Son it is now twenty years past sithence I left the pleasures of this world and forsook my native soyl to obtain the grace of God and that which most abasheth me is that since the time whereof I speak I never found man that as yet saluted me in this manner and I think verily you are a stranger in these countries or else your spéech and apparel disguiseth you much Father said the Knight true it is I am a stranger brought hither by such means that I neither know the country where I am nor any man or woman inhabiting therein for you are the first creature that I met since I arrived here of whom I might enquire assuring you that when I perceived this cross it rejoyced my heart for it is the arms of the Master that I serve What sayed the Hermit do you then know the vertue thereof I answered the Knight that I do being well assured that upon the like cross our Redéemer whereof I speak suffered death and passion Alas said the holy man you say true praised be his holy name that once before I die hath given me the grace to let me see a man of this side the Sea that beliveth in him assuring you sir Knight that you and I are onely the two creatures in this country that are christians for all the rest are Pagans and Idolaters And as he would have proceeded further his speech failed him doubting that he to whom he spake was but a fantasie or shadow of a man but at the last he waxt bolder in manner of conjuration asked him if he were a mortal man or not Mortal answered the Knight that I am for certain and withal a sinner which displeaseth me much and if it abasheth you at this present to sée me here I am my self no less abashed to see you for without doubt the manner of my arrival in this country hath been such and so strange that I can render you no reason thereof but if you know the country wherein we are I beseech you good Father tell it me to put me out of doubt Gladly said the Hermit and with that he took him by the hand and led him to his Hermitage and there sitting down together upon a log of wood the old man began to speak in this manner and said Now sir Knight tell me I pray you what country man you are Father said he Great Britain is the country where in my youth I was born bred I know not if ever you were acquainted therewith How long is it said the Hermit since you came from thence It is fiftéen days and more since I was there said the Knight Did you never know King Lisuart said the Hermit that in my time raigned therein Yes truly said the Knight for I have seen him many times how did he when you came from thence said the Hermit That can I not certainly shew said the Knight for he was lost and led away from thence but by whom or in what manner no man can tell notwithstanding the great pain and diligence divers of his Knights have used to finde him out When the Hermit heard that he seemed very pensive which the Knight perceiving thought in his mind that he could tell him some news whereupon he began to behold him well in the face to see if he changed colour with that the Hermit that well perceived the Knights meaning said unto him Truly Sir Knight not without cause have I enquired so much touching King Lisuart but before I will shew you my reason why you shall understand that I am of great Britain as well as you where as yet the greatest part of my kindred are living whom I forsook at the same time that a Giant Lord of this country married with a Lady who as then I served and with her passed the Sea not onely hoping to reap some reward of my former service but as yong men are moved with a great desire to sée strange countries but it fortuned that my Mistriss being forsaken of God as soon as she arrived in this country left his holy law to receive the law of her husband wherefore considering with my self that by reason as well of my natural weakness as by often frequenting the company of these country men I might fall into some error I determined to withdraw my self into this place wherein I have endured much pain misery to the great danger of my life by reason of the controversie betwéen the law of Iesus Christ which I hold and the law of the Pagans that séek daily to destroy it that without the favor of my mistriss that would not suffer them to displease me I had not lived so long as I have done among them but when it pleaseth God I wil depart hence and return again into mine own country now you have heard how I have hitherto lived I pray you sir Knight said he shew me your adventures and who hath brought you into this place from whence very hardly you will ever be able to return again but rather are in danger of most cruel death or to indure the most horrible imprisonment that ever was heard of which would grief me much not onely for the great beauty and young years that I perceive to be in you but for that you are my native countryman Father answered the Knight you have done me great pleasure to shew me the manner of your life and bringing up nevertheless before I satisfie your request tell me if it pleaseth you wherefore when you spake of King Lisuart you seemed so sad which made me conjecture that you know something touching him Son said the Hermit you shall understand that a daughter of mine servant to the Lady whereof I spake not long since came hither to sée me and told me that her mistriss returning from great Britain whither she went to deliver a brother of hers out of prison brought with her very secretly a Knight of great estimation as she said nevertheless I cannot assure you who it is but as I have learned since they say the two Giants sons were much pleased therewith which maketh me doubt considering the news you have shewed me touching King Luisart that he is most likely to be the man for she is so well séen in the art of Nigromancy and Magick that oftentimes she procureth mischief unto those that never offended her And in what country are we now said the Knight You are between the Marches of Turky and Greece said the Hermit for this mountain parteth both the countries but it is so strong not onely by nature but by art that neither of the two Princes of those countries what force soever they brought hither could never win it And now a Giant son unto my Lady and mistriss and one of the most strongest and puissant Knights in the East parts as many of his neighbors whose goods he hath by force usurped and that in despight of the Emperor or any other contradicting the same
into his heart that oftentimes he changed colour but for the time he covered his intent as much as he could and entering into another matter asked master Elizabeth how he found the means to leave King Luisart As well as I would wish said he for as soon as he had dined he lay down to sléep in the mean time I came hither to you I pray you said the Knight let him know nothing touching me And wherefore said master Elizabeth will you hide your self from him séeing there is no Prince living in the world worthier then he to be honored and served of all good Knights It is true said the Knight but I have done so little as yet that I am ashamed he should hear no better news of me séeing I am in hope that in time I shall do great matters which of themselves will set forth my renown without the praise of other men Séeing it is your pleasure said master Elizabeth I will do so although it would rejoyce him much to hear that such unexpected aid should come unto him onely by your means That shall be at another time said the Knight and not now Wherefore lest he should miss you when he awaketh I pray you return unto the Castle and when you sée convenient time come hither again to visit me Wherewith master Elizabeth took his leave vidding him farewel and went the same day he came towards the Castle CHAP. IX How Carmelle the Hermits Daughter found the black Knight sleeping in the Hermitage and thinking to kill him perceiving him so fair she fell in love with him MAster Elizabeth gone from the Hermitage where he left the black Knight went so fast and made such haste that he came again unto the Castle not missed of any yet the King was awake before he came who leaning in a window and séeing him below in the Court asked him if he had slept No and it liketh your Grace said he I have béen abroad walking along the country which I finde environed with the goodliest meddows that ever were séen come up hither said the King and we will talk with you but he was no sooner entred into the Chamber when Carmelle the Hermites Daughter came to the King and knéeling down before him said May it please your Grace to entertain me into your service that am one of your natural subjects and will be during life wherewith the King took her up and said Gentlewoman if you desire any thing at my hands assure your self it shall not be denyed for I did never during my life but honor and pleasure such as you are and although such favors have oftentimes turned to my great trouble therein do I blame no man but my self for that God justly sendeth both good and evil when where and to whom it pleaseth him wherefore I pray you shew me who you are Then Carmelle made a long discourse how from her youth upwards she had served her mistriss Arcabonne and what occasion moved her father to become an Hermit as you heard before Truly Gentlewoman said the King if you will return into great Britain I will take you with me I will do said she what your Grace commandeth in the mean time I pray you grant me leave to give my father intelligence who you are for he will be most ready and glad to do your Grace service With a good will said the King and tell him I desire to sée him wherewith Carmelle thanked his Grace and because it was late she went again into her Chamber till the next morning that she rose and issuing out of the Castle about break of the day went down a certain path she ordinarily used to go whereby she came into the Hermitage at such time as the Hermite and the dumb man were gone to the Barque to fetch such necessaries as the black Knight wanted who in the mean time slept in his bed for after that master Elizabeth had given him intelligence what the Princess Leonorine had said he could not rest till the very same time when she entered into her Fathers cell wherein she found him and not doubting any thing went into the Chamber where she heard the black Knight sâ—ort wherewith being abashed she opened the window and perceived him asléep his Sword hanging at his beds-head which she took down and softly drew out of the Scabberd finding it freshly spotted with blood whereupon she suspected it was he that had slain Frerion Matroco and others in the Castle and as she looked about her she knew his black Armor wherewith she was in such a fear that she had almost fallen down and let the Sword fall out of her hands but taking courage she went néerer to the bed to know him better being fully determined if it were he to kill him as he lay and therewith began by little and little to uncover his face but he shewed so fair that suddenly the fury she had changed into so burning a love that during her life it was never quenched in such manner that the more she beheld him the more did her love increase and as he fell on sléep when his minde was busied with the imagination conceived of Leonorine after Carmelle had beheld him long he turned towards her and without waking cast forth a great sigh saying in his sléep Alas poor wretch what shall become of me The Gentlewoman knew well he had not séen her wherefore she imboldened her self to kiss him and found his face all wet with tears whereby she feared he had some melancholly humor that troubled him and although she estéemed not thereof féeling her new disease much more then his grief taking all to her advantage she hoped from that time forwards to find the meanes to obtain his love yet did she fail thereof for that love to shew his power had wounded them both diversly in one place and at one time a thing almost incredible for who would ever think that little god would enter into such a place Where a poor Hermit lived all alone in most strict manner with a few cold roots and not his belly full of bread yet did he overcome them both in the most unfit time as it may be thought that could be found for the black Knight had indured so great travel in fighting and the Gentlewoman séen so many of her friends slain at one time that the one had not so much néed of comfort but the other as much cause to rest If then it be so as it is most true that we are all subject to this Tyrant he that hath past the flower of his youth not tasting of his fury may not think himself in any thing more happy séeing it is his manner to constrain young men to love and oftentimes old fools to dote In that sort the Gentlewoman did pennance for the evil she conceived against the black Knight and had continued longer there had it not been for fear to be discovered Wherefore with the sword in her hand she returned
her which was either to return again to do her service or to send one of his linage thither in his place Nevertheless considering with my self his great valor and prowess and the great beauty that is reported to be in her which my small desert in reward of him that gave me the commandment I am afraid to undertake the same Notwithstanding it hath pleased her by master Elizabeth to put me in minde thereof although while breath is in my body I will never fail to be her Knight And to the end she may give credit to your message you shall present this ring unto her which she knoweth well as being the same she gave unto my father to put him in remembrance of his promise My Lord said she I will fulfil your commandment but if you go so far from hence where shall I finde you when I come back again In this place said Esplandian whither I will return as soon as I have â—rought the King into great Brittain Then calling Libee he â—ommanded him that presently after he had set sayl he should cause a ship to be prepared for Carmelle to go on message where he should send her that done he went to finde the king and master Elizabeth that stayed for him in the Serpent the which presently upon his entring therein of her self began to set forwards with such spéed that in short space they left the coast of Turky and the twentieth day after they discovered the Ferm Isle where she stayed which those of the country perceiving advertised Amadis and the rest of the company who in great haste ran unto the Haven but they were no sooner come thither when they espyed the King Esplandian master Elizabeth and Sergil landing out of a little boat Wherewith being all abashed but much more pleased stepped forwards to receive them after many imbracings and salutations on either part Amadis presented the Giant Balan to the King whom as yet he had never séen and therewith set forward towards the pallace of Apolidon whereâ—f Oriane and the rest of the Ladies having intelligence the great sorrow that so long time they had used for his absence was converted into joy which much more increased when the king in presence of them all rehearsed the manner how Esplandian delivered him out of Arcabonnes hands and the great prowess he shewed against Matroco Frerion and Arcalaus their uncle Oriane knew well the great desire and much grief the Quéen had because she heard no news of the King wherefore the same day she sent her Danish Gentlewoman to advertise her of his arrival who made such haste that within six days after she arrived at London at such time the Quéen sat down to dinner CHAP. XIIII How King Luisart departed from the Ferm Isle accompanied of divers Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen and being neer London in a forest they met four Knights that sent to ask four courses with their launces against Esplandian THrée days King Luisart continued in the Ferm Isle and the fourth day he determinded to go sée the Quéen and to the same end with all that company of Knights Ladies Gentlewomen he set forwards towards London and travelled so fast that they were within a days journey of the City And as they entred into a forrest where they used commonly to chase the Hart they saw in the high way four knights well mounted armed at all points each his Squire by his side bearing their shield and launces for they had their helmets on their heads And with that they perceived a Gentlewoman coming towards them riding on a palfrey and being néer them speaking to Esplandian she said Sir knight with the white arms those four knights you sée in the high way before you send you word by me that they would gladly know the cause why you bear the device of crowns wherein if you satisfie their desire in such sort that their honors be not stained they will from henceforth refrain to inquire the same any more otherwise they give you by me to understand it were best for you to leave them or else that you defend them well as being the most honorable devise that is in all the world When Esplandian heard her speak in that manner in courteous sort he answered her and said Gentlewoman to satisfie their request I pray you tell them that the devise and the arms I bear was given me by Urganda but for what cause I know not nevertheless I bear them for the love of her as also that they like me wel and if this content them not tell them me thinketh the occasion of combate betwéen me and them is so small that for this time I would desire them to forbear the same In good faith said she smiling you speak with reason for they are Knights that séem to have much néed of your councel but notwithstanding good sir I pray you be not unprovided for your excuses will not be received Gentlewoman said Esplandian if they assayl me it shall be against my will Truly said she as far as I perceive the great beauty that is in you together with the rich arms and goodly horse you ride upon are worse bestowed then ever was any when you are not ashamed to make an answer so little to your credit Nevertheless either you must forsake the way to London and this good company or defend â—he brave devise you bear as they have sent you word The way said Esplandian is common to all men and out of it for them I will not gâ— wherefâ—re if they assayl me I must of force defend my self And because the Gentlewoman was not known among them they all mused who she might be as also who the four Knights were that sent her to whom she returned again Mean time Esplandian laceâ— on his Helmet taking his Launce in his hand ready to fight if occasion served Wherewith Amadis and the rest of the company were excéeding glad doubting lest the King had spoken in favor of him when he thewed what he had done but they had not ridden long but one of the four Knights came riding softly towards them and about a careers length from them calling to Esplandian and said You sir Knight that would not satisfie our desires defend your self from me Wherewith he set spurs to his horse and Esplandian likewise who at the first encounter cast him so strongly out of his saddle that in long time after he could not rise again therewith his launce brake with that the second Knight came forwards willing Esplandian to take another launce for he meant to revenge his companion Which Amadis hearing sent him his launce that he willingly received and being in a rage to sée himself assayled without cause he ran against the knight brake him so surely on the breast that he overthrew him both horse and man Well said the king to the standers by judge you if it be possible to do better My Lord said Agraies I never saw two
