killedst as thou vauntest in combate hand to hand In sooth what I euer doubted is now come to passe why doost thou not attēd this Knight who looketh for thée if there be any manlye hart or spirit in thée shewe it now in néed when thy life dependes theron At these woords Galaor looked more aside and espyed Palingues well armed who was opening the doore of a Tower to saue him selfe wherfore he stepped to him saying Beléeue me Knight this flying will little aduantage thée and lesse the strong hold thou wouldst enter into for thou must answer the life of good Anthebon whose death thou didst compasse by monstrous villanye Palingues séeing there was no other remedie turned and fiercely smote at Galaor his swoord entring so farre into the Princes sheelde as he was not able to pull it out againe by meanes whereof Galaor reached him such a blow that there-with his right arme was cut quite from his body the gréefe wherof so pained him as he ranne into the chamber where the Lady was thinking by this poore shift to defend his life But Galaor getting holde on his legges dregged him along on his backe out againe and with his Swoord smote his head from his shoulders This is quoth he the reward of thy trecheries doone to Anthebon and paiment for thy treason in the action of his death The daughter of Anthebon being present at this déede hauing heard Galaor often name her Father fell on her knées before him with these woordes Alas my Lord you haue bound me in such duety to you as neuer shall I be able to requite your paines my selfe béeing of such simple and slender habilitie but the good will I haue to recompence this benefite hath imprinted dayelye prayers in my hart to God for you hauing to iustly reuenged the death of my father and the wrongfull forcing of this traitour Galaor courteouslye taking her vp embracing her in his armes thus answered On my faith faire fréend he were a man of little sence that would offer displeasure to such a one as you are séeing you much better deserue to be loued and serued then with gréefe or fauour to be offended but tel me haue you any more enemies in this Castell No Sir replyed the Damosell those which remaine are to doo you honor and obeysaunce Let vs goe then quoth he to let in two Damoselles who were my guides hither from your Lady mother So taking him by the hand she commaunded the gate to be opened and the two Damoselles entred leading Galaors horsse but when they sawe their young Mistresse they humbly made her reuerence demaunding if her fathers death were reuenged to her desire Yea verily quoth she I thanke God and this Knight who hath doone that many other could not doo It was now the vehement hotte time of the day wherfore Galaor tooke off his helmet to refreshe him selfe when the Lady seeing him so young and beautifull as also so valiant in deedes of armes began to be touched with loue and setting aside both feare and bashfulnes she began to imbrace and kisse him saying My honourable Lord and freend more cause haue I to loue you then any other creature liuing In good faith quoth he and I loue you likewise as wel in respect of your beauty and good grace as also for your deceassed Fathers sake he and I beeing borne in one Countrey Maye if it please ye Sir saide she to tell me your name Such as are acquainted with me answered the Prince tearme me Galaor In sooth my Lord quoth she often haue I heard my father speak of Sir Amadis your brother and of you likewise saying you were the sonnes to the King of Gaule his liege Lord and soueraigne As thus they deuised they entred alone into a chamber while the Damosells with the rest were prouiding viands wherfore Galaor seeing time and place so cōmodious to request the loue of her that vsed him so kindely she beeing a Lady young fresh and faire named Brandueta him selfe likewise actiue and desirous of such sweete baytes thus spake Madame if Palingues loued you as I haue heard he had great reason for it knowing you to be such a one as I sée you are for my self who haue so little acquaintaunce with you am already so deepe in deuotion to your gracious nature as I would repute my selfe happie if you graunted me the fauour I desire accepting me as your fréend and seruant The Lady not one iot behinde him in amorous affection shaped him this answere I haue tolde ye my Lord that I loue you more then any other liuing creature therfore you may be certainly assured how my desire is to please you in all thinges what-soeuer During these speeches Galaor still helde his loue in his armes kissing and toying with her so pleasantly as Diana soone after lost her interest in the maiden wherto Brandueta yéelded with greater contentment then all her former resistaunces to Palingues from whome she kept her virginitie so long that she was now content to bestowe it on the French Prince and he hauing a good stomach to such daintye diet made her loue him the better for it while she liued But see an vnhappy inconuenience after many imbracinges and amourous conferences as they would once more haue besieged the Fortresse of loue the Damoselles came to tell thē that dinner was ready wherfore though loth they were forced to leaue off accompanying the Damoselles to the place where the tables were couered which was vnder a Gallarie enuironed with trees As they sat at the table and discoursed of many matters among other thinges Brandueta declared to him how Palingues standing in feare of him and his brother Amadis caused this Castle to be kept so stronglye considering that her Father Anthebon was of Gaule and King Perions subiect the sooner would they assaye to woorke reuenge for his death For this reason quoth she he allowed no other entraunce then by the basket into this Castell where I haue liued in meruaylous greef and sorrow as neuer shall I desire to tarry heere longer therfore right gentle Lord and freend might it so like you without any longer stay I would gladly see my mother who will not be a little glad of my returne and yours likewise Galaor was very well contented and though it were late yet got they to horsse-back departing from the Castell but for all their haste they were two houres benighted which brake no square in respect of the good newes the good Lady with all her familie ioyfully receiuing them with all honourable meanes could be deuised beside the comforted widowe cast her selfe at his feete vsing these speeches Woorthye Lord both I and mine are bound to you for euer referring to your disposition what-soeuer we enioy because you are the restorer and confirmer of all I thanke you Madame answered Galaor for your freendly offers but where no desert is the requitall must of force be farre more easie Now the greater parte of
and mooued not Now grew the Lady and her Knights into such anger with Amadis as presently they would haue slaine him and he had not escaped but that an auncient Knight stepped before him with his Sword drawen vsing such threatnings and other behauiour as he caused them all to goe foorth of the Pauillion yet coulde hee not defende him so well but Amadis was wounded on the right shoulder then stepped the auncient Knight to Madasima with these words By God Madame you deale like a very vnreasonable woman causing your people in your presence to murder two Knights after they haue yeelded themselues your prisoners Why Sir quote she did you not see their presumptuous boldnes especially this varlet who before my face hath so vsed this man as he is not able to rise againe Madame replyed Galaor we rather chuse to dye then any other but your selfe shall binde vs for you by nature are gentle and curteous and we as prisoners will shew obeysaunce to you Seeing you saya so answered Madasima I will binde you my self heereupon she bound their hands w t strong cords and presently taking downe the Tents they departed thence Amadis and Galaor béeing set on horsses without Saddles and led along by two Sergeants as for Gandalin and Galaors Squire they followed on foote hauing their hands bound behinde them in manner as if they had gone to hanging and thus were they constrained to trauaile all night through the Forrest But Amadis was weery of his life not so much for his hard vsage in respect he could gouerne himselfe with wonderfull pacience but for the matter Madasima would enforce them to the refusall whereof gaue hope of no better vsage at her hand but for euer to be depriued of his faire Oriana And contrarywise if he consented he should in like manner be banished from her presence being compelled to serue King Lisuart no longer these two extremities troubled his thoughts which the auncient Knight well perceiued that saued their liues yet he imagined the cause to proceede from his hurt and was mooued to pittie him for the Damosell had told him that he was one of y e best Knights in the world Héere you must obserue how the Damosell was the auncient Knights Daughter and repented her treason in deceiuing them séeing how discourteously they were intreated which made her earnestly to perswade her father to practise some meane for their safetie for quoth she if they be put to death perpetuall shame will attend on my life Haue pittie then good father on them and me in respect the one is famous Amadis of Gaule and the other his brother Galaor who slewe the Giant at the Rock of Galteres Full well â—new the Knight the cause why his Daughter brought them and therefore pittyed their vsage the more deuising how he might compasse the meanes to sheeld them from death which was néere at hand so comming to Amadis he thus spake Be of good chéere Sir Knight for I hope by the help of God ere long to deliuer you from this cruell Lady and if your wound offend ye I will perswade her to let you haue some cure When Amadis heard him speake so freendly knowing likewise it was the man who deliuered him from them that would haue slaine him he thus answered Father I haue no wound which greatly annoyeth me but I haue more cause to complaine of the Damosell she that brought vs hither by y e falsest treacherie in the world I knowe very well said the Knight you haue beene deceiued and can tell what you are better then you wéene which makes me the more carefull in séeking your good therefore I shall giue you profitable councell if you will accept it But did the Lady know you you should dye without any remedy because nothing might serue else to expiate her wrath beléeue then what I say and put it in practise You are faire young and of gallant stature beside Madasima hath beene told how you are one of the best Knights in the world whereby she conceiueth good opinion of you now must you cunningly close with her requesting she would accept you as her husband or perpetuall freend for she is a woman not to refuse you if you can neuer so little dissemble with her But what you doo doo quickly because at y t place whether we are now going she intends to send one of her seruaÌ„ts to King Lisuarts Court whose errand is only to enquire your names for she that conducted you hither perceiuing you should assuredly dye if her mistresse knew the names of you both disguised the matter so with her as she said she forgot to aske your names only thus perswading her that you were two of the very best Knights in the world The daunger thorowly considered I sweare to you by the faith of a Christian that I can deuise no better meane for your deliuerance then this I haue told ye and shall I say more if you doo it not wursse will come to you then you suspect But Amadis loued the Princesse Oriana so deerely as he rather desired death then to hazard himselfe in such a composition whereupon he thus replyed I thanke you Sir hartely for your great kindnes but I haue no such authoritie ouer my selfe as will permit me to procéed so farre though your Lady her selfe intreated neuer so déeply yet libertie nor life can perswade me Alas Sir answered the Knight I wunder you will not consider how neere your death is It is all one to me quoth Amadis but if you will deale héerein with my brother he is a Knight more braue and beautifull then I am happily he will consent to follow your deuise Presently he left Amadis and comming to Galaor deliuered the whole discourse he did to his brother which he liking very well made this reply Good Father if you could bring it to passe that the Lady would accept me as her fréend my companion and I were for euer at your commaund Referre the matter to me quoth the Knight immediatly will I goe to her I hope to strike it dead on her behalfe So departing from Galaor he went to Madasima who rode formost and thus began to break with her Madame you carrye two prisoners with you but you doo not know what they are Why aske you me such a question answered Madasima Because the one of them quoth the Knight is esteemed y e best Knight that euer bare Armes and the most accomplished in all other good gifts Is he not then named Amadis said she whose death I haue so long desired No Madame answered the Knight I speake of him which rideth next vs whose youth and beauty had you well regarded your selfe would say you haue been too outragious in iniurie What though he be your prisoner it is not for any offence committed againste you but onlye through the hatred you beare to another all which you may yet redresse in much better sorte then you began considering if he conceiued liking
as she came to the prince at what time he was sporting with Oriana and the other Ladyes while the Queene slepte At that instant was he in such a sollemne thought of Oriana as not daring to lift vp his eyes to beholde her said within him selfe Ah God why hast thou endued this Lady with such excellent beauty that vnhappy I should suffer so extreame passions by louing her Ah mine eyes too high did ye looke when ye behelde her of whome you are not woorthy but if the woorst happen death shall satisfie this â—imeritie wherto my hart for her is humbled In this thought he was like to fall downe so had he forgotten and ouergone him selfe when a Page came to him saying Gentleman there is a strange Damosell attending without who hath brought ye certaine presents would speak with ye When she who loued him heard this message her hart began to tremble in such sorte as béeing not able to endure this new â—ame she called to the Prince saying I pray ye stay heere and let the Damosell come in that we may haue the sight of what she hath brought which he did and the Damosell being entred thus spake to him My Lord your good fréend Gandales saluteth you as the man whom he only loueth and hath sent ye this King this ware and this Swoord which he desireth ye for his sake to kéepe while you liue The Prince hauing receiued the presents â—aid the King and waâ— aside to beholde the Swoord which being without a sheath was wrapped in a fine linnen cloth wherat he greatly meruayled and while he was musing theron Oriana tooke the ware thinking it to be some other thing and said Beléeue me Gentleman for my parte I would haue this ware You may haue it if you please Madame quoth he but me thinks this faire King were better for ye I will haue nothing but this ware said Oriana and so tooke it During these discourses the King came who saide to the Prince What think ye of that Swoord My Lord quoth he I finde it a very faire one but I meruaile wherfore it hath no scabbard It is saide the King very néere fiftéene yéers since it had one and hauing so saide he laide it aside proceeding thus You would be a Knight and know not whether you ought be one or no therfore it is necessary y t you vnderstand what you are and I to tell you so much as I know Héerupon he declared how he was found in a Chest on the Sea with the Swoord and the King as you haue alreadye heard I beléeue my Lord quoth the Prince that for your pleasure you vse this inuention because the Damosell when she entred saide that my good fréend Gandales sent me these presents but I think she fayled in her woordes and would haue said my Father Gandales Notwithstanding my Lord if it be so as you haue rehearsed I am not displeased therat except in not knowing of whence I am nor they me yet doo I thinke my selfe a Gentleman for my hart perswades me of no lesse Now therfore it is more necessary that I be Knighted then before to the end I may labour to become such a one as may acquire honor and reputation séeing I haue no parents by whom I may be named not knowing what I am When the King heard him speak so vertuouslye he estéemed much better of him then before thinking him selfe that he could not but be a man of calling and hardie As thus they were deuising a Gentleman came to the King and said My Lord King Perion your brother is come to the Court The King very glad therof departed to receiue his Brother and embracing him thus spake I sée my good Brother you meant to take me vnprouided for little did I thinke of your so sudden arriuall in this Country Noble brother answered King Perion I come to request y e ayd of my fréendes because I haue more néede of them at this time then euer I had for Abies King of Ireland threatneth me with strong warre and is with great puissaunce entred my Kingdome so that he and Dagauel his Cozin haue laide very seuere siedge to me And which is woorst of all Fortune hath so hardly dealt with me that certaine whom I trusted haue forsaken me and the greatest part of my other fréends are ouerthrowen in the skirmishes we haue had together so that now I come to requeste your succour in this extreame need Truely Brother answered Languines you may be sure therof and your misâ—fortune gréeueth me not a little but I will prouide therfore so well as I can Agraies who was newly Knighted being hotte and ready to Armes hauing heard the request of his Unckle and the graunt the King his Father had made him of assistaunce came and â—â—ll on his knée before him saying I beséeche ye Father let me obtayne one boone at your handes The King who loued him as him selfe answered Demaund what thou wilt for it shall not be denyed thee I desire your sufferance quoth Agraies that I may goe to Gaule to aide the Quéen mine Aunte In good faith said the King well content am I and in good equipage shalt thou goe and stronglye accompanied When the Gentleman of the Sea heard this determination he was more earnest to compasse his enterprise then before and seeing King Perion was present he could not glut his eyes with beholding him only for the good reporte he had heard of him for he thought not theÌ„ of any affinitie or parentage but would rather be Knighted by his hand then any other in respect of his high and hautie déedes of Armes And to attaine his purpose he thought best to intreat the Quéen hoping that if she would doo so much for him as to mooue the King her brother therin she should not be gain-said for he saw her so sad that he durst not speake to her he boldely went to Oriana and setting his knee to the ground saide I pray ye Madame tell me what causeth the Quéene to be so pensiue Oriana beholding the man before her whom she loued in her very soule albeit neither he or any other knew it was surprized with such vehemencye of loue as she could hardly tell how to dissemble it yet thus she answered Gentleman of the Sea and my fréend I will take paine to know then shall I tell ye with all my hart seeing it is the firste request that euer ye made to me Madame quoth he I know in my selfe so small deseruing toward you that I account myself vnworthy to request any thing of you but I should think I were happy if I had the meane to obey you or that it would please you to commaund me What said she haue you so base a minde such small estimatioÌ„ of your self Madame answered he in what sort soeuer it be I haue no forces at all but such as haue left me in great desire to serue you for my hart is altogether yours
