appointed to his seruice inspired Darioletta with such counsell as she only should remedie these occurrences in such sort as you shall presently vnderstand In the Pallace of King Garinter there was a Chamber vaulte seperated from the rest neere to which was a riuer wherto one might easilye discend by a little Iron doore this Chamber by the aduise of Darioletta did Elisena request of her father as well for her ease as to continue her accustomed solitarye life and would haue none other companion thē Darioletta who as you haue heard knew the occasion of her dollorous gréefes This request she lightly obtained the King thinking his daughters intent to be as she feigned and heeruppon was the Keye of the Iron doore giuen to Darioletta to open when it pleased Elisena to recreate her selfe on the water By this meane had she a place proper to her affaires and so was in better rest and assurance then before for well was she aduised that in this place more commodiously then any other might she prouide to escape without danger Wherfore béeing there one day alone with her Damosell they fell in conference and she required councell what should be doone with the fruite that she trauailed withall What answered Darioletta mary it must suffer to redéeme you Ah poore maidenly mother saide Elisena how can I consent to the death of the creature begotten by the only man of the world whom most I loue Offend not your selfe quoth Darioletta for if you should dye hardly would it be permitted after you to liue In sooth said Elisena although I dye béeing culpable it were no reason the little innocent should suffer Leaue wee this talke answered Darioletta seeing it were great follye to hazard the safetie of that which héerafter may be the onlye cause of your losse and your freend likewise for well you know that if you be discouered you shall dye and the infant shall not liue and you dying no longer can he liue y t so deerely loueth you So shall you alone cause the death of al thrée where contrarywise if you escape the perill the time will come when you may haue together children enow which will make you forget the affection you bare to this first And as this Damosell was thus inspired so would she before hand séeke to preuent the inconuenience in this manner She got foure little boords of such largenes as was necessary to make a Chest wherin to put the infant with the clothes the swoord which she kept then did she glue thē together in such sorte as y e water should haue no place to enter This beeing doon and made fit she put it vnder the bed without declaring any thing therof to Elisena vntil the time of Childe-birthe approched and then Darioletta saide What thinke ye Madame this little Cofer is made for In good faith I know not quoth she This shalbe to serue vs saide the Damosell when we haue neede Beleeue me answered Elisena wéeping but little doo I care for any thing that may happen for I féele my selfe too néere the losse of my good and all my ioy Uery soone after the Princesse felt the anguish of trauaile which was to her very strange and troublesome oppressing her hart with sundrye bitter passions yet notwithstanding all her yrk some plundges poore soule she durst not but be silent greatlye fearing least she should be heard Her agonies thus redoubling the most mighty without danger of her person gaue her in deliueraunce a faire Sonne which the Damosell receiued and as she held it it séemed to her of wonderfull feature and happy would
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 skil Sir answered Albert let then the rest be called into your presence for before them will I tell ye Well hast thou aduised said the King wherupon they were sent for afterward Alberte thus began My opinion is my Lord that the closed Chamber and him whome you sawe enter by the secret doore signifieth this Realme which is close and well garded notwithstanding by some right therto some one shall come to take it from you And like as he thrust his handes into your sides renting from thence your hart and afterwarde threwe it into the Riuer euen so shall your Townes and Castles bothe more and lesse be priuily stolen from you and put into his hand from whome you shall not easilye recouer them And what meaneth the other hart said the King which I dreamed should remain with me and yet he saide that some after I should loose it against the will of him that tooke 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 an other that commaunded him to doo so then by any will therto in him selfe thus sée ye my Lord all that I can tell ye Now saide the King to the second named Antalles tell 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 y t what he saith shall happen is already effected and by the person that most loueth ye notwithstanding I am greatly amazed therat séeing there is not as yet any parte of your Realme lost and if you doo loose any thing héerafter it must be by such an one as loueth ye déerely When the King heard this he nodded his head for it séemed to him that he came néere the marke but Vngan the Piccard who knew much more then the other fell into a laughter which he was sildome wunt to doo because he was a man very sad and mellancholly yet by chaunce the King perceiued it wherfore he saide Maister Vngan my fréend now remaineth none but you say boldely what you haue gathered My Lord quoth he peraduenture I haue seene into thinges which is not necessarye to be knowen to any other then your selfe and therfore let these giue place a while if you please At these woordes they withdrewe them selues leauing the King and Vngan alone who thus spake If your Maiesty sawe me ere while to laughe it was at one woord which little you thinke on yet it is true and will yee knowe what It was that which Antalles saide that what he found by your dreame was already happened and by the person that besâ—e loueth yee Nowe shall I reuâ—ale what you keepe in secret and thinke that no one knowes but your selfe You loue my Lord in such a place where you haue alreadye 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 béene there present But as for the Chamber you found shut you know Sir full well what if meaneth and how she whom you loue desirous to deliuer her hart and yours from gréefe and sadnes came to ye entring your chamber by the doore that was hid from you The handes that opened your sides is the coniunction of you twaine then the hart taken from ye sheweth that she hath by you a Sonne or a Daughter Now tell me saide the King what meneth y t casting therof into the Riuer My Lord quoth he that nothing concerneth you therfore neuer labour for further knowledge therof Yet would I saide the King faine vnderstand it and therfore feare not to tell me for any harme that may happen Seeing you will needes haue it answered Vngan I beseeche ye Sir assure me while you liue for any thing that I shall reueale you will not be displeased with her who loueth you so loyallye That promise doo I faithfully make thée saide the King In good sooth Sir quoth Vngan that hart that you saw throwen into the water is the first infant she shall haue by you who must of necessitie be forsaken And the other saide the King that shall remaine with me what meaneth that You may answered Vngan vnderstand by the one the desseigne of the other which is that she shall conceiue an other childe who shalbe caryed awaye againste the will of her that caused the losse of the firste Thou hast tolde me strange thinges said the King and would God the mis-fortune of my Children were not so true as what thou hast tolde me concerning the Lady I loue For thinges ordeyned and appointed by the highest answered Vngan none knoweth how to gain-say or remedy and therfore men of wisdom should neither be sad or reioyce at them because oftentimes the Lord disposeth matters beyond the capacitie of men and farre otherwise then they expect For this cause my Lord forgetting all that I haue said and which you haue béene so curious to vnderdstand referre all thinges to God desiring him in these your affaires and all other to limit the ende 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 estéemed of him that from thence forward he had him néere his person by meanes wherof 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 costlye in garmentes and faire of beauty thus speaking Vnderstand King Perion that when thou recouerest thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland shall loose her flower So giuing her Palfray the bridle and the King not able to stay her she rode away these woordes made the good Prince more sad and pensiue then he was before For this time the Author leaueth this purpose and returneth to speake of the infant that Gandales caused to be nourished whome he made be called the Gentleman of the Sea Now was he curiously entertained wherfore in short time he grew and became so faire that all which beheld him meruailed therat but one daye among other it happened that Gandales rode to sporte him selfe in the féeldes arming him selfe as became a good Knight for he had dayly accompanied the King Languines at such time as he searched after aduentures and albeit the King discontinued Armes yet Gandales would oftentimes exercise him selfe and as he rode he met with a Damosell that thus spake to him Ah Gandales if many great personages were aduertised of what I knowe certainely I assure thee they would cause thée to loose thy head Wherfore quoth he Because saide the Damosell thou nourishest their death in thy house The knight know not the Woman that thus talked with him but
you take the one you must néedes haue the other for they will not be seperated I am the better pleased answered the King then calling Agraies to him saide My Sonne I will that you loue these two Gentlemen as I doo 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 Fortune now sée I thee in the seruice of them who one day may happily serue thée if it please God to guide and protect thee as I shall humbly pray for and suffer that the woords of Vrganda the vnknowen spoken to me may proue true making me so happy as to liue to sée the time of those great meruailes promised thée in Armes The King who noted Gandales séeing that his eyes were filled with teares came to comfort him saying Beléeue me I neuer thought you had béene such a foole as to wéepe for a Childe Ah my Lord answered Gandales it may be vpon greater occasion then you think for and if it please ye to know the trueth I will presently tell ye héere before your Quéene So he tolde the whole discourse how he found the Gentleman of the Sea and in what equipage and he had procéeded with that which Vrganda foretolde him but that he remembred the oathe he tooke Now my Lord saide 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 When the King heard this he estéemed much the better of him that he had so carefully nourished the childe he found and thus answered It is great reason seeing God hath doone so much for him as to preserue him from so great a daÌ„ger that now we be diligent in his education and endowe him with habilities when time shall serue In good faith my Lord said the Quéene so please you hee shall be mine during his young yéeres 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 y e next morning the King would set forward wherfore the Queene not hauing forgot the gift of her Lord tooke with her Gandalin and the young Gentleman of the Sea whom she commaunded 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 chéerefull spirit and so well gouerned withall as he was well liked of euery one so that whatsoeuer he did passed with generall allowance and no other pastime had he but in shooting and cherishing dogges for the chase Now dooth the Authour leaue this matter returning to that which happened to King Perion and his newe freende Elisena King Perion as you haue already heard beeing in Gaule where he vnderstood by his Philosophers the exposition of his Dreame as also what the Damosell had told him That when he recouered his loste the Kingdome of Ireland should lose her flower he became more pensiue then before yet could he vnderstand nothing therof As he thus sadlye spent his dayes it chaunced that an other Damosell entred his Pallace who brought him a letter from Elisena whereby she gaue him to knowe that King Garinter her father was dead and she remained alone and for this cause he should pittie her in that the King of Scottes would take her Kingdome from her For the death of King Garanter was Perion somewhat sorrowful but yet he comforted himself by thinking he should goe to see his freend towards whome he had not diminished one iotte of his affection wherfore he quickly dispatched the Damosell saying to her Returne and say to your mistresse that without staying one whole day I shalbe in short time with her The Damosell wel 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 spéedily as he ariued in little Brittayne where he heard newes that King Languines had alreadye gotten all the chéefe of the Country except those Citties which Garinter gaue to Elisena who now abode as he vnderstood at a place named Arcate whether he addressed him selfe If he were there well receiued I leaue to your iudgementes and she likewise of him whom she loued so much After the welcomming and feasting of one an other the King tolde her that he would now marry her and for that cause she aduertised her kinred and Subiectes which she did with all dilligence coulde be deuised as also with so great contentation as her hart might desire for héerin onlye consisted the summe of her affections Which being heard by the King of Scottes and how to accomplishe this King Perion was already ariued with his Sister he sent immediatlye for all the noble men of his Realme to beare him company in dooing honor and welcome to the King his brother At his comming he was graciously receiued by King Perion and after by embracâ—uis they hadsaluted eche other and the nuptialles likewise thorowlye ended the Kinges determined to returne home into their owne Countryes King Perion trauayling toward Gaule with his Quéene Elisena and somewhat weary with tediousnesse of the way he would refresh him selfe along by a Riuer side and while the tentes were erecting he rode softlye alone by the water bancke imagining how hee might knowe the trueth whether Elisena had a Childe according as his Philosopher told him in expounding his Dreame But so long continued he in this thought that riding on without anye regarde he came to an Hermitage which was néere at hand wherfore finding him selfe at a place of deuotion he alighted tying his Horsse to a trée that he might goe in to say his prayers And entring the Church he found there a very auncient religious man who comming to méete him saide Knight is it true that King Perion is maryed to our Kinges daughter Yea verily answered the King Praised be God saide the good Hermite for I knowe certainlye that she loueth him with all her hart How can you tell that replyed the King Euen from her owne mouth saide the good olde man The King then hoping he shoulde heare of him the thing which he moste desired to knowe said I praye ye Father tell me what you haue vnderstood of her and me for I am King Perion Truely Sir answered the wise man héerein should I greatly faulte and iustly might she repute me an heretique if I should manifest what she hath told me vnder confession suffise your selfe with that I haue declared namely the true and sincere loue she beareth you But séeing I haue met ye in a place so conuenient I will that ye knowe what a Damosell in mine opinion very wise saide to me at the time you came firste into this Countrey yet spake she to me so darkelye as I neuer knewe well how to
