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
on their affaires the others left them alone and departed thence Then King Arauigne demanded of him what hee conceiued of his hard Fortune And breathing forth a sigh sufficient to haue broken a bigger heart hee stood along while silent as being vnable to deliuer a word till at last thus he spake Ah my deare friend Balan if your Father Mandafabull were now liuing how Irkesome would my mishap be to him And to speake truely matters are mightilie altered since his death For it is not fully a yeare since I stood vpon no meane tearms of being the very greatest King in all the West but now I am beecome the poorest and most miserable man in all the World How Sir replied Balan it seemes you distrust the mercy of the almighty in whose power it is to dispose of you as best liketh him If Fortune haue once frowned on you is her wheele so fast nayled or printed as shee cannot lift you to the place from whence you are fallen Let me perswade you Sir not to bee thus discomforted but in kingly patience to thanke God for all and hee will not forget you Walking on along with him hee beganne thus againe I knowe very well Sir that hardly can you expresse constancie or courage in such cases of so sharpe affliction and vneasie to bee endured as your imprisonement is Yet I can desire no better experience therein then the like misfortune hath ministred to mee in permitting mee to bee vanquished by the same man that was the worker of your downefall Notwithstanding let mee take it ill or well bee pleased or offended at my foyle I see no other remedy but only to arme my selfe with patience and sooner to forget the iâ—iurie I haue receiued then my selfe For the rest I am of opinion that it is possible to treate on some good agreement betweene you and these Princes who I am perswaded will therein listen to you if such a motion proceede from your selfe How can that be done quoth the King except in forgoing all which they pretend to haue conquered from me and I had rather die bearing the name of an imprisoned King then to liue a begger at libertie If after death saide Balan life were easie to bee recalled backe againe I should ioyne with you in this opinion but hauing nothing dearer to vs in this worlde wee should preserue it so long as is possible for vs. My worthy friend Balan replied the the King doe with mee what you please into your hands I commit my selfe my life my goods honour beseeching you intirely to remember my businesse in such nature as I make no doubt but you will Now because they saw Enill comming in to them they altred their discourse and Balan taking leaue of him went to finde Galuanes and Galaor who staied his returne in the Tent of Agraies There hee declared what speeches had past between him and the King Arauigne And in my minde quoth he considering the humor wherein I left him I thinke it were good to make him some offer giuing him some countrie of his own for a place of retirement where hee may weare out the remainder of his dayes and be contented to resigne vp all the rest The whole company was well pleased heere-with and highly allowed the aduise of Balan for to speake vnpartially hee was one of the wisest men and as sound in iudgement as any where else was to be found Wherupon they entreated him to mediate this matter with Arauigne committing all to his discretion because indeede they themselues were halfe tyred and grew wearie of the warre On the next morning hee went to the King Arauigne and among diuerse others remonstrances told him how at his request and only by his meanes hee had so well preuailed with the Princes of the Army that they were all contented to leaue him parte of the Isles of Landes in full and intire soueraignty Which liked him well considering it was much better for him to continue King of a little then to be Lord of nothing Hereupon the City was surrendred and certaine Shippes and victuals were giuen him for his retreate into the Isle of Liconia And the very same day Brunâ—o was crowned king with great magnificence So hauing receiued their homages and faithfull aleagance for the whole Countrie their Army being in this time well refreshed they set away to the Citty of Calaffan in the Realm of Sansuâ—gua Whereof the people being aduertised assembled themselues in great numbers and electing Captaines and Commaunders among them resolued to attend their comming and bid them battaile before they would suffer any besieging But they tarried so long for their mustered forces that I am loath to dâ—lâ—y you in so idle an expectation Let it suffice then that the Countrie of Sansuegua was conquered and because it is not any thing 〈…〉 or incident to our Historie to tell you in what manner it was performed we will bee silent therein at this time leauing the â—…e to them of the Enclosed Isle and now wee will tell you what happened to King Lisuart after his reâ—… into Great Brittaine CHAP. XXXVIII How King Lisuart being hunting was taken prisoner by Enchantment and very strangely ALthough our History hath long discontinued from speaking of King â—isuâ—â—t and of any thing happening to him since hee went imbarqued from the Enclosed Isle returning home to his Countrie of Great Brittaine yet I now finde apt occasion to bee no longer forgetfull of him but to declare how afterward hee caâ—ied himsese as being a matter fit for our purpose in this place â—…sten then to mee Lords and faire Ladies and you shall vnderstand a new kinde of subtiltie which fortune made him taste of to let him the better know what slender assurance he had of her fauours for at such time as hee thought to bee most at quiet after so many warres discords passed wherwith already you are fully acquainted this accedent ensuing hapned to him First he resolued with him selfe to make some indifferent long soiourning in the Citty of Fâ—nusa because it was seated in a very sweete ayre and highly comodious for Forests and faire Riuers well stored with all kindes of beasts fit for game wherein he tâ—…e no meane delight and pleasure And albâ—â—t his aged yeares required ease and rest as most meetest for him yet such was his forward will and noble magnanimitie of spirit as he would by no meanes yeelde thereto but rather daylie sighed and sorrowed that he could not performe what formerly he had done and bee seene in such aduentures and combats as continually befell him in the beginning of his raigne This disputable questioning betweene his desire and ability of body drew his soule into an vnacâ—ustomed sadnesse making him become so pensiue and melanâ—â—â—lie as hee would â—â—nder himselfe from all company and delighted in no other pastime but to walke abroad sometimes with his Cross-â—ow to strike a heart â—inde or â—idde in the Forrest Hereupon it fortuned that
the ancient Adage Grumedan answered king Lisuart smiling I know very wel that whosoeuer contests with you in matters concerning the honour of Amadis shall finde worke enough to doe but much more to defende himselfe if extreamity should question the case by weapons Sir said Amadis Lord Grumedan hath reason to wish mee well for he hath neither friend or kinsman that oweth him more dutie and obedient seruice then I doe and for such a one I am certaine he will acknowledge and esteeme me By this time king Perion drew nearer and nearer and thereupon king Lisuart made forth to meete him whereof Amadis aduertised him by Durin wherefore he commanded his men to march a slowe pace and taking Gastiles Grassandor Brian de Moniaste and Tiron with him left Agraies to conduct the troupes because king Perion wel knew the ill-will he bare to king Lisuart and feared least discourteous language might passe between them at their meeting whereby the purposed peace should bee quite made frustrate So the two Kings went to meete each other giuing the spurre to their horses and embraced together very louingly king Perion speaking thus to king Lisuart My Lord and brother me thinkes your Armour is much impaired since you departed from the camp albeit I am well assured it lay not rusting in your Armourie while the fight lasted betweene your men and mine And for ought I haue heard they that brought it thus out of fashion haue receiued a payment beyond their expectation and little to their liking So they haue answered king Lisuart thankes be giuen therefore to God and the good helpe that you Amadis and these other Knights brought mee in so vrgent a necessitie as I am sure you haue heard already In good faith said king Perion I haue all my lifetime desired that my children might bee yours in peace and true amity I hope replied king Lisuart that so they shall be before wee parte and our kindnesse neuer to faile especially on my behalfe But seeing Prince Agraies not to be one among them hee enquired expresly for him hauing vnderstood his hatred towards him and desirous to reconcile him and make him his friend if possible it might be Whereupon king Perion made answere that hee stayed behinde as a conduct to the rest of the Armie which followed I pray you Sir said king Lisuart that hee may bee sent for because I purpose not to parte from this place before I haue both seene and embraced him My Lord answered Amadis then I my selfe will goe for him It is well aduised quoth king Lisuart because hee will doe more for you then any other whatsoeuer So Amadis rode directly to Agraies whom hee met not farre off and tolde him what you haue heard already earnestly entreating him that forgetting all discontentment hee would goe with him and giue king Lisuart so good lookes as could be My Lord and Cosen said Agraies you know that my liking or disliking lasteth vpon your pleasure and I heartily desire that the succour which you haue giuen him of whom you speake may be better acknowledged then all the better acknowledged then all the former haue been And further I assure you I am content to requit all the wrongs done to you mee and many more meerely offered in despite of you and without any occasion at all Then they rode on together to King Lisuart who so soone as he saw Agraies left all the rest going to embrace him saying Cosen doe you thinke this embracing as dangerous to me as that was which you gaue mee on the day of our last being together Before God Sir replied Agraies I hope to find this much better then the other for I was neuer to my knowledge in the like danger We will talke therof said the King at better leasure But now you see the king my brother tarries for vs let vs goe conduct him to Lubania where I will make you all the best entertainement I can So they returnd to king Perion and tooke the way towards the Citie King Lisuart had receiued diuers wounds in his bodie but the Chirurgions hauing seene them gaue him hope of speedy recouery yet hee kept his bed ten daies together beeing often visited by the Princes and Lords of his owne country as also the other who to delight him had almost no other talke but of the tricks and stratagems of Archalauâ— by meanes whereof hee compassed his purposes especially when hee carried the Princesse Oriana away prisoner and after-warde King Perion Amadis and Florestan by the subtiltie of Dinarda also in what sorte hee escaped from Galaor and Norandell faining himselfe to bee Branfiles Cosen-germaine to Grumedan But most of all his proiect plotted by the helpe of Arauigne against them all which surely had preuailed but that Amadis was the onely hinderance Such accidents answered king Lisuart doe often come to passe by such wicked wretches as hee is who dare endanger themselues in doing euill and therein make their most delight finding the entrance sweete and easie onely by the instigation of the Diuell who depriues them of all apprehension concerning what dishonour may happen to them beside misery of life which makes death much more welcome to them then life can be As Arauigue himselfe hath now some cause to confesse being in the power of his chiefest enemies and may well serue as an example to all other that are to be taxed with the like vice As hee ended these wordes the good olde Hermite Nascian came to them who had softly followed after king Perion and finding the Princes in such peaceable quietnesse praised God for it and the good aduice of young Esplandian causing Amadis to depart so speedily when hee came to the rescue of king Lisuart as king Perion made knowen before them all In troth saide king Lisuart I would gladly know who gaue the youth so good counsell Sir replied Esplandian my father Nascian sent mee to you to tell you what hee had concluded with king Perion but I could not finde you in the Campe wherfore Sergill I passing on further discouered the Armie of king Arauigne as they descended downe the mountaine Then I called to mind what I heard the Queene my Mistresse say at my parting from her that hee was your enemy and fearing what afterwards happened to you I made haste to aduertise Lord Amadis to the end hee might giue you succour as he did Before God sweet youth saide king Lisuart I shall not while I liue forgette so great a blessing happening to mee And folding Esplandian in his arms sweetly kissed him on the cheeke At that time king Gasquilan was brought thither in a Litter hauing softly followed as beeing vnable to sit on horsebacke by reason of the shrewd fall hee had when he would needes trie his manhood against Amadis on the first day when the two battailes met Into a reserued chamber hee was conducted by some of the chiefe in the companie especially Amadis who came saluted him saying
whosoeuer aduenters it shall perish without any remedy And for as much said shee to Amadis as you detaine in prison that wicked wretch Archalaus surnamed the enchaunter who at all times hath practised to worke you mischiefe and will hereafter attempt the like behold here are two Rings the one for you and the other for Madam Oriana the vertue of them is such as they that haue them or weare them none of his enchantments can hurt them or any in their company so being as he continueth in captiuity And therfore let me aduise you to haue him straightly kept and in a strong Cage of Iron where he may bee seene of all to the end that liuing in such miserie hee may die a thousand times a day For death is much more cruell in so prolonging a mans life then when he quickly makes an end of him in a moment Madam answered Amadis I well perceiue that you depriue mee of all hope of euer satisfying the fauours that I haue receiued from you and which day by day you still heape vpon me Lord Amadis quoth she you did so much for me when by your meanes I receiued my friend from the Castle at the Causey where you gaue knight-hood to your brother Galaor as I hold my selfe sufficiently recompenced for all that I haue done or can do hereafter in your behalfe Hauing thus spoken shee tooke her leaue of the whole companie and mounting vpon a Palfray brought thither ready for her shee rode to the port where the two Dwarfes awaited her comming Thither did all the Knights conduct her vntill shee entred into her Frigot which suddenly was wrapt in so black a cloude as they lost the fight of her and of the serpent also which lay houering halfe a league off and shewed not it selfe till three dayes after But the darkenesse being vanished away they beheld it in the same place where Vrganda left it at the first So the Knights â—…urning to the Pallace of Apolidon continued out their feasting which lasted yet eight dayes longer In the meane while the Emperour Arquisil sent to prepare the shipping which his predecessour Patin brought with his Armie to Vindilasore and they being come thither his people were imparked and the next day following for the earnest desire he had to be at Rome there to bee lawfully crowned hee went aboard with his Empresse Florestan and the Queene Sardamira The winde sitting fairely for them the weighed Anchors and hoysed sayles so that in short while they were a great way off from the coast of Brittaine crossing the straites of Gibraltare entred into the Leuant Sea where wee will leaue them sayling returning to King Lisuart and the rest in the Enclosed Isle the more part whereof prepared them-selues for the kingdome of Arauigne But others more affecting their ease made account of repayring home to their owne houses especially King Lisuart Neuerthelesse before hee dislodged thence knowing well how faithfull King Cildadan had been to him so long as all his serious affaires endured hee did the parte of a most magnanimous and bountifull Prince towardes him and before all them of the Enclosed Isle remitted the tribute hee paide him to the losse of many worthy knights hearts that had formerly serued him more by constraint then any inclination of good will So taking leaue of them all hee returned home to his country And the same day they remayned there with Amadis as well for the purposed warre in Sansuega as else-where held a Councell wherein was decreed that Don Quedragant Bruneo de bonne Mer Agraies Angriote d' Estrauaus and Brian de Moniaste should go together with them that were left of the Scots Irish and Spanish by whose helpe the countries of Arauigne and Sansuega beeing neighbours and butting one vpon another might be the sooner conquered And beecause the countrie of the Profound Isle confined on the kingdome of Sobradisa Galaor should grant supply of vittailes and passage to his Cosen Dragonis and his Armie which consisted of Gaules and Bohemians with the people that Galuanes could bring from the Isle of Mongoza Hereupon such as were named and set downe for the warre took shipping on the sixt day following and the rest returned home to their countries King Perion to Gaule King Cildadan to his Queene and Gastilles to Constantinople But Amadis and Grasandor kept them-selues at the Enclosed Isle with Oriana Melicia Grasinda Mabila Esplandian and the King of Dacia in expectation of newes from them that were gone thence with so great a power CHAP. XXXII How Amadis went away alone to reuenge the knights losse whom a Ladie had brought dead in a small Barke And of that which happened to him AMadis and Grasandor voide as it appeared to them of all trouble or offence hauing them in their company whom they most esteemed tooke no other care but how to spend their time in all pleasure and delight But Fortune vtter enemy to any mans ease and quiet when shee likes to play her changing prankes had prepared a new occasion for them of sorrow and sadnesse as presently you shall vnderstand One day among other when these two Knights were gone to hunt the Hart as Amadis held his hound in a leash for his best aduantage of the game hee espied a farre off from the coaste a small Barke on the Sea yet making towardes land imagining it should haue some strange occasion therin hee descended downe the Rocke to see what might ensue But before he could goe low enough the Barke was close at the shoare and a Ladie came foorth thereof and one Mariner who with much labour drew forth a dead Knight yet wholly armed Amadis made a stay somewhat short of them to trie what would ensue of this sad beginning hiding himselfe behind a â—ush for his better shelter and long he had not tarried there but he saw the Mariner and the Ladie lay the Knight along vpon the Sands placing his shield vnder his head This caused Amadis to conceale â—…lse no longer but going towards them the Lady presentlie knew him Whereupon suddenly throwing her selfe at his feete and fountaines of teares flowing from hiâ— eyes she spake thus Alas Lord Amadis take pittie on a poore woman and for the honor of Knight-hood giue her succour for I am shee that first laid hand on you because the Queene your mother had no other helpe then my poore selfe when you were borne into the World moreouer I can well tell you that all the harmes I suffer at this present hath happened to mee by the loue I haue alwaies carried to you Amadis seeing her so woe begon and euen meerely drowned in teares as it were could not know her at the first sight but looking on her more aduisedly heâ— remembred her to be Darioletta of whome wee haue spoken in the beginning of the first Booke and tooke so great compassion on her as raysing her vp very graciously he promised to assist her to his vttermost power Alas Sir