constrained all Ladies and Damoselles that passed by his Castell to enter in where villamously he took his pleasure of them and not contented therwith enforced them to sweare that while they liued they should beare affection to none but him if any denied he caused them cruellye be put to death Likewise he compelled such Knightes as trauailed that way to combate one alone against his two Bretheren but if they were vanguished hee would force the conquerour to deale with him selfe he being the most hardy Knight in all those partes If it happened that he brought them into any debilitie he would take from them all they had turning them away on foote after he had made them sweare to name them selues while they liued the vanquished by Galpan otherwise he would depriue them of life But God displeased with the crueltie which so long time he had vsed to the hurt of many good people would now alter this great inconuenience and that Galpan with his complices should receiue guerdon to their desertes making them an example to all other as you shall heare presently recited CHAP. VII ¶ How the Gentleman of the Sea combated with the guarders of Galpans Castell and afterward with his Bretheren and in the end with Galpan him selfe BY this time the Gentleman of the Sea is come néere y e Castell where he saw a Lady cōming towards him greatly afflicted hauing no other companye then a Squire and a Page This sorrowfull woman breathed foorthe many gréeuous sighes shewing a violent kinde of warre betwéene her handes and the golden tresses of her haire which she discheueled and rent very pittifully Héerat was the Prince not a little amazed and willing to knowe what mooued her to these extreames he came to her with these spéeches Faire Gentlewoman I pray ye tell me the cause of your sorrowe Ah my Lord quoth she death would be now right welcome to me beeing the only fréend to beare me companie for such is my misfortune as teares are more conuenient for me then remembraunce of the cause In sooth Ladye saide the Prince if in any respecte I can doo ye good you shall finde me readye with all my hart Beeing sente Sir quoth the Damosell by my Mistresses commaundement to a young Knight a man of some account in these partes and passing along this waye foure cruell villaines set vpon me and whether I would or no brought me into this Castell where a traiterous Knight dishonourably forced me compelling me afterward to sweare that I should neuer loue any fréend but him This complainte mooued the Prince to great admiration and thus he answered Follow me Lady for your iniurye shalbe reuenged if God giue me leaue Héer-upon the Damosell immediatly went with him and by the way he desired her to tell him what the man was to whome she was sent If you reuenge my wrong quoth she I will tell ye but I can assure ye he is such a one as will be right sorye when he heares of my misusage Great reason said the Prince hath he so to doo and as thus they communed together they came to the place where she shewed him the foure Gardants to whom he presently said Disloyall varlettes wherfore haue ye so abused this Ladye as she trauailed on her iourny Because quoth they we stood in no feare of you but if you get ye not gone the sooner your entertainement shalbe woorsse then hers was Without any more talking he drew his Swoord and comming to one that heaued his Hatchet against him quite cut away the right arme from his bodye then turning to another cleft him ouer the face to the very eares When the rest saw their companions thus maimed they fled away so fast as they could running through a by waye along a Riuer side but the Prince making no shew of pursuing thē wiped his Swoord and put it vp againe then comming to the Damosell bad her goe forwarde My Lord quoth she hard by is a gate where I found two armed Knightes attending Well saide he and I shall finde them when I come thether So rode they on and as the Prince entred the base Courte he sawe the Dungeon doore open and an armed Knight on Horseback come foorth after whome they within let downe a Porte cullis and shut the doore againe then the Knight of the Castell auauncing him selfe very boldely thus spake to the Prince Poore wretch too soone art thou come hether to receiue shame and dishonour Dishonor quoth the Prince tush these are but woordes leaue what shall happen to the prescience of God who only is skilfull therin and tell me if thou be the villaine that did force this Lady No answered the Knight but if it were I what then I meane quoth the Prince to reuenge her wrong if I can Goe to saide the Knight I shall see then what kinde of reuenge you vse So giuing the Spurres to his Horse ran as fiercely as he could against the Prince yet he failed in the attainte but the Prince méeting him with full carrire gaue him such a gréeting with his Launce through the Sheeld as the armour being vnable to resist it let passe y e yron thorow both his shoulders wherby he fell downe dead in the place Hauing withdrawen his Launce prepared him selfe for an other that came to succour the firste who pearcing quite through the Princes Shéeld left the head of his Launce in his Armour which was of sufficient proofe but in the encounter he met his enemy to directly as he rent the Helmet from his head casting him so violently of his Saddle as he was able to sit no more on horse backe The Knight seeing him selfe thus vnarmed cryed for some other to come help him wher-upon three Halberders issued foorth to whome he saide Look well my fréendes that this man escape vs not At these woordes they ranne all thrée violentlye on the Prince and buckled so néere him as they slew his horsse betwéene his legges wherby he was constrained to fight on foote and so offended was hee therat that hauing recouered him selfe he smote his Launce through the Knights head which made him presently yéeld the ghoste And now he bestirres him self against the other thrée who cowardly stealing behinde him wounded him on the Shoulder wherby he lost a great quantity of his blood but full well he recompenced the villaine that did it letting foorth the deerest blood he had in his body by cleauing him with his Swoord as it had béene an Axe The other two terrified héere-with ran vp into a long Gallerie crying Come my Lord come quickly for we are all vanquished In meane while the Prince séeing his owne Horsse was slaine mounted on that belonged to the Knight he slewe last soone after he saw another Knight stand looking foorth at a doore who perceiuing the Prince had espied him said What hath mooued thée to come in héere and kill my people Nothing els answered the Prince then the desire I haue to
was but also stood amazed at y e sight of his Mistresse Which when Dardan beheld he tooke hart afreshe and charged his enemie so brauely that if he had longer continued he would haue gone away conquerour but the Damosell of Denmarke noting this change spake out aloud In an vnhappy hower did the Knight behold any Lady in this company whereby he hath lost what he wun of Dardan it is no time now for his heart to faint These words confounded Amadis with shame that gladly could he haue giuen entertainement to death fearing least his Lady would suspect cowardise in him For this cause lifting vp his Sword he gaue Dardan such a stroke on the Helmet as made him set both his hands to the ground then falling vpon him he rent the Helmet from off his head and trampled in such sort on him with his féet as he fell downe like one depriued of his sences Afterward taking him by the locks of his haire he beat him on the face with the pommell of his Sword saying Thou dyest Dardan if thou confesse not the Lady free When Dardan sawe himselfe in such estate he replied Ah gentle Knight for Gods sake mercie kill me not I acquite her Now approched the King and the other Lords to heare what he said and while they stoode conferring with him Amadis as yet ashamed of his fault committed drew back through the throng and seeing he had gotten behinde them all so couertly as he could he ran toward the Forrest leauing them all musing at Dardan who filled the emptie aire with his complaints In meane while his beautifull friend came to him who in sted of giuing comfort for the foile he sustained through her began to detest and despise him saying Dardan heereafter seeke thée some other fréend then me for while I liue will I neither loue thée or any other then the good Knight who valiantly ouercame thée How now Lady quoth he is this the reward of my honor and life aduentured for you you then are not the fréend to Dardan but to fortune who is no sooner contrary to me but presently you are mine enemie Haue I then escaped death by the mercie of my foe to endure wursse then death by the crueltie of my friend Heauen suffereth me to liue and yet you repine at my infortunate life now shall I make knowen to all women by your example that ingratitude is no lesse hurtfull to such as exercise it then to any one offended therewith Héere-upon he tooke his Sword and before it could be imagined what he meant to do he smote her head quite from her shoulders then as a man transported with madnes staring euery where roâ—â—d about him declared by his angry countenance that high and not vulgare was the enterprise he embraced in such an extremitie The King sent his Archers to conuay him thence but ere they came to him he strooke him-selfe so violently to y e heart as the bloud spouted in the Archers faces and then he cryed out saying Now friend art thou reuenged by my vengeance and thine enemie satisfyed with the despised life thou leftst me So falling downe deliuered the last signe of his death where-at each one was confounded with meruaile as well for the noueltie of the case as pittying the verie latest words he breathed but when they remembred his passed life wholly addicted to ouer-wéening folly they reputed this vnfortunate end happened to him not so much by accident as the diuine ordenance which made them sorrow no more but conuerted their thoughts to commend the conquerour CHAP. XV. ¶ How King Lisuart caused a Sepulchre to be made for Dardan and his friend with an Epitaph in remembrance of their death and the honor he did to Amadis after he was found and knowen AFter the vnfortunate end of these ill aduised louers the King in memorie of this strange accident commaunded that in the feeld where they lay dead should be erected a sumptuous Sepulchre of black Marble stone fashioned like a Romaine Obelisque and thereon was engrauen in the Brittayne language an Epitaph declaring the whole matter as it happened And when he had knowledge of the conquerour as héereafter the manner how is declared his name was placed thereon and foure great Lyons at the foure corners of the Sepulchre importing the deuise which Amadis bare in his Sheeld But now the rumour being appeased and they returned to the Pallace he called for the Stranger that wun the honor of the day but after long enquirie no one could certainly tell what was become of him albeit certaine comming from the wood reported how they saw a Knight returne from the féeld thither-ward being alone and making great haste He that is worthy said the King to beare him company may imagine himselfe happy enough for séeing he hath shewed himselfe so braue a Combatant it is impossible but he should be a wise and vertuous Knight And for no lesse ech one reputed him who vnderstood the iniuries of Dardan vsed to him and sawe how he requited them with gentlenes and courtesie albeit I make no doubt but he knew right wel that if Dardan had got y e better he would not haue pardoned him Such as you haue heard were the words of King Lisuart but Oriana who day by day expected the arriuall of Amadis séeing the incomparable valour of him that fought against Dardan began to suspect that it was he for quoth she to the Damsell of Denmarke I am sure he would not send me a fabulous message and this is the iust time he assured you of his comming In good sooth Madame answered the Damsell you say very true and which makes me conceiue the better hope is that he promised me to ride on a white Courser with the like Armes he had when he Combated against King Abies and I remember how the Knight who ouercame Dardan had the like horsse But did you quoth Oriana take no regard of his Armes Yes marie did I replyed the Damosell albeit the cruell strokes receiued thereon made me hardly perceiue what deuise was there figured yet me thought the ground was a golden feeld and the like I told ye he bare in Gaule with two azured Lyons rampant portrayed therein which being battered all in pieces he presently made him such an other assuring me to weare no other when he came into this countrey and therefore I will doubt no further but it is he Swéete fréend said Oriana if it be he either he will shortly come or send into the Towne therefore you must be watchfull and diligent to heare thereof Madame quoth the Damosell refere these matters to my charge This conference caused Oriana to remaine verie pensiue and breathing foorth many bitter sighes she said Ah gracious heauens what fauour haue you done me if this be Amadis now shall I compasse the meanes better then euer I could to speake with him So attended the Princesse for tidings from her friend who returned as he promised to the