oftentimes being on hunting he used to resort And as he thought to pass the Bridge he perceived on the other side a Knight armed at all points ready to fight that cried unto him with a loud voice and said Sir knight you must ask me leave if you will come over for according to my promise I have taken upon me to kéep this bridge for the space of one whole year wherefore if you think good you may take some other way With that Esplandian was much grieved perceiving that either of force he must fight or séek another passage wherefore he would willingly have excused him and said Sir knight I pray you then shew me which way I were best to go for by me you shall have no cause at this time to trouble your self You must return again to London said he for other passage there is none unless you will loose your horse and go on foot Rather then I would do so said Esplandian I will prove if I can win yours and therewith lacing his helmet took his launce and road unto the Knight who no sooner perceived him coming but setting spurs to his horse ran towards him whereby they met so fiercely together that both the knights fell off their horses in such manner that master Elizabeth and Sergil thought verily they had slain each other but they stayed not long before they rose again and laying hand on their swords there began between them the cruelest and most dangerous battel that ever was seen wherea◠master Elizabeth much abashed said unto himself Good God what may this mean I believe for certain that some devil of hell hath transformed himself into humane shape to destroy us all Mean time the two Knights continued in most cruel fight still increasing their mights cleaving shields and armors in such sort that all the field was covered with pieces of the harness and dyed with blood that issued from their bodies till at the last knight of the bridge stept back and said unto Esplandian Sir Knight take another way and I am content to quite you of combate for you are the valiantest knight that ever I dealt withal and it should displease me much if by your wilfulness you would be cause of your own death In good faith said he I had done it at the first had it not been the fear I had that you would esteem me a coward but knowing very well that the honor of this combate cannot be had but onely by the death of one of us or both together I will try my fortune till I be no longer able to weld a sword Is that true said the knight Then let us see to whom fortune will be favorable And therewith covering themselves with that little of their shields that rested in their hands they began the combate crueller then before and though all the day they had not given a stroke so that after many cruel blows with their swords they closed together wrastling long time they sought to cast each other to the ground But seeing the little advantage gotten thereby they began again to lay on with their swords with such fury that Sergil looked for no other but when they should fall dead upon the ground not being able to judge who would have the victory Whereat master Elizabeth was so much displeased that he could not abstain from weeping saying unto himself Alas what fortune is this must the best Knight living in the world and in the flower of his age loss his life at that time by so hard a chance Cursed be the day that ever he met with him that is the cause of so great loss And to say truth if God had not provided for them the father had slain the son and the son the father for the Knight of the bridge was Amadis De Gaule who being over curious of his sons glory would prove his force and the better to do it the day before Esplandian took his leave he departed secretly from the Court and stayed for him at the bridge bearing an unknown armor where after many attempts on either part given Amadis perceiving both their dangers said unto Esplandian Knight you sée well you cannot overcome me and I assure you I never had to do with any Knight that ever put me to so great extreamity wherefore I am content to let you pass But not I you said he unless you tell me your name I will not deny you that said Amadis wherefore cause master Elizabeth to come hither for I think we have both néed of his help Then Esplandian called him unto them mean time Aamdis put off his helmet so faint and weary that he was constrained to lean unto a trée But when Esplandian knew him and perceiving the fault he had committed he cast forth a great cry and said Alas wicked wretch that I am and therewith he fell upon the ground whereat master Elizabeth and Amadis thinking him to be in a swoon ran to lift him up but it was not so onely that it grieved him he had dealt in such manner with his father who said unto him Son although I am as sore wounded as possible may be without death yet have I not received so much hurt as conceived pleasure perceiving the valor I find to be in you wherefore be not discomforted Notwithstanding he could not content himself but cursed his own life being as he said the most unhappy man that ever was born of woman And continuing in that grief the blood in divers places ran out of his body whereby he waxed faint which master Elizabeth perceiving and knowing assuredly if remedy were not spéedily had they were both in danger of their lives he said unto them I pray you for this time leave off your sorrow and let us presently go to Mirefleur not far from hence for you both have greater néed of rest then of longer staying in this place wherewith he and Sergil set them on their horses and with great pain brought them to the castle where their wounds were dressed Such was the combate between the two Knights as you have heard yet some write that Amadis was so wounded by Esplandian that in the end with a thrust of a launce into the right shoulder and other blows with his Sword he was slain in the field which Oriane hearing threw her self out of a window and brake her neck But it is not true for they raigned after that both in France and great Britain and had another Son named Perion and a Daughter no less beautiful then her Mother that marryed Arquisil Son to the Emperor of Rome But I cannot conceive from whence those lyars could invent such a thing if they understand not by death the shadows that Esplandian caused his fathers valiant acts to be covered withal by the light pleasant shining of his own whereby his fathers were so much had in oblivion that there was no more brute of them then if they had never been done But to return again
the principal place of all the City where the people might repair And as he and the Quéen both apparrelled in their royal Robes each set in a chair of Estate Amadis sitting somewhat lower on his right hand Oriane on the left were come thither a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéep silence the King with a stately countenance and Princely magnanimity turning to the people said unto them My good friends and loyal subjects before I begin to shew you the cause why I have made you to repair unto this place I will put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I have often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris when it pleased God to call me unto the government of this land and as I think there are yet many of you living that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the means and subtilty of Arcalaus the inchanter I was delivered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my son Amadis delivered me Yet not long after by evil counsel I made war against him which ended as all men know fortune envious of my felicity afterward prepared me such a banket that without his help I had been prisoner with king Aravigâ—e and utterly overthrown And that which hath yet more astonished me was that when I thought my self sure and cut of danger of all mishaps a worse than all the former suddenly chanced unto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verily to have bin the end and consummation of my days Nevertheless the Lord God regarding me in pity sent my yong son Esplandian to my sorrowful prison from whence he hath delivered me as no doubt you have heard Now my good subjects you all sée me to be very old and white haired having already attained to the thréescore and tenth year of my age which maketh me think it time now to forget all worldly pleasures and to serve God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I have determined from henceforth to forsake all royal dignity and leave you my son Amadis for your King to whom at this time I yield both my Crown Scepter and all the right I have unto the Government of this Land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will be faithful and true subjects unto him as you have always bin to me And although he be but my son in law if I knew him unworthy of the place believe me my good friends I would sooner chuse a néer stranger for my sâ—ccessor than I would do him but there is not one among you but knoweth well his great deserts and of what Race he commeth that at this day may well be called one of the most noble and happiest Linages in all the world as being descended from the valiant Trojans whereof the memory shall endure for ever He is a Kings son heir unto the Crown of France and now your Prince and Governor and so I leave him unto you with my Daughter your Queen and lawful Princess holding to my self onely the Castle of Mirefleur where with Gods help the Quéen and I will end our days religiously serving God as we are bound to do Then calling Amadis giving him his Royal Mantle he willed him presently to put it on the like did the Queen to Oriane Mean time the silence was so great that nothing could be heard among the people but cries and lamentations moved with pity and compassion to sée the determination of their Prince who being apparrelled in a simple robe of black cloth took his son and the Queen his daughter set them in their Regal Seats and in presence of all the people set each of them a crown of Gold upon their heads causing them to be proclaimed by the Heralds King and Quéen of great Britain That done every man departed some wéeping and others glad for the advancement they hoped from the new king who from thenceforth began so wisely to govern his country that never was any prince better beloved nor obeyed of his subjects King Luisart within short time after accompanied of the Quéen and Grumedan went unto Mirefleur as he had determined to do where they lived so austerely helping and being present at every hour when service was to be said as readily as the poorest of the old men that remained there for the administration and service to the religious women in the Monaster of the devâ—ut Abbesse Adalasta But when king Amadis perceived his means to recompence those of whom in his yong years he had received great pleasure and service he began to exalt Arban de Norgalles giving him one of the fairest Islands in his country to Gandales the lands of the Duke of Bristow to Gandalin as then absent he gave the lands of Arcalaus the inchanter he made Angriotte d'estrauaulx great master of his horse Guilan de Pensife high-steward of his house Ardan le nain his chief carver and married the Gentlewâ—man of Denmark very richly Not long after the Quéen was brought to bed of a goodly Son and a fair Daughter both at one birth the Son named Perion and the Daughter Brisenne At whose nativity great joy was made throughout all the country especially at London where the same day one of Norandels Squires arrived that told king Amadis how Esplandian and his master met together in Almaigne where the day before he had slain two Giants and deliver â—o Gandalin with divers other Knights Squires Ladies and Gentlewomen out of prison Knowest thou said the King what way they took afterward My lord said the Squire they made account to go unto the castle called the defended Mountain to help them that are therein being in great necessity which the King understanding sent presently for all the Pilots that might be found and in all haste caused to rig and arm the greatest ship he had to sayl into the East to his son who in the mean time moved thereunto by Frandalo departed from the castle of Matroco with the Emperors army to invade the Turks country as in the next chapter you shall hear CHAP. XXIX How the Town of Alfarin in Turky being assaulted was taken by Esplandian and the rest of his company NOt long after the Siege of the defended Mountain was raised and Gastilles arrived at the Castle as you heard before Frandalo had advise by Belleris his Nephew that returned out of Turky where he had béen to sée what news in the Countrey that Alfâ—rax Son to King Armato and Governour of the great City of Tesifant understanding the imprisonment of his Father with the overthrow of the Turkish Army was departed from the town of Alfarin where he had left the beautiful Princess Heliaxa his wife daughter to Amphirion King of Medea to go with all dilligence to set order in his own government and raise more men
singular a present CHAP. XXXVI How Esplandian was put into the Cedar Chest and with the tomb carryed into the Princess Leonorines Chamber and what conference they had together THe Emperor and his company gone as it is said before Carmelle called Esplandian that in the mean time lay in the bottom of the Ship and told him the manner of their procéedings as also the spéech the Emperor had with Gandalin and Enil and all what had happened as it is before rehearsed By my soul said Esplandian I was never in the like pain for hearing all you speak onely the Lady Leonorine I could not tell what to think but when the Emperor told you she was not in the City believe me it comforted my heart Did not I play my part well said Carmelle That you did and as well as one could wish said Esplandian and if it be true which is commonly said That a good beginning makes a good ending I hope I shall not fail to bring my purpose to pass And while they devised together it waxed night so that the Empress returned into the City which Carmelle understanding caused Esplandian presently to lie down in the Cedar Chest in such sort that the air entred therein on all sides and covering it with the Azure and Christal Stones Gandalin Enil and their Squires took the tomb and with the Gentlewoman went out of the ship and came unto the pallace where they found the Lady Leonorine being already advertised of the goodly Present sent her by Esplandian in great devotion staying for Carmelle for it had béen told her that in the evening she would bring it to her lodging wherefore she had no sooner espyed it but she with many other Ladies and gentlewomen no less curious to behold the same met her in the hall With that Carmelle perceiving her come stepped forwards and doing reverence unto her said Madam the good knight Esplandian sendeth you this Present that not long since he conquered in the Rock of the Enchantress according to the good fortune and happy destiny above hundred years past predestinated of him which he sendeth unto you expresly to give you to understand the great desire that daily more and more increased in him to be your faithful Knight But before you procéed further it is convenient you grant me two requests the one that neither you nor any other shall look into the tomb until the morning that I return again with the key to open a Cedar chest that you shall finde therein the other that after you have opened it you shall give it me to carry with me to the place where my father kéepeth his hermitage therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a Christian as you have understood Carmelle my friend said the Princess that am I content to do nevertheless I am much abashed why Esplandian deferreth the time so long before he cometh to sée the Emperor Madam said she I will tell you that to morrow mean time I pray you determine where you will have our men to set down their charge In the Great Hall said Leonorine that my Gentlewomen may sée it at their ease In faith Madam you shall pardon me said Carmelle this place is too open and over common to leave so precious a thing standing therein I deny not to let them have the pleasure to behold it but having séen it for the more safety it shall be set into your own chamber whereof you and none other shall have the key With that they that bare the tomb entered into the hall and set it down till Leonorine and the rest of the Gentlewomen had beheld it long and if Carmelle had not béen there assure your selves it had béen better visited than it was but she would not depart from thence till it was shut up Which done taking her leave as she went out she took the Princess aside and giving her the key of the Chest wherein Esplandian lay said unto her Madam I leave you in this tomb two inestimable treasures although their difference be great as you may well perceive you being alone for it is sure that under this key lyeth the thing that in all the world you most desire to see and without staying Leonorines answer she went out of the chamber and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ship leaving the Princess in a marvellous doubt by reason of the words she used unto her therewith did so certainly perswade her self that her friend Esplandian lay dead within the same that she was constrained to cause all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber onely Quéen Minoresse that stayed to beaâ— her company with that she threw her self on the bed and almost drowned in tears began to make the greatest sorrow in the world Quéen Minoresse abashed at so sudden alteration knew not what to think but perceiving her grief to increase still more and more went unto her and said Madam I pray you hide the cause of this sorrow from me no longer for I swear unto you of my faith if by any means I may relieve the same I well deal therein as for my self Leonorine that never ceased sighing could not answer her one word but with much importance at the last answered her and said Alas my good friend for Gods cause let me be in rest and let it suffice you that you know that I never was so desirous for to live as I am at this present to die What Madam said the Quéen will you tell me nothing else No said she In good faith then said the Quéen you shall do me wrong and I shall have good cause to think the love and favor that in times past you have shewen unto me to be altogether fained whereat I am much grieved séeing I have born such a mind to you that I would never have failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and soul both for your sake when the Princess heard her spake with such affection she was somewhat better assured and thereupon said unto her Séeing you are so desirous to know the cause you shall hear it presently upon condition you shall promise me to be a means rather to hinder my days than any ways to further them séeing I am fully determined to die You may yet well remember said she the first time that Carmelle came hither to bring us news of Esplandian son to the good Knight with the gréen Sword that had commandment from his father as she said to come hither to serve us in his place according to the promise he had made unto us being in this court Carmelle said that for that cause onely Esplandian had sent her unto Constantinople to give the Emperor and us to understand thereof but there were other matters in the wind for she came expresly to intreat me to be good unto her master who for the great love and affection be bare unto me lived in the greatest pain that pâ—ssible could be Whereupon it happened