without any iniury or disgrace done vnto him And to morrow thou shalt better see the disposition of thy father and gouerne thy selfe thereto accordingly for I dare assure thee that hee is in no perill of life True it is that without my request first propounded for him and the Knights affection to Gandalacke thy grandfather as him-selfe assured me he had smitten off his head therfore follow my counsell and better will befall thee then thou art aware of I will doe so answered Brauor if my mother shall allow of your aduise Goe then said the Knight to know her minde and in the meane while let euery man withdraw himselfe Brauor commanded his people to depart and keepe themselues farre enough off from the Caue least they should any way offend Amadis in the time of his going to the castle Where comming to his mother he declared all that the knight had said to him and how for the loue of Gandalack hee that had vanquished his father refused to kill him When she heard what her sonne had saide she presently imagined that he was Galaor whom shee affected as her own brother because they had been nursed together at the Rock of Galtares Whereupon she wished her Sonne to follow the Knights aduise for his father began much to mend By this meanes Amadis remained in peace yet standing still vpon his guard least hee should againe bee aslaulted by them of the Castle who stood still as his besiedgers but a great distance off from him CHAP. XXXIIII How Darioletta perceiuing Amadis to bee in such danger made great â—oaâ—e and lamentation And how Balan and hee were made friends WHen Darioletta perceiued Amadis to be besieged on all sids without any meanes of ayd or succour she began to grieue and lament very earnestly and in her weeping vsed these words Wretched and vnfortunate woman that I am must the only best knight in the world lose his life and by mine occasion How dare I hereafter appeare in the presence of the King his Father the Queene or any other of his friends knowing what harm I haue procured to him Miserable woman and much more miserable then I am able to tearme my selfe If I was once the meanes of sauing his life by inuenting that strange kind of cradle wherein hee was committed to the rude Seas mercy how farre vnkinde and contrarie am I now to him in causing the end of his dayes when I most expected and hoped for helpe by him Alas how misguided were my sences from reason and vnderstanding at the time when I met him on the Sea shoare and would not suffer him so much as turne back to the Castle of Apoliaon to take his leaue of madam Oriana and from whence hee might haue brought some other Knights with him by whom in this extreamity he should haue beene well supported Who therfore deserues iustly to be punished but only my selfe hated and despised of all good luck and performing the part of a light headed and indescreete Woman trusting ouer much to mine owne rash opinion All this while did Amadis beholde Dariolettaes sadde complaynings and how often times shee heaued vp her hands to heauen as requiring comfort onely from thence yet could he not vnderstand any one word she spake but enioyed this benefit of seeing her by light of fire made by them that watched him and for their better wearing away the cloudie night which also gaue him some feeling of her wofull condition and so afflicted him in soule as hee resolued to die or get out of the rocky caue because the nights obscuritie woulde therein more auaile him then day light could doe or delaying time till the morning Beside coÌ„sidering the doubtfull issue of his present estate it appeared plainlie to him that hee could not escape thence without eyther death or taking being ouer wearied with weight of his Armes want of naturall rest and extreamitie of hunger all of these beeing no meane enemies to any hopefull expectation Only his best helpe in this necessity was that he saw his guardes begin to nodde and sleepe and therefore so softly as he could and by little and little hee offered to steale out of the Caue hoping so to compasse his peace Well was this obserued by the Knight of the Infanta Island who considering what danger he might fall into what speeches had past betweene Brauor and the Gyants wife all tending to his good and safetie ranne presently to him and stayed him euen against his will as it were saying Sir Knight I pray you to befrend me so much as but to heare me before you aduenture any farther whereat Amadis stood still to listen what he would say and the other declared to him how hee had conditioned a truce with Brauor vpon hope of the Giants recouerie who already appeared to be out of perill and told him beside what you haue formerly heard Amadis hereat was very ioyfull beleeuing him to be an honest and kinde man that would bring him so good news and that no dread of death could cause him to inuent them where-upon he thus answered Courteous Knight for this time I both credit and will follow your counsell swearing to you by mine order of knight-hood wherein already I haue spent ten yeares seruice that I had much rather be hewn in peeces then the Lady for whom I haue contended with Balan should not be fully satisfied in her demaunde Both you and shee replied the Knight shall haue all that you can desire For I know Balan to be such a man as makes more account of his worde then hee doth of his life During this time the Gyant lay on his bedde not able to vtter a worde but panted extraordinarily as one that endured a strange kinde of perplexitie in his stomack wherby his breath began greatly to faile him and still one while after another he shewed with his left hand and poynted to the place where hee was most payned Which his Chirurgeons perceiuing who durst not as yet take off his garments as fearing much to stirre him they aduentured to obserue the place whereto he signed and found by present apparance that hee had great reason so to doe for more then the palme of a hands breadth round vpon the stomacke the flesh and bones were quashed and meerly broken as it were whereupon they applyed immediatly so many oyles vnguents and other helpefull remedies that before breake of day speech came to him againe and hee demanded what was become of the Knight and the Ladie Then the truth of all was tolde him for none of them durst tell a lie in his hearing which made him to call for his sonne Brauor and all the rest that kept Amadis so sharpely besieged and beeing come before him he began in this manner to his sonne Infamous villaine durst thou presume to falsifie my worde in any thing that I had promised Slaue as thou art what honour or what aduantage could redound to thee by so base a deed as thou
tooke landing and the Lady conducted mee thither where her daughter was detayned At my entrance into the Port I called out aloude 〈◊〉 any to answere mee and a 〈◊〉 â—…g forth at a window deâ—…ded of mee what I would haue whereto thus I replied Tell thy master that hee must quickly deliuer a Damosell which hee forcibly hath taken from her which is in my companie or yeelde mee a reason why he will not otherwise not a man shall issue forth but he dies the death By my Soule quoth he I spake to your threatning assures vs sufficiently what you are neuerthelesse doe but stay a little and I thinke you shall heare other tidings I withdrew somewhat off and tarried not long but they of the Tower opened the gates and forth came a Knight well mounted hauing on a yellow colourd Armour and at the length of a carriere hee called to me saying Knight thou that without any discretion thretnest mee that knowes thee not say what doest thou demand of mee I answered that I neither did or would threaten nor defie him vntill I vnderstood the cause why hee kept the daughter of the Lady here present with me from her Well said he admit it were so what is that to thee I hope quoth I to reuenge her wrong and to make thee restore her againe whether thou wilt or no. We shall soone try that said the other And so giuing his horse the spurre hee came running mainly against me as I did the like to him couching our Launces so conueniently that the shiuers of them flew vp into the ayre very gallantly Setting hand to our swordes a tough battaile began betweene vs which continued almost to the euening but in the end the right being on my side the victory fell to mee hauing him downe vnder my foot and my sword ready to smite off his head But he calling for mercy prayed me to saue his life he would do whatsoeuer I would haue him Why then said I deliuer this Lady her daughter againe and sweare neuer to take maide or wife contary to their owne liking which faithfully he vowed to doe Here-upon pretending to goe fetch the Damosell forth hee went into the Tower and here he stayed not long but I saw him embarqued on the Sea armed as I left him and the Damosell with him hee calling out thus aloude to mee Knight wonder not that I haue broken my word with thee for the power of Loue hath thereto compelled mee being not able to liue one houre without her whom I thus carrie away with me And seeing it is out of mine owne abilitie either to conquer or gouerne my selfe I pray thee finde no fault with this that I haue done And because neither thou nor her Mother shall hope hereafter to see her any more behold I will now conuey her to such a place where thou shalt neuer heare any tidings of her Speaking these words he rowed away and the Damosel wrung and wrested her hands whereat I conceiued such griefe that death was much more pleasing to mee then Life For the mother beganne to make such strange Lamentations tearing both her hayre and Garments casting in my teeth that she had receiued more wrong by mee then from the Knight himselfe For quoth she while my daughter was in the Tower there alwayes was hope of recouering her againe but now all expectation is vtterly frustrated being carried to a place vnknowne and whereof you are the only occasion by not executing the victory when it remained in your power to doe it Now am I our of hope of any remedy and not only is the paines you haue taken for mee thanklesse but also I haue iust cause to complaine of you before all men I shall euer meet withall In my answere to hâ—r and to appease hâ—r 〈◊〉 I confessed that I held my selfe guilty of heâ— newe dâ—…ter because I might wâ—…l haue considered that the Knight beeing disloyall to her in so 〈◊〉 her daughter small vertue elâ—â— would be expected in him 〈◊〉 〈…〉 it â—â—d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 swore to â—er 〈…〉 either by 〈…〉 recoâ—ered her daughter and deliuered her 〈…〉 hands Prouided that she would lend â—…e her Barque and some of her Mariners as my guides whereto she condiscended Moreouer she promised to attend my returne in a Castle there neare adioyning 〈◊〉 also the 〈…〉 of mee and to see that I should pâ—â—â—me my promise So wee pâ—â—ted from heâ— sâ—tting sayle the same wâ—y as 〈…〉 tâ—e Knight had taken beâ—ore vs and long time wee sâ—yled without hearing any newes at all vntâ—ll this very day 〈◊〉 is the fiftâ— wee met with 〈…〉 who told mee 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with â—…diâ—g to 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 tâ—e â—…chantrâ—… Whâ—â—â— I ariuinâ— I 〈…〉 aâ— empty Sqâ—… and your people no◠〈…〉 whom I enquired if 〈…〉 any belonging 〈…〉 They could 〈…〉 but that the Sqâ—… was thâ—â—â— beâ—ore theâ—… ariuall and in such manner as I found it Whereupon I ascended vp this Rocke thinking they might be hidden here about and also to try an aduenture which the fishermen tolde mee was here aloft in an olde ruined Pallace wherein if I fâ—â—led yet I might make some report thereof to such as aâ—terward I met withall Friend Gandalin answered Grasandor concerning the Knight and the Damosell thâ—â—e may remaine â—…e hope of meeting with them bâ—t fâ—r the Aduentur your laâ—our 〈◊〉 is vtterly lost So â—ee reported all that had formerly happened whereat Gandalin some-what amazed demanded whether they had seene the Knight or no No truely answered Amadis and yet wee haue visited all these ruines two seuerall times notwithstanding wee will once more goe ouer them againe and make a more aduised obseruation Walking about from place to place they espied the Knight close hâ—d in a corner who 〈…〉 himâ—â—â—fe to be discoueâ—…â—ame fâ—rth to them dâ—mandâ—nâ—â—or whom they sought For the◠〈…〉 answered Gandalin The Knight presently knowing him by his white Armour replied Trust mee Sir I wonder not a little what pleasure you take in thus pursuing me hauing already assured you the arme of loue â—ath so ouer-awed mee that I haue no power to goâ—â—â—ne my 〈…〉 I am verely perswaded that 〈◊〉 either you or any other 〈◊〉 this company had in like manner felt the force of loue as I haue doâ—â— I should not appeare to be â—o faultie as perhaps I seeme to be â—n your imaginations Therefore dâ—e with mee what you will for nothing else but death can diuide mee from this Damosell such and so vnfayned is my affection to her Amadis who had many thousand times felt himselfe in the same extremitie began to take compassion on him Neuerthelesse thus hee answered Although what you haue said is in some measure excusable yet the Knight that hath pursued in search of you may not faile in his promise made to the Ladie for otherwise hee deserues to bee reprehended before all worthie persons I know it well sir replied the knight and am likewise contented to put
passage not a little wondring where and how shee had found it Approching neerer to her in threatning manner hee thus spake to her Cruell beast who made thee so bold to offer iniurie to a creature sent by God into the world to doe him seruice and honour It is no food for thee or thy whelpes The Lyonnesse seemed to bee fearefull and euen as if she had vnderstood the commaund of Nascian couched downe presently on the ground and moouing her eares and taile in louing manner layde downe the infant and beganne to lick it Then the good olde man tooke it vp in his armes and in blessing it said Alas little Babe thy mother that hath thus vnmercifully left thee is well worthy to be curssed of God The childe beganne to cry and make much moane which mooued the aged man to such compassion that the teares streamed aboundantly downe his reuerend beard And not knowing how to quiet it with any present sustenance concluded in the end to driue the Lyonnesse into her denne and there to suckle it among her whelpes which as hee did hee said I commande thee by the power of God to whom all things liuing doe owe obedience that thou giue nourishment to his creature and to bee as carefull of it as to any of thine owne The Lyonnesse made no refusall but suffred the child to suck so long as it listed and then the Hermit taking it from her carried it a long with him louingly to his Hermitage Presently hee sent for his Sister to come to him to aduise what should be done with the child and his young Nephew was dilligent in the businesse but fortune was so contrarie that hee found not his mother at home because the day before shee and her husband was gon to a village somewhat farre off so as they could not be returned in the space of eight whole dayes During which time Nascian found himselfe much encombred for hee was but badly acquainted with the office of a Nursse and therefore finding no other remedie till they were returned he made his best meanes by the Lyonnesse as also a faire Ewe that had newly eaned and these holpe to foster our poore forsaken infant But returning now to Durin thinking to finde the child at the fountaine where he had left it he was greatly astonished when he perceiued his purpose defeated Neuerthelesse he so earnestly endeuoured to know what was become of it that at last he found the tracke of the Lyonnesse which had carried it thence and presuming that she had deuoured it in mournfull teares he returned to his Sister She vnderstanding this haplesse fortune fell downe as one entranced and breathing forth many pittifull lamentations 〈…〉 ssed the houre of her owne birth hauing lost thus all her hope and comfort wretch that I am quoth she what shall I doe where shall I bestow my selfe what answere shall I make to my Lady when shee heares of this misfortune O deare God wouldst thou permit so yong a creature to perish that neuer in it selfe offended thee It is I that am iustly worthy of the seuearest punishment and I would that this mishap had falne vpon my selfe for life is now but loathsome to mee Sweet Babe thy Father euen as yong as thou beganne to proue the dangers of this world and yet our Lord in his great goodnesse pleased to preserue him But thy mis-fortune is much more strange then his because when he was left to the mercie of the waues Gandales in a happy houre met with him and afterward did foster him as euery one well knoweth But alas little darling thou didst fall into the mercy of a brute beast that had no more pitty then his owne nature gouerned and so didst thou finish thy dayes before they were wel neere begunne These lamentations were sleeped in many floods of teares Durin being no way able to comfort her because for a long while death more appeared in her then life NotwithstaÌ„ding he knew so wel how to manage arguments of reason that hauing somewhat preuailed ouer her passion he thus spake to her Sister it may so fall out that heauen hath beene gracious to him in pitty for many other haue beene borne away by wilde beasts and yet afterward attained to great perfection Therefore the best way is to comfort your selfe for you may doe yet many seruices to the Princesse and to Lord Amadis who in loosing you shall sustaine a double losse What would you aduise me quoth shee to do marie this answered Durin that we mounting both vpon your horses 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ce to Mirefleure and soiouâ—â—e there two or three dayes before wee doe returne to Court. And when your Lady enquireth concerning her childe you may tell her listening somwhat to the counsell of Mabila that he is in the gouernment of a very good Nurse This aduice being allowed for good they departed thence taking the direct roade way to Mirefleure where they remained for a time before they would returneâ— to the Court and there let vs leaue them we going backe againe to the good olde Hermite About tenne dayes after hee had sent for his Sister shee came vnto him accompanied onely with her husband Then he declared to her how and in what manner he did find the childe in the deuouring mouth of the Lyonesse carying it as food for her young ones but by Gods permission hee recouered it from her and awayâ—â—g for the time of her comming to him the Lyonnesse and an Ewe had suckled and nourished it Wherefore Sister quoth he questionlesse our Lord hath reserued it for his seruice preseruing it from such dreadfull danger in which respect let me entreate you to prouide for it hereafter and bring it vp till it bee capable of such learning as I will teach him And if it be the will of Heâ—uen to blesse him with long life I make no doubt but he will prooue a worthy man and acknowledge the good which wee shall doe for him Then the Hermite brought her where the Infant lay sleeping vpon a bedde of leaues and mosse and shee no sooner saw him but his very appearance pleased her beyond measure and she asked of him what was his name In troth quoth he that is as yet vnknowne to me but to cleare vs of all doubt I will presently baptiâ—e him And so hee willed her to vnswaddle him and she espying the Caracters vnder his brests shewed them to the Hermite He bestowed such paines to vnderstand them that hee found this word Esplandian in Latine letters but his skill reached not so far as the Greeke Hereupon perswading himselfe that he brought his name from his mothers wombe hee would not rob him of it but confirmed it by Baptisme naming him Esplandian and so was he afterward knowne in many strange Countries where he broght to end many great aduentures as we shall reade heere-after But for the present wee spare to speake of them let it therefore suffise ye that the child being christened