imagine me to be abused because the Knight I aske for hath vanquished the Giant and kild him in battell hand to hand Beléeue me Uirgin replyed Galuanes you tell vs matter of great meruaile in respecte neuer any Knight dealt alone with a Giant vnlesse it was King Abies of Ireland who combated with one him selfe being armed and the Giant naked which was the cause of his death and yet this attempt of the King is thought the greatest stratageme that euer was heard of then sound not your spéeches to any likely-hood for this Giant surpasseth all other in strength and crueltie Gentleman answered the Damosell the Knight I speake of hath doone no lesse then I tolde ye wherwith she rehearsed the whole maner therof they reputing it strange almost incredible which caused Agraies to aske her if she knew y e Knightes name His name quoth she is Galaor Sonne to King Perion of Gaule Ah Lady said Agraies you declare the only newes of the world to content me withall naming my Cozin who more commonly was reputed dead then liuing kéer-upon he reported to Galuanes what he had heard concerning Galaor how he was taken away by the Giant and till this instant he neuer heard of him By my faith answered Galuanes the life of him and his brother is miraculous and their beginning of chiualrie so famous as I thinke their like is not to be found through the world but Damosell what would you haue with that Knight My Lord quoth she I seeke his aide on the behalfe of a Damosell who is imprisoned by the accusation of a Dwarffe the most villainous creature that euer was borne heereto she added the whole discourse of Galaor and the Dwarffe as hath been already declared to you yet she concealed y e louely pranck of Aldena And because Sir said she the Damosell will not confirme what the Dwarffe hath auouched the Duke of Bristoya hath sworne that within ten dayes she shall be burned aliue which is an occasion of great greefe to the other Ladies doubting least she through feare of death will accuse some of them and tell withall to what end Galaor came into the Dukes Castell more-ouer of the ten dayes foure are already expired Séeing it falleth out so answered Agraies you neede trauaile no further for we will perfourme what Galaor should doo if not in strength yet in good will and therfore be you our guide to the place The Damosell turned her haqueney and led them with such spéede to the Dukes Castell that they arriued there the daye before the execution should be Now was the Duke set downe to dinner when the two Knightes entring the great hall humbly saluted him and when he saw them he requested they would sit downe to dinner with him but they answered that he should presetly know the cause of their comming wher-upon Galuanes thus began My Lord you detaine a Damosell prisoner by the false disloyall accusation of a traiterous Dwarffe we desire that she may be deliuered séeing she hath no way mis-doone and if it be needfull to proue her innocencye by battaile let come two other Knightes to maintaine the quarrell for we are ready as her defenders Well haue you said replyed the Duke and calling for the Dwarffe thus spake to him What answerest thou to these Knightes challenge who say that falsely thou hast caused me to imprison the Damosell and will proue it against thee in open battaile it behooueth thee to finde some defence for thy self For that I am not to seeke my Lord quoth the Dwarffe I haue such on my behalfe who shall make known the trueth of what I haue saide Héer-with he called a frollick Knight his Nephewe so like him in pitch and proportion as one would haue thought he had no other Father to him he saide I pray ye Nephewe maintaine my quarrell against these two Knightes Scarse had he thus spâ—ken but his Nephewe returned this answere to Galuanes and his companion Well Gentlemen what will you say against this loyall Dwarffe who was so iniured by the Knight the the false Damosell brought hether it may be one of you is the man I speake off but whether it be or no I will proue in combate he dealt villainously and the Damosell ought to dye because she brought him into my Lord the Dukes chamber Agraies who found him selfe most touched in his owne conceite stepped foorth with this answere In sooth neither of vs is the man albeit we desire to imitate his vertues but we auouche he hath doone no wrong and if the Duke please this difference shall be soone discided for on his behalfe will I maintaine that the Damosell ought to be deliuered and the Dwarffe in her stead burned as a traiterous villaine I iustifie the contrary replyed the Dwarffes champion then calling for his Armour full soone was he mounted on a gentle courser and turning to Agraies who presented him y e combat thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whom this quarrel began too high a price should I set on thy 〈◊〉 We shall quickly see quoth Agraies what thou caâ—â— dâ—â— but 〈◊〉 aâ— assured if he were present he would make no account of two such braggers as thou art how iust or vniust the cause were on his side by greater reason then doo I leaue thée to iudge how notably he would handle thee in this consisting on trueth and equitie While these menaces thus passed on either side the Duke stirred not from the table till dinner was doone when séeing the Knightes prepareâ— to execute their spéeches he conducted them with a braue company of Gentlemen to the place appointed to end such controuersies where all accustomed ceremonies béeing obserued the Duke thus spake to Agraies Perfourme the vttermost of your habilitie yet shall not the Damosell be deliuered for to the Dwarffe hath not béene offered iniury alone but to such beside as are of higher reckoning then your selfe My Lord quoth Agraies you caused her to be apprehended only by his false accusation and he hath deceiued your iudgement with a lye wherfore if my fortune make me conquerour you ought by good reason to deliuer her I haue tolde ye what I meane to doo said the Duke and other-wise it shall not be Agraies tarying for no more woordes turned his horsse running a braue carrire against the Dwarffes Knight and in the encounter brake their sâ—aues gallantly meeting likewise so furiouslye with their bodies as they were both laide along on the ground yet quickly they recouered them-selues and vnsheathing their weapons deliuered fierce and cruell strokes to eche other their Swoordes béeing very sharpe the Knightes valiant and hautilye disposed by meanes whereof their Armour healmes and shéeldes were in shorte time made of slender resistaunce yet Galuanes well saw how his Nephewe had still the better on his enemye if then he had before estéemed him a good Knight farre greater reason had he now so to doo notwithstanding he was so hot and
rode together to Windesore where they had good hope to finde King Lisuart CHAP. XVIII ¶ How Amadis tarying with his good will in the Court of King Lisuart heard tidinges of his brother Galaor BY the discourse past you haue vnderstood how Amadis after he had in open feelde foyled and ouer-come the audacious proud Dardan was stayed in King Lisuarts Courte by the Ladies request expressely to be the Queenes Knight his entertainement by the King fauour and manifolde other curtesies you haue likewise heard It now came so to passe that as he was one day deuising among the Ladyes a Damosell entred the Quéenes chamber who falling on her knées before the Queene said Madame is not a Knight héere that beareth azured Lyons in his armes The Quéene perceiuing she meant Amadis answered Damosell what would you with him Madame quoth she I haue brought him tidings of a new Knight who hath begun in déedes of Armes so rarely as euer did any You speake very much answered the Quéene but you perhaps being acquainted with none but him thinke therefore he is beyond all other It may be so replyed the Damosell yet when you vnderstand what he hath accomplished I thinke your selfe will agrée to my saying I pray ye then quoth the Quéene tell vs what he is When I see the good Knight answered the Damosell he who caryeth such estimation from all other I will tell him in your presence and other newes which I am charged to acquaint him withall The Quéene was now more desirous to know him then before wherefore shewing her Amadis she said Sée héere Damosell the man you aske for Madame quoth she in respect you speake it I beléeue it for a Quéene of such state as you are is frée from beguiling then comming to Amadis she thus procéeded My Lord the young Gentleman whome not long since you Knighted before the Castell of Bradoid when you vanquished the two Knights on the bridge and the other on the cawsey where you tooke the Maister thereof prisoner and deliuered by force of armes the freend to Vrganda most humbly saluteth you by me being the man whome he reputeth as his Lord and giueth you to knowe how he endeuoureth to reach the height of honor which he will attaine or dye in the attempt likewise when he shall perfourme some-what worthie the name of Chiualrie he will acquaint you with more then yet you knowe vntill which time he shrowdes it in silence Amadis soone remembred â—he spake of his brother wherefore with ioy the teares dewed his chéekes and the Ladyes well noting this alteration meruailed thereat especially Oriana who as you haue heard heeretofore was grounded in such affection toward him as she was well néere depriued of power to dissemble it In meane while the Quéene desirous to heare what déedes of prowesse the new Knight had perfourmed said to the Damosell I pray ye continue your message and tell vs the braue beginning of chiualrie you spake of Madame quoth she the first place where he made proofe of himselfe was at the Rock of Galteres where he combatted with the great and terrible Giant Albadan whome in open feeld hand to hand he ouercame and slew héereto she added the manner of the fight assuring her that she had seene the same Greatly were all the hearers abashed at these newes but aboue all the rest the Quéene who demaunded of the Damosell if she knewe whether he trauailed from thence Madame quoth she I parted from him soone after leauing him in the company of a Damosell who came from her Mistresse to séeke him because she was desirous to knowe him at which time he went with her and since I neuer sawe him What thinke you héere-of Sir Amadis said the Quéene do not you know of whence he is Yes truely Madame answered Amadis although I can say but little héerein I thinke he be mine owne brother for so Vrganda not long since assured me Doubtlesse quoth the Quéene the fortune of you both is admirable and I meruaile how you could come to the knowledge of your Parents or they of you yet would I be glad to sée that Knight in the Kings seruice While these spéeches endured Oriana who sate farre from the Quéene and heard none of these newes was in such griefe to sée Amadis shead teares as being vnable to conceale the same she said to Mabila I pray ye faire friend call your Cozin Amadis that we may knowe what hath happened to cause him mourne Mabila made a signe to Amadis to come and when he was with them Oriana shewing her selfe some-what grieued thus began Sir Amadis it may full well be said that by some Lady you are now mooued to pittie I pray ye tell vs what she is and from whence this Damosell brought you these tidings Amadis quickly perceiued his Mistresses disease wherefore he declared all that the Damosell tolde the Queene which appeased the iealouzie of this hot louer made her shew more amiable countenance thus speaking to Amadis Alas my Lord I must intreat ye to pardon the fault raysed only by fond suspition against you I promise ye Madame quoth he there is no cause of pardon nor did my heart euer thinke amisse against you but could you like thereof that I should go séeke him the Damosell departed from and bring him hither with me to serue you for this I am assured if I bring him not it will be very hard to get him hither Beléeue me answered Oriana I could gladly with so good a Knight in this companie and therefore I thinke you shall do well to go seeke him yet before you depart acquaint y e Queene heerewith that she may imagine how by her commaundement only you enterprise this iourney Humbly did Amadis regratiate his Mistresse and according to her councell he went to the Queene to whome he began in this manner It were good in mine opinion Madame that the King had this Knight likewise to attend on his seruice Certes quoth she I would it might be so if it were possible If you will graunt me leaue said Amadis to goe find him I haue no doubt of bringing him hither otherwise I knowe you shall hardly see him till he haue made himselfe knowne in many other places You doo very much for the King quoth she if he doo come neuerthelesse I referre it to your owne discretion Thus Amadis obtained licence to depart which he did very early the next morning hauing no other company then Gandalin and spending most part of the day riding through a Forrest he sawe a Lady come toward him accompanyed with two Damosels and foure Squires who weeping very greeuously conducted a Knight in a Litter whereat Amadis being abashed demaunded what mooued them to be so sorrowfull and what he was they had in the Litter He is quoth the Lady the only cause of my care and pensiuenes my Lord and husband who is wounded in such sort as I feare his death Amadis
very slender for the bountie of the one diminisheth no iote of the other The Knights perceiuing he spake the truth ended their strife demaunding of Amadis if he knew the Knight in King Lisuarts Court who combatted for the iniuried widdow whereby the good Knight Dardan was slaine Why aske ye quoth Amadis Because said the Knights we would gladly meet with him I knowe not answered Amadis whether your meaning be good or bad yet is it not long since I sawe him in the Court of King Lisuart Hauing so said he rode on his way when the three Knights hauing conferred a little together they began to gallop after him and he no sooner heard them but turned againe then doubting they intended some harme to him he clasped on his Helmet and his Sheeld yet had he no Launce nor they likewise Alas my Lord quoth the Dwarffe what will ye do consider you not they be three and you alone What matters that answered Amadis if they assayle me without reason why by good right I must assay for mine owne defence On these spéeches they came to him in this maner Sir Knight we would demaund one thing of you which we desire yee not to deny otherwise you may not so easily escape vs. The sooner shall I graunt it quoth Amadis if it be reasonable Tell vs then as you are a loyall Gentleman where you imagine we may find him that slew Dardan He who could doo no lesse then speake the truth thus replied I am he albeit I would haue you thinke that I doo not so soone fullfill your request in respect of adding any praise to my selfe When the Knights heard him they cryed altogether Ah traytour thou dyest and drawing their Swords set violently vpon him Amadis offended to sée himselfe thus assailed by them whom ere-while he had so freendly pacified resisted them with such resolute courage as at the first stroke he smote one of their armes frō the body the griefe whereof made him likewise fall beside his horsse the second also felt his Sword so peazantly that he cleft his head to the very téeth and sent him to kéepe his fellow company When the third beheld their bad successe he put y e spurres to his horsse and got him away but Amadis being not so well mounted let him escape returning to Gandalin the Dwarffe who thus spake Credit me my Lord hencefoorth will I trust better to your words then I did let vs now therefore make haste hence if you please So riding along at length the Dwarffe shewed him in a pleasant valley two high Pine trées neere which was a Knight mounted on a lustie Courser and two other whome not long before he had vanquished they running to catch their horsses there strayed about the feeld And looking againe he espied an other Knight lay leaning on his helmet hauing his Shéeld by him and twentie Launces reared against the Pines with two spare horsses likewise readie furnished My Lord quoth the Dwarffe do you see the Gentleman that leaneth on his helmet What then said Amadis He is replied the Dwarffe the good Knight I promised to shew you Knowest thou his name quoth Amadis He nameth himself answered the Dwarffe Angriote destrauaus and is the best Knight that I haue heard report of Tell me then said Amadis why he keepeth there so many Launces I can therein answered the Dwarffe full well resolue ye listen then awhile He loueth a Lady of this countrey who hateth him aboue all other neuerthelesse he hath preuailed so much by fight as her Parents were constrained to giue him her After he had gotten her into his power he thought himselfe the happyest man in the world but she told him he should wade into no such fond opinion because he tooke a young Lady against her will And albeit quoth she perforce you haue enioyed me yet while I liue neuer shall I loue ye if you do not perfourme one thing for me What Lady answered Angriote it is within compasse of my puissance That is it said she Commaund then swéete Madame replied Angriote for I will accomplish it euen to the death The Lady whose euill will was toward him exceeding great thinking to appoint him a place most conuenient for his death or else to get him there so many enemyes as her Parents might enioy better assistance to take her from him intreated him and his brother to guard this vale of Pines against all Knights errant that should passe this way causing them by force of armes to take an oath how they should afterward trauaile to King Lisuarts Court there to confesse her more beautiful then the Ladies they loued And if it so fell out that the brother to Angriote whome you see on horsseback were vanquished and could endure the combate no further then Angriote should keepe this passage alone during the space of one whole yeere For this cause they depart not hence all y e day time and at night returne to a Castell on the Mountaine you see at hand hauing alreadie mainteined their enterprise thrée moneths in all which time Angriote neuer set hand to sword against any Knight because his brother hath still beene conquerour Trust me said Amadis I beleeue thou sayest true and so I heard in the Court of King Lisuart where not long since a Knight arriued who confessed Angriotes Lady to be more faire then his freend and me thought he called her name Grouenesa Uery true quoth the Dwarffe but now seeing you are resolued remember your promise to me and beare me company as you said you would With right good will answered Amadis which is the way Euen ouer this vale replyed the Dwarffe but because of this hinderance as yet I thinke we shall verie hardly passe Care not thou for that said Amadis so giuing his horsse the spurres he rode on and soone after he met a Squire who thus spake to him Goe no further Gentleman if you will not graunt the Knights Lady vnder the Pine to be more beautifull then your Mistresse Neuer will I yéeld to such a slaunder replyed Amadis without force or extreame constraint Returne then sayd the Squire otherwise you must combate with thē twaine you see before If they assaile me quoth Amadis I must defend my selfe so well as I can so vsing no more words he rode on forward CHAP. XIX ¶ How Amadis combatted against Angriote his brother who guarded the passage of the valley against such as would not confesse that their Ladies were inferiour in beauty to Angriotes choise WHen Angriotes brother saw him cōming he took vp his weapons and met him saying Beléeue me Knight you haue committed great folly in not graunting what our Squire gaue you warning off you must therfore enter combat with me As for the combat answered Amadis I like it much better then to confesse the greatest lye in the worlde I know well saide the Knight you must doo it with disaduantage in an other place And trust me quoth Amadis I
