Emperour as I am enformed three dayes more to keepe him company Faire Knight let me entreate ye to afford me two dayes beside his during which time you shall be dayly if you please with me and my Gentlewomen because without any impeachement wee may the better gouerne you Therefore aduise your selfe with a good heart we hauing you heere among vs will compell you thereto perâ—â—â—ce As shee thus spake shee made a signe to her Gentlewomen to lay hold on him Seeing himselfe thus engirt by them all what amiable graces and milde forces they seazed him with by a voluntary importunity he promised to obey them in this or what else they would command him and smyling hee thus speke vnto the Princesse Leonorina Why Madame being vnable to escape so sharpe an imprisonment as is heere presented to my face doe you imagine that I dare any way contradict you or yours In good faith Sir answered one of the Gentlewomen you doe the wiser for if you did the contrary you would be in greater daunger then when you fought with the Monster Endriagus Truely Ladies quoth he I beleeue ye assuredly considering it is certaine that a man shall haue more labour in offending such Angels then if he contended against twenty worse Deuils then he was Wherefore I had much rather attempt againe such another like warre as that then fall into the perill of your displeasure Remember then Sir answered Leonorina what you haue promised and looke that you bee carefull in keeping it Thus our knight continued in Constantinople fiue dayes longer then he purposed during all which time he was a good companion among the Ladies and Gentlewomen who neuer ceased to enquire of him concerning the singularities of the Firme Island the Defended Chamber the Arche of lorall Louers and also the Portraitures of Apolidoâ— and Grimenesa Likewise concerning the Ladies of King Lisuarts Court the fashion of their garments their manner of behauiour and a thousand other things such as ouer curious women most commonly couet to know And as hee made answere stil to his best power in cases of this nature he considered with himselfe that if his Oriana could haue made one in this faire company he should haue thought that all the bright beauties in the world were there congregated together At last he grew so distracted in his soule that words began to faile him and he stood as falne into a traunce Which the Queene Menoressa Lady of the Isle Gabasta perceiuing shee held him so strongly by the arme that immediatly hee came to himselfe againe Then he well perceiued that hee had fayled in some one kinde or other wherefore in excuse of him-selfe he said vnto them I beseech ye Ladies thinke it not strange that hauing before mine eyes so many admirable beauties wherewith both God and Nature hath bounteously enriched you all I should finde my sences quite transported from their vsuall course by remembring one of whom I did sometimes receiue so many gracious fauours that finding my selfe now to bee farre off from her I endure a torment worse then death my spirit being rapt out of my body and liuing in her to serue and obey her as I ought to do Wherefore Loue being to blame for the fault wherein I haue offended before you should deseruedly receiue the punishment and not I whom hee tormenteth with too much rigour Great compassion tooke all the Ladies and Gentlewomen on the affliction which they beheld our Knight continually to suffer and euery one stroue to comfort him so well as she could But the day being come when he must needes take leaue for imbarquing himselfe the Queene Menoressa who bare him an intire secret affection said vnto him Sir Knight by something that I know your long absence hence will scarcely be well taken but seeing wee must needes endure your losse I pray yee to accept a gift of me which I am very desirous to bestow vpon you Then shee called for sixe Swords the very fairest and best tempered that euer were seene desiring him to furnish his friends with them and not to be vnmindfull of her Madame quoth the Knight your gift is such that for your sake they shall come to the hands of sixe knights the best in mine opinion this day liuing and of whom you may and shall dispose at all times and in all affaires you will please to command them That is the matter said the Princesse Leonorina which wee all together moue vnto you By my faith Madame quoth he all my life-time I shall be yours ready in obeisance when you please to imploy me I thanke you Sir replyed the Princesse and doe more-ouer entreate you that you would please so much to honour vs as to send hither someone of your linage to remaine particularly ours and to serue vs all as need shall require Madame quoth hee I make no doubt but before any long time to send you a neere