life but for Angriote and Florestan who thrust in betweene them and as they laboured in his defence king Lisuarts Sword entred the flanke of Florestans horse so that hee fell downe dead vnder him But Florestan quickly reuenged this iniury for in recouering himselfe he so hought king Lisuarts horse that he was glad to forgo his Stirrops and in dismounting gaue such a stroake to Florestan on the head that both astouned shreudly wounded him Notwithstanding Florestan was not thus to bee discouraged but beholding the king ready againe to charge him with his Sword he vnder-ranne the blow and catching him about the midle seazed his Sword by which meanes he might easily haue slaine him if he would but he refused that aduantage so freely offered him which afterward prooued to his owne harme Galaor beholding the king in so great danger rushed suddenly in and without respect to brother or any other kinsman behaued him-selfe so boldly that in despight of Florestan he recouered the king out of his hands and remounted him on horsebacke againe by the helpe of Norandell Grumedan and some others which gaue fresh encouragement to the knights of Great Brittaine so that they which before fled away with feare stood to it now more resoluedly then euer So turning head vpon their enemies who hauing lost Florestan and Quedragant that were among the dead bodies became so weakened in their strength as they were constrayned to retire for euen Galuanes himself was so grieuously wounded as hee was no longer able to sit on horse-backe Neuerthelesse like a discreete and hardie knight vntill his people had gained the hill he stood vpon his best guard wiâ—… Palomir Elian Branfill Enill and Sarquiles who were all in the end taken prisoners And had it not beene for Dragonis who forcibly recouered Galuanes he had remained among the rest Thus the king obtayned the victory by vertue of his courage and the fauour of Florestan who hauing him in his power became enemy to his owne good fortune For she is such an inconstant Mistresse as will haue no man to let slip aduantage against his contrarie lest shee turne her backe and frowne at his folly as she did to Florestan For if hee had slaine king Lisuart when in heate of blood with tollerable excuse hee might haue done it the honor of the day had falne to him and his friends assuredly which therefore thus hee lost to their shame and confusion as formerly hath beene related Galuanes his associats being retired among the mountaines keeping very circumspectly al the wayes passages king Lisuart commanded the retreat to be sounded and pitched his Tents in the same place where hee had wonne the victory But as Galaor returned from pursuit of his enemy hee espyed his Brother Florestan and Quedragant lying among the slaughtered bodies whereat he conceiued such inward griefe that he was ready to fall beside his horse Being alighted and perceiuing in them no motion of life at all his complaints were so pitifull and extreame that euery eye did much compassionate him and the King was made acquainted with his heauy case Whereupon immediatly hee mounted on horse-back not for any good-will to Florestan or Quedragant but onely to comfort Galaor whom hee loued most intirely And yet notwithstanding all his malice he considered as he rode along what daunger Florestan did thrust himselfe into on the day of battaile against King Cildadan and that but for him he had beene wounded to death by Gandacuriel as already hath beene at large declared In remembrance whereof he desired to saue his life if possible it might be and therefore so soone as he came to them he commanded their bodies to be carried into one of his Tents and that his own Phisitions and Chirurgions should look diligently to their wounds Vpon sight and search made according to their skill and experience they found their hurts to bee very dangerous but not deadly for at their first dressing they found such hopefull signes of recouery that they vndertook within certain dayes to warrant their cure Galaor on this comfortable peÌ„rswasion left them to their rest and quiet and went to the King who was set in Councell demaunding the opinion of his knights what further was to be done against his enemies declaring what daunger might ensue by admitting them to gather fresh supply and strength and that it would be both honour and profit to â—old on still the pursuit of victory For quoth hee I am very certaine that Agrayes is gone to leuie men in little Brittaine and that hee will come quickly with new assistance wherefore I hold it most necessary speedily to follow on them not suffering them to take hart or breathing and hauing now so good meanes to doe let vs take the benefit of so apt an oportunity To this aduice all the knights condiscended without contradiction in any one and hereupon it was resolued that each man should bee in readines the next morning so soone as the Trumpet gaue forth summons which was performed accordingly But they met with stouter resistance then they expected for Dragonis with so small a company of men as he had with him had so fortified the passage and maintained it so manfully that a great number of them were sore wounded before they could get the least meanes of entrance Notwithstanding in the end he was faine to leaue it and seeke for safety in the Fortresse of the Burning Lake but thither he was pursued and there besieged both by Sea and land to keep them off the Towne from issuing forth and to cut off all hope of succour which they continually awayted from little Brittaine But because it would be a matter too prolixe and tedious to report all the skirmishes and attempts which they had against each other during the siege and it being a thing very litle appertaining to out history which tendeth onely to the actions of Amadis who remained now in Gaule with his Father King Perion Let it suffise yee that after the siege had continued 3 moneths and more two things were the cause of bringing them to accorde The one because they of the Towne had receiued Letters from Agrayes that hee lay sicke in little Brittaine by which meanes he could not leuy competent forces to their expectation The other because King Lisuart reciued aduertisement from his Vncle Count Argamont that seuen of his neighbour Kings had made great prouision for the inuading of his kingdome which required such care as needfully therto belonged This aduice likewise gaue further intelligence that Archalaus the Enchanter was the onely meanes heereof because he had perswaded them to this attempt vpon the aduantage of King Lisuarts absence at the Burning Lake and the small store of knights remaining then in Great Brittaine When King Lisuart heard these newes hee consulted with his thoughts what was best to be done and after much discourse with his owne minde he concluded to take composition with Galuanes if hee would but
wherein they lay was fixed on a screw or giuing vise which easily and without the least noyse conueyed them aboue twenty fathome in depth they being in a sound sleepe dreading no harme at all Full well knew Gandalin and the other that these knights were their Maisters thus betrayed notwithstanding they made no outward apparance thereof but as if they had neuer seene or knowne them Gandalin thus answered For ought I can perceiue most vnhappily came we hither where such worthy men are so cruelly handled of whom we haue heard much fame and faire report But is there no way or means whereby to succourand helpe them I am vndoubtedly perswaded that if they were deliuered our abiding heere would not be long Let mee tel ye answered the ancient knight the maine butte or end of the vice which supporteth the bed wherein they lye is vnder the plancher of this Chamber and heere you may behold it If all our strength labor will serue to turne it about and remount the bed vp againe to his former place they may easily get forth because the doore is neuer shut and moreouer the Guardes or Keepers of the Castell are now all in their deadest sleepe Let vs try quoth Gandalin what we can do so euery one set to their hand Such was their painfull labour endeauour that the screw of the vice turning by little and little the bed beganne to rise and King Perion being then not able to sleepe felt how it mooued wherefore awaking Amadis and Florestan hee said vnto them Doe not you feele that we are remounting vp aloft Assure your selues the villaine Archalaus will keepe promise with vs for doubtlesse wee are discouered to him I know not said Amadis what may be his meaning but hee that first layes hold on me to do me out-rage shall pay the reckoning for all the rest While thus they conferred by little and little the bedde drew vp neere to the plancher and attained to fixing in his first place Then our knights leaping lightly on their feete drew forth their Swords looking all about them to see who had thus raised them again But they could not see any body to their no little maruaile and they found their Armes in the same place where they had lefte them before they went to rest wherewith they armed themselues immediatly Afterward they issued forth so secretly that seazing the Guards they hewed and sliced them in pieces before any ey could take notice thereof vntill such time as by the great noise they made in breaking the bolts and barres of the gates and sharpe assayling such as they met withall Archalaus awaked and heard Amadis cry with a loude voyce For Gaule for Gaule this Castell is ours In great affrightment he rose and hauing no leysure to arme himselfe he ran into a strong Tower mounting to the top thereof and drawing vp the Ladder after him where seeing himselfe in safety putting his head out ata window he called to his people so loud as he could In the meane while our three knights had made way to Gandalin and the rest freeing them from the slauery of Archalaus whom they espied bawling aloft on the Tower with some other for their better safety And because they could by no possible meanes come at them they made a great fire and smoakt them in such sort as they were glad to descend into-he lowest vaults where they were likewise almost smothred with smoke At length the knights seeing the Castell all engirt with fire commanded their horses to bee led forth where mounting on them they coÌ„mended Archalaus to all his deuils and the Dwarfe cryed out Archalaus Archalaus remember how kindly thou didst vse me when thou tiedst me fast by the feete in the Castel of Valderin where I was as well perfum'd as thou art now The dwarfe deliuered these words so angerly with such a strange gesture as made them all to laugh hartily And when they were somewhat further off they looked behind them and beheld the Castell flaming gallantly perswading themselues that they were sufficiently reuenged on Archalaus and that he could no way escape with life By this time bright day appeared and they arriued at the place where they left their Ship there the Gentlewoman that had bin deliuered with the rest remembring the words of Amadis in the Castell when he cryed For Gaule for Gaule desired to know of Gandalin which of them was the man Gandalin pointing her to Amadis shee went and fell at his feete desiring pardon of him For quoth shee I am Darioletta that committed your life to the mercy of the Sea euen the very same day that you were borne But beleeue me my Lord I did it to saue the honour of the Qaeen your Mother who otherwise had bin put to death for no one did know but my selfe onely that the King your Father who is heere present with yee was as then married to her Amadis was much amazed heereat for he had neuer heard the cause wherefore he was left in such sorsaken manner so taking Darioletta by the hand he said vnto her Faire Friend I pardon ye perceiuing it was done vpon so iust an occasion and heretofore Galuanes hath often told me that he found me floating on the Sea but till this instant I was vtterly ignorant how it came to passe Then she related all from point to point without omitting any thing euen from the beginning of King Perions loue to his Queene Elisena and the successe of euery accident wherein the king tooke no little delight and often entreated Darioletta to repeat the sweet pleasures of his youth But while this company were thus in quiet and contentment the case of Archaiaus carried no correspondencie therewith for hee and hir remained inthe deep vault vnder his sower where he was as well fauouredly smoakt and perfumed as euer Rainard the Foxe was in his vnderground kennel And if his Niece Dinarda and some others had not succoured him hee had there miserably ended his dayes But they came to him so soone as the knights were gone finding him so suffocated and ouercome as he was not able to stirre either hand or foote Taking him forth of that smothering vault they threw vineger and cold water in his face so that soon after he began to breathe and opening his eyes beheld his Castell all on a sâ—â—me Then heauily sighing euen as if his heart would haue split in sunder he said Vile traytour Aâ—… how many iniuries hast thou 〈…〉 since thy birth Be well asâ—… therefore that if I can catch thâ—â— I wil be reuenged to mine own hearts contentment In the despight of thee I will neuer keep any knight falling into my power aboue one night but he shall dye the death to make him sure for scaping from me as â—ow much against my minde thouhâ—st done So calling for his Litter he wold presently bee thence conuayed to Mount Aldan For quoth he it vexetl my very soul to behold
â—…rmour newes was brought them that the eleuen Romaine knights were in the field and there attended their comming In regard whereof eachman quickly armed himselfe and the twelue knights rode forth accompanied with the King and many other but when Arquisil beheld them approaching neere he thus spake to his companions Lords friends and kinde companions let me entreate ye to remember that we go to fight not onely to winne land for the Emperour or to maintaine the promise made by Garadan but for the honour of the whole Romane Empire Moreouer I haue spoke it and once again do vrge it to permit me to combate him who yesterday had the victory of our associat I see him come foremost and he shall be the first I hope ouerthrowen prepare then to meete them and make spare of no man So taking their shields they marched directly against their enemies who perceiuing them to come nere placed their launces as they ought charging manfully one another Arquisil met the knight of the green Sword so full forward that he brake his Launce vpon him in many shiuers but if himselfe had not quickly caught hold by the mayne of his horse the knight had layde him along on the ground for he met him with such a direct opposition as he lost his stirrops and was quite out of his saddle Afterward perfecting his carriere he met with one of the other to whom he gaue so sound a salutation on the height of his Helmet as he disarmed him thereof At the same instant he was fresh charged by two together and wounded so grieuously in the thigh as he was neere falling whereat hee grew so offended that clasping hand to his Sword he gaue so great a stroke to him that was neerest him as if hee had not receiued it at his best aduantage he had beene immediatly slaine thereby But the blow slyding by lighted on the horses neck and on the legge of his rider bearing them both together vnto the ground When Arquisil saw that he came behinde him and gaue him such a stroke on the Helmet as made his eyes to sparkle fire notwithstanding hee knew so well how to reuenge himselfe that he cut off his left arme iust at the shoulder Then began the fight to bee more fierce then before because they all came together pell mell and although Arquisil felt great pain by his so late receiued wound and lost his blood so extraordinarily yet for all that he gaue the by-standers apparant testimony that his heart was vnconquerable and he stil maintained the fight continuing as fresh and couragious as any of the rest Neuerthelesse at length both he and his companions were so shreudly handled as the most part of them lay along on the earth and himselfe found no meanes for enduring the sharpe assaults of the knight of the greene Sword who followed on him still so incessantly not permitting him the least minutes space of breathing as he was well neere vnable to hold out any longer Then Grasandor buckled with him and charged him so mainely with all his might that he instantly fell downe in a swoune Whereupon he alighted from his horse making shewe as if he meant to smite off his head But the knight of the greene Sword perswaded him to the contrary and going to him tooke off his Helmet that he might receiue ayre when comming to himselfe againe he seemed not a little terrified when hee perceiued his death so nere where-upon he craued mercy of him On my faith quoth the knight thou dyest except thou yeeld thy selfe Alas said hee I submit to your mercy Then he tooke him vp and gaue him assurance of life At which very instant came King Tafinor who being ioyfull of so happy a victory demaunded of the knight of the Dwarfe how hee fared whether he were wounded or no. Sir quoth he I haue no wound so offensiue to me but I count it worthily receiued in regard that you are so honorably serued So mounting all on horseback they returned into the Citty where the people stood in mighty crowds along the streetes crying out aloud Blessed bee this good knight by whom if God bee so pleased we shall haue peace and a finall conclusion of warre In this manner they followed him to the Kings lodgings where Chirurgions came to visit him assuring him vpon their liues that in very few daies they would enable him to sit on horsebacke if he would be ordered by their aduice Now in regard that all the Romaine knights lay slaine in the field except Arquisil who was brought in as a prisoner he entreated the knight of the greene Sword to suffer him to depart thence vpon his faith that he might carry home his dead companions vpon condition that he would return to him at all times and as often as hee pleased to command him Arquisil answered Amadis you are a Gentleman and I am perswaded that you will performe what you haue promised goe returne hither againe so speedily as you can So departed Arquisil of whom our History now ceasseth to speake to tell yee that within some few dayes after the knight of the green Sword finding his hurts fully healed and his body able to beare Armour hee grew weary of longer tarrying with Tafinor and finding him at conuenient leisure he spake vnto him in this manner Sir thankes be to our Lord you are now in peace and out of all troublesome annoyances wherfore let my departure be with your good lyking for I am determined to set forward to morrow morning in pursuit of such good fortune as my fairest starres shall assigne vnto me But thus Sir assure your selfe that wheresoeuer I shall abide so long as I liue I am your humble seruant as the fauour and honour you haue done me doth iustly binde me How Sir knight answered the King will you leaue me Are you weary of this Country whereof you onely may dispose and of my selfe also I beseech you Sir to accept it as your owne by due desert and let mee for euer bee happy by your companie Sir said the knight I humbly entreat you to pardon me and to beleeue that if it consisted in my power my earnest desire to doe you any seruice considered I would yeeld to your request but my heart by no meanes can permit it The King knowing that it was small reason to detayne him against his will said To morrow morning I will tell ye more first wee will heare Masse together and then if it shall like you to graunt me one request which I am to demaund of ye you shall therein do me a singular pleasure Sir answered the knight you haue such power in command ouer me as â—mine owne especiall intention reserued I will not gaine-say whatsoeuer you shall vrge vnto me I thank ye Sir quoth the King So falling into other discourse and night drawing on the knight of the greene Sword commaunded Gandalin to make all things ready for departing thence the next morning