think not so Stand on your owne defence then replied the Knight wherwith they gaue the carrire against eche other méeting together so furiouslye as the Knight was vnhorssed yet held he fast the reines of his bridle till they brake in his hand which caused him to fall on his neck to the ground where he lay without remembraunce of him selfe or any other Héerupon Amadis alighted and pulling the helmet from his head perceiued that he was in a swoune wherfore he buffetted him in such sort as he came to him self again Thou art but dead said Amadis if thou yéeld not thy self my prisoner When the Knight saw the naked Swoord ouer his head fearing his death he yeelded Then Amadis mounted againe perceiuing Angriote already on horsse-back ready to reuenge his brothers iniurie and a Squire came to the Prince bringing him a Launce which he presented him with-all from Angriote Soone after they encountred so gallantly as their Launces flewe in péeces without any further harme and ending their carrire Amadis quickly drewe his Swoord turning to Angriote who thus spake Make not such haste Knight to combate with the swoord because thou shalt haue time enough for that annon this he saide in respect he reputed him self the best at the swoord that might be found But I pray thée quoth he let vs ioust till our Launces faile or one of vs be sent to y e earth Knight answered Amadis I haue weightye busines else where and may not trifle time with tarying héere What said Angriote thinkest thâ—â— to escape me so lightly I promise thee it is the least parte of my thought yet I pray thee let vs tyre one course more Amadis was content and taking such Launces as eche of them liked finished the ioust with such violence as Angriote was cast down and his horsse vpon him Amadis leaping from his saddle saw that a small trunchion of a Launce had a little entred his body yet scorning any shame should be discerned on his side fighting for the honor and beauty of his Goddesse Oriana snatched foorth the trunchion and marched with his swoord drawen against Agriote who seing him come said I sée sir Knight thou art very yong and me thinkes before it be woorsse with thee thou wert better to confesse my Lady fairer then thine Then should I lye very fowlly answered Amadis and by my will I shall not dissent so farre from the trueth These speeches enkindled choller on either side which made them charge eche other with such vigour as not only they that behelde them but euen theÌ„selues were driuen into doubts thinking it impossible to endure so extreamely And to say sooth the cause was hard for Amadis vndertooke the honor of his Lady for which he could rather chuse a thousand deathes then she should loose one iotte of her excellence and this opinion still whetted on his courage that Angriote was compelled to diuers simple shiftes to auoide the fierce assaultes of his valiant enemye who had wounded him in twenty seuerall places and he perceiuing his death at hand stepped aside thus speaking to Amadis Beleeue me sir Knight there is more valour in thee then I imagined Yéeld thy selfe said Amadis so shalt thou doo wisely seing thou art already brought into such danger for with the finishing of our combate thy life will likewise end which can be no pleasure at all to me in that I estéeme of thee better then thou weenest These woordes he vsed as well for the braue chiualrie he noted in Angriote as also y e great honestie he shewed to the Lady in his possession wher-upon Angriote returned this answere It is reason I should yeeld my selfe to the best Knight in the world and the like all other to doo that beare Armes beleeue me then gentle Knight I not so much sorrow for my foyle as the wreakfull chaunce threatned to me by loosing this day the only thing in the world I most loue That shall you not quoth Amadis if I can helpe it beside the Lady should shew her selfe very ingratefull if she acknowledge not your honourable paines in her defence and it cannot be but she will requite ye with the good you haue deserued As for me I promise ye to imploye my vttermost habilitie in causing her consent therto so soon as I shall returne from a searche I haue now in hand My Lord saide Angriote in what place may I héer-after finde you In the Courte of King Lisuart answered Amadis where by Gods helpe I meane shortly to be So tooke he leaue of Angriote who gladly would haue had him to his Castell but he might not be hindered of his iourney Thus dooth Amadis followe the Dwarffe who guided him fiue dayes together without any aduenture shewing him at length a meruailous strong and pleasant Castell saying Sir within yonder holde you must perfourme the promise you made me And I will doo it for thée answered Amadis if it consist in my power I am in good hope therof quoth the Dwarffe in respect I haue séene some proofe of your Fortune but know ye Sir how the place is named No verily saide Amadis for till now I was neuer in this countrey It is called Valderin replied the Dwarffe and thus deuising they came néere the Castell when the Dwarffe willed him to take his Armes Why said Amadis shall we haue any such neede Yea mary quoth the Dwarffe for they suffer none to come foorth that enter so lightly Amadis buckled on his helmet riding in before the Dwarffe and Gandalin following after then looking on euery side they could see no creature This place said Amadis is not inhabited where is y e request thou saidt I should doo for thee Credit me Sir saide the Dwarffe I haue sometime séene héere a most braue Knight and the strongest in chiualrie that euer I saw who in that Porche killed two Knightes one of them béeing my maister him he put to death very cruellye without regarde of fauour or mercy In reuenge wherof I would desire that traitours head which I haue long fayled in obtaining because all such as I brought hither haue lost their liues or remaine héere in captiuitie Thou doost the part of a loyall seruant answered Amadis yet oughtest thou to bring no Knight hither before thou tell him against whome he shall fight My Lord quoth y e Dwarffe the man is knowen well enough reputed for one of the best Knights in the world therefore when I haue named him I could not méete with any so hardy as to reuenge my cause Belike then thou knowest his name said Amadis Yea my Lord replyed the Dwarffe he calleth himselfe Arcalaus the enchaunter Amadis héereupon went further in looking round about if he might see any body but all was in vaine wherefore to rest his horsse he stayed there till euening saying to the Dwarffe What wilt thou I shall do now it is so late Alas my Lord quoth he the night being so néere at hand me thinks it
this will not helpe thee therfore defend thy self So charging their Launces they brake so brauely on their sheeldes as the shiuers flew vp into the aire and with such violence met their horsses and bodies that they were both laide along on the ground Quickly they arose and with their swoordes began a bloodie combate wherin desire of victorie and hautie resolution of vnconquerable courage made them continue a long time till Arcalaus retyring aside thus spake to Amadis Knight thou art in danger of death and because I know not who thou art tell me that when I haue slaine thée I may yet commend thy boldenes in entring héere My death answered Amadis is in y e hand of God whom I reuerence and thine in the power of the Deuill who is weary of helping thée and bequeatheth thy body to so innumerable mischéefs as a present perishing of soule and all together But seeing thou wouldst so gladlye know my name I am commonly called Amadis of Gaule Knight to the Quéene Brisana let vs now then chat no longer but fall to the combate for on my parte I promise no more resting Arcalaus auauncing his shéeld came with foming fury against Amadis who knew full wel how to welcome him and such eager stroks past on either side as their shéeldes were scattered in péeces about them and likewise very many plates of their armour Now was it about the thirde hower when Arcalaus hauing sustained great losse of his blood was forced to seud vp and down before his enemye and séeing the imminent death before his eyes fled to that parte of the Castell where he came out yet Amadis by close pursuite stil continued his feare wherupon he stept into a chamber at the door wherof stood a Lady be holding the combate and he was no sooner entred the roome but he caught vp another swoord turning his face to Amadis saying Enter this chamber to make an end of our combate The open Court answered Amadis is more spacious and conuenient I will not come foorth quoth Arcalaus for thy pleasure What said Amadis thinkest thou so silly to escape so placing his sheeld before he entred the chāber but as he lifted vp his swoord to strike he was depriued of strength and the vse of his members so that he fell to the ground as he had been dead Yea mary said Arcalaus this is the way to make thée dye as I desired sléepe then till I wake thee Now say you Lady quoth he to her that stood by am I not in your opinion well reuenged on him Indéed saide she he is now altogether at your commaundement Presently he vnarmed him Amadis not féeling any thing was doone to him afterward Arcalaus put on him selfe the Princes Armour thus speaking to the Lady Madame looke on perrill of your life that no one remoue him hence vntill his soule haue forsaken his bodye then he intended to iourney to the court where ech one seeing him in the Armour of Amadis might thinke he had slayne him But now the sorrowfull Lady so lately deliuered from prison made such mone as would haue melted a hart of Adamant and what Gandalins countenaunce was you may easily iudge when Arcalaus saw the Lady lament he said Dame séeke some other to deliuer you from prison for I haue dispatched your hardie champion These woords made Gandalin in such dispaire as he fell downe like one sencelesse and Arcalaus called the Lady to him in this manner Come hither mistresse and you shall see him dead that durst so boldly combate with me When he had shewed him to her he demaunded if he were not now quiet enough The comfortlesse Lady séeing him in such estate wanted no teares to expresse the aboundance of her greefe and withall Ah God quoth she how irkesome will the reporte of his death be to many then Arcalaus calling his wife saide So soone as this wretch is dead imprison this Lady where she was before for I will goe to the Court of Ling Lisuart and there declare how I combated with Amadis by couenaunt that the conquerour should cut off the head of the vanquished and within fiftéen dayes following to publishe his victorie openly in great Brittaine By these meanes none shall quarrell with me about his death and I shall obtaine the greatest glory in the worlde hauing ouer-come him that conquered euery one Then went he where he left Gandalin and the Dwarffe commaunding them to be locked vp in a prison but Gandalin who wished death thinking his maister was dead indéed would not goe with him desiring some one to kill him and to enforce Arcalaus doo him so much fauour reuiled him with names of traytour and villaine hauing slaine the most loyall Knight in the worlde Arcalaus made no account of his woordes but because he would not goe willingly he dregged him by the eares and thrust him into the dungion saying If I presently kill thee thou shouldst endure no more paine but heere shalt thou suffer wursse then death So mounted Arcalaus on the horsse of Amadis and accompanied with thrée Squires rode toward the Courte of King Lisuart CHAP. XX. ¶ How Amadis was enchaunted by Arcalaus when he would haue deliuered the Lady Grindaloya and other from prison and how afterward he escaped the enchauntments by the ayde of Vrganda GRindaloya the Lady deliuered by Amadis from prison made such excessiue lamentations for him as euery one pittied her she thus speaking to the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest in the company Ah faire Ladyes behold yee not the beautie of this braue Gentleman who in so young yeeres was the only Knight in the world mishap attend on such who by enchauntment iniurie men of vertue D soueraigne creator why doost thou suffer so bad-minded people to liue The Wife of Arcalaus who though her husband was addicted to shamelesse crueltie yet she being of gracious and pittifull disposition grieued in her very soule to behold his dealings and continually prayed for his amendment comforting the wofull Lady so well as she could As thus they were deuising together they sawe two other Ladyes enter the chamber eche of thē bringing in her hād good store of candles lighted which they set round about on the cantons of the chamber finding Amadis thus lying before the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest they being not able to lift or stir him Then one of the Ladyes so lately there arriued tooke out of a little Casket she caryed a Booke whereon she began to reade and diuers times an other voice answered her As thus she continued her lecture many other voices were heard as they imagined them more then an hundred then came an other Booke flying into the chamber séeming as if the winde caryed it and fell downe at her féet that read she pulling it in foure parts burned it at the foure corners of the chamber where the candles stood This done she returned to Amadis and taking him by the right hand sayd Lord Amadis arise you haue
who looked so pale and wan with feare that it was impossible for him to offer one woord which made Amadis thus to iest with him Tell me Dwarffe wilt thou that we tarry héere till Arcalaus come and I to give thée the sute thou desirest Insooth my Lord quoth the Dwarffe so déere hath the request cost me I made to you as while I liue neither of you or any other will I craue the like for Gods sake then let vs be gon ere the deuill come againe for I cannot stand on the leg he hung me by beside my nose is so full of sulphurous stinking smelles as neuer shall I giue ouer sneezing till I dye The Dwarffes woordes made them all laugh hartely and after they had repasted Amadis bidding Arcalaus wife farwell mounted on horsse-back with his company the Lady thus speaking at his departure I shall pray Sir Knight that God may send peace betwéene my husband and you Beléeue me Lady quoth he though I neuer care for it with him yet shall it remaine twixt you and me because you deserue it So fortuned it afterward these woords took effect and highly profited the good Lady as in some part of this history you shall heare recited Now are they departed from the Castell of Arcalaus riding till the night ouer-tooke them lodging at a Ladies place fiue leagues thence where they were entertayned with very gracious welcome and on the morrow after they had thanked their fréendly host as they rode together Amadis thus communed with Brandoyuas Curteous Sir I trauaile in search of a Knight as heer-to-fore I told ye and imagining it will be little pleasure to you to follow me it were not amisse then if we parted In sooth Sir answered Brandoyuas I gladly would goe to King Lisuarts Courte notwithstanding if you thinke it good I will kéepe ye companye Little néede shall I haue thereof answered Amadis I thank ye because I must be constrained to wander alone so soone as I haue brought this Ladye into such safetie as she thinkes meete My Lord quoth she I will accompany this Gentleman if you please seeing he trauaileth to the Courte of King Lisuart and there I hope to finde him for whome I was prisoner who I am assured will be glad of my deliueraunce Now trust me answered Amadis very well saide goe then together and God be your guide Thus are they seperated now remaining none with Amadis but Gandaâ—â—â— and the Dwarffe of whom the Prince likewise demaunded what he meant to doo Mary be your trusty seruant said the Dwarffe if you like so well as I. I am well pleased replyed Amadis and thou shalt doo what thou wilt thy selfe In sooth my Lord quoth the Dwarffe séeing you released me I would gladly remaine in your seruice for I know not where I may bée halfe so well the man and the maister being bothe agreede they took their way as fortune liked to conduct them Not farre had they trauailed but they met one of the Ladies that reskewed him from enchauntment at Arcalaus Castell she wéeping and mourning very greeuously which moouing Amadis to pittie her complaints made him demaund the cause thereof A Knight who rideth not farre before quoth she hath taken from me a little Casket wherein is matter of great consequence yet no way able to pleasure him for such things are therein as within these three dayes one in my companie and my selfe restored froÌ„ death the best Knight in the world and she likewise of whome I tell ye is violently caryed away by an other Knight who is ridden before intending to force her Héere you must obserue that the Damosell now talking with Amadis knew him not by reason his helmet beuer couered his face but when he heard how her Casket was taken from her he neuer left gallopping till he ouer-tooke