kinfeman of mine who being in your seruice you may well vaunt that you haue one of the best knights in the world This he spake as thinking of his Brother Galaor whom he intended to cause to come and serue the 〈◊〉 perour both for the augmentation of his renowne and the bigher honour of the Princesse But it fel out otherwise for in steed of Galaor Esplandian arriued there some while after who for the loue of the I'rin cesse Leonorina fought many a braue fight as you shall vnderstand when we come to speake thereof Let it suffise vs now that the knight of the greene Sword was shipt as that day and setting sayle with Master Elisabet launched forth into the maine bound with prosperous gales for his returne to Remania Wherefore we will be a while silent of him to tel ye that much about this season the Prince Saluste Quide the Queene Sardamira with their traine arriued in Great Brittaine to conclude with King Lisuart the marriage of the Emperour and Oriana And perswading themselues that the voyage should answere their owne intention they published in all places as they passed along that they should shortly returne backe with the Empresse But GOD in whose hand all things are declared heerein that hee doth oftentimes dispose matters quite contrary to the opinion of men who neither loue or repose any confidence in him but thinke to command both times and the starres according as it commeth into their owne braine Wherein they finde themselues both mockt and deceiued â—euen as these Ambassadours did who were entertained with the greatest triumphes and honour that the King could possibly make them CHAP. XII How the Knight of the greene Sword departed from Constantinople to satisfie the promise which hee formerly had made to the faire Grasinda And of that which afterward happened to him OVr knight of the green Sword being on Shipboord and set foorth from the Port of Constantinople as already hath beene related to yee the windes were so fauourable to him that in lesse then twenty dayes
blood issuing from the wound receiued in his arme hee had giuen his enemie more occasion of trouble and daunger then as now hee could doe in so weake an estate At length he found himselfe so spent and weary that to recouer breath hee thus spake vnto him Beleeue mee Knight of the greene Sword in regard that I now know yee better then euer I did I haue iuster reason of wishing worse to ye then before Notwithstanding because it appeares to mee that you beginne to waxe faint I am well contented to suffer yee for a while to rest and ease your selfe How replyed Amadis doest thou now talke of rest and madest vaunt not long since to haue my head so lightly Assure thy selfe thou shalt take no rest nor I neither till one of vs two rest in death on the ground and therefore looke to thy selfe I would aduise thee Thus speaking hee charged him fierce and fiercer and at last let fall such a weightie blow on the toppe of his Helmet as cleft quite thorow the steele head and braine together so that he fell downe dead in the field Whereat the Knight of the greene Sword was not a little glad not so much for the ill-will he bare him as for the displeasure he imagined to haue done the Emperour and especiall contentment of King Tafinor So wiping his Sword he put it vp into the sheathe rendring thankes to GOD for the victory he had giuen him Then came the King and embracing him demaunded how hee fared So well my Lord answered Amadis as I haue no wound at all to hinder mee from entring a fresh fight to morrow morning with whomsoeuer you shall please to appoint mee Nay by my faith quoth the King you haue done enough for this businesse Then was hee conducted into the Citty with the greatest triumphe that possibly could bee In the meane while the Romanes carried thence the body of Garadan so daunted with his death that all desire of farther fighting was vtterly lost but concluded together to tell the Emperour that their companion had engadged them in meere despight adn his owne rashnes to decide this difference by Armes wherein he would needes ouer desperatly aduenture himselfe alone and so lost the day No one was against this determination but a young knight named Arquisil a neere kinsman to the Emperour who perceiuing the bad disposition of the rest and the iniury they not onely should doe to the Emperour Patin and to them-selues but likewise to the whole Empire spake thus vnto them How now Lords will you thus forget your selues and lose the reputation of our Empire Shall it bee bruited abroade that eleuen Romane knights thorow feare of death were so cowardly-minded as not to combate with twelue Allemaignes grosse-headed fellowes and very slenderly experienced in Armes So helpe me God put me alone vpon the enterprise