them came forth arms hands legs feete with nailes and clawes so piercing like to them of a mighty strong Lyon His eyes seemed properly like two burning coales or brands so red and sparkling that in the night season they seemed like two shining starres And that which was much more his teeth were so huge sharp that they would bite through breake the best made Armour of steele By all these meanes he did so many harmes and mischiefes that he brought this Isle to be disinhabitable especially because he could mount leape and run so speedily as the very nimblest Hart in the world And if at any time he grew angry or offended as it happened very often in fighting with Beares Lyons and wilde Boares he would send foorth such a dreadfull smoake from his nostrils as plainly appeared to be a duskie flame of fire so loathsomly stinking as no liuing creature could escape infection therby which caused euery one to flye shunne him When he yelled or howled hemade such a fearefull cry or noyse grating his teeth in so strange manner and clapping his wings so hideously as to the very boldest courage nothing could be more dauntable The people of this Sea commonly called him Endriagus as being held and reputed by them to be rather a deuill then any beast produced by nature Much amazed was our knight of the greene Sword to heare Maister Elisabet make this strange description nor being able to comprehend any possibility that so horrid a thing could be engendred betweene man woman Except the ponderous weight of a sinne so monstrous had in such sort alienated naturall disposition that the soule fiend tooke the place of a reasonable soule and so caused this hellish procreation Whereupon hee demaunded why he was suffred to liue so long and whether as yet he breathed there or no I will tell yee Sir answered Master Elisabet all such as haue attempted his destruction haue fayled and finished theirliues most cruelly Further-more you must know that the Emperour of Constantinople vnder whose subiection this Island alwaies hath bin hath sent hither the greater part of his power but all hath proued to no purpose I maruaile said our knight why they did not kill him so soone as he was borne Vnderstand Sir replyed Maister Elisabet that Brandaginda perceiuing her self to be great with child the Giant her Father was not a litle proud thereof as hoping to haue such issue as his gods had promised him And heereupon he caused three or foure Nurses to be diligently sought for conceiuing with himselfe that seeing the infant should be so strong reason required that his nourishing should be answerable thereto But the mothers time of deliuering growing neere shee began to feele the most bitter anguishes in the world Notwithstanding the Giant and shee tooke all in good part perswading themselues that those paines proceeded onely from vigour of the childe who at the time appointed came so dreadfully forth of the mothers wombe as all the women then present were amazed thereat Neuerthelesse standing in feare of the Giant they swadled it vp in rich clothes and gaue it to one of the Nurses to sucke at whose brest it drew so strongly and without any intermission as notwitstanding all her loud cryes he sucked the very heart blood out of her body so that shee fell downe dead on the floore The like did the second the third all of the Nurses instantly dying not only by the poyson issuing frō him but also by the violence he did vnto them These tydings being sent to the Giant in no little amazement he went to his gods and hauing offered sacrifice according to his custome he demaunded of them why they had giuen him such a monstrous linage He that carried the resemblance of a man answered It is necessary he should be such a one that as my workes are straunge and admirable so should his be conformable to mine especially to destroy all Christians therefore hee hath some semblance of a man to whom all things owe obedience And I quoth the other in fauour of thee haue giuen him the strēgth of a Lyon to resemble mee therein That which mooued me said the third to arme him with wings and sharpe-piercing tallents or clawes was in imitation of my selfe that as I partake in a Griffons nature so he should bee Master controuler of all creatures hee can meet withall And let this suffice thee without further sorow for the three womens death that gaue him suck but hence forward let him bee nourished with the milke of thy slocks and heardes vntill it be the space of a yeare at which time hee will be so well formed as he shal resemble vs al three In the meane while take heed vpon perill of thy life that thou thy wife or any other then she that must tend him doe see him for else great harme will happen to thee For this cause the Giant willing to obey the command of his gods prouided diligently for al that they had appointed him and so this deuilish Monster for a whole yeares limitation was nourished and kept in a very close Chamber Which time being accomplished and the mother vnderstanding by her who had him in gouerning that hee was growne great and strong beyond all naturall capacity had such an earnest desire to see him as shee caused the Giant to yeeld consent Entring both into the Chamber where hee was nourished and he seeing his mother suddenly leapt about her shoulders and caught such hold about her neck that before his father could lend any help he cruelly kilde her Whereat the Giant grew so enraged that he ran on him to kil him in casting a blow at him with all his might the Sword rebounded backe vpon his owne leg wounding it so deep as in the extreme anguish he felt thereby he fell downe to the ground and there breathed his last At the very same instant the Monster being named Endriagus finding the doore of the Chamber to stand open flew thence into the mountaines leauing all them in the Castell infected to death with his poyson Afterward he did so many harmes in euery place that al the inhabitants were glad to forsake the Country or else to dye the death Thus you haue heard how this Isle hath remained desart for the space of forty yeres and so long is it since this hellish Monster hath heere liued in this manner By my faith answered our knight you haue told me wonders wherein our Lord hath plainely declared what long patience he hath vsed in expecting amendment for the sinnes of men but finding them obstinate too hard-hearted he hath continued this seuerity of vengeance Neuerthelesse I am not to part away from this place vntill I haue fought with this Endriagus hoping assuredly to reuenge the wrongs he hath done to so many to replant this Isle again with people that may religiously serue God And because the day was well neere spent he
to vse his Sword and stand as defence for all such as are in need no doubt but Heauen will be his helpe in defending him from all harme and encreasing his great renowne Then came Leonorina the onely daughter to the Emperor with the two daughters to Barandel King of Hungarie 〈◊〉 who was so rich in beauty and all choyce perfections that she seemed a rare pearle among the very fairest Princesses of the world And that which most of all did illustrate her rarities was her extraordinary wisedome and delicate carriage in regard whereof euery one tooke delight to behold her but much more to keepe her company Hauing done a gracious reuerence to the Emperour and afterward to her Mother shee sate down at her feet Then our Knight looking on her remembred when Oriana was left by King Lisuart in SCOTLAND being then about her age at which time Loue depriued him of his liberty and gaue him wholly as her seruant Immediatly all the fauours of amitie gracious entertainments since their first acquaintance presented themselues to the eyes of his soule and his affection being no way weakened or impaired either by length of time or distance of place but rather much more encreased threw such a sudden amorous affliction vpon him that he was wonderfully pensiue in this melancholy fit he thus spake to himselfe silently Oh happy prison which by good reason tooke my spirit captiue for more admittance into greater libertie Oh sweet death occasion of a double life Oh quick remeÌ„brance that canst keepe such an affectionat â—oue so couert Poore Amadis farre off from thy louely felicity what canst thou hope for heereafter wouldst thou hinder the issue of thy life whereby thou mayst be rid of so many miseries Ah Oriana the true exemplary of all vertue thy absence is so grieuous to me as I can neuer hope to recouer ioy With the conclusion of this priuate imparlance he breathed forth a loud-speaking sigh which the Emperour perceiuing became full of maruaile thinking some strange accident had befalne him But instantly they noted a chearefull reuiuing of his spirits and his lookes to bee as fresh and faire as before yet as ashamed of his soules sudden rapture in this kinde to lay his passions so open to euery eye the new tincture in his countenance gaue euident testimony This raised a more earnest desire in the Emperor then before to know whence such a sudden vnexspected mutation should proceed vrging the opinion of Gastilles therein Trust me Sir quoth he I am not able to iudge in this case but ratherstand as one confounded to see that such a man as he is should declare so little discretion in such an assembly Assure your selfe replyed the Emperour this passion proceeded from some intimat affectioÌ„ to her that hath the highest command ouer him It may be so answered Gastilles but to clear all doubt let M. Elisabet be questioned in this case Then was he called the Emperor said to him Elisabet my long-loued friend I am desirous to know one thing of you which I charge ye by the faith you beare to God to resolue mee in if you can And I sweare to you vpon my soule that by mee it shall neuer bee discouered Sir answered Maister Elisabet you may well perswade your selfe that I will not lye to a personage of your greatnesse but will tell you freely any thing I know Can you quoth the Emperour yeeld a reason why our new-come knight both sighed and wept so lately I desire you not to conceale it from me for if hee stand in need of any thing whatsoeuer assure your selfe hee shall be supplied in such good sort as he shall haue iust cause to shake off all melancholy Sir replyed Elisabet heerein I can say nothing to you for he is such a man the very closest in such maters as he will not haue manifested as I neuer saw the like No man can better dissemble his priuate fantasies yet I haue often seene him in such extremities that if a man might gather iudgment by sighing I haue imagined that his heart must needs split in sunder yet neuer was it possible for me to know the cause But thus much I verily conceiue that it must needs be the controulling power of loue which torments him in such tyrannicall maner being perhaps far off from her whoÌ„ he affecteth I iumpe with you in opinion said the Emperour and I could well wish that his loue were to some Lady of this country for I would be so liberall in bountie to him as there is neither King Prince or Lord so potent but might repute himselfe happy to match his daughter in marriage with him that thereby we might be the more certaine of his company And if you Maister Elisabet my hearts true friend can worke this mater out of him by your wit rest thus resolued that you shall well vnderstand my acceptation of the seruice which you may doe in this kinde and therefore let me perswade you to pursue it Sir quoth he you shall perceiue that I wil do my vttermost heerein So the Emperor rising went to the Empresse taking her aside said Madame you haue lately seen as wel as my selfe what sadnes our knight of the greene Sword suddenly fell into we cannot gatherwhat should moue him thereto therfore I entreat you to deuise some meanes wherby we may know it likewise if hee will consent to stay here still with me I wil not be sparing to him in any demaund whatsoeuer My Lord said she it were best in my iudgement that to morrow we should attempt this enterprise for I will take him at such apt oportunitie as he shal haue work enough to deny me In the meane while I will allow such gracious fauours towards him as both you and I will preuaile in that wee would haue So they spent out the whole day entertaining the knight beyond all compas and on the morrow after Dinner the Emperour caused the Ladies to meet there againe where at the first encounter hee was charged by the Empresse who the better to gaine her intent smyling as it were by way of deuising said Sir Knight since you came into this Court I wel remember that a mightie melancholy fitte seazed on you suddenly and it is no longer since then yesterday let me entreate ye fair Sir to tel me whence it should proceede for if it were occasioned by any iniurie either done heere or any-where else within the Emperors commaund bee well assured that you shall bee righted And if it might stand with your good liking to abide heere with my Lord the Emperor no knight in all his house can find better welcome I would perswade you thereto if I might Madam quoth he if I had so much power as to commaund my selfe I should thinke it a happines for me to haue so gracious an offer but being compelde to obey mine owne hearts affections which no way may permit
dinner our Knight accompanied with many Lords and Gentlmen rode into the Forrest There they met with great store of wilde beasts who being well nere spent with running made backe againe vpon the pursuing Houndes But as our Knight earnestly followed a Hart which had escaped from the toyles both hee and Gandalin were strayed so far into the woods as they were enforced to spend the whole night there by not knowing how to recouer againe their way of entrance And as they traced from one side to another at length they came neere to a very beautifull Fountaine enuironed round about with trees of such heighth as it was impossible almost to meet with taller There they resolued to abide till the next morning wherefore alighting from their horses they first watered them and after tooke off their bridles to let them graze And because our Knight could not so soone betake himselfe to rest hee walked along vnder the faire-spreading trees and discerned somewhat neere him a white horse lye dead all couered with fresh-bleeding woundes which hee had lâ—tely receiued Moreouer he heard the voyce of a man complayning very lamentably as one that felt intollerable paine and anguish but being vnable to discerne from whence it proceeded by reason that the night was so darke and cloudie he drew as neere to the clamour as he could to listen the cause why he thus complayned Then the voyce seemed louder to his attention then before and he could easily vnderstand the deliuery of these speeches Ab miserable man vnfortunate Bruneo de bonne Me now thou dost too plainly perceiue that thou art enforced to finish thy dayes and all thy affectionate desires wherewith thy loyall heart hath beene so long time afflicted Ah Amadis de Gaule my worthy Lord neuer more shalt thou see thy faithfull companion Bruneo for in the quest of thee according as thy well-beloued Sister Melicia commanded me I fell into the hands of Traytours who haue wrought my death without the ayd or succour of any friend to helpe me O vnkinde Fortune vtter enemy to my felicity thou hast throwen me so farre off from all remedy as I haue not so much as the meanes whereby I might make knowen my disaster to any one that should reuenge my wrongs which were no meane comfort to mee in this wofull case and the more contentedly would my poore soule part out of this wretched world Ah Melicia floure and mirrour of all vertuous perfections this night thou losest the most loyall seruant that euer Lady or Gentle-man had for my whole life-time was deuoutly dedicated onely to obey and please you in all faithfull seruices And vpon my soule if you well consider it perhaps you will finde this lesse extreame for you being assured that you shall neuer meete with any other so constant to you as your Bruneo Now doth the lampe of my life beginne to burne dimbe and my afflicted heart loseth all his forces wherewith by your remembrance onely I haue heeretofore performed many manly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie Now therefore I must needes recommend it to you entreating you so to fauour and respect it as neuer sinning against you in loyaltie Death that hath seazed on me thou shewest thy selfe too sharp and rigorous to me in robbing me of all my happines all my ioy and pleasure in one instant Nor doe I expressely blame thee for depriuing me of my life but because thou couldst not permit mee before my death to accomplish the charge imposed by Melicia on me which was