be once perceived chiefly for the great good I wish unto him Madam said Gandalin I am well assured he will receive an extream pleasure to hear these news and that he wil leave all things to come hither if you think it good That is my desire said she and I pray him so to do you to perswade him thereunto While they were devising Tartary the Admiral so called of the place of his birth entred into the garden being a man issued of a mean house but advanced unto great authority by his great with valiant courage so that he commanded over all the Grecian seas The Emperor and he talked long time touching Gandalins message concerning aid to be sent unto Galatia and in the end he willed in all haste to prepare thirty gallies Foists with two thousand of the best souldiers he could find to man the same The Admiral Tartary according to his charge executed his Commission in such sort that within six days after he was ready with his navy to set sayl and depart from thence CHAP. XXXIX How Vrganda arrived at Galatia and of the danger wherein she was by the subtilty of Melie the Enchantress THe Admiral Tartary and Gandalin having taken their leaves of the Emperor set sayl and passed the straights of Constantinople and without any adventures arrived at Galatia within one wéek after their departure if they were well received by the Christian Knights it is not to be doubted for their number was so small and so dispersed that they were in doubt to be able to kéep that Town with Alfarin and the Castle the defended mountain But when they saw such aid they were in better hope and having received the Admiral they divided their two thousand men as néed required Mean time Esplandian had no small desire to know of Gandalin if he had spoken with the Princess Leonorine and how she did for the which cause being in his chamber he sent for him Where talking together Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéen the Princess and him not onely before the Emperor but also in the garden And of my faith sir said he you do her wrong considering the good meanes you have both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soever you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to go and sée her which she craveth at your hands That I will do said Esplandian but I must find the means take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléep for I never had more néed Go said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin took his leave leaving Esplandian alone in great care how he might find some convenient excuse to leave his companions in the extreamity but God provided for him fâ—r the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must understand came out of the great Serpent that he left in the Castle the defended mountain which at that time was arrived before the town of Galatia but little did he think of any such thing or that Urganda had bin therein because he thought her to be in great Britain This mellody continued for the space of half an hour and more which done he heard such a noise of Trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies navy had bin arrived before the same to lay siege unto it whereupon they caused an Alarum in the town each man running to the walls being all of that mind till day when they might behold the great Serpent wherein Urganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers whereat Esplandian was so glad that going down unto the Haven he presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manley and diverse other of the principal captains to sée who might be there And rowing néer unto it they knew Urganda that stayed for them on the hatches and stretching forth her arms spake unto them and said My good friends you are most heartily welcome I pray you come up into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entred and as he meant to salute Urganda she knéeled on the ground to kiss his féet whereat he being ashamed took her up and said unto her Madam I never thought you would have taken pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature living in the world And therefore for Gods cause if at any time I chance to offend you punish me I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight said she The aid I hope for at your hands before many days shall pass moved me to do as I have done wherfore I beséech you take it in good part And with that she embraced him and after him Talanque Manley and all the rest every man doing her great honor desiring her to shew them the cause of her so sudden coming thither My good friends said she you â—â—all know it at some other time when better leisure serveth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go unto the City of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed and apparrelled in the same armor I have brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should defer it till another time it would be prejudicial to you all Wherefore I counsel you to do it upon the first day of the next wéek assuring you to be as well received of the Emperor as ever were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue until the rolling whéel of fortune turning about shall bring with it many travels passions adventures which shall cause many griefs and sorrows both to you and others And the better to make you believe that al I say is true I tell you that I my self shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my self that ever I had whether it be here or in another place I know not And which is worse I cannot by any means avoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall upon me Madam said Esplandian before you shall receive any hurt in our presence we will all lose our lives to succor you My good child said she mans destiny of force must be accomplished But I pray you let us enter into some other talk for this maketh me melancholy Madam said Manley Is it not your pleasure to go into the Town I said she I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I know is at Alfarin and I will give you as great cause to rejoyce as ever you had for that within my ship I have brought the King of Denmark wounded in a combate that he fought against Garlante Lord of the
Of the great displeasure King Luisart took for the departure of the black Knight and what conference he had with Arcabonna Mother to Matroco touching her unfortunate life THe black Knight being departed out of the Castle he had newly conquered and the prisoners entred therein among the rest King Luisart knew master Elizabeth wherefore he rose up sitting by Arcabonna Matrocos Mother who as then leaned on her lap and went to imbrace him asking him what fortune had brought him thither at that time to save the Giants life being in so great extremity And it pleaseth your Grace said he once this day I did not think he would have had so much néed of my help as he now hath But as I understand by a Knight that I méet going down the hill he is in great danger of his life Nevertheless for the honor of him that commanded me to help him I will do the best I can I pray you do so said the King Then master Elizabeth caused Matroco to be softly layed upon his bed and being unarmed searched his wounds and perceiving them to be deadly would not for that time do any thing unto them but stanch their bléeding leaving the rest till he had slept wherein he was newly fallen In the mean time King Luisart not forgetting what master Elizabeth at his coming in had said unto him asked him what was become of the black Knight and it pleaseth your Grace said he as we entred into the Castle I met him going secretly from hence and not minding to return again By Saint Mary said the King have I received so great aid at his hands and am I so unfortunate that he should depart from hence without knowing him Truly I am sorry I stayed here to sée what would become of Matroco if I had not I would surely have followed him and with much importunity have craved his name Master Elizabeth said he will you upon your faith tell me truly whether you know him or not If it be so if you will do me any pleasure hide it no longer from me for I never had so great desire to know any Knight not onely for the aid he hath done me but for the valiant enterprise at this present atchieved by him Your grace shal pardon me if it pleaseth you said master Elizabeth for it is true that I know him wel but if I tell you any more I should do him wrong for he hath expressely forbidden me to do it I sée well said the King you will but increase the desire I have to know him that is worse by the same means bereave me of all hope ever to sée him again With that they entred into the Hal where they méet Arcabonne half dead with sorrow whom the King in courteous manner prayed to stay a while asking her how her son did He doth said she as one in whom I have as little hope of life as of the other that lyeth dead in the court to say the truth it séemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her self against me not ceasing continually to heap sorrow upon sorrow to make me desperate Notwithstanding I know full well how to be revenged and that is in dispight of her and her cruelties to bereave my self of life whereof she shall lose her power which by good reason I cannot well prolong séeing she hath not spared me one hour of rest since she first began still playing her part in tormenting me but of all other my misfortunes none hath grieved me so much as the force of this Knight by whose power said she unto the King I sée thée now delivered out of my hands and from the cruel torments I had prepared for thée if accursed fortune had not withstood them Madam said the King I pray you declare unto me the cause of this your great malice towards me and whether at any time I have done you wrong or injury whereby I should deserve it that will I shew thée said Arbaconne not therein to do thée pleasure but rather to grieve thée more when thou shalt know and understand that I was born and bred in the same country wherein to my great despight thou hast raigned overlong for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother were doth begotten and brought up in the art of Nigromancy which oftentimes we have practised and put in effect therewith to torment divers persons that never did offend us In the which art as age and knowledge increased I growing very expert in the end became acquainted with Cartadaque as then Lord of this Castle and with him I grew in so great familiarity that he married me and with him ever sithence have dwelt here in this Castle where not long after I was delivered of a Son called Lindoraque after that of another named Matroco that now lyeth in this bed and lastly of the third called Frerion whom thou hast slain and my brother also that went to help Argantes the Porter of this Castle And being thus married unto such a husband as Cartadaque was so much feared and redoubted in all places and having thrée of the most valiant and worthy knights to my sons that ever lived I was so elevated in pride and so little estéemed of cruel fortune that I thought it unpossible for her to work me any woe But by tract of time I found it otherwise for by little and little she hath wholly changed my joy into most grievous sorrow and wilt thou know how Then I think thou doest yet remember the discord that long sithence happened betwéen thée and Childadan King of Ireland and of the battel wherein thou overcamest him where my deceased husband minding to be present expresly departed from hence thither and as accursed fortune would took my son Lindoraque with him and having travelled many countries at the last arrived at the place where my brother stayed for them travelling all thrée together with full purpose and intent to do thée all the injury they could and they had scarce entered into a forrest not far from London but they méet a Knight as then surnamed Le Beautenebreux riding in company of a Gentlewoman that ware on her head a Call all set with strange flowers whom my Son as accursed fortune would liked so well that with a great desire to have her to present unto the Lady Madasine his love commanded one of his Squires to go fetch her to him which the Knight called Le Beautenebreux whereof I speak would not permit but sent the messenger back again well beaten wherewith my Son being moved thought to have her by force but it fell out otherwise for him for at the first encounter the Knight with one blow with his Sword thrust him into the body whereof he died and as much had chanced to his Vncle Arcalaus if his horse had not saved him by running away having first lost four of his fingers on the right hand Yet fortune not contenting her self with this mischief
Isle of Calafre that by force would have taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante be estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that unless he had craved mercy the king would have stricken off his head which he spared upon condition that during his life he should never after injure any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriving there during their combate I heard what passed betwéen them And because I perceived the King to be in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had upon his body I would not leave him but caused him to enter into my ship and layed him in the best bed where now he is almoâ—â— healed Ha said Esplandian what good news are these of my faith I thought verily he had bin dead wherefore madam I pray you for Gods cause let me crave the means to sée him with that Urganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refrain wéeping with the great pleasure he took to sée the King Nevertheless for the time they had no great spéech together neither would Urganda permit them to do it doubting lest the King being yet out weak and feable might thereby be hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Espâ—andian to go forth and entring with her into the boaâ— they rowed to the shoar from whence they led Urganda 〈◊〉 best lodging in the town with as much honor as they câ—uld have done to the Quéens Brisenne or Oriane if any of them had bin there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women and little children that had bin kept within the town from the time that it was taken said to his companions that it would be better to give them leave to depart from thence then to hold them still for that the longer they continued in the town the more charge they put them to and to kéep them prisoners said he or in longer servitude God may possible be offended with us Wherefore if you will believe me using rather mercy then rigour towards them I am of opinion that we send them al to Tesifant to the Princess Heliaxe who wil thank us for it and so shall we be rid of so much charge To this all the knights agréed Carmelle was appointed to execute the message and he that had séen the great number of people that were about her especially women weeping most bitterly to behold themselves banished driven from their own houses surely he could not chuse unless he were hard-hearted but have pittied their estate But let them go let us hear what danger fell unto Urganda that next day after who being welcome to the knights took great pleasure to hear them shew of the adventures they had found in the Turkish country since the taking of Alfarin And each man after the other discoursing what they knew Esplandian remembred the old woman they saw among the rocks where she continued wherat he could not chuse but smile which Urganda espying sked him the cause Madam said he I thought upon the beauty of a yong maid that I some of our company chanced to sée not far hence being the best furnished of all things for to beautifie her that might be found and the better to describe her unto you I can assure you upon Belleris word that it is at the least eight or nine score years since she first could go and speak yet hath she so fresh and gallant a colour that to behold her well I cannot compare her better then unto the bark of those great Elms we commonly find along the high ways as we ride in great Brittain her hair is as white as Snow and for want of combing all knotted together which setteth her out so well that to behold it spread abroad upon a bears skin which she weareth for a gown there is not any man living that would not be surprised with a sudden and vehement love in the beholding of her Urganda that had heard of her before and above all things was much desirous to sée her because of her great skill said unto Esplandian In good faith I know her better then you think I do and am well assured that in her yong years she hath bin one of the goodliest Ladies that ever you saw For she is both daughter sister and aunt unto a King and is called Melie who for to learn the perfect art and science of Nigromancy hath so much condemned the world that for her inheritance she hath chosen a Rock wherein she hath caused a cave to be digged where she now remaineth and liveth in great misery and I swear unto you of my faith that it is above twenty years and more since I determined to come and sée her but other affairs that touched me néerer have still hindered my desire Madam said Esplandian séeing you are so néer you may do it now and all we will be your guides I pray you let it be so said she and let us go as soon as we have dined which done and the tables uncovered every man made preparation to go with Urganda to behold that sight but Esplandian would have but threescore with him who being well horsed and armed at all points issued out of Galatia Urganda on her palfrey riding among them Belleris was their guide and when they came neer unto the cave where they had found Melie they espyed her set cross legged upon the point of a Rock with that Urganda prayed them to stay that she alone might speak secretly unto her which the Knights agreed unto Wherewith she rode forwards and being neer unto her she said Madam I pray youâ—ve not offended that I come to see you and offer you my service Who are you said she I am said she Urganda le Discogneve that have always had a great desire to see you Ha Urganda the wisest Lady among all others said Melie your coming hither pleaseth me right well light down I pray you that you and I may talk of such things as we have taken great pains to learn and understand for although you have been the onely occasion of the Christians arrival here whereby our poor country indureth so much woe yet I cannot but excuse you knowing the faith duty you are bound to shew to your religion Wherefore I pray you come neer and sit down by me Urganda perceivrng her to be old and feeble did as she required hoping by force to stay her there whether she would or no till her company were come thither minding to give her unto them to bring her to Galatia but she met with as crafty a mate as her self for the old woman perceiving Urganda to be neer her went unto the mouth of her Cave and said unto her Urganda It would grief me that these Knights should hear our talk wherefore let us go in Whereat