and if you stand in doubt of him that hath foyled Garadan leaue him onely to me and settle your selues to the other for I dare assure yee if our hearts bee good wee cannot but speed successefully and recouer that blemish to our honour which the misfortune of our friendes hath throwen vpon vs. Let vs fight then and die euery man of vs rather then deferre it any longer considering we rather ought to make choice of a death so honourable then liue hereafter in perpetuall shame or so wretched a condition of life as ours must needs be Assuredly the valiant words of this young Prince preuayled so farre vpon the others pusillanimity and made them so confounded with shame as they all resolued to tempt their fortunes and euen prostitute their liues to any perill rather then to depart thence with such dishonour They were not so prompt and ready for the Combate but the knight of the greene Sword hating all sloth and negligence was as forward to moue the King therein desiring that the next morning hee would appoint the other knights to be in readines acording to promise they would accompany them to the field But the King would faine haue deferred it longer in regard of the woundes he receiued by Garadan and being vnable to preuaile with him he thus spake Knight of the greene Sword you haue already done so much for me as I dare not well deny you any thing you can demand of mee And seeing you will needs haue an end of this controuersie my Sonne Grasandor shall beare you company for in a better occasion he can neuer aduenture his life nor with a man of greater merit Sir answered Amadis you should reserue him for a more serious businesse without hazarding him in so meane a matter and where there is so slender need Ah Sir knight replyed Grasandor would you offer me a greater wrong then any man else can doe By the faith I beare to my King and Father if I had so much power ouer you as I freely graunt you haue on me I would then entreat you so farre to honour me as that I might keepe you company all my life-time and I could rather wish that I had neuer beene borne then not to make one in this elected number and in a case of such importance Seeing it is your pleasure quoth the knight of the greene Sword and that you will needs be one in the fight I make no doubt but God will assist vs for being in your company it cannot chuse but wee all shall speede the better So euery one withdrew vntill the next morning when the King came to see his knight whom hee found ready armed and perceiuing his Armour to be greatly impaired he said My worthy Friend I think it not fit that you should enter into so dangerous a fight so slenderly prouided as you are Wherefore let me entreatye to take other Armes which in my iudgement will bee more conuenient for ye both in security ease and aptnes Heereupon he sent for an Armour which hee had kept a long while for one of the best in the world and presenting it to the knight of the greene Sword said Essay Sir whether it will sit ye or no and for my sake arme your selfe therewith which I bestow on yee with as good a hart as euer I kist Lady in my life Most humbly did Amadis giue him thankes and looking on the Sword perceiuing it so well appointed he drew it forth of the sheathe when it appeared so fair and goodly to him as he said to himselfe that he neuer saw one of more perfection then that belonging to King Lisuart and his owne which he dearely affected aswell for the goodnes thereof as because he wonne it by the power of loue as we haue formerly declared in the second Booke in which respect he would not leaue it for the best in the world But seeing that this other weapon did well deserue to come to the hand of some worthy knight he entreated the Prince Grasandor to accept it whereof he made no refusall As they were beholding the rest of the
his blow that lighting on his snout it entred into one of his nostrils which were great and wide staring so farre that it pierced the braine extreamely This made Endriagus so mad that hee got our knight fast about the body and with his sharpe-pointed clawes tore his coate of maile yea and entred through the flesh to the bone when questionlesse he had quite kild him but that his owne blood so ouerstifled his stomacke that letting loose his hold he fell downe back-ward And as he rendred his spirit the deuill came out of his body causing such a clap of thunder as all the whole Island shooke with the sound thereof This noyse being heard by them in the Castell they perswaded themselues thereby that their knight was then at the Combate and albeit they were in a safe and well-defenced Fort yet the best and boldest man of them all was ouercome with extraordinary feare Endriagus being thus vanquished our knight rose