to find out her brother Amadis Heere he paused awhile but presently proceeded on againe thus Alas this commaund was the very first that euer she did put me in trust withall and now as I too plainly perceiue must bee the last also Whereby I feele a double torment for if I could haue had the meanes to satisfie her heerein my trauaile though ending in death I should haue esteemed happy And that deare Mistresse is my chiefest affliction that my dayes are cut off before I had the power to acknowledge the infinitie of gracious fauours by you bestowed on me but rest you well assured and on my soul I protest it that I neuer stood in feare of death in whose face I haue oftentimes hazarded my fortunes but grieue to finishe my life thus in louing you too affectionately Then a heart-breaking sigh interrupted his speech which yet againe he quickly recouered saying Ah my deare friend Angriote Estrauaux where art thou now how hast thou forsaken me Thou hast maintained this quest with mee a long time together and now in need hast left me not affording mee any comfort or succour And yet I haue little reason to blame thee because my selfe was the meanes of our separation this day to both our great misfortunes that sundered vs from euer meeting any more Then began he to sigh extremely and the coldnesse of his stomack breaking foorth many hickoâ—… among innumerable sighes made a strange confusion of his words â—ollowly vttered In regard whereof our Knight who had well vnderstood all these wofull complaints could not refrain from teares neuerthelesse going at last to the place where he lay he thus spake to him My kind friend Bruneo what dismall mishap hath thus befalne thee I pray thee be of good cheare and put thy trust in our Lord God who hath done so much both for thee and me as to conduct mee to this place where I will compasse some meanes to helpe thee Bruneo conceipted in himselfe that these wordes came from his Squire Lasinde whom he had sent to seeke some Religious man by whom hee might be confest before his death wherefore he thus answered Alas my deare Lasinde thou hast tarâ—…d too long for I feele my fainting in such forwardnesse that I cannot accomplish now what I purposed Therefore let me entreate thee that so soone as my soule hath forsaken this her sad habitation thou wouldst returne into Gaule to faire Melicia whom when thou hast acquainted with my mischance present her the rightsleeue of my shirt thus tincturde in my true heart-blood and seauen letters foulded vp therein which I haue alwayes hitherto kept as carefully as mine own life And because strength fayleth me doe thou supply out the rest that should be said assuring her that the griefe she will conceiue for my misfortune by thinking her selfe to be the cause thereof sending me in search of her Brother Amadis did more torment me then any torture else could doe Why how now deare friend answered our knight doest thou thinke me to be Lasinde thy Squire why man I am thy companion Amadis for whose sake thou art falne into this great danger Therefore take heart man be of good comfort and I will bring thee to so worthy a man as shall restore thee to health againe very speedily Now albeit Bruneo was so weake by the great aboundance of blood which he had lost as hee was no longer able to speake yet knowing Amadis by his voyce
the East as there is no Greeke Knight so hardie and aduenturous that dare contend with a Knight of Rome Alas I see the death of this miserable vnfortunate fellow whom I shal so boysterously ouer-throw at the first blow that the very reines of his backe will flye in sunder and not onely the Crowne must be my boory but the glorious Lady also who hath taken so much paine and trauaile to come hither into this Country heere to receiue perpetuall shame and infamie Speaking thus he rode toward the Ladies and addressing himselfe to Olinda demaunded of her if she pleased to deliuer him her Crowne that thereby hee might defend her beautie For in mine opinion quoth he any man of good iudgement will confesse that iustly you ought to haue that other Crowne which the fond Greeke hath placed on the Perrou Moreouer I haue made choyce of you among all the rest to be my best beloued wherefore I beseech you grant me leaue that I may begin the Combate for you as she to whom I am vowed and dedicated For no sooner shall the Empresse haue made her entrance into the great City of Rome but there I meane to make you my wife as sole Lady and gouernesse of me and all my greatest fortunes Olinda tired and much troubled with this idle talke of Saluste Quide made him no answere but turning her face another way feigned a conference with one of her owne company which the Prince perceiuing as halfe in anger thus he spake to her It seemeth Madame by your manner of behauiour that I am a man vnable to execute what I haue spoken but let mee neuer haue loue or any esteeme of you if I doe not perfourme much more Only this being granted that my first encounter with the Launce may haue but your gracious looke and that you turne not your face till it be done This earnest importunity did so embellish the beautie of Olinda by a most sweet and amiable blush that she knew not how to bee rid of this vexation making no account at all of his words Which the Queene obseruing she took the Crowne from her head and sent it to the Prince Saluste who receiuing it very thankfully went to the base or Perron and set it by that belonging to Grasinda Afterward taking a strong Lance he beganne to shake it in such sort as if he meant to snap it in sunder then ryding proudly to the King with his Helmet on his head and Shield about his necke thus hee spake King Lisuart I shall soone let you see the difference betweene vs that are Romanes the Knights of your Court for this braue presuming Greeke that thinkes to combate with so many one after another shal presently receiue the greatest shame that euer Knight did And then let his other two companions come if they please to reuenge his cause if they can for this I dare promise you that before I depart from hence I will present you with their heads insteed of Crowns So much offended was Grumedan at these arrogant proud wordes of Saâ—uste as he could hardly forbeare to smite him Neuerthelesse in regard of the Kings strict countermaundes before he dissembled his anger and went to him only with this answere Lord Saluste you haue not yet forgot the Combate that must bee betweene you and me if as you say you escape from the Greek come fairely off My memorie is more perfect then so replyed Prince Saluste and your selfe shall haue good cause to remember it So closing his beauer clasping close his Shield and placing his Launce in the rest he ranne mainly against the Greeke Knight who met him with such force neither of them failing in the attaint that Saluste was vnhorsed and our Greeke Knight finishing his race found a truncheon of the Launces shaft sticking in his Shield whereby euery man thought that hee had beene wounded But hee quickly declared that there was no such matter and snatching it out threw it on the ground turning againe to meete with his enemie who moued neither hand nor foot he was so daunted with the fall And not without great cause considering what a height he fell and the heauy charge of his armour so that his right arme was broken in twaine And yet it happened farre worse to him for in falling downe his left foot hung fast in the stirrop and being vnable to get it forth his horse offended at his vnfashionable burden gaue him such a blow with his foote on the Helmet that it fell off from his head and he lay still as one entranced The Greeke Knight beholding him in this pittifull condition spake out so loud as euery one might heare him Beleeue me gentle Romaine the Lady for whom you haue performed this rare chiualry is wonderfully beholding to you notwithstanding if you doe not quit her Crown from my Mistresse who deserues it better then she as excelling all in beautie you lye fairely for the losse of your head presently But Saluste made him not any answere whereupon the Knight rode to the King thus speaking in Greeke to him Sir he that so lately gaue perswasions to your people to relye confidently in his manhood will not now render his Ladies Crowne to my Mistresse to whom by the testimony of all present it iustly appertaineth Wherefore may it please you as an vpright Iudge to doe me right otherwise I will smite off his head before this faire assembly Then suddenly turning bridle and alighting from his horse he went to Prince Saluste making shewe as if he meant to kill him Which Count Argamont seeing said to the King Sir you ought in my minde to graunt the Greeke Knight what he demaundeth and saue the life of the other else you may heereafter bee blamed for it And why answerd Grumedan I pray you Lord Argamont let Fortune deale as pleaseth her Haue you not yet seene enough of these Romaines saucinesse I protest to you vpon my faith that with their peremptorie audaciousnesse they are become as malicious as olde Monkies and you shall perceiue it by experience if the Greeke Knight bee hindred from pursuing his victory For although Saluste be so neere his ending yet I dare giue you all my lands and goods if the King doe saue him that he will iustly say hereafter he saued him from death that will bee the greatest enemie to his life Therefore I beseech you Sir delay your sentence for a while till it may be certainely knowen what will bee the issue of the fight During this discourse the Greek Knight made shew of disarming Saluste for more easie smiting off his head from his shoulders which the King fearing prayed his Vnckle to vrge the stay and to graunt him the Crowne which hee desired Then the olde Earle arose and tolde him in the Greek tongue what the King had commanded him Heereupon the Knight stept backe and putting his Sword vp into the sheath spake to the Count in this manner In honour of so
me Perhaps he brings me such good newes as may be very pleasing to me Madame quoth he the King hath commaunded vs on our liues that no one may come neere your person much lesse speak with you vntill you come to him The Squire returned his answere to his Master in the meane while Giontes misdoubting that hee must needes try the Combate made him ready for it As readily came the Knight who stiled himselfe the Greene Knight into the fielde and both giuing the spurre to their horses met together so furiously that their Launces flew in pieces and Giontes his horse being shouldered fell to the ground with his Maister vnder him so that he could not readily recouer himselfe Whereupon the Greene Knight trotting to him desired him once more that hee would permit him to speake with Oriana By my faith Sir answered Giontes if you do it is much against my will and by this mis-fortune of my horse Hardly had he concluded these words but the Greene knight heard Sadoce crying that hee should stand vpon his guard Wherefore leauing Giontes he ranne against the other and failed in the attaint which Sadoce did not but met him so manfully that his Launce flew in infinit pieces The Greene knight angry at his misse took another Lance and giuing his horse the spurre met Sadoce so powerfully that hee cast him quite out of his saddle Which Lazanor seeing and hoping to bee reuenged for his two companions couched his Launce against the Greene Knight with full perswasion to vnhorse him but they encountred so furiously with their bodies that Lazanors arme was broken and hee sate so amazedly on his horse as hee had not the power to stay him till hee had runne out his whole race because the Greene Knight in his passage by him had pluckt the bridle off his head and seeing him runne in that confused manner he fell a laughing at him Then came he to Oriana and humbly saluting her shee imagined him to be Amadis wherefore raysing her selfe in the Litter she welcomde him very graciously Then the Knight gaue her a Letter speaking thus to her Madame Agrais and Florestan doe duteously commend themselues to your acceptance and haue expresly sent me to you to bring you their mindes contained in that writ Wherefore consider with your selfe if you will command me any seruice to them for I must returne to them with all possible speed being well assured that although I am a man of slender valour yet they may stand in neede of my helpe before their enterprise will be ended Now trust me Sir quoth she they may well faile of meeting with a better Knight then you are witnes the paines you haue taken to speake with me But good Sir seeing you haue done so much for mee vouchsafe to let me know who you are to the end that I the more thankefully remember you heere-after when better I may performe it Madame they that know mee said he doe tearme me Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale whose griefe is not a little for your fathers vnkindnes and cruelty to you Notwithstanding hardly will he bring his purpose to passe it will first cost the liues of many good Knights who for your sake will defend you to their vttermost power Ah my deare friend Garnate quoth she I pray GOD giue mee the meanes whereby I may acknowledge this wonderfull loyaltie Madame said he I haue all my life-time desired to doe you some seruice as one that is your most humble seruant and now I must needes take my leaue of you For he saw the Queene Sardamira comming neere who beholding Oriana aduisedly imagined her lookes to be more chearefull and her present disposition much altered from the former whereupon she said Madame I doe not know the Knight that spake with you but he hath handled your guards as roughly as Florestan did them that had the charge of me so that now they need not mocke one another I know not whether it be the misfortune of the way or through their owne want of courage but well I wot that I neuer saw two worthier knights then this and Florestan Oriana faintly smyling answered I saw not how yours were dealt withall but as for these heere it seemes that they met with one who knew well enough how to chastise their harshnesse As they held on this merry mocking Giontes and the two other came towards them so much ashamed of themselues as they durst not hold vp their heads to looke them in the faces But setting on toward Tagades Oriana called Mabila into the Litter to her as desirous to haue her company So being together they closely read the Letter whereby Florestan aduertised the Princesse that Gandalin and Ardan the Dwarfe to Amadis were both arriued at the Enclosed Isle where they exspected their Master within eight dayes following according as hee had sent word thither and Galuanes Agraies beside many more good Knights were all purposely there met together onely to lend her succour so soone as they should haue intelligence of her shipping away to bee sent for Rome wherefore in the meane time she should comfort her selfe and be of good courage as now she had no other cause These newes were so welcome to both the Ladies as nothing else possibly could be more and they imagined that either they were newly reuiued from death to life or deliuered out of a darke dungeon into an incompatable glorious light And all the way as they rode along they could finde no other argument of talke neither so much as thinke on any thing else but only to reade and re-reade the Letter ouer and ouer which questionlesse they did an hundred times But being come to the Court new sorrow ouer mastered this iocund solace fearing lest the Knights of the Enclosed Isle should not be able to execute their enterprise Now so soone as Oriana was alighted she went to her own lodgings neuer going to the Queenes her Mother according as she was wont to doe making an excuse that she was not wel Whereof the King receiuing knowledge hee went to see her accompanied onely with Arban King of North wales No sooner was he entred the chamber but shee thrâ—w her selfe at â—is feet and euen as it were â—…wning her selfe in teares with a trembling voyce thus she spake Alas my King and Father for Gods sake remember your defolate daughter in compassion and bee not lesse fauourable to her then al your life-time you haue beene to meane Ladies Gentlewomen in requiring your ayde and assistance Ah my worthy Lord and Father when Archalaus led you away prisoner it was for the fame of your great goodnes in helping her that thereto vrged you And can it be possible that now you should forget so rare a vertue that euermore was most familiar with you will you deale worse with me then euer you did with any liuing body I haue heard that you will send me to the Emperor of Rome with intent that