him to whome he thus spake Knight you deale not courteously giuing this Lady cause thus to complaine of you and me thinks you should doo a great deale better to deliuer the Casket againe you tooke from her but when the Knight heard him he fell in a great laughter Why doo ye thus laugh Sir said Amadis I laugh at you answered the Knight whome I thinke scant wise in giuing councell to him that demaunds it not the lesse hope may you haue of spéeding in your sute It may be quoth Amadis you care not for my words yet it were good to deliuer the thing is none of yours Belike you threaten me then sayd the Knight Not you Sir answered Amadis but your ouermuch boldnes in vsing force where it ought not to be Is it true quoth the Knight with these words he set the Casket aside in a trée and returning to Amadis said If your brauerie be such in déedes as it séemeth in words come teach me knowe it and receiue the lawe So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred together in such sort as the Knight being dismounted his horsse fell so heauily on him that he was not able to rise againe in meane while Amadis fetched the Cofer and deliuering it to the Damosell said Take your owne faire Lady tary héere till I bring your companion Presently he posted after the other Knight ouer-taking him at a thicket of trées where he had tyed both his horsse and the Ladyes trayling her by the haire of the head into the wood there to commit his villainous desire but Amadis cried to him aloud in this manner Of an euill death mayst thou dye traitour that wrongest a Lady in this sort without offending thee As the Knight strougled with her to get her into the wood he looked vp and sawe Amadis whereupon he left her making spéed to his weapons and mounted on horsseback then approching néerer the Prince he said By my hand Knight in haplesse time for thée didst thou hinder me of my will Such a will answered Amadis as distaineth honor both men and beasts despise If I take not reuenge for it quoth the Knight then let me neuer weare Armour againe The world therein shall sustaine a great losse replyed Amadis of one addicted to such villainy that séekes to force Ladies who ought in all libertie and honor to be defended and so they be by all loyall Knights With a braue course they met together when though the Knight brake his Launce yet was he hurled against the ground so violently as the weight of his Armour and strength of his fall made him lye trembling in a traunce Which Amadis perceiuing to rid him out of his paine altogether he trampled on his belly with his horsse féete saying Thus shalt thou loose thy desire of forcing Ladyes And as for you faire soule I hope héereafter you are rid from any daunger of him The more am I to thanke you my Lord quoth she would God my companyon who hath lost her Casket were as well deliuered as I am She was the first I met withall answered Amadis wherefore first of all I succoured her so
well as she hath recouered what was taken from her and behold where my Squire conducteth her hither-ward Now because the heate was some-what violent Amadis put off his helmet to take the aire when the Damosell immediatly knew him for it was she that at his returne from Gaule conducted him to Vrganda the vnknowne whē by chiualrie he deliuered her fréend at the Castell of Pradoid which made her remember him so did Amadis her when alighting they embraced eche other the like curtesie he shewed to the other Damosell Alas quoth they had we but dremed on such a defender no villain could haue wronged vs halfe so much On my faith saide Amadis the help you gaue me within these three dayes may not be compared with this matter of no validitie for I was in greter exextremity then you but how could you possibly vnderstand therof My Lord quoth she that tooke him by the hand when he was enchaunted mine Aunte Vrganda sent me to the Castell of Arcalaus by whose meanes we came thither and you were recouered Heauen sheelde from euill that good Lady answered Amadis who hath so many wayes bound me her obedient seruant and you faire Damoselles the messengers of this fauour haue you any thing els wherin to commaund me No my Lord said they take you the way you left and we will return from whence we came Farwell swéet Uirgins replyed Amadis remember my humble dutie to the health of your Mistresse telling her she knowes right well I am her Knight In this mander rode the Damoselles one way and Amadis another wherfore we must now tell what happened to Arcalaus since his departure from the Castell of Valderin CHAP. XXI ¶ How Arcalaus brought newes to the Courte of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his freendes to make manifolde lamentations and regrets especiallye the Princesse Oriana SUch spéede made Arcalaus after his departure from Valderin where he left Amadis enchaunted he béeing as I haue saide clad in his armour and mounted on his horsse that the tenth day following he arriued néer the Court of King Lisuart who was riding abroad in the feeldes to take the aire accōpanied with his Lords along the Forrest side They séeing Arcalaus come a farre of hauing on the Armour of Amadis imagining it was he indeed diuers rode before to welcome him but when they came more neere they found them-selues deceiued by reason Arcalaus had his head and handes vnarmed wherfore without saluting the Gentlemen he stepped to the King with these woordes Sir I come to accquite a promise wherein I stand bound namely to let you vnderstand how I haue slaine a Knight in battell that some time bare these Armes And albeit I must be content to declare mine owne praise which were more honourable for me béeing reported by an other in mine absence yet am I constrained to doo no lesse séeing the couenant was such betweene me and him whom I haue slaine viz. that the conquerour should despoyle the vanquished of his head and present it before you as this day Full lothe was I to be so cruell because he tolde me he was your Queenes Knight commonly called Amadis of Gaule and so he named him self whom I vanquished As for me Sir I tolde him in trueth that I was Arcalaus whome Fortune hath graced with such singuler fauour for I haue slaine the man some-time owner of this Armour and horsse which as a testimony of my victorie I brought with me Ah God saide the King is then the most vertuous and accomplished Knight of the worlde dead you lowring heauens why began ye so braue a course in him and now on such a sudden to cut it off These sorrowfull newes prouoked sighes and teares bothe in the King and his royall company which Arcalaus perceiuing not speaking any thing else returned the same way he came feigning him selfe likewise very sad and greeued but you must think he went not without great store of cursses euery one instantly desiring God to send him an euill and spéedy death which with their Swoordes they could gladly haue bestowed on him them-selues but that they heard how Amadis was slaine by an accorded battell The King being ouercome with pensiuenes and sorrow returned to the Towne where these newes were so opened to euery one that at length the Quéene and her Ladyes heard thereof which presently conuerted their former pleasures into mourning At this time was the Princesse Oriana in her chamber with the Damosell of Denmarke where hearing the sudden clamour and noise she commanded her to goe vnderstand the cause thereof Alas good Ladie too soone was it brought to her for no sooner was she acquainted with the death of Amadis but her immoderate passions expressed the anguish of her heart and more to afflict this gentle Princesse the other Ladyes came wéeping into her chamber saying Ah Madame what tongue can deliuer this wonderfull mishap yet durst she not good Lady be too forward in enquiring the manner thereof least the cinders of her affection might be discouered and as if she had beheld Amadis dead before her she said Alas he is dead it can not be otherwise It is true Madame answered the Damosell but what remedie you must not likewise dye for company These words made Oriana fall into a swoune which the Damosell of Denmarke beholding thought she had too indiscreetly brought her these bad tidings whereupon she called the Princesse Mabila saying Help Madame my Mistresse dyeth She being come sawe that she neither mooued or breathed doubted least life had taken leaue indéede wherefore she commaunded the Damosell to shut the door to the end her loue all this while so well concealed might not break foorth into open suspition Then vnlacing her garments to giue her more liberty as also bathing her temples and pulses with Uiniger and colde water she recouered again when deliuering a fainte sigh with a feeble voice she thus spake Ah swéet freendes hinder me not in the way of death if you desire my rest and would haue God finde him another world who knew not how to liue one day without me Ah flower and mirrour of chiualrie thy death is insupportable not to me alone but to the whole worlde who is replete with greefe for thee because they haue lost him who in bounty prudence hardines and all other vertues did honor them aboue the compasse of all desire And were yet any feeling in thee I am certaine thou wouldst not sorrow for thy lost life but for my loue enduring by thy misse meruaylous afflictions for thou hast left such honor in the worlde behinde thee conquering so incomparable reputation in this short time of thy life that reconing thy merites thou diedst possessed with many yeeres Thus liuest thou in place immortall I remaining héere alone after thée can giue but wounding and vnthankfull spéeches Ah cruell death suffised it not that mighty loue murdered him with his feathered stéele but thou must kill him out-right
horsse which made him shape his course thither-ward albeit he could discearne no body yet passed he further because he heard the like noise of other horses Not farre had he gone but he espied two Knightes armed one of them béeing alighted from his horsse and reading certaine letters engrauen on a stone after-ward he saide to his companion In vaine did they make me come to this place for I vnderstand not one woord of them wher-with he mounted againe and they rode away not séeing Galaor but he called to them saying Gentlemen can ye not tell me who hath caryed away a dead Knight who not long since laye vnder a trée in the foure cornered streete behinde Uerily answered one of them we know nothing therof but about mid-night we saw thrée Damoselles passe by and ten Squires with them conducting a Litter Which way did they take said Galaor This on the left hand replyed the Knight so giuing them thankes he went the same way he was directed and soone after saw a Damosell comming toward him to whome he saide It may be Lady you can tell me who hath caried away the dead Knight that lay vnder the tree not farre hence If you wil promise me quoth she to reuenge his death which is an exceeding great gréef to many I will resolue you therin I will not sticke for that answered Galaor for it seemeth by your woordes it is an act of iustice to doo it Uery true saide the Damosell mount vp before me on my Palfray and I shall direct ye to your desire When they had ridden about two miles she shewed him a meruaylous faire Castell and alighting at the gate she bad him enter But remēber quoth she what you haue promised And because I haue sollicited you héerto I pray ye let me vnderstād your name likewise where I may finde you when time shall serue I am called Galaor quoth he and thinke you shall héer-after finde me in King Lisuartes Courte then any where else I am satisfied saide the Damosell to God I commend ye then she turned bridle and rode away but Galaor entred the Castell where he found the dead Knight laide in the middest of the Courte and by him stood many making great lamentation Neuerthelesse Galaor approched nóer and stepping to an auncient Knight demaunded of him what the dead Knight was Sir answered the olde man while he liued he was such a one as all the worlde may bemone his misfortune Doo you know his name saide Galaor He was called Anthebon replyed the other one of the most vertuous Gentlemen that euer liued in Gaule When Galaor heard he was a subiect to King Perion his Father his hart began to storme and as he pittied him the more so his desire encreased to reuenge his death wher-upon he entreated the Knight to acquainte him with the trueth of this tragicall accident Sir quoth he this infortunate Gentleman which you sée was in respecte of his bountie and vertue maryed to a wife who now lamenteth for him she béeing the Ladye of this Castell In time they had a very faire Daughter and she growing in yéers was beloued by a Knight our too neer-neighbour but the young Damosell euer hated him and aboue all other could not abide him Wherof he getting intelligence determined by some meane or other to steale her hence and béeing so resolued forgetting God as also his own honor watched when this good Knight as customely he vsed should goe to y e cornered stréet there to succour such as often were distressed because it is the moste dangerous place in this country Knowing him thus to be from home the disloyall wretche entred this Castell and finding the maiden in company of her mother with diuers other Gentle-women hoere disporting maugre them all forcibly he tooke her away before we could fall the bridge to succour her Hoer-upon as we after-ward vnderstood she did nothing day and night but gréeuously mourne despising all the inticing blandishments the Knight vsed to her which in y e end displeased him so much as be began in this sorte to reproue her Lady you knowe y t I loue ye with all my hart desiring only to haue the like of you meaning no otherwise then honourably to make you my wife but you scornfullye disdaine me albeit I am discended of a more noble house then your Father is which maketh me meruaile very much what should moue you thus to be mine enemye In good faith I will tell ye quoth she I heere-to-fore made promise to my Mother and such is still my deliberation that I would neuer matche with any husband if he were not so good a Knight and comparable with my Father in chiualrie for which she made choice of him among all other Knightes to which woordes he thus answered By heauen I see you loue me now for ere it be long I will make sufficient proofe that I am a better man at armes then he Within a while after he lefte his Castell béeing well mounted and armed placing him self vnder the tree where you saw this Knight dead to what intent I cannot tell but vnhappily the Lord of this Castell came that way hauing left his horsse and Armour because he only intended to take the aire The cowardly wretch séeing what aduantage he had of him and remembring the promise he made his Lady thought it place commodious to get him reputation and no witnesses by to report the contrary so without giuing him warning or speaking one woord to him stealing behinde him smote his Launce through his neck as you héere beholde Thus vnprouided of defence likewise suddenly and most villainously was this good Knight slain and yet the bloody traitour not satisfied alighting from his horsse gaue him many needlesse cruell woundes with his swoord and so despightfully lefte him there In good faith answered Galaor the déed is monstrous vnable to passe without common reprehension but seing you haue vouchsafed me this fauour I pray ye tell me why was he afterward laide on such a costly bed vnder the trée Because it being a continuall passage for Knightes errant saide the old man to try if any would be so honourably prouoked as to reuenge an act of such shame and contempt after we had acquainted them with this sad discourse I found him alone at the trée replyed Galaor what was the cause then you left him so Your demaund is not amisse quoth the olde man for foure Squires were euer wunt to guard him but because y e Knight who did the murder came and threatned to kill them we were constrained to bring away the body hither I meruaile saide Galaor that I heard not the noise it may well be saide I slept soundlye Are you he replyed the olde man whome we found leaning a sleepe on your Helmet The very same man answered Galaor Why did you rest so homely there quoth the olde man To reuenge his death saide Galaor if by reason I might doo so much Ah woorthy Sir answered