bretheren his heire no lesse prudent in all affaires thē prompt at armes and Knightly chiualrie béeing called Lisuart who maried not long before with Brisana daughter to the King of Denmarke the fairest Lady that then was to be found in all the North partes And albeit she had béene requested in mariage by great Princes of the country notwithstanding for feare of some the father durst not cōsent to the other for which he would prouide by choosing one him self and so maried her to the yong Prince Lisuart who for loue serued him nor was he ignorant of the vertues harbouring in his gentle hart Now after the death of Falangris the Princes of great Brittayne knowing the right of Lisuart sent for him to succeede in the Realme for he béeing in a strange Countrey where by his hautye déedes and chiualrie he was maried in so good a place therfore they dispatched their Ambassadours to him intreating him to accept the Realme and Subiects of great Brittaine and to come to inuest him selfe therin CHAP V. ¶ How King Lisuart sayling by Sea landed in Scotland where he was greatly honoured and well entertained PRince Lisuart vnderstanding his subiectes desire for his short return prouided his equipage by Sea béeing aided and assisted by the King of Denmarke his Father in Law and afterward set saile toward great Brittain And because he coasted along Scotland he tooke landing there whereof Languines being aduertised came and receiued him very royally Now was this new King of great Brittaine accompanied with the Quéene his wife and a faire Princesse their daughter aged as is thought about ten yéeres named Oriana one of the fairest creatures that euer was seene and therfore during the time of her abode in Denmarke she was commonlye called The only because her paragon was not to be found in beauty This yong Lady Oriana beeing not vsed to the trauaile on the Sea found her selfe somewhat weary and her Father fearing a woorsse mishap intreated the King of Scotland she might stay with him till he sent for her Right gladly did King Languines and his Quéen accept this charge wherfore King Lisuart without longer stay in Scotland went to Sea where weighing Anckers hoising sailes in short time landed in his owne Country where béeing arriued before he could abide in quiet asin such occasions it often falleth out certaine Rebelles were found whom in time he ouer-maistred which was the cause he could not so spéedilye send for his daughter that he left in Scotland In this place the Author leaueth the newe King peaceably ruling in great Brittaine and returneth to the Gentleman of the Sea who by this time hath attained the age of twelue yéeres albeit in stature he seemed past fifteene and and for his good grace both of the Quéene and the other Ladyes was loued and esteemed more then any other Now according as hath béene already declared the young Princesse Oriana Daughter to King Lisuart was lefte with the Quéene of Scottes to refreshe her selfe till the King her Father should send for her and to her did the Queene vse all the gracious curtesies coulde be deuised saying to her withall Faire Madame hencefoorth so please you shall the Gentleman of the Sea serue you and be yours Which the Princesse Oriana willingly accepted wherfore the yong Prince made such an impression of this kindenesse in his spirite as during life he meant to serue nor loue any other and therfore foreeuer bequeathed to her his hart but so wel it came to passe that this loue was mutuall and equall betwéene them both Notwithstanding the Prince for a while hauing no knowledge therof thought him self vnwoorthy so great good reputing it a very bolde enterprise to thinke theron which was the cause he durst not speake but shew his good will in outward semblaunce The yong Princesse who was of the same minde and also in like payne forbare to talke more with him then an other therby to auoyde all suspition but the eyes of the two louers dooing their deuoire and office entercoursed the thing which moste they esteemed and thus couertly they liued without acquainting eche other with this amorous affection Soone after this yong vnknown prince seeing that to attaine the good grace of the Lady he loued it was necessary he should take Armes and receiue the order of knighthood he saide to himselfe If once I were a knight I would doo such exploytes as should deserue the fauour of my Ladye or dye in the attempte And in this desire one day finding King Languines at leysure for his request and comming to him in the garden where he walked he fell on his knee vsing these spéeches My Lord might it stand with your plesure I gladly would receiue my knighthood When the King heard him séeing his young yéeres he was greatly abashed and thus answered How now Gentleman of the Sea Doo you thinke your selfe already strong enoughe for such a weightie charge in sooth it is an easie thing to receiue honor but to maintaine it as behooueth it may be is more hard then you estéeme so that oftentimes a a right good hart is troubled therwith For if through feare or cowardise he forsake what he ought to doo more better is death to him then a shamefull life therfore by mine aduise I would haue you yet a while to forbeare The prince not contented with this answere replyed I will not forgoe honor my Lord through any such feare as it pleaseth you to alleadge for if I had not the desire to doo all that appertayneth to chiualrie I would not haue beene so bolde to make this request but seeing by your gracious fauour I haue been hetherto nourished most humbly I beséech ye to graunt me this peticion that I may receiue no occasion of loosing your seruice to séeke else where for obtaining my sute The king highly estéeming the courage of y e youth and doubting least he would departe indeed answered Assure your selfe Gentleman that I will doo it when I sée it necessarye for ye in meane while prouide your Armes and what els belongeth Yet tel me faire Sir to whom if I refused would you goe for your order To King Perion saide y e Prince who is reputed a good and hardie Knight for he hath maried the Sister to your Quéene who maketh me beleeue that he wil not deny me when I shall let him vnderstand how she hath nourished me and that I am her seruant It is true quoth the King but for this present haue a little pacience and when time serueth you shalbe honourablye Knighted in meane while he gaue charge that all his néedful accoustrements for the cause should be prouided Now did the King aduertise Gandales héerof who was so contented therwith as he soone dispatched a Damosell toward the yong Prince by whome he sent the Swoord the King and the letter couered with ware which he found in the Chest he tooke out of the Sea Such spéed made the Damosell
Combate Then he that first spake rehearsed all the wordes of their Sister according as hath béen already declared In good sooth quoth the Prince neuer was villainie disguised in such sorte for she hath doone farre otherwise as you may vnderstand by her Husband him selfe who being neere his death I conuaied to an Hermitage hard at hand Seeing it hath so fallen out saide the three Bretheren dispose of vs as they that remaine 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 and there before him recite all that hath happened saying withall how you were therto constrained by a young Knight that sent ye thither and who this day departed from his Court desiring him to censure on this misdeed as he shall thinke good All this they promised and swore to perfourme wherfore commending thē to God he roade away leauing them together CHAP VI. ¶ How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentleman of the Sea THis quarrell thus ended with the three Knightes the Gentleman of the Sea tooke the way which before he had left but they had not riddē long till they saw two Damoselles come toward them by two sundrye waies who addressed themselues to meete together which when they had doon they entred into cōmunication One of them bare a Launce in her hand and when they were come to the Prince she with the Launce auaunced her selfe to him saying My Lord take this Launce which I giue ye because I can assure ye that within three daies it will stand ye in so good stéed as therwith you shall deliuer from death the house from whence ye are discended The Prince amazed at these woordes thus answered How can it be Lady that a house should liue or dye It shalbe 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 wherof shall be When one of your best freendes shall by you haue one of the greatest honors that euer he can receiue wherby he shall fall into the deepest danger that any Knight hath doone these ten yeeres space Beleeue me Lady answered the Prince such honor if God please I will not doo my fréend Full well I know quoth the Damosell that so it shall come to passe then putting on her Palfray departed this Damosell you may note was Vrganda the vnknowen When the other Damosell who heard the woordes saw her forsake her companie she determined for certaine daies to stay with the Prince to see what he should doo wherfore she saide My Lord although I am a stranger if you thinke it conuenient I would gladly for a while abide with y◠deferring a iourney that I haue to my mistresse The Prince well perceiued she was a stranger which made him to demaund of whence she was wherto she replied that she was of Denmarke And that him selfe could not gain-say because her language gaue assuraunce therof for hauing heard his Lady Oriana at her first comming into Scotland it made him the better remember that Country spéech wherupon he saide If you please faire Damosell to goe with me I will defend ye to my power but I pray ye tel me if you know the other Lady that euen now gaue me this Launce Truely Sir quoth she neuer did I sée her till now I met her on the way and then she saide 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 in not knowing her if I forbeare now presently to follow her you must think Lady the cause is that I cānot finde her against her will and thus deuising they rode on vntill the darke euening ouer-tooke them At this time it so chaunced that they met with a Squire who demaunded where they intended to finde lodging trauailing so late Where we can answered the Prince In good faith saide the Squire if you meane to haue lodging you must leaue the way which now you take for you can not long time come to any that way but if you will follow me I will conduct ye to a Castell belonging to my Father who shall doo you all the honor and good entertainment may be deuised The Damosell thinking this councell good desired the Prince to accept therof which he did therfore the Squire rode before them as their guide leading them directly foorth of the way because he had neuer séene the combates of Knightes errant and hoping to conduct them the day following to a Castell where such pastime was vsed but that night he brought them to their lodging feasting and entertaining them very sumptuously yet could y e Prince take no rest all y e night for thinking on y e Lady that brought him the Launce On the morrow very early they would be gon and taking leaue of their hoste the Squire saide 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 therto but ouer a long drawe-bridge hauing at the end a faire Tower for defence therof When the Prince beheld it he thought he must needes passe thether by y e bridge yet he asked the Squire if there were any other way No my Lord quoth he for this is the vsuall passage Marche on then saide the Prince wherwith the Squire the Damosell and their company set forward but the Gentleman of the Sea remaining behinde entred into such a thought of his Lady Oriana as he had well néere forgotten him selfe but at length he heard the noyse of fire Halberders armed with Corslettes and Helmettes who at the entraunce of the bridge had arrested the Damosell and there would force her to take an oathe that she should neuer beare loue to her freend if he would not promise her to aide King Abies of Ireland againste King Perion which she refusing cryed to the Prince for his assistaunce This clamour made him forget his musing when addressing him selfe to the Palliardes he saide Trayterous villaynes who commaunded you to lay handes on this Lady being in my charge In speaking these woordes he came to the chéefest of the sixe from whom right soone he caught his hatchet and gaue him such a stroke therwith as he fell to the ground All the other together presentlye set vpon him but one of them he sliced to the verye téethe and soone after an other bare him companye with the losse of his arme When the thrée that were left sawe their companions so handled they took
them selues to flight and the Prince followed them so néere as one of them left his legge behinde him the other twaine he let go returning where he left the Damosell to whom he saide Now boldely goe on and like euill fortune may they haue that encourage any villaine to lay forcible hand on Lady or Damosell She béeing assured by these woordes went on with the Prince and his Squires but ere they had gon any thing farre they heard a great noyse and tumult within the Castell Me thinkes Sir said the Damosell I heare a meruaylous murmuring within this Fortresse therfore I would aduise ye to take the rest of your Armour Goe on quoth the Prince and feare not for where Ladyes are euill intreated who ought euery where to goe in safety there hardly abideth any man of valewe In sooth said she if you doo not what I haue desired I will not passe any further and so much she perswaded him that at length he laced on his Helmet afterward he went into the Castell at the entraunce wherof he met a Squire wéeping who saide Ah God why will they murder without cause the best Knight in the worlde alas they would enforce him to promise what is impossible for him to accomplishe These woordes of the Squire could not stay the Prince for he saw King Perion who had so lately Knighted him very hardly vsed by two Knights who with the help of ten armed Halberders had round beset him saying Swear if not thou dyest Greatly did it gréeue the Prince to sée such outrage offered to King Perion wherfore he thus called to them Trayterous villaines what mooues ye to misuse the best Knight in the world by heauen you shall all dye for him At these woords one of the Knightes left the King and taking fiue Halberders with him came to the Prince saying It likewise behooueth you to sweare if not you can escape no better then an other What quoth he shall I then sweare against my will by Gods leaue it shall not be so Then they of the Castell cryed to the Porter that he should shut the gate wherfore the Prince now saw he must stand vpon his defence wher-upon he ran fiercelye against the Knight charging him in such sorte as he fell downe dead ouer the crupper of his horsse for in the fall he brake his neck Which the prince beholding not tarying any longer with the Halberders came to the other Knight that combated with King Perion piercing his Launce quite through his body so that he accompanied the first in fortune King 〈◊〉 séeing him self thus succoured so cheered vp his hart as he did much better then before against his enemies causing them by sharpe strokes of his Swoord to retire in meane while the Gentleman of the Sea being on Horsse-backe ranne among them and scattered them tumbling one downe héere and another there so that at length by the aide of the King they were all slaine except certaine that fled away on the top of the walles But the prince alighted and followed them wherat they were so affrighted as they cast themselues downe headlong from the walles only two got them into a Chamber where they thought to remaine in safetie notwithstanding he pursued them so néere as he buckled pel mel with them But within the Chamber on a bed lay an ancient Knight whose vnweldie age had taken from him the vse of his legges to them that came in he vsed these spéeches Cowardly villaines from whom run ye so shamefully From a Knight aunswered one of them who hath plaide the Deuill in your Castell for he hath slaine your two Nephewes and all our companions As thus he spake the prince caught him by the head saying Tell me villaine where is the Lord of this place or else thou diest The poore man seeing him selfe in such perill shewed him y e olde Knight lying on the bed but when the prince sawe him so olde and decrepite he blamed him in this manner Thou wretched olde man hath death already seazed on thy bones and yet doost thou cause such a wicked custome to be maintained héer Well dooth thine age excuse thée from bearing Armes yet shall I giue thée the desert belonging to such villainie With these woords he made offer to smite off his head Wherfore the affrighted olde man cryed Alas my Lord for Gods sake mercie None at all quoth the prince thou art dead if thou swearest not to me y t while thou liuest such like treason shall be no more maintained in this place wherto y e olde Knight right gladly tooke his oathe Now tell me said the prince wherfore hast thou héertofore kept this custome héere For the loue of King Abies of Ireland answered the Knight who is mine Nephewe and because I can not ayde him with my person in his warre I was desirous to succour him with such Knightes errant as passed this way False villaine answered the prince what haue Knightes errant to doo with thy desire so spurning the bed with his foote threw it downe and the olde Knight vnder it where commending him to all the Deuilles he lefte him and comming downe into the Courte took a Horsse which was one of the slaine Knightes and bringing it to y e King saide Mount your selfe my Lord for it little likes me to stay any longer héere where such bad people haue their habitation The King presentlye went to horseback and so they rode together out of the Castell but the prince fearing least the King should know him would by no meanes take off his Helmet notwithstanding as they rode along the King thus spake to him I pray ye sir Knight tell me of whence you are that haue succoured me when I was so néere my death warranting me also héereafter from the enemies of this place and shewing your selfe a good fréend to Ladies and Knightes errant As for me I am the same man against whom they kept this straite passage importing the cruell oathe for which you combatted My Lord answered the prince I am a Knight desirous to doo you any seruice Beléeue me quoth y e King that haue I already well perceiued for hardly should I haue found so good a fréend to helpe me yet will I not giue ouer till I know ye Alas my Lord saide he that will little profit ye Notwithstanding quoth the King I pray ye take off your Helmet which he would not doo but put downe his Beuer a little When the King saw that his intreatie would not preuaile he desired the Damosell to obtaine so much for him wherto the condiscending tooke the prince by the hand saying I beséech ye Sir graunt the King what he hath requested He séeing her importunate took off his Helmet when presently the King knewe him that it was the same man hee had Knighted at the Ladies motion wherfore embracing him he saide Right glad am I to know so déere a fréend My Lord quoth the prince I knew you so soone as I came