beseech you so much as a man may doe that before you send her so farre hence you would maturely consider it and iudge thereof without any partiall affection For as we commonly see that a wise man seldome fals into any errour when he is guided and led by reason euen so we discerne the contrary when he pâ—esumeth so much vpon himselfe that he will allow of no counsell but out of his owne braine then he falles into greater dangers then all his after-wit can recouer as by wofull experience hath bin obserued in many Princes You see my Lord what extremitie your Daughter Oriana is in and if you well consider thereon you may easilie iudge what inconuenience may happen to her person by an inward violent-conceiued despaire which afterward all your life-time you may at leysure repent Beyond all this you will runne into an vnauoydable blame not only of strangers but euen of your owne subiects and thereby grow hatefull to them whereon must needes ensue many mis-fortunes Therefore beleeue the counsell of them that solie desire the good benefit and honour of you and your kingdome whereby no perill what-soeuer can happen to you in so doing but if it should fall out otherwise yet you stand clearely excused and they bound to prepare all possible remedies These considerations my royall Maister do importune my soule with endlesse imprecations that you would vse a fatherly pitty and please these Ambassadors by some other means then the precious price of your daughters blood Vncle quoth the King these words haue moued too much therefore if you meane to please me vse no more of them So turning from him he espied the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell enter the Garden who being come neerer called them to him saying Lords my daughter is now come to court and she is somewhat sickly but I trust she will be better amended to morrow Sir answered Brandatell we gladly would haue her deliuered to vs so soone as may stand with your liking because the Emperour our Master exspects her day by day according as he hath written to you You know replyed the King that I haue conseâ—ted to his request against the whole opinion of the knights of my Court yea and contrary to her will too Notwithstanding I haue done it in regard of the Emperors vertues and the hope I haue of her honorable respect and entertainment In the meane while forbeare a little that she may forget what shee must forsake and prouide your shipping in a readines for this next weeke ensuing I will deliuer her to you fully furnished My Lord answered the Prince Saluste Quide it is not to bee wondred at if at the first she mouâ—ne for parting from you but I am well assured that so soone as she shall be arriued at Rome beholding so many great Lords to giue her obeysance the triumphes prepared to welcome her and aboue all the choyce loue and respect of the Emperour to her her ancient breeding will easily bee forgotten Moreouer if you please to grace Olinda with her company I meane to make her my wife so soone as she comes there because I finde her to be a wise and vertuous Lady Beleeue me quoth the King I wishe it might bee so And then he entred into a large discourse of such especiall vertues remaining in her as more could not be found in any Lady By this time the Tables were couered for dinner in the midst wherof they that intended to combate with Grumedan came and presented themselues speaking thus to King Lisuart Sir you know what words were vsed some few dayes past by Lord Grumedan to the great disgrace of the Romanes so that Prince Saluste and we with him do come to challenge him the combate Because hee shall well know that it ill becomes such an old dotard as he is to make comparison with knights of Rome therefore if you be so pleased it shall be performed tomorrow for it grieues vs that he should remaine so long vnpunished Don Grumedan hearing himselfe thus abused beganne to change colour and as hee was about to make answere the king seeing him in choler arose and said to him Grumedan you haue euermore hitherto beene wise and temperate especially in speech let mee then request you to conceale your displeasure and onely answere to the combat which these Knights doe vrge you to Sir said Grumedan seeing it is your will it shall be so and to morrow I will not faile to meete them in the field according to my promise where I hope to reuenge the wrong they haue done mee in your presence So the King rose from the Table and went into his Chamber with Grumedan demaunding there of him where were they whom he had chosen to take his part Sir said he first I know the right on my side and if Galaor come to morrow as I think he will I am well assured that hee will beare me companie but if hee come not then will I fight with them all three one after another That may not be answered the king for you haue consented to three against three and so the oath remaines before me recorded which makes me stand in great doubt of you because they are young and strong you aged and weake and without any to helpe you Sir said Grumedan God who hateth pride and presumption wherewith they are too much enflated can prouide helpe when it is least looked for But if the worst should happen I know two of mine owne kinsemen that wil not deny to ayde me against them were they farâ—e better knights then they are The King pausing a while suddenly said I haue considered otherwise for you I will disguise my selfe and second you in the cause for assure your selfe you and I shall well hold out against them all three God forbid Sir answered Grumedan that you should so endanger your royall person for me Why said the King in better place I can neuer doe it and neuer else can I iustly acknowledge the manifold seruices you haue done for me hazarding your life in so many seuerall dangers onely for the defence of me and my Realme Sir quoth he the present demonstration of your gracious goodnes towardes me hath so farre enlarged the obligation of my duty to you that if I could dye a thousand deathes in your seruice I should yet confesse my selfe more indebted to you â—ut neuer feare man replyed the king my heart hath yet courage enough and this arme is endued with sufficient strength to maintaine a quarrell of greater moment Pardon me Sir said Grumedan neuer will I giue consent thereto considering what wrong you shall doe to your selfe you being a king of vpright iustice should deale as truely with a stranger as him that is your familiar friend Well quoth the King seeing you are so earnest I will vrge it no further although it goes much against my minde goe then and prouide for your busines for you haue no time now of trifâ—ing delaying
protest before God this dealing of King Lisuart is both vile and dishonourable yea and so farre off from common reason that I had rather die a thousand deathes if it were possible for me then not to be reuenged and already I haue acquainted the King my Father herewith that he may prouide some remedie for it In the meane while let me entreate you al my honorable Lords and friends to lend me your assistance especially you whom this iniurie toucheth as neerely as my selfe it being offered not only to the person of my Sister your Cousin and neere kinred but also to Olinda others for whom according to our solemne oath and promise as my Lord Amadis hath well remembred wee ought in duty to steppe forth and stand as their protectors and defenders Lords said Quedragant as for my selfe I am ready to depart when it shall please the company and if I make any spare of my paines let me be excluded from all good opinion and I beleeue there is no man heere among vs but he will say as much as I haue done For if wee hazard our liues often and vpon little or sleight occasion we haue great reason now to aduenture further and not to be sparing of our very vttermost endeauour How say ye my friends haue I not spoken the trueth Then euery one answered that no danger or death should cause any deferring but it required quicke and speedy diligence to keepe the Romanes from passing through the straites of the Mediterranean Sea before any fight were made vpon them Easily quoth Amadis shal we make this prouision for to morrow morning wee will be all well shipt and winne the way before them which was set downe for a full resolue Now Grasinda was present at all this conference and she to giue them the more encouragement said Before God Gentlemen your enterprise is high and worthy of the greatest commendation considering that beside the good you shall doe to her whose helpe and rescue you intend you shal giue example to many other worthy Knights either of this or any other strange Country that heereafter by your imitation they suffer no shame or wrong to be done to any Lady or Gentlewoman whatsoeuer Wherein you will make your selues so memoratiue to them that she or they that now liue or shal many hundreds of yeares hereafter will sing rare Peans of your praises Madame answered Amadis God enable vs to effect our enterprise according as I know you heartily wish it In the meane while if you be so pleased you shal remain here in the company of Ysanie the good old Gouernour of this Island who shall be as obedient to you as to my selfe Maister Elisabet must go with me because I repose great trust in him My Lord quoth she you may dispose of me and mine according as to you seemeth best Amadis humbly thanked her and gaue command that euery man should bee prepared to go aboord those Ships by breake of day which Agraies and Florestan had there readily furnished according as they had order sent them by Gandalin Then the next day being all embarqued they set saile directly for Great Brittaine hoping to meet with the Romans as afterward they did CHAP. XVIII How King Lisuart deliuered his Daughter Oriana to the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Ladies with her to be conueyed to Rome And how they were soone after rescued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle THe day being come according to King Lisuarts promise that he would deliuer his Daughter to the Romanes to be conducted to the Emperour hee continuing constant in his wilful opinion without any possibility of alteration either of pitty to her importunity vsed by the Queene and all the graue aduice of his Lords to the contrary To effect the full issue of his owne humour he went to her Chamber where sitting downe by her and taking her by the hand thus he spake Daughter you haue euermore shewen your selfe obedient to my will neuer vsing any contradiction will you now hold on in the same mind according as Reason doth require You haue put on a sad and melancholy disposition at the marriage which I haue determin'd for you whereat I am not a little amazed Do you imagine that I would doe any thing but for your benefite and honor or can you conceipt any euill in clination in me towards you I sweare to you vpon my faith that the loue I beare you is so certaine as I do no lesse grieue for your farre absence from me then you can doe your selfe But you doe well know that it is impossible to prouide such an happines for you neerer home Wherefore I pray you that in vsing your wonted wisdome and discretion you would shew a more chearefull countenance reioyce in the great fortune ordained for you being wife to the greatest Prince in the world If you doe besides the high estimation generally to be made of you you shall glad your fathers soule who grieues at your strange alteration as no man possibly can doe more During all these speeches Oriana had her spirits so contracted that she was not able to shed a teare and therefore as a woman out of sense of her own sorrow seeing there was now no further remedy for her with a bolde and stedfast resolution thus shee replied My Lord you haue then for ought I can otherwise perceiue resolued on my mariage to the Emperor but therein happily you haue committed one of the greatest errors that any Prince aliue can doe For first so long as my life lasteth I shall neuer loue the husband you haue chosen for mee and next I am very certaine as oftentimes I haue told you already that I shall neuer see Rome rather shall the fishes vse their mercy to me then I will goe to a home that is my hell or dwel where I can haue no affection or desire And I am of the minde that you could not be heereto induced or perswaded but onely in the loue you beare to my Sister being desirous to leaue your inheritance to her and make mee heire to all the miseries in the world Neuerthelesse God who is iust will neuer suffer this your vnreasonable purpose to take effect sooner he will marry mee to my death When the King heard Oriana answere in this manner pitty and anger mixing themselues together made him likewise change his former language and thinking to win her by menaces said You play the foole with me and you will not yeeld for all the entreaties I can make but if you dallie thus with me any longer insteed of wiuing you to the Emperour I will wed you to the Tower and where you shall see neither Sunne nor Moone My Lord quoth she you can not commit me to a more hatefull prison then Rome and you shall doe me a great grace to make me an euerlasting dweller in your Tower Then arose the King very highly displeased and leauing her went to the Queene
presently arose and taking him aside as pretending to giue him some priuate enstructions she beganne to sigh and spake in this manner Gandalin my deare friend what thinkest thou that Fortune is so contrarrie to me bereauing me of the onely man in the world whose company I most affect he being so nere me and I altogether in his power Neuerthelesse we cannot haue the meanes for the least priuate conference without great taxation to mine honour whereby my heart endureth such affliction as if thou knewest it I am certainely perswaded that thou wouldst take more pittie on me then thou doest And so I pray thee tell him to the end that though I haue iust cause to complaine yet he may reioyce by the augmentation dayly more and more of mine vnfeigned loue and loyaltie to him And I would haue him deuise the meanes by some pretie stratagem among his associates that yet we may see one an other vnder collour of thy voyage and to comfort me Madame answered Gandalin you haue great reason to beare him such loyal affection and to remember also some remedie whereto aboue all things else hee would gladly aspire for if you knew the extremitie wherein I haue seene him an hundred times you might very well beleeue that loue is a Lordly tyrant ouer him I haue seene him halfe dead as it were a thousand times thinking on the passed fauours you haue affoorded him and as manie times to recouer life againe onely by the meere remembrance of them I haue likewise seene him among the deadliest dangers in the world performe such incomparable actions of Armes calling onely vpon you to be his comfort that it can hardly bee credited any Knight should haue so much valour in him Therefore sweete Madame I pray you take pittie on him and vse him answerable to his high deserts For this I dare assure you neuer was any Knight more loyall or more yours then he is neither euer had any Lady such power ouer a man as you haue ouer him in your hands only lies his life and death and you may dispose of him as you please Gandalin replied Oriana I beleeue thee vndoubtedly feeling in mine owne selfe that which thou relatest in him and his life is mine for I haue no other breathing but by him and in the companie of others he onely makes me liue But I pray thee make mee not die as sometimes thou didst when thou broughtest me tydings of his returne from Gaule into Great Brittaine for in being depriued now of all meanes to doe what willingly I would for him I may doe wrong to him and to myselfe also by declaring my desires ouer-earnest and affectionate Therefore I pray thee speake no more but returne to him and will him to worke some way that I may see him so soone as possible he can So Gandalin tooke his leaue and as he was parting out of the Chamber shee spake some-what audibly faile not to come for my letters before you goe hence Amadis attended his returne in sound deuotion and no sooner saw him but sayd vnto him Well Gandalin hast thou seene my Lady I pray thee tell mee what hath she said to thee Then hee declared word by word what had passed betweene them how desirous she was to see him and for a finall resolution wished him to come with some other of the Knights vnder collour of comforting her But when hee came to those words of kindnesse which in the zeale of affection she had spoken hee stood as one entranced till recouering spirit againe he thus spake Alas Gandalin how shall I do what thou saist Hauing apprehended a conceit suddenly thus hee proceeded Thou must needs goe to Agraies and tell him that because I send thee into Gaule thou was desirous to know of my Cousin Mabila whether shee would write to my sister Melicia or no. And after some few speeches past betweene you she told thee she held it very conuenient that we should oftener visit Madame Oriana then wee vse to doe and make meanes to cause her forget the extreame melancholie whereto ouer-much shee addicteth her selfe least being so continually sad shee fall into some dangerous disease And be very circumspect hee discouer not that thou hast spoken with me or that I know any thing of this matter And once more I pray thee tell mee didst thou not finde her very sad You know well enough Sir answered Gandalin and for no little length of time that shee is one of the most wise and vertuous Ladies as euer was borne and knowes so discreetly to dissemble her passions as the cunningst censure cannot reach them or gather by her lookes whether she be inwardly afflicted or no. And yet I am verily perswaded that she is too much giuen to melancholie Heauen affoord mee so much fauour quoth Amadis for her that her desires may sort to some good effect neuer then shall I feare either life or death or any thing else that Fortune can impose vpon me Doubt nothing Sir replied Gandalin I hope that as our Lord hath euer-more preserued you and preferred you before any other Knight hee will not now forget you and in a time of such vrgent necessity Goe thy way then said Amadis to my Cousine and bring mee newes againe so soone as thou canst So Gandalin departed and finding Agraies at leisure discharged his message so effectually that the Prince imagining all to be true he had sayd thus answered Trust me my sister shewes her selfe to be very well aduised and what she requires shall bee done And although her visitation hath hitherto beene deferred it was for no other reason but in feare of discontenting Madame Oriana Wherefore I will confer hereon with the companie whom I shall finde I make no doubt as readie as my selfe to obey her So without any further tarrying he went to Lord Amadis to whom hee declared all that Gandalin had told him as from his sister Amadis appearing as if hee had neuer heard thereof replied that he referred to him and the rest whatsoeuer they thought fit to be done in this case Whereupon Agraies imparted it to them all yet without any notice that it proceeded from the opinion of Mabila but rather from an apprehension in himselfe as accounting it very conuenient to goe comfort the Princesse Oriana whom Gandalin found to bee mightily ouer-come with melancholy And beleeue it quoth hee if in such extremities the strongest and most magnanimous spirits stand in neede of consolation by much more reason then doth the weake constitution of young Ladies command it who beeing feeble of themselues should therefore the oftner be visited and comforted Hereunto all the Knights of the Enclosed Isle condiscended and for a beginning the very same day they sent to the Princesse to knowe if she would allow thereof or no And she returned them answere that they should be most respectiuely welcome Whereupon they presently went thither and as they fell from one discourse to another Quedragant and