the olde man heauen graunt the finishing therof to your honor then taking him by the hand he brought him to the bed wheron the dead man lay thus speaking to the sorrowfull Lady Madame this Knight saith to his power he will reuenge the death of your Lord. Alas gentle Knight quoth she the God of heauen kéepe you in that good minde for I can finde no kinred or freend in this countrey who will doo so much for me because my Lord was a straunger yet while he liued euery one shewed great fréendship in lookes but now their kindenesse is colde enough Lady answered Galaor in respect both he and I were borne in one countrey my desire is the greater to reuenge his death Are you said y e Lady the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule whome my deceassed Lord often tolde me was in King Lisuartes Courte Neuer came I there Madame replyed Galaor in all my life but tell me what he is that did this treason and in what place I maye finde him Gentle Lord quoth she you shall be conducted thither if you please neuerthelesse I stand in doubt considering the perrill you will mislike the enterprise as many other haue doone who were heer-tofore accompanyed thither Heerin Mad Madame saide Galaor is the difference betweene good and bad yet if you will allow me so much as you did them that made refusall happily I may spéed better then they did The Lady noting his honourable disposition called two of her Damoselles commaunding thē to conduct Galaor to the Knight that helde her daughter perforce In sooth Madame saide the Prince little credit shall you haue by sending me on foote my owne horsse I lost not long since in the wood by hard fortune I pray ye then let me haue another on this condition that if I reuenge not your cause I maye stand bound to deliuer him againe You shall haue one Sir answered the Lady for I hope by your prowesse not only our possessions shall remaine at your disposing but our selues likewise your obedient seruantes CHAP. XXVI ¶ How Galaor reuenged the death of the Knight whome he found slaine on the bed vnder the tree THus departed Galaor in conduct of the two Damoselles who leading him the néerest way thorow a Forrest at the further side therof shewed him a Castell beeing the place whether they were commaunded to bring him where-upon they thus spake to the Prince Beholde my Lord at this Fortresse you may reuenge the murdered Knightes death Tell me his name replyed Galaor He is called Palingues answered the Damoselles Being now come hard by the Castell they sawe the gate was fast which made Galaor call out aloud wherat an armed Knight came on the battlements demaunding what he sought fo I would enter the Castell answered Galaor This gate quoth he is appointed to no other end but for the comming foorth of such as remaine heere within Which way shall I enter then said Galaor I will shewe you quoth the Knight But I doubt I shal trauaile in vaine and that you dare not come to vs. Now trust me replyed Galaor I would faine haue béen within long since We shall quickly sée that said the Knight if your hardines be such as you make shewe of alight from your horsse and come néere the Castell wall Which Galaor did and giuing his horsse to the Damosells went to the place where he was appointed Then came the Knight again and another with him seeming of greater stature then his companion they two winding a winche about ouer the wall let downe a basket with a corde saying to the Prince If you wil enter héere the passage by the basket is this high way But if I put my selfe therein answered Galaor will ye promise to draw me vp in safetie Yea truely quoth they albeit after ward we will not warrant ye Crediting their woordes he entred the basket saying Drawe me vp for on your honest promise I aduenture Heer-with they began to winde vp the basket which the Damoselles séeing meruailing not a little at Galaors hardines said Ah good Knight God shéeld thée from treason for doubtlesse thou she west a gentle and valiant hart By this time the Knightes had drawen him vp taking him and the basket in at the top afterward the Knightes thus began with him Gentleman it is necessary you sweare to aide the Lord of this Castell against such as would quarrell with him for the death of Anthebon otherwise you neuer shall departe hence What said Galaor did one of you twaine kill him Why demaund you replyed the other Because quoth he I am come to let the murderer know how he hath committed a déede of monstrous treason Come ye for that intent said they now surely you might haue béene a great deale better aduised darest thou threatten vs and art in custody alas we must haue another manner of account at thy handes and we must chastice the folly wher-with thy braine is troubled then drawing their Swoordes they laid vpon him very furiously When Galaor saw him selfe thus wronged both in woordes and déedes he entred into such choller as quicklye he made thē féele y e edge of his swoord so that the Damoselles might easily heare the clanching of the strokes on the Armour for the two Knightes were strong and vigorous and Galaor wel moued with hot displeasure Ah God quoth one of the Damoselles hark how the woorthy Knight dealeth with the traitours let vs not departe hence till we sée some end therof All this while Galaor so laboured his enemies with such sharpe charges as their harts began somewhat to dispaire for to one of them he gaue such a blowe on the helmet as his swoord entred thrée fingers déepe into his head afterward he buffeted him with the hiltes of his Swoord that he made him fall on his knées to the ground In meane space the other spared not Galaor but layd loade on him to reuenge his companion whose head the Prince had now seuered from his shoulders and comming to the other the coward began to turne his back running downe the staires faster then euer he came vp but Galaor followed so nimbly that laying holde on him he made him sure for euer letting downe the basket againe to draw vp any more Knightes on the walles Now because the Prince knew not Palingues and doubting one of these twaine to be he he threwe them ouer the battlements to the Ladies bidding them to looke on them and afterward to resolue him but they answered they were so mangled as they could not iudge of them and they were perswaded that Palingues was neither of these twain Wher upon Galaor went downe into the Castell and as he looked euery where about him he espied a faire yong Lady who cryed alowd Palingues Palingues is this the great chiualrie for which thou wouldst be renowned now thou flyest like a cowardly and faint harted knight yet sayest thou wert a better man at armes then my murdered Father whom thou
me saide the King séeing you repose such confidence in me assure your selfe to haue what-soeuer you request or else they shalbe restored againe It suffiseth quoth the Knight then turning to the Lordes he thus procéeded Woorthy Lordes you haue all heard what the King hath promised me that he wil restore the Mantle and y e Crown which I leaue in your presence or giue me what-soeuer I shall demaund So much his Maiesty hath saide replyed the Lordes and we are witnesses therof Adiew then answered the auncient Knight for perfocre I must return to the most cruell prison that euer poore Knight was enclosed in But héere you must note how during the time of this conference the two armed Knightes which conducted the olde man was still in presence the one of them hauing the beuer of his Helmet open and séemed a young man the other held downe his head as lothe to be knowen béeing of so tall and mighty stature as no Knight in the Kinges Court might be equalled with him So departed they againe all thrée together leauing the Mantle and the Crowne in the Kinges custodye CHAP. XXXI ¶ How Amadis Galaor and Balays arriued at the Courte of King Lisuart and what happened to them afterward AMadis Galaor and Balays béeing all happily met together rode on without any occasion to trouble them vntill they came to the Courte of King Lisuart where they were welcommed with excéeding ioy because Galaor was neuer there before nor knowen but by renowne of his famous chiualrie Beside eche one reioyced to sée Amadis who by y e false report of Arcalaus was thought to be dead and graciously did the King entertain them all conducting them to a chamber where they were vnarmed blaming the villainous inuention of Arcalaus and the Damosell that caused their combate together practising the death of two so noble Princes who were but euen now in the prime and flower of their youth Right soone did the King aduertise the Quéene of their arriuall when accompanied with Agraies Galuanes and King Arban he went with them among the Ladies but Amadis casting his eye on Oriana and she on him I leaue their ioyfull passions to your iudgement remembring that when long absent louers méete lookes sighes and teares are familiarly entercoursed béeing the only means to conteÌ„t ech others hart Yet Amadis thought it not best to staÌ„d still thus musing least euery eye should growe cunning in coniecturing the cause which to auoide he fell on his knee before the Quéene saying Madame according to your charge at my departure from the Courte I haue brought this Knight whom I present as only yours I thanke ye Sir Amadis quoth the Queene both he and you are welcome to our presence In good faith Madame said the King you doo me wrong if you take them both Amadis already is yours me thinkes you should be content with him and leaue Lord Galaor for me You aske no small matter answered the Quéene but if he be so pleased I am not against it albeit such a present was neuer giuen in great Brittaine not-with-standing séeing you are the best King that euer reigned heer so good a Knight is wel bestowed on you But what say you Lord Galaor the King is desirous to haue you will ye then be his Madame quoth Galaor me thinkes that any thing so great a Prince demaundeth should be graunted if it were possible heere am I to obey you in euery respect so please my Lord and brother to like therof because he hath greatest authoritie ouer me It contents me very well saide the Quéene that you should doo as your brother commaundeth for through him shall I haue title in you by reason he is mine I am yours indeed Madame answered Amadis and brother you must be my fellowe seruant to the Queene With all my hart replyed Galaor I am content and seeing you haue giuen me to her seruice for euer I shall remaine at her disposition I thank you Sir quoth the Quéene now may I boldelye giue you to the King for I see he would be glad of so good a freend then stepping to the King she said My Lord you are desirous of this Knight I giue him you on this condition that you loue and intreat him according to his desertes which may not be valued at any meane rate Beleeue me Madame answered the King I take this gift most kindely at your hand assuring you he shall soone perceiue how I loue and estéeme him nor can I be so affectionate to him as he hath noble vertues wherby to induce me which none can valewe or compare withall But if Amadis durst haue spoken he gladly would haue maintained the contrary for he perswaded him self that he loued his Oriana beyond his brothers deserte or any other what-soeuer So remained Galaor in the Kinges seruice from which he could not be seperated for any quarrell concerning Amadis as we shall haue occasion to declare héereafter All this while Oriana Mabila and Oliuia had withdrawen themselues from the other Ladyes likewise Agraies and Amadis were talking together when Galaor was thus graciously entertained by the King and Quéene wherefore Mabila called her brother saying I pray yée cause the Knight to come hither that standeth with you conferring because we are desirous to sée him Agraies returned where he left Amadis who dissembled as if he thought not on the Ladies till the Prince thus spake My Lord these Gentlewomen would fayne speake with you and desire you to come a little more néere them which he presently did But Mabila being wise and discreet not ignorant what medicines should be applyed to passionate mindes after they all thrée had saluted them Mabila tooke Amadis by the hand desiring him to sit betwéene Oriana and her leauing Agraies to court his Oliuia they being set she merily thus began Although I am now among those foure fréends whome I haue most cause to loue and regard yet haue I such present busâ—nes else-where as I must of necessitie leaue you awhile Thus deuised she to bring the loouers together and by a pretty wyle gaue them oportunitie to content their thoughtes with secret communication Now beginneth Amadis to conferre with his Lady and thinking to declare the great affection which vnder good hope gaue him life and essence extreame loue tooke from him the facilitie of spéeche yet his eyes not vnmindfull of their office supplyed the defect of the tongue deliuering testimony to their diuine obiect how farre the sad and languishing heart was transported by ease and pleasure Which Oriana perceiuing she secretly tooke his hand vnder her mantle wringing him by the fingers sighing thus spake My Lord and fréend what dolour greefe did the traytour procure in me who brought hither tidings of your death neuer was poore mayden in greater perill and not without cause for neuer did woman sustaine such a losse as I should haue done in loosing you And as I am better loued then any other
more offended then before which made him shortly thus to answere Knight what promise I made thee I intend to keepe although the Crowne and mantle be both lost to my no little greef as well for thy sake as mine owne Heere-at the Knight gaue a loud shrieke saying Ah wretched and miserable old man now commes my latest and vnluckie exigent haue I not long enough endured torments but now must finish mine age in the cruellest death was euer heard of hauing by no offence deserued it While thus he complained the teares aboundantly trickled downe his white beard which mooued the most constant to pitty his greefe and the King himselfe ouercome with compassion returned this answere Feare not Knight to speed any thing the wursse for my losse you must be satisfyed whatsoeuer it cost me according as I faithfully promised At these words the Knight would haue kissed his feete but the King restrained him saying Demaund what thou wilt for thou shalt haue it I knowe my Lord quoth the Knight you remember your promise to deliuer my Crowne and mantle or whatsoeuer I requested for them God is my witnes I intended not to desire what now I must needes by reason I haue no other meane whereby to be deliuered if I had I would acquite you of the griefe I know you will endure graunting me the thing I must of necessitie demaund but now it may not be otherwise except you infrindge your faith and loyaltie Rather will I loose my Kingdome replyed the King then make a promise and not fulfill it say boldly therefore thy mind I thanke your Maiestie quoth the Knight there now remaineth nothing but to haue assurance from the Lords of your Court that they seeke not to take from me the gift you must deliuer otherwise your promise cannot be perfourmed or I satisfyed hauing a reward now and taken from me annon Great reason sayd the King my word shall stand for their warrant Seeing my Lord quoth the Knight Fortune hath so permitted that you haue lost my mantle and the Crowne it is impossible to saue my head except you giue me Madame Oriana your Daughter Be therefore now aduised either restore my Iewels or giue me her albeit I loue the one better then the other for neuer can I haue so much good by her as I sustaine harme by your vnhappy losse Now began all the Lords and Barons to murmure against the Knight perswading the King to deny his word but he rather desired death he was such a good and loyall Prince and this answere he made them Be not offended my good fréends the losse of my Daughter will not be so preiudiciall to me as the breache of my promise for if the one bée enuious the other is iniurious and to be shunned euery way The proofe is ready if subiects finde not their Prince faithfull and his word inuiolable what care wil they haue of the loue and fidelitie they owe to him much better vnborne then any such blemish this Knight therefore must haue my Daughter and I wil deliuer her according to my promise Héereupon he sent for her but the Quéene béeing present all this while little thought the King would so forget his fatherly loue and when she heard this rigorous sentence pronounced against her Daughter she good Lady fell at the Kings féete when wéeping as a mother for the losse of her child she said What will yée doo my Lord will ye be more inhumane to your owne blood then the brute Beasts are to their contraryes Notwithstāding all their brutish quallities yet be they neuer so vnnaturall to shew any violence to their young ones May it then be thought reasonable vnder shaddow of an accorded promise without knowledge thereof to commit so great wrong not only against your selfe impitious father or me a wofull and vnfortunate mother but likewise against the whole common weale of this Realme Alas Sir let my incessant teares perswade you to bethinke some other meane for your discharge and also to content the Knight Madame quoth the King my word is past I pray you talke no more thereof to me Thus speaking the teares streamed downe his cheekes whereat the Lords were not a little agréeued and that which most troubled him was the acclamations of the Ladyes wherefore the King commaunded them to their chambers The Quéene séeing she might not preuayle fell in a swoune but by her Ladyes she was conuayed thence the King giuing charge on payne of death that no one should seeke to alter his promise My Daughter quoth he I commit to the pleasure of God but my promise shall not be broken if I can helpe it By this time the newes came to Oriana how her Father had consented to her departure wherat she fell downe in such a traunce as they neuer expected life in her againe when Mabila and the Ladyes reputing her dead indéed thought best to acquainte the King ther-with yet by forced remedies shée reuiued againe breathing foorth manye dollorous sighes Now the most of the women seuered them-selues some néere and some further from her because she should not heare their complaining and such compassion tooke they on her as would haue conuerted a stony hart into teares especially when the Princesse recouered the power of speeche and faintely vttered these regrets Full well quoth she doo I now beholde mine owne ruine Ah swéete fréend wert thou heere easily wouldst thou deliuer me from this paine but thus much my hart fore-told me euen at the very hower of thy departure Ah curssed be that hower because I consented to it When thou shalt heare of these tidinges I feare béeing vnable to endure them thou wilt dye immediatly yet this is the best hope we shall not be long one after another Ah death the only refuge to the vnfortunate séest thou not mee formost in this ranke why stayest thou Fortune will triumphe ouer thée in dealing so extreamely as she can with me albeit I know thou art able to reuenge thy selfe make haste therfore and let her not get such preeminence on me in despight as it were of thy authoritie Adiew then swéete fréend for neuer shall we sée eche other more in this life at these woordes she fell in a swoune againe When the King sawe she tarryed so long he sent to commaund her make more speed but the messenger found her in the deadlye agonye and staying till she was recouered againe as she began to renew her mones he thus spake to her Madame the King is offended because you come not to him When she heard this message she arose hauing her hart so sealed vp with griefe as it séemed to enable her vitall forces and being followed by none of her women but the Damosell of Denmarke she came before the King and casting her selfe at his feete said My Lord and Father what is your pleasure with me Faire daughter quoth he I must accomplishe my promise These speeches prouoked her former paines when the King