saying Ah gentle Knight how highlye am I indebted to you you are to this place the most welcome man in the world for by your meanes haue I thorowly recouered mine honor Leaue we this talke saide y e Prince and saye where I may quicklye finde some remedye for my woundes In my house answered the Knight abideth a Niece of mine who shall heale your hurtes better then any other So riding on they arriued at the Castell 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 a halfe compelling him to change his name and sweare to call him self while he liued the conquered by Galpan but now quoth he séeing he is dead mine honor is restored me againe Afterward he caused the prince to be vnarmed and laide in a sumptuous bed where his woundes were dilligentlye attended by the Ladye who assured him in shorte time to make him well againe if he would be aduised by her councell which he promised faithfullye to doo CHAP VIII ¶ How the third daye after the Gentleman of the Sea departed from King Languines the three Knightes came to the Courte bringing with them the wounded Knight in a Litter and his disloyall wife ON the third day after the Prince left y e Court of King Languines where he receiued the order of Knighthood the thrée Knightes came thither with their wounded brother and his trothlesse wife of whom the discourse hath béen 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 newe Knightes 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 bodye else knewe that the Gentleman of the Sea was Knighted but the Princesse Oriana and the Ladies which accompanied her in the Chappell Full soone was he aduertised of his absence from the Courte but he thought he was gone to visite his father Gandales then the King turning to the Knight in the Litter saide Me thinkes that a woman so vnfaithfull as your wife hath béene deserueth not to liue My Lord quoth the Knight doo therin as it shall like your maiestie as for me I will neuer consent that y e thing I moste loue should dye This said the knights tooke their leaue of the King carying backe againe with them their Brother in the Litter leauing their Sister to receiue Iustice by the Kings appointmēt who after their departure called for her and saide Woman thy mallice hath béene too great in respect of thy Husbands kindenes but thou shalt be made an example to all other that they héerafter offend not in the like and so he commaunded her to be burned aliue The execution béeing doone the King was in greater pensiuenes then before because he knew not who the new Knight should be that parted so suddenly from his Courte but the Squire standing by which lodged the Gentleman of the Sea and afterward conducted him to the Castell where he deliuered King Perion from death began to imagine that it was his guest wherfore he said to the King It may be my Lord a young Knight with whome the Damosell of Denmarke and my selfe were certaine daies and then we left him when we came hither Knowest thou his name quoth the King No my Lord said the Squire but he is both yong and very beautifull beside I saw him doo such rare chiualrie in so little time as in mine opinion if he liue he will proue one of the best Knightes in the worlde Then discoursed he at large euerye action as also how he deliuered King Perion in the time of great danger When the King had noted well his tale his desire to know him encreased now more and more My Lord quoth the Squire the Damosell that came hether with me happilye can tell ye more tidinges of him for it was my chaunce to meete them together Of what Damosell speakest thou saide the King Of her answered the Squire that lately came from great Brittayne to Madame Oriana Presently was she sent for and he demaunded what the Knight was of whom there went such reporte Wherupon she declared so much as she knew chéeflye the occasion wherfore she rode with him and in what manner the Launce was giuen him by Vrganda as to the only Knight in the world But in sooth quoth she I knowe not his name for neuer could I learne it of him Ah God saide the King who may it be Now was Oriana voide of all doubting for she wel knew it was her Gentleman of the Sea but she was so gréeued with the newes which the Damosell of Denmarke had brought her as well she knew not whome she might complaine to for the King her Father sent her woord how she should prepare her selfe in readines to come to him so soone as his Ambassadours should be sent for her into Scotland But much more willingly could she affoord to stay in that Countrye then there whether she should now goe against her minde not only in respect of her gentle vsage there but because she imagined by béeing farre thence she should be further from him that had the prime of her affection beside she might there hardlye afterward heare any newes of him but continuing in Scotland she could easilye 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 Knightes 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 w t his Sonne Agraies who now stood vpon departing toward Gaule to succour the King his Unckle 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 assemblye I deliuer a message of importance to ye then taking the Helmet from her Squire she thus procéeded 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 iudgement it better belongeth to beare Armes then any other and the cause why he sendes it to you is for that Galpan villainously abused a damosell that came to you on vrgent affaires What quoth the King is Galpan ouercome by the hand of one man beléeue me Damosell you tell vs meruailes Woorthy Lord answered she he only of whom I speake hath doone him to death after he had slaine all the other that resisted him in Galpans Castell and he thinking to reuenge their foyle him selfe combatted hand to hand with y
in full course againste him breaking their Launces in peeces on his Shéelde but the Prince méeting him that had the foyle in the Forrest threw him againe from his saddle so roughly as in the fall he brake his arme the gréef wherof made him lye still as if he had béene dead When he perceiued he was so well rid of one he drew his Swoord and came to the other giuing him such a stroke on his Helmet as the Swoord entring in he pulde it back with such force that the laces brake wherby he brought it quite from his head vpon his swoord then he lifted vp his arme to haue smitten him but the Knight quickly clapt his Shéelde before In meane while the Prince got his Swoord into his lefte hand which he could doo verye hardlye and with his right hand tooke holde on his enemies Sheeld renting it violently from about his neck and afterward gaue him such a blowe on the head as in great amazemente he fell to the ground Thus did he leaue him there with his companion and rode with the Damosell to the Tentes of Agraies who hauing seene the conclusion of this quarrell meruailed what he was that had so soone ouercome two knights therfore wheÌ„ he came towards him he went forth to meete him and so soone as they knew eche other you need make no doubt of their kinde salutations Soone after the Prince alighted and by Agraies was conducted into his Tent to be vnarmed but firste he gaue commaundement that the Knightes dismounted in the feeld should be brought thither where they were no sooner arriued but Agraies thus spake to them Beléeue me my fréendes you attempted great folly to meddle with this knight You say true my Lord answered he whose arme was broken yet once to daye I saw him in such plight as I little thought of any such resistance Afterward he declared all y e happened in the Forrest and the communication they had together yet he omitted the Princes complaintes because he stood in feare to displease him During the repetition of these matters the pacience of the one and boldenes of the other was entercoursed among them and all that day they soiourned there but on the morrow morning they mounted on horsse-back shaping their course to Palingues a right good Cittie on the frontiers and the vtmoste parte of Scotland where they found Shipping and embarqued themselues toward Gaule The winde seruing according to their desire in fewe dayes they landed in the hauen of Galfrin and marching thence in séemely order without any hinderaunce they came to the Castell of Baldain where King Perion was besieged hauing already lost great number of his people When he was aduertised of this succour you must imagine him comforted therby and their welcome to be good and gracious chéefely by the Quéene Elisena who hauing knowledge of their arriâ—all sent to intreat her Nephew Agraies to come visit her which he did béeing accompanied with the King and the Gentleman of the Sea and two other knightes of good account But you must note that king Perion knew not the Prince at the first sight yet at the length he called him to remeÌ„braunce that it was the same man whom he had Knighted and after-ward saued his life at the Castell wherfore thus he spake By déere fréend on my faith I had forgotten ye you are most welcome to this place for your presence giueth me assurance that I néed feare this warre no further hauing the only Knight of the world so néere me Dread Lord answered the Prince God giue me grace to serue you accordingly for perswade your selfe that while these troubles endure I will make no spare of my person As thus they deuised they entred the Queens Chamber when the King taking the Prince by the hand presented him to her saying Madame this is the good knight of whom here-tofore I tolde ye he defended me from the greatest daunger that euer I was in and therfore I pray ye let no spare of curtesie be made to him héere but giue him the best entertainement the time will affoorde The Queene auaunced her selfe to embrace him but he fell on his knée with these woordes I am seruant Madame to the Quéen your sister and from her I come to serue you with like obedience as to her owne person Right graciously did the good Lady giue him thankes yet little thought she that he was her sonne for she imagined the Sea had deuoured him yet was the Princes presence at that very instant so pleasing to her as her eyes could not be satisfied with beholding him and through a secret moouing of nature she wished more good to him theÌ„ any in the troupe At this time likewise was her remembraunce sollicited with the former losse of her two Children whose yéeres she thought would haue equalled the Princes if God had preserued theÌ„ and these occasions vrged the teares into her eyes Thus wept she for hâ—m that nature touched her withall yet vnknowen was in her presence but when the Prince behelde her so sorrowfull he reputed it to the reason of the warre begun wherfore he saide Madame I hope with the aide of God your King and the fresh supply we haue brought in short time to recouer your ioye and for mine owne parte trust me I will make no spare Heauen prosper ye answered the Quéene with happy successe and for you are the Quéene my sisters knight I will that ye prouide no other lodging but abide heere with vs and all thinges shall be appointed for ye to your owne contentment Such was their conference together vntill Agraies would goe refreshe him selfe wherfore taking leaue for y e night he went to his lodging where it was prouided and gladly would the Prince haue followed him but the Queene with-helde him by such importunitie as he was constrained now to remaine in his vnknowne mothers custodie Right soon was the newes of this fresh succour brought to King Abies of Ireland and Daganel his Cozin who made verye small account therof because in those times was king Abies accounted for one of the best knightes that euer was heard of and in respect of his hotte desire to the fight determined séeing new aide was come to his enemy very quickly to bid him battaile and for this cause he said before all his people there present If King Perion were so gentle a companion as to come sée vs I had rather he would doo it to day then to morrow Assure your selfe answered Daganel he is nothing so hastie as I thinke for he feareth you too much albeit he maketh little shewe therof Know you saide Gallin Duke of Normandie by what meanes we may therto constraine him First let vs make an ambushe of the greater parte of our Armie which shall remaine with the King in this Forrest of Baldain theÌ„ you Lord Daganel and my selfe will goe with the rest to present our selues at break of daye before the Cittie and I am certain
that being discryed by our enemies who imagining our strength is altogether will take hart and not faile to come running foorth vpon vs. When we sée them approche we wil dissemble a timerous feare and take our flight toward the Forrest where shall abide the King with his companie then our enemies pursuing assured victorie in their own conceit will séeke aduantage by our shamefull retire and so be taken themselues in the snare Uerie well haue you aduised answered King Abies do you your selfe worthie Duke giue order that all things be done as you haue appointed Now might yée there behold armed men on horssebacke the Souldiours mustering the Drommes thundering and the Trompets cheerefully sounding as in one instant matters were so well ordered that the Kings commaundement fayled in nothing whereupon the next morning at the breake of day Daganel and the Duke of Normandye 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 honored the Prince by whome he had found such friendship And to make some shew of his affection toward him in the morning he came with his Queene to the Princes Chamber where they found him washing his hands and perceiuing his eyes red swollen blubbered with teares they easily gathered he had taken no good rest that night and very true it was for continually he thought of her whose loue had depriued him of libertie and likewise compared therewithall the slender meanes he had to attaine so high which made him enter into such profound grief as he expected no other remedie then death The Quéene desirous to knowe the cause of his sadnesse tooke Gandalin aside thus speaking to him My friend your Maisters countenance bewrayeth some inward displeasure hath any one héere offended him in ought No Madame answered Gandalin he hath by your Maiestie receiued great honor but he is wont to be tormented in sléepe as you see During these discourses the Sentinell came to aduertise the King how he had discoucred the ambushe and the enemyes were very néere the Cittie wherefore presently he commaunded to dorayne the Armie Now was eache one readie to horssebacke especially the King and the Prince who went directly to the Cittie gate where they founde Agraies chiding because they would not let him goe foorth thinking he should tarry too long from the fight for he was one of the hardyest Knights and the best to giue assistance in neede that could be found so that if good aduise had béene as readie with him as he was possessed of vnconquerable courage his like might not haue béen found in the world At the Kings comming the gates were suddenly opened and then went foorth the men of Gaule in order who séeing their enemyes to be so great a number albeit the whole Armie was not there the greater part of them was minded to goe no further reputing it ouer-much boldnes to assaile such an vnequall strength and therefore arose among them a murmuring contestation Which Agraies perceiuing without further trifling gaue the spurres to his horsse crying aloud Beshrowe him that taryeth any longer séeing them he 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 ranne among them and were immediately mingled together He whome the Prince first met withall was the Duke of Normandye whome he charged so couragiously as breaking his Launce on him ouerthrewe both man and horsse to the earth and with this rough fall his legge was broken So passed on the Prince setting hand to Sword and as a chased Lion entred the preasse shewing such déedes of Armes as none durst withstand him for he ouerthrewe all that encountred him killing some out-right chyming and dismembring others so that euery one was glad to giue him way When Daganel sawe 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 beat him downe which they had done but that Agraies perceiuing it came with his troupe to reskue him At their arriuall you might behold Launces broken Knights tumbling downe helmets rent Shéelds scattered on the ground making a great conflicte disorder among the Irish-men for King Perion likewise came fresh vpon them with his band Daganel on the contrary side did the best he could to retire backe but the Gentleman of the Sea was among the thickest shewing such chiualrie 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 benommed for the more to harten and chéere vp his men he cryed aloud to them follow my friends follow the best Knight that euer bare Armes When Daganel saw his side to haue the worst and what great domage he receiued by the Prince he determined to kill his horsse 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 remayned Daganel vnarmed Which when King Perion espied he reached him such a salutation with his Sword as cleft his head through the verie braines whereupon his men séeing him slaine they that had the best horsses fled away for life and stayed not till they saued themselues where King Abies was ambushed But King Perion still pursuing victorie discouered the rere-guard 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 escapâ—â—â—s but let vs enter pel mel in the field When the Gaules found themselues thus surprized neuer were people more astonished for they imagined the ambush had not béene so great and which most of all affrighted them was that they must now deale with fresh and lustie meÌ„ themselues being sore wearyed their horsses so ouer-laboured as they could hardly endure their burthen Beside they knewe King Abies was there in person 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 Gentleman of the Sea fore-seeing the disorder was like to ensue came and perswaded them rather to dye then loose one â—ote of their honor and reputation saying My friends and companyons be of good chéere each one make knowne his vertue and remember the esteeme the Gaules haue gotten by Armes We are to deale with people astonned and halfe ouercome let vs not make chaunge with them taking their feare and deliuering our victorie for if they but only behold your resolued countenances I am certain they are not able to endure ye let vs theÌ„ enter among them