vs â—…th especially by the means of my Cosen Now trust me Sir said Oriana I am not a little amazed that you hauing such assurance of the vnfained loue I beare you should now seeme doubtfull thereof doe you imagine that I desire not your ease as much as mine owne Before God I speake it I haue no pleasure but by you neither any ease but to see you satisfied But consider the tumultuous estate wherein we are and that if we were neuer so little discouered it would bee to the vtter ruine of vs both So many eyes obserue our behauiour here as neuer did the like when wee were in company with the Queen my mother And here our actions are so narrowly pursued as without exterme danger no such aduenture may be made as you speake of Excuse me therefore I entreat you let this remain for your settled contentment that I am so faithfully yours as both my oath and promise haue strictly bound me Madame answered Amadis I will practise how I may best please you and to bring my thoughts to your obedience albeit I much misdoubt that this compulsion will hardly holde out if it be not the better backt by your fauour from which it appeareth you seek to exclude me without offending either in worde or thought and that I dare maintaine on the perill of my soule With these wordes the teares gushed out of his eyes where at Oriana grieuing said Exclude my best comfort Sooner let me die ten thousand deaths I know the truth of your loyaltie and can desire no better testimony thereof then the iust apprehension of mine owne conscience And take not in ill part what I haue said to you for the feare of your so long absence from me as in these lauer yeares you haue beene was the onely motiue of this language What more advantage then can you require of me Let the King my father make peace or warre with you he can make me neither lesse nor more yours then resolvedly I am As shee would haue continued on these speeches Mabila who served to theÌ„ but as a shadow perceiving many eyes fixed vpon them spake thus closely Enough for this time every eye notes you Sweet friend quoth Oriana dry vp your teares and sit by your Cousin who will tell you some things that yet you never heard of and wherein I thinke you will take a little delight So she left them together returning againe to the Queene Sardamira and Brian In which time Mabila told him at large how Esplandian was borne and by what mishap he was lost in the Forrest as Durin and the Damsoll of Denmarke carried him to Nurse And last â—…ll adventures happening to him till hee came into his mothers protection againe as you haue heard more at large declared in the third Book Amadis heere at was to ioyfull as no man could be more and answered Mibila thus Beleeue me Cosin I was continually full of doubt for at my returne from Constantinople by chance I met with Angriote d'Estreâ—â—aus who reported all that to me which you haue told me concerning 〈◊〉 but he knew not whose sonne he was neverthelesse my heart was suddenly inspired with a perswasion that Madame Oriana and I together had some right in him And so much the father 〈…〉 bring the letter I received from you by 〈◊〉 being as then in the 〈…〉 whereby you gaue me to vnderstand that my lynage was encreased yet durst I not presume in what manner But now heaven be praised we are both well assured and better satisfied then ever before especially my selfe more contented then if I had conquered the greater part of the world not only for being father to Esplandian but because I begot him on her whom fortune hath preferred before all other both in vertue beauty and all other good graces Yet haue I suffered so much for her sake as if I were able to express but only a half part of those cares that kept mee company during her absenc your selfe would complaine much more then I haue done Here fetching a deepe sigh hee breathed a while and afterward thus went on But fortune made me a most honorable recompence sending mee in such a convenient season to deliver her from her enemies hand for if it had falne out otherwise questionlesse it had beene the death of vs both But that which now doth most offend me onely is feare of her sicknesse by her contiâ—…all griefe and melancholy shee being not in the company of the Queene her mother and in the King her fathers disgrace Wherefore I beseech you good Cosin comfort her so much as possibly you can by cherishing her hopes that heaven will giue furtherance to these affaires beside so 〈◊〉 good Knights are heere assembled together who will all be 〈◊〉 in the smallest peeces rather then she shall suffer any shame or 〈◊〉 And for this cause we haue â—…ded before any warre shall bee attâ—…d to send to King 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 to appeâ—… his 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 againe his gratious favour for her provided that all alliance with the Emperour be quite broken off otherwise we are resolved never to deliver her Meane while we haue dispatched Ambassadours to all parts to procure aid and succour among our friends to the end that if he refuse our honest offer and will needs enter the field against vs wee may bee able like good men to make him answer Cosin answered Mabila I will do all that I can for you and never credite me but Madame Oriana doth highly applaud this her good fortune assuring you that we all endured such greivance by her in your absence but especially when she heard of her intended marriage to the Emperour as you would haue stood amazed to behold the sorrowes which I haue seene her suffer But because you vnderstand sufficiently both the reason of the cause and what iust right you haue in her I will loose no more time to remember you of that which needs not Let it suffice you that you haue brought her so farre into loues extremitie as possibly more cannot be Now in regard that the houre was come for Quedragant and the rest to depart thence and had-already taken leaue of Oriana Amadis and Mabila gaue over talking So the Knights went forth of the chamber giuing the goodnight to the Ladies returned to their owne lodgings Where now for a while we meane to leaue them to the end that wee may tell you how King Lisuart came acquainted with the death of the Prince Saluste Quide and ouerhrowe of the Emperours men CHAP. VI. How newes was brought to King Lisuart of the Romans foyle and ouer-throwe and how his daughter Oriana was taken from them where at he grieued greatly THE end of the third Booke related to you how King Lisuart deliuered his daughter to the Romans against the opinion of all his Councel And she being on Shipboard well appointed with Ships for the conuoy set on to Sea Afterward beeing
were commanded to conduct him thorow the Army 〈…〉 named so many friends that Arquisil began to 〈◊〉 doubtfull of the Romanes victorie accounting his owne fortune none of the best that he could doe his Master no seruice in so great a necessitie But then hee began to consider in the instant that perhaps if hee desired Amadis to set him at liberty vntill the businesse was passed ouer he would not deâ—â—â—â— him knowing him to be one of the 〈…〉 and gentle Knightâ— in the world Whereupon 〈…〉 beeing in the lodging of King Perion who had then the very chiesest of his Campe in his companie setting his knees to the ground thus he spake Sir I most humbly beseech you to permit me that I may â—â—eake one word to you in 〈…〉 Lord Amadis and these otâ—er Knights here Speake quoth the King whatsoeuer pleaseth you Then Arquisil rising began to relate at large the manner of the Combate betweene Garadan and Amadis and afterward of the eleuen Romanes against as many other Knights belonging to King Tassinor and all that which you haue formerly heard Moreouer that himselfe being in the greatest danger of death that euer hee had been before that time Amadis saued his life by taking him prisoner sending him safely away vpon condition he should appeare againe before him at all times and as often as he should receive summons from him in which respect and to 〈…〉 it pleased my Lord Amadis vsing but his wonted gentlenesse and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 he may 〈…〉 whereby he shall binde me all my life time to be wholly his because there can no greater crosse befall me then the losse of such an honour And to the end he may iudge that I speake for no other reason I sweare to come and yeeld my selfe againe vnto him on the morrow after if I be left among them that lâ—ue Amadis beeing very desirous to let all men perceiue how little hee stood in doubt of the Emperour or any helpe that Arquisill could giue him returned him this answer Arquisill although the Emperour your Master is too lauish of his tongue and ouer glorious and presumptuous without any occasion yet notwithstanding being not willing at this time to reuenge my selfe on him by any means of yours I am content to giue you libertie and that you shall be with him on the day of battaile Vpon condition if you scape with life you shall come againe to mee on the tenth day following in any place wheresoeuer I am to doe such seruice as I shall command you For which fauour Arquisill most humbly thanked him swearing on the Kings hand that hee would keepe his promise faithfully and beeing very earnest in desire for his return taking leaue of all the company hee mounted on horse-back and without any stay in any place came to the Emperours Camp who was not a little ioyfull of his returne demanding by what meanes he thus escaped Then Arquisill reported to him all that which you haue all-ready heard what powerfull strength Amadis had for sight and lastly the gracious curtesie and lâ—…â—ee had vsed towards him But beleeue mee Sir quoth he he will be ready to meet you as soone as 〈◊〉 shall set sooting in his countrie Whereat the Emperor was much amazed for hee imagined till then according to the trust he reposed in King Lisuarts perswasions that Amadis was voyde of all meanes for recouering of men whereby to resist so great a power and made full account to besâ—â—ge him in the Enclosed Isle and to regaine it by force or famine But vnderstanding now the coutrary â—ee concluded on other prouisions and 〈◊〉 King Lâ—… â—…dge thence 〈…〉 breake of day 〈◊〉 muster made of 〈…〉 â—orse as foote whereâ—… ded Vpon view of the Army they found of the 〈◊〉 three thousand horse and seauen thousand foot whereof two thousand were Harquebuziers Of King Lisuarts countrie two thousand horse and foure thousand foot fiue hundred whereof were good Archers The rest amounting to the number of a thousand coÌ„prehending two hundred from King Cildâ—dâ—â— were brought by Gasquilan King of Sâ—ctiâ— and the whole were ordered in this manner To the Emperour was apointed the auantgard which hee accepted and because his troupes were ouer-grâ—â—â— in regard of the rest hee leâ—t fiue hundred horse and as many foot referring them to the rereguard King Lisâ—â—rt led the maine battell accompanied with the men of his owne country 〈◊〉 Noranâ—… 〈…〉 goodly shew in marching â—…ir parting thâ—… Coroâ—all of the foot in thâ—… had ordered his 〈…〉 square the first â—…hereof were very richly armed and all of them excellent Souldiers In the midst of the Army the Ensignes waued pleasingly with the wind wel guarded with Halbardiers and on the flankes were two thousand Harquebuziers couducted by Arquisill wel fitted with Casks and Gorgets On the sides were the wings of the Emperours forces and himselfe in person and in them were so many Ensignes Guydoâ—s Banderoles as it was impossible to beholde a brauer troupe because the most part of them had their horses barbed and the Archers who neuer seperated from the rest all so well mounted as there appeared but little difference Betweene the men on horseback and foot marched a band of Artillerie with a great number of Pioners and the Carriage bearing powder and bullets only The rest wherein were the Cordages Cables Lanternes Cressets Iauelins Pâ—kes Shouels Spades Bils Axes Hammers Axeltrees Tents and all other things needfull for carriage came in the end of all the Armie sided by the bagadge The battaile proceeded on in very good order and the rereguard following comming to encampe three miles from thence CHAP. XVI How King Perion was aduertised of the dis-lodging of his enemies And what order â—ee tooke to march before and fight with them AFter that the Armie for the Knights of the Enclosed Isle had mette together and were wel refreshed by generall consent the good King Perâ—on was apointed chiefe head and conducter of this enterprise and each man swore obedience to him Hee was a gentle Prince wise and well foreiudging whereupon he considered in his owne thoughts with whom hee had to deale and of what importance such a battels losse would bee if fortune should not speake faâ—…ely to him Hereupon some few daies after he dispatched scouts and spies to all parts to vnderstand the day of setting forward and other tydings of his enemies receiuing certaine intelligence that without all doubt they bent their course for the Isle Whereupon he resolued to meet them before and to fight with them by the way if he should finde occasion conuenient which that hee might the better doe hee ordered his Army in such manner as shall be related to you First of all the charge of the auantgard was committed to Amadis accompanied with Agraies Bruneo two thousand three hundred hardy bold warriours on horse backe the most of them beeing Gaules Qâ—edragant had the charge of foure thousand foot of the like nation but mingled with
buriall then any man can wish for For the whole earth in generall is the rightfull graue wherein to interre the bodies of men illustrious and famous whose memories are not so well preserued by priuate inscriptions epitaphes as by their owne legittimate renowne which extendeth and publisheth it selfe in the remotest nations who doe more discreetly consider in their soules the height and aduancement of their courage then the disaster which hath befallen them For it hath bin vniuersally obserued that negligence the fittest attendant for shame is much more irkesome and distastefull to a man that hath a found and entire minde then any death whatsoeuer happening to him by valour with vnconquerable hope of publike glory All this confirmeth my beleefe deare and worthie friends that scorning to degenerate from your famous predecessors you will performe so much that the world shall witnesse your great vertue and constancy and that the death of your Prince is not the stroke that strikes you all dead Wherefore I desire you to let mee vnderstand how you are addicted to the end that according to your resolution I may set in order such affaires as are needfull for my selfe Assuring you in the worde of a King that were I sure to dy a thousand deaths yet will I not depart from hence till I see the end of mine enemies or they of me These words so exalted the harts of the hearers that they answered as with a common consent they were now more willing to fight then euer for which King Lisuart thanked them most hartily All this beeing done hee gaue order that the Emperours body should be carried to the Monastarie of Lubania vntill better opportunity should serue to performe such sollemne obsequies funerall pompe as in like cases is required Then he sent his Chirurgions to haue dilligent care of the wounded to whom he gaue great gifts and promises as also to many Captaines of the Armie And this hee did not without great cause for euery mans hope next to the fauour of his Prince of honest â—eeâ—mpence for his pains makes hin Nâ—oft-times fight and aduenture 〈…〉 life the more boldly as now all these men were resolued to doe at their next encounter But God in whose hands all things doe consist ordered matters farre otherwise as forthwith shall be declared amply to you The fame of the marriage of Oriana with the Emperour of Rome had spread it selfe in so many places that the good olde Hermit who nourished Esplandian in his infant daies had intelligence therof especially of the Kings subiects dislike in compelling his daughter against her will to vndergoe a businesse so displeasing to her and lastly what succour was sent to Amadis in the Enclosed Isle wherupon two great Armies were met in field together Here I must also tell you that hee well knew the successe of their loue the estate and conscience of Oriana how she and Amadis had promised marriage ech to other vnder which contracted couenant Esplandian was begotten and therefore she could not be giuen in marriage to any other but our Lord would be highly displeased therewith For this cause hee concluded to trauaile to the Enclosed Isle to obtaine leaue licence of her to acquaint King Lisuart with so much as hee knew Here-upon so ouer-spent with yeares as hee was hee mounted on his Asle and accompanied onely with another good man bequeathed him-selfe to trauaile and ariued at the Pallace of Apolidon immediately after King Perions departure wherwith he was not a little discontented fearing hee should not execute his enterprise so speedily but that the two Armies would preuent him Oriana was quickelod quainted with his comming aâ—…ee entertained most humanely but she was much amazed why he should vndetake so long a iourney and at a time so vnbefitting hee being aged aboue three score yeares wherein shee being desirous to be resolued and taking him alone with her into her Cabinet falling into teares thus she spake Ah my good father it is much worse with menow then when I first saw you yet heauen I hope will send mee comfort Madame answered Nascian for this cause onely did I leaue my small Hermitage hauing heard that the Emperor of Rome and the King your father marched towards these limits to bid battaile to Amadis and others with him Now foâ—…ing what inconueniences will ensue if their intent growe to execution as well by the slaughter of many who must needes perish in such a purpose as also by the haâ—â—ous offence to heauen because as I am enformed this cruell warre began about your marriage to Patin I trauailed hither to you to vnderstand the truth of all and to esâ—ay â—f it bee possible to pacifie these troubles to the glory of God and to the honour and profit of his people For you know Madame that I aâ— not ignorant in some secrets of your conscience and what sinne you shall commit in beeing giuen as wife to any other then to him who already is your owne as heretofore you haue disclosed to me Pawsing a while and giuing a great sigh thus hee proceeded againe But deare Madame because I receiued this secret in confession it is not lawfull for me to reueale it without your owne good will and consent Wherefore matters standing on such tearmes as they doe mee thinkes you ought to be well aduised and to compasse some meanes whereby the King your father may be acquainted with the promise past between you and Amadis to the end that hee may no further sinne thorough ignorance And so much the rather because you are now in such a place where he is not able to do you any harme But if you should happen into his power as heretofore you haue bin yet you ought to preferre the feare of God before any other respect whatsoeuer although it extend to his displeasure which I hope well to moderate if you will permit me to speake with him Alas father said Oriana in you only lieth my remedy and comfort doe therefore what shall please you and entiâ—ate our Lord to respect mee in pittie Madame replyed Nascian I am assured hee will helpe you for hee listeneth to any sinner that turnes to him with a contrite heart and is sorrowfull for offending him And by his fauour also grace will be granted me to finish the taske I haue vndertaken both to his seruice and your contentment And because the two Armies are neare to one another and I feare their meeting before I shall bee come to them may it please you to let mee part hence this day least some inconuenience may happen by my negligence and the fruite I expect by my labour perish not through slothfulnesse Father said Oriana no doubt but God will be your guide and I earnestly entreat you that if you see young Esplandian to preuaile so much by your endeauour as to bring him hither at your returne Then shee commanded dinner for him and after hee had refreshed himselfe hee mounted on his
