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
able to resolve his doubt then Urganda was caused her to go into the closet where the Emperess with the Princess Leonorine Quéen Minoresse and no more stayed for her they five being together the Emperor caused the Image of Jupiter to be brought thither which done he said unto Urganda Madam I pray you do me so much pleasure as to declare if it be possible what are the meaning of the Letters that this Image holdeth With that Urganda read it and having considered thereof she said unto the Emperor My Lord the great knowledge and skill that this Idol hath foreshowen shall in time to come be lost is already happened for as you know the power of Jupiter and of other gods hath béen suppressed and abolished by the coming of Iesus Christ and as touching these words The bondslave of the bond of slavery shall be burried here and life restored by him that suffered death These are hard and obscure tearmes yet will I declare them to your Grace as well as possibly I may With that Leonorine and Quéen Minoresse thought she would have spoken of the Knight Esplandian that had béen put into a Cedar Chest as you heard before wherewith they being surprised with a deadly fear began to behold each other in most pitiful manner which Urganda well perceiving intending to ease their mindes continued her discourse in this manner My Lord said she this Prophecy was written concerning Matroco Lord of the Castle of the defended mountain who as you know was always a Pagan till his latter day that he became a Christian whereby long time he continued a bond-slave of the bond of slavery for such ought the Sect of Idolatry to be named but Esplandian perceiving his repentance suffered him to be buried in the hermitage where as yet Carmelles father doth remain who since that time hath so much honored the Giants body that she hath buried his bones within the Cedar Chest that you Madam said she to Leonorine if you do remember gave unto her And touching these lines which contain these words That life shall be restored by him that suffered death that is likewise to be understood of him for that loosing this transitory life he hath obtained the eternal in Abrahams bosom so great grace hath he receiv'd at the hands of God by the merit of his Sons passion in whom he did believe as I said before and so my Lord said she you have heard what I can say as touching this strange Prophecy Ey but said the Emperor what means the rest My Lord said she I can tell you no more of it than can my Lady your daughter or Quéen Minoresse but so much I can assure you that in short time you shall sée it come to pass and if in any point it concerneth you the best is it will all fall out to greater good of your soul than to any power or worldly glory wherewith for this present I pray you content your self I truly said the Emperor and so will I always do for so my soul be well I estéem not the misery or torments of my body And with that he left Urganda with the Empress went into the Hall where great number of Knights and Gentlemen stayed for him with whom he passed the rest of the day in all pleasant delights mean time fortune by little and little began to play her part and to spread the nets wherewith she meant to inclose that troop thereby to work the envy and great tribulations that afterward fell upon them the beginning whereof was such as you shall hear About a mile without the City the Emperor had built a sumptuous Palace called Vaelbeniatnof as like to that of Apollidon in the Firm Isle as well could be devised which place was compassed with a Park furnished with all things requisite for mans delight whither he meant to lead the Ladies with Esplandian and his company as also king Armato to feast them in the same and for that purpose within thrée days after their arrival they departed from the City of Constantinople and went to Vaelbeniatnof going into the park wherein they found the hunters and at their first entrance a great Hart was singled out which in the end after long chace was killed almost before the Ladies and going further they espyed a Bore so fiercely hunted by dogs that they made him turn and with his Tusks stroke the dogs that none durst set upon him but at the last one of the hunters strake him in the throat and so he died so long this sport endured that supper time drew on wherefore the Lords and Ladies entring into the pallace found the tables covered and sitting down were served in most sumptuous manner and having supped they began to dance which continued till midnight minding the next day to begin their sport again but fortune minding to bear a part did so trouble the feast that she gave them well to understand how she can work in all things at her pleasure for the next day about evening the Knights and Ladies being in the Park some talking with those to whom they bare affections and contenting their mind with such devises as love to pass the time in pleasure put into their heads others running about and taking pleasure to gather flowers and do as most delighted them Melie from whom till then they could not hear one word went unto Urganda and before them all spake unto her and said Madam I marvel if it be so that your learning and skill be such as is reported why you make no sport unto this company Melie said Urganda where you are present I will not undertake to do it before you but you should rather do it being well assured that the Emperor would be thankful for the same If it pleaseth him said she I am content upon condition that after me you do the like or better if you can Truly said the Emperor it is but reason and I pray you both to do it My Lord said Melie then command Urganda to lend me a book that I was wont to have whereon the picture of Medea and her name written over it doth stand then shall you behold some of mine art and if Urganda never knew it before she may learn it now of me In good faith said Urganda that will I not deny you with that she called one of her Gentlewomen willing her to fetch the book mean time Melie took King Armato by the hand and making as though she would speak a word with him they walked a while together then they sat them down hard by the place where the Empress and the Ladies were talking with each other and staying till the thing Melie had requested were brought unto her she having it in her hand opened the book and then began to read making certain signs with her eyes lifted up to heaven and calling Urganda prayed her to come thither saying she should sée that she never had séen before Urganda not