saue me a great deale of trauaile to King Liâ—â—â—â—â— to whome I am going for the same cause My friend replied y e 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 errant as I am My Lord quoth Galaor the great state of the King can put no such strength â—nto me as I haue séene perfourmed 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 graunt any other thing you will demaund for such authoritie appertaineth not to me nor to you likewise is it so honorable As thus they stood on these tearms Vrganda â—vnlooked forâ— came to them wherewith y e Knight of the Lyons was very glad and she hauing as yet not heard any of their talk 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 Knighthood and yet is he 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 I will councell him not to desist from his former motion for you ought not to deny it him séeing I can assure ye that honor will be better imployed by him then any other in all the Isles of the Sea except one Séeing it is so replyed the Knight in the name of God let it be done goe we then to some Church to performe the vigill It shall be néedlesse quoth Galaor to stand about such matters now in that I come not vnprouided of them alreadie 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 whome 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 readie but Vrganda stepped before saying No no you shall haue a better take that which hangeth on yonder trée and you shall find it farre more faire and good Heerewith they looked vp on the tree yet sawe it not wherefore they all began to smile and she doing the like said to them In sooth it is almost ten yéeres since it first was hanged there yet no passenger by euer sawe it looke better about the tree for sure you cannot but easily behold it Now did they all perceiue it tyed to a braunch of the tree euen as though it had but euen then béene hanged there and by it was a scabberd couered with gold shewing most fine and curious workemanship on it The Knight of the Lyons tooke it downe and afterward girded it about Galaor saying So faire a sword beséemeth a Knight so formall thinke she hated ye not who of so long time hath kept it for you Most chéerefully did Galaor giue her thanks and the Knight likewise thus speaking to them I beséech 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 yée Sir to tell me where I may find ye at my returne In the Court of King Lisuart answered the Knight where I shall be very glad to sée you and because it is no long time since I was Knighted I am the more desirous of some abode there to attaine honor as you cannot chuse but do the like if you come thither 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 commaund me So departed he froÌ„ them returning to the Giant who staied for him by the riuer side where he had hid himselfe least he should be séene But now you must héere 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 whom at large she vnderstood how the Knight of the Lions was Amadis Sonne to King Perion of Gaule whose comming thither Vrganda had caused to deliuer by force of armes her friend that there was kept prisoner for by enchantment she could not compasse it by reason the Lady of y e Castell was too cunning in that arte and there had first enchaunted 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 whome they came thither and he by the Damosell Niece to the Lady of the Castell that in enchaunted furie would haue leapt into y e riuer was conducted to this place So soone as Galaor had left Vrganda she demaunded of Amadis if he knewe the man to whome he gaue the order of Knighthood No truely Madame quoth he In footh answered Vrganda it is great reason you should know what he is for he beareth so braue a mind y e if you both should méete without further knowledge there might happen betwéene ye great inconuenience Therefore I giue ye to vnderstand how he is your owne brother both by father mother and the very same whome the Giant 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 wherwith I assure ye he shall do more in exploits of Armes then euer any Knight did in great Brittayne Amadis conceiued héereat such inward ioy as y e teares trickled downe his chéekes wherefore he said to Vrganda I beséech ye Madame tell me where I may finde him It is not necessary quoth she that as yet you should séeke him Why sayd Amadis is he then constrained to accomplish some predestinate matter before I may find 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 happened to Galaor the new Knight wâ—â— being arriued where the Giant stayed for him thus spake Father I am now thanks be to God and him you sent me to a confirmed Knight My Sonne quoth the Giant I am not a little glad thereof and seeing it
Damosels Tent yet was it somewhat late ere he came thither finding them readie to sit downe to supper After he had vnarmed him-selfe they tolde him the misfortune of Dardan and his friend as also the whole circumstance of their deathes heereat he was very much abashed then falling to their chéere they beguiled the time with sundrie pleasant deuises yet Amadis could thinke of nothing else but how he might make his arriuall knowen to Oriana wherefore they were no sooner risen from the table but he tooke Gandalin aside and thus began My friend thou must of necessitie goe to the Court and labour secretly to finde the Damosell of Denmarke to whome thou shalt report that I am héere attending to heare from her what I shall do Gandalin with all possible speed departed and the better to execute his enterprise he went on foote when being come to the Pallace not long had he stayd till he sawe her he looked for who was as busie as he in the selfe-same cause yet at the first she knewe him not but quickly remembred she had seene him in Gaule with Amadis and embracing him demaunded where his maister was Why Lady quoth Gandalin did not you see him to day it was he that vanquished prowd Dardan and hath withdrawen himselfe to the Forrest to heare from his Mistresse desiring you by me to let him vnderstand what he must do Right welcome said the Damosell is he into this countrey being the man desired aboue all other but my Lady must néedes see thée therefore follow me If any one aske who thou art say thou bringest letters to Oriana from the Quéene of Scots and likewise thou art come to looke for Amadis who is ariued héere as thou hast heard by these meanes thou mayst heereafter come to her without suspition Thus was Gandalin conducted into the Quéenes chamber where the Princesse Oriana was to whome the Damosell of Denmarke came and speaking somewhat loud said Madame héere is a Squire sent to you from the Quéene of Scots Oriana wéening she had said true arose to welcome him but when she knew Gandalin the vermillion couller arose in her chéekes and was so ouercome with ioy as she knew not well what countenance to vse yet Gandalin as well aduised set his knée to the ground saying Madame the Quéene my mistresse hartely saluteth you as the Lady whome she loueth and esteemeth aboue all other of her kinred desiring to heare some newes from you for héere she gréetes you with all that she doth know Then gaue he her a Letter which he had feigned hauing nothing written therein but the superscription on the out side whereupon she went aside with Gandalin to one of the windowes making shewe to heare the rest of his charge but she demaunded where he had left his Maister Madame answered Gandalin he withdrew himselfe into the Forrest so soone as he had conquered Dardan Good freend said Oriana tell me by the faith thou bearest to him how he fareth Euen so faire Princesse quoth Gandalin as the man that is altogether yours he loueth only y e remembrance of you and yet suffereth such anguish in his soule as neuer Knight endured by the only feare he sustaineth least he should not be yours mistrusting his owne deserts for so high a seruice His greatest hope is in your princely kindnes and knowing him so long as also what he is that you will not forget him Wherefore I beseech ye Madame take compassion on him appoint a méeting together then resolue him make me a happie messenger and discharge your selfe of your deuoir for hitherto hath he endured such sorrow as no man is able to suffer the like Often haue I séene him thinking on you so farre beyond himselfe as he hath fallen downe dead in a manner before me so that I haue imagined noting the abundance of his teares his poore hart to be distilled into water through the conduits of his eyes If he should dye you offered him great wrong for he is yours and easily can ye not finde another so worthie of you Nor néede you doubt but if you graunt the hower of lengthening his life he will surpasse in chiualrie the best Knight that euer bare Armes wherein if he be happie by his vertue yet hath he mishap to counterpoise the same only through the passions he endureth for you If now you will not deigne to affoord him remedie much better had it beene for him that fortune had let him perish in the Sea to the mercie whereof in his cradle coffin he was commited then after his preseruation by such strange meanes to suffer him dye by a worsse shipwrack then the other But if his dismall starres will not diuert this daunger happie might he haue accounted himselfe if he had neuer come to the knowledge of his parents whose griefe likewise he greatly encreaseth to see him so consume dye before his day being vnable to diuine or vnderstand the cause thereof Gandalin all this while accompanyed his words with such teares and often among breathed foorth so many mournefull sighes as would haue enforced the verie rocks to rueth but perceiuing Oriana was touched to the quick he began againe in this manner Ah gentle Madame consent not to the death of such a seruant of yours and so good a maister of mine for beside the common losse which will be great in you alone shall consist the fault moreouer you shall maculate that perfect beautie with the high condemned staine of crueltie and ingratitude Héere did he knit vp his perswasion attending an answere from the Princesse but she was not able to deliuer one word so vehemently was her heart surprised and ouercome and holding downe her head let fall wonderfull streames of teares adowne her daintie chéekes which enforced her to turne on the other side least she should be descried then when as Gandalin would haue begun againe she stayed him with a piercing sigh saying Ah my freend I pray thée say no more vnlesse thou be willing to sée me dye héere presently Now stoode she silent a prettie while often wringing and strayning her fingers with griefe then setting apart all dissimulation she softly thus spake The assurance thou giuest me of thy maisters loue is highly pleasing and agréeable to me but the passion thou sayest he endureth tormenteth me to the verie death so that I féele both his payne and mine owne Ah God let not me be the occasion of death to a man so high and precious of desert as he is rather let me worke mine owne death for if he dye I may not liue one hower Thou art come to tell me his painefull trauayle and now thou mayest goe to let him vnderstand mine which if thou knewest so well as thou doest thy maisters in stead of blaming me with crueltie thou wouldest rather iudge me vnfortunate and if I vse any crueltie it is against my selfe whome I haue depriued of rest pleasure and well-neere life it selfe The lesse succour
rode together to Windesore where they had good hope to finde King Lisuart CHAP. XVIII ¶ How Amadis tarying with his good will in the Court of King Lisuart heard tidinges of his brother Galaor BY the discourse past you haue vnderstood how Amadis after he had in open feelde foyled and ouer-come the audacious proud Dardan was stayed in King Lisuarts Courte by the Ladies request expressely to be the Queenes Knight his entertainement by the King fauour and manifolde other curtesies you haue likewise heard It now came so to passe that as he was one day deuising among the Ladyes a Damosell entred the Quéenes chamber who falling on her knées before the Queene said Madame is not a Knight héere that beareth azured Lyons in his armes The Quéene 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 déedes of Armes so rarely as euer did any You speake very much answered the Quéene but you perhaps being acquainted with none but him thinke therefore he is beyond all other It may be so replyed the Damosell yet when you vnderstand what he hath accomplished I thinke your selfe will agrée to my saying I pray ye then quoth the Quéene tell vs what he is When I see the good Knight answered the Damosell he who caryeth such estimation from all other I will tell him in your presence and other newes which I am charged to acquaint him withall The Quéene was now more desirous to know him then before wherefore shewing her Amadis she said Sée héere Damosell the man you aske for Madame quoth she in respect you speake it I beléeue it for a Quéene of such state as you are is frée from beguiling then comming to Amadis she thus procéeded My Lord the young Gentleman whome not long since you Knighted before the Castell of Bradoid when you vanquished the two Knights on the bridge and the other on the cawsey where you tooke the Maister thereof prisoner and deliuered by force of armes the freend to Vrganda most humbly saluteth you by me being the man whome he reputeth as his Lord and giueth you to knowe how he endeuoureth to reach the height of honor which he will attaine or dye in the attempt likewise when he shall perfourme some-what worthie the name of Chiualrie he will acquaint you with more then yet you knowe vntill which time he shrowdes it in silence Amadis soone remembred â—he spake of his brother wherefore with ioy the teares dewed his chéekes and the Ladyes well noting this alteration meruailed thereat especially Oriana who as you haue heard heeretofore was grounded in such affection toward him as she was well néere depriued of power to dissemble it In meane while the Quéene desirous to heare what déedes of prowesse the new Knight had perfourmed said to the Damosell I pray ye continue your message and tell vs the braue beginning of chiualrie you spake of Madame quoth she the first place where he made proofe of himselfe was at the Rock of Galteres where he combatted with the great and terrible Giant Albadan whome in open feeld hand to hand he ouercame and slew héereto 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 Quéene who demaunded of the Damosell if she knewe whether 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 séeke him because she was desirous to knowe him at which time he went with her and since I neuer sawe him What thinke you héere-of Sir Amadis said the Quéene do not you know of whence he is Yes truely Madame answered Amadis although I can say but little héerein I thinke he be mine owne brother for so Vrganda not long since assured me Doubtlesse quoth the Quéene the fortune of you both is admirable and I meruaile how you could come to the knowledge of your Parents or they of you yet would I be glad to sée that Knight in the Kings seruice While these spéeches endured Oriana who sate farre from the Quéene and heard none of these newes was in such griefe to sée Amadis shead teares as being vnable to conceale the same she said to Mabila I pray ye faire friend call your Cozin Amadis that we may knowe 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 grieued thus began Sir Amadis it may full well be said that by some Lady you are now mooued to pittie I pray ye tell vs what she is and from whence this Damosell brought you these tidings Amadis quickly perceiued his Mistresses disease wherefore he declared all that the Damosell tolde the Queene which appeased the iealouzie of this hot louer made her shew more amiable countenance thus speaking to Amadis Alas my Lord I must intreat ye to pardon the fault raysed only by fond 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 go séeke 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 Beléeue me answered Oriana I could gladly with so good a Knight in this companie and therefore I thinke you shall do well to go seeke him yet before you depart acquaint y e Queene heerewith that she may imagine how by her commaundement only you enterprise this iourney Humbly did Amadis regratiate his Mistresse and according to her councell he went to the Queene to whome 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 she I would it might be so if it were possible If you will graunt me leaue said Amadis to goe find him I haue no doubt of bringing him hither otherwise I knowe you shall hardly see him till he haue made himselfe knowne in many other places You doo very much for the King quoth she if he doo come neuerthelesse I referre it to your owne discretion Thus Amadis obtained licence to depart which he did very early the next morning hauing no other company then Gandalin and spending most part of the day riding through a Forrest he sawe a Lady come toward him accompanyed with two Damosels and foure Squires who weeping very greeuously 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 Lady the only cause of my care and pensiuenes my Lord and husband who is wounded in such sort as I feare his death Amadis