unto him Thou accursed slave is it thou that so cowardly hath slain my uncle my brother and the porter of the Castle When the Knight heard him he answered him and said I have done my endeavor to make thee know that it belongeth not to such as thou art either to imprison Kings or to molest and grieve so many men as continually thou doest By all my Gods said Matroco fortune favoreth thee too much when at my arrival I finde thee armed with the walls of this my Castle for if I had thee here upon the shore I would soon send thee fishing into the Sea as I have done many other rash and bold fools like thy self that hast enterprised without cause to inforce my Castle but if I continue here ten years together I will never depart hence till I have thee in my hands then shalt thou know how I use to handle such as thou art Stay a while said the black Knight there is much more difference between saying and doing then there is distance of place betwéen thée and me Thy threatnings make me more assured wherefore now I fear thée lesser then I did before and that thou mayest well know it to be so take thy choice whether I shall come down to sight with thée or thou come up to me Then shalt thou plainly sée to whom God will give the victory either to thée that trustest in thy own strength or to me that trust onely in him The greatest oxen and the fattest bulls are oftentimes brought unto the slaughter as well as lesser beasts So thou great beast I advise thée to remember thy former life before worse happen unto thée forsaking thy accursed faith which thou now holdest and with might maintainest otherwise be thou assured the wrath of God will fall upon thée as it hath already done upon thy friends That shall be séen said Matroco and if thou hast the courage to stay for me I assure thee thou wilt be glad to deny the villainous words thou now hast uttered Therefore cause the gate to be opened for seeing thou puttest me to my choice I will come up to thee were it into the dungeon from whence thou hast delivered that villain standing by thee and therewith leaving his company behind him being all armed he began to mount up the Rock and went unto the Castle but when he came to the Iron-gate which he found open because the watch had left it and were gone and saw Argantes lying dead he was in a manner out of his wits nâ—t so much for the prowess he knew to be in him as that he had from his youth béen nourished and bred up in the Castle by the Giant his Father Nevertheless he dissembled his grief hoping to be revenged at his pleasure and going further in an other place he found the Giant armed all in green dead and freshly bléeding wherewith he was so moved that he stayed and stood still and casting forth a great sigh began to cry out and said alas Arcalaus my good Vncle how néer doth the loss of thée go to my heart wheresoever it had happened but especially being done within mine own Castle wherein I thought long time to live and make merry with thee Alas is fortune so cruel unto thée that after so many travels and dangerous adventures with infinite perils that in the flower of thy youth thou hast sustained thou must in thine old years come and receive so cruel a death within my house which I esteemed as an assured hold and defence not onely for me but for thee and the rest of our kindred and friends O immortal Gods what vengeance can I take upon the Traitor that hath so much offended me seeing that to cause him to die each day a hundred times were nothing in respect of the mischief he hath done unto me At the least if it were Amadis De Gaule so much esteemed of all men or any of his two brethren or all they three together my grief would be somewhat eased by reason of the sorrows I would cause them to indure But what Now I am constrained to fight against one alone who by reason considering the travel he hath taken all this day ought already to esteem himself overcome and vanquished What glory then can I obtain by winning victory against him Truly as much as if I sought against a simple woman being as by nature she is both weak and feeble so he unworthy of my presence will be much prouder if I do but make a countenance to fight with him nevertheless what blot sâ—ever may happen unto mine honor of force he must die In this manner did the Giant lament over the body of Arcalaus his dead Vncle not moving from thence till at last he perceived the black Knight that stood to hear him wherewith being somewhat ashamed he marched towards him thinking without hinderance to enter into the dungeon but he found the black Knight at the gate that boldly thrust him back and said unto him Thou brutish and unreasomable beast thinkest thou to enter in by force Whereat the Giant all abashed stayed without and said Thou biddest me to come up have I then done thee wrong to come at thy commandment No said the Knight but beholding thy countenance it seemeth thou wouldest enter by authority and therewith stepping aside he said Now come in and do what thou canst When the old woman with whom King Luisart talked perceived them ready to fight in great fear she ran out of the Hall and fell down at her Sons feet crying out and said Alas Matroco I pray thee and by the duty a childe oweth unto the mother I command thee not to enter into this Combate for thou knowest well that of all thy brethren thou art onely left alive wherewith my heart is so grieved that had it not been for the love I bear thee thou hadst found me now at thy return in as pitiful estate as thou seest thy brother Frerion neither is there any woman at this present living in the world that ought with better reason to wish for death then I. Alas what fortune is this that now again I must renew the sorrows which both time and long patience as I thought had buried in oblivion Alas miserable woman that I am I onely have forged the weapon that hath given the wound whereby at this present I receive this dammage for upon the day of my husbands decease thinking to revenge the grief that my soul sustained I have to the contrary advanced mine own shame and utter ruine justly receiving the reward that belongeth unto such as refusing the better part think to remedy one mischief by procuring a worse upon themselves Madam said the Giant if at this present you have received great loss by the death of some of your friends nevertheless you ought not to take it so offensively seeing they have ended their days in honorable Combate as behoveth all worthy Knights such as they were And as for
me think you that for fear of death I will refuse to do that whereunto by Knighthood I am bound No no likewise what reason or what excuse should move me being as I am both fresh and well disposed to refuse the Combate alone against one simple Knight I deny not Madam but confess that affection causeth you to use these words and shew the nature of a woman but you must conceive and think with your felf that I answer you as it becometh me prefeirving mine honor before your tears wherefore I beseech you suffer me to take the small vengeance I can upon the villain that hath so much offended me Matroco said the Knight thou reckonest before thine host I would not for al the gold in the world lose such an occasion offered as I now have both for mine honor and advantage Believe me that neither thy mothers tears nor the duty thou owest unto her as being her childe can by any means prolong the end of thee or me if without dissimulation thou dost not by oath promise and assure me to live in as good sort from this time forwards as in times past thou hast lived wickedly Wherefore it were better for thée to make me know by effect the Prowess thou vauntest thy self to have and for me to let thée sée the courtesie which it may be thou shalt finde at my hands if I overcome thée When the Lady perceived that her prayers could take no place she left them and the two Knights began to run one upon the other so bravely and with such fury that King Luisart beholding them thought he never saw so cruel a battel and the which abashed him more was that he could not presume how or in what manner the black Knight had found him in so strange a place and yet he knew him not sometime he thought him to be Amadis but when he remembred the love he bare unto the Lady Oriana that he had newly married he was otherwise perswaded and likewise he remembred very well the Combates he had séen Amadis De Gaule make at Windsore against Dardan le Superbe and after that with Ardan Canile wherein he used all his forces yet were they not comparable to those of the black Knights who as then found himself as fresh and well disposed to fight as if he had not fought all the day before Again when he thought it to be his nephew Esplandian for that Urganda had foreshewed many wonderful things of him he was soon disswaded from that opinion by reason be left him with the Queen his Mother not once séeking to receive the order of Knighthood and although that since his departure out of Britain he might have obtained that honor yet did he estéem it impossble for Esplandian to do so valiantly at the first Further Urganda had always prophesied of him that the first valiant acts he should atchieve should be renowned and spoken of by his strange and fearful navigation in the great Serpent wherein he should be imbarqued and for the black knight he knew he arrived there in a little Barque unfurnished whereby he esteemed it unlikely to be his nephew Esplandian But he thought he never had séen so valiant and and hardy a Knight for the longer he fought the more he wearied and labored Matroco Nevertheless he continued fighting for the space of two hours together before it could be judged who should have the victory but in the end the Giant feeling himself wounded in so many places his armor altogether broken and his shield half cloven in two began to mistrust his own force Wherefore stepping back he stayed his hand and said Knight I pray thee let us breath our selves a while and hear what I will offer thee which cannot be other then to thy honor and advantage With that the Knight stood still and Matroco began to speak saying I wonder sir Knight what moved thee to venture in this manner upon this Rock wherein never any but thy self durst enterprise to come during my Fathers life neither yet sithence that by his death I have been Lord thereof and besides this thy enterprise wherein thou hast done the thing that all others feared to do before thee thou hast also slain three of my friends whereof two of them as I think were the best Knights in their time living on the earth whereby I have just cause to hate thee more then any man living But when I call to minde that thou hast done therein like a valiant and hardy Knight I have some reason to pardon thee and to esteem thee for one of the valiantest Champions that ever I saw in all my life although I have both proved and vanquished many others longer practised in arms and stronger then thy self Wherefore if the onely cause of thy arrival in this place was to deliver the King that looketh on us I am content thou take and lead him hence in safety and for the same cause likewise I quit thee of the combate upon condition that without longer sojourning here thou shalt presently depart out of this castle that belongeth unto me When the black Knight had â—eard him be answered him and said Giant as far as I perceive thou esteemest it a great enterprise that I have done to come hither and finde thee here within thy Castle where by me those that thou so much lamentest have been slain but if thou knowest the master that I serve to whom as duty bindeth me I am obedient thou shouldst presently perceive and plainly see this enterprise by thee estéemed much to be nothing in comparison of that he is able to do and bring to pass for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatsoever I have done whereby of good right the glory belongeth unto him and to the contrary you that are idolaters serve thâ—se that are accustomed to rock and lull you asléep in all kind of vices cruelties outrages thefts murthers and infinite other wickedness which for a time do prosper with you whereby you live in honor riches and all worldly pleasures and so are nusted in all filthiness but surely such manner of life may well be compared to buildings erected upon the sands that cannot continue long but are most sure to have an evil end even then when they are esteemed to be at the top of all their worldly felicity like as it happened unto Lucifer and his fellows whereof it may be thou hast heard spoken Nevertheless if thou wilt acknowledge thy former life and of a wicked wretch as thou hast always lived become a vertuous Knight and as thou hast béen most cruel and inhumane become courteous and pitiful forsaking thy vain and foolish faith to believe in my God who is the most true and mighty Lord of all Lords I will not onely pardon thée the Combate whereof thou hast the worst but will leave thée thy castle frée unto thy self so wil be thy friend upon condition nevertheless that from hence forth both thou
back again towards the Castle and without being once perceived entred at a postern door whereof she had the key and so went up into her chamber departing from the hermitage not long before her Father and the dumb man returned from the barque and found the Knight sleeping who presently awaked and missing his Sword asked them if they had taken it away No truly said the Hermit for we came but now from the Sea side Wherewith Esplandian esteeming it lost made account that as he had conquered it after a strange manner so he had lost it by a stranger means but the Hermit and the dumb man sought it about the house and could not finde it CHAP. X. How King Luisart being advertised by Carmelle where the Black Knight was departed with her alone to finde him out CArmelle returned to the Castle as it is said before went to the King who at the same time was talking with master Elizabeth touching the wrong he thought the black Knight did him in departing thence without being known séeking by that means if it were possible to draw from him what he knew as touching the Knight but all in vain for the King was not so subtile to undermine him but master Elizabeth was as crafty to prevent him not intending to falsifie the trust reposed in him and although the Gentlewoman had determined to shew the king what she had learned of the Knight hoping thereby to obtain her purpose Nevertheless séeing master Elizabeth in presence she held her peace till he went away and perceiving the King alone said unto him My Lord if it pleaseth your Grace to shew me so much favor as to assist me in a thing that importeth me as much my life in the behalf of the Knight that you so much desire to sée before to morrow at night I will shew him unto you if you think good in such a place where you may easily speak with him and to the end you shall not suspect me of untruth I will shew you a certain token that when you sée it I am assured you will easily believe me Gentlewoman said the King if you do so I will not fail if it be possible to satisfie your request I beseech your Grace said she when you are both together it would please you to be a mean unto him in my behalf to grant me a gift that I shall ask him By the faith of a Prince said he I will not fail to do it nor a greater matter than that if it lieth in my power Then follow me said the Gentlewoman bringing him where she had laid the sword and shewing it unto â—im asked if he had never séen it That I have said the King and I would to God the Knight that knoweth so well how to handle it were as near unto me as it is You shall sée him in the morning said she if it pleaseth you to follow me That will I do said the King armed or unarmed I estéem not whether so I may sée him Then be you ready said she when I shall call and let no man go with you Content said the King wherewith he went out of the Chamber and passing through the Court he met Libee and others to whom he said that in the morning he meant to walk along the Rock because master Elizabeth had certified him it was so goodly a Countrey and that none but Carmelle should bear him company and falling into other speeches they passed the time till they went to rest but the King could not sléep for the great desire he had to sée the Knight whereby he was hardly fallen asléep when Carmelle came to awake him saying My Lord may it please your Grace to remember your promise Let us go said he and therewith making himself ready commanded two horses to be sadled one for himself the other for Carmelle and issuing out of the Castle rode toward the Hermitage And they had not travelled far but they perceived a man coming towards them in great haste and as he came near the Gentlewoman knew him asking him what he meant to make such haste and whither he rode I ride to the Castle said be to fetch Matroco and his brother Frerion with all spéed to help their Vncle Lindoraque who coming to sée them hath met with two Knights armed all in white that have slain his men and as I think I left him in as great danger as possibly may be When the king heard him he thought him to be of the black knights company and said unto the Gentlewoman I pray you stay here with this man and I will ride to see them and with that he set spurs to his Horse and taking the same way the other came he perceived afar off the two knights fighting with the Giant that defended himself most valiantly with his Mace forcing them oftentimes to recoil but the two knights as bold as nimble handled him in such sort that he knew not how to defend himself and if he had not slain one of their horses it had gone worse with him Neverthless the knight on horse-back seeking to revenge his companion was nothing abashed but when the other rose up set more fierce upon the Giant then before in such maner that they closed and striving together sought by all means to unhorse each other Mean time the knight on foot went unto the Giant and taking him by the left leg pulled him by such force that both he and the other knight fell off their horses and holding each other fast the Giant fell under with his face upwards wherewith the knight that threw him down thrust him into the face that he was constrained to let go his hold nevertheless rising up again with great force and laying hold upon the knight that had so wounded him he threw him on the ground mean time the other gave the Giant such a blow upon the head that he began to réel and therewith stretching out his legs yielded up the ghost With that the king rode somewhat nearer and perceived the two knights to bear black Crosses that shewed them to be Christians wherefore riding boldly unto them he went so near that they knew him whereupon they went to do him honor much abashed to sée him But the King perceiving the honor they did him was no less abashed and said unto them My good friends I know you not I pray you put off your Helmets that I may see your faces which they did whereby he knew the one to be Talanque son of Galaor the other Ambor de Gadel son of Angriote de Stravaulx whom he friendly embraced and said unto them In faith my good friends it is not without cause if it liketh you well to sée me here for all my life have I desired the companies of your fathers the like do I of their children wherefore for the love of God I pray you shew me what strange adventure hath brought you into this Countrey And it pleaseth your Grace said