yong gentlewomen stood looking forth to whom the Giant went and knéeling on his knée said unto her Madam I most humbly beséech you that neither for good nor evil which may happen unto me in fighting with this Knight not one of your house be so bold to help or favor me in any sort for I my self will put him to death with this my trenchant blade and rising up again holding his Shield before him with his Cimiterre in his hand he marched towards his enemy who having God on his side to whom he recommended himself stood ready to receive him Then there began such a Combate betwéen them that their blows séemed two Smiths forging upon their Anvils seeming like fire that the wind kindled in the air and surely the black Knight had sped but hardly at that time had it not been for the Armor Urganda gave him that could not be cut by any weapon and for the good Sword he conquered in the Rock of the Enchantress wherewith he stroke not one blow but he drew blood on the Giant Frerion who nevertheless did marvellously both defend himself and assayl his enemy but by evil fortune as he thought to strike the Knight on the right arm he started back and stepping forwards again gave the Giant such a blow upon the Helmet that he cut away a great piece thereof together with the buckle that made it fast but although the blow was marvellous great and in a manner incredible yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abashed but still shewed himself as fresh as if he had not fought all the day long Nevertheless the blood in such abundance issued out of his body that the white pavement of the Court was changed into red and therewith he grew so weak that it might easily be judged he had the worst whereby he still began to revile seeking onely to defend himself from his enemies blows whereat the old Lady that beheld them considering her Sons extreamity cryed out and said Alas my childe is it possible I should see thee murthered before my face and therewith in great haste she ran thither thinking to part them but it was too late for as she began to go towards them the Giant fell dead on the ground with two blows that the black Knight gave him one upon the head where he was unarmed the other right in the middle of his leg wherewith he cut it from his body whereat the old Lady was so grieved that she swooned in the place being by her Gentlewomen carryed from thence into her Chamber where they layed her on a bed cursing him that was the cause thereof nevertheless he followed them to the chamber door where the old woman being revived perceiving him to enter began again to lament and mourn and shedding great abundance of tears she said unto him Alas thou cruel knight the onely bereaver of all my joy and felicity art thou not satisfied yet But wilt thou likewise have my life and my Sons both Then I pray thee with spéed either execute thy will or else depart from hence and take what thou thinkest good permitting me to live the rest of my miserable days in sorrow and care with these poor women but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber which was so inchanted that no man could pass the threshold of the door but presently he lost all his sences and fell down upon the ground as if he were dead but little did the inchantment avail her against the black knight because the shining Sword had such a property in it that no enchantment whatsoever could hurt the bearer thereof Therefore the Knight hearing the sorrow the old Lady made he went into the chamber speaking courteously unto her and said Madam me thinks you should take the offence I have committed on your behalf in much better part considering such hazards are common unto Knights desiring to win honor and therefore I pray you applease your sorrow and shew me the Knight you brought hither out of great Britain When the old Lady perceived him so far within the Chamber without let and that he desired to sée the King she being as it were out of her wits cryed as loud as she could and said alas unhappy wretch that I am what have I done for thinking to revenge another mans death I have procured the destruction of mine own children and therewith she sighed in such manner as if her heart would burst within her body and lamenting the absence of her other Son said Alas Matroco where art thou now What happy fortune hath thus separated thée from thy brother and me Surely when thou hearest of his death and at thy return shalt finde another Lord of this castle I am in doubt thou wilt not have the patienre to put up so great an injury but thinking to revenge thy self I fear this devil will handle thée in the like sort he hath done the rest for sure he is no mortal man for if he were he had found more resistance in this place then he hath done Then speaking unto the Knight she asked him if he knew the man she held in prison I truly said he it is King Lisuart whereof I am right sorry being well assured that Kings elected of God as he is for the government of his people ought not to be used in that manner Wherefore I would have you shew me where be is otherwise I will do worse then I have hitherto done I know not said she who thou art nor by what means thou hast so great power but I am well assured and I would never have thought that twenty such Knights as once this day I did estéem thée could ever have attained to the atchieving of so great an enterprize and much less to have withstood my art as thou hast done so that considering thereof I suppose that this thy power procéedeth from him in whom in my young years I did once believe and since that have forsaken him to follow the works of the common enemy of all mankinde who according to his natural instinction hath justly rewarded me to my desert therefore it were but folly to deny thee any thing that art so surely defended by him to whom all things are obedient Follow me then said she and I will shew thee the king but as I think it is not he thou seekest And with that she rose up and went into a dark chamber the knight following her then she opened an Iron-gate and said unto him go in and there shalt thou find the prisâ—ner Lady said the knight if it were to fight I would not fail to do your commandment but if by subtilty I should be shut in prison you would laugh at me that I had no more wit but to put my trust in you wherefore go you in first that whatsoever happeneth you may have your part I see well said the Lady that my labor is in vain and all my art is nothing in respect of