very slender for the bountie of the one diminisheth no iote of the other The Knights perceiuing he spake the truth ended their strife demaunding of Amadis if he knew the Knight in King Lisuarts Court who combatted for the iniuried widdow whereby the good Knight Dardan was slaine Why aske ye quoth Amadis Because said the Knights we would gladly meet with him I knowe not answered Amadis whether your meaning be good or bad yet is it not long since I sawe him in the Court of King Lisuart Hauing so said he rode on his way when the three Knights hauing conferred a little together they began to gallop after him and he no sooner heard them but turned againe then doubting they intended some harme to him he clasped on his Helmet and his Sheeld yet had he no Launce nor they likewise Alas my Lord quoth the Dwarffe what will ye do consider you not they be three and you alone What matters that answered Amadis if they assayle me without reason why by good right I must assay for mine owne defence On these spéeches they came to him in this maner Sir Knight we would demaund one thing of you which we desire yee not to deny otherwise you may not so easily escape vs. The sooner shall I graunt it quoth Amadis if it be reasonable Tell vs then as you are a loyall Gentleman where you imagine we may find him that slew Dardan He who could doo no lesse then speake the truth thus replied I am he albeit I would haue you thinke that I doo not so soone fullfill your request in respect of adding any praise to my selfe When the Knights heard him they cryed altogether Ah traytour thou dyest and drawing their Swords set violently vpon him Amadis offended to sée himselfe thus assailed by them whom ere-while he had so freendly pacified resisted them with such resolute courage as at the first stroke he smote one of their armes frō the body the griefe whereof made him likewise fall beside his horsse the second also felt his Sword so peazantly that he cleft his head to the very téeth and sent him to kéepe his fellow company When the third beheld their bad successe he put y e spurres to his horsse and got him away but Amadis being not so well mounted let him escape returning to Gandalin the Dwarffe who thus spake Credit me my Lord hencefoorth will I trust better to your words then I did let vs now therefore make haste hence if you please So riding along at length the Dwarffe shewed him in a pleasant valley two high Pine trées neere which was a Knight mounted on a lustie Courser and two other whome not long before he had vanquished they running to catch their horsses there strayed about the feeld And looking againe he espied an other Knight lay leaning on his helmet hauing his Shéeld by him and twentie Launces reared against the Pines with two spare horsses likewise readie furnished My Lord quoth the Dwarffe do you see the Gentleman that leaneth on his helmet What then said Amadis He is replied the Dwarffe the good Knight I promised to shew you Knowest thou his name quoth Amadis He nameth himself answered the Dwarffe Angriote destrauaus and is the best Knight that I haue heard report of Tell me then said Amadis why he keepeth there so many Launces I can therein answered the Dwarffe full well resolue ye listen then awhile He loueth a Lady of this countrey who hateth him aboue all other neuerthelesse he hath preuailed so much by fight as her Parents were constrained to giue him her After he had gotten her into his power he thought himselfe the happyest man in the world but she told him he should wade into no such fond opinion because he tooke a young Lady against her will And albeit quoth she perforce you haue enioyed me yet while I liue neuer shall I loue ye if you do not perfourme one thing for me What Lady answered Angriote it is within compasse of my puissance That is it said she Commaund then swéete Madame replied Angriote for I will accomplish it euen to the death The Lady whose euill will was toward him exceeding great thinking to appoint him a place most conuenient for his death or else to get him there so many enemyes as her Parents might enioy better assistance to take her from him intreated him and his brother to guard this vale of Pines against all Knights errant that should passe this way causing them by force of armes to take an oath how they should afterward trauaile to King Lisuarts Court there to confesse her more beautiful then the Ladies they loued And if it so fell out that the brother to Angriote whome you see on horsseback were vanquished and could endure the combate no further then Angriote should keepe this passage alone during the space of one whole yeere For this cause they depart not hence all y e day time and at night returne to a Castell on the Mountaine you see at hand hauing alreadie mainteined their enterprise thrée moneths in all which time Angriote neuer set hand to sword against any Knight because his brother hath still beene conquerour Trust me said Amadis I beleeue thou sayest true and so I heard in the Court of King Lisuart where not long since a Knight arriued who confessed Angriotes Lady to be more faire then his freend and me thought he called her name Grouenesa Uery true quoth the Dwarffe but now seeing you are resolued remember your promise to me and beare me company as you said you would With right good will answered Amadis which is the way Euen ouer this vale replyed the Dwarffe but because of this hinderance as yet I thinke we shall verie hardly passe Care not thou for that said Amadis so giuing his horsse the spurres he rode on and soone after he met a Squire who thus spake to him Goe no further Gentleman if you will not graunt the Knights Lady vnder the Pine to be more beautifull then your Mistresse Neuer will I yéeld to such a slaunder replyed Amadis without force or extreame constraint Returne then sayd the Squire otherwise you must combate with thē twaine you see before If they assaile me quoth Amadis I must defend my selfe so well as I can so vsing no more words he rode on forward CHAP. XIX ¶ How Amadis combatted against Angriote his brother who guarded the passage of the valley against such as would not confesse that their Ladies were inferiour in beauty to Angriotes choise WHen Angriotes brother saw him cōming he took vp his weapons and met him saying Beléeue me Knight you haue committed great folly in not graunting what our Squire gaue you warning off you must therfore enter combat with me As for the combat answered Amadis I like it much better then to confesse the greatest lye in the worlde I know well saide the Knight you must doo it with disaduantage in an other place And trust me quoth Amadis I
with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone sée reason proceed from her that did thée wrong who being the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equal loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together we likewise might haue enioyed one sepulchre After these woordes she swouned againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenaunce as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes béeing discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the bodye Mabila dispairing of any life left in her was so surprised with gréef that she was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse and walking some-what aside by her selfe thus lamented Incomprehensible wisdome let me not liue to endure these trauailes seeing thou hast taken these two frō me whom I loued as my life But when the Damosell of Denmarke saw her selfe thus alone betweene two extreames she was meruailouslye abashed yet as one wise and well gouerned she spake in this manner to the Princesse Mabila Why Madame when were you wunt 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 daunger if she reuiue againe Come I pray ye succour her for now is the time of greatest need and let these lamentations be referred till an other time Mabila perceiued the Damosell said true wherfore she came to Oriana and feeling by her warmenes some hope of life to be expected they lifted her vpon the bed whē soone after her sprites returned to their office and to quallifie this agonie they could deuise no better meanes then to busie her eares with some or other spéeches Why Madame quoth one will ye leaue vs at least yet speak to vs. Madame said the other your Amadis is yet aliue and wel At the name of Amadis she opened her eyes turning her head héere 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 sighe started vp saying Alas sweete freend where is he We vnderstand quoth she that he is in very good health and how the Knight who brought these bad tidings is wunt to vaunt of him selfe without cause feeding him selfe with false praise of deceiuing Knightes Why said Oriana haue I not heard that he brought his horsse and Armour A matter of nothing answered Mabila they may as well be borrowed or stolne or he happily sent with that false allarme to trye our constancie then finding vs thus weakly disposed he should haue had the thing he desired I would not haue you think so simply Madame that Amadis could be ouercome by one no better a Knight then he nor were it reason to credit a commender of him selfe bringing his owne glory for testimony and no other approbation I am assured that Amadis will come ere long and if he find you not only dead in a manner but thus giuen ouer to greefe it will cost his life so shall you deliuer vnhappy proofe what wicked feigning by mallice can doo and thus you bothe shall dye one for another Whē Oriana remembred how by this meane she might be the death of her freende if by good hap he yet enioyed life and imagined likewise that Mabila spake the trueth she tooke courage casting her eye on the windowe where many times Amadis and she had amourously conferred when first he arriued at her Fathers Courte and intercepting a number of forced sighes thus spake Ah windowe the witnes of my abandoned pleasures how piercing is the doubt of him whome thou causest me remember and by whose gracious woordes both thou and I were made happie of this I am certaine that neuer canst thou endure so long as two so loyall louers might by thee enioy such delight as he and I haue doone which fayling me now giueth me strange and insupportable tormentes to be my companions and hence-foorth shall my sad spirit remayne 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 she had doon in this manner Why Madame think you if I helde these babling newes for trueth I could haue the power to comfort you in this sorte the loue I beare to my Cozin is not so little but rather I should incite al the world to wéep then want consolation for you who stand in such néed therof But I sée so slender appearaunce of beléefe as I wil not before time require repute you infortunate because discōforting our selues without assuraunce the euill héereby may be amended and the good made much more wursse especially it will be the meane of discouering what hath so long time béen shaddowed in secret Alas quoth Oriana if he be dead I care not though our loue were openly known for all our mishaps in respect of it are nothing Thus debating and deuising together the two Ladyes 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 demaunded for Oriana she answered that she accompanyed Mabila whome she would not suffer to part from her by reason of her gréefe for her Cozin Amadis Thus was the Princesses secret sadnes couered all night she being vnable to take any rest such were her assaults betwéene doubt and despaire not forgetting any thing that past betweene her and Amadis since their younger yeeres But on the morrow about dinner time Brandoyuas entred the Pallace leading Grindaloya in his hand which gaue great ioy to such as knew thē for of long time they could not imagine what was become of them they falling on their knées before the King were quickly called to remembrance his Maiestie thus speaking Sir Brandoyuas how chaunce you haue taryed so long from vs Alas my Lord quoth he imprisonment hath béene the cause where-out had not the good Knight Amadis of Gaule giuen libertie to me this Lady many more by such deeds of armes as are vnspeakable we could neuer haue beene deliuered Yet was he once in daunger of tarying there himselfe by the villainous coniurations and sorceries of Arcalaus but he was succoured by two Damsels who deliuered him from all the exorcismes When the King heard him name Amadis whome he verily thought to be dead What my fréend quoth he by the faith thou owest vnto 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 demaund such a question Because said the King
graunt me one boone soone shall I bring ye together againe Galaor being very desirous heereof agreed to any thing she would demaund Follow me then quoth she so turning her horsse rode the same way she came keeping company awhile together but the Damosell being better mounted then he left him behinde with his Squire and rid before so fast that they had lost the sight of her trauailing the space of thrée miles without any news of her but at last on a great plaine they sawe her returne againe Héere you must note that the cause of her riding thus before was to aduertise the other Knight being her déere fréend of their comming and he had expressely sent her to fetch Galaor to deceiue him of the rest of his Armour which he imagined easily to doo without daunger seeing he had gotten the chiefest thing of his defence and afterward he intended to kill him or put him to some notorious shame For this cause he taryed in a Pauillion erected by him on the plaine and no sooner came she to Galaor but thus she spake Gentleman to the end I might not faile in my promise I forsooke your companie awhile only to see if the man you looke for were in the place where I left him or no there haue I found him little thinking on your comming and in yonder Pauillion may you speake with him at pleasure As thus they deuised together they came to the Tent wherefore Galaor alighted to enter but the Knight méeting him at the doore said Sir Knight what mooueth thee to come in heer without licence trust me it is but little for thy profit because thou must héere leaue the rest of thine Armour or dye presently Thou mayst be therein deceiued answered Galaor and the words of such a wretch as thou art can not feare me This reply very angerly incensed the Knight lifting vp his Sword to smite the Prince on the head but Galaor runningly escaped y e blowe giuing his enemy such a stroke on the top of his helmet as made him set one knée to the ground then quickly laying holde on him got the helmet beside his head spurning him to strongly with his féet that therwith he fell on his face to the earth When the Knight beheld himselfe in such danger he called with a loud voice to the Damosell for succour wher-upon she stepped to Galaor saying that he should hold his hand for this was the boone he promised to giue her But he being in extreame choller gaue no eare to her spéeches bringing the Knight into such estate as he left no vitall motion in him whereat the Damosell being ready to despaire breathed foorth many gréeuous lamentations saying Alas wretch that I am too long haue I trifled time for in séeking to beguile an other my selfe am worthily requited with deceit And thou traytour quoth she to Galaor who hast thus cruelly put him to death heauen send thée a more wursse and haplesse end for by thée haue I lost my only felicitie in this world for which be well assured it shall cost thée thy life because thou hast broken promise with me and in such a place will I demaund reuenge on thée as nothing but thy death shall expiate my anger wert thou a Knight of greater hardines then thou art if then thou make refusall there I shall haue more then iust occasion to publish in all places the pusillanimitie of thy faint harted courage Faire Damosell answered Galaor if I had thought his death would haue been so greeuous to you I could haue spared part of my displeasure though iustly he deserued no lesse but you spake when it was too late The wursse for thee replyed the Damosell because thy death shall recompence his Galaor seeing she continued her threatning speeches without any other answere left her lacing on his helmet mounting on the horsse the dead Knight tooke from him and hauing ridden a pretty while he looked back to see if the Damosell followed him when perceiuing her hard at his horsse heeles demaunded of her whether she trauailed With thee answered the Damosell and neuer will I leaue thee till I haue found opportunitie to request the boone thou didst promise me which shall be the losse of thy head by some euill death Me thinks it were better said Galaor for you to take some other satisfaction of me and happily might be more pleasing to you Not any thing else quoth she thy soule shall accompany his whome thou hast slaine else neuer shalt thou accomplish what thou hast promised me Well well answered Galaor I must stand to the hazard of that as I may thus quarrelling they rode on thrée dayes together and entred the Forrest of Angaduze an aduenture there happening to them whereof the Author héereafter maketh mention But now he returneth againe to Amadis who taking his leaue of Vrgandaes Damoselles as you haue heard before recited rode on till about noone time when issuing foorth of a Forrest he saw on a plaine a very faire Castell wher-out came a goodly Chariot to brauely equipped as euer be behelde any it béeing drawen by two braue redde steedes which were couered with imbroydered crimosin sattin as it made a very daintye and séemely shewe The Chariot was guarded by eight armed Knightes yet Amadis beeing desirous to see who was in it drewe some-what neere to lift vp the rich couering but one of the Knightes came to him with these rough woordes Kéepe back Sir Knight and be not so bold to come thus neere What I doo answered Amadis is for no harme Whatsoeuer it be replied the other trouble your selfe no further in respect you are not worthy to see what is heere couered for if you enterprise the like againe it will vallewe your life because thou must deale with all in this troupe and some such one is among vs as is able alone to get the maistrye of thée more easily then may we altogether vse thee as we list I know not saide Amadis the Knightes valour you speak of but hap good or bad I will see what is in the Chariot Heere with he tooke his Armes which the two Knightes seeing that rode formost they ran bothe against him the one breaking his Launce and the other missing but Amadis sped other-wise for the first very easily he cast from his saddle and the other he threw both horsse and man to the ground Then Amadis went toward the Chariot yet was he staied by two other Knightes one of them beeing likewise dismounted and with his swoord he gaue the other such a welcome on the pate as he was glad to kéep him selfe from falling by catching fast holde about his horse neck when the other foure sawe their companions so vsed by one Knight they meruailed not a little and beeing willing to reuenge their iniurie altogether fiercely charged Amadis With this last assaulte he found him selfe sore combred for one of them tainted him in the sheeld and another in his armour as he escaped hardlye