unto our matter you must note that news went presently unto the court what had chanced to the two knights Wherewith the King Oriane much displeased departed from London came to Mirefleur when master Elizabeth began the second time to dress their wounds Whereby he perceived them out of danger and cured them so well that within seven days after they could walk about the Chamber which put Oriane in better comfort then before and it fell out well for her for if her melancholy had longer indured she had for certain died at that time And because the King had not as yet understood the reason that moved them to fight one day when he found Amadis in good disposition he prayed him to tell him In faith my lord said he I was desirous to have the difference of our two forces known being assured that whatsoever chanced thereby it could not be but to mine honor for if my son be a better Knight then my self his honor for the present time will increase my glory past Before God said the King your enterprise was but rashly undertaken I pray you another time let us leave such youthful parts for those that are but entring into arms Believe me and it pleaseth your Grace said he I was never better beaten in all my life It is no matter said the King séeing you have both escaped with your lives now séek means to be healed of your wounds with as much spéed as you may and from henceforth let us war onely against Harts and other wild beasts that are within this forrest as my huntsmen have shewed me this day CHAP. XVI How the King of Denmark Garinter and Manely succoured Vrganda that certain Knights would have slain because she aided the Emperors Son of Rome YOu heard before of the adventures of Esplandian Ambor and Talanque after they had received the order of Knighthood now you shall hear what became of Garinter King of Denmark and Manely who sléeping as others did by the sound of six trumpets that played on the shore the next night they found themselves with their Squires in a little Barque so far out of all knowledge that although they had landed they knew not where they were and it was so dark that they could not sée each other till at the last they perceived a fire not far from thence that moved them to go thither to sée if they could find any that would shew them in what country they were therefore leaving their Squires to kéep their Barque they took their shields and mounting up a little hill they perceived a fire burning circle wise in the middle whereof they saw a woman holding a yong childe in her arms about the fire stood ten knights all armed that sought to take her but by no means they could come néer her she was so well defended by the fire And as they went néerer unto it they heard one among the rest that said unto her Ha thou false and accursed wretch thy devillish spirits and familiars can now no longer help thée but at this time thou shalt surely die And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads yet the woman they so threatned knew them well calling them and said Help me my sons and fail me not I pray you at this time With that Manely and the King of Denmark knew her by her voice wherefore laying hands on their swords they marched towards the ten Knights whereof one of them stepped before the rest asking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greatest mischief that ever was By God sir Knight said Manely you lie in your throat she is not wicked but faithfuller for her part then you for yours Wherewith they ran each upon other and there began the combate of ten Knights against two and although the match was not equal Manely and the King of Denmark setting their backs together laid valiantly upon them yet in the end they could not have resisted but Urganda playing her part put out the fire and taking her two knights aside left the rest in the dark striking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmark had béen with them Mean time Urganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood and having travelled long at the last the moon began to shine when they were weary whereby they determined to stay a while and rest themselves till day appeared Mean time the two knights desired Urganda to shew them how she came thither and whether she knew the country My good friends said she having long since learned by my art that this little child sâ—n to the Emperor of Rome and of the Empress Leonor his wife should be stollen away by the Traitor that assayled you who is Son to Garadan that Amadis as then called the Knight of the gréen Sword put to death in the country of Bohemia in defending the right of King Casimor as soon as you fell on sléep in the great Serpent I made all the haste I could unto this place to succor it according to my promise made being in the Ferm Isle in presence of Amadis and divers others Knights where I arrived at so good a time when the villains which you saw came to a shepheards house where a poor nurse dwelt to whom they delivered this little child to give it suck And séeing it was time to put my enterprise in practise I went out of my Barque and making as if I had béen robbed by certain thieves ran towards them crying out and wéeping bitterly wherewith they all came forth to sée what it might be and perceiving me in that manner asked the cause of my grief Ha my lords said I it is so that as my husband I passed through this wood we met eight thieves that slew him and not content therewith have taken away my horse and my budget wherein there is a great sum of money Which they believing to be true not that they were moved with compassion for my loss but respecting their own particular benefit hoping to get a Booty by them that had robbed me scattered themselves in companies to find them out where they stayed so long that the shepheard and his wife went out of the house and thinking to have their parts left me alone with the childe that not long after I took in mine arms and went away But as it fell out the nurse came in and missing the child called to them for help who running in great haste followed me so fast that had it not bin for night that overtook them and the great fire you found about meâ— I had never escaped their hands And what would they have done with this poor infant said Manley You shall understand said she that the Son of Garadan having conceived a mortal hatred against the Emperor either because he could not have the Entertainment he thought he had deserved or else grieved as I think that he could not attain unto
submit your self unto her mercy In faith said Gandalin my companion and I were determined not to leave your company so soon but séeing it is your pleasure we are content to do it You and he said Esplandian shall kéep me company till you mean to travel further the rest shall do as I required them Sir Knight said he that shewed him the prison they shall finde within the house all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them shew them where they be said Esplandian Whereunto he willingly obeyed which done they all left the Giants house the prisoners taking the way towards Constantinople and Esplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde armed at all points went towards master Elizabeth that stayed for them in the great Serpent and as they were about half a mile from the Giants house they met a knight all armed with two squires attending on him who in courteous manner saluting Esplandian and his company asking them what country men they were Sir knight said Esplandian we are all of great Britain Alas said he can you tell me any news touching a thing that hath grieved me full sore What is that said Esplandian can you tell me said he what is become of King Luisart For I have bin certified of a truth that he is lost not knowing where how nor for what cause And for my part I swear unto yâ—u I have already sought for him in divers countries and can hear no news at all and I am determined never so leave travelling before he be found again if it be pâ—ssible for mortal man to do it You are bound thereunto said Esplandian séeing he deserveth it as you know right well Nevertheless if it pleaseth you to put off your Helmet and make you known unto us that have bin bred and nourished in his house I assure you we will satisfie your mind so well as touching him that we cannot chuse but like it My Lords said he putting off his helmet I am Norandel his son When Esplandian and the rest perceived that they made themselves known unto him imbracing each other most courteously Ha my lord said Norandel I pray you for Gods cause if you know any thing touching the king hide it not from me Vncle said Esplandian about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God be thanked making good chear shewing him in what maner he had delivered him out of prison with all that passed touching the same I marvel then â—aid Norandel what adventure brought you hither By my soul said Esplandian that can I not well tell onely that I was brought hither by the great Serpent which I left at the Sea-side wherein master Elizabeth stayeth for me Then he shewed him how he departed from the Court his arrival in the Ferm Isle his imbarquing to take Sea and what time they were at sea before they discovered any land till in the end said he we espyed this country where Sergil and I took land in good time for Grandalin and Lazinde as hereafter they may shew you But you said he to Norandel tel me of your faith how was it your chance in so good time to méet with us In truth said Norandel the peace made betwéen Amadis and the king I departed from the Court to séek some strange adventures that commonly are found in this country of Almaigne where I had no sooner arrived but I had certain news of my fathers absence whereat I was so grieved that to find him out I have travelled the countries of Denmark Poland Russia Swethland Hungary and all this country even unto this place where it is said there dwells two Giants who as they are all of one nature exercise innumerable cruelties against those they méet the yonger of them waiting continually about this place for such as pass this way And therefore when I saw you first I thought one of you thrée to be the Giant thinking to fight with him or lose my life therefore which I wil yet do if you let me pass By God said Gandalin you lost your labor séeking for the King so shall you likewise do if you take this enterprise in hand Wherefore said Norandel Because said he you sée him here in presence that easeth you of that burthen With that he shewed him in what manner Esplandian had fought with the Giants and how he Lazinde and diverse others were prisoners in their house from whence Esplandian had delivered them Before God said Norandel the news liketh me well for I never thought in long time any such adventure would have happened unto him not knowing he had received the order of Knighthood You sée it so said Esplandian and master Elizabeth can tell you more if it pleaseth you to go with us Let us go then said Norandel for I would gladly sée him With that they rode towards the Sea till they espied the great Serpent wherein they imbarqued themselves where Norandel Grandalin and Lazinde understood by master Elizabeth what had happened to Esplandian from the day he received the order of knighthood And although Norandel determined with all spéed to return into great Britain yet he changed his mind when he heard so strange and marvellous news of his Nephew Esplandian to whom he said My Lord séeing fortune hath brought us so well together I pray you let me not leave your company till some occasion be ministred unto us Vncle said Esplandian I am content and I pray you let it be so In that manner they passed the rest of the day in the great Serpent minding the next day because she stirred not to take land again to sée if they could find any more adventures And they had scarce fallen asléep but the Serpent began of it self to sayl forward so swiftly that by sun rising they had lost the sight of any land not ceasing for to sayl six days together before they espyed land the seventh day when the Sun began to shine it stayed at the Isle Saint Mary which master Elizabeth presently knew having bin there before with Amadis de Gaule when he fought with Landriaque wherefore he said unto the Knights In good faith I remember that once as I travelled on the Sea with my lord Amadis we were cast upon this Island by so great a tempest that we thought verily to have béen drowned And if then at sea we had great fear of death being landed our fear did more increase and that with so good cause that I cannot chuse but tremble to remember it What said Esplandian Can a danger so long time past bréed so great a fear as you séem to have Sir said master Elizabeth some men to hide the truth make a great matter of a small but if you had séen as much as I then saw and that which as yet you may behold if it pleaseth you to go where I was once you shall find that I have no less occasion and there is Grandalin that can witness it as well as I. I
called a Squire sending him to Carmelle that as then was in company of Arcabonnes Gentlewomen but understanding Esplandians pleasure went presently to apparrel her self as he willed her and having a mantle on her shoulders because she would not be séen went to him in his chamber where she found him and the King of Denmark talking together but as soon as he espyed her he took her in his arms and setting her in a chair covered with velvet said unto her My good friend I mean to shew my companion you sée here how much I love and estéem him wherefore I pray you shew me before him what intertainment the Princess Leonorine gave you knowing you came from me and whither I find any favor in her sight My lord said she as soon as I was arrived and that she understood the cause of my coming unto her I found her no less yours then you hers whereby I may estéem you the happiest Knight living in the world And know you why She is so fair and of so comely personage that unless it be her self none can resemble her and of truth she doth far surpass all other Ladies for being alone in her private chamber playing on some instrument or singing for her pleasure she stealeth and ravisheth the hearts separated from the bodies of such as either hear or sée her and if at sometimes she attireth her self after the Italian manner with a cap of that country fashion then you may sée her fair and glistering hair part giving a certain shadow on her vermilion chéeks the rest knit up together invironing her head shewing with far better grace then any crown that she could wear be it of stones laurel or the finest gold that may be found But if that be a temptation unto man her two humble and modest eyes like two suns give them as many deaths as they at times behold the same and again reviveth them better then at the first and all at one instant whereat you must not be abashed séeing that love it self doth often skirmish and strive in them thereby to yield both pain and pleasure unto those that do behold the same and if he touch her he feareth to hurt her as being in most extream passions â—f love And not without a cause for that nature having made her brake the mould that she might be the only perfect creature accompanied with so many vertues that love findeth nothing in her but bones to gnaw upon And I assure you my lord that speaking unto her of those things you had given me in charge I plainly perceived her by the changing of her countenance to be charged with the like disease whereof you still complain for sometimes she blushed and again became pale and other while was at such an exigent that she could not answer me a ready word especially when I presented her with the ring that she once gave to Amadis your father as she told me afterwards In recompence whereof she sendeth you this hairlace which she most earnestly desireth you to kéep for the love of her and as the first Iewel her Grandmother Grimanaise gave to the Emperor Appolidon being but her lover Expresly sending you the same as an assured token of the love she beareth unto you and the good will she will be ready always to shew you during her mortal life With that she took a little box out of her bosom wrapped in a piece of Taffata and gave it unto him which Esplandian received taking it out of the box he sighed tenderly and said Ha most fortunate present the first witness of the perfect alliance that the most loyal lovers that ever lived had together from whom is descended the Paragon of all beauty happy to have approached so néer her person But I much happier that receiveth it as more affectioned to serve her then any other living on the earth and it pleaseth God while life indureth I trust thou never shalt depart from me but I will kéep thée as carefully as I desire she should hold my heart Yet this is not all said Carmelle but behold the recompence of my labor and saying so she cast the mantle from her shoulders shewing them her rich gown all covered with crowns of Gold which put Esplandian in mind of that Urganda sent him word by her Gentlewoman when she sent him the white armor set with the like devise confirming in his mind the hope that until then he had holden doubtful wherat he felt the greatest ease that possible he might And as they beheld the great and excellent workmanship with the great and costly imbroidery of Pearls and precious Stones wherewith it was all covered Grandalin came and knocked at the door to shew them that there were a great number of vessels discovered on the sea and fearing them to be some new supply of Turks was of advice they should be ready to receive them Whereupon each man ran to arms causing more men to go into their Ships for their better safety yet that alarm continued but a while for that the Pennons and Banners of Constantinople were perceived on their Ships by such as they sent out for to descry them some of them coming back again in great haste to shew them that Gastilles as general of the Army for the Emperor was coming to succor them whereof the Turks having intelligence presently brake up their Camp being gone far from the Castle before any of the vessels come near the shoar Nevertheless those of the castle set upon their rereward and in the chase slew so great a number that had not night come on considring the evil order they held there had not escaped a man of all their camp In the mean time Gastilles with his army came unto the mountain where Esplandian the king of Denmark and divers others stood ready to receive him and after many courtesies and welcomes on all parts given Gastilles asked them how they dealt with their enemies As well as may be said Esplandian but we could not by any means cause them to stay till your coming but they are fled from hence as soon as they heard news thereof Then he told him of the larums and issues by them made during the fiege as also of the taking of King Armato That is good news said Gastilles God be praised therefore if mine uncle the Emperor had béen advertised thereof before my departure from Constantinople I had not found the means to come send to visit you which would have displeased me much neither would he have bin at charge to furnish such a Navy but he was in doubt you were in great necessity that at my putting to sea he commanded me to make all the spéed I could til he came in person with four hundred sayl that already are prepared if our forces should not be sufficient to sustain the Turkish army but for this year he shal be excused if there happen no other adventure I pray you said Esplandian come to land