that being vanquished and overcome with an infinite number of reasons that she made unto me I confirmed in my heart that which his renown had already imprinted in my mind and therewith determined for to wish more good to him than to my self not that I ever thought to commit any fault that might redound to my dishonor but onely for the glory to have so worthy a knight ready at my commandement whereby this fire did so augment in me that ever since I would not think on any other thing than upon Esplandian with whose love my mind hath béen so moved that his long absence hath almost procured my death yet the hope I had from day to day to sée him hath made me able to sustain my grief with so great patience that neither you nor any other as I think could ever perceive it in me But as the Sailor on the Sea being in a tempest thinking at length to arrive at some haven for to save himself suddenly méeteth with a Rock that breaketh his ship in pieces so I most unfortunate Lady hoping by the presence of him I so much desire to sée to be at the end of my great sorrow am now fallen into the gulf of desperation considering the spéech which Carmelle used to me who speaking softly said in this manner Madam I leave you within this tomb two inestimable treasures the one is the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée which maketh me verily think it can be no other thing than the dead body of Esplandian and that as it is very likely he hath desired at his death to be brought unto me to wéep and lament over him as I mean to do during the term of my life which if it pleaseth God shall not be very long And saying so she cast forth a great sigh swooning in Quéen Minoresses arms who being abashed to hear the Princess use those words so far from the estimation she always had conceived of her knew not at the first what counsel of comfort to minister unto her nevertheless considering the extremity she was in minding to provide for two accidents that both at one instant presented themselves she ran in all haste to fetch cold water which throwing in her face she revived again Wherewith the Quéen said unto her What Madam will you throw the helve after the hatcher Will you be holden for a fool and loose the reputation that is spread of you throughout the world Where is the constancy the modesty and the wisdom wherewith you were wont to be adorned Must you for one word which you misunderstand forget your self so much Suppose it were true that Esplandian should be dead can you call him again by this tormenting your self For Gods sake be patient and if the worst be you may prove if it be so and not fall into this kind of fantasie upon your own imaginations Carmelle hath told you that the thing you most desire in all the world is inclosed in this tomb is it therefore to be said Esplandian should not be alive Think you he is the first man that hath done the like for his beloveds sake This I assure you that although I break the tomb and all that belongeth to it I will presently sée what may be in it Alas cousin said the Princess I fear you will sée it over soon for me for if he be dead as I think he is assure your self I will bear him company before it be day I pray you said the quéen be not unhappy before your time but let me work the feat hold then said Leonorine here is the key that Carmelle left me which the Quéen took in her hand and entring into the chamber where the tomb stood she lifted up the Christal plate that done she spake aloud and asked if any body were within the same Esplandian to whom one hour séemed a whole year staying for that time and hearing the Quéen speak answered presently and said I Madam Who are you said Minoresse Madam said he I am the happy or unahppy knight Esplandian that put my self into this tomb ready to receive either death or life as it shall please the Princess Leonorine to dispose Are you said the Quéen Esplandian son to the good knight with the Gréen Sword that by messages hath so oftentimes promised to come and serve us I Madam said he and that to accomplish my word have caused my self to be brought hither in this manner If you will promise me said the Quéen and swear not to pass my commandment in that I shall appoint you to do I will cause you both to sée and speak to her you desire so much to serve That will I promise you said he and a greater matter likewise so my Lady be content It is enough said the Quéen wherewith she lifted up the second plate and then opened the Chest wherein he lay and coming out he used great reverence to the Quéen but as then he knew her not till she said unto him Sir Knight it may be you have heard of me before this time I am Minoresse that to deliver my Lady and you from the great pain you both endure hath taken you out of this your prison Wherefore I pray you stay here a while till I return again With that she went unto the Princess Leonorine that mean time for fear shook like an Aspen leaf and with a merry countenance said unto her Madam when we have a long and hard Winter it is commonly séen there followeth a pleasant Summer and after great sorrow cometh excéeding joy You have bewailed your Knight Esplandian for dead but never in all my life have I séen a dead creature buried that was so fair and of so pleasant countenance as the dead man I have found within the Tomb I pray you come and sée if I be deceived or not When the Princess heard the Queen use those words touching Esplandian and to laugh withal with joy her heart leaped in her body and rising out of her bed without speaking any word she ran presently into the Chamber at the entery whereof she espied him she had so much lamented who presently kneeled down to kiss her hands But Leonorine was not as then disposed to use Ceremonies but forgetting her accustomed modesty and the gravity required in her Sex especially the shamefac'dness that commonly is seen to be in wise and vertuous Ladies could not so much command her own affections but cast her self into Esplandian's arms kissing him with so great affection as if she had séen loved and known him all her life time And assure your self if Queen Minoresse had not drawn her back and reproved her lightness that at that instant those two Lovers had died in the place for that both their spirits had abandoned all their viral parts to meet together at their mouthes and to embrace each other even to the extreamity of their lips ready to pass further I say not but that Queen Minoresse