to him the one of them vsing these woords King Lisuart spare the Knight otherwise thou shalt not reigne one hower If I dye answered the King so shall you all for me like traytours as you are Then one of them gaue him such a blowe with his Launce as not only sore hurt him but made him fall on his face to the ground yet did he recouer himselfe very quickly like one resolued to defend his life albeit he sawe death present before his eyes But béeing vnable to resist so many at length they got sure hold on him when renting off his helmet and his Shéeld they bound him fast with a double chayne Afterward they set him on a simple horsse two Knights still holding the ends of the chayne and so leading him along sought where they might finde Arcalaus Oriana and the Damosell of Denmarke but the Knight against whome the King first fought rode before apace and wauing his gauntlet aloft to Arcalaus said Behold Cozin King Lisuart is ours A very good prize answered Arcalaus hence-foorth shall his enemyes haue no cause to dread him Uillaine quoth the King well knowe I thou wast neuer other then a traytour and though I am wounded yet will I maintayne my woords if thou darest combate with me By God sayd Arcalaus neuer should I make reckoning of my selfe to vanquish such a Lord as thou art Thus contending as they rode they came to a double way where Arcalaus stayed thus speaking to his Page Sirra ride with all spéede to London and say to Lord Barsinan that he must execute what I willed him for I haue begun indifferently if he can make an end as well Gone is the Page toward the Cittie in meane while Arcalaus deuised to send the King one way and Oriana another wherefore he sayd to his Cozin Take ten Knights with you and conduct Lisuart to my prisons at Daguanel these other foure shall kéepe me company for I will leade Oriana to mount Aldin where I will shewe her straunge and woonderfull things This mount Aldin was the place of his most vsuall aboad beeing one of the strongest and fayrest in the world thus the ten Knightes caryed away the King and Arcalaus with the rest had charge of the Princesse But certaynely if héere we consider the properties of Fortune we may easily repute her as mutable or rather more toward great Princes and Lords then the meaner sort as well she witnessed by King Lisuart euen in the time when he intended most honorably to be thwarted with such a contrary chaunce For at one instant he sawe himselfe in the hands of his greatest enemyes his Daughter and heyre to his Kingdome taken from him and all his estate in daunger of ruyne He that was woont to bée honored of all was now iniuriously despised bound and led as a théefe by a villainous Enchaunter a meane Gentleman and out of any other hope then death Is not this then a faire example for such as at this daye are called to the greatest honors in the world wherewith oftentimes they are so blinded that they forget both God and themselues King Lisuart was a right good vertuous and wise Prince yet the diuine ordenaunce suffered him to fall in these dangers to the end he might remember how all creatures remayne at his heauenly disposition This lesson he taught him for in short time he was brought so lowe as might bée and afterward restored againe as you shall presently vnderstand CHAP. XXXVI ¶ How Amadis and Galaor vnderstood that King Lisuart and his daughter were caryed away prisoners wherfore they made haste to giue them succour WE haue before declared by what meanes Amadis and Galaor escaped from Madasima the Lady of Gantasi who would haue put them to death if she had known their names likewise how they tooke their waye toward London as men right ioyfull of their good successe But by the way they met Dardan the Dwarff so fast as horsse could gallop wher-upon Amadis thus spake to Galaor Brother me thinkes my seruant Dardan commeth toward vs and doubtlesse about some matter of importaunce for doo you not sée what speede he maketh By this time Dardan brake off their talke rehearsing euery thing that happened since their departure but when he tolde how the Princesse Oriana was caryed from y e Court against her wil what sorrowful lamentations she made Amadis entred into a dispairing fury demaunding which way they went that had her in charge In sooth my Lord answered Dardan they rode thorowe the Forrest which lyeth on the other side of the Cittie Without more woords Amadis gaue the spurres to his horsse galloping amaine toward London so confounded with the terrour of these newes as he could not speak to his brother Galaor who left him not but followed at hand Through y t Cittie they ride not making any stay enquiring which way they took that led away the Princesse and euery one shewed it him verye readily As Gandalin came posting after his Lord it was his hap to passe by the Quéens lodging where she standing at a window ouer-come with gréef espied Gandalin whom she called to her and asked where he had left his Maister Madame quoth he he is gone after them that haue away the Princesse Stay a little I pray thee saide the Quéene then sent she for the Kinges swoord which was accounted one of the best in the worlde saying I desire thee carry this swoord to Amadis and tell him the King for-sooke it this morning he beeing gone with a Damosell to combate for her and she hath giuen him another swoord as yet we heare no tidinges of him either when he will returne or whether he is gone Gandalin hauing receiued the swoord set away with speede after his maister whose impacience vrging him to more haste then care of his iourney made him ride so farre into a foule sloughe as he was faine to alight ere he could get foorth again And leading his horsse by the bridle to escape the mire Galaor and Gandalin ouertooke him acquainting him with the Queenes message and deliuering the Swoord she sent him When he heard how the King was likewise gon his desire of speed encreased to giue him succour but his horsse was so wearied with striuing in the bogge as he was constrained to take Gandalins which trauailed much wursse then his own yet with the helpe of his spurres he made him goe At length they found the tract of horsses and by good hap met with certaine poore labouring men whom they asked if they met not any by the way Yes my Lord quoth one of them we met certaine men leading a Knight two Ladies albeit we durst not shew our selues but kept vs hidden in the thickest of y e wood for doubtlesse they be some bad people heer to they added such a discription of the prisoners as they easilye gathered them to be the King and Oriana betraied But tell me good freendes saide Amadis know you none of the
other For the prisoners are the King and his daughter In sooth replyed the poore man we are altogether ignorant what they are yet we heard one that led the horsse of the fayrer Lady often times name Arcalaus Now trust me quoth Amadis to his brother it is the villain which enchaunted me Oh that it might be my hap to finde him Gentlemen saide the man ten of them went this way on the right hand with the knight prisoner and fiue more this way on the left hand with the Ladies Brother quoth Amadis to Galaor I beseeche ye to follow the King least wursse befall him then we can remedie and I will after the Princesse Oriana So shaking handes in equall resolution they parted the seuerall wayes but Amadis found his horsse so ouer-laboured as he was able to holde out no longer Being thus hindered by chaunce he looked aside and sawe where a Knight lay slaine with a Squire standing by holding his horsse wher-upon Amadis stepped to him demaunding who committed that murder A traitour hath doone it answered the Squire who is not yet gon very farre and leadeth with him the fairest Lady in y e worlde no other reason had he for my maisters death but because he asked what the Lady was What wilt thou doo said Amadis tarrying heer I stay sir quoth he til some one come who may helpe me with my maisters bodye to some buriall and afterward I intend to séeke my fortune If thou answered Amadis wilt giue me the horsse thou holdest I will leaue thee mine and my Squire to helpe thee and one day will giue thee two better beside The Squire was content when Amadis mounting on the horsse commaunded Gandalin to helpe him burye his maisters bodye and afterward to follow him the same way he rode Thus Amadis hyes so fast as horsse can run and espying an Hermitage went to sée if any body were within at his call the Hermit came foorth of whome he asked if he saw not fiue Knightes passe by leading two Ladies No verily answered the olde father but doo you not enquire for a Castell which is not farre from this place Why aske ye such a question quoth Amadis Because a Nephewe of mine tolde me saide the Hermit how Arcalaus the enchaunter is going thither two Ladyes with him whom he carieth perforce Ah father replyed Amadis you name the traitour I looke for Trust me Sir quoth the Hermit he hath doone many mischéefes in this country would God we were either rid of him or his life amended but haue you no body to help you No-body but God and my self answered Amadis Why Sir said the Hermit you tell me they be fiue in companye and you but one beside Arcalaus is counted one of the best Knightes in the worlde and with whome fewe or none dare meddle What-soeuer he be quoth Amadis I am certaine he is a disloyall traitour and they no lesse that keep him company what lesse cause then haue I to feare him for God is iust in whome is onlye my confidence I pray you Sir replyed the Hermit know you of whence the Ladies be One of them said Amadis is the Princesse Oriana daughter and heire to the vertuous King Lisuart the other is a Lady attending on her The God of heauen answered the Hermit further your intent that so good a Princesse may not be long in such a wretches custodye If you haue any prouender father quoth Amadis I desire you giue my horsse a little The Hermit brought foorth such as he had and while the horsse fed Amadis demaunded to whom the Castell belonged To a Knight called Grumen saide the Hermite Cozin germaine to proud Dardan who was slaine at the Courte of King Lisuart which makes me the rather coniecture that he will lodge such as are enemies to so good a Prince Good father replyed Amadis I beséeche you haue minde of me in your prayers and now shew me the neerest way to the Castell Which the Hermit did when Amadis mounting on horsse-back tooke his leaue following the way he was directed Not long after he got a sight of the Castell which was compassed with strong Towers and high walles wherfore so closely as he could he approched néere it where he heard what ioy they made for the arriuall of Arcalaus when marking how many gates of issue it had he found there was no more but one wherfore tying his horsse where he might not be séen he hid himselfe so cōueniently as none could passe in and out but he must needs see them thus was he glad to watche there all this night At the breake of daye doubting least the watche of the Castell should descrye him he entred a little thicket where long he had not staid but he saw a Knight come foorth on a little hill before the Castell looking all about if he could discerne any ambushe which doone he went in againe and very soone after Arcalaus with his foure companions issued foorth well armed conducting the two Ladies whome Amadis well knew so soone as he sawe them Héer-upon he fell downe on his knee praied that God would strengthen him in this enterprise then looking to the well guirding of his horsse and y t euery part of his armour were as it ought to be taking his Launce he mounted tarying till they passed by him But because this place was vnfit for the combate he intended to suffer them enter on a playne néere at hand still keeping him self hid in the thicket and so néer did Arcalaus with his company passe by Amadis as he heard the Princesse Oriana thus complaine Alas sweete fréend quoth she great reason haue you to bid me adiew when I would permit you to goe succour her that séemed the most wofull woman in the world for I feare this shall be our latest conge and neuer may you sée me againe because death giueth such due attendaunce as it is impossible for me to escape These woordes were of such vertue that albeit Amadis could not refraine from teares yet did they so liuely enflame his hart as ouer-reaching them ere they knew any thing he thus spake to them You lye false traitours for these Ladyes shall passe no further The voice of Amadis was quickly knowen by Oriana and the Damosell of Denmarke when imagining them-selues alreadye reskewed their mindes were ioyfully cheered especiallye to sée their conductours so suddenly amated But Arcalaus perceiuing how Amadis outraged his fréendes approched more neere him and Amadis well knowing him from the rest met him so brauely as he sent him head-long to the ground then entring among the other foure he gaue such a charge to Grumen the Lord of the Castel where they lodged that his Launce passed quite through his bodye and breaking therin he fell downe dead from his horsse Now drew he the Swoord the Queene sent him wher-with he laide so valiantly about him as his enemies were cleane dismaied in their hope when they beheld Arcalaus not yet recouered
other course séeing my two sonnes haue béene so hardly intreated their own wilfull follye béeing cause therof So breaking off talke Galaor tooke his rest till the next morning when taking leaue of the auncient Knight he rode away with the Damosell who brought him to the place of passage in the Barque where crossing the water to the other side they came to a very beautifull Castell whether the Damsell rode before aduising the Prince to stay her returne She taryed not long but comming back againe brought another Damosell with her of excellent beautye and ten men beside all on horsse-back after the faire Gentle-woman had saluted Galaor she said Sir this Damsell that came in your company telleth me how you séek a Knight who beareth two black Lyons in a vermillion Sheelde and are desirous to know his name this is very certaine that you nor any other can finde him for thrée yéeres space but only by force of Armes a matter not so easie to be accomplished by you for perswade your selfe his like is not to be found in all the Isles of great Brittaine Lady quoth Galaor yet wil I not giue ouer his searche although he conceale him selfe in this sorte and if I méete with him it shall like me beter to combate with him then to knowe my demaund by any other way Séeing then answered the Damosell your desire is such I will shew you him within thrée daies ensuing for this Gentle-womans sake béeing my Cozin who according to her promise hath earnestly intreated me Galaor requited her with many thankes and so they trauailed on arriuing in the euening at an arme of the Sea where they found a Barque ready for passage to a little Iland and certaine Mariners in it who made them all sweare if they had any more then one knight in their company No credit me replyed the Damosell heer-upon they set sayle and away Then Galaor demaunded of the Damosell the reason why they tooke such an oath Because quoth she the Lady of the Isle whether we goe hath so ordained it that they shal let passe but one Knight at one time and no other must they bring till his returne or credible intelligence of his death What is he saide Galaor that vanquisheth or killeth them The selfe-same Knight you séek answered the Damosell whom the Lady hath kept with her more then halfe a yéere intirely louing him and the cause of this affection procéeded from a Tourney which not long since he maintained in this countrey for the loue of her and another faire Lady whom the Knight being a straunger héere conquered defending her cause with whom he now is and euer since she bare him such affection as without graunt of his loue she would haue dyed Sometime he is desirous to séeke after strange aduentures but then the Lady to detain him still in this place causeth such Knights as come hither to passe one after another against whome he combatteth and not one hath yet returned vn-vanquished such as dye in fight are