deny that which they have most deeply engraved in their hearts and mindes and not without good cause for that the thing which redoundeth to your praise and commendations as you think which is the manifesting of your love bréedeth to them a certain spot in their honor which oftentimes they can not easily deface Wherefore it is more than expedient to observe this modesty and constancy in us not that I mean to restrain my self unto this law séeing that all my glory and felicity dependeth upon you in such manner that I desire no greater happiness in this world then that the love and dutiful obedience I bear unto you should be published and made known unto the world to the end that all those that shall hear of your great valor and my mean estate may know my great good fortune to have the mean to serve you as I do Wherefore my lord in my opinion you ought to take the spéeches Gastilles hath written unto you to be used by the Lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your advantage for I dare warrant you on mine honor that your affections are both alike and to say the truth she hath behaved her self most wisely to dissemble the matter so well as she hath done in the Emperors presence I deny not but she hath some cause to be impatient considering the message I delivered unto her in your behalf but that is easie to be cured and although the love she hath born you so long time should be wholly extinguished which I can hardly believe even as a bâ—ne that is broken in two pieces and set together again is stronger in that place than in any other part so being there and in her company shall win that you finde broken and by that means make it stronger than ever it was before Therefore I am of advice that fulfilling her desire you go unto her and that as soon as possibly you may Alas Carmelle said Esplandian what good or what service did I ever do unto her thereby to have deserved at her hands the least favor among an infinite number I have received from her Especially by the report of your own mouth If therefore she hath just occasion to be offended with me having offended her so much can I hope for any other at her hands than méer disdain and mortal hatred My Lord said Carmelle I am a woman and know the nature of women better than you do or then all the men in the world besides I pray you therefore believe me and go and sée her and if so be she entertain you not according to your desire then never give credit to my words again In faith my good companion said the King of Denmark Carmelle giveth you so good and wise counsel that either you ought to give credit to her spéech or else wholly drive this fantasie out of your minde considering as is most true that sometimes and very often how much the more fervent and extream the love of a woman is so much the sooner is it dead and wholly extinguished for that their inconstancy is such and so great that for the least occasion in the world they are over ready to love and much more inconsiderately do they forget the same again not that I accuse the Princess Leonorine of so great lightness but to say the truth as commonly we finde and for my part I know not upon what occasion you ground your love whereby you should make so much account of her séeing that she never saw you nor you her but are only content to conceive well of each other upon a certain ronown that hath spred abroad set forth the great perfections that are reported to be in you both which in truth may be compared to a fire made of straw that is no sooner kindled but presently consumed wherefore be not then so much abashed if the Princes Leonorine shew her self at this present so smally affected towards you for those that love most déerly do oftentimes fall into discourtesses and coldness of affection that they disdain or at the least in the twinkling of an eye wholly forget those that for a long time they have loved most intirely and that for their sakes shall have hazarded their lives in most dangerous adventures Did you never hear how Brisarde behaved her self in regard of Troilus after the destruction of Troy she loved him so well that she would néeds die in his arms when she was constrained to forsake him the Gréeks thinking verily she would have slain her self and yet was she scarse issued out of Troy but she wholly forgot her love Troilus and transported that vehement love she had born him all her life to Diomedes King of Thrace O God What inconstancy what lightness what foundation upon a sandy ground was that This unconstant woman among other precious ornaments given her by Troilus her friend had a pair of perfumed gloves which within one hour after her captivity she gave unto her new friend Diomedes in token of the love and amity she bare unto him What had Troilus said then if he had bin present would he have believed her I think not And what a point of honesty I pray you did Cliteninestra shew unto her husband when in steed of welcoming him home at his coming from the siege of Troy where he had remained ten years together she caused him cruelly to be murdered by Egistus her ruffian But will you hear more examples of the like matter and as he began to procéed Esplandian said unto him My good friend I pray you do not this wrong unto my lady Leonorine but let me here your counsel how I may from henceforth govern my self to satisfie her desire Go and sée her said the king and if you think good I will bear your company Shall we go and leave our companions said Esplandian that will I never do wherefore said the King are not Frandalo Manley and the rest of their company strong enough to defend the town in your absence I am of advise that you send presently for them give them to understand that by reason of certain news you have of late received you must be constrained to leave them for the space of eight or fiftéen days and in like sort dispatch Gastilles squire and write unto his master that you thank him heartily for the good remembrance he hath had of you and that with all spéed you will send a messenger expresly unto the Emperor with an answer to that it hath pleased him to command to be written unto you in the mean time I will take order to prepare a ship to bring us to the castle the defended mountain where we will imbarque our selves in the great Serpent that will not faile as I think to bring us unto Constantinople and determine with your self what company you mean to take with you My good friend said Esplandian do as you think good I am content to hazard my life in your hands It
King of Denmark assailed to do it but what strength so ever he used it was impossible for him the like did Gandalin and Enil but they sped no better then the King whereat Esplandian began to laugh and taking it by the two ends lifted it up so easily as if it had béen a piece of dry wood yet was it a piece of Christal of thrée fingers thick and about ten or twelve foot long under it they found an azure stone the fairest and most orient colour that ever was séen that covered a Ceder chest which smelt as swéet as any Balm the Chest being shut with a lock of Emerald-stone having a key of Diamonds that hung by it at a Chain of fine Gold all most artificially composed the stone taken up and the Chest opened they found the Image of Jupiter lying therein all of massy Gold garnished with many Pearls Rubies and other inestimable rich Iewels especially a Crown that he ware on his head about the which were placed certain Carbuncles in form of Gréek Letters with these words Jupiter is great God of all Gods and in his right hand he bare a Table containing this prophesie When time shall come that my art and knowledge shall faile the heart of the hand inclosed herein and life restored by them that were the cause of death the Grecian sheep long time nourished in pleasant pastures shall be constrained to feed on a herb bitterer then Gaul by meanes of the extremity the hungry Sea-Wolves shall put them unto whose number shall be so great that they shall cover the Sea in divers places in such wise that the poor sheep inclosed in their great Forrest and divers of their lambs being dead and torn in pieces their shepheard having in a manner lost all hope of restoring them again with anguish of heart and mind in abundance of tears shall lament their great misfortune Then shall come the brave Lions whelp by whose means the great troop of wolves shall be driven away and destroyed Nevertheless he shall take from the shepheard his great power and the best beloved of his sheep whereupon he shall seize in such sort that his strong teeth and sharp clawes shall enter into her heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flock resting in the power and government of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to pass that the great deceitful Serpent the Inchanted Sword and this high Rock shall sink into the bottom of the Sea and shall never after be seen again of any man But although Esplandian understood the Gréek tongue yet could he not give any interpretation or exposition to this prophesie no more could any of his company wherefore they determined not to stay long about the same but were more busied to behold the stones and great riches they saw within the tomb which they determined to take with them and return unto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandian willed Carmelle to take the Lion he and the king of Denmark took the plate of Christal Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceder Chest with the Image of Jupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending down the rock till about evening they came unto the hermitage where they stayed all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about Sunsetting they imbarqued themselves and because Esplandian would not be séen in Constantinople without the great Serpent he commanded the master of the Ship to direct his course to the castle called the defended mountain whith he did But having sailed about two days and more as the King of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the Letter that was sent unto him he asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voyage unto the Princess Leonorine to understand the truth of her affection towards him For said he it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himself hath commanded him to write unto you in such sort that thereby you should make the more haste to go thither at the least I should know of her what her pleasure is and how you shall govern your self in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you have toucht me now even at the quick if you would do me so much favor you shall bind me for ever unto you mean time I will stay for you in the gulf where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle the defended mountain Assure your self said the King I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the master took with him besides the boat to save himself and his people if any tempest should happen wherein the King with certain marriners to guide him entred and taking their leave of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the fight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a tempest that at the break of day their Pilot knew not where he was and without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace unto the mercy of the waves which continued for the space of forty days together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be over-tedious to recount them and we should likewise digress from the matter whereunto we are entered to bring our History unto an end Let it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arrive in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the King of Denmark and his squire lost their wits and became mad by force of a water that they drunk out of a fountain called the fountain of Forgetfulness that sprang in that Isle where they were taken and kept in a cruel prison from whence in short time after they were delivered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fell in love with the King and caused him to recover his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himself and his Squire and having done she with them put to Sea and coasting the country of Trevisane they came unto an Island where the people of the countrey would have burnt a Gentlewoman because she could not finde a Knight for to maintain her quarrel but the King fought for her and overcame him that accused her and taking the Gentlewoman with him put to Sea again and sailing six days together along the coast he perceived a maid out of a tower wherein the Lord of that countrey kept her prisoner for the cause which she declared to the King out of a window that looked into the Sea for whose sake the king took land to fight with the Lord till he delivered the poor Gentlewoman out of prison such were the adventures of the King of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great Chronicles that master
their aid never did poor prisoners that were set at liberty more rejoyce nor were better pleased and the Turks on the contrary side never more astonished yet they held close together determining rather to revenge their deaths than once to yield unto their enemies so that before the Knights of Galatia could enter in among them they gave them much to do although in the end they overcame them whereby not one escaped alive to carry news unto their friends Enil at the first onset had béen sore wounded as you heard before wherefore he caused his wounds to be searched the like did the rest of the hurt Knights Which done they set forward to Galatia contenting themselves for that day with the victory it had pleased God to send them And coming to the gate they found Urganda ready to receive them who knowing how all had past and the danger wherein Esplandian had béen jestingly said unto him In faith my Lord said she if I were afraid of death when I fell into Melies hands I believe you were not in much better case since that I saw you last as I understand by those that know what dammage you were in Madam said he I know I am a mortal man and that my life and death are in the hands of God as it pleaseth him to dispose and I confess unto you if we had not béen succored that in the end we could not have endured yet am I well assured that before it had come to pass we had laid so many enemies on the ground that the rest should have had greater cause to lament their loss than boast of their conquest Urganda perceived by Esplandian words that he liked not her spéech whereupon she said unto him My Lord pardon me I beséech you and excuse the indiscretion of a woman specially in me who at this present had forgotten my self Madam said Esplandian you may command me and likewise set me forth for a coward hardy or any other what it pleaseth you to tearm me In which manner talking together they came unto his lodging where master Elizabeth newly come from Alfarin visited his wounds and the rest likewise that had cause to use his help CHAP. XLII How the Knights of great Brittain that were at Galatia imbarqued themselves with Vrganda in the great Serpent to sail unto Constantinople and what happened unto them THe Knights that had béen hurt at the last encounter for the space of fiftéen days after were forced to kéep their chambers until their wounds were healed during which time Urganda took great pleasure in reading Melies books which Esplandian caused to be brought unto her wherein she found such wonderful conjurations and devises of Magick Art that she was abashed how she that had them so long time in her possession knew no more than yet she did estéeming the Enchantress Lady to have béen the perfectest scholar that even studied in that art as it well appeared by her books Now the time approached wherein it was expedient according to the destinies appointed that Esplandian and his companions should go unto Constantinople wherefore as soon as their wounds were healed Urganda caused them to be assembled and standing in the middest of them all she said unto them My good friends knowing part â—f the prosperities and adversities which the heavens foreshew unto you all I came hither specially to sée Esplandian and you of whom I have received great pleasure perceiving at my arrival the love and amity that is among you with the great desire you have to accomplish the order of knighthood not for the glory and recompence of this world but onely for the increasing of our faith and the service of God that shall reward you for it and to the end you may continue in this forwardness that the thing which I pretend may happily fall out I will from henceforth not onely imploy my person by my Art which hath pleased God to lend me wherewith I will advise you what I shall find convenient and necessary for the augmentation of your honors already spread through out the world which to begin I am of opinion that you all imbarque your selves with me in the great Serpent that shall bring us unto Constantinople to the Emperor for without him it is impossible that this great enterprise you have taken in hand can come to good effect as also that he himself before many years are past shall be found in marvellous necessity and such that he shall account himself most happy to have your aid and with good reason for that in the end both he and you shall overcome those hazards according to your desires Then shall you plainly know that this that I foreshew unto you is most true While Urganda used these words all the company stood still intentive for to hear her and had it not béen that they estéemed her words to be most true they had doubted of the threatnings she used against the Emperor he being so great and puissant a Monarch Nevertheless the issue of that trouble which she assured unto them gave them some ease and contentation of mind in expectation whereof they made account in the mean time to prove their strengths and forces that thereby their valor and magnanimity might be further spread abroad And as touching their voyage to the Emperor as Urganda gave them direction it was onely the thing whereupon Esplandian did aspire hoping that if the wars were openly proclaimed in the Grecian Empire and the Emperors danger so imminent to shew such valor and prowess in martial exploits that he would not onely frée and acquit his father of the promise he had made to serve the Ladies but confirm the love that the Princess Leonorine bare unto him in such sort that he might obtain her for his wife which caused him to speak for all his company assuring Urganda that not one of them but was ready to obay and go where it pleased her My friends said she then I pray you to morrow in the morning cause your horses to be shipped in my ship and for armour take you no care I â—orâ— provide you thereof so well that each man shall find himself content let it suffice you to imbarque your selves and set sail for often times an enterprise deferred over long falleth not out as men desire it should not for want of good and wise counsel but by the negligence of those that are appointed to execute the same Thus was their voyage to Constantinople agréed upon in such sort that all the knights of great Brittain entred into the great Serpent taking with them Frandola Melie and the captain of Tesifant that had béen taken prisoner as you heard before leaving the Admirals souldiers for garrison in the town Which done the ship went forward of it self sayling towards the Castle the defended mountain where being arrived they took Armato king of Turky and his two captains with them or Urganda willed them so to do and six