there after the mariage was sollemnized between the Princesse Oriana and Amadis Moreouer there were many Ciuet and Maske-cattes which made the ayre so extraordinarily sweete as nothing could bee therewith compared and sometimes the Pellicane also made her sent there Great store of other worthy creatures liued there also as Harts Hindes Roes Goates Hares Connies c. withall diuersitie of Birdes and Fowles as it was wonderfull to heare the varietie of their noates especially the Nightingale and the solitarie Owsell affecting alwaies to be alone From forth of a nere neighbouring high Rocke descended a great water which filled the Lake whereof you haue heard iâ— the second Booke where the Hart lost his life narrowly pursued by the hounds as hath beene already related And thither vsually resorted the Beuer to bathe himselfe with an infinite number of Swannes Cignets Cranes Storkes Cormorants Heronnes with a plentifull store of all other Birdes But all these made not this Lake so singular as the frequent resort of a Mare-maide which was heard there were neere continually singing as neuer was heard more delectable hermony From this Lake issued many Riuers and Currents which made diuers little Islands in this Meadow In one of them was a Dedalus or Labyrinth contayning onely foure Acres in square planted with the most precious Balme that euer grew in Engadia And it was continually kept by two Serpents bred of his kinde that watcht the golden Apples in the Garden of Hesperides day and night Directly in the midst of this Dedalus was a Colossus of guilded Brasse contayning the height of sixe score Cubites holding in his left hand raised vp on his head a Lanterne of Christall and in it the rod yet burning wherewith Prometheus kept the fire which he stole from heauen yeelding such a bright splendour day and night without diminishing that for the space of an hundred miles round in compasse the Mariners made their resort thither as they did to Pharos neere Alexandria This flaming Rod Apolidon had gotten by great industrie from the Priests and Magitians of Chaldea And whosoeuer could looke on this vnextinguishable fire in his true nature and without couering in this manner hee should attaine to most mighty prouidence But the Serpents kept the place very strongly without doing any harm to them that tooke delight in the Parke prouided that they presumed not to enter the Dedalus for then they would belch forth such fire and flames as was able to daunt the boldest spirit And all this was thus ordained by Apolidon who was as you haue formerly heard one of the very greatest Enchanters in all the world yet when the matchlesse beautie entring into the Defended Chamber should come neere to this Colossus the Enchantments must cease and easilie might this admired fire bee looked on Now gentle Readers consider seriously with your selues if the like Pallace can now a dayes bee easily found accompanied with such plentie of singularities as Oriana saw there To proceed on now in our Historie the Ladies and Gentlewomen being brought to their seueral lodgings the Knights of the Enclosed Isle departed from them committing them to their good rest because in deed it was somewhat late Neuerthelesse the Princesse Oriana all that night could not sleepe partly through wearinesse on the Sea and partly by her fearefull conceite of harme that might ensue to Amadis vpon this bold and hardie aduenture which gaue her some reason to fore-thinke of an intestine warre betweene him and King Lisuart And now she beganne to consider with her selfe that to palliate the earnest affection betweene them there was necessarily required that she should gouerne her selfe much more discreetly then formerly she had done to kill all occasion of ill conceiuing of her Hereupon the next morning shee sent to Amadis and the other Knights requesting to haue a little conference with them and they who desired nothing more then to serue and honour her came immediatly vpon her commande and after courtesies past on either side Quedragant who had charge from the whole companie to vnderstand her will said Madame as we are enfourmed you haue sent to speake with vs let vs know what you will please to command vs In good faith Sir answered the Princesse commaunds are no matters for mee especially to them in whose power I am as a prisoner you may speake your pleasure Madame quoth hee but there is not a man among vs who is not willing to do you any seruice Oriana returned him many thankes and then replied thus Let mee entreate you then to bee so pleased that during the time of my residing in this place my women and I may be seuered from all other company and also to promise vs that none of you whosoeuer it bee may come to see vs without our leaue and permission for you well know that the surprizall you haue made of vs and of the Emperours people being once divulged abroade it will be hard to comprehend the end of your intention and our innocence but speeches may passe to disaduantage But when they shall heare the religion wherein we desire to liue till such time as the King my father recall mee into his good opinion I am perswaded that easilie they will conuert their harsh language into honest excuses for vs all who together make this request so reasonable to you wherein we hope you will yeeld vs no deâ—…ll being the first that euer we made to you Mâ—… answered Quedragant we are hâ—… to â—o other end but to obey you and beleeue that in this and all things else you shall please to commande vs no one of vs dare or will gainesay you Euery man among them affirmed as much allowing highly of her wisdome and prouidence And albeit Amadis imagined this their seperation a little too rigorous hauing no other felicity in the world then to be in her presence yet he was feigne to dissemble it being a matter so reasonable and for the conseruation of her honour whom he affected as his life Hoping notwithandsting that though the day time denied him such an happinesse yet the night would blesse him somewhat better albeit not so often as hee could wish it CHAP III. Of the Councell held among the Knights of the Enclosed Isle touching the businesse for the Princesse Oriana and what they further determined to doe YOV haue formerly heard the victory which Amadis had against the Romans by meanes whereof he got Oriana into his possession and the other Ladies that bare her companie which he accounted the happiest of all his other fortunes albeit he fore-saw in his soule that very hardly hee should appease the iniury which he had done not onely to King Lisuart but also to the Emperour In regard where-of questioning with his owne thoughts that it would require no meane might to withstand such potent Armies as from either side would be made against him yet notwithstanding hope conducted by the power of loue gaue him this resolution rather to die
a thousand deaths then redeliuer her to Patin without whom hee could not liue an houre He made no doubt of compassing some meanes to regaine her the former grace of the King her father and to breake the alliance else-where intended which that he might the better attaine vnto hee gaue the Prince Agrates and Quedragant to vnderstand that the Princesse had sent to pray this fauour For otherwise quoth he she intendeth rather to make a Sacrifice of her selfe then to fall into his power whom she more hateth then any man liuing Beside it shall no way redound to our honour to suffer such a monstrous shame hauing made so great and good a beginning for her deliuerance Quedragant returned him this answere I sweare vnto you Sir at our first and giddie-headed eye-sight we see so great a fire already kindled as we may easily presume is impossible to be quenched without a hard and daungerous warre which we may not well maintaine and endure for any long time without the ayde and succour of our deare friends and companions wherefore I thinke it expedient that all the rest which are here should be made acquainted there-with to know their opinions to the end that they may be the better enclined to sustaine the businesse if they shall conclude on warre I pray you then said Amadis that we may all meete together tomorrow and take the charge if you please to summon them wherto Quedragant gladly condiscended Hereupon the day following they met together and Amadis sitting in the midst of them beganne in this maner Honourable Lords yesterday Madame Oriana sent to pray me that we all would consider one some good meanes to winne againe the lost grace and fauour for her with the offended King her father qualifying in him if it bee possible that strange conceit of his to marry her with the onely Prince in the world to whom she beareth the least affection otherwise death will be much more welcome to her And therefore I thought it good after I had spoken with some of this company particularly to vnderstand from you all in generall what you thinke thereof For seeing wee haue beene friends and companions in the procuring of her libertie it is much more reasonable that we should all agree to maintaine it But before I enter into further speech I humbly desire you to fixe before your eyes that already your fame renowne is so knowne through the world by reason of the rare actions of Chiualry by you performed that at this day there is neither King Prince nor State but stand in feare of your high valour For they all well know that to winne immortall honour you haue contemned not onely the sumptuous treasures and kinde entertainments inherent to you in your owne houses but the deare blood of your owne bodies where-of you haue made no spare in giuing the boldest spirits to know the sharpe and keene edges of your swords to the mightie perill of your owne persons And as markes and testemonies of your prowesse the wounds receiued in many parts of your bodies may render such apparant faith as Fortune thinkes her selfe much obliged to you being willing to shew you how much her owne selfe is in debted to you And being desirous to recompence your former high deseruings she made plaine proofe thereof by deliuering this glorious victorie into your hands which you haue had against the two chiefest Princes of Christendome King Lisuart and the Roman Emperor Nor doe I speake concerning the ouerthrow of their men onely being farre inferiour to you in merit but of the worthie succour you haue giuen to the most wise debonnaire and vertuous Lady this day liuing Wherein you haue done a very acceptable seruice to God by executing that dutie whereunto you are expressely called namely to succour the a◅ted whē they are to endure wrongs beyond all reason Now if the King and Emperour thinke it good to be angrie yet seeing right is on our side and God who is iust will stand for vs also let vs giue them to vnderstand that if their owne experience cannot teach them iustice but by might and power they meane to assaile vs we are able to meete them with such resistance as shall remaine in memory while the world endureth Therefore let euery man speake his minde in this case what he conceiueth meetest to be done either to finish the war begun or else to motion peace by restoring Madame Oriana to the King her father according to her owne desire For as concerning my selfe know that I will neuer yeeld thereto except you be so pleased nor shall fond opinion ouersway me in this matter beyond the compasse so your liking I know you to be men indeed and your vertues of apparant as nothing can withdraw you from true valour and magnanimitie neither to aduenture on any action whereby your honour in how small a degree soeuer may receiue any base imputation So he ceased leauing the mindes of all the companie highly contented and satisfied by such an humble and gracefull remonstrance as he had made vnto them Then Quedragant commaunded thereto by all the assistants stood vp and answered Amadis in this manner Lord Amadis it is most certaine that our attempt made vpon the Emperour was not for any hatred wee bare to him but onely to keepe the faith whereto euery good Knight standeth obliged in maintayning and defending afflicted persons from wrong especially all vertuous Ladies of whom it is our dutie to be protectours And therefore I would aduise that before we vndertake any further warre wee should send to King Lisuart to let him fully vnderstand vpon what occasion we dealt with the Romans And if he be found discontented then in the verie mildest manner can bee deuised to shew him withall gracious demeanour what shamefull iniurie he offered to Madame Oriana vnder collour of marrying her to a forraigne Prince vtterly to disinherit her at home a matter euery way offensiue to God and not to bee suffred by his owne Subiects Pausing a very little while and clapping his fist vpon the boorde thus he proceeded If therefore it may stand with his good pleasure to forget his conceiued anger against her if there be any entred into his royall brest then we to offer deliuerie of her againe on this condition and not else If he refuse or disdaine the dutie wherein we send vnto him then to tell him resolutely wee feare him not a iote but if he will make warre vpon vs we are as ready to defend our selues In the meane while I hold it very necessarie that wee strengthen our selues with all such things as an action of such importance doth require as this is At least that he may not come vpon vs vnprouided whensoeuer hee determines to assaile vs if he be so minded albeit in mine opinion peace were much better then warre But this conclusion is not to be tardied by any meanes rather we must put our selues in due preparation dispatching hence
and retyring back two or three paces reeled like a drunken man When the knight of the Isle of the Inâ—anta perceiued plainly that Amadis had the better of the fight chiefely that at the first encounter with the Launce he had ouerthrowne him whom he before reputed inuincible and beheld so much blood issuing forth of his Arme as set a crimson die on the ground hee could not presume who or what he might be but as diuers coniectures met his thoughts blessing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse he said to the Lady Where could you meet with such a diuell as performeth things impossible for any mortall man to doe Ah Sir Knight quoth she if the world hade a few more such men as he the pride of wicked wretches would not be so insolent as it is in many places In this meane while Amadis followed the Giant hot fiercely and hee so weakened more and more by losing the benefit of his right arme that hee was compelled to take his sword into his left hand but his enemy gaue him such a stroake in the meane space on the toppe of his Helmet as made the sight or fore part turne directly behinde Which fell out very ill for Balan for being thus bereft of sight hee stroue extreamely to recouer it againe but not without much paine and difficulty thorough his right armes disabling from whence the blood still streamed aboundantly Then Amadis hoping for a finall conclusion of his busie trouble lifted vppe his sworde for another stroake but the Giant had first re-seated his Helmet and seeing the blowe comming defended it with his Shield so well as hee could and the sword of Amadis entred so far into it that it was impossible for him to get it out againe Now beganne they to hale and tugge one another so violently that the thongs or leathers of their Armour brake in sunder and both the sword and shield was wholly in the power of Amadis which prooued farre more troublesome to him then before for it was so exceeding heauie as hee could scarsely stirre it from the ground By meanes wherof the Giant had more ease to bestirre himselfe charging Amadis at his owne pleasure but it was with his left hand onely and much the better for Amadis for if Balan could haue commanded his other arme Amadis had died without all doubt hauing neither sword nor shield wherewith to defend himselfe But necessitie the quicke conceiuing mother of inuention enstructed him suddenly with a new kinde of remedie in manner following Hee had his owne Shield still hanging behinde him in a Bauldrick which did mightily hinder his strength in recouering his Sword out of Balans Shield wherefore hee rent it violently from his owne neck and threwe mainly astainst the shinnes of Balan who felt the throw very painefully Afterward taking his Sworde newly recouered by both his hands from out of the Giants Shield and by setting his right foot manfully on it it plainely appeared to euery eye that he won it not easily because in the interim Balan charged him seuerely grieuously wounded him in many places on his bodie But hauing recouered the best part of his defence his heart and courage became therby the more chearfull and forward in following his enemie at all aduantages to play still vpon him as occasion serued and therein he expressed all care and diligence And indeed the paine of the Giants stomacke by the push of the Lance with the ouer liberal expence of his blood so extreamely encreased his paine and torment that breath failed him and in a swone he fell on the ground When they in the Castle beheld this and verily supposing him to be dead crying out with one voyce to Amadis Ah traytour in an ill houre hast thou slaine the best Knight in the world But notwithstanding all their lamentations Amadis would not bee stayed but stepping vpon the Giant rent the Helmet from his Head and perceiuing him to bee yet liuing spake out loude enough to him saying Yeeld thy selfe Balan if thou wilt not lose thy head neuerthelesse hee stirred neither hand nor foot for all these wordes Then the Knight who was Gouernour of the Infanta Island fearing least Amadis would vse Balan as he threatned him came neare vnto him demanded whether the Giant were dead or no. No answered Amadis neither doe I see any wound on him whereby hee should bee thus farre out of heart Let mee entreat you then Sir said the Knight to deale no worse with him then you haue done vntill hee come to him-selfe againe and then I dare promise you that he will satisfie what-soeuer you can demand of him Otherwise beleeue it vndoubtedly more harme will happen to you then you can easily imagine for the people within the Castle are already in Armes and will be reuenged on you to their vttermost power For them answered Amadis I make no reckoning at all but for your sake and his neare alliance to Gandalack I am the more willing to be perswaded At these words they saw Brauor sonne to Balan come forth of the Castle accompanied with thirty men well armed whereupon Amadis perceiuing in what danger he was drew backe to the Rocke wherein was a rift after the forme of a caue oâ— denne and there one or two men could well withstand twenty and more and the Grants Shield there serued as a rampier of defence They of the Castle came meanely against him hurling darts and huge stones at him beeing no way able to offend him but before but hee was so well sheltered with the Giants Shield as all their malice could not a iot touch or hurt him Hereat they grew so incensed and enraged that two of the boldest in all the troupe stept forward to pluck him out of the cane perforce but Amadis gaue the first of them so sound a welcome as hee neuer spakâ—…a worde after This so terrified the other and the rest that none durst aduenture to come near him or step within his reach During this time of so sharpe assayling some of them belonging to the Castle had carried Balan home into his bed while the rest oppressed Amadis very desperately Which was no little affliction to the Knight of the Infanta Island vnder whose worde and warrant hee had come thither whereupon hee called Brauor and thus hee spake to him Before God Brauor thou hast vndertaken a busines little to thine honour Doest thou not know that thy father was alwaies a man honest and vertuous of his worde And wilt thou degenerate in breaking both his faith promise By me he gaue assurance to the Knight and by solemne protestations that hee should not be offended by any but himselfe only Neuerthelesse thou sufferest him to bee wronged most vilely although thy father bee yet liuing and will hardly allowe this thy discurteous dealing Beleeue me as thou list for it thou stand in doubt of Balans death take order that the Knight may bee securely kept this night