very faintly and purposing to goe finde Gandalin who was then comming towards him hee fell downe againe in a swoune by a little perling brooke that descended from the mountaine Then Gandalin imagining his Maister to bee dead fell into most dolefull lamentations but comming neere him he beheld him to breath wherupon he vnarmed him Then recouering his spirits called to Gandalin saying My deare Friend Gandalin now thou shalt see the ending of my dayes let me entreate thee by the kinde nourishing which I receiued from thy father and mother that as thou hast been loyall to me in my life thou wilt continue so in death and so soone as my vitall spirits haue forsaken me to take out my heart and beare it to my dearest Mistresse Tell her Gandalin that as it veelded it selfe hers the same day I first saw her and euer since hath continued better and better in her seruice while it was lockt vp in this brest or sad habitation neuer wearied in any obedience to her that shee would be pleased so to receiue it now in remembrance of him that kept it for her and in so doing I beleeue that my soule shall haue the happier rest in another world As hee meant to speake more words fayled him and againe hee swonded Then Gandalin without staying to answere him mounted on the top of the Rocke and winded the horne which he caryed to giue signall of the death of Endriagus so loude that Ardan the dwraff who was then on the highest of one of the Castle Towers easily heard it Wherevpon hee ranne downe presently to acquaint Maister Elisabet therwith desiring him to make haste to his Maister who perhaps stood in great neede of his helpe Maister Elisabet hauing all things in a readinesse mounted on horse-backe directing his course as fast as hee could ride towards the place where hee still heard the sound of the Horne Not long had he iourneyed but he espyed Gandalin who comming to meete him cryed out afarre off Alas Maister Elisabet Endriagus is dead but if you prouide not the sooner for my Lord hee is gon likewise How man quoth he Alas said Gandalin he hath already lost so much blood as hee is not a ble to speake a word Very sadde and sorrowfull was Maister Elisabet at these newes and ran quickly to the place where the Knight lay so weake and ouer spent as hee had no motion of his pulse yet his eyes were wide open wherefore to comfort him Maister Elisabet sayd How Sir Kinght will you declare such debilitie of courage hauing brought to end so great and glorious an interprise doe yee not know that I am heare to make you sound and well againe so soone as pleaseth God When the Knight heard him hee stroue to make answere but could not Then they layd him softly vpon a cloake and hauing wholly vnarmed him Maister Elisabet viewed his wounds which he found to be so many and dangerous as hee stood in great doubt of his recouery Neuerthelesse hee resolued to performe so much as possibly he could and instantly applyed so soueraigne vnguents as both stanched his bleeding and so assawaged all vigour of paine that his speech came to him againe when with a very feeble and low voyce he thus spake Oh my Lord God who to redeeme mee tooke humaine flesh in the blessed Virgins wombe and afterward didst suffer a most dolorous and painefull Passion take pitie on my soule for I well knowe that my bodie is no better then earth Truely Sir answered Maister Elisabet you haue good reason to recōmend yourself to him considering that by his assistance you shall receiue the speedier helpe As he ended these words there arriued diuers of the Marriners who taking him vp gently in their armes conuayed him thence to the Castle where laying him in his bed he was so voyd of allhis sences as hee felt not any thing was done to him Thus he continued all night complayning continually as one that endured much yet without vttering any one worde till about breake of day he fell asleepe Hereupon Maister Elisabet commanded all to auoyd the chamber to preuent any noise for offending him and sate downe close by him till hee heard him wake and cry Gandalin Gandalin shield thy selfe from this deuill so cruell and daungerous In good faith Sir replyed Maister Elisabet if you had been as safely shielded as hee your health were the surer and your recouerie the lesser At these words our Knight opened his eyes and knowing Maister Elisabet said vnto him Oh Maister where are we Where quoth hee in such a place where you shall doe well enough by the grace of God And perceiuing his Feauer to haue left him hee brought him food to eate was so diligent in care ouer him that before night hee recouered his memorie perfectly and beganne to know and speake to euery one Maister Elisabet seeing all danger to be well quallified both hee and all the rest gaue thanks