may fall if longer we continue the Combate therefore I pray ye let me haue my will on the Dwarffe and I will amend the offence afterward if it may bée tearmed an offence to you What sayd Amadis doo you thinke me of such slender stomach as that I will suffer any thing of mine to be wronged in my presence not so I must and will defend him to the vttermost And I must néeds haue his head answered y e Knight By heauen quoth Amadis one of ours shall first acquit him and that immediatly Heer-with they charged eche other againe with such wonderfull courage appearing in either as seuerall desire to gaine the honor of the combate made them shew extreame violence one against another so that the best resolued of them both thought to dye by aboundance of blood which issued from infinite woundes on his body especially the Damoselles champion who though he felt him self greatly impairing yet made he no shew therof but held out with such braue viuacitie of spirit as his enemy found he had a hard taske in hand At this instant an other Knight chaunced to passe by who seeing the two combattants so fierce against eche other determined to expect who should depart with victory and placing himselfe by the Damosell demaunded if she knewe them or the cause of their quarrell I must needes knowe them answered the Damosell because I set them together as you see and this good hap is not a little pleasing to me for it is impossible but one of them must dye nor do I greatly care which of them it be but if both ende together my ioyes would be the greater Now trust me said the Knight full well do you manifest a wicked disposition practising for your pleasure the death of two such braue men whose health and safetie 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 Sheeld is most defaced is the only man of the world to whome mine vnckle Arcalaus wisheth most harme he being named Amadis And the other that combates with him is Galaor who not long since slew the chiefest man I loued It so fell out that Galaor heeretofore 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 such a one as will hardly permit him to escape with life For I knew the other to be one of the best Knights in the world on whome this Dwarffe which you see attendeth I therefore desired Galaor to giue the little villains head being perswaded Amadis would rather dye then suffer it Thus the one to deliuer me my request and the other for his Dwarffes defence are fallen into y e extremitie of their liues which dooth me good at the heart to behold By my conscience Damosell replyed the Knight I neuer thought such mallice had remained in a woman of your sort and I beleeue assuredly being yet so young if longer you liue you will accustome your selfe to such villainie as this you begin withall whereby you shall infect the aire and the other elements to the disaduantage of the honest and vertuous Ladyes liuing at this day But to sheeld them from such daunger and these two good Knights whome trecherously thou wouldest should kill eche other I will make a sacrifice of thée 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 horsse féete saying Take the reward of thy merits for the loue I beare to thine Unckle Arcalaus who kept me his prisoner till y e vertuous Knight Amadis deliuered me then running to the combattants he cryed out aloud Hold Lord Amadis hold your hand for the man you fight against is your brother Galaor When Amadis heard these words he threw downe his Sword and Shéeld to the earth and embracing Galaor said Alas my fréend 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 knée he fell downe likewise desiring pardon reputing himselfe wunderfull vnfortunate in wronging thus his Lord and brother then Amadis wéeping with inward conceit of ioy thus answered Noble brother and my fréend I estéeme the passed perill well imployed because it beareth witnesse of what we are able to doo So taking off their helmets to refresh themselues they hartely thanked the Knight that thus cause their acquaintance whereupon he told them all what the Damosell said and the execution he committed on her Now trust me quoth Galaor neuer was false strumpet more rightly serued and now am I discharged of the promise I made her All the better for me said the Dwarffe and thereby haue I saued my head yet I meruaile why she 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 freend as you haue heard alreadie rehearsed but y e Knight that seperated thē seeing their Armour all couered with blood thus spake to thē My Lords your Armours deliuer testimonie enough how discourteously your swords haue intreated your bodyes wherefore me thinks long tarying in this place will but endaunger your wounds let me request ye then to mount on horsse-back and accompany me to my Castell whether you shall not only be welcome but finde helpe for your hurts by one skilfull therein We will not refuse your gentle offer sayd 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 me from such cruell imprisonment as neuer poore Knight endured the like Where was it I pray ye replyed Amadis At the Castell quoth he of Arcalaus the enchaunter when you restored so many to libertie How are you named said Amadis Balays answered the Knight and because my Castell is cleped Carsanta I am often tearmed Balays of Carsanta therefore my Lords vse me and mine as your owne Brother said Galaor séeing the Knight reputeth himselfe so much bounden to you let vs goe with him In short time they arriued at the Castell of Balays where they found Gentlemen and Ladyes 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 honorably and brought into a goodly chamber to be vnarmed where likewise stoode two costly beds and a table furnished with soueraigne medecines for their wounds the cure whereof two Ladyes being Nieces to Balays vndertooke for they were very learnedly
the olde man heauen graunt the finishing therof to your honor then taking him by the hand he brought him to the bed wheron the dead man lay thus speaking to the sorrowfull Lady Madame this Knight saith to his power he will reuenge the death of your Lord. Alas gentle Knight quoth she the God of heauen kéepe you in that good minde for I can finde no kinred or freend in this countrey who will doo so much for me because my Lord was a straunger yet while he liued euery one shewed great fréendship in lookes but now their kindenesse is colde enough Lady answered Galaor in respect both he and I were borne in one countrey my desire is the greater to reuenge his death Are you said y e Lady the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule whome my deceassed Lord often tolde me was in King Lisuartes Courte Neuer came I there Madame replyed Galaor in all my life but tell me what he is that did this treason and in what place I maye finde him Gentle Lord quoth she you shall be conducted thither if you please neuerthelesse I stand in doubt considering the perrill you will mislike the enterprise as many other haue doone who were heer-tofore accompanyed thither Heerin Mad Madame saide Galaor is the difference betweene good and bad yet if you will allow me so much as you did them that made refusall happily I may spéed better then they did The Lady noting his honourable disposition called two of her Damoselles commaunding thē to conduct Galaor to the Knight that helde her daughter perforce In sooth Madame saide the Prince little credit shall you haue by sending me on foote my owne horsse I lost not long since in the wood by hard fortune I pray ye then let me haue another on this condition that if I reuenge not your cause I maye stand bound to deliuer him againe You shall haue one Sir answered the Lady for I hope by your prowesse not only our possessions shall remaine at your disposing but our selues likewise your obedient seruantes CHAP. XXVI ¶ How Galaor reuenged the death of the Knight whome he found slaine on the bed vnder the tree THus departed Galaor in conduct of the two Damoselles who leading him the néerest way thorow a Forrest at the further side therof shewed him a Castell beeing the place whether they were commaunded to bring him where-upon they thus spake to the Prince Beholde my Lord at this Fortresse you may reuenge the murdered Knightes death Tell me his name replyed Galaor He is called Palingues answered the Damoselles Being now come hard by the Castell they sawe the gate was fast which made Galaor call out aloud wherat an armed Knight came on the battlements demaunding what he sought fo I would enter the Castell answered Galaor This gate quoth he is appointed to no other end but for the comming foorth of such as remaine heere within Which way shall I enter then said Galaor I will shewe you quoth the Knight But I doubt I shal trauaile in vaine and that you dare not come to vs. Now trust me replyed Galaor I would faine haue béen within long since We shall quickly sée that said the Knight if your hardines be such as you make shewe of alight from your horsse and come néere the Castell wall Which Galaor did and giuing his horsse to the Damosells went to the place where he was appointed Then came the Knight again and another with him seeming of greater stature then his companion they two winding a winche about ouer the wall let downe a basket with a corde saying to the Prince If you wil enter héere the passage by the basket is this high way But if I put my selfe therein answered Galaor will ye promise to draw me vp in safetie Yea truely quoth they albeit after ward we will not warrant ye Crediting their woordes he entred the basket saying Drawe me vp for on your honest promise I aduenture Heer-with they began to winde vp the basket which the Damoselles séeing meruailing not a little at Galaors hardines said Ah good Knight God shéeld thée from treason for doubtlesse thou she west a gentle and valiant hart By this time the Knightes had drawen him vp taking him and the basket in at the top afterward the Knightes thus began with him Gentleman it is necessary you sweare to aide the Lord of this Castell against such as would quarrell with him for the death of Anthebon otherwise you neuer shall departe hence What said Galaor did one of you twaine kill him Why demaund you replyed the other Because quoth he I am come to let the murderer know how he hath committed a déede of monstrous treason Come ye for that intent said they now surely you might haue béene a great deale better aduised darest thou threatten vs and art in custody alas we must haue another manner of account at thy handes and we must chastice the folly wher-with thy braine is troubled then drawing their Swoordes they laid vpon him very furiously When Galaor saw him selfe thus wronged both in woordes and déedes he entred into such choller as quicklye he made thē féele y e edge of his swoord so that the Damoselles might easily heare the clanching of the strokes on the Armour for the two Knightes were strong and vigorous and Galaor wel moued with hot displeasure Ah God quoth one of the Damoselles hark how the woorthy Knight dealeth with the traitours let vs not departe hence till we sée some end therof All this while Galaor so laboured his enemies with such sharpe charges as their harts began somewhat to dispaire for to one of them he gaue such a blowe on the helmet as his swoord entred thrée fingers déepe into his head afterward he buffeted him with the hiltes of his Swoord that he made him fall on his knées to the ground In meane space the other spared not Galaor but layd loade on him to reuenge his companion whose head the Prince had now seuered from his shoulders and comming to the other the coward began to turne his back running downe the staires faster then euer he came vp but Galaor followed so nimbly that laying holde on him he made him sure for euer letting downe the basket againe to draw vp any more Knightes on the walles Now because the Prince knew not Palingues and doubting one of these twaine to be he he threwe them ouer the battlements to the Ladies bidding them to looke on them and afterward to resolue him but they answered they were so mangled as they could not iudge of them and they were perswaded that Palingues was neither of these twain Wher upon Galaor went downe into the Castell and as he looked euery where about him he espied a faire yong Lady who cryed alowd Palingues Palingues is this the great chiualrie for which thou wouldst be renowned now thou flyest like a cowardly and faint harted knight yet sayest thou wert a better man at armes then my murdered Father whom thou
and so ought all other to doo that combate against you considering your happy fortune since you came to this Castell With these woordes he deliuered his swoord to the Prince who gaue it him againe and followed the other twaine into the Pallace where he met diuers Ladyes and Damoselles when the choice of them all in beauty thus spake to him Stay a while Sir Knight if you please for alreadye you haue doone so much as you shall obtaine what you demaund Lady quoth Amadis commaund theÌ„ your champions to yeeld them-selues vanquished And what shall you be the better for that saide she When I accepted the conditions of entraunce héere answered Amadis it was said that I must either be killed or vanquishe him that I combatted withall otherwise I haue not the right was promised You mis-understood it replyed the Lady for it was tolde ye that if perforce you entred thus far you should haue reasoÌ„ in what you demaunded say now therfore what is your pleasure I demaund a Damosell quoth he which a Knight tooke from me this last night past while I slept by the riuers side not farre hence and hither he brought her against her will I pray ye Sir saide the Lady to sit downe and rest ye in meane while I will send for the Knight who shall answere ye Then sat they downe together and she procéeded on this manner I intreat ye Sir to resolus me if you knowe a Knight that is named Amadis Why aske ye Lady quoth he Because replyed she all the guarde you found in this Castell was appointed for him and assure your selfe if he entred heere he neuer should departe hence againe if firste he denyed not a promise that he made What was it answered Amadis I will tell ye Sir saide she on this condition that with your vtter-most endeuour you will cause him to acquite it either by Armes or otherwise by reason he hath not doone it iustly In sooth Madame quoth he if Amadis hath promised any thing wherin he is to be touched I will if I can cause him to discharge it She who vnderstood not to what end he thus spake answered as followeth I hartily thank ye Sir wherfore vnderstand that Amadis promised Angriote d' Estrauaus how he would procure his Ladyes liking to him and yet she neuer could loue him in all her life this is a matter against all right seeing forced affection is no loue but dolour miserie then according to your promise you must labour to cause Amadis reuoke this vnreasonable offer Now truste me Madame replyed the Prince you say right well and séeing you may not iustly be denyed assure your selfe I will endeuour to make him acquite you These woordes procured many thankes from her she not comprehending his meaning héerin for he hoped to accomplish his promise both to Angriote her without derogation either to one or other as you héer-after shall vnderstand But Madame said he are you she whome Angriote loueth so Yea truely quoth she I know him very well answered Amadis that he is one of the best Knightes in the worlde and me thinkes there is no Lady or Gentle-woman so riche or faire but might thinke her selfe happy and fortunate to haue such a Knight as he Neuerthelesse what I say is not to exempt my selfe from the promise I made ye for I will perfourme it if I can because he is a much better Knight then Amadis albeit he made him that gentle offer CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How Amadis combatted with the Knight that did steale the Damosell from him when he slept and vanquished him WHile thus they were deuising together there entred an other Knight of large proportion and strong all armed except with his helmet and gauntlets who thus spake to Amadis It is told me Sir Knight that you demaund a Damosell which I brought hither yester night how I did it against her will but assure your selfe she would more willingly goe with me then stay with you therefore you may be ashamed thus to quarrell nor haue I any reason to deliuer her againe to you I would faine sée her answered Amadis It must be then said the Knight whether I will or no but if you will maintaine y t I haue wronged her and she ought not to be mine I presently will approoue the contrary on your person by combate Thou canst not please me better quoth Amadis and in this cause will I stand not only against thée but resolutely against all other that by right she appertaineth not to thée if willingly she gaue not her consent Let vs sée then said y e Knight which of vs shall haue her This man of whome we speake was Unckle germaine to Angriotes Lady named 〈…〉 loouing and honoring him abooue all her other 〈◊〉 for he was the best Knight of his race wise and discreet so that she was altogether gouerned by his counsell A goodly horsse being brought foorth for him he laced on his helmet and stood prouided to enter the combat which Groâ—â—eâ—sa the Lady perceiuing she came to her Unckle with these words Certes my Lord it were better you should forbeare this difference because I would be sory any harme should come to either of you in respect you Unckle are the only man of the world whome I am most bound to loue and this Knight I haue greatest hope in for he hath promised so to deale with Amadis as he shall acquite the offer made to Angriote What Niece answered Gasinan thinke you that he or any his like can disswade the most gentle Knight on the earth from accomplishing his promise I knowe not quoth she what you imagine of him but I repute him one of the best in the world otherwise he could not haue entred héere by strength of Armes as he did Say you so replyed Gasinan you praise him ouer-much for passing the defended gates when men of such meane account had them in charge I say not this but that he may be a gentle Knight yet hope I to take him foorth a new lesson and a better then he if he were héere in witnes of my words your selfe shall presently be iudge séeing him vanquished and my selfe peaceably possessed of the Damosell we quarrell for Herewith the Lady left them and they giuing the spurres to their horsses brake their Launces gallantly in the encounter and with such fury met their bodies that Gasinan was dismounted hauing a shrewd fall against the ground yet he arose quickly and drawing his Sword stoode by a Marble piller in the middest of the court thinking Amadis could there little endomage him being on horsseback and he on foote When Amadis sawe how his enemy dallyed with him he wexed very angry and striking fiercely at him by mishap his Sword lighted short on the piller and so was broken in thrée pieces now grewe he into greater choller and seeing in what daunger he was vnprouided of a weapon to defend himselfe withall he leaped from his horsse so quickly