there interred and the foyled sent back againe despoyled of their horsse and Armes which the Knight presenteth to his Lady she beeing one of the fairest creatures in the worlde named Corisanda and the Isle Brauisande Know you not the cause â—aide Galaor wherfore the Knight went not many dayes since to a Forrest where I found him and kept the passage there fifteene dayes together against all such as trauayled that way Yes mary quoth the Damosell he promised a boone to a Lady before he came hither wehrfore she intreated him to kéepe the Forrest for the space of fifteene dayes yet hardly he got licence of his faire Mistresse who allowed him but a moneth to stay and returne By this time they were landed and come before a goodly Castell where stood a piller of marble with a horne hanging on it which the Damsell bad him winde the Knight would come foorth at the sound therof After he had giuen a good blast certaine Pages came foorth of the Castell who set vp a Pauillion in the middest of the feelde and sixe Ladies soone after came walking foorth one of them séeming by her gesture and countenaunce to be commaunder of the rest taking her place accordingly in the Tent. I meruaile saide Galaor the Knight taryeth so long I desire one of you to will the Lady send for him because busines else where of great importance forbiddeth me to trifle time heere in vaine One of the Damoselles fulfilled his request What answered Corisanda maketh he so small account of our Knight thinketh he so easily to escape from him hath he such minde of other affaires before he sée the end of this attempt indeed I thinke he shall returne sooner then he expecteth but with slender aduauntage for him to bragge of then calling a Page she said Goe and bid y e strange Knight come foorth The Page quickly did his message and soone after the Knight came foorth one foote being all armed except with his helmet which was brought after him with his Launce and another Page leading his Courser when he came before his Lady she saide Beholde Sir heere is a braue Knight who thinketh lightly to ouer-come you and accounteth him selfe assured of the victorie I pray you let him know the price of his folly After these woordes she kissed and embraced him but Galaor noting all these misteries thought he taryed too long from y e combate at length the Knight béeing mounted they prepared them-selues to the carrire and breaking their Launces in the encounter were bothe wounded Galaor presently drew his Swoord but the Knight intreated him to ioust once more With all my hart replyed Galaor yet I am sory my horsse is not so good as yours for if it were I could be content not to giue ouer till one of vs lay along on the ground or all these Launces broken in peeces The Knight made him no answere but commaunded a Squire to bring them other staues and méeting together Galaors horsse was almoste downe the Knight likewise lost his stirrops being glad to catche hold by the maine of his horsse wherat as one somewhat ashamed he said to Galaor You are desirous to combate with the swoord which I haue deferred not for any doubt of my self but only to spare you not-with-standing we must néeds now trye y e issue therof Doo what you can answered Galaor I meane to be reuenged for your kindenes in the Forrest These woordes made the Knight soone to remember him saying You must doo no more then you can and happily before you departe hence you may sustayn a foyle wursse then the first Heer-upon they fel to the combate which began and continued with such furye as the Ladyes were driuen into wonderfull amazement yea them-selues were abashed that they held out so long hauing their Armour mangled their sheeldes defaced their bodyes sore wounded and the blood streaming downe vpon their horsses Galaor neuer beeing in such daunger of his life but
heart saying Now shall my Fathers life be shortened by my death whereof you are the only cause As she vttered these woords she offered to stab her selfe with the Swoord when the King suddenly staying her hand and meruailing at her impacient loue thus replyed Hurt not your selfe Madame for I am content to satisfye your will Héereupon he kindly embraced and kissed her passing the night with her in such sort as her hot desire was quallifyed and at that instant she conceiued with child the King little thinking thereon for the next morning he tooke his leaue of her and the Countie returning with all spéed he could into Gaule But the time of deliuerance drawing on and she desirous to couer her offence determined to goe visite an Aunt of hers whose dwelling was not past two or three miles off and many times she resorted thither for her pleasure So taking no other company with her but a Damosell as she rode through the Forrest the payne of trauaile made her alight from her Palfray she being soone after deliuered of a goodly Sonne The Damosell that was with her séeing what had happened bringing the child to the mother said Madame as your heart serued you to commit the offence so must it now practise some present remedie while I returne from your Aunt againe Then getting on horsseback she rode apace to her Ladyes Aunt and acquainted her with the whole matter which caused the old woman to bée very sorrowfull yet she prouided succour for her Niece sending a Litter with all conuenient speed wherein the Lady and her child were brought to her Castell secretly euery thing being so cunningly handled as the Countie neuer knewe his Daughters fault After such time as these matters require the Lady returned home to her Father leauing her Sonne in her Aunts custodie where he was nourished till the age of eighteen yeeres hauing Squires and Gentlemen attending on him who dayly enstructed him in managing Armes and all braue quallities beseeming a man of value He being growen of goodly stature the old Lady brought him one day to y e Countie his Grandfather who gaue him his Knighthood not knowing what he was and returning againe with his motherly Nursse by the way she brake with him in this maner My Sonne I am certaine you are ignorant of your parentage but credit my woords you are the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule begotten on his Daughter that gaue you your order of Knighthood endeuour your selfe therefore to follow your Fathers steps who is one of the most renowmed Knights in the world Madame quoth Florestan oftentimes haue I heard great fame of King Perion but neuer imagined my selfe to be his Sonne wherefore I vow to you being my long and carefull Nursse that I will trauaile to finde my Father and not make my selfe knowen to any one till my deedes declare me woorthy to be his Sonne Not long after he departed from the old Lady and accompanyed with two Squires iournyed to Constantinople which at that time was greatly vexed with warre where he remained the space of foure yeeres perfourming such hautie deedes of Chiualrie as he was counted the best Knight in all those partes When he perceiued himselfe in some account he intended to visit Gaule and make himselfe knowen to the King his Father but comming into great Brittayne he heard the fame of Amadis to be meruailous which was the cause of his stay there to win some report by Armes as his bretheren had done whome he longed to acquaint himselfe withall At length he met with them both in the Forrest as you heard and afterward combatted with his brother Galaor which caused their aboad at the Castell of Corisanda vntill such time as their wounds were healed But now let vs returne to Amadis and Agraies who stayed with faire Briolania fiue dayes together preparing their Armour and euery thing in order which béeing doon they set forward on their way accompanied with Briolania her Aunte certaine waiting Gentle-women and Squires to doo them seruice by the way When they drew néere the Realme of Sobradisa they came to the Castell of an ancient Lady named Galumba who some-tune liued in Briolanias Fathers Courte and there they were welcommed very honourablye yet whether Briolania trauayled thus accompanied the olde Lady Galumba could not chuse but meruaile which made her request to be satisfied therin Briolanias Aunte tolde her how Amadis was one of the best Knightes in the worlde and had promised to reuenge the murdered Kings death likewise how he discomfited them that guarded the Chariot and afterward ouer-came the rest in the Castell at what time the Lyons escaped as you haue heard Galumba wondering at such singuler prowesse answered If he be such a one as you make reporte his companion must néeds be of some estimation and wel may they bring your enterprise to end considering the trueth and iustice of the cause but take héed least the traiterâ—us King woorke some treason against them That is the chéefest pointe of my feare answered Briolania wherfore we came to craue your aduise héerin Héer-upon she wrot a letter and sealed it with the Princesses seale at Armes then calling a Damosell after she had giuen her instructions she bad her make haste in deliuering the letter Presentlye went the Damosell to horsse-back and trauailed so speedily that she arriued at the great Cittie of Sobradisa which the whole Realme tooke this name by There was Abiseos with his two Sonnes Darison and Dramis and these thrée must the combate be waged withall for Abiseos slew the Father of Briolania by couetous desire he had to the Crowne which he euer since vsurped and helde more by tirannie then any consent in the subiectes The Damosell entred the Pallace on horsse-back when diuers Knightes came to her requesting her to alight but she made answer she would not till she saw y e King and that he commaunded her to leaue her palfray Soon after came the King accompanied with his two sonnes and many great Lordes and after she had saluted him he boldely bad her say what she would My Lord quoth she I shall fulfill your commaund on condition I may abide in your protection and receiue no iniurie for any thing I say By my Crown said the King I warrant your safetie wher-upon the Damosell thus began Sir my Lady and Mistresse Briolania disinherited by you gréets you with this letter which may openly be read before this royall company and I after-ward receiue answere for my discharge When the King heard the name of Briolania remorse of conscience touched him with the wrong he did her yet was the letter openly read which was to giue credit to the Damoselles woordes The most of the Lordes there present who sometime were subiectes to the slaughtered King seeing the messenger of their lawfull Quéene indéed pittyed she was so vniustly disinherited in their harts desired of God to plague the treason doone to her Father Proceede Damosell
to the two Knightes who were first dismounted and with them we haue abode y e space of one whole yéere in which time many combates they fought for vs yet neuer conquered till this present In sooth Lady answered Galaor the Knightes intent was too high for him to accomplish because he could not deale with Amadis and escape the fortune now fallen vpon him but how was he named He called himselfe Alimias quoth ashe nd had not ouer-wéening pride too much ruled him he was a most gentle and courteous Knight By this time were they come to their Auntes Castell where Galaor and Florestan found gracious entertainment the olde Lady being very glad to see her Nieces as also to vnderstand the death of Alimias After they had taken leaue of the fréendly Ladyes they iourney toward the Realm of Sobradisa where they heard before they entred the Cittie how Amadis and Agraies had slaine Abiseos and his sonnes by meanes wherof Briolania ruled as a peaceable Quéen which newes highly contented them and made them reioyce for their happie fortune To the Pallace they come vnknowne of any till they were brought to Amadis and Agraies whose wounds were already indifferently recured and they deuising with the Queene at their arriuall Heer you must note how the Damosell that conducted Galaor to finde Florestan left them after the Combate and comming before to her Mistresse tolde her and Amadis how Galaor and Florestan knew eche other and what issue their combate had which made Amadis very kindely to embrace them bothe and Florestan offered on his knee to kisse his hand which Amadis would not permit but causing him to arise sat down and communed of their aduentures yast But one day among other the new enstalled Quéene Briolania after many honourable feastinges she had made them séeing these foure Knightes determined to departe considering the good she had receiued by Amadis and Agraies and that she being before a disinherited Princesse was by their meanes restored to her Kingdome beholding likewise the whéele of Fortune turned how such personages were not alone to aid and defend her countrey but puissant enough of them-selues to be Kinges and mighty Lordes falling on her knees before them first rendering thankes to God who had doone her such grace as to regarde her in pittie continuing her discourse she saide Think my Lordes these mutations are the meruailes of the Almightye which are admirable to vs and helde of great account but to him they are in manner nothing Let vs see if it be good then to shunne Signories and riches which to obtaine we take such paine and trauaile and to keepe endure innumerable anguishes and distresse as superfluous therfore vtterly to deiect theÌ„ because they are torments of bodie and soule vncertaine and haue no permanence As for my selfe I say no but affirme that they beeing lawfully gotten modestly vsed and according to Gods appointment they are in this worlde rest pleasure and ioy and the way to bring vs to eternall glory To the Gentlemen Readers THus Gentlemen is the first Book of Amadis finished how rudely and vnlearnedlye you may perceiue yet truely set down according to the French historye but if it be not so eloquently handled as you expected you must beare with the bad conceit which neâ—er was capable of any such cunning Good will is the line wherby I leuell my woorkes and freendlye acceptation the greatest grace in gentle minds which is able to shaddowe all imperfections what-soeuer and to let that passe for currant which else were counterfeit In this hope I present you with my labour of Amadis and my poore good will being requited with your kinde accepting shall encourage me to aduenture on the second Book of this history which by the fauour of the firste wil come the sooner Long may I not stand pleading for so slender a reward the good will think the best their courtesie I require the bad not borne to say well I care not for their freendship An. Monday Honos alit Artes. FINIS A Table for the readie finding of the Chapters contayned in this Booke directing by the number to euerie seuerall leafe OF whence the Kings Garinter and Perion were and the Combate betweene Perion and two Knightes as also how he fought with a Lyon that deuoured a Hart in their presence with the successe following ther-on Chapter I. Folio 1. How the Princesse Elisena and her Damosell Darioletta went to the chamber where King Perion was lodged chapter II. Folio 5. How King Perion parting from little Brittaine trauayled on his iourney hauing his hart filled with greefe and melanchollie chapter III. Fol. 10. How King Languines caried away with him the Gentleman of the Sea and Gandalin the Sonne of Gandales chapter IIII. Fol. 15. Howe King Lisuart sayling by Sea landed in Scotland where he was greatly honoured and well entertayned chapter V. Fol. 19. How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentleman of the Sea chapter VI. Fol. 26. How the Gentleman of the Sea combated with the guarders of Galpans Castell and afterward with his Bretheren and in the end with Galpan him-selfe chapt VII Fol. 31. How the third day after the Gentleman of the Sea departed from King Languines the three Knightes came to the courte bringing with them the wounded Knight in a Litter and his disloyall wife chap. VIII Fol. 34. How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter the Princesse Oriana for that long before he had left her in the court of King Languines who sent her accompanyed with the Princesse Mabila his only daughter as also a noble traine of Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen chap. IX Fol. 36. How the Gentleman of the Sea fought the combate with King Abies on difference of the warre he made in Gaule chapter X. Fol. 43. How the Gentleman of the Sea was knowne by King Perion his Father and by the Queene Elisena his Mother chapter XI Fol. 47. How the Giant bringing Galaor to King Lisuart that hee might dub him Knight met with his brother Amadis by whose hand he would be knighted and by no other chapter XII Fol. 52. How Galaor vanquished the Giant at the Rock of Galteres chapter XIII Fol. 58. How after Amadis departed from Vrganda the vnknowen he arriued at a castell where it chaunced to him as you shall reade in the discourse chapter XIIII Fol. 64. How king Lisuart caused a Sepulchre to be made for Dardan and his friend with an Epitaph in remembrance of their death and the honor he did to Amadis after hee was found and knowen chapter XV. Fol. 72. How Amadis made him-selfe knowen to king Lisuart as also the Princes and Lords of his court of whome hee was honorably receiued feasted chap. XVI Fol. 79. What were the aduentures of the Prince Agraies since his returne from Gaule where he left Amadis chapter XVII Fol. 85. How Amadis tarying with his good will in the courte of king Lisuart heard tidings of his brother