to God for it and continued still so respectiue of him as hee grewe hourely better and better notwithstanding for twentie dayes hee kept his bed without any habilitie of rising At length Maister Elisabet perceiuing that without any great perill to the his person hee might endure the Sea especially his Feauers beginning to forsake him one day as they sate deuising together he sayd My Lord thankes be to God you are soundly recouered and in mine opinion when best shall please you you may goe aboard your shippe whereto I so much the rather counsell you because our victuals growe so short that if wee dislodge not hence the sooner we shall be quite emptied My louing friend answered our Knight I may iustly say that next vnto God you are the man to whom I am most beholding deliuering mee from the great daunger wherein I was And let mee assure yee that so long as my soule liueth as a guest in this bodie you haue a Knight ready to bee employed for you without reseruation of hazard or perill whatsoeuer for you haue
I should be his wife But if you compell me thereto you shall commit a most haynous sinne for it must bee done in despight of my selfe and I am certaine that I shall sooner consent to mine owne death Deare Daughter answered the King think you that I respect not your good honor as I ought to doe Father quoth she I know not how you vnderstand my good honor but this I can assure you that if you separate me from you you will be an homicide to your owne blood Then she fell into such sighes and teares as the King was enforced to forsake the Chamber and leaue her shee moned so much pity in him Then Arban King of Northwales stept to her and hoping to comfort her said Madame you haue alwayes hitherto bin esteemed wise it appeares that now you will wander from that good reputation Do not you know that there is due remedie for all things It may be the King wâ—ll better aduise himselfe if you knew which way he might be won thereto Ah my royall Cousin answered she seeing Fortune is so aduerse to me determines to worke her vttermost malice on me depriuing you many more of al means of succouring me by force of arms wherein you haue past through infinit dangers to deliuer afflicted Ladies Damosels from tribulations let me then at least entreate you to helpe me with your good word in counselling the King from doing me such shame except he intends to tempt God and constraine that happinesse which alwayes to this instant hath attended on him vtterly to forsake and abandon him leauing in steed thereof all mischiefe and misery For Gods sake therefore returne againe to him and find some meanes to bring him hither once more with mine olde noble Vncle Count Argamont and Don Grumedan to the end that you three together may the better preuaile with him In vttering these words the wofull Princesse was so grieuously afflicted that she seemed rather dead then aliue for she fell downe on the ground in a swoune which King Arban seeing he departed out of the Chamber while Mabila and other Ladies who were then about her might minister some helpe to her in this extremity He went to the King and told him all that Oriana had said to him which moued him to such compassion as his inward distraction might be very easily discerned Notwithstanding for all the perswasions he could vrge vnto him he would not goe to her vntill Count Argamont and olde Grumedan were so earnest with him that at last he yeelded And as they entred into her Chamber they be held her former traunce as yet to continue wherefore he went neerer to her and taking her in his armes said Deare Daughter speake to me but she moued neither hand nor foote but lay as if she had bin dead At length by the helpe of Vineger and cold water her spirits came to her again she breathing forth a vehement sigh able to breake a strong heart in sunder seeing her Father so nere said vnto him An my deare father take pity on me Sweet child quoth he what wouldst thou haue me do Sir said she before you send me away from you I beseech you consider what harmes will ensue For neuer will I see Rome rather shall the Sea deliuer me from that hell and so shall you be the cause of two euils together First of my disobedience to you onely by your selfe enforced Next of the dismall homicide which your daughter must and will acte vpon her selfe By which meanes in thinking to combine alliance and loue with the Emperour he knowing my destruction wrought in the meere despight of him she shall receiue iust occasion of eternal hatred to you and not he alone but all such as shall heare of so lamentable a disaster So that looke how much you haue been renowned through the world for a benigne mercifull and vpright Prince so much the more will you then bee condemned for