she if he hath done any thing for me it was without my commandment I had rather he had done less in those things and that he had bin more obedient to his fathers will and mine Madam said the Emperor to Urganda you sée in my daughter how great the choler of an angry woman is My Lord said she she hath reason so to do for that Esplandian obaying his father ought to confirm himself both to her will and yours And having failed therein all he saith that he hath done for her sake may be accounted nothing although I am assured that the remembrance of my Lady your daughter hath made him being in fight enter into such danger that it was most strange how he could escape Wherefore Madam said she to Leonorine he deserveth pardon for the same and so I pray you grant him While Urganda spake the Princess beheld Esplandian with so great affection that in a manner she lived and died in him and he for his part by her felt in what sort love useth those he holds in his power Whereby she continued a time without answering Urganda not for any evil will to her in using of thâ—se spéeches but rather féeling such alteration in her mind that she trembled like a leaf But in the end she remembred her self and said unto her Madam séeing it is your pleasure that I remit his offence I am content to do it upon condition that if he forget himself as he hath done heretofore you shall bear the punishment for him With that she took him by the hand and made him rise up changing spéech because the Empress that in the mean time talked with the King of Denmark came thither whereby Esplandian was constrained to leave the Princess and salute her The Emperor all that while had given no entertainment to King Armato as knowing him not but when they shewed him which was he he imbraced him and said My Lord and brother I beséech you pardon my ignorance in not entertaining you before this time as not knowing you but I will amend the fault when you think good My Lord said Armato I am now as it pleaseth fortune in place where you may command me yet I pray you call to mind who I was and what I may be and do for me as you would I should do for you if your case were mine Considering with your self that the like hard fortune may fall on you and that it is no less vertue to intertain the vanquished courteously then to overthrow the puissant enemy With that the Emperor led him into his pallace the rest following after him and when they were in the Hall he left them with the Empress to speak unto Frandalo and taking him aside said unto him Frannalo to let you know how well I do account of the great good service you have done for me I will that from henceforth you shal be my chief Standard Bearer in which place I now estaplish you For the which Frandalo thanked him most humbly accounting himself most happy to have so great authority CHAP. XLIII How Norandel and Queen Minoresse fell in love one of the other and what conference they had together THe Emperor being among his Knights making them all the charge and honor that he could devise It happened that the princess Leonorine and Quéen Minoresse séeing the King of Denmark and Norandel together called Carmelle and asked her who they were My Ladies said she you have séen him that hath the least beard here before which is the King of Denmark for he came hither with Frandalo the other is Norandel king Luisarts Son estéemed for one of the hardiest Knights living on the earth I pray you said the Princess desire them to come hither that we may speak with them With that Carmelle called them unto her and as they were before the two Princesses the more they beheld the excellency of their beauties the more they marvelled at it and not without cause for next unto Leonorine there could hardly be found in all Greece one that matched Queen Minoresse especially in comeliness and good behavior but if she had some perfection in her nature had not forgotten her self in forming the two Knights especially Norandel who till that time had never felt the stings of love no more had Quéen Minoresse Nevertheless that little thief surprised them so covertly that he bound them both making them captives one to the other in such manner that after many Questions and Answers propounded they drew themselves apart leading the King of Denmark talking with the Princess Leonorine the Queen asking Norandal what he thought of the Princese Madam said he although I have heard her estéemed for one of the goodliest Ladies in the world yet did I never think her beauty had béen such as now I sée it is althought you are little behind her in that respect whereby I might estéem my self most happy if I had bin asléep that day I enterprised to take my journey hither Wherefore said the Quéen have you had so ill entertainment in this Court No Madam said he but there is one hath stollen that from me which I have most carefully kept during my life The Quéen not knowing what he meant was thereat abashed asking him what it was and whither he knew the thief I Madam said he and it resteth in you to do me justice if it be your pleasure for you and none other have that whereof I speak In good faith said the Quéen you shall pardon me for I have nothing of yours that I can remember Madam said Norandel since the time I first did know what belonged to a man I kept my liberty not alienating it to any one But coming hither I had no sooner set mine eye on you but I found my self of a fréeman a bondslaue and captive to your Ladyships good favor which I beséech you afford me in recompence of the liberty you now have taken from me Truly fix knight said she you have at this present run too far astray for if you beheld me as you should you had not found me such a one as you say and would have bin twice advised to use such spéeches as you do Nevertheless I will not take them at your hands being a stranger in so evil part as mine honor doth require and I think likewise you speak far otherwise then you mean which she said to undermine him Thereby to sée if Norandels words were spoken from the heart who hearing that overthwart answer was much astonished but being moved with love answered her and said Madam pardon my boldness I beséech you but I swear unto you by the faith of a Knight that I have discovered the secret of my heart and if you will not believe me at this time I hope in time to come to do so much that you shall well perceive what great desire I have to be your Knight if it will please you to grant me so much favor to accept me for the
go with him My Lord said he to morrow I will send to all my Ports and Havens that all the Ships of War that can be found may be in a readiness mean time I will in all parts assemble men to do as my Nephew Esplandian hath required My Lord said Enil my Lord Esplandian hath written by Gandalin to king Amadis and other of his friends whom he hath desired to joyn with you so that I hope about one time all your Armies will be ready and that without long staying for each other you will assemble all together Truly said king Florestan it was well devised With that divers captains were dispatched into sundry places to give order for their men and to ballast rigge and prepare Vessels for their Voyage into the East Gandalin on the other side coasting the Isles of Majorque and Minorque leaving Guinea and Barbarie passed the straits of Gibraltar and had so good a wind that in few days without staying in Spain he arrived in Great Brittain with King Amadis who as then continued in London and presented him with the Letter that Esplandian sent shewing him likewise his charge by word of mouth the good and evil adventures that he had since he departed from Mirefleur and among the rest the overthrow of the Turkish army on the Sea the taking of King Aâ—mato the occasion why the siege rose up before the Castle of the defended mountain the arrival of Gastilles the taking of Alfarin and of the captain of Tesifant the surprising of Galatia the loss oâ— Urganda and lastly all what you have read at large in the chapters going before And to the end my lord said he that order may be had to prevent the inconvenience he foreséeth to be prepared against all Christendom if it be not succored he hath expresly willed me to shew you that he hath had certain intelligence that all the Kings of the East parts have sworn and promised together to over-run all Christendom which is very likely considering the great preparations assembly of men they have already made in the Isle of Tenedos which is such that as our spies report they are at least six hundred sail of Ships and about four or five hundred thousand men God will help us if it pleased him said the King Amadis for my part I will do what possible I may and will likewise advertise King Perion my father and my brother Galaor My Lord said Gandalin I have also charge to travel unto them and likewise unto Gasquillan Don Brunean Quedragant and others to whom Esplandian hath written in like sort as he hath done to you and hath expresly given me in charge to sée King Luisart and do his humble commendations unto him It is great reason said the king nevertheless I am of this opinion that before my mother the Queen you do not once declare the occasion of your coming but give her to understand that all is well but not unto the king if you find him alone for he is a man as every one well knoweth to take all things with patience as they shall fall out and because my Sons affairs require no delay I pray you Gandalin after you have refreshed your self a day or two go on your journey as you have in charge So Gandalin that day remained there during which time Quéen Oriane talked long with him the next day he departed to sée King Luisart and Quéen Brisanne at Mirefleur who knowing he came of message from Esplandian were excéeding glad the Quéen although she were wise and very aged yet could not change her womans nature but before the king spake any word asked him for her son but Gandalin accustomed readily to devise excuses as he had béen instructed by King Amadis told her that he had left him in the firm Isle not well at ease by reason of his long travel but not so ill said he as that he could not have taken pain to come hither and sée you but he feared lest his sickness would encrease where he thought it better for him to kéep his chamber a while than to entertain a long and envious ague for a long space which the Quéen easily believed and for the hope she had shortly to sée him she made no account thereof nevertheless the same evening Gandalin told King Luisart all that you heard before wisely excusing himself of the spéech he used before him unto the Quéen as King Amadis had given him charge wherein king Luisart commended him for the rest he promised to think thereon while he travelled unto those with whom he had to do In this sort Gandalin being dispatched returned to king Amadis who in the mean time perswaded by Quéen Oriane wrought a marriage for him as you shall hear You have read in the beginning of our history of the services the gentlewoman of Denmark did for them and the things wherein she Gandalin had béen exercised wherefore it was reason that having béen partakers of their youthful toys she should also taste some of their prosperous fortunes Wherefore Quéen Oriane moved king Amadis to make a marriage betwéen them two but he thought the match unfit because the gentlewoman was already aged Gandalin being yong lusty nevertheless as all women that are wise and of a quick conceit can bring their enterprises to effect the Quéen found means to get the kings consent wherby Gandalin was no sooner come from Mirefleur but he took him aside said unto him Gandalin the quéen is desirous to have you stay with us not only for the love she knoweth I bear unto you but also for the good she wisheth you And for this cause she would have you marry with the gentlewoman of Denmark whom she loveth and will do much both for her and you if you consent thereto you know her long time since both to be wise good vertuous and for my part I pray you and counsel you thereunto Gandalin would gladly have excused himself and to say the truth he was too yong for so old a match nevertheless having from his infancy learned to confirm his will to that of Amadis he was content to do as pleased him in such sort that in less than three days after the marriage was celebrated and ended Mean time king Amadis took the letters and instructions that Gandalin should carry to Gasquillan and king Brunean and sent them by a gentleman of his named Handro cousin german to the Countess of Flanders desiring them as much as possible they might to aid his son in his so good a cause but the next week following Gandalin more affected to the service of Esplandian than to court his wife departed from thence to travel into France unto king Perion and from him to Sobradise to Galaor Mean time king Amadis sent for all the Pilots masters and marriners of his country that he could find commending King Arban of Norgales to take care for all things requisite for the enterprise and
the end that being united together they may the better preserve both your life and mine And taking a Bracelet of Gold that from her infancy she had always kept she tied it about his right arm And this circle said she being round as you behold it shall without ceasing be witness of our loves serving as a Rampart to this Army which if it pleaseth God in defending it shall so well defend his master that he shall return in as good health as I desire he should Norandel thanked her most heartily mean time Leonorine entertained Talanque Manley and the rest to whom she said My friends I hope the Lord will shew you so much grace that the Victory shall be yours for the Combate you take in hand is not for to defend the honor of a Gentlewoman but the glorious Faith of Christ If therefore it be so the strength procéedeth from him be you then well assured that he will impart so much to you as you shall want Madam said Talanque at other times we have béen at the like feast from whence we have returned to the great expence of those that called us thither as if it be Gods will we hope this day to do the like Wherewith taking their leaves of her they went to finde their horses and being mounted the Emperor with great number of Knights and Gentlewomen brought them to the gate And committing them to God the ten Knights marched bravely to the place of Combat where the Souldan with a great number of his friends met them asking them whom the Emperor had appointed Iudge on their side Souldan said Norandel we desire no other Iudge then your self that are accounted a courteous and most faithful Prince By all my gods said he I had rather die a thousand deaths then you should endure the least injury in the world we believe it well said all the knights With that he caused them to enter into the Lists at one end and the ten Pagans at the other but before they entred into fight he called Norandel and his companions and said unto them My friends I pray you let me shew you what the custom of my Countrey is in such affairs then if you think good you may observe it if not my knights shall kéep your custom if it be indifferent Shew us then said Norandel what it is and if the same be reasonable we will not refuse it You shall understand said he that all knights justle one against one to the end that all men may know the excellency of the Victor And if any one be overthrown he that is on the horse back shall not assail the other before their companions have run out their course Then he that is on horseback shall a light and shall fight it out by dint of sword with him that before was overthrown Because it chanceth oftentimes that the best knights that are fall into such inconvenience onely by the fault and means of bad horses which cause them divers times either to fail in striking of their enemy or else not to run their right course which cannot be excused in thâ—se that are on foot to whom it is permitted to succor each other if néed require Truly said Norandel that custom is well ordained and I and my companions wil observe the same wherewith the Souldan went out of the Lists causing his Heralds to proclaim the fight With that a Pagan stepped forth against Norandel that refused him not but covering himself with his shield they met so fiercely that their spears were broken to their wrests méeting body to body with so great strength that the Pagan fell over his horse tail lying flat upon the ground but Norandel had no hurt onely that his horses shoulder was thrust out of joint so that he lighted off staying till the rest had run their courses as he had promised Then Garvate du Val Craintif ran against one of the other and they charged each other in such sort that their féet failing in their stirrops they were both cast out of their saddles Then Talanque ran against the third Pagan to whom fortune was more favorable then to any of the rest for they ran so well that neither of them once started aside or moved in their saddles and yet brake their spears in many pieces The like chanced to Manley and Ambor but not to Bravor the son of Balan for he hit him that ran against him right in the breast and threw him from his horse And presently therewith Imosil of Burgundy had so great a stroke with a launce that his eyes started in his head and was therewith so much astonished that his horse bare him to the side of the barriers where he fell down flat Elian le delibere and he that ran against him were constrained to hold by their horses mains Listoran of the bridge missed his stroke and his enemy likewise the like happened to Trion and the last that ran with him That done all they that were on horse back lighted down to fight with swords and there began betwéen them such a fight as the like had not béen séen of so few Knights together maintaining themselves so brabely one against the other that the strongest of them was so weary and out of breath that they were constrained to rest And as Norandel leaned upon his Sword which he rested on the ground the bracelet that Minoresse gave him fell downward upon his arm which put him in so good remembrance of her that clean forgetting all the travel he had taken before he spake so loud that every man might hear and said By God sir Knight this rest doth not beséem us many men will from henceforth be in doubt of the great glory that now we mean to win Wherefore let every man shew forth what we can do and let no man spare Wherewith taking the little piece of his shield that rested in his hand and lifting up his arm he gave so great a blow unto his enemy that he made him réel therewith and doubling it strake him so surely on the helmet that with the blow the Turk was forced to knéel down and let his sword fall out of his hand which Norandel seized upon being ready to strike off his head if he had not cried him mercy which Talanque and Manley perceiving imployed their forces in such manner that it might easily be judged they would soon obtain the victory As for Bravor he had already stricken his knight down wherefore he ran to help the rest and Norandel likewise With the which help it soon appeared that they which rested yet to overcome would not long resist for in short space they found themselves in such extremity that unless the Souldan of Liquie had desired the Christian Knights to stay a while they had all died but calling Norandel unto him he said I pray you said qe procéed no further in this combate and content your selves that I account my Knights for vanquished as in truth they are