Towne to bring some viaunds to refresh vs withall Your reason is good said Oriana but how shall he come by meat He shall leaue his horsse in pawne answered Amadis and returne on foote Yet I quoth Oriana haue a better helpe then that he shall sell this King which can doo vs no better seruice then now in our néed So pulling the King from her finger she gaue it to Gandalin who taking his leaue as he came by his Maister said So good time lost will neuer be had againe Amadis knew his meaning well enough yet made he no shewe thereof but vnarmed himselfe and Oriana spreading the Damosels mantle on the grasse layd her downe vpon it the Damosell likewise went aside into the wood where she fell soundly a-sléep by reason she watched all the night before Thus remained Amadis alone with his mistresse so glad of her gentle graunt and the fauourable hower at hand as he could not withdrawe his eyes from their comfort which made him delay time in needlesse gazing In the end though his hands had béene slowe in vnarming him all his other members were in better state for not one of them but did his dutie The hart was rauished in thoughts the eye in contemplation of excellent beautie the mouth with swéete kisses the armes with kinde embracings and no one mal content in any point except the eyes which wished themselues in number like the starres in heauen for their better habilitie in function thinking they could not sufficiently behold so diuine an obiect In great paine were they likewise because they were hindered from the pride of beautie for the Princesse held her eyes closed as well to disguise her desire of sléepe as also for the discréet shame conceiued by this pleasure so that she durst not boldly looke on him she most loued Héere-upon carelesly spreading her armes abroad as though she slept in déed and by reason of the exceeding heat leauing her gorget open two little alablaster bowles liuely shewed them-selues in her bosome so faire sweetly respiring as Nature neuer shewed more curious workemanship Now Amadis forgetting his former bashfulnes seeing Fortune allowed him so queint a fauour let loose the reynes of amourous desire with such aduantage as notwithstanding some weake resistance of the Princesse she was enforced to prooue the good and bad together which maketh freendly maydens become faire women Daintie was the good grace and subtiltie of Oriana in shaddowing her surpassing pleasure with a delicate and femenine complaint of Amadis boldnes shewing in countenance such a gracious choller and contented displeasure as in stead of consuming time in excuses Amadis re-saluted her with sundry sweete kisses as also an other cause to chide if she would But she being lothe to mixe angry speeches with amiable sollace or with frowning looks to crosse an equall content thought it better to commend the controle of so kind a louer and therefore continued this pleasing recreation as nether partie receiued occasion of mislike rather with kisses which are counted the seales of loue they chose to confirme their vnanimitie then otherwise to offend a resolued pacience Ah how many repetitions made Oriana of the paines she suffered in expectation of this day confessing those priuate particularities which none but she and her desire were acquainted withall How many matters likewise alleadged Amadis expressing thereby his singuler contentment and credible assurance of his perpetuall faith now reckoning all his trauailes well imployed and more then sufficiently recompenced In these discourses and pleasures they spent most part of the day caryed so farre from remembrance of any thing else as they thought not on the time how day wasted and 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 béeing thus delighted the one with the other which séemed more delicious to them then all the Nectar or Ambrosia of Iupiter Yet at length they remembred them-selues some-what better when hearing the Damosell and Gandalin so néere them their pastime ended and taking eche other by the hand walked among the trées to take the ayre in the meane while Gandalin and the Damosell spred a cloth on the grasse and set there-on such victuals as they had Now though there wanted rich cup-boords of plate as were in the houses of King Lisuart and Perion as also the sollemnitie of great seruices yet the fortunate entertainement at this time was held by them of higher estimation During their repast as they regarded the woods and fountaines they began to estéeme it no strange matter why the Gods some-time forsooke the heauens to dwell in groues and delightfull Forrests Iupiter they imagined wise when he followed Europa Io and his other fréends Beside Apollo had reason to become a Shéep-heard for the loue of Daphne and the daughter of Admetus They béeing willing to imitate their example wished continuallye to tary there without returning to the Pallace and royall pompe reputing the Nimphes of of the woods most happie Goddesses excelling such as remained in the walled Cities Pittie were it to trouble these louers in their amorous deuises wherfore we will leaue them and see what happened to Galaor following the searche of King Lisuart CHAP. XXXVII ¶ How Galaor rescued King Lisuart from the ten Knightes 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 he met by the way As thus he continued gallopping he saw a Knight well armed come riding toward him who meruailing why the Prince vsed such extreame dilligence when he came neere him saide Stay a while Knight and tell me what affaires cause you make such speede Forbeare Sir I pray ye answered Galaor for by my tarying may happen too great an inconuenience By God saide the Knight you must not so escape for you shall tell me whether you will or no. I may not trifle the time quoth Galaor and so rode on still without any tariaunce Nay Gallant replyed the Knight I I will be resolued in my demaund though to your cost Heer-upon he posted after Galaor still exclaiming on him with hard woords weening he fled away for feare of him and often-times he thought to smite him with his launce but the Prince euer-more escaped his attempte yet his horsse beeing sore wearied hindered him very much when the Knight ouer-taking him thus spake Infamous palliard without hart of these three thinges chuse the best either to combate returne or answere my demaund Now trust me said Galaor the easiest of these three is hard to me wherin you make no shewe of courtesie for return I may not and if I combate it must be against my wil. But if you desire to know the cause of my haste follow me you shall sée for I should
tarry too long in telling it and happily you would scant beleeue me so horrible and disloyall is the déed which compelleth me to this impacience Beleeue me quoth the Knight I will follow thee three whole daies only to see whether thou lyest or no. Thus Galaor held on his way and the Knight hasting after till hauing ridden the space of a mile when they espied two other Knightes the one béeing on foote running to catche his horsse and the other gallopping away so fast as he could He on foote was Cozin germaine to y e Knight that followed Galaor who in iousting with the other Knight had béen dismounted and knowing his kinseman acquainted him with the whole accident requesting his assistaunce in reuenge of his wrong It may not be now answered the other till I haue followed the Knight you see before thrée dayes together héerto he added all the spéeches betwéene Galaor and him In sooth replyed his Cozin he should seeme by your woordes the greatest coward in the worlde else mindeth he some enterprise of higher consequence therfore I will adiourne the reuenge of mine iniurie and beare you company to the end 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 Knightes that conducted the King they riding vp a narrow strayte fiue before him and fiue behinde Now did he fully resolue to dye or purchase his deliueraunce for he was so offended to sée the King bound with chaines as he imagined him selfe able to conquer them all and as many more if they had béene there wher-upon he thus cryed to them Traitours durst you vnreuerently lay hand on the best King in the worlde with which woordes he met one of them so directly as his Launce passing through his bodye he fell downe dead beside his horsse When the other foure saw their companion slaine they willed the formost fiue to guarde the King for they would reuenge his death sufficiently but they found them-selues very much deceiued for though the Princes horsse by reason of his sore trauaile often sâ—umbled and therby put him in daunger of falling yet laide he such loade vpon his enemies as two more of them accompanyed the firste and the other twaine were brought into hard extremetie Then came the other fiue with a fresh charge vpon him when Galaor perceiuing his owne danger intended to reuenge his death and the Kinges togeather entring couragiouslye among the chickest shewing most rare and hautye chiualrie When the two Cozins that followed him beheld his behauiour confounded with meruaile the one saide to the other By God we did him wrong to tearme him a coward for he is the most hardie Knight that euer I sawe except the worlde shall twit vs with shame let vs not see him dye in this extremetie least the beutie of chiualrie be gone for euer Resolued thus to succour him they valiantlye thrust themselues into the skirmishe deliuering such freendly blowes on euery side that Galaor soone felt him selfe well assisted because his enemies were somewhat more dispearsed and he had leysure to take a little breathing but wundering whence this aide should proceed he fell to woorke againe giuing them good cause to misdoubt their liues When the Cozin to Arcalaus sawe how his side decayed and his Knights dishartened slaine and sore wounded he purposed to kill the King who by this time found the meanes to vnbinde himselfe and alighting from his horsse got one of the slaine Knightes swoordes wher-with he resisted his enemies brauely As the Cozin to Arcalaus followed his intent the King gaue his horsse such a blow ouer the face as by rearing vp he fell downe backward yet the Knight recouered him selfe and Galaor séeing one fight with the King came to assist him when snatching off his Helmet he would haue smitten his head from his shoulders but the King would not suffer him saying he should liue and dye a theefe The two Cozins who were named Don Guilan Ladasin pursued an other Knight whome they slewe returning backe againe they knew y e King which strooke them into no little meruaile because they heard nothing of his mis fortune then alighting from their horsses they tooke off their helmets did him reuerence wheÌ„ he knowing them right well embraced them in his armes saying My fréends you haue succoured me in a néedfull time for which I may liue to requite you with thankes yet haue you wronged me by your absence from the Court and for your loue to eche other I lost you bothe especiallye you Lord Guilan your minde béeing else-where made you forget me These woordes caused a modest blush in Don Guilan because the King disciphered his loue which was the Duchesse of Bristoya who was not one iot behinde him in affection as well witnessed the good entertainement she gaue him tasting together the fruite of their contentment Which the Duke so doubted and daylye conceiued such suspition thereof as it procured the iniurye was doone to Galaor when the Dwarffe espied him in the Garden at his returne from faire Aldena wherby the Damosell was in daunger of burning as the historye héer-tofore hath declared to you But while the King thus communed with Don Guilan Galaor had gotten the Nephewe of Arcalaus beside his horsse and tyed the chayne about his necke the King was bound withall then taking the best horsses belonged to the dead Knightes they rode toward London And by the way Ladasin recounted to the King how he contended with Galaor for riding so fast offering him the combate which he refused because he would delay no time for his succour which caused the King to requite him with many thanks that he could so well forbeare in a case of such necessitie But my Lord quoth Don â—uilan my hap was more hard for by thinking on her who often-times makes me forget my selfe a Knight encountred with me and by force of his Launce cast me from my saddle In sooth answered the King I haue heard talke of many louers and what they enterprise for their Ladyes yet neuer of any folly comparable to yours which giueth me good cause to coniecture that you were not in vaine named Guilan the pensiue for you are y e greatest muser I euer heard of As thus they beguiled the time they ariued at the house of Ladâ—sin which was not far thence whether soone after came Galaors Squire and Dardan the Dwarffe who thought his maister had taken that way Then did Galaor tell the King how his brother Amadis was gon to reskew his daughter and in what manner they heard of their seperation by the poore labourers wherefore he aduised him to send speedily to London least his mishap being published in the Cittie might raise some commotion among the people Credit me quoth the King séeing Amadis vndertooke to followe my daughter I will not as yet account her lost