the most cruell pâ—…lesse and yron hearted man that euer â—…ed Pardon me deare Sir the extremity of my aâ—â—â—ction makes me speake what I doe which if you conceite to be vttered too vnreuerently take such due vengeance on my indiscretion as best shall like your selfe for you can inflict no paine or torment on mee so grieuous as that which already you haue prepared for me in depriuing me of your fatherly presence Daughter quoth he I vnderstand you very well your mother shall tell you what I am determined to do therfore do not thus discomfort your self but be of good cheare and perhaps you shall haue your own desire The King made her this promise because his heart was oppressâ—d with sorrow as he could not speak any longer And indeed the Queene then came in who beholding her Daughter in such wofull condition was much amazed thereat for Oriana no sooner saw her Mother but she fell into a swoun againe In which time the King left the Chamber committing her to the care of women who were not a little busie about her After the was somewhat recouered as the Queene demaunded how she fared the wofull Oriana opening her eies which in a manner were quite drown'd in teares beganne to looke vpon her very ruefully and with a voyce meerely forced said Alas deare Mother my present estate is much better then it should be or I in heart could wish it for Death now is my onely desire and thereto my spirit soly inclineth seeing my selfe vtterly forsaken of the King you Your intent is to send me to Rome but the voyage I shall make will not be halfe so far because I will leaue you my body whereof you haue disposed against all reason render my spirit to God who wholly hath souerainge power ouer it The Queene being moued with much compassion replyed thus Sweet Daughter the King loues you so dearely as he thinkes on nothing else but what may be for your good and best aduantage wherefore should you then thus torment your selfe Why Madame Mother answered Oriana doe you think this banishment of mine so aduantageous for me Why doe you say that the King my Father loues me shewing himselfe more mercilâ—… to me then euerany father did to his child Here you must vnderstand that during this woefull conference betweene the Queene and her Daughter the King was walking in his Garden accompanied with very few Count Argomâ—nt seeing him very pensiue and melancholy considering on what the Princesse had said vnto him conceited with himselfe that now he was become better aduised whereupon he went to him saying My Lord I think my selfe a most happy man that I can compasse any occasion to tell you that which duty bindeth me to doe knowing you a wise and vertuous Prince easie to vnderstand what good is got by euill meanes Neuerthelesse my late commiseration of your Princely Daughters present estate constrayneth me now to remember you of that which I heeretofore haue said concerning her And I humbly
and demanded of him whither hee went Lord Balan quoth hee I came hither with a Knight whom I left at the Porte who tels mee that he came embarqued from the Enclosed Isle and his comming is purposely to fight with you At these wordes the Giant started began to imagine that this was one of those men whom Darioletta had before spoken of suddenly said to the Knight Is there not a Ladie with him of some indifferent yeares There is answered the Knight On my life quoth hee it is Amadis de Gaule or one of his brethren whose fame is so great throughout the world I know not that replied the Knight but I neuer beheld a Gentleman of more goodly forme nor lesse fearfull by his words for if you send for him hither by me and giue him warrant against all men but your selfe hee will quickly be heere to end his enterprise He shall be welcome said Balan and you know my vse and custome to all men assure him vpon mine honor that hee shall haue no wrong or iniurie done him by any of mine but if hee gaine the vpper hand of me he shall enioy what he can demand of me any way At these words the Knight tooke his leaue of Balan and entred into his boate againe to goe find Amadis to whom hee declared all that the Giant had said Whereupon setting thence from the port and comming to ascend the Rock they went on towards Balans Castle where he sate before the gate vnarmed saluting Amadis and Darioletta he demanded of her if this Knight was one of them whom she had promised to bring with hir But Amadis taking the answer from her as fearing to bee discouered told him That hee was not come thither to tell his name but to let him feele the keen edge of his sword if he did not make a liberal amends for the wrongs which the Lady had receiued and the rest of her company Knight replyed the Giant in a kinde of scornefull manner I feele such a feare