and so hardly handled that the force you shall from henceforth use against them shall more be holden for a kinde of cruelty than any chivalry Nevertheless if my request may take no place with you do as you think good Souldan said Norandel if they acknowledge it at our hands and ask us mercy they shall not fail to have it for it was never our custom to use force to such as could not stand against us Content your selves said he that I that am their Lord yield you the victory and I pray you therefore shew mercy unto them swearing unto you by my crown if you do them so much good that while I live I will not be unmindful of the same With that the ten Christian Knights went out of the field and mounon their horses took their way unto the City where the Emperor stayed for them for he had séen the issue of the combate and now they returned victors but he heard not what words had past betwéen them till they being lighted off their horses told him what was done for the which he praised God estéeming more of them for their courtesie they had shewen unto the enemy CHAP. L. How Queen Calafre came to aid the Pagans and of the marvellous assault that she gave to the City of Constantinople THe renown of this War undertaken by the Kings Taborlans Souldans Califfes and Princes dwelling in Tartaria India Arabia and other countries in the East against the Emperor and his Empire of Constantinople was spread so far abroad that it was known to the puisant Quéen Calafre reigning in Califorine a most fertile and pleasant country confining on the head of the river Borisleness hard by the foot of the Riffee mountains This country whereof I speak was sometimes peopled with good Knights and men of all quarters but the women upon malice devised a means to kill them all establishing a law among themselves that from that time forwards they would acknowledge for Lady and Quéen one of their own country wâ—men governing themselves as the Amazons used to do Whereby it was not lawful for any of them to use the company of men above once or twice a year upon the days and times by them appâ—inted when they went of their own country and used their neighbors help with whom God knoweth if they found not means to make them pay the usury of the time lost in such sort that most of them returned home with childe but the bringing up of their children was far different for the maiden children were kept alive burning their right paps but not the men children for as soon as they were born they put them to death having agréed not to suffer one alive or else so few that they very easily might overcome them For this cause oftentimes they warred against the Tartarians bâ—rdering on their country putting them to great trouble by divers and continual invasions as well by sea as by land In their laws and customes they observed so great rigour as that if any man by casualty or otherwise fell into their hands he proved for food unto a great number of grissons nourished among them when they were yong being so tame and gentle that never any hauk knew better the Faulkoners lure then those gentle birds knew the voice of her that ordinarily fed them To come unto the point this quéen of Califorine being a woman of great spirit valiant hardy yong fair and of good behavior hearing of the wars undertaken against the Christians was desirous to be there not for any ill she wished them but onely for to know them and to sée their country that bare so great renown And for that cause she assembled great numbers of the principal Ladies of her country shewing them what honor they might obtain in that voyage which may peradventure be such said she that by our force and great prowess we may greatly augment our Empire being feared and redoubted of each man and not continue always buried among these mountains as they in times past did of whom at this present we now possess and injoy the place The Quéen in this sort could so well perswade them that they moved with a marvellous desire to go with her presently prepared their ships and set sail for Thracia with so good and prosperous a winde that the tenth day after the assaults of Constantinople they arrived in the army of Armato where they were honorably received and after divers spéeches used by the Souldan of Liquy and other Princes of the camp unto the Quéen of Califorine specially touching their determination concerning that great enterprise she being sorry they had done so little against the town desired them that she might once have leave to try her fortune against it by means that she would use And the better to induce them thereunto she told them she had fifty Griffons that would not fail being let out of their cages to seize upon the Christians without hurting of her women because they knew them and had béen nourished with them And while they take their flight said she I will give such an assault against the town that without doubt we will inforce the same for if the Emperors souldiers appear but to defend the walls my Griffons shall be ready to carry them clean away as the Merlin doth the Lard But to the end said she your men receive no hurt let them abide within their tents till they be shut into their cages When King Armato and the Souldan of Liquie heard the great zeal and affection she shewed to imploy her forces as also the invention that she had they all agréed that the next day after she should do what liked her Whereupon she sent presently to her that kept the Griffons that she should give them nothing for to eat of all that day that when they meant to use them at the assault they might gréedier and further sent word by sound of drum that all her companies should be ready the next day early in the morning to give assault unto the City Quéen Calafre having in this manner provided for her enterprise at the time appointed all her women armed according to their manner the most part of them bearing bows ran with great fury unto the walls and with their ladders began to mount up with that the alarm went about the city all men running to defend the same and as they were some upon the walls and other places of defence the Quéen made sign to let the Griffons loose which being hungry and flying over the town seized upon such as they could find abroad wherewith the Emperors souldiers were in so great fear that most part of them that fought forsook the walls to hide themselves Alas what pity was it to sée soldiers citizens knights and others yea women and little children and all whatsoever they could get into their claws taken up into the air and sometimes having taken them up they let them fall upon the stones whereby
in the army Whereof the Souldan and Quéen Calafie being advertised determined together to write unto them the contents whereof do follow Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie mortal enemy to the enemies of our gods and Calafre Queen of Califorine a country most rich and abundant in Gold and precious Stones give you Amadis de Gaule King of Great Brittain and your son Knight of the great Serpent to understand that the occasion of our arrival in these countries hath been for these two causes The one in hope to destroy all Christendom and the other to prove if we may 〈◊〉 from you the renown that is spread abroad of you to be the two best Knights living in the world for we account our selves for such as that if you will accept the combate of your persons against ours we will evidently make it known that our valor is no less then yours And to the end the glory of the victors may be known the vanquished shall remain in their powers to dispose of them as they shall think convenient Advise your selves therefore to answer us herein by this our messenger to whom we have given charge to declare unto you if you refuse this combate that from henceforth we shall have just occasion to attribute to our selves the advantage of the praises and endless glories that fortune heretofore hath given you and to esteem of you as meanly in time to come as you have been highly renowned heretofore This Letter given to the Gentlewoman that bare the first to Norandel she went unto the Christians camp and being advertised which was Amadis tent entered therein as he sat talking with king Luisart Esplandian and other good knights Where knéeling on the ground she asked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father Amadis spake unto her and said Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my Son Is it your pleasure to speak with us The gentle woman casting her eye upon Esplandian marvelling at his great beauty spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily believe that this is he for I have heard him in divers places esteemed for the same that now I do behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp onely to sée him you now have your desire That hath not bin only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and quéen Calafre send unto you both wherefore having read it I pray you return an answer With that Amadis having taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the rent attending their resolution King Amadis having read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there a rose great controversie among them concerning the refusal or acceptation of the combate for that the most part of them were of advise it should not be accepted shewing divers great and evident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them ready to give them battel and if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to King Amadis and Esplandian in whom partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in divers men that are now very willing and ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame unto them all for that refusal onely would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might well be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth said Amadis be it of two against two twenty against twenty or of greater number the victory is in the hands of God Wherefore in refusing thereof I should do my self wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendom that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I have great hope of Gods help herein for whose faith and honor I have undertaken this voyage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldier and said That he would take that combate upon himself alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéen but against two others more with them rather then it so should be refused whereupon it was concluded that Amadis and he would fight and sending for the messenger into the tent Amadis said unto her Gentlewoman you shall tell the Souldan and the Quéen that I and my son are content to do as they require wherefore set them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall be betwéen their camp and ours assuring them on the faith of a King that not one of our soldiers shall once remove how soever we spéed which we desire likewise at their hands and if it be their desire to have the combate fought this day we are content to do it With that the Gentlewoman returned and coming to the Souldans tent she declared her message unto them being such as you have heard whereof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéen for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian whereof she asked the Gentlewomen what she thought of him Madam said she I have in my life time seen many men and women that nature had indued with great beauty but by the gods I confess it is all but painting in regard of that I have found in him for he is so fair and beautiful that the more I think thereon so much the more it maketh me conceive such beauty to be rather divine them humane That is much said the Queen I know not said the Gentlewoman what you mean by that word Much but I am well assured if you had seen him as I did that you would say as much as I do and it may be more Truly said the Queen before I enter in combate with him I will first see him unarmed and speak with him not as an enemy to an enemy but as friends commonly do one unto the other Madam said the Souldan seeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went again unto them to desire them to give you leave to come and visit them in their camp not to procure them any cause of envy but to do them honor and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsel seemed good unto the Queen and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman back again unto Amadis and Esplandian whom she found yet in the Tent whereas she left them With that she told them what her message was and the great desire the Queen had to see them before they entred into combate King Amadis could not refrain laughing to hear the Gentlewoman express the affection her mistress had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Son said he deny not her request for I assure you since our coming hither I have heard the Queen to be esteemed a wise and beautiful Princess You hear our answer said Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Queen come hither when she thinketh good for she shall be heartily welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the
ships flying towards Tartaria in all the haste they could whereof the Emperor of Constantinople being advertised sent Frandalo and divers Gallies with him to follow them but all in vain in the mean time the hurt Knights and soldiers were brought into the City and the dead buried each according to his degree wherein the Emperor shewed great affection especially as touching the burial of the Kings Perion and Luisart for whom Esplandian coming to the Empire and those that succeeded after him caused two Pyramides to be made not any thing inferior to those which sometime were erected in the City of Memphis as well for the Kings Miris Chemnis as others and hard by them they buried the bodies of the valiant knights Balan Helian Polimner Enil Grumedan the good old man and divers other knights that died in that battel fighting in the defence of the faith of Iesus Christ with whom their blessed souls do now remain in joy And because no mention hath béen made of Quéen Calafre since her captivity neither of the aid that she had brought unto the Pagan kings it séemeth th◠reason that I should declare the occasion why her women fought not with the rest you must understand that the Quéen perceiving her in one day to be taken not onely with the love of the knight Esplandian but by the force of his father king Amadis not long after she had béen in the company of the Princess Leonorine to whom Gandalin brought her she sent unto her Sister Lyote to will her with her women to return to sea keeping a part from all the Pagans without once stirring from thence for any thing whatsoever should fall till she received further news from her which was partly the cause of the enemies overthrow for they doubting some treason being separated in that sort from that time forward were in some fear and in greater suspition than before and not without cause for that if Lyote had aided king Armato both by sea and land as she might have done if her sister had not forbidden her it is likely her esquadron of women being twenty thousand strong and somewhat more had done great mischief to the Christians but God of his goodness provided better for them CHAP. LIIII How after the Pagans were driven out of Thrace the Emperor of Constantinople renouncing his Empire invested Esplandian therewith marrying him to his daughter the princess Leonorine THe Obsequies and Funerals of the Kings Princes Lords and others that died in the battel being finished the wounded cured and all things set at rest the Emperor of Constantinople knowing that Amadis and those that were come with him from the Western parts would return again into their countries desired them to assemble shewing them that his meaning was to let them know what he determined to do before they went from thence The next day in the morning they all met in the Emperors great hall and he standing in the middest spake unto them and said My brethren Lords and good friends the bond wherein I stand bounden unto you is so great that although it hath pleased God to make me Emperor of all Grecia yet I am well assured it is far beyond my poor ability to satisfie you for the same estéeming the honor and riches that I now have next under God be it little or much to procéed from you I am now thréescore years of age wholly aged and decrepit by reason of the pains that in my youthful years I have continually taken in following arms so it is I have but one child which is a Daughter the onely staff and hope of my old years whom I have determined if you think good to give in marriage unto the valiant Knight Esplandian and with her likewise to invest him with the Empire and Government of all my Countreys And the better to live solitarily and to separate my self from worldly company I have determined to go with the Emperess my Wife into the Monastery that I caused to be made there to live religiously calling upon God and doing pennance for the evils I have committed heretofore Wherefore my good Lord and friends I pray you if this my determination like you well let every man give consent and you first said he unto king Amadis to whom the matter toucheth nearer than to any of the rest as being father and son My Lord said he my son shall do as you command him I will tell you said the Emperor I remember that among other Prophecies which ought to happen in this our time there is one that maketh me as I think agrée with you in one consent Esplandian hath on his body as I have understood certain characters which shew his name and others that in no wise can be read but only by the woman that is ordained to be his wife let us now sée if it be my daughter or not with that he sent for the Princess Leonorine who being brought thither by the Emperess and divers other Ladies the Emperor desired Esplandian to open his doublet and shew them the letters he had born upon his body from his mothers womb which he refused not but before them all shewed them openly where every man might easily perceive the white characters containing this word Esplandian but they could not know the red wherefore the Emperor caused his Daughter to come néer asking her what she could do therein My Lord said she not long before Melie betrayed Urganda she and I being alone in my chamber she sent to fetch one of the books that had bin taken from her covered with gold whereon the Enchantress was engraven and I remember that I saw therein the like characters that Esplandian beareth on his body and over them their signification which is nothing else but his name and mine Daughter said the Emperor if you have the book still cause it to be brought hither whereunto she obeyed The book being brought she shewed him the place that Melie had read unto her containing that which followeth The happy knight that shal conquer the sword and the great treasure inchanted by me shall from his mothers womb bear his name in white characters and the name of her that shal be his wife in red characters upon his body which red characters shal be so difficult to understand that no man living in that time how wise or learned soever he be shall express the same without he see this book which will teach him what the seven characters do signifie representing the seven words that follow Leonorine Daughter of the Emperor of Greece In good faith said the Emperor here is a strange case and sheweth well that the Enchantress Lady had more knowledge in art magick then any that lived in her time séeing my daughter hath so well divined I am determined that you said he to the Archbishop of Thrace do grant unto Esplandian that which nature before his birth had promised to him which is my daughter Leonorine By which means