auaunced himselfe to behold the man and lifting vp the couerture of the Litter sawe a Knight lye there of goodly personage but of his face he could make no iudgement by reason it was cruelly cut and mangled whereupon he called to him saying My fréend who hath thus wronged thée yet did the Knight make no aunswere which made him goe to the Lady againe and aske her the question Gentle Sir quoth she a Knight that keepeth a bridge not farre hence did it who as we passed by said to my Lord how he must sweare whether he were of King Lisuarts Court or no which made my husband demaund why he would know Because said the Knight no freend of his shall passe héere but I will kill him What is the occasion of your hatred replyed my husband I wish so much ill quoth the Knight to that vngracious King as I would gladly haue him in my power to take vengeance on him at mine owne pleasure and in despight of him hence-foorth shall I sley all such as are belonging to him because he keepeth a Knight that killed the valiant Dardan for whose sake I meane to deale in such sort as the King and his wel-willers shall receiue by me infinite displeasures dishonors When my Husband heard him as one agréeued at his villainous spéeches he answered Know thou that I am one of his Court and his vowed seruant who neither for thée or any other will deny him Highly displeased was the Knight of the bridge with this answere and without any more words charged my husband so that betwéene them grewe a cruell combate but in the end my Lord was brought into this hard extremitie and farre more wursse in the Knights opinion for he reputed him to be slaine out-right commaunding vs within thrée dayes to cary him before King Lisuart to despight him withall Lady quoth Amadis I pray ye lend me one of your Squires who can shew me the Knight when I come where he is for séeing your husband hath been so wronged for my sake it behooueth me more then any other to reuenge the same What said the Lady are you he for whose cause he so hateth the King Yea verily answered Amadis and if my hap prooue so good he shall neuer héere after abuse any other Ah gentle Knight quoth she I will pray for your prosperous successe Afterward she gaue him one of her Squires and committing him to God rode on with her husband and Amadis neuer stayed till he came to the bridge where he sawe the Knight playing at the Tables with an other but quickly leauing his pastime being ready armed he mounted on horsseback calling to Amadis in this manner Holla holla Sirra I forbid ye to passe any further till you haue sworne What shall I sweare answered Amadis Whether thou be of King Lisuarts Court or no said the Knight for if thou belong to him heere must thou leaue thy head behinde thee It is a question quoth Amadis if thou canst doo so much but I assure thee I belong to the Quéene his wife euer since not long agoe Since when replyed the Knight Since a disinherited Lady said Amadis came thither for her right But thou art not he quoth the Knight that foughtest the Combat for her I am the man answered Amadis who wun her her peace By my head said the Knight now shalt thou loose thine if I can for thou didst kill the only honor of my linage I killed him not replied Amadis but made him discharge her of his outragious demaund and afterward he became a murderer of himselfe All this can not profit thee quoth the Knight for by thée and no other he dyed now for his sake shalt thou likewise loose thy life Héereupon they gaue the spurres to their horsses and breaking their Launces brauely met so furiously with their bodies as the Knight of the bridge was throwne to the ground whereof he was not a little ashamed but by reason the helmet of Amadis was vnlaced in the running while he amended it the Knight had leysure to mount himselfe againe and to giue his enemy two or thrée strokes with the sword before he had time to drawe foorth his All which afterward he very well requited for striking full at his head he brake away the skirts of his helmet and redoubling his blowe met so directly with his neck as his head hung downe behinde his shoulders his soule passing to the Author of his pride crueltie When his gardants of the bridge sawe him thus slaine they trusted to their héeles yet Amadis would not follow thē but returned to the Squire that cōducted him thither willing him to make haste to his Lady and let her vnderstand how he had reuenged her husbands iniurie which he immediatly did not sparing the worthy attaints at Sword Launce which he had séene Amadis bestowe on the Knight of the bridge Amadis hauing there no more to doo issuing foorth of the Forrest entred on a large and goodly plaine brauely beautified with Uiolets swéete hearbs and all other deuises of natures tapistrie which presently prouoked the remembrance of his Oriana riding on in diuers amorous thoughts he sawe come toward him an euill fauoured Dwarffe on a simple Palfray whome he called to knowe from whence he came My Lord quoth the Dwarffe I come from the house of the Countie of Claire Hast thou not seene a young Knight said Amadis named Galaor No truely answered the Dwarffe but I know where within thrée dayes I can shew you the best Knight that euer bare Armes in these parts When Amadis heard this thinking he had meant his brother he said I pray thee my freend conduct me to the place where I may see him With all my heart replied the Dwarffe on condition you will graunt me one request and goe with me whether I shall guide ye The great desire he had to finde his brother made him soone consent Come with me then quoth the Dwarffe and I will bring ye where you shall behold y e good Knight So rode they on till darke night ouertooke them which the Dwarffe perceiuing he said to Amadis My Lord hard by is a Castell where we may lodge this night for there is a Lady who will freendly welcome vs. Thither they rode and had kinde entertainement when supper being ended Amadis was brought to lodge in a sumptuous bed but he could take no rest his thoughts so hammered on the perfections of his Mistresse And taking leaue the next morning of their freendly Hostesse continued on their iourney till about mid-day when they sawe two Knights fighting against one then Amadis approching to thē said Gentlemen may it please ye to pause awhile and tell me on what occasion your quarrell ariseth At these words they ceassed and one of the two thus replied It is because this Knight maintaineth that he alone is as able as we two together to bring a hautie enterprise to end In sooth said Amadis your difference is
if the traitour Arcalaus woorke no newe villainie by his enchauntments but as concerning my happye deliueraunce I like well that my Quéen should vnderstand therof Wher-upon Ladasin called a Squire whom the King presentlye sent to the Courte as Galaor aduised After they had well refreshed themselues they were conducted to their chambers and on the morrowe set forward on their iourney the King communing with the Nephewe of Arcalaus as concerning the enterprise of his kinseman which made him reueale the whole determination and how Barsinan was in hope to bée King of great Brittayne Héere-upon the King concluded to make the more haste thinking to finde Barsinan as yet at London and to punish him for his audacious presumption CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How newes came to the Queene that the King was taken And how Barsinan laboured to vsurpe the Citty of Landon IF you haue well noted the former discourse you may easily remember how the poore labouring men not knowing the King and Oriana séeing how iniuriouslye they were intreated by Arcalaus and his complices were glad to hide themselues in the wood in like manner how afterward they vnderstood by Amadis and Galaor that the prisoners were King Lisuarts his daughters Where-upon so soone as the two Knights were parted from them they hasted to report these newes in London which caused such a murmuring thorough the Cittie especially among the Knights as they presently Armed them-selues and mounted on horsseback in such troupes that the féelds were quickly couered with men and horsses At this time was King Arban of Norgalles talking with the Quéene little thinking on any such misfortune when one of his Squires bringing his Armour sayd My Lord you tary héere trifling too long arme your selfe quickly and follow the rest who by this time haue gotten so farre as the Forrest What is the matter answered King Arban Ah my Lord quoth the Squire newes is brought to the Cittie how certaine villaines haue caryed the King away prisoner Prisoner replyed King Arban may it be possible Too true my Lord answered the Squire When the Quéene heard these vnhappie tidings not able to vnder-goe so great an oppression she fell downe in a swoune but King Arban hauing more mind on the King left her in her Ladyes armes hasting with all spéed he could to horsseback When he was setting foote in stirrop he heard the allarme sounded and the assault which Barsinan gaue to the Castell whereby hée gathered they were betrayed wherefore hée caused the Quéenes lodging to bée guarded and returning to the Cittie sawe euery one readie in Armes when choosing so many as he pleased as also two hundred well approoued Knights he sent two of the chéefest to the Tower of London to vnderstand the cause of the allarme To them it was reported how Barsinan had forcibly entred with his trayne killing and casting ouer the walles all that he met Héerein he followed the message of the Page from Arcalaus finding very slender resistance for most part of the Knights and men of account were gone to succour the King Highly displeased was King Arban at these newes perswading himselfe the King had béene betrayed wherefore to preuent such other inconueniences as might happen he dorayned his men in battayle placing good watch about the Quéenes lodging And thither Barsinan now prepared hoping to take her as he had done the Tower but he met with stronger resist then he expected and the skirmishes proceeding on either side Barsinan tooke a prisoner by whome he was aduertised how King Arban would withstand him euen to the death Now began he to deuise how by faire spéech and falshood he might take the King crauing a parle with him whereto King Arban willingly agréed and silence being made on both sides Barsinan began in this manner I euer thought till now my Lord that you were one of the best aduised Knightes in the worlde but by proofe I perceiue a man may finde the contrary yet this I thinke withall that what you doo is for safetie of your honor Heerin you appeare of simple iudgement considering in the end it will be but the losse of you and your men in respect King Lisuart your late Lord is dead for proof wherof euen he that slewe him will ere long send me his head Sith Fortune then hath dealt so hardly with him and I at this instant am the greatest Lord in this Countrey dare you deny to make me King Alas you abuse your selfe the best will be for you to yeelde your selfe louingly and I shall intreate you so well as any Prince in my Realme suffering you still to enioy the Countrey of Norgalles and particulerlye beside will so honor you as you shall haue great reason to be content Auaunt villaine answered King Arban full well doost thou manifest thy horrible treason for beside thy trecherye in compacting the death of my Lord thou wouldest haue me become a traytour to his freendes as thou thy selfe hast prooued Thou art deceiued doo the wurst thou canst thy villainie only will take vengeance on thee according to desert with such good helpe as we will put therto What saide Barsinan think'st thou to hinder me frō sitting as King in London Neuer shall traitour replyed Arban be King of London by Gods leaue while the most honourable King of the world liueth I called for thee quoth Barsinan in respect of thine owne good because I fauoured thee more then any other imagining thou wert of sound discretion but as I haue saide I finde my selfe deceiued wherfore reason requireth that thy ouer-weening should fall and in despight of thee I will reign King in great Brittaine Assure thy selfe answered Arban I will kéep thee from such climbing as if the King my Maister were héere personallye present Then began the assault afresh King Arban withdrawing him selfe to harden his men beeing meruailously offended at Barsinans woordes Now though he were very sharpely assailed yet stood he brauelye on his defence many beeing slaine and sore wounded neuer-thelesse he was euer-more formoste in the fight and last at the retreit which was caused by the night ensuing Nor néede we doubt considering the puissaunce of Barsinan and the fewe on the contrary side but King Arban would take his aduauntage in resistaunce by compelling them to the narrowe stréetes where foure on a side could hardly deale together which turned to the great disaduauntage of Barsinan because Arban well fortified euery place in good order and with freshe supply still encouraged his men The retreit being sounded either side with-drawen King Arban séeing his Souldiours sore wearied by the hot skirmishes they had endured as is the office of a good Captaine indéed he came and comforted them in this manner My louing companyons and fréends this day haue you so woorthily fought as none of you but deserueth estimation among the most forward men in the world and hauing begun so well I hope you will procéede better and better Remember the cause of your fight
not onely to maintaine your good King but your owne liberty against a tirant a traitour and what worsse who would buy his vsurping in this Kingdome with the blood of you your wiues and children Sawe you not how he vsed them he tooke in the Tower Beholde you not the end of his purpose which is to ruinate this noble Realme that hath by diuine prouidence beene so long time preserued and euermore continued in reputation floorishing with loyall subiectes to their Prince Heard you not the flattering perswasions which the Rebell vsed before the assaulte thinking to conquer vs by his golden tongue In vaine is his labour I am right well assured that no one of you but wil dye a thousand deathes before he shall conceiue any other minde in you I sée by your resolued countenaunces if I should thinke or say otherwise I were a monstrous offendour for if he haue more men then we we haue more hartes of courage then he which forbiddeth all occasions of dismaying setting before your eyes the famous account you shall liue in héer-after By their lookes you might discearne at their retire how vnwilling they will be to trye you againe and respect not the traiterous woordes of Barsinan our King liueth and will right spéedily come to succour vs. In meane while I intreat as my fréendly companyons let nothing dismay your hope but continue as you gaue begun with this famous resolution that it is more honourable to dye for libertie then to enioy a life by thraldome and slauerie vnder a wicked iniurious and trayterous Prince When the King had ended his oration there was no one in the company how sore hurt soeuer he was but would couragiouslye encounter Barsinans power and bid him brauely good morrow the next day in the Tower where-with the King not a little contented returned to the Queenes lodging his face couered with sweat and his Armour all bloodye by reason of fiue wounds he receiued in fight The Ladies seeing him in such pittious plight were meruaylouslye abashed especiallye the Queene who well-neere dead with greefe and feare together then as a woman in middest of dispaire she saide Alas deere Nephewe what shall we doo we are all but dead Madame answered King Arban all will goe well if God be pleased in vaine doo you thus discomfort your selfe for I hope to heare good tidinges of the King and the traitours that seeke to vsurpe his Kingdome by your good and loyall subiectes shall receiue deserued punishment God graunt it quoth she but you are so wounded as I think it impossible for you to be at the battell if Barsinan come to morrow againe nor can our men doo any thing without you Be not you troubled ther-with Madame replyed King Arban for while my soule suckes her spirit from the ayre I will not for-sake my charge So bidding her good night he went to haue his woundes dressed and after-ward turned to his Souldiours merilye passing the night among them Barsinan on the other side got into the Tower of London which he had wun and numbring his men found that his power was greatly weakened yet would he make no shew thereof for dismaying the rest but shewing a dissembling countenaunce thus spake to them My fréendes it suffiseth that I haue showen mine enemies what you are and they if I thinke good to stand at my mercie wherefore I am determined without any further losse of you to rest our selues fiue or sixe dayes till Arcalaus send me the head of King Lisuart and then the sight thereof will make them not dare to resist me any longer but in hope of fauour will yéeld them-selues Eache of you therefore reioyce and be of good chéere for when I am King right richly will I reward you all So went they to rest till the next morning when Barsinan being armed mounted on horsseback with twentie Knightes in his companye and came to a Port which one of King Arbans Knights kept who seeing this troupe presently sounded an allarme But Barsinan sent him woord how he came to parle only and desired truce beside for sixe houres whereof King Arban was immediatly aduertised who graunted the truce Barsinan required and likewise for fiue dayes Conditionally that he should offer no violence to any house in the Cittie or practise any entraunce during the limitted time beside if the King returned in that space the difference should bée left to his disposition Barsinan was contented with these conditions because he accounted King Lisuarts death certaine where-upon he said to Arban I hope this little truce will be an entrance into a perpetuall peace betwéene vs for I dare assure yee King Lisuart is dead and his Daughter must be my Wife as within these fiue dayes ensuing you shall euidently sée What quoth King Arban thou hast then put him to death and couldst thou deale so traiterously with him that gaue thée such honorable entertainement in his Court rather will I presently dye then continue one hower of peace with thee get thée gone therefore quickly or I will send thee hence in pieces Is it true quoth Barsinan well mayst thou threaten me but it is in me to make thee repent it Thus returned he to his Souldiours acquainting them with his honest offers to King Arban and the audacious answere he returned for them CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How Amadis came to the succour of the Cittie of London when it was in this distresse NOt long agoe we left Amadis in the wood familiarly deuising with the Princesse Oriana thinking on nothing but their swéete contentation and among other discourse Amadis intreated her to tel him what spéeches Arcalaus had with her by the way On my faith Sir quoth she he confounded my senses with perswading me to reioyce saying Before fiue dayes were expired I should reigne as Quéene in great Brittayne enioying Barsinan to my husband him-selfe likewise should be chéef gouernour and maister of his house in recompence of the seruices he did for him in giuing him my fathers head and me to be his wife Ah heauens said Amadis what treason is this in Barsinan who shewed him-selfe such a fréend to the King God shield he doo no wrong to the Quéene In sooth I greatly doubt it replyed Oriana it were good therefore we hasted to sée With all my heart quoth Amadis so mounting on horsseback they rode toward London méeting many Knights by the way that followed the King whome still he directed in their course certifying them that Galaor was gone likewise in his search Within a while after Oriana espyed Don Grumedan an auncient Knight of honor to the Quéen and twentie Knights more with him who all that night had searched the Forrest for the King but when he sawe her the teares stood in his eyes with ioy desiring to heare some newes of the King her father Credit me Sir quoth she not farre from the Cittie were we sundered when God ordained so well for me that Amadis deliuered me from the