instantly possesse mee as constraines me to offer you such a courtesie which as yet I neuer did to any other knowing that you are deceiud by hir which brought you hither ignorant who I am and what I can doe Therfore I am contented to suffer you seeke after aduentures in other strange countries and not for this time make you liable to the custome of this Countrie Amadis being much displeased to heare in what slender esteeme the Giant held him chollerickly returned this answere Grant pitty or pardon to such as thou hast power ouer and not to me that haue thus farre aduentured by Sea only to deale with thee and that I will soundly let thee know before the sonne can circle this Rocke if thou doest not consent to abolish and giue ouer the damnable custome which heere thou maintainest both against God and man and which in reason thou oughtest not to gaine-say Moreouer I would intreate thee in kindnesse to doe it for the good I wish to thy selfe and in fauor of some of thy neerest friends whose welfare I as dearely account of as mine owne Let me therefore aduise thee to yeelde this Lady redresse of her wrongs before constraint compells it and we proceed on in further trouble This request quoth the Giant exceedeth reason and neuer shall it be granted by me Beside let me tell thee but that I am somewhat desirous to approue how your knights of the Enclosed Isle can maitaine the Armes they beare I would not vouchsafe to put on any myselfe And because thou art on foote and lackest a Horse to doe thee seruice I will send thee one of the very best in my Stable with Launce and Armour if thou standst in neede For I haue great store of such as I haue conquered as well from some of thy companions as others who thought their manhood as good as thine So help me God said Amadis thou dealest like a good and worthie Knight the horse I will not refuse neither the launce but as for any Armour or Shield I will haue none other then those at this time which belonged to the knight slain by thee on no occasion whose innocence giues mee both strength and courage to reuenge the Wrongs done to him and the rest He is dead and gone answered the Giant So leauing him Darioletta and the knight hee went into his Castle from whence soone after came forth a squire who presented a uery goodly courser and a strong Launce to Amadis and instantly vpon the toppe of the Redde Tower a noyse of Trumpets sounded most cheerefully which caused Amadis to demand the reason thereof Sir Knight said the Squire Balan my master is now ready to come forth therfore stand vpon your guard if you will be well aduised Scarcely had hee ended these words but all they within the Castle as well men as women came vpon the walles and battlements to behold the issue of this combat and presently came forth Balan mounted on the like courser as hee had sent to Amadis armed with a most bright Armour and bearing an huge shield beyond measure As he approached neere to his enemie who sate readily prepared to encounter him hee spake so loude as euery one might heare him Before God Knight of the Enclosed Isle thine ouer-weening hath too farre blinded thine vnderstanding and I am so much mooued thereat that I cannot chuse but pittie thee for refusing my kinde offer when I tendred it to thee Pittie me answered Amadis I well may doe it on thee and thy soule except thou speedily repent Otherwise leâ—… employ the time in manly execution and not in idle menacing words as thou doest Clasping downe their Beauers and couching their Launces they ranne each against other with such swiftnesse as if lightning had carried them Amadis met Balan so strongly that hee pierced both his shield and coate of Male directly vpon the stomacke bone which was so painefull to him that he fell downe on the ground when as hee had charged Amadis and ran his Launce so farre into the horses head the paine he felt much qualifying the vigour of the blow that the horse fell downe dead and his Master vnder him But he quickly recouered himselfe and drawing forth his Sword marched towards Balan who yet was so terrified with his fall as hee could hardly stand on his feete Notwithstanding feare of death and shame to bee vanquished made him cheere vp his spirits and stand vpon the mainest manly defence of himselfe Then they beganne to hack and hew one another that whosoeuer had heard and not seene them would rather haue thought the noyse to bee hammers one an anuile then swords on Armour As the Giant lifted vp his sword with all his force thinking to beate downe Amadis with the blow his Shielde glaunced aside whereof Amadis taking aduantage and seeing Balan so openly discouered wounded him in the right arme just on the elbow ioynt the griefe wherof made him almost sencelesse